13-year-old Somali Rape Victim Stoned to Death

Somalians live in fear of the Al-Shabab:

By Daniel Howden
Sunday, 9 November 2008

This was a death foretold. A Toyota pickup with a loudspeaker began an early-morning tour of the ruined neighbourhoods of Kismayo, a port in southern Somalia, announcing that there would be a killing. By 4pm a crowd of 1,000 people had gathered at the football stadium. A hole had been dug in the ground, and half an hour later a truck loaded with rocks arrived.

Please notice the date of this article. It IS 2008. This is happening in our world and it is happening today.

A young girl was dragged into the stadium. She knew what was going to happen next, and witnesses saw her struggling and screaming. "What do you want from me?" she asked. Then she shouted "I'm not going, I'm not going. Don't kill me."

The girl was 13, her only crime?

...But four men forced her into the hole and buried her up to her neck. Fifty men then set about stoning her to death.

She had been raped.

...After 10 minutes she was dug up and two nurses checked to see if she was alive. She was. So they put her back in the ground and the stoning recommenced.

Because... she had been raped by three men and her family reported the crime.

These are the politics of the world around us.

You have been given a voice, please use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Politics, Humanitarian, Society, Somalia

Postcard to President-elect Obama

Fellow "SCREAMERS!" now that the election has past and the political feeding frenzy will begin to die down a bit it's time for us to get back to the business at hand.

Saving the world one small scream at a time.

I would like to ask you to join me in signing and sending an electronic postcard to President-elect Obama (I love writing that!!) for the Voice for Darfur campaign.

Both candidates pledged "unstinting resolve" in pursuing an end to the Darfur genocide. Now it's time to begin the campaing of urging President-elect Obama to uphold his pledge.

Please join me in signing the post card. You can get to the Postcard by clicking the Save Darfur graphic or by clicking here.

President-elect Obama's Record on Darfur:

Obama/Reid Amendment

On Oct. 2, 2006, Sens. Obama (D-IL) and Reid (D-NV) offered a $20 million amendment to H.R. 5631, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act. The amendment allocated funds to support the African Union troops in Darfur.

The African Union is currently the only protection for Darfurians. While it is imperative that a United Nations force take over for the African Union, the latter must be supported in the meantime.

The Obama/Reid amendment provided sorely need funds, but this is just a step. We must add our voices and keep the issues in front of our government. Sign the postcard to let our President know that his voice and that the voice of our country is needed now more than ever.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Technorati Tags: President-elect Obama, Voice for Darfur, genocide, Darfur, Darfur, voice for darfur, President-elect Obama

The World Reacts

While we, as Americans, realize the historical significance of the '08 Presidential Election I wonder do we realize just how important our voices were to the rest of the world? Do we realize what significance that the outcome of this election has had and will have on the world around us?

"Your victory has demonstrated that no person... should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place." Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president, welcomed Mr Obama's victory as a sign of hope for everyone.

Do we realize the opportunity that we, the citizens of the United States, have in front of us?

Kenya has declared Thursday a public holiday to celebrate the election of Barack Obama to the US presidency. Mr Obama's step-grandmother was seen dancing and cheering jubilantly outside her house after the results were declared. Mr Obama's family stayed up all night in the western Kenyan village of Kogelo watching the election count...

African leaders from South Africa to Somalia have sent their congratulations to the US president-elect. European leaders have hailed the triumph of Barack Obama. European leaders have called the victory "brilliant" and it is a "vision for the future". Others in Europe stated the the result was "historic" and called for "a new deal for a new world". Moscow is looking forward to a "fresh approach", and leaders across the Middle East have congratulated Barack Obama. Governments in South Asia have also given warm reactions to President Elect Obama's victory.

It is, however, maybe best stated by Israeli President Shimon Peres in his letter to President Obama:

"Dear Mr President, The world needs a great leader. It is in your making. It is in our prayers. God bless you."

Do we realize the opportunity? Will we seize the opportunity? Now is our time. The years of cowboy politics are behind. The future is progress and progress is good.

Stand strong America and use the voices that we, the people of this great country, have found.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Technorati Tags: historical, Presidential Election, Politics, Progress, America, Vote, World Reaction, Obama, President Obama, SCREAM, President-elect Obama

President OBAMA!

You have been given a voice, and you have used it.




CONGRATULATIONS PRESIDENT OBAMA & AMERICA!

iReport - Arizona Voter Turnout

Whiteline... the newest iReporter? I doubt that it's the newest but I'm having fun with it anyway ;)



Arizona Polling places opened at 6:00 a.m. today. My son had hockey practice at 5:00 so the obvious thing to do was stop and vote on the way home. We left the Hockey Rink shortly after the polls opened and arrived at our location within 30 minutes of it opening. The line was already 70 voters deep and with kids to get ready for school,lunches to prepare, and buses to catch, voting would need to wait.

