WOULD THE REAL TEA PARTY PLEASE STAND UP??!!
TWO WEEKS TO EXAMINE T-SPLOST PROJECTS FOR MERIT AND GIVE OPINIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSED REFERENDUM... WHAT’S IN A NAME? APPARENTLY A LOT.... BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA IS A MUSLIM NAME, AND AS IT TURNS OUT, HE HAS OTHER NAMES... BARRY SOETORO AND HARRISON J. BOUNEL, ASSOCIATED WITH 50 DIFFERENT ADDRESSES, A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, THAT TIE DEBTS TO HIM AND MICHELLE OBAMA: THIS IS THE INFORMATION THAT’S BEEN SUPPRESSED FROM THE PUBLIC, VERIFIED BY A DEBT COLLECTOR THAT OBAMA IS INDEED A FRAUD, WAS A FRAUD, AND HAS BROKEN HIS OATH. I’D EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO SUGGEST HE MAY BE A PLANT OF SOME KIND: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tnou3uWpnyXoE2k6JpnqHglJ2bw1on1X55u6UE46BEU/edit

Tea Party Sees Ruling As New Rallying Cry

by DON GONYEA
Kris Connor/Getty Images
Tea Party activists say the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act could re-energize their movement, just in time for this fall's election.
June 29, 2012
Some of the earliest and most vocal opponents of President Obama's health care law were members of the Tea Party. In fact, health care quickly became the issue fueling the rise of the movement.
Anger over the Affordable Care Act drove the Tea Party and Republicans to big gains in the 2010 elections, but since then the movement has seen its prominence and influence wane.
Now, Tea Party activists say the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the law will reignite that original passion in time for this fall's election.
Call For Repeal Continues
The Tea Party was present and accounted for in large numbers on the steps outside the Supreme Court on Thursday as details of the ruling spread. But as disappointing as the 5-4 decision was for activists, their focus quickly shifted to the fight ahead.
"Let us not forget that it was a Democrat president, a Democrat Senate, a Democrat House of Representatives that chose for the first time in the history of the United States to force the American people to buy a product or service against their will," Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., told Tea Party activists outside the court.
Tea Party member Dina Littlehouse, a mother of two from Virginia, said she was using the ruling as a teachable moment for her young kids, standing by her side outside the court.
"I need them to understand that freedom is always in danger," said Littlehouse. "And I need them to use every civil means possible to fight against it and to reinstitute freedom in our society."
David Spielman is a campaign coordinator with FreedomWorks, a group that was instrumental in launching the Tea Party movement back in 2009. He saw a silver lining in Thursday's ruling.
"It refocuses us for 2012. We need to focus on flipping the Senate and getting a new conservative majority, kicking [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid [D-Nev.] out of his position. And we need to beat Obama," said Spielman.
Since the 2010 elections, the Tea Party has been somewhat eclipsed in Republican politics by the party's leadership in Congress and by the long fight for the presidential nomination. Public approval for the Tea Party has fallen off significantly as well.
But this loss in the Supreme Court could provide a brand new rallying cry.
David Cohen, a political scientist at the University of Akron, shares this anecdote from moments after the Supreme Court ruling came down:
"I got a text from a friend who said, 'Can you say Tea Party? I'm joining.' And I think that captures a lot of the sentiment out there of people that maybe were standing on the sidelines interested in politics, maybe angry about some things, and this certainly is going to be one of those formative moments that may push some people to actually get involved," Cohen said.
November Implications
Cohen notes that absent the effort to overhaul the nation's health care system, there might not even be a Tea Party. But he cautions that this is a two-edged sword for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
"First of all, it's going to energize a base that hasn't been that crazy about him," he said.
That helps Romney. But the more Romney says things the Tea Party likes, the more he could be hurt with the independent voters he needs in the general election, said Cohen.
"There's no question that Romney could be hurt with independents if he continues to hold a hard right position on issues like health care," Cohen said.
For those already aligned with the Tea Party, the court's ruling underscores the importance of this November. And they promise to be more visible and audible than ever.
"This is not over," said Keli Carender, a national grass-roots director for the Tea Party Patriots, protesting outside the Supreme Court on Thursday. "And if you thought that November 2010 was historic, you just wait for November 2012."

LIKE MOST PEOPLE, EVERYONE JUST ACCEPTED THAT OBAMA’S NAME IS BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA. NOW, WHY THEY DIDN’T JUST BLOW THEIR HEADS OFF THAT HIS MIDDLE NAME IS THE SAME AS SADDAM HUSSEIN, I WILL NEVER KNOW. PROBABLY BECAUSE WE JUST ASSUMED HE WAS AFRICAN AMERICAN, WHEN HE’S REALLY A KENYAN BY BIRTH AND MUSLIM BY FORMATIVE YEARS SCHOOLED AT A MADRASSA USING THE KORAN, NOT THE CHRISTIAN HE PURPORTED TO BE OR LEAD EVERYONE TO BELIEVE IN 2008 THAT HE HAD CONVERTED FROM HIS CHILDHOOD ROOTS.

Aja Brooks

5 hours ago via Twitter

If your Muslim name is @BarackObama and you claim Christianity, why have you not changed name back to #BarrySoetoro or #HarrisonJBounel ?

Barack Obama (BarackObama) on Twitter

twitter.com/BarackObama

This account is run by #Obama2012 campaign staff. Tweets from the President are signed -bo.

@2012_TeaParty on Twitter · via Twitter

Update: The Plot Thickens: Debt Collector; Obama's Connecticut Social Security Number Also Tied To An Alias Harrison J Bounel...

OBAMARELEASE YOURRECORDS ON 7:36 PM |

[update below] Video: The Plot Thickens: Debt Collector; Obama's Social Security number reserved for Connecticut applicantsalso tied to an Alias Harrison J Bounel. The debt collector also claims Obama has used two other Social Security numbers in Illinois. This interview covers several issues ranging from O's SS# to his property tax filings in Chicago to 50+ different addresses tied to Obama and Michelle across the country. The interview aired on TruNews Radio 5/18/2011.

Search records and pertinent links embedded below video...

UPDATE: Is this Harrison Bounel name Related or Connected to the Michele Robinson Family Tree?

First Evidence Dump Showing Obama’s Alias and the Owners of 5046 S Greenwood Ave.

The information (attachment here) that I am about to share is what I pulled the very first day when I discovered that Barack H Obama has an alias “Bounel Harrison J / Harrison J Bounel that is using the current SSN that he has. My initial discovery was by pure accident as I was “Skip Tracing a debtor who just happened to live in Chicago. I could not get a current phone number and address for this individual so I began to back-track her addresses and low-and-behold, Barack Obama’s name showed up as neighbor to this individual back in the 90’s.

When I clicked on his name and the address of 5046 S Greenwood Ave., Chicago, IL 60615, this is what I pulled. All the information is factual as I have had this information verified by a second individual who has been a PI for 20 years and I also did reverse searches with my specialized software and database searches.

Q: Why is a Obama contributor and a Chicago sitting Circuit Court Judge listed as an owner of 5046 S Greenwood Ave.?

Is that illegal?

Q: Why is a partner at the accounting firm that did the Obama’s taxes listed as an owner of 5046 S Greenwood Ave.?

Is that illegal?

Q: Why does 5046 AS Greenwood Ave. have two different PIN #s.

As per Cook County Recorder of Deeds (CCRD):

PIN# 20-11-115-037-0000 does not exist, yet exists with the Treasurer’s Office and exists at the Assessor’s.

PIN# 20-11-115-027-0000 as per the CCRD belongs to a vacant lot on Hyde Park and as per the Treasurer’s Office and the Assessors Offices it belongs to the (Rear Apt) at 5046 S Greenwood Ave. -Source.

Evidence Dump #2 – A “No Hit” on SSN 042-68-4425 and a second Property Search for 5046 S Greenwood Ave. [pertinent search records embedded below]

Earlier last week I completed yet a third pull of Barack H Obama’s supposed SSN 042-68-4425 and yet again I get the same results. I had to triple-check my findings again just to make sure I was correct. All results were “No Hits” telling me again that the SSN number either does not exist, or it has been scrubbed. Now, I want to make perfectly clear that all of my information is gathered by accessing public records only, so the information on every database that I have access to is up to date.

I also completed a “Collectability Score Result Search” which when used tells me how easily I will be able to collect a debt from the individual entered into the database search. I used Barack Obama again for a second time the other day. Again the result came back with a 257/637 with 637 being the highest probability of collection and 257 being a mid range probability. The Yellow Code and the low probability score is indicative of the individual being searched as a medium risk due to a lack of “Address Stability”. The print-out also came back with the result showing again that the Obama’s are not home owners and own no property with no property records being returned. Again the databases do not and cannot lie.

It also needs to be noted that The Northern Trust, Trust # 10209 is the owner of 5046 S Greenwood Ave and not the Obama’s. With that being said, could any person come to the conclusion that if the Obama’s are not the actual owners of 5046 S Greenwood Ave., Chicago, IL 60615 then should not the Trust which is a “Non Living Entity” be paying the $3,187.61 per day cost for the security of the residence and not the American People? Furthermore, if that is the case then should not the Obama’s be reimbursing someone? -snip- Source: http://theobamahustle.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/evidence-dump-2-a-no-hit-on-ssn-042-68-4425-and-a-second-property-search-for-5046-s-greenwood-ave

Obama's Connecticut Social Security Number Also Tied To An Alias Harrison J Bounel

Collectability Score Results for Barack H Obama.

