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[AtLast]

I think what I am trying to get at is being misunderstood. My main point getting lost. I don't like these scanners or the pat-downs at all and do get why people feel our Constitutional rights are being run over. Also, I posted a link of what someone else thinks because I just don't see this whole matter as simple and it has many different variables to consider. I also am coming from a place in which racial profiling is extremely distasteful to me and it is winning over my feelings about this. I have an internal conflict going on really and would hope that this would be recognized as a legitimate concern in this debate. For some, it just isn’t as important as the other things being discussed here. We all have our personal ranking system when it comes to personal freedoms and rights. This just happens to be mine. It is no more or less important than what any one else thinks or how they personally rank these concerns. And I don’t see that this is something in which any one is right or wrong.

I remember very clearly what happened after 9/11 and racial profiling in air travel prior to how security measures have been developed more fully. This is the key aspect I am posting about which goes to our Constitutional form of government. If one group of people is going to be scrutinized before getting on a plane simply because of how they look, then I believe that all passengers should be subjected to the same screenings. This doesn't have a thing to do with what and how the screening techniques work. Maybe all of the security measures should be done away with. Especially if there is no data to support that they work.

I do think that it is my responsibility to be aware of what I am agreeing to when buying an airline ticket. Or, signing any other contract. This does not mean I think body scans are OK. They are invasive. Pat downs as they are now conducted are as well. That isn’t what I am talking about.

I also believe strongly in civil disobedience like demonstrations, but do not feel that I have any more right to disrupt others than they me when exercising this right. I have exercised this right many times in my life and follow the rules of not inter interfering with the rights of others while doing so. There is reciprocity (respecting the rights of others) in demonstrating about what I believe in, I believe.

Obviously, public out cry to congressional leaders through labor unions, for example is having an impact. This is evidenced by the changes for pilots. So, if we go through the channels available to us about this, perhaps, TSA regs can be changed. This IS how we exercise our rights and freedoms.

When I explore something, I do take a look at what other people think (like the person in the forum I posted the link to. It is called debating an issue- considering all aspects of it). I can't possibly get to a balanced opinion without hearing what other people are concerned about (and I am taking in what other people are saying right here and now). This is a fundamental of the process of debate which is the cornerstone of the Bill of Rights. Debate means looking at and assessing the validity of all that is involved and coming to a conclusion. It is part of how a democracy functions.

In all of this, I would like to hear how security at airports can be less invasive, yet have some kind of efficacy in picking up possible weapons/bombs, etc. It seems to me that is these kinds of techniques can be measured somehow to demonstrate if they do keep the public safer, then, that would be a way to get things changed at airports. If nothing (or has significant statistical support) points to these techniques actually making things safer- then, get rid of them! Actually, I think there are studies that support these kinds of measures not really being all that effective. Also, what about studies on the re-traumatizing for abuse victims? This would be something else to consider in making a case to have these security measures removed at airports.

[Nat]

Pope Benedict says that condoms can be used to stop the spread of HIV

[Nat]

U.N. blasts global response to Haiti cholera outbreak as inadequate

Port-Au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- The United Nations criticized the international response to the Haiti cholera outbreak as inadequate on Saturday, saying donors had pledged only about ten percent of the money needed to curb the disease.

Last week, the world body appealed for $164 million to help fight cholera in the impoverished Caribbean country. So far, the water-borne disease has claimed 1,186 lives, according to Haiti's health ministry. Almost 50,000 people have sought medical help; about 40 percent of those people have been hospitalized.

"Critical supplies and skills are urgently needed," Nigel Fisher, the world body's humanitarian coordinator in Haiti, said in a press release Saturday. "We need doctors, nurses, water purification systems, chlorine tablets, soap, oral rehydration salts, tents for cholera treatment centres and a range of other supplies."

Fisher said the lackluster response is especially troubling, given that "cholera is an extremely simple disease to cure." The disease can be deadly absent timely medical attention.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Nat

Pope Benedict says that condoms can be used to stop the spread of HIV

Did you catch that he said this in relationship to gay prostitutes! I guess he thinks they are the only people that have or spread HIV!! This is a learned person? This was what I heard via an NPR program today. Yikes! Please, I hope it was a mis-quote!

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by betenoire

The TSA publishing their TOS and putting it on tickets does not magically make the measures that they are taking REASONABLE. Nobody is accusing them of sneakiness. We are questioning the REASONABLENESS of the process.

I am not either- but the big "don't touch my junk" story was predicated on this. Go back and read the first articles about this.

OK.. let me make this clear- I believe that the scanners and the pat-downs stink! And do go against our civil rights. They are not REASONABLE in terms of civil rights in the US. I am, however, concerned about racial profiling and security measures and have been since 9/11.

Funny, I am not the only poster that has brought up the legality of what airline carriers have as Terms of Service. and in his case, it is part of the story and the investigation that is going on. GeeZusssss!!!

