Flap Your Lips Friday
Posted by Michelle Moquin on August 1st, 2014
Good morning!
Another hero in Africa saving lives. From Think Progress.
Top Doctor Working To Contain Current Ebola Outbreak Is Now Infected With Ebola
Healthcare workers from Doctors Without Borders prepare isolation and treatment areas for their Ebola operations in Guinea
CREDIT: AP PHOTO/KJELL GUNNAR BERAAS, MSF
The world is in the midst of the worst Ebola outbreak in history, as the deadly virus has claimed more than 600 lives in three African countries and continues to overwhelm the medical staff tasked with containing its spread. This week, there’s yet another concerning update to the unfolding public health crisis: the top doctor fighting Ebola in Sierra Leone has himself been infected with the disease.
Sheik Umar Khan, a virologist who has treated more than 100 Ebola victims, has been on the front lines of the outbreak for the past several months. The Health Ministry in his home country of Sierra Leone hailed him as a national hero for helping prevent the spread of the virus, which kills up to 90 percent of people who become infected. Now, it’s his turn to receive treatment.
This week, Khan was transferred to a hospital run by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders because he contracted Ebola. Reuters reports that his condition is unknown, but he is currently alive and receiving medical attention.
It’s unclear how Khan contracted the virus since, according to his colleagues, he was always careful about wearing protective clothing while he worked with Ebola patients. But in previous interviews, the doctor appeared to be acutely aware of his potential risk. “I am afraid for my life, I must say, because I cherish my life,” he told Reuters back in June, when he was healthy. “Health workers are prone to the disease because we are the first port of call for somebody who is sickened by disease. Even with the full protective clothing you put on, you are at risk.”
There is no cure or vaccine for Ebola, considered to be one of the most dangerous viruses on the planet. The current outbreak is straining international health workers, who say they don’t have adequate resources to effectively combat the crisis in an impoverished area of the world that lacks an adequate health care infrastructure. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns the epidemic is out of control. But that group, which relies on donations from governments, may also be ill equipped to respond to it — WHO has been forced to cut its outbreak and emergency response budget in half because of dwindling contributions.
“To me, the situation in West Africa should be a wake-up call. This weakening of an institution on which we all depend on is in no one’s interest,” Dr. Scott Dowell, the head of global health security at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told NBC News. “In my view, there is no way the WHO can respond the way it needs to.”
Khan isn’t the only health care professional who’s recently contracted the dangerous disease. Some health providers have died after catching Ebola from their patients, including three nurses working alongside Khan at the same clinic. Sierra Leone’s Health Minister says she’ll do “anything and everything” in her power to ensure that Khan remains alive.
*****
Readers: I just read on the Huff Po last night that an U.S. aid worker contracted the Ebola virus and is being sent back to America to be treated. I HOPE that both he and Khan pull through. Sending them both healing thoughts.
Blog me.
Peace & Love…
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.
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August 1st, 2014 at 5:12 pm
Just read this story a few days ago…wishing them both the best. – ZL
August 1st, 2014 at 7:48 pm
Michelle: My old knee specialist belonged to “Doctors Without Borders” and was frequently making tours of the Caribbean Islands to treat the poor. He would volunteer his services several times a year, a very kind and compassionate doctor.
Too bad he retired, turned the practice over to his son, who is only in it for the money, and I can’t see his son due to insurance reasons, he is a freakin’ asshole anyways. Dad was a prince though.
So I can really emphasize with these doctors treating Ebola over there, and becoming sick themselves. An altruistic act for sure, maybe even giving their very lives for others, Hero’s without a doubt, and I would be willing to bet that “Doctors Without Borders” has a very low incidence of female sexual harassment.
I don’t know about the Ebola Virus, but I do know that U.S., British, and Dutch scientists genetically modified a virus found in monkeys to infect humans. The South Africans then used this new and deadly virus and infected truck drivers as to spread this virus along the South African West Coast, to thin out the black population of South Africa.
This became the birth of the AIDS Virus/H.I.V. In a horrible attempt at a Controlled Genocide, the AIDS Virus was unleashed upon the world. It spread quickly among prostitutes because of the nature of their many sexual encounters and among the Male Homo-Sexual population due to the many blood vessels found in the anal cavity.
MikeTM, had mentioned a very similar story about the origins of the Ebola Virus, don’t know for sure, but I have no doubt that his story is true. I will see what my resources reveal.
