This day, 35 years ago, marks the passing of English singer
and songwriter and former member of The Beatles, John Lennon.
(Born John Winston Lennon; Oct. 9, 1940 – 8 Dec.19, 80)
John Lennon was an English musician who gained worldwide fame as one of the members of the Beatles, for his subsequent solo career, and for his political activism and pacifism.
He was shot by “a deranged American gunman” (I refuse to use his name) in the archway of the building where he lived, The Dakota, in New York City on 8 December 1980.
Lennon had just returned from Record Plant Studio with his wife, Yoko Ono.
After sustaining four fatal gunshot wounds, Lennon was pronounced dead on arrival at Roosevelt Hospital. He was 40 years old.
At the hospital, it was stated that nobody could have lived for more than a few minutes after sustaining such injuries. Shortly after local news stations reported Lennon’s death, crowds gathered at Roosevelt Hospital and in front of the Dakota.
Lennon was cremated on 10 December 1980 at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. The ashes were given to Ono, who chose not to hold a funeral for him.
This graph, presents a poem, which been shared plenty of times in the blogosphere. Please, allow me the opportunity to present it again.
I want to apply it to our present time.
I’ve seen it many times.
Every time it makes me think.
More so now, in view of the ugly turn in the road where American politics seem to be headed.
To me, the bottom line is that if you don’t speak up for others who are somehow persecuted, eventually your turn will come and there will be no one to stand up for your when you are persecuted.
It’s time to stand up and hold your ground.
~MARTIN NIEMOLLER~
Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.
The quotation stems from Niemöller’s lectures during the early postwar period. Different versions of the quotation exist. These can be attributed to the fact that Niemöller spoke extemporaneously and in a number of settings.
Much controversy surrounds the content of the poem as it has been printed in varying forms, referring to diverse groups such as Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jews, Trade Unionists, or Communists depending upon the version. Nonetheless his point was that Germans – in particular, he believed, the leaders of the Protestant churches – had been complicit through their silence in the Nazi imprisonment, persecution, and murder of millions of people.
First he came for the Mexicans, then he came for the war heroes, then he came for African Americans, then he came for the immigrants, then he came for the Jews, then he came for the “gays” …. now he’s coming for the Muslims. Maybe you can add someone else or he will continue adding groups.
The graphic above describes very simply the economical relationship that exists between Puerto Rico and the United States of America.
Many feel that if Puerto Ricans aren’t happy with their current political, economical situation as well as the relationship with the mainland, why don’t they just leave the “Union“, “if you don’t like it, get out” kind of situation.
It’s much more complicated than that.
To even consider this would be more than terribly simplistic.
The red arrow depicts the monies that Puerto Rico receives from the US. This “aid” includes Pel grants, economic assistance, Medicare, Women Infants and Children (WIC), Social Security (SS), food stamps, etc.
This totals $4 billions + …. would you say it’s a lot of money?
The green arrow depicts the amount of movnes that come from Puerto Rico into the arks of the federal government. This money comes from federal taxes, Merchant Marine quotas, foreign business, ect.
This totals $74 billions + …. how much more does the US receive from than “gives” to the island of Puerto Rico?
Therefore … the answer to the question is: _________________________ .
You fill in the blank.
CABOTAGE LAW .. in Puerto Rico, since 1920!!
“As an ISLAND, Puerto Rico needs to develop its own shipping industry, and conduct its own international trade.
But it is not allowed to do this … thanks to the Law of Cabotage.
Under Section 27 of the U.S. Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (also known as the Jones-Shafroth Act), all goods shipped over water between US ports must be carried on US flag ships that are constructed in the US, owned by US citizens and operated by US citizens. What does this mean?
It means that every product that enters or leaves Puerto Rico, other than highly taxed and severely regulated foreign registry vessels, must be carried on a US ship to and from US ports.
EVERY product that enters or leaves Puerto Rico to U.S. ports must be carried on a U.S. ship — or face highly protectionist tariffs, quotas, taxes and fees that are later passed on to the Puerto Rican consumer. This includes oil from Venezuela, cars from Japan, electronics from China, food from Central America, medicine from Canada — any materials from anywhere.
In order to comply with the Jones Act, all this merchandise must be off-loaded from the original carrier, reloaded onto a U.S. ship and then delivered to Puerto Rico. It all makes as much sense, as digging a hole and filling it up again.”
SOURCE: “War Against All Puerto Ricans” book. Author: Nelson A. Denis
6 most absurd things the Christian right has blamed on gays
Evangelicals point to homosexuality as a cause for everything from autism to tornadoes — and they’re getting worse
EVAN MCMURRY, ALTERNET
We have displeased the Lord and the earth is going to answer,” so-called prophet Cindy Jacobs warned in advance of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act last summer.
