First Amendment Day Celebration!

Rev. Barry Lynn as keynote speaker discussing Freedom of Religion, Cary Clack of the SA Express News and Greg Harman of the SA Current discussing Freedom of the Press plus much more.

Letter to the editor responding to calls to defund Planned Parenthood

In Beverly Nuckols' letter of March 28 she seems quite concerned that her tax dollars shouldn’t be spent on safe, legal medical procedures for women. Republicans in Congress want to deny government employees insurance coverage for that same medical procedure because tax dollars pay for that insurance.

I want them consider something similar for men. As a tax payer I am offended that my tax dollars and insurance premiums go to pay for penile implants and erectile dysfunction drugs for 70 year old unmarried men.

In addition since Ms. Nuckols will certainly justify her objection to abortions on religious grounds then to be logically consistent she should consider that if God intended everyone to be able to procreate then they would, therefore since some men can’t it must be because God intended it that way and we have no business intervening with modern medicine. Of course by extension then all of modern medicine is questionable. Should we stop repairing defective heart valves in newborns? What about surgery to correct cleft palates and hare lips? Should we stop treating cancer?

I’m 81 years old and I’ve seen a lot over the years, I find Ms. Nuckols desire to force her version of morality down the throats of everyone else particularly offensive.

Dan Ramos has finally gone completely over the edge

Speaking to a reporter from the San Antonio Current Dan Ramos liken our local Stonewall Democrats to Nazis. He also made a slur about blacks. See the article here; http://blogs.sacurrent.com/?p=6445&cpage=1#comment-939

Dirty Air Act

If you want to know more about the Dirty Air Act, by Fred Upton (R-MI), go to the Union of Concerned Scientists website ucsusa.org . In features tab click Attack on the Clean Air Act. I received an email. It asks you to take action by writing your representative. I wrote to Canseco. Congress will be voting soon on this. This bill weakens the actions of the EPA.

Student Peace Summit April 2 in Schertz - pass it on to teachers and students

Imagine 2011

Student Peace Summit

Saturday, April 2

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one…”

Do you believe in Peace?

Do you care about the Earth?

Are you ready to be the change you wish to see in the world?

~~~ One Day of Peace, Love, Learning & Music! ~~~

·        Meet other students who share your ideals and goals

·        Hear from leaders in the peace movement

·        Join in workshops with experts and activists

·        Share your stories in the Service Project Fair

·        Team up for hands-on service learning projects

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everyone is invited to join us afterwards for Imagine Café, a “coffee shop” venue in which we share our talents. Bring your instruments, voices, poetry, dance and art! Feel free to perform or just watch the show! A café style supper will be served-- deli sandwiches, bakery treats, and choice of beverage.

Hosted by:

Students for a Peaceful Society

Samuel Clemens High School

Schertz, Texas

$20 registration fee includes Imagine 2011 t-shirt, breakfast, lunch, and materials.

Add $3 for supper and admission to Imagine Café.

For more information and registration forms, email: imaginestudentpeacesummit@gmail.com

Please Note: Deadline for registration and payment is Friday, March 4, 2011

Friends,

There are two very important issues we need to continue to work on to restore an effective democracy to our country. The first is the public funding of elections and the second is redistricting reform.

I have been working for years to bring forth a public elections funding bill. I plan to submit to some of our legislative friends a proposal for the public funding of some Judicial elections in Texas. I will keep you posted on how that goes. Along with that I have attempted twice before to get a referendum on the Democratic Party Primary ballot enabling Democratic voters to declare their support for the public funding of campaigns. I have been twice rebuffed by the State Democratic Executive Committee in this effort. I will try once again for the 2012 Primary.

On the matter of redistricting reform I have submitted a plan twice to the Texas Legislature for the establishment of an independent Texas Redistricting Commission. I have had some legislative support and our proposal has had hearings by legislative committees, but the issue has been left without a committee vote to move it forward to the entire Legislature. I will once again present this proposal to the current Texas Legislature in hopes of gaining more support and a presentation to the entire legislature for a vote.

Again I will keep you informed on how this goes.

I ask you to speak to and write to your friends and legislative representatives and ask them to step up and support these critical issues.

Thanks,

John C.

hola, amigos!

Dining With Democrats, NEBCD Fundraiser April 30

Save the Date! Dining With Democrats, the annual fundraiser of the North East Bexar County Democrats, will be held Saturday, April 30, 2011, at the Fort Sam Houston Golf Club.  For more information visit nebcd.org.