It's no secret that Republicans in the NC legislature and Governor Pat McCrory have not made NC public schools a priority. Teachers and students all over the state are feeling the results of the lack of needed funds and the cuts to education while corporations and the wealthiest citizens are given priority by some lawmakers.
Check out this video from TWC's Capital Tonight, where you can watch Senator Josh Stein prove once again he is a champion for NC's young people in a discussion with Senator Bob Rucho. The discussion starts about 9 minutes into the video.
http://www.twcnews.com/nc/triangle-sandhills/capital-tonight-show/2015/05/28/capital-tonight-may-28--sens--rucho-and-stein-on-budget.html
You might remember that Senator Rucho was the one who said voter pre-registration was too confusing for NC's teenagers when he led the effort to eliminate that opportunity and the education programs in NC schools that went along with it. In his appearance on Capital Tonight, Senator Rucho mentions putting money back into the classroom but spends a good part of the interview defending cuts to education. Senator Rucho is himself confused, it seems.
People all over the state have been contacting their lawmakers and showing up at Moral Mondays and other events throughout the state to show their support for public education.
Something else we can do to support education is show support for the students who are not sitting by silently but instead using their voices to fight for better policies and taking an active role in trying to influence the policies that directly affect them.
I'd like to invite everyone to sign and share the following petition, created by a 13 year old NC student. When our young people use their voices in an effort to help create a better future for our state, we should support them and it is the duty and obligation of our elected representatives to listen and respond.
https://www.change.org/p/general-assembly-give-funds-back-to-public-schools-to-give-kids-a-better-education
Certain representatives in the NC legislature aren't supporting NC students with their deeds, but each of us has the opportunity now to to show them, and especially one NC student trying to make a difference, that the citizens support our students by taking one simple action.
Jacob of Raleigh, this one's for you. Forward together.
Monday, June 1, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015
I'm With Hillary
I’ve been excited for Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the
office of President of the United States since the early days of Ready for
Hillary. I’ve been a fan of Hillary Clinton since 2008, when I was 7 years old.
I have a book that contains speeches by historic Americans that I’ve had since
I was a little girl and still use as inspiration when I write my own speeches.
In that book is Hillary Clinton’s speech
to the United Nations at the 4th World Conference on Women back in
1995, where she said, “We
need to understand there is no one formula for how women should lead our lives.
That is why we must respect the choices that each woman makes for herself and
her family.” You may notice that when I write and speak about feminism and
about the issues that affect women in America today, this sentiment is
reflected in my own attitudes.
Secretary
Clinton’s leadership and inspiration has played, and continues to play, a large
part in why I’m active in trying to shape a bright future for my country and
why I feel empowered to do so. She is a role model for me, both politically and
personally.
Hillary’s experience as a lawyer, campaign worker, committee and board member, First Lady both to a state Governor and a President, Senator, and Secretary of State, is exactly the kind of varied experience I consider valuable in a future President. I have confidence that she has the diplomacy skills, the broad spectrum of knowledge, and the track record necessary to continue to move America in a positive direction despite the many obstacles we will continue to face.
The majority of this country, despite what you might think if you engage in political discourse on the Internet, is not far left or far right. The majority of Americans, like myself, are more centrist in their positions. Hillary Clinton will represent my Progressive values with common sense in a manner that will appeal to voters and advocate policies to strengthen the middle class that can make it though Congress and onto her desk to sign. She’ll be able to compromise in order to get things done and she’ll be able to weather the storms and keep pushing for what’s right and beneficial to mainstream America despite having to make decisions that will not always be popular.
Hillary’s experience as a lawyer, campaign worker, committee and board member, First Lady both to a state Governor and a President, Senator, and Secretary of State, is exactly the kind of varied experience I consider valuable in a future President. I have confidence that she has the diplomacy skills, the broad spectrum of knowledge, and the track record necessary to continue to move America in a positive direction despite the many obstacles we will continue to face.