ADDRESSES http://www.scribd.com/embeds/55859176/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-1qenimg88pqbqnq9aiaz

Confirmed: Democratic Party of Hawaii would not certify in 2008 that Obama was constitutionally and legally eligible for the Office of President -Details here.

Notre Dame Professor Charles Rice: Obama's eligibility could be biggest political fraud in the history of the world; time for a new approach -Details here.

Attorney Mario Apuzzo: All presidents born after 1787, except for Chester Arthur and Barack Obama, met the “natural born Citizen” criteria. -Details here.

Commander Charles Kerchner: List of U.S. Presidents - Eligibility under Article II Grandfather Clause (GFC) or Natural Born Citizen (NBC) Clause or Seated due to Election Fraud -Details here.

Jack Cashill Discusses Obama's Fraudulent Social Security Number Reserved for Connecticut Applicants -Video here.

Detailed reports on Obama's SS# can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here,here and here. Visit the Birther Vault for the long list of evidence against Hawaii officials and all of the people questioning Obama's eligibility; [http://obamareleaseyourrecords.blogspot.com/2010/08/video-ltc-terry-lakins-attorney-on-cnn.html].

Obama Long Form Birth Certificate Forged - Wash Times National Weekly Edition 20110516 pg 5

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OKAY, OKAY.... SO YOU SAY RELIGION ISN’T THAT IMPORTANT?

WE ARE COMING AGAINST OBAMA IN PRAYER, FOR HIS TREASON WITH CHINA AND OTHER MATTERS:

by Aja Brooks on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 12:12pm ·

CHEROKEE NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
CHIEF AJA BROOKS, CHEROKEE TRIBE/BIRD CLAN
5916 EAST LAKE PKWY. SUITE #107
MCDONOUGH, GA 30253
email: teapartychief@gmail.com


Greetings to all of the Cherokee Nation, elders, respective tribes and recognized clans of the United States:

My name is Aja Brooks, I am descended from my Great grandmother’s line of Cherokee (her father was full-blooded), and my grandmother Peggy Lou Brooks, maiden name Robbins (her grandfather was full blooded) taught me of natural medicine and the Way before her death in 2007. My father is of the deer clan. I have bird and deer clan in my family. While I would like to research my ancestry more, my grandmother’s records contain this rich family history. It is for this reason that I communicate with you today:

My Great-great grandfather’s legacy contradicts the invasive government of today. While I would like to say that the tone of this letter is one of joyful celebration, or that we have realized the actualization of peace as prophesied by the appearance of the white buffalo calf in 1994, I am very concerned as with others a tide of violence against the current governing powers that be. We called for the resignation of Obama last year, regarding his non-citizen status, at which time, cries for his assassination by the general public were only silenced by Congress’ progression towards impeachment proceedings. This matter as being pressed for by several Congressmen in Georgia and those of my own party. At that time, we believed that impeachment was the civil way to redress the grievances being laid at our feet, for due process and to retain peace.

Now it seems that the Supreme Court is reluctant to touch the matter, despite a 22-page report from the FBI regarding the criminality of this disputed non-citizen status of Obama. As with the 2008 election, the court insisted that it was waiting for the plea agreement from Obama’s fundraiser Tony Rezko before pressing him with election fraud for the DNC’s failure to do so, and for the election committee conspiring with them to overlook sufficient investigation of these inquiries.

Over the past year, something more sinister has occurred, my reason for writing you this day 7-7-2011:
While some of this goes back further than just last year, it is important for back drop purposes. In 2008, Obama was implicated with fraudulent donations from two Hamas brothers giving him monetary gifts to lobby him for the New Palestine, a direct violation of lawful lobbying rules and conflict of the United States’ interest with Israel. While this was dropped from lobbying records, it did indeed occur, and only when he was called out on it did he return the money in order not to face ethics charges. Shortly thereafter, the oil rig exploded in the Gulf, and some believe tampering or the possibility of it being an act of terrorism. Our country has also been subject to a security threat once a month during the first year of this sham Administration, and the ties to corruption go further recently with Obama conspiring with the Chinese.
He lobbied China from their last visit to the White House, in which 59,000 fake missile tracker chips were purchased by our Navy, and not only were they defective, they also came equipped with a back door feature that permitted the Chinese to disable them at-will, remotely at their whim. Not only were we stuck with the exorbitant cost to our defense budget, that China imposed with this contract to levy retribution from our debt by defrauding our Navy, Obama and the Chinese imperiled our entire military that could have relied upon their good faith of providing us weaponry that would have failed in our hour of need. Thus, I am further convinced by Obama’s own actions that he is not just a non-citizen illegally occupying the Office without preclusion of Constitutional amendment, but that he is an enemy within.

The exacerbation over the Congressional budget has brought this to head, with Obama wasting $9 trillion in less than 3yrs., outspending any President in the history of the United States. Taking this to heart with his actions of covert war with the Chinese, and his refusal to cut anything from his 2010 budget to avoid the $1.7 trillion dollar vacuum that puts us into the debt supercycle on 8-2-2011, I believe this is intentional on Obama’s part and that he hopes to make us vulnerable to attack on our own soil; with half the value of the Treasury given in pledge to other countries based on these debts his Administration has created in less than 3yrs., is indeed not just a matter of ineptitude, but one of sabotage.

While we have demanded that Congress impeach him by September 2011, in order that we may cut these commitments to the 2010 budget, Obama also refused to write a budget for the 2011 fiscal year, so the cries for his death again have become louder since Congress has not formally impeached him from last year’s request.

While I did tell him that I could order a directive to have him scalped as a Cherokee, as I am very angry with his imposition of H.R. 4872 upon the entire country which does not protect or address the health of Native Americans or our way of life, instead I told him that I would petition the Native American Council to come against him specifically in prayer. We have asked Christians to join against him too in prayer in peaceful resistance, for the treason that he’s committed with China, and we will now boycott Chinese goods. If Congress fails to impeach Obama to protect his life, his blood will be on their hands. It is interesting to note that subsequent investigation of the J.F.K. assassination, that he was murdered in a conspiracy involving Chase Bank, to the tune of $4 billion in silver certificates that would’ve interfered with them making money off of taxpayers in tough economic times. In as much after Kennedy ordered issuance, that these were then taken out of production after his death. Since then, we have gone from an era of demanding accountability and truth to perpetuating and expanding a government machine; lies for political gain, corruption, and conspiracy at such heights and depths of evil that it can no longer be cajoled, tolerated, or left to nought without serious repercussions to befall our entire country.

What I mean now is, Obama intends to finance his 2012 campaign with money from the Muslim Brotherhood. This is the reason for the Weiner-gate scandal, in which Anthony Weiner married a daughter of prominent Muslim Brotherhood association. When Weiner won the NYC mayoral race, he would give the money to the DNC to finance Obama’s nest egg campaign for 2012. The Muslim Brotherhood believes that “Islam is the solution”. There is no room for religious freedom from that singular political scope! C.A.I.R., mosques, and Muslim moderates have also been investigated since 9/11/01, and they have been overtly funding or covertly funding acts of terrorism around the world and are being used as recruitment stations and hideouts for radical theology, the Taliban, and Al Qaida. While Muslims have demanded equal rights and respect of their religion, we do not recognize or respect them until they respect us: until they purge the pollution of the law of abrogation from their interpretation of the Quran and Sura http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150244545516225 that defines Christianity as idolatry.

I am sure that my concerns are duly noted, and that I am not alone. I intend to honor a fast now through 9/11/11 to address these matters through prayer, and I invite you to join me in doing so. There are many ways to go about this, and God has been swift to answer me in various ways regarding my other concerns. This will be no different. I petition that you join me before we take measure to act upon this knowledge. Please feel free to share, post, or recirculate this within your communities, councils, and fireside circles.

May the blessings of the Great Spirit take you over, that peace is sought but it must be maintained as well, and this can only be done through prayer and earnest examination of the truth. I am not afraid of Obama, his Mungiki, or his evil plans, but I am afraid what end I would meet if I did not honor the Great Spirit in addressing you this day.

-Ms. Aja Brooks
GA Tea Party Chief

--
"THE RESTORE AMERICA ACT OF 2012" also known as the '2011-2012 6pt. Tea Party Deficit Reduction Strategy':http://t.co/p63iYHk
ga-teapartychief.blogspot.com

CREATIVE INNOVATIONS
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Production hours:
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Find me online by typing Creative Innovations,
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TEA PARTY LITERATURE 2009-2011 ARCHIVES:  
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=365798615431
In 2yrs. "The Synthesis" online viewership is 2,000 through direct email, 10,000+ through Facebook Group Sharing. This is not counting twitter audiences, or resharing, which is 4x that, and circulates political circles w/in a month of released edition.
Here are my online listings:
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• Deb Walls likes this.

WHILE THE TRADITIONAL AFRICAN RELIGIONS ARE NOT WIDELY PRACTICED, THEY ARE COMBINED WITH CHRISTIANITY, FORMING A HODGEPODGE OF BELIEFS http://www.kenya-information-guide.com/kenya-religion.html

OBAMA’S TRIBAL ROOTS/RELIGION(S):

Kenya Religion

As far as Kenya religion is concerned, the Constitution of Kenya guarantees freedom of religion and worship to its people.

