http://rink.cyberkook.com/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:53:29 +0000 MyBB http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=699 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:46:26 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=699
Speaking at a tea party? You're fired!
'I shouldn't have to trade my constitutional rights for a paycheck'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: June 03, 2010
5:01 pm Eastern


By Chelsea Schilling
© 2010 WorldNetDaily


When an assistant state attorney in Florida spoke at several tea-party rallies about her beliefs and the Constitution, her boss, a prominent Democrat, fired her – but now protesters are taking to the streets to get her job back.

Former Live Oak prosecutor KrisAnne Hall, was ousted May 24 by Democrat Robert "Skip" Jarvis, state attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit of Florida, after he said she refused to stop speaking at tea-party rallies, on the radio and to the Suwannee County Republican Executive Committee.

Hall, a 40-year-old mother and U.S. Army veteran who describes herself as a "constitutional originalist" and "fan of American Revolutionary history," sought an injunction in federal court to allow her to continue speaking. Three days later, Jarvis received the motion and fired her. Now Hall is suing, claiming her First Amendment rights have been violated.

"I shouldn't have to trade my constitutional rights for a paycheck," she told Florida's Fox 30 News. "If we don't learn why we have the Constitution that we have, we are doomed to repeat the history that brought it to us."


Tea partiers rally for fired prosecutor

The North Central Florida 9/12 Project called an 11 a.m. "free speech" rally outside Jarvis' office in Live Oak, telling tea-party protesters to "bring your signs and let people know that you are standing up for our constitutionally guaranteed right of freedom of speech."

Hall spoke to WND while the rally was taking place.

"There are about 100 people," she said. "I'm really impressed because that's good for our little town. They've come from as far as Tallahassee."

According to her request for an injunction, Hall had made an appearance on a local radio program and "addressed a variety of issues of public concern, including constitutional originalism, the legal dispute between the State of Florida and the federal government over the recent national health care bill and the threat posed by large federal budget deficits."

The Gainesville Tea Party released a copy of Hall's April speech to its group, noting that she spoke about the Constitution, the Founding Fathers and the importance of informing and educating oneself.

Hall claims she didn't discuss cases handled by the state's attorney's office during her speaking engagements, and she was introduced only as an attorney with expertise in constitutional matters. Hall also explained that she spoke at the events on her own time as a private citizen – not an employee of the state's attorney's office.

"I never said anything bad about my office," she told WND. "I never said anything bad about my boss. I never talked about my cases."

She added, "When I stand up to speak, I don't consider myself a motivational speaker. I consider myself a teacher. That's why I was asked to come and speak on the Constitution, based on the perspective of our Founding Fathers and blend it with current events. I think that's what my speeches did."

Jarvis, who claims Florida law allows him to appoint and fire his assistants without cause, wrote a series of e-mails on April 22 and 23, according to the complaint. He told her to stop speaking before a "fringe right-wing group" and ordered her to "disassociate yourself from these folks."

"He wrote a letter to my attorney telling him that he could hire and fire me at will and I had a choice to make: I could speak or I could work for him," Hall said. "He was clearly throwing down the gauntlet, saying you can keep your First Amendment rights or you can work for me."

However, as the chairman of the Suwannee County Democratic Executive Party, Jarvis himself was involved in politics and spoke at political events while he was the assistant state attorney.

"I spoke to Democrats, Republicans, independents, everybody in that room," he told Florida's CBS 47 Action News. "It was on unity because I started out, 'Look to you left. Look to your right. Everybody in this room is an American.'"

Hall said, "He was the Suwannee county chairman for a Democratic gubernatorial candidate – all while he was an assistant state attorney under our previous boss, Jerry Blair."


Hall 'spoke against the government'

However, he claims Hall went too far because she spoke out against the government.

"The position I've seen her advocate in some of her speeches is that 'We the people think differently, and only we the people think like me.' That is very divisive," Jarvis said.

But Hall told the station she's not against the government and she's only attempting to convey the importance of the Constitution.

More on this Story]]>
Speaking at a tea party? You're fired!
'I shouldn't have to trade my constitutional rights for a paycheck'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: June 03, 2010
5:01 pm Eastern


By Chelsea Schilling
© 2010 WorldNetDaily


When an assistant state attorney in Florida spoke at several tea-party rallies about her beliefs and the Constitution, her boss, a prominent Democrat, fired her – but now protesters are taking to the streets to get her job back.

Former Live Oak prosecutor KrisAnne Hall, was ousted May 24 by Democrat Robert "Skip" Jarvis, state attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit of Florida, after he said she refused to stop speaking at tea-party rallies, on the radio and to the Suwannee County Republican Executive Committee.

Hall, a 40-year-old mother and U.S. Army veteran who describes herself as a "constitutional originalist" and "fan of American Revolutionary history," sought an injunction in federal court to allow her to continue speaking. Three days later, Jarvis received the motion and fired her. Now Hall is suing, claiming her First Amendment rights have been violated.

"I shouldn't have to trade my constitutional rights for a paycheck," she told Florida's Fox 30 News. "If we don't learn why we have the Constitution that we have, we are doomed to repeat the history that brought it to us."


Tea partiers rally for fired prosecutor

The North Central Florida 9/12 Project called an 11 a.m. "free speech" rally outside Jarvis' office in Live Oak, telling tea-party protesters to "bring your signs and let people know that you are standing up for our constitutionally guaranteed right of freedom of speech."

Hall spoke to WND while the rally was taking place.

"There are about 100 people," she said. "I'm really impressed because that's good for our little town. They've come from as far as Tallahassee."

According to her request for an injunction, Hall had made an appearance on a local radio program and "addressed a variety of issues of public concern, including constitutional originalism, the legal dispute between the State of Florida and the federal government over the recent national health care bill and the threat posed by large federal budget deficits."

The Gainesville Tea Party released a copy of Hall's April speech to its group, noting that she spoke about the Constitution, the Founding Fathers and the importance of informing and educating oneself.

Hall claims she didn't discuss cases handled by the state's attorney's office during her speaking engagements, and she was introduced only as an attorney with expertise in constitutional matters. Hall also explained that she spoke at the events on her own time as a private citizen – not an employee of the state's attorney's office.

"I never said anything bad about my office," she told WND. "I never said anything bad about my boss. I never talked about my cases."

She added, "When I stand up to speak, I don't consider myself a motivational speaker. I consider myself a teacher. That's why I was asked to come and speak on the Constitution, based on the perspective of our Founding Fathers and blend it with current events. I think that's what my speeches did."

Jarvis, who claims Florida law allows him to appoint and fire his assistants without cause, wrote a series of e-mails on April 22 and 23, according to the complaint. He told her to stop speaking before a "fringe right-wing group" and ordered her to "disassociate yourself from these folks."

"He wrote a letter to my attorney telling him that he could hire and fire me at will and I had a choice to make: I could speak or I could work for him," Hall said. "He was clearly throwing down the gauntlet, saying you can keep your First Amendment rights or you can work for me."

However, as the chairman of the Suwannee County Democratic Executive Party, Jarvis himself was involved in politics and spoke at political events while he was the assistant state attorney.

"I spoke to Democrats, Republicans, independents, everybody in that room," he told Florida's CBS 47 Action News. "It was on unity because I started out, 'Look to you left. Look to your right. Everybody in this room is an American.'"

Hall said, "He was the Suwannee county chairman for a Democratic gubernatorial candidate – all while he was an assistant state attorney under our previous boss, Jerry Blair."


Hall 'spoke against the government'

However, he claims Hall went too far because she spoke out against the government.

"The position I've seen her advocate in some of her speeches is that 'We the people think differently, and only we the people think like me.' That is very divisive," Jarvis said.

But Hall told the station she's not against the government and she's only attempting to convey the importance of the Constitution.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=698 Wed, 12 May 2010 06:56:12 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=698 Appeals for calm after Nigerian sectarian slaughter
By Aminu Abubakar (AFP) – 20 hours ago


JOS, Nigeria — UN chief Ban Ki-moon and Washington led calls for restraint on Monday after the slaughter of more than 500 Christians in Nigeria, as survivors told how the killers chopped down their victims.

Funerals took place for victims of the three-hour orgy of violence on Sunday in three Christian villages close to the northern city of Jos, blamed on members of the mainly Muslim Fulani ethnic group.

While troops were deployed to the villages to prevent new attacks, security forces detained 95 suspects but faced bitter criticism over how the killers were able to go on the rampage at a time when a curfew was meant to be in force.

Media reported that Muslim residents of the villages in Plateau state had been warned by phone text message, two days prior to the attack, so they could make good their escape before the exit points were sealed off.