The majority of this country, despite what you might think if you engage in political discourse on the Internet, is not far left or far right. The majority of Americans, like myself, are more centrist in their positions. Hillary Clinton will represent my Progressive values with common sense in a manner that will appeal to voters and advocate policies to strengthen the middle class that can make it though Congress and onto her desk to sign. She’ll be able to compromise in order to get things done and she’ll be able to weather the storms and keep pushing for what’s right and beneficial to mainstream America despite having to make decisions that will not always be popular.
I
won’t be able to vote in the primaries or in the 2016 Presidential election,
but I am proud to give my endorsement to the candidate who has given so much to
me over the years and who is the candidate I feel will give the most to all
Americans. It is my sincere hope that I
get to cast my vote for Hillary Clinton’s re-election to the office of
President of the United States in 2020.
Yesterday, with the greatest of thanks to my friend Susan Smith, President of the South Carolina Democratic Women’s Council, I had the opportunity to hear Hillary Clinton speak at the SCDW’s Day in Blue event and to meet and speak briefly with Secretary Clinton.
I asked her if she was elected, or even if she wasn’t, if she would support the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. She told me she thought it was a long road of action, but she would definitely support it. This answer showed me she is familiar with the issue and understands the challenges we will have to meet to get the ERA ratified. She also talked in the speech she gave about issues impacting women’s equality like equal pay, pay transparency, and the fact many of the jobs that don’t pay a living wage are held by women. These are all issues that while we continue to fight for the big picture, full Constitutional equality, we have a chance to solve through legislation.
I also asked her what advice she would give to young people who want to get involved in politics. Her answer: Volunteer. She told me about how she got started was volunteering for campaigns and that seeking out internships would be a good idea for me in the future. I’ll also add here that all policy and pomp and circumstance aside, she is incredibly cool and we could totally hang at Chipotle and maybe go for a Starbucks after. Anything you hear about her having trouble connecting with average middle class voters or young voters is ridiculousness.
In her speech, Secretary Clinton talked about the 2008 primary and the way in which discourse can sometimes not reflect the best examples of citizenship during campaign season. She said, “We should show more respect toward each other, and we should remember why we’re doing this; because we love our country and we want it to be the country of hope and potential for our children and grandchildren.”
I hope that no matter which candidate you support for the office of President of the United States, you feel as passionate about your candidate as I do mine. No matter which candidate wins this primary season, we must, as Progressives, come together and help elect that candidate in order to preserve the progress we’ve made and protect our country against the policies and attitudes that will drive us backwards.
No matter which candidate you support, I hope you will both recognize and let your actions reflect the fact Hillary Clinton has dedicated her life to public service, has helped move our country forward throughout her career, and has inspired and empowered young women to walk the long road of action.
Volunteer. It’s an easy word to say, but can sometimes be hard for people to do, especially when they don’t see others like themselves getting involved. I’m thankful that Secretary Clinton has served as my role model over the course of my lifetime. Both her public remarks and personal remarks to me embody the values I want to see reflected in the highest office of our government.
Yesterday, with the greatest of thanks to my friend Susan Smith, President of the South Carolina Democratic Women’s Council, I had the opportunity to hear Hillary Clinton speak at the SCDW’s Day in Blue event and to meet and speak briefly with Secretary Clinton.
I asked her if she was elected, or even if she wasn’t, if she would support the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. She told me she thought it was a long road of action, but she would definitely support it. This answer showed me she is familiar with the issue and understands the challenges we will have to meet to get the ERA ratified. She also talked in the speech she gave about issues impacting women’s equality like equal pay, pay transparency, and the fact many of the jobs that don’t pay a living wage are held by women. These are all issues that while we continue to fight for the big picture, full Constitutional equality, we have a chance to solve through legislation.
I also asked her what advice she would give to young people who want to get involved in politics. Her answer: Volunteer. She told me about how she got started was volunteering for campaigns and that seeking out internships would be a good idea for me in the future. I’ll also add here that all policy and pomp and circumstance aside, she is incredibly cool and we could totally hang at Chipotle and maybe go for a Starbucks after. Anything you hear about her having trouble connecting with average middle class voters or young voters is ridiculousness.
