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Year: 2006

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Current Events, Political

Wear Denim Today at the Embassy of Belarus

—The Denim Revolution—
SUPPORT FREEDOM IN BELARUS!
March 16, 2006
Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
At Embassy of Belarus, 18th & New Hampshire, Washington, DC

Why Your Help is Required:

  • Europe’s —last dictatorship— is facing presidential elections on March 19
  • Results of election likely to be falsified, as has happened previously
  • Ignorance to what is happening strengthens the dictator and harms the world

For the Last 12 Years in Belarus:

  • Politicians seeking democracy and freedom have been kidnapped and killed
  • The list of permanent political prisoners grows each day
  • Dictator calls his opponents —bastards— on TV, while arresting youth activists for plotting a —coup— against the government
  • Opposition candidate beaten and arrested, his cameraman shot at

Demonstration Location:

Across from the Belarusian Embassy
1619 New Hampshire Ave NW, (Near 18th & New Hampshire), Washington, DC 20009
Metro: Dupont Circle, Red Line, Q St. Exit

You are invited to attend a demonstration of solidarity with the democratic movement in Belarus to show the Belarusian dictator that the world is not indifferent to the destruction of life and liberty.

We welcome all diversity of backgrounds, colors, religions, opinions, and ideassome of the very things that Belarus and its people have been deprived of during the 12 years of Alexander Lukashenko’s rule.

What is Belarus?

Belarus is a former republic of the Soviet Union, located north of Ukraine and to the west of Russia. It has been ruled by Alexander Lukashenko since 1994, who is currently seeking an illegal third term in office with plans to stay in power indefinitely.

What is the Occasion?

Belarus will have its next presidential “elections” on March 19th, 2006. March 16th was chosen as a —Day of Solidarity with Belarus— to remember all those who are oppressed in Belarus on the behalf of democracy and freedom and it is vital that this event continue ahead of the elections.

Why Should I Come?

Significant amounts of people demonstrating in Washington, DC, will show the Belarusian people that the world supports to their right to choose another president on election day, and that freedom and democracy are the right of all peoples, not dictatorship and fear. Like the people of Ukraine, Belarusians will come out onto the streets to peacefully show their disagreement with rigged results and you can join with them in support.

Who Will Win the Presidential Elections?

The “elections” are expected to be officially won by Mr. Lukashenko by over 70%, and he has already stated his victory. This situation has happened many times before, including during the last presidential “elections” in 2001, parliamentary elections, referendums, and other votes which have all been in his favor. Alyaksandar Milinkevich is a united opposition candidate, and has been campaigning despite the numerous obstacles forced upon him. Another independent candidate, Alyaksandr Kazulin, is also running.

Will the Presidential Elections be Fair in Belarus?

No. During the current campaign, one of the opposition candidates was beaten up and detained for 8 hours. Police are arresting campaign volunteers and do not allow peaceful gatherings. Belarus has no independent media and students are threatened and expelled for expressing disagreement with the current government, for attending gatherings, or for supporting the opposition campaigns. It is already expected that Alexander Lukashenko will be announced the —winner— having gathered at least 70% of the vote.

You can make a real difference by showing solidarity – by showing up!

What to bring: You can bring a cowbell (Belarus’ dictator was once the head of a collective farm), or any other fun musical instruments. To pass the time, a few skits will be performed.

More information on Belarus and the upcoming elections can be found at: Charter 97

Saints and Martyrs

March 14 – St. Matilda (Św. Matylda)

Św. Matyldo, któraś ubóstwo i prześladowanie ochotnie znosiła poddając się pokornie woli bożej, a nieprzyjaciołom z serca przebaczała, uproś nam u Boga tę łaskę, abyśmy przykrości wszelakie cierpliwie znosili i nie żywili w sercu urazy dla przeciwników. Przez Chrystusa Pana naszego. Amen.

Everything Else, ,

I will be away

A very dear aunt passed away late last week. The wake and funeral will be Tuesday and Wednesday. I will not be blogging for the next two days, although I will try to get the saints of the day posted before I leave.

Please remember her and her children, family, and friends in your prayers.

The pastor of the R.C. church where the funeral mass is being held is allowing me to sit in choir for the funeral. I appreciate his generosity and kindness.

Generally pastors do this sort of thing, and based on other recent experience, would like PNCC clergy to participate more fully. It presents an uncomfortable situation in that we have to explain why we cannot. Usually something like —Due to our unfortunate divisions etc. etc…—

Current Events

Americans are fed up with Roe vs. Wade’s impact

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Actually, Americans are fed up with Roe vs. Wade’s impact
By Barbara L. Lyons

Are Americans fed up with Roe vs. Wade? Recent actions in South Dakota and other state legislative bodies to prohibit abortion indicate they are.

For well over 100 years, states had the ability to decide when or if abortions were legal. But in 1973, in an act of raw judicial power, seven of nine U.S. Supreme Court justices shattered the abortion laws of all 50 states and forced their own regime on the nation.

Abortion is legal in every state for any reason essentially for the full nine months of pregnancy.

That’s right. While the public has been lead to believe for over 30 years that abortion is legal only in the first three months of pregnancy, abortions can be performed even as a method of birth control essentially up until the moment of birth. The people, through their elected state legislative bodies, have been shackled in their desire to protect unborn children from a cruel abortion death.

Why are Americans fed up with Roe? Because it has gone too far for too long.

…

Abortion proponents claim that reversal of Roe will send abortion to the back alleys. I maintain that we already exist in a heinous back alley, where 47 million unborn children have lost their lives to abortion under Roe.

Everyone loves a hero, and here are mine:

  • The pregnant woman who resists pressure to take the supposedly “easy” solution of abortion by digging deep inside herself and deciding to give life to her precious baby.
  • The woman who learns she is pregnant and has breast cancer on the same day and chooses treatment that preserves her baby’s life.
  • The man who forsakes career opportunities to stand by the child he has fathered.
  • The parents who fight disappointment to support a pregnant daughter.
  • The family that welcomes a child with a disability with open arms.

To love and nurture a child is heroism at its best. It gives validity to the American dream that everyone deserves a chance – the America where our most fundamental right is the right to life.

Read the stuff in the middle. The article is powerful stuff —“ and very true.

Saints and Martyrs

March 13 – St. Boniface (Św. Bonifacy)

O Boże, któryś św. Bonifacego z drogi światowych uciech sprowadził na drogę żywota świątobliwego na który męczeńskiej dosłużył się korony, użycz nam swej łaski, abyśmy chodzili drogą Twoich przykazań, i osiągnęli ten stopień doskonałości, jakiego wymagasz od nas. Przez Chrystusa Pana naszego. Amen.

Media

Mormon Error

The NY Sun has an article about the new HBO drama Big Love.

The Get Religion blog has a take on this as well in their post Big Love, bigger questions.

Once again Holywood has outdone itself in promoting anything contrary to traditional marriage and the truth of what humanity is. Who would expect otherwise?

On the Mormon issue, Get Religion says that the Mormons are quite upset about the recurring connection between Mormonism and polygamy.

I guess when your whole faith structure is founded upon a fallacy you just can’t get away from those nagging issues.

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