Survivors said the attackers were able to separate the Fulanis from members of the rival Berom group by chanting 'nagge', the Fulani word for cattle. Those who failed to respond in the same language were hacked to death.

One local paper said the gangs shouted Allah Akhbar (God is Great) before breaking into homes and setting them alight in the early hours of Sunday. Churches were among the buildings that were burned down.

The Vatican led a wave of outrage with spokesman Federico Lombardi expressing the Roman Catholic Church's "sadness" at the "horrible acts of violence".

The UN chief told reporters he was "deeply concerned".

"I appeal to all concerned to exercise maximum restraint," he said.

"Nigeria's political and religious leaders should work together to address the underlying causes and to achieve a permanent solution to the crisis in Jos."

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged "all parties to exercise restraint", but also called on the Nigerian government to "make sure the perpetrators are brought to justice."

"The Nigerian government should ensure that the perpetrators of acts of violence are brought to justice under the rule of law and that human rights are respected as order is restored," the chief US diplomat said.

The death toll was initially put at a little over 100 but then shot up. The information ministry said pregnant women were among those killed and around 200 people were being treated in hospital.

"We have over 500 killed in three villages and the survivors are busy burying their dead," said state information commissioner Gregory Yenlong.

"People were attacked with axes, daggers and cutlasses -- many of them children, the aged and pregnant women."

More on this Story]]> Appeals for calm after Nigerian sectarian slaughter
By Aminu Abubakar (AFP) – 20 hours ago


JOS, Nigeria — UN chief Ban Ki-moon and Washington led calls for restraint on Monday after the slaughter of more than 500 Christians in Nigeria, as survivors told how the killers chopped down their victims.

Funerals took place for victims of the three-hour orgy of violence on Sunday in three Christian villages close to the northern city of Jos, blamed on members of the mainly Muslim Fulani ethnic group.

While troops were deployed to the villages to prevent new attacks, security forces detained 95 suspects but faced bitter criticism over how the killers were able to go on the rampage at a time when a curfew was meant to be in force.

Media reported that Muslim residents of the villages in Plateau state had been warned by phone text message, two days prior to the attack, so they could make good their escape before the exit points were sealed off.

Survivors said the attackers were able to separate the Fulanis from members of the rival Berom group by chanting 'nagge', the Fulani word for cattle. Those who failed to respond in the same language were hacked to death.

One local paper said the gangs shouted Allah Akhbar (God is Great) before breaking into homes and setting them alight in the early hours of Sunday. Churches were among the buildings that were burned down.

The Vatican led a wave of outrage with spokesman Federico Lombardi expressing the Roman Catholic Church's "sadness" at the "horrible acts of violence".

The UN chief told reporters he was "deeply concerned".

"I appeal to all concerned to exercise maximum restraint," he said.

"Nigeria's political and religious leaders should work together to address the underlying causes and to achieve a permanent solution to the crisis in Jos."

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged "all parties to exercise restraint", but also called on the Nigerian government to "make sure the perpetrators are brought to justice."

"The Nigerian government should ensure that the perpetrators of acts of violence are brought to justice under the rule of law and that human rights are respected as order is restored," the chief US diplomat said.

The death toll was initially put at a little over 100 but then shot up. The information ministry said pregnant women were among those killed and around 200 people were being treated in hospital.

"We have over 500 killed in three villages and the survivors are busy burying their dead," said state information commissioner Gregory Yenlong.

"People were attacked with axes, daggers and cutlasses -- many of them children, the aged and pregnant women."

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=697 Wed, 12 May 2010 06:55:12 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=697
Muslims burn down churches, shops
Melee reportedly broke out with no provocation from Christians

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Posted: February 27, 2010
1:00 am Eastern


By Michael Carl
© 2010 WorldNetDaily


An angry Muslim mob attacked Christian-owned shops and houses, burned down eight churches and injured several people in the northern Nigerian town of Kazaure. But the melee was prompted by a Muslim police officer who had a dispute with a Muslim citizen, according to a group that monitors persecution of Christians.

The Muslim police officer pulled over a Muslim for a traffic violation Feb. 21, but the driver became angry and refused to stop, explained International Christian Concern's Jonathan Racho. The police officer then pursued the driver, caught up with him and assaulted the driver after forcefully removing him from the car.

The driver was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Tension in the region has been high since last month's Muslim rioting in Jos where 300 people reportedly were killed, human rights activists report.

"The driver died from his wounds received from the police officer. But it's important to note that this has nothing to do with any of the area's Christian residents," Racho explained. "It was a traffic incident, and neither the police officer nor the driver were Christians."

Racho said the Muslim mob "came together and tried to attack the police station."

"When they couldn't do that, they turned their attention to the Christians in the city. They burned down several Christian shops and a church."

Racho said Muslim mobs frequently have attacked Christians in mostly Muslim northern Nigeria.

"Any provocation from Christians is enough. But this time there was no Christian involvement. This time it's clear that there was absolutely no connection between this incident and the anti-Christian violence," he said.

More on this Story]]>
Muslims burn down churches, shops
Melee reportedly broke out with no provocation from Christians

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: February 27, 2010
1:00 am Eastern


By Michael Carl
© 2010 WorldNetDaily


An angry Muslim mob attacked Christian-owned shops and houses, burned down eight churches and injured several people in the northern Nigerian town of Kazaure. But the melee was prompted by a Muslim police officer who had a dispute with a Muslim citizen, according to a group that monitors persecution of Christians.

The Muslim police officer pulled over a Muslim for a traffic violation Feb. 21, but the driver became angry and refused to stop, explained International Christian Concern's Jonathan Racho. The police officer then pursued the driver, caught up with him and assaulted the driver after forcefully removing him from the car.

The driver was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Tension in the region has been high since last month's Muslim rioting in Jos where 300 people reportedly were killed, human rights activists report.

"The driver died from his wounds received from the police officer. But it's important to note that this has nothing to do with any of the area's Christian residents," Racho explained. "It was a traffic incident, and neither the police officer nor the driver were Christians."

Racho said the Muslim mob "came together and tried to attack the police station."

"When they couldn't do that, they turned their attention to the Christians in the city. They burned down several Christian shops and a church."

Racho said Muslim mobs frequently have attacked Christians in mostly Muslim northern Nigeria.

"Any provocation from Christians is enough. But this time there was no Christian involvement. This time it's clear that there was absolutely no connection between this incident and the anti-Christian violence," he said.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=696 Wed, 12 May 2010 06:51:51 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=696 Morocco: Christians Arrested

On Feb. 4, Moroccan military authorities raided a Christian meeting and arrested 18 people. The authorities also confiscated Bibles and personal belongings, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts.

“We were surprised by more than 60 Moroccan Gendarmes attacking the house [where we had just started our Bible study],” a VOM contact said. “Eleven believers (including an American), two non-believers and five children… were [held] by the Moroccan government for 14 hours.”

After 14 hours in detention, the American was deported and the others were released. Authorities kept the American’s laptop computer, along with Bibles, books, a laptop, a digital photo camera and a cell phone that belonged to the others arrested.

More on this Story]]> Morocco: Christians Arrested

On Feb. 4, Moroccan military authorities raided a Christian meeting and arrested 18 people. The authorities also confiscated Bibles and personal belongings, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts.

“We were surprised by more than 60 Moroccan Gendarmes attacking the house [where we had just started our Bible study],” a VOM contact said. “Eleven believers (including an American), two non-believers and five children… were [held] by the Moroccan government for 14 hours.”

After 14 hours in detention, the American was deported and the others were released. Authorities kept the American’s laptop computer, along with Bibles, books, a laptop, a digital photo camera and a cell phone that belonged to the others arrested.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=693 Wed, 12 May 2010 06:43:31 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=693 Egyptian Court Acquits Muslim Who Beheaded a Christian


(AINA) -- An Egyptian court in the southern city of Assuit acquitted this week four Muslims accused of killing 61-year-old Farouk Attallah on October 19, 2009. In broad daylight and in full view of witnesses, the killers fired 31 bullets to his head before beheading him, in the busy village market place of Attaleen, near Dairout, 313 kilometers south of Cairo. The dead body was then dragged in the street, accompanied by shouts of victory. Free Copts website published a video of the disfigured body (warning, violent graphic content: video).

The judge presiding over the court on February 22, said that he was not satisfied that the testimony of the witnesses established that the imprisoned men were the killers. After the acquittal of Mohamad, Ashraf, Osama and Ahmad Hassouna, there was jubilation in the court room, with shouts of 'Allah is Great' and congratulations from all Muslims, including members of the state security forces who were present.

