Archive for the 'Journeys within' Category

President Obama, They Shoot Horses And Teenage Boys On The Dakota Access Pipeline

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 1st November 2016

Good morning.

We’re getting down to the last days of the presidential election. With so much to be concerned about my thoughts are rambling from all that I’m reading. The focus is obviously on the election but what about what others are fighting for? My thoughts ran to our indigenous peoples as they fight for their land again, against the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

I know president Obama has got a lot on his plate now. The future of our country is being threatened and he needs to do all he can to ensure that Hillary wins with coattails. I get that. But I sure wish he could take a moment and reach out to the people of the Sioux Nation.

My heart aches for them as I read their stories. Probably the last thing on their minds is this election, as they protect and protest daily for the preservation of their water, for their family, friends, and their future.

Here’s the write from the Huff Po:

President Obama, They Shoot Horses And Teenage Boys On The Dakota Access Pipeline

On a beautiful sunny day in June, 2014 President Barack Obama came to the banks of the Cannonball River on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. June is the month of the Strawberry Moon and celebrates the first harvest of wild fruit. The occasion was Cannonball Flag day and Native Americans from Standing Rock and the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservations turned out to welcome the President. For one day the hills and buttes and prairies of North and South Dakota were the center of rare media attention, and the people who welcomed the President into their homes and hearts were ecstatic. Michelle Obama was with him, babies were thrust into their arms for photo ops, children danced, and a powwow sealed good will and belief in the promises Obama made to the Sioux nation.

The Washington Post reported that stories of Native children made the president cry in the oval office.

“I love these young people,” Obama said shortly after meeting them. “I only spent an hour with them. They feel like my own.”

It is a little over two years later and these people whom the president claimed as his own are being arrested on minor charges by a seemingly omnipotent Sheriff in Morton County. They are herded into dog kennels at Fort Rice and the insides of their arms are marked with a number in black ink. Women suffer broken bones from batons wielded by police officers and deputies. Memories of others wearing brown shirts in 1939 Germany, who also marked people with black ink, cause fear and apprehension.

There is testimony that cannot be erased or hidden. Listen to this interview with a young prayer warrior, Trenton Casillas-Bakeberg, who was ripped out of ceremony, arrested, and put in a dog kennel at the jail in Mandan, ND.

The officials of North Dakota have decided that the people of the Sioux Nation who stand against the DAPL are beneath them. In the early days of this historical event I overheard one man say, “they do not think we are human.” It is a faded sentence scribbled in a notebook filled with tales of atrocity and stories of prayer.

How do you feel when you watch this Mr. Obama? Do the words of Floris White Bull recalling the traumatic experiences of people violently removed from camp and being caged in dog kennels move you in any way? Does it occur to you to call Attorney General Loretta Lynch into your office and demand that she look into this? Did your staff include the LA Times article in your morning briefing?

Did you cry when you heard a young rider was shot off his beautiful bay quarter horse by more than one of those “non-lethal” rubber bullets?

Members of the horse nation herded around 100 buffalo from the west and southwest of the Cannonball Ranch onto the DAPL easement. One rider was reportedly hit with up to four rubber bullets his horse was reported to be hit in the legs by live rounds. Another horse was shot and did not survive.

Before the bullets flew. This horse died. Submitted by Debi Williams

Here is a Crow Creek Spirit rider being chased down by DAPL security last Thursday. “You can see the courage and strength both riders and horses have! They escaped and made it home safely,” says Greg Grey Cloud. One buckskin horse made it back to camp and his human with a tranquilizer dart stuck in his flank, says Grey Cloud in a video posted on his Facebook page. The horse came back with all of its tack missing.

Photo Courtesy Greg Grey Cloud

Did anyone tell you that one horse died? They do shoot horses in North Dakota, Mr. President.

Did Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier inform you, Mr. President, you who held babies in your arms at Standing Rock, that these are “non-lethal” rubber bullets? In fact in a PubMed article, “Death Following Rubber Bullet Wounds to the Chest,” a different story emerges.

Despite the fact that it (rubber bullet) was designed to be safer than live ammunition, several cases of fatalities have been reported from its use. Most of these fatalities were because of abuse of the weapon in terms of range of fire and anatomical area of the body targeted. This is a case report of such a fatality following shotgun rubber bullet injury, including the circumstance surrounding this unusual occurrence, the autopsy findings and reports of the ballistic analysis. Four projectiles penetrated the right chest lodging in the right lung and injuring the right pulmonary artery, causing death. The mechanism of death in this case is rapid massive pulmonary hemorrhage.

