tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70331847388976453452024-03-14T03:32:46.643-07:00BiNational Same Sex CouplesA blog about Americans who are in love with someone who is not an American, but cannot sponsor them to come to the United States because they are of the same sex. This blog addresses the grave injustice being done to Lesbian and Gay bi-national couples.Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-74822527540953042842013-07-10T10:02:00.001-07:002013-07-10T10:05:05.667-07:00Yes, Yes, I Have Neglected this BlogHello friends, It has been quite awhile since I have posted to this blog...I think I got very discouraged with how things were going. It seemed that those who wish to not allow love were winning. Now here it is July 2013 and my wife and I have an intake interview with our immigration attorney. Poor attorney, we have been a bit ...uh ... impatient. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers...and give us the right words and our attorneys wisdom as we start this process. I hope that in a short time, my wife will be sporting her green card. There will be much celebration...and then...when it happens...her citizenship .... we will be having a party... a red white and blue one to be exact. We have never been so close...indeed, we feel so blessed.<br />
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I have also been dealing with a separate issue in healing. One that I addressed earlier when some imbecile compared same sex marriage to incest in my blog post: <a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2011/08/open-letter-to-those-who-compare.html" target="_blank"> An Open Letter To Those Who Compare Homosexuality to Incest</a> Doing much healing work regarding this and I hope you will also keep me in your thoughts and prayers.<br />
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All of this has served to make me so thankful for all that I have been given and for all I have. My life...I am so blessed.Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-51752268351360729622012-06-11T14:10:00.000-07:002012-06-11T14:10:21.624-07:00Christ, Love, Salvation, and the LGBT People<br />
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As a Christian, I have written extensively in this blog on what the Bible really says about homosexuality. I have used other people's studies, my own studies, theologians, historians etc...<br />
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<a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2010/12/favorite-sin-of-conseratives.html" target="_blank">The Favorite Sin of the Conservatives</a></div>
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<a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-have-family-values-ohand-im-gay.html" target="_blank"> I Have Family Values....Oh...and I'm Gay!</a></div>
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<a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2011/01/does-god-really-hate-homosexuals.html" target="_blank">Does God Really Hate Homosexuals?</a></div>
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<a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-other-abominations-should-we.html" target="_blank">What Other Abominations Should We Condemn?</a></div>
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<a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2011/02/jesus-greatest-commandments-and.html" target="_blank">Jesus, the greatest commandments and Homosexuality</a></div>
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<a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2011/03/ruth-and-naomi.html" target="_blank">Ruth and Naomi </a></div>
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<a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2011/03/bible-says-homosexuality.html" target="_blank">The Bible Says- - - Homosexuality</a></div>
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And several others. Actually, I had no idea how many times I have written to Christians pleading with them to please do some studying. When I see people shouting that "God Hates Fags..." or "Homosexuals are going to hell", claiming that it is the Word of God, it truly appalls me that these people think are doing God's work when indeed they are buying into lies to turn people away from Salvation.</div>
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I ran across this, the way Christians should behave, the way to bring the Good News to all people, and I was so happy that at last, some Christians believe that God's Word is for everyone. </div>
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<b><a href="https://jonverdavid.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/" target="_blank"><span></span></a><a href="" rel="home" title="Where is Jonver??">From This Blog: Where is Jonver??</a> </b></div>
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<b><i>This is an amazing photo that captured the moment a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Gay">gay man</a> hugged a member of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Christian">Christian</a>group, that came to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_pride" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Gay pride">Gay Pride</a> to
apologize for the way the church has treated homosexuals. It’s nice to
see people of faith have common sense enough to know that hate and
prejudice is wrong. A step in the right direction towards equality and
something everyone should learn from. THIS is the kind of compassion
that religion teaches, but far too often doesn’t follow. Well done.</i></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.practikel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/bVD9p.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="600" src="http://www.practikel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/bVD9p.jpeg" title="bVD9p" width="400" /></a></b><br />
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<b><i>Since seeing this photo, a friend of mine had introduced me to more
of the story. A man, by the name of Nathan, is the one you see above
hugging the gay guy in his underwear, or Tristan rather. Well, Nathan
wrote a blog about this day and this moment and what his and his fellow
church-goers had done. Here is what he had to say:</i></b><br />
<b><i><em><a href="http://naytinalbert.blogspot.com/2010/06/i-hugged-man-in-his-underwear-and-i-am.html" target="_blank">I hugged a man in his underwear</a>. I think Jesus would have too.</em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em>I spent the day at Chicago’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_parade" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Pride parade">Pride Parade</a>. Some friends and I, with <a href="http://www.themarinfoundation.org/" target="_blank">The Marin Foundation</a>, wore shirts with “I’m Sorry” written on it. We had signs that said, “I’m sorry that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Christian">Christians</a> judge
you,” </em></i></b><br />
<b><i><em>“I’m sorry the way churches have treated you,”</em></i></b><br />
<b><i><em> “I used to be a
bible-banging homophobe, sorry.”</em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em> We wanted to be an alternative <a href="http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/index.html" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Christian Voice (UK)">Christian voice</a> from the protestors that were there speaking hate into megaphones. </em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em>What I loved most about the day is when people “got it.” I loved
watching people’s faces as they saw our shirts, read the signs, and
looked back at us. Responses were incredible. Some people blew us
kisses, some hugged us, some screamed thank you. A couple ladies walked
up and said we were the best thing they had seen all day. I wish I had
counted how many people hugged me. One guy in particular softly said,
“Well, I forgive you.” </em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em>Watching people recognize our apology brought me to tears many times. It was reconciliation personified. </em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em>My favorite though was a gentleman who was dancing on a float. He
was dressed solely in white underwear and had a pack of abs like no one
else. As he was dancing on the float, he noticed us and jokingly
yelled, “What are you sorry for? It’s pride!” I pointed to our signs and
watched him read them. </em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em>Then it clicked. </em></i></b><br />
<b><i><em>Then he got it.</em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em>He stopped dancing. He looked at all of us standing there. A look
of utter seriousness came across his face. And as the float passed us
he jumped off of it and ran towards us. In all his sweaty beautiful abs
of steal, he hugged me and whispered, “thank you.” </em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em>Before I had even let go, another guy ran up to me, kissed me on
the cheek, and gave me the biggest bear hug ever. I almost had the wind
knocked out of me; it was one of those hugs. </em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em>This is why I do what I do. This is why I will continue to do what I do. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconciliation_%28United_States_Congress%29" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Reconciliation (United States Congress)">Reconciliation</a> was personified. </em></i></b><br />
<b><i><em>I think a lot of people would stop at the whole “man in his
underwear dancing” part. That seems to be the most controversial. It’s
what makes the evening news. It’s the stereotype most people have in
their minds about Pride.</em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em>Sadly, most Christians want to run from such a sight rather than
engage it. Most Christian won’t even learn if that person dancing in his
underwear has a name. Well, he does. His name is Tristan. </em></i></b><br />
<b><i><em>However, I think Jesus would have hugged him too. It’s exactly
what I read throughout scripture: Jesus hanging out with people that
religious people would flee from. Correlation between then and now? I
think so. </em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em>Acceptance is one thing. Reconciliation is another. Sure at
Pride, everyone is accepted (except perhaps the protestors). There are
churches that say they accept all. There are business that say the
accept everyone. But acceptance isn’t enough. Reconciliation is. </em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em>But there isn’t always reconciliation. And when there isn’t
reconciliation, there isn’t full acceptance. Reconciliation is more
painful; it’s more difficult. Reconciliation forces one to remember the
wrongs committed and relive constant pain. Yet it’s more powerful and
transformational because two parties that should not be together and
have every right to hate one another come together for the good of one
another, for forgiveness, reconciliation, unity.</em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em>What I saw and experienced at Pride 2010 was the beginning of
reconciliation. It was in the shocked faces of gay men and women who did
not ever think Christians would apologize to them.</em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><em>What I saw and experienced at Pride 2010 was the personification
of reconciliation. It was in the hugs and kisses I received, in the
“thank you’s” and waves, in the smiles and kisses blown.</em></i></b><br />
<b><i><em>I hugged a man in his underwear. I hugged him tightly. And I am proud.</em></i></b><br />
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<b><i><a href="http://www.practikel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/marin1.jpeg"><img alt="" height="160" src="http://www.practikel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/marin1.jpeg" title="marin1" width="488" /></a> </i></b><br />
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<b><i>THIS
is truly heart-warming. I am crying as I write this because I am proud
of this man and his willingness to share what he believes, despite the
criticism he may receive. After this, even more came together to keep
this story going. Someone had recognized Tristan from the photo, and
Tristan got in touch with Nathan. These two shared how this moment meant
so much for each of them, and that is what’s remarkable. One person
meets another, and for each of them, this was a lasting experience and
memory.</i></b><br />
<i>*******************************************************************************</i><br />
What a wonderful story! This is what I believe Christianity is all about.<i> </i>This is what I believe Jesus Christ would do. He would not discriminate. He would tell them of His love.<br />
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<br />Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-7462261848921820862012-06-06T08:30:00.001-07:002012-06-07T08:01:17.255-07:00Just How Far Have Christians Strayed From The Bible<br />
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In my home state of Indiana, a little boy sings a song about who will and will not make it to heaven and people cheer.<br />
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The Bible says that there is rejoicing in the presence of the angles over one sinner that repents...not over people going to hell. How did we stray so far away from God's will, God's commands, and God's love? <br />
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At the Independent Fundamental Baptist Church in which I grew up, I have heard sermon after sermon on how homosexuality is the last step before God gives up on a nation. Once I heard one of the street preachers of our church say, "My name is ..... and all homosexuals are going to hell..."<br />
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We have Westboro Baptist Church with the signs that say, "God hates Fags..." Other Baptist Churches disown them only because they say that the only soldier that God loves is a dead soldier.<br />
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My wife and I tried to put our son in the local Baptist Church School and they refused to allow him to attend. They sent us a letter saying that "we have nothing to offer your son...". I now believe that. However, at the time I cried. I sent them a letter saying, what about telling and teaching him of Jesus? I never got a reply. I even called and the Pastor refused to speak with me.<br />
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Where does all this judgement and hate come from? Let us examine the life of Christ. Christian means Christ like. The Bible says, "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" John 3:17 KJV<br />
The ruling religious people of the time hated Jesus so much that they killed him. What did they hate about Him?<br />
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1. He ate with Publicans and sinners <br />
2. He healed the sick<br />
3. He raised the dead<br />
4. He spoke with Samaritans (The Woman at the Well)<br />
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Today's Christians would not pass the "love your neighbor as yourself...". Today's Christians would probably put Jesus to death for hanging out with sinners. Jesus would probably go into bars to tell the people in there of His love. He would go and have dinner with mobsters and murders to let them know that the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost....and Christians today would not be able to accept that. They would have to judge the Almighty as being "worldly" as did the Pharisees of old.
