Church Screening of “9500 Liberty” a Step Toward Reconciliation

MoonHowler

Tomorrow will be the first Prince William County screening of the completed film 9500 Liberty.

From 9500 Liberty Press Release:

Woodbridge, VA (October 6, 2009) — Residents of Prince William County are hopeful that a film screening will restart dialogue about an immigration culture war that divided the county in 2007 and 2008. Friday’s 8 PM showing of 9500 Liberty, hosted by St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Woodbridge, will be the first ever presentation of the film with Spanish subtitles. An interpreter will facilitate discussion between residents and county officials following the award-winning documentary.

“Two years later, there remain a lot of hurt feelings, misunderstandings, and mistrust on all sides of this issue,” said Carlos Castro, founder of the Ayuda Business Coalition. “The language barrier is part of that, so hopefully having the immigrant community talk about this film together with police officials and members of the Board of Supervisors will be a significant step toward reconciliation.”

Friday, October 9, 2009 at 8:00 PM
St. Paul’s Methodist Church
1400 G. Street
Woodbridge, VA 22191
Admission: $10

9500 Liberty tracks the fate of the most controversial aspect of Prince William County’s Immigration Resolution, a mandate that required police officers to check the immigration status of anyone they had “probable cause” to suspect was an undocumented immigrant. As racial and political turmoil rose to a fever pitch, the Board of County Supervisors granted emergency funding for the “probable cause” mandate on October 16, 2007, only to repeal it two months into its implementation.

And,

9500 Liberty won the Jury Award for Best Documentary at the Charlotte Film Festival on September 24, then sold out its Washington DC premiere on October 1 turning dozens away. “Over the years, American documentaries have become, increasingly, the better films that I see,” remarked film critic Desson Thomson who hosted the DC event. “Tonight is no exception. And I think what’s most powerful about this film is the people who evolve — who go from a vote that was made under duress and fear, to a vote of principle and courage.”

From Eric Byler email:

I am putting finishing touches on the bilingual version of 9500 Liberty.  Spanish subtitles for the English parts.  English subtitles for the Spanish parts.  It’s like seeing the world in color for the first time!

If you ever want to fully appreciate what happened here in 2007 and 2008, if you care enough to really know, see the film with us Friday night sitting among members of the Spanish speaking community, with members of our county government, and members of our law enforcement community.  I think it will be a cathartic experience to collectively process the events that unfold in the film while in a gathering that is truly representative of our community, with the language barrier cast aside, and shared comprehension for the first time since the whole thing began.  No matter where you stood on the controversy when it all went down, even if you think you’re firmly entrenched on one “side” or the other, I think this experience will bring you closer to understanding where the “other side” is coming from.

Please invite the readers and contributors at AntiBVBL.net to come to our screening.  Many of them are characters in the story, both on screen and off.  There are many in this community who hope and expect that this event will be a step toward healing, truth, and reconciliation.  With everyone’s participation, I think it will be.

PWC Drops Loitering Case Against Four Latino Men

Elena

From the Manassas Journal Messenger today:

Prosecutors in Prince William County have dropped loitering charges against four Hispanic men after the American Civil Liberties Union challenged the case.

The men were arrested in May outside an apartment complex where they lived. The ACLU said the county’s ordinance is used to target Hispanics and that it infringes on First Amendment protections of free assembly.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul Ebert said he believes the loitering law is constitutional. But it also requires police to give offenders a warning before an arrest, and that didn’t occur in this case.

The county in recent years has implemented numerous policies to crack down on illegal immigrants. Critics say that has resulted in discrimination against Hispanics.

White House Lawn Littered With Telescopes

MoonHowler

Wednesday night the White House lawn was littered with telescopes and portable planetariums. 150 Washington area students were fortunate enough to spend the evening, which began before sunset, at a star gazing party hosted by the Obamas. Inflated tents had constellations and universes projected onto domed celings. A cavalcade of who’s who in astronomy was also present with ‘stars’ like Sally Ride, John Grunsfeld, Buzz Aldrin along with 2 amateur 15 year old astronomers with some heavy duty discoveries under their belts, just to name a few.