Forensic Science presents a case study of the death of a 60-year-old man who was shot using rubber projectiles that were fired by a police officer from a Mossberg smooth-bore shotgun in an enclosed space from a distance of a few meters. “The post-mortem examination revealed that death had been due to gunshot wounds in the chest which had caused heart and lung damage with subsequent massive internal hemorrhaging.”

President Obama, you will not find this information in the daily flood of press releases from Sheriff Kirchmeier that read like tales from an alternate universe.

Would you cry if you were on site to witness what is really happening, Mr. President?

In twist of fate, the actions of the young riders on horseback led to an outcome that was spiritually uplifting to thousands of people around the world. The riders opened a fence just east of the new “Treaty” camp, allowing the buffalo to run free across the hills and plains just as police and military forces were surrounding the camp. Water protectors established a spiritual campsite while declaring “Indigenous Eminent Domain” at the yawning mouth of the pipeline. The cheers and singing echoed the ceremonies of the ancestors as stunned police and protectors alike watched the buffalo run down what is now named “Buffalo Hill.”

This action of Tatanka, no matter what the genesis, came at the exact time that peaceful water protectors were being dragged from the sweat lodge and slammed into the ground by pumped-up deputies. The sacred buffalo altar was rescued from the red spray paint wielded by the out-of-control and rioting police. In effect, deputies were defacing sacred places of worship. This story will be passed down through generations, providing hope and the knowledge that the animals will come to protect the people even if you will not, Mr. President.

Courtesy Standing Rock Rising

Did you know, Mr. President that a DAPL private security guard was spotted among the water protectors with an automatic rifle heading towards camp? How was he recognized? There are no weapons of any kind allowed at the Oceti Sakowin camp. Bureau of Indian Affairs police arrived on the scene and apprehended him. The man is now in FBI custody after being turned over by the BIA. Morton County Sheriff’s Department retracted its statement of the DAPL security person rushing towards Standing Rock camp with the AR-15 “being treated for a gunshot wound to his hand” after this photo evidence emerged.

There is good reason to hold you accountable, Mr.President.

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier met with you last week in California.

He is expressing outrage at reported violations of his people’s civil liberties, which came just two days after you, Mr. Obama, assured him during a face to face meeting that federal monitors were in place to prevent such actions.

Chairman Frazier is now asking that the United Nations intervene. “The U.S. government promised to protect us through treaties, but they have failed us. That’s why we are asking the United Nations to send troops to protect our people from the brutalities inflicted on our people by State police and the National Guard.” He added, “Native Nations originally came into the United State through treaties and if the United States is not going to honor these treaties the Native Nations need to call on the United Nations for assistance.”

If you love these people as your own, Mr. President, please do something. Actions matter more than words or tears embedded in a press release.

UPDATE

This was just posted by Standing Rock Rising

In the first 15 seconds, you can see a spirit rider holding the line, and keeping distance between water protectors and police. You will then see the water protector shot off his horse at point blank range with rubber bullets, and then his horse shot at point blank range. The next couple minutes are the commotion afterwards. There was no reason to shoot this brave water protector and his horse, as they were not threatening MCSD or military in any way.

Click here to watch the video.

✌🏽&❤️

Readers: I read that a Facebook friend was headed there in support. I applauded him for leaving the madness of the media here to support his brothers and sisters there. (If you’re reading this, thank you.) The people of the Sioux Nation are without arms protesting peacefully, and are being treated like animals, tagged, numbered, and put in dog kennels. Truly sickening.

If we don’t stand up for our neighbors who are fighting for their lives, who will stand up for us when we are fighting for ours? I can’t physically go but my spirit stands strong with the Sioux Nation in support. And I will do whatever I can on my blog in support.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Halloween. Thanks for the compliments. In light of this election, I felt girl power needed to be expressed in a badassery way, and Batgirl for Halloween was my way of doing it. The costume is gone but this badass bitch remains.

Thoughts? Ideas? What’s on your mind?

Blog me.

Charles: Bummer. It’s too bad your friends aren’t as smart as you.

Kali: That is so awesome. Thank you! Happy it all worked out and you had some fun. You’re already Badass, but yes, donning a Batgirl costume definitely gives the badass some added attitude. :)

Thomas, King: I’ve heard and read a bit, and I ask the same question. Why is this not on the news? Perhaps I need to blog about it. Thanks.

