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<p>#reactionDiv_gig_containerParent {display:none;}</p>
<p>&#160;LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: VENEZUELA PROTESTS TURN DEADLY</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/28/14 05:00 PM ET</p>
<p>Signing off</p>
<p>This live blog is now closed. Please <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/breaking-news" type="external">check here</a> for further developments.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/28/14 04:22 PM ET</p>
<p>No parallels with Ukraine</p>
<p>Venezuela is not Ukraine, according to Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group, who <a href="http://blogs.reuters.com/ian-bremmer/2014/02/28/this-is-not-ukraine-venezuela-will-erode-not-explode/" type="external">analyzed the crisis in Venezuela in a blog post on Reuters</a> today.</p>
<p>The trajectory of the unrest in Venezuela won't be the same as Ukraine's, because Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is better positioned than ousted Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych, he wrote. From his <a href="http://blogs.reuters.com/ian-bremmer/2014/02/28/this-is-not-ukraine-venezuela-will-erode-not-explode/" type="external">blog post</a>:</p>
<p>Maduro is a weak president, to be sure, and these protests represent by far the most severe challenge to his authority to date. But Maduro holds many cards that Ukraine’s Yanukovich did not. He retains control of (and loyalty from) the key apparatus of the state — military, police and security forces, parliament, and state-owned oil company PDVSA (Venezuela’s main source of revenue). There is no unified command within the security forces that could turn against him in an organized fashion, and the security forces are much more willing to repress and support the regime than they are in Ukraine.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/28/14 03:36 PM ET</p>
<p>Protests in Caracas today</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Anti-government demonstrators protest in eastern Caracas on Feb. 28, 2014. (Leo Ramirez/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>Protesters hold up photos of people they say were assassinated, during an anti-government demonstration on Feb. 28, 2014 in Caracas, Venezuela. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/28/14 03:03 PM ET</p>
<p>Kerry says he's working to see if mediation can resolve Venezuela crisis</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/140228/kerry-says-working-others-possible-venezuela-mediation" type="external">Thomson Reuters</a> — The United States is working with Colombia and other countries to see whether mediation might be possible to bring opposing sides in Venezuela's crisis together for talks, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday.</p>
<p>"We are working closely with Colombia and other countries to try to see how some kind of mediation might be able to take place, because it's obviously already proven very difficult for the two sides to bring themselves together by themselves," Kerry said during a joint news conference with his Colombian counterpart.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/28/14 02:37 PM ET</p>
<p>Jailed Venezuela protest leader mocks Maduro's talks</p>
<p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/28/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1R14P20140228?feedType=RSS&amp;feedName=topNews&amp;utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter&amp;dlvrit=992637" type="external">Thomson Reuters</a> — Imprisoned Venezuelan protest leader Leopoldo Lopez scoffed on Friday at President Nicolas Maduro's efforts to open talks with opponents and businessman after a month of demonstrations and violence that have killed at least 17 people.</p>
<p>Maduro, 51, seems to have weathered the worst of an explosion of protests against his socialist government that exposed deep discontent with Venezuela's economic problems and brought the nation's worst unrest in a decade. ...</p>
<p>Lopez, a hardline opposition leader arrested on charges of fomenting violence, said Maduro's talk of dialogue was a hypocritical tactic intended to deflate the protests while failing to address the real problems behind them.</p>
<p>"'The dialogue' is a tactical retreat, as a result of the pressure in the streets. It's not real conviction," Lopez said in a message from Ramo Verde prison given to his wife who Tweeted it via her husband's account @leopoldolopez.</p>
<p>"Maduro's dialogue is: 'come to Miraflores (presidential palace) and while I speak to the nation, I pursue, kill and repress in the streets'."</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/28/14 12:25 PM ET</p>
<p>SOS Venezuela video</p>
<p>“I’ll tell you, fascist: You are not Venezuela, you are gringo!” Venezuelan President Nicolas Madudro shouted on television in a verbal assault on his opposition enemies.</p>
<p>“You’re gringo in your mind, in your wickedness.” He was making a play on words based on the anti-government protest hashtag-slogan “SOS Venezuela,” as Colombia's <a href="http://www.eluniversal.com.co/farandula/gente-y-tv/vos-no-sos-venezuela-y-el-humor-llenan-las-redes-sociales-152915" type="external">El Universal news site reported</a>. The word game doesn't translate well into English, but pronouncing the phrase “Sos Venezuela” in Spanish can also mean “you’re Venezuela.”</p>
<p>Electronic music producer Alex Mor sampled it and laid a track with beats. Cartoonist Emmanuel Vidal illustrated a <a href="http://www.eluniversal.com.co/farandula/gente-y-tv/vos-no-sos-venezuela-y-el-humor-llenan-las-redes-sociales-152915" type="external">hilarious caricature of “Nic Madurox,” turning the president into a rapper</a>.</p>
<p>—&#160;GlobalPost America's editor Alex Leff</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/28/14 09:39 AM ET</p>
<p>Venezuela pursues second opposition figure</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140228/venezuela-pursues-second-opposition-figure" type="external">Agence France-Presse</a> — Venezuela issued an arrest warrant for a second opposition figure, his party said, ramping up the pressure on protesters who have staged nationwide rallies in the biggest challenge to President Nicolas Maduro since he came to power.</p>
<p>Near-daily demonstrations have seen dueling pro- and anti-government protesters face off in sometimes violent confrontations that have left 14 people dead in the deeply polarized and economically troubled oil-rich country since the start of February.</p>
<p>Leopoldo Lopez, of the opposition Voluntad Popular (Popular Will), turned himself in last week after a warrant went out for his arrest. The party said Thursday that Maduro's embattled government was now seeking Carlos Vecchio, the party's national political coordinator.</p>
<p>The party said the arrest warrant issued by Judge Ralenis Tovar Guillen ordered the general directorate of military intelligence to capture Vecchio "for the alleged crimes of arson, public incitement, damage and criminal association," the same charges brought against Lopez.</p>
<p>Court officials have not confirmed the move against Vecchio. In a tweet, Vecchio said the warrant was politically motivated. "There is no evidence against me," he wrote.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/27/14 05:17 PM ET</p>
<p>Signing off</p>
<p>This live blog is now closed. Please <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/breaking-news" type="external">check here</a> for further developments.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/27/14 05:02 PM ET</p>
<p>Crisis mediation help from Uruguay</p>
<p>El Universal newspaper in Colombia reported that <a href="http://english.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/140227/uruguayan-president-willing-to-mediate-in-venezuelas-conflict" type="external">Uruguayan President Jose Mujica has offered to help mediate the crisis in Venezuela</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/27/14 04:52 PM ET</p>
<p>'Unlawful killings' in Venezuela: US State Department report</p>
<p>The US State Department released its annual <a href="http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2013&amp;dlid=220479#wrapper" type="external">Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013</a> today, which featured an in-depth look at human rights abuses around the globe.</p>
<p>In Venezuela, the report noted, there were "unlawful killings, including summary killings by police elements; torture and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions and lack of due process rights that contributed to widespread violence, riots, injuries, and deaths in prisons."</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/27/14 04:09 PM ET</p>
<p>Surprise national holidays</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-26/maduro-bets-6-day-holiday-will-diffuse-venezuela-protests.html" type="external">Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro decreed today and tomorrow national holidays</a> in hopes that it will quieten the unrest gripping the country, Bloomberg reported.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/27/14 03:18 PM ET</p>
<p>On the ground in Caracas</p>
<p>UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon called for calm in Venezuela yesterday, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/140226/pope-calls-calm-venezuela-both-sides-march" type="external">Reuters reported</a>.</p>
<p>GlobalPost contributor Alasdair Baverstock captured striking&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/140226/instagram-photos-venezuelan-riots-protests" type="external">images of the rioters, barricades and graffiti on the streets of Caracas, Venezuela</a>.</p>
<p>"In Plaza Altamira, protesters prepare for nightly battles with government forces by erecting barricades from which they launch their attacks or where they will seek refuge. Demonstrators build these barriers with metal scraps and bags of garbage raided from public trash cans," he wrote.</p>
<p>View his <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/140226/instagram-photos-venezuelan-riots-protests" type="external">photographs here</a>. &#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/27/14 2:08 PM ET</p>
<p>Protests, barricades bring Venezuela's 'Cordial City' to a halt</p>
<p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/27/us-venezuela-protests-sancristobal-idUSBREA1Q1WA20140227" type="external">Thomson Reuters</a> — Piles of glass, a trashed refrigerator and the burned remains of a car litter the streets of the Pirineos neighborhood in the Venezuelan city of San Cristobal, giving it the look of a community under siege.</p>
<p>In fact, the residents of this middle-class area have created the disorder themselves as part of anti-government protests demanding President Nicolas Maduro resign.</p>
<p>Open sewer grates expose gaping holes in the street. Debris piled across intersections blocks traffic. Residents set the rules as to which cars can pass through and when.</p>
<p>"This barricade is a community effort. The neighbors held an assembly and we're all in agreement," said one burly man who asked not to be identified, as hooded teenagers unloaded sacks of rocks from the back of a pick-up.</p>
<p>"We call this resistance. We're not going to ease up no matter what the governor or the president says."</p>
<p>Businesses are mostly shut and public transport suspended.</p>
<p>The sporadic demonstrations that kicked off two months ago in San Cristobal have turned into a national opposition protest movement and shuttered this city of 250,000 known as the "Cordial City" for its residents' reserved Andean chivalry.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/27/14 01:37 PM ET</p>
<p>National intelligence agents arrested</p>
<p>Chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega announced yesterday that five national intelligence agents were arrested in connection to the deaths of two people during the protests, <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/5-domestic-spy-agency-arrested-venezuela" type="external">the Associated Press reported</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/26/14 04:57 PM ET</p>
<p>Signing off</p>
<p>This live blog is now closed. Please <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/breaking-news" type="external">check here</a> for further developments.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/26/14 04:20 PM ET</p>
<p>Underlying causes of unrest</p>
<p>A recent Gallup analysis revealed that Venezuelans’ perception of their quality of life plummeted last year. Fast Company <a href="http://www.fastcoexist.com/3026896/why-venezuela-is-exploding-explained-in-simple-charts" type="external">published charts of the Gallup data</a>, which&#160;showed the shifts in opinions of Venezuelans on their country’s economy, safety and standard of living. In 2013, 62 percent thought Venezuela's economic condition was getting worse, while 12 percent thought it was getting better, according to the data.</p>
<p>Check out <a href="http://www.fastcoexist.com/3026896/why-venezuela-is-exploding-explained-in-simple-charts" type="external">the charts on Fast Company</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/26/14 04:01 PM ET</p>
<p>View of San Cristobal, where the protests started</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/26/14 3:19 PM ET</p>
<p>Kerry weighs in&#160;</p>
<p>US Secretary of State John Kerry said the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140226/us-not-blame-venezuela-woes" type="external">US is not to blame for the unrest in Venezuela</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>Kerry said "regrettably, President Maduro, keeps choosing to blame the United States for things we are not doing or for things that they are unhappy about in their own economy and in their own society."</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/26/14 01:27 PM ET</p>
<p>Brutality accusations</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/140226/venezuela-government-faces-brutality-accusations-over-unrest" type="external">Thomson Reuters</a> — "Venezuelan protester Juan Manuel Carrasco says he was cursing soldiers during an anti-government protest when they grabbed him and two friends.</p>
<p>In a case that has become a focus for brutality accusations against Venezuela's security forces, the 21-year-old Carrasco says he later found himself in a National Guard holding area.</p>
<p>"They got me on my knees and started hitting me with batons," he told Reuters at his family home in the central city of Valencia where he is under house arrest pending trial for involvement in unrest that has rocked Venezuela in recent weeks.</p>
<p>"They called me a son of a bitch, and said 'We're going to kill you'," he said, showing bruises on his torso and describing the actions of what he says were 30 soldiers who then forced him and 11 others to strip on February 13. "They shoved a rifle up my bottom."</p>
<p>That last accusation has particularly incensed government critics, and is one of the most serious of allegations that human rights groups are leveling at Venezuela's military and police over this month's unrest.</p>
<p>The government, however, specifically denies Carrasco's allegation and says it is part of a campaign of fabrication to denigrate President Nicolas Maduro's government and overshadow violence by demonstrators," wrote Girish Gupta.&#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/26/14 12:45 PM ET</p>
<p>Impact on oil market</p>
<p>How are the protests affecting the global oil market?</p>
<p>"Venezuela's turmoil put upward pressure on crude prices last week, but the market is not expecting the petroleum facilities to be halted by protests," <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/140225/qa-what-do-protests-venezuela-mean-the-oil-industry" type="external">reported Thomson Reuters</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/26/14 10:48 AM ET</p>
<p>Key figures in political crisis</p>
<p>As the government and opposition struggle for the upper hand in bitterly polarized Venezuela, GlobalPost runs down the key players in the fight. Here's the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/140225/whos-who-venezuelan-protests" type="external">complete breakdown of all the major players</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/26/14 9:58 AM ET</p>
<p>Pope Francis calls for 'reconciliation through mutual forgiveness'</p>
<p>Pope Francis expressed his concerns about the protests in Venezuela in his weekly general audience, the <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-26353651" type="external">BBC reported</a>.</p>
<p>He called on the Venezuelan people “to promote reconciliation through mutual forgiveness and sincere dialogue.”</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/26/14 08:30 AM ET</p>
<p>Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro seeks peace meeting</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sought to hold a "peace conference" on Wednesday in an attempt to end three weeks of at times deadly anti-government protests in the oil-rich but deeply divided country.</p>
<p>But the main opposition leader Henrique Capriles is not attending, saying he is tired of what he calls government lies and police repression against students protesters.</p>
<p>Full story <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140226/venezuelan-leader-seeks-peace-meeting-end-deadly-protests" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/25/14 5:15 PM ET</p>
<p>Signing off</p>
<p>This live blog is now closed. Please <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/breaking-news" type="external">check here</a> for further developments.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/25/14 04:41 PM ET</p>
<p>Snapshots of the protests</p>
<p>GlobalPost's Sarah Wolfe put together a photo essay featuring some of the&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/photo-galleries/planet-pic/6080392/the-real-photos-venezuelas-protests-are-very-disturbing" type="external">vivid and unsettling images of the protests</a>&#160;from the past few days.&#160;</p>
<p>A man attends a protest against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas. (RAUL ARBOLEDA - AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/25/14 4:39 PM ET</p>
<p>Moral support from Ukranian protesters</p>
<p>Several photos emerged on Twitter today of Ukranian protesters showing solidarity with demonstrators in Venezuela. Have a look:</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/25/14 3:54 PM ET</p>
<p>Tit-for-tat move?</p>
<p>Thomson Reuters — The United States on Tuesday ordered three Venezuelan diplomats to leave in reprisal for President Nicolas Maduro's expulsion of three American embassy staff accused of fomenting unrest that has killed at least 13 people.</p>
<p>More details <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/25/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1O12B20140225" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/25/14 11:40 AM ET</p>
<p>Demographics of the protesters</p>
<p>On Tuesday, The New York Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/world/americas/in-venezuela-middle-class-joins-protests.html?hp&amp;_r=0" type="external">took a closer look at how Venezuela's protests</a> have spread from their original core of student demonstrators to people from other socio-economic backgrounds.&#160;</p>
<p>"These were not your ordinary urban guerrillas. They included a manicurist, a medical supplies saleswoman, a schoolteacher, a businessman and a hardware store worker."</p>
<p>Carlos Alviarez, a 39-year-old protester told The Times, “Look. I’ve got a rock in my hand and I’m the distributor for Adidas eyewear in Venezuela."</p>
<p>Read the story <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/world/americas/in-venezuela-middle-class-joins-protests.html?hp&amp;_r=0" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/25/14 10:00 AM ET</p>
<p>Venezuela to nominate an ambassador to Washington</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — Venezuela, which has been at odds with the United States for years and announced the expulsion of three US diplomats last week, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140225/venezuela-despite-friction-name-envoy-us" type="external">will nominate an ambassador to Washington Tuesday</a>, President Nicolas Maduro said Monday.</p>
<p>Venezuela and the United States have not had ambassadors in each others' countries since 2010.&#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/24/14 5:18 PM ET</p>
<p>Is Ukraine overshadowing Venezuela?</p>
<p>International news media has attracted a lot of criticism for its lack of coverage of the protests in Venezuela. The Caracas Chronicles published a <a href="http://caracaschronicles.com/2014/02/20/the-game-changed/" type="external">scathing blog post</a> on Feb. 20 calling out a number of news outlets for scant coverage of the protests. Adam Taylor, foreign affairs reporter and blogger at The Washington Post, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/02/24/amid-the-coverage-of-ukraine-is-a-crisis-in-venezuela-being-ignored/" type="external">looked into why the protests in Venezuela are not getting the same level of attention as the protests in Ukraine</a>.</p>
<p>"For one thing, Venezuela lacks the obvious geopolitical element that made Euromaidan seem like a clash of civilizations: The Ukrainian people's hopes for a democratic, 'European' future vs. the 'Russian' brute force of Viktor Yanukovych's government. ... The narrative for Venezuela may be less compelling, especially to the many Americans who have sympathy for the socialist government in Venezuela," Taylor wrote Monday.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/24/14 3:45 PM ET</p>
<p>Military response called 'a grave error' by member of President Nicolas Maduro's party</p>
<p>Jose Gregorio Vielma Mora, governor of Tachira, called the military response to the unrest "a grave error" and an "unacceptable excess,"&#160; <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gnqSc4CAyIBPIcmx1ns-Bd4vrxrw?docId=1dfa8bdf-1307-451f-8b15-997ea5760c32" type="external">reported Agence-France Presse</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/24/14 03:15 PM ET</p>
<p>Death toll rises to 13</p>
<p>Thomson Reuters —&#160;Anti-government demonstrators put up barricades and set fire to trash in Caracas on Monday despite calls from within the opposition to rein in protests that have led to 13 deaths in Venezuela's worst unrest for a decade.</p>
<p>Read more <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/24/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1N14E20140224" type="external">here</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/21/14 5:10 PM ET</p>
<p>Fuel supply threat</p>
<p>There are also reports that authorities might cut off gasoline supply to the protest regions.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/21/14 5:00 PM ET</p>
<p>Death toll rises</p>
<p>El Universal newspaper in Caracas <a href="http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/protestas-en-venezuela/140221/asciende-a-ocho-las-personas-fallecidas-en-jornadas-de-protestas" type="external">reports that eight people have died in the unres</a> <a href="http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/protestas-en-venezuela/140221/asciende-a-ocho-las-personas-fallecidas-en-jornadas-de-protestas" type="external">t</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/21/14 4:35 PM ET</p>
<p>Venezuela expats are tweeting the way for embattled protesters</p>
<p>"Since the Venezuelan President Nicolas&#160;Maduro's government blocked access to a range of visual media covering the protests, young Venezuelans abroad have resorted to online social networks to keep family and friends inside the country informed," <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/colombia/140221/venezuela-blackout-expats-social-media" type="external">wrote&#160;</a> <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/colombia/140221/venezuela-blackout-expats-social-media" type="external">Wesley Tomaselli</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/21/14 3:35 PM ET</p>
<p>Communication channels blocked</p>
<p>The Associated Press reported that Venezuelan authorities had blocked off various communication channels. Internet service was cut off to San Cristobal for more than 30 hours. Access to the walkie-talkie app Zello, which is widely used as an organizing tool, was also blocked.</p>
<p><a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ceo-venezuela-blocks-key-app-protesters" type="external">Full story on Associated Press</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/21/14 2:45 PM ET</p>
<p>Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez urges resistance from jail</p>
<p>Thomson Reuters — Venezuela's jailed protest leader urged supporters on Friday to keep demonstrating peacefully against President Nicolas Maduro despite violence that has killed at least six people and rocked the OPEC member nation.</p>
<p>"I'm fine, I ask you not to give up, I won't," Leopoldo Lopez said to his followers in a handwritten note passed to his wife at Caracas' Ramo Verde prison then posted on the Internet.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1K17A20140221" type="external">F</a> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1K17A20140221" type="external">ull story on Thomson Reuters</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/21/14 12:00 PM ET</p>
<p>Some charges against opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez dropped</p>
<p>Prosecutors dropped the charges of murder and terrorism against opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, who turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/20/world/americas/venezuela-protests/" type="external">CNN cited his attorney Juan Carlos Gutierrez saying</a> Lopez was formally charged with arson and conspiracy, which could land him in prison for 10 years, if convicted.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/21/14 10:14 AM ET</p>
<p>Venezuela deploys paratroopers after more protests</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — The Venezuelan government ordered paratroopers Thursday to a border city where growing student protests began over two weeks ago, with President Nicolas Maduro angrily rejecting US calls for dialogue.</p>
<p>The nationwide demonstrations, led by students and the opposition, have left at least four people dead and dozens hurt in the biggest challenge to Maduro since he took power from the late Hugo Chavez last year.</p>
<p>There have been near-daily protests and rallies, some of them violent, in the capital Caracas and other cities, over what Maduro's critics say are deteriorating economic conditions, rampant street crime, corruption and bleak job prospects.</p>
<p>Maduro's leftist government — which is sitting on the world's largest proven oil reserves — rushed a battalion of paratroopers to the city of San Cristobal, birthplace of the demonstrations that began on Feb. 4.</p>
<p>The military response came in response to claims from the government that Colombians were crossing the border there "to carry out paramilitary missions" in Venezuela.</p>
<p>Shops were closed and streets eerie in San Cristobal, capital of the western border state of Tachira, where there have been almost daily clashes between protesters and security forces.</p>
<p>Maduro meanwhile threatened to block CNN over what he called the US broadcaster's "propaganda war," and shot back at Barack Obama, who has urged Venezuela to release detained protesters and address the "legitimate grievances" of its people.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/140218/venezuela-the-revolution-will-not-be-televised-ntn24" type="external">In Venezuela, the revolution will not be televised by NTN24</a></p>
<p>Maduro's government said it "emphatically repudiates" Obama's remarks, accusing the US president of "a new and crude interference in the internal affairs of our country."</p>
<p>On Sunday, Maduro ordered the expulsion of three US diplomats, accusing them of meeting student leaders to conspire under the guise of offering them visas. Washington denies the allegations.</p>
<p>Maduro also came under attack from US pop icon Madonna, who Thursday accused Maduro's government of "fascism" over its handling of the roiling demonstrations.</p>
<p>White for peace&#160;</p>
<p>Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who has kept a low profile during the protests, challenged Maduro to prove his claims that the demonstrations were part of a conspiracy to overthrow his government.</p>
<p>"Is this a coup or an auto-coup?" he asked. "The only one who has talked about a coup d'etat has been the government. It is a fabrication by government actors," he said.</p>
<p>Prominent opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, who has helped spearhead the protests, is being held at a military jail where his lawyers say he could remain for up to 45 days awaiting trial.</p>
<p>Lopez, a 42-year-old Harvard-educated economist, has been charged with instigating violence, property damage and criminal association — but not murder, as had been threatened.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/140213/venezuela-protest-explainer" type="external">Venezuela: Why they protes</a> <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/140213/venezuela-protest-explainer" type="external">t</a></p>
<p>Student protest leaders called Thursday for a march for peace, urging "Venezuelan civil society to respond to the violence with white flowers."</p>
<p>The students convened a rally, with flowers, in Las Mercedes, an upscale Caracas neighborhood of embassies, trendy restaurants and luxury condominiums.</p>
<p>But their plea fell on deaf ears, with yet more disturbances in other parts of the capital.</p>
<p>Tear gas fired</p>
<p>Late Wednesday in Caracas, police fired tear gas and buckshot to disperse hundreds of anti-government protesters. Burning barricades, police assaults, and intimidating sweeps by pro-government civilians on motorcycles kept residents on edge through the night.</p>
<p>The archbishop of Caracas appealed to the government to rein in "armed groups" who he said were "acting freely, with impunity."</p>
<p>"How is it possible that there could be eight or nine wounded in Valencia and a girl dead in the vilest manner simply because an armed group attacked a peaceful protest," Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino said.</p>
<p>He was referring to the latest fatality — a 21-year-old beauty queen who was shot in the head Tuesday at a protest rally in the northern city of Valencia.</p>
<p>When reports first linked violence in an earlier shooting incident Feb. 12 to armed groups that appeared to be working in concert with security forces, Maduro said those groups had no place on the government's side.</p>
<p>"I do not accept violent groups in the Chavismo camp," he said.</p>
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<p>[ <a href="http://www.storify.com/globalpost/protests-turn-deadly-in-venezuela" type="external">View the story "Protests turn deadly in Caracas and elsewhere" on Storify</a>]</p>
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reactiondiv_gig_containerparent displaynone 160latest developments venezuela protests turn deadly update 22814 0500 pm et signing live blog closed please check developments update 22814 0422 pm et parallels ukraine venezuela ukraine according ian bremmer president eurasia group analyzed crisis venezuela blog post reuters today trajectory unrest venezuela wont ukraines venezuelan president nicolas maduro better positioned ousted ukranian president viktor yanukovych wrote blog post maduro weak president sure protests represent far severe challenge authority date maduro holds many cards ukraines yanukovich retains control loyalty key apparatus state military police security forces parliament stateowned oil company pdvsa venezuelas main source revenue unified command within security forces could turn organized fashion security forces much willing repress support regime ukraine update 22814 0336 pm et protests caracas today 160 antigovernment demonstrators protest eastern caracas feb 28 2014 leo ramirezafpgetty images protesters hold photos people say assassinated antigovernment demonstration feb 28 2014 caracas venezuela photo john mooregetty images update 22814 0303 pm et kerry says hes working see mediation resolve venezuela crisis thomson reuters united states working colombia countries see whether mediation might possible bring opposing sides venezuelas crisis together talks us secretary state john kerry said friday working closely colombia countries try see kind mediation might able take place obviously already proven difficult two sides bring together kerry said joint news conference colombian counterpart update 22814 0237 pm et jailed venezuela protest leader mocks maduros talks thomson reuters imprisoned venezuelan protest leader leopoldo lopez scoffed friday president nicolas maduros efforts open talks opponents businessman month demonstrations violence killed least 17 people maduro 51 seems weathered worst explosion protests socialist government exposed deep discontent venezuelas economic problems brought nations worst unrest decade lopez hardline opposition leader arrested charges fomenting violence said maduros talk dialogue hypocritical tactic intended deflate protests failing address real problems behind dialogue tactical retreat result pressure streets real conviction lopez said message ramo verde prison given wife tweeted via husbands account leopoldolopez maduros dialogue come miraflores presidential palace speak nation pursue kill repress streets update 22814 1225 pm et sos venezuela video ill tell fascist venezuela gringo venezuelan president nicolas madudro shouted television verbal assault opposition enemies youre gringo mind wickedness making play words based antigovernment protest hashtagslogan sos venezuela colombias el universal news site reported word game doesnt translate well english pronouncing phrase sos venezuela spanish also mean youre venezuela electronic music producer alex mor sampled laid track beats cartoonist emmanuel vidal illustrated hilarious caricature nic madurox turning president rapper 160globalpost americas editor alex leff update 22814 0939 et venezuela pursues second opposition figure agence francepresse venezuela issued arrest warrant second opposition figure party said ramping pressure protesters staged nationwide rallies biggest challenge president nicolas maduro since came power neardaily demonstrations seen dueling pro antigovernment protesters face sometimes violent confrontations left 14 people dead deeply polarized economically troubled oilrich country since start february leopoldo lopez opposition voluntad popular popular turned last week warrant went arrest party said thursday maduros embattled government seeking carlos vecchio partys national political coordinator party said arrest warrant issued judge ralenis tovar guillen ordered general directorate military intelligence capture vecchio alleged crimes arson public incitement damage criminal association charges brought lopez court officials confirmed move vecchio tweet vecchio said warrant politically motivated evidence wrote update 22714 0517 pm et signing live blog closed please check developments update 22714 0502 pm et crisis mediation help uruguay el universal newspaper colombia reported uruguayan president jose mujica offered help mediate crisis venezuela update 22714 0452 pm et unlawful killings venezuela us state department report us state department released annual country reports human rights practices 2013 today featured indepth look human rights abuses around globe venezuela report noted unlawful killings including summary killings police elements torture cruel inhumane degrading treatment harsh lifethreatening prison conditions lack due process rights contributed widespread violence riots injuries deaths prisons update 22714 0409 pm et surprise national holidays venezuelan president nicolas maduro decreed today tomorrow national holidays hopes quieten unrest gripping country bloomberg reported update 22714 0318 pm et ground caracas un secretarygeneral ban kimoon called calm venezuela yesterday reuters reported globalpost contributor alasdair baverstock captured striking160 images rioters barricades graffiti streets caracas venezuela plaza altamira protesters prepare nightly battles government forces erecting barricades launch attacks seek refuge demonstrators build barriers metal scraps bags garbage raided public trash cans wrote view photographs 160 update 22714 208 pm et protests barricades bring venezuelas cordial city halt thomson reuters piles glass trashed refrigerator burned remains car litter streets pirineos neighborhood venezuelan city san cristobal giving look community siege fact residents middleclass area created disorder part antigovernment protests demanding president nicolas maduro resign open sewer grates expose gaping holes street debris piled across intersections blocks traffic residents set rules cars pass barricade community effort neighbors held assembly agreement said one burly man asked identified hooded teenagers unloaded sacks rocks back pickup call resistance going ease matter governor president says businesses mostly shut public transport suspended sporadic demonstrations kicked two months ago san cristobal turned national opposition protest movement shuttered city 250000 known cordial city residents reserved andean chivalry update 22714 0137 pm et national intelligence agents arrested chief prosecutor luisa ortega announced yesterday five national intelligence agents arrested connection deaths two people protests associated press reported160 update 22614 0457 pm et signing live blog closed please check developments update 22614 0420 pm et underlying causes unrest recent gallup analysis revealed venezuelans perception quality life plummeted last year fast company published charts gallup data which160showed shifts opinions venezuelans countrys economy safety standard living 2013 62 percent thought venezuelas economic condition getting worse 12 percent thought getting better according data check charts fast company update 22614 0401 pm et view san cristobal protests started 160 update 22614 319 pm et kerry weighs in160 us secretary state john kerry said us blame unrest venezuela160 kerry said regrettably president maduro keeps choosing blame united states things things unhappy economy society update 22614 0127 pm et brutality accusations thomson reuters venezuelan protester juan manuel carrasco says cursing soldiers antigovernment protest grabbed two friends case become focus brutality accusations venezuelas security forces 21yearold carrasco says later found national guard holding area got knees started hitting batons told reuters family home central city valencia house arrest pending trial involvement unrest rocked venezuela recent weeks called son bitch said going kill said showing bruises torso describing actions says 30 soldiers forced 11 others strip february 13 shoved rifle bottom last accusation particularly incensed government critics one serious allegations human rights groups leveling venezuelas military police months unrest government however specifically denies carrascos allegation says part campaign fabrication denigrate president nicolas maduros government overshadow violence demonstrators wrote girish gupta160 update 22614 1245 pm et impact oil market protests affecting global oil market venezuelas turmoil put upward pressure crude prices last week market expecting petroleum facilities halted protests reported thomson reuters update 22614 1048 et key figures political crisis government opposition struggle upper hand bitterly polarized venezuela globalpost runs key players fight heres complete breakdown major players update 22614 958 et pope francis calls reconciliation mutual forgiveness pope francis expressed concerns protests venezuela weekly general audience bbc reported called venezuelan people promote reconciliation mutual forgiveness sincere dialogue update 22614 0830 et venezuelan president nicolas maduro seeks peace meeting agence francepresse venezuelan president nicolas maduro sought hold peace conference wednesday attempt end three weeks times deadly antigovernment protests oilrich deeply divided country main opposition leader henrique capriles attending saying tired calls government lies police repression students protesters full story update 22514 515 pm et signing live blog closed please check developments update 22514 0441 pm et snapshots protests globalposts sarah wolfe put together photo essay featuring the160 vivid unsettling images protests160from past days160 man attends protest government venezuelan president nicolas maduro caracas raul arboleda afpgetty images update 22514 439 pm et moral support ukranian protesters several photos emerged twitter today ukranian protesters showing solidarity demonstrators venezuela look update 22514 354 pm et titfortat move thomson reuters united states tuesday ordered three venezuelan diplomats leave reprisal president nicolas maduros expulsion three american embassy staff accused fomenting unrest killed least 13 people details update 22514 1140 et demographics protesters tuesday new york times took closer look venezuelas protests spread original core student demonstrators people socioeconomic backgrounds160 ordinary urban guerrillas included manicurist medical supplies saleswoman schoolteacher businessman hardware store worker carlos alviarez 39yearold protester told times look ive got rock hand im distributor adidas eyewear venezuela read story update 22514 1000 et venezuela nominate ambassador washington agence francepresse venezuela odds united states years announced expulsion three us diplomats last week nominate ambassador washington tuesday president nicolas maduro said monday venezuela united states ambassadors others countries since 2010160 update 22414 518 pm et ukraine overshadowing venezuela international news media attracted lot criticism lack coverage protests venezuela caracas chronicles published scathing blog post feb 20 calling number news outlets scant coverage protests adam taylor foreign affairs reporter blogger washington post looked protests venezuela getting level attention protests ukraine one thing venezuela lacks obvious geopolitical element made euromaidan seem like clash civilizations ukrainian peoples hopes democratic european future vs russian brute force viktor yanukovychs government narrative venezuela may less compelling especially many americans sympathy socialist government venezuela taylor wrote monday update 22414 345 pm et military response called grave error member president nicolas maduros party jose gregorio vielma mora governor tachira called military response unrest grave error unacceptable excess160 reported agencefrance presse update 22414 0315 pm et death toll rises 13 thomson reuters 160antigovernment demonstrators put barricades set fire trash caracas monday despite calls within opposition rein protests led 13 deaths venezuelas worst unrest decade read here160 update 22114 510 pm et fuel supply threat also reports authorities might cut gasoline supply protest regions update 22114 500 pm et death toll rises el universal newspaper caracas reports eight people died unres update 22114 435 pm et venezuela expats tweeting way embattled protesters since venezuelan president nicolas160maduros government blocked access range visual media covering protests young venezuelans abroad resorted online social networks keep family friends inside country informed wrote160 wesley tomaselli160 update 22114 335 pm et communication channels blocked associated press reported venezuelan authorities blocked various communication channels internet service cut san cristobal 30 hours access walkietalkie app zello widely used organizing tool also blocked full story associated press update 22114 245 pm et opposition leader leopoldo lopez urges resistance jail thomson reuters venezuelas jailed protest leader urged supporters friday keep demonstrating peacefully president nicolas maduro despite violence killed least six people rocked opec member nation im fine ask give wont leopoldo lopez said followers handwritten note passed wife caracas ramo verde prison posted internet f ull story thomson reuters update 22114 1200 pm et charges opposition leader leopoldo lopez dropped prosecutors dropped charges murder terrorism opposition leader leopoldo lopez turned authorities tuesday cnn cited attorney juan carlos gutierrez saying lopez formally charged arson conspiracy could land prison 10 years convicted update 22114 1014 et venezuela deploys paratroopers protests agence francepresse venezuelan government ordered paratroopers thursday border city growing student protests began two weeks ago president nicolas maduro angrily rejecting us calls dialogue nationwide demonstrations led students opposition left least four people dead dozens hurt biggest challenge maduro since took power late hugo chavez last year neardaily protests rallies violent capital caracas cities maduros critics say deteriorating economic conditions rampant street crime corruption bleak job prospects maduros leftist government sitting worlds largest proven oil reserves rushed battalion paratroopers city san cristobal birthplace demonstrations began feb 4 military response came response claims government colombians crossing border carry paramilitary missions venezuela shops closed streets eerie san cristobal capital western border state tachira almost daily clashes protesters security forces maduro meanwhile threatened block cnn called us broadcasters propaganda war shot back barack obama urged venezuela release detained protesters address legitimate grievances people globalpost160 venezuela revolution televised ntn24 maduros government said emphatically repudiates obamas remarks accusing us president new crude interference internal affairs country sunday maduro ordered expulsion three us diplomats accusing meeting student leaders conspire guise offering visas washington denies allegations maduro also came attack us pop icon madonna thursday accused maduros government fascism handling roiling demonstrations white peace160 opposition leader henrique capriles kept low profile protests challenged maduro prove claims demonstrations part conspiracy overthrow government coup autocoup asked one talked coup detat government fabrication government actors said prominent opposition leader leopoldo lopez helped spearhead protests held military jail lawyers say could remain 45 days awaiting trial lopez 42yearold harvardeducated economist charged instigating violence property damage criminal association murder threatened globalpost160 venezuela protes student protest leaders called thursday march peace urging venezuelan civil society respond violence white flowers students convened rally flowers las mercedes upscale caracas neighborhood embassies trendy restaurants luxury condominiums plea fell deaf ears yet disturbances parts capital tear gas fired late wednesday caracas police fired tear gas buckshot disperse hundreds antigovernment protesters burning barricades police assaults intimidating sweeps progovernment civilians motorcycles kept residents edge night archbishop caracas appealed government rein armed groups said acting freely impunity possible could eight nine wounded valencia girl dead vilest manner simply armed group attacked peaceful protest cardinal jorge urosa savino said referring latest fatality 21yearold beauty queen shot head tuesday protest rally northern city valencia reports first linked violence earlier shooting incident feb 12 armed groups appeared working concert security forces maduro said groups place governments side accept violent groups chavismo camp said mbpstadm 160 view story protests turn deadly caracas elsewhere storify color bordercolorbbbbbb borderstylesolid borderwidth1px backgroundcolorf8f8f8 floatcenter 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<p><a href="" type="internal" />June 19, 2013</p>
<p>By Wayne Lusvardi</p>
<p>Was it conservative budget austerity or liberal tax hikes that have brought about a <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/24/news/la-ol-california-jerry-brown-20130124" type="external">“California comeback,”</a>&#160;as proclaimed by Gov. Jerry Brown and others?&#160;The common view is that tax hikes have brought the recovery and balanced the budget.</p>
<p>For example, Nobel Economics Laureate and New York Times columnist <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/01/opinion/krugman-lessons-from-a-comeback.html?hp&amp;_r=0" type="external">Paul Krugman wrote</a>that, with a Democratic supermajority in the Legislature, Brown is “free to push an agenda of tax hikes and infrastructure spending that sounds remarkably like the kind of thing California used to do before the rise of the radical right.</p>
<p>“And if this agenda is successful, it will have national implications. After all, California’s political story — in which a radicalized G.O.P. fell increasingly out of touch with an increasingly diverse and socially liberal electorate, and eventually found itself marginalized — is arguably playing out with a lag on the national scene too.</p>
<p>“So is California still the place where the future happens first? Stay tuned.”</p>
<p>Los Angeles based free-lance writer David Dayen <a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/05/31/how_liberals_saved_california/" type="external">writes in Salon</a>, “How liberals saved California.” Subtitle: “It wasn’t Jerry Brown’s austerity that led the fiscal comeback. It was the state’s smart, bold progressive movement.”</p>
<p>Dayen insists California was rescued when a Democratic Party supermajority took power away from Republicans to pass a budget without opposition.&#160; Dayen singles out Brown’s &#160;“pro-austerity” bias of cutting $15 billion from health and welfare programs as a failure.&#160; “Brown’s asceticism is not something to admire without measuring the dramatic real world effects” from health and dental care cutbacks.</p>
<p>However, writing in the June 2013 “Economic Letter” of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank, senior economist Daniel Wilson and associate Brian Lucking convincingly show that tax hikes, not spending cuts, are likely to suppress economic growth over the next three years. In&#160; <a href="http://www.frbsf.org/economic-research/publications/economic-letter/2013/june/fiscal-headwinds-federal-budget-policy/" type="external">“Fiscal Headwinds: Is the Other Shoe About to Drop?,”</a> they conclude:</p>
<p>“Surprisingly, despite all the attention federal spending cuts and sequestration have received, our calculations suggest they are not the major contributors to this projected (economic) drag.&#160; The excess fiscal drag on the horizon comes almost entirely from raising taxes.”</p>
<p>According to data shown by Wilson and Lucking, taxes as a share of Gross Domestic Product were below the historical trend during the Great Recession.&#160; But they project that taxes over the next three years will rise much faster and will slow the economy about 1 percentage point per year. &#160;Their research is not specifically about California.&#160; Nonetheless, we can reasonably conclude that California’s recent income and sales tax increases, coupled with tax hikes at the local level, will additionally retard state growth.</p>
<p>Furthermore, a report conducted by the <a href="http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR1229.html" type="external">Rand Corporation</a> in June 2012 concluded that deregulation and cutbacks of “categorical jobs programs” saved California K-12 schools from 2007 to 2012.&#160; In other words, austerity coupled with deregulation worked.</p>
<p>While there may be a self-proclaimed “comeback” for California’s state budget, this has not extended to the state’s economy, especially for those at the lower end of the occupational ladder.&#160; The recent <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ucla-forecast-20130605,0,7676874.story" type="external">U.C.L.A. Anderson Business School Economic Forecast</a> concluded,&#160;“It’s not a recovery.&#160; It’s not even normal growth.&#160; It’s bad.”</p>
<p>California is still living in budget denial. It is increasing funding for public schools based on a proclaimed economic comeback.&#160; However, California’s so-called <a href="http://politicaloutcast.com/2013/03/democrats-balanced-budget-still-results-in-huge-deficits/" type="external">balanced budget</a> is still running huge deficits for underfunded pensions and retiree health benefits.</p>
<p>Obamacare likely will make things worse. As the Los Angeles Times <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2013/may/23/business/la-fi-calif-health-rates-20130524" type="external">reported last month</a>, “The average premium for individual plans sold through [the private] EHealthInsurance in California last year was $177 a month. Covered California [the state Obamacare scheme] said the average premium for the three lowest Silver plans statewide was $321 a month, albeit for more comprehensive benefits.” That extra money will be taken out of people’s pockets and put into Obamacare, reducing non-government economic activity statewide.</p>
<p>Actually, there is a way out — a way to increase tax revenues while also cutting tax rates.</p>
<p>In his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eureka-How-California-Arthur-Laffer/dp/1934276189" type="external">“Eureka! How To Fix California,”</a> economist Art Laffer cites studies showing that increasing state income taxes slows relative growth. &#160;Public pension funds that require nearly 7.5 percent to 7.75 &#160;percent annual return are unlikely to be fully funded in a slow-growth California.</p>
<p>Laffer asserts that California gives up $500 billion (with a “b”) per year because of the compound effect of growth-suppressing policies.&#160; This is five times the average state general fund budget of about $100 billion per year.&#160; Public schools and those dependent on health and welfare programs could benefit from his flat tax proposal.</p>
<p>Laffer proposes scrapping the entire state tax system — income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, etc. — and replacing it with a simple flat income tax of 5.5 percent. At a minimum, it would reduce accounting costs needed to comply with incredibly complex state tax laws. It also would free immense amounts of capital for investment in new business and jobs creation, greatly broadening the tax base in the bargain. More economic activity means higher tax collections, without higher tax rates.</p>
<p>With the “California comeback” supposedly advancing at a fast clip, action on Laffer’s idea is unlikely now. But during the next recession, when California obviously no longer is “back,” but once again down and out, his ideas will be worth trying.</p>
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june 19 2013 wayne lusvardi conservative budget austerity liberal tax hikes brought california comeback160as proclaimed gov jerry brown others160the common view tax hikes brought recovery balanced budget example nobel economics laureate new york times columnist paul krugman wrotethat democratic supermajority legislature brown free push agenda tax hikes infrastructure spending sounds remarkably like kind thing california used rise radical right agenda successful national implications californias political story radicalized gop fell increasingly touch increasingly diverse socially liberal electorate eventually found marginalized arguably playing lag national scene california still place future happens first stay tuned los angeles based freelance writer david dayen writes salon liberals saved california subtitle wasnt jerry browns austerity led fiscal comeback states smart bold progressive movement dayen insists california rescued democratic party supermajority took power away republicans pass budget without opposition160 dayen singles browns 160proausterity bias cutting 15 billion health welfare programs failure160 browns asceticism something admire without measuring dramatic real world effects health dental care cutbacks however writing june 2013 economic letter san francisco federal reserve bank senior economist daniel wilson associate brian lucking convincingly show tax hikes spending cuts likely suppress economic growth next three years in160 fiscal headwinds shoe drop conclude surprisingly despite attention federal spending cuts sequestration received calculations suggest major contributors projected economic drag160 excess fiscal drag horizon comes almost entirely raising taxes according data shown wilson lucking taxes share gross domestic product historical trend great recession160 project taxes next three years rise much faster slow economy 1 percentage point per year 160their research specifically california160 nonetheless reasonably conclude californias recent income sales tax increases coupled tax hikes local level additionally retard state growth furthermore report conducted rand corporation june 2012 concluded deregulation cutbacks categorical jobs programs saved california k12 schools 2007 2012160 words austerity coupled deregulation worked may selfproclaimed comeback californias state budget extended states economy especially lower end occupational ladder160 recent ucla anderson business school economic forecast concluded160its recovery160 even normal growth160 bad california still living budget denial increasing funding public schools based proclaimed economic comeback160 however californias socalled balanced budget still running huge deficits underfunded pensions retiree health benefits obamacare likely make things worse los angeles times reported last month average premium individual plans sold private ehealthinsurance california last year 177 month covered california state obamacare scheme said average premium three lowest silver plans statewide 321 month albeit comprehensive benefits extra money taken peoples pockets put obamacare reducing nongovernment economic activity statewide actually way way increase tax revenues also cutting tax rates book eureka fix california economist art laffer cites studies showing increasing state income taxes slows relative growth 160public pension funds require nearly 75 percent 775 160percent annual return unlikely fully funded slowgrowth california laffer asserts california gives 500 billion b per year compound effect growthsuppressing policies160 five times average state general fund budget 100 billion per year160 public schools dependent health welfare programs could benefit flat tax proposal laffer proposes scrapping entire state tax system income taxes property taxes sales taxes etc replacing simple flat income tax 55 percent minimum would reduce accounting costs needed comply incredibly complex state tax laws also would free immense amounts capital investment new business jobs creation greatly broadening tax base bargain economic activity means higher tax collections without higher tax rates california comeback supposedly advancing fast clip action laffers idea unlikely next recession california obviously longer back ideas worth trying
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<p>An anti-trans bathroom bill is moving in the South Dakota legislature. (Photo by Dk4hb; courtesy Wikimedia Commons)</p>
<p>An anti-transgender bill may be on the way to passage in South Dakota, making the state ground zero for the latest wave of anti-LGBT legislation.</p>
<p>The bill, <a href="http://legis.sd.gov/docs/legsession/2016/Bills/HB1008H.pdf" type="external">HB 1008</a>, would prohibit transgender students in public schools from using the public restroom consistent with their gender identity. The legislation says schools must provide transgender students with a “reasonable accommodation,” although it can’t be a shared facility, such as a locker room or public restroom.</p>
<p>A Senate committee approved the legislation on Thursday by a 4-2 vote after the House had already approved the legislation by a vote of 58-10. The full chamber is likely to take up the bill on Tuesday, a source familiar with the South Dakota Senate told the Washington Blade.</p>
<p>Thomas Christiansen, president of the South Dakota-based non-profit known as the Center for LGBT Equality, said the bill is moving forward because his state is a “playing ground” for national outside groups to test anti-LGBT initiatives.</p>
<p>“We have a pretty conservative legislature, and I think they use that to their advantage,” Christiansen said.</p>
<p>The legislation has brought out anti-trans sentiment from lawmakers in South Dakota. During a legislative coffee on Saturday, State Sen. David Omdahl (R-Sioux Falls) said the bill is about protecting children and transgender people are “so twisted you don’t even know you are.”</p>
<p>“I look at what’s going on in the military, etc., they’re treating the wrong part of the anatomy,” Omdahl said. “They ought to be treating it up here, and so, yeah, my feeling is let’s protect the children, let’s get this bill passed.”</p>
<p>The bill is moving forward now as opposed to earlier, Christiansen said, because it’s backlash to growing visibility of transgender people like “Orange is the New Black” actress Laverne Cox and TV personality Caitlyn Jenner.</p>
<p>“I think they feel the need to put these bills in place to prevent, really, LGBT-inclusion,” Christiansen said. “They don’t want that here, and that’s unfortunate.”</p>
<p>The legislation may well be headed to the desk of Gov. Dennis Daugaard, whose office hasn’t responded to repeated requests from the Washington Blade to comment on whether he’d veto the bill.</p>
<p>Christiansen said the bill isn’t certain to be signed into law, even with support for the bill in the legislature, because of the degree of public outrage against it.</p>
<p>“I think when we look at the ramifications and what that means for state funding potentially, I think those are big factors that I hope would defeat these bills in the end,” Christiansen said. “If this does pass in the Senate, I hope that the governor really does take a hard-core look at the actual legal implications, but not just that, even the cultural impact that is has on our impact, and economic impact.”</p>
<p>Other anti-trans bills this year in Washington State, Virginia and Indiana failed in the state legislature. Just this week, the full Washington State Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, brought up and voted down an anti-trans bathroom bill by a narrow 25-24 vote.</p>
<p>In South Dakota, HB 1008 is but one anti-LGBT bill pending before the legislature, although it’s the furthest along in the process. Another bill is HB 1007, a religious freedom bill seen to enable anti-LGBT discrimination. Yet another, HB 1112, would ban any transgender-inclusive policies in South Dakota schools.</p>
<p>Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, called on Daugaard to veto the HB 1008 should the South Dakota Senate send the legislation to his desk.</p>
<p>“This outrageous legislation is a blatant attack on transgender children,” Griffin said. “These vulnerable youth deserve support and solutions to the high rates of discrimination and harassment they already face, not a deplorable message of hatred from their lawmakers. We once again call on the Senate to stop this vile attack dead in its tracks and call on Gov. Daugaard to veto it if it reaches his desk.”</p>
<p>In years past, the business community helped derail anti-LGBT legislation in Arizona, Indiana and Arkansas by speaking out against it, but that doesn’t seem to be happening in South Dakota.</p>
<p>The South Dakota Chamber of Commerce didn’t respond to the Washington Blade’s request to comment on Friday about the anti-trans legislation.</p>
<p>Also not responding to comment on the bill were major employers in South Dakota: Citibank, which operates its headquarters in Sioux Falls, and Tyson Foods, which operates Tyson Fresh Meats out of Dakota Dunes.</p>
<p>Cindy Morrison, executive vice president of Sanford Health, a major medical facility based in Sioux Falls, S.D., said Sanford Health has no position on the bill.</p>
<p>“Sanford Health has taken no formal advocacy position,” Morrison said. “However, Sanford’s employment policies prohibit discrimination of any kind, including discrimination based on sexual orientation, marital status or gender identity.”</p>
<p>Christiansen said having the business community in South Dakota speak out against the anti-trans legislation would “absolutely” be helpful in derailing it.</p>
<p>“I think businesses should be outraged and I hope that they join the fight,” Christiansen said. “I haven’t actually heard a lot of companies that are speaking out against it. I think it’s been really the community at large is really shocked at the comments that are coming from our legislators.”</p>
<p>A White House official declined to comment directly on HB 1008 when asked by the Blade if President Obama opposes the bill.</p>
<p>“We’ll decline to comment on this specific legislation, but the president has repeatedly emphasized that our journey toward a more equal nation is not complete until our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans are treated like anyone else under the law — and this administration has been especially vocal about and committed to addressing the challenges facing LGBT youth,” the official said.</p>
<p>The campaigns for Hillary Clinton and Bernard Sanders didn’t respond to a request to comment on whether the candidates oppose the legislation.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">anti-trans bathroom bills</a> <a href="" type="internal">Center for LGBT Equality</a> <a href="" type="internal">Chad Griffin</a> <a href="" type="internal">Human Rights Campaign</a> <a href="" type="internal">South Dakota</a> <a href="" type="internal">Thomas Christiansen</a></p>
| false | 3 |
antitrans bathroom bill moving south dakota legislature photo dk4hb courtesy wikimedia commons antitransgender bill may way passage south dakota making state ground zero latest wave antilgbt legislation bill hb 1008 would prohibit transgender students public schools using public restroom consistent gender identity legislation says schools must provide transgender students reasonable accommodation although cant shared facility locker room public restroom senate committee approved legislation thursday 42 vote house already approved legislation vote 5810 full chamber likely take bill tuesday source familiar south dakota senate told washington blade thomas christiansen president south dakotabased nonprofit known center lgbt equality said bill moving forward state playing ground national outside groups test antilgbt initiatives pretty conservative legislature think use advantage christiansen said legislation brought antitrans sentiment lawmakers south dakota legislative coffee saturday state sen david omdahl rsioux falls said bill protecting children transgender people twisted dont even know look whats going military etc theyre treating wrong part anatomy omdahl said ought treating yeah feeling lets protect children lets get bill passed bill moving forward opposed earlier christiansen said backlash growing visibility transgender people like orange new black actress laverne cox tv personality caitlyn jenner think feel need put bills place prevent really lgbtinclusion christiansen said dont want thats unfortunate legislation may well headed desk gov dennis daugaard whose office hasnt responded repeated requests washington blade comment whether hed veto bill christiansen said bill isnt certain signed law even support bill legislature degree public outrage think look ramifications means state funding potentially think big factors hope would defeat bills end christiansen said pass senate hope governor really take hardcore look actual legal implications even cultural impact impact economic impact antitrans bills year washington state virginia indiana failed state legislature week full washington state senate controlled republicans brought voted antitrans bathroom bill narrow 2524 vote south dakota hb 1008 one antilgbt bill pending legislature although furthest along process another bill hb 1007 religious freedom bill seen enable antilgbt discrimination yet another hb 1112 would ban transgenderinclusive policies south dakota schools chad griffin president human rights campaign called daugaard veto hb 1008 south dakota senate send legislation desk outrageous legislation blatant attack transgender children griffin said vulnerable youth deserve support solutions high rates discrimination harassment already face deplorable message hatred lawmakers call senate stop vile attack dead tracks call gov daugaard veto reaches desk years past business community helped derail antilgbt legislation arizona indiana arkansas speaking doesnt seem happening south dakota south dakota chamber commerce didnt respond washington blades request comment friday antitrans legislation also responding comment bill major employers south dakota citibank operates headquarters sioux falls tyson foods operates tyson fresh meats dakota dunes cindy morrison executive vice president sanford health major medical facility based sioux falls sd said sanford health position bill sanford health taken formal advocacy position morrison said however sanfords employment policies prohibit discrimination kind including discrimination based sexual orientation marital status gender identity christiansen said business community south dakota speak antitrans legislation would absolutely helpful derailing think businesses outraged hope join fight christiansen said havent actually heard lot companies speaking think really community large really shocked comments coming legislators white house official declined comment directly hb 1008 asked blade president obama opposes bill well decline comment specific legislation president repeatedly emphasized journey toward equal nation complete lesbian gay bisexual transgender americans treated like anyone else law administration especially vocal committed addressing challenges facing lgbt youth official said campaigns hillary clinton bernard sanders didnt respond request comment whether candidates oppose legislation antitrans bathroom bills center lgbt equality chad griffin human rights campaign south dakota thomas christiansen
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<p>Mohammad Saladin lives 10&#160;minutes away from a front line in&#160;Syria's civil war. During the day, his&#160;Damascus suburb of East Ghouta comes under government airstrikes, destroying lives and whatever is left of the crumbled infrastructure of this bombed out, pockmarked post-urban landscape. At night, if he keeps his window open, Saladin can hear the shelling and periodic firefights between rebels and government troops at the frontline.</p>
<p>“We’ve gotten so used to the bombardment that it’s part of our daily life now,” he told me on Thursday over Skype. Saladin is not his real name, but a nickname&#160;he adopted in late 2012, when he defected from the Syrian army to join his family members in rebel-held East Ghouta. Since then, he has been unable to leave East Ghouta because he would get arrested at the first government checkpoint.</p>
<p>Many Syrians share his plight. They are wanted by the authorities for defecting or for being related to a known rebel (or as the Syrian government put it, a terrorist) or even because their national ID card says they are born in what is now considered a rebel “hotbed.”&#160;They have become something like second-class citizens in their own country, risking detention and torture in government prison if they enter government territory, or risking death and starvation in rebel held areas like East Ghouta.</p>
<p>But this week is different because it’s the Eid Al Adha. Eid,&#160;the festival of the sacrifice, is about renewal and second chances. It derives from the Biblical story of Abraham, who obeys a divine command to sacrifice his son, before the boy is switched with a calf at the very last minute.</p>
<p>As a sign of humility, Muslims everywhere will slaughter livestock&#160;and distribute the meat to&#160;the poor.</p>
<p>For Saladin, who like many Syrians knew only a middle class life until the uprising-turned-war began in March 2011, Eid al Adha would normally be the time when he would buy meat for the less fortunate. But now, he and and the other residents of&#160;Ghouta have been fending off hunger, not because of unforeseen poverty, but because they have been under a government siege since 2012. No food or medicine can freely enter the area.</p>
<p />
<p>Children carry containers as they queue to receive free meals from a soup kitchen in the besieged town of Deir al-Asafir in the Eastern Ghouta of Damascus May 19, 2015.&#160;</p>
<p>Photo by&#160;Amer Almohibany / Reuters.&#160;</p>
<p>I first visited Saladin in Ghouta in the summer of 2013, shortly after one of the world’s worst chemical attacks targeted the area. In the West, we might go hungry because we forget to shop at the supermarket, or we find ourselves stranded in a small town with all the restaurants closed. In Ghouta, we went to bed hungry, and in the morning we broke our fast on a few olives, which had to tie us over until a mid-afternoon meal, a sort of lunch-dinner, where we were lucky that day to have an egg with some bread.</p>
<p>I left the besieged area and had a good meal. But almost everyone I met in Ghouta remains there today, and survives on the little food they can buy from smugglers who exploit prices to the maximum.</p>
<p>Saladin’s sister-in-law, a pharmacist, told me that one of the biggest medical problems she sees is the bloated stomach associated with hunger, especially among young mothers and children.</p>
<p>“It’s very hard to treat, and we’re not equipped to treat it,” said Moamena, adding that Hepatitis A and dysentery are endemic.</p>
<p>The bombardment has destroyed many of the underlying water pipes in the towns in East Ghouta, causing septic water to contaminate the water supply, causing the rampant liver diseases like Hepatitis and other infections.</p>
<p />
<p>Aya, 8, fills containers with water obtained from a pool formed by damaged and leaking pipes in eastern Ghouta May 2, 2014.&#160;</p>
<p>Photo by&#160;Bassam Khabieh&#160;&#160;/ Reuters.&#160;</p>
<p>At least Saladin and his family are among the lucky ones in Ghouta. Saladin now has a three and half months daughter, and when they pool the family resources together, they manage at least to keep their children fed and healthy.</p>
<p>They have even managed to create a semblance of an Eid atmosphere for the neighborhood children, who in times of peace would expect to spend Eid at an amusement park, riding a pony and a ferris wheel in brand new clothes that their mother carefully selects for the occasion. This Eid, the children of Ghouta will make do with a few toys as they play in the basement of the building, where it is safest during airstrikes.</p>
<p>“Though many parents still won’t send their children to play in our basement because they’re afraid,” said Moamena, Saladin’s sister-in-law.</p>
<p />
<p>A man carries a child who survived after he was pulled from under rubble following what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad at Ain Tarma in eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, Syria April 26, 2015.&#160;</p>
<p>Photo by&#160;Amer Almohibany / Reuters.&#160;</p>
<p>Saladin’s father-in-law, Abu Anas, explained that their family is also fortunate because they are big in number, unlike the majority of families in Ghouta today who find themselves separated from their loved ones. Abu Anas was not shy to share the day’s activities.</p>
<p>“I went to visit my daughter, and then visited my mother. And my other daughter came over to visit. We’re doing what we used to do on Eid. But for other families here they’re not celebrating Eid because they don’t have many family members left,” he told me.</p>
<p>Before the war, about 5 million people lived in&#160;Ghouta, according to local charities.&#160;&#160;Now the population hovers around&#160;500,0000. Many have fled the fighting, finding refuge in Damascus city if they can, or in camps in Lebanon or Turkey. Some fled to Europe, which for Saladin is more of a tragedy on top of all the sadness.</p>
<p>Saladin remembers a time when Western diplomats and UN officials were in constant contact through the Internet with the people of Ghouta. UN personnel have taken a headquarters at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Damascus. That's&#160;barely a 15-minute drive from Saladin’s home, if you don’t count the checkpoints and road closures. But he said the UN no longer visits Ghouta like it once did, and the last time Saladin or anyone he knows in Ghouta heard from the US&#160;State Department was about 18 months ago.</p>
<p>An State Department official confirmed the lack of US contact to The World. The official&#160;on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.</p>
<p>“We used to coordinate contact with people inside Syria until about&#160;a year and a half ago, but this has become so difficult because we don’t have an embassy there. We’re disconnected from Syria,” he said.</p>
<p>But for Saladin, this is a sign of a world turning its back on him, and on his 3-month-old&#160;daughter, Maria.</p>
<p>“Now everyone is talking about receiving refugees as if that were the solution. The US wants to receive thousands, which means they believe this crisis will continue,” he said.&#160;“So the people here are convinced that neither America nor Europe nor the international community are coming to our rescue.”</p>
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mohammad saladin lives 10160minutes away front line in160syrias civil war day his160damascus suburb east ghouta comes government airstrikes destroying lives whatever left crumbled infrastructure bombed pockmarked posturban landscape night keeps window open saladin hear shelling periodic firefights rebels government troops frontline weve gotten used bombardment part daily life told thursday skype saladin real name nickname160he adopted late 2012 defected syrian army join family members rebelheld east ghouta since unable leave east ghouta would get arrested first government checkpoint many syrians share plight wanted authorities defecting related known rebel syrian government put terrorist even national id card says born considered rebel hotbed160they become something like secondclass citizens country risking detention torture government prison enter government territory risking death starvation rebel held areas like east ghouta week different eid al adha eid160the festival sacrifice renewal second chances derives biblical story abraham obeys divine command sacrifice son boy switched calf last minute sign humility muslims everywhere slaughter livestock160and distribute meat to160the poor saladin like many syrians knew middle class life uprisingturnedwar began march 2011 eid al adha would normally time would buy meat less fortunate residents of160ghouta fending hunger unforeseen poverty government siege since 2012 food medicine freely enter area children carry containers queue receive free meals soup kitchen besieged town deir alasafir eastern ghouta damascus may 19 2015160 photo by160amer almohibany reuters160 first visited saladin ghouta summer 2013 shortly one worlds worst chemical attacks targeted area west might go hungry forget shop supermarket find stranded small town restaurants closed ghouta went bed hungry morning broke fast olives tie us midafternoon meal sort lunchdinner lucky day egg bread left besieged area good meal almost everyone met ghouta remains today survives little food buy smugglers exploit prices maximum saladins sisterinlaw pharmacist told one biggest medical problems sees bloated stomach associated hunger especially among young mothers children hard treat equipped treat said moamena adding hepatitis dysentery endemic bombardment destroyed many underlying water pipes towns east ghouta causing septic water contaminate water supply causing rampant liver diseases like hepatitis infections aya 8 fills containers water obtained pool formed damaged leaking pipes eastern ghouta may 2 2014160 photo by160bassam khabieh160160 reuters160 least saladin family among lucky ones ghouta saladin three half months daughter pool family resources together manage least keep children fed healthy even managed create semblance eid atmosphere neighborhood children times peace would expect spend eid amusement park riding pony ferris wheel brand new clothes mother carefully selects occasion eid children ghouta make toys play basement building safest airstrikes though many parents still wont send children play basement theyre afraid said moamena saladins sisterinlaw man carries child survived pulled rubble following activists said shelling forces loyal syrias president bashar alassad tarma eastern ghouta suburb damascus syria april 26 2015160 photo by160amer almohibany reuters160 saladins fatherinlaw abu anas explained family also fortunate big number unlike majority families ghouta today find separated loved ones abu anas shy share days activities went visit daughter visited mother daughter came visit used eid families theyre celebrating eid dont many family members left told war 5 million people lived in160ghouta according local charities160160now population hovers around1605000000 many fled fighting finding refuge damascus city camps lebanon turkey fled europe saladin tragedy top sadness saladin remembers time western diplomats un officials constant contact internet people ghouta un personnel taken headquarters four seasons hotel downtown damascus thats160barely 15minute drive saladins home dont count checkpoints road closures said un longer visits ghouta like last time saladin anyone knows ghouta heard us160state department 18 months ago state department official confirmed lack us contact world official160on condition anonymity due sensitivity matter used coordinate contact people inside syria about160a year half ago become difficult dont embassy disconnected syria said saladin sign world turning back 3monthold160daughter maria everyone talking receiving refugees solution us wants receive thousands means believe crisis continue said160so people convinced neither america europe international community coming rescue
| 640 |
<p>After a “thorough review” of planned cuts to special education services, Chicago Public Schools officials announced Wednesday that the district would restore dozens of positions and bring total staffing to a level higher than last year.</p>
<p>The decision comes after 260 schools appealed their staffing allocations, and advocates for students with special needs warned CPS the district could face lawsuits if students went without federally mandated services.</p>
<p>In all, the district is adding 147 positions over the total number of special education staffers who were in place at the end of last year: 122 teachers and 25 aides. (See spreadsheet <a href="" type="internal">provided by CPS here</a>.)</p>
<p>Much of that increase is coming at just over 400 regular district-run schools that receive special education positions directly from CPS. A subset of about 100 schools receive funding for special education on a per-pupil basis under a new program called All Means All. CPS has not released comparable data on specialty, alternative or charter schools.</p>
<p>On the 10th day of school, regular district-run schools were projected to lose 16.5 teachers and 52.5 aides. After appeals, those schools are gaining 145 teachers and 98.5 aides.</p>
<p>In a statement, district officials acknowledged that they used a “flawed funding formula” earlier this year in determining staffing levels for special education. CPS officials declined to elaborate, saying only that “we’ll be happy to discuss the formula in coming months, as we revise our process to make it a more bottom-up approach next year.”</p>
<p>Educators and activists breathed a sigh of relief at the news. They had worried about how schools would be able to handle more cuts and still deliver the services that are required legally for students with Individualized Education Plans (known as IEPs).</p>
<p>“It’s clearly an acknowledgement that they had messed up in a big way with the cuts they’d announced earlier,” says Wendy Katten, of the parent advocacy group Raise Your Hand. “ I think that they probably were aware they would be violating many IEPs had they gone through with these cuts… Special education, you just don’t mess with that.”</p>
<p>Background on cuts</p>
<p>District officials <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/07/1400-positions-to-be-cut-special-ed-vacancies-wont-be-filled/" type="external">first announced major cuts to special education</a> over the summer, when they claimed an 18-month review found that CPS “currently exceeds the state’s standards for special education staffing.” District officials have never produced any documents substantiating that such a review took place.</p>
<p>Schools learned about the extent of cuts when the <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/08/budget-outlines-layoffs-cuts-to-special-ed/" type="external">CPS budget was unveiled in August</a>.</p>
<p>But then in September, the district announced <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/09/neighborhood-high-schools-hit-hard-by-more-enrollment-losses-funding-cuts/" type="external">another round of cuts</a> to general education and special education at schools that did not meet enrollment projections. There was an immediate outcry from educators, parents and activists who said mid-year cuts to special education were unprecedented.</p>
<p>As a result, <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/09/special-ed-cuts-delayed-amid-criticism/" type="external">CPS officials agreed to delay the cuts</a> and allow principals to appeal. District officials said 260 schools filed appeals but would not say how many of those were granted.</p>
<p>Based on 10th-day enrollment figures, South Loop Elementary was slated to gain a half-time special education teaching position and lose two aides. Principal Tara Shelton and the school’s counselor went over how many minutes every student with an IEP needed with a special education teacher or aide.</p>
<p>”When they first announced the cuts, I started putting my evidence together,” Shelton says. “I had my paperwork in really early, and then when they began to review everyone’s case, I was able to get an edge on the other applicants.”</p>
<p>Every one of the threatened positions at the school was saved — and then some. She’s getting two additional teachers and three aides.</p>
<p>“I think it’s a victory now only because the process wasn’t done correctly,” Shelton says.</p>
<p>Amidst the controversy over the special education cuts, Markay Winston, who heads the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services, tendered her resignation. That office is now being run by Kathleen Foley in an interim capacity while Winston uses up her vacation and sick time.</p>
<p>Advocates for students with disabilities have asked the district to <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/11/take-5-brokering-ctu-contract-stolen-bus-passes-rating-educators/" type="external">release the names of the top five candidates</a> for Winston’s job and to have a voice in picking her replacement.</p>
<p>Some schools still losing</p>
<p>Not all schools are keeping the positions that were threatened earlier this year. A Catalyst analysis of the data on regular district-run schools (excluding alternative and specialty schools) that receive their positions from CPS shows that since the 10th day of school:</p>
<p>Katie Osgood, a special education teacher at Langston Hughes Elementary on the South Side, was relieved to learn her school won’t lose the three aide positions that had been threatened earlier this fall.</p>
<p>“We were absolutely justified in every single position,” Osgood said. “There’s no way we can function in losing any aide.”</p>
<p>In her own classroom of 12 students, Osgood has the help of three aides. Two of them work specifically with two students who require one-to-one assistance. The other helps the rest of the class. “If they had taken the aides, there’s no way I could possibly get to everybody,” Osgood said. “It would have been against the law.”</p>
<p>Other types of schools</p>
<p>It’s harder to say what the impact of the budget “realignment” will be on schools under the “All Means All” funding formula. Some schools joined the pilot this year, so it’s impossible to make year-over-year comparisons using the data provided by CPS.</p>
<p>Among the 19 schools that had two years’ worth of funding data, about half gained some money over last year, and half lost funds. Overall, the total lost was just under $1.2 million.</p>
<p>One of those schools is DePriest Elementary, which is losing about $90,000 over last &#160;year despite gaining five special education students.</p>
<p>Tammie Vinson, a special education teacher at the West Side school, says the new funding formula is not working for DePriest. “Our students aren’t being covered correctly,” she said. Vinson says she has two students “who should have dedicated aides that do not…..We’re encouraging parents to reach out to the board, the network, the state to complain that their children are not getting their services.”</p>
<p>Because CPS did not release data earlier this year on specialty schools, which serve mostly students with disabilities, it’s tough to get a clear picture of how principal appeals affected staffing levels there. But there’s been a year-over-year decline at more than half of those 10 schools.</p>
<p>For example, Vaughn Occupational High School lost four teachers and five and a half aides — the highest that any school lost over last year. Teachers and parents at Vaughn had <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/08/take-5-vaughn-cuts-dyett-hunger-strike-full-day-preschool/" type="external">publicly protested</a> even larger cuts — five teachers and 23 aides — that had been planned in August. By working together and documenting students’ IEP needs, Vaughn’s principal, staff and parents were <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/08/30-schools-win-back-some-special-ed-staff/" type="external">able to win back</a>some positions.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, charter schools also had an appeals process for special education cuts that started later than district-run schools. Their results are being finalized and will be communicated in coming weeks, CPS officials say.</p>
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thorough review planned cuts special education services chicago public schools officials announced wednesday district would restore dozens positions bring total staffing level higher last year decision comes 260 schools appealed staffing allocations advocates students special needs warned cps district could face lawsuits students went without federally mandated services district adding 147 positions total number special education staffers place end last year 122 teachers 25 aides see spreadsheet provided cps much increase coming 400 regular districtrun schools receive special education positions directly cps subset 100 schools receive funding special education perpupil basis new program called means cps released comparable data specialty alternative charter schools 10th day school regular districtrun schools projected lose 165 teachers 525 aides appeals schools gaining 145 teachers 985 aides statement district officials acknowledged used flawed funding formula earlier year determining staffing levels special education cps officials declined elaborate saying well happy discuss formula coming months revise process make bottomup approach next year educators activists breathed sigh relief news worried schools would able handle cuts still deliver services required legally students individualized education plans known ieps clearly acknowledgement messed big way cuts theyd announced earlier says wendy katten parent advocacy group raise hand think probably aware would violating many ieps gone cuts special education dont mess background cuts district officials first announced major cuts special education summer claimed 18month review found cps currently exceeds states standards special education staffing district officials never produced documents substantiating review took place schools learned extent cuts cps budget unveiled august september district announced another round cuts general education special education schools meet enrollment projections immediate outcry educators parents activists said midyear cuts special education unprecedented result cps officials agreed delay cuts allow principals appeal district officials said 260 schools filed appeals would say many granted based 10thday enrollment figures south loop elementary slated gain halftime special education teaching position lose two aides principal tara shelton schools counselor went many minutes every student iep needed special education teacher aide first announced cuts started putting evidence together shelton says paperwork really early began review everyones case able get edge applicants every one threatened positions school saved shes getting two additional teachers three aides think victory process wasnt done correctly shelton says amidst controversy special education cuts markay winston heads office diverse learner supports services tendered resignation office run kathleen foley interim capacity winston uses vacation sick time advocates students disabilities asked district release names top five candidates winstons job voice picking replacement schools still losing schools keeping positions threatened earlier year catalyst analysis data regular districtrun schools excluding alternative specialty schools receive positions cps shows since 10th day school katie osgood special education teacher langston hughes elementary south side relieved learn school wont lose three aide positions threatened earlier fall absolutely justified every single position osgood said theres way function losing aide classroom 12 students osgood help three aides two work specifically two students require onetoone assistance helps rest class taken aides theres way could possibly get everybody osgood said would law types schools harder say impact budget realignment schools means funding formula schools joined pilot year impossible make yearoveryear comparisons using data provided cps among 19 schools two years worth funding data half gained money last year half lost funds overall total lost 12 million one schools depriest elementary losing 90000 last 160year despite gaining five special education students tammie vinson special education teacher west side school says new funding formula working depriest students arent covered correctly said vinson says two students dedicated aides notwere encouraging parents reach board network state complain children getting services cps release data earlier year specialty schools serve mostly students disabilities tough get clear picture principal appeals affected staffing levels theres yearoveryear decline half 10 schools example vaughn occupational high school lost four teachers five half aides highest school lost last year teachers parents vaughn publicly protested even larger cuts five teachers 23 aides planned august working together documenting students iep needs vaughns principal staff parents able win backsome positions meanwhile charter schools also appeals process special education cuts started later districtrun schools results finalized communicated coming weeks cps officials say
| 683 |
<p>New York state will take Washington to court to challenge the new Republican tax overhaul, Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday, calling the new law an unconstitutional assault on states' rights and New York in particular.</p>
<p>The lawsuit is one of several ways Cuomo, a potential 2020 presidential contender, is positioning New York to lead the opposition to President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans. He's also calling for the state to push back on federal attempts to curb environmental protections, immigration and health care spending.</p>
<p>"Our federal government is working to roll back so much of what we have done," he said in his annual state of the state address to lawmakers in Albany. "We cannot, we must not let those things happen... In the immortal words of John Paul Jones, we have not yet begun to fight, my friends."</p>
<p>The new tax law caps a deduction for state and local taxes at $10,000, a move that will increase federal tax liabilities for many homeowners in high-tax states like New York. Cuomo says the change could increase tax liabilities for some New Yorkers by as much as 25 percent, potentially prompting some to leave for cheaper states and making the state less competitive economically.</p>
<p>While many top Republicans in New York object to the provision too, Senate Leader John Flanagan, R-Long Island, was skeptical about Cuomo's plans for a lawsuit.</p>
<p>"I don't see a legal basis," he told reporters, adding that Cuomo is too focused on policies coming out of Washington instead of improving the state's own business climate by controlling spending and creating jobs.</p>
<p>Cuomo also announced plans to sue opioid manufacturers for allegedly violating rules on the monitoring and reporting of suspicious drug shipments. He said any money obtained from the legal action would go toward efforts to fight the scourge of addiction.</p>
<p>"They pumped these pills into society and they created addictions," Cuomo said. "Like the tobacco industry they killed thousands... We will make them pay."</p>
<p>New York faces a $4 billion deficit, and this year's agenda from Cuomo was relatively light on expensive, ambitious programs. Instead, the governor proposed several measures prompted by recent news, including a new, uniform sexual harassment policy for state and local governments prompted by the recent national attention on sexual misconduct in the workplace.</p>
<p>Cuomo is also calling for new disclosure rules for online political ads, early voting and investments in water quality and renewable energy. Other proposals include one that would require people convicted of a domestic violence crime to surrender any firearms.</p>
<p>Many of the governor's new proposals are aimed squarely at Washington, and a federal government that he says is seeking to set back progress in New York when it comes to the economy, equality, health care and the environment. Cuomo cited recent accomplishments such as a higher minimum wage, free college tuition and paid family leave as an alternative to the policies emerging on the national level.</p>
<p>Cuomo mentioned Trump by name only once, while discussing how diversity has benefited New York. Cuomo noted that the flag in the Oval Office bears the words "e pluribus unum" or "out of many, one."</p>
<p>"To find the way forward, the president only needs to turn around," he said.</p>
<p>Lawmakers began their 2018 session earlier in the day Wednesday. In addition to Cuomo's ideas, they're expected to consider several other high profile measures, including bills to authorize physician-assisted suicide.</p>
<p>Cuomo says he's also looking at changes to the state tax code in response to the federal overhaul. Details won't be released until he unveils his state budget proposal later this month.</p>
<p>A look at some of the measures he's already announced:</p>
<p>VOTING CHANGES: New Yorkers would be allowed to cast a vote up to 12 days before an election under Cuomo's voting reform proposal. He also wants to change voter registration rules to allow for same-day registration and the automatic enrollment of new voters when they visit a motor vehicles office or other state agency.</p>
<p>ONLINE POLITICAL ADS: Cuomo says voters deserve to know more about who is behind online political ads. His proposal would require ads to contain the name of the group paying for the content, and direct platforms like Facebook to maintain a public file containing greater information about campaign ads.</p>
<p>STEWART AIRPORT UPGRADES: Cuomo is calling for a $34 million investment to upgrade, expand and modernize Stewart Airport, north of New York City, to handle more international flights</p>
<p>DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Anyone convicted of a domestic violence crime would have to surrender any firearms under another proposal from Cuomo. The governor's proposal was drawn up following the mass shootings in Las Vegas and Texas, where Cuomo said the gunmen in each shooting had a record of violence against women or threatening violence against women.</p>
<p>FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT: Cuomo wants to see New York state's pension fund get out of investing in fossil fuels.</p>
<p>BAIL: Cuomo has introduced legislation to eliminate the longstanding practice of requiring defendants to post monetary bail in misdemeanor and non-violent felony cases. He says it's unfair, since it allows suspects with financial resources to go free while those without must wait in jail until their trials begin.</p>
<p>Cuomo is proposing instead to release those defendants on their own recognizance or require them to check in with officials.</p>
<p>Suspects accused of violent crimes or felonies could still be required to post bail to win release or be held without bail in some circumstances.</p>
| false | 3 |
new york state take washington court challenge new republican tax overhaul democratic governor andrew cuomo said wednesday calling new law unconstitutional assault states rights new york particular lawsuit one several ways cuomo potential 2020 presidential contender positioning new york lead opposition president donald trump congressional republicans hes also calling state push back federal attempts curb environmental protections immigration health care spending federal government working roll back much done said annual state state address lawmakers albany must let things happen immortal words john paul jones yet begun fight friends new tax law caps deduction state local taxes 10000 move increase federal tax liabilities many homeowners hightax states like new york cuomo says change could increase tax liabilities new yorkers much 25 percent potentially prompting leave cheaper states making state less competitive economically many top republicans new york object provision senate leader john flanagan rlong island skeptical cuomos plans lawsuit dont see legal basis told reporters adding cuomo focused policies coming washington instead improving states business climate controlling spending creating jobs cuomo also announced plans sue opioid manufacturers allegedly violating rules monitoring reporting suspicious drug shipments said money obtained legal action would go toward efforts fight scourge addiction pumped pills society created addictions cuomo said like tobacco industry killed thousands make pay new york faces 4 billion deficit years agenda cuomo relatively light expensive ambitious programs instead governor proposed several measures prompted recent news including new uniform sexual harassment policy state local governments prompted recent national attention sexual misconduct workplace cuomo also calling new disclosure rules online political ads early voting investments water quality renewable energy proposals include one would require people convicted domestic violence crime surrender firearms many governors new proposals aimed squarely washington federal government says seeking set back progress new york comes economy equality health care environment cuomo cited recent accomplishments higher minimum wage free college tuition paid family leave alternative policies emerging national level cuomo mentioned trump name discussing diversity benefited new york cuomo noted flag oval office bears words e pluribus unum many one find way forward president needs turn around said lawmakers began 2018 session earlier day wednesday addition cuomos ideas theyre expected consider several high profile measures including bills authorize physicianassisted suicide cuomo says hes also looking changes state tax code response federal overhaul details wont released unveils state budget proposal later month look measures hes already announced voting changes new yorkers would allowed cast vote 12 days election cuomos voting reform proposal also wants change voter registration rules allow sameday registration automatic enrollment new voters visit motor vehicles office state agency online political ads cuomo says voters deserve know behind online political ads proposal would require ads contain name group paying content direct platforms like facebook maintain public file containing greater information campaign ads stewart airport upgrades cuomo calling 34 million investment upgrade expand modernize stewart airport north new york city handle international flights domestic violence anyone convicted domestic violence crime would surrender firearms another proposal cuomo governors proposal drawn following mass shootings las vegas texas cuomo said gunmen shooting record violence women threatening violence women fossil fuel divestment cuomo wants see new york states pension fund get investing fossil fuels bail cuomo introduced legislation eliminate longstanding practice requiring defendants post monetary bail misdemeanor nonviolent felony cases says unfair since allows suspects financial resources go free without must wait jail trials begin cuomo proposing instead release defendants recognizance require check officials suspects accused violent crimes felonies could still required post bail win release held without bail circumstances
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<p>From left, Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Virginia state Sen. Rich Madelino (D-Montgomery Co.) and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)</p>
<p>With President Trump facing low approval ratings, signs continue to point to a political wave against him in this year’s mid-term elections — and LGBT candidates are hoping to benefit.</p>
<p>A record number of openly LGBT candidates are running for office, many in high-profile statewide races, which could result in a milestone election for a group that has been historically underrepresented.</p>
<p>Annise Parker, CEO of the Gay &amp; Lesbian Victory Fund, predicted LGBT candidates endorsed by the organization in 2018 “are going to do well.”</p>
<p>“We’re in this business because we think our candidates are going to do well in any election, but we don’t see just a Democratic surge, we actually see a progressive surge across the United States,” Parker said.</p>
<p>Parker added, “we’re going to have more LGBT candidates than we have had ever in our history,” but also candidates who are women and people of color also stand to make historic wins.</p>
<p>“Even though those candidates who aren’t from our community and wouldn’t be our endorsed candidates, I think they’re going to help carry the banner for us a little bit,” Parker said.</p>
<p>Signs are strong that Democrats will pick up seats in 2018, which is consistent with the historical trend of the party in opposition to the party of the president gaining seats in the mid-term elections.</p>
<p>In every mid-term election, the president’s party loses an average of 32 seats in the U.S. House and two seats in the U.S. Senate. (The only exception to these losses in recent years has been in 1998 and 2002 due to extraordinary circumstances. In 1998, there was outrage over the impeachment of President Clinton. In 2002, there was an anti-terrorism sentiment after the attacks on 9/11.)</p>
<p>A CNN poll published in December found 56 percent of respondents say they’ll most likely vote for a Democrat in the mid-term election compared to 38 percent who say they’ll vote Republican. According to CNN, that 18-point advantage is the biggest since the organization began polling on the 2018 election and the widest margin in two decades at this point in the election cycle.</p>
<p>Democrats have their goals in sight. To win control of the House in 2018, Democrats needs 24 seats. To win control of the Senate, Democrats need just two thanks to the <a href="" type="internal">surprise victory</a>of Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) in the special election late last year.</p>
<p>Part of the effort for Democrats to win control of Congress will be LGBT candidates seeking election to the House and Senate. In Wisconsin, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the only out lesbian in Congress, will seek to keep her seat in the Senate.</p>
<p>That seat might be a challenge for Democrats to hold even in a good election cycle. The Huffington Post’s <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tammy-baldwin-wisconsin_us_5a4bd21ce4b0b0e5a7a91159?v1g" type="external">Amanda Terkel published an article this month</a> titled, “Wisconsin Is Quietly Becoming The Top Senate Race Of 2018.”</p>
<p>According to the article, conservative groups have reported spending at least $3.1 million against Baldwin, which is more than what all the other Democratic Senate incumbents on the ballot this year have faced combined.</p>
<p>But that only counts the reported money, not the dark money coming from groups that don’t have necessarily have to report their contributions to the Federal Election Commission. Nine groups have spent more than $4.7 million on ads that attack Baldwin or boost one of the Republicans seeking to unseat her, according to the article.</p>
<p>Parker said conservative groups are targeting Baldwin because she’s “focused and effective and doing a great job in the Senate.”</p>
<p>“It’s going to be a tough re-elect for her, nor just because she’s going to have opposition on the right, but because there’s already evidence of a massive independent expenditure campaign against her,” Parker said. “If she weren’t so effective, I don’t think they’d be dropping the millions of dollars that they are to try to defeat her.”</p>
<p>Among the groups spending money against Baldwin is Americans for Prosperity, the Super PAC funded by the Koch brothers that has sought to unseat Democrats in Congress. According to the Huffington Post, Americans for Prosperity has spent $861,669 in the race.</p>
<p>Parker said she doesn’t believe these groups are targeting Baldwin because of her sexual orientation, but because “she has been an effective progressive voice in the Senate.”</p>
<p>“They’re looking at the last presidential campaign and trying to project from that,” Parker said. “I don’t think that that’s going to be successful.”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) is running for the U.S. Senate seat in Arizona being vacated by retiring Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). If Sinema is elected, she’d be the first openly bisexual person elected to the Senate.</p>
<p>Sinema’s race could be interesting because a slew of right-wing candidates seeking the nomination could be her opponent in the general election.</p>
<p>The newest entrant in the race is Joe Arpaio. President Trump pardoned the former Maricopa County sheriff last year after he faced jail time for unconstitutionally enforcing immigration law to target immigrant communities.</p>
<p>Parker said the Victory Fund is “working hard” on Sinema’s race because “that’s an opportunity to move a seat into a progressive column.”</p>
<p>“Considering who’s on the Republican side of that race, it’s going to be a very clear pro-LGBTQ progressive candidate versus a right-wing ideologue, whichever one of them comes through,” Parker said.</p>
<p>A number of non-incumbent LGBT candidates are also running in U.S. House races and seeking to take seats from Republican candidates.</p>
<p>Non-incumbent candidates with good shots of winning are Lauren Baer, who’s running in Florida’s 18th congressional district; Angie Craig, who’s running in Minnesota’s second congressional district; Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis, who’s running in New Mexico’s first congressional district; Gina Ortiz Jones, who’s running in Texas’s 23rd congressional district; and Florida State Rep. David Richardson, who’s running in Florida’s 26th congressional district.</p>
<p>Richardson is running for the seat currently occupied by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), who’s considered the most pro-LGBT Republican in Congress and announced she’d retire at the end of this year. Richardson’s prospects are strong in the heavily Democratic district that Ros-Lehtinen has maintained for years.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, gay Reps. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Mark Takano (D-Calif.) are seeking to keep their seats in the House and will likely prevail given their incumbent status, favorable districts and strength of Democrats in 2018.</p>
<p>Other LGBT candidates could replace Democrats who are leaving their seats at the end of this year. In New Hampshire’s first congressional district, State Rep. Chris Pappas is seeking to claim the seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.).</p>
<p>The race to replace retiring Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.) in Massachusetts’ 3rd congressional district is a veritable free-for-all of LGBT candidates.</p>
<p>No fewer than 12 candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination, including three LGBT candidates. They’re Rufus Gifford, who’s gay and served as U.S. ambassador to Denmark in the Obama administration; Steve Kerrigan, who’s gay and ran to become Massachusetts lieutenant governor in 2014; and Alexandra Chandler, who’s transgender and a former Navy intelligence specialist.</p>
<p>Other gay candidates are in uphill battles seeking to claim seats in Republican strongholds. Among them is John Duncan, a gay HIV/AIDS activist running in Texas’ sixth congressional district. Another candidate facing a challenge is Dan Canon, who’s straight, but fought as an attorney for marriage equality in Kentucky and is running in Indiana’s conservative ninth congressional district.</p>
<p>If LGBT House and Senate candidates win each of these races, it could significantly shake up LGBT representation in Congress and potentially more than double the number of seven openly LGBT public officials currently serving. A victory for Chandler would make her the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.</p>
<p>LGBT candidates are involved in other significant state races. At the top of the list are the gubernatorial campaigns of Rep. Jared Polis in Colorado and State Sen. Rich Madaleno in Maryland. Should either of them win, they’d claim the distinction of being the first openly gay people elected as governor in the United States.</p>
<p>In Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown, who’s bisexual, is seeking re-election. In 2016, she already claimed the distinction of being the first openly LGBT person elected as governor.</p>
<p>In Nevada, State Assembly member Nelson Araujo (D-Las Vegas) is running to become Nevada secretary of state. If he wins, he’ll become the first openly gay person of color to win statewide election anywhere in the United States.</p>
<p>In the wake of <a href="" type="internal">major victories for transgender candidates in 2017</a>, other transgender hopefuls, such as Chandler in Massachusetts, could see victories. In Maryland, transgender activist Dana Beyer is seeking Madaleno’s seat as he pursues the bid for governor and could be the first openly transgender candidate elected to a state Senate anywhere in the country.</p>
<p>In Texas, the “blue” wave could result in the election of <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Blue-wave-in-Texas-could-feature-gay-wave-12476617.php" type="external">a record number of LGBT candidates running for office</a> at various levels of state government. The Houston-based OutSmart Magazine reported 42 people are running for office in Texas, including two candidates for governor: former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez and Dallas businessperson Jeffrey Payne.</p>
<p>Parker declined to identify her highest priority race for 2018, but said the Victory Fund’s “bread and butter is local races.” Also important, Parker said, are Baldwin and Sinema’s races for Senate seats and the gubernatorial elections with gay candidates.</p>
<p>When analyzing candidates to support, however, Parker said the Victory Fund doesn’t take into account whether a year will be a Republican or Democratic wave.</p>
<p>“It’s going to be great for our candidates, but it’s not what we depend on, it’s not what we look at when we’re vetting them,” Parker said. “It’s just means that if it happens, we’re going to take advantage of it.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Annise Parker</a> <a href="" type="internal">election 2018</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gay &amp; Lesbian Victory Fund</a> <a href="" type="internal">Tammy Baldwin</a></p>
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left rep jared polis dcolo rep kyrsten sinema dariz virginia state sen rich madelino dmontgomery co sen tammy baldwin dwis washington blade photos michael key president trump facing low approval ratings signs continue point political wave years midterm elections lgbt candidates hoping benefit record number openly lgbt candidates running office many highprofile statewide races could result milestone election group historically underrepresented annise parker ceo gay amp lesbian victory fund predicted lgbt candidates endorsed organization 2018 going well business think candidates going well election dont see democratic surge actually see progressive surge across united states parker said parker added going lgbt candidates ever history also candidates women people color also stand make historic wins even though candidates arent community wouldnt endorsed candidates think theyre going help carry banner us little bit parker said signs strong democrats pick seats 2018 consistent historical trend party opposition party president gaining seats midterm elections every midterm election presidents party loses average 32 seats us house two seats us senate exception losses recent years 1998 2002 due extraordinary circumstances 1998 outrage impeachment president clinton 2002 antiterrorism sentiment attacks 911 cnn poll published december found 56 percent respondents say theyll likely vote democrat midterm election compared 38 percent say theyll vote republican according cnn 18point advantage biggest since organization began polling 2018 election widest margin two decades point election cycle democrats goals sight win control house 2018 democrats needs 24 seats win control senate democrats need two thanks surprise victoryof sen doug jones dala special election late last year part effort democrats win control congress lgbt candidates seeking election house senate wisconsin sen tammy baldwin dwis lesbian congress seek keep seat senate seat might challenge democrats hold even good election cycle huffington posts amanda terkel published article month titled wisconsin quietly becoming top senate race 2018 according article conservative groups reported spending least 31 million baldwin democratic senate incumbents ballot year faced combined counts reported money dark money coming groups dont necessarily report contributions federal election commission nine groups spent 47 million ads attack baldwin boost one republicans seeking unseat according article parker said conservative groups targeting baldwin shes focused effective great job senate going tough reelect shes going opposition right theres already evidence massive independent expenditure campaign parker said werent effective dont think theyd dropping millions dollars try defeat among groups spending money baldwin americans prosperity super pac funded koch brothers sought unseat democrats congress according huffington post americans prosperity spent 861669 race parker said doesnt believe groups targeting baldwin sexual orientation effective progressive voice senate theyre looking last presidential campaign trying project parker said dont think thats going successful meanwhile rep kyrsten sinema dariz running us senate seat arizona vacated retiring sen jeff flake rariz sinema elected shed first openly bisexual person elected senate sinemas race could interesting slew rightwing candidates seeking nomination could opponent general election newest entrant race joe arpaio president trump pardoned former maricopa county sheriff last year faced jail time unconstitutionally enforcing immigration law target immigrant communities parker said victory fund working hard sinemas race thats opportunity move seat progressive column considering whos republican side race going clear prolgbtq progressive candidate versus rightwing ideologue whichever one comes parker said number nonincumbent lgbt candidates also running us house races seeking take seats republican candidates nonincumbent candidates good shots winning lauren baer whos running floridas 18th congressional district angie craig whos running minnesotas second congressional district albuquerque city councilor pat davis whos running new mexicos first congressional district gina ortiz jones whos running texass 23rd congressional district florida state rep david richardson whos running floridas 26th congressional district richardson running seat currently occupied rep ileana roslehtinen rfla whos considered prolgbt republican congress announced shed retire end year richardsons prospects strong heavily democratic district roslehtinen maintained years meanwhile gay reps david cicilline dri sean patrick maloney dny mark pocan dwis mark takano dcalif seeking keep seats house likely prevail given incumbent status favorable districts strength democrats 2018 lgbt candidates could replace democrats leaving seats end year new hampshires first congressional district state rep chris pappas seeking claim seat vacated retiring rep carol sheaporter dnh race replace retiring rep niki tsongas dmass massachusetts 3rd congressional district veritable freeforall lgbt candidates fewer 12 candidates seeking democratic nomination including three lgbt candidates theyre rufus gifford whos gay served us ambassador denmark obama administration steve kerrigan whos gay ran become massachusetts lieutenant governor 2014 alexandra chandler whos transgender former navy intelligence specialist gay candidates uphill battles seeking claim seats republican strongholds among john duncan gay hivaids activist running texas sixth congressional district another candidate facing challenge dan canon whos straight fought attorney marriage equality kentucky running indianas conservative ninth congressional district lgbt house senate candidates win races could significantly shake lgbt representation congress potentially double number seven openly lgbt public officials currently serving victory chandler would make first openly transgender person elected congress lgbt candidates involved significant state races top list gubernatorial campaigns rep jared polis colorado state sen rich madaleno maryland either win theyd claim distinction first openly gay people elected governor united states oregon gov kate brown whos bisexual seeking reelection 2016 already claimed distinction first openly lgbt person elected governor nevada state assembly member nelson araujo dlas vegas running become nevada secretary state wins hell become first openly gay person color win statewide election anywhere united states wake major victories transgender candidates 2017 transgender hopefuls chandler massachusetts could see victories maryland transgender activist dana beyer seeking madalenos seat pursues bid governor could first openly transgender candidate elected state senate anywhere country texas blue wave could result election record number lgbt candidates running office various levels state government houstonbased outsmart magazine reported 42 people running office texas including two candidates governor former dallas county sheriff lupe valdez dallas businessperson jeffrey payne parker declined identify highest priority race 2018 said victory funds bread butter local races also important parker said baldwin sinemas races senate seats gubernatorial elections gay candidates analyzing candidates support however parker said victory fund doesnt take account whether year republican democratic wave going great candidates depend look vetting parker said means happens going take advantage annise parker election 2018 gay amp lesbian victory fund tammy baldwin
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<p>OWL’S HEAD, Maine - Until just before President Obama bade farewell to Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was looking as if Obama's visit to Israel and the West Bank had been the proverbial dog and pony show, Obama-style: long on verbiage, short on results.</p>
<p>But in fact, the Turkish-Israeli rapprochement that he worked out at Tel Aviv airport was a significant accomplishment. It addressed the break in Israel-Turkey diplomatic relations when nineTurkish activists sailing to Gaza were killed by Israeli commandos the year before the Arab world exploded.</p>
<p>It's obvious that by the time Prime Minister Netanyahu offered Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan the necessary diplomatic apology, both countries, on opposite geographic ends of Syria's destabilizing civil war, had strong strategic interests in putting the Gaza incident behind them.</p>
<p>But it's no less obvious that Netanyahu needed a push to get where he knew he had to go. Obama saw it as an opportunity to enhance US prestige and interests, resolve differences between two allies, and make the Middle East a more stable place.</p>
<p>And seeing opportunities and seizing them is the essence of good leadership. So score a game saving three-pointer for Obama.</p>
<p>It was a game-saver, because for all the soaring eloquence from our rhetorician-in-chief, one had been left, prior to the tarmac diplomacy, with that deja vu feeling: "Here we go again; that man can't accomplish anything but he sure can give a good speech."</p>
<p>In fact, the rhetoric, including the extravagant sound bite that his oration before 600 Israeli university students produced, had been, at least for me, counter-productive. For what, after all, had we learned up until then from his three-day Israeli extravaganza? That when Obama’s inspiring voice is married to some noble flights of prose, it can obscure the fact that his diplomatic achievements are negligible? That American influence in the world has so declined we can't even find a way to get Palestinians and Israelis talking again?</p>
<p>Indeed, the more praise Obama got for his successful wooing of Netanyahu and Israeli youth, the more of an empty suit he seemed.</p>
<p>But even without the Turkish-Israeli mediation, that is an unfair conclusion. In their joint press conference, Netanyahu agreed publicly with Obama's stated belief that, if they decided to do so, "it would take Iran about a year" to build a nuclear weapon. If you go back and look at the record, Iran has been -- in Israel's mind -- a year away from such an accomplishment for approximately the last 10 years. Early on, that was a threat. But over the past year, Netanyahu's timing had accelerated to the extent that an Israeli attack seemed possible, or even likely, by this fall.</p>
<p>Netanyahu's public agreement that Israeli intelligence was in sync on Iranian nuclear developments with their American counterparts, and that nothing precipitous was going to happen in the near term, was a significant achievement for Obama.</p>
<p>The Iranians are holding elections in a few months to choose President Ahmadinejad's replacement; and recent statements from Iran's Supreme Leader with regard to direct US-Iranian negotiations provide a possibility for further diplomacy. Our "all options are on the table" threat is nothing new, but emphasizing diplomacy and getting Israeli buy-in that the ultimate option is on hold well into next year is a fair accomplishment.</p>
<p>And more good news? In the context of the implicit acknowledgement in his speech to the students that a peace deal was a long way off, Obama spelled out the dilemma Israel faces: if there is no sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank, then the state of Israel will eventually have to choose between being democratic or being Jewish; it can't be both. Obama even quoted Ariel Sharon, hardly a peacenik, who had, some years back, observed, "It is impossible to have a Jewish, democratic state and at the same time to control all of Eretz [biblical] Israel."</p>
<p>That such a stark choice ultimately faces Israel is not news. Americans, and Israelis as well, have been saying it with increasing frequency, but it's an entirely different matter when the president of the United States spells it out explicitly in a major address in Israel. Nor are the Palestinians unaware of Israel's dilemma, which gives them little incentive to negotiate under current circumstances.</p>
<p>As well, European attitudes towards Israel are becoming increasingly negative, with popular boycott movements proliferating. And even in the United States, despite the Israel lobbies' strong hold on Congress, the Palestinian plight is being portrayed more sympathetically, as last week's cover story in the The New York Times Sunday magazine illustrated.</p>
<p>So, if movement on the Palestinian front was conspicuously absent, there were concrete achievements: Turkey and Israel, who will find themselves inevitably more involved in the dangerous spillover from Syria's collapse, are back talking; the threat of a near-term Israeli attack against Iran, and all that portends for the entire region, has receded, and while Obama has once again publicly endorsed a Palestinian state, this time it was done in a way that not just emphasized its legitimacy from a Palestinian perspective but its necessity from an Israeli one.</p>
<p>So much for the good news. The alternate reality is that in Netanyahu's new cabinet, the Israeli housing minister, whose portfolio includes settlement activity, is rabidly pro-settlement, believing Israeli Jews have a right to live throughout Judea and Samaria, as he terms the Palestinian territory, and the Palestinians have no legitimate claim to create a state there.</p>
<p>Secretary of State Kerry was back in the area hard upon Obama's departure hoping to initiate a process that moves the two-state solution forward. Who knows: perhaps he'll eventually come up with some face-saving way to get both parties back to the table. But talking is what they did for nearly 20 years. It produced no final solution. Nor will it now. Barring major -- and, in Netanyahu's world, inconceivable -- political concessions from Israel, the two-state solution is dead.</p>
<p>But the dilemma facing Israel that Obama spelled out is squarely on the table. Even as he re-affirmed the unbreakable bonds between the US and Israel, Obama, in a subtle way, warned Israel that its current policies could be its undoing. And eternal American friendship notwithstanding, there's nothing the US can do to prevent that.</p>
<p>Mac Deford is retired after a career as a foreign service officer, an international banker, and a museum director. He lives at Owls Head, Maine and still travels frequently to the Middle East.</p>
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owls head maine president obama bade farewell prime minister netanyahu looking obamas visit israel west bank proverbial dog pony show obamastyle long verbiage short results fact turkishisraeli rapprochement worked tel aviv airport significant accomplishment addressed break israelturkey diplomatic relations nineturkish activists sailing gaza killed israeli commandos year arab world exploded obvious time prime minister netanyahu offered turkish prime minister erdogan necessary diplomatic apology countries opposite geographic ends syrias destabilizing civil war strong strategic interests putting gaza incident behind less obvious netanyahu needed push get knew go obama saw opportunity enhance us prestige interests resolve differences two allies make middle east stable place seeing opportunities seizing essence good leadership score game saving threepointer obama gamesaver soaring eloquence rhetoricianinchief one left prior tarmac diplomacy deja vu feeling go man cant accomplish anything sure give good speech fact rhetoric including extravagant sound bite oration 600 israeli university students produced least counterproductive learned threeday israeli extravaganza obamas inspiring voice married noble flights prose obscure fact diplomatic achievements negligible american influence world declined cant even find way get palestinians israelis talking indeed praise obama got successful wooing netanyahu israeli youth empty suit seemed even without turkishisraeli mediation unfair conclusion joint press conference netanyahu agreed publicly obamas stated belief decided would take iran year build nuclear weapon go back look record iran israels mind year away accomplishment approximately last 10 years early threat past year netanyahus timing accelerated extent israeli attack seemed possible even likely fall netanyahus public agreement israeli intelligence sync iranian nuclear developments american counterparts nothing precipitous going happen near term significant achievement obama iranians holding elections months choose president ahmadinejads replacement recent statements irans supreme leader regard direct usiranian negotiations provide possibility diplomacy options table threat nothing new emphasizing diplomacy getting israeli buyin ultimate option hold well next year fair accomplishment good news context implicit acknowledgement speech students peace deal long way obama spelled dilemma israel faces sovereign palestinian state west bank state israel eventually choose democratic jewish cant obama even quoted ariel sharon hardly peacenik years back observed impossible jewish democratic state time control eretz biblical israel stark choice ultimately faces israel news americans israelis well saying increasing frequency entirely different matter president united states spells explicitly major address israel palestinians unaware israels dilemma gives little incentive negotiate current circumstances well european attitudes towards israel becoming increasingly negative popular boycott movements proliferating even united states despite israel lobbies strong hold congress palestinian plight portrayed sympathetically last weeks cover story new york times sunday magazine illustrated movement palestinian front conspicuously absent concrete achievements turkey israel find inevitably involved dangerous spillover syrias collapse back talking threat nearterm israeli attack iran portends entire region receded obama publicly endorsed palestinian state time done way emphasized legitimacy palestinian perspective necessity israeli one much good news alternate reality netanyahus new cabinet israeli housing minister whose portfolio includes settlement activity rabidly prosettlement believing israeli jews right live throughout judea samaria terms palestinian territory palestinians legitimate claim create state secretary state kerry back area hard upon obamas departure hoping initiate process moves twostate solution forward knows perhaps hell eventually come facesaving way get parties back table talking nearly 20 years produced final solution barring major netanyahus world inconceivable political concessions israel twostate solution dead dilemma facing israel obama spelled squarely table even reaffirmed unbreakable bonds us israel obama subtle way warned israel current policies could undoing eternal american friendship notwithstanding theres nothing us prevent mac deford retired career foreign service officer international banker museum director lives owls head maine still travels frequently middle east
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<p>BEIRUT, Lebanon — Traveling to the suburb of Dahiya in Beirut’s south is not as easy as it used to be. Checkpoints and soldiers man every street. Cars and ID’s are thoroughly checked. Barricades have been erected around many businesses and public buildings preventing potential car bombs from getting too close.&#160;On Friday, men were busy building a wall of sandbags at the front of one local bank.</p>
<p>The area has been targeted by three suicide bombings in the past three months. Three different Sunni militant groups, all with links to Al Qaeda, have claimed responsibility for each attack. A fourth attack occurred on a public minibus en route to Dahiya earlier this month. Investigators believe the intended target was again Dahiya, which is a stronghold of the Shia political and military group Hezbollah. Following each attack, social media campaigns have hailed the bombers as martyrs and threatened local civilians with recurring attacks if Hezbollah and Iran — two of the Syrian regime’s strongest supporters — do not withdraw their support and, in the case of Hezbollah, ground troops from inside Syria.</p>
<p>GlobalPost traveled to Dahiya&#160;Friday&#160;to see how the escalating hostilities are affecting local citizens. Here’s what five of them had to say.</p>
<p>Fear</p>
<p>“I think these things will happen more and more in the near future. Even if they block the border [with Syria] and they can stop more suicide bombers from coming to Lebanon, there are already many here and they are ready to go for it.” Ali Ballout — Manager of Atwi &amp; Younes ceramic tile showroom</p>
<p>“Of course people here are afraid of explosions. But for me, I fought in the Iraq-Iran war for eight years. I was injured in the army. I witnessed the whole war and it was hell, so for me this is nothing. But for women and children in this area, of course they are very afraid.” Maarfat Thakafi, 52 — Iranian rug storeowner</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>‘We are losing business from this’</p>
<p>“When the rockets hit here a few months ago, the whole area shut down commercially. People were afraid to come here to buy. It was a very bad time for us. Whenever we have attacks like this we have these problems.”&#160; Ali Kassir, 22 — Clothing store cashier&#160;</p>
<p>“The extra security measures here do make us feel secure — totally secure. But on the other hand, regarding business, before we used to get a lot of traffic coming through here, but now they go around this area because the checkpoints take a long time to get through. So we are losing business from this.” Ali Ballout — Manager of Atwi &amp; Younes ceramic tile showroom &#160;</p>
<p>‘These attacks will go on’</p>
<p>On Wednesday&#160;the Lebanese army captured Naim Abbas, a commander in the Abdullah Azzam Brigades — the group responsible for the double <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/photo-galleries/5993363/suicide-bombing-near-iranian-embassy-beirut-kills-dozens#1" type="external">suicide bombing</a> of the Iranian Embassy in Beirut on&#160;Nov. 19. The same day, the army located and disarmed two explosive-laden vehicles. Under interrogation, Abbas reportedly confessed to the existence of other car bombs bound for Dahiya, which has led to an ongoing search by security forces.</p>
<p>“Somehow this [Abbas' arrest] has made us feel comfortable, but it doesn’t mean this is the end. As long as groups like these people adopting terrorism exist, these attacks will go on. But we will stay with Hezbollah until death.” Samira, 38 — mother and manager of military supply store.</p>
<p>“Two days ago, after the army caught [Abbas] and the car bombs, I was telling people this group will try to make more actions in revenge for this, and now they have threatened more car bombs and more attacks.” Maarfat Thakafi, 52 — Iranian rug storeowner &#160;</p>
<p>'This is not war. This is terrorism.'</p>
<p>On Thursday, a video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=gs7WFrn2hX0" type="external">posted</a> on YouTube&#160;celebrated the Iranian embassy bombing which killed 26 and injured around 150 more. The 18-minute video threatened that these attacks “are only the beginning”. The video featured a pre-recorded interview with Abu Dahr, one of the Iranian embassy suicide bombers, who vowed these attacks would continue claiming the number of those “who are ready to martyr themselves is greater than the party’s members.”</p>
<p>“These attacks are very ugly — not just the bombers but the people behind those people. What do they feel? Is this victory? What is this? What kind of victory can they achieve from these explosions?&#160;Killing innocent people! What did I do? I am a doctor? Am I guilty? The same with the others. 26 people died. And this man says he is traveling to Allah? What does he want from Allah? A reward for what he has done? This is not war. This is terrorism.”&#160; Doctor Ali Abdel Halim Kanso — Dr. Kanso was permanently injured in both his left arm and leg and suffered from shrapnel wounds across his body in the November Iranian Embassy blasts.</p>
<p>“It’s not that I feel anger, I feel more sympathy for those who were killed. They were blown apart, and so many more were injured. I even feel pity for the suicide bomber himself. They put a lot of bad things in his mind — they loaded his mind with bad ideas to make him do that.” Ali Ballout — Manager of Atwi &amp; Younes ceramic tile showroom</p>
<p>“They accuse all Shia in the world of being related to Iran, so they believe wrongly that by attacking them they are fighting Iran. But I believe these suicide bombers are fighting development and technology and the future, especially of the Shia people. But no one can stop the future. These bombers can never win, never. It’s like going against the traffic.” Maarfat Thakafi, 52 — Iranian rug store owner &#160;</p>
<p>Determination</p>
<p>“They think they scare us? No! We have our prophets and our God. We can withstand more than this, no problem, because what we are doing is right. Hezbollah in Syria? Of course they are in Syria because if they were not these people would be here in my home.&#160; OK, Bashar Assad he makes many mistakes, but we are all human. We can repair. We can do something by logic, but they do not want logic, only war, war war!” Doctor Ali Abdel Halim Kanso</p>
| false | 3 |
beirut lebanon traveling suburb dahiya beiruts south easy used checkpoints soldiers man every street cars ids thoroughly checked barricades erected around many businesses public buildings preventing potential car bombs getting close160on friday men busy building wall sandbags front one local bank area targeted three suicide bombings past three months three different sunni militant groups links al qaeda claimed responsibility attack fourth attack occurred public minibus en route dahiya earlier month investigators believe intended target dahiya stronghold shia political military group hezbollah following attack social media campaigns hailed bombers martyrs threatened local civilians recurring attacks hezbollah iran two syrian regimes strongest supporters withdraw support case hezbollah ground troops inside syria globalpost traveled dahiya160friday160to see escalating hostilities affecting local citizens heres five say fear think things happen near future even block border syria stop suicide bombers coming lebanon already many ready go ali ballout manager atwi amp younes ceramic tile showroom course people afraid explosions fought iraqiran war eight years injured army witnessed whole war hell nothing women children area course afraid maarfat thakafi 52 iranian rug storeowner 160 losing business rockets hit months ago whole area shut commercially people afraid come buy bad time us whenever attacks like problems160 ali kassir 22 clothing store cashier160 extra security measures make us feel secure totally secure hand regarding business used get lot traffic coming go around area checkpoints take long time get losing business ali ballout manager atwi amp younes ceramic tile showroom 160 attacks go wednesday160the lebanese army captured naim abbas commander abdullah azzam brigades group responsible double suicide bombing iranian embassy beirut on160nov 19 day army located disarmed two explosiveladen vehicles interrogation abbas reportedly confessed existence car bombs bound dahiya led ongoing search security forces somehow abbas arrest made us feel comfortable doesnt mean end long groups like people adopting terrorism exist attacks go stay hezbollah death samira 38 mother manager military supply store two days ago army caught abbas car bombs telling people group try make actions revenge threatened car bombs attacks maarfat thakafi 52 iranian rug storeowner 160 war terrorism thursday video posted youtube160celebrated iranian embassy bombing killed 26 injured around 150 18minute video threatened attacks beginning video featured prerecorded interview abu dahr one iranian embassy suicide bombers vowed attacks would continue claiming number ready martyr greater partys members attacks ugly bombers people behind people feel victory kind victory achieve explosions160killing innocent people doctor guilty others 26 people died man says traveling allah want allah reward done war terrorism160 doctor ali abdel halim kanso dr kanso permanently injured left arm leg suffered shrapnel wounds across body november iranian embassy blasts feel anger feel sympathy killed blown apart many injured even feel pity suicide bomber put lot bad things mind loaded mind bad ideas make ali ballout manager atwi amp younes ceramic tile showroom accuse shia world related iran believe wrongly attacking fighting iran believe suicide bombers fighting development technology future especially shia people one stop future bombers never win never like going traffic maarfat thakafi 52 iranian rug store owner 160 determination think scare us prophets god withstand problem right hezbollah syria course syria people would home160 ok bashar assad makes many mistakes human repair something logic want logic war war war doctor ali abdel halim kanso
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<p>Pope Francis is visiting Ecuador, among <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/02/5-facts-about-pope-francis-upcoming-visit-to-south-america/" type="external">other</a> Latin American countries. It's the first papal visit to Ecuador since the 1980s,&#160;and the country’s president&#160;Rafael Correa&#160;has been personally involved in planning for the past six months, tweeting about it enthusiastically.</p>
<p>Correa is known outside Ecuador for his investment in social programs and infrastructure. But many of his critics argue that his policies toward women are among the most conservative in Latin America. Women’s groups in Ecuador say they’ve been losing a series of hard-won rights since Correa first came into office in 2007.</p>
<p>Most recently, they’ve seen the dissolution of the government agency tasked with reducing teen pregnancy (also known as Estrategia Nacional Intersectorial de Planificación Familiar y Prevención del Embarazo en Adolescentes). Correa reorganized it late last year, and appointed an anti-abortion activist to run it. Mónica Hernández is associated with the conservative Opus Dei organization and is also a vocal proponent of abstinence.</p>
<p>“This has nothing to do with religion,” Hernández insisted soon after her appointment to the newly-named Plan Familia, a parent-education program pushing for abstinence. “We want everyone in Ecuador to have a right to define their family planning according to their own beliefs.”</p>
<p>The debate over family planning heated up one year after Correa came into office, in 2008, when Ecuador rewrote its constitution. In the new document, the government explicitly “recognizes and guarantees life from the moment of conception.” Then, last year, pressure from public health and gender rights activists led various assemblywomen to suggest a reform to the abortion law, asking for the procedure to become legal for all victims of rape. Speaking to the media before the vote, President Correa dismissed the effort as “a gay and abortionist agenda.”</p>
<p />
<p>Ecuador's President Rafael Correa (2nd from right) reviews preparations underway at the Bicentenario Park in Quito, where Pope Francis will hold a mass during his July visit to Ecuador.</p>
<p>Guillermo Granja/&#160;REUTERS</p>
<p>“These days you’d think that saying you’re a heterosexual who believes in family, and in the Church, is a sin,” he said. “I won’t be ashamed for being a heterosexual male who believes in family and in the Catholic Church. But that’s the discourse we hear from protesters, which, by the way, isn’t shared by the majority of Ecuadoreans.”</p>
<p>As it turns out, the <a href="http://www.elmercurio.com.ec/418699-campana-busca-despenalizar-socialmente-el-aborto/" type="external">latest national survey</a> from 2014 finds that about 65 percent of Ecuadoreans support decriminalizing abortion. On the other hand, more than 75 percent of Ecuadoreans self-identify as Catholic, a faith with a strong stance against abortion.</p>
<p>Last year, 29,000 teenage girls gave birth in Ecuador. Teen pregnancy rates are so high in Ecuador, that the topic is a common one for radio-novelas meant to bring sex education to the masses in an honest and straight-forward way — something that’s missing in the government’s new family planning program which advocates for abstinence until marriage.</p>
<p>The person behind many such public service announcements is Jose Ignacio López Vigil, a former Jesuit priest-turned radio host who’s openly critical of the power of the religious lobby on the state by groups such as the Opus Dei.</p>
<p>“If you’re a public official, you must respect secular public policies. But in Ecuador, public officials here still talk of the Bible and the crucifix,” said López Vigil, referring to Correa, specifically. “This is due to the influence of secret and very powerful Catholic sects that are wielding more and more influence on the Ecuadorean government.”</p>
<p>Vigil is referring to Opus Dei and other groups such as Tradición, Familia y Propiedad, which are linked to rightwing parties or causes throughout Latin America. All support a strong abstinence-only message for sex education.</p>
<p>Birth control is hard to come by in Ecuador — it isn’t widely available at pharmacies, and on the street, prices are highly speculative. Those who are most affected by this shortage and by abstinence-only messages are young, poor and indigenous women.</p>
<p>“If women had access to birth control, they wouldn’t get pregnant; and if they weren’t getting pregnant, they wouldn’t need to have abortions,” says Quito gynecologist Virginia Gomez de la Torre. “But there are many challenges to getting access to reproductive rights in this country.”</p>
<p>Twenty-five-year-old Veronica Vera agrees. She’s a leader with Salud Mujeres, a collective of young women who advocate for legal abortion. I meet her at an outdoor café in Quito; as we speak, the people seated in the nearby tables stare at Vera as she speaks. She’s said aborto, the Spanish word for “abortion,” out loud, something of a taboo here.</p>
<p>But Vera is actually explaining how her group has made great strides on the debate over reproductive rights: People are more accepting of it, she says, and Salud Mujeres now runs a hotline to make misoprostol, a pill that induces early-term abortions, more accessible. Through the hotline, Salud Mujeres helps women find the pill and guides them through the process of terminating their own pregnancies in a safe manner.</p>
<p>“Since we started the fight six years ago with our abortion hotline, public opinion has really shifted,” said Vera, quoting the latest survey showing 65 percent support for decriminalizing abortions. “I think people in Ecuador are more willing to listen to other arguments regarding abortion, beyond the religious one.”</p>
<p>Still, when asked whether her activism for women’s rights has changed her views of Catholicism or the Pope, Vera couldn’t come up with the right words easily. “No,” she simply replied. “Just because we support abortion doesn’t mean many of us aren’t people of faith.”</p>
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pope francis visiting ecuador among latin american countries first papal visit ecuador since 1980s160and countrys president160rafael correa160has personally involved planning past six months tweeting enthusiastically correa known outside ecuador investment social programs infrastructure many critics argue policies toward women among conservative latin america womens groups ecuador say theyve losing series hardwon rights since correa first came office 2007 recently theyve seen dissolution government agency tasked reducing teen pregnancy also known estrategia nacional intersectorial de planificación familiar prevención del embarazo en adolescentes correa reorganized late last year appointed antiabortion activist run mónica hernández associated conservative opus dei organization also vocal proponent abstinence nothing religion hernández insisted soon appointment newlynamed plan familia parenteducation program pushing abstinence want everyone ecuador right define family planning according beliefs debate family planning heated one year correa came office 2008 ecuador rewrote constitution new document government explicitly recognizes guarantees life moment conception last year pressure public health gender rights activists led various assemblywomen suggest reform abortion law asking procedure become legal victims rape speaking media vote president correa dismissed effort gay abortionist agenda ecuadors president rafael correa 2nd right reviews preparations underway bicentenario park quito pope francis hold mass july visit ecuador guillermo granja160reuters days youd think saying youre heterosexual believes family church sin said wont ashamed heterosexual male believes family catholic church thats discourse hear protesters way isnt shared majority ecuadoreans turns latest national survey 2014 finds 65 percent ecuadoreans support decriminalizing abortion hand 75 percent ecuadoreans selfidentify catholic faith strong stance abortion last year 29000 teenage girls gave birth ecuador teen pregnancy rates high ecuador topic common one radionovelas meant bring sex education masses honest straightforward way something thats missing governments new family planning program advocates abstinence marriage person behind many public service announcements jose ignacio lópez vigil former jesuit priestturned radio host whos openly critical power religious lobby state groups opus dei youre public official must respect secular public policies ecuador public officials still talk bible crucifix said lópez vigil referring correa specifically due influence secret powerful catholic sects wielding influence ecuadorean government vigil referring opus dei groups tradición familia propiedad linked rightwing parties causes throughout latin america support strong abstinenceonly message sex education birth control hard come ecuador isnt widely available pharmacies street prices highly speculative affected shortage abstinenceonly messages young poor indigenous women women access birth control wouldnt get pregnant werent getting pregnant wouldnt need abortions says quito gynecologist virginia gomez de la torre many challenges getting access reproductive rights country twentyfiveyearold veronica vera agrees shes leader salud mujeres collective young women advocate legal abortion meet outdoor café quito speak people seated nearby tables stare vera speaks shes said aborto spanish word abortion loud something taboo vera actually explaining group made great strides debate reproductive rights people accepting says salud mujeres runs hotline make misoprostol pill induces earlyterm abortions accessible hotline salud mujeres helps women find pill guides process terminating pregnancies safe manner since started fight six years ago abortion hotline public opinion really shifted said vera quoting latest survey showing 65 percent support decriminalizing abortions think people ecuador willing listen arguments regarding abortion beyond religious one still asked whether activism womens rights changed views catholicism pope vera couldnt come right words easily simply replied support abortion doesnt mean many us arent people faith
| 542 |
<p>By Luke Smith</p>
<p>In the recent decision of the Supreme Court in United States vs. Windsor, the court struck down the federal law defining marriage exclusively as a monogamous union of a man and woman. I have been asked by many different people in the congregation I serve as pastor about my thoughts on same-sex marriage.&#160;I am not persuaded that same-sex marriage is compatible with the scriptural witness for sexual union.&#160;</p>
<p>One of the interpreters of the Bible who has been very helpful to me in navigating the scriptural passages with regard to the issue of homosexuality is Richard Hays.&#160;Currently he serves as the dean of Duke Divinity School. His book The Moral Vision of the New Testament significantly shaped my interpretation of the relevant scriptural passages. Robert Gagnon’s The Bible and Homosexual Practice provided an exhaustive resource to the issues surrounding the question of homosexuality.&#160;</p>
<p>It seems to me in our present day there is a hesitancy to look to scripture to find guidance on the issue of sexual behavior. There are several reasons for this hesitancy.&#160;</p>
<p>First is the fact that there are times when people have quoted the Bible in ways that are angry and cruel. There is no question that people have misapplied the Bible.&#160;Jesus confronted the misuse of scripture by the Pharisees and other religious leaders.&#160;The devil tempting Jesus appealed to scripture.&#160;I know of many accounts of women who in attempting to escape abusive relationships have been told by religious leaders to return to their husbands based on appeals to scriptural condemnation of divorce.&#160; &#160;</p>
<p>In addition to the troubling experience of appeals to scripture that counsel rigid responses to complex circumstances, there are also teachings that seem to be interwoven with the culture of the period in which these writings were first recorded.&#160;This raises the question to what extent do the social customs of the ancient Near East apply to the present day?&#160;</p>
<p>I was in the gym one day when someone made the comment to me, “don’t you think we have progressed since the times of the Bible?”&#160;Not everyone would phrase their concern in exactly the same way.&#160;But there is uneasiness about how one applies the Bible to the present.</p>
<p>This is compounded when it seems like there are prohibitions in the Bible that are not taken with the same level of care.&#160;Slavery was widely practiced in the ancient world.&#160;When the Bible speaks with regard to slavery, the question is naturally raised would the admonishments be exactly the same in our present context.&#160;If not, then may we not also assume that there might be some change when it comes to same-sex marriage?&#160;</p>
<p>Quoting scripture does not mean that we are faithfully interpreting scripture.&#160;On the other hand, while Jesus critiqued and rebuked people for misusing scripture, he appealed to scripture to explain his identity.&#160;The early church when wrestling with the questions of purity turned to scripture.&#160;It seems to me that this is a model for us as well.&#160;The church is always confronted with the challenge to faithfully handle scripture which includes the consideration of how prohibitions cross time and culture.</p>
<p>Space does not allow me to address every passage that relates to same-sex behavior. Perhaps the most significant passage for thinking about homosexuality is Romans 1:18-32. The gospel as Paul presents it here in Romans is a demonstration of God’s justice.&#160;This demonstration of justice delivers humankind from bondage to sin and death.&#160;Same-sex erotic relationships are used as a picture of the distortion of sin and the unfolding wrath of God.&#160; &#160;</p>
<p>In summary, Genesis, Leviticus, 1 Corinthians, 1 Timothy, Acts, and Romans – every biblical text that references homosexuality – expresses disapproval.&#160; In this respect the issue of homosexuality differs from topics like slavery or the subordination of women.&#160;In addition to the texts which specifically condemn homosexuality, a full&#160;reflection on this matter would need to explore the passages in which erotic desire is treated.&#160;There is a tremendous amount of attention given throughout scripture to the importance of purity in our sexual behavior.&#160;</p>
<p>There is a narrative in the world that seems to me to insist that full and happy lives depend upon romantic love.&#160;But in Scripture we find an alternate claim, thankfully, given the reality that often our lives are caught in places of unfulfilled desire.&#160;Lives of freedom, joy and service are not dependent upon sexual expression.&#160;There is almost no discussion in our culture of celibacy as a good thing.&#160;In fact celibacy, the abstaining from sexual expression, is often considered to be somehow repressive, creating a well spring of negative inclinations. In contrast to the prevailing message of our day, Jesus commended celibacy.&#160;Paul commended celibacy. The gratification of our sexual desire is not a necessary condition for personal fulfillment.&#160;</p>
<p>I think perhaps the greatest concern that I have with the current discussion within the church of same-sex marriage is that as people devalue the scripture another tendency may emerge. The goal of the Christian life becomes less about the unfolding plan of God’s redemption.&#160;The focus turns to the present. This leads to efforts to make our present day a place of perfect justice.&#160;We should be just and fair. We should want to be more just and fair. Because of the pernicious consequence of disobedience to God, all of our efforts will inevitably leave this work unfinished.&#160;In turn, this can lead to people focusing on the failures of others without adequately being convinced of their own culpability. The heart of the gospel is the message of God’s gift of deliverance through the death and resurrection of Jesus.&#160;</p>
<p>As we consider ethical issues of any type I think it is important to reference the advice of Paul to the church at Rome, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)</p>
<p>In the abstract we do not acknowledge a particular man or woman’s struggles, hurts and pain.&#160;We also may neglect to acknowledge the gifts and strengths which even in incompleteness may be giving witness to the redemptive power of God.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>The life of the believer is one in which we find ourselves to be resident aliens among resident aliens.&#160;May we remember this fact as we think about our sisters and brothers who each struggle as we struggle to be made after the image of God.&#160;</p>
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luke smith recent decision supreme court united states vs windsor court struck federal law defining marriage exclusively monogamous union man woman asked many different people congregation serve pastor thoughts samesex marriage160i persuaded samesex marriage compatible scriptural witness sexual union160 one interpreters bible helpful navigating scriptural passages regard issue homosexuality richard hays160currently serves dean duke divinity school book moral vision new testament significantly shaped interpretation relevant scriptural passages robert gagnons bible homosexual practice provided exhaustive resource issues surrounding question homosexuality160 seems present day hesitancy look scripture find guidance issue sexual behavior several reasons hesitancy160 first fact times people quoted bible ways angry cruel question people misapplied bible160jesus confronted misuse scripture pharisees religious leaders160the devil tempting jesus appealed scripture160i know many accounts women attempting escape abusive relationships told religious leaders return husbands based appeals scriptural condemnation divorce160 160 addition troubling experience appeals scripture counsel rigid responses complex circumstances also teachings seem interwoven culture period writings first recorded160this raises question extent social customs ancient near east apply present day160 gym one day someone made comment dont think progressed since times bible160not everyone would phrase concern exactly way160but uneasiness one applies bible present compounded seems like prohibitions bible taken level care160slavery widely practiced ancient world160when bible speaks regard slavery question naturally raised would admonishments exactly present context160if may also assume might change comes samesex marriage160 quoting scripture mean faithfully interpreting scripture160on hand jesus critiqued rebuked people misusing scripture appealed scripture explain identity160the early church wrestling questions purity turned scripture160it seems model us well160the church always confronted challenge faithfully handle scripture includes consideration prohibitions cross time culture space allow address every passage relates samesex behavior perhaps significant passage thinking homosexuality romans 11832 gospel paul presents romans demonstration gods justice160this demonstration justice delivers humankind bondage sin death160samesex erotic relationships used picture distortion sin unfolding wrath god160 160 summary genesis leviticus 1 corinthians 1 timothy acts romans every biblical text references homosexuality expresses disapproval160 respect issue homosexuality differs topics like slavery subordination women160in addition texts specifically condemn homosexuality full160reflection matter would need explore passages erotic desire treated160there tremendous amount attention given throughout scripture importance purity sexual behavior160 narrative world seems insist full happy lives depend upon romantic love160but scripture find alternate claim thankfully given reality often lives caught places unfulfilled desire160lives freedom joy service dependent upon sexual expression160there almost discussion culture celibacy good thing160in fact celibacy abstaining sexual expression often considered somehow repressive creating well spring negative inclinations contrast prevailing message day jesus commended celibacy160paul commended celibacy gratification sexual desire necessary condition personal fulfillment160 think perhaps greatest concern current discussion within church samesex marriage people devalue scripture another tendency may emerge goal christian life becomes less unfolding plan gods redemption160the focus turns present leads efforts make present day place perfect justice160we fair want fair pernicious consequence disobedience god efforts inevitably leave work unfinished160in turn lead people focusing failures others without adequately convinced culpability heart gospel message gods gift deliverance death resurrection jesus160 consider ethical issues type think important reference advice paul church rome conformed world transformed renewing minds may discern god good acceptable perfect romans 122 abstract acknowledge particular man womans struggles hurts pain160we also may neglect acknowledge gifts strengths even incompleteness may giving witness redemptive power god160160 life believer one find resident aliens among resident aliens160may remember fact think sisters brothers struggle struggle made image god160
| 550 |
<p>It’s been a long time since Parmis has felt this calm.</p>
<p>Sitting at her desk in the dormitory room of a refurbished Siemens office complex at the edge of Vienna, the 29-year-old Iranian refugee isn’t thinking about her safety, or where she’ll find food. She’s moved up in her hierarchy of needs: Right now she’s focused on her art. “When I’m drawing, when I’m painting, I forget everything in my life, my pain,” she says.</p>
<p>Parmis, who came to Austria in November 2015, says she fled her home in Tehran for political reasons. After flying to Turkey, she traveled by “boat, bus and car,” first to Salzburg and then to the Austrian capital. The journey took just over three weeks.</p>
<p>“Sometimes I can’t sleep just because I think about the way [here],” says Parmis, who agreed to an interview on the condition that her last name and the exact reasons for her departure from Iran not be shared. “But I’m OK now.”</p>
<p>She briefly stayed in two different refugee camps before landing a spot in the refugee shelter run by Austria’s Samaritan Union Workers, one of the country’s largest social services organizations. In the summer of 2016, after she had settled in, a friend saw a call for refugee artists on Facebook and told Parmis about it. The call also came with an offer of help, in the form of donated paint, canvases and pastels. Parmis was overjoyed. She took the supplies and got to work.</p>
<p />
<p>This is&#160;Parmis' portrait titled, "Blue," which she created with donated supplies.&#160;</p>
<p>Courtesy of Parmis</p>
<p>The call for artists came from an organization called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/restartrocks/" type="external">Restart</a>, a Berlin-based social enterprise looking to give refugees a creative outlet, connections to fellow artists and access to an online art marketplace in their new European homes. Modeled after <a href="http://www.artlifting.com/pages/about-us" type="external">ArtLifting</a>, a Boston-based benefit corporation that sells and licenses the work of homeless artists, Restart hopes to be a resource for creative refugees trying to remake their lives and careers in Europe.</p>
<p>Founder Jonas Nipkow started developing the idea in Berlin after attending a job fair for people he calls “newcomers” — the term he prefers for refugees. He was struck by the fact that most job opportunities there were in manufacturing and service. “I wondered,” he remembers thinking, “where are the programs for creative people?”</p>
<p>The demand was there, and after Nipkow founded the organization in early March 2016, word spread quickly.</p>
<p>“Once we met artists, they knew other artists, and we realized there were a lot of artists among newcomers,” says Nipkow. Within just weeks, in early April, Restart launched its first-ever exhibit in Berlin with the works of five refugee artists. “It was great to see how excited the artists were, not just to be seen as refugees, but, as talented, creative people,” says Nipkow.&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>This is a snapshot from Restart's Vienna exhibition opening.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TJ-Photography-1629395393943100/" type="external">TJ Alshemaree</a>&#160;</p>
<p>Nipkow expanded his organization into Austria after meeting Raffaela Daboval, now the director of Restart Austria, through Impact Hub, a London-based networking organization and business incubator that hosted Restart’s Berlin exhibition. Daboval had previously organized a one-week startup incubator in Vienna, and she was eager to put her experience in the arts and social entrepreneurship to good use. She joined the project in July, and by the end of August, had a team of volunteers working to recruit artists, gather supplies and plan an exhibit.</p>
<p>Daboval says she was surprised by the high turnout at the exhibit opener at the MQ in October. The seven artists featured in the show included some self-taught, amateur artists, as well as some established artists like Sahf Abdulrahman, who previously worked as a children's art teacher and art critic for Syrian newspapers, and Ibrahim Barghoud, who previously taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Aleppo and whose work has been shown across Europe.</p>
<p>Some of the supplies used by the artists came from Vienna-based artist Gerlinde Pauschenwein, who was approached by a Restart volunteer while teaching a class at the Siemens complex refugee shelter. “As an art therapist, I learned that it's important to give people perspective, especially people who might be losing hope,” she says. The blue-colored pastels she donated ended up with Parmis&#160;and now characterize her portrait, “Blue.”</p>
<p>When Parmis saw Restart's call for artists on Facebook, she knew right away she wanted to be a part of it, and Pauschenwein's donations made it possible. Although Parmis had never worked as a professional artist, she had taken some painting classes in Tehran, and she comes from a family of creative people. Her mother is an amateur artist, one sister is a&#160;painter, a brother is a building designer and a second sister is in school for architecture. She says she calls her mother once a week, and she hopes that someday she’ll be able&#160;to reunite with her family in Turkey, but&#160;she doesn’t anticipate going back to Iran unless there’s a major regime change.</p>
<p />
<p>Austrian army soldiers observe migrants as they wait to cross the border from the village of Sentilj, Slovenia into Spielfeld, Austria, Nov.&#160;2, 2015.</p>
<p>Leonhard Foeger/Reuters</p>
<p>Painting and exhibiting her work helped Parmis find meaning and purpose amid the challenges of life as a new refugee. But the question of how Austria will manage its role in the largest refugee crisis since World War II remains a complicated one that won’t be answered with a single art exhibition.</p>
<p>Parmis was one of almost&#160; <a href="http://www.bmi.gv.at/cms/BMI_Asylwesen/statistik/files/Asylstatistik_Dezember_2015.pdf" type="external">90,000&#160;asylum seekers</a>&#160;who came to Austria in 2015. That year, the country of about 8.5&#160;million inhabitants played temporary host to many refugees and migrants passing through on their way to other countries in the European Union, mostly Germany. Most of those refugees were fleeing Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, according to Austria's Interior Ministry. Austria provides asylum-seekers with some social and financial aid, but they aren’t eligible for many social welfare programs. Many refugees have been unable to find work.</p>
<p>This painting titled, “Pain and Hope,” is by Khaled Dahesh, a Syrian artist and art teacher who came&#160;to Austria from Turkey, where he lived for four years after fleeing Damascus. The painting depicts a street in Damascus, empty save for two flocks of doves. “Only birds,” he says. Dahesh&#160;doesn’t have a job in Vienna yet, but he wants work. “Suchen, suchen,” he says, in German. “Looking, looking.” In the meantime, he says he plans to paint more, hopefully in order to earn some cash to supplement his limited allowance from the state.&#160;</p>
<p>Courtesy of&#160;Khaled​ Dahesh</p>
<p>Although the migrants who stayed in Austria make up a small fraction of the country's population, applications in 2015 were more than triple the number from 2014, giving many Austrians the false impression the country was being overrun. Since then, politicians on the far right have capitalized on these fears, and the country’s immigration policies have tightened, with heightened border controls and a new cap on refugees and asylum applications in early 2016. As of November 2016, asylum applications had fallen back down to around 40,000, according to the Interior Ministry.</p>
<p>Parmis says she’s received a mostly warm welcome in Vienna, but acknowledges that not all Austrians are as happy as she is about her arrival. One day, Parmis caught a woman pointing at her on the subway. The woman then told a young girl she was traveling with that Parmis was bad because of her “black hair.”</p>
<p>“She didn’t know that I could understand what she was saying,” Parmis says. “I just looked at this woman and smiled.”</p>
<p>While the larger challenges of the European refugee crisis remain, Restart focuses on its mission. The next step for the organization, both in Berlin and Vienna, is to recruit more artists, gather more resources and ultimately launch an online platform to sell the artists’ work. Restart will charge a 30 percent commission, which will be used for reinvestment in the project. In the long term, the project won’t be sustainable without commissions, Daboval says.</p>
<p>“The idea is to create a network for them,” Daboval says. “When you are an artist, it’s very hard to work because it’s not like a normal job market where you send your CV.”</p>
<p>It’s an ambitious plan, but there’s no guarantee it will work. Pauschenwein is somewhat pessimistic about the viability of the art market for anyone who isn't a big name, but she’s impressed with what the organization has accomplished so far, particularly in snagging the MQ for its opening. The location is “top,” she says. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”</p>
<p>For her part, Parmis has sold two paintings, one for 90 euros ($100) and the other for 120 euros ($134). She’s also given painting lessons to young children in the refugee center, most of whom are from Afghanistan and Syria. Some of the girls from her class are playing handball in the parking lot while we speak, and we can hear them laughing outside her window.</p>
<p>Several flights above them, Parmis has decorated several of her walls with their drawings, which she hangs up alongside her own. Against her closet rests a cello on loan from a local music school, and around her desk, she’s pinned up various German language study guides. In the center of the room, Parmis has lithographs of turn-of-the century Vienna. “Every time I see them, I think, yes, I’m here,” she says. “This is real.”</p>
<p />
<p>Parmis' art, shown here, was featured in Restart's exhibit&#160;in&#160;Vienna.</p>
<p>Courtesy of&#160; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TJ-Photography-1629395393943100/" type="external">TJ Alshemaree&#160;</a></p>
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long time since parmis felt calm sitting desk dormitory room refurbished siemens office complex edge vienna 29yearold iranian refugee isnt thinking safety shell find food shes moved hierarchy needs right shes focused art im drawing im painting forget everything life pain says parmis came austria november 2015 says fled home tehran political reasons flying turkey traveled boat bus car first salzburg austrian capital journey took three weeks sometimes cant sleep think way says parmis agreed interview condition last name exact reasons departure iran shared im ok briefly stayed two different refugee camps landing spot refugee shelter run austrias samaritan union workers one countrys largest social services organizations summer 2016 settled friend saw call refugee artists facebook told parmis call also came offer help form donated paint canvases pastels parmis overjoyed took supplies got work is160parmis portrait titled blue created donated supplies160 courtesy parmis call artists came organization called restart berlinbased social enterprise looking give refugees creative outlet connections fellow artists access online art marketplace new european homes modeled artlifting bostonbased benefit corporation sells licenses work homeless artists restart hopes resource creative refugees trying remake lives careers europe founder jonas nipkow started developing idea berlin attending job fair people calls newcomers term prefers refugees struck fact job opportunities manufacturing service wondered remembers thinking programs creative people demand nipkow founded organization early march 2016 word spread quickly met artists knew artists realized lot artists among newcomers says nipkow within weeks early april restart launched firstever exhibit berlin works five refugee artists great see excited artists seen refugees talented creative people says nipkow160 snapshot restarts vienna exhibition opening 160 courtesy tj alshemaree160 nipkow expanded organization austria meeting raffaela daboval director restart austria impact hub londonbased networking organization business incubator hosted restarts berlin exhibition daboval previously organized oneweek startup incubator vienna eager put experience arts social entrepreneurship good use joined project july end august team volunteers working recruit artists gather supplies plan exhibit daboval says surprised high turnout exhibit opener mq october seven artists featured show included selftaught amateur artists well established artists like sahf abdulrahman previously worked childrens art teacher art critic syrian newspapers ibrahim barghoud previously taught academy fine arts aleppo whose work shown across europe supplies used artists came viennabased artist gerlinde pauschenwein approached restart volunteer teaching class siemens complex refugee shelter art therapist learned important give people perspective especially people might losing hope says bluecolored pastels donated ended parmis160and characterize portrait blue parmis saw restarts call artists facebook knew right away wanted part pauschenweins donations made possible although parmis never worked professional artist taken painting classes tehran comes family creative people mother amateur artist one sister a160painter brother building designer second sister school architecture says calls mother week hopes someday shell able160to reunite family turkey but160she doesnt anticipate going back iran unless theres major regime change austrian army soldiers observe migrants wait cross border village sentilj slovenia spielfeld austria nov1602 2015 leonhard foegerreuters painting exhibiting work helped parmis find meaning purpose amid challenges life new refugee question austria manage role largest refugee crisis since world war ii remains complicated one wont answered single art exhibition parmis one almost160 90000160asylum seekers160who came austria 2015 year country 85160million inhabitants played temporary host many refugees migrants passing way countries european union mostly germany refugees fleeing afghanistan syria iraq according austrias interior ministry austria provides asylumseekers social financial aid arent eligible many social welfare programs many refugees unable find work painting titled pain hope khaled dahesh syrian artist art teacher came160to austria turkey lived four years fleeing damascus painting depicts street damascus empty save two flocks doves birds says dahesh160doesnt job vienna yet wants work suchen suchen says german looking looking meantime says plans paint hopefully order earn cash supplement limited allowance state160 courtesy of160khaled dahesh although migrants stayed austria make small fraction countrys population applications 2015 triple number 2014 giving many austrians false impression country overrun since politicians far right capitalized fears countrys immigration policies tightened heightened border controls new cap refugees asylum applications early 2016 november 2016 asylum applications fallen back around 40000 according interior ministry parmis says shes received mostly warm welcome vienna acknowledges austrians happy arrival one day parmis caught woman pointing subway woman told young girl traveling parmis bad black hair didnt know could understand saying parmis says looked woman smiled larger challenges european refugee crisis remain restart focuses mission next step organization berlin vienna recruit artists gather resources ultimately launch online platform sell artists work restart charge 30 percent commission used reinvestment project long term project wont sustainable without commissions daboval says idea create network daboval says artist hard work like normal job market send cv ambitious plan theres guarantee work pauschenwein somewhat pessimistic viability art market anyone isnt big name shes impressed organization accomplished far particularly snagging mq opening location top says doesnt get better part parmis sold two paintings one 90 euros 100 120 euros 134 shes also given painting lessons young children refugee center afghanistan syria girls class playing handball parking lot speak hear laughing outside window several flights parmis decorated several walls drawings hangs alongside closet rests cello loan local music school around desk shes pinned various german language study guides center room parmis lithographs turnofthe century vienna every time see think yes im says real parmis art shown featured restarts exhibit160in160vienna courtesy of160 tj alshemaree160
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<p>On May 1, prison labor came to a halt in multiple prisons in Alabama. Starting at midnight that day, prisoners stayed in their dormitories — refusing to show up for work at their assigned posts: the kitchen, the license plate manufacturing plant, the recycling plant, the food processing center&#160;and a prison farm.</p>
<p>The prisoners’ demands were pretty simple: basic human rights, educational opportunities&#160;and a reform of Alabama’s harsh sentencing guidelines and parole board.</p>
<p>The strike in Alabama was just the latest in a series of strikes at US&#160;prisons. On April 4, at least seven prisons in Texas staged a work strike after a prisoner sent out a call with the help of outside organizers. About a month earlier, prisoners in states such as&#160;Texas,&#160;Alabama, Virginia and Ohio&#160;called for a national general strike among prisoners on Sept. 9. That's the 45th anniversary of the Attica Rebellion, where guards and inmates died during a prison revolt in upstate New York.</p>
<p>The labor strikes are a turn from the most familiar type of political protest behind bars: the hunger strike.</p>
<p>While hunger strikes pull at the moral heartstrings of the public, work stoppages threaten the economic infrastructure of the prison system itself.</p>
<p>The strike in Alabama was organized by the Free Alabama Movement, a nonviolent grassroots organizing group created by prisoners that focuses on the human rights of Alabama’s imprisoned. Not only does Alabama have one of the highest incarceration rates in the United States, but it also has one of the most overcrowded prison systems. The system’s current population sits at about 80 percent over capacity. With nearly double the inmates that the prisons were designed to hold, the packed prisons produce violence, unsanitary conditions&#160;and&#160; <a href="https://www.splcenter.org/20140604/cruel-confinement-abuse-discrimination-and-death-within-alabama%E2%80%99s-prisons" type="external">medical neglect</a>.</p>
<p />
<p>Prison laborers and an excavator operator help construct an emergency pipeline to increase supplies of potable water in Willits, California February 25, 2014.</p>
<p>Noah Berger/Reuters</p>
<p>“We view prison labor as real slavery … [in] 1865 when the 13th Amendment was ratified … they started the first wave of mass incarcerating black people,” said Melvin Ray, co-founder of the Free Alabama Movement. In the years after slavery, a formal prison system formed in the South. Some plantations were bought by the state and&#160; <a href="https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/05/01/prison-plantations#.GZb6CfMVB" type="external">turned into prisons</a>. “They use [these prisons] as a tool of control. They target African-American communities. They target politically conscious people, politically conscious organizations. And they use these prisons as a form of social control in addition to a plantation [that’s] generating revenue.”</p>
<p>In 2014, when Ray, along with Robert Council, founded the Free Alabama Movement, they organized a work stoppage at the Holman and St. Clair prisons. The strike at Holman prison, where Council was incarcerated, lasted from Jan. 1 to 22. Immediately afterward, both men were thrown into solitary confinement. Ray stayed there for more than a year and was just recently released to general population. Council remains in solitary confinement to this day.</p>
<p>Prison officials list a number of reasons for Council’s segregation, including that he allegedly administered the Free Alabama Movement Facebook group, and he was a leading and significant factor in the work strike.</p>
<p>In the past, hunger strikes have targeted solitary confinement. The well-known hunger strike in 2013, where tens of thousands of prisoners across California refused to eat for 60 days, protested the state’s use of indefinite solitary confinement. It was coupled with other political organizing, including lawsuits and another smaller hunger strike in 2011. Two years after what was called the largest hunger strike in US&#160;history, California agreed to limit its use of solitary confinement.</p>
<p>From Robben Island to Guantanamo to San Quentin, the hunger strike and the penitentiary seem attached to each other. Yet the organizers of the Free Alabama Movement have intentionally moved away from the practice.</p>
<p>In an&#160; <a href="https://freealabamamovement.wordpress.com/2015/02/26/let-the-crops-rot-in-the-fields/" type="external">essay</a>&#160;titled “Let The Crops Rot in the Fields,” Ray and Council laid out a plan for tackling mass incarceration. The essay argues that the old ways of protesting in prisons—including hunger strikes and letter-writing campaigns — are not sufficient. Instead, organizers should attack the economic incentive of prisons. The answer, then, is to stop working—and remove the corporate profit from the prison industrial complex. The title was a reference to work strikes conducted by people who were enslaved in the South.</p>
<p>Members of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee, the prison-organizing group of the Industrial Workers of the World labor union, started sending copies of “Let The Crops Rot in the Fields” to prisoners in other states. The labor union, apparently the only current union that welcomes prisoners, has about 800 members behind bars across the country. The essay has inspired prisoners in Virginia, Ohio, and Mississippi to organize to participate in the National Day of Strike in September 2016 and, for Texas, to have organized a work strike of their own in April.</p>
<p />
<p>Inmates work in the furniture shop during a media tour of the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 7, 2015.</p>
<p>Mark Makela/Reuters</p>
<p>Ray and Council haven’t always held these views. “Over the years we’ve tried a few other different things. We’ve tried letter-writing campaigns. We’ve tried marching, protesting, filing complaints in the court. We’ve tried basically all of the avenues that can be used that are made available to people who are incarcerated,” Council said.</p>
<p>In 2007, the entire population at Holman prison, including Council,&#160; <a href="http://legacy.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/070808/hunger.shtml" type="external">participated in a hunger strike</a>. The prison was in a deplorable state — backed-up sewage issues, mold on the walls, collapsed and rusted pipes. The prisoners demanded that internal affairs and reporters be allowed inside the prison to document the conditions.</p>
<p>Ray and Council met in prison when they were both jailhouse lawyers, assisting other prisoners with filing lawsuits and complaints about the issues in the prison while also writing their own. As their incarceration continued and their lawsuits and grievances against the prisons went nowhere, Council, Ray, and other prisoners began to have a change of heart on how to bring about change.</p>
<p>“We were begging [officials] to please follow the rules. Please have mercy on me. We’re asking some people to have mercy that just don’t have any mercy,” Council explained. “That revelation brought us to the fact that you can’t appeal to the moral [part] of a system that doesn’t have morals.”</p>
<p>The sentiment echoes the thoughts of the late Stokely Carmichael, a civil rights leader and organizer with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which led the civil rights movement among youth in the South.</p>
<p>“In order for nonviolence to work, your opponents must have a conscience,” he&#160;said in 1967, two years after the assassination of Malcolm X and a year before Martin Luther King Jr. was killed. “The United States has none.”</p>
<p>Alex Friedmann, the managing editor of&#160;Prison Legal News, a publication of the Human Rights Defense Center, said&#160;in an email&#160;that prisons would “grind to a halt” without the use of prison labor. “The work strikes in the Alabama and Texas prison systems are a natural and predictable result of treating prisoners as slaves and often benefiting — and often&#160;profiting —&#160;from their labor. If prison officials treat prisoners as slaves, then they should not be surprised when there are occasional slave revolts,” Friedmann said.</p>
<p />
<p>Prison inmates lay water pipe on a work project outside Oak Glen Conservation Fire Camp #35 in Yucaipa, California November 6, 2014.&#160;</p>
<p>Lucy Nicholson&#160;/Reuters</p>
<p>In prisons across the country, incarcerated people are paid as little as 15 to 45 cents an hour. Even worse, in Texas, the minimum wage for a prisoner starts at zero dollars.</p>
<p>However, these wages aren’t always what employers are paying to hire prisoners. Employers in states like Alabama, Colorado, and South Carolina pay the federal hourly minimum wage for prisoner labor. However, the wage is paid to the state, and prisoners see only a fraction of that check. In Alabama, the Department of Corrections is&#160; <a href="http://www.doc.state.al.us/docs/AdminRegs/AR480.pdf" type="external">authorized</a>&#160;to take up to 80 percent of a prisoner’s income, half of which can go to “offset the costs of the inmate’s incarceration.”</p>
<p>Corrections departments across the country have laws stating they can take part or most of prisoners’ wages to pay for the upkeep of the prison or room and board. Incarcerating the highest rate of prisoners in the world comes at a cost, so states have increasingly used the prisoners’ own labor to lower prison costs. Prolonged work stoppages threaten to increase these costs and create a more expensive prison system — some states, like Alabama with its high budget deficit, simply can’t afford that.</p>
<p>Two weeks after May’s strike ended, the warden at Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama, Carter Davenport, retired. Davenport had arrived at Holman in December, and just three months later, a major prison uprising erupted where a prisoner stabbed him (he recovered).</p>
<p>Before working at Holman, Davenport&#160;was the warden at St. Clair Correctional Facility from 2010 to 2015. In 2012, he was suspended for two days&#160; <a href="http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/06/prison_secrets_poring_through.html" type="external">after punching a handcuffed inmate</a>&#160;in the face, according to an Alabama news site.</p>
<p>Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit in Alabama,&#160; <a href="http://www.eji.org/files/Cheatham%20v.%20Thomas_Complaint_File%20Stamped.pdf" type="external">sued</a>&#160;Davenport, as well as the Alabama Department of Corrections, in 2014 for facilitating a culture of violence at St. Clair (the lawsuit is ongoing). That same year, with violence at St. Clair increasing, the nonprofit called for Davenport to be replaced as warden.</p>
<p>Last year, Charlotte Morrison of the Equal Justice Initiative criticized Davenport’s leadership at St. Clair. “[Those] in charge of leading these facilities are creating abusive, dangerous environments,” Morrison said. “Warden Davenport, somebody who punched a handcuffed inmate in the face, that’s the kind of leadership he models. And what we see at the prison is control through intimidation and violence.” Prisoners at Holman had similar opinions about Davenport, so his retirement was a major victory for them.</p>
<p>The Alabama Department of Corrections&#160;says&#160;Davenport’s retirement did not result&#160;from the work strike or the March uprising. His removal, however, was a goal for nonprofit advocates and prisoners.</p>
<p>Now, he’s gone.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/peace-justice/forget-hunger-strikes-what-prisons-fear-most-is-labor-strikes-20160607" type="external">This article</a> was first published by <a href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/" type="external">YES! Magazine</a>, a nonprofit publication that supports people’s active engagement in solving today’s social, political&#160;and environmental challenges.</p>