The vast majority of Kenyans are Christians, and the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches are the most established Christian denominations. Other well established African religions and denominations include the African Inland Church (AIC), Seventh Day Adventists (SDA), and the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA).
In addition, there are a number of Evangelical churches and Independent African Christian churches.
Islam is the other major religion in Kenya. Followers include both Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims. The largest number of Muslims in Kenya are found in Mombasa and the neighboring coastal regions, as well as the northeastern regions of Kenya. Nairobi also has numerous mosques and a notable Muslim following.
Many of the traditional African religions are no longer widely practiced. Some of the denominations considered as indigenous religions combine aspects of Christianity with traditional religious beliefs. One of these denominations is Dini ya Msambwa, found mostly in Kenya's Western province.
The few Kenyans who adhere to Hinduism and Sikhism are mostly Indians. They reside in most major towns and cities across Kenya.
The following statistics show Kenya's most recent religious composition:
Christian-Protestant 45% (This includes the Anglican Church of Kenya)
Roman Catholic 33%
Islam 10%
Indigenous Religions 10%
Other 2%

THIS HODGEPODGE BELIEF SYSTEM CREATED VOODOO IN HAITI.... THE COMBINATION OF ROMAN CATHOLIC BELIEFS USED TO DISGUISE SACRIFICES TO IDOLS AND OTHER SINISTER PRACTICES...

Haitian Voodoo

Roman Catholicism is the official religion of Haiti, but voodoo may be considered the country's national religion. The majority of Haitians believe in and practice at least some aspects of voodoo. Most voodooists believe that their religion can coexist with Catholicism.

*

A large sequined Vodoo flag by the artist George Valris, depicting the symbol of the loa Loko Atison.

Misconceptions about voodoo have given Haiti a reputation for sorcery and zombies. Popular images of voodoo have ignored the religion's basis as a domestic cult of family spirits. Adherents of voodoo do not perceive themselves as members of a separate religion; they consider themselves Roman Catholics. In fact, the word for voodoo does not even exist in rural Haiti. The Creole wordvodoun refers to a kind of dance and in some areas to a category of spirits. Roman Catholics who are active voodooists say that they "serve the spirits," but they do not consider that practice as something outside of Roman Catholicism. Haitians also distinguish between the service of family spirits and the practice of magic and sorcery
The belief system of voodoo revolves around family spirits (often called loua or mistË) who are inherited through maternal and paternal lines. Loua protect their "children" from misfortune. In return, families must "feed" the loua through periodic rituals in which food, drink, and other gifts are offered to the spirits. There are two kinds of services for the loua. The first is held once a year; the second is conducted much less frequently, usually only once a generation. Many poor families, however, wait until they feel a need to restore their relationship with their spirits before they conduct a service. Services are usually held at a sanctuary on family land
In voodoo, there are many loua. Although there is considerable variation among families and regions, there are generally two groups of loua, the rada and the petro. The rada spirits are mostly seen as "sweet" loua, while the petro are seen as "bitter" because they are more demanding of their "children." Rada spirits appear to be of African origin while petro spirits appear to be of Haitian origin
Loua are usually anthropomorphic and have distinct identities. They can be good, evil, capricious, or demanding. Loua most commonly show their displeasure by making people sick, and so voodoo is used to diagnose and treat illnesses. Loua are not nature spirits, and they do not make crops grow or bring rain. The loua of one family have no claim over members of other families, and they cannot protect or harm them. Voodooists are therefore not interested in the loua of other families
Loua appear to family members in dreams and, more dramatically, through trances. Many Haitians believe that loua are capable of temporarily taking over the bodies of their "children." Men and women enter trances during which they assume the traits of particular loua. People in a trance feel giddy and usually remember nothing after they return to a normal state of consciousness. Voodooists say that the spirit temporarily replaces the human personality. Possession trances occur usually during rituals such as services for loua or a vodoun dance in honor of the loua. When loua appear to entranced people, they may bring warnings or explanations for the causes of illnesses or misfortune. Loua often engage the crowd around them through flirtation, jokes, or accusations
Ancestors (le mÚ) rank with the family loua as the most important spiritual entities in voodoo. Elaborate funeral and mourning rites reflect the important role of the dead. Ornate tombs throughout the countryside reveal how much attention Haiti gives to its dead. Voodooists believe the dead are capable of forcing their survivors to construct tombs and sell land. In these cases, the dead act like family loua, which "hold" family members to make them ill or bring other misfortune. The dead also appear in dreams to provide their survivors with advice or warnings
Voodooists also believe there are loua that can be paid to bring good fortune or protection from evil. And, they believe that souls can be paid to attack enemies by making them ill
Beliefs include zombies and witchcraft. Zombies are either spirits or people whose souls have been partially withdrawn from their bodies. Some Haitians resort to bokÚ, who are specialists in sorcery and magic. Haiti has several secret societies whose members practice sorcery
Voodoo specialists, male houngan and female manbo, mediate between humans and spirits through divination and trance. They diagnose illnesses and reveal the origins of other misfortune. They can also perform rituals to appease spirits or ancestors or to repel magic. Many voodoo specialists are accomplished herbalists who treat a variety of illnesses
Voodoo lacks a fixed theology and an organized hierarchy, unlike Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Each specialist develops his or her own reputation for effectiveness.
FranÁois Duvalier recruited voodoo specialists to serve as tonton makouts to help him control all aspects of Haitian life. Duvalier indicated that he retained power through sorcery, but because voodoo is essentially a family-based cult, Duvalier failed to politicize the religion to any great extent.

Vodun (a.k.a. Voodoo and related religions

Vodun is sometimes called Voodoo, Vodoun, Vodou.

Religions related to Vodun are: Candomble, Lucumi, Macumba, and Yoruba)

General background:

Vodun (a.k.a. Vodoun, Voudou, Voodoo, Sevi Lwa) is commonly called Voodoo (vû'dû) by the public. The name was derived from the god Vodun of the West African Yoruba people who lived in 18th and 19th century Dahomey. Its roots may go back 6,000 years in Africa. That country occupied parts of today's Togo, Benin and Nigeria. Slaves brought their religion with them when they were forcibly shipped to Haiti and other islands in the West Indies.
Vodun was actively suppressed during colonial times.
"Many Priests were either killed or imprisoned, and their shrines destroyed, because of the threat they posed to Euro-Christian/Muslim dominion. This forced some of the Dahomeans to form Vodou Orders and to create underground societies, in order to continue the veneration of their ancestors, and the worship of their powerful gods." 1
Vodun has been freely practiced in Benin since a democratic government was installed there in 1989; about 60% of the population follows this religion. Vodun was formally recognized as Benin's official religion in 1996-FEB. It is also followed by most of the adults in Haiti who are also nominally Roman Catholic. It can be found in many of the large cities in North America, particularly in the American South.
Today over 60 million people practice Vodun worldwide. Religions similar to Vodun can be found in South America where they are called Umbanda, Quimbanda or Candomble.

History of Vodun in the west:

Slaves were baptized into the Roman Catholic Church upon their arrival in Haiti and other West Indian islands. However, there was little Christian infrastructure present during the early 19th century to maintain the faith. The result was that the slaves largely followed their original native faith. This they practiced in secret, even while attending Mass regularly.
An inaccurate and sensational book (S. St. John, "Haiti or the Black Republic") was written in 1884. It described Vodun as a profoundly evil religion, and included lurid descriptions of human sacrifice, cannibalism, etc., some of which had been extracted from Vodun priests by torture. This book caught the imagination of people outside the West Indies, and was responsible for much of the misunderstanding and fear that is present today. Hollywood found this a rich source for Voodoo screen plays. Horror movies began in the 1930's and continue today to misrepresent Vodun. It is only since the late 1950's that accurate studies by anthropologists have been published.
Other religions (Macumba, Candomble, Umbanda and Santeria) bear many similarities to Vodun.

Vodun beliefs:

Vodun, like Christianity, is a religion of many traditions. Each group follows a different spiritual path and worships a slightly different pantheon of spirits, called Loa. The word means "mystery" in the Yoruba language.
Yoruba traditional belief included a senior God Olorun, who is remote and unknowable. He authorized a lesser GodObatala to create the earth and all life forms. A battle between the two Gods led to Obatala's temporary banishment.
There are hundreds of minor spirits. Those which originated from Dahomey are called Rada; those who were added later are often deceased leaders in the new world and are called Petro. Some of these are

*	Agwe: spirit of the sea
*	Aida Wedo: rainbow spirit
*	Ayza: protector
*	Baka: an evil spirit who takes the form of an animal
*	Baron Samedi: guardian of the grave
*	Dambala (or Damballah-wedo): serpent spirit
*	Erinle: spirit of the forests
*	Ezili (or Erzulie): female spirit of love
*	Mawu Lisa: spirit of creation
*	Ogou Balanjo: spirit of healing
*	Ogun (or Ogu Bodagris): spirit of war
*	Osun: spirit of healing streams
*	Sango (or Shango): spirit of storms
*	Yemanja: female spirit of waters
*	Zaka (or Oko): spirit of agriculture

There are a number of points of similarity between Roman Catholicism and Vodun:

*	Both believe in a supreme being.
*	The Loa resemble Christian Saints, in that they were once people who led exceptional lives, and are usually given a single responsibility or special attribute.
*	Both believe in an afterlife.
*	Both have, as the centerpiece of some of their ceremonies, a ritual sacrifice and consumption of flesh and blood.
*	Both believe in the existence of invisible evil spirits or demons.
*	Followers of Vodun believe that each person has a met tet (master of the head) which corresponds to a Christian's patron saint.