Christians were enraged over the acquittal, since similar cases would result in life imprisonment or execution for a Copt if the victim was a Muslim.

The verdict came as another wake-up call to many Copts, according to Peter Sarwat, the plaintiff's attorney. "It sends a clear message that Coptic blood is extremely cheap." he told Mariam Ragy of Katiba Tibia Coptic site. "This acquittal will make permanent the present culture of impunity enjoyed by Muslim aggressors against Copts.".

Sarwat said the ruling was inadequate, as it acquitted the accused but did not say who the perpetrators are. "If these men did not kill, so who killed? The ruling should have referred the case to the general prosecution to present the perpetrators."

The Court based its ruling on quasi non existent proof, as well as the absence of "positive evidence" testimony versus the presence of "negative evidence" testimony. "The judge refused to take into consideration the testimonies of the dead man's daughter who said she only saw one killer and not four, as well as the testimony of the Muslim man who was wounded in the shootings," said Sarwat. According to media reports, most people who witnessed the shootings in the market place refused to come forward for fear of vengeance from the assailants' family. There were false witnesses who confirmed that the killers were present at work.

"It is not enough to get a conviction based only on police reports which are full of legal loopholes and weak prosecution investigations," said Sarwat. Legal observers have always claimed that the police purposely deliver to prosecution reports full of inadequacies and loopholes, thereby getting from the courts acquittals for Muslims.

More on this Story]]> Egyptian Court Acquits Muslim Who Beheaded a Christian


(AINA) -- An Egyptian court in the southern city of Assuit acquitted this week four Muslims accused of killing 61-year-old Farouk Attallah on October 19, 2009. In broad daylight and in full view of witnesses, the killers fired 31 bullets to his head before beheading him, in the busy village market place of Attaleen, near Dairout, 313 kilometers south of Cairo. The dead body was then dragged in the street, accompanied by shouts of victory. Free Copts website published a video of the disfigured body (warning, violent graphic content: video).

The judge presiding over the court on February 22, said that he was not satisfied that the testimony of the witnesses established that the imprisoned men were the killers. After the acquittal of Mohamad, Ashraf, Osama and Ahmad Hassouna, there was jubilation in the court room, with shouts of 'Allah is Great' and congratulations from all Muslims, including members of the state security forces who were present.

Christians were enraged over the acquittal, since similar cases would result in life imprisonment or execution for a Copt if the victim was a Muslim.

The verdict came as another wake-up call to many Copts, according to Peter Sarwat, the plaintiff's attorney. "It sends a clear message that Coptic blood is extremely cheap." he told Mariam Ragy of Katiba Tibia Coptic site. "This acquittal will make permanent the present culture of impunity enjoyed by Muslim aggressors against Copts.".

Sarwat said the ruling was inadequate, as it acquitted the accused but did not say who the perpetrators are. "If these men did not kill, so who killed? The ruling should have referred the case to the general prosecution to present the perpetrators."

The Court based its ruling on quasi non existent proof, as well as the absence of "positive evidence" testimony versus the presence of "negative evidence" testimony. "The judge refused to take into consideration the testimonies of the dead man's daughter who said she only saw one killer and not four, as well as the testimony of the Muslim man who was wounded in the shootings," said Sarwat. According to media reports, most people who witnessed the shootings in the market place refused to come forward for fear of vengeance from the assailants' family. There were false witnesses who confirmed that the killers were present at work.

"It is not enough to get a conviction based only on police reports which are full of legal loopholes and weak prosecution investigations," said Sarwat. Legal observers have always claimed that the police purposely deliver to prosecution reports full of inadequacies and loopholes, thereby getting from the courts acquittals for Muslims.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=692 Wed, 12 May 2010 06:41:34 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=692 Church bows to gays seeking communion
Published: 4 March 2010 11:23 | Changed: 5 March 2010 15:17
By RNW
Homosexuals can now attend communion in all parishes in the diocese of Den Bosch.
------------

This is the outcome of a meeting between the church council of the main Roman Catholic church in the Netherlands, St. John’s Cathedral in Den Bosch, priest Geertjan Van Rossum, Vera Bergkamp of the gay organisation COC and editor-in-chief of the gay peridocial Gaykrant.

"People should decide for themselves whether or not to attend communion whatever their sexuality and should do so with a clean conscience," said a spokesperson for the diocese.

The openly gay Prince of the Carnival who was recently refused communion in the provincial town of Reusel therefore should have received it. The church's refusal to give him communion sparked protests at Roman Catholic church services up and down the Netherlands on Sunday.

More on this Story]]> Church bows to gays seeking communion
Published: 4 March 2010 11:23 | Changed: 5 March 2010 15:17
By RNW
Homosexuals can now attend communion in all parishes in the diocese of Den Bosch.
------------

This is the outcome of a meeting between the church council of the main Roman Catholic church in the Netherlands, St. John’s Cathedral in Den Bosch, priest Geertjan Van Rossum, Vera Bergkamp of the gay organisation COC and editor-in-chief of the gay peridocial Gaykrant.

"People should decide for themselves whether or not to attend communion whatever their sexuality and should do so with a clean conscience," said a spokesperson for the diocese.

The openly gay Prince of the Carnival who was recently refused communion in the provincial town of Reusel therefore should have received it. The church's refusal to give him communion sparked protests at Roman Catholic church services up and down the Netherlands on Sunday.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=691 Wed, 12 May 2010 06:40:15 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=691 Clergy could face the law over same-sex ceremonies
Warning comes after amendment to allow churches to hold events

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 05, 2010
9:55 pm Eastern


By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily


British lawmakers have tentatively approved a bill to allow churches to host same-sex marriages, prompting warnings that the measure would be one step from forcing clergy to perform the homosexual ceremonies.

Even the head of the nation's top homosexual activist group, Ben Summeriskill of Stonewell, is concerned about the implications for churches, according to the Christian Institute.

"Right now, faiths shouldn't be forced to hold civil partnerships, although in 10 or 20 years, that may change," he said.

The Christian Institute, a nondenominational Christian charity committed to upholding the truths of the Bible, reported protests already have erupted from Michael Scott-Joynt, the bishop of Winchester.

"I believe that it will open, not the Church of England, but individual clergy, to charges of discrimination if they solemnize marriages as they all do, but refuse to host civil partnership signings in their churches," he said. "Unless the government does something explicit about this, I believe that is the next step."

Also concerned was David James, the bishop of Bradford, who said while the plan was being billed as an "available option," he had no confidence it would remain so.

"Even if this amendment says on the face of it that it only applies to those who choose to perform civil partnerships, that may not end up being the case, and clergy may end up facing very costly legal bills in order to defend themselves against lawsuits," the Institute's Mike Judge told the London Telegraph.

He continued, "The government has failed to understand the nature of religious liberty and has treated faith as nothing more than a matter of personal devotion. Now Christians feel let down and ignored. This is another step in the process of trying to force religions groups to abandon their core beliefs."

Other concerns came from former Home Secretary Lord Waddington, who feared the "costly litigation" bound to follow the change.

"As the law now stands churches and synagogues that are registered to conduct marriages could easily find themselves being sued for discrimination if they do not register to conduct civil partnerships," warned Neil Addison, who has done legal work on religious liberty cases, according to the Institute report.

"Local authorities could also refuse to grant or renew marriage authorization to churches and synagogues that do not also apply for civil partnership authorization," Addison said.

The Telegraph described the amendment as removing a restriction on same-sex ceremonies to register offices or "secular" venues.

Don Horrocks of the Evangelical Alliance told the paper religious groups must not "be forced to betray their consciences by facing lawsuits if they fail to allow a civil ceremony."

While the amendment says it is not a requirement, the Equality Bill's assurance that there will be no discrimination in the "provision of goods and services," could trigger lawsuits against clergy.

"We have seen countless cases where, as a result of similar sorts of legislation, religious adoption agencies have been forced to close and Christians have been forced out of their jobs for acting according to their beliefs," Andrea Williams of the Christian Legal Center told the paper.

More on this Story]]> Clergy could face the law over same-sex ceremonies
Warning comes after amendment to allow churches to hold events

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 05, 2010
9:55 pm Eastern


By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily


British lawmakers have tentatively approved a bill to allow churches to host same-sex marriages, prompting warnings that the measure would be one step from forcing clergy to perform the homosexual ceremonies.

Even the head of the nation's top homosexual activist group, Ben Summeriskill of Stonewell, is concerned about the implications for churches, according to the Christian Institute.

"Right now, faiths shouldn't be forced to hold civil partnerships, although in 10 or 20 years, that may change," he said.

The Christian Institute, a nondenominational Christian charity committed to upholding the truths of the Bible, reported protests already have erupted from Michael Scott-Joynt, the bishop of Winchester.

