text
stringlengths 2.57k
160k
| hyperpartisan
bool 2
classes | bias
int64 0
4
| cleaned_text
stringlengths 1.79k
91.8k
| word_count
int64 512
12.5k
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
<p>Katy Grimes: Thanks to Gov. Jerry Brown signing into law this week the global warming inspired <a href="http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/Renewables/index.htm" type="external">33 percent renewable&#160;requirement</a>for utilities, we can expect more California jobs to head to Texas.</p>
<p>The law requires investor-owned and public utilities to obtain one-third of their electricity from renewable sources – in the state or from outside sources.</p>
<p>California utilities already pay 50% more for electricity than other states, which will lead to exorbitant cost increases for rate payers. Some <a href="http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-03-31/news/29372286_1_rate-increases-mandate-electricity-rates" type="external">experts</a> <a href="http://www.hjta.org/california-commentary/sacramentos-ongoing-war-against-regular-californians" type="external">say</a> that parts of California will experience only a 19 percent increase, while &#160;Los Angeles will see a 74 percent increase.</p>
<p>As I <a href="" type="internal">wrote</a> in <a href="" type="internal">Green Energy Bill Headed to Gov.</a>, in the entire history of energy in California, the state has never been able to create enough electricity to keep up with our own usage. This means that California buys 20 to 30 percent of its energy on the energy market from out-of-state energy sources, which&#160;leads to criticism of the stringent renewable energy standards. Many in the state say that increasing renewable energy standards will kill private business, as well as investor owned utilities.</p>
<p>“The other catch is that California legislators have imposed regulations on how much of the renewable energy is purchased outside the state, leaving many in the energy business to say that it can’t be done given how much energy we already purchase from other out-of-state sources, and because wind and solar power are not reliable,” explained an energy expert who asked to remain unnamed.</p>
<p>The California delegation visiting Texas legislators and Gov. Rick Perry are meeting with former California businesses now located in Texas. In a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aot5si1w-bI&amp;feature=related" type="external">meeting with</a> the Governor, California Assemblyman Dan Logue (R-Linda), organizer of the trip, said that businesses risked uprooting families along with the business, to move to Texas where they can compete nationally and globally, at a lower cost. “Last year California lost 1.2 million jobs while Texas created 163,000 new jobs,” said Logue.</p>
<p>“There’s a saying amongst business people,” said Logue, “ABC – anywhere but California.” And the reason for the trip said&#160;Logue, “is that in order to fix our budget and economy, California must address how to create jobs.”</p>
<p>I’ve <a href="" type="internal">written</a> about Joe Vranich, <a href="http://thebusinessrelocationcoach.blogspot.com/" type="external">The Business Relocation Coach</a>, who helps businesses relocate. And unfortunately, too many of those businesses are exiting California. Vranich keeps track of the departures and writes, “Texas remains the top destination for departing California companies, as it has for several years. Experts at&#160;Site Selection magazine have awarded Texas the 2010 Governor’s Cup for most new and expanded corporate facilities announced over the year. Texas had the nation’s top ranking with 424 projects while California ranked 15th with 127 projects.”</p>
<p>Vranich <a href="http://thebusinessrelocationcoach.blogspot.com/2011/04/calif-disinvestment-events-reaches-new.html" type="external">lists the 69 companies</a> that have left California so far just this year, and notes that the list doesn’t include businesses that remain in the state but choose to expand or open additional locations in other states.</p>
<p>According to Vranich, some of the reasons businesses leave California:</p>
<p>10. Energy costs 9. High and unfair tax treatment 8. Regulatory burden 7. Unfriendly legal environment for business 6. Most expensive place to do business 5. Provable savings elsewhere 4. Public policies and taxes create unfriendly business climate 3. Uncontrollable public spending 2. More adversarial toward business than any other state 1. Poor rankings for California on lists ranging from taxes to crime rates to school dropout rates.</p>
<p>Let’s hope the Texas delegation is able to get the attention of the other members of the Legislature. Because if this week is any indication of whether they can be shaken into reality, it’s not going to happen. Before breaking for their Spring Recess, legislators spent the last couple of weeks passing some really bad legislation through committees.</p>
<p>I’ll collect the bills and highlight some of the worst. This is where the shrinking Republican legislative &#160;membership is wreaking havoc on the future of the state – Republicans just are not able to stop bad bills in committees because there aren’t enough of them. And Gov. Jerry Brown has already demonstrated his willingness to sign legislation that will only further the devastate the state’s economy.</p>
<p>Gov. Perry’s <a href="http://www.governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/15993/" type="external">website</a> has video of the meetings.</p>
<p>The California delegation includes:</p>
<p>·&#160;&#160;&#160; Assemblyman Dan Logue ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Assemblywoman Diane Harkey ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Assemblyman Martin Garrick ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Assemblywoman Shannon Grove ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Assemblyman Brian Jones ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Assemblyman Steve Knight ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Assemblyman Mike Morrell ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Assemblyman Donald Wagner ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Donna Arduin – former California Finance Director, Arduin, Laffer &amp; Moore Econometrics ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Julie Blunden – Executive VP of Public Policy/Corporate, SunPower Corporation ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Jeffrey Clark – State Government Affairs Southern Regional Policy Director, TechAmerica ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Carl Guardino – President, and CEO Silicon Valley Leadership Group ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Cynthia Guerrero – CG Consulting ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Jack M. Stewart – President, California Manufacturers &amp; Technology Association ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Bryan Tucker – Senior Director, NA Operations/PMO Aviat Network ·&#160;&#160;&#160; Rock Zierman – President, California Independent Petroleum Association</p>
| false | 3 |
katy grimes thanks gov jerry brown signing law week global warming inspired 33 percent renewable160requirementfor utilities expect california jobs head texas law requires investorowned public utilities obtain onethird electricity renewable sources state outside sources california utilities already pay 50 electricity states lead exorbitant cost increases rate payers experts say parts california experience 19 percent increase 160los angeles see 74 percent increase wrote green energy bill headed gov entire history energy california state never able create enough electricity keep usage means california buys 20 30 percent energy energy market outofstate energy sources which160leads criticism stringent renewable energy standards many state say increasing renewable energy standards kill private business well investor owned utilities catch california legislators imposed regulations much renewable energy purchased outside state leaving many energy business say cant done given much energy already purchase outofstate sources wind solar power reliable explained energy expert asked remain unnamed california delegation visiting texas legislators gov rick perry meeting former california businesses located texas meeting governor california assemblyman dan logue rlinda organizer trip said businesses risked uprooting families along business move texas compete nationally globally lower cost last year california lost 12 million jobs texas created 163000 new jobs said logue theres saying amongst business people said logue abc anywhere california reason trip said160logue order fix budget economy california must address create jobs ive written joe vranich business relocation coach helps businesses relocate unfortunately many businesses exiting california vranich keeps track departures writes texas remains top destination departing california companies several years experts at160site selection magazine awarded texas 2010 governors cup new expanded corporate facilities announced year texas nations top ranking 424 projects california ranked 15th 127 projects vranich lists 69 companies left california far year notes list doesnt include businesses remain state choose expand open additional locations states according vranich reasons businesses leave california 10 energy costs 9 high unfair tax treatment 8 regulatory burden 7 unfriendly legal environment business 6 expensive place business 5 provable savings elsewhere 4 public policies taxes create unfriendly business climate 3 uncontrollable public spending 2 adversarial toward business state 1 poor rankings california lists ranging taxes crime rates school dropout rates lets hope texas delegation able get attention members legislature week indication whether shaken reality going happen breaking spring recess legislators spent last couple weeks passing really bad legislation committees ill collect bills highlight worst shrinking republican legislative 160membership wreaking havoc future state republicans able stop bad bills committees arent enough gov jerry brown already demonstrated willingness sign legislation devastate states economy gov perrys website video meetings california delegation includes 160160160 assemblyman dan logue 160160160 lt governor gavin newsom 160160160 assembly republican leader connie conway 160160160 assemblywoman diane harkey 160160160 assemblywoman cathleen galgiani 160160160 assemblyman martin garrick 160160160 assemblywoman shannon grove 160160160 assemblyman brian jones 160160160 assemblyman steve knight 160160160 assemblyman mike morrell 160160160 assemblyman donald wagner 160160160 donna arduin former california finance director arduin laffer amp moore econometrics 160160160 julie blunden executive vp public policycorporate sunpower corporation 160160160 jeffrey clark state government affairs southern regional policy director techamerica 160160160 carl guardino president ceo silicon valley leadership group 160160160 cynthia guerrero cg consulting 160160160 jack stewart president california manufacturers amp technology association 160160160 bryan tucker senior director na operationspmo aviat network 160160160 rock zierman president california independent petroleum association
| 542 |
<p>Some diplomatic relations this week collapsed, while others received hopeful boosts.</p>
<p>Egypt is left with possibly “no diplomatic solution” to its crisis, India and Pakistan are attempting to forge new friendly ties through sports, Iranian President Rohani announced that there is no military option for a solution to the Syrian civil war, and the International Olympic Committee is “quietly” speaking with Russian leaders about the safety of the coming Winter Games.</p>
<p>Here are some of this week’s updates on important peace talks and developments to keep an eye on:</p>
<p>EGYPT</p>
<p>Just as the US envoy made his way home from Cairo after days of trying to broker a compromise between the Egypt's militarily installed government and ousted President Mohamed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/07/us-egypt-protests-idUSBRE9760EF20130807" type="external">Reuters has reported</a> that the political crisis is entering a tense new phase.</p>
<p>This week’s collapsed international mediation efforts may be signaling that Egypt’s current unrest cannot be solved diplomatically. The government “repeated its threat” this morning, to take action against Morsi’s supporters.</p>
<p>Both sides have reportedly called their supporters on to the streets. In two protest camps located in Cairo, Reuters said, Morsi supporters prepared for action by security forces.</p>
<p>The European Union special envoy remains in Cairo, but Brussels said it was “very concerned by the breakdown in talks.”</p>
<p>"What I see is that confrontation is mounting and that more people will turn to the streets to protest and the tendency in the armed forces to repress that will mount," Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans, one of many foreign officials who have visited Cairo’s crisis, told Reuters. "So I think there's need to be worried about the next days and weeks.”</p>
<p>In response to questions about the government’s threat, Gehad El-Haddad, Muslim Brotherhood spokesman said "this means they are preparing for an even bigger massacre. They should be sending us positive signals, not live bullets."</p>
<p>INDIA/PAKISTAN</p>
<p>India and Pakistan will be trying “blind cricket diplomacy,” <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/08/07/blind-cricket-diplomacy-for-india-pakistan/" type="external">according to the Wall Street Journal</a>. India’s blind cricket team will tour in Pakistan in February.</p>
<p>General Secretary of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India, G.K. Mahantesh, said today that the two countries have agreed to a series in Pakistan.</p>
<p>“Both teams play competitive cricket, this builds a lot of harmony. We want to work toward building that camaraderie and a harmonious relationship… we want to grow bilateral ties,” Mahantesh told the WSJ.</p>
<p>The agreement comes at a particularly tense time in India-Pakistan relations. Five Indian soldiers were found dead on Tuesday, near the disputed border between the two countries.</p>
<p>Mahantesh said instances like these are disturbing examples of some “vested interests trying to sabotage growing friendly ties.”</p>
<p>Pakistan has been forbidden to international cricket teams since 2009, after a gunmen attacked a test match in Lahore, killing six policemen and two civilians.</p>
<p>But Mahantesh remains optimistic about establishing friendly Indian-Pakistani ties through the sport.</p>
<p>“When India and Pakistan plays, the crowd is tremendous,” he said.</p>
<p>Details of the tour have not yet been finalized.</p>
<p>IRAN</p>
<p>New Iranian President Hassan Rohani condemned foreign intervention in Syria yesterday in his first press conference since taking office, <a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/08/06/317550/diplomacy-path-to-syria-crisis-rohani/" type="external">according to Iran’s state-funded news agency PressTV</a>.</p>
<p>The president also condemned the continuing cival war, the presence of foreign-backed terrorists, and underscored “the importance of diplomacy as the only path to resolve the crisis in the Arab country.”</p>
<p>Rejecting any military solution to the Syrian crisis, the president said, “the solution for Syria is a political solution with the participation of all the Syrian groups including the government and opposition. If the regional countries such as Iran, Turkey, and other states assist and participate, they can accelerate the process.”</p>
<p>Iran is expected to <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/rights/talking-peace-week-global-diplomatic-negotiations-4" type="external">aid in the diplomatic process</a>, reportedly joining Russia on the side of the Syrian government to participate in peace talks with the United States on the side of the opposition.</p>
<p>Over 100,000 people have been killed in Syria’s violence to date.</p>
<p>RUSSIA</p>
<p>The International Olympic Committee is reportedly engaged in "quiet diplomacy" with Russian leaders, to guarantee the safety of participants and spectators for February’s Winter Games in Sochi.</p>
<p>The IOC and Kremlin have been back and forth for weeks, amid soaring controversy over Russia’s new anti-gay law, and reports of escalating violence against members of the Federation’s LGBT community.</p>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/id/9540376/ng-ser-miang-says-ioc-using-quiet-diplomacy-russia" type="external">According to the Associated Press</a>, Ng Ser Miang, an IOC vice president from Singapore, said Russian President Vladimir Putin's government has too much at stake to do anything that might jeopardize the success of Russia's first Winter Games.</p>
<p>"The IOC has made a very strong point that they will be against any action that would discriminate against participants at the Sochi Games, whether it's officials, media, visitors or the athletes," Ng said.</p>
<p>Ng also said that the chairman of the IOC's coordination commission for Sochi has been maintaining dialogue with the "highest authority in Russia" to resolve the issue.</p>
<p>It was also some of the “highest authority in Russia” who told the IOC just over a week ago, that participants and spectators <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/rights/russia-ioc-anti-gay-law" type="external">would not be subject to the law</a>. But Russia’s sports minister <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/rights/update-russia-says-anti-gay-law-will-apply-olympic-athletes-and-s" type="external">took that statement back</a> last week.</p>
<p>Still, the IOC seems to be holding out for a positive outcome.</p>
<p>"I believe there will be a good solution to that," Ng told reporters in London. "I believe that this issue will be resolved to the satisfaction of all." &#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
diplomatic relations week collapsed others received hopeful boosts egypt left possibly diplomatic solution crisis india pakistan attempting forge new friendly ties sports iranian president rohani announced military option solution syrian civil war international olympic committee quietly speaking russian leaders safety coming winter games weeks updates important peace talks developments keep eye egypt us envoy made way home cairo days trying broker compromise egypts militarily installed government ousted president mohamed morsis muslim brotherhood reuters reported political crisis entering tense new phase weeks collapsed international mediation efforts may signaling egypts current unrest solved diplomatically government repeated threat morning take action morsis supporters sides reportedly called supporters streets two protest camps located cairo reuters said morsi supporters prepared action security forces european union special envoy remains cairo brussels said concerned breakdown talks see confrontation mounting people turn streets protest tendency armed forces repress mount dutch foreign minister frans timmermans one many foreign officials visited cairos crisis told reuters think theres need worried next days weeks response questions governments threat gehad elhaddad muslim brotherhood spokesman said means preparing even bigger massacre sending us positive signals live bullets indiapakistan india pakistan trying blind cricket diplomacy according wall street journal indias blind cricket team tour pakistan february general secretary cricket association blind india gk mahantesh said today two countries agreed series pakistan teams play competitive cricket builds lot harmony want work toward building camaraderie harmonious relationship want grow bilateral ties mahantesh told wsj agreement comes particularly tense time indiapakistan relations five indian soldiers found dead tuesday near disputed border two countries mahantesh said instances like disturbing examples vested interests trying sabotage growing friendly ties pakistan forbidden international cricket teams since 2009 gunmen attacked test match lahore killing six policemen two civilians mahantesh remains optimistic establishing friendly indianpakistani ties sport india pakistan plays crowd tremendous said details tour yet finalized iran new iranian president hassan rohani condemned foreign intervention syria yesterday first press conference since taking office according irans statefunded news agency presstv president also condemned continuing cival war presence foreignbacked terrorists underscored importance diplomacy path resolve crisis arab country rejecting military solution syrian crisis president said solution syria political solution participation syrian groups including government opposition regional countries iran turkey states assist participate accelerate process iran expected aid diplomatic process reportedly joining russia side syrian government participate peace talks united states side opposition 100000 people killed syrias violence date russia international olympic committee reportedly engaged quiet diplomacy russian leaders guarantee safety participants spectators februarys winter games sochi ioc kremlin back forth weeks amid soaring controversy russias new antigay law reports escalating violence members federations lgbt community according associated press ng ser miang ioc vice president singapore said russian president vladimir putins government much stake anything might jeopardize success russias first winter games ioc made strong point action would discriminate participants sochi games whether officials media visitors athletes ng said ng also said chairman iocs coordination commission sochi maintaining dialogue highest authority russia resolve issue also highest authority russia told ioc week ago participants spectators would subject law russias sports minister took statement back last week still ioc seems holding positive outcome believe good solution ng told reporters london believe issue resolved satisfaction 160
| 527 |
<p>Can Calvinist and non-Calvinist Baptists work together?</p>
<p>It depends, some advocates of Reformed theology say, on whether Christians on both sides are willing to tiptoe through the TULIP — the acrostic for five doctrinal points that set apart Calvinists.</p>
<p>TULIP stands for total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace and perseverance of the saints. Those five doctrines, delineated by the Synod of Dort in the 17th century, summarize distinctive elements of the theological system taught by John Calvin — particularly as distinguished from the teachings of James Jacobus Arminius.</p>
<p>Proponents of what often is called “five-point Calvinism” emphasize the sovereignty of God and the doctrine of predestination — the teaching that God ordains specific human beings to be saved on the basis of his good pleasure, not on the basis of his advance knowledge of their repentance and belief.</p>
<p>Historically, some prominent Baptists identified themselves as Calvinists, including 19th century British pulpiteer Charles Haddon Spurgeon and James P. Boyce, founding president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. On the other hand, the first Baptists in England — John Smyth and Thomas Helwys — rejected Calvinism.</p>
<p>Calvinism is gaining in popularity in some Baptist circles today. A study by the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board and LifeWay Christian Resources showed about 30 percent of recent Southern Baptist seminary graduates identify themselves as Calvinists, compared to 10 percent of Southern Baptist pastors in general.</p>
<p>Renewed interest in Reformed theology — what Calvinists refer to as “the doctrines of grace” — also is evident among university students, some Baptist college professors have noted. In part, observers attribute the growth of Calvinism on college campuses to the popular Passion conferences, featuring Louie Giglio and Reformed pastor-theologian John Piper.</p>
<p>The Passion movement and related One Day events serve as gateways into Calvinism, said Roger Olson, professor of theology at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary in Waco, Texas.</p>
<p>“My experience is that many young Christians swept up by this wave know little about the details of this kind of Calvinism,” Olson said. “Many of them are simply shocked to find out that it entails belief in limited atonement. However, after awhile, many of them gradually accept it lock, stock and barrel because they don't know any alternative. Southern Baptists — and offshoots — have not been very good at offering young people sound theology.”</p>
<p>Hunger for theology that is “rigorously biblical and satisfies the desire to hear from God in his word” accounts for much of Calvinism's popularity among students, said Thomas Ascol, executive director of Founders Ministries, an organization that promotes Reformed theology in Southern Baptist life.</p>
<p>“The rising generation is looking for authenticity,” Ascol said. Students read biblical stories about faithful people who suffered martyrdom, and they hunger for “the radicalness of biblical Christianity,” he noted.</p>
<p>“Then they look at the slick and oftentimes superficial Christianity that dominates American evangelicalism, and they wonder why there is a difference. What did those early believers see we don't see? Part of the answer is they saw the majestic supremacy of God over every sphere of life.”</p>
<p>Ascol believes Piper “has been used of God to help cast a vision of radically biblical Christianity to a younger generation of believers.”</p>
<p>“There is no fluff in Piper's ministry. It is rock-solid Bible teaching that does not shy away from the hard sayings and clear calls of discipleship,” he said. “It is authentic in its devotion to the text of Scripture. That resonates with many in the younger generation who are hungry for truth.”</p>
<p>Critics of resurgent Calvinism, on the other hand, see it as appealing to the desire for clear-cut, black-and-white answers.</p>
<p>“The present, new Calvinists claim to know way, way too much about the mind of God,” Olson claimed.</p>
<p>He draws a distinction between the gentle and nuanced Calvinism held by many Christians in Reformed churches and the aggressive new form of Calvinism.</p>
<p>“My experience is that this new wave of Reformed theology — inspired by John Piper who is inspired by Jonathan Edwards — appeals mostly to young men who want to avoid any hint of ambiguity in their theology,” he said.</p>
<p>In part because its adherents hold to its teachings so tenaciously, Calvinism has divided some congregations — particularly when Calvinist pastors have asserted their beliefs in historically non-Calvinist churches. To some degree, division may be inevitable, some Calvin-ists have asserted.</p>
<p>“Any given doctrine will divide. The gospel itself is a doctrine that divides,” said Jonathan Leeman, director of communications for 9Marks, a ministry founded by Reformed Baptist pastor Mark Dever.</p>
<p>“There has been a renewed emphasis on the doctrines of grace, and that could lead to some level of divisiveness. That's almost necessarily so, in the same way that an emphasis on inerrancy led to division within the Southern Baptist Convention.”</p>
<p>But other Calvinists believe they have been unjustly tarred with the brush of divisiveness.</p>
<p>“What I have discovered is that Calvinism is blamed far more often for dividing churches or associations than is actually the case,” Ascol said. “Closer investigation has often revealed that Calvinism is often the tail on which the donkey is pinned. I know of more cases where the real issue behind a controversy is biblical Christianity — what is a Christian and how does a person become one — not Calvinism.”</p>
<p>Ascol also believes Calvinists often have been unfairly stereotyped as anti-missionary.</p>
<p>“Look at who has been going as career missionaries over the last few years. A significant percentage would classify themselves as Reformed,” he said.</p>
<p>Olson acknowledged the current wave of Calvinism — which he calls “Piperism” — is characterized by fervent missionary spirit.</p>
<p>“However, I think those who follow it out to its logical conclusion may eventually decide that there is no point in evangelism or missions,” he said.</p>
<p>“If you are told that your evangelism and missionary work is nothing more than a ‘foreordained means to a foreordained end,' and it cannot alter what God has already decided, you might conclude that there is no urgency.”</p>
<p>Leeman frames the impetus for sharing faith in terms familiar to most evangelicals, whether Calvinist or non-Calvinist — love and obedience.</p>
<p>“Being that Christ is my greatest love, I will want to share him with others,” he said, adding that Jesus commanded his followers to share the gospel. “The call to repentance and obedience is not optional.”</p>
<p>But concern about Calvinism's impact on fulfilling Christ's Great Commission is a valid concern, even if it's not well founded, Leeman added.</p>
<p>“The primary cause of division over the issue (of Calvinism) is concern on the part of the non-Reformed crowd that it will hurt evangelism and missions, and those of us who are Reformed need to be entirely sympathetic to that concern,” he said.</p>
<p>“At the same time, instead of debating issues with us, I would like to see the non-Reformed crowd give us the benefit of the doubt. Accept that a Reformed congregation means what it says when it affirms evangelism and missions.”</p>
<p>Ironically, the debate over the doctrines of grace often has been characterized by a lack of grace by proponents on both sides, and much of the division caused by Calvinism could be avoided if Christians treated each other a bit more graciously, some Calvinists and non-Calvinists agreed.</p>
<p>“I love my Calvinist friends and students,” Olson said. “I have no quarrel with them; it is only with their theology I have a quarrel. And I do not attempt to convert my Calvinist students to non-Calvinism. I only ask them to study all the options and make sure they are thinking biblically and logically.”</p>
<p>Shared belief about Jesus Christ and biblical authority should be sufficient ground for Calvinists and non-Calvinists to share the same pews peacefully, Ascol said.</p>
<p>“Our church has Calvinists and non-Calvinists joyfully laboring together for the gospel, and I know of many other churches that do, too,” he said.</p>
<p>“We do that by focusing on the gospel — who Jesus is, what he has done and why that matters. We may not agree on every detail of how the gospel works — such as election, predestination, effectual calling and particular redemption — but we are all committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and his supremacy over all of life.”</p>
<p>Leeman acknowledged some Calvinists are so adamant about their position that they have failed to show “pastoral wisdom” in making distinctive Reformed doctrines a test of fellowship.</p>
<p>“A wiser course is to avoid the language of theology and use the language of the Bible instead,” he suggested. “It's not so much about Calvinism. It's not so much about the doctrines of grace. Just preach the Bible.”</p>
| false | 3 |
calvinist noncalvinist baptists work together depends advocates reformed theology say whether christians sides willing tiptoe tulip acrostic five doctrinal points set apart calvinists tulip stands total depravity unconditional election limited atonement irresistible grace perseverance saints five doctrines delineated synod dort 17th century summarize distinctive elements theological system taught john calvin particularly distinguished teachings james jacobus arminius proponents often called fivepoint calvinism emphasize sovereignty god doctrine predestination teaching god ordains specific human beings saved basis good pleasure basis advance knowledge repentance belief historically prominent baptists identified calvinists including 19th century british pulpiteer charles haddon spurgeon james p boyce founding president southern baptist theological seminary hand first baptists england john smyth thomas helwys rejected calvinism calvinism gaining popularity baptist circles today study southern baptist north american mission board lifeway christian resources showed 30 percent recent southern baptist seminary graduates identify calvinists compared 10 percent southern baptist pastors general renewed interest reformed theology calvinists refer doctrines grace also evident among university students baptist college professors noted part observers attribute growth calvinism college campuses popular passion conferences featuring louie giglio reformed pastortheologian john piper passion movement related one day events serve gateways calvinism said roger olson professor theology baylor universitys truett theological seminary waco texas experience many young christians swept wave know little details kind calvinism olson said many simply shocked find entails belief limited atonement however awhile many gradually accept lock stock barrel dont know alternative southern baptists offshoots good offering young people sound theology hunger theology rigorously biblical satisfies desire hear god word accounts much calvinisms popularity among students said thomas ascol executive director founders ministries organization promotes reformed theology southern baptist life rising generation looking authenticity ascol said students read biblical stories faithful people suffered martyrdom hunger radicalness biblical christianity noted look slick oftentimes superficial christianity dominates american evangelicalism wonder difference early believers see dont see part answer saw majestic supremacy god every sphere life ascol believes piper used god help cast vision radically biblical christianity younger generation believers fluff pipers ministry rocksolid bible teaching shy away hard sayings clear calls discipleship said authentic devotion text scripture resonates many younger generation hungry truth critics resurgent calvinism hand see appealing desire clearcut blackandwhite answers present new calvinists claim know way way much mind god olson claimed draws distinction gentle nuanced calvinism held many christians reformed churches aggressive new form calvinism experience new wave reformed theology inspired john piper inspired jonathan edwards appeals mostly young men want avoid hint ambiguity theology said part adherents hold teachings tenaciously calvinism divided congregations particularly calvinist pastors asserted beliefs historically noncalvinist churches degree division may inevitable calvinists asserted given doctrine divide gospel doctrine divides said jonathan leeman director communications 9marks ministry founded reformed baptist pastor mark dever renewed emphasis doctrines grace could lead level divisiveness thats almost necessarily way emphasis inerrancy led division within southern baptist convention calvinists believe unjustly tarred brush divisiveness discovered calvinism blamed far often dividing churches associations actually case ascol said closer investigation often revealed calvinism often tail donkey pinned know cases real issue behind controversy biblical christianity christian person become one calvinism ascol also believes calvinists often unfairly stereotyped antimissionary look going career missionaries last years significant percentage would classify reformed said olson acknowledged current wave calvinism calls piperism characterized fervent missionary spirit however think follow logical conclusion may eventually decide point evangelism missions said told evangelism missionary work nothing foreordained means foreordained end alter god already decided might conclude urgency leeman frames impetus sharing faith terms familiar evangelicals whether calvinist noncalvinist love obedience christ greatest love want share others said adding jesus commanded followers share gospel call repentance obedience optional concern calvinisms impact fulfilling christs great commission valid concern even well founded leeman added primary cause division issue calvinism concern part nonreformed crowd hurt evangelism missions us reformed need entirely sympathetic concern said time instead debating issues us would like see nonreformed crowd give us benefit doubt accept reformed congregation means says affirms evangelism missions ironically debate doctrines grace often characterized lack grace proponents sides much division caused calvinism could avoided christians treated bit graciously calvinists noncalvinists agreed love calvinist friends students olson said quarrel theology quarrel attempt convert calvinist students noncalvinism ask study options make sure thinking biblically logically shared belief jesus christ biblical authority sufficient ground calvinists noncalvinists share pews peacefully ascol said church calvinists noncalvinists joyfully laboring together gospel know many churches said focusing gospel jesus done matters may agree every detail gospel works election predestination effectual calling particular redemption committed lordship jesus christ supremacy life leeman acknowledged calvinists adamant position failed show pastoral wisdom making distinctive reformed doctrines test fellowship wiser course avoid language theology use language bible instead suggested much calvinism much doctrines grace preach bible
| 780 |
<p>With a call to minister to “a world in need,” the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship began its 16th year by appointing 19 mission workers, welcoming a new missions coordinator, adopting a $17-million budget and contributing $32,801 to a special human rights offering.</p>
<p>The Fellowship's June 22-23 annual meeting in Atlanta was quiet, even by Fellowship standards, with little official business and no controversy. Almost unnoticed was a constitutional amendment that restored a mention of Jesus and the Great Commission to the CBF's governing documents.</p>
<p>Last year, adoption of constitutional changes that omitted that language stirred heated debate at the general assembly and sparked months of criticism within the CBF's 1,850 affiliated churches and beyond. The amendment — a constitutional preamble in which Fellowship members “gladly declare our allegiance to Jesus Christ as Lord and to his gospel” — was adopted June 22 without opposition or discussion by the 3,005 registered participants. It already had been approved by the CBF's Coordinating Council last October.</p>
<p>Also absent this year was any debate about the Fellowship's past — as disenfranchised moderate Southern Baptists — which several participants said is a sign of the CBF's “maturity as an organization.</p>
<p>Instead, the CBF annual meeting — and the related gatherings of dozens of “partner” organizations — focused on the future, as Fellowship-type Baptists seek a positive role to play in a less-denominational, more-ecumenical setting.</p>
<p>Daniel Vestal, the CBF's national coordinator, told assembly participants the Fellowship stands for “inclusiveness and freedom, openness and partnering.”</p>
<p>“As we clarify and communicate our values, many others will be attracted to us and want to be a part of us,” he said. “I can tell you today that all over the world there are Baptist Christians who share these values and want to partner with us because of these values. They don't want our money as much as they want our friendship and partnership. I can also tell you that there are Christians that are not Baptist who want to partner with us because of these values.”</p>
<p>Keynote speaker Trevor Hudson, a Methodist pastor from South Africa and social justice advocate, commended CBF for its maturity, its outward focus on holistic missions, and its commitment to meet human needs.</p>
<p>“I have a sense that the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is on a train, and it's moving,” he said. “I've really appreciated the energy that I sense in the movement. To me as an outsider, it seems that you're on a journey toward greater missional faithfulness, to deep recognition in your life of the inner and outer journeys of faith.”</p>
<p>Nonetheless, Hudson urged CBF members to step out of their cultural “bubble” and embrace the world around them.</p>
<p>“Please never turn your back on the world — never,” Hudson said. Citing the words of a popular Christian chorus, he said, “ ‘The cross before me, the world behind me' — that is heresy.” Those songs betray the love of God for this world. God's loving arms encircle the globe. God is wanting to redeem the whole of creation. Listen to the groan.”</p>
<p>“We are not separate from the pains of the world,” Hudson continued. “The role of the church is for the pain and hurt and suffering of the world to be concentrated and held and maybe even healed. I hope that at this assembly we can open our hearts to the groans that are here … and hold the pain of the world and be Christ to one another.”</p>
<p>Fellowship participants responded to the world's need by contributing $32,801 to a human rights offering, sending out new missionaries and, in a pre-assembly workshop, training to minister to people with HIV-AIDS.</p>
<p>The special offering, received at both evening sessions, honors former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn. The money will be used for religious liberty and human rights ministries of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist World Alliance.</p>
<p>“My concept of human rights has grown to include not only the right to live in peace, but also the right to adequate health care, shelter, food and economic opportunity,” the former president said in a video message. “Your involvement will be vital to transforming systems, policies and practices that prevent religious liberty among some of the most neglected people of the world. We cannot forget the faces of those whose lives will be changed forever.”</p>
<p>The 19 mission personnel commissioned during the closing session include six short-term missionaries (one-to-three years) and 13 self-supporting workers who will serve under the auspices of the CBF's AsYouGo Affiliate program. None of the appointees are fully-funded career missionaries.</p>
<p>Jack Snell, the Fellowship's associate coordinator for field teams, noted the personnel will serve among the most neglected people. “It was out of his compassion that Jesus went where people were hurting and helpless,” he said.</p>
<p>“What we are participating in involves all of us, not just for tonight but for the future,” he continued. “Each of us is being challenged to enter into the pain of the world. There is so much to be done, and we are doing so little. It breaks my heart. Our offerings are flat. We haven't reached our Offering for Global Missions goal in several years,” he said. “In many cases our passions are dulled and our compassion is defeated by fatigue.”</p>
<p>Shorter College professor Rob Nash, who was elected global missions coordinator June 21 by the CBF's Coordinating Council, was introduced to the assembly and led the commissioning prayer for the new personnel.</p>
<p>Prior to the assembly, more than 400 people gathered for an HIV-AIDS summit to learn how to formulate personal, congregational and Fellowship-wide responses to the health crisis. An estimated 40 million people worldwide live with AIDS or HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.</p>
<p>The Christian response to the AIDS crisis, now 25 years old, suffers from lack of awareness, stereotypes, and stigmas, particularly in the United States, where the first cases of the disease were spread mainly by sex between gay men, said summit speaker David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “God is not put off by the sexual character of this disease,” he said. “There are more important things at stake than that.”</p>
<p>The Fellowship installed new officers, including incoming moderator Emmanuel McCall, pastor of Baptist Fellowship Group in nearby East Point, Ga. He is the first African-American to serve as moderator. He succeeds Joy Yee, pastor of 19th Avenue Baptist Church, San Francisco, Calif., who presided this year as the first Asian-American and first female senior pastor to serve as moderator.</p>
<p>Fellowship members elected Harriet Harral, an organizational and leadership consultant from Fort Worth, Texas, as moderator-elect and Hal Bass, political science professor at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., as recorder.</p>
<p>In her moderator's address, Yee urged the Fellowship to continue and deepen its commitment to be “intercultural.” While a group can be “multicultural” by simply gathering people of various ethnicities, races, geographies, ages, genders and classes in the same place, Yee said, to be “intercultural” it must dynamically involve each group with all the others.</p>
<p>A day earlier, the Coordinating Council adopted a “mandate” that commits the council to being intercultural and urges CBF to place a priority on creating an intercultural team of coordinators and staff.</p>
<p>The mandate also urges individuals, churches and CBF partners “to set aside the differences that keep people apart, to build intercultural relationships, to … learn from one another and to celebrate the fellowship that God creates through reconciliation.”</p>
<p>In his annual sermon to the assembly, Vestal described the Fellowship as “a renewal movement.'</p>
<p>“CBF as an organization requires us to create budgets, procedures and policies, adopt bylaws and elect leaders,” he said. But we remain a movement of renewal — spiritual renewal, congregational renewal, missional renewal, [and] denominational renewal.”</p>
<p>To remain a renewal movement, Vestal said, CBF must “confess and celebrate” its theological center, clarify and communicate its values, live in community and cooperation, and commit to the CBF's mission to “be the presence of Christ.”</p>
<p>The CBF's center, Vestal said, is “nothing less than the reality, the presence, the power, and the love of the triune God. God is creator, sustainer and sovereign. Jesus Christ is Son of God, son of man, Savior, Risen Lord. The Holy Spirit is God with us and God in us.”</p>
<p>As a “renewal movement,” he said the CBF is “a part, though a small part, of what God through Christ is doing in his church and in his world.”</p>
<p>“May we have an audacious faith and an authentic witness so that this renewal may continue.”</p>
| false | 3 |
call minister world need cooperative baptist fellowship began 16th year appointing 19 mission workers welcoming new missions coordinator adopting 17million budget contributing 32801 special human rights offering fellowships june 2223 annual meeting atlanta quiet even fellowship standards little official business controversy almost unnoticed constitutional amendment restored mention jesus great commission cbfs governing documents last year adoption constitutional changes omitted language stirred heated debate general assembly sparked months criticism within cbfs 1850 affiliated churches beyond amendment constitutional preamble fellowship members gladly declare allegiance jesus christ lord gospel adopted june 22 without opposition discussion 3005 registered participants already approved cbfs coordinating council last october also absent year debate fellowships past disenfranchised moderate southern baptists several participants said sign cbfs maturity organization instead cbf annual meeting related gatherings dozens partner organizations focused future fellowshiptype baptists seek positive role play lessdenominational moreecumenical setting daniel vestal cbfs national coordinator told assembly participants fellowship stands inclusiveness freedom openness partnering clarify communicate values many others attracted us want part us said tell today world baptist christians share values want partner us values dont want money much want friendship partnership also tell christians baptist want partner us values keynote speaker trevor hudson methodist pastor south africa social justice advocate commended cbf maturity outward focus holistic missions commitment meet human needs sense cooperative baptist fellowship train moving said ive really appreciated energy sense movement outsider seems youre journey toward greater missional faithfulness deep recognition life inner outer journeys faith nonetheless hudson urged cbf members step cultural bubble embrace world around please never turn back world never hudson said citing words popular christian chorus said cross world behind heresy songs betray love god world gods loving arms encircle globe god wanting redeem whole creation listen groan separate pains world hudson continued role church pain hurt suffering world concentrated held maybe even healed hope assembly open hearts groans hold pain world christ one another fellowship participants responded worlds need contributing 32801 human rights offering sending new missionaries preassembly workshop training minister people hivaids special offering received evening sessions honors former president jimmy carter wife rosalyn money used religious liberty human rights ministries cooperative baptist fellowship baptist world alliance concept human rights grown include right live peace also right adequate health care shelter food economic opportunity former president said video message involvement vital transforming systems policies practices prevent religious liberty among neglected people world forget faces whose lives changed forever 19 mission personnel commissioned closing session include six shortterm missionaries onetothree years 13 selfsupporting workers serve auspices cbfs asyougo affiliate program none appointees fullyfunded career missionaries jack snell fellowships associate coordinator field teams noted personnel serve among neglected people compassion jesus went people hurting helpless said participating involves us tonight future continued us challenged enter pain world much done little breaks heart offerings flat havent reached offering global missions goal several years said many cases passions dulled compassion defeated fatigue shorter college professor rob nash elected global missions coordinator june 21 cbfs coordinating council introduced assembly led commissioning prayer new personnel prior assembly 400 people gathered hivaids summit learn formulate personal congregational fellowshipwide responses health crisis estimated 40 million people worldwide live aids hiv virus causes aids christian response aids crisis 25 years old suffers lack awareness stereotypes stigmas particularly united states first cases disease spread mainly sex gay men said summit speaker david beckmann president bread world god put sexual character disease said important things stake fellowship installed new officers including incoming moderator emmanuel mccall pastor baptist fellowship group nearby east point ga first africanamerican serve moderator succeeds joy yee pastor 19th avenue baptist church san francisco calif presided year first asianamerican first female senior pastor serve moderator fellowship members elected harriet harral organizational leadership consultant fort worth texas moderatorelect hal bass political science professor ouachita baptist university arkadelphia ark recorder moderators address yee urged fellowship continue deepen commitment intercultural group multicultural simply gathering people various ethnicities races geographies ages genders classes place yee said intercultural must dynamically involve group others day earlier coordinating council adopted mandate commits council intercultural urges cbf place priority creating intercultural team coordinators staff mandate also urges individuals churches cbf partners set aside differences keep people apart build intercultural relationships learn one another celebrate fellowship god creates reconciliation annual sermon assembly vestal described fellowship renewal movement cbf organization requires us create budgets procedures policies adopt bylaws elect leaders said remain movement renewal spiritual renewal congregational renewal missional renewal denominational renewal remain renewal movement vestal said cbf must confess celebrate theological center clarify communicate values live community cooperation commit cbfs mission presence christ cbfs center vestal said nothing less reality presence power love triune god god creator sustainer sovereign jesus christ son god son man savior risen lord holy spirit god us god us renewal movement said cbf part though small part god christ church world may audacious faith authentic witness renewal may continue
| 807 |
<p>Chicago has long been a sanctuary city for immigrants, stretching back to the late Mayor Harold Washington’s 1985 <a href="http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/mayor/Office%20of%20New%20Americans/NewAmericanBookletfullplan.pdf" type="external">executive order</a> barring city inquiries about immigration status and mandating that city services be provided to everybody, regardless of status.</p>
<p>Most recently, Mayor Rahm Emanuel further strengthened that image and <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/11/us/obama-policy-on-illegal-immigrants-is-challenged-by-chicago.html" type="external">made national headlines</a> in 2012 by proposing limits on when Chicago police could cooperate with federal immigration authorities.</p>
<p>Now, a broad coalition of about a dozen immigrant rights groups are challenging Emanuel to enact tougher restrictions on how police deal with the undocumented. Among other proposals, the coalition wants to prohibit police, as well as other city employees, from even making threats of deportation.</p>
<p>The proposals would make Chicago—where <a href="http://icirr.org/sites/default/wp-content/uploads/Illinois%20undocumented%20report_0.pdf" type="external">an estimated 183,000 people, or 7 percent of the population</a>, is undocumented—a national leader in pro-immigration policy. The campaign says that their proposals would also encourage more undocumented immigrants to go to the police when they are victims of or witnesses to crimes.</p>
<p>Citing <a href="http://fusion.net/story/318212/supreme-court-ruling-dapa-daca-immigration/" type="external">a recent Supreme Court deadlock</a> that blocked an Obama administration program to halt some deportations, as well as growing fears of a possible anti-immigrant Donald Trump presidency, coalition members say their proposals are urgent. They plan a rally Monday evening to urge City Council to consider the amendments at its Wednesday meeting.</p>
<p>The campaign comes at a time when Chicago is already grappling with the broader issue of police accountability and policing reform in communities of color. A <a href="https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/three-police-officers-in-asian-salon-raid-recommended-for-suspension/c0f0e729-21e8-4a49-8f4a-924486695642" type="external">high-profile case</a> of police abuse, in which the Chinese-American manager&#160;of a tanning salon was threatened with deportation and struck over the head, sparked the involvement of Asian American groups in the campaign.</p>
<p>At a town hall meeting after surveillance video in the case was released, organizers heard “a lot of testimony” from residents who told of being the targets of abusive comments or questions about their immigration status from police, said Van Huynh, a fellow at Asian Americans Advancing Justice.</p>
<p>Currently, there’s no system to track these incidents. But, Huynh said, “We know these things are happening because people will come into our office and tell us about these issues.”</p>
<p>Tracking police threats, curbing cooperation with immigration authorities</p>
<p>Photo by Stacey Rupolo</p>
<p>More than 100 activists and others gathered at Casa Michoacan in Pilsen on June 29, 2016, to discuss a campaign to strengthen protections for undocumented immigrants through Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance. Chicago is already one of more than 300 so-called “sanctuary cities” for undocumented immigrants.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, other groups at the same time were working on a plan to reform the Welcoming City Ordinance and further restrict police cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Activists from the Asian and Latino communities then joined together to craft a reform plan six months ago.</p>
<p>Along with prohibiting police, as well as other city employees, from making deportation threats, the campaign’s proposals would:</p>
<p>Rosi Carrasco of Organized Communities Against Deportation pointed out that exemptions under which police now cooperate with ICE are too broad.</p>
<p>“Take the loophole for people who are defendants in a felony case,” said Carrasco. “What if he or she is not guilty? If you’re still on trial and have charges pending, why should police be able to refer you to ICE?”</p>
<p>Eliminating exemptions is a matter of fairness, said Fred Tsao, senior policy counsel for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights</p>
<p>“Police do not routinely arrest people based solely on a prior conviction, or turning up in a gang database. So why should that be used as justification for arresting an [undocumented immigrant]?” Tsao said. “We come back to the basic fundamental fairness of treating people equally regardless of their immigration status, which is what the Welcoming City Ordinance was intended to do.”</p>
<p>It’s unclear how often Chicago police now communicate with or refer people to ICE in cases that fall under the exemptions. An ICE official said the agency does not maintain statistics on collaboration with local law enforcement. The Chicago Police Department asked for more time to respond to a request for data.</p>
<p>The proposals, combined with an existing Cook County ordinance that bars virtually all cooperation with ICE, would make Chicago “one of the more protective communities in the country, if not the most,” according to Tsao. (The county ordinance prohibits the sheriff’s office from turning over an undocumented person to ICE unless federal agents provide&#160;a&#160;warrant.)</p>
<p>Keeping the streets safe?</p>
<p>Meanwhile, critics of sanctuary policies — as well as federal authorities —point out that blanket policies against cooperation between local police and immigration authorities could pose a danger in some cases, and that cooperation is necessary to keep dangerous criminals off the street.</p>
<p>That issue <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SF-supervisors-OK-compromise-sanctuary-city-7943757.php" type="external">gained national attention</a> last year after authorities in San Francisco released an undocumented immigrant from jail; the man is now accused of murdering a woman. Local authorities there <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SF-supervisors-OK-compromise-sanctuary-city-7943757.php" type="external">recently agreed to begin notifying ICE</a>before releasing undocumented immigrants in cases involving violent or multiple felony convictions.</p>
<p>Supporters of strong sanctuary policies, however, say the San Francisco case is an exception and point to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/07/us/more-deportations-follow-minor-crimes-data-shows.html?_r=0" type="external">analyses of federal government data</a> that show most undocumented immigrants who are deported were accused of minor crimes.</p>
<p>Asked about collaboration between Chicago police and immigration authorities, ICE spokeswoman Gail Montenegro said only that the agency “continues to work cooperatively with our local law enforcement partners throughout the country to uphold public safety. ICE’s heightened enforcement priorities focus on convicted criminals and individuals who threaten public safety and national security.”</p>
<p>Immigration activists say Emanuel’s seal of approval would guarantee City Council passage of the amendments. So far, they say City Hall has been receptive but non-committal. In a statement, a mayoral spokeswoman said that “we are aware of these proposals and are currently working with these groups and other stakeholders to ensure that immigrants from across the globe continue to view Chicago as a great place to settle and make better lives for themselves.”</p>
<p>Activists also note that city officials are pressing to include immigration issues as part of the discussion about police accountability, which was sparked by the release of video last year showing the 2013 killing of black teenager Laquan McDonald by a white police officer.</p>
<p>Some in the campaign worry that the policing reform process will drag on for months, and say&#160;the&#160;immigration proposals are clear-cut and should be acted on immediately.</p>
<p>Others say including immigrants in the broad reform conversation could be a good thing.</p>
<p>“We cannot divorce these two issues,” said Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, who supports the proposed amendments. “We want to make sure conversations about immigrant rights are included in the restorative justice and criminal justice reforms.”</p>
| false | 3 |
chicago long sanctuary city immigrants stretching back late mayor harold washingtons 1985 executive order barring city inquiries immigration status mandating city services provided everybody regardless status recently mayor rahm emanuel strengthened image made national headlines 2012 proposing limits chicago police could cooperate federal immigration authorities broad coalition dozen immigrant rights groups challenging emanuel enact tougher restrictions police deal undocumented among proposals coalition wants prohibit police well city employees even making threats deportation proposals would make chicagowhere estimated 183000 people 7 percent population undocumenteda national leader proimmigration policy campaign says proposals would also encourage undocumented immigrants go police victims witnesses crimes citing recent supreme court deadlock blocked obama administration program halt deportations well growing fears possible antiimmigrant donald trump presidency coalition members say proposals urgent plan rally monday evening urge city council consider amendments wednesday meeting campaign comes time chicago already grappling broader issue police accountability policing reform communities color highprofile case police abuse chineseamerican manager160of tanning salon threatened deportation struck head sparked involvement asian american groups campaign town hall meeting surveillance video case released organizers heard lot testimony residents told targets abusive comments questions immigration status police said van huynh fellow asian americans advancing justice currently theres system track incidents huynh said know things happening people come office tell us issues tracking police threats curbing cooperation immigration authorities photo stacey rupolo 100 activists others gathered casa michoacan pilsen june 29 2016 discuss campaign strengthen protections undocumented immigrants chicagos welcoming city ordinance chicago already one 300 socalled sanctuary cities undocumented immigrants meanwhile groups time working plan reform welcoming city ordinance restrict police cooperation us immigration customs enforcement activists asian latino communities joined together craft reform plan six months ago along prohibiting police well city employees making deportation threats campaigns proposals would rosi carrasco organized communities deportation pointed exemptions police cooperate ice broad take loophole people defendants felony case said carrasco guilty youre still trial charges pending police able refer ice eliminating exemptions matter fairness said fred tsao senior policy counsel illinois coalition immigrant refugee rights police routinely arrest people based solely prior conviction turning gang database used justification arresting undocumented immigrant tsao said come back basic fundamental fairness treating people equally regardless immigration status welcoming city ordinance intended unclear often chicago police communicate refer people ice cases fall exemptions ice official said agency maintain statistics collaboration local law enforcement chicago police department asked time respond request data proposals combined existing cook county ordinance bars virtually cooperation ice would make chicago one protective communities country according tsao county ordinance prohibits sheriffs office turning undocumented person ice unless federal agents provide160a160warrant keeping streets safe meanwhile critics sanctuary policies well federal authorities point blanket policies cooperation local police immigration authorities could pose danger cases cooperation necessary keep dangerous criminals street issue gained national attention last year authorities san francisco released undocumented immigrant jail man accused murdering woman local authorities recently agreed begin notifying icebefore releasing undocumented immigrants cases involving violent multiple felony convictions supporters strong sanctuary policies however say san francisco case exception point analyses federal government data show undocumented immigrants deported accused minor crimes asked collaboration chicago police immigration authorities ice spokeswoman gail montenegro said agency continues work cooperatively local law enforcement partners throughout country uphold public safety ices heightened enforcement priorities focus convicted criminals individuals threaten public safety national security immigration activists say emanuels seal approval would guarantee city council passage amendments far say city hall receptive noncommittal statement mayoral spokeswoman said aware proposals currently working groups stakeholders ensure immigrants across globe continue view chicago great place settle make better lives activists also note city officials pressing include immigration issues part discussion police accountability sparked release video last year showing 2013 killing black teenager laquan mcdonald white police officer campaign worry policing reform process drag months say160the160immigration proposals clearcut acted immediately others say including immigrants broad reform conversation could good thing divorce two issues said ald carlos ramirezrosa supports proposed amendments want make sure conversations immigrant rights included restorative justice criminal justice reforms
| 661 |
<p>The hack of more than a half billion Yahoo email accounts was motivated by espionage, not profit, according to an independent cybersecurity firm report released Wednesday, which contends that an Eastern European state-sponsored actor appears to have ordered the massive hack as part of a coordinated effort to infiltrate the email accounts of U.S. military, diplomatic and political figures.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.infoarmor.com/infoarmor-yahoo-data-breach-investigation/%20" type="external">findings</a> by the cyber security firm InfoArmor are consistent with Yahoo officials’ claim last week that a state-sponsored actor was behind one of the largest corporate breaches in U.S. history.</p>
<p>Yet InfoArmor’s version of events, if accurate, provides significant new details about how and why the company was hacked. Minor league hackers who were peddling Yahoo users’ personal information for cash in “dark web” marketplaces were also part of a foreign government espionage campaign dating back to 2014. And the findings also suggest that hacks of LinkedIn, Dropbox, MySpace and other firms -- breaches affecting billions of customers worldwide -- might've been part of the same state-sponsored effort.</p>
<p>In an interview with NBC News prior to the release of his firm’s findings, InfoArmor’s chief intelligence officer Andrew Komarov described the Yahoo breach as part of a larger, ongoing campaign to break in to the email accounts of prominent officials from the U.S. and across the globe.</p>
<p>He said that his analysts have uncovered a previously unidentified collective of elite black hat hackers-for-hire from Eastern Europe -- a group that InfoArmor analysts now contend was also responsible for hacks of the other social media companies.</p>
<p>Komarov said that a state-sponsored actor from Eastern Europe commissioned and later paid the hacker collective $300,000 for the Yahoo data trove. He said he didn't know if the hacks of the other social media companies were also commissioned by a state-sponsored actor, but believed it was likely. He also said he didn't know if the state that directed the hacks was Russia, or if the state-sponsored actor that paid the hackers was a Russian intelligence agency or some other arm of the Russian government, but that Eastern European hackers often have links to the Russian government.</p>
<p>Eastern European operatives tied to Russia’s intelligence agencies have been widely suspected by cybersecurity researchers of multiple efforts to hack U.S. government officials’ email accounts and the accounts of Democratic party operatives.</p>
<p>Komarov said that InfoArmor’s conclusions that the hackers who attacked Linkedin and other companies were also responsible for the Yahoo breach are based on an extensive intelligence analysis, underground contacts and information gleaned from multiple sources surrounding the Yahoo hack. His firm went into dark web chatrooms and made contact with hackers advertising Yahoo addresses for sale who said they were involved in the breach, and accessed and validated what Komarov described as a "large sample" of the stolen Yahoo data.</p>
<p>Yahoo’s confirmation last week of the massive breach has placed the tech giant at the center of a storm of controversy and unanswered questions, and could jeopardize the company’s imminent $4.8 billion sale of its core business to the telecom giant Verizon.</p>
<p>It remains unclear how long and how much Yahoo officials knew about the breach before publicly acknowledging it. Company officials have said that Yahoo became aware of the breach in August, and began to investigate. Experts have said that it’s not uncommon for a company of Yahoo’s size to withhold disclosure of a suspected breach until an internal forensic investigation has been complete.</p>
<p>Last week, Yahoo’s chief information security officer, Bob Lord, said that an internal probe had determined that usernames, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, security questions and answers, and in some cases passwords were harvested from more than 500 million compromised Yahoo accounts.</p>
<p>Lord said in a <a href="https://yahoo.tumblr.com/post/150781911849/an-important-message-about-yahoo-user-security" type="external">blog post</a> that the company does not believe that banking or payment information was stolen, and has found no evidence to indicate that the hackers remain inside Yahoo’s systems.</p>
<p>Yahoo declined to comment.</p>
<p>Komarov said that the apparently state-sponsored actor involved in the heist was using an indirect but increasingly common strategy known as “island-hopping” or “leap-frogging” to reach its ultimate targets. Rather than going after U.S. and other government officials directly, the aggressors used the data from the hired black-hat hackers to breach the Yahoo accounts of friends, family and associates of their ultimate targets.</p>
<p>Once inside compromised Yahoo accounts, hackers can email or respond to their targets directly with seemingly legitimate Yahoo emails that are virtually indistinguishable from real ones.</p>
<p>“The target will receive the exact same email from the Yahoo user and, for him, it will look legitimate,” Komarov said.</p>
<p>He said that while it’s extremely difficult to directly infiltrate a Google Gmail account, for instance, all you really need to get into it is a compromised account of a Yahoo email user who corresponds with the Gmail user.</p>
<p>“Then you simply hack the Yahoo account’s contacts, and then analyze the [emails] sent from the real object of interest. At some point you replace [a legitimate Yahoo email sent to a target] and fill it with malware,” he said. Once the end target clicks on a link or an attachment in the infected Yahoo email, hackers can get inside the target’s account.</p>
<p>Komarov said that the state-sponsored actor appears to have been working with the black hat hacker collective -- which the InfoArmor team has dubbed “Group E” -- for at least several years.</p>
<p>He said that his analysts have determined that Group E was also responsible for earlier, high-profile hacks of LinkedIn, MySpace, Dropbox, the music-streaming service Last.fm, the microblogging site Tumblr and others -- likely for the same purpose of identifying trusted third parties surrounding their real targets. Tumblr was purchased by Yahoo in 2013.</p>
<p>“If you calculate all the victims for all these hacks by the same group, it will be several billion victims,” Komarov said.</p>
<p>InfoArmor has determined that at least some of the hacks of the other tech firms “were requested of Group E…so we assume that the Yahoo breach was one of the tools used for successful attacks against U.S. government officials.”</p>
<p>Komarov said that in recent years the state sponsored actor approached Group E and asked them to hack millions of Yahoo email users’ accounts. They provided Group E with specific email addresses they were seeking, and when they were turned over and verified, the foreign agent agreed to purchase the entire trove, he said.</p>
<p>The agent had initially sought exclusive access to the stolen Yahoo data set, but balked at Group E’s $500,000 price. Instead, Group E brought the price for the Yahoo trove down to $300,000, and retained the right to peddle the hacked emails elsewhere.</p>
<p>Komarov told NBC News that the Yahoo trove was later sold off to two well-known spammers, who exploited it for profit.</p>
<p>After it had been sold off and mined for months, Group E appears to have provided a low-level but well-known hacker named Tessa88 with mostly useless leftovers from the Yahoo trove to further distance the foreign agent from the Yahoo hack, Komarov said.</p>
<p>Tessa88 began advertising Yahoo data for sale on a Russian-speaking dark web marketplace, and appears to have partnered with a hacker who goes by the handle “Peace,” or “Peace of Mind,” to do the same in an English-speaking online marketplace called The Real Deal, according to InfoArmor.</p>
<p>It was only when Peace began advertising the Yahoo trove for sale that the company apparently became aware that they had been breached.</p>
<p>InfoArmor’s report describes the entire enterprise as “carefully orchestrated in order to mask the actual sources of the hacks.”</p>
<p>An independent cybersecurity expert, who was briefed by NBC News on the upcoming report -- with the permission of InfoArmor -- said the firm’s conclusions are consistent with what the cybersecurity community has privately postulated about the Yahoo hack.</p>
<p>“The story overall has a legitimacy to it,” said Ann Barron-DiCamillo, chief technology officer for Strategic Cyber Ventures, who recently retired as director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Computer Emergency Readiness Team (U.S. CERT).</p>
<p>“If you look at when the data was stolen, because the data was stolen in 2014 and never [until recently] showed up for sale on these [dark web] markets, there’s usually going to be a nation-state involved,” Barron-DiCamillo said on Tuesday.</p>
<p>“Nation-state actors like to have a degree of separation, so their hands are not in the cookie jar if they get caught. You’re seeing them more and more leveraging others. Plus there’s the fact that the [Yahoo] data wasn’t quickly monetized.” She said that with large scale hacks like those of Yahoo email users, the attackers must move quickly to profit off the theft.</p>
<p>If the motive is pure profit, hackers “are going to want to monetize [the data] so quickly, because it has a short shelf-life in terms of its value.”</p>
<p>Barron-DiCamillo said that she wouldn’t be surprised to see a nation-state haggle over the price for a data dump it had commissioned.</p>
<p>“It’s just like any other business transactions,” she said. “It feels different because the outcome is a little unusual, but it’s just like any other business transaction.”</p>
| false | 3 |
hack half billion yahoo email accounts motivated espionage profit according independent cybersecurity firm report released wednesday contends eastern european statesponsored actor appears ordered massive hack part coordinated effort infiltrate email accounts us military diplomatic political figures findings cyber security firm infoarmor consistent yahoo officials claim last week statesponsored actor behind one largest corporate breaches us history yet infoarmors version events accurate provides significant new details company hacked minor league hackers peddling yahoo users personal information cash dark web marketplaces also part foreign government espionage campaign dating back 2014 findings also suggest hacks linkedin dropbox myspace firms breaches affecting billions customers worldwide mightve part statesponsored effort interview nbc news prior release firms findings infoarmors chief intelligence officer andrew komarov described yahoo breach part larger ongoing campaign break email accounts prominent officials us across globe said analysts uncovered previously unidentified collective elite black hat hackersforhire eastern europe group infoarmor analysts contend also responsible hacks social media companies komarov said statesponsored actor eastern europe commissioned later paid hacker collective 300000 yahoo data trove said didnt know hacks social media companies also commissioned statesponsored actor believed likely also said didnt know state directed hacks russia statesponsored actor paid hackers russian intelligence agency arm russian government eastern european hackers often links russian government eastern european operatives tied russias intelligence agencies widely suspected cybersecurity researchers multiple efforts hack us government officials email accounts accounts democratic party operatives komarov said infoarmors conclusions hackers attacked linkedin companies also responsible yahoo breach based extensive intelligence analysis underground contacts information gleaned multiple sources surrounding yahoo hack firm went dark web chatrooms made contact hackers advertising yahoo addresses sale said involved breach accessed validated komarov described large sample stolen yahoo data yahoos confirmation last week massive breach placed tech giant center storm controversy unanswered questions could jeopardize companys imminent 48 billion sale core business telecom giant verizon remains unclear long much yahoo officials knew breach publicly acknowledging company officials said yahoo became aware breach august began investigate experts said uncommon company yahoos size withhold disclosure suspected breach internal forensic investigation complete last week yahoos chief information security officer bob lord said internal probe determined usernames email addresses telephone numbers dates birth security questions answers cases passwords harvested 500 million compromised yahoo accounts lord said blog post company believe banking payment information stolen found evidence indicate hackers remain inside yahoos systems yahoo declined comment komarov said apparently statesponsored actor involved heist using indirect increasingly common strategy known islandhopping leapfrogging reach ultimate targets rather going us government officials directly aggressors used data hired blackhat hackers breach yahoo accounts friends family associates ultimate targets inside compromised yahoo accounts hackers email respond targets directly seemingly legitimate yahoo emails virtually indistinguishable real ones target receive exact email yahoo user look legitimate komarov said said extremely difficult directly infiltrate google gmail account instance really need get compromised account yahoo email user corresponds gmail user simply hack yahoo accounts contacts analyze emails sent real object interest point replace legitimate yahoo email sent target fill malware said end target clicks link attachment infected yahoo email hackers get inside targets account komarov said statesponsored actor appears working black hat hacker collective infoarmor team dubbed group e least several years said analysts determined group e also responsible earlier highprofile hacks linkedin myspace dropbox musicstreaming service lastfm microblogging site tumblr others likely purpose identifying trusted third parties surrounding real targets tumblr purchased yahoo 2013 calculate victims hacks group several billion victims komarov said infoarmor determined least hacks tech firms requested group eso assume yahoo breach one tools used successful attacks us government officials komarov said recent years state sponsored actor approached group e asked hack millions yahoo email users accounts provided group e specific email addresses seeking turned verified foreign agent agreed purchase entire trove said agent initially sought exclusive access stolen yahoo data set balked group es 500000 price instead group e brought price yahoo trove 300000 retained right peddle hacked emails elsewhere komarov told nbc news yahoo trove later sold two wellknown spammers exploited profit sold mined months group e appears provided lowlevel wellknown hacker named tessa88 mostly useless leftovers yahoo trove distance foreign agent yahoo hack komarov said tessa88 began advertising yahoo data sale russianspeaking dark web marketplace appears partnered hacker goes handle peace peace mind englishspeaking online marketplace called real deal according infoarmor peace began advertising yahoo trove sale company apparently became aware breached infoarmors report describes entire enterprise carefully orchestrated order mask actual sources hacks independent cybersecurity expert briefed nbc news upcoming report permission infoarmor said firms conclusions consistent cybersecurity community privately postulated yahoo hack story overall legitimacy said ann barrondicamillo chief technology officer strategic cyber ventures recently retired director us department homeland securitys computer emergency readiness team us cert look data stolen data stolen 2014 never recently showed sale dark web markets theres usually going nationstate involved barrondicamillo said tuesday nationstate actors like degree separation hands cookie jar get caught youre seeing leveraging others plus theres fact yahoo data wasnt quickly monetized said large scale hacks like yahoo email users attackers must move quickly profit theft motive pure profit hackers going want monetize data quickly short shelflife terms value barrondicamillo said wouldnt surprised see nationstate haggle price data dump commissioned like business transactions said feels different outcome little unusual like business transaction
| 876 |
<p>LISBON, Portugal — Judging from the official portraits, the last man to rule Spain while sporting a ponytail was King Carlos IV, who stepped down in 1808.</p>
<p>Now there's a growing nervousness among Europe's political and financial establishment that "la coleta" may be poised to make a comeback in Madrid's corridors of power.</p>
<p>The ponytail causing such concern belongs to Pablo Iglesias, a skinny 36-year-old political science professor and onetime presenter of a TV chat show called Fort Apache.</p>
<p>Iglesias fronts a radical left-wing party called Podemos, or We Can, that's threatening to rock the foundations of Spanish politics and sending shockwaves around Europe.</p>
<p>"The best moments in the history of our continent were forged by the revolutions, made by the people whose rights mean more than kings, gods, nobles or grand landowners," Iglesias proclaimed during his maiden speech to the European Parliament in June.</p>
<p>"Europe's greatest heritage is the will of its people to be free, to be nobody's servants,” he said. “That's what democracy means."</p>
<p>Iglesias is a leading light among a new generation of European leftist leaders riding a wave of voter dissatisfaction with the political mainstream, which has been discredited in the eyes of many voters by their handling of the euro zone economic crisis.</p>
<p>While the rise of parties on the radical right — including the French National Front, the United Kingdom Independence Party and the Dutch Freedom Party — has captured headlines, far-left parties have also been making spectacular gains.</p>
<p>Polls show the Coalition of the Radical Left, or SYRIZA, is now Greece's most popular party. A survey last month gave it 35 percent of support — more than the combined total of the conservative and socialist parties that have ruled the country since democracy was restored in 1974.</p>
<p>In Ireland, a poll last week showed the radical Sinn Fein (Ourselves) Party is now the country's most popular despite the country's recent re-emergence as the European Union's fastest-growing economy.</p>
<p>Even in Germany, the far left is making gains.</p>
<p>Die Linke, or The Left, which grew out of the old East German Communist Party, is set to take control of one of Germany's regional states for the first time. The party's 36-year-old co-leader Katja Kipping made international headlines this summer proposing the government give all poor families vouchers worth $625 to pay for vacations.</p>
<p>Germany may be able to fuel such schemes, but elsewhere, fear of far-left profligacy is spooking financial markets. Speculation last month that Greece would call early elections next year together with the prospect of a SYRIZA victory sent stocks crashing, bond yields soaring and revived fears of Greek exit from the euro currency zone.</p>
<p>That's despite a decision by SYRIZA's leader, 40-year-old Alexis Tsipras, to tone down some of his firebrand rhetoric to talk about renegotiating rather than tearing up Greece’s bailout agreement with its creditors.</p>
<p>He's also sought to boost his potential prime ministerial credentials by meeting with the likes of Pope Francis, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi and Greek military commanders.</p>
<p>"The great change has begun," Tsipras told the parliament in Athens recently. "The old is on its way out. The new is coming, No one can stop it."</p>
<p>In Spain, the rise of Podemos has been even more remarkable. The party grew out of the indignados street protests that erupted at the height of the economic crisis in 2011. Founded only in January, it captured five seats in Spain's elections to the European Parliament in May.</p>
<p>A poll in the Madrid daily El Pais earlier this month put Iglesias's party in first place with 27.7 percent of the vote — ahead of the governing conservatives and the main center-left opposition, who have dominated Spanish politics for four decades.</p>
<p>Podemos's rise has been boosted by a spate of corruption scandals smearing the pillars of Spain's establishment, including the royal family, business leaders and dozens of mainstream politicians.</p>
<p>The country’s economic woes been a boon for the new left. Although the economy has made a hesitant return to growth in recent months, millions are trapped in unemployment. The young are hit hardest: Spain's jobless rate for the under-25s stands at 54 percent, the EU’s highest.</p>
<p>Podemos’s irreverent style has obvious appeal to Spain's disgruntled youth. Iglesias sports a hipster goatee as well as his trademark ponytail. He prefers jeans and open-necked shirts to the classically cut suits favored by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.</p>
<p>The party maintains a slick social network presence. Iglesias's Facebook page compares Spanish politics to the television show Game of Thrones.</p>
<p>"The crafty character nicknamed Littlefinger reminds us that we live in a world where some men are lucky to be born in the right family, while others must seek their own way," he wrote, alongside a photo of the series' blond heroine stroking a diminutive dragon.</p>
<p>Critics say Podemos — like its far-left partners across Europe — is stronger on style than substance, particularly when it comes to credible economic policies.</p>
<p>The radical left shares much of the far right's analysis on the causes of Europe's economic woes, placing the blame on EU bureaucrats and international bankers.</p>
<p>"When Podemos is in government, JP Morgan is not going to be able to pick up the phone and tell us what to do," Iglesias told the TV channel Cuatro in an interview on Wednesday. "The investment banks that buy and speculate with Spain's debt are not going to decide our economic policy... the people vote for governments, not investment banks."</p>
<p>Although the party is still working up its economic program, proposed policies include a selective default on Spain's national debt, state takeovers of "strategic" companies, lowering the retirement age to 50 and taxes on the wealthy that would fund a universal basic income for all families.</p>
<p>A former communist youth activist, Iglesias has expressed admiration for the policies of Venezuela's late leftist leader Hugo Chavez.</p>
<p>He and other Podemos members once sat on the board of a foundation that received $4.6 million from the Chavez government over 10 years up to 2012, according to an El Pais report in June. Podemos has acknowledged that Iglesias and the others also once acted as advisors to Latin American countries, but denies the party receives any foreign government funding.</p>
<p>Even if Podemos emerges as the biggest winner in Spanish general elections due next year, polls put it well short of an overall majority. That means it will have to find coalition partners among the mainstream parties it reviles — or that they will have to join together to keep Podemos out of power</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/141113/uk-eu-cameron-immigration-budget-spat" type="external">This week in lonely battles: David Cameron vs. the EU</a></p>
<p>The economic crisis has thrown bitter rivals from the mainstream left and right into uneasy coalitions in Greece and Italy, not to mention Germany's government, where Angela Merkel's center-right party shares power with Social Democratic partners.</p>
<p>But many warn that such "grand coalitions" ultimately boost support for radical forces by reinforcing voter perceptions that parties on the far left and right are the only alternative.</p>
<p>"A grand coalition would be harmful for our democracy," warned Pedro Sanchez, new leader of the center-left Socialist Party, last week.</p>
<p>A 42-year-old who also favors jeans and open shirts — but no ponytail — Sanchez was picked as party leader in July in the hope of reviving the party's fortunes and holding off the threat from Iglesias.</p>
| false | 3 |
lisbon portugal judging official portraits last man rule spain sporting ponytail king carlos iv stepped 1808 theres growing nervousness among europes political financial establishment la coleta may poised make comeback madrids corridors power ponytail causing concern belongs pablo iglesias skinny 36yearold political science professor onetime presenter tv chat show called fort apache iglesias fronts radical leftwing party called podemos thats threatening rock foundations spanish politics sending shockwaves around europe best moments history continent forged revolutions made people whose rights mean kings gods nobles grand landowners iglesias proclaimed maiden speech european parliament june europes greatest heritage people free nobodys servants said thats democracy means iglesias leading light among new generation european leftist leaders riding wave voter dissatisfaction political mainstream discredited eyes many voters handling euro zone economic crisis rise parties radical right including french national front united kingdom independence party dutch freedom party captured headlines farleft parties also making spectacular gains polls show coalition radical left syriza greeces popular party survey last month gave 35 percent support combined total conservative socialist parties ruled country since democracy restored 1974 ireland poll last week showed radical sinn fein party countrys popular despite countrys recent reemergence european unions fastestgrowing economy even germany far left making gains die linke left grew old east german communist party set take control one germanys regional states first time partys 36yearold coleader katja kipping made international headlines summer proposing government give poor families vouchers worth 625 pay vacations germany may able fuel schemes elsewhere fear farleft profligacy spooking financial markets speculation last month greece would call early elections next year together prospect syriza victory sent stocks crashing bond yields soaring revived fears greek exit euro currency zone thats despite decision syrizas leader 40yearold alexis tsipras tone firebrand rhetoric talk renegotiating rather tearing greeces bailout agreement creditors hes also sought boost potential prime ministerial credentials meeting likes pope francis european central bank president mario draghi greek military commanders great change begun tsipras told parliament athens recently old way new coming one stop spain rise podemos even remarkable party grew indignados street protests erupted height economic crisis 2011 founded january captured five seats spains elections european parliament may poll madrid daily el pais earlier month put iglesiass party first place 277 percent vote ahead governing conservatives main centerleft opposition dominated spanish politics four decades podemoss rise boosted spate corruption scandals smearing pillars spains establishment including royal family business leaders dozens mainstream politicians countrys economic woes boon new left although economy made hesitant return growth recent months millions trapped unemployment young hit hardest spains jobless rate under25s stands 54 percent eus highest podemoss irreverent style obvious appeal spains disgruntled youth iglesias sports hipster goatee well trademark ponytail prefers jeans opennecked shirts classically cut suits favored prime minister mariano rajoy party maintains slick social network presence iglesiass facebook page compares spanish politics television show game thrones crafty character nicknamed littlefinger reminds us live world men lucky born right family others must seek way wrote alongside photo series blond heroine stroking diminutive dragon critics say podemos like farleft partners across europe stronger style substance particularly comes credible economic policies radical left shares much far rights analysis causes europes economic woes placing blame eu bureaucrats international bankers podemos government jp morgan going able pick phone tell us iglesias told tv channel cuatro interview wednesday investment banks buy speculate spains debt going decide economic policy people vote governments investment banks although party still working economic program proposed policies include selective default spains national debt state takeovers strategic companies lowering retirement age 50 taxes wealthy would fund universal basic income families former communist youth activist iglesias expressed admiration policies venezuelas late leftist leader hugo chavez podemos members sat board foundation received 46 million chavez government 10 years 2012 according el pais report june podemos acknowledged iglesias others also acted advisors latin american countries denies party receives foreign government funding even podemos emerges biggest winner spanish general elections due next year polls put well short overall majority means find coalition partners among mainstream parties reviles join together keep podemos power globalpost week lonely battles david cameron vs eu economic crisis thrown bitter rivals mainstream left right uneasy coalitions greece italy mention germanys government angela merkels centerright party shares power social democratic partners many warn grand coalitions ultimately boost support radical forces reinforcing voter perceptions parties far left right alternative grand coalition would harmful democracy warned pedro sanchez new leader centerleft socialist party last week 42yearold also favors jeans open shirts ponytail sanchez picked party leader july hope reviving partys fortunes holding threat iglesias
| 755 |
<p>Last year, the School Board shut three schools with low test scores, displacing teachers and drawing fire from the Chicago Teachers Union. In August, the board cracked its accountability whip once more, removing five principals from low-performing schools, this time provoking the principals association.</p>
<p>Ousting principals at under-achieving schools is nothing new. Under former Chief Executive Officer Paul Vallas, the School Board removed about 40 principals for inadequate school performance over a six-year period beginning in 1995.</p>
<p>But years later, many of those same schools are still on probation or were among those closed last year by CEO Arne Duncan for low performance, observes Dave Peterson, who recently retired from the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association. “I don’t see removal as the answer. It’s a simplistic response to a complicated problem.”</p>
<p>The five probation schools that lost principals in August have a history of low test scores and generally perform below average on other indicators such as student attendance or dropout rates. They are Truth, Bethune, and Cather elementary schools and Gage Park and Austin high schools.</p>
<p>(Principals at two other elementary schools, Linda Ross-Hutchinson of Morgan and Pamela Strain of Ruggles, were also recently removed from their schools pending disciplinary charges unrelated to school performance.)</p>
<p>CPS spokesperson Peter Cunningham, says that the five low-performing schools have been on probation for years, and that the board has provided extra supports such as university partnerships and tutoring programs. “It’s not like we haven’t tried, and we’re kicking the principal out,” he says.</p>
<p>But Peterson observes that many other probation schools had even lower test scores and attendance rates and higher drop out rates but did not lose their principals. “Why these five?” he asks.</p>
<p>Two of the ousted principals—Will Stigall of Truth in Near North Side and Gregory Wiley of Cather in East Garfield Park—had fewer than two years tenure, Peterson adds. “If they failed, it’s because they weren’t adequately prepared or supported,” he insists.</p>
<p>Nancy Carter-Hill, the Area 7 Instructional Officer who oversees Cather, disagrees that the School Board dismissed new principals without adequately training them. Last year, for instance, new principals received workshops on everything from school budgets to leadership, she says. Carter-Hill says struggling principals are paired with more experienced colleagues for mentoring. She notes that Cather Principal Wiley got the same training as other new principals, “and they’re still in their schools.”</p>
<p>Firings may be challenged</p>
<p>Clarice Berry, the principals association’s newly elected president, reports that all the removals are under an attorney’s review and may be challenged. In dismissing principals, especially new ones, the board is leaping to the most serious consequence without taking intermediate steps, such as those teachers are entitled to, she says.</p>
<p>The other principals removed from probation schools were Learna Brewer-Baker of Austin High, Katherine Smith of Gage Park High, and Warren Franczyk of Bethune Elementary in East Garfield Park. All the dismissed principals have been reassigned to administrative jobs in the central or area offices for the remainder of their contracts.</p>
<p>Duncan explains that the board considered a range of factors, including test scores, test score gains, student attendance, dropout, probation history “and whether there was a sense that those situations had a possibility of turning around.”</p>
<p>To judge the likelihood of a turnaround, the board relied on recommendations from area instructional officers and their own informal observations, he explains. “I spend a fairly large amount of time talking to principals, talking to community members, talking to teachers,” he says, “Others do that as well.”</p>
<p>Principals were likely dismissed primarily for reasons other than achievement data. At Truth, Duncan says that “tension and animosity” had developed between parents and the first-year principal. “It was a situation that we felt was broken, and it didn’t need a band-aid, it needed a dramatic change,” he says.</p>
<p>LSC Chair Latina Knight says parents felt brushed off by Stigall, who appeared increasingly overwhelmed. “[It] seemed he lost interest in his job,” she says. “If he had to go, he had to go.”</p>
<p>At Bethune, the LSC had just renewed 18-year principal Warren Franczyk’s contract. However, some parents and LSC members found him autocratic, according to Derrick Harris, president of the newly created North Lawndale LSC Federation. Harris says he brought those concerns to the attention of Area Instructional Officer Rollie Jones. “We like to think we were able to provide some influence,” he says.</p>
<p>Parents United for Responsible Education had received complaints about the principals at Bethune, Truth and Austin, reports parent advocate Wanda Hopkins. But the group gets complaints about other schools as well and it’s not clear why these schools were singled out, she notes.</p>
<p>History of dismissals</p>
<p>By a number of accounts, the two high schools also had management problems.</p>
<p>At Gage Park, teachers had complained that Principal Katherine Smith pressured them to raise grades, sources say. (Duncan would only report “tension and animosity” between teachers and administrators.)</p>
<p>Austin High had security and discipline problems, reports Kymara Chase of DePaul University, the school’s former external partner. Also, the area instructional officer was based inside Austin last year, where such problems would have been easy to observe, she adds.</p>
<p>The board has dismissed principals from both schools in the past. In 1995, Austin Principal James Williams was replaced by high school principal Al Clark, who was yanked several months later when Arthur Slater, then an assistant principal, was installed. Test scores rose during Slater’s tenure, but he left in 2000. Learna Brewer-Baker was the board’s pick to replace him as interim; the LSC hired her a year later.</p>
<p>At Gage Park, the board removed Principal Frank Lacey in 1999, replacing him with Katherine Smith, a reading specialist who had helped raise test scores as an associate principal at DuSable High. Under Smith, Gage Park’s test scores remained flat. She served as interim principal for four years without a contract until the board removed her this summer.</p>
<p>Board names principals</p>
<p>Once the board removes a principal, it usually does not allow LSCs to hire a replacement as long as the school remains on probation, according to Philip Hansen, the board’s former chief accountability officer. Interim principals serve at the pleasure of the board and are easier to remove if the school fails to make progress, he adds.</p>
<p>The board has named Clementine Smith, former director of Harvey Academic Prep, a school for overage 8th-graders, as Austin’s interim principal. Wilfredo Ortiz, who lost his job as chief officer of high school programs in the recent central office reorganization, is interim principal at Gage Park.</p>
<p>With the exception of Ortiz, the board recruited interim principals from LAUNCH, a leadership training program it runs in partnership with the principals association and Northwestern University.</p>
<p>Other interim principals include: at Truth, Arnold Bickham, former assistant principal at Copernicus; at Cather, Hattie King, former assistant principal at Clark High; and at Bethune, Charlotte Stoxstell, former reading coordinator at Hirsch High.</p>
<p>Duncan says more principals may face dismissal next year when probation schools undergo a similar review. “Where we need to make some significant change, we’re going to do that,” he says.</p>
| false | 3 |
last year school board shut three schools low test scores displacing teachers drawing fire chicago teachers union august board cracked accountability whip removing five principals lowperforming schools time provoking principals association ousting principals underachieving schools nothing new former chief executive officer paul vallas school board removed 40 principals inadequate school performance sixyear period beginning 1995 years later many schools still probation among closed last year ceo arne duncan low performance observes dave peterson recently retired chicago principals administrators association dont see removal answer simplistic response complicated problem five probation schools lost principals august history low test scores generally perform average indicators student attendance dropout rates truth bethune cather elementary schools gage park austin high schools principals two elementary schools linda rosshutchinson morgan pamela strain ruggles also recently removed schools pending disciplinary charges unrelated school performance cps spokesperson peter cunningham says five lowperforming schools probation years board provided extra supports university partnerships tutoring programs like havent tried kicking principal says peterson observes many probation schools even lower test scores attendance rates higher drop rates lose principals five asks two ousted principalswill stigall truth near north side gregory wiley cather east garfield parkhad fewer two years tenure peterson adds failed werent adequately prepared supported insists nancy carterhill area 7 instructional officer oversees cather disagrees school board dismissed new principals without adequately training last year instance new principals received workshops everything school budgets leadership says carterhill says struggling principals paired experienced colleagues mentoring notes cather principal wiley got training new principals theyre still schools firings may challenged clarice berry principals associations newly elected president reports removals attorneys review may challenged dismissing principals especially new ones board leaping serious consequence without taking intermediate steps teachers entitled says principals removed probation schools learna brewerbaker austin high katherine smith gage park high warren franczyk bethune elementary east garfield park dismissed principals reassigned administrative jobs central area offices remainder contracts duncan explains board considered range factors including test scores test score gains student attendance dropout probation history whether sense situations possibility turning around judge likelihood turnaround board relied recommendations area instructional officers informal observations explains spend fairly large amount time talking principals talking community members talking teachers says others well principals likely dismissed primarily reasons achievement data truth duncan says tension animosity developed parents firstyear principal situation felt broken didnt need bandaid needed dramatic change says lsc chair latina knight says parents felt brushed stigall appeared increasingly overwhelmed seemed lost interest job says go go bethune lsc renewed 18year principal warren franczyks contract however parents lsc members found autocratic according derrick harris president newly created north lawndale lsc federation harris says brought concerns attention area instructional officer rollie jones like think able provide influence says parents united responsible education received complaints principals bethune truth austin reports parent advocate wanda hopkins group gets complaints schools well clear schools singled notes history dismissals number accounts two high schools also management problems gage park teachers complained principal katherine smith pressured raise grades sources say duncan would report tension animosity teachers administrators austin high security discipline problems reports kymara chase depaul university schools former external partner also area instructional officer based inside austin last year problems would easy observe adds board dismissed principals schools past 1995 austin principal james williams replaced high school principal al clark yanked several months later arthur slater assistant principal installed test scores rose slaters tenure left 2000 learna brewerbaker boards pick replace interim lsc hired year later gage park board removed principal frank lacey 1999 replacing katherine smith reading specialist helped raise test scores associate principal dusable high smith gage parks test scores remained flat served interim principal four years without contract board removed summer board names principals board removes principal usually allow lscs hire replacement long school remains probation according philip hansen boards former chief accountability officer interim principals serve pleasure board easier remove school fails make progress adds board named clementine smith former director harvey academic prep school overage 8thgraders austins interim principal wilfredo ortiz lost job chief officer high school programs recent central office reorganization interim principal gage park exception ortiz board recruited interim principals launch leadership training program runs partnership principals association northwestern university interim principals include truth arnold bickham former assistant principal copernicus cather hattie king former assistant principal clark high bethune charlotte stoxstell former reading coordinator hirsch high duncan says principals may face dismissal next year probation schools undergo similar review need make significant change going says
| 737 |
<p>STAFF CHANGES</p>
<p>• Lynn Hardaway, to Temple Church, Newport News, as pastor.</p>
<p>• Jane Tucker Lyon, to Antioch Church, Red Oak, as pastor.</p>
<p>• Allen Bonnell, concluding his pastorate at Clintwood Church, Clintwood.</p>
<p>• Stephen Renalds, to First Church, Elkton, as interim pastor.</p>
<p>• J. Christopher Kurtz, to Hampton Church, Hampton, as associate pastor, effective Aug. 3.</p>
<p>• Jonathan Martinez, to Union Hill Church, Brookneal, as youth pastor.</p>
<p>• Jim Wood, resigning as minister of students at Lake Ridge Church, Woodbridge, effective Aug. 31.</p>
<p>• Evelyn Conner, retiring as music director at Bethel Church, Salem, effective Sept. 1.</p>
<p>• Blaine Britt, to Sycamore Church, Franklin, as full-time minister of youth, children and music.</p>
<p>• Tabernacle Church, Richmond, has added to its staff Anna Miller as interim associate pastor; Kim Siegenthaler as strategic planner; and Greg Harrell as intern/director of Christian education. The church has named Cecil Gholston as pastor emeritus.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>COMMISSIONINGFirst Baptist Church in Coeburn recently commissioned Katrina Mann to the Mission Service Corps of the North American Mission Board. John Upton, executive director of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, delivered the message at the commissioning service. Lee Kidd, director of missions for Wise Association, and Darrell Fletcher, Southwest Virginia regional field strategist for the VBMB, also participated. Katrina will serve for two years as director of the Hope Center at First Baptist coordinating missions for the church. Pictured left to right: John Upton; R.J. Rose, pastor of First Church; and Jamie and Katrina Mann.</p>
<p>ORDINATIONS</p>
<p>• William McClelland was ordained to the gospel ministry at Azalea Church, Norfolk, on July 13.</p>
<p>• Claire Neaves George was ordained to the gospel ministry on June 29 at Westhampton Church, Richmond.</p>
<p>CHURCH NEWS</p>
<p>• Derbyshire Church, Richmond, will present its 12th annual “Good Ol' Gospel Sing” on Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. Featured in this concert of gospel favorites will be selections by various trios, quartets, the Chancel Choir and a special appearance by the Southern gospel group, Dominion. The evening will conclude with an old-fashioned watermelon cutting on the front lawn.</p>
<p>• Crewe Church, Crewe, will celebrate its 120th anniversary on Aug. 24. Delos Miles will be guest speaker and the celebration will include a historical presentation and a special anthem, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” commissioned for the church by David Schwoebel, minister of music at Derbyshire Church, Richmond. A church picnic at Hooper Park with the “Crewe Boys” will follow the service.</p>
<p>• Randolph Memorial Church, Madison Heights, will host “Being the Presence of Christ: A Vision for Transformation,” led by Daniel Vestal, executive coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, on Aug. 23-24. On Aug. 23 there will be a light meal at 5 p.m. followed by a session led by Vestal. On Aug. 24 at 9:45 a.m. there will be a joint seminar, “Marks of the Missional Church,” led by Vestal. He will speak at the 10:50 a.m. service. To make reservations for the Saturday meal call 434-845-8855 or email [email protected].</p>
<p>• Retired Virginia Baptist pastor Jack L. Hamilton died on July 12. He served as pastor of North Run Church, Richmond from 1953 to 1960 and was pastor of Riverside Church, Newport News, for 26 years. A funeral service was held July 17 at Riverside Church in Newport News with interment at Peninsula Memorial Park.</p>
<p>SEMINARY GRADUATES</p>
<p>• Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond held graduation on May 24 at First Baptist Church, Richmond. Those from Virginia receiving master of divinity degrees were Joseph Austin, Alice Bartley, Elizabeth Bartley, Debra Carter, Benjamin Denton, Stephanie Downey, Francis Flynn, Angela Frame, Sanford Frame, Rachel Hoffman, Donna Jarvis, Robin Lafon, Bryan Lane, Stephanie Law, Wayne Marker, Emilie Armolt Morrison, Cheryl Owen-Watson, Jim Reamy and Sharon West. Receiving doctor of ministry degrees were Brian Hughes, Woody Jenkins, Carl A. “CAM” McIntire, William Martin, Kevin Meadows, Kevin Rosenfeld, Ed Shepard and Sue Smith.</p>
<p>DEATH</p>
<p>• Retired Virginia Baptist pastor Jack L. Hamilton died on July 12. He served as pastor of North Run Church, Richmond from 1953 to 1960 and was pastor of Riverside Church, Newport News, for 26 years. A funeral service was held July 17 at Riverside Church in Newport News with interment at Peninsula Memorial Park.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>DEDICATION SERVICELone Star Baptist Church in Covington held a dedication service for its new building on June 22. The service was not only a time of dedicating the new building but an opportunity for the members to rededicate themselves to the Lord's work. Following the service there was a fellowship lunch.</p>
<p>ASSOCIATIONAL NEWS</p>
<p>• Dover Association, Ashland, is having its second “Dover Pastors' Wives Brunch” on Sat., Aug. 16 at the Dover office. Barbara Boggs, associate for family ministries, is the hostess. The group meets quarterly for a fellowship and sharing time. Dover also hosts two quarterly luncheons, one for retired pastors and a second for retired pastors' wives and widows.</p>
<p>HOMECOMINGS/REVIVALS</p>
<p>• Abingdon Church, Abingdon; revival Aug. 1-3; Don Davidson, pastor of First Church, Alexandria, guest evangelist.</p>
<p>• Antioch Church, Unionville; homecoming Aug. 17 at 11 a.m.; Cecil Sherman, guest speaker; covered-dish lunch to follow service.</p>
<p>• Bethel Church, Reva; revival Aug. 10-15; Matt Cooke, guest evangelist.</p>
<p>• Cedar Church, Dillwyn; homecoming Aug. 3 at 11 a.m.; lunch immediately following service; revival Aug. 4-7 with Roger Roller, guest evangelist.</p>
<p>• First Church, Galax; Homecoming Aug. 17 at 11 a.m.; service entitled, “Come Home,” centered on the old-time gospel songs of our faith; former pastor, Claxton Hall, guest speaker; covered-dish luncheon following the service.</p>
<p>• Free Hill Church, Nickelsville; homecoming Aug. 17; song service at 10 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m.; Claude Christian, guest speaker; meal after the service.</p>
<p>• Jeffersonton Church, Jeffersonton; 235th anniversary Aug. 17; former pastor David Brown, guest speaker.</p>
<p>• Lael Church, Culpeper; 134th homecoming Aug. 3 at 10:30 a.m.; covered-dish luncheon after service.</p>
<p>• Pamunkey Church, King William; homecoming Aug. 17; revival Aug. 17-20 with Clayton Custalow leading. True Spirit Band will provide music for 11 a.m. worship and 2 p.m. on Sunday.</p>
<p>• Pleasant Grove Church,Barboursville; homecoming and revival Aug. 17-20; Lanny Horton, guest evangelist.</p>
| false | 3 |
staff changes lynn hardaway temple church newport news pastor jane tucker lyon antioch church red oak pastor allen bonnell concluding pastorate clintwood church clintwood stephen renalds first church elkton interim pastor j christopher kurtz hampton church hampton associate pastor effective aug 3 jonathan martinez union hill church brookneal youth pastor jim wood resigning minister students lake ridge church woodbridge effective aug 31 evelyn conner retiring music director bethel church salem effective sept 1 blaine britt sycamore church franklin fulltime minister youth children music tabernacle church richmond added staff anna miller interim associate pastor kim siegenthaler strategic planner greg harrell interndirector christian education church named cecil gholston pastor emeritus commissioningfirst baptist church coeburn recently commissioned katrina mann mission service corps north american mission board john upton executive director virginia baptist mission board delivered message commissioning service lee kidd director missions wise association darrell fletcher southwest virginia regional field strategist vbmb also participated katrina serve two years director hope center first baptist coordinating missions church pictured left right john upton rj rose pastor first church jamie katrina mann ordinations william mcclelland ordained gospel ministry azalea church norfolk july 13 claire neaves george ordained gospel ministry june 29 westhampton church richmond church news derbyshire church richmond present 12th annual good ol gospel sing aug 10 6 pm featured concert gospel favorites selections various trios quartets chancel choir special appearance southern gospel group dominion evening conclude oldfashioned watermelon cutting front lawn crewe church crewe celebrate 120th anniversary aug 24 delos miles guest speaker celebration include historical presentation special anthem god help ages past commissioned church david schwoebel minister music derbyshire church richmond church picnic hooper park crewe boys follow service randolph memorial church madison heights host presence christ vision transformation led daniel vestal executive coordinator cooperative baptist fellowship aug 2324 aug 23 light meal 5 pm followed session led vestal aug 24 945 joint seminar marks missional church led vestal speak 1050 service make reservations saturday meal call 4348458855 email rmbc2000comcastnet retired virginia baptist pastor jack l hamilton died july 12 served pastor north run church richmond 1953 1960 pastor riverside church newport news 26 years funeral service held july 17 riverside church newport news interment peninsula memorial park seminary graduates baptist theological seminary richmond held graduation may 24 first baptist church richmond virginia receiving master divinity degrees joseph austin alice bartley elizabeth bartley debra carter benjamin denton stephanie downey francis flynn angela frame sanford frame rachel hoffman donna jarvis robin lafon bryan lane stephanie law wayne marker emilie armolt morrison cheryl owenwatson jim reamy sharon west receiving doctor ministry degrees brian hughes woody jenkins carl cam mcintire william martin kevin meadows kevin rosenfeld ed shepard sue smith death retired virginia baptist pastor jack l hamilton died july 12 served pastor north run church richmond 1953 1960 pastor riverside church newport news 26 years funeral service held july 17 riverside church newport news interment peninsula memorial park dedication servicelone star baptist church covington held dedication service new building june 22 service time dedicating new building opportunity members rededicate lords work following service fellowship lunch associational news dover association ashland second dover pastors wives brunch sat aug 16 dover office barbara boggs associate family ministries hostess group meets quarterly fellowship sharing time dover also hosts two quarterly luncheons one retired pastors second retired pastors wives widows homecomingsrevivals abingdon church abingdon revival aug 13 davidson pastor first church alexandria guest evangelist antioch church unionville homecoming aug 17 11 cecil sherman guest speaker covereddish lunch follow service bethel church reva revival aug 1015 matt cooke guest evangelist cedar church dillwyn homecoming aug 3 11 lunch immediately following service revival aug 47 roger roller guest evangelist first church galax homecoming aug 17 11 service entitled come home centered oldtime gospel songs faith former pastor claxton hall guest speaker covereddish luncheon following service free hill church nickelsville homecoming aug 17 song service 10 worship 11 claude christian guest speaker meal service jeffersonton church jeffersonton 235th anniversary aug 17 former pastor david brown guest speaker lael church culpeper 134th homecoming aug 3 1030 covereddish luncheon service pamunkey church king william homecoming aug 17 revival aug 1720 clayton custalow leading true spirit band provide music 11 worship 2 pm sunday pleasant grove churchbarboursville homecoming revival aug 1720 lanny horton guest evangelist
| 710 |
<p>Lieutenant Farhan al-Jassem is not a reluctant soldier, but sadness lurked behind his smile and deep brown eyes when he talked about the last two and half years he spent trying to fight what he considers the good fight in Syria.</p>
<p>On a sultry July night in a tea garden in southeastern Turkey, Jassem, 29, leaned back in his plastic chair and gulped down several bottles of water as he told the story of how he came to lead a key Syrian brigade receiving training and equipment from a US-organized military coalition to take on the Islamic State. As he spoke, 54 members of the larger division his brigade belonged to were finishing up their training with US Special Operations soldiers at a base located roughly 200 miles to the northwest.</p>
<p>Jassem got his first taste of the country’s roiling civil war in early 2012, when he was conscripted into Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad’s army, but he hated it and bought his way out, paying $400 for permission to visit his home town of Manbij, 40 miles northeast of Aleppo. There, he quickly joined the anti-regime Free Syrian Army, before moving to a smaller Turkmen brigade and then to the so-called 30th Division, created by the United States and its allies as the vanguard of Washington’s effort to roll back the Islamic State’s territorial gains.</p>
<p>When he spoke to the Center for Public Integrity in July, Jassem had passed an initial round of vetting to join the training and said he expected to participate in the next class — so long as the US coalition kept its promises to the first set of graduates, especially a promise that the coalition would “protect us against our enemies after the program ends,” he said.</p>
<p>But Jassem’s fate suddenly took an uncertain turn on July 28, when he was captured by a rival anti-ISIS militia, known as the Nusra Front, which is affiliated with al-Qaeda and therefore an enemy of any Syrian close to Americans. Captured alongside Jassem near the northern Syrian town of Azaz were his division’s commander, 16 graduates of the allied train-and-equip program, and two other division soldiers, according to Aziz Abu Mohammad, a 30th Division commander based in Turkey, who was interviewed by telephone.</p>
<p>This capture was a cataclysmic event for the division, by all accounts, and a grave setback for the US train and equip program, which will now certainly face steeper challenges in recruiting new fighters and maintaining their morale.</p>
<p>But Jassem’s story — the arc of his military service and its apparently grim end — is also a lesson that a deepening US involvement in this complex territorial conflict comes with many risks, both political ones and for the fighters, personal ones, since any association with Americans or the West can carry a problematic stigma on the other side of Turkey’s border with Syria.</p>
<p>Fighting for his country was not always part of Jassem’s plan. He briefly studied Arabic literature while attending a university before dropping out to move to Greece and work there for several years. When protests against Syrian President Bashar Assad began back home in Syria, he joined similar demonstrations in front of the Syrian embassy in Athens, where he began to make contacts within the nascent armed Syrian opposition.</p>
<p>Jassem, who has a medium build, playful grin, close-cropped black hair, and bushy black eyebrows, said he was aware of the risks of joining the US-led coalition effort. Graduates of the train and equip program would be returning to Syria “with targets on their backs,” he said. Nusra and other rebel groups, they knew, targeted recipients of foreign aid not just because of their anti-Western ideology, but also because they coveted the M16s and anti-tank guided missiles that coalition forces provided to other fighters. Even though their handlers from the Pentagon had promised to protect the trainees, Jassem said, it was a purely verbal agreement.</p>
<p>But Jassem said he signed up when one of his superiors from the Turkmen brigade, Col. Nedim al-Hasan, told him last March that the coalition wanted to create a new rebel group that would unite several of the anti-Islamic State brigades that had splintered off of the Free Syrian Army and scattered around eastern Syria after being forced out of their homes by the Islamic State. The colonel, a man he’d fought with for three years, would lead the entire division, which would eventually number more than 1,000 fighters.</p>
<p>The division would be composed of brigades from parts of Syria east of Aleppo, where the Islamic State had become a greater scourge than the Syrian regime, such as Jassem’s hometown. Most were ethnic Turkmens, but some, like Jassem, were Arab. The aim, he said, was to create a force that could funnel recruits into the train and equip program.</p>
<p>The vetting process was intensive, he said, and discomfiting for many. The reason, he was told by fellow recruits, is that candidates for training were interviewed in the second stage while attached to polygraph machines by wires wrapped around their fingers. The questions were simple — had they ever fought for Nusra, for example? But the candidates had heard that similar-looking machines were used to administer shocks to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, and so the experience was scary. Being subjected to eye and fingerprint scans contributed to their fears. “They felt like laboratory rats,” said Jassem.</p>
<p>Most enticing to the recruits of the program, Jassem said, was the prospect of getting satellite phones connected to vehicles, with which they could call in airstrikes from coalition warplanes when needed. They were also promised M16 rifles, and Jassem said there “had also been talk” of anti-tank weapons and ammunition.</p>
<p>“The coming days will prove whether the coalition is really going to help us” defeat the Islamic State, Jassem said. If the coalition forces keep their promises to protect the first set of trainees, “we expect the number of people in the second training group to increase,” he added.</p>
<p>Jassem emphasized that the coalition’s promises only covered the 54 graduates of the train and equip program. But when those trainees re-entered the battlefield, he said, they would rejoin their fellow fighters from the division already fighting the Islamic State, including around 200 men who had applied for the train and equip program but been rejected.</p>
<p>At the time of his abduction, Jassem was awaiting a second round of vetting to join the program, having already passed the first. He was escorting colleagues heading back to Syria after visiting relatives in Turkey, and so they all had to pass a Nusra checkpoint several miles south of the Turkish border. They thought they had gotten permission to do so from an Egyptian Nusra leader 10 days earlier, Abu Mohammad said.</p>
<p>That promise proved false. Mohammad said he heard from a friend in the town of Azaz, where the group was taken after being stopped, that they were paraded through the town with the backs of their shirts pulled over their heads as Nusra fighters shouted that they had “collaborated with the crusader coalition.”</p>
<p>Two days after the group’s capture, a militia group affiliated with Nusra directly attacked the 30th division’s headquarters, killing five other graduates of the program, Abu Mohammed said. Coalition warplanes reacted to both incidents by bombing the headquarters of Nusra in Azaz, he added, a claim that the Pentagon declined to confirm. Hours after the raids, he told the Center for Public Integrity through an interpreter that Nusra’s reaction will likely be to execute the detainees it already has in hand and “finish” the 30th Division. “Especially now … their fate is sealed.”</p>
<p>Pentagon spokeswoman Elissa Smith contested Abu Mohammad’s claim that any graduates of the train and equip program were detained in Tuesday’s kidnapping, but said she had no further information to provide about it. She acknowledged that the 30th Division and its trainees were also attacked on July 31, and said that the coalition had supported them with defensive airstrikes, but would not confirm that it occurred in Azaz and said the attacking force was “unknown.”</p>
<p>US Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Killea, chief of staff of the US combined joint task force carrying out anti-Islamic State operations, told Pentagon media on July 31 that he had no knowledge of any abducted or injured trainees. All anti-Islamic State forces in Syria “that are credible, reliable partners,” said Killea, “will receive coalition support as is required.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/08/01/17754/fighter-s-capture-spells-trouble-us-led-coalition-against-islamic-state" type="external">This story is cross-posted</a> at the Center for Public Integrity.</p>
| false | 3 |
lieutenant farhan aljassem reluctant soldier sadness lurked behind smile deep brown eyes talked last two half years spent trying fight considers good fight syria sultry july night tea garden southeastern turkey jassem 29 leaned back plastic chair gulped several bottles water told story came lead key syrian brigade receiving training equipment usorganized military coalition take islamic state spoke 54 members larger division brigade belonged finishing training us special operations soldiers base located roughly 200 miles northwest jassem got first taste countrys roiling civil war early 2012 conscripted syrian leader bashar alassads army hated bought way paying 400 permission visit home town manbij 40 miles northeast aleppo quickly joined antiregime free syrian army moving smaller turkmen brigade socalled 30th division created united states allies vanguard washingtons effort roll back islamic states territorial gains spoke center public integrity july jassem passed initial round vetting join training said expected participate next class long us coalition kept promises first set graduates especially promise coalition would protect us enemies program ends said jassems fate suddenly took uncertain turn july 28 captured rival antiisis militia known nusra front affiliated alqaeda therefore enemy syrian close americans captured alongside jassem near northern syrian town azaz divisions commander 16 graduates allied trainandequip program two division soldiers according aziz abu mohammad 30th division commander based turkey interviewed telephone capture cataclysmic event division accounts grave setback us train equip program certainly face steeper challenges recruiting new fighters maintaining morale jassems story arc military service apparently grim end also lesson deepening us involvement complex territorial conflict comes many risks political ones fighters personal ones since association americans west carry problematic stigma side turkeys border syria fighting country always part jassems plan briefly studied arabic literature attending university dropping move greece work several years protests syrian president bashar assad began back home syria joined similar demonstrations front syrian embassy athens began make contacts within nascent armed syrian opposition jassem medium build playful grin closecropped black hair bushy black eyebrows said aware risks joining usled coalition effort graduates train equip program would returning syria targets backs said nusra rebel groups knew targeted recipients foreign aid antiwestern ideology also coveted m16s antitank guided missiles coalition forces provided fighters even though handlers pentagon promised protect trainees jassem said purely verbal agreement jassem said signed one superiors turkmen brigade col nedim alhasan told last march coalition wanted create new rebel group would unite several antiislamic state brigades splintered free syrian army scattered around eastern syria forced homes islamic state colonel man hed fought three years would lead entire division would eventually number 1000 fighters division would composed brigades parts syria east aleppo islamic state become greater scourge syrian regime jassems hometown ethnic turkmens like jassem arab aim said create force could funnel recruits train equip program vetting process intensive said discomfiting many reason told fellow recruits candidates training interviewed second stage attached polygraph machines wires wrapped around fingers questions simple ever fought nusra example candidates heard similarlooking machines used administer shocks prisoners guantanamo bay experience scary subjected eye fingerprint scans contributed fears felt like laboratory rats said jassem enticing recruits program jassem said prospect getting satellite phones connected vehicles could call airstrikes coalition warplanes needed also promised m16 rifles jassem said also talk antitank weapons ammunition coming days prove whether coalition really going help us defeat islamic state jassem said coalition forces keep promises protect first set trainees expect number people second training group increase added jassem emphasized coalitions promises covered 54 graduates train equip program trainees reentered battlefield said would rejoin fellow fighters division already fighting islamic state including around 200 men applied train equip program rejected time abduction jassem awaiting second round vetting join program already passed first escorting colleagues heading back syria visiting relatives turkey pass nusra checkpoint several miles south turkish border thought gotten permission egyptian nusra leader 10 days earlier abu mohammad said promise proved false mohammad said heard friend town azaz group taken stopped paraded town backs shirts pulled heads nusra fighters shouted collaborated crusader coalition two days groups capture militia group affiliated nusra directly attacked 30th divisions headquarters killing five graduates program abu mohammed said coalition warplanes reacted incidents bombing headquarters nusra azaz added claim pentagon declined confirm hours raids told center public integrity interpreter nusras reaction likely execute detainees already hand finish 30th division especially fate sealed pentagon spokeswoman elissa smith contested abu mohammads claim graduates train equip program detained tuesdays kidnapping said information provide acknowledged 30th division trainees also attacked july 31 said coalition supported defensive airstrikes would confirm occurred azaz said attacking force unknown us marine corps brig gen kevin j killea chief staff us combined joint task force carrying antiislamic state operations told pentagon media july 31 knowledge abducted injured trainees antiislamic state forces syria credible reliable partners said killea receive coalition support required story crossposted center public integrity
| 803 |
<p>Dec. 11, 2012</p>
<p>By Katy Grimes</p>
<p>The California Air Resources Board’s first cap and trade auction in November is yet more proof that CARB is responsible for making people cough, snort and wheeze in California. While trying to convince everyone that the carbon credit auction was a success, CARB officials have blown more smog around the state than an oil-burning AMC Gremlin.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Mary Nichols, CARB’s director, refuses to talk about losing jobs and the painful state of the economy. And she’s getting away with it.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/ab32/ab32.htm" type="external">AB 32, the California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006,</a> was supposed to lower the state’s carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. But since the legislation was passed, CARB has myopically insisted that Californians need to go on a carbon diet — despite evidence of fraud, refutations of the junk science behind AB 32, the exorbitant cost to the state’s economy, and no standard climate change measurements.</p>
<p>The state claims that it will accomplish lowering greenhouse gas levels by “capping” the carbon emissions of oil refineries, utilities and&#160;power generators and other manufacturing and industrial businesses.</p>
<p>However, in doing so, the agency also stubbornly has refused to answer why California should go it alone when the rest of the country, and most of the nations in the world, have pulled out of cap and trade, or were never participants in the first place.</p>
<p>It looks like what actually will be capped is production and productivity in the state.</p>
<p>Could cap and trade be the Gremlin driving the California economy off the cliff?</p>
<p>The carbon intensity of the United States is only one-quarter of China’s and is already well below the average of the world.</p>
<p>But the real result will be in the near future, as California’s unrealistically strict carbon emission rules will discourage in-state manufacturing and production, as businesses are financially penalized with the carbon tax.</p>
<p>Many climate scientists have reported that achieving zero carbon emissions from the United States will have no impact on future temperatures. This also applies to CARB’s cap and trade as well as AB 32.</p>
<p>If the goal is to reduce carbon emissions in order to stop global warming, taxing businesses accomplishes nothing of the sort.</p>
<p>But first, is there really dangerous global warming looming ahead?</p>
<p>“Not only are temperatures not increasing faster than was predicted 10 years ago, temperatures have not increased at all since the late 1990’s,” said Joe Bastardi, the Chief Long Range Forecaster at Accuweather for 32 years.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Bastardi, a meteorologist and now the Chief Forecaster at <a href="http://www.weatherbell.com/team-bio/" type="external">WeatherBELL</a>,&#160;says that private companies make more accurate forecasts than the government.</p>
<p>Bastardi has been an outspoken skeptic&#160;of human-induced&#160;global warming.</p>
<p>“Furthermore, when you compare the observed temperatures of the past 10 years against all the climate model predictions, the result should do more than raise eyebrows about how much taxpayer money is being wasted on climate science that is proving to be wrong.”</p>
<p>The argument that global warming is causing more extreme weather is problematic, Bastardi said, “because it presumes the globe is warming.”</p>
<p>In a recent <a href="http://notrickszone.com/2011/08/08/joe-bastardi-calls-manmade-co2-global-warming-an-obvious-fraud/" type="external">article</a>, Bastardi explained:</p>
<p>“In fact, the global temperature trend line has been stable for more than a dozen years, while carbon dioxide has increased 7%. If CO2 was the driver, then why have global temperatures stopped increasing?</p>
<p>“Keep in mind that CO2 represents 0.0395 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere. Arguing that CO2 is driving the small temperature variations in our climate as opposed to the oceans, which cover 70 percent of the planet and have 1,000 times the heat capacity of air, or the output of our sun, is scientifically disturbing.</p>
<p>“Weather is more publicized nowadays because of its impact on society and the constant push of the global warming agenda. Increases in population result in more people being in the path of Mother Nature’s fury.”</p>
<p>Bastardi <a href="http://notrickszone.com/2011/08/08/joe-bastardi-calls-manmade-co2-global-warming-an-obvious-fraud/" type="external">asked</a>:</p>
<p>“How do these people have any credibility? How do they get away with this? &#160;It’s mind boggling that it’s gotten to a point where the EPA is dictating policy based on what is an obvious fraud, or if you want to be gentle about it, creates enough doubt to back off.”</p>
<p>Bastardi said that if the U.S. is sincere about economic recovery, we need to “get rid of the EPA running roughshod over factory owners, and lower the corporate tax rate to below China’s &#160;(it is so hard to believe that Chinese tax rates are lower) and you will find that companies will stay here and pay a decent wage to build air conditioners. But not if you are clamping down on people based on questionable, don’t-have-a-leg-to-stand-on ideas about CO2 warming the planet.”</p>
<p>Bastardi goes on to explain, “Global warming activists attribute every major weather event to man because they are either uninformed about history, or choose to ignore it. They own every answer. It could snow cheese in New York tomorrow morning and that would be from global warming.</p>
<p>“All the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projections for our climate have proved to be wrong. Global temperatures have stopped increasing and are nowhere near estimates made a decade ago. The IPCC incorrectly predicted Arctic sea ice would disappear by now.”</p>
<p>But don’t let the facts, data, and history get in the way of a revenue-producing, controlling government program.</p>
<p>Instead of actually reducing carbon emissions, in California a business can merely purchase get-out-of-jail carbon credits. But this nullifies the goals of <a href="http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/ab32/ab32.htm" type="external">AB 32</a>.</p>
<p>Another problematic area is that AB 32 does not provide CARB the authority to withhold allowances from businesses to sell at auction for the benefit of the State. This taxing function was not included in the authorizing legislation and was never discussed at the committee hearings while the bill was progressing through the legislative process.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the legislative committee videos held during 2005 and 2006 have disappeared. <a href="http://www.calchannel.com/" type="external">The California Channel</a>, the official videographer of the California Legislature, recently pulled all videos prior to 2009. I have made several written requests and phone calls to the California Channel for access to these videos, but have never received a response.</p>
<p>Additionally, the <a href="http://asmdc.org/members/a31/attachments/LAOCapandTradeResponse.pdf" type="external">Legislative Analyst’s Office</a>, and many others, have <a href="http://asmdc.org/members/a31/attachments/LAOCapandTradeResponse.pdf" type="external">concluded</a> that an <a href="http://asmdc.org/members/a31/attachments/LAOCapandTradeResponse.pdf" type="external">auction is not necessary</a> to reach the greenhouse gas emission reduction goals in AB 32.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ab32ig.com/" type="external">The AB 32 Implementation Group</a>, comprised of employers and taxpayer groups concerned about protecting jobs and the California economy, while implementing the state’s policies to meet AB 32 goals, has been trying to deal with CARB since implementation began. The group’s members acknowledge that AB 32 is law, and have tried to work with CARB to reasonably implement the law.</p>
<p>“CARB announced, prior to the November auction, significant changes would be made to the allowance obligations of certain entities in 2013 and unspecified changes to adjust the assistance factor for energy-intensive trade-exposed industries for the allocation rules in 2015 and beyond,” the AB 32 Implementation Group <a href="http://www.ab32ig.com/documents/IG%20to%20CARB%20Dec%20Board%20Mtg_12-5-12.pdf" type="external">reported</a> last week.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>“This unfinished work creates uncertainty and makes it impossible for the employers subject to the regulation to account for future costs increasing the chances of leakage.&#160; CARB has also not developed the tools to monitor, much less solve, the problem of emissions leakage and job loss that from a new multi-billion-dollar energy tax on the state’s economy,” the group said.</p>
<p>Put that in your Gremlin and drive it.</p>
| false | 3 |
dec 11 2012 katy grimes california air resources boards first cap trade auction november yet proof carb responsible making people cough snort wheeze california trying convince everyone carbon credit auction success carb officials blown smog around state oilburning amc gremlin mary nichols carbs director refuses talk losing jobs painful state economy shes getting away ab 32 californias global warming solutions act 2006 supposed lower states carbon emissions 1990 levels 2020 since legislation passed carb myopically insisted californians need go carbon diet despite evidence fraud refutations junk science behind ab 32 exorbitant cost states economy standard climate change measurements state claims accomplish lowering greenhouse gas levels capping carbon emissions oil refineries utilities and160power generators manufacturing industrial businesses however agency also stubbornly refused answer california go alone rest country nations world pulled cap trade never participants first place looks like actually capped production productivity state could cap trade gremlin driving california economy cliff carbon intensity united states onequarter chinas already well average world real result near future californias unrealistically strict carbon emission rules discourage instate manufacturing production businesses financially penalized carbon tax many climate scientists reported achieving zero carbon emissions united states impact future temperatures also applies carbs cap trade well ab 32 goal reduce carbon emissions order stop global warming taxing businesses accomplishes nothing sort first really dangerous global warming looming ahead temperatures increasing faster predicted 10 years ago temperatures increased since late 1990s said joe bastardi chief long range forecaster accuweather 32 years bastardi meteorologist chief forecaster weatherbell160says private companies make accurate forecasts government bastardi outspoken skeptic160of humaninduced160global warming furthermore compare observed temperatures past 10 years climate model predictions result raise eyebrows much taxpayer money wasted climate science proving wrong argument global warming causing extreme weather problematic bastardi said presumes globe warming recent article bastardi explained fact global temperature trend line stable dozen years carbon dioxide increased 7 co2 driver global temperatures stopped increasing keep mind co2 represents 00395 percent earths atmosphere arguing co2 driving small temperature variations climate opposed oceans cover 70 percent planet 1000 times heat capacity air output sun scientifically disturbing weather publicized nowadays impact society constant push global warming agenda increases population result people path mother natures fury bastardi asked people credibility get away 160its mind boggling gotten point epa dictating policy based obvious fraud want gentle creates enough doubt back bastardi said us sincere economic recovery need get rid epa running roughshod factory owners lower corporate tax rate chinas 160it hard believe chinese tax rates lower find companies stay pay decent wage build air conditioners clamping people based questionable donthavealegtostandon ideas co2 warming planet bastardi goes explain global warming activists attribute every major weather event man either uninformed history choose ignore every answer could snow cheese new york tomorrow morning would global warming intergovernmental panel climate change projections climate proved wrong global temperatures stopped increasing nowhere near estimates made decade ago ipcc incorrectly predicted arctic sea ice would disappear dont let facts data history get way revenueproducing controlling government program instead actually reducing carbon emissions california business merely purchase getoutofjail carbon credits nullifies goals ab 32 another problematic area ab 32 provide carb authority withhold allowances businesses sell auction benefit state taxing function included authorizing legislation never discussed committee hearings bill progressing legislative process interestingly legislative committee videos held 2005 2006 disappeared california channel official videographer california legislature recently pulled videos prior 2009 made several written requests phone calls california channel access videos never received response additionally legislative analysts office many others concluded auction necessary reach greenhouse gas emission reduction goals ab 32 ab 32 implementation group comprised employers taxpayer groups concerned protecting jobs california economy implementing states policies meet ab 32 goals trying deal carb since implementation began groups members acknowledge ab 32 law tried work carb reasonably implement law carb announced prior november auction significant changes would made allowance obligations certain entities 2013 unspecified changes adjust assistance factor energyintensive tradeexposed industries allocation rules 2015 beyond ab 32 implementation group reported last week unfinished work creates uncertainty makes impossible employers subject regulation account future costs increasing chances leakage160 carb also developed tools monitor much less solve problem emissions leakage job loss new multibilliondollar energy tax states economy group said put gremlin drive
| 698 |
<p>College-bound students across the country are putting themselves out there.</p>
<p>They're not looking for love; they're picking who they're going to room with during their freshman year in an increasingly popular process known as roommate self-selection.</p>
<p>While the majority of schools still assign roommates, either randomly or based on answers to questionnaires, many are empowering incoming freshmen to find their own through Facebook, apps, and housing software.</p>
<p>Roommate self-selection provides benefits for students and schools alike, creators of these services say. But detractors believe the traditional experience of bunking with someone random offers life-long benefits.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Related: Learn about</a> <a href="" type="internal">The Freshman Year Experience</a>, as NBC News follows 10 students through their first semester of college</p>
<p>Miami University in Ohio creates Facebook groups where students can introduce themselves once they've decided to matriculate there.</p>
<p>"It's almost like a dating website. In the brief amount of space I had to keep people interested, I had to describe myself — which is hard, because we don't really know who we're going to be in college. It could be different from who we are now," said Paolo Federico-O'Murchu, 17, from Montclair, New Jersey. He is going to Miami University in the fall.</p>
<p>Shortly after Paolo put up his post, five potential roommates contacted him. Three days later, after exchanging a slew of messages, he and a student from Redmond, Washington, decided to live together. Both played baseball in high school and hope to play in college, and both plan on studying business.</p>
<p>"We're going to have a lot of shared experiences and can help each other out, hitting more balls to each other, helping out with homework," Paolo said.</p>
<p>The two have kept in contact, which helps calm some of the nerves about going off to school.</p>
<p>"He was laid-back," Paolo said. "When I see him on the first night, I can talk to him about something for an hour."</p>
<p>Roommate satisfaction has a ripple effect on the entire college experience. A 2012 Wake Forest University <a href="http://www.usnewsuniversitydirectory.com/articles/studies-show-roommates-can-affect-students-collegi_12572.aspx#.VYrreflVhBd" type="external">study</a>found grade increases in males when they roomed with smart students. And a 2011 Michigan State <a href="http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2011/msu-led-study-identifies-risks-for-quitting-college/" type="external">study</a>identified roommate conflicts as one of five major risk factors for dropping out.</p>
<p>"Instead of Facebook being a reaction to the process, Facebook is now the process."</p>
<p>Whether students find each other through Facebook or through Facebook apps such as RoomSync, it helps the school in the long run, RoomSync CEO and co-founder Robert Castellucci told NBC News.</p>
<p>"You get the name of your roommate, the first thing you do is you go on Facebook," he said. "A lot times, they'll find something they don't like. They'll find a picture that they may not be fond of, or they'll listen to different kinds of music, all sorts of things that will make them say, 'Well, this isn't going to work out.'"</p>
<p>RoomSync solves that, he said.</p>
<p>"Instead of Facebook being a reaction to the process, Facebook is now the process."</p>
<p>StarRez, housing software that serves more than 260 schools, matches students based on a series of questions.</p>
<p>"There's all kinds of different questions that schools may want to ask," vice president of sales and marketing Joe Lindwall told NBC News. "For instance, how often do you play video games during the day? Those subtle things can really make a big difference in terms of the day-to-day relationship that students have."</p>
<p>At the University of Iowa, 95 percent of the 5,000 or so first-years live on campus, said Von Stange, the university's assistant vice president for student life and senior director of university housing and dining. The university has used StarRez for three years.</p>
<p>"It's a good system which they can match up based on percentages: 'This is a 75 percent match for you' type of thing," Stange said. "They can make contact with that individual student and communicate through our system to determine whether they'd be a good match."</p>
<p>The school does not have any data on whether there have been fewer requests for room changes once the school year starts. But at Syracuse University, which uses a combination of roommate self-selection and random matching, "we don't see a huge difference between randomly assigned roommates and folks who choose each other as far as roommate conflicts go," said Terra Peckskamp, director of residence life.</p>
<p>The most popular roommate self-selection service is officially sanctioned by only three schools. RoomSurf.com has nearly 730,000 students signed up for it, from about 1,000 different colleges and universities. Students look for a match after filling out a 17-question survey, said Dan Thibodeau, RoomSurf's co-founder. If they find one, it's up to the students to request to room together. Some colleges will honor the requests, some won't.</p>
<p>Not everyone supports student involvement in choosing roommates, including Bruce Sacerdote, a Dartmouth professor of economics who studies how college roommates affect one another.</p>
<p>"You get a much more diverse set of folks when you're randomly assigned than when you pick," he said. "It turns out that it really can affect your attitudes and your level of comfort with people toward a different race or socioeconomic group."</p>
<p>Chielo Mbaezue, 18, from Marietta, Georgia, is going to Stanford University in the fall. Stanford's policy is to not tell students who they're going to room with until they arrive on campus — and Chielo is fine with that.</p>
<p>"I wasn't necessarily looking forward to all the stress of having to find my own roommate," he said. "With the Internet, it's easy to formulate an opinion of someone before you actually get to meet the person. This way, when we first meet, we have a completely genuine experience and really get to know each other."</p>
<p>Whether you find your roommate or are assigned a random one, University of Iowa's Stange had this advice.</p>
<p>"A lot of it is giving your roommate a second chance," he said. "Don't expect that in three weeks, you're going to have a perfect relationship."</p>
| false | 3 |
collegebound students across country putting theyre looking love theyre picking theyre going room freshman year increasingly popular process known roommate selfselection majority schools still assign roommates either randomly based answers questionnaires many empowering incoming freshmen find facebook apps housing software roommate selfselection provides benefits students schools alike creators services say detractors believe traditional experience bunking someone random offers lifelong benefits related learn freshman year experience nbc news follows 10 students first semester college miami university ohio creates facebook groups students introduce theyve decided matriculate almost like dating website brief amount space keep people interested describe hard dont really know going college could different said paolo federicoomurchu 17 montclair new jersey going miami university fall shortly paolo put post five potential roommates contacted three days later exchanging slew messages student redmond washington decided live together played baseball high school hope play college plan studying business going lot shared experiences help hitting balls helping homework paolo said two kept contact helps calm nerves going school laidback paolo said see first night talk something hour roommate satisfaction ripple effect entire college experience 2012 wake forest university studyfound grade increases males roomed smart students 2011 michigan state studyidentified roommate conflicts one five major risk factors dropping instead facebook reaction process facebook process whether students find facebook facebook apps roomsync helps school long run roomsync ceo cofounder robert castellucci told nbc news get name roommate first thing go facebook said lot times theyll find something dont like theyll find picture may fond theyll listen different kinds music sorts things make say well isnt going work roomsync solves said instead facebook reaction process facebook process starrez housing software serves 260 schools matches students based series questions theres kinds different questions schools may want ask vice president sales marketing joe lindwall told nbc news instance often play video games day subtle things really make big difference terms daytoday relationship students university iowa 95 percent 5000 firstyears live campus said von stange universitys assistant vice president student life senior director university housing dining university used starrez three years good system match based percentages 75 percent match type thing stange said make contact individual student communicate system determine whether theyd good match school data whether fewer requests room changes school year starts syracuse university uses combination roommate selfselection random matching dont see huge difference randomly assigned roommates folks choose far roommate conflicts go said terra peckskamp director residence life popular roommate selfselection service officially sanctioned three schools roomsurfcom nearly 730000 students signed 1000 different colleges universities students look match filling 17question survey said dan thibodeau roomsurfs cofounder find one students request room together colleges honor requests wont everyone supports student involvement choosing roommates including bruce sacerdote dartmouth professor economics studies college roommates affect one another get much diverse set folks youre randomly assigned pick said turns really affect attitudes level comfort people toward different race socioeconomic group chielo mbaezue 18 marietta georgia going stanford university fall stanfords policy tell students theyre going room arrive campus chielo fine wasnt necessarily looking forward stress find roommate said internet easy formulate opinion someone actually get meet person way first meet completely genuine experience really get know whether find roommate assigned random one university iowas stange advice lot giving roommate second chance said dont expect three weeks youre going perfect relationship
| 548 |
<p>SHEFFIELD, England - For many Brits who grew up in the 1970s, restaurant meals entailed a choice between steak and chips (fries), or something called scampi-in-the-basket - deep-fried seafood of uncertain origin served exotically in a wicker basket lined with fat-absorbing paper.</p>
<p>Things have changed.</p>
<p>In Britain and across much of northern Europe, the past few years have ushered in a culinary revolution.</p>
<p>In the <a href="http://www.theworlds50best.com/awards/1-50-winners/" type="external">San Pellegrino world's best restaurant awards</a> announced last month, Britain had three in the top 15, one more than France. Denmark's Noma claimed top spot for the third year running, while Sweden tied with Italy with three top 50 places.&#160;Last year chefs from Denmark, Sweden and Norway took the top three places in the Bocuse d'Or contest, commonly viewed as the culinary Olympics.</p>
<p>France's Michelin Guide awarded a record 176 of its coveted stars to British and Irish restaurants in 2012. That compares to just 25 when the first edition was released in 1974.</p>
<p>"If you go back 30 years, it was deep fried this, deep fired that, very bland food," recalls Justin Rowntree, joint-owner of the award-winning <a href="http://www.silversmiths-restaurant.com/" type="external">Silversmiths restaurant</a> in this northern English city.</p>
<p>"I remember when my father first brought home some garlic, back in the mid-70s, it was: wow what is this strange thing?"</p>
<p>More than GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/south-korea/120528/more-kimchi-korean-foods-popularity-soars" type="external">Korean food's popularity soars</a></p>
<p>Recently picked by The Times newspaper as one of the five sexiest places to eat in Britain, Silversmiths is typical of the food renaissance that has swept northern European countries from Iceland to Estonia.</p>
<p>The food is sourced from local farms. The May menu included delights such as: peppered mackerel "cheesecake" with English asparagus; twice cooked smoked pork belly, stuffed pigs head, Yorkshire sausage patty, sage mash, watercress and bacon crisp; and strawberry tea infused mini raisin scones, home-made saffron clotted cream and Yorkshire lemon curd.</p>
<p>Cooking of this quality used to be reserved for the wealthy few, but as food has become a national obsession, good, affordable restaurants have proliferated. Britain now has more restaurants than any other European Union nation and accounts for a quarter of all EU spending on restaurants and bars.</p>
<p>Traditional pubs - where snacks used to be limited to delights like pickled eggs or prawn-cocktail flavored potato chips - have been transformed into innovative gastro-pubs. A pint at The Ginger Dog in Brighton, for example, can be accompanied with smoked eel and confit pork terrine or steamed skate wing with crushed new potatoes, roast baby fennel and sauce vierge.</p>
<p>It's a far cry from the days when British food was the butt of foreigners' jokes.</p>
<p>"One cannot trust people whose cuisine is so bad," French President Jacques Chirac, was&#160; overheard chuckling with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in&#160; 2005. "The only thing they have ever done for European agriculture is mad cow disease."</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/european-union/091104/eu-food-regulations" type="external">What feta and reindeer meat have in common</a></p>
<p>Britain's food revival can be put down to immigration, tourism and television.</p>
<p>The spread of Indian restaurants serving affordable, high-quality and highly spiced food invigorated British palates. Low cost flights to continental Europe added to their appetite for better food. TV picked up on the trends, with emergence of celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver who made food sexy and helped turn the British into a&#160; nation of foodies.</p>
<p>"In 10 years we've moved from being a culinary backwater to a nation obsessed with food in all its forms," food writer Tim Hayward, mused recently in The Observer, a Sunday newspaper. "It's a time of fertile flowering and we are finally catching up with the rest of our European neighbors."</p>
<p>Broadly speaking, those neighbors include nations south of an arc drawn from Belgium to Greece, where robust gastronomic traditions survived the post-war lurch to mass-produced convenience foods. In much of northern and eastern Europe, food suffered the same fate as the Britain, but is now enjoying a similar revival.</p>
<p>The philosophy at <a href="http://globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/120328/new-nordic-cuisine-denmark-food" type="external">Copenhagen's Noma</a>, which superstar chef Rene Redzepi has turned into the high-temple of modern cooking, sums up the thinking of many of northern Europe's new wave of locally rooted restaurants.</p>
<p>"We regard it as a personal challenge to help bring about a revival of Nordic cuisine and let its distinctive flavors and particular regional character brighten up the world," says the <a href="http://www.noma.dk/" type="external">restaurant's web site</a>.</p>
<p>"Noma is not about olive oil, foie gras, sun-dried tomatoes and black olives. On the contrary, we've been busy exploring the Nordic regions discovering outstanding foods and bringing them back to Denmark: Icelandic skyr curd, halibut, Greenland musk ox, berries and water."</p>
<p>A generation of chefs are now applying that approach, modernizing half-forgotten recipes and digging up long-out-of-favor products.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tarsenaal.be/documents/home.xml?lang=nl" type="external">t'Arsenaal</a>, a restaurant beneath the walls of a 16th-century church in the Dutch city of Deventer serves North Sea sole and shrimp with lovage leaves; the <a href="http://thornstromskok.com/" type="external">Thornstroms Kok</a> restaurant in Goteborg, Sweden, has a dish combining local asparagus with nettle forth, water cress and the roe of a freshwater fish called bleak; Estonian chef Peeter Pihel makes ice-cream from Christmas tree needles.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/germany/120217/germany-battles-over-the-future-solar-energy" type="external">Germany battles over future of solar</a></p>
<p>"You can also salt them, or make a great syrup from them," says Pihel, who cooks in the award-winning Padeste Manor hotel on the Baltic Sea island of&#160; Muhu. "Local food, small farmers, that's what's coming back again. It's very popular now."</p>
<p>Back in Sheffield, Rowntree recalls how he got the go-local message after a roasting from Gordon Ramsay on the Kitchen Nightmares show. That made him ditch his Spanish tapas bar and reopen as modern British restaurant with its focus on food produced in the surrounding county of Yorkshire.</p>
<p>"Over the last five or 10 years the idea of local food provenance, of using local supplies, taking food from our own backyard and back garden, literally, has really taken off," he said in an interview. "Whether people are cooking Italian food, French food, or British food like I do, keeping it local, keeping the money in the local economy has become something that people are really focused on."</p>
| false | 3 |
sheffield england many brits grew 1970s restaurant meals entailed choice steak chips fries something called scampiinthebasket deepfried seafood uncertain origin served exotically wicker basket lined fatabsorbing paper things changed britain across much northern europe past years ushered culinary revolution san pellegrino worlds best restaurant awards announced last month britain three top 15 one france denmarks noma claimed top spot third year running sweden tied italy three top 50 places160last year chefs denmark sweden norway took top three places bocuse dor contest commonly viewed culinary olympics frances michelin guide awarded record 176 coveted stars british irish restaurants 2012 compares 25 first edition released 1974 go back 30 years deep fried deep fired bland food recalls justin rowntree jointowner awardwinning silversmiths restaurant northern english city remember father first brought home garlic back mid70s wow strange thing globalpost korean foods popularity soars recently picked times newspaper one five sexiest places eat britain silversmiths typical food renaissance swept northern european countries iceland estonia food sourced local farms may menu included delights peppered mackerel cheesecake english asparagus twice cooked smoked pork belly stuffed pigs head yorkshire sausage patty sage mash watercress bacon crisp strawberry tea infused mini raisin scones homemade saffron clotted cream yorkshire lemon curd cooking quality used reserved wealthy food become national obsession good affordable restaurants proliferated britain restaurants european union nation accounts quarter eu spending restaurants bars traditional pubs snacks used limited delights like pickled eggs prawncocktail flavored potato chips transformed innovative gastropubs pint ginger dog brighton example accompanied smoked eel confit pork terrine steamed skate wing crushed new potatoes roast baby fennel sauce vierge far cry days british food butt foreigners jokes one trust people whose cuisine bad french president jacques chirac was160 overheard chuckling russian counterpart vladimir putin in160 2005 thing ever done european agriculture mad cow disease globalpost feta reindeer meat common britains food revival put immigration tourism television spread indian restaurants serving affordable highquality highly spiced food invigorated british palates low cost flights continental europe added appetite better food tv picked trends emergence celebrity chefs like gordon ramsay jamie oliver made food sexy helped turn british a160 nation foodies 10 years weve moved culinary backwater nation obsessed food forms food writer tim hayward mused recently observer sunday newspaper time fertile flowering finally catching rest european neighbors broadly speaking neighbors include nations south arc drawn belgium greece robust gastronomic traditions survived postwar lurch massproduced convenience foods much northern eastern europe food suffered fate britain enjoying similar revival philosophy copenhagens noma superstar chef rene redzepi turned hightemple modern cooking sums thinking many northern europes new wave locally rooted restaurants regard personal challenge help bring revival nordic cuisine let distinctive flavors particular regional character brighten world says restaurants web site noma olive oil foie gras sundried tomatoes black olives contrary weve busy exploring nordic regions discovering outstanding foods bringing back denmark icelandic skyr curd halibut greenland musk ox berries water generation chefs applying approach modernizing halfforgotten recipes digging longoutoffavor products tarsenaal restaurant beneath walls 16thcentury church dutch city deventer serves north sea sole shrimp lovage leaves thornstroms kok restaurant goteborg sweden dish combining local asparagus nettle forth water cress roe freshwater fish called bleak estonian chef peeter pihel makes icecream christmas tree needles globalpost germany battles future solar also salt make great syrup says pihel cooks awardwinning padeste manor hotel baltic sea island of160 muhu local food small farmers thats whats coming back popular back sheffield rowntree recalls got golocal message roasting gordon ramsay kitchen nightmares show made ditch spanish tapas bar reopen modern british restaurant focus food produced surrounding county yorkshire last five 10 years idea local food provenance using local supplies taking food backyard back garden literally really taken said interview whether people cooking italian food french food british food like keeping local keeping money local economy become something people really focused
| 633 |
<p>With the United Nations Millennium Development Goals—the eight international development goals established to promote global health, eradicate poverty, and achieve universal education—set to expire in 2015, questions remain on how successful implementation of the goals have been on the ground. Earlier this week, in an annual <a href="http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2014%20MDG%20report/MDG%202014%20English%20web.pdf" type="external">report</a> published on the MDGs, the UN concluded that “substantial progress has been made in most areas, but much more effort is needed to reach the set targets.”&#160;</p>
<p>Reporter Tracy Jarrett sat down with Amina Mohammed, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning, at last week's Partnership for Maternal, Newborn &amp; Child Health <a href="http://www.who.int/pmnch/about/governance/partnersforum/pf2014/en/index1.html" type="external">conference</a> held in Johannesburg to learn more about the successes and failures of the MDGs and how these goals will be sustained beyond 2015.</p>
<p>GlobalPost: What has been learned from the Millennium Development Goals that were set in 2000?</p>
<p>Amina Mohammed: The good thing the MDGs did was really bring the development agenda together as one.</p>
<p>We learned lots of lessons. For instance, trying to resolve the issue of maternal mortality was more than just having primary health care centers equipped. You needed much more infrastructure, you needed access for the poor, they needed good midwives, we needed analysis of what was happening, we needed money on a regular basis – not just one off – and we needed to do this at scale. We were not talking about a few thousand people, we were talking about millions.</p>
<p>The MDGs were not deep enough for us to really deal with the scale of the issues, and that’s why you see mixed blessings today. Some goals we’ve been able to achieve and others are still unfinished business, and I think that for us, the lessons of the MDGs is what is possible and that’s been a wonderful lesson.</p>
<p>GP: Where are we today in terms of the MDGs?</p>
<p>AM: We have seen countries grow and improve, but it’s insufficient. The difference between the “haves” and the “have nots” has grown larger, and we have to do something about that.</p>
<p>GP: What are the global goals past 2015?</p>
<p>AM: I think first and foremost, the starting block is the unfinished business of the MDGs. We want to use sustainable development conceptually, to tackle these goals. To say we’ve got to have social inclusion, economic development has to be with people – and with young people – in making sure we have transformation for all. If you see the articulation of the 17 <a href="http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/focussdgs.html" type="external">Sustainable Millennium Goals</a>&#160;so far, the first six or seven are MDGs and that is really a response by member states to the clarion call to the huge outreach that we’ve had with the MDGs.&#160;When you ask young people, and for the first time we have done that, the top three or four issues are: health, education, jobs, and responsive government.</p>
<p>GP: How do countries turn the MDGs and the new post 2015 goals into tangible programs that work on the country level?</p>
<p>AM: Because a sustainable form of governance is a different way of tackling poverty eradication, it won’t be business as usual. I think in making these goals real, they should be an integral part of what we see in a country, and they should be seen as a set of goals, a set of targets, that lift the ambition of countries and motivate them to be part of a global partnership.</p>
<p>GP: What role does government accountability play in sustaining the MDGs and post 2015 goals?</p>
<p>AM: Let’s remember this is a universal agenda. There are externalities for governments with the best will in the world that make it [hard for them] to prioritize these goals. For example, some can’t make the revenues they need because of trade barriers.</p>
<p>In terms of accountability, we also need to find different mechanisms beyond monitoring and evaluation. We need to make sure we have the baseline data that is credible, that has integrity, to tell us where we are missing things or people are not being reached. It will tell us if we are doing well or not doing so well.</p>
<p>GP: What is the role of private sector post 2015? How might that role be different than what it is currently?</p>
<p>This has been a very difficult discussion because the first reality check was that we speak different languages. The development agenda has always been between governments and donors—and business is something else, somewhere else.</p>
<p>If the economic transformations are going to be real, and there is a serious attempt to deal with inequalities, then we have to look at what roles will business play in all of this. I think opening up our markets – [for example], looking at the full cycle of the agricultural chain so that business is not just dealing with production, but with storage, how products get to market, where women are included, how to link the markets internally and externally—business has a role to play in that.</p>
<p>[Businesses] also have a big role to play in looking at their [environmental] footprint. How do we deal with sustainable consumption production? How do we use technologies to green our economies in a way that makes them more sustainable?&#160;</p>
<p>GP: In what area are private businesses making the biggest difference?</p>
<p>AM: The greatest difference will be in health at the moment, but I think that’s because the partnerships the Secretary-General put in place during the course of the MDGs have really brought together business and health and the technologies as well, as we’ve seen with mobile technology. It’s not to say other sectors are excluded. In agriculture there’s certainly been those who have helped, or interventions that have helped. For example the WASH, water and sanitation program, has had an incredible impact.</p>
<p>GP: How can you encourage people to care about the MDGs and their lasting effect when some of these goals seem so far out of reach?</p>
<p>AM: The implications of not caring are not acceptable. It is unacceptable that we continue to beat up women. It’s not acceptable that girls can’t go to school. It’s not acceptable you should live with a fistula and not have any hope. It’s not acceptable that you can walk into a hospital not knowing if your going to end up in the morgue or not, It’s absolutely not acceptable that we see children that were born with such a bright future have their lives cut short because there’s a disease we can prevent—malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea.</p>
<p>The implications of not addressing these issues are that you will have insecurity across countries. You will not have civil societies. That’s the imperative for everyone to care and for the impossible to become possible.</p>
<p>This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Tracy Jarrett reported from South Africa and Mozambique as a press fellow with the International Center for Journalists and the UN Foundation.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/global-pulse/progress-toward-mdgs-uneven-across-regions-says-new-report" type="external">UN: Millennium Development Goals leaving some regions behind</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
united nations millennium development goalsthe eight international development goals established promote global health eradicate poverty achieve universal educationset expire 2015 questions remain successful implementation goals ground earlier week annual report published mdgs un concluded substantial progress made areas much effort needed reach set targets160 reporter tracy jarrett sat amina mohammed un secretarygenerals special adviser post2015 development planning last weeks partnership maternal newborn amp child health conference held johannesburg learn successes failures mdgs goals sustained beyond 2015 globalpost learned millennium development goals set 2000 amina mohammed good thing mdgs really bring development agenda together one learned lots lessons instance trying resolve issue maternal mortality primary health care centers equipped needed much infrastructure needed access poor needed good midwives needed analysis happening needed money regular basis one needed scale talking thousand people talking millions mdgs deep enough us really deal scale issues thats see mixed blessings today goals weve able achieve others still unfinished business think us lessons mdgs possible thats wonderful lesson gp today terms mdgs seen countries grow improve insufficient difference haves nots grown larger something gp global goals past 2015 think first foremost starting block unfinished business mdgs want use sustainable development conceptually tackle goals say weve got social inclusion economic development people young people making sure transformation see articulation 17 sustainable millennium goals160so far first six seven mdgs really response member states clarion call huge outreach weve mdgs160when ask young people first time done top three four issues health education jobs responsive government gp countries turn mdgs new post 2015 goals tangible programs work country level sustainable form governance different way tackling poverty eradication wont business usual think making goals real integral part see country seen set goals set targets lift ambition countries motivate part global partnership gp role government accountability play sustaining mdgs post 2015 goals lets remember universal agenda externalities governments best world make hard prioritize goals example cant make revenues need trade barriers terms accountability also need find different mechanisms beyond monitoring evaluation need make sure baseline data credible integrity tell us missing things people reached tell us well well gp role private sector post 2015 might role different currently difficult discussion first reality check speak different languages development agenda always governments donorsand business something else somewhere else economic transformations going real serious attempt deal inequalities look roles business play think opening markets example looking full cycle agricultural chain business dealing production storage products get market women included link markets internally externallybusiness role play businesses also big role play looking environmental footprint deal sustainable consumption production use technologies green economies way makes sustainable160 gp area private businesses making biggest difference greatest difference health moment think thats partnerships secretarygeneral put place course mdgs really brought together business health technologies well weve seen mobile technology say sectors excluded agriculture theres certainly helped interventions helped example wash water sanitation program incredible impact gp encourage people care mdgs lasting effect goals seem far reach implications caring acceptable unacceptable continue beat women acceptable girls cant go school acceptable live fistula hope acceptable walk hospital knowing going end morgue absolutely acceptable see children born bright future lives cut short theres disease preventmalaria pneumonia diarrhea implications addressing issues insecurity across countries civil societies thats imperative everyone care impossible become possible interview edited condensed clarity tracy jarrett reported south africa mozambique press fellow international center journalists un foundation globalpost160 un millennium development goals leaving regions behind 160
