Tag Archives: vote

Over the last week we’ve heard a lot from DFA members around the country asking for action to protect the rights of religious freedom for all Americans and I couldn’t agree more.

I don’t get upset much. I mean, I get ticked off at Republicans and Democrats (and at really bad customer service!), but that’s why I work with you at DFA. Because when we get upset, we don’t stew in it and hope it goes away. We do something about it.

The controversy around the building of a Muslim Community Center at 51 Park in New York City should upset all of us. It definitely upsets me. Shortly after the tragedy of the 9/11 attacks, much of this country came together. But there were a number of other, smaller tragedies occurring all over the country as a result of the attacks. People who “looked like terrorists” were victims of harassment, intimidation, and outright violence.

That includes me, and every member of my immediate family in different instances. My response was to protest the coming wars. My family did something different, though. They started going to Mosque. It did more than renew their faith — it provided a sense of community and safety during a very dark time for us. But for the last nine years, at least, people have been trying to block the construction of mosques all over the country.

Now, let’s be clear, the subject of the highest profile Muslim structure, 51 Park in New York City, will have a basketball court and a culinary school. Two floors will have a prayer room. The other eleven will host movie nights, performances, group dinners, etc — it’s basically a Muslim YMCA, open to everyone. These moderate Muslims are doing everything we could ask of them. They’re trying to build a bridge in the communities they live in, trying to show the world that Muslims are cool and interesting and diverse, and proving that being a Muslim does not equal being a terrorist.

But they’re being thrown under the bus by our elected leaders, egged on by some of the ugliest elements of the right-wing. Well-intentioned leaders of the Democratic Party are getting caught up in the fray as well, some of them seeking to find common ground with an implacable opposition. It’s not helping.

This isn’t just a Manhattan problem. Right now, there is opposition to mosques in Staten Island, Brooklyn, Southern California, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Illinois, and dozens of other locations across our nation. Where would they move? If public pressure can be brought to bear to take down the most high-profile Muslim community center in liberal NYC, then these other places don’t even have a chance, Ground Zero connection or not.

Frankly, this isn’t about Ground Zero. This is about America. This is about freedom. This is about people and there seems to be no place that Muslim people can go without being harassed.

The harassment has to stop, and that starts with you and me.

I think most people agree that Muslims have the right to worship. But these efforts to harass Muslims are based in fear, prejudice, and ignorance. Removing a community center doesn’t solve these problems. But talking about religious freedom — really engaging people — can open people’s minds, and blunt the prejudice.

I pledge to do it myself.

I pledge today to stand up for religious freedom right now. We cannot wait another day to defend the rights of all Americans to worship if they want, where they want, and when they want. I will not wait for the conversation to come to me; I will start the conversation now. Please join me in making the pledge to fight for our universal American values of acceptance and respect for religious freedom.

I need you, in your community, to have those challenging conversations with people you know.

Take the pledge right now.

It’s time to be pro-active in support of the values that define what we stand for and who we are as Americans. After you take the pledge, please follow up and share the conversations you’ve had. I think we’ll all find them inspiring to share.

-Arshad

Arshad Hasan, Executive Director

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

A Promise kept …

09/02/2010 Nativegrl77

Last night President Obama marked the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

As the President said, the struggle for peace is not over, but the progress we’ve made is undeniable.

This moment also represents a promise kept. As a candidate, President Obama laid out a vision for this country — and bringing our troops home from Iraq was a defining part of that vision. It was one of the reasons that all of us knocked on doors, made phone calls, and voted.

Keeping that promise is important, not only for our brave women and men in uniform, but also for their loved ones, and for all Americans who have hoped and prayed for a resolution to this war.

Please take a moment to watch the President’s speech if you missed it last night:

Watch the President’s Oval Office address:

http://my.barackobama.com/IraqAddress

Thanks,

Mitch Stewart
Director

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Get down and dirty with RAN

09/02/2010 Nativegrl77

Take Action With RAN On 10/10/10

On 10/10/10 we’re joining our friends at 350.org and thousands of people around the world for a day of action meant to inspire real leadership on the climate crisis and demand that corporations clean up their dirty energy. In true RAN style, however, we’ll be targeting one of the country‘s biggest and baddest corporations: Chevron.

Will you join us in demanding that Chevron clean up its dirty energy?

RAN will be heading to Chevron gas stations across the country to show this corporate polluter how the clean up their act. From their dirty oil refinery in Richmond, California, to their toxic legacy in Ecuador‘s rainforest, Chevron is a danger to our communities, our health and the climate.

Take action on 10/10/10 at a Chevron gas station near you.

Head out to your local Chevron station with us. Sign up to start a 10/10/10 day of action at your Chevron station. All you need are some “cleaning supplies,” some friends and some fun. Don’t worry; we’ll make sure you have all the things you need to make your event a success.

One last thing: we want to share your actions with the world. So don’t forget to bring a camera, capture the moment and send us your photos or videos.

Let’s get to work and hold corporate polluters like Chevron accountable on 10/10/10.

See you at the stations!

		For a cleaner future,
		Nick Magel Change Chevron Campaign

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Did you miss Barney on Leno?

09/02/2010 Nativegrl77

Watch Barney on Jay Leno Barney Frank was on Jay Leno last night. In case you missed it, watch Barney talk about his plans to improve the economy and REDUCE THE DEFICIT. Please help Barney continue his fight for jobs by making a contribution today. Remember, you can always keep track of what Barney’s been doing on his campaign website.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Buy nukes or feed the hungry?

09/02/2010 Nativegrl77

Tell the Senate: Reduce spending for the nuclear weapons complex.

$55 billion.

That’s how much the U.S. spends each year maintaining its nuclear arsenal. That’s also what it would cost to provide 350 million people worldwide with clean drinking water. Or help 30 million children survive past their 5th birthday.

But instead of relieving the suffering of millions around the world, the U.S. continues to spend billions on nuclear weapons and systems. Even though the Cold War era is over, leaders in Washington keep asking for more funding for new nuclear weapons every year, and taxpayers foot the bill every time.

We need to reassess our priorities.

There is a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) that calls for the U.S. and Russia to agree upon reductions in the size of their respective nuclear arsenals. But before that happens, START must be ratified by 67 votes in the U.S. Senate.

Tell your Senators to phase out our nuclear arsenal and pass START now >

The issue isn’t just the exorbitant expense of nuclear weapons – it’s their inherent instability. With the U.S. and Russia maintaining thousands of nuclear weapons on hair-trigger alert and nuclear-armed foes India and Pakistan, the elimination of nuclear weapons is more urgent than ever.

With the continued development of a nuclear arsenal, the U.S. is helping make sure nuclear weapons continue to threaten the people of the world with catastrophic possibilities. Building and maintaining nuclear weapons means there are production sites all over the world that are vulnerable to terrorist attack or to theft of weapons or weapons-grade materials.

Getting New START through the Senate is not going to be easy. Some senators still want to continue to invest billions of dollars in new nuclear weapons production facilities in exchange for a “Yes” vote on ratification.

Tell your Senators to ratify the new START agreement without preconditions or billions in new funding for the nuclear weapons complex >

If we don’t speak out and take action for a world free of nuclear weapons, who will?

Thank you for taking action,

The Change.org Team