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may 1 prison labor came halt multiple prisons alabama starting midnight day prisoners stayed dormitories refusing show work assigned posts kitchen license plate manufacturing plant recycling plant food processing center160and prison farm prisoners demands pretty simple basic human rights educational opportunities160and reform alabamas harsh sentencing guidelines parole board strike alabama latest series strikes us160prisons april 4 least seven prisons texas staged work strike prisoner sent call help outside organizers month earlier prisoners states as160texas160alabama virginia ohio160called national general strike among prisoners sept 9 thats 45th anniversary attica rebellion guards inmates died prison revolt upstate new york labor strikes turn familiar type political protest behind bars hunger strike hunger strikes pull moral heartstrings public work stoppages threaten economic infrastructure prison system strike alabama organized free alabama movement nonviolent grassroots organizing group created prisoners focuses human rights alabamas imprisoned alabama one highest incarceration rates united states also one overcrowded prison systems systems current population sits 80 percent capacity nearly double inmates prisons designed hold packed prisons produce violence unsanitary conditions160and160 medical neglect prison laborers excavator operator help construct emergency pipeline increase supplies potable water willits california february 25 2014 noah bergerreuters view prison labor real slavery 1865 13th amendment ratified started first wave mass incarcerating black people said melvin ray cofounder free alabama movement years slavery formal prison system formed south plantations bought state and160 turned prisons use prisons tool control target africanamerican communities target politically conscious people politically conscious organizations use prisons form social control addition plantation thats generating revenue 2014 ray along robert council founded free alabama movement organized work stoppage holman st clair prisons strike holman prison council incarcerated lasted jan 1 22 immediately afterward men thrown solitary confinement ray stayed year recently released general population council remains solitary confinement day prison officials list number reasons councils segregation including allegedly administered free alabama movement facebook group leading significant factor work strike past hunger strikes targeted solitary confinement wellknown hunger strike 2013 tens thousands prisoners across california refused eat 60 days protested states use indefinite solitary confinement coupled political organizing including lawsuits another smaller hunger strike 2011 two years called largest hunger strike us160history california agreed limit use solitary confinement robben island guantanamo san quentin hunger strike penitentiary seem attached yet organizers free alabama movement intentionally moved away practice an160 essay160titled let crops rot fields ray council laid plan tackling mass incarceration essay argues old ways protesting prisonsincluding hunger strikes letterwriting campaigns sufficient instead organizers attack economic incentive prisons answer stop workingand remove corporate profit prison industrial complex title reference work strikes conducted people enslaved south members incarcerated workers organizing committee prisonorganizing group industrial workers world labor union started sending copies let crops rot fields prisoners states labor union apparently current union welcomes prisoners 800 members behind bars across country essay inspired prisoners virginia ohio mississippi organize participate national day strike september 2016 texas organized work strike april inmates work furniture shop media tour curranfromhold correctional facility philadelphia pennsylvania august 7 2015 mark makelareuters ray council havent always held views years weve tried different things weve tried letterwriting campaigns weve tried marching protesting filing complaints court weve tried basically avenues used made available people incarcerated council said 2007 entire population holman prison including council160 participated hunger strike prison deplorable state backedup sewage issues mold walls collapsed rusted pipes prisoners demanded internal affairs reporters allowed inside prison document conditions ray council met prison jailhouse lawyers assisting prisoners filing lawsuits complaints issues prison also writing incarceration continued lawsuits grievances prisons went nowhere council ray prisoners began change heart bring change begging officials please follow rules please mercy asking people mercy dont mercy council explained revelation brought us fact cant appeal moral part system doesnt morals sentiment echoes thoughts late stokely carmichael civil rights leader organizer student nonviolent coordinating committee led civil rights movement among youth south order nonviolence work opponents must conscience he160said 1967 two years assassination malcolm x year martin luther king jr killed united states none alex friedmann managing editor of160prison legal news publication human rights defense center said160in email160that prisons would grind halt without use prison labor work strikes alabama texas prison systems natural predictable result treating prisoners slaves often benefiting often160profiting 160from labor prison officials treat prisoners slaves surprised occasional slave revolts friedmann said prison inmates lay water pipe work project outside oak glen conservation fire camp 35 yucaipa california november 6 2014160 lucy nicholson160reuters prisons across country incarcerated people paid little 15 45 cents hour even worse texas minimum wage prisoner starts zero dollars however wages arent always employers paying hire prisoners employers states like alabama colorado south carolina pay federal hourly minimum wage prisoner labor however wage paid state prisoners see fraction check alabama department corrections is160 authorized160to take 80 percent prisoners income half go offset costs inmates incarceration corrections departments across country laws stating take part prisoners wages pay upkeep prison room board incarcerating highest rate prisoners world comes cost states increasingly used prisoners labor lower prison costs prolonged work stoppages threaten increase costs create expensive prison system states like alabama high budget deficit simply cant afford two weeks mays strike ended warden holman correctional facility alabama carter davenport retired davenport arrived holman december three months later major prison uprising erupted prisoner stabbed recovered working holman davenport160was warden st clair correctional facility 2010 2015 2012 suspended two days160 punching handcuffed inmate160in face according alabama news site equal justice initiative nonprofit alabama160 sued160davenport well alabama department corrections 2014 facilitating culture violence st clair lawsuit ongoing year violence st clair increasing nonprofit called davenport replaced warden last year charlotte morrison equal justice initiative criticized davenports leadership st clair charge leading facilities creating abusive dangerous environments morrison said warden davenport somebody punched handcuffed inmate face thats kind leadership models see prison control intimidation violence prisoners holman similar opinions davenport retirement major victory alabama department corrections160says160davenports retirement result160from work strike march uprising removal however goal nonprofit advocates prisoners hes gone article first published yes magazine nonprofit publication supports peoples active engagement solving todays social political160and environmental challenges
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<p>TAIPEI, Taiwan&#160;— Gangsters kill a Taiwanese-American professor in cold blood in the U.S., then flee back to Taiwan.</p>
<p>An FBI agent follows the killers' trail across the Pacific to Taipei, where he's shocked to discover the perpetrators had links with the government.</p>
<p>It's the plot of a new political thriller called "Formosa Betrayed." But the movie based on real events, including the 1984 murder of Taiwanese journalist Henry Liu in his home in Daly City, Calif., by thugs acting on orders from Taiwan military intelligence.</p>
<p>The film, released in the U.S. on Feb. 26,&#160; shines a spotlight on a troubled chapter of Taiwan's history that's little known beyond its shores.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.formosathemovie.com/" type="external">"Formosa Betrayed"</a> brings to the screen the early 1980s peak of the White Terror. That's Taiwan's name for the authoritarian Kuomintang's monitoring, harassment, imprisonment and in some cases execution of its political enemies during the martial law era from the 1940s to the 1980s.</p>
<p />
<p>Taiwan threw off martial law in 1987 and democratized. But it has yet to confront all the ghosts from its past.</p>
<p>In many cases the truth remains buried, with government files sealed and perpetrators still walking the streets unpunished.</p>
<p>Taiwan's experience mirrors those of similar countries wrestling with the sins of autocratic fathers. Think Chile's Pinochet, or South Korea's Park Chung-hee.</p>
<p>It also holds lessons for today's authoritarian China. Beijing uses methods straight out of the KMT's playbook, and has updated White Terror techniques for the 21st century with widespread <a href="http://www.uscc.gov/researchpapers/2009/NorthropGrumman_PRC_Cyber_Paper_FINAL_Approved%20Report_16Oct2009.pdf" type="external">cell-phone tapping and cyber-snooping</a>.</p>
<p>Turning point</p>
<p>Before the mid-1980s, Washington turned a blind eye to the KMT's harsh methods because it was a staunch World War II and anti-communist ally — the supposedly "free" China.</p>
<p>But Henry Liu's assassination was so brazen it couldn't be ignored, said veteran American journalist Melinda Liu, who covered the story for Newsweek.</p>
<p>"When it became clear that some Taiwan authorities were willing to export dirty tricks to American soil, that raised alarm bells," wrote Liu in an email. "Taipei's supporters in Washington could not easily defend murder and other violations of American laws when they occurred on U.S. turf."</p>
<p>The U.S. Congress became more active in pressing for human rights in Taiwan, and passed a resolution that Henry Liu's killers be extradited to the U.S. for trial (Taiwan rejected that). Such pressure helped nudge Taiwan toward democracy.</p>
<p>Will Tiao, one of the actors and producers of "Formosa Betrayed," helped raise more than $6 million for the movie from Taiwanese in the United States and Canada. He said the film had touched a nerve in the community.</p>
<p>"Many of the investors and supporters of the film were directly affected by the events of the White Terror period," wrote Tiao, himself a Kansas-born Taiwanese-American, in an email. "Most of them were spied upon or asked to spy upon others. Many were blacklisted. Some were arrested or their families arrested. And some had worse things happen to them."</p>
<p>"So this film is very personal and emotional to them because it's really the first time they have gotten a chance to tell their story to a worldwide audience. For some, it's been a healing process."</p>
<p>Debating history</p>
<p>In Taiwan, people still can't agree on how to heal. Some in the old KMT's machine of repression have reinvented themselves as democrats. Their supporters say Taiwan should move on. Cynics say past KMT sins are too often used by the opposition to score political points. And for most young people, it's all ancient history.</p>
<p>But the era is still fresh in many people's minds. Social work professor Karleen Chiu recalls how scared she and other students were in 1981 when a visiting Taiwanese-American professor was found dead on her college campus in Taipei, just hours after a marathon interrogation session by KMT secret police. (An official probe ruled the professor's death a suicide or accident, which many found hard to swallow.)</p>
<p>Later, Chiu was a graduate student at Ohio State University when Henry Liu was murdered. Even on American soil, Taiwanese students were scared silent, afraid to talk to other Taiwanese who might be KMT informants.</p>
<p>"You didn't even talk to your roommates about that (Liu's murder) because you didn't know which side they were on," said Chiu. "You didn't want to be blacklisted. You might not be able to come back to Taiwan. The fear was always there."</p>
<p>Historian Chen Yi-shen said that government files that could expose the truth of cases such as Henry Liu's remain sealed; only those pre-1980 have been opened. Chen is among those who aren't willing to simply forget the past.</p>
<p>"Only if you know the truth can you have forgiveness," said Chen, of Academia Sinica's Institute of Modern History in Taipei. "If you don't have the truth, how can you resolve this history?"</p>
<p>Chen said there wasn't enough known evidence to prove that high level KMT politicians ordered Henry Liu's murder. It's possible that over-zealous military officials acted on their own.</p>
<p>"It's like raising a dog to be very fierce," said Chen. "Sometimes you can't control it, and it can run off and bite people."</p>
<p>KMT military intelligence's role in the killing only came to light because one of the gangsters, Bamboo Union leader Chen Chi-li, aka "King Duck", made secret tape recordings to protect himself, and gave them to a friend in Texas. King Duck served less than six years in jail, and later lived high on the hog in a luxury home in Cambodia.</p>
<p>Liu's murder, and similar cases, led professor Chen and a group of others to quit the KMT, and publicly burn their party membership cards.</p>
<p>"We all changed in the 1980s," said Chen. "How could the government kill people like this? We thought staying in the KMT would be shameful."</p>
<p>Pursuing justice</p>
<p>In addition to opening government files, Chen and others have pressed for a national human rights museum funded by the sale of KMT property, not taxpayer money (KMT legislators cut funding for that project, he says). He says Taiwan needs special legislation for trying White Terror abuses as government crimes against the people.</p>
<p>And he points to South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a possible model for Taiwan to follow.</p>
<p>He and others had high hopes in 2000 when a government of former democracy activists and human rights lawyers took power, only to be disappointed by that government's inaction. He says the current president, the KMT's Ma Ying-jeou, only pays "lip service" to the subject with ritual apologies. "No power transfer, no transition, no justice," said Chen, shaking his head.</p>
<p>Now, Chen says he's on Beijing's blacklist for his pro-Taiwan independence views. He's barred from visiting China, and says a technician traced spyware on his computer back to Beijing.</p>
<p>"Now the CCP is doing what the KMT did," said Chen. "They're just lagging behind by 30 years."&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
taipei taiwan160 gangsters kill taiwaneseamerican professor cold blood us flee back taiwan fbi agent follows killers trail across pacific taipei hes shocked discover perpetrators links government plot new political thriller called formosa betrayed movie based real events including 1984 murder taiwanese journalist henry liu home daly city calif thugs acting orders taiwan military intelligence film released us feb 26160 shines spotlight troubled chapter taiwans history thats little known beyond shores formosa betrayed brings screen early 1980s peak white terror thats taiwans name authoritarian kuomintangs monitoring harassment imprisonment cases execution political enemies martial law era 1940s 1980s taiwan threw martial law 1987 democratized yet confront ghosts past many cases truth remains buried government files sealed perpetrators still walking streets unpunished taiwans experience mirrors similar countries wrestling sins autocratic fathers think chiles pinochet south koreas park chunghee also holds lessons todays authoritarian china beijing uses methods straight kmts playbook updated white terror techniques 21st century widespread cellphone tapping cybersnooping turning point mid1980s washington turned blind eye kmts harsh methods staunch world war ii anticommunist ally supposedly free china henry lius assassination brazen couldnt ignored said veteran american journalist melinda liu covered story newsweek became clear taiwan authorities willing export dirty tricks american soil raised alarm bells wrote liu email taipeis supporters washington could easily defend murder violations american laws occurred us turf us congress became active pressing human rights taiwan passed resolution henry lius killers extradited us trial taiwan rejected pressure helped nudge taiwan toward democracy tiao one actors producers formosa betrayed helped raise 6 million movie taiwanese united states canada said film touched nerve community many investors supporters film directly affected events white terror period wrote tiao kansasborn taiwaneseamerican email spied upon asked spy upon others many blacklisted arrested families arrested worse things happen film personal emotional really first time gotten chance tell story worldwide audience healing process debating history taiwan people still cant agree heal old kmts machine repression reinvented democrats supporters say taiwan move cynics say past kmt sins often used opposition score political points young people ancient history era still fresh many peoples minds social work professor karleen chiu recalls scared students 1981 visiting taiwaneseamerican professor found dead college campus taipei hours marathon interrogation session kmt secret police official probe ruled professors death suicide accident many found hard swallow later chiu graduate student ohio state university henry liu murdered even american soil taiwanese students scared silent afraid talk taiwanese might kmt informants didnt even talk roommates lius murder didnt know side said chiu didnt want blacklisted might able come back taiwan fear always historian chen yishen said government files could expose truth cases henry lius remain sealed pre1980 opened chen among arent willing simply forget past know truth forgiveness said chen academia sinicas institute modern history taipei dont truth resolve history chen said wasnt enough known evidence prove high level kmt politicians ordered henry lius murder possible overzealous military officials acted like raising dog fierce said chen sometimes cant control run bite people kmt military intelligences role killing came light one gangsters bamboo union leader chen chili aka king duck made secret tape recordings protect gave friend texas king duck served less six years jail later lived high hog luxury home cambodia lius murder similar cases led professor chen group others quit kmt publicly burn party membership cards changed 1980s said chen could government kill people like thought staying kmt would shameful pursuing justice addition opening government files chen others pressed national human rights museum funded sale kmt property taxpayer money kmt legislators cut funding project says says taiwan needs special legislation trying white terror abuses government crimes people points south africas truth reconciliation commission possible model taiwan follow others high hopes 2000 government former democracy activists human rights lawyers took power disappointed governments inaction says current president kmts yingjeou pays lip service subject ritual apologies power transfer transition justice said chen shaking head chen says hes beijings blacklist protaiwan independence views hes barred visiting china says technician traced spyware computer back beijing ccp kmt said chen theyre lagging behind 30 years160
| 674 |
<p>Meet the Press - July 17, 2016</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>This Sunday, a jittery nation and a jittery Republican Party. On the eve of the Republican National Convention right here in Cleveland, Donald Trump makes his final, final decision.</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>Indiana Governor Mike Pence is my first choice.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>The Republican Party tries to unite behind two candidates who don't always agree with each other. I'll be joined by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and Glenn Beck, founder of The Blaze TV Network. Plus, our brand new NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll out this morning. The email story, it hurt Clinton. But did it hurt her poll numbers against Trump?</p>
<p>Also, the backdrop to this election. It's a nation on edge; racial tensions at home, terror attacks both here and abroad and now, a coup attempt in Turkey. I'll talk to Secretary of State John Kerry. And joining me for insight and analysis this special Sunday are NBC News Special Correspondent, Tom Brokaw, former political director for George W. Bush Sara Fagan, Joy-Ann Reid of MSNBC's AM Joy and Salem radio network host Hugh Hewitt. Welcome to Sunday and Meet the Press at the Republican National Convention right here in Cleveland.</p>
<p>MALE ANNOUNCER:</p>
<p>From Cleveland, Ohio this is a special edition of Meet the Press with Chuck Todd.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Well, good day from Cleveland, Ohio, we're here at the Quickens Loans Arena, which is, of course, nicknamed "The Q," it's one day before the Republican National Convention begins. I've not run into LeBron yet, but this is the arena that is home of the NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Let me say that again, champion and Cleveland in the same sentence.</p>
<p>Anyway, we are in what's called a "secure zone." We do expect a lot of protests and demonstrations in the next few days and they will be limited to this 1.7 square-mile area that is known as the event zone. Of course, we now know the Republican ticket, it'll be Donald Trump and Governor Mike Pence of Indiana. And yesterday's announcement by Trump introducing Pence was among the oddest we've seen, with Trump concentrating more on how he decided than on the man he chose.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>Indiana Governor Mike Pence was my first choice. If you look at one of the big reasons that I chose Mike, and one of the reasons is party unity, I have to be honest. So many people have said, "party unity." Cause I'm an outsider, I want to be an outsider.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>On this eve of the convention, we also have a brand new NBC News/Wall StreetJournal national poll and it shows Hillary Clinton holding a small but steady five-point lead over Donald Trump, 46-41. It is exactly where the two candidates stood a month ago when we took our last national poll.</p>
<p>That was before the F.B.I.'s report on Secretary Clinton's email. So if you're wondering, "Did the email issue, didn’t it damage her?" Well, no, it did damage her reputation with voters. But Trump has not been able to take an advantage. His struggles have highlighted concerns among Republicans that somehow they've chosen a candidate who violates almost every prescription laid out in the party's autopsy after Mitt Romney's defeat in 2012.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>In the world, the Republican Party has gone from sort of stayed and stale and going nowhere in terms of presidential, to being the hottest party right now anywhere in the world.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>In the wake of Mitt Romney's loss, Republican leaders acknowledged that their party needed to re-brand to turn around a losing streak in presidential years.</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>I think that we had some biologically stupid things that were said in the last election.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>The autopsy's prescription? Grow the party. First, avoid alienating women voters with comments like these.</p>
<p>MITT ROMNEY:</p>
<p>I went to a number of women's groups and said, "Can you help us find folks?" And they brought us whole binders full of women.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But instead of softening the party's image with women, Trump has widened the gender gap.</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>And frankly, if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don't think she'd get 5 percent of the vote.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Second, stop driving away minority voters.</p>
<p>MITT ROMNEY:</p>
<p>The answer is self-deportation, which is people decide that they can do better by going home.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But instead of embracing Latinos, the fastest growing demographic, Trump has re-opened the scars of failed Republican attempts at immigration reform.</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>No, I'll use the word "anchor baby." Excuse me, I'll use the word "anchor baby."</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Third, fix the perception that the GOP does not care about ordinary people, summed up in the line that many Republicans believed lost Romney the election.</p>
<p>MITT ROMNEY:</p>
<p>There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the President no matter what. All right? There are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe they're a victim.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But while party voters focused on winning swing voters that Romney didn't get, they missed the brewing economic angst and cultural resentments of many members of their own party. Bottom line: The RNC didn't autopsy why Republican voters didn't like the Republican Party.</p>
<p>JEFF ROE:</p>
<p>We're talking about, you know, marginal tax rates and earned income tax credits and things that people that don't have any money don't think about. So we need to talk to them and with them instead of past them. And that's what the party's autopsy got wrong.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>In a Washington Post poll released this spring, nearly half of Trump supporters said whites were losing out to other racial groups, leaving Trump an opportunity to exploit the deep anger at Republican elites.</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>We're getting the hell beat out of us and it's gonna stop. And we're gonna bring our jobs back to this country, we're gonna make product again, we're gonna lift our wages.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And remaking the party in his own image.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Well, earlier today, I spoke with the chairman of the Republican Party, Reince Priebus, and I began by asking him whether the new ticket of Trump and Pence is missing an opportunity by not doing what every other ticket has done in previous elections: campaigning together, right away, in front of the American people.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>At least of what I've been seeing on TV, they're everywhere and I think that anything Trump does gets a lot of attention. I think he did yesterday. I thought that Mike Pence did a great job. I mean, he's a perfect pick, I think, for Donald Trump. He's a great compliment to Donald Trump. Experienced governor, leadership in the House, all of the things that I know Donald Trump wanted to check, he did it. And I'm excited about next week.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Does Mike Pence make it so that Monday night at this convention where there could be, you know, a minority report or some "never Trump" stuff, does Mike Pence help calm that down in your opinion?</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>You know, that's a good point. I really think it does. I know that there are some delegates that were slower to come around than others, but what I've heard from a lot of the delegates was a lot of praise about Pence. A lot of the conservatives were very happy about it. I know leadership in the House and the Senate, very happy with the Pence pick.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>So good for Donald Trump, it's good for the party, it's good for our country.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You know, when did you come around on Donald Trump? And I say it this way because you were, as the referee, you would be tough on him when he said some things that you thought was damaging to the party, but you eventually came around. What did it take?</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>Well, I mean, I think it took, number one, I really got to know Donald Trump. But number two, it's a binary choice, it's Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. I mean, this silliness with "never Trump," I mean, who's your nominee, guys? Who's your VP? Who's raising money? It's a fantasy land. And so, for me, a vote for anyone other than Donald Trump is a vote for Hillary Clinton. But I also got to know Donald Trump. And the Donald Trump I got to know is a nice, gracious, I mean, quite frankly, even in private, listens, sometimes pretty quiet--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>How come you don't see that guy in public? Because you're not the first person to say this.</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>Well, I've told him and the campaign, and I think I'm very much a part of that operation, that if the public sees the Donald Trump that I’ve gotten to know in private, he will not be stopped.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But he doesn't ever present that, though.</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>But I think what you're seeing with the Pence pick, I think the last few weeks have been very good for him. I know what he's thinking about the convention and the future. I think he understands it fully, the pivot to the general. He's never run before for anything. He has been in primary mode for a year and it was a tough, bruising situation.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Right.</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>And I think it's just taken longer to pivot and I think he's pivoting.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>As you know, the autopsy report in 2013, I know you technically don't call it an "autopsy,” and it’s fine, but it's been known as that, about why Mitt Romney lost, and you guys outlined a bunch of things, particularly with outreach to minorities, outreach to young voters. This platform seems to run counter to the recommendations of the 2013 committee that looked into what's wrong. It's not reflecting any of those points, whether it's on immigration, whether it's on outreach to Latinos, same-sex marriage. What happened?</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>Well, nothing happened. I mean, the principles of the party are the same. I mean, we believe in traditional marriage, we believe in life that starts at conception, equal protection and the 14th Amendment. That's our belief as a party, but it doesn't mean that you don't shower people with grace and love and respect and that's something that I've always talked about. But the autopsy really is about engaging in black, Hispanic, Asian communities, being a full-time party, investing in data and also, watching your mouth.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You guys have done that, but has Donald Trump done that?</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>I think he's done much better at it. I think he's come around a lot since a few months ago. And I think he understands it. And I know where his heart's at, I can tell you. And I think people are going to start seeing that.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>There's two things in the platform and I'm curious if you're comfortable with it. There’s one in a draft, it says, "Children raised in a traditional two-parent household tend to be physically and emotionally healthier, less likely to use drugs and alcohol, engage in crime or become pregnant outside of marriage. The data and the facts lead to an inescapable conclusion that every child deserves a married mom and dad." It's implying that somehow children of same-sex couples are more likely to be addicts, to engage in crime? Do you mean to have it imply that?</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>No, what we mean is that the best scenario for kids is a loving mom and dad; however, it doesn't mean at all that single parents, that same-sex parents, that any parent in America can't love a child and can't raise a child and that child can't be successful and loved. So it doesn't mean that. It just means what the facts say. Look, like I said before, love, respect, dignity. But traditional values. And that's what our party is about.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>There are no Bushes speaking at this convention, no Mitt Romney, no John McCain. No living former Republican nominee is going to address this convention. The rising stars of the party, it's a who's who of the people not coming here, whether it's Nikki Haley, Marco Rubio's doing a video address, he's not attending. You're not showcasing the best parts of your party, are you disappointed in that?</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>No, I don't know about that, Chuck. I mean, tomorrow night you're going to see Joni Ernst, you're going to see a lot of stars in our party, you're going to see Scott Walker. You're going to see Ben Carson, Newt Gingrich. I mean, look, everyone has to make their own decisions. And it's not unusual that everyone doesn't speak at a convention, I'd love everybody--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It is unusual not to have a Bush at a convention.</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>Well, it didn't happen four years ago, Chuck, that's not true.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>The Bush family--members of the Bush family were here.</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>Listen, I was Chairman then, I actually don't remember that. Maybe, I'm not gonna--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>No, no, no, it's fine.</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>Well, in '08 I know in Saint Paul, I know there was no President Bush in Saint Paul. So look, it's not uncommon. But I would also tell you, this is not going to be a traditional scenario. I mean, we're not going to have one politician after the next every three minutes giving a four-minute speech. It's just not going to be that way. They'll be plenty of them, but not back to back.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>All right, Reince Priebus, I gotta leave it there.</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Congratulations.</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>Yeah, it looks great.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And I think we all look forward to a peaceful week in Cleveland. Thank you, sir.</p>
<p>REINCE PRIEBUS:</p>
<p>Me, too. Thank you.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Joining me now is Glenn Beck. He's the founder of the conservative website and TV network, The Blaze. Beck has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump right from the start, and while he has no love for Hillary Clinton, he says he can't bring himself to vote for Trump. Mr. Beck, welcome back to Meet the Press.</p>
<p>GLENN BECK:</p>
<p>Thank you. Can't vote for Hillary, either. I am one of these people that honestly, I was listening to that interview and I feel like the world of Blade Runner makes more sense than this one. I don't even know where to begin, we're living in such a fantasy world where nothing makes sense anymore.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It sounds like something really jumped out at you from the chairman there? What jumped out at you the most?</p>
<p>GLENN BECK:</p>
<p>The whole thing. The whole thing did. Honestly, I don't even know where to begin with that. It is remarkable to me that both parties are so out of touch with the American people, both Democrats, Republicans and Independents, we all feel the same way. Three things: I don't belong to anything anymore and I want to feel like I belong to something. I don't even feel like my country is even the same. I don't belong to anything, nobody's listening to me and I don't have any levers that control my own life.</p>
<p>I can't control my own income, I can't control my own destiny, I can't even control my own farm if I'm a farmer. This is not going to last. And these guys are just playing a game, they're playing a show. You know that Reince Priebus knows better than what he just said. You know that he is not looking at the autopsy and going, "Well, I think this is great. We're doing the same thing we did with Mitt Romney, except much, much worse." It's insane.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>So what should be done? I mean, what should be done? Look, the last time you were on, you were--</p>
<p>GLENN BECK:</p>
<p>Nothing, it's too late.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You actually pooh-poohed the idea of using the convention to try to dump Trump. You were saying, "You can't do that, either." What do you do?</p>
<p>GLENN BECK:</p>
<p>Because...here's the thing: I know what I'm going to do, but I don’t -- I'm out of the business of telling anybody else what they should do, because I think there are tons of Hillary Clinton people that had maybe voted for the Clintons in the past or thought they would like Hillary Clinton that are now to the point of, she is so corrupt, she is so much about her and her foundation, which is completely corrupt, she is building an absolute dynasty of corruption.</p>
<p>It's nothing reflective of the American system. And then, you have Donald Trump, who the only advisors that he listens to are his children. What do you have? He's a corrupt businessman, she's corrupt. So both sides are now saying, "What are you going to do?" I think we feel, all Americans, I shouldn't say all, I think Reince and a few others, you know, at both conventions are going to be find just pulling the lever. But I think a lot of people are pulling it not holding their nose, wincing in pain as they think about pulling that lever.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>GLENN BECK:</p>
<p>So what you decide to do is your own business, but I have to tell you, there are choices. You can vote for the Green Party, you can vote for the Libertarian Party. And I know people will say, "That's a vote for the other guy," but you know what? I can't sell my soul anymore to these parties, because they’re both horrible.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Let me ask the obvious question here. I know the answer now, it seems obvious. Mike Pence does nothing for you to make Donald Trump more appealing?</p>
<p>GLENN BECK:</p>
<p>Look, Mike Pence is a nice guy. And you know, he's fine and he's doing a good job. I don't have anything against Mike. I know that I talked to Mike when I was in Indiana during the campaign. He didn't have anything nice to say about Donald Trump. I will tell you that if Ted Cruz comes out on, what is it, Monday or Tuesday night when he gives his speech and he endorses even a soft endorsement of Donald Trump, I will officially have no person in Washington that I can trust says what they mean and mean what they say.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It’s funny you say that. Mr. Beck, I had this exact conversation with a reporter last night, he said, "We're finding out who tells you the truth on the record and off the record and who doesn't." And that you have a lot of Republicans who will say one thing about Trump off the record and another on the record. Do you think that's got to stop?</p>
<p>GLENN BECK:</p>
<p>Oh, my gosh, I think it has to stop. Look, the problem is in our society that there's no authenticity. You can't trust anybody because you know they don't believe that. What was so frustrating about Reince is I guess he's doing his job, but if doing your job means that you're not being transparent, then you gotta go get another job, man, and quit that one.</p>
<p>Nobody is saying what they mean and meaning what they say. I am literally almost alone. I was standing against Trump because of a set of principles. Not that I don't like the man -- the same principles that make me not be able to vote for Hillary Clinton. Why all of a sudden are these people who were so strongly against Clinton or so strongly against Trump now suddenly on the Clinton train, on the Trump train? Did you believe what you said?</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Mr. Beck, I appreciate you sharing your views. I've got to leave it there.</p>
<p>GLENN BECK:</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>I think we all know where you stand at this point. And I'll look forward to checking back in before November to see what lever you might be pulling. Thanks very much.</p>
<p>GLENN BECK:</p>
<p>Thank you very much.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You got it. When we come back, Donald Trump's very odd VP rollout. And then, consider this, Trump and Pence will not be campaigning together today, you won't see them together tomorrow. Not Tuesday. So exactly what kind of political marriage is this?</p>
<p>***COMMERCIAL BREAK***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Welcome back. We got a lot to digest after those two interviews. Anyway, yesterday's rollout of Governor Mike Pence as Donald Trump's running mate was like many things about Donald Trump's campaign this year, different from what we've seen in the past. Other than when they applauded as Pence came out, the audience sat in their seats and listened politely in New York, a non swing city in a non swing state that had nothing to do with Mike Pence, he didn't grow up there or anything.</p>
<p>After the event, Pence was on his way back to Indiana alone. Now compare this to 2012. Mitt Romney introduced Paul Ryan to the world on the battleship Wisconsin in the swing state of Virginia, waving flags, a backdrop of people. There's that Air Force One music.</p>
<p>And then, the two hit the road together doing four more events just that day alone. Let's go back in time to 2008. John McCain brought Sarah Palin into our lives in Dayton, Ohio, another swing state. Rallied with family in tow. Ah, by the way, I'm all for using Air Force One music all the time. Later that day, the two took their spouses to get ice cream and made other stops as they spent the next two days together in Pennsylvania and Missouri. That's not what happened yesterday.</p>
<p>Panel is here with me in Cleveland. We've got our, of course, NBC News Special Correspondent, Tom Brokaw. Former political director for President George W. Bush, Sara Fagen. Joy-Ann Reid, host of MSNBC's AM Joy, and Salem radio network host, Hugh Hewitt. Welcome to all of you.</p>
<p>Sara Fagen, I want to start with you because you've done rollouts for VPs before. Yesterday was different. I want to put up something else that we put together, a word cloud, and this is a word cloud of Donald Trump's speech, introducing Mike Pence. I had to circle the words "Mike" and "Pence" in there, since they are not the most prominent words he spoke.</p>
<p>SARA FAGEN:</p>
<p>Right.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Now here is Mitt Romney's word cloud for the speech introducing Paul Ryan. I circled it, but I didn't need to there.</p>
<p>SARA FAGEN:</p>
<p>Right, you didn't need to. I think yesterday was a huge missed opportunity. I mean, on every level, from the roll out of the logo, to the candidate's wife not standing on the stage after, to him leaving, to the way he approached it. They basically got nothing for that. And you know, not to mention news in Turkey, where the story was pushed in many papers to the bottom. So this huge moment in the campaign, looked like a Lieutenant Governor roll out to me.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Tom, you've seen a lot of these roll outs. We all have. Look, they're usually huge moments. They're usually big deals. The arms are raised.</p>
<p>TOM BROKAW:</p>
<p>Yeah, but I can't remember in which we've had such a contrast in the two candidates. Here you have Donald Trump, three times married, he was a Democrat for a while and he was a Republican for a while. Mike Pence is a conservative Christian who says he won't go to a party where they're serving drinks if he doesn't have his wife with him because he doesn't want to get in trouble.</p>
<p>I don't think that's in Donald Trump's play book, by the way, in picking a vice president. And we know that he was kind of dragged into picking Mike Pence. And speaking of optics, if you look at that original announcement, he looks down to make sure he's got the name right before he looks up again. He doesn't come out and robustly say, "Mike Pence is my guy." It's like he's introducing a new school teacher at the beginning of the term.</p>
<p>SARA FAGEN:</p>
<p>This is when you get a window into how the campaign is being run and it is not a pretty picture. And so, these big moments in a campaign, you don't get do-overs.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Right.</p>
<p>SARA FAGEN:</p>
<p>And there's a lot to be proud of for Republicans in Mike Pence. He is a conservative, he is a Christian, he has the ability to have a lot of people in the party like Glenn Beck give a second look.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>SARA FAGEN:</p>
<p>But they missed that opportunity.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>I'm glad you brought up Glenn Beck. Hugh and Joy, my mouth was sort of aghast. There's sometimes where I felt speechless. Hugh, let me start with you-- respond to Glenn.</p>
<p>HUGH HEWITT:</p>
<p>Donald Trump is a black swan event for the Republican Party. It's unprecedented, it is causing chaos, it is very turbulent. I like the Governor Pence selection because it is a governing selection, it telegraphs reliability. If he becomes President, if he beats Secretary Clinton, you can count on people like Pence to be the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State. And so, I think it telegraphs an uber message.</p>
<p>But I believe he could have named Oprah or Rush and we still would have had the same-- it's a Trump-centric campaign, it's completely different from anything I've ever seen and I don't think it matters what that event was like because it's all about Trump.</p>
<p>JOY-ANN REID:</p>
<p>I think it actually does better. I mean, the thing that struck me about Glenn Beck was that he just point blank said that Reince Priebus didn't believe anything that he was saying when he was in interview with you. And it was kind of shocking and jaw-dropping to say that because you felt Reince Priebus' sort of pain and suffering as he's doing that interview. He has to say what he's saying. But everything about the roll out also felt like somebody who didn't believe what they were saying.</p>
<p>That was, I think, the big problem. The roll out of Pence felt like Donald Trump doing something he didn't want to do, about him eating his vegetables. He read from a paper when he talked about Mike Pence, but he was excited and happy when he was talking about himself and how he won. The roll out of that logo, which became the subject of ridicule, had clearly not a lot of thought put into it.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>All right, you brought it up, I gotta bring up this Tweet. It's a little trollish, it's by David Plouffe, the former campaign manager obviously for Barack Obama, but this was his Tweet yesterday: "Clear that the selection of a VP is distasteful for a narcissist like Trump. Pence is like a leg bracelet probation officers forced him into." Sara Fagen?</p>
<p>TOM BROKAW:</p>
<p>Here's what I would say about all of that and I think it's reflecting in our commentary here today. We're playing by the old rules when we make all these observations. Donald Trump has reinvented politics. And this may be a historic week. He may be reinventing the Republican Party.</p>
<p>I've watched it go from the party of captains of industry and old money and kind of mainstream bankers to Richard Nixon took it to the South, Ronald Reagan then took it to the West. It opened it up in an entirely different way. He's come along and he's changed the party entirely. People are rejecting the old standard of what the Republican Party is. It's no longer the GOP, it's now the Donald Trump-dot-com party at this moment. Whether that will last, we don't know.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And Sara, to pick up on Tom's point, free trade, they're on opposite sides.</p>
<p>SARA FAGEN:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>A NAFTA attacker in Trump, a NAFTA promoter in Mike Pence. On the Muslim ban, on the Iraq War, the two ticket mates present the divide in the Republican Party on the same ticket.</p>
<p>SARA FAGEN:</p>
<p>Which is why in many respects, it was a very good pick. To me, I looked at the pick and thought, "Donald Trump thinks he can win," and he recognizes he has a problem with a big percentage of the Republican base. And this selection reflected it, but you're right. You know, it's a very different era. And Donald Trump reflects the times we live, the times don't reflect Donald Trump. And--</p>
<p>JOY-ANN REID:</p>
<p>But I think also it shows that Donald Trump doesn't want a Vice President that is going to compete with him on the national stage. I mean, there is this sort of sad spectacle of Pence being sort of shunted off to then go have dinner at Chili's with his family all by himself. There was no, um, bromance at all--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But don’t you think the Chili's, but the Chili’s moment felt, would have been a more effective moment, Hugh, had the Trumps been with them? I mean, like, where were the Trumps? Having ice cream with you know the Pence’s--</p>
<p>TOM BROKAW:</p>
<p>Honestly, I don't think the future of the Republicans depends on whether or not he went-- or got the attention that he did.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>I hear you.</p>
<p>HUGH HEWITT:</p>
<p>What Sara just said about, he believes he can win. He needs to win Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan. We are in the land, welcome to the Brown’s town, I'm wearing my Cleveland tie. He believes he can win in Northeastern Ohio where Republicans do not win by using out of work steel workers and people who've left the car industry. He believes he can win in Pennsylvania, he believes he can win in Michigan. Pence underscores-- the people who are happiest are Rob Portman, Kelly Ayotte, Joe Heck in Nevada because here is a traditional conservative who will come and campaign with him and deliver traditional conservative--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But with Democrats. But I'll tell you this, Joy, I felt like the Clinton campaign had more information out on Mike Pence, their version of information in the last 48 hours than the Trump campaign.</p>
<p>JOY-ANN REID:</p>
<p>Absolutely. They had already rolled out their opposition research on Mike Pence, which all had to with zeroing in on women and his position on things like abortion and also, zeroing in on LGBT issues. But I think what Hugh said, actually, is a valid point. I mean, I just spent a lot of time in Loraine, Ohio talking with out of work steelworkers. We did a focus group with seven guys, all over 40, all white males, all of whom voted for Barack Obama in '08.</p>
<p>Six of seven voted for Barack Obama in 2012. And you know what? They're undecided. And a couple of them were actually considering Trump and it's because of that issue. It's because they feel despair, they feel manufacturing, the bottom has dropped out. And they're taking a look at Trump and some of them don't trust Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>SARA FAGEN:</p>
<p>You're going to see a lot of that. And this race is close. Hillary Clinton clearly has an edge. And to me, you know, you had your poll you mentioned earlier, the most interesting number in that poll to me was Gary Johnson's 11 percent, because he's 4 percent away from getting on the debate stage, which actually could give Donald Trump the best chance of winning this election with 40 percent, 43 percent of the vote.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Tom, she also didn't bring up the fact that 6 percent picked Jill Stein, the Green Party.</p>
<p>SARA FAGEN:</p>
<p>Yeah, that’s true.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>We have nearly one in five voters telling us right now they will vote for a third party. Apparently, including Glenn Beck.</p>
<p>TOM BROKAW:</p>
<p>Yeah, I think, by the way, one other point about Glenn Beck, if I can briefly, when he said people, they don't know what to turn to, in fact, what they're doing is turning to local politics. Cities are working in America, states are working in America. It's the rejection of what's going on at the federal level that we're witnessing right now and politics as usual in these two parties. But I do think that there will be a lot of going across the ballots somewhere else and I think there are going to be a lot of drop outs. I think people will go in and vote for the local election, but they'll just leave the Presidential election--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It’s funny you say that. This will be one of those interesting years where Senate campaigns may see more votes than the Presidential election.</p>
<p>TOM BROKAW:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Anyway, let me pause it here. When we come back, foreign policy tends to force its way into a campaign one way or another. The most recent example, the failed coup in Turkey, a critical U.S. ally in the most dangerous part of the world. My interview with Secretary of State John Kerry coming up right after this.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Welcome back, this week in Cleveland, we'll produce pictures of hats, buttons and balloons. But on the edges of what is affectionately known as "The Q," we might find that the unrest around the world is also seeping in--</p>
<p>***COMMERCIAL BREAK***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Welcome back, this week in Cleveland, we'll produce pictures of hats, buttons and balloons. But on the edges of what is affectionately known as "The Q," we might find that the unrest around the world is also seeping in. Turkey and France are just a few of the places that are hard to ignore, even if a political party is going on right here in Cleveland.</p>
<p>Secretary of State John Kerry is in Luxembourg after meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow, where the two countries seemed to get a little closer to making a ceasefire work in Syria. Well, to get more on this and all of these events around the world, I'm joined now by the Secretary of State. Mr. Secretary, welcome back to Meet the Press.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>SEC. JOHN KERRY:</p>
<p>Thank you very much, glad to be with you.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Well, it's been a tumultuous week to say the least, between what happened in Nice, the coup in Turkey. We've had some both domestic and international events that have come into our shores it feels like the last five weeks. A lot of Americans may feel as if the world is coming apart. What do you say to that?</p>
<p>SEC. JOHN KERRY:</p>
<p>I say that actually, we're making progress, but I know when you have these spectacular events, it's very difficult to measure. But here's the real measure: In Iraq, we are taking back territory very rapidly from Daesh, ISIL. ISIL's space is seriously contracting. Similarly in Syria, we're making significant progress. I was just in Russia, where we're talking with the Russians about how we can put a cessation more effectively into place, which will enable us to go after ISIL, kill ISIL more effectively and get to the political process of a transition of dealing with Assad.</p>
<p>I believe we made progress there. We made significant progress on the ground. But there are fighters, Chuck, who have left Syria a year ago, two years ago, three years ago. And there's a process of radicalization that takes place, so that one person in one place, as we saw in Orlando or as we just saw in Nice, France, has the ability to jump in a truck or go into a nightclub and unfortunately, do terrible damage. That is extremely hard for law enforcement to deal with ahead of time, unless there is intelligence regarding it.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Right.</p>
<p>SEC. JOHN KERRY:</p>
<p>So I believe those events, actually, are efforts by ISIL to try to prove relevance and to try to frighten people more. But I do think, with respect to the fight against the leadership, we've taken 130 of their major leaders off the battlefield, we are making progress. And this week in Washington--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>All right let me, yeah.</p>
<p>SEC. JOHN KERRY:</p>
<p>--we'll have 45 nations, defense ministers and foreign ministers gathering in Washington to lay down even more plans for how we go forward.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Okay. Let me start with Turkey. It appears as if the coup has been squashed by President Erdogan. I know, I've heard your statements, the United States, other allies, support the democratically elected leader there. But let me ask you this, are you confident President Erdogan is not going to use this coup to essentially grab more power and erode more small-d democracy?</p>
<p>SEC. JOHN KERRY:</p>
<p>Well, we think it’s very important that he doesn't do that, obviously. That would be a great challenge to his relationship to Europe, to NATO and to all of us. And we have urged them not to reach out so far that they're creating doubts about their commitment to the democratic process. And I hope it won't result in that.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>There are some folks who that believe that a man by the name of Fethullah Gulen, who is in a self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, some are trying to point the finger at him for this coup and even talking about asking for extradition. You had said that the United States would be open to that if they can prove it. Do you believe Mr. Gulen was involved in this at all?</p>
<p>SEC. JOHN KERRY:</p>
<p>I have no knowledge, I have no evidence whatsoever at this point in time. But I talked with my foreign minister counterpart three times in the last day, and I urged him to compile the evidence that they have as rapidly as possible, provide it directly to us through the channels. And I pledged to him that according to our extradition treaty, according to our legal process and standards, we will immediately evaluate whether or not that evidence is sufficient to merit an extradition.</p>
<p>But they also have to make a formal request for extradition through the judicial process, they haven't done that yet. And that has to be accompanied by evidence and by demonstrated facts, which would lead a court to approve the extradition itself. We're not blocking it, we've never had a formal request.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Our time is short here. You brought up the deal that you struck in Russia. We don't know any details of this deal, you haven't provided it. What should that tell us? The fact that there are no details to this deal and why are you confident that you can work with the Russians? We're going to coordinate air strikes with the Russians, a country that you unloaded on not that long ago when they were essentially going into the Ukraine and taking Crimea. Why do you trust the Russians on this particular topic in Syria?</p>
<p>SEC. JOHN KERRY:</p>
<p>Well, we're still working on the issue of Ukraine and we still haven't resolved the issue of Ukraine. And frankly, we've spent a good deal of time in the conversation with President Putin laying down the steps that we need to take to deal with Ukraine, also.</p>
<p>So we're working on a number of different issues. We're also working on Nagorno-Karabakh. But with respect to Syria, nothing in what we talked about is based on trust. I'm not sitting here naively trusting what the Russians may or may not do. What we have done is laid out a series of steps concretely. Each step is the prelude to something else happening. If it doesn't happen, then there won't be that progress. But one of the reasons we're not laying it all out for everybody to pick around at is simply that there have been disappointments. The cessation of hostilities is not working properly. Assad has not abided by it.</p>
<p>Russia itself has presented some challenges. So I don't want to raise expectations. I'm trying to lay this out in a way that is between us, on a basis of steps taken. And there's no question of any reliance on trust or relationship. This has to be proven, step by step. And if it's proven, it has the potential of changing the dynamics on the ground. If it isn't, then we have to talk about other options and alternatives.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Secretary Kerry, I have to leave it there. I look forward to having more time with you very soon.</p>
<p>SEC. JOHN KERRY:</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Thank you sir, you got it.</p>
<p>SEC. JOHN KERRY:</p>
<p>Have fun in Cleveland. Have fun in Cleveland.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Coming up, the election and the growing racial divide in the country, some startling new poll results.</p>
<p>***COMMERCIAL BREAK***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Welcome back. Just because we're in Cleveland doesn't mean we don't have some data to download. This week's data download is a topic that's been on the minds of many Americans, it's the state of race relations in this country. You won't be surprised to find out that Americans are feeling the impact of recent events in Baton Rouge, Saint Paul and Dallas. President Obama tried to be a unifying voice this week at the memorial service in Dallas.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>PRES. BARACK OBAMA:</p>
<p>I'm here to insist that we are not as divided as we seem. And I know that because I know America, I know how far we've come against impossible odds.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But the country feels less hopeful and it's reflected in our latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Right now, race relations are at the lowest point in the history of our poll, more than 25 years. The previous low was October of 1995. That was the month of the O.J. Simpson verdict in that criminal trial.</p>
<p>Back then, 61 percent said race relations were bad, while 34 percent said they thought race relations were good. Well, in our new poll, a whopping 74 percent of all Americans say race relations are bad and only 24 percent say they are good -- 50 points underwater in that question.</p>
<p>And African-Americans particularly are feeling increasingly negative about the country. A standard question that we ask, "Is the country headed in the right direction or going off on the wrong track?" Well, in January, African Americans were net positive on this question, 18 points ahead on the positive side, saying the country was headed in the right direction. Now African Americans are in a negative standpoint, minus 22 points, saying the country is headed on the wrong track.</p>
<p>A 40-point swing in just six months. It's obvious that all of this has had an impact. Finally, we ask, "Which candidate would be better in race relations?" Well, neither candidate got a majority. 41 percent said only Hillary Clinton, 19 percent said only Donald Trump. But guess what? One in three said neither.</p>
<p>The next president will have to face these issues in some form or another, the question is whether either one of them are ready to do it. When we come back, can either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton calm people's fears about terror and end up winning votes in the process? That's next.</p>
<p>***COMMERCIAL BREAK***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>The panel is back. Before we jump right into-- the convention politics, Tom, I want to go to the question that I asked John Kerry, which is this sense of the last five weeks and what it's going to do to the American psyche. Orlando. We watched what happened in Nice, we've had a terrorist attack at the Istanbul Airport and then, of course, the coup in Turkey. What happened in Saint Paul and Baton Rouge and Dallas. All of it collectively is going to have an impact on Americans in ways that I think the candidates haven't appreciated yet.</p>
<p>TOM BROKAW:</p>
<p>Well, I couldn't agree with you more. I think there is a sense of real terror out there. I mean, I have a friend in rural Iowa who is arming himself at this point and taking gun instruction. And I say to him, "They're not going to come and find you in a small town in Iowa." But that's representative it seems to me of the rising tide of fear. And by the way, there's a mix here. What happened in Dallas was a black man who went wild against the Dallas Police Department; what happened obviously in Orlando was a whole different motivation altogether, none of which we have any way of getting our hands around.</p>
<p>Who are these people? What motivates them? And how do we respond to these lone wolves, which is effectively what they are? We're not looking at a big mosaic of an organization of some kind. It's somebody who goes completely off the rails and decides to take out whatever hatred he has in his heart against police, against a gay night club or whatever it is.</p>
<p>And that's a good reason to be unmoored. I do think that the country has to find a way of collectively coming together and dealing with this. And it's got to transcend party lines and cultural lines and everything else. I grew up at the beginning of the civil rights movement, I really thought we'd be a different country by now. We have elected an African-American President, there is a lot of progress. But the hostility out there is really unsettling to me and it's based on pigmentation. People are making judgments on the color of his skin, bang, like that. And that's wrong.</p>
<p>SARA FAGEN:</p>
<p>You're right that the country has to come together, but how this impacts our politics, you're right, is going to also be fascinating. And there are countless examples around the globe, when people are afraid, really afraid about their economics, about their safety, they look for the strong man.</p>
<p>And that is, to me, when you look at attributes in presidential races, which often define who wins and loses, strong leader is going to be the most important thing we should be looking at, assuming these events continue through the fall, as to how these candidates play on election day.</p>
<p>JOY-ANN REID:</p>
<p>But I think there are different sort of reactions. And I think what Tom said is true, is that you're starting to see, unfortunately, all of these different, violent acts almost sort of blending together. Because not only do you have some pockets of the country that are out in rural parts of the country, arming themselves against what they think is ISIS coming to get them, but then you also have fears of just mass shootings, period, that are completely domestic in origin.</p>
<p>We have this interracial tension and negativity that's also cropping up at the same time, but you have people in the African-American community saying, "Hey, you know, our big fear is police," right? So you have all of these different fears coming together and I don't think we can look at the entire body politic as just one, because each of the different groups have different fears.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And that's what I think, I think the politicians are trying to respond individually to each one. And so, you know, and they try to respond with what they think they are more comfortable talking about. So maybe Republicans want to talk about getting terrorists and Democrats want to talk about, "What are we going to do about guns?" But I think the American voter is digesting this much differently.</p>
<p>HUGH HEWITT:</p>
<p>I think the campaign has become disconnected from the country and the globe. And I think you're exactly right, they're trying to put squares into round holes. And here's what's happened, all presidents being human are deeply flawed, but the office usually reveals the flaws. This is the first presidential campaign where the flaws of both candidates are dominating the campaign. Hillary Clinton's untrustworthiness, Donald Trump's inexperience and bluster. They're not driving the black/white issue, they're not driving the Latino/white issue, they're not driving terrorism, lone wolves, they're just not. It's disconnected. It's a personality campaign on top of the world in turmoil.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>That's a great way of putting it, Tom.</p>
<p>SARA FAGEN:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It is, this campaign doesn't feel reflective of what's happening.</p>
<p>TOM BROKAW:</p>
<p>Well, and part of the reason for that is there's a lot of people who are qualified to be president and don't want to jump into the arena. It's been too tough for them to make that leap, quite honestly, to get involved in politics at whatever level, because they find themselves on the front page, everything that they've ever done, everything that they own is disclosed out there. I'm not going to pay that price. And we're not getting the kind of people who should be coming forward. I know they exist; they exist at universities and corporations in small towns and large cities. We've got a lot of really capable people. But the fact is when you jump into the political arena at a national level now, you know, we lay them bare there right here on this desk and pick them apart. And they say, "It's not worth it to me."</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It's a huge problem. All right, quick pause here, we'll be back in 45 seconds with Endgame. And we've gotta look ahead. There's going to be big news from the Democrats by the end of the week. Who will Hillary Clinton pick as her running mate?</p>
<p>***COMMERCIAL BREAK***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Back now with Endgame, and speaking of, we're going to get to the Endgame here on the Democratic Vice presidential process. What's interesting here, one of the finalists is actually speaking out about the job, Tom Vilsack, the current Secretary of Agriculture, former Governor of Iowa is on the very shortest of lists. Here, Joy, here's what he said to our cameras yesterday, sort of testing out his anti-Trump rhetoric, here it is.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>TOM VILSACK:</p>
<p>Donald Trump is sort of to politics what Bernie Madoff was to investment. He is selling something that people don't fully understand and appreciate what it actually means. And I think, you know, Governor Pence, will obviously be a loyal running mate. But I think he's going to have a difficult time with some of those positions. Certainly the issues involving Muslims were of a concern to Governor Pence before, I can't help but think they're still a concern to him.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>I think nobody might have been happier about the Mike Pence pick than Tom Vilsack because Midwestern governor, Midwestern governor.</p>
<p>JOY-ANN REID:</p>
<p>Two words, Chuck, Shirley Sherrod. It would be such an incredibly short sighted decision to pick the guy that fired Shirley Sherrod on the ticket of the woman who was embracing the first black president as his avatar.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>This was an African-American USDA--</p>
<p>JOY-ANN REID:</p>
<p>Exactly, she made a speech at the NAACP, Breitbart-dot-com misinterpreted her speech, edited portions of it and tried to characterize her as a reverse racist. She was fired on her way to work. Tom Vilsack took responsibility for it. That is all that you will hear about in African-American communities, Shirley Sherrod.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You may have just ended Tom Vilsack's chances.</p>
<p>HUGH HEWITT:</p>
<p>I'm rooting for anyone except Admiral Stavridis, as a Republican. I think the admiral would be a checkmate move against us -- his reputation is so extraordinary, his experience so broad, his diplomatic skills so honed. But I think we would be in a deep, deep hole if she did go outside of the box and went to the admiral.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You know, Tom, Tim Kaine is the frontrunner, nothing about the Pence pick puts-- I don't think the Pence pick puts pressure on Hillary Clinton to suddenly feel like, ah, she's got to change strategies here.</p>
<p>TOM BROKAW:</p>
<p>No, I think that it did give her a chance to lay back a little bit and say, "All right, how do we counter balance that?" I still think that based on what I'm hearing on the inside, Kaine, the senator from Virginia, has got a big, big lead, not lead so much, but he's got momentum--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Whatever than means, right, I know, in Hillary's head.</p>
<p>TOM BROKAW:</p>
<p>And by the way, at this stage in the process, what she's also doing is taking care of constituencies.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yep.</p>
<p>TOM BROKAW:</p>
<p>Vilsack in the Midwest, Elizabeth Warren with her followers, they're all going to be the great mentioners in the next couple of days. What she'll do is pick somebody who can help her. Kaine, border states, Spanish-speaking, he was very good at the rally the other day. So we'll see.</p>
<p>SARA FAGEN:</p>
<p>I think she'll pick someone who can govern the country. She doesn't need to respond to any of these constituencies the way it's being reported. She doesn't need a liberal, she doesn't need a woman. And in defense of Tom Vilsack, he's had a very good and respectable career over a very long period of time. And one decision I don't think is fair to criticize him for.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It will be interesting. It will pop up, though.</p>
<p>SARA FAGEN:</p>
<p>It'll be a discussion and it should be a discussion-- We shouldn't rule out a very qualified person for one decision.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>All right, before I go, a quick programming note. I'm going to be hosting a special preview of the convention tonight at 5 p.m. it’s good old MTP Daily on a Sunday, it'll be on MSNBC. And of course, NBC News will be providing live coverage of the Republican National Convention every single day next week. I'll be joined by my colleagues Lester Holt and Savannah Guthrie all four nights. It begins tomorrow at 10 Eastern, I'll see you there. That's all for today. We'll be back next week from Philadelphia and the Democratic Convention, because if it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.</p>
<p>* * *END OF TRANSCRIPT* * *</p>
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meet press july 17 2016 begin tape chuck todd sunday jittery nation jittery republican party eve republican national convention right cleveland donald trump makes final final decision donald trump indiana governor mike pence first choice chuck todd republican party tries unite behind two candidates dont always agree ill joined rnc chairman reince priebus glenn beck founder blaze tv network plus brand new nbc newswall street journal poll morning email story hurt clinton hurt poll numbers trump also backdrop election nation edge racial tensions home terror attacks abroad coup attempt turkey ill talk secretary state john kerry joining insight analysis special sunday nbc news special correspondent tom brokaw former political director george w bush sara fagan joyann reid msnbcs joy salem radio network host hugh hewitt welcome sunday meet press republican national convention right cleveland male announcer cleveland ohio special edition meet press chuck todd end tape chuck todd well good day cleveland ohio quickens loans arena course nicknamed q one day republican national convention begins ive run lebron yet arena home nba champion cleveland cavaliers let say champion cleveland sentence anyway whats called secure zone expect lot protests demonstrations next days limited 17 squaremile area known event zone course know republican ticket itll donald trump governor mike pence indiana yesterdays announcement trump introducing pence among oddest weve seen trump concentrating decided man chose begin tape donald trump indiana governor mike pence first choice look one big reasons chose mike one reasons party unity honest many people said party unity cause im outsider want outsider end tape chuck todd eve convention also brand new nbc newswall streetjournal national poll shows hillary clinton holding small steady fivepoint lead donald trump 4641 exactly two candidates stood month ago took last national poll fbis report secretary clintons email youre wondering email issue didnt damage well damage reputation voters trump able take advantage struggles highlighted concerns among republicans somehow theyve chosen candidate violates almost every prescription laid partys autopsy mitt romneys defeat 2012 begin tape donald trump world republican party gone sort stayed stale going nowhere terms presidential hottest party right anywhere world chuck todd wake mitt romneys loss republican leaders acknowledged party needed rebrand turn around losing streak presidential years reince priebus think biologically stupid things said last election chuck todd autopsys prescription grow party first avoid alienating women voters comments like mitt romney went number womens groups said help us find folks brought us whole binders full women chuck todd instead softening partys image women trump widened gender gap donald trump frankly hillary clinton man dont think shed get 5 percent vote chuck todd second stop driving away minority voters mitt romney answer selfdeportation people decide better going home chuck todd instead embracing latinos fastest growing demographic trump reopened scars failed republican attempts immigration reform donald trump ill use word anchor baby excuse ill use word anchor baby chuck todd third fix perception gop care ordinary people summed line many republicans believed lost romney election mitt romney 47 percent people vote president matter right 47 percent dependent upon government believe theyre victim chuck todd party voters focused winning swing voters romney didnt get missed brewing economic angst cultural resentments many members party bottom line rnc didnt autopsy republican voters didnt like republican party jeff roe talking know marginal tax rates earned income tax credits things people dont money dont think need talk instead past thats partys autopsy got wrong chuck todd washington post poll released spring nearly half trump supporters said whites losing racial groups leaving trump opportunity exploit deep anger republican elites donald trump getting hell beat us gon na stop gon na bring jobs back country gon na make product gon na lift wages chuck todd remaking party image end tape chuck todd well earlier today spoke chairman republican party reince priebus began asking whether new ticket trump pence missing opportunity every ticket done previous elections campaigning together right away front american people begin tape reince priebus least ive seeing tv theyre everywhere think anything trump gets lot attention think yesterday thought mike pence great job mean hes perfect pick think donald trump hes great compliment donald trump experienced governor leadership house things know donald trump wanted check im excited next week chuck todd mike pence make monday night convention could know minority report never trump stuff mike pence help calm opinion reince priebus know thats good point really think know delegates slower come around others ive heard lot delegates lot praise pence lot conservatives happy know leadership house senate happy pence pick chuck todd yeah reince priebus good donald trump good party good country chuck todd know come around donald trump say way referee would tough said things thought damaging party eventually came around take reince priebus well mean think took number one really got know donald trump number two binary choice hillary clinton donald trump mean silliness never trump mean whos nominee guys whos vp whos raising money fantasy land vote anyone donald trump vote hillary clinton also got know donald trump donald trump got know nice gracious mean quite frankly even private listens sometimes pretty quiet chuck todd come dont see guy public youre first person say reince priebus well ive told campaign think im much part operation public sees donald trump ive gotten know private stopped chuck todd doesnt ever present though reince priebus think youre seeing pence pick think last weeks good know hes thinking convention future think understands fully pivot general hes never run anything primary mode year tough bruising situation chuck todd right reince priebus think taken longer pivot think hes pivoting chuck todd know autopsy report 2013 know technically dont call autopsy fine known mitt romney lost guys outlined bunch things particularly outreach minorities outreach young voters platform seems run counter recommendations 2013 committee looked whats wrong reflecting points whether immigration whether outreach latinos samesex marriage happened reince priebus well nothing happened mean principles party mean believe traditional marriage believe life starts conception equal protection 14th amendment thats belief party doesnt mean dont shower people grace love respect thats something ive always talked autopsy really engaging black hispanic asian communities fulltime party investing data also watching mouth chuck todd guys done donald trump done reince priebus think hes done much better think hes come around lot since months ago think understands know hearts tell think people going start seeing chuck todd theres two things platform im curious youre comfortable theres one draft says children raised traditional twoparent household tend physically emotionally healthier less likely use drugs alcohol engage crime become pregnant outside marriage data facts lead inescapable conclusion every child deserves married mom dad implying somehow children samesex couples likely addicts engage crime mean imply reince priebus mean best scenario kids loving mom dad however doesnt mean single parents samesex parents parent america cant love child cant raise child child cant successful loved doesnt mean means facts say look like said love respect dignity traditional values thats party chuck todd bushes speaking convention mitt romney john mccain living former republican nominee going address convention rising stars party whos people coming whether nikki haley marco rubios video address hes attending youre showcasing best parts party disappointed reince priebus dont know chuck mean tomorrow night youre going see joni ernst youre going see lot stars party youre going see scott walker youre going see ben carson newt gingrich mean look everyone make decisions unusual everyone doesnt speak convention id love everybody chuck todd unusual bush convention reince priebus well didnt happen four years ago chuck thats true chuck todd bush familymembers bush family reince priebus listen chairman actually dont remember maybe im gon na chuck todd fine reince priebus well 08 know saint paul know president bush saint paul look uncommon would also tell going traditional scenario mean going one politician next every three minutes giving fourminute speech going way theyll plenty back back chuck todd right reince priebus got ta leave reince priebus thank chuck todd congratulations reince priebus yeah looks great chuck todd think look forward peaceful week cleveland thank sir reince priebus thank end tape chuck todd joining glenn beck hes founder conservative website tv network blaze beck vocal critic donald trump right start love hillary clinton says cant bring vote trump mr beck welcome back meet press glenn beck thank cant vote hillary either one people honestly listening interview feel like world blade runner makes sense one dont even know begin living fantasy world nothing makes sense anymore chuck todd sounds like something really jumped chairman jumped glenn beck whole thing whole thing honestly dont even know begin remarkable parties touch american people democrats republicans independents feel way three things dont belong anything anymore want feel like belong something dont even feel like country even dont belong anything nobodys listening dont levers control life cant control income cant control destiny cant even control farm im farmer going last guys playing game theyre playing show know reince priebus knows better said know looking autopsy going well think great thing mitt romney except much much worse insane chuck todd done mean done look last time glenn beck nothing late chuck todd actually poohpoohed idea using convention try dump trump saying cant either glenn beck becauseheres thing know im going dont im business telling anybody else think tons hillary clinton people maybe voted clintons past thought would like hillary clinton point corrupt much foundation completely corrupt building absolute dynasty corruption nothing reflective american system donald trump advisors listens children hes corrupt businessman shes corrupt sides saying going think feel americans shouldnt say think reince others know conventions going find pulling lever think lot people pulling holding nose wincing pain think pulling lever chuck todd yeah glenn beck decide business tell choices vote green party vote libertarian party know people say thats vote guy know cant sell soul anymore parties theyre horrible chuck todd let ask obvious question know answer seems obvious mike pence nothing make donald trump appealing glenn beck look mike pence nice guy know hes fine hes good job dont anything mike know talked mike indiana campaign didnt anything nice say donald trump tell ted cruz comes monday tuesday night gives speech endorses even soft endorsement donald trump officially person washington trust says mean mean say chuck todd funny say mr beck exact conversation reporter last night said finding tells truth record record doesnt lot republicans say one thing trump record another record think thats got stop glenn beck oh gosh think stop look problem society theres authenticity cant trust anybody know dont believe frustrating reince guess hes job job means youre transparent got ta go get another job man quit one nobody saying mean meaning say literally almost alone standing trump set principles dont like man principles make able vote hillary clinton sudden people strongly clinton strongly trump suddenly clinton train trump train believe said chuck todd mr beck appreciate sharing views ive got leave glenn beck thank chuck todd think know stand point ill look forward checking back november see lever might pulling thanks much glenn beck thank much chuck todd got come back donald trumps odd vp rollout consider trump pence campaigning together today wont see together tomorrow tuesday exactly kind political marriage commercial break chuck todd welcome back got lot digest two interviews anyway yesterdays rollout governor mike pence donald trumps running mate like many things donald trumps campaign year different weve seen past applauded pence came audience sat seats listened politely new york non swing city non swing state nothing mike pence didnt grow anything event pence way back indiana alone compare 2012 mitt romney introduced paul ryan world battleship wisconsin swing state virginia waving flags backdrop people theres air force one music two hit road together four events day alone lets go back time 2008 john mccain brought sarah palin lives dayton ohio another swing state rallied family tow ah way im using air force one music time later day two took spouses get ice cream made stops spent next two days together pennsylvania missouri thats happened yesterday panel cleveland weve got course nbc news special correspondent tom brokaw former political director president george w bush sara fagen joyann reid host msnbcs joy salem radio network host hugh hewitt welcome sara fagen want start youve done rollouts vps yesterday different want put something else put together word cloud word cloud donald trumps speech introducing mike pence circle words mike pence since prominent words spoke sara fagen right chuck todd mitt romneys word cloud speech introducing paul ryan circled didnt need sara fagen right didnt need think yesterday huge missed opportunity mean every level roll logo candidates wife standing stage leaving way approached basically got nothing know mention news turkey story pushed many papers bottom huge moment campaign looked like lieutenant governor roll chuck todd tom youve seen lot roll outs look theyre usually huge moments theyre usually big deals arms raised tom brokaw yeah cant remember weve contrast two candidates donald trump three times married democrat republican mike pence conservative christian says wont go party theyre serving drinks doesnt wife doesnt want get trouble dont think thats donald trumps play book way picking vice president know kind dragged picking mike pence speaking optics look original announcement looks make sure hes got name right looks doesnt come robustly say mike pence guy like hes introducing new school teacher beginning term sara fagen get window campaign run pretty picture big moments campaign dont get doovers chuck todd right sara fagen theres lot proud republicans mike pence conservative christian ability lot people party like glenn beck give second look chuck todd yeah sara fagen missed opportunity chuck todd im glad brought glenn beck hugh joy mouth sort aghast theres sometimes felt speechless hugh let start respond glenn hugh hewitt donald trump black swan event republican party unprecedented causing chaos turbulent like governor pence selection governing selection telegraphs reliability becomes president beats secretary clinton count people like pence secretary defense secretary state think telegraphs uber message believe could named oprah rush still would trumpcentric campaign completely different anything ive ever seen dont think matters event like trump joyann reid think actually better mean thing struck glenn beck point blank said reince priebus didnt believe anything saying interview kind shocking jawdropping say felt reince priebus sort pain suffering hes interview say hes saying everything roll also felt like somebody didnt believe saying think big problem roll pence felt like donald trump something didnt want eating vegetables read paper talked mike pence excited happy talking roll logo became subject ridicule clearly lot thought put chuck todd right brought got ta bring tweet little trollish david plouffe former campaign manager obviously barack obama tweet yesterday clear selection vp distasteful narcissist like trump pence like leg bracelet probation officers forced sara fagen tom brokaw heres would say think reflecting commentary today playing old rules make observations donald trump reinvented politics may historic week may reinventing republican party ive watched go party captains industry old money kind mainstream bankers richard nixon took south ronald reagan took west opened entirely different way hes come along hes changed party entirely people rejecting old standard republican party longer gop donald trumpdotcom party moment whether last dont know chuck todd sara pick toms point free trade theyre opposite sides sara fagen yeah chuck todd nafta attacker trump nafta promoter mike pence muslim ban iraq war two ticket mates present divide republican party ticket sara fagen many respects good pick looked pick thought donald trump thinks win recognizes problem big percentage republican base selection reflected youre right know different era donald trump reflects times live times dont reflect donald trump joyann reid think also shows donald trump doesnt want vice president going compete national stage mean sort sad spectacle pence sort shunted go dinner chilis family um bromance chuck todd dont think chilis chilis moment felt would effective moment hugh trumps mean like trumps ice cream know pences tom brokaw honestly dont think future republicans depends whether went got attention chuck todd hear hugh hewitt sara said believes win needs win pennsylvania ohio michigan land welcome browns town im wearing cleveland tie believes win northeastern ohio republicans win using work steel workers people whove left car industry believes win pennsylvania believes win michigan pence underscores people happiest rob portman kelly ayotte joe heck nevada traditional conservative come campaign deliver traditional conservative chuck todd democrats ill tell joy felt like clinton campaign information mike pence version information last 48 hours trump campaign joyann reid absolutely already rolled opposition research mike pence zeroing women position things like abortion also zeroing lgbt issues think hugh said actually valid point mean spent lot time loraine ohio talking work steelworkers focus group seven guys 40 white males voted barack obama 08 six seven voted barack obama 2012 know theyre undecided couple actually considering trump issue feel despair feel manufacturing bottom dropped theyre taking look trump dont trust hillary clinton sara fagen youre going see lot race close hillary clinton clearly edge know poll mentioned earlier interesting number poll gary johnsons 11 percent hes 4 percent away getting debate stage actually could give donald trump best chance winning election 40 percent 43 percent vote chuck todd tom also didnt bring fact 6 percent picked jill stein green party sara fagen yeah thats true chuck todd nearly one five voters telling us right vote third party apparently including glenn beck tom brokaw yeah think way one point glenn beck briefly said people dont know turn fact theyre turning local politics cities working america states working america rejection whats going federal level witnessing right politics usual two parties think lot going across ballots somewhere else think going lot drop outs think people go vote local election theyll leave presidential election chuck todd funny say one interesting years senate campaigns may see votes presidential election tom brokaw yeah chuck todd anyway let pause come back foreign policy tends force way campaign one way another recent example failed coup turkey critical us ally dangerous part world interview secretary state john kerry coming right chuck todd welcome back week cleveland well produce pictures hats buttons balloons edges affectionately known q might find unrest around world also seeping commercial break chuck todd welcome back week cleveland well produce pictures hats buttons balloons edges affectionately known q might find unrest around world also seeping turkey france places hard ignore even political party going right cleveland secretary state john kerry luxembourg meeting russian counterpart moscow two countries seemed get little closer making ceasefire work syria well get events around world im joined secretary state mr secretary welcome back meet press begin tape sec john kerry thank much glad chuck todd well tumultuous week say least happened nice coup turkey weve domestic international events come shores feels like last five weeks lot americans may feel world coming apart say sec john kerry say actually making progress know spectacular events difficult measure heres real measure iraq taking back territory rapidly daesh isil isils space seriously contracting similarly syria making significant progress russia talking russians put cessation effectively place enable us go isil kill isil effectively get political process transition dealing assad believe made progress made significant progress ground fighters chuck left syria year ago two years ago three years ago theres process radicalization takes place one person one place saw orlando saw nice france ability jump truck go nightclub unfortunately terrible damage extremely hard law enforcement deal ahead time unless intelligence regarding chuck todd right sec john kerry believe events actually efforts isil try prove relevance try frighten people think respect fight leadership weve taken 130 major leaders battlefield making progress week washington chuck todd right let yeah sec john kerry well 45 nations defense ministers foreign ministers gathering washington lay even plans go forward chuck todd okay let start turkey appears coup squashed president erdogan know ive heard statements united states allies support democratically elected leader let ask confident president erdogan going use coup essentially grab power erode smalld democracy sec john kerry well think important doesnt obviously would great challenge relationship europe nato us urged reach far theyre creating doubts commitment democratic process hope wont result chuck todd folks believe man name fethullah gulen selfimposed exile pennsylvania trying point finger coup even talking asking extradition said united states would open prove believe mr gulen involved sec john kerry knowledge evidence whatsoever point time talked foreign minister counterpart three times last day urged compile evidence rapidly possible provide directly us channels pledged according extradition treaty according legal process standards immediately evaluate whether evidence sufficient merit extradition also make formal request extradition judicial process havent done yet accompanied evidence demonstrated facts would lead court approve extradition blocking weve never formal request chuck todd time short brought deal struck russia dont know details deal havent provided tell us fact details deal confident work russians going coordinate air strikes russians country unloaded long ago essentially going ukraine taking crimea trust russians particular topic syria sec john kerry well still working issue ukraine still havent resolved issue ukraine frankly weve spent good deal time conversation president putin laying steps need take deal ukraine also working number different issues also working nagornokarabakh respect syria nothing talked based trust im sitting naively trusting russians may may done laid series steps concretely step prelude something else happening doesnt happen wont progress one reasons laying everybody pick around simply disappointments cessation hostilities working properly assad abided russia presented challenges dont want raise expectations im trying lay way us basis steps taken theres question reliance trust relationship proven step step proven potential changing dynamics ground isnt talk options alternatives chuck todd secretary kerry leave look forward time soon sec john kerry thank chuck todd thank sir got sec john kerry fun cleveland fun cleveland end tape chuck todd coming election growing racial divide country startling new poll results commercial break chuck todd welcome back cleveland doesnt mean dont data download weeks data download topic thats minds many americans state race relations country wont surprised find americans feeling impact recent events baton rouge saint paul dallas president obama tried unifying voice week memorial service dallas begin tape pres barack obama im insist divided seem know know america know far weve come impossible odds end tape chuck todd country feels less hopeful reflected latest nbc newswall street journal poll right race relations lowest point history poll 25 years previous low october 1995 month oj simpson verdict criminal trial back 61 percent said race relations bad 34 percent said thought race relations good well new poll whopping 74 percent americans say race relations bad 24 percent say good 50 points underwater question africanamericans particularly feeling increasingly negative country standard question ask country headed right direction going wrong track well january african americans net positive question 18 points ahead positive side saying country headed right direction african americans negative standpoint minus 22 points saying country headed wrong track 40point swing six months obvious impact finally ask candidate would better race relations well neither candidate got majority 41 percent said hillary clinton 19 percent said donald trump guess one three said neither next president face issues form another question whether either one ready come back either donald trump hillary clinton calm peoples fears terror end winning votes process thats next commercial break chuck todd panel back jump right convention politics tom want go question asked john kerry sense last five weeks going american psyche orlando watched happened nice weve terrorist attack istanbul airport course coup turkey happened saint paul baton rouge dallas collectively going impact americans ways think candidates havent appreciated yet tom brokaw well couldnt agree think sense real terror mean friend rural iowa arming point taking gun instruction say theyre going come find small town iowa thats representative seems rising tide fear way theres mix happened dallas black man went wild dallas police department happened obviously orlando whole different motivation altogether none way getting hands around people motivates respond lone wolves effectively looking big mosaic organization kind somebody goes completely rails decides take whatever hatred heart police gay night club whatever thats good reason unmoored think country find way collectively coming together dealing got transcend party lines cultural lines everything else grew beginning civil rights movement really thought wed different country elected africanamerican president lot progress hostility really unsettling based pigmentation people making judgments color skin bang like thats wrong sara fagen youre right country come together impacts politics youre right going also fascinating countless examples around globe people afraid really afraid economics safety look strong man look attributes presidential races often define wins loses strong leader going important thing looking assuming events continue fall candidates play election day joyann reid think different sort reactions think tom said true youre starting see unfortunately different violent acts almost sort blending together pockets country rural parts country arming think isis coming get also fears mass shootings period completely domestic origin interracial tension negativity thats also cropping time people africanamerican community saying hey know big fear police right different fears coming together dont think look entire body politic one different groups different fears chuck todd thats think think politicians trying respond individually one know try respond think comfortable talking maybe republicans want talk getting terrorists democrats want talk going guns think american voter digesting much differently hugh hewitt think campaign become disconnected country globe think youre exactly right theyre trying put squares round holes heres whats happened presidents human deeply flawed office usually reveals flaws first presidential campaign flaws candidates dominating campaign hillary clintons untrustworthiness donald trumps inexperience bluster theyre driving blackwhite issue theyre driving latinowhite issue theyre driving terrorism lone wolves theyre disconnected personality campaign top world turmoil chuck todd thats great way putting tom sara fagen yeah chuck todd campaign doesnt feel reflective whats happening tom brokaw well part reason theres lot people qualified president dont want jump arena tough make leap quite honestly get involved politics whatever level find front page everything theyve ever done everything disclosed im going pay price getting kind people coming forward know exist exist universities corporations small towns large cities weve got lot really capable people fact jump political arena national level know lay bare right desk pick apart say worth chuck todd huge problem right quick pause well back 45 seconds endgame weve got ta look ahead theres going big news democrats end week hillary clinton pick running mate commercial break chuck todd back endgame speaking going get endgame democratic vice presidential process whats interesting one finalists actually speaking job tom vilsack current secretary agriculture former governor iowa shortest lists joy heres said cameras yesterday sort testing antitrump rhetoric begin tape tom vilsack donald trump sort politics bernie madoff investment selling something people dont fully understand appreciate actually means think know governor pence obviously loyal running mate think hes going difficult time positions certainly issues involving muslims concern governor pence cant help think theyre still concern end tape chuck todd think nobody might happier mike pence pick tom vilsack midwestern governor midwestern governor joyann reid two words chuck shirley sherrod would incredibly short sighted decision pick guy fired shirley sherrod ticket woman embracing first black president avatar chuck todd africanamerican usda joyann reid exactly made speech naacp breitbartdotcom misinterpreted speech edited portions tried characterize reverse racist fired way work tom vilsack took responsibility hear africanamerican communities shirley sherrod chuck todd may ended tom vilsacks chances hugh hewitt im rooting anyone except admiral stavridis republican think admiral would checkmate move us reputation extraordinary experience broad diplomatic skills honed think would deep deep hole go outside box went admiral chuck todd know tom tim kaine frontrunner nothing pence pick puts dont think pence pick puts pressure hillary clinton suddenly feel like ah shes got change strategies tom brokaw think give chance lay back little bit say right counter balance still think based im hearing inside kaine senator virginia got big big lead lead much hes got momentum chuck todd whatever means right know hillarys head tom brokaw way stage process shes also taking care constituencies chuck todd yep tom brokaw vilsack midwest elizabeth warren followers theyre going great mentioners next couple days shell pick somebody help kaine border states spanishspeaking good rally day well see sara fagen think shell pick someone govern country doesnt need respond constituencies way reported doesnt need liberal doesnt need woman defense tom vilsack hes good respectable career long period time one decision dont think fair criticize chuck todd interesting pop though sara fagen itll discussion discussion shouldnt rule qualified person one decision chuck todd right go quick programming note im going hosting special preview convention tonight 5 pm good old mtp daily sunday itll msnbc course nbc news providing live coverage republican national convention every single day next week ill joined colleagues lester holt savannah guthrie four nights begins tomorrow 10 eastern ill see thats today well back next week philadelphia democratic convention sunday meet press end transcript
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<p>LAKE FOREST, Calif. (ABP) — Individual stand on moral issues — from personal character to the international arena — was the foundation of the Aug. 16 Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency.</p>
<p>The two-hour forum, sponsored by Southern Baptist mega-congregation Saddleback Church and held on its main campus in Orange County, Calif., allowed presumptive presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain to express moral views on political topics to a largely evangelical audience. Saddleback Pastor Rick Warren served as host.</p>
<p>Rather than using a debate format, Warren questioned each candidate individually in front of an audience that paid $100 per ticket to attend. Obama was first, with McCain sequestered so that he would not hear the questions. The pastor spent almost an hour with each candidate.</p>
<p>Although McCain appeared to be comfortable in front of an evangelical audience, Obama used biblical language twice, once referring to “the least of my brothers” (Matthew 25) and “acting justly and loving mercy and walking humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8).</p>
<p>McCain seemed to generate the most audience response, particularly regarding national security, abortion and tax issues.</p>
<p>The candidates differed, sometimes markedly, in their responses to some questions. Regarding abortion, Obama is pro-choice, while McCain takes a pro-life stance.</p>
<p>Anti-abortion groups have repeatedly criticized Obama for his answer to Warren’s question about when he believed a child in the womb gained human rights. The Illinois senator responded, “…answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade.”</p>
<p>However, he pointed out he is pro-choice because he believes women don’t “make these decisions casually” and that they seek advice within their support systems. Abortion has a “moral and ethical element” that cannot be overlooked, he said.</p>
<p>Obama favors limiting late-term abortions, as long as a provision is included to protect maternal health, and recognized pro-lifers’ viewpoint. “[I]f you believe that life begins at conception … and you are consistent in that belief, then I can’t argue with you on that because that is a core issue of faith for you,” he said.</p>
<p>McCain declared a baby is entitled to human rights “at the moment of conception” and committed to a pro-life presidency, if elected.</p>
<p>The Arizona senator also played up his commitment to the ongoing war in Iraq and to the war on terror. He pointed to “radical Islam extremism” and al-Qaeda as evil and pledged to “get [Osama] bin Laden and bring him to justice.”</p>
<p>Asked about his views on war, Obama called his early stand against the Iraq war the most difficult decision he has made — in part because of the political consequences of the at-the-time unpopular stance, and partly because of putting “kids … in harm’s way.”</p>
<p>But both agreed that going to war is acceptable to protect American interests and national security.</p>
<p>Regarding tax issues, Obama advocates a tax cut for workers that earn under $150,000 and a “modest” tax increase for those who make more than $250,000.</p>
<p>McCain will push for a $7,000-per-child tax credit and a $5,000 tax credit for healthcare. He focused on government spending, rather than taxation, as the issue.</p>
<p>McCain and Obama responded similarly on some issues. Although they didn’t use the same wording, they both characterized America’s greatest moral failure as self-centeredness.</p>
<p>“[W]e still don’t abide by that basic precept in Matthew that whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me,” Obama said. “There’s a pervasive sense, I think, that this country, as wealthy and powerful as we are, still [doesn’t] spend enough time thinking about the least of us.”</p>
<p>McCain, in response to that question, noted, “Throughout our existence, perhaps we have not devoted ourselves to causes greater than our self-interest, although we’ve been the best at it of everybody in the world.”</p>
<p>Rather than being encouraged to “go shopping or to take a trip” after the Sept. 11 bombings in the United States, people should have been told to “expand” participation in helping others, to “expand the current missions that you are doing, that you are carrying out here in America and throughout the world,” McCain added.</p>
<p>Both also pointed to their faith in Christ. For Obama, faith means “that Jesus Christ died for my sins, and that I am redeemed through him…. And I know that if I can get myself out of the way, that I can maybe carry out in some small way what he intends. And it means that those sins that I have on a fairly regular basis, hopefully will be washed away.”</p>
<p>McCain said his faith means, “I’m saved and forgiven.”</p>
<p>The candidates shared a similar approach to stem-cell research. Both emphasized the promise of adult stem-cell research, preferring to avoid the moral dilemma that research on embryonic stem cells poses.</p>
<p>Both agreed that marriage should be the union of a man and a woman and that the same-sex marriage issue should be determined at the state level. Obama believes in civil unions, he said, adding that his faith and his marriage are “strong enough that I can afford those civil rights to others.” He would not support an amendment to the federal constitution banning same-sex marriage nationwide.</p>
<p>Also a states-rights advocate on the issue, McCain said he would support an amendment only if the federal courts tried to enforce one state’s decision on other states as well.</p>
<p>McCain and Obama also agreed with Warren that stepping into regional conflict, such as in the Darfur region of Sudan, to stop genocide is acceptable. Obama emphasized seeking international support whenever possible.</p>
<p>Both said the United States should speak out against human-rights abuses and religious persecution. McCain said he would use the president’s “greatest asset” — the bully pulpit — as an advocate, following Ronald Reagan’s example.</p>
<p>While Obama favors speaking out, he said he also advocates joining international forums to work with others to point out abuse and lack of religious freedom and to “lead by example.”</p>
<p>Some religion-and-politics observers, such as Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, applauded Saddleback’s effort. Land believes the forum shows that evangelical influence has not declined in politics, according to a news release in Baptist Press, the SBC’s news outlet.</p>
<p>Others, such as the Interfaith Alliance, questioned whether the forum simply further blurred the lines between religion and politics.</p>
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<p>Read more</p>
<p>Transcript of Obama and McCain appearance at Saddleback:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rickwarrennews.com/transcript/" type="external">www.rickwarrennews.com/transcript/</a></p>
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lake forest calif abp individual stand moral issues personal character international arena foundation aug 16 saddleback civil forum presidency twohour forum sponsored southern baptist megacongregation saddleback church held main campus orange county calif allowed presumptive presidential candidates barack obama john mccain express moral views political topics largely evangelical audience saddleback pastor rick warren served host rather using debate format warren questioned candidate individually front audience paid 100 per ticket attend obama first mccain sequestered would hear questions pastor spent almost hour candidate although mccain appeared comfortable front evangelical audience obama used biblical language twice referring least brothers matthew 25 acting justly loving mercy walking humbly god micah 68 mccain seemed generate audience response particularly regarding national security abortion tax issues candidates differed sometimes markedly responses questions regarding abortion obama prochoice mccain takes prolife stance antiabortion groups repeatedly criticized obama answer warrens question believed child womb gained human rights illinois senator responded answering question specificity know pay grade however pointed prochoice believes women dont make decisions casually seek advice within support systems abortion moral ethical element overlooked said obama favors limiting lateterm abortions long provision included protect maternal health recognized prolifers viewpoint believe life begins conception consistent belief cant argue core issue faith said mccain declared baby entitled human rights moment conception committed prolife presidency elected arizona senator also played commitment ongoing war iraq war terror pointed radical islam extremism alqaeda evil pledged get osama bin laden bring justice asked views war obama called early stand iraq war difficult decision made part political consequences atthetime unpopular stance partly putting kids harms way agreed going war acceptable protect american interests national security regarding tax issues obama advocates tax cut workers earn 150000 modest tax increase make 250000 mccain push 7000perchild tax credit 5000 tax credit healthcare focused government spending rather taxation issue mccain obama responded similarly issues although didnt use wording characterized americas greatest moral failure selfcenteredness still dont abide basic precept matthew whatever least brothers obama said theres pervasive sense think country wealthy powerful still doesnt spend enough time thinking least us mccain response question noted throughout existence perhaps devoted causes greater selfinterest although weve best everybody world rather encouraged go shopping take trip sept 11 bombings united states people told expand participation helping others expand current missions carrying america throughout world mccain added also pointed faith christ obama faith means jesus christ died sins redeemed know get way maybe carry small way intends means sins fairly regular basis hopefully washed away mccain said faith means im saved forgiven candidates shared similar approach stemcell research emphasized promise adult stemcell research preferring avoid moral dilemma research embryonic stem cells poses agreed marriage union man woman samesex marriage issue determined state level obama believes civil unions said adding faith marriage strong enough afford civil rights others would support amendment federal constitution banning samesex marriage nationwide also statesrights advocate issue mccain said would support amendment federal courts tried enforce one states decision states well mccain obama also agreed warren stepping regional conflict darfur region sudan stop genocide acceptable obama emphasized seeking international support whenever possible said united states speak humanrights abuses religious persecution mccain said would use presidents greatest asset bully pulpit advocate following ronald reagans example obama favors speaking said also advocates joining international forums work others point abuse lack religious freedom lead example religionandpolitics observers richard land president southern baptist conventions ethics religious liberty commission applauded saddlebacks effort land believes forum shows evangelical influence declined politics according news release baptist press sbcs news outlet others interfaith alliance questioned whether forum simply blurred lines religion politics 30 read transcript obama mccain appearance saddleback wwwrickwarrennewscomtranscript 160
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<p>Correspondent Bill Wheeler was awarded the first annual GroundTruth fellowship for field reporting on emerging democracies in the Middle East. In this running blog series for GroundTruth, Wheeler goes inside the militias that are still holding sway in the chaotic aftermath of Libya’s civil war.</p>
<p>TRIPOLI, Libya —&#160;Today the academy where Gaddafi's notorious female bodyguard once trained is painted with an image of the rebels’ tricolor flag, guarded by the men who helped topple his regime. On the day I visited, several lingered at the front gate wearing mismatched camouflage uniforms. One wore a red arm cuff with white lettering that signified he was operating under the authority of the state. At the front door, a wall tapestry with a portrait of the dictator as a young man was being used as a doormat, so that anyone who entered must first trudge across his face.</p>
<p>Inside I found Faraj Swehli, a hardline commander from a powerful clan, presiding over a lavish office paneled in wood and outfitted with leather sofas and glass tables. He sat behind an angular desk and, after greeting me, began flipping channels on a large flat-screen TV across the room. He wore an open collared shirt beneath a gray satin blazer, a pinky ring and a short beard. He carried himself with the air of a businessman–turned–warlord, and spoke softly, deliberately, like someone who is used to being listened to.</p>
<p>I would later learn that Swehli was a major player on the Supreme Revolutionary Council. His story illustrates how security in Libya today is a function of the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/groundtruth/how-militias-took-control-post-gaddafi-libya" type="external">trajectories set in motion by the war</a>, which made new power centers of cities that were revolutionary strongholds. Chief among them is Swehli’s hometown, Misrata, which accounts for nearly half the experienced fighters and weapons caches in the country.</p>
<p>After security forces killed protesters in Misrata and crowds chased the police out of the city, Swehli, whose great grandfather was a legendary figure in the resistance to Italian colonial rule, had set about building his own brigade.&#160;</p>
<p>They began by using single-shot hunting rifles and Molotov cocktails. Over months of brutal house-to-house fighting some 300 armed fighters— who at first traveled to the battlefield by car with friends, then coalesced into larger units around the most able leaders — scurried through blasted-out walls between buildings where loyalist snipers were perched on the rooftops. The fighters moved shipping containers up block by block as they took control of each street to gradually box in their enemy. They grew into hierarchical brigades capable of deploying tanks and heavy artillery while guarding miles of front lines in three directions.&#160;</p>
<p>By war’s end, their numbers reached about 40,000 men in 236 close-knit, battle-hardened brigades, which were known for their strong loyalties and reputation for fearlessness.</p>
<p>After Misrata’s liberation, Swehli and his men moved west to join the fight in a neighboring town. They decided they would head straight to Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli. By then, rebels were making a dramatic push from the western mountains. A fierce race was on between multiple forces closing in on Tripoli from three sides.</p>
<p>Even though the rebels were all ostensibly fighting for the same goal, the geography of the war had heightened old tribal and regional divisions and also inspired new ones. The revolution had begun in the east, under the leadership of experienced opposition figures and army officers, who found a safe haven behind the NATO-enforced no-fly zone to defect with relative ease.&#160;</p>
<p>But after the rebel army got bogged down along the eastern front, they were seen as bystanders in the west, where local brigades formed, armed themselves, and trained their mostly civilian fighters with limited outside help.</p>
<p>Rather than by a single conquering army, the war would be won in a series of independent uprisings, leaving heavily armed groups — each with its own narrative of sacrifice and victory — in competition with one other and a weak national army and interim government that many viewed suspiciously because of their ties to the former regime.</p>
<p>Swehli’s men were so determined to get to the capital first that they staged a mutiny, warning him that if the revolutionaries from Zintan —&#160;another revolutionary stronghold that Misratans now consider their rivals —&#160;were to beat them to Tripoli “you will be our only enemy.”</p>
<p>But on August 20, 2011, Tripoli’s underground revolutionaries coordinated an uprising that brought residents out into the streets to take control of their neighborhoods, securing up to 80 percent of the capital in one night. He and his men joined the other militias rushing into the neighborhoods where loyalists were still fighting.</p>
<p>Over the next two months, his men participated in the fighting in the last two loyalist holdouts.&#160;</p>
<p>“I went to Sirte and liberated Sirte,” he said. “I was one of the first to enter Bani Walid, and I liberated Bani Walid.”&#160;</p>
<p>As the various brigades from around the country settled down in the capital, they soon began to clash over control of strategic sites. They also found new freedoms. The groups from Misrata and Zintan earned a reputation for looting, theft and involvement with drugs. I heard a new saying about how Gaddafi had spent 42 years trying to get Libyans to hate Misrata; it didn't work, but after the war Misratans themselves finally succeeded where the dictator had failed.&#160;</p>
<p>Militias from both cities, empowered by new weapons caches, launched attacks against tribal rivals that had sided with the regime, turning their cities into ghost towns: a UN investigation concluded that Misratans’ campaign of collective punishment against Tawerghans — the displacement of 40,000 people, kidnapping, torture and extrajudiciary killings — qualify as crimes against humanity. By this time, militia members talked of the need to turn over power to a central authority. But as time went on they continued to ignore authorities’ calls to leave the capital, and went on talking about submitting to state authority while consolidating their control and seeming ever more pleased with their new power.&#160;</p>
<p>“Leaders in Misrata watched these developments warily but made a cynical calculation,” described a fascinating piece of research by Brian McQuinn, a former conflict analyst who spent the better part of a year on the ground in Misrata researching the evolution of armed groups for his doctoral thesis in anthropology at Oxford University. The damage that Misratan militias in Tripoli were doing to both their city’s reputation and security in the capital was overshadowed by the strategic value of having proxies — like Swehli’s forces — to maintain their influence over the post-war transition.&#160;</p>
<p>Today, Swehli told me, he is “helping to build the country,” in charge of operations rooms and more than 10 police units under the umbrella of the national army. Since liberation, the state has outsourced security roles —&#160;guarding oil fields, border security, police and military functions —&#160;to an untold number of former revolutionaries operating under varying degrees of official recognition. But unlike regular security forces, they have resisted breaking up their command structures so their men can be integrated as individuals. This raises serious questions about <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/groundtruth/militias-new-strategy-libya-occupy-oil-field" type="external">where their loyalties truly lie</a>.</p>
<p>When I asked whether working as part of the national army meant anything more than wearing an official band on one's arm, since they are the same tight units of fighters working together under the same commanders they fought with during the revolution, he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.&#160;</p>
<p>“There's something called team spirit, “ he said. “When a team has fought and suffered together, they are not going to leave that team easily.”&#160;</p>
<p>If the government had incorporated the revolutionary commanders into the army from the beginning, he continued, the state would never have had to worry about the loyalties of their brigades in the first place. But it's not too late. If they hire the commanders now, they will be able to control the revolutionaries.</p>
<p>There is a power struggle underway over the rebuilding of the army, and revolutionaries and veteran army officers are both trying to position themselves to benefit. The divide that runs through parliament, between the National Forces Alliance and the Muslim Brotherhood and their affiliated blocs, is mirrored in the divide between competing blocs of allied forces in the security sector. A central question is how far the revolutionary camp wants the uprooting to go.</p>
<p>When I asked about the specific duties of his police units, Swehli said their job was to track down loyalists from Gaddafi's police and army — a dubious and subjective distinction in practice. He flipped through a sheaf of pages on his desk with name after name after name of wanted individuals. When I asked whether there was room for anyone at all who had served in Gaddafi's army or police, or whether only the leaders should be excluded from the new security forces, he said all the remnants of the regime must be gotten rid of: they were all thieves who shared Gaddafi's ideology.&#160;</p>
<p>Swehli had lost two brothers, 25 cousins, and 30 people from his brigade during the war, he said, and he intends to track down those that he holds responsible. “I don't have any more cousins —&#160;they're all dead,” he told me. “I will never let anyone escape who fought against me and the country.” The commander agreed to let me spend some time with his men, observing them as they tracked down the names on their wanted list. But he soon stopped answering my calls. Only later did I begin to hear allegations his men were involved in criminal activity.</p>
<p>In contrast to the generic description of “lawless militias” used in the press, McQuinn’s research argues that the majority of armed groups in Misrata cooperate closely with local authorities. But Swehli’s brigade is one of the rare exceptions — a rogue brigade accused of selling memberships to Tripoli residents and engaging in extortion.&#160;</p>
<p>According to McQuinn’s research, the Swehli brigade took over control of the western gate in Misrata, the first checkpoint on the highway to Tripoli, which gave them leverage over anyone trying to enter or leave the city. Allegations of corruption and arbitrary detention eventually emerged, and local military and civilian leaders intervened, negotiating an agreement for his men to surrender control of the gate to the Interior Ministry. But then they didn't.&#160;</p>
<p>In February 2012, the Tripoli division of his brigade generated an international backlash,&#160; detaining two British journalists working for an Iranian outlet, whom he refused to release for a few weeks, claiming in a press conference that they were spies. The next day his men confiscated two Interior Ministry vehicles passing through the city's gate. Local officials scrambled a force drawn from 20 different brigades to take back control of the gate, and in the confusion that followed an ammunition depot caught fire and exploded, killing two people. After an emergency meeting that night, the brigade finally surrendered the gate.</p>
<p>************</p>
<p>For 18 years, Mokhtar Lakhdar served under the Gaddafi regime as a commando and instructor before he retired and went into tourism. In the first days of the revolution, he led fighters to seize a massive weapons depot. Two Air Force jets were sent to attack them and destroy the depot, he said, but through a fortunate turn of events the pilots instead dumped their payload in the desert and defected to Malta.&#160;</p>
<p>The fighters spent three days unloading weapons, with which they armed surrounding communities and opened a strong western front that analysts said was key to liberating the capital. “This cache is really what saved the mountain,” he said. Within weeks, they built a dirt landing strip and their international allies began flying in arms. “All the world was focused on the western front.”&#160;</p>
<p>Now he remembers those times fondly. “It was actually easier during the war. We were on the front line, but we were drinking tea, making jokes, laughing. We knew what our goal was. It was clear.”</p>
<p>Now he feels mentally exhausted from worrying about what direction the country is headed. &#160;</p>
<p>With a wiry frame, a tousled head of thick silver hair and a moustache, Lakhdar wore a black suit with an open-collared shirt. He was seated behind a desk in front of a chic orange slate wall on a Tripoli farm that had formerly been an intelligence station. Through a half-shuttered window I could see a rooster running through the weeds beside an empty swimming pool.&#160;</p>
<p>After the war, the Zintanis — both a tribe and a city — attacked and drove out the neighboring Mashashiya, their historical rivals whom they accuse of having sided with Gaddafi; in Tripoli, unruly Zintani brigades have earned widespread public disapprobation. But they see themselves as being ideologically and politically independent.&#160;</p>
<p>“We are Arabs. We are Muslim. But we are patriots,” said Lakhdar. “We support the legitimacy of the state.” But because Zintan’s revolution was led by former army officers, who retain ties to their former comrades from the national army in the east, they are also seen as leaning towards the old guard, hence in opposition to the Islamists and hardline revolutionaries.&#160;</p>
<p>Hence his frustration with the growing religious and political divisions in the country. He didn’t see religious extremists fighting on the front lines, he says, and neither did all the foreign officials and journalists that came to Zintan during the war to make sure they weren’t arming terrorists (his iPhone displays a photo he took with a smiling Hillary Clinton).&#160;</p>
<p>“Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance and understanding,” he said. “And integrity and transparency. All these other gangs who want to hijack that in the name of religion, we don’t want these people. And if we feel that one day they will pose a threat to the security of Libya, we will face them down.”</p>
<p>He’s just as discouraged by the politicians who have emerged to claim their slice of the pie, and the brinksmanship of the two biggest parties, the Muslim Brotherhood and Mahmoud Jbril’s National Forces Alliance. “There are political parties now that have their own personal militias,” he said.&#160;</p>
<p>Othman Mlegta, from Zintan, the brother of the NFA's biggest sponsor, heads the Qaaqaa brigade —&#160;an 18,000-man unit operating under the auspices of the National Army that is seen, essentially, as Jbril’s personal guard. Congressman and hardliner Abdulrahman Swehli is tied to his own militia in Misrata, while the Muslim Brotherhood has its own allied forces.</p>
<p>It’s just like in the old regime, when Gaddafi’s sons each had their own military brigades. “The only thing that has changed is the names,” Lakhdar said.</p>
<p>And whenever they don’t like the way things are going, they can try to exert their power through the militias, he said.&#160;</p>
<p>“How were they able to pass the Political Isolation law? A lot of young armed men came with 14.5 mm guns and they laid sieges. I mean, this is a huge event! I don't think people realize it. It was a coup,” he said. “Libya as a state was sacked.”&#160;</p>
<p>This reporting was supported by a grant from <a href="http://www.correspondentsfund.org/" type="external">The Correspondents Fund</a>.</p>
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correspondent bill wheeler awarded first annual groundtruth fellowship field reporting emerging democracies middle east running blog series groundtruth wheeler goes inside militias still holding sway chaotic aftermath libyas civil war tripoli libya 160today academy gaddafis notorious female bodyguard trained painted image rebels tricolor flag guarded men helped topple regime day visited several lingered front gate wearing mismatched camouflage uniforms one wore red arm cuff white lettering signified operating authority state front door wall tapestry portrait dictator young man used doormat anyone entered must first trudge across face inside found faraj swehli hardline commander powerful clan presiding lavish office paneled wood outfitted leather sofas glass tables sat behind angular desk greeting began flipping channels large flatscreen tv across room wore open collared shirt beneath gray satin blazer pinky ring short beard carried air businessmanturnedwarlord spoke softly deliberately like someone used listened would later learn swehli major player supreme revolutionary council story illustrates security libya today function trajectories set motion war made new power centers cities revolutionary strongholds chief among swehlis hometown misrata accounts nearly half experienced fighters weapons caches country security forces killed protesters misrata crowds chased police city swehli whose great grandfather legendary figure resistance italian colonial rule set building brigade160 began using singleshot hunting rifles molotov cocktails months brutal housetohouse fighting 300 armed fighters first traveled battlefield car friends coalesced larger units around able leaders scurried blastedout walls buildings loyalist snipers perched rooftops fighters moved shipping containers block block took control street gradually box enemy grew hierarchical brigades capable deploying tanks heavy artillery guarding miles front lines three directions160 wars end numbers reached 40000 men 236 closeknit battlehardened brigades known strong loyalties reputation fearlessness misratas liberation swehli men moved west join fight neighboring town decided would head straight gaddafis compound tripoli rebels making dramatic push western mountains fierce race multiple forces closing tripoli three sides even though rebels ostensibly fighting goal geography war heightened old tribal regional divisions also inspired new ones revolution begun east leadership experienced opposition figures army officers found safe behind natoenforced nofly zone defect relative ease160 rebel army got bogged along eastern front seen bystanders west local brigades formed armed trained mostly civilian fighters limited outside help rather single conquering army war would series independent uprisings leaving heavily armed groups narrative sacrifice victory competition one weak national army interim government many viewed suspiciously ties former regime swehlis men determined get capital first staged mutiny warning revolutionaries zintan 160another revolutionary stronghold misratans consider rivals 160were beat tripoli enemy august 20 2011 tripolis underground revolutionaries coordinated uprising brought residents streets take control neighborhoods securing 80 percent capital one night men joined militias rushing neighborhoods loyalists still fighting next two months men participated fighting last two loyalist holdouts160 went sirte liberated sirte said one first enter bani walid liberated bani walid160 various brigades around country settled capital soon began clash control strategic sites also found new freedoms groups misrata zintan earned reputation looting theft involvement drugs heard new saying gaddafi spent 42 years trying get libyans hate misrata didnt work war misratans finally succeeded dictator failed160 militias cities empowered new weapons caches launched attacks tribal rivals sided regime turning cities ghost towns un investigation concluded misratans campaign collective punishment tawerghans displacement 40000 people kidnapping torture extrajudiciary killings qualify crimes humanity time militia members talked need turn power central authority time went continued ignore authorities calls leave capital went talking submitting state authority consolidating control seeming ever pleased new power160 leaders misrata watched developments warily made cynical calculation described fascinating piece research brian mcquinn former conflict analyst spent better part year ground misrata researching evolution armed groups doctoral thesis anthropology oxford university damage misratan militias tripoli citys reputation security capital overshadowed strategic value proxies like swehlis forces maintain influence postwar transition160 today swehli told helping build country charge operations rooms 10 police units umbrella national army since liberation state outsourced security roles 160guarding oil fields border security police military functions 160to untold number former revolutionaries operating varying degrees official recognition unlike regular security forces resisted breaking command structures men integrated individuals raises serious questions loyalties truly lie asked whether working part national army meant anything wearing official band ones arm since tight units fighters working together commanders fought revolution shifted uncomfortably seat160 theres something called team spirit said team fought suffered together going leave team easily160 government incorporated revolutionary commanders army beginning continued state would never worry loyalties brigades first place late hire commanders able control revolutionaries power struggle underway rebuilding army revolutionaries veteran army officers trying position benefit divide runs parliament national forces alliance muslim brotherhood affiliated blocs mirrored divide competing blocs allied forces security sector central question far revolutionary camp wants uprooting go asked specific duties police units swehli said job track loyalists gaddafis police army dubious subjective distinction practice flipped sheaf pages desk name name name wanted individuals asked whether room anyone served gaddafis army police whether leaders excluded new security forces said remnants regime must gotten rid thieves shared gaddafis ideology160 swehli lost two brothers 25 cousins 30 people brigade war said intends track holds responsible dont cousins 160theyre dead told never let anyone escape fought country commander agreed let spend time men observing tracked names wanted list soon stopped answering calls later begin hear allegations men involved criminal activity contrast generic description lawless militias used press mcquinns research argues majority armed groups misrata cooperate closely local authorities swehlis brigade one rare exceptions rogue brigade accused selling memberships tripoli residents engaging extortion160 according mcquinns research swehli brigade took control western gate misrata first checkpoint highway tripoli gave leverage anyone trying enter leave city allegations corruption arbitrary detention eventually emerged local military civilian leaders intervened negotiating agreement men surrender control gate interior ministry didnt160 february 2012 tripoli division brigade generated international backlash160 detaining two british journalists working iranian outlet refused release weeks claiming press conference spies next day men confiscated two interior ministry vehicles passing citys gate local officials scrambled force drawn 20 different brigades take back control gate confusion followed ammunition depot caught fire exploded killing two people emergency meeting night brigade finally surrendered gate 18 years mokhtar lakhdar served gaddafi regime commando instructor retired went tourism first days revolution led fighters seize massive weapons depot two air force jets sent attack destroy depot said fortunate turn events pilots instead dumped payload desert defected malta160 fighters spent three days unloading weapons armed surrounding communities opened strong western front analysts said key liberating capital cache really saved mountain said within weeks built dirt landing strip international allies began flying arms world focused western front160 remembers times fondly actually easier war front line drinking tea making jokes laughing knew goal clear feels mentally exhausted worrying direction country headed 160 wiry frame tousled head thick silver hair moustache lakhdar wore black suit opencollared shirt seated behind desk front chic orange slate wall tripoli farm formerly intelligence station halfshuttered window could see rooster running weeds beside empty swimming pool160 war zintanis tribe city attacked drove neighboring mashashiya historical rivals accuse sided gaddafi tripoli unruly zintani brigades earned widespread public disapprobation see ideologically politically independent160 arabs muslim patriots said lakhdar support legitimacy state zintans revolution led former army officers retain ties former comrades national army east also seen leaning towards old guard hence opposition islamists hardline revolutionaries160 hence frustration growing religious political divisions country didnt see religious extremists fighting front lines says neither foreign officials journalists came zintan war make sure werent arming terrorists iphone displays photo took smiling hillary clinton160 islam religion peace tolerance understanding said integrity transparency gangs want hijack name religion dont want people feel one day pose threat security libya face hes discouraged politicians emerged claim slice pie brinksmanship two biggest parties muslim brotherhood mahmoud jbrils national forces alliance political parties personal militias said160 othman mlegta zintan brother nfas biggest sponsor heads qaaqaa brigade 160an 18000man unit operating auspices national army seen essentially jbrils personal guard congressman hardliner abdulrahman swehli tied militia misrata muslim brotherhood allied forces like old regime gaddafis sons military brigades thing changed names lakhdar said whenever dont like way things going try exert power militias said160 able pass political isolation law lot young armed men came 145 mm guns laid sieges mean huge event dont think people realize coup said libya state sacked160 reporting supported grant correspondents fund
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<p>By Bob Allen</p>
<p>A leader in the so-called New Calvinism resurgence in Southern Baptist life says he believes the Bible permits women to serve as deacons.</p>
<p>David Platt, pastor of <a href="http://www.brookhills.org/" type="external">The Church at Brook Hills</a> in Birmingham, Ala., addressed the topic in an archived sermon excerpted recently in a blog on his website for <a href="http://www.radical.net/" type="external">Radical</a>, a parachurch ministry to promote discipleship training around the world.</p>
<p>Platt, 34, <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/augustweb-only/133-22.0.html" type="external">dubbed</a> the youngest megachurch pastor in America when he took over the 4,300-member flock in 2006, <a href="http://www.radical.net/media/schurch/view/440/secret-church-the-body-of-christ-part-4?filter=series" type="external">said</a> in a series of messages titled “Secret Church,” that the Bible describes two leadership roles assigned within the local church.</p>
<p>He said elders —&#160;a term he regards as a synonym for “pastor” and “overseers” —&#160;are presented as “guys who are modeling the character of Christ.”</p>
<p>“And I say ‘guys’ because you don’t see in any of those lists women mentioned —&#160;that, biblically, elders are men, leaders in the church in this way,” Platt said. “In the same way, picture it just like in the home, what God has designed in Ephesians chapter 5. And this is not an equality discussion or a value discussion, this is the way God has designed our homes and our families and our spiritual family, faith family.”</p>
<p>When it comes to the office of “deacon” —&#160;presented as “leading servants who use their gifts to build up the body of Christ” —&#160;Platt said the gender issue is less clear.</p>
<p>“What about women?” he asked rhetorically. “We’ve seen that elders are men. What about deacons? And basically there are two schools of thought on this one. Can women be deacons? There are two schools of thought. One says yes and the other says no.”</p>
<p>“So here’s the deal, and this is —&#160;about 12:00/12:30 is when I like to throw out something controversial, usually, at Secret Church, so hopefully you won’t remember —&#160;but this is where there are obviously a lot of different views all across this room, I think, on that. Well, there’s two different views separated all across this room.”</p>
<p>Pratt said Bible scholars and pastors that he respects come down on both sides.</p>
<p>“Some of you might be thinking: ‘Well, look at First Timothy 3. Like, it’s pretty easy. Like, it says, ‘Deacons must be dignified, not double-tongued,’ et cetera. And then it says in 11, ‘Their wives, likewise, must be dignified, not slanderous, but servant-minded, faithful in all things. Each deacon can be the husband of one wife.’ So some say, ‘Well, that just —&#160;it’s that easy.’”</p>
<p>“I don’t think it’s necessarily that easy here,” he said. “Four things I want you to think about that point to what I think is a possibility that, yes, yes, women can be deacons in the church.”</p>
<p>First, Platt noted, that some ancient Bible manuscripts omit the word “their” in verse 11. “And the picture is, many people, many Bible scholars, believe that this is just talking about women,” he said. “And there’s ambiguity there.”</p>
<p>Platt also questioned why in transitioning from elders to deacons Paul didn’t say anything about elders’ wives, given that an elder had more leadership responsibility than a deacon.</p>
<p>Third, Platt cited “what I call the Phoebe factor.” Romans 16:1 says, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae.” Platt said the biblical Greek word translated as servant is diakonon, “which would seem to point to a deacon role.”</p>
<p>“Now, here’s the deal,” Platt continued. “What I think is important —&#160;because there are all kinds of different pictures of church structure represented around this room, and there are churches represented in this room that, if I could be honest, deacons basically serve as elders, and deacons are more of an overseeing body —&#160;if that’s the case in a church then I would not say, then, women should be deacons, because they’re basically serving as elders in an overall role.”</p>
<p>“But when it comes to, okay, somebody leading out in a hospitality ministry, somebody leading out in a variety of different ministries and you look in the New Testament and you see 17 different women that Paul mentions that are in significant leadership positions in the church doing different things in the church, serving in different ways in the church, I think the reality is if we have a proper understanding of elders and deacons and where they fit, I think it makes total sense that it’s certainly possible.”</p>
<p>The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message <a href="http://www.sbc.org/bfm/bfm2000.asp#vi" type="external">says</a> that “while both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture,” but it doesn’t say whether women can serve as deacons. In the home, it says a wife “is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ.”</p>
<p>Conservative churches typically, however, reserve ordination, a ceremony that sets an individual Christian apart for leadership roles like pastor and deacon, for men who meet qualifications outlined in Bible passages like the one in First Timothy.</p>
<p>When First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City elected its first three women as deacons in 1983, Baptist Press <a href="http://media.sbhla.org.s3.amazonaws.com/5711,08-Sep-1983.pdf" type="external">treated</a> it as headline news.</p>
<p>Platt, who earned the M.Div., Th.M. and Ph.D. at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, sparked controversy in 2012, when he criticized use of the “sinner’s prayer” to lead people into thinking they have accepted Christ.</p>
<p>“I’m convinced that many people in our churches are simply missing the life of Christ, and a lot of it has to do with what we’ve sold them as the gospel, i.e. pray this prayer, accept Jesus into your heart, invite Christ into your life,” Platt <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=JPhEEzjU8xQ" type="external">said</a>.</p>
<p>“Should it not concern us that there is no such superstitious prayer in the New Testament?” he continued. “Should it not concern us that the Bible never uses the phrase, ‘accept Jesus into your heart’ or ‘invite Christ into your life?’ It’s not the gospel we see being preached. It’s modern evangelism built on sinking sand, and it runs the risk of disillusioning millions of souls.”</p>
<p>Reaction to the comment and Platt’s invitation to <a href="http://www.radical.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/SBC-Sermon-Manuscript-David-Platt1.pdf" type="external">preach</a> at the SBC Pastors Conference led to a 2012 Southern Baptist Convention <a href="http://sbc.net/resolutions/amResolution.asp?ID=1221" type="external">resolution</a> affirming the sinner’s prayer “as a biblical expression of repentance and faith.”</p>
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bob allen leader socalled new calvinism resurgence southern baptist life says believes bible permits women serve deacons david platt pastor church brook hills birmingham ala addressed topic archived sermon excerpted recently blog website radical parachurch ministry promote discipleship training around world platt 34 dubbed youngest megachurch pastor america took 4300member flock 2006 said series messages titled secret church bible describes two leadership roles assigned within local church said elders 160a term regards synonym pastor overseers 160are presented guys modeling character christ say guys dont see lists women mentioned 160that biblically elders men leaders church way platt said way picture like home god designed ephesians chapter 5 equality discussion value discussion way god designed homes families spiritual family faith family comes office deacon 160presented leading servants use gifts build body christ 160platt said gender issue less clear women asked rhetorically weve seen elders men deacons basically two schools thought one women deacons two schools thought one says yes says heres deal 160about 12001230 like throw something controversial usually secret church hopefully wont remember 160but obviously lot different views across room think well theres two different views separated across room pratt said bible scholars pastors respects come sides might thinking well look first timothy 3 like pretty easy like says deacons must dignified doubletongued et cetera says 11 wives likewise must dignified slanderous servantminded faithful things deacon husband one wife say well 160its easy dont think necessarily easy said four things want think point think possibility yes yes women deacons church first platt noted ancient bible manuscripts omit word verse 11 picture many people many bible scholars believe talking women said theres ambiguity platt also questioned transitioning elders deacons paul didnt say anything elders wives given elder leadership responsibility deacon third platt cited call phoebe factor romans 161 says commend sister phoebe servant church cenchreae platt said biblical greek word translated servant diakonon would seem point deacon role heres deal platt continued think important 160because kinds different pictures church structure represented around room churches represented room could honest deacons basically serve elders deacons overseeing body 160if thats case church would say women deacons theyre basically serving elders overall role comes okay somebody leading hospitality ministry somebody leading variety different ministries look new testament see 17 different women paul mentions significant leadership positions church different things church serving different ways church think reality proper understanding elders deacons fit think makes total sense certainly possible 2000 baptist faith message says men women gifted service church office pastor limited men qualified scripture doesnt say whether women serve deacons home says wife submit graciously servant leadership husband even church willingly submits headship christ conservative churches typically however reserve ordination ceremony sets individual christian apart leadership roles like pastor deacon men meet qualifications outlined bible passages like one first timothy first baptist church oklahoma city elected first three women deacons 1983 baptist press treated headline news platt earned mdiv thm phd new orleans baptist theological seminary sparked controversy 2012 criticized use sinners prayer lead people thinking accepted christ im convinced many people churches simply missing life christ lot weve sold gospel ie pray prayer accept jesus heart invite christ life platt said concern us superstitious prayer new testament continued concern us bible never uses phrase accept jesus heart invite christ life gospel see preached modern evangelism built sinking sand runs risk disillusioning millions souls reaction comment platts invitation preach sbc pastors conference led 2012 southern baptist convention resolution affirming sinners prayer biblical expression repentance faith
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<p>CAMP Rehoboth hosted five panelists who participated in a community meeting on Monday about reports of biased treatment of LGBT students at Cape Henlopen High School in nearby Lewes, Del. (Blade photo by Lou Chibbaro Jr.)</p>
<p>REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — LGBT students from Delaware’s Cape Henlopen High School told a community meeting in Rehoboth Beach on Monday night that many of the school’s teachers and the school district’s administrators continue to ignore their calls for help to stop anti-LGBT bullying at the school.</p>
<p>Cape Henlopen High, which is located in the city of Lewes next to Rehoboth Beach, has emerged as a subject of concern among students and parents in recent years over LGBT-related issues.</p>
<p>As they have since 2014, students and parents reached out to the Washington Blade in April and May of this year to express strong concern over the school district’s handling of an LGBT-related matter, this time over what they believed was the forced resignation of popular theater teacher Martha Pfeiffer at Cape Henlopen High allegedly because of her outspoken support for LGBT students.</p>
<p>Officials from the Delaware groups CAMP Rehoboth, Equality Delaware, and the ACLU of Delaware – who initiated Monday night’s meeting – said they were responding to reports about LGBT-related concerns at the school by the Blade and other news media outlets.</p>
<p>Among the recent developments of concern, they said, was the news that a lesbian student at Cape Henlopen High was suspended for wearing a T-shirt she made bearing the words, “Cape condones racism, homophobia, sexism, and bullying.”</p>
<p>An ACLU attorney speaking at Monday’s meeting said the ACLU would look into whether the school’s action over the T-shirt violated the student’s First Amendment right of free speech if the student or other students encountering similar restrictions approach the ACLU for legal assistance.</p>
<p>“As leaders in LGBTQ advocacy, education and community development in Rehoboth Beach and across the State of Delaware, it concerns us to hear of situations in which LGBTQ students may feel unsafe, unwelcome or unsupported at school,” a joint statement by the three groups announcing the meeting states.</p>
<p>“We are inviting students, parents and concerned community members to join us for a community discussion on Monday, June 19…to discuss the culture toward LGBTQ students in Cape Henlopen schools,” the advance announcement said.</p>
<p>About 75 people turned out for the meeting, which was held in a meeting hall at CAMP Rehoboth’s community center building in Rehoboth Beach. Among those who spoke were five LGBT Cape Henlopen High students, several parents, at least four clergy members from Rehoboth-area churches and synagogues, and two attorneys affiliated with the ACLU.</p>
<p>Also speaking were two volunteer mentors who said they counseled members of the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance club.</p>
<p>Gay student Adrian D’Antoni, who graduated from Cape Henlopen High this month, transgender student Madison Couture, who completed her freshman year at the school this month, and senior Sarah Ross told the meeting they and their fellow LGBT students’ pleas for help about persistent episodes of anti-LGBT bullying have been ignored by most teachers and administrators.</p>
<p>“We have to fend for ourselves,” D’Antoni told the meeting. “It’s the worst feeling on the face of the planet.”</p>
<p>Ross said one of her lesbian friends at the school filed a bullying report with the school administration as part of a procedure set up by school officials to address bullying incidents.</p>
<p>“Nothing happened,” Ross told the meeting. “Boys on sports teams were doing the bullying. She was so upset she stopped going to class.”</p>
<p>Couture, who is openly transgender at school, told the meeting she is frustrated and outraged that despite repeated calls for help by LGBT students, nothing seems to change. She said she was skeptical that anything useful would emerge from Monday’s meeting.</p>
<p>Gay attorney Mark Purpura, who is a member of the board of all three organizations sponsoring the meeting, was among the meeting attendees who expressed a commitment to take action to address the concerns of LGBT students at Cape Henlopen High and other local schools.</p>
<p>“The input from the students who were at the meeting is vitally important,” he said. “It’s very disheartening to hear stories where they feel like they’re helpless and not being supported in the schools. And as an advocate, that’s something that I certainly can’t ignore and I won’t ignore.”</p>
<p>He added, “Obviously we strive to create environments where every child feels safe and supported at school and that’s obviously not happening right now.”</p>
<p>Steve Elkins, executive director of CAMP Rehoboth, who served as moderator of the meeting, noted that officials with the meeting’s three sponsoring organizations and representatives of several other LGBT supportive groups attending the meeting have committed to “take action to help improve the culture for LGBTQ students” at Cape Henlopen schools.</p>
<p>He said representatives of the groups plan to coordinate a plan to carry out that action. He was asked after the meeting if the meeting’s outcome fulfilled his expectations.</p>
<p>“It did and actually from that standpoint we got around to saying let’s put our words into action,” he told the Blade. “So if we can take a little bit of action – we’re not going to accomplish everything we want to off of tonight’s meeting. But we certainly can’t get anywhere unless we take that first step forward. And that’s what we hope to do.”</p>
<p>He said about 25 people attending the meeting who are calling themselves “The Council of Elders” signed a list to be part of an action plan.</p>
<p>“Each of those persons will be invited to a not yet scheduled meeting to outline the next steps,” Elkins said. “It will be interesting to see if we can capture the ‘let’s get to work’ excitement that we felt at the end of the [meeting].”</p>
<p>At the start of the meeting, Elkins said the meeting’s organizers decided it would not be appropriate to discuss “personnel issues” related to Cape Henlopen High and the school district. He was referring to news first reported by the Blade that the Cape Henlopen Board of Education voted in January to fire Pfeiffer on grounds of negligence and other allegations at the recommendation of the school’s superintendent, Robert Fulton.</p>
<p>Parents who know and support Pfeiffer said Fulton and the board later agreed to allow Pfeiffer to resign effective at the end of the school year this month in exchange for not being fired.</p>
<p>Students and parents who support Pfeiffer have told the Blade the negligence charge was “trumped up” and they believe the real reason for Pfeiffer’s forced resignation was the administration’s objections to her outspoken support for LGBT students and LGBT rights cases in her role as a straight ally.</p>
<p>When asked to comment on concerns raised by students at Monday’s meeting pertaining to the school’s response to bullying, Fulton said the district has a diverse student population that he considers to be the strength of the district and the community.</p>
<p>“We support all students through various clubs, activities and programs, and we are proud of the inclusive culture found in each of our schools,” he said.</p>
<p>All allegations made by students, including concerns related to bullying, “are treated seriously and thoroughly investigated, Fulton said. “Consequences related to bullying follow our student code of conduct and Board policy.”</p>
<p>Since the time the Blade’s story on Pfeiffer and other LGBT-related issues at the school was published earlier this month, at least one gay teacher and two lesbian students at Cape Henlopen have contacted the Blade to say the allegations by students and parents quoted in the Blade story were either untrue or exaggerated.</p>
<p>They said they believe LGBT students are being treated with respect at the school.</p>
<p>Another teacher at the school, Alayna Aiken, who the LGBT students speaking to the Blade earlier this year said has a reputation for making disparaging remarks to LGBT students, submitted a comment on the Blade’s website version of the story calling those allegations false. The Blade was unable to reach Aiken for comment for its most recent story on Cape Henlopen High, but the Blade included in the story her strong assertions reported in a 2014 Blade story that all allegations against her were false and she has positive relations with her students.</p>
<p>Elkins said he and the others organizing Monday’s meeting decided all matters specifically relating to Pfeiffer, Aiken, or other teachers would be off limits at the meeting.</p>
<p>“The reason is we’re not a personnel committee,” he said. “We don’t have access to any of the information. It would not be fair to her [Pfeiffer] or it would not be fair to the administrators. That’s not what we hoped to do with this meeting. That’s not going to solve any problem,” he said.</p>
<p>“They were alluded to but the purpose of the meeting was to talk about the culture for the LGBT students,” Elkins said.</p>
<p>None of the students or a teacher, Greg Berman, who have disputed assertions by the students who told the meeting that anti-LGBT sentiment and bias is widespread at Cape Henlopen High, spoke at the meeting. Berman, who spoke to the Blade about his views, said he was out of town for the summer and was unable to attend the meeting.</p>
<p>It could not be determined whether students with differing views attended the meeting and chose not to speak.</p>
<p>Chyenne Cole, who identified herself in a June 8 email to the Blade as a gay student, said complaints by several LGBT students against Aiken, who teaches a human development class, were unfounded.</p>
<p>“As an openly gay student who is very liberal and expressive in her opinions, Aiken is fully accepting what I have to say,” Cole said in the email. “In fact, she encourages discussions with many different students about certain issues in an attempt to understand all perceptions,” she said.</p>
<p>Others who attended and spoke included Nancy Maihof, a member of the Delaware State Human Relations Commission. Maihof noted that the commission looked into possible anti-LGBT bias at Cape Henlopen High in 2014 following a Washington Blade story reporting on students’ and parents’ concerns about anti-LGBT bias at that time. The commission has authority to initiate its own investigations into violations of Delaware’s human rights law, which, among other things, bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
<p>As part of its findings in its 2014 investigation into Cape Henlopen High, the Human Relations Commission issued recommendations for the school to address and curtail possible anti-LGBT bias.</p>
<p>Karla Fleshman, the LGBT Youth Case Manager for Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Delaware, who was one of the speakers at Monday’s meeting, called on those who will work on the proposed action plan to carefully study the commission’s recommendations and push to make sure the school is adopting them.</p>
<p>D’Antoni, the Cape Henlopen High School student who graduated this year, told the Blade after the meeting that he has “seen firsthand the damage some of these teachers have done to their students, including myself.”</p>
<p>He said the treatment received by some of the LGBT students by teachers is often subtle but has a profound impact on the students.</p>
<p>“Being part of the theater and being part of the GSA and being a part of those weird kids there’s a lot of retaliation from the normal kids,” he said. “Because we’re the weird ones. We’re the ones that like things that are out of the ordinary. And with that comes bullying. With that comes being treated differently by teachers because we’re not an athlete or you’re not a genius mathlete.”</p>
<p>Added D’Antoni, “It’s all about being aware that you’re part of something that is hated. And because we know and we acknowledge that we are different and that we are not treated correctly by anybody, that makes us want the administration to realize it even more and help us because we’re out on a string now. There’s nothing that we can do without help.”</p>
<p>Linda Gregory, president of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, or PFLAG, was among the panelists who spoke at the meeting. She told the Blade she was hopeful that those participating in the meeting would take steps to bring about a change in the school culture toward LGBT kids.</p>
<p>But she said she and others familiar with Cape Henlopen schools to some degree have failed the LGBT students encountering bullying and other forms of bias.</p>
<p>“They don’t want to hear about meetings or action plans,” Gregory said. “They want to see something real happen.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">ACLU of Delaware</a> <a href="" type="internal">Adrian D’Antoni</a> <a href="" type="internal">Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Delaware</a> <a href="" type="internal">bullying</a> <a href="" type="internal">Camp Rehoboth</a> <a href="" type="internal">Cape Henlopen Board of Education</a> <a href="" type="internal">Cape Henlopen High School</a> <a href="" type="internal">Chyenne Cole</a> <a href="" type="internal">Delaware</a> <a href="" type="internal">Delaware Department of Services for Children</a> <a href="" type="internal">Delaware State Human Relations Commission</a> <a href="" type="internal">discrimination</a> <a href="" type="internal">Equality Delaware</a> <a href="" type="internal">first amendment</a> <a href="" type="internal">gay-straight alliance</a> <a href="" type="internal">Greg Berman</a> <a href="" type="internal">Karla Fleshman</a> <a href="" type="internal">Linda Gregory</a> <a href="" type="internal">Mark Purpura</a> <a href="" type="internal">Martha PFeiffer</a> <a href="" type="internal">Nancy Maihof</a> <a href="" type="internal">Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays</a> <a href="" type="internal">PFLAG</a> <a href="" type="internal">Rehoboth Beach</a> <a href="" type="internal">Steve Elkins</a></p>
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camp rehoboth hosted five panelists participated community meeting monday reports biased treatment lgbt students cape henlopen high school nearby lewes del blade photo lou chibbaro jr rehoboth beach del lgbt students delawares cape henlopen high school told community meeting rehoboth beach monday night many schools teachers school districts administrators continue ignore calls help stop antilgbt bullying school cape henlopen high located city lewes next rehoboth beach emerged subject concern among students parents recent years lgbtrelated issues since 2014 students parents reached washington blade april may year express strong concern school districts handling lgbtrelated matter time believed forced resignation popular theater teacher martha pfeiffer cape henlopen high allegedly outspoken support lgbt students officials delaware groups camp rehoboth equality delaware aclu delaware initiated monday nights meeting said responding reports lgbtrelated concerns school blade news media outlets among recent developments concern said news lesbian student cape henlopen high suspended wearing tshirt made bearing words cape condones racism homophobia sexism bullying aclu attorney speaking mondays meeting said aclu would look whether schools action tshirt violated students first amendment right free speech student students encountering similar restrictions approach aclu legal assistance leaders lgbtq advocacy education community development rehoboth beach across state delaware concerns us hear situations lgbtq students may feel unsafe unwelcome unsupported school joint statement three groups announcing meeting states inviting students parents concerned community members join us community discussion monday june 19to discuss culture toward lgbtq students cape henlopen schools advance announcement said 75 people turned meeting held meeting hall camp rehoboths community center building rehoboth beach among spoke five lgbt cape henlopen high students several parents least four clergy members rehobotharea churches synagogues two attorneys affiliated aclu also speaking two volunteer mentors said counseled members schools gaystraight alliance club gay student adrian dantoni graduated cape henlopen high month transgender student madison couture completed freshman year school month senior sarah ross told meeting fellow lgbt students pleas help persistent episodes antilgbt bullying ignored teachers administrators fend dantoni told meeting worst feeling face planet ross said one lesbian friends school filed bullying report school administration part procedure set school officials address bullying incidents nothing happened ross told meeting boys sports teams bullying upset stopped going class couture openly transgender school told meeting frustrated outraged despite repeated calls help lgbt students nothing seems change said skeptical anything useful would emerge mondays meeting gay attorney mark purpura member board three organizations sponsoring meeting among meeting attendees expressed commitment take action address concerns lgbt students cape henlopen high local schools input students meeting vitally important said disheartening hear stories feel like theyre helpless supported schools advocate thats something certainly cant ignore wont ignore added obviously strive create environments every child feels safe supported school thats obviously happening right steve elkins executive director camp rehoboth served moderator meeting noted officials meetings three sponsoring organizations representatives several lgbt supportive groups attending meeting committed take action help improve culture lgbtq students cape henlopen schools said representatives groups plan coordinate plan carry action asked meeting meetings outcome fulfilled expectations actually standpoint got around saying lets put words action told blade take little bit action going accomplish everything want tonights meeting certainly cant get anywhere unless take first step forward thats hope said 25 people attending meeting calling council elders signed list part action plan persons invited yet scheduled meeting outline next steps elkins said interesting see capture lets get work excitement felt end meeting start meeting elkins said meetings organizers decided would appropriate discuss personnel issues related cape henlopen high school district referring news first reported blade cape henlopen board education voted january fire pfeiffer grounds negligence allegations recommendation schools superintendent robert fulton parents know support pfeiffer said fulton board later agreed allow pfeiffer resign effective end school year month exchange fired students parents support pfeiffer told blade negligence charge trumped believe real reason pfeiffers forced resignation administrations objections outspoken support lgbt students lgbt rights cases role straight ally asked comment concerns raised students mondays meeting pertaining schools response bullying fulton said district diverse student population considers strength district community support students various clubs activities programs proud inclusive culture found schools said allegations made students including concerns related bullying treated seriously thoroughly investigated fulton said consequences related bullying follow student code conduct board policy since time blades story pfeiffer lgbtrelated issues school published earlier month least one gay teacher two lesbian students cape henlopen contacted blade say allegations students parents quoted blade story either untrue exaggerated said believe lgbt students treated respect school another teacher school alayna aiken lgbt students speaking blade earlier year said reputation making disparaging remarks lgbt students submitted comment blades website version story calling allegations false blade unable reach aiken comment recent story cape henlopen high blade included story strong assertions reported 2014 blade story allegations false positive relations students elkins said others organizing mondays meeting decided matters specifically relating pfeiffer aiken teachers would limits meeting reason personnel committee said dont access information would fair pfeiffer would fair administrators thats hoped meeting thats going solve problem said alluded purpose meeting talk culture lgbt students elkins said none students teacher greg berman disputed assertions students told meeting antilgbt sentiment bias widespread cape henlopen high spoke meeting berman spoke blade views said town summer unable attend meeting could determined whether students differing views attended meeting chose speak chyenne cole identified june 8 email blade gay student said complaints several lgbt students aiken teaches human development class unfounded openly gay student liberal expressive opinions aiken fully accepting say cole said email fact encourages discussions many different students certain issues attempt understand perceptions said others attended spoke included nancy maihof member delaware state human relations commission maihof noted commission looked possible antilgbt bias cape henlopen high 2014 following washington blade story reporting students parents concerns antilgbt bias time commission authority initiate investigations violations delawares human rights law among things bans discrimination based sexual orientation gender identity part findings 2014 investigation cape henlopen high human relations commission issued recommendations school address curtail possible antilgbt bias karla fleshman lgbt youth case manager big brothersbig sisters delaware one speakers mondays meeting called work proposed action plan carefully study commissions recommendations push make sure school adopting dantoni cape henlopen high school student graduated year told blade meeting seen firsthand damage teachers done students including said treatment received lgbt students teachers often subtle profound impact students part theater part gsa part weird kids theres lot retaliation normal kids said weird ones ones like things ordinary comes bullying comes treated differently teachers athlete youre genius mathlete added dantoni aware youre part something hated know acknowledge different treated correctly anybody makes us want administration realize even help us string theres nothing without help linda gregory president parents friends lesbians gays pflag among panelists spoke meeting told blade hopeful participating meeting would take steps bring change school culture toward lgbt kids said others familiar cape henlopen schools degree failed lgbt students encountering bullying forms bias dont want hear meetings action plans gregory said want see something real happen aclu delaware adrian dantoni big brothersbig sisters delaware bullying camp rehoboth cape henlopen board education cape henlopen high school chyenne cole delaware delaware department services children delaware state human relations commission discrimination equality delaware first amendment gaystraight alliance greg berman karla fleshman linda gregory mark purpura martha pfeiffer nancy maihof parents friends lesbians gays pflag rehoboth beach steve elkins
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<p>Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>President-elect Donald Trump has selected as his attorney general an Alabama Republican who not only was once denied a seat on the federal judiciary for allegedly making racist comments, but has been hostile to LGBT rights over the course of his career.</p>
<p>On Friday, Trump announced in a statement Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), an&#160;early supporter of the president-elect during the Republican presidential primary, would be his choice for attorney general.</p>
<p>“It is an honor to nominate U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions to serve as Attorney General of the United States,” Trump said. “Jeff has been a highly respected member of the U.S. Senate for 20 years. He is a world-class legal mind and considered a truly great attorney general and U.S. attorney in the state of Alabama. Jeff is greatly admired by legal scholars and virtually everyone who knows him.”</p>
<p>Prior to his tenure in the U.S. Senate starting in 1997, former President Reagan nominated Sessions in 1986 for a seat on the federal judiciary in Alabama, but his nomination was rejected over accusations of racism.</p>
<p>Among the lawyers who testified against Sessions at the time said Sessions&#160;called the NAACP&#160;and the American Civil Liberties Union “un-American” and “Communist-inspired” and said they “forced civil rights down the throats of people.”</p>
<p>Thomas Figures, a black assistant U.S. attorney, testified Sessions said the Ku Klux Klan was “OK until I found out they smoked pot.” (Sessions said he was joking, but apologized for the remark.) Figures also said Sessions called him “boy” and that Sessions advised him to “be careful what you say to white folks.” Sessions was also reported to have called a white civil rights attorney a “disgrace to his race” for defending black clients.</p>
<p>Sessions denied the allegations, said his remarks were taken out of context or meant in jest. He also said&#160;that groups could be considered un-American when “they involve themselves in un-American positions” on foreign policy.</p>
<p>Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU, said in a statement his organization would “flatly reject” any assertion from Sessions the ACLU is “un-American and communist.”</p>
<p>“His positions on LGBT rights, capital punishment, abortion rights, and presidential authority in times of war have been contested by the ACLU and other civil rights organizations,” Romero said. “As the nation’s highest-ranking law enforcement official, the attorney general is charged with protecting the rights of all Americans. In his confirmation hearings, senators, the media, and the American public should closely examine his stances on these key issues to ensure we can have confidence in his ability to uphold the Constitution and our laws on behalf of all Americans.”</p>
<p>Decades later during his tenure in the U.S. Senate, Sessions resisted LGBT rights advancements. In each of the Human Rights Campaign’s congressional scorecards, Sessions has generally scored “0” for each Congress in which he served. (The one exception was the 112th Congress, when Sessions obtained a score of “15” for voting to confirm U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken, who became the first openly gay male to serve on the federal judiciary.)</p>
<p>Among his earlier votes in 2004 and 2006 in the Senate were for a U.S. constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage nationwide and prevented the U.S. Supreme Court last year from ruling in favor of marriage equality.</p>
<p>A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sessions was among those most outspoken against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal along with Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). During a Senate hearing in December 2010 as Congress debated repeal, Sessions called the issue a “difficult discussion.”</p>
<p>“It was predicted it would have some disruptive effect on the military,” Sessions said. “I believe it probably has. It’s probably not been good for morale and problems have arisen from it, and I’m inclined to the personal views that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ has been pretty effective and I’m dubious about the change, although I fully recognize that good people could disagree on that subject.”</p>
<p>Upon the U.S. Supreme Court decision last year in favor of same-sex marriage nationwide, Sessions told <a href="http://wkrg.com/2015/06/29/senator-sessions-on-gay-marriage/" type="external">WKRG-TV in Alabama</a>he opposed the decision because “if a court can do that on a question of marriage then it can do it on almost any other issue.”</p>
<p>“I think what this court did was unconstitutional,” Sessions said. “There’s nothing in the Constitution that requires such a result. No mention of marriage in the Constitution.”</p>
<p />
<p>More recently, Sessions voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act when it came before the Senate in 2013 and became a co-sponsor of the First Amendment Defense Act, a federal “religious freedom” bill that would&#160;enable anti-LGBT discrimination.</p>
<p>Notably, last year when the Pentagon announced it would initiate a review that would lead to the end of its ban on openly transgender people in the U.S. armed forces, Sessions had no comment. <a href="" type="internal">Asked by the Washington Blade on Capitol Hill about the development</a>, Sessions said, “I saw that, but I’m not aware of any of the details.”</p>
<p>Asked whether the change sounded like something he could support, Sessions replied, “Well, I’d like to see what the military says about it. I have not done that.”</p>
<p>Tony Perkins, president of the anti-LGBT Family Research Council, said in a statement Trump made “another wise selection” with the choice of Sessions as attorney general.</p>
<p>“President-elect Trump has surrounded himself with solid advisers, and his selection of Sen. Sessions for attorney general increases my confidence that the Trump administration will be one that cherishes the Constitution and its protection of our freedom from government oppression,” Perkins said. “Sen. Sessions understands the importance of all of our God-given rights, respects the rule of law, and will be a vital part of restoring our nation to its greatness.”</p>
<p>Sessions’ appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. Under the rules instituted by Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) when he served as a majority leader of the chamber, ending a filibuster on confirmation would require a bare majority of 51 votes. Another 51 votes are necessary to confirm him to the seat.</p>
<p>Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a statement the attorney general is “the chief protector of civil rights and civil liberties for everyone,” which he said is especially important at a time “when hate crimes have spiked across the country, especially against Muslim and LGBTQ Americans.”</p>
<p>“Sen. Sessions and I have had significant disagreements over the years, particularly on civil rights, voting rights, immigration and criminal justice issues,” Leahy said. “But unlike Republicans’ practice of unprecedented obstruction of President Obama’s nominees, I believe nominees deserve a full and fair process before the Senate. The American people deserve to learn about Senator Sessions’ record at the public Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.”</p>
<p>If the Senate confirms Sessions, he would immediately be given the opportunity to rescind ongoing actions at U.S. Justice Department on behalf of LGBT rights.</p>
<p>Likely the first to go is joint guidance from the Justice Department and the Education Department under the Obama administration instructing that discrimination against transgender students, such as barring them from the restroom consistent with their gender identity, contravenes federal law. Trump made rescinding that guidance a campaign promise.</p>
<p>Also on the chopping block is a lawsuit U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch filed against North Carolina’s House Bill 2, which bars transgender people from using the restroom consistent with their gender identity. Even if that were the case, litigation in federal court filed by Lambda Legal and the ACLU against the statute would remain ongoing.</p>
<p>If the Obama administration files a friend-of-the-court brief before the Supreme Court on behalf of a Virginia transgender student who’s challenging his school for barring him from using the restroom consistent with his gender identity, the Justice Department could withdraw that filing.</p>
<p>Sessions could also reverse the memo from former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder declaring the Justice Department interpreting Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as applicable to “discrimination based on gender identity, including transgender status.” That memo has served as the basis for Justice Department actions against transgender discrimination, such as a lawsuit filed against Southeastern Oklahoma State University alleging anti-trans discrimination in the workforce.</p>
<p>Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement Trump’s selection of Sessions as attorney general is troubling.</p>
<p>“It is deeply disturbing that Jeff Sessions, who has such clear animus against so many Americans — including the LGBTQ community, women and people of color — could be charged with running the very system of justice designed to protect them,” Griffin said. “When Donald Trump was elected, he promised to be a president for all Americans, and it is hugely concerning and telling that he would choose a man so consistently opposed to equality as one of his first — and most important — cabinet appointees.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Chad Griffin</a> <a href="" type="internal">Donald Trump</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jeff Sessions</a> <a href="" type="internal">same-sex marriage</a> <a href="" type="internal">Tony Perkins</a></p>
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sen jeff sessions rala washington blade photo michael key presidentelect donald trump selected attorney general alabama republican denied seat federal judiciary allegedly making racist comments hostile lgbt rights course career friday trump announced statement sen jeff sessions rala an160early supporter presidentelect republican presidential primary would choice attorney general honor nominate us sen jeff sessions serve attorney general united states trump said jeff highly respected member us senate 20 years worldclass legal mind considered truly great attorney general us attorney state alabama jeff greatly admired legal scholars virtually everyone knows prior tenure us senate starting 1997 former president reagan nominated sessions 1986 seat federal judiciary alabama nomination rejected accusations racism among lawyers testified sessions time said sessions160called naacp160and american civil liberties union unamerican communistinspired said forced civil rights throats people thomas figures black assistant us attorney testified sessions said ku klux klan ok found smoked pot sessions said joking apologized remark figures also said sessions called boy sessions advised careful say white folks sessions also reported called white civil rights attorney disgrace race defending black clients sessions denied allegations said remarks taken context meant jest also said160that groups could considered unamerican involve unamerican positions foreign policy anthony romero executive director aclu said statement organization would flatly reject assertion sessions aclu unamerican communist positions lgbt rights capital punishment abortion rights presidential authority times war contested aclu civil rights organizations romero said nations highestranking law enforcement official attorney general charged protecting rights americans confirmation hearings senators media american public closely examine stances key issues ensure confidence ability uphold constitution laws behalf americans decades later tenure us senate sessions resisted lgbt rights advancements human rights campaigns congressional scorecards sessions generally scored 0 congress served one exception 112th congress sessions obtained score 15 voting confirm us district judge j paul oetken became first openly gay male serve federal judiciary among earlier votes 2004 2006 senate us constitutional amendment would banned samesex marriage nationwide prevented us supreme court last year ruling favor marriage equality member senate armed services committee sessions among outspoken dont ask dont tell repeal along sens john mccain rariz sen lindsey graham rsc senate hearing december 2010 congress debated repeal sessions called issue difficult discussion predicted would disruptive effect military sessions said believe probably probably good morale problems arisen im inclined personal views dont ask dont tell pretty effective im dubious change although fully recognize good people could disagree subject upon us supreme court decision last year favor samesex marriage nationwide sessions told wkrgtv alabamahe opposed decision court question marriage almost issue think court unconstitutional sessions said theres nothing constitution requires result mention marriage constitution recently sessions voted employment nondiscrimination act came senate 2013 became cosponsor first amendment defense act federal religious freedom bill would160enable antilgbt discrimination notably last year pentagon announced would initiate review would lead end ban openly transgender people us armed forces sessions comment asked washington blade capitol hill development sessions said saw im aware details asked whether change sounded like something could support sessions replied well id like see military says done tony perkins president antilgbt family research council said statement trump made another wise selection choice sessions attorney general presidentelect trump surrounded solid advisers selection sen sessions attorney general increases confidence trump administration one cherishes constitution protection freedom government oppression perkins said sen sessions understands importance godgiven rights respects rule law vital part restoring nation greatness sessions appointment subject senate confirmation rules instituted sen harry reid dnev served majority leader chamber ending filibuster confirmation would require bare majority 51 votes another 51 votes necessary confirm seat sen patrick leahy dvt top democrat senate judiciary committee said statement attorney general chief protector civil rights civil liberties everyone said especially important time hate crimes spiked across country especially muslim lgbtq americans sen sessions significant disagreements years particularly civil rights voting rights immigration criminal justice issues leahy said unlike republicans practice unprecedented obstruction president obamas nominees believe nominees deserve full fair process senate american people deserve learn senator sessions record public senate judiciary committee hearing senate confirms sessions would immediately given opportunity rescind ongoing actions us justice department behalf lgbt rights likely first go joint guidance justice department education department obama administration instructing discrimination transgender students barring restroom consistent gender identity contravenes federal law trump made rescinding guidance campaign promise also chopping block lawsuit us attorney general loretta lynch filed north carolinas house bill 2 bars transgender people using restroom consistent gender identity even case litigation federal court filed lambda legal aclu statute would remain ongoing obama administration files friendofthecourt brief supreme court behalf virginia transgender student whos challenging school barring using restroom consistent gender identity justice department could withdraw filing sessions could also reverse memo former us attorney general eric holder declaring justice department interpreting title vii civil rights act 1964 applicable discrimination based gender identity including transgender status memo served basis justice department actions transgender discrimination lawsuit filed southeastern oklahoma state university alleging antitrans discrimination workforce chad griffin president human rights campaign said statement trumps selection sessions attorney general troubling deeply disturbing jeff sessions clear animus many americans including lgbtq community women people color could charged running system justice designed protect griffin said donald trump elected promised president americans hugely concerning telling would choose man consistently opposed equality one first important cabinet appointees chad griffin donald trump jeff sessions samesex marriage tony perkins
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<p>Catalyst conducted a survey of 70 local school council members from a representative sample of 20 elementary schools and five high schools across the city.</p>
<p>Participants were asked for their views on LSC structure, mandatory training and principal selection and evaluation. We also asked for their ideas on how to improve schools and boost interest in LSC elections. Of those who responded:</p>
<p>36 were parents</p>
<p>19 were teachers</p>
<p>12 were community members</p>
<p>3 were principals</p>
<p>Note: Some tallies do not add up to 100% due to non-responses.</p>
<p>Council structure</p>
<p>Should the number of LSC members be reduced to make councils more effective?</p>
<p>Yes 14%</p>
<p>No 81%</p>
<p>Should more teachers be added to increase level of teacher input?</p>
<p>Yes 62%</p>
<p>No 31%</p>
<p>Should CPS stagger council terms to ensure an overlap of new and existing members?</p>
<p>Yes 60%</p>
<p>No 30%</p>
<p>Principal selection and evaluation</p>
<p>Does your LSC get enough training to conduct effective principal evaluations?</p>
<p>Yes 60%</p>
<p>No 40%</p>
<p>Does your LSC get sufficient principal evaluation support from region and central office administrators?</p>
<p>Yes 56%</p>
<p>No 36%</p>
<p>Does your LSC have access to outside resources-such as educational studies, best practices or evaluation tools-to effectively evaluate your principal?</p>
<p>Yes 76%</p>
<p>No 19%</p>
<p>Has your LSC interviewed candidates and chosen a new principal?</p>
<p>Yes 59%</p>
<p>No 41%</p>
<p>Asked of those who had hired a new principal:</p>
<p>What challenges did your council face during principal selection?</p>
<p>Personal agendas among LSC members 39%</p>
<p>Lack of time 24%</p>
<p>None or other (poor training, lack of forms) 22%</p>
<p>Shortage of qualified candidates 10%</p>
<p>Poorly qualified candidates 5%</p>
<p>Were you pleased with the quality of principal candidates?</p>
<p>Yes 59%</p>
<p>No 27%</p>
<p>LSC training</p>
<p>Have you completed the mandatory 18 hours of training?</p>
<p>Yes 94%</p>
<p>No 6%</p>
<p>Are you satisfied with the quality of training you received?</p>
<p>Yes 67%</p>
<p>No 29%</p>
<p>How could training be improved?</p>
<p>Personal trainers to assist with budget review and principal evaluation 71%</p>
<p>Creating a standard training guide 31%</p>
<p>Visiting effective LSCs 29%</p>
<p>More training hours 14%</p>
<p>Other responses included hands-on training, role-playing, more access to central office, more training times and training by organizations, not the board.</p>
<p>School performance</p>
<p>Q. Are you satisfied with your school’s academic performance? What can the LSC do to improve results?</p>