| 564 |
<p>Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) speaks at the press conference introducing the Equality Act on July 23, 2015 in the LBJ Room of the U.S. Senate. (Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>Great fanfare marked the introduction of legislation in Congress on Thursday that would enshrine sweeping protections against anti-LGBT discrimination in all areas of civil rights law.</p>
<p>House and Senate Democrats, openly gay lawmakers and LGBT advocates were energized and delivered passionate remarks in support of the measure, known as the Equality Act, at a news conference in the Lyndon B. Johnson room on the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol announcing the debut of the bill.</p>
<p>Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the sponsor of the Equality Act in the Senate, said during the news conference the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage expanded rights for same-sex couples, but “we’ve got a lot of work to do” as long as discrimination is still permitted against LGBT people.</p>
<p>“Discrimination has no place in our nation’s laws,” Merkley said. “If it’s wrong in marriage, it’s wrong in employment. If it’s wrong in employment it’s wrong in housing. If it’s wrong in housing, it’s wrong in education, jury duty and mortgages. To put it simply, people deserve to live free from fear, free from violence and free from discrimination regardless of who they are&#160;or whom they love.”</p>
<p>Joining Merkley to introduce the <a href="http://www.merkley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/EqualityAct.pdf" type="external">23-page bill</a> in the Senate was Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the only out lesbian in the Senate, and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). The Senate version of the bill has 40 original co-sponsors, including Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.).</p>
<p>In the House, Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), who’s gay, is the lead sponsor for the bill, which he said during the news conference has 155 original co-sponsors.</p>
<p>That includes each of the other openly LGB members of the U.S. House — Reps. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.). Other co-sponsors who at the briefing were House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), civil rights pioneer Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.).</p>
<p>Also speaking at the event were LGBT victims of discrimination: Krista and Jami Contreras, a lesbian from Michigan who faced discrimination when a doctor refused to treat their child; Carter Brown, a transgender man from Texas who was fired from his job because of his gender identity; and Luke Peterson, a gay man from Nebraska who said he’s lost three jobs because of his sexual orientation.</p>
<p>For years, legislation known as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act seeking to bar employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation — and in later versions on the basis of gender identity — languished in Congress. The Equality Act seeks to prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination not only in employment, but public accommodations, education, housing, federal programs, jury service and credit.</p>
<p>Cicilline said lawmakers who support LGBT rights are taking this comprehensive approach at this time because the country is in a different place than it has been in years past.</p>
<p>“Some might wonder why we’re taking this approach, a comprehensive non-discrimination bill, rather than the approach we’ve taken&#160;in the years past with ENDA and other piecemeal bills that would ban discrimination in one area or other,” Cicilline said. “The answer is that our community is in a different place now and momentum is on our side.”</p>
<p>To enact these sweeping protections, the Equality Act seeks to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
<p>Because the public accommodations protections under the Civil Rights Act are limited to hotels, restaurants and theaters, the Equality Act expands the list of public accommodations in which discrimination is prohibited to nearly all entities. That includes retail stores, banks and entities that provide transportation and health services. The bill also adds gender protections to the public accommodations and federal programs portions of the Civil Rights Act, which were heretofore absent from the statute.</p>
<p>Additionally, the bill would clarify the Religious Freedom Restoration Act cannot be a tool for discrimination against LGBT people. The Equality Act also ensures that for sex-segreated facilities such as restrooms, all individuals, including transgender people, must be admitted in accordance with their gender identity.</p>
<p>In 2013, many LGBT advocacy groups dropped support from ENDA because the bill’s religious exemption would continue to allow discrimination against secular employees working for religious organizations, such as a religious-affiliated church or hospital. Because the Equality Act is based on the Civil Rights Act, those employees would receive protections against discrimination in those facilities in the same way that discrimination based on&#160;race, gender and national origin is prohibited.</p>
<p>Amending the Civil Rights Act to include gay people is a concept once explored more than 40 years ago by the late Rep. Bella Abzug of New York City. In 1974, she introduced a bill — also dubbed the Equality Act — that would have amended the Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation. The measure never passed and eventually gave way to ENDA.</p>
<p>Winnie Stachelberg, senior vice president for the Center for American Progress, made the case for the bill by invoking the memory of Abzug and saying discrimination faced by LGBT Americans “is not hypothetical”</p>
<p>“Forty years ago, Bella Abzug introduced the first Equality Act,” Stachelberg said. “Last night, I heard from Bella Abzug’s daughter, Liz. She said, ‘Forty years later after my bold and incredible mom introduced the first Equality Act, we’ll complete the job.”</p>
<p>Although Merkley and Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin hinted the Equality Act should have bipartisan appeal during their remarks, no Republicans are original co-sponsors of the legislation.</p>
<p>That’s unlike versions of ENDA in years past, which have enjoyed bipartisan support. In 2013, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) in the House and Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) were original co-sponsors, but that isn’t the case for the Equality Act. Their offices didn’t respond to repeated requests to comment throughout the week about their position on the legislation.</p>
<p>Asked by the Washington Blade during the news conference if any Republicans were co-sponsors of the bill, Merkley affirmed all co-sponsors are Democrats and outreach to obtain more support continues.</p>
<p>“The principles involved in this, the principles of non-discrimination are broadly supported on both sides of the aisle,” Merkley said. “It’s a tradition that is deeply embedded in both parties. I look forward as we did with the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to continue to reach out across the aisle to become familiar with the bill.”</p>
<p>Although no GOP lawmakers yet support the Equality Act, Ted Olson, a Republican former U.S. solicitor general under George W. Bush, endorsed the Equality Act in a joint statement with David Boies, a Democratic attorney. The two lawyers were lead attorneys in the Prop 8 lawsuit that restored marriage equality to California and litigation that struck down Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage.</p>
<p>“The introduction of the Equality Act marks a historic moment for our country,” Olson and Boies said. “The patchwork of protections in this country has provided a crazy quilt of laws, threatening the livelihood of many of the same couples who fought so long and so hard to have their marriages recognized. That’s why we support the idea of a comprehensive approach to non-discrimination protections that would embrace LGBT people as other groups who are protected by our civil rights laws. We urge Republicans and Democrats to once again come together to support this important legislation that provides the same protections to LGBT people as other Americans.”</p>
<p>The business community has also begun to speak. Prior to the news conference, the Human Rights Campaign made public statements in support of the legislation from Apple, Dow Chemical and Levi Strauss.</p>
<p>Although mainstream LGBT rights supporters are touting the Equality Act as a means to achieve full LGBT non-discrimination protections, <a href="" type="internal">some LGBT advocates</a> are withholding support from the bill. One chief reason is the worry that seeking to amend the Civil Rights Act would open up the historic statute to dangerous potential revisions on the floor from lawmakers hostile to civil rights laws. Although the Equality Act has support from women’s groups, no civil rights group representing racial minorities has come out in support of the bill.</p>
<p>Wade Henderson, CEO of the umbrella civil rights group known as the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, previously expressed concerns about the bill and in a statement Thursday was only supportive of the Equality Act in principle.</p>
<p>“The Equality Act presents an opportunity to codify these protections into law nationwide and we look forward to working toward passage of this bill or similar legislation that helps to realize the promise of non-discrimination and dignity for LGBT Americans,” Henderson said.</p>
<p>Asked whether that statement from LCCHR supports the Equality Act, Scott Simpson, an LCCHR spokesperson replied, “We absolutely support the effort and aims of the bill…still vetting this particular legislative vehicle.”</p>
<p>Serving at the event as a voice in favor of the Equality Act on behalf of the civil rights movement was Lewis, who recalled his own efforts in the struggle of black Americans in the 1960s and said, “This legislation is what justice requires; this legislation is what justice deserves.”</p>
<p>In the current Congress where Republicans control both the House and Senate and enjoy their greatest majority in the House since the Truman administration, passing the bill will be an uphill battle to say the least.</p>
<p>During his weekly news conference, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who has opposed efforts to pass ENDA, was non-committal when asked by the Blade if he’d be open to allowing the Equality Act to come up for a House floor vote.</p>
<p>“I’ve not seen any details on it, but I’ll take a look at it,” Boehner said.</p>
<p>The Equality Act is competing for passage with the First Amendment Defense Act, religious freedom legislation seen to enable anti-LGBT discrimination. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), a moderate Republican, has proposed compromise legislation that would prohibit anti-LGBT employment and housing discrimination, but ensure non-profits won’t have their tax-exempt status revoked for opposing same-sex marriage and express the sense of Congress the Supreme Court’s marriage ruling under RFRA shouldn’t burden free exercise of religion.</p>
<p>House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) (Washington Blade photo by Antwan J. Thompson)</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Cory Booker</a> <a href="" type="internal">David Cicilline</a> <a href="" type="internal">Equality Act</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jeff Merkley</a> <a href="" type="internal">John Boehner</a></p>
| false | 3 |
sen tammy baldwin dwis speaks press conference introducing equality act july 23 2015 lbj room us senate blade photo michael key great fanfare marked introduction legislation congress thursday would enshrine sweeping protections antilgbt discrimination areas civil rights law house senate democrats openly gay lawmakers lgbt advocates energized delivered passionate remarks support measure known equality act news conference lyndon b johnson room senate side us capitol announcing debut bill sen jeff merkley dore sponsor equality act senate said news conference us supreme court ruling favor samesex marriage expanded rights samesex couples weve got lot work long discrimination still permitted lgbt people discrimination place nations laws merkley said wrong marriage wrong employment wrong employment wrong housing wrong housing wrong education jury duty mortgages put simply people deserve live free fear free violence free discrimination regardless are160or love joining merkley introduce 23page bill senate sen tammy baldwin dwis lesbian senate sen cory booker dnj senate version bill 40 original cosponsors including sen chuck schumer dny democratic presidential candidate sen bernard sanders ivt house rep david cicilline dri whos gay lead sponsor bill said news conference 155 original cosponsors includes openly lgb members us house reps jared polis dcolo mark pocan dwis mark takano dcalif sean patrick maloney dny kyrsten sinema dariz cosponsors briefing house minority leader nancy pelosi dcalif house minority whip steny hoyer dmd civil rights pioneer rep john lewis dga rep mike honda dcalif also speaking event lgbt victims discrimination krista jami contreras lesbian michigan faced discrimination doctor refused treat child carter brown transgender man texas fired job gender identity luke peterson gay man nebraska said hes lost three jobs sexual orientation years legislation known employment nondiscrimination act seeking bar employment discrimination basis sexual orientation later versions basis gender identity languished congress equality act seeks prohibit antilgbt discrimination employment public accommodations education housing federal programs jury service credit cicilline said lawmakers support lgbt rights taking comprehensive approach time country different place years past might wonder taking approach comprehensive nondiscrimination bill rather approach weve taken160in years past enda piecemeal bills would ban discrimination one area cicilline said answer community different place momentum side enact sweeping protections equality act seeks amend civil rights act 1964 fair housing act include sexual orientation gender identity public accommodations protections civil rights act limited hotels restaurants theaters equality act expands list public accommodations discrimination prohibited nearly entities includes retail stores banks entities provide transportation health services bill also adds gender protections public accommodations federal programs portions civil rights act heretofore absent statute additionally bill would clarify religious freedom restoration act tool discrimination lgbt people equality act also ensures sexsegreated facilities restrooms individuals including transgender people must admitted accordance gender identity 2013 many lgbt advocacy groups dropped support enda bills religious exemption would continue allow discrimination secular employees working religious organizations religiousaffiliated church hospital equality act based civil rights act employees would receive protections discrimination facilities way discrimination based on160race gender national origin prohibited amending civil rights act include gay people concept explored 40 years ago late rep bella abzug new york city 1974 introduced bill also dubbed equality act would amended civil rights act include sexual orientation measure never passed eventually gave way enda winnie stachelberg senior vice president center american progress made case bill invoking memory abzug saying discrimination faced lgbt americans hypothetical forty years ago bella abzug introduced first equality act stachelberg said last night heard bella abzugs daughter liz said forty years later bold incredible mom introduced first equality act well complete job although merkley human rights campaign president chad griffin hinted equality act bipartisan appeal remarks republicans original cosponsors legislation thats unlike versions enda years past enjoyed bipartisan support 2013 rep ileana roslehtinen rfla house sens susan collins rmaine mark kirk rill original cosponsors isnt case equality act offices didnt respond repeated requests comment throughout week position legislation asked washington blade news conference republicans cosponsors bill merkley affirmed cosponsors democrats outreach obtain support continues principles involved principles nondiscrimination broadly supported sides aisle merkley said tradition deeply embedded parties look forward employment nondiscrimination act continue reach across aisle become familiar bill although gop lawmakers yet support equality act ted olson republican former us solicitor general george w bush endorsed equality act joint statement david boies democratic attorney two lawyers lead attorneys prop 8 lawsuit restored marriage equality california litigation struck virginias ban samesex marriage introduction equality act marks historic moment country olson boies said patchwork protections country provided crazy quilt laws threatening livelihood many couples fought long hard marriages recognized thats support idea comprehensive approach nondiscrimination protections would embrace lgbt people groups protected civil rights laws urge republicans democrats come together support important legislation provides protections lgbt people americans business community also begun speak prior news conference human rights campaign made public statements support legislation apple dow chemical levi strauss although mainstream lgbt rights supporters touting equality act means achieve full lgbt nondiscrimination protections lgbt advocates withholding support bill one chief reason worry seeking amend civil rights act would open historic statute dangerous potential revisions floor lawmakers hostile civil rights laws although equality act support womens groups civil rights group representing racial minorities come support bill wade henderson ceo umbrella civil rights group known leadership conference civil human rights previously expressed concerns bill statement thursday supportive equality act principle equality act presents opportunity codify protections law nationwide look forward working toward passage bill similar legislation helps realize promise nondiscrimination dignity lgbt americans henderson said asked whether statement lcchr supports equality act scott simpson lcchr spokesperson replied absolutely support effort aims billstill vetting particular legislative vehicle serving event voice favor equality act behalf civil rights movement lewis recalled efforts struggle black americans 1960s said legislation justice requires legislation justice deserves current congress republicans control house senate enjoy greatest majority house since truman administration passing bill uphill battle say least weekly news conference house speaker john boehner rohio opposed efforts pass enda noncommittal asked blade hed open allowing equality act come house floor vote ive seen details ill take look boehner said equality act competing passage first amendment defense act religious freedom legislation seen enable antilgbt discrimination rep charlie dent rpa moderate republican proposed compromise legislation would prohibit antilgbt employment housing discrimination ensure nonprofits wont taxexempt status revoked opposing samesex marriage express sense congress supreme courts marriage ruling rfra shouldnt burden free exercise religion house minority leader nancy pelosi dcalif washington blade photo antwan j thompson cory booker david cicilline equality act jeff merkley john boehner
| 1,070 |
<p>Depending on how a handful of swing states choose in November, the next president will either target every undocumented immigrant in the country for deportation or provide millions with work permits instead.</p>
<p>Experts from all sides of the immigration spectrum say the policy gap between Donald Trump, who on Wednesday <a href="" type="internal">reaffirmed his support</a> for a border wall and mass deportation, and Hillary Clinton, who has pledged to further integrate millions of undocumented immigrants into American society, is unprecedented in recent history.</p>
<p>“There will be no amnesty," Donald Trump said in a speech in Arizona. "Our message to the world will be this: You cannot obtain legal status or become a citizen of the United States by illegally entering our country."</p>
<p>In the same address, Trump called for a new “deportation task force” to root out criminals and for tripling the number of immigration agents tasked with removing immigration violators from the interior. He promised to cut off funding to “sanctuary cities,” immediately remove any undocumented immigrant arrested for a crime, and warned that “no one will be immune or exempt from enforcement.”</p>
<p>Hillary Clinton, by contrast, has pledged to pursue legislation creating a path to citizenship for qualifying immigrants in her first 100 days in office. Failing that, she has pledged to "go even further” than President Obama in using executive action to shield undocumented immigrants from deportations, and pledged she would not deport children or break up families.</p>
<p>“I do not have the same policy as the current administration does,” Clinton said during a Democratic debate in March. “I think it's important that we move to our comprehensive immigration reform, but at the same time, stop the raids, stop the round-ups, stop the deporting of people who are living here doing their lives, doing their jobs, and that's my priority."</p>
<p>Trump has said he would deport young undocumented immigrants without hesitation; Clinton has hired DREAMers to campaign jobs. <a href="" type="internal">Trump regularly brings parents</a> whose children were killed by undocumented immigrants onstage at his rallies; Clinton brought undocumented immigrants onto the main stage of the Democratic National Convention in primetime. She’s also said undocumented immigrants should have access to the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges (though not its subsidies). Trump said in his speech Wednesday he would prioritize removing “public charges” who are “straining the safety net.”</p>
<p>“Trump really is talking about sealing off the country, closing off the border, and throwing out the key,” David Leopold, an immigration attorney supportive of recent immigration reform efforts, told NBC News. “It’s not hyperbole.”</p>
<p>Mark Krikorian, whose Center for Immigration Studies favors lower immigration levels, said Clinton had widened the gap by moving significantly to the left in recent years.</p>
<p>“These two are farther apart than any two I can remember,” Krikorian said.</p>
<p>As recently as 2007, Clinton opposed <a href="http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/clinton-now-against-licenses-for-illegal-immigrants/?_r=1" type="external">issuing driver licenses</a> to undocumented immigrants while running for president. Her journey towards championing the undocumented population paralleled the Democratic Party’s move as well, with interest groups like labor unions <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/how-unions-went-from-border-hawks-to-immigration-doves" type="external">gradually moving</a> from skeptics of immigration reform to champions.</p>
<p>Trump went through <a href="" type="internal">his own journey</a>as well. After Mitt Romney lost the 2012 race running on a hardline enforcement position, Trump blamed the former nominee’s “maniacal” and “crazy” policy of self-deportation and suggested he might allow undocumented immigrants to stay in the country.</p>
<p>The widening chasm comes just three years after Republicans and Democrats successfully passed a bipartisan reform bill in the Senate that would have have revised and expanded legal immigration, provided a path to citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in America today, and instituted new enforcement measures. That effort was killed in the House by a populist uprising that presaged the party’s sharp turn to the right in the 2016 presidential race.</p>
<p>With the Clinton and Trump so far off now, it’s an open question whether there’s hope for another bipartisan effort akin to the 2013 bill or for substantial legislation in line with Trump’s enforcement-only plan.</p>
<p>If Clinton fails to pass a comprehensive immigration reform package, she would still have plenty of room to act. Obama’s 2014 proposal to grant temporary work permits to several million additional undocumented immigrants has been stymied by the courts, but that’s because the Supreme Court deadlocked 4-4 this year and deferred to a lower court’s decision. If Clinton appoints a new justice who decides a similar plan is legal, it could go forward.</p>
<p>Trump could face tougher challenges enacting his agenda on his own. While he has pledged to undo Obama’s executive orders protecting DREAMers and other undocumented immigrants from deportation, he would need Congress to approve funding for his border wall, expand the number of officers deporting immigrants, and add new judges and detention centers to process their cases.</p>
<p>Congress would also have to approve his proposal to institute a mandatory e-verify system to detect illegal workers as well as other security measures like a nationwide system to track visa overstays. Versions of these measures were included in the Gang of Eight bill, but it’s unlikely Democrats would go along with them outside of a comprehensive package that included a path to legal status.</p>
<p>Some pro-reform Republicans, Democrats, and activists have predicted a Trump loss would again send Republicans back to the negotiating table out of fear the issue was dragging down the national party. Polls have consistently shown Trump’s no-exceptions deportation policy is a minority view even within his own party: 77 percent of voters backed a path to legal status over deportations in a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/poll-trump-supporters-immigration-2016-8" type="external">Fox News poll</a>this week and pluralities of Republican primary voters said the same in <a href="" type="internal">nearly every state</a> with exit polls this year.</p>
<p>“Republican Party won't win WH until after some comprehensive immigration is passed &amp; in rear window,” former Romney strategist Stu Stevens tweeted on Thursday. “It's math.”</p>
<p>But there could be complications. Among them, a growing divide over legal immigration between the parties as Trump increasingly casts foreign workers as competition for American jobs and talks up new restrictions on visas.</p>
<p>While at times a contentious issue between labor and business groups, politicians in both parties largely were comfortable supporting an expanded legal immigration framework as part of a deal during the 2013 immigration debate. Even arch-conservative Senator Ted Cruz, for example, proposed a 500 percent increase in H1B worker visas while opposing the broader bill.</p>
<p>That bipartisan assumption has been called into question thanks in part to a series of stories on alleged abuses involving H1B visas and a rise in populist outlets like Breitbart that put more emphasis on reducing legal immigration. Even before Trump arrived on the scene, presidential candidates like <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/santorum-2016-message" type="external">Rick Santorum</a> and <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/scott-walkers-turn-against-legal-immigration-shakes-2016" type="external">Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker</a> began talking about potentially reducing overall immigration. Later in the race, Cruz <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ted-cruz-turns-legal-immigration" type="external">renounced his old calls</a>for more immigration and instead called for a freeze on total immigration levels until the labor participation rate rose.</p>
<p>Trump himself has called for an indefinite “pause” on issuing new green cards for workers in which businesses would have to prove they were unable to fill jobs with American employees. Immigration activists say they’re especially concerned by his proposed Muslim ban and a related call to halt immigration from countries plagued by terrorism. Depending on how it’s defined, such a move could block entry from countries like India, France, Israel, or the Philippines that have deep ties with the United States.</p>
<p>“I think that with Trump, what we have seen is the most radical restrictions on the legal immigration system in at least the last century,” said Todd Schulte, the president of pro-immigration advocacy group FWD.us. “With Clinton we've seen a big contrast to that and hope she will continue to spell out her plans to create a legal immigration system with a focus on allowing the best and the brightest to come here.”</p>
<p>On the Democratic side, Clinton has promised to “staple” a green card to masters degrees and PhDs in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields and has called for the creation of visas for foreign entrepreneurs. But she told Vox in July that issues like adding more visas for tech jobs <a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/7/11/12106796/clinton-immigration-visas" type="external">should come second</a> to resolving the fight over illegal immigration, sparking concern from groups like the <a href="https://www.uschamber.com/above-the-fold/trump-and-clinton-seem-be-struggling-immigration-we-can-help?utm_content=sf34761812&amp;utm_medium=spredfast&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=U.S.+Chamber+of+Commerce&amp;sf34761812=1" type="external">Chamber of Commerce</a> that favor such changes.</p>
<p>Clinton has said less about her view on immigration limits overall, but has spoken in general about the benefit immigrants provide to America. Legal immigration never came up much during the Democratic primary, but Bernie Sanders — echoing populist rhetoric in both parties — notably warned that higher immigration levels depress wages.</p>
<p>"There is a reason that Wall Street likes immigration reform," Sanders told NBC News in July of last year, also noting the backing of the Koch Brothers and the U.S. Chamber. "What I think they’re interested in is seeing a process by which we can bring low-wage labor into this county."</p>
<p>Ironically, while illegal immigration dominates the political conversation, public opinion on legal immigration is much more evenly split. Gallup, which <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/184529/support-increased-immigration.aspx" type="external">polls the issue</a>annually, has long found a plurality of Americans favor either decreasing or maintaining current immigration levels rather than increasing them, although support is rising for the latter option. It's possible this side of the immigration debate becomes a bigger issue regardless of who wins in November.</p>
| false | 3 |
depending handful swing states choose november next president either target every undocumented immigrant country deportation provide millions work permits instead experts sides immigration spectrum say policy gap donald trump wednesday reaffirmed support border wall mass deportation hillary clinton pledged integrate millions undocumented immigrants american society unprecedented recent history amnesty donald trump said speech arizona message world obtain legal status become citizen united states illegally entering country address trump called new deportation task force root criminals tripling number immigration agents tasked removing immigration violators interior promised cut funding sanctuary cities immediately remove undocumented immigrant arrested crime warned one immune exempt enforcement hillary clinton contrast pledged pursue legislation creating path citizenship qualifying immigrants first 100 days office failing pledged go even president obama using executive action shield undocumented immigrants deportations pledged would deport children break families policy current administration clinton said democratic debate march think important move comprehensive immigration reform time stop raids stop roundups stop deporting people living lives jobs thats priority trump said would deport young undocumented immigrants without hesitation clinton hired dreamers campaign jobs trump regularly brings parents whose children killed undocumented immigrants onstage rallies clinton brought undocumented immigrants onto main stage democratic national convention primetime shes also said undocumented immigrants access affordable care acts exchanges though subsidies trump said speech wednesday would prioritize removing public charges straining safety net trump really talking sealing country closing border throwing key david leopold immigration attorney supportive recent immigration reform efforts told nbc news hyperbole mark krikorian whose center immigration studies favors lower immigration levels said clinton widened gap moving significantly left recent years two farther apart two remember krikorian said recently 2007 clinton opposed issuing driver licenses undocumented immigrants running president journey towards championing undocumented population paralleled democratic partys move well interest groups like labor unions gradually moving skeptics immigration reform champions trump went journeyas well mitt romney lost 2012 race running hardline enforcement position trump blamed former nominees maniacal crazy policy selfdeportation suggested might allow undocumented immigrants stay country widening chasm comes three years republicans democrats successfully passed bipartisan reform bill senate would revised expanded legal immigration provided path citizenship many estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants america today instituted new enforcement measures effort killed house populist uprising presaged partys sharp turn right 2016 presidential race clinton trump far open question whether theres hope another bipartisan effort akin 2013 bill substantial legislation line trumps enforcementonly plan clinton fails pass comprehensive immigration reform package would still plenty room act obamas 2014 proposal grant temporary work permits several million additional undocumented immigrants stymied courts thats supreme court deadlocked 44 year deferred lower courts decision clinton appoints new justice decides similar plan legal could go forward trump could face tougher challenges enacting agenda pledged undo obamas executive orders protecting dreamers undocumented immigrants deportation would need congress approve funding border wall expand number officers deporting immigrants add new judges detention centers process cases congress would also approve proposal institute mandatory everify system detect illegal workers well security measures like nationwide system track visa overstays versions measures included gang eight bill unlikely democrats would go along outside comprehensive package included path legal status proreform republicans democrats activists predicted trump loss would send republicans back negotiating table fear issue dragging national party polls consistently shown trumps noexceptions deportation policy minority view even within party 77 percent voters backed path legal status deportations fox news pollthis week pluralities republican primary voters said nearly every state exit polls year republican party wont win wh comprehensive immigration passed amp rear window former romney strategist stu stevens tweeted thursday math could complications among growing divide legal immigration parties trump increasingly casts foreign workers competition american jobs talks new restrictions visas times contentious issue labor business groups politicians parties largely comfortable supporting expanded legal immigration framework part deal 2013 immigration debate even archconservative senator ted cruz example proposed 500 percent increase h1b worker visas opposing broader bill bipartisan assumption called question thanks part series stories alleged abuses involving h1b visas rise populist outlets like breitbart put emphasis reducing legal immigration even trump arrived scene presidential candidates like rick santorum wisconsin governor scott walker began talking potentially reducing overall immigration later race cruz renounced old callsfor immigration instead called freeze total immigration levels labor participation rate rose trump called indefinite pause issuing new green cards workers businesses would prove unable fill jobs american employees immigration activists say theyre especially concerned proposed muslim ban related call halt immigration countries plagued terrorism depending defined move could block entry countries like india france israel philippines deep ties united states think trump seen radical restrictions legal immigration system least last century said todd schulte president proimmigration advocacy group fwdus clinton weve seen big contrast hope continue spell plans create legal immigration system focus allowing best brightest come democratic side clinton promised staple green card masters degrees phds science technology engineering mathematics fields called creation visas foreign entrepreneurs told vox july issues like adding visas tech jobs come second resolving fight illegal immigration sparking concern groups like chamber commerce favor changes clinton said less view immigration limits overall spoken general benefit immigrants provide america legal immigration never came much democratic primary bernie sanders echoing populist rhetoric parties notably warned higher immigration levels depress wages reason wall street likes immigration reform sanders told nbc news july last year also noting backing koch brothers us chamber think theyre interested seeing process bring lowwage labor county ironically illegal immigration dominates political conversation public opinion legal immigration much evenly split gallup polls issueannually long found plurality americans favor either decreasing maintaining current immigration levels rather increasing although support rising latter option possible side immigration debate becomes bigger issue regardless wins november
| 939 |
<p>LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — A Southern Baptist seminary professor says the arrests of a group of U.S. Baptists accused of trying to remove children from earthquake-stricken Haiti without proper documentation could give a black eye to a budding movement of evangelicals who view adoption as a means of spreading the gospel.</p>
<p>Russell Moore, senior vice president for academic administration and dean of the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, recounted his reaction to hearing the news that 10 Americans accused of human trafficking were members of Baptist churches Feb. 1 on the "Albert Mohler Radio Program."</p>
<p>"I thought, 'Oh no, this is going to cause all kinds of derision to the orphan-care movement and to what the Holy Spirit is doing in churches all across America and all over the world in having a heart for orphans,'" Moore said, <a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/02/01/shepherding-orphans-in-haiti/" type="external">sitting in</a> as guest host for seminary president Al Mohler.</p>
<p>Last year Moore published a book titled <a href="http://www.crossway.org/product/9781581349115" type="external">Adopted for Life</a> calling on Christians to adopt children as a "Great Commission priority." On Feb. 26-27, the seminary in Louisville, Ky., is sponsoring an "Adopting for Life" <a href="http://events.sbts.edu/adopting-for-life/schedule/" type="external">conference</a> aimed at creating "a culture of adoption" in families and churches.</p>
<p>"The Bible tells us that human families are reflective of an eternal fatherhood (Eph. 3:14-15)," says a <a href="http://events.sbts.edu/adopting-for-life/" type="external">website</a> promoting the event. "We know, then, what human fatherhood ought to look like on the basis of how Father God behaves toward us. But the reverse is also true. We see something of the way our God is fatherly toward us through our relationships with our own human fathers. And so Jesus tells us that in our human father's provision and discipline we get a glimpse of God's active love for us (Matt. 7:9-11; cf. Heb. 12:5-7). The same is at work in adoption."</p>
<p>Moore, the father of two children adopted from a Russian orphanage, said while all the facts are not in about the motives and methods of the mission team comprised mostly of members of two Southern Baptist churches in Idaho, he has heard from many individuals stirred by images of suffering asking what they can do to help Haitian orphans.</p>
<p>Particularly following tragedy, Moore said couples seeking international adoption can feel frustrated by the seemingly endless process of filing and processing papers. But he said a certain amount of red tape is necessary to ensure that children have no surviving relatives able to care for them before they are removed from a home and that they receive proper care from their new parents.</p>
<p>"I'm worried that this news is going to give a black eye to the orphan-care movement in the same way that some of the really rambunctious, lawbreaking aspects of the right-to-life protestor movement did to the pro-life movement," Moore said on Monday's program. "You had people who were saying for instance, 'Unless we have a constitutional amendment right now, outlawing all abortions in every situation, then we can't do anything.' Well that hurt, I think the pro-life movement in many ways."</p>
<p>Moore said backlash to what is being reported as well-intended but poorly executed action by the church group "is going to cause people to have increased skepticism toward what I think is a genuine movement of the Spirit of God among God's people."</p>
<p>During the segment Moore interviewed Jedd Medefind, president of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, and, along with Moore and David Platt, senior pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala., one of three keynote speakers at the upcoming conference.</p>
<p>"I think those of us who care passionately for the cause of orphans and I think a lot of Christian groups that are out there on the ground really are just deeply embarrassed by this, and I think frankly it will have the potential to do some really pretty significant long -term harm to the cause of both Christian care in country as well as the cause of adoption," Medefind said. "I think some folks who really oppose our approach to caring for children will kind of point to this very mistakenly as Exhibit A of reasons why a focus on adoption is not healthy and why you should leave caring for orphans just to governments and not allow ordinary people in the church to be involved."</p>
<p>Medefind, a former aide to President George W. Bush who <a href="http://chrisitianallianceblog.org/?page_id=54" type="external">led</a>the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, now heads an alliance of orphan-serving organizations and churches promoting Christian orphan and foster care and adoption and adoption ministry.</p>
<p>The group's mission statement <a href="http://www.christian-alliance-for-orphans.org/aboutus/vision.asp" type="external">says</a> it exists to "motivate and unify the body of Christ to live out God's mandate to care for the orphan." The Alliance's vision statement is "every orphan experiencing God's unfailing love and knowing Jesus as Savior."</p>
<p>Moore said there are some people, only a few, who comprise "kind of an anti-adoption movement out there that would say every adoption is abduction, is man-stealing."</p>
<p>Reacting to the news out of Haiti, Moore said, "I can just see those people saying, 'See, this is what we're talking about."</p>
<p>In his book, Moore <a href="http://www.crossway.org/product/9781581349115/browse/36#browse" type="external">said</a> when he and his wife were adopting their boys they were encouraged by social workers and family friends to "teach the children about their cultural heritage."</p>
<p>"We have done just that," he wrote.</p>
<p>"Now, what most people probably meant by this counsel is for us to teach our boys Russian folk tales and Russian songs, observing Russian holidays, and so forth," Moore explained. "But as we see it, that's not their heritage anymore, and we hardly want to signal to them that they are strangers and aliens, even welcome ones, in our home. We teach them about their heritage, yes, but their heritage as Mississippians."</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Bob Allen</a> is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.</p>
| false | 3 |
louisville ky abp southern baptist seminary professor says arrests group us baptists accused trying remove children earthquakestricken haiti without proper documentation could give black eye budding movement evangelicals view adoption means spreading gospel russell moore senior vice president academic administration dean school theology southern baptist theological seminary recounted reaction hearing news 10 americans accused human trafficking members baptist churches feb 1 albert mohler radio program thought oh going cause kinds derision orphancare movement holy spirit churches across america world heart orphans moore said sitting guest host seminary president al mohler last year moore published book titled adopted life calling christians adopt children great commission priority feb 2627 seminary louisville ky sponsoring adopting life conference aimed creating culture adoption families churches bible tells us human families reflective eternal fatherhood eph 31415 says website promoting event know human fatherhood ought look like basis father god behaves toward us reverse also true see something way god fatherly toward us relationships human fathers jesus tells us human fathers provision discipline get glimpse gods active love us matt 7911 cf heb 1257 work adoption moore father two children adopted russian orphanage said facts motives methods mission team comprised mostly members two southern baptist churches idaho heard many individuals stirred images suffering asking help haitian orphans particularly following tragedy moore said couples seeking international adoption feel frustrated seemingly endless process filing processing papers said certain amount red tape necessary ensure children surviving relatives able care removed home receive proper care new parents im worried news going give black eye orphancare movement way really rambunctious lawbreaking aspects righttolife protestor movement prolife movement moore said mondays program people saying instance unless constitutional amendment right outlawing abortions every situation cant anything well hurt think prolife movement many ways moore said backlash reported wellintended poorly executed action church group going cause people increased skepticism toward think genuine movement spirit god among gods people segment moore interviewed jedd medefind president christian alliance orphans along moore david platt senior pastor church brook hills birmingham ala one three keynote speakers upcoming conference think us care passionately cause orphans think lot christian groups ground really deeply embarrassed think frankly potential really pretty significant long term harm cause christian care country well cause adoption medefind said think folks really oppose approach caring children kind point mistakenly exhibit reasons focus adoption healthy leave caring orphans governments allow ordinary people church involved medefind former aide president george w bush ledthe office faithbased community initiatives heads alliance orphanserving organizations churches promoting christian orphan foster care adoption adoption ministry groups mission statement says exists motivate unify body christ live gods mandate care orphan alliances vision statement every orphan experiencing gods unfailing love knowing jesus savior moore said people comprise kind antiadoption movement would say every adoption abduction manstealing reacting news haiti moore said see people saying see talking book moore said wife adopting boys encouraged social workers family friends teach children cultural heritage done wrote people probably meant counsel us teach boys russian folk tales russian songs observing russian holidays forth moore explained see thats heritage anymore hardly want signal strangers aliens even welcome ones home teach heritage yes heritage mississippians bob allen senior writer associated baptist press
| 529 |
<p>The first day of the Baptist World Alliance’s gathering in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, offered a bus tour of nearby Baptist historical sites. About 15 intrepid travelers seized the opportunity and from 9 until 6 were escorted by two remarkable local Baptist historians, Glenroy Lalor and Doreen Morrison.&#160;</p>
<p>There is one super highway between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, and once the bus ventured off of it, the ride was an adventure in the bush. The roads to these out-of-the-way sites were narrow and without guardrails, and as the small bus climbed hills, deep ravines were only a few inches away.&#160; The bottom of the bus took a beating from rocks. The road was too narrow for two vehicles to pass and on one occasion there was a standoff until an approaching vehicle backed up.&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>Somewhere on that back road this columnist had visions of “what if” we became stranded. It was at about that point that I relied on an old method. When I was a boy I always enjoyed going to the fair and riding the ferris wheel, but when my little seat got to the top and began to rock, I would close my eyes and pray: “Lord, if you get me off this thing I will never get on one again!” And of course, the next year I was back on the ferris wheel.</p>
<p>Along that bumpy road out in the bush I repeated that childhood prayer. I survived the bus trip and, true to form, the next day was on another small bus along with the entire BWA delegation of 400 from 40 countries headed to a welcome reception held by Jamaican Baptists outdoors in front of “the great house” of a former sugarcane plantation. Once again, the road to the house was a washboard and everyone aboard got a jolting ride.&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>Both ventures—the historical tour and the evening reception—were worth the spinal adjustment. On the tour our two knowledgeable guides offered a running commentary. We learned of the tremendous sacrifices made by pioneer missionaries and early preachers. We learned that&#160; in the colonial period under Anglican domination Baptists in Jamaica once faced great persecution for their faith.</p>
<p>Our guides shared that Baptist work dated to 1783 and was established by a self-appointed missionary of African descent, the remarkable Virginia-born former slave George Liele. He is credited as a founder of the First African Baptist Church of Savannah, Ga., and is possibly the first modern missionary, beginning his work 10 years before William Carey and 20 years before the Judsons. He is the subject of a new biography published by Mercer Press.&#160;</p>
<p>One of Liele’s fellow ministers in Jamaica was Moses Baker. On the tour we visited the ruins of Salter’s Hill Baptist Church which was Baker’s congregation and likely the site of his burial. Baker appealed to John Ryland Jr. of Great Britain—a name prominent in Baptist history—who encouraged his fellow Britons to send missionaries to Jamaica.</p>
<p>Following a slave revolt in Haiti, Jamaican authorities adopted the Consolidated Slave Law in 1791 which governed worship and seemed aimed at the Baptist movement. The laws specified that no more than 12 persons could gather and slaves found preaching or teaching were punished.&#160; Anglicans joined the Colonial Church Union and, like the KKK in the American South, terrorized blacks and burned numerous Baptist churches.&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>Over the years 79 missionaries traveled to Jamaica under the auspices of the Baptist Missionary Society of Great Britain.&#160; It is difficult to imagine how these British folk endured the tropics, the hardships and the harassment. Only a strong calling and an equally compelling faith must have sustained them.</p>
<p>Today, in church after church, there are stone tablets on the walls commemorating the work of early missionaries. Among these were William and Mary Knibb who were dedicated to missions work two days after their marriage.&#160; William became one of the great friends of the enslaved people and boldly took stands on their behalf.&#160; He faced all manner of persecution, including murder threats, and for three days a mob stoned his house. The enslaved within his churches sent him back to Britain, where he lobbied for an end to slavery.&#160;</p>
<p>William Knibb is memorialized across Jamaica, and a large Baptist school is named for him. Our guides shared that there are three Baptist schools on the island and that Christian churches—Baptist, Anglican and Catholic—long ago initiated public education.&#160;</p>
<p>After emancipation in 1838—175 years on Aug. 1—every Baptist church planted “a liberty tree.” One church buried a coffin and the marker reads: “Freedom. Here lie buried shackles, chains and branding irons used to torture and enslave the earliest members of this church. ‘Lest We Forget’”</p>
<p>Baptists endured in Jamaica. Today there are about 330 churches in the Jamaica Baptist Union. It seemed that every other person we met was a Baptist. The stern-faced passport official at the airport asked why we were coming to Jamaica, and when told about the BWA meeting, she said, still without smiling, that she was a Baptist. The clerk at the shuttle bus desk also said she was a Baptist and asked, “So, how many souls did you save on the airplane?” Many of the conference’s hotel wait staff identified themselves as Baptists.&#160;</p>
<p>There are similarities between the Baptist story in Virginia and Jamaica. Both dealt with “the peculiar institution” and both were witnesses to the gospel in major slave trade centers. Both experienced religious persecution. Both endured harsh laws restricting blacks in worship. Both struggled for freedom. Both produced bold and courageous ministers who opposed slavery. Both became major influences for good in their settings.</p>
<p>Fred Anderson ( <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>) is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and Center for Baptist Heritage &amp; Studies.</p>
| false | 3 |
first day baptist world alliances gathering ocho rios jamaica offered bus tour nearby baptist historical sites 15 intrepid travelers seized opportunity 9 6 escorted two remarkable local baptist historians glenroy lalor doreen morrison160 one super highway montego bay ocho rios bus ventured ride adventure bush roads outoftheway sites narrow without guardrails small bus climbed hills deep ravines inches away160 bottom bus took beating rocks road narrow two vehicles pass one occasion standoff approaching vehicle backed up160 somewhere back road columnist visions became stranded point relied old method boy always enjoyed going fair riding ferris wheel little seat got top began rock would close eyes pray lord get thing never get one course next year back ferris wheel along bumpy road bush repeated childhood prayer survived bus trip true form next day another small bus along entire bwa delegation 400 40 countries headed welcome reception held jamaican baptists outdoors front great house former sugarcane plantation road house washboard everyone aboard got jolting ride160 venturesthe historical tour evening receptionwere worth spinal adjustment tour two knowledgeable guides offered running commentary learned tremendous sacrifices made pioneer missionaries early preachers learned that160 colonial period anglican domination baptists jamaica faced great persecution faith guides shared baptist work dated 1783 established selfappointed missionary african descent remarkable virginiaborn former slave george liele credited founder first african baptist church savannah ga possibly first modern missionary beginning work 10 years william carey 20 years judsons subject new biography published mercer press160 one lieles fellow ministers jamaica moses baker tour visited ruins salters hill baptist church bakers congregation likely site burial baker appealed john ryland jr great britaina name prominent baptist historywho encouraged fellow britons send missionaries jamaica following slave revolt haiti jamaican authorities adopted consolidated slave law 1791 governed worship seemed aimed baptist movement laws specified 12 persons could gather slaves found preaching teaching punished160 anglicans joined colonial church union like kkk american south terrorized blacks burned numerous baptist churches160 years 79 missionaries traveled jamaica auspices baptist missionary society great britain160 difficult imagine british folk endured tropics hardships harassment strong calling equally compelling faith must sustained today church church stone tablets walls commemorating work early missionaries among william mary knibb dedicated missions work two days marriage160 william became one great friends enslaved people boldly took stands behalf160 faced manner persecution including murder threats three days mob stoned house enslaved within churches sent back britain lobbied end slavery160 william knibb memorialized across jamaica large baptist school named guides shared three baptist schools island christian churchesbaptist anglican catholiclong ago initiated public education160 emancipation 1838175 years aug 1every baptist church planted liberty tree one church buried coffin marker reads freedom lie buried shackles chains branding irons used torture enslave earliest members church lest forget baptists endured jamaica today 330 churches jamaica baptist union seemed every person met baptist sternfaced passport official airport asked coming jamaica told bwa meeting said still without smiling baptist clerk shuttle bus desk also said baptist asked many souls save airplane many conferences hotel wait staff identified baptists160 similarities baptist story virginia jamaica dealt peculiar institution witnesses gospel major slave trade centers experienced religious persecution endured harsh laws restricting blacks worship struggled freedom produced bold courageous ministers opposed slavery became major influences good settings fred anderson fredandersonvbmborg executive director virginia baptist historical society center baptist heritage amp studies
| 549 |
<p>American drone strikes — in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and elsewhere — have increased significantly under the Obama Administration. It was a drone attack that recently killed Anwar al—Awlaki, the American-born propagandist for al-Qaeda living in Yemen.</p>
<p>Drone pilots may be on the ground, but they still require a high degree of aviation skills and training to fly the planes. The planes also require specialized mechanics and parts. And drones aren't only for military applications. In the future, unmanned aircraft may well be used for everything from delivering packages to spreading fertilizer on fields.</p>
<p>The state of North Dakota is trying to position itself to become a leader in all-things-drones. But first order of business in North Dakota: don't call them drones.</p>
<p>"Drone? Well, mmmm, yea, that word should not be used," said Mike Nelson, with the University of North Dakota's new unmanned piloting program. He said these are complex planes that require a high-degree of piloting expertise, and the word "drone" doesn't reflect that.</p>
<p>"The Air Force calls them RPA's, remotely piloted aircraft. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) acknowledges them as UA's, unmanned aircraft, or UAS, unmanned aircraft systems, because that's a UA with its associated equipment, that's why it's called UAS."</p>
<p>That's the term they use at the University of North Dakota: UAS. Two years ago, the university became the first civilian school to offer a four-year degree in unmanned aircraft systems operations. Several other schools — in Alaska, Arizona, Florida — are also offering courses.</p>
<p>Nelson showed me around the new UAS training center in Grand Forks, located off-campus at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. The center includes a small room that's essentially a cockpit on the ground. Pilots and sensor operators can watch what's happening in the air through cameras on the plane.</p>
<p>Students don't actually fly real planes though; the FAA won't allow that. Instructor Mark Hastings showed me a simulated flight over Washington DC. He typed in coordinates and sent a plane to a specific point. He also dragged a mouse, made a click, and off the plane went to a spot near the Jefferson monument.</p>
<p>I suggested that it looked pretty easy, that perhaps I could've done it.</p>
<p>"Yea, yea. Absolutely. It's pretty straightforward to use," said Hastings.</p>
<p>It was also a little jarring watching an unmanned flight over Washington, even when it wasn't real.</p>
<p>Before I got too alarmed though, or proud of my piloting ability, another instructor, Trevor Woods, put me in my place.</p>
<p>"One of the things you just said is that really looked easy, something that maybe even you can do. And you don't need to be full-fledged pilot. However, because of the interaction with air space, because of the interaction with air traffic control, because of the interaction with other aircraft…"</p>
<p>…Because of all that, I can't fly the plane.</p>
<p>The undergraduate students studying unmanned aerial systems begin their coursework by learning about aerodynamics as any traditional pilot would. Then the classes branch off to study the specifics of unmanned aircraft.</p>
<p>The students aren't in the military, but they'll likely end up working as military contractors when they graduate. For now, that's where the jobs are.</p>
<p>Associate Professor Ben Trapnell set up the UAS degree program here. He used to be a Navy pilot, but he says unmanned aircraft: that's the future.</p>
<p>"And if you do any research with the Army, the Air Force, there are people that will tell you they may have produced or are producing their last manned fighter."</p>
<p>Bottomline: There's no safety risk to a pilot on the ground. And Trapnell sees a lot more than just military applications.</p>
<p>"I've got about 90 different uses for unmanned aircraft. But some of the big things: agricultural uses — we can get imagery to farmers a lot faster than having to wait for satellites to do the same thing — pipeline patrols, powerline patrols, there's the possibility of flying organs one place or another to get them there faster for transplants."</p>
<p>At the moment, the FAA won't allow unmanned planes to fly for civilian uses. Still, the state of North Dakota is positioning itself for when that day comes. It's an ideal place to experiment with this new technology — wide open space and few people. Beyond the university program, dozens of businesses are springing up to support the emerging industry. A nearby college — Northland Community and Technical College — is training students for unmanned aircraft repair.</p>
<p>Two unmanned aircraft are currently allowed to fly above North Dakota; they're patrolling the Canadian border.</p>
<p>John Priddy directs the National Air Security Operations Center in Grand Forks for US Customs and Border Protection. He said unmanned planes offer certain advantages, namely they can stay airborne for 20 hours at a time.</p>
<p>"That reduces a lot of things for us: cost, time to get to different areas."</p>
<p>Priddy said unmanned aircraft allow his team to quantify the threat level at different parts of a long border and identify where crossings are occurring.</p>
<p>The pilots here switch roughly every two hours. There's also a team analyzing the data sent back. Priddy asked one of his team members to pull up an example of the type of imagery the planes send back. Moments later, one of Priddy's team members zooms in on a picture of tire tracks and footprints to see where earth has been overturned.</p>
<p>This was all amazing stuff. But I gotta say, for the pilots, it seemed, well, kinda boring. And tame. I suggested this to John Priddy. He flew Apaches in the Army before he piloted unmanned aircraft.</p>
<p>"It's the most challenging airplane I've ever flown," said Priddy. "You have to learn different cues for landing, and taking off that matter, but in particular landing, because you don't have any aural perception, meaning you don't hear the increase in the motor when you push the throttle forward, you don't feel the acceleration."</p>
<p>All the unmanned pilots I spoke with said more or less the same thing: It's not the same rush as being up in the clouds, but you still have to be completely engaged in what you're doing.</p>
<p>There is one compelling reason for young, would-be pilots to choose a cockpit on the ground: job opportunities. There aren't a lot of pilots who can do this. And, if and when the FAA allows unmanned civilian aircraft to take to the sky, there will be an even greater demand for pilots on the ground.</p>
| false | 3 |
american drone strikes pakistan afghanistan elsewhere increased significantly obama administration drone attack recently killed anwar alawlaki americanborn propagandist alqaeda living yemen drone pilots may ground still require high degree aviation skills training fly planes planes also require specialized mechanics parts drones arent military applications future unmanned aircraft may well used everything delivering packages spreading fertilizer fields state north dakota trying position become leader allthingsdrones first order business north dakota dont call drones drone well mmmm yea word used said mike nelson university north dakotas new unmanned piloting program said complex planes require highdegree piloting expertise word drone doesnt reflect air force calls rpas remotely piloted aircraft faa federal aviation administration acknowledges uas unmanned aircraft uas unmanned aircraft systems thats ua associated equipment thats called uas thats term use university north dakota uas two years ago university became first civilian school offer fouryear degree unmanned aircraft systems operations several schools alaska arizona florida also offering courses nelson showed around new uas training center grand forks located offcampus grand forks air force base center includes small room thats essentially cockpit ground pilots sensor operators watch whats happening air cameras plane students dont actually fly real planes though faa wont allow instructor mark hastings showed simulated flight washington dc typed coordinates sent plane specific point also dragged mouse made click plane went spot near jefferson monument suggested looked pretty easy perhaps couldve done yea yea absolutely pretty straightforward use said hastings also little jarring watching unmanned flight washington even wasnt real got alarmed though proud piloting ability another instructor trevor woods put place one things said really looked easy something maybe even dont need fullfledged pilot however interaction air space interaction air traffic control interaction aircraft cant fly plane undergraduate students studying unmanned aerial systems begin coursework learning aerodynamics traditional pilot would classes branch study specifics unmanned aircraft students arent military theyll likely end working military contractors graduate thats jobs associate professor ben trapnell set uas degree program used navy pilot says unmanned aircraft thats future research army air force people tell may produced producing last manned fighter bottomline theres safety risk pilot ground trapnell sees lot military applications ive got 90 different uses unmanned aircraft big things agricultural uses get imagery farmers lot faster wait satellites thing pipeline patrols powerline patrols theres possibility flying organs one place another get faster transplants moment faa wont allow unmanned planes fly civilian uses still state north dakota positioning day comes ideal place experiment new technology wide open space people beyond university program dozens businesses springing support emerging industry nearby college northland community technical college training students unmanned aircraft repair two unmanned aircraft currently allowed fly north dakota theyre patrolling canadian border john priddy directs national air security operations center grand forks us customs border protection said unmanned planes offer certain advantages namely stay airborne 20 hours time reduces lot things us cost time get different areas priddy said unmanned aircraft allow team quantify threat level different parts long border identify crossings occurring pilots switch roughly every two hours theres also team analyzing data sent back priddy asked one team members pull example type imagery planes send back moments later one priddys team members zooms picture tire tracks footprints see earth overturned amazing stuff got ta say pilots seemed well kinda boring tame suggested john priddy flew apaches army piloted unmanned aircraft challenging airplane ive ever flown said priddy learn different cues landing taking matter particular landing dont aural perception meaning dont hear increase motor push throttle forward dont feel acceleration unmanned pilots spoke said less thing rush clouds still completely engaged youre one compelling reason young wouldbe pilots choose cockpit ground job opportunities arent lot pilots faa allows unmanned civilian aircraft take sky even greater demand pilots ground
| 623 |
<p>Editor's note:&#160;The idea for this article was suggested by a GlobalPost member. What do you think we should cover? <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/members" type="external">Become a member</a> today to suggest and vote on story ideas.</p>
<p>MOSCOW - As Syria's uprising against Bashar al-Assad deteriorates into a potentially nation-destroying civil war, most of the diplomatic discourse has been dominated by a high-stakes blame-game between Russia and the West over who is most at fault for the horrific massacre and mayhem.</p>
<p>The most recent example: Monday's tense meeting between the Russian and US presidents in Mexico, in which Obama failed to get Putin's help in easing Assad from power.</p>
<p>So far Russia has been losing this rhetorical battle. But the Kremlin insists that its case transcends mere self-interest, and points the way back to a world governed by the rule of law.</p>
<p>Moscow's community of foreign policy experts - many of whom routinely excoriate the Kremlin - seem uncommonly united in support of Russia's stance on Syria. They argue that the Kremlin is adhering to a conservative set of international values, based on respect for national sovereignty and the right of Syria's people to sort out their own future.</p>
<p>The West, they claim, is out of legal bounds and pursuing its own geopolitical interests thinly disguised as a humanitarian "responsibility to protect" in a manner that is reckless, hypocritical and - perhaps the unkindest cut - incompetent.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/series/inside-syria" type="external">Complete coverage from inside Syria</a></p>
<p>"The West talks in terms of noble goals, but their actions tend to wreck any stability, threaten the lives of millions, and leave people worse off than before," says Yevgeny Satanovsky, president of the independent Institute of Middle Eastern Studies in Moscow. "I don't carry any brief for the Kremlin, but in the case of Syria, the Russian aim is to try to minimize negative outcomes. Russian approaches may be old fashioned and conservative but, I'm sorry to say, they're more rational than current Western policies."</p>
<p>Russian experts dish out examples of botched Western interventions going back to the 1999 Kosovo war, which Moscow helped to resolve after receiving NATO's assurances that Kosovo would never be given independence; a few years later Kosovo was made independent. The long and inconclusive US occupation of Iraq and the ongoing imbroglio in Afghanistan are cited as examples of "making things worse."</p>
<p>But uppermost in Russian minds is the UN-authorized NATO intervention in Libya last year, which Moscow acquiesced to as a measure to protect civilians, only to see it morph into a full rebel campaign for regime change backed by Western air power.</p>
<p>"We've been lied to repeatedly; not a single promise the West has made to us in the past two decades has been honored," says Sergei Markov, vice president of the Plekhanov Economic University in Moscow and a frequent adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/business/120601/when-the-brics-crumble" type="external">When the BRICS crumble</a></p>
<p>"We've learned to take our own counsel on problems like Syria. What we see is an extraordinarily difficult situation that threatens to explode into a massive bloodbath. Nobody likes Assad, but if you just remove him the entire state will collapse with awful consequences. We wish we could have an intelligent conversation with Western leaders about this, but so far that hasn't proved possible," he says.</p>
<p>After vetoing (along with China) two UN Security Council resolutions that would have imposed tough sanctions and enabled a process for easing Assad out, Russia got on board with the UN-sponsored Kofi Annan plan, which envisaged democratic reforms and UN observers but no sanctions or outside military interference. With the Annan plan in shreds, and violence spiraling in many parts of Syria, the war of words is heating up again.</p>
<p>Russia's primary argument for its position is that it conforms with international law. Sovereignty is the supreme principle, Russian officials say, and Western attempts to change those rules have not led to good results anywhere.</p>
<p>The fixation on sovereignty is rooted in self-interest, and comes with its own healthy dose of hypocrisy. The Kremlin harbors a deep-seated fear that authorizing outside military force to support rebellious populations might one day be used to license intervention in Russia. And the principle does not seem to apply when Moscow is dealing with its own neighbors in the post-Soviet area; after defeating Georgia in 2008, Moscow effective dismembered its southern neighbor by granting independence to the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.</p>
<p>Putin, who has effectively ruled Russia for the past 12 years, viewed the pro-democracy "colored revolutions" that erupted in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan over the past decade as the creations of foreign intelligence services. When tens of thousands of anti-Kremlin protesters took to the streets of Moscow last December to demand fair elections, his first public response was to blame Hillary Clinton: "She set the tone for some opposition activists, gave them a signal, they heard this signal and started active work," Putin said at the time.</p>
<p>"Russian leaders fear revolution very deeply, and they look with horror on the Arab Spring and the totally disordered changes that have followed in its wake," says Sergei Strokan, a foreign affairs columnist with the Moscow daily Kommersant.</p>
<p>"The only thing that's worse for them is the idea of popular revolution approved of and supported by the West. They observe all that's happening through a conspiratorial lens. Hence they see Western-backed rebels creating a pretext for Western military intervention that leads to pro-Western regime change. The biggest regret in Russian official foreign policy circles, and the worst accusation against (former President Dmitry) Medvedev, is that he authorized our UN delegation to abstain on the Security Council resolution that authorized the use of force to protect civilians in Libya last year. They are determined not to enable anything like that, not ever again," Strokan says.</p>
<p>Russia also has significant financial and political reasons to back Assad.</p>
<p>Syria has been Moscow's most important strategic partner in the Middle East since 1971. It's been a major customer for Russian arms and engineering goods. Russia currently has about $5 billion in outstanding arms contracts with Syria, plus as much as $15 billion in other traditional military and economic cooperation - including Russia's only foreign military base, a naval refueling station at the Syrian port of Tartous.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/120514/soccer-diplomacy-ukraine" type="external">Soccer diplomacy in Ukraine</a></p>
<p>Financially, abiding by Western-backed sanctions never seems to work out in Moscow's favor. Over the past year, Russia has sacrificed about $4.5-billion in broken arms deals with Libya, and lost as much as $13 billion due to UN sanctions against Iran, experts say.</p>
<p>"Moscow is afraid events in Syria will spin out of control," says Alexander Konovalov, president of the independent Institute for Strategic Assessments in Moscow. "We have lots of economic interests that we stand to lose, but this is not the main thing. The loss of political influence is more important, because Syria is the last point in the Middle East where Russia has a major role to play."</p>
<p>Still, the Kremlin has reacted defensively to charges that it is fueling Syria's civil war by continuing to sell arms to Assad. Stung by Hillary Clinton's recent claim that Russia was sending attack helicopters to Syria for use against demonstrators, Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport made public the list of weaponry it does sell to Syria, including anti-aircraft systems, coastal defense missiles and jet trainers. "We supply armaments that are self-[defensive] rather than attack weapons, and there can be no talk about any violations by Russia or Rosoboronexport either de jure or de facto," the agency's spokesman, Igor Sevastyanov, told journalists.</p>
<p>(It also appears that Clinton's claim was incorrect. <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/syria/airforce-equipment.htm" type="external">Syria's fleet</a> of at least 36 Mi-25 "Hind-D" helicopter gunships - a deadly flying artillery platform made famous by Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980's - was purchased from Russia at least 20 years ago. The helicopters Clinton was referring to were recently serviced in Russia, and were being returned to Syria, but no new helicopter contracts have been signed in over ten years, experts say.)</p>
<p>Russia retorts that it's the West, and Sunni-dominated Arab states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who are smuggling in weapons to fuel the armed rebellion against the Alawite minority rule headed by Assad in Syria.</p>
<p>"We think we know how the world works as well as anyone else, and our diplomats have been active in the Middle East for a long time. We do not have the slightest romantic illusion that something that comes after Assad will be better," says Satanovsky. "We see a religious war shaping up in Syria, and across the region - Sunni against Shia - and we want no part of it. We see all sorts of extremist groups, including Al Qaeda, fighting alongside these anti-Assad rebels and we wonder why you don't seem to notice that ....</p>
<p>"Our Western colleagues point to these terrible atrocities (taking place with increasing frequency in Syria) and say, 'We have to do something!' But your own Western track record shows that you get the regime change you wanted, then lose all interest in the humanitarian problems," he says.</p>
<p>"As for Russia, we've learned to base our policy on national interest. We simply don't believe Western leaders know what they're doing, and we're not listening to all that chatter anymore. So, Russia's Syria policy will remain basically the same, and there is no significant debate over this in the Russian establishment today," he adds.&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
editors note160the idea article suggested globalpost member think cover become member today suggest vote story ideas moscow syrias uprising bashar alassad deteriorates potentially nationdestroying civil war diplomatic discourse dominated highstakes blamegame russia west fault horrific massacre mayhem recent example mondays tense meeting russian us presidents mexico obama failed get putins help easing assad power far russia losing rhetorical battle kremlin insists case transcends mere selfinterest points way back world governed rule law moscows community foreign policy experts many routinely excoriate kremlin seem uncommonly united support russias stance syria argue kremlin adhering conservative set international values based respect national sovereignty right syrias people sort future west claim legal bounds pursuing geopolitical interests thinly disguised humanitarian responsibility protect manner reckless hypocritical perhaps unkindest cut incompetent globalpost complete coverage inside syria west talks terms noble goals actions tend wreck stability threaten lives millions leave people worse says yevgeny satanovsky president independent institute middle eastern studies moscow dont carry brief kremlin case syria russian aim try minimize negative outcomes russian approaches may old fashioned conservative im sorry say theyre rational current western policies russian experts dish examples botched western interventions going back 1999 kosovo war moscow helped resolve receiving natos assurances kosovo would never given independence years later kosovo made independent long inconclusive us occupation iraq ongoing imbroglio afghanistan cited examples making things worse uppermost russian minds unauthorized nato intervention libya last year moscow acquiesced measure protect civilians see morph full rebel campaign regime change backed western air power weve lied repeatedly single promise west made us past two decades honored says sergei markov vice president plekhanov economic university moscow frequent adviser russian president vladimir putin past globalpost brics crumble weve learned take counsel problems like syria see extraordinarily difficult situation threatens explode massive bloodbath nobody likes assad remove entire state collapse awful consequences wish could intelligent conversation western leaders far hasnt proved possible says vetoing along china two un security council resolutions would imposed tough sanctions enabled process easing assad russia got board unsponsored kofi annan plan envisaged democratic reforms un observers sanctions outside military interference annan plan shreds violence spiraling many parts syria war words heating russias primary argument position conforms international law sovereignty supreme principle russian officials say western attempts change rules led good results anywhere fixation sovereignty rooted selfinterest comes healthy dose hypocrisy kremlin harbors deepseated fear authorizing outside military force support rebellious populations might one day used license intervention russia principle seem apply moscow dealing neighbors postsoviet area defeating georgia 2008 moscow effective dismembered southern neighbor granting independence breakaway republics abkhazia south ossetia putin effectively ruled russia past 12 years viewed prodemocracy colored revolutions erupted georgia ukraine kyrgyzstan past decade creations foreign intelligence services tens thousands antikremlin protesters took streets moscow last december demand fair elections first public response blame hillary clinton set tone opposition activists gave signal heard signal started active work putin said time russian leaders fear revolution deeply look horror arab spring totally disordered changes followed wake says sergei strokan foreign affairs columnist moscow daily kommersant thing thats worse idea popular revolution approved supported west observe thats happening conspiratorial lens hence see westernbacked rebels creating pretext western military intervention leads prowestern regime change biggest regret russian official foreign policy circles worst accusation former president dmitry medvedev authorized un delegation abstain security council resolution authorized use force protect civilians libya last year determined enable anything like ever strokan says russia also significant financial political reasons back assad syria moscows important strategic partner middle east since 1971 major customer russian arms engineering goods russia currently 5 billion outstanding arms contracts syria plus much 15 billion traditional military economic cooperation including russias foreign military base naval refueling station syrian port tartous globalpost soccer diplomacy ukraine financially abiding westernbacked sanctions never seems work moscows favor past year russia sacrificed 45billion broken arms deals libya lost much 13 billion due un sanctions iran experts say moscow afraid events syria spin control says alexander konovalov president independent institute strategic assessments moscow lots economic interests stand lose main thing loss political influence important syria last point middle east russia major role play still kremlin reacted defensively charges fueling syrias civil war continuing sell arms assad stung hillary clintons recent claim russia sending attack helicopters syria use demonstrators russias state arms exporter rosoboronexport made public list weaponry sell syria including antiaircraft systems coastal defense missiles jet trainers supply armaments selfdefensive rather attack weapons talk violations russia rosoboronexport either de jure de facto agencys spokesman igor sevastyanov told journalists also appears clintons claim incorrect syrias fleet least 36 mi25 hindd helicopter gunships deadly flying artillery platform made famous soviet forces afghanistan 1980s purchased russia least 20 years ago helicopters clinton referring recently serviced russia returned syria new helicopter contracts signed ten years experts say russia retorts west sunnidominated arab states like saudi arabia qatar smuggling weapons fuel armed rebellion alawite minority rule headed assad syria think know world works well anyone else diplomats active middle east long time slightest romantic illusion something comes assad better says satanovsky see religious war shaping syria across region sunni shia want part see sorts extremist groups including al qaeda fighting alongside antiassad rebels wonder dont seem notice western colleagues point terrible atrocities taking place increasing frequency syria say something western track record shows get regime change wanted lose interest humanitarian problems says russia weve learned base policy national interest simply dont believe western leaders know theyre listening chatter anymore russias syria policy remain basically significant debate russian establishment today adds160
| 911 |
<p>ON THE MOVE</p>
<p>Scott Curtis, to Providence Baptist Church, Red House, Va., as pastor.</p>
<p>Stephen Foss, to Plymouth Haven Baptist Church, Alexandria, Va., as senior pastor.</p>
<p>Trent Sessoms, to Kingdale (N.C.) Baptist Church, as pastor.</p>
<p>Joe McDowell, to Aarons Creek Baptist Church, Virgilina, Va., as pastor.</p>
<p>Gil Gulick, resigning as pastor of First Baptist Church, High Point, N.C.</p>
<p>Jeff Johnson, concluding his ministry as pastor of Hunton Baptist Church, Glen Allen, Va.</p>
<p>Rick Bennett, director of missional congregations for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship since 2004, is leaving the Atlanta-based CBF to become pastor of First Baptist Church, Elkin, N.C., effective Oct. 1.</p>
<p>Bill Eaton, to Leesburg (Va.) Community Church, as part-time executive pastor.</p>
<p>Jim Vaught, to Hillsboro Baptist Church, Crozet, Va., as intentional interim pastor, effective Aug. 26.</p>
<p>Travis Moger, to Middleburg (Va.) Baptist Church, as interim pastor.</p>
<p>Nicole Farrar, to Abingdon (Va.) Baptist Church, as director of children’s ministry.</p>
<p>Galen Ware, to May Memorial Baptist Church, Powhatan, Va., as interim minister of youth.</p>
<p>Damon Lomison, to Mountain View Community Church, Culpeper, Va., as worship director.</p>
<p>Kyle Caudle, to First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C., as interim project coordinator.</p>
<p>Aimee Hobbs, to Pritchard Memorial&#160; Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C., as children’s minister.</p>
<p>Johnny Rafidi, to Green Ridge Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va., as children’s director.</p>
<p>Tiffany Slaughter, to Haymarket (Va.) Baptist Church, as associate pastor, effective Sept. 1.</p>
<p>Claude Evans, former pastor of Samaria Baptist Church, Providence Forge, Va., now serving as associate for ministry to church leaders at the Dover Baptist Association.</p>
<p>Joey Meador, to Poplar Springs Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., as young adult and youth minister.</p>
<p>Ben Wright, to First Baptist Church, Danville, Va., as director of youth ministries.</p>
<p>Carson Rich, youth and discipleship pastor for Leesburg (Va.) Community Church, now serving as headmaster of Dominion Academy, its church school.</p>
<p>RETIREMENTS</p>
<p>Michael Catlett, retiring as pastor of McLean (Va.) Baptist Church, effective&#160; Sept. 9. Catlett began his pastorate at McLean in 1990.</p>
<p>David Patton has retired as pastor of Gwynn’s Island Baptist Church, Gwynn, Va.</p>
<p>Fred R. Skaggs has announced plans to retire as pastor of County Line Baptist Church, Ruther Glen, Va., effective January 2013.</p>
<p>Robert Thompson has announced plans to retire as pastor of First Baptist Church, Ashland, Va., effective Dec. 31. Thompson began his ministry at First Baptist in 1992.</p>
<p>ORDINATION</p>
<p>Donna Coffman Sams will be ordained to the ministry on Aug. 12 by Clifton Forge (Va.) Baptist Church.</p>
<p>DEATHS</p>
<p>R.L.T. “Dick” Beale III of Ruckersville, Va., died July 5 at the age of 83. In November 1968, at age 39, he was elected president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia and is thought to have been the youngest layman ever elected to that point as president. He was a member of Upper King and Queen Baptist Church, Newtown, Va. Beale was preceded in death by his wife, Janis Elaine Dudding Beale. He is survived by his children, Richard L. T. Beale IV, Rebecca B. Broaddus and Frank B. Beale II; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.</p>
<p>Baptist pastor and church planter Charles A. Chilton Sr. died on July 25. He and his wife were among the first Southern Baptist missionaries to the Philippines and became fluent in Tagalong, the national language. He had served as pastor of Eleys Ford Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, Va.; Harmony Grove Baptist Church, Topping, Va.; and Berwyn Baptist Church, College Park, Md. He was the first pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Woodbridge, Va., and was instrumental in the planting of the Fredericksburg (Va.) International Christian Church and the Filipino American Community Church in Richmond, Va. He is survived by his wife, Fay; four children, Lora, Lyn, Charlie Jr. and Amy; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A celebration of his life was held at Grace Baptist Church on July 28.</p>
<p>Donald L.Tatum of Petersburg, Va., died July 20 at the age of 64. He was a retired pastor and teacher. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, Colonial Heights, Va., and active in the Petersburg Baptist Association, serving for many years as clerk. He is survived by his twin brother, Ron Tatum, and several nephews and nieces. A funeral service was held July 27 at the E. Alvin Small Funeral Home in Petersburg.</p>
<p>The John Leland Center for Theological Studies held graduation June 9 at the Church at Clarendon in Arlington, Va. Graduates included: School of Ministry Diploma, Darrell Naff, Sean O’Toole, Arthur Patterson, Son Tong and John “Toby” Tyler; Graduate Certificate for Theological Studies, Stephanie Porter-Nichols; Master of Divinity, Derek Adye and Jonathan Jones; Master of Theological Studies, Daniel Ficklin; and Master of Christian Leadership, Kevin Schrum.</p>
<p>Joe Champagne, professor of photography and digital imaging and chair of the fine arts department at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Va., has been selected for inclusion in “Art From The Heart 2012,” a juried exhibition of international photography and photo-based artwork. His piece, “Weeds, Fence,” was among other entries on display July 28 at 61 9th St. in Brooklyn, N.Y. The exhibition is sponsored by the New York-based foundation The Vanderbilt Republic, which explores paradigm shifts and the purpose and place of artists in society. The VR is a creative agency that specializes in the conception and execution of effective, monumental ideas.</p>
<p>76 YEARS</p>
<p>Annie Goode Garland served for 76 consecutive years as church pianist and teacher of the youth and women’s Sunday school classes at Lithia Baptist Church, Buchanan, Va. She died earlier this year at age 91, reports Daniel Scott, pastor of Lithia Baptist Church.</p>
<p>30 YEARS</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fitzgerald</p>
<p />
<p>Michael R. Fitzgerald, celebrating 30 years as pastor of Clifford Baptist Church, Amherst, Va. During his pastorate the congregation has built a social hall and a new sanctuary and educational building and just purchased an adjoining property.</p>
<p>Hammond Coates, celebrating 30 years as minister of discipleship and congregational ministries at First Baptist Church, Springfield, Va.</p>
<p>20 YEARS</p>
<p>Benny Edwards, 20 years as minister of music and senior adults at First Baptist Church, Southern Pines, N.C.</p>
<p>5 YEARS</p>
<p>Justin Joplin, 5 years as pastor of Westover Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.</p>
<p>Bryan Moore, 5 years as minister of youth and students at First Baptist Church, Southern Pines, N.C.</p>
<p>Dale Tadlock, 5 years as associate pastor/ minister to young adults and students at First Baptist Church, Waynesboro, Va.</p>
<p>SUN.-WED., AUG. 12-15</p>
<p>Mulberry Grove Baptist Church, Buckingham, Va.; homecoming with former pastor Michael Jordan as speaker Aug. 12; revival services Aug. 13-15.</p>
<p>Welcome Grove Baptist Church, Warsaw, Va.; revival with Clayton Custalow as evangelist.</p>
<p>SUN.-WED., AUG. 19-21</p>
<p>Broadus Memorial Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va.; revival with Roger Roller, evangelist.</p>
<p>SUN.-WED., AUG. 26-29</p>
<p>Kedron Baptist Church, Gladys, Va.; revival with Roger Roller, evangelist.</p>
<p>SUN.-WED., SEPT. 9-12</p>
<p>First Baptist Church, Bristol, Va.,; revival with Darrell Fletcher, field strategist for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, as evangelist.</p>
<p>SUN.-WED., SEPT. 16-19</p>
<p>Rocky River Baptist Church, Siler City, N.C.; revival with Andrew Wakefield, dean of Campbell University Divinity School, as evangelist.</p>
<p>A mission team from Clifford Baptist Church, Amherst, Va., traveled to Hope of Life International in Llano Verde, Zacapa, Guatamala, in July. The team dug the footing for a house, mixing concrete on the ground to pour the footing. They tied pepper plants and turned the earth on 1,800 linear feet of new pepper plant rows. They prepared bags of food and delivered them to a nearby village. The team visited one of the 87 feeding stations that Carlos Vargas, the ministry’s founder, maintains and were able to help feed the people who came there. They visited residents of a home for the elderly, the boys and girls orphanage and the baby rescue station. While there rescue personnel found an 8-month-old girl and brought her to the station to nurse to health. Clyde M. Mawyer Jr., associate pastor at Clifford Baptist, says it is difficult to convey the tumultuous emotions felt when confronted with the poverty and starvation of people compared to the luxury and abundance in this country, yet the team praises God for Vargas and the ministry there.</p>
<p>A 150-year-old church in downtown Washington voted July 25 to disassociate from the Southern Baptist Convention. The vote by Calvary Baptist Church followed a letter last February sent to then-SBC president Bryant Wright about concerns with the recent direction of the SBC. “We believe the Southern Baptist Convention has departed from the historic principles of separation of church and state and autonomy of the local church to such a degree that seriously calls into question our continued affiliation with the convention,” said a portion of the letter quoted in a press release. Calvary will continue to affiliate with the American Baptist Churches USA, the Alliance of Baptists, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the District of Columbia Baptist Association.</p>
<p>First Baptist Church, Burlington, N.C., celebrated its 125th anniversary with special events on July 29, including a photographic history by Don Bolden and a congregational luncheon. There were historical displays throughout the church. Observance of the church anniversary will continue into October with an annual homecoming.</p>
<p>Two Virginia Intermont College professors have collaborated with the Birthplace of Country Music in Bristol, Va., in a community project to present a special astrophotography program to at-risk middle school children. Developed by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, the program is titled “Youth Capture the Colorful Cosmos.” VI physics professor Chuck Pearson and cultural heritage and public arts professor Jessica Turner will conduct the six-week after-school astrophotography series for Bristol school children next fall.</p>
<p />
<p>Pope’s Creek Baptist Church, Montross, Va., had a good time celebrating its 200th anniversary on July 29—and not just because they had enough food for several armies, pastor Richard Headley joked. Headley said he and several others dressed in outfits similar to what their forefathers might have worn in 1812, when the congregation was formed. Pope’s Creek has defined its historic moments in a 36-page booklet. Copies were passed out before the service, along with souvenier pens, postcards and chocolate bars with a drawing of the church on the cover. From 1788 to 1812, Baptists in Westmoreland and Richmond counties belonged to Nomini Baptist Church. But members lived so far away, they couldn’t attend services regularly and met in homes and barns or under arbors. In 1812 40 members branched out from Nomini to start a new church. The group worshipped first in the old Pope’s Creek Episcopal Church, where George Washington attended services as a boy. Members eventually built a church, but it was destroyed in the 1860s by a fire, one of many that would do damage at Pope’s Creek Baptist Church. The congregation suffered another loss in the 1930s when fire again ravaged the church. A new brick building was dedicated in April 1941. That building has been added on to and renovated over the years, with beautiful stained-glass windows and electronic pipe organs dedicated in memory of loves ones.</p>
| false | 3 |
move scott curtis providence baptist church red house va pastor stephen foss plymouth baptist church alexandria va senior pastor trent sessoms kingdale nc baptist church pastor joe mcdowell aarons creek baptist church virgilina va pastor gil gulick resigning pastor first baptist church high point nc jeff johnson concluding ministry pastor hunton baptist church glen allen va rick bennett director missional congregations cooperative baptist fellowship since 2004 leaving atlantabased cbf become pastor first baptist church elkin nc effective oct 1 bill eaton leesburg va community church parttime executive pastor jim vaught hillsboro baptist church crozet va intentional interim pastor effective aug 26 travis moger middleburg va baptist church interim pastor nicole farrar abingdon va baptist church director childrens ministry galen ware may memorial baptist church powhatan va interim minister youth damon lomison mountain view community church culpeper va worship director kyle caudle first baptist church winstonsalem nc interim project coordinator aimee hobbs pritchard memorial160 baptist church charlotte nc childrens minister johnny rafidi green ridge baptist church roanoke va childrens director tiffany slaughter haymarket va baptist church associate pastor effective sept 1 claude evans former pastor samaria baptist church providence forge va serving associate ministry church leaders dover baptist association joey meador poplar springs baptist church richmond va young adult youth minister ben wright first baptist church danville va director youth ministries carson rich youth discipleship pastor leesburg va community church serving headmaster dominion academy church school retirements michael catlett retiring pastor mclean va baptist church effective160 sept 9 catlett began pastorate mclean 1990 david patton retired pastor gwynns island baptist church gwynn va fred r skaggs announced plans retire pastor county line baptist church ruther glen va effective january 2013 robert thompson announced plans retire pastor first baptist church ashland va effective dec 31 thompson began ministry first baptist 1992 ordination donna coffman sams ordained ministry aug 12 clifton forge va baptist church deaths rlt dick beale iii ruckersville va died july 5 age 83 november 1968 age 39 elected president baptist general association virginia thought youngest layman ever elected point president member upper king queen baptist church newtown va beale preceded death wife janis elaine dudding beale survived children richard l beale iv rebecca b broaddus frank b beale ii eight grandchildren five greatgrandchildren baptist pastor church planter charles chilton sr died july 25 wife among first southern baptist missionaries philippines became fluent tagalong national language served pastor eleys ford baptist church fredericksburg va harmony grove baptist church topping va berwyn baptist church college park md first pastor grace baptist church woodbridge va instrumental planting fredericksburg va international christian church filipino american community church richmond va survived wife fay four children lora lyn charlie jr amy eight grandchildren three greatgrandchildren celebration life held grace baptist church july 28 donald ltatum petersburg va died july 20 age 64 retired pastor teacher member immanuel baptist church colonial heights va active petersburg baptist association serving many years clerk survived twin brother ron tatum several nephews nieces funeral service held july 27 e alvin small funeral home petersburg john leland center theological studies held graduation june 9 church clarendon arlington va graduates included school ministry diploma darrell naff sean otoole arthur patterson son tong john toby tyler graduate certificate theological studies stephanie porternichols master divinity derek adye jonathan jones master theological studies daniel ficklin master christian leadership kevin schrum joe champagne professor photography digital imaging chair fine arts department virginia intermont college bristol va selected inclusion art heart 2012 juried exhibition international photography photobased artwork piece weeds fence among entries display july 28 61 9th st brooklyn ny exhibition sponsored new yorkbased foundation vanderbilt republic explores paradigm shifts purpose place artists society vr creative agency specializes conception execution effective monumental ideas 76 years annie goode garland served 76 consecutive years church pianist teacher youth womens sunday school classes lithia baptist church buchanan va died earlier year age 91 reports daniel scott pastor lithia baptist church 30 years mr mrs michael fitzgerald michael r fitzgerald celebrating 30 years pastor clifford baptist church amherst va pastorate congregation built social hall new sanctuary educational building purchased adjoining property hammond coates celebrating 30 years minister discipleship congregational ministries first baptist church springfield va 20 years benny edwards 20 years minister music senior adults first baptist church southern pines nc 5 years justin joplin 5 years pastor westover baptist church richmond va bryan moore 5 years minister youth students first baptist church southern pines nc dale tadlock 5 years associate pastor minister young adults students first baptist church waynesboro va sunwed aug 1215 mulberry grove baptist church buckingham va homecoming former pastor michael jordan speaker aug 12 revival services aug 1315 welcome grove baptist church warsaw va revival clayton custalow evangelist sunwed aug 1921 broadus memorial baptist church mechanicsville va revival roger roller evangelist sunwed aug 2629 kedron baptist church gladys va revival roger roller evangelist sunwed sept 912 first baptist church bristol va revival darrell fletcher field strategist virginia baptist mission board evangelist sunwed sept 1619 rocky river baptist church siler city nc revival andrew wakefield dean campbell university divinity school evangelist mission team clifford baptist church amherst va traveled hope life international llano verde zacapa guatamala july team dug footing house mixing concrete ground pour footing tied pepper plants turned earth 1800 linear feet new pepper plant rows prepared bags food delivered nearby village team visited one 87 feeding stations carlos vargas ministrys founder maintains able help feed people came visited residents home elderly boys girls orphanage baby rescue station rescue personnel found 8monthold girl brought station nurse health clyde mawyer jr associate pastor clifford baptist says difficult convey tumultuous emotions felt confronted poverty starvation people compared luxury abundance country yet team praises god vargas ministry 150yearold church downtown washington voted july 25 disassociate southern baptist convention vote calvary baptist church followed letter last february sent thensbc president bryant wright concerns recent direction sbc believe southern baptist convention departed historic principles separation church state autonomy local church degree seriously calls question continued affiliation convention said portion letter quoted press release calvary continue affiliate american baptist churches usa alliance baptists cooperative baptist fellowship district columbia baptist association first baptist church burlington nc celebrated 125th anniversary special events july 29 including photographic history bolden congregational luncheon historical displays throughout church observance church anniversary continue october annual homecoming two virginia intermont college professors collaborated birthplace country music bristol va community project present special astrophotography program atrisk middle school children developed smithsonian astrophysical observatory program titled youth capture colorful cosmos vi physics professor chuck pearson cultural heritage public arts professor jessica turner conduct sixweek afterschool astrophotography series bristol school children next fall popes creek baptist church montross va good time celebrating 200th anniversary july 29and enough food several armies pastor richard headley joked headley said several others dressed outfits similar forefathers might worn 1812 congregation formed popes creek defined historic moments 36page booklet copies passed service along souvenier pens postcards chocolate bars drawing church cover 1788 1812 baptists westmoreland richmond counties belonged nomini baptist church members lived far away couldnt attend services regularly met homes barns arbors 1812 40 members branched nomini start new church group worshipped first old popes creek episcopal church george washington attended services boy members eventually built church destroyed 1860s fire one many would damage popes creek baptist church congregation suffered another loss 1930s fire ravaged church new brick building dedicated april 1941 building added renovated years beautiful stainedglass windows electronic pipe organs dedicated memory loves ones
| 1,240 |
<p>The Moods Planet condom store is set on one of Panaji’s busiest streets. Buffered by a motorcycle repair shop on one side and a jeweler on the other, this brightly lit store with its distinctive logo — the shapely ‘o’s of Moods intertwined — seems incongruous.</p>
<p>I walk toward it imagining the looks I’m getting from the men hanging out waiting for their bikes to be fixed. Feeling awkward, I push open the glass doors and step into the small, air-conditioned room. There are no other customers, which brings me back to my first thought about the place: In a country like India, where sex is still a taboo topic, who would walk into a store like this?</p>
<p>Turns out&#160;everybody does.</p>
<p>“Our customers are college girls and boys, housewives, people above 50,” says Nitesh Kerkar, the manager of the showroom. Kerkar is an affable young man who immediately puts me at ease. It is a quality that holds him in good stead with his customers, who often want advice more than products.&#160;</p>
<p>“Our store is not just for selling HLL [LifeCare, Moods’ parent company]&#160;products but also provides education and information,” says Kerkar. “Condoms are available at all pharmacies and supermarkets, but the locals feel more comfortable walking in here. They can browse through the products at leisure, ask us questions, compare products — all without judgment or embarrassment.”</p>
<p />
<p>Inside the Moods Planet condom store.</p>
<p>Courtesy of&#160;Moods Planet Goa</p>
<p>The store is also popular with honeymooners — no surprise, since Goa state&#160;is one of India’s top destinations for newlyweds and domestic tourists. “Newly married couples, especially from other parts of India, are surprised to find a store like this on the main street,” says Kerkar.</p>
<p>Some customers, though, hesitate to walk right in. “Some men will wait until other customers have left before they will say anything. Others are less inhibited —&#160;they will ask you anything,” Kerkar says. Groups of “housewives” come to the shop together. “For moral support?” I ask. “No,” Kerkar laughs. “They have so many detailed questions that all I can do is just sit back and listen, and wait for them to finish their questions.”</p>
<p />
<p>Moods Planet's Amour box set.</p>
<p>Chryselle D'Silva Dias</p>
<p>This sexual awakening of India’s middle-class is long overdue. The National Family Planning Program first introduced condoms as a contraception method in the 1960s, importing hundreds of millions of condoms and selling them at a massively subsidized price.&#160;</p>
<p>Using condoms, however, has taken a while to become popular.&#160;For decades the burden of contraception has fallen on women in India, where most of the government's family planning budget is spent on <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/article/6618266/2015/07/17/india-top-sterilizer-women-needs-new-contraceptive-ideas" type="external">female sterilization</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>But health authorities have an urgent reason to push the use of condoms: HIV. With India home to the third-highest number in the world of people living with the virus, the National AIDS Control Organization set the goal that no one should ever be more than 15 minutes’ walk away from somewhere to get protection.&#160;</p>
<p>To this end, the group&#160;installed more than 19,000 condom vending machines across the country from 2005-11. They sold far fewer condoms than predicted, however. By 2013, more than 10,000 machines had gone missing, and many of those remaining didn't work.</p>
<p>Just as crucial as making condoms available is changing people’s attitudes toward them. Here condoms carry connotations of casual or non-marital sex, so successive advertising campaigns have aimed to tackle embarrassment and promote condoms as a normal part of sexual health.&#160;</p>
<p>With the launch of a brand called "KamaSutra"&#160;in the 1990s, Indian condoms also got sexy: Now companies like HLL LifeCare — which is fully owned by the Indian government — produce flavored, textured and “climax-delay” condoms where the emphasis is firmly on pleasure.&#160;</p>
<p>Outside of advertising, though, opportunities for young Indians to hear about sex are limited. The last time a progressive government attempted to introduce nationwide sex education in schools, in 2007, 12 of India’s 29 states <a href="http://sexualrightsinitiative.com/wp-content/uploads/India-UPR-1-YC.pdf" type="external">rejected</a> the program on the grounds that it was too explicit for “Indian culture.” In 2014, the health minister suggested that the program be <a href="http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-06-28/news/50929448_1_adolescence-education-programme-health-minister-harsh-vardhan-condoms" type="external">banned</a> and replaced with compulsory yoga sessions. Today, sex ed courses remain a rarity in Indian schools.</p>
<p>Given this squeamish approach to sex, young people are getting their information instead from the Internet and from Bollywood films, which are often relatively explicit. “Movies play a big role in creating awareness,” according to Kerkar. “Sex is no longer a dirty word in urban India.”</p>
<p />
<p>The Moods Planet store in Panaji, Goa.</p>
<p>Courtesy of&#160;Moods Planet Goa</p>
<p>The Moods Planet store he manages is one of three in the country; there is one in Trivandrum, opened in 2009, and since 2014 another in Kochi, both in the southern Indian state of Kerala. They are the only standalone condom stores in the country, and a novelty for a population starved of matter-of-fact information on sex. (To circumvent the residual embarrassment of purchasing a sex-related product in India, you can also buy Moods condoms online, delivered in “concealed” packaging.)</p>
<p>The staff at all three stores are trained to answer questions about sex, sexually&#160;transmitted disease and reproductive health.&#160;</p>
<p>“When a young customer comes to us, it is not my place to tell them what they should do,” Kerkar says. “I can only give them correct information and hope they use it.”</p>
<p>Whether they buy anything or not doesn’t matter so much. Because, according to Kerkar, “a customer never leaves empty-handed.”&#160;</p>
<p>“Even if they don’t buy anything, they will leave with information, which is always a good thing.”</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/article/6728971/2016/02/04/section-377-gay-rights-india" type="external">It’s still a crime to be gay in India. But activists are ready to celebrate</a></p>
| false | 3 |
moods planet condom store set one panajis busiest streets buffered motorcycle repair shop one side jeweler brightly lit store distinctive logo shapely os moods intertwined seems incongruous walk toward imagining looks im getting men hanging waiting bikes fixed feeling awkward push open glass doors step small airconditioned room customers brings back first thought place country like india sex still taboo topic would walk store like turns out160everybody customers college girls boys housewives people 50 says nitesh kerkar manager showroom kerkar affable young man immediately puts ease quality holds good stead customers often want advice products160 store selling hll lifecare moods parent company160products also provides education information says kerkar condoms available pharmacies supermarkets locals feel comfortable walking browse products leisure ask us questions compare products without judgment embarrassment inside moods planet condom store courtesy of160moods planet goa store also popular honeymooners surprise since goa state160is one indias top destinations newlyweds domestic tourists newly married couples especially parts india surprised find store like main street says kerkar customers though hesitate walk right men wait customers left say anything others less inhibited 160they ask anything kerkar says groups housewives come shop together moral support ask kerkar laughs many detailed questions sit back listen wait finish questions moods planets amour box set chryselle dsilva dias sexual awakening indias middleclass long overdue national family planning program first introduced condoms contraception method 1960s importing hundreds millions condoms selling massively subsidized price160 using condoms however taken become popular160for decades burden contraception fallen women india governments family planning budget spent female sterilization160 health authorities urgent reason push use condoms hiv india home thirdhighest number world people living virus national aids control organization set goal one ever 15 minutes walk away somewhere get protection160 end group160installed 19000 condom vending machines across country 200511 sold far fewer condoms predicted however 2013 10000 machines gone missing many remaining didnt work crucial making condoms available changing peoples attitudes toward condoms carry connotations casual nonmarital sex successive advertising campaigns aimed tackle embarrassment promote condoms normal part sexual health160 launch brand called kamasutra160in 1990s indian condoms also got sexy companies like hll lifecare fully owned indian government produce flavored textured climaxdelay condoms emphasis firmly pleasure160 outside advertising though opportunities young indians hear sex limited last time progressive government attempted introduce nationwide sex education schools 2007 12 indias 29 states rejected program grounds explicit indian culture 2014 health minister suggested program banned replaced compulsory yoga sessions today sex ed courses remain rarity indian schools given squeamish approach sex young people getting information instead internet bollywood films often relatively explicit movies play big role creating awareness according kerkar sex longer dirty word urban india moods planet store panaji goa courtesy of160moods planet goa moods planet store manages one three country one trivandrum opened 2009 since 2014 another kochi southern indian state kerala standalone condom stores country novelty population starved matteroffact information sex circumvent residual embarrassment purchasing sexrelated product india also buy moods condoms online delivered concealed packaging staff three stores trained answer questions sex sexually160transmitted disease reproductive health160 young customer comes us place tell kerkar says give correct information hope use whether buy anything doesnt matter much according kerkar customer never leaves emptyhanded160 even dont buy anything leave information always good thing globalpost160 still crime gay india activists ready celebrate
| 544 |
<p>It seems so sad that church has become a place to go rather than an experience to have each day of life. Too often the routines of our church participation fuels disengagement more than deepening our engagement in the faith walk and our church relationships (inside and outside church walls).</p>
<p />
<p>Believers are no doubt busier these days, but most are not better as a result of divine encounters that bring transformation of heart, values and life experiences. Now that those who lead, give and fill positions and pews are losing interest or attending with less engagement, energy and participation, church leaders are beginning to pay attention. After all, they remind us, “We cannot do church without people who lead, give and participate!”</p>
<p>This very mindset might just be the seedbed for why so many once-active church leaders are dropping out or reducing their participation. Of course, I agree that lives have gotten busy and church programming has become more demanding and packed, as other consultants point out. I also understand and validate that many families are dual-career, time-poor families who are searching for time to be family or check on aging parents or build community relationships or friendships. Maybe, just maybe, these are hints about how we might increase the value of and engagement in, through and as church in today’s world. (I discuss these three expressions of church in greater detail in my Spiritual Leadership in a Secular Age: Building Bridges Instead of Barrier.)</p>
<p>The last five ideas, have once again, emerged from our leadership class surveys, dialogues and community prayer times and collective theological and personal reflections. We continue to find new hope, health, healing and deepening of faith, understanding of Scripture and relationships as we journey together in, through and as church through each day and week.</p>
<p>Church is no longer a place to go or a routine or obligation to fulfill. Church is now a way of life that is guided by God, empowered by the presence of the Spirit and the fellowship and life reflection with a group of seekers, searchers and believers who seek together a deepening of engagement and participation in faith and church.</p>
<p>Many will certainly say about now, “How do you pay the bills and keep the church doors open?” What we are experiencing is that those, of all ages, who experience a deeper engagement and who discover an added value in participating fund the mission, not the institution. It also has helped many to see the value of a gathering place to mobilize and equip for the mission. It’s Ephesians 4 and Acts 2 all over again! We are caught up in the mission of God in the world rather than caught up in the activities of the institutional church.</p>
<p>But no doubt we are engaged and committed to the mission as the church in the world of today. Money is better than ever and it follows the depth of engagement in the mission and the community we experience in, through and as church. People give to what they believe in and are engaged in, not what they are expected to just attend or sustain.</p>
<p>The last five summarized ideas are venues we are using to deepen our engagement in and commitment to being people of faith in a 21st-century world as the church in the world.</p>
<p>Provide pastoral care and theological reflection opportunities in workplace and communities. Our membership (we have missionaries not members) is not about caring for each other; it is about going on mission with each other. If you do not go on mission you are not considered to be (learning to be) church. Our caregiving is not focused on those other missionaries who are part of our church. Our caregiving efforts are about how/where/when/how can we care as missionaries in the mission field God has planted us in today. Many times our Bible studies and worship efforts are informed by our missionary experiences during the week. In fact, most often our collective worship is led by the missionaries who are pastoring, teaching, and leading in the world during the week (not our pastor). The pastor keeps us focused on the mission, not the maintenance of an institution.</p>
<p>Provide Christian coaches as a part of the transformational and incarnational extension of gathered church opportunities. I am increasingly convinced that the coach approach to leadership and teaching is a primary strategy for today’s and tomorrow’s church. Helping persons (at any stage in life or faith) is served as a coach explores, focuses, makes connections and builds in accountability to that which the person is led to move into. The power of a coach’s presence, discernment of the Spirit and efforts at following the Spirit, rather than an expected program, uncovers hope, healing efforts and sets the stage for reconciliation. It also provides redemptive conversations that restores the Body and provides insight and hope for the future.</p>
<p>Create safe and sacred space for regional faith life dialogues and community networking. Much of what a coach does creates and holds the agenda of others in a sacred space and place that allows for God to work. The dialogues that emerge from powerful questions — more than powerful dictates — inform, encourage, energize, mobilize and focuses people to follow God’s calling and their divine mission to make a difference in the world. People want to be a part of that and they find meaning in such participation.</p>
<p>Provide library collections in print, online, visual, audio and e-book that speak to faith-life and community network issues. Create learning labs or book clubs to deepen relationships and knowledge base. People learn in different ways. We now find meaning and extreme usefulness of in online and libraries of relevant timely resources that touch people at their point of hunger and use their preferred learning style.</p>
<p>Share biblical and faith life connections as an opportunity for peer learning and a deepening of bible knowledge and interfaith relationships. We have no Sunday school or discipleship training programs. All of this is done as we go as missionaries on mission where we are during the week. What a different way of doing/being church. I’m not sure I can ever go back to the traditional model. It has served well during our church culture age, but we are no longer in that time in our history. The God of the past is leading us into the present and trusting the divine message with those of us who embrace and are energized by the divine mission and the Great Commandment of loving our neighbors (whoever and where ever they are) as ourselves.</p>
<p>Part 1 of this column can be read <a href="" type="internal">here</a>.</p>
| false | 3 |
seems sad church become place go rather experience day life often routines church participation fuels disengagement deepening engagement faith walk church relationships inside outside church walls believers doubt busier days better result divine encounters bring transformation heart values life experiences lead give fill positions pews losing interest attending less engagement energy participation church leaders beginning pay attention remind us church without people lead give participate mindset might seedbed many onceactive church leaders dropping reducing participation course agree lives gotten busy church programming become demanding packed consultants point also understand validate many families dualcareer timepoor families searching time family check aging parents build community relationships friendships maybe maybe hints might increase value engagement church todays world discuss three expressions church greater detail spiritual leadership secular age building bridges instead barrier last five ideas emerged leadership class surveys dialogues community prayer times collective theological personal reflections continue find new hope health healing deepening faith understanding scripture relationships journey together church day week church longer place go routine obligation fulfill church way life guided god empowered presence spirit fellowship life reflection group seekers searchers believers seek together deepening engagement participation faith church many certainly say pay bills keep church doors open experiencing ages experience deeper engagement discover added value participating fund mission institution also helped many see value gathering place mobilize equip mission ephesians 4 acts 2 caught mission god world rather caught activities institutional church doubt engaged committed mission church world today money better ever follows depth engagement mission community experience church people give believe engaged expected attend sustain last five summarized ideas venues using deepen engagement commitment people faith 21stcentury world church world provide pastoral care theological reflection opportunities workplace communities membership missionaries members caring going mission go mission considered learning church caregiving focused missionaries part church caregiving efforts howwherewhenhow care missionaries mission field god planted us today many times bible studies worship efforts informed missionary experiences week fact often collective worship led missionaries pastoring teaching leading world week pastor pastor keeps us focused mission maintenance institution provide christian coaches part transformational incarnational extension gathered church opportunities increasingly convinced coach approach leadership teaching primary strategy todays tomorrows church helping persons stage life faith served coach explores focuses makes connections builds accountability person led move power coachs presence discernment spirit efforts following spirit rather expected program uncovers hope healing efforts sets stage reconciliation also provides redemptive conversations restores body provides insight hope future create safe sacred space regional faith life dialogues community networking much coach creates holds agenda others sacred space place allows god work dialogues emerge powerful questions powerful dictates inform encourage energize mobilize focuses people follow gods calling divine mission make difference world people want part find meaning participation provide library collections print online visual audio ebook speak faithlife community network issues create learning labs book clubs deepen relationships knowledge base people learn different ways find meaning extreme usefulness online libraries relevant timely resources touch people point hunger use preferred learning style share biblical faith life connections opportunity peer learning deepening bible knowledge interfaith relationships sunday school discipleship training programs done go missionaries mission week different way doingbeing church im sure ever go back traditional model served well church culture age longer time history god past leading us present trusting divine message us embrace energized divine mission great commandment loving neighbors whoever ever part 1 column read
| 557 |
<p>DONETSK, Ukraine — Vladimir Piskunov repeated the phrase like a mantra as he sifted through the remains of his living room.</p>
<p>“This is how they’re defending us,” said the 39-year-old coalminer, whose home on the outskirts of this rebellious eastern Ukrainian city came under apparent rocket fire on Saturday.</p>
<p>The attack — which Piskunov and his neighbors blame on the Ukrainian military —not only destroyed his home and incinerated his once verdant garden. It also killed his wife, Tatyana, as she attempted to dive into the basement with her husband.</p>
<p>“With what’s happening to us here, there’s only one option: to pick up a weapon and fight back,” said Piskunov.</p>
<p>It’s been a week since Ukrainian officials hailed the “liberation” of a key rebel stronghold and promised a swift end to the separatist uprising in the country’s east. But as fighting creeps closer to a major urban center, they are facing the prospect of a long and drawn-out conflict, the increasing collateral damage of which threatens to further consolidate anti-Kyiv anger.</p>
<p>After reclaiming Slovyansk, a former separatist nerve center, as well as a handful of other nearby cities, the focus of the military’s effort has now shifted to this city of nearly one million, the regional capital of Ukraine’s industrial heartland.</p>
<p>But it is both sprawling and densely populated, posing a serious challenge to the anti-separatist campaign that has so far been waged largely against compact towns in the countryside.</p>
<p>Since the fall of Slovyansk, separatist forces have massed here and dispatched many of their fighters to the perimeter of the city, where they’ve set up checkpoints and remain locked in a standoff with Ukrainian forces pressing the city on several fronts.</p>
<p>Donetsk itself — a cosmopolitan city of charming boulevards — has steadily emptied out in recent days. Many shops are closed, traffic is eerily sparse, and the city’s once-bustling nightlife has almost entirely faded away.</p>
<p />
<p>There is no visible panic, but the occasional roaming gunmen — who’ve even taken to mitigating car accidents in town — and the uncanny evening silence create an image of a city in constant anticipation.</p>
<p>Both residents and local officials here say they’re bracing for an eventual conflict.</p>
<p>According to Maxim Rovinsky, a spokesman for the Donetsk city council, there are no concrete figures as to how many people have left the city, though many outbound train tickets, for example, appear sold out days in advance.</p>
<p>“We’re telling residents to act according to the situation,” said Rovinsky, adding that officials have been disseminating information about the location of bomb shelters around town.</p>
<p>But for now, the violence remains on the city’s outskirts and in adjacent suburbs, where a string of mysterious rocket attacks in recent days have boosted tensions.</p>
<p>Piskunov, who’d fortuitously sent his 12-year-old daughter away to a neighboring region before the bombardment, is among the civilians who’ve become trapped in the nightmarish crossfire.</p>
<p>Like in Slovyansk, it is virtually impossible to tell who is firing and from exactly where.</p>
<p>During a visit on Sunday to the Petrovsky district — where Piskunov’s wife and several others were reportedly killed during the attack on Saturday — a GlobalPost reporter found casings of what appeared to be Grad rockets, Russian-made, truck-mounted missiles that translate to “hail.”</p>
<p />
<p>Beside Piskunov’s house, they’d also struck a nearby nursery school and several other homes.</p>
<p>Yet also like in Slovyansk, many residents here readily blame the Ukrainian military — not the rebels, who the Kyiv authorities blamed for staging attacks on their military forces this week with the exact same weapon system — for what they say is indiscriminate bombing.</p>
<p>“They kill people, and no one answers for it,” said Piskunov, stepping over the shattered glass strewn across the floor of his house.</p>
<p>Security officials have consistently claimed that rebels are behind the attacks and are using civilians as human shields.</p>
<p>There is no shortage of evidence that the separatists, who are nominally fighting under the banner of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, have resorted to violence to further their cause.</p>
<p>A report by Amnesty International released last week found that rebels have abducted and tortured a range of critics, such as activists and journalists, since the uprising began.</p>
<p>But there are few signs of anti-rebel anger, outwardly at least, in these separatist-controlled neighborhoods rocked by apparent missile attacks.</p>
<p>In Maryinka, a dusty settlement of crumbling apartment blocs that neighbors the Petrovsky district, locals on Sunday were still cleaning up the debris from a separate bombardment that had ripped through an apartment building on Friday night.</p>
<p>A 65-year-old pensioner who introduced himself only as Garik, for fear of what he said would be retaliation by pro-Kyiv forces, claimed a neighbor was killed in the attack.</p>
<p>“His skull was blown open,” said Garik.</p>
<p>Cursing Ukraine’s president, Petro Poroshenko, he added: “You don’t do this to a peaceful population.”</p>
<p />
<p>Yet despite the violence closing in Donetsk, as well as the Ukrainian military’s virtual encirclement of the city, many rebel fighters here appear to be in high spirits.</p>
<p>A telling, if somewhat bizarre, sign lies in the small series of insurgent weddings in recent days.</p>
<p>A GlobalPost reporter attended one such ceremony, which began at a rebel base outside the city center and involved a makeshift convoy — led by an armored personnel carrier with the couple perched on top — that barreled down dusty streets toward a local marriage registration office.</p>
<p />
<p>There, the sound of wedding bells was replaced by the clinking of gunmetal as the groom’s closest comrades, their Kalashnikov rifles slung over their shoulders, crowded into the hall to look on.</p>
<p>Most of the men — including the groom, a lanky man with the nom-de-guerre “Tagir” — had been based in Slovyansk, and had pulled out last week after the Ukrainian military’s decisive assault.</p>
<p>In private, some fighters bemoaned the rebel leadership’s decision to fall back to Donetsk.</p>
<p>But Tagir — who married a café worker named Tatyana — insisted “our mood is always good, even during a firefight.”</p>
<p>“We’re living on,” he said, “defending our land.”</p>
<p />
| false | 3 |
donetsk ukraine vladimir piskunov repeated phrase like mantra sifted remains living room theyre defending us said 39yearold coalminer whose home outskirts rebellious eastern ukrainian city came apparent rocket fire saturday attack piskunov neighbors blame ukrainian military destroyed home incinerated verdant garden also killed wife tatyana attempted dive basement husband whats happening us theres one option pick weapon fight back said piskunov week since ukrainian officials hailed liberation key rebel stronghold promised swift end separatist uprising countrys east fighting creeps closer major urban center facing prospect long drawnout conflict increasing collateral damage threatens consolidate antikyiv anger reclaiming slovyansk former separatist nerve center well handful nearby cities focus militarys effort shifted city nearly one million regional capital ukraines industrial heartland sprawling densely populated posing serious challenge antiseparatist campaign far waged largely compact towns countryside since fall slovyansk separatist forces massed dispatched many fighters perimeter city theyve set checkpoints remain locked standoff ukrainian forces pressing city several fronts donetsk cosmopolitan city charming boulevards steadily emptied recent days many shops closed traffic eerily sparse citys oncebustling nightlife almost entirely faded away visible panic occasional roaming gunmen whove even taken mitigating car accidents town uncanny evening silence create image city constant anticipation residents local officials say theyre bracing eventual conflict according maxim rovinsky spokesman donetsk city council concrete figures many people left city though many outbound train tickets example appear sold days advance telling residents act according situation said rovinsky adding officials disseminating information location bomb shelters around town violence remains citys outskirts adjacent suburbs string mysterious rocket attacks recent days boosted tensions piskunov whod fortuitously sent 12yearold daughter away neighboring region bombardment among civilians whove become trapped nightmarish crossfire like slovyansk virtually impossible tell firing exactly visit sunday petrovsky district piskunovs wife several others reportedly killed attack saturday globalpost reporter found casings appeared grad rockets russianmade truckmounted missiles translate hail beside piskunovs house theyd also struck nearby nursery school several homes yet also like slovyansk many residents readily blame ukrainian military rebels kyiv authorities blamed staging attacks military forces week exact weapon system say indiscriminate bombing kill people one answers said piskunov stepping shattered glass strewn across floor house security officials consistently claimed rebels behind attacks using civilians human shields shortage evidence separatists nominally fighting banner socalled donetsk peoples republic resorted violence cause report amnesty international released last week found rebels abducted tortured range critics activists journalists since uprising began signs antirebel anger outwardly least separatistcontrolled neighborhoods rocked apparent missile attacks maryinka dusty settlement crumbling apartment blocs neighbors petrovsky district locals sunday still cleaning debris separate bombardment ripped apartment building friday night 65yearold pensioner introduced garik fear said would retaliation prokyiv forces claimed neighbor killed attack skull blown open said garik cursing ukraines president petro poroshenko added dont peaceful population yet despite violence closing donetsk well ukrainian militarys virtual encirclement city many rebel fighters appear high spirits telling somewhat bizarre sign lies small series insurgent weddings recent days globalpost reporter attended one ceremony began rebel base outside city center involved makeshift convoy led armored personnel carrier couple perched top barreled dusty streets toward local marriage registration office sound wedding bells replaced clinking gunmetal grooms closest comrades kalashnikov rifles slung shoulders crowded hall look men including groom lanky man nomdeguerre tagir based slovyansk pulled last week ukrainian militarys decisive assault private fighters bemoaned rebel leaderships decision fall back donetsk tagir married café worker named tatyana insisted mood always good even firefight living said defending land
| 570 |
<p>You say potato, John Kerry says let’s give it to Russia.</p>
<p>The US Secretary of State proudly presented his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with <a href="https://twitter.com/mfa_russia/status/422644051410558976" type="external">two Idaho potatoes</a> at a meeting in Paris on Monday. It was the gift that kept on giving, a) because Kerry’s spokeswoman got <a href="" type="external">a rather nice pink hat</a> out of it, and b) because we got multiple photos of two of the world’s most powerful diplomats clutching oversized tubers.</p>
<p>A pair of humble spuds not your idea of a gift fit for a statesman, perhaps? Well, compared to the bizarre junk world leaders usually give each other, Lavrov’s potatoes are probably the most useful gift he’ll get all year.</p>
<p>Here’s a run-down of the strangest stuff clogging up ministerial desk drawers the world over.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>1. The US to Russia: A big red button</p>
<p>(Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>It wasn’t the first time Sergei Lavrov had to do his best to look grateful for a screwball gift from the United States. In 2009, then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton handed him <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7930047.stm" type="external">a cartoonish red button</a> with the word “reset” on it, which was intended to symbolize Washington’s will to draw the line under its past tensions with Moscow. The only trouble was, whoever made the button didn’t know their Russian: they mistranslated “reset,” as Lavrov coolly pointed out in front of a crowd of reporters, instead choosing the Russian word for “overloaded.” We suspect the gift went straight in the Kremlin’s trash.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>2. Colombia to the US: A giant coffee bean</p>
<p>(Alex Wong/Getty Images)</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/213839.pdf" type="external">official register of gifts</a> given President Barack Obama makes for compelling reading. There’s the signed red-white-and-blue basketball from Chinese President Xi Jinping, the beaded Coca-Cola bottle from Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon, the cross-stitch tapestry of Barack and Michelle from Brazilian President Dilma Rouseff, and of course the book about President Abdullah Gul of Turkey from, er, President Abdullah Gul of Turkey.</p>
<p>But my personal favorite has to be the “silver figure representing oversized coffee bean” given by Colombia’s president, Juan Manuel Santos, in April 2013. It now languishes somewhere in the National Archives and Records Administration.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>3. Bulgaria to Russia: Buffy the dog</p>
<p>(NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin stands out as the recipient of some legitimately excellent state gifts. The most excellent by far is <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8135952/Vladimir-Putin-given-a-puppy-during-trip-to-Bulgaria.html" type="external">Buffy, a Bulgarian shepherd</a> given to Putin in 2010 as an impossibly adorable 10-week-old puppy by the then prime minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borisov.</p>
<p>Lucky Putin has also received <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koni_(dog)" type="external">a black labrador</a> (from a Russian army general), <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/weird-wide-web/japan-russia-vladimir-putin-akita-inu-puppy" type="external">an Akita</a> (from Japanese officials), and <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27113957/ns/world_news-europe/t/grrr-russias-putin-gets-tiger-cub-birthday/#.UtUtzmRDuwE" type="external">a tiger</a> (he wouldn’t say who it was from, but he gave it away to a wildlife reserve).&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>4. Iraq to the US: Horrifying animal abuse video</p>
<p>(PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>This infamous gift was revealed by Donald Rumsfeld in his 2011 memoirs. In 1983 he visited Iraq as the United States' special envoy to the Middle East, whereupon Saddam Hussein welcomed him with a present of <a href="http://papers.rumsfeld.com/library/detail/new-video-released-middle-east-envoy" type="external">a blurry three-minute video</a> that, Hussein claimed, was proof of the barbarity of his then enemy, Syrian President Hafez al-Assad.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://papers.rumsfeld.com/about/page/1983-video-from-saddam-hussein" type="external">footage</a> — which we don’t recommend watching — purports to show young Syrian recruits biting the heads off snakes and stabbing puppies to death, all under the approving eye of Assad himself. Gee… just what no one ever wanted, ever.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>5. Mali to France: One unlucky camel</p>
<p>(JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>Sadly for <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/130409/oops-mali-family-cooks-and-eats-francois-hollandes-gift-camel" type="external">the camel offered to Francois Hollande</a> in gratitude for his country’s assistance driving out Islamist militants in Mali last spring, the French president decided there was no room for the bad-tempered creature at the Elysee. He left it in the care of a Malian family instead, only to find that they promptly cooked it in a stew.</p>
<p>Mali’s government, somewhat embarrassed, subsequently gave Hollande “ <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/130409/mali-give-france-new-camel-after-first-one-eaten" type="external">a bigger and better-looking</a>” camel.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>6. Iran to Russia: Replica US drone</p>
<p>(ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>When Iran presented the head of Russia’s air force with <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/21/iran-russia-us-scaneagle-spy-drone-production-capture" type="external">a model of an American surveillance drone</a> in October 2013, it was really giving it — or, more accurately, sticking it — to the United States. The Iranian military insisted it was proof that it had indeed shot down the unmanned aircraft one year earlier, a claim that the US disputed.</p>
<p>It’s not clear what Russia did with its fake drone, but <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/iran-mocks-us-toy-drone-174851478--abc-news.html" type="external">a miniature plastic version</a> made its way into Iranian toy stores for the equivalent of $4 a pop. The makers even offered to send one to the White House, though it’s not clear whether it ever made it into Obama’s toy box.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>7. Zimbabwe to North Korea: “Noah’s ark”</p>
<p>(JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>What does one loony dictator do when he fancies building a personal zoo? Why, he simply checks his Rolodex of loony dictator friends and calls the one in the most exotic location.</p>
<p>That, or something like it, is how Robert Mugabe came to agree, in 2010, to send <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/zimbabwe/100616/mugabe-sends-noahs-ark-north-korea" type="external">pairs of some of Zimbabwe’s rarest animals</a> to Kim Jong Il in North Korea. Zimbabwean authorities got as far as packing up the first of the wild elephants, giraffes, rhinos, zebras and monkeys they planned to send to their probable doom before <a href="https://awionline.org/awi-quarterly/2010-summer/zimbabwe-cancels-noah%E2%80%99s-ark-export" type="external">international outcry</a> from conservationists forced Mugabe to call off the deal.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>8. Soviet Union to North Korea: Bulletproof limousine</p>
<p>(PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>Zimbabwe’s gift may not have made it to the garrison kingdom, but literally hundreds of others did. So many, in fact, that North Korea built <a href="http://www.gluckman.com/NKGift.html" type="external">a whole museum</a> filled with nothing but the booty sent to Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and most recently, Kim Jong Un. Among the highlights at the “International Friendship Exhibition Hall” in Pyongyang is <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/news/travel/north-korean-shows-off-leaders-gifts/2006/12/21/1166290663252.html" type="external">an armoured limo</a> gifted to Kim Il Sung by none other than Soviet leader Josef Stalin, who presumably knew just what to get for the authoritarian ruler who has everything.</p>
<p>Other items on display include a sword and several chessboards sent by late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, an entire train car from China’s Mao Zedong, a crocodile-skin briefcase from Cuba’s Fidel Castro and, in pride of place, <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/06/travel/north-korea-kim-gifts/" type="external">a basketball</a> autographed by Kim Jong Il’s favorite NBA star Michael Jordan and offered by the United States in 2000 as a gesture of goodwill.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>9. Fiji to the UK: Whale teeth</p>
<p>(KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>Why people feel the need to keep giving stuff to one of the richest women alive is beyond us, but it seems Queen Elizabeth II can’t step out of Buckingham Palace without being showered with <a href="http://www.royal.gov.uk/the%20royal%20collection%20and%20other%20collections/giftstothequeen/overview.aspx" type="external">ill-advised gifts</a>. Every time she visits Fiji, for example, the South Pacific island’s chiefs present her with <a href="http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/queenandcommonwealth/MicroObject.asp?row=2&amp;themeid=944&amp;item=2" type="external">a tabua</a>, or sperm whale’s tooth, traditionally their society’s highest prized treasure. The Queen has at least three of them — not to mention the shark’s tooth sword she picked up in nearby Kiribati.</p>
<p>Other presents we assume have gone untouched by royal hand include a pair of cowboy boots offered by the United States in 1991; more recently, an iPod stocked with show tunes courtesy of President Obama; 500 cases of canned pineapple sent as a wedding gift by Australia; enough exotic animals to fill a small menagerie; and <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatpicturegalleries/9656410/Weird-and-wonderful-gifts-given-to-the-Queen.html?frame=2389241" type="external">the world’s ugliest wine cooler</a> (thanks, France!).</p>
<p>But even her loot can’t compare to the trophies offered her husband, Prince Philip, by the jungle village of Tanna on the island of Vanuatu, whose inhabitants <a href="" type="external">worship him as a god</a> (really). In their time they’ve offered him pigs, a club to kill pigs, and even the local costume — a sort of G-string made from long grass, which, regrettably, the prince was unable to model in person.&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
say potato john kerry says lets give russia us secretary state proudly presented russian counterpart foreign minister sergei lavrov two idaho potatoes meeting paris monday gift kept giving kerrys spokeswoman got rather nice pink hat b got multiple photos two worlds powerful diplomats clutching oversized tubers pair humble spuds idea gift fit statesman perhaps well compared bizarre junk world leaders usually give lavrovs potatoes probably useful gift hell get year heres rundown strangest stuff clogging ministerial desk drawers world 160 1 us russia big red button fabrice coffriniafpgetty images wasnt first time sergei lavrov best look grateful screwball gift united states 2009 secretary state hillary clinton handed cartoonish red button word reset intended symbolize washingtons draw line past tensions moscow trouble whoever made button didnt know russian mistranslated reset lavrov coolly pointed front crowd reporters instead choosing russian word overloaded suspect gift went straight kremlins trash 160 2 colombia us giant coffee bean alex wonggetty images official register gifts given president barack obama makes compelling reading theres signed redwhiteandblue basketball chinese president xi jinping beaded cocacola bottle mexicos president felipe calderon crossstitch tapestry barack michelle brazilian president dilma rouseff course book president abdullah gul turkey er president abdullah gul turkey personal favorite silver figure representing oversized coffee bean given colombias president juan manuel santos april 2013 languishes somewhere national archives records administration 160 3 bulgaria russia buffy dog nikolay doychinovafpgetty images russian president vladimir putin stands recipient legitimately excellent state gifts excellent far buffy bulgarian shepherd given putin 2010 impossibly adorable 10weekold puppy prime minister bulgaria boyko borisov lucky putin also received black labrador russian army general akita japanese officials tiger wouldnt say gave away wildlife reserve160 160 4 iraq us horrifying animal abuse video paul j richardsafpgetty images infamous gift revealed donald rumsfeld 2011 memoirs 1983 visited iraq united states special envoy middle east whereupon saddam hussein welcomed present blurry threeminute video hussein claimed proof barbarity enemy syrian president hafez alassad footage dont recommend watching purports show young syrian recruits biting heads snakes stabbing puppies death approving eye assad gee one ever wanted ever 160 5 mali france one unlucky camel joel sagetafpgetty images sadly camel offered francois hollande gratitude countrys assistance driving islamist militants mali last spring french president decided room badtempered creature elysee left care malian family instead find promptly cooked stew malis government somewhat embarrassed subsequently gave hollande bigger betterlooking camel 160 6 iran russia replica us drone atta kenareafpgetty images iran presented head russias air force model american surveillance drone october 2013 really giving accurately sticking united states iranian military insisted proof indeed shot unmanned aircraft one year earlier claim us disputed clear russia fake drone miniature plastic version made way iranian toy stores equivalent 4 pop makers even offered send one white house though clear whether ever made obamas toy box 160 7 zimbabwe north korea noahs ark jekesai njikizanaafpgetty images one loony dictator fancies building personal zoo simply checks rolodex loony dictator friends calls one exotic location something like robert mugabe came agree 2010 send pairs zimbabwes rarest animals kim jong il north korea zimbabwean authorities got far packing first wild elephants giraffes rhinos zebras monkeys planned send probable doom international outcry conservationists forced mugabe call deal 160 8 soviet union north korea bulletproof limousine peter parksafpgetty images zimbabwes gift may made garrison kingdom literally hundreds others many fact north korea built whole museum filled nothing booty sent kim il sung kim jong il recently kim jong un among highlights international friendship exhibition hall pyongyang armoured limo gifted kim il sung none soviet leader josef stalin presumably knew get authoritarian ruler everything items display include sword several chessboards sent late libyan dictator muammar gaddafi entire train car chinas mao zedong crocodileskin briefcase cubas fidel castro pride place basketball autographed kim jong ils favorite nba star michael jordan offered united states 2000 gesture goodwill 160 9 fiji uk whale teeth kirsty wigglesworthafpgetty images people feel need keep giving stuff one richest women alive beyond us seems queen elizabeth ii cant step buckingham palace without showered illadvised gifts every time visits fiji example south pacific islands chiefs present tabua sperm whales tooth traditionally societys highest prized treasure queen least three mention sharks tooth sword picked nearby kiribati presents assume gone untouched royal hand include pair cowboy boots offered united states 1991 recently ipod stocked show tunes courtesy president obama 500 cases canned pineapple sent wedding gift australia enough exotic animals fill small menagerie worlds ugliest wine cooler thanks france even loot cant compare trophies offered husband prince philip jungle village tanna island vanuatu whose inhabitants worship god really time theyve offered pigs club kill pigs even local costume sort gstring made long grass regrettably prince unable model person160
| 783 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />Jan. 11, 2013</p>
<p>By Dave Roberts</p>
<p>California generally remains more open to immigration than other states. But it still faces a problem of what to do with immigrants who are suspects in serious crimes.</p>
<p>This has been made more complicated by&#160;California’s 2011 budget&#160; <a href="http://www.calrealignment.org/" type="external">realignment</a>&#160;process, which has been transferring inmates from state prisons to county jails. Many of these inmates are immigrants who have been arrested and held without bail. Their large numbers have placed&#160;pressure on local law enforcement officials to find ways to make room for the influx.</p>
<p>One of the options is to rebuff U.S.&#160; <a href="http://www.ice.gov/" type="external">Immigration and Customs Enforcement</a>&#160;requests automatically to deny bail to suspected illegal aliens.&#160;Some Democrats officials and the American Civil Liberties Union want released tens&#160;of thousands of those arrested and held without bail while awaiting trial.</p>
<p>Last year,&#160; <a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_1051-1100/ab_1081_cfa_20121113_152515_sen_floor.html" type="external">AB 1081</a> by Assemblyman <a href="http://asmdc.org/members/a17/home-page/assemblymember-ammiano-takes-his-efforts-on-behalf-of-immigrants-and-domestic-workers-to-washington" type="external">Tom Ammiano</a>, D-San Francisco, would have prohibited county law enforcement officials from detaining anyone based on an ICE hold request if the defendant would otherwise be eligible for release and was not charged with or previously convicted of a serious or violent felony. It passed the Legislature last session, but was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown.</p>
<p>“Unfortunately, the list of offenses codified in the bill is fatally flawed because it omits many serious crimes,” wrote Brown in his&#160; <a href="http://gov.ca.gov/docs/AB_1081_Veto_Message.pdf" type="external">veto message</a>. Those crimes include child abuse, drug trafficking, selling weapons, using children to sell drugs and gang-related crime. “I believe it’s unwise to interfere with a sheriff’s discretion to comply with a detainer issued for people with those kinds of troubling criminal records.”</p>
<p>Brown added that he would work in 2013 with the Legislature to fix the bill’s “significant flaws.” As a result, the bill that was dubbed the “Trust Act” will be back this year.</p>
<p>Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, last year slammed it as the “ <a href="" type="internal">Anti-Trust Act</a>.” But in 2013 he’s part of the minority Republicans in a Legislature now dominated by Democratic supermajorities.</p>
<p>In the meantime, the ACLU has filed a <a href="http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/110550860-roy-v-l-a-county-complaint.pdf" type="external">lawsuit</a> against the <a href="http://sheriff.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/lasd" type="external">Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department</a>, seeking an end to compliance with ICE immigration hold requests. Nearly 20,000 arrestees, who otherwise would have been eligible for release on bail from LASD custody, were instead detained on immigration holds in 2011, according to the ACLU.</p>
<p>“Unlike warrants, [immigration holds] are issued without any judicial determination of probable cause, and are frequently issued in error,” said the ACLU in a <a href="http://www.aclu.org/immigrants-rights/aclu-files-lawsuit-against-los-angeles-county-sheriffs-department" type="external">press statement</a>. “About 2,100 inmates each day — or 14 percent of the daily jail population — have ICE holds lodged against them in the L.A. County jails. On average, they spend nearly three weeks longer in jail than inmates without immigration holds, despite being better candidates for release or other diversion programs.”</p>
<p>The ACLU argues that ICE hold requests are unconstitutional.</p>
<p>“Our Constitution guarantees that law enforcement cannot jail residents without probable cause to believe they’ve broken the law,” said <a href="http://www.aclu-sc.org/jennie" type="external">Jennie Pasquarella</a>, staff attorney at the ACLU of Southern California. “But LASD holds thousands of people each year beyond their release dates, simply because ICE says they would like to investigate whether they may be removable. In this country, the government can’t lock someone in jail at the start of the investigation, it can only do so if it investigates and finds good cause to do so.”</p>
<p>The lead plaintiff in the class action suit is Duncan Roy, a British filmmaker who <a href="http://www.aclu-sc.org/issues/immigrant-rights/duncan-roy-illegally-jailed-for-three-months/" type="external">spent 89 days in Men’s Central Jail</a> on an ICE hold. He was denied medical care for prostate and colon cancer, according to the ACLU. ICE finally lifted his immigration detainer on humanitarian grounds, allowing him to post bail.</p>
<p>“It’s important that people realize that this could happen to anyone,” Roy said. “It’s not just undocumented immigrants. I’m lucky that I can get out and be heard — many of the people I met in there can’t.”</p>
<p>An immigration hold request is the main tool of ICE’s Secure Communities program. It targets those suspected of being in the U.S. illegally and who have been arrested for violation of local, state or federal law. More than 90 percent of the 19,725 ICE holds provided by LASD in 2011 were Hispanic males, according to a JFA Institute <a href="http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_176827.pdf" type="external">study</a>.</p>
<p>“The highest priority of any law enforcement agency is to protect the communities it serves,” states ICE on its <a href="http://www.ice.gov/secure_communities/" type="external">website</a>. “When it comes to enforcing our nation’s immigration laws, [ICE] focuses its limited resources on those who have been arrested for breaking criminal laws. ICE prioritizes the removal of criminal aliens, those who pose a threat to public safety, and repeat immigration violators.”</p>
<p>ICE’s goal of keeping communities safe from suspected criminal aliens is also under assault from California Attorney General <a href="http://oag.ca.gov/" type="external">Kamala Harris</a>. She recently told local law enforcement agencies that compliance with ICE immigration hold requests is voluntary, according to the <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/12/local-police-can-decide-whether-to-hold-illegal-immigrants.html" type="external">Los Angeles Times</a>. More than a fourth of defendants with ICE holds from March through June 2012 were not convicted of crimes. The LASD welcomes the flexibility of making compliance with ICE hold requests voluntary, said a department spokesman.</p>
<p>There was also not a lot of love for immigration holds at a recent hearing on bail reform by the state watchdog agency, the Little Hoover Commission.</p>
<p>“This is an abuse of process that we have here in California where the federal government can put immigration holds on anyone that they suspect of being here without documentation,” said Albert Ramirez, a Fresno bail bondsman attorney. “These people who are subject to these immigration holds … are stuck in custody.”</p>
<p>Immigration-hold inmates contribute to jail overcrowding, observed Commissioner <a href="http://www.lhc.ca.gov/about/commissioners/shapiro.html" type="external">Jonathan Shapiro</a>, who is a former federal prosecutor. That’s particularly problematic in the more than a dozen counties whose jails are under a federal consent decree to reduce overcrowding, resulting in “catch and release” of criminal suspects.</p>
<p>“Those of us who care about local control, the federal government is denying local control to those counties by determining who’s going to be in those beds through the use of these immigration holds,” said Shapiro.</p>
<p>Commissioner Jack Flanigan said the cost of immigration holds should be borne by the federal government.</p>
<p>“Why wouldn’t a solution be to offer those individuals the opportunity for bail and then say to the feds, ‘Here he is — if you want to hold him you have the opportunity to do that. Put him in a federal facility, so that it makes room in a California facility.’ And if they don’t take it seriously enough, then [let them] go out on California bail.”</p>
<p>Realignment has resulted in California’s jails filling at a greater rate than expected, said Nevada County Sheriff Keith Royal in an interview.</p>
<p>“As I look statewide at what’s happening in counties in the state, routinely I see two to three times the numbers of individuals being sentenced locally than had been projected by the <a href="http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/News/External_Affairs/CPOC-CDCR-leadership-meeting.html" type="external">CDCR</a>&#160;[California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation] than when we began down this road,” said Royal, who is also president of the <a href="http://www.calsheriffs.org/" type="external">California State Sheriffs’ Association</a>. “You’re further exacerbating available space. What it ends up doing is to become creative on how you deal with those sentenced to your facility. We are increasing the number of people that can be monitored by GPS ankle bracelets in home detention.”</p>
<p>Available space is also impacted by the longer sentences now being served in jail. A prisoner in Santa Barbara is serving 23 years; one in Yolo County is doing 19 years, according to Royal. He warned that failure to deal with the crowding problem can lead to lawsuits.</p>
<p>“Many prisoner rights organization are always looking for the deep pockets and looking at taking on local jurisdictions over rights issues, one being crowding,” said the sheriff. “Another being can we provide adequate medical care for those in our custody.”</p>
<p>But Royal is confident there are benefits from transferring less violent/serious criminals to local control. “We all believe we can do a better job than the state has done,” he said. “And, hopefully, have a greater success regarding recidivism rates.”</p>
<p>Another reform discussed at the commission hearing was providing statewide uniformity in bail amounts. Currently, each county sets its own bail. For example, the bail for grand theft is $10,000 in Kern County and $50,000 in neighboring San Bernardino County. Bail for drug possession in Alameda County is $10,000, but just $5,000 in Sacramento County.</p>
<p>“Isn’t it discriminatory to have a system in which each county gets to determine whether or not somebody gets their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" type="external">Eighth Amendment</a> right to bail?” asked Shapiro. Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mimms and others countered that each county should be able to set its own bail schedule based on its public safety priorities.</p>
<p>Other possible reforms discussed: reducing bail amounts, providing a statewide bail schedule guideline, holding public hearings on bail schedule updates, eliminating bail stacking (additional bail for each offense rather than taking the highest bail for one offense), and publishing bail schedules on the Internet.</p>
| false | 3 |
jan 11 2013 dave roberts california generally remains open immigration states still faces problem immigrants suspects serious crimes made complicated by160californias 2011 budget160 realignment160process transferring inmates state prisons county jails many inmates immigrants arrested held without bail large numbers placed160pressure local law enforcement officials find ways make room influx one options rebuff us160 immigration customs enforcement160requests automatically deny bail suspected illegal aliens160some democrats officials american civil liberties union want released tens160of thousands arrested held without bail awaiting trial last year160 ab 1081 assemblyman tom ammiano dsan francisco would prohibited county law enforcement officials detaining anyone based ice hold request defendant would otherwise eligible release charged previously convicted serious violent felony passed legislature last session vetoed gov jerry brown unfortunately list offenses codified bill fatally flawed omits many serious crimes wrote brown his160 veto message crimes include child abuse drug trafficking selling weapons using children sell drugs gangrelated crime believe unwise interfere sheriffs discretion comply detainer issued people kinds troubling criminal records brown added would work 2013 legislature fix bills significant flaws result bill dubbed trust act back year assemblyman tim donnelly rtwin peaks last year slammed antitrust act 2013 hes part minority republicans legislature dominated democratic supermajorities meantime aclu filed lawsuit los angeles county sheriffs department seeking end compliance ice immigration hold requests nearly 20000 arrestees otherwise would eligible release bail lasd custody instead detained immigration holds 2011 according aclu unlike warrants immigration holds issued without judicial determination probable cause frequently issued error said aclu press statement 2100 inmates day 14 percent daily jail population ice holds lodged la county jails average spend nearly three weeks longer jail inmates without immigration holds despite better candidates release diversion programs aclu argues ice hold requests unconstitutional constitution guarantees law enforcement jail residents without probable cause believe theyve broken law said jennie pasquarella staff attorney aclu southern california lasd holds thousands people year beyond release dates simply ice says would like investigate whether may removable country government cant lock someone jail start investigation investigates finds good cause lead plaintiff class action suit duncan roy british filmmaker spent 89 days mens central jail ice hold denied medical care prostate colon cancer according aclu ice finally lifted immigration detainer humanitarian grounds allowing post bail important people realize could happen anyone roy said undocumented immigrants im lucky get heard many people met cant immigration hold request main tool ices secure communities program targets suspected us illegally arrested violation local state federal law 90 percent 19725 ice holds provided lasd 2011 hispanic males according jfa institute study highest priority law enforcement agency protect communities serves states ice website comes enforcing nations immigration laws ice focuses limited resources arrested breaking criminal laws ice prioritizes removal criminal aliens pose threat public safety repeat immigration violators ices goal keeping communities safe suspected criminal aliens also assault california attorney general kamala harris recently told local law enforcement agencies compliance ice immigration hold requests voluntary according los angeles times fourth defendants ice holds march june 2012 convicted crimes lasd welcomes flexibility making compliance ice hold requests voluntary said department spokesman also lot love immigration holds recent hearing bail reform state watchdog agency little hoover commission abuse process california federal government put immigration holds anyone suspect without documentation said albert ramirez fresno bail bondsman attorney people subject immigration holds stuck custody immigrationhold inmates contribute jail overcrowding observed commissioner jonathan shapiro former federal prosecutor thats particularly problematic dozen counties whose jails federal consent decree reduce overcrowding resulting catch release criminal suspects us care local control federal government denying local control counties determining whos going beds use immigration holds said shapiro commissioner jack flanigan said cost immigration holds borne federal government wouldnt solution offer individuals opportunity bail say feds want hold opportunity put federal facility makes room california facility dont take seriously enough let go california bail realignment resulted californias jails filling greater rate expected said nevada county sheriff keith royal interview look statewide whats happening counties state routinely see two three times numbers individuals sentenced locally projected cdcr160california department corrections rehabilitation began road said royal also president california state sheriffs association youre exacerbating available space ends become creative deal sentenced facility increasing number people monitored gps ankle bracelets home detention available space also impacted longer sentences served jail prisoner santa barbara serving 23 years one yolo county 19 years according royal warned failure deal crowding problem lead lawsuits many prisoner rights organization always looking deep pockets looking taking local jurisdictions rights issues one crowding said sheriff another provide adequate medical care custody royal confident benefits transferring less violentserious criminals local control believe better job state done said hopefully greater success regarding recidivism rates another reform discussed commission hearing providing statewide uniformity bail amounts currently county sets bail example bail grand theft 10000 kern county 50000 neighboring san bernardino county bail drug possession alameda county 10000 5000 sacramento county isnt discriminatory system county gets determine whether somebody gets eighth amendment right bail asked shapiro fresno county sheriff margaret mimms others countered county able set bail schedule based public safety priorities possible reforms discussed reducing bail amounts providing statewide bail schedule guideline holding public hearings bail schedule updates eliminating bail stacking additional bail offense rather taking highest bail one offense publishing bail schedules internet
| 868 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />John Seiler:</p>
<p>The recent phony budget deal that Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law anticipated $4 billion in extra revenues from a booming economy.</p>
<p>Oops.</p>
<p>All the indicators coming out show that the economy is declining again, meaning tax revenues also will be falling again, not rising:</p>
<p>* Inflation is roaring back. <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/43767084" type="external">CNBC reported</a>&#160;today:</p>
<p>stripping out food and energy, core CPI rose 0.3 percent after a similar gain in May and above economists’ expectations for a 0.2 percent increase.</p>
<p>“We are getting a very, very sharp rebound in core inflation and much more than the Fed had bargained for. We will be at price stability and possibly through it before the end of this year,” said Eric Green, chief economist at TD Securities in New York.</p>
<p>Inflation will be even worse when oil and gas prices start increasing again, as they will, after the brief respite we’ve lately enjoyed.</p>
<p>* Gold price up. The price of gold, which for several months settled in at around $1,500 an ounce, resumed its sharp rise of the last decade and now is approaching $1,600. That’s a clear sign of future inflation.</p>
<p>* Manufacturing is declining. The New York Federal Reserve’s report on New York state’s manufacturing usually is a harbinger of what’s happening in the rest of America, including California. Reuters reported today:</p>
<p>A gauge of manufacturing in New York State showed the sector unexpectedly contracted for the second month in a row as new orders worsened, the New York Federal Reserve said in a report on Friday.</p>
<p>The pace of decline did moderate somewhat in July from the month before, with the New York Fed’s “Empire State” general business conditions index rising to minus 3.76 from minus 7.79 in June. However, it was still weaker than expected, since economists polled by Reuters had expected a reading of 4.50.</p>
<p>The survey of manufacturing plants in the state is one of the earliest monthly guideposts to U.S. factory conditions. In June the regional index had tumbled sharply, contracting for the first time since November 2010, but the larger national report for the month showed a modest uptick in the pace of growth.</p>
<p>New orders fell to minus 5.45 from minus 3.61, while shipments improved to positive 2.22 from minus 8.02.</p>
<p>* Consumers are depressed. <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/43768567" type="external">Reported CNBC</a>&#160;today:</p>
<p>U.S. consumer sentiment deteriorated in early July to the lowest level since March 2009 on increasing pessimism over falling income and rising unemployment, a survey released Friday showed.</p>
<p>* America is a big Greece. As Pat Buchanan wrote in a column today, titled “ <a href="http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=44859" type="external">We’re All Greeks Now</a>“:</p>
<p>The halcyon days are over. Government payrolls, as is happening from California to New York to Washington, D.C., will have to be slashed. Pension and health care benefits, not only for seniors, will have to be reduced. Retirement ages will have to be raised. From food stamps to foreign aid, programs are going to be capped and cut.&#160;</p>
<p>The left believes it can get the money from the wealthy. But the top 1 percent of Americans in income already carry 40 percent of the federal income tax load, while the bottom 50 percent of wage-earners ride free. This, too, will have to end.&#160;</p>
<p>We are either going to man up and radically reduce government at all levels in the United States, or the bond markets are going to do it for us, as they are doing it today for Greece, Ireland and Portugal.&#160;</p>
<p>We’re all Greeks now.</p>
<p>Since I started writing for CalWatchDog.com almost two years ago, one theme has been that California needs to prepare for coming economic bad times. It needs to become more business-friendly by cutting taxes and regulations, especially the jobs-killing AB 32. <a href="" type="internal">I wrote here on Jan. 8, 2010</a>:</p>
<p>AB 32 was passed at the peak of the housing bubble, during which it seemed double-digit increases in housing prices – with the state skimming off its portion in taxes – would go on forever. In California, many thought, everything was “fantastic,” and “anything is possible.” It was a Disneyland of the mind. We could afford anything, including turning the state into a green-friendly economic showcase. Unemployment&#160; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_unemployment_statistics" type="external">statewide in 2006</a>&#160;was just 4.9 percent.</p>
<p>Since then the housing bubble has&#160; <a href="http://www.housingbubblebust.com/" type="external">burst</a>, with California among the states hit the hardest. The state, along with the rest of America, is suffering through the worst economic slump since the Great Depression.</p>
<p>Unemployment has more than doubled to&#160; <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/20/MNPG1ANVFC.DTL" type="external">12.5 percent</a>&#160;in October – the worst since 12.6 percent in 1940, at the tail end of the Great Depression. If one includes those working part-time but wanting to work full-time and those who have stopped looking for work, the “underemployment” number is a staggering 22.5 percent.</p>
<p>Then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and AB 32 supporters in the Legislature and media guaranteed us that AB 32 would create so many “green jobs” that the economy would boom.</p>
<p>Well, here we are in 2011 and the economy is stuck in a hideous recession, worse in California than elsewhere. As <a href="" type="internal">the naysayers predicted</a>, AB 32 made California’s business climate worse, not better.</p>
<p>I long have pointed out that both Brown and Schwarzenegger’s failed to prepare us for the return of the economic deluge, which now is upon us. Their hard-core, fanatical environmentalist extremist and tax-increase ideologies blinded them to reality.</p>
<p>Now most of us will be paying the price in lost income, lost jobs, broken families, damaged children, broken lives.</p>
<p>July 15, 2010</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
john seiler recent phony budget deal gov jerry brown signed law anticipated 4 billion extra revenues booming economy oops indicators coming show economy declining meaning tax revenues also falling rising inflation roaring back cnbc reported160today stripping food energy core cpi rose 03 percent similar gain may economists expectations 02 percent increase getting sharp rebound core inflation much fed bargained price stability possibly end year said eric green chief economist td securities new york inflation even worse oil gas prices start increasing brief respite weve lately enjoyed gold price price gold several months settled around 1500 ounce resumed sharp rise last decade approaching 1600 thats clear sign future inflation manufacturing declining new york federal reserves report new york states manufacturing usually harbinger whats happening rest america including california reuters reported today gauge manufacturing new york state showed sector unexpectedly contracted second month row new orders worsened new york federal reserve said report friday pace decline moderate somewhat july month new york feds empire state general business conditions index rising minus 376 minus 779 june however still weaker expected since economists polled reuters expected reading 450 survey manufacturing plants state one earliest monthly guideposts us factory conditions june regional index tumbled sharply contracting first time since november 2010 larger national report month showed modest uptick pace growth new orders fell minus 545 minus 361 shipments improved positive 222 minus 802 consumers depressed reported cnbc160today us consumer sentiment deteriorated early july lowest level since march 2009 increasing pessimism falling income rising unemployment survey released friday showed america big greece pat buchanan wrote column today titled greeks halcyon days government payrolls happening california new york washington dc slashed pension health care benefits seniors reduced retirement ages raised food stamps foreign aid programs going capped cut160 left believes get money wealthy top 1 percent americans income already carry 40 percent federal income tax load bottom 50 percent wageearners ride free end160 either going man radically reduce government levels united states bond markets going us today greece ireland portugal160 greeks since started writing calwatchdogcom almost two years ago one theme california needs prepare coming economic bad times needs become businessfriendly cutting taxes regulations especially jobskilling ab 32 wrote jan 8 2010 ab 32 passed peak housing bubble seemed doubledigit increases housing prices state skimming portion taxes would go forever california many thought everything fantastic anything possible disneyland mind could afford anything including turning state greenfriendly economic showcase unemployment160 statewide 2006160was 49 percent since housing bubble has160 burst california among states hit hardest state along rest america suffering worst economic slump since great depression unemployment doubled to160 125 percent160in october worst since 126 percent 1940 tail end great depression one includes working parttime wanting work fulltime stopped looking work underemployment number staggering 225 percent thengov arnold schwarzenegger ab 32 supporters legislature media guaranteed us ab 32 would create many green jobs economy would boom well 2011 economy stuck hideous recession worse california elsewhere naysayers predicted ab 32 made californias business climate worse better long pointed brown schwarzeneggers failed prepare us return economic deluge upon us hardcore fanatical environmentalist extremist taxincrease ideologies blinded reality us paying price lost income lost jobs broken families damaged children broken lives july 15 2010 160 160