Lucky kids who got to attend. The President spoke of Galileo and how his telescope invention allowed all of this to be possible. A NASA astronomer with his home-built telescope announced:

“The Wild Duck Cluster is up,” Hudgins said as reporters toured the telescopes in the afternoon. “It’s an open cluster of stars in the Milky Way in the constellation of Scutum, I believe. It’s beautiful.”

The event was held to capture interest in astronomy and space. Many museums and planetariums around the county participated remotely. Sally Ride informed the crowd that middle schoolers start losing interest in science and hopefully events like these will keep kids on top of science and thinking it is cool.

Good for the Obamas for spearheading an event such as this. The Star Party went beyond the ordinary Easter Egg Roll and might very well inspire a young scientist to move beyond what we have imagined.

This Friday morning NASA will launch a rocket booster and space craft at the moon’s south pole in search of water.

From spaceweather.com :

LUNAR IMPACT: This Friday morning, Oct 9th, at approximately 4:30 am PDT, NASA’s LCROSS spacecraft and its Centaur booster rocket will plunge one after another into a shadowed crater near the Moon’s south pole. The spectacular double-impact will be shown live on NASA TV from the point of view of the LCROSS spacecraft. Meanwhile, impact debris plumes emerging from the crater may be visible through backyard telescopes. North American sky watchers west of the Mississippi river are favored with darkness and good views of the Moon at the time of impact. Visit http://spaceweather.com for observing tips and full coverage.

Watch the impact at 7:30 am Friday morning on NASATV.

Update: Scientists have discovered a huge super ring around Saturn.

The Desert Cross

MoonHowler

Today the Supreme Court heard the case of the Desert Cross. Some background: In 1934, some veterans of WWI got together and erected a cross, made of white metal pipes, in the Mojave Desert. The desert has since become national park land. The cross has been covered up as a result of the court cases. An older couple kept the cross up for the now deceased vets. According to the Washington Post:

In 1934, veterans erected a cross on a rock in a remote part of the Mojave Desert on what is now national park land — and for the next 65 years, pretty much nobody but the odd rattlesnake noticed. But over the past decade, this 6 1/2 -foot-high cross, made from four-inch white metal pipe, has become the subject of no fewer than four acts of Congress, two district court rulings, three appellate court actions — and Wednesday, arguments before the nine justices of the Supreme Court.

The case was heard and gave an opportunity for Justice Anthony Scalia and Attorney Peter Eliasberg of the American Civil Liberties Union to get in the proverbial pissing contest with each other. It went something like this:

“The cross doesn’t honor non-Christians who fought in the war?” the Catholic justice asked with incredulity.

“I believe that’s actually correct,” said Peter Eliasberg of the American Civil Liberties Union, the son and grandson of Jewish war Pveterans.

“Where does it say that?” Scalia demanded to know.

“It doesn’t say that,” Eliasberg admitted, “but a cross is the predominant symbol of Christianity, and it signifies that Jesus is the son of God and died to redeem mankind for our sins.”

This news enraged Scalia. “The cross is the most common symbol of the resting place of the dead,” he declared. “What would you have them erect . . . some conglomerate of a cross, a Star of David, and you know, a Muslim half-moon and star?”

“The cross is the most common symbol of the resting place of Christians,” Eliasberg corrected. “I have been in Jewish cemeteries. There is never a cross on a tombstone of a Jew.”

The audience laughed. “I think that’s an outrageous conclusion,” Scalia hissed

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I am embarrassed for Justice Scalia. How ….unseemly.