In her speech, Secretary Clinton talked about the 2008 primary and the way in which discourse can sometimes not reflect the best examples of citizenship during campaign season. She said, “We should show more respect toward each other, and we should remember why we’re doing this; because we love our country and we want it to be the country of hope and potential for our children and grandchildren.”
I hope that no matter which candidate you support for the office of President of the United States, you feel as passionate about your candidate as I do mine. No matter which candidate wins this primary season, we must, as Progressives, come together and help elect that candidate in order to preserve the progress we’ve made and protect our country against the policies and attitudes that will drive us backwards.
No matter which candidate you support, I hope you will both recognize and let your actions reflect the fact Hillary Clinton has dedicated her life to public service, has helped move our country forward throughout her career, and has inspired and empowered young women to walk the long road of action.
Volunteer. It’s an easy word to say, but can sometimes be hard for people to do, especially when they don’t see others like themselves getting involved. I’m thankful that Secretary Clinton has served as my role model over the course of my lifetime. Both her public remarks and personal remarks to me embody the values I want to see reflected in the highest office of our government.
If you would like
to join me in volunteering to help elect Hillary Clinton to the office of
President of the United States, you can sign up here:
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/volunteer/
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/volunteer/
Someone recently shared a song with me, and I would like to dedicate this song to Hillary. It’s because of her paving the way that I can, because of her example that I am, and because of her leadership and the policies she’s fighting for that I will.
Friday, May 22, 2015
Too Many Rape Apologists and Counting
The Internet today is overflowing with the message "boys will be boys." I'm speaking, of course, about reactions to the recent news that Josh Duggar inappropriately fondled the breasts and genitalia of girls, at least one of whom was asleep, twelve years ago.
Some people, it seems, feel this poster boy for Conservative "family values" should be absolved of responsibility and excused for his actions because he was only 14 and had teenage boy hormones. In other words, this sexual assault wasn't "legitimate" enough for them.
Well, excuse me, but what the hell has to happen in order for a sexual assault to be legitimate enough for these people? If I was attacked in a dark alley between the church and the gun show by a black, gay, atheist Democrat who works at an abortion clinic, would that be legitimate enough for people not to defend my rapist?
Let me point out here that although we don't know a lot about the victims, as well we shouldn't to protect their privacy, it's likely that these girls were doing everything right according to the most patriarchal standards of society. They probably didn't dress provocatively like, you know, showing their shoulders, backs, stomachs, or other sex organs. There probably weren't any traces of uncle sugar in their systems. (Oh and speaking of uncle sugar, Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee came out in support of Josh Duggar getting off scott free, because nothing says leader of the free world like aligning your positions with a sex offender.) Still, despite the fact they most likely did everything they were told as not to appear to be asking for it, these girls were sexually assaulted.
Since Josh Duggar got a "stern talking to" from a friend of daddy Jim Bob who just happened to be a law enforcement officer and has apologized for his habitually assaulting the young girls, everybody needs to just suck it up now. I mean, how much more sincere can you get than this part of what Josh Duggar said in his issued statement published on Facebook: "I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life." Whew! I'm so glad that he took the time to think about himself and his life because that is absolutely what someone who seeks to gratify their sexual urges at the expense of a sleeping girl needs to do more of.
TLC, the network that airs the Duggar's reality show, pulled upcoming episodes off the air. They are still trying to decide what their long term plans for the show are. That has to be a really tough decision, trying to figure out if you care enough to stop producing a show that features a sex offender and the people who conveniently arranged things so he wouldn't face any real consequences.
The reactions to this incident reflect the fact that a large part of American culture is infected with misogyny. We have a sex education problem. We have a problem with abuses of power and lack of justice. But perhaps the most significant problem we have is people ultimately failing as functional human beings and resorting to a mentality that Steve Marmel so eloquently summed up on Twitter: "He hates who I hate so I don't care what he does."
