LIVE: Irish Woman Tweeting Trip to UK for Abortion

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Saturday August 20, 2016 · 2:59 AM PDT

2016/08/20 · 02:59

This will be a short diary, to call attention to an ongoing situation that some here may be interested in.

As many of you likely know, abortion is completely illegal in Ireland. The 8th amendment to the Irish constitution (1983) guarantees the “right to life of the unborn,” declaring it “equal to the right to life of the mother.” Abortion is also illegal in Northern Ireland, while it has been legal in the rest of the UK since 1967. The result is that girls and women from the island of Ireland who require an abortion must travel to the UK (or elsewhere) at their own expense.

Today (Saturday, 20 August) an Irish women is undertaking just such a journey, accompanied by a friend. They are tweeting under the handle Two Women Travel, and they have been documenting the trip since very early this morning (Irish/UK time):

Now a waiting room,weighted by bated breaths.@EndaKennyTD we could be home by noon in another world. #twowomentravel pic.twitter.com/1Sqytx6pgM
— Two Women Travel (@TwoWomenTravel) August 20, 2016

As you’ll notice, they are tagging Enda Kenny, the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister), in every tweet. There is a growing and vocal movement in Ireland, from a cross section of the population, to repeal the 8th amendment. Furthermore, the UN Commission on Human Rights has declared Ireland’s abortion laws so draconian that they “are in breach of international human rights.” Despite these facts, Kenny continues to waffle on the issue, promising to “review” the law and “gauge” public sentiment.

Several thousand girls and women travel from Ireland (north and south) to the UK for abortions every year. With additional girls and women seeking the procedure in other countries.

As @TwoWomenTravel live-tweets journey from Ireland for abortion, a reminder she is one of thousands every year. pic.twitter.com/oKwVS8LlG3
— Kathryn Torney (@Kath_TheDetail) August 20, 2016

Rachel Maddow and Gay Marriage in Maine

vadasz

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Wednesday October 21, 2009 · 12:50 PM PDT

2009/10/21 · 12:50

As many have done before, I apologize if this has been the subject of a diary already. I did a search, but am happy to delete if it's redundant.

Last night, Jesse Connolly of Maine's No on 1 campaign was on Rachel's show. Before she gave him about eight minutes to discuss the No on 1 campaign and how well he thinks it's going, she did a great job of framing the issue and also comparing the Yes on 1 (anti marriage equality) campaign to what happened in California last year.

Hop below the fold for the video and a few thoughts.

vadasz

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Friday October 09, 2009 · 10:23 AM PDT

2009/10/09 · 10:23

In a new Amnesty International advertisement that will apparently start running tomorrow, horror writer Stephen King has published an open letter to President Obama asking him to rethink his position on calling for "an independent commission of inquiry into US torture."

In making this public plea to the president, King joins a diverse group that includes fellow writer Alice Walker, actor Martin Sheen, anti-torture activist Sister Dianna Ortiz, former prisoner Juma al Dossari, and many others.

vadasz

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Saturday April 05, 2008 · 3:49 AM PDT

2008/04/05 · 03:49

Yesterday's anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King has brought out a wonderful and sad collection of memories, stories, and lessons (some learned, some not). As someone who both cares about social justice and has spent many years teaching speech and rhetoric, I'm happy that King's entire Memphis speech of April 3 is getting more notice. The finale is well known, but the entire speech about doing good for others is as important now as it was then.

The other big speech I'm happy is getting play is the one Bobby Kennedy gave in Indianapolis (link includes incomplete video, full audio). Not only is it a moving tribute, but how many people can get away with claiming, "my favorite poet is Aeschylus"?

vadasz

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Thursday April 03, 2008 · 11:04 AM PDT

2008/04/03 · 11:04

The New Yorker is currently running an interesting articleabout Reverend Wright and Trinity United Church of Christ by Kelefa Sanneh.

For those who've done their own research about the topic or who have been following the issue closely, there is not a whole lot of new information, but it's a good general source of information to point to in case you know others who are still uninformed on these issues.

Sanneh does a fine job (in good New Yorker style) of interweaving several relevant topics: Wright's background; the history of Trinity; Black Liberation Theology within Christianity; Obama's role in the Church; and the reaction of the church and the parishioners to the recent flap.

vadasz

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Monday March 31, 2008 · 5:41 AM PDT

2008/03/31 · 05:41

Hi, I've been lurking for quite a while and registered a few weeks back, but this is my first diary entry. I don't think this is a double post, but please let me know if I'm stepping on anybody's toes. Also, I welcome corrections of any of the information that I post below. Finally, I'll warn you that this diary is quite long: proceed with time on your hands.

So, I've been thinking a lot about 'race,' the 'race card,' and 'racism' in the past few weeks; I'm not the only one. With Reverend Wright's comments making big news, accusations from both Clinton's and Obama's camps flying around about who first played the 'race card,' and Obama's speech calling on us to take the next big step in facing this issue, it's been on everybody's mind.

Many of the claims flying around the blogs are fueled by the passion of one camp or the other's supporters. But much of it is fueled my misinformation, and a healthy dose is fired by misunderstanding. I thought I'd take this chance to weigh in on one aspect of the issue that I have yet to see discussed. If you follow me down, I'll try to be as clear and succinct as possible. (A disclaimer: I'm well aware that racial/ethnic issues in this country extend in many directions beyond the black/white divide. This diary, however, is concerned with that specific divide.)

RSS

LIVE: Irish Woman Tweeting Trip to UK for Abortion

Rachel Maddow and Gay Marriage in Maine

Stephen King: Torture is Horror.

James 'Butane' Brown

'The New Yorker' on Rev. Wright and Trinity

Wright & Katrina & AIDS, Oh My!: Confirmation Bias in the 2008 Campaign