How will the case be settled? Will the cross have to taken down? After all, it is out in the middle of nowhere, erected by men who are now dead; to honor those who died over 80 years ago, in a war barely remembered. Who is it hurting? Does it show state supported religion? What of the crosses on tombstones in federal cemetaries here and abroad?

Solutions have been suggested. One that seems to make the most sense is to give the land the cross is erected on to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and let them put the cross back up. That works. Or we could not worry about a lone cross, honoring soldiers from a century ago. Sometimes we just have to suck it up and not be so ‘correct.’

More background information

Washington Post: Court Wades Shallowly Into Church and State

GOP Political Suicide?

Elena

Michael Gerson wrote an insightful op-ed in the Washington Post. He talks about the future of the Republican Party if they continue to choose to ignore the extremists when it comes to immigration and reform. Although Senator Martinez has yet to publicize WHY he left the Republican Party, it is not too far fetched to believe it may be the hateful extreme rhetoric espoused by many on the extreme right about Latinos.

Mel Martinez’s recent resignation from the U.S. Senate was for personal and family reasons. But the departure of the Republican Party’s most visible Hispanic leader crackles with political symbolism.

Conservative shock radio, on its frightening fringes, can be overtly racist, referring to Mexican immigrants as “leeches,” “the world’s lowest primitives” and diseased carriers of the “fajita flu” who may “wipe their behinds with their hands.” Pat Buchanan sells books with this title: “State of Emergency: The Third World Invasion and Conquest of America.”

As Martinez points out, many Republicans who oppose his pro-immigration views are not divisive or inflammatory. But other, angry voices crowd them out. As a result, Republican support among Latinos is collapsing. In Martinez’s home state of Florida, for example, 56 percent of Hispanic voters cast ballots for George W. Bush in 2004. Four years later, 57 percent voted for Barack Obama.

This country needs a robust Republican Party, but if they continue to pander to the extremists on every issue, it will be some time before healthy productive debate returns.

Globally Rare Forest Discovered at Silver Lake!

Elena

Who would have believed that Silver Lake was home to a globally rare forest. I was privileged to be a part of that discovery. It was amazing, to see that little old PWC is home to such a unique asset. Prince William Conservation Alliance has a very expansive story on the find. The Park Authority has truly shown leadership in its endeavor to take advantage of local expertise found in our environmental groups, such as PWCA and the PW Wildflower Society in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of what Silver Lake has to offer within its boundaries.

The most important find on the site is the forest stand on the northeastern portion of the property (possibly extending to the northwestern portion) on what is labeled as the “School Site.” This forest stand is Diabase Flatwoods, a globally rare forest community that occurs only in northern Virginia and central Maryland.

There is meeting tonight, Tuesday, October 6th, at Mountain View Elementary, 7:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for citizens to comment on what they would like to see happen at Silver Lake. Although citizens have already spent the last two years, overwhelmingly supporting passive recreation such as hiking, fishing, swimming, camping, boating, and other non intensive uses, this is another chance to ensure that this unique asset is preserved for generations to come!

If you can’t make it to the meeting, you can e-mail the park authority with your comments.

Demonstration Rules Change Near Manassas Women’s Clinic

MoonHowler

Manassas City Police Chief Skinner has changed a few rules for demonstrators along the Sudley Road/Forestwood Corridor. Over the summer, Chief Skinner had several complaints about signs and protestors blocking the line of vision of drivers attempting to pull out onto Sudley Road. As a result, the chief, in conjunction with the city attorney and city manager, devised some new rules, with safety as the main goal.

The demonstration site was moved so no one’s vision was blocked. Additionally “City ordinance limits the number of signs demonstrators may use at any one time to five. The signs must not exceed 24 by 36 inches and may be attached to wooden handles with no sharp ends, Skinner said. ”

Protestors requested to go down onto private property. Skinner explained that the property owner will not permit demonstrations there.