| 534 |
<p>To find the inmates at the prison in Kerava, Finland, just&#160;walk down a tree-lined path and open the door to the&#160;greenhouse.</p>
<p>“It’s quite relaxing to be here,” says Hannu Kallio, a convicted drug smuggler. “We have bunnies.”</p>
<p>The 70 inmates in this facility go to work every day in <a href="http://www.rikosseuraamus.fi/fi/index/toimipaikatjayhteystiedot/vankilat/keravanvankila/keravanvankilantuotteet.html" type="external">the&#160;greenhouse</a>. Today, they’re potting seedlings in preparation for a big spring sale. And yes, there’s a pen of bunnies&#160;to hang out with and pet. There are also sheep.&#160;</p>
<p>But there aren't any&#160;gates, locks or uniforms — this is an open prison.&#160;Everyone at the Kerava open prison&#160;applied&#160;to be here. They earn about $8 an hour, have cell phones, do their grocery shopping in town and get three days of vacation every couple of&#160;months. They pay rent to the prison;&#160;they choose to study for a university degree in town instead of working, they get a subsidy for it; they sometimes take supervised camping and fishing trips.</p>
<p>Inmates know it&#160;wouldn’t be hard to escape. "You can go if you want,” Kallio says. “But if you escape, you go back to jail. Better to be here.”</p>
<p />
<p>Each spring, hundreds of people come to the Kerava open prison to picnic, pat the animals&#160;and buy plants cultivated by inmates.&#160;</p>
<p>Courtesy of&#160;Criminal Sanctions Agency, Finland</p>
<p>Open prisons have been around in Finland since about the 1930s. Back then, they were more like labor colonies. These days, they’re the last step&#160;of a prison sentence before inmates make the transition back to regular life.</p>
<p>"There is no idea that we are locking people up for the rest of their lives," says&#160;Tapio Lappi-Seppälä, head of the Institute of Criminology&#160;at the University of Helsinki, "because if&#160;that’s the case, you really should invest and make sure that there is the possibility of rehabilitation.”</p>
<p>It wasn’t always like this. A few decades ago, Finland had one of the&#160; <a href="http://www.unafei.or.jp/english/pdf/RS_No74/No74_05VE_Seppala1.pdf" type="external">highest rates</a>&#160;of imprisonment in Europe. Then, in the 1960s, researchers across the Nordic countries started investigating how much punishment really helps reduce crime. The conclusion: It&#160;doesn’t.</p>
<p>“This was the first time that you had critical research showing that imprisonment really doesn’t work,” Lappi-Seppälä says.</p>
<p>Over the next three decades, Finland remade&#160;its&#160;penal policy bit by bit. By the end of this&#160; <a href="http://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1057&amp;context=socs_fac" type="external">period of “decarceration,"</a>&#160;Finland had one of the lowest rates of imprisonment on the continent. Lappi-Seppälä says crime didn’t increase as a result.</p>
<p>“The lesson from Finland was that it was perfectly possible to drop the use of imprisonment [by two-thirds,]” he says, “and that did not disturb the crime trend development in Finland.”</p>
<p>What did work was a gradual reintroduction into normal life, the kind that the open prisons offer. About a third of Finnish inmates are housed in open prison, and&#160;Finland’s Criminal Sanctions Agency says inmates who go through open prisons are less likely to be arrested again. The reoffending rate drops almost 20 percent.</p>
<p>Open prisons also cost less.&#160;Esa Vesterbacka, head of the country's&#160;Criminal Sanctions Agency, says that by eliminating the need for extra security systems and personnel — and by housing people in what are essentially dorms — the cost per prisoner drops almost a third. It isn’t the main reason for having these kinds of prisons, Vesterbacka says, “but, of course, if you can make something cheaper&#160;that’s good nowadays.” &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;&#160;</p>
<p>There's even an open prison at&#160;Helsinki’s top tourist attraction, Suomenlinna Island.&#160;The island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it swarms with tourists&#160;in the summer. Yet the only thing that separates the prison grounds from a block of residential apartments and museums is a yellow picket fence.</p>
<p />
<p>Inmates at the Suomenlinna open prison live in blue dormitory-style housing. A picket fence is all that separates the prison grounds from the rest of the island,&#160;a popular tourist destination.</p>
<p>Courtesy of&#160;Criminal Sanctions Agency, Finland</p>
<p>“You really don’t realize that you are walking in the middle of an open prison,” Lappi-Seppälä says. “Nobody thinks of it. But I don’t think even the American tourists find it scary."</p>
<p>Locals seem to agree. When&#160;I&#160;talk to residents near the&#160;Kerava and Suomenlinna&#160;open prisons,&#160;most seem confused when I ask if they’re concerned about sharing the town with convicts. Some tell me that the prisoners&#160;improve&#160;the community by restoring historic sites or cleaning up public spaces.</p>
<p>It’s tempting to wonder how this system might work in other countries — notably the US, which incarcerates more people than any other country in the world. Heather Thompson, a professor of history at Temple University&#160;who studies mass incarceration and prison populations, says it’s hard to know because the US isn’t having that discussion.</p>
<p>“We're just now getting to the point of recognizing that we're incarcerating far too many people. We have yet to have a conversation about the actual conditions of confinement, what it is that people actually experience in prison so they can be whole human beings when they return.”</p>
<p>When I spoke with Hannu Kallio at Kerava open prison, he was about to move out&#160;to spend the last months of his sentence at home, working at a recycling center and living with his wife, daughters&#160;and Jack Russell terrier.</p>
<p>A fellow inmate, Juha, who doesn't want to give his last name,&#160;is expecting his first child.&#160;He's&#160;serving a life sentence, but most such sentences in Finland are commuted to 10 or 15 years.&#160;"“It’s a pretty big deal,” Juha says,&#160;“but I don’t know when I’m going to get out. Basically, his mother is going to raise him.”</p>
<p>Juha’s not sure when he’ll be able to go home to his new family, but he knows that he eventually will. And for someone who started out in maximum-security prison with a life sentence, that says a lot.</p>
| false | 3 |
find inmates prison kerava finland just160walk treelined path open door the160greenhouse quite relaxing says hannu kallio convicted drug smuggler bunnies 70 inmates facility go work every day the160greenhouse today theyre potting seedlings preparation big spring sale yes theres pen bunnies160to hang pet also sheep160 arent any160gates locks uniforms open prison160everyone kerava open prison160applied160to earn 8 hour cell phones grocery shopping town get three days vacation every couple of160months pay rent prison160they choose study university degree town instead working get subsidy sometimes take supervised camping fishing trips inmates know it160wouldnt hard escape go want kallio says escape go back jail better spring hundreds people come kerava open prison picnic pat animals160and buy plants cultivated inmates160 courtesy of160criminal sanctions agency finland open prisons around finland since 1930s back like labor colonies days theyre last step160of prison sentence inmates make transition back regular life idea locking people rest lives says160tapio lappiseppälä head institute criminology160at university helsinki if160thats case really invest make sure possibility rehabilitation wasnt always like decades ago finland one the160 highest rates160of imprisonment europe 1960s researchers across nordic countries started investigating much punishment really helps reduce crime conclusion it160doesnt first time critical research showing imprisonment really doesnt work lappiseppälä says next three decades finland remade160its160penal policy bit bit end this160 period decarceration160finland one lowest rates imprisonment continent lappiseppälä says crime didnt increase result lesson finland perfectly possible drop use imprisonment twothirds says disturb crime trend development finland work gradual reintroduction normal life kind open prisons offer third finnish inmates housed open prison and160finlands criminal sanctions agency says inmates go open prisons less likely arrested reoffending rate drops almost 20 percent open prisons also cost less160esa vesterbacka head countrys160criminal sanctions agency says eliminating need extra security systems personnel housing people essentially dorms cost per prisoner drops almost third isnt main reason kinds prisons vesterbacka says course make something cheaper160thats good nowadays 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160160 theres even open prison at160helsinkis top tourist attraction suomenlinna island160the island unesco world heritage site swarms tourists160in summer yet thing separates prison grounds block residential apartments museums yellow picket fence inmates suomenlinna open prison live blue dormitorystyle housing picket fence separates prison grounds rest island160a popular tourist destination courtesy of160criminal sanctions agency finland really dont realize walking middle open prison lappiseppälä says nobody thinks dont think even american tourists find scary locals seem agree when160i160talk residents near the160kerava suomenlinna160open prisons160most seem confused ask theyre concerned sharing town convicts tell prisoners160improve160the community restoring historic sites cleaning public spaces tempting wonder system might work countries notably us incarcerates people country world heather thompson professor history temple university160who studies mass incarceration prison populations says hard know us isnt discussion getting point recognizing incarcerating far many people yet conversation actual conditions confinement people actually experience prison whole human beings return spoke hannu kallio kerava open prison move out160to spend last months sentence home working recycling center living wife daughters160and jack russell terrier fellow inmate juha doesnt want give last name160is expecting first child160hes160serving life sentence sentences finland commuted 10 15 years160its pretty big deal juha says160but dont know im going get basically mother going raise juhas sure hell able go home new family knows eventually someone started maximumsecurity prison life sentence says lot
| 570 |
<p>Think you know India? If your impressions come from old National Geographics, you need to update your mental file about a country that produces more films than Hollywood and whose middle class is larger than the entire U.S. population.</p>
<p>By Erich Bridges</p>
<p>Where can you find thousands of millionaires, and nine of the world's richest billionaires?</p>
<p>India.</p>
<p>Who makes more movies than Hollywood?</p>
<p>India-by far. “Bollywood,” the vast film industry based in Bombay (now Mumbai) churns out about 1,000 pictures a year, roughly twice as many as Hollywood. Hindi movies burst with melodrama, action, sexy stars and big musical production numbers-and gross $3.5 billion a year in worldwide ticket sales.</p>
<p>Which nation boasts the world's biggest democracy?</p>
<p>India. And it works, as demonstrated by this year's stunning upset victory by the underdog Congress Party over the ruling Hindu nationalist alliance.</p>
<p>Which country now counts more than 24 million Christians-nearly 19 million of whom are evangelicals?</p>
<p>You guessed it: India.</p>
<p>If your most vivid impressions of India come from old National Geographics and Rudyard Kipling's jungle stories, update your mental file with these facts:</p>
<p>• India's 1.07 billion people-second only to China in total population-are 80 percent Hindu. But more than 130 million Muslims call India home (some estimates range above 150 million). That rivals the combined population of all countries in the Arab Middle East.</p>
<p>• Indian teenagers spend $3 billion a year on fashion accessories.</p>
<p>• The Indian middle class (those earning $2,000 to $4,000 annually) now numbers 300 million-larger than the entire U.S. population. It's expected to approach 450 million within the next five years.</p>
<p>• Massive rural-to-urban migration will likely double the population of India's cities within two decades. That's equal to “all of Europe, all of a sudden, needing water, sanitation, drainage, power, transportation, housing,” says an Asian Development Bank official.</p>
<p>• Want to tap into a youth movement of gargantuan proportions? No fewer than 555 million Indians are under age 25.</p>
<p>• Indian universities produce more than 1.5 million graduates each year.</p>
<p>• The booming Indian economy was forecast to grow 8 percent this year as Indian industries match or surpass some of the world's top producers.</p>
<p>• India has some 200 million English speakers. The nation's vast collection of peoples also speak several hundred other languages and dialects.</p>
<p>• Three Indians made Time magazine's list of the world's 100 most powerful and influential people this year: Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and IT industry mogul Azim Premji (reputedly the world's fourth-richest man).</p>
<p>Make no mistake: India still faces enormous problems of poverty and need. The poor in some 800,000 towns and villages still account for the great majority of the population. About 300 million people live on less than a dollar a day. As many as 3,000 Indian farmers in a single state (Andhra Pradesh) have killed themselves over the last six years because of debt and drought.</p>
<p>India has the world's largest number of working children (up to 115 million); many toil in sweatshops. At least half of the population cannot read. Meanwhile, many of the graduates pouring out of the nation's universities can't find decent jobs. Despite economic growth, too many applicants are competing for too few positions. The government counts 40 million jobless workers, while the vaunted Indian info tech industry employs fewer than 1 million.</p>
<p>But India has made amazing progress on many fronts-economic expansion, education, technology. Its scientists, academics, computer specialists, entrepreneurs and entertainers are challenging-and often surpassing-the best other countries can offer. Expectations are soaring.</p>
<p>Here's a tip to avoid cultural schizophrenia in India: Realize that you can find anything you look for there. Staggering wealth and appalling squalor. Showbiz fantasy and harsh reality. High-tech companies and age-old cottage industries. Instant business deals and molasses-slow state bureaucracy. Mega-cities and remote forests. The latest trends and ancient traditions. Go-go capitalists and doctrinaire communists. Holy men and atheists. Intense spirituality and crass materialism. Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, tribals.</p>
<p>Hundreds of India's ethnic, religious and caste groups live in geographical or social isolation from each other, looking at the rest of this vast “nation of nations” with curiosity or suspicion. Many a south Indian, if set down somewhere in the north, would be as bewildered by the customs and languages as someone from the U.S. heartland parachuting into Scandinavia.</p>
<p>In other places, particularly the cities, different peoples and cultures mix and mingle in seemingly countless combinations. Mumbai, India's largest city, is a world unto itself.</p>
<p>With more than 17 million people jammed into a 180-square-mile peninsula, Mumbai is the financial capital of India, the film capital, the organized crime capital, the AIDS and prostitution capital. It is the home of India's most expensive real estate-and Asia's biggest slum. You can live under plastic tarps on the streets, as multitudes do, or dine with old money at the exclusive stadium cricket club (joining fee: $30,000).</p>
<p>On Mumbai's sidewalks and crowded commuter trains, you can rub shoulders-or trade elbows-with stock traders wearing cell phones and $1,000 suits, beggars, college students, Muslim women covered by black burkhas, Marathis, Gujaratis, Punjabis, Tamils, Keralites, Kashmiris, Bengalis, Assamese.</p>
<p>On one bustling street, a plush mansion built as a set for Bollywood movies stands empty, while at least 100 squatters live in lean-tos along the outside wall. “That's Mumbai,” shrugs one resident.</p>
<p>That's India.</p>
<p>“Diversity is India,” observes a leading Christian strategist who lives there. “You can lose yourself in all the challenges and unlimited horizons for missions in this country. You could pour a thousand lifetimes into India and never exhaust it.”</p>
<p>But even a thousand lifetimes dedicated to spreading the gospel won't make a real dent in India-unless they are lives focused on multiplying disciples and churches.</p>
<p>Of all the surprises of India, here are several of the most important:</p>
<p>• India's 24-million-member Christian community is growing, but remains a small minority of the national population of 1.07 billion.</p>
<p>• India and its South Asian neighbors have more than 200 people groups with populations exceeding 1 million.</p>
<p>• Nearly half of the world's unreached people groups live in India and the South Asian region. They have yet to be touched by the gospel in any significant way.</p>
<p>• India alone is home to 14 different “super-mega” people groups (more than 10 million members each) who are currently “unengaged” by a church-planting movement strategy. In other words, Christians are not yet focusing on any of these groups in a way that will result in growing, self-sustaining church movements. Just one of these ethnic peoples, the Rajput, totals 40 million souls.</p>
<p>• South Asia, which includes India, has half of the world's Last Frontier population-more than any other region.</p>
<p>The three global “giants” standing between the body of Christ and the fulfillment of the Great Commission in our day are China, Islam and India-each with a population of more than 1 billion.</p>
<p>Two of these three meet in South Asia: India-and the nearly 400 million Muslims living primarily in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.</p>
<p>“As India goes, so goes the Great Commission,” contends the Christian strategist. “And how is India doing? Not that well, quite frankly. Not because it's inaccessible-because it's neglected. If this is truly the last of the giants, God is giving it to us on a silver platter. It is a friendly place, an inviting place.</p>
<p>“There is no excuse for not getting the gospel out here. I'm overwhelmed at the openness.”</p>
<p>That assessment seemingly contradicts reports of persecution of Christians in India, resistance to evangelization and the resurgence of Hindu extremism. True, violent opposition is very real in certain areas, but it's often a reaction to the gospel's spread-which persecution can't stop.</p>
<p>India's renowned spiritual tolerance also lives up to its reputation in many ways, both as bridge and a barrier for the gospel.</p>
<p>“India skipped modern,” observes a Christian worker. “It has always been postmodern.”</p>
<p>How so? The philosophical idea that many paths lead to God or truth probably originated in India-and now strongly influences the West. It challenges the exclusive claim of Jesus Christ to Lordship, but opens many doors in India to talking about him.</p>
<p>In the cities, at least, Christ followers can readily gain a hearing in the noisy Indian marketplace of ideas. In the more traditional and resistant villages, growing numbers of believers are boldly proclaiming the good news.</p>
<p>“We've seen so many people come to Christ, so many churches started-hundreds, maybe thousands of new churches,” says the strategist.</p>
<p>“This is an incredibly responsive place. We just need more people implementing church-planting movement strategies. That means moving from planting an individual church and bringing a few people to Christ to saying, ‘What's it going to take to see a movement that sweeps through a people?'</p>
<p>“In God's economy we have a vital role to play: a role of encouraging, training and multiplying ourselves through hundreds and thousands of national partners.”</p>
<p>It's already happening in some places, like the huge north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where more than 5,000 house churches have sprung up in less than two years.</p>
<p>It will happen in many more places, because wherever the light of Christ is lifted up, he draws people unto himself.</p>
<p>“Our job,” says a believer, “is to turn on the light, turn on the light, turn on the light!”</p>
<p>IMB News</p>
<p>Erich Bridges is senior writer for the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board.</p>
| false | 3 |
think know india impressions come old national geographics need update mental file country produces films hollywood whose middle class larger entire us population erich bridges find thousands millionaires nine worlds richest billionaires india makes movies hollywood indiaby far bollywood vast film industry based bombay mumbai churns 1000 pictures year roughly twice many hollywood hindi movies burst melodrama action sexy stars big musical production numbersand gross 35 billion year worldwide ticket sales nation boasts worlds biggest democracy india works demonstrated years stunning upset victory underdog congress party ruling hindu nationalist alliance country counts 24 million christiansnearly 19 million evangelicals guessed india vivid impressions india come old national geographics rudyard kiplings jungle stories update mental file facts indias 107 billion peoplesecond china total populationare 80 percent hindu 130 million muslims call india home estimates range 150 million rivals combined population countries arab middle east indian teenagers spend 3 billion year fashion accessories indian middle class earning 2000 4000 annually numbers 300 millionlarger entire us population expected approach 450 million within next five years massive ruraltourban migration likely double population indias cities within two decades thats equal europe sudden needing water sanitation drainage power transportation housing says asian development bank official want tap youth movement gargantuan proportions fewer 555 million indians age 25 indian universities produce 15 million graduates year booming indian economy forecast grow 8 percent year indian industries match surpass worlds top producers india 200 million english speakers nations vast collection peoples also speak several hundred languages dialects three indians made time magazines list worlds 100 powerful influential people year bollywood superstar aishwarya rai former prime minister atal bihari vajpayee industry mogul azim premji reputedly worlds fourthrichest man make mistake india still faces enormous problems poverty need poor 800000 towns villages still account great majority population 300 million people live less dollar day many 3000 indian farmers single state andhra pradesh killed last six years debt drought india worlds largest number working children 115 million many toil sweatshops least half population read meanwhile many graduates pouring nations universities cant find decent jobs despite economic growth many applicants competing positions government counts 40 million jobless workers vaunted indian info tech industry employs fewer 1 million india made amazing progress many frontseconomic expansion education technology scientists academics computer specialists entrepreneurs entertainers challengingand often surpassingthe best countries offer expectations soaring heres tip avoid cultural schizophrenia india realize find anything look staggering wealth appalling squalor showbiz fantasy harsh reality hightech companies ageold cottage industries instant business deals molassesslow state bureaucracy megacities remote forests latest trends ancient traditions gogo capitalists doctrinaire communists holy men atheists intense spirituality crass materialism hindus muslims jains sikhs christians buddhists tribals hundreds indias ethnic religious caste groups live geographical social isolation looking rest vast nation nations curiosity suspicion many south indian set somewhere north would bewildered customs languages someone us heartland parachuting scandinavia places particularly cities different peoples cultures mix mingle seemingly countless combinations mumbai indias largest city world unto 17 million people jammed 180squaremile peninsula mumbai financial capital india film capital organized crime capital aids prostitution capital home indias expensive real estateand asias biggest slum live plastic tarps streets multitudes dine old money exclusive stadium cricket club joining fee 30000 mumbais sidewalks crowded commuter trains rub shouldersor trade elbowswith stock traders wearing cell phones 1000 suits beggars college students muslim women covered black burkhas marathis gujaratis punjabis tamils keralites kashmiris bengalis assamese one bustling street plush mansion built set bollywood movies stands empty least 100 squatters live leantos along outside wall thats mumbai shrugs one resident thats india diversity india observes leading christian strategist lives lose challenges unlimited horizons missions country could pour thousand lifetimes india never exhaust even thousand lifetimes dedicated spreading gospel wont make real dent indiaunless lives focused multiplying disciples churches surprises india several important indias 24millionmember christian community growing remains small minority national population 107 billion india south asian neighbors 200 people groups populations exceeding 1 million nearly half worlds unreached people groups live india south asian region yet touched gospel significant way india alone home 14 different supermega people groups 10 million members currently unengaged churchplanting movement strategy words christians yet focusing groups way result growing selfsustaining church movements one ethnic peoples rajput totals 40 million souls south asia includes india half worlds last frontier populationmore region three global giants standing body christ fulfillment great commission day china islam indiaeach population 1 billion two three meet south asia indiaand nearly 400 million muslims living primarily india pakistan bangladesh india goes goes great commission contends christian strategist india well quite frankly inaccessiblebecause neglected truly last giants god giving us silver platter friendly place inviting place excuse getting gospel im overwhelmed openness assessment seemingly contradicts reports persecution christians india resistance evangelization resurgence hindu extremism true violent opposition real certain areas often reaction gospels spreadwhich persecution cant stop indias renowned spiritual tolerance also lives reputation many ways bridge barrier gospel india skipped modern observes christian worker always postmodern philosophical idea many paths lead god truth probably originated indiaand strongly influences west challenges exclusive claim jesus christ lordship opens many doors india talking cities least christ followers readily gain hearing noisy indian marketplace ideas traditional resistant villages growing numbers believers boldly proclaiming good news weve seen many people come christ many churches startedhundreds maybe thousands new churches says strategist incredibly responsive place need people implementing churchplanting movement strategies means moving planting individual church bringing people christ saying whats going take see movement sweeps people gods economy vital role play role encouraging training multiplying hundreds thousands national partners already happening places like huge north indian state uttar pradesh 5000 house churches sprung less two years happen many places wherever light christ lifted draws people unto job says believer turn light turn light turn light imb news erich bridges senior writer southern baptist conventions international mission board
| 966 |
<p>RAMALLAH, West Bank — Soap operas usually block out scenes with two cameras, one for each of the glaring opponents. The editor switches between each actor as they snarl and sneer. As for the plot, you can tune in every few months and nothing seems to have changed.</p>
<p>Sorry, did I write “soap operas?" I meant to type “current Palestinian politics.”</p>
<p>In the latest episode, Hamas — in the role of bad guy, at least according to most Western viewers of this particular soap — stares wild-eyed and affronted from the Gaza Strip toward Fatah in the West Bank. Fatah, playing the loose-living, stylish cousin, tosses its chin high and looks down its nose. Egyptian mediators pop in like script doctors searching for a new twist. But they come up with the same tired old plotlines.</p>
<p>Over a recent weekend, Egypt’s deputy chief of intelligence, General Muhammad Ibrahim, spent two days in Ramallah just trying to convince the different Palestinian factions that they ought to turn up in Cairo on July 25 for the next round in the “national reconciliation” talks — the seventh such meeting since the spring of 2007, when Hamas threw Fatah out of the Gaza Strip (and also threw some Fatah officials out of high windows).</p>
<p>Ibrahim’s suggestion, according to Palestinian officials, was for both sides to agree that Hamas would rule the Gaza Strip, while Fatah would control the West Bank.</p>
<p>Did I mention that he didn’t come with any new ideas?</p>
<p>The Egyptians hoped that if the two sides agreed not to be angry any more about the status quo, Fatah could be persuaded to contribute to rebuilding Gaza after the damage caused there by the war at the turn of the year. In return Hamas might consent to allow policemen from the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority to return to the Gaza Strip, the Egyptians suggested.</p>
<p>Ibrahim’s aim wasn’t to solve the entire problem of the Palestinian civil war, but rather to stanch the bleeding.</p>
<p>Without grabbing headlines, the blood is flowing. Hamas recently arrested a series of Fatah-affiliated Gazans who, according to human-rights organizations, face torture or injury during their incarceration. Fatah responded by rounding up more Hamas people in the West Bank.</p>
<p>Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sounded in no hurry to make a deal when he said Sunday that he’d "accept any Egyptian proposal that ends the internal rift and lifts the siege imposed on the Palestinian people." Except the proposals put to him over the weekend, of course, which he appears to have rejected.</p>
<p>Like any good soap opera, the reason for such hardheadedness is trouble inside the family.</p>
<p>Fatah officials face a party congress in early August and are reluctant to make any concessions to Hamas. Such a move could make them vulnerable to attack by party rivals striking a tough guy pose.</p>
<p>That’s likely to make the talks next week in Cairo a waste of time, though the Egyptians vowed to press ahead.</p>
<p>Hamas has been talking more softly about regional politics, even as it’s been taking a hard line against its compatriots. In late June, the group’s Damascus-based leader, Khaled Meshaal, said Hamas accepted the idea of a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (even as he rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current demand that Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state, calling it “racist, no different from Nazis.”)</p>
<p>Hamas seems to be in a bit more of a hurry than Fatah to make nice because of the desperate straits of Gaza’s population. Fatah refuses to budge in the Cairo talks unless it gets a true foothold in Gaza, where the Palestinian Authority pays the wages of civil servants and is largely ordering them to stay at home.</p>
<p>Even so, Hamas isn’t ready to roll over. It maintains the arrests of its activists in the West Bank were ordered by the Israeli army and the U.S. security coordinator to the region, Keith Dayton. (Israeli military officials say cooperation these days with the Palestinians is better even than during the years of the Oslo peace agreements — in the West Bank only, of course.)</p>
<p>Hamas also insists that the term of the current parliament be extended because, since it won a majority in the legislature in 2006, it has been unable to exert control due to international boycotts and, later, the civil strife with Fatah.</p>
<p>Perhaps Meshaal dropped his opposition to a two-state solution because he’s staring in the face of a three-state solution, in which Fatah gets an internationally recognized state in the West Bank and Hamas heads a pariah outpost in Gaza under the shadow of the Israeli war machine.</p>
<p>What would such states look like anyway? These days, despite the money flowing into the West Bank from the U.S. and the cash smuggled to Hamas by Iran, they’d be fairly sorry specimens.</p>
<p>The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said this week that the population of the Palestinian territories was about 3.9 million, with 2.4 million people in the West Bank and 1.5 million in the Gaza Strip.&#160;</p>
<p>Of those, 25 percent are unemployed. With plenty of time for bad daytime TV.</p>
<p>More GlobalPost dispatches by Matt Beynon Rees:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/israel-and-palestine/090623/poets-corner" type="external">When poets do the talking</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/israel-and-palestine/090511/netanyahu-jewish-settlers" type="external">In Hebron, Noam Arnon sits tight and worries</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/israel-and-palestine/090421/two-israeli-politicians-keep-eye" type="external">Two Israeli politicians to keep an eye on</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/israel-and-palestine/090412/tel-aviv-celebrates-hundredth-birthday" type="external">Tel Aviv celebrates hundredth birthday</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/israel-and-palestine/090406/analysis-inside-netanyahus-head" type="external">Analysis: Inside Netanyahu's head</a></p>
| false | 3 |
ramallah west bank soap operas usually block scenes two cameras one glaring opponents editor switches actor snarl sneer plot tune every months nothing seems changed sorry write soap operas meant type current palestinian politics latest episode hamas role bad guy least according western viewers particular soap stares wildeyed affronted gaza strip toward fatah west bank fatah playing looseliving stylish cousin tosses chin high looks nose egyptian mediators pop like script doctors searching new twist come tired old plotlines recent weekend egypts deputy chief intelligence general muhammad ibrahim spent two days ramallah trying convince different palestinian factions ought turn cairo july 25 next round national reconciliation talks seventh meeting since spring 2007 hamas threw fatah gaza strip also threw fatah officials high windows ibrahims suggestion according palestinian officials sides agree hamas would rule gaza strip fatah would control west bank mention didnt come new ideas egyptians hoped two sides agreed angry status quo fatah could persuaded contribute rebuilding gaza damage caused war turn year return hamas might consent allow policemen fatahcontrolled palestinian authority return gaza strip egyptians suggested ibrahims aim wasnt solve entire problem palestinian civil war rather stanch bleeding without grabbing headlines blood flowing hamas recently arrested series fatahaffiliated gazans according humanrights organizations face torture injury incarceration fatah responded rounding hamas people west bank palestinian president mahmoud abbas sounded hurry make deal said sunday hed accept egyptian proposal ends internal rift lifts siege imposed palestinian people except proposals put weekend course appears rejected like good soap opera reason hardheadedness trouble inside family fatah officials face party congress early august reluctant make concessions hamas move could make vulnerable attack party rivals striking tough guy pose thats likely make talks next week cairo waste time though egyptians vowed press ahead hamas talking softly regional politics even taking hard line compatriots late june groups damascusbased leader khaled meshaal said hamas accepted idea twostate solution israelipalestinian conflict even rejected israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahus current demand palestinians recognize israel jewish state calling racist different nazis hamas seems bit hurry fatah make nice desperate straits gazas population fatah refuses budge cairo talks unless gets true foothold gaza palestinian authority pays wages civil servants largely ordering stay home even hamas isnt ready roll maintains arrests activists west bank ordered israeli army us security coordinator region keith dayton israeli military officials say cooperation days palestinians better even years oslo peace agreements west bank course hamas also insists term current parliament extended since majority legislature 2006 unable exert control due international boycotts later civil strife fatah perhaps meshaal dropped opposition twostate solution hes staring face threestate solution fatah gets internationally recognized state west bank hamas heads pariah outpost gaza shadow israeli war machine would states look like anyway days despite money flowing west bank us cash smuggled hamas iran theyd fairly sorry specimens palestinian central bureau statistics said week population palestinian territories 39 million 24 million people west bank 15 million gaza strip160 25 percent unemployed plenty time bad daytime tv globalpost dispatches matt beynon rees poets talking hebron noam arnon sits tight worries two israeli politicians keep eye tel aviv celebrates hundredth birthday analysis inside netanyahus head
| 520 |
<p>MAY 19, 2011</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />By KATY GRIMES</p>
<p>Democrats are pushing a bill that, opponents say, could devastate the Republican Party in California. Yet several Republicans have signed on to the cause.</p>
<p>The stated intent of the bill, <a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0451-0500/ab_459_bill_20110413_amended_asm_v97.pdf" type="external">AB 459</a>, is to give California more impact in presidential campaigns. California is the country’s most populous state. Yet it was was largely ignored in the last two presidential elections because, for two decades, Democrats easily have won presidential elections here.</p>
<p>President Obama won California by more than 3 million votes over John McCain. With Democratic victories guaranteed, there’s no point in campaigning here for votes, although candidates still come here to grab contributions for their campaigns.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#A2Sec1" type="external">Under the U.S. Constitution</a>, “electors” are chosen from each state according to the sum of its members of the U.S. House of Representatives and two senators. Thus, California currently has 55 electoral votes, while small Wyoming has three.</p>
<p>The Constitution stipulates that each state Legislature decides the method by which the electors are chosen. Most states, including California, currently stipulate that whichever presidential candidate wins the most votes in that state gets all that state’s electoral votes.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0451-0500/ab_459_bill_20110413_amended_asm_v97.pdf" type="external">AB 459</a> is part the <a href="http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/" type="external">“National Popular Vote Interstate Compact</a>.” The compact has two parts. First, it would go into effect only if it is enacted by enough states that, combined, their electoral votes equal 270 or more (which is more than half the total of 538 electoral votes).</p>
<p>Second, in those states that have passed National Popular Vote, whichever presidential candidate wins the national popular vote would win all the electoral votes in all the states that are part of the National Popular Vote compact.</p>
<p>According to Wikipedia, “As of April 2011, this&#160;interstate compact has been joined by&#160;Hawaii,&#160;Illinois,&#160;Maryland,&#160;Massachusetts,&#160;New Jersey,&#160;Vermont,&#160;Washington and the District of Columbia; their 77 electoral votes amount to 28.5% of the 270 needed for the compact to take effect.” Those states and D.C. all lean Democratic. So far, no Republican-leaning state has passed the reform.</p>
<p>If California joined the compact, the number of electoral votes in the compact would rise from 77 to 132.</p>
<p>The National Popular Vote&#160; <a href="http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/" type="external">website</a> says that 2,110 state legislators from across the country have endorsed the change.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0451-0500/ab_459_bill_20110413_amended_asm_v97.pdf" type="external">AB 459</a> was authored by Democratic Assemblyman Jerry Hill (San Mateo) with the support of Republican Assemblyman Brian Nestande (Palm Desert) and Republican Senators Tony Strickland (Thousand Oaks) and Mimi Walters (Laguna Miguel).</p>
<p>Supporters of AB 459 insist that changing the Electoral College to a popular vote would require candidates to actually campaign in all states, and not just in swing states.</p>
<p>But opponents say that those backing National Popular Vote have a bigger agenda in mind: Eventually eliminating the Electoral College altogether. Once Americans are used to thinking of the election more as a vast popular vote, then the National Popular Vote Compact itself would be displaced in favor a constitutional amendment junking the Electoral College.</p>
<p>If that happened then, even more than under the National Popular Vote Compact, presidential candidates would look only at the large population areas in the country for votes: New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, and San Francisco. Rural states, such as Wyoming and North Dakota, would be ignored. The federalist nature of the country, which consists of “ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence" type="external">free and independent states</a>,” would be fatally compromised.</p>
<p>Nationally, most conservatives and Republican Party leaders are adamantly opposed to the popular vote reform. But this is not a new issue. Talk of amending the U.S. Constitution to replace the Electoral College with the popular vote has been going on for years because liberals believe that they can turn out more voters in vote-rich big cities.</p>
<p>But Republicans and conservatives have respected states’ rights, and support maintaining electing presidents in the way crafted by the Founding Fathers.</p>
<p>California’s GOP National Committeeman Shawn Steel describes the National Popular Vote as “a liberal attempt to end-run the Constitution.”</p>
<p>California State GOP Chairman Tom Del Beccaro has also been outspoken in opposition to the change, and recently <a href="http://politicalvanguard.com/posts/national-popular-vote-bill-is-wrong-for-california-even-worse-for-republicans" type="external">explained</a>, “With Los Angeles County as large as 42 states in terms of population, Democrats would simply have to pour money and workers in there to drive up their popular vote.&#160; When they do the same in New York or Chicago or San Francisco, and this ‘compact’ of the states on electoral votes is law, you could easily have a Democratic ‘lock’ on the presidency.”</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/" type="external">National Popular Vote</a> campaign is the creation of a San Francisco-based Democrat, John Koza, a supporter of Al Gore in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2000" type="external">2000 Presidential race</a>. That was the last race in which one candidate, Gore, won the overall U.S. popular vote, yet lost the race because his opponent, George W. Bush, won in the electoral college.</p>
<p>Previous attempts to end the Electoral College have been approached on the national scale, involving the cumbersome process of amending the Constitution.</p>
<p>The National Popular Vote reform takes a different tack. By working through the individual states, its move toward a popular vote would probably survive a court challenge, according to constitutional law experts.</p>
<p>Opponents to National Popular Vote say that a much better idea would be what’s called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_College_(United_States)#Congressional_District_Method" type="external">Congressional District Method</a>. Under it, instead of the current “winner takes all” method, electoral votes are divvied up on the basis of how each individual state votes. Each presidential candidate gets a fraction of the vote, depending on how well he does in that state. It’s also called the Maine-Nebraska Method, because those are the only two states that currently use this method.</p>
<p>Under this method for California, if the Democrat won 57 percent of the state’s votes, he would get 57 percent of the California electoral votes — 31 electoral votes. And if the Republican got 43 percent of the electoral votes, he would get 43 percent of the California electoral votes — 24 electoral votes.</p>
<p>That would give Presidential candidates a strong incentive to actively campaign in this state and consider our interests. But Democrats aren’t keen on the idea because, as mentioned, they currently have a lock on all 55 electoral votes.</p>
<p>Republican Assemblyman Dan Logue (Linda) and other opponent to the National Popular Vote spoke to me this week refuting the argument that it would cause Republican presidential candidates to campaign and invest in California. “Projections are that they would invest upwards of $30 Million. However, Democrats would be more inclined to invest in Democrat vote-rich California with projected spending exceeding $150 Million,” Logue said.</p>
<p>Other Republicans opposed to the measure are concerned about the organizations and persons supporting the movement: the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), 
Common Cause, Fair Vote, Secretary of State Debra Bowen and a veritable “Who’s Who” list of the liberal establishment.</p>
<p>Logue said that, while not one strong Republican state has passed National Popular Vote, the organization is targeting some well-respected Republican leaders and former legislators to advance their campaign, and has even hired several to work for the campaign.</p>
<p>“I believe National Popular Vote will devastate Republican prospects in California,” said Logue.</p>
<p>Opponents are concerned that the National Popular Vote movement provides no process for conducting a nationwide recount if the popular vote is close.&#160; The absence of a nationwide recount would generate substantial popular doubt about the legitimacy of the supposed winner.</p>
<p>Democrat Presidential candidates would benefit since the Democrat party base is located in large states like California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.&#160;&#160; These six states, combined, contain nearly 33 percent of the population of the United States and each state has voted at least five straight times for the Democratic presidential candidate.</p>
<p>AB 459 has been amended twice, and has been ordered to a third reading, after making it through two Assembly committees. Previous attempts to pass a National Popular Vote bill — AB 2948 (Umberg) of 2006, and SB 37 (Migden) of 2008 (identical to AB 459) — were vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. In his veto&#160;message to SB 37, he wrote:</p>
<p>As I stated in vetoing similar legislation in 2006, I believe strongly in democracy and in honoring the will of&#160;the people. This bill represents a significant departure&#160;away from letting each individual state choose how to award&#160;its presidential electoral votes and towards a national&#160;vote for president. Because California’s endorsement of a&#160;national popular vote would significantly change the debate&#160;on the matter, enactment of this bill would represent a major shift in the way not only Californians but all&#160;Americans choose their president. Such a significant&#160;change should be voted on by the people. As such, I cannot&#160;support this measure but encourage the proponents to seek&#160;approval of the people for the changes it proposes.</p>
| false | 3 |
may 19 2011 katy grimes democrats pushing bill opponents say could devastate republican party california yet several republicans signed cause stated intent bill ab 459 give california impact presidential campaigns california countrys populous state yet largely ignored last two presidential elections two decades democrats easily presidential elections president obama california 3 million votes john mccain democratic victories guaranteed theres point campaigning votes although candidates still come grab contributions campaigns us constitution electors chosen state according sum members us house representatives two senators thus california currently 55 electoral votes small wyoming three constitution stipulates state legislature decides method electors chosen states including california currently stipulate whichever presidential candidate wins votes state gets states electoral votes ab 459 part national popular vote interstate compact compact two parts first would go effect enacted enough states combined electoral votes equal 270 half total 538 electoral votes second states passed national popular vote whichever presidential candidate wins national popular vote would win electoral votes states part national popular vote compact according wikipedia april 2011 this160interstate compact joined by160hawaii160illinois160maryland160massachusetts160new jersey160vermont160washington district columbia 77 electoral votes amount 285 270 needed compact take effect states dc lean democratic far republicanleaning state passed reform california joined compact number electoral votes compact would rise 77 132 national popular vote160 website says 2110 state legislators across country endorsed change ab 459 authored democratic assemblyman jerry hill san mateo support republican assemblyman brian nestande palm desert republican senators tony strickland thousand oaks mimi walters laguna miguel supporters ab 459 insist changing electoral college popular vote would require candidates actually campaign states swing states opponents say backing national popular vote bigger agenda mind eventually eliminating electoral college altogether americans used thinking election vast popular vote national popular vote compact would displaced favor constitutional amendment junking electoral college happened even national popular vote compact presidential candidates would look large population areas country votes new york los angeles dallas chicago san francisco rural states wyoming north dakota would ignored federalist nature country consists free independent states would fatally compromised nationally conservatives republican party leaders adamantly opposed popular vote reform new issue talk amending us constitution replace electoral college popular vote going years liberals believe turn voters voterich big cities republicans conservatives respected states rights support maintaining electing presidents way crafted founding fathers californias gop national committeeman shawn steel describes national popular vote liberal attempt endrun constitution california state gop chairman tom del beccaro also outspoken opposition change recently explained los angeles county large 42 states terms population democrats would simply pour money workers drive popular vote160 new york chicago san francisco compact states electoral votes law could easily democratic lock presidency national popular vote campaign creation san franciscobased democrat john koza supporter al gore 2000 presidential race last race one candidate gore overall us popular vote yet lost race opponent george w bush electoral college previous attempts end electoral college approached national scale involving cumbersome process amending constitution national popular vote reform takes different tack working individual states move toward popular vote would probably survive court challenge according constitutional law experts opponents national popular vote say much better idea would whats called congressional district method instead current winner takes method electoral votes divvied basis individual state votes presidential candidate gets fraction vote depending well state also called mainenebraska method two states currently use method method california democrat 57 percent states votes would get 57 percent california electoral votes 31 electoral votes republican got 43 percent electoral votes would get 43 percent california electoral votes 24 electoral votes would give presidential candidates strong incentive actively campaign state consider interests democrats arent keen idea mentioned currently lock 55 electoral votes republican assemblyman dan logue linda opponent national popular vote spoke week refuting argument would cause republican presidential candidates campaign invest california projections would invest upwards 30 million however democrats would inclined invest democrat voterich california projected spending exceeding 150 million logue said republicans opposed measure concerned organizations persons supporting movement american civil liberties union aclu common cause fair vote secretary state debra bowen veritable whos list liberal establishment logue said one strong republican state passed national popular vote organization targeting wellrespected republican leaders former legislators advance campaign even hired several work campaign believe national popular vote devastate republican prospects california said logue opponents concerned national popular vote movement provides process conducting nationwide recount popular vote close160 absence nationwide recount would generate substantial popular doubt legitimacy supposed winner democrat presidential candidates would benefit since democrat party base located large states like california illinois michigan new york new jersey pennsylvania160160 six states combined contain nearly 33 percent population united states state voted least five straight times democratic presidential candidate ab 459 amended twice ordered third reading making two assembly committees previous attempts pass national popular vote bill ab 2948 umberg 2006 sb 37 migden 2008 identical ab 459 vetoed gov arnold schwarzenegger veto160message sb 37 wrote stated vetoing similar legislation 2006 believe strongly democracy honoring of160the people bill represents significant departure160away letting individual state choose award160its presidential electoral votes towards national160vote president californias endorsement a160national popular vote would significantly change debate160on matter enactment bill would represent major shift way californians all160americans choose president significant160change voted people cannot160support measure encourage proponents seek160approval people changes proposes
| 865 |
<p>Over the past two years, George Dalin, principal of Howland School for the Arts, came to expect bad news every time he got a call from Intervention Chief Phil Hansen.</p>
<p>“First, the school was placed on remediation, then it was bumped up to probation. When he’d call, I’d ask him, ‘What are we on now, Phil, the death list?,'” Dalin recalls with a laugh.</p>
<p>In July, Dalin got a call that amounted to professional death. He was told he was being removed from Howland and replaced with a new principal.</p>
<p>“I didn’t expect that,” he says somberly.</p>
<p>Dalin is one of 11 principals removed over the summer from schools that were on probation but not reconstitituted. (For details on reconstitution, see story on page 24.) Only three principals attended the dismissal hearings to challenge their removal— Allen Stringfellow from Dodge, Lawrence Head from Pope and Betzaida Figueroa from Kelvyn Park.</p>
<p>At four of the schools, reading test scores went up. At one, the percentage of students scoring at or above national norms rose above 15 percent, which was the cutoff for probation. Hansen says the Office of Accountability looked at more than test scores, as the law provides.</p>
<p>“Principals were dismissed for either low test scores, lack of completion of the school’s corrective action plan or severe leadership problems,” he says.</p>
<p>Beverly Tunney, president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association, angrily disagrees. “There was no educational malpractice at these schools,” she says, issuing her first public challenge to the administration of Paul Vallas. “This was only a lesson in how to do your principal in. … The only criteria I see being used is when someone in the school has a conflict with the principal.”</p>
<p>Tunney contends, for example, that Rafael Sanchez was dismissed from Roosevelt High because the local school council was against him. “He’s done a good job by board standards, which is raise test scores. But the council didn’t want him.” The percentage of Roosevelt students scoring at or above national norms in reading rose from 8.9 to 19; in math, the percentage rose from 19.3 to 22.4.</p>
<p>At Sanchez’s dismissal hearing, LSC Chair Linda Logan submitted a letter showing that the LSC unanimously passed a motion seeking his removal.</p>
<p>A former LSC member and a teacher LSC member who also is a Chicago Teachers Union delegate testified against Sanchez at the hearing. The allegations ranged from “forcing parents to wait hours to meet with him regarding students” to “demoralizing good staff members by promoting incompetent personnel to key positions within the school and openly punishing and retaliating against teachers who attempt to constructively criticize his regime.”</p>
<p>In addition, one evaluation from probation manager Patricia Kubistal says Sanchez failed to develop a school leadership team and lacked any interest in communicating effectively with students, staff and parents.</p>
<p>Tunney contends that a conflict with probation manager Marva Collins prompted the dismissal of Lawrence Head from Pope Elementary. A hearing officer’s report confirms disagreements between the two. Tunney says Collins put in only four appearances at the school and didn’t participate in writing its corrective action plan.</p>
<p>However, Collins’ co-probation manager, Janet House, reported 21 visits between April and June, finding that Head failed to implement the corrective action plan, to evaluate every teacher, to implement the restructured school day and to fill LSC vacancies. House, assistant director in the Department of Intervention, subsequently was named interim principal at McCorkle Elementary, which also saw its principal removed.</p>
<p>Even if these reports are true, says Tunney, actions short of dismissal could have been taken.</p>
<p>“I am not against removing incompetent principals from schools,” says Tunney. “But there was nothing these principals did that was not remediable. And we believe if it is remediable, then you don’t dismiss.”</p>
<p>Like Tunney, some dismissed principals feel the process was unfair.</p>
<p>“I realize the test scores are still not where we’d like them, but they went up,” says Rickey Dorsey, principal of Smyth for the last nine years. Students at or above grade level in reading increased from 9 percent in 1996 to 13 percent in 1997. In math, the percentage of students at or above grade level went from 8.6 percent to 10.3 percent.</p>
<p>“This was a complete surprise,” he says. “I guess you’re vulnerable no matter what you do. Also, I think there may be a lot of other dynamics at play here. We’re right in the University of Illinois’ corridor. In five years, no one will recognize this area. It’s changing, and we’re in the way.”</p>
<p>A dismissal hearing report says student scores had not “sufficiently” increased and that student attendance and dropout rates had not improved. The report also says the school’s corrective action plan had “not been sufficiently implemented with respect to school leadership, parent/community partnerships, student-centered learning climate, professional development and collaboration, quality instruction plan and school management.”</p>
<p>Howland’s George Dalin says his school has suffered from heavy staff turnover that began when the previous Board of Education voted to close the school. “During that time, I lost a lot of teachers because people didn’t know if the school was going to be around,” he says. “Then in 1995-96, I lost 12 staff members to prolonged illnesses.”</p>
<p>In addition, says Dalin, the school has had three different coordinators from its external partner, Barbara Sizemore’s School Achievement Structure Program (SAS), since it was put on remediation in January, 1996.</p>
<p>“We didn’t get an SAS coordinator until April, then she left. Then we got another one in October, and still another one this January,” says Dalin, principal for four years and a CPS employee for 36. “None of this was taken into consideration. I think there should have been a meeting between the principal, the probation manager and central office before this move. There was no red flag.”</p>
<p>Howland’s probation manager, Ollie McLemore, formerly a principal at Beasley Academy who now is also an assistant director in the SAS program, acknowledges that changes in the SAS coordinator may have added some confusion, but she says that was not to blame for the condition of the school.</p>
<p>“The principal is still in charge of running the school,” says McLemore. “The SAS coordinator’s job is to offer support.”</p>
<p>She also acknowledges that Dalin and his staff worked hard to implement the school’s corrective action plan. But she says that test scores fell steeply from 1991 to 1996. Further, she says, reading scores dipped slightly this year, and math scores only inched up—in reading, 5.4 percent of students score at or above norms; in math, 8 percent do.</p>
<p>“I didn’t have to make the recommendation [for his removal] because it was evident by the students’ progress,” says McLemore. “Because of the failure of progress, a change was inevitable, which was the decision of the Office of Accountability.”</p>
<p>Many people were also surprised to find Reva Hairston’s name on the list, especially since she had planned to retire this summer.</p>
<p>Hairston, who in 1990 won the Borg-Warner Award for School Leadership, was very upset by the decision.</p>
<p>No dignity</p>
<p>“They knew I was retiring,” she says. “I thought, 43 years with the board, 21 as a principal in the same school, and I’m not even allowed to leave with dignity.”</p>
<p>Hansen says central administrators knew Hairston was retiring but needed to remove her so that they could choose an interim principal to turn around the school. Had Hairston simply retired, the local school council would have chosen an acting or interim principal.</p>
<p>“She was feeling low, I know that, but I talked to her and said ‘Reva, for two years in a row, you have been number one or two at the bottom'”, says Lula Ford, Terrell’s probation manager and director of the Office of School Leadership Development. “I know the school was a challenge, but so was mine. [Ford was principal of Beethoven, down the street.] I know she wanted to be successful, but the school was not in good shape. It had to be done.”</p>
<p>At Terrell, the number of students who scored at or above national norms in reading increased slightly, to 4.7 percent in 1997—under pressure from superiors, the school switched reading programs midyear. In math, the percentage of students at or above national norms increased from 6.1 percent to 9.3 percent.</p>
<p>Barbara Radner of DePaul University, a longtime friend of Hairston and the school’s external partner, says the school did need a change and she thinks Hairston knew that and that’s why she was planning to retire.</p>
<p>At press time, with the exception of Hairston, who retired in August, all dismissed principals were reassigned to positions in central or regional offices to honor the remainder of their four-year contracts. At the end of their contracts, they will be free to apply for other positions in the school system.</p>
<p>“I want to stress that in many cases, these are talented people,” says Hansen. “They just weren’t successful where they were.”</p>
<p>Interim principals assigned to the schools probably will remain for a year, he says. “We’d like them to go in and make some changes on the school improvement plan, and we hope to give these schools a chance to be successful. After that time, local school councils will once again be free to chose the principal at these schools.”</p>
<p>Tunney is skeptical. “These are very difficult schools, and some of these new people aren’t equipped to handle them,” she contends. “I’d like someone to tell me how what they are going to do in these schools is going to be so drastically different from what is being done to help them now. That’s what I’d like to know.”</p>
| false | 3 |
past two years george dalin principal howland school arts came expect bad news every time got call intervention chief phil hansen first school placed remediation bumped probation hed call id ask phil death list dalin recalls laugh july dalin got call amounted professional death told removed howland replaced new principal didnt expect says somberly dalin one 11 principals removed summer schools probation reconstitituted details reconstitution see story page 24 three principals attended dismissal hearings challenge removal allen stringfellow dodge lawrence head pope betzaida figueroa kelvyn park four schools reading test scores went one percentage students scoring national norms rose 15 percent cutoff probation hansen says office accountability looked test scores law provides principals dismissed either low test scores lack completion schools corrective action plan severe leadership problems says beverly tunney president chicago principals administrators association angrily disagrees educational malpractice schools says issuing first public challenge administration paul vallas lesson principal criteria see used someone school conflict principal tunney contends example rafael sanchez dismissed roosevelt high local school council hes done good job board standards raise test scores council didnt want percentage roosevelt students scoring national norms reading rose 89 19 math percentage rose 193 224 sanchezs dismissal hearing lsc chair linda logan submitted letter showing lsc unanimously passed motion seeking removal former lsc member teacher lsc member also chicago teachers union delegate testified sanchez hearing allegations ranged forcing parents wait hours meet regarding students demoralizing good staff members promoting incompetent personnel key positions within school openly punishing retaliating teachers attempt constructively criticize regime addition one evaluation probation manager patricia kubistal says sanchez failed develop school leadership team lacked interest communicating effectively students staff parents tunney contends conflict probation manager marva collins prompted dismissal lawrence head pope elementary hearing officers report confirms disagreements two tunney says collins put four appearances school didnt participate writing corrective action plan however collins coprobation manager janet house reported 21 visits april june finding head failed implement corrective action plan evaluate every teacher implement restructured school day fill lsc vacancies house assistant director department intervention subsequently named interim principal mccorkle elementary also saw principal removed even reports true says tunney actions short dismissal could taken removing incompetent principals schools says tunney nothing principals remediable believe remediable dont dismiss like tunney dismissed principals feel process unfair realize test scores still wed like went says rickey dorsey principal smyth last nine years students grade level reading increased 9 percent 1996 13 percent 1997 math percentage students grade level went 86 percent 103 percent complete surprise says guess youre vulnerable matter also think may lot dynamics play right university illinois corridor five years one recognize area changing way dismissal hearing report says student scores sufficiently increased student attendance dropout rates improved report also says schools corrective action plan sufficiently implemented respect school leadership parentcommunity partnerships studentcentered learning climate professional development collaboration quality instruction plan school management howlands george dalin says school suffered heavy staff turnover began previous board education voted close school time lost lot teachers people didnt know school going around says 199596 lost 12 staff members prolonged illnesses addition says dalin school three different coordinators external partner barbara sizemores school achievement structure program sas since put remediation january 1996 didnt get sas coordinator april left got another one october still another one january says dalin principal four years cps employee 36 none taken consideration think meeting principal probation manager central office move red flag howlands probation manager ollie mclemore formerly principal beasley academy also assistant director sas program acknowledges changes sas coordinator may added confusion says blame condition school principal still charge running school says mclemore sas coordinators job offer support also acknowledges dalin staff worked hard implement schools corrective action plan says test scores fell steeply 1991 1996 says reading scores dipped slightly year math scores inched upin reading 54 percent students score norms math 8 percent didnt make recommendation removal evident students progress says mclemore failure progress change inevitable decision office accountability many people also surprised find reva hairstons name list especially since planned retire summer hairston 1990 borgwarner award school leadership upset decision dignity knew retiring says thought 43 years board 21 principal school im even allowed leave dignity hansen says central administrators knew hairston retiring needed remove could choose interim principal turn around school hairston simply retired local school council would chosen acting interim principal feeling low know talked said reva two years row number one two bottom says lula ford terrells probation manager director office school leadership development know school challenge mine ford principal beethoven street know wanted successful school good shape done terrell number students scored national norms reading increased slightly 47 percent 1997under pressure superiors school switched reading programs midyear math percentage students national norms increased 61 percent 93 percent barbara radner depaul university longtime friend hairston schools external partner says school need change thinks hairston knew thats planning retire press time exception hairston retired august dismissed principals reassigned positions central regional offices honor remainder fouryear contracts end contracts free apply positions school system want stress many cases talented people says hansen werent successful interim principals assigned schools probably remain year says wed like go make changes school improvement plan hope give schools chance successful time local school councils free chose principal schools tunney skeptical difficult schools new people arent equipped handle contends id like someone tell going schools going drastically different done help thats id like know
| 898 |
<p>The White House will not release the photos of <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20059739-503544.html" type="external">Osama bin Laden</a> taken after he was killed, President Barack Obama said Wednesday.</p>
<p>The Obama administration had earlier said that the photograph of a dead bin Laden - who officials say was shot in the face during the May 1 raid on his compound - was "gruesome" and that "it could be inflammatory" if released.</p>
<p>Obama made the announcement in a taped interview with CBS News set to air later Wednesday, part of an interview with the president set to air on "60 Minutes."</p>
<p>Three sets of photos of <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/04/bin.laden.photo.release/index.html?hpt=T1" type="external">bin Laden's corpse</a> - from the raid, from a hangar in Afghanistan and from the USS Carl Vinson, before he was wrapped in a shroud and buried at sea - were in circulation, according to CNN.</p>
<p>The shot from the hangar was close up on his face, with a visible head wound across both eyes, and said to be the goriest.</p>
<p>Amid skepticism over a lack of evidence that Al Qaeda leader was killed in a U.S. commando raid on his Pakistani compound on May 1, at least one top official had believed a photo would be released.</p>
<p>"The government, obviously, has been talking about how best to do this, but I don't think there was any question that, ultimately, a photograph would be presented to the public," <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/" type="external">CIA</a> Director Leon Panetta said Tuesday in an interview with "NBC Nightly News."</p>
<p>But ABC News reported Wednesday that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates did not want the administration to release photos.</p>
<p>Obama told interviewer Steve Kroft:&#160;"We discussed this internally. Keep in mind, we are absolutely certain that this was him. We've done DNA sampling and testing. And so there is no doubt that we killed <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20059739-503544.html#ixzz1LPVhihKo" type="external">Osama bin Laden</a>."</p>
<p>"We don't need to spike the football...given the graphic nature of the photo it would create national security risk."</p>
<p>Paul McNulty, a former U.S. deputy attorney general under President George W. Bush, reportedly said he did not need to see proof. "The credibility of what has occurred seems to be self-apparent, and I don't think the government should react too quickly to any expression of that kind of skepticism," he said. "I think they've made a very credible case for what has occurred."</p>
<p>The U.S. military released pictures of the bodies of <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-05-04-bin-laden-photo-decision_n.htm" type="external">Saddam Hussein</a>'s slain sons in 2003 in order to prove that they were dead and as a means tostem attacks on U.S. soldiers in Iraq.</p>
<p>A number of doctored images purporting to be of bin Laden are already circulating on the Internet, while the FBI has cautioned against opening emails that purport to show photos or videos of bin Laden's death as they are being used spread viruses, according to Detroit Free Press.</p>
<p>Skeptics have called on the United States to release photos of bin Laden in order to prove that the al Qaeda leader is really dead.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Cash and 2 phone numbers</p>
<p>Separately, top U.S. intelligence officials told members of Congress at a classified briefing in the Capitol that <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54258.html" type="external">bin Laden</a> had cash totaling 500 Euros and two telephone numbers sewn into his clothing when he was killed - sure signs that he was prepared to flee his compound at a moment's notice.</p>
<p>Sources told Politico that Panetta told lawmakers about the items found in bin Laden's clothing in response to a question about why he wasn't more heavily guarded while at home in his relatively luxurious home near Islamabad.</p>
<p>The answer, according to a source who attended the briefing: Bin Laden believed "his network was strong enough he'd get a heads-up" before any U.S. strike.</p>
<p>Osama's wife named</p>
<p>By the time bin Laden was killed, he was down to only <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/osama-bin-ladens-wife-wounded-raid/story?id=13521534" type="external">one of his five wives</a>: Amal Ahmed Abdul Fatah, 29, the youngest and his rumored favorite, ABC news reports, given to him as a gift when she was still a teenager.</p>
<p>On the night of the raid, Amal, whose two sons and a daughter by bin Laden lived with them in the Pakistan compound, was in the bedroom with the Al Qaeda chief and reportedly reacted with fury to the appearance of the Navy SEALs. "She rushed one of the U.S. assaulters and was shot in the leg, but not killed," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.</p>
<p>Bin Laden had reportedly divorced one of his wives and three others had moved to Syria.</p>
<p>The Situation Room&#160;</p>
<p>Asked during a "PBS Newshour" interview whether he, Obama or other top officials watching "real-time aspects" the raid from the <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/05/panetta-obama-did-not-see-bin-laden-being-killed/1" type="external">Situation Room</a>, saw Osama get shot, Panetta said: "No. No, not at all. We - you know, we had some observation of the approach there, but we did not have direct flow of information as to the actual conduct of the operation itself as they were going through the compound."</p>
<p>He continued: "We saw from, you know, some of the operations that we knew that the helicopters had - were on the ground, that the teams were going into the compound. And that was the kind of information that we were following."</p>
<p>"Geronimo EKIA"</p>
<p>The White House, meanwhile, has given a more complete picture of the SEAL raid that took out Osama, with the AP reporting that a commando's curt message to superiors - "Geronimo EKIA," meaning enemy killed in action - signaled the end had come for the Al Qaeda chief.</p>
<p>Bin Laden was not carrying a gun when the SEALs shot him dead.</p>
<p>Panetta, however, told "PBS NewsHour" that bin Laden "made some threatening moves" that "represented a clear threat to our guys."</p>
<p>"I don't think he had a lot of time to say anything," Panetta said. "It was a firefight going up that compound... This was all split-second action on the part of the SEALs."</p>
<p>Panetta said that had bin Laden "thrown up his hands, surrendered and didn't appear to be representing any kind of threat," he would have been captured alive.</p>
<p>He said the CIA was still getting "feedback" on what happened.</p>
<p />
<p />
| false | 3 |
white house release photos osama bin laden taken killed president barack obama said wednesday obama administration earlier said photograph dead bin laden officials say shot face may 1 raid compound gruesome could inflammatory released obama made announcement taped interview cbs news set air later wednesday part interview president set air 60 minutes three sets photos bin ladens corpse raid hangar afghanistan uss carl vinson wrapped shroud buried sea circulation according cnn shot hangar close face visible head wound across eyes said goriest amid skepticism lack evidence al qaeda leader killed us commando raid pakistani compound may 1 least one top official believed photo would released government obviously talking best dont think question ultimately photograph would presented public cia director leon panetta said tuesday interview nbc nightly news abc news reported wednesday secretary state hillary clinton defense secretary robert gates want administration release photos obama told interviewer steve kroft160we discussed internally keep mind absolutely certain weve done dna sampling testing doubt killed osama bin laden dont need spike footballgiven graphic nature photo would create national security risk paul mcnulty former us deputy attorney general president george w bush reportedly said need see proof credibility occurred seems selfapparent dont think government react quickly expression kind skepticism said think theyve made credible case occurred us military released pictures bodies saddam husseins slain sons 2003 order prove dead means tostem attacks us soldiers iraq number doctored images purporting bin laden already circulating internet fbi cautioned opening emails purport show photos videos bin ladens death used spread viruses according detroit free press skeptics called united states release photos bin laden order prove al qaeda leader really dead cash 2 phone numbers separately top us intelligence officials told members congress classified briefing capitol bin laden cash totaling 500 euros two telephone numbers sewn clothing killed sure signs prepared flee compound moments notice sources told politico panetta told lawmakers items found bin ladens clothing response question wasnt heavily guarded home relatively luxurious home near islamabad answer according source attended briefing bin laden believed network strong enough hed get headsup us strike osamas wife named time bin laden killed one five wives amal ahmed abdul fatah 29 youngest rumored favorite abc news reports given gift still teenager night raid amal whose two sons daughter bin laden lived pakistan compound bedroom al qaeda chief reportedly reacted fury appearance navy seals rushed one us assaulters shot leg killed white house spokesman jay carney said bin laden reportedly divorced one wives three others moved syria situation room160 asked pbs newshour interview whether obama top officials watching realtime aspects raid situation room saw osama get shot panetta said know observation approach direct flow information actual conduct operation going compound continued saw know operations knew helicopters ground teams going compound kind information following geronimo ekia white house meanwhile given complete picture seal raid took osama ap reporting commandos curt message superiors geronimo ekia meaning enemy killed action signaled end come al qaeda chief bin laden carrying gun seals shot dead panetta however told pbs newshour bin laden made threatening moves represented clear threat guys dont think lot time say anything panetta said firefight going compound splitsecond action part seals panetta said bin laden thrown hands surrendered didnt appear representing kind threat would captured alive said cia still getting feedback happened
| 547 |
<p>(RNS)—Of all the controversies that have followed in the bloody wake of the July 20 shooting rampage in Aurora, Colo., few have provided such a clarifying insight into the moral tensions and contradictions in American culture than the argument over whether gun control is a religious issue.</p>
<p>James Martin, a popular author and Jesuit priest, was among the first to set out the terms of the debate, when he penned a column at America magazine arguing that gun control “is as much of a ‘life issue’ or a ‘pro-life issue’ … as is abortion, euthanasia or the death penalty (all of which I am against), and programs that provide the poor with the same access to basic human needs as the wealthy.”</p>
<p />
<p>Martin’s central point was that abortion opponents spare no effort to try to shut down abortion clinics or to change laws to limit or ban abortions, so clearly believers should be committed to taking practical steps to restrict access to guns.</p>
<p>“Simply praying, ‘God, never let this happen again’ is insufficient for the person who believes that God gave us the intelligence to bring about lasting change,” Martin wrote. “It would be as if one passed a homeless person and said to oneself, ‘God, please help that poor man,’ when all along you could have helped him yourself.”</p>
<p>The debate is as intense today as it has been after every gun massacre, but it hasn’t changed the dynamics of the issue for believers or politicians. It may not this time either. Within hours of posting his views about gun control as a religious issue on Facebook, Martin had to shut down comments on the page because of the vitriol his views provoked.</p>
<p>Still, the Jesuit's view was echoed by an array of religious voices and groups who also called on Christians and other believers to advocate for policies to curb gun violence, with some putting the exhortation in an explicitly anti-abortion context.</p>
<p>There was a vigorous counterargument, however, that followed two main tracks. One was to resist any public policy prescriptions and debates as beside the point, or worse, to see them as an inappropriate “political” exploitation of a tragedy. The second was to see the gun control debate as a distraction from a spiritual and theological focus.</p>
<p>As Mark Galli, senior managing editor of Christianity Today, the flagship evangelical magazine, wrote in an essay on July 23, “we are kidding ourselves if we think we have within our national grasp an educational or psychological or political solution to evil.</p>
<p>“There is no solution or explanation for evil.”</p>
<p>A number of other prominent conservative Christians, like Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, took that view a step further and argued that it wasn’t just the mystery of evil but also the nation’s self-inflicted spiritual wounds that led to the massacre.</p>
<p>“We don’t have a crime problem, or a gun problem, or even a violence problem. What we have is a sin problem,” Huckabee said on his Fox News show on July 22. “And since we’ve ordered God out of our schools and communities, the military and public conversations, you know, we really shouldn’t act so surprised when all hell breaks loose.”</p>
<p>On one level, this debate seems to represent a classic theological divide: There are those who argue that human beings should not try to supplant God’s role with their own efforts to redeem the world, and others who argue that believers have a duty to protect the God-given gift of life and human dignity.</p>
<p>On another level, however, the dispute illuminates the current realities of America’s political and religious life. The fact is, Americans of all persuasions have become increasingly opposed to gun control laws, despite the regular shooting rampages that have targeted houses of worship as well as movie theaters and military bases.</p>
<p>No surprise then that in his remarks on the Colorado shooting, President Obama—who might be seen as a champion of the “religious left”—has resisted calls to mention gun control and instead counseled the nation to realize that “such evil is senseless.”</p>
<p>Complicating matters politically is that conservative Christians who form the bulk of the anti-abortion movement are less enthused than almost everyone else about gun control.</p>
<p>In an essay at the Patheos website in which she wondered “why Christians aren’t bringing the same dedication to talking about guns as we do to other issues, notably abortion and homosexuality,” Ellen Painter Dollar recalled her effort to write a piece for Christianity Today in the wake of the January 2011 shooting of former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and several others.</p>
<p>Dollar said she “gently” raised the issue of gun control in the piece but the editors spiked it because “they felt they ‘cannot win’ on the gun-control issue with their evangelical readership.”</p>
<p>Another challenge is that many conservatives see opposing abortion rights as the paramount issue today, and adding anything to that agenda could hurt the cause and divide the movement.</p>
<p>“Our convictions about the dignity of women and children harmed by abortion ought to prompt us to stand against criminal violence and dehumanization wherever it is. But we ought not to let the term ‘pro-life’ become so elastic as to lose all meaning,” warned Russell D. Moore, a well-known Christian ethicist and dean of theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.</p>
<p>“In most cases, the expansion of ‘pro-life’ is a way to divert attention from the question of personhood and human rights" Moore wrote in an email.</p>
<p>Unlike the gun control debate, Moore added, “The abortion issue isn't about prudential means to a common goal, but about legally protecting those who are subject to lethal violence.”</p>
<p>David Gibson writes for Religion News Service.</p>
| false | 3 |
rnsof controversies followed bloody wake july 20 shooting rampage aurora colo provided clarifying insight moral tensions contradictions american culture argument whether gun control religious issue james martin popular author jesuit priest among first set terms debate penned column america magazine arguing gun control much life issue prolife issue abortion euthanasia death penalty programs provide poor access basic human needs wealthy martins central point abortion opponents spare effort try shut abortion clinics change laws limit ban abortions clearly believers committed taking practical steps restrict access guns simply praying god never let happen insufficient person believes god gave us intelligence bring lasting change martin wrote would one passed homeless person said oneself god please help poor man along could helped debate intense today every gun massacre hasnt changed dynamics issue believers politicians may time either within hours posting views gun control religious issue facebook martin shut comments page vitriol views provoked still jesuits view echoed array religious voices groups also called christians believers advocate policies curb gun violence putting exhortation explicitly antiabortion context vigorous counterargument however followed two main tracks one resist public policy prescriptions debates beside point worse see inappropriate political exploitation tragedy second see gun control debate distraction spiritual theological focus mark galli senior managing editor christianity today flagship evangelical magazine wrote essay july 23 kidding think within national grasp educational psychological political solution evil solution explanation evil number prominent conservative christians like rep louie gohmert rtexas former republican presidential candidate mike huckabee took view step argued wasnt mystery evil also nations selfinflicted spiritual wounds led massacre dont crime problem gun problem even violence problem sin problem huckabee said fox news show july 22 since weve ordered god schools communities military public conversations know really shouldnt act surprised hell breaks loose one level debate seems represent classic theological divide argue human beings try supplant gods role efforts redeem world others argue believers duty protect godgiven gift life human dignity another level however dispute illuminates current realities americas political religious life fact americans persuasions become increasingly opposed gun control laws despite regular shooting rampages targeted houses worship well movie theaters military bases surprise remarks colorado shooting president obamawho might seen champion religious lefthas resisted calls mention gun control instead counseled nation realize evil senseless complicating matters politically conservative christians form bulk antiabortion movement less enthused almost everyone else gun control essay patheos website wondered christians arent bringing dedication talking guns issues notably abortion homosexuality ellen painter dollar recalled effort write piece christianity today wake january 2011 shooting former arizona congresswoman gabrielle giffords several others dollar said gently raised issue gun control piece editors spiked felt win guncontrol issue evangelical readership another challenge many conservatives see opposing abortion rights paramount issue today adding anything agenda could hurt cause divide movement convictions dignity women children harmed abortion ought prompt us stand criminal violence dehumanization wherever ought let term prolife become elastic lose meaning warned russell moore wellknown christian ethicist dean theology southern baptist theological seminary louisville ky cases expansion prolife way divert attention question personhood human rights moore wrote email unlike gun control debate moore added abortion issue isnt prudential means common goal legally protecting subject lethal violence david gibson writes religion news service
| 531 |
<p>Thomas Cahill is author of the bestseller How the Irish Saved Civilization,&#160;the first in the "Hinges of History" series in which Cahill follows Western civilization through its culture-shaping figures, to continuing acclaim. Cahill is also a biographer of Pope John XXIII, and a popular figure on the lecture circuit.&#160;Heretics and Heroes, his new book, is a cultural and political history of the stormy transition from the Renaissance to Martin Luther’s revolt, which Cahill calls the “Religious Bomb....radical permanent changes in basic religious beliefs.”</p>
<p>GlobalPost religion writer Jason Berry talks with Cahill — who was the acquiring editor at Doubleday for Berry's 1992 book&#160;Lead Us Not Into Temptation: Catholic Priests and the Sexual Abuse of Children —&#160;about Syria, the Sunni/Shia divide, and the history of religious conflict.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Q:&#160;Islam seems to be that 'Religious Bomb' today, and Syria its most violent flashpoint.&#160;Is there a central insight you draw from the wars of Christianity that once wracked Europe in looking at Syria and what it will take to achieve stability there?</p>
<p>A: After the Reformation, the next period was the Enlightenment — the first time that clusters of people began to say, “do we really have to keep killing one another? Couldn’t we just agree to disagree and tolerate other opinions?”&#160;</p>
<p>It seems simple to us at this end, but the idea as first proposed was not universally accepted. Today it’s only at the very fringes of Christianity that you get people who would be willing to draw blood over theological issues; but that was certainly not true in the 16th and 17th centuries – kill the enemy. The heresy was whatever you disagreed with. One man’s heresy, another man’s faith.</p>
<p>Islam is seven centuries younger than Christianity. If we pitch our selves back seven centuries we don’t see the barest semblance of toleration. I don’t mean that there’s only one possible mode of progress or change. The battle between the Sunni and Shia reminds me of the fight between Catholics and Protestants. You see a broad spectrum of people who’d rather not kill others, all things being equal; and then there are trigger-happy believers, who would be so deflated if toleration swept Islam.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to suggest that history goes in a line or that it’s cyclical, going over and over. I think about it lot. I’m not sure if history is processive or cyclical. Is what Christianity once did the only pattern that Islam divide follows? Is it the only way human beings go from intolerance to tolerance? I’m not sure.</p>
<p>Q: The Sunni/Shia divide in Islam is shaping up as a proxy war in Syria with Shia-Iran on one side and Sunni-Saudi Arabia on the other. Will we see more of this?</p>
<p>A: Every talk I give, in the question period someone asks about the future. And I say I don’t know anything about the future. I think we delude ourselves when we imagine we have enough to know what’s going to happen next in human activity. Between the Sunni and the Shia it does not look good. But is there no way out? Will enough leaders arise to take advantage for prospects of making peace? I don’t know. I’m on a lot firmer ground talking about the US than the Middle East. I live here and vote here.</p>
<p>The United States could go into complete decay or it could become stronger. Either one is possible. So much depends on mix of human beings that you have at a given moment. If you look back on history and you removed Jefferson, or Franklin, or Lincoln, if one of those people died in childhood, would we have become the same country? I don’t think so. I don’t think Jefferson would have been replaced by another Jefferson. In every era there are people who for better or worse create that era. If Hitler had died in childhood would we have had the Second World War? I doubt it.</p>
<p>None of the Protestant Reformation would make sense without Luther. This is largely a fight between southern Europe and northern Europe, particularly Italy and Germany, the two sides of the Alps, who to this very day look at each other with such disdain.</p>
<p>Q: What role can, or should, religion play in a peace process? Northern Ireland, South Africa, Israel and Palestine all have or have had religious elements to the conflict. Do you need a religious element to resolve the struggle?</p>
<p>A: I don’t think you need a religious element to resolve nonreligious struggles. In a place like South Africa, a major figure like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who knows how to speak to the whole spectrum of religion, is essential in such circumstances. Unfortunately many of these conflicts don’t yield someone like him.</p>
<p>When I was at Doubleday, Tutu became one of my authors, like you. He came with a book of essays his assistant had collected. We signed him for three books. I suggested he do an anthology called The African Prayer Book. He insisted on calling it An African Prayer Book. And it’s still in print, with new editions. One of the beautiful things about it is it’s not just Christian or Anglican prayers; he has prehistoric Egyptian prayers, contemporary Jewish and Islamic prayers; prayers from indigenous animist religions. It’s lovely. Someone who’s really catholic with a small “c” found expressions of prayer in every African tradition. That’s the kind of person who can bring about peace — because he has an appreciation of people who are not like himself.</p>
<p>Q: In writing about the Council of Trent, called in 1545 in response to the Protestant Reformation, you suggest that a greater development kept the Latin church intact, the far-flung work of missionaries, like Jesuits, by which “the map of Christianity was beginning to be redrawn in radical shifts that would make Catholicism the first worldwide religion.” With the first Jesuit pope, after nearly a generation of scandals and a sharp decline in Catholic worship in Western countries, do you hold much hope for a single pope to reverse that tide?</p>
<p>A: My answer is yes and no. Francis is doing a great job and it’s hard to imagine how he could be doing better. Some of the things that must change within Catholicism have to be done by consensus rather than a pope. John XXIII understood that by calling the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). He knew he simply couldn’t legislate change. He needed the bishops who formally represented their people. He needed a congress in effect to make the changes.</p>
<p>There’s not going to be another ecumenical council, but Francis by calling this synod [a special assembly in Rome to address issues of the family] in October is intending to do the same thing. He’s told the bishops he wants to know what people think about <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/belief/vatican-questionnaire-pope-francis-mind" type="external">family dynamics</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>Many American bishops have decided not to poll their people.</p>
<p>We have all these conservative whacko bishops, thanks to the last two popes with their appointments. Worldwide, the bishops are a bunch of crazy conservatives — not just conservatives. Under John Paul II the only one way to be made a bishop was to agree to be against the ordination of women, birth control, divorce and remarriage, abortion, anything having to do with gays. No one could agree on all that unless you were dishonest. And, you had to be against Liberation Theology. Except for this small coterie of bishops, most Catholics don’t believe those things. Start with birth control. Everyone practices this unless they don’t have sex. How is it that we have two-children families and we used to have to eight-children families? My parents had six. Nobody’s doing that any more.</p>
<p>In Europe you still have a few sane and intelligent bishops – vis-a-vis the Swiss and German polls of dioceses as reported in the media.</p>
<p>Q: Are there any bishops in America you admire?</p>
<p>A: No. But I don’t know them all by any means. To me, they go from moderately conservative to absurdly conservative. You had to agree with all those things to be appointed. People who agreed were either stupid or not telling the truth.</p>
<p>Q: Near the end of Heretics and Heroes, you say, “It may be that artists, because they see further than the rest of us, can occasionally foresee the coming of epochal changes to which the common herd may be blind.” Who are some of the artists or writers today that you see giving us foresight on global events to come?</p>
<p>A: As far as writers I would mention Mario Vargas Llosa. He has a very keen sense of justice. The typical sins of politicians and powerful men are what they do to those who are not powerful. Feast of the Goat [a novel about Rafael Trujillo, former dictator of the Dominican Republic] and The Dream of The Celt, about Roger Casement in Ireland come to mind. Casement is an incredibly interesting figure who has often been trashed for stupid reasons. Vargas Llosa understands power. He’s penetrating on so many different cultures. His study of Flaubert [The Perpetual Orgy] shows his understanding of 19th century France. He understands the Belgian Congo and Ireland on verge of revolution in late 19th century, in The Dream of the Celt. I know that material very well. …&#160;In the Renaissance and Reformation, I would add Bruegel, Rembrandt, Shakespeare, Donne, and Cervantes. Since then, Bach, Beethoven, Dostoyevski, Rothko, Tom Stoppard and John Patrick Shanley.&#160;</p>
<p>Each of these has, I think, identified in his own time some of the seeds of the future. This is hardly a complete list, and not all of the works of these guys are prophetic. If I had to choose but one, I choose the Kyrie of Bach's B Minor Mass.</p>
<p>For many writers an ability to intuit something about the near future goes back to their having lived in more than one environment, knowing that the presuppositions and mores of one culture are not the limits of human experience, aspiration or of human sin.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/belief/what-is-religion-cahill-vatican-pope-francis" type="external">'What is religion for, anyway?'</a></p>
<p>GlobalPost religion writer Jason Berry is author of " <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Render-Unto-Rome-Secret-Catholic/dp/0385531346" type="external">Render unto Rome: The Secret Life of Money in the Catholic Church</a>."</p>
| false | 3 |
thomas cahill author bestseller irish saved civilization160the first hinges history series cahill follows western civilization cultureshaping figures continuing acclaim cahill also biographer pope john xxiii popular figure lecture circuit160heretics heroes new book cultural political history stormy transition renaissance martin luthers revolt cahill calls religious bombradical permanent changes basic religious beliefs globalpost religion writer jason berry talks cahill acquiring editor doubleday berrys 1992 book160lead us temptation catholic priests sexual abuse children 160about syria sunnishia divide history religious conflict 160 q160islam seems religious bomb today syria violent flashpoint160is central insight draw wars christianity wracked europe looking syria take achieve stability reformation next period enlightenment first time clusters people began say really keep killing one another couldnt agree disagree tolerate opinions160 seems simple us end idea first proposed universally accepted today fringes christianity get people would willing draw blood theological issues certainly true 16th 17th centuries kill enemy heresy whatever disagreed one mans heresy another mans faith islam seven centuries younger christianity pitch selves back seven centuries dont see barest semblance toleration dont mean theres one possible mode progress change battle sunni shia reminds fight catholics protestants see broad spectrum people whod rather kill others things equal triggerhappy believers would deflated toleration swept islam dont mean suggest history goes line cyclical going think lot im sure history processive cyclical christianity pattern islam divide follows way human beings go intolerance tolerance im sure q sunnishia divide islam shaping proxy war syria shiairan one side sunnisaudi arabia see every talk give question period someone asks future say dont know anything future think delude imagine enough know whats going happen next human activity sunni shia look good way enough leaders arise take advantage prospects making peace dont know im lot firmer ground talking us middle east live vote united states could go complete decay could become stronger either one possible much depends mix human beings given moment look back history removed jefferson franklin lincoln one people died childhood would become country dont think dont think jefferson would replaced another jefferson every era people better worse create era hitler died childhood would second world war doubt none protestant reformation would make sense without luther largely fight southern europe northern europe particularly italy germany two sides alps day look disdain q role religion play peace process northern ireland south africa israel palestine religious elements conflict need religious element resolve struggle dont think need religious element resolve nonreligious struggles place like south africa major figure like archbishop desmond tutu knows speak whole spectrum religion essential circumstances unfortunately many conflicts dont yield someone like doubleday tutu became one authors like came book essays assistant collected signed three books suggested anthology called african prayer book insisted calling african prayer book still print new editions one beautiful things christian anglican prayers prehistoric egyptian prayers contemporary jewish islamic prayers prayers indigenous animist religions lovely someone whos really catholic small c found expressions prayer every african tradition thats kind person bring peace appreciation people like q writing council trent called 1545 response protestant reformation suggest greater development kept latin church intact farflung work missionaries like jesuits map christianity beginning redrawn radical shifts would make catholicism first worldwide religion first jesuit pope nearly generation scandals sharp decline catholic worship western countries hold much hope single pope reverse tide answer yes francis great job hard imagine could better things must change within catholicism done consensus rather pope john xxiii understood calling second vatican council 196265 knew simply couldnt legislate change needed bishops formally represented people needed congress effect make changes theres going another ecumenical council francis calling synod special assembly rome address issues family october intending thing hes told bishops wants know people think family dynamics160 many american bishops decided poll people conservative whacko bishops thanks last two popes appointments worldwide bishops bunch crazy conservatives conservatives john paul ii one way made bishop agree ordination women birth control divorce remarriage abortion anything gays one could agree unless dishonest liberation theology except small coterie bishops catholics dont believe things start birth control everyone practices unless dont sex twochildren families used eightchildren families parents six nobodys europe still sane intelligent bishops visavis swiss german polls dioceses reported media q bishops america admire dont know means go moderately conservative absurdly conservative agree things appointed people agreed either stupid telling truth q near end heretics heroes say may artists see rest us occasionally foresee coming epochal changes common herd may blind artists writers today see giving us foresight global events come far writers would mention mario vargas llosa keen sense justice typical sins politicians powerful men powerful feast goat novel rafael trujillo former dictator dominican republic dream celt roger casement ireland come mind casement incredibly interesting figure often trashed stupid reasons vargas llosa understands power hes penetrating many different cultures study flaubert perpetual orgy shows understanding 19th century france understands belgian congo ireland verge revolution late 19th century dream celt know material well 160in renaissance reformation would add bruegel rembrandt shakespeare donne cervantes since bach beethoven dostoyevski rothko tom stoppard john patrick shanley160 think identified time seeds future hardly complete list works guys prophetic choose one choose kyrie bachs b minor mass many writers ability intuit something near future goes back lived one environment knowing presuppositions mores one culture limits human experience aspiration human sin globalpost religion anyway globalpost religion writer jason berry author render unto rome secret life money catholic church
| 892 |
<p>At Gage Park High School, counselor Kenneth Banks complains of spending more time doing paperwork than talking to students about colleges and careers. This year, he is responsible for tending to the academic and career counseling needs of close to 300 seniors. Three other counselors and a trainee cover juniors, sophomores and freshmen.</p>
<p>Ideally, Gage Park counselors would be proactive and help students address problems—like class cutting or academic failure—that jeopardize their chances of graduating, Banks explains. But the department is short two counselors, and one of the vacancies is filled by a teacher working toward state certification.</p>
<p>“Less than one percent of our time is spent doing the counseling we were trained to do,” Banks complains. “If you look at my desk, you see that I have 100 different things I have to deal with.”</p>
<p>Similar stories crop up throughout Chicago Public Schools. Commonly, high school students visit with school counselors once a year, when it’s time to schedule courses for the following year. However, some students talk with counselors even less frequently, or not at all.</p>
<p>“I have never seen my counselor,” says Jocelyn Krause, a junior at Lincoln Park High School. “I don’t even know what she looks like.”</p>
<p>For many CPS students, guidance counselors are the invisible man, or more likely, the invisible woman. In theory, school counselors would know their students well enough to help them weather academic and personal crises, and guide them to make wise decisions about the future. But in reality, they are often overworked, in short supply and steered away from direct contact with students. A survey of CPS graduates in 2000 found 40 percent of seniors saying no one at school talked to them about college or helped them fill out applications.</p>
<p>Under such conditions, connecting with students should be an expectation for all school staff, not just counselors, say high school reform experts.</p>
<p>“What is fundamentally important is that every youngster belong to somebody,” says Gene Bottoms of the Southern Regional Education Board in Atlanta and director of its well-regarded High Schools that Work program. “Counselors have to prepare teachers to play that role.”</p>
<p>African-American and Latino students, who are more likely to drop out and less likely to attend college, rely more heavily on getting information and guidance from school staff to plan for college and choose demanding courses. Counselors are safety nets who fill in those gaps and prevent them from falling through the cracks. Yet a recent survey of students at four predominantly Latino CPS high schools found nearly half of the respondents at one school had never met their counselor; the average at all four was 27 percent. (See story.)</p>
<p>Also, a national study found that black students are less likely than whites to develop bonds at school with an adult—someone who could motivate them and help them get into college.</p>
<p>In recent years, Chicago public school students who make it to high school have a better shot at graduating, but the district still lags behind the state in graduation rates. Last spring, 82 percent of high school seniors in Illinois graduated, but only 68 percent of those in CPS did.</p>
<p>Likewise, only 5 percent of Illinois seniors dropped out last year, but 14 percent did in CPS. “Counselors play a critical role in identifying potential dropouts and directing those students to services that will prevent them from dropping out,” notes a recent report by ASPIRA Inc. of Illinois, a Puerto Rican nonprofit.</p>
<p>Boosting the quality of guidance counseling available to students can be done in one of two ways. Investing in hiring more counselors is a strategy to which North Lawndale Charter can attest. Other high schools, particularly small ones like Best Practice High, create a climate and class structure that invites all adults to pitch in on student guidance.</p>
<p>Making such changes district-wide, however, has proven difficult. In tough budget times, paying for counselors is not a priority. Also, the board’s advisory program, started in 1997 to cultivate stronger relationships between teachers and small groups of students, has not made much headway so far.</p>
<p>Spread thin</p>
<p>Sheer numbers are the main reason guidance counselors have such a tough time spreading themselves around. CPS assigns one counselor for every 360 high school students, and one counselor for each elementary school with at least 350 students. (Elementary schools over 1,200 get one and a half.)</p>
<p>The ideal ratio, according to the Washington D.C.-based American School Counselor Association, is one to 250. Overall, the vacancy rate appears low—about 7 percent as of January, or 62.5 positions—but that’s because another 97 positions are filled with teachers like the one at Gage Park who are working toward getting counseling certificates.</p>
<p>Illinois ranks fourth worst in the nation with its counselor-student ratio of one to 700.</p>
<p>Retirements in the next five years are expected to spread school counselors even thinner. About 20 percent of the state’s 2,800 school counselors are expected to retire during that period, says Toni Tollerud, executive director of the Illinois Counselors Academy. “There’s definitely a shortage all around,” she says.</p>
<p>Plus, counselor training programs are time-consuming and unable to keep up with demand. “It’s not the kind of program where you can mass produce a huge number of counselors in a given time,” she adds.</p>
<p>Besides being short-staffed, school counselors are also pulled in too many directions and have little time to focus on individual students. National experts recommend school counselors spend 70 percent of their time working with students alone or in small groups, and the rest of their time doing administrative work. But in CPS, guidance counselors are more likely to spend the bulk of their time mapping out individual students’ course schedules, administering standardized tests and performing clerical tasks.</p>
<p>Some guidance counselors, however, manage to build solid relationships with students. Lake View High School counselor Steve Maras keeps close tabs on Terence Thomas, whom he recruited from Young Elementary in Austin. Through the ups and downs of high school, Maras has been a steady presence for Terence, helping him keep a B-minus grade point average while he played on the school’s basketball team. When his grades slipped, Maras helped him shape up, says Thomas. “Mr. Maras told me to stop playing [around] so much.”</p>
<p>Maras also helped Thomas complete applications to four colleges. In mid-February, Thomas learned he stands a good chance of being admitted to the University of Illinois at Champaign through a special program for underrepresented students.</p>
<p>Deploying staff</p>
<p>The way a high school deploys its counseling staff can have a significant impact on the kinds of relationships counselors can forge with students. Lake View counselors each work with one grade level—Maras works only with seniors, for instance.</p>
<p>The students they work with change from year to year.</p>
<p>Another common strategy—one used at Gage Park—is to assign counselors to work with a class of students throughout their four years in high school. Once they graduate, the counselor begins a new cycle with incoming freshmen the following year.</p>
<p>Each method has advantages and disadvantages, notes Jean Perez, CPS director of citywide guidance. Counselors who work only with sophomores, for example, “get really good at it,” she says. “The drawback is you don’t get to know the students like you do if you have them for four years.”</p>
<p>By contrast, Perez notes that counselors get to know students well when they work with them for four years, but they don’t develop a network of relevant resources, particularly important when working with seniors.</p>
<p>But at some schools, counselor-student assignments are a hodgepodge, where counselors work with a cross-section of teens from all four grades. ASPIRA, which surveyed four schools using this model, recommends scrapping it because freshmen and sophomores get shortchanged.</p>
<p>Poor job descriptions</p>
<p>Counselors’ duties are also haphazardly assigned. “No one really knows the counselors’ scope of services,” says the ASPIRA report.</p>
<p>Their best-known responsibility is helping students set up or change course schedules. Such meetings could be opportunities to discuss a student’s goals, and explain to them how tough courses like advanced mathematics may help them.</p>
<p>But there’s not enough time, says Banks, who saw all 350 of his then-juniors last spring when they stopped by to schedule next year’s courses. A strict timetable limits meetings to about five minutes per student, he notes. “It’s not really quality counseling time.”</p>
<p>School counselors are trained to interpret standardized test results for students and teachers. But often they’re tapped to administer the tests themselves, a time-consuming responsibility that covers the gamut from distributing test materials to supervising security to training teachers to monitor tests.</p>
<p>Dean Strassburger, a counselor at Lincoln Park High, coordinates over 1,000 Advanced Placement exams over a two-week period every May. “You have to get [tests] to the teachers, you have to get things organized and divided up, you have to make sure it’s all secure,” he explains. “It’s a bureaucratic nightmare.”</p>
<p>The department chair has it worse, supervising three exams at three different times of the year, he adds. The American School Counselors Association says both scheduling and test administration are inappropriate duties for counselors. Other tasks they consider inappropriate are signing tardy excuses, substituting for absent teachers and clerical recordkeeping.</p>
<p>Such mundane tasks are unlikely to go away. “There are not enough hands to go around,” says Banks, who hid from his students for a week in January so he could prepare materials and order lunches for a conference on 8th grade to high school transition. “The kids were going crazy,” he recalls.</p>
<p>Principals bear some of the blame for misusing guidance counselors for clerical work, says Tollerud. “If administrators understood how much they’re paying somebody to be a secretary, they wouldn’t do that.”</p>
<p>More than 40 percent of counselors are earning between $51,400 and $76,400—salaries in the second-highest pay range on the teacher salary scale.</p>
<p>Some counselors are at fault, too, says Russell Sabella, president-elect of the American School Counselor Association. “Some counselors find it’s a lot less stressful than dealing with students.”</p>
<p>Triage counseling</p>
<p>Administrative distractions leave counselors only enough time to address students with the most critical academic or behavioral needs, or demanding high-achievers.</p>
<p>Jacqueline Guerrero, a junior at Jones College Preparatory High, was not satisfied with the counselor she was assigned to and shopped the department until she found a better fit.</p>
<p>Counselor Dan Connor of Senn High confers most often with students who are truant or failing—or close to it. “I tend to get to know the students who are having adjustment issues as freshmen.”</p>
<p>Middle-of-the-road kids get lost, Connor says. “It’s those students who are doing fine in their classes, coming every day, that I don’t get to see. They need me less.” But those children want and could benefit from some attention, he adds.</p>
<p>Students do want that attention. At the January School Board meeting, sophomore Carlos Delcid begged for extra money to hire more counselors at Steinmetz High, where eight counselors serve more than 2,800 students. Although many students speak Spanish or Polish, none of the counselors speak either language, he told the board. “There aren’t that many counselors out there—they can’t handle that [load],” says Delcid. “I haven’t seen my counselor since freshman year.”</p>
<p>Getting more counselors and qualified teachers topped the list of demands at a recent protest organized by Youth First! Campaign, a citywide network of grass-roots youth organizations.</p>
<p>Advisory solution</p>
<p>So far, the School Board’s major initiative to improve high school guidance is a mandated weekly advisory period. The idea was for division teachers to cultivate closer relationships with students and to offer group guidance on social, academic and career issues.</p>
<p>Attending advisory is a graduation requirement, but only some schools let students earn credit for the class. “That’s a local decision,” notes advisory case manager Deborah Caise-Fitzpatrick. CPS does not track the number of schools where advisory carries a credit.</p>
<p>With little oversight from central office, there is “a tremendous amount of diversity” in high school advisory, says Jennifer Loudon, assistant director of strategic planning. Freshmen at Kenwood High, for example, earn credit for advisory and use it as a study-skills course. At Senn, advisory period is ground zero for the school’s service learning program. “Schools are using it to meet their needs,” Loudon observes.</p>
<p>The class of 2000 would disagree. In a CPS survey, nearly 60 percent of them said advisory was “only a little” or “not at all” useful.</p>
<p>Some outside observers view advisory skeptically. “I’ve witnessed advisory over the years. It’s a time for taking roll and crowd control,” says Jo Thompson of the Scholarship and Guidance Association in Chicago, a nonprofit hired to provide therapeutic counseling in some public schools.</p>
<p>In a 2001 study of CPS high schools, Northwestern University’s Center for Urban School Policy found that “the meaning of advisory has been progressively diluted and the range of activities conducted under this label has significantly expanded.”</p>
<p>Rather than building stronger relationships with students and paving the way to address social development issues, the study reported, advisory teachers feared moving beyond their traditional roles, and central office neither trained nor encouraged them to do so.</p>
<p>“Teachers really did not feel they were competent to do the social curriculum,” says author G. Alfred Hess Jr. Advisory will improve only when “the district decides to deal with the teachers’ sense of inadequacy and unwillingness to deal with student issues. It’s an unwillingness that’s rooted in a lack of training.”</p>
<p>CPS officials are looking for ways to improve advisory classes. A planning group chaired by Area Instructional Officer Norma Rodriguez is just beginning to examine the course.</p>
<p>“Maybe advisory isn’t working exactly the way we want it to work,” says Melissa Roderick, CPS director of strategic planning. “Going to college is not just about getting applications in. It’s involving teachers in academics as part of a significant career planning effort.”</p>
| false | 3 |
gage park high school counselor kenneth banks complains spending time paperwork talking students colleges careers year responsible tending academic career counseling needs close 300 seniors three counselors trainee cover juniors sophomores freshmen ideally gage park counselors would proactive help students address problemslike class cutting academic failurethat jeopardize chances graduating banks explains department short two counselors one vacancies filled teacher working toward state certification less one percent time spent counseling trained banks complains look desk see 100 different things deal similar stories crop throughout chicago public schools commonly high school students visit school counselors year time schedule courses following year however students talk counselors even less frequently never seen counselor says jocelyn krause junior lincoln park high school dont even know looks like many cps students guidance counselors invisible man likely invisible woman theory school counselors would know students well enough help weather academic personal crises guide make wise decisions future reality often overworked short supply steered away direct contact students survey cps graduates 2000 found 40 percent seniors saying one school talked college helped fill applications conditions connecting students expectation school staff counselors say high school reform experts fundamentally important every youngster belong somebody says gene bottoms southern regional education board atlanta director wellregarded high schools work program counselors prepare teachers play role africanamerican latino students likely drop less likely attend college rely heavily getting information guidance school staff plan college choose demanding courses counselors safety nets fill gaps prevent falling cracks yet recent survey students four predominantly latino cps high schools found nearly half respondents one school never met counselor average four 27 percent see story also national study found black students less likely whites develop bonds school adultsomeone could motivate help get college recent years chicago public school students make high school better shot graduating district still lags behind state graduation rates last spring 82 percent high school seniors illinois graduated 68 percent cps likewise 5 percent illinois seniors dropped last year 14 percent cps counselors play critical role identifying potential dropouts directing students services prevent dropping notes recent report aspira inc illinois puerto rican nonprofit boosting quality guidance counseling available students done one two ways investing hiring counselors strategy north lawndale charter attest high schools particularly small ones like best practice high create climate class structure invites adults pitch student guidance making changes districtwide however proven difficult tough budget times paying counselors priority also boards advisory program started 1997 cultivate stronger relationships teachers small groups students made much headway far spread thin sheer numbers main reason guidance counselors tough time spreading around cps assigns one counselor every 360 high school students one counselor elementary school least 350 students elementary schools 1200 get one half ideal ratio according washington dcbased american school counselor association one 250 overall vacancy rate appears lowabout 7 percent january 625 positionsbut thats another 97 positions filled teachers like one gage park working toward getting counseling certificates illinois ranks fourth worst nation counselorstudent ratio one 700 retirements next five years expected spread school counselors even thinner 20 percent states 2800 school counselors expected retire period says toni tollerud executive director illinois counselors academy theres definitely shortage around says plus counselor training programs timeconsuming unable keep demand kind program mass produce huge number counselors given time adds besides shortstaffed school counselors also pulled many directions little time focus individual students national experts recommend school counselors spend 70 percent time working students alone small groups rest time administrative work cps guidance counselors likely spend bulk time mapping individual students course schedules administering standardized tests performing clerical tasks guidance counselors however manage build solid relationships students lake view high school counselor steve maras keeps close tabs terence thomas recruited young elementary austin ups downs high school maras steady presence terence helping keep bminus grade point average played schools basketball team grades slipped maras helped shape says thomas mr maras told stop playing around much maras also helped thomas complete applications four colleges midfebruary thomas learned stands good chance admitted university illinois champaign special program underrepresented students deploying staff way high school deploys counseling staff significant impact kinds relationships counselors forge students lake view counselors work one grade levelmaras works seniors instance students work change year year another common strategyone used gage parkis assign counselors work class students throughout four years high school graduate counselor begins new cycle incoming freshmen following year method advantages disadvantages notes jean perez cps director citywide guidance counselors work sophomores example get really good says drawback dont get know students like four years contrast perez notes counselors get know students well work four years dont develop network relevant resources particularly important working seniors schools counselorstudent assignments hodgepodge counselors work crosssection teens four grades aspira surveyed four schools using model recommends scrapping freshmen sophomores get shortchanged poor job descriptions counselors duties also haphazardly assigned one really knows counselors scope services says aspira report bestknown responsibility helping students set change course schedules meetings could opportunities discuss students goals explain tough courses like advanced mathematics may help theres enough time says banks saw 350 thenjuniors last spring stopped schedule next years courses strict timetable limits meetings five minutes per student notes really quality counseling time school counselors trained interpret standardized test results students teachers often theyre tapped administer tests timeconsuming responsibility covers gamut distributing test materials supervising security training teachers monitor tests dean strassburger counselor lincoln park high coordinates 1000 advanced placement exams twoweek period every may get tests teachers get things organized divided make sure secure explains bureaucratic nightmare department chair worse supervising three exams three different times year adds american school counselors association says scheduling test administration inappropriate duties counselors tasks consider inappropriate signing tardy excuses substituting absent teachers clerical recordkeeping mundane tasks unlikely go away enough hands go around says banks hid students week january could prepare materials order lunches conference 8th grade high school transition kids going crazy recalls principals bear blame misusing guidance counselors clerical work says tollerud administrators understood much theyre paying somebody secretary wouldnt 40 percent counselors earning 51400 76400salaries secondhighest pay range teacher salary scale counselors fault says russell sabella presidentelect american school counselor association counselors find lot less stressful dealing students triage counseling administrative distractions leave counselors enough time address students critical academic behavioral needs demanding highachievers jacqueline guerrero junior jones college preparatory high satisfied counselor assigned shopped department found better fit counselor dan connor senn high confers often students truant failingor close tend get know students adjustment issues freshmen middleoftheroad kids get lost connor says students fine classes coming every day dont get see need less children want could benefit attention adds students want attention january school board meeting sophomore carlos delcid begged extra money hire counselors steinmetz high eight counselors serve 2800 students although many students speak spanish polish none counselors speak either language told board arent many counselors therethey cant handle load says delcid havent seen counselor since freshman year getting counselors qualified teachers topped list demands recent protest organized youth first campaign citywide network grassroots youth organizations advisory solution far school boards major initiative improve high school guidance mandated weekly advisory period idea division teachers cultivate closer relationships students offer group guidance social academic career issues attending advisory graduation requirement schools let students earn credit class thats local decision notes advisory case manager deborah caisefitzpatrick cps track number schools advisory carries credit little oversight central office tremendous amount diversity high school advisory says jennifer loudon assistant director strategic planning freshmen kenwood high example earn credit advisory use studyskills course senn advisory period ground zero schools service learning program schools using meet needs loudon observes class 2000 would disagree cps survey nearly 60 percent said advisory little useful outside observers view advisory skeptically ive witnessed advisory years time taking roll crowd control says jo thompson scholarship guidance association chicago nonprofit hired provide therapeutic counseling public schools 2001 study cps high schools northwestern universitys center urban school policy found meaning advisory progressively diluted range activities conducted label significantly expanded rather building stronger relationships students paving way address social development issues study reported advisory teachers feared moving beyond traditional roles central office neither trained encouraged teachers really feel competent social curriculum says author g alfred hess jr advisory improve district decides deal teachers sense inadequacy unwillingness deal student issues unwillingness thats rooted lack training cps officials looking ways improve advisory classes planning group chaired area instructional officer norma rodriguez beginning examine course maybe advisory isnt working exactly way want work says melissa roderick cps director strategic planning going college getting applications involving teachers academics part significant career planning effort
| 1,423 |
<p>Think you work long hours? Maybe you do. But it could be worse. A lot worse.</p>
<p>Almost 100&#160;years ago, many countries adopted an eight-hour workday (whether they followed it is another matter).</p>
<p>But in Ukraine, lawmakers are finally trying to limit the amount of time workers toil each day&#160;— to 10 or 12 hours.</p>
<p>Yes, even 12 hours a day would be an improvement for Ukrainians, says Sergey Ukrainets, the vice president of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine.</p>
<p>“Right now, there is no daily limit. Now the maximum is 24 hours,” says Ukrainets, who’s working on the legislation. “The proposal says&#160;10 hours, but there are some members of parliament who would like to amend it to 12 hours.”</p>
<p>“In any case, it’s better than 24 hours,” he says.</p>
<p>Ukraine might have the longest workday in the world, according to international employment experts — although global <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/01/countries-work-day-longest-shorted_n_945709.html" type="external">rankings</a> often overlook it.</p>
<p>It wasn’t always this way. An eight-hour workday was one of the first laws adopted in the Soviet Union, which exercised tight control over the workplace. However, after the USSR collapsed, labor rules like that became invalid, Ukrainets says.</p>
<p>Ukrainian law does put a 40-hour cap on the workweek, but daily shifts are unlimited. As a result, many people work 16-hour shifts for three days, or even 24-hour shifts every few days. Some just stay at work for 48 hours or more, visiting home when they can.</p>
<p>This is the case for 20-year-old café waitress Alina Kiyanitsa. She puts in 16-hour days at the Nivki Hotel in the capital Kiev. She lives at work in a room she shares with three other women.</p>
<p>“I don’t have time to have a boyfriend,” she says. “I don’t see my parents much. I like dancing, but I don’t have the time for it.”</p>
<p>Kiyanitsa’s day begins at 6 am, when she climbs down from her bunk to brush her teeth and put on lipstick. Work starts at 7 and doesn’t end until 11 p.m. Her salary is 3,000 hryvnias per month, or about $120.</p>
<p>That may sound rough, but long shifts are particularly concerning in occupations that can lead to serious work-related accidents. In construction, men are often required to work from sunrise to sunset in the summer — 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Ukrainets says.</p>
<p>“A person can fall from a wall. Bus drivers can collide with other buses,” he says. “If there is no limit, the greediness of the employer can force people to work between 16 and 18 hours per day.”</p>
<p>Longest shifts in the world?</p>
<p>Even if Ukraine adopts a 10-hour workday across all economic sectors, the country will still lag behind global labor standards.</p>
<p>“I can’t think of a country with a 12-hour regular workday. I can’t think of one that has a 10-hour workday either,” says Jon Messenger, team leader of the Working Conditions Group at the International Labor Organization, or ILO. “If you keep working long hours, and don’t have sufficient rest, you will build up fatigue and you’ll end up with health problems, work and family conflicts, and accidents at work.”</p>
<p>The ILO is a United Nations agency that monitors employment issues around the globe. According to its first convention on “The Hours of Work,” in 1919,&#160;“the working hours of persons employed in any public or private industrial undertaking or in any branch thereof, other than an undertaking in which only members of the same family are employed, shall not exceed eight in the day.”</p>
<p>Some countries do allow employees to work overtime up to 12 hours per day, Messenger notes. But overtime is ordinarily compensated with higher pay, and is supposed to be an occasional occurrence — not the daily norm.</p>
<p>Countries that have a limit of 12 hours per day including overtime include Armenia, Moldova, Belgium, Hungary, Algeria, Lebanon, Brunei, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Tanzania and Singapore, according to ILO data.</p>
<p>In the United States, according to federal law, employees have to be paid an overtime rate if they work more than 40 hours in a week, although some states look at overtime in terms of the eight-hour workday, according to Jason Surbey, a Department of Labor spokesman. California, for example, <a href="http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_overtime.htm" type="external">requires</a> overtime pay for more than eight hours worked in a day.</p>
<p>If that’s too long, try Sweden. They’re working on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/21/business/international/in-sweden-an-experiment-turns-shorter-workdays-into-bigger-gains.html?_r=0" type="external">six-hour days</a>, 30-hour weeks.</p>
<p>The European Union has an eight-hour workday. And their workweek <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=706&amp;langId=en&amp;intPageId=205" type="external">cannot exceed 48 hours</a>, including overtime.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t apply to Ukraine — it’s not in the EU.</p>
<p>Not all Ukrainians are working crazy overtime, though. All McDonald’s employees in the country work eight-hour shifts, according to Dina Lysakova, the company’s assistant administrator in Ukraine.</p>
<p>McDonald’s says it’s one of the few eateries that follows that rule. Not all US chains do.</p>
<p>Domino’s Pizza staff in Ukraine work 12-14 hours daily, a pizza delivery man says.</p>
<p>But imagine yourself in the shoes of&#160;boxer Fridon Jugashvilli, who also works as a security guard at a hotel in Kiev. He has a 24-hour shift every three days, and earns $160 monthly.</p>
<p>“My legs get tired. I don’t eat well. I eat fast food,” he says. “In a 24-hour period, I get three hours of sleep. I would much rather work 10 hours a day for the same salary.”</p>
<p>Julie Masis reported from Kiev, Ukraine.&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
think work long hours maybe could worse lot worse almost 100160years ago many countries adopted eighthour workday whether followed another matter ukraine lawmakers finally trying limit amount time workers toil day160 10 12 hours yes even 12 hours day would improvement ukrainians says sergey ukrainets vice president federation trade unions ukraine right daily limit maximum 24 hours says ukrainets whos working legislation proposal says16010 hours members parliament would like amend 12 hours case better 24 hours says ukraine might longest workday world according international employment experts although global rankings often overlook wasnt always way eighthour workday one first laws adopted soviet union exercised tight control workplace however ussr collapsed labor rules like became invalid ukrainets says ukrainian law put 40hour cap workweek daily shifts unlimited result many people work 16hour shifts three days even 24hour shifts every days stay work 48 hours visiting home case 20yearold café waitress alina kiyanitsa puts 16hour days nivki hotel capital kiev lives work room shares three women dont time boyfriend says dont see parents much like dancing dont time kiyanitsas day begins 6 climbs bunk brush teeth put lipstick work starts 7 doesnt end 11 pm salary 3000 hryvnias per month 120 may sound rough long shifts particularly concerning occupations lead serious workrelated accidents construction men often required work sunrise sunset summer 8 10 pm ukrainets says person fall wall bus drivers collide buses says limit greediness employer force people work 16 18 hours per day longest shifts world even ukraine adopts 10hour workday across economic sectors country still lag behind global labor standards cant think country 12hour regular workday cant think one 10hour workday either says jon messenger team leader working conditions group international labor organization ilo keep working long hours dont sufficient rest build fatigue youll end health problems work family conflicts accidents work ilo united nations agency monitors employment issues around globe according first convention hours work 1919160the working hours persons employed public private industrial undertaking branch thereof undertaking members family employed shall exceed eight day countries allow employees work overtime 12 hours per day messenger notes overtime ordinarily compensated higher pay supposed occasional occurrence daily norm countries limit 12 hours per day including overtime include armenia moldova belgium hungary algeria lebanon brunei costa rica guatemala tanzania singapore according ilo data united states according federal law employees paid overtime rate work 40 hours week although states look overtime terms eighthour workday according jason surbey department labor spokesman california example requires overtime pay eight hours worked day thats long try sweden theyre working sixhour days 30hour weeks european union eighthour workday workweek exceed 48 hours including overtime doesnt apply ukraine eu ukrainians working crazy overtime though mcdonalds employees country work eighthour shifts according dina lysakova companys assistant administrator ukraine mcdonalds says one eateries follows rule us chains dominos pizza staff ukraine work 1214 hours daily pizza delivery man says imagine shoes of160boxer fridon jugashvilli also works security guard hotel kiev 24hour shift every three days earns 160 monthly legs get tired dont eat well eat fast food says 24hour period get three hours sleep would much rather work 10 hours day salary julie masis reported kiev ukraine160
| 525 |
<p>Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. Each posting is for 30 days and is limited to 150 words. Businesses may purchase a post in the “And More” section for $1.20 per word (minimum of $50 for 30 days). To submit a ministry-related job or inquire about other advertising options on this page, contact Barbara Francis at 336-717-1135, ext. 8 or <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p><a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>FULL-TIME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PASTORAL RESIDENCY. First Baptist Church, Colorado Springs, CO. The Pastoral Resident of First Baptist Church, a seminary graduate, will function as an associate pastor with special responsibility for children and families ministries. The Church will provide the Resident with a wide range of pastoral opportunities, under the guidance and supervision of the Senior Pastor. These opportunities include caring for our church family (with emphasis on children and families), preparing and teaching spiritual formation series, preaching and leading in worship, and developing lay leadership. Interested applicants can feel free to contact the Pastor for more information and for a more detailed job description. <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 06.12.17)</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a> <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>PASTOR.&#160; Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Deltona, FL is seeking a full time Pastor for its multi-generational church.&#160; PIBD is an exciting church located in one of the fastest growing cities in Florida.&#160; We average 160-200 church attendees.&#160; We also have a Baptist Academy where we provide services from nursery to VPK.&#160; The church is looking for a committed follower of Jesus Christ with a gift for preaching, teaching and a heart to bring people to the gospel.&#160;&#160; The individual should have a Theological or Seminary education.&#160; PIBD is associated with ABC &amp; CBF.&#160; Please submit all inquiries, cover letter, resume, photo and recommendations to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 07.11.17)</p>
<p>PASTOR. Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Deltona, FL está buscando un pastor a tiempo completo para su iglesia multi-generacional. PIBD es una motivada iglesia ubicada en una de las ciudades de más rápido crecimiento en la Florida. Promedio de 160-200 asistentes a la iglesia. También tenemos una Academia Bautista donde ofrecemos servicios de guardería a VPK. La iglesia está buscando un seguidor comprometido de Jesucristo con un don para la predicación, la enseñanza y un corazón para alcanzar almas para Cristo. La persona debe tener una educación Teológica o Seminario. PIBD es asociada con ABC y CBF. Por favor, envíe todas las preguntas, carta de presentación, currículum, foto y recomendaciones a <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.&#160;(Posted 07.11.17)</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a> <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>MINISTER/DIRECTOR OF YOUTH/CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES.&#160; Madison Baptist Church in Madison, GA, has an immediate opening to call a Minister/Director of Youth and Children’s Ministries. Our church is seeking a committed Christian who is enthusiastic, personable, motivated, and compassionate. Madison is located 60 miles east of Atlanta and 25 miles south of Athens. MBC is a multi-staffed church that values ministry to youth and children. We are a dually-aligned CBF/SBC church with average weekly worship attendance of 200. Minimum requirements for the position include a Bachelor’s degree; church youth/children leadership experience is preferred. Resume and cover letter should be submitted to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> or MBC Search Committee, 328 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. If you need further information, please contact us at the above email address. (Posted 07.20.17)</p>
<p>CBFGA EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR.&#160; The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia seeks an executive coordinator who demonstrates spiritual maturity and giftedness in developing vision for the organization’s missional focus; cultivating interpersonal relationships; exhibiting administrative, leadership and communication skills; and understanding organizational relationships in our context. Preferred qualifications include theological education (M.Div. degree or equivalent), ministerial experience (5 years minimum), and a commitment to historic Baptist principles. Please send résumés to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> &#160;by Sept. 1. (07.17.17)</p>
<p>ASSOCIATE PASTOR/YOUTH MINISTER. First Baptist Church of Eatonton, GA, is a moderate congregation affiliated with CBF.&#160; We are searching for an Associate Pastor/Youth Minister with strong people skills and management of ministry areas. This individual must work well as a team player and focus on the entire congregation.&#160; This position is of great importance and it is our hope that the individual will help carry us forward into our next decade of service. Eatonton is a small town in central Georgia in the middle of lake country.&#160; Our community is the anchor for two recreational lakes, Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee.&#160; Our church has a deep historical heritage and will be celebrating our 200th anniversary in 2018. Direct questions to FBC at 706-485-3331. Submit resumes to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. &#160; (Posted 07.12.17)</p>
<p>COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST.&#160; The Alliance of Baptists is seeking a mature, Christ-centered individual to serve as Communications Specialist providing vision and coordination for the Alliance’s efforts in print, personal and digital communications. The approximately 32 hour per week position is open to receiving applications from individuals seeking to work virtually and collaboratively, who have strong organizational skills and are highly motivated to pursue God’s justice-love. Interested applicants apply by submitting a resumé with references to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. Application deadline is August 4, 2017. We welcome inquiries and applications from all interested, qualified parties. Consistent with commitments in our mission to pursue justice with and for those who are oppressed, honor wisdom and lifelong learning, and to hold ourselves accountable for equity, collegiality, and diversity, we encourage people of color, LGBTQ persons and women to apply. (Posted 07.05.17)</p>
<p>ASSOCIATE PASTOR.&#160; First Baptist Church of Griffin, GA, a moderate congregation affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, is seeking an Associate Pastor to join our ministry staff.&#160; He or she needs to have strong people, preaching, and management skills.&#160; This person must work well as a team with other ministers and focus upon the entire congregation.&#160; However, he/she will lead and preach weekly in the Connexion worship ministry, our contemporary service which meets at the same time as our traditional service.&#160; This candidate will at times throughout the church year also preach in the traditional service. Preference will be given to candidates with a M.Div. degree from an accredited seminary and a minimum of four years of church ministry/preaching experience.&#160; Resumes and cover letters will be received at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> until September 15. (Posted 06.2.9.17)</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a> <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>COORDINATOR.&#160;Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Kentucky seeks a full-time Coordinator to lead and guide in the development of strategies for expanding the scope and influence of the organization.&#160; The Coordinator shall represent CBFKY to the community, churches, individuals, the global Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and other organizations.&#160;&#160;All applications must include education and employment histories.&#160; Current involvement with CBF life as well as significant leadership and supervisory experience within the local church, non-profit world, and/or higher education are preferred. If you are interested in the position or if you would like to submit a name for consideration, please send a resume and letter of interest to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> by August 1, 2017. (Posted 06.20.17)</p>
<p>INTERIM PASTOR.&#160; First Congregational Methodist Church, Louisville, Ky., is seeking an interim pastor. FCMC is a Congregational Methodist Church with an average attendance of 50-65.&#160; The church has respectable facilities and room to expand; great location, and a desire for biblical spiritual growth. The Interim Pastor will lead the congregation, organizations, and the ministry staff to perform their tasks.&#160; He/she will work with the ministry staff to (1) lead the church in performing its tasks and (2) to lead the church to engage in a fellowship of worship, witness, education, and ministry among members and other persons in the community. The Interim Pastor will shepherd and guide the spiritual needs of the church. A bachelor degree is preferred.&#160; Please send letter of interest, resume, and references, CD or DVD (if available) to:&#160; First Congregational Methodist Church, Pastoral Selection Committee, c/o Ms. Marsha Anderson, 3810 Garland Avenue, Louisville, KY 40211. (Posted 05.23.17)</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a> <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>SENIOR PASTOR.&#160; Grace Baptist Church, an IFB KJV church in Zachary, La., is seeking a qualified and God-called individual for the position of Senior Pastor. Grace is a church of approx. 75 members, and ministries include a Christian school (ACE) and others. Our music style is traditional and conservative. The successful applicant will have formal Bible training, significant experience as an associate or pastor or associate and a burden for Christian education. Interested applicants should submit their resumes to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 05.22.17)</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a> <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>FULL-TIME MINISTER OF YOUTH AND OUTREACH. Bethany Baptist Church, Ellicott City, MD, is seeking a full-time Minister of Youth and Outreach&#160; who is responsible for creating a long-term vision and its implementation for the overall youth ministry of the church, including grades six through twelve; promoting evangelism, discipleship training, and social ministries in the context of a multicultural church and community in the Baltimore-Washington DC corridor. He/she is responsible for developing and implementing an outreach ministry of the church to the community while working alongside other full-time staff in the successful growth of the church; and responsible for all aspects of connecting the church to the community and helping new people to assimilate into the congregation from the first-time visit through baptism and initial and continuing involvement. Send resumes to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 07.10.17)</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a> <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>PASTOR.&#160; The First Baptist Church of Brockport, located in the historic village of Brockport, NY, which is home to SUNY Brockport and situated on the Erie Canal, is seeking an experienced pastor who demonstrates a personal and theological commitment to American Baptist principles and practices. Applicants should possess visionary leadership and a willingness to partner with us as we move into the future of our church. We are a multi-generational congregation that is welcoming and affirming with a strong commitment to mission and outreach. We are a financially stable church with a strong endowment. Interested candidates should contact: Rev. Alan G Newton, Executive Minister ABC Rochester/Genesee Region, 1101 Clover Street, Rochester NY 14610, (585) 473-3200, (585) 259-2426 (Cell), Fax (585) 473-5929, <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 07.10.17)</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a> <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>MUSIC MINISTER.&#160; Jersey Baptist Church, Lexington, NC, &#160;seeks part-time Music Minister to lead music for contemporary and traditional worship services. Duties include initiating, planning and coordinating music ministry; collaborating with the Pastor and Music/Worship Committee. Ability to exhibit and promote mature Christian values, and discipleship is required. Submit resume to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 07.20.17)</p>
<p>PART-TIME MUSIC MINISTRY DIRECTOR.&#160;&#160;This congregation of 300-400 is seeking a minister to join in its mission to be a harbor of God’s love and a beacon of Christ’s hope. The church’s music ministry is an integral part of the vision and mission. The Music Ministry Director will be responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the music ministries and should have bachelors/masters accomplishments in music performance and/or directing; be proficient in keyboard, voice, and directing; and possess the ability to effectively teach music to all types of choirs and students on a broad spectrum of ages, gifts, abilities, and experience. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to: First Baptist Church Attn: Music Ministry Director Search Committee P.O. Box 180 West Jefferson, NC 28694 (Telephone: 336-846-5141) OR&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>&#160;&#160;(Telephone: 336-877-6996). (Posted 07.11.17)</p>
<p>MINISTER TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.&#160;Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, is seeking a full time Minister to Children and Their Families. This person will also have oversight of the Child Development Center. Please send resumes to Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church, 1117 South Boulevard, Charlotte, NC&#160; 28203 (ATTN: Search Committee) or email to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 07.10.17)</p>
<p>MINISTER OF MUSIC AND FAMILIES. Godwin Heights Baptist Church, Lumberton, NC, is prayerfully searching for a minister for a newly formed full-time position of Minister of Music and Families. GHBC averages about 110 in Sunday School and 130 in morning worship which is tradition/liturgical in style. The successful candidate will have a minimum of a Bachelors Degree in Music with a Masters or higher preferred. S/he will plan and lead all other music related activities including a graded choir program and ensembles. The Minister will also provide leadership and oversight for a ministry to children and families. Interested candidates may submit a cover letter and resume to Rev. Dave Hawes, Pastor, at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> or via mail to Godwin Heights Baptist Church,&#160; 704 Godwin Avenue, Lumberton, NC 28358. Resumes will be accepted through August 1. (Posted 06.21.17)</p>
<p>MUSIC MINISTER. Jersey Baptist Church, Lexington, NC, is calling a part-time (20hr/wk) Music Minister. The vision for this ministry position is to provide leadership within all aspects of the church’s ministry specifically focusing on music. The Music Minister will work collaboratively to meet ministry goals and objectives with the Pastor and other church leaders or ministers. The music minister will be responsible for coordinating and implementing the music involved with the contemporary worship service (8:30) and traditional worship service (11:00). Responsibilities also include working with the leaders of the graded choirs of Jersey Baptist Church. This position will initiate, plan and coordinate the music programs and activities in collaboration with the Pastor, and Music and Worship Committee. This position will encourage and promote Christian values, ideals and discipleship while demonstrating spiritual maturity. This position reports to the personnel committee but will receive direct coaching and mentorship from the pastor. Submit inquires and résumés to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 06.19.17)</p>
<p>DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY.&#160; Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, an inclusive community of faith in Cary, NC, is seeking a part-time (15 hrs/week) Director of Children’s Ministry. This director will provide leadership for the faith formation program for children (ages birth through 5th grade) and their families. They will work with the ministerial team to form and shape the disciples of Christ at GFBC. They will be supervised by the Associate Pastor of Worship and Faith Formation. Theological training from an accredited theological seminary preferred. Must support and endorse GFBC’s core values, which can be found on our website ( <a href="http://www.gfbccary.org/" type="external">www.gfbccary.org</a>). GFBC is affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Send resume and cover letter to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. Applicant Review will begin July 1, 2017. (06.08.17)</p>
<p>MINISTER FOR LATINO MINISTRIES.&#160; The First Baptist Church of Huntersville, NC, is seeking a part-time Minister for Latino Ministries. FBCH is a moderate Baptist congregation located in Charlotte metro near Lake Norman, with about 450 active members, approximately 50 of whom worship in our Spanish-language service. We are seeking a candidate with strong preaching, pastoral care, and leadership skills who will also work with the staff team to strengthen the connection between the Anglo and Latino communities. Candidates must be bilingual. Bachelor’s degree is required; some seminary training from a recognized college or university is preferred. A detailed church profile and job description can be found at <a href="http://www.fbc-h.org/" type="external">www.fbc-h.org</a> &#160;under the “Link ‘n Learn” tab. Résumé and cover letter may be submitted to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> by August 31. &#160;(06.08.17)</p>
<p>MINISTRO A MEDIO TEMPO PARA LA CONGREGACIÒN LATINA.&#160; La Primera Iglesia Bautista de Huntersville, NC, está buscando un Ministro a medio tiempo para la Congregación Latina. La Primera Iglesia Bautista de Huntersville es una moderada congregación localizada en Charlotte area metropolitana cerca del Lago Norman, con cerca de 450 miembros activos,&#160; de los cuáles aproximadamente 50 quienes asisten al servicio en Español. Nosotros estamos buscando un candidato con grandes condiciones a la hora de predicar, cuidado pastoral, y un gran liderazgo,&#160; quién también trabaje con el personal de la iglesia y fortalezca la relación entre las comunidades angloamericanas y latinas. Los candidatos deberán ser bilingües. Un grado de Bachiller es requerido; algún&#160; entrenamiento de seminario de un reconocido colegio o universidad es preferible. Un detallado perfil de la iglesia y descripción del puesto puede se encontrado en la página web de nuestra iglesia&#160; <a href="http://www.fbc-h.org/" type="external">www.fbc-h.org</a>&#160;bajo el enlace “Link’n Learn” tab. Currìculum y hoja de portada puede ser enviada a&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>&#160;de 31 de agosto. &#160;(06.08.17)</p>
<p>PART-TIME CONSULTANT – LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. Woman’s Missionary Union of North Carolina is seeking a part-time consultant for leadership development. Work location: Raleigh, NC (exceptions considered). Please send resume and cover letter to: Judy Pettigrew at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.&#160; Application deadline: July 15. For job description: <a href="http://www.wmunc.org/now-hiring" type="external">www.wmunc.org/now-hiring</a>.&#160;(06.08.17)</p>
<p>PART-TIME MINISTER OF MUSIC.&#160; Wilmar Park Baptist Church in Concord, NC is seeking a part-time worship leader.&#160; We are a traditional Southern Gospel style congregation with an established music program.&#160; We need a spiritually minded leader, called by God to provide leadership for our worship services.&#160; Please direct all inquiries and questions to David Wilson at&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 05.16.17)</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a> <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.&#160; Spring Creek Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Okla., is now accepting candidates for Associate Pastor of Youth and Community Engagement. This&#160;minister&#160;will focus on the particular needs of our youth and their families, using these primary relationships to serve the larger church.&#160; For more information and submitting resumes, click&#160; <a href="http://springcreekbc.com/associatepastorsearch/" type="external">here</a>. (Posted 06.15.17)</p>
<p>YOUTH/ASSOCIATE PASTOR.&#160; First Baptist Church, Spiro, OK, is seeking a youth/associate pastor. Competitive salary and housing offered. Send resume to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 06.12.17)</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a> <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>CHORAL DIRECTOR.&#160; First Baptist Church (ABC-USA), Burlington, Vermont, is seeking a part-time choral director to conduct the 15-20 voice chancel choir on Sunday mornings and Thursday evening rehearsals.&#160; The choir sings for services beginning September through mid-June with summers off.&#160; Salary is competitive and negotiable based on experience.&#160; First Baptist Church supports an active music program including a children’s choir, instrumental ensemble, hand bells, annual guest organist recital and hosts outside musical groups.&#160; Submit resumes and inquiries to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 04.24.17)</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a> <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>PART-TIME MINISTER/DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRIES. Westwood Baptist Church in Springfield, VA, is looking for a part-time Minister/Director of Youth Ministries. She/he would be responsible to provide pastoral care to youth in grades 7-12, their parents, and those who work in any facet of ministry with this age group. This position provides leadership and oversight in all aspects of planning, promoting, and implementing a ministry that guides youth in their growth and development as followers of Jesus Christ, and promotes fellowship among youth and their families within the larger congregation of Westwood Baptist Church. Click <a href="http://www.westwood-baptist.org/welcome/job-opening/" type="external">here</a> for a full position description and application instructions. (Posted 07.05.17)</p>
<p>FULL-TIME PASTOR. Central Baptist Church, Dinwiddie County, VA,&#160; is seeking a full-time pastor. Our church is affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia.&#160; The primary job of the pastor will be to preach the word of God. The pastor will also minister to the congregation and continue to guide the church in missions and community outreach programs. We are a growing church filled with Christians who possess a variety of gifts and interests. The pastor should be able to bridge all age groups. A more complete job description can be found at&#160; <a href="http://www.centralbaptist1873.org/" type="external">www.centralbaptist1873.org</a>. Resume can be sent to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 07.05.17)</p>
<p>INTERIM STUDENT PASTOR.&#160; Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, seeks to fill a full-time interim position to lead Student Ministry at its Buford Road Campus. Starts August 1, 2017. Click&#160;here&#160;for more information. Church Website:&#160; <a href="http://www.bonairbaptist.org/" type="external">www.bonairbaptist.org</a>. (Posted 06.21.17)</p>
<p>FULL-TIME SENIOR PASTOR. Clover Bottom Baptist Church, Nathalie, VA, is looking for a full-time pastor . Clover Bottom Baptist is a rural country church located in Halifax County Va. We are in the Dan River Baptist Association and the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Send resumes to&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 06.14.17)</p>
<p>SENIOR PASTOR.&#160; Walnut Grove Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, Va., is seeking a Senior Pastor. We are seeking an energetic shepherd with strong pastoral skills, flexibility in leading various worship styles and an effective communicator. Specific skills in expanding the scope of our mission programs and directing the continued growth of our&#160;Sunday&#160;school, Youth, Children, and Music Ministries. Proven ability to develop, train, and work with Church Staff and lay leadership. 5 years of experience and a minimum of a Master’s Degree from an accredited Seminary, Divinity School or College or the equivalent experience is preferred. Please send resume, references and any electronic media to Pastor Search Committee, 7001 Cornfield Lane, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 or via email to&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>&#160;by7/31/2017. (Posted 06.13.17)</p>
<p>FULL-TIME ASSOCIATE PASTOR.&#160; The Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, is searching for a full-time Associate Pastor.&#160; The church desires a dynamic, Christ-centered individual to equip our community with a more effective framework and systems both for and within our ministries. The ideal candidate will have a passion for both people and process, an ability to thrive in a team environment, and expertise in building teams.&#160; This pastoral ministry architect/administrator will guide the identification of gifted laity and, with them, create and implement a church wide, intergenerational structure that will better equip, communicate, and mobilize our efforts to support and extend ongoing and new ministries.&#160; A full position description can be found at <a href="http://www.tbcrichmond.org/" type="external">www.tbcrichmond.org</a>.&#160; Candidates should respond by email only to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> with their expression of interest and resume no later than July 15, 2017. No phone calls please. (Posted 06.12.17)</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a> <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS.&#160; The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, an education and advocacy organization in Washington, D.C., is seeking an Associate Director of Communications to expand the base of support for religious liberty, implementing the BJC’s strategic communications program to convey the importance of religious liberty for all people and the separation of church and state. To apply, send the following to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>: Resume, cover letter, and three samples of work. More details are available <a href="https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit-job/6b37dbc721a84325b178061de0d113fa-associate-director-of-communications-baptist-joint-committee-for-religious-liberty-washington" type="external">here</a>. (Posted 05.23.17)</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a> <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>SENIOR PASTOR.&#160; Bellepoint Baptist Church in Hinton, WV, is seeking a senior pastor. Located in the southern part of the beautiful state of WV this Independent, KJV church offers the opportunity for a pastor of any age. We are a conservative traditional church. Please contact at email address <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 06.27.17)</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a> <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="#top" type="external">Back to top of page</a></p>
| false | 3 |
baptist news global provides free listing ministryrelated jobs baptist churches theological institutions organizations across united states posting 30 days limited 150 words businesses may purchase post section 120 per word minimum 50 30 days submit ministryrelated job inquire advertising options page contact barbara francis 3367171135 ext 8 barbarabaptistnewscom 160 fulltime children families pastoral residency first baptist church colorado springs co pastoral resident first baptist church seminary graduate function associate pastor special responsibility children families ministries church provide resident wide range pastoral opportunities guidance supervision senior pastor opportunities include caring church family emphasis children families preparing teaching spiritual formation series preaching leading worship developing lay leadership interested applicants feel free contact pastor information detailed job description pastorfirstbaptistcsorg posted 061217 back top page 160 pastor160 primera iglesia bautista hispana de deltona fl seeking full time pastor multigenerational church160 pibd exciting church located one fastest growing cities florida160 average 160200 church attendees160 also baptist academy provide services nursery vpk160 church looking committed follower jesus christ gift preaching teaching heart bring people gospel160160 individual theological seminary education160 pibd associated abc amp cbf160 please submit inquiries cover letter resume photo recommendations pibdbusquedagmailcom posted 071117 pastor primera iglesia bautista hispana de deltona fl está buscando un pastor tiempo completo para su iglesia multigeneracional pibd es una motivada iglesia ubicada en una de las ciudades de más rápido crecimiento en la florida promedio de 160200 asistentes la iglesia también tenemos una academia bautista donde ofrecemos servicios de guardería vpk la iglesia está buscando un seguidor comprometido de jesucristo con un para la predicación la enseñanza un corazón para alcanzar almas para cristo la persona debe tener una educación teológica seminario pibd es asociada con abc cbf por favor envíe todas las preguntas carta de presentación currículum foto recomendaciones pibdbusquedagmailcom160posted 071117 back top page 160 ministerdirector youthchildrens ministries160 madison baptist church madison ga immediate opening call ministerdirector youth childrens ministries church seeking committed christian enthusiastic personable motivated compassionate madison located 60 miles east atlanta 25 miles south athens mbc multistaffed church values ministry youth children duallyaligned cbfsbc church average weekly worship attendance 200 minimum requirements position include bachelors degree church youthchildren leadership experience preferred resume cover letter submitted mbcyouthpastorsearchcomgmailcom mbc search committee 328 south main street madison ga 30650 need information please contact us email address posted 072017 cbfga executive coordinator160 cooperative baptist fellowship georgia seeks executive coordinator demonstrates spiritual maturity giftedness developing vision organizations missional focus cultivating interpersonal relationships exhibiting administrative leadership communication skills understanding organizational relationships context preferred qualifications include theological education mdiv degree equivalent ministerial experience 5 years minimum commitment historic baptist principles please send résumés cbfgasearchgmailcom 160by sept 1 071717 associate pastoryouth minister first baptist church eatonton ga moderate congregation affiliated cbf160 searching associate pastoryouth minister strong people skills management ministry areas individual must work well team player focus entire congregation160 position great importance hope individual help carry us forward next decade service eatonton small town central georgia middle lake country160 community anchor two recreational lakes lake sinclair lake oconee160 church deep historical heritage celebrating 200th anniversary 2018 direct questions fbc 7064853331 submit resumes etricefirstbaptisteatontonorg 160 posted 071217 communications specialist160 alliance baptists seeking mature christcentered individual serve communications specialist providing vision coordination alliances efforts print personal digital communications approximately 32 hour per week position open receiving applications individuals seeking work virtually collaboratively strong organizational skills highly motivated pursue gods justicelove interested applicants apply submitting resumé references caroleallianceofbaptistsorg application deadline august 4 2017 welcome inquiries applications interested qualified parties consistent commitments mission pursue justice oppressed honor wisdom lifelong learning hold accountable equity collegiality diversity encourage people color lgbtq persons women apply posted 070517 associate pastor160 first baptist church griffin ga moderate congregation affiliated cooperative baptist fellowship seeking associate pastor join ministry staff160 needs strong people preaching management skills160 person must work well team ministers focus upon entire congregation160 however heshe lead preach weekly connexion worship ministry contemporary service meets time traditional service160 candidate times throughout church year also preach traditional service preference given candidates mdiv degree accredited seminary minimum four years church ministrypreaching experience160 resumes cover letters received searchcommitteefbcgriffinorg september 15 posted 062917 back top page coordinator160cooperative baptist fellowship kentucky seeks fulltime coordinator lead guide development strategies expanding scope influence organization160 coordinator shall represent cbfky community churches individuals global cooperative baptist fellowship organizations160160all applications must include education employment histories160 current involvement cbf life well significant leadership supervisory experience within local church nonprofit world andor higher education preferred interested position would like submit name consideration please send resume letter interest cbfkycoordinatorsearchgmailcom august 1 2017 posted 062017 interim pastor160 first congregational methodist church louisville ky seeking interim pastor fcmc congregational methodist church average attendance 5065160 church respectable facilities room expand great location desire biblical spiritual growth interim pastor lead congregation organizations ministry staff perform tasks160 heshe work ministry staff 1 lead church performing tasks 2 lead church engage fellowship worship witness education ministry among members persons community interim pastor shepherd guide spiritual needs church bachelor degree preferred160 please send letter interest resume references cd dvd available to160 first congregational methodist church pastoral selection committee co ms marsha anderson 3810 garland avenue louisville ky 40211 posted 052317 back top page 160 senior pastor160 grace baptist church ifb kjv church zachary la seeking qualified godcalled individual position senior pastor grace church approx 75 members ministries include christian school ace others music style traditional conservative successful applicant formal bible training significant experience associate pastor associate burden christian education interested applicants submit resumes gbczacharygmailcom posted 052217 back top page 160 fulltime minister youth outreach bethany baptist church ellicott city md seeking fulltime minister youth outreach160 responsible creating longterm vision implementation overall youth ministry church including grades six twelve promoting evangelism discipleship training social ministries context multicultural church community baltimorewashington dc corridor heshe responsible developing implementing outreach ministry church community working alongside fulltime staff successful growth church responsible aspects connecting church community helping new people assimilate congregation firsttime visit baptism initial continuing involvement send resumes officebethanylanebaptistorg posted 071017 back top page 160 pastor160 first baptist church brockport located historic village brockport ny home suny brockport situated erie canal seeking experienced pastor demonstrates personal theological commitment american baptist principles practices applicants possess visionary leadership willingness partner us move future church multigenerational congregation welcoming affirming strong commitment mission outreach financially stable church strong endowment interested candidates contact rev alan g newton executive minister abc rochestergenesee region 1101 clover street rochester ny 14610 585 4733200 585 2592426 cell fax 585 4735929 execrochabcgmailcom posted 071017 back top page 160 music minister160 jersey baptist church lexington nc 160seeks parttime music minister lead music contemporary traditional worship services duties include initiating planning coordinating music ministry collaborating pastor musicworship committee ability exhibit promote mature christian values discipleship required submit resume jerseybaptiststaffgmailcom posted 072017 parttime music ministry director160160this congregation 300400 seeking minister join mission harbor gods love beacon christs hope churchs music ministry integral part vision mission music ministry director responsible overall leadership direction music ministries bachelorsmasters accomplishments music performance andor directing proficient keyboard voice directing possess ability effectively teach music types choirs students broad spectrum ages gifts abilities experience interested applicants submit cover letter resume first baptist church attn music ministry director search committee po box 180 west jefferson nc 28694 telephone 3368465141 or160 chairskybestcom160160telephone 3368776996 posted 071117 minister children families160pritchard memorial baptist church charlotte nc seeking full time minister children families person also oversight child development center please send resumes pritchard memorial baptist church 1117 south boulevard charlotte nc160 28203 attn search committee email bobbymorrowpritchardmemorialcom posted 071017 minister music families godwin heights baptist church lumberton nc prayerfully searching minister newly formed fulltime position minister music families ghbc averages 110 sunday school 130 morning worship traditionliturgical style successful candidate minimum bachelors degree music masters higher preferred plan lead music related activities including graded choir program ensembles minister also provide leadership oversight ministry children families interested candidates may submit cover letter resume rev dave hawes pastor godwinheightspastorgmailcom via mail godwin heights baptist church160 704 godwin avenue lumberton nc 28358 resumes accepted august 1 posted 062117 music minister jersey baptist church lexington nc calling parttime 20hrwk music minister vision ministry position provide leadership within aspects churchs ministry specifically focusing music music minister work collaboratively meet ministry goals objectives pastor church leaders ministers music minister responsible coordinating implementing music involved contemporary worship service 830 traditional worship service 1100 responsibilities also include working leaders graded choirs jersey baptist church position initiate plan coordinate music programs activities collaboration pastor music worship committee position encourage promote christian values ideals discipleship demonstrating spiritual maturity position reports personnel committee receive direct coaching mentorship pastor submit inquires résumés jerseybaptiststaffgmailcom posted 061917 director childrens ministry160 greenwood forest baptist church inclusive community faith cary nc seeking parttime 15 hrsweek director childrens ministry director provide leadership faith formation program children ages birth 5th grade families work ministerial team form shape disciples christ gfbc supervised associate pastor worship faith formation theological training accredited theological seminary preferred must support endorse gfbcs core values found website wwwgfbccaryorg gfbc affiliated alliance baptists cooperative baptist fellowship send resume cover letter gfbcsearchgmailcom applicant review begin july 1 2017 060817 minister latino ministries160 first baptist church huntersville nc seeking parttime minister latino ministries fbch moderate baptist congregation located charlotte metro near lake norman 450 active members approximately 50 worship spanishlanguage service seeking candidate strong preaching pastoral care leadership skills also work staff team strengthen connection anglo latino communities candidates must bilingual bachelors degree required seminary training recognized college university preferred detailed church profile job description found wwwfbchorg 160under link n learn tab résumé cover letter may submitted btclaytonmecom august 31 160060817 ministro medio tempo para la congregaciÒn latina160 la primera iglesia bautista de huntersville nc está buscando un ministro medio tiempo para la congregación latina la primera iglesia bautista de huntersville es una moderada congregación localizada en charlotte area metropolitana cerca del lago norman con cerca de 450 miembros activos160 de los cuáles aproximadamente 50 quienes asisten al servicio en español nosotros estamos buscando un candidato con grandes condiciones la hora de predicar cuidado pastoral un gran liderazgo160 quién también trabaje con el personal de la iglesia fortalezca la relación entre las comunidades angloamericanas latinas los candidatos deberán ser bilingües un grado de bachiller es requerido algún160 entrenamiento de seminario de un reconocido colegio universidad es preferible un detallado perfil de la iglesia descripción del puesto puede se encontrado en la página web de nuestra iglesia160 wwwfbchorg160bajo el enlace linkn learn tab currìculum hoja de portada puede ser enviada a160 btclaytonmecom160de 31 de agosto 160060817 parttime consultant leadership development womans missionary union north carolina seeking parttime consultant leadership development work location raleigh nc exceptions considered please send resume cover letter judy pettigrew judyjohnbellsouthnet160 application deadline july 15 job description wwwwmuncorgnowhiring160060817 parttime minister music160 wilmar park baptist church concord nc seeking parttime worship leader160 traditional southern gospel style congregation established music program160 need spiritually minded leader called god provide leadership worship services160 please direct inquiries questions david wilson at160 wdwilsonnovanthealthorg posted 051617 back top page 160 associate pastor youth community engagement160 spring creek baptist church oklahoma city okla accepting candidates associate pastor youth community engagement this160minister160will focus particular needs youth families using primary relationships serve larger church160 information submitting resumes click160 posted 061517 youthassociate pastor160 first baptist church spiro ok seeking youthassociate pastor competitive salary housing offered send resume jamestsmithlivecom posted 061217 back top page 160 choral director160 first baptist church abcusa burlington vermont seeking parttime choral director conduct 1520 voice chancel choir sunday mornings thursday evening rehearsals160 choir sings services beginning september midjune summers off160 salary competitive negotiable based experience160 first baptist church supports active music program including childrens choir instrumental ensemble hand bells annual guest organist recital hosts outside musical groups160 submit resumes inquiries fbcvtgmailcom posted 042417 back top page 160 parttime ministerdirector youth ministries westwood baptist church springfield va looking parttime ministerdirector youth ministries shehe would responsible provide pastoral care youth grades 712 parents work facet ministry age group position provides leadership oversight aspects planning promoting implementing ministry guides youth growth development followers jesus christ promotes fellowship among youth families within larger congregation westwood baptist church click full position description application instructions posted 070517 fulltime pastor central baptist church dinwiddie county va160 seeking fulltime pastor church affiliated baptist general association virginia160 primary job pastor preach word god pastor also minister congregation continue guide church missions community outreach programs growing church filled christians possess variety gifts interests pastor able bridge age groups complete job description found at160 wwwcentralbaptist1873org resume sent centralbaptist1873searchgmailcom posted 070517 interim student pastor160 bon air baptist church richmond va seeks fill fulltime interim position lead student ministry buford road campus starts august 1 2017 click160here160for information church website160 wwwbonairbaptistorg posted 062117 fulltime senior pastor clover bottom baptist church nathalie va looking fulltime pastor clover bottom baptist rural country church located halifax county va dan river baptist association baptist general association virginia send resumes to160 micdocembarqmailcom posted 061417 senior pastor160 walnut grove baptist church mechanicsville va seeking senior pastor seeking energetic shepherd strong pastoral skills flexibility leading various worship styles effective communicator specific skills expanding scope mission programs directing continued growth our160sunday160school youth children music ministries proven ability develop train work church staff lay leadership 5 years experience minimum masters degree accredited seminary divinity school college equivalent experience preferred please send resume references electronic media pastor search committee 7001 cornfield lane mechanicsville va 23111 via email to160 pastorsearchwalnutgrovebaptistcom160by7312017 posted 061317 fulltime associate pastor160 tabernacle baptist church richmond va searching fulltime associate pastor160 church desires dynamic christcentered individual equip community effective framework systems within ministries ideal candidate passion people process ability thrive team environment expertise building teams160 pastoral ministry architectadministrator guide identification gifted laity create implement church wide intergenerational structure better equip communicate mobilize efforts support extend ongoing new ministries160 full position description found wwwtbcrichmondorg160 candidates respond email tbcrichassociatepastorgmailcom expression interest resume later july 15 2017 phone calls please posted 061217 back top page 160 associate director communications160 baptist joint committee religious liberty education advocacy organization washington dc seeking associate director communications expand base support religious liberty implementing bjcs strategic communications program convey importance religious liberty people separation church state apply send following resumesbjconlineorg resume cover letter three samples work details available posted 052317 back top page 160 senior pastor160 bellepoint baptist church hinton wv seeking senior pastor located southern part beautiful state wv independent kjv church offers opportunity pastor age conservative traditional church please contact email address wheb123suddenlinknet posted 062717 back top page 160 back top page
