Pledge now to make 2012 the year for immigrant families

The end of the year is a time for reflecting on the past, and planning for the future. This has been a tremendous year for immigrant rights — we were able to secure prosecutorial discretion on the national level, and declare major state victories in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, California and Arizona.
Yet we know how quickly victories can be taken away. When our representatives continue to cave to anti-immigrant zealots, our achievements can we undone. Only when we unite our energy and efforts can we overcome, as we saw just this weekend with our allies in Alabama.
I’m calling on all of us to make a resolution for 2012: let this be the year immigrant families show our strength, in our communities and across the country. Will you join me in this pledge?
Soon you will be hearing from other allies in our movement, some new and some familiar. Although I am stepping out of my role with RI4A, I remain as bound to this movement — and each of you who make up its whole — as ever.
I am so proud of the work we have done together.Let’s rededicate ourselves, no matter where we are, to defending and empowering our families — join me in making the pledge for 2012.
As always, thanks for all that you do,
Marissa Graciosa Reform Immigration FOR America

~ my 2cents ...

TGIF …&some News – Happy New Years to ALL

12/30/2011 Nativegrl77

just another rant …

Someone gave me a link to look at a Ron Paul message board “discussion” or two at a political blog site. A character I will call AA was active and blowing some vile stuff …a devout Paul supporter

After reading some of his comments, I had to add my 2cents to his somewhat chauvinistic support of Ron Paul. While writing and reading the interaction between him and a Ron Paul hater my initial comment was still in approval stage, it got ugly; he and someone else decided to go against that so overlooked statement “be respectful” he decided to bring out his love of foul words to defend Paul for things that happened over 10years ago. I have to say if any well-known person of colour said or wrote half the things Ron Paul has over the last 2 days 2weeks 2months 2yrs let alone twenty – they, would have absolutely no professional career let alone an opportunity to be President of the Free World.

I know the people in my circle wonder what we should all take from those racist newsletters. The facts are in, Ron Paul’s name is on most if not all and let us all remember some of the comments he has made about Black People, specifically Black Men … only 5yrs ago. I came across his essay on Rethinking Birthright Citizenship months ago. The essay was offensive if not overt racist dogma and for a guy who claims a love for the constitution he believes we should strip several parts out along with the 14th Amendment . How can any American give Ron Paul a pass, ignore, and or explain away those things he said or had others write. Then AA pulls out the name calling card at some woman I will call N. Though in written form his patronizing tone was not just loud and clear, it was disturbing. Using “bleep” and “bleep” to make his point which can do that but it was to describe this woman and then he moved into generalities that seemed awfully like he didn’t like women …

he said, “N. is an example of why “women” should never be allowed in politics, vote or even open our mouths?

Ron Paul has plenty of faults and it is not just his comments about Iran Israel or FEMA . I do not know if AA was a bigot but he definitely seemed annoyed at women …a hater

Yes, if you peruse the message boards you have to know what you might encounter. I had to wonder if this guy was the example of those who support Ron Paul for President of the US of A. Again, comment- boards are many things some good and not so good things. I join in and add my 2cents knowing it might get ugly. I also admit that I try to stay away from overtly extreme people who pull folks in and then hit them with obscene and or vacuous comments though if given the choice between a face to face and a message board … give me the message board.

I do believe Ron Paul is not only an isolationist he talks of going back in time when it seems quite clear women and minorities probably seen but never heard.

Hardly Presidential material

Other News …

Q&A with Charles Blow

AHTV Looks at American Artifacts

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

GREENPEACE …Philip Radford, Greenpeace

12/29/2011 Nativegrl77

Killing whales is not science.

Please join Greenpeace now with your end-of-year gift to stop the slaughter of whales and protect our planet.

Japanese whaling ships are closing in on whales in the Southern Ocean right now. They call their mission “science,” but no valid science is gathered from their hunts — it’s just a cover for their bloody activities.
It’s not science, it’s senseless killing, and it must end.

Make an urgent gift today to protect whales, the oceans, and our planet. – will you step up and join Greenpeace now in fighting to stop this slaughter?