Some people, it seems, feel this poster boy for Conservative "family values" should be absolved of responsibility and excused for his actions because he was only 14 and had teenage boy hormones. In other words, this sexual assault wasn't "legitimate" enough for them.
Well, excuse me, but what the hell has to happen in order for a sexual assault to be legitimate enough for these people? If I was attacked in a dark alley between the church and the gun show by a black, gay, atheist Democrat who works at an abortion clinic, would that be legitimate enough for people not to defend my rapist?
Let me point out here that although we don't know a lot about the victims, as well we shouldn't to protect their privacy, it's likely that these girls were doing everything right according to the most patriarchal standards of society. They probably didn't dress provocatively like, you know, showing their shoulders, backs, stomachs, or other sex organs. There probably weren't any traces of uncle sugar in their systems. (Oh and speaking of uncle sugar, Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee came out in support of Josh Duggar getting off scott free, because nothing says leader of the free world like aligning your positions with a sex offender.) Still, despite the fact they most likely did everything they were told as not to appear to be asking for it, these girls were sexually assaulted.
Since Josh Duggar got a "stern talking to" from a friend of daddy Jim Bob who just happened to be a law enforcement officer and has apologized for his habitually assaulting the young girls, everybody needs to just suck it up now. I mean, how much more sincere can you get than this part of what Josh Duggar said in his issued statement published on Facebook: "I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life." Whew! I'm so glad that he took the time to think about himself and his life because that is absolutely what someone who seeks to gratify their sexual urges at the expense of a sleeping girl needs to do more of.
TLC, the network that airs the Duggar's reality show, pulled upcoming episodes off the air. They are still trying to decide what their long term plans for the show are. That has to be a really tough decision, trying to figure out if you care enough to stop producing a show that features a sex offender and the people who conveniently arranged things so he wouldn't face any real consequences.
The reactions to this incident reflect the fact that a large part of American culture is infected with misogyny. We have a sex education problem. We have a problem with abuses of power and lack of justice. But perhaps the most significant problem we have is people ultimately failing as functional human beings and resorting to a mentality that Steve Marmel so eloquently summed up on Twitter: "He hates who I hate so I don't care what he does."
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Take Action to Help Give America's Youth a Voice
The Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council needs your help. House Joint Resolution 47 is currently in committee, which would establish a Presidential Youth Council to advise Congress and the President on matters and policies important to the youth of our nation and to its future.
In order to move this bill to the floor and encourage our Representatives to pass it, as many people as possible need to contact their Representatives and voice their support for this bi-partisan, youth-led council made up of young people ages 16-24. Next week, starting on Monday, May 18th, the organization is hosting a national outreach initiative. You can join in this event by visiting the following link:
You can follow this link to take just a moment of your time to send an email to your Representative:
You can easily find your Representative in the House to follow up your email with a phone call by following this link:
Let me tell you why this initiative is important to me.
The current state of partisan bickering in the political realm often steamrolls over our young people and makes increasing numbers of them less likely to get involved or even vote. When the future leaders of this country are not participating, or when they try to participate are treated as props or propaganda to fuel the divisiveness that impedes a political process that's beneficial to our country as a whole, this puts the foundation of this nation on shaky ground.
It's important that our young people know our leaders value their research, input, and contributions. Our current leaders should be modeling and encouraging our future leaders to work across party lines to meet the challenges we face. It's imperative that our young people have the opportunity to see others like themselves engaged and working across party lines to build the future in which we will lead.
Those of us who are too young to vote or hold office deserve representation in the political process to ensure that the blessings of liberty are secured for ourselves and our posterity. We deserve to have our concerns, our hopes, and our dreams for this nation recognized as pertinent and valuable.
I urge you to support this measure to create a Presidential Youth Council in order to help move this country forward.