Followers of Vodun believe that each person has a soul which is composed of two parts: a gros bon ange or "big guardian angel", and a ti bon ange or "little guardian angel". The latter leaves the body during sleep and when the person is possessed by a Loa during a ritual. There is a concern that the ti bon ange can be damaged or captured by evil sorcery while it is free of the body.

Vodun rituals:

The purpose of rituals is to make contact with a spirit, to gain their favor by offering them animal sacrifices and gifts, to obtain help in the form of more abundant food, higher standard of living, and improved health. Human and Loa depend upon each other; humans provide food and other materials; the Loa provide health, protection from evil spirits and good fortune. Rituals are held to celebrate lucky events, to attempt to escape a run of bad fortune, to celebrate a seasonal day of celebration associated with a Loa, for healing, at birth, marriage and death.
Vodun priests can be male (houngan or hungan), or female (mambo). A Vodun temple is called a hounfour (or humfort). At its center is a poteau-mitan a pole where the God and spirits communicate with the people. An altar will be elaborately decorated with candles, pictures of Christian saints, symbolic items related to the Loa, etc. Rituals consist of some of the following components:

*	a feast before the main ceremony.
*	creation of a veve, a pattern of flour or cornmeal on the floor which is unique to the Loa for whom the ritual is to be conducted
*	shaking a rattle and beating drums which have been cleansed and purified
*	chanting
*	dancing by the houngan and/or mambo and the hounsis (students studying Vodun). The dancing will typically build in intensity until one of the dancers (usually a hounsis) becomes possessed by a Loa and falls. His or her ti bon ange has left their body and the spirit has taken control. The possessed dancer will behave as the Loa and is treated with respect and ceremony by the others present.
*	animal sacrifice; this may be a goat, sheep, chicken, or dog. They are usually humanely killed by slitting their throat; blood is collected in a vessel. The possessed dancer may drink some of the blood. The hunger of the Loa is then believed to be satisfied. The animal is usually cooked and eaten. Animal sacrifice is a method of consecrating food for consumption by followers of Vodun, their gods and ancestors.

*
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Evil sorcery:

The houngan and mambos confine their activities to "white" magic which is used to bring good fortune and healing. However caplatas (also known as bokors) perform acts of evil sorcery or black magic, sometimes called "left-handed Vodun". Rarely, a houngan will engage in such sorcery; a few alternate between white and dark magic.
One belief unique to Vodun is that a dead person can be revived after having been buried. After resurrection, the zombie has no will of their own, but remains under the control of others. In reality, a zombie is a living person who has never died, but is under the influence of powerful drugs administered by an evil sorcerer. Although most Haitians believe in zombies, few have ever seen one. There are a few recorded instances of persons who have claimed to be zombies.
Sticking pins in dolls was once used as a method of cursing an individual by some followers of Vodun in New Orleans; this practice continues occasionally in South America. The practice became closely associated with Voodoo in the public mind through the vehicle of horror movies.

Internet resources used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. "West African Dahomean Vodoun: Historical background," at: http://www.mamiwata.com/
2. Voodoo Authentica of New Orleans' website at http://www.voodooshop.com contains information about Voodoo, and provides a free service by which individuals can Email questions. They sell Louisiana folk art, including Voodoo dolls, Gris Gris bags, Ju-Ju's, Spells, Potion Oils, etc. They also provide spiritual work and consultations by experienced practitioners, and convention & special event planning.
3. The Vodun Page at http://members.aol.com/ is a good introduction to Vodun.
4. A Web page titled "Voodoo: From Medicine to Zombies" has a description of some Vodun altars, and a mythological dictionary. See: http://www.nando.net/ for more information about Vodun.
5. A Web page titled "Vodun Culture" has a glossary of Vodun terms, descriptions of songs and dances, and a list of Vodun loa with their corresponding duties, colors and symbols. See: http://www.geocities.com/
6. An unmoderated forum, alt.religion.orisha was started in 1996-FEB for the discussion of African-based and derived belief systems throughout the African Diaspora. This includes: Candomble, Fon, Hoodoo, Macumba Arara, Palo, Santeria, Yoruba Orisha and Voudun. Some of the expected topics include: recent books, scholarly articles and tapes, ethnography, information on acquisition and use of herbs in ritual practice, ritual music, instruments and dance, divination systems, the changing role of traditional practice in modern times, the law and repression of ritual practices.
7. Le Peristyle Haitian Sanctuary has a web site at: www.leperistylehaitiansanctuary.com.  They sponsor theNational African Religion Congress (NARC World), and are located in Philadelphia, PA. They offer spiritual readings, spiritual baths, messages from the loa, religious retreats, ceremonies, literature, as well as cultural and social events
8. A quarterly newsletter for beginners in Santeria/Voodoo/African Traditions is available from bpantry@tiac.net
9. Branwen's Pantry, a mail order store specializing in supplies for Santeria and similar religions is at:http://www.tiac.net/
10. "Voodoo" contains many links at: http://shecat.freeservers.com/
11. "West African Dahomean Vodoun: The world's oldest nature religion," at: http://www.mamiwata.com/
12. "Vodou," is a web site by Bon Mambo Racine Sans Bout Sa Te La Daginen. See: http://members.aol.com/
    AND THE RIVERS WILL FLOW WITH BLOOD....
    Mami Wata's dual nature of afflictor and healer, bringer of fortune and bestower of misfortune, is symbolized by the two colors most associated with her devotees in West Africa. The spirit's followers usually wear red and white clothes, in recognition of her potential for both destruction and creativity. For the Igbo, red (oche obara or obala obala) is thought of as "the color of blood...with...the connotations of death, danger, power, evil and interestingly enough -- maleness." (Jenkins, 1984: 22-23) In Onitsha Igbo, the term actually could be glossed as the blood of blood (obala obala). Redness is also thought of in terms of heat, sacrifice, and defilement. (Cole, 1982: 212) This aspect of ami Wata is associated with affliction, especially illness, her too-active, non-reproductive sexuality, and the dangerous attractiveness (the "more than beauty" of one of her praise names) she exudes. It also, as Jenkins points out, suggests a male aspect of the generally female spirit.
    Men are always associated positively, in Igbo, with sacrifice, which is the quintessential male duty in ritual, and with death, through their connection to ancestral spiritual forces. Men's negative red associations have to do with warfare and the taking of blood for their individual ikenga. The meaning of Mami Wata's redness is tied to this notion of blood and maleness. As a spirit, she is able to manifest herself in uwa mmadu (the human world) in various forms, including that of a man. While in Lagos during January of 1987, I saw a set of Mami Wata paintings done by a highly respected Nigerian artist. The first painting of the set showed the Mami Wata spirit as a beautiful mermaid, combing her long hair with one hand and beckoning to the viewer with the other. This painting was done in shades of light blue, which is called ocha (white) in Igbo, and off-whites. The second painting showed an ominous male Mami Wata, painted with a great deal of black, deep reds, and reddish yellow. Salmons also records the case of an Ibibio woman follower of the spirit who has experienced Mami Wata's male aspect:
    
    [Eka Ete Ubom] always sees the spirit in the form of a woman, but she thinks it must really be a man, for sometimes she dreams that they sleep together, and in the morning she actually feels as if she has had sexual intercourse.
    
    Mami Wata lives in the transparent, white world of spirits and is transparent while there. Actually manifesting herself in the world of human beings requires that she undergo a process of accumulation (of bodily elements, of opacity) and reddening (gaining "blood").
    Just as she must be transformed and is made more dangerous by her excursions out of place, those human beings she takes to visit her in the too-white world of spiritual forces are also changed. After visiting Mami Wata "in the water," people return to uwa mmadu (the world of human beings) "with bone-dry clothes and beautiful, remote-looking faces." (Salmons, 1977: 8) These visitors to the spiritual realm are whitened or "clarified." They become more like the spirit -- exceedingly beautiful, wealthy, and detached from the human scene. As I will argue below, human devotees are liable to become more like ancestral spiritual forces or so-called "human spirits": a position which is not necessarily the most advantageous one for ndi mmadu (human beings).
    Paxon, Szombati-Fabian and Fabian have emphasized the foreignness of Mami Wata's appearance, especially her fair skin and "European" features. Salmons, however, points out that in the Cross Rivers area of Nigeria where she did her field studies, there is a long tradition of whitening the skin with chalk and other substances "for religious purposes and for decorative and cooling effects." (Salmons, 1977: 14) To this I would add that Igbo-speaking people normally represent certain spirits as white-faced, particularly in masquerades like the well-known maiden mmuo. Ritual participants often wear chalk, particularly if they are in mourning or other dangerously heated states. This chalk helps to neutralize their "redness," enabling them to enter into normal relations with people who are not so protected. At the same time, it announces their abnormal state of (heated, polluted, dangerous) being. The whiteness of chalk thus sets its wearer apart, showing that he/she is somewhat out of place in ordinary society, and palliates that abnormality. Whiteness in Igbo society enables and warns; it has, like redness, a dual nature.
    Mami Wata's "whiteness," her fair skin, may come from indigenous color categories as well as from European, colonial intrusions. It is not at all clear that she is "foreign," simply because art historical investigation traces her most recent iconic form to a particular colonial incident. I would argue that the spirit speaks to indigenous categorization as well as being an expression of the colonial and post-colonial order of things. Indeed, if she did not speak to indigenous ways of thinking, why would she be taken up by Africans so readily? The argument for Mami Wata's absolute "foreignness" is based in a notion of the complete and totalizing hegemony of western expressive forms. This is not to say that Mami Wata cannot be analyzed as an intrusive element in African popular culture; her followers now live and practice her veneration in places quite far away from West African coastal areas. If we are to comprehend how an intrusive element can be subsumed and used by the intruded-upon society, we must step beyond analysis based on hegemonic forms and move towards a more synthetic position.
    