<p>“I am happy with the academic performance, but to improve things we need to have access to the computers for research. We need to learn how to improve the library … extended programs like Saturday schooling for research programs, especially for older students to prepare them for high school.”</p>
<p>Tracy Crudup, parent, Dubois Elementary</p>
<p>“When I joined the council, we are on academic probation, and we are no longer. The LSC can put in programs for students who aren’t typically college-bound. I think there are opportunities.”</p>
<p>Richard Gustafson, community member, Senn High</p>
<p>“I don’t know. We’ve gone through hell over the last 12 years. People don’t understand what the LSCs responsibilities are. It’s been a giant struggle between principal, faculty and members [in the past.]”</p>
<p>Rene Cap, teacher, Revere Elementary</p>
<p>“Realistically, the LSC can’t do anything. In my experience, the school board is this intangible entity that sets all these rules and guidelines…. It’s shameful.”</p>
<p>Cathy Karnuth, parent, Scammon Elementary</p>
<p>“The LSC needs more information and more input into the school improvement plan. That’s done by the principal and teachers. The LSC parents don’t have much input into it. I’ve heard some [LSCs] are really effective and some are kind of maniacal. Ours is sort of vegetative.”</p>
<p>Mary Pallasch, teacher, Henry Elementary</p>
<p>LSC elections</p>
<p>Q. Recent LSC elections have not attracted enough candidates. What can be done to encourage more people to get involved with their neighborhood schools and run for a seat on the LSC?</p>
<p>“Spread the word… put it on the marquee [in front of the school.] The one thing I know will work for sure is some kind of monetary compensation. Child care during the meetings. Go out into the community and put fliers up.”</p>
<p>Verga Gaston, parent, Englewood High</p>
<p>“I tell [parents] to get involved. They always say yes, but at the last minute, they back out. Parents have fear of asking questions because [they do not speak English]. If it’s a bilingual school, there should be translators.”</p>
<p>Micaela Rico, parent, Farragut High</p>
<p>“I don’t think that it’s a bad thing that there are not a lot of people running for [the LSC]. If there are a lot of people running, then that’s because they’re upset with what’s happening with the school. [Not having contested LSC seats] doesn’t necessarily show a disinterest. We fill the slots, but we don’t have the competition.”</p>
<p>Deena Carroll, teachers, Dever Elementary</p>
<p>“Many parents don’t have the confidence and are sort of in awe of the office. … [M]ake it seem more accessible, make LSC members available at school functions. …[H]ave committees where non-LSC members are encouraged to serve.”</p>
<p>Margaret Dunne, community member, Volta Elementary</p>
<p>“Schneider is an inner-city school. … [LSCs are] just one more thing you have to do. There are certainly no perks on being on LSC for a teacher, except maybe knowing what’s going on in the building.”</p>
<p>Kathy Roberts, teacher, Schneider Elementary</p>
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catalyst conducted survey 70 local school council members representative sample 20 elementary schools five high schools across city participants asked views lsc structure mandatory training principal selection evaluation also asked ideas improve schools boost interest lsc elections responded 36 parents 19 teachers 12 community members 3 principals note tallies add 100 due nonresponses council structure number lsc members reduced make councils effective yes 14 81 teachers added increase level teacher input yes 62 31 cps stagger council terms ensure overlap new existing members yes 60 30 principal selection evaluation lsc get enough training conduct effective principal evaluations yes 60 40 lsc get sufficient principal evaluation support region central office administrators yes 56 36 lsc access outside resourcessuch educational studies best practices evaluation toolsto effectively evaluate principal yes 76 19 lsc interviewed candidates chosen new principal yes 59 41 asked hired new principal challenges council face principal selection personal agendas among lsc members 39 lack time 24 none poor training lack forms 22 shortage qualified candidates 10 poorly qualified candidates 5 pleased quality principal candidates yes 59 27 lsc training completed mandatory 18 hours training yes 94 6 satisfied quality training received yes 67 29 could training improved personal trainers assist budget review principal evaluation 71 creating standard training guide 31 visiting effective lscs 29 training hours 14 responses included handson training roleplaying access central office training times training organizations board school performance q satisfied schools academic performance lsc improve results happy academic performance improve things need access computers research need learn improve library extended programs like saturday schooling research programs especially older students prepare high school tracy crudup parent dubois elementary joined council academic probation longer lsc put programs students arent typically collegebound think opportunities richard gustafson community member senn high dont know weve gone hell last 12 years people dont understand lscs responsibilities giant struggle principal faculty members past rene cap teacher revere elementary realistically lsc cant anything experience school board intangible entity sets rules guidelines shameful cathy karnuth parent scammon elementary lsc needs information input school improvement plan thats done principal teachers lsc parents dont much input ive heard lscs really effective kind maniacal sort vegetative mary pallasch teacher henry elementary lsc elections q recent lsc elections attracted enough candidates done encourage people get involved neighborhood schools run seat lsc spread word put marquee front school one thing know work sure kind monetary compensation child care meetings go community put fliers verga gaston parent englewood high tell parents get involved always say yes last minute back parents fear asking questions speak english bilingual school translators micaela rico parent farragut high dont think bad thing lot people running lsc lot people running thats theyre upset whats happening school contested lsc seats doesnt necessarily show disinterest fill slots dont competition deena carroll teachers dever elementary many parents dont confidence sort awe office make seem accessible make lsc members available school functions committees nonlsc members encouraged serve margaret dunne community member volta elementary schneider innercity school lscs one thing certainly perks lsc teacher except maybe knowing whats going building kathy roberts teacher schneider elementary
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<p>KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – With a dry wind blowing across the dusty terrain, Gen. Stanley McChrystal arrived to this crucial proving ground for the pending surge of 30,000 troops.</p>
<p>McChrystal, the commanding general in Afghanistan and the architect of the troop increase that President Barack Obama announced Tuesday night, gathered in a cavernous tent with a group of U.S. and NATO field commanders and civilian staff from the State Department.</p>
<p>They sat in rows of metal folding chairs in what looked like a makeshift classroom. The State Department staff took notes. The military field commanders and officers just listened.</p>
<p>McChrystal marked on a white board the message he wanted to deliver to the troops in Kandahar, which will become perhaps the most crucial theater of battle for Obama’s new strategy to deploy a quick surge of troops intended to hasten the attack on the Taliban and break the momentum they have created so that U.S. troops can begin a drawdown by July 2011.</p>
<p>McChrystal scribbled on the four “buzzwords” for the war’s new strategy: credibility, clarity, confidence, capability. He scribbled words that described the “diversity” of the insurgency and the key parts of carrying out a sophisticated new campaign.</p>
<p>He explained to the brass and staff gathered there that the key to counterinsurgency was not keeping track of how many insurgents are killed, but more importantly keeping tabs on how the insurgents had been sidelined, and made irrelevant to the lives of Afghans.</p>
<p>Afterward, McChrystal described how attacks since 2007 had gone up 300 percent: he said that with Obama’s decision to add more troops, “everything changes right now.”</p>
<p>“Even though it’s eight years, this is not the end, this is not even the beginning of the end, I think it’s the end of the beginning,” he said.</p>
<p>Increased troop deployments, which could start within weeks, are expected to arrive first right here, in the violent southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand.</p>
<p>More U.S. troops have been killed in the south than anywhere else since the war began in 2001. Some of those fighting the war here have doubts about&#160;whether new troops will make a difference in what has become a&#160;dangerous and unpopular campaign. Others believe the supporting troops can not arrive soon enough if McChrystal is to succeed in his strategy to change the tide of the war.</p>
<p>But Kandahar City, Afghanistan’s second largest and the one of&#160;the birthplaces of the Taliban, appears to be the place where this strategy will be tested.</p>
<p>Kandahar stands at the forefront of the battle for southern Afghanistan,&#160;called Regional Command South, according to the&#160;Canadian commander of Task Force Kandahar,&#160;Brig. Gen. Daniel Menard.</p>
<p>“Kandahar city, being the center mass of the population is by far my&#160;priority number one, but also a very important centerpiece right now&#160;of Gen. McCrystal’s plan here in [Regional Command] South,” he&#160;said. “So we are in the middle of all this, at the forefront of all these activities.”</p>
<p>Under Obama’s Afghanistan plan, at least one battalion of U.S. troops&#160;will join the 1,500 already under Menard’s command. There are 2,800&#160;Canadian troops in that country's Afghanistan mission. Canada has lost 133&#160;troops, most of them in the last three years since taking&#160;responsibility for Kandahar Province.</p>
<p>“Every day we have troops in contact. Every day we have indirect fire&#160;on our troops. And every day I would say we deal with a kind of IED&#160;threat,” Menard said.</p>
<p>Under McChrystal’s new strategy, Task Force Kandahar will begin to&#160;implement a plan to establish a ring of US and Canadian troops around&#160;Kandahar city. The purpose of the ring will be to “hold and build;”&#160;which means keeping the Taliban out, providing security to the city’s&#160;residents and building up Afghan security forces. 85 percent of the&#160;province’s population lives in Task Force Kandahar’s area of&#160;operations.</p>
<p>“The Intent is to insure that around the city … we create a ring of&#160;stability, so that we have a true buffer zone of people that believe&#160;in something else than the insurgency,” Menard said. “The importance&#160;of stabilizing the area is key, because if we do this we will then&#160;turn the population into a population that will support us and&#160;therefore marginalize the insurgency. And that is what we are after.”</p>
<p>Some of the troops who are responsible for turning the plan for&#160;Kandahar into reality had to wake up early this morning to watch&#160;Obama’s speech, which aired here at&#160;&#160;Task Force Kandahar's base,&#160;the sprawling Kandahar Airfield in Southern Afghanistan, before the sun&#160;came up. Around 50 U.S. troops, some dressed&#160;in work-out gear for their morning jog, watched the&#160;speech on two TV screens in the base’s American recreation room.</p>
<p>Obama’s speech was largely aimed at waning public support for the war.&#160;A CBS poll this week showed that 69 percent of Americans say the war&#160;in Afghanistan is going badly.</p>
<p>In interviews with more than a dozen junior American military officers&#160;and enlisted men and women on the sprawling Kandahar Airbase earlier&#160;this week, opinions largely reflected those of the wider America&#160;public.</p>
<p>A surprising number expressed doubts that a troop surge would&#160;work. Others said their mission in Afghanistan in is not clear.</p>
<p>Others said they believe the war In Afghanistan is not worth any more&#160;American blood or treasure.</p>
<p>“We need to turn efforts toward our own country,” said a captain with&#160;the 4th Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division, who asked not be named.&#160;“This is an Afghan problem. We’re not going be able to solve an&#160;Afghan problem. We should turn inwards; the United States has its own problem. I don’t think there’s any need to shed more American blood&#160;for this country.”</p>
<p>Amidst an eight-year war and a financial crisis at home, many troops&#160;say that trying to stabilize one of the poorest and most corrupt&#160;counties in the world is beyond the capabilities or will of the United&#160;States.</p>
<p>A sergeant working on supply convoys to forward operating&#160;bases off Kandahar Airfield said the troop surge was two-fold.&#160;“It’s good and it’s bad,” he said. “It’s good to have more people,&#160;more help. But it’s a chance for more soldiers to die.”</p>
<p>The soldier, on his fourth deployment after three tours in Iraq, said&#160;his 100-person unit recently lost a soldier to an IED. He believed Afghanistan was a “lost cause.”</p>
<p>“I think no matter what we do it’s not going to change much. You&#160;can’t help anybody who don’t want to be helped,” he said.</p>
<p>First Lt. Glenn Nieradka, 37, couldn’t disagree more. He’s with&#160;the 5th Stryker Brigade of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, and leads&#160;a platoon of scouts from a base located in the dangerous countryside&#160;outside Kandahar.</p>
<p>He said the “surge” would help his mission to fight the Taliban and to&#160;implement the counterinsurgency doctrine of protecting the Afghan&#160;population. He voiced the frustration shared by many troops that&#160;there weren’t enough U.S. and NATO boots on the ground to deny safe&#160;havens to Taliban and other insurgents.</p>
<p>“Where we’re at, we could use more troops, and I think a surge in&#160;Afghanistan would step on the necks of the Taliban,” Nieradka said.&#160;“We’re doing the best we can, but we can’t be everywhere at once.”</p>
<p>Another soldier, Spc. Kyle Mitchell, 27, patrols roads to find&#160;and defuse roadside bombs with an Explosives Ordinance Detonation&#160;team.</p>
<p>“It’s way, way, way undermanned here,” the combat engineer said. “I&#160;tell my family all the time there aren’t close to enough troops here.&#160;To be on the roads here and what they’re doing with IED’s and whatnot.&#160;More is better.”</p>
<p>Although counterinsurgency doctrine says far more troops are needed&#160;than 30,000, most here say no matter their personal feelings, the&#160;troop escalation can only help improve security and hold more ground.</p>
<p>Obama’s address did lay out danger that withdrawing from Afghanistan&#160;could pose, saying his three-month review of the war showed him that&#160;the war is in “our vital national interest.” In making that&#160;statement, he seemed determined to address those skeptics across the&#160;spectrum of American, and military opinion, and seemed to read the&#160;minds of what some troops here needed to hear.</p>
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kandahar airfield afghanistan dry wind blowing across dusty terrain gen stanley mcchrystal arrived crucial proving ground pending surge 30000 troops mcchrystal commanding general afghanistan architect troop increase president barack obama announced tuesday night gathered cavernous tent group us nato field commanders civilian staff state department sat rows metal folding chairs looked like makeshift classroom state department staff took notes military field commanders officers listened mcchrystal marked white board message wanted deliver troops kandahar become perhaps crucial theater battle obamas new strategy deploy quick surge troops intended hasten attack taliban break momentum created us troops begin drawdown july 2011 mcchrystal scribbled four buzzwords wars new strategy credibility clarity confidence capability scribbled words described diversity insurgency key parts carrying sophisticated new campaign explained brass staff gathered key counterinsurgency keeping track many insurgents killed importantly keeping tabs insurgents sidelined made irrelevant lives afghans afterward mcchrystal described attacks since 2007 gone 300 percent said obamas decision add troops everything changes right even though eight years end even beginning end think end beginning said increased troop deployments could start within weeks expected arrive first right violent southern provinces kandahar helmand us troops killed south anywhere else since war began 2001 fighting war doubts about160whether new troops make difference become a160dangerous unpopular campaign others believe supporting troops arrive soon enough mcchrystal succeed strategy change tide war kandahar city afghanistans second largest one of160the birthplaces taliban appears place strategy tested kandahar stands forefront battle southern afghanistan160called regional command south according the160canadian commander task force kandahar160brig gen daniel menard kandahar city center mass population far my160priority number one also important centerpiece right now160of gen mccrystals plan regional command south he160said middle forefront activities obamas afghanistan plan least one battalion us troops160will join 1500 already menards command 2800160canadian troops countrys afghanistan mission canada lost 133160troops last three years since taking160responsibility kandahar province every day troops contact every day indirect fire160on troops every day would say deal kind ied160threat menard said mcchrystals new strategy task force kandahar begin to160implement plan establish ring us canadian troops around160kandahar city purpose ring hold build160which means keeping taliban providing security citys160residents building afghan security forces 85 percent the160provinces population lives task force kandahars area of160operations intent insure around city create ring of160stability true buffer zone people believe160in something else insurgency menard said importance160of stabilizing area key then160turn population population support us and160therefore marginalize insurgency troops responsible turning plan for160kandahar reality wake early morning watch160obamas speech aired at160160task force kandahars base160the sprawling kandahar airfield southern afghanistan sun160came around 50 us troops dressed160in workout gear morning jog watched the160speech two tv screens bases american recreation room obamas speech largely aimed waning public support war160a cbs poll week showed 69 percent americans say war160in afghanistan going badly interviews dozen junior american military officers160and enlisted men women sprawling kandahar airbase earlier160this week opinions largely reflected wider america160public surprising number expressed doubts troop surge would160work others said mission afghanistan clear others said believe war afghanistan worth more160american blood treasure need turn efforts toward country said captain with160the 4th brigade 82nd airborne division asked named160this afghan problem going able solve an160afghan problem turn inwards united states problem dont think theres need shed american blood160for country amidst eightyear war financial crisis home many troops160say trying stabilize one poorest corrupt160counties world beyond capabilities united160states sergeant working supply convoys forward operating160bases kandahar airfield said troop surge twofold160its good bad said good people160more help chance soldiers die soldier fourth deployment three tours iraq said160his 100person unit recently lost soldier ied believed afghanistan lost cause think matter going change much you160cant help anybody dont want helped said first lt glenn nieradka 37 couldnt disagree hes with160the 5th stryker brigade armys 2nd infantry division leads160a platoon scouts base located dangerous countryside160outside kandahar said surge would help mission fight taliban to160implement counterinsurgency doctrine protecting afghan160population voiced frustration shared many troops that160there werent enough us nato boots ground deny safe160havens taliban insurgents could use troops think surge in160afghanistan would step necks taliban nieradka said160were best cant everywhere another soldier spc kyle mitchell 27 patrols roads find160and defuse roadside bombs explosives ordinance detonation160team way way way undermanned combat engineer said i160tell family time arent close enough troops here160to roads theyre ieds whatnot160more better although counterinsurgency doctrine says far troops needed160than 30000 say matter personal feelings the160troop escalation help improve security hold ground obamas address lay danger withdrawing afghanistan160could pose saying threemonth review war showed that160the war vital national interest making that160statement seemed determined address skeptics across the160spectrum american military opinion seemed read the160minds troops needed hear
| 747 |
<p>SEPT. 13, 2010</p>
<p>I, as a nattering nabob, see negativism everywhere. The Legislature manages to do just about everything wrong. The Obama administration – like the Bush administration – is an embarrassment bordering on a disaster. Debt is rising, freedom is receding, and our governments keep getting bigger and more wasteful.</p>
<p>But even I can’t avoid the hopeful signs apparent almost everywhere. I spoke Tuesday to about 300 conservatives in Silicon Valley about the problem of public employee pensions. This group was energized by local election prospects in November. It’s a long shot for conservatives to expect big wins in the Bay Area, but don’t try telling that to any of the activists who were in attendance. Up the road, in San Francisco, Public Defender Jeff Adachi jumped through the final legal hurdle recently and has placed a serious pension reform measure on the November ballot. If reform can happen in San Francisco, it can happen anywhere.</p>
<p>And Sept. 3, I spent the afternoon with Steve Kubby, the former Libertarian Party gubernatorial nominee and presidential candidate, who is running for City Council in South Lake Tahoe on an unabashedly freedom-oriented platform. This is no kamikaze mission. He has a serious shot at winning. South Lake Tahoe is a small city (population about 23,500), but his candidacy is the latest sign that Californians are trying to change things wherever they can. More Americans are taking this tack, as the tea partiers – despite their inconsistencies and flaws – seem to suggest.</p>
<p>Kubby is best known as a medical marijuana activist – a co-author of Proposition 215, which legalized marijuana in California for medical uses in 1996. He was targeted by state and federal agencies following that successful battle and served time in jail. He became something of a martyr for the movement because his jail term, which almost deprived him of his marijuana treatments, threatened his health. Diagnosed with terminal cancer, he was given six months to live – 35 years ago – and has been using marijuana as his sole medication ever since. Critics of medical marijuana say his story is merely anecdotal. “I didn’t die,” he said jokingly. “It is just anecdotal, but I’ll take anecdotal.”</p>
<p>His felony drug conviction not only was expunged, but was “dismissed in the interest of justice.” The county sheriff personally apologized to him for his ordeal, yet city governments – including South Lake Tahoe’s – have been trying to clamp down on the innocuous “wellness clinics” that provide marijuana to sick people who have a doctor’s prescription.</p>
<p>“For years, police said, if you don’t like the law, change it,” Kubby told me during our interview at a café near Lake Tahoe. “So we changed it.” Yet officials continue to circumvent the law and prosecute clinics and growers. Since his release, Kubby has been developing a business that provides marijuana in lozenge form – thus eliminating the need for smoking – and is trying to take that product through federal drug-approval channels.</p>
<p>His story is full of entertaining tidbits. For instance, after he was diagnosed with cancer he was introduced to his life-saving marijuana by his college roommate, Richard “Cheech” Marin of Cheech &amp; Chong fame. You can’t make this stuff up.</p>
<p>Despite my persistent questioning, Kubby didn’t want to focus on the subject of marijuana. “My [council] campaign is no more about marijuana than the Boston Tea Party was about tea,” he said. He wanted to talk about South Lake Tahoe’s punitive level of regulations on businesses, about “keeping government’s big, ugly nose out of our lives,” about protecting property rights and civil rights. And, about the hole.</p>
<p>Actually, he hates it when people refer to the site of a failed downtown redevelopment project as a hole. “I refuse to call something 12 acres across a hole. It’s a crater.”</p>
<p>This crater sits along Lake Tahoe Boulevard at Stateline Avenue. Across Stateline, of course, lies Nevada and all the casinos. Officials used eminent domain and city pressure, Kubby explained, to level 44 businesses. The crater was intended to become a convention center. The deal collapsed, and the only thing built was the concrete foundation. It remains an eyesore and a sore spot with the city.</p>
<p>Kubby complains about South Lake Tahoe’s $200 million in bonded redevelopment debt to fund what became the crater and other redevelopment projects, and about the subsidies the redevelopment agency ladles out to developers, who build cookie-cutter projects at odds with the city’s mountain-resort charm.</p>
<p>“When did anyone get a chance to vote on this?” he said. “They never did. It strains my mind that a town can incur that kind of debt for 45 years, and there was never a vote. Well, the council voted on it.” The city has a history, by the way, of making poor redevelopment decisions and of abusing eminent domain.</p>
<p>“I’m participating in public debate about government’s role,” he said. “It’s a liberal town. Liberals love government, but a lot of people are growing [medical] marijuana here and selling it. Marijuana is [helping to keep] this town solvent.”</p>
<p>Kubby always turns the topic back to the basics of government. He thinks local roads at places resemble those found in Third World countries. He says “businesses have had it – they are so fed up with the rules, regulations and license fees.” He wants to cut the number of city jobs and free up money that could spark new jobs in the private sector.</p>
<p>Kubby, a libertarian, wants to create a freedom revolution in his city. Just as those conservative activists in Silicon Valley want to enhance freedom in their region. And just as those San Francisco progressives want to reduce the power of the public employee unions in their union-controlled city. I’m still nattering about our seemingly insurmountable problems, but I’m also heartened by the efforts of diverse groups of Californians to limit government and create a more freedom-friendly future. The revolution has to start somewhere!</p>
<p>–Steven Greenhut</p>
| false | 3 |
sept 13 2010 nattering nabob see negativism everywhere legislature manages everything wrong obama administration like bush administration embarrassment bordering disaster debt rising freedom receding governments keep getting bigger wasteful even cant avoid hopeful signs apparent almost everywhere spoke tuesday 300 conservatives silicon valley problem public employee pensions group energized local election prospects november long shot conservatives expect big wins bay area dont try telling activists attendance road san francisco public defender jeff adachi jumped final legal hurdle recently placed serious pension reform measure november ballot reform happen san francisco happen anywhere sept 3 spent afternoon steve kubby former libertarian party gubernatorial nominee presidential candidate running city council south lake tahoe unabashedly freedomoriented platform kamikaze mission serious shot winning south lake tahoe small city population 23500 candidacy latest sign californians trying change things wherever americans taking tack tea partiers despite inconsistencies flaws seem suggest kubby best known medical marijuana activist coauthor proposition 215 legalized marijuana california medical uses 1996 targeted state federal agencies following successful battle served time jail became something martyr movement jail term almost deprived marijuana treatments threatened health diagnosed terminal cancer given six months live 35 years ago using marijuana sole medication ever since critics medical marijuana say story merely anecdotal didnt die said jokingly anecdotal ill take anecdotal felony drug conviction expunged dismissed interest justice county sheriff personally apologized ordeal yet city governments including south lake tahoes trying clamp innocuous wellness clinics provide marijuana sick people doctors prescription years police said dont like law change kubby told interview café near lake tahoe changed yet officials continue circumvent law prosecute clinics growers since release kubby developing business provides marijuana lozenge form thus eliminating need smoking trying take product federal drugapproval channels story full entertaining tidbits instance diagnosed cancer introduced lifesaving marijuana college roommate richard cheech marin cheech amp chong fame cant make stuff despite persistent questioning kubby didnt want focus subject marijuana council campaign marijuana boston tea party tea said wanted talk south lake tahoes punitive level regulations businesses keeping governments big ugly nose lives protecting property rights civil rights hole actually hates people refer site failed downtown redevelopment project hole refuse call something 12 acres across hole crater crater sits along lake tahoe boulevard stateline avenue across stateline course lies nevada casinos officials used eminent domain city pressure kubby explained level 44 businesses crater intended become convention center deal collapsed thing built concrete foundation remains eyesore sore spot city kubby complains south lake tahoes 200 million bonded redevelopment debt fund became crater redevelopment projects subsidies redevelopment agency ladles developers build cookiecutter projects odds citys mountainresort charm anyone get chance vote said never strains mind town incur kind debt 45 years never vote well council voted city history way making poor redevelopment decisions abusing eminent domain im participating public debate governments role said liberal town liberals love government lot people growing medical marijuana selling marijuana helping keep town solvent kubby always turns topic back basics government thinks local roads places resemble found third world countries says businesses fed rules regulations license fees wants cut number city jobs free money could spark new jobs private sector kubby libertarian wants create freedom revolution city conservative activists silicon valley want enhance freedom region san francisco progressives want reduce power public employee unions unioncontrolled city im still nattering seemingly insurmountable problems im also heartened efforts diverse groups californians limit government create freedomfriendly future revolution start somewhere steven greenhut
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<p>Dana Beyer, executive director of Gender Rights Maryland, said she was pleasantly surprised that the study found the degree of discrimination encountered by the transgender testers to be so small. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>A newly released study by the D.C.-based Urban Institute found that some landlords that were subjected to discrimination “testing” in the D.C. metropolitan area showed a bias against renting apartments to applicants who self-identified as transgender compared to applicants not identifying as transgender.</p>
<p>The study also conducted several hundred discrimination tests in the Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, areas in which testers posed as members of gay male, lesbian, and heterosexual couples. The findings from this part of the study show that some landlords displayed a bias against gay male applicants but appeared to treat lesbians and straight women the same.</p>
<p>The study’s lead author, Urban Institute researcher Diane K. Levy, told the Washington Blade that in the D.C. tests, 100 of the testers identified as transgender and 99 did not say anything about their gender identity and were presumed to be cisgender.</p>
<p>She said that in a carefully developed plan the people identifying as transgender applicants for renting an apartment disclosed their gender identity by telling the landlord or rental agent that the name they would be using for the application was different from their birth name because they were transgender and had yet to legally change their name.</p>
<p>The study reveals that in one out of every 5.6 test visits to a rental office, the rental agents or landlords offered to show a self-identified transgender applicant one fewer apartment than was shown to non-transgender applicants.</p>
<p>As part of the study, the testers identifying as trans and non-trans applicants said they were single with no children and had the same financial qualifications to rent an apartment.</p>
<p>The study’s findings are presented in a 297-page report called “A Paired-Testing Pilot Study of Housing Discrimination against Same-Sex Couples and Transgender Individuals.”</p>
<p>The report says the study arranged for “1,200 in-person tests split evenly between women and men posing as part of a same-sex couple” in the Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth areas where they showed up at a rental office to inquire about finding an apartment.</p>
<p>Rental agents or landlords “told gay men about one fewer available rental unit for every 4.2 tests than they told heterosexual men,” the reports states. “Providers were slightly less likely to schedule an appointment with gay men,” it says, adding, “The average yearly costs agents quoted gay men were $272 higher than the costs quoted to heterosexual men.”</p>
<p>Levy said the testers who self-identified as gay men or lesbians did so by telling the rental agent or landlord they were part of a same-sex couple.</p>
<p>According to the study, the landlords appeared to treat the testers self-identifying as members of a lesbian couple the same as they treated heterosexual women who said they were part of an opposite-sex couple by not displaying any difference in offering to show them an apartment available for rent.</p>
<p>When the lesbian and straight women testers were able to meet with a rental agent, “agents were slightly less likely to tell the lesbian testers that a unit was available,” the report says. But it says differences in the treatment between the two groups “generally are small and not statistically significant.”</p>
<p>The report makes it clear that the testing of possible discrimination by landlords and rental agents focused on the early stage of the rental process in which testers visited a rental office to inquire about the availability of an apartment or rental unit and sometimes were shown the units. But it did not involve the testers submitting an actual application since that, according to Levy, would likely involve a credit check and other background checks that could result in agents finding out the testers were not who they claimed to be for purposes of the test.</p>
<p>“Differential treatment matters,” Levy said in a statement accompanying the report. “When people are discriminated against in their housing searches, not only does it go against our collective value of equal opportunity, but it limits their options for where to live, which can affect how they get to work, the schools their children attend, and other facets of their daily lives,” she said.</p>
<p>Levy said that because the study was intended as a research project rather than a discrimination enforcement effort the Urban Institute will not disclose the identity of the landlords or rental agents found to show a bias against the gay or trans testers.</p>
<p>Douglas Wissoker, another of the report’s seven co-authors, said that although the number of instances in which a landlord or rental agent appeared to discriminate against the gay or transgender testers was relatively small, the numbers were statistically significant and clearly not due to chance.</p>
<p>Transgender rights advocate Dana Beyer, executive director of statewide group Gender Rights Maryland, said she was pleasantly surprised that the study found the degree of discrimination encountered by the transgender testers to be so small.</p>
<p>“Yes, trans people are treated worse, but not as badly as one would have imagined,” she said. “That’s one of the takeaways that there is some discrimination but it didn’t seem to be nearly as bad as people would imagine. And that’s striking.”</p>
<p>The full report can be accessed <a href="http://www.urban.org/research/publication/paired-testing-pilot-study-housing-discrimination-against-same-sex-couples-and-transgender-individuals" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">D.C.</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dallas</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dana Beyer</a> <a href="" type="internal">Diane K. Levy</a> <a href="" type="internal">discrimination</a> <a href="" type="internal">District of Columbia</a> <a href="" type="internal">Douglas Wissoker</a> <a href="" type="internal">Fort Worth</a> <a href="" type="internal">gay</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gender Rights Maryland</a> <a href="" type="internal">housing</a> <a href="" type="internal">Los Angeles</a> <a href="" type="internal">Texas</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender</a> <a href="" type="internal">Urban Institute</a></p>
| false | 3 |
dana beyer executive director gender rights maryland said pleasantly surprised study found degree discrimination encountered transgender testers small washington blade file photo michael key newly released study dcbased urban institute found landlords subjected discrimination testing dc metropolitan area showed bias renting apartments applicants selfidentified transgender compared applicants identifying transgender study also conducted several hundred discrimination tests los angeles dallasfort worth texas areas testers posed members gay male lesbian heterosexual couples findings part study show landlords displayed bias gay male applicants appeared treat lesbians straight women studys lead author urban institute researcher diane k levy told washington blade dc tests 100 testers identified transgender 99 say anything gender identity presumed cisgender said carefully developed plan people identifying transgender applicants renting apartment disclosed gender identity telling landlord rental agent name would using application different birth name transgender yet legally change name study reveals one every 56 test visits rental office rental agents landlords offered show selfidentified transgender applicant one fewer apartment shown nontransgender applicants part study testers identifying trans nontrans applicants said single children financial qualifications rent apartment studys findings presented 297page report called pairedtesting pilot study housing discrimination samesex couples transgender individuals report says study arranged 1200 inperson tests split evenly women men posing part samesex couple los angeles dallasfort worth areas showed rental office inquire finding apartment rental agents landlords told gay men one fewer available rental unit every 42 tests told heterosexual men reports states providers slightly less likely schedule appointment gay men says adding average yearly costs agents quoted gay men 272 higher costs quoted heterosexual men levy said testers selfidentified gay men lesbians telling rental agent landlord part samesex couple according study landlords appeared treat testers selfidentifying members lesbian couple treated heterosexual women said part oppositesex couple displaying difference offering show apartment available rent lesbian straight women testers able meet rental agent agents slightly less likely tell lesbian testers unit available report says says differences treatment two groups generally small statistically significant report makes clear testing possible discrimination landlords rental agents focused early stage rental process testers visited rental office inquire availability apartment rental unit sometimes shown units involve testers submitting actual application since according levy would likely involve credit check background checks could result agents finding testers claimed purposes test differential treatment matters levy said statement accompanying report people discriminated housing searches go collective value equal opportunity limits options live affect get work schools children attend facets daily lives said levy said study intended research project rather discrimination enforcement effort urban institute disclose identity landlords rental agents found show bias gay trans testers douglas wissoker another reports seven coauthors said although number instances landlord rental agent appeared discriminate gay transgender testers relatively small numbers statistically significant clearly due chance transgender rights advocate dana beyer executive director statewide group gender rights maryland said pleasantly surprised study found degree discrimination encountered transgender testers small yes trans people treated worse badly one would imagined said thats one takeaways discrimination didnt seem nearly bad people would imagine thats striking full report accessed dc dallas dana beyer diane k levy discrimination district columbia douglas wissoker fort worth gay gender rights maryland housing los angeles texas transgender urban institute
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<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />On Dec. 19, <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/montana-wind-farm-operator-sues-210000163.html" type="external">San Diego Gas and Electric</a>&#160;filed suit against NaturEner, which operates wind farms in Montana. The suit alleged NaturEner did not meet its contractual requirements to preserve eagles, raptors, bats and other protected bird species for electricity sent to California.</p>
<p>A renewable energy company in Madrid, Spain owns San Francisco-based NaturEner. The lawsuit is the first to allege harm to the environment from the purchase of air pollution credits mandated by California’s cap-and-trade program.</p>
<p>From 2008 to 2012, SDG&amp;E finalized a $285 million contract with NaturEner to buy <a href="http://www.naturener.net/news/naturener-in-the-news/item/sdge-revises-wind-farm-agreement" type="external">Tradable Renewable Energy Credits</a> from NaturEner’s Montana wind farm, instead of more costly pollution permits through <a href="http://www.acc.com/legalresources/quickcounsel/UCCTR.cfm" type="external">California’s cap-and-trade system</a>. Cap and trade is a system of capping air pollution by having to buy pollution permits in an auction rather than paying a pollution tax.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.naturener.net/news/naturener-in-the-news/item/sdge-revises-wind-farm-agreement" type="external">SDG&amp;E sought to buy cheaper pollution credits</a> to keep its electric rates low to customers. Buying pollution credits from NaturEner’s Rim Rock wind farm in Montana would contribute about <a href="http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=102229675" type="external">3.5 percentage points</a>&#160;of the 33 percent renewable mandate by 2020 under <a href="http://www.senatorsimitian.com/news/category/C716/" type="external">Senate Bill 722</a>, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law in 2011.</p>
<p>As reported in&#160; <a href="http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20131220/NEWS01/312200024/Montana-wind-farm-owner-San-Diego-utility-suing-each-other" type="external">the Montana Great Fall Tribune</a>,&#160;SDG&amp;E Spokesperson Jennifer Ramp said, “Unfortunately, the project’s owner, NaturEner, did not meet contractual requirements, so SDG&amp;E has decided not to make the investment in Rim Rock (wind farm) or to continue purchasing its renewable energy credits.”</p>
<p><a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/montana-wind-farm-operator-sues-210000163.html" type="external">NatureEner immediately filed a countersuit</a> on Dec. 20 in a Montana District Court. The suit alleged that SDG&amp;E’s action is motivated by “buyer’s remorse” due to the falling price of renewable power.&#160; NaturEner said it had implemented <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/montana-wind-farm-operator-sues-210000163.html" type="external">state-of-the-art wildlife protection measures</a> in its Montana Rim Rock wind farm project.&#160; The measures include radar detection systems for eagles; and the positioning of trained avian biologists that can pause wind turbine blades as part of NaturEner’s 24-hour Operations Center.&#160; NaturEner claims no eagle has ever been harmed at its project.</p>
<p>NaturEner spokesperson <a href="http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20131220/NEWS01/312200024/Montana-wind-farm-owner-San-Diego-utility-suing-each-other" type="external">Patrick Ferguson</a> said, “Conditions in the contract require us to develop a documented bird and bat conservation strategy in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We’ve done that. We have met the contract conditions.”</p>
<p>NaturEner also filed an emergency injunction to prevent SDG&amp;E from terminating contracts by January before the dueling lawsuits can be heard in court.</p>
<p>Wildlife impact issues have frustrated SDG&amp;E’s efforts to meet its cap-and-trade mandated 20 percent reduction in air pollution.&#160; SDG&amp;E also depends on its 117-mile <a href="http://www.sdge.com/key-initiatives/sunrise-powerlink" type="external">Sunrise Powerlink</a> transmission line linking it to renewable energy projects in Imperial County.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/energy/sunrise_powerlink/" type="external">Environmentalists had opposed the Sunrise Powerlink project</a> on the basis of harm to golden eagles, bighorn sheep and the checkerspot butterfly. The Sunrise Powerlink was forced to <a href="http://www.energybiz.com/magazine/article/209085/troubled-sunrise-powerlink" type="external">alter its original route</a>&#160;by California Public Utility Commission Administrative Law Judge Jean Vieth due to wildlife impacts.</p>
<p>On Nov. 20, U.S. Superior Court Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel dismissed a lawsuit brought by three environmental groups against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service alleging adverse impacts of the <a href="http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/wind/judge-throws-out-suit-against-ocotillo-wind.html#more" type="external">Ocotillo Express Wind Farm Project</a> in Imperial County on bighorn sheep.</p>
<p>The legal disputes between the renewable energy industry and environmentalists is bound to heat up in California since the order by the&#160; <a href="http://www.cacoastkeeper.org/document/quick-guide-to-once-through-cooling.pdf" type="external">California Water Resources Control Board</a> to shut down 19 coastal power plants mainly due to harmful impacts on millions of fish larvae.</p>
<p>In Morro Bay, Dynergy has mothballed its gas-fired power plant rather than retrofit its plant with an expensive air-cooling system.&#160; The <a href="" type="internal">California Valley Solar Ranch</a> located in inland San Luis Obispo County is replacing the Morro Bay Power Plant.</p>
<p>However, solar farms, especially those using concentrated solar tower technology, have also been implicated in bird deaths.&#160; There were <a href="http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/solar/concentrating-solar/ivanpah-solar-has-a-bad-burned-bird-problem.html" type="external">20 bird deaths</a> reported in Sept. 2013 attributed to Bright Source Energy’s 459-foot solar tower at its Ivanpah Solar Project in the Mojave Desert at Primm, Nev.</p>
<p>And AP <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/guilty-plea-bird-deaths-wind-farms-first-081651963--finance.html" type="external">reported on Nov. 23</a>, “A study in September by federal biologists found that wind turbines had killed at least 67 bald and golden eagles since 2008. Wyoming had the most eagle deaths. That did not include deaths at Altamont Pass, an area in northern California where wind farms kill an estimated 60 eagles a year.”</p>
<p>Are fish larvae more important than birds?</p>
<p>California set a legal precedent when it admitted <a href="http://www.sierrawave.net/24550/loses-federal-case/" type="external">retroactive environmental lawsuits</a> in the case of dust storm impacts on Owens Lake brought by the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for taking water from Owens Lake.</p>
<p>This raises a legal question of whether renewable energy projects that have already received environmental clearances could be re-opened and challenged because of the bird deaths, or for other reasons. That’s what the courts also will have to sort out.</p>
| false | 3 |
160 dec 19 san diego gas electric160filed suit naturener operates wind farms montana suit alleged naturener meet contractual requirements preserve eagles raptors bats protected bird species electricity sent california renewable energy company madrid spain owns san franciscobased naturener lawsuit first allege harm environment purchase air pollution credits mandated californias capandtrade program 2008 2012 sdgampe finalized 285 million contract naturener buy tradable renewable energy credits natureners montana wind farm instead costly pollution permits californias capandtrade system cap trade system capping air pollution buy pollution permits auction rather paying pollution tax sdgampe sought buy cheaper pollution credits keep electric rates low customers buying pollution credits natureners rim rock wind farm montana would contribute 35 percentage points160of 33 percent renewable mandate 2020 senate bill 722 gov jerry brown signed law 2011 reported in160 montana great fall tribune160sdgampe spokesperson jennifer ramp said unfortunately projects owner naturener meet contractual requirements sdgampe decided make investment rim rock wind farm continue purchasing renewable energy credits natureener immediately filed countersuit dec 20 montana district court suit alleged sdgampes action motivated buyers remorse due falling price renewable power160 naturener said implemented stateoftheart wildlife protection measures montana rim rock wind farm project160 measures include radar detection systems eagles positioning trained avian biologists pause wind turbine blades part natureners 24hour operations center160 naturener claims eagle ever harmed project naturener spokesperson patrick ferguson said conditions contract require us develop documented bird bat conservation strategy consultation us fish wildlife service weve done met contract conditions naturener also filed emergency injunction prevent sdgampe terminating contracts january dueling lawsuits heard court wildlife impact issues frustrated sdgampes efforts meet capandtrade mandated 20 percent reduction air pollution160 sdgampe also depends 117mile sunrise powerlink transmission line linking renewable energy projects imperial county environmentalists opposed sunrise powerlink project basis harm golden eagles bighorn sheep checkerspot butterfly sunrise powerlink forced alter original route160by california public utility commission administrative law judge jean vieth due wildlife impacts nov 20 us superior court judge gonzalo p curiel dismissed lawsuit brought three environmental groups us fish wildlife service alleging adverse impacts ocotillo express wind farm project imperial county bighorn sheep legal disputes renewable energy industry environmentalists bound heat california since order the160 california water resources control board shut 19 coastal power plants mainly due harmful impacts millions fish larvae morro bay dynergy mothballed gasfired power plant rather retrofit plant expensive aircooling system160 california valley solar ranch located inland san luis obispo county replacing morro bay power plant however solar farms especially using concentrated solar tower technology also implicated bird deaths160 20 bird deaths reported sept 2013 attributed bright source energys 459foot solar tower ivanpah solar project mojave desert primm nev ap reported nov 23 study september federal biologists found wind turbines killed least 67 bald golden eagles since 2008 wyoming eagle deaths include deaths altamont pass area northern california wind farms kill estimated 60 eagles year fish larvae important birds california set legal precedent admitted retroactive environmental lawsuits case dust storm impacts owens lake brought great basin unified air pollution control district los angeles department water power taking water owens lake raises legal question whether renewable energy projects already received environmental clearances could reopened challenged bird deaths reasons thats courts also sort
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<p>June 14, 2012</p>
<p>By Tori Richards</p>
<p>Los Angeles stands to receive federal transportation dollars for the first time in nearly a decade, yet local infighting could derail the project, officials say.</p>
<p>Allegations of influence peddling with a campaign donor tied to President Obama and lawsuits charging corruption at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have put the brakes on the final leg of a $5 billion subway project through L.A.’s <a href="http://www.metro.net/projects/westside/" type="external">Westside</a>.</p>
<p>With a new freeway lane costing more than $1 billion, the project was seen as a godsend to an area that has some of the nation’s worst traffic congestion.</p>
<p>The disputed route runs underneath Beverly Hills High School, with a subway stop at Constellation and Avenue of the Stars in Century City. That’s where Obama donor JMB Realty owns a slice of land.</p>
<p>The city of Beverly Hills and its school district sued the MTA when a presentation of their scientific study showing the route to be hazardous fell on deaf ears.</p>
<p>“It needs to be ready to go on our end and these lawsuits complicate things,” said Dan Rosenfeld, senior deputy to L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas. “We could lose out on this funding if it drags through the courts. Not to mention the huge legal cost. Who pays for that? It’s not fair to stick it to the taxpayers.”</p>
<p>Added Michael Cano, transportation deputy for LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich:</p>
<p>“Federal funding matching on the subway requires you to be aggressive on the timeline. You have to demonstrate a good financial plan and operating system. Problems associated with the lawsuit and delay and it loses out on a round of federal funding. The public as a whole loses out.”&#160;</p>
<p>A bill making its way through the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee appropriates funds for seven transportation projects throughout the state. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., sits on the committee.</p>
<p>For nearly a decade, federal transportation dollars have been awarded to New York, Dallas, Denver and other cities, largely ignoring California and its pressing need for a better rail system.</p>
<p>“It’s shocking how little we get,” Rosenfeld said. “California is 10 percent of the U.S.and L.A. is 40 percent of California and we get peanuts in the federal transit cafeteria compared to other cities. We should get our fair share, but zero isn’t a fair share.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>For example, New York — which already has the nation’s biggest subway system — has received $612 million for various rail projects. Other projects have included Dallas at $236 million, Salt Lake City at $180 million and Seattle at $113, according to MTA records.</p>
<p>“They are tunneling through rock on the east side of Manhattan, it’s not an easy project,” Rosenfeld said.</p>
<p>He added that their success in grabbing dollars could be because “they have very effective senators and one of them is now secretary of state.”</p>
<p>The last big money was in 2004, when Los Angeles received $66 million for its <a href="http://www.metro.net/projects/foothill-extension/" type="external">Goldline</a> subway.</p>
<p>The project started out innocently enough: build an extension of the subway system to the Westside, where the only current transportation options are taking the bus or driving along the gridlocked 405 Freeway.</p>
<p>The project would continue on from the Wilshire Center area through Beverly Hills, Century City and Westwood.</p>
<p>The entire project was expected to take 30 years to complete at a cost of $5 billion and the MTA was counting on the federal government to pick up half the tab.</p>
<p>At first, the city of Beverly Hills was highly supportive of the project and <a href="http://www.metro.net/projects/measurer/" type="external">Measure R</a>, a 2008 ballot measure that raised the Los Angeles County sales tax half a cent to support transportation projects. That money would largely be used to fund rail projects.</p>
<p>And initially, the final leg of the subway was supposed to have a station near a golf course, with little impact on anyone. But then the site inexplicably changed to a busy street corner where the project developer JMB Realty owns the parcel of land, charged Brian Goldberg, president of the Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education.</p>
<p>The first route would have been faster and up to $100 million cheaper, so none of this made sense to Goldberg.</p>
<p>Tunneling 70 feet under the high school could expose thousands of students to myriad potential disasters, such as the escape of methane gas, former oil well sites and shifting ground, Goldberg said.</p>
<p>“We’ve confirmed with the Department of the State Architect that there’s been no tunneling under instructional buildings anywhere in the state of California,” Goldberg said. “We don’t know if the state architect would even approve construction.”</p>
<p>The school district wanted to give the state that opportunity, asking the MTA board to postpone its decision on the route until further studies could be done. But the board had hired a geologist who claimed that the first proposed station site was on an earthquake fault and the new route was approved.</p>
<p>A second geologist hired by the school district had come up with an opposite conclusion, saying the school has had underground erosion problems. Furthermore, if the first site was home to an active earthquake fault, the city of Los Angeless houldn’t have approved plans for construction of a 39-story office building there, the Beverly Hills geologist noted.</p>
<p>But the MTA board of directors is comprised of elected officials, including L.A.’s mayor and the members of the Board of Supervisors. Chicago-based JMB Realty’s <a href="http://maplight.org/los-angeles/contributions?s=1&amp;politician=1076&amp;election=2001%2C2002%2C2003%2C2005%2C2007%2C2009&amp;string=Bluhm%2C%20Neil&amp;type=cc%2Cie&amp;business_sector=any&amp;business_industry=any" type="external">executives</a> have donated at least $5,000 to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s campaign coffers dating back to 2005, <a href="http://maplight.org/los-angeles/contributions?s=1&amp;politician=1076&amp;string=JMB%20Realty&amp;type=cc%2Cie&amp;business_sector=any&amp;business_industry=any" type="external">MapLight Research shows</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.forbes.com/profile/neil-bluhm/" type="external">Media reports</a> show that JMB’s billionaire owner, Neil Bluhm, is a big <a href="http://maplight.org/us-congress/contributions?s=1&amp;office_party=Senate%2CHouse%2CDemocrat%2CRepublican%2CIndependent&amp;string=Bluhm%2C%20Neil&amp;business_sector=any&amp;business_industry=any&amp;source=All" type="external">Obama supporter</a> and even threw him a 49th&#160;birthday party. Public records reveal that he has donated <a href="http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/qind/" type="external">hundreds of thousands of dollars</a> over the years to the Democratic Party and its candidates.</p>
<p>Villaraigosa has made no secret of his ties to the Obama administration and his quest to seek higher office.</p>
<p>“They are heavily connected to Obama and Rahm Emanuel,” Goldberg said. “Coincidences in politics and money are few and far between. These developers are smart people and the reason why they make a lot of money is they know how to work the system.”</p>
<p>Goldberg said JMB Realty’s and the MTA’s insistence on that piece of property for the station “doesn’t smell right.”</p>
<p>Anotonovich, whose district doesn’t include the rail project, has been the only direct supporter of Beverly Hills’ position. Ridley Thomas was not present the day of the vote.</p>
<p>“It’s very frustrating, the city just wanted a fair chance to represent their information to the MTA board,” Cano said. “[Antonovich] felt compelled to stick up for the city of Beverly Hills because they needed a voice on the board.”</p>
<p>In addition, Antonovich is troubled by the appearance of impropriety with the campaign contributions.</p>
<p>“That should’ve been explored, the relationship between the developer and MTA,” Cano added. “It’s definitely something you worry about. We have no first-hand knowledge [of impropriety], but it’s a legitimate question to ask to make sure the public feels a decision based by the MTA board is fact and science and not political considerations.”</p>
<p>Following a lengthy hearing, in which Antonovich was the only vote on their side, the city of Beverly Hills and the school district each filed lawsuits, asking a judge to reverse the board’s approval of the subway extension.</p>
<p>The city’s lawsuit accused the MTA of holding a sham hearing purporting to seek facts from Beverly Hills’ geologists, when in actuality a decision had already been made.</p>
<p>But the decision of a Superior Court judge won’t resolve the matter. The losing side will certainly file an appeal and the matter could be litigated for years. The MTA and its deep pockets could bury Beverly Hills in legal motions and paperwork. Although it’s a wealthy community, the city’s municipal assets pale in comparison to the billions MTA has at its disposal.</p>
<p>“Unfortunately, because we’re Beverly Hills, there is a stigma that it’s a rich, entitled community,” Goldberg said. “If it was any other route in the state, the response would be very different and more allies would be coming to our side.”</p>
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june 14 2012 tori richards los angeles stands receive federal transportation dollars first time nearly decade yet local infighting could derail project officials say allegations influence peddling campaign donor tied president obama lawsuits charging corruption metropolitan transportation authority put brakes final leg 5 billion subway project las westside new freeway lane costing 1 billion project seen godsend area nations worst traffic congestion disputed route runs underneath beverly hills high school subway stop constellation avenue stars century city thats obama donor jmb realty owns slice land city beverly hills school district sued mta presentation scientific study showing route hazardous fell deaf ears needs ready go end lawsuits complicate things said dan rosenfeld senior deputy la county supervisor mark ridley thomas could lose funding drags courts mention huge legal cost pays fair stick taxpayers added michael cano transportation deputy la county supervisor michael antonovich federal funding matching subway requires aggressive timeline demonstrate good financial plan operating system problems associated lawsuit delay loses round federal funding public whole loses out160 bill making way us senate appropriations committee appropriates funds seven transportation projects throughout state sen dianne feinstein dcalif sits committee nearly decade federal transportation dollars awarded new york dallas denver cities largely ignoring california pressing need better rail system shocking little get rosenfeld said california 10 percent usand la 40 percent california get peanuts federal transit cafeteria compared cities get fair share zero isnt fair share example new york already nations biggest subway system received 612 million various rail projects projects included dallas 236 million salt lake city 180 million seattle 113 according mta records tunneling rock east side manhattan easy project rosenfeld said added success grabbing dollars could effective senators one secretary state last big money 2004 los angeles received 66 million goldline subway project started innocently enough build extension subway system westside current transportation options taking bus driving along gridlocked 405 freeway project would continue wilshire center area beverly hills century city westwood entire project expected take 30 years complete cost 5 billion mta counting federal government pick half tab first city beverly hills highly supportive project measure r 2008 ballot measure raised los angeles county sales tax half cent support transportation projects money would largely used fund rail projects initially final leg subway supposed station near golf course little impact anyone site inexplicably changed busy street corner project developer jmb realty owns parcel land charged brian goldberg president beverly hills unified school district board education first route would faster 100 million cheaper none made sense goldberg tunneling 70 feet high school could expose thousands students myriad potential disasters escape methane gas former oil well sites shifting ground goldberg said weve confirmed department state architect theres tunneling instructional buildings anywhere state california goldberg said dont know state architect would even approve construction school district wanted give state opportunity asking mta board postpone decision route studies could done board hired geologist claimed first proposed station site earthquake fault new route approved second geologist hired school district come opposite conclusion saying school underground erosion problems furthermore first site home active earthquake fault city los angeless houldnt approved plans construction 39story office building beverly hills geologist noted mta board directors comprised elected officials including las mayor members board supervisors chicagobased jmb realtys executives donated least 5000 mayor antonio villaraigosas campaign coffers dating back 2005 maplight research shows media reports show jmbs billionaire owner neil bluhm big obama supporter even threw 49th160birthday party public records reveal donated hundreds thousands dollars years democratic party candidates villaraigosa made secret ties obama administration quest seek higher office heavily connected obama rahm emanuel goldberg said coincidences politics money far developers smart people reason make lot money know work system goldberg said jmb realtys mtas insistence piece property station doesnt smell right anotonovich whose district doesnt include rail project direct supporter beverly hills position ridley thomas present day vote frustrating city wanted fair chance represent information mta board cano said antonovich felt compelled stick city beverly hills needed voice board addition antonovich troubled appearance impropriety campaign contributions shouldve explored relationship developer mta cano added definitely something worry firsthand knowledge impropriety legitimate question ask make sure public feels decision based mta board fact science political considerations following lengthy hearing antonovich vote side city beverly hills school district filed lawsuits asking judge reverse boards approval subway extension citys lawsuit accused mta holding sham hearing purporting seek facts beverly hills geologists actuality decision already made decision superior court judge wont resolve matter losing side certainly file appeal matter could litigated years mta deep pockets could bury beverly hills legal motions paperwork although wealthy community citys municipal assets pale comparison billions mta disposal unfortunately beverly hills stigma rich entitled community goldberg said route state response would different allies would coming side
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<p>The rules of Marshall’s in-school suspension room are written on the chalkboard at the front of the class: “No laughing. No cell phones. No talking. No putting your head down on the desk.”</p>
<p>If a student finishes his or her work, a table is piled with books to read. There’s also a worksheet they can complete, designed to make them think about their behavior.</p>
<p>At a big neighborhood high school, an in-school suspension room might seem par for the course. But at Marshall, the strategy has been tried before, failed before, and in recent years, didn’t exist.</p>
<p>With the turnaround, however, it made sense to try it again. In the 2009-2010 school year, two-thirds of Marshall’s students were suspended at least once, the second-highest out-of-school suspension rate among the city’s high schools. Out-of-school suspension is a strong predictor of low test scores and high dropout rates, two outcomes the turnaround administration wanted, and needed, to rectify.&#160;</p>
<p>CEO Jean-Claude Brizard also has pinpointed in-school suspension rooms as one strategy to lower out-of-school suspension. But it’s not at all clear that in-school suspension rooms, at least as they are often implemented in CPS, will have the positive impact that supporters hope for. In fact, the data suggest the opposite.</p>
<p>Over half of CPS high schools had in-school suspension rooms in the 2009-2010 school year, according to the latest figures from the Illinois State Board of Education. But on average, these schools handed down out-of-school suspensions to more students than those without in-school suspension rooms, a Catalyst Chicago analysis found.</p>
<p>One explanation is that schools with in-school suspension rooms have more serious, discipline problems than those without.</p>
<p>Another explanation is that CPS has no standards for in-school suspension rooms, so they are little more than holding cells that offer little or no education or counseling to help change behavior. A Catalyst survey of 53 high schools found that in the 16 with in-school suspension rooms, supervision was provided by a variety of people, from substitute teachers to school deans. Only two schools had counselors who could talk to students about their misbehavior.</p>
<p>At Marshall, problems were evident early on. The room’s first attendant had no real experience working with teenagers.One day in mid-September 2010, the attendant tells students to follow the rules.</p>
<p>But instead of listening, the two young women repeatedly ask for permission to use the restroom. Two of the young men have their heads laid down on the desk, chewing straws and looking bored. The fifth won’t stop teasing one of the girls. She goes from laughing at his jokes to acting annoyed.&#160;</p>
<p>Then, one of the boys decides he needs a drink of water and gets up. The attendant tells him to sit down and stands before the front door, but the boy bolts out the back.&#160;</p>
<p>Tired and defeated, the attendant picks up his radio and tells the hall security to watch for the boy.</p>
<p>Within two months, the man was fired for mishandling a student.</p>
<p>Creating a good in-school suspension program is a feat. In Brizard’s previous position as superintendent of Rochester, N.Y., schools, he assigned a teacher, a counselor and social worker to each room.</p>
<p>There is no such program in Chicago. If a school provides any significant social support, it is often the result of happenstance.</p>
<p>At Mather High School on the North Side, Cosmin Moraru is a history teacher who had just earned his counseling certificate. About the same time, Mather’s principal received a grant to implement some programs as alternatives to out-of-school suspension.</p>
<p>The principal decided to keep Moraru on, but assign him to man an in-school suspension room.&#160; Moraru developed a protocol, starting with a pre-placement interview with students about their behavior, to make sure they are open to changing it.</p>
<p>On the other three days of the week, Moraru holds in-school suspension. The day starts with a three-hour group therapy session in which the focus is on modeling behavior and discussing how students can change their reactions to situations. After lunch, the students do their homework.</p>
<p>Moraru limits the number of students in the room to 10. The room has a potted plant, and Moraru plays classical music while students are doing homework.</p>
<p>“We try to make it so this is not so much a negative thing, but an alternative,” he says.&#160;</p>
<p>After a year of running the room, he boasts some pretty good results. Eighty percent of students who were sent to in-school suspension never returned and were not suspended out-of-school.</p>
<p>At Marshall, Principal Kenyatta Stansberry never had the same luck finding a person who felt equipped to run the type of in-school suspension room that might have a positive impact, like the one at Mather. Stansberry also didn’t get complete buy-in from teachers for the discipline approach she was trying to implement.</p>
<p>Much of the professional development training conducted in the month before school began centered on how to manage a classroom and build trust with students. Teachers were taught the Boys Town Education Model, which focuses on managing behavior, building relationships&#160; and teaching social skills. The method stresses teaching specific life skills, such as looking a teacher in the eye when asked a question, and having teachers learn ways to talk to students to defuse disruptive behavior.</p>
<p>But within a few months of the school year starting, many teachers had abandoned or modified the techniques. By December, math teacher Sofia Orlowski was darting around her classroom giving students stamps for good behavior.</p>
<p>The freshman-level teachers, upset that students they had sent to the dean’s office were often not punished, created their own in-school suspension room, called “Think Tank.” During periods when they didn’t teach classes, 9th-grade teachers took turns in the Think Tank, where students were required to write a reflection on their behavior, including a letter home to their parents.</p>
<p>Other teachers didn’t see in-school suspension as sufficient punishment. One spring day, Dean Derrick Bass was highly upset that a teacher had emailed Assistant Principal Angel Johnson complaining that a student wasn’t sent home for cursing at her.&#160;</p>
<p>Bass says he already told this teacher that he could send the boy to in-school suspension or try to arrange for a parent-teacher conference. But the teacher is still not happy.</p>
<p>Bass tells Assistant Principal Matt Curtis that even though it is late in the year, he still has to show some teachers the district’s code of student conduct and explain to them the idea of progressive discipline.</p>
<p>“At the end of the day, you can’t give a death sentence for stealing a turkey,” Bass says. “This issue gives me a headache.”</p>
<p>After the first in-school suspension attendant left, Stansberry put a student advocate in the in-school suspension room, with a promise that he would be able to resume his normal duties as soon as she could find a replacement.</p>
<p>About a month and a half later, she replaced the advocate with Lonnie Felters Jr., a physical education teacher who was still working on obtaining his certification to teach in Illinois.</p>
<p>“He has a good relationship with students,” Stansberry says of Felters. “He will be fine.”</p>
<p>Felters started out with a good attitude about the position.&#160;</p>
<p>But by the end of the year, he was not happy. He had shoved a bookshelf against the backdoor to keep students from escaping. The same kids were in there on a regular basis. Many of them were special education students with behavior problems who, by state law, could not be&#160; given more than 10 days of out-of-school suspension.</p>
<p>Most of them refused to do any work and instead spent their day just trying to bother the other students. “One bad apple can ruin it for the whole group,” he said.</p>
<p>Felters says he wishes he could limit the number of students sent to in-school suspension or that there were multiple teachers who could work with students one-on-one. He also says he thought a dean should be in the room so that they could threaten out-of-school suspension and it would be a real threat.</p>
<p>“Sometimes I wake up in the morning and dread coming here,” he says. “It is that bad.”</p>
<p>Tell us what you think. Leave a comment below, or email <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
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rules marshalls inschool suspension room written chalkboard front class laughing cell phones talking putting head desk student finishes work table piled books read theres also worksheet complete designed make think behavior big neighborhood high school inschool suspension room might seem par course marshall strategy tried failed recent years didnt exist turnaround however made sense try 20092010 school year twothirds marshalls students suspended least secondhighest outofschool suspension rate among citys high schools outofschool suspension strong predictor low test scores high dropout rates two outcomes turnaround administration wanted needed rectify160 ceo jeanclaude brizard also pinpointed inschool suspension rooms one strategy lower outofschool suspension clear inschool suspension rooms least often implemented cps positive impact supporters hope fact data suggest opposite half cps high schools inschool suspension rooms 20092010 school year according latest figures illinois state board education average schools handed outofschool suspensions students without inschool suspension rooms catalyst chicago analysis found one explanation schools inschool suspension rooms serious discipline problems without another explanation cps standards inschool suspension rooms little holding cells offer little education counseling help change behavior catalyst survey 53 high schools found 16 inschool suspension rooms supervision provided variety people substitute teachers school deans two schools counselors could talk students misbehavior marshall problems evident early rooms first attendant real experience working teenagersone day midseptember 2010 attendant tells students follow rules instead listening two young women repeatedly ask permission use restroom two young men heads laid desk chewing straws looking bored fifth wont stop teasing one girls goes laughing jokes acting annoyed160 one boys decides needs drink water gets attendant tells sit stands front door boy bolts back160 tired defeated attendant picks radio tells hall security watch boy within two months man fired mishandling student creating good inschool suspension program feat brizards previous position superintendent rochester ny schools assigned teacher counselor social worker room program chicago school provides significant social support often result happenstance mather high school north side cosmin moraru history teacher earned counseling certificate time mathers principal received grant implement programs alternatives outofschool suspension principal decided keep moraru assign man inschool suspension room160 moraru developed protocol starting preplacement interview students behavior make sure open changing three days week moraru holds inschool suspension day starts threehour group therapy session focus modeling behavior discussing students change reactions situations lunch students homework moraru limits number students room 10 room potted plant moraru plays classical music students homework try make much negative thing alternative says160 year running room boasts pretty good results eighty percent students sent inschool suspension never returned suspended outofschool marshall principal kenyatta stansberry never luck finding person felt equipped run type inschool suspension room might positive impact like one mather stansberry also didnt get complete buyin teachers discipline approach trying implement much professional development training conducted month school began centered manage classroom build trust students teachers taught boys town education model focuses managing behavior building relationships160 teaching social skills method stresses teaching specific life skills looking teacher eye asked question teachers learn ways talk students defuse disruptive behavior within months school year starting many teachers abandoned modified techniques december math teacher sofia orlowski darting around classroom giving students stamps good behavior freshmanlevel teachers upset students sent deans office often punished created inschool suspension room called think tank periods didnt teach classes 9thgrade teachers took turns think tank students required write reflection behavior including letter home parents teachers didnt see inschool suspension sufficient punishment one spring day dean derrick bass highly upset teacher emailed assistant principal angel johnson complaining student wasnt sent home cursing her160 bass says already told teacher could send boy inschool suspension try arrange parentteacher conference teacher still happy bass tells assistant principal matt curtis even though late year still show teachers districts code student conduct explain idea progressive discipline end day cant give death sentence stealing turkey bass says issue gives headache first inschool suspension attendant left stansberry put student advocate inschool suspension room promise would able resume normal duties soon could find replacement month half later replaced advocate lonnie felters jr physical education teacher still working obtaining certification teach illinois good relationship students stansberry says felters fine felters started good attitude position160 end year happy shoved bookshelf backdoor keep students escaping kids regular basis many special education students behavior problems state law could be160 given 10 days outofschool suspension refused work instead spent day trying bother students one bad apple ruin whole group said felters says wishes could limit number students sent inschool suspension multiple teachers could work students oneonone also says thought dean room could threaten outofschool suspension would real threat sometimes wake morning dread coming says bad tell us think leave comment email karpcatalystchicagoorg
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<p>Donald Trump has offered heaps of bombast on the subject of trade, <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-lays-out-protectionist-views-in-trade-speech-1467145538" type="external">laying out protectionist views</a> at every opportunity. He has called for new and higher tariffs on imports, tough negotiation with foreign countries (whatever that means), and a magical return to American manufacturing hegemony. All this is drenched in a thick layer of nationalism. If there’s one phrase that sums up The Donald’s trade policy, it’s “Made in the U.S.A.—or else.” There’s another phrase, though, that comes eerily close: “buy local.”</p>
<p>The Locavore’s Dilemma</p>
<p>I live in Madison, Wisconsin, home of the exceedingly vibrant and sort-of-famous <a href="http://dcfm.org/about-the-market/" type="external">Dane County Farmers’ Market</a>. Every Wednesday and Saturday, thousands of people—myself included—descend on downtown Madison to peruse and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, meats, cheeses, canned jams and pickles, arts and crafts, and even artisanal soaps. The city prides itself on its loyalty to local farmers and merchants.</p>
<p>The market’s popularity, variety, energy owe themselves to trade and to quality—not to locality.</p>
<p>Yet what at first blush seems a quintessential expedition of “buy local” greatness isn’t actually local at all. The Dane County Farmers’ Market belies its titular jurisdictional limits. Purveyors arrive in the wee hours of the morning from all corners of the state. Take, for instance, the Door County Fruit Markets company, which sells apricots, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. They hail from Door County, a three-hour drive across the state from Dane County. There’s also Canopy Gardens, producers of four varieties of salsa, whose home base is in the north central part of the state, separated from Madison by no less than six county lines. These are but two of many examples. Indeed, only a modest percentage of the venders come from within Dane County.</p>
<p>And then there are the buyers. Young people, old people, families, and businesses drive from all over Wisconsin to pick out the perfect tomato or to sample some of Stella’s famous cheese bread. Neighbors from Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois likewise frequent the market. (Don’t forget, either, about the innumerable inputs that go into the farming process–tractors, irrigation systems, gasoline, the farmer’s morning coffee, and so on–that originate beyond the county boundary.)</p>
<p>If the Dane County Farmers’ Market were truly limited to local, its vivacity would be severely diminished. Plump, juicy cherries from three-hour-away Door County? Forget it. Salsa from Canopy Gardens? Sorry, they’re not “local.” Thankfully, we all recognize this as absurd. And we all recognize that drawing the line at the county is arbitrary. The market’s popularity, variety, energy owe themselves to trade and to quality—not to locality. A strictly Dane County Farmers’ Market would, at least in comparison, suck.</p>
<p>Foodstuffs—and in particular, produce—present fertile ground for undue emphasis on “buy local.” Often, the farmers relatively close to us will be able to provide higher quality produce, simply because of the short transportation time between harvest and market. Of course, soil and climate also influence quality, and nearby corn might be better than corn from a half a world away. Then again, though, you don’t hear anyone (or at least not many) in Wisconsin championing local bananas.</p>
<p>Buy Best</p>
<p>The farmers’ market anecdote illustrates the crucial distinction between “buy local” and “buy best.” At first glance, the distinction appears merely semantic; but there’s an insidious danger lurking, just waiting to be unleashed at the hands of a populist demagogue like Trump. Buying local because local is the best makes complete sense economically and socially. But buying local for the sake of buying local presents a philosophy steeped in isolation that falls dangerously close to tribalism. It advocates the contraction of trade and flies in the face of two centuries of liberalization and globalization of the economy.</p>
<p>Like the county line, the national boundary is completely arbitrary from an economic perspective.</p>
<p>Liberal, global trade has led to the vastest prosperity the world has ever seen. Adam Smith once wrote, “In every country it always is and must be the interest of the great body of the people to buy whatever they want of those who sell it cheapest.” The less trade is restricted between individuals and across borders, the more “the body of people” can “buy whatever they want” the “cheapest.” In the 240 years since, increased trade and globalization has corresponded with a never-before-seen rise in prosperity. As society becomes more integrated, its members can leverage the division of labor, leading to lower prices, better goods and services, and a higher standard of living for everyone. It’s true that free trade and globalization make the rich richer. But they also make the poor richer. Trade provides cell phones to people in developing countries. It increases wages. It fosters international peace. As I have written before&#160; <a href="https://fee.org/articles/my-tiny-cosmopolitan-apartment/" type="external">here</a> and <a href="https://fee.org/articles/i-thanksgiving-dinner/" type="external">here</a>, trade has made our modern lives what they are.</p>
<p>So it is one thing to personally live according the “buy local” rhetoric, boxing yourself in with higher prices and lower quality. But is quite another thing when the “buy local” rhetoric becomes enacted in law. The obvious harms that would befall a county-only farmers’ market are the same exact harms that policies of protectionism inflict upon nations and their residents. Like the county line, the national boundary is completely arbitrary from an economic perspective. National protectionism is simply “buy local” on a larger scale.</p>
<p>Protectionism, nationalism, “buy local”-ism, Trumpism, and all similar –isms can be distilled into one singular ideology—isolationism. We should reject it in all its forms.</p>
<p>This article was originally published on FEE.org. Read the <a href="https://fee.org/articles/buy-local-would-even-spoil-farmers-markets/" type="external">original article</a>.</p>
<p>Joseph S. Diedrich is a&#160; <a href="http://youngvoicesadvocates.com/" type="external">Young Voices Advocate</a>&#160;and a law student at the University of Wisconsin.</p>
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donald trump offered heaps bombast subject trade laying protectionist views every opportunity called new higher tariffs imports tough negotiation foreign countries whatever means magical return american manufacturing hegemony drenched thick layer nationalism theres one phrase sums donalds trade policy made usaor else theres another phrase though comes eerily close buy local locavores dilemma live madison wisconsin home exceedingly vibrant sortoffamous dane county farmers market every wednesday saturday thousands peoplemyself includeddescend downtown madison peruse purchase fresh fruits vegetables baked goods meats cheeses canned jams pickles arts crafts even artisanal soaps city prides loyalty local farmers merchants markets popularity variety energy owe trade qualitynot locality yet first blush seems quintessential expedition buy local greatness isnt actually local dane county farmers market belies titular jurisdictional limits purveyors arrive wee hours morning corners state take instance door county fruit markets company sells apricots raspberries strawberries blackberries hail door county threehour drive across state dane county theres also canopy gardens producers four varieties salsa whose home base north central part state separated madison less six county lines two many examples indeed modest percentage venders come within dane county buyers young people old people families businesses drive wisconsin pick perfect tomato sample stellas famous cheese bread neighbors minnesota iowa illinois likewise frequent market dont forget either innumerable inputs go farming processtractors irrigation systems gasoline farmers morning coffee onthat originate beyond county boundary dane county farmers market truly limited local vivacity would severely diminished plump juicy cherries threehouraway door county forget salsa canopy gardens sorry theyre local thankfully recognize absurd recognize drawing line county arbitrary markets popularity variety energy owe trade qualitynot locality strictly dane county farmers market would least comparison suck foodstuffsand particular producepresent fertile ground undue emphasis buy local often farmers relatively close us able provide higher quality produce simply short transportation time harvest market course soil climate also influence quality nearby corn might better corn half world away though dont hear anyone least many wisconsin championing local bananas buy best farmers market anecdote illustrates crucial distinction buy local buy best first glance distinction appears merely semantic theres insidious danger lurking waiting unleashed hands populist demagogue like trump buying local local best makes complete sense economically socially buying local sake buying local presents philosophy steeped isolation falls dangerously close tribalism advocates contraction trade flies face two centuries liberalization globalization economy like county line national boundary completely arbitrary economic perspective liberal global trade led vastest prosperity world ever seen adam smith wrote every country always must interest great body people buy whatever want sell cheapest less trade restricted individuals across borders body people buy whatever want cheapest 240 years since increased trade globalization corresponded neverbeforeseen rise prosperity society becomes integrated members leverage division labor leading lower prices better goods services higher standard living everyone true free trade globalization make rich richer also make poor richer trade provides cell phones people developing countries increases wages fosters international peace written before160 trade made modern lives one thing personally live according buy local rhetoric boxing higher prices lower quality quite another thing buy local rhetoric becomes enacted law obvious harms would befall countyonly farmers market exact harms policies protectionism inflict upon nations residents like county line national boundary completely arbitrary economic perspective national protectionism simply buy local larger scale protectionism nationalism buy localism trumpism similar isms distilled one singular ideologyisolationism reject forms article originally published feeorg read original article joseph diedrich a160 young voices advocate160and law student university wisconsin
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<p>A study by two prestigious research groups found that Chicago public high school students who failed Algebra 1 and retook the course online were less likely to pass than students who retook the course in a traditional classroom setting.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">The major study</a>raises questions about relying heavily on expensive online credit recovery for struggling students, a strategy that has gained traction nationally. In Chicago, CPS paid two companies more than $600,000 last year to provide credit recovery and online coursework, the bulk of which went to K12 Virtual Schools, LLC, which owns the company whose product was the subject of the study. (CPS did not provide information on how many students take online courses for credit recovery each year.)</p>
<p>In fact it actually cost more to offer the online courses than a traditional, face-to-face class, according to the study.</p>
<p>The findings by the American Institutes for Research and the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research are not a red flag that online learning is “bad for kids,” says Jessica Heppen, of AIR, a co-author of the study. “But this really points to the need for continuous improvement, lots of scrutiny and the need to do more research and development, and engagement of all the stakeholders.”</p>
<p>In fact, the study also makes clear that students who fail Algebra 1 usually continue to do poorly academically: Neither type of course had a significant impact on whether students passed future math courses, earned higher scores on the ACT or eventually graduated from high school.</p>
<p>“Kids in this study continued on a low-performing trajectory,” Heppen says.</p>
<p>Despite the findings, CPS officials defended the use of online credit recovery courses, calling them “especially important for students who don’t have the flexibility to take classes after school or in the summer.”</p>
<p>“CPS is committed to meeting our students where they are, and providing flexible instructional methods so that they can move on from high school into college and the workforce,” district spokeswoman Emily Bittner said in a statement.</p>
<p>How human interaction matters</p>
<p>The study focused on Algebra 1, considered a “gateway” course to high school graduation and college success, because of the dismal pass rates in Chicago and in other large urban districts. One-third of CPS ninth-graders fail one or both semesters of Algebra 1. And just 15 percent students who failed both semesters of Algebra 1 during the 2005-2006 school year graduated within four years.</p>
<p>Heppen zeroed in on CPS about five years ago after learning that officials here were conducting their own trials to figure out what online credit recovery programs worked best, and the proper role of in-class mentors. District officials — many of whom have since left— eagerly embraced the study, as did the students who were told they were part of it.</p>
<p>Researchers followed 1,224 ninth-graders at 17 high schools who had failed Algebra 1 and needed to retake the class in 2011 and 2012. About half the students were randomly assigned to traditional face-to-face classes taught by a certified math teacher.</p>
<p>The rest were placed in an online course called Aventa Learning (now called Fuel Education) and would work out of a computer lab under the supervision of an “in-class mentor” who could be a classroom aide, guidance counselor or certified teacher.</p>
<p>Each type of course had about 16 to 20 students per class.</p>
<p>Researchers found that 76 percent of students in the traditional classes passed the course and recovered the credits, compared to just 66 percent of students who took the online course.</p>
<p>However, that 10 percentage point difference was entirely wiped out if the mentor for the online students provided teaching support to students — something they weren’t required to do. (Mentors were only responsible for such tasks as taking attendance and helping with technical problems.) Not surprisingly, the mentors who provided more teaching support tended to be certified math teachers themselves.</p>
<p>Beth Halloran, a spokeswoman for Fuel Education, says this and other studies show that “very high-risk students often need more than just good curriculum and technology to make them successful.”</p>
<p>“There are many factors to success in any class – whether in an online, blended, or a traditional setting – including student engagement in the course, in-class support, course rigor, demographics, student preparedness, comfort with technology, and many others,” Halloran wrote in a statement. “As a company, we have learned a lot about online and blended curriculum and instruction in the last five years. While there is no silver bullet solution for any student, we will continually work to incorporate what we learn into our offerings and our recommended implementation practices in order to improve the student experience in online and blended learning.”</p>
<p>The study also found that students in the online cohort thought the material was more challenging, and the grading expectations less clear, than students in the regular classrooms. Just 31 percent of students in the online courses earned a grade of A, B or C, compared to more than half the students in the face-to-face courses.</p>
<p>Halloran, of FuelEd, says the company has been used in CPS since 2008 for online and blended learning programs.&#160; In addition to credit recovery, the company provides core, elective, and Advanced Placement courses used by thousands of students across 75 schools.</p>
| false | 3 |
study two prestigious research groups found chicago public high school students failed algebra 1 retook course online less likely pass students retook course traditional classroom setting major studyraises questions relying heavily expensive online credit recovery struggling students strategy gained traction nationally chicago cps paid two companies 600000 last year provide credit recovery online coursework bulk went k12 virtual schools llc owns company whose product subject study cps provide information many students take online courses credit recovery year fact actually cost offer online courses traditional facetoface class according study findings american institutes research university chicago consortium school research red flag online learning bad kids says jessica heppen air coauthor study really points need continuous improvement lots scrutiny need research development engagement stakeholders fact study also makes clear students fail algebra 1 usually continue poorly academically neither type course significant impact whether students passed future math courses earned higher scores act eventually graduated high school kids study continued lowperforming trajectory heppen says despite findings cps officials defended use online credit recovery courses calling especially important students dont flexibility take classes school summer cps committed meeting students providing flexible instructional methods move high school college workforce district spokeswoman emily bittner said statement human interaction matters study focused algebra 1 considered gateway course high school graduation college success dismal pass rates chicago large urban districts onethird cps ninthgraders fail one semesters algebra 1 15 percent students failed semesters algebra 1 20052006 school year graduated within four years heppen zeroed cps five years ago learning officials conducting trials figure online credit recovery programs worked best proper role inclass mentors district officials many since left eagerly embraced study students told part researchers followed 1224 ninthgraders 17 high schools failed algebra 1 needed retake class 2011 2012 half students randomly assigned traditional facetoface classes taught certified math teacher rest placed online course called aventa learning called fuel education would work computer lab supervision inclass mentor could classroom aide guidance counselor certified teacher type course 16 20 students per class researchers found 76 percent students traditional classes passed course recovered credits compared 66 percent students took online course however 10 percentage point difference entirely wiped mentor online students provided teaching support students something werent required mentors responsible tasks taking attendance helping technical problems surprisingly mentors provided teaching support tended certified math teachers beth halloran spokeswoman fuel education says studies show highrisk students often need good curriculum technology make successful many factors success class whether online blended traditional setting including student engagement course inclass support course rigor demographics student preparedness comfort technology many others halloran wrote statement company learned lot online blended curriculum instruction last five years silver bullet solution student continually work incorporate learn offerings recommended implementation practices order improve student experience online blended learning study also found students online cohort thought material challenging grading expectations less clear students regular classrooms 31 percent students online courses earned grade b c compared half students facetoface courses halloran fueled says company used cps since 2008 online blended learning programs160 addition credit recovery company provides core elective advanced placement courses used thousands students across 75 schools
| 515 |
<p>Jon-Michael Eclar (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>The 18th Street Singers present their concert “From Shadow to Light” next week that promises a “transcendent” musical experience designed to showcase the “meditative and sublime beauty of early music.”</p>
<p>The Singers, an a cappella choir of about 50 that specializes in early (i.e. pre-Baroque) music, will perform Dec. 9-10 at 7:30 p.m. each night at St. Agnes of the Ascension Church (1217 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.) featuring sacred works by Purcell, Tallis, Palestrina, Monteverdi, Pretorias and more. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Visit <a href="http://18thstreetsingers.com" type="external">18thstreetsingers.com</a> for details.</p>
<p>“Choral singing, to me, is like a team sport,” says 31-year-old Jon-Michael “JM” Eclar, says of the 12-year-old choir in which he sings tenor. “Everyone in the choir is working hard toward a common goal and we cannot be successful unless we all pitch in. When it finally comes together and the chords lock, it’s truly a magical experience.”</p>
<p>Eclar, a Chantilly, Va., native, works by day for a human resources trade association. He also leads the tenor section in the choir of Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill.</p>
<p>He’s in a relationship with Brad Haas and lives in Dupont Circle. Eclar enjoys working out, running, playing in the Stonewall Kickball League and, of course, singing in his free time.</p>
<p>How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?&#160;</p>
<p>I’ve been out since my junior year in college and the hardest person to tell was the first person I ever came out to, who was my best friend and roommate. After him, coming out to my friends and family became easier and easier with every person I told.</p>
<p>Who’s your LGBT hero?&#160;</p>
<p>RuPaul. She has been out for decades and has been nothing but herself. She inspires everyone to love yourself no matter what anybody else thinks. Be true to who you are. As she says, “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you going to love somebody else?” And yes, I can get an AMEN up in here.</p>
<p>What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?&#160;</p>
<p>Go see a free show at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage at 6 p.m. After that, take the elevator to the terrace and watch the sunset across the Potomac. I’m a hopeless romantic, what can I say?</p>
<p>Describe your dream wedding. &#160;</p>
<p>I’d love for it to be an outdoor wedding with my closest friends and our families. I imagine it somewhere idyllic near a mountain range, like Appalachia.</p>
<p>What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?&#160;</p>
<p>Arts education, arts integration and arts advocacy. The arts should be a required curriculum in the classroom, like science, math and other disciplines. Studies show that the arts and humanities cultivate creativity, a love for learning, motivation, cognitive development and teamwork among countless other reasons. Unfortunately, arts programs across our country are being severely reduced or cut entirely. Do your part by contacting your respective member of congress, talk to school leaders and volunteer your time.</p>
<p>What historical outcome would you change?&#160;</p>
<p>I’m going to go out on a limb, but can we get a restart to all of 2016?</p>
<p>What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?&#160;</p>
<p>Singing at Joe Biden’s holiday party and then meeting him afterwards. We chatted about our alma mater (Go ‘Cuse!), snow and the Adirondacks. The second most memorable moment was when my friend surprised me with house tickets to see “Hamilton” in New York City, which was life-changing.</p>
<p>On what do you insist?&#160;</p>
<p>Kindness and a good sense of humor. Life is too short to be a jerk and take it so seriously.</p>
<p>What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?&#160;</p>
<p>My choir (18th Street Singers) concert on December 9-10 at Church of the Ascension and St. Agnes!</p>
<p>If your life were a book, what would the title be?&#160;</p>
<p>“I Got 99 Problems, but My Pitch Ain’t One”</p>
<p>If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?&#160;</p>
<p>Not a goddamn thing. It has taken me some time to fully appreciate and love who I am. Being gay is a huge part of my identity and I wouldn’t change that for the world.</p>
<p>What do you believe in beyond the physical world?</p>
<p>Just like on (Netflix show) “Stranger Things,” I believe in the Upside Down. RIP Barb.</p>
<p>What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?&#160;</p>
<p>To take a quote from Hillary’s recent speech, “Never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.” With this recent election, we need to make sure that we don’t regress to what our community has worked so hard to achieve.</p>
<p>What would you walk across hot coals for?</p>
<p>My friends and family. Walt. Brad.</p>
<p>What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?&#160;</p>
<p>That gaysian men are all submissive bottoms. Yeah, I’ll say it. It’s not true — we’re not all submissive. OK, OK, that was a joke. But in all seriousness, I think the fact that we have stereotypes to begin with is problematic. The beautiful thing about our community is that we are a diverse myriad of personalities! Don’t pigeonhole us into specific stereotypes that don’t apply to all.</p>
<p>What’s your favorite LGBT movie?&#160;</p>
<p>“Paris is Burning.” Still t’werkin on that death drop, though. I’ll get it someday. Sigh.</p>
<p>What’s the most overrated social custom?</p>
<p>Going to a concert and everyone has their phone out recording a video or taking pictures. Enjoy and just live in the moment.</p>
<p>What trophy or prize do you most covet?&#160;</p>
<p>When I was 23, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I had surgery to remove my thyroid, which left a scar across the base of my neck. To me, that scar represents overcoming adversity and my new lease on life.</p>
<p>What do you wish you’d known at 18?</p>
<p>Maybe you should have gone to that state school instead of maybe that expensive private college institution.</p>
<p>Why Washington?&#160;</p>
<p>Because Washington offers the best of a big city without feeling so overwhelmed. Great neighborhood bars and restaurants. Plenty of green space to roam around outside. And bike lanes. Yes, bike lanes.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">18ht Street Singers</a> <a href="" type="internal">Brad Haas</a> <a href="" type="internal">Church of the Reformation</a> <a href="" type="internal">From Shadow to Light</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jon-Michael Eclar</a> <a href="" type="internal">St. Agnes of the Ascension Church</a> <a href="" type="internal">Stonewall Kickball</a></p>
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jonmichael eclar washington blade photo michael key 18th street singers present concert shadow light next week promises transcendent musical experience designed showcase meditative sublime beauty early music singers cappella choir 50 specializes early ie prebaroque music perform dec 910 730 pm night st agnes ascension church 1217 massachusetts ave nw featuring sacred works purcell tallis palestrina monteverdi pretorias tickets 15 advance 20 door visit 18thstreetsingerscom details choral singing like team sport says 31yearold jonmichael jm eclar says 12yearold choir sings tenor everyone choir working hard toward common goal successful unless pitch finally comes together chords lock truly magical experience eclar chantilly va native works day human resources trade association also leads tenor section choir church reformation capitol hill hes relationship brad haas lives dupont circle eclar enjoys working running playing stonewall kickball league course singing free time long hardest person tell160 ive since junior year college hardest person tell first person ever came best friend roommate coming friends family became easier easier every person told whos lgbt hero160 rupaul decades nothing inspires everyone love matter anybody else thinks true says cant love hell going love somebody else yes get amen whats washingtons best nightspot past present160 go see free show kennedy center millennium stage 6 pm take elevator terrace watch sunset across potomac im hopeless romantic say describe dream wedding 160 id love outdoor wedding closest friends families imagine somewhere idyllic near mountain range like appalachia nonlgbt issue passionate about160 arts education arts integration arts advocacy arts required curriculum classroom like science math disciplines studies show arts humanities cultivate creativity love learning motivation cognitive development teamwork among countless reasons unfortunately arts programs across country severely reduced cut entirely part contacting respective member congress talk school leaders volunteer time historical outcome would change160 im going go limb get restart 2016 whats memorable pop culture moment lifetime160 singing joe bidens holiday party meeting afterwards chatted alma mater go cuse snow adirondacks second memorable moment friend surprised house tickets see hamilton new york city lifechanging insist160 kindness good sense humor life short jerk take seriously last facebook post tweet160 choir 18th street singers concert december 910 church ascension st agnes life book would title be160 got 99 problems pitch aint one science discovered way change sexual orientation would do160 goddamn thing taken time fully appreciate love gay huge part identity wouldnt change world believe beyond physical world like netflix show stranger things believe upside rip barb whats advice lgbt movement leaders160 take quote hillarys recent speech never stop believing fighting whats right worth recent election need make sure dont regress community worked hard achieve would walk across hot coals friends family walt brad lgbt stereotype annoys most160 gaysian men submissive bottoms yeah ill say true submissive ok ok joke seriousness think fact stereotypes begin problematic beautiful thing community diverse myriad personalities dont pigeonhole us specific stereotypes dont apply whats favorite lgbt movie160 paris burning still twerkin death drop though ill get someday sigh whats overrated social custom going concert everyone phone recording video taking pictures enjoy live moment trophy prize covet160 23 diagnosed thyroid cancer surgery remove thyroid left scar across base neck scar represents overcoming adversity new lease life wish youd known 18 maybe gone state school instead maybe expensive private college institution washington160 washington offers best big city without feeling overwhelmed great neighborhood bars restaurants plenty green space roam around outside bike lanes yes bike lanes 18ht street singers brad haas church reformation shadow light jonmichael eclar st agnes ascension church stonewall kickball
| 582 |
<p>AUGUSTA, Ga.—Jack Robinson is in England at the moment because of the dual callings he sensed as a child and because of the Olympic gold medal <a href="http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/national/moly_1948.html" type="external">he won in London in 1948</a>.</p>
<p>And for all of that, the retired Baptist pastor says, he owes thanks to the father who died of blood poisoning when he was 2.</p>
<p>Robinson, 85, said the evangelism bug bit him early. He participated in church services as an adolescent and by high school he was a licensed Baptist preacher sharing the gospel at youth revivals across Texas and other states.</p>
<p />
<p>The other calling—and it was a calling, he said—was to play basketball.</p>
<p>“I started throwing tennis balls through empty coat hangers on mom’s closet door at 5 or 6, and I was bouncing balls from then on,” said Robinson, who now lives in Augusta, Ga., with his wife, Charlotte.</p>
<p>The record books and those who know Robinson testify that he followed both callings to the highest levels—not one after the other, but simultaneously.</p>
<p>How he did that, they say, has as much to do with his natural abilities as it does his conviction that both pursuits complimented each other.</p>
<p>College champion</p>
<p>The biggest influence by far was his father, Bryan Robinson, who had been a Texas preacher and a star athlete in high school and college. Some of Robinson’s earliest memories were of gazing at photographs of his dad in church settings and athletic uniforms.</p>
<p>“He was a basketball player who played on state championship teams and poll vaulted at Baylor,” Robinson said. “And he was the pastor at [Baptist] churches in Fort Worth.”</p>
<p>Likewise, the younger Robinson excelled in sports and his teams almost always were champions. He was sought after by colleges around the nation after earning more than a dozen letters in different sports in high school.</p>
<p>“I had all sorts of scholarship offers,” Robinson recalled, but his dad’s alma mater held the most appeal. “I went to Baylor—the athletic director had played on the basketball team and run track with my father.”</p>
<p>As a guard, Robinson led the Bears to two conference championships and two NCAA championship appearances, including a 1948 game at Madison Square Garden against Kentucky.</p>
<p>Baylor lost, but Robinson’s spirits were lifted the next day when he glimpsed a New York Times story announcing the mix of college and other amateur players chosen for the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team.</p>
<p>“The subhead said ‘Robinson, Lump collegiate choices,’” he said.</p>
<p>‘All of us choked up’</p>
<p>The team sailed across the Atlantic on the SS America to begin a barnstorming series of exhibition games in England, where the game was relatively unknown.</p>
<p>“We were to teach the game to the Brits, who called it ‘net ball,’ and mostly women played it,” he said. “After ’48, it caught on.”</p>
<p>England was still in shambles in the wake of World War II. “They called them the ‘austerity games,’” Robinson remembered. “There was still rubble in the streets and sugar was rationed.”</p>
<p>Robinson and his American teammates, who were quartered in Royal Air Force barracks, dominated the games that year, winning all but one of their contests by blowout.</p>
<p>“The only close game was against Argentina,” he said. “We beat France by 41 points in the finals.”</p>
<p>Robinson said he was just soaking it all in until the medal ceremonies.</p>
<p>“I did pretty well until they played ‘The Star Spangled Banner,’ and then all of us choked up.”</p>
<p>‘They kept pestering me’</p>
<p>But going to England wasn’t all about basketball for Robinson. While there, he sought out <a href="http://www.christianity.com/sermonhelps/11557530/print/" type="external">James Stuart Stewart</a>, an acclaimed author and evangelist at North Morningside Church in Edinburgh.</p>
<p>He visited the church twice and his Olympian status helped him gain access to the preacher’s study, where the two men talked about ministry and faith—and about how Robinson could get the minister tickets to the Olympic basketball games.</p>
<p>“He is the greatest preacher of your lifetime and of mine,” Robinson said.</p>
<p>The encounter fortified Robinson’s resolve to preach, which he had done while preparing for the games and immediately upon returning from Europe.</p>
<p>Robinson said the desire to preach never left him.</p>
<p>Even in college, he had preached—and so well that two small churches called him to be their pastor. One of them, 9th Street Mission in Waco, he accepted and pastored while enrolled at Baylor.</p>
<p>In 1953, Robinson preached a youth revival in Augusta, Ga., that so impressed the locals that he was immediately asked to pastor the host congregation, <a href="http://www.fbcaugusta.org/" type="external">First Baptist Church</a>.</p>
<p>“They kept on pestering me,” he said.</p>
<p>He finally accepted and pastored the church into the early 1970s. He followed that as an international missionary and church starter in Europe.</p>
<p>Risk taker</p>
<p>“He was a fabulous preacher,” said Warren Daniel, 64, of Augusta. Daniel was baptized by Robinson at age 7 at First Baptist, where he now sits one pew in front of the pastor emeritus.</p>
<p>Robinson was always prepared and used great analogies and illustrations in his sermons.</p>
<p>That his pastor had been an international basketball star only dawned on him and other children as they got older and started playing hoops at the church, Daniel said.</p>
<p>“He would come out and shoot and play with us, and we all figured out he was pretty dog-gone good.”</p>
<p>He was also a visionary who didn’t shy away from controversy, said Gregory Deloach, First Baptist’s current pastor. Robinson raised eyebrows by launching the church’s television program in the 1950s, DeLoach said.</p>
<p>“That was very radical and progressive thing to do,” he said. “Television was a brand new medium.”</p>
<p>He also led the difficult process to move the church from its historic downtown location to a multi-acre site in the western part of the county, DeLoach said. Robinson and his staff faced government red tape and an unsuccessful lawsuit by some church members opposed to the move.</p>
<p>“That took a lot of guts and courage, foresight and risk,” DeLoach said. “If we had stayed downtown we would have been landlocked.”</p>
<p>Going back in time</p>
<p>Robinson’s success as a pastor cannot be separated from his athletic prowess, said Frances Claussen, one of this two daughters.</p>
<p>“My dad grew up in a locker room” which made him “a good people person,” she said. “He has that way of communicating and talking that just draws you in.”</p>
<p>That’s one of the reasons she was eager to be in London with her father during the games.</p>
<p>“I’m looking forward to the trip with him because I hope it will trigger more stories,” she said before they departed July 25. “To be over there with him as he goes back in time, can’t you just see him over there?”</p>
<p>“I’m looking forward to the opening ceremonies” and attending track-and-field competitions, Robinson said. He said seeing the men’s basketball team play won’t be a top priority since they aren’t amateurs as Olympians were when he played.</p>
<p>And just like 1948, Robinson said the games won’t be his only interest while in England. There will be museums to visit and his scheduled talk to the London Rotary Club, which helped replace his gold medal stolen in 1961.</p>
<p>And there is one other destination, he said: “Church. We will go to church there.”</p>
<p>Jeff Brumley ( <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a>)&#160;is assistant editor of Associated Baptist Press.</p>
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augusta gajack robinson england moment dual callings sensed child olympic gold medal london 1948 retired baptist pastor says owes thanks father died blood poisoning 2 robinson 85 said evangelism bug bit early participated church services adolescent high school licensed baptist preacher sharing gospel youth revivals across texas states callingand calling saidwas play basketball started throwing tennis balls empty coat hangers moms closet door 5 6 bouncing balls said robinson lives augusta ga wife charlotte record books know robinson testify followed callings highest levelsnot one simultaneously say much natural abilities conviction pursuits complimented college champion biggest influence far father bryan robinson texas preacher star athlete high school college robinsons earliest memories gazing photographs dad church settings athletic uniforms basketball player played state championship teams poll vaulted baylor robinson said pastor baptist churches fort worth likewise younger robinson excelled sports teams almost always champions sought colleges around nation earning dozen letters different sports high school sorts scholarship offers robinson recalled dads alma mater held appeal went baylorthe athletic director played basketball team run track father guard robinson led bears two conference championships two ncaa championship appearances including 1948 game madison square garden kentucky baylor lost robinsons spirits lifted next day glimpsed new york times story announcing mix college amateur players chosen us olympic mens basketball team subhead said robinson lump collegiate choices said us choked team sailed across atlantic ss america begin barnstorming series exhibition games england game relatively unknown teach game brits called net ball mostly women played said 48 caught england still shambles wake world war ii called austerity games robinson remembered still rubble streets sugar rationed robinson american teammates quartered royal air force barracks dominated games year winning one contests blowout close game argentina said beat france 41 points finals robinson said soaking medal ceremonies pretty well played star spangled banner us choked kept pestering going england wasnt basketball robinson sought james stuart stewart acclaimed author evangelist north morningside church edinburgh visited church twice olympian status helped gain access preachers study two men talked ministry faithand robinson could get minister tickets olympic basketball games greatest preacher lifetime mine robinson said encounter fortified robinsons resolve preach done preparing games immediately upon returning europe robinson said desire preach never left even college preachedand well two small churches called pastor one 9th street mission waco accepted pastored enrolled baylor 1953 robinson preached youth revival augusta ga impressed locals immediately asked pastor host congregation first baptist church kept pestering said finally accepted pastored church early 1970s followed international missionary church starter europe risk taker fabulous preacher said warren daniel 64 augusta daniel baptized robinson age 7 first baptist sits one pew front pastor emeritus robinson always prepared used great analogies illustrations sermons pastor international basketball star dawned children got older started playing hoops church daniel said would come shoot play us figured pretty doggone good also visionary didnt shy away controversy said gregory deloach first baptists current pastor robinson raised eyebrows launching churchs television program 1950s deloach said radical progressive thing said television brand new medium also led difficult process move church historic downtown location multiacre site western part county deloach said robinson staff faced government red tape unsuccessful lawsuit church members opposed move took lot guts courage foresight risk deloach said stayed downtown would landlocked going back time robinsons success pastor separated athletic prowess said frances claussen one two daughters dad grew locker room made good people person said way communicating talking draws thats one reasons eager london father games im looking forward trip hope trigger stories said departed july 25 goes back time cant see im looking forward opening ceremonies attending trackandfield competitions robinson said said seeing mens basketball team play wont top priority since arent amateurs olympians played like 1948 robinson said games wont interest england museums visit scheduled talk london rotary club helped replace gold medal stolen 1961 one destination said church go church jeff brumley jeffbaptistnewscom160is assistant editor associated baptist press
| 653 |
<p>It’s the latest front in the growing global movement to stop fossil fuel extraction. The Port of Seattle, a longtime staging point for expeditions to cash in on Alaska’s natural resources, has been home this spring to a standoff between oil giant Shell and legions of protesting “kayaktivists” and others hoping to foil <a href="http://www.shell.us/aboutshell/projects-locations/alaska/about.html" type="external">the company’s plans to send a massive drilling rig to the Arctic Ocean</a>next month.</p>
<p>The gigantic rig, the Polar Pioneer, has been parked on the Seattle waterfront since mid-May. Opponents say pretty much everything about it is offensive — from its sheer size, blocking views of Puget Sound, to the climate change impacts it symbolizes, to the threat of a disastrous accident.</p>
<p>“I understand what big oil means to a region. It means devastation,” says&#160;protester Ann Rolfes, who lives in New Orleans but came to Seattle for a recent three-day action called “the paddle in Seattle.” Rolfes warns that key parts of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem have never recovered from <a href="" type="external">BP’s massive oil well blowout</a> there five years ago.</p>
<p>“I don’t want that to happen in the Arctic,” Rolfes says.</p>
<p>For local grad student Michael Anthony Moynihan and many others here, the key issue is climate change, which already is happening.</p>
<p>“We’re looking at desertification, we’re looking at excessive droughts,” Moynihan says. “We don’t even have snow up on our mountains this year. So where are we going to get our water from?”</p>
<p>Regional leaders from Washington Governor Jay Inslee to Seattle Mayor Ed Murray are also scrambling to find ways to dislodge Shell from its way station in Seattle, a move that could cripple the expedition. Murray pulled Shell’s permit before the rig arrived, but the city’s port commission appealed that decision and Shell’s fleet came anyway.</p>
<p>Shell's Polar Pioneer drilling platform enters Seattle's Elliot Bay on May 14, 2015, to prepare for its deployment to Alaska's Chukchi Sea this summer.</p>
<p>Aaron Brethorst/Flickr Creative Commons</p>
<p>Shell says the warm weather window for safe operations in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea is too short to wait and that its ships need service from Seattle’s skilled workforce, to ensure safe operations.&#160;Company officials declined to speak publicly&#160;for this story. Shell acknowledges there are climate risks from fossil fuels and touts its commitment to efficiency, renewables and other new technologies. But the company also says global demand for energy is booming, and that oil and natural gas are less polluting than coal.</p>
<p>It also says it can drill in the Arctic safely.</p>
<p>For their part, port officials argue that Seattle has always been a gateway to Alaska’s extractive industries, from fish to gold, timber and petroleum.&#160;And Gail McCormick, with the <a href="http://www.ibu.org/index.cfm" type="external">local boatmen’s union</a>, says this is pretty much a done deal.</p>
<p>“President Obama has already signed the drill leases. It’s going to happen anyway,” McCormick says, so Seattle should get its piece of the pie in the form of hundreds of jobs.&#160;McCormick also says Seattle workers know the territory and can help keep operations safer than anyone else.</p>
<p>“I understand the kayaktivists and the people that don’t want this to happen,” he says. “But rather than put this in the hands of unprofessionals, let’s do it the right way.”</p>
<p>It’s an argument that resonates beyond the docks of Seattle. <a href="http://irps.ucsd.edu/faculty/faculty-directory/david-victor.htm" type="external">David Victor</a>, who teaches International Law and Regulation at the University of California San Diego, says the Arctic is one of the last frontiers of oil and gas development, and that the US needs to be a player.</p>
<p>“We have as a nation a very strong interest in having that happen in our waters, with tight regulation, and not pushing it into other jurisdictions where it will be less well regulated but we might still be harmed if there’s a large spill in the Arctic,” Victor says.</p>
<p>That may be part of President Obama’s calculus in <a href="http://www.boem.gov/press05112015/" type="external">giving Shell the go-ahead</a> this spring, after the administration imposed strict safety measures.</p>
<p>Shell plans to deploy its Polar Pioneer drilling rig on the continental shelf in the Chukchi Sea about 150 miles west of Barrow, Alaska. The Obama administration approved the plan earlier this spring, after imposing tightened safety rules over previous plans.</p>
<p>Shell Gulf of Mexico</p>
<p>But others say Obama’s approval seems schizophrenic, because he’s taking tough stances against climate pollution on other fronts.</p>
<p>“The law does not require them to lease if they don’t want to lease,” says <a href="http://blogs.berkeley.edu/author/ebiber/" type="external">Eric Biber</a>, who teaches environmental Law at the University of California Berkeley. He says the administration could’ve pulled the plug on Shell.</p>
<p>“So why are they leasing? They’re leasing because of the politics.”</p>
<p>The politics of energy and climate are extremely complicated. But Biber says those politics could change if protesters keep up the pressure on Shell over the summer and beyond.</p>
<p>And the protestors say they will, that the fight over Arctic Drilling is as big and significant as the years-long fight over the <a href="" type="internal">Keystone XL pipeline</a>. Many here say it’s bigger than any particular operation but rather part of a growing global “keep it in the ground” movement aimed at all fossil fuels.</p>
<p>And many say they’ll use whatever means are available to disrupt Shell’s plans.</p>
<p>Already Governor Inslee’s Department of Natural Resources has determined that Shell’s long-term use of state waters for its huge rigs is unconstitutional. And the city of Seattle has begun imposing fines of up to $500 a day for parking without the right permit.</p>
<p>If those don’t cause Shell to move its Arctic rig out, the “kayaktivists” say they’ll try to do the opposite: Keep the rigs from leaving Seattle when the drilling is set to begin next month.</p>
<p>An anti-drilling protester poses as an endangered polar bear during the "paddle in Seattle" demonstrations. The habitat of polar bears is threatened by climate change.</p>
<p>Lucas Randall Owens</p>
<p>Bellamy Paithorp had reporting help on this story from Ashley Gross and Lucas Randall Owens.</p>
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latest front growing global movement stop fossil fuel extraction port seattle longtime staging point expeditions cash alaskas natural resources home spring standoff oil giant shell legions protesting kayaktivists others hoping foil companys plans send massive drilling rig arctic oceannext month gigantic rig polar pioneer parked seattle waterfront since midmay opponents say pretty much everything offensive sheer size blocking views puget sound climate change impacts symbolizes threat disastrous accident understand big oil means region means devastation says160protester ann rolfes lives new orleans came seattle recent threeday action called paddle seattle rolfes warns key parts gulf mexico ecosystem never recovered bps massive oil well blowout five years ago dont want happen arctic rolfes says local grad student michael anthony moynihan many others key issue climate change already happening looking desertification looking excessive droughts moynihan says dont even snow mountains year going get water regional leaders washington governor jay inslee seattle mayor ed murray also scrambling find ways dislodge shell way station seattle move could cripple expedition murray pulled shells permit rig arrived citys port commission appealed decision shells fleet came anyway shells polar pioneer drilling platform enters seattles elliot bay may 14 2015 prepare deployment alaskas chukchi sea summer aaron brethorstflickr creative commons shell says warm weather window safe operations alaskas chukchi sea short wait ships need service seattles skilled workforce ensure safe operations160company officials declined speak publicly160for story shell acknowledges climate risks fossil fuels touts commitment efficiency renewables new technologies company also says global demand energy booming oil natural gas less polluting coal also says drill arctic safely part port officials argue seattle always gateway alaskas extractive industries fish gold timber petroleum160and gail mccormick local boatmens union says pretty much done deal president obama already signed drill leases going happen anyway mccormick says seattle get piece pie form hundreds jobs160mccormick also says seattle workers know territory help keep operations safer anyone else understand kayaktivists people dont want happen says rather put hands unprofessionals lets right way argument resonates beyond docks seattle david victor teaches international law regulation university california san diego says arctic one last frontiers oil gas development us needs player nation strong interest happen waters tight regulation pushing jurisdictions less well regulated might still harmed theres large spill arctic victor says may part president obamas calculus giving shell goahead spring administration imposed strict safety measures shell plans deploy polar pioneer drilling rig continental shelf chukchi sea 150 miles west barrow alaska obama administration approved plan earlier spring imposing tightened safety rules previous plans shell gulf mexico others say obamas approval seems schizophrenic hes taking tough stances climate pollution fronts law require lease dont want lease says eric biber teaches environmental law university california berkeley says administration couldve pulled plug shell leasing theyre leasing politics politics energy climate extremely complicated biber says politics could change protesters keep pressure shell summer beyond protestors say fight arctic drilling big significant yearslong fight keystone xl pipeline many say bigger particular operation rather part growing global keep ground movement aimed fossil fuels many say theyll use whatever means available disrupt shells plans already governor inslees department natural resources determined shells longterm use state waters huge rigs unconstitutional city seattle begun imposing fines 500 day parking without right permit dont cause shell move arctic rig kayaktivists say theyll try opposite keep rigs leaving seattle drilling set begin next month antidrilling protester poses endangered polar bear paddle seattle demonstrations habitat polar bears threatened climate change lucas randall owens bellamy paithorp reporting help story ashley gross lucas randall owens
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<p>OBAMA AGENDA: Another big overseas trip coming up</p>
<p>"President Obama departs Tues­day for a week-long, four-nation tour of Asia, where he and his top aides will be less focused on any big policy announcements than on reassuring jittery allies that America remains committed to bolstering its security and economic ties to the region," <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/during-asia-trip-obama-seeks-to-rebalance-americas-relationship-with-the-region/2014/04/20/055e3ba0-c73c-11e3-9f37-7ce307c56815_story.html?hpid=z1" type="external">writes the Washington Post.</a></p>
<p>Meanwhile "U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will meet with Ukraine's acting president, Oleksander Turchinov, and Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk during a visit to Kiev on Tuesday," <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/21/us-ukraine-crisis-biden-travel-idUSBREA3K00C20140421" type="external">Reuters reports.</a></p>
<p>A runoff is likely in the Afghan presidential race, the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/21/world/asia/a-lead-grows-but-runoff-is-likely-in-afghan-race.html?hp" type="external">New York Times reports.</a></p>
<p>The new health care law "is challenging the traditional calculus about government benefits and political impact," writes Jonathan Martin of the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/20/us/politics/democrats-confront-vexing-politics-over-the-health-care-law.html?ref=us" type="external">New York Times.</a></p>
<p>Common Core educational standards are splitting the Republican party, writes the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/20/us/politics/republicans-see-political-wedge-in-common-core.html?ref=us" type="external">New York Times.</a> "A once little-known set of national educational standards introduced in 44 states and the District of Columbia with the overwhelming support of Republican governors, the Common Core has incited intense resistance on the right and prompted some in the party to reverse field and join colleagues who believe it will lead to a federal takeover of schools."</p>
<p>On Friday, <a href="" type="internal">the State Department announced</a> that federal agencies will get more time to review the controversial Keystone pipeline before a decision is made.</p>
<p>Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens believes politics should be a factor in retirement decisions. "It’s an appropriate thing to think about your successor, not only in this job,” Stevens said on whether to take into account which president will choose a successor," he <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/04/john-paul-stevens-ruth-bader-ginsburg-asked-my-advice-on-retirement/" type="external">told ABC News.</a></p>
<p>"Top Senate backers of an unemployment extension say there’s still hope for a deal and are working to set up a meeting with Speaker John A. Boehner," <a href="http://blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb/reid-heller-hold-out-hope-for-house-action-on-unemployment-extension/?dcz=" type="external">Roll Call writes.</a></p>
<p>OFF TO THE RACES: The Dems’ midterm turnout problem</p>
<p>Over the weekend, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-seek-to-reshape-midterm-electorate-along-lines-of-a-presidential-year/2014/04/19/1cf11fc6-c63d-11e3-9f37-7ce307c56815_story.html" type="external">the Washington Post's Dan Balz</a> took a long look at Democrats' attempts to battle their turnout woes.</p>
<p>(As we’ve seen, that Obama coalition turns out in droves for the president, but not so much when he’s not on the ballot.)</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/21/us/politics/jeb-bushs-rush-to-make-money-may-be-hurdle.html?hp" type="external">New York Times</a> runs a story with this headline: “Jeb Bush’s Rush to Make Money May Be Hurdle.” From the article: “Mr. Bush left public office seven years ago with a net worth of $1.3 million and an unapologetic determination to expand his wealth, telling friends that his finances had suffered during his time in government. But his efforts to capitalize on his résumé and reputation have thrust him into situations that may prove challenging to explain should he mount a Republican campaign for the White House. Records and interviews show, for example, that Mr. Bush participated in the fevered, last-ditch efforts to prop up Lehman Brothers, a Wall Street bank weighed down by toxic mortgage-backed securities. As a paid adviser to the company in the summer of 2008, he met with Carlos Slim Helú, a Mexican billionaire, as Lehman sought to persuade Mr. Slim to make a sizable investment in the firm, emails show.”</p>
<p><a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/gop-campaign-committee-has-31m-hold-house" type="external">The AP:</a>"The House Republican campaign committee raised almost $10 million in March and has $31.2 million banked to defend the party's majority, according to financial reports filed Sunday."</p>
<p>"Wary of being on the losing side of the gender gap, Republican candidates are working to repel Democratic efforts to portray GOP policy on abortion, equal-pay laws and other matters as harmful to women," <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304626304579510031992699894?mg=reno64-wsj" type="external">writes the Wall Street Journal.</a></p>
<p>CONNECTICUT: <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2014/04/19/ted-kennedy-starting-trenches/h24O9K57QVegjeoKgpjbUN/story.html" type="external">The Boston Globe editorial board</a> lauds Ted Kennedy Jr's decision to start small with a state senate run.</p>
<p>GEORGIA: <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/203926-gopers-spar-in-georgia-primary-debate" type="external">The Hill</a>checks in on the weekend's Georgia Senate primary debate. "The debate, held near Augusta, Ga., appeared to feature no major gaffes by any candidate, although it was notable for Broun's attacks on Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Gingrey's explicit promise to serve only one term in the Senate if he cannot fully repeal ObamaCare."</p>
<p>"As the vitriol among Republican contenders for Georgia’s open U.S. Senate seat intensifies, the party’s heavyweights are taking behind-the-scenes steps to boost the eventual nominee amid concerns that the bruising contest could help a Democrat win the seat," <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional/pressure-on-nunn-starts-to-build-as-gop-candidates/nfT5W/" type="external">writes the Atlanta Journal Constitution.</a></p>
<p>LOUISIANA: Embattled Rep. Vance McAllister has had a predictably poor fundraising quarter, but he has personal wealth to pour into his re-election race, <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/04/post_559.html#incart_river" type="external">writes the Times-Picayune.</a></p>
<p>MASSACHUSETTS: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/04/20/warren-willing-to-take-on-system/7937697/" type="external">USA Today</a> profiles Sen. Elizabeth Warren. "It is not possible for a corporation to break the law without someone inside the corporation breaking the law. If we want real deterrence in the system, it has to be that individuals are held accountable whenever they break the law," she told the paper.</p>
<p>WEST VIRGINIA: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304626304579510232255054254?mg=reno64-wsj&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304626304579510232255054254.htm" type="external">The Wall Street Journal</a>dives into the West Virginia Senate race, comparing the Democratic contender to North Dakota's incumbent. "Mrs. Tennant, West Virginia's secretary of state, is hoping Ms. Heitkamp's strategy of energetically meeting thousands of individual voters, focusing on state issues and being willing to criticize President Barack Obama on energy policy will produce similar results for her in November."</p>
<p>PROGRAMMING NOTES.</p>
<p>*** Monday’s “The Daily Rundown” line-up: NBC’s Chuck Todd interviews NBC’s Jim Maceda, Bill Neely, Ron Mott, Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes and Georgia State Senator Jason Carter.</p>
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obama agenda another big overseas trip coming president obama departs tuesday weeklong fournation tour asia top aides less focused big policy announcements reassuring jittery allies america remains committed bolstering security economic ties region writes washington post meanwhile us vice president joe biden meet ukraines acting president oleksander turchinov prime minister arseny yatseniuk visit kiev tuesday reuters reports runoff likely afghan presidential race new york times reports new health care law challenging traditional calculus government benefits political impact writes jonathan martin new york times common core educational standards splitting republican party writes new york times littleknown set national educational standards introduced 44 states district columbia overwhelming support republican governors common core incited intense resistance right prompted party reverse field join colleagues believe lead federal takeover schools friday state department announced federal agencies get time review controversial keystone pipeline decision made supreme court justice john paul stevens believes politics factor retirement decisions appropriate thing think successor job stevens said whether take account president choose successor told abc news top senate backers unemployment extension say theres still hope deal working set meeting speaker john boehner roll call writes races dems midterm turnout problem weekend washington posts dan balz took long look democrats attempts battle turnout woes weve seen obama coalition turns droves president much hes ballot new york times runs story headline jeb bushs rush make money may hurdle article mr bush left public office seven years ago net worth 13 million unapologetic determination expand wealth telling friends finances suffered time government efforts capitalize résumé reputation thrust situations may prove challenging explain mount republican campaign white house records interviews show example mr bush participated fevered lastditch efforts prop lehman brothers wall street bank weighed toxic mortgagebacked securities paid adviser company summer 2008 met carlos slim helú mexican billionaire lehman sought persuade mr slim make sizable investment firm emails show apthe house republican campaign committee raised almost 10 million march 312 million banked defend partys majority according financial reports filed sunday wary losing side gender gap republican candidates working repel democratic efforts portray gop policy abortion equalpay laws matters harmful women writes wall street journal connecticut boston globe editorial board lauds ted kennedy jrs decision start small state senate run georgia hillchecks weekends georgia senate primary debate debate held near augusta ga appeared feature major gaffes candidate although notable brouns attacks speaker john boehner rohio gingreys explicit promise serve one term senate fully repeal obamacare vitriol among republican contenders georgias open us senate seat intensifies partys heavyweights taking behindthescenes steps boost eventual nominee amid concerns bruising contest could help democrat win seat writes atlanta journal constitution louisiana embattled rep vance mcallister predictably poor fundraising quarter personal wealth pour reelection race writes timespicayune massachusetts usa today profiles sen elizabeth warren possible corporation break law without someone inside corporation breaking law want real deterrence system individuals held accountable whenever break law told paper west virginia wall street journaldives west virginia senate race comparing democratic contender north dakotas incumbent mrs tennant west virginias secretary state hoping ms heitkamps strategy energetically meeting thousands individual voters focusing state issues willing criticize president barack obama energy policy produce similar results november programming notes mondays daily rundown lineup nbcs chuck todd interviews nbcs jim maceda bill neely ron mott deputy national security advisor ben rhodes georgia state senator jason carter
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<p>Anti-LGBT action is still feared from President Donald Trump. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>Despite White House assurances that President Trump will keep in place Obama’s order against anti-LGBT workplace discrimination and that he “continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights,” advocacy leaders insist those words aren’t good enough and still anticipate executive action that would harm LGBT people.</p>
<p>James Esseks, director of the LGBT project at the American Civil Liberties Union, was among those saying the pledge isn’t good enough, citing the anti-LGBT nominees Trump chose for his Cabinet and his other actions against minority groups.</p>
<p>“Actions speak louder than words,” Esseks said. “President Trump has surrounded himself with a vice president and cabinet members who have repeatedly sought to sanction discrimination against LGBT people in the name of religion, and nothing in the White House’s statement makes clear that these efforts are behind us. LGBT immigrants, refugees, Muslims, and women have already come under attack by this administration. If Donald Trump is serious about being an ally to the LGBT community, it starts with abandoning an agenda driven by fear and prejudice.”</p>
<p>Following a Washington Post report that the Trump administration was considering rolling back an executive order former President Obama signed in 2014 barring anti-LGBT workplace discrimination among federal contractors, the White House issued a statement saying Trump “continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights” and the order “will remain intact at the direction of President Donald J. Trump.”</p>
<p>But Trump found no love from LGBT advocacy groups, who continue to raise fears about possible discriminatory efforts at a later time.</p>
<p>Rea Carey, executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, said Trump has already demonstrated he’s no friend to LGBT people with his executive orders on immigration, which include a green light to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, a prohibition on refugees and a ban on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries considered high risk for terrorism.</p>
<p>“The truth is he has been playing deeply harmful games with LGBTQ people’s lives throughout his campaign and every single day of his days-old presidency,” Carey said. “The problem for him is we are everywhere — so when he signs executive orders designed to demonize and dehumanize anyone — Muslims, women, refugees, people of color, immigrants — he is attacking us all. President Trump does not get bonus points for discriminating a little. Discrimination is discrimination. Racism is racism. Islamophobia is Islamophobia.”</p>
<p>Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said LGBT people aren’t out of the woods yet and for even considering a reversal of the executive order, as reported by the Washington Post, Trump deserves condemnation.</p>
<p>“The fact that proactively discriminating against transgender and other LGBT people was even being discussed in the White House is shameful, as is the fact that there are other options still on the table to target LGBT Americans,” Keisling said. “This limited retreat certainly does not make President Trump an ally to transgender Americans. He is certainly not an ally to transgender refugees, transgender Muslims, or transgender people who depend on the Affordable Care Act or Planned Parenthood.”</p>
<p>Kate Kendell, executive director of&#160;the National Center for Lesbian Rights, also said in a statement she remains concerned despite the White House pledge to protect the Obama-era executive order.</p>
<p>“Today’s statement says only that President Trump does not intend to take the extreme step of abolishing existing anti-discrimination protections for federal employees and contractors, some of which have been in place for nearly 20&#160;years,” Kendell said. “That is not a step forward. We remain concerned by reports that the president intends to issue an order creating new religious exemptions that will permit discrimination against LGBT people and others.”</p>
<p>Kendell said the statement on preserving the executive order may be an attempt by the White House to distract LGBT people from Trump’s upcoming pick for the U.S. Supreme Court, which she called “the most important issue for our community.”</p>
<p>“The Senate must reject any nominee who will turn back the clock on our nation’s commitment to the equality and freedom of LGBT people, including the fundamental right to marry and to be treated equally to other married couples,” Kendell said.</p>
<p>Trump could keep his pledge to maintain Obama’s order and enable discrimination with a new “religious freedom” executive order providing a carve-out for religious-affiliated federal contractors. But the phrase in the White House statement saying the workplace executive order “will remain intact” suggests Trump would not only keep it in place, but also not take other action that would inhibit the directive.</p>
<p>In terms of evidence that further anti-LGBT executive actions might&#160;unfold, LGBT advocates cite unattributed rumors in Washington and point to media reports suggesting a “religious freedom” order against LGBT rights is under consideration. Bloomberg News reported over the weekend possible executive actions under Trump include allowing contractors to discriminate in hiring, allowing taxpayer-funded workers to refuse to serve LGBT people or enabling discrimination where contractors could refuse service to LGBTQ people.</p>
<p>On Monday, Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin issued a series of tweets saying a senior administration official has affirmed the existence of a draft executive order that could affect federal employee benefits and protections as well as adoption agencies that receive federal funding. The potential order, Rogin tweeted, could allow federal employees to refuse to serve LGBT people out of a belief marriage is one man, one woman and gender is immutable at birth.</p>
<p>Dale Carpenter, a conservative law professor at the SMU Dedman School of Law who’s written about LGBT rights, said everyone should “take a deep breath” and actually read the statement the White House produced.</p>
<p>“All sorts of terrible things are possible, but so far, at least on this one issue, this is the one bright spot in the Trump administration — as far as I can tell,” Carpenter said. “And obviously, we have to remain vigilant, but I really would not give in at this point to a whole lot of unsubstantiated rumors. My God! Did any of these people actually read what he said yesterday? It’s remarkable. If George W. [Bush] had said that, there would be a gay Pride parade in front of the White House.”</p>
<p>If Trump were to follow up on the statement with an executive order taking away spousal benefits from federal employees, Carpenter said, it would defy the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings against the Defense of Marriage Act and in favor of same-sex marriage and be struck down in court.</p>
<p>“I think the idea the federal government would try to take away marital benefits from same-sex couples is pretty far-fetched and it would be clearly unconstitutional under the Windsor and also, I think, under the Obergefell decision, which applied to the states, but the principles apply equally to the federal government,” Carpenter said.</p>
<p>Carpenter said Trump could sign an executive order enabling contractors and adoption agencies&#160;to deny services to LGBT people, but that wouldn’t change the&#160;“existing obligation” at the federal level for these entities to serve LGBT people.</p>
<p>“If he signed an executive order, that would just put it in place a little more strongly, but it wouldn’t effectively change anything that’s going on right now,” Carpenter said.</p>
<p>Bigger issues, Carpenter said, are Trump’s Supreme Court pick and whether his Justice Department will retain the position that transgender discrimination amounts to sex discrimination under current law — both of which are important now that the court has taken up a case on whether schools must allow transgender people to use the restroom consistent with their gender identity.</p>
<p>Despite Trump’s pledge to keep the order, he may also compromise the measure if he makes good on his campaign pledge to sign into law the First Amendment Defense Act, which would enable anti-LGBT discrimination in the name of religious freedom. Even the compromise version of the legislation proposed by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), which exempts for-profit contractors, would undermine the 2014 executive order because religious-affiliated non-profit federal contractors would be allowed to discriminate.</p>
<p>The Washington Blade has placed a request with the White House to clarify whether any “religious freedom” order that would undermine LGBT rights is on the way. Prior to the White House statement on Monday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said he wouldn’t “get ahead” of Trump on executive orders when asked if he was considering a “religious freedom” order.</p>
<p>Joseph Murray II, the gay administrator for the Facebook page LGBTrump, criticized&#160;LGBT advocacy groups for raising the alarm about a future LGBT order, calling those efforts a “desperate” ploy for relevance.</p>
<p>“LGBT liberals are desperate because the stranglehold they have on the LGBT community is weakening,” Murray said. “A large number of LGBT Americans are waking up to realize that in a post-marriage equality world all LGBT liberals have to offer is their flapping gums. With his immigration order President Trump showed he is protecting the LGBT community and because of that LGBT liberals tried to scare the LGBT community with their fake news. Just like their efforts during the 2016 election, they fell short.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Dale Carpenter</a> <a href="" type="internal">executive order</a> <a href="" type="internal">Kate Kendell</a> <a href="" type="internal">Rea Carey</a></p>
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antilgbt action still feared president donald trump washington blade photo michael key despite white house assurances president trump keep place obamas order antilgbt workplace discrimination continues respectful supportive lgbtq rights advocacy leaders insist words arent good enough still anticipate executive action would harm lgbt people james esseks director lgbt project american civil liberties union among saying pledge isnt good enough citing antilgbt nominees trump chose cabinet actions minority groups actions speak louder words esseks said president trump surrounded vice president cabinet members repeatedly sought sanction discrimination lgbt people name religion nothing white houses statement makes clear efforts behind us lgbt immigrants refugees muslims women already come attack administration donald trump serious ally lgbt community starts abandoning agenda driven fear prejudice following washington post report trump administration considering rolling back executive order former president obama signed 2014 barring antilgbt workplace discrimination among federal contractors white house issued statement saying trump continues respectful supportive lgbtq rights order remain intact direction president donald j trump trump found love lgbt advocacy groups continue raise fears possible discriminatory efforts later time rea carey executive director national lgbtq task force action fund said trump already demonstrated hes friend lgbt people executive orders immigration include green light build wall usmexico border prohibition refugees ban immigration seven muslimmajority countries considered high risk terrorism truth playing deeply harmful games lgbtq peoples lives throughout campaign every single day daysold presidency carey said problem everywhere signs executive orders designed demonize dehumanize anyone muslims women refugees people color immigrants attacking us president trump get bonus points discriminating little discrimination discrimination racism racism islamophobia islamophobia mara keisling executive director national center transgender equality said lgbt people arent woods yet even considering reversal executive order reported washington post trump deserves condemnation fact proactively discriminating transgender lgbt people even discussed white house shameful fact options still table target lgbt americans keisling said limited retreat certainly make president trump ally transgender americans certainly ally transgender refugees transgender muslims transgender people depend affordable care act planned parenthood kate kendell executive director of160the national center lesbian rights also said statement remains concerned despite white house pledge protect obamaera executive order todays statement says president trump intend take extreme step abolishing existing antidiscrimination protections federal employees contractors place nearly 20160years kendell said step forward remain concerned reports president intends issue order creating new religious exemptions permit discrimination lgbt people others kendell said statement preserving executive order may attempt white house distract lgbt people trumps upcoming pick us supreme court called important issue community senate must reject nominee turn back clock nations commitment equality freedom lgbt people including fundamental right marry treated equally married couples kendell said trump could keep pledge maintain obamas order enable discrimination new religious freedom executive order providing carveout religiousaffiliated federal contractors phrase white house statement saying workplace executive order remain intact suggests trump would keep place also take action would inhibit directive terms evidence antilgbt executive actions might160unfold lgbt advocates cite unattributed rumors washington point media reports suggesting religious freedom order lgbt rights consideration bloomberg news reported weekend possible executive actions trump include allowing contractors discriminate hiring allowing taxpayerfunded workers refuse serve lgbt people enabling discrimination contractors could refuse service lgbtq people monday washington post columnist josh rogin issued series tweets saying senior administration official affirmed existence draft executive order could affect federal employee benefits protections well adoption agencies receive federal funding potential order rogin tweeted could allow federal employees refuse serve lgbt people belief marriage one man one woman gender immutable birth dale carpenter conservative law professor smu dedman school law whos written lgbt rights said everyone take deep breath actually read statement white house produced sorts terrible things possible far least one issue one bright spot trump administration far tell carpenter said obviously remain vigilant really would give point whole lot unsubstantiated rumors god people actually read said yesterday remarkable george w bush said would gay pride parade front white house trump follow statement executive order taking away spousal benefits federal employees carpenter said would defy us supreme courts rulings defense marriage act favor samesex marriage struck court think idea federal government would try take away marital benefits samesex couples pretty farfetched would clearly unconstitutional windsor also think obergefell decision applied states principles apply equally federal government carpenter said carpenter said trump could sign executive order enabling contractors adoption agencies160to deny services lgbt people wouldnt change the160existing obligation federal level entities serve lgbt people signed executive order would put place little strongly wouldnt effectively change anything thats going right carpenter said bigger issues carpenter said trumps supreme court pick whether justice department retain position transgender discrimination amounts sex discrimination current law important court taken case whether schools must allow transgender people use restroom consistent gender identity despite trumps pledge keep order may also compromise measure makes good campaign pledge sign law first amendment defense act would enable antilgbt discrimination name religious freedom even compromise version legislation proposed sen mike lee rutah exempts forprofit contractors would undermine 2014 executive order religiousaffiliated nonprofit federal contractors would allowed discriminate washington blade placed request white house clarify whether religious freedom order would undermine lgbt rights way prior white house statement monday white house press secretary sean spicer said wouldnt get ahead trump executive orders asked considering religious freedom order joseph murray ii gay administrator facebook page lgbtrump criticized160lgbt advocacy groups raising alarm future lgbt order calling efforts desperate ploy relevance lgbt liberals desperate stranglehold lgbt community weakening murray said large number lgbt americans waking realize postmarriage equality world lgbt liberals offer flapping gums immigration order president trump showed protecting lgbt community lgbt liberals tried scare lgbt community fake news like efforts 2016 election fell short dale carpenter executive order kate kendell rea carey
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<p>CURWOOD: Time now to voyage beyond the headlines now with Peter Dykstra. He's the publisher of Environmental Health News, EHN.org, and DailyClimate.org and joins us as usual on the line from Conyers, Georgia. Hi there, Peter. DYKSTRA: Well, hi there. Riddle me this, Steve: How do you get a fish not to smell? CURWOOD: Lets see. Uh, the refrigerator? DYKSTRA: Well, if theyre still in the ocean, fish apparently cant smell as well if theyre in acidified waters. CURWOOD: OK. Tell me, Peter. How do you get ocean fish to do a sniff test? DYKSTRA: Well, heres something that was just published in the journal Nature Climate Change, our reporter Brian Bienkowski wrote up a summary of the research. Scientists from Australia and the U.S. studied reef fish near Papua New Guinea. And fish living in naturally acidic waters near volcanic seeps behaved differently in the study than fish in more chemically normal water. CURWOOD: Well, if I were a fish near volcanic vent I think I might be a bit more careful. DYKSTRA: Well, first of all, Steve, youre not a fish, and actually the acidity makes them less careful, according to this research. They didnt avoid their predators smell, the fish didnt hide themselves for nearly as long. The scientists say there werent fewer fish in the more acidic water, just fish that behaved differently. CURWOOD: But as more carbon goes into the atmosphere making ocean waters more acidic, this could be another huge impact then of global harming. What else do you have? DYKSTRA: Well, you know, people concerned about climate change spend a lot of mental energy worrying about coal, and oil, and gas and other greenhouse gas producers, but nobody ever gets worked up over cows. Well, Steve, thats why the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy - and here I go in my best radio voice - is developing the Cow of the Future. CURWOOD: Oh, get out. DYKSTRA: No, its for real. The Innovation Center is funded by the dairy industry. It partners with groups like the World Wildlife Fund, and one of their biggest projects is to reduce methane emissions from cows. Of course, there are almost 90 million cows in the United States, and methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Dryland grazing on the Great Plains in Colorado. Each cow on a pasture can emit about 350 liters (230 grams) of methane per day. (photo: US Department of Agriculture) CURWOOD: Peter, I think I know the answer to this, but why dont you give us the poop on cows and methane? DYKSTRA: Well, I dont want to bring the FCC down on you for indelicate language, but lets just say that cows have tailpipes, too. And they burp, and they poop, and theyre associated with farm equipment that contributes its own emissions. The Innovation Center has a goal of reducing cows carbon hoofprint by 25 percent in the next few years, partly by making dairy farming more efficient. CURWOOD: But I see a little red flag here. When you hear more efficient farming, it often means more factory farms, which have their own environmental baggage and the cows dont much like them either. DYKSTRA: Yeah, you may be right that theres a huge contradiction there, but the industry says theyre working on strategies to recover biogas from dairy farms, meaning from cows, instead of just releasing it. So well see what happens. CURWOOD: OK, Peter. What do you have on the calendar for us this week? DYKSTRA: Well, I was thinking about one of the insults thats often hurled at environmental advocates. Theyre called luddites. The problem here is, Im not sure that many of the people involved in this, including the accusers, have any idea what the name luddite means, or where it comes from. CURWOOD: You have the floor... DYKSTRA: Lets journey back to about 1812. The Luddites were a group mostly of artisans and craftsmen. Their skills were less needed as the industrial revolution started up and mills began to take over their work. When the Luddites got mad, they attacked the mills. They burned and wrecked new machinery. But both the high and low point for the Luddite movement was 202 years ago this week, 1,000 of them got together they massed to destroy a mill, but they were driven back by an even bigger group gathered to protect the mill, and in the battle two Luddites died. CURWOOD: And so where does the name come from? Leader of the Luddites (photo: Published in May 1812 by Messrs. Walker and Knight, Sweetings Alley, Royal Exchange) DYKSTRA: It comes from Ned Ludd. Theres a dispute whether or not Ned Ludd really existed, but he ended up having thousands of followers. He was said to be a teenager, sometimes described as a dull-witted teenager. He allegedly smashed a textile loom and started a movement. Dull-witted Ned became known eventually as King Ludd or Captain Ludd as the legend grew. Oh, and by the way, some of the stories say he lived in Sherwood Forest in Nottingham. CURWOOD: So he shared mythological turf with Robin Hood, huh? DYKSTRA: Yeah, and they both lived in a part of England that apparently had chronic law enforcement problems and lousy Sheriffs. CURWOOD: Anything else before you go, Peter? DYKSTRA: Just wanted to give a shout out to two environmental journalism colleagues, Dan Fagin wrote a tremendous book called Toms River that won the Pulitzer for nonfiction. Chris Hamby from the Center for Public Integrity did a great investigative series - it also won a Pulitzer. He reported on coal miners and black lung disease. CURWOOD: And congratulations to them both. Peter Dykstra is publisher of Environmental Health News and the DailyClimate.org. Thanks so much for taking the time today, Pete. DYKSTRA: Thanks a lot, Steve. Well talk to you soon.</p>
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curwood time voyage beyond headlines peter dykstra hes publisher environmental health news ehnorg dailyclimateorg joins us usual line conyers georgia hi peter dykstra well hi riddle steve get fish smell curwood lets see uh refrigerator dykstra well theyre still ocean fish apparently cant smell well theyre acidified waters curwood ok tell peter get ocean fish sniff test dykstra well heres something published journal nature climate change reporter brian bienkowski wrote summary research scientists australia us studied reef fish near papua new guinea fish living naturally acidic waters near volcanic seeps behaved differently study fish chemically normal water curwood well fish near volcanic vent think might bit careful dykstra well first steve youre fish actually acidity makes less careful according research didnt avoid predators smell fish didnt hide nearly long scientists say werent fewer fish acidic water fish behaved differently curwood carbon goes atmosphere making ocean waters acidic could another huge impact global harming else dykstra well know people concerned climate change spend lot mental energy worrying coal oil gas greenhouse gas producers nobody ever gets worked cows well steve thats innovation center us dairy go best radio voice developing cow future curwood oh get dykstra real innovation center funded dairy industry partners groups like world wildlife fund one biggest projects reduce methane emissions cows course almost 90 million cows united states methane much potent greenhouse gas carbon dioxide dryland grazing great plains colorado cow pasture emit 350 liters 230 grams methane per day photo us department agriculture curwood peter think know answer dont give us poop cows methane dykstra well dont want bring fcc indelicate language lets say cows tailpipes burp poop theyre associated farm equipment contributes emissions innovation center goal reducing cows carbon hoofprint 25 percent next years partly making dairy farming efficient curwood see little red flag hear efficient farming often means factory farms environmental baggage cows dont much like either dykstra yeah may right theres huge contradiction industry says theyre working strategies recover biogas dairy farms meaning cows instead releasing well see happens curwood ok peter calendar us week dykstra well thinking one insults thats often hurled environmental advocates theyre called luddites problem im sure many people involved including accusers idea name luddite means comes curwood floor dykstra lets journey back 1812 luddites group mostly artisans craftsmen skills less needed industrial revolution started mills began take work luddites got mad attacked mills burned wrecked new machinery high low point luddite movement 202 years ago week 1000 got together massed destroy mill driven back even bigger group gathered protect mill battle two luddites died curwood name come leader luddites photo published may 1812 messrs walker knight sweetings alley royal exchange dykstra comes ned ludd theres dispute whether ned ludd really existed ended thousands followers said teenager sometimes described dullwitted teenager allegedly smashed textile loom started movement dullwitted ned became known eventually king ludd captain ludd legend grew oh way stories say lived sherwood forest nottingham curwood shared mythological turf robin hood huh dykstra yeah lived part england apparently chronic law enforcement problems lousy sheriffs curwood anything else go peter dykstra wanted give shout two environmental journalism colleagues dan fagin wrote tremendous book called toms river pulitzer nonfiction chris hamby center public integrity great investigative series also pulitzer reported coal miners black lung disease curwood congratulations peter dykstra publisher environmental health news dailyclimateorg thanks much taking time today pete dykstra thanks lot steve well talk soon
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<p><a href="" type="internal" />April 19, 2013</p>
<p>By Josephine Djuhana</p>
<p>The war on plastic bags has returned with a vengeance, as legislators introduce new regulations that dictate what kinds of bags California shoppers are allowed to use when out shopping for groceries.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB405" type="external">SB 405</a>, authored by state Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Los Angeles, would effectively prohibit stores from providing a single-use carryout plastic bag to customers. According to a press release on Sen. Padilla’s website:</p>
<p>* “Beginning January 1, 2015, grocery stores and pharmacies would be prohibited from making available single-use plastic bags. If paper bags are offered to customers, they would have to include recycled content and customers would have to be charged the actual cost of providing the recycled paper bags.</p>
<p>* “Beginning July 1, 2016, convenience stores and liquor stores would be required to meet the same standard.</p>
<p>* “The bill would not pre-empt local ordinances already in place.”</p>
<p>“SB 405 will help protect our environment by phasing out single-use plastic bags in California,” said Padilla. “Single-use plastic bags fill our landfills, clog inland waterways, litter our coastline, and kill thousands of fish, marine mammals and seabirds.”</p>
<p>The hearing for the bill occurred on Wednesday, and SB 405 has since passed the Senate environmental quality committee on a 5-3 vote. The bag ban, however, has been met with some bipartisan opposition, and many members of the business community have come against it.</p>
<p>Cathy Browne, general manager at plastic bag maker Crown Poly Inc., called SB 405 “misguided legislation” that was not fact-based. In a press conference call on Tuesday, she warned that 300 Angelenos would be put out of manufacturing jobs if the bill was made law. “Our employees … work very hard at their jobs, and they shouldn’t lose their jobs just because politicians are listening to environmental rhetoric,” she said.</p>
<p>“Plastic bag bans are simply bad public policy,” said Mark Daniels, chairman of the American Progressive Bag Alliance, during the call. “To date, the debate on plastic bags has been supported by unfounded stats, junk science and myths. The reality is that American made plastic bags are a better choice for the environment and banning them will cause more harm to the environment. If California wants to lead in the fight against global warming, banning plastic bags will have the exact opposite effect.”</p>
<p>More than 72 California cities and counties have adopted ordinances to ban the use of plastic bags, among them a number of beach cities, including Huntington Beach.</p>
<p>“As a conservationist and local surfer in Huntington Beach, I’ve heard from my district that these bag bans are not the appropriate approach,” Assemblyman Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach, told me. “While these bans are addressing less than .5 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream, we are exposing people to serious health risks and stressing Southern California water conservation efforts. There is a far bigger picture that needs to be considered and not just settle on a single issue when voting on these bans.”</p>
<p>Bag bans are largely introduced as a measure to preserve the environment and prevent plastics from clogging inland waterways, filling up landfills and becoming floating marine debris. But there are many devils in the details, and banning plastic bags actually may be more costly to the environment, and result in more waste and energy expenditure.</p>
<p>The American Progressive Bag Alliance made the following findings on plastic bags:</p>
<p>* Plastic bags produce fewer greenhouse gases than paper or cotton bags.</p>
<p>* Plastic grocery bags require 70 percent less energy to manufacture than paper bags.</p>
<p>* The production of plastic bags consumes less than 4 percent of the water needed to make paper bags.</p>
<p>* Plastic bags generate 80 percent less waste than paper bags.</p>
<p>* For every seven trucks needed to deliver paper bags, only one truck is needed for the same number of plastic bags.</p>
<p>* American plastic bags are made from natural gas, not oil. In the U.S., 85 percent of the raw material used to make plastic bags is produced from natural gas.</p>
<p>APBA Chairman Mark Daniels also highlighted the fallacies in using reusable bags. He said the reusable bags are often “made to look like cotton” but are, in actuality, made of nonwoven poly-propylene, which is essentially a plastic. Additionally, many reusable bags cannot be recycled and “are mostly shipped from overseas and are made from foreign oil.”</p>
<p>The science behind reusable bags belies a more insidious impact that plastic bag bans have brought. Not only are reusable bags less energy-efficient to produce and more harmful to the environment, multiple reports have shown that reusable bags spread disease. And Californians need not look further than San Francisco to see the potential health hazards caused by contaminated reusable bags.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.utexas.edu/law/colloquium/papers-public/2012-2013/10-01-12_Grocery%20Bag%20Bans%20and%20Foodborne%20Illness.pdf" type="external">Research</a> by Jonathan Klick and Joshua Wright showed that reusable bags “contain potentially harmful bacteria, especially coliform bacteria such as E. coli.” In fact, since San Francisco County banned plastic bags in 2007, the researchers found that “both deaths and ER visits spiked as soon as the ban went into effect” and that, relative to other counties, “deaths in San Francisco increase by 50-100 percent, and ER visits increase by a comparable amount.”</p>
<p>Then, consider a <a href="http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-05-10/Oregon-norovirus-grocery-bags/54874814/1" type="external">case in Oregon</a>, where a girl on a soccer team got sick and “spent six hours in a chaperone’s bathroom” suffering from “vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps”:</p>
<p>“The soccer team of 13- and 14-year-olds traveled to Seattle for a weekend tournament in October 2010.</p>
<p>“At the tournament, one girl got sick on Saturday and spent six hours in a chaperone’s bathroom. Symptoms of the bug, often called “stomach flu,” include vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. The chaperone took the girl back to Oregon.</p>
<p>“On Sunday, team members had lunch in a hotel room, passing around the bag and eating cookies it held. On Monday, six girls got sick.”</p>
<p>A <a href="http://www.foodprotection.org/publications/food-protection-trends/article-archive/2011-08assessment-of-the-potential-for-cross-contamination-of-food-products-by-reusable-shopping-bag/" type="external">2011 study</a> did show that washing reusable bags would reduce bacteria by 99.9 percent, but considering that only 3 percent of people actually wash their bags, health problems still abound.</p>
<p>Despite mounting concerns on banning plastic bags, California legislators continue on this quest. From&#160; <a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bill/sen/sb_1501-1550/sb_1520_bill_20040929_chaptered.pdf" type="external">foie gras</a> to <a href="http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/02/14/la-county-updating-beach-regulations/" type="external">frisbees</a>, state lawmakers see no area of private life where government does not have a place even in spite of Governor Jerry Brown’s public admonishment that not every human condition is deserving of a new law. We don’t yet have to worry about California regulating Big Gulps like Mayor Bloomberg&#160; did in New York, but if the State Legislature can justify banning plastic bags in the interest of the public good, so too could it justify soda next.</p>
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april 19 2013 josephine djuhana war plastic bags returned vengeance legislators introduce new regulations dictate kinds bags california shoppers allowed use shopping groceries sb 405 authored state sen alex padilla dlos angeles would effectively prohibit stores providing singleuse carryout plastic bag customers according press release sen padillas website beginning january 1 2015 grocery stores pharmacies would prohibited making available singleuse plastic bags paper bags offered customers would include recycled content customers would charged actual cost providing recycled paper bags beginning july 1 2016 convenience stores liquor stores would required meet standard bill would preempt local ordinances already place sb 405 help protect environment phasing singleuse plastic bags california said padilla singleuse plastic bags fill landfills clog inland waterways litter coastline kill thousands fish marine mammals seabirds hearing bill occurred wednesday sb 405 since passed senate environmental quality committee 53 vote bag ban however met bipartisan opposition many members business community come cathy browne general manager plastic bag maker crown poly inc called sb 405 misguided legislation factbased press conference call tuesday warned 300 angelenos would put manufacturing jobs bill made law employees work hard jobs shouldnt lose jobs politicians listening environmental rhetoric said plastic bag bans simply bad public policy said mark daniels chairman american progressive bag alliance call date debate plastic bags supported unfounded stats junk science myths reality american made plastic bags better choice environment banning cause harm environment california wants lead fight global warming banning plastic bags exact opposite effect 72 california cities counties adopted ordinances ban use plastic bags among number beach cities including huntington beach conservationist local surfer huntington beach ive heard district bag bans appropriate approach assemblyman travis allen rhuntington beach told bans addressing less 5 percent us municipal solid waste stream exposing people serious health risks stressing southern california water conservation efforts far bigger picture needs considered settle single issue voting bans bag bans largely introduced measure preserve environment prevent plastics clogging inland waterways filling landfills becoming floating marine debris many devils details banning plastic bags actually may costly environment result waste energy expenditure american progressive bag alliance made following findings plastic bags plastic bags produce fewer greenhouse gases paper cotton bags plastic grocery bags require 70 percent less energy manufacture paper bags production plastic bags consumes less 4 percent water needed make paper bags plastic bags generate 80 percent less waste paper bags every seven trucks needed deliver paper bags one truck needed number plastic bags american plastic bags made natural gas oil us 85 percent raw material used make plastic bags produced natural gas apba chairman mark daniels also highlighted fallacies using reusable bags said reusable bags often made look like cotton actuality made nonwoven polypropylene essentially plastic additionally many reusable bags recycled mostly shipped overseas made foreign oil science behind reusable bags belies insidious impact plastic bag bans brought reusable bags less energyefficient produce harmful environment multiple reports shown reusable bags spread disease californians need look san francisco see potential health hazards caused contaminated reusable bags research jonathan klick joshua wright showed reusable bags contain potentially harmful bacteria especially coliform bacteria e coli fact since san francisco county banned plastic bags 2007 researchers found deaths er visits spiked soon ban went effect relative counties deaths san francisco increase 50100 percent er visits increase comparable amount consider case oregon girl soccer team got sick spent six hours chaperones bathroom suffering vomiting diarrhea stomach cramps soccer team 13 14yearolds traveled seattle weekend tournament october 2010 tournament one girl got sick saturday spent six hours chaperones bathroom symptoms bug often called stomach flu include vomiting diarrhea stomach cramps chaperone took girl back oregon sunday team members lunch hotel room passing around bag eating cookies held monday six girls got sick 2011 study show washing reusable bags would reduce bacteria 999 percent considering 3 percent people actually wash bags health problems still abound despite mounting concerns banning plastic bags california legislators continue quest from160 foie gras frisbees state lawmakers see area private life government place even spite governor jerry browns public admonishment every human condition deserving new law dont yet worry california regulating big gulps like mayor bloomberg160 new york state legislature justify banning plastic bags interest public good could justify soda next
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<p>April 2, 2012</p>
<p>By Katy Grimes</p>
<p>By now everyone in America knows the name of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year old tragically killed on February 26 by a Florida neighborhood watch captain. While the details of the case are still suspicious at this point, and have even been altered in some reports, one fact remains: a young man is dead.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Instead of reporting on the facts as they came out, the media have become the story, and tragedy has been overshadowed by melodramatic story telling.</p>
<p>The media have doctored facts, ignored facts, covered up facts, altered photos and drawn incorrect conclusions to fit an agenda. It used to be that journalists were fired for knowingly distorting a story or altering facts and documents.</p>
<p>The death of Trayvon Martin is tragic enough without the elite mass media dog-piling all over one another, desperate for a piece of the action. In doing so, the media knowingly prevented the facts from getting in the way of sexy, morbid, delicious and damning headlines.</p>
<p>Never passing up a media opportunity to grab headlines by exploiting someone, politicians have now jumped on the bandwagon&#160;by donning hoodie sweatshirts on the floor of the U.S. Congress and in California’s state Capitol. In what was probably the biggest public relations blunder of the decade, they all looked like idiotic thugs — as does everyone else who wears a hoodie.</p>
<p>Let’s not forget that the purpose of wearing a hoodie is to cover the face and look like a tough guy.&#160;Is there any coincidence that nearly every bank robber, home invasion burgler and 7-11 robbery suspect wears a hoodie?</p>
<p>Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and other black leaders have inserted themselves into the fray, fueling a mob mentality and a dangerous rush to judgment.</p>
<p>In one more of his typical race-baiting statements, Jackson told media&#160;Trayvon Martin’s death shows how&#160; <a href="http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=246_1332793407" type="external">“blacks are under attack”</a>&#160;and “targeting, arresting, convicting blacks and ultimately killing us is big business.”</p>
<p>Jackson could not have made a more despicable and irresponsible statement.</p>
<p>“We want George Zimmerman in court with handcuffs behind his back,” Sharpton told media.</p>
<p>In one of the most stupid moves yet,&#160;Actor/Director Spike Lee grossly exacerbated the media frenzy by&#160; <a href="http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-28/news/os-trayvon-martin-wrong-zimmerman-20120327_1_spike-lee-william-zimmerman-retweeted" type="external">tweeting Zimmerman’s home address</a>&#160;— only Lee tweeted the wrong address, putting a retired couple at risk for their lives in his zeal by encouraging people to protest at the home. The couple had to vacate their own home after receiving threats from the crowds congregated outside their residence. Lee has since apologized to the elderly couple, and paid a settlement for their suffering as well as expenses incurred.</p>
<p>MSNBC political analyst and Democratic fundraiser Karen Finney blamed Republicans for Martin’s death and said,&#160;“[Republican politicians] reinforce and validate old stereotypes that associate the poor and welfare as criminal behavior with African-Americans and people of color, calling us lazy, undeserving recipients of public assistance. In the case of Trayvon, those festering stereotypes had lethal consequences.”</p>
<p>Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sabrina Fulton, has said that Zimmerman killed her son “because of the color of his skin.” Fulton has, however, applied for two patents for the phrases,&#160;“Justice for Trayvon” and “I am Trayvon.” The phrases are now being sold on hoodie sweatshirts.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>The&#160; <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXLHyoiGHL0" type="external">New Black Panther Party</a>&#160;has issued a bounty poster and offered a $10,000 bounty for the “capture” of George Zimmerman. But Zimmerman is not on the run, nor has he been charged with anything yet.&#160;“Child killer of Trayvon Martin — Wanted Dead or Alive,” the poster reads.</p>
<p>This case is sounding more and more like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_lacrosse_case" type="external">Duke Lacrosse team case</a>, also tried and convicted in the media, and by vicious, lying public officials.</p>
<p>In the middle of an election cycle, apparently anything goes.</p>
<p>On February 26, 17-year old Trayvon Martin, a black male,&#160;was walking in a gated neighborhood in which he did not reside.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Martin was on suspension for 10 days from school. In the past several months, Martin was&#160; <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/26/2714778/thousands-expected-at-trayvon.html" type="external">suspended from school</a>&#160;three times, once for the possession of drug paraphernalia.</p>
<p>George Zimmerman, an Hispanic adult male, Neightborhood Watch captain for the neighborhood, saw Martin in the neighborhood, felt he was suspicious and called 9-1-1.</p>
<p>Zimmerman was carrying a licensed, loaded gun.</p>
<p>The Miami Herald reported that, in the gated community Zimmerman lived and voluntarily patrolled, there were eight burglaries, nine thefts and one shooting in the past year. Neighbors said Zimmerman was a dedicated Neighborhood Watch Captain, and had even prevented and solved some neighborhood crimes.</p>
<p>Zimmerman identified himself as an Hispanic, and was a registered Democrat.</p>
<p>Martin and Zimmerman had a verbal and physical altercation.</p>
<p>Police arrived and found&#160;Zimmerman bleeding on his face and from the back of his head, and &#160;had&#160;grass stains on his back.</p>
<p>Martin was shot by Zimmerman and died at the scene.</p>
<p>President Barack Obama inserted himself into the story and said at a news conference that if he had a son, he would look like Trayvon Martin.</p>
<p>Here are the “facts,” as reported by the media:</p>
<p>A “racial conflict” in a Florida neighborhood resulted in the brutal killing of an innocent black teenager, by a white man.</p>
<p>Martin was a “good boy” and was on suspension only for five days for something “non-violent and minor.”</p>
<p>Zimmerman was identified first as a “white” male, then a “white Hispanic,” and&#160;an overzealous Neighborhood Watch captain.</p>
<p>Zimmerman was said to have aggressively pursued Martin, and initiated the altercation leading to the shooting.</p>
<p>Since the story broke, the media have been using a photo of Martin from five years ago, in which he looks like a sweet little kid.</p>
<p>Media outlets finally are using a current photo of 17-year old Martin, but lightened his skin and softened his features.</p>
<p>A recently identified witness has reported seeing George Zimmerman on the ground with Trayvon on top of him, punching him. The witness told police and the media that&#160;Zimmerman screamed and yelled for help. But the victim’s family says they also have a witness who said that Zimmerman was on top of Martin before he shot him.</p>
<p>The facts are still coming out, but not as fast as media reports calling for the prosecution of Zimmerman.</p>
<p>Former NAACP leader C.L. Bryant has accused Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton of “exploiting” the Trayvon Martin tragedy to “racially divide this country.”</p>
<p>Bryant said people like Jackson and Sharpton are being misleading in suggesting there is an epidemic of “white men killing black young men.”</p>