As long as everyone has to go by the same rules, no one should mind these safety conscious rules. Chief Skinner appears to have gone above and beyond the call of duty. He has contacted the people who demonstrate most frequently and explained why he arrived at the decision he did. Some folks have complained to the City Council about first amendment rights. That seems like quite a stretch. I would hate to think someone was in a automobile accident because I just had to exercise my rights.

Full story in the Manassas News and Messenger @ www.insidenova.com

Shep Smith Sets the Record Straight on Public Option

MoonHowler

Shep Smith is the maverick for sure on Fox News. He took on Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) over saying calling the public option a government take-over. Smith tried to explain to Senator Barrasso that every vote against public option was a vote for the insurance companies.

Meanwhile, Wellpoint, the largest health care company in the United States, who encouraged its workers to lobby against health care reform, has just announced it will cut benefits and increase their employees’ premiums. Nice way to say thank you. Meanwhile, the CEO made just under $10 million dollars in 2008. Wellpoint, is the parent company for Blue Cross Blue Shield in some unholy alliance, also does not pay dividends to its stock holders. Full story at Huffington Post.

Shep Smith always surprises us with his intolerance for right wing bs. He finally says enough is enough!

Anti-War Protestors are Back

MoonHowler

Substitute ‘Obama’ for ‘Bush’ and ‘Afghanistan’ for ‘Iraq’ and it will look like nothing has changed. Even Cindy Sheehan was there and was arrested. As if the far right wasn’t giving President Obama a hard time, now the anti-war protestors are getting in the act.

The protestors all wore bright orange jump suits and pretended to die on the sidewalk, acted out being water-boarded, carried coffins, chanted slogans, and carried pictures of war injured children.

According to the Washington Post:

Several of the demonstrators had T-shirts showing a missile labeled “Obomba” and the question “Is it really OK if Obama does it?”

Besides those wording changes, the only other difference was the spiffy new natural-gas-powered Metrobus that arrived to take those arrested for processing. It said “Special” on the front and, on the side, had a McDonald’s ad with the slogan “Commander-in-Beef.”

If the commander in beef had been watching from a window, he would have had reason for concern. Not the demonstrators themselves: They were Green Party types with some self-proclaimed socialists thrown in, and they had never been enthusiastic Obama supporters to start with. What the president should worry about is whether these activists are indicators of bigger things to come if he sides with his generals and decides to bulk up the U.S. force in Afghanistan

It all sounds like politics as usual. I asked contributor Kelly3406 his opinion on current events in Afghanistan. I hope he doesn’t mind me moving his response to a major post:

Our long-term security requires us to do the counter-insurgency mission proposed by MacChrystal AND the counter-terrorism mission proposed by Biden. This past weekend’s deadly battle in Afghanistan proved that the Taliban can create numerical superiority in the tribal regions where the counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism missions would be waged. This shows that we will need many, many more troops (50K). In the short term, there will be a lot more casualties

If I heard correctly tonight, that is pretty much what the president is going to do.

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Michael Jackson Comments on Hitler

MoonHowler

The internet and news sources  were abuzz recently with the rumor that Michael Jackson liked Adolph Hitler and idolized him.  Wrong!  According to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s novel, The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation , Michael was never anti-semetic and certainly did not admire Hitler. The rabbi was a mentor and spiritual advisor to Michael. Rabbi Boteach provided the following quote by Michael Jackson:

 

Hitler was a genius orator. He was [able] to make that many people turn and change and hate. He had to be a showman and he was. Before he would speak, he would pause, drink a bit of water, and then he would clear his throat, and look around. It was what an entertainer would do trying to work out how to play his audience. He would go into this fury of the first words he would say and he would hit them hard. But where did he come from? I know he failed school and he wanted to be an architect. He failed a lot of things. But I think it all happened in prison, the whole Mein Kampf thing, didn’t it?

This sounds more like assessment to me, than admiration. Since when is genius always flattering?

Who of us hasn’t wondered how a failure like Hitler ended up having the influence and power that he did?

