Thursday, June 4, 2009

Afghan Poetry

Tonight the NewsHour did a wonderful retrospective about Rumi’s poetry. Search for:

Afghan Poetry
Jeffrey Brown reports on what's behind the popularity of Afghan poet Jelauddin Rumi's poems.

Which reminded me of a quote we have in our bathroom:


Out beyond the idea of wrongdoing and rightdoing

there is a field. I’ll meet you there.



The full poem goes:


Out beyond the idea of wrongdoing and rightdoing

there is a field. I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass,

the world is too full to talk about.

Ideas, language, even the phrase each other

doesn't make any sense.


From Essential Rumi

by Coleman Barks

see: http://peacefulrivers.homestead.com/Rumipoetry1.html


and of course there is my very favorite Rumi Poem:


http://ubnotorious.blogspot.com/2007/04/welcome-to-my-blog.html



In just a few days...


In just a few days Clustermaps shows that Revoked has been visited by people from all these amazing places...

Besides a big shout out to our homies in Haifa and Wilmette...

I want to say hallo to Leiden and hello to Great Britain, um grande abraço a Portugal!

Goodness the Seychelles... just send me an invite, we're going! Y una abrazo a Buenos Aires! The middle of Australia... please extend a nonrevocable hug to Priscilla Queen of the Desert!

Thanks folks... I am getting so many emails of support... I am overwhelmed... we are not alone (well we knew that now didn't we?)



Yay!

New Hampshire just became the 6th state with marriage equality! I know, it's great news.

I also heard that right-wing groups are already up in arms over this victory, slamming the courageous leaders in New Hampshire in the hopes that they can intimidate legislators everywhere into opposing marriage equality, especially in New York where a marriage equality vote is expected soon.

I just sent a thank-you note to New Hampshire's leaders, to make sure the right-wing cries of outrage aren't the only voices they hear. I hope you'll join me:

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/nh_victory

Thank you.

The Dallas Principles

The following eight guiding principles underlie our call to action.

In order to achieve full civil rights now, we avow:

1.Full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals must be enacted now. Delay and excuses are no longer acceptable.

2.We will not leave any part of our community behind.

3.Separate is never equal.

4.Religious beliefs are not a basis upon which to affirm or deny civil rights.

5.The establishment and guardianship of full civil rights is a non-partisan issue.

6.Individual involvement and grassroots action are paramount to success and must be encouraged.

7.Success is measured by the civil rights we all achieve, not by words, access or money raised.

8.Those who seek our support are expected to commit to these principles.

SEE: http://www.thedallasprinciples.org/The_Dallas_Principles/Home.html

Iraqi gays condemn Obama/Clinton inaction on pogrom.

Please forward

Iraqi gays condemn Obama/Clinton inaction on pogrom

Embassy statement 'offensive and insulting'

Iraqi lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people (LGBT) has spoken of their deep anger and offense at a statement by the Baghdad US Embassy concerning the violence and murder campaign against gays.

In a response to US Rep. Jared Polis, following a meeting with Iraqi government officials, chargé d’affaires Patricia Butenis said "We have no evidence that [the Iraq government's] security forces are in any way involved with these militias."

Iraqi LGBT has been reporting for four years on police involvement with the terror campaign.

Group members speaking from Iraq said that they are "fed up with such 'political' words" and that the Americans are doing nothing to stop the terror campaign against them. They believe that the priority for Hillary Clinton's State Department and Obama's administration is to not upset the Iraqi government as they have no other allies within the country.

They believe that no-one is trying to help them and feel that the current timid diplomacy "will not do much good".

"These words from the American embassy officials are insulting to us, and to those many friends of ours who have murdered. This statement is evidence that the Iraqi government is doing nothing to protect its citizens."

"They are responsible for these crimes through bringing no one to justice, refusing to acknowledge their police's involvement and providing no rights for Iraqi LGBT in law."

"People should not forget that what's happening in Iraq right now is a direct result of the unlawful US invasion."

Scott Long, director of Human Rights Watch’s LGBT Rights Program, has also criticism the State Department. In an interview with EdgeBoston, responding to State spokesperson John T. Fleming's pointed statement that 'homosexuality is not a crime in Iraq', Long responded that the fact that homosexuality is not a crime punishable by death "would be an interesting fact if the law, or the rule of law, mattered in Iraq."

Long has just returned from a fact-finding mission to Iraq where he spoke to 25 survivors from Baghdad and other cities, including Najaf, Basra and Samarra.

As a consequence of what they found, Human Rights Watch has been organizing ways for as many LGBT Iraqis as possible to get out of the country.

Colorado U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, who has spoken about Iraqi government involvement with the violence, has written with Reps. Tammy Baldwin and Barney Frank to U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill.

"As LGBT Americans and cochairs of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, we are disturbed and shocked at allegations that Ministry of the Interior Security Forces may be involved in the mass persecution and execution of LGBT Iraqis ... The persecution of Iraqis based on sexual orientation or gender identity is escalating and is unacceptable regardless of whether these policies are extrajudicial or state-sanctioned."

The letter called on the U.S. embassy in Iraq to "prioritize the investigation" of the allegations and work with the Iraqi government to end the executions of LGBT Iraqis. Polis is drafting another letter that would be signed by more members of Congress and sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

--------------------

To reply to this message, follow the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/n/?inbox/readmessage.php&t=1093081930379 mid=918e41G2c4faed8G1b8a446G0

How to have an Absolutely Fabulous Feast!

Here is a thought I had while at the gym today. (DISCLOSURE: I lifted parts of this, well most of this, from the Unitarians who definitely are inclusive). You, see, as I was madly peddling away, I got to thinking, since so many Bahá’ís are disinclined to interact with 10% of the population, I got to thinking.... how our prejudices stem from a lack of experience or understanding of those that seem different, or in this case fabulous... so what to do? Invite the local GLBT community to a fireside or a Holy Day.


Oh snap!


So as a first step, I offer here a, simple, easy to use, handy, template for your community to use in your community website. All your community has to do is cut and paste this statement below into your community webpage. Simply substitute XYZ for Woodburn, Albuquerque, Portland, Wilmette or or even Carmichael! If you need help, I am glad to come help... oops! I forgot, THEY won't let me! Sorry, how very awkward, at any rate here goes:


The Bahá’ís of XYZ, California would like to extend a warm welcome to Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people and their families. We encourage you to seek your own spiritual path and visit our community, a place where people gather to nurture their spirits and put their faith into action by helping to make our community—and the world—a better place.

The XYZ Bahá’í Community takes pride in working alongside other communities of Faith in XYZ, to provide a welcoming and open place for LGBT people. We invite you to visit us and to explore the healing words of Bahá’u’lláh, who’s life was dedicated to the elimination of all forms of prejudice.

Since the Bahá’í Faith is dedicated to the eradication for all forms of prejudice we believe that “The inherent worth and dignity of every person,” applies equally to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Our local Bahá’í community is reaching out to all LGBT people and their families, because for more than a century, the Bahá’í Faith has been in the forefront of fighting prejudice and bigotry.

Together with other progressive communities in XYZ, we are proud to work to promote acceptance, inclusion, understanding, and equity for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender persons of all colors, races, and ethnicities. We are committed to protecting the civil and legal rights of LGBT people and families across the country.

We welcome you!