Just how far have Christians today strayed from what Christ's message is? "For God so loved the world....that whosoever...." John 3:16 KJV<br />
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"For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost..." How much have Christians become like the Pharisees? (...I thank God that I am not like this man...) They have strayed from Jesus.....Very very Much.<br />
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All I am asking is that before passing this type of hate and judgement, you ask yourself, what would Jesus have me say to this person. What would Jesus want me to tell this person? </div>
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How much have you actually studied at what the Bible REALLY says about homosexuality? </div>
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<br />Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-60742729138845128082012-05-08T16:20:00.000-07:002012-05-08T16:20:53.223-07:00While We Wait for Others to Decide Our Lives.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So we while we wait for the political games to play out, thousands of bi-national same sex couples are living banished from the United States or separate from their beloved, or in a totally different country (not native to either) or illegally together in the USA.<br />
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We would like to see some sort of positive action. We are waiting....and waiting.....and waiting...How long would you wait for someone to give you the rights which should already be yours?<br />
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<br />Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-74397913116514668862012-04-26T09:22:00.001-07:002012-04-26T09:27:10.668-07:00Just Not Feeling "It" LatelyIt has been quite awhile since I last wrote something for this blog. I think it is because I am a tad bit discouraged. While it is true that a lot of steps have been made in the right direction for marriage equality, very little has been done to help with same sex bi-national couples.<br />
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The last two months I have seen two couples who I personally know have to separate. The whole thing is so indescribable and painful. Having to say good bye to your spouse, the person that you desire to spend the rest of your life with is literally "bring you to your knees" painful.<br />
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While people in Washington D.C. are busy worrying about how decisions they make will advance their political career the two ladies pictured had to say good bye to each other just this week. While Congress ignores immigration reform, lives are being torn apart and children are growing up without their Mothers.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jWFgf7duDZw/T5lqUG28YtI/AAAAAAAAAK0/LZmgv-TGB6I/s1600/claireandcarriemarriage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jWFgf7duDZw/T5lqUG28YtI/AAAAAAAAAK0/LZmgv-TGB6I/s200/claireandcarriemarriage.jpg" width="200" /></a>One of the most heartbreaking things is that some of my friends who are bi-national same sex couples do not even know when they will see each other again. These are people who are legally married (at least in six states) but, because of the so called Defense of Marriage Act or DOMA, they cannot sponsor their spouses for immigration. DOMA is tearing apart families.<br />
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I cannot understand how people think that by allowing bi-national same sex couples to be able to sponsor their spouse or permanent partner, that it would do anything other than enhance our society.<br />
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I have heard all and I do mean all of the arguments for this evil, horrible, offensive and hateful law, and none of them make any sense to me. Traditional family, traditional marriage, child bearing, abomination, nuclear family, natural order, etc... what does any of that have to do with allowing people who are in love to be together.<br />
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Everyone has different traditions. People often say, let's make our own traditions. Traditions change over the years. Very few, if any, traditions are EXACTLY the same as what they were started out to be.<br />
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We are not going to stop people from having children. Saying that a couple must be able to have children the "traditional way" to be married is a bit presumptuous. Anyone with a brain in their head would not even use this as an argument because of elderly couples, infertile couples, and cancer survivor couples (not to mention same sex couples).<br />
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An abomination before God. When did the USA get so concerned over abominations before God. This is not even to mention that no where in the Bible does God condemn a monogamous and loving same sex relationship. Back to my point of when did Congress and folks in the USA get so concerned over abominations. Lying is an abomination, I haven't seen anyone put that up on a billboard. As a matter of fact, in Proverbs 16:16-19, the Bible mentions seven things that are an abomination to God:<br />
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<span class="versetext singleline" id="pr6-16" style="display: block;"><span class="versenum">16</span>
<span class="strongs">There</span> are <span class="strongs">six</span> <span class="strongs">things</span> which the <span class="strongs">LORD</span> <span class="strongs">hates</span>, Yes, <span class="strongs">seven</span> which are an <span class="strongs">abomination</span> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7033184738897645345" name="a"></a>to Him:
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7033184738897645345" name="1"></a><span class="strongs">Haughty</span> <span class="strongs">eyes</span>, a <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7033184738897645345" name="2"></a><span class="strongs">lying</span> <span class="strongs">tongue</span>, And <span class="strongs">hands</span> that <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7033184738897645345" name="3"></a><span class="strongs">shed</span> <span class="strongs">innocent</span> <span class="strongs">blood</span>,
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A <span class="strongs">heart</span> that <span class="strongs">devises</span> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7033184738897645345" name="4"></a><span class="strongs">wicked</span> <span class="strongs">plans</span>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7033184738897645345" name="5"></a><span class="strongs">Feet</span> that <span class="strongs">run</span> <span class="strongs">rapidly</span> to <span class="strongs">evil</span>,
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A <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7033184738897645345" name="6"></a><span class="strongs">false</span> <span class="strongs">witness</span> who <span class="strongs">utters</span> <span class="strongs">lies</span>, And one who <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7033184738897645345" name="b"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7033184738897645345" name="7"></a><span class="strongs">spreads</span> <span class="strongs">strife</span> <span class="strongs">among</span> <span class="strongs">brothers</span>.
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If they are going to go by what they think the Bible says Congress had better work together because "one that spreads strife among the brothers" is pretty much a definition of the GOP today.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-agAy6MFO-y4/T5lvolZqPfI/AAAAAAAAALA/om_Fz3BuE2A/s1600/claireandcarriesayinggoodbye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-agAy6MFO-y4/T5lvolZqPfI/AAAAAAAAALA/om_Fz3BuE2A/s200/claireandcarriesayinggoodbye.jpg" width="200" /></a>Have you ever had to say goodbye to someone you love? Have you ever had to say goodbye not knowing when you would see them again? Have you ever had to do that when it wasn't necessary except for a discriminatory law? I have had to do this. Thousands of couples have had to do this.<br />
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What can you do to help end this discrimination? You can <a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/" target="_blank">send a simple e-mail (click here) to your elected members of Congress</a> asking them to co-sponsor the <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:S.598:" target="_blank">Respect for Marriage Act</a> (Click on it to read it). As important, or maybe for bi-national couples more important is the <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:h.r.1537:" target="_blank">Uniting American Families Act.</a> <br />
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I personally tweet the House Judiciary Committee (they hold UAFA and Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act in their hands) at least once a week. Please do whatever you can, but please do something.<br />
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For more information:<br />
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<a href="http://www.stopthedeportations.com/blog/" target="_blank">Stop the Deportations: The DOMA Project</a><br />
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<a href="http://tornapart.findhornpress.com/" target="_blank">Torn Apart: United by Love, Divided by Law </a><br />
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<a href="http://out4immigration.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Out4Immigration Blog</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.immigrationequality.org/" target="_blank">Immigration Equality Organization</a><br />
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One final thought.....I took this from a friend's Facebook page. Although it may be simple for some, it is what most bi-national couples long for, dream about and hope...on a daily basis...just to be.....<br />
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<br />Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-9892174568064884082012-02-22T16:15:00.000-08:002012-02-22T16:19:05.960-08:00Once Again, DOMA Declared Unconstitutional<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">From Lambada Legal</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://lambdalegal.org/news/ca_20120222_judge-rules-doma" target="_blank">"This ruling, the first to come after the Justice Department announced it would no longer defend this discriminatory statute in court, spells doom for DOMA."</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Read Judge White's order <a href="http://lambdalegal.org/in-court/legal-docs/golinski_us_20120222_order" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With all of the positive progress States are making on Marriage Equality, The Defense of Marriage Act being declared unconstitutional once again is great news. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The question that is on all bi-national Same Sex couples minds is this: What does this mean for us? Right now, it means nothing. As soon as we hear from<a href="http://www.stopthedeportations.com/blog/" target="_blank"> Lavi Soloway </a>or <a href="http://www.out4immigration.org/immigration/homepage.html" target="_blank">Out 4 Immigration</a>, I will update this page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To make things crystal clear, I believe our best bet is to get the Uniting American Families Act passed. We need to be actively contacting our Congress officials and asking them to pass the UAFA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, 2/22/12, The Ballot Book reports the following: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ballotbook.com/news/item/68996" target="_blank">Advocates, Officials gather in LA to discuss immigration reform</a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></h3>
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</span><span style="font-size: large;"> KPCC: Congress members, advocates, officials gather in LA to discuss immigration reform<br /><br />
Congress members, immigration advocates and officials from U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services all met Tuesday in downtown Los
Angeles. The group has gathered to support President Barack Obama’s
recent attempts at immigration reform.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Again, make your voice heard and contact your Congress Members and let them know that we need the Uniting American Families Act passed. We are a small group, we need to band together and speak up for our families. </span>
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<br /></div>Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-5842482850603085202012-02-08T19:06:00.000-08:002012-02-09T13:38:14.037-08:00California, Washington State, and Marriage Equality<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> California and Proposition 8 </span></div>
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Prop 8 is overturned again. A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that California's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional.
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Proposition 8, the
2008 ballot measure that limited marriage in California to one man and
one woman, violated the equal protection rights of gays and lesbians.
Now, a forthcoming appeal could pave the way for the U.S. Supreme Court
to rule on gay marriage as early as next year.<br />
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A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 to uphold Walker's decision. "<b>Proposition 8
served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status
and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California</b>," the court said.
