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It's Convention Time, So...
Abortion is in the air, or it should be. The right to have, the very right to make the choice, is a very important issue. It's tied to more than (perceived promiscuous) human sexuality; it's a matter of health, an education issue, and a freakin' human rights issue. As DeeDee wrote, "The right to choose [is] about more than abortion; not having the right to choose undermines all our choices and our right to live autonomous lives."Read it and see why; I'm going to take another argument. When the religious wrong say they want to legislate their beliefs in the name of religious freedom, they are doing the opposite; they enforce their faith on others. What's more, we don't make our laws based on spiritual practices, especially those which are speculative. While it should be enough to say that that a fetus isn't an individual being with rights simply because it isn't an individual being, only kept alive by the host (pregnant woman), it apparently isn't. While it should be enough to argue that they cannot prove any claims to "soul" or other "godly" part or intervention, it isn't. The religious oppressors want to us to follow be forced to believe as they do ~ and like intelligent design, we are supposed to buy it not only just on their word but against all scientific proof and reason. They think that their 'word' is 'law' and so it should be my word and The Law. But we don't legislate that way. At least we aren't supposed to. An example of how we don't fall for such silliness is illustrated in the eating of pigs. The eating of pig meat is (in some religions) a sin; but there is no law making it illegal for me to eat it. Many are wise enough to not legislate the eating of pig, but rather relax in the belief that my punishment awaits me in the afterlife. That's real faith, waiting for that day when the supreme being of that faith will handle things. The message to not eat pig meat, along with your pro-life message, is out there; I've heard them loud and clear ~ but I just don't buy 'em. So let me make my own choice; I'll be the one to live (or "spend eternity") with the consequences. Leave the law out of it. "But, Gracie," you whine, "A pig isn't a baby!" Damn right it isn't. Eating a pig, even including cooking it, doesn't force a person to serve the same time as pregnancy, let alone the time and dangers of childbearing & child rearing. Yes, I said "dangers." Science, if you care to believe in facts, proves that the eating of pig-flesh has little-to-no physical dangers, especially when compared to pregnancy & childbirth. And the real point here is that you can't legally stop me from eating pork because the only problem with it is that your 'good book' says there is a problem ~ and that's not enough to warrant any legislation. If you're thinking this all supports your theory that pregnancy, the fetus, i.e. 'the baby', must be protected, I'm going to accuse of the same supersedence DeeDee did. What makes you presume that the unborn have greater rights than those already here? It's that sort of stupid thinking that got us Israel & into the mess in the Middle East. Whatever happened to "one in the hand is worth two in the bush"? Don't the living matter? We're here. Now. But you'd rather focus on the fetus & what it might do. We don't legislate & prosecute "mights". I'm here. I have rights. Or at least I'm supposed to. Already you deny my freedom, dismiss my need for health care, reject my financial equality & limit means to support myself, and in doing so, remove my autonomy. (You might want to think about those issues and wonder just how much they impact my decision not to have a child.) And now I'm supposed to turn my body over as a host for something or someone you believe in? And that reminds me, along with your belief in 'the baby', where's your concern for it once it arrives? Where's its health care? Where's its stable home, future financial independence &/or equality? What of its freedom & equality? I guess in that (lack of) respect, the unborn & I have the same value. Labels: Feminist, Gender, Health, Human Rights, Politics, Religion, Women
Hillary Clinton, Class All The Way
Hillary, I love you. From her convention speech: I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?
We need leaders once again who can tap into that special blend of American confidence and optimism that has enabled generations before us to meet our toughest challenges. Leaders who can help us show ourselves and the world that with our ingenuity, creativity, and innovative spirit, there are no limits to what is possible in America.
This won't be easy. Progress never is. But it will be impossible if we don't fight to put a Democrat in the White House.
We need to elect Barack Obama As if I wasn't already emotional... & eating comfort food. The following had me weeping ~ my heart (and tummy) so heavy, so full... I'm a United States Senator because in 1848 a group of courageous women and a few brave men gathered in Seneca Falls, New York, many traveling for days and nights, to participate in the first convention on women's rights in our history.
And so dawned a struggle for the right to vote that would last 72 years, handed down by mother to daughter to granddaughter - and a few sons and grandsons along the way.
These women and men looked into their daughters' eyes, imagined a fairer and freer world, and found the strength to fight. To rally and picket. To endure ridicule and harassment. To brave violence and jail.
And after so many decades - 88 years ago on this very day - the 19th amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote would be forever enshrined in our Constitution.
My mother was born before women could vote. But in this election my daughter got to vote for her mother for President.
This is the story of America. Of women and men who defy the odds and never give up.
How do we give this country back to them?
By following the example of a brave New Yorker , a woman who risked her life to shepherd slaves along the Underground Railroad.
And on that path to freedom, Harriett Tubman had one piece of advice.
If you hear the dogs, keep going.
If you see the torches in the woods, keep going.
If they're shouting after you, keep going.
Don't ever stop. Keep going.
If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.