| 2,392 |
<p>CAIRO, Egypt — Egyptian security forces clashed with student demonstrators in central Cairo on Sunday after thousands rallied in anger at the death of a young engineering student.</p>
<p>Mohamed Reda was shot Thursday by riot police after joining anti-regime protests at Cairo University. The young man’s fate has fueled defiance across the nation’s campuses, which since July&#160;have been experiencing their most violent period following the 2011 revolution.</p>
<p>Photos circulating on social media showed a gunshot wound to Reda's head. A forensic report seen by GlobalPost confirmed that the young man had also been hit with birdshot pellets in the head, chest and pelvis.</p>
<p>Hundreds of students, mostly supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, have been detained in recent weeks as police continue to target members of his Muslim Brotherhood. On Saturday, police fired tear gas inside the Alexandria University campus to disperse protesters.</p>
<p>Universities are one of the last remaining sites of protest for opponents of Egypt's July 3 military-led takeover. Other traditional sites of mobilization, including the streets, have been heavily policed in the months since the coup. A draconian new protest law, passed Nov. 24, has made public gatherings even more difficult.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/politics/131126/egypt-anti-protest-law-criminalizes-protest-legalizes-crackdown" type="external">Egypt's new law criminalizes protest, legalizes crackdown</a></p>
<p>But although media reports focus on similarities between protests, there are ideological differences between the broadly pro-Brotherhood rallies at Cairo’s Al Azhar University and those being held on other campuses, where more demonstrators condemn the regime without denouncing Morsi's ouster.</p>
<p>Despite a state decree implementing protest limitations on campus, including a requirement for student organizers to notify authorities of their intention to protest and heavy fines for graffiti, students still say that campus is the easiest place to gather and protest.</p>
<p>“It’s a good space to mobilize in,” said Hend, a language student in the girls’ section of Al Azhar. “There are plenty of people here already, we all know each other, and of course it’s a private space. Security forces cannot enter the campus, unless it is at the request of the university authorities.”</p>
<p>But after Thursday’s lethal violence outside Cairo University, the educational authorities face mounting accusations that they have bowed to political pressure from the state, and are now willing participants&#160;in the quashing of dissent.</p>
<p>Students claim that university authorities are suspending those who make trouble in an attempt to curry favor with a government that has led an aggressive campaign to push the Brotherhood from public&#160;life.</p>
<p>Student activism has long been an incubator for Egypt’s future politicians. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasserism" type="external">Nasserist</a> and soon-to-be presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahi famously used his platform as an elected student leader in the 1970s to criticize former president Anwar Sadat during a live televised debate.</p>
<p>The Brotherhood also has a long history of handpicking its members from university campuses.</p>
<p>“These have been one of two major recruitment points for the Brotherhood,” said Eric Trager, a fellow at&#160;the DC-based Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “Within every usra [local Brotherhood groups of seven members], you always have somebody whose job it is to handle recruitment, and that person usually spends a lot of time in universities.”</p>
<p>Egypt’s authorities say the Brotherhood is behind the latest wave of campus unrest. In a statement Sunday, the Interior Ministry described it as part of a plan conceived by Egypt-based members of the International Muslim Brotherhood, the organization’s global wing.</p>
<p>But participants say that the level of formal organization is difficult to trace. It is clearest in Al Azhar, Sunni Islam’s main seat of learning.</p>
<p>“My usra supports it, but we do not meet regularly anymore,” said Hend. “Our decision to protest is coordinated with our brothers on [Al Azhar’s] boys' campus. There are certain students there who hold the top level of responsibility for the organization of these demonstrations, all members of the Muslim Brotherhood. It’s not clear where they get their instructions from.”</p>
<p>The student division of the Muslim Brotherhood has long been one of the organization’s most active sectors. However, its leader, Mahmoud Abuzeid, was arrested in September.</p>
<p>“As a result, this segment is not&#160;functioning as it usually does,” said Trager. “But you still have a glut of Muslim Brotherhood students out there who are organizing among themselves.”</p>
<p>The harsh response from Egypt’s security services is bringing more students on board.</p>
<p>At Thursday’s Cairo University protest, shortly before Mohamed Reda’s death, a small but vociferous group had gathered inside the campus’ engineering faculty. Chants focused on the interior ministry and public prosecution, and students clutched banners bearing the faces of fellow students who had been suspended for their activism.</p>
<p>“Since the 30 June, we’ve repeatedly seen our colleagues, both here and at other universities, being targeted by the authorities,” said Amira, a first-year engineering student. “Some have been suspended for&#160;their activism, now they can’t take exams. Some even face prison sentences. These protests are for them.”</p>
<p>Amira said that while she previously sympathized with Egypt’s anti-coup movement, this was the first time that she had felt moved to protest herself. “Regardless of our political opinions, these are our friends. We have&#160;to defend them,” she told GlobalPost.</p>
<p>University officials, speaking to GlobalPost on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media, said that many within their number were against the decision of educational&#160;administrations to ally themselves more closely with the security forces.</p>
<p>“This is not the answer,” said one dean. “All it does is inflame the students’ grievances.”</p>
<p>Student unions have now joined forces with national political parties to condemn the government’s handling of the protests. In a press conference at the leftist Popular Current party office on Saturday, representatives from six different unions called for the dismissal of higher education minister Hossam Eissa and interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim.</p>
<p>Demanding accountability for the deaths of fellow students, they described Eissa as being politically responsible for legal violations taking place within universities, and said that Ibrahim should shoulder the blame for the killing of students.</p>
<p>The Egyptian authorities deny using disproportionate force on campuses. Diplomatic officials have circulated links to journalists, highlighting the restrictions that other nations place on student protests. “University of London bans students from protesting,” reads one piece of suggested reading, referring to a much-criticized University of London decision to threaten dissenting students with prosecution.</p>
<p>Experts now believe that the embattled Brotherhood will try to capitalize on the success of campus protests, subsuming often mixed grievances into their own narrative of oppression.</p>
<p>“We shouldn’t overstate the organization’s current capabilities,” said Trager. “But one of the best things they are able to do for themselves right now is converge on campuses where they can tap into other sorts of latent frustrations against the state.”</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Abdalla Kamal.&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
cairo egypt egyptian security forces clashed student demonstrators central cairo sunday thousands rallied anger death young engineering student mohamed reda shot thursday riot police joining antiregime protests cairo university young mans fate fueled defiance across nations campuses since july160have experiencing violent period following 2011 revolution photos circulating social media showed gunshot wound redas head forensic report seen globalpost confirmed young man also hit birdshot pellets head chest pelvis hundreds students mostly supporters ousted president mohamed morsi detained recent weeks police continue target members muslim brotherhood saturday police fired tear gas inside alexandria university campus disperse protesters universities one last remaining sites protest opponents egypts july 3 militaryled takeover traditional sites mobilization including streets heavily policed months since coup draconian new protest law passed nov 24 made public gatherings even difficult globalpost egypts new law criminalizes protest legalizes crackdown although media reports focus similarities protests ideological differences broadly probrotherhood rallies cairos al azhar university held campuses demonstrators condemn regime without denouncing morsis ouster despite state decree implementing protest limitations campus including requirement student organizers notify authorities intention protest heavy fines graffiti students still say campus easiest place gather protest good space mobilize said hend language student girls section al azhar plenty people already know course private space security forces enter campus unless request university authorities thursdays lethal violence outside cairo university educational authorities face mounting accusations bowed political pressure state willing participants160in quashing dissent students claim university authorities suspending make trouble attempt curry favor government led aggressive campaign push brotherhood public160life student activism long incubator egypts future politicians nasserist soontobe presidential candidate hamdeen sabahi famously used platform elected student leader 1970s criticize former president anwar sadat live televised debate brotherhood also long history handpicking members university campuses one two major recruitment points brotherhood said eric trager fellow at160the dcbased washington institute near east policy within every usra local brotherhood groups seven members always somebody whose job handle recruitment person usually spends lot time universities egypts authorities say brotherhood behind latest wave campus unrest statement sunday interior ministry described part plan conceived egyptbased members international muslim brotherhood organizations global wing participants say level formal organization difficult trace clearest al azhar sunni islams main seat learning usra supports meet regularly anymore said hend decision protest coordinated brothers al azhars boys campus certain students hold top level responsibility organization demonstrations members muslim brotherhood clear get instructions student division muslim brotherhood long one organizations active sectors however leader mahmoud abuzeid arrested september result segment not160functioning usually said trager still glut muslim brotherhood students organizing among harsh response egypts security services bringing students board thursdays cairo university protest shortly mohamed redas death small vociferous group gathered inside campus engineering faculty chants focused interior ministry public prosecution students clutched banners bearing faces fellow students suspended activism since 30 june weve repeatedly seen colleagues universities targeted authorities said amira firstyear engineering student suspended for160their activism cant take exams even face prison sentences protests amira said previously sympathized egypts anticoup movement first time felt moved protest regardless political opinions friends have160to defend told globalpost university officials speaking globalpost condition anonymity authorized speak media said many within number decision educational160administrations ally closely security forces answer said one dean inflame students grievances student unions joined forces national political parties condemn governments handling protests press conference leftist popular current party office saturday representatives six different unions called dismissal higher education minister hossam eissa interior minister mohamed ibrahim demanding accountability deaths fellow students described eissa politically responsible legal violations taking place within universities said ibrahim shoulder blame killing students egyptian authorities deny using disproportionate force campuses diplomatic officials circulated links journalists highlighting restrictions nations place student protests university london bans students protesting reads one piece suggested reading referring muchcriticized university london decision threaten dissenting students prosecution experts believe embattled brotherhood try capitalize success campus protests subsuming often mixed grievances narrative oppression shouldnt overstate organizations current capabilities said trager one best things able right converge campuses tap sorts latent frustrations state additional reporting abdalla kamal160
| 661 |
<p>‘Keep me a hundred years, and you shall find a use for me.” In 1885 William H. Whitsitt penned this line on the inside front cover of his secret diary. The diarist painstakingly and neatly recorded his activities and his impressions of others and the diary eventually filled 16 volumes. He kept repeating the injunction: “Keep me ….”</p>
<p />
<p>As shared in my last column, Whitsitt was a professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary when he began his diary; and in 1895 he became president. There quickly developed a controversy over his published findings on the origins of Baptists. The controversy was fanned by the Baptist press and by the fundamentalists of his day. It became so all consuming that it acquired a life of its own including a name, the Whitsitt Controversy. It eventually led to his resignation.</p>
<p>James H. Slatton’s engaging biography of Whitsitt has just been published by Mercer Press. Slatton had exclusive rights to peek inside the sealed diary. Slatton wrote: “[Whitsitt] was inspired [to keep a diary] by the examples of the British novelists Anthony Trollope and George Eliot and by the desire to keep track of his progress in writing the book he was working on. The diary served as a log of his financial activities and other significant events. It reflected his candid — and often uncomplimentary — opinions about his fellow professors — surely one of the reasons he wanted it kept from public scrutiny until long after his death — and theirs.”</p>
<p>Following Whitsitt’s death in 1911, the first keeper of the diary must have been Florence, who survived her husband and died in 1923. Their daughter, Mary Whitsitt Whitehead, was the faithful guardian of her father’s legacy, including the diary. She had literary gifts and ambitions of her own and she used much of her father’s letters and papers to write the story of her parents. From family memories, it seems she received enough rejection letters from publishers to wallpaper a room.</p>
<p>Several persons in the Southern Seminary community courted Mary Whitehead for access to her father’s materials. Over 50 years ago, she answered the request of the seminary’s librarian with the following: “If you remember, Dr. [W.O.] Carver quoted my father as having said, ‘I would rather have ten lines written on the spot than a cart-load of reminiscences.’ The diaries are history ‘written on the spot.’ ” She added: “My father was so mild and benevolent looking, with a manner so characterized by shy courtesy and consideration that, meeting him, you would have concluded he was not observant. Actually, little escaped him, and nothing was outside his field of interest. In the diaries, he&#160; wrote with frankness of his day and time as it passed within the compass of his vision, and in the front of several volumes he set down: ‘Keep me ….’ ”</p>
<p>Mary Whitehead possessed a strict interpretation of her father’s statement. “Keep me for a hundred years.” She observed, “Few men, I suppose, have left more complete records of themselves; but up to now there has apparently been small interest in them.” The librarian had been interested in Whitsitt’s study of Mormonism and she gleaned pertinent information from the diary and typed excerpts. But the diary itself was off limits.</p>
<p>“Prof” Inman Johnson tried to gain access for the seminary’s centennial in 1958. He wrote: “There is so little factual data concerning the controversy of that day that I am trying to put down a story of the controversy which we have underway here now. The things for which Dr. Whitsitt stood of course have been proven correct by this time.”</p>
<p>Again, Mary selected some references about seminary life in hopes of satisfying the inquirer’s thirst; but she revealed that the controversy remained too painful for discussion. “After it was over, it was rarely mentioned, certainly not in our home in the hearing of us children. His entries in his diary during his presidency are few. He was too busy and too burdened.” She described her father’s “mellowness of spirit” as he “endured the storm that swirled about him” and added: “For me, the controversy has always been out of bounds. Such distilled bitterness would be too painful, even after all these years.”</p>
<p>Scholars kept trying to use the diary. One wrote asking if the restriction was for 50 years or 75 years. The family maintained it was 100 years.</p>
<p>At the half-century mark after Whitsitt’s death, W.O. Carver, the renowned professor of missions at Southern, gave an address entitled “Seminary’s Martyr.” In his conclusion, Carver stated: “The basic and comprehensive achievement coming out of this trouble was a new and continuing recognition of the right and responsibility of Baptists for free search and research in the realm of knowledge and for the right and obligation to assert the truth without penalty of charge of disloyalty or the loss of position and standing in the fellowship of their brethren.</p>
<p>“That Whitsitt had actually won his contention and that his victory was secure was attested by the fact that his successor in the teaching of church history the very next session taught exactly what Whitsitt was supposed to be expelled for teaching, and without compromise or interference. Further, no teacher of history in any Baptist seminary outstanding has taught otherwise. A few days after Whitsitt was out a group of his opponents was rejoicing that ‘we got rid of Whitsitt.’&#160; Standing among them was the venerable W.E. Powers, long the nestor and leader in the Long Run Association, who spoke up and said: ‘Yes, you got rid of Whitsitt. But you didn’t get rid of Whitsittism.’ Whitsittism became thenceforward the authoritative word in American Baptist history.”</p>
<p>In 1986 Etta Whitehead Nachman — Mary’s daughter and William’s granddaughter and herself a former librarian — finally surrendered guardianship over the diary. She and her children gave the diary to the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, which Whitsitt himself served as president. They kept one proviso: that James H. Slatton had first dibs. With the publication of the biography, now the great-grandchildren feel that the desires of Whitsitt have been fulfilled. The diary was (and will be) safely kept. A hundred years essentially have come and gone. It is time to open them and find if they may be useful.</p>
<p>W.H. Whitsitt: The Man and the Controversy, by J.H. Slatton, can be ordered from the Virginia Baptist Historical Society (804) 289-8434 or online through Religious Herald Resources at <a href="" type="external">www.religiousherald.org</a>&#160;in the left-hand column of the home page.</p>
<p>Fred Anderson is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies. He may be contacted at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> or at P.O. Box 34, University of Richmond, VA 23173.</p>
| false | 3 |
keep hundred years shall find use 1885 william h whitsitt penned line inside front cover secret diary diarist painstakingly neatly recorded activities impressions others diary eventually filled 16 volumes kept repeating injunction keep shared last column whitsitt professor southern baptist theological seminary began diary 1895 became president quickly developed controversy published findings origins baptists controversy fanned baptist press fundamentalists day became consuming acquired life including name whitsitt controversy eventually led resignation james h slattons engaging biography whitsitt published mercer press slatton exclusive rights peek inside sealed diary slatton wrote whitsitt inspired keep diary examples british novelists anthony trollope george eliot desire keep track progress writing book working diary served log financial activities significant events reflected candid often uncomplimentary opinions fellow professors surely one reasons wanted kept public scrutiny long death following whitsitts death 1911 first keeper diary must florence survived husband died 1923 daughter mary whitsitt whitehead faithful guardian fathers legacy including diary literary gifts ambitions used much fathers letters papers write story parents family memories seems received enough rejection letters publishers wallpaper room several persons southern seminary community courted mary whitehead access fathers materials 50 years ago answered request seminarys librarian following remember dr wo carver quoted father said would rather ten lines written spot cartload reminiscences diaries history written spot added father mild benevolent looking manner characterized shy courtesy consideration meeting would concluded observant actually little escaped nothing outside field interest diaries he160 wrote frankness day time passed within compass vision front several volumes set keep mary whitehead possessed strict interpretation fathers statement keep hundred years observed men suppose left complete records apparently small interest librarian interested whitsitts study mormonism gleaned pertinent information diary typed excerpts diary limits prof inman johnson tried gain access seminarys centennial 1958 wrote little factual data concerning controversy day trying put story controversy underway things dr whitsitt stood course proven correct time mary selected references seminary life hopes satisfying inquirers thirst revealed controversy remained painful discussion rarely mentioned certainly home hearing us children entries diary presidency busy burdened described fathers mellowness spirit endured storm swirled added controversy always bounds distilled bitterness would painful even years scholars kept trying use diary one wrote asking restriction 50 years 75 years family maintained 100 years halfcentury mark whitsitts death wo carver renowned professor missions southern gave address entitled seminarys martyr conclusion carver stated basic comprehensive achievement coming trouble new continuing recognition right responsibility baptists free search research realm knowledge right obligation assert truth without penalty charge disloyalty loss position standing fellowship brethren whitsitt actually contention victory secure attested fact successor teaching church history next session taught exactly whitsitt supposed expelled teaching without compromise interference teacher history baptist seminary outstanding taught otherwise days whitsitt group opponents rejoicing got rid whitsitt160 standing among venerable powers long nestor leader long run association spoke said yes got rid whitsitt didnt get rid whitsittism whitsittism became thenceforward authoritative word american baptist history 1986 etta whitehead nachman marys daughter williams granddaughter former librarian finally surrendered guardianship diary children gave diary virginia baptist historical society whitsitt served president kept one proviso james h slatton first dibs publication biography greatgrandchildren feel desires whitsitt fulfilled diary safely kept hundred years essentially come gone time open find may useful wh whitsitt man controversy jh slatton ordered virginia baptist historical society 804 2898434 online religious herald resources wwwreligiousheraldorg160in lefthand column home page fred anderson executive director virginia baptist historical society center baptist heritage studies may contacted fredandersonvbmborg po box 34 university richmond va 23173
| 577 |
<p>Today a newcomer takes the floor in Anne Barry’s classroom. “The Gingerbread Baby,” by author and illustrator Jan Brett, is a beautifully illustrated book that puts a twist on the classic story of the gingerbread man who jumps out of the oven and runs away. Although the book arrived several months ago, Barry waited until the holiday season to present it to her students.</p>
<p>The 18 1st-graders in attendance settle into chairs they’ve pulled into the classroom library. Barry takes a seat on a desk, facing them, and holds up “The Gingerbread Baby.”</p>
<p>Being chosen for “read aloud” in Room 104 at Jungman Elementary School is a little like winning a Pulitzer Prize: A book’s got to be good to get it, and getting it brings an avalanche of readers. Barry chose “The Gingerbread Baby” for its challenging vocabulary, masterful illustrations and well-told story. She’s sure it will be a hit.</p>
<p>“The gingerbread boy!” the children call out, recognizing the picture on the cover. Teacher and students read the title together, and Barry begins the story. Her dramatic facial expressions and vocal timbre demand the children’s attention. And she adds to the suspense—and engages young minds—by pausing to ask questions.</p>
<p>Threatened by a goat, the gingerbread baby finds himself in a bind. “How many think he’ll get caught?” Barry asks. “[Let’s see a] show of hands.”</p>
<p>Several hands shoot up.</p>
<p>When the gingerbread baby escapes, Darion Newell cannot contain his approval. “Cool!” he exclaims.</p>
<p>The gingerbread baby is fast, and Juan Infante identifies with his speed. “That’s how I am,” he announces.</p>
<p>Barry encourages student interjections as part of her teaching strategy. “It…has to be extremely interactive; I share my authority and let them talk,” she explains. “Then lots happens, and sometimes it’s comments student-to-student. I’m not the director, I’m a facilitator.” She says that the boys, for whom extended focus is often harder, especially benefit from the interactive component.</p>
<p>Throughout the story, Barry pauses to explain difficult words and to ask for quick predictions.</p>
<p>When the gingerbread baby is trapped, the students excitedly debate how he will extricate himself.</p>
<p>“He can get on the roof!” one offers.</p>
<p>“No, he can run straight!” counters another.</p>
<p>When the gingerbread baby finally shows up dancing in the gingerbread house, Jaylen Brown starts to sway in his seat, chanting “Party, party!”</p>
<p>“Shhh!” scolds Joshua Reynolds, straining forward in his seat to hear the last lines of the story.</p>
<p>As Barry closes the book, Juan realizes that there will be fierce competition to take the book home. “We gotta pick names,” he says seriously.</p>
<p>At home with Jaylen</p>
<p>The next day, Jaylen Brown, a big boy with a gentle demeanor, gets to take the book the home. As usual, he and his cousin and classmate Darion stop first at the home of their grandmother, a lovingly stern taskmaster.</p>
<p>“Grandma’s hard on homework. Grandma’s really hard on homework,” says Lenora Johnson, 61, referring to herself.</p>
<p>Jaylen and Darion first pull out reading and math worksheets; Johnson checks answers as they progress. Next, she tells them to take out their library books.</p>
<p>“Who is it by?” Johnson asks Jaylen as he places “The Gingerbread Baby” on the table. “You might not be able to read it, but point.” Jaylen succeeds in reading “Jan” but falters on the last name. “Okay, come on. Let’s try to break this down,” Grandma encourages.</p>
<p>Jaylen knows the simple words but struggles with those that are more complex. When he stops at a word, Grandma gives clues (“Something you eat cereal out of”) or helps him sound out the letters (“Come on with an ‘S,’ sssssssssss!”). She also encourages him to look at the pictures for clues. When he doesn’t know a word that Johnson thinks he should know, she has him add it to a practice list in his notebook. Later, he will write it out five times.</p>
<p>The book’s text, dense and difficult for most 1st-graders, makes reading slow going, but Johnson patiently helps Jaylen through the first two pages, pausing after the first with questions about how the gingerbread baby came to be. They work on the book for about 15 minutes, absorbed in their effort as Darion looks on and occasionally mouths a smug answer. Johnson rewards Jaylen by reading the book right back to him.</p>
<p>“One day Grandma’s gonna make some gingerbread,” she tells him, as she closes the book.</p>
<p>Johnson, who grew up in Chicago, says a lot of the books Jaylen brings home are new to her. “I’m going through a lot of books I would have liked to have read when I was as small as them.”</p>
<p>At home with Melissa</p>
<p>Two days later, Melissa Martinez, a tall girl whose open face regularly collapses into giggles, takes “The Gingerbread Baby” home. At Melissa’s, the book pays a laid-back visit, hanging out on the couch and floor with the kids and toys.</p>
<p>After changing clothes, Melissa plops on the couch and half-watches TV for a few minutes before opening her backpack and taking out “The Gingerbread Baby.” Starting at the back, she studies the flap on the final page, which opens to show our hero dancing in the gingerbread house. She then pages backwards to the beginning. Although she does not read the text, she peruses each page.</p>
<p>Her babysitter, a teenaged aunt, flips channels in the background and then decides to watch the end of “Bring it On.” Melissa looks back and forth from the book to the cavorting cheerleaders on screen; eventually the cheerleaders win out. As the movie finishes, Melissa briefly pages through “The Gingerbread Baby” again, but quickly puts it down.</p>
<p>Jesus Mejia, Melissa’s dad, walks in at about 5, and her mom, Imelda Martinez, arrives about a half hour later. The family speaks both English and Spanish at home.</p>
<p>Melissa brings her backpack to the kitchen table and takes out her homework. Martinez helps Melissa with her reading and math worksheets, although she notes that Melissa often finishes her homework before she gets home. Martinez says she helps Melissa with reading about twice a week.</p>
<p>Melissa says she prefers math to reading. “Sometimes I do like the book, but I don’t read it ’cause I get bored,” she says. She says that twice a week she reads the library books she brings home.</p>
<p>Although Melissa doesn’t read “The Gingerbread Baby” again that night, she says it is one of her favorite library books. What she likes best, she says, is the flap.</p>
<p>At home with Joshua</p>
<p>“I just want to eat this book,” announces Joshua Reynolds, contemplating “The Gingerbread Baby” through the Ziploc bag meant to protect it from the ravages of 1st-grade backpacks. An energetic boy with dark, shining eyes, he is sitting at his school desk waiting to be dismissed.</p>
<p>After the bell, Joshua goes first to nearby Dvorak Park, where he participates in a daily after-school program. During the three hours he spends there, he completes his reading and math worksheets, plays board games, romps on gymnastic mattresses, gets into a fight with his best friend, tears through a grueling round of tag and builds block towers. “The Gingerbread Baby” stays in his backpack.</p>
<p>Joshua struggles with reading, but books fascinate him. “I never read Mrs. Barry’s books,” he says, ” ’cause reading is hard.” Yet on the way home from Dvorak Park, he chatters non-stop about an owl book he loves, about “owls having babies and owls giving food to their kids and owls giving them frogs, and owls giving them worms and owls taking care of each other.”</p>
<p>Rosa Ramirez and her daughter, Veronica, who care for Joshua until his father arrives from work, say Joshua reads only occasionally. Tonight, though, he takes “The Gingerbread Baby” out of his backpack. “I can’t wait to taste those gingerbreads!” Joshua remarks, remembering Barry’s promise to bring gingerbread to class.</p>
<p>At first he quickly pages through the book, but soon he slows down to “read,” or tell the story in his own words. The pictures provide clues, but he remembers the story impressively, invoking plot-driven drama and whimsical detail in his telling. Engrossed, he “reads” the whole book, oblivious to the loud sitcom on the big TV just to his left.</p>
<p>“That’s a good book,” he declares, closing it. Then he lays it down and rests his head on it. “I got tired,” he says sleepily.</p>
<p>Joshua perks up again when his dad, Darren Reynolds, arrives, and he insists on “reading” the book to him, too. Mimicking Barry’s storytelling, he pauses to ask Reynolds, “OK, what you think he’s doing?” He turns to the reporter with a stern look. “Do NOT tell him!” he warns.</p>
<p>But if Joshua doesn’t yet read well, Barry has nevertheless succeeded in instilling a desire for books. “My friend Roberto, he always takes the shark book, and he ripped it,” Joshua comments late that evening. “And I was like, ‘Man, I wanted that!'”</p>
<p>Indeed, over the next several weeks, “The Gingerbread Baby” goes home with every other classmate. It was so popular, that students had to draw names until the end.</p>
| false | 3 |
today newcomer takes floor anne barrys classroom gingerbread baby author illustrator jan brett beautifully illustrated book puts twist classic story gingerbread man jumps oven runs away although book arrived several months ago barry waited holiday season present students 18 1stgraders attendance settle chairs theyve pulled classroom library barry takes seat desk facing holds gingerbread baby chosen read aloud room 104 jungman elementary school little like winning pulitzer prize books got good get getting brings avalanche readers barry chose gingerbread baby challenging vocabulary masterful illustrations welltold story shes sure hit gingerbread boy children call recognizing picture cover teacher students read title together barry begins story dramatic facial expressions vocal timbre demand childrens attention adds suspenseand engages young mindsby pausing ask questions threatened goat gingerbread baby finds bind many think hell get caught barry asks lets see show hands several hands shoot gingerbread baby escapes darion newell contain approval cool exclaims gingerbread baby fast juan infante identifies speed thats announces barry encourages student interjections part teaching strategy ithas extremely interactive share authority let talk explains lots happens sometimes comments studenttostudent im director im facilitator says boys extended focus often harder especially benefit interactive component throughout story barry pauses explain difficult words ask quick predictions gingerbread baby trapped students excitedly debate extricate get roof one offers run straight counters another gingerbread baby finally shows dancing gingerbread house jaylen brown starts sway seat chanting party party shhh scolds joshua reynolds straining forward seat hear last lines story barry closes book juan realizes fierce competition take book home got ta pick names says seriously home jaylen next day jaylen brown big boy gentle demeanor gets take book home usual cousin classmate darion stop first home grandmother lovingly stern taskmaster grandmas hard homework grandmas really hard homework says lenora johnson 61 referring jaylen darion first pull reading math worksheets johnson checks answers progress next tells take library books johnson asks jaylen places gingerbread baby table might able read point jaylen succeeds reading jan falters last name okay come lets try break grandma encourages jaylen knows simple words struggles complex stops word grandma gives clues something eat cereal helps sound letters come sssssssssss also encourages look pictures clues doesnt know word johnson thinks know add practice list notebook later write five times books text dense difficult 1stgraders makes reading slow going johnson patiently helps jaylen first two pages pausing first questions gingerbread baby came work book 15 minutes absorbed effort darion looks occasionally mouths smug answer johnson rewards jaylen reading book right back one day grandmas gon na make gingerbread tells closes book johnson grew chicago says lot books jaylen brings home new im going lot books would liked read small home melissa two days later melissa martinez tall girl whose open face regularly collapses giggles takes gingerbread baby home melissas book pays laidback visit hanging couch floor kids toys changing clothes melissa plops couch halfwatches tv minutes opening backpack taking gingerbread baby starting back studies flap final page opens show hero dancing gingerbread house pages backwards beginning although read text peruses page babysitter teenaged aunt flips channels background decides watch end bring melissa looks back forth book cavorting cheerleaders screen eventually cheerleaders win movie finishes melissa briefly pages gingerbread baby quickly puts jesus mejia melissas dad walks 5 mom imelda martinez arrives half hour later family speaks english spanish home melissa brings backpack kitchen table takes homework martinez helps melissa reading math worksheets although notes melissa often finishes homework gets home martinez says helps melissa reading twice week melissa says prefers math reading sometimes like book dont read cause get bored says says twice week reads library books brings home although melissa doesnt read gingerbread baby night says one favorite library books likes best says flap home joshua want eat book announces joshua reynolds contemplating gingerbread baby ziploc bag meant protect ravages 1stgrade backpacks energetic boy dark shining eyes sitting school desk waiting dismissed bell joshua goes first nearby dvorak park participates daily afterschool program three hours spends completes reading math worksheets plays board games romps gymnastic mattresses gets fight best friend tears grueling round tag builds block towers gingerbread baby stays backpack joshua struggles reading books fascinate never read mrs barrys books says cause reading hard yet way home dvorak park chatters nonstop owl book loves owls babies owls giving food kids owls giving frogs owls giving worms owls taking care rosa ramirez daughter veronica care joshua father arrives work say joshua reads occasionally tonight though takes gingerbread baby backpack cant wait taste gingerbreads joshua remarks remembering barrys promise bring gingerbread class first quickly pages book soon slows read tell story words pictures provide clues remembers story impressively invoking plotdriven drama whimsical detail telling engrossed reads whole book oblivious loud sitcom big tv left thats good book declares closing lays rests head got tired says sleepily joshua perks dad darren reynolds arrives insists reading book mimicking barrys storytelling pauses ask reynolds ok think hes turns reporter stern look tell warns joshua doesnt yet read well barry nevertheless succeeded instilling desire books friend roberto always takes shark book ripped joshua comments late evening like man wanted indeed next several weeks gingerbread baby goes home every classmate popular students draw names end
| 865 |
<p>There’s gold in them thar hills.</p>
<p>Or as they might say it in Scotland, there be gold in the glen.</p>
<p>Sometime this year, Scotland’s first and only commercial gold mine will begin operations. That in itself is noteworthy, but moreso is that this mine is located inside Loch Lomond National Park.</p>
<p>At the end of a long dirt road, among the craggy hills and mists of the Scottish highlands, Chris Sangster unlocked an iron gate that is the gateway to gold.</p>
<p>Only headlamps on helmets light up the darkness along a muddy, wet path about half a mile long, to where the first vein of gold appears.</p>
<p>“The resource we have is about half a million tonnes of rock which contains just under five tonnes of gold and 25 tonnes of silver and that’s what the mine is built around,” said Sangster, the chief executive officer of Scotgold mine.</p>
<p>The estimated value of the gold could be as much as $300 million, depending on market prices. Scotgold won approval from park authorities by promising to restore the site after the gold is removed.</p>
<p>“Mines are transient beasts,” Sangster said. “We’ll be here for 10 years and then we’ll disappear and at the end of 15 years, you won’t particularly see that we’ve been here.”</p>
<p>Approval for the mine came only after an initial proposal was rejected.</p>
<p>The second time around, the restoration plan was deemed adequate, as was a design meant to minimize the view of the mining operation from the nearby hills favored by many for walking.</p>
<p>But the project is not just unusual for its location inside park boundaries.&#160;From the start, the company had the overwhelming support of locals who love the majesty of the park, but are not so fond of the tough economic times in their village.</p>
<p>At the Green Welly rest stop in Tyndrum, customers can stop to buy gas, a snack, outdoor hiking gear and just recently, a new product. It is a whiskey, called Tyndrum Gold.</p>
<p>“It’s a 15-year-old Speyside single malt whiskey. It’s a very good whiskey. We had a whiskey tasting here one night and this bottle that we tasted on that night, we finished, because it was so good,” said Shona Oakston, a clerk in the shop.</p>
<p>Oakston has sold most of the 600 bottles of this special edition whiskey to the locals who are pretty happy to toast the new endeavor.</p>
<p>She has seen young people leave Tyndrum for work elsewhere so she thinks it is well past time to dig the gold out of the rock.</p>
<p>“Because it’s there why not use it? People need gold, people need jewelery and if the gold mine’s there I think it’s a benefit for everybody,” she said.</p>
<p>Residents hope it will mean jobs and economic development – there’s already talk of a tourist center.&#160;Resident Julie Moore also believes in the project.</p>
<p>“How many beautiful hills do you want, how many beautiful walks do you want? They are actually going to put this back. After ten years you won’t know there was a gold mine there,” Moore said.</p>
<p>The mine was first staked out in 1985, but abandoned when the price of gold dipped earlier this century.&#160;Since then, the price has soared, doubling since 2008.</p>
<p>That has made for a new gold rush both in the natural splendor of Scotland, and in the glass and concrete heart of London.</p>
<p>At the London office of Goldsmiths’, recycling takes on a very different, very expensive meaning. The company, which been around since 1327, certifies the value and purity of gold and other precious metals.</p>
<p>It also melts down gold in a small smelter operation at the back of the building.&#160;A worker dumped a tangle of gold chains, bracelets, earrings and even false teeth into the smelter. Those are the ingredients. It baked for about twenty minutes at 1,000 degrees Celsius, before being poured it into a mold and becoming something very valuable.</p>
<p>“That is a very heavy gold bar, it’s about eight kilos (close to 20 pounds),” said the company’s David Merry as he cradled the bar.&#160;“This is only nine karat. That’s probably worth about £80,000 — ($127,000).”&#160;</p>
<p>The bar does not look like those shiny, smooth bricks of gold stored in vaults. It’s unfinished, pockmarked and dull. Merry says the company bought the new smelter about three years ago when the price of gold went crazy.</p>
<p>Now they melt down more than $3 million worth a week .</p>
<p>“When it first started it became such a bit of a madness that we were getting ... things like Crimea war medals and World War I medals and things like that you would expect to be family pieces. But, it’s that price of gold. If you’re hard up, you need to get your money from somewhere. And that’s the route people took,” Merry said.</p>
<p>Back in Scotland, Dorothy Breckenridge opens another metal gate opens on another hillside. Breckenridge is the co-owner of a company that organizes hikes in and around the park. The land is both her passion and her livelihood.</p>
<p>“I’ve had people coming from all over the world and they are absolutely gobsmacked at the variety and actually just the wildness of the landscape,” she said.</p>
<p>Breckenridge is dismayed by the plan to go ahead with the mine.&#160;She sees it as part of a trend, driven in part by the craze for gold.</p>
<p>“It’s a gradual encroaching of this fantastic natural asset that we have in the scenery and landscape of Scotland and that’s not being accepted as a viable long term necessity for Scotland to develop," she explained.</p>
<p>This windswept land is generating a debate about where its value really lies.&#160;For those promoting Scotland’s only gold mine, it is about what lies beneath.</p>
<p>For Breckenridge and others, it is more of an untouchable place, no matter how tempting the glitter of gold.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="" /></p>
| false | 3 |
theres gold thar hills might say scotland gold glen sometime year scotlands first commercial gold mine begin operations noteworthy moreso mine located inside loch lomond national park end long dirt road among craggy hills mists scottish highlands chris sangster unlocked iron gate gateway gold headlamps helmets light darkness along muddy wet path half mile long first vein gold appears resource half million tonnes rock contains five tonnes gold 25 tonnes silver thats mine built around said sangster chief executive officer scotgold mine estimated value gold could much 300 million depending market prices scotgold approval park authorities promising restore site gold removed mines transient beasts sangster said well 10 years well disappear end 15 years wont particularly see weve approval mine came initial proposal rejected second time around restoration plan deemed adequate design meant minimize view mining operation nearby hills favored many walking project unusual location inside park boundaries160from start company overwhelming support locals love majesty park fond tough economic times village green welly rest stop tyndrum customers stop buy gas snack outdoor hiking gear recently new product whiskey called tyndrum gold 15yearold speyside single malt whiskey good whiskey whiskey tasting one night bottle tasted night finished good said shona oakston clerk shop oakston sold 600 bottles special edition whiskey locals pretty happy toast new endeavor seen young people leave tyndrum work elsewhere thinks well past time dig gold rock use people need gold people need jewelery gold mines think benefit everybody said residents hope mean jobs economic development theres already talk tourist center160resident julie moore also believes project many beautiful hills want many beautiful walks want actually going put back ten years wont know gold mine moore said mine first staked 1985 abandoned price gold dipped earlier century160since price soared doubling since 2008 made new gold rush natural splendor scotland glass concrete heart london london office goldsmiths recycling takes different expensive meaning company around since 1327 certifies value purity gold precious metals also melts gold small smelter operation back building160a worker dumped tangle gold chains bracelets earrings even false teeth smelter ingredients baked twenty minutes 1000 degrees celsius poured mold becoming something valuable heavy gold bar eight kilos close 20 pounds said companys david merry cradled bar160this nine karat thats probably worth 80000 127000160 bar look like shiny smooth bricks gold stored vaults unfinished pockmarked dull merry says company bought new smelter three years ago price gold went crazy melt 3 million worth week first started became bit madness getting things like crimea war medals world war medals things like would expect family pieces price gold youre hard need get money somewhere thats route people took merry said back scotland dorothy breckenridge opens another metal gate opens another hillside breckenridge coowner company organizes hikes around park land passion livelihood ive people coming world absolutely gobsmacked variety actually wildness landscape said breckenridge dismayed plan go ahead mine160she sees part trend driven part craze gold gradual encroaching fantastic natural asset scenery landscape scotland thats accepted viable long term necessity scotland develop explained windswept land generating debate value really lies160for promoting scotlands gold mine lies beneath breckenridge others untouchable place matter tempting glitter gold
| 521 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />MAY 17, 2011</p>
<p>By WAYNE LUSVARDI</p>
<p>In my hometown of Pasadena, and I suspect statewide, there is a concerted effort of local religious leaders to bombard local newspapers with letters advocating a state increase in taxes to save public schools.</p>
<p>What is being sought from religious leaders is to convince the public of the moral legitimacy for a tax increase.&#160; But is it ethical to ask misinformed religious leaders to advocate for a state tax increase for public schools that may be unneeded?</p>
<p>The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office’s (LAO) report of Feb. 2011, titled <a href="http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=2193" type="external">“Education Mandates: Overhauling a Broken System,”</a> apparently didn’t think it was ethical to do so.&#160; The LAO wrote that “virtually every aspect of the K-14 (public school) mandate finance system is broken.”</p>
<p>The LAO report further stated that, if a mandated service does not serve a fundamental purpose, “the mandate should be eliminated.”&#160; The LAO’s package of recommended reforms would relieve schools districts and junior colleges of “hundreds of unnecessary activities that provide little value to students.”</p>
<p>It sounds more like the moral high ground might be to cut political job earmarks and pork-barrel programs rather than continue their funding in a time of widespread austerity and inflation in gasoline and food prices.</p>
<p>Apparently public school tax advocates are not apprising religious leaders that, along with federal stimulus funds, cutting the fat out of the state education budget is what saved the California public school system in 2010.</p>
<p>Back in 2009, the Legislative Analyst recommended that the Legislature deregulate funding mandates for “categorical” jobs and programs.&#160; “Categorical” is a bureaucratic term meaning a political earmark for a politically protected job or program not related to core teaching or essential school administration.</p>
<p>In response, the legislature responded and passed <a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0001-0050/abx4_2_bill_20090728_chaptered.html" type="external">Assembly Bill ABX4-2</a>, which reduced mandatory expenditures (or “political earmarks”) by $4.5 billion, thus saving K-12 public schools for the 2010 fiscal year.</p>
<p>The LAO report recommended another round of deregulation of mandated “categorical” jobs and programs for 2012 that would save $7.4 billion.</p>
<p>Included in this recommendation was a modest increase in average class sizes from 21 to 24 students statewide. The many anecdotal reports of increasing the average class size by up to double are at best hysterical and at worst intentionally dishonest and misleading. This doesn’t sound like a way to capture the moral high ground for a tax increase for public schools.</p>
<p>Here’s what’s unethical about the way public education bureaucracies go about issuing press releases and statements to the public about the situation of public school funding: They only talk about the half-truth of the forecasted loss of tax revenues for schools, not the reduction in expenditures on the other side of the ledger.</p>
<p>It is unethical for the press or public school bureaucrats to issue reports of dire school budgetary situations by only informing the public about the revenue side and not the expenditure side of the budget numbers as well.</p>
<p>For example, the $4.5 billion cut in school funding mandates in 2010 cited above would equate to a $726 per student state tax increase.&#160; If the LAO’s recommendation of $7.4 billion in addition cuts of funding mandates was enacted by the legislature for 2012, this would be the equivalent to an additional tax increase of $1,195 per student.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-state-budget-20110517,0,1335975.story" type="external">Gov Jerry Brown</a> just reported that he is increasing school funding for the 2012 school year by $3 billion due to unexpected increased tax revenues.&#160; This would equate to $484 per student more for the coming school year than was budgeted.</p>
<p>On a net basis, school funding for core education activities could have potentially been increased by $7.4 billion, or $1,195 per student, since 2010 when revenue increases and actual and potential expenditure reductions are both factored into the equation.&#160; This is because tax cuts have mainly been to ancillary jobs and programs (“earmarks”) and not to core educational activities.</p>
<p>Potential Net Gain to Core Education Budget – 2010 to 2012</p>
<p>.</p>
<p>Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed <a href="http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/Revised/BudgetSummary/BSS/BSS.html" type="external">2012 General Fund Budget document</a> reports that, from 2008 to 2012,&#160;Proposition 98 guaranteed funding for K-12 public schools was cut from $56.6 to $49.1 billion. That’s a $7.5 billion total cut.</p>
<p>But if Gov. Brown increases school funding $3 billion for 2012, the $7.5 billion loss in school funding from 2010 to 2012 would be entirely offset. That $3 billion from Gov. Brown would be added to the $4.5 billion of ABX-4-2. Total: 7.5 billion.</p>
<p>If another round of cutting public-school earmarks were enacted by the Legislature, funding for core education activities could potentially increase by $7.4 billion, or $1,195 per student.&#160; The situation at hand indicates that budget cuts to earmarks, coupled with the governor’s $3 billion proposed revenue increase, could result in more revenues for core educational activities without needing to raise taxes.&#160; Thus, the ethical situation at hand calls for budget cuts, not tax increases.</p>
<p>But that is not what you are hearing from state and local school officials.&#160; And unfortunately, misinformed religious leaders are apparently being conned into believing untruths. A budget crisis apparently is a horrible thing to waste.</p>
<p>The newspaper media and religious leaders should be wise enough to expect that bureaucracies are always going to be issuing self-serving statements.&#160; Government bureaucracies don’t necessarily lie as much as they filter out half of the information that does not meet their self-interest.&#160; That is how bureaucracies by definition behave. They behave to protect their bureaucratic turf and political patronage.&#160; If they didn’t behave that way they wouldn’t be a bureaucracy.</p>
<p>But apparently the press and religious leaders take the pronouncements of public school bureaucrats at face value and uncritically, which is ethically dubious. If members of the press is not going to look critically at what government bureaucracies report, they have no ethical standard for the public to have faith in. And if religious leaders are going to allow themselves to be duped and used to make pleas for unneeded tax increases, the public should consider them to be “false prophets.”&#160; Religious leaders cannot merely claim ignorance.&#160; Ignorance is neither bliss nor ethical.</p>
<p>The Wikipedia entry for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_ethics" type="external">“Jewish Ethics”</a> states:</p>
<p>The Talmud denounces as fraud every mode of taking advantage of a man’s ignorance, whether he be Jew or Gentile; every fraudulent dealing, every gain obtained by betting or gambling or by raising the price of breadstuffs through speculation, is theft (B. B. 90b; Sanh. 25b). The Talmud denounces advantages derived from loans of money or of victuals as usury; every breach of promise in commerce is a sin provoking God’s punishment; every act of carelessness, which exposes men or things to danger and damage is a culpable transgression. There is a widely quoted tradition (Talmud Shabbat 31a) that in one’s judgment in the next world, the first question asked is: “were you honest in business?”</p>
<p>To which we might add the question: “Were you honest about government taxation?”</p>
<p>The teachers unions, public school boards and support organizations, the League of Women Voters and most newspaper editorials are perpetuating a fraud when they advocate an increase in unneeded taxes mainly for public school earmarks at a time when people are trying to make house payments using unemployment checks.</p>
<p>Even a prominent City Councilperson in the Pasadena area where this writer lives is pending foreclosure on the loan on his home.&#160; It is unethical to confiscate money from people suffering during the economic recession to pay for political earmarks.&#160; But this hasn’t deterred the local school district from hysterically advocating for a state tax increase to save public schools and proposing to put a future school parcel tax on the ballot.</p>
<p>To propose an unneeded state tax increase or a local school parcel tax for politically mandated public school earmarks, which even the State Legislative Analyst says is a “broken” system, is a fraud and as such is unethical.</p>
<p>There is no moral high ground for school tax increases or local parcel taxes at this time and religious leaders should beware not to be duped into endorsing such.&#160; Be as ethical as a rabbi, but as wise as a serpent, might be good advice.</p>
| false | 3 |
may 17 2011 wayne lusvardi hometown pasadena suspect statewide concerted effort local religious leaders bombard local newspapers letters advocating state increase taxes save public schools sought religious leaders convince public moral legitimacy tax increase160 ethical ask misinformed religious leaders advocate state tax increase public schools may unneeded nonpartisan legislative analysts offices lao report feb 2011 titled education mandates overhauling broken system apparently didnt think ethical so160 lao wrote virtually every aspect k14 public school mandate finance system broken lao report stated mandated service serve fundamental purpose mandate eliminated160 laos package recommended reforms would relieve schools districts junior colleges hundreds unnecessary activities provide little value students sounds like moral high ground might cut political job earmarks porkbarrel programs rather continue funding time widespread austerity inflation gasoline food prices apparently public school tax advocates apprising religious leaders along federal stimulus funds cutting fat state education budget saved california public school system 2010 back 2009 legislative analyst recommended legislature deregulate funding mandates categorical jobs programs160 categorical bureaucratic term meaning political earmark politically protected job program related core teaching essential school administration response legislature responded passed assembly bill abx42 reduced mandatory expenditures political earmarks 45 billion thus saving k12 public schools 2010 fiscal year lao report recommended another round deregulation mandated categorical jobs programs 2012 would save 74 billion included recommendation modest increase average class sizes 21 24 students statewide many anecdotal reports increasing average class size double best hysterical worst intentionally dishonest misleading doesnt sound like way capture moral high ground tax increase public schools heres whats unethical way public education bureaucracies go issuing press releases statements public situation public school funding talk halftruth forecasted loss tax revenues schools reduction expenditures side ledger unethical press public school bureaucrats issue reports dire school budgetary situations informing public revenue side expenditure side budget numbers well example 45 billion cut school funding mandates 2010 cited would equate 726 per student state tax increase160 laos recommendation 74 billion addition cuts funding mandates enacted legislature 2012 would equivalent additional tax increase 1195 per student gov jerry brown reported increasing school funding 2012 school year 3 billion due unexpected increased tax revenues160 would equate 484 per student coming school year budgeted net basis school funding core education activities could potentially increased 74 billion 1195 per student since 2010 revenue increases actual potential expenditure reductions factored equation160 tax cuts mainly ancillary jobs programs earmarks core educational activities potential net gain core education budget 2010 2012 governor jerry browns proposed 2012 general fund budget document reports 2008 2012160proposition 98 guaranteed funding k12 public schools cut 566 491 billion thats 75 billion total cut gov brown increases school funding 3 billion 2012 75 billion loss school funding 2010 2012 would entirely offset 3 billion gov brown would added 45 billion abx42 total 75 billion another round cutting publicschool earmarks enacted legislature funding core education activities could potentially increase 74 billion 1195 per student160 situation hand indicates budget cuts earmarks coupled governors 3 billion proposed revenue increase could result revenues core educational activities without needing raise taxes160 thus ethical situation hand calls budget cuts tax increases hearing state local school officials160 unfortunately misinformed religious leaders apparently conned believing untruths budget crisis apparently horrible thing waste newspaper media religious leaders wise enough expect bureaucracies always going issuing selfserving statements160 government bureaucracies dont necessarily lie much filter half information meet selfinterest160 bureaucracies definition behave behave protect bureaucratic turf political patronage160 didnt behave way wouldnt bureaucracy apparently press religious leaders take pronouncements public school bureaucrats face value uncritically ethically dubious members press going look critically government bureaucracies report ethical standard public faith religious leaders going allow duped used make pleas unneeded tax increases public consider false prophets160 religious leaders merely claim ignorance160 ignorance neither bliss ethical wikipedia entry jewish ethics states talmud denounces fraud every mode taking advantage mans ignorance whether jew gentile every fraudulent dealing every gain obtained betting gambling raising price breadstuffs speculation theft b b 90b sanh 25b talmud denounces advantages derived loans money victuals usury every breach promise commerce sin provoking gods punishment every act carelessness exposes men things danger damage culpable transgression widely quoted tradition talmud shabbat 31a ones judgment next world first question asked honest business might add question honest government taxation teachers unions public school boards support organizations league women voters newspaper editorials perpetuating fraud advocate increase unneeded taxes mainly public school earmarks time people trying make house payments using unemployment checks even prominent city councilperson pasadena area writer lives pending foreclosure loan home160 unethical confiscate money people suffering economic recession pay political earmarks160 hasnt deterred local school district hysterically advocating state tax increase save public schools proposing put future school parcel tax ballot propose unneeded state tax increase local school parcel tax politically mandated public school earmarks even state legislative analyst says broken system fraud unethical moral high ground school tax increases local parcel taxes time religious leaders beware duped endorsing such160 ethical rabbi wise serpent might good advice
| 821 |
<p>SDEROT, Israel - Amid more bombastic Middle Eastern news, it is easy to forget that the rockets and missiles keep falling here, often on a daily basis.</p>
<p>While Israelis were distracted by <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/vice-pm-says-talks-on-haredi-idf-service-stalled-kadima-may-leave-cabinet.premium-1.450710" type="external">political machinations</a> in Jerusalem this week, several rockets fired from the Gaza Strip hit rural areas in the vicinity of Sderot, a city that has come to symbolize the decade-long rain of projectiles. It is a modest, dusty town in the Negev desert that has been <a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Jul-11/180170-rocket-fired-from-gaza-lands-in-israel.ashx#axzz20PqxiPNk" type="external">on the receiving end</a> of thousands of explosives launched from Gaza over the years.</p>
<p>More than 400 rockets and missiles have been lobbed into southern Israel so far this year alone. But the bombs, it seems, don't keep people away.</p>
<p>Sderot has become an unexpectedly popular destination, despite the sound of muted explosions in the distance. People come from near and far to take part in what has proven to be a most surprising and breezy, bohemian air about town.</p>
<p>To be sure, it's not the first image that comes to mind while visiting Sderot's police headquarters. On the asphalt patio around back, racks full of detonated missiles are on display. They are color-coded, some red, others blue, black for Al Qaeda, green for Islamic Jihad. As extremist Salafi groups gain ground in Gaza, those signed in black and green have been piling up.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/israel-and-palestine/120710/hamas-gaza-strip-islamic-law-sharia-liberal" type="external">Hamas goes soft</a></p>
<p>When launched, these missiles sweep over the half-mile of airspace that separates Gaza from Sderot in a rainbow of identifying hues.</p>
<p>The rockets themselves are hardware-store marvels, improvised from pipes sent to Gaza from Israel for the purpose of construction projects, fertilizer, sugar and homemade TNT. Small wings are soldered to their ends, and the contraptions are sealed off with remarkably sturdy cement plugs.</p>
<p>Some of the spent missiles are recycled for civic purposes, like the sculpture of a boy at his drums in a rotunda in a prosperous area of town. His head is crowned by a whimsical afro, each strand contrived from the twisted remains of an exploded missile.</p>
<p>In the past eight years, 11 of Sderot's 22,000 citizens have died as a result of direct hits, and hundreds have been hurt.</p>
<p>Natives of Sderot discuss Gaza familiarly, as if it were a neighborhood across the street, which, in some aspects, it is: Gaza - which is wedged between Egypt's Sinai desert and the Negev desert in Israel - can be seen from some city junctions.</p>
<p>While Gaza remains the principal source of concern for southern Israelis, Reuven Erlich, the head of the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center in Israel, sees a growing risk of violence coming from Egypt now as well.</p>
<p>Growing instability on the Egyptian side of the Israeli-Egyptian border, where the new Egyptian government exerts little control, led Israel on Wednesday, for the first time, to <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-to-deploy-iron-dome-anti-missile-system-on-egypt-border-1.450517" type="external">install Iron Dome anti-missile batteries</a> along its southern border, near the Red Sea resort town of Eilat.</p>
<p>"In Gaza, you know who's in charge," he said. "In the Sinai, right now you have no effective address. The Egyptians cannot prevent the killing of an Israeli on the Egypt-Israel border. It's not that they're not trying. But you have a vacuum of leadership. "</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/egypt/120702/egypt-sinai-peninsula-security-bedouin-mubarak-morsi-israel" type="external">Power vacuum plagues security in Sinai</a></p>
<p>Sderot is too close to the Gazan border to benefit from Iron Dome, which Israeli officials credit with destroying, mid-flight, more than half the rockets sent into Israel in the past year.</p>
<p>As a result, in Sderot you don't hear the roar, like an airplane taking off, of the missile defense units. Instead you hear the code "Color Red" blasted on a city-wide loudspeaker system followed within seconds by a dull thud. Literally, seconds: Sderot is the only locality in Israel in which wearing a seatbelt is prohibited; because the time it takes to remove it can cost your life.</p>
<p>There is something battened down about this place - something hushed even for a small, battered town - that makes it unsurprising to learn that Sderot has inspired many balladeers. So many of Sderot residents have found success in the arts that the town has been <a href="http://sderotmovie.com/blog/2008/12/13/a-year-in-sderot/" type="external">compared to Liverpool</a> in the 1960s.</p>
<p>One of these sons of Sderot, the Israeli poet Shimon Adaf, <a href="http://www.poetryinternationalweb.net/pi/site/poem/item/3481" type="external">wrote</a>: "It took me 20 years to love/this hole in the middle of nowhere."</p>
<p>While its urban center is dotted with bomb shelters the way other cities are punctuated by caf's, thanks to the arts, the dreaded and redolent structures are also sources of wonder.</p>
<p>An organization called <a href="http://artists4israel.org/index2.php#/home/" type="external">www.artists4israel.org</a> has dispatched painters to doll up the shelters so that walking around the quiet streets of Sderot has the feel of a summer festival.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/israel-and-palestine/120628/protest-movement" type="external">Israeli protests erupt again</a></p>
<p>If you can put the missiles out of your mind, says Tomas Lee, a 21-year-old Welshman living in Sderot for the past two years, there's a lot to like in town. For example, the boulevards lined by flame trees, with their garish red flowers and feathery hanging leaves, and the sea.</p>
<p>"There's a lot of green, a lot of trees. We are not far from the beach and only 40 minutes from Tel Aviv. Rent is affordable. The people are warm and open," he said.</p>
<p>Lee works as a city docent for the <a href="http://sderotmedia.org.il/" type="external">Sderot Media Center</a>, a nonprofit that emerged to try to "generate global awareness and empathy" for the predicament of Sderot.</p>
<p>A few weeks ago, Tirza and Benny Oren, were celebrating Benny's 50th birthday and preparing for the wedding of their oldest child over a dish of hummus at a trendy joint near Sderot center. They come into town several times a week for errands, doctor's appointments or shopping.</p>
<p>Like almost everybody here, they know someone who was killed: <a href="http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3541374,00.html" type="external">Jimmy Kodshim</a>, who was hit as he watered his garden. They know dozens more who were wounded. Her husband said the conflict does not keep him up at night. But Tirza, a middle-school teacher, feels the burden of great responsibility, physical and educational, over her wards.</p>
<p>"It is so hard to teach them the complexity of our situation. If you ask my eighth graders, they'll just tell you they hate Arabs," she said. "I didn't grow up with that kind of hatred. And we can still remember going to Gaza for the beach, or to shop, and the Gazans coming here."</p>
<p>Her students know nothing of this. "You spend an entire year talking with them, slowly, over a long period, about who are the Arabs, Israeli Arabs, Gazan Arabs, foreign Arabs. It is very hard for them to differentiate or to grasp the intricacies," she said.</p>
<p>Michal Eliav, 54, an English teacher, moved to Sderot four years ago after years in which she lived in Be'er Sheva but yearned for life in a small desert town.</p>
<p>"Sderot was always so nice," she said. "And I wasn't about to let Hamas decide where I live!"</p>
<p>Even if that meant moving to "a place with bombs."</p>
<p>"You know," she said, "you never really hear people talking about bombs here. Or people expressing hatred. I think there is a feeling that our suffering is in common with the Gazans. Toward their politicians, maybe. But you have this feeling they don't represent the people any better than ours do."</p>
| false | 3 |
sderot israel amid bombastic middle eastern news easy forget rockets missiles keep falling often daily basis israelis distracted political machinations jerusalem week several rockets fired gaza strip hit rural areas vicinity sderot city come symbolize decadelong rain projectiles modest dusty town negev desert receiving end thousands explosives launched gaza years 400 rockets missiles lobbed southern israel far year alone bombs seems dont keep people away sderot become unexpectedly popular destination despite sound muted explosions distance people come near far take part proven surprising breezy bohemian air town sure first image comes mind visiting sderots police headquarters asphalt patio around back racks full detonated missiles display colorcoded red others blue black al qaeda green islamic jihad extremist salafi groups gain ground gaza signed black green piling globalpost hamas goes soft launched missiles sweep halfmile airspace separates gaza sderot rainbow identifying hues rockets hardwarestore marvels improvised pipes sent gaza israel purpose construction projects fertilizer sugar homemade tnt small wings soldered ends contraptions sealed remarkably sturdy cement plugs spent missiles recycled civic purposes like sculpture boy drums rotunda prosperous area town head crowned whimsical afro strand contrived twisted remains exploded missile past eight years 11 sderots 22000 citizens died result direct hits hundreds hurt natives sderot discuss gaza familiarly neighborhood across street aspects gaza wedged egypts sinai desert negev desert israel seen city junctions gaza remains principal source concern southern israelis reuven erlich head intelligence terrorism information center israel sees growing risk violence coming egypt well growing instability egyptian side israeliegyptian border new egyptian government exerts little control led israel wednesday first time install iron dome antimissile batteries along southern border near red sea resort town eilat gaza know whos charge said sinai right effective address egyptians prevent killing israeli egyptisrael border theyre trying vacuum leadership globalpost power vacuum plagues security sinai sderot close gazan border benefit iron dome israeli officials credit destroying midflight half rockets sent israel past year result sderot dont hear roar like airplane taking missile defense units instead hear code color red blasted citywide loudspeaker system followed within seconds dull thud literally seconds sderot locality israel wearing seatbelt prohibited time takes remove cost life something battened place something hushed even small battered town makes unsurprising learn sderot inspired many balladeers many sderot residents found success arts town compared liverpool 1960s one sons sderot israeli poet shimon adaf wrote took 20 years lovethis hole middle nowhere urban center dotted bomb shelters way cities punctuated cafs thanks arts dreaded redolent structures also sources wonder organization called wwwartists4israelorg dispatched painters doll shelters walking around quiet streets sderot feel summer festival globalpost israeli protests erupt put missiles mind says tomas lee 21yearold welshman living sderot past two years theres lot like town example boulevards lined flame trees garish red flowers feathery hanging leaves sea theres lot green lot trees far beach 40 minutes tel aviv rent affordable people warm open said lee works city docent sderot media center nonprofit emerged try generate global awareness empathy predicament sderot weeks ago tirza benny oren celebrating bennys 50th birthday preparing wedding oldest child dish hummus trendy joint near sderot center come town several times week errands doctors appointments shopping like almost everybody know someone killed jimmy kodshim hit watered garden know dozens wounded husband said conflict keep night tirza middleschool teacher feels burden great responsibility physical educational wards hard teach complexity situation ask eighth graders theyll tell hate arabs said didnt grow kind hatred still remember going gaza beach shop gazans coming students know nothing spend entire year talking slowly long period arabs israeli arabs gazan arabs foreign arabs hard differentiate grasp intricacies said michal eliav 54 english teacher moved sderot four years ago years lived beer sheva yearned life small desert town sderot always nice said wasnt let hamas decide live even meant moving place bombs know said never really hear people talking bombs people expressing hatred think feeling suffering common gazans toward politicians maybe feeling dont represent people better
| 655 |
<p>Preacher, if you are at all like me, as you were preparing to write your sermon this past Sunday, your mind kept going back to the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage. Last Sunday it was still so fresh that no one had had much time to react to it yet. This past Sunday, though, people came expecting you to at least comment on it. In my own church, while we do not yet have an official statement or position on the issue adopted, the opinions on the matter are mixed. Most are opposed to it (including me), but more than a handful are not. Perhaps your church is not so different from mine in this regard. Perhaps you didn’t yet know what to say to your congregation about the issue and so went with something else. At some point, though, you know you are going to have to address it.&#160;</p>
<p>When I sat down to work on the sermon this past Monday morning, I had already spent a fair bit of time over the previous weekend getting ready to write a sermon that was thematically appropriate for this morning. But as I started writing, my mind could not stop going to the previous Friday’s Supreme Court decision.</p>
<p>I have a friend who sends me all kinds of news items he thinks might be of interest to me and as a former editor of a Christian magazine, he’s on the list to get press releases from a number of different Christian organizations. He sent me all of them that Friday, and I read several more. The reactions were interesting. On the right, things were generally more subdued than I expected. Most groups blasted the decision as unlawful, poorly written, and poorly argued, but that was expected. Yet after only a bit of “woe is me” rhetorical hand-wringing, most groups buckled down and reminded their followers who are not supportive of the decision that our response to this needs to be one of love. Being anything other than totally loving and respectful to both heterosexual and homosexual people who are thrilled with the decision is absolutely out of place. On the left, the reaction was of course celebratory, but I haven’t seen much that smacked of the triumphalism I expected. There was no tombstone dance over the heads of their buried opponents. Instead, there was more of a calm, “Check…next”.</p>
<p>Still, as I have interacted with various evangelical friends in various places around the country over the past week, the general sense I’ve gotten is that they mostly feel like all the wind has been taken out of their sails. Many took this a bit like a punch to the gut and are now trying to stand back upright and figure out how to move forward again. The truth is, though, that thinking Christians who both agree with the decision and who oppose it are all trying to figure out the best way to respond to it. What do we do in light of this? In what light do we continue our mission of following Jesus and seeing His kingdom move forward in our communities? I suspect you are, or at least someone you know, are asking questions just like these. I want to try and equip you to both answer these questions and to respond to the people in your life with loving grace on whichever side of the issue they happen to fall.</p>
<p>How do we as conservative Christians actually respond to all of this? I think there are three basic areas in which we need to think about this. First, we need a bigger perspective on things. Genesis 1:1 declares that “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” After a tumultuous tale between the two poles, John describes an incredible scene starting in Revelation 21 in which God is indisputably on His throne and all the world has been made right before Him. So in the beginning, God is in charge; at the end, God is in charge. And guess what: in the middle—where we are—God is still in charge. Nothing surprises our God. He is perfect in omniscience. He knows everything that can be known including what is going to happen in the future.</p>
<p>In other words, what happened on the Friday before last came as no surprised to God. Neither will it prove any kind of meaningful impediment to the advance of His kingdom. We serve the God whose plans could not be derailed by the unjust death of His Son. His church survived the Roman Empire. It survived Christendom. It survived the Enlightenment. It survived Darwinism. It survived Stalin. It survived Mao. The church is surviving ISIS and Boko Haram and Al Shabaab and Al Qaeda. Christians holding to the historically orthodox position on sex and marriage should in no way think that the legalization of same-sex marriage in this country on the basis of the opinion of five people will pose any kind of an existential threat to the church. Even if the law were to continue following the culture and criminalize holding to the historically orthodox position on marriage, we’re still going to be okay. In fact, historically speaking, the church has always done best when it is not in the cultural and political driver’s seat as we have been for the last 20-30 years in particular. We don’t handle having political power very well as an institution. We never have. Our best place has always been to stand in the footsteps of the prophets of old and help pick up the pieces when the things around us fall apart. What I’m getting at is that if you are troubled by this decision, this is no time to panic. This is no time for hand-wringing. This is no time for worry. Those things have no place in the lives of Jesus followers. God is still in charge; He’s still good; and He’s still going to see His plans accomplished. Our place is to follow Him faithfully and do the things He did.</p>
<p>This leads me to the second area of response. Our culture actually needs us to follow Jesus faithfully in spite of the pressure it puts on us to do otherwise because it is broken and isn’t going to repair itself. Let’s just establish some common ground here: Regardless of how you feel about this particular issue, I think we can all agree that our culture is moving further and further from anything resembling the Christian worldview and its prescriptions for how we should live our lives. Even if you don’t think this issue is an example of that, on the whole I think we can all agree about the general trajectory of things.</p>
<p>Here’s the problem with this: every other worldview fails when it comes to cultural application. I mean think about it. How are things in Iran right now? How about North Korea? How about Sudan? How about India? China? Greece? Generally speaking, the places in the world that either have the fewest number of Christian per capita or which don’t have the Christian worldview as one of the relatively recent cultural influencers are all pretty awful places to live. They have awful leadership, terrible economies, very little freedom (religious freedom in particular) or some combination of these. Places where the Christian worldview used to hold sway but which has been largely and consciously rejected for more than a generation or two are getting worse all the time. Wherever we go, followers of Jesus bring the kingdom of God with us. In the kingdom of God, justice is the law. Freedom is the culture. Love is the currency. Righteousness is the foundation. Peace is the state of being. Those thing are all cultural preservatives. When they are put into place, they make everything around them better. When Christians are put into place and are faithfully following our Lord, we make everything around us better.</p>
<p>Jesus said that we are to be salt and light in our world. Salt has historically been used for two primary things. It is first a preservative. As followers of Jesus, we preserve the world around us and keep it from spoiling. When Abraham was bargaining with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, God was willing to relent from the destruction He had planned for those two evil cities for the sake of ten righteous people. Ten righteous people in the whole of those cities, and they would have been spared. As it happened, He took special pains to preserve the one somewhat righteous man and his unrighteous family. Second, salt brings out the true flavors of food. We often think of salt as a spice, but it’s not. It’s a seasoning. When used in appropriate amounts, it highlights the flavors of food; it brings them out to their richest and most enjoyable levels. Faithful followers of Jesus have always been able to bring out the best in a culture when they get involved in it. Consider the work done at a local middle school recently. It badly needed painting but couldn’t afford to get it done. A local Christian group got involved in drafting volunteers and before long, they were coming out of the woodworking to help. The selfless service of Christians brought out the best in the people around them, many of whom were probably not Christians.</p>
<p>The point here is that we can’t leave our culture behind over a decision like this as some have suggested. We can’t throw in the towel on it. We can’t cloister ourselves away and try to mostly keep to ourselves with our heads down. Jesus left us in the world on purpose. In His high priestly prayer, He asked not for us to be saved from the world, but for us to be protected in it. We need to be intentionally bringing the love of Christ to a world that is broken by sin. Everybody is broken by that sin whether they are gay or straight. They all need the cleansing love of Christ, and it’s our job to bring it. We must stay engaged with the world regardless of how we feel about this decision because the great likelihood is that it’s going to contribute to the brokenness, and we need to be there helping people put their lives back together when the bitter fruits start coming to bear. We need to be prepared to show them that life in the kingdom of God is simply better than anything else out there.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>As I have had the opportunity to write and interact with other writers and commenters at the Baptist News Global over the last couple of years, I have been pressed with a keen awareness that there is not a single opinion on this matter shared by all Christians. There are some believers who are dead set opposed to it in whatever form it happens to take. One Baptist preacher in Texas threatened to set himself on fire if the decision came down the way it did. On Saturday when some folks offered to help him with the fuel, he clarified that he was just being hyperbolic. There are some believers who are wildly supportive of it. A fellow writer on the website <a href="" type="internal">wrote a piece</a> this past week arguing that Christians not only can but should accept the decision. One of the plaintiffs in the case is an ordained Baptist minister from Kentucky. You can read <a href="" type="internal">his reflections</a> on the decision at the website as well. These represent two dramatically opposite positions on this issue and yet…both the Texas Baptist preacher and the Kentucky Baptist preacher no doubt profess a sincere love of Christ as their motivating force.</p>
<p>But here’s the thing: both can’t be right on the issue. In Romans 14 and also in 1 Corinthians 8-10, Paul encouraged believers who came to different conclusions about the morality of eating meat that had previously been sacrificed to an idol to bear with each other with patient grace. Those who were not opposed to it were to avoid needlessly offending those who were or else succumbing to pride. Those who were opposed to it were to avoid casting judgment on those who weren’t. The fact was, it was okay for believers to do if they did so out of faith in God rather than from a mindset of taking part in the idol worship that had given rise to the meat in the first place. But, for the sake of those who believed it to be sinful (and thus it was sinful for them) because of their cultural and religious upbringing, those who were fine with the practice were wisest to limit their use of their freedom on this particular issue. What is giving up meat on occasion if it means fostering better relationships and a more unified community? These kinds of issues are today sometimes called “weaker brother issues” because the folks opposed to the eating of idol meat were weaker in their faith, Paul said, than their approving brothers. Over the years there have been a number of things other than eating idol meat that have been rightly considered weaker brother issues—dancing, smoking, watching certain movies or TV shows, drinking alcohol, fashion choices, hairstyles, and so on and so forth.</p>
<p>While some folks will make arguments otherwise, the morality of homosexual behavior (and thus the moral legitimacy of same-sex marriage) is not a weaker brother issue. It’s an either-or issue. Either it is moral or it’s not. People are welcome to take up either position and defend it biblically (not just culturally or emotionally), but both sides can’t be right. The reason for this is simple: the various weaker brother issues that have been debated in the past didn’t have much Scriptural support one way or the other. The Bible doesn’t mention anything about the morality of dancing, though it does feature people dancing on occasion. It doesn’t say anything about smoking. It does say we should focus our attention on the good, the true, and the beautiful, but Jesus Himself went to parties (like at Matthew’s house) where there was no doubt some less than good, true, and beautiful behavior for Him to see. It doesn’t prohibit alcohol itself anywhere. It prohibits drunkenness several times. Similarly, nowhere in the Old Testament were people prohibited from eating meat that had been sacrificed to an idol. The Jewish background believers who considered it sinful were merely making application from other laws in order to deal with a contemporary issue. We do that kind of thing today. Most of us would consider using heroin sinful, right? It’s not mentioned in the Bible at all. Taking drugs of any kind isn’t mentioned in the Bible. But, heroin is powerfully addictive and damages the body and so, drawing on verses that talk about caring for our bodies and not making ourselves slaves of things other than God, we reasonably conclude that using heroin is sinful. Technically speaking, though, (and don’t take me out of context here) if someone were able to genuinely use heroin to the glory of God, their freedom in Christ would allow it. Now, I don’t think that’s possible, but it could technically be true.</p>
<p>When it comes to homosexuality, however, we are dealing with a different kind of issue. There are several specific passages addressing it, all of them negative. Now, folks can and do make arguments why those texts mean something other than what they have been historically understood to mean, but that’s not the same as saying this is merely a matter of exercising our freedom in Christ. That option’s not on the table here.</p>
<p>So what do we do with this, especially considering that we have committed members of this church who personally stand on both sides of this issue? We remember two things. Number one: What someone believes about marriage and sexuality does not determine their standing before Christ. Let us have conversations about our respective positions. Let us defend what we believe with clarity and charity. Let us patiently explain why we believe folks on the opposite side of the issue from us are mistaken in their arguments all the while making sure that our own arguments are clearly and intentionally rooted in Scripture. Let us as a church decide the particular position on this issue we want to represent us and make that official. But, let us not worry ourselves with judging their standing before God or treat them as anything other than our brothers and sisters in Christ. If their confession is clear and there is good evidence of Gospel fruit in their life, we accept that at face value and treat them like a fellow Jesus follower. We remember that what unites us is not our position on marriage, but the sacrificial death and life-giving resurrection of Jesus Christ.</p>
<p>Being united in mission while diverse in person is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It is one of the hallmarks of the Gospel. It’s baffling to our culture. And it proclaims how much better life in the kingdom of God is than anywhere else. Think about it: where else can you go and find people who are incredibly diverse in who they are yet who are nonetheless united around a core group of fundamentals and in pursuit of a single goal? You can’t. That kind of thing has only ever existed for long in the church. Now, we don’t always get it right…but you’re not going to find it anywhere else. Sure, you can join a group where everybody’s just like you. But isn’t it better to be a part of a group where everybody’s welcome?</p>
<p>So again, the decision handed down last Friday is going to change our culture. Yes, it has been changing for quite a while, but this decision will do what nothing else has yet been able to do. And, many of these changes will probably make public life more difficult for believers who are not supportive of the issue. But beyond that, it doesn’t change anything for us. We still follow the God who is absolutely sovereign over His creation. We’re still going to love everybody regardless of who they are. We’re still going to work toward creating a place where all people matter and are empowered to engage their world for Christ. That’s who we are and no decision from the Supreme Court can change that. Now, this may not answer every question you have, but we can have conversations about those later. For now, take a deep breath, relax, and go love your neighbors regardless of how they feel on this issue because they need it, and you’ve been commanded to it by Jesus Himself. In the end, then, how do we respond to unexpected news…or at least expected news we don’t like? With grace and by remembering who God is and who we are in light of that. If we can do that, we’ll be okay.</p>
| false | 3 |
preacher like preparing write sermon past sunday mind kept going back supreme courts ruling samesex marriage last sunday still fresh one much time react yet past sunday though people came expecting least comment church yet official statement position issue adopted opinions matter mixed opposed including handful perhaps church different mine regard perhaps didnt yet know say congregation issue went something else point though know going address it160 sat work sermon past monday morning already spent fair bit time previous weekend getting ready write sermon thematically appropriate morning started writing mind could stop going previous fridays supreme court decision friend sends kinds news items thinks might interest former editor christian magazine hes list get press releases number different christian organizations sent friday read several reactions interesting right things generally subdued expected groups blasted decision unlawful poorly written poorly argued expected yet bit woe rhetorical handwringing groups buckled reminded followers supportive decision response needs one love anything totally loving respectful heterosexual homosexual people thrilled decision absolutely place left reaction course celebratory havent seen much smacked triumphalism expected tombstone dance heads buried opponents instead calm checknext still interacted various evangelical friends various places around country past week general sense ive gotten mostly feel like wind taken sails many took bit like punch gut trying stand back upright figure move forward truth though thinking christians agree decision oppose trying figure best way respond light light continue mission following jesus seeing kingdom move forward communities suspect least someone know asking questions like want try equip answer questions respond people life loving grace whichever side issue happen fall conservative christians actually respond think three basic areas need think first need bigger perspective things genesis 11 declares beginning god created heavens earth tumultuous tale two poles john describes incredible scene starting revelation 21 god indisputably throne world made right beginning god charge end god charge guess middlewhere aregod still charge nothing surprises god perfect omniscience knows everything known including going happen future words happened friday last came surprised god neither prove kind meaningful impediment advance kingdom serve god whose plans could derailed unjust death son church survived roman empire survived christendom survived enlightenment survived darwinism survived stalin survived mao church surviving isis boko haram al shabaab al qaeda christians holding historically orthodox position sex marriage way think legalization samesex marriage country basis opinion five people pose kind existential threat church even law continue following culture criminalize holding historically orthodox position marriage still going okay fact historically speaking church always done best cultural political drivers seat last 2030 years particular dont handle political power well institution never best place always stand footsteps prophets old help pick pieces things around us fall apart im getting troubled decision time panic time handwringing time worry things place lives jesus followers god still charge hes still good hes still going see plans accomplished place follow faithfully things leads second area response culture actually needs us follow jesus faithfully spite pressure puts us otherwise broken isnt going repair lets establish common ground regardless feel particular issue think agree culture moving anything resembling christian worldview prescriptions live lives even dont think issue example whole think agree general trajectory things heres problem every worldview fails comes cultural application mean think things iran right north korea sudan india china greece generally speaking places world either fewest number christian per capita dont christian worldview one relatively recent cultural influencers pretty awful places live awful leadership terrible economies little freedom religious freedom particular combination places christian worldview used hold sway largely consciously rejected generation two getting worse time wherever go followers jesus bring kingdom god us kingdom god justice law freedom culture love currency righteousness foundation peace state thing cultural preservatives put place make everything around better christians put place faithfully following lord make everything around us better jesus said salt light world salt historically used two primary things first preservative followers jesus preserve world around us keep spoiling abraham bargaining god fate sodom gomorrah god willing relent destruction planned two evil cities sake ten righteous people ten righteous people whole cities would spared happened took special pains preserve one somewhat righteous man unrighteous family second salt brings true flavors food often think salt spice seasoning used appropriate amounts highlights flavors food brings richest enjoyable levels faithful followers jesus always able bring best culture get involved consider work done local middle school recently badly needed painting couldnt afford get done local christian group got involved drafting volunteers long coming woodworking help selfless service christians brought best people around many probably christians point cant leave culture behind decision like suggested cant throw towel cant cloister away try mostly keep heads jesus left us world purpose high priestly prayer asked us saved world us protected need intentionally bringing love christ world broken sin everybody broken sin whether gay straight need cleansing love christ job bring must stay engaged world regardless feel decision great likelihood going contribute brokenness need helping people put lives back together bitter fruits start coming bear need prepared show life kingdom god simply better anything else 160 opportunity write interact writers commenters baptist news global last couple years pressed keen awareness single opinion matter shared christians believers dead set opposed whatever form happens take one baptist preacher texas threatened set fire decision came way saturday folks offered help fuel clarified hyperbolic believers wildly supportive fellow writer website wrote piece past week arguing christians accept decision one plaintiffs case ordained baptist minister kentucky read reflections decision website well represent two dramatically opposite positions issue yetboth texas baptist preacher kentucky baptist preacher doubt profess sincere love christ motivating force heres thing cant right issue romans 14 also 1 corinthians 810 paul encouraged believers came different conclusions morality eating meat previously sacrificed idol bear patient grace opposed avoid needlessly offending else succumbing pride opposed avoid casting judgment werent fact okay believers faith god rather mindset taking part idol worship given rise meat first place sake believed sinful thus sinful cultural religious upbringing fine practice wisest limit use freedom particular issue giving meat occasion means fostering better relationships unified community kinds issues today sometimes called weaker brother issues folks opposed eating idol meat weaker faith paul said approving brothers years number things eating idol meat rightly considered weaker brother issuesdancing smoking watching certain movies tv shows drinking alcohol fashion choices hairstyles forth folks make arguments otherwise morality homosexual behavior thus moral legitimacy samesex marriage weaker brother issue eitheror issue either moral people welcome take either position defend biblically culturally emotionally sides cant right reason simple various weaker brother issues debated past didnt much scriptural support one way bible doesnt mention anything morality dancing though feature people dancing occasion doesnt say anything smoking say focus attention good true beautiful jesus went parties like matthews house doubt less good true beautiful behavior see doesnt prohibit alcohol anywhere prohibits drunkenness several times similarly nowhere old testament people prohibited eating meat sacrificed idol jewish background believers considered sinful merely making application laws order deal contemporary issue kind thing today us would consider using heroin sinful right mentioned bible taking drugs kind isnt mentioned bible heroin powerfully addictive damages body drawing verses talk caring bodies making slaves things god reasonably conclude using heroin sinful technically speaking though dont take context someone able genuinely use heroin glory god freedom christ would allow dont think thats possible could technically true comes homosexuality however dealing different kind issue several specific passages addressing negative folks make arguments texts mean something historically understood mean thats saying merely matter exercising freedom christ options table especially considering committed members church personally stand sides issue remember two things number one someone believes marriage sexuality determine standing christ let us conversations respective positions let us defend believe clarity charity let us patiently explain believe folks opposite side issue us mistaken arguments making sure arguments clearly intentionally rooted scripture let us church decide particular position issue want represent us make official let us worry judging standing god treat anything brothers sisters christ confession clear good evidence gospel fruit life accept face value treat like fellow jesus follower remember unites us position marriage sacrificial death lifegiving resurrection jesus christ united mission diverse person gift holy spirit one hallmarks gospel baffling culture proclaims much better life kingdom god anywhere else think else go find people incredibly diverse yet nonetheless united around core group fundamentals pursuit single goal cant kind thing ever existed long church dont always get rightbut youre going find anywhere else sure join group everybodys like isnt better part group everybodys welcome decision handed last friday going change culture yes changing quite decision nothing else yet able many changes probably make public life difficult believers supportive issue beyond doesnt change anything us still follow god absolutely sovereign creation still going love everybody regardless still going work toward creating place people matter empowered engage world christ thats decision supreme court change may answer every question conversations later take deep breath relax go love neighbors regardless feel issue need youve commanded jesus end respond unexpected newsor least expected news dont like grace remembering god light well okay
| 1,509 |
<p>Since mid-March, the School Board has been locked in a struggle with advocates for local school councils over board proposals to amend the Chicago School Reform Act. The board says the measures are needed for accountability; the advocates contend they would return schools to central control.</p>
<p />
<p>Legislators have repeatedly demanded that the two sides seek a compromise, and local civic organizations reportedly have been trying to craft one. However, as Catalyst goes to press in late April, no compromise has emerged, and none seems imminent.</p>
<p>The most hotly contested provision would reduce the authority of local school councils in deciding whether to renew a principal’s four-year contract. Under the proposed law, an LSC’s decision could be appealed to a three-member panel, which would make a recommendation to the School Board.</p>
<p>Other parts of the board’s proposed legislation would require LSC members to submit to criminal background checks, give board officials a new intervention tool to regulate possible financial mismanagement, and set some new restrictions on councils when principals are being selected.</p>
<p>Board officials have dropped several controversial proposals and modified others since unveiling their wish list on March 17. For example, the original legislation would have allowed the board to establish a code of conduct for LSC members and to remove any members who failed to meet the code’s requirements; that measure was dropped. On the matter of principal retention, the School Board and the general superintendent would have been the only parties involved in deciding whether to overturn a council’s decision; the three-member panel later was added as a compromise.</p>
<p>As Catalyst goes to press, no legislative committee in either house has voted on any of the board’s proposals. With reform groups fighting back, the Senate Education Committee passed a “shell bill,” Senate Bill 652, in the hopes that compromise language could be added as an amendment later.</p>
<p>Principal retention</p>
<p>The shell bill came before the House Education Committee in mid-April. Although board officials announced some changes, they presented no new language to the House committee, making the debate, in the words of committee Chair Larry Woolard (D-Carterville), “a discussion on something that ain’t.” The committee heard arguments for and against the board’s proposals but took no action. At press time, the committee was scheduled to take up the bill again on April 28.</p>
<p>On April 21, Catalyst obtained a copy of the latest legislative language. Here is a summary of the proposal on the hot-button principal-retention issue, as of that date:</p>
<p>In deciding whether to renew a principal’s contract, LSCs would be required to consider four criteria: the length of a principal’s tenure, instructional leadership, school management and “the effective implementation of programs, policies or strategies to improve student academic achievement.” Board officials would be required to use the same four criteria in their annual evaluations of principals.</p>
<p>An LSC’s decision to let a principal go at the end of a four-year contract would be subject to review if the principal had received a satisfactory rating or better on his or her most recent evaluation by School Board officials. The review would occur only if the principal, an LSC member or the CEO requested it.</p>
<p>Reviews would be conducted by a three-member committee, with the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association, the board’s Local School Council Advisory Board and the board’s Academic Accountability Council each sending a representative.</p>
<p>The committee would be bound to consider the same factors as LSCs, plus any reasons provided by the LSC for its decision and any views expressed by students, parents, school faculty and staff, and community members.</p>
<p>The committee would make a recommendation to the board, which would have the final say.</p>
<p>Board officials say the proposal would simply provide clearer criteria for deciding whether to retain sitting principals. “Currently, the school reform law provides no criteria on which the renewal decision is to be made,” says a flyer the board sent to LSC members in late March. “As a result, principals who have received positive evaluations from the general superintendent—and even from the LSC—are sometimes refused a new contract.</p>
<p>The new rules would provide a check on councils who aren’t doing a good job, according to Beverly Tunney, president of the principals association, which strongly supports the board’s proposals. “The two words that we’re stressing right now are accountability and fairness,” says Tunney. “We don’t want bad principals in schools. We want to be accountable. The reform groups [who oppose the bill] don’t understand the variances in councils. You can have a wonderful council, or you can have one that can’t get a quorum together. There’s really no one who makes sure things are done in the right way.”</p>
<p>Many supporters of local school councils are dead-set against the proposal, saying that it would strip LSCs of their ability to weed out bad principals. Parents United for Responsible Education (PURE) claims that the provision “would take CPS back to the days when principals had lifetime tenure” and cites recent figures showing that no sitting principal received less than a satisfactory rating from central office last year. “Our schools can hardly be considered so successful that all our principals have earned a satisfactory or better rating.”</p>
<p>The board’s proposals “would turn LSCs into advisory councils,” says Steve DeBretto, director of the North River Commission, a Northwest Side community group. DeBretto says that in making the rounds of LSCs in his group’s area, he’s found little support for the board’s proposals. “Overwhelmingly, people are pretty upset with it,” he says. “While there may be some problems that Vallas has pinpointed, there’s no need to change the legislation. There’s a very delicate balance of power right now, and Senate Bill 652 would skew that.”</p>
<p>“It’s important for communities to have the right to make their own decisions, whether we like them or not,” says Corretta McFerren, a School Board consultant and director of WSCORP, a West Side community group.</p>
<p>One possible avenue for compromise may be the venue in which appeals of LSC decisions are heard. Opponents see the current committee as being stacked against LSCs: two members come from groups appointed entirely or in large part by the School Board, and the third would be a representative from the principals’ group. “That’s like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse,” scoffs McFerren.</p>
<p>Possible compromises</p>
<p>Woestehoff suggests that her group may be open to discussing alternatives on this issue. “There are other models, both from industry and education,” she notes, giving the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board as one example.</p>
<p>Tunney sees it as an area open for discussion. “We’re certainly willing to compromise. We’re not afraid of who this review board is,” she says. “We want this to be as professional as possible. I do feel there should be a principal on the review board, because unless you’ve walked a mile in our moccasins, you can’t really know the challenges we face.”</p>
<p>Board officials considered expanding their proposed review board in late April, but as Catalyst went to press, no details were available.</p>
<p>Tunney and Woestehoff both agreed that the board’s current principal-evaluation process could be improved. The Financial Research and Advisory Committee (FRAC), an arm of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, will pilot a new principal-evaluation process next year; both Tunney and Woestehoff expressed support for the effort.</p>
<p>The controversy on principal evaluation may have a silver lining, says John Ayers, director of Leadership for Quality Education, another arm of the Civic Committee. “The result of the fight over 652 is that we all better be doing a better job with principal evaluation,” he says. “When all the dust settles, the real work is gonna be figuring out how to do training of LSCs and principals in a way that helps them and leads to professional development and school improvement.”</p>
<p>At press time, the Civic Committee was widely reported to be working with another business group, Chicago United, to bring both sides together but were making little headway. Staff for the two groups declined to comment on the reports.</p>
<p>Rep. Edgar Lopez (D-Chicago) also was trying to start negotiations, but he wasn’t optimistic. “At this point, I don’t think CPS wants to negotiate,” he told Catalyst.</p>
<p>Lopez’s assessment echoed comments CEO Paul Vallas made to the House Education Committee in mid-April: ‘We are not going to compromise with ourselves or with groups that don’t want any change,” Vallas said. ”You can water a bill down into oblivion.”</p>
| false | 3 |
since midmarch school board locked struggle advocates local school councils board proposals amend chicago school reform act board says measures needed accountability advocates contend would return schools central control legislators repeatedly demanded two sides seek compromise local civic organizations reportedly trying craft one however catalyst goes press late april compromise emerged none seems imminent hotly contested provision would reduce authority local school councils deciding whether renew principals fouryear contract proposed law lscs decision could appealed threemember panel would make recommendation school board parts boards proposed legislation would require lsc members submit criminal background checks give board officials new intervention tool regulate possible financial mismanagement set new restrictions councils principals selected board officials dropped several controversial proposals modified others since unveiling wish list march 17 example original legislation would allowed board establish code conduct lsc members remove members failed meet codes requirements measure dropped matter principal retention school board general superintendent would parties involved deciding whether overturn councils decision threemember panel later added compromise catalyst goes press legislative committee either house voted boards proposals reform groups fighting back senate education committee passed shell bill senate bill 652 hopes compromise language could added amendment later principal retention shell bill came house education committee midapril although board officials announced changes presented new language house committee making debate words committee chair larry woolard dcarterville discussion something aint committee heard arguments boards proposals took action press time committee scheduled take bill april 28 april 21 catalyst obtained copy latest legislative language summary proposal hotbutton principalretention issue date deciding whether renew principals contract lscs would required consider four criteria length principals tenure instructional leadership school management effective implementation programs policies strategies improve student academic achievement board officials would required use four criteria annual evaluations principals lscs decision let principal go end fouryear contract would subject review principal received satisfactory rating better recent evaluation school board officials review would occur principal lsc member ceo requested reviews would conducted threemember committee chicago principals administrators association boards local school council advisory board boards academic accountability council sending representative committee would bound consider factors lscs plus reasons provided lsc decision views expressed students parents school faculty staff community members committee would make recommendation board would final say board officials say proposal would simply provide clearer criteria deciding whether retain sitting principals currently school reform law provides criteria renewal decision made says flyer board sent lsc members late march result principals received positive evaluations general superintendentand even lscare sometimes refused new contract new rules would provide check councils arent good job according beverly tunney president principals association strongly supports boards proposals two words stressing right accountability fairness says tunney dont want bad principals schools want accountable reform groups oppose bill dont understand variances councils wonderful council one cant get quorum together theres really one makes sure things done right way many supporters local school councils deadset proposal saying would strip lscs ability weed bad principals parents united responsible education pure claims provision would take cps back days principals lifetime tenure cites recent figures showing sitting principal received less satisfactory rating central office last year schools hardly considered successful principals earned satisfactory better rating boards proposals would turn lscs advisory councils says steve debretto director north river commission northwest side community group debretto says making rounds lscs groups area hes found little support boards proposals overwhelmingly people pretty upset says may problems vallas pinpointed theres need change legislation theres delicate balance power right senate bill 652 would skew important communities right make decisions whether like says corretta mcferren school board consultant director wscorp west side community group one possible avenue compromise may venue appeals lsc decisions heard opponents see current committee stacked lscs two members come groups appointed entirely large part school board third would representative principals group thats like putting fox charge henhouse scoffs mcferren possible compromises woestehoff suggests group may open discussing alternatives issue models industry education notes giving illinois educational labor relations board one example tunney sees area open discussion certainly willing compromise afraid review board says want professional possible feel principal review board unless youve walked mile moccasins cant really know challenges face board officials considered expanding proposed review board late april catalyst went press details available tunney woestehoff agreed boards current principalevaluation process could improved financial research advisory committee frac arm civic committee commercial club chicago pilot new principalevaluation process next year tunney woestehoff expressed support effort controversy principal evaluation may silver lining says john ayers director leadership quality education another arm civic committee result fight 652 better better job principal evaluation says dust settles real work gon na figuring training lscs principals way helps leads professional development school improvement press time civic committee widely reported working another business group chicago united bring sides together making little headway staff two groups declined comment reports rep edgar lopez dchicago also trying start negotiations wasnt optimistic point dont think cps wants negotiate told catalyst lopezs assessment echoed comments ceo paul vallas made house education committee midapril going compromise groups dont want change vallas said water bill oblivion
| 838 |
<p>We come to the Bible seeking a little relief from the drama in our lives and what do we find? A text cracking and sizzling with fear, rage, resentment and wonder. If you want an escape from the drama, the Bible is the last place to look. Wherever you look in holy writ, the dramatic tension is palpable. Snap! Crackle! Pop!</p>
<p>The fireworks are an inevitable outgrowth of the Bible’s big story. Working through the children of blessing, God aims to bless the world. Simple enough. But what if the children of blessing don’t want to bless the world? What if they squander their holy inheritance in the service of strange gods like money, sex and power? What is God supposed to do then?</p>
<p>The God of the philosophers dwells in passionless certainty. The God of the Bible lives in the tension between grace and justice and, as a direct consequence, suffers wild mood swings. This God has no Plan B. It’s us or nothing. The dice are tumbling and the stakes are high. If you don’t get that, the Bible will always be a bizarre jumble. That’s why most of the book never gets read. That continual snap, crackle and pop can be unnerving.</p>
<p>We don’t avoid the biblical backwaters because they are weird or nasty; we avoid them because we fear we will be sucked into the drama. At least, that’s my hypothesis. To test it out, I plopped my finger into the text at six random intervals and here’s what I found.</p>
<p>My finger first fell on Leviticus 19:33:</p>
<p>When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself.</p>
<p>The relevance to this text is embarrassingly obvious. If we are instruments of universal blessing, the embrace of strangers, refugees, aliens and immigrants goes without saying. But can a preacher say that and stay employed?</p>
<p>The second place my finger fell was Psalm 79:1-2:</p>
<p>O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth.</p>
<p>The psalmist feels betrayed, and who can blame the guy? Didn’t God promise to bless and protect the heirs of David and Solomon? So why, circa 586 B.C., are Nebuchadnezzar’s soldiers trashing David’s city and Solomon’s temple? Has God revoked his blessing? High voltage drama. Snap! Crackle! Pop!</p>
<p>My finger fell next on Ezekiel 2:8-9:</p>
<p>Like the hardest stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not fear them or be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.</p>
<p>Marvin Tate, my Old Testament professor, called Ezekiel “the weirdo of the Old Testament.” But Ezekiel was weird for a reason. He was forced to journey into the heart of God and, if we follow, some of that weirdness will rub off on us.</p>
<p>As the armies of Nebuchadnezzar advance on the holy city, Ezekiel sees the whirling wheels of Yahweh’s chariot lift off from Solomon’s temple and soar off into the wilderness, never to return. Is the story over? Have we lost our God? Snap! Crackle! Pop!</p>
<p>Then my finger fell on Luke 13:4-5:</p>
<p>Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them — do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.</p>
<p>Over 600 years have elapsed since the time of Ezekiel, but bad things are still happening to good people. “You will perish” isn’t a reference to hell. If God stepped aside for Nebuchadnezzar, Jesus says, why will he not do the same for Caesar? On the cross, the brutal tension between grace and justice unleashed a bolt of lightning that sliced through the heart of God and rolled away a tomb stone.</p>
<p>But the old world of Nebuchadnezzar lived on. In A.D. 70, 500 children of Abraham were crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem on a daily basis. This went on, month after month, until the walls were breached, Herod’s temple was burned to the ground, over one million children of Abraham were dead and 100,000 more were forced into slavery.</p>
<p>Has Pharaoh prevailed at last? The voltage has been cranked up so high the wires of revelation are ready to snap.</p>
<p>My finger fell for a fifth time, this time on Philippians 3: 2-3:</p>
<p>Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.</p>
<p>The Apostle Paul wrote these words from a Roman prison cell. He wouldn’t leave that cell until the guards led him to the place of execution. Paul writes with a passion the world hadn’t seen since the days of Ezekiel and Jeremiah. The Apostle knew his time was short, but his thoughts were fixed on the new creation communities he had established in Caesar’s back yard. If we are blessed to be a blessing, Paul asks, how can circumcision be forced on Gentile Christians? Are we new creations or are we not?</p>
<p>And what will happen when Paul follows his Savior in death while the dogs of Philippi live on? Snap! Crackle! Pop!</p>
<p>Finally, my finger fell on obscure verses from the strangest book in the Bible, Revelation 11:1-3:</p>
<p>Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, ‘Come and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample over the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, wearing sackcloth.’</p>
<p>Almost every word in John’s Revelation echoes the Old Testament. Back when Solomon’s temple lay in ruins, Ezekiel was commanded to take a measure the dimensions of the New Jerusalem God had prepared for the wedding of heaven and earth. And now, with a second temple laid to waste by a second Babylon, John is told to measure the temple, even while its outer courts were overrun by the very “nations” Abraham’s children had been called to bless.</p>
<p>Into this ugly scene “two witnesses” appear: Moses (who butted heads with Pharaoh) and Elijah (who waged spiritual warfare against Ahab, Jezebel and the priests of Baal). Things always look bleak for God’s prophets, John is saying, and nothing has changed. But the cross broke the devil’s back and, appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”</p>
<p>If you repeat my experiment, your random finger will fall on six very different passages, but you can bet that the dramatic tension will be just as severe. Bible reading isn’t supposed to be easy, pleasant or nice. Frail children of dust are called to live like new creations, an undertaking so audacious it literally killed God to pull it off. This biblical snap, crackle and pop may be unnerving, but it’s our only hope.</p>
| false | 3 |
come bible seeking little relief drama lives find text cracking sizzling fear rage resentment wonder want escape drama bible last place look wherever look holy writ dramatic tension palpable snap crackle pop fireworks inevitable outgrowth bibles big story working children blessing god aims bless world simple enough children blessing dont want bless world squander holy inheritance service strange gods like money sex power god supposed god philosophers dwells passionless certainty god bible lives tension grace justice direct consequence suffers wild mood swings god plan b us nothing dice tumbling stakes high dont get bible always bizarre jumble thats book never gets read continual snap crackle pop unnerving dont avoid biblical backwaters weird nasty avoid fear sucked drama least thats hypothesis test plopped finger text six random intervals heres found finger first fell leviticus 1933 alien resides land shall oppress alien alien resides shall citizen among shall love alien relevance text embarrassingly obvious instruments universal blessing embrace strangers refugees aliens immigrants goes without saying preacher say stay employed second place finger fell psalm 7912 god nations come inheritance defiled holy temple laid jerusalem ruins given bodies servants birds air food flesh faithful wild animals earth psalmist feels betrayed blame guy didnt god promise bless protect heirs david solomon circa 586 bc nebuchadnezzars soldiers trashing davids city solomons temple god revoked blessing high voltage drama snap crackle pop finger fell next ezekiel 289 like hardest stone harder flint made forehead fear dismayed looks rebellious house marvin tate old testament professor called ezekiel weirdo old testament ezekiel weird reason forced journey heart god follow weirdness rub us armies nebuchadnezzar advance holy city ezekiel sees whirling wheels yahwehs chariot lift solomons temple soar wilderness never return story lost god snap crackle pop finger fell luke 1345 eighteen killed tower siloam fell think worse offenders others living jerusalem tell unless repent perish 600 years elapsed since time ezekiel bad things still happening good people perish isnt reference hell god stepped aside nebuchadnezzar jesus says caesar cross brutal tension grace justice unleashed bolt lightning sliced heart god rolled away tomb stone old world nebuchadnezzar lived ad 70 500 children abraham crucified outside walls jerusalem daily basis went month month walls breached herods temple burned ground one million children abraham dead 100000 forced slavery pharaoh prevailed last voltage cranked high wires revelation ready snap finger fell fifth time time philippians 3 23 beware dogs beware evil workers beware mutilate flesh circumcision worship spirit god boast christ jesus confidence flesh apostle paul wrote words roman prison cell wouldnt leave cell guards led place execution paul writes passion world hadnt seen since days ezekiel jeremiah apostle knew time short thoughts fixed new creation communities established caesars back yard blessed blessing paul asks circumcision forced gentile christians new creations happen paul follows savior death dogs philippi live snap crackle pop finally finger fell obscure verses strangest book bible revelation 1113 given measuring rod like staff told come measure temple god altar worship measure court outside temple leave given nations trample holy city fortytwo months grant two witnesses authority prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days wearing sackcloth almost every word johns revelation echoes old testament back solomons temple lay ruins ezekiel commanded take measure dimensions new jerusalem god prepared wedding heaven earth second temple laid waste second babylon john told measure temple even outer courts overrun nations abrahams children called bless ugly scene two witnesses appear moses butted heads pharaoh elijah waged spiritual warfare ahab jezebel priests baal things always look bleak gods prophets john saying nothing changed cross broke devils back appearances contrary notwithstanding kingdoms world become kingdoms god christ shall reign forever ever repeat experiment random finger fall six different passages bet dramatic tension severe bible reading isnt supposed easy pleasant nice frail children dust called live like new creations undertaking audacious literally killed god pull biblical snap crackle pop may unnerving hope
| 645 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>JULY 29, 2010</p>
<p>By ANTHONY PIGNATARO</p>
<p>All contractors hired by the <a href="http://cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/" type="external">California High-Speed Rail Authority</a> to prepare environmental reports on the project are contractually prohibited from discussing their agreements with the media, a CalWatchdog examination of the authority’s current contracts shows.</p>
<p>The gag order clause appears in 10 of the 18 contracts: <a href="http://www.pbworld.com/" type="external">Parson Brinckerhoff Quade &amp; Douglas</a> (program management), <a href="http://www.urscorp.com/" type="external">URS</a>(Fresno-Palmdale and Los Angeles-Palmdale corridors), <a href="http://www.stvinc.com/" type="external">STV</a>(Los Angeles-Orange County corridor), <a href="http://www.hntb.com/" type="external">HNTB</a>(Los Angeles-San Diego and San Francisco-San Jose corridors), <a href="http://www.aecom.com/" type="external">AECOM</a>(Sacramento-Fresno and Central Valley-San Francisco corridors), <a href="http://www.parsons.com/pages/default.aspx" type="external">Parsons</a>(San Jose-Merced corridor) and <a href="http://www.tylin.com/" type="external">T.Y. Lin</a> (program manager oversight). These contracts represent roughly $777 million of the total $798 million currently spent by the authority on outside contractors. The estimated final cost for&#160; bullet train system that will run 800 miles across the state ranges from $45 billion to more than $80 billion.</p>
<p>The clause is the same in each contract: “The Consultant shall not comment publicly to the press or any other media regarding this Agreement or the Authority’s actions on the same, except to the Authority’s staff, Consultant’s own personnel involved in the performance of this agreement, at public hearings, or in response to questions from a Legislative committee.”</p>
<p>Another clause in the contracts add, “The Consultant shall not issue any news release or public relations item of any nature whatsoever regarding work performed or to be performed under this Agreement without prior review of the contents thereof by the Authority and receipt of the Authority’s written permission.”</p>
<p>Though Terry Francke of <a href="http://www.calaware.org/home.php" type="external">Californians Aware</a>, a free speech advocacy group, said he didn’t usually examine government contracts, he said the clause did surprise him. “My guess is that it traces to the sensitivity of those proposing the project to the environmental concerns of the public,” he said. “The process of ‘massaging’ drafts could be undermined if a reporter calls a consultant. Maybe all this has to be kept under wraps until those paying for the product are happy with it. But that’s just speculation.”</p>
<p>According to High-Speed Rail Authority officials, the clause is basically there to save money.</p>
<p>“The Authority wants keen oversight of the scopes for each contract,” said HSR press secretary Rachel Wall in an e-mail. “[I]t is counterproductive to the project to allow consultants to bill the Authority for time spent talking to the media when there are positions within the Authority for that very task.”</p>
<p>This reasoning raises a number of troubling questions. Most notably,&#160; why it only pertains to consultants doing either project management work or environmental impact report preparation.</p>
<p>“The clause began being included in contracts when the Authority hired a new contracts manager nearly a year and a half ago,” Wall e-mailed. “At that time that manager began including/updating the standard contract language (aka ‘boilerplate’) in the Authority’s service contracts.”</p>
<p>Then there’s the issue of the authority’s “lax contract management” that was the subject of a recent (and scathing) <a href="http://www.bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2009-106.pdf" type="external">California State Auditor report</a>. The April 2010 report found numerous instances where authority personnel weren’t monitoring contractor spending:</p>
<p>Any reporter following up on such charges would have to call the various contractors for some sort of comment. And the contractors would, at a minimum, want to say something, even if only to clear their name – an action seemingly banned by the gag order clause. Yet in <a href="http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/images/chsr/20100429141654_Final%20Howle%20Response%20Ltr%204-19-10%20-%20Curt%20Pringle.pdf" type="external">response</a>to the auditor’s report, the high-speed rail authority cloaked itself in, ironically, the necessity of “transparency.”</p>
<p>“The Authority is committed to transparency and believes strongly that additional spotlight on our operations will ultimately make for a better high-speed train project for the state,” authority Chairman Curt Pringle wrote in an April 19, 2010 letter to Auditor Elaine Howle.</p>
<p>Spurred on by Pringle’s eloquent wording, CalWatchdog contacted all the contractors bound by the gag order clause. Surprisingly, it was not a completely fruitless endeavor.</p>
<p>For the most part, the contractor’s work on the bullet trains has been very low-key. Few of the companies have more than cursory information about their high-speed rail work on their Web sites, and none of the contractors sent out press releases announcing their initial winning of the contracts (the companies usually released all sorts of statements to the media after winning their various contracts).</p>
<p>Officials from Parson Brinckerhoff, URS, STV and AECOM did not respond to general requests for comment about the work they were doing for the High Speed Rail Authority. Public relations people at HNTB and T.Y. Lin responded, but only to say that we should direct all inquiries to the authority itself.</p>
<p>Parsons was a different story. Within minutes of our e-mailed inquiry we received a phone call and a follow-up e-mail making sure we had received the phone call. Mo Hayes, Parsons’ market development manager for California readily answered all of our very general, very innocuous questions about her company’s work on the bullet train project, though she did get somewhat vague when the conversation turned to the gag order clause.</p>
<p>“That is pretty common,” she said. “They don’t want us to tell you the terms and conditions and prices unless they clear them.”</p>
<p>Hayes explained that creating an environmental impact report has more to do with following the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process than it does the actual project. “Things happen sequentially,” she said, meaning that the gag order prohibited her company from releasing information about the project development before it had a chance to get proper CEQA approval.</p>
<p>Then a dark thought came over us. “This conversation isn’t going to get you in trouble?” we suddenly asked.</p>
<p>“I don’t know,” Hayes said, laughing. “Maybe…”</p>
<p>Photo courtesy California High-Speed Rail Authority.</p>
| false | 3 |
july 29 2010 anthony pignataro contractors hired california highspeed rail authority prepare environmental reports project contractually prohibited discussing agreements media calwatchdog examination authoritys current contracts shows gag order clause appears 10 18 contracts parson brinckerhoff quade amp douglas program management ursfresnopalmdale los angelespalmdale corridors stvlos angelesorange county corridor hntblos angelessan diego san franciscosan jose corridors aecomsacramentofresno central valleysan francisco corridors parsonssan josemerced corridor ty lin program manager oversight contracts represent roughly 777 million total 798 million currently spent authority outside contractors estimated final cost for160 bullet train system run 800 miles across state ranges 45 billion 80 billion clause contract consultant shall comment publicly press media regarding agreement authoritys actions except authoritys staff consultants personnel involved performance agreement public hearings response questions legislative committee another clause contracts add consultant shall issue news release public relations item nature whatsoever regarding work performed performed agreement without prior review contents thereof authority receipt authoritys written permission though terry francke californians aware free speech advocacy group said didnt usually examine government contracts said clause surprise guess traces sensitivity proposing project environmental concerns public said process massaging drafts could undermined reporter calls consultant maybe kept wraps paying product happy thats speculation according highspeed rail authority officials clause basically save money authority wants keen oversight scopes contract said hsr press secretary rachel wall email counterproductive project allow consultants bill authority time spent talking media positions within authority task reasoning raises number troubling questions notably160 pertains consultants either project management work environmental impact report preparation clause began included contracts authority hired new contracts manager nearly year half ago wall emailed time manager began includingupdating standard contract language aka boilerplate authoritys service contracts theres issue authoritys lax contract management subject recent scathing california state auditor report april 2010 report found numerous instances authority personnel werent monitoring contractor spending reporter following charges would call various contractors sort comment contractors would minimum want say something even clear name action seemingly banned gag order clause yet responseto auditors report highspeed rail authority cloaked ironically necessity transparency authority committed transparency believes strongly additional spotlight operations ultimately make better highspeed train project state authority chairman curt pringle wrote april 19 2010 letter auditor elaine howle spurred pringles eloquent wording calwatchdog contacted contractors bound gag order clause surprisingly completely fruitless endeavor part contractors work bullet trains lowkey companies cursory information highspeed rail work web sites none contractors sent press releases announcing initial winning contracts companies usually released sorts statements media winning various contracts officials parson brinckerhoff urs stv aecom respond general requests comment work high speed rail authority public relations people hntb ty lin responded say direct inquiries authority parsons different story within minutes emailed inquiry received phone call followup email making sure received phone call mo hayes parsons market development manager california readily answered general innocuous questions companys work bullet train project though get somewhat vague conversation turned gag order clause pretty common said dont want us tell terms conditions prices unless clear hayes explained creating environmental impact report following california environmental quality act ceqa process actual project things happen sequentially said meaning gag order prohibited company releasing information project development chance get proper ceqa approval dark thought came us conversation isnt going get trouble suddenly asked dont know hayes said laughing maybe photo courtesy california highspeed rail authority
| 546 |
<p>KABUL — In the early morning hours of Nov. 5, 2008, in the cool, dark reaches of the Gandamack Pub, a ragged group of journalists, diplomats and NGO workers watched as the results of the U.S. presidential election rolled in. &#160; Shortly after 8:30 a.m. local time, CNN announced that Barack Obama would become the 44th president of the United States. &#160; A cheer erupted in the pub, a watering hole for expats that has all the trappings of the former British Colonial presence in Afghanistan, from the Enfield rifles lining the walls to the velvety Guinness on tap. Champagne flowed freely, despite the early hour, and the predominantly American crowd solicited hugs from the more reserved Europeans. &#160; Just beyond the gated wall of the Gandamack, the city of Kabul was also reacting and, in some circles, even celebrating the news, though perhaps with a little less jubilance. &#160; This is, after all, a country that measures time in centuries and has seen foreign occupiers come and go: the Americans, the Soviets before them, the British before that, all the way back to Genghis Khan. &#160; At the same time, Obama's victory, which prompted celebrations in many parts of the world, has electrified Afghanistan — with the probable exception of the Taliban — with hope. &#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/america-and-the-world/090111/which-it-stands-introduction-the-series" type="external" /> &#160; Over the past two years, Afghanistan has become a deepening quagmire, and in the lead-up to the U.S. election, there seemed little confidence among Afghan political and military officials in Kabul that John McCain's strategies could lead the way forward. &#160; Post-election, on that same day as the Gandamack erupted in euphoria, a more restrained affair was underway hosted by the U.S. Embassy and bringing together nearly 80 Afghan dignitaries, invited to participate in a mock ballot for the American presidency. &#160; In a landslide, more than 70 of the Afghans voted for Obama. &#160; Many Afghans followed the campaign with as much interest as the average American, and most felt that they had just as big a stake in the results. The fate of their country will depend largely on the decisions made by the occupant of the Oval Office. &#160; While the new American “empire” may lack the rough-and-tumble elan of the former British hegemony, embodied in the rowdy pub across town, Afghans are under no illusions about who is in charge. &#160; The question remains, what exactly is it about the incoming president that has so inspired this tragic, war-ravaged country half a planet away from Washington? &#160; Obama's appeal to Afghans goes far beyond their mistaken yet widespread belief here that he shares their religion. Still, in Kabul, Obama's middle name, Hussein, is an unalloyed blessing. &#160; Nor is it the nuts and bolts of Obama's stated policy on Afghanistan that has the inhabitants of its remote mountains and deserts cheering for him. While they may welcome the increased focus on their country, many Afghans are uneasy with the idea of more boots on the ground. Civilian casualties have increasingly angered the population and buoyed support for the insurgency. &#160; Even less popular is the idea of arming tribal militias against the Taliban, in an Afghan version of Iraq's "Anbar Awakening." While Gen. David Petraeus, now chief of Central Command and the architect of what is widely viewed as the successful Iraq strategy, is universally respected in Afghanistan, the prospect of giving weapons and power to local warlords makes many Afghans fearful. &#160; What Afghans want and expect from Obama is, at once, less tangible and more important than any policy initiative: They want to be seen and understood. &#160; For the first time, they have an American leader who has some real knowledge of their world. Obama's Muslim father, his childhood experience in the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia, and the color of his skin all endear him to Afghans. &#160; "He is a black man, and I am a black man," smiled one man, a generously bearded, dark-skinned Pashtun named Hafiz. "He will know what to do." &#160; This is a radical change in attitude. For the past seven years, many Afghans have felt like second-class citizens in their own country. Viewed as potential threats by the foreign military, employed by international organizations for a fraction of what expatriates receive, told that their culture and traditions must be replaced by a Western-style democracy, Afghans have become increasingly disenchanted with the world's often-clumsy efforts to help them rebuild their shattered society. &#160; One of the central problems of the recent Afghanistan strategies, from the Bonn process to the London conference to the Paris declaration, seems to be that those most deeply affected — the Afghans themselves — are the ones who are least consulted. Instead, international panels are set up to oversee everything from the parliament to the armed forces, with less than stellar results. &#160; Seven years on, the Taliban insurgency is stronger than ever, corruption and crime have exploded, there is still no reliable source of electricity even in the capital, and the few roads that have been built are almost empty because of the Taliban threat. The one undeniable achievement of the post-Taliban years — growing numbers of children in school — is also under threat because of the deteriorating security situation. &#160; But the excitement over the new American president and the change he represents has opened a window of opportunity. For a short honeymoon period, Afghans will suspend their anger and disappointment over the course of the war and get behind Obama as he brings Afghanistan to the center of the political stage. &#160; The challenge will be to listen to the Afghans, to understand their concerns, and not to dismiss them as tribal thugs or terrorists-in-waiting. &#160; As Obama prepares to tackle the problem of Afghanistan, he would do well to keep in mind the lessons of history. Invaders do not fare well here, and Afghans have proved notoriously resistant to attempts to remake their country in the image of another. &#160; Just as well Obama's ability to instill hope — the same that propelled him to the presidency — will help him in any quest to bring peace to this violent, troubled land.</p>
| false | 3 |
kabul early morning hours nov 5 2008 cool dark reaches gandamack pub ragged group journalists diplomats ngo workers watched results us presidential election rolled 160 shortly 830 local time cnn announced barack obama would become 44th president united states 160 cheer erupted pub watering hole expats trappings former british colonial presence afghanistan enfield rifles lining walls velvety guinness tap champagne flowed freely despite early hour predominantly american crowd solicited hugs reserved europeans 160 beyond gated wall gandamack city kabul also reacting circles even celebrating news though perhaps little less jubilance 160 country measures time centuries seen foreign occupiers come go americans soviets british way back genghis khan 160 time obamas victory prompted celebrations many parts world electrified afghanistan probable exception taliban hope 160 160 past two years afghanistan become deepening quagmire leadup us election seemed little confidence among afghan political military officials kabul john mccains strategies could lead way forward 160 postelection day gandamack erupted euphoria restrained affair underway hosted us embassy bringing together nearly 80 afghan dignitaries invited participate mock ballot american presidency 160 landslide 70 afghans voted obama 160 many afghans followed campaign much interest average american felt big stake results fate country depend largely decisions made occupant oval office 160 new american empire may lack roughandtumble elan former british hegemony embodied rowdy pub across town afghans illusions charge 160 question remains exactly incoming president inspired tragic warravaged country half planet away washington 160 obamas appeal afghans goes far beyond mistaken yet widespread belief shares religion still kabul obamas middle name hussein unalloyed blessing 160 nuts bolts obamas stated policy afghanistan inhabitants remote mountains deserts cheering may welcome increased focus country many afghans uneasy idea boots ground civilian casualties increasingly angered population buoyed support insurgency 160 even less popular idea arming tribal militias taliban afghan version iraqs anbar awakening gen david petraeus chief central command architect widely viewed successful iraq strategy universally respected afghanistan prospect giving weapons power local warlords makes many afghans fearful 160 afghans want expect obama less tangible important policy initiative want seen understood 160 first time american leader real knowledge world obamas muslim father childhood experience largest muslim country world indonesia color skin endear afghans 160 black man black man smiled one man generously bearded darkskinned pashtun named hafiz know 160 radical change attitude past seven years many afghans felt like secondclass citizens country viewed potential threats foreign military employed international organizations fraction expatriates receive told culture traditions must replaced westernstyle democracy afghans become increasingly disenchanted worlds oftenclumsy efforts help rebuild shattered society 160 one central problems recent afghanistan strategies bonn process london conference paris declaration seems deeply affected afghans ones least consulted instead international panels set oversee everything parliament armed forces less stellar results 160 seven years taliban insurgency stronger ever corruption crime exploded still reliable source electricity even capital roads built almost empty taliban threat one undeniable achievement posttaliban years growing numbers children school also threat deteriorating security situation 160 excitement new american president change represents opened window opportunity short honeymoon period afghans suspend anger disappointment course war get behind obama brings afghanistan center political stage 160 challenge listen afghans understand concerns dismiss tribal thugs terroristsinwaiting 160 obama prepares tackle problem afghanistan would well keep mind lessons history invaders fare well afghans proved notoriously resistant attempts remake country image another 160 well obamas ability instill hope propelled presidency help quest bring peace violent troubled land
| 563 |
<p>Editors' note: GlobalPost's style is to <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/globalpost-blogs/southeast-asia/burma-or-myanmar" type="external">use the country's official name, Myanmar</a>, but the author, Bill Davis, prefers Burma in solidarity with the groups that are pushing for democracy and justice.</p>
<p>BANGKOK, Thailand - The results of April's election in Burma keep coming in: Recently the US joined the rest of the international community in suspending sanctions against Burma's government. The US government's announcement is the latest step in the international community's warming trend toward the new government.</p>
<p>But it is premature and could be dangerous.</p>
<p>The Burmese government has spent much effort to convince the international community and investors that true democratic change has come to Burma, and it has been successful. Business journals are buzzing about the new "Asian tiger economy" and governments have dropped sanctions.</p>
<p>But the Burmese government should not have to convince the business world of change in Burma; rather, it should focus on convincing its own people. The international community should maintain sanctions until changes have reached all parts of the country.</p>
<p>The government's changes have been focused on cities and the central part of the country, areas that are most visible to foreigners. Although the government engaged in ceasefire talks with ethnic insurgent groups in the border areas, many of these talks are ongoing and people living in these areas have yet to benefit from democratic changes in Naypidaw. Ethnic minorities make up a third of the country's population and they are regularly overlooked during the whirlwind tours of foreign diplomats and journalists.</p>
<p>Few international visitors have made it to Kachin State, where a war has been raging for the last year. Abuses against civilians have been ongoing since fighting began there. On the day that the US announced it was suspending sanctions, a Kachin group released a report detailing the Burmese Army's gang rape of a 48-year-old grandmother and the torture of her 59-year-old neighbor. Last September, I interviewed Kachin civilians who were forced by the Burmese Army to sweep for landmines and carry supplies. Kachin people told me that the Burmese Army fired into civilian houses and threatened to mortar villages.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/chatter/myanmar-investment-sanctions-eased" type="external">Big news for Myanmar, but still not the biggest</a></p>
<p>Abuses are continuing in other ethnic areas too, including those that have had recent ceasefires. Karen, Shan, and Chin states have seen forced labor, extrajudicial killings, religious persecution, and Burmese Army troops pillaging civilian food stores since ceasefires were announced.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, ethnic political organizations have called for continued sanctions against the Burmese government. Ignoring these calls further marginalizes these groups and gives tacit approval for the Burmese Army to continue its abuses with impunity.</p>
<p>Suspending sanctions and promoting international business investment will do very little to end Burmese military abuses or bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice. Historically, companies working in Burma have partnered with cronies of the regime or the military, and they have frequently been associated with forced labor, forced relocations and land grabbing.</p>
<p>The Kachin Development Networking Group recently highlighted the effects of development in Kachin state and named seven companies associated with human rights abuses. Similar abuses are ongoing, in Arakan and Chin states with a road project, in Eastern Burma with hydroelectric plants, outside of Rangoon with housing developments and across the country with gas and oil pipeline construction and with land confiscation in Tenasserim Division around a port project.</p>
<p>Villagers from Tenasserim Division told me how they signed papers forfeiting their land for the port project, but were not allowed to keep copies of the documents they signed. They complained that prices offered to buy them out were not enough and that many people were forced to move but did not receive any compensation. This is not responsible development.</p>
<p>Given the history of development projects in Burma, international businesses will have a difficult time finding Burmese partners that are sensitive to human rights concerns, and suspending sanctions could result in more abuses. Western businesses risk becoming complicit in human rights violations if there are no strict binding requirements prohibiting such acts.</p>
<p>To build trust with its own citizens, and to truly effect change in the entire country, the government of Burma must halt abuses in ethnic areas and end its 60-year reign of impunity. The government must acknowledge past human rights abuses, ensure justice is upheld, give reparations to those who have suffered abuses, and establish credible and independent institutions that will deter future crimes. The Burmese government has not done any of this on its own. Sanctions were placed on Burma with the goal of stopping human rights violations, and they should remain in place until this happens.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/120601/aung-san-suu-kyi-warns-reckless-optimism-myanmar-reforms" type="external">Suu Kyi warns against 'reckless optimism' over Myanmar reforms</a></p>
<p>The international community should support the transition to democracy, and this includes pushing for an end to human rights violations and justice for victims. Suspending sanctions will not further these goals, and with human rights abuses continuing, it is premature.</p>
<p>Physicians for Human Rights calls on the international community and the US government to closely monitor the situation in Burma, and to be prepared to immediately reinstate sanctions if human rights abuses continue or if progress is not made in reaching other benchmarks.</p>
<p>Bill Davis is the director of the Burma Project at Physicians for Human Rights. He has several positions in non-governmental organizations in Southeast Asia.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
editors note globalposts style use countrys official name myanmar author bill davis prefers burma solidarity groups pushing democracy justice bangkok thailand results aprils election burma keep coming recently us joined rest international community suspending sanctions burmas government us governments announcement latest step international communitys warming trend toward new government premature could dangerous burmese government spent much effort convince international community investors true democratic change come burma successful business journals buzzing new asian tiger economy governments dropped sanctions burmese government convince business world change burma rather focus convincing people international community maintain sanctions changes reached parts country governments changes focused cities central part country areas visible foreigners although government engaged ceasefire talks ethnic insurgent groups border areas many talks ongoing people living areas yet benefit democratic changes naypidaw ethnic minorities make third countrys population regularly overlooked whirlwind tours foreign diplomats journalists international visitors made kachin state war raging last year abuses civilians ongoing since fighting began day us announced suspending sanctions kachin group released report detailing burmese armys gang rape 48yearold grandmother torture 59yearold neighbor last september interviewed kachin civilians forced burmese army sweep landmines carry supplies kachin people told burmese army fired civilian houses threatened mortar villages globalpost160 big news myanmar still biggest abuses continuing ethnic areas including recent ceasefires karen chin states seen forced labor extrajudicial killings religious persecution burmese army troops pillaging civilian food stores since ceasefires announced surprisingly ethnic political organizations called continued sanctions burmese government ignoring calls marginalizes groups gives tacit approval burmese army continue abuses impunity suspending sanctions promoting international business investment little end burmese military abuses bring perpetrators human rights violations justice historically companies working burma partnered cronies regime military frequently associated forced labor forced relocations land grabbing kachin development networking group recently highlighted effects development kachin state named seven companies associated human rights abuses similar abuses ongoing arakan chin states road project eastern burma hydroelectric plants outside rangoon housing developments across country gas oil pipeline construction land confiscation tenasserim division around port project villagers tenasserim division told signed papers forfeiting land port project allowed keep copies documents signed complained prices offered buy enough many people forced move receive compensation responsible development given history development projects burma international businesses difficult time finding burmese partners sensitive human rights concerns suspending sanctions could result abuses western businesses risk becoming complicit human rights violations strict binding requirements prohibiting acts build trust citizens truly effect change entire country government burma must halt abuses ethnic areas end 60year reign impunity government must acknowledge past human rights abuses ensure justice upheld give reparations suffered abuses establish credible independent institutions deter future crimes burmese government done sanctions placed burma goal stopping human rights violations remain place happens globalpost160 suu kyi warns reckless optimism myanmar reforms international community support transition democracy includes pushing end human rights violations justice victims suspending sanctions goals human rights abuses continuing premature physicians human rights calls international community us government closely monitor situation burma prepared immediately reinstate sanctions human rights abuses continue progress made reaching benchmarks bill davis director burma project physicians human rights several positions nongovernmental organizations southeast asia 160
| 514 |
<p>Sometimes, in the process of covering so many things and in the attempt to provide as much information and commentary as possible, we simply are not able to provide all that we wish to do so to the public.</p>
<p>However, that does not mean other stories and commentary are not important.&#160; In fact, many things coming out of alternatives media today are vitally important for those coming off the government-controlled media.</p>
<p>One of those items that didn’t hit the mainstream media, and sadly didn’t hit much of the alternative media, was the opening statement of Cliven Bundy’s son, Ryan, as the trial of the century began nearly two weeks ago.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>In light of that, I’ve been meaning to post his opening statement because it is certainly on that Americans should familiarize themselves with and quite possibly, should a fair history book be written, may go down in a Patrick Henry-esque&#160;fashion.</p>
<p>So, without further ado, here’s Ryan Bundy’s opening statement (H/T <a href="http://canadafreepress.com/article/ryan-bundys-brilliant-opening-statement" type="external">Gary Hunt</a>) that was delivered to the jury in the <a href="https://freedomoutpost.com/?s=bundy+ranch+trials" type="external">Bundy Ranch trials</a> on November 15, 2017.&#160; Read and remember.</p>
<p>*&#160; *&#160; *</p>
<p>Thanks to the jurors for being here. I told you a little about myself at voir dire, but I’d like to introduce myself a little more and tell you about my heritage and how that affects my case. (Projects a picture of his family – AND leaves it up throughout his statement!)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user3303/imageroot/2017/11/25/20171126_bundy1.jpg" type="external">&lt;img src="https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user3303/imageroot/2017/11/25/20171126_bundy1_0.jpg" alt="" /&gt;</a></p>
<p>[Note: the picture shown above.]</p>
<p>This is my ID! Not my driver’s license. This is who I am, a man with a family and I’ll do whatever it takes to provide for them. I want you to picture in your minds…you’re out on the land… I’ll take you to our ranch, you can see all the beauty of the land, the fresh air, sunsets and sunrises, the brush, you’re on a horse in front of the cattle – place yourself there – feel the freedom – out of the congestion of the cars – that’s how I was raised, playing in the river, we were called river-rats and that is where my life began and I hope ends.</p>
<p>My family has been on that land 141 years, my pioneer ancestors settled there in 1877 – there was nothing there. They carved out a living… they brought a horse and wagon and some provisions… this case, the government mentioned is “not about rights”, but it is – those rights do mean something – rights are created through beneficial use. When my ancestors arrived, undoubtedly the horse would need a drink, so they led him to the water and that is beneficial use. The horse and perhaps a cow that had been led behind the wagon need to eat some brush in the hills, that is beneficial use. That established rights. The water rights are real! So real, the State of Nevada has a water rights registry including livestock watering rights. A law was created to protect those rights. The water rights that my father owns were first registered in 1891 by the State of Nevada – the State of Nevada is important, a sovereign state, its own unit, which entered the union in 1864. It entered equal to the original states, it is its own entity and state laws are important.</p>
<p>My family and I are charged with some grievous things and they are not true and evidence will show they are not; force, manipulation, extortion, violent—my family is not a violent family and I am not a violent man. For 20+ years we turned to local law enforcement. Rights are real property. The fact is that we create government to protect rights.</p>
<p>To have rights you must claim, use and defend… man only has rights he is willing to claim, use and defend. There is a difference between rights and privileges. Rights you own. Privilege is afforded. Like renting or owning a house. The government asserts there are no rights, only privileges and unless we pay, we can’t be there. The State of Nevada says differently. These are my father’s rights. Everything we have comes from the land. That is wealth, not the dollar bill. The things we use all come from the land. Who controls the land, controls the wealth.</p>
<p>We create government to preserve and serve us. These are some of the beliefs of my family. That we have said we will do whatever it takes to defend is not a threat, it is a statement. Being right here before you today is part of doing whatever it takes. The Founding Fathers pledged whatever it would take… their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, to defend rights. With the evidence you will see that is what we were doing; there was no conspiracy to impede, to harm… but, to protect our heritage that our pioneer ancestors established. We were attacked, surrounded by what appeared to be mercenaries, snipers pointed directly at me. You will hear a report from a sniper that he was keeping watch of me in my van, with my wife and two of my daughters with me.</p>
<p>Our ranch – children are always welcome – it is a place to play, play in the river, the pond, chase or hunt rabbits, burn your toes in the hot sand in summer—always free. Never before did we feel like someone was always watching. In early spring of 2014, we felt like someone was always watching… the dogs were watching the hills when you are always with a dog you get to know what they are saying with their bark… you can tell by their bark what they are seeing… surveillance cameras on one hill, but the dog looking at another and growling… (tearfully) This is not what America is supposed to be. Supposed to be a land of liberty. The Founding Fathers fought and bled so we wouldn’t have to and now we find ourselves in a similar situation.</p>
<p>They say this issue is over grazing fees… it’s terrible, terrible, he must be a freeloader – it’s only rhetoric – I’ll tell you why – You don’t pay rent when you own your home! We own those rights! Not the land, I know we don’t own the land, but access…you and others have rights to that land. We own water and grazing rights. We don’t pay rent for something we own.</p>
<p>The BLM was formed in 1960. Our rights were established in 1877, long before BLM. The original states own 100% of their land and all states were to come in on equal footing. The crux of the issue is,&#160; are we a state or not? They say grazing is a privilege they can revoke and charge fees. If it is only a matter of money it is no problem. In fact, Mr. Whipple showed a copy of a check made out to Clark County. If the whole purpose is to show we owe a fee, then we’ll pay to the proper owner of the land. That was not the only check written to Clark County, we sent several. Also, in Clark County, there were 53 ranchers who owned rights. There is only a single one still out on the range. The BLM is not gaining revenue, it’s not important to them. My father could see they were there to manage him out of business. It’s not about grazing fees. In the BLM office, there were signs that read: No more Moo by ‘92 and Cattle Free by ‘93! If it were only about the grazing fees, the fees would have been under $100,000 over 25 years. It is rumored, it may not be seen in evidence, but it is rumored that they spent $6 million on the operation. Who spends that and court costs rumored to be over $100 million to collect $100,000?</p>
<p>What is this about? The court orders. They say my father had an opportunity in the courts. The court wouldn’t consider states rights. They have forgotten they are servants of the people. We the people are the sovereign and ultimately, we the people are the government formed to meet needs that are better met by a group than by individuals. We are not slaves. We need to remember that. I think that’s forgotten. The definition of freedom is lost in America. When we have to have a license or ask permission to do everything, we are subjects.</p>
<p>Back to the charges – they claimed I went to Richfield and that the sheriff had to be called because we were causing such a ruckus—evidence will show otherwise—we boycott to influence to change ways – we protest to cause a change – these are first amendment rights – we do not get rights from the Bill of Rights – we have rights, to begin with – it should be called the Prohibition of Government – we have freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, we can petition for a redress of grievances—rights we don’t want the government to mess with.</p>
<p>A redress is to find an answer, find a solution – one way to protest. The BLM put up first amendment zones – not much bigger than this courtroom – we called them pig pens – by creating that area, they were denying our right everywhere else – that’s what they used to arrest my brother – he was outside the pig pens. The first amendment has been protected over and over again in our history. There are lots of media in the gallery today, they wouldn’t be happy to have their right to free speech taken. First amendment was put in the Supreme Law of the land, the Constitution – they shall make no law restricting these things… as you saw in the video yesterday, my brother was not impeding, not blocking, he was on a state road, on its right-of-way, simply to take pictures with his iPad of them stealing our cattle – they attacked him, threw him to the ground, rubbed his face in the ground. (emotional) The American public saw this and came not to impede or do harm. They came because they felt the spirit of the Lord, spirit of freedom and felt “we the people are not going to put up with that behavior”. It was not pointed out there were snipers on the hill, I witnessed that through binoculars and the evidence will show this.</p>
