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| Whaomg I haven't updated in forever X_X Okay okay okay! My birthday, was the 16th. Lots of good stuff happend yay it rocked moving on.
I'll update more later XD | | |
| Federal "Hate Crimes" Bill Threatens Religious Freedom
The United State Senate is considering a so-called "hate crimes" bill (SB 1145 entitled the "Local Law Enforcement Act of 2005"), which was quietly passed by the House in September. The bill allows federal prosecution for crimes based on "actual or perceived" sexual orientation and, if signed into law, would pose a grave threat to ministers and religious organizations. Now is the time to sign an Urgent Petition to Congress to stop the hate crimes bill.
If passed by the Senate, the hate crimes bill would be the first and only law by the federal government that in any way gives special protection or benefits based on the status of sexual orientation. Giving special protection to certain groups devalues the lives of others who are not members of those groups. All crime victims suffer, and all should be treated equally under the law.
On a more sinister note, if the hate crimes bill passes the Senate, it will be coupled with the Hate Crimes Reporting Act of 1990 which mandated that the FBI include intimidation in its reporting of statistics on hate crimes. Therefore, because intimidation may also be considered a hate crime, ministers or religious organizations who speak out against homosexuality are in danger of being labeled with a hate crime. Such speech is already under attack:
• Eleven Christians were jailed under Pennsylvania's hate crimes law in 2004 for singing in a public park and preaching against homosexuality.
• In 1998 the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a Resolution blaming religious people for hate crimes, declaring: "It is not an exaggeration to say that there is a direct correlation between these acts of discrimination, such as when gays and lesbians are called sinful and when major religious organizations say they can change if they tried, and the horrible crimes committed against gays and lesbians."
• A Canadian citizen was fined over $6,000.00 for running an ad in the newspaper where he quoted Leviticus 18:22, which states that homosexuality is a sin.
• A mayor in Canada was found to violate a human rights ordinance when she refused to declare Gay Day.
• A minister in the United Kingdom was fined £20,000 (approximately $35,000.00) for an ad that described homosexuality as an abomination.
• A complaint was filed in a Dutch court against Pope John Paul, II for his statement that "homosexual acts are contrary to the laws of nature." The Dutch court ruled the Pope's status as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican State afforded him immunity from prosecution. Other religious leaders would not be immune.
In 2001, we created a legal memorandum addressing a similar hate crimes bill. For more details on the dangers of such laws to minsters and religious organizations, you can read the memo on our web site. You must be informed about this threat to free speech and religious freedom.
It is not too late for you to make a difference! Please sign the Urgent Petition to Congress to stop the hate crimes bill. We need thousands of people like you to rise up and let your voices be heard!
http://www.lc.org/Petitions/fedmarriage/hatecrimes_petition_form.htm
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I got this email from my church. I'm not going to say what I think about it XD | | |
| I'm going to start getting more organized! And I can't wait to get into the blog rings mores! I need to clear up school work first, and get a hand from Kuku at figuring this place out.
Ahahaha! | | |
| You all need to know an love Death Cab For Cutie. Thats all there is to it. I suggest The Sound of Settling first, but We Looked like Giants is a great one too.
I adore music. Kuku has much better taste than me, but I think I can still pick a few winners. ^_~ | | |
| Yikes! I have so very little on here! Onee-san said she would help me though. And she mentioned something about skins last night. I have no clue what she's talking about but thats okay, because I'll learn.
I'm doing very well on my favorite pet site, Subeta.org (I'm cesium55 there too, so if you join say I sent ya!). Becca, Stephanie, and so many others including Dark, Harvest, and Sevvy are some of the nicest people.
I also had my first day of co-op yesterday. It was fun. In Film class we'll be making a 10 minute movie, and I might get to be a screenwriter! Its up to me, my friend Rebecca, and one other girl to keep it in as low-budget a setting as possible.
And in Lit. Club I have to read four chapters of To Kill a Mockingbird. And next time its Heart of Darkness. But its not all work. I also bought The Art of War to read. I can't wait~
Wait, I have school work to do! Ahh! | | |
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