    IS IT POSSIBLE THEN THAT MICHAEL JACKSON GOT SUCKED INTO VOODOO IN THE LATE 80’S?
    
    Michael Jackson
    
    
    

    en.wikipedia.org

    Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Often referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records.
    But the devil’s most glaring poster child, the satanic incarnation, was Michael Jackson! Here’s a few reasons proving Michael Jackson worshiped the devil, flirted with the devil, had carnal union with the devil, or WAS the devil.
    Michael Jackson himself “explained the reason for some of his filthy sexual gestures” was Satan.  He told Oprah way back in 1993, “It happens subliminally. IT’S THE MUSIC THAT COMPELS ME TO DO IT. You don’t think about it, it just happens. I’M A SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM.”
    So much for poetic license and artistic inspiration. So much for the muse. Michael Jackson spoke about divine union and healing the world- but it was the devil talking.
    Then, there is the heinous, greedy, moronic “Christian” evil one, Texe Marrs, is a creature straight out of the Inquisition. He has way too spare time, clearly, because he spends countless hours analyzing history and politics through the secret devil signs people send each other.
    He says, “In Codex Magica, my latest mammoth exposé book of the Illuminati and their occultic sub-elements, I fully explore the use … of the sign and symbol of El Diablo. It is wildly popular today among legions of depraved men and women, including top Illuminati initiates, and has been now for almost half a century.”
    The meaning of the not-so-secret symbol is clear. “In giving the El Diablo, that is exactly the message the giver is signaling the devil: “I’m yours forever, Satan, heart and soul I’m yours!””
    While there is zero doubt that many rockers have used shock rock and devil logos as theatre props, and maybe even something more personal, that doesn’t mean Meryl Streep worships the devil. But Marrs says, by her hands you will know her, and proves his point with a picture of Meryl flashing the Diablo hand signal! And Bill Clinton, too!  And Michelle Obama! And oh, Lord help us, Prince Willie, son of the harlot of Babylon, Diana, is in on it, too.
    And of course, Michael Jackson makes this sign- but he usually flashed the peace sign. What to make of this confusing message? Well, make what you will. The peace sign has also been called Satanic – the symbol is a “broken cross.” But there’s always the little fact that El Diablo’s horned homage is actually “I Love You” in sign language, a universal greeting of peace. And then, sometimes the fingers just move around a bit. Or is that Satan moving them? Is it? Was that Satan moving over President Bush’s inauguration? Wait a minute, isn’t Bush the only REAL Christian president we’ve had this millennium? I’m sooooooooo confused….
    Texe Marrs cheerfully clears up my confusion in his Codex Magica: The “El Diablo” hand sign often is con-fused with the deaf hand signal of the phrase, “I love you.” While at first this appears an odd resemblance, we register an “ahh, I get it!” emotion when we discover that the person who invented, or created, the hand sign system for the deaf, Helen Keller, was herself an occultist and Theosophist. Did Keller purposely design the deaf’s “I love you” sign to be such a remarkable imitation of the classic sign of Satan? Was Keller saying, basically, “I love you, Devil?”
    HA HA HA HA HA
    Even more hilarious and sad is the old racist adage that black people have to give their soul to Beelzebub in order to have fame and fortune. This line of thinking is alive and well. There is all kinds of garbage about “blood sacrifice” on conspiracy sites. This is all based on sick creativity-fearing sickos who believe you trade your soul to the devil for rock and roll.
    And rock and roll, the devil’s music, is black music- it came from Africa, from the demonic drum, into the fields that built America as the slaves picked cotton for these monster masters. While we beat the slaves black and blue, they had the audacity to sing the blues.  We all know black people are licentious, devil worshiping drummers, and that same old story is the basis of this Blood Sacrifice lunacy.
    Successful black people have all promised their soul to Satan in exchange for money. Devil worshippers on this list include Jay Z, Prince, Kanye, James Brown, Will Smith, and Michael Jackson. Didn’t Prince predict the bombing of the Twin Towers live in concert before it happened? The devil told him!!!! Couldn’t possibly be that the man was extraordinarily well read and perceptive- black people can’t read, right?
    

    The King of Pop as the Prince of Darkness

    Michael couldn’t possibly have come by his fame without devil worship, could he? Talent couldn’t have had anything to do with it. Sure, MJ was murdered, and he was worried “they” were trying to kill him. Rich people are involved in dangerous politics all the time. But message boards everywhere are booming with the latest devil news. This one was amusing: Michael Jackson gave himself to Satan in a pact for “…fame and fortune for his soul and devotion. There are many pictures of him giving the horned devil hand sign, the “rock n roll” one that millions do without realizing its direct satanic connotations… It has to do with the secret satanic societies of freemasonry and the illuminati… There is a theory that devil pacts last 20 years before an untimely death so perhaps 1989 was the year Michael gave up the Lord for the sake of material possessions and success…. Educate yourself!”
    
    Yes, folks, please. Educate yourself.
    Next, there is wingnut evangel Bill Keller  who has made it very clear that Michael Jackson is in hell. “Sadly, Michael grew up in the Jehovah’s Witnesses cult. This is the cult born out of the depraved mind of Charles Taze Russell and denies the very deity of Christ. You can go to Google and type in “cults Jehovah’s Witnesses” and it will give you many websites to document their false theology. However, Michael has not only followed the false theology of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, he made the choice to live his life in rebellion to God and His Word and follow all kinds of false religions and teachings.”
    He clearly was possessed by demons when he wore that red string, albeit briefly, honouring the ancient Jewish devil-worshipping sect that Madonna espouses, too- the Kabala. Or is it because he was briefly associated with the Nation of Islam?Or is it because, having turned away from Islam after a brief exploration, he is an infidel of the devil?
    Oh, it’s all so confusing- each religion is so sure Michael Jackson is of the devil because the other religion is of the devil…
    “I believe if you are a fan of Michael Jackson and sing along with his songs you should at least know who his savior is and you also should know what you are singing,” writes Dcsfinest 2000  on one message board. He earnestly warns, “Most people don’t even know what they are singing. Michael Jackson played a great part in converting Christians to Satanism threw his songs and dance. The more you sing his music the stronger Satan gets. Just as if you were giving praise to Jesus Christ. The best part of Michael Jackson job writing songs that are for Satan and making people praise Satan without even knowing what they are doing. If you want an example of what I’m talking about, Google the lyrics to Michael Jackson song ” Blame it on the Boogie”. You will see a prime example of what Michael Jackson craft was.”
    Got that, folks? Just so you know what you’re dancing to.
    There’s further proof of hell right here in America with all that gay stuff. Another un-fan warns, “The activities of Michael Jackson with the young child with whom he is alleged to have been sexually active, can be rightfully called, “Satanism”, according to LaVey’s own definition! Indeed, all of American society is obsessed today with all forms of sexual activity, as a casual examination of our Arts and Entertainment will reveal; this area of our society is filled to overflowing with “heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual” activity, and will degenerate — should the Lord tarry — into “any fetish or deviation” of which the human mind and inherently wicked heart are capable of inventing! This kind of sexual activity is both standard Satanism and the practice of ancient pagan religions.”
    Then again, Michael was really just trying to get the message across that love is everything, and we should all become baby boinkers. “We believe this Michael Jackson fiasco is being manipulated by Satan in order to finally knock down the last vestiges of popular opinion against the sexual use of children and the laws against such activity. After all, laws protecting children against sexual predators is based upon that “nasty”, old, outdated religion Judeo-Christianity! As the erosion against these Judeo-Christian values continues, one day the last obstacle preventing pedophilia will be swept away!”
    
    YEAH HEAL THE WORLD... MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE....
    
    YEAH KILL THE WORLD.... MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE... FOR YOU AND FOR ME AND THE WHOLE LIBERAL ELITE BASE....
    
    The Africans. The whole song was supposed to be about helping them, right? Certain African cultures harbor some of the of biggest practitioners of witchcraft. With their voodoo spells; their blood-drinking; ritual dancing; and uncleanliness. They were also instrumental in capturing the real children of Israel who had fled into their land after the Roman conquest of Jerusalem in 70AD and transporting them to America as slaves in the 17th century, in Jewish-owned ships. Many of them (not all) have no respect for the Almighty, nor for his chosen people.
    
    Poor Michael. He was once an adorable kid, but he sold his soul for fame. I tell you... you can't reach any type of prominence in this world without working for Satan in some way shape or form. This is most prevalent in the music industry. There's a REASON why Mike was so bizarre. There is a REASON why he basically LOOKED like a Demon. There is also a reason why he was the most succesful artist of all-time (who's mega album and video, "Thriller" exalted demons, mind you).
    He surrendered his soul so that he could be the best.
    