Peace & Love & Good Health

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

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Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Posted in Health & Well Being, Human Rights and Equality, Journeys within, Long Live Planet Earth!, Political Powwow, Travel | 33 Comments »

Trump, Women of Color, And The Justice System

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 24th October 2016

Good morning!

Trump calls Hillary a racist. Yet Trump is the one who attacked Judge Gonzalo Curiel because he was of Mexican descent. He also was the one who attacked Mexicans as rapists, bringing drugs and crime, and who attacked African-Americans and claimed they were all living in poverty with no jobs and schools that were no good.

Trump has a long history of racism, from his early days excluding African-American tenants from his family’s housing in New York to his racialized hysteria against the “Central Park Five,” to his more recent assertions that black people are inherently lazy, and insulting a gold star mother.

Why anyone especially any OTW would vote for him is mind boggling. And if you’re a woman of color, forget about it. Any vote for Trump is a ticket into poverty and possibly prison. Because Trump will do nothing to protect you or support you.

From the Center for American Progress:

6 Things You Should Know About Women of Color and the Criminal Justice System

A post-traumatic stress disorder patient poses for a portrait on February 24, 2016.

The policies implemented under the so-called tough-on-crime, war on drugs, and “Broken Windows” approaches to policing have led to an explosion in the U.S. prison population. One in three Americans carries the burden of a criminal record, and nearly half of American children have a parent with a criminal record. Americans with criminal records suffer lifelong consequences, such as barriers to housing, education, and employment, among others. Between 1980 and 2014, the population of women who were incarcerated grew 700 percent.

These policies have a disproportionate impact on women of color. Here are six things that all Americans should know about women of color and the criminal justice system:

African American women are more likely than women of other races to go to prison during their lifetimes. According to a 2003 Bureau of Justice Statistics special report, 1 in every 18 African American women will go to prison during their lifetime if incarceration rates continue at the same rate. This is far greater than the rates for white women and Latinas—1 in 111 women and 1 in 45 women, respectively.
African American women are significantly overrepresented in state and federal prison populations. According to a 2014 Bureau of Justice Statistics report, the incarceration rate of African American women was more than double the incarceration rate of white women. More specifically, 109 out of every 100,000 African American women in the United States were sentenced to state or federal prison by the end of 2014, compared with 53 out of every 100,000 white women.
The war on drugs has negatively affected women of color. Women are more likely than men to be incarcerated for a drug offense. Furthermore, research has shown that although all women use and sell drugs at the same rate, women of color—particularly African American women and Latinas—have a higher likelihood of becoming involved in the criminal justice system for a drug offense. Generally, women involved in the drug trade have scant knowledge or say over actual drug dealing operations, which gives them little leverage in negotiating shorter sentences.
Incarcerated women are likely to be victims of abuse, have a history of substance abuse, and/or suffer from mental health issues. A 2007 study found that nearly all incarcerated women have experienced a “traumatic event”—with 71 percent reporting that they were “exposed to domestic violence.” According to a 2008 study, 73 percent of women in state prisons and 47 percent of women in federal prisons used drugs prior to going to prison. Additionally, approximately 73 percent of women in state prisons and 75 percent of women in local jails have signs of mental health disorders, compared with only 12 percent of women in the general U.S. population.
Approximately 12,000 pregnant women, or approximately 6 percent of incarcerated women, are incarcerated each year. Many of these women are subjected to the dehumanizing and dangerous practice of shackling during childbirth. This practice is not only dangerous to the mother—limiting her mobility to manage the pain of childbirth—but it also puts the child at risk, reducing physicians’ ability to safely deliver the baby. Unfortunately, 28 states have no laws prohibiting the practice.
African American and American Indian girls have higher rates of placement in juvenile residential detention facilities than those of other racial and/or ethnic groups. African American girls are also more likely than other girls to face school suspensions. African American and American Indian female juveniles were placed in residential detention facilities at rates—1.7 times and more than 4 times, respectively—higher than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Additionally, African American and American Indian female juveniles were placed in these facilities at rates of 113 per every 100,000 girls and 167 per every 100,000 girls, respectively, while non-Hispanic white female juveniles were held in these facilities at a rate of 35 per every 100,000 girls.

The legacy of the nation’s broken criminal justice system has affected all Americans, particularly women of color. Women are the fastest-growing portion of the U.S. prison population, and data show that women of color are disproportionately affected by the system. Criminal justice reform is essential to make sure that these women have the opportunity to succeed once they have paid their debts to society.