<p>“The epidemic is truly black on black crime,” Bryant told the <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/26/former-naacp-leader-accuses-sharpton-and-jackson-of-exploiting-trayvon-martin/#ixzz1qFy8BLos" type="external">Daily Caller</a>. “The greatest danger to the lives of young black men are young black men.”&#160;Bryant said he wished civil rights leaders would focus their protests on those problems.</p>
<p>“Why not be angry about the wholesale murder that goes on in the streets of Newark and Chicago?” he asked. “Why isn’t somebody angry about that six-year-old girl who was killed on her steps last weekend in a cross fire when two gang members in Chicago start shooting at each other? Why is there no outrage about that?”</p>
<p>Bryant said he worries that “people like Sharpton and those on the left” will make Martin’s death a campaign issue in the presidential race; but it already has become a campaign issue, thanks to the media, which are now in the business of making the news.</p>
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april 2 2012 katy grimes everyone america knows name trayvon martin 17year old tragically killed february 26 florida neighborhood watch captain details case still suspicious point even altered reports one fact remains young man dead instead reporting facts came media become story tragedy overshadowed melodramatic story telling media doctored facts ignored facts covered facts altered photos drawn incorrect conclusions fit agenda used journalists fired knowingly distorting story altering facts documents death trayvon martin tragic enough without elite mass media dogpiling one another desperate piece action media knowingly prevented facts getting way sexy morbid delicious damning headlines never passing media opportunity grab headlines exploiting someone politicians jumped bandwagon160by donning hoodie sweatshirts floor us congress californias state capitol probably biggest public relations blunder decade looked like idiotic thugs everyone else wears hoodie lets forget purpose wearing hoodie cover face look like tough guy160is coincidence nearly every bank robber home invasion burgler 711 robbery suspect wears hoodie al sharpton jesse jackson black leaders inserted fray fueling mob mentality dangerous rush judgment one typical racebaiting statements jackson told media160trayvon martins death shows how160 blacks attack160and targeting arresting convicting blacks ultimately killing us big business jackson could made despicable irresponsible statement want george zimmerman court handcuffs behind back sharpton told media one stupid moves yet160actordirector spike lee grossly exacerbated media frenzy by160 tweeting zimmermans home address160 lee tweeted wrong address putting retired couple risk lives zeal encouraging people protest home couple vacate home receiving threats crowds congregated outside residence lee since apologized elderly couple paid settlement suffering well expenses incurred msnbc political analyst democratic fundraiser karen finney blamed republicans martins death said160republican politicians reinforce validate old stereotypes associate poor welfare criminal behavior africanamericans people color calling us lazy undeserving recipients public assistance case trayvon festering stereotypes lethal consequences trayvon martins mother sabrina fulton said zimmerman killed son color skin fulton however applied two patents phrases160justice trayvon trayvon phrases sold hoodie sweatshirts the160 new black panther party160has issued bounty poster offered 10000 bounty capture george zimmerman zimmerman run charged anything yet160child killer trayvon martin wanted dead alive poster reads case sounding like duke lacrosse team case also tried convicted media vicious lying public officials middle election cycle apparently anything goes february 26 17year old trayvon martin black male160was walking gated neighborhood reside martin suspension 10 days school past several months martin was160 suspended school160three times possession drug paraphernalia george zimmerman hispanic adult male neightborhood watch captain neighborhood saw martin neighborhood felt suspicious called 911 zimmerman carrying licensed loaded gun miami herald reported gated community zimmerman lived voluntarily patrolled eight burglaries nine thefts one shooting past year neighbors said zimmerman dedicated neighborhood watch captain even prevented solved neighborhood crimes zimmerman identified hispanic registered democrat martin zimmerman verbal physical altercation police arrived found160zimmerman bleeding face back head 160had160grass stains back martin shot zimmerman died scene president barack obama inserted story said news conference son would look like trayvon martin facts reported media racial conflict florida neighborhood resulted brutal killing innocent black teenager white man martin good boy suspension five days something nonviolent minor zimmerman identified first white male white hispanic and160an overzealous neighborhood watch captain zimmerman said aggressively pursued martin initiated altercation leading shooting since story broke media using photo martin five years ago looks like sweet little kid media outlets finally using current photo 17year old martin lightened skin softened features recently identified witness reported seeing george zimmerman ground trayvon top punching witness told police media that160zimmerman screamed yelled help victims family says also witness said zimmerman top martin shot facts still coming fast media reports calling prosecution zimmerman former naacp leader cl bryant accused jesse jackson al sharpton exploiting trayvon martin tragedy racially divide country bryant said people like jackson sharpton misleading suggesting epidemic white men killing black young men epidemic truly black black crime bryant told daily caller greatest danger lives young black men young black men160bryant said wished civil rights leaders would focus protests problems angry wholesale murder goes streets newark chicago asked isnt somebody angry sixyearold girl killed steps last weekend cross fire two gang members chicago start shooting outrage bryant said worries people like sharpton left make martins death campaign issue presidential race already become campaign issue thanks media business making news
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<p>By Bob Allen</p>
<p>The new president of the Southern Baptist Convention outlined an ambitious agenda during a press conference following his election June 10 in Baltimore.</p>
<p>“I believe the greatest need in the Southern Baptist Convention, and quite honesly, the greatest need in the United States of America, is a Great Awakening,” said Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas.</p>
<p>Great Awakening is a term used to refer to several periods of religious revival in U.S. history. Various historians and theologians identify three or four such times of spiritual renewal.</p>
<p>The First Great Awakening, a wave of revivalism prior to the American Revolution, introduced preachers including Jonathan Edwards, most famous for his 1741 sermon “ <a href="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/sermons.sinners.html" type="external">Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God</a>,” today considered a classic in American literature.</p>
<p>“We need the next spiritual awakening,” Floyd said. “And just as Jonathan Edwards called for years ago, before the First Great Awakening, it’s time for us to come together, it’s time for us to have visible union, and it’s time for us to come together in extraordinary prayer.”</p>
<p>The Second Great Awakening, a religious revival beginning in the late 18th century and lasting until the middle of the 19th century, was strongest in New England and the Midwest.</p>
<p>Another period between the 1850s and early 20th century, marked by the birth of new denominations, the Social Gospel movement and prominent preachers such as Dwight L. Moody, is counted as a Third Great Awakening.</p>
<p>Some scholars add a fourth, the late 1960s and early 1970s, featuring the charismatic movement and rapid growth in conservative denominations including the Southern Baptist Convention.</p>
<p>“It’s been over a hundred years since the United States has experienced the last great, great movement of the Lord,” Floyd said. “We’re overdue. It’s past time. We must have that movement, not simply for the purpose of ourselves, to see thousands come to Christ, but also for the purpose of seeing the Great Commission escalated to its rightful priority in all that we do as the church.”</p>
<p>Out with the old</p>
<p>As the 157th annual session of the Southern Baptist Convention drew to a close June 11, Floyd accepted the gavel from Fred Luter, the first African American ever to serve as president of a convention formed by slaveholders in 1845.</p>
<p>“He will go down in Southern Baptist history as one of the most loved presidents in our lifetime,” Floyd predicted.</p>
<p>Luter welcomed the opportunity to express his gratitude in remarks early in the SBC President’s Address Tuesday night.</p>
<p>“Thank you, Southern Baptists, for allowing me to serve as your president the past two years,” Luter said. “I have been extremely honored to represent you across America and across the world.”</p>
<p>“I would also like to thank the members of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, who have loaned me out to this convention and to the people all across this country and world the last two years,” Luter said. “Some of them are here tonight. Hundreds of them are watching tonight on the Internet.”</p>
<p>“I will be back to you after next week,” Luter added to the folks back home.</p>
<p>ERLC honors Hobby Lobby founders</p>
<p>The SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission presented the 2014 John Leland Award for Religious Liberty to Steve and Jackie Green, whose family owned business Hobby Lobby is awaiting a decision expected this month from the U.S. Supreme Court on whether owners of for-profit businesses can refuse on religious grounds to obey rules of Obamacare.</p>
<p>ERLC President Russell Moore described the couple, active members of a Southern Baptist church, as “heroes of religious liberty.”</p>
<p>“Because of their courage, the Greens have refused to comply with the Obama administration’s Department of Health and Human Services mandate under the Affordable Care Act that they provide employees with insurance coverage for what they believe to be abortion inducing drugs,” Moore said. “They believe that God is the author of human life, and that every human life, from the moment of conception, is sacred, and they believe that the government is not the lord of their consciences.”</p>
<p>Moore said during the last 200 years Baptists have gotten “used to being out of jail” and sometimes “take religious liberty for granted.” He said it wasn’t always that way.</p>
<p>“Baptists started in prison cells in England because they would gladly say ‘God save the king’ but they knew the difference between the king and God,” Moore said. Similarly, he said, Baptists in colonial America, including the Virginia preacher for whom the Leland award is named, resisted paying for licenses to preach as a matter of conscience.</p>
<p>“We’re living in a time right now in which religious liberty is imperiled at home and around the world, and it is time for us to remember that we have been here before,” Moore said. “The gospel came to us in letters being written out by apostles from jail cells.”</p>
<p>Seminary president apologizes for Muslim flap</p>
<p>Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson responded with both an apology and explanation&#160;to a question during his report about why he violated written policies by allowing a Palestinian Muslim student to study archaeology in the school’s Ph.D. program.</p>
<p>“I owe the convention an apology, particularly to all of those of you that I have caused sorrow, heartache, disillusionment or any other kind of sorrow,” Patterson said. He also apologized to “the whole convention” for causing strife with what was “my decision and my decision alone.”</p>
<p>Patterson said the student, born into a poor Palestinian family, got to know members of the Southwestern community working alongside them in archaeological digs in the Middle East.</p>
<p>Unable to pursue a Ph.D. in Jordan, where none is available, or in Israel, because he isn’t fluent in Hebrew, and unable to afford a school in the U.S. like Duke, Harvard or Yale, Patterson said the student inquired whether an exception could be made to allow him to study at Southwestern.</p>
<p>Patterson said the student has caused no problems on campus and appears “very open at this point to the gospel of Jesus Christ.”</p>
<p>“I made an exception to a rule that I assumed, probably wrongly, the president has a right to make if he feels that it is that important,” Patterson said.</p>
<p>“I have apologized to you in a heartfelt way,” Patterson said. “I mean it with all my heart. I should not have disrupted the convention and did not do it knowingly. But apparently I did, and I am sorry.”</p>
<p>Patterson added, however, that “it is a different question” from how he will answer for that and similar decisions over the years come Judgment Day.</p>
<p>“I believe when I stand before the Lord God, I’m going to say: ‘Dear God, I violated a policy, but I didn’t want to stand before you with blood on my hands. Dear God, I did the best I knew how,” he said.</p>
<p>The incredible shrinking SBC annual meeting</p>
<p>Unofficial registration at the June 10-11 meeting was 5,294 messengers, up from the 5,103 last year in Houston. The 2011 convention in Phoenix, numbering 4,852 messengers, was the smallest annual meeting since World War II. The last time Southern Baptists met in Baltimore, 1940, the messenger total was 3,776.</p>
<p>The record attendance for an SBC annual meeting was 1985, when 45,519 messengers showed up in Dallas in the heat of a 10-year leadership struggle today some call the “conservative resurgence.”</p>
<p>According to recently compiled statistics, in 2013 there were 46,125 Southern Baptist churches with a total 15.7 million members.</p>
<p>Next year’s convention is scheduled June 16-17 in Columbus, Ohio. Future host cities are St. Louis in 2016, Phoenix in 2017 and Dallas in 2018.</p>
<p>Related stories:</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Motion asks SBC to discipline gay-affirming pastor</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">SBC clarifies ‘friendly cooperation,’ updates criteria for church affiliation</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Southern Baptists say Holy Writ, not Hollywood, proves heaven is for real</a></p>
<p><a href="file:///C:/Users/Robert/Documents/Southern%20Baptists%20resolve%20to%20love%20the%20transgender%20sinner" type="external">Southern Baptists resolve to love the transgender sinner</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Protestors say Southern Baptists not taking clergy sex abuse seriously</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">SBC passes on discipline of gay-tolerant church</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Rainer says sale of Glorieta, worth millions but sold for $1, was ‘tough decision’</a></p>
<p><a href="administrator/index.php?option=com_k2&amp;view=item&amp;cid=28815" type="external">AWAB asks SBC to recant transgender resolution</a></p>
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bob allen new president southern baptist convention outlined ambitious agenda press conference following election june 10 baltimore believe greatest need southern baptist convention quite honesly greatest need united states america great awakening said ronnie floyd pastor cross church northwest arkansas great awakening term used refer several periods religious revival us history various historians theologians identify three four times spiritual renewal first great awakening wave revivalism prior american revolution introduced preachers including jonathan edwards famous 1741 sermon sinners hands angry god today considered classic american literature need next spiritual awakening floyd said jonathan edwards called years ago first great awakening time us come together time us visible union time us come together extraordinary prayer second great awakening religious revival beginning late 18th century lasting middle 19th century strongest new england midwest another period 1850s early 20th century marked birth new denominations social gospel movement prominent preachers dwight l moody counted third great awakening scholars add fourth late 1960s early 1970s featuring charismatic movement rapid growth conservative denominations including southern baptist convention hundred years since united states experienced last great great movement lord floyd said overdue past time must movement simply purpose see thousands come christ also purpose seeing great commission escalated rightful priority church old 157th annual session southern baptist convention drew close june 11 floyd accepted gavel fred luter first african american ever serve president convention formed slaveholders 1845 go southern baptist history one loved presidents lifetime floyd predicted luter welcomed opportunity express gratitude remarks early sbc presidents address tuesday night thank southern baptists allowing serve president past two years luter said extremely honored represent across america across world would also like thank members franklin avenue baptist church new orleans loaned convention people across country world last two years luter said tonight hundreds watching tonight internet back next week luter added folks back home erlc honors hobby lobby founders sbc ethics religious liberty commission presented 2014 john leland award religious liberty steve jackie green whose family owned business hobby lobby awaiting decision expected month us supreme court whether owners forprofit businesses refuse religious grounds obey rules obamacare erlc president russell moore described couple active members southern baptist church heroes religious liberty courage greens refused comply obama administrations department health human services mandate affordable care act provide employees insurance coverage believe abortion inducing drugs moore said believe god author human life every human life moment conception sacred believe government lord consciences moore said last 200 years baptists gotten used jail sometimes take religious liberty granted said wasnt always way baptists started prison cells england would gladly say god save king knew difference king god moore said similarly said baptists colonial america including virginia preacher leland award named resisted paying licenses preach matter conscience living time right religious liberty imperiled home around world time us remember moore said gospel came us letters written apostles jail cells seminary president apologizes muslim flap southwestern baptist theological seminary president paige patterson responded apology explanation160to question report violated written policies allowing palestinian muslim student study archaeology schools phd program owe convention apology particularly caused sorrow heartache disillusionment kind sorrow patterson said also apologized whole convention causing strife decision decision alone patterson said student born poor palestinian family got know members southwestern community working alongside archaeological digs middle east unable pursue phd jordan none available israel isnt fluent hebrew unable afford school us like duke harvard yale patterson said student inquired whether exception could made allow study southwestern patterson said student caused problems campus appears open point gospel jesus christ made exception rule assumed probably wrongly president right make feels important patterson said apologized heartfelt way patterson said mean heart disrupted convention knowingly apparently sorry patterson added however different question answer similar decisions years come judgment day believe stand lord god im going say dear god violated policy didnt want stand blood hands dear god best knew said incredible shrinking sbc annual meeting unofficial registration june 1011 meeting 5294 messengers 5103 last year houston 2011 convention phoenix numbering 4852 messengers smallest annual meeting since world war ii last time southern baptists met baltimore 1940 messenger total 3776 record attendance sbc annual meeting 1985 45519 messengers showed dallas heat 10year leadership struggle today call conservative resurgence according recently compiled statistics 2013 46125 southern baptist churches total 157 million members next years convention scheduled june 1617 columbus ohio future host cities st louis 2016 phoenix 2017 dallas 2018 related stories motion asks sbc discipline gayaffirming pastor sbc clarifies friendly cooperation updates criteria church affiliation southern baptists say holy writ hollywood proves heaven real southern baptists resolve love transgender sinner protestors say southern baptists taking clergy sex abuse seriously sbc passes discipline gaytolerant church rainer says sale glorieta worth millions sold 1 tough decision awab asks sbc recant transgender resolution
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<p>By Jeff Brumley</p>
<p>What started as a Baptist <a href="http://www.kybf.org/reflections-from-2013-caravan-for-women/" type="external">women’s empowerment tour</a> of Morocco grew into an eye-opening, jaw-dropping education on the painful realities of immigration and human trafficking on the African continent.</p>
<p>The October trip arranged by the <a href="http://www.kybf.org/" type="external">Kentucky Baptist Fellowship</a> also showed participants that the causes and consequences of illegal immigration are not just an American issue.</p>
<p>As a result, there are now about a dozen Baptists committed to urging their American churches, communities and politicians to support policies to help the nation model for the rest of the world how it treats those&#160;who are economically, and sometimes sexually, enslaved.</p>
<p>“We need to educate ourselves,” Paula Dempsey, director of Partnership Relations for the <a href="http://allianceofbaptists.org/" type="external">Alliance of Baptists</a>, said after returning from Morocco. “We need to learn about what has really happened and how we can be part of making a difference.”</p>
<p>The Oct. 3-13 tour came in the seventh year of KBF’s formal partnership with the Protestant Church in Morocco, a multi-denominational organization that represents that nation’s&#160;less than 1 percent Christian minority.</p>
<p>Some KBF congregations have established sister relationships with churches in Morocco, while others work directly at the national level there by aiding refugees, illegal immigrants and victims of human trafficking, said Joshua Speight, associate coordinator for missions for KBF.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Previous trips have focused on humanitarian and educational needs, but this time it was dedicated to women in ministry. The idea was to connect Baptist women from Kentucky with Christian women in Morocco.</p>
<p>Most of the women there are not Moroccan, but students and workers from other parts of Africa who are living legally in Morocco, Speight said.</p>
<p>Those women come from Christian backgrounds that are theologically diverse — and often divided on the issue of women in ministry, he added.</p>
<p>“You can’t paint each of the congregations there with the same brush,” he said. “Some are more moderate and liberal, and some are more conservative and charismatic.”</p>
<p>Feeling connected</p>
<p>But that didn’t keep Fellowship Baptists and their acceptance of women’s ordination from bonding with sub-Saharan Christians from generally patriarchal societies, said Becky Caswell-Speight, associate pastor at <a href="http://www.broadwaybaptist.org/" type="external">Broadway Baptist Church</a> in Louisville.</p>
<p>The group went from city to city to each different Protestant church, including legendary places like Casablanca and Marrakesh. There, they worshiped together, prayed and held Bible studies focusing on women figures of the Old and New testaments, Caswell-Speight said.</p>
<p>As they left for another city, some women from the previous town accompanied the Kentuckians to the next location.</p>
<p>“Constantly traveling with women from sub-Saharan Africa, sharing time with each evening around biblical stories — it made you feel so much more connected,” she said.</p>
<p>It was in these intimate settings that the KBF-led caravan members were reminded of the Moroccan church’s struggle to minister to refugees and illegal immigrants who are languishing in that country.</p>
<p>Migrants, legal and illegal, often enter Morocco in hopes of using it as a springboard into Europe in search of jobs and security. But thousands become stuck there without the funds or documents required to proceed or return to their homes elsewhere in Africa. Unable to leave, most descend into poverty and many become victims of various kinds of human traffickers.</p>
<p>For the women and children it’s an especially terrifying experience, Caswell-Speight said. “We heard stories from women who have made the journey and what they had to go through,” she said. “It’s still processing because it’s so intense.”</p>
<p>The immigration issue is one of the reasons KBF wanted to partner with churches in Morocco, Joshua Speight said.</p>
<p>Many immigrants “are not there legally … so they don’t have access to health care, education and jobs,” he said. “People are living in the shadows.”</p>
<p>Nine Kentucky churches partner with nine Moroccan churches, to which they provide prayer, friendship and funds for pastoral interns and special projects. Another congregation, Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, works directly with a national aid group in Morocco that provides ministry and assistance directly to refugees and immigrants.</p>
<p>“It is life-and-death emergency care work that is being done,” said Joe Phelps, the <a href="http://hbclouisville.org/about-us/leadership/ministerial-staff/joe-phelps-pastor/" type="external">pastor at Highland Baptist</a>.</p>
<p>While Phelps did not go on the most recent trip, he and other members of the congregation have been to Morocco to see the condition of immigrants there. “They can’t go forward and they can’t go back and they can’t be where they are,” he said.</p>
<p>Witnessing that instills a sense of urgency to take action. Highland and CBF pooled funds to hire a worker to directly oversee aid distribution to refugees in about eight cities where the problems are most pressing.</p>
<p>“It has made us more keenly aware of how privileged we are,” Phelps said. “We are less likely to take a hot shower for granted.”</p>
<p>‘A global issue’</p>
<p>Those who did make the trip said they returned with a deeper understanding of the immigration reform debate in the U.S. and a determination to speak out about it.</p>
<p>“There are women in Morocco and, I am sure, there are women in the United States, and they are locked in rooms and they can’t come out and they are refugees stuck there with no one to listen,” said Caswell-Speight said. “The problem is so big, and no one is willing to listen to these women’s voices.”</p>
<p />
<p>Dempsey, who is not from Kentucky, joined the group in order to meet with Karen Thomas Smith, an American chaplain who lives and works in Morocco and who is a partner with the Alliance, KBF and CBF.</p>
<p>She came back committed to finding Alliance churches and ministries willing to provide people, funds and materials to help immigrants who are in limbo in Morocco. She’s also committed to continuing similar efforts for undocumented workers at home.</p>
<p>“It’s a global issue the church is called to address,” Dempsey said.</p>
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jeff brumley started baptist womens empowerment tour morocco grew eyeopening jawdropping education painful realities immigration human trafficking african continent october trip arranged kentucky baptist fellowship also showed participants causes consequences illegal immigration american issue result dozen baptists committed urging american churches communities politicians support policies help nation model rest world treats those160who economically sometimes sexually enslaved need educate paula dempsey director partnership relations alliance baptists said returning morocco need learn really happened part making difference oct 313 tour came seventh year kbfs formal partnership protestant church morocco multidenominational organization represents nations160less 1 percent christian minority kbf congregations established sister relationships churches morocco others work directly national level aiding refugees illegal immigrants victims human trafficking said joshua speight associate coordinator missions kbf 160 previous trips focused humanitarian educational needs time dedicated women ministry idea connect baptist women kentucky christian women morocco women moroccan students workers parts africa living legally morocco speight said women come christian backgrounds theologically diverse often divided issue women ministry added cant paint congregations brush said moderate liberal conservative charismatic feeling connected didnt keep fellowship baptists acceptance womens ordination bonding subsaharan christians generally patriarchal societies said becky caswellspeight associate pastor broadway baptist church louisville group went city city different protestant church including legendary places like casablanca marrakesh worshiped together prayed held bible studies focusing women figures old new testaments caswellspeight said left another city women previous town accompanied kentuckians next location constantly traveling women subsaharan africa sharing time evening around biblical stories made feel much connected said intimate settings kbfled caravan members reminded moroccan churchs struggle minister refugees illegal immigrants languishing country migrants legal illegal often enter morocco hopes using springboard europe search jobs security thousands become stuck without funds documents required proceed return homes elsewhere africa unable leave descend poverty many become victims various kinds human traffickers women children especially terrifying experience caswellspeight said heard stories women made journey go said still processing intense immigration issue one reasons kbf wanted partner churches morocco joshua speight said many immigrants legally dont access health care education jobs said people living shadows nine kentucky churches partner nine moroccan churches provide prayer friendship funds pastoral interns special projects another congregation highland baptist church louisville works directly national aid group morocco provides ministry assistance directly refugees immigrants lifeanddeath emergency care work done said joe phelps pastor highland baptist phelps go recent trip members congregation morocco see condition immigrants cant go forward cant go back cant said witnessing instills sense urgency take action highland cbf pooled funds hire worker directly oversee aid distribution refugees eight cities problems pressing made us keenly aware privileged phelps said less likely take hot shower granted global issue make trip said returned deeper understanding immigration reform debate us determination speak women morocco sure women united states locked rooms cant come refugees stuck one listen said caswellspeight said problem big one willing listen womens voices dempsey kentucky joined group order meet karen thomas smith american chaplain lives works morocco partner alliance kbf cbf came back committed finding alliance churches ministries willing provide people funds materials help immigrants limbo morocco shes also committed continuing similar efforts undocumented workers home global issue church called address dempsey said
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<p>As bombs rain down on Aleppo, Syria's 17-month-old conflict has entered a new and dangerous phase.</p>
<p>Born of an Arab Spring-inspired desire for greater democracy, experts say that powerful geopolitical forces are now driving the war, with implications across the Middle East.</p>
<p>For an explanation of how the conflict is morphing into a proxy war, and how sectarian rivalries are fueling the violence, GlobalPost turned to Marius Deeb, Professorial Lecturer in Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Professor Deeb is a Syria expert, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Syrias-Terrorist-Lebanon-Peace-Process/dp/1403962480" type="external">author of Syria's Terrorist War on Lebanon.</a></p>
<p>This interview has been condensed and edited by GlobalPost.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Riyad Farid Hijab, who departed from the Syrian government yesterday, is a Sunni Muslim - one of several high profile Sunnis who have split with the regime recently. Is there growing evidence of a sectarian divide in Bashar Al-Assad's government? More broadly, early on Syria's conflict was a struggle for liberty. Has that changed?</p>
<p>The protestors started out peacefully, seeking political reform. In the beginning, they were universal - encompassing all sects, and some of the young people are still thinking in these terms. But the regime used violence against them. This led to the emergence of the Free Syrian Army, to fighting against the regular army and to guerilla warfare.</p>
<p>It's important to understand that Syria has always been sectarian, since day one. The regime has been Alawite-dominated since 1970, when the father, Hafez Al-Assad took power. All the Sunnis who have held senior positions derive their power from the fact that they were working for Alawites. The regime's backbone in terms of the military and intelligence officers who really control the regime are Alawite.</p>
<p>Having a prime minister leave - so what? Consider, Manaf Tlas, the [Sunni] general who defected in June - [ <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2012/07/syrian_gen_manaf_tlas_is_being_groomed_to_unite_the_syrian_opposition_after_bashar_al_assad_falls_but_it_is_unclear_he_is_acceptable_to_anyone_other_than_saudi_arabia_and_the_west_.html" type="external">regarded by some as the most prominent military defector</a> so far]. His father was the defense minister, but his father had no real power; The official under him who exercised power was Alawite. The son, Manaf Tlas, commanded a sort of brigade, but really his power derived from Alawite intelligence officers. When he defected, he left alone - the army, his soldiers, would not leave with him.</p>
<p>The Alawites were persecuted by the Sunnis under the Ottomans Empire for years, and therefore they have prepared to defend themselves. The Alawites are not even Muslims, strictly speaking. They claim they're Shiite, but really, they don't go to mosques, they don't go on pilgrimage to Mecca, they don't fast during Ramadan - they actually celebrate Christmas. That's the basic problem. From 1971, the regime has prepared for when they're going to be ousted from power, from Syria, and eventually they have to form their own state.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/syria/120807/syrias-aleppo-pounded-regime-forces-un-monitors-flee-" type="external">Syria's Aleppo pounded by regime forces, UN monitors flee violence</a></p>
<p>In the Guardian, Jonathan Steele writes, "Under Saudi, Qatari and US leadership, and with British, French and Israeli approval, [Syria's conflict] has turned into an anti-Iranian proxy war." Would you agree?</p>
<p>I agree that from 1980, Hafez Al-Assad, made a brilliant move to have a very strong alliance with Iran, which is basically Shiite. The Alawites in Syria regard themselves as Shiite like the Iranians.</p>
<p>In that respect, a fight against the regime would weaken Iran, because Syria and Iran are major allies. It would weaken Hezbollah, which is really an outshoot of the Iranian ideology in Lebanon. Yes, there is an axis evil - Iran, Syria and Hezbollah - and I think the war will weaken Iran. I don't think Iran will be able to save the regime and control the whole of Syria. I think that's impossible.</p>
<p>How does the Syrian conflict affect Israel's quest to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon? Would the war make it easier for Israel to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities?</p>
<p>In a way, yes, because the Syrian army is busy, so it's not a threat anymore. It's not going to be threat in the future at all. In fact, the Alawite army might become a friend of Israel.</p>
<p>Iran has problems because Israel could attack, the US could attack, and also it could suffer from cyber attacks, which have been successful in the past - which are more effective and less costly.</p>
<p>Iran has always wanted to have a nuclear weapon, continues to do so, and if we don't stop it - through negotiations or through military action - it will pursue that goal. I don't see the Syrian conflict as an important factor, but the Iranians could take that into consideration. For them, Syria and Hezbollah are really the strongest and only allies in the region.</p>
<p>So it would make it more difficult if the Israelis did attack Iranian nuclear facilities - it may complicate efforts to strike back?</p>
<p>With Syria busy, the only option for Iran is to use Hezbollah, which has really been a servant of Syrian and Iranian interests since it was established in 1982. So it could use Hezbollah to create problems for Israel. But I don't see a major problem in that.</p>
<p>In another way, because Syria is out of the question, an Israeli attack on Iran might make the Sunnis of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain happy.</p>
<p>Finally, Saudi Arabia has taken an unusually aggressive role in Syria, last week pushing a UN General Assembly resolution calling on Assad to step down. Why is Saudi Arabia is doing this, and how does it affect peace and stability in the region?</p>
<p>It's about the Sunni-Alawite rivalry. There's an opportunity to get rid of the Alawites who control Syria, who are allies with Iran and with the rulers of Iraq - who are still supporting the regime in Syria. Putting Syria in the hands of the Sunnis is good for [Sunni-majority] Saudi Arabia. Of course, the Saudis do not believe in political and religious freedom, it's a bastion of oppression, but it plays its role differently abroad. &#160;</p>
<p>Follow author David Case on Twitter:&#160; <a href="http://twitter.com/DCaseGP" type="external">Follow @DCaseGP</a></p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/syria/120806/aleppo-syria-ezzaa-free-syrian-army-rebels-air-strikes-assad" type="external">Syria: Rebels are no match for Assad's jets</a></p>
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bombs rain aleppo syrias 17monthold conflict entered new dangerous phase born arab springinspired desire greater democracy experts say powerful geopolitical forces driving war implications across middle east explanation conflict morphing proxy war sectarian rivalries fueling violence globalpost turned marius deeb professorial lecturer middle east studies johns hopkins school advanced international studies professor deeb syria expert author syrias terrorist war lebanon interview condensed edited globalpost prime minister riyad farid hijab departed syrian government yesterday sunni muslim one several high profile sunnis split regime recently growing evidence sectarian divide bashar alassads government broadly early syrias conflict struggle liberty changed protestors started peacefully seeking political reform beginning universal encompassing sects young people still thinking terms regime used violence led emergence free syrian army fighting regular army guerilla warfare important understand syria always sectarian since day one regime alawitedominated since 1970 father hafez alassad took power sunnis held senior positions derive power fact working alawites regimes backbone terms military intelligence officers really control regime alawite prime minister leave consider manaf tlas sunni general defected june regarded prominent military defector far father defense minister father real power official exercised power alawite son manaf tlas commanded sort brigade really power derived alawite intelligence officers defected left alone army soldiers would leave alawites persecuted sunnis ottomans empire years therefore prepared defend alawites even muslims strictly speaking claim theyre shiite really dont go mosques dont go pilgrimage mecca dont fast ramadan actually celebrate christmas thats basic problem 1971 regime prepared theyre going ousted power syria eventually form state globalpost syrias aleppo pounded regime forces un monitors flee violence guardian jonathan steele writes saudi qatari us leadership british french israeli approval syrias conflict turned antiiranian proxy war would agree agree 1980 hafez alassad made brilliant move strong alliance iran basically shiite alawites syria regard shiite like iranians respect fight regime would weaken iran syria iran major allies would weaken hezbollah really outshoot iranian ideology lebanon yes axis evil iran syria hezbollah think war weaken iran dont think iran able save regime control whole syria think thats impossible syrian conflict affect israels quest prevent iran getting nuclear weapon would war make easier israel bomb irans nuclear facilities way yes syrian army busy threat anymore going threat future fact alawite army might become friend israel iran problems israel could attack us could attack also could suffer cyber attacks successful past effective less costly iran always wanted nuclear weapon continues dont stop negotiations military action pursue goal dont see syrian conflict important factor iranians could take consideration syria hezbollah really strongest allies region would make difficult israelis attack iranian nuclear facilities may complicate efforts strike back syria busy option iran use hezbollah really servant syrian iranian interests since established 1982 could use hezbollah create problems israel dont see major problem another way syria question israeli attack iran might make sunnis saudi arabia qatar bahrain happy finally saudi arabia taken unusually aggressive role syria last week pushing un general assembly resolution calling assad step saudi arabia affect peace stability region sunnialawite rivalry theres opportunity get rid alawites control syria allies iran rulers iraq still supporting regime syria putting syria hands sunnis good sunnimajority saudi arabia course saudis believe political religious freedom bastion oppression plays role differently abroad 160 follow author david case twitter160 follow dcasegp globalpost syria rebels match assads jets
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<p>BRISBANE, Australia — On a 7,100-acre patch of land in a remote corner of Australia, a furry little long-eared animal that might well have been designed in Stephen Spielberg's animation lab is edging back from the brink of extinction.</p>
<p>The endangered is the bilby (also known as the rabbit-eared bandicoot). Many bilby fans say this beloved Australian marsupial reminds them of Yoda, the floppy-eared Star Wars character.</p>
<p>Before white settlers first came to Australia in 1788, many millions of bilbies lived alongside Australia’s other idiosyncratic native marsupials — kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, koalas. But by the late 1990s, alarmed conservationists realized that a population that was once spread across some 70 percent of this vast continent had dwindled to almost nothing.</p>
<p>The first settlers were British convicts and their guards, sent to populate a land inhabited by native peoples but claimed by London. Gold discoveries later attracted many thousands from North America and Asia.</p>
<p>The immigrants brought with them animals that quickly became the bilby’s enemies. Deadliest by far were imported pet cats and their feral descendants. Foxes, imported by English military officers and landed gentry who wanted something for their foxhounds to hunt, also found the bilby tasty. The carnage that followed first wiped out the bilby’s smaller relative, the lesser bilby, believed to have gone extinct in about 1950. Over the past decade, dedicated naturalists working on slender budgets believe they may have halted yet another extinction.</p>
<p>The headquarters of the bilby’s comeback is at fenced off acreage in the Currawinya National Park, 420 miles northwest of Brisbane. Though the bilby cannot yet be considered really safe, there is growing optimism about its future.</p>
<p>One of the main reasons, perhaps, is the bilby’s mating habits. The little grey and white creatures are among the most reproductive in the animal kingdom.</p>
<p>Bilbies are sexually mature at six months and breed all year round. The female is pregnant for just 12-14 days before a baby (called a joey) appears.</p>
<p>There are usually up to three in a litter. One bilby-fancier describes the newborn as “a baked bean with legs.” The mother keeps them in her pouch until they’re strong enough for the outside world.</p>
<p>They are well catered for inside: The pouch has eight nipples. After about 80 days, the fully formed bilby appears — ready to forage for insects and wild onions and, after about another 100 days, to begin looking for sexual partners. In a year of good weather and abundant food, a female can produce up to eight young. A sexually active 2-year-old female (and there seems to be no other kind of adult female bilby) can be a great-great-great-grandmother.</p>
<p>A couple of dedicated conservationists are given much of the credit for improving the bilby’s prospects: Peter McRae and Frank Manthey.</p>
<p>McRae, a zoologist with Australia’s National Parks and Wildlife Service, first got involved when, in 1988, he was asked to make an initial survey of the Queensland bilby population. “But after 12 months of setting traps and using spotlights at night to locate the nocturnal animals, we found nothing,” he told GlobalPost.</p>
<p>Fearing the worst, he turned for help to a friend and fellow-ranger Manthey, who had formerly made a living shooting the bilby’s much bigger cousin, the kangaroo.</p>
<p>Manthey, whose wife had recently died, was looking for something to put fresh meaning in his life. At first, he had little interest in the bilby. But one night in 1998, after joining McRae with a spotlight trying to locate bilbies — and, he says, “after a few glasses of snake juice” — the bilby’s round eyes, large twitching ears and irresistibly cute manner turned him into a passionate fan.</p>
<p>Says McRae of his mate: “Frank turned from being this 'roo-shooter into a conservation demon. He was driven to saving little furry animals. He drove people crazy. He wouldn’t think about anything else.”</p>
<p>Manthey spoke to “Australian Story,” a government TV program, about his bilby fixation. “Bilbies were mythical to me,” he said, “like Santa Claus or tooth fairies. You hear about 'em, but, really, do they exist?</p>
<p>“But when you see one at the end of the spotlight, you see the color and how graceful and beautiful it is, you start to realize that they were once all over Australia, and now we’re down to this little, tiny pocket. “That really gets to me. Why are we letting something like this disappear from our planet, when we could so easily do something about it?”</p>
<p>With help from the Environmental Protection Agency and Wildlife Preservation Society, Manthey and McRae, who became known as “the Bilby Brothers”, launched a nationwide <a href="http://savethebilby.icemedia.com.au" type="external">Save the Bilby fund</a>.</p>
<p>The men took sample bilbies to schools to enlist schoolchildren in the conservation effort. Candy manufacturers produced chocolate bilbies, offering them in place of chocolate bunnies around Easter, with some of the profits going to the fund. Costume jewellers designed bilby necklaces and other long-eared trinkets to be sold through the fund’s website.</p>
<p>The media took up the story. The fund announced that each A$20 ($16.80) would buy a section of Currawinya’s planned predator-proof fence. By 1999 they had more than A$300,000 ($250,000), enough to start building.</p>
<p>The drive continues: National Bilby Day has been inaugurated (on the second Sunday in September, this year: Sept. 13). To date the fund has collected about A$800,000 (US$668,000), said fund coordinator Emily Chandler.</p>
<p>Why save the bilby? Manthey has a response that’s hard to argue with. Certainly, you wouldn’t try to in Australia:</p>
<p>“If you wake up one morning and there’s not a bilby left, Qantas [Australia's national airline] will fly, the banks and post office will open, you’ll still pay tax. All I’m saying is that it’s going to be a sadder world without them.”</p>
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brisbane australia 7100acre patch land remote corner australia furry little longeared animal might well designed stephen spielbergs animation lab edging back brink extinction endangered bilby also known rabbiteared bandicoot many bilby fans say beloved australian marsupial reminds yoda floppyeared star wars character white settlers first came australia 1788 many millions bilbies lived alongside australias idiosyncratic native marsupials kangaroos wallabies wombats koalas late 1990s alarmed conservationists realized population spread across 70 percent vast continent dwindled almost nothing first settlers british convicts guards sent populate land inhabited native peoples claimed london gold discoveries later attracted many thousands north america asia immigrants brought animals quickly became bilbys enemies deadliest far imported pet cats feral descendants foxes imported english military officers landed gentry wanted something foxhounds hunt also found bilby tasty carnage followed first wiped bilbys smaller relative lesser bilby believed gone extinct 1950 past decade dedicated naturalists working slender budgets believe may halted yet another extinction headquarters bilbys comeback fenced acreage currawinya national park 420 miles northwest brisbane though bilby yet considered really safe growing optimism future one main reasons perhaps bilbys mating habits little grey white creatures among reproductive animal kingdom bilbies sexually mature six months breed year round female pregnant 1214 days baby called joey appears usually three litter one bilbyfancier describes newborn baked bean legs mother keeps pouch theyre strong enough outside world well catered inside pouch eight nipples 80 days fully formed bilby appears ready forage insects wild onions another 100 days begin looking sexual partners year good weather abundant food female produce eight young sexually active 2yearold female seems kind adult female bilby greatgreatgreatgrandmother couple dedicated conservationists given much credit improving bilbys prospects peter mcrae frank manthey mcrae zoologist australias national parks wildlife service first got involved 1988 asked make initial survey queensland bilby population 12 months setting traps using spotlights night locate nocturnal animals found nothing told globalpost fearing worst turned help friend fellowranger manthey formerly made living shooting bilbys much bigger cousin kangaroo manthey whose wife recently died looking something put fresh meaning life first little interest bilby one night 1998 joining mcrae spotlight trying locate bilbies says glasses snake juice bilbys round eyes large twitching ears irresistibly cute manner turned passionate fan says mcrae mate frank turned rooshooter conservation demon driven saving little furry animals drove people crazy wouldnt think anything else manthey spoke australian story government tv program bilby fixation bilbies mythical said like santa claus tooth fairies hear em really exist see one end spotlight see color graceful beautiful start realize australia little tiny pocket really gets letting something like disappear planet could easily something help environmental protection agency wildlife preservation society manthey mcrae became known bilby brothers launched nationwide save bilby fund men took sample bilbies schools enlist schoolchildren conservation effort candy manufacturers produced chocolate bilbies offering place chocolate bunnies around easter profits going fund costume jewellers designed bilby necklaces longeared trinkets sold funds website media took story fund announced a20 1680 would buy section currawinyas planned predatorproof fence 1999 a300000 250000 enough start building drive continues national bilby day inaugurated second sunday september year sept 13 date fund collected a800000 us668000 said fund coordinator emily chandler save bilby manthey response thats hard argue certainly wouldnt try australia wake one morning theres bilby left qantas australias national airline fly banks post office open youll still pay tax im saying going sadder world without
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<p>CAMBRIDGE, Mass. —&#160;Hashim Sarkis’ office overlooks some of the most impressive rooftops of Harvard Yard: the iconic Harvard Lampoon building; the newly-renovated Harvard Art Museums, designed by virtuoso architect Renzo Piano and opening this week. In the distance you can see the corners of the Carpenter Center, a work by the pioneering modernist Le Corbusier.</p>
<p>It’s a gorgeous view, and not hard to compare with some of the world’s most famous urban landscapes, from Florence to Montreal to Istanbul.</p>
<p>But Sarkis, a prominent scholar of architecture and urbanism, wants to look at it differently.</p>
<p>“If the urban is about diversity, how can we keep talking about ‘the city’ in the singular? Maybe there's another way we can talk about it,” he says when I ask him what the modern city will look like. “Perhaps we can … analyze more carefully the different things that we call 'city.'”</p>
<p>Sarkis is the newly appointed dean of MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning and has spent a decade at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, where he is currently the Aga Khan Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism in Muslim Societies. He’s also still a practicing architect, whose work spans the United States, Canada and the Middle East. His work has been displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and at Biennale exhibitions in Venice, Rotterdam, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.</p>
<p>After a long career studying urban societies and how they function, Sarkis believes we’re beyond thinking about so-called world cities like Tokyo, London and New York as being the main places where ideas and culture cross borders.</p>
<p>The world is in effect becoming one city, Sarkis contends, connected by virtual realities if not physical ones. This concept has been introduced in science fiction, as was the term ecumenopolis, introduced in 1967 by the Greek city planner Constantinos Dioxiadis, who believed that urbanization and population growth would in time lead to a world where major cities have fused into a single entity.</p>
<p>For Sarkis, it has become unproductive to say a person lives “here” or “there.”</p>
<p>“Maybe we can come up with a much broader list of categories rather than talk about 'urban' versus 'rural,' and consider a broader range of possible ways of living together,” he says. In fact, he concludes, “this is precisely what the city is about.”</p>
<p>I sat down with Sarkis to learn more about his ideas and what they might mean for the world's urban future. This is an excerpt of that interview.</p>
<p>How do you envision the concept of “the city” as the world merges cultures?</p>
<p>The city as an entity has become difficult to understand or explain because it's everywhere and nowhere. It's scale-less. It's no longer bounded. Somehow old classifications have become unproductive.</p>
<p>It turns out people have been talking about this since the late 19th century in science fiction. It's interesting that in H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds,” what unified the world was the war. … I feel that there's a lot of work to be done on the question of where the city is going.</p>
<p>Where are we now?</p>
<p>We now live in an urban age. The United Nations reports that more than 50 percent of the world [population] is in cities, which is quite problematic because it excludes another fifty percent who are actually as connected with the use of Internet and accessibility of flight. Using the term “city” misses the fact that you can be in the most remote town outside of Edmonton, Canada and still be very connected. You’re still living an urban life.</p>
<p>I don't think defining what is urban is clear anymore.&#160;What makes a “world city?” London, New York, Tokyo — these are the hubs of the global economy and they are the concentration of everything, but I also feel that we need to talk about the actual world as a city, meaning not “world cities” but a “one-world city.”&#160;</p>
<p>Would you give us an example?</p>
<p>Paris is so homogeneous and continuous and regular compared to London. London is a cluster of villages next to each other, right? We can ask which places are much more spread out?&#160;We can ask which places are tighter? That gives us a bigger repertoire than “city/not city” because it actually reflects more accurately how we're living today. Rather than answer the question directly, we begin to see it from another angle that helps us move forward as architects and as a society.</p>
<p>As a scholar and architect working in the US and abroad, what knowledge and Western practices do you take back to the Middle East?</p>
<p>When I started my practice in the late '90s in Beirut, I would say I took something back. But now I don't see it like that anymore. My life is no longer “here” or “there.” It's in both places simultaneously. It has converged in many ways and it is not until I am in Beirut and stuck in traffic that I realize it's a different world.</p>
<p>The idea of the here and there is one of the things I question and maybe I'd not have questioned it had I been only there, or had I only been here. For me, it is one world and I always yearn in my work to express it as such.&#160;These differences from which we form our identities are too small for them to matter. I seek more common human values as things that bind, and that's what I'm looking for in architecture.</p>
<p>One of the three books I'm working on is called “Beirut: Normal” that is trying to answer these questions. Is&#160;there anything we can&#160;say about Beirut that is normal and not exceptional or traumatic or violent?&#160;Can we see this confluence of East and West or Muslim and Christian? I don't think there's a big difference between them. There are big differences between the poor and the rich and the way the poor live in the Muslim communities is close to the way the poor live in the Christian communities. I think the class differences are far more significant than the ethnic differences.</p>
<p>An extended version of this interview was originally published on <a href="http://TheEditorial.com" type="external">TheEditorial.com</a>. It has been excerpted here with permission from <a href="https://twitter.com/heidilegg" type="external">Heidi Legg</a>.</p>
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cambridge mass 160hashim sarkis office overlooks impressive rooftops harvard yard iconic harvard lampoon building newlyrenovated harvard art museums designed virtuoso architect renzo piano opening week distance see corners carpenter center work pioneering modernist le corbusier gorgeous view hard compare worlds famous urban landscapes florence montreal istanbul sarkis prominent scholar architecture urbanism wants look differently urban diversity keep talking city singular maybe theres another way talk says ask modern city look like perhaps analyze carefully different things call city sarkis newly appointed dean mits school architecture planning spent decade harvard universitys graduate school design currently aga khan professor landscape architecture urbanism muslim societies hes also still practicing architect whose work spans united states canada middle east work displayed museum modern art new york biennale exhibitions venice rotterdam shenzhen hong kong long career studying urban societies function sarkis believes beyond thinking socalled world cities like tokyo london new york main places ideas culture cross borders world effect becoming one city sarkis contends connected virtual realities physical ones concept introduced science fiction term ecumenopolis introduced 1967 greek city planner constantinos dioxiadis believed urbanization population growth would time lead world major cities fused single entity sarkis become unproductive say person lives maybe come much broader list categories rather talk urban versus rural consider broader range possible ways living together says fact concludes precisely city sat sarkis learn ideas might mean worlds urban future excerpt interview envision concept city world merges cultures city entity become difficult understand explain everywhere nowhere scaleless longer bounded somehow old classifications become unproductive turns people talking since late 19th century science fiction interesting hg wells war worlds unified world war feel theres lot work done question city going live urban age united nations reports 50 percent world population cities quite problematic excludes another fifty percent actually connected use internet accessibility flight using term city misses fact remote town outside edmonton canada still connected youre still living urban life dont think defining urban clear anymore160what makes world city london new york tokyo hubs global economy concentration everything also feel need talk actual world city meaning world cities oneworld city160 would give us example paris homogeneous continuous regular compared london london cluster villages next right ask places much spread out160we ask places tighter gives us bigger repertoire citynot city actually reflects accurately living today rather answer question directly begin see another angle helps us move forward architects society scholar architect working us abroad knowledge western practices take back middle east started practice late 90s beirut would say took something back dont see like anymore life longer places simultaneously converged many ways beirut stuck traffic realize different world idea one things question maybe id questioned one world always yearn work express such160these differences form identities small matter seek common human values things bind thats im looking architecture one three books im working called beirut normal trying answer questions is160there anything can160say beirut normal exceptional traumatic violent160can see confluence east west muslim christian dont think theres big difference big differences poor rich way poor live muslim communities close way poor live christian communities think class differences far significant ethnic differences extended version interview originally published theeditorialcom excerpted permission heidi legg
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<p>SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Ben McAdams is the political equivalent of a unicorn. McAdams, who is running for mayor of Salt Lake County, is both a Democrat and a Mormon.</p>
<p>Sitting in his Salt Lake City office, staffed by enthusiastic young recruits, McAdams smiles as he contemplates his unique status.</p>
<p>"I have met many Mormons who wonder how I can be a Democrat," he laughs. "And just as many Democrats who wonder how I can be a Mormon."</p>
<p>The youthful politician - McAdams is just 37 - has a rich and varied past. A graduate of Salt Lake's University of Utah, he completed Columbia Law School and practiced in New York City for five years before returning home. He is married to a fellow Columbia grad, who also works full time - something of a rarity for women in traditional Mormon communities.</p>
<p>McAdams sees no contradiction between being a Mormon - a Church whose members are overwhelmingly conservative - and a Democrat.</p>
<p>"I am a Democrat, not in spite of, but because of, my faith," he says. "God teaches us to be good stewards of the earth, to help those who are oppressed, and to treat people with respect. Democratic concerns for the environment, for providing access to education and health care, are very much in line with my religious values."</p>
<p>More from Highway '12: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/highway-2012/mormons-beer-salt-lake-city-utah-vote" type="external">Of Mormons and beer</a></p>
<p>McAdams presents a refreshing change for many non-Mormons in Salt Lake - an <a href="http://www.pbs.org/mormons/faqs/structure.html#2" type="external">estimated 55 percent</a> of the city's population. Salt Lake County is home to some 43 percent of Utah's voters. Young professionals see him as a bridge between their more liberal views and the Mormon community, which largely controls the state political machine.</p>
<p>But McAdams' paradoxical political stance could prove a problem for him in November. He freely acknowledges that his loyalties are somewhat divided between Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate, who is Mormon, and the candidate of his own party, incumbent President Barack Obama.</p>
<p>"I think that President Obama has done great things under very difficult circumstances," said McAdams. "But it is, of course, a moment to be proud of that a member of my faith is a strong, credible candidate. It is very exciting."</p>
<p>In our age of political correctness and democratic inclusiveness, the Democrats are treading lightly on religion. &#160;They have been careful not to make too big an issue of Romney's faith.</p>
<p>But religious bias does exist, and has changed little over the past four decades.</p>
<p>Reverend Robert Jeffress, the Southern Baptist pastor who publicly called Mormonism a "cult" last year, was roundly criticized for his stance.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/155273/Bias-Against-Mormon-Presidential-Candidate-1967.aspx?utm_source=alert&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=syndication&amp;utm_content=morelink&amp;utm_term=All%20Gallup%20Headlines%20-%20Politics" type="external">A recent Gallup Poll shows</a> that roughly 18 percent of Americans say they would not vote for a qualified Mormon candidate; a similar poll in 1967, when Romney's father was contemplating a run for the White House, yielded a virtually identical number - 17 percent.</p>
<p>The recent poll, however, showed that one-third of respondents had no idea what Romney's religion actually was.</p>
<p>In Utah, however, Romney's religion is no impediment to success. Instead, it is <a href="http://commons.trincoll.edu/aris/files/2011/12/Mormons2008.pdf" type="external">the centerpiece of his attraction</a> for the roughly 60 percent of Utahns who are Mormon.</p>
<p>"Romney will definitely win Utah," asserts McAdams.</p>
<p>More from Highay '12: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/highway-2012/romney-iowa-davenport-speech-ron-paul-cadillac" type="external">In Iowa, American flags made in China</a></p>
<p>But for some in Utah, Romney's faith is not necessarily a plus.</p>
<p>"Romney is a typical Mormon - smug and sanctimonious," said Joseph Dimick, a retired Utah state judge. Dimick himself was raised a Mormon, but has "gradually drifted away" from the Church over the years.</p>
<p>"Tell me a man is a Mormon and I can tell you everything about him - his political stance, his economic policies, even what football teams he supports,? said Dimick.</p>
<p>Romney has done a good job of appealing to his core constituency, adds Dimick - "those who have, and those who identify with those who have."</p>
<p>This means that the candidate has to walk a fine line between not irritating his base - the billionaires who support him for their own economic interests, such as less regulation and lower taxes - and the conservative, less affluent and less educated voters who nevertheless see themselves as aspiring to a more prosperous lifestyle.</p>
<p>"Romney's constituents think that those who have money are somehow virtuous and deserving, and the poor are not," said Dimick. "They want to see themselves as deserving."</p>
<p>This sometimes leads to people voting against their own best interests - <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/macro/joseph-stiglitz-romney-economic-plan-recession" type="external">many experts</a> have pointed out that Romney's economic policies are unlikely to benefit those at the lower end of the scale, and could, in fact, tip the United States into an even greater depression.</p>
<p>Dimick says he is "not losing any sleep" over the prospects for November.</p>
<p>"Romney is unelectable," he insists. "He has lost women, Hispanics, blacks, the educated. All he has left are angry white males."</p>
<p>Romney's appeal is to those who "want Mexicans to go home, want women back in the house, and who do not want evolution taught in the schools," said Dimick. "He will also get the Bible belters, who will not vote for Obama under any circumstances."</p>
<p>This seems to be borne out by developments - even <a href="http://www.opposingviews.com/i/religion/christianity/video-anti-mormon-pastor-robert-jeffries-now-supports-mitt-romney" type="external">Rev. Jeffress is now supporting Romney</a>, because of Obama's "unprecedented assault on religious liberty" and his "embrace of non-Biblical principles like abortion." While the reverend still maintains that Mormonism is not Christianity, Jeffress is calling for Evangelicals to come out en masse and vote for the Republican candidate.</p>
<p>For lapsed Mormons like Judge Dimick, the prospect of a man of that faith taking control of power can be daunting.</p>
<p>More from Highway '12: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/highway-2012/class-warfare-obama-s-new-campaign-tactic" type="external">Obama targets the Bain of Romney's capital</a></p>
<p>"Mormons believe that they are destined to save the United States of America," he said. According to church founder Joseph Smith Jr.'s prophecy, "They think that God is going to send the 'One Mighty and Strong' who will sort things out. They may not tell you this, but many, many people out there," he gestures to the Salt Lake street outside his living room window, "believe that Romney is that man."</p>
<p>Despite Romney's status as a respected elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and his public piety, the judge does not think that Romney's faith poses any contradiction or threat to his candidacy.</p>
<p>"Romney answers to no one but himself," said Dimick. "There is no danger that he would take a position harmful to the United States just because some Mormon told him to."</p>
<p>The candidate is in the middle of a delicate balancing act, he added - trying to retain his Mormon base while appealing to the wider electorate.</p>
<p>"Romney has to tightrope it," said Dimick.</p>
<p>The greatest problem with Romney, added the judge, is something that many have remarked upon - the man's seeming lack of core beliefs or principles.</p>
<p>"Romney will say or do anything to get elected," said Dimick. "But the man is as hollow as an empty 50-barrel drum."</p>
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salt lake city utah ben mcadams political equivalent unicorn mcadams running mayor salt lake county democrat mormon sitting salt lake city office staffed enthusiastic young recruits mcadams smiles contemplates unique status met many mormons wonder democrat laughs many democrats wonder mormon youthful politician mcadams 37 rich varied past graduate salt lakes university utah completed columbia law school practiced new york city five years returning home married fellow columbia grad also works full time something rarity women traditional mormon communities mcadams sees contradiction mormon church whose members overwhelmingly conservative democrat democrat spite faith says god teaches us good stewards earth help oppressed treat people respect democratic concerns environment providing access education health care much line religious values highway 12 mormons beer mcadams presents refreshing change many nonmormons salt lake estimated 55 percent citys population salt lake county home 43 percent utahs voters young professionals see bridge liberal views mormon community largely controls state political machine mcadams paradoxical political stance could prove problem november freely acknowledges loyalties somewhat divided mitt romney republican candidate mormon candidate party incumbent president barack obama think president obama done great things difficult circumstances said mcadams course moment proud member faith strong credible candidate exciting age political correctness democratic inclusiveness democrats treading lightly religion 160they careful make big issue romneys faith religious bias exist changed little past four decades reverend robert jeffress southern baptist pastor publicly called mormonism cult last year roundly criticized stance recent gallup poll shows roughly 18 percent americans say would vote qualified mormon candidate similar poll 1967 romneys father contemplating run white house yielded virtually identical number 17 percent recent poll however showed onethird respondents idea romneys religion actually utah however romneys religion impediment success instead centerpiece attraction roughly 60 percent utahns mormon romney definitely win utah asserts mcadams highay 12 iowa american flags made china utah romneys faith necessarily plus romney typical mormon smug sanctimonious said joseph dimick retired utah state judge dimick raised mormon gradually drifted away church years tell man mormon tell everything political stance economic policies even football teams supports said dimick romney done good job appealing core constituency adds dimick identify means candidate walk fine line irritating base billionaires support economic interests less regulation lower taxes conservative less affluent less educated voters nevertheless see aspiring prosperous lifestyle romneys constituents think money somehow virtuous deserving poor said dimick want see deserving sometimes leads people voting best interests many experts pointed romneys economic policies unlikely benefit lower end scale could fact tip united states even greater depression dimick says losing sleep prospects november romney unelectable insists lost women hispanics blacks educated left angry white males romneys appeal want mexicans go home want women back house want evolution taught schools said dimick also get bible belters vote obama circumstances seems borne developments even rev jeffress supporting romney obamas unprecedented assault religious liberty embrace nonbiblical principles like abortion reverend still maintains mormonism christianity jeffress calling evangelicals come en masse vote republican candidate lapsed mormons like judge dimick prospect man faith taking control power daunting highway 12 obama targets bain romneys capital mormons believe destined save united states america said according church founder joseph smith jrs prophecy think god going send one mighty strong sort things may tell many many people gestures salt lake street outside living room window believe romney man despite romneys status respected elder church jesus christ latter day saints public piety judge think romneys faith poses contradiction threat candidacy romney answers one said dimick danger would take position harmful united states mormon told candidate middle delicate balancing act added trying retain mormon base appealing wider electorate romney tightrope said dimick greatest problem romney added judge something many remarked upon mans seeming lack core beliefs principles romney say anything get elected said dimick man hollow empty 50barrel drum
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<p>Editor’s Note: To celebrate four decades of muckraking on issues of race and poverty, we kick off this 40th anniversary edition with a focus on four of The Chicago Reporter’s key beats–criminal justice, immigration, labor and housing.</p>
<p>The history behind each issue has had its own trajectory since the Reporter’s founding in 1972. To illustrate that, we sat down with prominent figures whose activism has made its mark in their respective fields and asked them to reflect on their experiences.</p>
<p>We are confident these retrospective articles provide a unique insight into what it’s been like to work “in the trenches” of the nation’s toughest social justice issues.</p>
<p>On the morning of March 10, 2006, a throng of marchers packed the streets of downtown Chicago. Estimated by police at more than 100,000 people, the crowd was marching to voice its opposition to proposed federal legislation, H.R. 4437. The measure, known as the Sensenbrenner Bill, would have turned undocumented immigrants into felons and criminalized those who assisted them.</p>
<p>U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez greeted the crowd at the Federal Plaza. “I have never been prouder to march, to show my commitment to a cause, than I have been today,” he told the marchers. “Raise those American flags! This is our country, and this is where we will stay.”During the following few months, about 5 million people participated in similar “mega marches” nationwide. Chicago hosted two of the biggest mobilizations that contributed to the bill’s defeat.Such a large public response to the immigration issue is a recent phenomenon, said Gutierrez, who represents the 4th District, which covers parts of Chicago and the western suburbs. In 1972, when The Chicago Reporter was launched, it would have been unimaginable, he said. But in a span of 40 years, the immigration issue has become highly politicized and developed into one of the most divisive hot-button issues at both the local and national levels.</p>
<p>“As Latinos in the ‘70s, there was never a sense that we needed to go out and help those who were undocumented or even challenge ourselves to do better with that part of our community,” Gutierrez recalled.</p>
<p>During the course of Gutierrez’s political career, however, immigrant rights have always been his focus, and he has long served as the key spokesman for immigration reform in Congress.</p>
<p>“Obviously, the voters of the 4th Congressional District are citizens, and [immigration] doesn’t impact them directly, but they care about it,” said Gutierrez, a Chicago native of Puerto Rican descent who has represented the area since 1992.</p>
<p>Changes in population hint at what’s driving the issue’s rising prominence.</p>
<p>Data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that, following the passage of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which eliminated racial quotas of admittance, the nation’s foreign-born population grew from 9.6 million in 1970 to nearly 40 million in 2010.</p>
<p>There are about 11.1 million undocumented people living in the U.S., according to a 2012 report by the Pew Hispanic Center. It’s a diverse population. In 2010, the migrants from countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America made up more than 85 percent of the country’s foreign-born population. Chicago mirrors this nationwide trend, with Mexicans becoming the largest single foreign-born group in the city.</p>
<p>Gutierrez said the movement to demand equal rights now includes more minority groups than during the days of the Civil Rights Movement, but the same group of advocates are still coming to campaign for immigrants.</p>
<p>“When we’re in Birmingham, Alabama, responding to the anti-immigrant legislation passed there, we’re at the same church that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke from,” Gutierrez said. “We’re with many of the same combatants and fighters. Many of the same voices that were raised then are organizing” for immigrant rights.</p>
<p>*&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; *&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; *</p>
<p>Chicago has a history of early immigrant activism. During the 1970s, organizations such as Centro de Accion Social Autonomo were formed in Chicago to help elect a Latino politician to Congress. But it wasn’t until the latter half of the 1980s that the immigration issue began to permeate public discussions, Gutierrez said.</p>
<p>The issue’s visibility coincided with the increase of Latino representation in politics during the Harold Washington era, when he served as an adviser to the Chicago mayor, Gutierrez said.</p>
<p>Around that time, then-President Ronald Reagan signed into law one of the most comprehensive immigration reform proposals in the country’s history. The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act granted amnesty to 2.7 million undocumented immigrants who had been continuously living in the United States since 1982.</p>
<p>Gutierrez pointed out that the political environment back then is in stark contrast to the one surrounding today’s Congress.</p>
<p>The 1986 law “happened almost in the absence of a broad demand from the community,” he said. “There weren’t millions of people marching in the streets before the 1986 law. There was an economic need to get it done and a spirit of bipartisanship in the Congress of the United States.”</p>
<p>The law spawned the creation of local organizations, such as the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, which were designed to meet the increasing demands for immigration paperwork. These organizations eventually expanded their missions to include integration services, like English classes and voter registration.</p>
<p>Since he became the first Latino to go to Congress from the Midwest, Gutierrez has offered similar services for immigrants. His was the first congressional office nationwide to sponsor citizenship workshops. It was during a time when immigration resources were growing in demand, but immigrants themselves were, in a political sense, increasingly seen as undesirable.</p>
<p>The 1990s were a rough time to advocate for immigrants in Congress, Gutierrez recalled. “It was very xenophobic. The mentality was: ‘We don’t want anyone that isn’t already from here to come here, regardless,’” he said.</p>
<p>And as a slew of anti-immigration bills were making their way through Congress, he found no ally in then-President Bill Clinton, Gutierrez said.</p>
<p>“I remember complaining about Clinton and his acquiescence to these types of reforms that were happening almost simultaneously as the president was running for re-election and didn’t want to have to fight the Republicans in Congress,” he said.</p>
<p>The legislation that Gutierrez opposed–the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act–were passed in 1996. They restricted eligibility for federally funded programs such as Social Security, food stamps and Medicaid for undocumented immigrants, as well as U.S.-born children of noncitizen parents.</p>
<p>Immigrants also became subject to “expedited removal,” or on-the-spot deportation, without a hearing by an immigration judge or an appeal process. Criminal categories expanded so that petty crimes, such as shoplifting, were classified as “aggravated felonies” that could trigger deportation.</p>
<p>The number of deportations steadily increased during the latter half of the 1990s, more than doubling between 1996 and 1997 alone, according to data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Then, by the turn of millennium, the momentum was shifting back the other way.</p>
<p>In 2001, Gutierrez drafted the U.S. Employee, Family Unity, and Legalization Act that challenged many of the provisions of the 1996 legislation. He also advocated for an early version of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, which proposed deferred action and a pathway to citizenship for young undocumented students. He was hopeful, he recalled. “The conversation about immigration and immigration reform was beginning to bubble up,” he said.</p>
<p>In early September, then-President George W. Bush and his Mexican counterpart, Vincente Fox, were in general agreement about expansion to the guest worker program.</p>
<p>On Sept. 11, 2001, everything changed. A large rally that had been planned to support Gutierrez’s legislation never materialized. His bill and other immigration reform measures faded away.</p>
<p>With immigration perceived as a matter of national security, the newly created U.S. Department of Homeland Security took over duties previously handled by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The enforcement of immigration laws became the utmost priority, Gutierrez said. “Now we had an immigration policy that was geared toward enforcement and not helping people resolve their immigration problem, not keeping families together,” he said.</p>
<p>In recent years, the enforcement-first approach to immigration still dominated. For example, more than 1 million deportations were carried out during the first term of President Barack Obama–the highest number in four years under any president.</p>
<p>This has pushed immigrant advocates to take on new campaigns, including large-scale marches, to build momentum for immigration reform. Gutierrez himself has been arrested twice in front of the White House during protests against deportations.</p>
<p>Slowly, advocates are beginning to see the fruits of their labor. Last year, President Obama adapted a policy of deferred action to give undocumented youths a pathway to a work permit. Gutierrez and other advocates praised the move. “When I saw the first work permit, I have to tell you, it brought a joy to me that I had not felt in such a long time,” he said.</p>
<p>Gutierrez is confident that the support for comprehensive immigration reform will rapidly pick up steam. “We’re going to have it because people in the street are going to demand it,” he said.</p>
<p>On the night of Nov. 6, Gutierrez joined a group of immigration advocates outside McCormick Place, the site of the president’s election-night festivities. Some of them waited for the election results while holding signs that read, “Americans Vote for Immigration Reform Now.”</p>
<p>“Today, you hear voices of those who wish to defend our immigrant community,” Gutierrez said. “It’s very different today than it was even in 1986.”</p>
<p>Contributing: Maria Ines Zamudio</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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editors note celebrate four decades muckraking issues race poverty kick 40th anniversary edition focus four chicago reporters key beatscriminal justice immigration labor housing history behind issue trajectory since reporters founding 1972 illustrate sat prominent figures whose activism made mark respective fields asked reflect experiences confident retrospective articles provide unique insight like work trenches nations toughest social justice issues morning march 10 2006 throng marchers packed streets downtown chicago estimated police 100000 people crowd marching voice opposition proposed federal legislation hr 4437 measure known sensenbrenner bill would turned undocumented immigrants felons criminalized assisted us rep luis gutierrez greeted crowd federal plaza never prouder march show commitment cause today told marchers raise american flags country stayduring following months 5 million people participated similar mega marches nationwide chicago hosted two biggest mobilizations contributed bills defeatsuch large public response immigration issue recent phenomenon said gutierrez represents 4th district covers parts chicago western suburbs 1972 chicago reporter launched would unimaginable said span 40 years immigration issue become highly politicized developed one divisive hotbutton issues local national levels latinos 70s never sense needed go help undocumented even challenge better part community gutierrez recalled course gutierrezs political career however immigrant rights always focus long served key spokesman immigration reform congress obviously voters 4th congressional district citizens immigration doesnt impact directly care said gutierrez chicago native puerto rican descent represented area since 1992 changes population hint whats driving issues rising prominence data us census bureau show following passage 1965 immigration nationality act eliminated racial quotas admittance nations foreignborn population grew 96 million 1970 nearly 40 million 2010 111 million undocumented people living us according 2012 report pew hispanic center diverse population 2010 migrants countries africa asia latin america made 85 percent countrys foreignborn population chicago mirrors nationwide trend mexicans becoming largest single foreignborn group city gutierrez said movement demand equal rights includes minority groups days civil rights movement group advocates still coming campaign immigrants birmingham alabama responding antiimmigrant legislation passed church dr martin luther king jr spoke gutierrez said many combatants fighters many voices raised organizing immigrant rights 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 chicago history early immigrant activism 1970s organizations centro de accion social autonomo formed chicago help elect latino politician congress wasnt latter half 1980s immigration issue began permeate public discussions gutierrez said issues visibility coincided increase latino representation politics harold washington era served adviser chicago mayor gutierrez said around time thenpresident ronald reagan signed law one comprehensive immigration reform proposals countrys history 1986 immigration reform control act granted amnesty 27 million undocumented immigrants continuously living united states since 1982 gutierrez pointed political environment back stark contrast one surrounding todays congress 1986 law happened almost absence broad demand community said werent millions people marching streets 1986 law economic need get done spirit bipartisanship congress united states law spawned creation local organizations illinois coalition immigrant refugee rights designed meet increasing demands immigration paperwork organizations eventually expanded missions include integration services like english classes voter registration since became first latino go congress midwest gutierrez offered similar services immigrants first congressional office nationwide sponsor citizenship workshops time immigration resources growing demand immigrants political sense increasingly seen undesirable 1990s rough time advocate immigrants congress gutierrez recalled xenophobic mentality dont want anyone isnt already come regardless said slew antiimmigration bills making way congress found ally thenpresident bill clinton gutierrez said remember complaining clinton acquiescence types reforms happening almost simultaneously president running reelection didnt want fight republicans congress said legislation gutierrez opposedthe personal responsibility work opportunity reconciliation act illegal immigration reform immigrant responsibility actwere passed 1996 restricted eligibility federally funded programs social security food stamps medicaid undocumented immigrants well usborn children noncitizen parents immigrants also became subject expedited removal onthespot deportation without hearing immigration judge appeal process criminal categories expanded petty crimes shoplifting classified aggravated felonies could trigger deportation number deportations steadily increased latter half 1990s doubling 1996 1997 alone according data us department homeland security turn millennium momentum shifting back way 2001 gutierrez drafted us employee family unity legalization act challenged many provisions 1996 legislation also advocated early version development relief education alien minors act proposed deferred action pathway citizenship young undocumented students hopeful recalled conversation immigration immigration reform beginning bubble said early september thenpresident george w bush mexican counterpart vincente fox general agreement expansion guest worker program sept 11 2001 everything changed large rally planned support gutierrezs legislation never materialized bill immigration reform measures faded away immigration perceived matter national security newly created us department homeland security took duties previously handled immigration naturalization service enforcement immigration laws became utmost priority gutierrez said immigration policy geared toward enforcement helping people resolve immigration problem keeping families together said recent years enforcementfirst approach immigration still dominated example 1 million deportations carried first term president barack obamathe highest number four years president pushed immigrant advocates take new campaigns including largescale marches build momentum immigration reform gutierrez arrested twice front white house protests deportations slowly advocates beginning see fruits labor last year president obama adapted policy deferred action give undocumented youths pathway work permit gutierrez advocates praised move saw first work permit tell brought joy felt long time said gutierrez confident support comprehensive immigration reform rapidly pick steam going people street going demand said night nov 6 gutierrez joined group immigration advocates outside mccormick place site presidents electionnight festivities waited election results holding signs read americans vote immigration reform today hear voices wish defend immigrant community gutierrez said different today even 1986 contributing maria ines zamudio 160
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<p>A federal appeals court has denied asylum for a Jamaican national who asserts he’s bisexual.</p>
<p>A federal appeals court this week denied asylum for a Jamaican national — who was once convicted of attempted sexual assault in the United States — even though he asserted he’s bisexual and would face persecution if forced to return to his home country.</p>
<p>In a <a href="" type="internal">2-1 decision</a>, a three-judge panel on the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision from an immigration judge denying the petition from Ray Fuller, a 51-year-old Jamaican citizen, on the basis his testimony wasn’t credible.</p>
<p>Writing for the majority, U.S. Circuit Judge Diane Wood, a Clinton appointee, said the determination by the immigration judge Fuller isn’t bisexual is “entirely reasonable” due to discrepancies in his testimony.</p>
<p>“Because we cannot say that any reasonable adjudicator would be compelled to conclude to the contrary (i.e. compelled to conclude that he is indeed bisexual), the agency properly denied Fuller’s application for deferral of removal under the CAT,” the decision says.</p>
<p>Fuller sought withholding from removal under the Immigration &amp; Nationality Act and the United Nations Convention Against Torture. After the immigration judge denied all relief under those laws, the Board of Immigration Appeals upheld the decision.</p>
<p>According to the decision, Fuller came into the United States in 1999 with a fiance visa sponsored by a U.S. citizen, whom he later married and with whom he had a daughter, but they later divorced. His immigration status was terminated in 2004.</p>
<p>Also in 2004, Fuller pled guilty to attempted criminal sexual assault. According to the decision, the victim informed police he threatened to kill her and that she told him several times during the encounter to stop.</p>
<p>He was sentenced to 30 months’ probation. After violating the terms of his probation, Fuller was sentenced in 2012 to four years’ imprisonment. Upon his release, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security detained him and charged him as removable.</p>
<p>Fuller sought withholding of removal on the basis he’s bisexual and pointed to evidence, including human rights reports from the U.S. State Department, documenting anti-LGBT persecution in Jamaica, a country that criminalizes same-sex relations.</p>
<p>In Jamaica, Fuller said he had relationships with both men and women, was attacked and sometimes stoned by other students at college in Kingston and held up at gunpoint for being a “batty man,” which is a Jamaican slur for a gay man.</p>
<p>On another occasion, Fuller said he was shot in the back and buttocks by someone from an “anti-gay mob” while partying with his boyfriend in the resort town of Ocho Rios. Afterwards, he said his sisters learned about his sexual orientation as a result of the shooting and disowned him.</p>
<p>Fuller later became romantically involved with a woman in Jamaica, then travelled to the United States, but said he continued to have multiple affairs with both men and women.</p>
<p>The immigration judge denied all relief to Fuller, first on the basis attempted sexual assault is a “particularly serious crime,” and second because she didn’t believe he’s bisexual or the Jamaican government would consider him such.</p>
<p>Disputing Fuller’s assertion he’s bisexual, the immigration judge pointed to his marriage to a woman and two children. She also noted a discrepancy in his stated history, pointing out he said during his written statement he was shot between 1983 and 1988 with a boyfriend named Henry, but during testimony the incident happened in 1997 with a boyfriend named&#160;Stephen.</p>
<p>The immigration judge pointed out Fuller lied on an application to return to Jamaica in 2001, confused his sisters’ names, mixed up a sister with his mother and gave different figures of his number of sisters.</p>
<p>Although Fuller produced seven letters from sisters and friend asserting he’s bisexual, the immigration judge discounted them on the basis the authors wouldn’t testify in court and because the signatures on the letters were stylistically suspicious. In some instances, they consisted of a series of dots.</p>
<p>Echoing the immigration judge, Wood on behalf of the 7th Circuit affirms Fuller’s testimony presented discrepancies.</p>
<p>“People may not remember what they had for lunch 20 or 30 years ago, but some experiences leave a greater imprint on the memory than others,” Wood writes. “It was entirely reasonable for the IJ to think that the experience of being shot falls in the latter category, and that someone for whom that is not an everyday event would remember whether he was shot while in college in the late 1980s or with a boyfriend in the late 1990s.”</p>
<p>Joining Wood in the decision was U.S. Circuit Judge Ilana Rovner, an appointee of George H.W. Bush whose recent decision <a href="" type="internal">denying anti-gay workplace discrimination is covered under current federal civil rights law</a> inspired consternation among LGBT advocates.</p>
<p>Dissenting from the majority opinion was U.S. Circuit Judge Richard Posner, a Reagan appointee who wrote a scathing rebuke to the immigration judge, saying she apparently “does not know the meaning of bisexual.”</p>
<p>“And how exactly does one prove that he (or she) is bisexual?” Posner writes. “Persuade all oneʹs male sex partners to testify, to write letters, etc.? No, because most Jamaican homosexuals are not going to go public with their homosexuality given the vicious Jamaican discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons, which is undeniable, as I’ll show.”</p>
<p>Posner criticizes the immigration judge for basing&#160;her denial of relief on “unquestionable, but trivial and indeed irrelevant” mistakes in Fuller’s testimony as opposed to focusing on the anti-LGBT atmosphere in Jamaica.</p>
<p>“The fact that an applicant for asylum makes mistakes or even lies is material to his asylum claim only if the mistakes or lies are germane — which the mistakes (or lies) about his sisters and mothers were not,” Posner writes. “He testified without contradiction that his family has rejected him because of his bisexuality; it would be no surprise if, having been rejected by his mother and sisters, he lashed back at them, as by “mixing up” one of his sisters with his mother.”</p>
<p>Posner faults the immigration judge for rejecting the seven letters Fuller presented asserting his bisexuality. As for the differing recollections for the timing on being shot, Posner writes Fuller may have misremembered. Posner also criticizes the immigration judge for not seeking a psychologist to verify Fuller is bisexual.</p>
<p>“Nor has any reason been given, either by the immigration judge or by the majority opinion in this court, why if Fuller is not bisexual he would claim to be in an effort to remain in the United States, knowing that if he failed in his effort to remain he would be in grave danger of persecution when having lost his case he was shipped off to Jamaica,” Posner writes. “No doubt once back in Jamaica he could deny being bisexual — but no one who was either familiar with this litigation, or had been one of his persecutors before he left Jamaica for the United States, would believe (or at least admit to believing) his denial.”</p>
<p>Nowhere in Posner’s dissent does he address Fuller’s conviction for&#160;attempted sexual assault or what bearing that would have on his case for relief.</p>
<p>Posner, who wrote the majority opinion <a href="" type="internal">striking down bans on same-sex marriage in Indiana and Wisconsin</a>, gained notoriety among LGBT advocates for his aggressive questioning of attorneys general seeking to defend their states’ ban on gay nuptials. Like many Americans, Posner, based on his writings, <a href="" type="internal">underwent an evolution</a> to reach support for same-sex marriage, first denying courts could find a constitutional right for same-sex couples to marry, then embracing the idea.</p>
<p>According to the decision, if Fuller can gather new evidence demonstrating the immigration judge was mistaken about his sexual orientation, he can ask her to accept a motion to reopen, although the decision on such a request is entirely up to the judge and not subject to review.</p>
<p>Dorian Needham, a staff attorney with Immigration Equality’s pro bono program, said the ruling demonstrates the need for immigration judges to receive training on LGBT issues.</p>
<p>“Immigration Equality trains every incoming asylum officer — hundreds each year — on issues pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity,” Needham said. “This case illustrates why we have long advocated for immigration judges to receive the same training.”</p>
<p>Pointing to the majority’s determination the immigration judge “could be criticized for betraying a lack of understanding about bisexuality,” Needham said the court should have remanded the case for further consideration.</p>
<p>“Rather than offering Fuller the admittedly ‘thin comfort’ that he may be able to prevail upon this same immigration judge’s discretion to reopen his case, however, the majority should have remanded Fuller’s case so that he could (as they suggest) ‘gather new evidence showing that the [immigration judge] was mistaken about his sexual orientation,’” Needham said.</p>
<p>The U.S. Justice Department, which defended the removal proceedings for Fuller, declined to comment on the Seventh Circuit decision.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Diane Wood</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jamaica</a> <a href="" type="internal">Richard Posner</a> <a href="" type="internal">U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals</a></p>
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federal appeals court denied asylum jamaican national asserts hes bisexual federal appeals court week denied asylum jamaican national convicted attempted sexual assault united states even though asserted hes bisexual would face persecution forced return home country 21 decision threejudge panel us seventh circuit court appeals upheld decision immigration judge denying petition ray fuller 51yearold jamaican citizen basis testimony wasnt credible writing majority us circuit judge diane wood clinton appointee said determination immigration judge fuller isnt bisexual entirely reasonable due discrepancies testimony say reasonable adjudicator would compelled conclude contrary ie compelled conclude indeed bisexual agency properly denied fullers application deferral removal cat decision says fuller sought withholding removal immigration amp nationality act united nations convention torture immigration judge denied relief laws board immigration appeals upheld decision according decision fuller came united states 1999 fiance visa sponsored us citizen later married daughter later divorced immigration status terminated 2004 also 2004 fuller pled guilty attempted criminal sexual assault according decision victim informed police threatened kill told several times encounter stop sentenced 30 months probation violating terms probation fuller sentenced 2012 four years imprisonment upon release us department homeland security detained charged removable fuller sought withholding removal basis hes bisexual pointed evidence including human rights reports us state department documenting antilgbt persecution jamaica country criminalizes samesex relations jamaica fuller said relationships men women attacked sometimes stoned students college kingston held gunpoint batty man jamaican slur gay man another occasion fuller said shot back buttocks someone antigay mob partying boyfriend resort town ocho rios afterwards said sisters learned sexual orientation result shooting disowned fuller later became romantically involved woman jamaica travelled united states said continued multiple affairs men women immigration judge denied relief fuller first basis attempted sexual assault particularly serious crime second didnt believe hes bisexual jamaican government would consider disputing fullers assertion hes bisexual immigration judge pointed marriage woman two children also noted discrepancy stated history pointing said written statement shot 1983 1988 boyfriend named henry testimony incident happened 1997 boyfriend named160stephen immigration judge pointed fuller lied application return jamaica 2001 confused sisters names mixed sister mother gave different figures number sisters although fuller produced seven letters sisters friend asserting hes bisexual immigration judge discounted basis authors wouldnt testify court signatures letters stylistically suspicious instances consisted series dots echoing immigration judge wood behalf 7th circuit affirms fullers testimony presented discrepancies people may remember lunch 20 30 years ago experiences leave greater imprint memory others wood writes entirely reasonable ij think experience shot falls latter category someone everyday event would remember whether shot college late 1980s boyfriend late 1990s joining wood decision us circuit judge ilana rovner appointee george hw bush whose recent decision denying antigay workplace discrimination covered current federal civil rights law inspired consternation among lgbt advocates dissenting majority opinion us circuit judge richard posner reagan appointee wrote scathing rebuke immigration judge saying apparently know meaning bisexual exactly one prove bisexual posner writes persuade oneʹs male sex partners testify write letters etc jamaican homosexuals going go public homosexuality given vicious jamaican discrimination lesbian gay bisexual transgender persons undeniable ill show posner criticizes immigration judge basing160her denial relief unquestionable trivial indeed irrelevant mistakes fullers testimony opposed focusing antilgbt atmosphere jamaica fact applicant asylum makes mistakes even lies material asylum claim mistakes lies germane mistakes lies sisters mothers posner writes testified without contradiction family rejected bisexuality would surprise rejected mother sisters lashed back mixing one sisters mother posner faults immigration judge rejecting seven letters fuller presented asserting bisexuality differing recollections timing shot posner writes fuller may misremembered posner also criticizes immigration judge seeking psychologist verify fuller bisexual reason given either immigration judge majority opinion court fuller bisexual would claim effort remain united states knowing failed effort remain would grave danger persecution lost case shipped jamaica posner writes doubt back jamaica could deny bisexual one either familiar litigation one persecutors left jamaica united states would believe least admit believing denial nowhere posners dissent address fullers conviction for160attempted sexual assault bearing would case relief posner wrote majority opinion striking bans samesex marriage indiana wisconsin gained notoriety among lgbt advocates aggressive questioning attorneys general seeking defend states ban gay nuptials like many americans posner based writings underwent evolution reach support samesex marriage first denying courts could find constitutional right samesex couples marry embracing idea according decision fuller gather new evidence demonstrating immigration judge mistaken sexual orientation ask accept motion reopen although decision request entirely judge subject review dorian needham staff attorney immigration equalitys pro bono program said ruling demonstrates need immigration judges receive training lgbt issues immigration equality trains every incoming asylum officer hundreds year issues pertaining sexual orientation gender identity needham said case illustrates long advocated immigration judges receive training pointing majoritys determination immigration judge could criticized betraying lack understanding bisexuality needham said court remanded case consideration rather offering fuller admittedly thin comfort may able prevail upon immigration judges discretion reopen case however majority remanded fullers case could suggest gather new evidence showing immigration judge mistaken sexual orientation needham said us justice department defended removal proceedings fuller declined comment seventh circuit decision diane wood jamaica richard posner us seventh circuit court appeals
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<p>By Jeff Brumley</p>
<p>It’s hardly news anymore that Baptist and other churches are struggling to rediscover their identity and relevance in a postmodern, post-Christian era.</p>
<p>But what is getting church leaders’ attention is the growing number of congregations finding their purpose through pastoral residency. The programs feature hosting one or more young ministers to experience every facet of church life in preparation for careers in ministry.</p>
<p>Citing the need to enrich its culture as a teaching congregation, First Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C., recently announced plans to launch a&#160; <a href="http://www.fbcgso.org/pastoral_residency" type="external">transition-into-ministry</a> program in September.</p>
<p>“We’re a brick church that’s seeking to dream new dreams and we are looking to support ministries and programs that also help create identity and support life in our church,” says Alan Sherouse, senior pastor at First Baptist.</p>
<p />
<p>That’s been a sentiment shared by several Baptist congregations since Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas <a href="http://www.wilshirebc.org/learn/pathways-to-ministry/" type="external">launched its program</a> more than 10 years ago with a grant from the Lilly Foundation.</p>
<p>Since then, pastoral residency programs of various kinds have been planned or launched in congregations like <a href="http://fbcrichmond.org/index.htm" type="external">First Baptist Church</a>&#160;in Richmond, Va., <a href="" type="internal">Calvary Baptist Church</a> in Washington and <a href="http://fbckpt.net/templates/cusfbckingsport/default.asp?id=34133" type="external">First Baptist Church</a> in Kingsport, Tenn.</p>
<p>Ministers who have helped administer the programs say the biggest challenges include cost and the temptation to use residents to temporarily fill vacant staff positions.</p>
<p>Major benefits include the solidarity that mentoring young ministers fosters in congregations and staffs. Another is the knowledge that well-formed ministers are being sent into the world better able to withstand the challenges of the pastorate and other ministry callings.</p>
<p>‘Giving them a leg up’</p>
<p>Now in its 12th&#160;year, the residency program at Wilshire Baptist provides a consistent and tangible blessing by reinvigorating the congregation and leadership with each new class of residents, Associate Pastor Mark Wingfield says.</p>
<p>“There’s an ongoing vibrancy because we always have young ministers in our system here and we are made better by their fresh ideas and their enthusiasm and being forced to explain ourselves over and over again.”</p>
<p />
<p>As senior pastor, George Mason is the leading mentor for the residents, but every staff member and many in the congregation are responsible for guiding and nurturing the young ministers, as well.</p>
<p>The program has created a collegial and teaching relationship between the participants and the church, so much so that many of the now 23 alumni return to Wilshire annually for networking, continuing education and fellowship.</p>
<p>It’s also among the largest programs of its kind in Baptist life, with four residents serving staggered two-year terms.</p>
<p>The idea was born when the Lilly Foundation spent millions to encourage and finance residency programs at some two dozen churches across the denominational spectrum. At the time, Wilshire was on the only predominately caucasian Baptist church to participate.</p>
<p>“Ours is modeled after hospital residency,” Wingfield says. “They come in as full-time staff members, making hospital visits, preaching, teaching Sunday school, attending committee meetings —&#160;learning the ropes of the church,” he said.</p>
<p>Wilshire takes only recent seminary or divinity school graduates who seek to become senior pastors. While some other churches do not adhere to that limit, Wilshire has found the focus beneficial for the graduates.</p>
<p>“When they go to their first pastorate, it’s really like they’re going to their second pastorate,” Wingfield says. “We are really giving them a leg up.”</p>
<p>‘Ministers without portfolio’</p>
<p>Since then, Wilshire has become a model program and often guides other congregations —&#160;Baptist and otherwise —&#160;in establishing residencies.</p>
<p>Residency programs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with some hosting just one resident at a time, depending on finances and congregational capacity. Others open it to candidates called to all sorts of other ministries.</p>
<p>“It’s a worthy model that allows a young pastor a much higher chance of survival,” Wingfield says.</p>
<p>But it can also be expensive.</p>
<p>“The way we do it, only a big church can do it,” Wingfield says, referring to having four full-time residents onboard at a time. The church also has four houses to house the residents.</p>
<p>Smaller and mid-size churches can pull it off, too, as long as they aren’t looking at the residents as a way to fill a vacant staff position.</p>
<p>“True residency allows residents to be ministers without portfolio.”</p>
<p>Transforming church culture</p>
<p>Whatever the size or style of the program, an important common denominator for churches with pastoral residency programs is that they be, at their very root, teaching congregations, ministers say.</p>
<p>First Baptist Church in Richmond drew on its history of nurturing summer interns to launch a residency program in 2009, says Steve Booth, associate pastor for Christian formation and the residency program coordinator at First Baptist.</p>
<p />
<p>The move has paid off for the church, which welcomed its third resident, Nick Deere, in August, Booth said.</p>
<p>Members of the staff and congregation are working with and mentoring the 27-year-old graduate of Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary.</p>
<p>“The beauty of this thing, for the congregation, is they come alongside this young person and get to make a contribution and some reward in helping him or her develop,” Booth says.</p>
<p>Even after just six years, the process is transforming First Baptist, he adds.</p>
<p>“It’s becoming more and more the culture of the church, and the church is getting it. This allows us to live into being a teaching congregation.”</p>
<p />
<p>Deere gets his hands on all aspects of church life, Booth says. He has preached Sunday night healing services at churches around Richmond. He serves as a Sunday school teacher and works with the church’s social outreach ministries.</p>
<p>“He gets quality time from [senior pastor] Jim Somerville on preaching. He’s in a residence at this church —&#160;not just passing through.”</p>
<p>Discerning a calling</p>
<p>And in not just passing through, Deere says the residency program at First Baptist is giving him the time and experience he needs to discern the ways in which God is calling him to ministry.</p>
<p>It’s a supervised setting where the Houston native says he can learn the ropes and have a good network of support.</p>
<p>“It’s a chance to get relevant pastoral experience, and … a chance to continue learning,” Deere says. “Having that will make me better at whatever ministry setting I’m in.”</p>
<p>Deere says he’s already learning one of the key skills pastors need to survive the stressful church environment: how to ask for and accept help from mentors.</p>
<p>“This has been a great way to get feedback and advice. These are all guys who have gone through it before.”</p>
<p>‘A statement of identity’</p>
<p>The drive to fight clergy burnout in the face of the huge challenges confronting churches is another factor influencing the creation of a residency program at First Baptist in Greensboro, Sherouse says.</p>
<p>In turn, the church will live into its history of being a teaching congregation by welcoming residents —&#160;first one, then two residents for two-year, overlapping terms.</p>
<p>In addition to First Baptist and its future residents, Sherouse says the church hopes to inspire other congregations doing the work of discerning their missions.</p>
<p>“We want to be a model for how a church does this,” he says.</p>
<p>The test for that question is whether or not a congregation feels it has teaching and sending ministers as a core purpose.</p>
<p>“This isn’t a model every church needs to emulate,” Sherouse says. “This is a statement of identity.”</p>
<p>Related commentary:</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Elijahs and Elishas, by Brent Newberry, pastoral resident at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas</a></p>
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jeff brumley hardly news anymore baptist churches struggling rediscover identity relevance postmodern postchristian era getting church leaders attention growing number congregations finding purpose pastoral residency programs feature hosting one young ministers experience every facet church life preparation careers ministry citing need enrich culture teaching congregation first baptist church greensboro nc recently announced plans launch a160 transitionintoministry program september brick church thats seeking dream new dreams looking support ministries programs also help create identity support life church says alan sherouse senior pastor first baptist thats sentiment shared several baptist congregations since wilshire baptist church dallas launched program 10 years ago grant lilly foundation since pastoral residency programs various kinds planned launched congregations like first baptist church160in richmond va calvary baptist church washington first baptist church kingsport tenn ministers helped administer programs say biggest challenges include cost temptation use residents temporarily fill vacant staff positions major benefits include solidarity mentoring young ministers fosters congregations staffs another knowledge wellformed ministers sent world better able withstand challenges pastorate ministry callings giving leg 12th160year residency program wilshire baptist provides consistent tangible blessing reinvigorating congregation leadership new class residents associate pastor mark wingfield says theres ongoing vibrancy always young ministers system made better fresh ideas enthusiasm forced explain senior pastor george mason leading mentor residents every staff member many congregation responsible guiding nurturing young ministers well program created collegial teaching relationship participants church much many 23 alumni return wilshire annually networking continuing education fellowship also among largest programs kind baptist life four residents serving staggered twoyear terms idea born lilly foundation spent millions encourage finance residency programs two dozen churches across denominational spectrum time wilshire predominately caucasian baptist church participate modeled hospital residency wingfield says come fulltime staff members making hospital visits preaching teaching sunday school attending committee meetings 160learning ropes church said wilshire takes recent seminary divinity school graduates seek become senior pastors churches adhere limit wilshire found focus beneficial graduates go first pastorate really like theyre going second pastorate wingfield says really giving leg ministers without portfolio since wilshire become model program often guides congregations 160baptist otherwise 160in establishing residencies residency programs come variety shapes sizes hosting one resident time depending finances congregational capacity others open candidates called sorts ministries worthy model allows young pastor much higher chance survival wingfield says also expensive way big church wingfield says referring four fulltime residents onboard time church also four houses house residents smaller midsize churches pull long arent looking residents way fill vacant staff position true residency allows residents ministers without portfolio transforming church culture whatever size style program important common denominator churches pastoral residency programs root teaching congregations ministers say first baptist church richmond drew history nurturing summer interns launch residency program 2009 says steve booth associate pastor christian formation residency program coordinator first baptist move paid church welcomed third resident nick deere august booth said members staff congregation working mentoring 27yearold graduate baylor universitys truett theological seminary beauty thing congregation come alongside young person get make contribution reward helping develop booth says even six years process transforming first baptist adds becoming culture church church getting allows us live teaching congregation deere gets hands aspects church life booth says preached sunday night healing services churches around richmond serves sunday school teacher works churchs social outreach ministries gets quality time senior pastor jim somerville preaching hes residence church 160not passing discerning calling passing deere says residency program first baptist giving time experience needs discern ways god calling ministry supervised setting houston native says learn ropes good network support chance get relevant pastoral experience chance continue learning deere says make better whatever ministry setting im deere says hes already learning one key skills pastors need survive stressful church environment ask accept help mentors great way get feedback advice guys gone statement identity drive fight clergy burnout face huge challenges confronting churches another factor influencing creation residency program first baptist greensboro sherouse says turn church live history teaching congregation welcoming residents 160first one two residents twoyear overlapping terms addition first baptist future residents sherouse says church hopes inspire congregations work discerning missions want model church says test question whether congregation feels teaching sending ministers core purpose isnt model every church needs emulate sherouse says statement identity related commentary elijahs elishas brent newberry pastoral resident wilshire baptist church dallas
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<p>The House defeated an amendment from Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) to bar funds for transition-related case in the U.S. military (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>The U.S. House narrowly rejected on Thursday an amendment that would have barred transgender service members from being eligible for transition-related health care, including gender reassignment surgery.</p>
<p>The measure, which would have barred the Defense Department from expending funds on transition-related care, was introduced by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) as part of the fiscal year 2018 defense authorization bill, but rejected on a 214-209 vote.</p>
<p>After Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), who presided over the vote, called out the tally, Democrats in the House chamber applauded in victory. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), who’s gay and a co-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, could be seen raising both hands in the air in a double-fist bump in celebration.</p>
<p>All 190 Democrats present voted against the proposal. They were joined by 24 Republicans, including Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), who has a transgender son, as well as Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) and Mike Coffman (R-Colo.).</p>
<p>The vote on the amendment takes place after a short, but intense, period of debate on the House floor in which Hartzler and her GOP allies defended the measure and Democratic opponents criticized it as discriminatory.</p>
<p>Hartzler maintained the amendment was intended to focus the attention of the U.S. military on confronting the nation’s adversaries — such as North Korea, Russia and the Islamic State — instead of other tasks.</p>
<p>“We must confront these challenges by ensuring our defense dollars maximize the military’s readiness and lethality,” Hartlzer said. “That is why I’m offering an amendment to advance these goals by prohibiting taxpayer dollars from funding gender reassignment surgeries and related hormone therapy treatment for members of the military and their dependents.”</p>
<p>Transgender service members began serving openly in the U.S. military last year after then-Defense Secretary Ashton Carter lifted the ban on open service. The target date for allowing openly transgender people to enlist in the armed forces was July 1, 2017, although Defense Secretary James Mattis pushed back that date until January 1, 2018.</p>
<p>As evidence of “many problems with this policy,” Hartzler cited the cost of transition-related care as well as transgender service members being unable to deploy as they recover from transition. The Missouri Republicans said care would cost $1.35 billion over the course of 10 years — a figure wildly higher than estimates from military experts.</p>
<p>Hartzler also cited a “lack of medical consensus” on transition-related care, even though that treatment is supported by major medical organizations such as the American Medical Association.</p>
<p>The amendment, Hartzler said, does “not preclude service by transgenders” and permits them to have health care other those related to gender transition, even though transgender service members across the board will likely need access to some form of transition-related care to remain in the armed forces.</p>
<p>Leading the opposition to the amendment on the House floor was Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, who said the amendment “one specific group, and very unfairly.”</p>
<p>“This isn’t going to help readiness,” Smith said. “This is a social agenda that has no business being in the defense bill. We didn’t have it committee; we should have it on the floor here.”</p>
<p>Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), a Marine veteran who served in the Iraq war, likely offered the most visceral defense of the Hartzler amendment on the House floor.</p>
<p>“You’re joining the U.S. military,” Hunter said. “Choose what gender you are before you serve.”</p>
<p>Notably, Hartler was often left to herself when defending her amendment, while Democrats brought several members to the floor who were more prominent, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).</p>
<p>Pelosi said the amendment was a thinly-veiled attempt to ban transgender service members from the armed forces by seeking to deny them medically necessary care.</p>
<p>“Make no mistake, the effect and the intent of this unjust and mean-spirited amendment is to ban patriotic Americans from serving our country,” Pelosi said. “It is designed to drum transgender servicemembers out of the military. Instead of protecting the men and women who risk their lives to defend our freedoms, they are fighting to rip away the health care of thousands of brave service members.”</p>
<p>Prior to the vote, the anti-LGBT Heritage Foundation sent out an email blast urging lawmakers to vote in favor of Hartlzer amendment on the basis it supports the military.</p>
<p>Thomas Spoehr, director for the Center for National Defense at The Heritage Foundation, said in a statement the measure is necessary to keep the military focused on its job and to limit costs.</p>
<p>“At a time when growing foreign threats are stretching our military’s resources, our priority should be on maintaining military readiness and directing taxpayer funds towards mission critical purposes,” Spoehr said. “Respecting the dignity of all people does not mean subjecting taxpayers to the high and recurring medical costs of sex reassignment which carries uncertain impacts on military readiness.”</p>
<p>The amendment marked the first-time ever the U.S. House held a vote specifically targeting the transgender community.</p>
<p>Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, commended lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in a statement for rejecting the amendment.</p>
<p>“Today’s strong, bipartisan vote sent a resounding message of support for our military families and transgender service members,” Griffin said. “This dangerous amendment would have put at risk the health and wellbeing of military families, and threatened military readiness and national security. We applaud those members from both parties who stood up for the thousands of transgender service members proudly serving their country.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Adam Smith</a> <a href="" type="internal">Chad Griffin</a> <a href="" type="internal">Human Rights Campaign</a> <a href="" type="internal">Sean Patrick Maloney</a> <a href="" type="internal">Vicky Hartzler</a></p>
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house defeated amendment rep vicky hartzler rmo bar funds transitionrelated case us military washington blade file photo michael key us house narrowly rejected thursday amendment would barred transgender service members eligible transitionrelated health care including gender reassignment surgery measure would barred defense department expending funds transitionrelated care introduced rep vicky hartzler rmo part fiscal year 2018 defense authorization bill rejected 214209 vote rep doug collins rga presided vote called tally democrats house chamber applauded victory rep sean patrick maloney dny whos gay cochair lgbt equality caucus could seen raising hands air doublefist bump celebration 190 democrats present voted proposal joined 24 republicans including rep ileana roslehtinen rfla transgender son well rep charlie dent rpa rep barbara comstock rva rep justin amash rmich mike coffman rcolo vote amendment takes place short intense period debate house floor hartzler gop allies defended measure democratic opponents criticized discriminatory hartzler maintained amendment intended focus attention us military confronting nations adversaries north korea russia islamic state instead tasks must confront challenges ensuring defense dollars maximize militarys readiness lethality hartlzer said im offering amendment advance goals prohibiting taxpayer dollars funding gender reassignment surgeries related hormone therapy treatment members military dependents transgender service members began serving openly us military last year thendefense secretary ashton carter lifted ban open service target date allowing openly transgender people enlist armed forces july 1 2017 although defense secretary james mattis pushed back date january 1 2018 evidence many problems policy hartzler cited cost transitionrelated care well transgender service members unable deploy recover transition missouri republicans said care would cost 135 billion course 10 years figure wildly higher estimates military experts hartzler also cited lack medical consensus transitionrelated care even though treatment supported major medical organizations american medical association amendment hartzler said preclude service transgenders permits health care related gender transition even though transgender service members across board likely need access form transitionrelated care remain armed forces leading opposition amendment house floor rep adam smith dwash top democrat house armed services committee said amendment one specific group unfairly isnt going help readiness smith said social agenda business defense bill didnt committee floor rep duncan hunter rcalif marine veteran served iraq war likely offered visceral defense hartzler amendment house floor youre joining us military hunter said choose gender serve notably hartler often left defending amendment democrats brought several members floor prominent including house minority leader nancy pelosi dcalif house democratic whip steny hoyer dmd pelosi said amendment thinlyveiled attempt ban transgender service members armed forces seeking deny medically necessary care make mistake effect intent unjust meanspirited amendment ban patriotic americans serving country pelosi said designed drum transgender servicemembers military instead protecting men women risk lives defend freedoms fighting rip away health care thousands brave service members prior vote antilgbt heritage foundation sent email blast urging lawmakers vote favor hartlzer amendment basis supports military thomas spoehr director center national defense heritage foundation said statement measure necessary keep military focused job limit costs time growing foreign threats stretching militarys resources priority maintaining military readiness directing taxpayer funds towards mission critical purposes spoehr said respecting dignity people mean subjecting taxpayers high recurring medical costs sex reassignment carries uncertain impacts military readiness amendment marked firsttime ever us house held vote specifically targeting transgender community chad griffin president human rights campaign commended lawmakers sides aisle statement rejecting amendment todays strong bipartisan vote sent resounding message support military families transgender service members griffin said dangerous amendment would put risk health wellbeing military families threatened military readiness national security applaud members parties stood thousands transgender service members proudly serving country adam smith chad griffin human rights campaign sean patrick maloney vicky hartzler
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<p>With possibly hundreds of thousands of rape kits untested across the country, a number of states are proposing legislation to address backlogs that in at least one case dates back nearly three decades.</p>
<p>In Memphis, Tenn., alone, there are more than 12,000 untested rape kits going back to the 1980s, according to the New York-based Rape Kit Action Project, which has been tracking the backlogs nationwide. In the entire state of Texas, there are about 16,000 untested kits collecting dust in police evidence rooms.</p>
<p>Tennessee is among at least 17 states with proposals that range from requiring law enforcement agencies to inventory their rape kits to analyzing them in a certain amount of time. Three states — Colorado, Illinois and Texas — have passed laws that mandate a statewide accounting of untested rape kits.</p>
<p>Most of the other states' proposals favor the inventory measure that would require all law enforcement agencies that store rape kits to count the number of untested kits. Rape Project spokeswoman Natasha Alexenko estimates there are about 400,000 nationwide that fall into that category.</p>
<p>"Until we enact this kind of legislation where we're counting them, we really have no idea," said Alexenko, a rape victim whose rape kit was finally tested after nearly 10 years, and her attacker arrested after a match was found.</p>
<p>Rape victim Meaghan Ybos of Memphis has been crusading for legislation to address the backlogs for several years. The 27-year-old was 16 when she was sexually assaulted in her suburban home in 2003. She underwent a forensic rape exam, but never heard anything else about her kit.</p>
<p>In 2012, she was watching the local news and learned police had arrested a suspected serial rapist in the same neighborhood where she lived.</p>
<p>"I just knew it was the same person," recalled Ybos, who called police, told them about her assault and persuaded them to reopen her case. Her rape kit was eventually examined and the suspect's DNA and that in her kit matched. The suspect pleaded guilty in her case and is currently incarcerated.</p>
<p>But Ybos, who is also supporting a proposal to lift Tennessee's eight-year statute of limitation on rapes, said it shouldn't have taken her that long to get justice.</p>
<p>"They never tried to process it until I called ... and asked them," Ybos said of her rape kit.</p>
<p>A spokeswoman for the Memphis Police Department recently told The Associated Press that she couldn't comment about the backlog because the department is in the middle of litigation concerning a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of women whose rape kits haven't been tested.</p>
<p>But when asked about the situation at an event earlier this month, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton didn't mince words.</p>
<p>"We had a systemic failure here," he said of the backlog.</p>
<p>Last year, Congress officially recognized the backlog of untested rape kits as a national problem in passing the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting Act, or SAFER, which seeks to provide data on the number of unsolved rape cases awaiting testing and establish better standards for the tracking, storage and use of DNA evidence in sexual assault cases.</p>
<p>The federal government is also providing funding to help cover the costs for testing the kits, which usually contain swabs, evidence envelopes and information sheets detailing the examination. They cost at least $500 to test, a process that involves several steps, including determining whether there's sufficient material from which a subsequent DNA test may derive a reliable sample.</p>
<p>In 2003, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation received a grant for more than $3 million to test rape kits. TBI spokeswoman Illana Tate said the agency solicited kits from all law enforcement agencies in Tennessee, but she doesn't know exactly how many were submitted.</p>
<p>Wharton has asked the Memphis City Council for a million dollars to help with the backlog. He said a little over 2,000 of the kits have been sent to laboratories, and that it could take up to five years for all the kits to be tested.</p>
<p>Memphis, like other cities, is operating on a tight budget. Its police and fire officials haven't been able to get new training classes due to the city's strapped finances. But Wharton said he's determined to get the money needed to address the city's backlog, even if it means reaching out to philanthropic groups for donations.</p>
<p>"Every day that a sexual assault kit sits untested represents justice delayed," he said.</p>
<p>Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, a Collierville Republican and chairman of the Council of State Governments, is the sponsor of the inventory measure in Tennessee. He believes there are other municipalities within the state experiencing backlogs.</p>
<p>"We've got to quantify the magnitude of this problem," Norris said. "We know that Memphis has somewhere in excess of 12,000 untested forensic evidence kits, but we need to know how many other local law enforcement authorities may have similar backlogs."</p>
<p>Another Tennessee proposal would require law enforcement agencies to submit rape kits to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation within 10 days of receipt and that they be analyzed within six months. However, that measure could be costly and is unlikely to pass.</p>
<p>"If the proposal is passed where TBI has to return kits in six months, we would need to double our manpower and require new buildings to accommodate new hires and equipment," Tate said.</p>
<p>Rep. Antonio Parkinson, a co-sponsor of the TBI proposal, said some type of legislation needs to be passed to address the backlogs because besides rape victims there are individuals who have been falsely accused of rape and need the kits tested to be exonerated.</p>
<p>"They could have been incarcerated while waiting for the evidence to clear them, or maybe they pled down to a lesser charge just to get out of jail," said the Memphis Democrat.</p>
<p>Alexenko said the inventory proposal is more likely to pass in Tennessee and other states because it "creates a dialogue" between law enforcement agencies and city officials to begin to try to address the problem.</p>
<p>"Each rape kit represents a human being whose body was a crime scene," she said.</p>
<p>— The Associated Press</p>
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possibly hundreds thousands rape kits untested across country number states proposing legislation address backlogs least one case dates back nearly three decades memphis tenn alone 12000 untested rape kits going back 1980s according new yorkbased rape kit action project tracking backlogs nationwide entire state texas 16000 untested kits collecting dust police evidence rooms tennessee among least 17 states proposals range requiring law enforcement agencies inventory rape kits analyzing certain amount time three states colorado illinois texas passed laws mandate statewide accounting untested rape kits states proposals favor inventory measure would require law enforcement agencies store rape kits count number untested kits rape project spokeswoman natasha alexenko estimates 400000 nationwide fall category enact kind legislation counting really idea said alexenko rape victim whose rape kit finally tested nearly 10 years attacker arrested match found rape victim meaghan ybos memphis crusading legislation address backlogs several years 27yearold 16 sexually assaulted suburban home 2003 underwent forensic rape exam never heard anything else kit 2012 watching local news learned police arrested suspected serial rapist neighborhood lived knew person recalled ybos called police told assault persuaded reopen case rape kit eventually examined suspects dna kit matched suspect pleaded guilty case currently incarcerated ybos also supporting proposal lift tennessees eightyear statute limitation rapes said shouldnt taken long get justice never tried process called asked ybos said rape kit spokeswoman memphis police department recently told associated press couldnt comment backlog department middle litigation concerning class action lawsuit filed behalf women whose rape kits havent tested asked situation event earlier month memphis mayor c wharton didnt mince words systemic failure said backlog last year congress officially recognized backlog untested rape kits national problem passing sexual assault forensic evidence reporting act safer seeks provide data number unsolved rape cases awaiting testing establish better standards tracking storage use dna evidence sexual assault cases federal government also providing funding help cover costs testing kits usually contain swabs evidence envelopes information sheets detailing examination cost least 500 test process involves several steps including determining whether theres sufficient material subsequent dna test may derive reliable sample 2003 tennessee bureau investigation received grant 3 million test rape kits tbi spokeswoman illana tate said agency solicited kits law enforcement agencies tennessee doesnt know exactly many submitted wharton asked memphis city council million dollars help backlog said little 2000 kits sent laboratories could take five years kits tested memphis like cities operating tight budget police fire officials havent able get new training classes due citys strapped finances wharton said hes determined get money needed address citys backlog even means reaching philanthropic groups donations every day sexual assault kit sits untested represents justice delayed said senate majority leader mark norris collierville republican chairman council state governments sponsor inventory measure tennessee believes municipalities within state experiencing backlogs weve got quantify magnitude problem norris said know memphis somewhere excess 12000 untested forensic evidence kits need know many local law enforcement authorities may similar backlogs another tennessee proposal would require law enforcement agencies submit rape kits tennessee bureau investigation within 10 days receipt analyzed within six months however measure could costly unlikely pass proposal passed tbi return kits six months would need double manpower require new buildings accommodate new hires equipment tate said rep antonio parkinson cosponsor tbi proposal said type legislation needs passed address backlogs besides rape victims individuals falsely accused rape need kits tested exonerated could incarcerated waiting evidence clear maybe pled lesser charge get jail said memphis democrat alexenko said inventory proposal likely pass tennessee states creates dialogue law enforcement agencies city officials begin try address problem rape kit represents human whose body crime scene said associated press
| 601 |
<p>As revolutions continue to topple autocratic leaders at seemingly lightning speed, what role will technology and social media play in shaping the future of new regimes? How can the Internet help people communicate in places like Russia or Syria despite crackdowns on dissent? How can technology be harnessed to stop violent war?</p>
<p>Two Google executives, Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen, wrote a book, “The New Digital Age, Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business” that tries to address some of these broad foreign policy questions.</p>
<p>Cohen, 32, a former U.S. State Department official under Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton, is the director of <a href="https://www.google.com/ideas/about/" type="external">Google Ideas,</a> the search engine’s internal think tank that “explores how technology can enable people to confront threats in the face of conflict, instability or repression.”</p>
<p>A desire for Google’s freedom-for-all-online ethos to become a reality across the globe is shared by the majority of young people in emerging and developing countries, <a href="" type="external">according to a recent Pew Research study</a>. Majorities in 22 out of 24 countries surveyed said they sharply opposed to Internet censorship and consider freedom online as a top priority.</p>
<p>Recent events in Turkey offer a good example of the ongoing battle for Internet freedom. Just last week, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan <a href="" type="internal">vowed to “eradicate Twitter,</a>" blocking the social media tool. But savvy Internet users worked around the censorship and Twitter usage actually surged by <a href="" type="internal">138 percent</a>. But, Erdogan's government censorship continues: on Thursday <a href="" type="internal">YouTube, which is owned by Google, appeared to be blocked in Turkey.</a></p>
<p>With his book recently released in paperback, Cohen recently discussed with NBCNews.com how technology is at the nexus of recent geo-political events and how it might shape the future. Read an abbreviated Q &amp; A below.</p>
<p>We all love technology &amp; we all believe in its power. But we are reminded by Putin’s domestic crackdown, the annexation of Crimea and the perpetual horrors in Syria, that technology is not a silver bullet answer to the world’s problems.</p>
<p>Question: The book talks about the benefits of technology and how it can connect people so easily, but we’ve seen a crackdown on independent media that dares to criticize Putin or Russia’s actions in Ukraine and Crimea. And we’re seeing the brutal war in Syria continue, despite extensive attention to it online. How can technology help these international crises?</p>
<p>Cohen: You mentioned basically three different contexts, Russia domestically, Ukraine &amp; Syria. All three of those contexts basically present a bug in an argument that’s overly optimistic &amp; euphoric about what technology can do.</p>
<p>We all love technology and we all believe in its power. But we are reminded by Putin’s domestic crackdown, the annexation of Crimea and the perpetual horrors in Syria, that technology is not a silver bullet answer to the world’s problems.</p>
<p>It generates awareness, it gives us visibility, it offers enormous opportunity – but at the end of the day, the world is still run by states and their military apparatus. States are going to continue to be the dominate unit in our lifetime and likely lifetimes to come.</p>
<p>If we look at Syria – 150,000 killed at a minimum, millions of people internally displaced, millions of refugees and chemical weapons used on at least three occasions that we know about.</p>
<p>What you realize from Syria is that the only thing that’s going stop this is a state, or the international community comprised of states, having the political will to engage in some kind of intervention.</p>
<p>Q: What about Russia and Ukraine?</p>
<p>Cohen: Ukraine is interesting because here again, you have a cyber-conflict playing out on top of a physical conflict and it’s not a fair fight there either.</p>
<p>In the book, we talk about how technology changes the nature of power in the world. In a case like Russia, which is already a physically powerful country, they also have a long tradition of software engineering.</p>
<p>So Russia in addition to having a strong physical capacity, they also have a strong cyber capacity – making it that much stronger in the new digital age.</p>
<p>The Internet really raises expectations about what can happen and what can happen quickly.</p>
<p>Q: There is lots of talk about the U.S. and Russia returning to the Cold War? But how does technology make things so different this time around?</p>
<p>Cohen: What I would say is that this is not a return to the Cold War, but a reminder that the history of Russia and U.S. is one where ideologically, geo-politically they have been on opposite sides.</p>
<p>The motivations of Putin are very different from motivations of the U.S.S.R. Putin’s aspirations are economic, political, more than they are territorial – even with Crimea.</p>
<p>The cyber aspect, we say in the book, is you may see a cyber-Cold War emerge. What will the world look like when the entire world is online? Will it look like the experiment that free and open developers wanted to see? Or will it look more like what the Chinese or Russians want to see?</p>
<p>The vast majority of the world’s technical infrastructure still has not been built. The vast majority of the people living in the world are still not online.</p>
<p>In the book, we talk about countries like the U.S. and China creating spheres of cyber-influence. That starts with their countries building the information highways. You can imagine big autocratic countries like China might sell surveillance technology in exchange for natural resources.</p>
<p>We talk in the book about a “code war” possibly emerging – not between two countries, but rather between two types of super powers. Ones that want to see a free and open Internet and those that want to see a more closed and autocratic Internet.</p>
<p>Q: A recent New York Times editorial titled <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/20/opinion/after-the-protests.html?_r=0" type="external">“After the Protests”</a> argued that while technology is immensely helpful in helping to mobilize massive groups of protesters, but it is ineffective when it comes to implementing real change. How can technology help the long tail of these revolutions?</p>
<p>Cohen: Technology is very good at organizing people around the lowest common denominator – which is often getting an autocrat out of power. The problem is beyond that, people usually don’t agree on very much.</p>
<p>Historically – the most successful revolutions have brought to power new leaders with new last names and a reform of institutions that’s necessary to really complete a revolution.</p>
<p>What we realize, is that technology shouldn’t overshadow and can’t replace the need for new leaders and new institutions. A country can’t govern better if it doesn’t have democratic institutions. A country can’t fill a void left by an autocracy without a new leader people support who can deliver basic goods and social services, as well as security and rule of law.</p>
<p>The Internet really raises expectations about what can happen and what can happen quickly. The problem is those expectations continue to go up after an autocrat is unseated and people expect change to happen must faster.</p>
<p>Q: What role can social media play in helping and hurting revolutionary aspirations?</p>
<p>Cohen: What you realize in Ukraine, what social media does, is it brings to life the play by play for people all around the world who all of a sudden decide they want to be Ukraine experts. And all of a sudden they join the conversation and they help exacerbate a hyper-focus on the play by play.</p>
<p>The problem with focusing on the play by play on what’s happening in Ukraine is that it presents an incomplete narrative of what’s actually happening on the ground. Because people want to be instant experts and part of the conversation, there is often a lack of patience or attention to deep analysis of the dynamics at play.</p>
<p>So if you think about the implications of this, for revolutionary groups or political groups, in a world of social media, heavy marketing – particularly online – is a very valuable commodity. Because you can literally shape the narrative of what the world thinks is happening.</p>
<p>One of things we talk about in the book is revolutionaries and rebel groups, will disproportionately focus on how they market what is happening to the world. So you will see these marketing wars play out on top of revolutions and wars.</p>
<p>You see that happening in Ukraine. Lots of people who are a little late to the geo-politics of Russia and Ukraine are surprised to learn that there are actually parts of the country that are sympathetic to Russia.</p>
<p>We have something in the book about how you have this proliferation of transnational social media meddlers. Meaning, lots of people, casually on their lunch break, get involved in posting and re-posting parts of the play by play which may or may not be an accurate narrative of what’s happening. But nonetheless, every post and re-post reinforces a narrative that may or may not be right.</p>
<p>Q: Critics of your book, namely WikiLeaks <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/opinion/sunday/the-banality-of-googles-dont-be-evil.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=1&amp;" type="external">Julian Assange who reviewed your book for the New York Times</a>when it came out in hardcover last June, argue that your book is a “provocative blueprint for technological imperialism” and that Google is solely interested in expanding its business. What do you say to your critics?</p>
<p>Cohen: In the case of that particular critique, it’s always important to read a book before criticizing it. But anyone who read the book start to finish knows that we do our best to offer what happens in the future, both good and bad. The challenges that states and individuals and businesses will face as you add 5 billion to the online world.</p>
<p>The book offers a glimpse of what we should be excited about and what we should be worried about.</p>
<p>I’m glad it’s attracting some criticism because part of the reason we wrote the book is because we want there to be a debate around it.</p>
| false | 3 |
revolutions continue topple autocratic leaders seemingly lightning speed role technology social media play shaping future new regimes internet help people communicate places like russia syria despite crackdowns dissent technology harnessed stop violent war two google executives eric schmidt jared cohen wrote book new digital age reshaping future people nations business tries address broad foreign policy questions cohen 32 former us state department official condoleezza rice hillary clinton director google ideas search engines internal think tank explores technology enable people confront threats face conflict instability repression desire googles freedomforallonline ethos become reality across globe shared majority young people emerging developing countries according recent pew research study majorities 22 24 countries surveyed said sharply opposed internet censorship consider freedom online top priority recent events turkey offer good example ongoing battle internet freedom last week turkeys prime minister recep tayyip erdogan vowed eradicate twitter blocking social media tool savvy internet users worked around censorship twitter usage actually surged 138 percent erdogans government censorship continues thursday youtube owned google appeared blocked turkey book recently released paperback cohen recently discussed nbcnewscom technology nexus recent geopolitical events might shape future read abbreviated q amp love technology amp believe power reminded putins domestic crackdown annexation crimea perpetual horrors syria technology silver bullet answer worlds problems question book talks benefits technology connect people easily weve seen crackdown independent media dares criticize putin russias actions ukraine crimea seeing brutal war syria continue despite extensive attention online technology help international crises cohen mentioned basically three different contexts russia domestically ukraine amp syria three contexts basically present bug argument thats overly optimistic amp euphoric technology love technology believe power reminded putins domestic crackdown annexation crimea perpetual horrors syria technology silver bullet answer worlds problems generates awareness gives us visibility offers enormous opportunity end day world still run states military apparatus states going continue dominate unit lifetime likely lifetimes come look syria 150000 killed minimum millions people internally displaced millions refugees chemical weapons used least three occasions know realize syria thing thats going stop state international community comprised states political engage kind intervention q russia ukraine cohen ukraine interesting cyberconflict playing top physical conflict fair fight either book talk technology changes nature power world case like russia already physically powerful country also long tradition software engineering russia addition strong physical capacity also strong cyber capacity making much stronger new digital age internet really raises expectations happen happen quickly q lots talk us russia returning cold war technology make things different time around cohen would say return cold war reminder history russia us one ideologically geopolitically opposite sides motivations putin different motivations ussr putins aspirations economic political territorial even crimea cyber aspect say book may see cybercold war emerge world look like entire world online look like experiment free open developers wanted see look like chinese russians want see vast majority worlds technical infrastructure still built vast majority people living world still online book talk countries like us china creating spheres cyberinfluence starts countries building information highways imagine big autocratic countries like china might sell surveillance technology exchange natural resources talk book code war possibly emerging two countries rather two types super powers ones want see free open internet want see closed autocratic internet q recent new york times editorial titled protests argued technology immensely helpful helping mobilize massive groups protesters ineffective comes implementing real change technology help long tail revolutions cohen technology good organizing people around lowest common denominator often getting autocrat power problem beyond people usually dont agree much historically successful revolutions brought power new leaders new last names reform institutions thats necessary really complete revolution realize technology shouldnt overshadow cant replace need new leaders new institutions country cant govern better doesnt democratic institutions country cant fill void left autocracy without new leader people support deliver basic goods social services well security rule law internet really raises expectations happen happen quickly problem expectations continue go autocrat unseated people expect change happen must faster q role social media play helping hurting revolutionary aspirations cohen realize ukraine social media brings life play play people around world sudden decide want ukraine experts sudden join conversation help exacerbate hyperfocus play play problem focusing play play whats happening ukraine presents incomplete narrative whats actually happening ground people want instant experts part conversation often lack patience attention deep analysis dynamics play think implications revolutionary groups political groups world social media heavy marketing particularly online valuable commodity literally shape narrative world thinks happening one things talk book revolutionaries rebel groups disproportionately focus market happening world see marketing wars play top revolutions wars see happening ukraine lots people little late geopolitics russia ukraine surprised learn actually parts country sympathetic russia something book proliferation transnational social media meddlers meaning lots people casually lunch break get involved posting reposting parts play play may may accurate narrative whats happening nonetheless every post repost reinforces narrative may may right q critics book namely wikileaks julian assange reviewed book new york timeswhen came hardcover last june argue book provocative blueprint technological imperialism google solely interested expanding business say critics cohen case particular critique always important read book criticizing anyone read book start finish knows best offer happens future good bad challenges states individuals businesses face add 5 billion online world book offers glimpse excited worried im glad attracting criticism part reason wrote book want debate around
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<p>By Robert Dilday</p>
<p>The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee will consider a proposal to fold the District of Columbia Baptist Convention into a larger region, reducing the number of Baptists in the nation’s capital represented on the governing boards of SBC agencies and institutions.</p>
<p>A bylaw change scheduled for an initial read-through by the Executive Committee at its Feb. 18-19 meeting, would pool churches in the <a href="http://www.dcbaptist.org/" type="external">D.C. convention</a> with others in an expanded region, probably including those in the <a href="http://bcmd.org/" type="external">Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware</a>, said Roger Oldham, the SBC’s top communications officer.</p>
<p>Oldham said the proposed move is largely administrative. He said only about 66 of the D.C. convention’s 150 churches contribute through the SBC’s unified giving plan, the Cooperative Program — a key metric of congregational affiliation for the SBC.</p>
<p>“There has been a concentration of trustees coming out of a handful of churches in the District of Columbia Baptist Convention,” said Oldham — a disproportionate amount compared to other states and regions around the country, he added. The proposal is a way to achieve “a more equitable distribution of trustees,” he said.</p>
<p>The Executive Committee will give fuller consideration of the bylaw change in June and, if adopted, recommend it for action at the SBC’s annual meeting, June 11-12 in Houston.</p>
<p>But DCBC leaders — where memories of a significant reduction in funding by the SBC’s North American Mission Board 10 years ago over alleged “theological drift” in the District’s churches are still fresh — said the move could have profound consequences.</p>
<p>While the bylaw change would not end ties between the two entities, “I do think such a proposal sends a huge message to our convention churches …,” said Ricky Creech, DCBC executive director/minister. “The proposal will not have a direct impact on the convention as an entity. But as the ‘Church gathered’ it will. It will take away the historical opportunity we have had to have representation on the national SBC level.”</p>
<p>D.C. convention president Kendrick Curry said it was “disappointing, unchristian and unloving for the SBC not to communicate with us about their thoughts and intents.”</p>
<p>“Unless the SBC and DCBC can talk, the DCBC will have to plan to thrive in a future without our historic connection to the SBC,” said Curry, senior pastor of Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church in Washington. “If our historic connection is severed, it will be a sad day in Baptist life.”</p>
<p>The 136-year-old D.C. convention is an anomaly among state and regional Baptist conventions, which typically identify with only one national denominational body. The DCBC, in contrast, is affiliated with the SBC, American Baptist Churches USA and the Progressive National Baptist Convention.</p>
<p>It also maintains “strategic partnerships” with, among others, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Mid-Atlantic CBF, the Alliance of Baptists, the National Baptist Convention USA and the National Baptist Convention of America, as well as the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the Baptist General Convention of Texas.</p>
<p>“Because of our diverse affiliations, the [D.C.] convention honors the various denominational polities and theological positions,” said Creech.</p>
<p>Broad approach</p>
<p>That broad approach prompted the North American Mission Board, which coordinates SBC ministries in the United States and Canada, to request in 2002 additional oversight of employees funded jointly by NAMB and the DCBC. At the time, NAMB officials said the D.C. convention had “grown increasingly distant from the Southern Baptist Convention, its positions and priorities.”</p>
<p>D.C. officials declined the request, which they believed restricted their autonomy. In response NAMB ended its $475,000 annual contribution, about a third of the convention’s budget at the time.</p>
<p>“The SBC witness was diminished greatly in this community after the 2002 NAMB defunding,” Creech said. “… The majority of our funding from NAMB went to support our church planting efforts and need-meeting ministries to the least, lost, lonely and left-out.”</p>
<p>Curry said the proposed bylaw change was reminiscent of the action taken a decade ago and that the DCBC “should have a seat at the table and not be pushed to the margin.”</p>
<p>“Who is the DCBC to the SBC?” he asked. “Are we an unwanted child? … Is the SBC moving forward or backward? For us, this is definitely a step backward, and it reveals that the SBC is up to its same old tactics in a new millennium. May God’s love prevail and transform all of us into the image of Christ.”</p>
<p>Complex relationships</p>
<p>Relationships between the SBC and those state conventions which identify with it are complex and often misunderstood. While the state bodies — which sometimes include more than one state — are autonomous, an intricate web of relationships historically has bound them close to the national denomination, especially in money matters. By long-established agreement, state conventions serve as financial agents of the SBC, collecting contributions from churches and forwarding a percentage to the national body.</p>
<p>The state conventions don’t elect their own representatives on SBC’s mission boards, seminaries and other agencies, however. They are nominated in a committee process that begins with appointments by the SBC president, meaning that persons selected to represent a geographical area may be more representative of SBC leaders than the churches they are elected to represent.</p>
<p>If the D.C. convention’s churches are pooled in a region that includes the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, they will be paired with a group of congregations which are generally seen as more conservative — and more in sync with the SBC’s prevailing theological views. Some D.C. leaders said they feared future trustee nominations from the new region would be weighted in those churches’ favor.</p>
<p>Similar patterns have emerged by default in Virginia and Texas, where churches can select among two conventions — an older, moderate body and a newer, conservative one. Leaders in the more moderate Baptist General Association of Virginia and Baptist General Convention of Texas have long maintained that the newer — and more conservative — Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia and Southern Baptists of Texas are disproportionately represented on SBC governing boards.</p>
<p>While the proposed bylaw change is disappointing, Creech said the D.C. convention’s ministries will remain strong.</p>
<p>“At the end of the day, it is the witness and presence of the SBC in the nation’s capital that will be negatively affected and diminished, not the DCBC,” he said.&#160;</p>
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robert dilday southern baptist convention executive committee consider proposal fold district columbia baptist convention larger region reducing number baptists nations capital represented governing boards sbc agencies institutions bylaw change scheduled initial readthrough executive committee feb 1819 meeting would pool churches dc convention others expanded region probably including baptist convention marylanddelaware said roger oldham sbcs top communications officer oldham said proposed move largely administrative said 66 dc conventions 150 churches contribute sbcs unified giving plan cooperative program key metric congregational affiliation sbc concentration trustees coming handful churches district columbia baptist convention said oldham disproportionate amount compared states regions around country added proposal way achieve equitable distribution trustees said executive committee give fuller consideration bylaw change june adopted recommend action sbcs annual meeting june 1112 houston dcbc leaders memories significant reduction funding sbcs north american mission board 10 years ago alleged theological drift districts churches still fresh said move could profound consequences bylaw change would end ties two entities think proposal sends huge message convention churches said ricky creech dcbc executive directorminister proposal direct impact convention entity church gathered take away historical opportunity representation national sbc level dc convention president kendrick curry said disappointing unchristian unloving sbc communicate us thoughts intents unless sbc dcbc talk dcbc plan thrive future without historic connection sbc said curry senior pastor pennsylvania avenue baptist church washington historic connection severed sad day baptist life 136yearold dc convention anomaly among state regional baptist conventions typically identify one national denominational body dcbc contrast affiliated sbc american baptist churches usa progressive national baptist convention also maintains strategic partnerships among others cooperative baptist fellowship midatlantic cbf alliance baptists national baptist convention usa national baptist convention america well baptist general association virginia baptist general convention texas diverse affiliations dc convention honors various denominational polities theological positions said creech broad approach broad approach prompted north american mission board coordinates sbc ministries united states canada request 2002 additional oversight employees funded jointly namb dcbc time namb officials said dc convention grown increasingly distant southern baptist convention positions priorities dc officials declined request believed restricted autonomy response namb ended 475000 annual contribution third conventions budget time sbc witness diminished greatly community 2002 namb defunding creech said majority funding namb went support church planting efforts needmeeting ministries least lost lonely leftout curry said proposed bylaw change reminiscent action taken decade ago dcbc seat table pushed margin dcbc sbc asked unwanted child sbc moving forward backward us definitely step backward reveals sbc old tactics new millennium may gods love prevail transform us image christ complex relationships relationships sbc state conventions identify complex often misunderstood state bodies sometimes include one state autonomous intricate web relationships historically bound close national denomination especially money matters longestablished agreement state conventions serve financial agents sbc collecting contributions churches forwarding percentage national body state conventions dont elect representatives sbcs mission boards seminaries agencies however nominated committee process begins appointments sbc president meaning persons selected represent geographical area may representative sbc leaders churches elected represent dc conventions churches pooled region includes baptist convention marylanddelaware paired group congregations generally seen conservative sync sbcs prevailing theological views dc leaders said feared future trustee nominations new region would weighted churches favor similar patterns emerged default virginia texas churches select among two conventions older moderate body newer conservative one leaders moderate baptist general association virginia baptist general convention texas long maintained newer conservative southern baptist conservatives virginia southern baptists texas disproportionately represented sbc governing boards proposed bylaw change disappointing creech said dc conventions ministries remain strong end day witness presence sbc nations capital negatively affected diminished dcbc said160
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<p>As part of an ambitious application for up to $80 million in new federal preschool expansion money, the State of Illinois says it can commit to increasing its own spending on early childhood education programs by $250 million annually by 2020.</p>
<p>That would mean a complete reversal of the state’s previous trend of cutting back allocations to the Early Childhood Block Grant, which stands at about $300 million this fiscal year – down from $342 million in 2010. Now the state says it could increase spending by $50 million during each of the next five years until it hits the $550 million mark in 2020.</p>
<p>The money would help fund nearly 14,000 full-day preschool slots for 4-year-olds, prioritizing children with the highest needs – including those with developmental disabilities, who are homeless, in foster care or living in poverty. In addition, the state is proposing major investments in its preschool programs for 3-year-olds as well as its Birth to Five Initiative, which includes increased funding for child care assistance, home visiting programs and outreach to pregnant women.</p>
<p>“Sometime the federal competitions come around and you have to twist and turn yourself around to fit what they’re looking for,” said Theresa Hawley, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development, which submitted the federal proposal. “They came to us with what we were thinking we needed to do anyway and we’re planning to do […]. We think we put together a fabulous proposal.”</p>
<p>A massive infusion of state funds into early learning programs would give Illinois a competitive advantage over other states that applied for the four-year grant. But, given Illinois’ ongoing financial woes and the pending loss of income tax revenues in January (when a temporary tax increase is set to expire), it’s unclear where that additional money would come from. The budget is made even more uncertain with gubernatorial and state legislative elections coming up next month.</p>
<p>States that successfully obtain the grant but don’t make the investments they promised risk losing the federal dollars.</p>
<p>Galvanizing the early learning community</p>
<p>Hawley, whose office submitted the grant in collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), didn’t explain how the state should pay for the $250 million commitment but stressed that Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn is a strong advocate for expanding early education programs.</p>
<p>“The governor has repeatedly said the legislature left their work unfinished when they left” the spring session, said Hawley, who didn’t comment on what could happen to the grant proposal should Quinn lose.</p>
<p>The governor’s challenger, Republican Bruce Rauner, has promised to increase funding to the state’s early childhood programs if elected. His wife, Diana, heads the Ounce of Prevention Fund, one of the state’s biggest early childhood education organizations.</p>
<p>Some advocates told Catalyst that federal funding could be used as leverage with the State Legislature to ensure increased spending on early childhood education.</p>
<p>“I think this galvanizes the early learning community to really stand up and demand that state lawmakers stop pretending that this is not urgent,” said Maria Whelan, president and CEO of Illinois Action for Children. “This is not speculative anymore. What we’re talking about is making a significant investment in making sure that the poorest, most at-risk children and their families have high-quality learning intervention that really will change their lives. If we as a state with a multi-billion dollar budget can’t come up with the money, then shame on us.”</p>
<p>In recent years, though, the Legislature has&#160; <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2014/08/state-preschool-gains-erode-2005-levels/" type="external">cut back spending</a> on early childhood education. According to <a href="http://www.voices4kids.org/disparities-in-access-to-preschool-in-illinois/" type="external">a report</a> earlier this summer from Voices for Illinois Children, enrollment in state-funded preschool programs has “eroded” to levels not seen since 2005. The detailed report on the disparities in access to preschool across the state called for the Legislature to increase its investment.</p>
<p>Full-day classes, better teacher salaries</p>
<p>States had until Wednesday to apply for a piece of the federal <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/programs/preschooldevelopmentgrants/index.html" type="external">Preschool Development Grants</a>program, which was developed by the U.S Departments of Education and Health and Human Services earlier this year. The goal of the grants is to help states build and expand voluntary, high-quality preschool programs for children from low-income families.</p>
<p>Unlike the state’s existing Preschool for All program, the new federal initiative requires full-day preschool. Another key difference is eligibility: 3- and 4-year-olds who are considered “at-risk” of academic failure are eligible for Preschool for All slots, but the new federal initiative is only for 4-year-olds from low-income families. The federal initiative also requires instructional staff salaries to be comparable to local K-12 salaries.</p>
<p>The federal funding awards will be announced in December.</p>
<p>Last month (ISBE) unanimously voted to authorize the submission of the state’s grant application with no discussion on the feasibility of the spending plan. &#160;(See summary on <a href="" type="external">page 282 in ISBE agenda</a>.)</p>
<p>State schools Superintendent Christopher Koch recognized it’s unusual to ask for permission from the board before applying for a grant, but that he wanted to be “up front” about it because of the spending commitment that’s part of the application.</p>
<p>“If you approve this, we would include that amount of $50 million annually, I wanted you to know that up front,” Koch told the board. “You may do that anyway, regardless of whether we receive the grant.”</p>
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part ambitious application 80 million new federal preschool expansion money state illinois says commit increasing spending early childhood education programs 250 million annually 2020 would mean complete reversal states previous trend cutting back allocations early childhood block grant stands 300 million fiscal year 342 million 2010 state says could increase spending 50 million next five years hits 550 million mark 2020 money would help fund nearly 14000 fullday preschool slots 4yearolds prioritizing children highest needs including developmental disabilities homeless foster care living poverty addition state proposing major investments preschool programs 3yearolds well birth five initiative includes increased funding child care assistance home visiting programs outreach pregnant women sometime federal competitions come around twist turn around fit theyre looking said theresa hawley executive director governors office early childhood development submitted federal proposal came us thinking needed anyway planning think put together fabulous proposal massive infusion state funds early learning programs would give illinois competitive advantage states applied fouryear grant given illinois ongoing financial woes pending loss income tax revenues january temporary tax increase set expire unclear additional money would come budget made even uncertain gubernatorial state legislative elections coming next month states successfully obtain grant dont make investments promised risk losing federal dollars galvanizing early learning community hawley whose office submitted grant collaboration illinois state board education isbe didnt explain state pay 250 million commitment stressed democratic gov pat quinn strong advocate expanding early education programs governor repeatedly said legislature left work unfinished left spring session said hawley didnt comment could happen grant proposal quinn lose governors challenger republican bruce rauner promised increase funding states early childhood programs elected wife diana heads ounce prevention fund one states biggest early childhood education organizations advocates told catalyst federal funding could used leverage state legislature ensure increased spending early childhood education think galvanizes early learning community really stand demand state lawmakers stop pretending urgent said maria whelan president ceo illinois action children speculative anymore talking making significant investment making sure poorest atrisk children families highquality learning intervention really change lives state multibillion dollar budget cant come money shame us recent years though legislature has160 cut back spending early childhood education according report earlier summer voices illinois children enrollment statefunded preschool programs eroded levels seen since 2005 detailed report disparities access preschool across state called legislature increase investment fullday classes better teacher salaries states wednesday apply piece federal preschool development grantsprogram developed us departments education health human services earlier year goal grants help states build expand voluntary highquality preschool programs children lowincome families unlike states existing preschool program new federal initiative requires fullday preschool another key difference eligibility 3 4yearolds considered atrisk academic failure eligible preschool slots new federal initiative 4yearolds lowincome families federal initiative also requires instructional staff salaries comparable local k12 salaries federal funding awards announced december last month isbe unanimously voted authorize submission states grant application discussion feasibility spending plan 160see summary page 282 isbe agenda state schools superintendent christopher koch recognized unusual ask permission board applying grant wanted front spending commitment thats part application approve would include amount 50 million annually wanted know front koch told board may anyway regardless whether receive grant
| 522 |
<p>Opposition candidate Narendra Modi will be the next prime minister of India, with counting trends showing the pro-business Hindu nationalist and his party headed for the most resounding election victory the country has seen in 30 years.</p>
<p>Modi's landslide was welcomed with a thundering rally on India's stock markets and raucous celebrations at offices across the country of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), where supporters danced, exploded fireworks and handed out sweets.</p>
<p>The BJP looked certain of a parliamentary majority, giving the 63-year-old former tea-seller ample room to advance economic reforms which were started 23 years ago by current Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but stalled in recent years.</p>
<p>Singh's Congress party suffered its worst ever wipeout, a big boost to Modi's goal of ending the dominance of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that has governed for most of the 67 years of independent India.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/india/140513/india-election-corruption-bribes-advertorials-liquor" type="external">The world's largest democracy might also be its worst</a></p>
<p>Singh congratulated Modi on Friday with a telephone call.</p>
<p>Crowds surged around Modi's car after he visited his mother's home in the western state of Gujarat. He sent a message saying "India has won," that instantly set a record as the country's most retweeted Twitter post.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>"I'm so happy because all of India wanted a strong government," shouted software engineer Vinod Rai at the BJP's Delhi headquarters. Rai echoed the sentiments of millions of Indians who bought into Modi's promises of job creation and economic growth to satisfy a bulging youth population.</p>
<p>With more than six times the seats of its closest rival, Modi's is the most decisive mandate for any leader since the 1984 assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi propelled her son to office. Since 1989, India has been governed by coalitions.</p>
<p>The BJP was winning in 278 seats of the 543-seat parliament, counting trends showed. An alliance led by the party was ahead in 337 seats, TV channel NDTV said.</p>
<p>Markets soar</p>
<p>Responding to the news, Indian markets got off to a roaring start, with the rupee breaking below 59 to the US dollar, an 11-month high, and the benchmark stock index jumping 6 percent to a record high before paring its gains.</p>
<p>Betting on a Modi win, foreign investors have poured more than $16 billion into Indian stocks and bonds in the past six months and now hold over 22 percent of Mumbai-listed equities — a stake estimated by Morgan Stanley at almost $280 billion.</p>
<p>Unlike his predecessors, Modi will not have to deal with unruly partners as he implements reform. That could usher in profound economic changes, and he will try to replicate his success in attracting investment and building infrastructure in Gujarat, the state he has governed for more than 12 years.</p>
<p>"He can afford to have a smaller but stronger cabinet, that means a far more decisive government. He has been saying less government and more governance, we are really likely to see that," said Navneet Munot, Chief Investment Officer at SBI Funds management in Mumbai.</p>
<p>But with India's economy suffering its worst slowdown since the 1980s and battling high inflation, it will not be an easy task to meet the hopes of millions of Indians who have bought into the idea that Modi will quickly push their country onto the top table of global economic powers.</p>
<p>"It's important to be realistic about how quickly they can instigate change. It takes time to, number one, get economic reforms through the political machinery, and number two, it also takes a while before economic reforms actually have a positive impact," said Leif Eskesen, an economist at HSBC in Singapore.</p>
<p>Desire for change</p>
<p>India's election was the world's largest ever. Staggered over five weeks, a record of more than 500 million ballots were cast from the Himalayas in the north to the tropical south, with voters braving blistering heat for a record 66 percent turnout.</p>
<p>Since being named as his party's candidate last September, Modi has flown 300,000 km (186,000 miles) and addressed 457 rallies in a slick, presidential-style campaign that broke the mould of Indian politics.</p>
<p>Modi contrasted his humble roots with the cloistered life of privilege of his dynastic rivals. He ran circles round his slow-footed opponent Rahul Gandhi, 43, from the Congress party which his family has dominated since his grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru led India to independence from Britain in 1947.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Singh launched reforms in 1991 as finance minister that opened India's socialist economy to global capital, but his spell in the top job ended marred by corruption and a floundering economy amid mounting policy paralysis. He has already bid farewell to his staff after ten years in office.</p>
<p>The desire for change has been so strong that voters put aside concerns about Modi's Hindu-centric politics.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>A dark chapter of violence against Muslims on his watch has mattered less and less to many, including a bulging middle class alarmed by dwindling purchasing power and job opportunities as the economy slumped to sub-five percent growth in the last two years.</p>
<p>Modi has promised that, if elected, he would take decisive action to unblock stalled investments in power, road and rail projects to revive economic growth.</p>
<p>Tax and labor market reforms, backed by a gradual opening up to foreign investment, would seek to create the 10 million jobs that Asia's third-largest economy needs every year to absorb young people entering the workforce.</p>
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opposition candidate narendra modi next prime minister india counting trends showing probusiness hindu nationalist party headed resounding election victory country seen 30 years modis landslide welcomed thundering rally indias stock markets raucous celebrations offices across country bharatiya janata party bjp supporters danced exploded fireworks handed sweets bjp looked certain parliamentary majority giving 63yearold former teaseller ample room advance economic reforms started 23 years ago current prime minister manmohan singh stalled recent years singhs congress party suffered worst ever wipeout big boost modis goal ending dominance nehrugandhi dynasty governed 67 years independent india globalpost worlds largest democracy might also worst singh congratulated modi friday telephone call crowds surged around modis car visited mothers home western state gujarat sent message saying india instantly set record countrys retweeted twitter post 160 im happy india wanted strong government shouted software engineer vinod rai bjps delhi headquarters rai echoed sentiments millions indians bought modis promises job creation economic growth satisfy bulging youth population six times seats closest rival modis decisive mandate leader since 1984 assassination prime minister indira gandhi propelled son office since 1989 india governed coalitions bjp winning 278 seats 543seat parliament counting trends showed alliance led party ahead 337 seats tv channel ndtv said markets soar responding news indian markets got roaring start rupee breaking 59 us dollar 11month high benchmark stock index jumping 6 percent record high paring gains betting modi win foreign investors poured 16 billion indian stocks bonds past six months hold 22 percent mumbailisted equities stake estimated morgan stanley almost 280 billion unlike predecessors modi deal unruly partners implements reform could usher profound economic changes try replicate success attracting investment building infrastructure gujarat state governed 12 years afford smaller stronger cabinet means far decisive government saying less government governance really likely see said navneet munot chief investment officer sbi funds management mumbai indias economy suffering worst slowdown since 1980s battling high inflation easy task meet hopes millions indians bought idea modi quickly push country onto top table global economic powers important realistic quickly instigate change takes time number one get economic reforms political machinery number two also takes economic reforms actually positive impact said leif eskesen economist hsbc singapore desire change indias election worlds largest ever staggered five weeks record 500 million ballots cast himalayas north tropical south voters braving blistering heat record 66 percent turnout since named partys candidate last september modi flown 300000 km 186000 miles addressed 457 rallies slick presidentialstyle campaign broke mould indian politics modi contrasted humble roots cloistered life privilege dynastic rivals ran circles round slowfooted opponent rahul gandhi 43 congress party family dominated since grandfather jawaharlal nehru led india independence britain 1947 prime minister singh launched reforms 1991 finance minister opened indias socialist economy global capital spell top job ended marred corruption floundering economy amid mounting policy paralysis already bid farewell staff ten years office desire change strong voters put aside concerns modis hinducentric politics 160 dark chapter violence muslims watch mattered less less many including bulging middle class alarmed dwindling purchasing power job opportunities economy slumped subfive percent growth last two years modi promised elected would take decisive action unblock stalled investments power road rail projects revive economic growth tax labor market reforms backed gradual opening foreign investment would seek create 10 million jobs asias thirdlargest economy needs every year absorb young people entering workforce
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<p>Facing a narrow path to 270 electoral votes, Donald Trump’s campaign is scheduling events and buying ad in new states that have swung Democratic in recent years.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, the campaign announced it was purchasing $25 million in TV ads for the final week in blue states like New Mexico and Michigan -- both of which Trump has visited in the last few days -- along with more obvious swing states like Ohio and Florida. They also are staying on the air in battleground states like Virginia and Colorado where the campaign has struggled to stay competitive in public polls.</p>
<p>With one week to go, the question is whether this is a move borne out of strength or desperation.</p>
<p>The Trump campaign has argued that the moves reflect their confidence that recent news of further FBI inquiry into emails by Clinton aide Huma Abedin obtained from an investigation into estranged husband Anthony Weiner has set the stage for a breakthrough.</p>
<p>“While Mr. Trump continues to climb in the polls and accelerate outreach in states like Michigan and New Mexico that are rarely won by Republican Presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton is preoccupied fighting the sitting FBI Director and President Obama over yet another email scandal,” Trump’s digital director Brad Parscale said in a statement announcing the buy.</p>
<p>As Democrats and some Republicans were quick to note, though, there’s a long tradition of campaigns behind in the polls making a last-second move into unusual states.</p>
<p>“I think it’s a reflection of how weak his prospects are as opposed to any sign of strength,” Mitch Stewart, who served as Obama’s battleground director in the last presidential campaign. “It reminds me of Romney making late plays in Michigan and Pennsylvania in 2012.”</p>
<p>Regardless of the motive, the Clinton campaign and its allies made clear they wouldn’t let Trump push into states uncontested. On Tuesday, they announced six-figure buys in Michigan, New Mexico, Virginia, and Colorado. Priorities USA, a top Democratic super PAC, is also going on the air in Colorado, Michigan and Wisconsin, where the Clinton campaign recently bought ad time.</p>
<p>“The Trump campaign claims their path to White House is through states like these but we’re going to make sure those doors remain shut,” Clinton campaign spokesman Jesse Ferguson said in a statement.</p>
<p>State and national polling has been relatively scarce since the news of the FBI investigation broke. While there have been no substantive revelations concerning Clinton’s use of a private account, the news of the new emails has fueled a partisan war over director James Comey’s decision to make the discovery public.</p>