    *

    Mask, Yaure, Cote D' Ivoire, 1970'

    
    Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University presents “Mami Wata: Arts for Water Spirits in Africa and Its Diasporas,” August 4, 2010 through January 2, 2011. This exhibition explores 500 years of visual cultures and histories of the water deity widely known as Mami Wata (“Mother Water”) through the diverse array of traditional and contemporary arts surrounding her — sculpture, paintings, masks, altars, and more from west and central Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil, and the United States.
    
    Roudy Azor, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  Lasirèn-Twins and the one who follows the twins, making three (satin, beads, sequins). 1980's
    
    Her name means "Mother Water" in pidgin English, a language developed (like Swahili on the east coast of Africa) from various native languages combined with English to provide a common language for communication and trade. Africans forcibly brought to the Americas as part of  slave trade carried with them their beliefs, practices, and arts honoring water spirits such as Mami Wata. Reestablished, revisualized, and revitalized in the African Diaspora, Mami Wata emerged in new communities and under different guises, among them Lasirèn, Yemanja, Santa Marta la Dominadora, and Oxum.
    
    Often associated with making money, her powers extend beyond economic gain. For her followers, she also aids in concerns related to fertility, to childbirth and infant mortality. Yet she is also dangerous for a liaison with Mami Wata often requires a substantial sacrifice, even a family member or celibacy. Her powers are curative and also, provide an avenue for women to become powerful as priestesses. Some of her associated deities protect women against abusive men and one image in the show shows Mami Wata strangling Mobutu, the former brutal dictator of Zaire so she is also used for political comment. His limitless powers combined with the deaths of so many in his family and his own solitary death reflects for Mami Wata's devotees the jealous and possessive side of her nature which leads those who are abusive or faithless to a catastrophic fall.
    

    *

    John Goba, Sierra Leona. Headdress for the Mami Wata Jolly masquerade. It employed multiple elements from Indian and Hindu culture. 1980's

    
    Mami Wata is a complex symbol with so many resonances - mother, sex symbol, spiritual guide, protector and sometimes warrior woman. For contemporary artists, she inspires work imbued with symbols of the African Diaspora linked back to Mother Africa.  generating, rather than limiting, meanings and significances. Two of the more fascinating installations in the exhibit are complete altars, one to Mami Wata and the other to Santa Maria la Dominadoro, the saint who who helps women escape from abusive relationships. One to Mami Wata in her form of joy and love is an immaculate but complex tableau of soaps, perfumes, sweet powders, shells and even a small guitar to honor Mami's love of music. The altar to Santa Maria la Dominador is darker but no less complex - crosses, Catholic saints and African deities combine to provide protection against brutality and violence. The small videos accompanying these altars make it clear that this is a living faith. "Mammy-wota...You can always tell them, because they are beautiful with a beauty that is too perfect and too cold. Chinua Achebe."
    

    *

    Dona Fish. Ovimbundu People, Angola. 1950-1960's. Wood, pigment, metal, mixed media. In Angola, Mama Wata is known as Dona Fish (Fish woman). This work was kept in a house as "decoration" but it evoked fear and accusations of witchcraft.

    
    Part woman, part fish, Mami Wata merges the elements of both. She may also take the form of a snake charmer, sometimes in combination with her mermaid attributes and sometimes separate from them. She can exist in the form of indigenous African water spirits known as mami watas and papi watas or assume aspects of a Hindu deity or a Christian saint without sacrificing her identity. These indigenous African water spirits are linked in a complex system of beliefs and practices, which are linked, but not always shared with Mami Wata.

    *

    Abdal 22. Kinshasa. Democratic Republic of the Congo. 1989. Mami Wata as a light-skinned, western style femme fatale, complete with mirror and a come hither look - mad, bad and dangerous to know.

    
    Beautiful and seductive, protective yet dangerous, sacred and yet earthy, Mami Wata is celebrated throughout much of Africa and the African Diaspora world.  With 100 works portraying Mami Wata, the exhibition introduces the water spirit’s iconic persona, then reveals a widespread presence and popularity of this water spirit in religious and artistic practices around the world, and finally concludes with Mami Wata as artists’ muse today.

    
    What is the exhibit about? " It’s about glitter and tears, bawdy jokes and baskets of flowers, miracles and mysteries, money in hand and affairs of the heart. It’s about standing at the edge of the sea at dawn and watching a world re-born. In that world no one walks; everyone dances and swims; everyone, that is, who has taken the plunge into Mami Wata’s realm. " Holland Cotter, NY Times  
    
    Over half a millennium, Mami has surfaced in many guises, a synthesis of all the cultural influences that that washed up (and sometimes washed over) Africa. She continues to evolve as part of a living culture as this exhibit makes abundantly clear.
    
    Henry John Drewall. "Mami Wata. Arts for Water Spirits in Africa and Its Diasporas. " Fowler Museum at UCLA. LA. 2008 (all quotes from this book)
    Images courtesy of the Cantor Art Center
    Holland Cotter. NY Times. Mami Wata - a Diva of the deep
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mami_Wata
    West African Diaspora Mami Wata Vodoun
    http://museum.stanford.edu/
    LOOK AT HOW OBAMA HAS IMPOSED HIS WIDESPREAD HODGEPODGE BELIEFS ABOUT IDOLATRY AND ABORTION INTO HEALTH CARE:
    
    Ala is the Ibo  Fertility Goddess of the earth. The Ibo people of Nigeria call her the mother of all things, but she is both the fertile earth and the empty field after the harvest. She is present at the beginning of the cycle of life, making children grow in their mother’s womb, and she is there at the end of the cycle, to receive the souls of the dead into her own womb. Ala also gives laws to the people, emphasizing the importance of honesty and respect. Temples to Ala called mbari are built in the center of villages, and contain a mud statue of Ala which is then painted in bright colors. These statues usually show Ala with a long torso and long thick neck, which are considered to be signs of beauty among the Ibo. She is joined by other deities and animals. Ala is also known as Ale, Alla, and Ane.  She is the most important Alusi in the Igbo pantheon. In Odinani, Ala rules over the underworld which holds the deceased ancestors in her womb. Her name literally translates to ‘Ground’ in the Igbo language, denoting her powers over the earth and her status as the ground itself. Ala is considered the highest Alusi in the Igbo pantheon and was the first Alusi created by Chukwu, God almighty. Ala’s husband is Amadioha, the sky god.
    As the goddess of morality, Ala is involved in judging human actions and is in charge of Igbo law and customs known as ‘Omenala’. Taboos and crimes among Igbo communities that are against the standard of Ala are called nsọ Ala. All ground is considered ‘Holy land’ as it is Ala herself. With human fertility, Ala is credited for the productivity of land. Ala’s messenger and living agent on earth is the python (Igbo: éké), it is and animal especially revered in many Igbo communities. In Odinani art, Ala’s image is mostly depicted in clay Mbari temples.
    Ala is still worshipped by the Igbo of Nigeria and is annually paid homage to during the Yam festival.
    Tags: Ala goddess igbo ibo deity earth goddess fertility goddess african godsorishas
    
    H.R. 4872 WAS A CONTRACT WITH MAMI WATA/GODDESS OF I[G]BO : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mami_Wata
    
    *KEEP IN MIND VODOUN MEANS DANCE, AND MAMI WATA DEMANDS DANCES DEDICATED TO HER*
    In Nigeria, devotees typically wear red and white clothing, as these colors represent that particular Mami’s dual nature. Igbo iconography, red represents such qualities as death, destruction, heat, maleness, physicality, and power. In contrast, white symbolises death, but also can symbolize beauty, creation, femaleness, new life, spirituality, translucence, water, and wealth.[5] This regalia may also include a cloth snake wrapped about the waist.[12] The Mami Wata shrines may also be decorated in these colors, and items such as bells, carvings, Christian or Indian prints, dolls, incense, spirits, and remnants of previous sacrifices often adorn such places.[5][12]
    Intense dancing accompanied by musical instruments such as African guitars or harmonicas often forms the core of Mami Wata worship. Followers dance to the point of entering a trance. At this point, Mami Wata possesses the person and speaks to him or her.[4]Offerings to the spirit are also important, and Mami Wata prefers gifts of delicious food and drink, alcohol, fragrant objects (such as pomade, powder, incense, and soap), and expensive goods like jewelry.[12] Modern worshippers usually leave her gifts of manufactured goods, such as Coca-Cola or designer jewelry.[4]
    Nevertheless, she largely wants her followers to be healthy and well off.[5] More broadly, people blame the spirit for all sorts of misfortune. In Cameroon, for example, Mami Wata is ascribed with causing the strong undertow that kills many swimmers each year along the coast.
    

    [edit]Sex

    According to Bastian, Mami Wata's association with sex and lust is somewhat paradoxically linked to one with fidelity. According to a Nigerian tradition, male followers may encounter the spirit in the guise of a beautiful, sexually promiscuous woman, such as a prostitute. In Nigerian popular stories, Mami Wata may seduce a favoured male devotee and then show herself to him following coitus. She then demands his complete sexual faithfulness and secrecy about the matter. Acceptance means wealth and fortune; rejection spells the ruin of his family, finances, and job.[5]
    
    THIS IS A SPIRITUAL ALLIANCE WITH THE MOTHER OF ALL HARLOTS, BABYLON THE GREAT MYSTERY: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whore_of_Babylon
    
    The “great whore”, of the biblical book of Revelation is featured in chapters 17 and 18. Many passages define symbolic meanings inherent in the text.