*****

Readers, especially my sisters: These stats are horrific. Do you think they will get any better with Trump at the helm? Hell no. Trump disrespects, and objectifies women…even his own daughter. If he does that to his own daughter, his own flesh and blood, how do you think you’ll be treated? If you think it’s bad now, you have no idea what is coming if you vote for Trump.

Clinton is the only clear and safe choice for my sisters in this country. Clinton has been fighting for women for decades. She is the only one who can empathize with our plight, and do something about it. Let’s take a stand, come together in solidarity, and do this. It’s time. #ImWithHer. Are you? #GoVote. Early voting is happening in some states. Today is the last day in California to register. Get out and do it.

Blog me.

Peace & Love & Good Health

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream

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Posted in Good Reads and Good See'ds, Health & Well Being, Human Rights and Equality, Journeys within, Political Powwow | 5 Comments »

FLOTUS Speaks And You Don’t Want To Miss It

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 14th October 2016

Good morning!

Social Butterfly, et al: Thank you for posting about our FLOTUS. Many times I write (or prepare) the majority if not the entire blog the night before the posting of it. So I miss being able to post anything hot of the press, so to speak, which this speech Michelle Obama gave, most certainly was.

Yes, I saw it. I nodded my head in agreement over and over, cheered her words and cried from them as well. It was inspiring, REAL, profound, and spoke to the very core of what is happening in our country. I say proudly, “Michelle Obama for president in 2020.” If the Clinton’s can do it, the Obama’s can do it too.

The next two days of blog posts were done ahead of time because my schedule is demanding right now. But after watching MO, I pushed everything forward a day and I’m posting it here today anyway. I want to be on record that I acknowledged one of the best, if not the best political speeches (in support of Clinton) I have ever heard, right here on our blog. Spoken by a girl we all love…FLOTUS.

I know probably all of you have watched her extraordinary speech. If you haven’t you are in for a big dose of truth and reality, coming from a powerful girl. Michelle is finally showing us just how badass she can be.

Watch it more than once:

💪🏽♀❤️

Michelle Obama: You are my idol, my shero, my role model – a girl who exemplifies Badassery with a capital “B.” I am so proud of who you are. Thank you enormously for showing us your deep love and compassion for women and girls. ❤️

Readers: I’m with Michelle Obama. I can’t stop thinking about this either. My mind is so preoccupied with this election I can barely get through the day, there are so many reminders of misogyny, lies, etc. being thrown at us. Enough is enough.

We all need to step it up. 25 days left till Election Day.

Trevor: I have a feeling there is a lot more to your story. Looking forward to the next chapter.

Janis: I find it so interesting that your father and your sisters have flipped. What’s the hold up with you? Where’s the sisterly support? And I mean that not just with your siblings but globally.

Thoughts? It’s Friday start flapping your lips. Blog me.

Peace & Love

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Posted in Good Reads and Good See'ds, Health & Well Being, Human Rights and Equality, Journeys within, Political Powwow | 35 Comments »

International Day Of The Girl

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 12th October 2016

Good morning!

Well, I royally messed up. Yesterday was International Day Of The Girl. I had this write in my drafts and meant to post this about our beloved FLOTUS yesterday but somehow POTUS snuck in there. :P Oh…what can I say, they are both so worthy of blog time. So here’s the write from CNN Pressroom:

Girls will ‘Rise Up’ with First Lady Michelle Obama, Meryl Streep, Freida Pinto, Andra Day, Isha Sesay and CNN Films for October

CNN Films is producing a new film about girls overcoming incredible challenges to achieve their educations and change their own lives, with contributions from First Lady Michelle Obama, Meryl Streep, Freida Pinto, and CNN journalist Isha Sesay. Singer Andra Day’s motivational anthem, ‘Rise Up’ will serve as the theme for the film. The Documentary Group, which produced CNN Films’ first co-production, ‘Girl Rising,’ also produced this special one-hour film.

We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World featuring Meryl Streep, Freida Pinto, and Isha Sesay will premiere on CNN International on the International Day of the Girl during primetime in Asia, Europe, and Africa on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 6:00am, 12:00pm, and 3:00pm. All times Eastern.

The CNN/U.S. premiere on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 9:00pm will simulcast on CNN International; We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World will encore Thursday, Oct. 13 at 12:00am. The film will premiere on HLN on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 12:00pm. All times Eastern. The film will premiere on CNN en Español on Saturday, Nov. 5, viewers are asked to check local listings for exact airtimes.