<p>What we know so far about the political fallout is mixed: An NBC News| <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/home/" type="external">SurveyMonkey</a> poll <a href="" type="internal">showed the race unchanged</a> and Clinton holding a 6-point lead, but other polls show Trump gaining in recent days, even before the FBI story. And a Washington Post/ABC daily tracking poll even gave Trump a 1-point lead on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Clinton still maintains a lead in national polling averages as well as key states like Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Colorado that would put her past the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House. But Democrats have expressed some concern that the news may hurt them <a href="" type="internal">in key Senate races</a>.</p>
<p>Trump spokesman Jason Miller told WABC last week that their campaign’s polling showed a “dead heat” in both Michigan and New Mexico. But a <a href="https://twitter.com/alivitali/status/793475178151997440" type="external">battleground map</a> sent to supporters in a fundraising email on Tuesday showed New Mexico still blue, while Michigan was a “toss up” state. And it said that Trump was “close” in states like Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Colorado rather than winning.</p>
<p>Trump campaign sources told NBC New that while the latest ad buy reflected improved polling in some states like New Mexico, the main purpose was to project confidence in the final days by going “on offense” rather than be portrayed as fighting to gain ground in existing battleground states.</p>
<p>Jon Cavanagh, a pollster with Michigan-based EPIC-MRA, sounded confused by Trump’s recent interest in the state given that surveys have consistently showed him down throughout the race by between 5 and 11 points. “I’m not real sure what to make of it,” he said. He noted an online poll by Fox 2 Detroit/Mitchell Poll conducted since the FBI news found Clinton up by 6, consistent with their findings the week before and polling averages of the state.</p>
<p>New Mexico, where polling has been infrequent, may be even more of a reach thanks to its substantial Latino population. Trump's longstanding calls for a border wall and mass deportations have largely derailed outreach efforts and early vote patterns in several states already show <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/clintons-coalition-hispanic-support-is-up-black-turnout-is-down/" type="external">a surge in Latino turnout</a>.</p>
<p>“Trump pressing into those states now is the political equivalent of throwing a Hail Mary from his own five yard line,” Republican pollster Chris Wilson said in an e-mail. “For a Hail Mary to work, you have to have at least moved the ball down the field prior to the desperate throw.”</p>
<p>Saul Anuzis, a former Michigan GOP chairman, argued that the move into Michigan and other reach states made sense even if Trump didn’t ultimately carry them. Holding events in an iconic industrial state provided a good symbolic backdrop for his populist message that could help fire up his base in neighboring Rust Belt states like Ohio.</p>
<p>“When Trump goes to Colorado, New Mexico, and Michigan and is talking to working class, blue collar Reagan Democrats, that crosses state lines,” he said.</p>
<p>So far Trump’s efforts to build a winning coalition have been stymied by his deep unpopularity with suburban voters in battleground states who have often voted Republican in the past. But by keeping his core constituencies fired up, he could at least keep himself in position for an upset if some of those reluctant conservative-leaning voters “come home” to the GOP at the least minute. With over 26 million votes already turned in, though, they’ll need to break soon for Trump to have any chance.</p>
<p>NBC News' Katy Tur contributed to this report.</p>
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facing narrow path 270 electoral votes donald trumps campaign scheduling events buying ad new states swung democratic recent years tuesday campaign announced purchasing 25 million tv ads final week blue states like new mexico michigan trump visited last days along obvious swing states like ohio florida also staying air battleground states like virginia colorado campaign struggled stay competitive public polls one week go question whether move borne strength desperation trump campaign argued moves reflect confidence recent news fbi inquiry emails clinton aide huma abedin obtained investigation estranged husband anthony weiner set stage breakthrough mr trump continues climb polls accelerate outreach states like michigan new mexico rarely republican presidential candidates hillary clinton preoccupied fighting sitting fbi director president obama yet another email scandal trumps digital director brad parscale said statement announcing buy democrats republicans quick note though theres long tradition campaigns behind polls making lastsecond move unusual states think reflection weak prospects opposed sign strength mitch stewart served obamas battleground director last presidential campaign reminds romney making late plays michigan pennsylvania 2012 regardless motive clinton campaign allies made clear wouldnt let trump push states uncontested tuesday announced sixfigure buys michigan new mexico virginia colorado priorities usa top democratic super pac also going air colorado michigan wisconsin clinton campaign recently bought ad time trump campaign claims path white house states like going make sure doors remain shut clinton campaign spokesman jesse ferguson said statement state national polling relatively scarce since news fbi investigation broke substantive revelations concerning clintons use private account news new emails fueled partisan war director james comeys decision make discovery public know far political fallout mixed nbc news surveymonkey poll showed race unchanged clinton holding 6point lead polls show trump gaining recent days even fbi story washington postabc daily tracking poll even gave trump 1point lead tuesday clinton still maintains lead national polling averages well key states like pennsylvania virginia colorado would put past 270 electoral votes needed win white house democrats expressed concern news may hurt key senate races trump spokesman jason miller told wabc last week campaigns polling showed dead heat michigan new mexico battleground map sent supporters fundraising email tuesday showed new mexico still blue michigan toss state said trump close states like pennsylvania new hampshire colorado rather winning trump campaign sources told nbc new latest ad buy reflected improved polling states like new mexico main purpose project confidence final days going offense rather portrayed fighting gain ground existing battleground states jon cavanagh pollster michiganbased epicmra sounded confused trumps recent interest state given surveys consistently showed throughout race 5 11 points im real sure make said noted online poll fox 2 detroitmitchell poll conducted since fbi news found clinton 6 consistent findings week polling averages state new mexico polling infrequent may even reach thanks substantial latino population trumps longstanding calls border wall mass deportations largely derailed outreach efforts early vote patterns several states already show surge latino turnout trump pressing states political equivalent throwing hail mary five yard line republican pollster chris wilson said email hail mary work least moved ball field prior desperate throw saul anuzis former michigan gop chairman argued move michigan reach states made sense even trump didnt ultimately carry holding events iconic industrial state provided good symbolic backdrop populist message could help fire base neighboring rust belt states like ohio trump goes colorado new mexico michigan talking working class blue collar reagan democrats crosses state lines said far trumps efforts build winning coalition stymied deep unpopularity suburban voters battleground states often voted republican past keeping core constituencies fired could least keep position upset reluctant conservativeleaning voters come home gop least minute 26 million votes already turned though theyll need break soon trump chance nbc news katy tur contributed report
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<p>After a long day of leaks, arguments and miscommunication, Donald Trump considered abandoning his choice of Mike Pence as running-mate as late as the early hours of Friday, NBC News has learned.</p>
<p>The campaign pushed back against reports of Trump wavering, but the news underscored the confusion surrounding the vice presidential selection process that ended Friday morning.</p>
<p>Trump’s VP search seemed to consciously resemble "The Apprentice" over the last several weeks, as Trump joined potential picks onstage at events around the country. In its final stretch, though, it took a turn for "The Surreal Life."</p>
<p>Starting Thursday, the process played out in a confusing blizzard of reports, campaign statements and interviews in public, and debates, vacillation and grousing in private. It was the latest sign that, for all the efforts to professionalize the Trump operation since bringing in top aide Paul Manafort and ousting campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, the campaign is ultimately driven by its candidate’s unpredictable gut instincts. Whatever team or party actors he brings in are there to respond to his pronouncements, not craft or control them.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">How Democrats Will Attack Trump's VP Pick Mike Pence</a></p>
<p>The VP drama came as the candidate and campaign were struggling to get on the same page with their convention planning as well. Trump initially suggested he would release an official list of scheduled convention speakers last Wednesday. The list came out <a href="" type="internal">Thursday</a> instead. A senior Trump official informed the press on Thursday that famed quarterback Tim Tebow would add his star power to the event, but on Thursday night Tebow posted a video on Facebook calling the news a “rumor” and indicating he would not speak at the convention.</p>
<p>“Every day there is something else,” one party operative told NBC News, adding they felt “numb” after the latest tumult.</p>
<p>But the chaos surrounding Trump’s vice presidential choice was more intense, and the latest evidence of the campaign’s persistent inability to get on the same page with its candidate. Sources described Trump, who had high hopes for a picturesque rollout, stewing in Trump Tower on Friday morning while aides pointed fingers over who to blame for the breakdown.</p>
<p>Here’s how it played out in public: Thursday began with a series of reports, first from Roll Call and then the Indianapolis Star, indicating, based on anonymous sources, that Trump chose Pence. In response, campaign officials insisted Trump had made no decision. As the day went on, NBC News reported that there were lingering debates between Trump’s family members, who favored someone like Newt Gingrich with whom they had more familiarity, and Trump’s top adviser Manafort, who was urging Pence.</p>
<p>By Thursday evening, Pence appeared to be the choice, having flown to New York to join the candidate for an announcement scheduled for 11 a.n. Friday. But just after 7 p.m. ET, Trump abruptly cancelled the event in response to the Bastille Day attack in Nice, France. He phoned into Fox News minutes later, where rather than cast the move as a mere delay, he indicated he was still deciding between Pence, Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Who is Mike Pence?</a></p>
<p>“I haven't made my final, final decision,” Trump said on Fox. “I mean, I've got three people that are fantastic. I think Newt is a fantastic person. I think Chris Christie is a fantastic person, been a friend of mine for 15 years, just a fantastic person, and there's Mike, and Mike has done a great job as governor of Indiana.”</p>
<p>In the short term, the timing of Trump’s move had serious implications for Pence, who faced a Friday noon deadline in Indiana to withdraw from his re-election bid in order to qualify for the vice presidential ballot in his state.</p>
<p>As <a href="" type="internal">NBC News</a>reported, Trump, in private, was outraged over early leaks indicating he’d chosen Pence. Surprisingly, Trump on Thursday had been relatively alone even as he faced his biggest campaign choice to date: He was in California on a fundraising trip, away from his immediate family and from Manafort, the primary voices in his decision-making process.</p>
<p>"This pick came when no one was in the same place,” a source within the campaign told NBC News.</p>
<p>Trump’s irritation, the odd timing of his response to the Nice attacks followed by two phone interviews to Fox and his refusal to confirm whether he had made a final choice, underscored serious doubts until the last moment about Pence. Trump even <a href="https://twitter.com/KellyO/status/754018229274705924" type="external">made calls as late as midnight</a>, per NBC's reporting, asking confidants whether it would be possible to backtrack on the pick in favor of someone else. Sources familiar with the calls said he felt “backed into a corner" by competing concerns over his individual choices.</p>
<p>A spokesman for Trump <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonMillerinDC/status/754012760741117953" type="external">denied</a>the account of Trump's late night phone conservations, which were first reported by CNN. Manafort told NBC News the story was “totally untrue" Friday afternoon.</p>
<p>It would make sense if Trump felt uneasy with setting his pick in stone. Throughout the campaign, he has fought fiercely to keep from ever being backed into a corner. He’s shuffled through staff, flip-flopped on key positions, even denied comments he’d made earlier on camera -- anything to keep himself from being tied down. But once a running-mate is chosen, you’re stuck with that person unless something goes extraordinarily wrong.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for Trump if he makes it to the White House: a lot of presidential decisions have permanent implications as well.</p>
<p>Whether it was a bid to influence Trump during his "Hamlet" act is unclear, but two of Trump’s finalists -- Gingrich and retired Gen. Michael Flynn -- rushed to respond to the Nice attack with the most attention-grabbing, Trumpian reactions possible on Thursday night. Gingrich proposed on Fox News that the government “test every person here who is of a Muslim background, and if they believe in Sharia, they should be deported.” Flynn <a href="https://twitter.com/GenFlynn/status/753774305985658880" type="external">tweeted</a> a picture of Hillary Clinton wearing a hijab and said it showed "disrespect for American Values and Principles."</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Mike Pence Quick Facts</a></p>
<p>Manafort tried to clarify the state of play in interviews early Friday, but sounded reluctant to get ahead of his candidate. “I think Mr. Trump has reached a decision but he isn’t prepared to announce it yet,” he told Fox News. “Until he announces it, it's not final,” he added on CNN. Trump did not delay the decision for political reasons, Manafort insisted, but because he “emotionally reacted” to the carnage in Nice.</p>
<p>Manafort’s hesitance to speak directly for Trump was borne out of experience. After joining the campaign in May, he indicated to the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-paul-manafort-general-election_us_574619eee4b0dacf7ad3e201" type="external">Huffington Post</a> that Trump was “moderating” his proposed Muslim ban as part of a pivot to the general election. The comment irked Trump, who then dressed Manafort down for presuming to speak on his behalf, a source told NBC News.</p>
<p>"He's been misquoted actually a lot," Trump told reporters at a press conference in North Dakota when asked about the Manafort interview. Trump later doubled down on the Muslim ban after the terrorist attack on an Orlando nightclub in June with a speech claiming he had been vindicated since announcing the idea.</p>
<p>Trump finally ended the VP confusion with his tweet announcing the Pence pick. But the implication of the overall episode was clear: It’s Trump’s campaign. Everyone else is just along for the bumpy ride.</p>
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long day leaks arguments miscommunication donald trump considered abandoning choice mike pence runningmate late early hours friday nbc news learned campaign pushed back reports trump wavering news underscored confusion surrounding vice presidential selection process ended friday morning trumps vp search seemed consciously resemble apprentice last several weeks trump joined potential picks onstage events around country final stretch though took turn surreal life starting thursday process played confusing blizzard reports campaign statements interviews public debates vacillation grousing private latest sign efforts professionalize trump operation since bringing top aide paul manafort ousting campaign manager corey lewandowski campaign ultimately driven candidates unpredictable gut instincts whatever team party actors brings respond pronouncements craft control related democrats attack trumps vp pick mike pence vp drama came candidate campaign struggling get page convention planning well trump initially suggested would release official list scheduled convention speakers last wednesday list came thursday instead senior trump official informed press thursday famed quarterback tim tebow would add star power event thursday night tebow posted video facebook calling news rumor indicating would speak convention every day something else one party operative told nbc news adding felt numb latest tumult chaos surrounding trumps vice presidential choice intense latest evidence campaigns persistent inability get page candidate sources described trump high hopes picturesque rollout stewing trump tower friday morning aides pointed fingers blame breakdown heres played public thursday began series reports first roll call indianapolis star indicating based anonymous sources trump chose pence response campaign officials insisted trump made decision day went nbc news reported lingering debates trumps family members favored someone like newt gingrich familiarity trumps top adviser manafort urging pence thursday evening pence appeared choice flown new york join candidate announcement scheduled 11 friday 7 pm et trump abruptly cancelled event response bastille day attack nice france phoned fox news minutes later rather cast move mere delay indicated still deciding pence gingrich new jersey gov chris christie related mike pence havent made final final decision trump said fox mean ive got three people fantastic think newt fantastic person think chris christie fantastic person friend mine 15 years fantastic person theres mike mike done great job governor indiana short term timing trumps move serious implications pence faced friday noon deadline indiana withdraw reelection bid order qualify vice presidential ballot state nbc newsreported trump private outraged early leaks indicating hed chosen pence surprisingly trump thursday relatively alone even faced biggest campaign choice date california fundraising trip away immediate family manafort primary voices decisionmaking process pick came one place source within campaign told nbc news trumps irritation odd timing response nice attacks followed two phone interviews fox refusal confirm whether made final choice underscored serious doubts last moment pence trump even made calls late midnight per nbcs reporting asking confidants whether would possible backtrack pick favor someone else sources familiar calls said felt backed corner competing concerns individual choices spokesman trump deniedthe account trumps late night phone conservations first reported cnn manafort told nbc news story totally untrue friday afternoon would make sense trump felt uneasy setting pick stone throughout campaign fought fiercely keep ever backed corner hes shuffled staff flipflopped key positions even denied comments hed made earlier camera anything keep tied runningmate chosen youre stuck person unless something goes extraordinarily wrong unfortunately trump makes white house lot presidential decisions permanent implications well whether bid influence trump hamlet act unclear two trumps finalists gingrich retired gen michael flynn rushed respond nice attack attentiongrabbing trumpian reactions possible thursday night gingrich proposed fox news government test every person muslim background believe sharia deported flynn tweeted picture hillary clinton wearing hijab said showed disrespect american values principles related mike pence quick facts manafort tried clarify state play interviews early friday sounded reluctant get ahead candidate think mr trump reached decision isnt prepared announce yet told fox news announces final added cnn trump delay decision political reasons manafort insisted emotionally reacted carnage nice manaforts hesitance speak directly trump borne experience joining campaign may indicated huffington post trump moderating proposed muslim ban part pivot general election comment irked trump dressed manafort presuming speak behalf source told nbc news hes misquoted actually lot trump told reporters press conference north dakota asked manafort interview trump later doubled muslim ban terrorist attack orlando nightclub june speech claiming vindicated since announcing idea trump finally ended vp confusion tweet announcing pence pick implication overall episode clear trumps campaign everyone else along bumpy ride
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<p>Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), young adults, “contemporary” worship, progressive theology, and “nice” Christians—let’s talk about it. To begin, I guess you, as the reader, should know I’m a 27-year-old, white male in full time ministry, and some of my closest friends work in CBF churches, so I’m not out to bash CBF. However, I can’t help but notice that there are very few churches within the CBF denomi-network that are effectively reaching young adults, and there are even fewer with “contemporary” worship services. And yes, that’s right, I just connected young adults to “contemporary” worship. Don’t worry, connecting the two is only a starting place, so breathe deeply and hang in there with me.</p>
<p>A couple of weeks ago I was visiting some family and went to a non-denominational (pseudo-SBC) church in NC. It was your typical mega-church—things kicked off with three or four songs led by a hip worship band, followed by a 45-minute sermon, prayer, one slow song, one fast song, and then a closing prayer. Personally, I’m more of a “smells and bells” kind of guy. But I was blown away by the number of young adults in attendance—there were hundreds of people my age, and it got me thinking. Because you see, I affiliate with CBF, but I’ve never been to a CBF church with hundreds of young adults. To be completely honest, I’ve never been to a CBF church with more than 25 young adults. And I can’t help but wonder if it’s because the majority of CBF churches have bought hook, line, and sinker into a singular style of worship called “traditional” worship. Now before you start pushing back, take a moment and entertain the following question: are CBF churches, by and large, scared of “contemporary” worship?</p>
<p>You might be thinking to yourself, CBF churches aren’t scared of “contemporary” worship. But let’s be honest, those churches that have started “contemporary” services and still have one are an anomaly. More often than not, the story goes like this. The pastor, or another staff member, starts a new service, one that is not “traditional;” people start coming; it grows; young adults actually show up; and then the church at large freaks out, and they either kill the service or push out the pastor who suggested such a heinous idea. And anytime this happens, it is terribly sad for people like me to watch. Because why would you kill something that has life?</p>
<p>So I went to Facebook, and sent out a few text messages, and made a few calls—I wanted to figure out if there is in fact an aversion to “contemporary” worship within CBF, and if so, why? Here’s what I discovered.</p>
<p>There appear to be three types of churches effectively reaching and retaining young adults (beware of sweeping generalizations—this is meant to start a conversation and could definitely be more nuanced).</p>
<p>Church one and two are by far the most successful, and interestingly, I think their success is a result of their message, more than anything else. To put it bluntly, they actually give young adults something to do. Church three is somewhat successful, but its focus is less on the message, and more on the medium. In other words, church three invests a lot of time and money into entertaining young adults and giving them something to consume, namely a religious experience.</p>
<p>Pardon me for dismissing church three at this point, but I’m more interested in church one and two, because they are doing something moderate churches struggle to do—they are communicating a clear message that both implicates and demands something of us and from us.</p>
<p>When it comes to church one, the message is this: go out into the world and share the gospel, reach the unreached, and get as many people saved as possible. As it is understood and communicated by most, I think this is a diminished vision, simply because it so often divulges into a form of escapism rather than inviting people into a deeper engagement with the world we live in. But it’s a vision nonetheless, and it’s something people can give their time, energy, and gifts to.</p>
<p>When it comes to church two, the message is this: go share the gospel, follow Jesus to the margins, embrace the “other,” seek Christ out in the face of your neighbor, and invite them into Christian community in order that they might experience the love and acceptance of Jesus Christ. Undoubtedly, becoming church two requires a major paradigm shift in the life of most congregations, especially those in Baptist life. Though churches in category two are very different from those churches in the first category, they do, however, share something in common—both church one and two expect something of those who show up.</p>
<p>So what does all of this have to do with “contemporary” worship? Well, when it comes to young adults participation in congregational life, not much at all. Worship style doesn’t really appear to be the primary factor when it comes to reaching and retaining young adults, but instead, I think it’s that which exists behind the worship style—a clear message. And yet I don’t want to move on too quickly, because the worship style is a medium meant to serve the message, and I can’t help but wonder if CBF’s apparent aversion to “contemporary” worship is hampering CBF’s ability to engage young adults, and even median adults. And here’s why I say that.</p>
<p>First off, let me clarify the difference between the message and the medium. There is the message, that which is said, and then there is the method, the vehicle by which that message is delivered. And that’s the medium. And the medium includes everything from the sermon style to the worship space, to the people, to the practices (liturgy), to the graphics, to the use of technology—really, the medium is just about everything that sits in the worship space or takes place during the worship hour. And whether we consciously recognize it or not, the medium is at all times communicating a message. So the question is this: is the medium communicating the message we want it to or think it is?</p>
<p>In too many cases the medium does little more than muddle the message, and sometimes it even misappropriates it. For example, Passion City Church (a youthful, mega-church in Atlanta, GA) will have a harder time convincing people to care for the poor than Park Avenue Baptist Church (an interracial, urban congregation in Atlanta, GA) will simply because their medium betrays their message. So, though I’m as convinced as ever that the primary driver of church growth, particularly as it relates to young adults, is the message, we must also consider the medium.</p>
<p>Truth be told, it’s hard to be progressive in a “traditional” worship service, simply because the medium does not easily lend itself to the message. A message of inclusion and diversity is best heard when supported by a medium that matches it, one that actually includes diversity—a diversity of people (both in the crowd and behind the pulpit), a diversity of ideas, a diversity of music and music styles, a diversity of readings, responses, prayers, and graphics.</p>
<p>So is it possible? Is it possible to create a service that is progressive through and through, but includes hymns, as well as secular music, “contemporary” music, and who knows, maybe even a Gregorian chant? Could we do prayer stations? Why not? How about a moment of silence, the reading of a poem, litany of confession, etc.? What if we wrote our own music? Do we have to plug and chug songs every week? Is it possible to play one song with the organ, and the next with a guitar? Is this a sin against God, or a real possibility for your congregation? And with that last question in mind, how many young adults do you have participating in the life of your church?</p>
<p>So let’s return to an earlier point and bring this thing home. As much as we’d like to make it about the worship style, I think we simply need to look a little deeper. What’s the message? Or to say it another way, what sits behind the medium? What is the narrative being told? What is the why? Young people want to know. What is your congregation doing? Where are you going? Who are you becoming?</p>
<p>The medium matters, but if you’re like church three, and all you’re doing is managing a bunch of small changes and throwing money at young people in the form of snazzy programming, well then, you’re taking a huge gamble, and you risk running in place.</p>
<p>So the haunting question for all of us is this: Is it possible we’ve botched the message of Jesus Christ and made Christianity too easy?</p>
<p>According to Kendra Creasy Dean in Almost Christian, the answer is a resounding…Yes! In pursuit of “personal happiness and inter-personal niceness,” following Jesus is no longer dangerous; it doesn’t require anything of us, except some semblance of morality; and we have somehow justified excessive monetary blessing (privilege) as a symbol of God’s reward to us for our obedience. In the end, what this means is there are a bunch of us who are “almost Christian.”</p>
<p>It follows then that churches struggling to effectively reaching young people are, at the same time, the churches that have fallen into traditional church-culture patterns, which are primarily concerned with creating “good” people that show up for worship on a semi-regular basis and believe all the right things. This way of holding or practicing faith is what Kendra Creasy Dean calls “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism.”</p>
<p>According to Dean,</p>
<p>“Moralistic Therapeutic Deism has little to do with God or a sense of a divine mission in the world. It offers comfort, bolsters self-esteem, helps solve a few problems, and lubricates interpersonal relationships by encouraging people to do good, feel good, and keep God at arm’s length.” As a result, “Churches have lost track of Christianity’s missional imagination…Jesus doesn’t tinker; he tears down walls, draws up new plans, (and) makes demands.”</p>
<p>I don’t mean to state it so harshly, but between conservative and liberal seems to sit “nice.” And “nice” looks a lot like apathy to those hard at work. Being that change is written into every moment, you’re either regressing or progressing. And no one can really know for sure which direction “nice” is going. Is “nice” going up or down, becoming or unbecoming? Which direction is your congregation moving? If you’re trying to be “nice,” it’s likely you have no real idea.</p>
<p>When it comes to faith development, there is in fact a starting place, but there are also subsequent stages. As Christian ministers, it’s our responsibility to meet people where they’re at and invite them to take the next step. As long as our church is happy with where things are at, as long as they are fine with just being a bunch of “nice” Christians, things will remain as they are. And until pastors encourage them to move, every church’s center of gravity will remain where it is.</p>
<p>It’s sounds a bit crazy when you first hear it, but perhaps what young adults are really looking for is a church where people are less interested in being “nice,” and more interested in being faithful to Jesus Christ’s call on us in this time and place, both individually and collectively.</p>
<p>It’s not enough for church leaders to plug and chug songs into the worship order every week. And it’s not enough to waste all of one’s creative energy massaging and managing church members’ emotions all day, every day. The church is in need desperate need of courageous and creative leaders prepared to say what is needed, to invite people into complexity and paradox, and ultimately, to help them figure out what it looks like to participate with God in God’s work, here and now.</p>
<p>With your congregation in mind, I invite you to carefully reflect on the following questions: Do we practice the kind of faith we want our young adults to have? What does faith look like for the average person in our congregation? Where are we going? What are we doing (outside the worship hour)? Being that we live in a sea of choices, what is about who we are and what we do that is worth committing to?</p>
<p>In the end, if we don’t make room for young adults it’s probably because we don’t want to change, which is the same as saying we don’t want to grow. It appears there are a number of churches scared to death of being anything other than what they are or doing anything other than what they do. What if our fear, however, is keeping us from becoming what God created us to be? Are we forgetting (neglecting) to take Jesus seriously? I think young adults, merely by their presence and sometimes with their insistence, remind us of these things, so in a thousand small ways churches push them out, laugh at them for their idealism, and tell them to come back when they’ve grown up a bit, i.e. when they have kids. And when we do this, we lose something vitally important—passionate young adults.</p>
<p>So, what about “contemporary” worship? Ah, take it or leave it—it’s merely a preference. But don’t neglect the more that is going on behind your worship, because the more, which is the message, always shines through. Are people hearing what you want them to hear? Are they following Jesus more closely as a result of their time worshipping with and among those who have gathered?</p>
<p>According to Scripture, God is at work reconciling and renewing all of creation, which means there’s a lot of work to do. That’s the real message. Sure, the medium matters, but even young adults will show up and sing hymns every week if they’re captivated by the message.</p>
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cooperative baptist fellowship cbf young adults contemporary worship progressive theology nice christianslets talk begin guess reader know im 27yearold white male full time ministry closest friends work cbf churches im bash cbf however cant help notice churches within cbf denominetwork effectively reaching young adults even fewer contemporary worship services yes thats right connected young adults contemporary worship dont worry connecting two starting place breathe deeply hang couple weeks ago visiting family went nondenominational pseudosbc church nc typical megachurchthings kicked three four songs led hip worship band followed 45minute sermon prayer one slow song one fast song closing prayer personally im smells bells kind guy blown away number young adults attendancethere hundreds people age got thinking see affiliate cbf ive never cbf church hundreds young adults completely honest ive never cbf church 25 young adults cant help wonder majority cbf churches bought hook line sinker singular style worship called traditional worship start pushing back take moment entertain following question cbf churches large scared contemporary worship might thinking cbf churches arent scared contemporary worship lets honest churches started contemporary services still one anomaly often story goes like pastor another staff member starts new service one traditional people start coming grows young adults actually show church large freaks either kill service push pastor suggested heinous idea anytime happens terribly sad people like watch would kill something life went facebook sent text messages made callsi wanted figure fact aversion contemporary worship within cbf heres discovered appear three types churches effectively reaching retaining young adults beware sweeping generalizationsthis meant start conversation could definitely nuanced church one two far successful interestingly think success result message anything else put bluntly actually give young adults something church three somewhat successful focus less message medium words church three invests lot time money entertaining young adults giving something consume namely religious experience pardon dismissing church three point im interested church one two something moderate churches struggle dothey communicating clear message implicates demands something us us comes church one message go world share gospel reach unreached get many people saved possible understood communicated think diminished vision simply often divulges form escapism rather inviting people deeper engagement world live vision nonetheless something people give time energy gifts comes church two message go share gospel follow jesus margins embrace seek christ face neighbor invite christian community order might experience love acceptance jesus christ undoubtedly becoming church two requires major paradigm shift life congregations especially baptist life though churches category two different churches first category however share something commonboth church one two expect something show contemporary worship well comes young adults participation congregational life much worship style doesnt really appear primary factor comes reaching retaining young adults instead think exists behind worship stylea clear message yet dont want move quickly worship style medium meant serve message cant help wonder cbfs apparent aversion contemporary worship hampering cbfs ability engage young adults even median adults heres say first let clarify difference message medium message said method vehicle message delivered thats medium medium includes everything sermon style worship space people practices liturgy graphics use technologyreally medium everything sits worship space takes place worship hour whether consciously recognize medium times communicating message question medium communicating message want think many cases medium little muddle message sometimes even misappropriates example passion city church youthful megachurch atlanta ga harder time convincing people care poor park avenue baptist church interracial urban congregation atlanta ga simply medium betrays message though im convinced ever primary driver church growth particularly relates young adults message must also consider medium truth told hard progressive traditional worship service simply medium easily lend message message inclusion diversity best heard supported medium matches one actually includes diversitya diversity people crowd behind pulpit diversity ideas diversity music music styles diversity readings responses prayers graphics possible possible create service progressive includes hymns well secular music contemporary music knows maybe even gregorian chant could prayer stations moment silence reading poem litany confession etc wrote music plug chug songs every week possible play one song organ next guitar sin god real possibility congregation last question mind many young adults participating life church lets return earlier point bring thing home much wed like make worship style think simply need look little deeper whats message say another way sits behind medium narrative told young people want know congregation going becoming medium matters youre like church three youre managing bunch small changes throwing money young people form snazzy programming well youre taking huge gamble risk running place haunting question us possible weve botched message jesus christ made christianity easy according kendra creasy dean almost christian answer resoundingyes pursuit personal happiness interpersonal niceness following jesus longer dangerous doesnt require anything us except semblance morality somehow justified excessive monetary blessing privilege symbol gods reward us obedience end means bunch us almost christian follows churches struggling effectively reaching young people time churches fallen traditional churchculture patterns primarily concerned creating good people show worship semiregular basis believe right things way holding practicing faith kendra creasy dean calls moralistic therapeutic deism according dean moralistic therapeutic deism little god sense divine mission world offers comfort bolsters selfesteem helps solve problems lubricates interpersonal relationships encouraging people good feel good keep god arms length result churches lost track christianitys missional imaginationjesus doesnt tinker tears walls draws new plans makes demands dont mean state harshly conservative liberal seems sit nice nice looks lot like apathy hard work change written every moment youre either regressing progressing one really know sure direction nice going nice going becoming unbecoming direction congregation moving youre trying nice likely real idea comes faith development fact starting place also subsequent stages christian ministers responsibility meet people theyre invite take next step long church happy things long fine bunch nice christians things remain pastors encourage move every churchs center gravity remain sounds bit crazy first hear perhaps young adults really looking church people less interested nice interested faithful jesus christs call us time place individually collectively enough church leaders plug chug songs worship order every week enough waste ones creative energy massaging managing church members emotions day every day church need desperate need courageous creative leaders prepared say needed invite people complexity paradox ultimately help figure looks like participate god gods work congregation mind invite carefully reflect following questions practice kind faith want young adults faith look like average person congregation going outside worship hour live sea choices worth committing end dont make room young adults probably dont want change saying dont want grow appears number churches scared death anything anything fear however keeping us becoming god created us forgetting neglecting take jesus seriously think young adults merely presence sometimes insistence remind us things thousand small ways churches push laugh idealism tell come back theyve grown bit ie kids lose something vitally importantpassionate young adults contemporary worship ah take leave itits merely preference dont neglect going behind worship message always shines people hearing want hear following jesus closely result time worshipping among gathered according scripture god work reconciling renewing creation means theres lot work thats real message sure medium matters even young adults show sing hymns every week theyre captivated message 160 160
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<p>RAMALLAH, West Bank — The helipad at the Muqataa, the memorial mausoleum where Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is buried in Ramallah, has been swept clean in anticipation of next week's arrival of US President Barack Obama.</p>
<p>But in Ramallah, subdued complacency combined with low expectations will greet the president as he arrives for talks with the Palestinian leadership.</p>
<p>Obama is expected to spend about five hours here on a three-day visit to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan, although recent reports suggest the president <a href="http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=574785" type="external">could skip Ramallah altogether</a>, meeting President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem.</p>
<p>At the upmarket Plaza Mall, more than half of the shoppers interviewed expressed surprise that Obama was even coming.</p>
<p>"His trip doesn't matter. It's like a game between Israel and Palestine and Obama," said Maida Awad, a social worker. Her husband, Johnny, added, "Israel controls Obama."</p>
<p>"I know he's coming, but he's coming for nothing," said Mahmoud Salouri, a salesman.</p>
<p>The Palestinian government's position, while guarded, is significantly more upbeat.</p>
<p>"We expect some help from President Obama," Nabeel Shaath, one of the most veteran Palestinian diplomats and the Palestinian Liberation Organization's commissioner for foreign relations, said in an interview with GlobalPost. "We will try to create a favorable climate and listen to what he says a solution can be."</p>
<p>According to Shaath, in its discussions with Obama the Palestinian leadership plans to highlight the separation wall between Israel and the Palestinian territories, as well as ongoing Israeli settlement activity on land the Palestinians expect to be theirs in a final status agreement.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, the Jerusalem Post <a href="http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=306125" type="external">quoted a Palestinian official</a> stating that President Mahmoud Abbas would make Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel the number one issue in discussions with the US delegation.</p>
<p>Close to 5,000 Palestinians, some of whom have pleaded guilty to the murder of Israelis, are held in Israeli jails. Israel claims the majority are terrorists with blood on their hands, but they are celebrated as political prisoners and freedom fighters on the Palestinian street, and <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/palestinian-street-boiling-over-plight-of-security-prisoners-1.507875" type="external">in recent weeks their plight</a> has been the cause of protests outside Israeli prisons.</p>
<p>While the issue may be popular among Palestinians, it is difficult to imagine Obama being able or willing to act in the prisoners' regard.</p>
<p>In an initiative equally without prospects, more than <a href="http://www.jta.org/news/article/2013/03/05/3121196/pollard-clemency-petition-reaches-103000-signatures" type="external">100,000 Israelis have signed a petition</a> calling on Obama to grant clemency to the Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, who has been imprisoned in the US for 25 years. In a show of support for the petition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met last week with Pollard's wife.</p>
<p>Many Palestinians hope Obama, either on this trip or subsequently, will present his own vision for an Israeli-Palestinian peace. Obama has said on numerous occasions leading up to the visit that he has no intention of bringing " <a href="http://swampland.time.com/2013/03/08/obama-no-grand-peace-plan-during-israel-trip/" type="external">a grand peace plan</a>."</p>
<p>Shaath, who has met Obama on several occasions and expressed warmth and personal affection toward him, said he holds Obama "responsible for all prior commitments made by the United States," and that the president's role will be to "translate what he sees and hears here into something implementable." &#160;&#160;</p>
<p>"Not a single agreement between us and the Israelis was not co-signed by the United States," he pointed out. "The United States has to decide peace is its own interest."</p>
<p>Highlighting ongoing Israeli settlement building — "they still treat it as contested and not as occupied land," he said — &#160;Shaath added that "selective implementation of agreements is not implementation at all."</p>
<p>Several bugaboos loom in the US-Palestinian talks. The one most potentially difficult to overcome is the attempt by the Palestinian Authority to come to a unity agreement with Hamas, the extremist Islamic faction that rules Gaza and is considered a terror organization by the US.</p>
<p>"We are very close to an agreement but we are not quite there yet,” Shaath said. “Hamas needs to decide about its political bureau and leadership."</p>
<p>If an agreement presents itself, he said, "the United States has to understand that the vast majority of Palestinians want both unity and want a peace process." &#160;</p>
<p>"We would like to see the United States more evenhanded. The way the US reacted to our seeking non-member state status at the UN was unacceptable and inexplicable."</p>
<p>Rather than waiting for a final agreement with Israel to be signed, last September — in what the US termed a "unilateral action" — the Palestinian Authority requested the imprimatur of the United Nations General Assembly for its statehood bid.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/israel-and-palestine/121129/un-recognizes-non-member-state-palesti" type="external">UN recognizes non-member state of Palestine in overwhelming vote</a></p>
<p>More than a few curmudgeonly voices have been heard, among them from Palestinians resentful that following the UN vote, US Congress decided to <a href="http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=568216&amp;utm_source=twitterfeed&amp;utm_medium=twitter" type="external">retain aid funds</a> originally destined for the Palestinian Authority.</p>
<p>Many observers also see Obama's 2009 speech in Cairo, which was delivered in the euphoric early days of his first term and followed up by no specific approach to Israelis, as <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/25/barack-obama-s-cairo-speech-and-his-israel-problem.html" type="external">an error that exacerbated tensions</a> between the US and Israel. In an attempt to remedy the situation, Obama will address 2,000 Israeli students in a Jerusalem speech next week.</p>
<p>"I don't blame Obama for Cairo," Shaath said, recognizing the fraught nature of the subject. "At the time, there was no problem with Israel. The serious problem was with the Muslim world, the Bin Ladens and the Taliban and with Islamophobia in the West."</p>
<p>But others see that speech and its unfulfilled promises as the root of Palestinian disaffection with Obama today.</p>
<p>"Palestinians expected a lot from Obama with those promises in his first term, and gained nothing,” said Hani el Masri, a geopolitical analyst and director of the Ramallah think tank Masarat. “He spoke to Palestinians and Arabs and then he went back to not solving the struggle. Most Palestinians don't believe Obama can give them anything. They see this visit as some kind of PR to show that there is a peace process while Palestinians know very well that there is no peace process, there is only a process without peace."</p>
<p>Quoting a poll published last week, el Masri said that more than 80 percent of Palestinians believe the US is "on Israel's side."</p>
<p>"They see only a small difference between the American administration and the Israeli government," he said, "and they think those differences are exaggerated. The main issue is US support for Israel while Israel continues its aggressions, and settlements, and prisoners, so they see no hope from the American administration at all."</p>
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ramallah west bank helipad muqataa memorial mausoleum palestinian leader yasser arafat buried ramallah swept clean anticipation next weeks arrival us president barack obama ramallah subdued complacency combined low expectations greet president arrives talks palestinian leadership obama expected spend five hours threeday visit israel west bank jordan although recent reports suggest president could skip ramallah altogether meeting president mahmoud abbas bethlehem upmarket plaza mall half shoppers interviewed expressed surprise obama even coming trip doesnt matter like game israel palestine obama said maida awad social worker husband johnny added israel controls obama know hes coming hes coming nothing said mahmoud salouri salesman palestinian governments position guarded significantly upbeat expect help president obama nabeel shaath one veteran palestinian diplomats palestinian liberation organizations commissioner foreign relations said interview globalpost try create favorable climate listen says solution according shaath discussions obama palestinian leadership plans highlight separation wall israel palestinian territories well ongoing israeli settlement activity land palestinians expect final status agreement tuesday jerusalem post quoted palestinian official stating president mahmoud abbas would make palestinian prisoners jailed israel number one issue discussions us delegation close 5000 palestinians pleaded guilty murder israelis held israeli jails israel claims majority terrorists blood hands celebrated political prisoners freedom fighters palestinian street recent weeks plight cause protests outside israeli prisons issue may popular among palestinians difficult imagine obama able willing act prisoners regard initiative equally without prospects 100000 israelis signed petition calling obama grant clemency israeli spy jonathan pollard imprisoned us 25 years show support petition israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu met last week pollards wife many palestinians hope obama either trip subsequently present vision israelipalestinian peace obama said numerous occasions leading visit intention bringing grand peace plan shaath met obama several occasions expressed warmth personal affection toward said holds obama responsible prior commitments made united states presidents role translate sees hears something implementable 160160 single agreement us israelis cosigned united states pointed united states decide peace interest highlighting ongoing israeli settlement building still treat contested occupied land said 160shaath added selective implementation agreements implementation several bugaboos loom uspalestinian talks one potentially difficult overcome attempt palestinian authority come unity agreement hamas extremist islamic faction rules gaza considered terror organization us close agreement quite yet shaath said hamas needs decide political bureau leadership agreement presents said united states understand vast majority palestinians want unity want peace process 160 would like see united states evenhanded way us reacted seeking nonmember state status un unacceptable inexplicable rather waiting final agreement israel signed last september us termed unilateral action palestinian authority requested imprimatur united nations general assembly statehood bid globalpost un recognizes nonmember state palestine overwhelming vote curmudgeonly voices heard among palestinians resentful following un vote us congress decided retain aid funds originally destined palestinian authority many observers also see obamas 2009 speech cairo delivered euphoric early days first term followed specific approach israelis error exacerbated tensions us israel attempt remedy situation obama address 2000 israeli students jerusalem speech next week dont blame obama cairo shaath said recognizing fraught nature subject time problem israel serious problem muslim world bin ladens taliban islamophobia west others see speech unfulfilled promises root palestinian disaffection obama today palestinians expected lot obama promises first term gained nothing said hani el masri geopolitical analyst director ramallah think tank masarat spoke palestinians arabs went back solving struggle palestinians dont believe obama give anything see visit kind pr show peace process palestinians know well peace process process without peace quoting poll published last week el masri said 80 percent palestinians believe us israels side see small difference american administration israeli government said think differences exaggerated main issue us support israel israel continues aggressions settlements prisoners see hope american administration
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<p>Members of the Check It, a D.C. LGBT gang. (Photo courtesy Olive Productions)</p>
<p>This fall is going to yield a bountiful crop of LGBT films.</p>
<p>The season is already off to a great start with the release of “Other People,” written and directed by Chris Kelly, a writer for “Saturday Night Live” making his feature film debut. Based on his own experience, the movie is about a gay man (Jesse Plemons) who returns home to care for his mother (Molly Shannon) who has cancer.</p>
<p>Now in its 27th year, the AFI Latin American Film Festival ( <a href="http://afi.com/silver/laff/" type="external">afi.com/silver/laff/</a>) is an amazing showcase for the latest films from Latin America, as well as Spain and Portugal. One of the highlights of the Festival, which runs Sept. 15-Oct. 5, is “Aquarius.” The film stars the renowned Sonia Braga (“Kiss of the Spider Woman” and “Sex and the City”) as a feisty older woman battling a real-estate developer. Braga will appear for a Q&amp;A after a special screening of the film on Oct. 20.</p>
<p>Some of the LGBT highlights of the festival include “Rara” about a custody battle between a lesbian mother and her conservative ex-husband; “The Companion” about a disgraced Cuban boxing champion who is sent to work in a state-mandated AIDS sanatorium; “Take Me For A Ride,” about the romance between two-high school girls; and, “I Promise You Anarchy,” directed by Guatemalan filmmaker Julio Hernández Cordón about two skate punks, best friends and teenage lovers, who find themselves in over their heads during a major drug deal.</p>
<p>Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, “The Dressmaker” (Sept. 23) is the moving and elegant story of Tilly Dunnage, a designer who uses haute couture to seek revenge on the small Australian town that ostracized her. The film features powerhouse performances by Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworh, Judy Davis and Hugo Weaving as a police sergeant who is guarding many secrets.</p>
<p>The Washington Jewish Film Festival (Oct. 5-9) includes “Mr. Gaga,” a documentary about the Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin directed by openly gay Israeli filmmaker Tomer Heymann (“Who’s Going to Love Me Now?”). The title refers to the distinctive movement language developed by the charismatic choreographer, not the music of the famous American performer ( <a href="http://wjff.org/" type="external">wjff.org</a>).</p>
<p>The Reel Affirmations Film Festival ( <a href="http://reelaffirmations.org/" type="external">reelaffirmations.org</a>) returns to the historic Tivoli Theatre from Oct. 13-16. Washington’s International LGBT film festival opens with“Retake,” a moving drama two broken souls on a road trip to the Grand Canyon, and closes with “Check It,” the powerful documentary about a gang of LGBT youth in one of Washington’s most violent neighborhoods. In between, the festival includes a day of shorts from rising international directors, an adults-only late-night screening, and “Strike A Pose,” a follow-up look at the six dancers who accompanied Madonna on her “Blond Ambition” tour.</p>
<p>Reel Affirmations also continues its monthly Xtra Film Series. On Sept. 30, there will be a double bill of “Lazy Eye” and “Jason and Shirley.” The new comedy crime thriller&#160;“Women Who Kill” by Ingrid Jungermann (“Lyle”) will screen on Nov. 18. Slated for Dec. 2, “Pushing Dead” stars James Roday as an HIV-positive struggling writer battling his insurance company and the medical bureaucracy with the help of Danny Glover and Robin Weigert.</p>
<p>The Avalon Theatre in northwest D.C. also offers an exciting slate of indie and international films. Currently on screen is “Little Men” by gay filmmaker Ira Sachs; the amazing Wednesday Signature Series includes “Les Cowboys” by French auteur Thomas Bidegain, an inventive contemporary update of the classic John Ford western “The Searchers.”</p>
<p>Other great releases this fall, before the holiday film season even starts, include:</p>
<p>“Author: The JT Leroy Story” (Sept. 16), a documentary about Laura Albert and “the greatest literary hoax of our time.”</p>
<p>“Snowden” (Sept. 16) stars Joseph Gordon-Leavitt as the infamous leaker Edward Snowden and features out actor Zachary Quinto as Glenn Greenwald and Melissa Leo as Laura Poitras, the openly gay journalists who helped break the story.</p>
<p>“Front Cover” (Sept. 30), recently screened by Reel Affirmations, gets a theatrical release at the Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market. Directed by Ray Yeung, the movie tracks the troubled affair between a closeted Chinese actor and his openly gay Chinese American stylist.</p>
<p>“The Birth of a Nation” (Oct. 7), the provocative movie about the Nat Turner’s 1831 slave revolt, generated additional controversy when director and star Nate Parker was forced to discuss the 1999 case where he was accused and acquitted of sexual assault charges as a college student.</p>
<p>“Batman: Return of the Cape Crusaders” is an animated film featuring Adam West, Burt Ward and Julie Newmar reprising their roles from the ‘60s TV show in voiceover performances. It screens one day only on Oct. 10 at ArcLight Cinema in Bethesda, Md.</p>
<p>“The Handmaiden” (Oct. 14) is a tale of lesbian romance told against a backdrop of madness and treachery. Korean director PARK Chan-wook moves the action of the novel “Fingersmith” by Welsh lesbian writer Sarah Waters from Victorian Britain to 1930s Korea.</p>
<p>KIM Min-hee and KIM Tae-ri in ‘The Handmaiden.’ (Photo courtesy Amazon Studios and Magnolia Pictures)</p>
<p>“King Cobra” (in theaters and on VOD on Oct. 21) stars Christian Slater and James Franco as murderous rival producers in the gay male porn industry.</p>
<p>“Moonlight” (Oct. 28), adapted by MacArthur Fellow Tarell Alvin McCraney from his award-winning play, tells the coming out and coming-of-age story of an African American man from the perspectives of three actors playing his childhood, adolescent and adult selves.</p>
<p>“Loving” (Nov. 11) movingly recreates the saga of Richard and Mildred Loving (Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga)&#160; the plaintiffs in the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia which invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage and paved the way for the Obergefell decision which upheld marriage rights for same-sex couples.</p>
<p>Richard and Mildred Loving (Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga) under arrest in a scene from ‘Loving.’ The Supreme Court case was a predecessor for LGBT rights issues. (Photo by Ben Rothstein; courtesy Focus Features)</p>
<p>“Being 17” (Nov. 11) is directed by the acclaimed French director André Téchiné, widely recognized for his exploration of fluid sexual and cultural identities. His latest film charts the changing relationship between a boy and his bully.</p>
<p>“Nocturnal Animals” (Nov. 23) is the second feature film by openly gay American designer Tom Ford (“A Single Man”). Starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams, the movie is a multi-layered story of love, betrayal and art.</p>
<p>Finally, this November, HBO will broadcast two highly anticipated LGBT documentaries: “Mariela Castro’s March: Cuba’s LGBT Revolution” and “The Trans List,” a series of interviews with prominent figures in the transgender community by journalists Janet Mock and filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">AFI Latin American Film Festival</a> <a href="" type="internal">Aquarius</a> <a href="" type="internal">Avalon Theatre</a> <a href="" type="internal">Check It</a> <a href="" type="internal">Chris Kelly</a> <a href="" type="internal">Danny Glover</a> <a href="" type="internal">Hugo Weaving</a> <a href="" type="internal">I Promise You Anarchy</a> <a href="" type="internal">Ingrid Jungermann</a> <a href="" type="internal">Ira Sachs</a> <a href="" type="internal">James Roday</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jason and Shirley</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jesse Plemons</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jocelyn Moorhouse</a> <a href="" type="internal">Judy Davis</a> <a href="" type="internal">Julio Hernández Cordón</a> <a href="" type="internal">Kate Winslet</a> <a href="" type="internal">Lazy Eye</a> <a href="" type="internal">Les Cowboys</a> <a href="" type="internal">Liam Hemsworth</a> <a href="" type="internal">Little Men</a> <a href="" type="internal">Molly Shannon</a> <a href="" type="internal">Mr. Gaga</a> <a href="" type="internal">Ohad Naharin</a> <a href="" type="internal">Other People</a> <a href="" type="internal">Pushing Dead</a> <a href="" type="internal">Rara</a> <a href="" type="internal">Reel Affirmations Film Festival</a> <a href="" type="internal">Retake</a> <a href="" type="internal">Robin Weigert</a> <a href="" type="internal">Sonia Braga</a> <a href="" type="internal">Strike A Pose</a> <a href="" type="internal">Take Me For A Ride</a> <a href="" type="internal">The Companion</a> <a href="" type="internal">The Dressmaker</a> <a href="" type="internal">Thomas Bidegain</a> <a href="" type="internal">Tilly Dunnage</a> <a href="" type="internal">tivoli theatre</a> <a href="" type="internal">Tomer Heymann</a> <a href="" type="internal">Washington Jewish Film Festival</a> <a href="" type="internal">Women Who Kill</a></p>
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members check dc lgbt gang photo courtesy olive productions fall going yield bountiful crop lgbt films season already great start release people written directed chris kelly writer saturday night live making feature film debut based experience movie gay man jesse plemons returns home care mother molly shannon cancer 27th year afi latin american film festival aficomsilverlaff amazing showcase latest films latin america well spain portugal one highlights festival runs sept 15oct 5 aquarius film stars renowned sonia braga kiss spider woman sex city feisty older woman battling realestate developer braga appear qampa special screening film oct 20 lgbt highlights festival include rara custody battle lesbian mother conservative exhusband companion disgraced cuban boxing champion sent work statemandated aids sanatorium take ride romance twohigh school girls promise anarchy directed guatemalan filmmaker julio hernández cordón two skate punks best friends teenage lovers find heads major drug deal directed jocelyn moorhouse dressmaker sept 23 moving elegant story tilly dunnage designer uses haute couture seek revenge small australian town ostracized film features powerhouse performances kate winslet liam hemsworh judy davis hugo weaving police sergeant guarding many secrets washington jewish film festival oct 59 includes mr gaga documentary israeli choreographer ohad naharin directed openly gay israeli filmmaker tomer heymann whos going love title refers distinctive movement language developed charismatic choreographer music famous american performer wjfforg reel affirmations film festival reelaffirmationsorg returns historic tivoli theatre oct 1316 washingtons international lgbt film festival opens withretake moving drama two broken souls road trip grand canyon closes check powerful documentary gang lgbt youth one washingtons violent neighborhoods festival includes day shorts rising international directors adultsonly latenight screening strike pose followup look six dancers accompanied madonna blond ambition tour reel affirmations also continues monthly xtra film series sept 30 double bill lazy eye jason shirley new comedy crime thriller160women kill ingrid jungermann lyle screen nov 18 slated dec 2 pushing dead stars james roday hivpositive struggling writer battling insurance company medical bureaucracy help danny glover robin weigert avalon theatre northwest dc also offers exciting slate indie international films currently screen little men gay filmmaker ira sachs amazing wednesday signature series includes les cowboys french auteur thomas bidegain inventive contemporary update classic john ford western searchers great releases fall holiday film season even starts include author jt leroy story sept 16 documentary laura albert greatest literary hoax time snowden sept 16 stars joseph gordonleavitt infamous leaker edward snowden features actor zachary quinto glenn greenwald melissa leo laura poitras openly gay journalists helped break story front cover sept 30 recently screened reel affirmations gets theatrical release angelika popup union market directed ray yeung movie tracks troubled affair closeted chinese actor openly gay chinese american stylist birth nation oct 7 provocative movie nat turners 1831 slave revolt generated additional controversy director star nate parker forced discuss 1999 case accused acquitted sexual assault charges college student batman return cape crusaders animated film featuring adam west burt ward julie newmar reprising roles 60s tv show voiceover performances screens one day oct 10 arclight cinema bethesda md handmaiden oct 14 tale lesbian romance told backdrop madness treachery korean director park chanwook moves action novel fingersmith welsh lesbian writer sarah waters victorian britain 1930s korea kim minhee kim taeri handmaiden photo courtesy amazon studios magnolia pictures king cobra theaters vod oct 21 stars christian slater james franco murderous rival producers gay male porn industry moonlight oct 28 adapted macarthur fellow tarell alvin mccraney awardwinning play tells coming comingofage story african american man perspectives three actors playing childhood adolescent adult selves loving nov 11 movingly recreates saga richard mildred loving joel edgerton ruth negga160 plaintiffs 1967 us supreme court decision loving v virginia invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage paved way obergefell decision upheld marriage rights samesex couples richard mildred loving joel edgerton ruth negga arrest scene loving supreme court case predecessor lgbt rights issues photo ben rothstein courtesy focus features 17 nov 11 directed acclaimed french director andré téchiné widely recognized exploration fluid sexual cultural identities latest film charts changing relationship boy bully nocturnal animals nov 23 second feature film openly gay american designer tom ford single man starring jake gyllenhaal amy adams movie multilayered story love betrayal art finally november hbo broadcast two highly anticipated lgbt documentaries mariela castros march cubas lgbt revolution trans list series interviews prominent figures transgender community journalists janet mock filmmaker timothy greenfieldsanders afi latin american film festival aquarius avalon theatre check chris kelly danny glover hugo weaving promise anarchy ingrid jungermann ira sachs james roday jason shirley jesse plemons jocelyn moorhouse judy davis julio hernández cordón kate winslet lazy eye les cowboys liam hemsworth little men molly shannon mr gaga ohad naharin people pushing dead rara reel affirmations film festival retake robin weigert sonia braga strike pose take ride companion dressmaker thomas bidegain tilly dunnage tivoli theatre tomer heymann washington jewish film festival women kill
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<p>Advocates are pressing the importance of LGBT participation in the U.S. Census as they call for greater outreach and the opportunity for more informed responses from LGBT people.</p>
<p>During a congressional briefing Thursday for the LGBT Equality Caucus, panelists emphasized&#160;that getting LGBT people counted in the 2010 Census will reveal useful information about the LGBT community.</p>
<p>Gary Gates, a research fellow at the Williams Institute, a think tank at the University of California, Los Angeles, noted that 2010 will be the first time that married same-sex couples will be counted as such in the Census.</p>
<p>Still, Gates said the count wouldn’t necessarily reveal the number of legally married same-sex couples in the United States.</p>
<p>“Same-sex couples, have, as we all know, many, many legal ways in which they can be recognized, and it’s not clear that in options that include either husband and wife or unmarried partner capture all those different ways,” he said. “We certainly know that there are many more couples who see their relationships as one where the person is spouse and legally married.”</p>
<p>Gates said&#160;earlier data&#160;— particularly from&#160;the larger American Community Survey issued by the U.S. Census Bureau — provided the basis for finding important information about LGBT people, such as how an estimated 565,000 same-sex couples live in United States and 150,000 same-sex couples identify as married.</p>
<p>This data, Gates said, also led to findings that around 66,000 gay service members serve in the military under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and 36,000 bi-national couples would benefit from the Uniting American Families Act.</p>
<p>Brian Moulton, chief legislative counsel for the Human Rights Campaign, said having this data is helpful in convincing members of Congress to support pro-LGBT legislation.</p>
<p>Moulton said Census data “informs Congress about what the needs of the community really are” and “has been really helpful in making that case on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and ENDA.”</p>
<p>To bolster efforts to collect information about LGBT people, the Census Bureau is undertaking initiatives that weren’t used in previous counts.</p>
<p>Che Ruddell-Tabisola, the LGBT National Partnership Manager for the Census Bureau, said the approach includes ad buys in LGBT media and newspaper as well as&#160;the use of LGBT-specific talking points and tool kits for Census workers.</p>
<p>“It’s the first census that has paid organizers on the ground – two dozen of us around the country – whose job it is is to talk to LGBT community leaders, activists and organizers to get out some very basic messages,” he said.</p>
<p>Ruddell-Tabisola said the 2010 Census will be the first to have LGBT public service announcements. He said he plans to unveil 19 of them at an event in New York City on Monday.</p>
<p>Even while stressing the importance of the Census as a means to collect data about LGBT people, panelists expressed concerns about the count not gathering sufficient information or having inadequate outreach.</p>
<p>Glenn Magpantay, staff attorney for Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, expressed concerns about having enough diversity among census takers so minority groups — including LGBT people — would be receptive.</p>
<p>“So when the door-knockers come, and if I come from a two female household, and the census taker doesn’t look really receptive to my family household and structure, basically will I be harassed by census taker?” he said. “Will they have the diversity and the ability to enumerate a diverse America?”</p>
<p>Panelists also discussed the possibility of asking responders to identify their sexual orientation and gender identity in subsequent censuses.</p>
<p>Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said transgender people have been discussing having a question asking to identity their gender identity on the survey becaues of the lack of information about the transgender community.</p>
<p>“We know very little about transgender people,” she said.&#160;“There are almost no studies about transgender people. We really know almost nothing. We don’t know how many of us there are. We don’t know what our economic situation is.”</p>
<p>Keisling said many transgender people are urging others to mark their gender as “transgender” on the Census form, although she said many are resisting that idea because the majority of transgender people identify as either male or female.</p>
<p>Others have suggested including questions asking responders if they identify as transgender, but Keisling said there are problems with this approach as well.</p>
<p>Following the briefing, Ruddell-Tabisola told DC Agenda the Census Bureau is considering a number of ways to update forms in the future, but is being cautious about making any changes.</p>
<p>“The Census is different it’s a survey of households, not individuals,” he said. “So by design, one person fills out the Census for everybody else. So what happens if you have roommates and one person has to identify the sexual orientation and gender identity in the house. What if he doesn’t know? Is he going to ask? Are we going to tell him to ask?”</p>
<p>Ruddell-Tabisola said there’s also an ethical and privacy concerns about asking people about whether they identify as LGBT.</p>
<p>“It’s a big deal if you constitutionally mandate people to identify their sexual orientation and gender identity,” he said. “It’s not like a poll where you can hang up the phone if you don’t want to answer the question. The Census is mandated by the Constitution, and so all the questions on there are really serious questions.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Brian Moulton</a> <a href="" type="internal">Che Ruddell-Tabisola</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gary Gates</a> <a href="" type="internal">Human Rights Campaign</a> <a href="" type="internal">Mara Keisling</a> <a href="" type="internal">National Center for Transgender Equality</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender</a> <a href="" type="internal">U.S. Census</a> <a href="" type="internal">Williams Institute</a></p>
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advocates pressing importance lgbt participation us census call greater outreach opportunity informed responses lgbt people congressional briefing thursday lgbt equality caucus panelists emphasized160that getting lgbt people counted 2010 census reveal useful information lgbt community gary gates research fellow williams institute think tank university california los angeles noted 2010 first time married samesex couples counted census still gates said count wouldnt necessarily reveal number legally married samesex couples united states samesex couples know many many legal ways recognized clear options include either husband wife unmarried partner capture different ways said certainly know many couples see relationships one person spouse legally married gates said160earlier data160 particularly from160the larger american community survey issued us census bureau provided basis finding important information lgbt people estimated 565000 samesex couples live united states 150000 samesex couples identify married data gates said also led findings around 66000 gay service members serve military dont ask dont tell 36000 binational couples would benefit uniting american families act brian moulton chief legislative counsel human rights campaign said data helpful convincing members congress support prolgbt legislation moulton said census data informs congress needs community really really helpful making case dont ask dont tell enda bolster efforts collect information lgbt people census bureau undertaking initiatives werent used previous counts che ruddelltabisola lgbt national partnership manager census bureau said approach includes ad buys lgbt media newspaper well as160the use lgbtspecific talking points tool kits census workers first census paid organizers ground two dozen us around country whose job talk lgbt community leaders activists organizers get basic messages said ruddelltabisola said 2010 census first lgbt public service announcements said plans unveil 19 event new york city monday even stressing importance census means collect data lgbt people panelists expressed concerns count gathering sufficient information inadequate outreach glenn magpantay staff attorney asian american legal defense education fund expressed concerns enough diversity among census takers minority groups including lgbt people would receptive doorknockers come come two female household census taker doesnt look really receptive family household structure basically harassed census taker said diversity ability enumerate diverse america panelists also discussed possibility asking responders identify sexual orientation gender identity subsequent censuses mara keisling executive director national center transgender equality said transgender people discussing question asking identity gender identity survey becaues lack information transgender community know little transgender people said160there almost studies transgender people really know almost nothing dont know many us dont know economic situation keisling said many transgender people urging others mark gender transgender census form although said many resisting idea majority transgender people identify either male female others suggested including questions asking responders identify transgender keisling said problems approach well following briefing ruddelltabisola told dc agenda census bureau considering number ways update forms future cautious making changes census different survey households individuals said design one person fills census everybody else happens roommates one person identify sexual orientation gender identity house doesnt know going ask going tell ask ruddelltabisola said theres also ethical privacy concerns asking people whether identify lgbt big deal constitutionally mandate people identify sexual orientation gender identity said like poll hang phone dont want answer question census mandated constitution questions really serious questions brian moulton che ruddelltabisola gary gates human rights campaign mara keisling national center transgender equality transgender us census williams institute
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<p>By Jason Coker</p>
<p>Are you tired of hearing about the Pew Research Center’s <a href="http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/" type="external">demographic study outlining the decline of Christianity</a> in America?&#160;It was earth-shattering news for the few people who read it, but energized others who were tired of traditional mainline Protestantism. The panic that it produced was interesting to read, hear and watch. The research only confirmed what we religious types already knew — there are fewer people in our pews.</p>
<p>The “Nones” do not come and really never have. The “Dones” do not come because they are pretty tired of whatever it is that they are tired of. Opinion pieces not unlike this column have poured serious time and energy into culturally diagnosing the perceived problem from a religious perspective. “We need to (fill in the blank).” Responses to this study have been a cornucopia of “You’re Doing It All Wrong” YouTube videos about church. The Pew Research Center probably didn’t realize that it was creating even more fuel for the fire of apocalypticism in popular culture. Maybe that’s what it is! The Zombie Apocalypse is really hurting church attendance.</p>
<p>All jokes aside, we are facing the same old new problems of every generation, but this happens to be our generation and church attendance is declining. Another major demographic that has been on the decline in the United States approximately over the same time period is the middle class. According to a New York Times article (let the name calling begin) earlier this year, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/01/25/upshot/shrinking-middle-class.html?_r=0" type="external">middle income families in the United States have declined</a> by 10 percent since 1967 — that’s the overall numbers for our whole country.</p>
<p>The good news is that some of the decline of the middle class is because a few of them moved into the upper-middle class. The bad news is that many of them fell into the lower income bracket. I think most Americans would agree that the middle class is the backbone of the United States. And a healthy middle class is a healthy America. A recent article from The Brookings Institution highlighted some of the <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/social-mobility-memos/posts/2015/09/03-separation-upper-middle-class-reeves" type="external">possible dangers in the “slide”</a> from middle class to upper-middle class in relation to self-preservation.&#160;This fascinating piece attempts to show that this upwardly movement tends to be characterized by self-interest rather than social-interest, which has decidedly economic and political implications.</p>
<p>Class matters always tend to be controversial in America because of our “classless” ideology. The issue of class, however, that I want to explore is where and how the decline of the middle class intersects with the decline in religious affiliation, specifically Christianity. Is the decline in the middle class over the past 50 years a causative effect of the decline in church membership and attendance during that same time period? Have we so intertwined the American Dream with Christianity until they have become one and the same, and to lose one is to lose the other? If the middle class has been the backbone of America, it is also true that the middle class has been the backbone of the churches in America. For whatever reason, the down-and-out and the up-and-out have been historically difficult demographics for many churches. While that may be a gross generalization, I think it is true.</p>
<p>This may be due to the fact that the poor and the wealthy simply don’t have time to go to church on a regular basis. As more and more families move up or down on the economically mobile chart, they tend to work more and more. Those living in poverty work multiple jobs just to put food on the table. For instance, we recently had Christine Browder from the Texas Hunger Initiative to speak to our church. Christine told us a story about how a little girl who participated in one of their Summer Food Programs asked how many jobs Christine had. When Christine told her she only had one job, the little girl couldn’t understand how anybody could survive only working one job. Both of her parents had multiple jobs and struggled to make ends meet. A Monday through Friday vocation rarely exists among people living in poverty, which challenges the traditional worship time on Sunday.</p>
<p>On the up-and-up, vocational opportunities tend to be more than a simple 9 to 5, five days a week. With so much travel built into business these days, the upwardly mobile are very mobile. Traveling across the country or internationally is par for the course where I live in lower Fairfield County, which is indicative of many of the work-worlds the upper-middle class inhabits. Work life is not a day-to-day routine, but a week-to-weekend routine. Basically, you work all week and have Saturday and Sunday off — unless, of course, those are your travel days back home. By the time the weekend arrives, there is little space for religious ceremonies because that’s the only two days you get for any semblance of family time.</p>
<p>Paradoxically, in both cases — the lower income and the upper-middle class — work dictates life. For those in the lower income category, work dictates life by necessity. For those in the upper-middle class, work dictates life by design. All the while, the middle class, who continues to work hard, is evaporating — just like those who have enough leisure time to give to religious organizations (like churches). When looking at the economic trends in our country over time, I wonder how related middle class decline is to church decline. As people are working more and more and work continues to dictate life, how much time is left for church? Good Christians and the pastor types may say that this is an issue of priority, but I’m not so sure. It’s not easy to be in the middle class these days, and I’ve just about glamorized that whole swath of humans in America as having a ton of leisure time! Most of us know that’s not true either. I think these two narratives of decline in the middle class and church attendance are related because I think our economic system is killing us — and the church. “Dones” may be done with church because they just don’t have any time for it.</p>
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jason coker tired hearing pew research centers demographic study outlining decline christianity america160it earthshattering news people read energized others tired traditional mainline protestantism panic produced interesting read hear watch research confirmed religious types already knew fewer people pews nones come really never dones come pretty tired whatever tired opinion pieces unlike column poured serious time energy culturally diagnosing perceived problem religious perspective need fill blank responses study cornucopia youre wrong youtube videos church pew research center probably didnt realize creating even fuel fire apocalypticism popular culture maybe thats zombie apocalypse really hurting church attendance jokes aside facing old new problems every generation happens generation church attendance declining another major demographic decline united states approximately time period middle class according new york times article let name calling begin earlier year middle income families united states declined 10 percent since 1967 thats overall numbers whole country good news decline middle class moved uppermiddle class bad news many fell lower income bracket think americans would agree middle class backbone united states healthy middle class healthy america recent article brookings institution highlighted possible dangers slide middle class uppermiddle class relation selfpreservation160this fascinating piece attempts show upwardly movement tends characterized selfinterest rather socialinterest decidedly economic political implications class matters always tend controversial america classless ideology issue class however want explore decline middle class intersects decline religious affiliation specifically christianity decline middle class past 50 years causative effect decline church membership attendance time period intertwined american dream christianity become one lose one lose middle class backbone america also true middle class backbone churches america whatever reason downandout upandout historically difficult demographics many churches may gross generalization think true may due fact poor wealthy simply dont time go church regular basis families move economically mobile chart tend work living poverty work multiple jobs put food table instance recently christine browder texas hunger initiative speak church christine told us story little girl participated one summer food programs asked many jobs christine christine told one job little girl couldnt understand anybody could survive working one job parents multiple jobs struggled make ends meet monday friday vocation rarely exists among people living poverty challenges traditional worship time sunday upandup vocational opportunities tend simple 9 5 five days week much travel built business days upwardly mobile mobile traveling across country internationally par course live lower fairfield county indicative many workworlds uppermiddle class inhabits work life daytoday routine weektoweekend routine basically work week saturday sunday unless course travel days back home time weekend arrives little space religious ceremonies thats two days get semblance family time paradoxically cases lower income uppermiddle class work dictates life lower income category work dictates life necessity uppermiddle class work dictates life design middle class continues work hard evaporating like enough leisure time give religious organizations like churches looking economic trends country time wonder related middle class decline church decline people working work continues dictate life much time left church good christians pastor types may say issue priority im sure easy middle class days ive glamorized whole swath humans america ton leisure time us know thats true either think two narratives decline middle class church attendance related think economic system killing us church dones may done church dont time
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<p>ABINGDON, Va. — If you are a member of <a href="http://www.highlandsfellowship.com/" type="external">Highlands Fellowship</a>, you may have attended worship in Abingdon, Va., last Sunday. Or you could have been in Bristol, Va., or Marion, Va., or Johnson City, Tenn. Among its four campuses, Highlands Fellowship offers 16 opportunities for worship each Sunday.</p>
<p>A growing number of churches are reaching people and different people for Christ by extending themselves to more than one location — some across town, some across the state, and some literally around the world.</p>
<p>New churches tend to grow because there is more focus on vision. And with multisite churches “there is both the strength of a large church and the intimacy of a smaller church,” says Glenn Akin, associate executive director of the <a href="http://www.vbmb.org/" type="external">Virginia Baptist Mission Board</a>. The quality of programs typically found at a larger church can also be offered in a small setting enabling members to get to know each other. And a multi-site church may be perceived by the community as more permanent because of its ties with a well-known church.</p>
<p>Two sites, one message</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fairview-baptist.org/" type="external">Fairview Baptist Church</a> in downtown Fredericksburg, Va., was feeling the constraints of space and parking. Expansion was needed but enlarging existing buildings was not an option. There was a need for a multi-purpose facility to meet the needs of a growing congregation.</p>
<p />
<p>Affordable land and the resources to build were two major hurdles. Pastor Bob Sizemore prophetically announced that if God wanted the expansion to become a reality that someone would donate the land. Church members prayers were answered when Tricord Companies donated five acres in the River Club area just four miles south of Fredericksburg. However the gift came with the stipulation that Sunday services be held at that location.</p>
<p>Fairview was then looking at becoming a dual-site church. Faced with huge construction costs, the project was almost out of reach until a member left half of her multi-million dollar estate to the church.</p>
<p>Ground was broken for Fairview at River Club in October 2006. Dee Whitten, a former pastor of Mount Ararat Baptist Church in Stafford, Va., was called as pastor in 2007, and the new campus opened in May 2008.</p>
<p>“Fairview’s multisite experience is unique in several ways,” says Bob Sizemore, pastor of Fairview Baptist Church at Charlotte Street for nearly 19 years. “We were a small church that had the faith to build a church much bigger than ourselves, and a traditional Baptist church that intentionally built a contemporary church.”</p>
<p>Many places, one people</p>
<p>“From the beginning, we knew God wanted Coastal to be a different sort of church,” says Hank Brooks, lead pastor of <a href="http://www.vbcoastal.com/" type="external">Coastal Community Church</a> in Virginia Beach, Va. The congregation held its first service in 1999 at Ocean Lakes Elementary School with over 200 people attending. When it outgrew that space, it relocated to Corporate Landing Middle School in 2007.</p>
<p />
<p>As the Coastal congregation continued to grow, Brooks received a call while on vacation that Glenwood Baptist Church, just a few miles away, was disbanding and the site was available. After receiving the commitment of the church and serious discussion about leasing or purchasing the facility, Coastal Community launched its Glenwood campus — expanding its&#160; ministry to a new location of equal size.</p>
<p>Brooks finds himself on the road a lot on Sunday mornings. Services at Corporate Landing and Glenwood are strategically timed to allow Brooks to preach at Glenwood at 9:30 a.m., Corporate Landing at 10:30 a.m. and Glenwood at 11:15 a.m.</p>
<p>Each venue has a pastor. Its FUSE young adult ministry has a coffeehouse on Sunday evening followed by a worship service.</p>
<p>From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Coastal Community offers worship at the Café on Boardwalk at 7th Street in Virginia Beach. Led by a team of volunteers, last summer its casual beach worship touched the lives of vacationers from around the Unied States and in 11 different countries.</p>
<p>One family of faith, multiple locations</p>
<p>“People on the grow,” that’s how the members of <a href="http://myspbc.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=17901" type="external">St. Paul’s Baptist Church</a> in Richmond, Va., describe themselves. Each weekend during four celebrations between two campuses, more than 6,500 people hear the Word of God from senior pastor Lance Watson.</p>
<p>Its Belt Boulevard campus is located in facilities donated to St. Paul’s by Weatherford Memorial Baptist Church. Its Elm Street campus in Petersburg, Va., will be located in facilities donated by Elm Street Baptist Church. These congregations made the sacrificial gift of their facilities to St. Paul’s for the sake of the kingdom so another ministry chapter could be written in those communities.</p>
<p>The church has acquired property on East Marshall Street in Richmond for an additional campus as it continues to be a “congregation on the grow.”</p>
<p>Multisite, even abroad</p>
<p />
<p>As mentioned earlier, Highlands Fellowship in Abingdon has four campuses and averages over 3,000 in weekend worship with multiple venues and sites, including one in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>For its 15th anniversary in 2010 Highlands Fellowship combined all four locations at Viking Hall in Bristol and an estimated 8,200 people attended and forced the crowd to spill into overflow areas. Nearly 500 people accepted Christ, worshipping and celebrating the Resurrection.</p>
<p>In an interview with Herald editor Jim White following that Sunday, pastor Jimmie Davidson said: “I feel like a spectator just watching God work. God gave me the vision and I shared the vision with our church, but nobody could have believed it would be like this. … That’s how God is. Just so much more than we can hope or imagine.”</p>
<p>Extending your church</p>
<p>The multisite venture is changing the context of ministry for some churches. Christ’s command in Acts 1:8 to “be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” is effecively being accomplished by some churches through multiple locations.</p>
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abingdon va member highlands fellowship may attended worship abingdon va last sunday could bristol va marion va johnson city tenn among four campuses highlands fellowship offers 16 opportunities worship sunday growing number churches reaching people different people christ extending one location across town across state literally around world new churches tend grow focus vision multisite churches strength large church intimacy smaller church says glenn akin associate executive director virginia baptist mission board quality programs typically found larger church also offered small setting enabling members get know multisite church may perceived community permanent ties wellknown church two sites one message fairview baptist church downtown fredericksburg va feeling constraints space parking expansion needed enlarging existing buildings option need multipurpose facility meet needs growing congregation affordable land resources build two major hurdles pastor bob sizemore prophetically announced god wanted expansion become reality someone would donate land church members prayers answered tricord companies donated five acres river club area four miles south fredericksburg however gift came stipulation sunday services held location fairview looking becoming dualsite church faced huge construction costs project almost reach member left half multimillion dollar estate church ground broken fairview river club october 2006 dee whitten former pastor mount ararat baptist church stafford va called pastor 2007 new campus opened may 2008 fairviews multisite experience unique several ways says bob sizemore pastor fairview baptist church charlotte street nearly 19 years small church faith build church much bigger traditional baptist church intentionally built contemporary church many places one people beginning knew god wanted coastal different sort church says hank brooks lead pastor coastal community church virginia beach va congregation held first service 1999 ocean lakes elementary school 200 people attending outgrew space relocated corporate landing middle school 2007 coastal congregation continued grow brooks received call vacation glenwood baptist church miles away disbanding site available receiving commitment church serious discussion leasing purchasing facility coastal community launched glenwood campus expanding its160 ministry new location equal size brooks finds road lot sunday mornings services corporate landing glenwood strategically timed allow brooks preach glenwood 930 corporate landing 1030 glenwood 1115 venue pastor fuse young adult ministry coffeehouse sunday evening followed worship service memorial day labor day coastal community offers worship café boardwalk 7th street virginia beach led team volunteers last summer casual beach worship touched lives vacationers around unied states 11 different countries one family faith multiple locations people grow thats members st pauls baptist church richmond va describe weekend four celebrations two campuses 6500 people hear word god senior pastor lance watson belt boulevard campus located facilities donated st pauls weatherford memorial baptist church elm street campus petersburg va located facilities donated elm street baptist church congregations made sacrificial gift facilities st pauls sake kingdom another ministry chapter could written communities church acquired property east marshall street richmond additional campus continues congregation grow multisite even abroad mentioned earlier highlands fellowship abingdon four campuses averages 3000 weekend worship multiple venues sites including one afghanistan 15th anniversary 2010 highlands fellowship combined four locations viking hall bristol estimated 8200 people attended forced crowd spill overflow areas nearly 500 people accepted christ worshipping celebrating resurrection interview herald editor jim white following sunday pastor jimmie davidson said feel like spectator watching god work god gave vision shared vision church nobody could believed would like thats god much hope imagine extending church multisite venture changing context ministry churches christs command acts 18 witnesses jerusalem judea samaria ends earth effecively accomplished churches multiple locations
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<p>NEW YORK - Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is trying to rewrite his government's restrictive limits on freedom of association by erasing the barriers between life, art and politics. It's a process requiring the most stubborn persistence.</p>
<p>The first feature film about China's most internationally recognizable critic, "Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry," opened in New York City last week and is rendered with an original style by Alison Klayman in her directorial debut.</p>
<p>Klayman offers a version of Ai that is contemplative, humorous and artfully aware of how China's history informs the frame of each scene. An iconic image in the film captures Ai scrolling through Twitter pages for hours as he asks, "How can we translate our history into today's language?"</p>
<p>He uses the social media tool liberally, sometimes up to eight hours a day. Though Twitter is blocked by authorities in China, it has morphed into a hugely popular form of communication throughout the country. The block can be easily sidestepped by signing on through a third-party server overseas.</p>
<p>"While I was filming this story, I really was excited by the complexity that it showed about the state of free expression in China," Klayman said. "It's not a story about what people can't do in China, it is about how much Ai Weiwei and others are able to achieve through the Internet and the courage of their convictions."</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/china/120621/ai-weiwei-threatened-bigamy-pornography-charges" type="external">Ai Weiwei threatened with charges by Chinese officials</a></p>
<p>While working in Beijing as a young journalist in 2008, Klayman crossed paths with Ai and began filming him during that first encounter. They continued regular filming sessions into 2010.&#160;</p>
<p>"I wanted to make a film about Ai Weiwei was because I wanted to make a movie about a creative and principled artist, willing to make calculated risks to push society to grapple with its own shortcomings," said Klayman.</p>
<p>Ai and Klayman demonstrate a shared desire to celebrate freedom of expression in the name of reform. Klayman was the sole cinematographer to film her subject throughout the documentary, while also running sound at the same time.</p>
<p>"I want to prove the system is not working. You can't simply say that the system is not working," Ai tells the audience. "You have to work through it."</p>
<p>Albeit fast-paced, " <a href="http://aiweiweineversorry.com/" type="external">Never Sorry</a>" never feels stretched, and some of the most powerful moments are often the quietest. For example, in response to being named the most powerful artist of 2011 by <a href="http://www.artreview.com/" type="external">ArtReview</a>, Ai answers, "I do not feel powerful. But maybe to be powerful is to be fragile."</p>
<p>When asked to categorize his artistic type, Ai replies, "I'm more of a chess player. My opponent makes a move, than I make a move."</p>
<p>For example, after garnering international attention in 2008 as an artistic collaborator in the winning design bid for the Beijing National Stadium, Ai publicly denounced the Olympics as "party propaganda."</p>
<p>The monumental progression in Chinese life towards a more "open society" is what incites Ai to keep pushing the boundaries.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/china/120720/china-ai-weiwei-loses-appeal-tax-fine" type="external">Ai loses appeal against tax fine</a></p>
<p>"I think a lot of people - especially artists and intellectuals - just try to make excuses," he said in an interview with the <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2011/06/ai-weiwei-diplomacy-and-freedom.html" type="external">New Yorker</a>.</p>
<p>But that isn't Ai Weiwei's style.</p>
<p>In 2008, poorly constructed government schools (called "tofu construction" throughout the film), killed over 5,000 children during the Sichuan earthquake. Ai's office sent more that a hundred and fifty letters to government agencies requesting information on the earthquake victims, under the Freedom of Government Information Law. Ten months after the quake, Chinese government officials had released no information on the number of fatalities or names of the victims.</p>
<p>In speaking of the disaster officials, Ai demonstrates why he remains one of China's most outspoken domestic critics: "They hide the facts in the name of maintaining stability," he says. "They intimidate, they jail, they persecute parents who demand the truth, and they brazenly stomp on the constitution and the basic rights of man."</p>
<p>Ai launched his own truth-finding mission by organizing volunteers and sending them to Sichuan for answers. They collected more than 5,000 names. The government's official tally was released later with a count of 5,335 names.</p>
<p>On August 12, 2009, local police entered Ai's hotel room in Chengdu and beat him. The injuries he sustained included a blow to the head that later required treatment for a brain hemorrhage.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/chatter/ai-weiwei-webcams-china-art" type="external">Ai Weiwei sleeps like a log</a></p>
<p>During mid-October of the same year, he received official notice from the Shanghai Municipal Government that his newly built studio (completed in July after twelve months of construction and close to one million dollars) would be destroyed. The studio was razed January 2011 and only two months later he was taken into government custody at Beijing Capital Airport.</p>
<p>Weiwei was released after 81 days in detention where he was subject to psychological torture, on condition that he would no longer use social media, give interviews about his detention, nor leave Beijing for one year.</p>
<p>Klayman believes that the space to express dissent in China had shrunk since she made the documentary.</p>
<p>"One of the important lessons I have taken away is the importance of being brave enough to speak out, or turn your camera on, and that this is the most powerful weapon against censorship," Klayman said. "So much of censorship starts with self-censorship. This is the worst kind of censorship, the one we impose on ourselves out of fear or apathy or the belief that we can't make a change."</p>
<p>MPAA rating: R for language</p>
<p>Running time: 91 minutes</p>
<p>Playing: In limited release</p>
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new york dissident chinese artist ai weiwei trying rewrite governments restrictive limits freedom association erasing barriers life art politics process requiring stubborn persistence first feature film chinas internationally recognizable critic ai weiwei never sorry opened new york city last week rendered original style alison klayman directorial debut klayman offers version ai contemplative humorous artfully aware chinas history informs frame scene iconic image film captures ai scrolling twitter pages hours asks translate history todays language uses social media tool liberally sometimes eight hours day though twitter blocked authorities china morphed hugely popular form communication throughout country block easily sidestepped signing thirdparty server overseas filming story really excited complexity showed state free expression china klayman said story people cant china much ai weiwei others able achieve internet courage convictions globalpost ai weiwei threatened charges chinese officials working beijing young journalist 2008 klayman crossed paths ai began filming first encounter continued regular filming sessions 2010160 wanted make film ai weiwei wanted make movie creative principled artist willing make calculated risks push society grapple shortcomings said klayman ai klayman demonstrate shared desire celebrate freedom expression name reform klayman sole cinematographer film subject throughout documentary also running sound time want prove system working cant simply say system working ai tells audience work albeit fastpaced never sorry never feels stretched powerful moments often quietest example response named powerful artist 2011 artreview ai answers feel powerful maybe powerful fragile asked categorize artistic type ai replies im chess player opponent makes move make move example garnering international attention 2008 artistic collaborator winning design bid beijing national stadium ai publicly denounced olympics party propaganda monumental progression chinese life towards open society incites ai keep pushing boundaries globalpost ai loses appeal tax fine think lot people especially artists intellectuals try make excuses said interview new yorker isnt ai weiweis style 2008 poorly constructed government schools called tofu construction throughout film killed 5000 children sichuan earthquake ais office sent hundred fifty letters government agencies requesting information earthquake victims freedom government information law ten months quake chinese government officials released information number fatalities names victims speaking disaster officials ai demonstrates remains one chinas outspoken domestic critics hide facts name maintaining stability says intimidate jail persecute parents demand truth brazenly stomp constitution basic rights man ai launched truthfinding mission organizing volunteers sending sichuan answers collected 5000 names governments official tally released later count 5335 names august 12 2009 local police entered ais hotel room chengdu beat injuries sustained included blow head later required treatment brain hemorrhage globalpost ai weiwei sleeps like log midoctober year received official notice shanghai municipal government newly built studio completed july twelve months construction close one million dollars would destroyed studio razed january 2011 two months later taken government custody beijing capital airport weiwei released 81 days detention subject psychological torture condition would longer use social media give interviews detention leave beijing one year klayman believes space express dissent china shrunk since made documentary one important lessons taken away importance brave enough speak turn camera powerful weapon censorship klayman said much censorship starts selfcensorship worst kind censorship one impose fear apathy belief cant make change mpaa rating r language running time 91 minutes playing limited release
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<p>Friends and family of passengers onboard AirAsia Flight 8501 were dealt a crushing blow on Tuesday when the Indonesian government and AirAsia officials confirmed that debris found floating in the Java Sea came from the missing plane.</p>
<p>It was especially devastating for some of the relatives who were camped out at the crisis center in&#160;Juanda International Airport in&#160;Surabaya, Indonesia. As they watched live Indonesian TV broadcast of the search and rescue efforts,&#160; <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/airasia-flight-qz8501-crash-investigators-piecing-together-the-final-fatal-minutes-9950199.html" type="external">images of dead bodies</a>&#160;suddenly&#160;appeared on-screen.&#160;</p>
<p>It was far too much for people who'd been holding out hope that their loved ones would be found alive.</p>
<p>“I am absolutely devastated,"&#160;Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia Group, <a href="http://qz8501.airasia.com/index.html" type="external">said in a statement</a> published on the airline's website.&#160;"This is a very difficult moment for all of us at AirAsia as we await further developments of the search and rescue operations but our first priority now is the wellbeing of the family members of those onboard QZ8501.”</p>
<p>So what's next for those families?</p>
<p>NOW</p>
<p>Waiting. They are still waiting.</p>
<p>For some of us watching from afar, confirmation that the debris came from QZ8501 felt a bit like the end of a mystery, especially because the plane's disapperance came just a few months after Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went missing.&#160;</p>
<p>But no matter how many times you hear on the news that the confirmation has given families "closure" — forget it.&#160;For people whose loved-ones were on QZ8501, the blurry site of a floating body isn't the end of anything.&#160;This is an ongoing crisis with very little information to go on, and still no real answers about why and how the plane went down.</p>
<p>It makes sense, then, that many family members are still waiting in the crisis center, which has been <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/indonesiarealtime/2014/12/30/airasia-flight-8501-family-members-get-upgraded-crisis-center/" type="external">upgraded and outfitted</a> to accomodate hundreds of people. There are six televisions for monitoring news, a teleconference room, rooms to meet with doctors and counselors, and multiple break rooms equipped with cots.</p>
<p>AirAsia <a href="http://qz8501.airasia.com/index.html" type="external">said</a> in its most recent statement on the crash that it was "inviting family members to Surabaya, where a dedicated team of care providers will be assigned to each family to ensure that all of their needs are met. Counsellors, religious and spiritual personnel have also been invited to the family center to provide any necessary services."</p>
<p>The airline hasn't specified whether "inviting family members" means that it will cover families' travel and housing expenses, but Fernandes said the company would&#160; <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/airasia-disaster-puts-spotlight-on-insurance-treaty-1419943788" type="external">be providing</a> "some financial assistance" immediately.&#160;</p>
<p>It's also established a call center for families not already at the crisis center. Families in the following countries can call these numbers.</p>
<p>Malaysia: +60 3 21795959 Indonesia: +62 2129270811 Singapore: +65 63077688 Korea: 007 98142069940</p>
<p>SOON</p>
<p>There are no reports yet that authorities have identified any of the victims' remains, and there are conflicting reports about how many bodies search and rescue crews have recovered. Reuters <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/30/us-indonesia-airplane-idUSKBN0K601C20141230" type="external">has said</a> 40 bodies were recovered. Other reports put the number in the <a href="https://sg.news.yahoo.com/qz8501-only-3-bodies-recovered-134857548.html" type="external">single digits</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>Either way, recovery efforts are ongoing. The precise location of the plane hasn't been determined, but search and rescue officials believe it's in the area of the floating debris. Crews <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/indonesia-says-debris-is-from-airasia-jet-1419922721" type="external">spotted</a> a shadow in the water that could be the fuselage, and even if that shadow ends up not being the plane, the water in the area is relatively shallow, so it will be possible to use divers to recover bodies, the flight recorder, and other forensic evidence related to the crash once the wreckage is found. There are also <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/141230/when-planes-crash-at-sea" type="external">robotic submersibles</a>&#160;that have been used in past ocean crashes which could also be put to work.</p>
<p>Families will need to prepare for the condition of the bodies and for the possibility that not all bodies will be recovered. Those that are will be sent to hospitals in Surabaya so that forensic experts can begin what is sometimes a long process of identification. Police have already <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/how-will-airasia-qz8501-bodies-be-identified-indonesian-police-begin-search-dna-1769660" type="external">begun working with families</a> to collect material that could help identify victims, including DNA, photographs, and objects that might have fingerprints on them.&#160;</p>
<p>LATER</p>
<p>It goes without saying that families of victims will spend a long time dealing with the emotional toll of the tragedy. Part of dealing with that toll, sadly, is dealing with the bureaucracy of insurance payouts.</p>
<p>Airlines are required to carry insurance, and in the event of a fatal crash, families of victims receive compensation.</p>
<p>In the case of&#160;QZ8501, the insurer is Munich-based insurance company Allianz, which also insured Malaysia Airlines Flights 370 and 17. (MH17 was <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29119024" type="external">shot down</a> over eastern Ukraine in July.)&#160;</p>
<p>Reuters <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/29/indonesia-airplane-insurance-idUSL3N0UD1P120141229" type="external">estimates</a> that Allianz's initial compensation to families of QZ8501 will be around $27 million in total, but the final payout could be either much higher or much lower depending on two key factors.</p>
<p>First, there's fault. If the airline is <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/allianz-lead-reinsurer-airasia-plane-could-face-100m-claims-report-1768548" type="external">found to be</a> at fault for the crash, families can file claims for much higher sums than the initial payment. There are <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/30/us-indonesia-airplane-investigation-excl-idUSKBN0K812320141230" type="external">already questions</a> about whether the plane should have been flying in the weather conditions and whether air traffic control should have allowed the pilots to climb. So the issue of fault is very much in play.</p>
<p>Second is the international treaty that governs this sort of compensation. Many countries have signed onto an agreement called the "Montreal Convention," which <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/airasia-insurer-could-face-100-250-million-claims-295463" type="external">sets a cap</a> for initial compensation at $170,000 per passenger.&#160;</p>
<p>But not Indonesia.</p>
<p>Indonesia never signed onto the Montreal Convention. It's technically governed by an older treaty, the Warsaw Convention of 1929, <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/airasia-disaster-puts-spotlight-on-insurance-treaty-1419943788" type="external">which caps</a> initial compensation at $8,500. AirAsia is based in Malaysia, but QZ8501 was being flown by its Indonesia-based affiliate, so there are some questions about treaty obligations that could also be affected by whether a passenger's trip began or was supposed to end in a country that was a signatory to the Montreal Convention.</p>
<p>There's a lot to be determined when it comes to compensation for the crash — not that compensation will be anywhere near the minds of most family members over the next few days.</p>
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friends family passengers onboard airasia flight 8501 dealt crushing blow tuesday indonesian government airasia officials confirmed debris found floating java sea came missing plane especially devastating relatives camped crisis center in160juanda international airport in160surabaya indonesia watched live indonesian tv broadcast search rescue efforts160 images dead bodies160suddenly160appeared onscreen160 far much people whod holding hope loved ones would found alive absolutely devastated160tony fernandes ceo airasia group said statement published airlines website160this difficult moment us airasia await developments search rescue operations first priority wellbeing family members onboard qz8501 whats next families waiting still waiting us watching afar confirmation debris came qz8501 felt bit like end mystery especially planes disapperance came months malaysia airlines flight 370 went missing160 matter many times hear news confirmation given families closure forget it160for people whose lovedones qz8501 blurry site floating body isnt end anything160this ongoing crisis little information go still real answers plane went makes sense many family members still waiting crisis center upgraded outfitted accomodate hundreds people six televisions monitoring news teleconference room rooms meet doctors counselors multiple break rooms equipped cots airasia said recent statement crash inviting family members surabaya dedicated team care providers assigned family ensure needs met counsellors religious spiritual personnel also invited family center provide necessary services airline hasnt specified whether inviting family members means cover families travel housing expenses fernandes said company would160 providing financial assistance immediately160 also established call center families already crisis center families following countries call numbers malaysia 60 3 21795959 indonesia 62 2129270811 singapore 65 63077688 korea 007 98142069940 soon reports yet authorities identified victims remains conflicting reports many bodies search rescue crews recovered reuters said 40 bodies recovered reports put number single digits160 either way recovery efforts ongoing precise location plane hasnt determined search rescue officials believe area floating debris crews spotted shadow water could fuselage even shadow ends plane water area relatively shallow possible use divers recover bodies flight recorder forensic evidence related crash wreckage found also robotic submersibles160that used past ocean crashes could also put work families need prepare condition bodies possibility bodies recovered sent hospitals surabaya forensic experts begin sometimes long process identification police already begun working families collect material could help identify victims including dna photographs objects might fingerprints them160 later goes without saying families victims spend long time dealing emotional toll tragedy part dealing toll sadly dealing bureaucracy insurance payouts airlines required carry insurance event fatal crash families victims receive compensation case of160qz8501 insurer munichbased insurance company allianz also insured malaysia airlines flights 370 17 mh17 shot eastern ukraine july160 reuters estimates allianzs initial compensation families qz8501 around 27 million total final payout could either much higher much lower depending two key factors first theres fault airline found fault crash families file claims much higher sums initial payment already questions whether plane flying weather conditions whether air traffic control allowed pilots climb issue fault much play second international treaty governs sort compensation many countries signed onto agreement called montreal convention sets cap initial compensation 170000 per passenger160 indonesia indonesia never signed onto montreal convention technically governed older treaty warsaw convention 1929 caps initial compensation 8500 airasia based malaysia qz8501 flown indonesiabased affiliate questions treaty obligations could also affected whether passengers trip began supposed end country signatory montreal convention theres lot determined comes compensation crash compensation anywhere near minds family members next days
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<p>By Vicki Brown</p>
<p>“Go Tell It on the Mountain” and other popular Christmas songs encourage Christians to share the gospel with joy, but theologians say that in a society increasingly unfamiliar with the Bible, clarity is key.</p>
<p>“We need greater clarity about what exactly we mean by the gospel, or what we think the Christian message actually is,” said David Gushee, director of the Center for Theology and Public Life and professor of Christian ethics at Mercer University.</p>
<p>Gushee said the Christian message today is muddled, caught “between the personal salvation message of the Billy Graham era and the Kingdom of God message” that he and others have been writing about during the last 20 years.</p>
<p>“Then, of course, there are all kinds of less-satisfying variants, mainly therapeutic and self-esteem oriented,” he added.</p>
<p>Terry Rosell, a professor at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee, Kan., said the gospel message takes on a different complexion based on varied interpretations of human history and “individual or corporate experiences of God in Jesus Christ — or Christ in God,” he said.</p>
<p>While the message differs to some degree across varied Christian traditions and in different times, Rosell said some aspects remain unchanging. Particularly, he cited descriptions of “Jesus and his love for God and people, especially people relatively unloved by other people.”</p>
<p>Gushee agreed the core gospel message is “God’s saving love for fallen humanity and creation in the incarnation, cross and resurrection of Christ.” It starts with people, he said, “eventually extending to the whole of God’s loved, broken world.”</p>
<p>Judson University Chancellor Jerry Cain said the basic message can be boiled down to two four-word sentences based on a subject-verb-object pattern from John 3:16: “God loved the world. God gave his Son,” Cain said.</p>
<p>Cain believes the message has to begin at that simple level, both for the individual believer and for the church. “If I were a denomination czar, I would for 10 years hone in on those two phrases, and then flesh out that message,” he said.</p>
<p>After an individual, congregation or a denomination understands the message of Christ to portray to their world comes the question of how to share it. Cain suggests taking a lesson from business: Why does a for-profit company exist?</p>
<p>“People know that Papa John’s exists to make a profit,” he explained. Likewise, the church must craft a message to its audience that: “We exist for your welfare. We exist for you.… The services we provide, the teachings we espouse, are for you.”</p>
<p>Gushee said church leaders must communicate clearly and in understandable language, regardless of the platform they use. Using a “biblical” communication style is less effective than in the past, he said, because Bible knowledge “among the general public has faded … and has also weakened considerably among churchgoers.”</p>
<p>But Gushee said that weakness also could be used to advantage.</p>
<p>“Our presentation of the gospel must assume less background knowledge,” he said. “We have to explain things that we would not have had to explain before. But this presents a fresh opportunity, as well, because there is perhaps less underbrush, or bad theology, to clear out before we get to the presentation of the gospel.”</p>
<p>Experts say churches can also move beyond traditional communication tools into new outlets like the Internet and social media.</p>
<p>Cain said congregations should use every delivery system that is available to secular industry. “Redeem the media,” he said. “It’s a neutral force, and we choose whether to use it for good or to use it for evil.”</p>
<p>“Use it for good,” he urged. “Use every aspect to tell the redeeming story.”</p>
<p>Religion News Service Executive Director Debra Mason said Christians should join the broader social conversation in part because they have some power to influence it.</p>
<p>“More important than the technology flavor of the day is the need for faith communities to be part of the social and cultural secular conversations across the globe,” she said. “It is tempting to be myopic and to focus only on one message in one medium among one audience.”</p>
<p>Mason said churches are instead challenged to “engage the broader community wherever they are and to do so in ways that are constructive and civil.”</p>
<p>Civility, although “the least visible quality” today, is the one area in which churches “can model leadership and best practices,” she added.</p>
<p>“Churches are often afraid to engage secular culture because of the vitriol and argumentative tone of online communication, especially around religious issues,” Mason said. “But Jesus’ message of love and redemption has a place even there.”</p>
<p>For Gushee, the Bible itself packs a lot of power. “I still believe in the power of God’s word — read, preached, sung, taught — to reach people with the gospel,” he said.</p>
<p>“I still see the power of skillful preaching — even verse-by-verse expository preaching … without a lot of bells and whistles,” Gushee said. “Leading people to see what the text said and what it now says to us … is still a fine art, but it does not require Madison Avenue’s help.”</p>
<p>The problem, Gushee added, is that many “have lost confidence or interest in verbal communication of the gospel message. Evangelism has faded dramatically.”</p>
<p>Gushee pointed out his own experiences generally stem from his work as an advocate on specific issues such as torture and human rights. “When I say why I care about these issues, I go directly to the gospel as I understand it,” he said.</p>
<p>Rosell said living the gospel — “following Jesus in the ways of love” — is key.</p>
<p>“We know human examples of such not so much by what they preached or published or posted — though some do/did some of those things well, also — but by how they lived and loved,” he said.</p>
<p>“Mother Teresa comes immediately to mind. But there are many saints out there, less known to the multitudes, though in smaller circles known well for their good works and humility — for their Jesus-like love.”</p>
<p>Cain said the power of media lies in making sure God gets the glory for the church’s story. “That’s where I would call on Google or the Associated Press. It’s a form of worship to let those good works be seen by the public,” Cain emphasized.</p>
| false | 3 |
vicki brown go tell mountain popular christmas songs encourage christians share gospel joy theologians say society increasingly unfamiliar bible clarity key need greater clarity exactly mean gospel think christian message actually said david gushee director center theology public life professor christian ethics mercer university gushee said christian message today muddled caught personal salvation message billy graham era kingdom god message others writing last 20 years course kinds lesssatisfying variants mainly therapeutic selfesteem oriented added terry rosell professor central baptist theological seminary shawnee kan said gospel message takes different complexion based varied interpretations human history individual corporate experiences god jesus christ christ god said message differs degree across varied christian traditions different times rosell said aspects remain unchanging particularly cited descriptions jesus love god people especially people relatively unloved people gushee agreed core gospel message gods saving love fallen humanity creation incarnation cross resurrection christ starts people said eventually extending whole gods loved broken world judson university chancellor jerry cain said basic message boiled two fourword sentences based subjectverbobject pattern john 316 god loved world god gave son cain said cain believes message begin simple level individual believer church denomination czar would 10 years hone two phrases flesh message said individual congregation denomination understands message christ portray world comes question share cain suggests taking lesson business forprofit company exist people know papa johns exists make profit explained likewise church must craft message audience exist welfare exist services provide teachings espouse gushee said church leaders must communicate clearly understandable language regardless platform use using biblical communication style less effective past said bible knowledge among general public faded also weakened considerably among churchgoers gushee said weakness also could used advantage presentation gospel must assume less background knowledge said explain things would explain presents fresh opportunity well perhaps less underbrush bad theology clear get presentation gospel experts say churches also move beyond traditional communication tools new outlets like internet social media cain said congregations use every delivery system available secular industry redeem media said neutral force choose whether use good use evil use good urged use every aspect tell redeeming story religion news service executive director debra mason said christians join broader social conversation part power influence important technology flavor day need faith communities part social cultural secular conversations across globe said tempting myopic focus one message one medium among one audience mason said churches instead challenged engage broader community wherever ways constructive civil civility although least visible quality today one area churches model leadership best practices added churches often afraid engage secular culture vitriol argumentative tone online communication especially around religious issues mason said jesus message love redemption place even gushee bible packs lot power still believe power gods word read preached sung taught reach people gospel said still see power skillful preaching even versebyverse expository preaching without lot bells whistles gushee said leading people see text said says us still fine art require madison avenues help problem gushee added many lost confidence interest verbal communication gospel message evangelism faded dramatically gushee pointed experiences generally stem work advocate specific issues torture human rights say care issues go directly gospel understand said rosell said living gospel following jesus ways love key know human examples much preached published posted though dodid things well also lived loved said mother teresa comes immediately mind many saints less known multitudes though smaller circles known well good works humility jesuslike love cain said power media lies making sure god gets glory churchs story thats would call google associated press form worship let good works seen public cain emphasized
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<p><a href="" type="internal" />Sept. 17, 2012</p>
<p>By John Hrabe</p>
<p>Conservative activists see <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_32,_the_%22Paycheck_Protection%22_Initiative_(2012)" type="external">Proposition 32</a>, California’s latest paycheck protection measure, as a potential game changer.</p>
<p>“When Prop. 32 passes, unions will be on an even level with other power groups,” said Stephen Frank, a Republican grassroots activist and publisher of the <a href="http://capoliticalnews.com/" type="external">California Political News and Views</a>. “This will have a major effect on campaigns.&#160; Remember, Brown received tens of millions of dollars from unions in 2010–few individuals were willing to donate to him.”</p>
<p>Long-suffering activists like Frank have been fighting an uphill battle with unions for years. There was Proposition 226, back in 1998, which lost by 7 percentage points. Just seven years later, in 2005, proponents tried again with Proposition 75, and were once again defeated.</p>
<p>Now another seven years later, proponents vow in true Sisyphean fashion that this year is the year. They finally might be right.</p>
<p>Unlike past measures, Prop. 32 includes a ban on corporate contributions, in addition to the limitation on union dues. The campaign has also been bolstered by an unlikely supporter, former Democratic Assembly Majority Leader Gloria Romero. As the state director of Democrats for Education Reform, she has signed the ballot argument in favor of Proposition 32 and brought much-needed bipartisan gravitas to the campaign. Romero is also the campaign’s most persuasive spokesperson.</p>
<p>“If we don’t deal with how the beast is fed, and what maintains that, and what gives it status and opportunity to run roughshod over the educational lives and futures of six million kids in California, then shame on us,” <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444443504577601664135014368.html" type="external">she told the Wall Street Journal’s Allysia Finley</a>. “It’s do or die.”</p>
<p>It might be do-or-die for paycheck protection proponents, but the state’s powerful labor unions won’t expire, even if voters pass Prop. 32 in November. That’s because unions will likely use legal and regulatory challenges to delay implementation for years, or possibly prevent the measure from ever taking effect. And the corporate contribution ban could prove to be a double-edged sword: it will help earn votes at the cost of more legal challenges.</p>
<p>Prop. 32’s legal troubles start with the inevitable constitutional challenges. The measure was carefully crafted by arguably the best initiative drafter in the business, Tom Hiltachk, the managing partner at <a href="http://www.bmhlaw.com/thomas-hiltachk.php" type="external">Bell, McAndrews &amp; Hiltachk, LLP.</a> In drafting Prop. 32, Hiltachk accounted for recent Supreme Court decisions, such as the high-profile <a href="http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/citizens-united-v-federal-election-commission/" type="external">Citizens United</a> case, which upheld corporate and union campaign contribution rights. Nevertheless, some First Amendment experts believe that campaign finance law is far from settled.</p>
<p>“Proposition 32 sails between the rock of Supreme Court protection of corporate and union speech and the shoals of unconstitutional restrictions on such speech,” said Dr. Craig Smith, director of the Center for First Amendment Studies. “If it passes, it will be challenged in court and then we’ll see how broadly the Citizens United ruling will be applied.”</p>
<p>Dr. Smith believes that Prop. 32 “tries to skirt” the Citizens United decision and a subsequent case out of Montana “that applied the Citizens United ruling to the states.” In the Montana case, American Tradition Partnership vs. Bullock, the Supreme Court overturned a Big Sky bid to block campaign contributions by mining interests.</p>
<p>Constitutional challenges won’t be the only obstacle. Michael Houston, <a href="http://cumminsandwhite.com/2010/04/michael-houston/" type="external">a partner at the Newport Beach firm Cummins &amp; White, LLP</a>, raises two other obstacles to Prop. 32’s implementation: 1) how state regulators interpret the definition of a corporation; and 2) whether the measure supersedes local campaign finance regulations.</p>
<p>Colloquially, the term corporation is used interchangeably with business. State law, however, isn’t as simple. In addition to publicly traded corporations like Facebook or Chevron, there are a slew of different categories of business entities, including limited liability companies, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability partnerships and unincorporated associations.</p>
<p>Proponents say, not to worry, the measure will apply to all entities.</p>
<p>“There are no loopholes or exemptions in Prop 32,” reads a <a href="http://stopspecialinterestmoney.org/downloads/FAQs.pdf?_c=10u8hf37qzp92hp" type="external">Yes on Prop 32 fact sheet.</a> “The federal government has applied the corporate ban to anything that is treated as a corporation for tax purposes and the FPPC will likely follow suit.”</p>
<p>Houston concedes that the FPPC could follow the Federal Election Commission’s example of “looking down the chain of an entity’s ownership to inquire whether a business entity is comprised of a corporate member.” But, that’s not a guarantee, nor would it be good public policy.</p>
<p>“Do we really want the FPPC getting more regulatory power to define something that easily could have been defined in the measure?” he asks. “That the measure implicitly authorizes regulatory rule-making really isn’t a good argument if one claims to believe in limited government.”</p>
<p>Conservatives that routinely carp about regulatory expansion and judicial activism may be left defending a measure that doesn’t contain a clear legislative intent. Consequently, they’d be making the case for a new precedent to apply corporate regulations to the wider universe of business entities.</p>
<p>The confusion of what constitutes a business entity pales in comparison to the ambiguity over how the measure would conflict with local campaign finance restrictions. Under California’s state constitution, local ordinances of charter cities and counties supersede state law.</p>
<p>“The only state laws that undercut a contrary charter provision are (1) constitutional amendments and (2) state laws that expressly address areas of statewide concern,” said Houston, who routinely advises municipalities on how to resolve conflicts between local ordinances and state law. “Obviously Prop. 32 is neither.”</p>
<p>Because proponents drafted Prop. 32 to be applicable to both state and local campaigns, Houston says. that leads to a “thorny issue.”</p>
<p>“The real question becomes what happens in a city like Santa Ana, which has charter provisions limiting contributions but allows corporate contributions,” he said. “Would Prop 32 be interpreted to ‘imply’ a corporate ban in Santa Ana or, comparatively, would Santa Ana’s adoption of a charter that regulates local political contributions be viewed as occupying this field and be interpreted as a local constitutional decision by the local citizens to allow corporate contributions by the fact the ordinance is silent on the issue?”</p>
<p>Prop. 32’s ambiguity will likely be resolved by the courts. And after the courts have their say, the paycheck protection fight could continue at the local level with city and county campaign finance reform measures. There’d be plenty of financial incentive. After all, local governments negotiate contracts with police, fire and service employee unions.</p>
<p>No doubt, grassroots activists like Frank would just relish the chance to keep fighting.</p>
<p>“This is about freedom of choice,” said Frank. “It is interesting that the union leaders who support a woman’s right to choose do not support a worker’s right to choose not to pay dues or donate to causes and candidates that harm them.”</p>
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sept 17 2012 john hrabe conservative activists see proposition 32 californias latest paycheck protection measure potential game changer prop 32 passes unions even level power groups said stephen frank republican grassroots activist publisher california political news views major effect campaigns160 remember brown received tens millions dollars unions 2010few individuals willing donate longsuffering activists like frank fighting uphill battle unions years proposition 226 back 1998 lost 7 percentage points seven years later 2005 proponents tried proposition 75 defeated another seven years later proponents vow true sisyphean fashion year year finally might right unlike past measures prop 32 includes ban corporate contributions addition limitation union dues campaign also bolstered unlikely supporter former democratic assembly majority leader gloria romero state director democrats education reform signed ballot argument favor proposition 32 brought muchneeded bipartisan gravitas campaign romero also campaigns persuasive spokesperson dont deal beast fed maintains gives status opportunity run roughshod educational lives futures six million kids california shame us told wall street journals allysia finley die might doordie paycheck protection proponents states powerful labor unions wont expire even voters pass prop 32 november thats unions likely use legal regulatory challenges delay implementation years possibly prevent measure ever taking effect corporate contribution ban could prove doubleedged sword help earn votes cost legal challenges prop 32s legal troubles start inevitable constitutional challenges measure carefully crafted arguably best initiative drafter business tom hiltachk managing partner bell mcandrews amp hiltachk llp drafting prop 32 hiltachk accounted recent supreme court decisions highprofile citizens united case upheld corporate union campaign contribution rights nevertheless first amendment experts believe campaign finance law far settled proposition 32 sails rock supreme court protection corporate union speech shoals unconstitutional restrictions speech said dr craig smith director center first amendment studies passes challenged court well see broadly citizens united ruling applied dr smith believes prop 32 tries skirt citizens united decision subsequent case montana applied citizens united ruling states montana case american tradition partnership vs bullock supreme court overturned big sky bid block campaign contributions mining interests constitutional challenges wont obstacle michael houston partner newport beach firm cummins amp white llp raises two obstacles prop 32s implementation 1 state regulators interpret definition corporation 2 whether measure supersedes local campaign finance regulations colloquially term corporation used interchangeably business state law however isnt simple addition publicly traded corporations like facebook chevron slew different categories business entities including limited liability companies limited partnerships general partnerships limited liability partnerships unincorporated associations proponents say worry measure apply entities loopholes exemptions prop 32 reads yes prop 32 fact sheet federal government applied corporate ban anything treated corporation tax purposes fppc likely follow suit houston concedes fppc could follow federal election commissions example looking chain entitys ownership inquire whether business entity comprised corporate member thats guarantee would good public policy really want fppc getting regulatory power define something easily could defined measure asks measure implicitly authorizes regulatory rulemaking really isnt good argument one claims believe limited government conservatives routinely carp regulatory expansion judicial activism may left defending measure doesnt contain clear legislative intent consequently theyd making case new precedent apply corporate regulations wider universe business entities confusion constitutes business entity pales comparison ambiguity measure would conflict local campaign finance restrictions californias state constitution local ordinances charter cities counties supersede state law state laws undercut contrary charter provision 1 constitutional amendments 2 state laws expressly address areas statewide concern said houston routinely advises municipalities resolve conflicts local ordinances state law obviously prop 32 neither proponents drafted prop 32 applicable state local campaigns houston says leads thorny issue real question becomes happens city like santa ana charter provisions limiting contributions allows corporate contributions said would prop 32 interpreted imply corporate ban santa ana comparatively would santa anas adoption charter regulates local political contributions viewed occupying field interpreted local constitutional decision local citizens allow corporate contributions fact ordinance silent issue prop 32s ambiguity likely resolved courts courts say paycheck protection fight could continue local level city county campaign finance reform measures thered plenty financial incentive local governments negotiate contracts police fire service employee unions doubt grassroots activists like frank would relish chance keep fighting freedom choice said frank interesting union leaders support womans right choose support workers right choose pay dues donate causes candidates harm
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<p>By Jeff Brumley</p>
<p>As if the tempo of military operations and deployments aren’t stressful enough, U.S. Air Force members were <a href="http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=16827" type="external">jolted by news</a> this week the service will slash nearly 3,500 positions over five years.</p>
<p>But that announcement —&#160;including that most of the reductions would be “aggressively” sought in the next 12 months —&#160;may be taken in stride by Air Force members who belong to Baptist and other churches which cater to military members, pastors and former servicemen say.</p>
<p>“It plays a huge and important role to have that sense of family and that sense of place” provided by a church, said Jeff Stinson, 41, former Air Force security forces personnel and member of <a href="http://www.flchampton.com/" type="external">Freedom Life Church</a>, a Baptist General Association of Virginia congregation in Hampton, Va.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Located near several military installations, the multi-site church was instrumental in helping Stinson through the grief and loss of a career due to a forced medical retirement following a heart attack two years ago.</p>
<p>“It’s a place where you can feel safe and let all your emotions out,” he said, adding he knows a lot of active duty airmen will feel the same way when they are let go.</p>
<p>Virginia will see more Air Force cuts than any other state with nearly 750, the Department of Defense said.</p>
<p>“A lot of times in the military, you can’t always express yourself without repercussions,” Stinson said.</p>
<p>Stinson’s experience is par for the course for servicemen and women willing to imbed themselves in congregational life, say the pastors of churches located near bases. Undergoing the dangers and pain of separation from multiple deployments, injuries and death is often eased by the love and support provided by churches sensitive to the challenges of military service.</p>
<p>But the benefits go both ways, ministers say. Congregations often reap deep spiritual rewards from the gratitude for life and family —&#160;and willingness to embrace community —&#160;that military members often bring to church with them.</p>
<p>‘A zeal for life’</p>
<p>Scot McCosh said he’s seen soldiers seek out churches as a way to broaden their lives beyond the Army.</p>
<p>“There’s a lot of people who want to be out there with other folks so their life is not all camouflage,” said McCosh, senior pastor of <a href="http://www.mountpisgahbaptist.org/" type="external">Mount Pisgah Baptist Church</a> in Fayetteville, N.C.</p>
<p>The church is located near <a href="http://www.bragg.army.mil/units/Pages/default.aspx" type="external">Fort Bragg</a>, home to the Army’s 82nd&#160;Airborne Division, 13th&#160;Airborne Corps, the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School and several other commands.</p>
<p />
<p>About 40 percent of Mount Pisgah’s congregation consists of active duty or retired soldiers and their families, he said. McCosh is also military: a chaplain with the Army Reserve who served eight years on active duty, including deployments to Afghanistan.</p>
<p>The Army members and their families who worship at Mount Pisgah, he said, come with a strong focus on living in the moment.</p>
<p>“They bring a zeal for life and, having dealt with a long war and been in difficult situations, they tend to live life to the fullest,” McCosh said. “These young families work hard and play hard and bring an energy to the congregation.”</p>
<p>Offering comfort, confidence</p>
<p>The families get just as much in return. McCosh said full involvement in church translates into a support system for soldiers, their spouses and children that brings unparalleled comfort —&#160;especially during deployments.</p>
<p>McCosh recalls serving in Afghanistan when he received cards and letters from friends at <a href="http://www.snydermbc.com/" type="external">Snyder Memorial Baptist Church</a>&#160;in Fayetteville to which he belonged at the time.</p>
<p>Some of the correspondence was from members he barely knew, but still put his mind at ease.</p>
<p>“They said ‘hey, I saw your wife and daughter at church and I gave them a hug and we’re looking in on them,’” McCosh said. “That gave me all the confidence in the world that I could do my duty down range and they were taking care of my family.”</p>
<p>‘Lean into community’</p>
<p>In Virginia, Freedom Life Church Senior Pastor Freddy Villarreal said ministering to military members comes with a responsibility to be vigilant and nimble in dealing with a range of crises —&#160;of which deployments are only one.</p>
<p>Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said in a Department of Defense new release that the cuts would be aggressively pursued and save the service about $1.6 billion. Virginia will see deeper cuts than any other state, with nearly 750 on the chopping block.</p>
<p>Villarreal said the airmen members of his church, which is located close to Langley Air Force Base and other Army, Navy and Air Force installations, aren’t panicking about the announcement.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Nor are those who attend Freedom Life’s campus near an Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas.</p>
<p>“They are just waiting to see who’s on the list and at that point it will get a little more intense because families will have decisions to make,” he said.</p>
<p>But no special meetings are being held at Freedom Life Church because the needs and challenges of military personnel are discussed routinely already.</p>
<p>Plus, existing ministries —&#160;providing financial and food assistance, crisis and transition counseling and job networking —&#160;are already in place and used in an ongoing way, he said.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, service members already know what to do when faced with challenges.</p>
<p>“They are trained to lean into community,” Villarreal said. “We see that a lot in church: a willingness to share struggles and burdens —&#160;they latch onto neighbors and lean into community.”</p>
<p>‘Emotional rollercoaster’</p>
<p>That’s what got Stinson through his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, during which he was subjected to insurgent attacks, boredom and loneliness.</p>
<p>It also helped Stinson and his wife when he faced medical resignation from what he had hoped would be a long Air Force career.</p>
<p>The church “has given us a sense of family that helped us through the whole situation of dealing with an emotional rollercoaster.”</p>
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jeff brumley tempo military operations deployments arent stressful enough us air force members jolted news week service slash nearly 3500 positions five years announcement 160including reductions would aggressively sought next 12 months 160may taken stride air force members belong baptist churches cater military members pastors former servicemen say plays huge important role sense family sense place provided church said jeff stinson 41 former air force security forces personnel member freedom life church baptist general association virginia congregation hampton va 160 located near several military installations multisite church instrumental helping stinson grief loss career due forced medical retirement following heart attack two years ago place feel safe let emotions said adding knows lot active duty airmen feel way let go virginia see air force cuts state nearly 750 department defense said lot times military cant always express without repercussions stinson said stinsons experience par course servicemen women willing imbed congregational life say pastors churches located near bases undergoing dangers pain separation multiple deployments injuries death often eased love support provided churches sensitive challenges military service benefits go ways ministers say congregations often reap deep spiritual rewards gratitude life family 160and willingness embrace community 160that military members often bring church zeal life scot mccosh said hes seen soldiers seek churches way broaden lives beyond army theres lot people want folks life camouflage said mccosh senior pastor mount pisgah baptist church fayetteville nc church located near fort bragg home armys 82nd160airborne division 13th160airborne corps john f kennedy special warfare school several commands 40 percent mount pisgahs congregation consists active duty retired soldiers families said mccosh also military chaplain army reserve served eight years active duty including deployments afghanistan army members families worship mount pisgah said come strong focus living moment bring zeal life dealt long war difficult situations tend live life fullest mccosh said young families work hard play hard bring energy congregation offering comfort confidence families get much return mccosh said full involvement church translates support system soldiers spouses children brings unparalleled comfort 160especially deployments mccosh recalls serving afghanistan received cards letters friends snyder memorial baptist church160in fayetteville belonged time correspondence members barely knew still put mind ease said hey saw wife daughter church gave hug looking mccosh said gave confidence world could duty range taking care family lean community virginia freedom life church senior pastor freddy villarreal said ministering military members comes responsibility vigilant nimble dealing range crises 160of deployments one air force secretary deborah lee james said department defense new release cuts would aggressively pursued save service 16 billion virginia see deeper cuts state nearly 750 chopping block villarreal said airmen members church located close langley air force base army navy air force installations arent panicking announcement 160 attend freedom lifes campus near air force base san antonio texas waiting see whos list point get little intense families decisions make said special meetings held freedom life church needs challenges military personnel discussed routinely already plus existing ministries 160providing financial food assistance crisis transition counseling job networking 160are already place used ongoing way said meanwhile service members already know faced challenges trained lean community villarreal said see lot church willingness share struggles burdens 160they latch onto neighbors lean community emotional rollercoaster thats got stinson deployments iraq afghanistan subjected insurgent attacks boredom loneliness also helped stinson wife faced medical resignation hoped would long air force career church given us sense family helped us whole situation dealing emotional rollercoaster
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<p>Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Barbara Francis</a>. This page will be updated weekly.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Richard Buerkle, to First Baptist Church, Knoxville, Tenn., as minister of music and worship.&#160;He comes from Memorial Baptist Church, Arlington, Va., where he served as associate pastor of music and outreach.</p>
<p>Laura Davis, to Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia, as director of missions involvement. She comes from HopeTree Family Services, headquartered in Salem, Va., where she served as area coordinator/manager.</p>
<p>Stacy Emerson, to First Baptist Church, West Hartford, Conn., as pastor.</p>
<p>Jimmy Gentry, to Garden Lakes Baptist Church, Rome, Ga., as pastor. He comes from the pastorate of Tabernacle Baptist Church, Carrollton, Ga.</p>
<p>Greg Hawkins, to Fairfax Circle Baptist Church, Fairfax, Va., as interim student minister.</p>
<p>Katie Horton, to Community Baptist Church, Henderson, Ky., as children’s ministry director.</p>
<p>John Paul Harris, to Horizon Fellowship Church, Summerville, Ga., as pastor. He comes from the pastorate of Evergreen Baptist Church, Rose Hill, N.C.</p>
<p>Jim Jarrad, now serving as interim community ministry coordinator at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C.</p>
<p>Andrea Missey, concluding her tenure as associate pastor at Dayspring Baptist Church, Town &amp; Country, Mo.</p>
<p>William D. “Bill” Shiell, to Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, Ill., as president, effective March 1. He currently is pastor of First Baptist Church, Tallahassee, Fla.</p>
<p>Diana Thompson, to First Baptist Church, South Bend, Ind., as pastor.</p>
<p>David Washburn, to Gayton Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., as interim preacher, effective March 20.</p>
<p>Gene Wilder, now serving as interim field coordinator for the Tennessee Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. He previously was senior minister of First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, Tenn.</p>
<p>Ashley Boschen, ordained to ministry on Jan. 31 by Northside Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va., where she serves as director of children and youth.</p>
<p>Jacob Drake, ordained to ministry on Jan. 10 by Yates Baptist Church, Durham, N.C., where he served as intern.</p>
<p>Laurel Kiture, ordained to ministry on Jan. 31 by Greenbrier Baptist Church, Arlington, Va.</p>
<p>Suzanne Reece, ordained to ministry on Jan. 31 by Shades Crest Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala., where she serves as associate pastor for children and families.</p>
<p>Lassiter Elmo “Buddy” Gregg II, 65, died Jan. 19 in Oakhurst, Texas. He served churches in Texas and New Mexico before he and his wife, Sherry, were appointed as missionaries with the SBC International Mission Board to the Philippines and Poland. Upon returning to the States, he served in various preaching and teaching capacities and as the director of Crossroads at Park Place, a ministry to the homeless in southeast Houston. Later he served as chaplain with AMED Community Hospice. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Lassister; mother, Mildred “Milly” Gregg; and several brothers and sisters.</p>
<p>Joy Crutchfield Hagar, 57, died Dec. 27 in Houston, Texas. She was ordained in 1983 by First Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C., making her one of the first 200 women ordained in the Southern Baptist Convention. She developed programs for two new Family and Women’s Shelters (Wayside Christian Mission and Volunteers of America) and served as the Christian social minister at Walnut Street Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. She was an early participant in Baptist Women in Ministry. She is survived by her husband, Wayne Hagar; two sons, Matthew and Nathan; and a daughter, Laura Hager-Smith.</p>
<p>Cecil Musick, 84, died Dec. 19 in Cleveland, Va. He had served as pastor of Crabtree Chapel in Cleveland, for 51 years. He is survived by his wife, Alma; three daughters, Helen Ray, Sue Bundy and Rita Slemp; a son, Leon; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.</p>
<p>William R. “Bill” Myers, 89, died Jan. 9. He served as pastor for numerous Baptist churches including, Maineville (Ohio) Baptist Church; Ridgeview Baptist Church, Danville, Ill.; and Irving Park and North Shore Baptist churches in the Chicago area. He retired as president of Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1988 after serving the seminary for 13 years. He is survived by his wife, Geraldyne; two daughters, Christine M. Muniz and Beth Myers-House; two sons, William and Bruce; and 10 grandchildren.</p>
<p>Cora Sparrowk, 98, died Jan. 1 in Lodi, Calif. She was president of Northern California Baptist Churches, president of American Baptist International Ministries and president of American Baptist Churches USA. She was vice president of the Baptist World Alliance from 1990-1995. She served as a member of BWA General Council and numerous committees, including the Executive Committee, Budget and Finance Committee, Personnel Committee and Baptist World Aid Committee. The Cora and John Sparrowk President’s Award, an honor conferred by ABC, USA, was named in her honor and that of her late husband, John, who died in 2004. She is survived by a son, Jack; and a daughter, Jill.</p>
<p>Oakwood Memorial Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., 100 years.</p>
<p>Karl Heilman, 25 years as pastor of Sandston (Va.) Baptist Church.</p>
<p>Jackie B. Riley, 15 years as managing editor of Baptists Today, Macon, Ga.</p>
<p>Greg Smith, 10 years as coordinator of LUCHA Ministries, a Latino immigrant community ministry located in Fredericksburg, Va.</p>
<p>Ken Wilson, 30 years as minister of music at Knollwood Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C.</p>
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please submit transitions including staff changes ordinations anniversaries deaths to160 barbara francis page updated weekly 160 richard buerkle first baptist church knoxville tenn minister music worship160he comes memorial baptist church arlington va served associate pastor music outreach laura davis womans missionary union virginia director missions involvement comes hopetree family services headquartered salem va served area coordinatormanager stacy emerson first baptist church west hartford conn pastor jimmy gentry garden lakes baptist church rome ga pastor comes pastorate tabernacle baptist church carrollton ga greg hawkins fairfax circle baptist church fairfax va interim student minister katie horton community baptist church henderson ky childrens ministry director john paul harris horizon fellowship church summerville ga pastor comes pastorate evergreen baptist church rose hill nc jim jarrad serving interim community ministry coordinator pullen memorial baptist church raleigh nc andrea missey concluding tenure associate pastor dayspring baptist church town amp country mo william bill shiell northern baptist theological seminary lombard ill president effective march 1 currently pastor first baptist church tallahassee fla diana thompson first baptist church south bend ind pastor david washburn gayton baptist church richmond va interim preacher effective march 20 gene wilder serving interim field coordinator tennessee cooperative baptist fellowship previously senior minister first baptist church jefferson city tenn ashley boschen ordained ministry jan 31 northside baptist church mechanicsville va serves director children youth jacob drake ordained ministry jan 10 yates baptist church durham nc served intern laurel kiture ordained ministry jan 31 greenbrier baptist church arlington va suzanne reece ordained ministry jan 31 shades crest baptist church birmingham ala serves associate pastor children families lassiter elmo buddy gregg ii 65 died jan 19 oakhurst texas served churches texas new mexico wife sherry appointed missionaries sbc international mission board philippines poland upon returning states served various preaching teaching capacities director crossroads park place ministry homeless southeast houston later served chaplain amed community hospice addition wife survived son lassister mother mildred milly gregg several brothers sisters joy crutchfield hagar 57 died dec 27 houston texas ordained 1983 first baptist church raleigh nc making one first 200 women ordained southern baptist convention developed programs two new family womens shelters wayside christian mission volunteers america served christian social minister walnut street baptist church louisville ky early participant baptist women ministry survived husband wayne hagar two sons matthew nathan daughter laura hagersmith cecil musick 84 died dec 19 cleveland va served pastor crabtree chapel cleveland 51 years survived wife alma three daughters helen ray sue bundy rita slemp son leon nine grandchildren 10 greatgrandchildren william r bill myers 89 died jan 9 served pastor numerous baptist churches including maineville ohio baptist church ridgeview baptist church danville ill irving park north shore baptist churches chicago area retired president northern baptist theological seminary 1988 serving seminary 13 years survived wife geraldyne two daughters christine muniz beth myershouse two sons william bruce 10 grandchildren cora sparrowk 98 died jan 1 lodi calif president northern california baptist churches president american baptist international ministries president american baptist churches usa vice president baptist world alliance 19901995 served member bwa general council numerous committees including executive committee budget finance committee personnel committee baptist world aid committee cora john sparrowk presidents award honor conferred abc usa named honor late husband john died 2004 survived son jack daughter jill oakwood memorial baptist church richmond va 100 years karl heilman 25 years pastor sandston va baptist church jackie b riley 15 years managing editor baptists today macon ga greg smith 10 years coordinator lucha ministries latino immigrant community ministry located fredericksburg va ken wilson 30 years minister music knollwood baptist church winstonsalem nc
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<p>Anti-Muslim hate speech has become a preeminent issue for Mona Eltahawy,&#160;an outspoken Egyptian-American writer and activist, as she attempts to get to the crux of the&#160;culture war between right-wing Americans and Muslims by putting herself in the middle of it.</p>
<p>No stranger to writing uncomfortable truths in an easily digestible way or joining a protest, Eltahawy took her expressive nature off the page again last month when she insisted a New York subway advertisement was racist and spray painted over it. She says felt the ad was part of a culture of "bullying" of Muslims and that it was "hate speech," and she needed to take a non-violent stand against it.</p>
<p>The ad, paid for by far-right, anti-Islam group the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Islamization_of_America" type="external">American Freedom Defense Initiative</a> (the same group that has led protests against the community center blocks from Ground Zero), was ruled protected speech by a federal judge in late September. Posters reading "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad," were hung inside 10 Manhattan subway stations, prompting the action by Eltahawy that&#160; <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2209227/Mona-Eltahawy-EXCLUSIVE-Woman-attacked-defending-anti-jihad-subway-ad-plans-sue-activist-sprayed-HER.html?ito=feeds-newsxml" type="external">resulted in her arrest.</a></p>
<p>The same posters <a href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/nation/article/jewish_groups_join_coalition_against_anti_muslim_subway_ads_in_d.c" type="external">can now be seen in DC</a>, and Eltahawy hasn't been the only one to protest them - a coalition of Jewish and Christian groups have countered with <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/05/us/new-york-subway-ads/index.html" type="external">ads of their own</a>. &#160;</p>
<p>In an interview with GlobalPost, Eltahawy went further into detail about the story of spray painting the ads, her fight against anti-Muslim bullying in America, and why we shouldn't refer to her as a journalist. I spoke to Eltahawy by phone about these issues after her arrest and days after her brother's mosque in Ohio was burned down, another in a string of hate crimes against Muslims that Eltahawy says is on the rise in the US.&#160;</p>
<p>This interview has been edited for length.&#160;</p>
<p>Alex Pearlman: Why did you spray paint the poster? You've said it in 140 characters on Twitter, but can you tell me specifically what moved you to take this action in this way?</p>
<p>Mona Eltahawy: I think I've reached this wall with Twitter. I knew they were going to put those posters up around the city, I had read about it two or three days before they went up. And then I saw this campaign happening on Twitter, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23mysubwayad&amp;src=hash" type="external">#mysubwayad</a>, in which people were suggesting different wording for if they had a subway ad up to counter this particular ad. And as much as I love Twitter - and I live Twitter - I realized I'm following the hashtag for #mysubwayad, but there's a limit when we choose Twitter. And until we take it out into the real world, it's nonsense.</p>
<p>But these ads were in the real world, and they needed to be met in the real world. Because those ads are hateful, those ads are racist, those ads are bigoted. But worse than all of that, is that those ads are part of this bullying of Muslims in this country that has just built up since 9/11. And I think that the hate crimes against Muslims in this country have tripled over the past two or three years.</p>
<p>So I thought, this is just racist, I can't stand this ad, and another part of it is, I defended the Danish cartoons. I'm a huge fan of freedom of speech and the First Amendment and all of that, but these ads offended me. The cartoons of the prophet didn't offend me, and the people you always see going out and protesting all of these supposedly offensive things to Muslims, they don't represent me at all.&#160;</p>
<p>I'm a big believer that these [American] right wing lunatics need to see Muslims saying "Fuck you, I'm not going to be bullied anymore." This is where my anger for my protest came from. I just want them to know that you can't bully us anymore and I went out and did it.&#160;</p>
<p>I think everyone should protest in the way they best see fit and that best reflects their principles and conscience. For me, it was a spray can and I wanted to spray "racist" on it, but I don't do graffiti, so clearly I failed with that? And I realized that all I could do was just spray on it. And I intentionally chose pink because it was see-through and it was nonviolent. I did not want to cover up the words. I wanted my words near their words.&#160;</p>
<p>AP: Speaking of an increase in hate crimes, besides the posters, you said to me that your brother's mosque was burned down. What happened?</p>
<p>ME: Five days after my spray painting and my arrest, on Sunday Sept. 30, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/03/toledo-mosque-arson_n_1934488.html" type="external">a man set fire to my brother's local mosque</a>.&#160;It was just a few hours after the kindergarten in that mosque was filled with kids for Sunday school, including my two nieces and my two nephews. I heard this news, and I just went? I just got unraveled. I really lost it. I thought my protest had backfired, because I protested and then this happened. But they're not connected, thank God.</p>
<p>But this is why I protested. We have to stand up to this bullying! People say, "It's freedom of speech, it's protected speech!" But I don't want to ban hate speech. I want people to stand up to hate speech because if you don't stand up to hate speech, its direct consequence is what we saw at that mosque. People take hate speech and turn it into hate crime. &#160;</p>
<p>AP: I'd like to shift from this country to Israel, the focus of the ad, where you used to be a reporter. Is there a similar trend toward anti-Muslim hate speech and hate crimes in that country? Is Islamophobia also on a significant rise there?</p>
<p>ME: Oh yeah! There have been several incidents over the past few months of buses being attacked, and I think a mosque was attacked there as well. To be honest, I've been really covering Egypt and traveling back and forth and I haven't been focused as much on the Israel/Palestine story. But I do see from people on Twitter that there have been attacks on Palestinians. The other terrible thing about this ad is that it [uses] the word "savage" and the horrible history in this country of the word "savage."&#160;</p>
<p>Ask native americans, ask black Americans just what that word "savage" has been used to justify against them. So you've got the word "savage" and it conflates Arabs and Muslims and Palestinians with "savage" and we're all on one side of people associated with "jihad." And obviously this is not about jihad.</p>
<p>A lot of people are saying, "you should be speaking out about jihad." If you know my work, you know that I have been. I've condemned extremist religion for years. But this isn't what this ad is about. It's conflates Arab, Muslim, Palestinian, jihad, savage, on one side, and on the other side - Israel. So Israel is the good one.</p>
<p>My question to the people who made this ad is, can you imagine if the language had been flipped and it said, "Support jihad. Defeat Israel?" Would this have been an ad on the walls of the New York subway?</p>
<p>AP: How did you transition from being a reporter and journalist, which you've been for years, to suddenly being an activist who is not reporting, but opining on your feelings and what you think on any number of topics? You write about feminism, progressive Islam, the US, and the Arab world, and you were in Tahrir Square as a reporter and an activist. Now you say you don't see yourself as a journalist. How did this change happen and why?</p>
<p>ME: It started right after 9/11. Before that, I was a news reporter for 10 years, mostly in the Middle East. What 9/11 did was it killed objectivity. I started writing opinion pieces because I didn't see my voice in the US mainstream media. I would turn on television or read the opinion pages and I didn't see anyone who sounded or looked like me. It was usually people who were much more conservative or presented as "authentic Muslims." And that was the thing, that conservative equaled authentic. And I wanted my voice to go in there and complicate and confuse and add to the diversity of voices. And I started writing opinion pieces.</p>
<p>Since then on, I have not done news reporting and I choose not to call myself a journalist. People often do call me a journalist and the reason I don't call myself a journalist is that when I then join protests, as I do in Egypt, or as I spray painted that ad, people use this against the profession and say, "Is this what journalists do? They try to kill the First Amendment?" And so I have nothing to do with journalism, they have nothing to do with me, I'm an opinion writer - and I very much want to tell you my opinion, whether it's when I spray paint an offensive ad, or I'm demonstrating against the regime or the military or the Muslim Brotherhood.&#160;</p>
<p />
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<p>Eltahawy is next headed back to Egypt to write a book to follow up on her noteworthy Foreign Policy article " <a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/04/23/why_do_they_hate_us" type="external">Why they hate us</a>," with a focus on feminism and sexual violence in Egypt during and after the revolution.&#160;</p>
<p>For more of GlobalPost's coverage of radical woman in the Arab world, check out our <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/egypt/120731/conversation-two-egyptian-feminists" type="external">Special Report "The Voice and The Veil: Egypt's Revolutionary Women,"</a> which Eltahawy is profiled in.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/egypt/120731/conversation-two-egyptian-feminists" type="external" /></p>
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antimuslim hate speech become preeminent issue mona eltahawy160an outspoken egyptianamerican writer activist attempts get crux the160culture war rightwing americans muslims putting middle stranger writing uncomfortable truths easily digestible way joining protest eltahawy took expressive nature page last month insisted new york subway advertisement racist spray painted says felt ad part culture bullying muslims hate speech needed take nonviolent stand ad paid farright antiislam group american freedom defense initiative group led protests community center blocks ground zero ruled protected speech federal judge late september posters reading war civilized man savage support civilized man support israel defeat jihad hung inside 10 manhattan subway stations prompting action eltahawy that160 resulted arrest posters seen dc eltahawy hasnt one protest coalition jewish christian groups countered ads 160 interview globalpost eltahawy went detail story spray painting ads fight antimuslim bullying america shouldnt refer journalist spoke eltahawy phone issues arrest days brothers mosque ohio burned another string hate crimes muslims eltahawy says rise us160 interview edited length160 alex pearlman spray paint poster youve said 140 characters twitter tell specifically moved take action way mona eltahawy think ive reached wall twitter knew going put posters around city read two three days went saw campaign happening twitter mysubwayad people suggesting different wording subway ad counter particular ad much love twitter live twitter realized im following hashtag mysubwayad theres limit choose twitter take real world nonsense ads real world needed met real world ads hateful ads racist ads bigoted worse ads part bullying muslims country built since 911 think hate crimes muslims country tripled past two three years thought racist cant stand ad another part defended danish cartoons im huge fan freedom speech first amendment ads offended cartoons prophet didnt offend people always see going protesting supposedly offensive things muslims dont represent all160 im big believer american right wing lunatics need see muslims saying fuck im going bullied anymore anger protest came want know cant bully us anymore went it160 think everyone protest way best see fit best reflects principles conscience spray wanted spray racist dont graffiti clearly failed realized could spray intentionally chose pink seethrough nonviolent want cover words wanted words near words160 ap speaking increase hate crimes besides posters said brothers mosque burned happened five days spray painting arrest sunday sept 30 man set fire brothers local mosque160it hours kindergarten mosque filled kids sunday school including two nieces two nephews heard news went got unraveled really lost thought protest backfired protested happened theyre connected thank god protested stand bullying people say freedom speech protected speech dont want ban hate speech want people stand hate speech dont stand hate speech direct consequence saw mosque people take hate speech turn hate crime 160 ap id like shift country israel focus ad used reporter similar trend toward antimuslim hate speech hate crimes country islamophobia also significant rise oh yeah several incidents past months buses attacked think mosque attacked well honest ive really covering egypt traveling back forth havent focused much israelpalestine story see people twitter attacks palestinians terrible thing ad uses word savage horrible history country word savage160 ask native americans ask black americans word savage used justify youve got word savage conflates arabs muslims palestinians savage one side people associated jihad obviously jihad lot people saying speaking jihad know work know ive condemned extremist religion years isnt ad conflates arab muslim palestinian jihad savage one side side israel israel good one question people made ad imagine language flipped said support jihad defeat israel would ad walls new york subway ap transition reporter journalist youve years suddenly activist reporting opining feelings think number topics write feminism progressive islam us arab world tahrir square reporter activist say dont see journalist change happen started right 911 news reporter 10 years mostly middle east 911 killed objectivity started writing opinion pieces didnt see voice us mainstream media would turn television read opinion pages didnt see anyone sounded looked like usually people much conservative presented authentic muslims thing conservative equaled authentic wanted voice go complicate confuse add diversity voices started writing opinion pieces since done news reporting choose call journalist people often call journalist reason dont call journalist join protests egypt spray painted ad people use profession say journalists try kill first amendment nothing journalism nothing im opinion writer much want tell opinion whether spray paint offensive ad im demonstrating regime military muslim brotherhood160 eltahawy next headed back egypt write book follow noteworthy foreign policy article hate us focus feminism sexual violence egypt revolution160 globalposts coverage radical woman arab world check special report voice veil egypts revolutionary women eltahawy profiled in160
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<p>The Pentagon lawyer who assessed the damage to U.S. national security after Jonathan Pollard’s spying arrest nearly 30 years ago says the former Navy intelligence officer was motivated by money as much as an allegiance to Israel, noting that he offered highly classified materials to at least three other countries and provided such material to two of them.</p>
<p>Pollard is widely considered a national hero in Israel for his espionage against the Jewish state’s strongest ally. That’s the reason he reportedly is being used as a bargaining chip in an effort to restart stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.</p>
<p>But Marion "Spike" Bowman told NBC News in an exclusive interview that Pollard was much more concerned with his compensation than is commonly portrayed.</p>
<p>"He always wanted money," Bowman, who served as Pentagon liaison officer to the FBI at the time of Pollard’s arrest and coordinated the investigation of the extent of Pollard’s spying, told NBC News. "At one point, he argued with his Israeli handler about a $1,000 a month raise, citing the chances he was taking."</p>
<p>Bowman said Pollard received an estimated $50,000 from his Israeli handler during his two year career as a spy.</p>
<p>"(He) was well-compensated – demanded it," he said.</p>
<p>Pollard also decided to maximize his profit after he began feeding information to Israel in 1984, offering his services elsewhere, Bowman said. He contacted the intelligence services of three other nations: Pakistan, South Africa -- then under apartheid rule -- and even Australia, one of the U.S. closest allies, and offered classified documents he had access to through his job as an analyst for the Naval Intelligence Command, Bowman said.</p>
<p>"He even disclosed classified information to a South African defense attaché,” though he didn’t get paid for it, said Bowman, who also served as deputy general counsel for national security law at the FBI and as deputy director of the U.S. Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive during a long career in government. He also handed over a classified document to the Australian he contacted, he said.</p>
<p>Bowman also said that Pollard hoped to parlay his Israeli connections into a new career as an arms dealer.</p>
<p>Sensitive documents among those disclosed</p>
<p>According to U.S. officials, Pollard provided the Israelis with a vast store of classified documents – enough to fill a 10-foot-by-6-foot-by-6 foot room, by Pollard’s estimation. That material presumably was all classified “top secret” or higher, because the Israelis told Pollard they already had access to less sensitive “secret” material through other means, Bowman said.</p>
<p>Bowman said Pollard provided two documents to the Israelis that were particularly sensitive:</p>
<p>"Pollard alleged at sentencing that there really was no harm done to the U.S.," recalled Bowman. "The judge interrupted and brought him up short, pointing specifically to disclosure of the RAISIN manual. He was silent after that."</p>
<p>Israel's needs were not limited to its security concerns, either. "One additional disclosure is of merit: Pollard disclosed information to the Israelis that could prevent the U.S. from monitoring Israeli activities in the Middle East – clearly a foreign policy nightmare," Bowman said.</p>
<p>Nor did U.S. officials believe that the information leak stopped in Israel.</p>
<p>According to one former official, who spoke with NBC News on condition of anonymity, the intelligence community feared that Israel was trading intelligence it received from Pollard to Moscow in an effort to win the freedom of imprisoned Soviet Jews.</p>
<p>And Bowman noted that Pollard also indirectly provided South Africa with an intelligence coup. According to Bowman, Pollard provided Israel with documents detailing what the U.S. knew about the secret strategic relationship between Israel and the apartheid regime in Pretoria. During the 1970s and 1980s, Israel provided South Africa with arms, exchanged nuclear material and helped South Africa with its ballistic missile program, according to U.S. intelligence officials and participants in the exchange. The intelligence presumably found its way to Pretoria as well, letting leaders there learn the extent of what the U.S. knew about the Israel-South Africa relationship, he said.</p>
<p>The full extent of the information Pollard passed to Israel has never been made public. Even though Pollard spoke with investigators about his spying after pleading guilty in 1986 to one count of conspiracy to deliver national defense information to a foreign government, Bowman said he is not persuaded that the spy told them everything.</p>
<p>As a result, the U.S. "may never know the full extent of the damage done" by Pollard, he said.</p>
<p>While some senior U.S. officials have endorsed <a href="" type="internal">Pollard’s release in a bid to salvage U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace talks</a> that reportedly are on the verge of collapse, Bowman is not among them.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/opinion/keep-pollard-behind-bars.html?_r=1" type="external">an op-ed piece for the New York Times</a> in January, Bowman wrote that “Mr. Pollard’s apologists portray him as a sort of dual patriot: loyal to the United States, but also motivated to help Israel. In fact, he was primarily a venal and selfish person who sought to get rich.”</p>
<p>"My concern about Pollard's release is that it not be for the wrong reasons," he told NBC News on Wednesday. "Even (though) people like (former CIA Director) Jim Woolsey argue for his release on 'fairness' grounds, it completely obscures the damage that Pollard, uniquely, did.”</p>
<p>Follow NBC News Investigations on <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCInvestigates" type="external">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBCInvestigates" type="external">Facebook</a></p>
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pentagon lawyer assessed damage us national security jonathan pollards spying arrest nearly 30 years ago says former navy intelligence officer motivated money much allegiance israel noting offered highly classified materials least three countries provided material two pollard widely considered national hero israel espionage jewish states strongest ally thats reason reportedly used bargaining chip effort restart stalled israelipalestinian peace talks marion spike bowman told nbc news exclusive interview pollard much concerned compensation commonly portrayed always wanted money bowman served pentagon liaison officer fbi time pollards arrest coordinated investigation extent pollards spying told nbc news one point argued israeli handler 1000 month raise citing chances taking bowman said pollard received estimated 50000 israeli handler two year career spy wellcompensated demanded said pollard also decided maximize profit began feeding information israel 1984 offering services elsewhere bowman said contacted intelligence services three nations pakistan south africa apartheid rule even australia one us closest allies offered classified documents access job analyst naval intelligence command bowman said even disclosed classified information south african defense attaché though didnt get paid said bowman also served deputy general counsel national security law fbi deputy director us office national counterintelligence executive long career government also handed classified document australian contacted said bowman also said pollard hoped parlay israeli connections new career arms dealer sensitive documents among disclosed according us officials pollard provided israelis vast store classified documents enough fill 10footby6footby6 foot room pollards estimation material presumably classified top secret higher israelis told pollard already access less sensitive secret material means bowman said bowman said pollard provided two documents israelis particularly sensitive pollard alleged sentencing really harm done us recalled bowman judge interrupted brought short pointing specifically disclosure raisin manual silent israels needs limited security concerns either one additional disclosure merit pollard disclosed information israelis could prevent us monitoring israeli activities middle east clearly foreign policy nightmare bowman said us officials believe information leak stopped israel according one former official spoke nbc news condition anonymity intelligence community feared israel trading intelligence received pollard moscow effort win freedom imprisoned soviet jews bowman noted pollard also indirectly provided south africa intelligence coup according bowman pollard provided israel documents detailing us knew secret strategic relationship israel apartheid regime pretoria 1970s 1980s israel provided south africa arms exchanged nuclear material helped south africa ballistic missile program according us intelligence officials participants exchange intelligence presumably found way pretoria well letting leaders learn extent us knew israelsouth africa relationship said full extent information pollard passed israel never made public even though pollard spoke investigators spying pleading guilty 1986 one count conspiracy deliver national defense information foreign government bowman said persuaded spy told everything result us may never know full extent damage done pollard said senior us officials endorsed pollards release bid salvage ussponsored middle east peace talks reportedly verge collapse bowman among oped piece new york times january bowman wrote mr pollards apologists portray sort dual patriot loyal united states also motivated help israel fact primarily venal selfish person sought get rich concern pollards release wrong reasons told nbc news wednesday even though people like former cia director jim woolsey argue release fairness grounds completely obscures damage pollard uniquely follow nbc news investigations twitter facebook
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<p>Delegates to the Democratic National Convention meet at the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>PHILADELPHIA — Democrats ratified a party platform late Monday called the most LGBT-inclusive in history and a unifying document after a bitter primary.</p>
<p>As convention chair Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) presided, delegates at the Democratic National Convention approved the platform by voice vote. Although loud “nays” were heard, the overwhelming “yays” in favor of the platform carried the day.</p>
<p>Jessica Frisco, a Manhattan-based delegate pledged to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), said having LGBT inclusion in the Democratic Party “has always been really important to me.”</p>
<p>“Not that it’s become less of a priority, but I think the Democrats have always been pretty progressive on the issue, at least in recent years, and you know, it’s been Democrats that have been supporting that type of legislation in contrast to Republicans,” she said. “I guess I wasn’t really surprised to see that that was a big part of the platform and I wouldn’t be surprised to know that everyone in the Democratic Party supports that.”</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.demconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Democratic-Party-Platform-7.21.16-no-lines.pdf" type="external">55-page document</a> has a specific LGBT plank titled “Guaranteeing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights” and includes LGBT references in planks throughout the document.</p>
<p>The LGBT plank endorses LGBT comprehensive non-discrimination legislation (although it doesn’t explicitly address the Equality Act by name), condemns violence against transgender people, endorses the U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of same-sex marriage and repudiates state laws seeking to undermine LGBT rights.</p>