"I believe that it will open, not the Church of England, but individual clergy, to charges of discrimination if they solemnize marriages as they all do, but refuse to host civil partnership signings in their churches," he said. "Unless the government does something explicit about this, I believe that is the next step."

Also concerned was David James, the bishop of Bradford, who said while the plan was being billed as an "available option," he had no confidence it would remain so.

"Even if this amendment says on the face of it that it only applies to those who choose to perform civil partnerships, that may not end up being the case, and clergy may end up facing very costly legal bills in order to defend themselves against lawsuits," the Institute's Mike Judge told the London Telegraph.

He continued, "The government has failed to understand the nature of religious liberty and has treated faith as nothing more than a matter of personal devotion. Now Christians feel let down and ignored. This is another step in the process of trying to force religions groups to abandon their core beliefs."

Other concerns came from former Home Secretary Lord Waddington, who feared the "costly litigation" bound to follow the change.

"As the law now stands churches and synagogues that are registered to conduct marriages could easily find themselves being sued for discrimination if they do not register to conduct civil partnerships," warned Neil Addison, who has done legal work on religious liberty cases, according to the Institute report.

"Local authorities could also refuse to grant or renew marriage authorization to churches and synagogues that do not also apply for civil partnership authorization," Addison said.

The Telegraph described the amendment as removing a restriction on same-sex ceremonies to register offices or "secular" venues.

Don Horrocks of the Evangelical Alliance told the paper religious groups must not "be forced to betray their consciences by facing lawsuits if they fail to allow a civil ceremony."

While the amendment says it is not a requirement, the Equality Bill's assurance that there will be no discrimination in the "provision of goods and services," could trigger lawsuits against clergy.

"We have seen countless cases where, as a result of similar sorts of legislation, religious adoption agencies have been forced to close and Christians have been forced out of their jobs for acting according to their beliefs," Andrea Williams of the Christian Legal Center told the paper.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=690 Wed, 12 May 2010 06:37:53 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=690 Forced Recantations of Faith Continue

New Christians in northwest violently compelled to return to ancestor worship.


HANOI, Vietnam, January 18 (CDN) — A Vietnamese man violently forced to recant his fledgling Christian faith faces pressure from authorities and clansmen to prove his return to traditional Hmong belief by sacrificing to ancestors next month.

Sung Cua Po, who embraced Christianity in November, received some 70 blows to his head and back after local officials in northwest Vietnam’s Dien Bien Province arrested him on Dec. 1, 2009, according to documents obtained by Compass. His wife, Hang thi Va, was also beaten. They live in Ho Co village.

Dien Bien Dong District and Na Son Commune police and soldiers led by policeman Hang A Senh took the Christian couple to the Na Son Commune People’s Committee office after police earlier incited local residents to abuse and stone them and other Christian families. After Po and his wife were beaten at 1 a.m. that night, he was fined 8 million dong (US$430) and a pig of at least 16 kilos. His cell phone and motorbike were confiscated, according to the documents.

Christians Sung A Sinh and Hang A Xa of Trung Phu village were also beaten about the head and back and fined a pig of 16 kilos each so that local authorities could eat, according to the reports. The documents stated that the reason for the mistreatment of the Christians was that they abandoned “the good and beautiful” traditional Hmong beliefs and practices to follow Protestant Christianity.

Christian sources reported that on Dec. 15 police took Po and his wife to members of their extended family, who applied severe clan pressure on him to deny their faith. When police added their own threats, Po finally signed recantation documents.

“I folded – I signed when police threatened to beat me to death if I didn’t recant,” he said. “Then they would seize my property, leaving my wife a widow, and my children fatherless – without a home.”

Following Po’s written recantation, authorities subjected him to further family and clan pressure and “fines,” as well as rites to satisfy traditional Hmong spirits said to have become upset when he offended them by becoming a Christian.

Po faces the ultimate test to prove his recantation is sincere on Feb. 13, Lunar New Year’s Eve. He remains under severe threat, the documents report, unless he voluntarily offers sacrifices to his ancestors at that time.

The documentation of the forced recantations in northwest Vietnam indicates authorities are contravening Vietnam’s 2004/2005 public religion policy.

More on this Story]]> Forced Recantations of Faith Continue

New Christians in northwest violently compelled to return to ancestor worship.


HANOI, Vietnam, January 18 (CDN) — A Vietnamese man violently forced to recant his fledgling Christian faith faces pressure from authorities and clansmen to prove his return to traditional Hmong belief by sacrificing to ancestors next month.

Sung Cua Po, who embraced Christianity in November, received some 70 blows to his head and back after local officials in northwest Vietnam’s Dien Bien Province arrested him on Dec. 1, 2009, according to documents obtained by Compass. His wife, Hang thi Va, was also beaten. They live in Ho Co village.

Dien Bien Dong District and Na Son Commune police and soldiers led by policeman Hang A Senh took the Christian couple to the Na Son Commune People’s Committee office after police earlier incited local residents to abuse and stone them and other Christian families. After Po and his wife were beaten at 1 a.m. that night, he was fined 8 million dong (US$430) and a pig of at least 16 kilos. His cell phone and motorbike were confiscated, according to the documents.

Christians Sung A Sinh and Hang A Xa of Trung Phu village were also beaten about the head and back and fined a pig of 16 kilos each so that local authorities could eat, according to the reports. The documents stated that the reason for the mistreatment of the Christians was that they abandoned “the good and beautiful” traditional Hmong beliefs and practices to follow Protestant Christianity.

Christian sources reported that on Dec. 15 police took Po and his wife to members of their extended family, who applied severe clan pressure on him to deny their faith. When police added their own threats, Po finally signed recantation documents.

“I folded – I signed when police threatened to beat me to death if I didn’t recant,” he said. “Then they would seize my property, leaving my wife a widow, and my children fatherless – without a home.”

Following Po’s written recantation, authorities subjected him to further family and clan pressure and “fines,” as well as rites to satisfy traditional Hmong spirits said to have become upset when he offended them by becoming a Christian.

Po faces the ultimate test to prove his recantation is sincere on Feb. 13, Lunar New Year’s Eve. He remains under severe threat, the documents report, unless he voluntarily offers sacrifices to his ancestors at that time.

The documentation of the forced recantations in northwest Vietnam indicates authorities are contravening Vietnam’s 2004/2005 public religion policy.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=689 Wed, 12 May 2010 06:34:56 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=689 Algerian Church Continues in Spite of Burnt Building

Fellowship in Tizi Ouzou received no police protection despite repeated violence.


ISTANBUL, January 21 (CDN) — Members of a church in Algeria’s Kabylie region gathered to worship last Saturday (Jan. 16) in their new building despite a protest, vandalism and a fire that damaged the building the previous weekend.

Local Muslims bent on running the congregation out of the neighborhood set fires inside and outside the building on Jan. 9.

Before setting it on fire, the assailants ransacked the Tafat Church building in Tizi Ouzou, a city 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Algiers. The perpetrators damaged everything within the new building, including electrical appliances.

“This last Saturday the church held a service even though not everyone was present,” said Mustapha Krim, president of the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA). “But they continue.”

The protests against the new church building were unique in the Kabylie region, where the majority of Algeria’s Christians live.

“We are outraged,” Krim told Algerian daily El Watan. “We believe that the degree of intolerance reached its climax. In Kabylie, this sort of practice is unusual.”

The pastor of the church, Mustapha Krireche, said that the fellowship of 300 members had constructed the church building in the neighborhood in order to accommodate their growing needs. They started meeting there in early November of last year.

A short time after the first services, they received a notice from police to stop activities, as local residents had objected to their presence in their neighborhood. The pastor said he refused to sign the notice that police handed to him. Some young people threw rocks at the new building, he said.

Troubles for Tafat ramped up on Dec. 26, when its members gathered for their Saturday morning service. More than 20 local Muslims blocked the entrance to the building, keeping church members from entering. Two days later, some of the protestors broke into the new building and stole the church microphones and speakers.

The following Saturday (Jan. 2), a group of protestors entered the building and stopped the service. That day church leaders had instructed children and women to stay home for their safety, according to Krireche. After protestors became violent and threatened the pastor, church members present decided to close the building so as to avoid more problems.

In the most recent incident, on Jan. 9 protestors entered the building and started to vandalize it, leaving after police arrived. But they returned in the evening to burn anything that they could, including furniture, appliances, Bibles, hymnbooks and a cross. Nothing inside the building was left standing.

More on this Story]]> Algerian Church Continues in Spite of Burnt Building

Fellowship in Tizi Ouzou received no police protection despite repeated violence.