The Constitution "requires that there be at least a legitimate reason
for the passage of a law that treats different classes of people
differently. There was no such reason that Proposition 8 could have been
enacted."<br />
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Currently, this means nothing for same sex couples as they still cannot start getting married. The proponents of Prop 8 will have a chance to appeal. If and when the appeal is filed, which it inevitably will be,<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/07/us-usa-gaymarriage-california-idUSTRE8160HO20120207" style="color: black;"><i></i></a> gay marriage will be kept on hold "pending future proceedings." From everything I have read, experts believe that the proponents of Prop 8 will bypass the full Ninth District Court and will try to take the issue directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has the option to take up the case or not.<br />
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Rachael Maddow interviews conservative Republican Lawyer for Marriage Equality, Ted Olson<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Washington State Legislature Passes Marriage Equality</b></span></div>
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Washington state lawmakers voted to approve gay marriage Wednesday,
setting the stage for the state to become the seventh in the nation to
allow same-sex couples to wed.<br />
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I, along with hundreds of thousands of Lesbians and Gays listened to the testimony given. On a personal note I would like to say the following: I am sick to death of the "Christian" religious right saying how that God feels that the act of homosexuality is a sin and an abomination. Such things spewed forth from the lips of conservatives like I was in Baptist Sunday School. We heard things like how much "in anguish" they were about this decision. We heard the ever tiresome, yet erroneous, "traditional marriage" argument again and again. We heard the flawed "marriage is for pro-creation" argument. Let us not forget the new argument that Representative Hargrove gave: Gays shouldn't get married because of a Super Bowl Ad.<br />
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The argument that is beyond me, however, is when they say that the gay and lesbian couples already have the same rights. In the state in which I live, I can still be fired just for being a lesbian. My wife and I traveled to Iowa to get married. My marriage is not recognized in my state of residency. I cannot sponsor my wife for a green card. So when they say that we have equal rights, they are as mistaken as when they say that the Bible says that homosexuality is a sin.<br />
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Right now, none of this really helps bi-national same sex couples at all. Immigration is a federal issue and all of this really fabulous great news is only happening at the state level. We can only hope that some of the court cases being brought against the mistakenly called Defense of Marriage Act or DOMA come up before the United States Supreme Court.<br />
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For up to date information:<br />
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<a href="http://www.prop8trialtracker.com/" target="_blank">Prop 8 Trial Tracker </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.immigrationequality.org/issues/couples-and-families/uniting-american-families-act/" target="_blank">Immigration Equality </a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_48677765"><br /></a><br />
<a href="http://tornapart.findhornpress.com/?tag=uniting-american-families-act" target="_blank">Uniting American Families Act/Torn Apart</a></div>
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In the meantime, continue to contact your Congressmen/Women on a <u><i><b>weekly</b></i></u> basis regarding sponsoring the Uniting American Families Act.<br />
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<a href="https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr1537" target="_blank">Contact your Representatives via Pop Vox</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s821" target="_blank">Contact your Senator via Pop Vox</a></div>
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As bi-national same sex couples, we are the minority of a minority. We must all work together to get our Representatives and Senators to take notice of the Uniting American Families Act. </div>
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<br /></div>Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-64356322847428574332012-01-23T12:55:00.000-08:002012-01-23T12:55:43.285-08:00Only a Fool Would Take Such A Strong Stand Without Research<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Only a fool would take such a strong stand against Same Sex Marriage without researching the subject completely. Why? Because so much is at stake for an entire group of people. Thousands of people, of Americans are being discriminated against without good reason...but some think they are doing what is right without having done the research or the work. This is irresponsible.</div>
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Quick facts about what the Bible says about it:</div>
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1. There are only six verses in the Bible that mention a "man lying with a man". </div>
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2. In the verses where it is called an "abomination", it is clear that the Bible is speaking of the rites/practices of idol worship. </div>
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3. The Church used to marry same sex couples</div>
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Further research I have done regarding said subject can be found on <a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2011/03/bible-says-homosexuality.html" target="_blank">The Bible Says Homosexuality</a>.</div>
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So the United States Congress would discriminate against an entire group of people based on hearsay. I urge all of Congress to do research and read from both sides of the arguement.</div>
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Just because the church says something doesn't make it right.</div>
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*The Church said the Earth is Flat</div>
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*The Church said that the Earth was the center of the Universe</div>
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*The Church tortured and killed those who didn't agree with them</div>
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*The Church started wars in the name of God </div>
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The Founding Fathers believed that no one should push/impress their beliefs upon anyone else. That is why they believed in the separation of Church and State and religious freedoms.</div>
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Repeal the discriminatory so called "Defense of Marriage Act". Pass the Respect for Marriage Act. Pass the Uniting American Families Act. It is the right thing to do.</div>
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"Do Right Until the Stars Fall" -Dr. Bob Jones</div>
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This is the right thing to do. Give all Americans EQUAL rights.</div>
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<br />Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-41503600581874830682012-01-14T10:24:00.000-08:002012-01-14T15:16:16.250-08:00GOP Immigration Reform Ideas<br />
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<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-in-reply-to="158224461915627521"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/Song1964">Song1964</a>legislation mandatingthat illegals don't get jobs or benefits blocked by Dem Senate & Obama. No jobs or benefits=illegals leave</p>— Dana Rohrabacher (@DanaRohrabacher) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanaRohrabacher/status/158232485564661760" data-datetime="2012-01-14T17:02:19+00:00">January 14, 2012</a></blockquote>
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Representative Lamar Smith from Texas, the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has not allowed any Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill to come up for a vote in the committee. As a matter of fact,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2135014196"> </a><i><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/news/immigration-334790-obama-country.html" target="_blank">The Orange County Register</a> </i>reports that the GOP called the president's action another move to grant “backdoor amnesty to” people who are in the country illegally. </div>
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Over and over again the GOP has mentioned that any sort of Comprehensive Immigration Reform like the "Dream Act" is nothing but granting illegals amnesty. The GOP current leader for the President of the United States nomination has taken the position, that all undocumented immigrants should be deported. As a matter of fact, his stance is so strong and negative that the GOP is doing damage control on Twitter by starting the @GOPLatino outreach. I believe that it is too little....and I hope it is too late. Again, I hope that this crumb that these GOP Leaders are throwing to the Latinos .... won't dupe them into voting for these prejudiced bigots.<br />
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We need the DREAM Act with the Uniting American Families Act to pass. It is amazing to me that we are told that we have to wait our turn, stand in line. Whereas there might be a line for some of these people, the wait is 10 to 20 YEARS (this is no exaggeration). For most bi-national same sex couples, there is not a line to get into. There is NO LINE for us. When I have mentioned this to some of our Honorable Elected Officials, I have been told (by those bothering to answer me) that we are not normal<a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2011/08/nuclear-family.html" target="_blank"> "nuclear family" </a></div>
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<br>We need the Uniting American Families Act passed. We need DOMA repealed. We need to be treated like we are EQUAL.....because we are. While the Government ponders why our LGBT youth are dying from bullying and suicide, it is no mystery to me. They are taking their cue from our government who fights against giving us Equal rights, fights for religious rights to persecute the LGBT youth, who try to get bills like the Tennessee "Don't Say Gay" bill passed. It is because of this United States Government sanctioned hate, that our LGBT youth are dying.
I urge all of us to vote! Vote for our best hope in getting the Uniting American Families Act passed.... Vote for our best chance of getting DOMA repealed. In my conservative life, I have never voted Democrat (Yes, I voted for McCain in '08), I am voting for Barak Obama in 2012. It is our best chance for EQUALITY.Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-12723243879651190602012-01-11T08:13:00.000-08:002012-01-11T08:52:59.266-08:00Elections and Bi-national Couples<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4nQMviihWJo/Tw2qBPqkb1I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/3-ezbCjDn18/s1600/061220_BI_mittRomneyEX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4nQMviihWJo/Tw2qBPqkb1I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/3-ezbCjDn18/s200/061220_BI_mittRomneyEX.jpg" width="200" /></a>Well, it looks like, unless there is some huge shake up in the GOP, President Obama will be running against anti-immigration man, Mitt Romney. In statements over and over again he states that he is against amnesty, yet he does not offer any sort of Comprehensive Immigration Reform ideas. As far as any answers for bi-national same sex couples... well, that subject, that specific question has yet to be asked of any GOP delegate.<br />
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<a href="http://www.baywindows.com/" target="_blank">Bay Windows </a>- New England's Largest GLBT Newspaper published <a href="http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=columnists&sc=the_romney_files" target="_blank">"The Romney Files"</a> to show his stance on LGBT issues. <br />
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It looks like our strongest hope is to get President Obama re-elected. My fear is that because of Obama playing politics, he has offended many of the LGBT community and that will divide our vote. A man, for whom I have great respect, Lt. Dan Choi said that he would not support President Obama. <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/06/16/247301/dan-choi-rips-up-obama-flyer-i-wont-vote-for-obama-if-he-doesnt-endorse-marriage-equality/" target="_blank">Think Progress LGBT reports the following:</a><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“I think if Obama doesn’t endorse my full marriage equality and my
person hood in this country, then I have no business supporting him and I
don’t think a lot of the people who are first time votes will either,”
Choi said at a panel called ‘What To Do When The President Is Just Not
That Into You.’</blockquote>
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Washington Blade’s Chris Johnson got <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1667764139">this response</a><a href="http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/06/16/netroots-choi-slams-obama-volunteer-for-lack-of-support-for-marriage-equality/" target="_blank"> </a>from Choi, “Sometimes love comes in harsh forms. <b>I
love my detractors enough to let them know when they are misguided and I
only regret that we are both suffering under a second-class citizenship
imposed by politicians who smile pleasantly while denying our fight for
justice.</b> The harshest treatment would be our acquiescence to the view that we do not deserve equality.”</blockquote>