So, what are REASONABLE security measures at airports that do not infringe upon our civil liberties? Only check people that "look like terrorists?" which was exactly what was going on after 9/11 for quite awhile until people pointed out this is racial profiling. everyone goes through the exact same procedures, no matter what color they are or what kind of clothing or what they might be wearing on or around their head.

Maybe the majority of people in the US would rather there were no security checks at all? Frankly, all of them are intrusive to some degree.

[Corkey]

Do exactly what the Israelis do, interview EVERYONE.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by AtLastHome

I am not either- but the big "don't touch my junk" story was predicated on this. Go back and read the first articles about this.

OK.. let me make this clear- I believe that the scanners and the pat-downs stink! And do go against our civil rights. They are not REASONABLE in terms of civil rights in the US. I am, however, concerned about racial profiling and security measures and have been since 9/11.

Funny, I am not the only poster that has brought up the legality of what airline carriers have as Terms of Service. and in his case, it is part of the story and the investigation that is going on. GeeZusssss!!!

So, what are REASONABLE security measures at airports that do not infringe upon our civil liberties? Only check people that "look like terrorists?" which was exactly what was going on after 9/11 for quite awhile until people pointed out this is racial profiling. everyone goes through the exact same procedures, no matter what color they are or what kind of clothing or what they might be wearing on or around their head.

Maybe the majority of people in the US would rather there were no security checks at all? Frankly, all of them are intrusive to some degree.

I had read all of the stories posted, and then some already.

I really resent the implication that those of us who do not want the intrusive scans or body searches do not care about racial profiling. OF COURSE WE DO. Backscatter should not be considered the only alternative to racial profiling - how about just NOT racial profiling as an alternative?

Frankly, I would be just fine and dandy with going back to the old security measures. What's wrong with metal detectors, wands, and interviews?

Plus, the focus on just airline travel is so misleading and stupid - like an airplane is the only place that there could possibly be any danger. So then what's next? Naked body scanners at the mall, the subway, baseball games?

[AtLast]

List of Trans remembrance events that took place. Looks like events were all over! KEWL!

http://www.bing.com/search?q=transge...ox&FORM=IE8SRC

[AtLast]

Kind of cracked me up......

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/1..._n_786454.html

Barbara Bush has shared her thoughts on Sarah Palin, and it sounds as if she hopes the former Alaska governor decides against running for president.

"I sat next to her once, thought she was beautiful, and I think she's very happy in Alaska," Bush said, before adding, "and I hope she'll stay there."
The former first lady made the comments in an interview with Larry King, which will air Monday night on "Larry King Live."

Barbara Bush is not the only prominent Republican woman to speak poorly of Palin in recent days. On Monday, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whom Sarah Palin vociferously opposed during the state's most recent -- and still ongoing -- Senate election, said that the former governor lacks the "leadership qualities" and "intellectual curiosity" necessary to be president.

But, she also stated she was proud of Dub-ya's new book.... Oh well, she is a mother...

[Nat]

The UN General Assembly’s Third Committee on Social, Cultural and Humanitarian issues removed “sexual orientation” from a resolution addressing extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions this past week in a vote that was overwhelming represented by a majority of African, Middle East and Carribean nations.

link

The list of countries voting to remove "sexual orientation" from the resolution:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brunei Dar-Sala, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Nat

The UN General Assembly’s Third Committee on Social, Cultural and Humanitarian issues removed “sexual orientation” from a resolution addressing extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions this past week in a vote that was overwhelming represented by a majority of African, Middle East and Carribean nations.

link

The list of countries voting to remove "sexual orientation" from the resolution:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brunei Dar-Sala, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Join the discussion on this- Aj started a thread-

http://www.butchfemmeplanet.com/foru...ead.php?t=2393

[AtLast]

Tonight’s Rachael Maddow show (she was on vacation and the guy from The Nation was on) had a piece on TSA airport security coverage that was the first I've seen that gets to the sources (and motivations) of some of the backlash issues and the people behind some of the things that are being discussed. Some points were brought up about some of the far-right's contributions via Rand Paul for one.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#40326939


On the Lawrence O’Donnell show, there was a very compelling piece with a man that went through horrible experience as someone going through a pat-down as a post cancer surgery patient that wears a urostomy bag. This fits with the other story of the woman with a breast prosthetic.

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/vid...ord&FORM=VIRE5

A CBS link-
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/...n7078699.shtml

Both of these pieces bring to light the various concerns people have, but also expose both the pure nonsense being spread as well as the very painful experiences of this man's pat-down humiliation along with an idiot TSA representative. How TSA/government employees are being portrayed as part of right-wingers wanting the privatization of airport security is brought up as well as clips of Fox News inviting guests that advocate racial profiling as the answer for security.

Kind of kaleidoscope of the issues... The good, the bad and the ugly.. There are some very salient arguments on both sides of this and there is also a lot of politics in the mix. A lot of politics!

[Nat]

[Nat]

Stampede in Cambodia yesterday killed at least 378 people

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Injured survivors lay on the floors of hospitals here Tuesday and the dead were loaded into coffins after one of the worst stampedes in recent years killed at least 378 people at a holiday celebration the previous night.