ISTANBUL, January 21 (CDN) — Members of a church in Algeria’s Kabylie region gathered to worship last Saturday (Jan. 16) in their new building despite a protest, vandalism and a fire that damaged the building the previous weekend.

Local Muslims bent on running the congregation out of the neighborhood set fires inside and outside the building on Jan. 9.

Before setting it on fire, the assailants ransacked the Tafat Church building in Tizi Ouzou, a city 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Algiers. The perpetrators damaged everything within the new building, including electrical appliances.

“This last Saturday the church held a service even though not everyone was present,” said Mustapha Krim, president of the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA). “But they continue.”

The protests against the new church building were unique in the Kabylie region, where the majority of Algeria’s Christians live.

“We are outraged,” Krim told Algerian daily El Watan. “We believe that the degree of intolerance reached its climax. In Kabylie, this sort of practice is unusual.”

The pastor of the church, Mustapha Krireche, said that the fellowship of 300 members had constructed the church building in the neighborhood in order to accommodate their growing needs. They started meeting there in early November of last year.

A short time after the first services, they received a notice from police to stop activities, as local residents had objected to their presence in their neighborhood. The pastor said he refused to sign the notice that police handed to him. Some young people threw rocks at the new building, he said.

Troubles for Tafat ramped up on Dec. 26, when its members gathered for their Saturday morning service. More than 20 local Muslims blocked the entrance to the building, keeping church members from entering. Two days later, some of the protestors broke into the new building and stole the church microphones and speakers.

The following Saturday (Jan. 2), a group of protestors entered the building and stopped the service. That day church leaders had instructed children and women to stay home for their safety, according to Krireche. After protestors became violent and threatened the pastor, church members present decided to close the building so as to avoid more problems.

In the most recent incident, on Jan. 9 protestors entered the building and started to vandalize it, leaving after police arrived. But they returned in the evening to burn anything that they could, including furniture, appliances, Bibles, hymnbooks and a cross. Nothing inside the building was left standing.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=688 Wed, 12 May 2010 06:31:18 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=688 Pakistani Christian Beaten for Refusing to Convert to Islam


Brothers converted by Muslim cleric who raised them leave him for dead.

KALLUR KOT, Pakistan, February 22 (CDN) — The four older Muslim brothers of a 26-year-old Christian beat him unconscious here earlier this month because he refused their enticements to convert to Islam, the victim told Compass.

Riaz Masih, whose Christian parents died when he was a boy, said his continual refusal to convert infuriated his siblings and the Muslim cleric who raised them, Moulvi Peer Akram-Ullah. On Feb. 8, he said, his brothers ransacked his house in this Punjab Province town 233 kilometers (145 miles) southwest of Islamabad.

“They threatened that it was the breaking point now, and that I must convert right now or face death,” Masih said. “They said killing an infidel is not a sin, instead it’s righteousness in the sight of Allah almighty.”

Masih begged them to give him a few minutes to consider converting and then tried to escape, but they grabbed him and beat him with bamboo clubs, leaving him for dead, he said.

“They vented their fury and left me, thinking that I was dead, but God Almighty resuscitated me to impart His good news of life,” he said.

Masih told Compass that his brothers and Akram-Ullah have been trying to coerce him to convert to Islam since his brothers converted.

“They had been coercing me to embrace Islam since the time of their recantation of Christianity,” Masih said, “but for the last one month they began to escalate immense pressure on me to convert.”

He grew up with no chance to attend church services because of his siblings’ conversion to Islam, he said, adding that in any event there was no church where he grew up. He knew two Christian families, however, and he said his love for the Christian faith in which he was originally raised grew as he persistently refused to convert to Islam.

More on this Story]]> Pakistani Christian Beaten for Refusing to Convert to Islam


Brothers converted by Muslim cleric who raised them leave him for dead.

KALLUR KOT, Pakistan, February 22 (CDN) — The four older Muslim brothers of a 26-year-old Christian beat him unconscious here earlier this month because he refused their enticements to convert to Islam, the victim told Compass.

Riaz Masih, whose Christian parents died when he was a boy, said his continual refusal to convert infuriated his siblings and the Muslim cleric who raised them, Moulvi Peer Akram-Ullah. On Feb. 8, he said, his brothers ransacked his house in this Punjab Province town 233 kilometers (145 miles) southwest of Islamabad.

“They threatened that it was the breaking point now, and that I must convert right now or face death,” Masih said. “They said killing an infidel is not a sin, instead it’s righteousness in the sight of Allah almighty.”

Masih begged them to give him a few minutes to consider converting and then tried to escape, but they grabbed him and beat him with bamboo clubs, leaving him for dead, he said.

“They vented their fury and left me, thinking that I was dead, but God Almighty resuscitated me to impart His good news of life,” he said.

Masih told Compass that his brothers and Akram-Ullah have been trying to coerce him to convert to Islam since his brothers converted.

“They had been coercing me to embrace Islam since the time of their recantation of Christianity,” Masih said, “but for the last one month they began to escalate immense pressure on me to convert.”

He grew up with no chance to attend church services because of his siblings’ conversion to Islam, he said, adding that in any event there was no church where he grew up. He knew two Christian families, however, and he said his love for the Christian faith in which he was originally raised grew as he persistently refused to convert to Islam.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=687 Wed, 12 May 2010 06:29:22 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=687
25 years for touching Quran before washing hands
Defendants say charges trumped up by Muslim radicals

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted: March 06, 2010
9:20 pm Eastern

© 2010 WorldNetDaily

In Pakistan, a Christian man was sentenced to life in prison after a neighbor with whom he had a business disagreement accused him of desecrating the Quran, and a husband and wife were jailed for 25 years for touching Islam's holy book without washing their hands.

The reports came from Compass Direct News, the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement and LogansWarning.com.

According to Compass, the life term was imposed on Imran Masih, 22, of Faisalabad after he was convicted under the nortorious Section 295-B of Pakistan's legal code, which bans "blasphemy" against Islam.

The conviction was based on the accusation of a rival shopkeeper who was accused of using a mosque loudspeaker to incite a mob that beat Masih.

Masih had been accused by Hajji Liaquat Abdul Ghafoor, the neighboring shopkeeper, of tearing pages out of the Quran and burning them. But Masih explained he was burning old merchandise records he had gathered while cleaning his store.

Compass reported Masih's family members claimed Ghafoor fabricated the blasphemy case because of a business disagreement. Other shopkeepers reported to Compass they has seen the two arguing over business just a few days before the accusations.

"Ghafoor started shouting that Masih had desecrated the Quran and made blasphemous remarks about Islam and prophet Muhammad," said one of the shopkeepers, according to Compass. "Ghafoor spread misconceptions about Imran Masih, and a mob of angry Muslim men unaware of the facts attacked Masih and viciously beat him, looted his shop and later handed him over to police."

An appeal is planned to the Lahore High Court.

The second episode developed, according to reports from CLAAS, when Munir Masih and Ruqqiya Bibi were accused of touching a Quran without washing their hands.

The organization said the husband and wife were convicted of "contaminating" the Quran when they touched it.

The group, which fights for the rights of the poor and marginalized in Pakistan, said the incident dated back to late 2008 when the accusations unleashed the fury of Islamic extremists. CLAAS reported local stories suggested police agents were paid to discover additional evidence that would be used to convict the couple.

Munir Masih was locked up in Kasur's district prison, and his wife went to the women's prison in Multan on conviction.

Their convictions also are being appealed to the Lahore High Court, officials said.

Christians in Pakistan say Islamic laws regarding the Quran and blasphemy routinely are used to harass members of other faiths. Tahir Naveed Chaudhary, a Christian member of Punjab's legislative assembly, reported such accusations are used to settle personal grudges against Christians, Compass reported.

More on this Story]]>
25 years for touching Quran before washing hands
Defendants say charges trumped up by Muslim radicals

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted: March 06, 2010
9:20 pm Eastern

© 2010 WorldNetDaily

In Pakistan, a Christian man was sentenced to life in prison after a neighbor with whom he had a business disagreement accused him of desecrating the Quran, and a husband and wife were jailed for 25 years for touching Islam's holy book without washing their hands.

The reports came from Compass Direct News, the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement and LogansWarning.com.

According to Compass, the life term was imposed on Imran Masih, 22, of Faisalabad after he was convicted under the nortorious Section 295-B of Pakistan's legal code, which bans "blasphemy" against Islam.

The conviction was based on the accusation of a rival shopkeeper who was accused of using a mosque loudspeaker to incite a mob that beat Masih.