<p>Back to Richfield, Utah, evidence and witness testimony will show there was not a ruckus there that disrupted or shut down that auction. I called the sheriff – that’s the pattern – the local law enforcement and state brand inspectors in Nevada, Arizona, and Utah and I had to contact the highway patrol, county commissioners in several counties and state officials – not all face to face, but some through phone calls. Is this what a criminal does? No. We were there protecting life, liberty, property. You saw the video of them hip chucking my Aunt Margaret, 50+ years of and just finished with cancer treatments, the mother of 11 children. They call these BLM guys law enforcement, but they are just BLM employees. All authority comes from we the people, we delegate authority to the county sheriff who we elect and he hires deputies and we then have a sheriff’s department to protect our life, our liberty, our property. Choosing for yourself is freedom and we have no right to impede or harm others. That’s God’s law. Man-made law is to follow that. Man is supposed to be free, not controlled, serfs or slaves. Government is to be our servant. The government went in and shut down 600,000 acres – not one of us ever went into their enclosed area and never impeded them. Even my brother driving into the dump truck… isn’t that impediment? The court order did not allow the destruction of water infrastructure. What was a dump truck doing out there? Since that was beyond the scope of the supposed court order, we had a right to know. They could have stopped and answered our questions, but no, they set out attack dogs and tazers and threw Aunt Margaret to the ground. Every incident they are charging us with happened on property that belonged to the State of Nevada. Even if BLM had authority to close public land, they have no authority to close State of Nevada public land. The fence was in the State of Nevada land. Except by invitation, you will not see one of us breach that fence or impede the gather. We did not violate the court order. Dave went over the fence by the invitation of Dan Love and then the sheriff took over and asked for our help to take down the fence and then the Cowboys, led by sheriffs squad cars went to release the cattle. The sheriff honored his oath and did his job. He should have done it sooner.</p>
<p>I love my family. I love them. I love this land. I love freedom. I am from the State of Nevada. I’m a true Nevadan. I mentioned before that Nevada became a state on Oct. 31st and we always got out of school on that day… I always thought we got out because it was my birthday. I’m a true Nevadan. I believe you are, too, and love freedom as much as I do. Freedom’s not being lost overseas – it’s lost right here at home in our backyards, our front yards. Until we are willing to do whatever it takes, liberty will be, is being lost. We are not anti-government! The government has its proper place and duties to perform. I want the government to do its job. Nothing more. Nothing less. When government does more or less than its job, it becomes the criminal. When government damages our rights, it becomes the criminal. When someone harms or damages another’s life, liberty or property that is the definition of a criminal. Extortion, violence, pointing guns – everything we are charged with, they were doing and thousands of people came running – the world knew about this – China, Ireland (they sent us a flag), New Zealand and other countries – why? Because America stood for freedom and has for years and the world is interested in seeing how America (emotional) will deal with freedom. The world wants to know. The American people said, “yes, we will stand for freedom. Government, you’ve gone too far and we will put a stop to it.”</p>
<p>The courts have a place. It is said that We the People are the fourth branch of government. I say we are the first. The legislature to make laws, the executive to execute laws and the judicial to judge. All three branches are to protect your rights, our rights, freedom, liberty. The government does not have the authority in and of itself – man creates government to fulfill and protect rights. We the people give the government the authority through the Constitution. The tenth amendment ensures state’s rights.</p>
<p>Evidence will show my father and my brothers are innocent men. We need you to put on that paper that we are not guilty. You are the twelve to represent us, peers, equals, people…we the People.</p>
<p>Guns…lots of guns…scary…camo…freedom of speech…also, the right to bear arms, the second amendment…a militia was necessary. What is a militia? It is defined in the law. U.S. Code defines militia: “all able-bodied men 17-45 years of age”. How many of you are a member of the militia? The State of Nevada extended that and includes men up to the age of 64. How many of you now are a member of the Nevada militia? There is the organized militia, the National Guard, and the unorganized militia – everyone else. Why did the Founding Fathers include the second amendment? Was it for duck hunting? No…no! The militia is mentioned six times in the Constitution. Such a small document and few things are mentioned more than the militia; the central government of this union and yet media or whatever wants to put a bad face on the militia. Why did militia come to Bundy Ranch? To peacefully assemble, redress of grievances. No one was harmed except Davey, Ammon, and Margaret. You will not see in evidence that we ever harmed anyone! They attack and we turned the other cheek. We were peaceful—insistent? Yes! And, Yes! Demanding. These men, these people did not come to seek an opportunity to point guns at the government. Hundreds, even thousands of people we didn’t know. That’s exemplary. These people came to do good. To protect me, to save my life. I had a sniper pointing at me, 200 armed men surrounding my home, my family (tearfully) Ryan Payne has been portrayed as a bad man. Evidence will show otherwise. He saved my life. He saved my life. Others came. I didn’t even meet most of them until I was in jail with them, may have seen them in passing, but I didn’t know them until jail. I honor and thank them now! I thank all who came. We only have rights we are willing to fight for. You’ll see evidence that I was nearly always with the sheriff or a deputy – always in communication with them – I was side-by-side with Lombardo.</p>
<p>Thank you for coming, for being here. I will still do whatever it takes. This is not a threat, it is determination. I love my freedom. Listen to the still small voice to discern between truth and error. The indictment and grand jury testimony is full of lies. Truth has been blocked in previous trials. Listen closely – we will try to get you the truth. The truth will set me free and I’m counting on you to help me see that.</p>
<p>I invite you to our ranch. I recognize your right to use the land. We want you to come and enjoy it. I thank you for this time. Please find me not guilty and these other men not guilty. Stand up for freedom. Thank you.</p>
| false | 3 |
sometimes process covering many things attempt provide much information commentary possible simply able provide wish public however mean stories commentary important160 fact many things coming alternatives media today vitally important coming governmentcontrolled media one items didnt hit mainstream media sadly didnt hit much alternative media opening statement cliven bundys son ryan trial century began nearly two weeks ago 160 light ive meaning post opening statement certainly americans familiarize quite possibly fair history book written may go patrick henryesque160fashion without ado heres ryan bundys opening statement ht gary hunt delivered jury bundy ranch trials november 15 2017160 read remember 160 160 thanks jurors told little voir dire id like introduce little tell heritage affects case projects picture family leaves throughout statement ltimg srchttpswwwzerohedgecomsitesdefaultfilesimagesuser3303imageroot2017112520171126_bundy1_0jpg alt gt note picture shown id drivers license man family ill whatever takes provide want picture mindsyoure land ill take ranch see beauty land fresh air sunsets sunrises brush youre horse front cattle place feel freedom congestion cars thats raised playing river called riverrats life began hope ends family land 141 years pioneer ancestors settled 1877 nothing carved living brought horse wagon provisions case government mentioned rights rights mean something rights created beneficial use ancestors arrived undoubtedly horse would need drink led water beneficial use horse perhaps cow led behind wagon need eat brush hills beneficial use established rights water rights real real state nevada water rights registry including livestock watering rights law created protect rights water rights father owns first registered 1891 state nevada state nevada important sovereign state unit entered union 1864 entered equal original states entity state laws important family charged grievous things true evidence show force manipulation extortion violentmy family violent family violent man 20 years turned local law enforcement rights real property fact create government protect rights rights must claim use defend man rights willing claim use defend difference rights privileges rights privilege afforded like renting owning house government asserts rights privileges unless pay cant state nevada says differently fathers rights everything comes land wealth dollar bill things use come land controls land controls wealth create government preserve serve us beliefs family said whatever takes defend threat statement right today part whatever takes founding fathers pledged whatever would take lives fortunes sacred honor defend rights evidence see conspiracy impede harm protect heritage pioneer ancestors established attacked surrounded appeared mercenaries snipers pointed directly hear report sniper keeping watch van wife two daughters ranch children always welcome place play play river pond chase hunt rabbits burn toes hot sand summeralways free never feel like someone always watching early spring 2014 felt like someone always watching dogs watching hills always dog get know saying bark tell bark seeing surveillance cameras one hill dog looking another growling tearfully america supposed supposed land liberty founding fathers fought bled wouldnt find similar situation say issue grazing fees terrible terrible must freeloader rhetoric ill tell dont pay rent home rights land know dont land accessyou others rights land water grazing rights dont pay rent something blm formed 1960 rights established 1877 long blm original states 100 land states come equal footing crux issue is160 state say grazing privilege revoke charge fees matter money problem fact mr whipple showed copy check made clark county whole purpose show owe fee well pay proper owner land check written clark county sent several also clark county 53 ranchers owned rights single one still range blm gaining revenue important father could see manage business grazing fees blm office signs read moo 92 cattle free 93 grazing fees fees would 100000 25 years rumored may seen evidence rumored spent 6 million operation spends court costs rumored 100 million collect 100000 court orders say father opportunity courts court wouldnt consider states rights forgotten servants people people sovereign ultimately people government formed meet needs better met group individuals slaves need remember think thats forgotten definition freedom lost america license ask permission everything subjects back charges claimed went richfield sheriff called causing ruckusevidence show otherwisewe boycott influence change ways protest cause change first amendment rights get rights bill rights rights begin called prohibition government freedom speech freedom press freedom religion freedom assembly petition redress grievancesrights dont want government mess redress find answer find solution one way protest blm put first amendment zones much bigger courtroom called pig pens creating area denying right everywhere else thats used arrest brother outside pig pens first amendment protected history lots media gallery today wouldnt happy right free speech taken first amendment put supreme law land constitution shall make law restricting things saw video yesterday brother impeding blocking state road rightofway simply take pictures ipad stealing cattle attacked threw ground rubbed face ground emotional american public saw came impede harm came felt spirit lord spirit freedom felt people going put behavior pointed snipers hill witnessed binoculars evidence show back richfield utah evidence witness testimony show ruckus disrupted shut auction called sheriff thats pattern local law enforcement state brand inspectors nevada arizona utah contact highway patrol county commissioners several counties state officials face face phone calls criminal protecting life liberty property saw video hip chucking aunt margaret 50 years finished cancer treatments mother 11 children call blm guys law enforcement blm employees authority comes people delegate authority county sheriff elect hires deputies sheriffs department protect life liberty property choosing freedom right impede harm others thats gods law manmade law follow man supposed free controlled serfs slaves government servant government went shut 600000 acres one us ever went enclosed area never impeded even brother driving dump truck isnt impediment court order allow destruction water infrastructure dump truck since beyond scope supposed court order right know could stopped answered questions set attack dogs tazers threw aunt margaret ground every incident charging us happened property belonged state nevada even blm authority close public land authority close state nevada public land fence state nevada land except invitation see one us breach fence impede gather violate court order dave went fence invitation dan love sheriff took asked help take fence cowboys led sheriffs squad cars went release cattle sheriff honored oath job done sooner love family love love land love freedom state nevada im true nevadan mentioned nevada became state oct 31st always got school day always thought got birthday im true nevadan believe love freedom much freedoms lost overseas lost right home backyards front yards willing whatever takes liberty lost antigovernment government proper place duties perform want government job nothing nothing less government less job becomes criminal government damages rights becomes criminal someone harms damages anothers life liberty property definition criminal extortion violence pointing guns everything charged thousands people came running world knew china ireland sent us flag new zealand countries america stood freedom years world interested seeing america emotional deal freedom world wants know american people said yes stand freedom government youve gone far put stop courts place said people fourth branch government say first legislature make laws executive execute laws judicial judge three branches protect rights rights freedom liberty government authority man creates government fulfill protect rights people give government authority constitution tenth amendment ensures states rights evidence show father brothers innocent men need put paper guilty twelve represent us peers equals peoplewe people gunslots gunsscarycamofreedom speechalso right bear arms second amendmenta militia necessary militia defined law us code defines militia ablebodied men 1745 years age many member militia state nevada extended includes men age 64 many member nevada militia organized militia national guard unorganized militia everyone else founding fathers include second amendment duck hunting nono militia mentioned six times constitution small document things mentioned militia central government union yet media whatever wants put bad face militia militia come bundy ranch peacefully assemble redress grievances one harmed except davey ammon margaret see evidence ever harmed anyone attack turned cheek peacefulinsistent yes yes demanding men people come seek opportunity point guns government hundreds even thousands people didnt know thats exemplary people came good protect save life sniper pointing 200 armed men surrounding home family tearfully ryan payne portrayed bad man evidence show otherwise saved life saved life others came didnt even meet jail may seen passing didnt know jail honor thank thank came rights willing fight youll see evidence nearly always sheriff deputy always communication sidebyside lombardo thank coming still whatever takes threat determination love freedom listen still small voice discern truth error indictment grand jury testimony full lies truth blocked previous trials listen closely try get truth truth set free im counting help see invite ranch recognize right use land want come enjoy thank time please find guilty men guilty stand freedom thank
| 1,416 |
<p>Following the tragic and horrible events in Dallas last week, it is important to grieve and to take stock of what led to that fateful evening that ended with five police officers killed. But it’s also worth taking a step back and putting the problems and threats the police face today into perspective.</p>
<p>The sniper attack on Dallas police on July 7 was unquestionably one of the worst days for American police since 9/11. More officers were killed in one city&#160;that day than are typically killed across the whole country in a month. But as terrible as this event was, it also shows just how rare deliberate killings of police are.</p>
<p>Police Are Safer than Ever</p>
<p>Attacks on police have been in a long and steep decline for decades, and policing in general has never been safer. Data from the <a href="http://fee.org/umbraco/fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/leoka/" type="external">Federal Bureau of Investigation</a> (FBI), the <a href="http://nleomf.org/" type="external">National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund</a> (NLEOMF), and the <a href="https://www.odmp.org" type="external">Officer Down Memorial Page</a> (ODMP) confirm a large and significant drop in fatal injuries, from all causes, as well as&#160;shooting deaths and felony murders of police officers.</p>
<p />
<p>Every decade since the 1970s has seen a drop in the rate of fatalities, shooting deaths, and felony killings of police. Even in absolute terms, killings of police officers are on the decline. Fewer than half as many officers are being killed each year, on average, compared to the 1970s.</p>
<p />
<p>2015 was the third safest year for cops since the 1800s. The FBI hasn’t released data for 2015 yet, but the ODMP, which tracks nearly all line-of-duty officer deaths, reported just 39 non-accidental police deaths from gunfire in 2015 — the third-fewest since the 1800s.</p>
<p>Moreover, cops are not just dying less frequently — better medical care and bulletproof vests might explain that — they are also being attacked less frequently.</p>
<p>Assaults and injuries on police have declined precipitously. Since 1992, when attacks on cops peaked, the percentage of cops assaulted each year has fallen by 50 percent. The rate of injury fell by 60 percent, through 2014.</p>
<p />
<p>Cops are almost 8 times less likely to be injured by guns today. Cops are also being shot at less than ever. According to the FBI, from 1992 to 2014, assaults on police involving firearms fell by 63 percent. At the same time, the rate of police&#160;injuries from assaults with firearms fell by an astounding 86 percent.</p>
<p />
<p>Why This Is Important</p>
<p>Availability bias distorts our view of probability.Why do I think it’s important to emphasize the true (and declining) danger of police work, even at sensitive and tragic times like this? Perhaps, especially at times like this? It’s because I perfectly understand why cops feel like they are under siege and constantly in mortal jeopardy — it’s not just propaganda about a “war on cops.” It’s real threats combined with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Availability_heuristic" type="external">availability bias</a>: every cop knows someone, or knows someone who knows someone, who has been killed on the job.</p>
<p>It’s easy and natural for police to mentally inflate the threats they face on a daily basis — and cops really are routinely assaulted and injured by suspects. Even in 2014, one of the safest years for police on record, 9 percent of officers reported being assaulted, and 2.5 percent were injured by suspects — and that’s every year. At least a couple thousand cops are assaulted with knives or firearms. Cumulatively, being a cop is likely to give you quite a few violent and scary memories. All it takes is a few vivid, terrifying incidents to prime people to confuse a hand falling to natural waist height with a suspect reaching for a weapon.</p>
<p>Being a cop provides&#160;plenty of&#160;violent and scary encounters.Consider, just 13 months ago, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/13/us/dallas-police-headquarters-shooting/" type="external">Dallas PD headquarters was sprayed with bullets</a>, riddling the lobby, desks, and cars, while pipe bombs were planted around the parking lot. Remarkably, nobody died but the suspect (who was eventually killed by police snipers). But consider how on edge you would be if your office was shot up and nearly blown up, and then a year later, snipers from hidden locations gun down a dozen coworkers — and, in between these events, you stand a realistic chance of being assaulted on the job.</p>
<p>People who pretend that cops don’t have a difficult job are kidding themselves. They certainly do. But that is why it is even more important to see the threats clearly and put them in proper perspective. These high-profile killings not only do not justify the “war on cops” meme, they make it even more irresponsible to go around exaggerating the dangers of police work. Just as it is irresponsible to exaggerate the threats posed to citizens by bad cops, it is similarly dangerous to inflate the threats posed to cops from their citizens. Exaggerated fears poison the relationship that is supposed to be about protecting citizens and serving the public.</p>
<p>With the Dallas shootings all over the news, now more than ever, police will see threats everywhere and fear for their lives. It’s important for us and for them to know that the risks they face today are the same as they were last week and last year — and indeed much, much rarer than they were ten, twenty, or forty years ago. Police are not at war. We don’t need <a href="https://fee.org/articles/overkill-militarizing-america/" type="external">more militarization</a> <a href="https://fee.org/articles/swats-military-tactics-put-cops-at-risk/" type="external">to solve this problem</a>; we need more understanding.</p>
<p>This article was originally published on FEE.org. Read the <a href="https://fee.org/articles/murders-assaults-and-shootings-of-police-are-rarer-than-ever/" type="external">original article</a>.</p>
<p>David Bier is a policy expert in Washington, DC, and the editor of FEE.org. He writes on issues relating to science, civil liberties, and economic freedom.</p>
<p />
| false | 3 |
following tragic horrible events dallas last week important grieve take stock led fateful evening ended five police officers killed also worth taking step back putting problems threats police face today perspective sniper attack dallas police july 7 unquestionably one worst days american police since 911 officers killed one city160that day typically killed across whole country month terrible event also shows rare deliberate killings police police safer ever attacks police long steep decline decades policing general never safer data federal bureau investigation fbi national law enforcement officers memorial fund nleomf officer memorial page odmp confirm large significant drop fatal injuries causes well as160shooting deaths felony murders police officers every decade since 1970s seen drop rate fatalities shooting deaths felony killings police even absolute terms killings police officers decline fewer half many officers killed year average compared 1970s 2015 third safest year cops since 1800s fbi hasnt released data 2015 yet odmp tracks nearly lineofduty officer deaths reported 39 nonaccidental police deaths gunfire 2015 thirdfewest since 1800s moreover cops dying less frequently better medical care bulletproof vests might explain also attacked less frequently assaults injuries police declined precipitously since 1992 attacks cops peaked percentage cops assaulted year fallen 50 percent rate injury fell 60 percent 2014 cops almost 8 times less likely injured guns today cops also shot less ever according fbi 1992 2014 assaults police involving firearms fell 63 percent time rate police160injuries assaults firearms fell astounding 86 percent important availability bias distorts view probabilitywhy think important emphasize true declining danger police work even sensitive tragic times like perhaps especially times like perfectly understand cops feel like siege constantly mortal jeopardy propaganda war cops real threats combined availability bias every cop knows someone knows someone knows someone killed job easy natural police mentally inflate threats face daily basis cops really routinely assaulted injured suspects even 2014 one safest years police record 9 percent officers reported assaulted 25 percent injured suspects thats every year least couple thousand cops assaulted knives firearms cumulatively cop likely give quite violent scary memories takes vivid terrifying incidents prime people confuse hand falling natural waist height suspect reaching weapon cop provides160plenty of160violent scary encountersconsider 13 months ago dallas pd headquarters sprayed bullets riddling lobby desks cars pipe bombs planted around parking lot remarkably nobody died suspect eventually killed police snipers consider edge would office shot nearly blown year later snipers hidden locations gun dozen coworkers events stand realistic chance assaulted job people pretend cops dont difficult job kidding certainly even important see threats clearly put proper perspective highprofile killings justify war cops meme make even irresponsible go around exaggerating dangers police work irresponsible exaggerate threats posed citizens bad cops similarly dangerous inflate threats posed cops citizens exaggerated fears poison relationship supposed protecting citizens serving public dallas shootings news ever police see threats everywhere fear lives important us know risks face today last week last year indeed much much rarer ten twenty forty years ago police war dont need militarization solve problem need understanding article originally published feeorg read original article david bier policy expert washington dc editor feeorg writes issues relating science civil liberties economic freedom
| 519 |
<p>The accounts of both sides converged only at the end: the death of Dantwan Betts, who was shot and killed by Chicago Police Officer Richard Doroniuk.</p>
<p>Before that point, much differed.</p>
<p>The story told in the complaint filed in the Betts family’s lawsuit was a brief one. Early on the morning of April 30, 2006, Doroniuk and two other officers approached Betts’ car near the intersection of 110th Street and Wallace Avenue. They then tried, without either a reason or a search warrant, to arrest Betts, the complaint said.</p>
<p>Doroniuk and his partner, Mahmoud Shamah, drew their weapons, and Doroniuk fired his gun multiple times at Betts. Betts died after suffering “great pain, emotional distress, mental anguish and permanent injury,” the complaint said.</p>
<p>After the shooting, though, Monique Bond, director of news affairs for the Chicago Police Department, told a dramatically different story.</p>
<p>In Bond’s version, Betts was a suspect in a carjacking. The officers parked their unmarked car in front of Betts’ car. Doroniuk approached the driver’s side of the car, identified himself as a police officer and asked Betts to step out of the car.</p>
<p>Betts refused. Instead, he backed his car into another officer, Bond said. “The officer [near the driver’s side] feared for his life and his fellow officer’s life,” she was quoted as saying in media accounts the day after the shooting.</p>
<p>Every time a police shooting occurs in Chicago, a roundtable meeting consisting of high-ranking police officers is convened shortly after the event to preliminarily assess the circumstances and determine accountability. In the Betts shooting, the roundtable found Doroniuk to have complied with “department guidelines.”</p>
<p>In media accounts, Bond also noted that Doroniuk had had no history of disciplinary actions against him.</p>
<p>But he had been the subject of many lawsuits–”including six suits for incidents before the Betts shooting.</p>
<p>In 2003, for instance, Doroniuk allegedly pointed his weapon at off-duty police officer Chauncey Moore while&#160;Moore’s daughter Essence was in the car. Doroniuk was also accused of lying under oath about Moore’s having identified himself as an officer, according to court documents.</p>
<p>In 2005, Doroniuk was accused of illegally entering Corbin Johnson’s home in the Washington Heights neighborhood.</p>
<p>According to court documents, Doroniuk cursed and threatened Johnson before falsely stating that Johnson was in possession of narcotics. Charges against Johnson were later dismissed, and the City of Chicago agreed to pay him $46,000 in a settlement.</p>
<p>And, in 2006, Doroniuk was accused by Larry Ballentine of having committed an illegal search of his car and arresting him before filing drugs charges that were later dismissed. The city settled for $30,000.</p>
<p>Doroniuk’s extensive record in court is not unique.</p>
<p>The Chicago Reporter examined 85 fatal police shootings since 2000 and identified 17 wrongful death suits filed in federal court using the victims’ names. Though the Chicago Police Department does not disclose the names of officers who shoot civilians, the Reporter found the names of 20 officers who were identified in the lawsuits as a shooter. The Reporter’s investigation into the officers’ previous litigation history found that nine – or 45 percent – of them had been sued previously in either federal or circuit court.</p>
<p>Many people interviewed for this story acknowledged that many officers work under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Questioned about the Reporter’s finding during a press conference in September, Mayor Richard M. Daley also pointed out that being sued does not constitute a proof of guilt. “Anybody can sue anybody in America, and it does happen,” he said.</p>
<p>Still, some wondered if some of the fatal shootings could have been prevented had the police department paid closer attention to the legal action taken against its officers, suggesting that an officer being the subject of multiple lawsuits should be a signal to the department to investigate his or her behavior.</p>
<p>“There are 13,000 officers in the Chicago Police Department, and the proportion who violate rights in proportion to those who generate a lawsuit is very small,” said Jon Loevy, founding attorney at civil rights law firm Loevy and Loevy. “Getting sued, particularly more than once, is really crossing the line in a way that could put the city on notice that extra scrutiny is merited.”</p>
<p>Alderman Freddrenna Lyle of the 6th Ward concurred. “Clearly, it is indicative of a problem we have with an ability to …&#160;weed out officers with a propensity to shoot,” she said.</p>
<p>And others say that police behavior will escalate if it is not scrutinized.</p>
<p>“There’s a progression,” said Howard Saffold, a former Chicago police officer who now serves as chief executive officer of Positive Anti-Crime Thrust, the educational branch of the Afro-American Patrolmen’s&#160;League, an organization dedicated to improving police service to the black community. “If you don’t check the disrespect at verbal, the next thing is physical contact, [and on it goes.]”</p>
<p>These police officers’ actions, which have cost the city more than $7 million, resulted in lawsuits that were filed at the same time when most fatal police shootings appear to be declared justified. According to the Reporter’s examination of media accounts, officers involved in all but one fatal police shooting were found by the roundtable to have acted appropriately.</p>
<p>Bond of the police department said that the figure was too low but could not say how many shootings had been determined to have been outside the guidelines.</p>
<p>Click to enlarge.</p>
<p>This issue took on even more relevancy this summer as fatal police shootings dominated Chicago news headlines.</p>
<p>Neighborhoods such as North Lawndale were the site of weeks of protests by residents wracked with grief and outraged by the declaration of the shootings as justified.</p>
<p>The spate of shootings came at a time when the city was under pressure to find a right replacement for former Superintendent Phil Cline, who resigned after a number of well-publicized incidents of police abuse, and when a new body to oversee police behavior received unanimous approval by the Chicago City Council.</p>
<p>And even as the number of homicides in the city has been dropping since 2000, the average number of fatal police shootings per year increased more than 30 percent between January 2004 to September 2007, compared with the number during January 2000 to December 2003.</p>
<p>The Rev. Robin Hood, pastor of Redeemed Outreach Ministries in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, said the combination of police behavior that has led to repeated lawsuits but minimal internal discipline has had many negative consequences.</p>
<p>Among the most important: heightened distrust of police by residents in communities most affected by the shootings; diminished credibility of those people in the community advocating for peace; and a greater likelihood of community members and police having hostile interactions, which often happen shortly before a fatal police shooting.</p>
<p>“It’s a cycle that perpetuates more police versus civilian violence – that’s the part that scares me,” Hood said. “There could have been some [preventable] escalating violence by police toward civilians if there were steps followed by the Chicago Police Department after discovering that there were problems with [a particular officer].”</p>
<p>Throughout the reporting for this story, officials from the police department remained tight-lipped. It was back in June 2006 when the Reporter filed the first of four Freedom of Information Act requests to the department for the details on fatal police shootings –including the names of victims, the locations of the shootings, as well as identities of the officers involved. Since then, the department has responded by supplying only the number of shootings between 2004 and May 2007, as well as redacted detectives’ reports for nine 2004 shootings.</p>
<p>Officials from the police department repeatedly declined the Reporter’s requests for comment on the details of the shootings mentioned in this story or on critics’ assessments of how the department has handled police shootings. Mark Donahue, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7, also declined to comment. The Reporter also tried through the department to contact each of the officers mentioned in this article, but none of them were willing to talk, according to Pat Camden, deputy director of news affairs at the department.</p>
<p>But Ilana Rosenzweig, newly appointed chief administrator of the body monitoring the police department, said the kind of data reported in this story “can be a useful tool to identify trends and patterns – not just in individual officers but in the collective behavior of the Chicago Police Department as a whole.”</p>
<p>“As the Chicago Police Department looks at designing anearly intervention system, …&#160;tracking litigation against officers should be incorporated in a system,” she said.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>Doroniuk’s legal problems did not end with the Betts shooting. He was the subject of seven suits after the incident, costing the city about $270,000 in settlements.</p>
<p>In 2006, Doroniuk was also named in a federal indictment for allegedly conspiring with alleged drug dealer Larry “Peanut” Cross to steal money and drugs from drug dealers.</p>
<p>Though Doroniuk had the most lawsuits filed against him before a fatal shooting, a number of other officers also were the subject of multiple suits.</p>
<p>Rick Caballero, who was named in a 2005 wrongful death suit by Patricia Romaine for the fatal shooting of her son, Benjamin, was named in two separate suits.</p>
<p>In 2002, he was part of a group of eight officers who were accused of breaking into Kesha Adams’s apartment in the North Lawndale neighborhood. One officer punched Adams in the face with a closed fist that was holding handcuffs, while another officer ground the heel of his shoe on her right hand, the documents said. The city settled the case for $16,000.</p>
<p>And, in March 2005, one month before he shot and killed Romaine, Caballero was part of a group of officers who allegedly committed excessive force, stole money and ransacked an apartment without a search warrant, court documents show.</p>
<p>Caballero declined to comment for the story.</p>
<p>Duane Blackman nearly killed Arthur Brown in 2001, a year and a half before he was involved in the fatal shooting of Michael Walker.</p>
<p>According to court documents, Blackman shot at Brown – who had his back toward the officer – five times, hitting him in the back of the head, the back, left calf and the back of the right arm.</p>
<p>Blackman then planted on Brown a Beretta Centurion 9 mm handgun that belonged to Chicago police officer Rickey Fobbs, the documents said.</p>
<p>In critical condition, Brown was arrested and rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital.</p>
<p>That evening a roundtable was convened, but before that meeting, Capt. James Collier, watch commander of the 11th District, reviewed statements from Blackman that Brown was facing Blackman even though Brown was shot in the back of the head, the documents said.</p>
<p>The shooting was declared justified.</p>
<p>Through his lawyer, Blackman denied any wrongdoing. The case remains in litigation.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>Some critics charge that the police department has long had a culture where the actions of problem officers are rarely questioned, no matter how strong the allegations that face them. This culture, they say, results in tension between civilians and police officers that limits communication and can even lead to violence between them.</p>
<p>“The Chicago Police Department chooses not to know things within its power to know about patterns of abuse,” said Craig Futterman, founder of the Civil Rights Police Accountability Project at the University of Chicago Law School.</p>
<p>As an example, Futterman points to the police department’s “early warning system,” which was created to address burgeoning examples of police misconduct at the recommendation of Mayor Richard M. Daley’s blue-ribbon Commission on Police Integrity. “The premise is simple,” the commission observed in its November 1997 report. “Small problems become big ones if left unattended.”</p>
<p>In June, before members of the City Council, Futterman testified that the early warning system identified only 89 of 662 – fewer than one in seven – Chicago police officers who had more than 10 complaints lodged against them between May 2001 and May 2006. And the system failed to identify some officers who had more than 50 complaints during the five years.</p>
<p>Bond of the police department disagreed. She said the department adopted a personnel performance&#160;system in 2006 to enhance the early warning system. The new system allows supervisors to identify patterns of negative behavior and take corrective action, as well as to acknowledge and commend good performance.</p>
<p>Still, questions about the department’s early warning system come within a larger context of police impunity, argues Futterman, who found that the odds that a Chicago police officer who abuses a citizen would be held accountable were less than two in 1,000.</p>
<p>And almost all fatal police shootings appear to be declared justified.</p>
<p>But a jury in one case found that a gun was planted on an unarmed paraplegic shooting victim, Cornelius Ware, in 2003.</p>
<p>And ballistics evidence from the Illinois State Police found that officer Brian Rovano’s bullet hit Emmanuel Lopez in the back of his shoulder blade – something that would have been impossible if, as Rovano claimed, he had been pinned on the ground under the front of Lopez’s car. In a report about the September 2005 shooting, a forensics expert said that tire marks on Rovano’s pants appeared to have been made after&#160;the incident.</p>
<p>Both of these shootings were declared justified.</p>
<p>Some maintain that the lack of punishment in fatal shootings encourages police shootings.</p>
<p>“Because the city’s training and discipline system is broken, cops are more likely to put their finger on the trigger,” said Loevy.”Because they know that nobody is going to review their action, no matter how bad the shooting, there’s never going to be a consequence.”</p>
<p>For his part, Saffold of Positive Anti-Crime Thrust said the combination of constantly justified shootings and a very small number of sustained complaints of alleged abuse makes it harder for those advocating for peace to be seen as credible.</p>
<p>“There’s only so much appeasing that these voices of reason are going to be able to impact,” Saffold said. “There’s little credibility of these voices left that say everybody needs to be [calm].”</p>
<p>This issue is particularly stark in black communities like Auburn Gresham, South Shore, Austin and North Lawndale, according to the Rev. Steve Greer, pastor of Christian Valley Baptist Church in the North Lawndale neighborhood. Along with Humboldt Park, these neighborhoods represented just 11 percent of the city’s population in 2000 but were the site of 33 percent of the fatal police shootings during the last seven years.</p>
<p>“When the residents have police intimidation, it’s hard for me to say, ‘You’ve got to go out and tell,'” said Greer, who has led the church for seven years.”They say, ‘Come on, Reverend. We don’t know if the cop is in on this.'”As a minister, I need the community to trust me. If I give you advice to snitch and come clean, and the powers-that-be don’t deliver, I look like a sell-out preacher,” Greer said.</p>
<p>And others said that there is a cycle at work in which high levels of distrust in those communities most affected by shootings make tense interactions with police more likely.</p>
<p>These confrontations often occur before fatal shootings, according to Michael W. Quinn, retired Minneapolis police officer and author of “Walking with the Devil: The Police Code of Silence.” If people don’t trust the police and become afraid of them, they are going to do things that provoke the police,” Quinn said.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>The unanimous passage by the City Council in July of an ordinance creating a new body to monitor police behavior was heralded by some as a significant step toward reform and building community trust. The ordinance transferred control of the new agency from the police superintendent to the mayor.</p>
<p>The new system could use a lawsuit to investigate police conduct if a civilian complaint had been filed prior to the suit, according to Harold Winston, a Cook County public defender and a contributor in crafting the language of the ordinance.</p>
<p>But Denise Dixon, executive director of Working Families Illinois, an organization affiliated with SEIU Local 880 that tries to bring together unions, communities and churches to empower citizens, also said the ordinance should have included provisions for officers to speak out against, rather than stay silent in the face of, bad behavior by their colleagues.</p>
<p>“I think they should have some cover so that they are not then retaliated against and lose their jobs,” Dixon said. “They should be commended but not reprimanded.”</p>
<p>The fear of job loss for denouncing bad behavior is a very real one, according to Quinn of Minneapolis. He noted that, across the country, officers who break the code of silence are often ostracized and driven out of the force by other officers.</p>
<p>And a number of people expressed skepticism that the new body would do anything to increase trust in communities most affected by shootings.</p>
<p>Greer of Christian Valley Baptist Church predicted that Rosenzweig, Daley’s pick to head the new organization, would eventually become conditioned to the system here.</p>
<p>“This is nothing but a smoke screen,” Greer said, adding that community members he speaks with are not looking for an officer or two to be sacrificed in the name of building good will with the public.</p>
<p>For his part, the Rev. Hood said community members could be open to hearing police acknowledge unjustified shootings and the actions that preceded them but noted that police have to be willing to wait and listen, too.</p>
<p>“But dialogue means you have to …&#160;listen to what’s actually happened in the community,” he said. “Until that happens, you are not going to get good dialogue with the community. It will always been strained relations.”</p>
<p>Aliza Appelbaum, Erin Dostal, Marine Olivesi, Brittany Peterson, Alena Scarver and Shelley Zeiger helped research this article.</p>
| false | 3 |
accounts sides converged end death dantwan betts shot killed chicago police officer richard doroniuk point much differed story told complaint filed betts familys lawsuit brief one early morning april 30 2006 doroniuk two officers approached betts car near intersection 110th street wallace avenue tried without either reason search warrant arrest betts complaint said doroniuk partner mahmoud shamah drew weapons doroniuk fired gun multiple times betts betts died suffering great pain emotional distress mental anguish permanent injury complaint said shooting though monique bond director news affairs chicago police department told dramatically different story bonds version betts suspect carjacking officers parked unmarked car front betts car doroniuk approached drivers side car identified police officer asked betts step car betts refused instead backed car another officer bond said officer near drivers side feared life fellow officers life quoted saying media accounts day shooting every time police shooting occurs chicago roundtable meeting consisting highranking police officers convened shortly event preliminarily assess circumstances determine accountability betts shooting roundtable found doroniuk complied department guidelines media accounts bond also noted doroniuk history disciplinary actions subject many lawsuitsincluding six suits incidents betts shooting 2003 instance doroniuk allegedly pointed weapon offduty police officer chauncey moore while160moores daughter essence car doroniuk also accused lying oath moores identified officer according court documents 2005 doroniuk accused illegally entering corbin johnsons home washington heights neighborhood according court documents doroniuk cursed threatened johnson falsely stating johnson possession narcotics charges johnson later dismissed city chicago agreed pay 46000 settlement 2006 doroniuk accused larry ballentine committed illegal search car arresting filing drugs charges later dismissed city settled 30000 doroniuks extensive record court unique chicago reporter examined 85 fatal police shootings since 2000 identified 17 wrongful death suits filed federal court using victims names though chicago police department disclose names officers shoot civilians reporter found names 20 officers identified lawsuits shooter reporters investigation officers previous litigation history found nine 45 percent sued previously either federal circuit court many people interviewed story acknowledged many officers work extraordinarily difficult circumstances questioned reporters finding press conference september mayor richard daley also pointed sued constitute proof guilt anybody sue anybody america happen said still wondered fatal shootings could prevented police department paid closer attention legal action taken officers suggesting officer subject multiple lawsuits signal department investigate behavior 13000 officers chicago police department proportion violate rights proportion generate lawsuit small said jon loevy founding attorney civil rights law firm loevy loevy getting sued particularly really crossing line way could put city notice extra scrutiny merited alderman freddrenna lyle 6th ward concurred clearly indicative problem ability 160weed officers propensity shoot said others say police behavior escalate scrutinized theres progression said howard saffold former chicago police officer serves chief executive officer positive anticrime thrust educational branch afroamerican patrolmens160league organization dedicated improving police service black community dont check disrespect verbal next thing physical contact goes police officers actions cost city 7 million resulted lawsuits filed time fatal police shootings appear declared justified according reporters examination media accounts officers involved one fatal police shooting found roundtable acted appropriately bond police department said figure low could say many shootings determined outside guidelines click enlarge issue took even relevancy summer fatal police shootings dominated chicago news headlines neighborhoods north lawndale site weeks protests residents wracked grief outraged declaration shootings justified spate shootings came time city pressure find right replacement former superintendent phil cline resigned number wellpublicized incidents police abuse new body oversee police behavior received unanimous approval chicago city council even number homicides city dropping since 2000 average number fatal police shootings per year increased 30 percent january 2004 september 2007 compared number january 2000 december 2003 rev robin hood pastor redeemed outreach ministries englewood neighborhood chicagos south side said combination police behavior led repeated lawsuits minimal internal discipline many negative consequences among important heightened distrust police residents communities affected shootings diminished credibility people community advocating peace greater likelihood community members police hostile interactions often happen shortly fatal police shooting cycle perpetuates police versus civilian violence thats part scares hood said could preventable escalating violence police toward civilians steps followed chicago police department discovering problems particular officer throughout reporting story officials police department remained tightlipped back june 2006 reporter filed first four freedom information act requests department details fatal police shootings including names victims locations shootings well identities officers involved since department responded supplying number shootings 2004 may 2007 well redacted detectives reports nine 2004 shootings officials police department repeatedly declined reporters requests comment details shootings mentioned story critics assessments department handled police shootings mark donahue president fraternal order police chicago lodge 7 also declined comment reporter also tried department contact officers mentioned article none willing talk according pat camden deputy director news affairs department ilana rosenzweig newly appointed chief administrator body monitoring police department said kind data reported story useful tool identify trends patterns individual officers collective behavior chicago police department whole chicago police department looks designing anearly intervention system 160tracking litigation officers incorporated system said doroniuks legal problems end betts shooting subject seven suits incident costing city 270000 settlements 2006 doroniuk also named federal indictment allegedly conspiring alleged drug dealer larry peanut cross steal money drugs drug dealers though doroniuk lawsuits filed fatal shooting number officers also subject multiple suits rick caballero named 2005 wrongful death suit patricia romaine fatal shooting son benjamin named two separate suits 2002 part group eight officers accused breaking kesha adamss apartment north lawndale neighborhood one officer punched adams face closed fist holding handcuffs another officer ground heel shoe right hand documents said city settled case 16000 march 2005 one month shot killed romaine caballero part group officers allegedly committed excessive force stole money ransacked apartment without search warrant court documents show caballero declined comment story duane blackman nearly killed arthur brown 2001 year half involved fatal shooting michael walker according court documents blackman shot brown back toward officer five times hitting back head back left calf back right arm blackman planted brown beretta centurion 9 mm handgun belonged chicago police officer rickey fobbs documents said critical condition brown arrested rushed mount sinai hospital evening roundtable convened meeting capt james collier watch commander 11th district reviewed statements blackman brown facing blackman even though brown shot back head documents said shooting declared justified lawyer blackman denied wrongdoing case remains litigation critics charge police department long culture actions problem officers rarely questioned matter strong allegations face culture say results tension civilians police officers limits communication even lead violence chicago police department chooses know things within power know patterns abuse said craig futterman founder civil rights police accountability project university chicago law school example futterman points police departments early warning system created address burgeoning examples police misconduct recommendation mayor richard daleys blueribbon commission police integrity premise simple commission observed november 1997 report small problems become big ones left unattended june members city council futterman testified early warning system identified 89 662 fewer one seven chicago police officers 10 complaints lodged may 2001 may 2006 system failed identify officers 50 complaints five years bond police department disagreed said department adopted personnel performance160system 2006 enhance early warning system new system allows supervisors identify patterns negative behavior take corrective action well acknowledge commend good performance still questions departments early warning system come within larger context police impunity argues futterman found odds chicago police officer abuses citizen would held accountable less two 1000 almost fatal police shootings appear declared justified jury one case found gun planted unarmed paraplegic shooting victim cornelius ware 2003 ballistics evidence illinois state police found officer brian rovanos bullet hit emmanuel lopez back shoulder blade something would impossible rovano claimed pinned ground front lopezs car report september 2005 shooting forensics expert said tire marks rovanos pants appeared made after160the incident shootings declared justified maintain lack punishment fatal shootings encourages police shootings citys training discipline system broken cops likely put finger trigger said loevybecause know nobody going review action matter bad shooting theres never going consequence part saffold positive anticrime thrust said combination constantly justified shootings small number sustained complaints alleged abuse makes harder advocating peace seen credible theres much appeasing voices reason going able impact saffold said theres little credibility voices left say everybody needs calm issue particularly stark black communities like auburn gresham south shore austin north lawndale according rev steve greer pastor christian valley baptist church north lawndale neighborhood along humboldt park neighborhoods represented 11 percent citys population 2000 site 33 percent fatal police shootings last seven years residents police intimidation hard say youve got go tell said greer led church seven yearsthey say come reverend dont know cop thisas minister need community trust give advice snitch come clean powersthatbe dont deliver look like sellout preacher greer said others said cycle work high levels distrust communities affected shootings make tense interactions police likely confrontations often occur fatal shootings according michael w quinn retired minneapolis police officer author walking devil police code silence people dont trust police become afraid going things provoke police quinn said unanimous passage city council july ordinance creating new body monitor police behavior heralded significant step toward reform building community trust ordinance transferred control new agency police superintendent mayor new system could use lawsuit investigate police conduct civilian complaint filed prior suit according harold winston cook county public defender contributor crafting language ordinance denise dixon executive director working families illinois organization affiliated seiu local 880 tries bring together unions communities churches empower citizens also said ordinance included provisions officers speak rather stay silent face bad behavior colleagues think cover retaliated lose jobs dixon said commended reprimanded fear job loss denouncing bad behavior real one according quinn minneapolis noted across country officers break code silence often ostracized driven force officers number people expressed skepticism new body would anything increase trust communities affected shootings greer christian valley baptist church predicted rosenzweig daleys pick head new organization would eventually become conditioned system nothing smoke screen greer said adding community members speaks looking officer two sacrificed name building good public part rev hood said community members could open hearing police acknowledge unjustified shootings actions preceded noted police willing wait listen dialogue means 160listen whats actually happened community said happens going get good dialogue community always strained relations aliza appelbaum erin dostal marine olivesi brittany peterson alena scarver shelley zeiger helped research article
| 1,699 |
<p>In 1993, AT&amp;T launched an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PJcABbtvtA" type="external">ad campaign</a> now famous for its accuracy about future technologies. The ad showcased video calls, tablet computers, eBooks, personal GPS navigation and the digital classroom. The central theme was the erasure of space. When checking out a library book, attending school or running a business meeting, space was no longer an issue. The moment intended to tug your heartstrings was a mother wishing her child goodnight from a phone booth video call (it didn’t get everything right). The message was simple: digital connection will erase the limitations of space. Physical space was an obstacle to overcome, a difficulty in need of elimination, or a problem in need of solving.</p>
<p>Recently, we have seen a perplexing resurgence in interest in physical space, particularly within the most tech-savvy generations. One of the weirdest fads in recent memory is an “augmented reality” game. Pokémon Go sends players walking around their neighborhoods to find digital monsters in the real world. There are countless tales of erstwhile millennial hermits discovering new worlds outside. Parks, churches, museums and monuments have encountered numerous new visitors seeking their pocket monsters. Pokémon Go and “augmented reality” is interesting because it bucks the trend AT&amp;T capitalized on in its campaign. Physical space was important again.</p>
<p>Augmented reality is different from virtual reality because it prizes physical space. Despite the despondent account of duplicitous virtual reality in 1999’s The Matrix, technology has skewed in the virtual reality direction. Video games have become more realistic in their appearance. Movies have attempted to become more immersive. Large theaters now have auditoriums with three-dimensional imagery, sound systems that shake your seat, and screens that fill your field of vision. The goal is to replace the reality we experience with another one. Augmented reality, on the other hand, prizes reality to an extent. It requires you to be present and engaged in the world outside your door. Augmented reality requires you to walk, explore and encounter the world around you.</p>
<p>This emerging technology reminds us that place matters. For churches, and the spiritual among us, it presents an opportunity to renew our appreciation of place. A personal example might help. During college, I spent a semester studying in London. While I was there, I began to take part in the Wednesday night worship at All Hallows by the Tower, a Church of England congregation near the Tower of London. They hosted a Taizé worship service unlike most worship gatherings I have experienced elsewhere. We gathered in the sanctuary’s sometimes-rickety pews underneath its thrice-restored ceiling. Clouds of incense wafted past us from the burning bowl in front of the altar. Tiny candles were strewn across the floor, our only light apart from the setting sun. As we sang chants in multiple languages and heard readings from Scripture, one of the busiest cities in the world outside the sanctuary faded away. The place in front of us became our only reality, an intense moment of presence in space.</p>
<p>This is what the ancient Celts, indigenously religious and Christian, called “thin places.” I have heard about thin places so many times, it borders on pastoral cliché. Nevertheless, I believe it has currency right now — it helps us understand place and what role spaces can play in our lives. Another example of a thin place is an island off the coast of Ireland called Skellig Michael. Recently made famous as the setting for the end of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Skellig Michael rises out of the sea like a defiant objection to the tumultuous sea around it. An early Christian monastery sits on the island northeast of what the monks called “Christ’s Saddle.” The title speaks to the closeness of God to this place. It is where Christ sits and this island is the place from which he embarks to see the world. It is worth noting that the thin place at Skellig Michael is as treacherous to get to as it is marvelous to behold, which is true of many places that truly achieve the title sacred.</p>
<p>What can Christian communities learn from this emerging insistence on space and the ancient concept of sacred place? It is a valid question, perhaps asked incredulously. Churches, like many other brick-and-mortar institutions in our country, are apparently on the decline space-wise. Ministers and laity alike are pitched ideas for digital cathedrals and virtual abbeys, spiritual gatherings unmoored from the constraints of physical space. A cursory overview of church websites makes it readily apparent that most Christian communities have roundly rejected this advice. While that response may have been rooted in some unsavory motivations (e.g., unwillingness to change and adapt), there is something to be said for the brick-and-mortar that still comprise a crucial part of congregational life. There are some experiences that are increasingly rare outside of churches, like intergenerational mingling, corporate singing and public proclamation. One of those unique experiences our churches may soon be able to offer is the brick-and-mortar thin place of physical space. After all, most churches are stops or gyms in Pokémon Go. But more seriously, churches possess a unique offering in their grounded, physical location that should not be overlooked.</p>
<p>Churches should honor their sanctuaries as potential thin places. As travel writer Eric Weiner <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/travel/thin-places-where-we-are-jolted-out-of-old-ways-of-seeing-the-world.html" type="external">put it</a>, “Not all sacred places, though, are thin.” Many churches can find their sanctuaries’ air stale with the scent of conflicts long gone, animosities seeping up from beneath the surface, or even the invasive odious odor of busyness from outside its walls. The historical matters that thicken the places of our sanctuaries must be dealt with contextually, but the infiltration of the harried pace of the outside can be countered. When I talk about worship planning with congregations I serve, I talk about it as an architectural project. It is different than the planning that goes into a press conference or a convention. The architectural vision that gives us concert halls, stadiums, and monuments attempts to create space for an experience. Our worship should create a space for the participants to encounter God. We do convey a certain amount of information in our services, yes, but when we plan, we should build a sacred environment in which our people can meet the God we are talking about. In doing so, we lose our control over the place, surrendering it to the sacred encounter, to the Spirit. But in our loss of control, we may just thin the place enough for heaven to break in.</p>
<p>Churches should also make their sanctuaries worthy of the name, safe places with communal support and inclusion. The augmented reality of Pokémon Go, the strange sanctuary of All Hallows, and the isolated monastery of Skellig Michael all created places for people to gather and safely enjoy each other over a common passion. That’s why it’s so painful when these safe places are violated. There was <a href="http://afloat.ie/port-news/island-news/item/31483-island-guide-speaks-out-over-skellig-michael-star-wars-shoot" type="external">controversy</a> when Star Wars filmed at a place like Skellig Michael. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2016/07/10/four-suspects-arrested-string-pokemon-go-related-armed-robberies/86922474/" type="external">When some used Pokémon Go to rob players</a>, it was a violation of a safe place. Most severely, <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/charleston-church-shooting" type="external">when a white supremacist murdered black churchgoers at Mother Emanuel</a>, it shook the nation. Our churches should be safe spaces, sanctuaries for all people in a world that seems to regard no space as sacred. A physical space where one doesn’t have to worry about harassment, assault, and all other sorts of vitriol is rare — and it’s something our churches could strive to offer. That’s no small commitment to make because it would require our churches to engage uncomfortable issues of race, gender, class and sexuality. Nevertheless, it is a task that is increasingly necessary in our world.</p>
<p>Churches should share their places, because space is not just about experience but power. As we recognize the importance of physical space, our churches must recognize the power of place that they hold. Power, in the United States especially, has always been tied to space. You used to need to own land to vote, segregation enforced racialized power, and gentrification and urban development in our cities is consolidating power in the hands of the few. Churches can seek to rebuff these trends by sharing their places and spaces with those who don’t have them. Churches should volunteer their spaces for community meetings and activities as well as using these spaces to care for those who have no safe space. That means everything from <a href="http://metro.co.uk/2016/07/17/church-welcomes-pokemon-go-users-after-its-listed-as-a-gym-6012039/" type="external">taking advantage of your church’s Pokémon gym</a> to <a href="http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/South-Bay-Churches-Turn-Sanctuaries-Into-Shelters-For-Homeless-Women-This-Winter-366658961.html" type="external">providing a warm place to sleep for the homeless</a> to <a href="http://www.durhamcan.org/the-triangle-tribune-durham-can-members-demand-more-school-counselors-2/" type="external">serving as a gathering place for community activism</a>. Recognize the asset and power that your church has in its land and brick-and-mortar, and share that power with your community.</p>
<p>Serving as a steady space in an unsteady world is one of the roles our churches can serve in a sometimes scary and disconcerting future. Church will look dramatically different in the decades to come. However, humanity will not stop having sacred experiences, needing safe spaces, and requiring the power to gather. If our churches invest our energies and resources into using our places and spaces in some of these ways, we might find something of a future worth having.</p>
| false | 3 |
1993 atampt launched ad campaign famous accuracy future technologies ad showcased video calls tablet computers ebooks personal gps navigation digital classroom central theme erasure space checking library book attending school running business meeting space longer issue moment intended tug heartstrings mother wishing child goodnight phone booth video call didnt get everything right message simple digital connection erase limitations space physical space obstacle overcome difficulty need elimination problem need solving recently seen perplexing resurgence interest physical space particularly within techsavvy generations one weirdest fads recent memory augmented reality game pokémon go sends players walking around neighborhoods find digital monsters real world countless tales erstwhile millennial hermits discovering new worlds outside parks churches museums monuments encountered numerous new visitors seeking pocket monsters pokémon go augmented reality interesting bucks trend atampt capitalized campaign physical space important augmented reality different virtual reality prizes physical space despite despondent account duplicitous virtual reality 1999s matrix technology skewed virtual reality direction video games become realistic appearance movies attempted become immersive large theaters auditoriums threedimensional imagery sound systems shake seat screens fill field vision goal replace reality experience another one augmented reality hand prizes reality extent requires present engaged world outside door augmented reality requires walk explore encounter world around emerging technology reminds us place matters churches spiritual among us presents opportunity renew appreciation place personal example might help college spent semester studying london began take part wednesday night worship hallows tower church england congregation near tower london hosted taizé worship service unlike worship gatherings experienced elsewhere gathered sanctuarys sometimesrickety pews underneath thricerestored ceiling clouds incense wafted past us burning bowl front altar tiny candles strewn across floor light apart setting sun sang chants multiple languages heard readings scripture one busiest cities world outside sanctuary faded away place front us became reality intense moment presence space ancient celts indigenously religious christian called thin places heard thin places many times borders pastoral cliché nevertheless believe currency right helps us understand place role spaces play lives another example thin place island coast ireland called skellig michael recently made famous setting end star wars force awakens skellig michael rises sea like defiant objection tumultuous sea around early christian monastery sits island northeast monks called christs saddle title speaks closeness god place christ sits island place embarks see world worth noting thin place skellig michael treacherous get marvelous behold true many places truly achieve title sacred christian communities learn emerging insistence space ancient concept sacred place valid question perhaps asked incredulously churches like many brickandmortar institutions country apparently decline spacewise ministers laity alike pitched ideas digital cathedrals virtual abbeys spiritual gatherings unmoored constraints physical space cursory overview church websites makes readily apparent christian communities roundly rejected advice response may rooted unsavory motivations eg unwillingness change adapt something said brickandmortar still comprise crucial part congregational life experiences increasingly rare outside churches like intergenerational mingling corporate singing public proclamation one unique experiences churches may soon able offer brickandmortar thin place physical space churches stops gyms pokémon go seriously churches possess unique offering grounded physical location overlooked churches honor sanctuaries potential thin places travel writer eric weiner put sacred places though thin many churches find sanctuaries air stale scent conflicts long gone animosities seeping beneath surface even invasive odious odor busyness outside walls historical matters thicken places sanctuaries must dealt contextually infiltration harried pace outside countered talk worship planning congregations serve talk architectural project different planning goes press conference convention architectural vision gives us concert halls stadiums monuments attempts create space experience worship create space participants encounter god convey certain amount information services yes plan build sacred environment people meet god talking lose control place surrendering sacred encounter spirit loss control may thin place enough heaven break churches also make sanctuaries worthy name safe places communal support inclusion augmented reality pokémon go strange sanctuary hallows isolated monastery skellig michael created places people gather safely enjoy common passion thats painful safe places violated controversy star wars filmed place like skellig michael used pokémon go rob players violation safe place severely white supremacist murdered black churchgoers mother emanuel shook nation churches safe spaces sanctuaries people world seems regard space sacred physical space one doesnt worry harassment assault sorts vitriol rare something churches could strive offer thats small commitment make would require churches engage uncomfortable issues race gender class sexuality nevertheless task increasingly necessary world churches share places space experience power recognize importance physical space churches must recognize power place hold power united states especially always tied space used need land vote segregation enforced racialized power gentrification urban development cities consolidating power hands churches seek rebuff trends sharing places spaces dont churches volunteer spaces community meetings activities well using spaces care safe space means everything taking advantage churchs pokémon gym providing warm place sleep homeless serving gathering place community activism recognize asset power church land brickandmortar share power community serving steady space unsteady world one roles churches serve sometimes scary disconcerting future church look dramatically different decades come however humanity stop sacred experiences needing safe spaces requiring power gather churches invest energies resources using places spaces ways might find something future worth
| 844 |
<p>In May, the US Department of Education sent a letter to school districts across the country clarifying that Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in schools, applies to transgender students — most notably, their right to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity.</p>
<p>The letter brought backlash from many quarters. But some of the harshest came from my home state of Mississippi, which has a long and brutal tradition of fighting the expansion of civil rights. Declaring his opposition on Facebook, Governor Phil Bryant chose language that evoked the ugliest ghosts of the state’s past:</p>
<p>Because these decisions are better left to the states, and not made at the point of a federal bayonet, Mississippi’s public schools should not participate in the president’s social experiment.</p>
<p>Throughout Mississippi’s history, political leaders have masked social anxieties with cries of “states’ rights.” Governor Bryant’s statement could easily be read in the voice of Ross Barnett, the governor whose 1962 confrontation with President Kennedy over the desegregation of the University of Mississippi required the deployment of 30,000 federal troops carrying tear gas, rifles, and, yes, bayonets.</p>
<p>The governor’s response exemplifies a troubling reversion to the politics of exclusion and defiance that once made Mississippi a national pariah. Despite abundant progress over the past half-century, two recent political decisions have again brought widespread condemnation upon the state.</p>
<p>After Governor Bryant signed HB 1523, singer Bryan Adams and comedian Tracy Morgan canceled shows in Mississippi. Corporations with operations in the state, such as Nissan and Toyota, and those without, such as Microsoft and IBM, spoke out against the law. The governors of New York, Vermont and Washington banned nonessential state travel, and many hotels reported canceled reservations. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, which had already banned Mississippi from hosting postseason competitions until the Confederate emblem is removed from the flag, recently added LGBTQ nondiscrimination as another condition.</p>
<p>First, in January, the legislature refused to remove the Confederate battle cross from the state flag. Then, in April, it passed HB 1523, a bill that permits certain types of anti-LGBT discrimination by government officials, religious organizations, adoptive and foster parents, schools and business owners. The law, which has already drawn three federal lawsuits, has been called the most sweeping assault on LGBT rights in the country.</p>
<p>These tactics are understandable, given their effectiveness in other states. The prospect of economic reprisal compelled conservative governors in Georgia and Arizona to veto discriminatory religious freedom bills. The influence of major corporations factored into the South Carolina legislature’s decision to remove the Confederate flag from the statehouse grounds in the wake of the church massacre in Charleston last year. From an outside vantage point, it stands to reason that Mississippi, less populous and prosperous than those states, would be even more vulnerable to coercion.</p>
<p>In reality, the opposite is true. Mississippi is among the most economically and socially isolated states in the country. It is still dominated by small communities and big families, which lend themselves to intimate familiarity and fierce insularity. Those qualities provide our political leaders a layer of insulation from outside pressure.</p>
<p>Even though the opposition to HB 1523 has taken the same approach, Mississippi simply doesn’t have enough to lose. It is the only state in the Southeast without a Fortune 500 headquarters. There are no major-league sports franchises, and its cities and venues are too small to host many major conventions and events. The fledgling film industry does not leave a large economic or cultural footprint.</p>
<p>And the young, educated workers who have turned social acceptance into a business imperative in other states only seem to flow in one direction: out. To wield political leverage, out-of-state boycotts and cancellations must carry real economic costs. For instance, after the Georgia legislature passed a bill similar to Mississippi’s this spring, the NFL floated the idea that it might jeopardize Atlanta’s chances of hosting future Super Bowls, and Hollywood studios threatened to pull major film projects, which generated $6 billion for the state economy in 2015. Ultimately, Republican Governor Nathan Deal vetoed the bill.</p>
<p>Efforts designed to impose further isolation on Mississippi, even if pursued in good faith, could backfire. Every broken link with the rest of the country decreases the economic, and thus political, costs for flouting national mores in the future. These efforts also risk strengthening the hand of politicians who claim moral persecution, as Governor Bryant did in a speech on May 26, from the “secular, progressive world” and “their friends in the media.” ­­­</p>
<p>To create the conditions for social progress in the state, we must use a new strategy — or, more accurately, an old one.</p>
<p>As Mississippi’s black citizens fought for equality in the 1960s, the most effective out-of-state allies supported them in person. Instead of boycotting and canceling, they invested and engaged.</p>
<p>Some used their celebrity to bring attention and resources to the cause. Bob Dylan wrote protest songs about Mississippi like “Oxford Town” and “The Death of Emmett Till,” which he performed for activists in the Delta. When Mississippi’s leaders retaliated against civil rights organizers by cutting off food assistance in poor, predominately black counties,</p>
<p>Many more came to Mississippi in obscurity, but their impact was even greater. During the summer of 1964, as many as 1,000 out-of-state volunteers answered a national call issued by local civil rights activists to come to Mississippi. Most of them still in college, the Freedom Summer volunteers descended on Mississippi to support local people organizing for the rights that the state’s leadership had systematically denied to black citizens. The volunteers came from as far away as California and New York — home to Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, who, along with Mississippi native James Chaney, were murdered in Neshoba County by the KKK working in tandem with the local sheriff’s department.</p>
<p>The immediate objectives of Freedom Summer were to register black voters, fewer than 7 percent of whom had been allowed onto the rolls, and establish schools for Black children who, a decade after Brown, were still relegated to a separate and vastly unequal education. But the broader intent was to tear down the walls that had kept Mississippi isolated from the rest of the country. The civil rights organizers understood that a closed society had to be opened from the inside. That lesson applies as much today as it did then.</p>
<p>The federal government’s support was and still is critical to that mission, particularly the robust enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and voting rights. But the pace of progress has always been dictated by the leaders that Mississippians ourselves have chosen. At times, that pace has been rapid. At other times, such as now, it has stalled.</p>
<p>To restart Mississippi’s progress, we need out-of-state partners who will strengthen their ties to the state, not sever them. Condemn the actions of our leaders, but do not write off the state or its people. There is too much good to forsake and too much potential to squander. No matter how intractable things seem now, remember that local organizing combined with national support can produce durable change — in fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.</p>
<p>Jake McGraw is the public policy coordinator at the William Winter Institute and the editor of the policy blog Rethink Mississippi. A native of Oxford, Mississippi, Jake studied public policy and economics at the University of Mississippi and economic history at the University of Oxford. He currently lives in Jackson, Mississippi. You can contact him at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/boycotts-wont-change-mississippi-but-civil-rights-history-shows-us-how-we-can-20160608" 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 and environmental challenges.</p>
| false | 3 |
may us department education sent letter school districts across country clarifying title ix prohibits sex discrimination schools applies transgender students notably right use bathroom matches gender identity letter brought backlash many quarters harshest came home state mississippi long brutal tradition fighting expansion civil rights declaring opposition facebook governor phil bryant chose language evoked ugliest ghosts states past decisions better left states made point federal bayonet mississippis public schools participate presidents social experiment throughout mississippis history political leaders masked social anxieties cries states rights governor bryants statement could easily read voice ross barnett governor whose 1962 confrontation president kennedy desegregation university mississippi required deployment 30000 federal troops carrying tear gas rifles yes bayonets governors response exemplifies troubling reversion politics exclusion defiance made mississippi national pariah despite abundant progress past halfcentury two recent political decisions brought widespread condemnation upon state governor bryant signed hb 1523 singer bryan adams comedian tracy morgan canceled shows mississippi corporations operations state nissan toyota without microsoft ibm spoke law governors new york vermont washington banned nonessential state travel many hotels reported canceled reservations national collegiate athletic association already banned mississippi hosting postseason competitions confederate emblem removed flag recently added lgbtq nondiscrimination another condition first january legislature refused remove confederate battle cross state flag april passed hb 1523 bill permits certain types antilgbt discrimination government officials religious organizations adoptive foster parents schools business owners law already drawn three federal lawsuits called sweeping assault lgbt rights country tactics understandable given effectiveness states prospect economic reprisal compelled conservative governors georgia arizona veto discriminatory religious freedom bills influence major corporations factored south carolina legislatures decision remove confederate flag statehouse grounds wake church massacre charleston last year outside vantage point stands reason mississippi less populous prosperous states would even vulnerable coercion reality opposite true mississippi among economically socially isolated states country still dominated small communities big families lend intimate familiarity fierce insularity qualities provide political leaders layer insulation outside pressure even though opposition hb 1523 taken approach mississippi simply doesnt enough lose state southeast without fortune 500 headquarters majorleague sports franchises cities venues small host many major conventions events fledgling film industry leave large economic cultural footprint young educated workers turned social acceptance business imperative states seem flow one direction wield political leverage outofstate boycotts cancellations must carry real economic costs instance georgia legislature passed bill similar mississippis spring nfl floated idea might jeopardize atlantas chances hosting future super bowls hollywood studios threatened pull major film projects generated 6 billion state economy 2015 ultimately republican governor nathan deal vetoed bill efforts designed impose isolation mississippi even pursued good faith could backfire every broken link rest country decreases economic thus political costs flouting national mores future efforts also risk strengthening hand politicians claim moral persecution governor bryant speech may 26 secular progressive world friends media create conditions social progress state must use new strategy accurately old one mississippis black citizens fought equality 1960s effective outofstate allies supported person instead boycotting canceling invested engaged used celebrity bring attention resources cause bob dylan wrote protest songs mississippi like oxford town death emmett till performed activists delta mississippis leaders retaliated civil rights organizers cutting food assistance poor predominately black counties many came mississippi obscurity impact even greater summer 1964 many 1000 outofstate volunteers answered national call issued local civil rights activists come mississippi still college freedom summer volunteers descended mississippi support local people organizing rights states leadership systematically denied black citizens volunteers came far away california new york home andrew goodman michael schwerner along mississippi native james chaney murdered neshoba county kkk working tandem local sheriffs department immediate objectives freedom summer register black voters fewer 7 percent allowed onto rolls establish schools black children decade brown still relegated separate vastly unequal education broader intent tear walls kept mississippi isolated rest country civil rights organizers understood closed society opened inside lesson applies much today federal governments support still critical mission particularly robust enforcement antidiscrimination laws voting rights pace progress always dictated leaders mississippians chosen times pace rapid times stalled restart mississippis progress need outofstate partners strengthen ties state sever condemn actions leaders write state people much good forsake much potential squander matter intractable things seem remember local organizing combined national support produce durable change fact thing ever jake mcgraw public policy coordinator william winter institute editor policy blog rethink mississippi native oxford mississippi jake studied public policy economics university mississippi economic history university oxford currently lives jackson mississippi contact jakewinterinstituteorg article first published yes magazine nonprofit publication supports peoples active engagement solving todays social political environmental challenges
| 750 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />The High-Speed Rail Authority has restarted an aggressive plan to finish the environmental work on the San Francisco to San Jose and the San Jose to Merced segments of the High-Speed Rail Project. Completion of the final environmental documents is planned by the end of 2017. This is in addition to Caltrain’s electrification project, which is a separate process.</p>
<p>One workshop was held in San Francisco last week. [See the <a href="http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2015/09/09/high-speed-rail-brings-its-focus-back-to-the-bay-area" type="external">Palo Alto Online’s account</a> for&#160;background information.] The next workshop is planned for this Tuesday, September 15, in San Jose from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Roosevelt Community Center. A one hour presentation is planned at 6 p.m. at 901 E. Santa Clara St. San Jose, CA 95116. The Morgan Hill session will be held September 23rd. The last meeting will be held in Burlingame October 7th. The agenda for all <a href="http://www.hsr.ca.gov/docs/programs/construction/Final_OpenHouseFlyer_082015.pdf" type="external">workshops</a> will be identical, regardless of location.</p>
<p>As background, at the August 2015 board meeting, the High-Speed Rail Authority approved a <a href="http://www.hsr.ca.gov/docs/about/doing_business/HSR15_34_RFQ_SF_to_CVY_Engineering_and_Environmental_Services_final.pdf" type="external">Request for Qualifications</a>&#160;to be sent out. This RFQ covers both the San Jose to San Francisco segment as well as the San Jose to Merced segment. The consultant chosen will manage the corridor activity conducting “environmental analysis and documentation, regulatory permitting and compliance, engineering and preliminary design services.”&#160; Whoever is selected, they are expected to finish the project by December 2017, a very quick process.</p>
<p>In the past, both of these segments (San Jose to Merced and San Jose to San Francisco) have been problematic for the Rail Authority. Besides the Peninsula’s vehement opposition to the high-speed rail project, the Merced to San Jose segment, featuring the Chowchilla Wye, was also an area of great contention because of the use of prime farmland and destructive of sensitive environmental areas.</p>
<p>[See the Youtube when Ben Tripousis, Northern California regional director <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZvi5-5l5P4" type="external">presented</a> the RFQ to the board on August 4, 2015. Here is the <a href="http://www.hsr.ca.gov/docs/brdmeetings/2015/brdmtg_080415_Item2_ATTACHMENT_RFQ_EE_Services_SFtoSJ_and_SJtoMerced_Proj_Sections.pdf" type="external">document</a> presented at the Rail Authority board meeting.]</p>
<p>As a reminder, the peninsula’s environmental work stalled for a couple of years due to questions about the joint use of the Caltrain corridor with High-Speed Rail.</p>
<p>This is more commonly known as the <a href="http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2011/08/30/plan-for-blended-rail-system-gains-steam" type="external">blended</a> system first introduced in 2011 by Senator Joe Simitian, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo and Assembly member Rich Gordon, also called the SEG plan. There was extreme unhappiness about the high-speed train coming through the very crowded peninsula area with the real possibility of expansion of the corridor to four tracks.</p>
<p>The SEG plan required no above ground tracks be added to the corridor unless the cities desired&#160;that design; and that the high-speed rail plan stay within the current Caltrain footprint. It also required the blended plan be done in one stage. The rail authority had pushed for phased implementation eventually leading to four tracks which is no longer part of the plan today.</p>
<p>The high-speed rail board was under the leadership of Curt Pringle in 2011. He and others on the board had mixed emotions about the concept. Questions about the legality of the blended program were sent to the Attorney General’s office twice back in the 2011 by then CEO Roeof van Ark.</p>
<p>This year a public records request was sent to the Rail Authority asking what the result of those inquiries were but they refused to release any AG response, claiming attorney/client privilege.</p>
<p>The question of the legality of the blended system, along with trip time questions and financial viability will be litigated in part two of the Tos/Fukuda/Kings County lawsuit February 2016. [See <a href="http://transdef.org/HSR/Taxpayer.html" type="external">Tos Trial Brief II</a> on the TRANSDEF website which gives a bit of history about this taxpayers lawsuit.]</p>
<p>In the July 2012 appropriation vote, the state Legislature approved an appropriation of $600 million of Proposition 1A bond funds to Caltrain’s electrification project under the premise that it is a corridor that will eventually operate high-speed rail trains in the future. They also appropriated $500 million for the Los Angeles to Anaheim route though projects were not yet identified for that segment. Neither amount was presented in a funding plan as required in the Prop. 1A ballot measure.</p>
<p>Many, including former Rail Authority Chair Quentin Kopp, have questioned the legality of this appropriation and the idea of the blended system. In a <a href="http://transdef.org/HSR/Taxpayer_assets/HSR%20Declarations%20of%20Experts.pdf" type="external">declaration</a> filed for the Tos/Fukuda/Kings County lawsuit, Kopp says he believes “the “track-sharing” arrangement with Caltrain represents one example (Los&#160;Angeles to Anaheim represents another) of the Authority’s current alteration of the project from a genuine HSR system.”</p>
<p>Regardless of that argument, another issue blocking access to the bond funds for the San Francisco to San Jose segment is the non-completion of high-speed rail environmental work required under Prop. 1A on the Peninsula — hence the rush to finish the environmental work described above.</p>
<p>But how they will finish the environmental process is still unclear.</p>
<p>Will the Authority follow the California Environmental Quality Act or use the less stringent National Environmental Protection Act? Or will they use the CEQA process unless challenged in court therefore using the Surface Transportation Board <a href="http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/WEBUNID/8247A0EE7E3897FF85257DAC007CCF08?OpenDocument" type="external">ruling</a> as an “ace in the hole”?</p>
<p>Two years ago, the Surface Transportation Board, a federal agency, exempted the Rail Authority from following CEQA because it is a railroad project under their control. But the end of the story has yet to be written regarding the subject of a CEQA exemption for rail projects as it is expected to be heard, and hotly debate, in the California Supreme Court sometime this year.</p>
<p>There are no American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 federal grants assigned to the San Francisco to San Jose or the San Jose to Merced segments nor is there private funding available. The project in the Central Valley to the San Fernando Valley currently has at least a $25 billion gap in funding.</p>
| false | 3 |
highspeed rail authority restarted aggressive plan finish environmental work san francisco san jose san jose merced segments highspeed rail project completion final environmental documents planned end 2017 addition caltrains electrification project separate process one workshop held san francisco last week see palo alto onlines account for160background information next workshop planned tuesday september 15 san jose 400 pm 700 pm roosevelt community center one hour presentation planned 6 pm 901 e santa clara st san jose ca 95116 morgan hill session held september 23rd last meeting held burlingame october 7th agenda workshops identical regardless location background august 2015 board meeting highspeed rail authority approved request qualifications160to sent rfq covers san jose san francisco segment well san jose merced segment consultant chosen manage corridor activity conducting environmental analysis documentation regulatory permitting compliance engineering preliminary design services160 whoever selected expected finish project december 2017 quick process past segments san jose merced san jose san francisco problematic rail authority besides peninsulas vehement opposition highspeed rail project merced san jose segment featuring chowchilla wye also area great contention use prime farmland destructive sensitive environmental areas see youtube ben tripousis northern california regional director presented rfq board august 4 2015 document presented rail authority board meeting reminder peninsulas environmental work stalled couple years due questions joint use caltrain corridor highspeed rail commonly known blended system first introduced 2011 senator joe simitian congresswoman anna eshoo assembly member rich gordon also called seg plan extreme unhappiness highspeed train coming crowded peninsula area real possibility expansion corridor four tracks seg plan required ground tracks added corridor unless cities desired160that design highspeed rail plan stay within current caltrain footprint also required blended plan done one stage rail authority pushed phased implementation eventually leading four tracks longer part plan today highspeed rail board leadership curt pringle 2011 others board mixed emotions concept questions legality blended program sent attorney generals office twice back 2011 ceo roeof van ark year public records request sent rail authority asking result inquiries refused release ag response claiming attorneyclient privilege question legality blended system along trip time questions financial viability litigated part two tosfukudakings county lawsuit february 2016 see tos trial brief ii transdef website gives bit history taxpayers lawsuit july 2012 appropriation vote state legislature approved appropriation 600 million proposition 1a bond funds caltrains electrification project premise corridor eventually operate highspeed rail trains future also appropriated 500 million los angeles anaheim route though projects yet identified segment neither amount presented funding plan required prop 1a ballot measure many including former rail authority chair quentin kopp questioned legality appropriation idea blended system declaration filed tosfukudakings county lawsuit kopp says believes tracksharing arrangement caltrain represents one example los160angeles anaheim represents another authoritys current alteration project genuine hsr system regardless argument another issue blocking access bond funds san francisco san jose segment noncompletion highspeed rail environmental work required prop 1a peninsula hence rush finish environmental work described finish environmental process still unclear authority follow california environmental quality act use less stringent national environmental protection act use ceqa process unless challenged court therefore using surface transportation board ruling ace hole two years ago surface transportation board federal agency exempted rail authority following ceqa railroad project control end story yet written regarding subject ceqa exemption rail projects expected heard hotly debate california supreme court sometime year american recovery reinvestment act 2009 federal grants assigned san francisco san jose san jose merced segments private funding available project central valley san fernando valley currently least 25 billion gap funding
| 576 |
<p>In his sadness and anger, Martinez Sutton spoke the truth at a Chicago Police Board meeting on Jan. 21.&#160;The families who have lost a loved one to police violence are members of a gruesome club, said Sutton, whose sister, Rekia Boyd, was killed by an off-duty police officer in 2012.</p>
<p>Club membership is unsolicited and paid in tears, say those close to the families.</p>
<p>Sutton, whose sister’s killer is still on the police force, confronted members of the board at the meeting.&#160;As police officers moved to whisk him out of the room, activists built a hedge around Sutton, separating him and the officers. TV cameras captured the incident.</p>
<p>Airicka Gordon-Taylor, who knows Sutton and his family, saw the video.</p>
<p>“There is a club of families that have lost their children to violence, and each week there are new families being added to this club. And that’s what he means,” says Gordon-Taylor, founder and executive director of the Mamie Till Mobley Foundation.</p>
<p>Till Mobley was <a href="http://chicagoreporter.com/still-learning-lessons-emmett-till/" type="external">the mother of Emmett Till</a>, the Chicago teenager whose brutal death at the hands of white men in Mississippi in 1955 was a defining moment in the civil rights movement — and the family’s private story.&#160;Gordon-Taylor, Till’s cousin, says the foundation and his remaining family members are part of a national network of people whose lives have been altered by violence – many at the hands of law enforcement officers.</p>
<p>“It’s the most f*****&#160;up club I’ve ever been in,” Sutton said at the board meeting.</p>
<p>In the weeks, months and years since the deaths of their loved ones, many of the families have turned personal tragedy into public action.</p>
<p>“A big part of healing is making meaning of it,” says Monnica Williams, an associate professor of psychological and brain sciences and the director of the University of Louisville’s Center for Mental Health Disparities. “And one way is to become active and helping others get through it.”</p>
<p>At the heart of the emotional struggle for black families is a psychological injury that is part of the African American experience with racism. Williams, whose work explores the intersection of racism and post-traumatic stress disorder, says the symptoms of race-based traumatic stress injury and PTSD are similar. People are prone to experiencing depression, anxiety and even nightmares. They may feel down and tired. They are often unable to cope with their circumstances. And they feel that the world is a dangerous place and they aren’t safe, she said.</p>
<p>Justice is part of the healing process, too. But that can be hard to achieve when studies show that few police officers are even charged with misconduct, and prosecutors contend it is a daunting task to convict a police officer.</p>
<p>The families' grief is different from when a family member dies of an illness or other causes, Williams explains.</p>
<p>“It is so unexpected, and it comes from people who are supposed to be protecting you,” she says. “And in this sort of death often there is no accountability, no apologies and no justice."</p>
<p>The legacy of Mamie Till Mobley</p>
<p>Sutton wasn't the only grieving family member at the meeting. The mother of Sandra Bland, who died in a Texas jail last summer, and the daughter of Bettie Jones, who was shot by a Chicago police officer in December, also addressed the board, which determines discipline for police officers accused of misconduct.</p>
<p>In her work, Gordon-Taylor, has witnessed the trauma of mothers, who, like Till Mobley, have lost children under violent circumstances.</p>
<p>“I totally agree with that [comparison to PTSD],” she says, adding that she wants the foundation to offer training for the disorder. “Many of our families are dealing with that ... especially the mothers.”</p>
<p>In the rush to manage court dates, lawyers, family grief and their own feelings, many people struggle under the pain and pressure, she said.</p>
<p>Anniversaries trigger more anguish. The club responds by supporting whatever events or memorials are planned —&#160;and by simply listening.&#160; And while Gordon-Taylor says she cannot fully understand the pain of the families because she hasn’t directly lost a loved one, the mothers in the group can.</p>
<p>Sixty years after Till’s murder, she says her family&#160;still feels the effects. People forget that two relatives who were there when Till was abducted are still alive, she said.</p>
<p>Last year, for the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Till’s death, the foundation convened a series of events that drew a network of mothers, including the mother of Amadou Diallou, who was killed by four New York City police officers in 1999. They prayed at Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, the church where Till was eulogized, his casket open so the world could see the viciousness of racial hatred. His mother’s decision to show his mutilated corpse shocked people into action against a system of state-sanctioned violence against black people.</p>
<p>Gordon-Taylor said, “There’s a piece of Mamie in each of these mothers.”</p>
<p>As part of the commemoration, the mothers went to the cemetery where Till Mobley and her son are buried. They walked from his grave to his mother’s grave. Gordon-Taylor said the symbolic journey means the mothers will be “fighting for justice for their children until they go to the grave.”</p>
<p>Justice and healing</p>
<p>January's Police Board meeting was intended to solicit public input on the city’s next police chief; instead the two-and-a-half hour meeting became a forum for people to voice their anger at police shootings of primarily African Americans and Latinos.</p>
<p>“You need to understand the pain,” said Geneva Reed-Veal, Sandra Bland's mother.&#160;“It’s real and it’s deep and it goes farther than what anybody can explain to you because you go through so many things in your mind as you miss your relative.”</p>
<p>Bland, who had moved to Texas from Naperville for a job, was found dead in a Waller County&#160;jail cell after being arrested following a traffic stop.</p>
<p>LaToya Jones, the daughter of Bettie Jones, also addressed the board. Her mother was shot to death by a Chicago police officer, along with 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier. The officer, who was responding to a domestic disturbance call, shot LeGrier when he became combative.&#160;Jones, who lived downstairs, was accidentally shot.</p>
<p>“That’s all we had was our mom, she was our everything,” LaToya Jones told board members. “Now she’s gone. We lost our mom to gun violence. She didn’t die of a natural cause; she died at the hand of a trigger-happy cop.”</p>
<p>About an hour into the meeting, Sutton calmly walked up to the microphone. He began by telling board members he was “beyond angry” because Detective Dante Servin, who killed his sister, was still on the police department’s payroll.&#160;Servin shot Boyd when he opened fire on a group of people at a park, one of whom he mistakenly thought had a gun.</p>
<p>The City of Chicago settled a wrongful death case with Boyd's family for $4.5 million a year after her death.&#160;Last April,&#160; <a href="http://chicagoreporter.com/in-rekia-boyd-case-family-faces-a-familiar-outcome/" type="external">Servin was found not guilty</a> of involuntary manslaughter charges.&#160;The Police Board is considering whether to fire him.</p>
<p>“It’s been four years ...&#160;[and] ain’t nothing been happening since my sister been gone,” Sutton said. He asked board members if they could fathom how it feels to look his mother in the eyes every day and see her pain at her loss.</p>
<p>Reed-Veal told the board that she was frustrated with the trickle of information from authorities explaining how her daughter died while in police custody.</p>
<p>“If you talk about keeping the peace in the community ... you have to understand that there can be no peace if we can’t even get the pieces of information that we need to find out what happened to our families,” she said. “We are dealing with this life-long pain that you can’t take a picture of … We’re asked to wait for years and months while your people are allowed to do all of what they want to do. They’re on administrative leave. Our people aren’t on administrative leave, they’re gone.”</p>
<p>Williams says it's important for government and police to acknowledge wrongdoing.</p>
<p>“The families are horribly affected and the whole African American community when we hear about these things,” she says. “We all feel a sense of unsafety and terror. The effects are far reaching.”</p>
<p>And long lasting, says Gordon-Taylor.</p>
<p>“A lot of families are going through what my family went through for 60 years," she says, "and it is reopening an old wound.”</p>
<p>Alex V. Hernandez contributed to this report.</p>
<p>This <a href="http://chicagoreporter.com/families-of-police-shooting-victims-form-bonds-built-on-loss/" type="external">story</a> was originally published by <a href="http://chicagoreporter.com" type="external">The Chicago Reporter</a>,&#160;a nonprofit investigative news organization that focuses on race, poverty and income inequality.&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
sadness anger martinez sutton spoke truth chicago police board meeting jan 21160the families lost loved one police violence members gruesome club said sutton whose sister rekia boyd killed offduty police officer 2012 club membership unsolicited paid tears say close families sutton whose sisters killer still police force confronted members board meeting160as police officers moved whisk room activists built hedge around sutton separating officers tv cameras captured incident airicka gordontaylor knows sutton family saw video club families lost children violence week new families added club thats means says gordontaylor founder executive director mamie till mobley foundation till mobley mother emmett till chicago teenager whose brutal death hands white men mississippi 1955 defining moment civil rights movement familys private story160gordontaylor tills cousin says foundation remaining family members part national network people whose lives altered violence many hands law enforcement officers f160up club ive ever sutton said board meeting weeks months years since deaths loved ones many families turned personal tragedy public action big part healing making meaning says monnica williams associate professor psychological brain sciences director university louisvilles center mental health disparities one way become active helping others get heart emotional struggle black families psychological injury part african american experience racism williams whose work explores intersection racism posttraumatic stress disorder says symptoms racebased traumatic stress injury ptsd similar people prone experiencing depression anxiety even nightmares may feel tired often unable cope circumstances feel world dangerous place arent safe said justice part healing process hard achieve studies show police officers even charged misconduct prosecutors contend daunting task convict police officer families grief different family member dies illness causes williams explains unexpected comes people supposed protecting says sort death often accountability apologies justice legacy mamie till mobley sutton wasnt grieving family member meeting mother sandra bland died texas jail last summer daughter bettie jones shot chicago police officer december also addressed board determines discipline police officers accused misconduct work gordontaylor witnessed trauma mothers like till mobley lost children violent circumstances totally agree comparison ptsd says adding wants foundation offer training disorder many families dealing especially mothers rush manage court dates lawyers family grief feelings many people struggle pain pressure said anniversaries trigger anguish club responds supporting whatever events memorials planned 160and simply listening160 gordontaylor says fully understand pain families hasnt directly lost loved one mothers group sixty years tills murder says family160still feels effects people forget two relatives till abducted still alive said last year commemoration 60th anniversary tills death foundation convened series events drew network mothers including mother amadou diallou killed four new york city police officers 1999 prayed roberts temple church god christ church till eulogized casket open world could see viciousness racial hatred mothers decision show mutilated corpse shocked people action system statesanctioned violence black people gordontaylor said theres piece mamie mothers part commemoration mothers went cemetery till mobley son buried walked grave mothers grave gordontaylor said symbolic journey means mothers fighting justice children go grave justice healing januarys police board meeting intended solicit public input citys next police chief instead twoandahalf hour meeting became forum people voice anger police shootings primarily african americans latinos need understand pain said geneva reedveal sandra blands mother160its real deep goes farther anybody explain go many things mind miss relative bland moved texas naperville job found dead waller county160jail cell arrested following traffic stop latoya jones daughter bettie jones also addressed board mother shot death chicago police officer along 19yearold quintonio legrier officer responding domestic disturbance call shot legrier became combative160jones lived downstairs accidentally shot thats mom everything latoya jones told board members shes gone lost mom gun violence didnt die natural cause died hand triggerhappy cop hour meeting sutton calmly walked microphone began telling board members beyond angry detective dante servin killed sister still police departments payroll160servin shot boyd opened fire group people park one mistakenly thought gun city chicago settled wrongful death case boyds family 45 million year death160last april160 servin found guilty involuntary manslaughter charges160the police board considering whether fire four years 160and aint nothing happening since sister gone sutton said asked board members could fathom feels look mother eyes every day see pain loss reedveal told board frustrated trickle information authorities explaining daughter died police custody talk keeping peace community understand peace cant even get pieces information need find happened families said dealing lifelong pain cant take picture asked wait years months people allowed want theyre administrative leave people arent administrative leave theyre gone williams says important government police acknowledge wrongdoing families horribly affected whole african american community hear things says feel sense unsafety terror effects far reaching long lasting says gordontaylor lot families going family went 60 years says reopening old wound alex v hernandez contributed report story originally published chicago reporter160a nonprofit investigative news organization focuses race poverty income inequality160
| 791 |
<p>Does anyone care anymore?</p>
<p>I just read a <a href="" type="internal">perspective piece in the Washington Post</a> from Jeremy Courtney reporting that the Trump administration is now actively deporting Iraqi Christians back to their homeland. This is the same administration who rallied evangelicals around the idea that Muslims were being given preference over Christians under the Obama administration in the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the United States. Trump commented about his view on these Christians: “We are going to help them. They’ve been horribly treated.”</p>
<p>Many of my politically conservative friends used Trump’s outrage about President Barack Obama’s perceived religious bias as an indicator of how he would handle the issue of persecuted Christians globally. And, yet, here we are. I am certain that many of the defenders of religious freedom in churches across America will remain largely silently as families are torn apart and these Iraqis are forcibly removed back to the country they fled because of religious persecution. In its silence the U.S. church is willingly passing on a long-standing tradition of the body of Christ in America as one that cares for the global body of Christ.</p>
<p>Can the U.S. church continue to be touted as a place of sanctuary, a place of refuge or safety? If the church in America isn’t outraged, vocal and actively pursuing a reversal of the policy of deporting Iraqi Christians back to their homeland, then who will? Who will stop an action that will send these people back to Iraq to face almost certain intense persecution and potentially death? Again, if not the church, then who? Who cares?</p>
<p>I remember back in the mid-1980s I left the city of my birth — Bangkok, Thailand — to come to the United States to attend college. As the son of Baptist missionaries, I had spent 15 of my 18 years in Thailand. I recall that I had a love-hate relationship with America. On the one hand, we had been back and forth to the United States every four years for a year of “furlough.” I had to live those years in a land that was foreign to me. Public school in Louisiana during those furloughs was rough. I was extracted from my international school in Bangkok and plopped down into a community that thought I was weird and different. Most of the kids thought I must have been a “Yankee” and frequently prodded me with questions about why I “talked funny.”</p>
<p>At the same time, this was a country of freedom. America represented an idea of a people who cared about the plight of the world and were eager to engage it. The American church sent out missionaries like my folks to share the love of Jesus with others. America represented a place with a church on every corner filled with people who were supposed to care about refugees and who actively pursued coming to the aid of the oppressed. I have my own immigrant story.</p>
<p>I am certain that Iraqi Christians who were fortunate enough to make their way here in the past decade had their own ideas of how life in America would be. I imagine they hoped to be loved and accepted, if not by American society at large, then by the church. Where is that church today? On that initial trip back to America for college, I will never forget an interaction I had with a tall Texan at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. Disoriented and confused from a long series of flights, I walked up nervously to this guy sporting a 10-gallon cowboy hat and asked if he knew where baggage claim was. He said, “Hell, I won’t just tell you, I’ll take you there. Follow me!” Where is that guy?</p>
<p>Reflecting on all of the politics and rhetoric of the past couple of years here in the country I now proudly call home I am left wondering about the relevancy of the Christian church in America today as a place of sanctuary. Through all of our bluster on either side of the political equation are we still a church that rallies behind aid to the oppressed? Do we care about those who are being persecuted and are in that situation because they have declared themselves Christians? Do we even really care about the gospel anymore? Are we patient or kind? Do we any longer delight in truth and reject evil? Do we care? In fairness, there are some churches which are coming to the aid of Iraqi immigrants like Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church in Southfield, Mich. But this kind of crisis requires more than a handful of churches to speak out and engage with tangible action.</p>
<p>I’ll leave you with the story of a hopeful immigrant patriarch who I encountered on the border of Syria a couple of years ago. This man had fled worn-torn Syria with his family and was now a homeless nomad. I was working at the time as a video producer for a Southern Baptist non-profit. We were there to document the plight of Syrian refugees and show how the U.S. church was responding. As the crew and I entered this man’s dwelling we went across the room and quietly sat down. Our host, this older Muslim patriarch, began to point over at me and gestured at my wrist. I knew immediately that he was pointing to the many bracelets I wear from countries I have traveled through during my decades-long career. I was immediately embarrassed thinking that my bracelets were somehow a cultural faux-pas in Syrian culture. I mean men probably don’t wear bracelets in Syria. Then something happened I will never forget. This older Syrian man who had fled conflict with few personal possessions stood up and walked over to me. I jumped up to greet him and as I did he quickly took a cheap bracelet off of his wrist — one of his few remaining belongings, I am sure — and put it on my wrist. As I realized this immensely kind gesture, I begin to sob and returned the favor by exchanging one of my silver bracelets and putting it on his arm.</p>
<p>I tell that story as a reminder that when we think about the people who are desperate to resettle here in the U.S. we need to remember that many of them are escaping religious oppression and ethnic struggle. They aren’t coming here to terrorize us; they are looking for sanctuary. Many of these immigrants are kind, gracious and loving people. So for Iraqis and Syrians — Christian and Muslim alike — who can they depend on once they arrive? Do we as the church care? If we aren’t vocal about the plight of these fellow Iraqi Christians we are complicit in sending them back into persecution. Not only are we ignoring our potential role as “Good Samaritan,” we are buckling these traumatized persecuted Christians into their seats and flying them back to their oppressors.</p>
<p>Related stories:</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">U.S. prepares to deport hundreds of Iraqi Christians</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Trump promised he would protect persecuted Christians. But he’s sending Christians back to Iraq.</a></p>
| false | 3 |
anyone care anymore read perspective piece washington post jeremy courtney reporting trump administration actively deporting iraqi christians back homeland administration rallied evangelicals around idea muslims given preference christians obama administration resettlement syrian refugees united states trump commented view christians going help theyve horribly treated many politically conservative friends used trumps outrage president barack obamas perceived religious bias indicator would handle issue persecuted christians globally yet certain many defenders religious freedom churches across america remain largely silently families torn apart iraqis forcibly removed back country fled religious persecution silence us church willingly passing longstanding tradition body christ america one cares global body christ us church continue touted place sanctuary place refuge safety church america isnt outraged vocal actively pursuing reversal policy deporting iraqi christians back homeland stop action send people back iraq face almost certain intense persecution potentially death church cares remember back mid1980s left city birth bangkok thailand come united states attend college son baptist missionaries spent 15 18 years thailand recall lovehate relationship america one hand back forth united states every four years year furlough live years land foreign public school louisiana furloughs rough extracted international school bangkok plopped community thought weird different kids thought must yankee frequently prodded questions talked funny time country freedom america represented idea people cared plight world eager engage american church sent missionaries like folks share love jesus others america represented place church every corner filled people supposed care refugees actively pursued coming aid oppressed immigrant story certain iraqi christians fortunate enough make way past decade ideas life america would imagine hoped loved accepted american society large church church today initial trip back america college never forget interaction tall texan dallasfort worth airport disoriented confused long series flights walked nervously guy sporting 10gallon cowboy hat asked knew baggage claim said hell wont tell ill take follow guy reflecting politics rhetoric past couple years country proudly call home left wondering relevancy christian church america today place sanctuary bluster either side political equation still church rallies behind aid oppressed care persecuted situation declared christians even really care gospel anymore patient kind longer delight truth reject evil care fairness churches coming aid iraqi immigrants like mother god chaldean catholic church southfield mich kind crisis requires handful churches speak engage tangible action ill leave story hopeful immigrant patriarch encountered border syria couple years ago man fled worntorn syria family homeless nomad working time video producer southern baptist nonprofit document plight syrian refugees show us church responding crew entered mans dwelling went across room quietly sat host older muslim patriarch began point gestured wrist knew immediately pointing many bracelets wear countries traveled decadeslong career immediately embarrassed thinking bracelets somehow cultural fauxpas syrian culture mean men probably dont wear bracelets syria something happened never forget older syrian man fled conflict personal possessions stood walked jumped greet quickly took cheap bracelet wrist one remaining belongings sure put wrist realized immensely kind gesture begin sob returned favor exchanging one silver bracelets putting arm tell story reminder think people desperate resettle us need remember many escaping religious oppression ethnic struggle arent coming terrorize us looking sanctuary many immigrants kind gracious loving people iraqis syrians christian muslim alike depend arrive church care arent vocal plight fellow iraqi christians complicit sending back persecution ignoring potential role good samaritan buckling traumatized persecuted christians seats flying back oppressors related stories us prepares deport hundreds iraqi christians trump promised would protect persecuted christians hes sending christians back iraq
| 570 |
<p>The idea of ending automatic social promotion comes and goes in American education. Today, new versions of the concept are taking root in Chicago and a handful of other cities. Yet in other major metropolises, notably Los Angeles and New York, administrators are still mulling the issue.</p>
<p>Officially, policies against social promotion are on the books in 35 of 48 big-city school systems, according to a survey by the Washington, D.C.-based Council of the Great City Schools. While students are routinely held back, especially in urban districts, it’s rarely done with the kind of deliberate plotting Chicago has done.</p>
<p>Cincinnati is among the exceptions. Since 1992, the public schools there have held back students whose work in major subjects fails to meet district standards. Those with a low overall rating in 3rd, 6th and 8th grades are sent to summer school and, if unsuccessful there, must repeat. The retention rate is high, between 20 and 35 percent of the system’s 49,000 students, depending on the grade. But Cincinnati school officials say the system’s emerging instructional strategy—involving teams of teachers following children across several years—cushions the fall.</p>
<p>Those who flunk a second year— currently, 500 students—are siphoned into small, full-time “plus” classes, where the teacher works solely on standards that haven’t been mastered. Those who meet the standards are directed back to a regular classroom; those who don’t either get directed to special education or stay put. “But if a child keeps failing, the teacher has to show us why,” says Kathleen Ware, Cincinnati’s assistant superintendent for strategic planning.</p>
<p>In Durham, N.C., 5th- and 8th-graders who bomb a state-mandated competency test have to attend summer school. Currently, principals may retain 8th-graders who are unsuccessful in summer school; next school year, principal discretion will apply to 5th-graders as well. Every child who is retained receives an individual remediation plan; it’s up to each school to decide what treatment is appropriate. Tutoring and Saturday academies are among the options.</p>
<p>Corpus Christi, Tex., follows a similar procedure, except students are retained on the basis of a required minimum grade of 70 in reading, math, science and social studies.</p>
<p>Biggest flop</p>
<p>The country’s biggest experiment in retention started in 1981 in the country’s biggest school system, New York City. Frank Macchiarola, a new chancellor, initiated the Promotional Gates program, which required low-scoring 4th- and 7th-graders to repeat those grades. The repeaters were assigned to classes of 20 or fewer students, along with specially trained teachers and new materials. The cost the first year was some $40 million. The holdovers initially evidenced higher reading and math scores, according to a subsequent Board of Education study. But three years later, the increase was gone, and the high school dropout rate among the held-back 7th-graders had started to climb, the study found.</p>
<p>“Another problem was that about 5,000 kids ended up repeating their grades a second time,” says Ray Domanico, an early evaluator who is now executive director of the Public Education Association, a New York advocacy group. “The system tried to create a program for those double holdovers, but by then a new superintendent had come in. In time, no one was paying attention to Promotional Gates.”</p>
<p>In 1990, Joseph Fernandez, then the chancellor, ended the program in large part because it had led to more dropouts. Fully 40 percent of those retained before high school left before graduating, compared with 25 percent of a control group. “The program may have been well-intentioned,” said Fernandez. “But over all, it has not worked.”</p>
<p>“I, for one, learned from this,” says Domanico. “It’s true that you don’t do kids a favor by pushing them ahead without the skills. On the other hand, if their teacher is inadequate and their school is lousy, you don’t do them any favor by making them repeat.”</p>
<p>Currently, New York City schools, with a massive 1.1 million students and 32 community-governed subdistricts, has a looser promotion policy. “There are standards at every grade, but there’s no automatic kick-in,” says William Casey, the Board of Education’s chief executive for program development and dissemination. “It all depends on test scores and teacher input.” Casey says school officials are discussing strengthening promotion rules, “but nobody wants to have a knee-jerk reaction to this without having a well-thought-out plan.” He prefers to stress new initiatives by Chancellor Rudy Crew to add after-school and reading instruction for kids in kindergarten through 3rd grade.</p>
<p>“We don’t have a retention policy,” says John Liechty, middle-school director for the Los Angeles Unified School District, which, at 680,000 students, is the country’s second largest school system. Social promotion is so pervasive that only 1 percent of 1st- through 8th-graders were retained during the 1995-96 academic year, according to Liechty.</p>
<p>As with New York, Los Angeles is looking to bolster its impact in the early grades through extended days, Saturday classes, summer school and lowered class sizes. Liechty says he and other administrators are watching what develops in Chicago, but with a cynical eye. “Everybody wants to jump on the retention bandwagon now,” remarks Liechty, “but all the research points to the fact that retention fails. It’s kind of like corporal punishment. Every swat you give as a teacher, it may make you feel terrific, but you aren’t getting better results. It’s the same way with retention.”</p>
<p>Liechty himself dropped out of high school—his diploma came through adult school, and he continued on to earn a couple master’s degrees. He voices a sympathy for retainees: “When you fail in school, the adult world labels you, and as a child you internalize that perception. It’s the worst feeling in the world, and you begin to do things outside the norm—joining a gang or indulging in bizarre behavior—to get your self-esteem back.”</p>
<p>So far, the evidence is mixed on whether latter-day retention is effective. The percentage of Durham 8th-graders, including repeaters, who scored in the upper levels on state tests rose 7 percent in reading and 6 percent in math, an improvement district spokesperson Julie Marshall ties to retention. In Corpus Christi, scores are up over the last two years on achievement tests taken by middle schoolers, says Sandra Lanier-Lerma, assistant superintendent for instruction and operations, a jump she credits to increased retention. But in Cincinnati, the high-school dropout rate has edged higher each year since 1993, although Kathleen Ware insists a new Ohio proficiency exam has been a factor in the rise.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in late February, President Clinton instructed Secretary of Education Richard Riley in a memorandum to follow the lead of cities such as Chicago and Cincinnati and come up with guidelines to crimp social promotion. “As more states and localities move to end social promotions, we must help them design and implement approaches that will succeed,” said the President.</p>
| false | 3 |
idea ending automatic social promotion comes goes american education today new versions concept taking root chicago handful cities yet major metropolises notably los angeles new york administrators still mulling issue officially policies social promotion books 35 48 bigcity school systems according survey washington dcbased council great city schools students routinely held back especially urban districts rarely done kind deliberate plotting chicago done cincinnati among exceptions since 1992 public schools held back students whose work major subjects fails meet district standards low overall rating 3rd 6th 8th grades sent summer school unsuccessful must repeat retention rate high 20 35 percent systems 49000 students depending grade cincinnati school officials say systems emerging instructional strategyinvolving teams teachers following children across several yearscushions fall flunk second year currently 500 studentsare siphoned small fulltime plus classes teacher works solely standards havent mastered meet standards directed back regular classroom dont either get directed special education stay put child keeps failing teacher show us says kathleen ware cincinnatis assistant superintendent strategic planning durham nc 5th 8thgraders bomb statemandated competency test attend summer school currently principals may retain 8thgraders unsuccessful summer school next school year principal discretion apply 5thgraders well every child retained receives individual remediation plan school decide treatment appropriate tutoring saturday academies among options corpus christi tex follows similar procedure except students retained basis required minimum grade 70 reading math science social studies biggest flop countrys biggest experiment retention started 1981 countrys biggest school system new york city frank macchiarola new chancellor initiated promotional gates program required lowscoring 4th 7thgraders repeat grades repeaters assigned classes 20 fewer students along specially trained teachers new materials cost first year 40 million holdovers initially evidenced higher reading math scores according subsequent board education study three years later increase gone high school dropout rate among heldback 7thgraders started climb study found another problem 5000 kids ended repeating grades second time says ray domanico early evaluator executive director public education association new york advocacy group system tried create program double holdovers new superintendent come time one paying attention promotional gates 1990 joseph fernandez chancellor ended program large part led dropouts fully 40 percent retained high school left graduating compared 25 percent control group program may wellintentioned said fernandez worked one learned says domanico true dont kids favor pushing ahead without skills hand teacher inadequate school lousy dont favor making repeat currently new york city schools massive 11 million students 32 communitygoverned subdistricts looser promotion policy standards every grade theres automatic kickin says william casey board educations chief executive program development dissemination depends test scores teacher input casey says school officials discussing strengthening promotion rules nobody wants kneejerk reaction without wellthoughtout plan prefers stress new initiatives chancellor rudy crew add afterschool reading instruction kids kindergarten 3rd grade dont retention policy says john liechty middleschool director los angeles unified school district 680000 students countrys second largest school system social promotion pervasive 1 percent 1st 8thgraders retained 199596 academic year according liechty new york los angeles looking bolster impact early grades extended days saturday classes summer school lowered class sizes liechty says administrators watching develops chicago cynical eye everybody wants jump retention bandwagon remarks liechty research points fact retention fails kind like corporal punishment every swat give teacher may make feel terrific arent getting better results way retention liechty dropped high schoolhis diploma came adult school continued earn couple masters degrees voices sympathy retainees fail school adult world labels child internalize perception worst feeling world begin things outside normjoining gang indulging bizarre behaviorto get selfesteem back far evidence mixed whether latterday retention effective percentage durham 8thgraders including repeaters scored upper levels state tests rose 7 percent reading 6 percent math improvement district spokesperson julie marshall ties retention corpus christi scores last two years achievement tests taken middle schoolers says sandra lanierlerma assistant superintendent instruction operations jump credits increased retention cincinnati highschool dropout rate edged higher year since 1993 although kathleen ware insists new ohio proficiency exam factor rise meanwhile late february president clinton instructed secretary education richard riley memorandum follow lead cities chicago cincinnati come guidelines crimp social promotion states localities move end social promotions must help design implement approaches succeed said president
| 689 |
<p>The LGBT community’s pleas to Ivanka Trump to moderate her father’s views have fallen on deaf ears. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>On Nov. 15, 2016 with high hopes for what you could do I published an <a href="" type="internal">open letter</a> to you. It began, “I believe we must always keep an open line of communication with those we don’t agree with and the person on your side of this election I would enjoy having a cup of coffee with is you. As a supporter of Hillary Clinton the election didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to. This isn’t the first campaign where my hopes were dashed. But the fight for the things I believe in and care about goes on. Ivanka, it would be great to have the opportunity to share with you how I lived my life. It is my conviction you would understand where those like myself are coming from and as senior adviser to your father that could be important and helpful as you help mold the administration.”</p>
<p>At the time many of us hoped you might be a moderating influence on social and economic issues relating to women, immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community. You didn’t respond to the letter when it was published. Then I met Omarosa Manigault, the president’s Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison, at a reception honoring the new Secretary of the Veterans Administration. We had a very pleasant conversation and I handed her a copy of the letter in an envelope addressed to you, which she promised to deliver.</p>
<p>I never heard from her or you again. Seeing what your father and his administration are now doing and saying, you are probably correct in thinking responding wasn’t worthwhile. Clearly you either agree with what your father is doing or have zero influence to do anything about it. Both scenarios are disappointing. This time I am not expecting a response.</p>
<p>Your father, the president, has become an embarrassment to the nation. He has been called all kinds of names by those who disagree with him and some may be over the top. But I can only conclude by his behavior and speeches he can fairly be described as a boorish pig. His conduct overseas including roughly pushing aside the prime minister of Montenegro to get to his place in a photo op and his remarks on the figure of the wife of French President Macron were offensive.</p>
<p>His statements on efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act leave one perplexed and with the clear impression he has no idea what he is talking about. Inviting members of the House of Representatives to the Rose Garden one day to celebrate passage of their bill, then calling it ‘mean’ days later. Yes it is mean. But then he supports an even meaner Senate bill finally begging them to do something no matter how hateful it is.&#160; Thankfully three decent Republican senators and every Democrat agreed both the House version, the Senate version he first supported, and the ‘skinny’ version are all mean-spirited and wrong-headed and voted them down. Clearly your father has yet to figure out the ‘art of the political deal.’</p>
<p>Then your father went further in showing how boorish and totally clueless he is with his speech to the Boy Scouts at their Jamboree. I am a Scout. In 1960, along with nearly 60,000 other Scouts, I attended the National Jamboree in Colorado Springs celebrating 50 years of scouting. That year another president, Dwight David Eisenhower, spoke. Whatever his politics he was a man with a reputation for decency and a military hero. Though I was a Democrat even then, supporting John F. Kennedy for president, I was inspired by Eisenhower’s words when he talked about trustworthiness, honor, honesty, valor and the importance of service to the nation. There is not one scout who when they think back on your father’s meandering remarks will be inspired to service. His use of curse words, talking about cocktail parties and women in New York; bashing a former president and threatening to fire one of his cabinet secretaries if a bill didn’t pass Congress, (let’s see if he does that now that the bill has failed) were totally inappropriate. The Boy Scouts for the first time ever had to apologize for a president’s speech.&#160; I can’t imagine even you weren’t embarrassed by that spectacle.</p>
<p>Your father has gone so far off track I find myself feeling sorry for Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a man I have always considered a racist. Your father talked about loyalty to the Boy Scouts; clearly your father’s concept of loyalty is a one-way street. Threatening Sessions for upholding the ‘rule of law’ is the height of stupidity and as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said, if your father fired him there would be ‘holy hell’ to pay.</p>
<p>In a random early morning tweet your father attacked the LGBTQ+ community and heroic transgender members of the military announcing trans people will no longer be welcome to serve and possibly die for the nation. Something he was never willing to do. His new press secretary trying to explain the tweet lied about it saying it was in concurrence with the Department of Defense. In reality the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense have said they knew nothing about the tweet and the secretary had just announced a six-month study of the issue. Clearly lying at the White House has reached epidemic proportions.</p>
<p>So, Ivanka, the hope you and your husband would have any ability or even desire to moderate some of you father’s behavior is long gone. Instead we have seen you and Jared hire lawyers to defend what seems indefensible. We have witnessed both you and his inability to honestly fill out government forms including financial disclosure forms and at least his SF-86 needed to get a security clearance. The excuse on finances from your husband seems to be he is so rich it’s natural he forgot to report on numerous holdings. As to the security form he now admits he forgot over 100 meetings with foreign agents and is on his third or fourth iteration of the form in what he says is an attempt to be honest and forthcoming.</p>
<p>My God, how can he do his job if he really has such a poor memory? Or was he simply displaying selective memory hoping he could get away with it? When he signed the original form he swore to its truth that could be enough to send him to jail.</p>
<p>In fact, it appears all sense of honesty and plain decency have escaped most of those at the White House. You are all being caught up in the sludge oozing out of that venerable building; the building often called the people’s house. If this keeps up decent people will not want any association with that beautiful building,&#160; recently home to a family that represented what is best in America, until your father stops disgracing it and the country.</p>
<p>Many of us who harbored hope you would be a champion for decency now count the days until your father either leaves voluntarily or is thrown out. Only then will the American people once again be able to lift up our heads with pride when facing the world community.</p>
<p />
<p>Peter Rosenstein is a longtime LGBT rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">ACA</a> <a href="" type="internal">Affordable Care Act</a> <a href="" type="internal">Boy Scouts of America</a> <a href="" type="internal">Brigette Macron</a> <a href="" type="internal">Democratic Party</a> <a href="" type="internal">Donald Trump</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dwight D. Eisenhower</a> <a href="" type="internal">Emmanuel Macron</a> <a href="" type="internal">Hillary Clinton</a> <a href="" type="internal">Ivanka Trump</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jared Kushner</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jeff Sessions</a> <a href="" type="internal">John F. Kennedy</a> <a href="" type="internal">Joint Chiefs of Staff</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT</a> <a href="" type="internal">Lindsey Graham</a> <a href="" type="internal">Milo Đukanović</a> <a href="" type="internal">Obamacare</a> <a href="" type="internal">Office of Public Liaison</a> <a href="" type="internal">Omarosa Manigault</a> <a href="" type="internal">Republican Party</a> <a href="" type="internal">trans</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender service ban</a> <a href="" type="internal">Trump administration</a> <a href="" type="internal">twitter</a> <a href="" type="internal">United States Department of Defense</a> <a href="" type="internal">United States House of Representatives</a> <a href="" type="internal">United States Senate</a> <a href="" type="internal">veterans administration</a> <a href="" type="internal">White House</a> <a href="" type="internal">White House Rose Garden</a></p>
| false | 3 |
lgbt communitys pleas ivanka trump moderate fathers views fallen deaf ears washington blade photo michael key nov 15 2016 high hopes could published open letter began believe must always keep open line communication dont agree person side election would enjoy cup coffee supporter hillary clinton election didnt turn way wanted isnt first campaign hopes dashed fight things believe care goes ivanka would great opportunity share lived life conviction would understand like coming senior adviser father could important helpful help mold administration time many us hoped might moderating influence social economic issues relating women immigrants lgbtq community didnt respond letter published met omarosa manigault presidents director communications office public liaison reception honoring new secretary veterans administration pleasant conversation handed copy letter envelope addressed promised deliver never heard seeing father administration saying probably correct thinking responding wasnt worthwhile clearly either agree father zero influence anything scenarios disappointing time expecting response father president become embarrassment nation called kinds names disagree may top conclude behavior speeches fairly described boorish pig conduct overseas including roughly pushing aside prime minister montenegro get place photo op remarks figure wife french president macron offensive statements efforts repeal replace affordable care act leave one perplexed clear impression idea talking inviting members house representatives rose garden one day celebrate passage bill calling mean days later yes mean supports even meaner senate bill finally begging something matter hateful is160 thankfully three decent republican senators every democrat agreed house version senate version first supported skinny version meanspirited wrongheaded voted clearly father yet figure art political deal father went showing boorish totally clueless speech boy scouts jamboree scout 1960 along nearly 60000 scouts attended national jamboree colorado springs celebrating 50 years scouting year another president dwight david eisenhower spoke whatever politics man reputation decency military hero though democrat even supporting john f kennedy president inspired eisenhowers words talked trustworthiness honor honesty valor importance service nation one scout think back fathers meandering remarks inspired service use curse words talking cocktail parties women new york bashing former president threatening fire one cabinet secretaries bill didnt pass congress lets see bill failed totally inappropriate boy scouts first time ever apologize presidents speech160 cant imagine even werent embarrassed spectacle father gone far track find feeling sorry attorney general jeff sessions man always considered racist father talked loyalty boy scouts clearly fathers concept loyalty oneway street threatening sessions upholding rule law height stupidity sen lindsey graham rsc said father fired would holy hell pay random early morning tweet father attacked lgbtq community heroic transgender members military announcing trans people longer welcome serve possibly die nation something never willing new press secretary trying explain tweet lied saying concurrence department defense reality chair joint chiefs staff secretary defense said knew nothing tweet secretary announced sixmonth study issue clearly lying white house reached epidemic proportions ivanka hope husband would ability even desire moderate fathers behavior long gone instead seen jared hire lawyers defend seems indefensible witnessed inability honestly fill government forms including financial disclosure forms least sf86 needed get security clearance excuse finances husband seems rich natural forgot report numerous holdings security form admits forgot 100 meetings foreign agents third fourth iteration form says attempt honest forthcoming god job really poor memory simply displaying selective memory hoping could get away signed original form swore truth could enough send jail fact appears sense honesty plain decency escaped white house caught sludge oozing venerable building building often called peoples house keeps decent people want association beautiful building160 recently home family represented best america father stops disgracing country many us harbored hope would champion decency count days father either leaves voluntarily thrown american people able lift heads pride facing world community peter rosenstein longtime lgbt rights democratic party activist writes regularly blade aca affordable care act boy scouts america brigette macron democratic party donald trump dwight eisenhower emmanuel macron hillary clinton ivanka trump jared kushner jeff sessions john f kennedy joint chiefs staff lgbt lindsey graham milo Đukanović obamacare office public liaison omarosa manigault republican party trans transgender transgender service ban trump administration twitter united states department defense united states house representatives united states senate veterans administration white house white house rose garden
| 689 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Editor’s Note: Some corrections to this article were added after comments from&#160;Natasha Minsker,&#160;Death Penalty Policy Director of the&#160;ACLU of Northern California.</p>
<p>JULY 9, 2011</p>
<p>By ALI MEYER</p>
<p>If&#160; <a href="http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/SB_490/20112012/" type="external">SB 490</a>&#160;becomes law, voters could have a chance to kill the death penalty. In the key section, the bill stipulates, “Provides that the state shall not carry out any execution following the enactment of this act unless the voters fail to approve this act.” Those currently on death row would have their sentences commuted to life in prison without chance of parole. The last person executed in California was in 2006.</p>
<p>SB 490 is by state Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Oakland. On July 7, it passed in the Assembly Public Safety Committee by a 5-2 vote. &#160;The bill now is in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.</p>
<p>Proponents say the death penalty costs too much. Opponents of the bill are fighting to keep it because they believe the death penalty&#160;deters bad behavior and provides justice for victims.</p>
<p>Hancock focused foremost on the costs of keeping inmates on death row, instead of putting them back into the general prison population.&#160; “Since 1978, when voters approved&#160;the death penalty, only 13 people have been executed,” she said. “That’s 13 people over 33 years; 714 are still on death row at a cost of $184 million a year.&#160; Capital punishment is an expensive&#160;failure and an example of the dysfunction of our prison system. California’s death row is&#160;the largest and the most expensive in the United States. It is not helping protect our people, but helping&#160;bankrupt us.”</p>
<p>The cost factor became a a bigger issue after <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/20/local/la-me-adv-death-penalty-costs-20110620" type="external">a new study</a> was released last month showing that the death penalty cost California $4 billion since 1978. The study was by&#160;U.S. 9th Circuit Judge Arthur L. Alarcon and Loyola Law School professor Paula M. Mitchell.</p>
<p>Costs have risen largely because of the lengthy appeals process that keeps death row inmates in limbo, sometimes for decades. Recent court rulings have limited the means of execution over concerns of violating the Eighth Amendment’s ban on “ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruel_and_unusual_punishment" type="external">cruel and unusual punishment</a>.” One current holdup is the difficulty in getting the drug sodium thiopental, which courts have allowed to be used in executions.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Despite the new cost study, most backers of SB 490 previously opposed the death penalty on general principle. Moreover, if California began executing those on death row at the rate of Texas, an <a href="http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/annual.htm" type="external">average of 23 per year</a>&#160;the past decade, the cost per execution would drop quickly.</p>
<p>Some families of murder victims testified in favor of the bill. &#160; “Today in California&#160;we’re laying off police officers, we’re closing crime labs, we’re eliminating victim services,&#160;and ending cold case investigations,” said Judy Kerr, whose brother was murdered. “We have a crisis of unsolved murders that are over&#160;45 percent.&#160; Today there are thousands of murder victim families who watch while we throw millions&#160;of dollars every year into a farce of a justice system that does nothing to address the needs&#160;of real families.”</p>
<p>Backers of the death penalty stated their reasons for opposing SB 490. “We share the public support of the death penalty,” said Cory Salzillo, representing the <a href="http://www.cdaa.org/" type="external">California&#160;District Attorneys Association</a>. “We believe it is the&#160;appropriate and carefully measured response to the most heinous crimes that society faces. &#160;The death penalty deters future criminality if by no other means than by permanently&#160;incapacitating potential repeat offenders.” He agreed that the death penalty is costly. But he did not&#160;agree that we should abolish it just because it’s expensive. “We cannot put a price on&#160;justice,” he said.</p>
<p>A representative from <a href="http://www.crimevictimsunited.com/" type="external">Crime Victims United</a> called the bill an insult to victims. “Those who have&#160;offenders serving on death row believe that they are provided justice for the atrocious&#160;crimes committed against them and their families,” she said.</p>
<p>Committee members differed in their responses.&#160; Assemblyman Steve Knight, R-Palmdale, spoke out against the bill. He said the death penalty was a deterrent to crime and that amending this may lead to&#160;amending life imprisonment down the road.</p>
<p>Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-El Camino Real, said he would support the bill&#160;because he was in favor of abolishing the death penalty&#160;though a vote of the people.</p>
<p>Should the bill pass, will Gov. Jerry Brown sign it? &#160;The history of his position on the death penalty has been teeter-tottering over the years. &#160;In the 1960s, when popular opinion and court decisions moved against the death penalty, he protested against it.</p>
<p>In 1977, he appointed the controversial Rose Bird to be the chief justice of the California Supreme Court. Despite a 1978 initiative in which voters approved bringing back the death penalty, her court reversed a high number of death sentences. No execution was carried out in California until 1992. Since then, only 13 have been carried out. In 1986, voters booted Bird from the court.</p>
<p>In his 2010 campaign for governor, Brown pledged he would not grant blanket clemency to everyone on death row.&#160;The Sacramento Bee captured a video of Gov. Jerry Brown’s interview in 2010 about the death penalty. &#160;“I said I would prefer a society that did not have to use the death penalty,” he said. “But my preference has been overruled, and not only by the Legislature but by initiative.”</p>
<p>Because the bill allows a vote of the people to decide the fate of the death penalty, he might sign SB 490. But Brown also obviously is aware of Rose Bird’s fate.</p>
| false | 3 |
editors note corrections article added comments from160natasha minsker160death penalty policy director the160aclu northern california july 9 2011 ali meyer if160 sb 490160becomes law voters could chance kill death penalty key section bill stipulates provides state shall carry execution following enactment act unless voters fail approve act currently death row would sentences commuted life prison without chance parole last person executed california 2006 sb 490 state sen loni hancock doakland july 7 passed assembly public safety committee 52 vote 160the bill assembly appropriations committee proponents say death penalty costs much opponents bill fighting keep believe death penalty160deters bad behavior provides justice victims hancock focused foremost costs keeping inmates death row instead putting back general prison population160 since 1978 voters approved160the death penalty 13 people executed said thats 13 people 33 years 714 still death row cost 184 million year160 capital punishment expensive160failure example dysfunction prison system californias death row is160the largest expensive united states helping protect people helping160bankrupt us cost factor became bigger issue new study released last month showing death penalty cost california 4 billion since 1978 study by160us 9th circuit judge arthur l alarcon loyola law school professor paula mitchell costs risen largely lengthy appeals process keeps death row inmates limbo sometimes decades recent court rulings limited means execution concerns violating eighth amendments ban cruel unusual punishment one current holdup difficulty getting drug sodium thiopental courts allowed used executions despite new cost study backers sb 490 previously opposed death penalty general principle moreover california began executing death row rate texas average 23 per year160the past decade cost per execution would drop quickly families murder victims testified favor bill 160 today california160were laying police officers closing crime labs eliminating victim services160and ending cold case investigations said judy kerr whose brother murdered crisis unsolved murders over16045 percent160 today thousands murder victim families watch throw millions160of dollars every year farce justice system nothing address needs160of real families backers death penalty stated reasons opposing sb 490 share public support death penalty said cory salzillo representing california160district attorneys association believe the160appropriate carefully measured response heinous crimes society faces 160the death penalty deters future criminality means permanently160incapacitating potential repeat offenders agreed death penalty costly not160agree abolish expensive put price on160justice said representative crime victims united called bill insult victims have160offenders serving death row believe provided justice atrocious160crimes committed families said committee members differed responses160 assemblyman steve knight rpalmdale spoke bill said death penalty deterrent crime amending may lead to160amending life imprisonment road assemblyman jerry hill del camino real said would support bill160because favor abolishing death penalty160though vote people bill pass gov jerry brown sign 160the history position death penalty teetertottering years 160in 1960s popular opinion court decisions moved death penalty protested 1977 appointed controversial rose bird chief justice california supreme court despite 1978 initiative voters approved bringing back death penalty court reversed high number death sentences execution carried california 1992 since 13 carried 1986 voters booted bird court 2010 campaign governor brown pledged would grant blanket clemency everyone death row160the sacramento bee captured video gov jerry browns interview 2010 death penalty 160i said would prefer society use death penalty said preference overruled legislature initiative bill allows vote people decide fate death penalty might sign sb 490 brown also obviously aware rose birds fate
| 538 |
<p>If you've followed the War on Terror at all, you're almost certainly familiar with the US detention facility at Guantánamo&#160;Bay, Cuba — a US prison that exists outside the realm of the US justice system.</p>
<p>Now, it turns out, there's a secret US detention system in the War on Drugs, too — and this one is aboard US Coast Guard cutters sailing in the Pacific Ocean.</p>
<p>In an effort to stanch the flow of cocaine and other hard drugs from South America&#160;to Central America and points north, Coast Guard cutters have been deployed farther and farther from the shore in the Pacific Ocean. When these cutters capture a boat carrying drugs, the smugglers are brought onto the ships and kept shackled to the deck, sometimes outside in the elements, until the Coast Guard makes arrangements for them to be transported back to the US for trial.</p>
<p>But this isn't a wait of just a few hours or days. Often, these waits can last weeks or months, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/20/magazine/the-coast-guards-floating-guantanamos.html" type="external">according to new reporting from The New York Times</a>. Coast Guard officials say they can do this because the drug smugglers aren't under arrest until they reach US shores, but some of the worst cases are drawing criticism even from Coast Guard officials.</p>
<p>Seth Freed Wessler&#160;reported this story for The Times. He says a combination of US agreements with Latin American countries and the US Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act allows the US to take this action.&#160;Wessler&#160;spoke with The World's Carol Hills about his reporting and these "floating&#160;Guantánamos" on the Pacific Ocean.</p>
<p>It is. The Coast Guard has a broad mission. It does search and rescue, enforces fisheries laws. It enforces drug laws on the oceans and, what few people know, is that the US Coast Guard has actually been deployed in recent years deep into the Pacific Ocean to interdict drug smugglers moving between South America —&#160;Colombia, Ecuador — and Central America, where the drugs —&#160;often cocaine — are dropped off and then often moved up through Mexico. These Coast Guard ships are deployed deep into the Pacific —sometimes&#160;thousands of miles from the nearest US&#160;port, where they're detaining suspected smugglers and holding them aboard these Coast Guard cutters. What I found&#160;in my reporting is that detainees, men who are moving cocaine in the Pacific Ocean.&#160;</p>
<p>He is a fisherman from a coastal town in Ecuador and was having a particularly, economically, rough year and made a decision to take a job smuggling cocaine off of the coast of Ecuador.&#160;He really didn't know all that much about what he was doing.</p>
<p>As he was moving this cocaine on a boat with three other men, another Ecuadorian man&#160;and a Colombian man, they were approaching Central America, approaching Guatemala and the US&#160;Navy and Coast Guard intercepted that boat and pulled these men off. For the next 70 days, Mr. Arcentales and the other man he was detained with were held —&#160;always chained by their ankle to the deck of a ship or to a cable running along one of these large Coast Guard or Navy ships —&#160;for 70 days. He was moved from ship to ship as these Coast Guard cutters went about their patrols, picking up more cocaine in the Pacific Ocean.&#160;</p>
<p>San Lorenzo, Ecuador, near Jhonny’s departure point.&#160;</p>
<p>Glenna Gordon/Courtesy of The New York Times</p>
<p>The Coast Guard makes the argument that these people are not formally under arrest until they get to the United States. They're simply being held, while the Coast Guard deals with the logistical challenges of trying to get these men onto shore — into an airplane and flown to Florida, where they'll be prosecuted.&#160;</p>
<p>Courts have generally bought the government's argument. The argument by the Coast Guard and by federal prosecutors that these logistical delays are legitimate, as it's hard enough to get people back. The reality is that when the Coast Guard has had to move people more quickly, they do. Very often, detainees are brought to port in one of these cutters, then placed in a hidden room in a helicopter hangar or in a room below deck and&#160;hidden there for the day while the Coast Guard cutter refuels or the Coast Guard crew get a bit of a break and then are brought back out to sea.</p>
<p>So there are these delays that people in the Coast Guard — Coast Guard officials I interviewed —&#160;though&#160;really are actually unreasonable, considering that they're near an airport. Somebody could be put on a plane and brought back to the United States. As we've made this decision to prosecute more and more people, these delays have grown longer and longer.&#160;</p>
<p>What we're seeing now is sort of carting people around ... carting suspected drug smugglers around the ocean an average of 18 days — very often longer than that — as the government waits to transport people to courts in Florida.&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>A picture of the USCG National Security Cutter Bertholf.</p>
<p>United States Department of Homeland Security&#160;</p>
<p>Well, John Kelly was in charge of Southern Command, the Department of Defense area of operation in Latin America that's in charge of managing the drug war in Latin America. He was the head of Southern Command between 2012 and 2016 then retired. Under the Trump administration, he became&#160;head of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Coast Guard.</p>
<p>On two occasions he has had a role in these operations. And John Kelly has really been a proponent of the idea. He's called drug smuggling in Central America an existential threat to the United States. And the idea that we need to push our borders outward farther and farther away from our actual borders in order to defend the homeland, that's led to this effort to interdict drugs far, far away from the United States in places where drug smugglers actually really have very little idea where their drugs are headed. So, Johnny Arcentales&#160;and the other men that I've spoken to know, they're not thinking about where these drugs are going.&#160;The drugs are moving from South America to Central America as far as they're concerned. It's out of their control after that, but we're arresting people in international waters, often on foreign boats, thousands of miles from the United States.&#160;</p>
<p>Ultimately, most of the cocaine on these smugglers' small boats is probably headed for the United States. But some of it may be going to other markets, to European markets, to Australian markets or elsewhere. It's not always clear that the drugs are coming here and,&#160;in fact, the circuit court in California has said that the US&#160;can't prosecute these cases unless they can prove that the drugs were headed to the United States —&#160;that they actually intended to to show up there. And that's one of the reasons why federal prosecutors prefer to bring these cases to Florida, where that burden of proof is not required.&#160;</p>
<p>He was picked up in September of 2014. And for the next 70 days, he was held aboard a series of Coast Guard cutters and Navy frigates as he was moved around the Pacific Ocean. He describes the experience of feeling like he really might disappear. &#160;</p>
<p>He didn't know that he was going to be brought to the United States, wasn't being allowed to call his family —&#160;wondering, "does my family think I died?"&#160;He was ultimately brought to shore in Central America and told "you're going to be handed over to the Drug Enforcement Administration now"&#160;and brought to the United States to face prosecution after more than two months held aboard these ships.&#160;</p>
<p>He was brought to the United States, charged criminally under drug trafficking laws and was sentenced to 10 years to a decade in federal prison. He's now in a federal prison in New Jersey.&#160;</p>
<p>The community he comes from on the central coast of Ecuador, many men have left on these smuggling trips. More than a year ago, there was a major earthquake in Ecuador that left families in dire economic straits. Since then, there have been more and more people leaving. In fact, his son-in-law decided not long after that earthquake to take one of these jobs and left home. He didn't tell anyone and disappeared. Days later, was picked up by the Coast Guard. He was also sentenced to a decade in US federal prison.&#160;</p>
<p>The question about the legality of the US&#160;Coast Guard's detention practices has not been raised, in an international context, in criminal courts. In the United States, when defense attorneys have tried to argue that the conditions amount to inhumane treatment,&#160;some cases judges have agreed. But they've said there's nothing we can really do about it. The law does not allow for us to throw this case out.&#160;</p>
<p>This is a practice of detention that until now hasn't really been known.&#160;</p>
<p>I wrote to dozens of men and received letters back from many of these men who'd been detained on these Coast Guard ships, describing the conditions of their confinement. Describing what sounded to me like real terror for them on the high seas. Those are stories that hadn't been told before.&#160;</p>
<p>No the bathrooms on these boats are very different, ship to ship. They're provided essentially buckets to use as toilets on some of the boats.&#160;And these men are then required to clean out the buckets themselves and dump them off the edge of the ship. They describe that as a really terrible disgusting process. And the Coast Guard says "our ships aren't equipped as detention centers. We don't have facilities here. This is what we've got."</p>
<p>In fact, I spoke to Coast Guard commanders&#160;who are really uncomfortable about the conditions on their ship —&#160;and uncomfortable about the amount of time people are held.&#160;</p>
<p>I have evidence of people being held for upwards of 70 days. A Coast Guard official told me people have been held for 90 days. But the Coast Guard has no clear rules about how long they can hold people.&#160;</p>
<p>Many of the Coast Guard officials that I talked to were really uncomfortable about the detention conditions and the amount of time that people were being held during their detention. I really felt that officials thought people&#160;need to be moved off the boats more quickly and, again, are uncomfortable about the conditions that they have&#160;to hold people in.&#160;</p>
<p>Yes. Many families, in fact, believe that their loved ones — husbands, fathers, sons — had disappeared. It's not unheard of for fishermen to disappear in the sea.&#160;</p>
<p>For these fishermen, the ocean is the geography of their life. And so when I talked to Arcentales, for example, about the sea, he said to me "the ocean used to be a place that for me represented freedom. But now it's like a prison in the open ocean."</p>
<p>And all of these men say "we understand that we've broken laws. We understand that we made these decisions. We understand that we're going to be punished for this."&#160;The question that they raise is "how are we in the United States right now?"</p>
| false | 3 |
youve followed war terror youre almost certainly familiar us detention facility guantánamo160bay cuba us prison exists outside realm us justice system turns theres secret us detention system war drugs one aboard us coast guard cutters sailing pacific ocean effort stanch flow cocaine hard drugs south america160to central america points north coast guard cutters deployed farther farther shore pacific ocean cutters capture boat carrying drugs smugglers brought onto ships kept shackled deck sometimes outside elements coast guard makes arrangements transported back us trial isnt wait hours days often waits last weeks months according new reporting new york times coast guard officials say drug smugglers arent arrest reach us shores worst cases drawing criticism even coast guard officials seth freed wessler160reported story times says combination us agreements latin american countries us maritime drug law enforcement act allows us take action160wessler160spoke worlds carol hills reporting floating160guantánamos pacific ocean coast guard broad mission search rescue enforces fisheries laws enforces drug laws oceans people know us coast guard actually deployed recent years deep pacific ocean interdict drug smugglers moving south america 160colombia ecuador central america drugs 160often cocaine dropped often moved mexico coast guard ships deployed deep pacific sometimes160thousands miles nearest us160port theyre detaining suspected smugglers holding aboard coast guard cutters found160in reporting detainees men moving cocaine pacific ocean160 fisherman coastal town ecuador particularly economically rough year made decision take job smuggling cocaine coast ecuador160he really didnt know much moving cocaine boat three men another ecuadorian man160and colombian man approaching central america approaching guatemala us160navy coast guard intercepted boat pulled men next 70 days mr arcentales man detained held 160always chained ankle deck ship cable running along one large coast guard navy ships 160for 70 days moved ship ship coast guard cutters went patrols picking cocaine pacific ocean160 san lorenzo ecuador near jhonnys departure point160 glenna gordoncourtesy new york times coast guard makes argument people formally arrest get united states theyre simply held coast guard deals logistical challenges trying get men onto shore airplane flown florida theyll prosecuted160 courts generally bought governments argument argument coast guard federal prosecutors logistical delays legitimate hard enough get people back reality coast guard move people quickly often detainees brought port one cutters placed hidden room helicopter hangar room deck and160hidden day coast guard cutter refuels coast guard crew get bit break brought back sea delays people coast guard coast guard officials interviewed 160though160really actually unreasonable considering theyre near airport somebody could put plane brought back united states weve made decision prosecute people delays grown longer longer160 seeing sort carting people around carting suspected drug smugglers around ocean average 18 days often longer government waits transport people courts florida160 picture uscg national security cutter bertholf united states department homeland security160 well john kelly charge southern command department defense area operation latin america thats charge managing drug war latin america head southern command 2012 2016 retired trump administration became160head department homeland security oversees coast guard two occasions role operations john kelly really proponent idea hes called drug smuggling central america existential threat united states idea need push borders outward farther farther away actual borders order defend homeland thats led effort interdict drugs far far away united states places drug smugglers actually really little idea drugs headed johnny arcentales160and men ive spoken know theyre thinking drugs going160the drugs moving south america central america far theyre concerned control arresting people international waters often foreign boats thousands miles united states160 ultimately cocaine smugglers small boats probably headed united states may going markets european markets australian markets elsewhere always clear drugs coming and160in fact circuit court california said us160cant prosecute cases unless prove drugs headed united states 160that actually intended show thats one reasons federal prosecutors prefer bring cases florida burden proof required160 picked september 2014 next 70 days held aboard series coast guard cutters navy frigates moved around pacific ocean describes experience feeling like really might disappear 160 didnt know going brought united states wasnt allowed call family 160wondering family think died160he ultimately brought shore central america told youre going handed drug enforcement administration now160and brought united states face prosecution two months held aboard ships160 brought united states charged criminally drug trafficking laws sentenced 10 years decade federal prison hes federal prison new jersey160 community comes central coast ecuador many men left smuggling trips year ago major earthquake ecuador left families dire economic straits since people leaving fact soninlaw decided long earthquake take one jobs left home didnt tell anyone disappeared days later picked coast guard also sentenced decade us federal prison160 question legality us160coast guards detention practices raised international context criminal courts united states defense attorneys tried argue conditions amount inhumane treatment160some cases judges agreed theyve said theres nothing really law allow us throw case out160 practice detention hasnt really known160 wrote dozens men received letters back many men whod detained coast guard ships describing conditions confinement describing sounded like real terror high seas stories hadnt told before160 bathrooms boats different ship ship theyre provided essentially buckets use toilets boats160and men required clean buckets dump edge ship describe really terrible disgusting process coast guard says ships arent equipped detention centers dont facilities weve got fact spoke coast guard commanders160who really uncomfortable conditions ship 160and uncomfortable amount time people held160 evidence people held upwards 70 days coast guard official told people held 90 days coast guard clear rules long hold people160 many coast guard officials talked really uncomfortable detention conditions amount time people held detention really felt officials thought people160need moved boats quickly uncomfortable conditions have160to hold people in160 yes many families fact believe loved ones husbands fathers sons disappeared unheard fishermen disappear sea160 fishermen ocean geography life talked arcentales example sea said ocean used place represented freedom like prison open ocean men say understand weve broken laws understand made decisions understand going punished this160the question raise united states right
| 966 |
<p>Andrew Magie, on left, with Jim Obergefell who visited the George Washington University LGBT Health Policy &amp; Practice Forum on July 11. Magie says the Trump administration has affected campus climate. (Photo courtesy Magie)</p>
<p>The notion that college campuses are hermetically sealed bubbles cut off from the rest of the world is not really true, local students and faculty say, especially when it comes to the Trump administration.</p>
<p>The Blade spoke with local LGBT folks involved in academia to get a sense of how the White House drama has impacted local campuses.</p>
<p>The biggest issue at the University of the District of Columbia so far has been Trump’s on-again, off-again immigration ban, according to Jay Jamorr Morrow, the college’s webmaster and facilitator of its LGBT support association TAG, which stands for the Alliance Group.</p>
<p>“Last semester we had a lot of different forums on immigration issues because it affected a lot of our students,” Morrow, a lesbian, says. “We had lots of students whose families were coming from overseas for graduation who weren’t sure they’d be able to attend.”</p>
<p>The travel ban went into effect&#160;June 29&#160;following a Supreme Court ruling that restricts travel from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days and limits all refugee admissions for 120 days. The court is expected to revisit the issue in the fall but it allowed this scaled-back version to go into effect.</p>
<p>That was, of course, after graduation season, but talk of it and an earlier travel ban that was in effect for a week in January, had students unnerved Morrow says.</p>
<p>The mood on the George Washington University campus the day after the election was “just dead” according to Andrew Magie, a 20-year-old, gay Templeton, Calif., native entering his sophomore year this fall.</p>
<p>He guesses the student body there is about 90 percent liberal and perhaps 10 percent middle to right politically. Subsequently Trump’s win had a stultifying effect on students, Magie says.</p>
<p>“Everyone was very down,” he says. “There was just a lot of sadness and anger on the left at the way the election ended. Since then, I don’t want to say there’s been any backlash or any type of ‘ha ha’-type stuff from the Republican (students). I haven’t felt the campus change in that manner. … It’s just that the Democrat (students) just felt a lot of hurt and anger and the more we’re seeing, like with the trans ruling that came out this summer, it’s like more of those feelings just continuing.”</p>