    17:1	And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
    17:2	With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. ["Fornication" is interpreted/translated as "idolatry" in the Amplified Bible (AMP)]
    17:3	So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
    17:4	And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
    17:5	And upon her forehead was a name written a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. [King James Version; the New International Version uses "prostitutes" instead of "harlots"].
    17:6	And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
    17:9	And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sat. [King James Version; the New International Version Bible uses "hills" instead of "mountains"].
    17:10	And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space.
    17:11	And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition.
    17:12	And the ten horns which thou saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
    17:15	And he said unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sat, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
    17:18	And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth. <AHEM NEW YORK>

    
    

    — Revelation 17:4–18 (various)

    
    

    Aja Brooks shared Conservative and damn proud's photo.

    10 hours ago

    the mark of the beast
    

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    • Wallie Waters and 2 others like this.
    • Daniel Berthelette got to love that one, blessings my friend,,,,,,
    • 8 hours ago · Like

    
    
    Foreigners Promote Abortion http://www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/NewsOnline/Jan2011/MCCLGo.html
    In addition to the efforts of pro-abortion organizations, many foreign governments are actively engaged in pushing a pro-abortion agenda in Africa. The Obama administration, for example, recently spent more than $60 million to successfully persuade Kenyans to adopt a new constitution that will lead to abortion deaths in that east African country.
    Promoters of abortion in Africa are using the same old deceit that they have used in many countries in the past. It is a pretty simple formula of lies and half-truths that goes like this. Manipulate the press to reiterate the false and dangerous claims by their so-called “experts” on maternal mortality issues that women are dying from illegal abortions and that legalization of abortion will save women’s lives, rather than promoting what really save women’s lives--adequate obstetric care. Then they argue for the legalization of abortion on demand and help find foreign non-governmental organizations that will help pay for it. In several east African countries we see this same old formula put into practice. But pro-life Africans are not retreating, they are fighting back!
    
    OBAMA APPORTIONED AND EXPANDED OBAMACARE TO FUND ABORTION AS A SACRIFICE TO HER, IN EXCHANGE FOR WEALTH OR FOR HER BLESSING IN REVERSING THE DEFICIT. HE INVOLVED EVERYONE IN IT, AND GAVE THE FIRST OFFERING AS $60 MILLION TO AN ABORTION CLINIC IN UGANDA. IN AFRICAN RELIGIONS, THEY BELIEVE IN MANY DIFFERENT GODS, LESSER AND GREATER IN RANK, ALL PERFORMING SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES TO MANKIND, HENCE THE RITUALS, PRAYERS TO THEM, AND FOOD OFFERINGS TO THEM THOUGH THEY ARE A STARVING PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE GODS/GODDESSES OWN A PARTICULAR SECTION OF THE HEAVENS AND THAT THEY RULE THAT AREA OF THE SKY ABOVE THEIR COUNTRY. WHILE THE DROUGHT WAS BAD IN AFRICA, IT HAS SPREAD. WE ARE SEEING THE SAME PHENOMENON HERE, AS CHEROKEE SHAMANS ARE WARRING IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM ALONGSIDE CHRISTIANS OVER THIS ABOMINATION OF FAITH.
    
    HERE IS A LIST.... http://www.scns.com/earthen/other/seanachaidh/godafrica.html
    
    HERE IS WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT IT FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE:
    

    Echocaptor Satellite Provider	Reply » | Report Abuse |Judge it! | #1 Apr 22, 2011 Devil worship is rife in mombasa road. This despite many signs which have pointed to the same, especially at Highway Estate, St. James entrance, Mombasa road. If anyone wants to uncover this, start with a woman who works at Safaricom called Caroline. She's a known practitioner in that estate and stays in house no. 1. Nobody dares talk about it. I decided to just take the risk
    Kwesimsa Mombasa, Kenya	Reply » | Report Abuse |Judge it! | #2 Apr 27, 2011 Echocaptor wrote: Devil worship is rife in mombasa road. This despite many signs which have pointed to the same, especially at Highway Estate, St. James entrance, Mombasa road. If anyone wants to uncover this, start with a woman who works at Safaricom called Caroline. She's a known practitioner in that estate and stays in house no. 1. Nobody dares talk about it. I decided to just take the risk Whats your idea of devil worshipping? Perhaps, you are using malice to tarnish ones name? Giving out house numbers and work places sound pretty sinister. May be she rebuffed your advances? This is a very serious matter. You need to give out facts that not only back your allegations, but too precise details of acts that you believe are satanic. Otherwise, its worse than devil worshipping to assassinate other persons characters!
    Echocaptor Satellite Provider	Reply » | Report Abuse |Judge it! | #3 Apr 28, 2011 Kwesimsa wrote: <quoted text> Whats your idea of devil worshipping? Perhaps, you are using malice to tarnish ones name? Giving out house numbers and work places sound pretty sinister. May be she rebuffed your advances? This is a very serious matter. You need to give out facts that not only back your allegations, but too precise details of acts that you believe are satanic. Otherwise, its worse than devil worshipping to assassinate other persons characters! It's more than you think you can know. You need to have stayed in that place to know what people mean when they engage in unconventional topics
    Kwesimsa Mombasa, Kenya	Reply » | Report Abuse |Judge it! | #4 Apr 28, 2011 Echocaptor wrote: <quoted text> It's more than you think you can know. You need to have stayed in that place to know what people mean when they engage in unconventional topics You are just repeating sweeping allegations without offering any concrete evidence! You want to tell us even the police has to live there to know whats going on? What do you know yourself other than allegating? This is what we want to know! And how do you know that this lady is involved in devil worshipping? Yourself ever devil worshipped? What makes you think there is devil worshipping there? Unconventional topics cant mean devil worshipping my friend! Report to the police with proper facts, otherwise, you will be locked up for giving false information! Alternatively, just shut up. Nobody ever told you we got freedom of religion, no matter how we go about it? Am totally against devil worshipping and at the same scale, fiercely opposed to people intent on tarnishing names.
    Echocaptor Satellite Provider	Reply » | Report Abuse |Judge it! | #5 Apr 28, 2011 Only a dimwit can think of reporting such topics to the formal government. Secondly, I think the term satanism communicates better. As I said, it is an unconventional topic. All you need to do is spread the word. A whole commission was set up in the nineties to investigate the matter but no credible links were made to any individuals with regards to the evidence on rituals and practices that were unearthed. It wouldn't be a surprise if those who go rent SQ's and other rentals there have their own experiences but suffer in silence. Nonetheless, they have their own accounts. Am also totally against devil worship and all forms of cults and am not a fan of such a topic but sometimes we do not have to bottle up things. Am sure there are many victims out there of attempted abduction
    Kwesimsa Mombasa, Kenya	Reply » | Report Abuse |Judge it! | #6 Apr 29, 2011 Echocaptor wrote: Only a dimwit can think of reporting such topics to the formal government. Secondly, I think the term satanism communicates better. As I said, it is an unconventional topic. All you need to do is spread the word. A whole commission was set up in the nineties to investigate the matter but no credible links were made to any individuals with regards to the evidence on rituals and practices that were unearthed. It wouldn't be a surprise if those who go rent SQ's and other rentals there have their own experiences but suffer in silence. Nonetheless, they have their own accounts. Am also totally against devil worship and all forms of cults and am not a fan of such a topic but sometimes we do not have to bottle up things. Am sure there are many victims out there of attempted abduction I still insist that you are guilty of unreasonably assaulting someone's character. You havent stated why you chose to point out other people's places when you clearly dont seem to have the facts. Your victim should in turn demand action against you! You havent responded to any of the questions I raised my friend. Obviously, you are either soaked in malice, or simply lying to yourself that you are more wronged than others. Thats not the best way to go about things. Attempted abduction has nothing to do with satanism! Is just a very serious ordinary crime, which should be immediately reported to relevant authorities. Unless you live in own world of empty silence, you should better know all bad things, especially those with criminal aspects, are preserve of the police. Spreading criminal rumours without plausible facts is inself a very serious offence under our penal code my friend. I think police should take note of your seemingly mischievious smear campaign and take appropriate swift action.
    Echocaptor Satellite Provider	Reply » | Report Abuse |Judge it! | #7 Apr 29, 2011 I'm in under obligation to answer to your naive questions. Secondly, you don't understand what I mean by abduction. Thirdly, allegiance to any religion or following does not amount to criminal conduct to any groupings in Kenya. This topic sucks but the unknown is normally a hard topic to digest in the dusty recesses of the human mind. The mere knowledge or alleged knowledge of what goes on among some individuals in society is enough to warn others. Thank you for the conversation

    
    

    TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2011

    Embarrassing Third-World Worship at the New York Times

    In a front-page puff piece of unadulterated xenophilia entitled "At Ghanian Funerals, A Time To Dance and Worship," the New York Times embarrasses themselves today even worse than they did yesterday with their voodoo-worship piece, which you read here.
    

    *

    NYT - Approved√

    
    As Africa descends anew into the Stone Age from which it was pried by Western intervention, the wishful thinking reality contortionists at Amerika's newspaper of record are firing up the after-burners on their propaganda machine to make it appear that the rise of Islam in the Maghreb and Ivory Coast is a beautiful thing, while reminding us every single day how evil and undesirable Christianity is (unless it's being practiced by illegal Mexicans, in which case church-going is presented as a sign of stability and responsibility).
    
