All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Commentary: Turning our backs on migrant children isn’t solving the immigration issue | Latina Lista

Yes, let’s turn back the thousands of men, women, children and babies floating across the Mediterranean in overcrowded rafts and hiking miles and miles in the open elements, with their worldly possessions strapped to their backs, fleeing certain death and throwing themselves on the mercy and compassion of the rest of the world, because a few of them could turn out to be terrorists.That rationale makes as much sense as continuing to keep asylum-seeking Central American children and their mothers in detention facilities because…they pose a threat to U.S. society?The hard truth is those who are intent to do harm will find a way to either do it themselves or indoctrinate like-minded believers who may already live within a certain country. Yet, those who are in need of a new home or refuge, have no other recourse than to depend on their fellow human beings. That’s especially true of the children. Children are the face of the 21st Century international migration crisis. To think that it’s ok to deny them a safe future in this world is as barbaric an act as any atrocity committed by a terrorist because when these children are turned away, their days can be literally numbered.Reports have surfaced that some of the asylum-seeking Central American children who had been detained and later deported back to their home countries of El Salvador, Honduras or Guatemala were murdered after returning — the reason why they fled their native countries in the first place and asked U.S. authorities for help. Isolationism isn’t a quality of a great nation, nor is fear of what could happen. But what will happen in a country that, not only recognizes the life-threatening reasons forcing children and their families to flee their homes, but actively works to include them in their society, is a whole new generation who won’t just call their adopted country home but be among their most ardent defenders.

Source: Commentary: Turning our backs on migrant children isn’t solving the immigration issue | Latina Lista

WitnessLA.com » Blog Archive » Not in Our Name: Southern California Muslims Gather To Discuss the Terrorist Attacks…& Their Fears of Reprisal

YOUNG LOS ANGELES MUSLIMS EXPRESS SORROW, ANGER AND WORRYWhen a large and frightening terrorist attack occurs, like the attacks in Paris and in Beirut, we are all deeply shaken—and angry.For many U.S. Muslims, however, there is the additional worry that some of their fellow countrymen and women will conflate ISIS with Islam in the wake of the attacks.On Saturday night, young Muslim Americans gathered in Los Angeles at the Islamic Center of Southern California to listen to speakers on the topic, then to talk about their own anger at ISIS and their personal fears about backlash,Still earlier in the day, there was a press conference at ICSC, featuring various local Muslim luminaries, including Dr. Najeeba Syeed, an award winning Assistant Professor of Interreligious Education at the Claremont College of Theology, who is known for her skill at conflict resolution.“We are in solidarity with you. Parisians, we are in solidarity with you.” said Dr. Syeed, her voice full of emotion.Similar sentiments were express in a notice on the ICSC website calling members to the Saturday evening meeting, and to the candlelight vigil that occurred earlier. “As Muslims, we unequivocally condemn ISIS and its latest heartless, faithless act of terrorism that has killed over 120 innocent people, injured scores more and betrayed Islam’s core teachings and values, ” read the notice.

Source: WitnessLA.com » Blog Archive » Not in Our Name: Southern California Muslims Gather To Discuss the Terrorist Attacks…& Their Fears of Reprisal

GOP Governors Refusing Refugees Are Creating The Terrorists Of The Future

Government officials have rarely been known for their ability to think in terms of the long game—or at least a game plan that extends beyond their current and prospective terms of office. As proof of the politician’s proclivity for shortsightedness, today we have learned that sixteen state governors  (Oklahoma joined the […]

United States green-lights sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia | News | DW.COM | {Insanity!}

The sale of the more than 19,000 bombs and smart bombs would help Saudi Arabia restock the armaments it has used in its operation against the Houthi militia in Yemen and air strikes against “Islamic State” positions in Syria, US officials familiar with the deal said on Monday.

Source: United States green-lights sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia | News | DW.COM | 16.11.2015

Whooping cough: ‘Anti-vaxxers’ target Brisbane woman following viral Facebook plea for parents to vaccinate – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection.The infection causes severe coughing fits followed by a whooping sound on inhaling and, often, vomiting.It is particularly serious for children aged up to two years of age, but especially infants less than six months where it can be fatal.In this age range, between 0.5 and 1 per cent of children who catch whooping cough die from the disease, but the outlook improves in older children.”I don’t care whether you want to try and prove to me that vaccinations and herd immunities don’t work,” Ms Harreman said.”I don’t care that vaccinations have side effects, because every person in this world reacts differently to all types of food, products and medicines.”I could not care less, even if it is ever proven one day that they don’t work.”Because at least at the end of the day I tried to do something to prevent this and not sit there and say ‘oh well, vaccinations don’t work so I’ll just sit here and do nothing’ … because doing nothing goes against every cell in my body as a mother.”Doing nothing is just wrong.

Source: Whooping cough: ‘Anti-vaxxers’ target Brisbane woman following viral Facebook plea for parents to vaccinate – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

NSW police trained to shoot extremists ‘on sight’, rather than negotiate – Australian Broadcasting Corporation {OZ knows how to over-react too!}

“We would be mad to continue to say we will do nothing but contain and negotiate.”However, Mr Kaldas stressed the “shoot on sight” order would not be appropriate in all circumstances.

Source: NSW police trained to shoot extremists ‘on sight’, rather than negotiate – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Donald Trump Repeats Call to Inspect Mosques for Signs of Terrorism – First Draft. Political News, Now. – The New York Times

The suggestion of basing refugee status on religion offended President Obama on Monday. Speaking at a news conference in Turkey, he called the idea un-American.“When I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be a religious test for which a person who’s fleeing from a war-torn country is admitted, when some of those folks themselves come from families who benefited from protection when they were fleeing political persecution — that’s shameful,” the president said.

Source: Donald Trump Repeats Call to Inspect Mosques for Signs of Terrorism – First Draft. Political News, Now. – The New York Times

Dusty Roads

This tape includes some of the songs I’ve been listening to every early winter for quite a few years, and it’s been inspired especially by afternoons lying in bed with my lover under blankets daydreaming of days when we’ll be able to travel & also inspired by solo train trips in the sunshine this gorgeous early winter.
01. Roll Away Your Stone – Mumford & Sons
02. re: Stacks – Bon Iver
03. Hang me, Oh Hang me – Oscar Isaac
04. Fare Thee Well – Marcus Mumford & Oscar Isaac
05. The Heart – Needtobreathe
06. The Last Ships – Vio Mire
07. The Hurry and The Harm – City and Colour
08. Ghost Town – First Aid Kit