<p>“Democrats applaud last year’s decision by the Supreme Court that recognized that LGBT people — like other Americans — have the right to marry the person they love,” the platform says. “But there is still much work to be done. LGBT kids continue to be bullied at school, restaurants can refuse to serve transgender people, and same-sex couples are at risk of being evicted from their homes. That is unacceptable and must change.”</p>
<p>In contrast, the platform <a href="" type="internal">adopted last week at the Republican National Convention</a> seeks to reverse the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, indicates supports for widely discredited “ex-gay” conversion therapy and supports state anti-trans bathroom laws.</p>
<p>Matt Hughes, a 25-year-old delegate from Chapel Hill, N.C., pledged to Hillary Clinton, said the LGBT inclusion is important to him both as a Democrat and a gay man.</p>
<p>“For me as a Democrat, it’s important, but also as a gay man that we have these ideals in our party’s platform about non-discrimination in terms of employment and transgender rights and really everything,” Hughes said, “especially when you compare and contrast it to the Republican Party platform that was passed last week, which is definitely the most anti-LGBT platform that the Republican Party has ever put forward.”</p>
<p>Hughes said he helped draft a North Carolina platform that included similar language, which he said is important because of the recently enacted House Bill 2 in the state. That law bars pro-LGBT city ordinances and prohibits transgender people from using the restroom consistent with their gender identity.</p>
<p>“That language says to me that for the second time in four years, that on LGBT issues, North Carolina is on the wrong side of not just fairness and equality, but also just the wrong side of history,” Hughes said. “And I think that the Democrats have always stood up for the marginalized and oppressed in our communities, and so having language that is so strongly in favor of rights for our transgender brothers, I think, is very important.”</p>
<p>Other language throughout the document recognizes immigration detention for LGBT people who sought refuge in the United States “can be unacceptably dangerous.” Referencing the recent end to the ban on transgender military service and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal, the platform says the U.S. military is stronger with people of different “sexual orientations and gender identities.”</p>
<p>Delegates ratified the platform after the full platform committee reviewed and made changes to the document during a meeting earlier this month in Orlando, Fla.</p>
<p>During the meeting, the committee <a href="" type="internal">enhanced the LGBT language</a> further by adding a plank insisting LGBT rights should be part of U.S. foreign policy. The language was based on Clinton’s 2011 speech in Geneva where she declared, “Gay rights are&#160;human rights and human rights are gay rights.”</p>
<p>Mara Keisling, a D.C.-based transgender advocate and member of the platform committee, called the platform “the most progressive platform on LGBT and trans rights in the history of the United States.”</p>
<p>“It says we’re welcome, it says we’re going to make life better to make lots of different marginalized people whether it’s supporting the people of Puerto Rico, people with disabilities or people facing environment racism or LGBT people,” Keisling said. “We’re going to work together and we’re going to make things better for everybody.”</p>
<p>Although Keisling acknowledged the platform is “symbolic,” she said that symbolism can be a “big thing” to leverage change.</p>
<p>“It’s just symbolic, but it gives us a hook, it again starts getting more and more people thinking about transgender and LGBT people and thinking about do they support or do they not support us, and it gets some of our issues in front of people who maybe wouldn’t have seen it before,” Keisling said.</p>
<p>In 2012, the platform for the first time endorsed marriage equality in addition to other language rejecting the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act and endorsing a trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, but the 2016 document exceeds those milestones.</p>
<p>Marveling at the Democratic Party’s progression on LGBT inclusion in its platforms was Diego Sanchez, a D.C.-based transgender advocate in attendance at the convention and in 2008 the first openly transgender member of the platform committee. He wasn’t a member in 2016.</p>
<p>“The progress has been tremendous,” Sanchez said. “In 2008, we didn’t have the word marriage by design. We were responsible for three things: Bringing in the definition of same-sex couples as families, to have gender identity included in non-discrimination and to include HIV as a domestic policy priority. We’ve come so far from that place of using language that is cautious to where we can boldly be inclusive of the entire community.”</p>
<p>But one proposed change that didn’t make it into the Democratic platform was changing the LGBT acronym throughout the document to LGBTQ to explicitly include people who identify as queer.</p>
<p>During the platform committee meeting, David Braun, a Sanders appointee from Oakland, Calif., sought the change, which platform committee chair and former Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy said he would take as a request for a technical change to the document. It wasn’t immediately clear why the change wasn’t made.</p>
<p>Vincent Harding, a 28-year-old delegate from Austin, Texas, pledged to Clinton and chair of the Democratic Party in Travis County, said advanced LGBT-inclusive language is important because “we need to make sure we treat everyone equally.”</p>
<p>“The ability to love who we want to love is fundamental to all of us, so it is essential that it is part of the platform,” he said. “I don’t know what took so long, but I think things are changing and we have seen Republicans move a little bit, we’re going to keep pushing them a little bit and hopefully we won’t have the situation like we saw in Kentucky where people don’t want to grant gay marriages. Hopefully, that’ll be universal around the country and we’ll continue to move forward together.”</p>
<p>Chuck Rocha, a 47-year-old D.C. delegate pledged to Sanders, said the LGBT-inclusive language is “hugely important” to him because of his opposition to discrimination in all forms.</p>
<p>“I’m one of the only Latino delegates in the nation, the only one from D.C.,” Rocha said. “Discrimination doesn’t&#160;know a sex or a color, we shouldn’t discriminate for no reason, and everybody, no matter who they love, should be able to get married and live their lives the way they want to.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Chuck Rocha</a> <a href="" type="internal">Democratic National Convention</a> <a href="" type="internal">Diego Sanchez</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jessica Frisco</a> <a href="" type="internal">Mara Keisling</a> <a href="" type="internal">Matt Hughes</a></p>
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delegates democratic national convention meet wells fargo arena philadelphia july 25 2016 washington blade photo michael key philadelphia democrats ratified party platform late monday called lgbtinclusive history unifying document bitter primary convention chair rep marcia fudge dohio presided delegates democratic national convention approved platform voice vote although loud nays heard overwhelming yays favor platform carried day jessica frisco manhattanbased delegate pledged sen bernie sanders ivt said lgbt inclusion democratic party always really important become less priority think democrats always pretty progressive issue least recent years know democrats supporting type legislation contrast republicans said guess wasnt really surprised see big part platform wouldnt surprised know everyone democratic party supports 55page document specific lgbt plank titled guaranteeing lesbian gay bisexual transgender rights includes lgbt references planks throughout document lgbt plank endorses lgbt comprehensive nondiscrimination legislation although doesnt explicitly address equality act name condemns violence transgender people endorses us supreme court decision favor samesex marriage repudiates state laws seeking undermine lgbt rights democrats applaud last years decision supreme court recognized lgbt people like americans right marry person love platform says still much work done lgbt kids continue bullied school restaurants refuse serve transgender people samesex couples risk evicted homes unacceptable must change contrast platform adopted last week republican national convention seeks reverse supreme court decision samesex marriage indicates supports widely discredited exgay conversion therapy supports state antitrans bathroom laws matt hughes 25yearold delegate chapel hill nc pledged hillary clinton said lgbt inclusion important democrat gay man democrat important also gay man ideals partys platform nondiscrimination terms employment transgender rights really everything hughes said especially compare contrast republican party platform passed last week definitely antilgbt platform republican party ever put forward hughes said helped draft north carolina platform included similar language said important recently enacted house bill 2 state law bars prolgbt city ordinances prohibits transgender people using restroom consistent gender identity language says second time four years lgbt issues north carolina wrong side fairness equality also wrong side history hughes said think democrats always stood marginalized oppressed communities language strongly favor rights transgender brothers think important language throughout document recognizes immigration detention lgbt people sought refuge united states unacceptably dangerous referencing recent end ban transgender military service dont ask dont tell repeal platform says us military stronger people different sexual orientations gender identities delegates ratified platform full platform committee reviewed made changes document meeting earlier month orlando fla meeting committee enhanced lgbt language adding plank insisting lgbt rights part us foreign policy language based clintons 2011 speech geneva declared gay rights are160human rights human rights gay rights mara keisling dcbased transgender advocate member platform committee called platform progressive platform lgbt trans rights history united states says welcome says going make life better make lots different marginalized people whether supporting people puerto rico people disabilities people facing environment racism lgbt people keisling said going work together going make things better everybody although keisling acknowledged platform symbolic said symbolism big thing leverage change symbolic gives us hook starts getting people thinking transgender lgbt people thinking support support us gets issues front people maybe wouldnt seen keisling said 2012 platform first time endorsed marriage equality addition language rejecting antigay defense marriage act endorsing transinclusive employment nondiscrimination act 2016 document exceeds milestones marveling democratic partys progression lgbt inclusion platforms diego sanchez dcbased transgender advocate attendance convention 2008 first openly transgender member platform committee wasnt member 2016 progress tremendous sanchez said 2008 didnt word marriage design responsible three things bringing definition samesex couples families gender identity included nondiscrimination include hiv domestic policy priority weve come far place using language cautious boldly inclusive entire community one proposed change didnt make democratic platform changing lgbt acronym throughout document lgbtq explicitly include people identify queer platform committee meeting david braun sanders appointee oakland calif sought change platform committee chair former connecticut gov dan malloy said would take request technical change document wasnt immediately clear change wasnt made vincent harding 28yearold delegate austin texas pledged clinton chair democratic party travis county said advanced lgbtinclusive language important need make sure treat everyone equally ability love want love fundamental us essential part platform said dont know took long think things changing seen republicans move little bit going keep pushing little bit hopefully wont situation like saw kentucky people dont want grant gay marriages hopefully thatll universal around country well continue move forward together chuck rocha 47yearold dc delegate pledged sanders said lgbtinclusive language hugely important opposition discrimination forms im one latino delegates nation one dc rocha said discrimination doesnt160know sex color shouldnt discriminate reason everybody matter love able get married live lives way want chuck rocha democratic national convention diego sanchez jessica frisco mara keisling matt hughes
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<p>Editorial for June 9, 2005</p>
<p>By Jim White</p>
<p>If I were you, I would want to know something about this new guy who is serving as editor of the Religious Herald. Assuming you are at least as curious as I, allow me to introduce myself.</p>
<p>I grew up the eldest child of parents who were so Baptist that I thought Lottie and Annie were my great-aunts. We attended the Jefferson Heights Baptist Church in Jefferson County, Missouri, a minimum of twice on Sundays and on Wednesday evening. I can still sing the Sunbeam Song from memory. Training Union was so much a part of my life that I never knew how the Wizard of Oz ended until after I was an adult-since it was invariably shown on Sunday evenings.</p>
<p>I was baptized as a child in Glaize Creek after the cows had been shooed out. At 13, I felt called to be a medical missionary and soon thereafter preached my first sermon in a Baptist church near Fredericktown, Mo., where my grandfather was pastor. I was nurtured in the faith by encouraging adults who saw the youth of our church as bona fide ministers; and we responded by forming weekend revival teams that traveled to neighboring churches in our association. How indulgent those dear Christians were!</p>
<p>I attended two Baptist colleges. At Hannibal-LaGrange, God used college chemistry to convince me that he was not calling me into medicine. He used other experiences to refine his call further. The week I turned 18, I accepted the call to be the pastor (actually, “preacher boy”) of the Solid Rock Baptist Church 10 miles west of Hannibal, Mo. During my 18-month tenure we baptized 11, the first of which took place in a farm pond with a slick mud bottom. In my attempt to immerse a big farmboy, I succeeded in baptizing us both.</p>
<p>After two years in the Marines, I resumed studies at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., where I majored in religion. There I met Connie, my wife; and there I joined the Liberty Manor Baptist Church. These remarkable people demonstrated their capacity for longsuffering in that they called me from the ranks of membership to serve in succession as their youth minister, associate pastor, interim pastor and pastor. I sometimes tell people my real ambition was to become the WMU director, but was never quite able to manage it. During the course of a nine-year pastorate, our two children were born and I earned master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo.</p>
<p>In 1984, we began our trek eastward-first to Nashville, Tenn., and the Baptist Sunday School Board (as it was called in those days) where I edited The Deacon magazine and served as a deacon ministry consultant. In the fall of that year, while on a week-long tour through the Commonwealth, I fell in love with Virginia. In fact, Connie still has a “Virginia is for Lovers” postcard I sent her. On it I had written, “If God ever leads us back into the pastorate, I hope it's in Virginia!” Three-and-a-half years later, responding to a call from the Lord and the church, my family moved to Newport News where for 15 years I was privileged to serve the First Baptist Church as its pastor.</p>
<p>The advent of Kingdom Advance brought another unanticipated change to my life when, again in response to God's call, I enthusiastically agreed to serve as the team leader for the empowering leaders team of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. From the day Kingdom Advance was unveiled to the BGAV in that special meeting in Charlottesville on May 10, 2002, I have believed that “KA” was God's plan for Virginia Baptists at this point in our history.</p>
<p>But, it seems, that God just won't leave me alone. When I first learned that I had been recommended as a candidate to fill the vacancy left by Mike Clingenpeel's departure, I scoffed at the idea. “Who, in his right mind, would want to be the editor of a state paper these days?” I confess that my first inclination was to avoid the pain of being shot-at from all directions. I still don't like the idea of being in someone's crosshairs, but anyone who has served as a pastor for 25 years has learned to live with a certain measure of criticism!</p>
<p>It was Connie who asked the critical question: “Looking over your past, do you think God may have been preparing you for this?” As I sought direction from the Lord, I had to conclude that, indeed, he had been. When I opened my mind to the possibility, a sense of “call” became clear as I caught a vision of what the Lord may have in mind for the Religious Herald. I am genuinely excited about the wonderful things God is doing among Virginia Baptists, and am awed by the privilege of telling that story to anyone who will read and listen.</p>
<p>I introduce myself in this way not because I want to focus on myself, but because I want to underscore my sense of God's gracious leading in my life and to highlight my debt to and commitment to Baptists. The oft-repeated saying applies to me: “Baptist born and Baptist bred; When I die, I'll be Baptist dead.”</p>
<p>As I begin, I can promise several things. First, I am going to make mistakes. If the past is any indication of what to expect, I am going to get some things wrong despite my best efforts to do otherwise. I ask for your prayers as I begin.</p>
<p>Secondly, I promise I will respect you. All of you. We have made a point of saying that in the Virginia Baptist family there is room at the table for everyone who seeks to be led by the Spirit of Christ. We must continue to adjust our attitudes to make it so. God doesn't have any red-headed step-children. I believe we dishonor him and the Christian family when we treat others as though they are second-class merely because we don't agree with all points of their theology.</p>
<p>I promise that I will seek, in all ways, to be a faithful servant of Christ and to speak from that perspective with a distinctively Baptist voice to issues of our time. I am proud to be a modern member of that long line of men and women whose evangelistic fervor led their contemporaries to the cross; and whose consciences cried out for freedom from oppression, even of the religious kind.</p>
<p>I believe the best days for Virginia Baptists are ahead of us as, inspired by our past, we are led by the Spirit into the future.</p>
<p>Jim White is editor and business manager of the Religious Herald.</p>
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editorial june 9 2005 jim white would want know something new guy serving editor religious herald assuming least curious allow introduce grew eldest child parents baptist thought lottie annie greataunts attended jefferson heights baptist church jefferson county missouri minimum twice sundays wednesday evening still sing sunbeam song memory training union much part life never knew wizard oz ended adultsince invariably shown sunday evenings baptized child glaize creek cows shooed 13 felt called medical missionary soon thereafter preached first sermon baptist church near fredericktown mo grandfather pastor nurtured faith encouraging adults saw youth church bona fide ministers responded forming weekend revival teams traveled neighboring churches association indulgent dear christians attended two baptist colleges hanniballagrange god used college chemistry convince calling medicine used experiences refine call week turned 18 accepted call pastor actually preacher boy solid rock baptist church 10 miles west hannibal mo 18month tenure baptized 11 first took place farm pond slick mud bottom attempt immerse big farmboy succeeded baptizing us two years marines resumed studies william jewell college liberty mo majored religion met connie wife joined liberty manor baptist church remarkable people demonstrated capacity longsuffering called ranks membership serve succession youth minister associate pastor interim pastor pastor sometimes tell people real ambition become wmu director never quite able manage course nineyear pastorate two children born earned master divinity doctor ministry degrees midwestern baptist theological seminary kansas city mo 1984 began trek eastwardfirst nashville tenn baptist sunday school board called days edited deacon magazine served deacon ministry consultant fall year weeklong tour commonwealth fell love virginia fact connie still virginia lovers postcard sent written god ever leads us back pastorate hope virginia threeandahalf years later responding call lord church family moved newport news 15 years privileged serve first baptist church pastor advent kingdom advance brought another unanticipated change life response gods call enthusiastically agreed serve team leader empowering leaders team virginia baptist mission board day kingdom advance unveiled bgav special meeting charlottesville may 10 2002 believed ka gods plan virginia baptists point history seems god wont leave alone first learned recommended candidate fill vacancy left mike clingenpeels departure scoffed idea right mind would want editor state paper days confess first inclination avoid pain shotat directions still dont like idea someones crosshairs anyone served pastor 25 years learned live certain measure criticism connie asked critical question looking past think god may preparing sought direction lord conclude indeed opened mind possibility sense call became clear caught vision lord may mind religious herald genuinely excited wonderful things god among virginia baptists awed privilege telling story anyone read listen introduce way want focus want underscore sense gods gracious leading life highlight debt commitment baptists oftrepeated saying applies baptist born baptist bred die ill baptist dead begin promise several things first going make mistakes past indication expect going get things wrong despite best efforts otherwise ask prayers begin secondly promise respect made point saying virginia baptist family room table everyone seeks led spirit christ must continue adjust attitudes make god doesnt redheaded stepchildren believe dishonor christian family treat others though secondclass merely dont agree points theology promise seek ways faithful servant christ speak perspective distinctively baptist voice issues time proud modern member long line men women whose evangelistic fervor led contemporaries cross whose consciences cried freedom oppression even religious kind believe best days virginia baptists ahead us inspired past led spirit future jim white editor business manager religious herald
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<p>MALMESBURY, UK — With flowers in bloom and the sun gently sparkling on the River Avon on a recent Sunday afternoon, Abbey House Gardens looked like nothing so much as the Garden of Eden — mostly because everyone there was naked.</p>
<p>The people stretched out on benches reading newspapers and doing Sudoku puzzles were naked. The people eating ice cream and fixing themselves cups of tea at the café stand were naked. The men and women admiring the koi pond and photographing the rose collection and making polite chit-chat with neighbors on the next picnic blanket over — all of them, starkers as the day they were born.</p>
<p>The clothing-optional days at Abbey House Gardens, a bucolic botanic garden surrounding a private home in this west England village, are a high point on the summer social calendar of Britain’s small but dedicated community of nudists (or naturists, as they’re called here).</p>
<p>The crowd was a cross section of British society: farmers, civil servants, teachers and engineers, all united by their shared preference for living life in the buff.</p>
<p>“We’re normal people,” says Judith Stinchcombe, chairman of British Naturism, the 9,500-strong national nudist club. “We just like doing everyday, normal things without clothes.”</p>
<p>Britain is no easy place for the naturist. The weather is so fickle that it’s hard most days to leave the house without a light jacket, let alone pants.</p>
<p>“One day it’s like this, tomorrow it could be winter. You learn to live with it,” said John Ablett, 60, as he and his wife Sue circled the herb garden, he in flip-flops, she in pink sandals and gold-rimmed glasses.</p>
<p>With temperatures in the 70s, this particular Sunday, the Abletts and others agreed, was pretty much a perfect day to be naked.</p>
<p>“It’s that breeze,” John said, stretching out his arms as a light summer wind rippled through the flowers.</p>
<p />
<p>(Corinne Purtill/GlobalPost)</p>
<p>There are a few practical concerns about spending a day disrobed, veterans said. You need sunscreen, and lots of it. Bug spray helps, too. So do a few small concessions to practicality and comfort, sported comfortably against bare flesh: baseball caps, Crocs sandals, athletic socks, fanny packs.</p>
<p>Ages ranged from families with young children to elderly people tooling around on motorized scooters. The crowd was mostly male, and it was one of the rare public venues with a line for the men’s restroom and none for the women’s.</p>
<p>For a “textile” — the naturist’s term for a person who prefers to stay dressed — the effect was of walking through a public park with a very particular type of X-ray vision.</p>
<p>Sunning themselves in the gardens were people of all shapes and sizes, a rainbow of nakedness very different from manicured, sculpted monotony of the nude bodies favored in the media.</p>
<p>Mo and Chris Thomas strolled the manicured hedgerows with cameras around their necks, sandals on their feet and nothing in between. The couple lives half the year in Spain and spends the other half traveling, mostly to nudist-friendly destinations.</p>
<p>The retired financial service workers have been naturists for 17 years. It was her idea first. Stripping down is a great equalizer, they said.</p>
<p>“If someone’s got no clothes on and you meet them on a beach or a café and get chatting, you don’t know what job they’ve got or where they’re from,” said Mo, 59.</p>
<p>“Nobody’s dressing up to prove their wallet’s bigger than yours,” said Chris, 58. “We’re all the same.”</p>
<p />
<p>(Corinne Purtill/GlobalPost)</p>
<p>Ian and Barbara Pollard purchased the 16th century former Benedictine abbey in 1994 and set to work refurbishing its overgrown five-acre grounds. The couple’s fame spread beyond Malmesbury when a BBC team came to film the work and noticed their penchant for gardening in the nude.</p>
<p>After the special aired under the title “The Naked Gardeners,” the Pollards were flooded with calls and emails from naturists around the country: “If you want to go down to your garden naked, can we come and do it too?” Ian recalled. The first clothing-optional day was in 2003, and it’s been a perennial fixture since.</p>
<p>Nudity is welcome, but not required. Signs posted at the entrances inform potential visitors that they may strip or stay dressed as they choose. Although the Thomases reported seeing a skittish group turn away at the sign, other dressed guests said they were unfazed by the fauna on display.</p>
<p>“They don’t mind us coming in clothes, so why not?” said John Gibson, a retired teacher from Leeds. “Go for it.”</p>
<p>There are a few rules of etiquette in the naturist scene. Bring a towel if you’re planning to sit. No photographing people without their consent. And no inappropriate sexual advances or behavior.</p>
<p>That’s the biggest misconception textiles have about naturists, Pollard said — “that they’re all screwing, all the time.”</p>
<p>True nudism, practitioners said, is about enjoying nakedness for its own sake, without sexual connotations. Again and again, people described life au naturel with the same word: freedom.</p>
<p>(Corinne Purtill/GlobalPost)</p>
<p>“You have to be conscious of the boundary between naturism and where a sexual thing kicks in,” said Keith Mitchell, 42, of London.</p>
<p>.photocontain{width: 250px;padding-left:20px;padding-bottom:10px;float:right;} .photo{height: 333px;width: 250px;} .photocaption{width: px;font: 150% Georgia, sans-serif;line-height:1;text-align:left;}</p>
<p>“That’s not what we do. That’s not what this is about. You’d be made to feel uncomfortable or asked to leave if there was a possibility that people were trying to cross that line.”</p>
<p>Abbey House’s future isn’t clear. The couple has recently split, Pollard said, and Barbara is seeking a divorce. The house may be put up for sale.</p>
<p>It’s a blow to those who have come to love the gardens as a place where they can be themselves in the company of others who also enjoy the sun on their skin, everywhere.</p>
<p>“It would be great if at some point in a future society, [being naked] was as socially acceptable as walking down the street,” Mitchell said. “It’d be a nice society, if that was the case.”</p>
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malmesbury uk flowers bloom sun gently sparkling river avon recent sunday afternoon abbey house gardens looked like nothing much garden eden mostly everyone naked people stretched benches reading newspapers sudoku puzzles naked people eating ice cream fixing cups tea café stand naked men women admiring koi pond photographing rose collection making polite chitchat neighbors next picnic blanket starkers day born clothingoptional days abbey house gardens bucolic botanic garden surrounding private home west england village high point summer social calendar britains small dedicated community nudists naturists theyre called crowd cross section british society farmers civil servants teachers engineers united shared preference living life buff normal people says judith stinchcombe chairman british naturism 9500strong national nudist club like everyday normal things without clothes britain easy place naturist weather fickle hard days leave house without light jacket let alone pants one day like tomorrow could winter learn live said john ablett 60 wife sue circled herb garden flipflops pink sandals goldrimmed glasses temperatures 70s particular sunday abletts others agreed pretty much perfect day naked breeze john said stretching arms light summer wind rippled flowers corinne purtillglobalpost practical concerns spending day disrobed veterans said need sunscreen lots bug spray helps small concessions practicality comfort sported comfortably bare flesh baseball caps crocs sandals athletic socks fanny packs ages ranged families young children elderly people tooling around motorized scooters crowd mostly male one rare public venues line mens restroom none womens textile naturists term person prefers stay dressed effect walking public park particular type xray vision sunning gardens people shapes sizes rainbow nakedness different manicured sculpted monotony nude bodies favored media mo chris thomas strolled manicured hedgerows cameras around necks sandals feet nothing couple lives half year spain spends half traveling mostly nudistfriendly destinations retired financial service workers naturists 17 years idea first stripping great equalizer said someones got clothes meet beach café get chatting dont know job theyve got theyre said mo 59 nobodys dressing prove wallets bigger said chris 58 corinne purtillglobalpost ian barbara pollard purchased 16th century former benedictine abbey 1994 set work refurbishing overgrown fiveacre grounds couples fame spread beyond malmesbury bbc team came film work noticed penchant gardening nude special aired title naked gardeners pollards flooded calls emails naturists around country want go garden naked come ian recalled first clothingoptional day 2003 perennial fixture since nudity welcome required signs posted entrances inform potential visitors may strip stay dressed choose although thomases reported seeing skittish group turn away sign dressed guests said unfazed fauna display dont mind us coming clothes said john gibson retired teacher leeds go rules etiquette naturist scene bring towel youre planning sit photographing people without consent inappropriate sexual advances behavior thats biggest misconception textiles naturists pollard said theyre screwing time true nudism practitioners said enjoying nakedness sake without sexual connotations people described life au naturel word freedom corinne purtillglobalpost conscious boundary naturism sexual thing kicks said keith mitchell 42 london photocontainwidth 250pxpaddingleft20pxpaddingbottom10pxfloatright photoheight 333pxwidth 250px photocaptionwidth pxfont 150 georgia sansseriflineheight1textalignleft thats thats youd made feel uncomfortable asked leave possibility people trying cross line abbey houses future isnt clear couple recently split pollard said barbara seeking divorce house may put sale blow come love gardens place company others also enjoy sun skin everywhere would great point future society naked socially acceptable walking street mitchell said itd nice society case
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<p>July 2, 2012</p>
<p>By Katy Grimes</p>
<p>It is becoming rather difficult to distinguish California as part of a Representative Republic, when the Democratic party is able to hold budget “negotiations” without any Republican input, and the Governor attempts to manipulate the November ballot to favor a vote of his tax increase.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>On Friday a&#160;Sacramento Superior Court judge stopped the Secretary of State, Debra Bowen, from assigning ballot numbers for the November election, thus preventing <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Jerry_Brown's_California_Tax_Increase_Initiative_(2012)" type="external">Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiative</a> from appearing on the ballot ahead of a competing tax initiative, for now.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Molly_Munger's_California_State_Income_Tax_Increase_to_Support_Education_Initiative_(2012)" type="external">Molly Munger tax initiative</a> campaign&#160;filed suit on Thursday to stop Brown’s manipulations from placing his initiative ahead of hers on the ballot, where most agree it would have a better chance of succeeding.</p>
<p>Judge Timothy Frawley ordered the&#160;Secretary of State to&#160;wait to do anything on ballot initiative placement until after a July 9 hearing.</p>
<p>Molly Munger’s tax increase initiative should have qualified ahead of Brown’s, leading many to believe that Bowen, also a Democrat, was in cahoots with Gov. Brown. The Munger campaign submitted signatures before Brown’s campaign, and in prior elections, ballot order has been determined by the date the initiative qualified. Munger’s initiative qualified before Brown’s.</p>
<p>The Judge wants the time to analyze election procedures, as well as a new law recently signed by Gov.&#160;Jerry Brown, which would help his initiative.</p>
<p>Brown appears to be signing laws that benefit his taxing plans. What country is this?</p>
<p>Brown’s antics are making Democrats in other states look like Boy Scouts, with this latest attempt to manipulate the November election.</p>
<p>Brown and state Democrats have so much riding on the passage of <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Jerry_Brown's_California_Tax_Increase_Initiative_(2012)" type="external">his income and sales tax initiative</a>, that the Legislature just passed a bogus budget using anticipated revenue from passage of the hefty new taxes.</p>
<p>The Legislature and Governor not only increased spending this year, they obviously are confident they will squeeze it out of taxpayers one way or another. Democrats have become so cocky, this budget isn’t just out of balance, it is banking on futures.</p>
<p>This is a textbook case of counting your chickens before they hatch.</p>
<p>Last week, while passing the remaining budget trailer bills, the Legislature passed a special bill which will place constitutional amendments above other propositions on state ballots, the Los Angeles Times <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-jerry-brown-20120701,0,177012.story?track=rss" type="external">reported</a>. Brown’s initiative is a Constitutional Amendment. “The bill sailed through both houses of the Legislature without a committee hearing or any Republican votes,” the Times reported.</p>
<p>Since taking total control of both houses of the state Legislature, Democrats count on the end of the legislative session to pass many of the bills they couldn’t get through legitimately, by placing bill language into an empty “spot bill,” and then ramming it through for a legislative vote, without publicly held committee hearings. It is a sneaky, underhanded and dishonest way to pass legislation, and an obfuscation of the proper process–by any political party.</p>
<p>“During Brown’s 18 months in office, they have passed laws that could undermine initiatives they oppose and give a leg up to those they favor,” the Times <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-jerry-brown-20120701,0,177012.story?track=rss" type="external">reported</a>.</p>
<p>Brown is increasingly using political tactics more commonly seen in despotism, when he doesn’t get his way, or when Democrats can’t get an agenda item through the Legislature. And his tactics closely resemble those of the Obama Administration, where Executive Orders prevail when the President cannot get Congress to do his special interest bidding.</p>
<p>Brown has his own <a href="http://gov.ca.gov/s_executiveorders.php" type="external">lengthy list</a> of Executive Orders:</p>
<p>In April, Brown issued an Executive Order directing state agencies and state departments to take immediate steps to make state government buildings more sustainable and energy efficient, and&#160;meet the new, stringent “green” criteria. All new building will have to meet the state’s green building laws, and clean-energy retrofits of state buildings have already begun.</p>
<p>While this may make sense from an energy usage standpoint, the state is broke and needs to clean up its financial house before any more government expansions take place.</p>
<p>In May, Brown ordered&#160;the Secretary of the Health and Human Services Agency to establish a “Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force” to develop a 10-year plan “for improving the health of Californians.” Brown ordered all state agencies under his direct authority to cooperate. What an open checkbook for publicly funded health care in the largest welfare state in the nation.</p>
<p>In March, Brown ordered state agencies to begin to replace state vehicles with plug-in electric and fuel cell vehicles. While state officials vehemently deny that this is a carte blanche order to replace and buy all new state vehicles, anyone with half-a-brain can see where this order will lead.</p>
<p><a href="http://apps.itd.idaho.gov/apps/MediaManagerViewer/NewsClipping/Story.aspx?ID=44351&amp;Type=NewsClipping" type="external">Remember</a> all of the clean, green Toyota Prius’s the Department of General Services bought, and then let sit unused? The&#160;General Services Department and Caltrans spent more than $5.5 million on new trucks and cars in <a href="http://apps.itd.idaho.gov/apps/MediaManagerViewer/NewsClipping/Story.aspx?ID=44351&amp;Type=NewsClipping" type="external">2009</a>, but most of them sat idle.</p>
<p>These orders may make Brown think that he looks as if he is an Enlightened Monarch, but it feels more absolute power, and much more despotic, when rulers tended to&#160;abuse their power and authority to oppress the people.</p>
<p>Once the Golden State of opportunity, California has become the welfare state of nanny government, entitlements, and oppression, with continually increasing taxes on those who work, increasing government control, more and stiffer regulations on businesses and individuals, and far fewer individual rights.</p>
<p>Right under our noses, oppression and government&#160;dominance, using the overarching threat of punishment, has crept in. Starting at the top with the governor, lawmakers on every level in California seem to feel unrestricted by the state’s constitution, laws or by the opposition of the people.</p>
<p>What would you call this?</p>
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july 2 2012 katy grimes becoming rather difficult distinguish california part representative republic democratic party able hold budget negotiations without republican input governor attempts manipulate november ballot favor vote tax increase friday a160sacramento superior court judge stopped secretary state debra bowen assigning ballot numbers november election thus preventing gov jerry browns tax initiative appearing ballot ahead competing tax initiative molly munger tax initiative campaign160filed suit thursday stop browns manipulations placing initiative ahead ballot agree would better chance succeeding judge timothy frawley ordered the160secretary state to160wait anything ballot initiative placement july 9 hearing molly mungers tax increase initiative qualified ahead browns leading many believe bowen also democrat cahoots gov brown munger campaign submitted signatures browns campaign prior elections ballot order determined date initiative qualified mungers initiative qualified browns judge wants time analyze election procedures well new law recently signed gov160jerry brown would help initiative brown appears signing laws benefit taxing plans country browns antics making democrats states look like boy scouts latest attempt manipulate november election brown state democrats much riding passage income sales tax initiative legislature passed bogus budget using anticipated revenue passage hefty new taxes legislature governor increased spending year obviously confident squeeze taxpayers one way another democrats become cocky budget isnt balance banking futures textbook case counting chickens hatch last week passing remaining budget trailer bills legislature passed special bill place constitutional amendments propositions state ballots los angeles times reported browns initiative constitutional amendment bill sailed houses legislature without committee hearing republican votes times reported since taking total control houses state legislature democrats count end legislative session pass many bills couldnt get legitimately placing bill language empty spot bill ramming legislative vote without publicly held committee hearings sneaky underhanded dishonest way pass legislation obfuscation proper processby political party browns 18 months office passed laws could undermine initiatives oppose give leg favor times reported brown increasingly using political tactics commonly seen despotism doesnt get way democrats cant get agenda item legislature tactics closely resemble obama administration executive orders prevail president get congress special interest bidding brown lengthy list executive orders april brown issued executive order directing state agencies state departments take immediate steps make state government buildings sustainable energy efficient and160meet new stringent green criteria new building meet states green building laws cleanenergy retrofits state buildings already begun may make sense energy usage standpoint state broke needs clean financial house government expansions take place may brown ordered160the secretary health human services agency establish lets get healthy california task force develop 10year plan improving health californians brown ordered state agencies direct authority cooperate open checkbook publicly funded health care largest welfare state nation march brown ordered state agencies begin replace state vehicles plugin electric fuel cell vehicles state officials vehemently deny carte blanche order replace buy new state vehicles anyone halfabrain see order lead remember clean green toyota priuss department general services bought let sit unused the160general services department caltrans spent 55 million new trucks cars 2009 sat idle orders may make brown think looks enlightened monarch feels absolute power much despotic rulers tended to160abuse power authority oppress people golden state opportunity california become welfare state nanny government entitlements oppression continually increasing taxes work increasing government control stiffer regulations businesses individuals far fewer individual rights right noses oppression government160dominance using overarching threat punishment crept starting top governor lawmakers every level california seem feel unrestricted states constitution laws opposition people would call
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<p>BOSTON, Mass. — With the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130930/government-shutdown-likely-senate-rejects-house-" type="external">partial government shut-down that began Tuesday</a>, Washington seems bent on waging a bitter, partisan battle that threatens the world's largest economy — to say nothing of the human, political and other damage the spat could produce in the United States and around the world.</p>
<p>But Washington is not alone in its short-sightedness.</p>
<p>When it comes to government actions, there's plenty of stupid to go around. We asked GlobalPost's senior correspondents stationed around the world to recount some of their favorite examples. They did not disappoint, and came up with 19.</p>
<p>Palm, meet face.</p>
<p>1. North Korea: On the brink of starvation? More nukes, please</p>
<p>With its garish war threats and brassy personality cult, North Korea has always been a pariah. In fact, many experts agree that the world’s most heavily sanctioned regime is largely to blame for its own woes.</p>
<p>A decade ago, North and South Korea were growing closer, paving the way for the eventual reunification of the peninsula. The North was in need of aid, emerging from a famine that brought it to the brink of collapse. The South, in a humanitarian gesture, was handing over assistance worth millions of dollars each year.</p>
<p>Then in 2006, the country tested the first of three nuclear devices — pouring resources into its military at the expense of its malnourished people. The result: further international isolation.</p>
<p>Southerners felt particularly burned by the nuke tests. In 2008, voters pushed out the long-popular liberal party and elected tough-guy president Lee Myung-bak, who slashed aid to the North. Following a third nuclear test last winter, the United Nations tightened the screws once again, passing a heavy embargo on the state financial bank.</p>
<p>—By Geoffrey Cain in Seoul</p>
<p>2. South Korea: The annual parliamentary brawl</p>
<p>With a government shutdown looming, American lawmakers are venting their frustration in fiery op-eds and speeches. In the South Korean National Assembly, this sort of deadlock would be apt to trigger a <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/photo-galleries/5729048/gangs-parliament-brawls-egg-throwing-and-fisticuffs-the-lawmakers-halls-photos" type="external">massive brawl</a> on the parliament floor. Yes, really.</p>
<p>The spectacle has become something of a rite of passage for Korean politicians. One newspaper has even called it the “yearly budget brawl,” since it’s usually sparked by opposition parties angry with the national budget. Past melees have seen smoke grenades, sledgehammers, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/photo-galleries/5729048/gangs-parliament-brawls-egg-throwing-and-fisticuffs-the-lawmakers-halls-photos" type="external">a chainsaw</a>, and the creative use of fire extinguishers.</p>
<p>While the images make for a good laugh, the scuffles rarely lead to solutions. About two-thirds of South Koreans, understandably, think their political parties and the legislature are “corrupt” or “extremely corrupt,” the worst of any institution surveyed, according to a study by the anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International.</p>
<p>—By Geoffrey Cain in Seoul</p>
<p>3. Thailand: Bangkok wrecks its world-class rice production by spoiling its farmers</p>
<p>If you’re among the 3.5 billion people who eat rice — i.e., half of humanity — there’s a good chance you’ve eaten grains that once sprouted up from Thailand’s emerald-green rice paddies. For three decades running, the nation exported more rice than any other on the planet.</p>
<p>But no longer. Stats confirm that in 2012 Thailand not only lost the lead spot but fell to third place. The primary cause of this development wasn’t a flood or a plague.</p>
<p>It was populist politics.</p>
<p>Thailand is still producing vast mountains of rice. But these days, much of it ends up in state-owned warehouses.</p>
<p>That’s because the ruling political party, during elections two years ago, promised rice farmers it would buy every grain they could produce and pay them nearly 50 percent above the market rate.</p>
<p>That’s a recipe for happy farmers, a key voting bloc. It’s also costing the government more than $12 billion a year — about 4 percent of GDP. The scheme’s architects had hoped dragging so much rice supply out of the market and into silos would ratchet up the global price and allow them to sell their vast stockpile at a premium.</p>
<p>Instead, rival rice growing nations pounced to meet the world’s demand for rice. India is now the top exporter. Vietnam has edged out Thailand for second place. And most commodities experts predict Thailand won’t be able to reclaim the crown for years to come.</p>
<p>—By Patrick Winn in Bangkok and Yangon</p>
<p>4. Myanmar: Dictator reconfigures currency to suit a lucky number</p>
<p>Ask anyone in Myanmar over the age of 40 to cite the favorite number of Ne Win, Myanmar’s Stalin-esque, longest-running strongman.</p>
<p>They’ll likely know the answer: nine.</p>
<p>In late 1987, the numerology-obsessed despot decreed that all cash notes in the country must be divisible by his lucky number. That left two notes in circulation: the 45 and 90 kyat denominations.</p>
<p>All previous bills were rendered worthless.</p>
<p>This meant that every family with savings hoarded in currency was suddenly sitting on a valueless pile of paper. Many went bankrupt overnight and the fallout was severe.</p>
<p>The demonetization disaster is often cited as a factor helping spark a street uprising that would end in an estimated 3,000 demonstrators killed and the birth of a feisty resistance movement led by Aung San Suu Kyi.</p>
<p>—By Patrick Winn in Bangkok and Yangon</p>
<p>5. China: The Four Pests Campaign</p>
<p>During China’s tragic 1960s and 1970s, the government initiated many disastrous, self-destructive policies under the “Great Helmsman,” Mao Zedong.</p>
<p>One of Mao’s earliest such policies was a drive to rid the entire country of sparrows, along with mosquitoes, flies, and rats. People were urged to shoot birds from the sky and bang pots and pans to prevent sparrows from landing until they died from exhaustion.&#160;</p>
<p>While Mao’s goal was to preserve more food for China’s agrarian population, the effect was catastrophically the opposite. With more than 2 billion birds killed, the locust population soared, devastating crops and preparing the way for what eventually became one of the greatest famines in human history.</p>
<p>—By Benjamin Carlson in Hong Kong</p>
<p>6. China: Overreaction to Liu Xiaobo’s Nobel Prize</p>
<p>In 2010, when the jailed Chinese writer and human rights activist Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Beijing could have chosen to take the news quietly and let it subside over time.</p>
<p>Instead, Chinese authorities decided to make a big stink.</p>
<p>They berated a Norwegian diplomat; cut off salmon imports; published loud editorials condemning Liu’s award as a “desecration” of the Nobel; and bullied other countries into boycotting the awards ceremony.</p>
<p>In the end, Beijing succeeded only in making a bad situation worse. Liu Xiaobo became a household name in the West, and China came out looking like a country ruled not only by a repressive regime, but one that is thin-skinned, tone deaf, and petulant.</p>
<p>—By Benjamin Carlson in Hong Kong</p>
<p>7. EU Blunder No. 1: Cyprus</p>
<p>There have been many dubious decisions in European policymakers' attempts to grapple with the debt crisis, but the Cypriot bailout debacle was an undoubted low point.</p>
<p>Back in March, the Mediterranean island’s finances were on the verge of collapse. The Cypriot government pleaded for a 17 billion-euro ($23 billion) rescue from the European Union.</p>
<p>Germany in particular was unwilling to dig deep to help a country whose slack banking controls had turned it into what the tabloid newspaper Bild denounced as a "washing machine for illegal Russian money."</p>
<p>A last-ditch compromise was agreed in the early hours of Saturday, March 16. The EU and other international creditors would contribute 10 billion euros ($13.5 billion), and Cyprus would get the rest by lifting cash from the savings of everybody in the country with money in the bank.</p>
<p>European ministers seemed satisfied and declared a done deal.</p>
<p>Horrified Cypriot citizens took to the streets to denounce a case of government smash and grab. Cypriot banks locked their doors. Economists across the world screamed the move risk shattering savers' trust and triggering runs on banks across the euro zone's shaky south.</p>
<p>"Unfair, short-sighted and self-defeating," The Economist newspaper opined.</p>
<p>Three days later, the Cypriot parliament voted to block the deal. Euro zone finance ministers had to huddle for more emergency talks and a new deal was reached — this time sparing small investors and making only those with more than 100,000 euros ($130,000) in their accounts contribute to the government bailout.</p>
<p>Although the Cypriot economy represents just 0.2 percent of total EU output, the euro zone's finance ministers enabled it to reignite the euro crisis and send a chilling message to markets about their ability to handle it with their farcical response.</p>
<p>"A remarkable policy blunder that will carry consequences for the EU," was the verdict of Nicolas Veron, senior fellow at the economic think tank Breugel.</p>
<p>—By Paul Ames in Brussels</p>
<p>8. EU Blunder No. 2: Strasbourg</p>
<p>Back in the heady, early days of European integration in the 1950s, it seemed like an excellent plan to locate the European Parliament in the French city of Strasbourg.</p>
<p>The old cathedral city facing Germany across the River Rhine would symbolize the new spirit of reconciliation, cooperation and unity among ancient foes. What better place to host the democratically elected chamber of what would become the European Union?</p>
<p>More than 50 years on, it doesn't seem such a good idea.</p>
<p>With the other main EU bodies based over 250 miles away in Brussels, the 766 members of parliament, plus their support staff, must make the trek down to the French city every month for weeklong plenary sessions. The cost to Europe's hard-pressed taxpayers is estimated at 180 million euros ($245 million) a year.</p>
<p>Over the decades, the parliament has evolved from a toothless talking shop into a fully fledged legislature whose laws apply to 500 million people across 28 countries. Its members have their permanent offices in Brussels, where parliamentary committees meet.</p>
<p>Some 78 percent of them favor ending the monthly trip down to Strasbourg — which in addition to the financial cost is estimated to generate 19,000 tons of annual carbon emissions due to lawmakers' flights and the fleet of trucks that rumbles back and forward with official documents.</p>
<p>"Parliament’s traveling circus ... is a remnant of our history — but makes little sense for a modern and efficient parliament in the 21st century — and is certainly not sustainable," Gerald Hafner, a European legislator from Germany's Green Party, wrote in May.</p>
<p>However, there’s little chance anything will be done about it. The splitting of the parliament's seat is enshrined in the EU's founding treaty and can only be changed if all 28 member countries agree.</p>
<p>That means a French president would have to vote to take away an institution that has become a cash cow for the country's seventh-largest city, bringing in an estimated $26 million a year. None has been prepared to contemplate it.</p>
<p>"I defend Strasbourg, the capital of Europe, because it is history that teaches us the role Strasbourg has to play," President Francois Hollande said on a visit this year. "Strasbourg is both the history and the future of Europe."</p>
<p>—By Paul Ames in Brussels</p>
<p>9. UK: The poll tax nightmare</p>
<p>In 1987, then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher introduced a so-called "poll tax" to pay for community services in local jurisdictions. As the levy rolled out across the country over the next few years, people got angry. Very angry. The boneheaded response to the public outcry led to Thatcher's downfall and nearly saw central London burned down.</p>
<p>In March 1990, London police stubbornly insisted that the organizers of a march against the poll tax confine their protest to Trafalgar Square — a public space that could accommodate only about one-third of the expected crowd — and failed to suspend construction work there, providing protesters with access to unsecured bricks and scaffolding. Some 200,000 people flooded the square and spilled across central London, leading to violent riots that lasted all night.</p>
<p>Thatcher resigned a few months later, still defending a tax that only 12 percent of the public supported.</p>
<p>—By Corinne Purtill in London</p>
<p>10. UK: Scruffy Grassgate</p>
<p>It was 2011 and southwest London's Merton Council was facing the equivalent of more than $110 million in spending cuts. Resources were incredibly tight, which is why people are still scratching their heads over the council's efforts to protect <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2017223/Keep-Grass-Raynes-Park-sign-erected-tiny-scrap-land.html" type="external">this 2 by 3 foot patch of grass</a>.</p>
<p>—By Corinne Purtill in London</p>
<p>11. The UK in Iraq</p>
<p>Yes, it's <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2305423/How-Tony-Blair-STILL-went-war-Iraq-despite-MI6s-damning-evidence.html" type="external">all</a> <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6128630.stm" type="external">gone</a> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/house-of-commons-22891120" type="external">very</a> <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/9932214/Iraq-war-10-years-on-at-least-116000-civilians-killed.html" type="external">poorly</a> for the UK in Iraq. Very, very poorly indeed.</p>
<p>—By Corinne Purtill in London</p>
<p>12. South Africa: On secrecy, electronic tolling and "Nkandla-gate”</p>
<p>The African National Congress (ANC) party enjoys a firm majority in South Africa’s government, so there is little chance of a US-style stalemate. But even so, some government initiatives have proved so unpopular that they required embarrassing climbdowns.</p>
<p>Take, for example, the Protection of State Information Bill — aka the “secrecy bill” — which threatens journalists and whistleblowers with prison terms of up to 25 years. Not surprisingly, it sparked an enormous amount of opposition from all corners, including civil society groups, prominent South Africans and even the powerful trade union group Cosatu, which is in an alliance with the ANC.</p>
<p>Last month in a surprise move President Jacob Zuma sent the bill back to parliament, saying it had failed to pass “constitutional muster.” His critics welcomed the decision, but noted that this is, after all, an election year.</p>
<p>Another misstep has been something called “e-tolling,” which is basically a hugely unpopular electronic road toll system to be introduced in the province that includes Johannesburg and Pretoria — the economic heart of the country.</p>
<p>Giant toll gantries were built at significant expense, but have been standing idle on freeways, with the start of the dreaded e-tolling repeatedly delayed due to mass protests and court challenges by motorist groups and trade unions. In the meantime, South Africa’s roads agency has racked up debt estimated at 36 billion rand, or $3.6 billion.</p>
<p>But in general there tends to be less squabbling over government policies and more focus on the near-constant scandals involving top officials.</p>
<p>Of particular note has been “Nkandla-gate,” in which Zuma spent $28 million of public funds on renovations to his private country estate in rural KwaZulu-Natal province. These “security upgrades” included underground bunkers, soccer fields for his bodyguards and a tuck shop for one of his four wives to run. South Africa’s main opposition party has gone to court to seek a copy of a report into Zuma’s spending that was compiled by the public works department but classified as “top secret.”</p>
<p>And then there’s “Gupta-gate,” in which Zuma’s close friends, the Gupta family, somehow were allowed to commandeer a South African military air base to welcome guests flying in from India for a niece’s wedding, under the pretense it was an “official delegation.” Good times.</p>
<p>—By Erin Conway-Smith in Johannesburg</p>
<p>13. Kenya: The international justice flip-flop</p>
<p>After political violence left well over a thousand people dead and Kenya's moribund judiciary and inept police force had failed to hold anybody to account, Kenyan MPs voted for the case to be sent to the International Criminal Court in The Hague: "Don't be vague, go to the Hague," went up the cry.</p>
<p>But when the two most senior indictees were elected president and deputy president earlier this year, the tune changed: now parliament is falling over itself as it desperately backtracks and tries to haul the case back to Kenya, where it can be safely buried.</p>
<p>—By Tristan McConnell in Nairobi</p>
<p>14. Kenya: Show us your money</p>
<p>You'd have thought that after their election to parliament in March this year Kenya's freshly minted lawmakers would quickly set to work, keen to show their constituents just how wise their electoral choice had been. You'd be wrong.</p>
<p>Instead of debating matters of national import or seeking to push policies the promise of which had gotten them elected in the first place, Kenya's MPs set about arguing for a pay rise, never mind that they are already among the best paid on the planet ($76,000 per year, not including a one-off car allowance of $59,000).</p>
<p>Popular outrage was duly triggered, and protests followed as the disgusted common man dubbed the new leaders "MPigs," a sobriquet that is proving remarkably resilient.</p>
<p>—By Tristan McConnell in Nairobi</p>
<p>15. Israel: The Yom Kippur/October War</p>
<p>On Sept. 25, 1973, the eve of the Jewish New Year, King Hussein of Jordan flew to Tel Aviv at considerable risk to warn Prime Minister Golda Meir that Syria and Egypt <a href="" type="external">were on a war footing</a>.</p>
<p>The two nations had no diplomatic ties at the time. After consulting with her top military brass, and heeding the advice of her intelligence chief, Meir decided to treat the warning as equivocal and raised no alarm.</p>
<p>Israel was therefore unprepared for the war that broke out a week later, when a coalition of Arab armies led by Egypt and Syria launched a joint surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, which that year fell during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.</p>
<p>Meir eventually lost the prime ministership for her decision to ignore the king's warning, which cost Israel hundreds, some say thousands, of lives and left the country with a trauma that has never diminished.</p>
<p>Called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur_War" type="external">Yom Kippur War in Israel</a> and the October War in the Arab world, the hostilities ended in a decisive military victory for Israel. But the losses of the first few days — during which even the call-up of Israeli reserves was halting and considerable Israeli assets were hit — filled Arab leaders with pride and left Israelis with scars and an enduring sense of vulnerability.</p>
<p>As a result, on each anniversary of the war, the Arab world exults in its imagined victory, and Israel mourns the loss of its sense of self. Last month, newly released testimony revealed that Egypt's ousted president, Hosni Mubarak, who was an air force commander in 1973, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/10322814/Mubarak-fired-the-first-shots-of-the-Yom-Kippur-war.html" type="external">boasted of having fired the first shot in the war</a>.</p>
<p>The Hussein-Meir meeting was kept from the public until a journalist published a leak in 1988. The full account of their meeting <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.545685" type="external">remains classified to this day</a>.</p>
<p>—By Noga Tarnopolsky in Jerusalem</p>
<p>16. Israel: How not to conduct diplomacy with an important neighbor</p>
<p>On Jan. 12, 2010, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon, summoned the Turkish ambassador, Ahmet Oguz Celikkol, to Jerusalem for a scolding about recent Turkish criticism of Israeli policies.</p>
<p>Ayalon called an Israeli camera crew into his cramped office and proceeded to position them in such a way that the visiting ambassador <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/id/34825873/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/israel-snubs-turkish-ambassador-public/#.Ukn4bm3i6So" type="external">would appear even smaller than he was</a>.</p>
<p>While the crew filmed and a mystified Celikkol sat listening, Ayalon explained, in Hebrew, that there was no Turkish flag on the table, that the ambassador was seated on a couch lower than his own more elevated chair, and that he was not shaking his hand.</p>
<p>"Pay attention that he is sitting in a lower chair," he said, as if to a dimwitted audience. "That there is only an Israeli flag on the table and that we are not smiling."</p>
<p>The entire farce was aired on Israeli TV that night.</p>
<p>By the next day, Ayalon had been <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/deputy-fm-ayalon-apologizes-to-turkish-ambassador-1.261346" type="external">forced into an apology</a>: "My protest of the attacks against Israel in Turkey still stands. However, it is not my way to insult foreign ambassadors and in the future I will clarify my position by more acceptable diplomatic means."</p>
<p>Seventeen Israeli parliamentarians signed a letter to Celikkol expressing their regret and embarrassment over Ayalon's behavior.</p>
<p>Realizing the potential for damage between Israel and one of its few regional allies, <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/peres-humiliation-of-turkey-envoy-does-not-reflect-israel-s-diplomacy-1.261381" type="external">President Shimon Peres called the incident</a> the "mistake of one man, not of the state."</p>
<p>In May 2010, <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a8ff423c-1eb2-11e3-b80b-00144feab7de.html#ixzz2gQ0AGEci" type="external">Israel stormed the Mavi Marmara</a>, a ship heading toward Israeli-blockaded Gaza. Nine Turks were killed, and the two countries recalled their ambassadors.</p>
<p>New ambassadors have yet to be named, <a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/03/netanyahu-apology-erdogan-gaza-flotilla-obama-trip.html" type="external">despite the high-profile attempt by President Obama</a> on his March visit to Israel, to broker a peace of sorts between the two regional economic and military superpowers.</p>
<p>—By Noga Tarnopolsky in Jerusalem</p>
<p>17. India: The famous economist flubs the Indian economy</p>
<p>India's prime minister has a doctorate in economics from Oxford. But as Forrest Gump might say, stupid is as stupid does. And since taking office in 2004, Manmohan Singh and his government have made some very boneheaded moves.</p>
<p>Despite a long-standing effort to woo foreign direct investment, where India lags woefully behind neighboring China, Singh's United Progressive Alliance government repeatedly slammed the door in the face of Walmart last year. And as the financial crisis was starting to sink in around the world, the bright sparks introduced revisions to the tax code to stick Vodafone with a $2.5 billion bill for its 2007 acquisition of one of India's leading telecom players.</p>
<p>Retrospectively. After Vodafone had <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/retrospective-amendment-of-it-act-not-specific-to-vodafone-case-pranab/article3009809.ece" type="external">won its case in India's Supreme Court</a>.</p>
<p>But Singh didn't stop there.</p>
<p>Economics 101 warns that a high current account deficit — the excess of money a government is sending out (to pay for oil, for example) versus taking in (from export earnings) — can result in a vicious cycle of currency depreciation and rising debt payments. But Professor Singh ignored a current account deficit of more than double the 2.5 percent suggested by the textbooks. Worse, he suggested that India's unique situation meant the usual rules of economics didn't apply.</p>
<p>It's easier to recognize his mistakes after the fact, of course. But Singh was using bubble logic. And the prime minister that Angela Merkel called the only world leader to truly understand the euro crisis ought to have been immune.</p>
<p>The result of these two moves — as well as repeated failures to get infrastructure projects off the ground — was a dramatic flight of foreign investors and a disastrous plunge of the rupee's value earlier this summer.</p>
<p>— By Jason Overdorf in New Delhi</p>
<p>18. Peru: A congressional “carve-up”</p>
<p>When it comes to putting political brinkmanship ahead of the national interest, Peru’s congress members have shown themselves to be every bit as intransigent as their counterparts in the US.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, the entire congress here was left humiliated after a huge public backlash against its inept attempt to make key appointments. They included three judges to the constitutional court, six officials to central bank board, and a new head of Peru’s official human rights watchdog.</p>
<p>The posts had been vacant for more than two years as the parties bickered and failed to come up with the two-thirds majority required for the appointments.</p>
<p>Eventually, under massive public pressure, congress agreed “la repartija,” or “carve-up,” in which they divvied up the different positions along party lines, including nominating several highly partisan candidates widely seen as unqualified for their new high-profile jobs.</p>
<p>The most controversial of the nominations may have been their choice for the constitutional court, a key body in protecting human rights in Peru. They tapped Rolando Sousa, a personal lawyer of former President Alberto Fujimori, who’s serving a 25-year sentence for crimes against humanity and corruption.</p>
<p>The backlash, with thousands taking to the streets, was so strong that in July congress was swiftly forced to unanimously reverse the appointments. And the 10 posts remain vacant.</p>
<p>— By Simeon Tegel in Lima</p>
<p>19. Paraguay: Ousting Lugo</p>
<p>Let’s say Barack Obama’s handling of Syria or the economy has not been to your liking. Would you want Congress to suddenly sack him, effectively overriding the votes of millions of your fellow Americans out of the blue? (Well, perhaps some staunch critics are nodding yes.)</p>
<p>That’s exactly what happened in Paraguay in June 2012, when the congress, in the space of some 24 hours, accused and impeached leftist President Fernando Lugo. The lawmakers cited a range of alleged crimes from nepotism to bungling a land dispute that left 17 protesters dead.</p>
<p>Despite almost unanimous international condemnation, the new government insisted the ouster was “constitutional.” Yet few outside the country believed due process had been observed or that Lugo had even been given a real chance to defend himself.</p>
<p>Well over a year later, and following new presidential elections, Paraguay is only just coming in from the international wilderness.</p>
<p>— By Simeon Tegel in Lima &#160;</p>
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boston mass partial government shutdown began tuesday washington seems bent waging bitter partisan battle threatens worlds largest economy say nothing human political damage spat could produce united states around world washington alone shortsightedness comes government actions theres plenty stupid go around asked globalposts senior correspondents stationed around world recount favorite examples disappoint came 19 palm meet face 1 north korea brink starvation nukes please garish war threats brassy personality cult north korea always pariah fact many experts agree worlds heavily sanctioned regime largely blame woes decade ago north south korea growing closer paving way eventual reunification peninsula north need aid emerging famine brought brink collapse south humanitarian gesture handing assistance worth millions dollars year 2006 country tested first three nuclear devices pouring resources military expense malnourished people result international isolation southerners felt particularly burned nuke tests 2008 voters pushed longpopular liberal party elected toughguy president lee myungbak slashed aid north following third nuclear test last winter united nations tightened screws passing heavy embargo state financial bank geoffrey cain seoul 2 south korea annual parliamentary brawl government shutdown looming american lawmakers venting frustration fiery opeds speeches south korean national assembly sort deadlock would apt trigger massive brawl parliament floor yes really spectacle become something rite passage korean politicians one newspaper even called yearly budget brawl since usually sparked opposition parties angry national budget past melees seen smoke grenades sledgehammers chainsaw creative use fire extinguishers images make good laugh scuffles rarely lead solutions twothirds south koreans understandably think political parties legislature corrupt extremely corrupt worst institution surveyed according study anticorruption watchdog transparency international geoffrey cain seoul 3 thailand bangkok wrecks worldclass rice production spoiling farmers youre among 35 billion people eat rice ie half humanity theres good chance youve eaten grains sprouted thailands emeraldgreen rice paddies three decades running nation exported rice planet longer stats confirm 2012 thailand lost lead spot fell third place primary cause development wasnt flood plague populist politics thailand still producing vast mountains rice days much ends stateowned warehouses thats ruling political party elections two years ago promised rice farmers would buy every grain could produce pay nearly 50 percent market rate thats recipe happy farmers key voting bloc also costing government 12 billion year 4 percent gdp schemes architects hoped dragging much rice supply market silos would ratchet global price allow sell vast stockpile premium instead rival rice growing nations pounced meet worlds demand rice india top exporter vietnam edged thailand second place commodities experts predict thailand wont able reclaim crown years come patrick winn bangkok yangon 4 myanmar dictator reconfigures currency suit lucky number ask anyone myanmar age 40 cite favorite number ne win myanmars stalinesque longestrunning strongman theyll likely know answer nine late 1987 numerologyobsessed despot decreed cash notes country must divisible lucky number left two notes circulation 45 90 kyat denominations previous bills rendered worthless meant every family savings hoarded currency suddenly sitting valueless pile paper many went bankrupt overnight fallout severe demonetization disaster often cited factor helping spark street uprising would end estimated 3000 demonstrators killed birth feisty resistance movement led aung san suu kyi patrick winn bangkok yangon 5 china four pests campaign chinas tragic 1960s 1970s government initiated many disastrous selfdestructive policies great helmsman mao zedong one maos earliest policies drive rid entire country sparrows along mosquitoes flies rats people urged shoot birds sky bang pots pans prevent sparrows landing died exhaustion160 maos goal preserve food chinas agrarian population effect catastrophically opposite 2 billion birds killed locust population soared devastating crops preparing way eventually became one greatest famines human history benjamin carlson hong kong 6 china overreaction liu xiaobos nobel prize 2010 jailed chinese writer human rights activist liu xiaobo awarded nobel peace prize beijing could chosen take news quietly let subside time instead chinese authorities decided make big stink berated norwegian diplomat cut salmon imports published loud editorials condemning lius award desecration nobel bullied countries boycotting awards ceremony end beijing succeeded making bad situation worse liu xiaobo became household name west china came looking like country ruled repressive regime one thinskinned tone deaf petulant benjamin carlson hong kong 7 eu blunder 1 cyprus many dubious decisions european policymakers attempts grapple debt crisis cypriot bailout debacle undoubted low point back march mediterranean islands finances verge collapse cypriot government pleaded 17 billioneuro 23 billion rescue european union germany particular unwilling dig deep help country whose slack banking controls turned tabloid newspaper bild denounced washing machine illegal russian money lastditch compromise agreed early hours saturday march 16 eu international creditors would contribute 10 billion euros 135 billion cyprus would get rest lifting cash savings everybody country money bank european ministers seemed satisfied declared done deal horrified cypriot citizens took streets denounce case government smash grab cypriot banks locked doors economists across world screamed move risk shattering savers trust triggering runs banks across euro zones shaky south unfair shortsighted selfdefeating economist newspaper opined three days later cypriot parliament voted block deal euro zone finance ministers huddle emergency talks new deal reached time sparing small investors making 100000 euros 130000 accounts contribute government bailout although cypriot economy represents 02 percent total eu output euro zones finance ministers enabled reignite euro crisis send chilling message markets ability handle farcical response remarkable policy blunder carry consequences eu verdict nicolas veron senior fellow economic think tank breugel paul ames brussels 8 eu blunder 2 strasbourg back heady early days european integration 1950s seemed like excellent plan locate european parliament french city strasbourg old cathedral city facing germany across river rhine would symbolize new spirit reconciliation cooperation unity among ancient foes better place host democratically elected chamber would become european union 50 years doesnt seem good idea main eu bodies based 250 miles away brussels 766 members parliament plus support staff must make trek french city every month weeklong plenary sessions cost europes hardpressed taxpayers estimated 180 million euros 245 million year decades parliament evolved toothless talking shop fully fledged legislature whose laws apply 500 million people across 28 countries members permanent offices brussels parliamentary committees meet 78 percent favor ending monthly trip strasbourg addition financial cost estimated generate 19000 tons annual carbon emissions due lawmakers flights fleet trucks rumbles back forward official documents parliaments traveling circus remnant history makes little sense modern efficient parliament 21st century certainly sustainable gerald hafner european legislator germanys green party wrote may however theres little chance anything done splitting parliaments seat enshrined eus founding treaty changed 28 member countries agree means french president would vote take away institution become cash cow countrys seventhlargest city bringing estimated 26 million year none prepared contemplate defend strasbourg capital europe history teaches us role strasbourg play president francois hollande said visit year strasbourg history future europe paul ames brussels 9 uk poll tax nightmare 1987 thenprime minister margaret thatcher introduced socalled poll tax pay community services local jurisdictions levy rolled across country next years people got angry angry boneheaded response public outcry led thatchers downfall nearly saw central london burned march 1990 london police stubbornly insisted organizers march poll tax confine protest trafalgar square public space could accommodate onethird expected crowd failed suspend construction work providing protesters access unsecured bricks scaffolding 200000 people flooded square spilled across central london leading violent riots lasted night thatcher resigned months later still defending tax 12 percent public supported corinne purtill london 10 uk scruffy grassgate 2011 southwest londons merton council facing equivalent 110 million spending cuts resources incredibly tight people still scratching heads councils efforts protect 2 3 foot patch grass corinne purtill london 11 uk iraq yes gone poorly uk iraq poorly indeed corinne purtill london 12 south africa secrecy electronic tolling nkandlagate african national congress anc party enjoys firm majority south africas government little chance usstyle stalemate even government initiatives proved unpopular required embarrassing climbdowns take example protection state information bill aka secrecy bill threatens journalists whistleblowers prison terms 25 years surprisingly sparked enormous amount opposition corners including civil society groups prominent south africans even powerful trade union group cosatu alliance anc last month surprise move president jacob zuma sent bill back parliament saying failed pass constitutional muster critics welcomed decision noted election year another misstep something called etolling basically hugely unpopular electronic road toll system introduced province includes johannesburg pretoria economic heart country giant toll gantries built significant expense standing idle freeways start dreaded etolling repeatedly delayed due mass protests court challenges motorist groups trade unions meantime south africas roads agency racked debt estimated 36 billion rand 36 billion general tends less squabbling government policies focus nearconstant scandals involving top officials particular note nkandlagate zuma spent 28 million public funds renovations private country estate rural kwazulunatal province security upgrades included underground bunkers soccer fields bodyguards tuck shop one four wives run south africas main opposition party gone court seek copy report zumas spending compiled public works department classified top secret theres guptagate zumas close friends gupta family somehow allowed commandeer south african military air base welcome guests flying india nieces wedding pretense official delegation good times erin conwaysmith johannesburg 13 kenya international justice flipflop political violence left well thousand people dead kenyas moribund judiciary inept police force failed hold anybody account kenyan mps voted case sent international criminal court hague dont vague go hague went cry two senior indictees elected president deputy president earlier year tune changed parliament falling desperately backtracks tries haul case back kenya safely buried tristan mcconnell nairobi 14 kenya show us money youd thought election parliament march year kenyas freshly minted lawmakers would quickly set work keen show constituents wise electoral choice youd wrong instead debating matters national import seeking push policies promise gotten elected first place kenyas mps set arguing pay rise never mind already among best paid planet 76000 per year including oneoff car allowance 59000 popular outrage duly triggered protests followed disgusted common man dubbed new leaders mpigs sobriquet proving remarkably resilient tristan mcconnell nairobi 15 israel yom kippuroctober war sept 25 1973 eve jewish new year king hussein jordan flew tel aviv considerable risk warn prime minister golda meir syria egypt war footing two nations diplomatic ties time consulting top military brass heeding advice intelligence chief meir decided treat warning equivocal raised alarm israel therefore unprepared war broke week later coalition arab armies led egypt syria launched joint surprise attack yom kippur holiest day jewish calendar year fell muslim holy month ramadan meir eventually lost prime ministership decision ignore kings warning cost israel hundreds say thousands lives left country trauma never diminished called yom kippur war israel october war arab world hostilities ended decisive military victory israel losses first days even callup israeli reserves halting considerable israeli assets hit filled arab leaders pride left israelis scars enduring sense vulnerability result anniversary war arab world exults imagined victory israel mourns loss sense self last month newly released testimony revealed egypts ousted president hosni mubarak air force commander 1973 boasted fired first shot war husseinmeir meeting kept public journalist published leak 1988 full account meeting remains classified day noga tarnopolsky jerusalem 16 israel conduct diplomacy important neighbor jan 12 2010 israels deputy foreign minister danny ayalon summoned turkish ambassador ahmet oguz celikkol jerusalem scolding recent turkish criticism israeli policies ayalon called israeli camera crew cramped office proceeded position way visiting ambassador would appear even smaller crew filmed mystified celikkol sat listening ayalon explained hebrew turkish flag table ambassador seated couch lower elevated chair shaking hand pay attention sitting lower chair said dimwitted audience israeli flag table smiling entire farce aired israeli tv night next day ayalon forced apology protest attacks israel turkey still stands however way insult foreign ambassadors future clarify position acceptable diplomatic means seventeen israeli parliamentarians signed letter celikkol expressing regret embarrassment ayalons behavior realizing potential damage israel one regional allies president shimon peres called incident mistake one man state may 2010 israel stormed mavi marmara ship heading toward israeliblockaded gaza nine turks killed two countries recalled ambassadors new ambassadors yet named despite highprofile attempt president obama march visit israel broker peace sorts two regional economic military superpowers noga tarnopolsky jerusalem 17 india famous economist flubs indian economy indias prime minister doctorate economics oxford forrest gump might say stupid stupid since taking office 2004 manmohan singh government made boneheaded moves despite longstanding effort woo foreign direct investment india lags woefully behind neighboring china singhs united progressive alliance government repeatedly slammed door face walmart last year financial crisis starting sink around world bright sparks introduced revisions tax code stick vodafone 25 billion bill 2007 acquisition one indias leading telecom players retrospectively vodafone case indias supreme court singh didnt stop economics 101 warns high current account deficit excess money government sending pay oil example versus taking export earnings result vicious cycle currency depreciation rising debt payments professor singh ignored current account deficit double 25 percent suggested textbooks worse suggested indias unique situation meant usual rules economics didnt apply easier recognize mistakes fact course singh using bubble logic prime minister angela merkel called world leader truly understand euro crisis ought immune result two moves well repeated failures get infrastructure projects ground dramatic flight foreign investors disastrous plunge rupees value earlier summer jason overdorf new delhi 18 peru congressional carveup comes putting political brinkmanship ahead national interest perus congress members shown every bit intransigent counterparts us earlier year entire congress left humiliated huge public backlash inept attempt make key appointments included three judges constitutional court six officials central bank board new head perus official human rights watchdog posts vacant two years parties bickered failed come twothirds majority required appointments eventually massive public pressure congress agreed la repartija carveup divvied different positions along party lines including nominating several highly partisan candidates widely seen unqualified new highprofile jobs controversial nominations may choice constitutional court key body protecting human rights peru tapped rolando sousa personal lawyer former president alberto fujimori whos serving 25year sentence crimes humanity corruption backlash thousands taking streets strong july congress swiftly forced unanimously reverse appointments 10 posts remain vacant simeon tegel lima 19 paraguay ousting lugo lets say barack obamas handling syria economy liking would want congress suddenly sack effectively overriding votes millions fellow americans blue well perhaps staunch critics nodding yes thats exactly happened paraguay june 2012 congress space 24 hours accused impeached leftist president fernando lugo lawmakers cited range alleged crimes nepotism bungling land dispute left 17 protesters dead despite almost unanimous international condemnation new government insisted ouster constitutional yet outside country believed due process observed lugo even given real chance defend well year later following new presidential elections paraguay coming international wilderness simeon tegel lima 160
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<p>This is not your typical doctor’s appointment.</p>
<p>Once a month, Irma Vásquez goes for prenatal checkups&#160;at a clinic in San Francisco’s Mission District. But instead of getting the usual one-on-one care, she meets with 12 other Latina immigrant patients.</p>
<p>The women begin their appointment by taking their own blood pressure, weighing themselves and writing down the results. They take turns seeing a midwife in a makeshift exam area in the corner of the room. The midwife checks each baby’s heart rate and talks privately with mothers-to-be.</p>
<p>Next, the patients sit in a circle and talk, in Spanish, about everything from how to eat well to problems at home.</p>
<p>Finally, there’s group meditation —&#160;Vásquez's favorite part.&#160;“It clears your mind of all the things that are going on around you, going on outside,” she says. “It makes you more relaxed.”</p>
<p>Vásquez, from Mexico, says she’s under a lot stress at home. She lives in a cramped apartment with her husband and his entire family. She says the group appointments help.</p>
<p>Vásquez and the other women are a part of a group prenatal care program called <a href="http://www.centeringhealthcare.org/pages/centering-model/pregnancy-overview.php" type="external">Centering Pregnancy</a>. Women with similar gestational ages meet, learn and have group discussions.</p>
<p>Studies show group prenatal care leads to better birth outcomes. Women who participate in Centering Pregnancy are more likely to <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23855366" type="external">breastfeed</a>&#160;and attend prenatal care appointments, and they’re less likely to have <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23445830" type="external">postpartum depression</a>&#160;and <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2276878/" type="external">preterm births</a>.</p>
<p>There’s another benefit: Centering Pregnancy is linked to fewer&#160;Cesarean&#160;sections, which saves money.&#160;For California births without complications, <a href="http://transform.childbirthconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/California.pdf" type="external">C-sections cost nearly twice as much as vaginal births</a>.</p>
<p>Margy Hutchison, a&#160;midwife,&#160;started Centering Pregnancy at&#160; <a href="http://obgyn.medschool.ucsf.edu/sfgh/clinics/our_clinics/ob/_centering.aspx" type="external">San Francisco General Hospital</a> 15 years ago for patients like Vásquez. Hutchison noticed many of her Latina immigrant patients,&#160;sitting alone and silent in the hospital’s waiting rooms,&#160;had chronic stress or depression.&#160;“It was really clear to me that many of them were really struggling,” Hutchison says. “And patients I continue to see are struggling with the impact of social isolation.”</p>
<p>Hutchison wanted to connect them,&#160;especially considering that stress, social isolation and depression are linked to&#160; <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21890014" type="external">preterm births</a>&#160;and&#160; <a href="http://www.ajog.org/article/0002-9378(93)90016-C/abstract" type="external">low birth weight</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>Initially, it was hard to convince some patients to participate in group prenatal care.</p>
<p>“If a woman’s depressed, that may be the last thing she wants to do,” Hutchison adds. “She wants to curl up in a ball and stay home.”</p>
<p>That was the case for Karent Novela, a Mexican immigrant who moved to to San Francisco a year before she became pregnant.&#160;Novela didn’t speak English, and the only family she had in the United States was her husband, who works 12-hour days. She was depressed, and was in no mood to hang out with other women.</p>
<p>Also, the Centering Pregnancy program at San Francisco General Hospital is run by midwives, and that scared Novela.&#160;A year earlier, in Mexico, she&#160;had seen a midwife without medical credentials and had a miscarriage. Now in the US, she wanted to see a doctor.</p>
<p>But the nurses at San Francisco General were persistent. They assured her that their midwives were trained professionals.</p>
<p>“The nurse that was with me, she told me, ‘You might try it. If you like it, you can stay. If you don’t like it you can just keep coming to your appointments with your doctor. But you decide. It’s your decision.'”</p>
<p>Novela enjoyed the first session and signed up.</p>
<p>“Having people who speak my language ... who are from my same background, that changed me. It changed my life,” Novela says.</p>
<p>Novela isn’t alone. Most Latina midwifery patients at San Francisco General are now choosing Centering Pregnancy over one-on-one care. And most of these women say they would do it again with future pregnancies, according to hospital officials.</p>
<p>Laurie Jurkiewicz, a midwife who runs Spanish-language&#160;Centering Pregnancy groups&#160;at San Francisco General Hospital, says some US hospitals hesitated at first to launch Centering Pregnancy programs — mostly because, like San Francisco General, they weren’t setup for group prenatal care.</p>
<p>“It’s out-of-the box thinking, right?” Jurkiewicz says. “And so our struggle was we’d get a room, and we’d get kicked out of a room at the last minute. And the rooms weren’t very nice.”&#160;</p>
<p>San Francisco General,&#160;the city's largest public hospital, eventually&#160;got its program off the ground by partnering with community clinics to use their space for the group appointments. Other hospitals are now doing the same, or even partnering with churches for meeting space.</p>
<p>Jurkiewicz says the partnerships have allowed Centering Pregnancy to flourish at her hospital. When they first established the program in 1999, there were no other prenatal programs like it on the West Coast. Today, there are 21 Centering Pregnancy programs in California, mostly at public hospitals, where <a href="http://caph.org/caphmemberhospitals/fastfacts/" type="external">over half the patients are Latino</a>. It’s also <a href="https://centeringhealthcare.secure.force.com/WebPortal/LocateCenteringSitePage" type="external">growing nationwide</a>, especially among high-risk, low-income populations.</p>
<p>Novela, the Mexican immigrant, says she has built a community with the other Latina immigrants from her Centering Pregnancy group. They now call each other for support.</p>
<p>“They didn’t have family, they didn’t have friends, and most of them had their first baby like me,” says Novela. “So I just feel like, 'OK, I’m not the only one who is having these difficulties. I’m not the only one who is suffering for this.' My way of seeing my situation changed. So I start to change.”</p>
<p>Novela says Centering Pregnancy shook things up in her life and pulled her out of her out of her depression. And that, she says, empowered her to be a better mom.</p>
<p>This story is part of our health coverage partnership with the <a href="http://solutionsjournalism.org/" type="external">Solutions Journalism Network</a>.</p>
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typical doctors appointment month irma vásquez goes prenatal checkups160at clinic san franciscos mission district instead getting usual oneonone care meets 12 latina immigrant patients women begin appointment taking blood pressure weighing writing results take turns seeing midwife makeshift exam area corner room midwife checks babys heart rate talks privately motherstobe next patients sit circle talk spanish everything eat well problems home finally theres group meditation 160vásquezs favorite part160it clears mind things going around going outside says makes relaxed vásquez mexico says shes lot stress home lives cramped apartment husband entire family says group appointments help vásquez women part group prenatal care program called centering pregnancy women similar gestational ages meet learn group discussions studies show group prenatal care leads better birth outcomes women participate centering pregnancy likely breastfeed160and attend prenatal care appointments theyre less likely postpartum depression160and preterm births theres another benefit centering pregnancy linked fewer160cesarean160sections saves money160for california births without complications csections cost nearly twice much vaginal births margy hutchison a160midwife160started centering pregnancy at160 san francisco general hospital 15 years ago patients like vásquez hutchison noticed many latina immigrant patients160sitting alone silent hospitals waiting rooms160had chronic stress depression160it really clear many really struggling hutchison says patients continue see struggling impact social isolation hutchison wanted connect them160especially considering stress social isolation depression linked to160 preterm births160and160 low birth weight160 initially hard convince patients participate group prenatal care womans depressed may last thing wants hutchison adds wants curl ball stay home case karent novela mexican immigrant moved san francisco year became pregnant160novela didnt speak english family united states husband works 12hour days depressed mood hang women also centering pregnancy program san francisco general hospital run midwives scared novela160a year earlier mexico she160had seen midwife without medical credentials miscarriage us wanted see doctor nurses san francisco general persistent assured midwives trained professionals nurse told might try like stay dont like keep coming appointments doctor decide decision novela enjoyed first session signed people speak language background changed changed life novela says novela isnt alone latina midwifery patients san francisco general choosing centering pregnancy oneonone care women say would future pregnancies according hospital officials laurie jurkiewicz midwife runs spanishlanguage160centering pregnancy groups160at san francisco general hospital says us hospitals hesitated first launch centering pregnancy programs mostly like san francisco general werent setup group prenatal care outofthe box thinking right jurkiewicz says struggle wed get room wed get kicked room last minute rooms werent nice160 san francisco general160the citys largest public hospital eventually160got program ground partnering community clinics use space group appointments hospitals even partnering churches meeting space jurkiewicz says partnerships allowed centering pregnancy flourish hospital first established program 1999 prenatal programs like west coast today 21 centering pregnancy programs california mostly public hospitals half patients latino also growing nationwide especially among highrisk lowincome populations novela mexican immigrant says built community latina immigrants centering pregnancy group call support didnt family didnt friends first baby like says novela feel like ok im one difficulties im one suffering way seeing situation changed start change novela says centering pregnancy shook things life pulled depression says empowered better mom story part health coverage partnership solutions journalism network
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<p>NUSA DUA, Indonesia - Indonesia's tech geeks stood a little taller this weekend when Google chief Eric Schmidt promised that technology would transform their country.</p>
<p>The emerging market of 240 million has the world's second largest Facebook community, its third largest Twitter base and around 40 million internet users, thanks to the rise of internet-enabled mobile phones.</p>
<p>"This is going to be an Asian future," Schmidt told hundreds of Indonesian entrepreneurs and Google groupies at a summit here in Bali.</p>
<p>Indonesia's large number of youths (30 percent of the population is between 15 and 24), and its growing middle class, with per capita income having risen to $3,000 a year, make it a fertile ground for entrepreneurship.</p>
<p>Couple that with the internet age, says Schmidt, and you have the makings of a very powerful regional player. "You're going to have an internet explosion, and that explosion will change the country," he said.</p>
<p>This internet explosion won't come without its challenges - infrastructure at the top of the list - but most argue the benefits outweigh the negatives.</p>
<p>Indonesia's incredible sprawl - it spans the distance of the United States - its cumbersome bureaucracy and wide income disparity pose some of the greatest obstacles.</p>
<p>Most Indonesians access the internet through their phones or cafes because they can't afford PCs at home. This means that, despite rapidly rising connectivity Indonesia still has the lowest internet penetration rate in Southeast Asia at 18 percent.</p>
<p>(GlobalPost in Jakarta: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/indonesia/110527/indonesia-the-next-silicon-valley" type="external">Is Indonesia the next Silicon Valley?</a>)</p>
<p>Forty million people having access to the internet is no small number, but it is so large mainly because Indonesia has a big population and not because levels of connectivity are high.</p>
<p>Growing that access creates an incredible business opportunity, notes Schmidt.</p>
<p>Last year Google generated $64 billion for U.S. businesses, he said. "That's an ad for Google, but it gives you an example of the scale that can be achieved by building your businesses on top of the internet."</p>
<p>The economic returns provided by the web are certainly a positive. But some analysts say increased internet access can also lead to abuse.</p>
<p>Many activists use new media to express their opinions and distribute news reports, but radical groups are also using it to translate propaganda and spread their extremist messages online.</p>
<p>"The internet can be used for a lot of things, good or bad. It can be used by peaceful activists or radical Islamists," said Andreas Harsono, an Indonesian researcher with Human Rights Watch.</p>
<p>At the same time, people in Japan used the web to find lost relatives and organize aid after the earthquake and tsunami in March.</p>
<p>In Indonesia activists have used Facebook to rally against corruption and draw support to various causes. Last year thousands of people joined an online movement to pay the $33,000 fine slapped on Pritya Mulyasari, a housewife charged with defamation for sending an email to friends criticizing her treatment at a local hospital.</p>
<p>Groups such as these demonstrate the internet's ability to mobilize people scattered across Indonesia's 17,000 islands, say human rights activists.</p>
<p>(GlobalPost in Bali: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/indonesia/110613/indonesia-bali-tourism-wealth-gap" type="external">Resort island's riches expose wealth gap</a>)</p>
<p>In early July hundreds of workers went on strike at Freeport McMoRan's Grasberg mine in Papua, one of the world's largest gold and copper reserves. Many said they had learned through the internet how low their wages were compared to those at Freeport's other operations and they were appalled.</p>
<p>"Without the internet they cannot learn about the imbalance," said Harsono, who frequently receives news of abuses through his online community. On July 22, for instance, he learned that two activists in southern Papua had been arrested when one of his contacts posted an update on Facebook.</p>
<p>Some say better access to information could deter foreign investors who aren't looking to deal with strikes and higher wage demands, particularly since Indonesia's low wages are one of the reasons it has become an attractive manufacturing base relative to China.</p>
<p>Gita Wirjawan, chairman of Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board, says the government understands those challenges and has the ability to deal with them. "Take a look at the macro-picture, take a look at the numbers. It's sexy," he said.</p>
<p>Indeed, Southeast Asia's largest economy is drawing the eyes of investors eager to get at its large consumer base and natural resource wealth - particularly with rising prices for coal, rubber and palm oil promising high returns.</p>
<p>(GlobalPost in Banda Aceh: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/photo-galleries/5650487/punks-fight-law-and-law-wins" type="external">Indonesian punks fight the law</a>)</p>
<p>Rapid growth coupled with a flourishing civil society and free media also create a conducive environment for online startups.</p>
<p>Rama Mamuaya, the founder of Indonesian tech-blog <a href="http://dailysocial.net" type="external">DailySocial.net</a>, estimates that there are more than 700 tech startups and a new one launches every week.</p>
<p>But with explosive growth come new worries. Mamuaya fears a tech bubble will arise from the large number of domestic investors willing to throw money at startups.</p>
<p>"It only takes maybe $100,000 to build a company, and these people are offering from $1 million to $10 million for a company that's less than a year old," he says. "It's too much money too early."</p>
<p>Investments of millions when companies haven't started generating any revenue are driving people to start even more start ups, which Rama fears could create a bubble like the one in Silicon Valley. Rather than wait to make sure the market can absorb them, more and more youths are trying to get into the tech startup scene while it's hot.</p>
<p>But many Indonesians say it's about time the international community paid them some attention. And Schmidt's visit gave them room for more optimism.</p>
<p>Vice President Boediono's spokesman Yopie Hidayat told Dow Jones that the company plans to open an office in Indonesia before 2012 as part of a strategic step to support its advertising business.</p>
<p>On Friday, Schmidt said Indonesia's 50 million small businesses should have some ability to sell and market their products online. "When that happens their product goes from a very small market to competing in the world, all because of the internet."</p>
<p>The web also gives entrepreneurs tools they can use to grow their businesses. Motorcycle taxi company Go-Jek, a new startup, and the winner of an entrepreneurship competition held in the run-up to the regional entrepreneurship summit, relies on mapping software to track its drivers and calculate travel costs based on distance.</p>
<p>Schmidt called the company a "classic example" of one that uses the internet to build a service on what has been an informal transportation system.</p>
<p>"Once upon a time technology tended to spread from elite to elite, and huge generations of able people were discriminated against," said Schmidt. "In this age of the internet, technology is accessible, it's inclusive, and it's available to you."</p>
<p>Editor's note: This article was updated to reflect the fact that Eric Schmidt is the chief executive at Google, and not the web giant's founder.</p>
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nusa dua indonesia indonesias tech geeks stood little taller weekend google chief eric schmidt promised technology would transform country emerging market 240 million worlds second largest facebook community third largest twitter base around 40 million internet users thanks rise internetenabled mobile phones going asian future schmidt told hundreds indonesian entrepreneurs google groupies summit bali indonesias large number youths 30 percent population 15 24 growing middle class per capita income risen 3000 year make fertile ground entrepreneurship couple internet age says schmidt makings powerful regional player youre going internet explosion explosion change country said internet explosion wont come without challenges infrastructure top list argue benefits outweigh negatives indonesias incredible sprawl spans distance united states cumbersome bureaucracy wide income disparity pose greatest obstacles indonesians access internet phones cafes cant afford pcs home means despite rapidly rising connectivity indonesia still lowest internet penetration rate southeast asia 18 percent globalpost jakarta indonesia next silicon valley forty million people access internet small number large mainly indonesia big population levels connectivity high growing access creates incredible business opportunity notes schmidt last year google generated 64 billion us businesses said thats ad google gives example scale achieved building businesses top internet economic returns provided web certainly positive analysts say increased internet access also lead abuse many activists use new media express opinions distribute news reports radical groups also using translate propaganda spread extremist messages online internet used lot things good bad used peaceful activists radical islamists said andreas harsono indonesian researcher human rights watch time people japan used web find lost relatives organize aid earthquake tsunami march indonesia activists used facebook rally corruption draw support various causes last year thousands people joined online movement pay 33000 fine slapped pritya mulyasari housewife charged defamation sending email friends criticizing treatment local hospital groups demonstrate internets ability mobilize people scattered across indonesias 17000 islands say human rights activists globalpost bali resort islands riches expose wealth gap early july hundreds workers went strike freeport mcmorans grasberg mine papua one worlds largest gold copper reserves many said learned internet low wages compared freeports operations appalled without internet learn imbalance said harsono frequently receives news abuses online community july 22 instance learned two activists southern papua arrested one contacts posted update facebook say better access information could deter foreign investors arent looking deal strikes higher wage demands particularly since indonesias low wages one reasons become attractive manufacturing base relative china gita wirjawan chairman indonesias investment coordinating board says government understands challenges ability deal take look macropicture take look numbers sexy said indeed southeast asias largest economy drawing eyes investors eager get large consumer base natural resource wealth particularly rising prices coal rubber palm oil promising high returns globalpost banda aceh indonesian punks fight law rapid growth coupled flourishing civil society free media also create conducive environment online startups rama mamuaya founder indonesian techblog dailysocialnet estimates 700 tech startups new one launches every week explosive growth come new worries mamuaya fears tech bubble arise large number domestic investors willing throw money startups takes maybe 100000 build company people offering 1 million 10 million company thats less year old says much money early investments millions companies havent started generating revenue driving people start even start ups rama fears could create bubble like one silicon valley rather wait make sure market absorb youths trying get tech startup scene hot many indonesians say time international community paid attention schmidts visit gave room optimism vice president boedionos spokesman yopie hidayat told dow jones company plans open office indonesia 2012 part strategic step support advertising business friday schmidt said indonesias 50 million small businesses ability sell market products online happens product goes small market competing world internet web also gives entrepreneurs tools use grow businesses motorcycle taxi company gojek new startup winner entrepreneurship competition held runup regional entrepreneurship summit relies mapping software track drivers calculate travel costs based distance schmidt called company classic example one uses internet build service informal transportation system upon time technology tended spread elite elite huge generations able people discriminated said schmidt age internet technology accessible inclusive available editors note article updated reflect fact eric schmidt chief executive google web giants founder
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<p>The London Olympics are just six weeks away. Besides track and field, swimming, and gymnastics, there's another traditional Olympic event taking place in London - debates about whether the costs and hassles were all worth it.</p>
<p>Here in North America, another city is busy preparing for its own Summer Games - Toronto will host the Pan American Games in three years. Some 10,000 athletes from 41 western hemisphere countries will attend the Pan and Parapan American Games; the Pan Am Games will have more than three times as many athletes as Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympics.</p>
<p>And just like in London, there's plenty of heated discussion in Toronto about the costs associated with putting on a major international sporting event. Critics abound, arguing that $1.4 billion CAD in taxpayer money is too high a price.</p>
<p>But the boosters and people behind the Pan Am Games have little doubt about the value that the Games will bring for Toronto. Take the case of the future athletes' village, just east of downtown Toronto. Right now, it's a bunch of dirt and trucks.</p>
<p>"This was a mixed bag of industrial uses, brickworks, tanneries, you name it, it was here. It was just really a very derelict industrial area that we had to clean off,"? said John Campbell, president and CEO of Waterfront Toronto, an organization tasked with revitalizing the city's shoreline.</p>
<p>Campbell said they had long planned condos and townhouses here, but there's nothing like a deadline to get things going.</p>
<p>"And so the Games really are coming in as a catalyst to move it forward. We were on our way to doing it, but at a slower rate. So it's really advanced the development substantially. And that of course helps other development around because the whole activity breeds more activity."?</p>
<p>For example, Toronto is building a rail line to connect the airport to downtown, as well as new stadiums, fields, and aquatic centers.</p>
<p>The opening and closing ceremonies will take place in downtown Toronto where the Blue Jays play baseball. I met Charles Sousa outside the stadium before a ballgame. He's the Ontario provincial lawmaker responsible for overseeing the Pan Am Games.</p>
<p>"This is going to be a huge economic boost to the city and to the region,"? said Sousa. "We are anticipating over 15,000 new jobs just by the creation of some of the venues. And it's enabling us to have infrastructure close at home so that we can continue to build on our great city."?</p>
<p>He adds that Toronto also gets to host some of the world's greatest athletes for two weeks.</p>
<p>Inside the stadium, I watched the Blue Jays game with Paul Henderson, a past Olympian in sailing and former member of the International Olympic Committee. He led Toronto's failed bid for the 1996 Summer Olympics. When that didn't pan out, he turned his attention to the Pan Am Games.</p>
<p>"I was the guy who had the idea to bring the Games here because I wanted to get facilities for amateur sport, for Olympic sport, in this region because we don't have many. So the way to get them is to go and get one of these Games because it makes the politicians deliver. They have to be ready on that Friday night in 2015."?</p>
<p>Henderson is glad the new facilities are finally getting built, but is worried about the way it's happening. He said event organizers are too focused on a two-week event that will come and go.</p>
<p>For example, Henderson asks: Why are they building a massive aquatics center with two Olympic-sized swimming pools and 3,200 permanent seats? He says large swimming stadiums don't make sense.</p>
<p>"They found that in Beijing, they can't use it. In most swimming competitions, you can only get 2,000 people to come at any time."?</p>
<p>Henderson added that that the aquatic center is 30-minute ride from Toronto's city center, without traffic. And there's no easy way to get there on public transportation. He advocated for a smaller swimming venue closer to downtown with more temporary seating.</p>
<p>I drove out to the future aquatic center, right now a hole in the ground, with Charles Smedmor - chartered accountant, certified fraud examiner, and self-styled government watchdog.</p>
<p>Smedmor questions why taxpayers are spending more than a billion dollars for what he calls a second-rate event.</p>
<p>"It's not going to much more than a little addendum at the end of the sports broadcast on the evening news."?</p>
<p>Smedmor has run the numbers and doesn't like what he's seeing. Most Olympics end up being money losers. But they sell a lot of tickets, broadcast rights, and sponsorships along the way to recoup costs. And sometimes, they even make money.</p>
<p>Smedmor said that won't be happening in Toronto.</p>
<p>"We're spending $1.4 billion, officially, for something that's only going to have gate of $146 million. And I can't think of any Broadway producer who puts on a show where you're only going to be taking in 10 percent of what you spend at the box office."?</p>
<p>Smedmor said the event organizers aren't being transparent or realistic about costs. For example, he argued that the Pan Am Games don't need an indoor cycling track, called a velodrome, but that a far less costly outdoor track would do just fine.</p>
<p>But Ian Troop defends the large infrastructure projects. He's the CEO of Toronto 2015, the group responsible for putting on the Pan Am Games. Troop said he's fully committed to delivering the Games on time, on budget.</p>
<p>And Troop said structures like the velodrome are being built for versatility beyond the Games.</p>
<p>"This is a 250-meter track, so the inside of this becomes a wonderful opportunity for a community center. It can fit three or four basketball courts, three-quarters of a soccer pitch as well. And it's that kind of versatility which ensures you have revenue streams going in there. You've got users using the thing, and it's got high relevance for that community after the Games are over. And that's what we're trying to do, and the velodrome is a great example of that."?</p>
<p>Troop adds that an indoor cycling track can attract future international sporting events. And, Canadian cyclists will be able to train in Toronto year-round, rather than going down to California to train as many currently do.</p>
<p>And while the Pan Am Games aren't the Olympics, many in Toronto see them as a tryout, of sorts. They look to the case of Rio de Janeiro - that city hosted the Pan Am Games in 2007. Two years later, they were awarded the grand prize, the Summer Olympics for 2016.</p>
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london olympics six weeks away besides track field swimming gymnastics theres another traditional olympic event taking place london debates whether costs hassles worth north america another city busy preparing summer games toronto host pan american games three years 10000 athletes 41 western hemisphere countries attend pan parapan american games pan games three times many athletes vancouvers 2010 winter olympics like london theres plenty heated discussion toronto costs associated putting major international sporting event critics abound arguing 14 billion cad taxpayer money high price boosters people behind pan games little doubt value games bring toronto take case future athletes village east downtown toronto right bunch dirt trucks mixed bag industrial uses brickworks tanneries name really derelict industrial area clean said john campbell president ceo waterfront toronto organization tasked revitalizing citys shoreline campbell said long planned condos townhouses theres nothing like deadline get things going games really coming catalyst move forward way slower rate really advanced development substantially course helps development around whole activity breeds activity example toronto building rail line connect airport downtown well new stadiums fields aquatic centers opening closing ceremonies take place downtown toronto blue jays play baseball met charles sousa outside stadium ballgame hes ontario provincial lawmaker responsible overseeing pan games going huge economic boost city region said sousa anticipating 15000 new jobs creation venues enabling us infrastructure close home continue build great city adds toronto also gets host worlds greatest athletes two weeks inside stadium watched blue jays game paul henderson past olympian sailing former member international olympic committee led torontos failed bid 1996 summer olympics didnt pan turned attention pan games guy idea bring games wanted get facilities amateur sport olympic sport region dont many way get go get one games makes politicians deliver ready friday night 2015 henderson glad new facilities finally getting built worried way happening said event organizers focused twoweek event come go example henderson asks building massive aquatics center two olympicsized swimming pools 3200 permanent seats says large swimming stadiums dont make sense found beijing cant use swimming competitions get 2000 people come time henderson added aquatic center 30minute ride torontos city center without traffic theres easy way get public transportation advocated smaller swimming venue closer downtown temporary seating drove future aquatic center right hole ground charles smedmor chartered accountant certified fraud examiner selfstyled government watchdog smedmor questions taxpayers spending billion dollars calls secondrate event going much little addendum end sports broadcast evening news smedmor run numbers doesnt like hes seeing olympics end money losers sell lot tickets broadcast rights sponsorships along way recoup costs sometimes even make money smedmor said wont happening toronto spending 14 billion officially something thats going gate 146 million cant think broadway producer puts show youre going taking 10 percent spend box office smedmor said event organizers arent transparent realistic costs example argued pan games dont need indoor cycling track called velodrome far less costly outdoor track would fine ian troop defends large infrastructure projects hes ceo toronto 2015 group responsible putting pan games troop said hes fully committed delivering games time budget troop said structures like velodrome built versatility beyond games 250meter track inside becomes wonderful opportunity community center fit three four basketball courts threequarters soccer pitch well kind versatility ensures revenue streams going youve got users using thing got high relevance community games thats trying velodrome great example troop adds indoor cycling track attract future international sporting events canadian cyclists able train toronto yearround rather going california train many currently pan games arent olympics many toronto see tryout sorts look case rio de janeiro city hosted pan games 2007 two years later awarded grand prize summer olympics 2016
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<p>Todrick Hall (Photo by Shawn Adeli)</p>
<p>Todrick Hall &#160; ‘Straight Outta Oz’ &#160; Tuesday, April 18 &#160; Wednesday, April 19 &#160; 8 p.m. &#160; Howard Theatre &#160; 620 T St., N.W. &#160; $35-100</p>
<p>Dancer, singer and YouTuber Todrick Hall has become a dance staple with his more than two million subscribers and videos earning millions of views.</p>
<p>The Beyoncé stan became known as an internet sensation for his medley mashups of her songs (as well as Rihanna, Arianna Grande and Taylor Swift). His “End of Time” Target dance flash mob video, where Hall and a group of dancers bust out a choreographed dance routine on unsuspecting shoppers, even grabbed the attention of the Queen B herself. Beyoncé posted a thank you to Hall on her own YouTube page.</p>
<p>His credentials reach beyond YouTube with Hall competing on “American Idol” and being a guest judge on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Hall eventually took his talent to Broadway starring as Lola in “Kinky Boots” from November until March of this year.</p>
<p>The 32-year-old choreographer released “Straight Outta Oz,” a semi-autobiographical visual album in a similar vein as his idol Beyoncé’s “Lemonade,” in June with a rerelease of a deluxe edition in March. This time, the celebrities were singing Hall’s original work with appearances from RuPaul, Bob the Drag Queen, Amber Riley, Jordin Sparks, Raven Symoné, Tamar Braxton and more. “Straight Outta Oz” has now been adapted from the computer screen to stage with a live tour.</p>
<p>Hall took a break from rehearsing to speak with the Washington Blade on being out in the public eye, RuPaul’s life advice and just what happened to Lola’s boots.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON BLADE: What about “Wizard of Oz” did you feel such a personal connection to that you wanted to do your own version?</p>
<p>TODRICK HALL: I think subconsciously I’ve always felt that my life was parallel to Dorothy. I just didn’t realize that until last year. I grew up in a small town in Texas. I always knew there was something out there that was greater for me that I wanted to get out there and see. And that’s what Dorothy does. She knew that Oz was there. Even though she realizes in the end that there’s no place like home and that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, without those experiences she would have never realized those things. I feel like I have realized so many things and put my faith, trust and my career in other people’s hands when really I had the power all along to be able to control my destiny. I realized that and said this is a story that I have to write and tell. If I feel this way and so passionate about it, a lot of other people will feel this way and identify with this as well.</p>
<p>BLADE: The visual album was released in June but in March you released a deluxe edition. Did you think of the additions you made after the initial release?</p>
<p>HALL: No. The initial release was supposed to be much smaller, but I am a perfectionist and I always want to tell the story in full. For me, I said, “Well if you tell the story of Dorothy you have to have the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion. If you have those four characters you have to have the Wizard and the Witch.” Eventually the visual album, which was supposed to be eight songs, turned into 16 songs. When we went on tour, my fans really loved the numbers that they were getting to watch that they knew and recognized. But they weren’t able to follow along to the songs that I wrote for the musical that were not a part of the tour. It got to a place where I was like, “I really want them to be able to hear the songs and the lyrics from the songs that we performed at the live concert last year that weren’t on the visual album.” So this year I rereleased it so that the songs that they didn’t know they could learn and be familiar with.</p>
<p>BLADE: The deluxe album has some big names like RuPaul and Raven-Symoné. Did you reach out to them to collaborate?&#160;</p>
<p>HALL: I reached out to them and I reached out very last minute. I was so thankful that they all were able to jump on board with sometimes 24-hours notice before they had to shoot the video.</p>
<p>BLADE: You’ve worked with RuPaul on your album and also you were a judge on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” for the last couple seasons. What’s the best piece of advice Ru gave you?</p>
<p>HALL: I don’t know if this is a piece of advice but the entire way that he looks at life. There was a moment of time when my MTV show was on television. It was airing and I was very nervous whether it would be successful. He said, “You need to live in the moment. You need to appreciate that the stars have aligned for you to have this moment and you can’t sit at home every day wondering whether or not it will be successful. It’s successful because it happened. If it doesn’t happen again, you’ll go on and have another opportunity.” My whole life I’ve always put so much pressure on each opportunity I’ve been given. We, as humans, do that often. We think that if this relationship doesn’t work, if this job isn’t the one that gets me to the top, if I don’t ace this test, then my life is over. It’s not the case. It’s a life experience. You will move on and you will be able to experience other things. That’s kind of what he taught me. So now when I’m doing a project, I give it 100 percent of my energy and then I leave that energy in that project and I say, “I hope that this does really well. But if it doesn’t, there’s a reason God gave me these gifts. So I can keep using them.” They’re not over, they’re not done, they’re not running out. I’ll go do something else. His whole insight about everything has really helped me be able to approach everything that I do with a much different lens.</p>
<p>BLADE: Your song “Water Guns” was a tribute to those who were lost to gun violence from the Pulse nightclub victims, to YouTuber Christina Grimmie and Trayvon Martin. All these people are parts of your identity: gay, YouTuber, black. How emotional was it for you to record?</p>
<p>HALL: It was very emotional for me to record. The inspiration for that song was a huge coincidence because I wrote it because I had a friend who got murdered. She was a police officer. Some people perceive that song to be a pro-Black Lives Matter song or an anti-police song. It’s not. My friend was actually an African-American police officer. She was shot and killed. I wrote the song because I’m very anti-guns and anti-violence in general. The night that I wrote the song Christina Grimmie got shot. The next night after we filmed the video the Pulse situation happened. So I went back and shot the scenes of me spray painting the names of these people because it couldn’t have been more relevant at the time that I wrote the song for my friend. That was a crazy coincidence and they both hit me really hard.</p>
<p>Pulse was one of my old stomping grounds. My first job out of high school was dancing at Walt Disney World. I knew a lot of people who worked at that club, I knew a lot of people who were there that night and some of the people who unfortunately didn’t make it out had pictures of me and them on their Instagram. These were people I didn’t know personally but I had met that were fans of mine and came to my concerts. It was just a very weird thing to think this was so close to home and that I could have been there that night. Every time I go to Orlando for my tours I go to Pulse afterward. It was a very scary thing for me and a really eye-opening thing to remind you how fragile life is and we should really live each day to the fullest.</p>
<p>BLADE: You were also on season nine of “American Idol.” You’ve mentioned before that you were concerned about being out while on the show. What made you decide to be out in your career?</p>
<p>HALL: When I was on the show I felt this pressure. They kept saying, “Appeal to middle America,” and what I translated that as was, “Don’t be so openly gay because that could offend people.” I don’t think they were saying it in a mean way. They just wanted me to be successful. After I was eliminated I realized that I got eliminated being someone I wasn’t. I would rather have been eliminated from the show for really showing people who I was. There was nothing I could have thought that was a worse feeling than getting eliminated when I didn’t even recognize the person that I was being on television. I vowed to myself after that, “I will be 100 percent myself and I will be out waving my flag and letting people know who I am.”</p>
<p>I felt it wasn’t important because it wasn’t any of their business. But it’s so important because it gives people that are coming out the confidence to say, “Well if Todrick did it, I can do it. If RuPaul did it, I can do it. If Joey Graceffa, Tyler Oakley, Kingsley and all these people who are such huge influencers online can do it than I can do it as well. There is a place for me in the entertainment industry and I don’t have to hide.” Like Colton Haynes has come out and is being celebrated and I hope and pray it doesn’t do anything negative for his career. He should not only be considered for gay roles, he should be able to play any role that he wants because that’s what actors do. It was very important for me to come and say who I truly am and I would rather maybe not reach the level of success I could have pretended to be straight. I’d rather reach the level of success that I can as the real me and be happy and free to be who I am.</p>
<p>BLADE: You just mentioned quite a few gay YouTubers. As a gay YouTuber yourself, what are your thoughts on the recent controversy of YouTube censoring LGBT content on its restricted mode?</p>
<p>HALL: I don’t know all the details. I don’t like to comment when I’m not educated on something. I was releasing my album during the time that this happened and flying from coast to coast. So I didn’t really get all the information about this. But I am positive that the gay community is so strong that if anything like that were to ever happen we would be able to get it banned and YouTube wouldn’t stand for it. YouTube has an entire department that is dedicated to the LGBTQ community. They do so much research and so much to help our community that I don’t believe this will stand.</p>
<p>BLADE: You have been busy. You just finished your run as Lola on Broadway in, “Kinky Boots.” Did they let you keep the boots?</p>
<p>HALL: Yes they did. My boots might be making a quick appearance in my upcoming tour as well.</p>
<p>BLADE: How do you go about translating the visual album to the stage?</p>
<p>HALL: It’s not a difficult transition for me because I love theater. As I was writing all the songs and shooting the videos I was already thinking of ways to bring it to life on stage. It’s not very complicated. The story kind of tells itself and the staging and a lot of the choreography is the same. We just have transitions that are not on the album still. There are three or four songs that you can only hear on the tour. I think it’s really fun to bring all those things to life on stage in front of everyone.</p>
<p>BLADE: How does it feel to bring “Straight Outta Oz” to D.C.?</p>
<p>HALL: D.C. is just one of my favorite cities to perform in. I love how much D.C. supports its fine arts. I love how much effort and energy they spend to make sure there are theaters there for people to perform in. I love specifically how the Howard Theatre is such a historical venue. It’s such a landmark for people who are African-American performers. I’m so honored to join the roster of legends of people who have performed there before me. There’s something about the energy in that building that just feels really epic. I’m so grateful to be able to get on that stage and share the story of a proud, gay black man. I think it’s very progressive and beautiful and I appreciate D.C. for supporting me the way they do.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Amber Riley</a> <a href="" type="internal">American Idol</a> <a href="" type="internal">Arianna Grande</a> <a href="" type="internal">Beyonce</a> <a href="" type="internal">Bob the Drag Queen</a> <a href="" type="internal">Christina Grimmie</a> <a href="" type="internal">Colton Haynes</a> <a href="" type="internal">Howard Theatre</a> <a href="" type="internal">Joey Graceffa</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jordin Sparks</a> <a href="" type="internal">Kingsley</a> <a href="" type="internal">Kinky Boots</a> <a href="" type="internal">Orlando massacre</a> <a href="" type="internal">Raven-Symone</a> <a href="" type="internal">Rihanna</a> <a href="" type="internal">RuPaul</a> <a href="" type="internal">RuPaul's Drag Race</a> <a href="" type="internal">Straight Outta Oz</a> <a href="" type="internal">Tamar Braxton</a> <a href="" type="internal">Taylor Swift</a> <a href="" type="internal">the Pulse nightclub</a> <a href="" type="internal">Todrick Hall</a> <a href="" type="internal">Trayvon Martin</a> <a href="" type="internal">Tyler Oakley</a> <a href="" type="internal">youtube</a></p>
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todrick hall photo shawn adeli todrick hall 160 straight outta oz 160 tuesday april 18 160 wednesday april 19 160 8 pm 160 howard theatre 160 620 st nw 160 35100 dancer singer youtuber todrick hall become dance staple two million subscribers videos earning millions views beyoncé stan became known internet sensation medley mashups songs well rihanna arianna grande taylor swift end time target dance flash mob video hall group dancers bust choreographed dance routine unsuspecting shoppers even grabbed attention queen b beyoncé posted thank hall youtube page credentials reach beyond youtube hall competing american idol guest judge rupauls drag race hall eventually took talent broadway starring lola kinky boots november march year 32yearold choreographer released straight outta oz semiautobiographical visual album similar vein idol beyoncés lemonade june rerelease deluxe edition march time celebrities singing halls original work appearances rupaul bob drag queen amber riley jordin sparks raven symoné tamar braxton straight outta oz adapted computer screen stage live tour hall took break rehearsing speak washington blade public eye rupauls life advice happened lolas boots washington blade wizard oz feel personal connection wanted version todrick hall think subconsciously ive always felt life parallel dorothy didnt realize last year grew small town texas always knew something greater wanted get see thats dorothy knew oz even though realizes end theres place like home grass isnt always greener side without experiences would never realized things feel like realized many things put faith trust career peoples hands really power along able control destiny realized said story write tell feel way passionate lot people feel way identify well blade visual album released june march released deluxe edition think additions made initial release hall initial release supposed much smaller perfectionist always want tell story full said well tell story dorothy scarecrow tin man lion four characters wizard witch eventually visual album supposed eight songs turned 16 songs went tour fans really loved numbers getting watch knew recognized werent able follow along songs wrote musical part tour got place like really want able hear songs lyrics songs performed live concert last year werent visual album year rereleased songs didnt know could learn familiar blade deluxe album big names like rupaul ravensymoné reach collaborate160 hall reached reached last minute thankful able jump board sometimes 24hours notice shoot video blade youve worked rupaul album also judge rupauls drag race last couple seasons whats best piece advice ru gave hall dont know piece advice entire way looks life moment time mtv show television airing nervous whether would successful said need live moment need appreciate stars aligned moment cant sit home every day wondering whether successful successful happened doesnt happen youll go another opportunity whole life ive always put much pressure opportunity ive given humans often think relationship doesnt work job isnt one gets top dont ace test life case life experience move able experience things thats kind taught im project give 100 percent energy leave energy project say hope really well doesnt theres reason god gave gifts keep using theyre theyre done theyre running ill go something else whole insight everything really helped able approach everything much different lens blade song water guns tribute lost gun violence pulse nightclub victims youtuber christina grimmie trayvon martin people parts identity gay youtuber black emotional record hall emotional record inspiration song huge coincidence wrote friend got murdered police officer people perceive song problack lives matter song antipolice song friend actually africanamerican police officer shot killed wrote song im antiguns antiviolence general night wrote song christina grimmie got shot next night filmed video pulse situation happened went back shot scenes spray painting names people couldnt relevant time wrote song friend crazy coincidence hit really hard pulse one old stomping grounds first job high school dancing walt disney world knew lot people worked club knew lot people night people unfortunately didnt make pictures instagram people didnt know personally met fans mine came concerts weird thing think close home could night every time go orlando tours go pulse afterward scary thing really eyeopening thing remind fragile life really live day fullest blade also season nine american idol youve mentioned concerned show made decide career hall show felt pressure kept saying appeal middle america translated dont openly gay could offend people dont think saying mean way wanted successful eliminated realized got eliminated someone wasnt would rather eliminated show really showing people nothing could thought worse feeling getting eliminated didnt even recognize person television vowed 100 percent waving flag letting people know felt wasnt important wasnt business important gives people coming confidence say well todrick rupaul joey graceffa tyler oakley kingsley people huge influencers online well place entertainment industry dont hide like colton haynes come celebrated hope pray doesnt anything negative career considered gay roles able play role wants thats actors important come say truly would rather maybe reach level success could pretended straight id rather reach level success real happy free blade mentioned quite gay youtubers gay youtuber thoughts recent controversy youtube censoring lgbt content restricted mode hall dont know details dont like comment im educated something releasing album time happened flying coast coast didnt really get information positive gay community strong anything like ever happen would able get banned youtube wouldnt stand youtube entire department dedicated lgbtq community much research much help community dont believe stand blade busy finished run lola broadway kinky boots let keep boots hall yes boots might making quick appearance upcoming tour well blade go translating visual album stage hall difficult transition love theater writing songs shooting videos already thinking ways bring life stage complicated story kind tells staging lot choreography transitions album still three four songs hear tour think really fun bring things life stage front everyone blade feel bring straight outta oz dc hall dc one favorite cities perform love much dc supports fine arts love much effort energy spend make sure theaters people perform love specifically howard theatre historical venue landmark people africanamerican performers im honored join roster legends people performed theres something energy building feels really epic im grateful able get stage share story proud gay black man think progressive beautiful appreciate dc supporting way amber riley american idol arianna grande beyonce bob drag queen christina grimmie colton haynes howard theatre joey graceffa jordin sparks kingsley kinky boots orlando massacre ravensymone rihanna rupaul rupauls drag race straight outta oz tamar braxton taylor swift pulse nightclub todrick hall trayvon martin tyler oakley youtube
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<p>BANGKOK&#160;—&#160;The girls bunked three-deep in a run-down Best Value Inn room, each of them far from home and earning minimum wage at the McDonald’s franchise inside Pittsburgh International Airport.</p>
<p>Jiratchaya Intarakhumwong and her friends&#160;—&#160;law, English and business students at some of Thailand’s most elite universities&#160;—&#160;had adopted an immigrant’s life.</p>
<p>Jiratchaya would wake before the first light, don her McDonald’s uniform in cramped quarters and catch a shuttle bus to the airport. The morning shift began at 6 a.m.</p>
<p>The days were long, the work was repetitive and customers sometimes grew impatient with her sparse English. But after her tour was over, she arrived back in Bangkok with a highly sought after bullet point on her resume: foreign work experience.</p>
<p>This summer, thousands of young Thais will replicate Jiratchaya’s experience in America, piling into cheap hotels and apartments to work jobs often left to poor Americans and immigrants with few options.</p>
<p>The Thai students, however, will actually pay for the privilege of frying burgers and bagging fries.</p>
<p>This phenomenon is known as “work trah-VUHL” in Thai. It’s fueled by Bangkok’s upper-middle class families, who pay work travel agencies upwards of $3,000&#160;—&#160;a small fortune in Thai currency&#160;—&#160;to arrange fast food jobs in America. And it’s a testament to Thai employers’ high regard for American work experience, even if that experience consists of ringing up Big Macs.</p>
<p>“Most of us actually chose to work at McDonald’s,” said Jiratchaya, now a 22-year-old service representative at the deluxe Sofitel Hotel. “Employers will at least see that I could make it in America … and that I’ve got some language skills.”</p>
<p>Most students take a financial loss and earn back only half&#160;—&#160;or less&#160;—&#160;of the cash they pay agencies. Agents set up work visas, job placements and sometimes plane tickets, but rarely rent or expenses.</p>
<p>Still, Thai students often describe their fast food tours of duty in romantic terms, as a rite of passage and a rare opportunity to work and live among Americans. Bookstores devote whole shelves to “work travel” guides, which explain visa procedures and present images of young, happy Thais posing in their McDonald’s uniforms.</p>
<p>The Thai-language book "Go Work, Go Study, Go Vacation in America: Don’t Think You Can’t" is part how-to guide, part memoir about a Bangkok college student’s stints at McDonald’s and Whattaburger franchises in the Florida panhandle.</p>
<p>The author, known only as “Baeya,” explains in detail the concept of a “drive-thru,” her no-nonsense manager named “Diamond” and the persistent customers who tried to woo her.</p>
<p>“We were all very excited,” she wrote of her first day at McDonald’s. “I tried to tell myself and all my friends that we don’t have to worry. Even if they scold us, we won’t understand anyway.”</p>
<p>According to U.S. State Department figures, about 150,000 foreign students came to America in 2007 under J-1 visas, the signature visa “work travel” agencies must secure for their student clients. If foreign students can prove their enrollment in a university and a passable command of English, they’re given four months to work in America.</p>
<p>McDonald’s headquarters isn’t aware of the chain’s popularity among Thai students, said Danya Proud, the company's senior manager of U.S. media relations. And the fast food behemoth doesn’t keep stats on foreign students since independent franchises do the hiring.</p>
<p>In the highly competitive post-college job circuit, a stint abroad shows initiative. Even former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra once worked at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in the U.S.</p>
<p>“When I was interviewed for my current job, my boss saw that I’m an active person,” said Wiphawee Phansiriphat, who spent the summer of 2007 at a McDonald’s in Mobile, Ala., before graduating from Bangkok’s Kasetsart University. She now handles guest relations at Bangkok’s four-star Amari Hotel.</p>
<p>But not all Thai work travelers arrive in the U.S. they imagined. Many gravitate towards states offering the lower costs of living, far from the neon-lit America portrayed by Hollywood.</p>
<p>“I chose Alabama because I heard it was cheap,” said Wiphawee, who paid an agency more than $3,300 for her plane ticket and McDonald’s placement. “But when I arrived, I saw Mobile and I thought, wow, maybe I was wrong about this.”</p>
<p>Like Jiratchaya, she lived with three other roommates. Each day, she would leave her apartment to walk more than a mile in the Alabama heat to her McDonald’s branch. There, she ran the drive-thru and often struggled to decipher deep-south accents. (Their pronunciation of “syrup” was particularly daunting.)</p>
<p>“At first, it was kind of exciting because I’d never been around so many ‘farangs,’” she said, using the Thai word for white-skinned foreigners. “But there was nothing to do in Mobile. Nowhere to go.”</p>
<p>But neither Wiphawee nor Jiratchaya regret their work travel experience. Nor do many of their peers, who regard the American fast food crucible as a badge of honor&#160;—&#160;and a means of setting themselves apart in the post-college job search.</p>
<p>“Honestly?” Jiratchaya said. “If I had money, I’d go back.”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>More by Patrick Winn:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/thailand/090218/war-games-paradise" type="external">War games in paradise</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/thailand/090211/fair-and-balanced-bangkok-no" type="external">Fair and balanced in Bangkok? No</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/thailand/090202/bangkok-sinking-1" type="external">Bangkok is sinking</a></p>
| false | 3 |
bangkok160160the girls bunked threedeep rundown best value inn room far home earning minimum wage mcdonalds franchise inside pittsburgh international airport jiratchaya intarakhumwong friends160160law english business students thailands elite universities160160had adopted immigrants life jiratchaya would wake first light mcdonalds uniform cramped quarters catch shuttle bus airport morning shift began 6 days long work repetitive customers sometimes grew impatient sparse english tour arrived back bangkok highly sought bullet point resume foreign work experience summer thousands young thais replicate jiratchayas experience america piling cheap hotels apartments work jobs often left poor americans immigrants options thai students however actually pay privilege frying burgers bagging fries phenomenon known work trahvuhl thai fueled bangkoks uppermiddle class families pay work travel agencies upwards 3000160160a small fortune thai currency160160to arrange fast food jobs america testament thai employers high regard american work experience even experience consists ringing big macs us actually chose work mcdonalds said jiratchaya 22yearold service representative deluxe sofitel hotel employers least see could make america ive got language skills students take financial loss earn back half160160or less160160of cash pay agencies agents set work visas job placements sometimes plane tickets rarely rent expenses still thai students often describe fast food tours duty romantic terms rite passage rare opportunity work live among americans bookstores devote whole shelves work travel guides explain visa procedures present images young happy thais posing mcdonalds uniforms thailanguage book go work go study go vacation america dont think cant part howto guide part memoir bangkok college students stints mcdonalds whattaburger franchises florida panhandle author known baeya explains detail concept drivethru nononsense manager named diamond persistent customers tried woo excited wrote first day mcdonalds tried tell friends dont worry even scold us wont understand anyway according us state department figures 150000 foreign students came america 2007 j1 visas signature visa work travel agencies must secure student clients foreign students prove enrollment university passable command english theyre given four months work america mcdonalds headquarters isnt aware chains popularity among thai students said danya proud companys senior manager us media relations fast food behemoth doesnt keep stats foreign students since independent franchises hiring highly competitive postcollege job circuit stint abroad shows initiative even former thai prime minister thaksin shinawatra worked kentucky fried chicken us interviewed current job boss saw im active person said wiphawee phansiriphat spent summer 2007 mcdonalds mobile ala graduating bangkoks kasetsart university handles guest relations bangkoks fourstar amari hotel thai work travelers arrive us imagined many gravitate towards states offering lower costs living far neonlit america portrayed hollywood chose alabama heard cheap said wiphawee paid agency 3300 plane ticket mcdonalds placement arrived saw mobile thought wow maybe wrong like jiratchaya lived three roommates day would leave apartment walk mile alabama heat mcdonalds branch ran drivethru often struggled decipher deepsouth accents pronunciation syrup particularly daunting first kind exciting id never around many farangs said using thai word whiteskinned foreigners nothing mobile nowhere go neither wiphawee jiratchaya regret work travel experience many peers regard american fast food crucible badge honor160160and means setting apart postcollege job search honestly jiratchaya said money id go back 160 patrick winn war games paradise fair balanced bangkok bangkok sinking
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<p><a href="" type="internal" />Bills being introduced that monitor or change terms for the state’s high-speed rail project are a rarity. However, there are two bills brewing in the Legislature.</p>
<p>One has a shot at passing. The other doesn’t.</p>
<p>Senate Bill 400 would require the California High-Speed Rail Authority to use at least 25 percent of its cap-and-trade funds for projects to reduce or offset construction emissions. The bill comes as two groups have brought legal challenges to the state’s cap-and-trade program and the state’s plan for measuring emissions from the high-speed rail project. The bill traces its origins to the powerful Hispanic caucus and is expected to pass in the largely pro-rail legislature.</p>
<p>SB400, introduced by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, has been approved in the Senate and is moving through committees in the Assembly.</p>
<p>Last year the Legislature appropriated 25 percent of the state’s revenues from cap-and-trade auctions to the high-speed rail project. SB400 would reduce construction funds to 18.75 percent of the revenues, with the remainder going to “reduce or offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions directly associated with the construction of the high-speed rail project and provide a co-benefit of improving air quality,” according to a Senate analysis of the bill.</p>
<p>The analysis suggests that this bill might save the cap-and-trade program, which is being challenged by two lawsuits.</p>
<p>A suit brought by the <a href="http://blog.pacificlegal.org/its-cap-and-trade-time-again/" type="external">Pacific Legal Foundation</a>, which <a href="http://www.pacificlegal.org/about1" type="external">favors</a> limited government and “sensible environmental policies,” claims that the very existence of the cap-and-trade program is an illegal tax. The case is on appeal and expected to be heard in the fall.</p>
<p><a href="http://transdef.org/HSR/ARB.html" type="external">A second suit</a> asserts that a state plan to reduce emissions improperly calculated the impact of the high-speed rail project — which the plaintiffs allege will actually contribute to greenhouse gases instead of reduce them.</p>
<p>The plaintiffs in their complaint say that the state’s estimates “were neither real, permanent, quantifiable or verifiable but were instead illusory because in reality the construction of the (rail) project would result in a significant increase in (greenhouse gas) emissions prior to 2030 or beyond.”</p>
<p>The suit is being brought by the Transportation Solutions Defense and Education Fund, a nonprofit environmental group.</p>
<p>The rail project is not slated to be operational by 2020, which is the deadline in state law to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAnalysisClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB400" type="external">The Senate analysis</a>&#160;points out that state law restricts the use of cap-and-trade funds.</p>
<p>“The Constitution requires that a clear nexus exist between an activity for which a mitigation fee is used and the adverse effects related to the activity on which that fee is levied. …</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>“It is important that legislation allocating cap-and-trade revenues ensure that the funds are being used to reduce (greenhouse gas)&#160;emissions. If opponents of the program can convince the courts that the revenues are not being used appropriately, the entire cap-and-trade program could be jeopardized.”</p>
<p>The analysis hints that the rail program’s use of cap-and-trade funds, as currently outlined, doesn’t meet legal standards, and that passage of the bill would shore up the legal standing of the program and help the state win the pending court cases.</p>
<p>“If opponents of the program can convince the courts that the revenues are not being used appropriately, the entire cap-and-trade program could be jeopardized,” the analysis reads.</p>
<p>The cap-and-trade program&#160;is <a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAnalysisClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB400#" type="external">estimated</a> to bring in as much as $2 billion a year in fees.</p>
<p>An <a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAnalysisClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB400" type="external">analysis in the Assembly</a> shows that some lawmakers remain sympathetic to the aims of the bill but not as positive on its potential effects.</p>
<p>The bill would significantly drive up the cost of the rail project by reducing its only stable revenue stream, according to a summary of transportation committee members’ concerns. This could threaten completion and jeopardize any future environmental benefits.</p>
<p>“The project is already sorely underfunded,” the analysis states.</p>
<p>The analysis also points out that SB400 is intended to offset environmental impacts from construction but does not impose any requirement that the redirected money, approximately $125 million, be spent in communities near the construction zones. The bill could result in “millions of dollars being spent in Southern California, hundreds of miles from the high-speed rail construction sites.”</p>
<p>In other words, it could result in a money grab for other transit projects in Southern California, not the “disadvantaged communities” proposed in the bill.</p>
<p>Republicans in the Legislature have been unsuccessful for the past three years with more than a dozen bills that attempted to manage, change or end the high-speed rail program. All failed on party-line votes to get out of committee. In fact, Rep. Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, has a graveyard with little tomb stone markers set up in his backyard for failed bills he’s introduced on various subjects including high-speed rail.</p>
<p>Despite the fact that Senate Bill 3 has bipartisan sponsorship, from Sens. Andy Vidak, R-Hanford, and Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, it’s expected to suffer a similar fate.</p>
<p>The bill would direct the Legislature to approve putting high-speed rail back on the ballot. It would redirect high-speed rail funds to retiring the debt incurred from the issuance and sale of bonds. It would also require that unsold bonds use half the net proceeds for funding repair and new construction projects on state highways and freeways. The other half would be used to fund projects on local streets and roads.</p>
| false | 3 |
bills introduced monitor change terms states highspeed rail project rarity however two bills brewing legislature one shot passing doesnt senate bill 400 would require california highspeed rail authority use least 25 percent capandtrade funds projects reduce offset construction emissions bill comes two groups brought legal challenges states capandtrade program states plan measuring emissions highspeed rail project bill traces origins powerful hispanic caucus expected pass largely prorail legislature sb400 introduced sen ricardo lara dbell gardens approved senate moving committees assembly last year legislature appropriated 25 percent states revenues capandtrade auctions highspeed rail project sb400 would reduce construction funds 1875 percent revenues remainder going reduce offset greenhouse gas ghg emissions directly associated construction highspeed rail project provide cobenefit improving air quality according senate analysis bill analysis suggests bill might save capandtrade program challenged two lawsuits suit brought pacific legal foundation favors limited government sensible environmental policies claims existence capandtrade program illegal tax case appeal expected heard fall second suit asserts state plan reduce emissions improperly calculated impact highspeed rail project plaintiffs allege actually contribute greenhouse gases instead reduce plaintiffs complaint say states estimates neither real permanent quantifiable verifiable instead illusory reality construction rail project would result significant increase greenhouse gas emissions prior 2030 beyond suit brought transportation solutions defense education fund nonprofit environmental group rail project slated operational 2020 deadline state law reduce states greenhouse gas emissions 1990 levels senate analysis160points state law restricts use capandtrade funds constitution requires clear nexus exist activity mitigation fee used adverse effects related activity fee levied 160 important legislation allocating capandtrade revenues ensure funds used reduce greenhouse gas160emissions opponents program convince courts revenues used appropriately entire capandtrade program could jeopardized analysis hints rail programs use capandtrade funds currently outlined doesnt meet legal standards passage bill would shore legal standing program help state win pending court cases opponents program convince courts revenues used appropriately entire capandtrade program could jeopardized analysis reads capandtrade program160is estimated bring much 2 billion year fees analysis assembly shows lawmakers remain sympathetic aims bill positive potential effects bill would significantly drive cost rail project reducing stable revenue stream according summary transportation committee members concerns could threaten completion jeopardize future environmental benefits project already sorely underfunded analysis states analysis also points sb400 intended offset environmental impacts construction impose requirement redirected money approximately 125 million spent communities near construction zones bill could result millions dollars spent southern california hundreds miles highspeed rail construction sites words could result money grab transit projects southern california disadvantaged communities proposed bill republicans legislature unsuccessful past three years dozen bills attempted manage change end highspeed rail program failed partyline votes get committee fact rep jim patterson rfresno graveyard little tomb stone markers set backyard failed bills hes introduced various subjects including highspeed rail despite fact senate bill 3 bipartisan sponsorship sens andy vidak rhanford rudy salas dbakersfield expected suffer similar fate bill would direct legislature approve putting highspeed rail back ballot would redirect highspeed rail funds retiring debt incurred issuance sale bonds would also require unsold bonds use half net proceeds funding repair new construction projects state highways freeways half would used fund projects local streets roads
| 517 |
<p>Dec. 14, 2012</p>
<p>By Katy Grimes</p>
<p>After big election seasons, it’s always interesting to see what the campaign and lobbying violations were. However, rarely is this information timely.</p>
<p>It’s even more interesting that this information is not publicized prior to election day.</p>
<p>Most interesting however, are the lobbying reporting violations. These always appear to me to be risk-reward decisions, and not the typical and sloppy goofs made by political campaigns. The fines for lobbying reporting violations seem to support this as they are larger than most of the campaign reporting violations. The lobbyists listed in this report received large payments for lobbying services, but failed to timely report these payments as required by California law.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fppc.ca.gov/press_release.php?pr_id=767" type="external">The Fair Political Practices Commission reported</a>:</p>
<p>“California law requires lobbying entities to file registration forms and quarterly reports to provide the public with specified information,” the FPPC <a href="http://www.fppc.ca.gov/press_release.php?pr_id=767" type="external">website</a> said. The following failed to timely file the required forms or failed to include all required information:</p>
<p>Sacramento Advocacy and Catherine Barankin, failed to timely file quarterly lobbyist and lobbying firm reports from July 1, 2010 through September 30, 2012 involving over $500,000 in payments received for lobbying services.&#160;$22,500 fine.</p>
<p>California Industrial Hygiene Council and Jaime Steedman-Lyde. California Industrial Hygiene Council, a California lobbyist employer, and Jaime Steedman-Lyde, the Responsible Officer, failed to timely file ten Lobbyist Employer Reports between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2012, failing to disclose total payments made for lobbying services in the amount of $95,557.03.&#160;$10,000 fine.</p>
<p>California Collaboration for Youth and Rick Benfield. California Collaboration for Youth, a California lobbyist employer, and Rick Benfield, the Youth’s Responsible Officer, failed to timely file twelve Lobbyist Employer Reports between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2012, failing to disclose total payments made for lobbying services in the amount of $149,032.28.&#160;$12,000 fine.</p>
<p>State Public Affairs Committee – Junior Leagues of California and Wendy Penbera.&#160;State Public Affairs Committee – Junior Leagues of California, a California lobbyist employer, and Wendy Penbera, the Responsible Officer, failed to timely file two Lobbyist Employer Reports between October 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010, failing to disclose total payments made for lobbying services in the amount of $11,708.27.&#160;$2,000 fine.</p>
<p>Wildlife Center and Lindy O’Leary.&#160;Wildlife Center, a California lobbyist employer, and Lindy O’Leary, the Responsible Officer, failed to timely file five Lobbyist Employer Reports between October 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010, failing to disclose total payments made for lobbying services in the amount of $65,910.76.&#160;$5,000 fine.</p>
<p>California State Alliance of YMCAs and Sal Cisnaros.&#160;California State Alliance of YMCAs, a California lobbyist employer, and Sal Cisnaros, the Responsible Officer, failed to timely file twelve Lobbyist Employer Reports (Form 635) between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2012, failing to disclose total payments made for lobbying services in the amount of $397,623.11.&#160;$12,000 fine.</p>
<p>See the other <a href="http://www.fppc.ca.gov/press_release.php?pr_id=767" type="external">lobbying reporting violations here.</a></p>
<p>According to the FPPC, the biggest campaign reporting violation went to&#160;Daniel K. Tabor, Tabor for Mayor 2010, and Krishna Tabor, Treasurer. Daniel K. Tabor was a candidate for mayor of the City of Inglewood in the June 8, 2010, special election, the August 31, 2010, run-off election, the November 2, 2010, general election, and the January 11, 2011, run-off election. Tabor for Mayor 2010 was his candidate-controlled committee, and Krishna Tabor was the committee’s treasurer. They failed to timely file preelection statements for the March 18, 2010, through May 22, 2010, the July 1, 2010, through August 14, 2010, the August 15, 2010, through September 30, 2010, the October 1, 2010, through October 16, 2010, the October 17, 2010, through November 27, 2010, and the November 28, 2010, through December 25, 2010, reporting periods; failed to timely file a semiannual statement for the May 23, 2010, through June 30, 2010, reporting period; and failed to file late contribution reports within 24 hours of receiving nine late contributions, totaling approximately $29,500, between August 15, 2010, and January 10, 2011.&#160;$32,000 fine.</p>
<p>Californians for Privacy, Luke Breit and Michael Gunter. Californians for Privacy is a state general purpose committee organized for the purpose of decriminalizing prostitution. Luke Breit was the treasurer of the committee from April 2008, through the termination of the committee, on or about November 9, 2012. Michael Gunter took over the treasurer duties from approximately June 2008, through approximately April 29, 2009, when Mr. Breit resumed the treasurer duties. Mr. Gunter and the committee failed to file an amended statement of organization regarding a change of the committee’s treasurer; Between October 15, 2008, and March 11, 2009, Mr. Gunter caused the committee to make expenditures of campaign funds, which conferred a substantial personal benefit on him, for purposes other than directly related to a political, legislative, or governmental purpose; On or about December 2, 2009, Mr. Breit made a loan of committee campaign funds for purposes other than reasonably related to a political, legislative, or governmental purpose; the committee and Mr. Breit failed to timely file a semi-annual campaign statement for the reporting period January 1, 2010, through June 30, 2010, which was due by August 2, 2010; the committee and Mr. Breit failed to maintain the detailed accounts, records, bills, and receipts necessary to prepare the semi-annual campaign statement, for the reporting period of&#160;July 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009, to establish that the campaign statement was properly filed, and to comply with the campaign reporting provisions of the Act.&#160;$17,000 fine.</p>
<p>Colton Police Officers Association PAC&#160;failed to timely file a preelection statement for the October 1, 2010, through October 16, 2010, reporting period, by October 21, 2010; failed to timely report four late independent expenditures made between October 17, 2010, and November 1, 2010; and failed to properly report 60 contributions of $100 or more received during the July 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010.&#160;$7,500 fine.</p>
<p>Warren P. Willis, and Warren Willis for Senate 2010. Warren P. Willis was a successful candidate for California State Senate, 30th District, in the June 8, 2010 primary election and he was an unsuccessful candidate in the November 2, 2010 general election. Warren Willis for Senate 2010 was Mr. Willis’ candidate controlled committee. At all relevant times, Mr. Willis was treasurer of his committee. This matter arose out of an audit performed by the Political Reform Audit Program of the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) for the period of January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010. Respondents failed to file a statement of organization by the April 19, 2010 due date; failed to file a pre-election campaign statement by the May 27, 2010 due date, for the reporting period of January 1 through May 22, 2010; and the committee accepted and Mr. Willis made two personal loans his committee, in the amount of $15,000 each, which caused the outstanding balance of personal loans made by Mr. Willis to his committee to exceed the $100,000 threshold by $25,000.&#160;$10,000 fine.</p>
<p>There was even a money laundering violation.</p>
<p>Ana Maria Gonzalez Ibarra, an individual who works at the Macy’s Department Store as a salesperson in the City of Chula Vista, made two campaign contributions through her friends, by reimbursing them with a personal check, for the campaign contributions they made. The two contributions, totaling $600, were made to Steve Castaneda in connection with the June 8, 2010 election in the City of Chula Vista.$10,000 fine.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fppc.ca.gov/press_release.php?pr_id=767" type="external">Read the FPPC report here</a>.</p>
| false | 3 |
dec 14 2012 katy grimes big election seasons always interesting see campaign lobbying violations however rarely information timely even interesting information publicized prior election day interesting however lobbying reporting violations always appear riskreward decisions typical sloppy goofs made political campaigns fines lobbying reporting violations seem support larger campaign reporting violations lobbyists listed report received large payments lobbying services failed timely report payments required california law fair political practices commission reported california law requires lobbying entities file registration forms quarterly reports provide public specified information fppc website said following failed timely file required forms failed include required information sacramento advocacy catherine barankin failed timely file quarterly lobbyist lobbying firm reports july 1 2010 september 30 2012 involving 500000 payments received lobbying services16022500 fine california industrial hygiene council jaime steedmanlyde california industrial hygiene council california lobbyist employer jaime steedmanlyde responsible officer failed timely file ten lobbyist employer reports october 1 2009 september 30 2012 failing disclose total payments made lobbying services amount 955570316010000 fine california collaboration youth rick benfield california collaboration youth california lobbyist employer rick benfield youths responsible officer failed timely file twelve lobbyist employer reports october 1 2009 september 30 2012 failing disclose total payments made lobbying services amount 1490322816012000 fine state public affairs committee junior leagues california wendy penbera160state public affairs committee junior leagues california california lobbyist employer wendy penbera responsible officer failed timely file two lobbyist employer reports october 1 2009 march 31 2010 failing disclose total payments made lobbying services amount 11708271602000 fine wildlife center lindy oleary160wildlife center california lobbyist employer lindy oleary responsible officer failed timely file five lobbyist employer reports october 1 2009 december 31 2010 failing disclose total payments made lobbying services amount 65910761605000 fine california state alliance ymcas sal cisnaros160california state alliance ymcas california lobbyist employer sal cisnaros responsible officer failed timely file twelve lobbyist employer reports form 635 october 1 2009 september 30 2012 failing disclose total payments made lobbying services amount 3976231116012000 fine see lobbying reporting violations according fppc biggest campaign reporting violation went to160daniel k tabor tabor mayor 2010 krishna tabor treasurer daniel k tabor candidate mayor city inglewood june 8 2010 special election august 31 2010 runoff election november 2 2010 general election january 11 2011 runoff election tabor mayor 2010 candidatecontrolled committee krishna tabor committees treasurer failed timely file preelection statements march 18 2010 may 22 2010 july 1 2010 august 14 2010 august 15 2010 september 30 2010 october 1 2010 october 16 2010 october 17 2010 november 27 2010 november 28 2010 december 25 2010 reporting periods failed timely file semiannual statement may 23 2010 june 30 2010 reporting period failed file late contribution reports within 24 hours receiving nine late contributions totaling approximately 29500 august 15 2010 january 10 201116032000 fine californians privacy luke breit michael gunter californians privacy state general purpose committee organized purpose decriminalizing prostitution luke breit treasurer committee april 2008 termination committee november 9 2012 michael gunter took treasurer duties approximately june 2008 approximately april 29 2009 mr breit resumed treasurer duties mr gunter committee failed file amended statement organization regarding change committees treasurer october 15 2008 march 11 2009 mr gunter caused committee make expenditures campaign funds conferred substantial personal benefit purposes directly related political legislative governmental purpose december 2 2009 mr breit made loan committee campaign funds purposes reasonably related political legislative governmental purpose committee mr breit failed timely file semiannual campaign statement reporting period january 1 2010 june 30 2010 due august 2 2010 committee mr breit failed maintain detailed accounts records bills receipts necessary prepare semiannual campaign statement reporting period of160july 1 2009 december 31 2009 establish campaign statement properly filed comply campaign reporting provisions act16017000 fine colton police officers association pac160failed timely file preelection statement october 1 2010 october 16 2010 reporting period october 21 2010 failed timely report four late independent expenditures made october 17 2010 november 1 2010 failed properly report 60 contributions 100 received july 1 2010 december 31 20101607500 fine warren p willis warren willis senate 2010 warren p willis successful candidate california state senate 30th district june 8 2010 primary election unsuccessful candidate november 2 2010 general election warren willis senate 2010 mr willis candidate controlled committee relevant times mr willis treasurer committee matter arose audit performed political reform audit program franchise tax board ftb period january 1 2010 december 31 2010 respondents failed file statement organization april 19 2010 due date failed file preelection campaign statement may 27 2010 due date reporting period january 1 may 22 2010 committee accepted mr willis made two personal loans committee amount 15000 caused outstanding balance personal loans made mr willis committee exceed 100000 threshold 2500016010000 fine even money laundering violation ana maria gonzalez ibarra individual works macys department store salesperson city chula vista made two campaign contributions friends reimbursing personal check campaign contributions made two contributions totaling 600 made steve castaneda connection june 8 2010 election city chula vista10000 fine read fppc report
| 819 |
<p>By Alan Bean</p>
<p>Dan Page, the St. Louis police officer who famously <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/watch-cops-physically-push-cnns-don-lemon-during-tense-ferguson-protest/" type="external">pushed</a> CNN anchor Don Lemon, has been relieved of duty. Pushing Lemon in front of a national television audience had nothing to do with it.</p>
<p>It was Page’s bizarre speech, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XA_yW7Z5OM" type="external">delivered</a> in April of 2012 to the “Oath Keepers” of St. Louis and Lake Charles, a group that describes itself as “a non-partisan association of current and formerly serving military, police, and first responders who pledge to fulfill the oath all military and police take to ‘defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”</p>
<p>Here are a few highlights from Page’s screed:</p>
<p>“Policemen are very cynical. I know I am. I hate everybody. I’m into diversity. I kill everybody.”</p>
<p>“We have no business passing hate crime laws. None. Because we’re setting aside a group of people special. We got a Supreme Court out of control with laws on sodomy.” (Page then refers to the “four sodomites” sitting on the Supreme Court.)</p>
<p>Page says he left the army because he refused to serve under “that illegal alien who claims to be our president.”</p>
<p>John Belmar, the St. Louis County police chief, has <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/22/dan-page-st-louis-police-officer_n_5702000.html" type="external">suspended</a> Mr. Page pending an internal investigation and psychiatric evaluation. “(I) apologize to the community and anybody who is offended by these remarks,” Belmar said, “and understand from me that he … does not represent the rank-and-file of the St. Louis County Police Department.”</p>
<p>I doubt Dan Page reflects mainstream opinion within the police department or the military. But until the video was released, he was an officer in good standing after serving, he claims, nine tours of duty in the U.S. military.</p>
<p>There are plenty of mentally unstable people with bizarre opinions afoot in the land, and they seem to be attracted to authoritarian institutions such as law enforcement and the military.</p>
<p>The social upheaval in Ferguson, Mo., over the past two weeks raised serious questions about the culture of law enforcement. Evidence suggests that there is a strain of intolerance, authoritarianism and racial hostility within law enforcement and military culture that is tolerated and, in some quarters, tacitly encouraged. These attitudes may not be characteristic of these entities, but they are clearly part of the mix.</p>
<p>If Dan Page had nuanced his remarks a bit when he spoke in 2012, he would still be on the force. To what extent is Page an egregious example of normal?</p>
<p>And I wonder who invited Dan Page to address the Oath keepers group in 2012, and why. You don’t invite complete unknowns to address your organization; you invite people with a reputation for being informative, entertaining or amusing.</p>
<p>Apparently, somebody thought Page fit that bill.</p>
<p>How did they feel when he concluded his remarks? Page ends his rambling remarks by asking for questions and the audience appears to accept him as an authority on the coming One World Government takeover.</p>
<p>A man asks if it is true that “Tea Party members and Christians” in the military are being court-martialed. Page says they are.</p>
<p>A woman asks: “So what happens because good men like you are all retiring from the military. So what kind of military will we have left then?”</p>
<p>“Sodomites and females,” Page answers without hesitation.</p>
<p>Did anyone associated with the organization complain about the content of Page’s remarks? Did anyone send of copy of Page’s speech to his superiors and ask if they knew what their officer was saying in public?</p>
<p>Not at all. The Oath Keepers gave their guest speaker a warm round of applause and presented him with an Oath Keepers pin.</p>
<p>The most disturbing excerpt from Dan Page’s rant didn’t get quoted in most of the news stories I have seen.</p>
<p>“I personally believe in Jesus Christ as my lord and savior, but I’m also a killer. I’ve killed a lot, and if I need to, I’ll kill a whole bunch more. If you don’t want to get killed, don’t show up in front of me. It’s that simple.”</p>
<p>Throughout his speech, officer Page brandished a big black Bible — a sign, one assumes, that he believes the Good Book provides a warrant for his personal brand of hate.</p>
<p>If I thought Dan Page was the only person in America who associates Jesus Christ with violence and hate I might let this pass. But this equation is frightfully common.</p>
<p>Anyone with a passing familiarity with the gospels will realize that “Jesus Christ is my savior but I’m a killer” is the theological equivalent of 2+2=22: a complete non sequitur.</p>
<p>Jesus taught a radical form of non-violence. (Gandhi didn’t make this stuff up.) He lived non-violently in a violent world, and it cost him his life.</p>
<p>Jesus’ resurrection is, among other things, God’s final way of saying, “This is my beloved Son, listen to him” (Luke 9:35). By raising Jesus from the dead, God was signing off on his message, including the bits that debunk the myth of redemptive violence.</p>
<p>Am I suggesting that the non-violent message of Jesus could be worked into a viable philosophy of law enforcement? That’s precisely what I’m saying.</p>
<p>On those rare occasions when police officers approached the protesters in Ferguson with respect and restraint, the tension in the air subsided considerably and the hot-heads in the crowd were deprived of an opportunity to strut their stuff. When officers treated protesters like lawless troublemakers things went south very quickly.</p>
<p>The words of Jesus bear the seal of approval of God almighty. If you trust in violence and still want to claim Jesus as your savior, you don’t know Jesus and you don’t understand salvation. We are saved as we allow the non-violent kingdom of Jesus Christ to break our hearts and refashion our minds.</p>
<p>May Dan Page be blessed with this knowledge before he shuffles off this <a href="http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/319800.html" type="external">mortal coil</a>.</p>
<p>— This commentary is adapted from an ABPnews/Herald <a href="" type="internal">blog</a>.</p>
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alan bean dan page st louis police officer famously pushed cnn anchor lemon relieved duty pushing lemon front national television audience nothing pages bizarre speech delivered april 2012 oath keepers st louis lake charles group describes nonpartisan association current formerly serving military police first responders pledge fulfill oath military police take defend constitution enemies foreign domestic highlights pages screed policemen cynical know hate everybody im diversity kill everybody business passing hate crime laws none setting aside group people special got supreme court control laws sodomy page refers four sodomites sitting supreme court page says left army refused serve illegal alien claims president john belmar st louis county police chief suspended mr page pending internal investigation psychiatric evaluation apologize community anybody offended remarks belmar said understand represent rankandfile st louis county police department doubt dan page reflects mainstream opinion within police department military video released officer good standing serving claims nine tours duty us military plenty mentally unstable people bizarre opinions afoot land seem attracted authoritarian institutions law enforcement military social upheaval ferguson mo past two weeks raised serious questions culture law enforcement evidence suggests strain intolerance authoritarianism racial hostility within law enforcement military culture tolerated quarters tacitly encouraged attitudes may characteristic entities clearly part mix dan page nuanced remarks bit spoke 2012 would still force extent page egregious example normal wonder invited dan page address oath keepers group 2012 dont invite complete unknowns address organization invite people reputation informative entertaining amusing apparently somebody thought page fit bill feel concluded remarks page ends rambling remarks asking questions audience appears accept authority coming one world government takeover man asks true tea party members christians military courtmartialed page says woman asks happens good men like retiring military kind military left sodomites females page answers without hesitation anyone associated organization complain content pages remarks anyone send copy pages speech superiors ask knew officer saying public oath keepers gave guest speaker warm round applause presented oath keepers pin disturbing excerpt dan pages rant didnt get quoted news stories seen personally believe jesus christ lord savior im also killer ive killed lot need ill kill whole bunch dont want get killed dont show front simple throughout speech officer page brandished big black bible sign one assumes believes good book provides warrant personal brand hate thought dan page person america associates jesus christ violence hate might let pass equation frightfully common anyone passing familiarity gospels realize jesus christ savior im killer theological equivalent 2222 complete non sequitur jesus taught radical form nonviolence gandhi didnt make stuff lived nonviolently violent world cost life jesus resurrection among things gods final way saying beloved son listen luke 935 raising jesus dead god signing message including bits debunk myth redemptive violence suggesting nonviolent message jesus could worked viable philosophy law enforcement thats precisely im saying rare occasions police officers approached protesters ferguson respect restraint tension air subsided considerably hotheads crowd deprived opportunity strut stuff officers treated protesters like lawless troublemakers things went south quickly words jesus bear seal approval god almighty trust violence still want claim jesus savior dont know jesus dont understand salvation saved allow nonviolent kingdom jesus christ break hearts refashion minds may dan page blessed knowledge shuffles mortal coil commentary adapted abpnewsherald blog
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<p>Jennifer’s memories were scattered and fleeting. They came suddenly, triggered by a smell or a glimpse of light dappled through stained glass. The aroma of freshly baked mince pies repulsed her nostrils. Scented candles, like the ones in the small San Antonio, Texas church she attended as an elementary school girl, made her gag with disgust.</p>
<p />
<p>Jimmy Chalk</p>
<p>Then, one day, years after her life began unraveling, it all came pouring out.</p>
<p>“She finally came and told me that he had raped her,” the girl’s mother told GlobalPost. Therapy had dragged up Jennifer’s memories: a sudden blacking out, possibly from a drug she had been slipped, then dizzily regaining consciousness on a bed in the rectory. “I remember when I came to, it was just him and me and he was on top of me and I remember that stained-glass window and he did it in front of the Blessed Sacrament,” Jennifer told her mother.</p>
<p>*****</p>
<p>Jennifer — who is identified only by her first name because she still suffers trauma from the alleged incident — is by no means the only parishioner to accuse Father Federico Fernandez Baeza of abuse.</p>
<p>Fernandez arrived in San Antonio in the early 1980s. By 1983, prosecutors had charged him with exposing himself to two young girls in a local swimming pool. A year later, he had begun ritually abusing and raping two young boys in his care, according to a 1988 lawsuit filed by a local family. The abuse continued for two years, the lawsuit claimed.</p>
<p>The priest was never convicted of a crime. Instead the church negotiated a large cash settlement, and Fernandez promptly relocated to Colombia, where he continued working for the Catholic Church. In May, GlobalPost traced him to the picturesque seaside city of Cartagena. He’s currently a senior administrator and priest at a prestigious Catholic university, enjoying all the privilege, respect and unfettered access to young people that comes with being a member of the clergy.</p>
<p>*****</p>
<p>Fernandez is just one of scores of Catholic priests who have been accused of abusing children in the United States and Europe, but who have avoided accountability simply by moving to a less-developed country.</p>
<p />
<p>Boats bob next to the tiny fishing village of Puerto Huarmey, Peru.</p>
<p>Jimmy Chalk/GlobalPost</p>
<p>Even as Pope Francis has touted reform of the Vatican’s safeguards against child abuse, GlobalPost has found that the Catholic Church has allowed allegedly abusive priests to slip off to parts of the world where they would face less scrutiny from prosecutors and the media.</p>
<p>In a yearlong investigation, we tracked down and confronted five such priests. All were able to continue working for the church despite serious accusations against them. When we found them, all but one continued to lead Mass, mostly in remote, poor communities in South America.</p>
<p>Some of these men faced criminal investigations, but went abroad without charges being brought against them. One of the priests admitted to GlobalPost that he had molested a 13-year-old boy, and acknowledged that he can never work again in the US. He continues to preach in a small Peruvian fishing village. Another is currently under investigation by authorities in Brazil for a string of alleged molestations, including accusations in the poor neighborhoods where for two decades he ran a home for street children —&#160;with the support of the Catholic Church.</p>
<p />
<p>Inside the office of Vicar General Juan Roger Rodriguez Ruiz, the one diocese leader who agreed to an interview.</p>
<p>Jimmy Chalk/GlobalPost</p>
<p>For advocates and attorneys who have studied abusive Catholic priests for decades, the flight of these fathers overseas represents just the latest chapter in a long story of deceit, collusion and church-sponsored impunity for child abusers.</p>
<p>“As developed countries find it tougher to keep predator priests on the job, bishops are increasingly moving them to the developing world where there’s less vigorous law enforcement, less independent media and a greater power differential between priests and parishioners,” said David Clohessy, national director and spokesman for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or&#160;SNAP. “This is massive, and my suspicion is that it’s becoming more and more pronounced.”</p>
<p />
<p>Father Jan Van Dael holds onto a strand of a boy's hair as he collects free soup. "Look at his hair!" the priest calls to reporters.</p>
<p>Jimmy Chalk/GlobalPost</p>
<p>“He reminds me of a boy who was in my house in Rio de Janeiro,” Van Dael says, referring to the orphanage he used to run in the 1980s.</p>
<p>The boy wriggles free and lines up to fill his pot from the containers of soup that Van Dael and his volunteers have brought to this small slum just outside the rough-and-tumble city of Caucaia, in Brazil’s northeast.</p>
<p>Van Dael, an avuncular, slightly doddery Belgian priest, seems deeply affectionate toward pre-adolescent boys. He loves to take their photographs. He reaches for children he barely knows, like a father hungry for attention.</p>
<p>Back in the late 1980s, Van Dael moved from Europe to Brazil, first settling in Rio de Janeiro. After a falling out with the local diocese (Van Dael says church officials objected to his working with poor street children whom they deemed criminals), the Belgian was asked to leave, and ended up in windswept Caucaia, a few miles from the crime-ridden city of Fortaleza.</p>
<p>Taking advantage of Brazil’s extraordinary exchange rates at the time, which greatly favored the US dollar and European currencies, the “gringo priest” set up a new orphanage for abandoned and troubled street kids.</p>
<p>He called it “Esperança da Criança,” or Children’s Hope.</p>
<p>But the home's whitewashed walls — which Van Dael hung with dozens of photographs he took of young boys — appear to have borne witness to plenty of misery, along with any hope.</p>
<p>According to Brazilian prosecutors, Van Dael is currently under investigation by both the Belgian and Brazilian federal authorities, an inquiry that adds to a litany of child abuse accusations against Van Dael on two continents.</p>
<p>Last year, a&#160; <a href="http://brandpunt.kro.nl/seizoenen/2015/afleveringen/10-02-2015/fragmenten/de-kinderen-van-pater-jan/extras/the-children-of-pastor-jan" type="external">Dutch television station</a>&#160;interviewed two men who claimed Van Dael fondled them at church and at a Catholic summer camp in Belgium in the early 1970s. A federal prosecutor in Fortaleza told the station that there had also been several complaints of sexual abuse against Van Dael over the last 10 years.</p>
<p />
<p>Father Jan Van Dael shows off his collection of portraits — most of young boys — on the veranda outside his home. The building once housed orphans, but Van Dael closed that operation down two years ago.</p>
<p>Jimmy Chalk/GlobalPost</p>
<p>In 2011, two former interns at Van Dael’s orphanage told the Belgian media that children there said the priest had abused them. And the head of a local government child protection agency in Caucaia told GlobalPost he had received a complaint about Van Dael back in 2008. The complaint languished, the official said, because the agency didn’t have the staff or resources to investigate it.</p>
<p>Van Dael has been suspected of pedophilia for years. Meanwhile, his career as a priest has flourished in the Archdiocese of Fortaleza.</p>