If this warning sounds familiar, it should: right wingers have a long history of blaming everything from earthquakes to recession to climate change on the advance of gay marriage, and they’re only getting more ridiculous.
Autism and Tornados
Climate Change
9/11
2008 Economic Collapse
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Sandy
Oh, m’gosh …. and I am sure there are and will be plenty calamities occurring in this world that will be blamed by the “gays”. More to come.
I read a post in my Facebook feed a few days ago. Something about a Powerball winner in Puerto Rico. This is something that I don’t really pay attention to. Lucky those who win. I don’t even play and don’t care too.
However, this graph came along yesterday and the Puerto Rican in me, once again, was bothered, quite bothered. However, it once again showed me that there is a sector in the American public who haS no clue about geography, social studies, politics or history. Those that dare spew foolish posts in the social media are only confirming the fact that some Americans haven’t left their neighborhood even past their street corner. I feel sorry for those Americans.
Well, if some don’t know anything about their own country, how can anyone expect them to know anything about a little island in the Caribbean which has been a possession of the USA since the Spanish-American war in 1898.
I know, that’s asking too much!!
~PUERTO RICO IS A US TERRITORY~
American currency
US postal system
American passport
Federal employees and military pay taxes to the US government
Call by dialing area code (787) and the phone number
1,150 miles from Florida … not the other side of the world
The US has “taken” plenty of “things” from Puerto Rico (google and research)
~~ANGRY WHITE PEOPLE SPEWING~~
Do we detect a tint of jealousy?
A Winning Powerball Ticket Came From Puerto Rico @PuertoRicoSerio @latinorebels @jayfonsecapr @pollomaldonado
Yes, we pay taxes, are Citizens since 1917, and we fight in the battle field and play the lotto too, so what?!
USA HISTORY 1:1 Oooops
Puerto Rico Powerball Win Draws Offensive Tweets
News that one of the three Powerball winning tickets was bought in Puerto Rico elicited offensive tweets questioning why island residents – who are born U.S. citizens since Puerto Rico is a U.S. commonwealth – had the opportunity to buy tickets.
It’s completely outrageous someone from Puerto Rico won the powerball, thought this was America!
Colin Ryan (@CTJR7) February 12, 2015
As Latino Rebels first pointed out, the news brought out Twitter responses such as “I thought this was America!” and others with language too offensive to print, but including “How is the place that doesn’t even pay taxes eligible for powerball? “
So we all spent money to buy powerball tickets in America and someone in Puerto Rico won it …. what is wrong with that picture?
R Taff (@rtaffofficial) February 12, 2015
Puerto Ricans pay federal taxes including Social Security, payroll, import/export taxes and Medicare. While most Puerto Ricans who live year-round in the island do not have to pay federal personal income taxes, those with income sources from the U.S. as well as those working for the U.S. government or the military do pay them.
Puerto Rico in an American gold mine. The US controls Puerto Rican trade and commerce. The US government makes 74 billion dollars from Puerto Rican production and sends back 3 billion dollars a year. Really?!
Who’s the welfare state? But the mainstream media does not report the actual facts.
In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt declared that the United States had to intervene in the internal affairs of Latin American. In his own words: “if any South American country misbehaves it should be spanked.” All US presidents that succeeded him have, in lesser or greater measure, continued to exercise their perceived right over a region often known as “America’s Backyard”.
After more than 400 years of Spanish colonial domination, in 1897 Puerto Rico was given the right to govern over its affairs. only five months later, Spain and the US went to war over the last Spanish colonies in the region. American Forces occupied Puerto Rico. The Treaty of Paris clearly established that all Puerto Rican affairs were to be decided by the United States Congress.
President Theodore Roosevelt recommended that Puerto Ricans become U.S. citizens. Despite the overwhelming opposition from the Puerto Rican legislators, in March 1917 the US Congress decided that all Puerto Ricans were now US citizens; butonly to be ruled and not be given the rights.
Many Puerto Ricans were forced to fight in the America’s wars and many died.
Up to this day not much has changed, as that Treaty of Paris is still valid.
After facing decades of discrimination, all same-sex couples in Alabama were finally going to have the right to marry on Monday, February 9, but then Alabama’s Chief Justice Roy Moore stepped in.
While thousands of loving couples began to line up to exchange their long-awaited vows, Moore – who is no stranger to controversy or anti-gay hate — explicitly called on county judges to disobey a federal court order that allowed marriage equality to begin. Specifically, he ordered them to refuse to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples.
And in shocking and flagrant violation of federal law, many counties decided to abide by his request and stand on the side of bigotry by either denying same-sex couples marriage applications or shutting down their offices altogether.
These judges’ moves are unconscionable, and we need you to join us to speak out against them so that ALL Alabama couples have the right to marry — not just those who happen to live in counties with law-abiding judges.
The majority of counties in Alabama – shown here in blue – are defying the federal court order to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
It Is What It Is 