Mankind’s own inhumanity towards man is an evil without parallel. And is sickening beyond words.
August 1st, 2014 at 8:29 pm
Hi Linda: I am certainly naught all that wonderful, you are much too kind. Have you ever been caught by a connaught? You know, you aught naught even have bought that thought, not even by a connaught. Don’t even ask me why naught! It was all braught for a reason. Bye-Bye.
Al
August 1st, 2014 at 10:24 pm
It has become Socially Correct to hate Israel and feel sorry for Hamas and the Palestinians in the Mideast Conflict.
It began in European countries and spread around the world including the U.S.A.
It is cool to boycott Israel or compare them to Nazis when all they are doing is protecting their tiny country from thousands of missiles being launched from the Gaze Strip blindly into Israel and hitting modern cities just like the ones we live in in America where people go about their business just as we do.
While hiding behind the façade of Homes, Schools, and Hospitals containing human shields for the International Press to see so the citizens of the world to see and feel sorry for them.
Israel is the only nation to drop leaflets in Arabic and broadcast on Radio to warn the Arabs that an attack is coming to a certain neighborhood at such and such time and to get out if they wish to live.
No other country which is under missile attack would offer that concession to its enemy — yet Israel is compared to Nazis and Apartheid South Africans. The Gaza citizens offer themselves and their families as sacrifices to the international Press and get blown up as collateral damage after being warned.
Hamas has launched literally thousands of missiles neighborhoods from the Terrorist-controlled Gaza Strip into the legitimate Nation of Israel and killing truly innocent Men, Women and Children who are just going about their daily lives trying to live.
You ask yourselves: “Who are the bad guys in this scenario?”
Just because you see an Arab Woman crying or holding a dead child does not necessarily mean it was not planned because they will be blessed by Allah for giving their lives to the lie of Hamas and brainwashing the world into believing this nonsense.
It is sad that anyone must die, however this is WAR and people die in war on both sides. The point is who started it and who is stretching out this war by hiding behind human shields — even allowing tunnels to enter homes and basements in Gaza as an escape route for the Terrorists.
Once again I ask: Who is the Terrorist? Who is ge3tting missiles and equipment from Iran? It is unanimously Hamas and Gaza.
HOWIE
August 1st, 2014 at 11:44 pm
Respectfully Howie, I dont think it is socially acceptable to hate Israel. Quite the oppositie. I find those that question the heavy handed ness of the artillary, are labeled anti-semite in the US. If anyone I know says they think Palestine needs a state, they are labelled as terrorists, anti semite and un american. I dont believe the issue is that black and white, I think both sides of the peoples want peace. Those in charge, care less. You can hate the action of thecountrywithout hating the people. Most people just want to go about their daily lives peacefully.
Unfortunately the US government props israel, and the us doesn’t get the full story. Politicians want americans to hate the arabs. But from what I see, the arabs have some zealots running their government, not unlike the republicans in the US. I dont believe most palestinians support the war. they just want to raise families inther homeland, like anyone would. They are sufferining too. I’m not saying their right. I’m not saying israel doenst have the rigth to defend itslef. I am saying I persoannly believe most humans want peace. They just want to love their kids, till their land, live in peace. Anywhere in the wold. But our world is built by men needing to conquer each other and it will nto change until the women say no more. Again, respectfully, just my humble opinion. I would like to see people working together on global issues, not fighting over stuff they dont eaven own or ideas that others dont share.
August 1st, 2014 at 11:46 pm
and as far as missiles and equipment, it doesnt matter who give them to them. Let’s ask WHO manufacture them – they have blood their hands.
August 1st, 2014 at 11:48 pm
i love you Howie and all peoples. War is not one sided. Look deeper and see who supports and has to gain by the war. It is not the people wanting war.
August 2nd, 2014 at 7:20 am
Al, you are wonderful and you may be a little psychic also, if what I suspect is true that you know where I am from. I do not wish to appear to be a muppet. So I will just ask. Are you aware that I am not from America?
August 2nd, 2014 at 7:23 am
Howie, you make a salient point. Here in England, we accepted the Americans anger and their destroying Iraq even though they were not involved in the bombing of those two buildings in New York.