We’re only two days away from December 31 and so close to reaching our $125,000 goal. We need just 7 more donations from Washington to reach it and have the resources we need to save whales in the new year.
Whales are smart creatures — they know where they are and who they are. They feel loss and pain. They “talk” to each other. A growing body of evidence shows that whales are very similar to humans in intelligence and self-awareness. There is nothing scientific about killing nearly every whale you encounter and selling the meat for profit.
Commercial hunts by any name must end.
Please donate now to stop the killing and save whales from this deadly “science.”
With your help we’ll mobilize public support, run newspaper ads, lead a coalition of NGOs and pressure the Obama administration and the International Whaling Commission to close these deadly loopholes and put an end to commercial whaling once and for all.
We’ve already been successful in dramatically reducing the market for whale meat to the point where the industry is shutting down. But operations like Japan’s are being propped up by government subsidies.
Right now is the time to tip the scales and completely end commercial whaling. Now’s our chance, and Carmen, there’s not much time left — please join us in the fight to save whales.

For the whales,
Philip Radford Greenpeace
P.S. Please donate now through our secure website or at 1-800-722-6995 to help us reach our $125,000 year-end goal and save the lives of these magnificent whales — we need just 7 more supporters like you from Washington.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

a message from Jim Messina, BarackObama.com

12/29/2011 Nativegrl77

I want to set the record straight on one thing before our fundraising deadline on Saturday:
You may have heard chatter from the other side about the President’s so-called “billion-dollar war chest.” When they say that, they’re intentionally doing two things:
1.) Because they know that kind of sum turns people off from politics, they’re misleading you. We do not and will not have a billion-dollar war chest.
2.) They’re trying to make you think your support doesn’t matter to the President. What kind of difference does $5 or $25 make to a billion-dollar campaign?
Here’s the truth: $5 and $25 donations have powered this organization from the start. And we measure our success not by how many dollars we raise, but by how many people are inspired to own a piece of this campaign.
Will you make a donation of $5 or more today?
It’s not the amount of money we’ll raise that scares them.
In fact, if the current flow of interest-group cash to our opponents holds up, there’s a real possibility we will be outspent by the other side in 2012.
No, they want to discredit you and our campaign because they know you can’t put a price tag on the strength of our grassroots support — more than a million individual donors so far in 2011.
Heading into 2012, I want us to be proud of that fact and what we’ve accomplished.
But we’re not nearly done. Donate $5 or more today:

Thanks,
Messina
Jim Messina Campaign Manager Obama for America

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Sex crimes untouched by Arizona sheriff …from Jackie Mahendra, Change.org

12/29/2011 Nativegrl77

Arizona sheriff should resign for ignoring more than 400 sex crimes.

While an Arizona Sheriff named Joe Arpaio declared war on undocumented workers in his county (Maricopa, which includes Phoenix), he failed to investigate more than 400 sex crimes, including some that involved young children.

This isn’t the first time Sheriff Arpaio has brought shame to his office — something John Dougherty knows all too well. John was a journalist at the Phoenix New Times for 13 years, where he investigated Arpaio’s department extensively. John reported on abuses of power, civil rights violations, and millions of dollars in wasted money under Arpaio. Yet when John heard about the Sheriff’s failure to investigate even sex crimes involving children, he knew he had to do more.

John wants Sheriff Joe Arpaio to resign, but he knows that Arpaio won’t go quietly. John needs other Arizona officials to say Joe should go to turn up the pressure on Arpaio to resign.

John started a petition on Change.org that asks the 5 members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to call for Sheriff Joe Arpaio to resign. Can you add your name to John’s petition to turn up the heat on Sheriff Arpaio?

Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s directive to prioritize traffic stops and military-style raids to find undocumented workers has had chilling results. While people who committed no crimes are arrested, real felons put Phoenix-area residents in danger.

According to the New York Times, one woman repeatedly asked Sheriff Arpaio’s department to “investigate the molestation of her three daughters.” Arpaio’s office wouldn’t budge, and an alleged child molester walks free in Maricopa County as a result.

The US Department of Justice agrees that Arpaio’s office is out of control. In an explosive report issued this week, the government said Sheriff Joe Arpaio has repeatedly broken the law and violated thousands of people’s civil rights. And just this weekend, Arpaio’s office allegedly left a Gulf War veteran brain dead after repeatedly shooting him with a Taser while in custody.

John Dougherty, the reporter who started a petition on Change.org, thinks that momentum is building to force out Sheriff Arpaio. It’s key that pressure comes from the local level, and the best bet to make that happen is with the Maricopa Board of Supervisors. While they can’t fire Arpaio, it would be much-needed fuel on the fire burning under the sheriff if they come out and say Arpaio should resign. And your signature could make the difference.

Join 3,300 other people who have signed John’s petition and demand that local officials call on Sheriff Joe Arpaio to resign for ignoring sex crimes.

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Jackie and the Change.org team