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"The part of the State of the Union that resonated: Of course, what I’ve said tonight matters little..."

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:23:00 -0500

“

The part of the State of the Union that resonated:

Of course, what I’ve said tonight matters little if we don’t come together to protect our most precious resource – our children.

It has been two months since Newtown. I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence. But this time is different. Overwhelming majorities of Americans – Americans who believe in the 2nd Amendment – have come together around commonsense reform – like background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on a gun. Senators of both parties are working together on tough new laws to prevent anyone from buying guns for resale to criminals. Police chiefs are asking our help to get weapons of war and massive ammunition magazines off our streets, because they are tired of being outgunned.

Each of these proposals deserves a vote in Congress. If you want to vote no, that’s your choice. But these proposals deserve a vote. Because in the two months since Newtown, more than a thousand birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries have been stolen from our lives by a bullet from a gun.

One of those we lost was a young girl named Hadiya Pendleton. She was 15 years old. She loved Fig Newtons and lip gloss. She was a majorette. She was so good to her friends, they all thought they were her best friend. Just three weeks ago, she was here, in Washington, with her classmates, performing for her country at my inauguration. And a week later, she was shot and killed in a Chicago park after school, just a mile away from my house.

Hadiya’s parents, Nate and Cleo, are in this chamber tonight, along with more than two dozen Americans whose lives have been torn apart by gun violence. They deserve a vote.

Gabby Giffords deserves a vote.

The families of Newtown deserve a vote.

The families of Aurora deserve a vote.

The families of Oak Creek, and Tucson, and Blacksburg, and the countless other communities ripped open by gun violence – they deserve a simple vote.

Our actions will not prevent every senseless act of violence in this country. Indeed, no laws, no initiatives, no administrative acts will perfectly solve all the challenges I’ve outlined tonight. But we were never sent here to be perfect. We were sent here to make what difference we can, to secure this nation, expand opportunity, and uphold our ideals through the hard, often frustrating, but absolutely necessary work of self-government.

We were sent here to look out for our fellow Americans the same way they look out for one another, every single day, usually without fanfare, all across this country. We should follow their example.

We should follow the example of a New York City nurse named Menchu Sanchez. When Hurricane Sandy plunged her hospital into darkness, her thoughts were not with how her own home was faring – they were with the twenty precious newborns in her care and the rescue plan she devised that kept them all safe.

We should follow the example of a North Miami woman named Desiline Victor. When she arrived at her polling place, she was told the wait to vote might be six hours. And as time ticked by, her concern was not with her tired body or aching feet, but whether folks like her would get to have their say. Hour after hour, a throng of people stayed in line in support of her. Because Desiline is 102 years old. And they erupted in cheers when she finally put on a sticker that read “I Voted.”

We should follow the example of a police officer named Brian Murphy. When a gunman opened fire on a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, and Brian was the first to arrive, he did not consider his own safety. He fought back until help arrived, and ordered his fellow officers to protect the safety of the Americans worshiping inside – even as he lay bleeding from twelve bullet wounds.

When asked how he did that, Brian said, “That’s just the way we’re made.”

That’s just the way we’re made.

We may do different jobs, and wear different uniforms, and hold different views than the person beside us. But as Americans, we all share the same proud title:

We are citizens. It’s a word that doesn’t just describe our nationality or legal status. It describes the way we’re made. It describes what we believe. It captures the enduring idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations; that our rights are wrapped up in the rights of others; and that well into our third century as a nation, it remains the task of us all, as citizens of these United States, to be the authors of the next great chapter in our American story.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

”

Ridiculous MPAA ruling stops kids from seeing a documentary about bullying

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:22:46 -0500

Ridiculous MPAA ruling stops kids from seeing a documentary about bullying:

My latest post at AMERICAblog Gay with a link to a Change.org petition that everyone should sign.

Video

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:08:00 -0500

Really heartwarming, well-done video.

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:25:40 -0500

Really heartwarming, well-done video.

Retirement Throws Maine’s Senate Race Into ‘Chaos’

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:08:35 -0500

Retirement Throws Maine’s Senate Race Into ‘Chaos’:

Solid analysis (I think King could really complicate the race), but no one is really laying out the Republican field. Summers and Raye are mentioned in coverage, but only in passing. Seems to be the Democrat’s or an Independent’s to lose (sound like how we ended up with Gov. LePage?)

Whitewashing Gay History

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:35:31 -0500

Whitewashing Gay History:

Long, but a really thought provoking piece.

Trying out Instagram…

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:21:00 -0500

Trying out Instagram…

Poor man.

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:16:37 -0500

Poor man.

Marriage is back on the ballot in Maine in 2012

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:01:11 -0500

Marriage is back on the ballot in Maine in 2012

I vote for a singer-in-chief. (Seriously though, he has my...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:03:35 -0500

I vote for a singer-in-chief. (Seriously though, he has my vote.)

Adele taking 4 or 5 years off from her music career

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:09:09 -0500

Who will write an album to help me get through this breakup? What terrible Valentine’s Day news…

dailychao: I think these are my favorites (h/t Kate Tsunoda)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:08:43 -0500

dailychao:

I think these are my favorites

(h/t Kate Tsunoda)

This might be the greatest cast ever assembled. MUST SEE.

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:11:53 -0500

This might be the greatest cast ever assembled. MUST SEE.

Journalism with a flair (or flare?) - #AdjectiveWin

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:35:19 -0500

Journalism with a flair (or flare?) - #AdjectiveWin:

Money quote: “Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music’s queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.”

Was it the Contraception Battle or the Religious Liberties Battle?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:58:18 -0500

Was it the Contraception Battle or the Religious Liberties Battle?:

Interesting analysis. I wonder if three months out, this will be remembered as a fight over contraception or religion. I tend to think men will remember differently along party lines and most (moderate) women will remember it being about contraception. I suspect Obama picked the right specific issue for this fight. I mean, who doesn’t love contraception? (other than Catholic leaders…)

reuters: Mount Etna spews lava on the southern Italian island...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:40:09 -0500

[REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello]

[REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello]

[REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello]

reuters:

Mount Etna spews lava on the southern Italian island of Sicily February 9, 2012. Mount Etna is Europe’s tallest and most active volcano. [REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello]

See more photos of Mount Etna’s eruption in Italy

CPAC: They may be pro-life, but they’re definitely not...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:19:00 -0500

CPAC: They may be pro-life, but they’re definitely not pro-humor (or pro-safe cars?).

Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:15:59 -0500

Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

The Romney Sons: A Myspace investigation

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:42:43 -0500

The Romney Sons: A Myspace investigation:

I could never vote for a man who has five grown sons who all still have Myspace. Newt’s kids, on the other hand, have Friendster accounts.

I love A) Ellen and B) when bigots get put in their place.

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:19:36 -0500

I love A) Ellen and B) when bigots get put in their place.