R-ISLANDER

IT IS TIME RHODE ISLAND--SAME SEX MARRIAGE

The California courts said bans against same sex marriage is unconstitutional and permits California to join our sister state of Massachusetts in marrying same sex couples.  Here's a piece of the decision:

The California Supreme Court has overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage in a 4-3 decision. The opinion is lengthy, and I'm just getting through it, but here's an excerpt: "Furthermore, in contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual’s sexual orientation — like a person’s race or gender — does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights. We therefore conclude that in view of the substance and significance of the fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship, the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples."

Maybe this decision by one of the country's most prestigious courts will convince an otherwise disappointing Democratic legislature here in Rhode Island to give the "okay" to same sex marriage in Rhode Island.

DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE BACKS CARCIERI CUTS OF HUMAN SERVICES

The RI Legislature closed the budget deficit.  How did they do it?  As reported in the Projo, ..."cutting health-care and welfare benefits for thousands of children, and reducing retirement benefits for all state workers who retire after Sept. 30, not to mention cutting benefits in other human services programs. 

How cowardly is it for the Assembly to balance the budget on the backs of children and state workers?  CHILDREN...no health insurance for children.  A major cut in health insurance for the working class on a variety of fronts.

They cut needed benefits of poor children and save dollars...and then give it away with tax cuts for the rich and coporate entities.  I can understand the Republican Carcieri making such unconscionable choices, but a D_E_M_O_C_R_A_T_I_C legislature?  I thought Democrats supported those at the margins of our society.  What the hell happened?  When did they become Republican who gleefully cut programs for the poor and working classes?

SHAME, SHAME....time to check voting records and to "reward" those democrats who are so in name only!

REPUBLICANS + CARCIERI = JOBLESSNESS AND A DEVASTATED RI

Boy, since the Republican takeover of the Rhode Island Statehouse and the devastatingly poor administration of Donald Carcieri, things in RI have gone nowhere but downhill for its citizens.

While our neighbor Massachusetts, under the Democrats, shows real and substantial increases in employment, Rhode Island--under the Republicans and Carcieri--last month lost 3,100 payroll jobs, plunging the state’s employment level to its lowest in nearly five years, a government report released today shows. more>>>>

Maybe if Carcieri spent less time chasing down poor illegal immigrants, or attacking fellow citizens needing public assistance, or giving tax cuts to the rich while raising the economic plight of the middle class, and focused more on the poor economic record of his administration and CHANGED IT...RI Island might actually survive his administration.

We should continue to support our Democratic congressional delegation but we should ask them what they have done to bring jobs to RI, too.

CARCIERI'S MEAN-SPIRITEDNESS DESTROYING RHODE ISLAND

One commentator recently noted of Carcieri's social policies, especially those on immigration, that they are "...scary and it’s dangerous … Any of us who are different should be afraid.”

Charlie Bakst, with his usual frank and good insights, gives note of the mean-spiritedness that seems to be spreading throughout the state of Rhode Island when it comes to immigrants.

I should also give kudos to Bishop Tobin and the other church leaders who are standing up for immigrants in our midst and the traditional American values expressed by Emma Lazarus and cut into the base of the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island:

“Give me your tired, your poor,/ Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,/ The wretched refuse of your teeming shore./ Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,/ I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

There is a good article on the debate in RI Catholic, the diocese's newspaper.

PROVIDENCE POLICE TO CARCIERI: "STUFF IT!"

When it comes to following Gov. Don Carcieri's recent attack on immigrants in Rhode Island, the Chief of the Providence Police essentially tells the discriminatory Governor to "Stuff It!"  Here is the article from the Boston Globe.  Here is the more detailed article from the Projo this A.M.

Globe:  Carcieri seeks help of religious leaders in immigration furor.

PROVIDENCE, RI BISHOP AND THE NUN ON GAYS

Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin should certainly read about this nun.  It would do him and Benedict xvi some good.

If anyone has seen this silly article in the Rhode Island Catholic, "Same Sex Marriages Would Have Disasterous Effects on Churches", you will more than agree with me.

Buona Pasqua and prayers for the Bishop's soul for sending these hateful articles as we approach Easter.

Republican Hate Speech...This is Amazingly Hateful

IRAQ IS NOW SAFE!

Pope Benedict now says that is not true: and points out that Republicans are not quite truthful when they say the surge is fully working as they have exaggerated.  In this situation, I'd feel safer with Hillary at the helm as president and will vote for her in the Rhode Island primary.  Here's the story:

Last October, some might remember the kidnapping of two Syrian-rite clerics in the Iraqi city of Mosul, 225 miles northwest of Baghdad.

Earlier today, after presiding at the Stations of the Cross in his cathedral, the city's Chaldean (Catholic) prelate Bishop Faraj Raho (above) was similarly abducted, and three companions -- including his driver -- were killed.

The kidnappers are said to have already made a request. The abduction took place at 5.30 pm local time, Ishtar TV reported. Bishop Raho had just left Mosul’s Holy Spirit Cathedral.

“The bishop is in terrorist hands,” Mgr al-Qas said, “but we don’t know in what physical state. The three men who were with him, including his driver, were killed.”

His Holiness, Pope Benedict:  Shortly after the news reached the Vatican, a rare nighttime statement from Pope Benedict was released calling for the captors "to find it within their hearts to allow Mons. Raho to return to his flock.

"Embittered by this new shameful act which deeply affects the Church in the country and the Chaldean Church in particular, the Pope stands next to patriarch Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly and to the entire Christian community under duress, and his heart also goes out to the families of the victims," the statement said, according to Italian wire reports.

UNLIKE RI, NEW YORK COURT ALLOWS GAY DIVORCE

New York judge allows divorce trial for lesbians married in Canada.  Weeks ago, bowing to pressure, both political and religious I suspect but have no proof for, our judicial leaders said "No" to a same-sex couple's request for divorce.  They were married in Massachusetts.

History will not be good to either Bishop Tobin, Governor Carcieri or the legislators who refuse to allow people to get married because they are of the same sex.  Like slave-holders they will be the shame of Rhode Island and their families in the future, just as the De Wolfe's are the shame of their descendents.

PROJO'S GAY HISTORY SPOTLIGHT

The Providence Journal has a great special report in today's paper on the History of RI's gay community.  Some shameful experiences caused by the "powers that be" including government officials and church leaders, but gays according to the report are becoming more and more mainstream.  Charlie Bakst also has a great pro-gay column.  Can same-sex marriage be far behind?  RI is the only New England state that does not recognize some form of same-sex union, if not marriage. 

William Murphy, Speaker of the Rhode Island House, will come to his democratic senses this year, and introduce and help to pass same-sex marriage for Rhode Island.  He just needs to find the strength to stand up to Bishop Tobin.  LOL.