Masih had been accused by Hajji Liaquat Abdul Ghafoor, the neighboring shopkeeper, of tearing pages out of the Quran and burning them. But Masih explained he was burning old merchandise records he had gathered while cleaning his store.

Compass reported Masih's family members claimed Ghafoor fabricated the blasphemy case because of a business disagreement. Other shopkeepers reported to Compass they has seen the two arguing over business just a few days before the accusations.

"Ghafoor started shouting that Masih had desecrated the Quran and made blasphemous remarks about Islam and prophet Muhammad," said one of the shopkeepers, according to Compass. "Ghafoor spread misconceptions about Imran Masih, and a mob of angry Muslim men unaware of the facts attacked Masih and viciously beat him, looted his shop and later handed him over to police."

An appeal is planned to the Lahore High Court.

The second episode developed, according to reports from CLAAS, when Munir Masih and Ruqqiya Bibi were accused of touching a Quran without washing their hands.

The organization said the husband and wife were convicted of "contaminating" the Quran when they touched it.

The group, which fights for the rights of the poor and marginalized in Pakistan, said the incident dated back to late 2008 when the accusations unleashed the fury of Islamic extremists. CLAAS reported local stories suggested police agents were paid to discover additional evidence that would be used to convict the couple.

Munir Masih was locked up in Kasur's district prison, and his wife went to the women's prison in Multan on conviction.

Their convictions also are being appealed to the Lahore High Court, officials said.

Christians in Pakistan say Islamic laws regarding the Quran and blasphemy routinely are used to harass members of other faiths. Tahir Naveed Chaudhary, a Christian member of Punjab's legislative assembly, reported such accusations are used to settle personal grudges against Christians, Compass reported.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=686 Wed, 12 May 2010 05:41:48 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=686 Town Bans Bottled Water Sales
Supporters Cite Oil Used To Make Bottles

POSTED: 1:31 pm EDT April 30, 2010
UPDATED: 7:37 am EDT May 1, 2010


CONCORD, Mass. -- The town of Concord has banned the sale of bottled drinking water in town beginning in 2011.

"We only have one planet and I just don't want to see it spoiled," said Jean Hill, who introduced the measure at Concord's Town Meeting.

Hill said that New York, Illinois and Virginia, as well as more than 100 cities, have taken action to cut spending on bottled water.

The measured passed by Concord would allow the sale of refillable containers of water, which could still be sold and delivered in town. Only plastic bottles that companies cannot reuse would be banned.

More on this Story

Stupidity reigns with this idiocity, they ban a most healthful drink, but not ban the sugary pop drinks, no they just tax the heck out of those, cant tax the water like they can the addictive sugary pop drinks.

How on earth can one expect the 'government' to act in favor of anyone's health when they do stupid things like this?

The Lame-O excuse given doesnt hold against all the other plastic bottled stuff they still allow to be sold in stores.]]> Town Bans Bottled Water Sales
Supporters Cite Oil Used To Make Bottles

POSTED: 1:31 pm EDT April 30, 2010
UPDATED: 7:37 am EDT May 1, 2010


CONCORD, Mass. -- The town of Concord has banned the sale of bottled drinking water in town beginning in 2011.

"We only have one planet and I just don't want to see it spoiled," said Jean Hill, who introduced the measure at Concord's Town Meeting.

Hill said that New York, Illinois and Virginia, as well as more than 100 cities, have taken action to cut spending on bottled water.

The measured passed by Concord would allow the sale of refillable containers of water, which could still be sold and delivered in town. Only plastic bottles that companies cannot reuse would be banned.

More on this Story

Stupidity reigns with this idiocity, they ban a most healthful drink, but not ban the sugary pop drinks, no they just tax the heck out of those, cant tax the water like they can the addictive sugary pop drinks.

How on earth can one expect the 'government' to act in favor of anyone's health when they do stupid things like this?

The Lame-O excuse given doesnt hold against all the other plastic bottled stuff they still allow to be sold in stores.]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=685 Wed, 12 May 2010 05:37:53 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=685 Black Hopefuls Pick This Year in G.O.P. Races
By JENNIFER STEINHAUER
Published: May 4, 2010


Among the many reverberations of President Obama’s election, here is one he probably never anticipated: at least 32 African-Americans are running for Congress this year as Republicans, the biggest surge since Reconstruction, according to party officials.

The House has not had a black Republican since 2003, when J. C. Watts of Oklahoma left after eight years.

But now black Republicans are running across the country — from a largely white swath of beach communities in Florida to the suburbs of Phoenix, where an African-American candidate has raised more money than all but two of his nine (white) Republican competitors in the primary.

Party officials and the candidates themselves acknowledge that they still have uphill fights in both the primaries and the general elections, but they say that black Republicans are running with a confidence they have never had before. They credit the marriage of two factors: dissatisfaction with the Obama administration, and the proof, as provided by Mr. Obama, that blacks can get elected.

“I ran in 2008 and raised half a million dollars, and the state party didn’t support me and the national party didn’t support me,” said Allen West, who is running for Congress in Florida and is one of roughly five black candidates the party believes could win. “But we came back and we’re running and things are looking great.”

But interviews with many of the candidates suggest that they felt empowered by Mr. Obama’s election, that it made them realize that what had once seemed impossible — for a black candidate to win election with substantial white support — was not.

“There is no denying that one of the things that came out of the election of Obama was that you have a lot of African-Americans running in both parties now,” said Vernon Parker, who is running for an open seat in Arizona’s Third District. His competition in the Aug. 24 primary includes the son of former Vice President Dan Quayle, Ben Quayle.

Princella Smith, who is running for an open seat in Arkansas, said she viewed the president’s victory through both the lens of history and partisan politics. “Aside from the fact that I disagree fundamentally with all his views, I am proud of my nation for proving that we have the ability to do something like that,” Ms. Smith said.

State and national party officials say that this year’s cast of black Republicans is far more experienced than the more fringy players of yore, and include elected officials, former military personnel and candidates who have run before.

Mr. Parker is the mayor of Paradise Valley, Ariz. Ryan Frazier is a councilman in Aurora, Colo., one of four at-large members who represent the whole city. And Tim Scott is the only black Republican elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives since Reconstruction.

“These are not just people pulled out of the hole,” said Timothy F. Johnson, chairman of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, a black conservative group. That is “the nice thing about being on this side of history,” he said.

More on this Story]]> Black Hopefuls Pick This Year in G.O.P. Races
By JENNIFER STEINHAUER
Published: May 4, 2010


Among the many reverberations of President Obama’s election, here is one he probably never anticipated: at least 32 African-Americans are running for Congress this year as Republicans, the biggest surge since Reconstruction, according to party officials.

The House has not had a black Republican since 2003, when J. C. Watts of Oklahoma left after eight years.

But now black Republicans are running across the country — from a largely white swath of beach communities in Florida to the suburbs of Phoenix, where an African-American candidate has raised more money than all but two of his nine (white) Republican competitors in the primary.

Party officials and the candidates themselves acknowledge that they still have uphill fights in both the primaries and the general elections, but they say that black Republicans are running with a confidence they have never had before. They credit the marriage of two factors: dissatisfaction with the Obama administration, and the proof, as provided by Mr. Obama, that blacks can get elected.

“I ran in 2008 and raised half a million dollars, and the state party didn’t support me and the national party didn’t support me,” said Allen West, who is running for Congress in Florida and is one of roughly five black candidates the party believes could win. “But we came back and we’re running and things are looking great.”

But interviews with many of the candidates suggest that they felt empowered by Mr. Obama’s election, that it made them realize that what had once seemed impossible — for a black candidate to win election with substantial white support — was not.

“There is no denying that one of the things that came out of the election of Obama was that you have a lot of African-Americans running in both parties now,” said Vernon Parker, who is running for an open seat in Arizona’s Third District. His competition in the Aug. 24 primary includes the son of former Vice President Dan Quayle, Ben Quayle.

Princella Smith, who is running for an open seat in Arkansas, said she viewed the president’s victory through both the lens of history and partisan politics. “Aside from the fact that I disagree fundamentally with all his views, I am proud of my nation for proving that we have the ability to do something like that,” Ms. Smith said.

State and national party officials say that this year’s cast of black Republicans is far more experienced than the more fringy players of yore, and include elected officials, former military personnel and candidates who have run before.

Mr. Parker is the mayor of Paradise Valley, Ariz. Ryan Frazier is a councilman in Aurora, Colo., one of four at-large members who represent the whole city. And Tim Scott is the only black Republican elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives since Reconstruction.