Interview with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach: (Warning: Some of the details about his father are very disturbing)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

 

 

More in the Huffington Post

The Supreme Court: Home to America’s Highest Court

MoonHowler

The Supreme Court reconvenes on Monday after summer recess. To mark this occassion, C-Span will air its documentary The Supreme Court: Home to America’s Highest Court giving us an inside look at internal workings of the US Supreme Court.

According to the Washington Post:

Supreme fanatics will learn something new here about justices’ chambers and the busts, interior artwork and exterior features of the 1935 court building.

Most interesting, this marks the first time that all the current and retired justices (including Sandra Day O’Connor, David Souter and newcomer Sonia Sotomayor) have given individual interviews on camera for the same film. If nothing else, it’s rare to see some of them move and speak up close. (Longer individual interviews will be aired later in the week, and full transcripts, natch, will go up on C-SPAN’s Web site.)

That the justices say almost nothing revealing and stick squarely to their respect and reverence for the job is fine with me, as is the fact that you’d have to go to a funeral home to find a more hushed edifice. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg most giddily shows off the hallowed halls. There is discussion of pecking order and chamber offices that face street protesters and offices that don’t. There is the never-before-filmed robing room, where one treats one’s colleagues with utmost kindness and respect, even when “you may be temporarily miffed because you received a spicy dissenting opinion,” she says.

The show airs at 9 pm Sunday night for 90 minutes on CSPAN. Sunday night is getting some better TV for those willing to leave the standard networks.

Apple Quits US Chamber of Commerce over Climate Change Position

MoonHowler

Apple, the tech behemoth, has resigned its membership in the US Chamber of Commerce, effective immediately because of the position taken on climate change by the organization. Apple follows on the heels of Nike who also just resigned.

According to the New York Times:

The New York Times reports that Apple’s resignation is effective immediately. Catherine Novelli, vice president of worldwide government affairs at Apple, called the chamber’s stance on climate change issues “frustrating” in aletter addressed to its president and CEO.

“We strongly object to the chamber’s recent comments opposing the E.P.A.’s effort to limit greenhouse gases. … We would prefer that the chamber take a more progressive stance on this critical issue and play a constructive role in addressing the climate crisis

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Several energy companies have also left the Chamber of Commerce. Meanwhile, Bill Maher spoke explicitly and irreverently , as usual, on Friday night over the climate change issue:

Beyond a Reaonable Drought

According to Huffington Post, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), mentioned by Maher and known as the King of Global Warming Deniers, announced on C-Span over the weekend that he will go to Copenhagen later this fall to enlighten the scientists and he will present:

another view.” “I think somebody has to be there — a one-man truth squad,” he said. Throughout the program, Inhofe went through his tattered global warming denier claims: that climate change is a “hoax,” that CO2 is not a pollutant, and — latching on to the latest false right-wing talking point — that clean energy legislation will cost American families $1,700 a year

Bill Maher might be on to something. Forget science. Has anyone else noticed that the flowers and plants now last well in to November. Our 5 senses should be telling us something is different. When I was a kid, the growing season ended much earlier. Forget being a kid, when I was right out of college the growing season was shorter than it is now. Forget politics. Are there differences? Even if you don’t believe most of the scientists, are you willing to take the chance?

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Kiran Chetry is a Class Act

MoonHowler

Kiran Chetry, formerly of Fox News, currently of CNN is a class act. Jon Stewart had her in his spoof sights recently. Apparently, Chetry was demonstrating a new iphone app that gave traffic reports one day. The next day Kiran had an exposé about how bad using electronics devices while driving is.

Instead of expressing outrage, Kiran Chetry laughed at herself and admitted that Stewart had gotten them and said he was funny. Then she explained that the iphone should be used by a passenger, not the driver, laughing all awhile. How many of our prime time folks are capable of laughing at themselves? Not many. Most take themselves entirely too seriously.