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While I understand Choi's opinion and I respect his stance, to vote for an independent delegate would only allow Mitt Romney to be able to defeat President Obama. It would not allow the independent delegate to win. I feel that a second term for Obama is what we need to get equal marriage rights and equal immigration rights. The Lieutenant has time on his side. We as bi-national couples do not. We are apart from our spouses, we live in exile, we live under the wire, looking over our shoulders. With Obama not having the need to win a third term or kiss up to people for votes, I believe that he will work to get rid of DOMA and help get the Uniting American Families Act passed.<br />
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Regardless who wins the GOP nomination, we cannot divide our vote to let these anti-gay (which all GOP's have professed to be) people take office. <br />
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No one is more aware of the President's instructions to ICE to use discretion when deporting the undocumented than bi-national same sex couples, but he has not told them to stop. He has not told them to give us an avenue to sponsor our spouses for immigration. He has not made it legal for us to be able to be with our life partners.<br />
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We have a lot of work to do in 2012. I, as a conservative, will be voting Democrat for the first time in my life. I urge you to do the same. We need DOMA gone, we need the Uniting American Families Act passed and we need to be able to be with our spouses/partners/sweethearts (whatever term you prefer). We need legal recognition. We need to be equal citizens of these United States of America.Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-43985712084128142682011-12-26T20:43:00.000-08:002011-12-27T07:06:00.001-08:00Family Values, High Morals, and Defending MarriageWhy do you suppose folks who rarely pick up a Bible can almost quote word for word the verses that they erroneously think condemn same sex relationships? <br />
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Why do you suppose these same people refuse to acknowledge the fact that the Bible calls their sins abomination?<br />
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Why do you suppose time after time, the same people are brought down for doing things that are less then ethical? <br />
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I have two sons.<br />
I believe in family values.<br />
I am married.<br />
I have high morals, I have never cheated on my spouse. I am honest, truthful and a hard worker. I have worked for the same company for 20 years.<br />
I believe in defending marriage. I think that the decline of the family and marriage is appalling. <br />
My family attends church regularly.<br />
My Boys are boy scouts.<br />
They attend AWANA every Monday night.<br />
My boys are both exceptional students with straight A's.<br />
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How can people be against my family and my marriage? How can people say that I am not for family values because I am a <b>lesbian</b>? <b>How can people say that I am less than them</b> and that I don't deserve the same rights as a heterosexual couple?<br />
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I would like for my marriage to be recognized by the State and Federal governments. I would like to not have to hide my relationship for fear of bullying. I believe that the government is responsible for the bullying of the Lesbian and Gay people because they have not made us equal. <span style="background-color: yellow;"> Bullies will always pick on someone that they perceive to be inferior to them and the US State and Federal government's failure to recognize us as equal, feeds right into their bullying. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"> <span style="background-color: cyan;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">I am not the exception in the Lesbian and Gay community. I am the rule. Our families....our values.... our morals......... We are pro family. We are pro marriage. We are for family values. We would like to be treated equally as our heterosexual counterparts.</span> </span><br />
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How can the US Government refuse my family equal rights and equal protection? <b> To continue to discriminate against us is immoral, anti-family, anti-marriage, and unAmerican.</b><br />
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<br />Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-52021259511756943882011-12-21T19:21:00.000-08:002011-12-25T19:30:52.050-08:00When a Kiss is Not Just a Kiss<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j1VSNx-3RME/TvfqUtaEd4I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/vDPso86L87o/s1600/Navy+Kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j1VSNx-3RME/TvfqUtaEd4I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/vDPso86L87o/s320/Navy+Kiss.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta
won a raffle on the dock landing ship Oak Hill to be the first to kiss a
loved one on its return to port in Virginia Beach. Petty Officer 3rd
Class Citlalic Snell was waiting when she crossed the brow. Story<a href="http://hamptonroads.com/2011/12/first-lesbian-couple-get-first-kiss-navy-homecoming" target="_blank"> http://hamptonroads.com/2011/12/first-lesbian-couple-get-first-kiss-navy-homecoming</a></div>
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Congratulations to these young ladies. While many folks may not understand the hoopla and the fanfare around all of this and the importance of this kiss, same sex couples everywhere hail this as a historical kiss. </div>
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Bi-national same sex couples look upon this as it being sweet, sweet indeed. However, there is a sense of jealousy and longing. While these two get to hold each other and kiss for all to see, we hide in civil disobedience, talk on Skype, live in exile. We wait for our country to give us equal (not special) rights. </div>
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Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton made the historical speech to the UN about LGBT rights are human rights and human rights are LGBT rights. We would like for that to extend to the United States of America. We would like our human rights. See Clinton's historical speech:</div>
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We would like to be able to kiss our loved one in public without fear. We would like to be able to kiss our spouse without the worry that they will have to leave again soon. We would like to kiss our sweetheart on American soil as they are granted legal status. <br />
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We are American Citizens who are in love with someone who is not an American Citizen. We cannot sponsor them because we are of the same sex. We are asking for the right to be allowed to be with our spouses.<br />
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While we are encouraged by this kiss, I look forward to the day when bi-national couples can "kiss in the sunlight and say to the sky...behold and believe what you see. Behold how my lover loves me."<br />
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<br />Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-81717259197140872992011-12-05T10:52:00.000-08:002011-12-07T16:24:43.265-08:00Christians vs GaysToday I read where a teenager, who is gay, said the following, "...I know that God hates me..."<br />
As a Christian, when I read that, my heart sunk. When did we as Christians fail a whole group of people? When did we think it was right to tell them that God hates them and their "lifestyle"? When did we as Christians go from the Great Commission to passing God's judgement onto a people?<br />
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I know what Romans says. It was written by Paul to the <b>Church</b> of the Romans. I am not here to argue that. I am not here to argue that the Bible never condemns a monogamous same sex relationship. I am here to say that as Christians, we have failed to tell a group of people that God loves them. We are too busy pointing out what the Bible says that we have failed to point out what the Bible says...yes I meant that.<br />
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We need to look and see how the Son of God lived His life on this earth. He ate with the publicans and sinners. That was the biggest criticism that the ruling religious body of the time had against Jesus. Jesus chose to hang out with them to tell them of God's love. John 3:17 says, "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." So God's sole purpose of sending His beloved Son into the world was so that they could be saved.<br />
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Christians today seem to have forgotten that Matthew 28:19 &20 says Go and Teach ... not go and judge. They seem to have forgotten that God calls lying an abomination. They seem to have forgotten that the reason Christians are left on this Earth and not taken to Heaven immediately after conversion is to tell others of Jesus' love, death, burial and resurrection.<br />
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My wife and I signed our son up for the Baptist Church Preschool. Why? Because we wanted him to learn about Jesus dying on the cross to save him from his sin. We wanted him to learn about the Almighty sending His Son. We received a letter stating that the preschool had nothing to offer our son. We have reason to believe that the reason why is because we told them we are a lesbian couple. Not one time did any of those people offer to us the Gospel. The Good News of the Saviour. <br />
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I am a Christian. I am a lesbian. There is no conflict. I have the peace which passes all understanding and the knowledge that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that <b>whosoever </b>believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."<br />
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One more observation/question: When is the last time, as a Christian, you have picked up your Bible and read it...outside of Church. When is the last time you actually prayed for the salvation of the Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people? When is the last time you thought to actually study what the Bible really says about it with a prayerful attitude? <br />
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<br />Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-60640417886528447742011-12-01T08:20:00.000-08:002011-12-01T09:46:49.404-08:00The Holidays for Bi-National Same Sex CouplesAs the holidays draw close, most people's thoughts turn to spending time with their loved ones, Christmas shopping and presents, large meals and family time. For the 40,000 plus bi-national same sex couples, (estimated from the 2010 US Census) the holidays often take on a different meaning: Lonely separation. <br />
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My lovely friend in Colorado will celebrate Christmas with her wife via Skype. Her wife is British and lives in the UK. In spite of her wife's extensive education, there is no "line" at the immigration office for this bi-national couple to get into.<br />
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<a href="http://www.shewired.com/lifestyle/2011/11/04/bi-national-lesbian-couples-plea-repeal-doma-video" target="_blank">VIDEO made by the US Citizen </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.shewired.com/lifestyle/2011/11/29/heartbreak-lesbian-binational-couple-whats-changed-year" target="_blank"> Follow Up Story: Heartbreak for Lesbian Binational Couple: What's Changed in a Year</a></div>
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My very dear friend lives in California, her wife, her legal wife (married in Canada and in California) will be in England due to the United States immigration discriminatory laws. These two ladies pose no threat to anyone, as a matter of fact, the Californian is a Military Veteran. In spite of serving her country, her country refuses to acknowledge her marriage to her lovely wife from the United Kingdom. They, too, will spend Christmas apart....touching their computer screens instead of holding each other.<br />
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<a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2011/04/married-and-in-loveyet-strangers-by-us.html" target="_blank">Their Story: Part 1</a> <a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2011/05/living-our-lives-three-months-at-time.html" target="_blank">Their Story: Part 2</a></div>
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I have a friend on twitter who is struggling on telling her son (age 2) and daughter (age 6), that their "other" Mom's visa may not be renewed. Another family separated by the so called Defense of Marriage Act and immigration discrimination. Will they be able to watch their children open their presents....together as a family?</div>
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Things that heterosexuals take for granted, spending holiday's with the family, watching the kids open presents, sitting around the dinner table, are things that bi-national same sex couples pray to be a reality soon. </div>
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For a bi-national couple living exiled in New Zealand, you would think that life is perfect for them, after all, they are together legally. Here is the two of them singing together a song that the Hoosier wrote for her New Zealand wife. The Hoosier longs to "sit on the porch and have a beer with her dad in Indiana" <br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrmD7q9VW2U" target="_blank">Say You Will</a></div>
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These are just a few of my bi-national friends. I could go on and on about friends living in exile in Canada and two other couples moving to Canada before the end of the winter season, but I won't. I won't tell you of a lovely New York couple.....as one of them is from New York the other from Italy... they struggle with issues that heterosexual couples would never even think about. If they marry, will that cause problems with Homeland Security? Will the New Yorker's lovely wife be "red flagged" by Homeland Security because of their marriage...even though it is legal in New York?<br />