Around the world, more than 62 million girls are not in school, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). As girls grow into adolescence, cultural and familial pressures often make it harder for them to stay in school, though educating women correlates to lower rates of infant mortality, increased GDP, and greater economic security for families.

“We are honored to have the contributions of the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, Meryl Streep, Freida Pinto, Andra Day, and our own Isha Sesay, for this inspirational film,” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent and content development for CNN Worldwide. “These dynamic and accomplished women, each long-committed to the transformative nature of girls’ empowerment, amplify incredible stories of success despite challenges. We are delighted to share this hopeful film with our global audience.”

Sesay, a native of Sierra Leone, who has passionately covered Africa and issues related to women and girls on the continent throughout her career, guides viewers of this poignant film through a moving and motivational journey. In Marrakech, Sesay, the First Lady, Meryl Streep, and Freida Pinto met with dozens of adolescent Moroccan girls who shared their stories and their dreams. In Liberia, Sesay, Pinto, and Mrs. Obama met with several girls who told their extraordinary stories, and later, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf surprised a group of impressive young women who are motivating each other to stay in school.

A dynamic interactive section with additional resources about the topics explored in the film, including content about girls’ education around the world written by First Lady Michelle Obama, Freida Pinto, and Isha Sesay will be linked to www.CNN.com/Impact and www.CNN.com/CNNFilms.

In 2013, ‘Girl Rising’ explored girls’ experiences in nine countries. For that film, Meryl Streep and Freida Pinto, among others, voiced the stories of girls pushing themselves past limits to achieve their educations.

In addition to the global broadcasts, We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World featuring Meryl Streep, Freida Pinto, and Isha Sesay will also stream via CNNgo via desktop (www.CNN.com/go), iPad, AppleTV, Amazon Fire, and across CNN’s mobile platforms. The film will be available on demand beginning Thursday, Oct. 13, via cable and satellite systems and CNNgo for subscribers.

We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World featuring Meryl Streep, Freida Pinto, and Isha Sesay is directed by Tony Gerber. The film is produced by Martha Adams, Beth Osisek, and Gerber of The Documentary Group. Courtney Sexton, vice president of content development for CNN Films, is supervising producer. The executive producers for this film are Amy Entelis of CNN Worldwide and Tom Yellin of The Documentary Group and Girl Rising.

What better way to mend my mess up is to post this honoring both our FLOTUS & POTUS – THE Power Couple!

#DadsAndDaughters: Celebrating International Day of the Girl

Summary:

Take a look at the progress we’ve made on behalf of girls around the world under the Obama administration.

President Barack Obama views science exhibits during the 2015 White House Science Fair celebrating student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) competitions, in the Red Room, March 23, 2015. The President talks with Emily Bergenroth, Alicia Cutter, Karissa Cheng, Addy O’Neal, and Emery Dodson, all six-year-old Girl Scouts, from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They used Lego pieces and designed a battery-powered page turner to help people who are paralyzed or have arthritis. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

“I didn’t run for President so that the dreams of our daughters could be deferred or denied. I didn’t run for President to see inequality and injustice persist in our time. I ran for President to put the same rights, the same opportunities, and the same dreams within the reach for our daughters and our sons alike. I ran for President to put the American Dream within the reach of all of our people, no matter what their gender, or race, or faith, or station.”

President Obama

Today is International Day of the Girl. That means countries around the world are honoring the importance of empowering girls so they can reach their full potential.

As the father of two young women, President Obama shared his reflections on the progress we’ve made on behalf of girls around the world:

“The progress we’ve made in the past 100 years, 50 years, and, yes, even the past eight years has made life significantly better for my daughters than it was for my grandmothers. And I say that not just as President but also as a feminist.”

Today, we’re joining the global community in celebrating International Day of the Girl. Since the ratification of the 19th amendment 96 years ago, we have made tremendous progress. However, as we reflect upon the strides we have made, we are reminded that the advances we need to make – in promoting gender equality, in opening up educational opportunities, in preventing sexual assault and domestic violence — is not something girls can do alone. It takes all of us, moms and dads, leaders and everyday citizens, to create the change we want to see.

That’s what #DadsAndDaughters is all about — a global conversation about dads, daughters, and their role in supporting and advocating for progress on behalf of girls around the world. Take a look at how the President has worked to improve the lives of women and girls:

Read reflections from dads and daughters about promoting gender equality around the world.