“These are not just people pulled out of the hole,” said Timothy F. Johnson, chairman of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, a black conservative group. That is “the nice thing about being on this side of history,” he said.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=684 Wed, 12 May 2010 05:34:28 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=684 New recycling bins with tracking chips coming to Alexandria
By: Markham Heid
Examiner Staff Writer
May 6, 2010


Alexandria residents soon will have to pay for larger home recycling bins featuring built-in monitoring devices.

The City Council added a mandatory $9 charge to its residents' annual waste collection fee.

That cash -- roughly $180,000 collected from 19,000 residents-- will pay for new larger recycling carts equipped with computer microchips, which will allow the city to keep tabs on its bins and track resident participation in the city's recycling program.

"If you know who's participating in the programs, you can focus your education and outreach to those who are not participating," said Stacy Herring, Alexandria's recycling coordinator.

Rich Baier, Alexandria's environmental services program director, said the city will use direct mailing campaigns and public presentations to target neighborhoods -- not individuals -- that lag when it comes to recycling.

"We're just trying to get the biggest bang where we need it for the buck," Baier said. "We don't want to get into exactly what people are recycling."

The new carts will come in sizes ranging form 25 to 65 gallons, and will sport wheels and lids. While the $9 charge is mandatory, residents may keep their old 18-gallon bins if they so choose.

Councilman Frank Fannon, the lone City Council member to oppose the new recycling bins, said he was against increased government spending, not recycling.

"I thought this was just another fee that we didn't have to pass on to the residents," he said.

More on this Story]]> New recycling bins with tracking chips coming to Alexandria
By: Markham Heid
Examiner Staff Writer
May 6, 2010


Alexandria residents soon will have to pay for larger home recycling bins featuring built-in monitoring devices.

The City Council added a mandatory $9 charge to its residents' annual waste collection fee.

That cash -- roughly $180,000 collected from 19,000 residents-- will pay for new larger recycling carts equipped with computer microchips, which will allow the city to keep tabs on its bins and track resident participation in the city's recycling program.

"If you know who's participating in the programs, you can focus your education and outreach to those who are not participating," said Stacy Herring, Alexandria's recycling coordinator.

Rich Baier, Alexandria's environmental services program director, said the city will use direct mailing campaigns and public presentations to target neighborhoods -- not individuals -- that lag when it comes to recycling.

"We're just trying to get the biggest bang where we need it for the buck," Baier said. "We don't want to get into exactly what people are recycling."

The new carts will come in sizes ranging form 25 to 65 gallons, and will sport wheels and lids. While the $9 charge is mandatory, residents may keep their old 18-gallon bins if they so choose.

Councilman Frank Fannon, the lone City Council member to oppose the new recycling bins, said he was against increased government spending, not recycling.

"I thought this was just another fee that we didn't have to pass on to the residents," he said.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=683 Wed, 12 May 2010 05:32:11 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=683 Al Shabaab Militants Execute Christian Leader in Somalia

Islamic extremists run into 57-year-old Yusuf Ali Nur after battle with rival group.


NAIROBI, Kenya, May 5 (CDN) — Islamic militants yesterday killed another leader of the underground church movement in Somalia, sources said.

Before he was fatally shot on Tuesday (May 4) in Xarardheere, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Jowhar, 57-year-old Yusuf Ali Nur had been on a list of people the Islamic extremist al Shabaab suspected of being Christian, sources who spoke on condition of anonymity told Compass. Al Shabaab, said to have links with al Qaeda, has vowed to rid Somalia of Christianity.

The militants fighting the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Mogadishu had been engaged in a two-hour battle with a rival rebel group, the Ahlu Sunna Waljamer, which had taken control of the Xarardheere area, before they came across Nur. Nur had lived in Xarardheere since leaving Jowhar in July 2009.

Eyewitnesses said that after al Shabaab took control of the area, they went from house to house looking for enemy fighters when they arrived at Nur’s rented home at about 10:30 a.m. Sources said that upon finding Nur, one of the militants remarked, “Oh! This is Yusuf, whom we have been looking for,” before they sprayed him with bullets at close range.

Nur is survived by his wife, whose name was withheld for security reasons, and three children, ages 11, 9 and 7.

This latest death comes after several execution-style murders of Somalis suspected of being members of a suppressed yet resilient underground faith movement in Somalia. A number of Christians have been beheaded by the radical Islamists out to topple the fledgling TFG and introduce a strict version of sharia (Islamic law).

Al Shabaab, which controls large parts of central Somalia, recently banned radio stations from playing music and outlawed bell ringing that signals the end of school classes “because they sound like church bells.”

More on this Story]]> Al Shabaab Militants Execute Christian Leader in Somalia

Islamic extremists run into 57-year-old Yusuf Ali Nur after battle with rival group.


NAIROBI, Kenya, May 5 (CDN) — Islamic militants yesterday killed another leader of the underground church movement in Somalia, sources said.

Before he was fatally shot on Tuesday (May 4) in Xarardheere, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Jowhar, 57-year-old Yusuf Ali Nur had been on a list of people the Islamic extremist al Shabaab suspected of being Christian, sources who spoke on condition of anonymity told Compass. Al Shabaab, said to have links with al Qaeda, has vowed to rid Somalia of Christianity.

The militants fighting the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Mogadishu had been engaged in a two-hour battle with a rival rebel group, the Ahlu Sunna Waljamer, which had taken control of the Xarardheere area, before they came across Nur. Nur had lived in Xarardheere since leaving Jowhar in July 2009.

Eyewitnesses said that after al Shabaab took control of the area, they went from house to house looking for enemy fighters when they arrived at Nur’s rented home at about 10:30 a.m. Sources said that upon finding Nur, one of the militants remarked, “Oh! This is Yusuf, whom we have been looking for,” before they sprayed him with bullets at close range.

Nur is survived by his wife, whose name was withheld for security reasons, and three children, ages 11, 9 and 7.

This latest death comes after several execution-style murders of Somalis suspected of being members of a suppressed yet resilient underground faith movement in Somalia. A number of Christians have been beheaded by the radical Islamists out to topple the fledgling TFG and introduce a strict version of sharia (Islamic law).

Al Shabaab, which controls large parts of central Somalia, recently banned radio stations from playing music and outlawed bell ringing that signals the end of school classes “because they sound like church bells.”

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=682 Wed, 12 May 2010 05:30:23 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=682
Mickey Rourke - Mickey Rourke's Actor Dislike

Mickey Rourke has little time for other actors and says many of them ''suck'' at their jobs.


Mickey Rourke doesn't respect many other actors.

The 57-year-old star - who received critical acclaim for his role as Randy 'The Ram' Robinson' in 'The Wrestler' - believes few people in Hollywood are as professional as they let on and claims many of them "suck".

He said: "You can be less than mediocre and be a f*****g movie star. I have respect for very few actors and actresses. Some of them get a lot of acclaim but just because their movie made $200 million at the box office; they still suck. I got no respect for them and I used to let them know it."

However, the leading man now prefers to keep out of arguments with other actors, and maintains dignity when he doesn't like a co-star.

More on this Story]]>
Mickey Rourke - Mickey Rourke's Actor Dislike

Mickey Rourke has little time for other actors and says many of them ''suck'' at their jobs.


Mickey Rourke doesn't respect many other actors.

The 57-year-old star - who received critical acclaim for his role as Randy 'The Ram' Robinson' in 'The Wrestler' - believes few people in Hollywood are as professional as they let on and claims many of them "suck".

He said: "You can be less than mediocre and be a f*****g movie star. I have respect for very few actors and actresses. Some of them get a lot of acclaim but just because their movie made $200 million at the box office; they still suck. I got no respect for them and I used to let them know it."

However, the leading man now prefers to keep out of arguments with other actors, and maintains dignity when he doesn't like a co-star.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=681 Wed, 12 May 2010 05:26:33 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=681 Thieves Steal Mojave Desert Memorial Cross in Nighttime Heist

FOXNews.com

The 7-foot-tall metal cross in a 75-year-old war memorial that withstood the heat of the Mojave Desert and a blazing battle in the Supreme Court over its legality was ripped down and stolen Sunday night, according to federal officials.

More on this Story]]> Thieves Steal Mojave Desert Memorial Cross in Nighttime Heist

FOXNews.com

The 7-foot-tall metal cross in a 75-year-old war memorial that withstood the heat of the Mojave Desert and a blazing battle in the Supreme Court over its legality was ripped down and stolen Sunday night, according to federal officials.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=680 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:16:03 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=680
Postal worker threatens Christian with arrest
Post office backs down, allows man to pass out religious tracts

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 03, 2010
10:50 pm Eastern


By Chelsea Schilling
© 2010 WorldNetDaily


A Christian man is now allowed to hand out religious tracts to passersby outside a Michigan post office after a postal worker initially threatened him with arrest if he did not immediately leave the area.