<p>Magie hasn’t declared a major but is considering double majoring in political science and physics. Because he had so many of his general studies courses completed with AP work in high school, he’s already had several political science classes.</p>
<p>Although he’s not involved in any LGBT groups on campus (“I helped found and lead the gay/straight alliance in my high school and felt I had done my time in that respect,” he says), this summer he did an internship in the LGBT Health Policy and Practice program at the school. Conversations there were often political and almost wholly anti-Trump he says.</p>
<p>Professors regularly use examples from the current administration in class, Magie says. He also says Trump’s actions and tweets have provided lots of fodder for discussion among students and faculty. He guesses that because George Washington University has a strong political science program and because it’s located in the District, students there are perhaps more politically engaged than in other parts of the country.</p>
<p>“I would say that because Trump’s tweets are so constantly outrageous, they constantly have sort of permeated throughout the campus,” Magie says. “I hear it all the time and even in my classes. … They’ll compare something in the course material to something Trump is saying or doing. That’s been a constant at my time at the university.”</p>
<p>Magie says there have been no campus demonstrations against Trump that he’s aware of, but he participated in the Women’s March and knows other students who did as well. He says students inclined to protest are joining in the bigger protests as opposed to have campus-specific protests and that it’s not unusual to see anti-Trump T-shirts on campus.</p>
<p>At other schools, it appears to be a slightly taboo topic.</p>
<p>Shiva Subbaraman, director of the LGBTQ Resource Center at Georgetown University, said in an e-mail that Center personnel “generally does not comment on political impact.”</p>
<p>The issue also did not come up in “The Best 382 Colleges,” the Princeton Review annual book, just out, that uses an 80-question, optional survey given to 137,000 college students all over the country, to rank the five most LGBT-friendly and -unfriendly colleges (Bryn Mawr is No. 1 this year; Missouri’s College of the Ozarks is the least; several D.C.-area schools were among the 382 considered but none made either the best or worst list).</p>
<p>While the list doesn’t ask questions about Trump, Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of the Princeton Review, says geographic patterns one might guess — less LGBT-friendly schools in the Bible Belt, for instance — do tend to hold.</p>
<p>“There is a good deal of consistency,” Franek says. “Several schools on our worst list, like Gordon College is a Christian school in Massachusetts or Brigham Young University in Utah or the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, it’s not surprising that some of these states are more conservative or that students would be more religious at some of these schools.”</p>
<p>What about Liberty University, Virginia’s uber-conservative Christian college where Trump gave the commencement address on&#160;May 13? It didn’t rank high enough academically to qualify for Princeton Review consideration, Franek says. See the full list online at&#160; <a href="http://princetonreview.com/best382" type="external">princetonreview.com/best382</a>.</p>
<p>Magie says the country is in a weird time politically and that even though college students are young and haven’t seen as many administrations as older Americans, there’s still a sense among them that this is unchartered terrain.</p>
<p>“I’m quite independent and very much in the middle politically but I don’t even consider Trump a Republican,” Magie says. “I think he’s — I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s just appalling. The stuff he does doesn’t even seem like real policy or that there’s any real foundation to anything he’s doing. All he seems to be doing is this crazy stuff just to keep himself in the media. It’s almost like he’s campaigning for 2020 but right now. It’s really strange and kind of horrible for everyone who has to be on the wrong side of what he’s doing.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Andrew Magie</a> <a href="" type="internal">Brignham Young University</a> <a href="" type="internal">Bryn Mawr</a> <a href="" type="internal">College of the Ozarks</a> <a href="" type="internal">Donald Trump</a> <a href="" type="internal">George Washington University</a> <a href="" type="internal">Georgetown University</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gordon College</a> <a href="" type="internal">Iran</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jay Jamorr Morrow</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jim Obergefell</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT Health Policy and Practice Program</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBTQ Resource Center at Georgetown University</a> <a href="" type="internal">Liberty University</a> <a href="" type="internal">Libya</a> <a href="" type="internal">Muslim ban</a> <a href="" type="internal">Princeton Review</a> <a href="" type="internal">Rob Franek</a> <a href="" type="internal">Shiva Subbaraman</a> <a href="" type="internal">Somalia</a> <a href="" type="internal">Sudan</a> <a href="" type="internal">Syria</a> <a href="" type="internal">TAG</a> <a href="" type="internal">the Alliance Group</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender service ban</a> <a href="" type="internal">Trump administration</a> <a href="" type="internal">United States Supreme Court</a> <a href="" type="internal">University of Tennessee</a> <a href="" type="internal">University of the District of Columbia</a> <a href="" type="internal">Utah</a> <a href="" type="internal">Women's March</a> <a href="" type="internal">Yemen</a></p>
| false | 3 |
andrew magie left jim obergefell visited george washington university lgbt health policy amp practice forum july 11 magie says trump administration affected campus climate photo courtesy magie notion college campuses hermetically sealed bubbles cut rest world really true local students faculty say especially comes trump administration blade spoke local lgbt folks involved academia get sense white house drama impacted local campuses biggest issue university district columbia far trumps onagain offagain immigration ban according jay jamorr morrow colleges webmaster facilitator lgbt support association tag stands alliance group last semester lot different forums immigration issues affected lot students morrow lesbian says lots students whose families coming overseas graduation werent sure theyd able attend travel ban went effect160june 29160following supreme court ruling restricts travel iran libya somalia sudan syria yemen 90 days limits refugee admissions 120 days court expected revisit issue fall allowed scaledback version go effect course graduation season talk earlier travel ban effect week january students unnerved morrow says mood george washington university campus day election dead according andrew magie 20yearold gay templeton calif native entering sophomore year fall guesses student body 90 percent liberal perhaps 10 percent middle right politically subsequently trumps win stultifying effect students magie says everyone says lot sadness anger left way election ended since dont want say theres backlash type ha hatype stuff republican students havent felt campus change manner democrat students felt lot hurt anger seeing like trans ruling came summer like feelings continuing magie hasnt declared major considering double majoring political science physics many general studies courses completed ap work high school hes already several political science classes although hes involved lgbt groups campus helped found lead gaystraight alliance high school felt done time respect says summer internship lgbt health policy practice program school conversations often political almost wholly antitrump says professors regularly use examples current administration class magie says also says trumps actions tweets provided lots fodder discussion among students faculty guesses george washington university strong political science program located district students perhaps politically engaged parts country would say trumps tweets constantly outrageous constantly sort permeated throughout campus magie says hear time even classes theyll compare something course material something trump saying thats constant time university magie says campus demonstrations trump hes aware participated womens march knows students well says students inclined protest joining bigger protests opposed campusspecific protests unusual see antitrump tshirts campus schools appears slightly taboo topic shiva subbaraman director lgbtq resource center georgetown university said email center personnel generally comment political impact issue also come best 382 colleges princeton review annual book uses 80question optional survey given 137000 college students country rank five lgbtfriendly unfriendly colleges bryn mawr 1 year missouris college ozarks least several dcarea schools among 382 considered none made either best worst list list doesnt ask questions trump rob franek editorinchief princeton review says geographic patterns one might guess less lgbtfriendly schools bible belt instance tend hold good deal consistency franek says several schools worst list like gordon college christian school massachusetts brigham young university utah university tennessee knoxville surprising states conservative students would religious schools liberty university virginias uberconservative christian college trump gave commencement address on160may 13 didnt rank high enough academically qualify princeton review consideration franek says see full list online at160 princetonreviewcombest382 magie says country weird time politically even though college students young havent seen many administrations older americans theres still sense among unchartered terrain im quite independent much middle politically dont even consider trump republican magie says think hes dont even know describe appalling stuff doesnt even seem like real policy theres real foundation anything hes seems crazy stuff keep media almost like hes campaigning 2020 right really strange kind horrible everyone wrong side hes andrew magie brignham young university bryn mawr college ozarks donald trump george washington university georgetown university gordon college iran jay jamorr morrow jim obergefell lgbt lgbt health policy practice program lgbtq resource center georgetown university liberty university libya muslim ban princeton review rob franek shiva subbaraman somalia sudan syria tag alliance group transgender service ban trump administration united states supreme court university tennessee university district columbia utah womens march yemen
| 682 |
<p>JERUSALEM — American officials <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/01/world/middleeast/syria-israel.html?hpw" type="external">have confirmed</a> that Israeli warplanes struck a convoy deep inside Syria that was believed to be carrying sophisticated anti-aircraft weaponry to the Hezbollah militia group in Southern Lebanon.</p>
<p>As common here, Israeli officials <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4339243,00.html" type="external">refused to affirm or deny</a> the assertion, but Syria's military command denied any attack on a convoy, claiming that Israeli air force jets struck a military research center near the capital city of Damascus on Wednesday at dawn Syria's military command.</p>
<p>The attacks have raised fears the Syrian crisis is spreading elsewhere in the region.</p>
<p>The nature of the strikes and its exact location were equally unclear, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/reports-israeli-aircraft-fired-missile-along-lebanon-syria-border/2013/01/30/60fab2be-6adf-11e2-ada3-d86a4806d5ee_story.html" type="external">The Washington Post reported</a>, noting some reports saying a convoy carrying weapons had been hit, while others, <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/regional-security-officials-say-israel-conducted-airstrike-inside-syria-overnight" type="external">such as Syrian state media</a>, claimed the target was near Damascus. Lebanon on Wednesday <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/israel-and-palestine/130130/israeli-warplanes-reportedly-strike-sy" type="external">said its airspace had been violated by Israel</a> several times.&#160;</p>
<p>Syrian rebel groups claimed the research center was in fact a known chemical weapons development site and posted a video allegedly showing a series of blasts shortly after the attack occurred. The video could not be authenticated. Also Wednesday, several rebel leaders claimed that they had attacked the site with mortar shells.</p>
<p>Israel's news site Ynet said Israeli intelligence had been aware of the military research center for decades. “Some of the center's studies have been presented as civilian in nature,” the site wrote.</p>
<p>"It’s a secret governmental body that answers directly to [Syrian President Bashar al] Assad and aggregates all of Syria's military research institutes," said Yiftah Shafir of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies in Tel Aviv.</p>
<p>The US official who confirmed the strike on the convoy <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-informed-u-s-of-planned-air-strike-in-syria-american-official-tells-the-new-york-times.premium-1.500471" type="external">also said Israel had informed</a> the American government of the operation.</p>
<p>The White House warned Syria not to transfer weapons to Hezbollah. "Syria should not further destabilize the region by transferring weaponry to Hezbollah," AFP reported Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes as saying.</p>
<p>The beleaguered Syrian government wants to deflect attention from talk of missile transfers to terror groups on Lebanese soil, which some believe could open it to more international condemnation and possible international intervention.</p>
<p>Portraying the incursion as an unprovoked Israeli attack on its territory fits into Assad’s attempt to discredit the rebels with claims of their association with Israel.</p>
<p>Israel's Channel 10 news reported Wednesday night that the Syrian government said the rebels receive “Israeli-made rations."</p>
<p>The incursion comes at a moment of growing regional tensions. Iranian officials warned last week that any international military intervention in Syria would be viewed as an attack on Iranian sovereignty. On Sunday, Israel's cabinet discussed the danger Syrian chemical weapon caches may be transferred to Hezbollah and installed in two Iron Dome anti-missile batteries on its northern border.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/01/26/iran_warns_against_attacking_syria.html" type="external">Ali Akbar Velayati</a>, an aide to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said “Syria plays a very key role in supporting or, God forbid, destabilizing the resistance front. For this same reason, an attack against Syria is considered an attack on Iran and Iran’s allies.”</p>
<p>Syria's few remaining allies responded to the air-force strike with strong language today. The Russian Foreign Ministry <a href="" type="external">said in a press release</a> that "If this information is confirmed, then we are dealing with unprovoked attacks on targets on the territory of a sovereign country, which blatantly violates the UN Charter and is unacceptable, no matter the motives to justify it."</p>
<p>Egypt's Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr <a href="" type="external">slammed Wednesday's airstrike</a> saying "such an assault on Arab land is entirely rejected and represents a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law."</p>
<p>Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akhbar Salehi was reported by the state-run channel PressTV as saying the attack was "clearly coordinated with the West."</p>
<p>"This was an attempt to subvert the victories of the government over the rebels in Syria," he said, adding that it reveals cooperation between the rebels and the "Zionist regime."</p>
<p>Salahi's deputy Hossein Amir-Abdollahian <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/live-blog-israel-s-reported-strike-on-the-syria-lebanon-border-1.500522" type="external">warned in more ominous tones</a> that the "Israeli bombing in Syria will have grave consequences on Tel Aviv."</p>
<p>Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4339481,00.html" type="external">demanded that the Arab world</a> "confront Israel in every possible legal way," calling the airstrike "blunt aggression that we strongly condemn."</p>
<p>Israel appears to be betting that the Syrian government, tottering after a brutal 18-month rebellion, won’t respond militarily to the incursion, which many believe to have been a warning against attempts to safeguard Syrian munitions or chemical weapons on Lebanese soil.</p>
<p>However, Syria's ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali <a href="http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=301670" type="external">warned on Hezbollah TV</a> that his country retains the ability to implement "a surprise decision to Thursday morning respond to the aggression of the Israeli warplanes.”</p>
<p>“Syria is engaged in defending its sovereignty and its land," he added.</p>
<p>Upping the ante, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/01/world/middleeast/iran-is-said-to-be-set-to-accelerate-uranium-enrichment.html?hp&amp;_r=0" type="external">Iran on Thursday informed</a> the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency of its intention to speed up its production of enriched uranium. The statement, which appeared to be directed at the United States, Israel and Europe, comes as Iran has refused to commit to ongoing talks with the West on its nuclear program.</p>
<p>Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor and Israel Army spokesman Captain Eytan Buchman both declined to comment on the incursion and on the Syrian and Iranian threats.</p>
<p>Palmor said "Israel continues to respond with resounding silence."</p>
<p>"The Iranian government is very worried,” says Iran expert Meir Javedanfar of the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya. “It set a red line about any foreign involvement in Syria and it took Israel less than a week to cross that red line."</p>
<p>Israel should be concerned about the Iranian threat, he said, “however I don't think the chances are high."</p>
<p>Others agree. "I don't think there's a significant difference in the threat level due to what may have happened in the last 24 hours on the Syrian border,” said Gerald Steinberg, a political science professor at Bar Ilan University. “Iranian leadership often talks tough, but in general avoids confrontation."</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/130131/israeli-settlements-violate-palestinian-rights-un" type="external">Israeli settlements 'violate Palestinian rights': UN</a></p>
<p>With the impending loss of its close ally Assad, he said, Iran now finds itself "in a particularly weak position right now."</p>
<p>Some 60,000 people are estimated killed in months of brutal warfare between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the armed uprising against his rule.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Israel and other Western countries are <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/syria/130116/us-state-department-has-more-evidence-chemical-weapon" type="external">concerned</a> that Assad is making use of the country's chemical weapons stockpile.&#160;</p>
<p>International efforts to end the crisis in Syria, where the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/syria/130130/nations-donate-over-15-billion-aid-war-torn-syria-u-0" type="external">United Nations says</a> at least four million people now lack food and shelter due to the violence, have not been successful.</p>
| false | 3 |
jerusalem american officials confirmed israeli warplanes struck convoy deep inside syria believed carrying sophisticated antiaircraft weaponry hezbollah militia group southern lebanon common israeli officials refused affirm deny assertion syrias military command denied attack convoy claiming israeli air force jets struck military research center near capital city damascus wednesday dawn syrias military command attacks raised fears syrian crisis spreading elsewhere region nature strikes exact location equally unclear washington post reported noting reports saying convoy carrying weapons hit others syrian state media claimed target near damascus lebanon wednesday said airspace violated israel several times160 syrian rebel groups claimed research center fact known chemical weapons development site posted video allegedly showing series blasts shortly attack occurred video could authenticated also wednesday several rebel leaders claimed attacked site mortar shells israels news site ynet said israeli intelligence aware military research center decades centers studies presented civilian nature site wrote secret governmental body answers directly syrian president bashar al assad aggregates syrias military research institutes said yiftah shafir jaffee center strategic studies tel aviv us official confirmed strike convoy also said israel informed american government operation white house warned syria transfer weapons hezbollah syria destabilize region transferring weaponry hezbollah afp reported deputy national security advisor ben rhodes saying beleaguered syrian government wants deflect attention talk missile transfers terror groups lebanese soil believe could open international condemnation possible international intervention portraying incursion unprovoked israeli attack territory fits assads attempt discredit rebels claims association israel israels channel 10 news reported wednesday night syrian government said rebels receive israelimade rations incursion comes moment growing regional tensions iranian officials warned last week international military intervention syria would viewed attack iranian sovereignty sunday israels cabinet discussed danger syrian chemical weapon caches may transferred hezbollah installed two iron dome antimissile batteries northern border ali akbar velayati aide irans supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei said syria plays key role supporting god forbid destabilizing resistance front reason attack syria considered attack iran irans allies syrias remaining allies responded airforce strike strong language today russian foreign ministry said press release information confirmed dealing unprovoked attacks targets territory sovereign country blatantly violates un charter unacceptable matter motives justify egypts foreign minister mohamed kamel amr slammed wednesdays airstrike saying assault arab land entirely rejected represents flagrant violation united nations charter international law iranian foreign minister ali akhbar salehi reported staterun channel presstv saying attack clearly coordinated west attempt subvert victories government rebels syria said adding reveals cooperation rebels zionist regime salahis deputy hossein amirabdollahian warned ominous tones israeli bombing syria grave consequences tel aviv lebanese foreign minister adnan mansour demanded arab world confront israel every possible legal way calling airstrike blunt aggression strongly condemn israel appears betting syrian government tottering brutal 18month rebellion wont respond militarily incursion many believe warning attempts safeguard syrian munitions chemical weapons lebanese soil however syrias ambassador lebanon ali abdul karim ali warned hezbollah tv country retains ability implement surprise decision thursday morning respond aggression israeli warplanes syria engaged defending sovereignty land added upping ante iran thursday informed uns international atomic energy agency intention speed production enriched uranium statement appeared directed united states israel europe comes iran refused commit ongoing talks west nuclear program israeli foreign ministry spokesman yigal palmor israel army spokesman captain eytan buchman declined comment incursion syrian iranian threats palmor said israel continues respond resounding silence iranian government worried says iran expert meir javedanfar interdisciplinary center herzliya set red line foreign involvement syria took israel less week cross red line israel concerned iranian threat said however dont think chances high others agree dont think theres significant difference threat level due may happened last 24 hours syrian border said gerald steinberg political science professor bar ilan university iranian leadership often talks tough general avoids confrontation globalpost israeli settlements violate palestinian rights un impending loss close ally assad said iran finds particularly weak position right 60000 people estimated killed months brutal warfare syrian president bashar alassad armed uprising rule meanwhile israel western countries concerned assad making use countrys chemical weapons stockpile160 international efforts end crisis syria united nations says least four million people lack food shelter due violence successful
| 678 |
<p>Vice President Joe Biden may run for president. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>Amid media reports that Vice President Joseph Biden is close to announcing whether he’ll enter the field of 2016 presidential candidates, a number of his LGBT supporters are encouraging his candidacy with the message: “Run, Joe, Run!”</p>
<p>Alex Wagner, a gay D.C.-based Democratic activist who supported Obama in the 2008 primary, said Biden and Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton are the only two Americans qualified for the presidency. But he offered&#160;special praise for Biden.</p>
<p>“From a policy standpoint, I think Joe Biden running for president would add another experienced and principled voice to the Democratic primary; he’s unquestionably someone who truly understands the challenges that ordinary Americans still face,” Wagner said.&#160;“And from a political standpoint, Biden would strengthen a serious and substantive Democratic primary, further sharpening the contrast with the Republican field, while helping to crystalize the party’s shared accomplishments, values and priorities.”</p>
<p>Wagner, who in the first half of the Obama administration served as special adviser for rule of law and detainee policy at the Pentagon, said he’s seen firsthand how Clinton and Biden helped to advance LGBT rights both in public and behind the scenes.</p>
<p>“I also think the country would benefit from watching Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton on the same stage, eloquently and passionately demonstrating how they would apply their expertise and humanity to solve the country’s most challenging problems,” Wagner added.&#160;“And, as a result, by the time of the general election, the Democratic nominee will have the advantage of having his or her ideas pressure tested and field operations fine-tuned by a true peer, rather than whomever ultimately emerges from the hysterical circus the Republicans are running.”</p>
<p>Wagner demurred on committing to voting for Biden in a primary if he enters the race. Instead, Wagner said he’d have to wait and see how the campaigns play out and in the end would&#160;vote for the candidate providing the best chance of Democrats keeping the White House.</p>
<p>On Saturday, the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/us/politics/joe-biden-white-house-2016-presidential-campaign.html" type="external">New York Times</a> reported Biden and his associates have begun actively exploring a possible presidential campaign and have reached out to Democratic leaders not yet committed to Clinton or concerned about her viability. According <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/opinion/sunday/maureen-dowd-joe-biden-in-2016-what-would-beau-do.html?src=twr" type="external">to New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd</a>, Biden’s son Beau as he was dying of brain cancer tried to make his father promise to run for the White House. Beau&#160; <a href="" type="internal">succumbed to the disease</a> in May.</p>
<p>According to ABC News, Biden told reporters in Iowa in February he’d make a decision on whether he’d run for president by the end of summer.</p>
<p>With campaign season underway, the vice president has already made an effort to engage a key constituency of the Democratic Party: the LGBT community. Just this year, he delivered keynote addresses at the Human Rights Campaign’s annual spring training event, the OutGiving conference for high-dollar LGBT donors and Freedom to Marry’s New York City party celebrating the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on marriage.</p>
<p>During his speech before LGBT advocates in New York City, Biden said the determination by the court in favor of marriage equality was “inevitable” because of efforts by LGBT advocates to change hearts and minds throughout the country.</p>
<p>“The country has always been ahead of the court, always been ahead of the court in every major reaffirmation or assertion of a basic human right,” Biden said. “In my view, the court’s decision was inevitable. Because of you, the court had no choice based on an accurate reading of the Constitution, but it also had no choice because the social mores of the country support the position you’ve taken.”</p>
<p>Eric Stern, a Berkeley, Calif., based gay Democratic activist who worked for Obama’s 2008 campaign, also encouraged Biden to enter the race.</p>
<p>“I believe the entry of Vice President Biden would have a very positive impact on the nominating process — leading to the engagement of more volunteers in the primaries and caucuses, sharper debate on issues of economic inequality, and — at the end of the process — a nominee with a stronger national message and campaign strategy,” Stern said.</p>
<p>Stern, who has previously expressed reluctance over Clinton’s candidacy, praised Biden for his work in the Obama administration, saying the vice president championed America’s working families and Violence Against Women Act in addition to moving Obama to support marriage equality.</p>
<p>“Based on his strong record of addressing issues of economic inequality, I would strongly consider supporting his candidacy,” Stern said. “Should he enter the race, I would be eager to hear about his national platform both in campaign speeches and at the candidate debates.”</p>
<p>Biden has a knack for predicting major initiatives in favor of LGBT rights for&#160;the Obama administration. When he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in 2012 he was “absolutely comfortable” with same-sex marriage, President Obama, who was at&#160;that time “evolving” on the issue, came out in favor of gay nuptials days later in an interview with ABC News.</p>
<p>As LGBT activists pressured Obama to sign an executive order barring federal contractors from engaging in workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Biden said in an interview last year with the Huffington Post he saw&#160;no downside to&#160;the directive. Months later, Obama signed the executive order in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.</p>
<p>Rebecca Juro, a New Jersey-based transgender activist, said she’s supporting Bernard Sanders in his candidacy for the White House, but favors Biden’s entry into the race.</p>
<p>Citing media reports that Biden in 2012 called transgender rights “the civil rights issue of our time,” Juro drew a contrast between the vice president and Clinton, whom she accused of focusing too heavily on same-sex marriage in terms of LGBT rights.</p>
<p>“I believe that a Biden or Sanders presidency could prove to be a step forward for trans rights, while all the available evidence indicates that Clinton would be a step backward in that effort,” Juro said. “LGBT voters shouldn’t be willing to support a candidate who exemplifies the ignorance and fear of trans equality efforts we saw in the 1990s and offer their support to a true progressive like Sanders or Biden instead.”</p>
<p>It should be noted Clinton has endorsed the Equality Act, which would bar discrimination against transgender people, and during her campaign launch speech in June in New York City called for an end to discrimination against LGBT Americans “so they can live, learn, marry, and work just like everybody else.”</p>
<p>If he enters the race, Biden would face challenges in&#160;developing a&#160;field operation in a short span of time necessary to challenge Clinton for the Democratic nomination. Moreover, he’d have to work to gain support in the polls. <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/273549998/Topline-CBS-Dems-8-4-15-Poll-1" type="external">A recent poll from CBS News</a> found Clinton would be the first choice for 58 percent of Democrats, followed by Sanders at 17 percent and Biden at 11 percent.</p>
<p>But for Clinton supporters, the entry of Biden into the race would be bad news because another experienced candidate in the race would be added competition, dashing earlier predictions she’d have clear sailing to the Democratic nomination and potentially the White House.</p>
<p>Lane Hudson, a gay D.C.-based Democratic activist and Clinton supporter, predicted LGBT people supporting the former secretary of state would stick with her even if Biden enters the race.</p>
<p>“Joe Biden is an amazing man in so many ways,” Hudson said. “His life story is unique among politicians. However, most, if not all, of the LGBT folks that support Hillary Clinton will continue to support her, even if he decides to run.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Alex Wagner</a> <a href="" type="internal">election 2016</a> <a href="" type="internal">Eric Stern</a> <a href="" type="internal">Hillary Clinton</a> <a href="" type="internal">Joseph Biden</a> <a href="" type="internal">Lane Hudson</a> <a href="" type="internal">Rebecca Juro</a></p>
| false | 3 |
vice president joe biden may run president washington blade photo michael key amid media reports vice president joseph biden close announcing whether hell enter field 2016 presidential candidates number lgbt supporters encouraging candidacy message run joe run alex wagner gay dcbased democratic activist supported obama 2008 primary said biden democratic presidential frontrunner hillary clinton two americans qualified presidency offered160special praise biden policy standpoint think joe biden running president would add another experienced principled voice democratic primary hes unquestionably someone truly understands challenges ordinary americans still face wagner said160and political standpoint biden would strengthen serious substantive democratic primary sharpening contrast republican field helping crystalize partys shared accomplishments values priorities wagner first half obama administration served special adviser rule law detainee policy pentagon said hes seen firsthand clinton biden helped advance lgbt rights public behind scenes also think country would benefit watching joe biden hillary clinton stage eloquently passionately demonstrating would apply expertise humanity solve countrys challenging problems wagner added160and result time general election democratic nominee advantage ideas pressure tested field operations finetuned true peer rather whomever ultimately emerges hysterical circus republicans running wagner demurred committing voting biden primary enters race instead wagner said hed wait see campaigns play end would160vote candidate providing best chance democrats keeping white house saturday new york times reported biden associates begun actively exploring possible presidential campaign reached democratic leaders yet committed clinton concerned viability according new york times columnist maureen dowd bidens son beau dying brain cancer tried make father promise run white house beau160 succumbed disease may according abc news biden told reporters iowa february hed make decision whether hed run president end summer campaign season underway vice president already made effort engage key constituency democratic party lgbt community year delivered keynote addresses human rights campaigns annual spring training event outgiving conference highdollar lgbt donors freedom marrys new york city party celebrating us supreme court ruling marriage speech lgbt advocates new york city biden said determination court favor marriage equality inevitable efforts lgbt advocates change hearts minds throughout country country always ahead court always ahead court every major reaffirmation assertion basic human right biden said view courts decision inevitable court choice based accurate reading constitution also choice social mores country support position youve taken eric stern berkeley calif based gay democratic activist worked obamas 2008 campaign also encouraged biden enter race believe entry vice president biden would positive impact nominating process leading engagement volunteers primaries caucuses sharper debate issues economic inequality end process nominee stronger national message campaign strategy stern said stern previously expressed reluctance clintons candidacy praised biden work obama administration saying vice president championed americas working families violence women act addition moving obama support marriage equality based strong record addressing issues economic inequality would strongly consider supporting candidacy stern said enter race would eager hear national platform campaign speeches candidate debates biden knack predicting major initiatives favor lgbt rights for160the obama administration said nbcs meet press 2012 absolutely comfortable samesex marriage president obama at160that time evolving issue came favor gay nuptials days later interview abc news lgbt activists pressured obama sign executive order barring federal contractors engaging workplace discrimination based sexual orientation gender identity biden said interview last year huffington post saw160no downside to160the directive months later obama signed executive order ceremony east room white house rebecca juro new jerseybased transgender activist said shes supporting bernard sanders candidacy white house favors bidens entry race citing media reports biden 2012 called transgender rights civil rights issue time juro drew contrast vice president clinton accused focusing heavily samesex marriage terms lgbt rights believe biden sanders presidency could prove step forward trans rights available evidence indicates clinton would step backward effort juro said lgbt voters shouldnt willing support candidate exemplifies ignorance fear trans equality efforts saw 1990s offer support true progressive like sanders biden instead noted clinton endorsed equality act would bar discrimination transgender people campaign launch speech june new york city called end discrimination lgbt americans live learn marry work like everybody else enters race biden would face challenges in160developing a160field operation short span time necessary challenge clinton democratic nomination moreover hed work gain support polls recent poll cbs news found clinton would first choice 58 percent democrats followed sanders 17 percent biden 11 percent clinton supporters entry biden race would bad news another experienced candidate race would added competition dashing earlier predictions shed clear sailing democratic nomination potentially white house lane hudson gay dcbased democratic activist clinton supporter predicted lgbt people supporting former secretary state would stick even biden enters race joe biden amazing man many ways hudson said life story unique among politicians however lgbt folks support hillary clinton continue support even decides run alex wagner election 2016 eric stern hillary clinton joseph biden lane hudson rebecca juro
| 785 |
<p>By Bob Allen</p>
<p>The wrath of God has become a point of contention since news broke that a new Presbyterian hymnal passed on the popular title “In Christ Alone” for theological reasons.</p>
<p>“Why do many Christians shrink from any thought of the wrath of God?” Keith Getty, who co-wrote the hymn — one of the most popular songs used today in churches across the United States and elsewhere — with British songwriter <a href="http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/" type="external">Stuart Townend</a> in 2001, posted on the Getty Music <a href="http://www.gettymusic.com/" type="external">website</a> July 30.</p>
<p>The Irish-born Getty, who now <a href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130410/NEWS06/304100134/1971?nclick_check=1" type="external">lives</a> in Nashville, Tenn., with his wife, Kristyn, endorsed a “spot on” First Things <a href="http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2013/07/no-squishy-love" type="external">article</a> by Baptist theologian Timothy George contending that God’s love is inseparable from God’s wrath.</p>
<p>“God’s love is not sentimental; it is holy,” said George, dean of Samford University’s <a href="http://www.beesondivinity.com/" type="external">Beeson Divinity School</a>. “It is tender, but not squishy. It involves not only compassion, kindness, and mercy beyond measure (what the New Testament calls grace) but also indignation against injustice and unremitting opposition to all that is evil.”</p>
<p>George’s article came in response to an April Christian Century <a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2013-04/debating-hymns" type="external">article</a> describing “controversial issues” that confronted the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song as it worked on a new hymnal titled Glory to God due out this fall.</p>
<p>Committee chair Mary Louise Bringle, a <a href="http://www2.brevard.edu/mbringle/bio.htm" type="external">professor</a> at Brevard College in North Carolina, said the committee had concluded three-and-a-half years of quarterly meetings when an in-group disagreement arose in January 2012.</p>
<p>The group had voted for “In Christ Alone,” a song from the contemporary Christian canon, but altered a lyric from “as Jesus died/the wrath of God was satisfied” to “Till on that cross as Jesus died/the love of God was magnified.”</p>
<p>When the authors refused to authorize the change, which they considered too great a departure from their original words, the committee debated by e-mail whether to include the song with the original lyrics or remove it from the list.</p>
<p>“People making a case to retain the text with the authors’ original lines spoke of the fact that the words expressed one view of God’s saving work in Christ that has been prevalent in Christian history: the view of Anselm and Calvin, among others, that God’s honor was violated by human sin and that God’s justice could only be satisfied by the atoning death of a sinless victim,” Bringle said.</p>
<p>“While this might not be our personal view, it was argued, it is nonetheless a view held by some members of our family of faith; the hymnal is not a vehicle for one group’s perspective but rather a collection for use by a diverse body.”</p>
<p>“Arguments on the other side pointed out that a hymnal does not simply collect diverse views, but also selects to emphasize some over others as part of its mission to form the faith of coming generations,” she said. “It would do a disservice to this educational mission, the argument ran, to perpetuate by way of a new (second) text the view that the cross is primarily about God’s need to assuage God’s anger.”</p>
<p>The final vote was six in favor of inclusion and nine against, giving the requisite two-thirds majority to the no votes. “The song has been removed from our contents list, with deep regret over losing its otherwise poignant and powerful witness,” Bringle said.</p>
<p>George, who as a church history professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in the 1980s was an early advocate of a resurgence of Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention, said the debate is part of a recent trend of treating God’s wrath as something that is shameful and best left in the closet.</p>
<p>“The result is a less than fully biblical construal of who God is and what he has done, especially in the redemptive mission of Jesus Christ,” George said.</p>
<p>“The full New Testament teaching about the cross involves both expiation, which means providing a covering for sin, and propitiation, which means averting divine judgment,” he wrote. “The semantic range of the Greek words hilasmos/hilasterion includes both meanings. That is why the wrath of God cannot be brushed out of the story without remainder.”</p>
<p>Getty has been <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/2013/speakers/" type="external">featured</a> at national conferences of the Gospel Coalition, a group of churches <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/about/who" type="external">concerned</a> about movements among evangelicals they believe depart from historic beliefs and practices. The group’s confessional <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/about/who" type="external">statement</a> includes a belief that “by his incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus Christ acted as our representative and substitute.”</p>
<p>“He did this so that in him we might become the righteousness of God: on the cross he canceled sin, propitiated God, and, by bearing the full penalty of our sins, reconciled to God all those who believe,” the statement says.</p>
<p>“We believe that Christ, by his obedience and death, fully discharged the debt of all those who are justified,” it continues. “By his sacrifice, he bore in our stead the punishment due us for our sins, making a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice on our behalf.”</p>
<p>The hymnal panel said next Presbyterian collection of hymns and songs will be published amid different conditions than those that molded previous ones.</p>
<p>“It will be used by a church many of whose members have not had life-long formation by Scripture and basic Christian doctrine, much less Reformed theology,” said a statement on the Presbyterian Hymnal Project <a href="http://www.presbyterianhymnal.org/committeeStatements.html" type="external">website</a>. “It is meant for a church marked by growing diversity in liturgical practice. Moreover, it addresses a church divided by conflicts but nonetheless, we believe, longing for healing and the peace that is beyond understanding.”</p>
| false | 3 |
bob allen wrath god become point contention since news broke new presbyterian hymnal passed popular title christ alone theological reasons many christians shrink thought wrath god keith getty cowrote hymn one popular songs used today churches across united states elsewhere british songwriter stuart townend 2001 posted getty music website july 30 irishborn getty lives nashville tenn wife kristyn endorsed spot first things article baptist theologian timothy george contending gods love inseparable gods wrath gods love sentimental holy said george dean samford universitys beeson divinity school tender squishy involves compassion kindness mercy beyond measure new testament calls grace also indignation injustice unremitting opposition evil georges article came response april christian century article describing controversial issues confronted presbyterian committee congregational song worked new hymnal titled glory god due fall committee chair mary louise bringle professor brevard college north carolina said committee concluded threeandahalf years quarterly meetings ingroup disagreement arose january 2012 group voted christ alone song contemporary christian canon altered lyric jesus diedthe wrath god satisfied till cross jesus diedthe love god magnified authors refused authorize change considered great departure original words committee debated email whether include song original lyrics remove list people making case retain text authors original lines spoke fact words expressed one view gods saving work christ prevalent christian history view anselm calvin among others gods honor violated human sin gods justice could satisfied atoning death sinless victim bringle said might personal view argued nonetheless view held members family faith hymnal vehicle one groups perspective rather collection use diverse body arguments side pointed hymnal simply collect diverse views also selects emphasize others part mission form faith coming generations said would disservice educational mission argument ran perpetuate way new second text view cross primarily gods need assuage gods anger final vote six favor inclusion nine giving requisite twothirds majority votes song removed contents list deep regret losing otherwise poignant powerful witness bringle said george church history professor southern baptist theological seminary 1980s early advocate resurgence calvinism southern baptist convention said debate part recent trend treating gods wrath something shameful best left closet result less fully biblical construal god done especially redemptive mission jesus christ george said full new testament teaching cross involves expiation means providing covering sin propitiation means averting divine judgment wrote semantic range greek words hilasmoshilasterion includes meanings wrath god brushed story without remainder getty featured national conferences gospel coalition group churches concerned movements among evangelicals believe depart historic beliefs practices groups confessional statement includes belief incarnation life death resurrection ascension jesus christ acted representative substitute might become righteousness god cross canceled sin propitiated god bearing full penalty sins reconciled god believe statement says believe christ obedience death fully discharged debt justified continues sacrifice bore stead punishment due us sins making proper real full satisfaction gods justice behalf hymnal panel said next presbyterian collection hymns songs published amid different conditions molded previous ones used church many whose members lifelong formation scripture basic christian doctrine much less reformed theology said statement presbyterian hymnal project website meant church marked growing diversity liturgical practice moreover addresses church divided conflicts nonetheless believe longing healing peace beyond understanding
| 515 |
<p>NBC News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel traveled to Nepal in April in the aftermath of an earthquake that killed more than 8,000 people, destroyed millions of homes and devastated one of the world’s poorest countries. Among the dead were 19 people at base camp on Mount Everest, attempting to climb the world's highest peak. In "Avalanche," a special edition of Dateline, Engel and team tell the harrowing stories of some of climbers who survived the quake — and others who did not. <a href="" type="internal">"Avalanche"</a> <a href="" type="internal">airs at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on Sunday on NBC.</a></p>
<p>The first thing I learned about Nepal was how well people there responded to calamity.</p>
<p>Only moments after we landed in Kathmandu to cover the devastation caused by the April 25 earthquake, a powerful aftershock rocked the airport. People scrambled out of the building, fearing it would collapse, including the border official who was just about to stamp my passport.</p>
<p>The passengers huddled near a column and hoped for the best. The aftershock, magnitude 6.7, eventually passed and, luckily, the terminal building did not come crashing down. Everyone returned to their posts, and the official handed me back my freshly stamped passport with a wary smile. Welcome to Nepal.</p>
<p>Outside of Kathmandu airport, past long lines of people desperately trying to leave the country, we found a city living out on the streets. Parks, parking lots, plazas — every free inch of land had become a makeshift home for a family desperate to avoid spending another night under a building that might collapse. It was a remarkable sight.</p>
<p>The earthquake killed thousands of people. People were still digging though the piles of rubble and pulling out bodies (often) and survivors (rarely). Aftershocks were coming every 20 minutes or so. Most of them were small, but some were just big enough to frighten people into thinking another big quake was beginning. The cellphone system was down. Many of the government buildings were closed and many of the government officials had abandoned their posts to be with their families. And yet, there was no violence as far as I could see and no panic, just a determination to survive.</p>
<p>We covered the story of what happened in Nepal one tragedy at a time. We climbed on a mound of brick and steel where a temple once stood with a woman who was digging through the rubble with her bare hands looking for survivors. “This is my place,” she said when we asked her why she was there; “these are my people.”</p>
<p>We met Kaiser Kaser, a bespectacled, articulate 13-year-old who told us he was scared. “People are running for their lives,” he said, but all the while he was calm and polite.</p>
<p>Under a makeshift canopy at a monastery, we met the orphans of the Kids Shangrila Home who lost the only home they had. Their stories, each and every one of them, were enormous tragedies. But none of them could capture the entirety of the tragedy. Every time, I was amazed and deeply impressed by the quiet resilience of the people of Nepal. As journalists we felt welcome. They were happy we were there telling their stories.</p>
<p>Then, we started seeing images of the aftermath of an avalanche that the earthquake caused at the base of Mount Everest. The details were hard to understand from a distance, so we decided to head up the mountain and find out for ourselves what had happened. What we found was a tragedy within a tragedy.</p>
<p>Nineteen people were killed at Everest base camp when giant clumps of ice came crashing down from a mountain nearby. We decided to focus on the story of one group of climbers, the Madison group, and we spent a couple of weeks finding out what happened to them when the ground shook and the ice fell.</p>
<p>The story is as dramatic as it is tragic. Everest base camp, elevation 17,598 feet, sits on the great Khumbu glacier. Most of the time, the camp is empty. In fact, most of the time, there is not camp at all. But for a few short weeks every year, a tent city appears on the glacier and hundreds, sometimes thousands of climbers, along with their support teams, gather there along with and hikers who just want to see Everest up close. The avalanche struck at the worst time and at the worst spot, sending a deadly blast wave of wind, ice and snow directly through the middle of the camp. The Madison team’s tents were swept away and two of their members were injured. The team’s “doc,” a physician’s assistant from New Jersey, was killed.</p>
<p>Eve Girawong was, by all accounts, a beloved member of the team. She never intended to climb to the summit of Everest, and her death, in the relative safety of base camp, came as a shock to her teammates. But even as we delved deeper into the details of what happened that day at base camp, neither we nor the climbers we were interviewing could stop thinking about the wider tragedy that had struck Nepal.</p>
<p>The earthquake, strangely, connected forever the lives of climbers from the richest nations on Earth with those of Nepalese villagers. Girawong’s family chose to honor her memory by collecting donations for International Medical Corps, an aid organization which is providing medical assistance in Nepal. Other members of the team have been raising money for other relief organizations. Some plan to travel back and deliver the money to villagers themselves. As one of the climbers, Haley Ercanbrack, told us: “This isn’t about me. This is about a disaster, a whole country.” Ercnbrack, who is raising funds for Nepal aid in Arizona where she lives, says she would like to use her experience to raise awareness to the suffering in Nepal.</p>
<p>The earthquake, which killed more than 8,000 people and left thousands injured, is still killing people two months later. That’s because in Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world, the infrastructure that was destroyed will not be replaced anytime soon. The World Health organization estimates that 2.8 million people have been made homeless. These people have been living in makeshift shelters, often with limited access to toilets or to fresh water, for more than two months. And now that the rainy season has arrived, Nepal needs all the help it can get.</p>
| false | 3 |
nbc news chief foreign correspondent richard engel traveled nepal april aftermath earthquake killed 8000 people destroyed millions homes devastated one worlds poorest countries among dead 19 people base camp mount everest attempting climb worlds highest peak avalanche special edition dateline engel team tell harrowing stories climbers survived quake others avalanche airs 7 pm et6 pm ct sunday nbc first thing learned nepal well people responded calamity moments landed kathmandu cover devastation caused april 25 earthquake powerful aftershock rocked airport people scrambled building fearing would collapse including border official stamp passport passengers huddled near column hoped best aftershock magnitude 67 eventually passed luckily terminal building come crashing everyone returned posts official handed back freshly stamped passport wary smile welcome nepal outside kathmandu airport past long lines people desperately trying leave country found city living streets parks parking lots plazas every free inch land become makeshift home family desperate avoid spending another night building might collapse remarkable sight earthquake killed thousands people people still digging though piles rubble pulling bodies often survivors rarely aftershocks coming every 20 minutes small big enough frighten people thinking another big quake beginning cellphone system many government buildings closed many government officials abandoned posts families yet violence far could see panic determination survive covered story happened nepal one tragedy time climbed mound brick steel temple stood woman digging rubble bare hands looking survivors place said asked people met kaiser kaser bespectacled articulate 13yearold told us scared people running lives said calm polite makeshift canopy monastery met orphans kids shangrila home lost home stories every one enormous tragedies none could capture entirety tragedy every time amazed deeply impressed quiet resilience people nepal journalists felt welcome happy telling stories started seeing images aftermath avalanche earthquake caused base mount everest details hard understand distance decided head mountain find happened found tragedy within tragedy nineteen people killed everest base camp giant clumps ice came crashing mountain nearby decided focus story one group climbers madison group spent couple weeks finding happened ground shook ice fell story dramatic tragic everest base camp elevation 17598 feet sits great khumbu glacier time camp empty fact time camp short weeks every year tent city appears glacier hundreds sometimes thousands climbers along support teams gather along hikers want see everest close avalanche struck worst time worst spot sending deadly blast wave wind ice snow directly middle camp madison teams tents swept away two members injured teams doc physicians assistant new jersey killed eve girawong accounts beloved member team never intended climb summit everest death relative safety base camp came shock teammates even delved deeper details happened day base camp neither climbers interviewing could stop thinking wider tragedy struck nepal earthquake strangely connected forever lives climbers richest nations earth nepalese villagers girawongs family chose honor memory collecting donations international medical corps aid organization providing medical assistance nepal members team raising money relief organizations plan travel back deliver money villagers one climbers haley ercanbrack told us isnt disaster whole country ercnbrack raising funds nepal aid arizona lives says would like use experience raise awareness suffering nepal earthquake killed 8000 people left thousands injured still killing people two months later thats nepal one poorest countries world infrastructure destroyed replaced anytime soon world health organization estimates 28 million people made homeless people living makeshift shelters often limited access toilets fresh water two months rainy season arrived nepal needs help get
| 559 |
<p />
<p>White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Feb. 17, 2017, described a report that the Trump administration was considering the mobilization of up to 100,000 National Guard troops to roundup undocumented immigrants as “false.”</p>
<p />
<p>The Associated Press obtained <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3467508-Trump-National-Guard-Draft-Memo.html" type="external">an 11-page draft memo</a> from the Department of Homeland Security that proposed the use of National Guard troops in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas — the four states that border Mexico — and Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah. The draft memo with Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly’s name on it was dated Jan. 25, which is the same day President Trump <a href="" type="internal">signed an executive order</a> that spurs construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to stop undocumented immigrants from entering the country.</p>
<p>“State National Guard components are employees of their respective states and are under the command of their governors when they are not in federal service,” reads the draft memo <a href="https://www.apnews.com/5508111d59554a33be8001bdac4ef830" type="external">the Associated Press obtained.</a> “Based on their training and experience, these men and women are particularly well-suited to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law and augment border security operation by department components.”</p>
<p>White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Friday described the <a href="https://www.apnews.com/5508111d59554a33be8001bdac4ef830" type="external">Associated Press report</a> as “100 percent not true” and “false.”</p>
<p>“It is not a White House document,” he said.</p>
<p>The Associated Press <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3467508-Trump-National-Guard-Draft-Memo.html" type="external">released the draft memo</a> it obtained shortly after Spicer spoke with reporters.</p>
<p>ABC News last summer <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/obamas-deportation-policy-numbers/story?id=41715661" type="external">reported</a> the Obama administration deported 2.5 million undocumented immigrants between 2009-2015. One statistic indicates 91 percent of those who were deported from the U.S. in 2015 have been convicted of a crime.</p>
<p>Immigrant rights advocates and their supporters have sharply criticized Trump over his plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. LGBT rights activists in Mexico and Central America with whom the Washington Blade has spoken in recent weeks said the executive order has sparked fear throughout the region.</p>
<p>“The fear is very real,” Freddy Funez, an LGBT rights activist in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, told the Blade on Feb. 10 during an interview at his office.</p>
<p>Trump two weeks earlier signed <a href="" type="internal">a second executive order</a> that indefinitely bans Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. It also suspends the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days and the issuance of visas from seven predominantly Muslim countries — Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and Libya — for 90 days.</p>
<p>A three-judge panel on 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week upheld a federal judge’s ruling that blocked the travel ban.</p>
<p>Trump is expected to sign a new executive order next week that would apply to those with ties to terrorism. The 9th Circuit on Thursday said it would not take any further action on the travel ban until the White House formally announces the directive.</p>
<p />
<p>Murals on a wall that marks the U.S.-Mexico border in Mexicali, Mexico. (Photo courtesy of Victor Aguirre)</p>
<p />
<p>A video that <a href="http://www.kvia.com/crime/ice-agents-arrest-transgender-woman-who-filed-protective-order-against-ex-boyfriend/335612279" type="external">KVIA, a local television station, obtained</a> shows two ICE agents escorting the trans woman out of the El Paso County Courthouse.</p>
<p>KVIA <a href="http://www.kvia.com/crime/ice-agents-arrest-transgender-woman-who-filed-protective-order-against-ex-boyfriend/335612279" type="external">reported</a> she has a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions for domestic violence and has been deported from the U.S. seven times. El Paso County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal <a href="http://cbs4local.com/news/local/el-paso-ice-agents-arrest-undocumented-victim-of-domestic-violence" type="external">told another local television station</a> the trans woman’s ex-boyfriend may have tipped off ICE because he “new precisely where the victim would be at that time and date since he had received notice to be in that courtroom as well.”</p>
<p>“We hope that this is an isolated incident that will never happen again,” Bernal told the television station. “We call on ICE officials to do everything they can to make sure this never happens again in our community.”</p>
<p>National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendall sharply criticized ICE over the trans woman’s arrest.</p>
<p>“We cannot condemn strongly enough ICE arresting a victim of domestic violence while she was in court seeking legal protection from her abuser, a right she was guaranteed under Texas law regardless of immigration status,” said Kendall in a statement she released on Thursday. “This arrest has a chilling effect on all victims of domestic violence.”</p>
<p>“It is unconscionable that ICE would arrest somebody at court, effectively handing abusers a way to further control and harm their victims,” she added.</p>
<p>The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs and the Transgender Law Center also criticized the trans woman’s arrest.</p>
<p>“Our government’s actions send the message to transgender people that we are disposable and do not deserve dignity or safety,” said Transgender Law Center Director of Programs Isa Noyola in a press release.</p>
<p>A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has yet to respond to the Blade’s request for comment.</p>
<p>NBC Washington <a href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Community-Responds-to-ICE-Raids_Washington-DC-414089873.html" type="external">reported</a> ICE agents on Feb. 8 detained several Latino men across the street from a church in Alexandria, Va., after they left its homeless shelter. Hundreds of other undocumented immigrants have been arrested in raids that have taken place across the country in recent weeks.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">bisexual</a> <a href="" type="internal">Department of Homeland Security</a> <a href="" type="internal">Donald Trump</a> <a href="" type="internal">El Salvador</a> <a href="" type="internal">Freddy Funez</a> <a href="" type="internal">gay</a> <a href="" type="internal">Guatemala</a> <a href="" type="internal">Honduras</a> <a href="" type="internal">immigration</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jo Anne Bernal</a> <a href="" type="internal">Kate Kendall</a> <a href="" type="internal">lesbian</a> <a href="" type="internal">Mexico</a> <a href="" type="internal">National Center for Lesbian Rights</a> <a href="" type="internal">National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs</a> <a href="" type="internal">National Guard</a> <a href="" type="internal">Sean Spicer</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender</a> <a href="" type="internal">Transgender Law Center</a> <a href="" type="internal">U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement</a></p>
| false | 3 |
white house press secretary sean spicer feb 17 2017 described report trump administration considering mobilization 100000 national guard troops roundup undocumented immigrants false associated press obtained 11page draft memo department homeland security proposed use national guard troops arizona california new mexico texas four states border mexico arkansas colorado louisiana nevada oklahoma oregon utah draft memo homeland security secretary john kellys name dated jan 25 day president trump signed executive order spurs construction wall along usmexico border stop undocumented immigrants entering country state national guard components employees respective states command governors federal service reads draft memo associated press obtained based training experience men women particularly wellsuited assist enforcement federal immigration law augment border security operation department components white house press secretary sean spicer friday described associated press report 100 percent true false white house document said associated press released draft memo obtained shortly spicer spoke reporters abc news last summer reported obama administration deported 25 million undocumented immigrants 20092015 one statistic indicates 91 percent deported us 2015 convicted crime immigrant rights advocates supporters sharply criticized trump plan build wall along usmexico border lgbt rights activists mexico central america washington blade spoken recent weeks said executive order sparked fear throughout region fear real freddy funez lgbt rights activist honduran city san pedro sula told blade feb 10 interview office trump two weeks earlier signed second executive order indefinitely bans syrian refugees entering us also suspends us refugee admissions program 120 days issuance visas seven predominantly muslim countries syria iraq iran yemen somalia sudan libya 90 days threejudge panel 9th us circuit court appeals last week upheld federal judges ruling blocked travel ban trump expected sign new executive order next week would apply ties terrorism 9th circuit thursday said would take action travel ban white house formally announces directive murals wall marks usmexico border mexicali mexico photo courtesy victor aguirre video kvia local television station obtained shows two ice agents escorting trans woman el paso county courthouse kvia reported lengthy criminal record includes convictions domestic violence deported us seven times el paso county attorney jo anne bernal told another local television station trans womans exboyfriend may tipped ice new precisely victim would time date since received notice courtroom well hope isolated incident never happen bernal told television station call ice officials everything make sure never happens community national center lesbian rights executive director kate kendall sharply criticized ice trans womans arrest condemn strongly enough ice arresting victim domestic violence court seeking legal protection abuser right guaranteed texas law regardless immigration status said kendall statement released thursday arrest chilling effect victims domestic violence unconscionable ice would arrest somebody court effectively handing abusers way control harm victims added national coalition antiviolence programs transgender law center also criticized trans womans arrest governments actions send message transgender people disposable deserve dignity safety said transgender law center director programs isa noyola press release spokesperson department homeland security oversees ice yet respond blades request comment nbc washington reported ice agents feb 8 detained several latino men across street church alexandria va left homeless shelter hundreds undocumented immigrants arrested raids taken place across country recent weeks bisexual department homeland security donald trump el salvador freddy funez gay guatemala honduras immigration jo anne bernal kate kendall lesbian mexico national center lesbian rights national coalition antiviolence programs national guard sean spicer transgender transgender law center us immigration customs enforcement
| 557 |
<p>This week in our history Alma Hunt reached her centenary. Miss Alma died in June 2008 at age 98. If she had lived another 16 months she would have observed her 100th birthday on Oct. 5. Surely there would have been fireworks over Roanoke; after all, when she turned 90 she was presented a key to her hometown. There would have been cake and candles and many stories to share. She would have been gussied up and sporting her trademark red-polished fingernails. There would have been hugs, kisses and many laughs.</p>
<p />
<p>Alma Hunt was arguably the most well known (next to Billy Graham) Baptist in the world. She belonged to the far-flung Baptist world and had visited most of it in her long service as executive secretary of Woman’s Missionary Union, her role as ambassador of goodwill for the International Mission Board and her participation in the Baptist World Alliance. Her passports indicate that she visited 93 countries. She kept her passport current and it was among the last things surrendered hours before her death. She would not need it for the final journey.</p>
<p>She belonged to the world but the world had to share her with Virginia. She had left her native state in 1944 to answer the call of her former pastor, Walter Pope Binns, to serve as dean of women at William Jewell College where he was president. In 1948 her name came to the attention of “national WMU” as the organization was searching for a new executive leader. Mrs. George McWilliams, president of Missouri WMU, wrote Binns for a recommendation. Alma’s only role in “the Union” had been to lead recreation at the annual YWA conferences at Ridgecrest. She flatly said “No, I don’t want the job.” But one night, after dinner in the Binns’ home, Binns said: “Now, Alma, I have to write to Mrs. McWilliams and what will I tell her is the reason that you won’t be considered?”&#160; Together the two — the college president and the dean — wrote a list of Alma’s “lacks for the job” and dashed them off to the WMU leader. Alma Hunt was elected in spite of her refusals.</p>
<p>And thank God, Miss Alma let God use her. For 26 years she steered the helm during some of the more exciting times in WMU history. She led “the Union” to acquire an impressive office building, to increase its membership past the one-million mark, to dramatically increase giving to the two great missions offerings and to sharpen its world vision as she served in various Baptist World Alliance posts.</p>
<p />
<p>She was uniquely gifted for her role. She had youth, boundless energy, contagious enthusiasm, a knack for hospitality and a happy disposition. She easily made friends. Her mother once questioned the volume of her out-going Christmas cards, declar&#160; ing that no one could know that many people. Alma picked up the pile and began to recite the itineraries of all the trips when she had stayed in the homes of those card recipients.</p>
<p>Alma Hunt officially retired from WMU in 1974 and returned to Virginia. At first, she moved into an apartment — appropriately the Hunt Club Apartments — in Richmond and served as a roving ambassador for the International Mission Board. She brought her passion for entertaining to Richmond and soon her home was the scene of dinner parties. In time, she moved to Roanoke and kept a close eye on her mother.</p>
<p>She moved into a condominium overlooking her hometown and her bedroom had a spectacular view of the skyline and the mountains. But she could not sleep in her own bed because it was piled high with correspondence and papers. She worked in the bedroom and slept in the guest room.</p>
<p>Her speaking engagements calendar as always full with room for just one more. Friends kept urging her to slow down. Once she answered a telephone invitation to speak at a church; and she politely declined. As soon as she put down the receiver, she said: “Well, it does look like I could manage just one more speaking engagement.” She called back and accepted.</p>
<p>On one of those many speaking trips, she was in Richmond and staying with friends. By then, she was in her late 90s. In the night, she needed medical attention. Her blood pressure was wildly fluctuating. This columnist took her to a hospital emergency room. At 1 a.m., the room was full. At the check-in desk, a nurse looked up and exclaimed: “Miss Alma Hunt! I remember when you came to speak at First Baptist when I was a GA!” Alma responded with the subject of her speech from the long ago. We were escorted back into the examining rooms. The doctors were smitten with this lively visitor who was talking non-stop. At three in the morning, we left the hospital; and yes, Miss Alma was in her usual good form to speak that morning for some local WMU group.</p>
<p>She was generous almost to a fault. The first time I ever met her she took out her pocketbook and wrote a membership check for the Virginia Baptist Historical Society. Once when she came to visit the Historical Society, she signed the guest register only to realize that she had just filled the last line in the book. Again, she opened her pocketbook to give me cash to buy another book. On visits to Roanoke, I often took her to some of her favorite restaurants. It always was a struggle to get the bill before Miss Alma could get the waiter’s attention; and once I embarrassed my wife by engaging in arm wrestling with our friend over the bill. She loved fried oysters and enjoyed telling about one man who once observed her eating and said, “Miss Hunt, you have an enormous appetite!”</p>
<p>She literally gave everything she had, including her good name, which was placed on a building at Camp Little Cross Roads, the Virginia WMU camp; a residence for the developmentally challenged operated by HopeTree Family Services; a theological library at the John Leland Center; and a museum and library at the WMU headquarters in Birmingham. In 1998 she also graciously allowed the use of her name for the annual State Missions Offering of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Every year worthy projects are undergirded through gifts made to the Alma Hunt Offering. The picture which accompanies this column was taken when Miss Alma held up an offering poster in 2006 on her 97th birthday. We had gone together for breakfast at a Roanoke restaurant and I am forever grateful that on that occasion she permitted me to be the host. On her centenary the Alma Hunt Offering is a good place to remember a life well spent.</p>
<p>Fred Anderson is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies. He may be contacted at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> or at P.O. Box 34, University of Richmond, VA 23173.</p>
| false | 3 |
week history alma hunt reached centenary miss alma died june 2008 age 98 lived another 16 months would observed 100th birthday oct 5 surely would fireworks roanoke turned 90 presented key hometown would cake candles many stories share would gussied sporting trademark redpolished fingernails would hugs kisses many laughs alma hunt arguably well known next billy graham baptist world belonged farflung baptist world visited long service executive secretary womans missionary union role ambassador goodwill international mission board participation baptist world alliance passports indicate visited 93 countries kept passport current among last things surrendered hours death would need final journey belonged world world share virginia left native state 1944 answer call former pastor walter pope binns serve dean women william jewell college president 1948 name came attention national wmu organization searching new executive leader mrs george mcwilliams president missouri wmu wrote binns recommendation almas role union lead recreation annual ywa conferences ridgecrest flatly said dont want job one night dinner binns home binns said alma write mrs mcwilliams tell reason wont considered160 together two college president dean wrote list almas lacks job dashed wmu leader alma hunt elected spite refusals thank god miss alma let god use 26 years steered helm exciting times wmu history led union acquire impressive office building increase membership past onemillion mark dramatically increase giving two great missions offerings sharpen world vision served various baptist world alliance posts uniquely gifted role youth boundless energy contagious enthusiasm knack hospitality happy disposition easily made friends mother questioned volume outgoing christmas cards declar160 ing one could know many people alma picked pile began recite itineraries trips stayed homes card recipients alma hunt officially retired wmu 1974 returned virginia first moved apartment appropriately hunt club apartments richmond served roving ambassador international mission board brought passion entertaining richmond soon home scene dinner parties time moved roanoke kept close eye mother moved condominium overlooking hometown bedroom spectacular view skyline mountains could sleep bed piled high correspondence papers worked bedroom slept guest room speaking engagements calendar always full room one friends kept urging slow answered telephone invitation speak church politely declined soon put receiver said well look like could manage one speaking engagement called back accepted one many speaking trips richmond staying friends late 90s night needed medical attention blood pressure wildly fluctuating columnist took hospital emergency room 1 room full checkin desk nurse looked exclaimed miss alma hunt remember came speak first baptist ga alma responded subject speech long ago escorted back examining rooms doctors smitten lively visitor talking nonstop three morning left hospital yes miss alma usual good form speak morning local wmu group generous almost fault first time ever met took pocketbook wrote membership check virginia baptist historical society came visit historical society signed guest register realize filled last line book opened pocketbook give cash buy another book visits roanoke often took favorite restaurants always struggle get bill miss alma could get waiters attention embarrassed wife engaging arm wrestling friend bill loved fried oysters enjoyed telling one man observed eating said miss hunt enormous appetite literally gave everything including good name placed building camp little cross roads virginia wmu camp residence developmentally challenged operated hopetree family services theological library john leland center museum library wmu headquarters birmingham 1998 also graciously allowed use name annual state missions offering baptist general association virginia every year worthy projects undergirded gifts made alma hunt offering picture accompanies column taken miss alma held offering poster 2006 97th birthday gone together breakfast roanoke restaurant forever grateful occasion permitted host centenary alma hunt offering good place remember life well spent fred anderson executive director virginia baptist historical society center baptist heritage studies may contacted fredandersonvbmborg po box 34 university richmond va 23173
| 614 |
<p>If you could pick someone to help your city prepare for the crises and disasters of the future, you might choose someone like Atyia Martin.</p>
<p>At 34, she’s done stints in the Air Force, at the FBI, with the Boston Police, in the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management. As director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness, she was in the thick of the city’s response to the Boston Marathon bombings. Last year she finished a PhD on the factors that make people vulnerable in emergencies. It’s not what she thought she’d be doing when she was little.</p>
<p>“In elementary school I wanted to be an ornithologist,” she tells me.</p>
<p>Instead she finds herself taking on the new job of <a href="http://www.100resilientcities.org/blog/entry/what-is-a-chief-resilience-officer1#/-_/" type="external">Chief Resilience Officer</a> for the City of Boston, where she was born and raised. The position is funded for two years by the Rockefeller Foundation as part of its <a href="http://www.100resilientcities.org/" type="external">100 Resilient Cities</a> project. When all the cities are chosen, Martin will have 99 counterparts around the globe with whom to share information and technical expertise on everything from rising seas&#160;to counterterrorism to economic development. As part of figuring out Boston’s vulnerabilities, Martin intends to drill down on one of Boston’s most vexing attributes: racial segregation.</p>
<p>“The mayor has been specific about wanting to do work around race, understanding race and having racial dialogues to figure out the root causes of the social circumstances people are facing in our communities,” says Martin.</p>
<p>Specifically, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh has called for a conversation about the school busing crisis of the 1970s, an attempt at desegregation that backfired and left a bitter legacy.</p>
<p>“One thing we don’t want to leave behind are the difficult conversations we’ve been avoiding for the past 40 years,” Walsh&#160;told the audience at a 100 Resilient Cities workshop at Faneuil Hall in May.</p>
<p>Walsh wants to look at the city’s “deepening disparities” and focus on what he calls “social resiliency.” That makes sense to Rockefeller Foundation President Judith Rodin, author of <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-resilience-dividend-judith-rodin/1119441074" type="external">"The Resilience Dividend: Being Strong in a World Where Things Go Wrong."&#160;</a></p>
<p>“There’s lots of data in fact that communities that are more cohesive, that have more community trust,&#160;do better, and rebound more effectively, after a disaster," Rodin says. "We saw that post-Sandy.”</p>
<p>“Sometimes people only think about infrastructure but [resilience] is as much about social and economic wellbeing , about health, about leadership and governance as it is about infrastructure and environment. “</p>
<p>For Atyia Martin, who starts her new job at the end of the month, part of what’s refreshing about her mandate is the focus on day-to-day life.</p>
<p>“Usually when you hear talk about resilience, you hear that it is the ability to cope with, adapt to, and recover from emergencies," Martin says. "For us, we’re looking at the connection between day-to-day life and how people fare after emergencies. That’s the distinct piece of it that’s different from emergency management or homeland security.”</p>
<p>Atyia Martin is a fascinating figure, in part because she seems made for the job: part systems manager, part data nerd, part social worker. She was clearly deeply affected by her experiences after the Marathon bombings, when she coordinated support operations for&#160;survivors, health care professionals and first responders.</p>
<p>“In my position I’m generally in an operations center juggling information and resources and trying to get people, mostly organizations, what they need. After&#160;the bombings I spent a lot of time engaging with individuals.”</p>
<p>In particular she remembers the ceremony for survivors and victims just before Boylston Street opened back up to the public. Martin met with the family of Lingzi Lu, the Chinese Boston University student who died in the attack.</p>
<p>“They found the police officer who had been with her as she died,&#160;and to witness the officer talking to the family about the last words their loved one heard, their child heard, as a parent that was very difficult for me. In the moment you know you stay professional, but it really gets to the reason why we do this work, because people are hurting in this city, whether you’re talking about the Boston Marathon bombings or whether you’re talking about shootings that happen in the city, &#160;or you’re talking about some of the other national news that happens around shootings of young black men in the community. All those things affect people in their day-to-day lives.”</p>
<p>It’s not a coincidence Martin brings up the shootings of young black men in the same breath as talking about the Marathon. Mayor Walsh does it, too.</p>
<p>“After the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, we rallied as a city to support the victims and overcome fear," Walsh told the audience at that Faneuil Hall workshop. "But some people asked very hard questions about why we don’t rally the same way against violence in communities of color."</p>
<p>Atyia Martin says there’s “an undertone of psychological trauma” in the city.</p>
<p>“When you think about racism, when you think about the day-to-day trauma that people deal with, whether it’s suicides, drug overdoses, shootings in our community, &#160;or homicides that are happening, all the way to big disasters like the Boston Marathon bombings, there’s this place for us to build the type of coping skills to help us in all those difficult circumstances,” she says.</p>
<p>Through 100 Resilient Cities, Martin will soon find herself able to pick up the phone and talk to colleagues all over the world about these challenges. She's excited about that shared learning.&#160;</p>
<p>“There’s something special about when people come together for a similar mission and are going through the same experience," Martin says. "It’s similar to being in the military.”</p>
<p>One of the other cities in the Rockefeller network&#160;is Belgrade, Serbia. That seems fitting, &#160;since Martin spent a year of her life, eight hours a day, learning Serbian-Croatian when she was in the Air Force. Just one more detail of a remarkable career that's about to get even more interesting.</p>
| false | 3 |
could pick someone help city prepare crises disasters future might choose someone like atyia martin 34 shes done stints air force fbi boston police mayors office emergency management director office public health preparedness thick citys response boston marathon bombings last year finished phd factors make people vulnerable emergencies thought shed little elementary school wanted ornithologist tells instead finds taking new job chief resilience officer city boston born raised position funded two years rockefeller foundation part 100 resilient cities project cities chosen martin 99 counterparts around globe share information technical expertise everything rising seas160to counterterrorism economic development part figuring bostons vulnerabilities martin intends drill one bostons vexing attributes racial segregation mayor specific wanting work around race understanding race racial dialogues figure root causes social circumstances people facing communities says martin specifically boston mayor martin j walsh called conversation school busing crisis 1970s attempt desegregation backfired left bitter legacy one thing dont want leave behind difficult conversations weve avoiding past 40 years walsh160told audience 100 resilient cities workshop faneuil hall may walsh wants look citys deepening disparities focus calls social resiliency makes sense rockefeller foundation president judith rodin author resilience dividend strong world things go wrong160 theres lots data fact communities cohesive community trust160do better rebound effectively disaster rodin says saw postsandy sometimes people think infrastructure resilience much social economic wellbeing health leadership governance infrastructure environment atyia martin starts new job end month part whats refreshing mandate focus daytoday life usually hear talk resilience hear ability cope adapt recover emergencies martin says us looking connection daytoday life people fare emergencies thats distinct piece thats different emergency management homeland security atyia martin fascinating figure part seems made job part systems manager part data nerd part social worker clearly deeply affected experiences marathon bombings coordinated support operations for160survivors health care professionals first responders position im generally operations center juggling information resources trying get people mostly organizations need after160the bombings spent lot time engaging individuals particular remembers ceremony survivors victims boylston street opened back public martin met family lingzi lu chinese boston university student died attack found police officer died160and witness officer talking family last words loved one heard child heard parent difficult moment know stay professional really gets reason work people hurting city whether youre talking boston marathon bombings whether youre talking shootings happen city 160or youre talking national news happens around shootings young black men community things affect people daytoday lives coincidence martin brings shootings young black men breath talking marathon mayor walsh 2013 boston marathon bombings rallied city support victims overcome fear walsh told audience faneuil hall workshop people asked hard questions dont rally way violence communities color atyia martin says theres undertone psychological trauma city think racism think daytoday trauma people deal whether suicides drug overdoses shootings community 160or homicides happening way big disasters like boston marathon bombings theres place us build type coping skills help us difficult circumstances says 100 resilient cities martin soon find able pick phone talk colleagues world challenges shes excited shared learning160 theres something special people come together similar mission going experience martin says similar military one cities rockefeller network160is belgrade serbia seems fitting 160since martin spent year life eight hours day learning serbiancroatian air force one detail remarkable career thats get even interesting
| 538 |
<p>This news story originally ran on Jan. 14, 2013.</p>
<p>Christian opponents to same-sex marriage want the government to treat homosexuals as a special category of persons subject to discrimination, similar to the way that African-Americans and women were categorized in the past, cultural and economic critic Wendell Berry told Baptist ministers in Kentucky Jan. 11, 2013.</p>
<p>Wendell Berry (Photo/David Marshall/Wikipedia Commons)</p>
<p>Berry, a prolific author of books, poems and essays who won the National Humanities Medal in 2010 and was 2012 Jefferson lecturer for the National Endowment for the Humanities, offered “a sort of general declaration” on the subject of gay marriage at a “Following the Call of the Church in Times Like These” conference at <a href="http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/" type="external">Georgetown College</a>.</p>
<p>Berry said he chose to comment publicly to elaborate on what little he has said about the topic in the past.“I must say that it’s a little wonderful to me that in 40-odd years of taking stands on controversial issues, and at great length sometimes, the two times that I think I’ve stirred up the most passionate opposition has been with a tiny little essay on computers (his 1987 <a href="http://www.jesusradicals.com/wp-content/uploads/computer.pdf" type="external">essay</a> “Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer” published in Harper’s led some to accuse him of being anti-technology) and half a dozen or a dozen sentences on gay marriage.”</p>
<p>Berry said he could recall only twice before when he commented publicly on the issue, in a single paragraph in a collection of essays published in 2005 and in an <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/312500/jeremiah-everyone-john-j-miller" type="external">interview</a> with the National Review in 2012.</p>
<p>“My argument, much abbreviated both times, was the sexual practices of consenting adults ought not to be subjected to the government’s approval or disapproval, and that domestic partnerships in which people who live together and devote their lives to one another ought to receive the spousal rights, protections and privileges the government allows to heterosexual couples,” Berry said.</p>
<p>Berry said liberals and conservatives have invented “a politics of sexuality” that establishes marriage as a “right” to be granted or withheld by whichever side prevails. He said both viewpoints contravene principles of democracy that rights are self-evident and inalienable and not determined and granted or withheld by the government.</p>
<p>“Christians of a certain disposition have found several ways to categorize homosexuals as different as themselves, who are in the category of heterosexual and therefore normal and therefore good,” Berry said. What is unclear, he said, is why they single out homosexuality as a perversion.</p>
<p>“The Bible, as I pointed out to the writers of National Review, has a lot more to say against fornication and adultery than against homosexuality,” he said. “If one accepts the 24th&#160;and 104th Psalms as scriptural norms, then surface mining and other forms of earth destruction are perversions. If we take the Gospels seriously, how can we not see industrial warfare —&#160;with its inevitable massacre of innocents —&#160;as a most shocking perversion? By the standard of all scriptures, neglect of the poor, of widows and orphans, of the sick, the homeless, the insane, is an abominable perversion.”</p>
<p>“Jesus talked of hating your neighbor as tantamount to hating God, and yet some Christians hate their neighbors by policy and are busy hunting biblical justifications for doing so,” he said. “Are they not perverts in the fullest and fairest sense of that term? And yet none of these offenses —&#160;not all of them together —&#160;has made as much political/religious noise as homosexual marriage.”</p>
<p>Another argument used, Berry said, is that homosexuality is “unnatural.”</p>
<p>“If it can be argued that homosexual marriage is not reproductive and is therefore unnatural and should be forbidden on that account, must we not argue that childless marriages are unnatural and should be annulled?” he asked.</p>
<p>“One may find the sexual practices of homosexuals to be unattractive or displeasing and therefore unnatural, but anything that can be done in that line by homosexuals can be done and is done by heterosexuals,” Berry continued. “Do we need a legal remedy for this? Would conservative Christians like a small government bureau to inspect, approve and certify their sexual behavior? Would they like a colorful tattoo verifying government approval on the rumps of lawfully copulating parties? We have the technology, after all, to monitor everybody’s sexual behavior, but so far as I can see so eager an interest in other people’s private intimacy is either prurient or totalitarian or both.”</p>
<p>“The oddest of the strategies to condemn and isolate homosexuals is to propose that homosexual marriage is opposed to and a threat to heterosexual marriage, as if the marriage market is about to be cornered and monopolized by homosexuals,” Berry said. “If this is not industrial capitalist paranoia, it at least follows the pattern of industrial capitalist competitiveness. We must destroy the competition. If somebody else wants what you’ve got, from money to marriage, you must not hesitate to use the government —&#160;small, of course —&#160;to keep them from getting it.”</p>
<p>Berry said “so-called traditional marriage” is “for sure suffering a statistical failure, but this is not the result of a homosexual plot.”</p>
<p>“Heterosexual marriage does not need defending,” Berry said. “It only needs to be practiced, which is pretty hard to do just now.”</p>
<p>“But the difficulty is not assigned to any group of scapegoats,” he said. “It is rooted mainly in the values and priorities of our industrial capitalist system in which every one of us is complicit.”</p>
<p>“If I were one of a homosexual couple —&#160;the same as I am one of a heterosexual couple —&#160;I would place my faith and hope in the mercy of Christ, not in the judgment of Christians,” Berry said. “When I consider the hostility of political churches to homosexuality and homosexual marriage, I do so remembering the history of Christian war, torture, terror, slavery and annihilation against Jews, Muslims, black Africans, American Indians and others. And more of the same by Catholics against Protestants, Protestants against Catholics, Catholics against Catholics, Protestants against Protestants, as if by law requiring the love of God to be balanced by hatred of some neighbor for the sin of being unlike some divinely preferred us. If we are a Christian nation —&#160;as some say we are, using the adjective with conventional looseness —&#160;then this Christian blood thirst continues wherever we find an officially identifiable evil, and to the immense enrichment of our Christian industries of war.”</p>
<p>“Condemnation by category is the lowest form of hatred, for it is cold-hearted and abstract, lacking even the courage of a personal hatred,” Berry said. “Categorical condemnation is the hatred of the mob. It makes cowards brave. And there is nothing more fearful than a religious mob, a mob overflowing with righteousness —&#160;as at the crucifixion and before and since. This can happen only after we have made a categorical refusal to kindness: to heretics, foreigners, enemies or any other group different from ourselves.”</p>
<p>“Perhaps the most dangerous temptation to Christianity is to get itself officialized in some version by a government, following pretty exactly the pattern the chief priest and his crowd at the trial of Jesus,” Berry said. “For want of a Pilate of their own, some Christians would accept a Constantine or whomever might be the current incarnation of Caesar.”</p>
<p>The video of Berry’s address is <a href="http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/cdal/" type="external">here</a>.</p>
| false | 3 |
news story originally ran jan 14 2013 christian opponents samesex marriage want government treat homosexuals special category persons subject discrimination similar way africanamericans women categorized past cultural economic critic wendell berry told baptist ministers kentucky jan 11 2013 wendell berry photodavid marshallwikipedia commons berry prolific author books poems essays national humanities medal 2010 2012 jefferson lecturer national endowment humanities offered sort general declaration subject gay marriage following call church times like conference georgetown college berry said chose comment publicly elaborate little said topic pasti must say little wonderful 40odd years taking stands controversial issues great length sometimes two times think ive stirred passionate opposition tiny little essay computers 1987 essay going buy computer published harpers led accuse antitechnology half dozen dozen sentences gay marriage berry said could recall twice commented publicly issue single paragraph collection essays published 2005 interview national review 2012 argument much abbreviated times sexual practices consenting adults ought subjected governments approval disapproval domestic partnerships people live together devote lives one another ought receive spousal rights protections privileges government allows heterosexual couples berry said berry said liberals conservatives invented politics sexuality establishes marriage right granted withheld whichever side prevails said viewpoints contravene principles democracy rights selfevident inalienable determined granted withheld government christians certain disposition found several ways categorize homosexuals different category heterosexual therefore normal therefore good berry said unclear said single homosexuality perversion bible pointed writers national review lot say fornication adultery homosexuality said one accepts 24th160and 104th psalms scriptural norms surface mining forms earth destruction perversions take gospels seriously see industrial warfare 160with inevitable massacre innocents 160as shocking perversion standard scriptures neglect poor widows orphans sick homeless insane abominable perversion jesus talked hating neighbor tantamount hating god yet christians hate neighbors policy busy hunting biblical justifications said perverts fullest fairest sense term yet none offenses 160not together 160has made much politicalreligious noise homosexual marriage another argument used berry said homosexuality unnatural argued homosexual marriage reproductive therefore unnatural forbidden account must argue childless marriages unnatural annulled asked one may find sexual practices homosexuals unattractive displeasing therefore unnatural anything done line homosexuals done done heterosexuals berry continued need legal remedy would conservative christians like small government bureau inspect approve certify sexual behavior would like colorful tattoo verifying government approval rumps lawfully copulating parties technology monitor everybodys sexual behavior far see eager interest peoples private intimacy either prurient totalitarian oddest strategies condemn isolate homosexuals propose homosexual marriage opposed threat heterosexual marriage marriage market cornered monopolized homosexuals berry said industrial capitalist paranoia least follows pattern industrial capitalist competitiveness must destroy competition somebody else wants youve got money marriage must hesitate use government 160small course 160to keep getting berry said socalled traditional marriage sure suffering statistical failure result homosexual plot heterosexual marriage need defending berry said needs practiced pretty hard difficulty assigned group scapegoats said rooted mainly values priorities industrial capitalist system every one us complicit one homosexual couple 160the one heterosexual couple 160i would place faith hope mercy christ judgment christians berry said consider hostility political churches homosexuality homosexual marriage remembering history christian war torture terror slavery annihilation jews muslims black africans american indians others catholics protestants protestants catholics catholics catholics protestants protestants law requiring love god balanced hatred neighbor sin unlike divinely preferred us christian nation 160as say using adjective conventional looseness 160then christian blood thirst continues wherever find officially identifiable evil immense enrichment christian industries war condemnation category lowest form hatred coldhearted abstract lacking even courage personal hatred berry said categorical condemnation hatred mob makes cowards brave nothing fearful religious mob mob overflowing righteousness 160as crucifixion since happen made categorical refusal kindness heretics foreigners enemies group different perhaps dangerous temptation christianity get officialized version government following pretty exactly pattern chief priest crowd trial jesus berry said want pilate christians would accept constantine whomever might current incarnation caesar video berrys address
| 631 |
<p>SACRAMENTO – California’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Legislature,_2017%E2%80%9318_session" type="external">legislative session</a>, which completed its work in the wee hours Saturday morning, was one of the more controversial ones in years, given the degree to which the Democratic majority was able to secure various tax and fee increases. It was also one of the more divisive recent sessions from a partisan standpoint.</p>
<p>The most significant measures passed long before the session’s deadline. In April, lawmakers passed a controversial 12-cents-a-gallon <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article147437054.html" type="external">gas-tax increase</a> by a razor-thin margin. The law also increased vehicle-license fees. In July, they passed a 10-year extension of the state’s cap-and-trade program, with the help of several Republican legislators. The Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates the measure could increase gas prices as much as 63 cents a gallon by 2021.</p>
<p>But the final hours of the session were still filled with tension. The <a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-housing-legislation-deal-impact-20170915-story.html" type="external">housing package</a> worked out between Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders had stalled in the final days, but snuck past the finish line. The package includes three bills. One (Senate Bill 35) would streamline the approval process for high-density affordable housing projects, but requires contractors to pay union-based prevailing wage rates on those subsidized projects in return.</p>
<p>The other two parts of the deal have a bigger tax-and-spend element to them. <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB2" type="external">SB2</a> imposes new fees of $75 to $225 on various real-estate transactions to help fund subsidized high-density housing projects. SB3 will place before voters on the November 2018 ballot a $3 billion state housing bond that likewise will fund the construction of low-income housing units.</p>
<p>The gas tax increase has sparked a GOP-led recall effort of Fullerton-area Democrat Josh Newman, mainly because of his vote to support the increase – and because he represents a GOP-heavy district. Democrats passed two bills this session to change the recall rules to help the embattled senator, but that issue is working its way through the courts. If Newman loses, Democrats would lose their supermajority in the Senate. Anti-tax activists also are gathering signatures for an <a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-second-initiative-drive-launched-to-1505423729-htmlstory.html" type="external">initiative</a> that would repeal the new gas tax and license fees.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, some commentators were relieved that the session wasn’t worse, from a tax-hiking perspective. Joel Fox, editor of Fox and Hounds Daily, referred to this as a <a href="http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2017/09/tax-happy-session-ends-worse/" type="external">“tax-happy session,”</a> but noted the California Chamber of Commerce’s success in defeating nine so-called “job killer” bills that proposed some form of tax increase.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.cajobkillers.com/" type="external">Some of these defeated tax proposals include</a>: A tax on contractors who do business with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; excise taxes on manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers of distilled beverages; an excise tax on distributors of sweetened soft drinks to fund a new health program; an increase in the personal income tax of 14.3 percent; a tax on opioid distributors; a new retail tax to fund affordable housing; expansion of the capital gains tax; and a measure to lower the vote threshold for local property tax increases.</p>
<p>California Democratic leaders spent a lot of time this session positioning themselves to resist the Donald Trump presidency. Many efforts involved little more than posturing and press conferences, but the Legislature passed three substantive bills that are designed to either affect the next presidential election or <a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-20170918-story.html" type="external">confront</a> the Trump administration over its controversial immigration policies.</p>
<p>For instance, the Legislature passed SB568, which <a href="http://ktla.com/2017/09/14/california-lawmakers-set-to-vote-on-bill-that-would-move-presidential-primary-to-march-in-2020/" type="external">moves up the state’s presidential primary</a>. It now occurs late in the primary process in June, but would move to March. That would make California the fifth state to vote for president in the 2020 election, provided other states don’t play leapfrog with their dates. California’s voters currently have little say in the presidential races because the nominees are fairly obvious by June.</p>
<p>“Winning big in California could help a Democrat clinch the nomination in the spring instead of the summer,” <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/09/18/how-california-yes-california-could-make-trumps-2020-reelection-more-difficult/?utm_term=.b7f3692bc4b8" type="external">according to The Washington Post’s analysis</a>. That could help defeat Trump in the next election because “if you can wrap up the primary in the spring, you have more time to focus on taking out an incumbent president.” It could also help Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti or Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., both of whom are eyeing a presidential run.</p>
<p>The Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/09/18/how-california-yes-california-could-make-trumps-2020-reelection-more-difficult/?utm_term=.b7f3692bc4b8" type="external">also pointed</a> to two other anti-Trump measures now on the governor’s desk. SB149 requires presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns to be eligible to run in the state’s primary election. That’s obviously aimed at Trump, who refused to release his returns in the 2016 race. Most controversially, lawmakers passed a “sanctuary state” bill (SB54) that forbids state and local authorities from cooperating with federal officials to deport illegal immigrants. That sets up a serious showdown with the administration, which has threatened to withhold federal funds from localities that embrace sanctuary status.</p>
<p>Finally, <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article173860816.html" type="external">California’s politically powerful unions got many of their priorities through this year’s legislative session</a>. The most far-reaching measure, Assembly Bill 1513, would provide the names and personal information of home-care workers who work for private companies. That would enable unions to contact private-sector workers for organizing purposes.</p>
<p>The Legislature also <a href="https://www.scpr.org/news/2017/09/18/75744/work-in-california-these-bills-might-affect-you/" type="external">passed</a>Senate Bill 63, which expands the state’s family leave law, applying it to companies with at least 20 employees. It also passed AB1461, which would require employees at some companies that provide meal-delivery services to get a “food-handlers’ card.” Similar to the home-care bill, unions would then have access to these workers’ private information for organizing purposes.</p>
<p>The Legislature passed some other workers’ rights bills. AB168 bans employers from asking for an applicant’s salary history. That was posited as a women’s rights issue, as backers claim that providing pay information makes it harder for women to receive higher pay scales. Another bill ( <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB1008" type="external">AB1008</a>) would not allow employers to ask applicants about prior criminal convictions until a tentative job offer is made.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article173860816.html" type="external">Sacramento Bee noted</a> that not all labor-backed bills succeeded: “Heavy opposition from the dialysis industry blocked SB349, which would have set staffing levels for those clinics” and opposition from county governments blocked a bill (AB1250) that would have largely banned counties from contracting out many services. AB568 did pass, however. It requires school districts, charters and community colleges to provide six weeks of paid leave for pregnancy-related reasons.</p>
<p>Lawmakers didn’t shy away from hot-button social issues. SB179 provides a gender-neutral option called “non-binary” for driver’s licenses. And AB1209 “will require large companies to report their mean and median salary data by classification and gender to the Secretary of State, who will post the data online,” <a href="http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-Best-and-worst-of-Sacramento-s-12202170.php" type="external">as the San Francisco Chronicle reported</a>.</p>
<p>Critics complain the state didn’t deal with several pressing financial issues, ranging from California’s exploding <a href="http://reason.com/archives/2017/07/14/dont-let-unions-use-good-returns-to-defl" type="external">unfunded pension liabilities</a> to reforming the California Environmental Quality Act, which is widely blamed for encouraging lawsuits that delay needed construction projects. The Legislature certainly didn’t control spending this year either, as it approved a budget that sets every manner of spending record.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/m_newsroom.php" type="external">governor</a> has until Oct. 15 to make his decision on the bills that made it to his desk.</p>
<p>Steven Greenhut is Western region director for the R Street Institute. Write to him at [email protected].</p>
| false | 3 |
sacramento californias legislative session completed work wee hours saturday morning one controversial ones years given degree democratic majority able secure various tax fee increases also one divisive recent sessions partisan standpoint significant measures passed long sessions deadline april lawmakers passed controversial 12centsagallon gastax increase razorthin margin law also increased vehiclelicense fees july passed 10year extension states capandtrade program help several republican legislators legislative analysts office estimates measure could increase gas prices much 63 cents gallon 2021 final hours session still filled tension housing package worked gov jerry brown legislative leaders stalled final days snuck past finish line package includes three bills one senate bill 35 would streamline approval process highdensity affordable housing projects requires contractors pay unionbased prevailing wage rates subsidized projects return two parts deal bigger taxandspend element sb2 imposes new fees 75 225 various realestate transactions help fund subsidized highdensity housing projects sb3 place voters november 2018 ballot 3 billion state housing bond likewise fund construction lowincome housing units gas tax increase sparked gopled recall effort fullertonarea democrat josh newman mainly vote support increase represents gopheavy district democrats passed two bills session change recall rules help embattled senator issue working way courts newman loses democrats would lose supermajority senate antitax activists also gathering signatures initiative would repeal new gas tax license fees nevertheless commentators relieved session wasnt worse taxhiking perspective joel fox editor fox hounds daily referred taxhappy session noted california chamber commerces success defeating nine socalled job killer bills proposed form tax increase defeated tax proposals include tax contractors business california department corrections rehabilitation excise taxes manufacturers distributors wholesalers distilled beverages excise tax distributors sweetened soft drinks fund new health program increase personal income tax 143 percent tax opioid distributors new retail tax fund affordable housing expansion capital gains tax measure lower vote threshold local property tax increases california democratic leaders spent lot time session positioning resist donald trump presidency many efforts involved little posturing press conferences legislature passed three substantive bills designed either affect next presidential election confront trump administration controversial immigration policies instance legislature passed sb568 moves states presidential primary occurs late primary process june would move march would make california fifth state vote president 2020 election provided states dont play leapfrog dates californias voters currently little say presidential races nominees fairly obvious june winning big california could help democrat clinch nomination spring instead summer according washington posts analysis could help defeat trump next election wrap primary spring time focus taking incumbent president could also help los angeles mayor eric garcetti sen kamala harris dcalif eyeing presidential run post also pointed two antitrump measures governors desk sb149 requires presidential candidates disclose tax returns eligible run states primary election thats obviously aimed trump refused release returns 2016 race controversially lawmakers passed sanctuary state bill sb54 forbids state local authorities cooperating federal officials deport illegal immigrants sets serious showdown administration threatened withhold federal funds localities embrace sanctuary status finally californias politically powerful unions got many priorities years legislative session farreaching measure assembly bill 1513 would provide names personal information homecare workers work private companies would enable unions contact privatesector workers organizing purposes legislature also passedsenate bill 63 expands states family leave law applying companies least 20 employees also passed ab1461 would require employees companies provide mealdelivery services get foodhandlers card similar homecare bill unions would access workers private information organizing purposes legislature passed workers rights bills ab168 bans employers asking applicants salary history posited womens rights issue backers claim providing pay information makes harder women receive higher pay scales another bill ab1008 would allow employers ask applicants prior criminal convictions tentative job offer made sacramento bee noted laborbacked bills succeeded heavy opposition dialysis industry blocked sb349 would set staffing levels clinics opposition county governments blocked bill ab1250 would largely banned counties contracting many services ab568 pass however requires school districts charters community colleges provide six weeks paid leave pregnancyrelated reasons lawmakers didnt shy away hotbutton social issues sb179 provides genderneutral option called nonbinary drivers licenses ab1209 require large companies report mean median salary data classification gender secretary state post data online san francisco chronicle reported critics complain state didnt deal several pressing financial issues ranging californias exploding unfunded pension liabilities reforming california environmental quality act widely blamed encouraging lawsuits delay needed construction projects legislature certainly didnt control spending year either approved budget sets every manner spending record governor oct 15 make decision bills made desk steven greenhut western region director r street institute write sgreenhutrstreetorg
| 738 |
<p>PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The idea that the delivery of American food aid needs an overhaul goes almost without question here in the capital of a nation still recovering from the devastating earthquake of four years ago.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/haiti/120411/haitian-farmers-call-us-stop-subsidizing-its-own" type="external">Farmers in Haiti</a> and many of their <a href="http://www.agweb.com/article/farm_lobbyists_spar_over_change_to_food_aid_NAA_Boyce_Thompson/" type="external">counterparts in the United States</a> are joining foreign aid organizations calling on the United States to stop sending American crops to Haiti through what many critics say is the deeply flawed and wasteful strategy of the current, multi-billion-dollar <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/haiti/120210/haiti-earthquake-USAID-farmers" type="external">US Department of Agriculture Food for Peace program</a>.</p>
<p>"Unfortunately US policy doesn’t consider first the political interests of farmers abroad, but of its own,” said Camille Chalmers, director of a Haitian farmers’ association.&#160;</p>
<p>“But now there is a chance to change that,” he added.</p>
<p>A consensus has formed that something needs to be done to end the unintended consequence of food aid that actually ends up hurting some of the world’s most vulnerable people in developing nations like Haiti, where local farmers can’t compete against less expensive US crops.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/haiti/140110/haiti-hospital-teaches-doctors-mirebalais-university" type="external">New hospital encourages doctors to stay as Haiti continues to rebuild</a></p>
<p>The turning point in the debate over US food aid came when the US Agency for International Development (USAID)—the entity that oversees foreign aid—admitted the program is flawed, <a href="http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1869/FoodAidReform_BehindtheNumbers.pdf" type="external">urging Congress</a> to permit the agency to send cash rather than food to nations in need. Agency officials believe they could feed 2 to 4 million more people per year if they were allowed to spend more of their budget on procuring food aid locally in the countries where it is needed (another study put the figure of additional beneficiaries even higher, at <a href="http://www.cgdev.org/publication/food-aid-21st-century-saving-more-money-time-and-lives" type="external">4 to 10 million people</a>).</p>
<p>In Washington, the proposed reforms have been gaining support among legislators on both sides of the aisle: Democrats who defend US foreign aid spending and want to see the money stretch further, and Republicans concerned foremost with fiscal responsibility want to tighten up a wasteful program. Several libertarian-leaning think tanks including <a href="http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/04/us-food-aid-should-focus-on-combating-hunger-and-malnutrition-in-poor-nations" type="external">The Heritage Foundation</a>, <a href="http://www.cato.org/blog/food-aid-reform" type="external">Cato Institute</a> and <a href="http://www.taxpayer.net/library/weekly-wastebasket/article/food-aid-fight" type="external">Taxpayers for Common Sense</a> support cash over food because it gives individuals in developing nations the ability choose for themselves what sorts of food to buy.</p>
<p>Even American farmers—who ostensibly have the most to lose if the program were to cease purchasing US crops—have come out in favor of the reforms, led by a letter from the president of the <a href="http://www.agri-pulse.com/Op-Ed-NFU-calls-for-more-flexibility-on-food-aid-05212013.asp" type="external">National Farmers Union</a>.</p>
<p>President Barack Obama <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/factsheet/reforming-international-food-aid" type="external">proposed an even more radical reform</a>: removing food aid from the Farm Bill altogether, placing it instead in the international disaster assistance budget and two other funds so as to avoid the Title II restrictions entirely.</p>
<p>That’s because the US wasted $219 million over a three-year period through its food aid monetization program by which US crops are sent abroad on American-owned ships and sold to generate revenue for aid operations, according to a <a href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/330/320013.pdf" type="external">2011 report by the US Government Accountability Office</a> (GAO). Currently 15 percent of US food aid must be monetized in this way.</p>
<p>“Ocean transportation represents about a third of the cost to procure and ship commodities for monetization, and legal requirements to ship 75 percent of the commodities on US-flag vessels further increase costs,” according to the 2011 report.</p>
<p>American crops are <a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/01/11/subsidizing_starvation#sthash.b3COXVsP.SESnEVcm.dpbs" type="external">so heavily subsidized</a> that when they arrive in places like Haiti they sell at below-market cost, undercutting local farmers.</p>
<p>“Schools in the Artibonite (region of Haiti) give out American food. So a kid goes to school five days a week for 12 years and he eats something that his family could be growing themselves,” Chalmers said. “School is a model of what’s acceptable, so today the youth of Haiti are disconnected of the agricultural and culinary culture of their own country.”</p>
<p>According to the United Nations, 6.7 million Haitians—two thirds of the population—“struggle to meet their own food needs on a regular basis.”</p>
<p>And yet, a US House of Representatives&#160; <a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/11/06/13688/shipping-dollars-and-congressional-votes" type="external">heavily lobbied by the shipping industry</a> rejected most of the proposed reforms in a June 2013 vote that left “the status quo in place, which means we will continue to spend more food aid dollars to reach fewer hungry people around the world,” wrote Timi Gerson, Director of Advocacy for the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), which has lead the push for reform along with Oxfam.</p>
<p>Top congressional opponents of food aid reform include Rep. Frank D. Lucas (R-Okla.), House Chairman on the Committee on Agriculture, and Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on&#160;Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies.</p>
<p>Instead of adopting the full reforms, the Senate passed a watered-down version that would allow just 20 percent of Food for Peace funding to be spent on local food procurement. Also in that bill is a measure that would increase funding to purchase food in-country (rather than buying it in the US) from $40 million to $60 million per year. The House version of the bill, however, would let that program expire. The House and Senate are expected to reach an agreement on the Farm Bill this month.</p>
<p>In Haiti, Chalmers said farmers are anxious to see if Congress will make any progress toward fixing a decades-old food aid policy so that Haitian farmers will see reduced competition form US food products.</p>
<p>“We have many people who are hungry. We have people who can only eat once a day,” Chalmers said. “It’s unjustifiable in a country with the capacity to feed itself.”</p>
<p>US one of the world’s only ‘food dumpers’</p>
<p>Since 1954 the United States has spent more than $100 billion on Title II food aid programs, nearly $1.5 billion of which went to Haiti including at least $200 million following the January 2010 earthquake. The US is the world’s largest food aid donor, giving about half of all global food aid, according to the GAO. But the US is virtually alone in the world when it comes to so-called ‘food dumping,’ or sending surplus or heavily subsidized food abroad en masse.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/us/politics/white-house-seeks-to-change-international-food-aid.html?ref=politics&amp;_r=1&amp;" type="external">The New York Times reported in April</a> that “The United States spends about $1.4 billion a year on food aid and is the only major donor country that continues to send food to humanitarian crisis spots, rather than buying food produced locally.”</p>
<p>In Haiti, Venezuela has outpaced the United States in funding the local procurement of food aid after Hurricane Sandy devastated Haitian crops and seed supplies in October 2012. According to the Associated Press, Venezuela’s “Aba Grangou” (Down with Hunger) program <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/2-3-people-face-hunger-123722848.html" type="external">gave $30 million to 60,000 mothers</a> to buy food for their children as well as to distribute seeds to farmers.</p>
<p>“Cash permits people to continue to buy food themselves, on their own and from their own people,” Chalmers said.</p>
<p>Washington’s prescription</p>
<p>While Congress prepares to reject food aid reform this cycle, legislators are considering another bill designed to increase transparency in how the US government spends taxpayer money in Haiti specifically.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr3509" type="external">Last month the House passed a bill</a> that would require the State Department to produce comprehensive reports on US assistance to Haiti post-earthquake, including a “description of the impact that agriculture and infrastructure programs are having on the food security, livelihoods, and land tenure security of smallholder farmers, particularly women.”</p>
<p>Advocates for food aid reform say independent reporting and evaluations of US aid are an important first step toward pinpointing the inefficiencies in such programs.</p>
<p>“Because it’s a bipartisan bill, it appeals to folks that approach this issue due to their interest in Haiti as well as those who are concerned about accountability to US taxpayers,” said Ian Schwab, who advocates on Haiti policy for AJWS. &#160;</p>
<p>This story is presented by <a href="http://thegroundtruthproject.org/" type="external">The GroundTruth Project.</a></p>
| false | 3 |
portauprince haiti idea delivery american food aid needs overhaul goes almost without question capital nation still recovering devastating earthquake four years ago farmers haiti many counterparts united states joining foreign aid organizations calling united states stop sending american crops haiti many critics say deeply flawed wasteful strategy current multibilliondollar us department agriculture food peace program unfortunately us policy doesnt consider first political interests farmers abroad said camille chalmers director haitian farmers association160 chance change added consensus formed something needs done end unintended consequence food aid actually ends hurting worlds vulnerable people developing nations like haiti local farmers cant compete less expensive us crops globalpost160 new hospital encourages doctors stay haiti continues rebuild turning point debate us food aid came us agency international development usaidthe entity oversees foreign aidadmitted program flawed urging congress permit agency send cash rather food nations need agency officials believe could feed 2 4 million people per year allowed spend budget procuring food aid locally countries needed another study put figure additional beneficiaries even higher 4 10 million people washington proposed reforms gaining support among legislators sides aisle democrats defend us foreign aid spending want see money stretch republicans concerned foremost fiscal responsibility want tighten wasteful program several libertarianleaning think tanks including heritage foundation cato institute taxpayers common sense support cash food gives individuals developing nations ability choose sorts food buy even american farmerswho ostensibly lose program cease purchasing us cropshave come favor reforms led letter president national farmers union president barack obama proposed even radical reform removing food aid farm bill altogether placing instead international disaster assistance budget two funds avoid title ii restrictions entirely thats us wasted 219 million threeyear period food aid monetization program us crops sent abroad americanowned ships sold generate revenue aid operations according 2011 report us government accountability office gao currently 15 percent us food aid must monetized way ocean transportation represents third cost procure ship commodities monetization legal requirements ship 75 percent commodities usflag vessels increase costs according 2011 report american crops heavily subsidized arrive places like haiti sell belowmarket cost undercutting local farmers schools artibonite region haiti give american food kid goes school five days week 12 years eats something family could growing chalmers said school model whats acceptable today youth haiti disconnected agricultural culinary culture country according united nations 67 million haitianstwo thirds populationstruggle meet food needs regular basis yet us house representatives160 heavily lobbied shipping industry rejected proposed reforms june 2013 vote left status quo place means continue spend food aid dollars reach fewer hungry people around world wrote timi gerson director advocacy american jewish world service ajws lead push reform along oxfam top congressional opponents food aid reform include rep frank lucas rokla house chairman committee agriculture sen mark pryor dark chairman subcommittee on160agriculture rural development food drug administration related agencies instead adopting full reforms senate passed watereddown version would allow 20 percent food peace funding spent local food procurement also bill measure would increase funding purchase food incountry rather buying us 40 million 60 million per year house version bill however would let program expire house senate expected reach agreement farm bill month haiti chalmers said farmers anxious see congress make progress toward fixing decadesold food aid policy haitian farmers see reduced competition form us food products many people hungry people eat day chalmers said unjustifiable country capacity feed us one worlds food dumpers since 1954 united states spent 100 billion title ii food aid programs nearly 15 billion went haiti including least 200 million following january 2010 earthquake us worlds largest food aid donor giving half global food aid according gao us virtually alone world comes socalled food dumping sending surplus heavily subsidized food abroad en masse new york times reported april united states spends 14 billion year food aid major donor country continues send food humanitarian crisis spots rather buying food produced locally haiti venezuela outpaced united states funding local procurement food aid hurricane sandy devastated haitian crops seed supplies october 2012 according associated press venezuelas aba grangou hunger program gave 30 million 60000 mothers buy food children well distribute seeds farmers cash permits people continue buy food people chalmers said washingtons prescription congress prepares reject food aid reform cycle legislators considering another bill designed increase transparency us government spends taxpayer money haiti specifically last month house passed bill would require state department produce comprehensive reports us assistance haiti postearthquake including description impact agriculture infrastructure programs food security livelihoods land tenure security smallholder farmers particularly women advocates food aid reform say independent reporting evaluations us aid important first step toward pinpointing inefficiencies programs bipartisan bill appeals folks approach issue due interest haiti well concerned accountability us taxpayers said ian schwab advocates haiti policy ajws 160 story presented groundtruth project
| 786 |
<p />
<p>Pope Francis in a long-awaited document reiterates the Catholic Church’s opposition to marriage rights for same-sex couples. (Photo by Jeffrey Bruno; courtesy Wikimedia)</p>
<p />
<p>“We need to acknowledge the great variety of family situations that can offer a certain stability, but de facto or same-sex unions, for example, may not simply be equated with marriage,” said Francis. “No union that is temporarily or closed to the transmission of life can ensure the future of society.”</p>
<p>Francis made the statement in “The Joy of Love,” <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2793677-AL-INGLESE-TESTO.html" type="external">a 256-page document</a> he released in the wake of <a href="" type="internal">last fall’s gathering of Catholic bishops</a> in Rome that focused on the family.</p>
<p>The document notes the bishops “discussed the situation of families whose members include persons who experience same-sex attraction, a situation not easy either for parents or for children.”</p>
<p>“We would like before all else to reaffirm that every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration, while ‘every sign of unjust discrimination’ is to be carefully avoided, particularly any form of aggression and violence,” said Francis. “Such families should be given respectful pastoral guidance, so that those who manifest a homosexual orientation can receive the assistance they need to understand and fully carry out God’s will in their lives.”</p>
<p>Francis in the document describes the allocation of foreign aid to countries based upon whether they extend marriage rights to same-sex couples as “unacceptable.” The pontiff also writes an “ideology of gender” that “denies the difference and reciprocity in nature of a man and a woman and envisages a society without sexual differences” poses an additional challenge to the family.</p>
<p>“This ideology leads to educational programs and legislative enactments that promote a personal identity and emotional intimacy, radically separated from the biological difference between male and female,” said Francis.</p>
<p>LGBT rights advocates were quick to criticize the document.</p>
<p>“I don’t think anybody was expecting a celebration of same-sex marriage in this document,” Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, a group for LGBT Catholics, told the Washington Blade on Friday during a telephone interview. “But there’s just a tremendous disconnect in how LGBT people and others are seen by church officials, up to and including the pope himself.”</p>
<p>Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, a Maryland-based group that ministers to LGBT Catholics, expressed a similar sentiment.</p>
<p>“The disappointment comes from the fact that the only times he was specific on LGBT issues were negative comments,” he told the Blade.</p>
<p>Kieran Rose, chair of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, an Irish LGBT advocacy group, in a statement described the document as “a missed opportunity to reflect and embrace the very positive changes in attitudes towards lesbian and gay people that have come about over the last 20 years in Ireland and across many parts of the world.” LGBT Federation of Argentina Vice President Esteban Paulón described the document as “a new lost opportunity.”</p>
<p>Paulón told the Blade from the Argentinian city of Mendoza the Vatican released the document a day after Colombia’s highest court <a href="" type="internal">issued a landmark ruling</a> that extended marriage rights to gays and lesbians. The first same-sex wedding at an Argentinian synagogue took place earlier this week.</p>
<p>“Pope Francis ratified the Vatican’s line that is contrary to the expansion of rights,” Paulón told the Blade.</p>
<p>Cardinal Donald Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington also responded to Francis’ document.</p>
<p>“Pope Francis affirms that the common life of husband, wife and children can be steeped in and strengthened by sacramental grace,” wrote Wuerl in <a href="http://cardinalsblog.adw.org/2016/04/on-love-in-the-family-the-apostolic-exhortation-of-pope-francis/" type="external">a blog post.</a> “For those in irregular situations, continues the pope, Christ inspires the church to turn to them with love and affection to assist them in overcoming the trials they face.”</p>
<p>Francis was the then-archbishop of Buenos Aires before he became pope in 2013.</p>
<p>The Vatican’s tone towards homosexuality, marriage rights for same-sex couples and other social issues has become more moderate under Francis’ papacy. LGBT Catholic organizations and their allies are nevertheless quick to note that church doctrine has not changed.</p>
<p>Francis and Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill in February expressed <a href="" type="internal">their opposition to marriage rights for same-sex couples</a> in a joint declaration they signed during their historic meeting in Cuba.</p>
<p>A number of LGBT people have claimed they have <a href="" type="internal">been fired from Catholic institutions</a> because of their marital status in the wake of last June’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that extended marriage rights to same-sex couples across the country. The Vatican has yet to publicly respond to Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo’s repeated use of homophobic slurs <a href="" type="internal">to describe gay U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic James “Wally” Brewster.</a></p>
<p />
<p>Cathedral of Santa María la Menor in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The church is the seat of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)</p>
<p />
<p>Special U.S. Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons Randy Berry last November during a visit to the Vatican <a href="" type="internal">dismissed claims</a> that foreign aid to African countries depends upon whether they allow gays and lesbians to legally marry.</p>
<p>DeBernardo pointed out to the Blade that Francis “repeated” this claim in the document he released on Friday.</p>
<p>“That’s just not true,” said DeBernardo.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Archdiocese of Santo Domingo</a> <a href="" type="internal">Archdiocese of Washington</a> <a href="" type="internal">bisexual</a> <a href="" type="internal">Catholic Church</a> <a href="" type="internal">DignityUSA</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dominican Republic</a> <a href="" type="internal">Donald Wuerl</a> <a href="" type="internal">Esteban Paulon</a> <a href="" type="internal">Francis DeBernardo</a> <a href="" type="internal">gay</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gay and Lesbian Equality Network</a> <a href="" type="internal">Ireland</a> <a href="" type="internal">James "Wally" Brewster</a> <a href="" type="internal">Kieran Rose</a> <a href="" type="internal">lesbian</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT Federation of Argentina</a> <a href="" type="internal">Marianne Duddy-Burke</a> <a href="" type="internal">New Ways Ministry</a> <a href="" type="internal">Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez</a> <a href="" type="internal">Pope Francis</a> <a href="" type="internal">same-sex marriage</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender</a></p>
| false | 3 |
pope francis longawaited document reiterates catholic churchs opposition marriage rights samesex couples photo jeffrey bruno courtesy wikimedia need acknowledge great variety family situations offer certain stability de facto samesex unions example may simply equated marriage said francis union temporarily closed transmission life ensure future society francis made statement joy love 256page document released wake last falls gathering catholic bishops rome focused family document notes bishops discussed situation families whose members include persons experience samesex attraction situation easy either parents children would like else reaffirm every person regardless sexual orientation ought respected dignity treated consideration every sign unjust discrimination carefully avoided particularly form aggression violence said francis families given respectful pastoral guidance manifest homosexual orientation receive assistance need understand fully carry gods lives francis document describes allocation foreign aid countries based upon whether extend marriage rights samesex couples unacceptable pontiff also writes ideology gender denies difference reciprocity nature man woman envisages society without sexual differences poses additional challenge family ideology leads educational programs legislative enactments promote personal identity emotional intimacy radically separated biological difference male female said francis lgbt rights advocates quick criticize document dont think anybody expecting celebration samesex marriage document marianne duddyburke executive director dignityusa group lgbt catholics told washington blade friday telephone interview theres tremendous disconnect lgbt people others seen church officials including pope francis debernardo executive director new ways ministry marylandbased group ministers lgbt catholics expressed similar sentiment disappointment comes fact times specific lgbt issues negative comments told blade kieran rose chair gay lesbian equality network irish lgbt advocacy group statement described document missed opportunity reflect embrace positive changes attitudes towards lesbian gay people come last 20 years ireland across many parts world lgbt federation argentina vice president esteban paulón described document new lost opportunity paulón told blade argentinian city mendoza vatican released document day colombias highest court issued landmark ruling extended marriage rights gays lesbians first samesex wedding argentinian synagogue took place earlier week pope francis ratified vaticans line contrary expansion rights paulón told blade cardinal donald wuerl archdiocese washington also responded francis document pope francis affirms common life husband wife children steeped strengthened sacramental grace wrote wuerl blog post irregular situations continues pope christ inspires church turn love affection assist overcoming trials face francis thenarchbishop buenos aires became pope 2013 vaticans tone towards homosexuality marriage rights samesex couples social issues become moderate francis papacy lgbt catholic organizations allies nevertheless quick note church doctrine changed francis russian orthodox church patriarch kirill february expressed opposition marriage rights samesex couples joint declaration signed historic meeting cuba number lgbt people claimed fired catholic institutions marital status wake last junes us supreme court ruling extended marriage rights samesex couples across country vatican yet publicly respond cardinal nicolás de jesús lópez rodríguez archdiocese santo domingos repeated use homophobic slurs describe gay us ambassador dominican republic james wally brewster cathedral santa maría la menor santo domingo dominican republic church seat archdiocese santo domingo washington blade photo michael k lavers special us envoy human rights lgbti persons randy berry last november visit vatican dismissed claims foreign aid african countries depends upon whether allow gays lesbians legally marry debernardo pointed blade francis repeated claim document released friday thats true said debernardo archdiocese santo domingo archdiocese washington bisexual catholic church dignityusa dominican republic donald wuerl esteban paulon francis debernardo gay gay lesbian equality network ireland james wally brewster kieran rose lesbian lgbt federation argentina marianne duddyburke new ways ministry nicolás de jesús lópez rodríguez pope francis samesex marriage transgender
| 574 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />Jan. 24, 2013</p>
<p>By John Seiler</p>
<p>I’m live-blogging Gov. Jerry Brown’s State of the State address. Live video link <a href="http://calchannel.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&amp;event_id=286" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>9:06 Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is bloviating about how the budget supposedly is balanced. “The best is yet to come.” True — for those who leave California.</p>
<p>9:07 Brown now: “California has once again confounded our critics… a balanced budget… and, by God, we’re going to keep it that way for years to come.” Yes, in “years” measured by the planet <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(planet)" type="external">Mercury</a>, which are 88 earth days.</p>
<p>He’s praising Californians for passing Prop. 30. But we don’t know if it really will raise the money yet.</p>
<p>He’s praising unions — his true bosses. “2012 — what a year.”</p>
<p>“launching the nation’s first high-speed rail system” — a total boondoggle.</p>
<p>We need to “guard jealously the money made available… fiscal discipline” — right, with a Democratic supermajority?</p>
<p>“boom and bust, stop and go” on the budget is bad. But inevitable for California. He admits “changes in the economy” could “cost us billions.”</p>
<p>Apparently quoting Rumsfeld, he said there are “known unknowns.”</p>
<p>He’s quoting Genesis on Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dream of the seven lean and seven fat cows. “Let us follow Joseph and pay down our debts… for the lean times that surely follow.” And right fast.</p>
<p>Quoting FDR, he said, “This generation has a rendezvous with destiny” — yes, in another state.</p>
<p>Some history of Portola in California. El Camino Real. “Fr. Serra joined the expedition by sea…. the coming of the 49ers,” possibly a reference to the Super Bowl. More history to the present. Apple…, whose stock is crashing. “The longest-standing mass migration in the history of the world. This special destiny never ends” — right, because it heads to Texas.</p>
<p>“The rest of the country looks to Calif., not for what’s ordinary, but …” But what they shouldn’t do.</p>
<p>More is needed than “passing new laws.” Then why did he sign more than 800 last year?</p>
<p>9:17</p>
<p>Quote from Montaigne on laws.</p>
<p>“turgid legal system… overshadows other aspects of public service” — then why did he sign more than 800 new laws last year?</p>
<p>“tapping the persuasive power” — just tell that to the tax collector just given more terrorizing power by Prop. 30.</p>
<p>Talking about education. 6 million students, 300,000 teachers, all subject to many laws, etc. Bureaucracy. Federal laws, federal Dept. of Education. 60 million U.S. students.</p>
<p>9:20</p>
<p>System is “deeply inequitable” and “complex.”</p>
<p>He’s getting emotional about stressing statistics too much. Good point. But he’s doing it because Calif. test scores are at the bottom of the states.</p>
<p>Quotes William Butler Yeats, education is “the lighting of a fire.”</p>
<p>Brings up subsidiarity: “A central authority should not perform those tasks that could be performed at a more immediate or local level.” Then why did he just tax families more? Why did he give more money to his centralized, union-driven regime in the state Capitol?</p>
<p>2013 budget cuts “categorical programs,” maximum control at local level. Wants more local-control funding formula, distributes “supplemental” funds, based on the real-world problems they face. That would just fund failure. How about firing the teachers and administrators of failing schools?</p>
<p>unequal funding, he said, “is not justice.” Actually, a really bad system that fails is not justice.</p>
<p>9:24</p>
<p>Higher ed now. “Tuition increases are not the answer.” Then will he cut the administrative bloat, where Cal State and U Cal have more than one bureaucrat for every prof?</p>
<p>Calif was first state to begin implementing Obamacare, he said. Calls for “special session” to deal with issues needed quickly, to get Obamacare started by next Jan. “incredibly complex” to start Medi-Cal integration with Obamacare. But what about him decrying so many laws earlier?</p>
<p>Helping bring jobs back in Calif. Convinced Samsung to bring research and development to San Jose. Is he kidding? They need a presence in Silicon Valley and would have done it no matter what in their battle against Apple over smart phones.</p>
<p>Need to reform California Environmental Quality Act — he’s right there.</p>
<p>Calif exports are booming. He ties the Chinese who built the railroads to the leadership of the PRC. Both favored free markets, unlike him.</p>
<p>Farmers.</p>
<p>9:28</p>
<p>All are dependent on the Delta for water. Earthquake or flood would be disaster, loss of $100 billion.</p>
<p>2 tunnels under the Delta. Habitat restoration. “Yes, that’s big, but so is the problem.”</p>
<p>“buildup of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.” highest in 15 million years.</p>
<p>Talks about global warming, but not using the name. “California is extremely vulnerable.” He hasn’t heard that there’s been <a href="" type="internal">no global warming for 16 years</a>.</p>
<p>Praises AB 32, which is <a href="" type="internal">killing 1 million jobs</a>.</p>
<p>Praises “renewable energy.” But <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323485704578258172660564886.html?mod=hp_opinion" type="external">even environmentalists</a> say the current schemes are a big waste.</p>
<p>High-Speed Rail. “electrified trains part of the future.” Praises China, which has 1.3 billion people compared to 38 in Calif. And Spain, which is bankrupt.</p>
<p>Talks about the first part of the line, which won’t be high-speed.</p>
<p>9:34</p>
<p>“the little engine that could.” He really referred to it. “I think I can.”</p>
<p>Bloviating way too much now. Typical Brown.</p>
<p>“We’re going to get over that mountain. I have no doubt about it.”</p>
<p>He said he signed the original HSR in 1982.</p>
<p>“California is on the move. Let’s get it done. Thank you.”</p>
<p>And thank you for ending your speech now.</p>
<p>Conclusion: A continuation of Brown’s themes of the past year, especially his Prop. 30 campaign, that all is well and we can build HSR, the tunnel, more spending on education.</p>
<p>No mention of the Pension Tsunami heading toward the state, nor that the state’s higher taxes even as he was speaking are digging in and killing jobs.</p>
<p>Next year’s State of the State will be different.</p>
| false | 3 |
jan 24 2013 john seiler im liveblogging gov jerry browns state state address live video link 906 lt gov gavin newsom bloviating budget supposedly balanced best yet come true leave california 907 brown california confounded critics balanced budget god going keep way years come yes years measured planet mercury 88 earth days hes praising californians passing prop 30 dont know really raise money yet hes praising unions true bosses 2012 year launching nations first highspeed rail system total boondoggle need guard jealously money made available fiscal discipline right democratic supermajority boom bust stop go budget bad inevitable california admits changes economy could cost us billions apparently quoting rumsfeld said known unknowns hes quoting genesis joseph interpreting pharaohs dream seven lean seven fat cows let us follow joseph pay debts lean times surely follow right fast quoting fdr said generation rendezvous destiny yes another state history portola california el camino real fr serra joined expedition sea coming 49ers possibly reference super bowl history present apple whose stock crashing longeststanding mass migration history world special destiny never ends right heads texas rest country looks calif whats ordinary shouldnt needed passing new laws sign 800 last year 917 quote montaigne laws turgid legal system overshadows aspects public service sign 800 new laws last year tapping persuasive power tell tax collector given terrorizing power prop 30 talking education 6 million students 300000 teachers subject many laws etc bureaucracy federal laws federal dept education 60 million us students 920 system deeply inequitable complex hes getting emotional stressing statistics much good point hes calif test scores bottom states quotes william butler yeats education lighting fire brings subsidiarity central authority perform tasks could performed immediate local level tax families give money centralized uniondriven regime state capitol 2013 budget cuts categorical programs maximum control local level wants localcontrol funding formula distributes supplemental funds based realworld problems face would fund failure firing teachers administrators failing schools unequal funding said justice actually really bad system fails justice 924 higher ed tuition increases answer cut administrative bloat cal state u cal one bureaucrat every prof calif first state begin implementing obamacare said calls special session deal issues needed quickly get obamacare started next jan incredibly complex start medical integration obamacare decrying many laws earlier helping bring jobs back calif convinced samsung bring research development san jose kidding need presence silicon valley would done matter battle apple smart phones need reform california environmental quality act hes right calif exports booming ties chinese built railroads leadership prc favored free markets unlike farmers 928 dependent delta water earthquake flood would disaster loss 100 billion 2 tunnels delta habitat restoration yes thats big problem buildup carbon dioxide greenhouse gases atmosphere highest 15 million years talks global warming using name california extremely vulnerable hasnt heard theres global warming 16 years praises ab 32 killing 1 million jobs praises renewable energy even environmentalists say current schemes big waste highspeed rail electrified trains part future praises china 13 billion people compared 38 calif spain bankrupt talks first part line wont highspeed 934 little engine could really referred think bloviating way much typical brown going get mountain doubt said signed original hsr 1982 california move lets get done thank thank ending speech conclusion continuation browns themes past year especially prop 30 campaign well build hsr tunnel spending education mention pension tsunami heading toward state states higher taxes even speaking digging killing jobs next years state state different
| 568 |
<p>CURWOOD: Fish have long been hailed for their remarkable nutritional value, and you may be old enough to have been forced to swallow cod liver oil as your mother told you it was brain food. And today doctors say that switching from red meat to seafood can lower the risk of heart disease and cancer in humans. Andy Sharpless, the CEO of the marine advocacy organization Oceana thinks that our fondness for fish may have an evolutionary explanation.</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: It would stand to reason that since our bodies are so tuned up for fish, that theyre so good for us, that there must have been some time in our evolutionary history when we ate a lot of fish. People do speculate that maybe one of the advantages that our ancestors gave us is that they were amongst the first primates to figure this out, and get to the big buffet that is the seashore.</p>
<p>CURWOOD: Seems though, we've overdone it at that big buffet, and though we may be suited to seafood, its increasingly difficult to eat fish sustainably. Still, writing in his new book The Perfect Protein, Andy Sharpless argues that we can protect this healthy food and feed our growing population - if only we manage our fisheries better.</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: The problem we have is that is we love them so much that we have, in a very short-sighted way, depleted the ocean bank account, so that the interest, if you will, that an abundant ocean could provide is no longer big enough to feed the mouths that want to eat it. And thats been driven to a large part by bigger and more industrial scale fishing - those have been the real culprits. Really big boats applying very advanced technology in a very short-sighted and very aggressive fishing practice, and the people responsible are both the government managers who should be setting the rules to keep this resource abundant, and, of course, the bigger fleet operators who have been pushing hard for that.</p>
<p>CURWOOD: You say fish is really good for us and we ought to have it, but were eating too much of it. I mean, maybe we should be just giving up on fish.</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: Well, I am of the opposite view. I think that what we have is a very good opportunity to increase the productivity of the ocean by better management, to do so relatively quickly within five or 10 years, if you will stop overfishing, you can rebuild the bank account in the ocean, you can see, therefore, a sustainable level of return each year. In fact, scientific estimates are that if a relatively short list of countries would do a good job of managing their oceans, we could see an improvement on the order of 20 to maybe even 40 percent in the total world catch from the previous peak in the late 1980s and have that available for people to eat forever. Thats what good management could produce and do so well in time to have it available for 2050 - when well have another two Chinas worth of people living on the planet.</p>
<p>Salmon farming in Chile (Photo: Bigstockphoto)</p>
<p>CURWOOD: What are your rules for managing fisheries? I think you have three.</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: Yes. Set and enforce scientific quotas. Protect the nursery habitat, the areas that small fish need to be able to grow up and not be eaten before they get to reproduction age; protect them from being destroyed by fishing gear that drags along the bottom. And lastly, manage the accidental killing of non-target species thats called bycatch. If you will do those three things, you will increase ocean abundance. You will increase spawning stock, and you will have more fish. And typically, you will get that in a five or 10 year period.</p>
<p>CURWOOD: And by the way, hows the United States doing with that vision that you have?</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: We are, Im happy to report, one of the better managed oceans in the world. In 1995, in an act of bipartisanship that used to be possible in our country, President Clinton signed a bill that was sponsored by Senator Stevens, a leading Republican senator from Alaska, which tightened the rules on fishing in American waters. And essentially what it did was, it said to the regulators in Washington, you need to set scientific quotas, you must protect nursery habitat, and you must manage whats called bycatch. In essence, youve got to stop overfishing. Youve got to let the ocean bank account build up. And our oceans are improving. The Pacific in particular has been relatively well-managed. We are the fourth largest ocean country measured by the size of our catch. And we are now able to say, to hold up our heads reasonably high in the world and say, look, were showing you how this can done well, and were managing our fisheries well.</p>
<p>CURWOOD: Talk to me a bit about the state of fish farming, and how much of a solution to the problem it might be to depleted fisheries.</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: Yes, fish farming seems intuitively, doesnt it, like it should be a part of a solution. I mean if youre eating a farmed fish, after all, youre not eating a wild fish. And if wild fisheries need some space to rebuild; lets all go eat farmed fish. Thats an intuitive, but in some cases wrong logic. Heres what you need to know when youre thinking about eating a farmed fish. You need to ask yourself, what did this farmed fish eat? And the answer to that question creates three categories of farmed fish - good, bad or indifferent. The bad category is if the farmed fish that youre eating eats fish, if its a carnivore. And what would be a common example of that that lots of people eat? Salmon. Salmon is a carnivore. It gets fed in its pens by the farmers wild fish that have been ground up into little pellets. Ive been to see them in Chile in these ocean pens, they get fed what looks like dog food, they kind of smell like fish. And in the process, they convert four, five pounds of wild fish into one pound of farmed fish. And so its a reduction activity. Now at the other end of fish farming, there are farmers farming shellfish: mussels, clams, oysters. And this is something about which we are extremely enthusiastic, and people ought to eat as much of those good-tasting things as they can stomach because think about how they grow. They grow by filtering the water. They are eating algae that they are filtering out of the water. They are eating something that we dont want to eat. And even better in some ways, an oyster farmer is that rarest of things in the world, he is a profit-making or she is a profit-making enterprise providing jobs who wants, indeed must have, a clean ocean, and, therefore is an ally in the battle against pollution.</p>
<p>A school of sardines, one of the fishes Andy Sharpless recommends eating more of (Photo: Bigstockphoto)</p>
<p>CURWOOD: So, tell me, as a society, which fish should be eating more of, and which ones should we be eating less of?</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: So wed like to suggest four, or depending on how you count it, five, simple rules. Eat wild; eat smaller species; eat local or domestic; eat all the farmed shellfish I mentioned - oyster, clams, mussels - that you can; and Im sorry to say, youve got to swear off shrimp.</p>
<p>CURWOOD: Shrimp?</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: Yes, its bad news, Im sorry. Theres no way to get a shrimp and feel good about what youre doing for the future. Wild shrimp are caught in a process that produces very high levels of whats called bycatch. And farmed shrimp are farmed in shallow pens typically in tropical countries that are often managed in a very short-sighted way and end up wrecking and contaminating coastal zones. Its not a pleasant picture to go to Belize where Ive been and see ocean coastal zones once the shrimp farmers have been through them.</p>
<p>CURWOOD: Now your book seems to present a bit of a conundrum. On the one hand it seems to be advocating saving fish so we can eat more of them. I mean, how fair is that safe to say?</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: Yes, I think thats a wonderful and provocative summary of my message, and I agree with that. I am saying that. And it does seem kind of counterintuitive. And the reason it does is that ocean fish are the last wild animal that we eat a lot of - all over the world. And because most of what we eat is farmed, we have developed a different relationship to it. But the logic of saving these fish so that we can eat them is no more unfamiliar than the logic one brings to saving money in a bank account or investing in the stock market. We do that because we want the interest, or we want the dividends so that we can spend it. We dont save our money without the idea of someday spending it - or spending the interest and dividends on it. And thats the logic that were bringing to the moment were in on the oceans.</p>
<p>CURWOOD: Andy, what gives you hope? Give me some examples of people who are working to sustainably manage fisheries in the way that you say we should.</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: Well, you can go to the Norwegian cod, which was very badly managed by the Norwegians over 40 years, from the mid-1940s up until 1980s. They finally got around to putting discard bans and the fish came back dramatically in five or 10 years. The New Zealanders had a Rock lobster mismanagement problem, put fishing limits on - again in the 80s - that fishery has rebounded. The Norwegian herring, the US haddock, which we mismanaged for 30, 40 years, from 65 we punished this and drove it down until very low levels in the early 1990s, put fishing limits on, and it has now very strongly rebounded back to almost its original levels as spawning biomass. One of the wonderful things about fish is they are an incredibly powerful and robust part of nature. If we will give them a little bit of room, they will rebound. And you dont have to wait 100 years for the rainforest to grow back. You can in our lifetimes, go back - plan to go back out into the ocean and see that theres more fish out there, that we can raise our catch levels, that we can give people more jobs, and that people can eat a lot of this healthy and wonderful protein.</p>
<p>Andy Sharpless is the CEO of Oceana and author of The Perfect Protein. (Photo: Oceana)</p>
<p>CURWOOD: The end of your book is filled with sustainable seafood recipes. Why did you include this section in your book?</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: Well, you know, we really wanted it to be clear that we believe that people should eat seafood. And so we asked ourselves, how do we make that totally unambiguously clear in the book, that this is a conservationist book that is promoting seafood consumption? Putting recipes in was good for that dimension. Also frankly, if you talk to people about the category called food, you get a lot more attention than if you talk to people about the category called these creatures that live on the planet with us. So we wanted this book to have as big an audience as possible. And so we wanted to make clear to all the people that love food, this is a book that would appeal to them. One of the nice things about this moment, this kind of a foodie moment that we live in is that theres some wind at our back. And part of the message of the book is to encourage people to eat things like sardines that people may not be so familiar eating.</p>
<p>CURWOOD: You know, I have to confess, theres some small fish that I like, but Im not a big fan of anchovies.</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: [LAUGHS]</p>
<p>CURWOOD: Have you got a great anchovy recipe?</p>
<p>The Perfect Protein (Photo: Oceana)</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: There is. Theres a great anchovy recipe in here by Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall who's a British chef. Yes, I encourage people to get the book, Perfect Protein, and go to the anchovy recipe and give it a try.</p>
<p>CURWOOD: Andy Sharpless is the CEO of environmental non-profit Oceana, and author of the new book, The Perfect Protein. Thanks for joining us, Andy.</p>
<p>SHARPLESS: My pleasure.</p>
| false | 3 |
curwood fish long hailed remarkable nutritional value may old enough forced swallow cod liver oil mother told brain food today doctors say switching red meat seafood lower risk heart disease cancer humans andy sharpless ceo marine advocacy organization oceana thinks fondness fish may evolutionary explanation sharpless would stand reason since bodies tuned fish theyre good us must time evolutionary history ate lot fish people speculate maybe one advantages ancestors gave us amongst first primates figure get big buffet seashore curwood seems though weve overdone big buffet though may suited seafood increasingly difficult eat fish sustainably still writing new book perfect protein andy sharpless argues protect healthy food feed growing population manage fisheries better sharpless problem love much shortsighted way depleted ocean bank account interest abundant ocean could provide longer big enough feed mouths want eat thats driven large part bigger industrial scale fishing real culprits really big boats applying advanced technology shortsighted aggressive fishing practice people responsible government managers setting rules keep resource abundant course bigger fleet operators pushing hard curwood say fish really good us ought eating much mean maybe giving fish sharpless well opposite view think good opportunity increase productivity ocean better management relatively quickly within five 10 years stop overfishing rebuild bank account ocean see therefore sustainable level return year fact scientific estimates relatively short list countries would good job managing oceans could see improvement order 20 maybe even 40 percent total world catch previous peak late 1980s available people eat forever thats good management could produce well time available 2050 well another two chinas worth people living planet salmon farming chile photo bigstockphoto curwood rules managing fisheries think three sharpless yes set enforce scientific quotas protect nursery habitat areas small fish need able grow eaten get reproduction age protect destroyed fishing gear drags along bottom lastly manage accidental killing nontarget species thats called bycatch three things increase ocean abundance increase spawning stock fish typically get five 10 year period curwood way hows united states vision sharpless im happy report one better managed oceans world 1995 act bipartisanship used possible country president clinton signed bill sponsored senator stevens leading republican senator alaska tightened rules fishing american waters essentially said regulators washington need set scientific quotas must protect nursery habitat must manage whats called bycatch essence youve got stop overfishing youve got let ocean bank account build oceans improving pacific particular relatively wellmanaged fourth largest ocean country measured size catch able say hold heads reasonably high world say look showing done well managing fisheries well curwood talk bit state fish farming much solution problem might depleted fisheries sharpless yes fish farming seems intuitively doesnt like part solution mean youre eating farmed fish youre eating wild fish wild fisheries need space rebuild lets go eat farmed fish thats intuitive cases wrong logic heres need know youre thinking eating farmed fish need ask farmed fish eat answer question creates three categories farmed fish good bad indifferent bad category farmed fish youre eating eats fish carnivore would common example lots people eat salmon salmon carnivore gets fed pens farmers wild fish ground little pellets ive see chile ocean pens get fed looks like dog food kind smell like fish process convert four five pounds wild fish one pound farmed fish reduction activity end fish farming farmers farming shellfish mussels clams oysters something extremely enthusiastic people ought eat much goodtasting things stomach think grow grow filtering water eating algae filtering water eating something dont want eat even better ways oyster farmer rarest things world profitmaking profitmaking enterprise providing jobs wants indeed must clean ocean therefore ally battle pollution school sardines one fishes andy sharpless recommends eating photo bigstockphoto curwood tell society fish eating ones eating less sharpless wed like suggest four depending count five simple rules eat wild eat smaller species eat local domestic eat farmed shellfish mentioned oyster clams mussels im sorry say youve got swear shrimp curwood shrimp sharpless yes bad news im sorry theres way get shrimp feel good youre future wild shrimp caught process produces high levels whats called bycatch farmed shrimp farmed shallow pens typically tropical countries often managed shortsighted way end wrecking contaminating coastal zones pleasant picture go belize ive see ocean coastal zones shrimp farmers curwood book seems present bit conundrum one hand seems advocating saving fish eat mean fair safe say sharpless yes think thats wonderful provocative summary message agree saying seem kind counterintuitive reason ocean fish last wild animal eat lot world eat farmed developed different relationship logic saving fish eat unfamiliar logic one brings saving money bank account investing stock market want interest want dividends spend dont save money without idea someday spending spending interest dividends thats logic bringing moment oceans curwood andy gives hope give examples people working sustainably manage fisheries way say sharpless well go norwegian cod badly managed norwegians 40 years mid1940s 1980s finally got around putting discard bans fish came back dramatically five 10 years new zealanders rock lobster mismanagement problem put fishing limits 80s fishery rebounded norwegian herring us haddock mismanaged 30 40 years 65 punished drove low levels early 1990s put fishing limits strongly rebounded back almost original levels spawning biomass one wonderful things fish incredibly powerful robust part nature give little bit room rebound dont wait 100 years rainforest grow back lifetimes go back plan go back ocean see theres fish raise catch levels give people jobs people eat lot healthy wonderful protein andy sharpless ceo oceana author perfect protein photo oceana curwood end book filled sustainable seafood recipes include section book sharpless well know really wanted clear believe people eat seafood asked make totally unambiguously clear book conservationist book promoting seafood consumption putting recipes good dimension also frankly talk people category called food get lot attention talk people category called creatures live planet us wanted book big audience possible wanted make clear people love food book would appeal one nice things moment kind foodie moment live theres wind back part message book encourage people eat things like sardines people may familiar eating curwood know confess theres small fish like im big fan anchovies sharpless laughs curwood got great anchovy recipe perfect protein photo oceana sharpless theres great anchovy recipe hugh fearnley whittingstall whos british chef yes encourage people get book perfect protein go anchovy recipe give try curwood andy sharpless ceo environmental nonprofit oceana author new book perfect protein thanks joining us andy sharpless pleasure
| 1,061 |
<p>On a few occasions, when Olga La Luz began doing school walkthroughs as a new area instructional officer, she would see something in classrooms that made her cringe. Or rather, it was what she didn’t see: real learning.</p>
<p>Kids would be writing and rewriting spelling words or filling in worksheets, while the teacher sat at his or her desk, reading or grading papers.</p>
<p>Right then and there, she would pull the teacher aside and, in a quiet, halting voice, ask, “What do you think the students are doing?”</p>
<p>La Luz, a tiny woman who’s barely 5 feet, says teachers and even principals were taken aback by her direct questioning. But she was determined to put a stop to lackadaisical instruction. “I just couldn’t let it continue happening,” she says.</p>
<p>When La Luz drew that line in 2002, many of the schools located in her geographic area, which today stretches from Belmont Cragin to West Town, were in academic trouble. Average pass rates in math and reading for the 22 schools hovered around 30 percent. Almost every student was poor and most of them were Latino or black—demographics that are often linked to low achievement.</p>
<p>By 2006, preliminary scores were considerably higher, with an average of 56 percent of students meeting reading standards, and 26 schools surpassing the 47.5 percent threshold set by the federal law. Before La Luz took over, none of the schools in her area was achieving such high results.</p>
<p>Among the district’s 17 instructional areas for elementary schools, La Luz’s territory, also known as Area 4, has made the most progress. And she has accomplished this growth even as the workload expanded. Last year, she picked up six more schools (now she oversees 28) when the district eliminated another area office to save money.</p>
<p>“Olga La Luz has a very strong instructional team and we have seen some high quality work in that area,” says Chief Education Officer Barbara Eason-Watkins. “They are an example of what it is like to be very passionate and work extremely hard.”</p>
<p>Eason-Watkins and CEO Arne Duncan personally attended the October Area 4 principals meeting to congratulate La Luz and her charges on the work they are doing.</p>
<p>La Luz relies on a few guiding tenets to jumpstart literacy and instruction. She’s a hard-core believer in reading aloud and journal writing and she suspects most classrooms now practice both. She wants classroom libraries to be well-stocked and put to use—daily.</p>
<p>And she demands that principals spend a large part of their days—preferably blocking out the entire morning—focusing on instruction.</p>
<p>Her passion for the work—which has her starting the day at a school early in the morning and goes well into the evening hours—extends to her handpicked management team, many of whom worked with her when she was principal of Chase Elementary.</p>
<p>“That is how I feel and that is what I look for,” she says.</p>
<p>Lisa Jackson, who monitors how schools in Area 4 spend federal Title I funds and other grants, says La Luz is known for backing up principals and teachers, even as she critiques them.</p>
<p>“She is their advocate,” Jackson says.</p>
<p>A personal mission</p>
<p>Taking on the challenge of leading a couple dozen schools was not daunting to La Luz, 58, a former principal who was born in Puerto Rico but grew up in the same community that she now serves. She relates to parents and students in a very personal way.</p>
<p>Parents who have little money, as hers did, care deeply about their children’s education, she says. And as a child, La Luz says she hated going to school. Sitting sedentary in class, listening to teachers lecture, turned her off. And too often, the day was filled with mindless tasks, like writing spelling words 10 times, La Luz recalls.</p>
<p>“I struggled, I struggled, I struggled,” she says, her voice still bearing the lilt of a Spanish-speaker.</p>
<p>Motivated by the desire to not let another child go through such a negative public school experience, La Luz decided to become a teacher. With degrees from Roosevelt and DePaul universities, she taught in elementary and high schools, and worked with children in bilingual and special education programs. Later, as principal of Chase, she led the school off of probation and won a national award from the Child Study Center at Yale University School of Medicine.</p>