#DADSANDDAUGHTERS

Expanding Educational Opportunities for Girls Around the World

First Lady Michelle Obama and First Lady Bun Rany of Cambodia greet students during a Room to Read event in support of the Let Girls Learn initiative, at Hun Sen Prasat Bakong High School in Siem Reap, Cambodia, March 21, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

Since taking office, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have been committed to improving education for girls everywhere. That’s why they launched the Let Girls Learn initiative last year — a global effort to give millions of girls across the globae an opportunity to get the education they need to fulfill their potential and lift up their families, communities, and countries. Today, the First Lady recounted the progress we’ve made since launching Let Girls Learn:

Now, as First Lady, I have no budget of my own for programs, and I have no authority to make or pass laws. That’s why, when we first launched Let Girls Learn, many folks doubted that we could make a real impact on this global issue.

But over the past year and a half, we’ve established partnerships with some of the world’s largest companies and organizations that are committing money, resources and expertise. We’re collaborating with countries like Canada, Mexico and the Nordic countries on girls’ education efforts. Countries like Japan, South Korea, and the UK have collectively pledged nearly $600 million. The United States is investing over a billion dollars through new and ongoing efforts and running Let Girls Learn programs in more than 50 countries. The World Bank Group will be investing $2.5 billion over the next five years. And through social media campaigns, Let Girls Learn has rallied people across America and across the globe to step up and be champions for girls worldwide.

On the homefront, from expanding access to quality early childhood education, fostering school success, supporting girls who want to enter STEM fields, and expanding secondary and higher education opportunities, the President has worked to ensure all girls have a fair shot at an education.

READ THE FIRST LADY ON LET GIRLS LEARN

Fighting for Equal Pay and Working Families

The first bill President Obama ever signed into law was the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, strengthening a woman’s right to equal pay. Since then, the President has lead the way on paid sick and family leave, called on Congress to pass the Healthy Families Act, expanded overtime protections, and worked to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Increasing Access to Affordable Health Care

President Barack Obama greets Linda and Russ Dickson, a Texas couple who wrote a letter to the President about the Affordable Care Act, at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, April 10, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

The President has taken important steps to advance women’s health and make sure women can access health coverage. Through signing the Affordable Care Act, the President has expanded access to quality affordable care for all Americans, including providing necessary care and services for women and girls.

Working to End Violence Against Women and Girls

Vice President Joe Biden, with Michael Schrum and Greg Schultz playing USSS agents, tapes a segment for “Funny or Die” at the Josephine Butler Parks Center in Washington, D.C., May 17, 2016. In attendance are Adam Devine, Actor; Michael Burke, Supervising Producer, Funny or Die; Charles Ingram, Writer & Director, Funny or Die. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Alongside Vice President Biden, the President has worked to end violence against women in the United States and abroad. They have actively worked to combat sexual assault on college campuses, establishing the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault and helped launch the It’s On Us pledge. The administration has also worked to address sexual assault in the military and improve the criminal justice system to better respond to domestic and sexual violence.

Working to advance equal rights and equal opportunity affects us all. This International Day of The Girl, read more about the President’s Record on Women and Girls and join the conversation by using #DadsAndDaughter to share your stories about how the dads and daughters in your life have helped to de-bunk stereotypes, change cultural attitudes, and support each other in advancing gender equality.

THE VICE PRESIDENT ON THE IT’S ON US PLEDGE

❤️❤️❤️

Readers: Has any president and our first lady ever done as much for the women and young girls in our lives as our current? I may be wrong but I don’t think so. Love this couple.

Blog me.

Alycedale, Evie: Yes and yes. You both have been more insightful than I. Kudos to you both.

Zen Lill: That was very funny. I wanted more.

Trevor: Sadly, I feel the same way. What’s your favorite outdoor thing? Do your friends feel the same way? I feel we all must get involved in something that moves us…for the planet…for girls…for what ever inspires us. Yet, it’s not enough to be inspired. We must all do something. Love to hear what you’re doing. I’m sure it is worthy of a tell.

Leroy: Thanks for your comment and the kind kudos. Yes, you did raise smart girls if they led you here. :) Delighted to hear even your “somewhat smart-alecky boys” are reading. I HOPE they have a change of heart about my blog and realize that I’m just a girl illuminating what is out there, in support of my sisters around the world. I’m happy to hear that you are “enlightened.” This blog has a way of doing that, “Leroy.” :)

Peace out.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Posted in Good Reads and Good See'ds, Human Rights and Equality, Journeys within, Political Powwow | 8 Comments »

Clinton And Trump Are Not In The Same Camp When It Comes To Supporting Women

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 4th October 2016

Good morning!