Michael Shanton peacefully distributed the religious leaflets to interested people from a sidewalk in front of the Farmington Hills, Mich., post office for about eight weeks in 2009, the Alliance Defense Fund reported.

"Shanton would sit on a bench and, as persons passed, he would ask them if they would like a religious tract," according to a letter to the U.S. postal service from ADF attorneys. "If they refused, Shanton simply let them go without following or harassing them."

The man never attempted to distribute the tracts inside the post office, solicit donations or ask for signatures on a petition. He simply handed tracts to people walking by.

On Sept. 24, 2009, a postal worker ordered Shanton to leave or he would be arrested. The worker said literature distribution is not allowed on federal property, according to ADF. Shanton immediately left the area for fear of arrest.

Shanton said he called the postmaster and was told he couldn't distribute literature in front of the post office because it violated the Postal Operations Manual. The local postal officials claimed the manual prohibited people from distributing a "pamphlet or flyer" that is not an official government document.

More on this Story]]>
Postal worker threatens Christian with arrest
Post office backs down, allows man to pass out religious tracts

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 03, 2010
10:50 pm Eastern


By Chelsea Schilling
© 2010 WorldNetDaily


A Christian man is now allowed to hand out religious tracts to passersby outside a Michigan post office after a postal worker initially threatened him with arrest if he did not immediately leave the area.

Michael Shanton peacefully distributed the religious leaflets to interested people from a sidewalk in front of the Farmington Hills, Mich., post office for about eight weeks in 2009, the Alliance Defense Fund reported.

"Shanton would sit on a bench and, as persons passed, he would ask them if they would like a religious tract," according to a letter to the U.S. postal service from ADF attorneys. "If they refused, Shanton simply let them go without following or harassing them."

The man never attempted to distribute the tracts inside the post office, solicit donations or ask for signatures on a petition. He simply handed tracts to people walking by.

On Sept. 24, 2009, a postal worker ordered Shanton to leave or he would be arrested. The worker said literature distribution is not allowed on federal property, according to ADF. Shanton immediately left the area for fear of arrest.

Shanton said he called the postmaster and was told he couldn't distribute literature in front of the post office because it violated the Postal Operations Manual. The local postal officials claimed the manual prohibited people from distributing a "pamphlet or flyer" that is not an official government document.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=679 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:13:33 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=679 Bill to criminalize presence of illegal immigrants in Arizona
by Jacques Billeaud - Mar. 2, 2010 01:49 PM
Associated Press


Over the past several years, immigration hard-liners at the Arizona Legislature persuaded their colleagues to criminalize the presence of illegal border-crossers in the state and ban soft immigration policies in police agencies — only to be thwarted by vetoes from a Democratic governor.

This year, their prospects have improved. A proposal to draw local police deeper into the fight against illegal immigration has momentum, and even opponents expect the new Republican governor to sign off on the changes.

The proposal would make Arizona the only state to criminalize the presence of illegal immigrants through an expansion of its trespassing law. It also would require police to try to determine people's immigration status when there's reasonable suspicion they are in the country illegally.

An estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants live in the state.

"The greatest threat to our neighborhoods is the illegal alien invasion," said Republican Sen. Russell Pearce of Mesa, sponsor of the proposal, explaining that some illegal immigrants who are criminals bring violence and other crimes to the United States.

Supporters say the new rules are needed because the federal government has done a lousy job of trying seal the border and crack down on immigrants in the country's interior. Opponents say such new duties would be costly and lead to racial profiling.

The proposal passed the Senate two weeks ago, and a similar bill could come to a vote of the full House as early as this week.

Paul Senseman, spokesman for Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, said the governor doesn't comment on pending legislation but generally supports pragmatic immigration laws. Her predecessor, Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, vetoed similar proposals.

More on this Story]]> Bill to criminalize presence of illegal immigrants in Arizona
by Jacques Billeaud - Mar. 2, 2010 01:49 PM
Associated Press


Over the past several years, immigration hard-liners at the Arizona Legislature persuaded their colleagues to criminalize the presence of illegal border-crossers in the state and ban soft immigration policies in police agencies — only to be thwarted by vetoes from a Democratic governor.

This year, their prospects have improved. A proposal to draw local police deeper into the fight against illegal immigration has momentum, and even opponents expect the new Republican governor to sign off on the changes.

The proposal would make Arizona the only state to criminalize the presence of illegal immigrants through an expansion of its trespassing law. It also would require police to try to determine people's immigration status when there's reasonable suspicion they are in the country illegally.

An estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants live in the state.

"The greatest threat to our neighborhoods is the illegal alien invasion," said Republican Sen. Russell Pearce of Mesa, sponsor of the proposal, explaining that some illegal immigrants who are criminals bring violence and other crimes to the United States.

Supporters say the new rules are needed because the federal government has done a lousy job of trying seal the border and crack down on immigrants in the country's interior. Opponents say such new duties would be costly and lead to racial profiling.

The proposal passed the Senate two weeks ago, and a similar bill could come to a vote of the full House as early as this week.

Paul Senseman, spokesman for Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, said the governor doesn't comment on pending legislation but generally supports pragmatic immigration laws. Her predecessor, Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, vetoed similar proposals.

More on this Story]]> http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=678 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:04:12 -0700 http://rink.cyberkook.com/showthread.php?tid=678
Praying in park called 'disorderly conduct'
Conviction 'ridiculous,' says attorney. 'This never should have happened'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 02, 2010
10:55 pm Eastern


By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily


A New York man is appealing a "disorderly conduct" conviction for praying in a public park.

Julian Raven, defended by the Alliance Defense Fund, was arrested while praying in an Elmira public park during a 2007 "gay pride" event.

"It's ridiculous to consider the act of peacefully exercising one's faith in a public park to be 'disorderly conduct,'" said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster. "The county court was correct in dismissing three of the convictions. They never should have happened. We are hopeful that the New York Court of Appeals will dismiss the fourth."

The WND reported when the original convictions of four people were appealed. Three of the convictions already have been overturned.

Originally, seven people were arrested for praying during the June 23, 2007, homosexual festival in Elmira's Wisner Park that was promoted by city officials. Three defendants were removed from the case almost immediately, leaving four to be convicted by Elmira city judge Thomas Ramich of "disorderly conduct."

The convictions for three – Gloria Raven, Maurice Kienenberger and Walter Quick – later were overturned in the Chemung County Court.

The legal team defending the Christians reported the event was advertised by the city as open to the public.

The Christians "made their way to an area in front of the stage and began to pray silently while lying prostrate in the grass. A police sergeant had earlier informed Julian Raven that he could not enter the public park, walk through the park, or talk to anyone in the park about his religion. After the group began to pray silently on their faces, all were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct," the organization reported.

Court records show that a Sgt. Sharon Moyer told Raven he could not disrupt the event.

So, the ADF reported, he and the others "entered the event to pray silently for event participants and to share the Gospel with them."

More on this Story]]>
Praying in park called 'disorderly conduct'
Conviction 'ridiculous,' says attorney. 'This never should have happened'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 02, 2010
10:55 pm Eastern


By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily


A New York man is appealing a "disorderly conduct" conviction for praying in a public park.

Julian Raven, defended by the Alliance Defense Fund, was arrested while praying in an Elmira public park during a 2007 "gay pride" event.

"It's ridiculous to consider the act of peacefully exercising one's faith in a public park to be 'disorderly conduct,'" said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster. "The county court was correct in dismissing three of the convictions. They never should have happened. We are hopeful that the New York Court of Appeals will dismiss the fourth."

The WND reported when the original convictions of four people were appealed. Three of the convictions already have been overturned.

Originally, seven people were arrested for praying during the June 23, 2007, homosexual festival in Elmira's Wisner Park that was promoted by city officials. Three defendants were removed from the case almost immediately, leaving four to be convicted by Elmira city judge Thomas Ramich of "disorderly conduct."

The convictions for three – Gloria Raven, Maurice Kienenberger and Walter Quick – later were overturned in the Chemung County Court.

The legal team defending the Christians reported the event was advertised by the city as open to the public.

The Christians "made their way to an area in front of the stage and began to pray silently while lying prostrate in the grass. A police sergeant had earlier informed Julian Raven that he could not enter the public park, walk through the park, or talk to anyone in the park about his religion. After the group began to pray silently on their faces, all were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct," the organization reported.

Court records show that a Sgt. Sharon Moyer told Raven he could not disrupt the event.

So, the ADF reported, he and the others "entered the event to pray silently for event participants and to share the Gospel with them."

More on this Story]]>