The cause of the stampede during Cambodia’s annual water festival was unclear, but most of the dead had suffocated or been trampled or crushed to death on a small bridge that became so tightly packed that survivors later said they had been unable to move or even to breathe.

The government denied reports that some of the casualties were electrocuted by loose wires or by lights on the bridge. Some survivors said the crowd panicked when people shouted that the slightly swaying bridge was about to collapse.

As the death toll rose, it appeared to surpass the worst recent stampede toll of 362 Muslim pilgrims who were crushed to death while performing a ritual at the entrance to a bridge near Mecca in Saudi Arabia in January 2006.

Prime Minister Hun Sen called it the worst tragedy in Cambodia since the mass killings that under place under the Khmer Rouge, who ruled the country from 1975 to 1979.

[Nat]

The pope annoys me to no end, but whatever bigoted language he uses to say that condoms are finally okay to use, it's still possibly a big step forward for many people in the world who are his followers.

Vatican Pope's condom comments apply to women too

"I personally asked the pope if there was a serious, important problem in the choice of the masculine over the feminine," Lombardi said. "He told me no. The problem is this ... It's the first step of taking responsibility, of taking into consideration the risk of the life of another with whom you have a relationship."

"This is if you're a woman, a man, or a transsexual. We're at the same point," Lombardi said.

The pope is not justifying or condoning gay sex or heterosexual sex outside of a marriage. Elsewhere in the book he reaffirms the Vatican opposition to homosexual acts and artificial contraception and reaffirms the inviolability of marriage between man and woman.

But by broadening the condom comments to also apply to women, the pope is saying that condom use in heterosexual relations is the lesser evil than passing HIV onto a partner.

[Diva]

On a lighter note, and because I'm moderately superficial and a die~hard romantic.................

The Royal Wedding of William and Katherine will be Friday, April 29th, 2011 at Westminster Abbey......

157 days. Not that I'm counting or anything......

[dreadgeek]

INCHEON, South Korea — North and South Korea exchanged artillery fire Tuesday after the North shelled an island near their disputed sea border, killing at least two South Korean marines, setting dozens of buildings ablaze and sending civilians fleeing for shelter.

The clash, which put South Korea's military on high alert, was one of the rivals' most dramatic confrontations since the Korean War ended, and one of the few to put civilians at risk, though no nonmilitary deaths were immediately reported. Sixteen South Korean soldiers and three civilians were injured and the extent of casualties on the northern side was unknown. (Scroll down for video.)

The skirmish began when Pyongyang warned the South to halt military drills in the area, according to South Korean officials. When Seoul refused and began firing artillery into disputed waters, albeit away from the North Korean shore, the North retaliated by bombarding the small island of Yeonpyeong, which houses South Korean military installations and a small civilian population.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/1...4.html#s189509

Someone on Twitter asked an interesting question "can an entire nation be suicidal?".

[waxnrope]

I want to say something that will force my return here. I have to go to work now, but before this becomes another announcement to be superseded by other issues, and relegated to the back pages ... I throw down the following: WE, the U.S., have responsibility for what happens in Korea. I will return to discuss this later ...

Originally Posted by Nat

[AtLast]

Wall Street Profits Soar To $50B, Bonuses To Rise Up To 40 Percent

In a clear sign of Wall Street's rebound, investment firms are producing record profits this year and the average bonus could rise as much as 40 percent over 2008.

Wall Street firms produced $49.7 billion in profits in the first nine months of this year, a huge turnaround from the previous two years. The industry lost $42.6 billion in 2008 and $11.3 billion in 2007 -- according to a new report from New York State comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

"Profitability has soared because revenues rose while the costs of doing business - particularly interest costs - declined," concluded DiNapoli. In addition, Wall Street has cut costs by continuing to shed jobs, losing 29,300 between November 2007 and October 2008.

In a twist emblematic of the Darwinian nature of Wall Street, those bankers who survived the mass layoffs are due to get huge bonuses outstripping last year's payments. DiNapoli notes:

"The average bonus could grow at an even higher rate since there are fewer jobs than last year (some analysts estimate that the average could increase by up to 40 percent)."

Meanwhile, in a sign of the disparity between Wall Street and Main Street, the rest of New York City continues to suffer, according to the report, which notes that industries are still hurting and that the recovery is "expected to be slower" in the city than in the nation as a whole.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/17/wall-street-profits-soar_n_395682.html#

Hummmm.. womder what the average US worker thinks about this?

[Tommi]

$22.4 Million Awarded by HHS for Suicide Prevention

Keen News Service reported on 11/11/10 that up to $22.4 million was granted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for prevention of suicide. Some of the grant will be used specifically for assisting LGBT youth.

The grant funds are made available through HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA partnered with GLMA and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in 2007 to host a conference addressing suicide risk and prevention in the LGBT community.


http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseac...3BD398EAAE73C0
Information: For the complete Keen News Service article, go to keennewsservice.com.