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Think about us, think about the bi-national couples as you celebrate the holidays with your loved ones. As you hug your sweetheart, know that others are just touching a computer screen. As you snuggle with your children, know that bi-national couples are scared and worrying that their children will be torn from their non-US citizen parent.<br />
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There are some that live in the United States illegally, in civil disobedience, seeing this as the only option to be together. Exile is not an option for some of these couples. Moving to their partner's country is not an option in some of these cases.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJySRbOFEVs/Tte0bXopTGI/AAAAAAAAAJk/qoRRXBnbUcM/s1600/tornapart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJySRbOFEVs/Tte0bXopTGI/AAAAAAAAAJk/qoRRXBnbUcM/s1600/tornapart.jpg" /></a>Author, Judy Rickard, in a bi-national relationship herself, has written a book called<br />
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<a href="http://tornapart.findhornpress.com/" target="_blank"><u>Torn Apart: United by Love Divided by Law</u> </a></div>
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A repeal of DOMA needs to take place. The passing of the Uniting American Families Act, needs to take place. We are human beings. We have families. We have fallen in love with a person who is not a US Citizen. We need to be allowed to be with our spouses...we need to be allowed to pursue our happiness.<br />
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Other Resources:<br />
<a href="http://www.out4immigration.org/immigration/homepage.html" target="_blank">Out4Immigration</a><br />
<a href="http://www.stopthedeportations.com/blog/" target="_blank">Stop the Deportations: The DOMA Project</a><br />
<a href="http://www.immigrationequality.org/" target="_blank">Immigration Equality</a><br />
<a href="http://www.masliah-soloway.com/ms.bios.html" target="_blank">Lavi Soloway: Attorney</a><br />
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<br />Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-64568704150693271392011-11-16T07:08:00.000-08:002011-11-16T07:33:07.596-08:00American Family Association Sends an Email Full of Lies<table align="center" id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125222" style="width: 590px;"><tbody id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125221">
<tr><td align="center" class="yui_3_2_0_16_132145414612591" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"> </td><td align="center"><table align="center" id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125222" style="width: 590px;"><tbody id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125221">
<tr><td align="center" class="yui_3_2_0_16_132145414612591" id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125238" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><table align="center" id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125222" style="width: 590px;"><tbody id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125221">
<tr id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125220"><td class="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125103" id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125219" style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><h4 id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125258"> This email was sent to me on November 16, 2011 by the American Family Association. The lies throughout the email are fantastic. The misrepresentation of the facts is close to being liable. The whole of the untruths is so Unchristian it is amazing. </h4><h4 id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125258"><P>I am quite sure that this is not what the Bible means when it says to Preach the Gospel and to love our neighbors.</h4><h4 id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125258"><P>I cut and pasted this. I changed nothing except removing my personal identifying information.</h4><P><h4 id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125258"> </h4><h4 id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125258"> </h4><h4 id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125258"> </h4><h4 id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125258"><P><P><P><P><P> <img alt="American Family Association" height="51" id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125237" src="http://action.afa.net/images/afa_logo_email.png" title="American Family Association" width="400" /><a href="http://www.votervoice.net/core.aspx?APP=GAC&AID=365&issueid=26588&SiteID=-1" id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125262" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="Take Action Now" border="0" height="35" id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125261" src="http://action.afa.net/images/taction_buttonB.png" style="border: 3px solid yellow;" title="Take Action Now" width="132" /></a></h4><h4 id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125258"> </h4><h4 id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125258"> Gay weddings coming to ? - Senate voting on repeal of 'one man, one woman' marriage</h4><h5> S. 598 now goes to the full Senate, where YOUR Senators can stop it dead in its tracks.</h5>November 15, 2011<br />
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Dear ,<br />
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Late last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and force to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.<br />
If passed by the full Senate, the so-called "Respect for Marriage Act" (<a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112s598is/pdf/BILLS-112s598is.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">S. 598</a>) will repeal DOMA and give federal recognition to two homosexuals who wish to be "married."<br />
<b>S. 598 shows anything but respect for the sanctity of marriage. <a href="http://www.votervoice.net/core.aspx?APP=GAC&AID=365&issueid=26588&SiteID=-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Urge your Senators to stop this bill!</a></b><br />
The repercussions are enormous:<br />
<ul id="yui_3_2_0_16_1321454146125178"><li><b>States laws protecting marriage as between "one man, one woman" will become null and void </b>- including the 31 states who have voted on constitutional amendments.<br />
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<li><b>The military will be thrown into complete chaos and disarray</b>, as Department of Defense leaders try to figure out housing, benefits, and "same-sex spouse" sensitivity training regimens.<br />
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<li><b>Churches will come under fire</b> from radical homosexual activists. Ministers and churches will be sued for "religious discrimination" for refusing to perform or allow gay "marriages."<br />
</li>
<li><b>Public schools will be forced to indoctrinate our children</b>, teaching them that homosexual marriage is both natural and acceptable.</li>
</ul><span style="color: red;"><b>S. 598 now goes to the full Senate, where YOUR Senators can stop it dead in its tracks.</b></span><br />
Last July, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said President Obama supports the bill to repeal DOMA. Carney replied: "I can tell you that the president has long called for a legislative repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act...He is proud to support the Respect for Marriage Act...which would take DOMA off the books once and for all."<br />
<b>Take Action</b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.votervoice.net/core.aspx?APP=GAC&AID=365&issueid=26588&SiteID=-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Email your senators today</a>, without delay!</b> Urge them to do everything within their power to protect marriage by voting <b><i>AGAINST</i> S. 598</b>.<br />
<b>After sending your email, please call your senators personally</b>. Ask for your senators by name when you call the Capitol switchboard at <b>202-224-3121</b>.<br />
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</tbody></table>Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-61862132866320626452011-11-15T08:05:00.001-08:002011-11-15T10:30:51.797-08:00In Touch With The American Voters<br />
<br />
What do the majority of United States Citizens think about Marriage Equality?<br />
<br />
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<center><br />
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</center><center></center><center></center><center></center><center></center><center></center><center></center><center></center><center></center><center></center><center><img alt="" height="40" src="data:image/png;base64,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" 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<span class="location">LOS ANGELES</span> | <span class="timestamp">Fri May 20, 2011 10:26pm EDT</span><br />
<span class="timestamp"> </span> </div>
<span id="midArticle_0"></span><span class="focusParagraph"> (Reuters) - Fifty-three percent of Americans support making gay marriage legal, a Gallup poll showed on Friday, a marked reversal from just a year ago when an equal majority opposed same-sex matrimony.<br />
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<a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/19/poll-more-americans-favor-same-sex-marriage/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link:Poll: More Americans favor same-sex marriage">Poll: More Americans favor same-sex marriage</a></h1>
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<span class="cnn_author"><a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/tag/cnn-political-unit/" rel="tag">CNN Political Unit</a></span> <br />
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<b>(CNN) –</b> Support for same-sex marriage has received a boost, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research survey released Tuesday. </div>
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The poll indicates that more than half of all Americans believe that marriages between gay or lesbian couples should be legally valid. With 51 percent of respondents saying that same-sex marriages should be legal, it is the first time that a CNN poll has found majority support for same-sex marriage.<br />
<a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/04/19/rel6h.pdf">Full results (pdf) </a><br />
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HxtWVZQGf/t+NrJOs24FE7gtdQmkRR8neKRpHxtJWQuHZIl+1DevY/2PBkGX1vUToiZn4yr4k3x9VSthrTUzHtlR4h2xn7yeBGnArKNP4NbwtcpHlGEAQp/ryntD+YXhMcqjEv40PnasqyJKEJT+Nc0RTus34Kvp+t1puWq3FeDQMUvx8a1h0EAtTGdSWR0+NqijtTIQRnv2T0kvrZE85MPBZLVJpS9AWaPer30SuhooRggHIXJ5pRwjsc2Y6T4mhyrEGVLGHIp42s+wUaKPFn/D2IuFGr7/Ab/t+BrlCgMySVGcNmJdcNMDZ37PsghlfCAN3b8RoqvreuNf6/X+/hhRRg5OTy+JvPz+PBI5vsvq43IHgaUyF66YF0Gbt7FAPHvVQyQk3WIis3rCvznG77mO9MvltCY9dU1WYIjGV83f85cRCI508QD2xn744cV4YotbPdvxNdk5vD5jwYeg6556zlMIkKf99gAilHjazfvLj589Ocfz2Ur2fD4GsmYll7+pYhmkp03MjUzskd0iHQgJl1+yVdHW0RhCF1BOM2ZJhm+5kUIc/zlixcK9lPwdfOatREcRP8lsbVkslqV5Wjm9/i3h6/tjL25sSE7lVIXJlFfnwiDYLpeR8SHuiCqWyhPsYw/OnyNLICxOb+GxNdIyabeitkZe+PLl18ve0h1IhwgdV8hVyf8L/k2M8cnhq8ZaUSqRfWo5cZyJ62WzLCsLtP1eoKsc+QAlD+OEO6VbglfT0QRSdTwbfdrbGqnwc4cGrJkTEmL2qIyInytQ5eaVSVtJ3KATNfrsaYtYhG+7HYP9vZ/mewp+DpWTYOzrHB7x4yU4Wvan2+6Xp/UyPY3Xa+TuF9FshRF0WVtssnSEYLbw9do+fOnz7CsIcqcMc+dtFrHh0ex6Qj0P4eHm3dTjI2wqE0id56v9ekytqoU7YQOpW8rc/Pu86fP4H7e6/W+n54ysoeYRrXsJb0VQcHXsS5GiOeCis1bsZmOim3JnedrhOMmujPBL5bevX0Lb8vLbpcZ/SePF3GFsZoE4vOLkWsG+br4tt4qvgZyY7nm3Ny33a+QRTJzcAH81XXKp9jY1nSAqpWiCHMvKF50t/kadt5ERwuD4uvpen26Xk93NQkyutGyR6wNdLoxmewl9RshfM17B+iQLPKvCs3u9M8MX0/VaswdafqAEkkWcjL666trUMBhD5DxtdYbZYfOt9yfjwZmzu7ODpJskNw0Sy//omdOojp1sPTyL4iIfsHcFjrkKCbwnefrpHQ5KL7u/3IMSBpk76LTQQZqJD4mOeSEspfaHpJOkp2sA+cCXiTon/EDhzyR9ADdbb7u//4NN++S6N+TVgvijbR/RIlMt+j+t92MEAgfvrV8DWDTR28zsU9RpAzX/xYeSJyoc9JIFwQ9C0/qFSaRu83XKWIKhucfkg64Xo65LmCwskfc0oXCo6Ot47Yjxrkg1n4Nox8tM3ebrwcV4ZIbyzV/vuIAp5fEW7QvvmbaLXM7vc18Db8CXlNLOpCamIiiFKpZFIbIhs43pinXuQxf91nVsPlaJnuKUUj6CqIga3pz8UAnMP3GyLCwQ5i7lQ1fxwKu98L7aGQUl4yv6VMI2fHFbeZr2YSxhsPXdsZW0KsCJLWuZowSYPi6z6qGytcK2RsgX1uWNV2vIwuSMOdPrE0JnUA3hk+jKNOvR8ce0j9fK8ja6pOvc2O548MjOq+F4o6yW8vXigljDYevdWLQZVDEKMnqNHzdZ1XD42u17A2Wr8nlNcIJEvstC/fmr37OF8RbUfhKcBpM/8XwtQJqsrb65Guv4NGOJsKrE3ABhFfwcGeEm3fdvKvjiiQbV4XbSgq+Vk8Yazh8PVWrpb5bfSKKkppEDF97BY8+sv+VfI10ncJOi5W9wfK1V/AwRkKTSFMZOGNnbOQrJrq5LGU284FNTo0wfJ0bywmjBGLJ2uqTr5GHiJA1kbzcWC6ojE+KLnUnBZexV/wyI69BZRwDrAgZl2VmUPC1sAtiJ4ylHMh0B8EIGBO2B94C6seTpm2xbpqv1ent++drnQyFiEsiAz0ovta5UReXgvOdoCN7ilFIlwdqul6Hi5EsGl6mRjTn5ogzmcIFgh44kDVf593max1pxJ6DaYkOWVtyipNRyk+Yrtex3kLyQDcpYvbgKWFnbHCZXyzphIzzLrcKvuanFjNhZImvFAOZNF7GzbtYxhCihuLmXfIVURjGrpPqtC3Cx38lXwvHSxZ/NRC+bl5fwSzrsYpfbv7MxYPia1p0hQ/C6YifhBW/rCN7ilFIGi8D+MUSAiaEKVKbHL0iQeBktfrk8eLHDyvqj7Wu+RpbCtkcudt8DapR7J5h0GfWb56sZUaIRBT3E+Bx0rzOV0mW034KIjgty5qIItja1GlxmFSZwo+B+zrz8UFlHKSJSCRFd8sGkuRRiwVJaqH4kKlaDWFyOjo7TCKyXS1pFdY/a9B8LYsFkN2RQU9I5nWJ8igp+FpWv3Xt/8vMn6Su3GinIlRBGCMu05jQpCgMozBklJupWq3il+lJK5O91E6+U7Ua3Hhl92U3rzUh5K5Cx4ZBoKPRT1arsHySqnjmkvE1n/aWdMLN8rVQZeb9LJgi1FGQ+0m42Zqu13GsxdQzEUU6FIe4SuGn/fcdZJ4oZlHSgg7FrVRwGo+9sZswCPMxskwLmDDqQoKb+YFMlCkNSS00v13zEBJNUpAXBm+qVoNkKMgXwUH8K2Dpkk1p3EuNn0EokUmm1+vFRs3SdK/J11jwzttt2Q17zLNkTgrJ2s27ivQ62N7hWUxUN+/u/fuvmq9peSNtVpB1bD2QPX7g+szSZ1lWbiz3eumV4uY8MsRJj1hw84ZiHNEt8CCWzWj0OSy86DoF+RI5ZJDikSgMZWFx9DSBwBNpj5VG2nakIOtYkSB5SDQpLn5sBlKYAc6N5chN9d9PTxUZFaAZkY9RfAbZFuiUMAhovk46W3QmJ100K8f99DL9mu4T9AB+LyNfXq8hB1OKe6YxWITd4MlP4q9id0V4Sp+vwyBAEOCV/JZeuuCKtaZIv1t8+EhxESppQPOaO7yC9/nTJwihToIwMJ2QrEn+Yp0CJZrI3gAzsFf8MjZDsYvQdL0eBkHsPlK4vRZabCai6LzdVjMdQronq1X0Hq5yll0V2xQdkyZ9hNzarpBbNAlWLISk6idpmqxWobfxZJ2IIrBUxFKcAEKden117dvu1+PDo5NWi4+l/n56enx4tL66phB3oURW/PLmxgZi6mXXn6NDp2q1g7395tycQrLpzdrHDyvrq2uKTQ2qPdjbf/70WdIdaFKyjk1jTarFRSHqNYyQhVfwMDkV5MvfbELCly+7XdnUYo7L7Ixd8cufP306v75eXS3HkH59+zVT/0WnEztPhBoiLmiHOCl4n9fKnz99hmsQ1Jk9mP6nQae0fr30Klb2pmq148Oj5Tdv+gxx5oHUJZAi9eJKD0oUhnS07UQUyfbWsqNUaGBgOsV7yVxwsg6k/aLTkfUVszCkeAQXQMMAq5gmjLnML5aYhVzdgfwEx3Ed+QHoKFauTlotNcWxgKUVZX11Dex8dQ3cq80U7L8ILjqdk1aLIQIFYTlZZ+HePPwiFB0am70QR0/NmVlMPNKey26XT9GHop/1jWkwMxLHh0ffT0+xaGHdYgRIc6mEsvnxwwqEXriGMT3pF0tY8ITkKzuSdvMuWSZ5WZQZUvA6omtfdruyJRbmGqi6/P8qekBznqivMFawBhOPR8PJOiS3g4K1hV1K1m9YY+j5wqfoIy1J7fcZC5qy1RuppEXt92Jn7HvNJshRqHAwyq+bd1fevYcPKy9LwiMHN++SJZkXD5lJxC+Wdnd2ZDqKbJogSZM60ZCM3LApQfo9hh5luXZlrnFSELE72NvHLvv48Gh7c+vTP//wKzAp8HxYX107Pjyiyf283SZjELtiVPwyGQb1laYyEOX6P3//HQZBGATLb9582/1K+ovp7tQXyhC9Y3tzC7t4HvRETepmnxvLQfni55tQMnJjubfLy2AoWoLVicScrEN4jQ6UiPU6Qq4DhQUDpgYn60DQhV6Abt5VLOF+sfT86TMM3EWnw9QQS3O0SkWzRqyPnRXH2rLOIcr1f/7+OwpDXvZOWi26noFfZsQjCsP11TUsHjpnDzpFxoYMKn4ZJghGCxYOnJ2xH8wvgDc05dDO2Av35hM9YllWbiz37u1brA10b8ju8SIg2y+hDiEUYwQ5N2dmFx8+Wn7zBiT56Z9/wKv8iKRJLkbv8R/ML+DUOJFZLTeWq/jlB/MLB3v7hMhOWi1NwoKizVi09SVbyFAkrxPZaDf7y7NFG/fXV9eW37yZiCKsW5PV6ssXL+hZenV1tfTyr9SXhtDz7fXSK4X7J/Qa0nUyMeKfIrx23m4/ebyonyvSztgzjWnw2tV1ulpmZb3XbIL1ZFYX9StgXMbAkVVBXyet+GWseTBnx65DNAhr04qVoobmzCyxydJgZO/J48X+c7zpwy+WFh8+IrkAU9yi8OTxIuT52+7XWF6jQW/gPn5YUWxrgDAIaJOFjhwyjwj7nwGIntZRNA2V1s+sTXQI2eNw7OMpmOR1Aj2iDZMp7vAEWcPdrf+Vn85iuvb5c6IKK34ZD25ubCQyVigmM5wQYLJIl76WgIRIyNrmZJ2KX0bOzB9nZ/3k5MyN5aB6nLRaOjwVVMbxjYk22uA19EzSFjpZ59mTpzhPf7u8zChfdsZ+u7wMjYZRVKF26bwCFpLLbjfpd1mW5ebd3Z0dtC3FoDtZB2p+r9f784/nihrUC0kYBCet1vfT00SUNxBgJq6vrjEbX+ybaSP7+uoayvbmFuThotPBNvHPP56nWGOcrPN2ebnX6+3u7Oho5TgYvOh0mnNzmq/wi6Vvu18TPWJZ1tzMDKaJTvwLAzfvfv706aLTOW+31Vkzm3KjAhRTHNKk5AdZWG0/wF0MKYLukRM26ZoDm7JCMvxiqX+LYRgEmh3l5t3UiUSYN+o3O903Ev+2dPAKnoyJoPgfHx5BoYBrOQzfOgGEpJKgMp5u7GjvsXTAOKprgOwpBMMvlvrMpt0PMKFeL706abWgXaqB1XF7c6tPWoCepJ/BPDeWSyqHbt5NIbp9UkHFL6tfShzVFL/RZ5K7Cb9Y+vX6y+gALhxw/CBqMk41YvdkmIeT1erymzdIVBCF4UAWs1sCv1hKs6v9tYBtcCKKFh8+Wl9dO9jbP/75bqNvu1/XV9cezC/ojKmBGmEQpNiwGhgMAAgZVds64RatM8mhfdygvmlgZ2xkZ6NLipvPDAwMbhf4OFpFQeCAV/BkxE2CQm+5NmpgYGDwm6Gf1DHITUH8PsMgID6Xg7q9xcDAwMDAsq6PuYdR0qUMNTAwMDAQg1hCSKQrKXwYZyK9+6a/zMDAwOAOgcRowRtPmIEA/rnbm1s6URivl179ODtbeffeOB4YGBgYDBLEGHKv2az4ZeJF4BW8oDL+/OkzRL4R7iZKN5Mu48njxe3NLSR1+fzpk3FCMDAwMBgw3Lwry/FP4BW8MAg2vnz5fnoqS6VC1PDm3JzRrA0MDAwGD9xCovljpI559uTpxpcvJOnuSat1fHj05X/+NwwC471nYGBgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGCgxv8BpNQWbWPf3wAAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" 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<h1 class="multi-line-title-1">
Poll: Support for gay marriage continues to rise</h1>
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<span class="pubdate"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/2011/nov/03">November 03, 2011</a></span><span class="separator"> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="separator">|</span>By David Lauter, <br />
Washington Bureau</div>
<div class="mod-latarticlesarticletext mod-articletext" id="mod-a-body-first-para" style="margin-right: 280px;">
Public acceptance of same-sex marriage has grown at an accelerating pace, with approval jumping by nine percentage points in the past two years and the nation now evenly divided on the issue, according to a <a href="http://pewresearch.org/pubs/2122/generation-gap-barack-obama-mitt-romney-republicans-democrats-silent-generation-millenials-genxers-baby-boomers">new Pew Research Center survey</a> released Thursday.<br />
The poll, conducted in late September and early October, showed 46% of Americans surveyed support legalizing same-sex marriage and 44% are opposed. The survey among 2,410 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.<br />
<br />
***********************************************************<br />
<br />
<i><b>In listening to the arguments that Republicans put forth regarding the Respect for Marriage Act (at the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing), I was amazed at how little they cared about getting any new arguments. As a matter of fact, most of the eight "nays" ... their NO votes were given by proxy. They don't really care enough about the Lesbian and Gay community to even show up at the vote. </b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b>Senator Grassley from Iowa of course puts up the inevitable tired argument "traditional one man one woman marriage". He is gently, affectionately and respectfully debunked by Senator Al Franken: </b>“We need to be accurate when we talk about the history of man and woman,” noting that at one point women were chattel.</i><br />
<br />
<i><b>After thirteen years of Independent Fundamental Baptist Bible School/College education, I did a lot of research. </b></i><br />
<i><b>My findings: <a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2011/03/bible-says-homosexuality.html" target="_blank">The Bible Says - Homosexuality</a></b></i><br />
<i><b> </b></i><br />
<i><b> I found a theologian who graduated from Harvard and the conservative Bob Jones University who wrote a book on </b><b>reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex relationships called </b></i><a href="http://lifejourneypress.cc/products/the-children-are-free" target="_blank"><b><u>The Children Are Free</u></b></a>.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Just because a person is straight, that doesn't mean that they have morals or family values. Just because a person is a lesbian or gay, doesn't mean that they have no morals or family values. This is yet another ancient argument that is proven wrong every day by decent, family oriented and loving same sex couples.</b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b>One of the most insulting arguements that was presented at the Judiciary Committee Respect for Marriage Act hearing was the following:</b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b>Senator Cornyn: </b></i><br />
<i><b> </b></i><br />
"Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) would actually result in an expansion of federal benefits and spending at a time when we know that federal spending is way out of control and our entitlement programs are unsustainable,"<br />
<br />
"Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act would actually increase the cost of Social Security that is already insolvent, more money is going out than coming in."<br />
<br />
"No one, no one has paid into the Social Security system expecting benefits to be paid to same sex partners."<br />
<br />
<i><b>This man, this elected Senator actually believes that because a person is a lesbian or because they are gay, that they do not deserve to get federal benefits even though they have paid into it all of their lives. Um Senator, I am a lesbian and I believe that I and my family have the right to federal benefits. I have been and still do pay in to Social Security expecting that I and/or my family will benefit from it.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i><br />
<i><b>Senator Grassley mentioned religion. They should read their Bibles:</b></i></div>
</div>
<br />
<h3>
Matthew 22:36-40</h3>
<div class="txt-sm">
New International Version (NIV)</div>
<div class="result-text-style-normal ">
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23909">36</sup> “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23910">37</sup> Jesus replied: <span class="woj">“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-23910a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7033184738897645345#fen-NIV-23910a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup></span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23911">38</sup> This is the first and greatest commandment.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23912">39</sup> And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-23912b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7033184738897645345#fen-NIV-23912b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup></span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23913">40</sup> All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”</span> <br />
<div class="footnotes">
<b>Footnotes:</b><br />
<ol type="a">
<li id="fen-NIV-23910a"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7033184738897645345#en-NIV-23910" title="Go to Matthew 22:37">Matthew 22:37</a> Deut. 6:5</li>
<li id="fen-NIV-23912b"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7033184738897645345#en-NIV-23912" title="Go to Matthew 22:39">Matthew 22:39</a> Lev. 19:18</li>
</ol>
<br />
<i><b>It deeply saddens, distresses and appalls me that our elected officials readily admit that they do not feel that gay and lesbian people are deserving of equal rights. We are Americans. We are citizens of the United States of America. We are people. We are not low life, scum sucking, free loading people looking for a hand out. We are productive citizens of the greatest country in the world. We should be treated with the same respect as our straight counterparts. "...with Liberty and Justice for ALL"</b></i> <br />
<ol type="a">
<br />
<br />
</ol>
</div>
</div>Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-65512344186601584272011-11-08T09:34:00.000-08:002011-11-08T09:34:28.472-08:00Where Are We With DOMA and the UAFA?Let's start with the <i><b>Uniting American Families Act</b></i>. Sadly, it looks like we just don't have enough clout to get Lamar Smith to release it from being held hostage in the House Judiciary Committee.<br />
<br />
<i>The Uniting American Families Act</i> would give bi-national same sex couples the ability to sponsor their partners/spouses. I do not believe that most of Congress, or even the President of the United States actually knows what it takes to immigrate to the United States. Their ignorance and their lack of desire to educate or research shows how little they really care about bi-national same sex couples. In my correspondence to Congress, I have been told that I shouldn't expect to be put ahead in the line for immigration. I have heard the President say that we need to wait our turn. What they don't seem to realize is that there is no line for bi-national same sex couples in which to stand. There is no legal way for our spouses to immigrate. We are pleading for Congress to understand this. In trying to explain this to some of the Congress people, I have been told basically that it is because homosexuals are not part of the nuclear family. I struggle to understand how anyone can tell me, an American Citizen, who I can or cannot love. I struggle to understand how Congress can tell me that who I love is less important; is less than who the straight people love. <a href="http://immigration.lawyers.com/Immigrant-Visas---Permanent-Green-Card/The-Uniting-American-Families-Act-UAFA.html">This page on Lawyers.com is very informative.</a> For even more information the<a href="http://immigrationequalityactionfund.org/"> Immigration Equality Action Fund</a> is an excellent resource. <br />
<br />
We need to get this horrible, cruel, and torturous behavior changed. We need to pass the <i>Uniting American Families Act.</i><br />
<br />
Now onto the ironically named "<i>Defense of Marriage Act</i>" which defines marriage as between one man and one woman. There are bills in Congress to right this horrible wrong being done to the lesbian and gay couples called the <i><b>Respect for Marriage Act. </b></i>The wonderful <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=146uuY6sX9U" target="_blank">Honorable Senator Diane Fienstien was recently interviewed on MSNBC</a> and stated that although she did not feel that they have the votes to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, she would be in this for the long haul. This is small comfort for those of us who are waiting for the above Uniting American Families Act to pass.<br />
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<br />
<b> Congress refuses to listen</b> to the<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/147662/first-time-majority-americans-favor-legal-gay-marriage.aspx" target="_blank"> 1. Majority of Americans who say that they are for Marriage Equality</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Congress refuses to listen</b> to<br />
<br />
2. Civil Rights Leaders including:<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdG8BaEz1ec" target="_blank">Civil Rights leader and NAACP Chairman Emeritus Julian Bond</a></b><br />
<h1 id="watch-headline-title">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MDqAVzEEhA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="long-title" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="Civil Rights Leader Dolores Huerta Supports Marriage Equality in Iowa">Civil Rights Leader Dolores Huerta</span></span></a></h1>
<a href="http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/11/01/Julian_Bond_Makes_Marriage_Equality_Video_for_HRC/" target="_blank"><b>Civil Rights leader Julian Bond </b></a><br />
<br />
<b>Congress refuses to listen to</b><br />
<br />
<b>3</b>. Seventy <b>o</b>rganizations filed an Amicus Brief on behalf of repealing DOMA. <a href="http://www.glad.org/uploads/docs/cases/gill-v-office-of-personnel-management/2011-11-03-gill-v-opm-amici-employers.pdf" target="_blank"> Read the Entire Brief Here.</a><b> </b> The amicus curiae brief, filed November 3, 2011, supports the <i>Gill et al. v. Office of Personnel Management</i> case challenging the denial of federal rights and benefits to legally married same-sex couples. </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
With all of this support for Marriage Equality, why in the world does Congress continue to support the evil, discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act. It is my hope that the courts will declare DOMA dead and federal marriage equality will then exist. The fight will continue for the states to pass Marriage equality for all. We are Americans. We deserve the same as all Americans...the ability, the right to be with the one that we love.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-6072198853062296122011-11-01T07:38:00.000-07:002011-11-01T07:38:06.840-07:00Traditions are for Families."I believe in traditional marriage being between one man and one woman...." -<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kTbI0nR3nUY" target="_blank">-Eric Cantor speaking at the University of Michigan</a> <br />
<br />
Traditions are for holidays. Traditions are for memories. Traditions
are made for memories. Marriage is a tradition I hope to have between
my wife and I. (Yes I am a lesbian) We make our own traditions.