August 2nd, 2014 at 7:33 am
Gabrielle, the issue may not be that black and white but it is not as complicated as you seem to think. 1. Israel exists and that existence is not going away. The Palestinians refuse to accept that logic. They want to continue to believe that violence will eliminate Israel’s existence. So they don’t make serious attempts to make peace and get along with their lives.
Israel can’t be expected to continue to make concessions with a people with that philosophy. Would you continue to attempt to make peace with you neighbor if he used the proximity of his house to attack the members of your family because it was his belief that you didn’t have the right to own your home?
I doubt it. You are like so many others who pontificate about what should be, when it isn’t your life being threatened. I would be more interested in your opinion if you spoke from the point of view of how much death would you accept from your attacker before you decided to fence off your home and arm yourself.
August 2nd, 2014 at 7:41 am
Normally I would agree with you Gabrielle#7, but in this case it is not about who is arming them, it is about attitude. The Palestinians cannot turn back the clock. To continue a policy of aggression against a country because you believe that country doesn’t have the right to exist will only make the country take more and more drastic measures to protect the lives of its citizens from your aggression.
Here we have exactly that and the insane thing is people in other countries who know this to be the case argue that Israel shouldn’t be as aggressive in defending their citizens as the Palestinians are in attempting to murder, maim or kidnap theirs.
If it them or theirs being bombed on a daily basis, they would be demanding that their country do whatever was necessary to defend them. That is what Israel is doing Hypocrites spout this nonsense that Israel should not be as aggressive as they are.
Israel could bomb the Gaza Strip into oblivion and move in and take the entire strip over. But they are simply trying to remove the treat to their citizens as best they can with as little damage to the civilians as they can.
August 2nd, 2014 at 7:49 am
Howie, I feel for the people of Israel. They live next to a group of men who are as self centered as any man could be.
These men have no sympathy for their women. They ins lave them for their pleasure. They have set up a system so that they can kill them at will and it is legal as an “honor” thing.
Why any thinking woman would want to extend the existence of that kind of civilization is incredible to me.
Those men are not fighting to protect their women and children (at least not the female children). They are all about themselves. Their females have more to fear from their muslim male masters than they have from any Israeli.
August 2nd, 2014 at 8:20 am
Irene your last paragraph could be describing the US too. Almost any country really. Men can kill each other for all I care but leave the women out of it!
August 2nd, 2014 at 8:38 am
Aldofo#10. I agree with you, but to be more specific it is not the Palestinians who are against Israel’ existence it is the Palestinian MEN who are against the existence of Israel.
Those misogynistic men see a system that doesn’t enslave their women too close for comfort. They feel the threat that Israel poses which is Palestinian women may get the idea that they shouldn’t be treated like a piece of sex meat.
Palestinian men are just a little short of animals when it comes to logic because they only see injury to themselves not the harm they do to their females, much less others. They have no tolerance for any compromises on any subject. They only see the world through a narrow prism of their own needs and wants.
Their attitude is give me what I want or I will kill you in the name of my god. That is evident in their every day philosophy and terror they bring to their females.
I can see men overlooking muslim men’s systemic brutality towards females because as men they would never be subject to being treated as cattle if they were part of that draconian system.
But for god’s sake why women like Gabrielle#5,6,7, would get sucked into that stupid argument of seeing a point of view from these men is just bizarre!
It is like what most white women in America do when they argue the merits of our two principle political parties, the Republicans and Democrats.
Duh, that would be a man’s argument because in either party they get to be treated equally. But for a woman in America the only Party that is viable to her is the Democratic one because the other seeks to keep her a second class citizen in her own country.
So for American women who the fuck cares what other “principles” the Republican party espouses, the only one that should count to a “THINKING” female in America is the one about EQUALITY.
Howie, obviously Gabrielle is one of those american white women who is as dumb as a box of rocks.
Just tell the idiot that the only thing that should matter to her is the welfare of the Palestinian women. And as long as the Palestinian men continue to terrorize them, Gabrielle has no dog in this discussion of what Palestinian men want.
Who gives a fuck what Palestinian men want. Let the violent bastards kill each other. We women want to be treated equally wherever we may reside on this planet.
August 2nd, 2014 at 8:40 am
Leave it to the gays to show others the way!
Muslim movement accepts once-taboo causes
GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press
Aug 2, 2014 06:20 AM
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Omar Akersim prays regularly and observes the dawn-to-dusk Ramadan fast. He is also openly gay.