<p>As one of the district’s first crop of area instructional officers, La Luz went through a battery of training, but it was up to her to figure out what to do with schools under her charge. Throwing herself headlong into the job, she pledged to visit every classroom in every school once a month. “I almost killed myself,” she says.</p>
<p>Over time, she developed a system to prioritize schools’ needs, where those that needed to make significant improvement would get a lot of attention from the area team, while schools where principals were showing progress were dealt with a hands-off approach.</p>
<p>For example, Stowe Elementary’s reading scores just this year broke through the 50 percent threshold of state standards. Stowe had been on probation so La Luz and her staff were there often over the past three years, insisting on monthly walkthroughs and implementing a new math and reading curriculum, says Principal Charles Kyle.</p>
<p>However, La Luz might go to Chase once every two months. The principal there, Elizabeth Gonzalez, was on the faculty when La Luz was in charge, and she has continued the work La Luz began. If she needs help in a particular area, Gonzalez says, area instructional staff responds.</p>
<p>Staying out of certain schools sends leaders the message that she respects what they are doing. “I have to honor people’s expertise,” she says. “I don’t want to just visit schools to be visiting.”</p>
<p>Knowing what’s important</p>
<p>Still, La Luz tries to go to at least two schools most days, except when the downtown administration calls meetings.</p>
<p>On walkthroughs, La Luz is big on classroom walls, pointing out that teachers should post information that relates to lessons so that students can be reminded and reference them. She also looks for word walls and math walls.</p>
<p>“Last year, our focus was fluency, this year it is vocabulary,” says Schubert Principal Elba Maisonet.</p>
<p>For math, many schools have adopted a program that emphasizes connecting math concepts to the real world. On walkthroughs, La Luz looks for math walls that show numbers and groups of numbers represented in a variety of ways.</p>
<p>Instructional oversight is the lion’s share of an area instructional officer’s responsibilities, but a year ago, the district mandated that they earmark about a third of their time for principal hiring, especially working with local school councils. La Luz says she’s always taken it upon herself to get involved in principal selection. She shows up at LSC meetings and asks probing questions to direct the council’s deliberations.</p>
<p>Last year, for example, council members at one school were leaning toward hiring a principal whose expertise was student discipline. La Luz says she asked LSC members to consider what the school really needed: discipline or higher reading scores?</p>
<p>“I try to get them to think,” she says.</p>
<p>Her goal is to guide LSCs to choose someone who is strong in curriculum and instruction. Once those candidates are hired, she encourages the new principals to block out large chunks of their day to concentrate on what is being taught in classrooms.</p>
<p>Principals should not get tied up with “putting out fires” all day, she says. That is the assistant principal’s job. “I tell them to block out their mornings,” she says. “Don’t take calls or meetings until 11 or 12.”</p>
<p>Connecting the dots</p>
<p>Besides being the principal of principals, La Luz sees her role as a connector, helping to bring parents and community groups into schools to provide support. She nudges principals to partner with social service organizations, universities and health care providers, and encourages staff to make parents feel welcome.</p>
<p>When La Luz was a girl, she says her mom—who didn’t have much formal education or speak English well—never came to her school. “She was intimidated,” La Luz says.</p>
<p>To get parents through the doors, some Area 4 schools have GED and ESL classes. Others, have family literacy nights and classroom newsletters that tell parents what is going on in classes.</p>
<p>Staff also needs to adopt a “parents can” attitude, rather than assume that poor people don’t have the time, energy or commitment to do much to benefit the school, La Luz says. Lack of parent involvement is often used as an excuse for low achievement, she explains.</p>
<p>Recently, parents at Lowell hosted a banquet to raise money for the band program, La Luz recounts. The event had all the staples of an upper-crust fundraiser, like a silent auction, but the things being auctioned were priced so that working families could participate. “I just won’t forget that event,” she says.</p>
<p>While she’s still enthusiastic about things like the event at Lowell, La Luz notes that she is getting tired. She questions how long she can keep up her jam-packed schedule. Five of the district’s AIOs retired this year, and La Luz wonders whether its time for her to do the same.</p>
<p>“I can’t just keep going at this pace,” she says. “I need to slow down.”</p>
<p>Associate Editor Debra Williams contributed to this story.</p>
<p>To contact Sarah Karp, call (312) 673-3882 or e-mail [email protected].</p>
| false | 3 |
occasions olga la luz began school walkthroughs new area instructional officer would see something classrooms made cringe rather didnt see real learning kids would writing rewriting spelling words filling worksheets teacher sat desk reading grading papers right would pull teacher aside quiet halting voice ask think students la luz tiny woman whos barely 5 feet says teachers even principals taken aback direct questioning determined put stop lackadaisical instruction couldnt let continue happening says la luz drew line 2002 many schools located geographic area today stretches belmont cragin west town academic trouble average pass rates math reading 22 schools hovered around 30 percent almost every student poor latino blackdemographics often linked low achievement 2006 preliminary scores considerably higher average 56 percent students meeting reading standards 26 schools surpassing 475 percent threshold set federal law la luz took none schools area achieving high results among districts 17 instructional areas elementary schools la luzs territory also known area 4 made progress accomplished growth even workload expanded last year picked six schools oversees 28 district eliminated another area office save money olga la luz strong instructional team seen high quality work area says chief education officer barbara easonwatkins example like passionate work extremely hard easonwatkins ceo arne duncan personally attended october area 4 principals meeting congratulate la luz charges work la luz relies guiding tenets jumpstart literacy instruction shes hardcore believer reading aloud journal writing suspects classrooms practice wants classroom libraries wellstocked put usedaily demands principals spend large part dayspreferably blocking entire morningfocusing instruction passion workwhich starting day school early morning goes well evening hoursextends handpicked management team many worked principal chase elementary feel look says lisa jackson monitors schools area 4 spend federal title funds grants says la luz known backing principals teachers even critiques advocate jackson says personal mission taking challenge leading couple dozen schools daunting la luz 58 former principal born puerto rico grew community serves relates parents students personal way parents little money care deeply childrens education says child la luz says hated going school sitting sedentary class listening teachers lecture turned often day filled mindless tasks like writing spelling words 10 times la luz recalls struggled struggled struggled says voice still bearing lilt spanishspeaker motivated desire let another child go negative public school experience la luz decided become teacher degrees roosevelt depaul universities taught elementary high schools worked children bilingual special education programs later principal chase led school probation national award child study center yale university school medicine one districts first crop area instructional officers la luz went battery training figure schools charge throwing headlong job pledged visit every classroom every school month almost killed says time developed system prioritize schools needs needed make significant improvement would get lot attention area team schools principals showing progress dealt handsoff approach example stowe elementarys reading scores year broke 50 percent threshold state standards stowe probation la luz staff often past three years insisting monthly walkthroughs implementing new math reading curriculum says principal charles kyle however la luz might go chase every two months principal elizabeth gonzalez faculty la luz charge continued work la luz began needs help particular area gonzalez says area instructional staff responds staying certain schools sends leaders message respects honor peoples expertise says dont want visit schools visiting knowing whats important still la luz tries go least two schools days except downtown administration calls meetings walkthroughs la luz big classroom walls pointing teachers post information relates lessons students reminded reference also looks word walls math walls last year focus fluency year vocabulary says schubert principal elba maisonet math many schools adopted program emphasizes connecting math concepts real world walkthroughs la luz looks math walls show numbers groups numbers represented variety ways instructional oversight lions share area instructional officers responsibilities year ago district mandated earmark third time principal hiring especially working local school councils la luz says shes always taken upon get involved principal selection shows lsc meetings asks probing questions direct councils deliberations last year example council members one school leaning toward hiring principal whose expertise student discipline la luz says asked lsc members consider school really needed discipline higher reading scores try get think says goal guide lscs choose someone strong curriculum instruction candidates hired encourages new principals block large chunks day concentrate taught classrooms principals get tied putting fires day says assistant principals job tell block mornings says dont take calls meetings 11 12 connecting dots besides principal principals la luz sees role connector helping bring parents community groups schools provide support nudges principals partner social service organizations universities health care providers encourages staff make parents feel welcome la luz girl says momwho didnt much formal education speak english wellnever came school intimidated la luz says get parents doors area 4 schools ged esl classes others family literacy nights classroom newsletters tell parents going classes staff also needs adopt parents attitude rather assume poor people dont time energy commitment much benefit school la luz says lack parent involvement often used excuse low achievement explains recently parents lowell hosted banquet raise money band program la luz recounts event staples uppercrust fundraiser like silent auction things auctioned priced working families could participate wont forget event says shes still enthusiastic things like event lowell la luz notes getting tired questions long keep jampacked schedule five districts aios retired year la luz wonders whether time cant keep going pace says need slow associate editor debra williams contributed story contact sarah karp call 312 6733882 email karpcatalystchicagoorg
| 906 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />The political chicken dinner has gone upscale.</p>
<p>In the first half of the year, legislative leaders, political parties and political action committees lured campaign contributors with limousine rides, gourmet meals and swag bags loaded with booze and iPad Minis, a CalWatchdog.com analysis of campaign spending reports has found.</p>
<p>Californians for Jobs and a Strong Economy, a political action committee funded by <a href="http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1275549&amp;view=received" type="external">multi-national corporations and special interest groups</a>, spent heavily in support of Democrat Leticia Perez, a Central Valley state Senate candidate who narrowly lost a July special election. The PAC filled its campaign coffers with checks from the state’s most active special interest groups, including $250,000 from Chevron, $80,000 from the California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, $25,000 from Wal-Mart and $38,000 from PG&amp;E.</p>
<p>But you have to spend money to make money. The committee <a href="http://johnhrabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/French-Laundry-1.png" type="external">attracted its contributors</a> by spending <a href="http://johnhrabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/French-Laundry-2.png" type="external">$73,140 on a fundraising event at French Laundry</a>, Napa Valley’s most exclusive restaurant. The television chef and culinary critic <a href="http://www.improper.com/features/anthony-bourdain/" type="external">Anthony Bourdain</a> considers it the best restaurant in the world. Earlier this year, the Daily Meal named the Napa Valley establishment <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-20/french-laundry-tops-ranking-of-best-restaurants-in-u-s-.html" type="external">“the finest restaurant in the U.S.”</a></p>
<p>“A great meal is a kind of journey that returns you to sources of pleasure you may have forgotten and takes you to places you haven’t been before,” the three-Michelin-starred restaurant explains on its <a href="http://www.frenchlaundry.com/" type="external">website</a>.</p>
<p>Legislative leaders took a more literal kind of journey with their campaign contributors. Democratic Speaker of the Assembly John Perez and Republican Senate leader Bob Huff expensed limousine rentals to their campaign committees, according to semi-annual disclosure reports.</p>
<p>Perez rang up <a href="http://johnhrabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Perez-Limo-Rental.png" type="external">$1,872 in charges to Abe’s Limousine &amp; Tours</a> during a December trip back east for the White House holiday reception. The speaker was accompanied by two unidentified individuals, according to his latest campaign report. The speaker’s office did not respond to CalWatchdog.com’s request for a comment about the trip.</p>
<p>Limo rides were a bipartisan affair. In May, the Senate GOP leader took a dozen contributors out to a San Francisco Giants ballgame to raise funds for his 2016 Assembly bid. Sacramento-based Universal Limousine and Transportation <a href="http://johnhrabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Huff-Limo-Ride.png" type="external">charged $1,448 for the night</a>. “Whether it’s to impress that important business client, or for a wedding or a special night out on the town, our richly appointed stretch limousines are a perfect way to travel worry-free and in style,” Universal Limousine, the <a href="http://www.universallimo.com/our-fleet/limousine/" type="external">company they used, boasts</a> on its website.</p>
<p>Huff’s group rang up an additional $584 in charges once they arrived at AT&amp;T Park. Although profligate with its fundraising, Huff’s 2016 Assembly committee has been frugal with fellow Republicans. The committee hasn’t parted with any of its cash this cycle. It did not report any contributions to any targeted Senate candidates nor has it transferred any funds to the state party.</p>
<p>But while Huff didn’t share his campaign cash with the state party, he shares its taste in limo companies. In April, the California Republican Party <a href="http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1030435&amp;view=expenditures" type="external">accumulated $1,272 in transportation charges</a> with the same company.</p>
<p>Of course, expensive meals and limo rides don’t last. To make sure that the state’s major political donors treasure the memories, campaign committees spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on luxury swag bags that included expensive booze and iPad Minis. None came close to rivaling this year’s Speaker Cup, considered “the jewel of the legislative fundraising circuit.”</p>
<p>Held annually at the swanky Pebble Beach Resort, the Speaker’s Cup helps California Democrats raise more than a million dollars per year from the state’s biggest special interest groups. The event, which is underwritten by AT&amp;T, gives wealthy benefactors quality face time with legislators as they hit the links or relax at the world-renowned 22,000-square-foot spa.</p>
<p>“The Speaker’s Cup is the centerpiece of a corporate lobbying strategy so comprehensive and successful that it has rewritten the special-interest playbook in Sacramento,” the Los Angeles Times <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/22/local/la-me-att-20120422" type="external">wrote in a 2012 profile</a> of the annual event.</p>
<p>The feature item of this year’s swag bag was an iPad Mini, bought and paid for by the event’s lead sponsor, AT&amp;T. The telecommunications giant, which routinely lobbies the legislature, spent just shy of six-figures on 253 iPad Minis as an in-kind contribution for the 2013 Speaker’s Cup. On May 4, the committee reported a <a href="http://johnhrabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ATT-Apple.png" type="external">$99,596.69 expenditure</a> at the San Francisco Apple Store.</p>
<p>It wasn’t the company’s only Speaker’s Cup expense. AT&amp;T also plopped down $4,801 for a VIP reception held at Pebble Beach and left a <a href="http://johnhrabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ATT-Pebble-Beach.png" type="external">$60,000 down payment</a> for next year’s event.</p>
<p>On the same day that AT&amp;T loaded its shopping cart with iPads, Diageo, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diageo" type="external">the world’s largest producer of spirits</a>, <a href="http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1236648&amp;view=expenditures" type="external">donated $29,504.04 worth of alcohol</a> to the California Democratic Party, which organized the 2013 Speaker’s Cup. &#160;The multi-national corporation made additional in-kind contributions during the first half of the year. In total, Diageo donated $76,091 worth of alcohol to the state’s Democrats. The California Republican Party also reported an in-kind contribution of $262 worth of wine, or .34 percent by volume compared to Democrats.</p>
<p>This isn’t the first time that legislators have been caught using campaign funds for luxury items. In 2007, then-Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez charged thousands of dollars in questionable campaign expenses. Among the list of charges <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/05/local/me-nunez5" type="external">reported by the Times</a>: $47,412 in airfare, $8,745 at an exclusive Spanish hotel; $5,149 at a Bordeaux wine seller; $2,562 at Louis Vuitton; and $1,795 at a Parisian restaurant. The Fair Political Practices Commission&#160;later <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/28/local/me-nunez28" type="external">concluded that</a> Nunez had not broken any state laws.</p>
<p>State law bans campaign committees from <a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&amp;group=89001-90000&amp;file=89510-89522" type="external">making expenditures</a> “which confer a substantial personal benefit.” However, the state’s political watchdog has <a href="http://www.fppc.ca.gov/index.php?id=496" type="external">carved out an exception</a> for any activities that have a political, legislative or governmental purpose.</p>
| false | 3 |
political chicken dinner gone upscale first half year legislative leaders political parties political action committees lured campaign contributors limousine rides gourmet meals swag bags loaded booze ipad minis calwatchdogcom analysis campaign spending reports found californians jobs strong economy political action committee funded multinational corporations special interest groups spent heavily support democrat leticia perez central valley state senate candidate narrowly lost july special election pac filled campaign coffers checks states active special interest groups including 250000 chevron 80000 california association hospitals health systems 25000 walmart 38000 pgampe spend money make money committee attracted contributors spending 73140 fundraising event french laundry napa valleys exclusive restaurant television chef culinary critic anthony bourdain considers best restaurant world earlier year daily meal named napa valley establishment finest restaurant us great meal kind journey returns sources pleasure may forgotten takes places havent threemichelinstarred restaurant explains website legislative leaders took literal kind journey campaign contributors democratic speaker assembly john perez republican senate leader bob huff expensed limousine rentals campaign committees according semiannual disclosure reports perez rang 1872 charges abes limousine amp tours december trip back east white house holiday reception speaker accompanied two unidentified individuals according latest campaign report speakers office respond calwatchdogcoms request comment trip limo rides bipartisan affair may senate gop leader took dozen contributors san francisco giants ballgame raise funds 2016 assembly bid sacramentobased universal limousine transportation charged 1448 night whether impress important business client wedding special night town richly appointed stretch limousines perfect way travel worryfree style universal limousine company used boasts website huffs group rang additional 584 charges arrived atampt park although profligate fundraising huffs 2016 assembly committee frugal fellow republicans committee hasnt parted cash cycle report contributions targeted senate candidates transferred funds state party huff didnt share campaign cash state party shares taste limo companies april california republican party accumulated 1272 transportation charges company course expensive meals limo rides dont last make sure states major political donors treasure memories campaign committees spent hundreds thousands dollars luxury swag bags included expensive booze ipad minis none came close rivaling years speaker cup considered jewel legislative fundraising circuit held annually swanky pebble beach resort speakers cup helps california democrats raise million dollars per year states biggest special interest groups event underwritten atampt gives wealthy benefactors quality face time legislators hit links relax worldrenowned 22000squarefoot spa speakers cup centerpiece corporate lobbying strategy comprehensive successful rewritten specialinterest playbook sacramento los angeles times wrote 2012 profile annual event feature item years swag bag ipad mini bought paid events lead sponsor atampt telecommunications giant routinely lobbies legislature spent shy sixfigures 253 ipad minis inkind contribution 2013 speakers cup may 4 committee reported 9959669 expenditure san francisco apple store wasnt companys speakers cup expense atampt also plopped 4801 vip reception held pebble beach left 60000 payment next years event day atampt loaded shopping cart ipads diageo worlds largest producer spirits donated 2950404 worth alcohol california democratic party organized 2013 speakers cup 160the multinational corporation made additional inkind contributions first half year total diageo donated 76091 worth alcohol states democrats california republican party also reported inkind contribution 262 worth wine 34 percent volume compared democrats isnt first time legislators caught using campaign funds luxury items 2007 thenspeaker assembly fabian nunez charged thousands dollars questionable campaign expenses among list charges reported times 47412 airfare 8745 exclusive spanish hotel 5149 bordeaux wine seller 2562 louis vuitton 1795 parisian restaurant fair political practices commission160later concluded nunez broken state laws state law bans campaign committees making expenditures confer substantial personal benefit however states political watchdog carved exception activities political legislative governmental purpose
| 588 |
<p>BOGOTA, Colombia — During his first presidential campaign in 1998, I sat across from Hugo Chavez in a twin-engine Cessna. As we recorded an interview, the candidate tried to gulp down a quick lunch before landing for his next rally.</p>
<p>Suddenly, the plane hit turbulence, his plate flew into the air and food was all over the floor. Unfazed, Chavez waved off the flight attendant, got down on his knees and began sweeping up the mess with his hands.</p>
<p>That was my first encounter with Chavez and it provided a vivid example of why, for journalists, he was the most intriguing Latin American politician of his era.</p>
<p>Chavez would eventually morph into a socialist authoritarian utterly in love with himself. But he retained a genuine man-of-the-people mojo. And in an age of scripted automaton politicians addicted to teleprompters, Chavez was brash and whimsical and forever off-the-cuff.</p>
<p>Who else would flip George W. Bush the rhetorical bird in front of the entire United Nations General Assembly? Speaking in 2006, Chavez called the US president the devil and complained that the dais where Bush had spoken the day before still smelled of sulfur.</p>
<p>“It was vintage Chavez, an outrageous remark leavened with just the right touch of detail (the lingering sulfur!) to make it something more than bombast, cutting through soporific nostrums of diplomatese,” <a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/173212/legacy-hugo-chavez#" type="external">Greg Grandin wrote in The Nation</a>.</p>
<p>Grandiose politicians don’t always make great leaders. But for those of us on the Chavez beat, it was easy to understand the attraction. Rather than another out-of-touch white oligarch, here was a dark-skinned underdog who grew up in a shantytown in western Venezuela. To average folks, they finally had a president who was “one of us.”</p>
<p>Friends and family often asked me about Chavez’s enduring appeal. I would tell them about the man’s charisma and all those petrodollars that allowed him to invest in health, education, nutrition and housing programs and reduce poverty.</p>
<p>But my time reporting on pre-Chavez Venezuela also provided context. Previous government leaders had badly mishandled the economy, ignored the impoverished masses, and were accused of widespread corruption.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/130307/chavezs-last-words-i-dont-want-die" type="external">Chavez's last words: 'Yo no quiero morir, por favor no me dejen morir'</a></p>
<p>Thus, even as Chavez’s transgressions and abuses piled up as his years in power wore on, voters remembered that the presidents who came before him were not exactly tropical versions of Winston Churchill or FDR. They had set the bar low.</p>
<p>Chavez would go on to win four presidential elections thanks, in part, to a laughably inept political opposition that often left us journalists shaking our heads.</p>
<p>Anti-Chavez politicians were slow learners who made one epic blunder after another — like promoting a disastrous oil-workers strike and boycotting legislative elections that turned the National Assembly into a rubber stamp for the president.</p>
<p>Their worst offense came in April 2002 when many supported a coup that briefly ousted Chavez and installed businessman Pedro Carmona as caretaker president. So how did Carmona prove his democratic bona fides? Incredibly, he dissolved the Supreme Court and the National Assembly.</p>
<p>As I wandered the streets of Caracas that day, it became clear that Venezuelans were not going to stand for it. Amid massive protests, the Venezuelan army withdrew its support for Carmona and restored Chavez to the presidency. Carmona, whose government lasted 36 hours, was dubbed “Pedro the Brief.”</p>
<p>Chavez, on the other hand, was always “Hugo the Verbose.”</p>
<p>I remember watching one televised news conference when, in the course of answering a question, he sang a Colombian folk song, talked baseball, discussed his vacation plans and recalled how, after he was first elected, it took him a week to find the keys to the presidential palace.</p>
<p>Chavez was constantly throwing off my schedule. After a long day of reporting I’d arrange to meet some other correspondents for dinner when suddenly Chavez was back on TV launching into another stem-winder. One of his speeches lasted nearly 10 hours.</p>
<p>And you had to pay attention because Chavez was so unpredictable. He might announce plans to nationalize a bank or build a new city. Or he might decide to move the clock forward half an hour, add an eighth star to the Venezuelan flag, or dig up Simon Bolivar’s bones for DNA testing on a hunch that the 19th century independence leader had been assassinated.</p>
<p>On one occasion, a few of my colleagues decided they’d had enough.</p>
<p>During a seemingly endless late-night round-table with Chavez, four reporters got so antsy that, at 2 a.m., they abruptly excused themselves to update their newspaper stories. Still shocked that his audience had walked out on him, Chavez spent a good chunk of his televised appearance the next day recounting the episode and holding up the business cards of the offending reporters to the TV cameras.</p>
<p>Chavez loved to talk but he grew increasingly intolerant when others piped up, especially critical voices in the Venezuelan press.</p>
<p>I work as a part-time consultant for the Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based nonprofit organization, and in that role I spent a lot of time with Venezuelan journalists who spoke of widespread self-censorship. Many no longer reported critical news about the Chavez government for fear of being singled out for punishment or harassment.</p>
<p>During one of my visits to Venezuela last year, an oil pipeline burst near a river in the southern state of Monagas. News accounts followed with testimonies from independent experts and families with children who fell ill after drinking tap water.</p>
<p>Chavez immediately sprang into action.</p>
<p>But rather than investigate potential water contamination or incompetence at the state oil company, Chavez vowed to counter the “media terrorism” threatening the country. Then, his attorney general announced a new federal injunction requiring journalists to base reports on the river’s water quality on information from government experts or risk fines or jail time.</p>
<p>To me, Chavez’s treatment of the media stands out as one of his larger sins. Yet when I return to a Chavez-less Venezuela this weekend, I’m sure I will feel the void.</p>
<p>Chavez was irresistible to editors. One of mine described him as “a temperamental Moon Over Parador Hollywood character.” As such, he brought a lot of attention to South America and kept many a foreign correspondent in business.</p>
<p>In a selfish kind of way, I’m going to miss him.</p>
| false | 3 |
bogota colombia first presidential campaign 1998 sat across hugo chavez twinengine cessna recorded interview candidate tried gulp quick lunch landing next rally suddenly plane hit turbulence plate flew air food floor unfazed chavez waved flight attendant got knees began sweeping mess hands first encounter chavez provided vivid example journalists intriguing latin american politician era chavez would eventually morph socialist authoritarian utterly love retained genuine manofthepeople mojo age scripted automaton politicians addicted teleprompters chavez brash whimsical forever offthecuff else would flip george w bush rhetorical bird front entire united nations general assembly speaking 2006 chavez called us president devil complained dais bush spoken day still smelled sulfur vintage chavez outrageous remark leavened right touch detail lingering sulfur make something bombast cutting soporific nostrums diplomatese greg grandin wrote nation grandiose politicians dont always make great leaders us chavez beat easy understand attraction rather another outoftouch white oligarch darkskinned underdog grew shantytown western venezuela average folks finally president one us friends family often asked chavezs enduring appeal would tell mans charisma petrodollars allowed invest health education nutrition housing programs reduce poverty time reporting prechavez venezuela also provided context previous government leaders badly mishandled economy ignored impoverished masses accused widespread corruption globalpost chavezs last words yo quiero morir por favor dejen morir thus even chavezs transgressions abuses piled years power wore voters remembered presidents came exactly tropical versions winston churchill fdr set bar low chavez would go win four presidential elections thanks part laughably inept political opposition often left us journalists shaking heads antichavez politicians slow learners made one epic blunder another like promoting disastrous oilworkers strike boycotting legislative elections turned national assembly rubber stamp president worst offense came april 2002 many supported coup briefly ousted chavez installed businessman pedro carmona caretaker president carmona prove democratic bona fides incredibly dissolved supreme court national assembly wandered streets caracas day became clear venezuelans going stand amid massive protests venezuelan army withdrew support carmona restored chavez presidency carmona whose government lasted 36 hours dubbed pedro brief chavez hand always hugo verbose remember watching one televised news conference course answering question sang colombian folk song talked baseball discussed vacation plans recalled first elected took week find keys presidential palace chavez constantly throwing schedule long day reporting id arrange meet correspondents dinner suddenly chavez back tv launching another stemwinder one speeches lasted nearly 10 hours pay attention chavez unpredictable might announce plans nationalize bank build new city might decide move clock forward half hour add eighth star venezuelan flag dig simon bolivars bones dna testing hunch 19th century independence leader assassinated one occasion colleagues decided theyd enough seemingly endless latenight roundtable chavez four reporters got antsy 2 abruptly excused update newspaper stories still shocked audience walked chavez spent good chunk televised appearance next day recounting episode holding business cards offending reporters tv cameras chavez loved talk grew increasingly intolerant others piped especially critical voices venezuelan press work parttime consultant committee protect journalists new yorkbased nonprofit organization role spent lot time venezuelan journalists spoke widespread selfcensorship many longer reported critical news chavez government fear singled punishment harassment one visits venezuela last year oil pipeline burst near river southern state monagas news accounts followed testimonies independent experts families children fell ill drinking tap water chavez immediately sprang action rather investigate potential water contamination incompetence state oil company chavez vowed counter media terrorism threatening country attorney general announced new federal injunction requiring journalists base reports rivers water quality information government experts risk fines jail time chavezs treatment media stands one larger sins yet return chavezless venezuela weekend im sure feel void chavez irresistible editors one mine described temperamental moon parador hollywood character brought lot attention south america kept many foreign correspondent business selfish kind way im going miss
| 616 |
<p>Aug. 10, 2012</p>
<p>By Katy Grimes</p>
<p>The California Air Resources Board seems to be on everyone’s list of what not to do in state government. Charged with implementing <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California's_AB_32,_the_%22Global_Warming_Solutions_Act_of_2006%22" type="external">AB 32</a>, the California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, CARB is under increasing scrutiny for operating as a rogue agency, appearing to be accountable to no one.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>All attempts to reel in the agency have failed, including another attempt to audit its operations and finances–thanks to Democratic legislators who clearly are getting marching orders from Assembly and Senate leaders.</p>
<p>A Joint Legislative Audit Committee hearing on Wednesday brought CARB close to accountability with the threat of the six-month state audit. But the committee chairman, Assemblyman Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, surprised everyone when he nixed the plan after having made the pretense that he was on board.</p>
<p>CARB and AB 32</p>
<p>In 2006, the Legislature promised that AB 32 would help clean the environment while still protecting the economy. Supportive legislators promised that utility and gasoline costs would not increase with the implementation of the climate change law.</p>
<p>The opposite has happened, and businesses are now being severely taxed by CARB just for doing business in California. And most business owners are up in arms over CARB’s inability to justify its fees, or even explain where the money is going.</p>
<p>Don’t you trust us?</p>
<p>Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, brought the latest request to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, asking for a top down audit of the Air Resources Board, as well as an audit of Western Climate Initiative, Inc., the corporation formed by CARB in Delaware to conduct and manage the state’s cap and trade program.</p>
<p>All previous requests from legislators and business representatives for financial and operational information from CARB have been met with a wall of silence, or garbage document dumps. CARB’s public hearings have largely been a charade of the open meeting laws, particularly after CARB Chairwoman Mary Nichols abruptly ended the public comments at the July board meeting, shortly after they began.</p>
<p>Out of frustration, and after numerous requests for information from CARB fell on deaf ears, “13 associations representing the regulated parties, small businesses, and taxpayers, filed a Public Records Act request to obtain substantiation for how the initial $57 million, for the program’s first two fiscal years, was spent,” Dutton reported in a March op ed.</p>
<p>“CARB grudgingly released some records at intermittent intervals, but withheld nearly 50,000 pages of documents.&#160; The records released fell far short of providing a clear picture of where those millions went.”</p>
<p>An independent economist was finally brought in to examine CARB’s financial records and reported,&#160;“Only 46 percent of 2008-2009 expenditures and only 36 percent of 2009-2010 expenditures, claimed by CARB were documented,” according to Dutton. “And&#160;only 40 percent of CARB’s claimed AB 32-related costs were documented — with 60 percent remaining unsubstantiated, including expenditures of more than $26 million for salaries and almost $4 million for administrative overhead over a two-year period.”</p>
<p>As a result of the economist’s report, Dutton filed a request with the audit committee hoping to discover:</p>
<p>* If CARB’s cost allocation methods comply with applicable laws;</p>
<p>* Were CARB’s methods for allocating salaries, benefits and operating expenses reasonable, and did they comply with applicable state laws and Department of Finance regulations for accounting for agency expenditures?</p>
<p>*What method did CARB use to determine the $62 million in total required revenue for 2011-2012?</p>
<p>CARB’s corporate tax haven</p>
<p>Operations at WCI Inc., the corporation created by CARB to manage the upcoming cap and trade auctions, have been a mystery. The problem is that&#160; <a href="http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade/wci/agreement.htm" type="external">Western Climate Initiative Inc</a>. was formed in Delaware. &#160; <a href="http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Delaware_Open_Meetings_Law" type="external">Delaware is not subject to California state open meeting</a>&#160;or sunshine laws, leaving many questioning why CARB opted for such secrecy in a well-known tax haven state. The only reason to register the corporation in Delaware is the lack of public or legislative scrutiny on any of the meetings they may have, or actions they may take—despite that they are operating solely on behalf of a state agency.</p>
<p>When it became apparent that CARB’s shell game was nearly up, Democrats pulled a shiny new shell&#160;out of their bag of tricks.</p>
<p>Despite legislative and public outrage over the shroud of secrecy at&#160; <a href="http://www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm" type="external">CARB</a>, Assembly Speaker John Perez is said to have crafted the language for the June budget trailer bill, which exempted WCI Inc. from California’s open meeting laws.</p>
<p>The word in the halls of the Capitol is that Perez also convinced Lara to kill Dutton’s audit request on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Government Code 11120, the <a href="http://oag.ca.gov/open-meetings" type="external">Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act</a>, was explicitly exempted in the language of June budget trailer bill,&#160; <a href="http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/SB_1018/20112012/" type="external">SB 1018</a>, a last minute gut-and-amend bill.</p>
<p>Buried in&#160; <a href="http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/SB_1018/20112012/" type="external">SB 1018</a>&#160;was only one line which very&#160;specifically&#160; <a href="http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/07/14/california-air-resources-board-cap-and-trade-program-circumvents-state-open-meeting-laws-with-a-moonbeam-assist" type="external">exempted CARB from open meeting rules</a>&#160;in upcoming cap-and-trade auctions, allowing CARB’s WCI Inc. to manage carbon trading auctions without any public scrutiny.</p>
<p>But at Wednesday’s hearing, Nichols cavalierly assured committee members that there would be access to WCI Inc. records. Nichols was short tempered at the hearing, and prickly with legislators’ questions about the operations and finances of her agency. “Because the project is controversial, people want to see more,” Nichols said about the latest attempt to acquire information about CARB and WCI Inc.</p>
<p>Dutton said that he had been on the Budget Committee for six years, and only found out about the existence of WCI Inc. by chance from another colleague in passing. “Transparency and credibility is not there,” Dutton said about the agency.</p>
<p>The outrage comes from the sole purpose of&#160; <a href="http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade/wci/agreement.htm" type="external">WCI Inc</a>. — to impose hidden taxes on energy customers, as well as large and small businesses, without accountability or public knowledge.</p>
<p>Once California legislators, businesses and the AB 32 Implementation Group started publicly grilling the California Air Resources Board about how and why WCI Inc. was formed and registered in Delaware, employees at CARB really clammed up.</p>
<p>CARB claims that it created the&#160; <a href="http://www.arb.ca.gov/lispub/rss/displaypost.php?pno=5613" type="external">WCI Inc.</a>&#160;“to perform administrative and technical services to support the carbon trading market, including market monitoring of allowance auctions, and market trading of compliance instruments.” But they’ve never explained why it was&#160;registered as a Delaware corporation, and not registered instead in California, just as the businesses CARB regulates are.</p>
<p>On the WCI Board of Directors are Matt Rodriquez, the newly appointed secretary for the California Environmental Protection Agency; James Goldstene, CARB Chairman and CEO; and the equivalent officials for the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Quebec. No other American states are involved.</p>
<p>When asked at a recent legislative hearing why&#160; <a href="http://www.wci-inc.org/" type="external">WCI</a>&#160;was registered in Delaware and not in California, CARB Deputy Director Richard Corey didn’t have a valid answer and stammered, “WCI is an established … it’s a program to link with others.” After hemming and hawing, Corey then offered, “Many California companies are incorporated in Delaware, like Chevron and Disney. And the Delaware incorporation law is taught in law schools around the country. It was on the advice of counsel.”</p>
<p>California has open meeting laws and open hearing regulations. The money passing through WCI Inc. is public funds — unlike Chevron and Disney’s funds, which are private.</p>
<p>But the committee chairman, a Democrat, would not push Corey to provide a satisfactory answer.</p>
<p>The damning proof that there is something unsavory with registering WCI Inc. in Delaware is the sneaky, last-minute budget bill, <a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201120120SB1018&amp;search_keywords=" type="external">SB 1018</a>, which claimed to establish transparency in establishment of non-governmental agencies, but then exempted WCI Inc.</p>
<p>CARB officials finally realized that they had a big problem, and must have commissioned help from Democrats. Because if any members of the California Air Resources Board sits on the WCI Inc.&#160;Board of Directors, they must comply with California’s open meeting laws.</p>
<p>With all of these shenanigans coming from a public agency, many legislators have had enough of the rogue agency.&#160;The audit request comes after many lawmakers have made requests to CARB for information about the Cap and Trade program, as well as how CARB has calculated what fees to charge companies they deem polluters.</p>
<p>According to legislators and many trade and business associations representing the regulated industries, CARB has steadfastly and stubbornly refused to release sufficient documentation to justify&#160;the fee based program, despite a 2009 request under the California Public Records Act to&#160;release records that would substantiate how $57 million in special funds during the first two&#160;fiscal years was spent.</p>
<p>After being sued under the Public Records Act, CARB finally&#160;released some records, but continued to withhold nearly 50,000 pages of documents.</p>
<p>The audit committee killed the request to audit CARB, surprising many, and killing yet another chance to shine some light onto the dark, unaccountable state agency. “I am content with the transparency,” Lara said at the end of the hearing, “particularly since SB 1018 was passed,” he added.</p>
<p>Legislators, businesses, industry associations and voters still have so many questions about the Cap and Trade program, its implementation and the fees charged. These people want to know where the money is going. And they still are seeking information about the Delaware corporation, WCI Inc.. Given that AB 32 was passed and signed into law in 2006, it is apparent that CARB has not adequately ever answered lawmakers or the public.</p>
| false | 3 |
aug 10 2012 katy grimes california air resources board seems everyones list state government charged implementing ab 32 californias global warming solutions act 2006 carb increasing scrutiny operating rogue agency appearing accountable one attempts reel agency failed including another attempt audit operations financesthanks democratic legislators clearly getting marching orders assembly senate leaders joint legislative audit committee hearing wednesday brought carb close accountability threat sixmonth state audit committee chairman assemblyman ricardo lara dbell gardens surprised everyone nixed plan made pretense board carb ab 32 2006 legislature promised ab 32 would help clean environment still protecting economy supportive legislators promised utility gasoline costs would increase implementation climate change law opposite happened businesses severely taxed carb business california business owners arms carbs inability justify fees even explain money going dont trust us sen bob dutton rrancho cucamonga brought latest request joint legislative audit committee asking top audit air resources board well audit western climate initiative inc corporation formed carb delaware conduct manage states cap trade program previous requests legislators business representatives financial operational information carb met wall silence garbage document dumps carbs public hearings largely charade open meeting laws particularly carb chairwoman mary nichols abruptly ended public comments july board meeting shortly began frustration numerous requests information carb fell deaf ears 13 associations representing regulated parties small businesses taxpayers filed public records act request obtain substantiation initial 57 million programs first two fiscal years spent dutton reported march op ed carb grudgingly released records intermittent intervals withheld nearly 50000 pages documents160 records released fell far short providing clear picture millions went independent economist finally brought examine carbs financial records reported160only 46 percent 20082009 expenditures 36 percent 20092010 expenditures claimed carb documented according dutton and160only 40 percent carbs claimed ab 32related costs documented 60 percent remaining unsubstantiated including expenditures 26 million salaries almost 4 million administrative overhead twoyear period result economists report dutton filed request audit committee hoping discover carbs cost allocation methods comply applicable laws carbs methods allocating salaries benefits operating expenses reasonable comply applicable state laws department finance regulations accounting agency expenditures method carb use determine 62 million total required revenue 20112012 carbs corporate tax operations wci inc corporation created carb manage upcoming cap trade auctions mystery problem that160 western climate initiative inc formed delaware 160 delaware subject california state open meeting160or sunshine laws leaving many questioning carb opted secrecy wellknown tax state reason register corporation delaware lack public legislative scrutiny meetings may actions may takedespite operating solely behalf state agency became apparent carbs shell game nearly democrats pulled shiny new shell160out bag tricks despite legislative public outrage shroud secrecy at160 carb assembly speaker john perez said crafted language june budget trailer bill exempted wci inc californias open meeting laws word halls capitol perez also convinced lara kill duttons audit request wednesday government code 11120 bagleykeene open meeting act explicitly exempted language june budget trailer bill160 sb 1018 last minute gutandamend bill buried in160 sb 1018160was one line very160specifically160 exempted carb open meeting rules160in upcoming capandtrade auctions allowing carbs wci inc manage carbon trading auctions without public scrutiny wednesdays hearing nichols cavalierly assured committee members would access wci inc records nichols short tempered hearing prickly legislators questions operations finances agency project controversial people want see nichols said latest attempt acquire information carb wci inc dutton said budget committee six years found existence wci inc chance another colleague passing transparency credibility dutton said agency outrage comes sole purpose of160 wci inc impose hidden taxes energy customers well large small businesses without accountability public knowledge california legislators businesses ab 32 implementation group started publicly grilling california air resources board wci inc formed registered delaware employees carb really clammed carb claims created the160 wci inc160to perform administrative technical services support carbon trading market including market monitoring allowance auctions market trading compliance instruments theyve never explained was160registered delaware corporation registered instead california businesses carb regulates wci board directors matt rodriquez newly appointed secretary california environmental protection agency james goldstene carb chairman ceo equivalent officials canadian provinces british columbia quebec american states involved asked recent legislative hearing why160 wci160was registered delaware california carb deputy director richard corey didnt valid answer stammered wci established program link others hemming hawing corey offered many california companies incorporated delaware like chevron disney delaware incorporation law taught law schools around country advice counsel california open meeting laws open hearing regulations money passing wci inc public funds unlike chevron disneys funds private committee chairman democrat would push corey provide satisfactory answer damning proof something unsavory registering wci inc delaware sneaky lastminute budget bill sb 1018 claimed establish transparency establishment nongovernmental agencies exempted wci inc carb officials finally realized big problem must commissioned help democrats members california air resources board sits wci inc160board directors must comply californias open meeting laws shenanigans coming public agency many legislators enough rogue agency160the audit request comes many lawmakers made requests carb information cap trade program well carb calculated fees charge companies deem polluters according legislators many trade business associations representing regulated industries carb steadfastly stubbornly refused release sufficient documentation justify160the fee based program despite 2009 request california public records act to160release records would substantiate 57 million special funds first two160fiscal years spent sued public records act carb finally160released records continued withhold nearly 50000 pages documents audit committee killed request audit carb surprising many killing yet another chance shine light onto dark unaccountable state agency content transparency lara said end hearing particularly since sb 1018 passed added legislators businesses industry associations voters still many questions cap trade program implementation fees charged people want know money going still seeking information delaware corporation wci inc given ab 32 passed signed law 2006 apparent carb adequately ever answered lawmakers public
| 938 |
<p>Editor's note: 7 Deadly Stories is a GlobalPost series on the main drivers of the global economy, all of which are facing severe challenges at once. Will the U.S. economy relapse? Is Europe finished? Will China, Inc. crash? Can Japan recover from disaster? How will the Middle East emerge from the ashes? How did the world become awash in debt? What is the true cost of climate change? These are the stories that are pushing the world economy, once again, to the brink.</p>
<p>LONDON - Euro Crisis? What euro crisis? That's so last week. The American debt ceiling kerfuffle - now that's a crisis.</p>
<p>That's the attitude around Europe at the moment, following yet another deal last week to postpone Greece's inevitable bankruptcy. Not even the declaration by rating agency Moody's that Greece was almost certain to default, nor the continued rise of Spanish and Italian interest rates has shaken the continent's confidence.</p>
<p>Long time observers of the euro zone understand that brinkmanship - and then a last minute agreement forged by France and Germany - is the way things get done in the world's largest trading bloc.</p>
<p>Which isn't to say that there isn't a lot of headline inducing sturm und drang before France and Germany's leaders put their heads together at a midnight meeting. And that drama is likely to continue, given the question that persists:&#160;Will the euro survive?</p>
<p>Of course&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/110614/roubini-predicts-euro-zone-breakup" type="external">it won't, Nouriel Roubini argued back in June</a>, when Athens was on fire as people protested the harsh austerity package necessary to secure a bail-out. The zone, he wrote, is an artificial construct that simply doesn't work, given the incompatibilities between slow-growth members like Greece and dynamic economies like Germany.&#160;</p>
<p>More from Seven Deadly Stories: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/business-tech/110729/7-deadly-stories-can-japan-recover-economy-inflation%20" type="external">Can the Japanese economy recover?</a></p>
<p>Of course it will, says Stuart Thomson, chief economist of Ignis Asset Management who also writes a daily blog.</p>
<p>Thomson says the main reason is simple. "The euro will survive because none of its members could go back to their original currency, except Germany." There are 17 countries in the euro zone, in Thomson's view, all of their economies - except Germany's - are too weak to support a national currency with the global economy showing little sign of growth.</p>
<p>Thomson is not a euro-hater. The euro's original purpose was to eliminate the expense of currency exchange rates inside the European Union. The cost to businesses of holding so many different currencies that rose and fell rapidly was enormous. Initially the euro was a success and the euro zone countries grew rapidly. But it took the global crash of 2008 to reveal a flaw, according to Thomson.</p>
<p>"In eliminating currency volatility it (the euro) created an environment for interest rate volatility. It's less of a drag on economies than currency rates but nevertheless is not helpful."</p>
<p>The flaw in the euro's construction, available for all to see from the very beginning, is that it is a monetary union, not a political one. Fiscal policy is still set by individual member states. "To eliminate the debts of Euroland," Thomson points out, "you would need to eliminate the national parliaments of euro members."</p>
<p>Europe will tiptoe towards issuing its own bonds, but until then euro members still have to raise financing individually from the bond markets. Those markets can be cruel, operating in computer-powered nano-seconds of snap judgments.</p>
<p>The amount of interest a government has to pay on its bonds can be driven instantaneously, while it can take a couple of hours for the same country's prime minister and treasury secretary to meet and agree on a statement to try and calm the markets. And it can take a weeks before an emergency summit can be arranged with euro zone leaders to work out a solution to an individual member's debt problems, by which time a national economy can be wrecked for years.</p>
<p>One crisis leads to another and then to another as the euro zone is currently constructed. But until the black swan appears, most analysts here believe that the politicians will muddle through.</p>
<p>More from Seven Deadly Stories: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/business-tech/110801/7-deadly-stories-the-cost-climate-change-global-economy" type="external">The global cost of climate change</a></p>
<p>The big problem for the euro's survival is the same as for every country in the world: the lack of economic growth worldwide.</p>
<p>China has become Godot, with every weak economy in the world waiting for it to invest freight loads of greenbacks on within their borders. That is not a strategy for growth. But it seems to be the only one around at the moment. Newspapers around Europe are filled with speculation about Chinese interest in their economies.</p>
<p>For instance, the Greek newspaper E Kathimerini last weekend quoted China's ambassador Luo Linquan, "We believe that the so-called difficulty that Greece is facing today is temporary," he said. "I am glad that an increasing amount of Chinese companies are expressing an interest in working with our Greek friends."</p>
<p>The China Daily gave a Europe-wide credence to the ambassador's remarks. It says, "China has purchased more euro-nominated assets, rather than investing in U.S. treasury bonds." This underscores an important point. The immediate concern for Euroland and those E.U. countries like Britain that are not part of the euro: the crisis in America.</p>
<p />
<p>Vince Cable, Britain's business secretary told the BBC last weekend, "The biggest threat to the world financial system comes from a few right-wing nutters in the American Congress rather than the euro-zone."</p>
<p>The euro zone is as likely to survive as any other economy in these difficult times, provided Washington's rituals of brinkmanship reach their usual climax: a last-minute deal that doesn't quite solve the problem but calms the markets.</p>
<p>The United States of America and the not-yet United States of Europe still have a lot in common.</p>
<p>More from Seven Deadly Stories: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/business-tech/110729/7-deadly-stories-us-economy-debt-ceiling-house-senate" type="external">The US economic engine sputters</a></p>
| false | 3 |
editors note 7 deadly stories globalpost series main drivers global economy facing severe challenges us economy relapse europe finished china inc crash japan recover disaster middle east emerge ashes world become awash debt true cost climate change stories pushing world economy brink london euro crisis euro crisis thats last week american debt ceiling kerfuffle thats crisis thats attitude around europe moment following yet another deal last week postpone greeces inevitable bankruptcy even declaration rating agency moodys greece almost certain default continued rise spanish italian interest rates shaken continents confidence long time observers euro zone understand brinkmanship last minute agreement forged france germany way things get done worlds largest trading bloc isnt say isnt lot headline inducing sturm und drang france germanys leaders put heads together midnight meeting drama likely continue given question persists160will euro survive course160 wont nouriel roubini argued back june athens fire people protested harsh austerity package necessary secure bailout zone wrote artificial construct simply doesnt work given incompatibilities slowgrowth members like greece dynamic economies like germany160 seven deadly stories japanese economy recover course says stuart thomson chief economist ignis asset management also writes daily blog thomson says main reason simple euro survive none members could go back original currency except germany 17 countries euro zone thomsons view economies except germanys weak support national currency global economy showing little sign growth thomson eurohater euros original purpose eliminate expense currency exchange rates inside european union cost businesses holding many different currencies rose fell rapidly enormous initially euro success euro zone countries grew rapidly took global crash 2008 reveal flaw according thomson eliminating currency volatility euro created environment interest rate volatility less drag economies currency rates nevertheless helpful flaw euros construction available see beginning monetary union political one fiscal policy still set individual member states eliminate debts euroland thomson points would need eliminate national parliaments euro members europe tiptoe towards issuing bonds euro members still raise financing individually bond markets markets cruel operating computerpowered nanoseconds snap judgments amount interest government pay bonds driven instantaneously take couple hours countrys prime minister treasury secretary meet agree statement try calm markets take weeks emergency summit arranged euro zone leaders work solution individual members debt problems time national economy wrecked years one crisis leads another another euro zone currently constructed black swan appears analysts believe politicians muddle seven deadly stories global cost climate change big problem euros survival every country world lack economic growth worldwide china become godot every weak economy world waiting invest freight loads greenbacks within borders strategy growth seems one around moment newspapers around europe filled speculation chinese interest economies instance greek newspaper e kathimerini last weekend quoted chinas ambassador luo linquan believe socalled difficulty greece facing today temporary said glad increasing amount chinese companies expressing interest working greek friends china daily gave europewide credence ambassadors remarks says china purchased euronominated assets rather investing us treasury bonds underscores important point immediate concern euroland eu countries like britain part euro crisis america vince cable britains business secretary told bbc last weekend biggest threat world financial system comes rightwing nutters american congress rather eurozone euro zone likely survive economy difficult times provided washingtons rituals brinkmanship reach usual climax lastminute deal doesnt quite solve problem calms markets united states america notyet united states europe still lot common seven deadly stories us economic engine sputters
| 550 |
<p>Two months ago Jonathan Cordell of Jacksonville, Fla., had never heard of Poplar Springs Baptist Church, the church of Slovakian heritage in the Richmond area.</p>
<p>Interested in family history, he discovered the baptismal certificate of his great-grandfather, Martyn Gregor. In December 1911 Gregor became the first person baptized within the little Slovak community on Charles City Road.&#160; The officiating minister was Andrew Slabey of First Slovak Baptist Church in Philadelphia. He had been making the journey by train to preach and minister to the group. The Richmond church would not be formed for two more years, but already they had a baptism.</p>
<p />
<p>Cordell searched the Internet to discover more. He learned that Poplar Springs was celebrating its centennial over the Labor Day weekend. He and his wife, Charity, and his mother, Joan Gregor Cordell, traveled from Florida to a place they had not even known existed to be with a congregation with whom they had only distant connections. They were strangers among strangers.</p>
<p>But they must have left Richmond thinking they had spent a weekend finding home. Everyone present at Poplar Springs for the great anniversary was “put to home.” People extended the right hand of fellowship, exchanged information and engaged the visitors into the community. Of course, the Cordells wanted to drive around the surrounding farm country and see where Martyn Gregor and the other Slovakian immigrants had settled.</p>
<p>In 1910 three years before the constituting of a church, three families of Czechoslovakian extraction came from Pennsylvania to Virginia and established homes on farms in close proximity. They were about a mile from the Poplar Springs railroad station, which much later, became the name of the community. Maybe they already had a connection with the Slovak church of Philadelphia and Pastor Slabey.&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>These first families frequently gathered for worship in their homes. George Ukrop, head of one of the families, wrote Slabey the following poignant message: “We are sorry to say that we have no brother who could explain to us God’s Word. We hope, that if it is God’s will, that you will come to visit us.”</p>
<p>These original families still spoke and wrote Slovakian despite settling among English-speaking people.&#160;</p>
<p>In May 1911, Slabey made arrangements to come once a month to hold services. From the beginning the Virginia Baptist Mission Board took an interest in the new work, covering Slabey’s travel expenses. In January 1912 the little band of believers organized themselves as a mission of the Philadelphia church. They elected officers: George Ukrop was the first deacon, Stephen Ukrop was clerk, Martyn Gregor was treasurer and Anna Chudy was the first Sunday school teacher.&#160;</p>
<p>The original families donated land and a little church house was built and dedicated in November 1914. Valued at $600, it was a one-room building which in time was improved with a vestibule and an addition for Sunday school.&#160; The Mission Board continued to grant monetary support until 1952 when the church declared itself self-sufficient. It was an investment which paid great dividends.</p>
<p>In the early years the congregation was small, yet in 1921 it hosted the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of the U.S.A. and Canada and has remained affiliated with that national body. From its inception, the Slovak church was bathed in prayer. There was a long-standing custom in the early years to hold prayer meetings before Sunday school and worship.</p>
<p>During the anniversary service, Brent S. Holder evoked thoughts of home by reading an old letter written by his great-grandmother, Anna Fuska Ukrop: “My dear children …. God’s protection and God’s blessing is being given by your mother. Having given to the Lord God always I am not leaving you any earthly blessings ….”</p>
<p>Yet the old woman offered the best gifts in her advice: “Serve Him with all your heart. Pray. Read God’s Holy Bible every day. This is the command of your mother.”</p>
<p />
<p>Holder shared that as an 18-year-old she had left the old country to meet her husband in America. He said:&#160; “[She] was going out in faith to look for something better and raised her family here and at age 80 left this message for her family. She thought of eternal wealth. She left the most valuable thing she had that she knew her children would need to get by in life.”</p>
<p>In 1952 the church built a substantial brick house of worship, destroyed by arson in 2004. Truly the glory of the present magnificent building and the state-of-the-art Christian life center exceed anything beyond the founders’ imaginations.&#160;</p>
<p>In the anniversary service, Bill Korman Jr., a dedicated lay member of the church, shared personal remembrances. He believed that the original families thought eastern Henrico County was “paradise” and there they created a community rooted in faith and characterized by love for neighbor. They also practiced a work ethic characteristic of first-generation Americans. He shared that he “came forward” during a revival held in 1954 when 11 were baptized. He asked for a show of hands of all those who had “come to know the Lord” at Poplar Springs and many hands were in the air.&#160;</p>
<p>Another long-standing tradition has been churchwide picnics. On Labor Day, the day after the church’s grand anniversary, everyone met at the Ukrop family farm hard by the church. Poplar Springs is known for a generous spirit. For 30 or more years it has hosted an annual picnic for all the pastors and their families within the Dover Baptist Association.</p>
<p>The home folks who gathered for this year’s picnic were welcomed by Robert S. “Bobby” Ukrop, a well-known local businessman. He remembered those who were not present, including his own late parents, Joe and Jacquelin, and Margie Ukrop, who served 50 years in the church nursery and died at age 100 in the church’s centennial year. He mentioned his aunt, Anne Valack, also at the century mark, who was unable to attend.&#160;</p>
<p>Bobby Ukrop also recognized the youth who were present, calling them the future of the church. He urged them to capture the spirit of the founders and exemplify the same “tradition of over-achieving, a can-do spirit and characteristic work ethic” of their spiritual ancestors.</p>
<p>He hoped they are finding home at Poplar Springs.</p>
<p>Fred Anderson ( <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>) is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies.</p>
| false | 3 |
two months ago jonathan cordell jacksonville fla never heard poplar springs baptist church church slovakian heritage richmond area interested family history discovered baptismal certificate greatgrandfather martyn gregor december 1911 gregor became first person baptized within little slovak community charles city road160 officiating minister andrew slabey first slovak baptist church philadelphia making journey train preach minister group richmond church would formed two years already baptism cordell searched internet discover learned poplar springs celebrating centennial labor day weekend wife charity mother joan gregor cordell traveled florida place even known existed congregation distant connections strangers among strangers must left richmond thinking spent weekend finding home everyone present poplar springs great anniversary put home people extended right hand fellowship exchanged information engaged visitors community course cordells wanted drive around surrounding farm country see martyn gregor slovakian immigrants settled 1910 three years constituting church three families czechoslovakian extraction came pennsylvania virginia established homes farms close proximity mile poplar springs railroad station much later became name community maybe already connection slovak church philadelphia pastor slabey160 first families frequently gathered worship homes george ukrop head one families wrote slabey following poignant message sorry say brother could explain us gods word hope gods come visit us original families still spoke wrote slovakian despite settling among englishspeaking people160 may 1911 slabey made arrangements come month hold services beginning virginia baptist mission board took interest new work covering slabeys travel expenses january 1912 little band believers organized mission philadelphia church elected officers george ukrop first deacon stephen ukrop clerk martyn gregor treasurer anna chudy first sunday school teacher160 original families donated land little church house built dedicated november 1914 valued 600 oneroom building time improved vestibule addition sunday school160 mission board continued grant monetary support 1952 church declared selfsufficient investment paid great dividends early years congregation small yet 1921 hosted czechoslovak baptist convention usa canada remained affiliated national body inception slovak church bathed prayer longstanding custom early years hold prayer meetings sunday school worship anniversary service brent holder evoked thoughts home reading old letter written greatgrandmother anna fuska ukrop dear children gods protection gods blessing given mother given lord god always leaving earthly blessings yet old woman offered best gifts advice serve heart pray read gods holy bible every day command mother holder shared 18yearold left old country meet husband america said160 going faith look something better raised family age 80 left message family thought eternal wealth left valuable thing knew children would need get life 1952 church built substantial brick house worship destroyed arson 2004 truly glory present magnificent building stateoftheart christian life center exceed anything beyond founders imaginations160 anniversary service bill korman jr dedicated lay member church shared personal remembrances believed original families thought eastern henrico county paradise created community rooted faith characterized love neighbor also practiced work ethic characteristic firstgeneration americans shared came forward revival held 1954 11 baptized asked show hands come know lord poplar springs many hands air160 another longstanding tradition churchwide picnics labor day day churchs grand anniversary everyone met ukrop family farm hard church poplar springs known generous spirit 30 years hosted annual picnic pastors families within dover baptist association home folks gathered years picnic welcomed robert bobby ukrop wellknown local businessman remembered present including late parents joe jacquelin margie ukrop served 50 years church nursery died age 100 churchs centennial year mentioned aunt anne valack also century mark unable attend160 bobby ukrop also recognized youth present calling future church urged capture spirit founders exemplify tradition overachieving cando spirit characteristic work ethic spiritual ancestors hoped finding home poplar springs fred anderson fredandersonvbmborg executive director virginia baptist historical society center baptist heritage studies
| 599 |
<p>In the church I grew up in, we used to sing with great fervor: Lord send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power! I never was quite sure what that song was about. I suspect it had more to do with the old-time gospel than with Pentecostal power. But one thing was clear: We were Baptists, not Pentecostals. We had Jesus. They had the Holy Spirit.</p>
<p>Some of us Baptists were probably not too unlike the disciples Paul met in Ephesus, who replied when he asked them if they had received the Spirit, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). Our suspicion suggests that we didn’t really grasp that a Trinitarian understanding of God meant that God is Father, Son and Spirit.</p>
<p />
<p>But truth be told, the real division between Baptists and Pentecostals back then was more about class than theology: We Baptists proudly viewed ourselves as upwardly mobile, and we perceived Pentecostals as folks from the other side of the tracks.</p>
<p>When the Azusa Street revival broke out in Los Angeles in the spring of 1906, one local Baptist pastor denounced it as “a disgusting amalgamation of voudou superstition and Caucasian insanity.” Joseph Smale, pastor of First Baptist Church in Los Angeles, was one of the few Baptist participants. Failing to persuade the congregation to receive the Pentecostal revival, he was forced to resign.</p>
<p>Waves of Azusa reverberated across the country as far away as eastern North Carolina, where the preaching of Gaston Barnabas Cashwell led to the formation of the Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church.</p>
<p>But on the whole the Pentecostal revival had little influence among white Baptists in the South. Among black Baptists it was a different story. Charles Harrison Mason led a movement in Mississippi, Arkansas and western Tennessee to break with the Baptists and form the Church of God in Christ. Large numbers of African Americans across the South left the Baptists to join Pentecostal groups like the United Holy Church and the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas.</p>
<p>Ripples from subsequent waves of the Holy Spirit continued to be felt in Baptist life. The charismatic movement of the 1960s and 1970s resulted in both an increased awareness and a lingering wariness of the Holy Spirit among Baptists.</p>
<p>At present churches are struggling to come to terms with the so-called third wave of the Spirit that is introducing new forms of praise and worship into established patterns of Baptist experience. The old suspicion of Pentecostalism has dissipated, though it has not altogether disappeared. In 2006 the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention approved a policy excluding candidates who speak in tongues or have a private prayer language from appointment as missionaries. In response some Baptists in the United States have formed Pentecostal enclaves within their denomination, like Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries (formerly the American Baptist Charismatic Fellowship) or the Fullness movement among Southern Baptists. Others have founded new denominations like the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship.</p>
<p>The Pentecostal waves have also affected the global Baptist family, and with each successive wave comes a new controversy. In some countries like Argentina and Brazil there are two separate Baptist denominations: one charismatic and another non-charismatic. In the post Soviet era, Baptists and Pentecostals, who were once forced together into a common denominational body, have split again into separate unions, though they continue to live out the struggles and tensions of their history of strained relationships.</p>
<p>But the truth of the matter is that Baptists and Pentecostals share much in common. One might even argue that for all practical purposes Pentecostals are simply a branch of Baptists with a foreign language requirement. Like Baptists, Pentecostals practice a lived theology of born again conversionism, believers’ baptism by immersion and world missions and evangelization. Even the historic division on the gifts of the Spirit as the line between Baptists and Pentecostals doesn’t hold anymore. The Assemblies of God, which defines itself as a denomination of Christians who are baptized in the Spirit and speak in tongues, reports that only half of its members say they speak in tongues. And more and more the theology and worship of Baptists is being Pentecostalized. We’re not all Bapticostals, but the boundaries between us that once were so solid have become much more permeable.</p>
<p>Members of the Baptist World Alliance and the Pentecostal World Fellowship will meet this coming August in Quito, Ecuador, for a series of ecumenical conversations to begin asking what it may mean for Baptists and Pentecostals to walk together in step with the Holy Spirit. So why should Baptists and Pentecostals talk to each other? What can we learn from one another?</p>
<p>I can’t speak for Pentecostals, but some of us Baptists are so Jesus-centered in our theology and worship that we hardly know what to make of the Holy Spirit. If the Pentecostals can help us to get more Spirit-focused and, as a consequence, more Trinitarian, then it is would be well worth the time and effort. And given the growing number of Pentecostal, Charismatic and Renewalist Christians worldwide, these conversations are crucial for the unity of the Church (John 17:21) and greater participation in the mission of God (Matthew 28:19-20).</p>
<p>In this Pentecost season, pray Veni, Sancte Spiritus. Or if it feels more natural, join again in singing, Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power!</p>
<p>Curtis W. Freeman ( <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>) is research professor of theology at Duke University Divinity School and director of the Baptist House of Studies there. He is a member of the Baptist World Alliance Commission on Doctrine and Christian Unity and a participant in the planning team for the upcoming Baptist-Pentecostal conversations.</p>
| false | 3 |
church grew used sing great fervor lord send oldtime power pentecostal power never quite sure song suspect oldtime gospel pentecostal power one thing clear baptists pentecostals jesus holy spirit us baptists probably unlike disciples paul met ephesus replied asked received spirit even heard holy spirit acts 192 suspicion suggests didnt really grasp trinitarian understanding god meant god father son spirit truth told real division baptists pentecostals back class theology baptists proudly viewed upwardly mobile perceived pentecostals folks side tracks azusa street revival broke los angeles spring 1906 one local baptist pastor denounced disgusting amalgamation voudou superstition caucasian insanity joseph smale pastor first baptist church los angeles one baptist participants failing persuade congregation receive pentecostal revival forced resign waves azusa reverberated across country far away eastern north carolina preaching gaston barnabas cashwell led formation pentecostal free baptist church whole pentecostal revival little influence among white baptists south among black baptists different story charles harrison mason led movement mississippi arkansas western tennessee break baptists form church god christ large numbers african americans across south left baptists join pentecostal groups like united holy church firebaptized holiness church god americas ripples subsequent waves holy spirit continued felt baptist life charismatic movement 1960s 1970s resulted increased awareness lingering wariness holy spirit among baptists present churches struggling come terms socalled third wave spirit introducing new forms praise worship established patterns baptist experience old suspicion pentecostalism dissipated though altogether disappeared 2006 international mission board southern baptist convention approved policy excluding candidates speak tongues private prayer language appointment missionaries response baptists united states formed pentecostal enclaves within denomination like holy spirit renewal ministries formerly american baptist charismatic fellowship fullness movement among southern baptists others founded new denominations like full gospel baptist church fellowship pentecostal waves also affected global baptist family successive wave comes new controversy countries like argentina brazil two separate baptist denominations one charismatic another noncharismatic post soviet era baptists pentecostals forced together common denominational body split separate unions though continue live struggles tensions history strained relationships truth matter baptists pentecostals share much common one might even argue practical purposes pentecostals simply branch baptists foreign language requirement like baptists pentecostals practice lived theology born conversionism believers baptism immersion world missions evangelization even historic division gifts spirit line baptists pentecostals doesnt hold anymore assemblies god defines denomination christians baptized spirit speak tongues reports half members say speak tongues theology worship baptists pentecostalized bapticostals boundaries us solid become much permeable members baptist world alliance pentecostal world fellowship meet coming august quito ecuador series ecumenical conversations begin asking may mean baptists pentecostals walk together step holy spirit baptists pentecostals talk learn one another cant speak pentecostals us baptists jesuscentered theology worship hardly know make holy spirit pentecostals help us get spiritfocused consequence trinitarian would well worth time effort given growing number pentecostal charismatic renewalist christians worldwide conversations crucial unity church john 1721 greater participation mission god matthew 281920 pentecost season pray veni sancte spiritus feels natural join singing lord send oldtime power pentecostal power curtis w freeman cfreemandivdukeedu research professor theology duke university divinity school director baptist house studies member baptist world alliance commission doctrine christian unity participant planning team upcoming baptistpentecostal conversations
| 523 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />July 9, 2012</p>
<p>By Steven Greenhut</p>
<p>SACRAMENTO — Just as the housing industry is showing signs of recovery, California’s Democratic officials have concocted a “solution” that adds regulations and higher costs to the foreclosure process. These are the same officials who can’t produce an honest budget and refuse to deal with a deepening public-employee pension crisis and other issues under their purview, but once again they think they can correct problems in complex private markets.</p>
<p>The newspaper photograph from Tuesday showed legislators and the state attorney general congratulating themselves for their work on a Homeowner Bill of Rights, which they believe will be emulated in other states. It is based on a national legal settlement between states and five banks and is likely to be signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.</p>
<p>Most news coverage makes the legislation sound benign. The bills would stop lenders from engaging in “dual tracking,” whereby they engage a distressed homeowner in a loan modification while also beginning the foreclosure process. The legislation also would require banks to assign one group of employees to deal with each person’s mortgage situation and ban those robo-signed documents.</p>
<p>I’ve dealt with banks in buying and selling houses, and they are almost as bureaucratic and uncaring as government officials, so I understand those complaints.</p>
<p>But summaries of the legislation, authored by the California Chamber of Commerce, get to the heart of the problem: The legislation “[c]reates procedural traps to impede the foreclosure process and delay lenders’ ability to recover collateral legitimately in foreclosure, and creates a private right of action that could discourage investment in California’s housing market and make capital more expensive for consumers.”</p>
<p>A recent study from Beacon Economics finds that various proposed mortgage reforms will delay the foreclosure process and thereby increase the costs of this process. That will only make it harder for these properties to work their way out of the system, increase lending costs and tie everything up in litigation and red tape. The real key to reform is letting the market sort itself out, not creating a vast expansion of damages that attorneys representing homeowners can seek.</p>
<p>A Sacramento Bee editorial supported the bills, but noted:</p>
<p>“But once the measures take effect, legislators need to monitor them to ensure their actions don’t have unintended impacts on the housing market, as banks, real estate agents and the California Chamber of Commerce have warned.”</p>
<p>Can anyone who covers the state Capitol seriously believe such monitoring will happen or that the same people who created these bad bills will know what to do to fix them once things go awry?</p>
<p>Everyone at the Capitol ought to read this part of the Beacon report:</p>
<p>“All indications show that the number of distressed mortgages in California has fallen dramatically from its high of three years ago, even as the overall market has begun to find its footing. Sales are trending up, and prices have started to move off their 2011 bottom.”</p>
<p>That conclusion conforms to what I’ve been reading and seeing, as short sales have helped work distressed properties out of the system.</p>
<p>In stronger markets, such as Orange County, there’s heated competition to buy foreclosed properties. Even in some hard-pressed inland housing markets, prices are going up slightly. These are important signs of life in the housing market. What will happen when more lawyers get involved, and more regulators require an even taller stack of documents for each transaction?</p>
<p>Even the Sacramento crowd has been one-upped for heavy-handed governmental ideas by officials in San Bernardino County and in the cities of Fontana and Ontario. Officials there created a new government entity, a joint-powers authority, that will be empowered to seize thousands of underwater mortgages.</p>
<p>It’s a convoluted scheme — concocted by an influential group of San Francisco investors called Mortgage Resolution Partners — that is brilliant in a sinister way.</p>
<p>Let’s say you owe $400,000 on your home, and it is now worth $200,000.</p>
<p>The government will use eminent domain – not to take your home by force but to take the note by force from your lender. With eminent domain, the government pays “fair market value” for the property, but experts say the note holders would be paid a wholesale value of about 20 percent less than the value of the property. In this hypothetical case, your bank would be paid $160,000.</p>
<p>The process would be funded by the new investors. You, the homeowner, would now be paying on that lower $160,000 figure, which would make your payments go down. The government believes it will be fixing the foreclosure crisis by eliminating your negative equity and encouraging you to stay in your home. And the firm that finances this (either MRP, or another company like it) will get properties on the cheap and will restructure the new loans on them, thus creating a fortune for investors.</p>
<p>It’s a “win-win,” according to supporters, except that it comes out of the hide of the current lenders, who would lose their property – or at least lose the chance to collect the money owed them. I can come up with a similar “win-win” scheme whereby I steal your money and spend it on a new car. Don’t complain. It’s a “win-win” for me, the car dealer and even the DMV.</p>
<p>For those who shrug off this money grab out of dislike for banks, consider that the plan, in order to avoid political push-back, exempts all Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages and those held by major banks, so it only targets privately held mortgages.</p>
<p>This is a troubling abuse of government power to advance the interests of private parties. Likewise, the only beneficiaries from the new Homeowner Bill of Rights will be private attorneys who gain a new target. These laws aren’t about fixing the mortgage crisis. They are about special interests using government to help them get their piece of the action before the crisis goes away.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
july 9 2012 steven greenhut sacramento housing industry showing signs recovery californias democratic officials concocted solution adds regulations higher costs foreclosure process officials cant produce honest budget refuse deal deepening publicemployee pension crisis issues purview think correct problems complex private markets newspaper photograph tuesday showed legislators state attorney general congratulating work homeowner bill rights believe emulated states based national legal settlement states five banks likely signed law gov jerry brown news coverage makes legislation sound benign bills would stop lenders engaging dual tracking whereby engage distressed homeowner loan modification also beginning foreclosure process legislation also would require banks assign one group employees deal persons mortgage situation ban robosigned documents ive dealt banks buying selling houses almost bureaucratic uncaring government officials understand complaints summaries legislation authored california chamber commerce get heart problem legislation creates procedural traps impede foreclosure process delay lenders ability recover collateral legitimately foreclosure creates private right action could discourage investment californias housing market make capital expensive consumers recent study beacon economics finds various proposed mortgage reforms delay foreclosure process thereby increase costs process make harder properties work way system increase lending costs tie everything litigation red tape real key reform letting market sort creating vast expansion damages attorneys representing homeowners seek sacramento bee editorial supported bills noted measures take effect legislators need monitor ensure actions dont unintended impacts housing market banks real estate agents california chamber commerce warned anyone covers state capitol seriously believe monitoring happen people created bad bills know fix things go awry everyone capitol ought read part beacon report indications show number distressed mortgages california fallen dramatically high three years ago even overall market begun find footing sales trending prices started move 2011 bottom conclusion conforms ive reading seeing short sales helped work distressed properties system stronger markets orange county theres heated competition buy foreclosed properties even hardpressed inland housing markets prices going slightly important signs life housing market happen lawyers get involved regulators require even taller stack documents transaction even sacramento crowd oneupped heavyhanded governmental ideas officials san bernardino county cities fontana ontario officials created new government entity jointpowers authority empowered seize thousands underwater mortgages convoluted scheme concocted influential group san francisco investors called mortgage resolution partners brilliant sinister way lets say owe 400000 home worth 200000 government use eminent domain take home force take note force lender eminent domain government pays fair market value property experts say note holders would paid wholesale value 20 percent less value property hypothetical case bank would paid 160000 process would funded new investors homeowner would paying lower 160000 figure would make payments go government believes fixing foreclosure crisis eliminating negative equity encouraging stay home firm finances either mrp another company like get properties cheap restructure new loans thus creating fortune investors winwin according supporters except comes hide current lenders would lose property least lose chance collect money owed come similar winwin scheme whereby steal money spend new car dont complain winwin car dealer even dmv shrug money grab dislike banks consider plan order avoid political pushback exempts fannie mae freddie mac mortgages held major banks targets privately held mortgages troubling abuse government power advance interests private parties likewise beneficiaries new homeowner bill rights private attorneys gain new target laws arent fixing mortgage crisis special interests using government help get piece action crisis goes away 160
| 548 |
<p>GLOBALPOST LIVE BLOG: CRISIS IN GAZA</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/20/14 11:15 PM ET</p>
<p>This live blog is now closed</p>
<p>Check back in the morning for more updates.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/20/14 9:55 PM ET</p>
<p>Israel investigating the reported capture of a soldier</p>
<p>The Israeli military said it was checking on the reported capture of one of its soldiers, which was announced in a Hamas television broadcast Sunday night. Israeli television stations ignored the report in their extended evening programing about the offensive.</p>
<p>"Qassam Brigades captured a Zionist soldier," said Abu Ubaida, the masked spokesman of the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, who identified the soldier as Shaul Aron and recited what he said was Aron's identity tag number.</p>
<p>He provided no other evidence the soldier was in the custody of the Islamist militants.</p>
<p>Ubaida said the capture happened during the same battle in which 13 Israeli soldiers died earlier, near Shejaia, the embattled neighborhood east of the city of Gaza where most of the Palestinian casualties occurred on Sunday.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/20/14 4:50 PM ET</p>
<p>Hamas said it captured an Israeli soldier</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/20/14 4:15 PM ET</p>
<p>100 Palestinians killed on Sunday</p>
<p>The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Sunday was at least 100, the emergency services spokesman in the territory, Ashraf al-Qudra, said.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/20/14 3:35 PM ET</p>
<p>Israeli citizens, journalists not permitted to enter Gaza</p>
<p>Israeli citizens are not permitted to enter the Gaza Strip. As a result, some of the most legendary experts on the Israeli military and Hamas are relegated to covering the conflict from just within Israel's border, in clear view of the dark plumes rising form sites being bombed in Gaza about a mile away.</p>
<p>Here, Israeli Channel 1 and Channel 10 Arab affairs reporters cover the conflict from a dusty bluff a mile outside Gaza.</p>
<p>(Noga Tarnopolsky/GlobalPost)</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/20/14 2:14 PM ET</p>
<p>Israeli army takes a hit, preps new reservists</p>
<p>GlobalPost's Noga Tarnopolsky reports:</p>
<p>ASHKELON, Israel — Some 13 Israeli soldiers from the elite Golani unit were killed and 60 wounded in the battle in&#160;the Gaza City neighborhood of Sujahiye, a Hamas stronghold. The fighting overnight Saturday night killed at least 60 Palestinians.</p>
<p>Helicopters ferried the gravely injured soldiers to Israeli hospitals on Sunday.&#160;At Barzilai hospital in Ashkelon, the closest to the front lines, relieved, hollow-eyed parents recalled for TV cameras the near-miss experiences of lightly wounded Israeli soldiers.</p>
<p>Hospital personnel set up an air-conditioned tent complete with sugary snacks for journalists — keeping them from clogging the hospital's helicopter landing pad and emergency entrance.</p>
<p>Further south, military police stopped journalists from proceeding to the fields of <a href="http://www.saad.org.il/saadin.html" type="external">Kibbutz Sa'ad</a>&#160;—&#160;where the Golani soldiers had gathered yesterday evening, awaiting orders — for about half an hour.</p>
<p>Upon arrival, the field was flattened and dun, dotted by a few plastic bags that caught on prickly weeds. A new contingent of reserve soldiers awaited orders in the adjacent gas station's mini-mart. About 30 men from late youth to middle age flopped in loose green uniforms on chairs outside the mini-mart.</p>
<p>The men stared blankly at a TV screen hung high up on a wall. Occasionally, one would rise to grab a popsicle from the freezer. On the TV, pundits hinted darkly at the terrible news still kept under the cover of censorship.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/20/14 12:15 PM ET</p>
<p>Arab League accuses Israel of "war crimes"</p>
<p>The Arab League on Sunday lashed out at Israel for pounding Gaza's Shejaiya district, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140720/arab-league-condemns-israeli-war-crimes-gazas-shejaiya" type="external">accusing the Jewish state of "war crimes,"</a> and called for an "immediate stop" to its offensive.</p>
<p>More than 60 Palestinians were killed Sunday as Israeli forces bombarded Shejaiya, sending thousands fleeing in the deadliest assault on the Palestinian enclave in five years.</p>
<p>"What Shejaiya is undergoing today in terms of brutal bombing operations are war crimes against Palestinian civilians and a dangerous escalation that could have further consequences," Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi said in a statement.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/20/14 12:10 PM ET</p>
<p>Israel extends humanitarian ceasefire in Shejaiya</p>
<p>Israel said on Sunday afternoon it is <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140720/update-israel-extends-humanitarian-truce-gaza" type="external">prolonging the temporary humanitarian truce</a> in Gaza's Shejaiya district, in order to allow emergency teams to go into the battered zone where at least 60 people were reportedly killed by Israeli shelling Sunday.</p>
<p>"Following an additional request made by the Red Cross, the Israel Defense Force has decided to prolong the humanitarian ceasefire until 17:30 p.m. (14:30PM GMT)," an army notice said. "Any attempt to violate this window will not be tolerated," the statement added.</p>
<p>Earlier Sunday, Israel agreed to a request by the International Red Cross Committee for a two-hour humanitarian truce, starting at 13:30 p.m. in order to allow medical teams in Gaza to evacuate the dead and wounded to hospitals.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/20/14 11:30 AM ET</p>
<p>13 Israeli soldiers killed overnight</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/20/14 8:50 AM ET</p>
<p>Palestinian death toll nears 400</p>
<p>At least 40 Palestinians were killed and 400 others wounded early on Sunday by Israeli artillery fire in a Gaza city neighborhood, marking Sunday the heaviest casualties since Israel launched its ground operation late Thursday night.</p>
<p>An Israeli spokeswoman said residents in neighborhood of Sheja' eya had received warning messages from the Israeli army ahead to evacuate their homes.</p>
<p>Palestinian Health Ministry officials said at least 390 Palestinians, many of them civilians, have been killed in the 13-day conflict and about 3,000 have been wounded.</p>
<p>On Israel's side, two civilians were killed by cross-border fire and five soldiers died as conflict intensified.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/20/14 8:40 AM ET</p>
<p>Hamas accepts 3-hour humanitarian ceasefire</p>
<p>From <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140720/hamas-says-accepts-call-3-hour-humanitarian-truce" type="external">AFP</a>:</p>
<p>Hamas movement said Sunday it had accepted a proposal for a three-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza it said was made by the International Committee of the Red Cross.</p>
<p>"The ICRC contacted (us) and offered to broker a three-hour humanitarian truce to enable ambulances to evacuate the dead and wounded and Hamas accepted it," spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement.</p>
<p>"Hamas agreed on it but the occupation refused it," he claimed, although Israeli public radio reported that the Israeli government was studying the proposal.</p>
<p>ICRC refused to confirm or deny the report. A spokesman said: "We have been making every effort to ensure ways to evacuate the dead and the wounded."</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/20/14 2:55 AM ET</p>
<p>Israel bulldozes tunnels in Gaza</p>
<p><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/19/4243893/gaza-official-palestinian-death.html" type="external">AP</a> reports:</p>
<p>Israel's military said early Sunday that it has widened its ground offensive by sending more troops into Gaza.</p>
<p>Since the onset of their ground offensive, Israeli troops have demolished more than a dozen tunnels that were used by Hamas to sneak into Israel and carry out attacks on soldiers and civilians, the army said.</p>
<p>Israeli soldiers uncovered 34 shafts leading into about a dozen underground tunnels, some as deep as 30 meters (yards), the military said.</p>
<p>Footage released by the Israeli military showed tunnels being demolished by army excavators and other equipment on the ground and by airstrikes from above.&#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/19/14 6:05 PM ET</p>
<p>Markets optimistic about crisis</p>
<p>A day after Israeli stocks slumped in New York as the country sent soldiers into the Gaza Strip, the market rebounded to erase all of the losses.</p>
<p>The reversal reflects optimism that the Israeli military’s ground operation in Gaza to quash barrages of rocket fire won’t drag out into a prolonged conflict.</p>
<p>Read more at <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-07-19/gaza-sparked-slide-gives-way-to-rebound-in-israel-stocks" type="external">Businessweek</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/19/14 5:09 PM ET</p>
<p>Is Hamas running out of rockets?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/140719/israel-says-gaza-has-used-or-lost-half-its-rockets" type="external">Reuters</a> reports:</p>
<p>Israel's army said on Saturday Gaza-based militants had used up or lost about half of their rockets in 12 days of fighting — though the Islamist fighters say they have been replenishing their arsenal.</p>
<p>The Israeli military said Palestinian fighters had fired at least 1,705 rockets out of an estimated stockpile of about 10,000, a depletion of about 17 percent.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/19/14 3:32 PM ET</p>
<p>46 Palestinians, 2 Israelis killed Saturday</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140719/46-palestinians-2-israeli-troops-die-gaza-conflict-escalates" type="external">AFP</a> reports:</p>
<p>Israel's operation against Hamas saw one of its bloodiest days Saturday, with 46 Palestinians killed in Gaza and two Israeli soldiers dying in a clash with militants who infiltrated the Jewish state.</p>
<p>As Israeli warplanes bombarded Gaza from the air, and ground troops pressed an assault on land, the Palestinian death toll rose to 342, with rights groups warning that a growing number of victims are children.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/19/14 12:50 PM ET</p>
<p>Protests against Israel gain strength around the world</p>
<p>A girl smiles during a rally outside the Israeli Embassy in Santiago, Chile, on July 19, 2014.</p>
<p>A protester shouts and holds a placard during a demonstration in Lyon, central-eastern France, on July 19, 2014.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Demonstrators march on Whitehall to oppose Israel's actions in Gaza on July 19, 2014 in London, England.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Protesters sport fake injuries during a demonstration in Brussels on July 19, 2014.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/19/14 12:35 PM ET</p>
<p>2 Israeli soldiers killed in Hamas tunnel attack</p>
<p>GlobalPost's Noga Tarnopolsky reports that two Israeli soldiers were killed in a Hamas tunnel attack.&#160;The two soldiers were previously reported as having been wounded.</p>
<p>According to <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.606012" type="external">Haaretz</a>, two Israeli soldiers were killed in the attack and four more wounded.</p>
<p>From Haaretz:</p>
<p>It is believed that a cell of four or five militants breached the Israeli border from the center of the Gaza Strip, near the Israeli community of Kissufim, and fired machine guns and an anti-tank missile at an Israel Defense Forces unit.</p>
<p>The IDF returned fire, killing one of the militants, and started in pursuit of the rest of the Palestinian cell. According to a senior IDF officer, the pursuit took place inside Israeli territory.</p>
<p>GP's Tarnopolsky gives context to the attack a few entries down.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/19/14 12:25 PM ET</p>
<p>Number of Palestinians seeking UN refuge steadily growing</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/19/14 12:20 PM ET</p>
<p>2nd Israeli civilian killed in rocket fire from Gaza</p>
<p>An Israeli civilian became the second to be killed Saturday after a rocket attack on southern Israel, Israel's medical services said.</p>
<p>A 32-year-old man died from rocket shrapnel, Israeli national medical emergency services Director General Eli Bin told media.</p>
<p>Three others were wounded including a 4-month-old girl in critical condition and a 5-year-old boy in light condition. The three were evacuated to a hospital in the southern Israeli city of Be'er Sheva.&#160;</p>
<p>The victims appear to be members of a single Bedouin family living in a community in the southern Israeli Negev Desert. The communities, mostly unrecognized by Israel as they were established before Israel was founded in 1948, are off the electric grid and do not have protection from rocket attacks.</p>
<p>GlobalPost's Noga Tarnopolsky reports that some 50 rockets were launched at Israel from Gaza on Saturday.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/19/14 12:05 PM ET</p>
<p>GlobalPost's Noga Tarnopolsky on Hamas' diplomatic isolation:</p>
<p>While displaying considerable military prowess Hamas remains diplomatically more isolated than ever.</p>
<p>Fraying ties among Islamic groups and regimes have left Hamas virtually an orphan movement.&#160;Only Qatar is willing to offer financial support, but the Gulf monarchy is unacceptable to Egypt, the nation bordering Gaza on the south.</p>
<p>Hamas is severely strained by internal tensions between the Gaza-based military wing and the foreign-based political wing. It is the military wing that scuttled Egypt's unilateral announcement of a ceasefire last Tuesday, which was accepted by Israel but lasted only about six hours.&#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/19/14 11:51 AM ET</p>
<p>Hamas publishes ceasefire initiative</p>
<p>According to the <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Hamas-publishes-cease-fire-initiative-363467" type="external">Jerusalem Post</a>:</p>
<p>Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip on Saturday published their own initiative for a ceasefire with Israel.</p>
<p>The initiative, which is backed by Qatar, calls for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, the lifting of the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip eight years ago and the release of Palestinians who were arrested by Israel in recent weeks in the West Bank.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/19/14 10:53 AM ET</p>
<p>Donkey suicide bomber stopped by Israelis</p>
<p>From the Telegraph:</p>
<p>Hamas militants sent a <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/10977818/Donkey-suicide-bomb-stopped-by-Israeli-troops-in-Gaza.html" type="external">donkey laden with explosives</a> on a suicide mission in one of the most unconventional tactics yet seen in the fighting in Gaza, the Israeli army has said.</p>
<p>Troops said they were forced to open fire on the animal — blowing it up — as it approached their position in the southern city of Rafah, near the Egyptian border.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/19/14 9:56 AM ET</p>
<p>Hamas' thwarted tunnel invasion wounds 2 Israeli soldiers&#160;</p>
<p>GlobalPost's Noga Tarnopolsky reports:</p>
<p>GAZA BORDER AREA — Two Israeli soldiers were critically wounded Saturday when militants attempted to infiltrate Israel through a tunnel. Roads have been blocked off in much of southern Israel in the aftermath of the skirmish.</p>
<p>This was not Hamas' first attempt to infiltrate Israeli territory. On Thursday, Hamas dispatched <a href="" type="external">13 heavily armed men through one of more than 20 tunnels</a>&#160;in a bid to gain access to a small Israeli communal village near the Gaza border.</p>
<p>Israeli intelligence detected the operation, followed the men and bombed the tunnel. (Here's <a href="http://videoidf.co.il/8034-EN.mp4" type="external">video</a>. Watch the guy in the bottom left with the ninja roll at 26 seconds. Pretty crazy.)&#160;</p>
<p>For now, Israeli infantry and tanks are keeping to the mission's declared goal — eliminating the network of tunnels — and have not strayed from a narrow swathe near the border.</p>
<p>Israeli tanks amassed on the Gaza border, with elite paratroopers and members of the Golani brigade waiting for further orders.</p>
<p>Both Hamas attempts to penetrate Israeli communities with heavily armed units have confirmed Israeli concerns about Hamas activities during the 18 months of relative quiet between <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Pillar_of_Defense" type="external">Pillar of Defense</a>, and the current conflict, which the Israeli army has named Protective Edge.</p>
<p>Israel is determined to use the current military operation to neutralize the tunnels. Most Israeli observers foresee at least a week-long ground engagement.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/19/14 8:30 AM ET</p>
<p>Death toll tops 320 on 12th day of fighting</p>
<p>GlobalPost's Noga Tarnopolsky reports:</p>
<p>The Palestinian&#160; <a href="" type="external">death toll has climbed past 320</a>. A family of nine, including four children, was buried Saturday.</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse adds:</p>
<p>The bodies were retrieved from the southern city of Khan Yunis, emergency services spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said.</p>
<p>The discoveries came after the deaths of seven people outside a mosque in Khan Yunis, Qudra said, adding that three of the dead were from the same family.</p>
<p>Read the full piece <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140719/toll-gaza-hits-314-day-12-war" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/18/14 6:20 PM ET</p>
<p>Signing off</p>
<p>This live blog is now closed. It will resume in the morning.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/18/14 6:06 PM ET</p>
<p>On the 11th day of the conflict, the death toll escalates&#160;</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — Fifty-five Gazans were killed on Friday as Israel pressed a major ground offensive in the coastal enclave, raising the overall Palestinian death toll since July 8 to 296, medics said.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Mourners carry into a mosque the body of Muhammad Abu Musallam, a Palestinian young boy who was killed along with his sister and his brother in an Israeli tank attack, during their funeral on July 18, 2014 in Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza strip.</p>
<p>An Israeli soldier was also killed as troops began an offensive on the Gaza periphery aimed at destroying Hamas's network of cross-border tunnels, the army said.&#160;Israeli television said he died by "friendly fire."&#160;</p>
<p>The latest Palestinian deaths included three members of a family killed in an Israeli strike in southern Gaza's Rafah, as well as a 21-year-old man also killed in Rafah, emergency services spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/18/14 3:33 PM ET</p>
<p>How and why is Israel targeting tunnels?</p>
<p>Israel is reportedly targeting cross-border tunnels as part of its Gaza offensive.&#160;</p>
<p>"Dozens of terror tunnels are spread throughout the Gaza Strip, the majority of them constructed and utilized by Hamas," an army spokesman said in a statement, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140718/israeli-army-aims-gazas-highly-developed-tunnels" type="external">as quoted by Agence France-Presse</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>"The Hamas tunnel network is highly developed and continuously preserved interconnecting launch sites, rocket maintenance and command and control positions."</p>
<p>To get a glimpse of how these tunnels look from the inside, check out this&#160; <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/israelis-attack-hamas-tunnels-in-gaza-2014-7" type="external">photo essay</a> published by Business Insider.&#160;</p>
<p>Hayes Brown, an editor at ThinkProgress, wrote <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/world/2014/07/18/3461742/inside-the-tunnels-that-bring-life-and-death-into-gaza/" type="external">a helpful explainer</a> on how these intricate underground tunnels are used — and the role they play in Gaza's economy.</p>
<p>"All told, what passes through the tunnels makes up a substantial portion, if not the vast majority, of the Gazan economy at this point," Brown wrote, and noted that the "reason that such a large portion of the Gazan economy is dependent on the tunnels is that most other crossings into the territory are blocked off."&#160; <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/world/2014/07/18/3461742/inside-the-tunnels-that-bring-life-and-death-into-gaza/" type="external">Read the full piece here.</a></p>
<p>GlobalPost senior correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky gives her take on Israel's ground invasion from&#160;Ashkelon, Israel:</p>
<p>The Israeli ground invasion is for now a bit of a paradox.</p>
<p>On the one hand, Israeli infantry and armor is keeping to its declared mission of attacking cross-border tunnels, and therefore keeping to a fairly narrow zone.&#160;The bombing in Gazan cities is all part of the ongoing air campaign.&#160;</p>
<p>On the other hand, this is not really a "limited operation."</p>
<p>My best estimate is that we are talking about at least a week-long ground operation. Israel is determined to use this conflict to neutralize the tunnels — yesterday's infiltration is confirmation of a long-held fear.</p>
<p>So it is limited, but not really limited.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/18/14 12:05 PM ET</p>
<p>Obama says US 'deeply concerned about the risks of further escalation'</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — US President Barack Obama telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday to voice concerns about the crisis in Gaza amid an Israeli ground offensive.</p>
<p>Obama said that while the US supports Israel's right to defend itself, "the United States and our friends and allies are deeply concerned about the risks of further escalation and the loss of more innocent life."</p>
<p>Here are some more key snippets from Obama's statement on the Israel-Gaza crisis:</p>
<p>Obama affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself and says sirens went off in Tel Aviv even as he was on phone with Netanyahu.</p>
<p>— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) <a href="https://twitter.com/peterbakernyt/statuses/490164062853296128" type="external">July 18, 2014</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/transcript-obamas-statement-on-ukraine-and-gaza/2014/07/18/a3224560-0e8c-11e4-8c9a-923ecc0c7d23_story.html" type="external">Read the full transcript of his speech on The Washington Post.</a></p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/18/14 10:48 AM ET</p>
<p>An impending water crisis in Gaza</p>
<p>Reuters — The United Nations said on Friday it was stepping up emergency aid to Gaza, where Israel's military offensive has made water shortages worse and stoked fears of more sewage contamination and water-borne diseases.</p>
<p>A displaced Palestinian girl carries a fresh water jerrycan at a school used as a shelter in Gaza City on July 18, 2014.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, UN aid agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that after years of Gaza's water system deteriorating, damage from the attacks meant the whole coastal strip was facing a water crisis within days.&#160;</p>
<p>"We are still very concerned about the water supply in Gaza, about half of the population are without water supply at this time," UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) spokeswoman, Amanda Pitt, told a news briefing in Geneva.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/18/14 10:15 AM ET</p>
<p>Demonstrations against Israel's Gaza offensive continue to break out in many corners of the world</p>
<p />
<p>Here are some photos of today's protests:</p>
<p>Sudan:</p>
<p>Sudanese men shout slogans during a protest against Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip in the capital Khartoum on July 18, 2014.</p>
<p>Bahrain:</p>
<p>Bahraini women hold pictures of victims during a protest against Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip on July 18, 2014, in the village of Diraz, west of Manama.</p>
<p>Afghanistan:</p>
<p>Afghan demonstrators shout slogans against Israeli attacks on Palestinian territories during a demonstration in front of the Eid Gah Mosque in the city of Kabul on July 18, 2014.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/18/14 9:48 AM ET</p>
<p>Netanyahu tells IDF to prepare for 'significant broadening' of ground assault</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — Israel warned Friday it could broaden a Gaza ground assault aimed at smashing Hamas's network of cross-border tunnels, as it intensified attacks that have killed more than 260 Palestinians.</p>
<p>Diplomats stepped up efforts to halt 11 days of bloodshed in and around the battered Gaza Strip while Pope Francis demanded an immediate ceasefire in a phone call with Israeli President Shimon Peres and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas.</p>
<p>And Abbas reached out for French help to lobby Hamas allies Qatar and Turkey to pressure the Islamists into accepting a truce during talks in Cairo with Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.</p>
<p>In the face of Israel's land, sea and air offensive that has sent terrified civilians running for cover, the Islamist movement Hamas remained defiant and warned the Jewish state it would "drown in the swamp of Gaza."</p>
<p>As Gaza residents spoke of a night of terror, with fierce gunbattles in the south and all-night shelling in the north, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the operation could yet be widened, amid growing international calls to avoid harm to civilians.</p>
<p>"My instructions and those of the defense minister to the military ... is to prepare for the possibility of a significant broadening of the ground activity," he told ministers in Tel Aviv.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/18/14 9:22 AM ET</p>
<p>A look at why there aren't any bomb shelters in Gaza&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2014/0717/Why-Gaza-doesn-t-have-bomb-shelters-video" type="external">From the Christian Science Monitor:</a></p>
<p>The lack of bomb shelters in Gaza stands in stark contrast with Israel, which has invested heavily in such protection since the 1991 Gulf War. ... Building bomb shelters for more than 1.7 million people from scratch would be a massive logistical challenge – just ask Israel – but especially for a government that is chronically in the red and doesn’t control its borders.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2014/0717/Why-Gaza-doesn-t-have-bomb-shelters-video" type="external">More here.</a></p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/18/14 8:45 AM ET</p>
<p>Number of casualties continues to increase</p>
<p>Reuters — Israel intensified its land offensive in Gaza with artillery, tanks and gunboats on Friday and warned it could "significantly widen" an operation Palestinian officials said was killing ever greater numbers of civilians.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Palestinian mourners gather around the body of five-month-old Fares al-Mahmum and another victim of Israeli bombardment during their funeral on July 18, 2014 in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.</p>
<p>Palestinian health officials said 27 Palestinians, including a baby, two children and a 70-year-old woman, had been killed since Israel sent ground forces into the densely-populated strip of 1.8 million Palestinians on Thursday.</p>
<p>The Israeli military said it killed 17 Palestinian gunmen while another 13 surrendered and were taken for questioning after the infantry and tank assault began in the Islamist Hamas-dominated territory.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>An Israeli artillery shell is fired at the border with Gaza on July 18, 2014 near Sderot, Israel.</p>
<p>One Israeli soldier was killed and several others were wounded in the operations, in which some 150 targets, including 21 concealed rocket launchers and four tunnels, have been attacked, according to the military.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 11:50 PM ET</p>
<p>Signing off</p>
<p>This live blog is now closed. We will continue coverage tomorrow.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 11:19 PM ET</p>
<p>Kerry calls for 'precise' Israeli ground operation in Gaza</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Israel on Thursday to limit collateral damage in Gaza, urging the Jewish state to be "precise" in its ground assault on the Palestinian enclave.</p>
<p>In his call with Netanyahu, Kerry "emphasized the need to avoid further escalation and to restore the 2012 ceasefire as soon as possible, reinforced our continuing commitment to the Egyptian initiative as the way to do so and underscored the importance of Hamas accepting this plan as soon as possible," a State Department statement said.</p>
<p>The Israeli leader, in turn, stressed to Kerry the "imminent threat" to Israeli civilians posed by Hamas tunnels from the Gaza Strip to Israel, according to the statement.</p>
<p>Kerry "reaffirmed our strong support for Israel's right to defend itself against terrorist threats emanating from tunnels into Israel and expressed our view that this should be a precise operation to target tunnels," according to his office.</p>
<p>"The secretary also reiterated our concern about the safety and security of civilians on both sides and the importance of doing everything possible to prevent civilian casualties."</p>
<p>The BBC spoke to Yousef Shehada who lives in Rafah in southern Gaza about the current conditions there.</p>
<p>"We cannot sleep because the tanks are bombing us everywhere — here and there," he says.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/bbc-world-service/death-is-everywhere-in-gaza-a?ocid=socialflow_twitter" type="external">Listen to the full interview here.</a></p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 7:15 PM ET</p>
<p>'Gaza on edge,' says BBC journalist&#160;</p>
<p>The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet is in Gaza right now. Here's her report, via Twitter, of what the atmosphere is like on the ground.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 6:36 PM ET</p>
<p>Israel approves call-up of more reservists</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — Israel approved the call-up of another 18,000 reservists, taking the total number approved to 65,000 for an operation aimed at protecting Israeli lives and strike "a significant blow to Hamas's terror infrastructure," the army said.</p>
<p>Shortly beforehand, the military began an intensive bombardment of the enclave, by air and sea as well as by tanks massed along the border.</p>
<p>Salvoes of rockets lit up the sky, and a seafront hotel in Gaza City housing scores of journalists shook violently with the force of the shelling by sea, an AFP correspondent said.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>An Israeli missile hits Palestinian buildings in Gaza City on July 17, 2014.</p>
<p>Earlier on Thursday, Cairo lashed out at the Islamist Hamas movement, saying it could have saved dozens of lives had it accepted an Egyptian-brokered truce.</p>
<p>"Had Hamas accepted the Egyptian proposal, it could have saved the lives of at least 40 Palestinians," Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri said.</p>
<p>Israel said the aim of the operation was to destroy the network of tunnels riddling the Gaza Strip, some of which are used for assembling rockets and others used for staging cross-border attacks on southern Israel.</p>
<p>One such attack was foiled by Israeli forces early Thursday.</p>
<p>"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, this evening instructed the IDF to commence ground action to strike at the terrorist tunnels from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory," a statement from the premier's office said.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Israeli soldiers stand near the southern Israeli border with the Gaza Strip (background) on July 17, 2014.</p>
<p>A military spokesman said Israel had decided to send in troops after repeated efforts to end the conflict had failed.</p>
<p>"We have tried three times in the last ten days to de-escalate; every time we have been met with more aggression," Major Arye Shalicar told AFP.</p>
<p>"Our goal is to strike Hamas infrastructure and operatives in several places in the strip — north, east and south. Part of the infrastructure that we will target is tunnels."</p>
<p>Military spokesman General Moti Almoz urged Gaza residents to flee areas where the army was operating, warning that the ground campaign would "be extended as much as necessary."</p>
<p>Following an appeal by Washington and the UN, the military pledged to invest "unprecedented efforts" to limit harm to civilians.</p>
<p>On the ground, Palestinian witnesses reported gun battles breaking out east of the southern city of Khan Yunis, with military sources confirming it was one of the areas in which the troops were operating.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 3:58 PM ET</p>
<p>Israeli army says it has launched a ground operation in Gaza</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — Israel launched a ground operation in Gaza late Thursday on the tenth day of an offensive to stamp out rocket attacks from the Palestinian enclave, the army said.</p>
<p>"Following 10 days of Hamas attacks by land, air and sea, and after repeated rejections of offers to deescalate the situation, the Israel Defence Forces (army) has initiated a ground operation within the Gaza Strip," it said in a statement.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Israeli soldiers seen along the border with Gaza on July 17, 2014 on Israel's border with the Gaza Strip.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 3:40 PM ET</p>
<p>Israeli tanks shelling Gaza rehab hospital, facility director says</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — Israeli tanks are shelling Gaza's Al-Wafa hospital, whose 14 patients include some who are paralysed or in a coma, and several people have been hurt, the facility's director said Thursday.</p>
<p>"Israeli tanks are shelling the hospital, they have hit several of the floors, and several nurses have been injured," director Basman Alashi told AFP.</p>
<p>The hospital in Gaza's Shejaiya district has come under Israeli fire several times before, and the Israeli military has called on Alashi and other doctors to evacuate it.</p>
<p>Alashi told AFP on Wednesday that it was almost impossible to move the patients, most of whom are immobile, and he questioned where they could go.</p>
<p>"There is no place safe in Gaza! If a hospital is not safe, where is?" he said.</p>
<p>On Thursday night, he said he was contacting other hospitals in Gaza to try to arrange ambulances to transport the 14 patients elsewhere after Al-Wafa came under renewed Israeli fire.</p>
<p>"But the ambulances are all in use, there is heavy shelling in many places," he said. "And each patient has to be taken individually and carried because they cannot move." "They are tearing the hospital apart, bit by bit."</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 12:37 PM ET</p>
<p>'We have a message of unity,' says father of teenager wounded by rocket in Ashkelon</p>
<p>GlobalPost senior correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky just sent in the following dispatch from Ashkelon, Israel:</p>
<p>Yarin Levy, the teenager gravely wounded by a rocket in Ashkelon a few days ago, is still being treated in hospital.&#160;</p>
<p>His room has become a pilgrimage site of sorts: In the past two days, four Israeli ministers and two foreign VIPs have visited and taken photographs with the boy, who is still in pain.</p>
<p>I asked his dad, Avinoam, if they are bothered by the attention.</p>
<p>"No, not at all," he said. "Anyone who wishes us well is welcome. I've gotten calls from all over, from Arabs, from Israelis. We have a message of unity."</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 12:21 PM ET</p>
<p>Three more children have died in Gaza</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 11:07 AM ET</p>
<p>A climbing death toll</p>
<p>The total death toll of the conflict is now 233. Al Jazeera has published a list of the <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/gaza-under-seige-naming-dead-2014710105846549528.html" type="external">names of the people who lost their lives</a> since fighting began a little more than a week ago.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 10:58 AM ET</p>
<p>Lebanon files UN complaint against Israel</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — Lebanon filed a complaint on Thursday against Israel at the UN Security Council, saying it had violated its sovereignty by opening fire on its territory in retaliation for rocket attacks.</p>
<p>The foreign ministry said Israel fired 102 shells at Lebanon between July 11 and 14, during the ongoing war between Israel and Gaza, describing this as "repeated and dangerous violations."</p>
<p>During that same period at least nine rockets were fired from south Lebanon into Israel. Israel has responded with artillery fire.</p>
<p>The foreign ministry said Lebanon "rejects the firing of rockets (from its territory) on occupied Palestinian territory," in a reference to Israel.</p>
<p>This action "is a threat to peace and stability that serves neither Lebanon nor the Palestinian resistance, and gives Israel reason to attack Lebanon and its sovereignty," it added.</p>
<p>On Wednesday the Lebanese army announced that two Palestinian brothers suspected of involvement in rocket attacks on northern Israel had been arrested.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 10:54 AM ET</p>
<p>Rockets intercepted over Ashkelon, sirens sounding</p>
<p>From GlobalPost senior correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky:</p>
<p>And Al Jazeera's Gregg Carlstrom:</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 10:27 AM ET</p>
<p>Reports of security activity in Israel's Eshkol region</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 9:30 AM ET</p>
<p>UNRWA launches investigation into rockets found in Gaza school</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — The UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA said Thursday it was investigating after finding 20 rockets hidden in one of its vacant schools in the Gaza Strip.</p>
<p>It condemned the incident as a "flagrant violation" of international law and said the rockets had been removed and the "relative parties" informed.</p>
<p>"Yesterday, in the course of the regular inspection of its premises, UNRWA discovered approximately 20 rockets hidden in a vacant school in the Gaza Strip," the agency said in a statement.</p>
<p>"UNRWA strongly condemns the group or groups responsible for placing the weapons in one of its installations," it continued. "This is a flagrant violation of the inviolability of its premises under international law."</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/17/14 8:30 AM ET</p>
<p>Humanitarian ceasefire ends</p>
<p>Reuters —&#160;Palestinians rushed to shops and banks on Thursday during a five-hour humanitarian ceasefire that largely held.</p>
<p>Sirens sounded in southern Israel at 3 p.m. (1200 GMT), exactly at the end of the five-hour ceasefire, and the military said a rocket had been fired at the coastal city of Ashkelon.</p>
<p>During Thursday's period of relative calm, the Israeli military said three mortar bombs were launched into Israel from the Gaza Strip, landing in open areas.</p>
<p>Israeli forces, the military added, fired mortar rounds into the Palestinian territory during the truce period after a soldier was slightly wounded by a blast near the frontier.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Palestinian employees wait at a cash-point machine to collect their salaries during a temporary five-hour humanitarian ceasefire observed by Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas on July 17, 2014 in Gaza City.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Palestinian residents shop on a street in Gaza City during a temporary five-hour humanitarian ceasefire observed by Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas on July 17, 2014.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 4:00 PM ET</p>
<p>Signing off</p>
<p>This live blog is now closed.</p>
<p>Here's a brief summary of today's events:</p>
<p>We will pick up coverage tomorrow.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 3:52 PM ET</p>
<p>Israel to observe a five-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza</p>
<p>From <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4544932,00.html" type="external">Ynetnews report</a>:</p>
<p>Israel will most likely cease fire for five hours on Thursday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. (07:00-12:00 GMT)&#160;Hamas has yet to announce its intentions for the humanitarian ceasefire.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4544932,00.html" type="external">R</a> <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4544932,00.html" type="external">ead the full piece here.&#160;</a></p>
<p />
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 3:22 PM ET</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Israeli army says deaths of 4 children on a Gaza beach is a 'tragic outcome'</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — The army said the killing of four Palestinian children on a Gaza beachfront Wednesday appeared to be the "tragic outcome" of an Israeli strike targeting Hamas militants.</p>
<p>"Based on preliminary results the target of this strike was Hamas terrorist operatives," the military said in a statement. "The reported civilian casualties from this strike are a tragic outcome."</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 2:40 PM ET</p>
<p>Murmurs about a ground invasion</p>
<p>There have been a couple of <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/as-cease-fire-with-hamas-fails-to-take-shape-netanyahu-says-our-answer-is-fire/2014/07/16/5fcd6d7c-0cbf-11e4-8341-b8072b1e7348_story.html?hpid=z1" type="external">reports about a possible Israeli ground invasion of Gaza</a> based on an anonymous official's chat with foreign correspondents.</p>
<p>From <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/17/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-strip.html" type="external">The New York Times</a>:</p>
<p>The official, a member of the top brass who has been briefing Israeli ministers who make strategic decisions, said his assessment was based on "the signals I get" and the diminishing returns of aerial bombardment after nine days. ... "Every day that passes makes the possibility more evident," the official told a handful of international journalists in a briefing at the military’s Tel Aviv headquarters. "We can hurt them very hard from the air but not get rid of them." He spoke on the condition of anonymity under military protocol.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/17/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-strip.html" type="external">Read the full story here.&#160;</a></p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 1:52 PM ET</p>
<p>Abbas discussed Gaza ceasefire proposal with Hamas official, MENA reports</p>
<p>Reuters — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Hamas political official Moussa Abu Marzouk on Wednesday in Cairo to discuss an Egyptian initiative that has so far failed to halt more than a week of warfare in Gaza, Egypt's state news agency MENA said.</p>
<p>The talks were the first concrete sign that efforts to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants were still active despite the collapse a day earlier of a proposed mutual "de-escalation" of violence.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 12:37 PM ET</p>
<p>Infographic of recent air strikes in Gaza and Israel</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 12:06 PM ET</p>
<p>Thousands more Israeli reservists could be called up</p>
<p>GlobalPost senior correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky was on <a href="http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/worldbrief-with-rickycam-july-16/53c1cc4f78c90afa4700032d" type="external">HuffPost Live</a> to discuss the deadly conflict, including reports that the Israeli government is authorizing the call up of 8,000 reservists.</p>
<p>"Some people are taking it to mean that Israel may be planning a ground invasion, possibly a limited ground invasion, though we don't know what that exactly means," Tarnopolsky said. "Others are seeing it just as another warning shot that the Israelis are sending at Hamas in an attempt to corner them while ceasefire negotiations are still ongoing."&#160;</p>
<p>Watch the full interview here:</p>
<p />
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 10:43 AM ET</p>
<p>Funeral for Israeli victim</p>
<p>The Huffington Post's Middle East correspondent Sophia Jones shared photos of the funeral for 37-year-old Dror Khenin, the first Israeli killed by Gaza fire.</p>
<p />
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 10:43 AM ET</p>
<p>Hamas official in Cairo for truce talks</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — A Hamas official was to hold talks in Cairo on Wednesday on Egyptian efforts to end the deadly conflict between his Gaza-based Islamist movement and Israel, the Palestinians said.</p>
<p>Hamas rejected a ceasefire proposal which Egypt put forward this week, complaining it had not been a party to the discussions.</p>
<p>"A meeting will be held this afternoon between an official from Hamas and a representative of the Egyptian leadership," said Azzam al-Ahmad, a senior member of the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.</p>
<p>Ahmad said he hoped the talks in Cairo would "crystalize a definite formula for an Egyptian initiative" or clarify its plan, which had proposed an end to hostilities from 0600 GMT on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Israel initially accepted the Egyptian initiative, but later intensified its punishing air strikes aimed at stamping out rocket fire by Gaza militants following Hamas's rejection.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 10:23 AM ET</p>
<p>Four children were killed by Israeli shelling in Gaza, medical officials say</p>
<p>Reuters — Four Palestinian children were killed on Wednesday on a Gaza beach by a shell fired by an Israeli naval gunboat, Palestinian medical officials said.</p>
<p>Asked about the incident, an Israeli military spokesman in Tel Aviv said he was checking the report.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Smoke billows from a beach shack following an Israeli military strike, on July 16, 2014 in Gaza City which killed four children, medics said.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Palestinian employees of Gaza City's al-Deira hotel carry a wounded boy following an Israeli military strike nearby on the beach, on July 16, 2014.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Palestinian journalists take care of a wounded boy following an Israeli military strike nearby on the beach, on July 16, 2014 at Gaza City's al-Deira hotel.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 10:14 AM ET</p>
<p>Documenting the number of attacks and deaths</p>
<p>The New York Times just published <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/15/world/middleeast/toll-israel-gaza-conflict.html?_r=0" type="external">this graphic</a>, which documents air strikes and fatalities in Gaza and Israel.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 9:40 AM ET</p>
<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comments&#160;</p>
<p>From Haaretz newspaper's US editor Chemi Shalev:</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 8:40 AM ET</p>
<p>Israel urges Gazans to flee as campaign intensifies</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — Israel urged 100,000 Gazans to flee their homes on Wednesday, but the warning was largely ignored despite an intensification of the military's nine-day campaign after Hamas rejected a ceasefire effort.</p>
<p>As the punishing Israeli operation resumed pace, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was to travel to Egypt and Turkey in search of regional support for an immediate end to the fighting after an attempt at an Egyptian-brokered truce collapsed.</p>
<p>So far, Israel's campaign, now in its ninth day, has killed 208 Palestinians, with a Gaza-based rights group saying over 80 percent of them were civilians.</p>
<p>In the same period, militants have fired more than 1,200 rockets at Israel, which on Tuesday claimed their first Israeli life.</p>
<p>Overnight, warplanes struck about 40 sites across Gaza, among them political targets, as militants also kept up their fire on Israel's coastal plain, with four rockets shot down over metropolitan Tel Aviv.</p>
<p>The air force also dropped flyers warning 100,000 in northeastern Gaza Strip to evacuate their homes ahead of an air campaign targeting "terror sites and operatives" in Zeitun and Shejaiya, two flashpoint districts east of Gaza City.</p>
<p>Anm identical message was sent to Beit Lahiya in the north, echoing a similar army warning on Sunday, when more than 17,000 residents of the north fled for their lives, most seeking refuge in UN-run schools.</p>
<p>As well as the flyers, residents also received texts and pre-recorded phone messages urging them to evacuate and not return until further notice.</p>
<p>"We issued a warning to the people to leave instead of becoming victims of the policy of Hamas which tries to protect their rockets with civilians," Israeli President Shimon Peres said at a joint news conference with Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini.</p>
<p>"We're trying to defend our own people, as we must, and we're also trying hard not to hit innocent people in Gaza."</p>
<p>But the warnings did not have any immediate effect, with only limited numbers seen leaving, as children picked up the flyers and played with them, an AFP correspondent said.</p>
<p>"They dropped these bits of paper from planes telling people to leave. Where should we go?" asked Faisal Hassan, a father of five who lives in Zeitun.</p>
<p>"I will not leave my house, whatever happens."</p>
<p>Hamas told residents to ignore the warnings, saying there was "no need to worry."</p>
<p>"This is part of the psychological war, intended to disrupt the domestic front," it said in a statement.</p>
<p>Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to step up the military campaign after Hamas dismissed an Egyptian ceasefire proposal, firing scores of rockets over the border despite the army holding its fire for six hours.</p>
<p>"This would have been better resolved diplomatically... but Hamas leaves us no choice but to expand and intensify the campaign against it," he said.</p>
<p>Although Israel would prefer a truce to putting boots on the ground, the security cabinet met overnight to discuss the possibility of a limited ground operation, army radio reported, saying ministers had approved plans to destroy Hamas's network of tunnels.</p>
<p>They also discussed the possibility of a limited ground incursion which would not initially involve entering towns of villages, it said.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/16/14 8:30 AM ET</p>
<p>Read more</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/israel-and-palestine/140714/day-7-israel-presses-its-deadly-gaza-o" type="external">Read about earlier developments here.</a></p>
<p>#color { border-color:#bbbbbb; border-style:solid; border-width:1px; background-color:#F8F8F8; float:center; margin-left: 5px; , , , margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 30px; line-height:14px display:block; padding: 15px; }</p>
| false | 3 |
globalpost live blog crisis gaza update 72014 1115 pm et live blog closed check back morning updates update 72014 955 pm et israel investigating reported capture soldier israeli military said checking reported capture one soldiers announced hamas television broadcast sunday night israeli television stations ignored report extended evening programing offensive qassam brigades captured zionist soldier said abu ubaida masked spokesman izz eldeen alqassam brigades armed wing hamas identified soldier shaul aron recited said arons identity tag number provided evidence soldier custody islamist militants ubaida said capture happened battle 13 israeli soldiers died earlier near shejaia embattled neighborhood east city gaza palestinian casualties occurred sunday update 72014 450 pm et hamas said captured israeli soldier update 72014 415 pm et 100 palestinians killed sunday number palestinians killed israeli attacks gaza strip sunday least 100 emergency services spokesman territory ashraf alqudra said update 72014 335 pm et israeli citizens journalists permitted enter gaza israeli citizens permitted enter gaza strip result legendary experts israeli military hamas relegated covering conflict within israels border clear view dark plumes rising form sites bombed gaza mile away israeli channel 1 channel 10 arab affairs reporters cover conflict dusty bluff mile outside gaza noga tarnopolskyglobalpost update 72014 214 pm et israeli army takes hit preps new reservists globalposts noga tarnopolsky reports ashkelon israel 13 israeli soldiers elite golani unit killed 60 wounded battle in160the gaza city neighborhood sujahiye hamas stronghold fighting overnight saturday night killed least 60 palestinians helicopters ferried gravely injured soldiers israeli hospitals sunday160at barzilai hospital ashkelon closest front lines relieved holloweyed parents recalled tv cameras nearmiss experiences lightly wounded israeli soldiers hospital personnel set airconditioned tent complete sugary snacks journalists keeping clogging hospitals helicopter landing pad emergency entrance south military police stopped journalists proceeding fields kibbutz saad160160where golani soldiers gathered yesterday evening awaiting orders half hour upon arrival field flattened dun dotted plastic bags caught prickly weeds new contingent reserve soldiers awaited orders adjacent gas stations minimart 30 men late youth middle age flopped loose green uniforms chairs outside minimart men stared blankly tv screen hung high wall occasionally one would rise grab popsicle freezer tv pundits hinted darkly terrible news still kept cover censorship update 72014 1215 pm et arab league accuses israel war crimes arab league sunday lashed israel pounding gazas shejaiya district accusing jewish state war crimes called immediate stop offensive 60 palestinians killed sunday israeli forces bombarded shejaiya sending thousands fleeing deadliest assault palestinian enclave five years shejaiya undergoing today terms brutal bombing operations war crimes palestinian civilians dangerous escalation could consequences arab league chief nabil alarabi said statement update 72014 1210 pm et israel extends humanitarian ceasefire shejaiya israel said sunday afternoon prolonging temporary humanitarian truce gazas shejaiya district order allow emergency teams go battered zone least 60 people reportedly killed israeli shelling sunday following additional request made red cross israel defense force decided prolong humanitarian ceasefire 1730 pm 1430pm gmt army notice said attempt violate window tolerated statement added earlier sunday israel agreed request international red cross committee twohour humanitarian truce starting 1330 pm order allow medical teams gaza evacuate dead wounded hospitals update 72014 1130 et 13 israeli soldiers killed overnight update 72014 850 et palestinian death toll nears 400 least 40 palestinians killed 400 others wounded early sunday israeli artillery fire gaza city neighborhood marking sunday heaviest casualties since israel launched ground operation late thursday night israeli spokeswoman said residents neighborhood sheja eya received warning messages israeli army ahead evacuate homes palestinian health ministry officials said least 390 palestinians many civilians killed 13day conflict 3000 wounded israels side two civilians killed crossborder fire five soldiers died conflict intensified update 72014 840 et hamas accepts 3hour humanitarian ceasefire afp hamas movement said sunday accepted proposal threehour humanitarian ceasefire gaza said made international committee red cross icrc contacted us offered broker threehour humanitarian truce enable ambulances evacuate dead wounded hamas accepted spokesman sami abu zuhri said statement hamas agreed occupation refused claimed although israeli public radio reported israeli government studying proposal icrc refused confirm deny report spokesman said making every effort ensure ways evacuate dead wounded update 72014 255 et israel bulldozes tunnels gaza ap reports israels military said early sunday widened ground offensive sending troops gaza since onset ground offensive israeli troops demolished dozen tunnels used hamas sneak israel carry attacks soldiers civilians army said israeli soldiers uncovered 34 shafts leading dozen underground tunnels deep 30 meters yards military said footage released israeli military showed tunnels demolished army excavators equipment ground airstrikes above160 update 71914 605 pm et markets optimistic crisis day israeli stocks slumped new york country sent soldiers gaza strip market rebounded erase losses reversal reflects optimism israeli militarys ground operation gaza quash barrages rocket fire wont drag prolonged conflict read businessweek update 71914 509 pm et hamas running rockets reuters reports israels army said saturday gazabased militants used lost half rockets 12 days fighting though islamist fighters say replenishing arsenal israeli military said palestinian fighters fired least 1705 rockets estimated stockpile 10000 depletion 17 percent update 71914 332 pm et 46 palestinians 2 israelis killed saturday afp reports israels operation hamas saw one bloodiest days saturday 46 palestinians killed gaza two israeli soldiers dying clash militants infiltrated jewish state israeli warplanes bombarded gaza air ground troops pressed assault land palestinian death toll rose 342 rights groups warning growing number victims children update 71914 1250 pm et protests israel gain strength around world girl smiles rally outside israeli embassy santiago chile july 19 2014 protester shouts holds placard demonstration lyon centraleastern france july 19 2014 160 demonstrators march whitehall oppose israels actions gaza july 19 2014 london england 160 protesters sport fake injuries demonstration brussels july 19 2014 update 71914 1235 pm et 2 israeli soldiers killed hamas tunnel attack globalposts noga tarnopolsky reports two israeli soldiers killed hamas tunnel attack160the two soldiers previously reported wounded according haaretz two israeli soldiers killed attack four wounded haaretz believed cell four five militants breached israeli border center gaza strip near israeli community kissufim fired machine guns antitank missile israel defense forces unit idf returned fire killing one militants started pursuit rest palestinian cell according senior idf officer pursuit took place inside israeli territory gps tarnopolsky gives context attack entries update 71914 1225 pm et number palestinians seeking un refuge steadily growing update 71914 1220 pm et 2nd israeli civilian killed rocket fire gaza israeli civilian became second killed saturday rocket attack southern israel israels medical services said 32yearold man died rocket shrapnel israeli national medical emergency services director general eli bin told media three others wounded including 4monthold girl critical condition 5yearold boy light condition three evacuated hospital southern israeli city beer sheva160 victims appear members single bedouin family living community southern israeli negev desert communities mostly unrecognized israel established israel founded 1948 electric grid protection rocket attacks globalposts noga tarnopolsky reports 50 rockets launched israel gaza saturday update 71914 1205 pm et globalposts noga tarnopolsky hamas diplomatic isolation displaying considerable military prowess hamas remains diplomatically isolated ever fraying ties among islamic groups regimes left hamas virtually orphan movement160only qatar willing offer financial support gulf monarchy unacceptable egypt nation bordering gaza south hamas severely strained internal tensions gazabased military wing foreignbased political wing military wing scuttled egypts unilateral announcement ceasefire last tuesday accepted israel lasted six hours160 update 71914 1151 et hamas publishes ceasefire initiative according jerusalem post hamas palestinian armed groups gaza strip saturday published initiative ceasefire israel initiative backed qatar calls immediate comprehensive ceasefire lifting blockade imposed gaza strip eight years ago release palestinians arrested israel recent weeks west bank update 71914 1053 et donkey suicide bomber stopped israelis telegraph hamas militants sent donkey laden explosives suicide mission one unconventional tactics yet seen fighting gaza israeli army said troops said forced open fire animal blowing approached position southern city rafah near egyptian border update 71914 956 et hamas thwarted tunnel invasion wounds 2 israeli soldiers160 globalposts noga tarnopolsky reports gaza border area two israeli soldiers critically wounded saturday militants attempted infiltrate israel tunnel roads blocked much southern israel aftermath skirmish hamas first attempt infiltrate israeli territory thursday hamas dispatched 13 heavily armed men one 20 tunnels160in bid gain access small israeli communal village near gaza border israeli intelligence detected operation followed men bombed tunnel heres video watch guy bottom left ninja roll 26 seconds pretty crazy160 israeli infantry tanks keeping missions declared goal eliminating network tunnels strayed narrow swathe near border israeli tanks amassed gaza border elite paratroopers members golani brigade waiting orders hamas attempts penetrate israeli communities heavily armed units confirmed israeli concerns hamas activities 18 months relative quiet pillar defense current conflict israeli army named protective edge israel determined use current military operation neutralize tunnels israeli observers foresee least weeklong ground engagement update 71914 830 et death toll tops 320 12th day fighting globalposts noga tarnopolsky reports palestinian160 death toll climbed past 320 family nine including four children buried saturday agence francepresse adds bodies retrieved southern city khan yunis emergency services spokesman ashraf alqudra said discoveries came deaths seven people outside mosque khan yunis qudra said adding three dead family read full piece update 71814 620 pm et signing live blog closed resume morning update 71814 606 pm et 11th day conflict death toll escalates160 agence francepresse fiftyfive gazans killed friday israel pressed major ground offensive coastal enclave raising overall palestinian death toll since july 8 296 medics said 160 mourners carry mosque body muhammad abu musallam palestinian young boy killed along sister brother israeli tank attack funeral july 18 2014 beit lahia north gaza strip israeli soldier also killed troops began offensive gaza periphery aimed destroying hamass network crossborder tunnels army said160israeli television said died friendly fire160 latest palestinian deaths included three members family killed israeli strike southern gazas rafah well 21yearold man also killed rafah emergency services spokesman ashraf alqudra said update 71814 333 pm et israel targeting tunnels israel reportedly targeting crossborder tunnels part gaza offensive160 dozens terror tunnels spread throughout gaza strip majority constructed utilized hamas army spokesman said statement quoted agence francepresse160 hamas tunnel network highly developed continuously preserved interconnecting launch sites rocket maintenance command control positions get glimpse tunnels look inside check this160 photo essay published business insider160 hayes brown editor thinkprogress wrote helpful explainer intricate underground tunnels used role play gazas economy told passes tunnels makes substantial portion vast majority gazan economy point brown wrote noted reason large portion gazan economy dependent tunnels crossings territory blocked off160 read full piece globalpost senior correspondent noga tarnopolsky gives take israels ground invasion from160ashkelon israel israeli ground invasion bit paradox one hand israeli infantry armor keeping declared mission attacking crossborder tunnels therefore keeping fairly narrow zone160the bombing gazan cities part ongoing air campaign160 hand really limited operation best estimate talking least weeklong ground operation israel determined use conflict neutralize tunnels yesterdays infiltration confirmation longheld fear limited really limited update 71814 1205 pm et obama says us deeply concerned risks escalation agence francepresse us president barack obama telephoned israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu friday voice concerns crisis gaza amid israeli ground offensive obama said us supports israels right defend united states friends allies deeply concerned risks escalation loss innocent life key snippets obamas statement israelgaza crisis obama affirmed israels right defend says sirens went tel aviv even phone netanyahu peter baker peterbakernyt july 18 2014 read full transcript speech washington post update 71814 1048 et impending water crisis gaza reuters united nations said friday stepping emergency aid gaza israels military offensive made water shortages worse stoked fears sewage contamination waterborne diseases displaced palestinian girl carries fresh water jerrycan school used shelter gaza city july 18 2014 tuesday un aid agencies international committee red cross warned years gazas water system deteriorating damage attacks meant whole coastal strip facing water crisis within days160 still concerned water supply gaza half population without water supply time un office coordination humanitarian affairs ocha spokeswoman amanda pitt told news briefing geneva update 71814 1015 et demonstrations israels gaza offensive continue break many corners world photos todays protests sudan sudanese men shout slogans protest israels military operation gaza strip capital khartoum july 18 2014 bahrain bahraini women hold pictures victims protest israels military operation gaza strip july 18 2014 village diraz west manama afghanistan afghan demonstrators shout slogans israeli attacks palestinian territories demonstration front eid gah mosque city kabul july 18 2014 update 71814 948 et netanyahu tells idf prepare significant broadening ground assault agence francepresse israel warned friday could broaden gaza ground assault aimed smashing hamass network crossborder tunnels intensified attacks killed 260 palestinians diplomats stepped efforts halt 11 days bloodshed around battered gaza strip pope francis demanded immediate ceasefire phone call israeli president shimon peres palestinian counterpart mahmoud abbas abbas reached french help lobby hamas allies qatar turkey pressure islamists accepting truce talks cairo foreign minister laurent fabius face israels land sea air offensive sent terrified civilians running cover islamist movement hamas remained defiant warned jewish state would drown swamp gaza gaza residents spoke night terror fierce gunbattles south allnight shelling north israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu warned operation could yet widened amid growing international calls avoid harm civilians instructions defense minister military prepare possibility significant broadening ground activity told ministers tel aviv update 71814 922 et look arent bomb shelters gaza160 christian science monitor lack bomb shelters gaza stands stark contrast israel invested heavily protection since 1991 gulf war building bomb shelters 17 million people scratch would massive logistical challenge ask israel especially government chronically red doesnt control borders update 71814 845 et number casualties continues increase reuters israel intensified land offensive gaza artillery tanks gunboats friday warned could significantly widen operation palestinian officials said killing ever greater numbers civilians 160 palestinian mourners gather around body fivemonthold fares almahmum another victim israeli bombardment funeral july 18 2014 rafah southern gaza strip palestinian health officials said 27 palestinians including baby two children 70yearold woman killed since israel sent ground forces denselypopulated strip 18 million palestinians thursday israeli military said killed 17 palestinian gunmen another 13 surrendered taken questioning infantry tank assault began islamist hamasdominated territory 160 israeli artillery shell fired border gaza july 18 2014 near sderot israel one israeli soldier killed several others wounded operations 150 targets including 21 concealed rocket launchers four tunnels attacked according military update 71714 1150 pm et signing live blog closed continue coverage tomorrow update 71714 1119 pm et kerry calls precise israeli ground operation gaza agence francepresse us secretary state john kerry urged israel thursday limit collateral damage gaza urging jewish state precise ground assault palestinian enclave call netanyahu kerry emphasized need avoid escalation restore 2012 ceasefire soon possible reinforced continuing commitment egyptian initiative way underscored importance hamas accepting plan soon possible state department statement said israeli leader turn stressed kerry imminent threat israeli civilians posed hamas tunnels gaza strip israel according statement kerry reaffirmed strong support israels right defend terrorist threats emanating tunnels israel expressed view precise operation target tunnels according office secretary also reiterated concern safety security civilians sides importance everything possible prevent civilian casualties bbc spoke yousef shehada lives rafah southern gaza current conditions sleep tanks bombing us everywhere says160 listen full interview update 71714 715 pm et gaza edge says bbc journalist160 bbcs chief international correspondent lyse doucet gaza right heres report via twitter atmosphere like ground update 71714 636 pm et israel approves callup reservists agence francepresse israel approved callup another 18000 reservists taking total number approved 65000 operation aimed protecting israeli lives strike significant blow hamass terror infrastructure army said shortly beforehand military began intensive bombardment enclave air sea well tanks massed along border salvoes rockets lit sky seafront hotel gaza city housing scores journalists shook violently force shelling sea afp correspondent said 160 israeli missile hits palestinian buildings gaza city july 17 2014 earlier thursday cairo lashed islamist hamas movement saying could saved dozens lives accepted egyptianbrokered truce hamas accepted egyptian proposal could saved lives least 40 palestinians egypts foreign minister sameh shoukri said israel said aim operation destroy network tunnels riddling gaza strip used assembling rockets others used staging crossborder attacks southern israel one attack foiled israeli forces early thursday prime minister benjamin netanyahu defense minister moshe yaalon evening instructed idf commence ground action strike terrorist tunnels gaza strip israeli territory statement premiers office said 160 israeli soldiers stand near southern israeli border gaza strip background july 17 2014 military spokesman said israel decided send troops repeated efforts end conflict failed tried three times last ten days deescalate every time met aggression major arye shalicar told afp goal strike hamas infrastructure operatives several places strip north east south part infrastructure target tunnels military spokesman general moti almoz urged gaza residents flee areas army operating warning ground campaign would extended much necessary following appeal washington un military pledged invest unprecedented efforts limit harm civilians ground palestinian witnesses reported gun battles breaking east southern city khan yunis military sources confirming one areas troops operating update 71714 358 pm et israeli army says launched ground operation gaza agence francepresse israel launched ground operation gaza late thursday tenth day offensive stamp rocket attacks palestinian enclave army said following 10 days hamas attacks land air sea repeated rejections offers deescalate situation israel defence forces army initiated ground operation within gaza strip said statement 160 israeli soldiers seen along border gaza july 17 2014 israels border gaza strip update 71714 340 pm et israeli tanks shelling gaza rehab hospital facility director says agence francepresse israeli tanks shelling gazas alwafa hospital whose 14 patients include paralysed coma several people hurt facilitys director said thursday israeli tanks shelling hospital hit several floors several nurses injured director basman alashi told afp hospital gazas shejaiya district come israeli fire several times israeli military called alashi doctors evacuate alashi told afp wednesday almost impossible move patients immobile questioned could go place safe gaza hospital safe said thursday night said contacting hospitals gaza try arrange ambulances transport 14 patients elsewhere alwafa came renewed israeli fire ambulances use heavy shelling many places said patient taken individually carried move tearing hospital apart bit bit update 71714 1237 pm et message unity says father teenager wounded rocket ashkelon globalpost senior correspondent noga tarnopolsky sent following dispatch ashkelon israel yarin levy teenager gravely wounded rocket ashkelon days ago still treated hospital160 room become pilgrimage site sorts past two days four israeli ministers two foreign vips visited taken photographs boy still pain asked dad avinoam bothered attention said anyone wishes us well welcome ive gotten calls arabs israelis message unity update 71714 1221 pm et three children died gaza update 71714 1107 et climbing death toll total death toll conflict 233 al jazeera published list names people lost lives since fighting began little week ago update 71714 1058 et lebanon files un complaint israel agence francepresse lebanon filed complaint thursday israel un security council saying violated sovereignty opening fire territory retaliation rocket attacks foreign ministry said israel fired 102 shells lebanon july 11 14 ongoing war israel gaza describing repeated dangerous violations period least nine rockets fired south lebanon israel israel responded artillery fire foreign ministry said lebanon rejects firing rockets territory occupied palestinian territory reference israel action threat peace stability serves neither lebanon palestinian resistance gives israel reason attack lebanon sovereignty added wednesday lebanese army announced two palestinian brothers suspected involvement rocket attacks northern israel arrested update 71714 1054 et rockets intercepted ashkelon sirens sounding globalpost senior correspondent noga tarnopolsky al jazeeras gregg carlstrom update 71714 1027 et reports security activity israels eshkol region update 71714 930 et unrwa launches investigation rockets found gaza school agence francepresse un agency palestinian refugees unrwa said thursday investigating finding 20 rockets hidden one vacant schools gaza strip condemned incident flagrant violation international law said rockets removed relative parties informed yesterday course regular inspection premises unrwa discovered approximately 20 rockets hidden vacant school gaza strip agency said statement unrwa strongly condemns group groups responsible placing weapons one installations continued flagrant violation inviolability premises international law update 71714 830 et humanitarian ceasefire ends reuters 160palestinians rushed shops banks thursday fivehour humanitarian ceasefire largely held sirens sounded southern israel 3 pm 1200 gmt exactly end fivehour ceasefire military said rocket fired coastal city ashkelon thursdays period relative calm israeli military said three mortar bombs launched israel gaza strip landing open areas israeli forces military added fired mortar rounds palestinian territory truce period soldier slightly wounded blast near frontier 160 palestinian employees wait cashpoint machine collect salaries temporary fivehour humanitarian ceasefire observed israel palestinian group hamas july 17 2014 gaza city 160 palestinian residents shop street gaza city temporary fivehour humanitarian ceasefire observed israel palestinian group hamas july 17 2014 update 71614 400 pm et signing live blog closed heres brief summary todays events pick coverage tomorrow update 71614 352 pm et israel observe fivehour humanitarian ceasefire gaza ynetnews report israel likely cease fire five hours thursday 10 3 pm 07001200 gmt160hamas yet announce intentions humanitarian ceasefire160 r ead full piece here160 update 71614 322 pm et 160 israeli army says deaths 4 children gaza beach tragic outcome agence francepresse army said killing four palestinian children gaza beachfront wednesday appeared tragic outcome israeli strike targeting hamas militants based preliminary results target strike hamas terrorist operatives military said statement reported civilian casualties strike tragic outcome update 71614 240 pm et murmurs ground invasion couple reports possible israeli ground invasion gaza based anonymous officials chat foreign correspondents new york times official member top brass briefing israeli ministers make strategic decisions said assessment based signals get diminishing returns aerial bombardment nine days every day passes makes possibility evident official told handful international journalists briefing militarys tel aviv headquarters hurt hard air get rid spoke condition anonymity military protocol read full story here160 update 71614 152 pm et abbas discussed gaza ceasefire proposal hamas official mena reports reuters palestinian president mahmoud abbas met hamas political official moussa abu marzouk wednesday cairo discuss egyptian initiative far failed halt week warfare gaza egypts state news agency mena said talks first concrete sign efforts reach ceasefire israel palestinian militants still active despite collapse day earlier proposed mutual deescalation violence update 71614 1237 pm et infographic recent air strikes gaza israel update 71614 1206 pm et thousands israeli reservists could called globalpost senior correspondent noga tarnopolsky huffpost live discuss deadly conflict including reports israeli government authorizing call 8000 reservists people taking mean israel may planning ground invasion possibly limited ground invasion though dont know exactly means tarnopolsky said others seeing another warning shot israelis sending hamas attempt corner ceasefire negotiations still ongoing160 watch full interview update 71614 1043 et funeral israeli victim huffington posts middle east correspondent sophia jones shared photos funeral 37yearold dror khenin first israeli killed gaza fire update 71614 1043 et hamas official cairo truce talks agence francepresse hamas official hold talks cairo wednesday egyptian efforts end deadly conflict gazabased islamist movement israel palestinians said hamas rejected ceasefire proposal egypt put forward week complaining party discussions meeting held afternoon official hamas representative egyptian leadership said azzam alahmad senior member fatah movement palestinian president mahmoud abbas ahmad said hoped talks cairo would crystalize definite formula egyptian initiative clarify plan proposed end hostilities 0600 gmt tuesday israel initially accepted egyptian initiative later intensified punishing air strikes aimed stamping rocket fire gaza militants following hamass rejection update 71614 1023 et four children killed israeli shelling gaza medical officials say reuters four palestinian children killed wednesday gaza beach shell fired israeli naval gunboat palestinian medical officials said asked incident israeli military spokesman tel aviv said checking report 160 smoke billows beach shack following israeli military strike july 16 2014 gaza city killed four children medics said 160 palestinian employees gaza citys aldeira hotel carry wounded boy following israeli military strike nearby beach july 16 2014 160 palestinian journalists take care wounded boy following israeli military strike nearby beach july 16 2014 gaza citys aldeira hotel update 71614 1014 et documenting number attacks deaths new york times published graphic documents air strikes fatalities gaza israel update 71614 940 et israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahus comments160 haaretz newspapers us editor chemi shalev update 71614 840 et israel urges gazans flee campaign intensifies agence francepresse israel urged 100000 gazans flee homes wednesday warning largely ignored despite intensification militarys nineday campaign hamas rejected ceasefire effort punishing israeli operation resumed pace palestinian leader mahmoud abbas travel egypt turkey search regional support immediate end fighting attempt egyptianbrokered truce collapsed far israels campaign ninth day killed 208 palestinians gazabased rights group saying 80 percent civilians period militants fired 1200 rockets israel tuesday claimed first israeli life overnight warplanes struck 40 sites across gaza among political targets militants also kept fire israels coastal plain four rockets shot metropolitan tel aviv air force also dropped flyers warning 100000 northeastern gaza strip evacuate homes ahead air campaign targeting terror sites operatives zeitun shejaiya two flashpoint districts east gaza city anm identical message sent beit lahiya north echoing similar army warning sunday 17000 residents north fled lives seeking refuge unrun schools well flyers residents also received texts prerecorded phone messages urging evacuate return notice issued warning people leave instead becoming victims policy hamas tries protect rockets civilians israeli president shimon peres said joint news conference italian foreign minister federica mogherini trying defend people must also trying hard hit innocent people gaza warnings immediate effect limited numbers seen leaving children picked flyers played afp correspondent said dropped bits paper planes telling people leave go asked faisal hassan father five lives zeitun leave house whatever happens hamas told residents ignore warnings saying need worry part psychological war intended disrupt domestic front said statement israels prime minister benjamin netanyahu vowed step military campaign hamas dismissed egyptian ceasefire proposal firing scores rockets border despite army holding fire six hours would better resolved diplomatically hamas leaves us choice expand intensify campaign said although israel would prefer truce putting boots ground security cabinet met overnight discuss possibility limited ground operation army radio reported saying ministers approved plans destroy hamass network tunnels also discussed possibility limited ground incursion would initially involve entering towns villages said update 71614 830 et read read earlier developments color bordercolorbbbbbb borderstylesolid borderwidth1px backgroundcolorf8f8f8 floatcenter marginleft 5px marginright 15px marginbottom 30px lineheight14px displayblock padding 15px
| 4,338 |
<p />
<p><a type="external" href="" /> <a href="#time" type="external">Timeline</a> | <a href="#else" type="external">Elsewhere</a></p>
<p>| <a href="#short" type="external">In Short</a></p>
<p><a href="#askcat" type="external">Ask Catalyst</a> | <a href="#math" type="external">Math Class</a></p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p>TIMELINE <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Sept. 4: IMPACT falters</p>
<p>CPS’ new $60 million computer information system, Instructional Management Program and Academic Communication Tool, causes chaos on the first day of school. Students miss classes and disappear from rosters. M. Hill Hammock, the district’s chief administrative officer, says the system simply is overwhelmed, a problem that may recur on a few “peak demand” days each year, such as the last day of school. Despite the system crash, CPS later claims a 93 percent first-day attendance, up slightly from last year.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Sept. 8: Home visits</p>
<p>CEO Arne Duncan, School Board President Rufus Williams, other district officials and community volunteers go door-to-door in the Englewood community encouraging students who did not show up during the first week of class to enroll in school. Students who did not show up at Clemente, Crane, Farragut, Harper, Hubbard, Kelly, Phillips, Schurz and Senn high schools also get visits. Each of those schools reported high numbers of dropouts and poor attendance in the 2006-07 school year.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Sept. 11: Payroll glitch</p>
<p>PeopleSoft, CPS’ new $17 million payroll system, wreaks havoc on checks for employees and retirees. Some retirees are being underpaid by $800 a month while more than 1,600 recent retirees are receiving estimated pension payments and may not get actual pension payments until November. No retirees have been paid for their unused sick days, and about 1,200 June retirees are owed a total of more than $35 million. CPS acknowledges the snafu and blames it on technical issues related to the start-up of a new system.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p><a href="#top" type="external">(Back to top)</a></p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p>ELSEWHERE <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Texas: Recovering dropouts</p>
<p>A new law will give school districts an incentive to re-enroll young adult dropouts by helping to defray the costs of educating them, according to the Sept. 14 Houston Chronicle. Districts will receive $30 per day for every student between the ages of 21 and 26 who re-enrolls in school. The state now provides that same level of funding for students under 21. Texas now has the highest upper age limit in the country for public schools students. In Chicago, the limit is 21.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Utah: Online testing</p>
