“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy?” ~~Mahatma Gandhi~~
ATHLETE AND ACTIVIST COLIN KAEPERNICK RECEIVES AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S AMBASSADOR OF CONSCIENCE AWARD
The Ambassador of Conscience Award celebrates individuals and groups who have furthered the cause of human rights through acts of conscience, confronting injustice and using their talents to inspire others.
The USA is a country where people can freely disrespect the flag using it as a thong, underwear, condom, disposable plates, bras, napkins, etc. but people got a heart attack just because he kneeled down silently and that is so “disrespectful” to the flag.
Really?
Kneeling down is a form of respect and humbling yourself before someone.
The award was officially presented at a ceremony in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 21 April 2018, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the opening of Amnesty International’s national section in the country.
“The Ambassador of Conscience award celebrates the spirit of activism and exceptional courage, as embodied by Colin Kaepernick. He is an athlete who is now widely recognised for his activism because of his refusal to ignore or accept racial discrimination,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
“Just like the Ambassadors of Conscience before him, Colin Kaepernick chooses to speak out and inspire others despite the professional and personal risks. When high profile people choose to take a stand for human rights, it emboldens many others in their struggles against injustice.
Colin Kaepernick’s commitment is all the more remarkable because of the alarming levels of vitriol it has attracted from those in power.”
“I would like to thank Amnesty International for the Ambassador of Conscience Award. But in truth, this is an award that I share with all of the countless people throughout the world combating the human rights violations of police officers, and their uses of oppressive and excessive force.
To quote Malcolm X, when he said that he, ‘will join in with anyone – I don’t care what color you are – as long as you want to change this miserable condition that exists on this earth,’ I am here to join with you all in this battle against police violence,” said Colin Kaepernick.
“While taking a knee is a physical display that challenges the merits of who is excluded from the notion of freedom, liberty, and justice for all, the protest is also rooted in a convergence of my moralistic beliefs, and my love for the people.”
Colin Kaepernick
Colin Kaepernick explained why he sacrificed his career in the NFL to stand against systemic racism as he received Amnesty International’s highest honor.
Liberalism is a political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality. Whereas classical liberalism emphasizes the role of liberty, social liberalism stresses the importance of equality.
Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally they support ideas and programs such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free markets, civil rights, democratic societies, secular governments, gender equality, and international cooperation.
Our flag was designed after the Cuban flag with the colors inverted as a sign of solidarity with Cuba, as suggested by Lola Rodríguez de Tió.
Some celebrate Puerto Rican Flag Day on June 11th others celebrate it on December 22. Our flag was one hundred years old in 1995.
Boricuas in 1895 were fighting for independence from Spain. Some wanted independence so that Puerto Rico could be annexed to the United States.
Some hoped Puerto Rico would come into some sort of Antillian alliance or confederation.
Both sides worked together in one accord.
A group of Puerto Rican patriots in New York City worked on this project and that is where our flag was born. It was then a revolutionary flag in defiance of the Spanish reign. The reason they did not use the Lares Flag was because it represented a defeated effort. They wanted a new flag.
The United States of America was founded on the principle of liberty and justice for all.
Back in the day, the settlers arrived on new land, fleeing persecution in the “olde country”.
They wanted freedom, they wanted equality, they wanted justice.
It’s so ironic to me that none of that has been achieved in spite of claiming that it has. The historical events depicted on the accompanying video show how in 100 years, fear has been a mainstay in America life.
Take a look … the facts don’t lie.
“The US government has a history of targeting vulnerable groups”
I invite you to watch this video and hope that you find that this is something to think about.
In my humble opinion, this is nothing to be proud of.
Is there still a but or is Florida now the most recent domino to fall?
Pinch me!!
Does it mean that the whole state of Florida has chosen the “right side of history“? Dare I stop holding my breath? Is this another crumb or is this for real?
Is this final? Is it the whole state or just piece-meal, county by county?
There’s been a slow, northward creeping wave, starting in Key West, confirming that this ban is unconstitutional. However, we know that the justice system is as slow as molasses. Now the appeals process begin.
Where do we stand?
Federal Court Rules that Florida Ban on Marriage for Same-Sex Couples is Unconstitutional
Today, August 8, 2014, a federal district court judge in Tallahassee held that Florida’s discriminatory marriage ban is unconstitutional. The ruling applies both to granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Florida and the recognition of the marriages of same-sex couples performed outside of the state. Florida is now the 16th state in which a federal court has struck down a marriage ban as unconstitutional since the ACLU’s victory in U.S. v. Windsor.
#out4freedom
~From the judge’s decision~
“Liberty, tolerance, and respect are not zero-sum concepts. Those who enter opposite-sex marriages are harmed not at all when others, including these plaintiffs, are given the liberty to choose their own life partners and are shown the respect that comes with formal marriage.”
The judge’s decision “We are thrilled that these loving and committed couples will soon have the same protections and security for their families that other married couples have,” stated Daniel Tilley, the ACLU of Florida’s staff attorney for LGBT rights. “Florida’s refusal to recognize their marriages serves no legitimate purpose and is hurtful to Florida families. We’re very pleased to see the ban held unconstitutional in such unequivocal terms so that all Florida families will soon finally have the same protections.”
“SAVE is pleased as a plaintiff in the ACLU’s marriage recognition lawsuit to have received a favorable ruling in court today,” stated SAVE Executive Director Tony Lima. “We are overjoyed that the judge ruled on the side of fairness by ordering the state of Florida recognize the legal marriages of the plaintiffs. SAVE will continue to make the case that it is Florida’s responsibility to recognize the legal marriages of same-sex couples.”
Florida is now the 16th state in which a federal court has struck down a marriage ban as unconstitutional since the ACLU’s victory in U.S. v. Windsor, in which the Supreme Court struck down the main provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The court’s decision was stayed, with one exception — the requirement that the death certificate of plaintiff Arlene Goldberg’s late wife, Carol Goldwasser, be corrected to list Ms. Goldberg as surviving spouse.
The plaintiffs in the ACLU of Florida’s case are represented by attorneys for the ACLU and the ACLU of Florida, as well as Stephen Rosenthal of the Podhurst Orseck law firm.
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We met in 1969. It was love at first sight. Then life happened and we went down different journeys. Re-united in 1996. Have been together since. We have a family and a stable relationship.
See how long we have waited?
I live and love in Florida.
Love is love ….
~~She~~
~~Uploaded on Aug 26, 2010~~
Trying again to upload them all and not get suspended! Jen Foster
#ThoughtsForToday #520 #BeforeAndAfter #TheMiddleEast #Iraq #Lybia #Yemen #Syria #Iran #America #Russia #Israel #HandiworkExposed #Warmongers #NoMoreWars #MahatmaGandhi #Quote #Dead #Orphans #Homeless #MadDestruction #NameOfTotalitarianism #HolyName #LibertyOrDemocracy #Warmongers 
It Is What It Is 