<p>His services are in constant demand. He said he sometimes celebrates Mass six times a weekend in the poor neighborhoods of Caucaia. When we visited, Van Dael led services at two different churches and handed out soup to children, something he said he does every day.</p>
<p>In a lengthy interview, he told GlobalPost he has never been sexually attracted to children. He said all the accusations against him are lies, drummed up by abusive parents, envious competitors, or university students who don’t understand the world. He compared himself to Jesus Christ, saying he was a rebel, a trailblazer and a true humanitarian.</p>
<p>“Literally, pedophilia comes from the Greek, 'pidos' meaning child and 'philia' meaning friendship with children,” Van Dael said. “In the real sense of the word I’m a pedophile.”</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>The archbishop of Fortaleza, who has control over which priests celebrate Mass within the archdiocese, initially agreed to an interview. But after we confronted Van Dael about the accusations against him, the archbishop said he couldn’t meet with GlobalPost.</p>
<p>The Catholic Church has a long history of secrecy in matters related to sex abuse allegations, reaffirmed by a 2001&#160; <a href="http://www.bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/churchdocs/SacramentorumAndNormaeEnglish.htm" type="external">confidential apostolic letter</a>&#160;written by Pope John Paul II.</p>
<p>The letter clarified that all cases of sexual abuse by priests were to be handled by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, an internal affairs unit of the Catholic Church, which was then headed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (who became pope in 2005). The letter also reasserted that all such cases must be kept strictly confidential under the “pontifical secret,” a move that has been heavily criticized ever since.</p>
<p>In August, Livia Maria de Sousa, a federal prosecutor in Fortaleza, told GlobalPost that her staff had interviewed three people who formerly lived in Van Dael’s orphanage, as part of an ongoing investigation against the priest. She said the interviews had uncovered no new evidence against Van Dael, and added that investigators were also scheduled to interview the priest in September.</p>
<p>De Sousa lamented that abusive priests too often come to Brazil in search of prey. She said investigating child sex abuse within the church can be frustratingly slow&#160;and difficult&#160;— especially when suspects are revered as moral icons, and victims are too young to understand sexual contact.&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>Children play soccer outside the city of Caucaia, in northeastern Brazil.</p>
<p>Jimmy Chalk/GlobalPost</p>
<p>“Brazil is a country where Catholicism is very strong and present, and where the people really respect the church, priests, bishops and all religious authorities,” she said. “So it’s very difficult for a child to understand an act, a touch, that might have a sense of exploitation and abuse, and that is in fact abuse.”</p>
<p>Van Dael closed down&#160;Esperança da Criança a couple of years ago, when the Brazilian authorities changed their policies for housing troubled children. But he continues to come into daily contact with vulnerable children.</p>
<p>In doing so, Van Dael draws his legitimacy from the Archdiocese of Fortaleza and, ultimately, the Vatican. Despite years of accusations and investigations, Van Dael said he has never faced a formal investigation by the church.</p>
<p>Father Paul Madden is an admitted child molester.</p>
<p>In the 1970s, Madden, who was then a priest in the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi, took a trip to Ireland with a 13-year-old boy in his parish. During that trip, according to a lawsuit filed by the victim in 2002, Madden “repeatedly molested and raped” the boy.</p>
<p />
<p>Father Paul Madden offers communion to a congregant in Puerto Huarmey, Peru.</p>
<p>Jimmy Chalk/GlobalPost</p>
<p>“Since 1973 I have been plagued with remorse and guilt for my molestation of your son,” reads the letter. “There is no excuse for my actions and I assume responsibility for them as a humble penitent.”</p>
<p>In 2003 — soon after the victim’s second lawsuit was dismissed because too much time had passed — Madden joined the Diocese of Chimbote, Peru. In April, GlobalPost found him celebrating his weekly Mass in the tiny, scruffy fishing village of Puerto Huarmey.</p>
<p>Approached after the service, Madden again admitted the abuse, though he wouldn’t elaborate on what occurred.</p>
<p>“Something happened, I was drunk, and I had never drank before in my life, it was the first time ever, and I woke up in the middle of the night, and … yeah, well, something happened,” he told GlobalPost.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Madden expressed remorse for his actions, but said that, in keeping with church teachings, God has forgiven him for his sins.</p>
<p>“I feel quite confident in the mercy of God, and I feel quite confident that God forgives all sin,” he said. “If I’m guilty, I’m forgiven.”</p>
<p>Still, he’s under no illusions that he’s been pardoned in the eyes of the American public, or even the American Catholic Church. Asked if he could return to work as a priest in the US, Madden, who is originally from Ireland, was clear.</p>
<p>“I don’t think so, no, because of this ‘zero policy.’ And this was before — that’s not just from Pope Francis, this came out years before in the US.”</p>
<p>Madden was referring to a “zero tolerance” policy on child sex abuse that was&#160; <a href="http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/22nd-june-2002/26/us-bishops-approve-harsh-new-policy-on-clerical-se" type="external">approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002</a>. The policy aimed to remove any and all priests who have abused children, no matter how long ago.</p>
<p />
<p>The small fishing village of Puerto Huarmey, Peru, a few hours drive north of Lima. The church where Father Paul Madden celebrates mass is on the right.</p>
<p>Jimmy Chalk/GlobalPost</p>
<p>“When even a single act of sexual abuse by a priest or deacon is admitted or is established after an appropriate process in accord with canon law, the offending priest or deacon will be removed permanently from ecclesiastical ministry,” reads one of the rules approved by the Vatican after the conference.</p>
<p>Last year, Pope Francis ostensibly took the US church’s policy global when he&#160; <a href="http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/02/05/pope-writes-bishops-to-back-zero-tolerance-on-sex-abuse/" type="external">wrote a letter to every Catholic bishop in the world</a>&#160;stating that they must abide by the zero tolerance rules.</p>
<p>But victim advocates say the pope’s message was an exercise in public relations, and that meaningful change is still a long way off.</p>
<p>Anne Barrett-Doyle is a founder of BishopAccountability.org, which tracks abusive priests around the world. She said that despite the pope’s letter, it’s still entirely unclear what standards bishops worldwide are now being held to. She said the rules in the US, though far from perfect, remain much more stringent than church doctrine elsewhere.</p>
<p>“It’s a lie, it’s absolutely false that there’s anything approaching zero tolerance in the emerging abuse policies around the world,” Barrett-Doyle said.</p>
<p>In Peru, Madden’s church superior acknowledged that the new zero tolerance paradigm requires the diocese to act in this case.</p>
<p />
<p>The church where Father Paul Madden celebrates Mass, in Puerto Huarmey, Peru. Father Madden admitted to molesting a 13-year-old boy, and told GlobalPost he could never again work in the US.</p>
<p>Jimmy Chalk/GlobalPost</p>
<p>Interviewed in the city of Chimbote, Vicar General Juan Roger Rodriguez Ruiz, the diocese' second-in-command, said that&#160;Bishop Angel Simon Piorno was shocked to learn from GlobalPost about Madden’s past, and would scrutinize the priest in light of the zero tolerance policy.</p>
<p>“Some may find it hard, even painful, that the bishop has to investigate a priest, but it has to be done,” Rodriguez said. He added that Madden would be suspended if necessary.</p>
<p>However, in mid-August a member of Madden’s parish confirmed to GlobalPost by phone that the priest continued to preach every Sunday. We attempted to confirm this with Rodriguez, but our email and phone calls went unreturned.</p>
<p>To find Father Francisco “Fredy” Montero, one has to negotiate a deadly, precipitous mountain pass — so high that wisps of cloud sweep past — searching for a village that locals describe vaguely as “very remote” and “out there somewhere in the tropics.”</p>
<p>The road, gouged in places by great landslides, weaves down from chilly highlands to the steamy, banana-stuffed interior of central Ecuador’s Bolivar province. Here, an hour’s drive from the nearest small town and several hours from the nearest big city, is the hamlet of Las Naves.</p>
<p />
<p>The road to Las Naves snakes through unpaved mountain passes littered with rocks.</p>
<p>Jimmy Chalk/GlobalPost</p>
<p>On Google Maps, Las Naves appears as a ring of green jungle. There are no streets, landmarks or homes. It’s wildly different from the broad avenues of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where not long ago Montero made a name for himself as a gregarious priest, church journalist, part-time radio DJ and accused child molester.</p>
<p>Montero, then in his mid-30s, had been a popular addition to the Archdiocese of Minneapolis.</p>
<p>A quick talker with an easy smile, he charmed the local Hispanic population, helped to found a Spanish-language church newspaper and installed himself as a fixture in his adopted homeland.</p>
<p />
<p>Father Francisco “Fredy” Montero's mugshot.</p>
<p>Courtesy of Global Post</p>
<p>“Father Fredy,” as he was known to parishioners, was hardly the archetypal pious priest. For months, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5L77P-SxhuhMHpTYXpLU09ZSnc/view?usp=sharing" type="external">according to a police report</a>, he had been sleeping with at least one adult churchgoer — a witness to the abuse — who later told police she and the priest would have sex on Montero’s desk&#160;on a daily basis.</p>
<p>The little girl, who is not being identified at the request of her mother, was interviewed by a forensic psychologist and by other experts with the Hennepin County Child Protection Services. They concluded Montero had, indeed, abused the girl. Later, when Montero appealed that finding, the agency upheld it, according to a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5L77P-SxhuhYTVaa3FiVktMeVk/view?usp=sharing" type="external">diocese document obtained by GlobalPost</a>.</p>
<p>Police investigators searched through Montero’s computer, looking for evidence of child pornography. But prosecutors eventually decided there simply wasn’t enough evidence to charge the priest with a crime. Almost immediately, Montero flew back to Ecuador.</p>
<p>Sgt. Darren Blauert, the Minneapolis detective who investigated Montero, said although there were no charges brought, something happened to the child that was “very inappropriate.” He expressed serious concern that Montero had been allowed to continue to work with children.</p>
<p>“There was enough that I would be very concerned that this person was continuing what he was doing,” Blauert said.</p>
<p>GlobalPost's trip to far-flung Guaranda, where Montero is now based, serves as a reminder of what a huge, sprawling institution the Catholic Church is, and how challenging it might seem to police priests who span the globe.</p>
<p />
<p>The city of Guaranda, Ecuador, the capital of the mountainous Bolivar Province.</p>
<p>Jimmy Chalk/GlobalPost</p>
<p>But thanks to the internet, for many priests a background check is only a few clicks away.</p>
<p>BishopAccountability.org maintains a database of more than 6,400 clerics who have been credibly accused of child sexual abuse in the United States. The database contains extensive information about Montero, Madden, Van Dael and many&#160;other priests who have avoided scrutiny by simply getting on a plane and flying to a new country.&#160;</p>
<p>In Montero’s case, there was no need to even double-check the priest’s background in those online records. Court documents show that the Minnesota accusations followed him to Ecuador.</p>
<p>A dossier sent from the Archdiocese of Minneapolis to Guaranda warned the South American diocese of Montero’s past. Archdiocese officials also reported the alleged abuse to the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s internal investigators.</p>
<p>But Montero was apparently able to shrug off his past once he arrived back in his native Ecuador.</p>
<p>After a brief hiatus, during which he said he was employed as a journalist, Montero was placed in a succession of remote local parishes in the diocese of Guaranda, where he continued to celebrate Mass and interact extensively with young people. He eventually stopped working as a priest a couple of years ago —&#160;not because of the accusations against him or the potential harm he might inflict on children, but because he decided to run for mayor of Las Naves. The local bishop decided politics and priesthood weren’t a good mix, he said.</p>
<p />
<p>One of the main streets of Guaranda, a city in central Ecuador and the home diocese of Father Montero.</p>
<p>Jimmy Chalk/GlobalPost</p>
<p>Bishop Angel Sanchez, who welcomed Montero back to Guaranda, now heads a different diocese in Ecuador. He said in a telephone interview that at the time Montero returned to Ecuador he was aware of the accusations against the priest in the US. But Sanchez said he was confident of Montero’s innocence,&#160;since the case against him was “not concrete,” and the priest was never criminally charged.</p>
<p>The bishop also confirmed that, to his knowledge, Montero was not investigated further by the Vatican after arriving in Ecuador.</p>
<p>Victim advocates say Montero’s case is a textbook example of how the Catholic Church is shirking its responsibility to protect children.</p>
<p>Zero tolerance policies are one thing, but without meaningful implementation by local bishops — the Vatican’s footmen and enforcers in communities —&#160;church doctrines make little difference, according to Clohessy, the director of SNAP.</p>
<p>“There’s no checks and balances,” Clohessy said. “It’s like having speed limits with no cops.”</p>
<p />
<p>A reporter confronts Montero after spotting him driving by with a truck full of young people.</p>
<p>Jimmy Chalk/GlobalPost</p>
<p>Anderson said the onus to protect children was on the bishops of Guaranda and Minneapolis, whom he claims let Montero flee to Ecuador without being held accountable. And the ultimate responsibility for protecting children from predator priests, he says, lies with the Vatican.</p>
<p>“Until this pope removes top officials in these crimes and sends a message that he is serious, nothing seems to change,” Anderson said. “Until this pope turns over all the documents and all the offenders who they know are offenders and are in ministry and turn them over to law enforcement across the globe, there seems to be little that is being done or changed.”</p>
<p>David Joles, the father of the young girl whom Montero allegedly abused, finds it hard to talk about his disgust for the Catholic Church, and the pain Montero’s actions brought him and his family.</p>
<p />
<p>David Joles.</p>
<p>Jimmy Chalk/GlobalPost</p>
<p>In 2011, Joles’ daughter died from an inoperable brain tumor. She was 8 years old.</p>
<p>In the pain and anguish he’s had to endure since her passing, Joles is sickened that the man he says so bruised his daughter’s short life is still walking free, and could return to the pulpit at any time.</p>
<p>“I began to see the way [church officials] operate,” Joles said. “It was big business and from their point of view it seemed like the individual was always secondary to the business, and [my daughter] was just but one kid, one individual who had been harmed by a priest, but that Catholicism and the church was more important than people like [her].”</p>
<p>Back in Ecuador, GlobalPost confronted Montero.</p>
<p>After waiting for hours in Las Naves, we eventually spotted him on the narrow road leading into town. His Chevy pickup truck was overflowing with children, whom he had just taken to a local soccer tournament.</p>
<p>Initially reluctant, Montero eventually agreed to an interview on the side of the street in Las Naves. He stressed that he wasn’t hiding from anyone, and said he’d spent years working with children without any other accusations. He denied that the alleged abuse took place.</p>
<p>“There was an accusation, but there was no evidence,” he said.</p>
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<p />
<p>The Catholic Church has suffered grievously from the child sex abuse crisis in the US. The scandal has coincided with a&#160; <a href="http://cara.georgetown.edu/caraservices/requestedchurchstats.html" type="external">decline in US Catholics' Mass attendance</a>, and&#160; <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2014/05/25/us-catholics-face-shortage-of-priests/9548931/" type="external">church officials acknowledge</a>&#160;that it has contributed to a sharp&#160; <a href="http://cara.georgetown.edu/CARAServices/requestedchurchstats.html" type="external">global decline</a>&#160;of young people joining the ministry.</p>
<p>While the portion of Americans identifying themselves as Catholic has remained relatively stable, these days only about 27 percent say they are “strong” Catholics, down&#160; <a href="http://www.pewforum.org/2013/03/13/strong-catholic-identity-at-a-four-decade-low-in-us/" type="external">more than 15 points</a>&#160;since the mid-1980s. Over the past&#160;50 years, the number of US priests has also&#160;declined&#160;by about a third,&#160;according to the Center for Applied Research in the&#160;Apostolate, a Georgetown University-affiliated research center.&#160;In contrast, the worldwide Catholic population has remained consistent&#160;at about 17 percent.&#160;</p>
<p>Early in Pope Francis’s papacy, there’s hope that the church is ready for meaningful change to protect children. Still, there’s already evidence that the pope appears unwilling to publicly confess to the church’s sins.</p>
<p>Consider the case of Father Carlos Urrutigoity, once one of the four most powerful churchmen in Paraguay. Urrutigoity had a big problem: He’d been accused of sexually abusing young men in two different dioceses in the US.</p>
<p>In 2014, following reports by BishopAccountability.org, GlobalPost traveled to Paraguay to confront Urrutigoity, who had been promoted to second-in-command of the diocese of Ciudad del Este in the country's east.</p>
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<p>GlobalPost found Urrutigoity celebrating Mass in the lavish surroundings of a major church there. He answered questions without hesitation, claiming that the accusations in his past were all lies. The enigmatic vicar general shrugged off with a smile the public claim by the bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania that he posed a “serious threat to young people.”</p>
<p>One month after GlobalPost published its investigation on Urrutigoity, the Vatican sent a <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/140703/pope-orders-envoys-visit-problem-priest-Urrutigoity-paraguay" type="external">cardinal and a bishop</a>&#160;to Paraguay on a well-publicized visit. The purpose of the trip was <a href="http://www.abc.com.py/nacionales/visita-a-cde-es-coincidencia-1262214.html" type="external">shrouded in secrecy</a>, but a few weeks later, both Urrutigoity and the bishop of Ciudad del Este who had sheltered and promoted him were removed from the diocese by the Vatican.</p>
<p>Occurring just a year after Pope Francis rose to power, the move gave observers hope that the Vatican was finally getting serious about condemning and stamping out child abuse across the Catholic Church. South American activists in particular were hopeful that the Argentine pope was sending a signal by dismissing Urrutigoity, a fellow Argentine.</p>
<p>But a Vatican spokesman was quick to tell reporters that these dismissals had more to do with internal church politics than cleaning up abuse.</p>
<p>Urrutigoity’s apparent wrongdoing has so far gone unacknowledged by the church, and his alleged victims continue to suffer without the solace of justice.</p>
<p>There have been some positive steps, however. Last year, in addition to holding a well-publicized meeting with victims of abuse by priests, Pope Francis announced the creation of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. And in June the Vatican announced it was setting up a new system of tribunals to hear cases of bishops accused of protecting or covering up child abuse by priests.</p>
<p>GlobalPost tried for weeks to interview Boston’s Cardinal&#160;Sean Patrick O’Malley, who chairs the commission and proposed the new tribunals to the pope. His staff insisted that our story was outside the cardinal’s, and the commission’s, purview.</p>
<p>Numerous calls and emails to the Vatican press office went unreturned.</p>
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<p>Pope Francis talks with Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley as they arrive at the Vatican on Feb. 13, 2015.</p>
<p>Tony Gentile/Reuters</p>
<p>Peter Saunders, a lay member of the new pontifical commission and an advocate for victims of sexual abuse by priests, said the priests GlobalPost tracked down are exactly the sort of cases the Catholic Church, and new commission, need to be focusing on.</p>
<p>“Zero tolerance is meaningless unless it applies to the whole institution,” he said. “Arguably, some of the biggest problems are in the less well-off parts of the world, South America, Africa, the Far East. This is where we know many priests flee to in order to carry on their abuse, which is an absolute outrage.”</p>
<p>Saunders acknowledged that the commission’s remit is still a little fuzzy. “We’re all scratching our heads a bit,” he said. But he also expressed new optimism that a crisis he’s been sounding the alarm about for decades will be addressed.</p>
<p>“I have to remain hopeful until my hopes are dashed,” he said. “This is a new future for the church.”</p>
<p>Throughout her early adulthood, Jennifer had terrible nightmares.</p>
<p>“She just kept dreaming of this man chasing her and chasing her. She kept spiraling down into a black hole,” her mother recalled in a recent interview with GlobalPost in San Antonio, Texas.</p>
<p>The man hunted her down, into the depths of the hole, until she woke up&#160;screaming, Jennifer’s mother said. Eventually, the mother told her daughter to try to keep the dream going, and to spin around inside it and confront the man who chased her through her nights.</p>
<p>Then the daughter had a startling revelation. The man in the dream was the same man she says sexually abused her in front of a stained glass window years before.</p>
<p>“She said it was Father Fred,” the mother said: Federico Fernandez Baeza.</p>
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<p>Federico Fernandez Baeza.</p>
<p>Universidad de San Buenaventura Cartagena</p>
<p>A year later, Fernandez was negotiating a plea bargain with prosecutors, the family’s lawyer&#160; <a href="http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/1988_09_21_Haines_FamilyUpset_Federico_Fernandez_3.htm" type="external">told local media</a>. He had offered to plead guilty to the two counts of indecency in exchange for a 10-year suspended sentence and the promise that he would stay away from children and seek psychiatric help, the attorney told reporters.&#160;</p>
<p>But Fernandez and the Diocese of San Antonio’s lawyers were also negotiating a cash settlement with the family on the side, for more than $1 million, according to&#160; <a href="http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/1989_06_15_Austin_CourtRefuses_Federico_Fernandez_1.htm" type="external">media reports</a>.</p>
<p>Just before the plea bargain was to be heard in court, the cash settlement was finalized. Its terms were sealed and remain a secret.</p>
<p>A few days later, a district judge rejected Fernandez’s plea bargain. She told reporters that she rejected the deal because she did not believe the defendant should get special treatment because he was a priest.</p>
<p>But Fernandez never faced a trial.</p>
<p>After his plea deal was rejected, the San Antonio prosecutors suddenly dropped their case against him. The United Press International news agency&#160; <a href="http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/1988_09_21_Haines_FamilyUpset_Federico_Fernandez_3.htm" type="external">quoted Bexar County District Attorney</a> Fred Rodriguez as saying that prosecutors were looking out for the best interests of the victims, and that their family “had already been victimized once.” In asking for a dismissal, prosecutors told the judge that a trial would have been too traumatic for the children, the agency reported.</p>
<p>Fernandez, so close to pleading guilty to child sexual abuse, was free.</p>
<p>This judicial snafu so incensed one Texas state legislator that he introduced a bill that would bar victims of sexual abuse who receive cash settlements from later refusing to testify in criminal cases.</p>
<p>"State laws need to be changed so the guilty offender will not be able to buy off the victim and go free," state Rep. Jerry Beauchamp told a San Antonio newspaper in 1989.</p>
<p>But the bizarre story of Federico Fernandez Baeza wasn’t yet over.</p>
<p>In 2011, Humberto Leal, a Mexican national on death row in Texas for raping and bludgeoning to death a 16-year-old girl in 1995 (a crime he denied committing), suddenly told his attorneys he had been molested as a child by Fernandez.</p>
<p>Leal told a forensic psychologist that the abuse began with inappropriate touching, and ended with anal rape when he was in 5th grade. The abuse revelations inspired a campaign for clemency from others who said Fernandez had abused them as well.</p>
<p>Leal’s legal team then found several more alleged victims of the priest. One was Jennifer. Months later, Leal was executed by lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas.</p>
<p>In GlobalPost’s investigation, finding Fernandez wasn’t particularly difficult. We tracked him down at the Universidad de San Buenaventura in Cartagena, where he holds the position of secretary, the second-highest administrative rank&#160; <a href="http://usbcartagena.edu.co/la-universidad/estructura-organizacional" type="external">according to the university’s website</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>Fernandez had been serving as a high-profile priest in Colombia since leaving the US in disgrace. He regularly posts “ <a href="http://www.templodesanfrancisco.com/web/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=696:holy-week-a-easter-b&amp;catid=47:sunday-reflections&amp;Itemid=62" type="external">Sunday Reflections</a>” on the&#160; <a href="http://www.templodesanfrancisco.com/web/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=197:23rd-sunday-ordinary-time&amp;catid=47:sunday-reflections&amp;Itemid=62" type="external">website of a large church in Bogota</a>, and when he joined the university in 2014, the appointment was&#160; <a href="http://www.usbcartagena.edu.co/noticias/1932-fray-federico" type="external">announced online</a>,&#160; <a href="http://usbcartagena.edu.co/noticias/1932-fray-federico" type="external">complete with a photo of a grinning Fernandez</a>.</p>
<p>After flying to Cartagena to meet him, GlobalPost discovered that speaking to Fernandez would be far harder than finding him.</p>
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<p>This map shows the paths traveled by the priests we tracked after sex abuse allegations were made against them in US and European dioceses.</p>
<p>GlobalPost</p>
<p>A guard at the university’s front gate called someone in Fernandez’s office, then informed us the priest was traveling, and prevented us from entering. During a game of cat-and-mouse that lasted several days and included hours of staking out the university entrance, three university officials confirmed that the priest had indeed been there when we asked to interview him. One of those officials, University Vice President Jorge Valdez, informed us the priest had not left town until the second morning.&#160;</p>
<p>We also received <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5L77P-SxhuhWnYxUDliOUx1Vnc/view?usp=sharing" type="external">several anonymous emails</a> and phone calls from someone identifying themselves as “Limpieza Unidos” (which translates roughly to “Cleaning Together”) who claimed to be a university employee. The messages started arriving shortly after GlobalPost emailed Fernandez’s colleagues at the university.&#160;</p>
<p>“I understand that you’re looking for Father Federico Fernandez and he’s hiding from you,” one email read. “I can tell you that he’s here at the university.”</p>
<p>After two brief phone conversations, Limpieza Unidos stopped answering the phone or responding to emails. Calls to the cellphone number for Fernandez that the source provided were also not picked up.</p>
<p>Outside the university gates, students expressed disgust and disbelief that an accused child abuser was employed as a top administrator at their school.</p>
<p>“Just like in the United States, that’s a crime here too. Sadly, they haven’t told us any of this, they’re showing us a different façade,” said 21-year-old microbiology student Jessie Palomino.</p>
<p>“It just makes you think, what is the church doing about these cases?” added her friend, 20-year-old Ena Acosta.</p>
<p>Back in San Antonio, other Catholics were wondering the same thing.</p>
<p>Jennifer’s father told GlobalPost he remains deeply distressed by the nightmares that haunted his daughter. He said his family life has long revolved around the local church. (He asked not to be identified out of concern about backlash from parishioners.)</p>
<p>A former military man, he said he thought many times about taking matters into his own hands. He said he had tried to get postings near Fernandez, so he could slip across the border into Colombia in pursuit of the priest.</p>
<p>“I was going to kill him,” Jennifer’s father said. “I think the whole Catholic Church has failed us, especially around this community. And I’m talking about the orders, the bishops, the cardinals, everybody involved in the Church. They know they have a problem, but they continue to let these things happen.”</p>
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<p>This story investigation <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/article/6649057/2015/09/14/fugitive-fathers" type="external">was originally published</a> by our partners at GlobalPost.</p>
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jennifers memories scattered fleeting came suddenly triggered smell glimpse light dappled stained glass aroma freshly baked mince pies repulsed nostrils scented candles like ones small san antonio texas church attended elementary school girl made gag disgust jimmy chalk one day years life began unraveling came pouring finally came told raped girls mother told globalpost therapy dragged jennifers memories sudden blacking possibly drug slipped dizzily regaining consciousness bed rectory remember came top remember stainedglass window front blessed sacrament jennifer told mother jennifer identified first name still suffers trauma alleged incident means parishioner accuse father federico fernandez baeza abuse fernandez arrived san antonio early 1980s 1983 prosecutors charged exposing two young girls local swimming pool year later begun ritually abusing raping two young boys care according 1988 lawsuit filed local family abuse continued two years lawsuit claimed priest never convicted crime instead church negotiated large cash settlement fernandez promptly relocated colombia continued working catholic church may globalpost traced picturesque seaside city cartagena hes currently senior administrator priest prestigious catholic university enjoying privilege respect unfettered access young people comes member clergy fernandez one scores catholic priests accused abusing children united states europe avoided accountability simply moving lessdeveloped country boats bob next tiny fishing village puerto huarmey peru jimmy chalkglobalpost even pope francis touted reform vaticans safeguards child abuse globalpost found catholic church allowed allegedly abusive priests slip parts world would face less scrutiny prosecutors media yearlong investigation tracked confronted five priests able continue working church despite serious accusations found one continued lead mass mostly remote poor communities south america men faced criminal investigations went abroad without charges brought one priests admitted globalpost molested 13yearold boy acknowledged never work us continues preach small peruvian fishing village another currently investigation authorities brazil string alleged molestations including accusations poor neighborhoods two decades ran home street children 160with support catholic church inside office vicar general juan roger rodriguez ruiz one diocese leader agreed interview jimmy chalkglobalpost advocates attorneys studied abusive catholic priests decades flight fathers overseas represents latest chapter long story deceit collusion churchsponsored impunity child abusers developed countries find tougher keep predator priests job bishops increasingly moving developing world theres less vigorous law enforcement less independent media greater power differential priests parishioners said david clohessy national director spokesman survivors network abused priests or160snap massive suspicion becoming pronounced father jan van dael holds onto strand boys hair collects free soup look hair priest calls reporters jimmy chalkglobalpost reminds boy house rio de janeiro van dael says referring orphanage used run 1980s boy wriggles free lines fill pot containers soup van dael volunteers brought small slum outside roughandtumble city caucaia brazils northeast van dael avuncular slightly doddery belgian priest seems deeply affectionate toward preadolescent boys loves take photographs reaches children barely knows like father hungry attention back late 1980s van dael moved europe brazil first settling rio de janeiro falling local diocese van dael says church officials objected working poor street children deemed criminals belgian asked leave ended windswept caucaia miles crimeridden city fortaleza taking advantage brazils extraordinary exchange rates time greatly favored us dollar european currencies gringo priest set new orphanage abandoned troubled street kids called esperança da criança childrens hope homes whitewashed walls van dael hung dozens photographs took young boys appear borne witness plenty misery along hope according brazilian prosecutors van dael currently investigation belgian brazilian federal authorities inquiry adds litany child abuse accusations van dael two continents last year a160 dutch television station160interviewed two men claimed van dael fondled church catholic summer camp belgium early 1970s federal prosecutor fortaleza told station also several complaints sexual abuse van dael last 10 years father jan van dael shows collection portraits young boys veranda outside home building housed orphans van dael closed operation two years ago jimmy chalkglobalpost 2011 two former interns van daels orphanage told belgian media children said priest abused head local government child protection agency caucaia told globalpost received complaint van dael back 2008 complaint languished official said agency didnt staff resources investigate van dael suspected pedophilia years meanwhile career priest flourished archdiocese fortaleza services constant demand said sometimes celebrates mass six times weekend poor neighborhoods caucaia visited van dael led services two different churches handed soup children something said every day lengthy interview told globalpost never sexually attracted children said accusations lies drummed abusive parents envious competitors university students dont understand world compared jesus christ saying rebel trailblazer true humanitarian literally pedophilia comes greek pidos meaning child philia meaning friendship children van dael said real sense word im pedophile archbishop fortaleza control priests celebrate mass within archdiocese initially agreed interview confronted van dael accusations archbishop said couldnt meet globalpost catholic church long history secrecy matters related sex abuse allegations reaffirmed 2001160 confidential apostolic letter160written pope john paul ii letter clarified cases sexual abuse priests handled congregation doctrine faith internal affairs unit catholic church headed cardinal joseph ratzinger became pope 2005 letter also reasserted cases must kept strictly confidential pontifical secret move heavily criticized ever since august livia maria de sousa federal prosecutor fortaleza told globalpost staff interviewed three people formerly lived van daels orphanage part ongoing investigation priest said interviews uncovered new evidence van dael added investigators also scheduled interview priest september de sousa lamented abusive priests often come brazil search prey said investigating child sex abuse within church frustratingly slow160and difficult160 especially suspects revered moral icons victims young understand sexual contact160 children play soccer outside city caucaia northeastern brazil jimmy chalkglobalpost brazil country catholicism strong present people really respect church priests bishops religious authorities said difficult child understand act touch might sense exploitation abuse fact abuse van dael closed down160esperança da criança couple years ago brazilian authorities changed policies housing troubled children continues come daily contact vulnerable children van dael draws legitimacy archdiocese fortaleza ultimately vatican despite years accusations investigations van dael said never faced formal investigation church father paul madden admitted child molester 1970s madden priest diocese jackson mississippi took trip ireland 13yearold boy parish trip according lawsuit filed victim 2002 madden repeatedly molested raped boy father paul madden offers communion congregant puerto huarmey peru jimmy chalkglobalpost since 1973 plagued remorse guilt molestation son reads letter excuse actions assume responsibility humble penitent 2003 soon victims second lawsuit dismissed much time passed madden joined diocese chimbote peru april globalpost found celebrating weekly mass tiny scruffy fishing village puerto huarmey approached service madden admitted abuse though wouldnt elaborate occurred something happened drunk never drank life first time ever woke middle night yeah well something happened told globalpost madden expressed remorse actions said keeping church teachings god forgiven sins feel quite confident mercy god feel quite confident god forgives sin said im guilty im forgiven still hes illusions hes pardoned eyes american public even american catholic church asked could return work priest us madden originally ireland clear dont think zero policy thats pope francis came years us madden referring zero tolerance policy child sex abuse was160 approved united states conference catholic bishops 2002 policy aimed remove priests abused children matter long ago small fishing village puerto huarmey peru hours drive north lima church father paul madden celebrates mass right jimmy chalkglobalpost even single act sexual abuse priest deacon admitted established appropriate process accord canon law offending priest deacon removed permanently ecclesiastical ministry reads one rules approved vatican conference last year pope francis ostensibly took us churchs policy global he160 wrote letter every catholic bishop world160stating must abide zero tolerance rules victim advocates say popes message exercise public relations meaningful change still long way anne barrettdoyle founder bishopaccountabilityorg tracks abusive priests around world said despite popes letter still entirely unclear standards bishops worldwide held said rules us though far perfect remain much stringent church doctrine elsewhere lie absolutely false theres anything approaching zero tolerance emerging abuse policies around world barrettdoyle said peru maddens church superior acknowledged new zero tolerance paradigm requires diocese act case church father paul madden celebrates mass puerto huarmey peru father madden admitted molesting 13yearold boy told globalpost could never work us jimmy chalkglobalpost interviewed city chimbote vicar general juan roger rodriguez ruiz diocese secondincommand said that160bishop angel simon piorno shocked learn globalpost maddens past would scrutinize priest light zero tolerance policy may find hard even painful bishop investigate priest done rodriguez said added madden would suspended necessary however midaugust member maddens parish confirmed globalpost phone priest continued preach every sunday attempted confirm rodriguez email phone calls went unreturned find father francisco fredy montero one negotiate deadly precipitous mountain pass high wisps cloud sweep past searching village locals describe vaguely remote somewhere tropics road gouged places great landslides weaves chilly highlands steamy bananastuffed interior central ecuadors bolivar province hours drive nearest small town several hours nearest big city hamlet las naves road las naves snakes unpaved mountain passes littered rocks jimmy chalkglobalpost google maps las naves appears ring green jungle streets landmarks homes wildly different broad avenues minneapolis minnesota long ago montero made name gregarious priest church journalist parttime radio dj accused child molester montero mid30s popular addition archdiocese minneapolis quick talker easy smile charmed local hispanic population helped found spanishlanguage church newspaper installed fixture adopted homeland father francisco fredy monteros mugshot courtesy global post father fredy known parishioners hardly archetypal pious priest months according police report sleeping least one adult churchgoer witness abuse later told police priest would sex monteros desk160on daily basis little girl identified request mother interviewed forensic psychologist experts hennepin county child protection services concluded montero indeed abused girl later montero appealed finding agency upheld according diocese document obtained globalpost police investigators searched monteros computer looking evidence child pornography prosecutors eventually decided simply wasnt enough evidence charge priest crime almost immediately montero flew back ecuador sgt darren blauert minneapolis detective investigated montero said although charges brought something happened child inappropriate expressed serious concern montero allowed continue work children enough would concerned person continuing blauert said globalposts trip farflung guaranda montero based serves reminder huge sprawling institution catholic church challenging might seem police priests span globe city guaranda ecuador capital mountainous bolivar province jimmy chalkglobalpost thanks internet many priests background check clicks away bishopaccountabilityorg maintains database 6400 clerics credibly accused child sexual abuse united states database contains extensive information montero madden van dael many160other priests avoided scrutiny simply getting plane flying new country160 monteros case need even doublecheck priests background online records court documents show minnesota accusations followed ecuador dossier sent archdiocese minneapolis guaranda warned south american diocese monteros past archdiocese officials also reported alleged abuse congregation doctrine faith vaticans internal investigators montero apparently able shrug past arrived back native ecuador brief hiatus said employed journalist montero placed succession remote local parishes diocese guaranda continued celebrate mass interact extensively young people eventually stopped working priest couple years ago 160not accusations potential harm might inflict children decided run mayor las naves local bishop decided politics priesthood werent good mix said one main streets guaranda city central ecuador home diocese father montero jimmy chalkglobalpost bishop angel sanchez welcomed montero back guaranda heads different diocese ecuador said telephone interview time montero returned ecuador aware accusations priest us sanchez said confident monteros innocence160since case concrete priest never criminally charged bishop also confirmed knowledge montero investigated vatican arriving ecuador victim advocates say monteros case textbook example catholic church shirking responsibility protect children zero tolerance policies one thing without meaningful implementation local bishops vaticans footmen enforcers communities 160church doctrines make little difference according clohessy director snap theres checks balances clohessy said like speed limits cops reporter confronts montero spotting driving truck full young people jimmy chalkglobalpost anderson said onus protect children bishops guaranda minneapolis claims let montero flee ecuador without held accountable ultimate responsibility protecting children predator priests says lies vatican pope removes top officials crimes sends message serious nothing seems change anderson said pope turns documents offenders know offenders ministry turn law enforcement across globe seems little done changed david joles father young girl montero allegedly abused finds hard talk disgust catholic church pain monteros actions brought family david joles jimmy chalkglobalpost 2011 joles daughter died inoperable brain tumor 8 years old pain anguish hes endure since passing joles sickened man says bruised daughters short life still walking free could return pulpit time began see way church officials operate joles said big business point view seemed like individual always secondary business daughter one kid one individual harmed priest catholicism church important people like back ecuador globalpost confronted montero waiting hours las naves eventually spotted narrow road leading town chevy pickup truck overflowing children taken local soccer tournament initially reluctant montero eventually agreed interview side street las naves stressed wasnt hiding anyone said hed spent years working children without accusations denied alleged abuse took place accusation evidence said catholic church suffered grievously child sex abuse crisis us scandal coincided a160 decline us catholics mass attendance and160 church officials acknowledge160that contributed sharp160 global decline160of young people joining ministry portion americans identifying catholic remained relatively stable days 27 percent say strong catholics down160 15 points160since mid1980s past16050 years number us priests also160declined160by third160according center applied research the160apostolate georgetown universityaffiliated research center160in contrast worldwide catholic population remained consistent160at 17 percent160 early pope franciss papacy theres hope church ready meaningful change protect children still theres already evidence pope appears unwilling publicly confess churchs sins consider case father carlos urrutigoity one four powerful churchmen paraguay urrutigoity big problem hed accused sexually abusing young men two different dioceses us 2014 following reports bishopaccountabilityorg globalpost traveled paraguay confront urrutigoity promoted secondincommand diocese ciudad del este countrys east globalpost found urrutigoity celebrating mass lavish surroundings major church answered questions without hesitation claiming accusations past lies enigmatic vicar general shrugged smile public claim bishop scranton pennsylvania posed serious threat young people one month globalpost published investigation urrutigoity vatican sent cardinal bishop160to paraguay wellpublicized visit purpose trip shrouded secrecy weeks later urrutigoity bishop ciudad del este sheltered promoted removed diocese vatican occurring year pope francis rose power move gave observers hope vatican finally getting serious condemning stamping child abuse across catholic church south american activists particular hopeful argentine pope sending signal dismissing urrutigoity fellow argentine vatican spokesman quick tell reporters dismissals internal church politics cleaning abuse urrutigoitys apparent wrongdoing far gone unacknowledged church alleged victims continue suffer without solace justice positive steps however last year addition holding wellpublicized meeting victims abuse priests pope francis announced creation pontifical commission protection minors june vatican announced setting new system tribunals hear cases bishops accused protecting covering child abuse priests globalpost tried weeks interview bostons cardinal160sean patrick omalley chairs commission proposed new tribunals pope staff insisted story outside cardinals commissions purview numerous calls emails vatican press office went unreturned pope francis talks cardinal sean patrick omalley arrive vatican feb 13 2015 tony gentilereuters peter saunders lay member new pontifical commission advocate victims sexual abuse priests said priests globalpost tracked exactly sort cases catholic church new commission need focusing zero tolerance meaningless unless applies whole institution said arguably biggest problems less welloff parts world south america africa far east know many priests flee order carry abuse absolute outrage saunders acknowledged commissions remit still little fuzzy scratching heads bit said also expressed new optimism crisis hes sounding alarm decades addressed remain hopeful hopes dashed said new future church throughout early adulthood jennifer terrible nightmares kept dreaming man chasing chasing kept spiraling black hole mother recalled recent interview globalpost san antonio texas man hunted depths hole woke up160screaming jennifers mother said eventually mother told daughter try keep dream going spin around inside confront man chased nights daughter startling revelation man dream man says sexually abused front stained glass window years said father fred mother said federico fernandez baeza federico fernandez baeza universidad de san buenaventura cartagena year later fernandez negotiating plea bargain prosecutors familys lawyer160 told local media offered plead guilty two counts indecency exchange 10year suspended sentence promise would stay away children seek psychiatric help attorney told reporters160 fernandez diocese san antonios lawyers also negotiating cash settlement family side 1 million according to160 media reports plea bargain heard court cash settlement finalized terms sealed remain secret days later district judge rejected fernandezs plea bargain told reporters rejected deal believe defendant get special treatment priest fernandez never faced trial plea deal rejected san antonio prosecutors suddenly dropped case united press international news agency160 quoted bexar county district attorney fred rodriguez saying prosecutors looking best interests victims family already victimized asking dismissal prosecutors told judge trial would traumatic children agency reported fernandez close pleading guilty child sexual abuse free judicial snafu incensed one texas state legislator introduced bill would bar victims sexual abuse receive cash settlements later refusing testify criminal cases state laws need changed guilty offender able buy victim go free state rep jerry beauchamp told san antonio newspaper 1989 bizarre story federico fernandez baeza wasnt yet 2011 humberto leal mexican national death row texas raping bludgeoning death 16yearold girl 1995 crime denied committing suddenly told attorneys molested child fernandez leal told forensic psychologist abuse began inappropriate touching ended anal rape 5th grade abuse revelations inspired campaign clemency others said fernandez abused well leals legal team found several alleged victims priest one jennifer months later leal executed lethal injection huntsville texas globalposts investigation finding fernandez wasnt particularly difficult tracked universidad de san buenaventura cartagena holds position secretary secondhighest administrative rank160 according universitys website160 fernandez serving highprofile priest colombia since leaving us disgrace regularly posts sunday reflections the160 website large church bogota joined university 2014 appointment was160 announced online160 complete photo grinning fernandez flying cartagena meet globalpost discovered speaking fernandez would far harder finding map shows paths traveled priests tracked sex abuse allegations made us european dioceses globalpost guard universitys front gate called someone fernandezs office informed us priest traveling prevented us entering game catandmouse lasted several days included hours staking university entrance three university officials confirmed priest indeed asked interview one officials university vice president jorge valdez informed us priest left town second morning160 also received several anonymous emails phone calls someone identifying limpieza unidos translates roughly cleaning together claimed university employee messages started arriving shortly globalpost emailed fernandezs colleagues university160 understand youre looking father federico fernandez hes hiding one email read tell hes university two brief phone conversations limpieza unidos stopped answering phone responding emails calls cellphone number fernandez source provided also picked outside university gates students expressed disgust disbelief accused child abuser employed top administrator school like united states thats crime sadly havent told us theyre showing us different façade said 21yearold microbiology student jessie palomino makes think church cases added friend 20yearold ena acosta back san antonio catholics wondering thing jennifers father told globalpost remains deeply distressed nightmares haunted daughter said family life long revolved around local church asked identified concern backlash parishioners former military man said thought many times taking matters hands said tried get postings near fernandez could slip across border colombia pursuit priest going kill jennifers father said think whole catholic church failed us especially around community im talking orders bishops cardinals everybody involved church know problem continue let things happen story investigation originally published partners globalpost
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<p>Editorial for September 1, 2005</p>
<p>By Jim White</p>
<p>Country singer Dierks Bentley croons, “Well, I know what I was feeling, but what was I thinking?” Perhaps Pat Robertson has adopted this as the theme song for The 700 Club. Waxing eloquent on what we ought to do in about President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, he said, “We have the ability to take him out and I think we should exercise that ability.” In a follow-up, Robertson said, “ ‘Taking out' can mean a lot of things. I was misinterpreted by the AP [Associated Press] but that happens all the time.”</p>
<p>His protests to the contrary, it seems very unlikely that he was talking about taking Chavez out for pizza. Preceding his “taking out” comment, he had said, “I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we are trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war. We have the Monroe Doctrine, we have other doctrines that we have announced and without question this is a dangerous enemy to our south controlling a huge pool of oil that could hurt us very badly.” Presumably the “other doctrines” referred to were not biblical ones.</p>
<p>Chavez is not a popular guy even in Venezeula. In 2002, he was removed from office for two days by a coup which he accused the U.S. of instigating. Last year he survived by a vote of 58 percent a recall attempt. His ties with Fidel Castro have caused concerns in the U.S. State Department. Still, he is the head of a sovereign state, and, since 1976, assassinating him is against U.S. law-not to mention a higher law we can name. After being confronted with his comments in context, Robertson apologized for them. “Is it right to call for assassination? No, and I apologize for that statement. I spoke in frustration that we should accommodate the man who thinks the U.S. is out to kill him.”</p>
<p>Robertson's comments clearly illustrate religion run amok. It is easier for us to see this tendency in other religions, of course. When the Taliban take over a country and orchestrate the assassination of those who strenuously oppose their way of life, we gasp in amazement that any “religious” figure could rationalize so heinous a crime. Yet, Brother Robertson's brand of religion is not so far removed from a Taliban mentality. Religious extremists of whatever stripe become singularly committed to the notion that the end justifies the means. Some of the greatest atrocities the world has known have come at the hands of misguided religious people.</p>
<p>Seeking to justify his attitude, Robertson quoted German Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was hanged in 1945 by the Nazis for his participation in a failed attempt to assassinate Hitler: “[If a madman were] driving a car into a group of innocent bystanders, then I can't, as a Christian, simply wait for the catastrophe and then comfort the wounded and bury the dead. I must try to wrestle the steering wheel out of the hands of the driver.”</p>
<p>But Hitler had already murdered millions of people and had flung war upon the world. There is a vast difference between “taking out” an intruder who, after murdering your neighbors, is threatening your family and “taking out” a burglar who is siphoning gas from your car.</p>
<p>Religion that justifies sin on the basis of results requires a unique perspective. It is so convinced of its own rightness that forcing that right on others becomes a responsibility. Relgion run amok might even argue that it is the loving thing to do. Give people the choice. Convert or die. That's one way to baptize a million people next year. It seems to be working for the Muslems in Sudan. If lies are told, if people get hurt, if integrity is sacrificed, so be it. They are considered collateral damage in spiritual warfare.</p>
<p>Muslem extremists justify detonating bombs on crowded buses on the basis of a holy war against infidels. Pat Robertson justifies assassinating a foreign head of state by citing how his political views and potential adverse economic impact would affect us. Others, closer to home, justify lying about what their brothers believe because they think their own cause is right and are seeking to influence others to join them. I have lost count of the number of times I have gone to BGAV churches to answer questions. They have been told that the BGAV supports homosexuality and want to know the truth. (For anyone wondering, the answer is “no, they don't.”)</p>
<p>In a way, I feel sorry for Brother Robertson. He has done many good things in the name of the Lord-including a television program promoting a Christian perspective. But it must be difficult day in and day out to find something captivating to say to the Pat-patrons out there. Maintaining a grip on a communications empire must be taxing. I know the difficulties I face, at times, remembering whose kingdom I am building. It must be much harder for someone who actually oversees a kingdom of sorts.</p>
<p>Truth is, anyone's religion has run amok if he uses it to get his own way or to further his own views. God-talk can become a device used to further one's own selfish ambitions. Stained-glass language may fool shallow saints, but discerning spiritual Christ-followers will look closely to see if the walk matches the talk.</p>
<p>Perhaps its time for every Christian to reaffirm a basic spiritual truth. The closer we get to God, the more like him we become. Look for the fruits of the spirit in yourself and in spiritual leaders. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other” (Gal. 5:22-26, NIV).</p>
<p>Jim White is editor and business manager of the Religious Herald.</p>
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editorial september 1 2005 jim white country singer dierks bentley croons well know feeling thinking perhaps pat robertson adopted theme song 700 club waxing eloquent ought president hugo chavez venezuela said ability take think exercise ability followup robertson said taking mean lot things misinterpreted ap associated press happens time protests contrary seems unlikely talking taking chavez pizza preceding taking comment said dont know doctrine assassination thinks trying assassinate think really ought go ahead whole lot cheaper starting war monroe doctrine doctrines announced without question dangerous enemy south controlling huge pool oil could hurt us badly presumably doctrines referred biblical ones chavez popular guy even venezeula 2002 removed office two days coup accused us instigating last year survived vote 58 percent recall attempt ties fidel castro caused concerns us state department still head sovereign state since 1976 assassinating us lawnot mention higher law name confronted comments context robertson apologized right call assassination apologize statement spoke frustration accommodate man thinks us kill robertsons comments clearly illustrate religion run amok easier us see tendency religions course taliban take country orchestrate assassination strenuously oppose way life gasp amazement religious figure could rationalize heinous crime yet brother robertsons brand religion far removed taliban mentality religious extremists whatever stripe become singularly committed notion end justifies means greatest atrocities world known come hands misguided religious people seeking justify attitude robertson quoted german lutheran theologian dietrich bonhoeffer hanged 1945 nazis participation failed attempt assassinate hitler madman driving car group innocent bystanders cant christian simply wait catastrophe comfort wounded bury dead must try wrestle steering wheel hands driver hitler already murdered millions people flung war upon world vast difference taking intruder murdering neighbors threatening family taking burglar siphoning gas car religion justifies sin basis results requires unique perspective convinced rightness forcing right others becomes responsibility relgion run amok might even argue loving thing give people choice convert die thats one way baptize million people next year seems working muslems sudan lies told people get hurt integrity sacrificed considered collateral damage spiritual warfare muslem extremists justify detonating bombs crowded buses basis holy war infidels pat robertson justifies assassinating foreign head state citing political views potential adverse economic impact would affect us others closer home justify lying brothers believe think cause right seeking influence others join lost count number times gone bgav churches answer questions told bgav supports homosexuality want know truth anyone wondering answer dont way feel sorry brother robertson done many good things name lordincluding television program promoting christian perspective must difficult day day find something captivating say patpatrons maintaining grip communications empire must taxing know difficulties face times remembering whose kingdom building must much harder someone actually oversees kingdom sorts truth anyones religion run amok uses get way views godtalk become device used ones selfish ambitions stainedglass language may fool shallow saints discerning spiritual christfollowers look closely see walk matches talk perhaps time every christian reaffirm basic spiritual truth closer get god like become look fruits spirit spiritual leaders fruit spirit love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness selfcontrol things law belong christ jesus crucified sinful nature passions desires since live spirit let us keep step spirit let us become conceited provoking envying gal 52226 niv jim white editor business manager religious herald
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<p>Lincoln Park High</p>
<p>Freshmen take over a former elementary school.</p>
<p>As students trudge up the walkway to Lincoln Park High School, freshmen bypass the behemoth columns of the school’s massive main building for a more humble structure and entrance across the path. The smaller, two-story school, which once housed elementary students and a district office, is now the academic home to more than 400 freshmen who enrolled in September.</p>
<p>The move to isolate new 9th-graders—from both upperclassmen and last year’s freshmen who were not promoted—is the latest effort at Lincoln Park to address freshman transition. A quick peek into several classes confirms one of the more obvious benefits of the separate facility and of a new closed-campus policy for freshmen: A full house.</p>
<p>In a school of their own, freshmen are more likely to bond with each other and, more importantly, with teachers. “It’s like growing up in a small town where everybody knows everyone else,” says Marlene Slavitt, a Lincoln Park teacher.</p>
<p>Attendance is up since the academy started this fall, but grades have yet to show similar improvement. When first quarter report cards went out, 42 percent of the freshmen had failed at least one course. During the same period in the previous school year, 45 percent had failed at least one class, though that number includes freshmen who were not promoted. The rate is expected to drop by the end of first semester, as other programs for freshmen have time to show results, says Principal Janis Todd.</p>
<p>For example, an attempt to make classes more relevant yielded some curriculum changes, says Todd. Freshmen have the option of studying more contemporary material in required classes such as early world history and biology—two courses that freshmen often fail. “Kids weren’t as responsive to Phoenicians and places you cannot find on maps anymore,” Todd says.</p>
<p>Instead, students can enroll in a more relevant World Civilization or Topics in Science, a lab course in ecology, geology and life science. Such courses are not remedial, just more practical, Todd stresses.</p>
<p>A new feature is a daily 25-minute “mini-mod” class that all 9th-graders are required to take. These short workshops cover a range of topics such as study skills, college selection and conflict resolution.</p>
<p>Mini-mod was born out of necessity, Todd admits. Cafe Frosh, the freshman cafeteria fashioned out of a former medical office, was too small to accommodate a full lunch crowd. So the period was split in two; while one group is eating, the other goes to mini-mod.</p>
<p>Other freshman support services have been beefed up, such as individual time with a social worker and a 60-minute, after-school homework center.</p>
<p>A staff of 22 full-time freshman teachers—six volunteered, Todd recruited the rest—meet regularly after school to discuss student performance. The sessions have been nicknamed “chubbies” (large group meetings) and “skinnies” (smaller gatherings). Recently, teachers identified 80 students who needed additional help in core subjects and worked on strategies to help them.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, Lincoln Park is exploring options for keeping the group benefits intact next year, when the current 9th-graders are transferred into the main building as sophomores.</p>
<p>Kenwood Academy</p>
<p>Freshmen catch up in clusters.</p>
<p>Seventy students arrayed before her, teacher Nell Smith is reviewing the transcripts for two imaginary students. One transcript indicates a student flunked gym class. “Tell Mrs. Smith, because I don’t know,” she says. “How do you fail P.E.?”</p>
<p>When the laughter dies down, a few students toss out possible reasons. Not in uniform. Cutting class. Failing all the tests.</p>
<p>The object of this exercise, conducted in what Kenwood Academy calls a freshman cluster, is to get students to think ahead. “We want [freshmen] to think about it,” says guidance counselor Joyce Brown, who heads the school’s freshman academy programs. “What’s going to be on [the transcript] when you’re a senior?”</p>
<p>Ninth-period cluster, worth half a credit and required of all freshmen through January, is just one feature of the freshman academy program that greeted Kenwood’s class of 2000 this fall. The extra period was funded by a central office grant.</p>
<p>The grant also paid for a number of initiatives aimed at enlisting more active support from parents.</p>
<p>Kenwood hired two parent coordinators to notify students’ families of poor attendance, behavior and homework. If a student cuts a class, misbehaves, or misses an assignment, the teacher fills out a brief report and then drops it off at the school’s central office. There, the coordinators follow up with a phone call home.</p>
<p>Parents of freshmen also received a progress report on their children’s academic standing after the third week of school—an extra-early notice that was followed by the required five-week notice.</p>
<p>Further, Kenwood has hosted four information and discussion meetings for freshman parents since the beginning of the school year.</p>
<p>The school’s efforts are beginning to pay off in a number of ways. Ninety percent of the freshman parents showed up for the first report card pickup, about 20 percent more than the previous year. At the same time, the freshman failure rate dropped by 3 percentage points, and the number who received three or more failing grades dropped 4.2 points. The class has the highest attendance record on campus.</p>
<p>Freshmen who do well will be rewarded. All those who get C’s or above in every class will be released from second-semester cluster and will be able to go home early. At the end of the first quarter, some 50 students who got all A’s and B’s were eligible to be released from cluster; they opted to stay.</p>
<p>“At first, I wanted to know why we had to be here,” says Autumn Dennard, 14, whose first-quarter grades were a C, a B and the rest A’s. “It’s OK, considering we’ll be out of here by the end of January.”</p>
<p>Christian Mines is practical in his assessment of cluster. Struggling with a D average in math, Mines got help from tutors in his cluster class. Now he is aiming for a B. “[Cluster] is a credit,” he says, with nonchalance. “They help people not to fail.”</p>
<p>The real test begins second semester, when cluster sessions will be populated solely with students who are most academically needy—the ones who got D’s and F’s despite parental monitoring and tutoring.</p>
<p>Most vexing to Brown and others are freshmen who attend class regularly and make an effort but still fail.</p>
<p>In some cases, students are dealing with personal issues that interfere with school work. Three social workers from the Blue Gargoyle, an agency affiliated with the University of Chicago, will work with cluster leaders to help students who come to school but have failed three or more classes. The social workers will not strain the school’s budget because they are volunteers.</p>
<p>Keeping an eye on freshmen is not a new concept for Kenwood, which for a number of years has hosted Freshman Focus, a four-day orientation for incoming students. This fall, 80 percent of the freshman class showed up.</p>
<p>“We’ve been focusing on freshmen for a number of years, outside the freshman academy mandate,” Brown says. “We tell everyone we’re making this up as we go along.”</p>
<p>Manley High</p>
<p>Freshmen do military, academic drills.</p>
<p>A sky-blue sawhorse barricade marked “Chicago Police” limits access to the second-floor wing that houses Manley High School’s freshman academy—a telling symbol perhaps of what is a major obstacle to academic success at the tough West Side school: student conduct.</p>
<p>In September 1995, Manley freshmen racked up 18 arrests for mob action. At about the same time, a school policy kicked in that requires all 9th-graders to register for ROTC, a program that teaches self-control and promotes student comraderie. Since then, freshman student arrests have fallen off dramatically. This September, there were only two.</p>
<p>Deloise Funches, whose son Abdul Butler is a freshman, gives the program a thumbs up. “He likes to play too much,” says Funches who paid a visit to Manley one morning in January to check up on her son. “I like ROTC.”</p>
<p>“One of the things we like to give our freshmen is a sense of discipline,” says academy director Timothy Mooney. “For the most part, parents are behind us 100 percent.”</p>
<p>The sight of more than 200 freshmen in uniforms is striking. But Mooney credits other, less visible changes for much of the school’s progress. Even before the school sent in its proposal last spring, it had organized small schools, offered block scheduling and conducted a six-week summer program.</p>
<p>The new freshman academy complements Manley’s overall small schools structure, dubbed VocAdemics for its dual focus on careers and college preparation. By the end of their freshman year, students must choose to enroll in one of five tracks: hospitality management, construction skills, graphic arts and journalism, medical arts and health, or information processing.</p>
<p>Each small school, including freshman academy, has block-scheduled classes for the first two periods of the day and the last two.</p>
<p>Manley’s staff of 11 freshman teachers meet weekly to discuss student progress and plan lesson strategies. Their teamwork has fostered a more coordinated effort to assist freshmen in making their choice of career tracks for sophomore year.</p>
<p>Average attendance for freshmen is up to 85 percent, 10 points higher than last year’s norm. But cutting the failure rate remains an elusive goal. After the first 10-week cycle, teachers gave out nearly as many Fs as they did passing grades.</p>
<p>Mooney attributes a major portion of those failures to a new attendance policy: Students who rack up five absences in a class get an automatic F. Though the policy is aimed at deterring students from cutting class, they do not seem to be taking it seriously, Mooney says. “I bet 50 percent of those failures are attendance,” he concludes.</p>
<p>Mooney says the policy was adopted in response to Chief Executive Officer Paul Vallas’ get-tough stance on attendance. But now Manley is considering changing it. “The failure rate is too high,” says Mooney.</p>
<p>Bogan Computer Tech High</p>
<p>Freshman classes twice as long but only half a year.</p>
<p>The central feature of Bogan High School’s freshman academy program involves four required courses: algebra, biology, English and computer workshop. Each is offered daily in 104-minute segments, twice the usual time allotted for a single class. Under this system, freshmen take a year’s worth of two subjects in the first semester. Come second semester, they study the remaining two.</p>
<p>The setup allows freshmen to concentrate their efforts and attention on fewer classes. Instead of having seven classes per semester, Bogan freshmen now register for five. In addition to the two core classes, freshmen take three 52-minute classes that last an entire year: writing, gym/health and an elective such as social studies or foreign language.</p>
<p>Added benefits include fewer chances to be tardy (since students switch classes less often), a reduction in hallway fights (since students aren’t in the hallways as often) and fewer faces to see and personalities to interact with in a single day.</p>
<p>“If kid a doesn’t like a teacher or a subject, it’s over at the end of the semester,” notes Principal Linda Pierzchalski.</p>
<p>The change may have been most difficult for teachers; those accustomed to giving lectures have had to make adjustments. “You cannot lecture to a child for 104 minutes,” Pierzchalski notes.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, teachers approved the new freshman schedule by an 89-to-26 vote last year.</p>
<p>During the second half of teacher Trent Eaton’s English class one January morning, students were perusing want ads in the Chicago Tribune. This life-skills exercise was a break from the more traditional fare of the first 50 minutes of class, when they read passages from Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.”</p>
<p>Desks are arranged in four clusters rather than rows, a style akin to an elementary school seating plan, which makes it easier for students to work together.</p>
<p>“I like it for myself,” says Rebecca Staschke, 15. “I learn more [and] I get more time.” But not all her classmates share her sentiments, concedes Staschke, who says some freshmen get bored in the long classes.</p>
<p>To keep freshman parents apprised, Bogan sends failure notices out every two and half weeks and report cards every 5 weeks, or 8 times a year. Parents must pick up two of those personally.</p>
<p>The results so far? Attendance is up, and block classes have a lower failure rate than the year-long subjects.</p>
<p>Hyde Park</p>
<p>Career Academy High: Freshmen get extra time, extra help.</p>
<p>With nearly 10 years experience, Hyde Park is the pioneer of freshman academy programs.</p>
<p>It started in 1988, when the school received a three-year $158,000 grant from the Chicago Community Trust to start a teachers exchange program with six feeder elementary schools. The 8th-grade and 9th-grade teachers worked together on curriculum and other issues to help ease high school transition. (See CATALYST, December 1992 and June 1994.)</p>
<p>Since 1991, Hyde Park has conducted a voluntary six-week program during the summer for incoming freshmen; students work toward mastering reading, writing and math skills they will need to succeed in 9th grade. Students who attend seem to enjoy it, says Principal Weldon Beverly. “We found many students chose to stay for the entire time, even though they didn’t have to.”</p>
<p>Once the regular school year is underway, freshmen who have not completed all their assignments or not passed the tests required for promotion are given extra time. On report cards, struggling students get a P instead of an F; D’s have been eliminated. Freshmen get credit only for work that merits a C or higher.</p>
<p>Once a freshman completes the work or masters the skill, the P is replaced by an A, B, or C grade. The P grades do not dampen a student’s spirit to learn like F grades do, says Beverly. “We give [freshmen] success. The teacher must find something where the student can experience success. Some students come to high school never having experienced success.”</p>
<p>Though well regarded, the early years of the program had mixed results. In 1992, before the new grading policy was adopted, two-thirds of the freshman students passed all their classes. That rate dropped the following year to 59 percent and then inched up in 1994 to 60 percent. (The school could not immediately supply more recent data.)</p>
<p>This year, Hyde Park reconfigured the school day to accommodate a 45-minute session for freshman division. Instead of the usual fare of announcements, freshman division is an enhanced study hall, where students can study vocabulary, write in journals or learn critical thinking skills. The idea is to give them time to work on self-improvement and take more initiative in their own education.</p>
<p>“This is kind of a feel-good course for the kids,” says study skills teacher Annette DeAngelis. “We teach them what to expect from high school.”</p>
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lincoln park high freshmen take former elementary school students trudge walkway lincoln park high school freshmen bypass behemoth columns schools massive main building humble structure entrance across path smaller twostory school housed elementary students district office academic home 400 freshmen enrolled september move isolate new 9thgradersfrom upperclassmen last years freshmen promotedis latest effort lincoln park address freshman transition quick peek several classes confirms one obvious benefits separate facility new closedcampus policy freshmen full house school freshmen likely bond importantly teachers like growing small town everybody knows everyone else says marlene slavitt lincoln park teacher attendance since academy started fall grades yet show similar improvement first quarter report cards went 42 percent freshmen failed least one course period previous school year 45 percent failed least one class though number includes freshmen promoted rate expected drop end first semester programs freshmen time show results says principal janis todd example attempt make classes relevant yielded curriculum changes says todd freshmen option studying contemporary material required classes early world history biologytwo courses freshmen often fail kids werent responsive phoenicians places find maps anymore todd says instead students enroll relevant world civilization topics science lab course ecology geology life science courses remedial practical todd stresses new feature daily 25minute minimod class 9thgraders required take short workshops cover range topics study skills college selection conflict resolution minimod born necessity todd admits cafe frosh freshman cafeteria fashioned former medical office small accommodate full lunch crowd period split two one group eating goes minimod freshman support services beefed individual time social worker 60minute afterschool homework center staff 22 fulltime freshman teacherssix volunteered todd recruited restmeet regularly school discuss student performance sessions nicknamed chubbies large group meetings skinnies smaller gatherings recently teachers identified 80 students needed additional help core subjects worked strategies help looking ahead lincoln park exploring options keeping group benefits intact next year current 9thgraders transferred main building sophomores kenwood academy freshmen catch clusters seventy students arrayed teacher nell smith reviewing transcripts two imaginary students one transcript indicates student flunked gym class tell mrs smith dont know says fail pe laughter dies students toss possible reasons uniform cutting class failing tests object exercise conducted kenwood academy calls freshman cluster get students think ahead want freshmen think says guidance counselor joyce brown heads schools freshman academy programs whats going transcript youre senior ninthperiod cluster worth half credit required freshmen january one feature freshman academy program greeted kenwoods class 2000 fall extra period funded central office grant grant also paid number initiatives aimed enlisting active support parents kenwood hired two parent coordinators notify students families poor attendance behavior homework student cuts class misbehaves misses assignment teacher fills brief report drops schools central office coordinators follow phone call home parents freshmen also received progress report childrens academic standing third week schoolan extraearly notice followed required fiveweek notice kenwood hosted four information discussion meetings freshman parents since beginning school year schools efforts beginning pay number ways ninety percent freshman parents showed first report card pickup 20 percent previous year time freshman failure rate dropped 3 percentage points number received three failing grades dropped 42 points class highest attendance record campus freshmen well rewarded get cs every class released secondsemester cluster able go home early end first quarter 50 students got bs eligible released cluster opted stay first wanted know says autumn dennard 14 whose firstquarter grades c b rest ok considering well end january christian mines practical assessment cluster struggling average math mines got help tutors cluster class aiming b cluster credit says nonchalance help people fail real test begins second semester cluster sessions populated solely students academically needythe ones got ds fs despite parental monitoring tutoring vexing brown others freshmen attend class regularly make effort still fail cases students dealing personal issues interfere school work three social workers blue gargoyle agency affiliated university chicago work cluster leaders help students come school failed three classes social workers strain schools budget volunteers keeping eye freshmen new concept kenwood number years hosted freshman focus fourday orientation incoming students fall 80 percent freshman class showed weve focusing freshmen number years outside freshman academy mandate brown says tell everyone making go along manley high freshmen military academic drills skyblue sawhorse barricade marked chicago police limits access secondfloor wing houses manley high schools freshman academya telling symbol perhaps major obstacle academic success tough west side school student conduct september 1995 manley freshmen racked 18 arrests mob action time school policy kicked requires 9thgraders register rotc program teaches selfcontrol promotes student comraderie since freshman student arrests fallen dramatically september two deloise funches whose son abdul butler freshman gives program thumbs likes play much says funches paid visit manley one morning january check son like rotc one things like give freshmen sense discipline says academy director timothy mooney part parents behind us 100 percent sight 200 freshmen uniforms striking mooney credits less visible changes much schools progress even school sent proposal last spring organized small schools offered block scheduling conducted sixweek summer program new freshman academy complements manleys overall small schools structure dubbed vocademics dual focus careers college preparation end freshman year students must choose enroll one five tracks hospitality management construction skills graphic arts journalism medical arts health information processing small school including freshman academy blockscheduled classes first two periods day last two manleys staff 11 freshman teachers meet weekly discuss student progress plan lesson strategies teamwork fostered coordinated effort assist freshmen making choice career tracks sophomore year average attendance freshmen 85 percent 10 points higher last years norm cutting failure rate remains elusive goal first 10week cycle teachers gave nearly many fs passing grades mooney attributes major portion failures new attendance policy students rack five absences class get automatic f though policy aimed deterring students cutting class seem taking seriously mooney says bet 50 percent failures attendance concludes mooney says policy adopted response chief executive officer paul vallas gettough stance attendance manley considering changing failure rate high says mooney bogan computer tech high freshman classes twice long half year central feature bogan high schools freshman academy program involves four required courses algebra biology english computer workshop offered daily 104minute segments twice usual time allotted single class system freshmen take years worth two subjects first semester come second semester study remaining two setup allows freshmen concentrate efforts attention fewer classes instead seven classes per semester bogan freshmen register five addition two core classes freshmen take three 52minute classes last entire year writing gymhealth elective social studies foreign language added benefits include fewer chances tardy since students switch classes less often reduction hallway fights since students arent hallways often fewer faces see personalities interact single day kid doesnt like teacher subject end semester notes principal linda pierzchalski change may difficult teachers accustomed giving lectures make adjustments lecture child 104 minutes pierzchalski notes nonetheless teachers approved new freshman schedule 89to26 vote last year second half teacher trent eatons english class one january morning students perusing want ads chicago tribune lifeskills exercise break traditional fare first 50 minutes class read passages shakespeares julius caesar desks arranged four clusters rather rows style akin elementary school seating plan makes easier students work together like says rebecca staschke 15 learn get time classmates share sentiments concedes staschke says freshmen get bored long classes keep freshman parents apprised bogan sends failure notices every two half weeks report cards every 5 weeks 8 times year parents must pick two personally results far attendance block classes lower failure rate yearlong subjects hyde park career academy high freshmen get extra time extra help nearly 10 years experience hyde park pioneer freshman academy programs started 1988 school received threeyear 158000 grant chicago community trust start teachers exchange program six feeder elementary schools 8thgrade 9thgrade teachers worked together curriculum issues help ease high school transition see catalyst december 1992 june 1994 since 1991 hyde park conducted voluntary sixweek program summer incoming freshmen students work toward mastering reading writing math skills need succeed 9th grade students attend seem enjoy says principal weldon beverly found many students chose stay entire time even though didnt regular school year underway freshmen completed assignments passed tests required promotion given extra time report cards struggling students get p instead f ds eliminated freshmen get credit work merits c higher freshman completes work masters skill p replaced b c grade p grades dampen students spirit learn like f grades says beverly give freshmen success teacher must find something student experience success students come high school never experienced success though well regarded early years program mixed results 1992 new grading policy adopted twothirds freshman students passed classes rate dropped following year 59 percent inched 1994 60 percent school could immediately supply recent data year hyde park reconfigured school day accommodate 45minute session freshman division instead usual fare announcements freshman division enhanced study hall students study vocabulary write journals learn critical thinking skills idea give time work selfimprovement take initiative education kind feelgood course kids says study skills teacher annette deangelis teach expect high school
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<p>Virginia Baptists aren't the only ones struggling with the nature of Baptist colleges and universities. The question is bedeviling the Baptist landscape, as institutions and state conventions across the nation look for new ways to relate in the midst of changing dynamics.</p>
<p>By Ken Camp</p>
<p>Should Baptist universities create an identity that is distinctively Baptist or one rooted in orthodox Christian beliefs shared by many traditions?</p>
<p>Speaking to a national conference, two prominent educators agreed the future of Baptist higher education depends on schools developing a clear theological identity and vision, but they differed on how broadly that should be defined.</p>
<p>Bill Hull, provost emeritus of Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., pointed to the need for a guiding vision that grows out of the “denominational DNA” of deeply held Baptist principles.</p>
<p>David Gushee, professor of moral philosophy at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., said Baptist schools need to be “critically aware of the particularities of Baptist identity” but embrace an “orthodox ecumenical vision.”</p>
<p>Both spoke to Baptist educators and administrators at an April 18-19 conference hosted by Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary.</p>
<p>“The genius of Baptist higher education,” Hull said, “has always been its close connection to the life of our churches.” Those ties must be greater than just having Baptist trustees who elect a Baptist president to secure funding from a Baptist convention, he said.</p>
<p>“Instead, if there is to be a future for Baptist higher education, it must be grounded in a shared vision of what it means to be a Baptist that is embraced both by our schools and by a critical mass of our churches,” Hull said. Institutional identity should emerge from the nature of what makes Baptists distinctive, such as their commitment to responsible dissent, revolutionary democracy and relational discipleship, he said.</p>
<p>Baptists should claim their right of dissent in how they view curriculum, he noted. Many Baptist schools have followed the integration of faith and learning model set by evangelical schools such as Wheaton College and Calvin College. That model stresses understanding each academic discipline from the perspective of a Christian worldview. “Certainly both faith and learning are essential to a holistic education, each having a valuable contribution to make to the other, but to ‘integrate' them is, in my view, both a theoretical and practical impossibility,” Hull said.</p>
<p>“Instead, my suggestion is that Baptists belong at the opposite end of the spectrum with a model that seeks not to integrate but to interrogate the curriculum with the Christian faith. … The best thing we can teach our students now, when an unprecedented knowledge explosion threatens to overwhelm the human mind, is not how to give the right answers but how to ask the right questions.”</p>
<p>At its best, Baptist dissent historically has been inspired by the belief that protests could bring about a new age of spiritual freedom, he noted. Baptist commitment to religious freedom from state domination has particular relevance in the 21st century, he added.</p>
<p>“In the present world crisis, a great deal of serious intellectual work needs to be done to ensure that Christianity not be perceived as an American religion or even as a Western religion but as a global religion without allegiance to any country or culture,” Hull said.</p>
<p>“If our religious interests are no broader than our national interests, then they serve only to deepen the divisions that condemn the world to perpetual strife. … The historic Baptist understanding of religious liberty is not some denominational oddity-a mere hiccup on the side of history. Rather, it offers an essential contribution to the post-9/11 geo-politic by enshrining the insight that the awesome spiritual power of religion must never again be linked to the equally awesome temporal power of the state if any semblance of democracy is to survive.”</p>
<p>Because Baptists chose voluntary religion over the props of the state, it had to be rooted in relational discipleship, he added. Hull asserted that “a wholesome sense of identity and integrity is best nurtured through the development of responsible relationships in small, close-knit communities of character.”</p>
<p>Gushee presented four models for Christian higher education-the integration of faith and learning, education for social transformation, creation of a pious ethos and transmission of church tradition. He offered the transmission of tradition model as the most comprehensive approach and as a synthesis of the other models, but he asked whether it is being done well by any Baptist schools.</p>
<p>“It is not at all clear that our tradition is sufficiently coherent to be transmitted by anybody, whether the university or any other agency,' he said. “It is also not clear whether our student bodies constitute a sufficiently coherent community that a tradition can be transmitted to them.”</p>
<p>Baptist schools cannot serve Baptists the same way Catholic schools serve the Catholic Church because there is no single Baptist Church, but rather many autonomous and diverse Baptist churches, he noted.</p>
<p>Baptist universities can transmit tradition effectively to the next generation only if they are committed to a reform that will require them to “throw their windows open to some fresh winds blowing our way from the broader tradition of the Christian church.”</p>
<p>The broader perspective of classical, orthodox, ecumenical Christianity, as expressed in ancient confessions such as the Apostles' Creed, might have spared Southern Baptists much of the turmoil that ripped apart the national convention in recent decades, Gushee asserted.</p>
<p>“Especially beginning in the 1960s, theological and, to some extent, ethical slippage away from classical Christian orthodox beliefs in our colleges and seminaries was detected by concerned participants and observers,” he said.</p>
<p>“Criticism of this slippage often evoked the freedom defense on the part of those criticized. The response to this eventually became a hard-line ‘conservative resurgence' that sought to arrest it by employment of an often very narrowly interpreted Bible. Precisely because they/we were all Southern Baptists, neither the conservatives nor the moderates were well informed or deeply rooted in the broader tradition of the church, a tradition which might have shown us how to draw the right kinds of boundaries.</p>
<p>“Thus the conservatives, in the name of the Bible, sometimes attacked what did not deserve to be attacked, while the moderates, in the name of freedom, sometimes defended what did not deserve to be defended. How desperately we needed at that time the perspective that could have been offered by the wisdom of the Christian tradition in its broadest and richest formulations. How desperately we still do need that wisdom.”</p>
<p>An approach embracing the Apostles' Creed as a theological boundary for schools would create a tent big enough to cover classic Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestant traditions but small enough to exclude modernist or postmodern revisions of Christian theology, he said.</p>
<p>“We must humbly identify our tradition as one expression of the Christian tradition, and we must bring our understanding of our tradition into submission to that broader tradition,” he insisted.</p>
<p>“All efforts to promote Baptist distinctives must be made within the context of ecumenical orthodoxy, including the rethinking of those distinctives where necessary. … Baptist universities rooted in an orthodox ecumenical vision, critically aware of the particularities of Baptist identity and effective in intelligently bringing this kind of Christian faith to bear on all aspects of contemporary life and thought can be successful in 21st century education.”</p>
<p>Associated Baptist Press</p>
<p>Ken Camp is managing editor of the Baptist Standard, newsjournal of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.</p>
| false | 3 |
virginia baptists arent ones struggling nature baptist colleges universities question bedeviling baptist landscape institutions state conventions across nation look new ways relate midst changing dynamics ken camp baptist universities create identity distinctively baptist one rooted orthodox christian beliefs shared many traditions speaking national conference two prominent educators agreed future baptist higher education depends schools developing clear theological identity vision differed broadly defined bill hull provost emeritus samford university birmingham ala pointed need guiding vision grows denominational dna deeply held baptist principles david gushee professor moral philosophy union university jackson tenn said baptist schools need critically aware particularities baptist identity embrace orthodox ecumenical vision spoke baptist educators administrators april 1819 conference hosted baylor universitys truett theological seminary genius baptist higher education hull said always close connection life churches ties must greater baptist trustees elect baptist president secure funding baptist convention said instead future baptist higher education must grounded shared vision means baptist embraced schools critical mass churches hull said institutional identity emerge nature makes baptists distinctive commitment responsible dissent revolutionary democracy relational discipleship said baptists claim right dissent view curriculum noted many baptist schools followed integration faith learning model set evangelical schools wheaton college calvin college model stresses understanding academic discipline perspective christian worldview certainly faith learning essential holistic education valuable contribution make integrate view theoretical practical impossibility hull said instead suggestion baptists belong opposite end spectrum model seeks integrate interrogate curriculum christian faith best thing teach students unprecedented knowledge explosion threatens overwhelm human mind give right answers ask right questions best baptist dissent historically inspired belief protests could bring new age spiritual freedom noted baptist commitment religious freedom state domination particular relevance 21st century added present world crisis great deal serious intellectual work needs done ensure christianity perceived american religion even western religion global religion without allegiance country culture hull said religious interests broader national interests serve deepen divisions condemn world perpetual strife historic baptist understanding religious liberty denominational odditya mere hiccup side history rather offers essential contribution post911 geopolitic enshrining insight awesome spiritual power religion must never linked equally awesome temporal power state semblance democracy survive baptists chose voluntary religion props state rooted relational discipleship added hull asserted wholesome sense identity integrity best nurtured development responsible relationships small closeknit communities character gushee presented four models christian higher educationthe integration faith learning education social transformation creation pious ethos transmission church tradition offered transmission tradition model comprehensive approach synthesis models asked whether done well baptist schools clear tradition sufficiently coherent transmitted anybody whether university agency said also clear whether student bodies constitute sufficiently coherent community tradition transmitted baptist schools serve baptists way catholic schools serve catholic church single baptist church rather many autonomous diverse baptist churches noted baptist universities transmit tradition effectively next generation committed reform require throw windows open fresh winds blowing way broader tradition christian church broader perspective classical orthodox ecumenical christianity expressed ancient confessions apostles creed might spared southern baptists much turmoil ripped apart national convention recent decades gushee asserted especially beginning 1960s theological extent ethical slippage away classical christian orthodox beliefs colleges seminaries detected concerned participants observers said criticism slippage often evoked freedom defense part criticized response eventually became hardline conservative resurgence sought arrest employment often narrowly interpreted bible precisely theywe southern baptists neither conservatives moderates well informed deeply rooted broader tradition church tradition might shown us draw right kinds boundaries thus conservatives name bible sometimes attacked deserve attacked moderates name freedom sometimes defended deserve defended desperately needed time perspective could offered wisdom christian tradition broadest richest formulations desperately still need wisdom approach embracing apostles creed theological boundary schools would create tent big enough cover classic catholicism eastern orthodoxy protestant traditions small enough exclude modernist postmodern revisions christian theology said must humbly identify tradition one expression christian tradition must bring understanding tradition submission broader tradition insisted efforts promote baptist distinctives must made within context ecumenical orthodoxy including rethinking distinctives necessary baptist universities rooted orthodox ecumenical vision critically aware particularities baptist identity effective intelligently bringing kind christian faith bear aspects contemporary life thought successful 21st century education associated baptist press ken camp managing editor baptist standard newsjournal baptist general convention texas
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<p>Two lawmakers are calling for the removal of this statue of Appomattox in Alexandria. (Photo by Ser Amantio di Nicolao; courtesy Wikimedia Commons)</p>
<p>Two gay members of the Virginia General Assembly said they will introduce bills that would give the city of Alexandria authority to move a Confederate statue from the prominent Old Town site at which it has been displayed since it was first placed there in 1889.</p>
<p>Adam Ebbin, a member of the Virginia State Senate whose district includes Alexandria, and Mark Levine, a member of the state’s House of Delegates whose district also includes Alexandria, announced plans to introduce the legislation in their respective chambers within the past week. Both are Democrats.</p>
<p>The General Assembly is in recess and isn’t scheduled to convene until January for its 2018 session. Ebbin and Levine said they would formally introduce their respective bills at that time.</p>
<p>The two said their bills call for repealing an 1890 state law that specifically prohibits Alexandria from removing the Appomattox statue, which depicts an unarmed and unnamed Confederate soldier observing the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia at the Appomattox Court House in 1865.</p>
<p>Ebbin and Levine said their respective bills would also repeal part of a 1950 Virginia state law that prohibits any local municipal government from removing any Confederate memorials or monuments.</p>
<p>Levine said he plans to introduce a separate bill calling for the state to use its authority to remove from the U.S. Capitol’s National Statutory Hall a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Under a policy set by Congress, each state is allowed to place two statues of its choosing in the Statuary Hall section of the Capitol Building.</p>
<p>The second statue placed by Virginia is of George Washington. Levine said he favors leaving the Washington statue in Statuary Hall and replacing the Lee statue with a statue of a prominent African-American Virginian, possibly of former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder. He said his bill would leave it up to state officials to decide who the replacement statute would be of as long as it isn’t someone associated with the Confederacy.</p>
<p>“Let me know if you have ideas,” Levine said in a Facebook posting announcing his plans for introducing the legislation to move the Appomattox statute and replace the Lee statue at the U.S. Capitol.</p>
<p>“I will reach out to other Delegates and Senators as well for their ideas on a replacement,” he said.</p>
<p>Most political observers in Virginia say the Republican-controlled legislature is unlikely to pass the type of legislation proposed by Ebbin and Levine. They note that last year the Alexandria City Council voted unanimously to petition the state to give it authority to move the Appomattox statue from its current location to the grounds of a city museum across the street from its current site.</p>
<p>No legislators at that time, including Ebbin and Levine, expressed interest in introducing legislation to facilitate the request on grounds that it could not pass. In what some view as an expression of defiance, the State Senate and House of Delegates instead passed a bill that strengthened the state’s control over Confederate monuments and memorials. The bill died after Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe vetoed it.</p>
<p>In an email to constituents on Aug. 17, Ebbin said the “horrific events” in Charlottesville, Va., two weeks ago in which police said white supremacists and neo-Nazis initiated violent clashes with counter protesters over the planned removal of a Confederate statute of Robert E. Lee in a Charlottesville park prompted him to decide to introduce his planned legislation.</p>
<p>“In giving thought to the location of the statue in the past, I have sought out opinions of African American leaders and tried to understand what a Confederate monument in the heart of Old Town means to them,” he said.</p>
<p>“Hard as that may be to truly appreciate, it has become readily apparent what statues like Appomattox mean to white supremacists and neo-Nazis,” Ebbin wrote in his email. “That sickening reality has underscored the need to push for enabling legislation.”</p>
<p>He added: “Those who would argue against giving localities authority regarding the siting of monuments sometimes claim that to do so is an effort to ‘erase history.’ I would respond that localities relocating, or even removing, statues does not erase the history of the Confederacy, but rather just ceases to publicly honor it.”</p>
<p>Although the Alexandria City Council voted in September 2016 to express its support for moving the Appomattox statue, a seven-member advisory group created by the City Council one year earlier to study whether the statue should be moved and streets named after Confederate figures should be changed recommended that the statue be left where it is.</p>
<p>Noting that it represents Confederate veterans rather than leaders, the group said it was erected by a veterans’ organization with money raised locally and on land provided by the city.</p>
<p>“Appomattox has been a local landmark since its erection, and is one of the few surviving authentic memorials connected to the war,” the advisory group said, adding that rather than removing it information should be added to clarify the “context” of the statue as part of Alexandria’s history.</p>
<p>The statue is currently owned and maintained by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, which would decide where to move it if Alexandria is given the authority by the state to remove it from its current site at South Washington and Prince Streets in Old Town Alexandria.</p>
<p>“I think prior to two weeks ago Adam and I agreed this was politically impossible,” Levine said in discussing the prospects of his and Ebbin’s bills passing in the legislature. “It’s still improbable but I think we’ve gone from the impossible to the unlikely,” he said. “And with Charlottesville it’s possible that the mood has changed, the atmosphere has changed and it’s worth a try.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Adam Ebbin</a> <a href="" type="internal">Alexandria</a> <a href="" type="internal">Alexandria City Council</a> <a href="" type="internal">Appomattox Court House</a> <a href="" type="internal">civil war</a> <a href="" type="internal">Confederate</a> <a href="" type="internal">Confederate Army of Northern Virginia</a> <a href="" type="internal">Democratic Party</a> <a href="" type="internal">Doug Wilder</a> <a href="" type="internal">facebook</a> <a href="" type="internal">George Washington</a> <a href="" type="internal">Mark Levine</a> <a href="" type="internal">neo-nazi</a> <a href="" type="internal">Old Town Alexandria</a> <a href="" type="internal">Robert E. Lee</a> <a href="" type="internal">Terry McAuliffe</a> <a href="" type="internal">U.S. Capitol's National Statutory Hall</a> <a href="" type="internal">United Daughters of the Confederacy</a> <a href="" type="internal">Virginia</a> <a href="" type="internal">Virginia General Assembly</a> <a href="" type="internal">Virginia House of Delegates</a> <a href="" type="internal">Virginia State Senate</a></p>
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two lawmakers calling removal statue appomattox alexandria photo ser amantio di nicolao courtesy wikimedia commons two gay members virginia general assembly said introduce bills would give city alexandria authority move confederate statue prominent old town site displayed since first placed 1889 adam ebbin member virginia state senate whose district includes alexandria mark levine member states house delegates whose district also includes alexandria announced plans introduce legislation respective chambers within past week democrats general assembly recess isnt scheduled convene january 2018 session ebbin levine said would formally introduce respective bills time two said bills call repealing 1890 state law specifically prohibits alexandria removing appomattox statue depicts unarmed unnamed confederate soldier observing surrender confederate army northern virginia appomattox court house 1865 ebbin levine said respective bills would also repeal part 1950 virginia state law prohibits local municipal government removing confederate memorials monuments levine said plans introduce separate bill calling state use authority remove us capitols national statutory hall statue confederate general robert e lee policy set congress state allowed place two statues choosing statuary hall section capitol building second statue placed virginia george washington levine said favors leaving washington statue statuary hall replacing lee statue statue prominent africanamerican virginian possibly former virginia gov doug wilder said bill would leave state officials decide replacement statute would long isnt someone associated confederacy let know ideas levine said facebook posting announcing plans introducing legislation move appomattox statute replace lee statue us capitol reach delegates senators well ideas replacement said political observers virginia say republicancontrolled legislature unlikely pass type legislation proposed ebbin levine note last year alexandria city council voted unanimously petition state give authority move appomattox statue current location grounds city museum across street current site legislators time including ebbin levine expressed interest introducing legislation facilitate request grounds could pass view expression defiance state senate house delegates instead passed bill strengthened states control confederate monuments memorials bill died virginia gov terry mcauliffe vetoed email constituents aug 17 ebbin said horrific events charlottesville va two weeks ago police said white supremacists neonazis initiated violent clashes counter protesters planned removal confederate statute robert e lee charlottesville park prompted decide introduce planned legislation giving thought location statue past sought opinions african american leaders tried understand confederate monument heart old town means said hard may truly appreciate become readily apparent statues like appomattox mean white supremacists neonazis ebbin wrote email sickening reality underscored need push enabling legislation added would argue giving localities authority regarding siting monuments sometimes claim effort erase history would respond localities relocating even removing statues erase history confederacy rather ceases publicly honor although alexandria city council voted september 2016 express support moving appomattox statue sevenmember advisory group created city council one year earlier study whether statue moved streets named confederate figures changed recommended statue left noting represents confederate veterans rather leaders group said erected veterans organization money raised locally land provided city appomattox local landmark since erection one surviving authentic memorials connected war advisory group said adding rather removing information added clarify context statue part alexandrias history statue currently owned maintained united daughters confederacy would decide move alexandria given authority state remove current site south washington prince streets old town alexandria think prior two weeks ago adam agreed politically impossible levine said discussing prospects ebbins bills passing legislature still improbable think weve gone impossible unlikely said charlottesville possible mood changed atmosphere changed worth try adam ebbin alexandria alexandria city council appomattox court house civil war confederate confederate army northern virginia democratic party doug wilder facebook george washington mark levine neonazi old town alexandria robert e lee terry mcauliffe us capitols national statutory hall united daughters confederacy virginia virginia general assembly virginia house delegates virginia state senate
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<p>Meet the Press - September 25, 2016</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>This Sunday it's game on, one day away from perhaps the most watched debate in American history.</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>I'm going to be very respectful of her.</p>
<p>HILLARY CLINTON:</p>
<p>You've gotta be prepared for, like, wacky stuff that comes at you.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Will this be the moment that determines who will become the next President? Donald Trump advisor, General Mike Flynn and the Hillary Clinton Campaign Chairman, John Podesta, both join me live. Plus, debate prep school. One moment can change everything.</p>
<p>RICK PERRY:</p>
<p>I can't, the third one I can't, sorry. Oops.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>How the Presidential candidates plan to knock their opponents off stride. I'll talk to two former campaign managers who’ve been inside the war room before. Also, how does a man who says this about Donald Trump--</p>
<p>TED CRUZ:</p>
<p>This man is a pathological liar, a bully, a narcissist at a level I don't think this country's ever seen.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>--wind up endorsing him? What's really behind Ted Cruz's surprise change of heart? And the two police shootings this week.</p>
<p>RAKEYIA SCOTT</p>
<p>Don't shoot him. He has no weapon.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Peaceful protests are growing around the country as we grapple with the question: What can be done to keep this from happening? Joining me for insight and analysis are Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian, Doris Kearns Goodwin, host on the Salem Radio Network, Hugh Hewitt, Gwen Ifill, co-anchor of the PBS NewsHour and Republican strategist, Mike Murphy. Welcome to Sunday, it's Meet The Press.</p>
<p>ANNOUNCER:</p>
<p>From NBC News in Washington, this is Meet the Press with Chuck Todd.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Good Sunday morning, it's an NFL Sunday and really, this feels like a pre-game show. The big game is tomorrow night at Hofstra University on New York's Long Island, with a Super Bowl sized audience expected. Usually, the first debate is the most important campaign moment until the next debate. Probably not this time. Hillary Clinton comes in the debate with nervous Democrats feeling a little bit better about things.</p>
<p>Four national polls out this week all showed Clinton up in a four-way race. In three of the polls, she's up by six points. Though in today's Washington Post/ ABC Poll, she's up by just two. Some battleground state polls showed Donald Trump doing better and having a legitimate path 270.</p>
<p>Trump has never been more competitive than he is now and there's a sense that if Clinton doesn't knock him out tomorrow, she may never be able to before November. Both sides are already engaging in psychological gamesmanship. The Clinton campaign has placed Mark Cuban, a huge Trump critic up front in the audience as a way to rattle Trump. And in response, as hard as this is to believe, Trump has invited Gennifer Flowers to sit in the front row. Not making this up. That Gennifer Flowers who, of course, had an extramarital affair with Bill Clinton sometime in the '80s. Gamesmanship aside, one thing we know for sure, the two candidates are taking very different approaches getting ready for tomorrow night's big debate.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>While Trump huddles at Trump Tower, Clinton is hunkering down in and around her Chappaqua home, both preparing for the most important Presidential debate in decades.</p>
<p>TIM KAINE:</p>
<p>You're going to hear Donald Trump doing a lot of trash talking, but Hillary is a tough person.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>The Clinton campaign is trying to steer the conversation to temperament.</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>I'd look her right in that fat, ugly face of hers.</p>
<p>She's a slob.</p>
<p>She ate like a pig.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And onstage, Clinton will try to get under Trump's skin.</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>Excuse me. I've given my answer, lyin' Ted.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But the challenge for Clinton, predicting which Trump will show up.</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>People ask me that question: Oh, you're gonna go out there and do this and that? I really don't know that.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Will Trump lose his cool, be impatient, be too subdued or be crass?</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>He referred to my hands, if they're small, something else must be small, I guarantee you there's no problem. I guarantee.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Or will Trump be able to rise above the temperament questions and throw Clinton off her game?</p>
<p>BRETT O’DONNELL:</p>
<p>He needs to worry about, first of all, not taking the bait from her and following her attacks. And second of all, Trump needs to make sure that he's ready to talk about policy in a way that matches her.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Trump is watching videos to spot Clinton's vulnerabilities, but doing no formal mock debates.</p>
<p>REPORTER:</p>
<p>Mr Trump, how’s debate prep going right now?</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>Well, I’m here with-- at Geno’s.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>His campaign trying to turn his restlessness with preparation into an asset.</p>
<p>KELLYANNE CONWAY:</p>
<p>I don't think he's locked up in a cabin for two weeks like other people have been or currently are, cramming their heads with microchips and binders.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But Trump can't afford to stumble on substance and he has to avoid looking like a bully. As for Clinton, she's not afraid of going negative.</p>
<p>HILLARY CLINTON:</p>
<p>Your profusion of comments about your feelings toward President Obama are, um, a little strange, given what you said about him in 2011.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And she has had her best performances when opponents came off as snarky.</p>
<p>HILLARY CLINTON:</p>
<p>I don't think I'm that bad.</p>
<p>BARACK OBAMA:</p>
<p>You're likeable enough, Hillary.</p>
<p>HILLARY CLINTON:</p>
<p>Thank you so much.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Or rude.</p>
<p>HILLARY CLINTON:</p>
<p>We’ll shake on this.</p>
<p>RICK LAZIO:</p>
<p>No, I want your signature.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>The challenge for Clinton, she can sometimes become defensive, particularly on questions of character.</p>
<p>HILLARY CLINTON:</p>
<p>I communicated about classified material on a wholly separate system.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And she can get tangled up with her lawyer-ly explanations.</p>
<p>ANITA DUNN:</p>
<p>I think for Hillary Clinton, sometimes for-- that wall seems like it’s about 25 feet wide for people. And that the more that she lets people through the doors, the better off she's going to be.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>As both candidates prepare for the most consequential day of this campaign.</p>
<p>BRETT O’DONNELL:</p>
<p>While you can't win an election in a debate, you can certainly lose one.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Joining me now is the Chairman of the Clinton Campaign, John Podesta. Mr. Podesta, welcome back to Meet The Press.</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>Good to be with you, Chuck.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Well, Hillary Clinton has prepped for 38 debates since she first ran for office in 2000. How’s the preparation for this one different?</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>Look, she takes the debate preparation very seriously, she respects the American public, she wants to tell them what she wants to do for them. I think for her, it's really about laying down the policies that she thinks will improve the economy, make it an economy that's working for everyone, not for just for people at the top. But she has a challenge because Donald Trump is--inveterately says things that aren't true, he comes in and Politifact rated him the liar of the year last year.</p>
<p>Just this week, The New York Times did a graphic of the 12 whoppers of the week. So she's got to be able to both make that positive case, but also, not let Donald Trump get away with what he's likely to do, which is to make stuff up.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It's clear that temperament, you believe, is his Achilles Heel. I want to play for you a montage of ads that you guys are running. Fourteen ads you guys have unveiled since August 1st. Thirteen of them have to do with Trump's temperament. Here's a little-- a sample.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>FEMALE VOICE:</p>
<p>Donald Trump doesn't see people like me, he just sees disability.</p>
<p>MALE VOICE</p>
<p>How would you answer that father? What sacrifice have you made for your country?</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>I think I've made a lot of sacrifices, built great structures, I've had tremendous success.</p>
<p>LINDSAY GRAHAM:</p>
<p>He's a race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot.</p>
<p>ANNOUNCER:</p>
<p>All it takes is one wrong move.</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>I would bomb the beep out of them.</p>
<p>ANNOUNCER:</p>
<p>Just one.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>John Podesta, what if the Donald Trump you're portraying in these TV ads is not the Donald Trump that shows up onstage Monday night?</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>Look, there is only one Donald Trump and I think he's run the race in a way that those ads I think fairly you know show. But I think, again, you showed an ad about disabilities. I think what Hillary wants to do is do what she did this week, which is tell that positive case about how we build an inclusive economy, make space for everyone.</p>
<p>Donald Trump will have to think about what he said in the past, his disparagement of that reporter that you saw--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Mmhmm.</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>--on the screen with disabilities, going to have to think about the names he's called to--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>--Gold Star families, to Mexicans, to Muslims. And you know, he may try to-- he's a good television performer, so he may try to adjust for that in the debate.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Okay.</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>But the reality is, he's run his whole campaign that way.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Is your goal of this debate is to get under his skin? Is that why you gave Mark Cuban a ticket right in the front row?</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>No, I think Mark Cuban is one of the business leaders who was never involved in partisan politics who's endorsed Hillary because he thinks she'll do better for the-- for the economy. I think that, you know, you saw his reaction, which is to do his favorite sport, which is to dive in the sewer and go for a swim.</p>
<p>But I think that, you know, we're looking forward to him, he's been a very strong surrogate for her, from the time he went to his hometown in Pittsburgh and gave her a full-throated endorsement that she'd be best for the economy.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You said-- you referred to diving into the sewer, so you believe that inviting Gennifer Flowers is diving into the sewer?</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>Well, you know, look, I'll leave it to Mr. Trump to decide what he's going to do here tonight, but I think that, you know, and what he'll do tomorrow night. But I think that you know he is, he's kind of predictable; when you, when you poke him a little bit, he comes back and, and attacks whoever is doing it. That's you know that’s why he got in so much trouble when he attacked the Gold Star family, the Khan family after right after our convention. That's what he does, that's who he is, that's why he's dangerous and unpredictable.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You know, one of the things that Hillary Clinton has to try to do is restore this issue of trust with the voters. I want to play a debate clip from earlier this week. It was a Congressional debate that featured Charlie Crist, the former Republican Governor turned Democrat now in Florida. He was asked a question about supporting Hillary Clinton. Here's his answer and the reaction to his answer.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>CHARLIE CRIST:</p>
<p>The thing I like most about her is I believe that she is steady, I believe that she is strong. I believe that she is honest and I look forward to voting for her.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It was when he says the word "honest," the crowd groans, you hear laughter. This issue of honest and trustworthiness, how much progress can she make Monday night on restoring some trust and how does she do it?</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>Well, look, I think she has to talk directly to the American people about what she wants to do. You know, I think when you think about what's honest about her, it's that from the day she got, left law school, she has been a champion for women, for children, for families. She's done it all her life. She's gotten real results for people. In contrast, Donald Trump's been all about himself. But she's got to tell people what she wants to do for them.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>And I think she can do that by looking directly at them and talking about a future that's going to be brighter, more optimistic and, you know, improving their lives.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Very quickly, today's New York Times has an extensive report on the ties of Hillary Clinton to Goldman Sachs and it talks about various ways that they’ve been very close, whether it’s the paid speeches, whether it was supporting a philanthropic operation that Goldman Sachs did while she was at the State Department. Does this undermine Secretary Clinton's credibility that she can be tough on Wall Street, that she has so many close ties to one of Wall Street's biggest brands?</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>No I thought that, you know that story was, again, it was a kind of false equivalency. What it said was that she supported a philanthropic program that gave 10,000 women entrepreneurs around the world a chance to get started. But what she's done is put forward what everyone has agreed, including The New York Times itself, is the most comprehensive program to regulate Wall Street.</p>
<p>In contrast, Donald Trump wants to wipe away Dodd-Frank, everything that's been done to make sure that Wall Street doesn't wreck Main Street again. What she wants to do--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Okay.</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>--is make sure that there's no institution too big to fail and no individual too big to jail. So I think she will--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Okay.</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>--she has pursued a very aggressive path on Wall Street.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>John Podesta, Campaign Chair of the Clinton Campaign, thanks for your time this morning and sharing your views. Appreciate it.</p>
<p>JOHN PODESTA:</p>
<p>Thanks, Chuck.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Joining me now is retired General Michael Flynn, former director of The Defense Intelligence Agency and a top advisor to Donald Trump. He's also been in the room for some debate prep sessions. General Flynn, welcome back to the show, sir.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>Thanks, Chuck, thanks for having me.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Let me start with this, the public perception is that Donald Trump isn't doing the same type of preparation for this debate that Hillary Clinton is. I think Kellyanne Conway, the campaign manager, said he's not been locked up in a cabin for two weeks. Eric Trump, his son, has suggested that he doesn't need to be you know rehearsing flash cards. Are you concerned, though, that the preparation is enough?</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>Yeah, so a couple things, the very last thing that John Podesta just said is no individual too big to jail, that should include people like Hillary Clinton. I mean, five people around her have had, have been given immunity, to include her former Chief of Staff. When you are given immunity, that means that you have probably committed a crime. So you know, I don't know how he can sit there and say something like that with all the, the things that have been going around, just swirling around Hillary Clinton--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>--with her email.</p>
<p>So in terms of preparation, to answer your question, Donald Trump has been preparing. And you know, it's like, where is Hillary Clinton this week? Donald Trump has been in Pennsylvania, he's been, he’s been in Florida, he's been in Ohio. I was with him last night in Virginia. He is out speaking to the American public, large groups, small groups. You know, it’s-- that's how he is bringing his message to the American public and that's why you're seeing this huge shift in the polls, this huge momentum shift.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>One of the things I think, Chuck, that you ought to do is not only talk about where the polls are today--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Right.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>--but where they were maybe a week ago--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Okay.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>--or two weeks ago. Huge, huge shift. So it's really, I mean, the way we feel--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:Okay.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>--the way I feel is that there is a huge shift in momentum. And the American public are starting to really wake up.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But are you, you are confident that he is going to be able to pass this Commander-in-Chief test? As you know, so many of your colleagues in the national security world, whether it's been former Pentagon staffers, former Bush Administration appointees, former foreign service, letter after letter, just hundreds of former national security professionals who say they cannot endorse Donald Trump. How does he convince a public that he is up to the job when so many folks who have worked closely with you, closely with others, believe he's unfit for the job?</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>Yeah. And there are hundreds, there are hundreds of people that have said just the opposite thing about Donald Trump's ability, you know, ability to be Commander-in-Chief, ability to be the President of the United States and kind of move this country forward in the right direction.</p>
<p>You know, a lot of those names on those lists, and I look very closely at these things, and some of the things that they say, they offer no solutions and these are people that represent the past. They represent so many of the failed policies and the, and the really, the, the stupid decisions that were made that have kept us in this perpetual conflict that we are in in the Middle East and places like Afghanistan.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>I mean, God, we have to cherish our military and our veterans, but I'm going to tell you, the decisions that put us there, many of those people that are on those lists, Chuck, are the ones that actually put us there.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Well, I have to ask you this, you're a general, does he know more than you? He said he knew more than the generals when it comes to ISIS.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>Yeah, let me tell you, I have, I have been advising Donald Trump for over a year now, and he is a great listener. One of the things that he has and what we have in this country is we have a deficit of leadership. Donald Trump brings a strategic leadership, a sense of who we are as America and how do we make America first? How do we bring America forward? How do we improve our economy?</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Right.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>How do we improve our military?</p>
<p>So I mean, there are so many things that we have to gut-- we have to get fixed in our country right now.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Okay.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>I mean, just look at what's going on in the current situation, Chuck.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>General, let me, I want to follow up and stay on the debate here, in response to the invitation that Hillary Clinton made to Mark Cuban, Donald Trump tweeted yesterday that he has invited Gennifer Flowers to attend the debate. She has accepted the invitation. What can you tell about that invite? Should we expect to see her Monday night in the front row there?</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>Well, here's what I'll tell you about the, the debate. It's obviously going to be probably the most watched show in the--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Right.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>--history of, of TV.</p>
<p>Donald Trump has been out speaking to the American public and they've been listening and they have been hearing and you said it right up front when you talked about this shift in the polls. The momentum is on Donald Trump's side and thank God for that, because we need a, we need a new direction in this country--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>General, what about this--</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>--there are so many things that are-- Go ahead.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Can you, can you confirm this Gennifer Flowers talk? That, that’s, that’s what the question was. Can you confirm? Has she been invited to do this and is it-- do you feel it's appropriate?</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>I would just, I would just go with what, what you, what you have seen and we'll wait to see what happens tomorrow night.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Do you think it's appropriate?</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>I'm sorry?</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Do you think it's appropriate to invite Gennifer Flowers to the debate?</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>Well, you know, is it appropriate, was it appropriate to invite Mark Cuban? I mean, you know I just heard what John Podesta said about Mark Cuban. I mean, he's not a-- he’s not a legitimate person. Why is he invited? I mean, I, you know, again, I would leave this tit-for-tat, you know, this is about the big issues that this country is worried about, I'm worried about, that's the reason why I'm sitting here this morning with you. I mean, our country needs to go in a, in a completely different direction. It is failing right now in many ways, in many places and--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Okay.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>--and we, we're struggling. The difference between the bubble of Washington, D.C.--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Alright.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>--and the rest of America is such a vast, there's such a gap right now, Chuck, and--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Okay.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>--and people in this country want to see big leadership and that's what--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Well--</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>--Donald Trump provides.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Well, we'll be watching tomorrow night. General Flynn, thanks for coming on, appreciate you sharing your views.</p>
<p>GENERAL MIKE FLYNN:</p>
<p>Thanks a lot. Thank you.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Later, later in the broadcast, we'll go inside the debate prep war room. I'll talk to two campaign managers who have prepped candidates on how to get under the other candidate's skin. But when we come back--</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>TED CRUZ:</p>
<p>This man is a pathological liar, a narcissist at a level I don't think this country's ever seen.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>What's really behind Ted Cruz's decision to endorse Donald Trump, after all? And to get you all psyched up for tomorrow night's big debate, we're going to be showing you some highlights from both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, debate moments that they've participated in, beginning with this scene from one of Clinton's 2008 debates with then Senator Barack Obama.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>SCOTT SPRADLING:</p>
<p>What can you say to the voters of New Hampshire on this stage tonight, who see your resume and like it, but are hesitating on the likeability issue, where they seem to like Barack Obama?</p>
<p>HILLARY CLINTON:</p>
<p>Well, that hurts my feelings.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>***COMMERCIAL BREAK***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Welcome back. The panel is with us. Mike Murphy, who has advised John McCain, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush and is doing something that very few people do, he launched a podcast, Radio Free GOP. Gwen Ifill, co-anchor of "The Newshour" on PBS, more podcasts coming from her, I'm sure. Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian, Doris Kearns Goodwin, who has a fantastic and long interview with President Obama in the new issue of Vanity Fair. And Hugh Hewitt, host on the Salem Radio Network.</p>
<p>Well, there's one topic, before we get to the debate, I want to spend a couple of minutes on the Ted Cruz News. As you know, this is what Ted Cruz said about Donald Trump, fiery Donald Trump in about three days before he dropped out. Here's a montage of it.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>TED CRUZ:</p>
<p>Donald, you're a sniveling coward and leave Heidi the hell alone.</p>
<p>This man is a pathological liar.</p>
<p>A bully.</p>
<p>A narcissist at a level I don't think this country's ever seen.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Mike Murphy, he's now an endorser of Ted Cruz.</p>
<p>MIKE MURPHY:</p>
<p>I think the editors of Believe in Absolutely Nothing magazine have a new cover now. He made the big move at the convention, some people thought it was almost to the point of rudeness, but he clearly distanced from Trump. He claimed conservative principles, I think there's a case to make there. And now, threatened with a primary in Texas, excuse me, a 180. I think it looks very cynical.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Can he recover from this? Is he now just a portrait, Hugh, of a transactional politician? Because his chief Super PAC donors became Trump's chief donors, the Mercer family. Kellyanne Conway worked with the Mercer family on those Super PACS for Cruz, now she's with Donald Trump. You have people like Mike McCaul, a Congressman who was thinking about challenging Rick Perry. This feels like it was a move of political force.</p>
<p>HUGH HEWITT:</p>
<p>I have to disagree, I talked to the senator on Monday, I talked to his people yesterday. I disagree that he's in trouble in Texas. I think he got what he needed from Trump. And the big change, what wasn't a race is now a race. In August when you oppose Donald Trump at the convention, no one thinks he's going to be within ten points of Secretary Clinton. Now the Supreme Court is genuinely balanced.</p>
<p>If you look at the list that Mr. Trump released to add to the names, you'll see on there a very interesting name, Margaret Ryan, Judge Margaret Ryan of the Court of Appeals for Military Arms Services. She is a Ludwig clerk and a Thomas clerk and a Marine Corps Commandant A. She is a terrific judge, as were the other ones. I think Ted Cruz is playing to win the Supreme Court and I admire him for it.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Well, Doris, the Supreme Court wasn't enough for him six weeks ago and it is now?</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN:</p>
<p>I think the problem is beware of ambition. You know, Teddy Roosevelt did almost the same thing in 1884. James Blaine, the continental liar from the State of Maine was the candidate and many good Republicans decided, "We can't go with him," they turned Democrat. He's promised to do it and then at the last minute he said, "I gotta go with my party."</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN:</p>
<p>He later said, "I betrayed myself, I will never do that again. He's betrayed the "never Trump" people and they were with him, they were with his principles and I wonder how he's going to feel about it himself.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Gwen, I got to put up this, there is a meme going around, Ted Cruz's favorite movie is "Princess Bride," he can quote from it.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>Yeah, right.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Look at here, I won't do the accent, but my name is Rafael Eduardo Cruz, you insulted my wife and father, prepare to be endorsed.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>I'll do the accent.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You can do the accent.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>"Prepare to be endorsed." Well, you know, the thing is that I understand the Supreme Court thing and if that were true, and I understand that the better principles which he laid out, except they were all so not long ago. It wasn't that Donald Trump is no more likely to be President than he was when he was more likely to be nominee.</p>
<p>And so, Ted Cruz is playing a game for Ted Cruz, which obviously, maybe there's a "Dancing With the Stars" slot, we had Tom DeLay, we now have Rick Perry, maybe it's time for Ted Cruz, Texas politicians on dancing. But this wasn't even a dance. This was a capitulation. And I guess we'll see pretty clearly why, but I don't know that it changes votes.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Mike, you're a "never Trumper," you're in that world.</p>
<p>MIKE MURPHY:</p>
<p>Yeah, yeah.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Did you feel betrayed?</p>
<p>MIKE MURPHY:</p>
<p>No, I've always thought Cruz is a cynic, but I think politically, this is worse for him than it would be for a normal politician, because Cruz has always presented himself as the one guy who is uncompromised by the ways of Washington, the one man against the machine, the creature of principle. And now, he seems like just another politician and that's kryptonite for him. I agree, the best argument is Supreme Court.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>MIKE MURPHY:</p>
<p>But where I, as a conservative, fall apart on the Supreme Court with Trump is it requires trusting Trump, and that's the bridge I can't cross.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And to do it before the debate. I have to say, Hugh, what if everything that Cruz said about Trump in May comes true tomorrow night?</p>
<p>HUGH HEWITT:</p>
<p>I just have to disagree with everyone, the difference is that Trump was not viable in July. He is not only viable, he is ahead now and so--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You're making the political argument here. You’re basically saying that Ted Cruz--</p>
<p>HUGH HEWITT:</p>
<p>I can now say the Supreme Court, because a justice appointed by Secretary Clinton will change the court in ways profound that will last for 40 years. Ted Cruz is a constitutional scholar, he is a Ludwig clerk, he is a genuine originalist and he knows that that list and the originalist are good lists.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>But do you agree, Hugh, that this is not about whether the Supreme Court so much, as to whether Ted Cruz can survive? We're sitting here talking about him Sunday morning, that wasn't going to happen otherwise..</p>
<p>HUGH HEWITT:</p>
<p>He will win a primary in Texas easily, I would bet everything, I will defer to Mike on that. I think he would crush Mike McCaul if Mike McCaul runs against him.</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN:</p>
<p>But I agree with you, just being back in the air again, if you're a politician and you haven't been listened to for a while, how fun to be back in the air.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Okay, I don’t know.</p>
<p>MIKE MURPHY:</p>
<p>Watch that primary, I'm not sure. There's the potential for a great primary there, we'll see.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>All right, I'm going to pause the conversation here, we got a lot more to go, both on the debate and the other big story of the week. Later in the show, we're going to talk about the police shooting in North Carolina.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>WIFE OF KEITH LAMONT SCOTT:</p>
<p>Don't shoot him, he has no weapon. He has no weapon.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Plus, the shooting in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the question everyone is asking: What can we do to stop this from happening?</p>
<p>But when we come back, inside the War Room, what really goes on in those debate prep sessions? I'll talk to two debate insiders who have been in those sessions and have prepped Presidential candidates for these big moments. And as we go to break, here's a memorable Donald Trump debate moment from earlier this primary season.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>Let's see, I'm at 42 and you're at three, so so far, I'm doing better.</p>
<p>JEB BUSH:</p>
<p>Doesn't matter, doesn't matter.</p>
<p>DONALD TRUMP:</p>
<p>So far, I'm doing better. You know, you started off over here, Jeb, you're moving over further and further, pretty soon you're going to be off the end.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>***COMMERCIAL BREAK***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Welcome back, everyone has been speculating about whether Donald Trump can be, quote, "Presidential" tomorrow or whether Hillary Clinton can be more likeable and avoid being too lawyer-ly. Well, joining me now are two people who have been in those debate war rooms before and have faced what Donald Rumsfeld might have called "the known knowns, the known unknowns and the unknown unknowns."</p>
<p>Steve Schmidt was a major player in President George W. Bush's reelection in 2004 and was a senior advisor for John McCain in 2008. Stephanie Cutter was the Deputy Campaign Manager for President Obama's reelection in 2012 and was part of the debate preparation process for John Kerry in 2004. Welcome to you both. Stephanie Cutter, let me start with you and the idea of gamesmanship, which is the Clinton Campaign deciding to put Mark Cuban in the front row.</p>
<p>Obviously, the Donald Trump campaign may or may not be following through with Trump's pledge to bring Gennifer Flowers, there's some question here. My guess is others are trying to talk him out of it. But you guys did this in '04. Give an example of gamesmanship that you did.</p>
<p>STEPHANIE CUTTER:</p>
<p>Well, I seem to recall that we had some 9/11 widows in the audience in 2004 just to make the point that we had a lot of work to do to get back on track in Afghanistan and Iraq took us off course. And Iraq took us off course because of Bush not telling the truth about weapons of mass destruction.</p>
<p>What Clinton and Trump are doing are trying to throw each other off their game. The difference is Hillary Clinton is doing it with a legitimate businessman, also, a celebrity. And as John Podesta put it earlier on your show, Trump is just jumping right down in the sewer and swimming in it by inviting Gennifer Flowers. I think part of what you want to do in putting somebody in the audience is to reinforce a positive about your campaign or make a legitimate point about your opponents. What he's doing is not going to help him.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Steve Schmidt, it would have made more sense to me had Trump responded with bring a grieving mother of one of the Benghazi grieving family members, that seems to be- would have been the counter that would have made policy sense.</p>
<p>STEVE SCHMIDT:</p>
<p>Well, you just saw the effectiveness of the tactic. It was clearly designed to provoke Donald Trump and it provoked Donald Trump, it provoked Donald Trump into going down the Gennifer Flowers rabbit hole, as opposed to doing what you're suggesting, Chuck. And tomorrow, one of the big tasks that Donald Trump has on this debate stage, can be comport himself like an American President should comport himself?</p>
<p>Is he going to be able to be seen by the American people as a plausible Commander-in-Chief, somebody who could address the nation in a crisis? And I think she's going to try to push his buttons all through this debate and get a volcanic eruption, like you saw throughout the primary debates.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>I want to talk about the importance of mock debates. I'll start with you. You guys used Rob Portman in 2008 for John McCain to stand in there for President Obama, how important did you find the mock debate for John McCain? And I think if I remember, there was some concern that President Bush didn't do enough preparation before the first debate in '04?</p>
<p>STEVE SCHMIDT:</p>
<p>Look, I think that if you look at incumbent Presidents of the United States, you saw this with President Bush in a poor debate performance in 2004, you saw it with President Obama with a poor debate performance in 2012, it's hard to tell the incumbent President of the United States, "Time to practice," and they pay for it when they don't.</p>
<p>Rob Portman was spectacular in these debate preps and it was a real wide fire scenario for the candidates. He was exquisitely prepared, he was tough and he gave a very accurate, precise preview of what was coming at John McCain. And there's no question that John McCain's performances were better because of the preparation he went through with Rob Portman.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You know, and Stephanie, I know you guys used John Kerry as the stand-in for Mitt Romney. The importance, I guess, we know how it's Philippe Reines. Many reporters know a long-time sort of spokesperson for Hillary Clinton, he's playing Donald Trump. It's interesting, I guess the idea was to find somebody that could be snarky enough and would feel comfortable going after Hillary Clinton in a small room.</p>
<p>STEPHANIE CUTTER:</p>
<p>Well, that's certainly Philippe. He will know how to push her buttons. And I think it was a brilliant choice. You know, what you want to do in these prep sessions is role play every potential scenario, so that you have a good understanding of how your candidate is going to react and whether they can keep their cool when they have the right judgment to go on attack or they're keeping in mind their larger vision that they need to communicate to the American people.</p>
<p>And I think Phillippe testing Secretary Clinton's limits is very important because we don't know, you know, no one’s ever debated somebody like Donald Trump on a Presidential debate stage. We don't know exactly who's showing up.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Final question for both of you, part of the debate prep process isn't just prepping the candidate, but it's also, you've got to prep for the post-spin game. And this is-- every cycle it gets faster and faster and the way the debate gets perceived is-- suddenly goes faster and faster. Stephanie Cutter, what did you learn right and wrong from 2012 about the necessity of being prepared for that?</p>
<p>STEPHANIE CUTTER:</p>
<p>Well, we were prepared, but we were prepared as if were in a 2008 campaign instead of 2012. What we hadn't realized is what a powerful tool Twitter was going to be in defining the narrative of that. And we could see the narrative being set in the first 15 minutes of that debate.</p>
<p>Now who knows what's going to happen this year in 2016? Because every year, it's a different format, it's a different technology. But you have to understand how people communicate and how quickly narratives can get set. By the time you get out in the spin room, it's done.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You know, Steve Schmidt, what's harder these days, preparing for the debate or preparing for the post-debate fallout?</p>
<p>STEVE SCHMIDT:</p>
<p>Look, I think, Chuck, when you go into these spin rooms after, I think they're a quaint tradition of days past. Look, the verdict of what happened in this debate will be rendered by the middle of the debate, certainly by the end, by social media and the ability of, you know, campaign teams to come out to be able to tell the American people, "Here's what really happened when 80 million plus people just saw it."</p>
<p>Just those days are gone. What the campaigns need to do here is to communicate clearly, what's their objective? What are they trying to accomplish? Managing the expectations on the front side of it is much more important.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yep, all right, Steve Schmidt, Stephanie Cutter. All right, we're beginning the longest pre game I guess you could have for a debate and we're doing in the day before. Anyway, thank you both. We'll be back in a moment with one group Donald Trump needs help with and it's not the voting groups you might think.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>RICK LAZIO:</p>
<p>I'm not asking you to admire it, I'm asking you to sign it.</p>
<p>HILLARY CLINTON:</p>
<p>Well, I would be happy to when you give me the signed letter--</p>
<p>RICK LAZIO:</p>
<p>Right here, sign it right now.</p>
<p>HILLARY CLINTON:</p>
<p>Well, we'll shake on this, Rick.</p>
<p>RICK LAZIO:</p>
<p>No, I want your signature because I think everybody wants you to see you signing something that you said you were for.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>***COMMERCIAL BREAK***</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And we are back. It’s Data Download time. And we’re asking the question, what would it take for Donald Trump to win the presidency? Well, Hillary Clinton has substantial leads among African Americans and Hispanics. This is all from our latest NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll. So, Trump needs to run up the score with white voters. So let’s look at some of the key demographic breakdowns within the white vote.</p>
<p>Among whites without a college education, Trump’s biggest strength, he’s up 26 points. That’s not bad. Except Romney won that group by a similar margin in 2012. It may not be enough. Here’s why.</p>
<p>Trump’s bigger challenge is among college-educated white voters. In fact, Clinton is up 8 points among white women who went to college. Romney won this group 4 years ago. And here’s what’s really striking in our new poll. Clinton is up 1 point among college-educated white men. This is a group that Mitt Romney won by a whopping 21 points 4 years ago.</p>
<p>All told, Clinton leads him among college-educated white voters by 5 points. A group Mitt Romney won by 14 points.</p>
<p>So overall, Trump is only leading Clinton by 11 points among all white voters. This will pose a major challenge for Donald Trump. Mitt Romney won these voters by a 20 point margin 4 years ago. And remember, whites are still the biggest part of the electorate. So, that 9 point difference is enormous.</p>
<p>This is the problem for Trump. He has to do much better than Mitt Romney somewhere to win because Romney lost in 2012. It’s not going to happen with African Americans. It’s not going to happen with Latinos. And if it’s not going to happen with young voters it’s got to happen some place. The one place it’s got to happen for him is the white vote. And Romney won the biggest part of the white votes since 1988 and he still lost.Clinton has her own struggles but it’s hard to see a path to a presidency for Trump if he doesn’t dramatically improve somewhere. Particularly with college educated whites.</p>
<p>Coming up, some debate moments we remember, but I’m sure the candidates would like to forget.</p>
<p>RICK PERRY:</p>
<p>Let’s see, I can’t. The third one. So, oops.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>***COMMERCIAL BREAK***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Welcome back. It was a week in America that saw two black men in two different cities shot and killed by police officers. In Charlotte, North Carolina protests continued well into the night. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a more subdued scene, but no less grief-stricken. Meanwhile the national debate has taken off. Of course it all started with Colin Kaepernick in August with a singular protest when it comes to racial justice -- injustice. And now athletes from different teams across the NFL have joined him. To the WNBA where there have been protests for some time now. They’ve all joined Kaepernick in protesting during the national anthem. And look at this on Friday night at an SMU football game, marching band members knelt while playing the national anthem. A high school football team in Oakland laid on their backs with their hands up. By the way, Colin Kaepernick himself taking a knee beside that team. All against the backdrop of the grand opening of the new Smithsonian museum dedicated to African American history and culture here in Washington where President Obama referenced the tumult of the last few years.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:</p>
<p>Men can proudly win the gold for their country but still insist on raising a black-gloved fist. How we can wear an “I can’t breath” t-shirt and still grieve for fallen police officers.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It’s been tough. It’s probably going to be part of the debate. I want to read something that Charles Ramsey, former police commissioner both in Philadelphia and DC wrote today: “Police officers carry a lot of baggage. They have not always been on the right side of justice as we define justice today. In some cases they were enforcing unjust laws of a different era. When I went into the Chicago police department in the late 60s it wasn’t the most popular thing a young black kid could do. There are consequences to that difficult history that will take time to repair. But this challenging moment is also a tremendous opportunity to make real improvements. I hope none of us squander it.” Gwen Ifill, I read this Op-Ed this morning from Charles Ramsey and I felt like he was almost throwing up his hands in frustration because it doesn’t feel like a solution is in sight.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL: It’s not despair as much as it’s this amazing dichotomy of this week. We had the president yesterday at the National Museum of African American history and culture, an amazing place. If you go inside you will see they have more than life-sized statues of the three athletes in the Olympics who raised their fists during the playing of the anthem. Yesterday when the anthem was played -- the national anthem was played at the beginning of the ceremony and the black national anthem was played at the end. But at the beginning, the emotion of the people in that audience, mostly black, singing full throated-ly reminded me of one of the things that are true in this country which is that we want to, we aspire to, we hope to make it a better union. And yet we see the clash, the hopefulness of that beautiful museum put up against what we’ve seen happen in the streets the conflict of what happened in Tulsa which was mostly a peaceful response and how it was handled in Charlotte where there was not a peaceful response having to do with transparency in both cases.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It is and Doris, it does, I just feel like you watch -- even Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump they both had I don’t want uneven reactions to it but it was almost like they don’t know how to respond anymore because the solution, we all kind of know what it is but it’s not happening yet or it doesn’t feel like it’s happening.</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN</p>
<p>Yeah but things are happening. I mean, it seems to when Donald Trump said to the African American communities: “You’re living in the worst times ever, ever. It’s never been this bad.” That’s what the museum shows is not true. The bottom of that museum shows blacks in the slave pens. It shows them under Jim Crow. It shows them making uplift. We’ve made enormous progress. And even in the police situation there are some best practices in some of the cities. In Tulsa, they did a better job in part because they had a riot there in 1921, they’ve learned from their mistakes. So I think we can’t have a sense of despair. Yes, for many people still living in the inner city it doesn’t seem like much has changed but it certainly has compared to where we were 120, 130, 40 years ago.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah, his transparency issue though, Hugh, you can see the Charlotte police chief has been grappling with this. On one hand the investigation, but they didn’t release the full video and so it didn’t erase the skepticism.</p>
<p>HUGH HEWITT</p>
<p>No and it won’t be gone for a long time. I think it’s unfortunate that we’re not spending more time on the first lady embracing the former President yesterday and we are spending more time on transparency as we have to. I think that for many in the country that’s all one event. Charlotte, Tulsa and the presidential race and the national anthem are all one event. But for a lot of the country the national anthem is a different event. And I would recommend Ross Douthat’s column this week: Hillary Clinton’s Samantha Bee problem. A lot of people are feeling suffocated by the cultural left and they don’t associate it with race, they associate it with being overwhelmed by change. And I think it’s the most important column that’s been written this week.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>I saw that picture of the first lady.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>I want to put it up. I have a --</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>And let me just say I watched it. She and George W. Bush --</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD: Let’s put it up.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>-- get along really well. We’ve seen this at other events where they’re basically holding hands and ignoring their spouses so that wasn’t a moment of racial reconciliation, that was two people who like each other.</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN:</p>
<p>But you know what was? The fact that President Bush signed this legislation, that Senator Brownback from Kansas, a republican, worked on it with a democrat</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>To create the museum.</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN:</p>
<p>-- to create the museum, that's the kind of thing we should be celebrating. And this is a great moment, this triumph.</p>
<p>MIKE MURPHY:</p>
<p>This is political leaders doing what they're supposed to do.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>MIKE MURPHY:</p>
<p>And one of the reasons I'm in the awkward position of being a republican who can't support the nominee of my party is he's been in the code language business for a long time, sometimes even pretty explicitly, bringing those tensions forward, under the guise of all that's politically correct -- well politically incorrect. Politically incorrect is a politically correct way to say things in our dialogue that maybe don't belong there. And so, I think this is -- imitation of this sort of thing can do a lot.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>That photo, Gwen, it struck me. And I've been thinking about this. A President Trump, what happens at the unveiling of President Obama's photo? What happens? There are moments when you have to work with ex-presidents and I just -- that’s a hard thing.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>I spent a lot of time yesterday watching the speeches being delivered and trying to imagine different people, not just Donald Trump, but also, Hillary Clinton in that position. I couldn't quite do it. But your numbers, your numbers you just showed in a data download about who he needs to win over to me explain a lot of what we've seen with Donald Trump for the last couple weeks, going to black churches, but speaking to white audiences, literally in the room, but also more broadly.</p>
<p>He and his people have come to realize that the way that you get those voters he is not doing as well with as Romney did is you show some sense of tolerance. And that's who he's really speaking to. When people say he's speaking to black voters, that's no.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>No, that's clear. All right, let me pause this. We'll be back in 45 seconds, a little "Endgame" segment and have a little fun here. Those unfortunate debate moments that just make you do this. We'll be right back.</p>
<p>***COMMERCIAL BREAK***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Back now with our Endgame segment. We don’t live in a bubble here on TV. We’re not the only show on television on a Sunday morning</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>What?</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>I was shocked myself. But apparently on another program both Kellyanne Conway and Mike Pence have said Gennifer Flowers in not coming to the debate. Mike Murphy, this seems to be a classic protect Trump from Trump moment.</p>
<p>MIKE MURPHY:</p>
<p>Yeah, the problem is that Trump breaks out of the cage. So, three hours from now, what will he tweet? We will see what happens. There is not a traditional Trump campaign. There are people floating around Donald Trump. I think the bottom line of the debate will be, he will start out sedated, maybe for real, but the real Trump, just like the tweet with Flowers will break out.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Hey Doris do you think Hillary Clinton has made this race too much about Donald Trump? Trying to hard to make this about Donald Trump? Because I sit there and say, ‘What if Donald Trump is not the caricature?’ The question I asked to Podesta.</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN:</p>
<p>I think the most important thing for her tomorrow is to not necessarily deal with Trump unless she has to as a counterattack.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You would avoid it.</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN:</p>
<p>I think what she needs to do is, it’s interesting to go back to that likability thing. Likeability shouldn’t be what we’re voting on and yet it matters. It’s a reservoir of good feeling. That’s why the phrase for Eisenhower was ‘I like Ike, cause Ike is easy to like.”</p>
<p>I think if she can own the email scandal and talk about how she wishes she could turn the clock back. Not simply on the email thing but in the future. If she makes mistakes, all Presidents will, all possibilities will, ‘I will then own it right away. I will be more transparent. I will be more forthright.’</p>
<p>If she could do that, just like she answered that likability thing, ‘well it hurts my feelings.’ Show that it's affected her emotionally. Then I think that’s what---She’s gonna be relaxed, she’s gonna know more than he is. She’s gotta show confidence. Her body language shouldn’t let him get under her skin because she should be above that.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>By the way, we have you on because you have made both a James Blaine reference and had the campaign song and Ike. This is why we have the notorious DKG--</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>She sang, and I did the accent.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Of course. Hugh Hewitt, is this going to be where issues are secondary in this debate?</p>
<p>HUGH HEWITT:</p>
<p>Oh I think so--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Because they disagree on a lot--</p>
<p>HUGH HEWITT:</p>
<p>I don’t think issues matter. There are two archetypes on this stage. There is the smartest, toughest teacher in the high school, teaches AP Physics, Hillary Clinton, maybe she spends too much time writing recommendations for the smartest kids and there's the football coach who wins, wins, wins and steps on people's toes. And never the two shall cross in the hallway or like each other.</p>
<p>And I think, and Professor Kearns worked for Johnson at the age of 24, I worked for Nixon at the age of 24, I think Secretary Clinton has a Nixon problem. I think she is unlikable over a generation for some people.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah, good news for her, though, Nixon won twice, by the way. By the way, I hear you.</p>
<p>MIKE MURPHY:</p>
<p>The real story of this debate, I think, from Hillary's point of view is less dealing with Trump's antics, so that will be very important, but can she fix Hillary? Because what all this tight polling shows is she under performing the votes she ought to have. And May-- and October don’t forget, she's got to connect to people, she's gonna have the audience and the moment to do it and Trump, well, an important side show is a side show, it's about her.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>I have not wanted to mention the "M" word on this broadcast, which is moderator. But Gwen, you have done it.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:The “M” word--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You have done it, you have done it here. It is amazing to me how hard the campaigns are working the refs--</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:It’s, well, it’s not amazing--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>I know, but some of it has been destructive.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>Well, it has been and they worked me when I moderated, you remember this. But here's the thing, people need to understand the difference between general election debates. Moderators don't matter that much, except the candidates try to get in your head. If you're a pro, Lester's a pro, not going to happen.</p>
<p>Here's the real key, which is Hillary Clinton is the only person that's done one-on-one debates. She did it with Bernie Sanders, she did it when she was running for Senate, she's the only one who has been onstage alone with someone else. Donald Trump, whenever he did his, like, calling people names, there were 10 other people on the stage, 15 other people on the stage. It's a different thing.</p>
<p>There won't be cheering, at least the commission doesn't approve of cheering in a general election debate, like there are in primary debates. So I think we may have our popcorn and we may be watching very closely, but I don't think it's going to be quite the debate that people are coming to expect.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>All right, speaking of popcorn and a little bit of candy, here's a little candy for everybody. A little reminder that one reason these debates are so very big is because they can go so very wrong.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>JAMES STOCKDALE:</p>
<p>Who am I? Why am I here?</p>
<p>RICK PERRY:</p>
<p>Commerce, Education and the, what's the third one there? Let's see.</p>
<p>GEORGE W. BUSH:</p>
<p>The Vice President doesn't believe in expiration, for example, in Alaska.</p>
<p>GERALD FORD:</p>
<p>There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford Administration.</p>
<p>RICK PERRY:</p>
<p>Commerce, Education and the um, ah--</p>
<p>MARCO RUBIO:</p>
<p>And let's dispel once and for all with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing, he knows exactly what he's doing.</p>
<p>And I would add this, let’s dispel with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing, he knows exactly what he's doing.</p>
<p>Bottom line, this notion that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing is just not true.</p>
<p>CHRIS CHRISTIE:</p>
<p>There it is. There it is.</p>
<p>MARCO RUBIO:</p>
<p>He knows exactly what he’s doing.</p>
<p>CHRIS CHRISTIE:</p>
<p>A memorized 25-second speech.</p>
<p>MARCO RUBIO:</p>
<p>That’s the reason why--</p>
<p>CHRIS CHRISTIE:</p>
<p>There it is everybody!</p>
<p>MARCO RUBIO:</p>
<p>This campaign is so important.</p>
<p>GEORGE W. BUSH:</p>
<p>I've had a record of appointing judges in the State of Texas, that's what a Governor gets to do.</p>
<p>RICK PERRY:</p>
<p>Commerce and let's see, I can't. The third one I can't, sorry.</p>
<p>GEORGE W. BUSH:</p>
<p>Here's differences.</p>
<p>RICK PERRY:Oops.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>Very funny.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Look at this you guys have like, lost it. When I got Doris Kearns Goodwin, I was going to go to you and you can't talk.</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN:</p>
<p>I'm finished.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You're out.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>That’s how you end up on "Dancing With the Stars."</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>By the way, the sigh thing is a reminder: None of us picked up on the sighs in that room. A lot of people thought Gore trounced Bush in that debate.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>Right, right.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And it turns out the audience was offended by Gore.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>You know what? I sat on the stage when Sarah Palin walked out and said, "Can I call you Joe?" I never heard her say it. When you're the moderator, you're in your head and you didn't know it, but that was what started that whole debate.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Alright, before we go, a quick programming note, in case you missed the point, there's a debate tomorrow night. NBC News will provide full coverage beginning at 9:00 Eastern, other networks claim they're airing it, I know we are, that I promise you.</p>
<p>GWEN IFILL:</p>
<p>We're airing it on PBS.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Ahhh. That's all for today. We'll be back next week, because if it's Sunday, it’s Meet The Press.</p>
<p>* * *END OF TRANSCRIPT* * *</p>
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meet press september 25 2016 begin tape chuck todd sunday game one day away perhaps watched debate american history donald trump im going respectful hillary clinton youve got ta prepared like wacky stuff comes chuck todd moment determines become next president donald trump advisor general mike flynn hillary clinton campaign chairman john podesta join live plus debate prep school one moment change everything rick perry cant third one cant sorry oops chuck todd presidential candidates plan knock opponents stride ill talk two former campaign managers whove inside war room also man says donald trump ted cruz man pathological liar bully narcissist level dont think countrys ever seen chuck todd wind endorsing whats really behind ted cruzs surprise change heart two police shootings week rakeyia scott dont shoot weapon chuck todd peaceful protests growing around country grapple question done keep happening joining insight analysis pulitzer prize winning author historian doris kearns goodwin host salem radio network hugh hewitt gwen ifill coanchor pbs newshour republican strategist mike murphy welcome sunday meet press announcer nbc news washington meet press chuck todd end tape chuck todd good sunday morning nfl sunday really feels like pregame show big game tomorrow night hofstra university new yorks long island super bowl sized audience expected usually first debate important campaign moment next debate probably time hillary clinton comes debate nervous democrats feeling little bit better things four national polls week showed clinton fourway race three polls shes six points though todays washington post abc poll shes two battleground state polls showed donald trump better legitimate path 270 trump never competitive theres sense clinton doesnt knock tomorrow may never able november sides already engaging psychological gamesmanship clinton campaign placed mark cuban huge trump critic front audience way rattle trump response hard believe trump invited gennifer flowers sit front row making gennifer flowers course extramarital affair bill clinton sometime 80s gamesmanship aside one thing know sure two candidates taking different approaches getting ready tomorrow nights big debate begin tape chuck todd trump huddles trump tower clinton hunkering around chappaqua home preparing important presidential debate decades tim kaine youre going hear donald trump lot trash talking hillary tough person chuck todd clinton campaign trying steer conversation temperament donald trump id look right fat ugly face shes slob ate like pig chuck todd onstage clinton try get trumps skin donald trump excuse ive given answer lyin ted chuck todd challenge clinton predicting trump show donald trump people ask question oh youre gon na go really dont know chuck todd trump lose cool impatient subdued crass donald trump referred hands theyre small something else must small guarantee theres problem guarantee chuck todd trump able rise temperament questions throw clinton game brett odonnell needs worry first taking bait following attacks second trump needs make sure hes ready talk policy way matches chuck todd trump watching videos spot clintons vulnerabilities formal mock debates reporter mr trump hows debate prep going right donald trump well im genos chuck todd campaign trying turn restlessness preparation asset kellyanne conway dont think hes locked cabin two weeks like people currently cramming heads microchips binders chuck todd trump cant afford stumble substance avoid looking like bully clinton shes afraid going negative hillary clinton profusion comments feelings toward president obama um little strange given said 2011 chuck todd best performances opponents came snarky hillary clinton dont think im bad barack obama youre likeable enough hillary hillary clinton thank much chuck todd rude hillary clinton well shake rick lazio want signature chuck todd challenge clinton sometimes become defensive particularly questions character hillary clinton communicated classified material wholly separate system chuck todd get tangled lawyerly explanations anita dunn think hillary clinton sometimes wall seems like 25 feet wide people lets people doors better shes going chuck todd candidates prepare consequential day campaign brett odonnell cant win election debate certainly lose one end tape chuck todd joining chairman clinton campaign john podesta mr podesta welcome back meet press john podesta good chuck chuck todd well hillary clinton prepped 38 debates since first ran office 2000 hows preparation one different john podesta look takes debate preparation seriously respects american public wants tell wants think really laying policies thinks improve economy make economy thats working everyone people top challenge donald trump isinveterately says things arent true comes politifact rated liar year last year week new york times graphic 12 whoppers week shes got able make positive case also let donald trump get away hes likely make stuff chuck todd clear temperament believe achilles heel want play montage ads guys running fourteen ads guys unveiled since august 1st thirteen trumps temperament heres little sample begin tape female voice donald trump doesnt see people like sees disability male voice would answer father sacrifice made country donald trump think ive made lot sacrifices built great structures ive tremendous success lindsay graham hes racebaiting xenophobic religious bigot announcer takes one wrong move donald trump would bomb beep announcer one end tape chuck todd john podesta donald trump youre portraying tv ads donald trump shows onstage monday night john podesta look one donald trump think hes run race way ads think fairly know show think showed ad disabilities think hillary wants week tell positive case build inclusive economy make space everyone donald trump think said past disparagement reporter saw chuck todd mmhmm john podesta screen disabilities going think names hes called chuck todd yeah john podesta gold star families mexicans muslims know may try hes good television performer may try adjust debate chuck todd okay john podesta reality hes run whole campaign way chuck todd goal debate get skin gave mark cuban ticket right front row john podesta think mark cuban one business leaders never involved partisan politics whos endorsed hillary thinks shell better economy think know saw reaction favorite sport dive sewer go swim think know looking forward hes strong surrogate time went hometown pittsburgh gave fullthroated endorsement shed best economy chuck todd said referred diving sewer believe inviting gennifer flowers diving sewer john podesta well know look ill leave mr trump decide hes going tonight think know hell tomorrow night think know hes kind predictable poke little bit comes back attacks whoever thats know thats got much trouble attacked gold star family khan family right convention thats thats thats hes dangerous unpredictable chuck todd know one things hillary clinton try restore issue trust voters want play debate clip earlier week congressional debate featured charlie crist former republican governor turned democrat florida asked question supporting hillary clinton heres answer reaction answer begin tape charlie crist thing like believe steady believe strong believe honest look forward voting end tape chuck todd says word honest crowd groans hear laughter issue honest trustworthiness much progress make monday night restoring trust john podesta well look think talk directly american people wants know think think whats honest day got left law school champion women children families shes done life shes gotten real results people contrast donald trumps shes got tell people wants chuck todd yeah john podesta think looking directly talking future thats going brighter optimistic know improving lives chuck todd quickly todays new york times extensive report ties hillary clinton goldman sachs talks various ways theyve close whether paid speeches whether supporting philanthropic operation goldman sachs state department undermine secretary clintons credibility tough wall street many close ties one wall streets biggest brands john podesta thought know story kind false equivalency said supported philanthropic program gave 10000 women entrepreneurs around world chance get started shes done put forward everyone agreed including new york times comprehensive program regulate wall street contrast donald trump wants wipe away doddfrank everything thats done make sure wall street doesnt wreck main street wants chuck todd okay john podesta make sure theres institution big fail individual big jail think chuck todd okay john podesta pursued aggressive path wall street chuck todd john podesta campaign chair clinton campaign thanks time morning sharing views appreciate john podesta thanks chuck chuck todd joining retired general michael flynn former director defense intelligence agency top advisor donald trump hes also room debate prep sessions general flynn welcome back show sir general mike flynn thanks chuck thanks chuck todd let start public perception donald trump isnt type preparation debate hillary clinton think kellyanne conway campaign manager said hes locked cabin two weeks eric trump son suggested doesnt need know rehearsing flash cards concerned though preparation enough general mike flynn yeah couple things last thing john podesta said individual big jail include people like hillary clinton mean five people around given immunity include former chief staff given immunity means probably committed crime know dont know sit say something like things going around swirling around hillary clinton chuck todd yeah general mike flynn email terms preparation answer question donald trump preparing know like hillary clinton week donald trump pennsylvania hes hes florida hes ohio last night virginia speaking american public large groups small groups know thats bringing message american public thats youre seeing huge shift polls huge momentum shift chuck todd yeah general mike flynn one things think chuck ought talk polls today chuck todd right general mike flynn maybe week ago chuck todd okay general mike flynn two weeks ago huge huge shift really mean way feel chuck toddokay general mike flynn way feel huge shift momentum american public starting really wake chuck todd confident going able pass commanderinchief test know many colleagues national security world whether former pentagon staffers former bush administration appointees former foreign service letter letter hundreds former national security professionals say endorse donald trump convince public job many folks worked closely closely others believe hes unfit job general mike flynn yeah hundreds hundreds people said opposite thing donald trumps ability know ability commanderinchief ability president united states kind move country forward right direction know lot names lists look closely things things say offer solutions people represent past represent many failed policies really stupid decisions made kept us perpetual conflict middle east places like afghanistan chuck todd yeah general mike flynn mean god cherish military veterans im going tell decisions put us many people lists chuck ones actually put us chuck todd well ask youre general know said knew generals comes isis general mike flynn yeah let tell advising donald trump year great listener one things country deficit leadership donald trump brings strategic leadership sense america make america first bring america forward improve economy chuck todd right general mike flynn improve military mean many things gut get fixed country right chuck todd okay general mike flynn mean look whats going current situation chuck chuck todd general let want follow stay debate response invitation hillary clinton made mark cuban donald trump tweeted yesterday invited gennifer flowers attend debate accepted invitation tell invite expect see monday night front row general mike flynn well heres ill tell debate obviously going probably watched show chuck todd right general mike flynn history tv donald trump speaking american public theyve listening hearing said right front talked shift polls momentum donald trumps side thank god need need new direction country chuck todd general general mike flynn many things go ahead chuck todd confirm gennifer flowers talk thats thats question confirm invited feel appropriate general mike flynn would would go seen well wait see happens tomorrow night chuck todd think appropriate general mike flynn im sorry chuck todd think appropriate invite gennifer flowers debate general mike flynn well know appropriate appropriate invite mark cuban mean know heard john podesta said mark cuban mean hes hes legitimate person invited mean know would leave titfortat know big issues country worried im worried thats reason im sitting morning mean country needs go completely different direction failing right many ways many places chuck todd okay general mike flynn struggling difference bubble washington dc chuck todd alright general mike flynn rest america vast theres gap right chuck chuck todd okay general mike flynn people country want see big leadership thats chuck todd well general mike flynn donald trump provides chuck todd well well watching tomorrow night general flynn thanks coming appreciate sharing views general mike flynn thanks lot thank chuck todd later later broadcast well go inside debate prep war room ill talk two campaign managers prepped candidates get candidates skin come back begin tape ted cruz man pathological liar narcissist level dont think countrys ever seen end tape chuck todd whats really behind ted cruzs decision endorse donald trump get psyched tomorrow nights big debate going showing highlights donald trump hillary clinton debate moments theyve participated beginning scene one clintons 2008 debates senator barack obama begin tape scott spradling say voters new hampshire stage tonight see resume like hesitating likeability issue seem like barack obama hillary clinton well hurts feelings end tape commercial break chuck todd welcome back panel us mike murphy advised john mccain mitt romney jeb bush something people launched podcast radio free gop gwen ifill coanchor newshour pbs podcasts coming im sure pulitzer prize winning author historian doris kearns goodwin fantastic long interview president obama new issue vanity fair hugh hewitt host salem radio network well theres one topic get debate want spend couple minutes ted cruz news know ted cruz said donald trump fiery donald trump three days dropped heres montage begin tape ted cruz donald youre sniveling coward leave heidi hell alone man pathological liar bully narcissist level dont think countrys ever seen end tape chuck todd mike murphy hes endorser ted cruz mike murphy think editors believe absolutely nothing magazine new cover made big move convention people thought almost point rudeness clearly distanced trump claimed conservative principles think theres case make threatened primary texas excuse 180 think looks cynical chuck todd recover portrait hugh transactional politician chief super pac donors became trumps chief donors mercer family kellyanne conway worked mercer family super pacs cruz shes donald trump people like mike mccaul congressman thinking challenging rick perry feels like move political force hugh hewitt disagree talked senator monday talked people yesterday disagree hes trouble texas think got needed trump big change wasnt race race august oppose donald trump convention one thinks hes going within ten points secretary clinton supreme court genuinely balanced look list mr trump released add names youll see interesting name margaret ryan judge margaret ryan court appeals military arms services ludwig clerk thomas clerk marine corps commandant terrific judge ones think ted cruz playing win supreme court admire chuck todd well doris supreme court wasnt enough six weeks ago doris kearns goodwin think problem beware ambition know teddy roosevelt almost thing 1884 james blaine continental liar state maine candidate many good republicans decided cant go turned democrat hes promised last minute said got ta go party chuck todd yeah doris kearns goodwin later said betrayed never hes betrayed never trump people principles wonder hes going feel chuck todd gwen got put meme going around ted cruzs favorite movie princess bride quote gwen ifill yeah right chuck todd look wont accent name rafael eduardo cruz insulted wife father prepare endorsed gwen ifill ill accent chuck todd accent gwen ifill prepare endorsed well know thing understand supreme court thing true understand better principles laid except long ago wasnt donald trump likely president likely nominee ted cruz playing game ted cruz obviously maybe theres dancing stars slot tom delay rick perry maybe time ted cruz texas politicians dancing wasnt even dance capitulation guess well see pretty clearly dont know changes votes chuck todd mike youre never trumper youre world mike murphy yeah yeah chuck todd feel betrayed mike murphy ive always thought cruz cynic think politically worse would normal politician cruz always presented one guy uncompromised ways washington one man machine creature principle seems like another politician thats kryptonite agree best argument supreme court chuck todd yeah mike murphy conservative fall apart supreme court trump requires trusting trump thats bridge cant cross chuck todd debate say hugh everything cruz said trump may comes true tomorrow night hugh hewitt disagree everyone difference trump viable july viable ahead chuck todd youre making political argument youre basically saying ted cruz hugh hewitt say supreme court justice appointed secretary clinton change court ways profound last 40 years ted cruz constitutional scholar ludwig clerk genuine originalist knows list originalist good lists gwen ifill agree hugh whether supreme court much whether ted cruz survive sitting talking sunday morning wasnt going happen otherwise hugh hewitt win primary texas easily would bet everything defer mike think would crush mike mccaul mike mccaul runs doris kearns goodwin agree back air youre politician havent listened fun back air chuck todd okay dont know mike murphy watch primary im sure theres potential great primary well see chuck todd right im going pause conversation got lot go debate big story week later show going talk police shooting north carolina begin tape wife keith lamont scott dont shoot weapon weapon end tape chuck todd plus shooting tulsa oklahoma question everyone asking stop happening come back inside war room really goes debate prep sessions ill talk two debate insiders sessions prepped presidential candidates big moments go break heres memorable donald trump debate moment earlier primary season begin tape donald trump lets see im 42 youre three far im better jeb bush doesnt matter doesnt matter donald trump far im better know started jeb youre moving pretty soon youre going end end tape commercial break chuck todd welcome back everyone speculating whether donald trump quote presidential tomorrow whether hillary clinton likeable avoid lawyerly well joining two people debate war rooms faced donald rumsfeld might called known knowns known unknowns unknown unknowns steve schmidt major player president george w bushs reelection 2004 senior advisor john mccain 2008 stephanie cutter deputy campaign manager president obamas reelection 2012 part debate preparation process john kerry 2004 welcome stephanie cutter let start idea gamesmanship clinton campaign deciding put mark cuban front row obviously donald trump campaign may may following trumps pledge bring gennifer flowers theres question guess others trying talk guys 04 give example gamesmanship stephanie cutter well seem recall 911 widows audience 2004 make point lot work get back track afghanistan iraq took us course iraq took us course bush telling truth weapons mass destruction clinton trump trying throw game difference hillary clinton legitimate businessman also celebrity john podesta put earlier show trump jumping right sewer swimming inviting gennifer flowers think part want putting somebody audience reinforce positive campaign make legitimate point opponents hes going help chuck todd steve schmidt would made sense trump responded bring grieving mother one benghazi grieving family members seems would counter would made policy sense steve schmidt well saw effectiveness tactic clearly designed provoke donald trump provoked donald trump provoked donald trump going gennifer flowers rabbit hole opposed youre suggesting chuck tomorrow one big tasks donald trump debate stage comport like american president comport going able seen american people plausible commanderinchief somebody could address nation crisis think shes going try push buttons debate get volcanic eruption like saw throughout primary debates chuck todd want talk importance mock debates ill start guys used rob portman 2008 john mccain stand president obama important find mock debate john mccain think remember concern president bush didnt enough preparation first debate 04 steve schmidt look think look incumbent presidents united states saw president bush poor debate performance 2004 saw president obama poor debate performance 2012 hard tell incumbent president united states time practice pay dont rob portman spectacular debate preps real wide fire scenario candidates exquisitely prepared tough gave accurate precise preview coming john mccain theres question john mccains performances better preparation went rob portman chuck todd know stephanie know guys used john kerry standin mitt romney importance guess know philippe reines many reporters know longtime sort spokesperson hillary clinton hes playing donald trump interesting guess idea find somebody could snarky enough would feel comfortable going hillary clinton small room stephanie cutter well thats certainly philippe know push buttons think brilliant choice know want prep sessions role play every potential scenario good understanding candidate going react whether keep cool right judgment go attack theyre keeping mind larger vision need communicate american people think phillippe testing secretary clintons limits important dont know know ones ever debated somebody like donald trump presidential debate stage dont know exactly whos showing chuck todd final question part debate prep process isnt prepping candidate also youve got prep postspin game every cycle gets faster faster way debate gets perceived suddenly goes faster faster stephanie cutter learn right wrong 2012 necessity prepared stephanie cutter well prepared prepared 2008 campaign instead 2012 hadnt realized powerful tool twitter going defining narrative could see narrative set first 15 minutes debate knows whats going happen year 2016 every year different format different technology understand people communicate quickly narratives get set time get spin room done chuck todd know steve schmidt whats harder days preparing debate preparing postdebate fallout steve schmidt look think chuck go spin rooms think theyre quaint tradition days past look verdict happened debate rendered middle debate certainly end social media ability know campaign teams come able tell american people heres really happened 80 million plus people saw days gone campaigns need communicate clearly whats objective trying accomplish managing expectations front side much important chuck todd yep right steve schmidt stephanie cutter right beginning longest pre game guess could debate day anyway thank well back moment one group donald trump needs help voting groups might think begin tape rick lazio im asking admire im asking sign hillary clinton well would happy give signed letter rick lazio right sign right hillary clinton well well shake rick rick lazio want signature think everybody wants see signing something said end tape commercial break begin tape chuck todd back data download time asking question would take donald trump win presidency well hillary clinton substantial leads among african americans hispanics latest nbc news wall street journal poll trump needs run score white voters lets look key demographic breakdowns within white vote among whites without college education trumps biggest strength hes 26 points thats bad except romney group similar margin 2012 may enough heres trumps bigger challenge among collegeeducated white voters fact clinton 8 points among white women went college romney group 4 years ago heres whats really striking new poll clinton 1 point among collegeeducated white men group mitt romney whopping 21 points 4 years ago told clinton leads among collegeeducated white voters 5 points group mitt romney 14 points overall trump leading clinton 11 points among white voters pose major challenge donald trump mitt romney voters 20 point margin 4 years ago remember whites still biggest part electorate 9 point difference enormous problem trump much better mitt romney somewhere win romney lost 2012 going happen african americans going happen latinos going happen young voters got happen place one place got happen white vote romney biggest part white votes since 1988 still lostclinton struggles hard see path presidency trump doesnt dramatically improve somewhere particularly college educated whites coming debate moments remember im sure candidates would like forget rick perry lets see cant third one oops end tape commercial break chuck todd welcome back week america saw two black men two different cities shot killed police officers charlotte north carolina protests continued well night tulsa oklahoma subdued scene less griefstricken meanwhile national debate taken course started colin kaepernick august singular protest comes racial justice injustice athletes different teams across nfl joined wnba protests time theyve joined kaepernick protesting national anthem look friday night smu football game marching band members knelt playing national anthem high school football team oakland laid backs hands way colin kaepernick taking knee beside team backdrop grand opening new smithsonian museum dedicated african american history culture washington president obama referenced tumult last years begin tape president barack obama men proudly win gold country still insist raising blackgloved fist wear cant breath tshirt still grieve fallen police officers end tape chuck todd tough probably going part debate want read something charles ramsey former police commissioner philadelphia dc wrote today police officers carry lot baggage always right side justice define justice today cases enforcing unjust laws different era went chicago police department late 60s wasnt popular thing young black kid could consequences difficult history take time repair challenging moment also tremendous opportunity make real improvements hope none us squander gwen ifill read oped morning charles ramsey felt like almost throwing hands frustration doesnt feel like solution sight gwen ifill despair much amazing dichotomy week president yesterday national museum african american history culture amazing place go inside see lifesized statues three athletes olympics raised fists playing anthem yesterday anthem played national anthem played beginning ceremony black national anthem played end beginning emotion people audience mostly black singing full throatedly reminded one things true country want aspire hope make better union yet see clash hopefulness beautiful museum put weve seen happen streets conflict happened tulsa mostly peaceful response handled charlotte peaceful response transparency cases chuck todd doris feel like watch even hillary clinton donald trump dont want uneven reactions almost like dont know respond anymore solution kind know happening yet doesnt feel like happening doris kearns goodwin yeah things happening mean seems donald trump said african american communities youre living worst times ever ever never bad thats museum shows true bottom museum shows blacks slave pens shows jim crow shows making uplift weve made enormous progress even police situation best practices cities tulsa better job part riot 1921 theyve learned mistakes think cant sense despair yes many people still living inner city doesnt seem like much changed certainly compared 120 130 40 years ago chuck todd yeah transparency issue though hugh see charlotte police chief grappling one hand investigation didnt release full video didnt erase skepticism hugh hewitt wont gone long time think unfortunate spending time first lady embracing former president yesterday spending time transparency think many country thats one event charlotte tulsa presidential race national anthem one event lot country national anthem different event would recommend ross douthats column week hillary clintons samantha bee problem lot people feeling suffocated cultural left dont associate race associate overwhelmed change think important column thats written week gwen ifill saw picture first lady chuck todd want put gwen ifill let say watched george w bush chuck todd lets put gwen ifill get along really well weve seen events theyre basically holding hands ignoring spouses wasnt moment racial reconciliation two people like doris kearns goodwin know fact president bush signed legislation senator brownback kansas republican worked democrat gwen ifill create museum doris kearns goodwin create museum thats kind thing celebrating great moment triumph mike murphy political leaders theyre supposed chuck todd yeah mike murphy one reasons im awkward position republican cant support nominee party hes code language business long time sometimes even pretty explicitly bringing tensions forward guise thats politically correct well politically incorrect politically incorrect politically correct way say things dialogue maybe dont belong think imitation sort thing lot chuck todd photo gwen struck ive thinking president trump happens unveiling president obamas photo happens moments work expresidents thats hard thing gwen ifill spent lot time yesterday watching speeches delivered trying imagine different people donald trump also hillary clinton position couldnt quite numbers numbers showed data download needs win explain lot weve seen donald trump last couple weeks going black churches speaking white audiences literally room also broadly people come realize way get voters well romney show sense tolerance thats hes really speaking people say hes speaking black voters thats chuck todd thats clear right let pause well back 45 seconds little endgame segment little fun unfortunate debate moments make well right back commercial break chuck todd back endgame segment dont live bubble tv show television sunday morning gwen ifill chuck todd shocked apparently another program kellyanne conway mike pence said gennifer flowers coming debate mike murphy seems classic protect trump trump moment mike murphy yeah problem trump breaks cage three hours tweet see happens traditional trump campaign people floating around donald trump think bottom line debate start sedated maybe real real trump like tweet flowers break chuck todd hey doris think hillary clinton made race much donald trump trying hard make donald trump sit say donald trump caricature question asked podesta doris kearns goodwin think important thing tomorrow necessarily deal trump unless counterattack chuck todd would avoid doris kearns goodwin think needs interesting go back likability thing likeability shouldnt voting yet matters reservoir good feeling thats phrase eisenhower like ike cause ike easy like think email scandal talk wishes could turn clock back simply email thing future makes mistakes presidents possibilities right away transparent forthright could like answered likability thing well hurts feelings show affected emotionally think thats whatshes gon na relaxed shes gon na know shes got ta show confidence body language shouldnt let get skin chuck todd way made james blaine reference campaign song ike notorious dkg gwen ifill sang accent chuck todd course hugh hewitt going issues secondary debate hugh hewitt oh think chuck todd disagree lot hugh hewitt dont think issues matter two archetypes stage smartest toughest teacher high school teaches ap physics hillary clinton maybe spends much time writing recommendations smartest kids theres football coach wins wins wins steps peoples toes never two shall cross hallway like think professor kearns worked johnson age 24 worked nixon age 24 think secretary clinton nixon problem think unlikable generation people chuck todd yeah good news though nixon twice way way hear mike murphy real story debate think hillarys point view less dealing trumps antics important fix hillary tight polling shows performing votes ought may october dont forget shes got connect people shes gon na audience moment trump well important side show side show chuck todd wanted mention word broadcast moderator gwen done gwen ifillthe word chuck todd done done amazing hard campaigns working refs gwen ifillits well amazing chuck todd know destructive gwen ifill well worked moderated remember heres thing people need understand difference general election debates moderators dont matter much except candidates try get head youre pro lesters pro going happen heres real key hillary clinton person thats done oneonone debates bernie sanders running senate shes one onstage alone someone else donald trump whenever like calling people names 10 people stage 15 people stage different thing wont cheering least commission doesnt approve cheering general election debate like primary debates think may popcorn may watching closely dont think going quite debate people coming expect chuck todd right speaking popcorn little bit candy heres little candy everybody little reminder one reason debates big go wrong begin tape james stockdale rick perry commerce education whats third one lets see george w bush vice president doesnt believe expiration example alaska gerald ford soviet domination eastern europe never ford administration rick perry commerce education um ah marco rubio lets dispel fiction barack obama doesnt know hes knows exactly hes would add lets dispel fiction barack obama doesnt know hes knows exactly hes bottom line notion barack obama doesnt know hes true chris christie marco rubio knows exactly hes chris christie memorized 25second speech marco rubio thats reason chris christie everybody marco rubio campaign important george w bush ive record appointing judges state texas thats governor gets rick perry commerce lets see cant third one cant sorry george w bush heres differences rick perryoops end tape gwen ifill funny chuck todd look guys like lost got doris kearns goodwin going go cant talk doris kearns goodwin im finished chuck todd youre gwen ifill thats end dancing stars chuck todd way sigh thing reminder none us picked sighs room lot people thought gore trounced bush debate gwen ifill right right chuck todd turns audience offended gore gwen ifill know sat stage sarah palin walked said call joe never heard say youre moderator youre head didnt know started whole debate chuck todd alright go quick programming note case missed point theres debate tomorrow night nbc news provide full coverage beginning 900 eastern networks claim theyre airing know promise gwen ifill airing pbs chuck todd ahhh thats today well back next week sunday meet press end transcript