Traditions are not laws. Traditions should not be made to be a law.
"This is the way we have always done it" is not the reason for a law.<br />
Just because something is a tradition, doesn't mean it is always right.<br />
<br />
Slavery<br />
Women Voting<br />
Black People's Rights<br />
Interracial Marriage<br />
Wigs on Men in Congress<br />
Public Hanging<br />
Public Flogging<br />
Branding People With Letters (The Scarlet Letter)<br />
A Sin Against God Being a Crime (adultery)<br />
<br />
All of these were eventually changed. If you think that God is against homosexuality, that didn't even make God's top ten list. Sins that did make God's top 10:<br />
Lying<br />
Adultry<br />
Stealing<br />
<br />
<br />Remember that there is supposed to be separation of Church and State....not when it is convenient for the Church, but all the time. <br />
<br />
Traditions are for families. <b>Let my family have mine.</b> We need to pass the Respect for Marriage Act. We need to pass the Uniting American Families Act. We need to allow <b>all</b> Americans to begin to make their own family traditions! <br />
<br />
<br />Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-64769765294159294732011-10-25T17:09:00.001-07:002011-10-25T17:14:46.310-07:00The Uniting American Families Act<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">While I can provide people with the legal terms of The Uniting American Families Act, what I want to say about it is this: We are torn apart from those with whom we have fallen in love. We are separated from our wives and children. We are living in exile in different countries so we can be with our partners only to be apart from our families. .... We are Americans being told that we do not deserve the same rights as other Americans. We are Americans being told that because someone doesn't like the way that we live, they can tell us how to live. We are Americans being told that we are not important enough. We are Americans being discriminated against because of whom we love. </span></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The bottom line being that we are Americans being told that we are not important enough, that we are too different, that we are nothing...not worth having the same rights as our heterosexual counterparts.</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Because so many people have<b> </b>bought into this, because people think that they are much better than the gay and lesbian people (they say so each time they say that a vote for them is a vote for morals)<b>, </b>because they think they have God on their side (although they have not picked up a Bible in years), they are against us.</span></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The LGBT youth have been committing suicide at appalling rates and have the support to do this by our right wing government, clergy, and adults. "Christians" have seem to have forgotten that Jesus said the first two commandments are love the Lord God and to love your neighborhood as yourself.</span></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We want to be able to sponsor our spouses for immigration, please!</span></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Now here is the Legal Stuff:</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniting_American_Families_Act">Wikipedia</a> </span></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The <b>Uniting American Families Act</b> (<b>UAFA</b>, <a class="external text" href="http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.112hr1537" rel="nofollow">H.R. 1537</a>, <a class="external text" href="http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.112s821" rel="nofollow">S. 821</a>) is a U.S. bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate discrimination in the immigration laws by permitting permanent partners of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents
to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner as
spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents and to penalize
immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniting_American_Families_Act#cite_note-0"> </a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniting_American_Families_Act#cite_note-1"></a></sup>
Section 18 of the bill would be amended to include permanent
partnerships as an illegal way to evade any provision of the immigration
law and allow for the individual to be imprisoned for no more than five
years, fined for up to $250,000 or both.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniting_American_Families_Act#cite_note-2"> </a></sup> Also, if the partnership ends within two years the sponsored partner’s legal immigrant status would come under review.</span></div>
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniting_American_Families_Act#cite_note-3"></a></sup></span></div>
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">UAFA was most recently introduced during the 112th Congress, to the United States House of Representatives on April 14, 2011, by New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniting_American_Families_Act#cite_note-4"></a></sup></span></div>Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-46903858538760633082011-10-21T08:21:00.000-07:002011-10-21T08:21:44.521-07:00Redefining Christianity - Are Christians today "Christ-like"<center>Acts 11:26<P>"...and the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch"</center><P><P><P><P>From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian">Wikipedia</a><blockquote><blockquote>
The Greek word Χριστιανός (christianos)—meaning "follower of Christ"—comes from Χριστός (christos)—meaning "anointed one" —with an adjectival ending borrowed from Latin to denote adhering to, or even belonging to, as in slave ownership. </blockquote></blockquote><P><P><P><P><P>
So Christians are "Christ like". What is it about the Saviour that Christians should be like. Well, all of His life. <P>
1. Christ was very learned about the Scriptures. The Gospel of Luke contains the following story.<P><center> Luke 2:46-49</center><blockquote><blockquote>
<I>46 And it came to pass , that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions . <P>47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. <P>48 And when they saw him, they were amazed : and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold , thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing . <P>49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? </i></blockquote></blockquote><P><b>Do Christians today know the Scriptures? Do they memorize the Scriptures? This is part of being a Christian; being Christlike.</b><P><P><P><P><P>
2. Christ preformed miracles<P>
3. Christ cast out demons<P>
<B>Both numbers two and three require power from God. In our day, power from the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8) Do Christians today have the power of God to cast out demons and preform miracles?</b><P>
4. Christ only got angry with Satan and the ruling Religious body of the time. <P><blockuote><blockquote>The reason He was angry with the ruling religious right of the time is because they were judgmental and self-righteous. </blockquote>
5. Jesus preferred to hang out with "publicans and sinners". That was a big criticism from the religious right.<P>
6. Jesus was merciful and good.<P>7. Jesus forgave<P><P><P><P><P><P><b>In my opinion, and according to the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Religious Right of today; the Christians; have taken the path of the Pharisees instead of the path of Christ. </b><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><blockquote><I>"How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate someone to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?" - Penn Jillette</I></blockquote><P><P><P><P><P>What did Jesus say were the two greatest commandments? <P><blockquote><blockquote>
<center>
Matthew 22:37-40 <P>
New International Version (NIV)<P></center>
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’<P> 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. <P>39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’<P> 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” <P></blockquote></blockquote><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P>I am asking for those who think that the <I><B>gay agenda</i></b> is to redefine marriage, are you redefining Christianity? <P>I don't want to re-define anything, I just want the right and the freedom to be married to the love of my life and the ability to sponsor my wife for immigration to the United States of America. <P>Be a Biblical Christian about it.<P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P>Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-64268703557620917272011-10-07T07:50:00.000-07:002011-11-04T08:06:37.025-07:00A Vote For Values & MoralsI have seen hundreds of polls, articles, and opinions stating that people need to vote against Marriage Equality because it is the moral thing to do. Vote to defend Marriage. I am over it.<br />
<br />
First of all, I am a lesbian. Secondly, I have morals and Thirdly, I am for Marriage, I want mine to be legal in all 50 states and recognized federally.<br />
<br />
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It is appalling to me that people think that just because I am for same sex relationships, I don't have any morals or family values. Nothing can be further from the truth. I have never ever cheated on my wife and`we have two sons together who are outstanding, good boys.<br />
<br />
People can pick out examples of immoral behaviors, even criminal behaviors of non-heterosexual people and hold those up and say this is how they behave. However,the same can be done of heterosexuals. Heterosexuals are immoral, without values. Most serial killers are heterosexual males. How many heterosexual State and Federal Congress folks have cheated on their spouses?<br />
<br />
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They cheer because of executions because God says an
"eye for an eye" and "whosoever sheds man's blood, by man shall
his blood be shed"<br />
<br />
They boo a gay military man, serving in Iraq because God says ......