If you don't know what to say when you call or email, you can keep it simple and just say that you support House Joint Resolution 47 to create a Presidential Youth Council. The important thing is that you take just a moment of your time to help support America's youth and show us by your example that individual engagement is important to a government of, by, and for the people.
Be sure to share information on The Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council and follow the campaign on both Facebook and Twitter.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Unsocial Media
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and some of his followers think that when gay people share photos on Facebook, it is persecuting their religion.
Maybe they don't understand that on Facebook, you choose the people you are friends with and the pages you follow. If Tony Perkins is seeing photos of gay people on his Facebook feed, he must be friends with them or following their pages. His recommended reaction to seeing photos of gay people on Facebook is to say, "I don't want this on my Facebook page, I don't want this, I don't want to see this, look, do whatever you want to do but don't involve me in that," and of course pray for whoever posted the photo because he considers them his "enemies."
I'm an atheist, in case anyone forgot or didn't know. I just took a quick scroll down my Facebook feed and counted nine posts from Christians posting about Christian things. Sometimes, when I see Christian things, I scroll by them. Sometimes, I click on them to get a better idea of the perspectives of people who are not like me. I don't report them to Facebook or ask them to stop posting Christian things because by doing so they are, "involving me in that." Unless they are demanding that atheists should be burned at the stake or something, they have not made themselves my enemies simply by posting about their own beliefs any more than people who post pictures of hot dogs are my enemies because I don't like to eat hot dogs.
I also have friends on Facebook of various races and genders. They post pictures of themselves all the time and despite my seeing many of these pictures, I'm still a white female.
Every now and then, I do come across a post on Facebook that's persecutory in nature. If someone, for example, is making posts that encourage denying equal rights to other human beings simply because of their gender identity or sexual orientation, I'd most likely choose to no longer be friends with or follow that person on social media. I may even choose to say something, but by doing that, I am making the conscious choice to involve myself.
It's time for Tony Perkins to learn how to play well with others. If his religion demands he not look at pictures of gay people, he shouldn't be looking at pictures of gay people instead of demanding that the entire Internet be run on his own personal terms of service. Maybe he could set up his own parental controls since he's evidently not grown-up enough to keep his online behaviors in accordance with the teachings of whatever religion he has chosen to practice.
Maybe they don't understand that on Facebook, you choose the people you are friends with and the pages you follow. If Tony Perkins is seeing photos of gay people on his Facebook feed, he must be friends with them or following their pages. His recommended reaction to seeing photos of gay people on Facebook is to say, "I don't want this on my Facebook page, I don't want this, I don't want to see this, look, do whatever you want to do but don't involve me in that," and of course pray for whoever posted the photo because he considers them his "enemies."
I'm an atheist, in case anyone forgot or didn't know. I just took a quick scroll down my Facebook feed and counted nine posts from Christians posting about Christian things. Sometimes, when I see Christian things, I scroll by them. Sometimes, I click on them to get a better idea of the perspectives of people who are not like me. I don't report them to Facebook or ask them to stop posting Christian things because by doing so they are, "involving me in that." Unless they are demanding that atheists should be burned at the stake or something, they have not made themselves my enemies simply by posting about their own beliefs any more than people who post pictures of hot dogs are my enemies because I don't like to eat hot dogs.
I also have friends on Facebook of various races and genders. They post pictures of themselves all the time and despite my seeing many of these pictures, I'm still a white female.
Every now and then, I do come across a post on Facebook that's persecutory in nature. If someone, for example, is making posts that encourage denying equal rights to other human beings simply because of their gender identity or sexual orientation, I'd most likely choose to no longer be friends with or follow that person on social media. I may even choose to say something, but by doing that, I am making the conscious choice to involve myself.
It's time for Tony Perkins to learn how to play well with others. If his religion demands he not look at pictures of gay people, he shouldn't be looking at pictures of gay people instead of demanding that the entire Internet be run on his own personal terms of service. Maybe he could set up his own parental controls since he's evidently not grown-up enough to keep his online behaviors in accordance with the teachings of whatever religion he has chosen to practice.