So, this year I have a new-found affection for
The Declaration of Independence. Not that I haven't always been enamored by it...I have. But this year I confirmed what has always been a family rumor: that indeed one of my ancestors was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Through my Father's side, we are related to
Robert Morris, one of the signers from Pennsylvania and one of the first Senators:-)
I honestly don't know that much about Robert Morris yet. I haven't really had a whole lot of time to research him. But this Independence Day I'll be thinking of him and thanking him and all the other Founders...men and women whose choices laid the foundation for this beautiful country. My country. Your country. Our Country.
Like Robert Morris and the other Founders, it is our duty to stand and fight for our country. I'll leave you today with some important quotes (I don't know about you, but sometimes I just love to sit and ponder what other people have said...must be the english major in me!):
The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any. -Alice Walker
There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. -Elie Wiesel
Fifty-one percent of a nation can establish a totalitarian regime, suppress minorities and still remain democratic. -Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn
Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope...build(ing) a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance. -Robert F. Kennedy
Sounds to me like RFK is advocating some action! Let's take some :-)
Civil Rights Issues:
-- The Federal Marriage Amendment was defeated in the Senate, but our work is not over. The House of Representatives will vote on the discriminatory FMA later this summer. Your members of Congress need to hear from you!
Health Care and Women's Issues:
-- From NARAL:
"Rape: it's a horrible thing that no woman chooses. Yet as it stands now, when a survivor of rape enters the emergency room, she is not always given the chance to prevent pregnancy.
To address this troubling problem, members of Congress have proposed the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act ("CARE": S.1264/H.R.2928).
This bill would ensure that when survivors of sexual assault enter the emergency room, they are always offered the emergency contraception pill (EC) as an option.
EC is a concentrated dose of ordinary birth-control pills that can dramatically reduce a woman's chance of becoming pregnant if taken soon after sex or sexual assault. It is NOT the same thing as mifepristone, or RU 486, which terminates an already-established pregnancy.
Making EC an option for all rape survivors that enter the emergency room would ensure that they have a choice in the aftermath of their assault.
Please sign the petition to ensure that rape survivors get the health-care services they need to prevent unintended pregnancy."
Environmental and Energy Issues:
-- Lots of Global Warming action items. Here's the first, Help Protect Glacier National Park from Global Warming!!
-- From Environmental Action, Tell Potential Presidential Candidates to Sign Declaration of Energy Independence!!
-- Urge your Representative to support Rep. Waxman's Safe Climate Act (H.R. 5642). According to Environmental Action, this bill would "freeze U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2010, at the 2009 levels. Beginning in 2011, it cuts emissions by roughly 2 percent per year, reaching 1990 emissions levels by 2020. After 2020, it cuts emissions by roughly 5 percent per year. By 2050, emissions will be 80 percent lower than in 1990."
-- Tell Washington: Enough Talk. Take Action on Global Warming!!
-- Live in Illinois? Know someone who does? Take action or pass this along! Tell ComEd to support the Illinois mercury rule!
-- Don't let politics remake science! Support the Union of Concerned Scientists' Save the Science campaign to stop political interference in science. Until July 21, any contribution you make to our Save the Science campaign will be matched dollar for dollar!
Economic and Labor Issues:
-- From the AFL-CIO:
"At a time when working people are squeezed as never before, and Washington isn't listening to America's workers, the Bush administration is making things even worse by slashing workers' rights at every turn.
The National Labor Relations Board appointed by President Bush has refused to hear oral arguments as it considers three cases that could reshape basic workplace rights and further erode our freedom to form unions. This is an outrage that must be reversed!
The cases focus on the definition of "supervisor." If that definition is broadened to include skilled, experienced workers who sometimes instruct co-workers, hundreds of thousands of employees could lose their contract protections and union rights.
As vital as these cases are, and despite pressure from Congress and the public, Bush's labor board has refused to hear oral arguments. In fact, the Bush board hasn't heard ANY oral arguments since 2001.
Please urge your members of Congress to tell NLRB Chairman Robert J. Battista to reverse the decision not to hear oral arguments in these critical cases."
-- Tell Verizon Wireless to stop hanging up on workers' rights! If they won't, you could always switch over to Working Assets!
-- From Campaign for America's Future:
"This Saturday, July 1st students and parents across the nation are going to be hit once again by the right-wing majority when interest rates on college loans spike. Congress has simply stood by and allowed student loan interest rates to rise dramatically, while making parent loans even more expensive, and ignoring the Miller-Durbin bill that would slash interest rates in half on new loans.
This is unacceptable and it's time to put Congress on notice. Write a letter to the editor to your local newspaper today and let your Representative know that it's time they act in the interest of their constituents, not the special interests."
Helping Democrats:
-- On this Independence Day, tell a friend to join the Progressive Patriots!!
And on this day where we have learned (for sure, that is) that Joe Lieberman is truly the most selfish "public" servant...let's do as the lovely Matt Stoller suggests, and
donate everything you can spare to Ned Lamont!!
War and Torture Issues:
-- From Human Rights First:
"Despite the May peace agreement, the situation in Darfur is deteriorating. On top of this, two key architects of the U.S. policy on Darfur are leaving government service. The U.S. response to Darfur has suffered as a result - at a time when Darfurians need our help the most.
Tell President Bush to fill the critical gap left by the departures of Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick and White House special adviser Michael Gerson."
Bring Down Corrupt Republicans: (as if there are ANY that aren't corrupt!)
-- Sick of Bush's vetos without having to REALLY veto, i.e. "Signing Statements"?? Me too. Why don't you do something about it...Act for Change has a petition you can sign!!
-- Demand Republicans Denounce Ann Coulter's Hate-Speech!!
Media Issues:
-- From the Consumers' Union:
"Control over what you see on TV and cable television, hear on the radio, and read in the newspapers is currently in the hands of a few large companies. And this consolidation of power could get worse.
The FCC is writing rules again that could result in even more media consolidation and less diversity in your news and entertainment choices. That's bad news for American democracy!
When big media companies own most of the radio and TV stations and local newspapers in town, less attention gets paid to community needs and interests and fewer voices and opinions are aired.
Tell the FCC to stop media consolidation! Be part of the official record, and urge the FCC and Congress to ensure that we have reasonable media rules that ensure diversity, localism and competition."
Voting Issues:
-- Sign this petition from Common Cause to renew the Voting Rights Act!!
-- People for the American Way also has a petition to save the Voting Rights Act!
-- Let's clean up Congress!! Tell politicians to sign the Voters First Pledge!
This is Crossposted at Street Prophets and at Action Alerts!