<p>The state may scrap the use of standardized tests, including the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, in favor of online, so-called “adaptive” tests that would be designed to better gauge students’ progress and learning needs, according to the Sept. 8 Salt Lake Tribune. Students in grades 2 through 12 would take the tests at least three times a year, and teachers would get test results more rapidly through the online system. Students would also have to take the ACT and college and career readiness tests. The plan was developed by the state schools superintendent and a group of state educators.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>New Orleans: Battling truancy</p>
<p>The Recovery School District has hired 10 truancy officers and opened a truancy center to help get children back into school and keep their attendance up, according to the Sept. 8 Times-Picayune. Police will sweep neighborhoods to pick up children who skip school and take them to the new center, which is staffed with a social worker, counselor and youth advocates from the juvenile court system. Children who are not registered at any school will be automatically added to the enrollment rolls. Just 60 percent of students attended the first day of classes; since then, attendance has increased to about 70 percent.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p><a href="#top" type="external">(Back to top)</a></p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p>IN SHORT <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p />
<p />
<p>“I know you are working hard, but what you are doing is not working.”</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>David Gilligan, chief officer for high schools, to high school principals at an Aug. 24 meeting at Kenwood. On the same day, newspapers reported high school test scores had declined from last year.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p><a href="#top" type="external">(Back to top)</a></p>
<p />
<p />
<p>ASK CATALYST <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Why are there such differences between the libraries in schools and why do some not have librarians?</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Anonymous parent, North Side Parents Network</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>There is no dedicated funding in the CPS budget for libraries. CPS uses a staffing formula to allocate staff positions that can be split between a part-time physical education teacher and part-time librarian, says CPS Library Director Paul Whitsitt. It is up to the principal to decide how much discretionary money to commit to the library and how much time a staff member will spend running it. Many principals rely on parent organizations to raise money for the library, while others expect librarians to apply for outside grants. The district offers a matching grant of up to $5,000 for schools that spend some discretionary money or raise funds, but requests for grants far outstrip the money available, Whitsitt says. Last year, about 200 schools split $850,000 in grant funds, and Whitsitt expects funding will be about the same this year. The district is about to invest in a centrally automated library system, he adds, to let officials know which libraries need more books and eventually allow libraries to share their resources.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>E-mail your question to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>or send it to Ask Catalyst, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago,</p>
<p>IL 60604.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p><a href="#top" type="external">(Back to top)</a></p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p>MATH CLASS <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p />
<p />
<p>The United States ranks last in preschool enrollment among all other G-8 countries, according to a recent report by the National Center for Education Statistics that used data from 2004. Nearly 100% of 3- and 4-year olds were enrolled in preschool in France and Italy, and 75% or more in Germany, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom. In the U.S., the percentage of youngsters enrolled in preschool was only 53%. (NCES did not obtain early childhood data for the Russian Federation, another G-8 member.) Not until children reached the age of 6 in the U.S. were more than 90% enrolled in formal education.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p><a href="#top" type="external">(Back to top)</a></p>
| false | 3 |
timeline elsewhere short ask catalyst math class timeline sept 4 impact falters cps new 60 million computer information system instructional management program academic communication tool causes chaos first day school students miss classes disappear rosters hill hammock districts chief administrative officer says system simply overwhelmed problem may recur peak demand days year last day school despite system crash cps later claims 93 percent firstday attendance slightly last year sept 8 home visits ceo arne duncan school board president rufus williams district officials community volunteers go doortodoor englewood community encouraging students show first week class enroll school students show clemente crane farragut harper hubbard kelly phillips schurz senn high schools also get visits schools reported high numbers dropouts poor attendance 200607 school year sept 11 payroll glitch peoplesoft cps new 17 million payroll system wreaks havoc checks employees retirees retirees underpaid 800 month 1600 recent retirees receiving estimated pension payments may get actual pension payments november retirees paid unused sick days 1200 june retirees owed total 35 million cps acknowledges snafu blames technical issues related startup new system back top elsewhere texas recovering dropouts new law give school districts incentive reenroll young adult dropouts helping defray costs educating according sept 14 houston chronicle districts receive 30 per day every student ages 21 26 reenrolls school state provides level funding students 21 texas highest upper age limit country public schools students chicago limit 21 utah online testing state may scrap use standardized tests including iowa test basic skills favor online socalled adaptive tests would designed better gauge students progress learning needs according sept 8 salt lake tribune students grades 2 12 would take tests least three times year teachers would get test results rapidly online system students would also take act college career readiness tests plan developed state schools superintendent group state educators new orleans battling truancy recovery school district hired 10 truancy officers opened truancy center help get children back school keep attendance according sept 8 timespicayune police sweep neighborhoods pick children skip school take new center staffed social worker counselor youth advocates juvenile court system children registered school automatically added enrollment rolls 60 percent students attended first day classes since attendance increased 70 percent back top short know working hard working david gilligan chief officer high schools high school principals aug 24 meeting kenwood day newspapers reported high school test scores declined last year back top ask catalyst differences libraries schools librarians anonymous parent north side parents network dedicated funding cps budget libraries cps uses staffing formula allocate staff positions split parttime physical education teacher parttime librarian says cps library director paul whitsitt principal decide much discretionary money commit library much time staff member spend running many principals rely parent organizations raise money library others expect librarians apply outside grants district offers matching grant 5000 schools spend discretionary money raise funds requests grants far outstrip money available whitsitt says last year 200 schools split 850000 grant funds whitsitt expects funding year district invest centrally automated library system adds let officials know libraries need books eventually allow libraries share resources email question askcatcatalystchicagoorg send ask catalyst 332 michigan ave suite 500 chicago il 60604 back top math class united states ranks last preschool enrollment among g8 countries according recent report national center education statistics used data 2004 nearly 100 3 4year olds enrolled preschool france italy 75 germany canada japan united kingdom us percentage youngsters enrolled preschool 53 nces obtain early childhood data russian federation another g8 member children reached age 6 us 90 enrolled formal education back top
| 588 |
<p>By Eron Henry and Robert Dilday</p>
<p>Baptists are ratcheting up their assistance to the growing refugee crisis in Europe, as increasing numbers of migrants are fleeing war and economic dislocation for safer havens.</p>
<p>European leaders are struggling to develop a humanitarian response to hundreds of thousands of migrants, especially from the Middle East and Africa. The surge has both raised tensions in some European nations and spurred volunteer assistance efforts by European citizens.</p>
<p>The Baptist World Alliance said Sept. 15 it has allocated an initial $15,000 through its relief and development arm, Baptist World Aid, to Hungarian Baptists to aid refugees in that country.</p>
<p>Bela Szilagyi, vice president of Hungarian Baptist Aid told the BWA that HBAid’s temporary shelter is filled to capacity, indicating that this was the first such facility provided in the country for the refugees.</p>
<p>He said medical assistance has already been extended to some 700 refugees. “Most migrants who are ill suffer from upper respiratory issues, skin diseases and swellings,” Szilagyi said. “Thirty percent of those seeking medical attention were children and 70 percent were adults.”</p>
<p>In addition, Hungarians have distributed water and food at the Nyugati and Keleti train stations, as well as hygienic kits, medicine, disinfectants, diapers, baby food and toys.</p>
<p>“Many of our churches are busy responding to the challenge in many different ways,” said Thomas Klammt, commissioner for immigrants and refugees of the Union of Evangelical Free Churches in Germany. Congregations in Germany are “offering language courses, assistance in practical needs, even opening their houses and rooms for refugees to stay or find protection,” Klammt told the BWA. Guidelines to assist churches offering shelter in their sanctuary have been published.</p>
<p>In May of this year, Baptists in Germany passed a resolution on “Welcoming Christ in the Stranger.” Klammt reported that the Baptist union “has appointed a representative to the church commission that is directly addressing the Government Department for Migration.”</p>
<p>Christoph Haus, general secretary of German-based EBM International, said that in Germany, “we expect a number of 40,000 during the upcoming weekend and the next week. Last weekend it has been 25,000.”</p>
<p>Open the churches</p>
<p>“Right now very many refugees are arriving into Sweden,” said Inga Johansson, coordinator of church and society for the Uniting Church in Sweden, which includes Baptists. “The Uniting Church in Sweden has many congregations active in supporting refugees. We from the Uniting Church in Sweden urge congregations to open the churches for meeting places where refugees can receive support, counseling, language training and more.”</p>
<p>The Christian Council of Sweden has a committee working on migration issues, Johansson said. “We as a church are very keen that we, together with other organizations, support refugees and asylum seekers.”</p>
<p>The immigration crisis will be a major topic of discussion during meetings of the European Baptist Federation, one of six regional fellowships of the BWA, to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, beginning Sept. 23.</p>
<p>Virginia partners</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Baptist General Association of Virginia has sent $5,000 to Austrian Baptist Aid, an arm of the Austrian Baptist Union. Austria is both a destination for many migrants and a transiting country for others seeking refuge in Germany. The Austrians are currently providing food and shelter at this time with a long-term plan under development.</p>
<p>“Virginia Baptists have a longstanding relationship with Austrian Baptists dating back to our partnership with them over a decade ago,” said Dean Miller, team leader of the BGAV’s glocal missions team. “Our current relationship involves our Venturer program and sponsorship of a church planter in the area — Cesar Sotomayor — who has been working with immigrants and refugees as part of his ongoing church planting strategy. The Austrians are trusted friends and we are more than happy to walk alongside them at this time.”</p>
<p>Miller said a group of Virginia Baptists will attend the European Baptist Federation meeting next week to participate in discussions on the crisis. “This will allow Virginia Baptists to engage in firsthand conversations with those who are on the front lines of this crisis and gain a better understanding of the overall response and how we might move forward with a comprehensive plan with our partners.”</p>
<p>Ukraine</p>
<p>Miller said Sept. 15 an additional $20,000 has been sent through the European Baptist Federation to assist Ukrainian Baptists working with refugees from the eastern part of their country, which is embroiled in unrest. Thousands of Ukrainians have fled the country’s border with Russia for safer locations in the western Ukraine.</p>
<p>“A detailed plan has been developed by the Ukrainian Baptists in partnership with the EBF to provide immediate assistance to refugees in their country,” said Miller.</p>
<p>In another development, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship&#160; <a href="faith/missions/item/30460-cbf-releases-funds-for-syrian-refugee-relief" type="external">announced</a>&#160;Sept. 10 it has sent $15,000 to field personnel in Macedonia and Lebanon to assist with humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees.</p>
<p>An estimated 4.1 million Syrians have fled their homeland during four years of civil war, creating the worst refugee crisis since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Most are in neighboring countries of Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan but now are spilling into Europe. Financial contributions to refugee efforts may be made:</p>
<p>•&#160;Through the BWA&#160; <a href="http://www.bwanet.org/give" type="external">here</a>.•&#160;Through the BGAV&#160; <a href="http://bgav.org/how-you-can-make-a-difference-in-the-syrian-refugee-crisis/" type="external">here</a>.&#160;•&#160;Through the CBF&#160; <a href="http://www.cbf.net/syria/" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>Eron Henry is associate director of communications for the Baptist World Alliance.</p>
| false | 3 |
eron henry robert dilday baptists ratcheting assistance growing refugee crisis europe increasing numbers migrants fleeing war economic dislocation safer havens european leaders struggling develop humanitarian response hundreds thousands migrants especially middle east africa surge raised tensions european nations spurred volunteer assistance efforts european citizens baptist world alliance said sept 15 allocated initial 15000 relief development arm baptist world aid hungarian baptists aid refugees country bela szilagyi vice president hungarian baptist aid told bwa hbaids temporary shelter filled capacity indicating first facility provided country refugees said medical assistance already extended 700 refugees migrants ill suffer upper respiratory issues skin diseases swellings szilagyi said thirty percent seeking medical attention children 70 percent adults addition hungarians distributed water food nyugati keleti train stations well hygienic kits medicine disinfectants diapers baby food toys many churches busy responding challenge many different ways said thomas klammt commissioner immigrants refugees union evangelical free churches germany congregations germany offering language courses assistance practical needs even opening houses rooms refugees stay find protection klammt told bwa guidelines assist churches offering shelter sanctuary published may year baptists germany passed resolution welcoming christ stranger klammt reported baptist union appointed representative church commission directly addressing government department migration christoph haus general secretary germanbased ebm international said germany expect number 40000 upcoming weekend next week last weekend 25000 open churches right many refugees arriving sweden said inga johansson coordinator church society uniting church sweden includes baptists uniting church sweden many congregations active supporting refugees uniting church sweden urge congregations open churches meeting places refugees receive support counseling language training christian council sweden committee working migration issues johansson said church keen together organizations support refugees asylum seekers immigration crisis major topic discussion meetings european baptist federation one six regional fellowships bwa held sofia bulgaria beginning sept 23 virginia partners meanwhile baptist general association virginia sent 5000 austrian baptist aid arm austrian baptist union austria destination many migrants transiting country others seeking refuge germany austrians currently providing food shelter time longterm plan development virginia baptists longstanding relationship austrian baptists dating back partnership decade ago said dean miller team leader bgavs glocal missions team current relationship involves venturer program sponsorship church planter area cesar sotomayor working immigrants refugees part ongoing church planting strategy austrians trusted friends happy walk alongside time miller said group virginia baptists attend european baptist federation meeting next week participate discussions crisis allow virginia baptists engage firsthand conversations front lines crisis gain better understanding overall response might move forward comprehensive plan partners ukraine miller said sept 15 additional 20000 sent european baptist federation assist ukrainian baptists working refugees eastern part country embroiled unrest thousands ukrainians fled countrys border russia safer locations western ukraine detailed plan developed ukrainian baptists partnership ebf provide immediate assistance refugees country said miller another development cooperative baptist fellowship160 announced160sept 10 sent 15000 field personnel macedonia lebanon assist humanitarian aid syrian refugees estimated 41 million syrians fled homeland four years civil war creating worst refugee crisis since rwandan genocide 1994 neighboring countries turkey lebanon jordan spilling europe financial contributions refugee efforts may made 160through bwa160 here160through bgav160 here160160through cbf160 eron henry associate director communications baptist world alliance
| 517 |
<p>As U.S. officials cast doubt on Donald Trump’s claim he read the “body language” of intelligence officials at a recent briefing, NBC News has learned exclusive details of what unfolded in the room — and of reported tension between one of Trump's advisers and the briefers.</p>
<p>Six current and former senior officials said they were aware of friction between retired Gen. Michael Flynn, one of the advisers Trump brought to the briefing, and the officials who conducted the briefing. Four sources with knowledge of the briefing — including two intelligence officials who spoke to people in the room — said Flynn repeatedly interrupted the briefers until New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie intervened.</p>
<p>Both Christie and Flynn denied the officials' version of events, with Flynn calling the report "total b__s___" and Christie calling it "a complete work of fiction."</p>
<p>The Aug. 17 briefing is attracting fresh scrutiny after Trump said at NBC’s Commander-in-Chief Forum that he divined that intelligence officials were “not happy” with President Obama.</p>
<p>"What I did learn," Trump said, "is that our leadership, Barack Obama, did not follow ... what our experts said to do ... And I was very, very surprised.</p>
<p>"I could tell — I'm pretty good with body language — I could tell they were not happy."</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Clinton Slams Trump But She Blabbed About Briefing, Too</a></p>
<p>Timothy Barrett, a spokesman for the Director of National Intelligence, declined to comment Thursday on Trump's characterization.</p>
<p>However, a U.S. official pointed out that intelligence officers don't give policy advice, so it would be inaccurate to say that Obama failed to follow the advice of the intelligence community. A second U.S. official said analysts are trained not to allow their body language to betray their thinking.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">First Read: Trump's 9 Controversial Remarks in 24 Minutes</a></p>
<p>Meanwhile, four people with knowledge of the matter told NBC News that one of the advisers Trump brought to the briefing, retired general Mike Flynn, repeatedly interrupted the briefing with pointed questions.</p>
<p>Two sources said Christie, the New Jersey governor and Trump adviser, verbally restrained Flynn -- one saying Christie told Flynn to shut up, the other reporting he said, "Calm down." Two other sources said Christie touched Flynn's arm in an effort get him to calm down and let the officials continue.</p>
<p>Christie denied that he had silenced or restrained Flynn. "The comments and actions attributed to me in this story about General Flynn are categorically untrue. I did not make the statements alleged nor did I touch General Flynn's arm for any reason during the briefing. The report is a complete work of fiction."</p>
<p>Flynn told NBC News the report was "total b__s___" and added, "These are anonymous sources. They're lying."</p>
<p>In an interview on TODAY, Flynn was asked whether he saw what Trump claims he did at the briefing.</p>
<p>"I sure did...in a very specific way," Flynn said, though he went on to say that his conclusion was based not on body language but on intelligence officials drawing distinctions between the content of their briefing and White House policy.</p>
<p>The intelligence briefing is given to the presidential nominee from each party.</p>
<p>There were fewer than 10 people in the room at Trump's briefing, and all the briefers were career intelligence officials, including both military officers and civilians, U.S. officials told NBC News. A former senior intelligence official said the briefing team is always the same for both presidential candidates. None were political appointees, and none were among the team that briefs President Obama daily. The names of the briefers have not been made public.</p>
<p>The briefing was conducted at the "secret" level of classification, and it did not cover sources and methods or covert operations.</p>
<p>Current and former U.S. intelligence officials who asked that their names not be disclosed told NBC News that many members of the current intelligence community -- leadership rank and file -- were angered by Trump's comments Wednesday night, and the possibility that he may have disclosed details of his intelligence briefing or attempted to politicize it.</p>
<p>Former CIA and NSA director Mike Hayden, who opposes Trump, told NBC News that in almost four decades in intelligence "I have never seen anything like this before."</p>
<p>"A political candidate has used professional intelligence officers briefing him in a totally non-political setting as props to buttress an argument for his political campaign," said Hayden. "And his political point was actually imputed to them, not even something they allegedly said. The `I can read body language' line was quite remarkable. ... I am confident Director Clapper sent senior professionals to this meeting and so I am equally confident that no such body language ever existed. It's simply not what we do."</p>
<p>Michael Morell, a former acting CIA director who was President George W. Bush’s briefer and is now a Hillary Clinton supporter, said Trump's comments about his briefing were extraordinary.</p>
<p>"This is the first time that I can remember a candidate for president doing a readout from an intelligence briefing, and it’s the first time a candidate has politicized their intelligence briefing. Both of those are highly inappropriate and crossed a long standing red line respected by both parties," he said.</p>
<p>"To me this is just the most recent example that underscores that this guy is unfit to be commander in chief," Morell continued.</p>
<p>“His comments show that he’s got no understanding of how intelligence works. Intelligence officers do not make policy recommendations. It’s not their job and anyone running for president should know that. The people who briefed him, I’m pretty sure were career analysts — senior intel professionals. There is no way that they would in any way signal displeasure with the policies of the president.”</p>
<p>That said, intelligence officials have asserted they warned the administration repeatedly about the rise of ISIS in Iraq and Syria well before Obama ordered a bombing campaign. And as NBC News has reported, senior intelligence officials in 2012 proposed a covert operation to oust Bashar Assad in Syria, but Obama decided not to move forward with it.</p>
<p>-- Josh Meyer contributed reporting to this story</p>
| false | 3 |
us officials cast doubt donald trumps claim read body language intelligence officials recent briefing nbc news learned exclusive details unfolded room reported tension one trumps advisers briefers six current former senior officials said aware friction retired gen michael flynn one advisers trump brought briefing officials conducted briefing four sources knowledge briefing including two intelligence officials spoke people room said flynn repeatedly interrupted briefers new jersey gov chris christie intervened christie flynn denied officials version events flynn calling report total b__s___ christie calling complete work fiction aug 17 briefing attracting fresh scrutiny trump said nbcs commanderinchief forum divined intelligence officials happy president obama learn trump said leadership barack obama follow experts said surprised could tell im pretty good body language could tell happy related clinton slams trump blabbed briefing timothy barrett spokesman director national intelligence declined comment thursday trumps characterization however us official pointed intelligence officers dont give policy advice would inaccurate say obama failed follow advice intelligence community second us official said analysts trained allow body language betray thinking related first read trumps 9 controversial remarks 24 minutes meanwhile four people knowledge matter told nbc news one advisers trump brought briefing retired general mike flynn repeatedly interrupted briefing pointed questions two sources said christie new jersey governor trump adviser verbally restrained flynn one saying christie told flynn shut reporting said calm two sources said christie touched flynns arm effort get calm let officials continue christie denied silenced restrained flynn comments actions attributed story general flynn categorically untrue make statements alleged touch general flynns arm reason briefing report complete work fiction flynn told nbc news report total b__s___ added anonymous sources theyre lying interview today flynn asked whether saw trump claims briefing sure didin specific way flynn said though went say conclusion based body language intelligence officials drawing distinctions content briefing white house policy intelligence briefing given presidential nominee party fewer 10 people room trumps briefing briefers career intelligence officials including military officers civilians us officials told nbc news former senior intelligence official said briefing team always presidential candidates none political appointees none among team briefs president obama daily names briefers made public briefing conducted secret level classification cover sources methods covert operations current former us intelligence officials asked names disclosed told nbc news many members current intelligence community leadership rank file angered trumps comments wednesday night possibility may disclosed details intelligence briefing attempted politicize former cia nsa director mike hayden opposes trump told nbc news almost four decades intelligence never seen anything like political candidate used professional intelligence officers briefing totally nonpolitical setting props buttress argument political campaign said hayden political point actually imputed even something allegedly said read body language line quite remarkable confident director clapper sent senior professionals meeting equally confident body language ever existed simply michael morell former acting cia director president george w bushs briefer hillary clinton supporter said trumps comments briefing extraordinary first time remember candidate president readout intelligence briefing first time candidate politicized intelligence briefing highly inappropriate crossed long standing red line respected parties said recent example underscores guy unfit commander chief morell continued comments show hes got understanding intelligence works intelligence officers make policy recommendations job anyone running president know people briefed im pretty sure career analysts senior intel professionals way would way signal displeasure policies president said intelligence officials asserted warned administration repeatedly rise isis iraq syria well obama ordered bombing campaign nbc news reported senior intelligence officials 2012 proposed covert operation oust bashar assad syria obama decided move forward josh meyer contributed reporting story
| 583 |
<p>The top US commander in Iraq delivered his much anticipated assessment on Capitol Hill today. General David Petraeus spoke of "significant but uneven" progress in Iraq. He also warned against withdrawing too many troops from Iraq "too quickly." And he paid tribute to the troops.</p>
<p>�Despite how much we are asking of our young men and women in uniform they do recognize both the importance of what they're doing and I guess the intangible of being a part of the brotherhood of the close fight, if you will, which is truly unique and special. They have continued to raise their right hand and volunteer.�</p>
<p>General David Petraeus, speaking before the Senate Armed Service Committee today. You get a different idea of how the troops in Iraq feel when you listen to the music of New York-based band "Black 47."</p>
<p>Now, if you're wondering what a New York band could possibly know about the troops in Iraq -- The World's Marco Werman has the story.</p>
<p>Black 47's songwriter and bandleader Larry Kirwan is known for his rollicking tunes about love and life in New York City.</p>
<p>In 2003, as the world waited for the US-led coalition to invade Iraq, Larry Kirwan and Black 47 were playing a show in a downtown New York club.</p>
<p>It was St. Patrick's Day, always a big day for Black 47. But in 2003, it was two days before the invasion.</p>
<p>The band acknowledged the events that were about to happen half a world away by playing a reworked version of "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" by Pete Seeger.</p>
<p>Larry Kirwan says given the political spectrum of Black 47's fans, it was an awkward moment.</p>
<p>�Black 47 sits on a fulcrum between left and right. We have a strong right wing of, you know, people who've been made up of cops, firemen, construction workers, because we come from an Irish bar background. And then of course we have radicals, students, people who might feel more left wing. And there was dissension between those groups of people at the gigs. Soon thereafter I realized no sense in playing Pete's song; let's do this song that came to mind "Downtown Baghdad Blues," that was inspired by emails I started to get from Black 47 fans who were in Iraq.�</p>
<p>Those emails from US soldiers who, by then, were in Iraq gave Kirwan images and words for his new song.</p>
<p>"Downtown Baghdad Blues" is on Black 47's latest album called "Iraq."</p>
<p>The tune begins like a scene from a Vietnam drama, helicopter blades chopping in the background.</p>
<p>As Kirwan exchanged more emails with Black 47 fans in Iraq, he began to get a clearer picture of the scene there. He composed some more songs. Black 47 played them at gigs in New York. Mp3s of those shows wound their way to GIs in Iraq who welcomed them. �And then last July I decided "You know no one is giving the real opinion of what's going on over there from the point of view of the troops." Everyone says "Support the troops," "Put your yellow ribbons on the back of your cars," but let's find out what's going on with them over there.�</p>
<p>Hearing a song about what we were going through was a total shock because we could watch the news and not see anything about what we were going through, and yet somebody could record a song, put it on a CD, and have the CD filter its way over to Iraq. You'd expect to see a quicker turnaround on the nightly news than with a piece of music.� That's Captain Padraic Lilly of the 42nd Infantry Division. Lilly is a New Yorker.</p>
<p>He didn't know the music of Black 47 when he began his year-long tour of duty in Iraq in October of 2004.</p>
<p>But soon after arriving, Lilly joined other GIs trading music files.</p>
<p>"Downtown Baghdad Blues" was the first Black 47 song Captain Lilly heard.</p>
<p>�One part of the song says "I didn't want to come here, I didn't get to choose." And obviously most of us realize that you choose to sign up, and if you're sent somewhere then that's your lot. But some parts of it were perfect.�</p>
<p>�While we were in Kuwait, waiting to go into Iraq, it was December, the first couple of days of December of 04, there was a mad scramble to armor up the Humvees that we were going to drive from Kuwait into Iraq, and a lot of them were still thin-skinned, but there was a mad scramble to get these things armored up as best we could. And one part of that song says, "Got no armor for my Humvee, I'm left chasing this train wreck." I mean you almost felt like he was sitting in the crowd with us because we actually sat in the clamshell hangar when Secretary of Defense Rumseld came and was asked the question about what are we doing about these Humvees that are still thin-skinned and we're about to drive them into Iraq. And he came back with the answer that "You go to war with the army you have, not he army you wished you had."</p>
<p>Captain Lilly says he and his fellow soldiers had a hard-time stomaching Rumsfeld's answer.</p>
<p>He also says as soldiers, they were in no position to criticize.</p>
<p>But he adds they took comfort listening to able to listen to Black 47 songs that said things they were thinking.</p>
<p>�There are a lot of people who agree with Larry Kirwan who aren't allowed to say that, because when you wear the uniform you can't speak out against the administration. And that's why, to hear something like what Larry did with Downtown Baghdad Blues, to hear the album of "Iraq" come out, it's very good for the troops that can't speak out otherwise to hear somebody saying something that they agree with.�</p>
<p>Captain Padraic Lilly wouldn't describe himself as anti-war. But he recognizes the value of people like Larry Kirwan speaking their minds.</p>
<p>�At the beginning of the war, there was a lot of flag waving, and there was a lot of blind patriotism, and there were a lot of people that said, "It must be right because we just got punched in the mouth on 9-11, so whatever we do has got to be associated with revenge and we'll just take it on farther that it's the right thing." But I think the fact that Black 47 was putting songs out at that time that didn't go along with that mass hysteria shows that they've got the guts, the wherewithal to say what they feel, whether or not it's popular. I do think that they didn't drink the Kool-Aid, which I can appreciate.�</p>
<p>Larry Kirwan says his aim all along with the CD "Iraq" was simply to document the war through the voices of those fighting it.</p>
<p>�The way I look at Iraq is, 20 years from now you could put that CD on and you will have a very small window into the way people felt at this particular point in time. And what else can you do better than that as a musician or composer or would-be artist?�</p>
<p>For The World, I'm Marco Werman.</p>
| false | 3 |
top us commander iraq delivered much anticipated assessment capitol hill today general david petraeus spoke significant uneven progress iraq also warned withdrawing many troops iraq quickly paid tribute troops ï½despite much asking young men women uniform recognize importance theyre guess intangible part brotherhood close fight truly unique special continued raise right hand volunteerï½ general david petraeus speaking senate armed service committee today get different idea troops iraq feel listen music new yorkbased band black 47 youre wondering new york band could possibly know troops iraq worlds marco werman story black 47s songwriter bandleader larry kirwan known rollicking tunes love life new york city 2003 world waited usled coalition invade iraq larry kirwan black 47 playing show downtown new york club st patricks day always big day black 47 2003 two days invasion band acknowledged events happen half world away playing reworked version flowers gone pete seeger larry kirwan says given political spectrum black 47s fans awkward moment ï½black 47 sits fulcrum left right strong right wing know people whove made cops firemen construction workers come irish bar background course radicals students people might feel left wing dissension groups people gigs soon thereafter realized sense playing petes song lets song came mind downtown baghdad blues inspired emails started get black 47 fans iraqï½ emails us soldiers iraq gave kirwan images words new song downtown baghdad blues black 47s latest album called iraq tune begins like scene vietnam drama helicopter blades chopping background kirwan exchanged emails black 47 fans iraq began get clearer picture scene composed songs black 47 played gigs new york mp3s shows wound way gis iraq welcomed ï½and last july decided know one giving real opinion whats going point view troops everyone says support troops put yellow ribbons back cars lets find whats going thereï½ hearing song going total shock could watch news see anything going yet somebody could record song put cd cd filter way iraq youd expect see quicker turnaround nightly news piece musicï½ thats captain padraic lilly 42nd infantry division lilly new yorker didnt know music black 47 began yearlong tour duty iraq october 2004 soon arriving lilly joined gis trading music files downtown baghdad blues first black 47 song captain lilly heard ï½one part song says didnt want come didnt get choose obviously us realize choose sign youre sent somewhere thats lot parts perfectï½ ï½while kuwait waiting go iraq december first couple days december 04 mad scramble armor humvees going drive kuwait iraq lot still thinskinned mad scramble get things armored best could one part song says got armor humvee im left chasing train wreck mean almost felt like sitting crowd us actually sat clamshell hangar secretary defense rumseld came asked question humvees still thinskinned drive iraq came back answer go war army army wished captain lilly says fellow soldiers hardtime stomaching rumsfelds answer also says soldiers position criticize adds took comfort listening able listen black 47 songs said things thinking ï½there lot people agree larry kirwan arent allowed say wear uniform cant speak administration thats hear something like larry downtown baghdad blues hear album iraq come good troops cant speak otherwise hear somebody saying something agree withï½ captain padraic lilly wouldnt describe antiwar recognizes value people like larry kirwan speaking minds ï½at beginning war lot flag waving lot blind patriotism lot people said must right got punched mouth 911 whatever got associated revenge well take farther right thing think fact black 47 putting songs time didnt go along mass hysteria shows theyve got guts wherewithal say feel whether popular think didnt drink koolaid appreciateï½ larry kirwan says aim along cd iraq simply document war voices fighting ï½the way look iraq 20 years could put cd small window way people felt particular point time else better musician composer wouldbe artistï½ world im marco werman
| 629 |
<p>BOSTON - It is said that when globe-circling astronauts look down from the nighttime sky on Northeast Asia, the southern half of the Korean Peninsula is bathed in light. The northern half is in almost total darkness, with only a few dim bulbs to be seen outside the capital. Great famines sweep the land, and hunger is present even in the best of times.</p>
<p>Yet the largely pre-industrial and isolated country of North Korea is a master of nuclear weaponry. It has an enormous army poised on the border with South Korea, a dangerous tendency towards sudden aggression, unpredictable behavior, and an unfathomable leadership.</p>
<p>Known in the 19th century as the "Hermit Kingdom" for its propensity for isolation, its 21st-century leadership just got more unfathomable with the death of only its second leader since World War II, Kim Jong Il.</p>
<p>Now the world awaits the next of Kim, the third son of the deceased "Dear Leader," Kim Jong Un, who may or may not continue the dynasty into the coming decades.</p>
<p>He is Kim Jong Il's chosen successor, and was recently made a four-star general even though his military experience was nil. It is likely that North Korea's all-powerful army will keep the young Kim for the sake of continuity and legitimacy, but nobody really knows.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/111219/kim-jong-il-successor-who-kim-jong-un-profile" type="external">Who is Kim Jong Un?</a></p>
<p>The only steady and abiding truth about North Korea is that nobody on the outside knows. Even in this age of instant communications and social networking, even with sophisticated intelligence eavesdropping and satellite imagery, the outside world knows next-to-nothing about the inner workings of the North Korean government.</p>
<p>One hears so-called experts interviewed about what comes next in North Korea, but the honest ones are quick to confess that they don't know. The hermit appellation still applies.</p>
<p>The stakes in what happens next are high, because North Korea exports missiles and nuclear technology and can be extremely and recklessly aggressive. It is ironic that the Obama administration spends so much time worrying about whether or not Iran will become a nuclear power, while the far more dangerous and unpredictable North Korea shouts its nuclear capabilities like a spoiled child banging on the table with a spoon.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/south-korea/111219/kim-jong-il-dead-north-korea-kim-jong-un" type="external">What's next for North Korea?</a></p>
<p>In ancient times Korea was the conduit through which China's culture and religions were taken, absorbed and modified before being passed on to Japan. But like Poland in the West, Korea was caught between two much more powerful neighbors.</p>
<p>In the early 19th century, Korea was more successful than others in keeping out Western traders and imperialists who sought to pry open the kingdoms of the east. Missionaries, as was their wont, would try to make inroads on native religions, but in Korea they were more likely to be massacred than tolerated.</p>
<p>In 1866, a British trading company sent the armed side-wheeler, "General Sherman," to Korea in the hopes of getting it to open up. The ship was told it was not welcome. A confrontation resulted in the General Sherman firing upon crowds and soldiers on the river bank. The Koreans set fire-rafts down upon the American ship and all her crew were killed either by fire or sword when they tried to swim ashore.</p>
<p>The French landed an expeditionary force, but were forced to retreat, and in 1871 an American punitive expedition resulted in the death of several hundred Koreans. Korea's isolation was coming to an end, and in 1895 Japan went to war with China largely to decide Korea's fate.</p>
<p>Japan won, and Korea became a Japanese protectorate, only to be annexed by Japan in 1910. World War II resulted in the end of Japanese rule and the division of the country between the capitalist south and the Stalinist north.</p>
<p>Whereas China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos have drifted towards capitalist ways, North Korea is the last true Communist country left on earth, with a cult of personality and regimented society worthy of Stalin himself.</p>
<p>The Korean War, which resulted in 38,000 American dead as well as uncounted thousands of Koreans and Chinese, further isolated the north.</p>
<p>In 1968 US-Korean tensions boiled over again with North Korea capturing the spy ship USS Pueblo, mistreating her crew before they were released.</p>
<p>In recent times, the US has vacillated between engagement and isolation. Bill Clinton's secretary of state, Madeline Albright, actually visited North Korea, while George W. Bush's administration would have nothing to do with it on the grounds that it was evil.</p>
<p>In the end neither isolation nor engagement have succeeded in sweet-talking North Korea out of its nuclear ambitions, and North Korea has cheerfully cheated on every promise the West thought it had.</p>
<p>Some of the Hermit Kingdom's peculiarities have sounded like alien behavior in science fiction - such as kidnapping South Koreans and Japanese and keeping them for the rest of their lives so that they could be studied and examined on how their societies worked. And from time to time, missile tests would be fired over the heads of neighbors, or some provocative artillery shells would arrive with no apparent reason.</p>
<p>More recently, North Koreans were caught allegedly trying to help Syria set up a nuclear bomb-making factory, which the Israelis bombed the moment they found out about it.</p>
<p>The only country with any influence over North Korea is China, but China has been extremely reluctant to use its powers of persuasion. China's worst nightmare is a North Korean implosion, leading to thousands, perhaps millions of North Koreans flooding over China's borders.</p>
<p>China has tried urging reforms on North Korea, but, seeing what has happened in the Middle East and the fall of dictators, it is unlikely that North Korea would allow any expression of popular will.</p>
<p>And so with the death of Kim Jong Il, North Korea is passing through another moment of transition, but to what remains an enigma.</p>
| false | 3 |
boston said globecircling astronauts look nighttime sky northeast asia southern half korean peninsula bathed light northern half almost total darkness dim bulbs seen outside capital great famines sweep land hunger present even best times yet largely preindustrial isolated country north korea master nuclear weaponry enormous army poised border south korea dangerous tendency towards sudden aggression unpredictable behavior unfathomable leadership known 19th century hermit kingdom propensity isolation 21stcentury leadership got unfathomable death second leader since world war ii kim jong il world awaits next kim third son deceased dear leader kim jong un may may continue dynasty coming decades kim jong ils chosen successor recently made fourstar general even though military experience nil likely north koreas allpowerful army keep young kim sake continuity legitimacy nobody really knows globalpost kim jong un steady abiding truth north korea nobody outside knows even age instant communications social networking even sophisticated intelligence eavesdropping satellite imagery outside world knows nexttonothing inner workings north korean government one hears socalled experts interviewed comes next north korea honest ones quick confess dont know hermit appellation still applies stakes happens next high north korea exports missiles nuclear technology extremely recklessly aggressive ironic obama administration spends much time worrying whether iran become nuclear power far dangerous unpredictable north korea shouts nuclear capabilities like spoiled child banging table spoon globalpost whats next north korea ancient times korea conduit chinas culture religions taken absorbed modified passed japan like poland west korea caught two much powerful neighbors early 19th century korea successful others keeping western traders imperialists sought pry open kingdoms east missionaries wont would try make inroads native religions korea likely massacred tolerated 1866 british trading company sent armed sidewheeler general sherman korea hopes getting open ship told welcome confrontation resulted general sherman firing upon crowds soldiers river bank koreans set firerafts upon american ship crew killed either fire sword tried swim ashore french landed expeditionary force forced retreat 1871 american punitive expedition resulted death several hundred koreans koreas isolation coming end 1895 japan went war china largely decide koreas fate japan korea became japanese protectorate annexed japan 1910 world war ii resulted end japanese rule division country capitalist south stalinist north whereas china vietnam cambodia laos drifted towards capitalist ways north korea last true communist country left earth cult personality regimented society worthy stalin korean war resulted 38000 american dead well uncounted thousands koreans chinese isolated north 1968 uskorean tensions boiled north korea capturing spy ship uss pueblo mistreating crew released recent times us vacillated engagement isolation bill clintons secretary state madeline albright actually visited north korea george w bushs administration would nothing grounds evil end neither isolation engagement succeeded sweettalking north korea nuclear ambitions north korea cheerfully cheated every promise west thought hermit kingdoms peculiarities sounded like alien behavior science fiction kidnapping south koreans japanese keeping rest lives could studied examined societies worked time time missile tests would fired heads neighbors provocative artillery shells would arrive apparent reason recently north koreans caught allegedly trying help syria set nuclear bombmaking factory israelis bombed moment found country influence north korea china china extremely reluctant use powers persuasion chinas worst nightmare north korean implosion leading thousands perhaps millions north koreans flooding chinas borders china tried urging reforms north korea seeing happened middle east fall dictators unlikely north korea would allow expression popular death kim jong il north korea passing another moment transition remains enigma
| 560 |
<p>Hales Franciscan High School is a lead character in the story Jack Ryan has told on the campaign trail for the last year.</p>
<p>Ryan, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, makes sure voters know that he gave up a prosperous investment banking career to teach history and literature at the all-boys, all-black Catholic school on Chicago’s South Side. And he frequently uses images of the school to illustrate what he believes is an unorthodox approach to conservative politics. Last May, flanked by some of his former students, he officially launched his campaign from the school’s gymnasium. In speeches pushing his school voucher plan, he cited Hales as a model whose achievements-like sending all graduating seniors on to college-other inner-city schools could end up matching. And one of his most successful television ads before the primary showed him in a Hales classroom, handing back papers and writing on a chalkboard while students gathered around, alternately looking engaged and laughing-a sign that this was one rich white guy who was committed, cool and different from all the others.</p>
<p>And that’s the way many former students and teaching colleagues describe him. “Jack was a good guy. All the time he was here, we never knew he was running for political office,” said Derrel Sanders, who teaches English literature and coaches track and basketball at the school. “I considered Jack a person who was coming to our school to help the least of these. He was a guy who tried to do something.”</p>
<p>Yet as Ryan gears up for a November showdown with Democratic state Sen. Barack Obama, whose district includes the Hales campus, some Hales leaders have been working to deliver the very different message that the school isn’t involved in politics and doesn’t favor anyone in the Senate race.</p>
<p>“We’re proud of the fact that Jack Ryan has been able to reach the level of success he has so far in his political career, and that he’s gone out of his way to spotlight his work at Hales. And we’re proud of the representation we’ve gotten from Sen. Obama over the years,” said Bill Owens, chairman of the Hales board of trustees. But “we are absolutely not endorsing either candidate.”</p>
<p>It was a point school officials made repeatedly this spring, especially after the Hales Association of Parents named Obama the featured speaker at its annual prayer breakfast.</p>
<p>Vivian Carter, president of the parents group, said Obama was an ideal choice to keynote the event, which is equal parts worship service, pep rally and fundraiser. “He’s intelligent, he’s articulate and he’s handsome. Who wouldn’t want to be Sen. Barack Obama at this time? Who would not want to follow his lifestyle?” she said. “I wanted someone who was young enough and vibrant enough to hold [the students’] attention.”</p>
<p>She also wanted someone who was African American. “I think if Jewish men can speak to Jewish kids, and Irish men can speak to Irish kids, why couldn’t a successful African American man speak to our African American young men?”</p>
<p>Carter emphasized that the breakfast is not a political event, and that the speakers have always been chosen for their ability to inspire Hales students and bring in a paying crowd-never for their politics. Past speakers have included clergy and other community leaders, she said.</p>
<p>“This had nothing to do with Jack Ryan,” she said. “Hales Franciscan is not in a Senate race. Jack Ryan spent a couple of years here, and that’s wonderful. But it is not Jack Ryan’s school.”</p>
<p>Carter said she is an Obama supporter, though he had left her “pissed off” last fall when he seemingly blew off an earlier request for a donation to Hales. And she admitted that not everyone at Hales was pleased with the invitation to Obama. “It wasn’t supported, necessarily, by the board of directors.”</p>
<p>Not true, said Owens. “I’m not aware of an issue. The board is supportive of both candidates.”</p>
<p>Obama was certainly well received at the breakfast. As WVON radio personality Cliff Kelley hosted his show live from the hallway just inside the school’s front entrance, Obama stood nearby posing for pictures with students in matching khakis, white shirts and dark ties. Obama began working his way into the gym. Parents, alumni and other Hales supporters pushed aside their breakfast plates and stood to shake his hand, and within moments, a small crowd had clustered around him.</p>
<p>Hales senior DéJuon Battles-Newby was busy directing people to the food tables on each side of the room. A future journalism student at Loyola University Chicago, he said he thought Obama was an odd choice for the keynote speaker, noting that some students were upset about it.</p>
<p>Ryan, his sophomore-year literature and junior-year pre-law instructor, “is a great teacher and a great guy,” said Battles-Newby, adding that many students, including him, were volunteering for the Ryan campaign.</p>
<p>Still, he said, “people here are mostly Democrats. The only reason people here would vote for Jack is because he taught here. And even then, some won’t vote for him.”</p>
<p>A few minutes later, Owens stood at the podium in front to introduce Obama. “I can think of no one who understands the theme of our breakfast better than Sen. Barack Obama,” he said, and applause filled the gym.</p>
<p>Obama congratulated the teachers, staff and parents for making the school successful. He said he was glad to be visiting for the first time in four or five years. Then he said, “Some of you may know that I had the good fortune to be nominated to be the Democratic Senate candidate from the state of Illinois.” He paused for the rousing applause before continuing. “And we have an outstanding Republican nominee who has a bit of connection here, and I’m looking forward to a spirited debate. But I don’t want to talk about politics today.”</p>
<p>He wanted to talk about attitude, he said. “What does it meant to be a full-grown man?” he asked the students. He urged them to take responsibility for their actions and get a great education.</p>
<p>Given the history of discrimination against African Americans, “it’s not surprising that many of us would feel oppressed and abused and have a ready-made excuse for why we can’t do everything right,” he said. For example, “I hear people complaining all the time about politics, about how politicians talk a good game but don’t do nothing. Yet when I ask them, ‘Did you vote?’ they say, ‘No.’ That is unacceptable. You are complicit in your own oppression if you’re not going to use all the tools at your disposal.”</p>
<p>Each of the students should work hard and do better than what was expected of them, he said. “I want you to own your own businesses. I want you to run for the U.S. Senate. I want you to become president-I’m just laying the groundwork for you here.”</p>
<p>Obama next stressed that they needed to learn to empathize with others. “I hope you don’t just hang out with people who look like you,” he said. “Try to spend some time with people from another race and see what their life is like. –¦ One of the reasons our campaign was successful was that we saw that people have common interests.” He received a standing ovation.</p>
<p>Afterward, Naomi and Cleophus Sanders, grandparents of a Hales junior, said the speech reaffirmed their commitment to voting for Obama. They were excited about what they saw as his firm grasp of issues affecting people nationwide. “We look at the work [candidates] do, not just for black people, but for people as a whole,” Naomi Sanders said. “We’re not saying Ryan has not done good work-we just want this young man.”</p>
<p>“Jack Ryan is going to have to try another time,” her husband said. Kelli Phiel, Ryan’s spokesperson, said he had no problem with Obama’s appearance at Hales. “It’s obviously a good thing when young students become educated on the issues,” she said. “Jack would stand behind that as their former teacher.”</p>
<p>And the Obama campaign stressed that its candidate simply wanted to take the chance to inspire some young men. “They wanted him to speak from his heart,” said communications director Robert Gibbs.</p>
<p>Owens, the board president, believes Hales would be an ideal venue for a candidates’ debate in the fall. He said the board would be in conversation with the two camps. “This is certainly neutral ground for both,” he said.</p>
<p>Several days after the event, though, Carter wanted to steer the subject back to Hales and its students. The breakfast was a success because her son and the other students had heard a positive, encouraging message, she said. And it had helped her group generate some attention Hales desperately needs.</p>
<p>“This isn’t about Barack Obama,” she said. “It’s about the fact that they have windows that are 40 years old. They did have a heating problem. They don’t have the equipment for my son who runs track. We’ve got to have some people there who really care, because there’s so much that needs to be done. That’s what this is about.”</p>
| false | 3 |
hales franciscan high school lead character story jack ryan told campaign trail last year ryan republican nominee us senate makes sure voters know gave prosperous investment banking career teach history literature allboys allblack catholic school chicagos south side frequently uses images school illustrate believes unorthodox approach conservative politics last may flanked former students officially launched campaign schools gymnasium speeches pushing school voucher plan cited hales model whose achievementslike sending graduating seniors collegeother innercity schools could end matching one successful television ads primary showed hales classroom handing back papers writing chalkboard students gathered around alternately looking engaged laughinga sign one rich white guy committed cool different others thats way many former students teaching colleagues describe jack good guy time never knew running political office said derrel sanders teaches english literature coaches track basketball school considered jack person coming school help least guy tried something yet ryan gears november showdown democratic state sen barack obama whose district includes hales campus hales leaders working deliver different message school isnt involved politics doesnt favor anyone senate race proud fact jack ryan able reach level success far political career hes gone way spotlight work hales proud representation weve gotten sen obama years said bill owens chairman hales board trustees absolutely endorsing either candidate point school officials made repeatedly spring especially hales association parents named obama featured speaker annual prayer breakfast vivian carter president parents group said obama ideal choice keynote event equal parts worship service pep rally fundraiser hes intelligent hes articulate hes handsome wouldnt want sen barack obama time would want follow lifestyle said wanted someone young enough vibrant enough hold students attention also wanted someone african american think jewish men speak jewish kids irish men speak irish kids couldnt successful african american man speak african american young men carter emphasized breakfast political event speakers always chosen ability inspire hales students bring paying crowdnever politics past speakers included clergy community leaders said nothing jack ryan said hales franciscan senate race jack ryan spent couple years thats wonderful jack ryans school carter said obama supporter though left pissed last fall seemingly blew earlier request donation hales admitted everyone hales pleased invitation obama wasnt supported necessarily board directors true said owens im aware issue board supportive candidates obama certainly well received breakfast wvon radio personality cliff kelley hosted show live hallway inside schools front entrance obama stood nearby posing pictures students matching khakis white shirts dark ties obama began working way gym parents alumni hales supporters pushed aside breakfast plates stood shake hand within moments small crowd clustered around hales senior déjuon battlesnewby busy directing people food tables side room future journalism student loyola university chicago said thought obama odd choice keynote speaker noting students upset ryan sophomoreyear literature junioryear prelaw instructor great teacher great guy said battlesnewby adding many students including volunteering ryan campaign still said people mostly democrats reason people would vote jack taught even wont vote minutes later owens stood podium front introduce obama think one understands theme breakfast better sen barack obama said applause filled gym obama congratulated teachers staff parents making school successful said glad visiting first time four five years said may know good fortune nominated democratic senate candidate state illinois paused rousing applause continuing outstanding republican nominee bit connection im looking forward spirited debate dont want talk politics today wanted talk attitude said meant fullgrown man asked students urged take responsibility actions get great education given history discrimination african americans surprising many us would feel oppressed abused readymade excuse cant everything right said example hear people complaining time politics politicians talk good game dont nothing yet ask vote say unacceptable complicit oppression youre going use tools disposal students work hard better expected said want businesses want run us senate want become presidentim laying groundwork obama next stressed needed learn empathize others hope dont hang people look like said try spend time people another race see life like one reasons campaign successful saw people common interests received standing ovation afterward naomi cleophus sanders grandparents hales junior said speech reaffirmed commitment voting obama excited saw firm grasp issues affecting people nationwide look work candidates black people people whole naomi sanders said saying ryan done good workwe want young man jack ryan going try another time husband said kelli phiel ryans spokesperson said problem obamas appearance hales obviously good thing young students become educated issues said jack would stand behind former teacher obama campaign stressed candidate simply wanted take chance inspire young men wanted speak heart said communications director robert gibbs owens board president believes hales would ideal venue candidates debate fall said board would conversation two camps certainly neutral ground said several days event though carter wanted steer subject back hales students breakfast success son students heard positive encouraging message said helped group generate attention hales desperately needs isnt barack obama said fact windows 40 years old heating problem dont equipment son runs track weve got people really care theres much needs done thats
| 823 |
<p>A lot of people have been saying the triumph of a man like Donald Trump is unprecedented in American history. But then you have to remember Andrew Jackson.</p>
<p>Even former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a close Trump confidante and advisor, compared Trump favorably with Jackson.</p>
<p>"This is like Andrew Jackson's victory. This is the people beating the establishment. And that's how he [Donald Trump] posited right from the beginning, the people are rising up against a government they find to be dysfunctional. And yes, it's a defeat for the Democrats, but this is a defeat for some Republicans too," he told MSNBC.</p>
<p>Old Hickory. The hero of the Battle of New Orleans. The champion of the common man. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, seventh President of the United States, from 1829 to 1837. Father of both the Democratic Party&#160;and, arguably, the father of modern politics. &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Let's start with the hair. We all know Jackson’s face from the $20 bill. But take a look at that big unruly shock of hair. It was red (at least till he got old).</p>
<p>Jackson was extremely controversial, charismatic, combative, quick-tempered, unpredictable, showy, and self-publicising. A genius at marketing.</p>
<p>Despite his own great wealth, he championed the grievances of “the little man,” the ordinary farmer and mechanic, against what he called “the aristocracy of the few” —&#160;the established political elite of the east coast cities.</p>
<p>This elite was personified for Jackson by his rival, John Quincy Adams, a cosmopolitan diplomat and,&#160;as the son of President John Adams,&#160;a member of a political dynasty.</p>
<p>Jackson shocked and overthrew establishment politics after coming to power in 1828.</p>
<p>Eerie, no?</p>
<p>It was in part revenge for the election of 1824, when Jackson was,&#160;in his mind,&#160;cheated out of the presidency. He had won the most votes in the electoral college. But the elites saw him as a vulgar outsider, and denounced him as being of dubious moral character, unfit to govern. Adams colluded with Speaker of the House&#160;Henry Clay&#160;to put himself in the White House. Clay in turn became Secretary of State. Jackson saw that as “a corrupt bargain.”</p>
<p>Jackson was also the victim of the first deliberate smear campaign,&#160;in the 1828 election. Yes, he technically had been a bigamist, but it was unintentional. Yes, he had butchered his enemies on the battlefield, but there was no evidence to support his opponents’ claims that he did unnatural things to the bodies of his enemies, or cannibalized them. Jackson’s wife died just before his inauguration, and he blamed the death on the shock she suffered from the personal insults made by his political enemies.</p>
<p>But what made Jackson controversial in the eyes of the elites?</p>
<p>Well, despite his origins as a lawyer, Jackson appeared to many as having&#160;little regard for institutions, the law or even international treaties. His kind of law was the rough-hewn frontier type.</p>
<p>For example, as a militia colonel he took it on himself to invade and annex Spanish Florida. Without higher authority, he imposed martial law, as he had earlier in New Orleans during the war with the British. There wasn’t a real need for it, but martial law allowed him to arrest and occasionally execute his enemies.</p>
<p>He was ruthless. The manner in which he killed a rival in a duel in 1806 was considered highly ungentlemanly, and led to him being shunned by much of polite society.</p>
<p>He was bitter and held on to a grudge. He blamed the British for the death of his mother and brothers in the Revolutionary War, and harbored hatred for the Brits throughout his life.</p>
<p>But, oddly enough, little fuss was made by contemporaries about the way he'd made his fortune, speculating in Native American lands that were not his to buy and sell. No-one complained about conflict of interest when he helped negotiate “treaties” with these peoples, which helped make his nominal title to the land a fact on the ground.</p>
<p>With land acquired in this way from the Chickasaw nation, he co-founded the city of Memphis in 1819.</p>
<p>Like many southerners, he became a plantation owner, acquiring slaves and growing cotton. He has been described as “humane” compared to his peers, providing clothing and shelter for his slaves. But he also had them whipped “to improve productivity.”</p>
<p>Jackson was also a merchant and slave-trader. That meant purchasing slaves in the populated states of the east, like Virginia, then marching them away from their families to the auction blocks in the new territories opening up in the west. This imagery — of slaves marching in coffles (chained at the neck and sometimes at the feet), ill-dressed or naked, over the Appalachians — was used against him by northerners in the election campaign of 1828. It’s doubtful he participated in these marches himself, but as a merchant he benefitted from the process.</p>
<p>He was, for sure, a man who could get things done, with little apparent regard for the law.</p>
<p>There are plenty of differences between Trump and Jackson. Jackson was very much a self-made man. He had been a poor orphan.</p>
<p>Then there’s the courage he displayed on the field of battle, fighting for the US against the British, the Spanish and various Native American peoples. He got the nickname “Old Hickory” from repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire, to encourage his men, and never getting hit.</p>
<p>He did get shot while duelling and brawling. But not while in combat.</p>
<p>Reviews of Jackson’s performance as president depend&#160;on whose history you read. He was semi-deified by the Democratic party later in the 19th century. They adopted the donkey as their symbol, in mock tribute to an insult used by their enemies on the stump: “Jackass” Jackson.</p>
<p>He definitely shook up the political establishment. But some argue this opened the door to a new era of cronyism. He was highly responsive to public opinion.</p>
<p>And he was definitely seen as someone you did not bluff, as he was always seen as being capable of pulling the trigger. In this way, he was able to preserve the union when South Carolina threatened to secede over the issue of tariff reform. Jackson sympathized with their issue but violently opposed their threat to break-up the union. He began the processing of raising an army, and the South Carolinians backed down.</p>
<p>Jackson did take on big business and even shut down the American central bank, the Second Bank of the United States. But that led to a boom based on easy credit and inevitably to a catastrophic crash — the worst the nation had seen up to that point, with a deep depression for four years. Jackson was directly responsible for the crash but his successor, Martin van Buren, got the blame.</p>
<p>The much bigger blot on Jackson’s record was his initiation of the policy called at the time “Indian Removal.” In the interests of national security, Washington decided all Native Americans should be moved west of the Mississippi.&#160;Thousands died in what&#160;the Cherokee people remember as the ‘Trail of Tears.”</p>
<p>Given Jackson’s interest in trading in land, this action has been seen by some historians as having more to do with real estate speculation than national security, or the even more specious argument that removal was necessary to help the Native Americans survive. Some historians and activists call it an act of genocide.</p>
<p>The 19th century political writer, Alexis de Tocqueville, met Jackson and was not impressed. He believed he was trading on the reputation gained on the battlefield 20 years before, and was not bringing much to the table. He particularly criticized Jackson’s frequent disregard for laws and institutions.</p>
<p>Incidentally, Jackson was also the first president to be the target of an attempted assassination. The would-be assassin was an unemployed immigrant house-painter, who blamed Jackson for the loss of his job.&#160;</p>
<p>None of this obviously pre-figures anything today. One can't possibly tell the future, or predict what kind of president Donald Trump will be. The only real comparison is to say that Donald Trump actually fits into an established American tradition of charismatic, populist, anti-establishment proto-demagogues, who periodically come along, shake things up, but don't necessarily leave the world a better place</p>
| false | 3 |
lot people saying triumph man like donald trump unprecedented american history remember andrew jackson even former new york city mayor rudy giuliani close trump confidante advisor compared trump favorably jackson like andrew jacksons victory people beating establishment thats donald trump posited right beginning people rising government find dysfunctional yes defeat democrats defeat republicans told msnbc old hickory hero battle new orleans champion common man bloody bloody andrew jackson seventh president united states 1829 1837 father democratic party160and arguably father modern politics 160160160160160160160 lets start hair know jacksons face 20 bill take look big unruly shock hair red least till got old jackson extremely controversial charismatic combative quicktempered unpredictable showy selfpublicising genius marketing despite great wealth championed grievances little man ordinary farmer mechanic called aristocracy 160the established political elite east coast cities elite personified jackson rival john quincy adams cosmopolitan diplomat and160as son president john adams160a member political dynasty jackson shocked overthrew establishment politics coming power 1828 eerie part revenge election 1824 jackson was160in mind160cheated presidency votes electoral college elites saw vulgar outsider denounced dubious moral character unfit govern adams colluded speaker house160henry clay160to put white house clay turn became secretary state jackson saw corrupt bargain jackson also victim first deliberate smear campaign160in 1828 election yes technically bigamist unintentional yes butchered enemies battlefield evidence support opponents claims unnatural things bodies enemies cannibalized jacksons wife died inauguration blamed death shock suffered personal insults made political enemies made jackson controversial eyes elites well despite origins lawyer jackson appeared many having160little regard institutions law even international treaties kind law roughhewn frontier type example militia colonel took invade annex spanish florida without higher authority imposed martial law earlier new orleans war british wasnt real need martial law allowed arrest occasionally execute enemies ruthless manner killed rival duel 1806 considered highly ungentlemanly led shunned much polite society bitter held grudge blamed british death mother brothers revolutionary war harbored hatred brits throughout life oddly enough little fuss made contemporaries way hed made fortune speculating native american lands buy sell noone complained conflict interest helped negotiate treaties peoples helped make nominal title land fact ground land acquired way chickasaw nation cofounded city memphis 1819 like many southerners became plantation owner acquiring slaves growing cotton described humane compared peers providing clothing shelter slaves also whipped improve productivity jackson also merchant slavetrader meant purchasing slaves populated states east like virginia marching away families auction blocks new territories opening west imagery slaves marching coffles chained neck sometimes feet illdressed naked appalachians used northerners election campaign 1828 doubtful participated marches merchant benefitted process sure man could get things done little apparent regard law plenty differences trump jackson jackson much selfmade man poor orphan theres courage displayed field battle fighting us british spanish various native american peoples got nickname old hickory repeatedly exposing enemy fire encourage men never getting hit get shot duelling brawling combat reviews jacksons performance president depend160on whose history read semideified democratic party later 19th century adopted donkey symbol mock tribute insult used enemies stump jackass jackson definitely shook political establishment argue opened door new era cronyism highly responsive public opinion definitely seen someone bluff always seen capable pulling trigger way able preserve union south carolina threatened secede issue tariff reform jackson sympathized issue violently opposed threat breakup union began processing raising army south carolinians backed jackson take big business even shut american central bank second bank united states led boom based easy credit inevitably catastrophic crash worst nation seen point deep depression four years jackson directly responsible crash successor martin van buren got blame much bigger blot jacksons record initiation policy called time indian removal interests national security washington decided native americans moved west mississippi160thousands died what160the cherokee people remember trail tears given jacksons interest trading land action seen historians real estate speculation national security even specious argument removal necessary help native americans survive historians activists call act genocide 19th century political writer alexis de tocqueville met jackson impressed believed trading reputation gained battlefield 20 years bringing much table particularly criticized jacksons frequent disregard laws institutions incidentally jackson also first president target attempted assassination wouldbe assassin unemployed immigrant housepainter blamed jackson loss job160 none obviously prefigures anything today one cant possibly tell future predict kind president donald trump real comparison say donald trump actually fits established american tradition charismatic populist antiestablishment protodemagogues periodically come along shake things dont necessarily leave world better place
| 724 |
<p>Maecenas purus odio, feugiat nec sapien sit amet, luctus blandit sem. Sed eu magna nec nunc euismod viverra sed non libero. Mauris mattis, metus mattis ultricies venenatis, magna elit ornare magna, eu feugiat sapien elit nec libero. Vivamus at sapien et velit fringilla dictum quis vitae ante. Mauris tempus nisl sit amet augue elementum, et finibus dolor ultricies. Nulla dignissim at lacus et elementum. Nullam nec rutrum lectus. Vivamus fermentum velit quam, quis rutrum erat congue at. Maecenas faucibus lorem vel lorem molestie, a iaculis ante commodo. Cras velit arcu, commodo et porta et, consectetur ac ante. Maecenas interdum risus lorem, ut tristique nibh dapibus at. Integer sit amet euismod velit. Vestibulum eget vehicula metus, id vehicula dui. Etiam eu malesuada nunc. Maecenas purus odio, feugiat nec sapien sit amet, luctus blandit sem. Sed eu magna nec nunc euismod viverra sed non libero. Mauris mattis, metus mattis ultricies venenatis, magna elit ornare magna, eu feugiat sapien elit nec libero. Vivamus at sapien et velit fringilla dictum quis vitae ante. Mauris tempus nisl sit amet augue elementum, et finibus dolor ultricies. Nulla dignissim at lacus et elementum. Nullam nec rutrum lectus. Vivamus fermentum velit quam, quis rutrum erat congue at. Maecenas faucibus lorem vel lorem molestie, a iaculis ante commodo. Cras velit arcu, commodo et porta et, consectetur ac ante. Maecenas interdum risus lorem, ut tristique nibh dapibus at. Integer sit amet euismod velit. Vestibulum eget vehicula metus, id vehicula dui. Etiam eu malesuada nunc. Maecenas purus odio, feugiat nec sapien sit amet, luctus blandit sem. Sed eu magna nec nunc euismod viverra sed non libero. Mauris mattis, metus mattis ultricies venenatis, magna elit ornare magna, eu feugiat sapien elit nec libero. Vivamus at sapien et velit fringilla dictum quis vitae ante.</p>
<p>“If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. Phasellus eu sapien interdum ligula vulputate faucibus quis et lectus. Morbi a aliquet eros. Sed velit justo, volutpat nec mauris eu.”</p>
<p>Maecenas purus odio, feugiat nec sapien sit amet, luctus blandit sem. Sed eu magna nec nunc euismod viverra sed non libero. Mauris mattis, metus mattis ultricies venenatis, magna elit ornare magna, eu feugiat sapien elit nec libero. Vivamus at sapien et velit fringilla dictum quis vitae ante. Mauris tempus nisl sit amet augue elementum, et finibus dolor ultricies. Nulla dignissim at lacus et elementum. Nullam nec rutrum lectus. Vivamus fermentum velit quam, quis rutrum erat congue at. Maecenas faucibus lorem vel lorem molestie, a iaculis ante commodo. Cras velit arcu, commodo et porta et, consectetur ac ante. Maecenas interdum risus lorem, ut tristique nibh dapibus at. Integer sit amet euismod velit. Vestibulum eget vehicula metus, id vehicula dui. Etiam eu malesuada nunc. Maecenas purus odio, feugiat nec sapien sit amet, luctus blandit sem. Sed eu magna nec nunc euismod viverra sed non libero. Mauris mattis, metus mattis ultricies venenatis, magna elit ornare magna, eu feugiat sapien elit nec libero. Vivamus at sapien et velit fringilla dictum quis vitae ante. Mauris tempus nisl sit amet augue elementum, et finibus dolor ultricies. Nulla dignissim at lacus et elementum. Nullam nec rutrum lectus. Vivamus fermentum velit quam, quis rutrum erat congue at. Maecenas faucibus lorem vel lorem molestie, a iaculis ante commodo. Cras velit arcu, commodo et porta et, consectetur ac ante. Maecenas interdum risus lorem, ut tristique nibh dapibus at. Integer sit amet euismod velit. Vestibulum eget vehicula metus, id vehicula dui. Etiam eu malesuada nunc. Maecenas purus odio, feugiat nec sapien sit amet, luctus blandit sem. Sed eu magna nec nunc euismod viverra sed non libero. Mauris mattis, metus mattis ultricies venenatis, magna elit ornare magna, eu feugiat sapien elit nec libero. Vivamus at sapien et velit fringilla dictum quis vitae ante.</p>
| false | 3 |
maecenas purus odio feugiat nec sapien sit amet luctus blandit sem sed eu magna nec nunc euismod viverra sed non libero mauris mattis metus mattis ultricies venenatis magna elit ornare magna eu feugiat sapien elit nec libero vivamus sapien et velit fringilla dictum quis vitae ante mauris tempus nisl sit amet augue elementum et finibus dolor ultricies nulla dignissim lacus et elementum nullam nec rutrum lectus vivamus fermentum velit quam quis rutrum erat congue maecenas faucibus lorem vel lorem molestie iaculis ante commodo cras velit arcu commodo et porta et consectetur ac ante maecenas interdum risus lorem ut tristique nibh dapibus integer sit amet euismod velit vestibulum eget vehicula metus id vehicula dui etiam eu malesuada nunc maecenas purus odio feugiat nec sapien sit amet luctus blandit sem sed eu magna nec nunc euismod viverra sed non libero mauris mattis metus mattis ultricies venenatis magna elit ornare magna eu feugiat sapien elit nec libero vivamus sapien et velit fringilla dictum quis vitae ante mauris tempus nisl sit amet augue elementum et finibus dolor ultricies nulla dignissim lacus et elementum nullam nec rutrum lectus vivamus fermentum velit quam quis rutrum erat congue maecenas faucibus lorem vel lorem molestie iaculis ante commodo cras velit arcu commodo et porta et consectetur ac ante maecenas interdum risus lorem ut tristique nibh dapibus integer sit amet euismod velit vestibulum eget vehicula metus id vehicula dui etiam eu malesuada nunc maecenas purus odio feugiat nec sapien sit amet luctus blandit sem sed eu magna nec nunc euismod viverra sed non libero mauris mattis metus mattis ultricies venenatis magna elit ornare magna eu feugiat sapien elit nec libero vivamus sapien et velit fringilla dictum quis vitae ante love youll never work day life phasellus eu sapien interdum ligula vulputate faucibus quis et lectus morbi aliquet eros sed velit justo volutpat nec mauris eu maecenas purus odio feugiat nec sapien sit amet luctus blandit sem sed eu magna nec nunc euismod viverra sed non libero mauris mattis metus mattis ultricies venenatis magna elit ornare magna eu feugiat sapien elit nec libero vivamus sapien et velit fringilla dictum quis vitae ante mauris tempus nisl sit amet augue elementum et finibus dolor ultricies nulla dignissim lacus et elementum nullam nec rutrum lectus vivamus fermentum velit quam quis rutrum erat congue maecenas faucibus lorem vel lorem molestie iaculis ante commodo cras velit arcu commodo et porta et consectetur ac ante maecenas interdum risus lorem ut tristique nibh dapibus integer sit amet euismod velit vestibulum eget vehicula metus id vehicula dui etiam eu malesuada nunc maecenas purus odio feugiat nec sapien sit amet luctus blandit sem sed eu magna nec nunc euismod viverra sed non libero mauris mattis metus mattis ultricies venenatis magna elit ornare magna eu feugiat sapien elit nec libero vivamus sapien et velit fringilla dictum quis vitae ante mauris tempus nisl sit amet augue elementum et finibus dolor ultricies nulla dignissim lacus et elementum nullam nec rutrum lectus vivamus fermentum velit quam quis rutrum erat congue maecenas faucibus lorem vel lorem molestie iaculis ante commodo cras velit arcu commodo et porta et consectetur ac ante maecenas interdum risus lorem ut tristique nibh dapibus integer sit amet euismod velit vestibulum eget vehicula metus id vehicula dui etiam eu malesuada nunc maecenas purus odio feugiat nec sapien sit amet luctus blandit sem sed eu magna nec nunc euismod viverra sed non libero mauris mattis metus mattis ultricies venenatis magna elit ornare magna eu feugiat sapien elit nec libero vivamus sapien et velit fringilla dictum quis vitae ante
| 586 |
<p>After the presidential election, posts on Twitter by Gizmodo reporter Rae Paoletta caught my attention. Through her tweets, she was actively documenting <a href="https://twitter.com/PAYOLETTER/status/799281468161802240" type="external">hateful acts</a> happening across the country, many committed in Donald Trump's name.</p>
<p>Not long after, the Southern Poverty Law Center released <a href="https://www.splcenter.org/20161129/ten-days-after-harassment-and-intimidation-aftermath-election" type="external">its report of almost 900 acts of hate that occurred in the 10 days after Trump's victory</a>. People reported incidents from nearly every state in the US. And these kinds of acts continued. In Long Island, where I live, I read reports <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/red-spray-painted-swastikas-investigated-hate-crimes-article-1.2915531" type="external">about swastikas being spray-painted on sidewalks</a> in mid December.</p>
<p>Interactive: <a href="" type="internal">How likely are you to be the victim of a hate crime?</a></p>
<p>I want to be proactive — in the most uncomfortable way I can imagine. I want to share a painful story I've lived with for more than 20 years, the moment I too made the mistake of making a racist remark to a classmate. And how it became a pivotal moment in my life.</p>
<p>I was a second grade student at Laurel Park Elementary in Brentwood, New York.</p>
<p>The incident began with a small argument I had with a classmate — I want to respect her privacy so I'm going to call her Brianna, which is not her real name. My immigrant parents taught me not to draw negative attention to myself so their advice didn't really help me understand how to resolve conflicts. I would avoid fights at all costs to avoid detention or suspension — which in my parent's eyes would be the worst kind of trouble possible.</p>
<p>I tried to ignore Brianna, but that made her angrier. She started speaking to me sarcastically. My anger bubbled: I wanted to hurt her, like she was hurting me.</p>
<p>And that's when I said the words that changed our lives: “Well, I don't like black people anyway.”</p>
<p>Brianna's face fell. She walked over to the teacher and whispered in her ear.</p>
<p>With an upset expression on her face, the teacher called the front office and an administrator walked me out of class. I was taken to the principal's office, where my mom was sitting with tears streaming down her face. I sat next to her silently; I didn't know how to explain what I had said in Spanish. To tell my mom the reason she had been called to the school in our native language, to tell her I had said something racist to a classmate would be a moment of great shame.</p>
<p>The principal and vice principal interrogated me in front of my mom. I didn't have an explanation. I wasn't racist. I had heard my mostly Hispanic friends make jokes about our black classmates before, always behind their backs. However, at that moment in the principal's office I realized the cowardice of my Hispanic friends: Saying racist words was something extremely bad, and I was paying for it.</p>
<p>“What if we said to you that we didn't like you because of your glasses?” the principal asked. I stammered, feeling as if my identity was being attacked. I was already a self-conscious second grader; the pressure from my parents to be obedient, my developing weight problem, and most recently the large glasses that sat on my face, all added to the struggles I was experiencing with my identity.</p>
<p>“I guess ... I wouldn't think it was right.”</p>
<p>I walked out of the meeting without a suspension, but I did take with me the shame that came with putting down another person for her skin color. I vowed to never use race, or racist words to ever hurt someone again.</p>
<p>After the incident, I stayed away from Brianna. I thought about directly apologizing to her, but I was afraid I would end up in the principal's office again. In fifth grade, she invited me to her graduation party, to my surprise. I went, feeling grateful we were putting the ugly incident behind us.</p>
<p>In seventh grade however, she denounced me as a racist in front of our classmates on the bus. I was shocked. The anger in her eyes stopped me from asking why she had chosen that moment to humiliate me. A part of me understood. I had committed an unspeakable act in second grade; I deserved the punishment.</p>
<p>The next time we crossed paths was as seniors in the same AP Biology class. In that class, I kept my distance and tried to be friendly. I wanted to avoid any conflict.</p>
<p>One day, though, I heard her talking to a mutual acquaintance: “Why are you even friends with him? He's a racist. He has something against black people.”</p>
<p>I froze, and my heart sank. I had no words. The incident that had happened 10 years ago&#160;was still part of both our lives.</p>
<p>I went home that day, defeated and humiliated. I wanted to face the issue head on and I wanted to give her the opportunity to express the rage she held towards me. It was only fair. I took a piece of looseleaf paper and wrote everything on my mind. I wrote furiously — and when I was done, I had written five pages of a long-overdue, heart-wrenching apology.</p>
<p>I remember writing in the conclusion: “I apologize to you, your family, and the African American community. And if you still don't believe me, please — crumple these papers, and throw them at me as hard as you can.”</p>
<p>The next day I walked up to Brianna, my heart beating out of my chest. I handed her the letter. She opened it, and began reading. Finally, she looked up. I noticed her eyes had softened: there was no anger, just sadness.</p>
<p>“Thank you for this,”&#160;she said. “I'm sorry too.” I told her that her anger was understandable and justified, and that I was humbled to have been given the opportunity to make things right between us.</p>
<p>At the end of the year we signed each other's yearbooks, expressing a mutual respect and admiration for each other. It was the most gratifying moment of my high school years.</p>
<p>I saw Brianna a couple of years ago, nearly 10 years after we had graduated. We hugged like old friends. It was almost like starting over as the friends we should have always been.</p>
<p>The lessons I learned from the experience — and also the shame — never quite go away. When I think of Brianna, I think of a strong, accomplished, beautiful, unapologetic black woman. I also think of being the first person who put her down because of her race.</p>
<p>As I watch dozens of new hate-based incidents emerge on social media every week, I fear the normalization of hate that devolves from hateful words into heinous actions. In the past few months, videos have emerged on social media of people in shopping malls being malicious towards immigrants, Muslims, blacks, and just last month, those words even led to the <a href="" type="internal">death of Srinivas Kuchibhotla in Kansas</a>.</p>
<p>President Trump is playing a dangerous game. During his candidacy, when asked about his rally taking place <a href="" type="internal">1,000 feet from the site where Marcelo Lucero was murdered in the Village Of Patchogue</a>, he said he had “never heard of it,” and he never condemned it. His denouncement of hate at the beginning of his joint address to Congress lasted seconds, which I saw as dishonorable to the very real victims of hate crimes.</p>
<p>This is why I need to step forward and take ownership of my own contribution to the climate of hate, even if I was a second grader, because our president lacks the courage. There is no excuse.</p>
<p>Hendel Leiva is an immigration reform advocate and immigrant integration specialist from Brentwood, New York. He works for Race Forward, an organization that researches, publishes on and advocates for racial justice.</p>
| false | 3 |
presidential election posts twitter gizmodo reporter rae paoletta caught attention tweets actively documenting hateful acts happening across country many committed donald trumps name long southern poverty law center released report almost 900 acts hate occurred 10 days trumps victory people reported incidents nearly every state us kinds acts continued long island live read reports swastikas spraypainted sidewalks mid december interactive likely victim hate crime want proactive uncomfortable way imagine want share painful story ive lived 20 years moment made mistake making racist remark classmate became pivotal moment life second grade student laurel park elementary brentwood new york incident began small argument classmate want respect privacy im going call brianna real name immigrant parents taught draw negative attention advice didnt really help understand resolve conflicts would avoid fights costs avoid detention suspension parents eyes would worst kind trouble possible tried ignore brianna made angrier started speaking sarcastically anger bubbled wanted hurt like hurting thats said words changed lives well dont like black people anyway briannas face fell walked teacher whispered ear upset expression face teacher called front office administrator walked class taken principals office mom sitting tears streaming face sat next silently didnt know explain said spanish tell mom reason called school native language tell said something racist classmate would moment great shame principal vice principal interrogated front mom didnt explanation wasnt racist heard mostly hispanic friends make jokes black classmates always behind backs however moment principals office realized cowardice hispanic friends saying racist words something extremely bad paying said didnt like glasses principal asked stammered feeling identity attacked already selfconscious second grader pressure parents obedient developing weight problem recently large glasses sat face added struggles experiencing identity guess wouldnt think right walked meeting without suspension take shame came putting another person skin color vowed never use race racist words ever hurt someone incident stayed away brianna thought directly apologizing afraid would end principals office fifth grade invited graduation party surprise went feeling grateful putting ugly incident behind us seventh grade however denounced racist front classmates bus shocked anger eyes stopped asking chosen moment humiliate part understood committed unspeakable act second grade deserved punishment next time crossed paths seniors ap biology class class kept distance tried friendly wanted avoid conflict one day though heard talking mutual acquaintance even friends hes racist something black people froze heart sank words incident happened 10 years ago160was still part lives went home day defeated humiliated wanted face issue head wanted give opportunity express rage held towards fair took piece looseleaf paper wrote everything mind wrote furiously done written five pages longoverdue heartwrenching apology remember writing conclusion apologize family african american community still dont believe please crumple papers throw hard next day walked brianna heart beating chest handed letter opened began reading finally looked noticed eyes softened anger sadness thank this160she said im sorry told anger understandable justified humbled given opportunity make things right us end year signed others yearbooks expressing mutual respect admiration gratifying moment high school years saw brianna couple years ago nearly 10 years graduated hugged like old friends almost like starting friends always lessons learned experience also shame never quite go away think brianna think strong accomplished beautiful unapologetic black woman also think first person put race watch dozens new hatebased incidents emerge social media every week fear normalization hate devolves hateful words heinous actions past months videos emerged social media people shopping malls malicious towards immigrants muslims blacks last month words even led death srinivas kuchibhotla kansas president trump playing dangerous game candidacy asked rally taking place 1000 feet site marcelo lucero murdered village patchogue said never heard never condemned denouncement hate beginning joint address congress lasted seconds saw dishonorable real victims hate crimes need step forward take ownership contribution climate hate even second grader president lacks courage excuse hendel leiva immigration reform advocate immigrant integration specialist brentwood new york works race forward organization researches publishes advocates racial justice
| 648 |
<p />
<p><a type="external" href="" /> <a href="#time" type="external">Timeline</a> | <a href="#else" type="external">Elsewhere</a></p>
<p>| <a href="#short" type="external">In Short</a></p>
<p><a href="#askcat" type="external">Ask Catalyst</a> | <a href="#math" type="external">Math Class</a></p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p>TIMELINE <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Feb. 1: Closings study</p>
<p>A University of Illinois at Chicago professor calls for an independent study on the impact of public school closings on schools that take in displaced students. Through interviews with 20 people from three receiving schools, Pauline Lipman reports complaints about inadequate resources, increased discipline problems and academic challenges. A CPS spokesman says the district is working on a study. Some lawmakers have called for a moratorium on closings until such a study is completed.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Feb. 9: Rowe-Clark</p>
<p>The Noble Network of Charter Schools snares a $4.2 million grant to open a new high school devoted primarily to math and science. The school will be located in Humboldt Park and named after Exelon Corp. Chairman John Rowe, who contributed $2 million (matched by Exelon), and ComEd Chairman and CEO Frank Clark, who donated $200,000. Students will attend school an extra month each year. The school also plans to launch an after-school or summer math and science program for middle-school students.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Feb. 22: Washing up</p>
<p>While lawmakers have yet to take significant action on school funding reform, the Illinois House passes a law that would require CPS officials to make sure that students wash their hands before eating meals at school. Rep. Mary Flowers of Chicago proposed the bill, saying schools aren’t doing a good job of teaching kids the importance of hand-washing, which state law already requires. A CPS spokesman says the law isn’t necessary. The bill was passed 100-14 and is now headed to the Senate.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p><a href="#top" type="external">(Back to top)</a></p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p>ELSEWHERE <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p />
<p />
<p>New Orleans: More new schools</p>
<p>The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved nine new charters to open next fall, bringing the number of charter schools in the city to 40, according to the Feb. 14 New Orleans Times-Picayune. One of the new charters will be run by Chicago’s United Neighborhood Organization. Eight applications were turned down. Meanwhile, the state plans to open up to 27 more schools by next fall through its Recovery School District. Of the 56 schools that have opened since Hurricane Katrina struck, the Recovery District operates 20, the Orleans Parish School Board manages five, and the remaining 21 are charters. The 56 schools serve about 28,000 students—half of public school enrollment before Katrina.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Philadelphia: For-profit, no gain</p>
<p>Students in restructured, district-run schools made higher test score gains than students at for-profit schools that received far more funding, according to the Feb. 1 Philadelphia Inquirer. The private managers got up to $750 more per pupil than regular public schools—in all, $90 million more. A study by the Rand Corp. and a local non-profit tracked the gains of 41 privately run schools, compared to 21 restructured schools that got extra resources. A spokesman for the non-profit says private management should be scrapped. District leaders say the private managers were handed some of the city’s worst-performing schools and could not be expected to post higher gains. However, all of the schools were initially low-performing.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p><a href="#top" type="external">(Back to top)</a></p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p>IN SHORT <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p />
<p />
<p>“In education, we’ve been giving people Folgers for a long time, but tastes change. People want gourmet coffee.”</p>
<p>Andrew Rotherham, co-director of the research and policy group Education Sector, who spoke at a Feb. 22 policy luncheon co-sponsored by Catalyst, Business and Professional People for the Public Interest and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. For more information about the luncheon series, <a href="" type="internal">click here</a>.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p><a href="#top" type="external">(Back to top)</a></p>
<p />
<p />
<p>ASK CATALYST <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p />
<p />
<p>What is the timeline for announcing the next round of school closings? Will the criteria for selecting schools change? How will the board ensure that children are transferred to better schools?</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Andrea Lee, Education Organizer, Grand Boulevard Federation</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Although last year’s school closings were announced in January, CPS as yet has no timetable for announcing this year’s round. The district blames the state’s delay in releasing test scores. David Pickens, deputy to CEO Arne Duncan, anticipates technical revisions to the closings policy, but not tougher criteria. Jackie Leavy of the now-shuttered watchdog Neighborhood Capital Budget Group, calls the delay “an unfortunate back-pedaling” and speculates that the district postponed the announcement in part to sidestep controversy prior to the mayoral election. State Rep. Cynthia Soto recently introduced a bill that would force CPS to announce proposed closings six months prior to the School Board’s vote, and to hold public hearings in affected communities. The bill would also give displaced students the right to enroll in a school making “adequate yearly progress” under the No Child Left Behind law. You can find Soto’s bill online at <a href="http://www.ilga.gov/" type="external">www.ilga.gov</a>.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>E-mail your question to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>or send it to Ask Catalyst, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago,</p>
<p>IL 60604.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p><a href="#top" type="external">(Back to top)</a></p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p>MATH CLASS <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p />
<p />
<p>While Gov. Rod Blagojevich has increased education funding overall, the state’s share of education revenue has declined since he took office. In 2003, the state contributed 36% of education funding, down from 39% the previous year, according to the most recent annual report of the Illinois State Board of Education. In 2005 (the latest year for which final data are available), the state’s share fell to 34%. Over the last two decades, state funding reached its highest point, 42%, in the 1987 fiscal year under the administration of Jim Thompson. The lowest point, 32%, was in 1996 under Jim Edgar.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p><a href="#top" type="external">(Back to top)</a></p>
| false | 3 |
timeline elsewhere short ask catalyst math class timeline feb 1 closings study university illinois chicago professor calls independent study impact public school closings schools take displaced students interviews 20 people three receiving schools pauline lipman reports complaints inadequate resources increased discipline problems academic challenges cps spokesman says district working study lawmakers called moratorium closings study completed feb 9 roweclark noble network charter schools snares 42 million grant open new high school devoted primarily math science school located humboldt park named exelon corp chairman john rowe contributed 2 million matched exelon comed chairman ceo frank clark donated 200000 students attend school extra month year school also plans launch afterschool summer math science program middleschool students feb 22 washing lawmakers yet take significant action school funding reform illinois house passes law would require cps officials make sure students wash hands eating meals school rep mary flowers chicago proposed bill saying schools arent good job teaching kids importance handwashing state law already requires cps spokesman says law isnt necessary bill passed 10014 headed senate back top elsewhere new orleans new schools state board elementary secondary education approved nine new charters open next fall bringing number charter schools city 40 according feb 14 new orleans timespicayune one new charters run chicagos united neighborhood organization eight applications turned meanwhile state plans open 27 schools next fall recovery school district 56 schools opened since hurricane katrina struck recovery district operates 20 orleans parish school board manages five remaining 21 charters 56 schools serve 28000 studentshalf public school enrollment katrina philadelphia forprofit gain students restructured districtrun schools made higher test score gains students forprofit schools received far funding according feb 1 philadelphia inquirer private managers got 750 per pupil regular public schoolsin 90 million study rand corp local nonprofit tracked gains 41 privately run schools compared 21 restructured schools got extra resources spokesman nonprofit says private management scrapped district leaders say private managers handed citys worstperforming schools could expected post higher gains however schools initially lowperforming back top short education weve giving people folgers long time tastes change people want gourmet coffee andrew rotherham codirector research policy group education sector spoke feb 22 policy luncheon cosponsored catalyst business professional people public interest illinois network charter schools information luncheon series click back top ask catalyst timeline announcing next round school closings criteria selecting schools change board ensure children transferred better schools andrea lee education organizer grand boulevard federation although last years school closings announced january cps yet timetable announcing years round district blames states delay releasing test scores david pickens deputy ceo arne duncan anticipates technical revisions closings policy tougher criteria jackie leavy nowshuttered watchdog neighborhood capital budget group calls delay unfortunate backpedaling speculates district postponed announcement part sidestep controversy prior mayoral election state rep cynthia soto recently introduced bill would force cps announce proposed closings six months prior school boards vote hold public hearings affected communities bill would also give displaced students right enroll school making adequate yearly progress child left behind law find sotos bill online wwwilgagov email question askcatcatalystchicagoorg send ask catalyst 332 michigan ave suite 500 chicago il 60604 back top math class gov rod blagojevich increased education funding overall states share education revenue declined since took office 2003 state contributed 36 education funding 39 previous year according recent annual report illinois state board education 2005 latest year final data available states share fell 34 last two decades state funding reached highest point 42 1987 fiscal year administration jim thompson lowest point 32 1996 jim edgar back top
| 584 |
<p>LIMA, Peru — The coat hanger might largely be a thing of the past, but that doesn’t mean terminating an unwanted pregnancy in Latin America is a cakewalk.</p>
<p>Thanks to new drugs, the gruesome tales of botched backstreet abortions, that sometimes lead to agonizing deaths from bleeding, are increasingly rare in a region with some of the world’s strictest anti-abortion laws.</p>
<p>These days, the method of choice is <a href="http://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/705/misoprostol-abortion-pill-cytotec" type="external">misoprostol</a>, a pill widely sold under the table that ends pregnancies much less dangerously.</p>
<p>Yet risks remain. No drug is entirely safe. And abortion remains a criminal act under most circumstances in much of Latin America. That fact has been highlighted by the plight of a Chilean woman facing possible criminal charges after her doctor reported her to the police.</p>
<p>The woman appeared in an emergency room at the Carlos Cisterna public hospital in the northern city of Calama last weekend, complaining of abdominal pain and bleeding. The 25-year-old, who has not been named, is now under house arrest after undergoing surgery.</p>
<p>Chile is one of just a handful of countries with a total ban on abortion. Other than the tiny Mediterranean island state of Malta, most, like Chile, are in deeply Catholic Latin America: El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.</p>
<p>Statistics vary, but Chile is estimated to have one of Latin America's highest illegal abortion rates.</p>
<p>The 25-year-old’s case has triggered uproar in Chile, whose new left-wing government, led by pediatrician Michelle Bachelet, is close to relaxing the country’s strict anti-abortion laws.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/chile/140411/chilean-health-ban-abortion-bachelet" type="external">Is Chile about to end Pinochet’s total ban on abortion?</a></p>
<p>Health Undersecretary Jaime Burrows <a href="http://www.latercera.com/noticia/nacional/2015/03/680-622449-9-indagan-caso-de-mujer-denunciada-por-presunto-aborto-en-hospital-de-calama.shtml" type="external">told local media</a> that although Chilean law stipulates that doctors must report women suspected of undergoing abortions, the government had instructed hospitals that patient confidentiality should take priority until the new law passes.</p>
<p>The Chilean woman is hardly the first in Latin America to be treated as a criminal for allegedly having an abortion. In some instances, the law has been so harshly interpreted that even women suffering spontaneous miscarriages have been indicted.</p>
<p>That was the case of Guadalupe Vazquez, a young El Salvadoran woman who was <a href="http://www.reproductiverights.org/feature/miscarriage-of-justice" type="external">released</a> in February after spending seven years in jail wrongly accused of deliberately terminating her pregnancy.</p>
<p>She had been raped and then suffered a miscarriage, yet neither detail appeared to weigh with the court, in a case that has come to symbolize for many why abortion should be decriminalized across Latin America.</p>
<p>In 2008, the region had the world’s highest unsafe abortion rate: <a href="http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/75173/1/WHO_RHR_12.01_eng.pdf" type="external">31 per 1,000 women</a> ages 15 to 44, according to the World Health Organization. Now, with misoprostol, clandestine terminations are less dangerous, but, experts say, still just as prevalent.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the region’s doctors are often caught between laws requiring them to report patients and their consciences. While some are devout Catholics or evangelicals happy to comply with the law, many are not.</p>
<p>One of the latter is Dr. Sixto Sanchez, head of obstetrics and gynecology at Lima’s Dos de Mayo hospital, one of Peru’s largest public hospitals.</p>
<p>He told GlobalPost that he even instructs his doctors not to call the police, citing a constitutional clause protecting professional confidentiality that, he argues, takes precedence over the law requiring they report alleged abortions.</p>
<p>“If a patient comes to me and speaks about an abortion procedure that they have had, then they already have social and medical issues and on top of that you are placing a legal and police issue,” Sanchez told GlobalPost. “As a doctor, I am here to treat people, not put them in more trouble.”</p>
<p>“The solution to the issue of abortion in our country is not via the police and courts. It is a social issue. It is about family planning, which is weak in Peru, as a result of which many women end up resorting to abortion practices.”</p>
<p>But many in the region believe that deliberately terminating a pregnancy is wrong in any circumstance. In a recent debate in Chile, the rector of the country’s Pontifical Catholic University, Ignacio Sanchez, <a href="http://www.latercera.com/noticia/nacional/2015/03/680-622193-9-rector-de-la-puc-participa-en-manifestacion-contra-el-aborto-frente-a-la-moneda.shtml" type="external">described</a> abortion as “attacking the life of an innocent.” Some conservative Chilean lawmakers have echoed that concept, and so have demonstrators like the ones seen below in a church-organized "March for Life" in March 2014.</p>
<p>Like several Latin American nations, Peru does actually permit abortion in cases where the mother’s life is in danger. Yet officials still sometimes fail to comply with the legislation, earning the condemnation of the United Nations Human Rights Committee.</p>
<p>That UN ruling came in 2011 after the <a href="http://www.reproductiverights.org/feature/peru-the-long-march-to-justice" type="external">Center for Reproductive Rights</a>, a New York-based nonprofit, lodged a complaint against the Peruvian state over the case of a teenager illegally forced by doctors to follow through with a pregnancy despite her baby's anencephaly — having no brain and with no chance of long-term survival after birth.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, most public hospitals here still have a police officer permanently posted in the ER to investigate cases of stabbings, shootings, hit and run accidents — and abortions.</p>
<p>But Peru's Dr. Sanchez says fewer and fewer doctors actually inform the cops when a patient has had a suspected termination.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, misoprostol also means that the horror stories of bungled backstreet surgeries are — with the occasional grim exception — increasingly a dim memory across the region.</p>
<p>“Really the situation has changed,” adds Dr. Sanchez. “Before you saw many patients who were on the point of death, with evidence of a procedure in which substances or instruments were placed in the vagina or uterus, so it was very obvious there was an abortion.”</p>
<p>“Before, women used to come with terrible complications. Many women died, with their intestine outside [in the vagina], with perforations in their uterus. We really don’t see that anymore. Misoprostol has been really beneficial. In that regard, whatever you think of abortion morally, if deaths fall, then that must be good.”</p>
| false | 3 |
lima peru coat hanger might largely thing past doesnt mean terminating unwanted pregnancy latin america cakewalk thanks new drugs gruesome tales botched backstreet abortions sometimes lead agonizing deaths bleeding increasingly rare region worlds strictest antiabortion laws days method choice misoprostol pill widely sold table ends pregnancies much less dangerously yet risks remain drug entirely safe abortion remains criminal act circumstances much latin america fact highlighted plight chilean woman facing possible criminal charges doctor reported police woman appeared emergency room carlos cisterna public hospital northern city calama last weekend complaining abdominal pain bleeding 25yearold named house arrest undergoing surgery chile one handful countries total ban abortion tiny mediterranean island state malta like chile deeply catholic latin america el salvador honduras nicaragua statistics vary chile estimated one latin americas highest illegal abortion rates 25yearolds case triggered uproar chile whose new leftwing government led pediatrician michelle bachelet close relaxing countrys strict antiabortion laws globalpost chile end pinochets total ban abortion health undersecretary jaime burrows told local media although chilean law stipulates doctors must report women suspected undergoing abortions government instructed hospitals patient confidentiality take priority new law passes chilean woman hardly first latin america treated criminal allegedly abortion instances law harshly interpreted even women suffering spontaneous miscarriages indicted case guadalupe vazquez young el salvadoran woman released february spending seven years jail wrongly accused deliberately terminating pregnancy raped suffered miscarriage yet neither detail appeared weigh court case come symbolize many abortion decriminalized across latin america 2008 region worlds highest unsafe abortion rate 31 per 1000 women ages 15 44 according world health organization misoprostol clandestine terminations less dangerous experts say still prevalent meanwhile regions doctors often caught laws requiring report patients consciences devout catholics evangelicals happy comply law many one latter dr sixto sanchez head obstetrics gynecology limas dos de mayo hospital one perus largest public hospitals told globalpost even instructs doctors call police citing constitutional clause protecting professional confidentiality argues takes precedence law requiring report alleged abortions patient comes speaks abortion procedure already social medical issues top placing legal police issue sanchez told globalpost doctor treat people put trouble solution issue abortion country via police courts social issue family planning weak peru result many women end resorting abortion practices many region believe deliberately terminating pregnancy wrong circumstance recent debate chile rector countrys pontifical catholic university ignacio sanchez described abortion attacking life innocent conservative chilean lawmakers echoed concept demonstrators like ones seen churchorganized march life march 2014 like several latin american nations peru actually permit abortion cases mothers life danger yet officials still sometimes fail comply legislation earning condemnation united nations human rights committee un ruling came 2011 center reproductive rights new yorkbased nonprofit lodged complaint peruvian state case teenager illegally forced doctors follow pregnancy despite babys anencephaly brain chance longterm survival birth meanwhile public hospitals still police officer permanently posted er investigate cases stabbings shootings hit run accidents abortions perus dr sanchez says fewer fewer doctors actually inform cops patient suspected termination meanwhile misoprostol also means horror stories bungled backstreet surgeries occasional grim exception increasingly dim memory across region really situation changed adds dr sanchez saw many patients point death evidence procedure substances instruments placed vagina uterus obvious abortion women used come terrible complications many women died intestine outside vagina perforations uterus really dont see anymore misoprostol really beneficial regard whatever think abortion morally deaths fall must good
| 555 |
<p>BANGKOK - As Hillary Clinton tours Burma this week, she will see a nation blighted by both the rule of military tyrants and US sanctions imposed to punish them.</p>
<p>But Clinton, the first US Secretary of State to visit Burma since 1955, is also convinced of the country's potential. While George Bush-era diplomats decried Burma's "reign of fear," President Barack Obama sees "flickers of progress."</p>
<p>Obama has dispatched Clinton on this brief mission - unimaginable just months ago - that could very well reverse the US-Burma rivalry as the outcast nation finds itself increasingly under China's sway.</p>
<p>"It is a powerful endorsement for the government of Myanmar," said Jim Della-Giacoma, the International Crisis Group's Southeast Asia Project Director. ( <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/asia/101101/burma-myanmar-name" type="external">Myanmar is Burma's official title.</a>)</p>
<p>More: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/photo-galleries/planet-pic/5682929/clinton-visits-burma-steps-toward-openness-pariah-state" type="external">Clinton Visits Burma - Inside The Pariah State</a>&#160;(PHOTO GALLERY)</p>
<p>"It provides them with an opportunity to forge a new strategic relationship with the US," he said. "But to really make this work, they'll need to give up something in return."</p>
<p>What America wants from Burma is clear: freedom for roughly 1,600 political prisoners, a rollback of authoritarian shackles on freedom and commerce and the taming of civil wars with armed ethnic militias in Burma's jungles.</p>
<p>The US still takes its Burma policy cues from Aung San Suu Kyi, the 66-year-old daughter of Burma's assassinated founder. During her three-day trip ending Dec. 2, Clinton will visit the democracy idol at her decaying family home, which served as Aung San Suu Kyi's prison during long periods of house arrest imposed by Burma's military.</p>
<p>"Our goal is also to make sure that reforms stay on course and gain momentum," Aung San Suu Kyi said in a Skype speech to the Council for Foreign Relations shortly before Clinton touched down. "I think her goals are the same."</p>
<p>On paper at least, Burma is no longer ruled by the world's longest-running military dictatorship. A 2010 election, clearly rigged, gave power to a political party stacked with military loyalists and ex-generals.</p>
<p>Burma Rebooted: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/111110/burma-myanmar-censorship-aung-san-suu-kyi-sanctions" type="external">Part 1 - The changing face of Burma</a></p>
<p>Still, this military-backed regime is allowing a wave of reforms that have stunned long-time Burma watchers.</p>
<p>Newspapers are now more free to write about poverty and dissidents. The new parliament is also set to allow protests provided they notify authorities five days in advance. (Previous mass protests, in 1988 and 2007, ended in bloody crackdowns.)</p>
<p>Still, Burma remains a state in total disarray. More than one-third of people in Burma live in deep poverty, according to the UN, which estimates the average monthly salary at $27. Noisy diesel generators power its crumbling, blackout-plagued cities. There are no ATMs - nor ubiquitous global franchises such as Starbucks or KFC - and few can afford mobile phones.</p>
<p>"The whole status quo depends on this weirdly isolated economy," Thant Myint-U, a Burma historian and former UN official, recently told GlobalPost. "Change that and you'll change the politics overnight."</p>
<p>The new government is attempting to do just that. Banks will soon be cleared to install ATMs. The International Monetary Fund is currently studying fixes for Burma's chaotic currency system, which drives many to the black market. Bizarre restrictions on vehicle imports - which cause 1980s junkers to cost more than $25,000 - are being phased out.</p>
<p>But to truly unlock Burma's economy, the new government must negotiate an end to heavy economic sanctions imposed by the US, European Union, Canada, Australia and other Western powers.</p>
<p>The ruling class appears to believe Clinton's visit will soon usher sanctions out. Burmese businessman and presidential advisor Nay Zin Latt, in a rare Bloomberg email interview, said Western relations have "improved in a short span of time and they will consider lifting sanctions soon ... it's just a matter of time."</p>
<p>But Burma probably won't get its first McDonald's franchise in 2012. The ban on American business dealings in Burma is imposed by Congress. US politicians are unlikely to stir heat by allowing trade with a despised regime during a presidential election year.</p>
<p>"Don't look for US sanctions to be unwound anytime soon," wrote Ernest Bower, director of the Southeast Asia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "Steps are incremental and take years as trust is built and progress confirmed."</p>
<p>However, the Obama administration can begin peeling back some layers of sanctions by permitting loans from the World Bank and IMF, the primary lenders to nations in turmoil.</p>
<p>Before taking this step, Clinton and other diplomats would likely request Aung San Suu Kyi's blessing first. They would probably receive it, according to a recent GlobalPost interview with her deputy, U Tin Oo, at their headquarters in Rangoon.</p>
<p>"We never deny the giving of aid or any type of humanitarian funds," Tin Oo said. "There must be clear transparency, good monitoring and checks. But aid, if they want to give it, it's up to their decision."</p>
<p>For now, Burma's economy has a lopsided reliance on China, which accounts for 70 percent of the $20 billion in foreign investments pledged to Burma in 2010-2011. The Chinese are flooding Burma with mega-projects designed to pump energy and supplies into China's mainland. Beijing also hopes to transform Burma's coast into a backdoor port giving China access to the Indian Ocean.</p>
<p>Is Clinton's visit designed to give the US a Burma toehold before China's influence grows too powerful? Her camp insists it is not. "Our outreach to Burma is not about China," said Mark Toner, a deputy State Department spokesman. "It's about Burma."</p>
<p>Clinton is also expected to bring up, privately perhaps, concerns over Burma's alleged nuclear weapons program.</p>
<p>Her previous statements suggest fears that Burma is in cahoots with North Korea to develop a nuclear arsenal. A former director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Robert Kelley, told GlobalPost last year that the program likely exists. However, he said, the "workmanship is extremely poor ... I could buy many of these components from the hardware store."</p>
<p>The Obama administration, braced for accusations that high-level engagement with an abusive regime is premature, has chosen its language carefully. Both Obama and his diplomats have so far surrounded their statements on Burma's "flickers of democracy" with disclaimers that reforms may still fizzle.</p>
<p>But Clinton, while en route to Burma, expressed the desire to see those flickers "ignited into a movement for change that will benefit the people of the country." Whether that happens will largely depend on Burma's generals-turned-politicians and their stomach for even bigger reforms.&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
bangkok hillary clinton tours burma week see nation blighted rule military tyrants us sanctions imposed punish clinton first us secretary state visit burma since 1955 also convinced countrys potential george bushera diplomats decried burmas reign fear president barack obama sees flickers progress obama dispatched clinton brief mission unimaginable months ago could well reverse usburma rivalry outcast nation finds increasingly chinas sway powerful endorsement government myanmar said jim dellagiacoma international crisis groups southeast asia project director myanmar burmas official title clinton visits burma inside pariah state160photo gallery provides opportunity forge new strategic relationship us said really make work theyll need give something return america wants burma clear freedom roughly 1600 political prisoners rollback authoritarian shackles freedom commerce taming civil wars armed ethnic militias burmas jungles us still takes burma policy cues aung san suu kyi 66yearold daughter burmas assassinated founder threeday trip ending dec 2 clinton visit democracy idol decaying family home served aung san suu kyis prison long periods house arrest imposed burmas military goal also make sure reforms stay course gain momentum aung san suu kyi said skype speech council foreign relations shortly clinton touched think goals paper least burma longer ruled worlds longestrunning military dictatorship 2010 election clearly rigged gave power political party stacked military loyalists exgenerals burma rebooted part 1 changing face burma still militarybacked regime allowing wave reforms stunned longtime burma watchers newspapers free write poverty dissidents new parliament also set allow protests provided notify authorities five days advance previous mass protests 1988 2007 ended bloody crackdowns still burma remains state total disarray onethird people burma live deep poverty according un estimates average monthly salary 27 noisy diesel generators power crumbling blackoutplagued cities atms ubiquitous global franchises starbucks kfc afford mobile phones whole status quo depends weirdly isolated economy thant myintu burma historian former un official recently told globalpost change youll change politics overnight new government attempting banks soon cleared install atms international monetary fund currently studying fixes burmas chaotic currency system drives many black market bizarre restrictions vehicle imports cause 1980s junkers cost 25000 phased truly unlock burmas economy new government must negotiate end heavy economic sanctions imposed us european union canada australia western powers ruling class appears believe clintons visit soon usher sanctions burmese businessman presidential advisor nay zin latt rare bloomberg email interview said western relations improved short span time consider lifting sanctions soon matter time burma probably wont get first mcdonalds franchise 2012 ban american business dealings burma imposed congress us politicians unlikely stir heat allowing trade despised regime presidential election year dont look us sanctions unwound anytime soon wrote ernest bower director southeast asia program center strategic international studies steps incremental take years trust built progress confirmed however obama administration begin peeling back layers sanctions permitting loans world bank imf primary lenders nations turmoil taking step clinton diplomats would likely request aung san suu kyis blessing first would probably receive according recent globalpost interview deputy u tin oo headquarters rangoon never deny giving aid type humanitarian funds tin oo said must clear transparency good monitoring checks aid want give decision burmas economy lopsided reliance china accounts 70 percent 20 billion foreign investments pledged burma 20102011 chinese flooding burma megaprojects designed pump energy supplies chinas mainland beijing also hopes transform burmas coast backdoor port giving china access indian ocean clintons visit designed give us burma toehold chinas influence grows powerful camp insists outreach burma china said mark toner deputy state department spokesman burma clinton also expected bring privately perhaps concerns burmas alleged nuclear weapons program previous statements suggest fears burma cahoots north korea develop nuclear arsenal former director international atomic energy agency robert kelley told globalpost last year program likely exists however said workmanship extremely poor could buy many components hardware store obama administration braced accusations highlevel engagement abusive regime premature chosen language carefully obama diplomats far surrounded statements burmas flickers democracy disclaimers reforms may still fizzle clinton en route burma expressed desire see flickers ignited movement change benefit people country whether happens largely depend burmas generalsturnedpoliticians stomach even bigger reforms160
| 669 |
<p>To stay or to go. It's a wrenching question low-lying coastal communities around the world are beginning to reckon with as climate change starts to push up global sea levels.</p>
<p>But it's not just happening in far-away places like Bangladesh or the Maldives.&#160;It's happening right here in the US.</p>
<p>On Tangier Island, Virginia, in the southern Chesapeake Bay, residents are facing the inundation of a place some local families have called home since the 1600s.</p>
<p>They are determined to stay.</p>
<p>On Isle de Jean Charles on the Louisiana Gulf coast, a disappearing Native American community has made the opposite decision. They are the first community to receive federal money to relocate due to climate change.&#160;</p>
<p>It's a tale of two towns, confronting a decision no community would ever want to make, but that more and more will have to.</p>
<p>A place stuck in time</p>
<p>Tangier, in the broad open water of the Chesapeake about halfway between Washington and Norfolk, is reachable only by boat, and its isolation makes for a very tight-knit community.</p>
<p />
<p>Crab shanties just offshore of Tangier Island, Virginia, in the&#160;southern Chesapeake Bay.</p>
<p>Carolyn Beeler</p>
<p>“I like the family,” said Tangier resident Teresa Vermeal Tyler. “The people, they grew up with each other, so it’s not just that they’re each other’s neighbors, they’re family. ... You can’t beat it when it comes to raising kids,”</p>
<p>Like most of its roughly 450 residents, Tyler uses a golf cart instead of a car to get around Tangier. She waves or nods at neighbors as she navigates gravel roads lined with white picket fences.</p>
<p>Many of the island’s men make a living catching crabs and oysters on the water beyond, long a key part of the Tangier identity.</p>
<p>“We’ve been working the waters for a couple hundred years now,” said James “Ooker” Eskridge, Tangier’s mayor and a waterman himself.</p>
<p>But the relationship with the water is becoming more fraught.</p>
<p />
<p>James "Ooker" Eskridge, a waterman and mayor of Tangier Island, Virginia.&#160;</p>
<p>Carolyn Beeler</p>
<p>"The Chesapeake Bay, [which]&#160;has been providing the resource for a living on the island, is now threatening the island,” Eskridge said.</p>
<p>Rising seas, sinking land</p>
<p>Threatening is an understatement. The average elevation on Tangier is only about three-and-a-half feet above sea level, and the bay is slowly but steadily washing the island away. Today, it’s only about a third of the size it was in the 1850s.</p>
<p>It’s a complex problem. Climate change is pushing sea levels up around the world, but the waters of the Atlantic along this part of eastern North America are rising faster than the global average due to changes in the Gulf Stream. Meanwhile, the land in the southern Chesapeake Bay has been slowly sinking for thousands of years.</p>
<p>The combination of rising water and sinking land has added up to more than an inch and a half of relative sea level rise per decade since the mid-20th century. And it’s speeding up. By 2100, the Army Corps of Engineers projects the water surrounding Tangier Island will rise as much as six feet more, leaving all but the highest points of the island underwater.</p>
<p>But the ghosts of lost land are already visible here.</p>
<p>Out on the water on a drizzly afternoon, Eskridge stopped his crab boat about 100 yards offshore, over a spot where there used to be a town.</p>
<p>“They had a small school house and a small store up here,” Eskridge said, gesturing out to the open water. “All of it’s underwater now.”</p>
<p>The last families evacuated this part of the island in the early 1900s. But residents left the graves of some of their ancestors behind. Two tombstones stand on the marshy shore of the island, just a few feet away from the lapping waves.</p>
<p />
<p>For generations, Tangiermen have been wresting a living from the Chesapeake Bay. Here’s James “Ooker” Eskridge’s crab shanty offshore of the island.&#160;</p>
<p>Carolyn Beeler</p>
<p>Eskridge recovered the bones of one of his ancestors before they could be swept into the bay, and re-buried them on high ground in the middle of town.&#160;</p>
<p>“[It's]&#160;very discouraging when you look at it,” Eskridge said. “Where we are now on Tangier, we don’t have another island to jump to, so we’ve got to protect the one we’re on.”</p>
<p>Dozens of inhabited islands in the Chesapeake Bay have washed away since Europeans first settled the region in the 1600s. The residents of Tangier know history stands against them. But they are firm in their resolve. &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>“We want help, we don’t want to leave,” said Tyler. “This is a family and we don’t want to leave each other.”</p>
<p>Faith vs. science</p>
<p>The reasons Tangier’s residents are dead-set on staying are a complex web of faith, politics and tradition. It’s a very conservative community, and many residents say they will live on Tangier as long as God wants them to.</p>
<p>“It’s all on His timetable,” said resident George Cannon, when asked how long he thought Tangier would be around.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, most don’t accept the science of man-made climate change, that pollution is causing global temperatures and sea levels to rise.</p>
<p>What’s causing the rapid retreat of their shoreline, they say, is simple erosion.</p>
<p>&#160;“We don’t have no marshes to absorb the water anymore,” said longtime Tangier resident Lonnie Miller. He can’t see the overall level or the water rising, but he can see waves eating away at the edges of the island.</p>
<p>“So are we going to get more street tides, tides on the street?” Miller asked &#160;“Yes. But is it global warming? No.”</p>
<p />
<p>Isle de Jean Charles, along the Louisiana’s coast, toward the bottom of Terrebonne Parish.&#160;Fishing culture has changed dramatically as Gulf of Mexico water has mixed into former freshwater marshes. Isle de Jean Charles residents have to go much farther for their catch.&#160;</p>
<p>Molly Peterson</p>
<p />
<p>Same challenge, different decision</p>
<p>More than a thousand miles southwest of Tangier, a similar combination of rising water and sinking land is buffeting another community with long ties to their patch of earth.</p>
<p>“Where I was born at and raised at, you can’t walk there anymore,” said Albert Naquin, chief of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe, which has called Louisiana’s <a href="http://www.isledejeancharles.com/" type="external">Isle de Jean Charles</a>&#160;southwest of New Orleans home for 200 years.</p>
<p>“You sink up to your knees if you walk there because it’s so saturated with water.”</p>
<p>Like on Tangier Island, the changes here are complex. There’s climate change and global sea level rise, but there’s also subsidence. Dams on the Mississippi River have bottled up silt that used to replenish the land here. Oil and gas canals have cut up the marshes.&#160;Both lead to even more erosion. The US&#160;Geological Survey <a href="http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3164/" type="external">estimates</a> southeastern Louisiana has lost more than 16 square miles of land a year for a quarter-century.</p>
<p>The combination of these forces resonates in the very name of <a href="http://www.isledejeancharles.com/" type="external">Isle de Jean Charles</a>. When the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe arrived 200 years ago, it wasn’t actually an island. It was a peninsula. Today It’s a narrow strip of 320 acres, just two percent of its surveyed size 60 years ago.</p>
<p>Like the residents of Tangier, Chief Naquin didn’t believe in human-caused climate change, even after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. But he’s changed his mind. Now he believes climate change is happening because, he said, he sees it.</p>
<p>“Something is happening” he now says.</p>
<p>What’s happening becomes palpable along a skinny hockey stick of road, the only thing that connects Isle de Jean Charles to the rest of Terrebonne Parish.</p>
<p />
<p>Homes in the Isle de Jean Charles are raised more than a dozen feet in the air to protect from frequent flooding.&#160;</p>
<p>Molly Peterson</p>
<p>It’s called Island Road, and water splashes over it at high tide. In big storms, the water stops the school bus and the postman. Not long ago, it stopped Chantel Comardelle.</p>
<p>“We tried just last week to get down here. We could not,” she said recently. Now 34, Comardelle grew up on the Isle but doesn’t live here anymore.</p>
<p>“My dad turned his truck around, because there were waves crashing on [the road],” she said.</p>
<p>“It’s here, it’s now. It’s a safety issue. It’s happening.”</p>
<p>Island Road was rebuilt in 2011, higher and wider, at a cost of more than $6 million. But storms have flooded it several&#160;times already this year.</p>
<p>Loss of services and protection driving away a community &#160;</p>
<p>Others in Comardelle’s family feel the risk too.</p>
<p>A few months ago Comardelle’s nearly 90-year-old grandfather Wenceslas Billiot fell ill, and the ambulance couldn’t get to his house. Billiot’s house is raised 14 feet above the soggy land to protect it. And until recently, he was intent on staying forever.</p>
<p>Now he’s not so sure.</p>
<p />
<p>Wen Billiot has lived on the Isle de Jean Charles for all of his 89 years.&#160;When&#160;he was sick,&#160;paramedics&#160;airlifted him to safety when high&#160;waters blocked the&#160;road to his home. Now he says it may be time to move.&#160;</p>
<p>Molly Peterson</p>
<p>“I don’t know how long the people gonna stay over here. I really don’t know,” he said. “Everything been going, I mean, fast. Go faster and faster.”</p>
<p>With the eroding wetlands less able to buffer wind and water, storms hit the land that's left harder now, and they’re harder to recover from.</p>
<p>Still, none of the dangers make it any easier to move upland and inland. Wen’s grandson Kyle Billiot remembers how it was in 1985, when his family moved inland after back-to-back hurricanes. He was 9.</p>
<p>“It was hard for me, leaving this place,” Kyle Billiot said. “I don’t know if it was just because of family, but you was always in nature. We swam. Every day we played hide and seek in the woods right there, we always had something to do.”</p>
<p />
<p>Encroaching salt water eats away at tree roots. A generation ago, Isle de Jean Charles was thick with forests, cypress and oak, which kids&#160;climbed</p>
<p>Molly Peterson</p>
<p>Kyle Billiot is 40 now, and the woods he played in have disappeared, as have the island’s basic services.</p>
<p>Gas to the island has been disconnected. A big storm could also end phone and water service. If the road washes out, the Federal Emergency Management Agency says it won’t be replaced. And Louisiana’s $10 billion Coastal Master Plan leaves out the Isle de Jean Charles&#160;and a few other communities.</p>
<p>“They can’t save the island,” Kyle Billiot said. “Not that it’s a bad place to live, it’s just the things you’d have to deal with living down here.”</p>
<p>Federal aid to move but an uncertain timeline</p>
<p>With problems accumulating as fast as their land was disappearing, the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe finally took the chance to apply for a special federal grant to help threatened coastal communities. And earlier this year the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development <a href="http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=NDRCGrantProf.pdf" type="external">awarded</a> the Isle de Jean Charles community $48 million to move inland. It’s the first federal tax money ever earmarked specifically to move a whole community due to climate change.</p>
<p>The timeline for the move is still unclear, as is the tribe’s destination. And some tribal members, including some in the Billiot family, are skeptical the plan will ever actually come together. &#160;</p>
<p>But the HUD award is nourishing the hope that even as their home disappears, the tribe can stick together.</p>
<p>“We need to find something that really works and do it, and not just put Band-Aids here and there,” said Chantel Comardelle. “We’re going to try and do whatever we can to save our people.”</p>
<p>In Tangier, no concrete plan for the future</p>
<p>The residents of Tangier Island feel just the same, but imagine a very different path forward.</p>
<p>It starts with a stone jetty to protect part of Tangier’s harbor, which the Army Corps of Engineers agreed to build in 2018 after years of lobbying by residents and their allies.&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>A conceptual plan from the US Army Corps of Engineers to protect the remaining landmass of Tangier Island.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Courtesy of the US Army Corps of Engineers</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>But that won’t protect the whole island.&#160;Residents want a seawall built around all of Tangier, like one that now protects the island’s airstrip and sewage system.</p>
<p>An Army Corps marine biologist has also sketched out <a href="http://www.nature.com/articles/srep17890" type="external">&#160;an even more ambitious $20 to&#160;30 million plan</a>&#160;to build offshore breakwaters and dunes, fill in marshy parts of the island with dredged sand&#160;and plant trees on the new land.</p>
<p>As of now, this plan is merely hypothetical. No one is talking about financing the project. And without this kind of elaborate engineered solution, the corps says the town likely will need to be abandoned within 25 to 50 years. &#160;</p>
<p>But even with it, the Corps says life in Tangier’s main village might only be extended by about 50 years.</p>
<p>Which raises the question, what's it worth to extend the life of a disappearing community? And who would pay for it?</p>
<p>Despite the Louisiana grant, there’s still no federal plan for saving low-lying communities, no uniform way to decide which to protect and which to abandon.</p>
<p>But Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Chief Albert hopes the process of his tribe’s relocation might serve as a starting point. His community has already shared its experience with folks from threatened parts of Alaska, as well as coastal communities overseas in Indonesia and the Marshall Islands.</p>
<p>“[Our]&#160;island is a cancer,” Chief Albert said, “it’s being eaten away. ...&#160;But we are the doctors! I want to show them how it’s done.”</p>
<p>Read or hear the whole series: <a href="" type="internal">Living with Rising Seas</a></p>
| false | 3 |
stay go wrenching question lowlying coastal communities around world beginning reckon climate change starts push global sea levels happening faraway places like bangladesh maldives160its happening right us tangier island virginia southern chesapeake bay residents facing inundation place local families called home since 1600s determined stay isle de jean charles louisiana gulf coast disappearing native american community made opposite decision first community receive federal money relocate due climate change160 tale two towns confronting decision community would ever want make place stuck time tangier broad open water chesapeake halfway washington norfolk reachable boat isolation makes tightknit community crab shanties offshore tangier island virginia the160southern chesapeake bay carolyn beeler like family said tangier resident teresa vermeal tyler people grew theyre others neighbors theyre family cant beat comes raising kids like roughly 450 residents tyler uses golf cart instead car get around tangier waves nods neighbors navigates gravel roads lined white picket fences many islands men make living catching crabs oysters water beyond long key part tangier identity weve working waters couple hundred years said james ooker eskridge tangiers mayor waterman relationship water becoming fraught james ooker eskridge waterman mayor tangier island virginia160 carolyn beeler chesapeake bay which160has providing resource living island threatening island eskridge said rising seas sinking land threatening understatement average elevation tangier threeandahalf feet sea level bay slowly steadily washing island away today third size 1850s complex problem climate change pushing sea levels around world waters atlantic along part eastern north america rising faster global average due changes gulf stream meanwhile land southern chesapeake bay slowly sinking thousands years combination rising water sinking land added inch half relative sea level rise per decade since mid20th century speeding 2100 army corps engineers projects water surrounding tangier island rise much six feet leaving highest points island underwater ghosts lost land already visible water drizzly afternoon eskridge stopped crab boat 100 yards offshore spot used town small school house small store eskridge said gesturing open water underwater last families evacuated part island early 1900s residents left graves ancestors behind two tombstones stand marshy shore island feet away lapping waves generations tangiermen wresting living chesapeake bay heres james ooker eskridges crab shanty offshore island160 carolyn beeler eskridge recovered bones one ancestors could swept bay reburied high ground middle town160 its160very discouraging look eskridge said tangier dont another island jump weve got protect one dozens inhabited islands chesapeake bay washed away since europeans first settled region 1600s residents tangier know history stands firm resolve 160160160160 want help dont want leave said tyler family dont want leave faith vs science reasons tangiers residents deadset staying complex web faith politics tradition conservative community many residents say live tangier long god wants timetable said resident george cannon asked long thought tangier would around meanwhile dont accept science manmade climate change pollution causing global temperatures sea levels rise whats causing rapid retreat shoreline say simple erosion 160we dont marshes absorb water anymore said longtime tangier resident lonnie miller cant see overall level water rising see waves eating away edges island going get street tides tides street miller asked 160yes global warming isle de jean charles along louisianas coast toward bottom terrebonne parish160fishing culture changed dramatically gulf mexico water mixed former freshwater marshes isle de jean charles residents go much farther catch160 molly peterson challenge different decision thousand miles southwest tangier similar combination rising water sinking land buffeting another community long ties patch earth born raised cant walk anymore said albert naquin chief biloxichitimachachoctaw tribe called louisianas isle de jean charles160southwest new orleans home 200 years sink knees walk saturated water like tangier island changes complex theres climate change global sea level rise theres also subsidence dams mississippi river bottled silt used replenish land oil gas canals cut marshes160both lead even erosion us160geological survey estimates southeastern louisiana lost 16 square miles land year quartercentury combination forces resonates name isle de jean charles biloxichitimachachoctaw tribe arrived 200 years ago wasnt actually island peninsula today narrow strip 320 acres two percent surveyed size 60 years ago like residents tangier chief naquin didnt believe humancaused climate change even hurricanes katrina rita 2005 hes changed mind believes climate change happening said sees something happening says whats happening becomes palpable along skinny hockey stick road thing connects isle de jean charles rest terrebonne parish homes isle de jean charles raised dozen feet air protect frequent flooding160 molly peterson called island road water splashes high tide big storms water stops school bus postman long ago stopped chantel comardelle tried last week get could said recently 34 comardelle grew isle doesnt live anymore dad turned truck around waves crashing road said safety issue happening island road rebuilt 2011 higher wider cost 6 million storms flooded several160times already year loss services protection driving away community 160 others comardelles family feel risk months ago comardelles nearly 90yearold grandfather wenceslas billiot fell ill ambulance couldnt get house billiots house raised 14 feet soggy land protect recently intent staying forever hes sure wen billiot lived isle de jean charles 89 years160when160he sick160paramedics160airlifted safety high160waters blocked the160road home says may time move160 molly peterson dont know long people gon na stay really dont know said everything going mean fast go faster faster eroding wetlands less able buffer wind water storms hit land thats left harder theyre harder recover still none dangers make easier move upland inland wens grandson kyle billiot remembers 1985 family moved inland backtoback hurricanes 9 hard leaving place kyle billiot said dont know family always nature swam every day played hide seek woods right always something encroaching salt water eats away tree roots generation ago isle de jean charles thick forests cypress oak kids160climbed molly peterson kyle billiot 40 woods played disappeared islands basic services gas island disconnected big storm could also end phone water service road washes federal emergency management agency says wont replaced louisianas 10 billion coastal master plan leaves isle de jean charles160and communities cant save island kyle billiot said bad place live things youd deal living federal aid move uncertain timeline problems accumulating fast land disappearing biloxichitimachachoctaw tribe finally took chance apply special federal grant help threatened coastal communities earlier year federal department housing urban development awarded isle de jean charles community 48 million move inland first federal tax money ever earmarked specifically move whole community due climate change timeline move still unclear tribes destination tribal members including billiot family skeptical plan ever actually come together 160 hud award nourishing hope even home disappears tribe stick together need find something really works put bandaids said chantel comardelle going try whatever save people tangier concrete plan future residents tangier island feel imagine different path forward starts stone jetty protect part tangiers harbor army corps engineers agreed build 2018 years lobbying residents allies160 conceptual plan us army corps engineers protect remaining landmass tangier island160160 courtesy us army corps engineers 160 wont protect whole island160residents want seawall built around tangier like one protects islands airstrip sewage system army corps marine biologist also sketched 160an even ambitious 20 to16030 million plan160to build offshore breakwaters dunes fill marshy parts island dredged sand160and plant trees new land plan merely hypothetical one talking financing project without kind elaborate engineered solution corps says town likely need abandoned within 25 50 years 160 even corps says life tangiers main village might extended 50 years raises question whats worth extend life disappearing community would pay despite louisiana grant theres still federal plan saving lowlying communities uniform way decide protect abandon biloxichitimachachoctaw chief albert hopes process tribes relocation might serve starting point community already shared experience folks threatened parts alaska well coastal communities overseas indonesia marshall islands our160island cancer chief albert said eaten away 160but doctors want show done read hear whole series living rising seas
| 1,279 |
<p>By Jeff Brumley</p>
<p>Hospitality to a lot of Christians means taking a meal to a sick church friend or inviting neighbors over for a barbecue on Memorial Day.</p>
<p>But neither of those meanings come even close to the spiritual practice of hospitality as it’s described and, some Baptist pastors say, commanded in the Bible.</p>
<p>But more and more believers are becoming aware of the disconnect between the popular and the scriptural notions, often resulting in fear and outright refusals to learn more.</p>
<p>That’s a struggle that is needed, said <a href="http://fbcdanville.com/fbc/staff/" type="external">John Carroll</a>, pastor of First Baptist Church in Danville, Va.</p>
<p>“We have to wrestle with a biblical model of hospitality and a cultural concept of hospitality,” said Carroll, who preaches regularly on the subject, and whose church partners with a nearby intentional community called Grace and Main that practices extreme forms of hospitality.</p>
<p>Opening hearts and homes</p>
<p>But Carroll is far from a lone voice crying in the wilderness on this issue. Calls for rediscovering biblical hospitality have been voiced in various Christian movements for centuries.</p>
<p>More recently they have been raised by participants in the new monastic movement and other intentional Christian communities that promote opening hearts, homes and kitchens to the poor.</p>
<p>The discussion and practice of hospitality have received extra energy recently with related political and social debates around topics like immigration, homelessness, gay rights and race relations.</p>
<p>And churches and other religious organizations are taking note. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina, as an example, will host <a href="http://www.cbfnc.org/Events/UpcomingEvents/SpiritualFormationRetreat.aspx" type="external">“Hospitality as a Spiritual Practice”</a> May 2-4 in Sophia, N.C.</p>
<p>‘Not about … casseroles’</p>
<p>Presenter Jim Dant says the adult retreat will introduce participants to biblical teachings on hospitality and provide suggestions on how to implement them.</p>
<p>It’s an especially needed topic given societal and political tensions, he adds.</p>
<p>“We live in a culture —&#160;and in a religious culture —&#160;that has lost its civility,” said Dant, <a href="http://jimdant.com/bio/" type="external">an author, speaker</a> and co-owner of <a href="http://thefaithlab.info/" type="external">Faith Lab</a>. “The hope is that this brings a new … civility to whatever we do.”</p>
<p>Content for the retreat will come from the biblical book of Ruth. Participants will see how the story is one in which readers are challenged to be welcoming to strangers and foreigners as well as to God’s presence and even toward whatever culture they live in, Dant said.</p>
<p>Dant said Ruth and passages in other Old Testament books reveal that being hospitable doesn’t necessarily imply approval. Instead, believers are directed to be compassionate.</p>
<p>“Most churches feel we have to condone or condemn what our culture does,” Dant said. “But we are actually called to be hospitable to the culture we live in.”</p>
<p>Christ models that attitude in the Gospels, including when he meets the woman at the well. He neither condemns nor condones her life, but instead offers her understanding and compassion in directing her to repent.</p>
<p>“When he comes alongside her, that’s an act of compassion,” he said.</p>
<p>Biblical hospitality in turn changes those who practice it, Dant said.</p>
<p>“It’s not about learning to make casseroles or being nice to people but having an internal transformation to be truly hospitable in a biblical sense.”</p>
<p>‘Essential to seeing Christ’</p>
<p>For some, being “truly hospitable” requires totally redesigning their lives by joining intentional communities where welcoming the stranger —&#160;in whatever form he or she takes —&#160;is front and center.</p>
<p>“Our stance from the beginning has been learning to welcome and embrace that which is different than you are —&#160;that you might not be comfortable with,” said Jason Williams, a co-founder of the <a href="http://hyaets.org/index.html" type="external">Hyaets Community</a> in Charlotte, N.C.</p>
<p>More recently, Williams helped establish the <a href="http://www.littletreenc.org/" type="external">Little Tree Community</a>, a rural offshoot of Hyaets that emphasizes hospitality, simplicity, peacemaking and other spiritual practices in its community farming practice.</p>
<p>In addition to opening their homes to those in need at the Lincolnton, N.C., ministry, hospitality is also expressed by giving clients leadership roles in running the food growing and operations.</p>
<p>That’s also part of hospitality, Williams said, because it gives him and others an experience of what it is like to receive help.</p>
<p>“I submit to their leadership and wisdom, which places me in equitable relationship with them,” said Williams, a graduate of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. “That makes us uncomfortable —&#160;which is essential to seeing Jesus Christ in the person who comes to your door.”</p>
<p>‘There’s risk’</p>
<p>Such practices, however, are often frightening to everyday Christians, said Carroll. That’s why they often cling to the more common practice of simply showing generosity to friends.</p>
<p>“It’s easy to do because we have things in common with them and we can be around them without delving into who they are.”</p>
<p>But church members must be educated about the model presented in Jewish and Christian scriptures and sometimes nudged to take “baby steps” into uncomfortable directions and situations.</p>
<p>Carroll said he’s being doing that at Danville’s First Baptist by urging those who serve a Sunday morning meal to those in need to begin interacting more with diners.</p>
<p>While certainly providing an important service, food is handed to clients through a window.</p>
<p>“Instead of serving through a window, how about crossing a boundary from the kitchen door and sitting down and having a meal with them?”</p>
<p>There are other non-radical ways of practicing hospitality, he said.</p>
<p>One is inviting a co-worker “we don’t know so well” over for dinner. It’s even better if they are of a different race, age, socio-economic level or sexual preference.</p>
<p>“That’s a good place to start,” he said. “There’s risk there, but I don’t have to open my house to let someone live there.”</p>
<p>The goal is to feel the discomfort that comes with hospitality, he added.</p>
<p>“Hospitality in a biblical sense moves us from a place of hanging out with people we like to creating a common space where we can meet people who are different from us.”</p>
| false | 3 |
jeff brumley hospitality lot christians means taking meal sick church friend inviting neighbors barbecue memorial day neither meanings come even close spiritual practice hospitality described baptist pastors say commanded bible believers becoming aware disconnect popular scriptural notions often resulting fear outright refusals learn thats struggle needed said john carroll pastor first baptist church danville va wrestle biblical model hospitality cultural concept hospitality said carroll preaches regularly subject whose church partners nearby intentional community called grace main practices extreme forms hospitality opening hearts homes carroll far lone voice crying wilderness issue calls rediscovering biblical hospitality voiced various christian movements centuries recently raised participants new monastic movement intentional christian communities promote opening hearts homes kitchens poor discussion practice hospitality received extra energy recently related political social debates around topics like immigration homelessness gay rights race relations churches religious organizations taking note cooperative baptist fellowship north carolina example host hospitality spiritual practice may 24 sophia nc casseroles presenter jim dant says adult retreat introduce participants biblical teachings hospitality provide suggestions implement especially needed topic given societal political tensions adds live culture 160and religious culture 160that lost civility said dant author speaker coowner faith lab hope brings new civility whatever content retreat come biblical book ruth participants see story one readers challenged welcoming strangers foreigners well gods presence even toward whatever culture live dant said dant said ruth passages old testament books reveal hospitable doesnt necessarily imply approval instead believers directed compassionate churches feel condone condemn culture dant said actually called hospitable culture live christ models attitude gospels including meets woman well neither condemns condones life instead offers understanding compassion directing repent comes alongside thats act compassion said biblical hospitality turn changes practice dant said learning make casseroles nice people internal transformation truly hospitable biblical sense essential seeing christ truly hospitable requires totally redesigning lives joining intentional communities welcoming stranger 160in whatever form takes 160is front center stance beginning learning welcome embrace different 160that might comfortable said jason williams cofounder hyaets community charlotte nc recently williams helped establish little tree community rural offshoot hyaets emphasizes hospitality simplicity peacemaking spiritual practices community farming practice addition opening homes need lincolnton nc ministry hospitality also expressed giving clients leadership roles running food growing operations thats also part hospitality williams said gives others experience like receive help submit leadership wisdom places equitable relationship said williams graduate baptist theological seminary richmond makes us uncomfortable 160which essential seeing jesus christ person comes door theres risk practices however often frightening everyday christians said carroll thats often cling common practice simply showing generosity friends easy things common around without delving church members must educated model presented jewish christian scriptures sometimes nudged take baby steps uncomfortable directions situations carroll said hes danvilles first baptist urging serve sunday morning meal need begin interacting diners certainly providing important service food handed clients window instead serving window crossing boundary kitchen door sitting meal nonradical ways practicing hospitality said one inviting coworker dont know well dinner even better different race age socioeconomic level sexual preference thats good place start said theres risk dont open house let someone live goal feel discomfort comes hospitality added hospitality biblical sense moves us place hanging people like creating common space meet people different us
| 533 |
<p>Police struggling to catch Darien Richardson’s killer in 2010 got a break when the murder weapon was recovered at the scene of another homicide <a href="http://news.mpbn.net/post/advocates-seek-ballot-measure-require-background-checks-all-maine-gun-sales#stream/0" type="external">one month later</a>.</p>
<p>Tracking down the owner of the .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol might have led police to whomever had the gun when Richardson was shot in her bed in her Portland, Maine, apartment. But investigators <a href="http://www.pressherald.com/2015/09/06/maine-voices-a-daughters-death-demands-gun-sales-change/" type="external">hit a dead end</a>: The person who originally purchased the weapon from a dealer had subsequently sold it without jotting down the buyer’s information.</p>
<p>Every year, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducts hundreds of thousands of gun traces at the request of law enforcement officials. The purpose of a trace is to identify the custody&#160;of a firearm through the supply chain, from manufacturer to dealer to buyer.</p>
<p>Subscribe to receive The Trace’s newsletters on important gun news and analysis.</p>
<p>But while requesting a trace is a standard part of police work, the failed investigation into Richardson’s killing is an example of a common way they fall short. Because firearms can legally change hands on the secondary market without a paper trail, it is sometimes impossible for police to track a gun to its final handler.</p>
<p>Loose restrictions on private sales and transfers, along with other challenges — including legal restrictions that prevent the ATF from digitally storing records — often makes tracing the path of a gun from assembly line to user remarkably difficult. The obstacles have created headaches for the ATF and hampered police investigations around the country.</p>
<p>Here is how gun traces are supposed to work, and how they often don’t. &#160;</p>
<p>An investigating officer submits <a href="https://www.atf.gov/file/11771/download" type="external">a trace request</a> (either by email, fax, or through the ATF’s eTrace system) to the <a href="https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-tracing-center" type="external">National Tracing Center</a> in Martinsburg, West Virginia. A complete request discloses the weapon’s identifying details, including its serial number, model, caliber, and manufacturer. The ATF is the only agency allowed to perform gun traces.</p>
<p>Over the past decade, the number of gun traces requested by law enforcement has exploded. The ATF processed more than 373,000 trace requests in fiscal year 2015, or more than 1,000 a day. That represents an increase of more than 350 percent from 1995, when the agency processed fewer than 80,000. &#160;</p>
<p>Trace requests spiked after the ATF made the process easier by rolling out an online submission program called eTrace, and some federal and local law enforcement agencies started requiring traces with every crime gun. Chicago alone files about 10,000 trace requests a year.</p>
<p>The average turnaround time for a trace is between four and seven business days.</p>
<p>A trace documents the life of a gun, up to point of sale from a licensed dealer. It will show which manufacturer made the gun, which wholesaler distributed the gun, which federally licensed firearms dealers sold or transferred the gun, and to whom.</p>
<p>Here’s a completed trace form, which tied a gun recovered in a robbery to a Virginia dealer <a href="http://hamptonroads.com/2010/10/portsmouth-shops-guns-seized-crimes-high-rate" type="external">known for selling crime guns</a>:</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>The ATF reports that about 70 percent of its traces are successful. But that calculation includes traces where a gun dealer is identified, but is unable to provide the buyer’s name, usually because of incomplete records. &#160;</p>
<p>In some regions of the country, the success rate is lower. In Illinois, for instance, traces on guns recovered between 2010 and 2014 were successful between 40 and 60 percent of the time.</p>
<p>Figuring out who bought a gun from a dealer does not always reveal the information police most want. They want to know who ultimately used it, in a shooting or some other type of crime.</p>
<p>In the majority of states, only licensed dealers are required to track sales.&#160;Fifteen states require some form of documentation of private gun sales to be kept by a dealer or sent to the government. That information can then be used by the ATF in a trace.</p>
<p>Private sales have been particularly troublesome in Chicago, where police solved only about a quarter of its 479 murders last year, a clearance rate much lower than other large cities. “We see oftentimes with these crime guns that they changed hands multiple times, and sometimes they’ve crossed the country a couple of times,” says Special Agent Tom Ahern, the ATF’s spokesman in Chicago.</p>
<p>A step-by-step guide to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which vets anyone who attempts to buy a gun through a federally licensed firearms dealer.</p>
<p>by <a href="/index.php?s=Miles%20Kohrman%20and%20Jennifer%20Mascia" type="external">Miles Kohrman and Jennifer Mascia</a></p>
<p>When the ATF traces a gun, it asks a gun dealer to flip through its records and send it a copy of the sale. A big problem comes into play when a store has closed. Dealers who go out of business must submit all their records to the ATF, and this happens so often that about 1.6 million documents and other records flood the agency’s offices every month.</p>
<p>There aren’t any rules for how dealers must store records. Some arrive on index cards, old notebooks, and password-protected hard drives, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/10/27/firearms-national-tracing-center-atf/74401060/" type="external">USA Today found</a>.</p>
<p>NPR <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185530763/the-low-tech-way-guns-get-traced" type="external">quoted one ATF</a> official as saying that particularly rebellious dealers submitted their books on paper towels or toilet paper.</p>
<p>Making the ATF’s task more cumbersome is the fact that the bureau is legally prohibited from creating a database to search the trove of paperwork at its disposal. The National Rifle Association and other pro-gun groups have blocked efforts to create that database, saying such a step would bring the country too close to a national registry. That means the ATF must scan documents and search them manually, slowing down police investigations.</p>
<p>Some dealers simply don’t keep records at all. In 2015, an&#160; <a href="" type="internal">ATF inspection</a> found that an unnamed firearms dealer in Arkansas neglected to record the sale of thousands of guns. That dealer, the bureau said, was responsible for 98 percent of the state’s 2,951 missing guns that year.</p>
<p>For police, traces spark leads. Even though a trace doesn’t always lead directly to a perpetrator, law enforcement can interview a gun’s buyer to see whom he or she gave or sold it to and then follow the chain of custody.</p>
<p>Tracing guns is helpful in other ways, too. Traces help law enforcement figure out where criminals are getting their guns, and crack down on gun trafficking. In Chicago, police found that more than half of the guns used to commit crimes in the city were bought in states with less restrictive laws.</p>
<p>Traces can also lead law enforcement officers to dealers who unwittingly or intentionally supply straw purchasers or other criminals. One gun shop near Milwaukee in 1999 stopped selling particular types of guns that were popular among criminals after it was linked to more than half of the recoveries in that city, according to a study in the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2438583/" type="external">Journal of Urban Health</a>. That change shrunk the flow of newly trafficked guns to Milwaukee by 44 percent, the study found.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>While many of Chicago’s guns come from across the Illinois border, the city has also encountered problems with gun stores nearby. Between 2009 and 2013, more than 1,500 crime guns&#160; <a href="" type="internal">were traced</a> to Chuck’s Gun Shop in Riverdale, a 30-minute drive from the city.</p>
<p>Not much. The ATF publishes aggregate data about common makes and calibers of traced guns, and the states in which they were bought. But since the early 2000s, provisions known as the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/26/us/legislative-handcuffs-limit-atfs-ability-to-fight-gun-crime.html?_r=0" type="external">Tiarht Amendments</a> have blocked the ATF from sharing more granular information with anyone but law enforcement. Some journalists have been able to get their hands on trace reports by going through their local police departments, but that is technically not allowed.</p>
<p>Proponents of the Tiarht Amendments argue that sharing trace information could jeopardize law enforcement investigations. But critics say the prohibitions limit the public’s ability to examine trends and expose corrupt dealers.</p>
<p>[AP Photo/Cliff Owen]</p>
<p>Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that only eight states keep information on private sales that can be used in a gun trace. The correct number of states is 15.</p>
| false | 3 |
police struggling catch darien richardsons killer 2010 got break murder weapon recovered scene another homicide one month later tracking owner 45caliber semiautomatic pistol might led police whomever gun richardson shot bed portland maine apartment investigators hit dead end person originally purchased weapon dealer subsequently sold without jotting buyers information every year bureau alcohol tobacco firearms explosives conducts hundreds thousands gun traces request law enforcement officials purpose trace identify custody160of firearm supply chain manufacturer dealer buyer subscribe receive traces newsletters important gun news analysis requesting trace standard part police work failed investigation richardsons killing example common way fall short firearms legally change hands secondary market without paper trail sometimes impossible police track gun final handler loose restrictions private sales transfers along challenges including legal restrictions prevent atf digitally storing records often makes tracing path gun assembly line user remarkably difficult obstacles created headaches atf hampered police investigations around country gun traces supposed work often dont 160 investigating officer submits trace request either email fax atfs etrace system national tracing center martinsburg west virginia complete request discloses weapons identifying details including serial number model caliber manufacturer atf agency allowed perform gun traces past decade number gun traces requested law enforcement exploded atf processed 373000 trace requests fiscal year 2015 1000 day represents increase 350 percent 1995 agency processed fewer 80000 160 trace requests spiked atf made process easier rolling online submission program called etrace federal local law enforcement agencies started requiring traces every crime gun chicago alone files 10000 trace requests year average turnaround time trace four seven business days trace documents life gun point sale licensed dealer show manufacturer made gun wholesaler distributed gun federally licensed firearms dealers sold transferred gun heres completed trace form tied gun recovered robbery virginia dealer known selling crime guns atf reports 70 percent traces successful calculation includes traces gun dealer identified unable provide buyers name usually incomplete records 160 regions country success rate lower illinois instance traces guns recovered 2010 2014 successful 40 60 percent time figuring bought gun dealer always reveal information police want want know ultimately used shooting type crime majority states licensed dealers required track sales160fifteen states require form documentation private gun sales kept dealer sent government information used atf trace private sales particularly troublesome chicago police solved quarter 479 murders last year clearance rate much lower large cities see oftentimes crime guns changed hands multiple times sometimes theyve crossed country couple times says special agent tom ahern atfs spokesman chicago stepbystep guide national instant criminal background check system vets anyone attempts buy gun federally licensed firearms dealer miles kohrman jennifer mascia atf traces gun asks gun dealer flip records send copy sale big problem comes play store closed dealers go business must submit records atf happens often 16 million documents records flood agencys offices every month arent rules dealers must store records arrive index cards old notebooks passwordprotected hard drives usa today found npr quoted one atf official saying particularly rebellious dealers submitted books paper towels toilet paper making atfs task cumbersome fact bureau legally prohibited creating database search trove paperwork disposal national rifle association progun groups blocked efforts create database saying step would bring country close national registry means atf must scan documents search manually slowing police investigations dealers simply dont keep records 2015 an160 atf inspection found unnamed firearms dealer arkansas neglected record sale thousands guns dealer bureau said responsible 98 percent states 2951 missing guns year police traces spark leads even though trace doesnt always lead directly perpetrator law enforcement interview guns buyer see gave sold follow chain custody tracing guns helpful ways traces help law enforcement figure criminals getting guns crack gun trafficking chicago police found half guns used commit crimes city bought states less restrictive laws traces also lead law enforcement officers dealers unwittingly intentionally supply straw purchasers criminals one gun shop near milwaukee 1999 stopped selling particular types guns popular among criminals linked half recoveries city according study journal urban health change shrunk flow newly trafficked guns milwaukee 44 percent study found many chicagos guns come across illinois border city also encountered problems gun stores nearby 2009 2013 1500 crime guns160 traced chucks gun shop riverdale 30minute drive city much atf publishes aggregate data common makes calibers traced guns states bought since early 2000s provisions known tiarht amendments blocked atf sharing granular information anyone law enforcement journalists able get hands trace reports going local police departments technically allowed proponents tiarht amendments argue sharing trace information could jeopardize law enforcement investigations critics say prohibitions limit publics ability examine trends expose corrupt dealers ap photocliff owen correction earlier version article stated eight states keep information private sales used gun trace correct number states 15
| 777 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.