As I mentioned it’s really challenging when it comes to choosing just one thing to report on Trump (Yes, I”m obviously talking about him again, and I don’t see myself taking too many breaks before the election ), because in just a week since the first presidential debate, so much has been exposed about him, his companies, his taxes…

But considering that I’m a girl’s girl, and my loyalty goes to the females first on this planet, my choice was easy for today.

I don’t know about you but it really riles me when people put Clinton and Trump in the same camp when it comes to the support of women or the lack thereof. On the one hand, you’ve got Trump who is clearly a misogynist, and has absolutely no problem calling women all sorts of names, objectifying them, blaming the woman when she’s a victim of sexual harassment, insulting women for breast feeding, saying women should be punished for having abortions, disparaging women’s bodies and sexual histories…etc.,etc.

And somehow Trump supporters are silent when it comes to Trump’s horrific disrespect for women, but are vitriolic towards Hillary when it comes to Hillary criticizing women tied to her husband’s sexual escapades. Even blaming Hillary for them.

The write from Think Progress:

PSA: It’s really, really sexist to blame Hillary Clinton for Bill’s infidelity

But the Trump campaign wants credit for not doing it more.

Pundits, journalists, and real-time polls agree: The first presidential debate was a bad night for Republican nominee Donald Trump. In full spin mode, Trump campaign operatives are now grasping at straws — and, continuing on a common theme, they’re coming up sexist.

In a particularly egregious example, Trump surrogate Rudy Giuliani said that Hillary Clinton is “too stupid to be president” because she didn’t know about her husband’s infidelity, continuing a grossly sexist line of attack the campaign has employed before.

“After being married to Bill Clinton for 20 years, if you didn’t know the moment Monica Lewinsky said that Bill Clinton violated her that she was telling the truth, then you’re too stupid to be president,” he said, in a video captured by Elite Daily reporter Alexandra Svokos.

“The president of the United States, her husband, disgraced this country with what he did in the Oval Office and she didn’t just stand by him, she attacked Monica Lewinsky,” said Giuliani.

Although Giuliani claims to be horrified at Bill Clinton’s infidelity, it’s a clear case of the pot calling the kettle ‘cheater.’

While Mayor of New York, Giuliani gave a press conference to announce that he was leaving his second wife for his mistress — before telling his current wife or his children (another interesting tidbit about Giuliani’s marital history: his first wife was his second cousin). And now, Giuliani is enthusiastically stumping for Trump, who had a highly public affair with his second wife, Marla Maples, while still married to his first wife, Ivana.

If Trump’s infidelity doesn’t disqualify him from office, and Giuliani’s infidelity doesn’t disqualify him from political prominence, it’s unclear why Clinton’s husband’s infidelity should disqualify her.

Nonetheless, instead of attacking the man who was unfaithful, Giuliani is blaming Hillary Clinton for decisions that her husband made — and suggesting that she’s stupid for being transgressed against.

It isn’t the first time this smear has reared its head this campaign and, if the Trump campaign is any indication, it won’t be the last.

While flailing toward the end of the debate, Trump made strange, vague threats that seemed to suggest he was thinking about bringing up Monica Lewinsky.

TRUMP: You want to know the truth? I was going to say something…

HOLT: Please very quickly.

TRUMP: … extremely rough to Hillary, to her family, and I said to myself, “I can’t do it. I just can’t do it. It’s inappropriate. It’s not nice.”

After the debate, Trump said outright that he was “holding back” on Bill Clinton’s infidelities.

“I’m very happy that I was able to hold back on the indiscretions with respect to Bill Clinton because I have a lot of respect for Chelsea Clinton,” he toldCNN. “And I just didn’t want to say what I was going to say…which is I’ll tell you maybe at the next debate.”

Of course, by mentioning how proud he was of not mentioning it, Trump managed to both insert the story into the news cycle and pretend to be a good guy while doing so. On MSNBC Tuesday morning, Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said that because Trump didn’t mention Bill Clinton’s infidelities, Trump displayed “great temperament and restraint.”