Akersim, 26, is part of a small but growing number of American Muslims challenging the long-standing interpretations of Islam that defined their parents’ world. They believe that one can be gay and Muslim; that the sexes can pray shoulder-to-shoulder; that females can preach and that Muslim women can marry outside the faith — and they point to Quran passages to back them up.
The shift comes as young American Muslims work to reshape the faith they grew up with so it fits better with their complex, dual identity, with one foot in the world of their parents’ immigrant beliefs and one foot in the ever-shifting cultural landscape of America. The result has been a growing internal dialogue about what it means to be Muslim, as well as a scholarly effort to re-examine the Quran for new interpretations that challenge rules that had seemed set in stone.
“Islam in America is being forced to kind of change and to reevaluate its positions on things like homosexuality because of how we’re moving forward culturally as a nation. It’s striving to make itself seen and known in the cultural fabric and to do that, it does have to evolve,” said Akersim, who leads a Los Angeles-based support group for gay Muslims. “Ten or 15 years ago, this would have been impossible.”
The shift doesn’t end with breaking obvious taboos, either. Young American Muslims are making forays into fashion, music (Islamic punk rock, anyone?) and stirring things up with unorthodox takes on staples of American pop culture. A recent controversial YouTube video, for example, shows Muslim hipsters — or “Mipsterz” — skateboarding in head scarves and skinny jeans as Jay-Z’s “Somewhere in America” blasts in the background.
Nearly 40 percent of the estimated 2.75 million Muslims in the U.S. are American-born and the number is growing, with the Muslim population skewing younger than the U.S. population at large, according to a 2011 Pew Research Center survey.
Advocates for a more tolerant Islam say the constraints on interfaith marriage and homosexuality aren’t in the Quran, but are based on conservative interpretations of Islamic law that have no place in the U.S. Historically, in many Muslim countries, there are instances of unsegregated prayers and interfaith marriage.
“I think it’s fair to say the traditional Islam that we experienced excluded a lot of Muslims that were on the margins. I always felt not very welcomed by the type of Islam my parents practiced,” said Tanzila Ahmed, 35, who published an anthology of love stories by Muslim American women in 2012 called “Love Inshallah.”
Many second-generation American Muslims still practice their faith in traditional ways, but others are starting to see the Islam of their parents as more of a cultural identity, said Dr. Yvonne Haddad, a Georgetown University professor who has written extensively about Islam’s integration into U.S. society.
As a result, there’s a new emphasis on meeting for prayer and socializing in neutral spaces, such as community centers, instead of mosques, and on universal inclusion.
“Some of them still want a mosque, they still want to belong and to pray and others are shifting and they are very comfortable being non-religious,” Haddad said. “These people feel that they can get rid of the hang-ups of what the culture has defined as Muslim and maintain the beliefs and values, the spiritual values, and feel very comfortable by shedding all the other restrictions that society has put on them.”
In Los Angeles, a religious group called Muslims for Progressive Values has been pushing the boundaries with a female imam who performs same-sex and interfaith marriages, support groups for gay Muslims and a worship style that includes women giving sermons and men and women praying together. The group has chapters in half a dozen major U.S. cities and at least six foreign countries and last year was recognized by the United Nations as an official non-governmental organization.
Founder Ani Zonneveld, a Muslim singer and songwriter of Malaysian descent, started the group in 2007 after she recorded some Islamic pop music that generated a backlash because it featured a Muslim woman singing.
“For us, the interpretation of Islam is egalitarian values — and by egalitarian it’s not just words that we speak. It’s practice,” she said. “It’s freedom of religion and from religion, too.”
Akersim, the gay Muslim, knows first-hand how hard this shift will be.
Last year, he fled his parents’ home in the middle of the night after they called him at work and demanded to know when he was going to get married. He stays in touch with his mother, but hasn’t spoken to his father in a year and a half.
Now, he avoids mosques but prays privately. He has no regrets about coming out, he said.
“All these struggles that I’ve had to endure have only brought me closer to God,” Akersim said. “Within that storm, I feel like I’ve been able to persevere because of my faith, because of this strength from God.”
___
Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus
August 2nd, 2014 at 8:44 am
Mary#13, you are being a bit too cute, like some of those republican women when they argue against women having abortion rights.