Even in the darkest of moments, ordinary Americans have found the faith to keep going.
I've seen it in you. I've seen it in our teachers and firefighters, nurses and police officers, small business owners and union workers, the men and women of our military - you always keep going.
We are Americans. We're not big on quitting.
But remember, before we can keep going, we have to get going by electing Barack Obama president. Just to be clear, I will be voting for Obama. But I still wish she was the Democrat candidate. And I still don't understand why she's not on the ticket. Labels: Election, Feminist, Gender, History, Human Rights, Politics, Race, Shrine
Delicious Links (Catching Up)
Jeremy Edwards Joins The Cult
This week's Cult of Gracie Radio has the wildly talented (and mildly mad) Jeremy Edwards to discuss not only his own written erotic works, but the Ultimate Burlesque anthology. The Ultimate Burlesque anthology, edited by Alyson Fixter & Emily Dubberley, is the teaserotic September release (published by Xcite Books) that is part of Burlesque Against Breast Cancer. Proceeds from the book will help raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. To tempt you into purchasing, Jeremy will be reading an excerpt from Laura The Laugher, his contribution to the book, live on the air! While the stories in the anthology do more than tease, the part Jeremy will be reading will be teasing, tempting, and fun, but not explicit ~ just like burlesque. *wink* We hope this helps you support a great book ~ and for a great cause. So tune in to Cult of Gracie on XXBN, Wednesday night, August 27, at 9 PM (Central) for an hour long show. As always, you can join the fun by calling in at 1.646.200.3136. Labels: Books, Consumerism, Cult of Gracie Radio, Health, Sex, Women
Shon Richards Joins The Cult Tonight
Tonight at 9 pm (central), on Cult of Gracie Radio, Gracie Passette talks with erotica author, smut collector, charming cad, & intriguing rogue, Shon Richards. Factory worker by night, erotica author by day, Shon Richards has described himself as "a strange, tortured soul." Typically his adult stories combine use sensitivity & romance to deal with tough relationship issues ~ and of course, everyone screws like banshees too. Isn't that how we all solve our tough relationship issues? In fact, it might very well be banshees ~ or vampires, ninjas, or industrial espionage agents ~ screwing their way to relationship bliss in Richards' stories. Just as long as those females wear spandex. Or leather. Or chain mail. Some sort of kitschy erotic garb straight out of male (and female) fantasies. Because that's partly what erotica is about, the escapist stuff. If we wanted to just read about relationship issues we'd get Mars & Venus or some Dr. Phil article in O; but we want erotica to be at least partly fantasy. It's through the combination of fantasy adventure and human emotion that we find ourselves getting our lust-thang on. At least that's my take on it. We'll have to see if Shon Richards agrees. You can add your two cents to the discussion too. Just call in during the show at 1.646.200.3136. After the show, you can also download the podcast here. Labels: Cult of Gracie Radio, Sex
Today's Delicious Links
| Links for 2008-08-19 [del.icio.us] Posted: 20 Aug 2008 12:00 AM CDT - Is the print book destined for death? « Mitzi Szereto’s Weblog
So before we go starting up a Kindle fatwah, we need to gain some perspective. People who like print books will always buy print books. The marketplace cannot ignore such a large percentage of readers. However, those who prefer the transportability, the varied features, and the ability to store a multitude of titles, not to mention being able to bookmark them, will add the Kindle to their reading repetoire. - Official Google Blog: Time to "Free the Airwaves"
For quite some time we've been talking about the potential of the unused airwaves between broadcast TV channels ("white spaces") to provide affordable, high-speed wireless Internet connectivity nationwide. For this to happen, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must allow unlicensed use of this spectrum. If you care about the future of the Internet, now is the time to take action. The FCC has completed its field testing and is expected to make a ruling in the coming months. - A Slip of a Girl: Too Hot For Teacher ~ A Slip Of A Girl's Ultimate Guide To Putting On Hose
While I've written this for help with the summer heat issues of hosiery in mind, please note that this works equally wonderfully in all seasons. - Waking Vixen " Blog Archive " I Meet the Business End of Citibank's Anti-Adult Business Policy
"In a situation like this, I essentially have no legal recourse - the Citibank policy doesn't go against any protected rights. Businesses are totally within their rights to discriminate against people who work in any sector of the adult industry, regardless of the legality of that work. But I can (and did) take my money elsewhere, and I told them exactly why." - the wheels come off — day 5 - After Hours| random discourse from a retired escort
"Drunk people with issues is one of the reasons I burned out on stripping. This is even scarier to me because the system has forced me to depend on these people for my safety. There is no safety if their minds are altered. There is no such thing as a bouncer in this brothel. I wish there were." - Serpent Libertine -- Sex Worker Profiles: Amanda Brooks
"Amanda is a pretty public figure in terms of sex worker activists. She wrote The Internet Escort's Handbook, is a member of SWOP-EAST, and has appeared on Fox News and Bill O' Reilly." | Labels: Delicious Links, Media, Sex Work, Women
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