ActBlue – We’ve Got Your Back
10 November 2009 12:46 am by autumnal
http://www.actblue.com/page/wevegotyourback
The coolest thing I’d read today was the start of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Give.”
Great stuff, Carrot and Stick ‘em!
This ActBlue page is an important carrot you could say:
“These twenty House Democrats voted AGAINST the Stupak-Pitts pro-life amendment and voted FOR health care reform despite representing districts which lean Republican or are otherwise difficult. They’re worthy of your support to show that when they stand up and do the right thing, progressives will have their backs.
“They’re ranked on this page from the most Republican district down towards the middle. Each of them deserves some support today — $5 each, $10, whatever you can do.”
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Yeah, this is great, autumnal. They did it yesterday afternoon.
Thanks for posting it!
Repeated from another thread:
This whole subject of “rights” is far more complex than either side wants to admit. As both myself and most of the people in this forum lean toward the left and the ‘right’ of choice when it comes to abortion, I can still see how the left doesn’t really understand (or care ?) how the other side feels. However, the bottom line is, I doubt we’re going to convince any of the anti-abortion crowd – without a better understanding of their viewpoint.
So in my opinion, we are still ignoring the ‘bottom line’ argument. How many of you can tell me why the extreme-right is so strong and insistant on this subject? Ignore it if you want, but their feelings are based solely upon the concept of the Hebrew “Soul” – and they truly believe that soul comes into existence the moment of conception. For them, abortion is honestly murder in the 1st degree. Given that – is it any wonder they are so adamant and emotional about this? I have Mennonite and Dunkard friends who truly believe abortion is on precisely the same level as cannibalism or head-shrinking (I’m dead serious).
Please, let me give you one further comparison. In the past there have been ‘parents’ who felt whipping their child nearly to death was far better than for their child to grow up “sinful”. I was actually one of those kids. A 5 foot stiff ‘buggy whip’ was a frequent visitor to my legs and rear. The point is, they felt it was their ‘right’ to discipline their child in such a manner (the Romans of Jesus’s day even believed it was okay to kill your ‘toddler’ if they didn’t seem to be turning out right – and the ability to ’speak’ was the cutoff point.
Today? Applying such a whip to your child isn’t allowed.
My religious friends would ask you how that compares to literally ‘killing’ your child (abortion).
I may not agree with their logic (I happen to think the entire concept of a “soul” is a myth) – but I do know we’re not going to change these people’s minds if we don’t understand their logic.
- – – This argument must be solved. – – –
And it begins and ends with Hebrew Mythology.
These same numbskulls also believed that the Bible told them that owning people was permissible in God’s eyes. They didn’t believe that because the Bible actually says that; they believed it because some screwball preacher told them that that was what the Bible said. They also believe that Islam is the devils religion and that we need to stay in Afghanistan or Iraq or somewhere until we “kill them all.” Religion has always been used–see the Passion Play—as it is being used today, for political purposes. Here’s an idea: let’s tax all church property. Then see how fast these charlatans close down their act and find real work. Most of them will probably become corrupt, lying, politicians as a second career. Peace
Frankly, pmichael, I don’t think the right and conservative Dems deserve or have earned the special treatment they get on reproductive rights. Women’s civil rights come before anything that comes after their own being. Somehow, because the Catholic Church and other orgs got involved, their argument became more lofty. That’s 19th century thinking compared to women’s civil rights. Mind you, as I’ve spoken and written about before, in the modern era it also means women have a strong responsibility in navigating their natural freedoms, something they cannot ignore. But for many churches, it’s really about maintaining power over the congregation, including their money, which they cannot survive w/o. I say this as a practicing Episcopalian.
On Stupak and health care, it’s Bubba to the Senate:
http://tinyurl.com/yetsxmm
Taylor, I’m a practicing religious anarchist. Does that count? Peace
pmichael
I posted a reply to you on the earlier thread. It isn’t as simple as some may think even in matters of faith. Even the Catholic Church has had different opinion over the ages of when and if abortion was permissable. Judaism has often taught that the “ensoulment” does not occur until the quickening and abortion is acceptable prior to that. It just isn’t easy and I do agree that it is best to try to understand and respect others and their beliefs both religious and non-religious.
autumnal
Thanks for the link – I didn’t see it yesterday. I’ll give my due now.
Anybody check the tax status of the Catholic Church lately?
Imhotep says:
10 November 2009 at 10:20 am
heh-heh… Not for me to judge.
Imhotep says:
10 November 2009 at 10:20 am
The Berrigans, Dorothy Day, Ammon Hennacy, were heroes of mine and kept me actively Roman Catholic longer than I otherwise would.ve been or should’ve allowed myself to be hehe. Go Catholic Workers. Great souls.
Okay, maybe it is just me but how about some fairness on this issue. I am as pro choice as you can be but I always respect people who see it the other way. I would never want to impose government sanctioned forced abortions on them a la China. Why do they think it is alright to impose government sanctioned forced pregnancy on the other side.
The irony is that many of these people go on about “liberty” and “freedom”and not wanting government intrustion in their lives yet they are perfectly willing to take a women’s freedom and liberty away and have the government intrude on their most private lives.
Speaking of religious myths. My daughter has one she likes. I believe it’s orgin is from Japan. She believes that children’s souls choose their mothers and if the mother is not ready for their soul it will wait and come back later.May sound crazy to some but it is as good and as provable as any other myth.
BTW I am all for taxing churches.
I ran some rough numbers on the 64 Dems who voted FOR Stupak (correct me if I’m wrong on any of these) but I found it interesting…..
of the 64 DEMS FOR :
Elected to House in ‘04 – ‘08: 25
Women: 2
Here’s the breakdown for anyone interested:
Davis AL 2002
Bright AL 2008
Griffith AL 2008
Berry AR 1996
Snyder AR 1996
Ross AR 2000
Baca CA 1999
Cardoza CA 2002
Costa CA 2004
Salazar CO 2004
Bishop GA 1992
Marshall GA 2002
Barrow GA 2004
Costello IL 1988
Lipinski IL 2004
Donnelly IN 2006
Ellsworth IN 2006
Hill IN 2006
Chandler KY 2004
Melancon LA 2004
Neal MA 1988
Lynch MA 2001
Michaud ME 2002
Kildee MI 1976
Stupak MI 1992
Oberstar MN 1974
Peterson MN 1990
Skelton MO 1976
Taylor MS 1988
Childers MS 2008 SP ELEC
Etheridge NC 1996
McIntyre NC 1996
Shuler NC 2006
Pomeroy ND 1992
Teague NM 2008
Ryan OH 2002
Space OH 2006
Wilson OH 2006
Boccieri OH 2008
Driehaus OH 2008
Kaptur OH 1982 – Female
Boren OK 2004
Murtha PA 1974
Kanjorski PA 1984
Holden PA 1992
Doyle PA 1994
Altmire PA 2006
Carney PA 2006
Dahlkemper PA 2008 – Female
Langevin RI 2000
Spratt SC 1982
Gordon TN 1984
Tanner TN 1988
Cooper TN 2002
Davis TN 2002
Ortiz TX 1982
Reyes TX 1996
Cuellar TX 2004
Rodriguez TX 2006
Matheson UT 2000
Perriello VA 2008
Obey WI 1969
Rahall WV 1976
Mollohan WV 1982