In NO way is the position of American women like that of muslim women around the world. If women like us who are more fortunate than our sisters around the world don’t stand up and try to bring them at least to the parity we have, how will we be able to count on them to help us in our struggle to gain parity with men the world over?
Stop the silly bullshit arguments men use to trivolize our quest for equality. You do no women a service by that inane remark.
August 2nd, 2014 at 8:45 am
Sorry for the hurt in your heart alycedale. You ascribe traits to me simply not true. I don’t support Palestinian men. I don’t support war no way. And I don’t support women hate on other women!
August 2nd, 2014 at 8:49 am
Phyllis. You’re blind to your own existence. Probably white too.
August 2nd, 2014 at 8:51 am
Kelly#15, once again it is about men. Why should we women give a fuck about how arab men treat arab men?
Are you brain dead or what? How the fuck does that help the arab woman who can’t even look at a man without being subject to murder by any male if her family?
Are you such a simpleton that you can’t get that men treating each other kindly in that system has nothing to do with the predicament arab women live in daily? Does the words “honor killing” mean any thing to that vapid head of yours?
If it does, then you must know that however those misogynistic bastards treat each other, they still retain the right to “honor kill” a female that misbehaves.
So what woman should give a fuck about how they treat their gay MEN?
August 2nd, 2014 at 8:56 am
Mary#18, yes I am a white woman and very proud to be one. But that doesn’t get you off the hook. You still didn’t address the main point of my post which is you can hardly compare the state of my existence in this country as a woman to that of our arab sisters under foot of those child men wanting to keep women as sexual slaves.
I noticed that you didn’t address that point. For good reason as you would have a leg to stand on.
Woman up and admit you are talking apple and oranges. Sure we still have a ways to go for equality in America, but to compare it to the ordeal our sisters in muslim countries live under is ludicrous.
August 2nd, 2014 at 8:58 am
Mary#18, yeah you are probably right, but you are a white republican woman. Your inability to comprehend a basic difference in logic says so.
August 2nd, 2014 at 9:02 am
Gabrielle, if your neighbor was tunneling under your house attempting to kill, torture, or kidnap one of your family members would you be so considerate?
Please explain to me why the perpetrator has the right to tell the victim how much force he/she can use to repel his crimes against him/her?
August 2nd, 2014 at 9:12 am
Gabrielle#17, “… I don’t support women hate on other women!”
Empty words spoken so many times by republican women as they lock-step vote for or back legislation which deprives women in America access to choice
If you don’t support hate on women, why are you posting that crap about Palestinian men needing to be understood?
War is necessary when someone or some country commits a senseless act of terror or aggression towards you. Remember 9/11? You wanted revenge against the perpetrators.
Unfortunately, your criminal president used it to carry out his own agenda. But your country had a right to avenge their citizens and send a message to others that you would not accept attacks upon the citizens or land of America.
What did you expect? A polite conversation with a people who have demonstrated they will use violence to get their point across?
If you are not operating with common sense, you will end up taking a knife to a gun fight. You cannot negotiate with words with people who have guns AND who have demonstrated they will use them to get their way.
Sure in a perfect world, talk is all it takes. But try that on a man intent upon raping you.
August 2nd, 2014 at 9:48 am
#17″Sorry for the hurt in your heart alycedale” – Don’t condescend to me Gabrielle.
That “hurt” you refer to is direct from the hate, terror, rape, and murder white men in America has visited upon me and my race. It is a real experience I have seen and felt.
In 1961 my aunt worked in a store to feed her family. She was forced to allow the white owner to grope her or be fired. Blacks didn’t have the right to testify against white men in most courts of law in the South.
For your information, I would prefer to to not have this hurt in my heart. You try living with the memories I have seen. My best friend called me to help her because she wanted to commit suicide when she saw her brother hanging from a light post.
Have you ever seen a 16 year old boy hanging from a light post? What would that do your heart and dreams? And that is but one of the evils I have seen and had to put up with from white America?
August 2nd, 2014 at 9:54 am
Al, Send me a poem too. I am a big admirer of your posts. I live in LA. I would love to come to visit you.
August 2nd, 2014 at 10:29 am
Al, sometimes we women can be difficult at times too. We are not perfect. I would like to get to know you better. I am 37, divorced with two children, ages 17 and 15.
I am very well off so I don’t need any financial help from a man. I would like to meet one that isn’t intimidated by my money or attitude. You seem like just the man.
Let’s be friends with possibilities.