Well, God doesn't condemn homosexuality, but they think He does<br />
<br />
They say that a man who is over $100,000 behind on child support is pro-family
because he is anti abortion. </div>
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<br /></div>
To quote Jesus "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone..."<br />
<br />
So when someone says "vote to protect Marriage". I say yes, vote to protect Marriage....my marriage to my wife is just as important to protect as (for example) my nephew's marriage to his wife. <br />
When someone says we need to vote to protect morals, I say vote to protect morals...make adultery or divorce illegal.<br />
<br />
When someone says that we need to protect our children. There is nothing I agree with more than that. Let's make penalties for child abuse harsher so that people will think twice about hurting children.<br />
<br />
<b>A vote for family values and morals is a vote to allow lesbian and gay folks to have equal marriage rights. Believe that!</b><br />
<br />
<b>Why, in the United States of America, why do we still have to fight for equal rights for all? If I have heard this once, I have heard it a million times: "I may not agree with what he says, but I will fight for the right for him to say it. Isn't this the same thing? I want to live with my wife, have my relationship recognized and honored as equal to heterosexual marriages. I want our children to be able to have the benefits that other children are afforded. I don't want my family to have a stigma on it because we are lesbians. I live in the United States of America... shouldn't I have that right?</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
Let's get the Respect for Marriage Act passed (repeal the so called Defense of Marriage Act) and the Uniting American Families Act passed to give all Americans full equal rights. It is good, it is moral, it is the right thing to do!Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-90328077073191296262011-10-04T09:18:00.000-07:002011-10-04T09:18:37.498-07:00The Sin of Promoting ‘Traditional Marriage’Why do so many people misunderstand the Bible and the verses regarding homosexuality and same sex relationships?<P>
Well, quite frankly, people don't have a vested interest in proving what centuries of people have said to be true...to prove them wrong. It wasn't until gay and lesbian theologians and their friends were able to step out of the closet and practice as open and affirming people, that these passages were looked into more deeply and with much greater interest. Thanks to efforts of these people we have a better understanding of the precise meaning of these passages. The good news of the Bible is still for all because none of these passages condemn a loving same sex relationship.<P><P><P><P><blockquote><a href="http://www.faithinamerica.org/traditional-marriage-2/">Faith in America<P><P></a><blockquote><i><p>We also know that gay and lesbian couples uphold those same characteristics for their unions. Why would they not? Why would a parent of a gay son or daughter not want their child to enjoy the happiness derived from a lifelong devotion to those characteristics? Why would a brother or sister with a gay sibling not want their brother or sister to enjoy the happiness derived from a lifelong devotion to those characteristics?</p>
<p>Why would a person of faith not want the gay or lesbian individual to enjoy the happiness derived from the pursuit of marriage sanctity?</p>
<p>Why would we as Americans not want our government and its laws to recognize that same marriage sanctity for gay and lesbian individuals in their pursuit of liberty and happiness?</p>
<p>There can be only one reason and that is because many of us have been conditioned by years of misguided church teaching to look upon gay and lesbian individuals as morally inferior, unworthy and therefore undeserving of that which which we uphold as good and sanctified in our lives.</p>
<p>The use of the term “traditional marriage” embeds in our minds and hearts a moral and religious stamp of disapproval on gay and lesbian individuals and that brings immense harm to their lives, their happiness and their well-being.</p><B>
<p>Faith In America therefore believes the use of the term “traditional marriage” is without question morally unacceptable and equally sinful in the religious context.</b></i></p><P><P></blockquote></blockquote>Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-20752750864602952412011-09-29T10:21:00.000-07:002011-09-29T10:21:26.831-07:00Repeal DOMA /Separation of Church and StateWhat are the reasons to keep the Defense of Marriage (DOMA) on the books? Wait, the reasons that do not break the rule of separation of Church and State are the ones in which we are interested.<P>
<blockquote>1. Traditional Marriage - Marriage has always been defined as between a man and a woman.<blockquote><i>There are records from the 1st century church indicating that the church did indeed marry same sex couples. <P>In an article written by Father James Duffy, he writes and has evidence that same sex marriages took place throughout history. <P>Read the whole article in the <i><a href="http://www.gaychristian101.com/Gay-Marriage.html">The Gay Christian</a></i><P> <P><blockquote>As churches struggle with the issue of homosexuality, a long tradition of same sex marriage indicates that the Christian attitude toward same sex unions may not always have been as "straight" as is now suggested. A Kiev art museum contains a curious icon from St. Catherine's monastery on Mt. Sinai.
It shows two robed Christian saints. Between them is a traditional Roman pronubus (best man) overseeing what in a standard Roman icon would be the wedding of a husband and wife. In the icon, Christ is the pronubus. Only one thing is unusual. The husband and wife are in fact two men.</blockquote></i></blockquote><P>The following research by Yale Law School
Yale Law School Legal Scholarship Repository<P>
A History of Same Sex Marriage<P>
William N. Eskridge Jr.<P>
Yale Law School<P>Makes the following observation regarding the problems with the "Traditional Marriage" (has always been between a man and a woman) arguement:<P><blockquote><blockquote><i>The early Egyptian and Mesopotamian societies that are considered
important antecedents for Western culture apparently not only tolerated
same-sex relationships, but also recognized such relationships in
their culture, literature, and mythology. Evidence of same-sex marriage
is at best indirect in these ancient societies, however. One finds
slightly stronger and more direct evidence of same-sex marriages in
Greek and early Roman culture, in imperial Rome, and in Western
Europe for much of the Christian Middle Ages.<P><P></i></blockquote><a href="http://">Read the entire research article here.</a><P><P><P></blockquote></blockquote><P><P> 2. <P><P><P>As far as I know, there is no #2. <P>Traditional marriage is their only argument that does not break the Church's rule of "Separation of Church and State". Although, it has been proven that today's marriage is not necessarily all that traditional; it is good, right, and admirable to break with traditions when they are oppressive to a people. <P> An example of a tradition that was good and right when changed is slavery. Another example is women voting. <P>As Americans we pride ourselves in equality, yet, a whole group of people are being told that they do not deserve any rights. They are being told that they are second class citizens. <P><i>The Daily Kos</i> has a wonderful article on <i><b><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/06/953175/-Why-was-DOMA-enacted">Why was DOMA enacted?</a></i></b><P><p><blockquote>They enacted DOMA specifically to confer a higher status on heterosexual people, so that more children would grow up to realize they should be heterosexual. This has of course led to higher incidents of suicide and depression among gay people, and outright rejection in some cases even by a gay person's friends or family, all to reach the ends of "promoting heterosexuality."</p>
<p>This is one of the biggest reasons it's time to repeal DOMA: sexual orientation is understood as a real distinction by law and by psychologists. Back when, for example, the military's gay ban was implemented, the idea was to stop a perceived aberrant sexual behavior. Society and science's views on homosexuality have changed - it's no longer a behavior but an orientation. It can't be changed and so-called "conversion therapy" has been rejected by scientists and psychologists. It made no sense to keep the gay ban going.</p>
<p>And it makes no sense to keep DOMA. Simply put, the goal of promoting heterosexuality is not served by laws like DADT or DOMA. The government <i>can't</i> promote heterosexuality even if it wanted to. At this point, it's only creating a second-class status for a group of people it can't change.</p></blockquote><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><B>It is time to get this discriminatory law REPEALED!</b><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P>Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-55802810147660874022011-09-15T11:01:00.000-07:002011-09-15T11:01:44.156-07:00How Many Times Does "DOMA" Need To Be Declared Unconstitutional?<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-02-24/obama-holder-call-1996-defense-of-marriage-act-unconstitutional.html">Obama, Holder Call 1996 Defense of Marriage Act Unconstitutional</a><P><a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/15/local/la-me-0615-doma-bankruptcy-20110615">Defense of Marriage Act called unconstitutional by bankruptcy judge</a><P><a href="http://binationalcouples.blogspot.com/2011/04/christian-attorney-says-doma-is.html">Christian Attorney says, "DOMA is Unconstitutional"</a><P> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Marriage_Act">Wikipedia Defense of Marriage Act</a><P><a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/07/09/federal-judge-rules-the-defense-of-marriage-act-unconstitutional-will-it-stick.html">Federal Judge Rules Defense of Marriage Act Unconstitutional. Will It Stick?</a><P>Google Search: <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Defense+of+Marriage+Act+declared+unconstitutional&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=Defense+of+Marriage+Act+declared+unconstitutional&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Sxv&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&ei=OTRyTvnTE4OesQLlusm1CQ&start=10&sa=N&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=f51f088013f93507&biw=1366&bih=580">Defense of Marriage Act Declared Unconstitutional</a><P><P><P><P>The Speaker of the House, Mr. John Boehner is using funds that are ill gotten without permission (this has been swept under the rug) to try to defend DOMA.<P>The Huffington Post Reports<P><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/13/doma-defense-gop-paul-clement_n_861548.html">DOMA Defense: Lawmakers Puzzled Where House GOP Is Getting The Money To Pay Paul Clement </a><P>The <i>Christian Post</i>, while defending Boehner, still wonders from where the money is coming..<P><a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/boehner-hires-lawyer-to-defend-doma-demands-doj-pick-up-the-tab-49894/">Boehner Hires Lawyer to Defend DOMA, Demands DOJ Pick Up the Tab</a><P><i>Above the Law</i> Also reports:<P><a href="http://abovethelaw.com/2011/04/paul-clement-and-king-spalding-defend-doma-at-a-discount/">Paul Clement and King & Spalding Defend DOMA — at a Discount </a><P>In addition to all of this mind blowing hypocrisy, those defending the so called Defense of Marriage Act, are refusing to have the trial video taped. Many people are asking "why?"<P><P><b><center><a href="http://www.lambdalegal.org/news/pr/ca_20110912_doma-defenders-refusal.html">Lambda Legal Decries DOMA Defenders' Refusal to Allow Taping of Court Hearing</a></b><P></center>"It is outrageous that the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives wants to shroud in secrecy their use of tax dollars to try to defend discrimination."<P> If they really think their cause is just, shouldn't it be brought to light. Shouldn't they be screaming it from the roof tops...oh wait that is right...the majority of Americans support same sex marriage<P><center><a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/147662/first-time-majority-americans-favor-legal-gay-marriage.aspx">Gallup Poll Reports</a></center><P>It would seem that so much is going on in favor of same sex couples, yet, we have no Federal recognition. Most of the States deny any sort of recognition and many of them seek to write this horrible discrimination into their own Constitutions. When will people realize that the separation of Church and State is supposed to go on always, NOT JUST WHEN IT BENEFITS THE CHURCH. <P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P><P>Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033184738897645345.post-84549211955574145062011-09-12T14:33:00.000-07:002011-09-30T09:59:52.352-07:00The Uniting American Families Act<center><a href="http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s598/show">S.821</a><P><a href="http://">H.R.1537</a></center><P>The Uniting American Families Act would allow immigration equality to the bi-national same sex couples. <P>What if you couldn't live under the same roof as your spouse? What if your wife and child were forced away from you by the United States of America's immigration system?<b> Just like when the Nazi's would take whomever they wanted from a family...and you had no say, our United States Immigration laws are literally ripping apart same sex families.</b> What if you could not get a Congress member to care enough about these couples to even bring up the bill for a vote? <b> What if you were forced apart?</b> What if your child grew up without knowing you? What if your government was responsible for ripping apart your family with total disregard for your life, love, and United States citizenship? <P>Thousands of United States Citizens are being told that there life is no more valuable than a slave. <P>I have asked Congress members to pass the Uniting American Families Act. Some of the answers I have received:
<P><blockquote>1. Move out of the United States<P>2. Marry someone of the opposite sex<P>3. Wait in line for immigration (there is no line for the bi-national same sex couple)<P>4. It will never happen<P>5. Extended families will hurt the economy. (My wife is an extended family member?)</blockquote><P>I believe that these people are really telling me is that their political party says NO and therefore they say NO. It is unfortunate that Lamar Smith, a known immigrant hater, is the chair of the Judiciary Committee. He refuses to address any immigration issue unless it is against human beings. <P>I am a human being. I am a United States Citizen. I desire to live in the United States of American legally with my wife. The United States of America is saying I can't. No one has given a valid reason as to why this is so. The United States has said that they will not condone other countries who commit crimes of cruelty against the Lesbian and Gay community, yet they are guilty of these cruel crimes against us. <P>Please sign and get the Uniting American Families Act or The Comprehensive Immigration Act brought up to your Congress people. Please help us make a difference.
<P><P><center><a href="https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/pass-uniting-american-families-act-create-category-permanent-partner-immigration-legislation/SGmC9V6m?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl"><i><b>We The People</i></b> Petition for the United American Families Act</a></center><P><P><P><P>ADDENDUM:<P><b><i>It appears that I am not the only one to draw this conclusion and the comparison of this discrimination being similar to the Nazis. This video of a North Carolina Law maker. He draws exactly the same parallels...</i></b><P><P><center><iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/97hC0ZOVmD8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center>Song1964http://www.blogger.com/profile/05197541131261051773noreply@blogger.com0