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<p>In spring 1999, the 4th-graders at Union Elementary School in Cleveland did something remarkable. About 56 percent who had been enrolled since Oct. 1 passed the reading portion of the Ohio Proficiency Test. The year before, only 13 percent passed.</p>
<p>The increase of 43 percentage points was the largest at the 4th-grade level among the 82 elementary schools in the Cleveland Municipal School District. Beginning in 2001-2002, 4th-graders throughout Ohio who fail to pass the reading section of the state-mandated test after three tries will be held back.</p>
<p>At Union, teachers attribute the increase in the pass rate to a decision about five years ago to concentrate extra resources in the 1st and 4th grades.</p>
<p>Five years ago, when Union’s 4th-graders performed miserably on the Ohio Proficiency Exam, the school’s federal Title I and classroom teachers began brainstorming ways to improve, recalls Title I teacher Carole Travathan, who has taught at the school for 12 years. But teachers quickly ran into an obstacle, she says: They had no data to identify which students needed help early on or how to help students whose problems surface later.</p>
<p>“We’ve got to take a closer look at those young kids,” Travathan remembers the teachers saying to each other. “It was some of us talking and saying, ‘We don’t have enough information on these young ones.'”</p>
<p>At the time, teachers also were looking into Reading Recovery, an intensive, one-on-one tutoring program aimed at especially low-performing 1st-graders. Reading Recovery comes with a diagnostic test that evaluates students in such areas as concepts about print (for example, reading left to right), letter and sound identification, vocabulary and punctuation.</p>
<p>The teachers decided not only to ask then-Principal Edwin Stroh to launch Reading Recovery, but also to use the diagnostic test on all 1st-graders, not just the lowest achievers. Typically, schools with Reading Recovery use the test only with students who have been assigned to the program.</p>
<p>Since teachers must administer the test one-on-one, it takes several weeks to get to every 1st-grader.</p>
<p>Students are tested first in the fall. Teachers use the results to assign them: High-achievers go to the primary-grades reading resource teacher; low-performers are tagged for tutoring in Reading Recovery or specialized small-group instruction. In some cases, kindergarten teachers make room and time in their classes for catch-up visits by low-achieving 1st-graders.</p>
<p>In the spring, students are tested again. Those who are struggling or falling behind may be candidates for repeating 1st grade.</p>
<p>The teachers also asked Stroh if one of the school’s two Title I teachers could focus on 1st-graders while the other focused on 4th-graders. Before, both had taught students in all grades.</p>
<p>By 1998, Union teachers had put together a student tracking and intervention program that delivers help to 1st-graders who need it most and alerts staff when students fall behind. Students who don’t progress are tested further to determine whether they need specialized reading instruction. Teachers summarize the results in reports that are shared with parents so that they can participate in devising an assistance plan for the student.</p>
<p>Travathan and the kindergarten and 1st-grade teachers then decide where students should be placed and weigh whether they should be promoted. They invite parents to have the ultimate say on promotion.</p>
<p>Sometimes teachers recommend retention based on their judgment and a student’s maturity rather than grades. When a parent rejects such a recommendation and the child is promoted, the child usually ends up some time later with the school’s Intervention-based Assessment Team, Travathan says.</p>
<p>The Intervention-based Assessment Team is a group of teachers and a psychologist that decides how to help students who struggle academically. The team was created two years ago by state mandate and is funded through a grant.</p>
<p>The team “was a big change in our building,” Travathan says. The school had done interventions for years, but the team put a process in place. It also created a forum in which teachers could get a picture of the home front and enlist the parents.</p>
<p>Because of the earlier data collection on student reading skills, if problems surface in 2nd and 3rd grades, teachers or the team can consult a rich store of data, share it with parents and then decide a course of action.</p>
<p>As in some other Cleveland schools, Union’s 4th-graders use Blast-Off materials, which are proficiency test exercises. The school also is piloting Lighthouse, a reading videogame. Union also uses literacy warm-ups that the district provides.</p>
<p>Union’s two 4th-grade teachers team-teach reading with a Title I teacher, grouping students by ability for targeted reading instruction.</p>
<p>Ability grouping</p>
<p>Some researchers criticize ability grouping, arguing that it deprives low-achieving students of the opportunity to learn from their higher performing peers. But Union teachers contend that it allows them to zero in on skills deficits. Low-achieving students receive individual attention in small groups. Students performing near grade level get intensive tutoring because they have the shortest way to go to pass the test. And higher performing students receive more challenging instruction for which the other students are not prepared.</p>
<p>At Union, 4th grade also is “departmentalized,” meaning teachers have divided some subjects among themselves so they can develop areas of expertise and not duplicate class preparation work.</p>
<p>Region I Supt. Sam Penceal notes that the practice forces the teachers to work together while maximizing the strengths of each.</p>
<p>The school also has budgeted for a primary-grades reading resource teacher who, in addition to other duties, tutors high-achieving students in groups of six.</p>
<p>In late January, after-school tutoring of 4th-graders began at Union, using teacher and parent volunteers. The effort was a response to a memo from central office urging schools to have all staff dedicate one hour per week to tutoring 4th-graders.</p>
<p>Teachers at Union say their success would not have been possible without the room to reorganize and the flexibility to try something new. Several credit Principal Stroh.</p>
<p>“If people bring him an idea, he will listen and he will look,” Travathan says, recalling an annual science fair that Stroh approved. “He’ll support you, and he won’t criticize you.”</p>
<p>Stroh retired on Feb. 25. He had been at Union 11 years, compared with an average of 4.7 years for Cleveland principals as a whole. During that time, he has built a base of trust that frees teachers to take risks in the classroom, teachers say.</p>
<p>Allowing teachers to devise a school’s plan for improved instruction helps them “own” the effort, notes Rick Dalton, president and co-founder of the Vermont-based Foundation for Excellent Schools.</p>
<p>Kaye Spector is an associate editor of Catalyst: For Cleveland Schools, which is a new sister publication of Catalyst: Chicago.</p>
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spring 1999 4thgraders union elementary school cleveland something remarkable 56 percent enrolled since oct 1 passed reading portion ohio proficiency test year 13 percent passed increase 43 percentage points largest 4thgrade level among 82 elementary schools cleveland municipal school district beginning 20012002 4thgraders throughout ohio fail pass reading section statemandated test three tries held back union teachers attribute increase pass rate decision five years ago concentrate extra resources 1st 4th grades five years ago unions 4thgraders performed miserably ohio proficiency exam schools federal title classroom teachers began brainstorming ways improve recalls title teacher carole travathan taught school 12 years teachers quickly ran obstacle says data identify students needed help early help students whose problems surface later weve got take closer look young kids travathan remembers teachers saying us talking saying dont enough information young ones time teachers also looking reading recovery intensive oneonone tutoring program aimed especially lowperforming 1stgraders reading recovery comes diagnostic test evaluates students areas concepts print example reading left right letter sound identification vocabulary punctuation teachers decided ask thenprincipal edwin stroh launch reading recovery also use diagnostic test 1stgraders lowest achievers typically schools reading recovery use test students assigned program since teachers must administer test oneonone takes several weeks get every 1stgrader students tested first fall teachers use results assign highachievers go primarygrades reading resource teacher lowperformers tagged tutoring reading recovery specialized smallgroup instruction cases kindergarten teachers make room time classes catchup visits lowachieving 1stgraders spring students tested struggling falling behind may candidates repeating 1st grade teachers also asked stroh one schools two title teachers could focus 1stgraders focused 4thgraders taught students grades 1998 union teachers put together student tracking intervention program delivers help 1stgraders need alerts staff students fall behind students dont progress tested determine whether need specialized reading instruction teachers summarize results reports shared parents participate devising assistance plan student travathan kindergarten 1stgrade teachers decide students placed weigh whether promoted invite parents ultimate say promotion sometimes teachers recommend retention based judgment students maturity rather grades parent rejects recommendation child promoted child usually ends time later schools interventionbased assessment team travathan says interventionbased assessment team group teachers psychologist decides help students struggle academically team created two years ago state mandate funded grant team big change building travathan says school done interventions years team put process place also created forum teachers could get picture home front enlist parents earlier data collection student reading skills problems surface 2nd 3rd grades teachers team consult rich store data share parents decide course action cleveland schools unions 4thgraders use blastoff materials proficiency test exercises school also piloting lighthouse reading videogame union also uses literacy warmups district provides unions two 4thgrade teachers teamteach reading title teacher grouping students ability targeted reading instruction ability grouping researchers criticize ability grouping arguing deprives lowachieving students opportunity learn higher performing peers union teachers contend allows zero skills deficits lowachieving students receive individual attention small groups students performing near grade level get intensive tutoring shortest way go pass test higher performing students receive challenging instruction students prepared union 4th grade also departmentalized meaning teachers divided subjects among develop areas expertise duplicate class preparation work region supt sam penceal notes practice forces teachers work together maximizing strengths school also budgeted primarygrades reading resource teacher addition duties tutors highachieving students groups six late january afterschool tutoring 4thgraders began union using teacher parent volunteers effort response memo central office urging schools staff dedicate one hour per week tutoring 4thgraders teachers union say success would possible without room reorganize flexibility try something new several credit principal stroh people bring idea listen look travathan says recalling annual science fair stroh approved hell support wont criticize stroh retired feb 25 union 11 years compared average 47 years cleveland principals whole time built base trust frees teachers take risks classroom teachers say allowing teachers devise schools plan improved instruction helps effort notes rick dalton president cofounder vermontbased foundation excellent schools kaye spector associate editor catalyst cleveland schools new sister publication catalyst chicago
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<p><a href="" type="internal" />Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles on the propositions on the November ballot.</p>
<p>Oct. 8, 2012</p>
<p>By Dave Roberts</p>
<p><a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_30,_Sales_and_Income_Tax_Increase_(2012)" type="external">Proposition 30</a>&#160;is either a vital lifeline for budget-ravaged schools and social services. Or it’s unnecessary taxation by a government with a record of wasting money that will accelerate the exodus of residents and businesses out of state. It would increase sales taxes a quarter cent; and boost income taxes up to 3 percentage points on those&#160;making $250,000 or more a year. The top income tax rate would rise to 13.3 percent, the highest state rate in the nation.</p>
<p>Those were the contrasting views of numerous Democrats, liberals and education officials supporting Prop. 30, and a couple of Republicans and a taxpayer advocate opposing it at the <a href="http://abgt.assembly.ca.gov/" type="external">Assembly Budget Committee</a>’s recent informational hearing.</p>
<p>The latest&#160; <a href="http://www.field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/Rls2425.pdf" type="external">Field poll</a> showed Prop. 30 losing support, with just 51 percent saying they will vote for it, down from 54 percent in July. Forty percent believe they are already over-taxed.</p>
<p>Prop. 30 is expected to generate about $6 billion annually for four years beginning in 2013, after which the sales tax hike expires. The income tax hike on top earners continues for three more years after that. The actual amount generated could be a couple billion dollars more or less than $6 billion, depending on how the economy is doing, according to legislative analyst Mark Whitaker. The <a href="http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/main.aspx" type="external">Legislative Analyst’s Office</a> does not factor in the ramifications of residents and businesses leaving the state as a result of higher taxes.</p>
<p>Prop. 30 is competing on the ballot with <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_38,_State_Income_Tax_Increase_to_Support_Education_(2012)" type="external">Proposition 38</a>, an income tax hike on nearly all Californian earners lasting 12 years that is projected to generate about $10 billion annually in initial years, with most of the money slated for schools. If both propositions receive a majority of votes, only the one receiving the most votes would take effect.</p>
<p>Arguing in favor of Prop. 30 at the committee hearing was Trudy Schafer, representing the <a href="http://ca.lwv.org/" type="external">League of Women Voters of California</a>.</p>
<p>“Californians recognize that education and other services like health care, child care, the courts have all been cut to the bone,” said Schafer. “Prop. 30 begins to move California toward financial stability and adequate funding for all the services that we want from our government. We can’t continue to cut vital public services like schools and public safety. After years of such cuts, our schools, our universities, public safety services and others are at the breaking point. We just can’t continue to do this and still keep an economy that is strong, well informed, well educated for the next generation.”</p>
<p>School funding has been cut $20 billion in the last four years, resulting in 30,000 teacher layoffs, according to Schafer. She warned, “If Prop. 30 is not enacted, schools would be forced to shorten the school year, lay off thousands more teachers, increasing class sizes perhaps by another 20 percent, stop buying textbooks and increase community college tuition even more. So we need to stop those things.”</p>
<p>Making the case against Prop. 30 was David Wolfe, &#160;representing the <a href="http://www.hjta.org/" type="external">Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association</a>. He argued that calling Prop. 30 a “temporary” tax hike is deceptive because it lasts seven years and it’s likely there would be an effort to extend it at that time, as occurred with the failed Prop. 1A tax extension effort in 2009. Wolfe also pointed out that Prop. 30 would do nothing to solve California’s problem of unpredictable levels of tax revenue from year to year.</p>
<p>“Prop. 30 will not fix our progressive income tax system that created our current structural budget problem,” he said. “In fact, by adding three new brackets to the seven already in place it makes the problem worse. Already the top 144,000 taxpayers in the state, the top 1 percent, pay 37 percent of the total personal income tax revenue that the state receives. And this is a problem that Proposition 30 does nothing to address. Everyone knows that the number one problem with California’s tax structure is volatility. And even the governor admits that Proposition 30 makes this volatility problem much, much worse.”</p>
<p>Wolfe argued that raising income taxes on those making $250,000 or more will hurt small businesses, which typically file their taxes as personal instead of corporate income. “This is something we can ill afford with 2 million Californians out of work right now,” he said.</p>
<p>California doesn’t exactly have a strong track record in spending tax dollars wisely, Wolfe noted.</p>
<p>“It’s very difficult to justify a $50 billion tax increase when one considers the amount of wasteful spending and lack of reforms that have been uncovered just this year alone,” he said. “Let’s start with high-speed rail. The Legislature authorized this year that $6 billion worth of bond money at an interest cost to taxpayers of $300 million a year go to build not a usable segment but a piece of track between Bakersfield and Merced.”</p>
<p>Wolfe also cited pension reform that is estimated to save $30-$50 billion over 30 years when the state’s unfunded pension liability has been estimated at $500 billion. “We would argue this is not reform, this is window dressing,” he said.</p>
<p>And he mentioned the budgetary “rainy day fund” that was supposed to be on the 2012 ballot but instead was moved to 2014 after Democrats reneged on their agreement. There’s also the $54 million parks department slush fund that no one knew about while parks were threatened with closure.</p>
<p>“We can’t even manage the money that we have available,” said Wolfe. “And now taxpayers should give $50 billion more? No way.”</p>
<p>Ironically, although Prop. 30 is touted as helping schools, “it will actually provide no new money for educational programs,” he said. “And although it supports Prop. 30, this was clearly articulated by the <a href="http://www.csba.org/" type="external">California School Boards Association</a>.”</p>
<p>Howard Jarvis has run <a href="http://defeat30.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Radio.mp3" type="external">a radio ad</a> making that point and quoting the CSBA.</p>
<p>But Dennis Meyers, CSBA assistant executive director for governmental relations, told the committee that its words were taken out of context. “Proposition 30 is good for public schools; they are much better off with it than without it,” he said.</p>
<p>However, Meyers acknowledged that Prop. 30 won’t in fact provide new funding, but instead would simply restore some of the funding that has been cut in recent years.</p>
<p>“Without Prop. 30, schools are 14 percent below the amount of funding they received in 2007-08,” he said. “With Prop. 30, we are 9 percent [below]. It begins to build back what we lost over the last five budget cycles.”</p>
<p>One of the main points of contention in the two-hour Assembly committee hearing focused on whether California’s government is actually spending more currently than it has in the past. <a href="http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/64/" type="external">Brian Nestande</a>, R-Palm Desert, said the budget cuts have been overstated because many are only temporary.</p>
<p>“They are almost illusionary because they happen one year to the next and then go right back,” he said. “Your overhead stays the same, basically. But as far as spending overall, spending is up overall. I’m not going to argue that these aren’t hard choices. But the point of fact is that if you factor in the use of special funds, it’s $20-30 billion more than it was a couple years ago. Federal monies, tens of billions of dollars more. Money that the state spends from the federal government, from special funds, from our general budget is up every year since I’ve been here. That’s just a fact.”</p>
<p>That assertion threw the Democrats on the committee into a tizzy. One after another cited cuts to schools, the courts, health care and a plethora of social service programs, which are all paid out of the General Fund.</p>
<p>But Nestande is correct about the increase in overall spending, according to <a href="http://www.dof.ca.gov/budgeting/budget_faqs/documents/CHART-B.pdf" type="external">figures from the state Department of Finance</a>. Total state spending in the 2012-13 budget is $225.4 billion. That includes $91.4 billion in the General Fund, $39.4 billion in special funds, $11.7 billion in bond funds and $82.9 billion in federal funds. It’s true that General Fund spending is down from its high of nearly $103 billion in 2007-08. But total spending is at an all-time high. It’s now $31 million, or 16 percent, higher than the state spent in 2007-08, and has more than doubled in the past 14 years.</p>
<p>Nestande argued that what’s really needed in California is an overhaul of the tax system, moving toward a consumption tax.</p>
<p>“Economists agree, right or left, a consumption-based tax is the best taxing system for an economy,” he said. “You get more revenue into the state by allowing the economy to grow and not having this disproportionately heavy income tax, heavy sales tax, which harms the economy and inhibits growth and inhibits revenue to the state.”</p>
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editors note first series articles propositions november ballot oct 8 2012 dave roberts proposition 30160is either vital lifeline budgetravaged schools social services unnecessary taxation government record wasting money accelerate exodus residents businesses state would increase sales taxes quarter cent boost income taxes 3 percentage points those160making 250000 year top income tax rate would rise 133 percent highest state rate nation contrasting views numerous democrats liberals education officials supporting prop 30 couple republicans taxpayer advocate opposing assembly budget committees recent informational hearing latest160 field poll showed prop 30 losing support 51 percent saying vote 54 percent july forty percent believe already overtaxed prop 30 expected generate 6 billion annually four years beginning 2013 sales tax hike expires income tax hike top earners continues three years actual amount generated could couple billion dollars less 6 billion depending economy according legislative analyst mark whitaker legislative analysts office factor ramifications residents businesses leaving state result higher taxes prop 30 competing ballot proposition 38 income tax hike nearly californian earners lasting 12 years projected generate 10 billion annually initial years money slated schools propositions receive majority votes one receiving votes would take effect arguing favor prop 30 committee hearing trudy schafer representing league women voters california californians recognize education services like health care child care courts cut bone said schafer prop 30 begins move california toward financial stability adequate funding services want government cant continue cut vital public services like schools public safety years cuts schools universities public safety services others breaking point cant continue still keep economy strong well informed well educated next generation school funding cut 20 billion last four years resulting 30000 teacher layoffs according schafer warned prop 30 enacted schools would forced shorten school year lay thousands teachers increasing class sizes perhaps another 20 percent stop buying textbooks increase community college tuition even need stop things making case prop 30 david wolfe 160representing howard jarvis taxpayers association argued calling prop 30 temporary tax hike deceptive lasts seven years likely would effort extend time occurred failed prop 1a tax extension effort 2009 wolfe also pointed prop 30 would nothing solve californias problem unpredictable levels tax revenue year year prop 30 fix progressive income tax system created current structural budget problem said fact adding three new brackets seven already place makes problem worse already top 144000 taxpayers state top 1 percent pay 37 percent total personal income tax revenue state receives problem proposition 30 nothing address everyone knows number one problem californias tax structure volatility even governor admits proposition 30 makes volatility problem much much worse wolfe argued raising income taxes making 250000 hurt small businesses typically file taxes personal instead corporate income something ill afford 2 million californians work right said california doesnt exactly strong track record spending tax dollars wisely wolfe noted difficult justify 50 billion tax increase one considers amount wasteful spending lack reforms uncovered year alone said lets start highspeed rail legislature authorized year 6 billion worth bond money interest cost taxpayers 300 million year go build usable segment piece track bakersfield merced wolfe also cited pension reform estimated save 3050 billion 30 years states unfunded pension liability estimated 500 billion would argue reform window dressing said mentioned budgetary rainy day fund supposed 2012 ballot instead moved 2014 democrats reneged agreement theres also 54 million parks department slush fund one knew parks threatened closure cant even manage money available said wolfe taxpayers give 50 billion way ironically although prop 30 touted helping schools actually provide new money educational programs said although supports prop 30 clearly articulated california school boards association howard jarvis run radio ad making point quoting csba dennis meyers csba assistant executive director governmental relations told committee words taken context proposition 30 good public schools much better without said however meyers acknowledged prop 30 wont fact provide new funding instead would simply restore funding cut recent years without prop 30 schools 14 percent amount funding received 200708 said prop 30 9 percent begins build back lost last five budget cycles one main points contention twohour assembly committee hearing focused whether californias government actually spending currently past brian nestande rpalm desert said budget cuts overstated many temporary almost illusionary happen one year next go right back said overhead stays basically far spending overall spending overall im going argue arent hard choices point fact factor use special funds 2030 billion couple years ago federal monies tens billions dollars money state spends federal government special funds general budget every year since ive thats fact assertion threw democrats committee tizzy one another cited cuts schools courts health care plethora social service programs paid general fund nestande correct increase overall spending according figures state department finance total state spending 201213 budget 2254 billion includes 914 billion general fund 394 billion special funds 117 billion bond funds 829 billion federal funds true general fund spending high nearly 103 billion 200708 total spending alltime high 31 million 16 percent higher state spent 200708 doubled past 14 years nestande argued whats really needed california overhaul tax system moving toward consumption tax economists agree right left consumptionbased tax best taxing system economy said get revenue state allowing economy grow disproportionately heavy income tax heavy sales tax harms economy inhibits growth inhibits revenue state
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<p>They were once called Untouchables. There are an estimated <a href="http://idsn.org/wp-content/uploads/user_folder/pdf/New_files/Key_Issues/Dalit_Women/DALIT_WOMEN_-_IDSN_briefing_paper.pdf" type="external">260 million</a> of them across the world and some 100 million women in India.</p>
<p>Discrimination against the Dalits remains deep-rooted in India and has been <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/video-of-dalit-family-allegedly-stripped-by-police-creates-storm-on-social-media/article7742836.ece" type="external">making</a> <a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/article/out-damn-caste/295697" type="external">headlines</a> <a href="http://www.tehelka.com/2015/11/a-new-wave-of-caste-atrocities/" type="external">in the country</a> recently. But the topic remains a difficult one for Dalits to bring up, let alone change.</p>
<p>A new campaign is taking on caste violence, though, and they’ve been reaching out to activist movements like Black Lives Matter in the US. The Delhi-based <a href="http://www.ncdhr.org.in/aidmam/" type="external">All India Dalit Women’s Rights Forum</a> has just wrapped up a two month tour of college campuses and other venues, where they exchanged strategies and told some harrowing stories of people they’ve tried to help back home.</p>
<p>First, though, the activists have to explain India’s 3,000-year-old history with the caste system, especially Untouchability. It’s the practice of upper-caste people not touching anything that has come into physical contact with Dalits. The practice is now outlawed, but the activists say its history still leads to everything from discrimination to outright crimes against Dalit people — especially against women and girls. According to India’s National Crime Records Bureau, the <a href="http://www.newslaundry.com/2015/10/26/sexual-assault-rape-top-crimes-against-scheduled-castes/?utm_content=buffer0dd50&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter.com&amp;utm_campaign=buffer#" type="external">top two crimes last year</a> against lower-caste people were sexual assault and rape.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>At the University of Texas, Activist Sanghapali Aruna Lohitakshi explained one of the cases the group got involved with three years ago, that of a 12-year-old Dalit girl who had been raped by 16 men. The men actually videotaped their crime, Lohitakshi says.</p>
<p>“Then they took the footage of the rape and then circulated it in the whole village so that she will be humiliated, her family will be humiliated, and she will not be sent to the school. After the footage was shown to her family, her father committed suicide,” Lohitakshi says.</p>
<p>It’s the kind of incident so horrible that some people, both in India and in the US, might not believe it. But just as video evidence is forcing the US public to contend with police brutality against blacks, it <a href="http://www.caravanmagazine.in/vantage/was-dalit-family-dankaur-really-stripped-police" type="external">can make</a> the reality of caste violence in India much more apparent. Still, Lohitakshi says, prejudice against Dalits is so pervasive, even video is not always enough.</p>
<p>“This girl took this footage as an evidence in the courtroom to show that she was raped, gang-raped. And then the judge said — he laughed out loud — and he said, ‘Wow. We know. You enjoyed the act. And you should be glad they touched you,’” she says.</p>
<p>In this case, the Dalit women activists helped the girl move to another village, where she now lives with her grandmother. She’s enrolled in school there. But the lack of justice in her case is all too typical, they say. There’s even a saying in some parts of northern India: “A man does not know his land unless he has had the women who work on that land.” Historically, caste governed where a person lived and what she did for a living. Lower-caste people lived in poorer places and had the most menial and labor-intensive jobs, such as working in the fields owned by upper-caste men.</p>
<p>“When somebody is raped, it is said that she has lost her respect, her respect is stolen, or something like that — you know, looted,” Lohitakshi explains. “So, rape is associated with respect.”</p>
<p>Often when a Dalit woman is raped, she says, “Nobody bothers. Not even the police, not the administration, not the doctors, not the state. Because how can you take away respect from someone who doesn’t even have the respect? Who is actually made for that?” she says, her voice trembling.</p>
<p>So to talk about sexual violence in India without mentioning caste would be like talking about rape during the time of slavery without mentioning slavery, the Dalit activists say. But they find many people in India are reluctant to talk about the problem of caste violence at all.</p>
<p>“Everywhere we go, the moment we talk about caste, no one wants to talk about it,” Lohitakshi says.</p>
<p />
<p>Jay­Marie Hill of Say Her Name performs a song during the San&#160;Francisco discussion with the All India Dalit Women's Right Forum.</p>
<p>Sonia Paul</p>
<p>The Dalit women see a parallel between this discomfort with caste at home and the discomfort in the US around race. A big reason they raised money to come here was to exchange strategies with US activists.</p>
<p>In San Francisco, they spoke at the historic <a href="http://womensbuilding.org/" type="external">Women’s Building</a> with members of Black Lives Matter and <a href="http://www.aapf.org/sayhernamereport/" type="external">Say Her Name</a>.</p>
<p>Brianna Gibson, a movement leader in the Bay Area, says the similarities to their experiences are striking.</p>
<p>“So, someone saying you know, ‘We’re post-caste,’ versus ‘post-racial.’ It’s like ‘Wow, that’s exactly the same thing.’ Or they’ll tell you, ‘You’re being divisive.’”</p>
<p>The exchange between the two groups was at times emotional, but also really educational, as Nikita Mitchell*, another movement leader, told the audience during the discussion.</p>
<p>“I know in my experience, growing up in deep East Oakland, everybody who was South Asian or Asian in general were wealthy people in my mind, because that is what I was taught,” Mitchell said. “That they all came here as tech workers and that they didn’t understand our struggles. Well obviously, we’ve been lied to.”</p>
<p>The San Francisco meeting ended with a rousing chant and the historic civil rights song “We Shall Overcome” in both English and in Hindi. The Dalit women know they have a lot of difficult work ahead of them. But they say the fresh energy and support from activists here has given them new ideas to train more women back home — so they can continue to raise their voices.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>*UPDATE: A previous version of this story misattributed Nikita Mitchell's quote. We regret the error.</p>
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called untouchables estimated 260 million across world 100 million women india discrimination dalits remains deeprooted india making headlines country recently topic remains difficult one dalits bring let alone change new campaign taking caste violence though theyve reaching activist movements like black lives matter us delhibased india dalit womens rights forum wrapped two month tour college campuses venues exchanged strategies told harrowing stories people theyve tried help back home first though activists explain indias 3000yearold history caste system especially untouchability practice uppercaste people touching anything come physical contact dalits practice outlawed activists say history still leads everything discrimination outright crimes dalit people especially women girls according indias national crime records bureau top two crimes last year lowercaste people sexual assault rape 160 university texas activist sanghapali aruna lohitakshi explained one cases group got involved three years ago 12yearold dalit girl raped 16 men men actually videotaped crime lohitakshi says took footage rape circulated whole village humiliated family humiliated sent school footage shown family father committed suicide lohitakshi says kind incident horrible people india us might believe video evidence forcing us public contend police brutality blacks make reality caste violence india much apparent still lohitakshi says prejudice dalits pervasive even video always enough girl took footage evidence courtroom show raped gangraped judge said laughed loud said wow know enjoyed act glad touched says case dalit women activists helped girl move another village lives grandmother shes enrolled school lack justice case typical say theres even saying parts northern india man know land unless women work land historically caste governed person lived living lowercaste people lived poorer places menial laborintensive jobs working fields owned uppercaste men somebody raped said lost respect respect stolen something like know looted lohitakshi explains rape associated respect often dalit woman raped says nobody bothers even police administration doctors state take away respect someone doesnt even respect actually made says voice trembling talk sexual violence india without mentioning caste would like talking rape time slavery without mentioning slavery dalit activists say find many people india reluctant talk problem caste violence everywhere go moment talk caste one wants talk lohitakshi says jaymarie hill say name performs song san160francisco discussion india dalit womens right forum sonia paul dalit women see parallel discomfort caste home discomfort us around race big reason raised money come exchange strategies us activists san francisco spoke historic womens building members black lives matter say name brianna gibson movement leader bay area says similarities experiences striking someone saying know postcaste versus postracial like wow thats exactly thing theyll tell youre divisive exchange two groups times emotional also really educational nikita mitchell another movement leader told audience discussion know experience growing deep east oakland everybody south asian asian general wealthy people mind taught mitchell said came tech workers didnt understand struggles well obviously weve lied san francisco meeting ended rousing chant historic civil rights song shall overcome english hindi dalit women know lot difficult work ahead say fresh energy support activists given new ideas train women back home continue raise voices 160 update previous version story misattributed nikita mitchells quote regret error
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<p>April, 2, 2012</p>
<p>By, Katy Grimes</p>
<p>SACRAMENTO – I’ve long mocked the <a href="http://www.sacairports.org/smf/" type="external">Sacramento “International” Airport</a>for not having any direct international flights. We used to have one direct flight to Cabo San Lucas. C’mon -this is Sacramento.</p>
<p>The former Sacramento Metropolitan Airport was such a joy to use before the international status was bequeathed. Reminiscent of a smaller, valley airport, parking was easy, inexpensive and right near the terminals. Flying in and out was easy in the oldest terminal, until the Sacramento County Supervisors approved a $1 billion construction vanity project, under pressure from local labor unions.</p>
<p>I just returned from a business trip, and had to fly out of Sacramento’s brand new $1 billion airport terminal – not a whole new airport, just a new terminal. A few months ago when the new terminal opened, local media was all a-twitter about it, engrossed with the $60 million people-mover tram, the millions of dollars in art including a two-story giant red rabbit hanging from the ceiling, chic, high-end restaurants and shops.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>This isn’t progress – it’s another government boondoggle. And it’s definitely not about an infrastructure need, as airport officials and Sacramento politicians love to repeat to media.</p>
<p>The TSA security area is the first humiliating violation of personal privacy passengers must endure. After taking off my coat, my sweater, my shoes, my belt, opening my computer and my iPad, removing change from my pocket and the necklace I was wearing, I was coldly invited into the full body scanner and made to position myself as if I was about to be frisked by the police – legs spread, hands over my head. And then the machine took a scan of my naked body while my husband watched, growing more pissed off with each passing moment.</p>
<p>Finally given the go-ahead, I was rushed away from the scanner to collect my coat, sweater, shoes, purse, belt, necklace, suitcase, carry-on bag, computer, iPad, and somehow get all of this back on my person.</p>
<p>There are no tables or chairs nearby to stop and collect gear and redress. I saw three people run back to the security station having forgotten something.</p>
<p>The TSA hurried everyone through, after holding them up during the scanning process. And they weren’t nice about it. With each airport I’ve been through having different policies about what comes off, or goes through, travelers are confused. Do I open my computer or not? Belt on or off? One idiotic TSA agent was incorrectly telling people to take their toiletries out of their suitcases.</p>
<p>Is anyone in charge? The TSA makes the DMV look like a professionally run agency.</p>
<p>The last time I flew I received a pat-down. I don’t know why I was pulled out of the lone, other than the stink-eye I gave one TSA agent when I was asked for the fifth time to open my laptop.</p>
<p>After leaving the security area, passengers are immediately thrust into mall-shopping meca. Restaurants, bakeries, cool looking bars, higher-end clothing stores, gift stores and book stores envelope the passenger in an attempt to make one forget the horrible TSA experience and the gross Fourth Amendment violation.</p>
<p>No amount of alcohol or retail therapy could make me forget the personal physical violation as well as inhuman treatment by some TSA agents. It’s no wonder so many people prefer car travel.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Amendment lV of the U.S. Constitution</a> states, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”</p>
<p>The TSA aside, Sacramento’s new $1 billion terminal is a textbook example of a government boondoggle. Whether officials acquired the money from the federal government, or from local taxes, it’s still a taxpayer-funded project, and one which Sacramento did not need.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>I remember when the airport project began, in the midst of the worst economic downturn the city and state has ever seen. Then-County Supervisor Roger Dickinson, now Assemblyman Dickinson, D-Sacramento, defended the project and said that despite the recession and despite Sacramento’s massive deficit, it was actually a good time to build the airport because materials and labor would be cheaper.</p>
<p>No one who has ever signed the front of a paycheck would make such an irresponsible, arrogant statement. The county supervisors had the authority to halt or postpone the project, but did not.</p>
<p>The terminal has its problems: No directional signage in the terminal, lack of connectivity to elevators, escalators that don’t go to all floors, and no walking allowed to the gates. Passengers are reliant on the $60 million people mover train, which moves 1100 feet. Wow. I could walk faster.</p>
<p>Sacramento did not need a people mover train. This was a case of designer dreams and unlimited funds.</p>
<p>The old terminal was far more user friendly and much easier for travelers to navigate. The escalator was right inside the doors, but in the new terminal, passengers must go searching. And with no signage, you’re on your own. Once you do locate the escalator, there are 4 down&#160;escalators, but two of which only go down one floor, leaving passengers unable to get to baggage pickup.</p>
<p>Some are saying that there are no signs because airport designers thought signs would add clutter. Whatever happened to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Form_follows_function" type="external">form follows function?</a></p>
<p>Baggage claim at Chicago O’Hare airport takes less time than bag pickup in Sacramento.</p>
<p>Sacramento could have done a stupendous retrofit of the old terminal, updated, and saved a boatload of taxpayer money. But saving money is not a priority with vanity projects.</p>
<p>Vanity projects are all the rage in California. Arenas, new airports and terminals, grandiose public schools, colleges and universities and government buildings, High-Speed Rail, light rail projects, fancy train stations, fancy city and county supervisor chambers, public officials spending money on high-end offices – it doesn’t stop. And it’s all being done with taxpayer money.</p>
<p>There is a nasty trend in California government &#160;of using taxpayer funds for unnecessary and first class travel, expensive lunches and dinners, high-rent offices, boondoggle conventions and conferences, very high salaries — and massive vanity projects Californians do not need.</p>
<p>A study done in 2000 speculated that by 2016 , the number of passengers using the airport would double from 8 million to 16 million, and most importantly, Terminal B wouldn’t be able to handle the doubled capacity. &#160;However, now Airport Director Hardy Acree says the forecast is under 11 million. &#160;But, according to Acree, that doesn’t mean the airport will lose money on the new terminal.</p>
<p>Yeah right. And red rabbits can fly.</p>
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april 2 2012 katy grimes sacramento ive long mocked sacramento international airportfor direct international flights used one direct flight cabo san lucas cmon sacramento former sacramento metropolitan airport joy use international status bequeathed reminiscent smaller valley airport parking easy inexpensive right near terminals flying easy oldest terminal sacramento county supervisors approved 1 billion construction vanity project pressure local labor unions returned business trip fly sacramentos brand new 1 billion airport terminal whole new airport new terminal months ago new terminal opened local media atwitter engrossed 60 million peoplemover tram millions dollars art including twostory giant red rabbit hanging ceiling chic highend restaurants shops isnt progress another government boondoggle definitely infrastructure need airport officials sacramento politicians love repeat media tsa security area first humiliating violation personal privacy passengers must endure taking coat sweater shoes belt opening computer ipad removing change pocket necklace wearing coldly invited full body scanner made position frisked police legs spread hands head machine took scan naked body husband watched growing pissed passing moment finally given goahead rushed away scanner collect coat sweater shoes purse belt necklace suitcase carryon bag computer ipad somehow get back person tables chairs nearby stop collect gear redress saw three people run back security station forgotten something tsa hurried everyone holding scanning process werent nice airport ive different policies comes goes travelers confused open computer belt one idiotic tsa agent incorrectly telling people take toiletries suitcases anyone charge tsa makes dmv look like professionally run agency last time flew received patdown dont know pulled lone stinkeye gave one tsa agent asked fifth time open laptop leaving security area passengers immediately thrust mallshopping meca restaurants bakeries cool looking bars higherend clothing stores gift stores book stores envelope passenger attempt make one forget horrible tsa experience gross fourth amendment violation amount alcohol retail therapy could make forget personal physical violation well inhuman treatment tsa agents wonder many people prefer car travel amendment lv us constitution states right people secure persons houses papers effects unreasonable searches seizures shall violated warrants shall issue upon probable cause supported oath affirmation particularly describing place searched persons things seized tsa aside sacramentos new 1 billion terminal textbook example government boondoggle whether officials acquired money federal government local taxes still taxpayerfunded project one sacramento need remember airport project began midst worst economic downturn city state ever seen thencounty supervisor roger dickinson assemblyman dickinson dsacramento defended project said despite recession despite sacramentos massive deficit actually good time build airport materials labor would cheaper one ever signed front paycheck would make irresponsible arrogant statement county supervisors authority halt postpone project terminal problems directional signage terminal lack connectivity elevators escalators dont go floors walking allowed gates passengers reliant 60 million people mover train moves 1100 feet wow could walk faster sacramento need people mover train case designer dreams unlimited funds old terminal far user friendly much easier travelers navigate escalator right inside doors new terminal passengers must go searching signage youre locate escalator 4 down160escalators two go one floor leaving passengers unable get baggage pickup saying signs airport designers thought signs would add clutter whatever happened form follows function baggage claim chicago ohare airport takes less time bag pickup sacramento sacramento could done stupendous retrofit old terminal updated saved boatload taxpayer money saving money priority vanity projects vanity projects rage california arenas new airports terminals grandiose public schools colleges universities government buildings highspeed rail light rail projects fancy train stations fancy city county supervisor chambers public officials spending money highend offices doesnt stop done taxpayer money nasty trend california government 160of using taxpayer funds unnecessary first class travel expensive lunches dinners highrent offices boondoggle conventions conferences high salaries massive vanity projects californians need study done 2000 speculated 2016 number passengers using airport would double 8 million 16 million importantly terminal b wouldnt able handle doubled capacity 160however airport director hardy acree says forecast 11 million 160but according acree doesnt mean airport lose money new terminal yeah right red rabbits fly
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<p>Editor's note: This story was originally published in January. US officials announced today that Kenneth Bae has been released by North Korea and is returning home. You can read about his surprise release <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/north-korea/141108/two-american-detainees-freed-north-korea" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>SEOUL, South Korea — Since the Korean War, which ended in 1953, no American has been imprisoned in North Korea as long as 45-year-old Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae.</p>
<p>Bae was arrested in November 2012 and later convicted for supposedly attempting to overthrow the state through a plot called Operation Jericho, described in videotaped sermons.</p>
<p>On Monday, at a rare press conference in Pyongyang, Bae called for American diplomats to help secure his release, a development signaling the regime could be open to talks with Washington.</p>
<p>Washington has offered to send US Ambassador Robert King to Pyongyang, Voice of America has reported, citing an anonymous White House official.</p>
<p>"Obama has been persistent with his hands-off policy towards North Korea," said Leonid Petrov, a researcher at Australian National University. "Kim is using Bae as a decoy for the dialogue. Now all eyes are on Obama. The ball is in his court."</p>
<p>Sending an envoy to plea for the release of an American is a familiar scenario for the US government. In recent years, a handful of US citizens have been detained or imprisoned in the garrison state, some under circumstances similar to Bae's: Korean American missionaries accused of proselytizing and, as authorities say, undercutting North Korean sovereignty.</p>
<p>Here are five other Americans who’ve landed behind bars — and managed to win freedom.</p>
<p>Merrill Newman (Infraction: serving in an elite Korean War unit, talking about it with North Korean guides)</p>
<p>In October 2013, North Korean authorities boarded an airplane in Pyongyang and removed 85-year-old Merrill Newman without explanation. After a month of silence, journalists learned the reason: The California native had served in an elite unit during the Korean War of 1950 to 1953, advising South Korean guerrillas who launched dangerous attacks on the communist North. As a tourist, he discussed this and other uncomfortable topics with his government-appointed guides.</p>
<p>This episode was incredibly unusual, said Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Kookmin University in Seoul. The regime had not detained an American tourist on a legal visa for decades. When authorities did make arrests, the targets were often Korean Americans who were spreading Christian and anti-state messages. Newman finally read a “confession,” written in broken English and posted on YouTube, admitting that he was involved in military operations against North Korea in the 1950s. He was soon sent home.</p>
<p>Laura Ling and Euna Lee (Infraction: illegally crossing into North Korea)</p>
<p>While traveling along the North Korean border to film a documentary about human trafficking, this pair of American journalists was apprehended in March 2009 and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor. They were quickly convicted of illegally crossing the border, according to North Korean state media. The pair lived in a “guest house” for nearly five months until Bill Clinton made a surprise visit, securing their release.</p>
<p>Human rights groups pointed out that this case wasn’t so clear-cut. The two came under criticism for poor judgment in hauling along video recordings and notes that could have ended up in North Korean hands, endangering their sources. Ling and Lee later retorted that, right before their capture, they tried to destroy the tapes and swallow papers, and it remains unclear if North Korea obtained significant information.</p>
<p>Robert Park (Infraction: crossing the border with a Bible)</p>
<p>On Christmas Day in 2009, Korean American pastor Robert Park crossed the frozen Tumen River that separates China and North Korea. He brought along two items: a Bible and a letter for then-dictator Kim Jong Il, demanding that the country’s six labor camps be closed and their people freed. North Korea is believed to house between 150,000 and 200,000 political prisoners in horrific conditions.</p>
<p>The Supreme Commander, of course, did not oblige. Instead, Park was detained for 43 days. In February 2014, he confessed his crimes, according to state media, and authorities flew him to China.</p>
<p>The 28-year-old minister’s trip to North Korea was a "one-man peace mission," according to the BBC. In an interview after his release, Park told the network he “made a very hard decision to maybe never see my family again in this world, because my conscience was really tormented by thinking about how could I live so freely and happily when there are innocent men women and children being routinely raped, tortured, killed for absolutely no reason." When he crossed the border, he said he sang some hymns and "shouted in Korean, 'South Koreans and Americans love you.’” He was immediately arrested. Upon returning home, he spent time in and out of a psychiatric hospital in Long Beach, California. He has told journalists that his trauma was so painful that he would never be able to hold down a marriage.</p>
<p>Editor’s note: GlobalPost originally wrote that Mr. Park was troubled prior to entering North Korea. After his family <a href="https://medium.com/p/ac6c53228523" type="external">objected</a>, GlobalPost deleted that characterization and added details about his border crossing.&#160;</p>
<p>Eddie Jun (Infraction: unclear, suspected to be missionary work)</p>
<p>Also a Korean American from California, Jun was arrested in November 2010 while on a mysterious business trip, accused of an unspecified “crime against the state.” Many suspected that Jun, like those before him, had been using business trips as a cover for missionary work. In May 2011, the regime suddenly released him on what it called “humanitarian grounds,” but did not elaborate.</p>
<p>His release coincided with a visit from the State Department’s envoy on North Korean human rights issues, Robert King. The diplomat said he visited North Korea to assess its level of malnutrition, although it led to no deals for food aid.</p>
<p>James Kim (Infraction: charges unclear)</p>
<p>In 1998, North Korea was in the waning years of a famine that would, according to later estimates, leave a million people dead. Korean American businessman James Chin-kyung Kim travelled to the hermit kingdom to deliver food aid, but was accused of being a CIA spy and jailed for nearly a month without any further details.</p>
<p>Soon after, the entrepreneur was mysteriously given the permission to co-found the country’s first foreign-owned university, the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. The university took a decade to set up, opening its doors in October 2010. Today, it trains the children of the Pyongyang elite in business and engineering, a feat for a nation frequently called a “hermit kingdom.”</p>
<p>Kim was suddenly released. In two interviews, he has declined to tell this correspondent further details about his jailing.</p>
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editors note story originally published january us officials announced today kenneth bae released north korea returning home read surprise release seoul south korea since korean war ended 1953 american imprisoned north korea long 45yearold koreanamerican missionary kenneth bae bae arrested november 2012 later convicted supposedly attempting overthrow state plot called operation jericho described videotaped sermons monday rare press conference pyongyang bae called american diplomats help secure release development signaling regime could open talks washington washington offered send us ambassador robert king pyongyang voice america reported citing anonymous white house official obama persistent handsoff policy towards north korea said leonid petrov researcher australian national university kim using bae decoy dialogue eyes obama ball court sending envoy plea release american familiar scenario us government recent years handful us citizens detained imprisoned garrison state circumstances similar baes korean american missionaries accused proselytizing authorities say undercutting north korean sovereignty five americans whove landed behind bars managed win freedom merrill newman infraction serving elite korean war unit talking north korean guides october 2013 north korean authorities boarded airplane pyongyang removed 85yearold merrill newman without explanation month silence journalists learned reason california native served elite unit korean war 1950 1953 advising south korean guerrillas launched dangerous attacks communist north tourist discussed uncomfortable topics governmentappointed guides episode incredibly unusual said andrei lankov north korea expert kookmin university seoul regime detained american tourist legal visa decades authorities make arrests targets often korean americans spreading christian antistate messages newman finally read confession written broken english posted youtube admitting involved military operations north korea 1950s soon sent home laura ling euna lee infraction illegally crossing north korea traveling along north korean border film documentary human trafficking pair american journalists apprehended march 2009 sentenced 12 years hard labor quickly convicted illegally crossing border according north korean state media pair lived guest house nearly five months bill clinton made surprise visit securing release human rights groups pointed case wasnt clearcut two came criticism poor judgment hauling along video recordings notes could ended north korean hands endangering sources ling lee later retorted right capture tried destroy tapes swallow papers remains unclear north korea obtained significant information robert park infraction crossing border bible christmas day 2009 korean american pastor robert park crossed frozen tumen river separates china north korea brought along two items bible letter thendictator kim jong il demanding countrys six labor camps closed people freed north korea believed house 150000 200000 political prisoners horrific conditions supreme commander course oblige instead park detained 43 days february 2014 confessed crimes according state media authorities flew china 28yearold ministers trip north korea oneman peace mission according bbc interview release park told network made hard decision maybe never see family world conscience really tormented thinking could live freely happily innocent men women children routinely raped tortured killed absolutely reason crossed border said sang hymns shouted korean south koreans americans love immediately arrested upon returning home spent time psychiatric hospital long beach california told journalists trauma painful would never able hold marriage editors note globalpost originally wrote mr park troubled prior entering north korea family objected globalpost deleted characterization added details border crossing160 eddie jun infraction unclear suspected missionary work also korean american california jun arrested november 2010 mysterious business trip accused unspecified crime state many suspected jun like using business trips cover missionary work may 2011 regime suddenly released called humanitarian grounds elaborate release coincided visit state departments envoy north korean human rights issues robert king diplomat said visited north korea assess level malnutrition although led deals food aid james kim infraction charges unclear 1998 north korea waning years famine would according later estimates leave million people dead korean american businessman james chinkyung kim travelled hermit kingdom deliver food aid accused cia spy jailed nearly month without details soon entrepreneur mysteriously given permission cofound countrys first foreignowned university pyongyang university science technology university took decade set opening doors october 2010 today trains children pyongyang elite business engineering feat nation frequently called hermit kingdom kim suddenly released two interviews declined tell correspondent details jailing
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<p>AYTA AL SHAAB, Lebanon&#160;—&#160;The hue and furor over the humanitarian cost of the Gaza conflict have obscured the matter on which Israel’s campaign against Hamas ultimately will turn: Can military force really alter the course of a populist Islamist movement?</p>
<p>Long after the terms of a cease-fire are hammered out, the answer to this underlying and persistent question will determine whether the offensive was successful for Israel and fatal for Hamas.</p>
<p>President Obama’s foreign policy team is grappling with the same nagging quandary as it shifts the U.S. military's focus from Iraq to Afghanistan: How to wage an effective struggle against groups that often employ terrorist tactics? Obama’s White House seems to have abandoned a conventional one-size-fits-all military approach, but it must confront an array of militants that includes Al Qaeda, the Mahdi Army in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>They’ll be looking for <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/090118/gaza-cease-fire-will-it-last" type="external">lessons</a> from Israel’s latest conflicts. And they’ll find a warning of sorts in the thriving and resurgent community of Hezbollah supporters on Israel’s northern border. The state of Hezbollah, two-and-a-half years after its own punishing encounter with the hard end of Israel’s military, offers a cautionary tale for those who hope to thwart the emboldened axis of Islamist, anti-Israel militant movements through brute strength.</p>
<p>As it has just attempted to do in <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/090126/game-life-and-death-continues" type="external">Gaza</a>, Israel tried in 2006 to emasculate Hezbollah, the militant Shiite Islamist group that has since come to dominate Lebanese politics. Then, Israel hoped to sap popular support for the group by bombing infrastructure targets, as well as to decapitate the leadership and decimate Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.</p>
<p>On all those counts, most military analysts would agree Israel ultimately failed. Less than three years after the war, observers say Hezbollah wields a more formidable military arsenal than in 2006, including anti-aircraft batteries that could reduce Israel’s battlefield advantage. The group has secured more political influence than ever before, including veto power over all Lebanese government decisions. And the increasingly radicalized rank-and-file Shiites, Christians and Palestinians who support Hezbollah are exhibiting a startling thirst for a new confrontation with Israel.</p>
<p>All this despite a war in 2006 that ravaged Lebanon’s infrastructure, killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters, and by traditional measures of military success was a victory for Israel.</p>
<p>Hezbollah's most important asset</p>
<p>A military balance sheet of the war fails to take into account Hezbollah’s most important asset: the fervent ideological support of its Shiite base, motivated in equal measure by the cause of anti-Israeli resistance and by religious devotion.</p>
<p>Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s supreme leader, says he is in regular contact with his backers in Iran, and with Hamas — presumably swapping ideas on tactics, strategy and ideology. It’s hard to imagine that Hamas isn’t drawing on Hezbollah’s 2006 playbook.</p>
<p>Hezbollah’s brightest tactical move in 2006 was to declare at the outbreak of conflict that all it had to do to win was to survive. With its decentralized hierarchy, bevy of technocrats, and a million or more supporters, Hezbollah is likely to persist after an armed conflict, no matter how bruising. So on its own terms, it can’t be defeated no matter what losses it sustains. Hamas seems to have adopted a similar rhetorical stance in its fight with Israel.</p>
<p>Israel might have waged these campaigns against Hamas and&#160;Hezbollah, but in the Muslim world and among many of America's allies,&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/saudi-arabia/090119/which-it-stands-saudi-arabia" type="external">Washington</a>&#160;is perceived as inextricably linked to them.&#160;The United States rushed extra bombs to Israel during its 2006 war with Lebanon. And in one of its final foreign policy acts the Bush Administration gave the green light to the aerial bombardment of Gaza. Israeli officials rushed to execute the offensive in Gaza before Bush left office in part because they weren’t confident that an Obama White House would approve such military moves.</p>
<p>Contemplating the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/090122/zeitoun-becomes-symbol" type="external">wreckage</a> in Gaza and the failure to de-fang Islamist movements across the Middle East, Obama’s team, like Israeli policy-makers, will have to forge a new, strategic, comprehensive approach. Smart power, perhaps; smart bombs, not so much.</p>
<p>But more to the point in terms of lessons learned — and more chilling for Obama’s policy team and military planners — is how Hezbollah capitalized on the 2006 war to recruit new members and redouble the passion of its inner cadres. By its own account, membership in the party and its militia has doubled, as have the ranks of its youth scout program, which trains future Hezbollah fighters and bureaucrats.</p>
<p>Border villages hard hit during the war have been quickly rebuilt. Ayta al-Chaab, the frontier town from which Hezbollah launched its cross-border raid, kidnapping two Israeli soldiers and sparking the 2006 conflict, was ravaged by bombing and then ground fighting: About 90 percent of the town’s buildings were ultimately damaged or destroyed. Now, it’s been almost completely reconstructed, and expanded. There are several hundred new houses, built by Hezbollah supporters who were encouraged by the party to relocate to the sensitive border region, to counter a perceived Israeli desire to depopulate southern Lebanon.</p>
<p>For Hezbollah’s supporters, the question isn’t if they’ll fight Israel again, but when. “Now is not a good time for the people. We have just recovered from the last aggression. And the Islamic resistance does not want to be seen provoking a war,” says Faris Jamil, 52, a Hezbollah supporter whose house was destroyed in 2006.</p>
<p />
<p>Jamil&#160;and his family live in the basement of their half-completed home, an ornate three-story structure accented with Grecian marble columns and floral stone cornices. From his front door, he watches the sun set behind the next line of hills, a mile away in Israel.</p>
<p>“We are ready to respond if attacked,” Jamil says, warming himself by a wood stove. “But otherwise, we should expect the next war in two or three years.”</p>
<p>Israel Alarmed by Rising Calls for its Destruction</p>
<p>Equally alarming to Israel and its friends — and more energizing to the “resistance axis” that spans Tehran, Damascus, Hezbollah, the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, and a panoply of smaller Palestinian, Iranian and Arab Islamist groups — is the swelling rhetoric about “liberating Jerusalem,” sending Israel’s Jews “back to Europe and America where they came from.”</p>
<p>Such words are nothing new in the Middle East; but the conviction that a total military defeat of Israel is a realistic possibility is. One hears echoes of it in the words of Iran’s supreme leader&#160;—&#160;Ayatollah Ali Khamenei&#160;—&#160;the speeches of Nasrallah, the statements of Hamas, and in the bubbling ferment of anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish hatred roiling the region’s mosques, television channels and cafe chatter.</p>
<p>This belief, that an Islamic resistance can eventually disestablish Israel as a state, is in part an outgrowth of an approach that has prioritized the law of the strongest above all else. Israel, at its peak, extended a tight grip over the West Bank and Gaza, building homes for hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers.</p>
<p>Now, the Islamists see their own star rising and believe Israel’s is waning; Hezbollah drove Israeli forces out of southern Lebanon in 2000, after 18 years of occupation. In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip, and Hamas successfully sold the pullout to its constituents as a victory for its fighting brigades. Hezbollah’s successful reemergence from the 2006 war only strengthened the Islamist bloc’s narrative of growing prowess.</p>
<p>Critics inside Israel’s political and military establishment have consistently bemoaned the rise of an Islamist axis and have decried the vain effort to quash it by force. Only months before the Gaza conflict, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in a candid exit interview, harshly derided his own tactics, declaring that Israel could only achieve peace through political negotiation, not by conquering hilltops.</p>
<p>Israeli analyst <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1057670.html" type="external">Gideon Levy</a> wrote in Haaretz at the close of the Gaza conflict that Israel had failed all its aims, and had increased popular support for Hamas. “Deterrence, my foot,” he wrote. “The deterrence we supposedly achieved in the Second Lebanon War has not had the slightest effect on Hamas, and the one supposedly achieved now isn't working any better… Their [Hamas’] war has intensified the ethos of resistance and determined endurance.”</p>
<p>There are certainly differences between Israel’s two most recent campaigns, against Hezbollah in 2006 and Hamas in 2009. Hezbollah benefits from unimpeded access to armaments supplied by Iran and transferred through Syria. Hamas smuggles in some weapons through tunnels from Egypt, and relies primarily on the locally manufactured Qassam rockets, which cause more terror than actual damage and death in Israel. Hezbollah is larger and better-funded than Hamas; its fighters operate in wide expanses of hilly and mountainous terrain, which offer cover and room for maneuver not to be found in the flat, claustrophobic, urban Gaza Strip.</p>
<p>And Israel appears to have learned at least some lessons from its failures in 2006, this time around acting with decisive force. Israel’s military and political leaders have acted more in concert, and have avoided setting impossible goals like the elimination of Hamas.</p>
<p>Tel Aviv strikes, but leaves room for negotiation</p>
<p>The Islamist axis commands real power and is a force to be reckoned with. Israel has never stopped negotiating with Hamas and Hezbollah. European diplomats are quietly talking to Hezbollah officials, and looking for ways to initiate contacts with Hamas without violating European law. American intelligence services and diplomats find they have less and less leverage and understanding from their increasingly isolated stations and embassies; they’ll need to craft new channels through which to speak to groups in the Islamist axis.</p>
<p>Military force surely will continue to play a central role in the Middle East, a region where competing well-armed groups frame every conflict as a question of survival and are quick to shoot back when provoked. But Israel’s conflicts failed to decisively turn the popular tide against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/america-and-the-world/090102/which-it-stands-worldview" type="external">Israel, like the United States</a>, wants to shift the balance of power in the Middle East away from militant Islamist groups. To accomplish that end, the Obama administration and its allies will have to forswear an approach built around military force. Bombs alone will not eliminate popular ideological movements like Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.</p>
<p>(Thanassis Cambanis is writing a book about Hezbollah for Free Press, due to be published in 2010.)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/saudi-arabia/090130/obama-wont-what-mitchell-hears" type="external">Challenges for Obama in what Mitchell hears</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
ayta al shaab lebanon160160the hue furor humanitarian cost gaza conflict obscured matter israels campaign hamas ultimately turn military force really alter course populist islamist movement long terms ceasefire hammered answer underlying persistent question determine whether offensive successful israel fatal hamas president obamas foreign policy team grappling nagging quandary shifts us militarys focus iraq afghanistan wage effective struggle groups often employ terrorist tactics obamas white house seems abandoned conventional onesizefitsall military approach must confront array militants includes al qaeda mahdi army iraq taliban afghanistan theyll looking lessons israels latest conflicts theyll find warning sorts thriving resurgent community hezbollah supporters israels northern border state hezbollah twoandahalf years punishing encounter hard end israels military offers cautionary tale hope thwart emboldened axis islamist antiisrael militant movements brute strength attempted gaza israel tried 2006 emasculate hezbollah militant shiite islamist group since come dominate lebanese politics israel hoped sap popular support group bombing infrastructure targets well decapitate leadership decimate hezbollahs military infrastructure counts military analysts would agree israel ultimately failed less three years war observers say hezbollah wields formidable military arsenal 2006 including antiaircraft batteries could reduce israels battlefield advantage group secured political influence ever including veto power lebanese government decisions increasingly radicalized rankandfile shiites christians palestinians support hezbollah exhibiting startling thirst new confrontation israel despite war 2006 ravaged lebanons infrastructure killed hundreds hezbollah fighters traditional measures military success victory israel hezbollahs important asset military balance sheet war fails take account hezbollahs important asset fervent ideological support shiite base motivated equal measure cause antiisraeli resistance religious devotion sayyed hassan nasrallah hezbollahs supreme leader says regular contact backers iran hamas presumably swapping ideas tactics strategy ideology hard imagine hamas isnt drawing hezbollahs 2006 playbook hezbollahs brightest tactical move 2006 declare outbreak conflict win survive decentralized hierarchy bevy technocrats million supporters hezbollah likely persist armed conflict matter bruising terms cant defeated matter losses sustains hamas seems adopted similar rhetorical stance fight israel israel might waged campaigns hamas and160hezbollah muslim world among many americas allies160 washington160is perceived inextricably linked them160the united states rushed extra bombs israel 2006 war lebanon one final foreign policy acts bush administration gave green light aerial bombardment gaza israeli officials rushed execute offensive gaza bush left office part werent confident obama white house would approve military moves contemplating wreckage gaza failure defang islamist movements across middle east obamas team like israeli policymakers forge new strategic comprehensive approach smart power perhaps smart bombs much point terms lessons learned chilling obamas policy team military planners hezbollah capitalized 2006 war recruit new members redouble passion inner cadres account membership party militia doubled ranks youth scout program trains future hezbollah fighters bureaucrats border villages hard hit war quickly rebuilt ayta alchaab frontier town hezbollah launched crossborder raid kidnapping two israeli soldiers sparking 2006 conflict ravaged bombing ground fighting 90 percent towns buildings ultimately damaged destroyed almost completely reconstructed expanded several hundred new houses built hezbollah supporters encouraged party relocate sensitive border region counter perceived israeli desire depopulate southern lebanon hezbollahs supporters question isnt theyll fight israel good time people recovered last aggression islamic resistance want seen provoking war says faris jamil 52 hezbollah supporter whose house destroyed 2006 jamil160and family live basement halfcompleted home ornate threestory structure accented grecian marble columns floral stone cornices front door watches sun set behind next line hills mile away israel ready respond attacked jamil says warming wood stove otherwise expect next war two three years israel alarmed rising calls destruction equally alarming israel friends energizing resistance axis spans tehran damascus hezbollah muslim brotherhood hamas panoply smaller palestinian iranian arab islamist groups swelling rhetoric liberating jerusalem sending israels jews back europe america came words nothing new middle east conviction total military defeat israel realistic possibility one hears echoes words irans supreme leader160160ayatollah ali khamenei160160the speeches nasrallah statements hamas bubbling ferment antiisraeli antijewish hatred roiling regions mosques television channels cafe chatter belief islamic resistance eventually disestablish israel state part outgrowth approach prioritized law strongest else israel peak extended tight grip west bank gaza building homes hundreds thousands jewish settlers islamists see star rising believe israels waning hezbollah drove israeli forces southern lebanon 2000 18 years occupation 2005 israel unilaterally withdrew gaza strip hamas successfully sold pullout constituents victory fighting brigades hezbollahs successful reemergence 2006 war strengthened islamist blocs narrative growing prowess critics inside israels political military establishment consistently bemoaned rise islamist axis decried vain effort quash force months gaza conflict prime minister ehud olmert candid exit interview harshly derided tactics declaring israel could achieve peace political negotiation conquering hilltops israeli analyst gideon levy wrote haaretz close gaza conflict israel failed aims increased popular support hamas deterrence foot wrote deterrence supposedly achieved second lebanon war slightest effect hamas one supposedly achieved isnt working better hamas war intensified ethos resistance determined endurance certainly differences israels two recent campaigns hezbollah 2006 hamas 2009 hezbollah benefits unimpeded access armaments supplied iran transferred syria hamas smuggles weapons tunnels egypt relies primarily locally manufactured qassam rockets cause terror actual damage death israel hezbollah larger betterfunded hamas fighters operate wide expanses hilly mountainous terrain offer cover room maneuver found flat claustrophobic urban gaza strip israel appears learned least lessons failures 2006 time around acting decisive force israels military political leaders acted concert avoided setting impossible goals like elimination hamas tel aviv strikes leaves room negotiation islamist axis commands real power force reckoned israel never stopped negotiating hamas hezbollah european diplomats quietly talking hezbollah officials looking ways initiate contacts hamas without violating european law american intelligence services diplomats find less less leverage understanding increasingly isolated stations embassies theyll need craft new channels speak groups islamist axis military force surely continue play central role middle east region competing wellarmed groups frame every conflict question survival quick shoot back provoked israels conflicts failed decisively turn popular tide hezbollah lebanon hamas gaza israel like united states wants shift balance power middle east away militant islamist groups accomplish end obama administration allies forswear approach built around military force bombs alone eliminate popular ideological movements like hamas hezbollah muslim brotherhood egypt thanassis cambanis writing book hezbollah free press due published 2010 challenges obama mitchell hears 160
| 1,008 |
<p>Throughout his presidential campaign, President Trump took aim at <a href="" type="internal">NAFTA</a>, the <a href="" type="internal">Trans-Pacific Partnership</a>&#160;and other U.S. trade agreements. One year into his administration, America is officially out of the TPP, and Trump is renegotiating NAFTA. Yet another trade deal — the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences — is also now on life support.</p>
<p>Better known as GSP, the program is supposed to <a href="https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/266/~/generalized-system-of-preferences-%28gsp%29" type="external">encourage economic development</a> by offering poor countries a patchwork framework to export tariff-free into the U.S. market. It expired on Dec. 31, 2017. The GSP is far from perfect, and the program could stand a rethink. But ending it abruptly would also cause harm, including to U.S. interests.</p>
<p>So what exactly is the GSP and what do you need to know?</p>
<p>1. The U.S. GSP program isn’t particularly big</p>
<p>Relatively few U.S. imports benefit from the GSP. In 2016, the GSP <a href="https://www.usitc.gov/documents/dataweb/ave_table_1891_2016.pdf" type="external">covered</a> only $19 billion, or less than 3 percent, of U.S. imports that could face a tariff.</p>
<p>The U.S. <a href="https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33663.pdf" type="external">program</a> dates to the Trade Act of 1974. Under the GSP, the U.S. government selects a group of poor countries and a set of products, and it offers these countries lower-than-normal tariffs than it applies to imports from all other World Trade Organization countries.</p>
<p>[ <a href="" type="internal">Donald Trump’s solar and washer tariffs may have now opened the floodgates of protectionism</a>]</p>
<p>Imports from China and some developing countries are ineligible for GSP benefits. But top <a href="https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33663.pdf" type="external">exporters</a> under the program include India and Brazil, major emerging economies that the Trump administration has accused of <a href="https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2017/december/opening-plenary-statement-ustr" type="external">problematic</a> trade policies. Nonetheless, 90 percent of Indian/Brazilian exports to America face normal U.S. tariffs and would remain unaffected by changes to the GSP program.</p>
<p>2. GSP is not generous, partly by design</p>
<p>Many factors limit the trade coming in under the GSP. For nearly half of all the goods America imports, the normal tariffs are zero — there isn’t a lower tariff to offer.</p>
<p>The other half of products is where the GSP program’s limits kick in. Because the U.S. government unilaterally determines where to give zero tariffs under the GSP, exclusion of certain products and countries can be subject to domestic politics. Trade economist <a href="https://tinyurl.com/ya9yvxaa" type="external">Emanuel Ornelas</a> reports only about half of eligible products end up part of the program.</p>
<p><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/twec.12216/abstract" type="external">Left out</a> are goods that many poor countries would be keen to export, such as agriculture and relatively lower-skilled manufacturers like clothing. From a development perspective, GSP tariffs of zero would provide big benefits for poor country exporters; many of these goods face relatively high normal U.S. tariffs.</p>
<p>But they are kept out of the GSP because of strong American domestic political pressure. Instead, noncontroversial products — like gold necklaces — end up topping the program’s import list.</p>
<p>Access to the zero tariff under the GSP also has costs. In addition to paperwork, foreign companies must use enough locally sourced inputs — even if of dubious quality — to comply with “rules of origin” requirements. IMF economist <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/caje.12131/abstract" type="external">Shushanik Hakobyan</a> has found that poor countries frequently don’t bother to utilize the GSP because compliance costs are too large.</p>
<p>3. Political economists have long been skeptical of GSP’s benefits</p>
<p>Another major concern with the GSP is its uncertainty. The U.S. program has always been <a href="https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33663.pdf" type="external">temporary</a> and sometimes suffers periods of nonrenewal. But even when operational, products and country eligibility are always at the discretion of the U.S. government. Furthermore, a country can export only a limited amount of any product under the GSP. The cap was $180 million in 2017, and no more than 50 percent of a product can derive from a single country.</p>
<p>[ <a href="" type="internal">What is NAFTA, and what would happen to U.S. trade without it?</a>]</p>
<p>These combined “unknowns” tend to limit the economic development benefits of any “trade-instead-of-aid” program. And research <a href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pol.20140068" type="external">indicates</a> companies invest too little for export when uncertain of the future tariff they face.</p>
<p>But there is a second, systemic worry about all the one-way tariff preference programs that countries like the United States began to offer in the 1970s. Richer countries kept products with high trade barriers — like clothing, footwear and agriculture — ineligible for the GSP. And the “one-way” part of the GSP meant poor countries got away with refusing to offer to reduce their own trade barriers in return.</p>
<p>The result was a stalemate. And because of this, Arvind Subramanian and Shang-Jin Wei <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022199606001140" type="external">find</a> poor countries were not able to expand exports for decades. Most also didn’t begin lowering their own import tariffs until the 1990s. A further legacy is that trade liberalization by countries like India and Brazil remains highly <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/chadpbown/Bown-Crowley-HB.pdf" type="external">incomplete</a>, lending <a href="http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/937031468179955550/What-s-left-for-the-WTO" type="external">some legitimacy</a> to the Trump administration’s misgivings.</p>
<p>4. Ending GSP could nevertheless prove locally disruptive</p>
<p>Because GSP coverage is small, even immediate termination is unlikely to impact the overall U.S. economy. Nevertheless, it would hurt poor countries as well as some U.S. interests.</p>
<p>Two sets of empirical studies illustrate the supply chain linkages. Emily Blanchard and Xenia Matschke <a href="http://voxeu.org/article/tilting-playing-field-multinational-firms-and-preferential-market-access" type="external">find</a> the United States applies lower tariffs toward imports from subsidiaries of U.S. multinational companies under the GSP. And in a cross-country examination of GSP-type programs, Blanchard, Robert Johnson and I <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/chadpbown/BBJ-GVCs.pdf" type="external">document</a> countries like the United States as offering lower tariffs to imports that contain high levels of U.S. content arising through global value chains.</p>
<p>But the implication is that eliminating the GSP and raising U.S. tariffs on poor country exports would reach back through supply chains to harm Americans. Anytime President Trump cuts off sales by foreigners to America, those foreigners will no longer buy the parts and components currently supplied by U.S. companies and workers.</p>
<p>Will the GSP be revived? Or will Trump kill it off for good?</p>
<p>Earlier administrations — including under President Barack Obama — also allowed the GSP to expire. Yet in each case, the program eventually was renewed. After an initial period of silence, the Trump administration has most recently <a href="https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/gsp/FAQs-on-GSP-Expiration-January-2018.pdf" type="external">stated</a> it “supports congressional action to renew the GSP program and is working with Congress toward this end.”</p>
<p>[ <a href="" type="internal">Trump is a new kind of protectionist — he operates in stealth mode</a>]</p>
<p>This time could be different. Trump’s trade policy to date — evidenced by his <a href="https://piie.com/blogs/trade-investment-policy-watch/trumps-renegotiation-could-take-free-out-naftas-trade" type="external">NAFTA</a> renegotiations and threats to WTO <a href="" type="internal">judicial</a> independence — reflects his clear skepticism of prior U.S. deals.</p>
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<p>Orlando Shooting Updates</p>
<p>News and analysis on the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.</p>
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<p>A considered overhaul of the GSP is in order, as is the need to re-engage major emerging economies like India and Brazil to take on additional responsibility in the WTO system.</p>
<p>But is the Trump administration really committed? The worry is that failing to revive the GSP is just another way to raise tariffs and add one more brick to an increasingly higher and broader protectionist wall.</p>
<p><a href="https://piie.com/experts/senior-research-staff/chad-p-bown" type="external">Chad P. Bown</a>&#160;is a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and former lead economist at the World Bank. With Soumaya Keynes, he hosts&#160; <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/trade-talks-piie/id1270804213" type="external">Trade Talks</a>, a weekly podcast on the economics of international trade policy. Follow him on Twitter @ChadBown.</p>
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throughout presidential campaign president trump took aim nafta transpacific partnership160and us trade agreements one year administration america officially tpp trump renegotiating nafta yet another trade deal us generalized system preferences also life support better known gsp program supposed encourage economic development offering poor countries patchwork framework export tarifffree us market expired dec 31 2017 gsp far perfect program could stand rethink ending abruptly would also cause harm including us interests exactly gsp need know 1 us gsp program isnt particularly big relatively us imports benefit gsp 2016 gsp covered 19 billion less 3 percent us imports could face tariff us program dates trade act 1974 gsp us government selects group poor countries set products offers countries lowerthannormal tariffs applies imports world trade organization countries donald trumps solar washer tariffs may opened floodgates protectionism imports china developing countries ineligible gsp benefits top exporters program include india brazil major emerging economies trump administration accused problematic trade policies nonetheless 90 percent indianbrazilian exports america face normal us tariffs would remain unaffected changes gsp program 2 gsp generous partly design many factors limit trade coming gsp nearly half goods america imports normal tariffs zero isnt lower tariff offer half products gsp programs limits kick us government unilaterally determines give zero tariffs gsp exclusion certain products countries subject domestic politics trade economist emanuel ornelas reports half eligible products end part program left goods many poor countries would keen export agriculture relatively lowerskilled manufacturers like clothing development perspective gsp tariffs zero would provide big benefits poor country exporters many goods face relatively high normal us tariffs kept gsp strong american domestic political pressure instead noncontroversial products like gold necklaces end topping programs import list access zero tariff gsp also costs addition paperwork foreign companies must use enough locally sourced inputs even dubious quality comply rules origin requirements imf economist shushanik hakobyan found poor countries frequently dont bother utilize gsp compliance costs large 3 political economists long skeptical gsps benefits another major concern gsp uncertainty us program always temporary sometimes suffers periods nonrenewal even operational products country eligibility always discretion us government furthermore country export limited amount product gsp cap 180 million 2017 50 percent product derive single country nafta would happen us trade without combined unknowns tend limit economic development benefits tradeinsteadofaid program research indicates companies invest little export uncertain future tariff face second systemic worry oneway tariff preference programs countries like united states began offer 1970s richer countries kept products high trade barriers like clothing footwear agriculture ineligible gsp oneway part gsp meant poor countries got away refusing offer reduce trade barriers return result stalemate arvind subramanian shangjin wei find poor countries able expand exports decades also didnt begin lowering import tariffs 1990s legacy trade liberalization countries like india brazil remains highly incomplete lending legitimacy trump administrations misgivings 4 ending gsp could nevertheless prove locally disruptive gsp coverage small even immediate termination unlikely impact overall us economy nevertheless would hurt poor countries well us interests two sets empirical studies illustrate supply chain linkages emily blanchard xenia matschke find united states applies lower tariffs toward imports subsidiaries us multinational companies gsp crosscountry examination gsptype programs blanchard robert johnson document countries like united states offering lower tariffs imports contain high levels us content arising global value chains implication eliminating gsp raising us tariffs poor country exports would reach back supply chains harm americans anytime president trump cuts sales foreigners america foreigners longer buy parts components currently supplied us companies workers gsp revived trump kill good earlier administrations including president barack obama also allowed gsp expire yet case program eventually renewed initial period silence trump administration recently stated supports congressional action renew gsp program working congress toward end trump new kind protectionist operates stealth mode time could different trumps trade policy date evidenced nafta renegotiations threats wto judicial independence reflects clear skepticism prior us deals politics monkeycage orlando shooting updates news analysis deadliest mass shooting us history post_newsletter348 followorlando true endofarticle false please provide valid email address considered overhaul gsp order need reengage major emerging economies like india brazil take additional responsibility wto system trump administration really committed worry failing revive gsp another way raise tariffs add one brick increasingly higher broader protectionist wall chad p bown160is senior fellow peterson institute international economics former lead economist world bank soumaya keynes hosts160 trade talks weekly podcast economics international trade policy follow twitter chadbown
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<p>RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - US oil giant Chevron and drill operator Transocean have sunk deep into legal mire in this oil-rich South American country.</p>
<p>Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges last week against 17 of the firms' in-country executives. Police seized their passports and demanded 1 million reals (over $546,000) bail for each of them.</p>
<p>The charges relate to an oil leak last November in Chevron's offshore Frade field in the Campos basin. The field lies about 75 miles off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil's vast, sub-salt region, thought to have the potential to make the country one of the world's biggest oil producers.</p>
<p>The leak seemed relatively minor: 2,400 to 3,000 barrels escaped before the well was shut off.</p>
<p>However, a political squabble erupted in its wake, fueling concerns that it may not be the spilled oil that leaves a lasting mark on Brazil - but the legal backlash itself.</p>
<p>The Federal Prosecution Office calls the leak an "environmental disaster."</p>
<p>"The oil spill has affected the entire maritime ecosystem - possibly even resulting in the extinction of species - and it has impacted on economic activity in the region, as well as damaging property," the prosecutors said in the filing.</p>
<p>More from Brazil: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/brazil/120322/dictatorship-kidnappings-amnesty" type="external">Why are dictatorship-era crimes above the law?</a></p>
<p>Lead prosecutor Eduardo Santos de Oliveira accused Chevron and Transocean of planting a "contamination time bomb with long-term effects."</p>
<p>The charges include failure to follow protocols to contain the leak, altering documents, and failure to meet legal and contractual duties.</p>
<p>If convicted, the executives could face up to 31 years in jail. Each company has been ordered to pay a bond of R$10 million (about US$5.5 million), which would serve to pay for court costs, fines and damages should the charges be upheld.</p>
<p>Deepening the debacle, on March 15, just days before the charges were filed, a Brazilian Navy crew spotted sheen on the surface of the sea. More oil had seeped through cracks in Chevron's field, prompting the company to halt production and adding more fuel to the fire raging against it.</p>
<p>Chevron spokesman Kurt Glaubitz told GlobalPost in a telephone interview the charges filed against the company are "outrageous and without merit."</p>
<p>"Protecting the environment is - one of our primary concerns,? Chevron <a href="http://www.chevron.com/fraderesponse/" type="external">said in a statemen</a>t on its website. "Continuous monitoring of the incident area shows no environmental impact to marine life. No oil reached Brazil's coast. No persons were harmed as a result of the incident, and there is no technical basis for assuming that there is any risk to human health."&#160;</p>
<p>Chevron has been embroiled in legal trouble in Latin America before. It's been in a drawn-out court battle in Ecuador over allegations of environmental contamination and illnesses from oil extraction and dumping in the country's rain forest.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/brazil/120316/the-brazilian-economy-what-went-wrong" type="external">The Brazilian economy - what went wrong?</a></p>
<p>Rig owner Transocean took a similar stance, saying in a statement, "We strongly disagree with the indictments, they are without merit."&#160;</p>
<p>Transocean was involved in drilling the well that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/26/transocean-gulf-oil-spill-bp_n_1235261.html" type="external">blew out</a> in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, killing 11 people and spewing 200 million gallons of oil that caused widespread environmental devastation.&#160;</p>
<p>A report by Brazil's oil regulatory agency, the ANP - released after the latest legal action - could help the companies' case.</p>
<p>It said Chevron was not negligent with respect to the drilling that caused the leak in November, and that no discernable environmental damage had been done.</p>
<p>The federal prosecutors and police should have waited for the ANP's technical report "before making their feelings known - neither of them is a specialist in the matter," said Adriano Pires, an energy consultant and former ANP official.</p>
<p>The case comes as worldwide opposition to offshore drilling remains high, following the BP Macondo Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf.</p>
<p>Brazil's leak raised questions about Chevron's incident response plan as well.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/argentina/120321/fuzzy-math-behind-argentina-growth" type="external">The Argentine economy's fuzzy math problem</a></p>
<p>Some industry sources say that the legal storm is a sign that Brazil's government is taking an adversarial stance against international oil companies.</p>
<p>In 2010, Brazil passed a law to reduce competition against state-owned oil company Petrobras, which gives the company at least <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-02/brazilian-congress-allows-petrobras-to-be-sole-operator-of-pre-salt-fields.html" type="external">30 percent stake</a> in new oil consessions in the sub-salt region.</p>
<p>In Brazil, the police and prosecutors have "a track record of being somewhat overzealous," said Christopher Garman, Latin America director for political risk analysts Eurasia Group.</p>
<p>"These are independent stakeholders being opportunistic - they are riding the political firestorm," Garman commented.</p>
<p>When the November spill was reported, the ANP and the Brazilian Environment Agency handed the company combined fines of R$60 million (almost $33 million).</p>
<p>In December, Federal Prosecutor Santos de Oliveira brought a whopping R$20 billion ($11 billion) lawsuit against the companies and their directors.</p>
<p>Pires, the energy consultant, said Brazilian authorities showed a "lack of maturity" and poor coordination that could damage Brazil's international reputation.</p>
<p>"Everyone seemed to want to hand out fines," Pires said. "It gives the impression that the ANP doesn't speak to the federal prosecutors, the federal prosecutors don't speak to the navy, and the navy doesn't speak to the environment agency."</p>
<p>Pires commented, "We are witnessing this huge overstatement which looks really bad for Brazil."</p>
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rio de janeiro brazil us oil giant chevron drill operator transocean sunk deep legal mire oilrich south american country federal prosecutors filed criminal charges last week 17 firms incountry executives police seized passports demanded 1 million reals 546000 bail charges relate oil leak last november chevrons offshore frade field campos basin field lies 75 miles coast rio de janeiro brazils vast subsalt region thought potential make country one worlds biggest oil producers leak seemed relatively minor 2400 3000 barrels escaped well shut however political squabble erupted wake fueling concerns may spilled oil leaves lasting mark brazil legal backlash federal prosecution office calls leak environmental disaster oil spill affected entire maritime ecosystem possibly even resulting extinction species impacted economic activity region well damaging property prosecutors said filing brazil dictatorshipera crimes law lead prosecutor eduardo santos de oliveira accused chevron transocean planting contamination time bomb longterm effects charges include failure follow protocols contain leak altering documents failure meet legal contractual duties convicted executives could face 31 years jail company ordered pay bond r10 million us55 million would serve pay court costs fines damages charges upheld deepening debacle march 15 days charges filed brazilian navy crew spotted sheen surface sea oil seeped cracks chevrons field prompting company halt production adding fuel fire raging chevron spokesman kurt glaubitz told globalpost telephone interview charges filed company outrageous without merit protecting environment one primary concerns chevron said statement website continuous monitoring incident area shows environmental impact marine life oil reached brazils coast persons harmed result incident technical basis assuming risk human health160 chevron embroiled legal trouble latin america drawnout court battle ecuador allegations environmental contamination illnesses oil extraction dumping countrys rain forest globalpost brazilian economy went wrong rig owner transocean took similar stance saying statement strongly disagree indictments without merit160 transocean involved drilling well blew gulf mexico 2010 killing 11 people spewing 200 million gallons oil caused widespread environmental devastation160 report brazils oil regulatory agency anp released latest legal action could help companies case said chevron negligent respect drilling caused leak november discernable environmental damage done federal prosecutors police waited anps technical report making feelings known neither specialist matter said adriano pires energy consultant former anp official case comes worldwide opposition offshore drilling remains high following bp macondo deepwater horizon disaster gulf brazils leak raised questions chevrons incident response plan well globalpost argentine economys fuzzy math problem industry sources say legal storm sign brazils government taking adversarial stance international oil companies 2010 brazil passed law reduce competition stateowned oil company petrobras gives company least 30 percent stake new oil consessions subsalt region brazil police prosecutors track record somewhat overzealous said christopher garman latin america director political risk analysts eurasia group independent stakeholders opportunistic riding political firestorm garman commented november spill reported anp brazilian environment agency handed company combined fines r60 million almost 33 million december federal prosecutor santos de oliveira brought whopping r20 billion 11 billion lawsuit companies directors pires energy consultant said brazilian authorities showed lack maturity poor coordination could damage brazils international reputation everyone seemed want hand fines pires said gives impression anp doesnt speak federal prosecutors federal prosecutors dont speak navy navy doesnt speak environment agency pires commented witnessing huge overstatement looks really bad brazil
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<p>ATHENS, Greece — Nikos Odubitan’s friends see him as the quintessential Greek, and not just because he has one of the most common Greek first names.</p>
<p>He gestures like a Greek and argues like a Greek. He uses both the slang of his generation and obscure words of ancient origin. Weaving through Athens traffic on his motorbike, he greets local business owners and the odd classmate with an informal “ελα, ρε!” which means something like, “Hey, there.”</p>
<p>But Odubitan is not a Greek cien and until Nov. 18, when the coalition government introduced a new bill that would change citizenship requirements, had few prospects of becoming one. Although he was born in Athens in 1981, his parents are Nigerian. As a result, he, like an estimated 200,000 others with foreign-born parents, has been effectively disqualified from citizenship. That means he can’t vote or work and travel freely within the European Union, and if he doesn’t renew his visa on time, he becomes undocumented.</p>
<p>At least Nikos has a Nigerian passport; those who don’t have citizenship from their parents’ country of origin face an even more serious problem. An unknown number of Greek-born children of immigrants are stateless. NBA player Giannis Adetokounbo was the most famous of them, before the prime minister <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/sports/basketball/in-an-athens-suburb-nba-scouts-unearth-a-rare-find.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=1&amp;" type="external">awarded him citizenship</a> at the age of 18.</p>
<p>Now an estimated 50,000 more adults who completed their schooling in Greece can potentially join Adetokounbo as Greek citizens, if the new bill becomes law.</p>
<p>Citizenship laws vary from country to country in the European Union, with over half the member states offering citizenship at birth, albeit with conditions. Many governments are now rethinking citizenship codes to reflect their countries’ growing diversity. Greece’s policies, however, are currently among the most restrictive.</p>
<p>The proposed legislation’s emphasis on education is a bit of an anomaly in the EU, where the spectrum ranges from “citizenship by blood-right” to “citizenship by birth” on a given country’s soil. It may be Greece’s answer to the question “ <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/02/24/172696029/greeks-ask-themselves-whos-a-greek" type="external">Who is a Greek?</a>” or rather, “What makes a Greek?”</p>
<p>Odubitan has been looking for a way to be included in the answer to that question for some time. The issue “of not belonging anywhere, not being recognized” prompted him eight years ago to found an advocacy group called <a href="http://www.ithageneia.org/en" type="external">Generation 2.0</a>. Its mission is to secure citizenship rights for Greece’s second-generation permanent residents. The group sees the proposed legislation as a positive step.</p>
<p>Since mid-October, Generation 2.0 has been featured on numerous Greek media outlets (see <a href="http://www.athensvoice.gr/the-paper/article/501/_______-_____%B9__" type="external">Athens Voice</a>, <a href="http://grekamag.gr/34392/" type="external">Greka</a>, <a href="http://www.andro.gr/apopsi/isotimoi-polites/" type="external">Andro</a>, and <a href="http://www.lifo.gr/guests/viral/52806" type="external">Lifo</a>) and in early November, sprung to the forefront of national consciousness with a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wcb0_M00bk" type="external">one-minute television spot</a>. Soon afterwards, the group collected their 10,000th signature on a <a href="http://www.ithageneia.org/en" type="external">petition</a> asking the government for “access to citizenship for all children born and/or raised in Greece.”</p>
<p>Young Greeks are the campaign’s target demographic. “Many people who knew us personally were not aware” of their struggles, Odubitan said, or that some of his peers were “in danger of being deported to a country that they have never known.” The group’s surge in popularity suggests that many Greeks are sympathetic to its cause, challenging the perception of a xenophobic Europe.</p>
<p>As law professor <a href="http://eudo-citizenship.eu/search-results/66-christopoulos-dimitris-" type="external">Dimitris Christopoulos</a> explained, “If you ask a Greek, ‘Would you like a second generation to obtain citizenship,’ 60 percent would say yes. They understand that these kids have a lawful reason to belong.”</p>
<p>Now there’s a chance that the law will come to reflect this understanding. Angelos Syrigos, Greece’s Secretary General for Population and Social Cohesion, said the bill’s proposed path to citizenship would include adults who have completed nine years of Greek primary and middle school, six years of Greek middle school and high school, or Greek high school plus a two- to four-year Greek college degree.</p>
<p>It also concords with Greece’s constitution, Syrigos said, unlike its ill-fated predecessor, the Ragousi Act, which was declared unconstitutional in 2013.</p>
<p>While the extreme right-wing party Golden Dawn celebrated the ruling that overturned the law as “ <a href="http://www.newsbomb.gr/politikh/news/story/277305/hrysi-aygi-megali-niki-i-katargisi-toy-nomoy-ragkoysi" type="external">a great victory</a>” against an “anti-Greek” law, the EU’s Democracy Observatory on Citizenship characterized it as a nationalist “ideological-political manifesto rather than a judicial text.”</p>
<p>In the three years the law was in effect, it made citizens of just over 6,000 children of immigrants who either had parents who had been legal residents in the country for five years or more, or who had a Greek education.</p>
<p>The new bill covers about the same number of people as the previous legislation, although perhaps not all same people. For example, those who were not able to attend public school for any reason will likely be excluded. And unlike the previous legislation, applicants would have to reach the age of 18 before they could become citizens.</p>
<p>If the bill passes, which Syrigos said may happen by the end of 2014, Nikos and his peers could see the end of their “legal limbo,” as Christopoulos put it. But as of now, a date has not been set to vote on the bill. The likely scenario of going into <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30495578" type="external">snap elections</a> at the end of January may have bumped the bill down the agenda. And if a new party is voted into power, they very well might chose to rewrite the citizenship law yet again rather than approve the previous government’s legislation.</p>
<p>Under the status quo, the only way for children of immigrants to gain citizenship is through naturalization, a process he called “the most demanding administrative procedure within the Greek legal order.” And that’s in a country notorious for its burdensome bureaucracy.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, these days Odubitan is Greek in one more stereotypical way.</p>
<p>In early 2014 he took on the role of a public servant, sitting behind the desk at Athens’ Immigration Services, processing visa applications. As a non-citizen, it’s not a job he can legally hold, so he volunteers. During the workday, he advises over a hundred applicants.</p>
<p>The agency’s director, Ilias Chronopoulos, said Generation 2.0 had helped Immigration Services to streamline their process significantly.&#160;“Now, there are a few people just walking around, 20, 40. Many months ago, it was about 500, 600,” he said in July. Generation 2.0 “took a burden from our shoulders.”</p>
<p>As for the idea of non-Greeks training public servants, he found it ironic. “Can you imagine? This is very strange for a Greek administration.”&#160;</p>
<p>Generation 2.0 members don’t want their presence to be strange. “We are seen not as Greek youth with a migrant background but as foreigners who do not belong to Greek society as a whole,” the group’s website says.</p>
<p>And that’s why Odubitan’s battle is about integration as well as policy.</p>
<p>“Personally, if I become a Greek citizen, all my problems do not go away. I will never stop being black,” he said. “I will never stop being a victim of discrimination.”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Sally Lynn Edmonds reported on European migration this summer as part of a two-year M.A. in Global and Joint Program Studies at New York University.&#160; &#160;</p>
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athens greece nikos odubitans friends see quintessential greek one common greek first names gestures like greek argues like greek uses slang generation obscure words ancient origin weaving athens traffic motorbike greets local business owners odd classmate informal ελα ρε means something like hey odubitan greek cien nov 18 coalition government introduced new bill would change citizenship requirements prospects becoming one although born athens 1981 parents nigerian result like estimated 200000 others foreignborn parents effectively disqualified citizenship means cant vote work travel freely within european union doesnt renew visa time becomes undocumented least nikos nigerian passport dont citizenship parents country origin face even serious problem unknown number greekborn children immigrants stateless nba player giannis adetokounbo famous prime minister awarded citizenship age 18 estimated 50000 adults completed schooling greece potentially join adetokounbo greek citizens new bill becomes law citizenship laws vary country country european union half member states offering citizenship birth albeit conditions many governments rethinking citizenship codes reflect countries growing diversity greeces policies however currently among restrictive proposed legislations emphasis education bit anomaly eu spectrum ranges citizenship bloodright citizenship birth given countrys soil may greeces answer question greek rather makes greek odubitan looking way included answer question time issue belonging anywhere recognized prompted eight years ago found advocacy group called generation 20 mission secure citizenship rights greeces secondgeneration permanent residents group sees proposed legislation positive step since midoctober generation 20 featured numerous greek media outlets see athens voice greka andro lifo early november sprung forefront national consciousness oneminute television spot soon afterwards group collected 10000th signature petition asking government access citizenship children born andor raised greece young greeks campaigns target demographic many people knew us personally aware struggles odubitan said peers danger deported country never known groups surge popularity suggests many greeks sympathetic cause challenging perception xenophobic europe law professor dimitris christopoulos explained ask greek would like second generation obtain citizenship 60 percent would say yes understand kids lawful reason belong theres chance law come reflect understanding angelos syrigos greeces secretary general population social cohesion said bills proposed path citizenship would include adults completed nine years greek primary middle school six years greek middle school high school greek high school plus two fouryear greek college degree also concords greeces constitution syrigos said unlike illfated predecessor ragousi act declared unconstitutional 2013 extreme rightwing party golden dawn celebrated ruling overturned law great victory antigreek law eus democracy observatory citizenship characterized nationalist ideologicalpolitical manifesto rather judicial text three years law effect made citizens 6000 children immigrants either parents legal residents country five years greek education new bill covers number people previous legislation although perhaps people example able attend public school reason likely excluded unlike previous legislation applicants would reach age 18 could become citizens bill passes syrigos said may happen end 2014 nikos peers could see end legal limbo christopoulos put date set vote bill likely scenario going snap elections end january may bumped bill agenda new party voted power well might chose rewrite citizenship law yet rather approve previous governments legislation status quo way children immigrants gain citizenship naturalization process called demanding administrative procedure within greek legal order thats country notorious burdensome bureaucracy meanwhile days odubitan greek one stereotypical way early 2014 took role public servant sitting behind desk athens immigration services processing visa applications noncitizen job legally hold volunteers workday advises hundred applicants agencys director ilias chronopoulos said generation 20 helped immigration services streamline process significantly160now people walking around 20 40 many months ago 500 600 said july generation 20 took burden shoulders idea nongreeks training public servants found ironic imagine strange greek administration160 generation 20 members dont want presence strange seen greek youth migrant background foreigners belong greek society whole groups website says thats odubitans battle integration well policy personally become greek citizen problems go away never stop black said never stop victim discrimination 160 sally lynn edmonds reported european migration summer part twoyear global joint program studies new york university160 160
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<p>At least 49 people <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/13/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting.html?&amp;hp&amp;action=click&amp;pgtype=Homepage&amp;clickSource=story-heading&amp;module=a-lede-package-region&amp;region=top-news&amp;WT.nav=top-news&amp;_r=0" type="external">were killed</a> and another 53 injured when Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/omar-mateen-suspected-orlando-night-club-shooter/story?id=39790797" type="external">who worked for a security firm</a>, opened fire at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, early Sunday morning. The rampage, which ended with Mateen dead, is the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.</p>
<p>Mateen stormed the club armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle and a handgun around 2 a.m., according to the FBI. The New York Times, citing law enforcement officials, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting/" type="external">reports</a> that Marteen shot about one-third of the 300 patrons that had packed the club for a “Latin flavor” event. The cavernous club quickly became a scene of chaos, as terrified people poured out onto the street, some carrying wounded and bleeding victims. The Times adds that the initial attack was followed by a three-hour standoff, with people held hostage until 5 a.m. That’s when law enforcement agencies raided the club with armored vehicles. Mateen was killed after a gunfight broke out with police.</p>
<p>The FBI is investigating the attack as an act of domestic terrorism. Around the time of the shooting, Mateen, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/omar-mateen-suspected-orlando-night-club-shooter/story?id=39790797" type="external">an American citizen whose parents were from Afghanistan</a>, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/13/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting.html?&amp;hp&amp;action=click&amp;pgtype=Homepage&amp;clickSource=story-heading&amp;module=a-lede-package-region&amp;region=top-news&amp;WT.nav=top-news&amp;_r=0" type="external">called 911</a> and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, federal officials said.</p>
<p>Mateen’s father said his son was driven by homophobia. In an interview with <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-orlando-nightclub-shooting-live-orlando-shooter-s-father-to-nbc-news-1465744484-htmlstory.html" type="external">NBC News</a>, he said Mateen became distressed after witnessing two men kiss in Miami two months ago.</p>
<p>“This has nothing to do with religion,” Mir Siddique said. “They were kissing each other and touching each other and he said, ‘Look at that. In front of my son they are doing that.’”</p>
<p>On Sunday, President Barack Obama, who called the rampage a hate crime, addressed the country for the 14th time in the aftermath of a mass shooting. The president said the attack underscores the need for gun reform.</p>
<p>“This massacre is a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school or a house of worship or a movie theater or a nightclub,” Obama said. “We have to decide if that’s the kind of country we want to be. To actively do nothing is a decision as well.”</p>
<p>The toll of dead and injured exceeds the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech, where 32 people were killed, and the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, where 26 people were killed.</p>
<p>The number of dead also nearly matched the total number of people fatally shot in Orlando in all of last year. At least 51 people were shot and killed in the city in 2015, according to data from the <a href="http://www.gunviolencearchive.org/" type="external">Gun Violence Archive</a>, a nonprofit organization that records U.S. shootings by monitoring media reports and police blotters.</p>
<p>“The violence is not normal,” said Vice President Joe Biden in a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/06/12/statement-vice-president-biden-mass-shooting-orlando" type="external">statement</a>&#160;issued Sunday, “and the targeting of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans is evil and abhorrent.”</p>
<p>Below, four pieces of key context to keep in mind as more details emerge.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.wesh.com/news/multiple-gunshots-heard-in-snapchat-video/40018078" type="external">Cellphone camera video footage</a> filmed by a civilian outside the Pulse nightclub recorded at least 20 shots fired in rapid succession in one nine-second stretch. The high rate of fire suggests the shooter used what many jurisdictions call “ <a href="" type="internal">high-capacity magazines</a>,” a term for ammunition-feeding devices that typically hold more than 10 or 15 rounds.</p>
<p>High-capacity magazines have been used by many mass shooters. Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik, who gunned down 14 people in San Bernardino, California, in December, used magazines that held 30 rounds each. Jared Loughner used a 33-round magazine to kill six people in the 2011 Tucson, Arizona shooting that injured U.S. Representative&#160;Gabrielle Giffords. When James Holmes carried out a shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, that same year, he was equipped with magazines that held 40 and 100 rounds. A 2013 analysis by <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/01/high-capacity-magazines-mass-shootings" type="external">Mother Jones</a> found that half of mass shooters between 1982 and 2012 used magazines that held more than 10 rounds.</p>
<p>The manufacture of high-capacity magazines was outlawed for a decade by the 1994 assault weapons ban. After it lapsed in 2004, some states and municipalities began instituting their own high-capacity magazine bans. Currently, eight states have some kind of restriction on magazine size: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York.</p>
<p>Gun rights advocates claim restrictions on magazine size are arbitrarily set and unconstitutional. Gun violence prevention advocates argue that devices that allow users to shoot more bullets before needing to reload results in higher body counts. They point to the example of the Tucson shooting: Loughner was stopped by a bystander when he had to reload.</p>
<p>High-capacity magazine bans have also been challenged as ineffective, as many ordinances apply to the manufacture but not to the possession or sale of the devices. California politicians have been particularly aggressive in trying to close these sorts of loopholes. Last year, Los Angeles banned not just the manufacture but the possession of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. Gavin Newsom, California’s lieutenant governor, is campaigning to institute a similar rule statewide. He’s been criticized by many pro-gun groups, including one, <a href="http://bearingarms.com/jenn-j/2016/05/26/gavin-newsom-blasted-the-pink-pistols/" type="external">the Pink Pistols</a>, made up of LGBT shooters.</p>
<p>There’s data to suggest that magazine capacity bans make it harder for criminals to obtain the devices. An analysis by the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/banning-the-magazines/2013/01/10/8859bf4e-5b62-11e2-9fa9-5fbdc9530eb9_graphic.html" type="external">Washington Post</a> found that during the decade the federal ban was in effect, the number of guns equipped with high-capacity magazines seized from criminals by Virginia police fell by nearly half. When the ban expired, the number of seized guns went back up again.</p>
<p>The motivation behind the Orlando nightclub attack appears to stem from a confluence of violent homophobia and radical Islamic ideology. While authorities have yet to pinpoint motives, and while it’s difficult to say which form of hatred was the primary motivation, guns are often used in both hate crimes and domestic terrorism.</p>
<p>According to a&#160; <a href="https://cdn.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/23104301/HateCrimes-report.pdf" type="external">report</a> on the use of guns in hate crimes released earlier this year by the Center for American Progress, roughly 43,000 hate crimes in the United States were carried out with a gun between 2010 and 2014. Racial bias was the most common motivator for firearm hate crimes, accounting for nearly half of those incidents overall. Bias against sexual orientation and religion was the second-most common motivator.&#160;</p>
<p>Similar trends have emerged in domestic terror attacks, many of which are committed by lone wolf actors, the report found. Nearly 60 percent of domestic terrorist attacks carried out between 2009 and 2015 were carried with a gun, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.</p>
<p>A report by the Anti-Defamation League examining incidents of fatal domestic terrorism and extremism in 2015 found that 48 of the 52 individuals killed in these incidents were murdered with a gun.</p>
<p>“If you build a bomb, it takes a bit of sophistication and training,” <a href="" type="internal">says</a> domestic terrorism expert Daryl Johnson, formerly of the Department of Homeland Security. Since 9/11, “law enforcement has become very adept at identifying the technical signatures of bomb makers.”</p>
<p>Last July, 39-year-old Andrew Chisholm and his 17-year-old nephew, Tarvese Johnson, were shot and killed in the breezeway of an apartment in Fort Myers, Florida. Relatives said that Chisholm was the target, and Johnson was caught in the crossfire.</p>
<p>A few weeks later, at 4 a.m. on a weekday morning, three armed men <a href="http://www.gunviolencearchive.org/incident/370995" type="external">broke through a glass door</a> of a small home across the street from an elementary school in Bradenton, Florida. They shot and killed Kantrel Brooks and Esther Deneus, both 29. Five children under the age of 11 were in the house at the time.</p>
<p>And in Daytona Beach last September, two college students, Timesha Carswell, 21, and Diona McDonald, 19, were shot point-blank in the head by one of their roommates, who they had asked to move out. The shooter, <a href="http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2015/9/17/_2_dead_in_shooting_.html" type="external">according to news reports</a>, was furious about $200 that he claimed the women owed him. He also gravely wounded a third person in the apartment, forcing him into a closet and shooting him six times through the door.</p>
<p>Chisholm, Johnson, Brooks, Deneus, Carswell, and McDonald were six of the <a href="http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/cms/FSAC/UCR/2015/CIF_annual15.aspx" type="external">767 people</a> who were murdered with a gun in Florida in 2015. That averages out to just over two gun deaths a day, or 64 a month. The vast majority of these shootings get scant attention.</p>
<p>Over the last three decades, Florida has often served as a laboratory for legislation that expands gun rights, earning it the nickname the “Gunshine State.” Its concealed weapons law, drafted in the late 1980s, has been <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/nras-hammer-says-water-agencys-actions-against-local-gun-club-are-illegal/2264695" type="external">duplicated</a> by 40 other states, and since 1999, the Florida legislature has <a href="" type="internal">passed</a> more than 30 pro-gun bills.</p>
<p>One of those laws, “stand your ground,” was later <a href="https://everytownresearch.org/reports/shoot-first/" type="external">adopted</a> by 21 other states. During Florida’s <a href="" type="internal">last</a> legislative session, there was an attempt to strengthen it even further, making self-defense claims essentially impregnable. That effort failed, <a href="" type="internal">along with a push</a> to allow guns on college campuses, and an attempt to give licensed gun owners the right to carry their weapons in public.</p>
<p>Florida has <a href="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-open-carry-passes-house-20160203-story.html" type="external">issued</a>1.4 million concealed carry permits to its residents, far more than any other state in the country.&#160;That group included the Orlando shooter, Omar Marteen.</p>
<p>Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/@teamtrace" type="external">@teamtrace</a> for the latest updates.</p>
<p>[Photo: Loren Elliott/Tampa Bay Times via AP]</p>
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least 49 people killed another 53 injured omar mateen 29yearold worked security firm opened fire pulse gay nightclub orlando florida early sunday morning rampage ended mateen dead deadliest mass shooting us history mateen stormed club armed ar15style assault rifle handgun around 2 according fbi new york times citing law enforcement officials reports marteen shot onethird 300 patrons packed club latin flavor event cavernous club quickly became scene chaos terrified people poured onto street carrying wounded bleeding victims times adds initial attack followed threehour standoff people held hostage 5 thats law enforcement agencies raided club armored vehicles mateen killed gunfight broke police fbi investigating attack act domestic terrorism around time shooting mateen american citizen whose parents afghanistan called 911 pledged allegiance islamic state federal officials said mateens father said son driven homophobia interview nbc news said mateen became distressed witnessing two men kiss miami two months ago nothing religion mir siddique said kissing touching said look front son sunday president barack obama called rampage hate crime addressed country 14th time aftermath mass shooting president said attack underscores need gun reform massacre reminder easy someone get hands weapon lets shoot people school house worship movie theater nightclub obama said decide thats kind country want actively nothing decision well toll dead injured exceeds 2007 shooting virginia tech 32 people killed 2012 sandy hook shooting 26 people killed number dead also nearly matched total number people fatally shot orlando last year least 51 people shot killed city 2015 according data gun violence archive nonprofit organization records us shootings monitoring media reports police blotters violence normal said vice president joe biden statement160issued sunday targeting lesbian gay bisexual transgender americans evil abhorrent four pieces key context keep mind details emerge cellphone camera video footage filmed civilian outside pulse nightclub recorded least 20 shots fired rapid succession one ninesecond stretch high rate fire suggests shooter used many jurisdictions call highcapacity magazines term ammunitionfeeding devices typically hold 10 15 rounds highcapacity magazines used many mass shooters syed farook tashfeen malik gunned 14 people san bernardino california december used magazines held 30 rounds jared loughner used 33round magazine kill six people 2011 tucson arizona shooting injured us representative160gabrielle giffords james holmes carried shooting movie theater aurora colorado year equipped magazines held 40 100 rounds 2013 analysis mother jones found half mass shooters 1982 2012 used magazines held 10 rounds manufacture highcapacity magazines outlawed decade 1994 assault weapons ban lapsed 2004 states municipalities began instituting highcapacity magazine bans currently eight states kind restriction magazine size california colorado connecticut hawaii maryland massachusetts new jersey new york gun rights advocates claim restrictions magazine size arbitrarily set unconstitutional gun violence prevention advocates argue devices allow users shoot bullets needing reload results higher body counts point example tucson shooting loughner stopped bystander reload highcapacity magazine bans also challenged ineffective many ordinances apply manufacture possession sale devices california politicians particularly aggressive trying close sorts loopholes last year los angeles banned manufacture possession magazines hold 10 rounds gavin newsom californias lieutenant governor campaigning institute similar rule statewide hes criticized many progun groups including one pink pistols made lgbt shooters theres data suggest magazine capacity bans make harder criminals obtain devices analysis washington post found decade federal ban effect number guns equipped highcapacity magazines seized criminals virginia police fell nearly half ban expired number seized guns went back motivation behind orlando nightclub attack appears stem confluence violent homophobia radical islamic ideology authorities yet pinpoint motives difficult say form hatred primary motivation guns often used hate crimes domestic terrorism according a160 report use guns hate crimes released earlier year center american progress roughly 43000 hate crimes united states carried gun 2010 2014 racial bias common motivator firearm hate crimes accounting nearly half incidents overall bias sexual orientation religion secondmost common motivator160 similar trends emerged domestic terror attacks many committed lone wolf actors report found nearly 60 percent domestic terrorist attacks carried 2009 2015 carried gun according southern poverty law center report antidefamation league examining incidents fatal domestic terrorism extremism 2015 found 48 52 individuals killed incidents murdered gun build bomb takes bit sophistication training says domestic terrorism expert daryl johnson formerly department homeland security since 911 law enforcement become adept identifying technical signatures bomb makers last july 39yearold andrew chisholm 17yearold nephew tarvese johnson shot killed breezeway apartment fort myers florida relatives said chisholm target johnson caught crossfire weeks later 4 weekday morning three armed men broke glass door small home across street elementary school bradenton florida shot killed kantrel brooks esther deneus 29 five children age 11 house time daytona beach last september two college students timesha carswell 21 diona mcdonald 19 shot pointblank head one roommates asked move shooter according news reports furious 200 claimed women owed also gravely wounded third person apartment forcing closet shooting six times door chisholm johnson brooks deneus carswell mcdonald six 767 people murdered gun florida 2015 averages two gun deaths day 64 month vast majority shootings get scant attention last three decades florida often served laboratory legislation expands gun rights earning nickname gunshine state concealed weapons law drafted late 1980s duplicated 40 states since 1999 florida legislature passed 30 progun bills one laws stand ground later adopted 21 states floridas last legislative session attempt strengthen even making selfdefense claims essentially impregnable effort failed along push allow guns college campuses attempt give licensed gun owners right carry weapons public florida issued14 million concealed carry permits residents far state country160that group included orlando shooter omar marteen follow teamtrace latest updates photo loren elliotttampa bay times via ap
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<p>Last week, CEO Ron Huberman started his doomsday budget press conference by saying, “You are going to hear me talk a lot about the pension.”</p>
<p>Pension costs have long been an issue for CPS, and costs have now skyrocketed to $587 million—three times what the district was required to pay into the teacher’s pension fund just three years ago.</p>
<p>As a quick fix, Huberman hopes to convince lawmakers to simply reduce Chicago’s additional payment by about $300 million, which would cut the nearly $1 billion deficit by about a third.</p>
<p>But Laurence Msall of the Civic Federation says Huberman is proposing a “slippery slope” for an already shortchanged pension system. Even under current requirements, he notes, the fund won’t be funded at the required 90 percent level for another 35 years.</p>
<p />
<p>Last week, CEO Ron Huberman started his doomsday budget press conference by saying, “You are going to hear me talk a lot about the pension.”</p>
<p>Pension costs have long been an issue for CPS, and costs have now skyrocketed to $587 million—three times what the district was required to pay into the teacher’s pension fund just three years ago.</p>
<p>As a quick fix, Huberman hopes to convince lawmakers to simply reduce Chicago’s additional payment by about $300 million, which would cut the nearly $1 billion deficit by about a third.</p>
<p>But Laurence Msall of the Civic Federation says Huberman is proposing a “slippery slope” for an already shortchanged pension system. Even under current requirements, he notes, the fund won’t be funded at the required 90 percent level for another 35 years.</p>
<p>“That’s an awfully long time,” Msall adds, noting that the <a href="" type="internal">latest actuarial report</a> estimated the fund’s ratio of assets to liabilities at 76 percent.</p>
<p>State law requires CPS to ensure pension assets total at least 90 percent of what’s owed to retirees by the year 2045. To meet that goal, a licensed actuary has to tabulate Chicago’s bill every year based on the performance of pension investments and the shifting demographics of retirees. The district’s tab has spiked recently because the fund lost money in the stock market and more retirees are drawing pensions.</p>
<p>In the final tally, the city’s regular pension contribution of about $173 million (teachers put in 2 percent of their salaries and the district tacks on another 7 percent) is simply not enough. Groups like the Civic Federation want reforms to fix the problem, including a bigger contribution from employees’ checks and a later retirement age.</p>
<p>Marilyn Stewart, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, issued a statement last week saying she was against any changes in the way the pension was funded. She has fought such changes before. Lawmakers can make the change without union agreement, although the CTU has strong backing in key quarters of the General Assembly.</p>
<p>Union politics</p>
<p>Huberman says he needs major union concessions to balance the budget this year, and that sets up a scenario in which the district will ask teachers to pick their poison: Agree not to fight pension changes, concede to larger class sizes or give up their 4 percent raises. Eliminating contractual raises would save about $169 million; increasing class sizes to 31 would mean a loss of 600 teaching positions and save only $40 million.</p>
<p>But Stewart faces a tough re-election campaign this spring. In fact, her union caucus recently lost two seats on the Pension Board to the new, hard-line caucus called CORE (the Caucus of Rank and File Educators). It was a major victory for CORE, whose members say the Pension Board needs better watchdogs to protect it from a cash-starved district administration and prevent mismanagement. CORE still lacks a majority on the Pension Board, however.</p>
<p>CORE Co-Chair Jackson Potter says the Pension Board has already made several important changes under new leadership. Lawsuits have been filed to recoup losses from some investment groups, he notes, and the board is squashing investments it has with companies that support charter schools.</p>
<p>In Potter’s book, Huberman’s budget announcement amounts to little more than scare tactics. That position suggests a tough political road ahead for district officials seeking concessions from the Pension Board and elsewhere.</p>
<p>Before asking teachers to support pension relief or any other compromises, Potter wants the district to cut a number of controversial reform programs, such as the Office of School Turnarounds and Huberman’s signature performance management initiative. Such cuts could save the district upwards of $70 million, he estimates.</p>
<p>He also wants Huberman and Mayor Richard Daley to consider directing tax-increment financing revenues toward the deficit. (TIF funds are diverted from schools and other local taxing bodies to stimulate business development, but critics say the creation of TIF districts has contributed to budget problems facing the schools and the rest of the city.)</p>
<p>Potter admits more savings are needed, but “the fact that [Huberman] hasn’t put any of this on the table shows you what his priorities are.”</p>
<p>At the least, the teachers union will be sure to join hands with district officials to plead for extra school funding down in Springfield. The two parties will also continue to push for greater parity between Chicago’s teacher pension program and state’s teacher retirement system.</p>
<p>Like Chicago, the state is on a plan to fund its Teacher Retirement System at a 90 percent level. The state is under no legal obligation to contribute directly to Chicago’s pension system.</p>
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last week ceo ron huberman started doomsday budget press conference saying going hear talk lot pension pension costs long issue cps costs skyrocketed 587 millionthree times district required pay teachers pension fund three years ago quick fix huberman hopes convince lawmakers simply reduce chicagos additional payment 300 million would cut nearly 1 billion deficit third laurence msall civic federation says huberman proposing slippery slope already shortchanged pension system even current requirements notes fund wont funded required 90 percent level another 35 years last week ceo ron huberman started doomsday budget press conference saying going hear talk lot pension pension costs long issue cps costs skyrocketed 587 millionthree times district required pay teachers pension fund three years ago quick fix huberman hopes convince lawmakers simply reduce chicagos additional payment 300 million would cut nearly 1 billion deficit third laurence msall civic federation says huberman proposing slippery slope already shortchanged pension system even current requirements notes fund wont funded required 90 percent level another 35 years thats awfully long time msall adds noting latest actuarial report estimated funds ratio assets liabilities 76 percent state law requires cps ensure pension assets total least 90 percent whats owed retirees year 2045 meet goal licensed actuary tabulate chicagos bill every year based performance pension investments shifting demographics retirees districts tab spiked recently fund lost money stock market retirees drawing pensions final tally citys regular pension contribution 173 million teachers put 2 percent salaries district tacks another 7 percent simply enough groups like civic federation want reforms fix problem including bigger contribution employees checks later retirement age marilyn stewart president chicago teachers union issued statement last week saying changes way pension funded fought changes lawmakers make change without union agreement although ctu strong backing key quarters general assembly union politics huberman says needs major union concessions balance budget year sets scenario district ask teachers pick poison agree fight pension changes concede larger class sizes give 4 percent raises eliminating contractual raises would save 169 million increasing class sizes 31 would mean loss 600 teaching positions save 40 million stewart faces tough reelection campaign spring fact union caucus recently lost two seats pension board new hardline caucus called core caucus rank file educators major victory core whose members say pension board needs better watchdogs protect cashstarved district administration prevent mismanagement core still lacks majority pension board however core cochair jackson potter says pension board already made several important changes new leadership lawsuits filed recoup losses investment groups notes board squashing investments companies support charter schools potters book hubermans budget announcement amounts little scare tactics position suggests tough political road ahead district officials seeking concessions pension board elsewhere asking teachers support pension relief compromises potter wants district cut number controversial reform programs office school turnarounds hubermans signature performance management initiative cuts could save district upwards 70 million estimates also wants huberman mayor richard daley consider directing taxincrement financing revenues toward deficit tif funds diverted schools local taxing bodies stimulate business development critics say creation tif districts contributed budget problems facing schools rest city potter admits savings needed fact huberman hasnt put table shows priorities least teachers union sure join hands district officials plead extra school funding springfield two parties also continue push greater parity chicagos teacher pension program states teacher retirement system like chicago state plan fund teacher retirement system 90 percent level state legal obligation contribute directly chicagos pension system
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<p>With fat-frame spectacles and a cherub's face, India's president doesn't look like a bloodthirsty killer. But in his first seven months in office, he's already set the local speed record for sending prisoners to the gallows, and it looks like he may just be getting started.</p>
<p>According to <a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-11/india/37038482_1_mercy-petition-mahendra-nath-das-death-row-convicts" type="external">the Times of India</a>, Mukherjee has already presided over more executions than his predecessors managed in 15 years.</p>
<p>In November 2012, Mukherjee quietly okayed the <a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-22/india/35302180_1_ajmal-kasab-sadanand-date-yerawada-prison" type="external">secret dawn execution</a> of convicted Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab, caught on camera during the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Earlier this month, he approved <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/afzal-guru-parliament-attack-convict-hanged-in-delhi-s-tihar-jail-328499" type="external">the secret dawn hanging</a> of convicted Kashmiri terrorist Afzal Guru, who was convicted of plotting the 2001 attack on the Indian parliament based primarily on a confession made in police custody. On Thursday, Mukherjee reportedly <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/President-Pranab-Mukherjee-rejects-mercy-pleas-of-four-Veerappan-associates/articleshow/18482370.cms" type="external">rejected the mercy pleas of four associates</a>of the famous bandit Veerappan -- clearing the way for the execution of the men, who were convicted of killing 22 people, including policemen, in a landmine blast in 1993. And there are <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/some-mercy-pleas-pending-with-government-for-over-a-decade/article4412446.ece" type="external">reportedly eight more</a> convicts whose mercy pleas are pending.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/02/09/india-secret-hanging-major-step-back" type="external">Human rights activists have condemned</a> the executions that have already been carried out on moral grounds, disputing the government's right to kill its citizens for any reason. But whatever your views on the death penalty, the timing and manner of these hangings is deeply troubling.&#160;</p>
<p>With a national election scheduled next year and Mukherjee's Congress Party facing a foe known for militant ethnic nationalism, the speedy executions of Kasab and Guru have the earmarks of a political gambit to defend the Congress against opposition claims that it is "soft on terror." As <a href="http://www.niticentral.com/2013/02/why-this-secrecy-over-afzal-gurus-execution.html" type="external">right-wing commentator Kanchan Gupt</a>a has noted, the secrecy surrounding the actual hangings only served to heighten the impression that the government was doing something shady -- though in every other respect it followed the established legal procedures. And the swift "also-ran" rejections of the mercy pleas of the four bandits stinks of an effort to prove that politics had nothing to do with the timing of the first two hangings.</p>
<p>“It appears that the Government of India in its&#160;attempt to address political fallout of the botched up execution of Afzal&#160;Guru ...&#160;will carry out&#160;further executions of death row convicts not connected with political&#160;sensitivities,” said Suhas Chakma, who heads the Asian Center for Human Rights (ACHR).</p>
<p>Think timing doesn't matter? &#160;The government has, naturally, said politics and next year's election had no bearing on its sudden alacrity in executing convicts. But according to <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/some-mercy-pleas-pending-with-government-for-over-a-decade/article4412446.ece" type="external">a report in Thursday's Hindu</a>, there are many condemned criminals whose mercy pleas have been under consideration for more than a decade, suggesting that speedy resolution is the exception rather than the rule. ACHR notes in a press release issued Thursday that some 1500 Indians were sentenced to death between 2001 and 2011 -- a period in which India only actually executed a single person. And Guru, at least, had reportedly not exhausted his final avenue of appeal when he climbed the scaffold.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, though Kasab was more or less caught with the proverbial smoking gun, Guru's case left considerable room for reasonable doubt -- a fact that was lost in the fury over the Parliament attacks and the rush to find someone to punish. As <a href="http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/the-question-of-reasonable-doubt" type="external">Open's Mihir Srivastava points out</a>, Guru was convicted of murder and waging war against the state largely on the basis of a confession that the Supreme Court itself termed "unreliable," along with telephone records that showed little apart from demonstrating that he had been in contact with Ghazi Baba, alleged head of the Kashmiri jehadi group Jaish-e-Mohammed.</p>
<p>But there were strange holes in the prosecution's case.</p>
<p>According to the chargesheet filed by the Special Cell [of the Delhi Police] in 2002, the JeM’s supreme commander in India, Ghazi Baba, had been in touch with Afzal and Shaukat through satellite phone No 8821651150059 and Swiss telephone No 491722290100, writes Srivastava.</p>
<p>This was meant to be clinching evidence of the Guru cousins’ link with the terror attack. But, strangely enough, the Special Cell didn’t deem it fit to investigate this any further. Says the chargesheet: ‘A request for obtaining the call details of the international telephone numbers and satellite phone numbers, which figured during the investigation of the case, has been made to Interpol, but the report is still awaited.’ This lead was never discussed or mentioned during the protracted period of the trials. Is the Interpol report, if obtained, a secret?</p>
<p>That's not all. Some evidence suggests that Guru was in fact working on behalf of the Jammu &amp; Kashmir police.</p>
<p>About a year before the Parliament attack, Afzal was in custody of the J&amp;K Police, having been detained at an STF camp for his links with Ghazi Baba. But despite this piece of advance intelligence that he allegedly had links with the LeT, the STF set him free unconditionally, Srivastava writes.&#160;</p>
<p>During his trial, Afzal was trying to point out that he had been in touch with the J&amp;K Police’s STF, but the nature of this association was never investigated by the Special Cell.</p>
<p>The Special Cell got the <a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-10/delhi/37020369_1_special-cell-inspector-mohan-chand-sharma-ansal-plaza" type="external">Seal Team Six treatment from a few news outlets</a> after Guru's conviction, and again after Saturday's execution. But it's as well-known for accusations of "fake encounters" (or extrajudicial executions) and alleged frame-ups as it is for brilliant detective work.</p>
<p>It was the Special Cell that <a href="http://kafila.org/2012/02/21/delhi-police-special-cell-encounters-frame-ups-impunity-manisha-sethi/" type="external">was responsible for alleged "fake encounters"</a> -- or staged shootouts to justify the killing of a suspect -- at New Delhi's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batla_House_encounter_case" type="external">Batla House</a> in September 2008, in the parking garage at the Ansal Plaza shopping mall in 2002 and in the city's colonial heart of Connaught Place in 1997.</p>
<p>And some 70 percent of the always high-profile busts made by the Special Cell were later dismissed for lack of credible evidence -- sometimes after the suspects had spent as much as six years behind bars, according to <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-police-special-cell-poor-investigating-skills-jamia/1/217589.html" type="external">a study of Special Cell cases</a> conducted by professors at New Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia university.&#160;</p>
<p>Meanwhile, as Human Rights Watch noted in its condemnation of Guru's execution, many Indian activists have argued that he didn't receive adequate legal representation during the period between his arrest and confession. And Amnesty International alleged that he wasn't allowed to be represented by the experienced lawyer he requested.&#160;</p>
<p>“Serious questions have been raised about the fairness of [Afzal] Guru’s trial. He did not receive legal representation of his choice or a lawyer with adequate experience at the trial stage. These concerns were not addressed,” <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/out-of-sync-with-global-trend/article4398383.ece" type="external">Amnesty's India program director Shashikumar Velath said in a statement</a>.</p>
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fatframe spectacles cherubs face indias president doesnt look like bloodthirsty killer first seven months office hes already set local speed record sending prisoners gallows looks like may getting started according times india mukherjee already presided executions predecessors managed 15 years november 2012 mukherjee quietly okayed secret dawn execution convicted pakistani terrorist ajmal kasab caught camera november 2008 terrorist attacks mumbai earlier month approved secret dawn hanging convicted kashmiri terrorist afzal guru convicted plotting 2001 attack indian parliament based primarily confession made police custody thursday mukherjee reportedly rejected mercy pleas four associatesof famous bandit veerappan clearing way execution men convicted killing 22 people including policemen landmine blast 1993 reportedly eight convicts whose mercy pleas pending human rights activists condemned executions already carried moral grounds disputing governments right kill citizens reason whatever views death penalty timing manner hangings deeply troubling160 national election scheduled next year mukherjees congress party facing foe known militant ethnic nationalism speedy executions kasab guru earmarks political gambit defend congress opposition claims soft terror rightwing commentator kanchan gupta noted secrecy surrounding actual hangings served heighten impression government something shady though every respect followed established legal procedures swift alsoran rejections mercy pleas four bandits stinks effort prove politics nothing timing first two hangings appears government india its160attempt address political fallout botched execution afzal160guru 160will carry out160further executions death row convicts connected political160sensitivities said suhas chakma heads asian center human rights achr think timing doesnt matter 160the government naturally said politics next years election bearing sudden alacrity executing convicts according report thursdays hindu many condemned criminals whose mercy pleas consideration decade suggesting speedy resolution exception rather rule achr notes press release issued thursday 1500 indians sentenced death 2001 2011 period india actually executed single person guru least reportedly exhausted final avenue appeal climbed scaffold meanwhile though kasab less caught proverbial smoking gun gurus case left considerable room reasonable doubt fact lost fury parliament attacks rush find someone punish opens mihir srivastava points guru convicted murder waging war state largely basis confession supreme court termed unreliable along telephone records showed little apart demonstrating contact ghazi baba alleged head kashmiri jehadi group jaishemohammed strange holes prosecutions case according chargesheet filed special cell delhi police 2002 jems supreme commander india ghazi baba touch afzal shaukat satellite phone 8821651150059 swiss telephone 491722290100 writes srivastava meant clinching evidence guru cousins link terror attack strangely enough special cell didnt deem fit investigate says chargesheet request obtaining call details international telephone numbers satellite phone numbers figured investigation case made interpol report still awaited lead never discussed mentioned protracted period trials interpol report obtained secret thats evidence suggests guru fact working behalf jammu amp kashmir police year parliament attack afzal custody jampk police detained stf camp links ghazi baba despite piece advance intelligence allegedly links let stf set free unconditionally srivastava writes160 trial afzal trying point touch jampk polices stf nature association never investigated special cell special cell got seal team six treatment news outlets gurus conviction saturdays execution wellknown accusations fake encounters extrajudicial executions alleged frameups brilliant detective work special cell responsible alleged fake encounters staged shootouts justify killing suspect new delhis batla house september 2008 parking garage ansal plaza shopping mall 2002 citys colonial heart connaught place 1997 70 percent always highprofile busts made special cell later dismissed lack credible evidence sometimes suspects spent much six years behind bars according study special cell cases conducted professors new delhis jamia millia islamia university160 meanwhile human rights watch noted condemnation gurus execution many indian activists argued didnt receive adequate legal representation period arrest confession amnesty international alleged wasnt allowed represented experienced lawyer requested160 serious questions raised fairness afzal gurus trial receive legal representation choice lawyer adequate experience trial stage concerns addressed amnestys india program director shashikumar velath said statement
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<p>(Washington Blade photo of Annise Parker by Michael Key; photo of the Houston skyline by eflon, courtesy Flickr; photo of Beyonce by Nat Ch Villa, courtesy Flickr)</p>
<p>The next major battle in the fight for LGBT non-discrimination protections is the campaign&#160;to pass the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, or HERO.</p>
<p>Thanks to opponents of the measure, who collected nearly 18,000 petition signatures to place the measure on the ballot, and the Texas Supreme Court’s green light of the referendum, the ordinance will go before Houston voters on Nov. 3 at the same time they elect their next mayor.</p>
<p>If passed, the referendum, known as Proposition 1, would establish comprehensive non-discrimination protections in Houston in employment, public accommodations and housing based on many characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
<p>With an estimated population of 2.2 million, Houston is the nation’s fourth largest city. LGBT advocates see the upcoming ballot fight as a key moment in achieving the long-pursued dream of enacting non-discrimination protections throughout the country.</p>
<p>Matt McTighe, campaign manager for Freedom for All Americans, said the Houston ballot fight is “extremely important” in the big picture&#160;for the LGBT movement.</p>
<p>“It has the potential to really show our continued momentum in the fourth largest city in the country, or potentially present a real hurdle for us as we look for more proactive non-discrimination efforts in states that are largely in the South, the Midwest, where we’re looking for places to advance non-discrimination ordinances like what was at the city level in Houston.” McTighe said.</p>
<p>The ordinance was initially approved by the Houston City Council in May 2014 and signed into law by Houston Mayor Annise Parker, a lesbian. Although opponents of the measure collected signatures to place the measure on the ballot, they initially were thought to have an insufficient amount based on a count from the city attorney — a decision upheld by lower courts reviewing the matter.</p>
<p>But on July 24, the Texas Supreme Court <a href="" type="internal">ruled</a> the number of signatures exceeded the necessary 17,269 names based on a different count by the city secretary. The justices suspended the measure and ordered the Houston City Council to repeal the ordinance or place it on the ballot. The city took the latter option.</p>
<p>After the City Council initially produced an initiative framing the question to voters as whether they would want to repeal the existing ordinance, the Texas Supreme Court weighed in once more, saying the referendum should be framed in terms of “yes” or “no” on whether to pass the ordinance. The City Council complied last month, producing new language for the question posed to voters.</p>
<p>With less&#160;than four months from the Texas Supreme Court ruling to the time the measure would appear on the ballot, LGBT advocates say they took action as soon as it became apparent the measure would appear on the ballot this fall. After a conference call with national allies as well as LGBT advocates in Texas, an initial campaign and steering committee was formed to ensure the measure is passed.</p>
<p>Known as Houston Unites, the campaign to&#160;pass the ordinance is led by a combination local and national LGBT advocates, including the ACLU of Texas,&#160;Equality Texas,&#160;Freedom For All Americans,&#160;Human Rights Campaign, NAACP Houston Branch&#160;and&#160;Texas Freedom Network.</p>
<p>Heading the effort is Richard Carlbom, who in 2012 successfully led the campaign to defeat the anti-gay marriage amendment at the ballot in Minnesota.</p>
<p>“We’re doing our best to pull together a really talented campaign team that can help us make sure that Houston voters understand what’s at stake, which is their city is a city that doesn’t discriminate,” Carlbom said.</p>
<p>A successful campaign would cost a couple million dollars, Carlbom estimated, but he wouldn’t put a firm price tag on the cost, or&#160;say how much was already in the bank for the effort.</p>
<p>“We essentially need to raise a lot of money in a short period of time to make sure that we can build out a massive grassroots effort, and then back up our message door-to-door with TV commercials, radio commercials,” he said.</p>
<p>McTighe said he’s “cautiously optimistic” about success, but warned the national LGBT community and its allies seem unaware of the campaign amid the post-marriage equality euphoria.</p>
<p>“I talk to people all the time that are kind of surprised,” McTighe said. “They’re not even aware of what’s going on down there, so really quickly mobilizing the LGBT community, donors all over the country who care about maintaining momentum, especially right now in the wake of the historic victory on marriage, but knowing that the fight’s not over yet, reminding people of that is so important.”</p>
<p>Marty Rouse, national field director for the Human Rights Campaign, said the No. 1 priority for the campaign is mobilizing supporters to ensure they turn out to vote in an off-year.</p>
<p>“We will only win and protect HERO if LGBT Houstonians and their families, friends and other allies get actively engaged in this campaign,” Rouse said. “On Nov. 3, there’s expected to be less than 25 percent voter turnout. We need to make sure that supporters of HERO turn out in record numbers on Nov. 3.”</p>
<p>Opponents of the measure have already aired a one-minute radio ad against the measure drawing on an issue that may be misconstrued by Houston voters: Allowing transgender women to use a public restroom consistent with their gender identity.</p>
<p>“This ordinance will allow men to freely go into women’s bathrooms, locker rooms and showers,” a young woman says in the ad. “That is filthy, that is disgusting and that is unsafe.”</p>
<p>In response to the ad, Houston Unites aired its own radio spot featuring Rev. Will Reed, pastor at Servants of Christ United Methodist Church, who disputes the bathroom argument.</p>
<p>“As Christians, my wife and I believe in treating others the way we want to be treated, that’s what we’ve taught our children,” Reed says. “We’re hearing about HERO – Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance, and concerns some have raised about privacy in public bathrooms. What’s being lost is that it’s already illegal to go into a bathroom to harm or harass someone. This law won’t change that.”</p>
<p>One opponent of the measure organizing efforts against the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance is conservative activist Jared Woodfill, who didn’t respond to the Blade’s request for&#160;comment for this article.</p>
<p>On the agenda for the campaign to pass the measure is obtaining endorsements. Among the entities LGBT advocates are calling on to voice support for the ordinance are members of sports, business and faith communities.</p>
<p>Parker, a high-profile openly gay&#160;municipal leader, has declared support for the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance and said she expects it to succeed at the ballot, but said during a news conference last month she’s “not going to be the poster child” because that would play into efforts of opponents.</p>
<p>Carlos Maza, LGBT program director for Media Matters, wrote <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carlos-maza/with-one-post-beyonce-cou_b_7914538.html" type="external">an op-ed for the Huffington Post</a>calling on singer and gay icon Beyonce, a Houston native, to come out in favor of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.</p>
<p>“By speaking out in defense of HERO and opposing the effort to repeal the law, she could dramatically change the outcome of the vote in November,” Maza writes. “She could help make sure that LGBT Houstonians aren’t fired, kicked out of their homes or refused service at restaurants because of who they are. And she could reaffirm that her support for the LGBT community isn’t just talk — it’s a real commitment to the equal treatment of all Americans.”</p>
<p>Already a social media campaign is underway to convince Beyonce to speak out. Supporters of the ordinance are using the hashtag #BeyBeAHERO, using the singer’s nickname and the acronym of the measure.</p>
<p>Beyonce, who is from Houston, couldn’t be reached for comment on whether she’d lend her support to the initiative.</p>
<p>Another potential voice in the fight to pass the ordinance is the National Football League, which is set to host Super Bowl LI in Houston in 2017. The league for weeks hasn’t responded to multiple requests from the Blade to comment on the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.</p>
<p>Carlbom half-jokingly said “we want to hear” from Beyonce when asked about potential endorsements for the initiative.</p>
<p>“At the end of the day, we need to make sure that people who support equal rights and oppose discrimination show up at the ballot box,” Carlbom said. “Anybody who we can get to speak out on that, we’re going to.”</p>
<p>Houston isn’t the only city with a non-discrimination ordinance on the ballot this year. Just this month, measures prohibiting anti-LGBT bias in Fayetteville, Ark., and Sedona, Ariz., passed at the ballot, and the city council for Columbia, Ind., passed another LGBT ordinance. But most observers agree the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance is unique among them because of its potential.</p>
<p>Rouse said passage of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance is one piece of the larger campaign to extend non-discrimination protections in every place in the country.</p>
<p>“Houston, clearly being our nation’s fourth largest city, will impact anything that happens in America, but there is a larger campaign going on all across the country at the local and state level to pass non-discrimination, and then will be on to the federal efforts,” Rouse said. “It’s all connected. Houston is a key piece of it. But this is happening in places besides Houston.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Beyonce</a> <a href="" type="internal">Houston</a> <a href="" type="internal">Houston Equal Rights Ordinance</a></p>
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washington blade photo annise parker michael key photo houston skyline eflon courtesy flickr photo beyonce nat ch villa courtesy flickr next major battle fight lgbt nondiscrimination protections campaign160to pass houston equal rights ordinance hero thanks opponents measure collected nearly 18000 petition signatures place measure ballot texas supreme courts green light referendum ordinance go houston voters nov 3 time elect next mayor passed referendum known proposition 1 would establish comprehensive nondiscrimination protections houston employment public accommodations housing based many characteristics including sexual orientation gender identity estimated population 22 million houston nations fourth largest city lgbt advocates see upcoming ballot fight key moment achieving longpursued dream enacting nondiscrimination protections throughout country matt mctighe campaign manager freedom americans said houston ballot fight extremely important big picture160for lgbt movement potential really show continued momentum fourth largest city country potentially present real hurdle us look proactive nondiscrimination efforts states largely south midwest looking places advance nondiscrimination ordinances like city level houston mctighe said ordinance initially approved houston city council may 2014 signed law houston mayor annise parker lesbian although opponents measure collected signatures place measure ballot initially thought insufficient amount based count city attorney decision upheld lower courts reviewing matter july 24 texas supreme court ruled number signatures exceeded necessary 17269 names based different count city secretary justices suspended measure ordered houston city council repeal ordinance place ballot city took latter option city council initially produced initiative framing question voters whether would want repeal existing ordinance texas supreme court weighed saying referendum framed terms yes whether pass ordinance city council complied last month producing new language question posed voters less160than four months texas supreme court ruling time measure would appear ballot lgbt advocates say took action soon became apparent measure would appear ballot fall conference call national allies well lgbt advocates texas initial campaign steering committee formed ensure measure passed known houston unites campaign to160pass ordinance led combination local national lgbt advocates including aclu texas160equality texas160freedom americans160human rights campaign naacp houston branch160and160texas freedom network heading effort richard carlbom 2012 successfully led campaign defeat antigay marriage amendment ballot minnesota best pull together really talented campaign team help us make sure houston voters understand whats stake city city doesnt discriminate carlbom said successful campaign would cost couple million dollars carlbom estimated wouldnt put firm price tag cost or160say much already bank effort essentially need raise lot money short period time make sure build massive grassroots effort back message doortodoor tv commercials radio commercials said mctighe said hes cautiously optimistic success warned national lgbt community allies seem unaware campaign amid postmarriage equality euphoria talk people time kind surprised mctighe said theyre even aware whats going really quickly mobilizing lgbt community donors country care maintaining momentum especially right wake historic victory marriage knowing fights yet reminding people important marty rouse national field director human rights campaign said 1 priority campaign mobilizing supporters ensure turn vote offyear win protect hero lgbt houstonians families friends allies get actively engaged campaign rouse said nov 3 theres expected less 25 percent voter turnout need make sure supporters hero turn record numbers nov 3 opponents measure already aired oneminute radio ad measure drawing issue may misconstrued houston voters allowing transgender women use public restroom consistent gender identity ordinance allow men freely go womens bathrooms locker rooms showers young woman says ad filthy disgusting unsafe response ad houston unites aired radio spot featuring rev reed pastor servants christ united methodist church disputes bathroom argument christians wife believe treating others way want treated thats weve taught children reed says hearing hero houstons equal rights ordinance concerns raised privacy public bathrooms whats lost already illegal go bathroom harm harass someone law wont change one opponent measure organizing efforts houston equal rights ordinance conservative activist jared woodfill didnt respond blades request for160comment article agenda campaign pass measure obtaining endorsements among entities lgbt advocates calling voice support ordinance members sports business faith communities parker highprofile openly gay160municipal leader declared support houston equal rights ordinance said expects succeed ballot said news conference last month shes going poster child would play efforts opponents carlos maza lgbt program director media matters wrote oped huffington postcalling singer gay icon beyonce houston native come favor houston equal rights ordinance speaking defense hero opposing effort repeal law could dramatically change outcome vote november maza writes could help make sure lgbt houstonians arent fired kicked homes refused service restaurants could reaffirm support lgbt community isnt talk real commitment equal treatment americans already social media campaign underway convince beyonce speak supporters ordinance using hashtag beybeahero using singers nickname acronym measure beyonce houston couldnt reached comment whether shed lend support initiative another potential voice fight pass ordinance national football league set host super bowl li houston 2017 league weeks hasnt responded multiple requests blade comment houston equal rights ordinance carlbom halfjokingly said want hear beyonce asked potential endorsements initiative end day need make sure people support equal rights oppose discrimination show ballot box carlbom said anybody get speak going houston isnt city nondiscrimination ordinance ballot year month measures prohibiting antilgbt bias fayetteville ark sedona ariz passed ballot city council columbia ind passed another lgbt ordinance observers agree houston equal rights ordinance unique among potential rouse said passage houston equal rights ordinance one piece larger campaign extend nondiscrimination protections every place country houston clearly nations fourth largest city impact anything happens america larger campaign going across country local state level pass nondiscrimination federal efforts rouse said connected houston key piece happening places besides houston beyonce houston houston equal rights ordinance
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