By 7:55 a.m. all the kids were well on their way and it was back to my polling place. The line had reduced to 5 deep and the volunteers were doing an outstanding job. My wait was 10 minutes at the longest.

Not all polling places in the state are operating this smoothly I just happened to catch the right time in between people needing to be at work and the next wave of voters.

Local TV reports show lines at several polling places and are reporting waits of 2 hours or more. This may have been what I would have experienced had I stayed at 6:30.

My vote was cast in this most historic election at 8:15 a.m. officially ending my season of "SCREAMING at the TV! - get the vote out", but this Grumpy old man will continue his rants on Results for Arizona's key Propositions and thePresidential Election.

You have been given a voice, use it today. Go out and VOTE! for something you care about.

Technorati Tags: Arizona Polling, voter lines, Arizona voters, election, vote, historic, Presidential Election

Tuesday, November 4th - Election Day

One last post prior to getting out and voting. I would like to give a big thanks to all who have read my blog during this election cycle.

Agree or disagree, it is not important. Prop 102, 105, 201, Local races or the Presidential race it doesn't matter, what is important is the process and thank you for taking part.

Now that leaves us with one last thing - get out and:

VOTE!

Keep SCREAMING at the TV! and I'll see you on the other side.

Circuit City Closes Operations In Phoenix Market

Circuit City to close the Arizona Market. After hearing this was a possibility on the news last night, adding Circuit City to a growing list of stores leaving Arizona, I had to see what I could find. After looking at the Circuit City website I found it's true. All Circuit City stores in the Phoenix Market will be closed. Our economy continues to suffer.

Circuit City is closing stores in 55 markets with the retailer eliminating 17% of its workforce.

The good news, if you can consider another store closure good, is the sale starts Wednesday the 5th of November.

Store#	City	Store#	City
441	AVONDALE	3330	CHANDLER
3580	GILBERT	3760	GOODYEAR
436	MESA	3337	SUPERSTITION SPRINGS
3362	ARROWHEAD	435	PHOENIX
3341	NORTH SCOTTSDALE	3426	CAMELBACK
3558	HAPPY VALLEY	4314	QUEEN CREEK
437	SCOTTSDALE

You can read more here from Circuit City:

Read the full listing of store closures - PDF format
Read the news release from Circuit City

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Technorati Tags: Circuit City, Arizona Market, Store List, Business, Economy, Circuit City, Economy, Arizona

No Candy For Obama Kids

This is riddiculous - Politics and elections and Scary Ladies from Michigan, OH MY! Kids are turned away if they don't support McCain... Kids...

Watch the video, I don't even know what to say about this...


"Beam me up Scotty; there is no intelligent life form here..."

Technorati Tags: Michigan, Halloween, Politics, Elections, McCain Supporter

You Can Smell Desperation when...

You Can Smell Desperation when....
source materials in yellow block are excerpt from: CNN 11/2/08

Just two days before the presidential election, Sarah Palin is highlighting an interview Barack Obama gave to the San Francisco Chronicle in January...

Just now Sarah? Must be one of those things that was just put in front of you to read... maybe you were busy reading EVERYTHING else that was put in front of you... Sarah, Sarah, Sarah...

Audio of Obama’s comments began bubbling up on major conservative blogs over the last 24 hours....

Hmmmm, wonder how that happened. Now them blogger people, they tend to be pretty resourceful dontcha' know... They don't let too much slip by them... hard to believe that they all just now got around to putting this on their blogs.

and Palin wondered why voters were only now hearing about the remarks. The insinuation that the Chronicle had been hiding the coal comments from the public brought about shouts of “Liberal media!” from the crowd.

Ahhhh... the attack Hockey-Moose at her best... Sarah, Sarah, Sarah... honey, you're not on SNL anymore, sit down please... you're beginning to embarrass yourself.

“Why is the audio tape just now surfacing?,”

pssst... Sarah, it's because you just re-released or gave instructions to re-publish... gosh, this stuff doesn't float to the top like some bloated carcass after a mid-winter kill in the tundra dontcha' know.

“This interview was given to San Francisco folks...

You know who you are... them San Francisco Folks... you know, them gays' and things...geeze I can't believe you made me say it

... many, many months ago. You should have known about this,

So Sarah, why didn't you tell them? You've been so quick to tell them everything else that you know absolutely nothing about

... so that you would have better decision-making information as you go into the voting booth.”

Yes, I'm certain that is what you were hoping for, knowledge instead of fear of the irrational... Because we know what type of campaign it is that wants it's base to believe the opponent is an Arab, A Terrorist... or anything else that you think might strike fear into someone and make them vote against the unknown... because the Old, White, unknown is better than... oh whatever that other guy is.... and finally, just to put this all to bed

Contrary to her attempts to portray a media cover-up, audio and video recordings of Obama’s January 17 sit-down with the Chronicle editorial board have been freely available online for more than nine months

So Sarah, please sit down and next time raise your hand if you have a question.

Good night.





You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

SCREAM,POLITICS,VOTE,ARIZONA