“I have to say, certainly as a woman, I appreciated the restraint at the end — I’m not sure I would have been able to exercise it myself — but restraint is a virtue, and it’s a presidential virtue,” Conway said. “To tell Hillary Clinton, after she accused him of being terrible with women, to tell Hillary Clinton, ‘I was prepared to go rough tonight and I’m not going to do it because your husband and your daughter are here,’ that is going to grow in importance over the next couple of days as the moment of great temperament and restraint.”

Later in the interview, she was asked specifically what Trump showed restraint on.

“I think we can all finish the sentence. People did last night. They finished the sentence. They said you know, maybe he was going to talk about Bill Clinton’s record with women,” Conway said.

When host Willie Geist pressed Conway about whether Donald Trump holds Hillary Clinton responsible for Bill Clinton’s record with women, she demurred, replying, “He didn’t say that.”

By bringing up Monica Lewinsky, however, that’s exactly what Trump and his campaign are doing: They are insinuating that Hillary Clinton is somehow at fault for her husband’s actions.

The Trump campaign isn’t new to this game. On Saturday, Trumpthreatened to invite Gennifer Flowers, a woman who had an affair with Bill Clinton in the 1970s, to the debate as his guest to sit in the front row. Separately, a “Trump Insider” released a statement to Fox News insinuating that Flowers was a “failure” of Hillary Clinton’s.

Trump also employed this line of attack against longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin when news broke of her estranged husband Anthony Weiner’s latest sexting scandal. Even though Weiner is not actually affiliated with the campaign, Trump implied that Clinton has bad judgment because the husband of one of her aides made a poor choice.

It’s a simple concept, but one that bears repeating. Bill Clinton is responsible for his own infidelities, not Hillary Clinton. Weiner is responsible for his own infidelities, not Huma Abedin, and certainly not Hillary Clinton.

Suggesting that men’s actions reflect badly on women is a familiar sexist trope.

*****

Readers: “Great temperament and restraint.” Oh please, Conway. Alert the media! That’s one time out of hundreds that Trump sort of expressed any restraint and his temperament was far from “great.”. Conway acts as if he deserves a medal. And perhaps he does (not) - Most of the time Trump is completely himself unrestrained and uncensored. Unfortunately for Trump, that rare moment didn’t get the “importance” that she had anticipated and hoped for because it got lost in all that was revealed of Trump this past week when he showed no signs of great temperament and restraint.

And what about Guiliani? (Ugh, he is another one that disgusts me.) Not only are people blaming the victim, in this case, Hillary Clinton, for her husband’s extramarital affairs, Giuliani is upset because Hillary attacked Monica Lewinsky.

Well, I would certainly hope that she would when she did. Hello…news flash: Lewinsky was not the victim. Lewinsky was playing around with Clinton’s husband, Bill. Hillary had every right to attack and discredit her. Lewinsky struck first. She should’ve kept her mouth shut. (pun intended.)

Lewinsky knew that Bill Clinton, the president of the United States was married, and yet she still pursued an affair. She was old enough to know better. Any woman who knowingly cheats with another woman’s man, in my opinion, is not a girl’s girl. Yes, men cheat but only because women agree to it. Lewisnky agreed to the deed knowing it was wrong. She deserved any dismissing she received from Hillary.

Yet so many people see this as Hillary not being supportive of women. There is no comparison. Hillary would never have attacked or discredited Lewinsky if she hadn’t had an affair with her husband. Period. Lewinsky received that response from Hillary strictly because of her actions. Not for any other reason and not just because she is a woman, unlike Trump who goes after women for that reason alone.

Trump’s huge dislike and disrespect for women is not in the same camp as Hillary criticizing and discrediting women who engaged in affairs with her husband. Trump is not a supporter of women. Hillary has been a strong advocate for women and their rights for decades.

There’s two things wrong going on here. 1) A double standard. If it was the other way around, we would never hear that a man was blamed for his wife’s infidelities. And…2) Once again, false equivalency is showing face by people comparing the lack of support of women from Trump, and Hillary having every right to respond the way she did to women involved in her husband’s infidelities. Many Trump supporters as well as the Trump campaign are hoping no one will be smart enough to notice the difference. Thankfully, I’m not one of them.

Thoughts? Blog me.

Peace out.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Posted in Human Rights and Equality, Journeys within, Love, Sex & Relationships, Lying Sacks Of Shit, Political Powwow | 21 Comments »

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Expanding Educational Opportunities for Girls Around the World

Fighting for Equal Pay and Working Families

Increasing Access to Affordable Health Care

Working to End Violence Against Women and Girls

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