    It's really starting to feel like the left-wing psychopaths at the New York Times are increasingly feeling the heat of mass defection from the enforced and prevailing liberal dogma that is politically safe to adhere to, but that more and more people are seeing as the sinister campaign of global anti-Westernism that it really is.
    
    From the article:
    
    
    
    

    More cultural relativism from the freakazoids at the NYT. Yes, the Irish can't throw a funeral party like these ghanians. It might not be as wonderful and as enriching as haitian voodoo, but the ways these ghanians get together and dance all night is really something that us boring bland Americans could never replicate.

    
    A closer look at this articles reveals that these Ghanian funeral-goers are actually engaging in incredibly uncivilized behaviour, reminiscent of over-the-top stupidity that one sees in Africa all the friggin time. Turns out these "funerals" that the NYT goes to such great lengths to report positively on, are nothing more than money-making scams based on the excuse of some ghanian somewhere dying.
    
    In a sane society, the newspaper of record would be frowning upon the exhibition of such alien and morally questionable behaviour. But precisely because of propaganda machines like the NYT, this is not a a sane society; this is a society where up is down, left is right, right is wrong and down is up.
    
    Third Worlders and their primitive religions will be boosted and uplifted at all costs. Meanwhile, anything Western or traditional will be relentlessly lambasted, mocked, and sneered at.
    
    Case in point:
    

    *

    NYT-Approved√

    
    Posted by Artur at 3:19 PM
    

    4 comments:

    Anonymous said...
    

    Totally, but the NYT is quickly going down the tubes financially as readers defect en masse from this embarrassing

    Pravda-style "reporting".

    
    

    English speaking American adults prefer print media from the UK.

    
    

    Keep up the pressure on this tawdry rag. Their days are numbered before they'll be on government life support like CBS and the Washington Post.

    April 12, 2011 10:48 PM

    Anonymous said...
    

    "uncivilized behaviour"

    
    

    Care to explain what is "uncivilized" about it? All I see on this blog is a bunch of incoherent jabs at anything non-Western without any substantiation whatsoever.

    
    

    "sinister campaign of global anti-Westernism"

    
    

    There is nothing sinister about it. Western ideas have literally ruined the world we live in: environmentally, economically, politically, spiritually. Anyone who is unwilling to admit this is refusing to look reality in the eye. The sooner we abandon Western ideas, the sooner we can start healing the world. Either help us or get out of the way.

    April 13, 2011 12:48 AM

    Anonymous said...
    

    It's been said that a society can have a space program or it can have a black population.

    
    

    The NYT is gleeful that we are retiring the shuttle program.

    April 13, 2011 10:24 AM

    Anonymous said...
    

    Im so tired of MORONS like the poster above who whines about western ideas being the root of our problems as he types on his computer, given to us by western ideas, sleeps in his no doubt air conditioned apartment, enjoys his western created freedom of speech, and eats his western style food .But then the idiot whines about western civilization.hey liberal idiots: western civilization IS THE ONLY civilization.And this is why I know libs like you are mentally neutered: everything I've said can be seen by those who have eyes. This ain't rocket science ffs.

    April 25, 2011 8:39 AM

    HOW VOODOO OF OLD IS THE CLIMATE CULT OF TODAY... GREEN JOBS, RIVERS OF BLOOD, ALL ARE SUPPOSED TO EQUAL RIVERS OF WEALTH...
    

    What does the Bible say about Voodoo? How should a Christian view Voodoo?

    ---

    
    

    ---

    
    Question: "What does the Bible say about Voodoo? How should a Christian view Voodoo?"
    
    Answer: Voodoo is a name for several religious practices derived from West African Voodoo. The original West African Voodoo is a polytheistic religion called Vodon (also spelled Vodun, Voudoun, Vodou, Vaudoux, Vodoun or Voudou). This religion honors a god with a dual nature, both masculine and feminine, and spirits that rule nature as well as spirits in rocks, rivers, trees, etc. These spirits are the vodon or vudu. This form of Voodoo also includes animal sacrifices and ancestor worship.
    
    Voodoo in Haiti and Louisiana (as well as in Haitian communities in Miami and New York City) is derived from West African Voodoo but blended with the superficial aspects of Roman Catholicism. This came about when slaves were brought to the New World and pressured to convert to Roman Catholicism. They mixed West African Voodoo with Roman Catholicism, thus forming an underground type of Voodoo found in Latin America, Cuba, Haiti, and Louisiana. In Cuba, this blend is usually called Santeria; in Brazil, it is Candomble (other terms may be used as well). In Haitian Voodoo, worship is directed to the loa, deities who serve the one god. The loa became associated with Catholic saints.
    
    Louisiana Voodoo has a strong emphasis on belief in spirits that supervise everything. Slaves changed the African names of these spirits to the names of Catholic saints as part of the blending of West African Voodoo with Roman Catholicism. Women in Louisiana Voodoo who presided over rituals and ceremonies and used charms and magical potions became known as Voodoo Queens. The most well-known Voodoo Queen was Marie Laveau of New Orleans who also considered herself a devout Catholic. Because of this, further syncretization between Voodoo and Roman Catholicism ensued.
    
    Because it is based primarily on oral tradition, Voodoo can vary from person to person. There is belief in one god, called Bondye, but this god is remote and is not active in daily life. Voodoo worshipers connect with the spirits through singing, ecstatic dancing in which the worshipers invite the spirits to “ride” them, and the use of snakes. Additionally, there are special diets, ceremonies, rituals, spell casting, potions, and talismans and amulets (charms) for healing and aiding followers.
    
    Voodoo involves the worship of spirits and occult practices such as divination (fortunetelling) and sorcery. These practices are strongly condemned by God throughout the Bible, such as in Deuteronomy 18:9-13, where God forbids consulting anyone who practices “divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead” (also see Leviticus 19:26, 31,20:6; 2 Kings 17:17; Acts 19:18-19; Revelation 21:8, 22:15).
    The god of Voodoo is not the biblical God but a remote god who is not involved with humanity or nature. The worship of the Voodoo spirits is the worship of false gods, and as such is condemned throughout the Bible. Not only is Voodoo a religion that is incompatible with Christianity, but its practices and beliefs are against God’s Word. Moreover, the occult practices of Voodoo are dangerous because they open people up for the influence of demons.
    
    THE DANGER OF MODERN VOODOO:
    
    CLIMATE CULTS ASCRIBING ABORTION AS THE HOLY GRAIL TO STOP CLIMATE CHANGE ARE REALLY MADE OVER INTO THE POLITICAL AND SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS SUCH AS EUGENICS AND GLOBAL WARMING, AND THESE SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT, OR FRUIT OF VOODOO IS REMOVED FROM ITS ROOTS AND PROMOTED BY THE MEDIA WITH CLINICAL PRECISION TO SEPARATE IT FROM A 6,000 YEAR OLD RELIGION BY CALLING SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING NEW, MORE ACCEPTABLE, AND SEEMINGLY IRREFUTABLE....
    
    LIKE CLIMATE SCIENCE OR SELECTIVE BREEDING OR FAMILY PLANNING.... IT IS THE SAME THING!
    
    By blending polytheistic spirit worship with a superficial form of Christianity, Voodoo has effectively denied the primacy of Jesus Christ and His atoning work on the cross and the need for redemption solely through faith in Christ. Voodoo, therefore, is incompatible with God’s Word in three ways: the true God is not worshiped, Jesus is secondary to the spirits, and occult practices prevail.
    
    Recommended Resource: The Truth Behind Ghosts, Mediums, and Psychic Phenomena by Ron Rhodes.
    MEANING, IDOLATRY BECOMES THE LAW OF THE LAND AS LONG AS OBAMACARE IS FUNDED. THE HOUSE WILL BE WORKING TO REPEAL THIS 7/11/12, AS OBAMA LIED TO PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY WOULD GET INSURANCE WHEN HE RECONCILED THE BUDGET. UNDER H.R. 4872 THOUGH, HE TRIED TO OBLIGATE THE ENTIRE NATION TO PARTICIPATE IN IDOL WORSHIP.
    
    CHRISTIANS OF DENOMINATIONS, PARTICULARLY CATHOLICS, WHO ARE MORE AWARE OF THE POLLUTION OF CATHOLICISM RECOGNIZED THIS RIGHT OFF AS VOODOO.
    
    ROSS PEROT GAVE HIS POLITICAL PROGNOSTICATION OF IT, CALLED ‘VOODOO ECONOMICS’, WHAT WE CALL TODAY ‘OBAMANOMICS’.
    
    NOW TO GET ONTO THE REAL MATTERS AT HAND... HOW TO IMPROVE OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND GET BACK TO CAPITALISM....
    FOR GA, T-SPLOST MAY BE OUR ONLY CHANCE TO FIX OUR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TOO BROKE TO LOAN TO ITS OWN STATES. I LOVE THE TEA PARTY, I LOVE BEING CHIEF, BUT....
    WOULD THE REAL TEA PARTY PLEASE STAND UP?!
    
    I’M SORRY DEBBIE DOOLEY, BUT NO ONE ELECTED YOU TO SPEAK FOR EVERYONE...
    MOST CERTAINLY, ME:
    

    • I AM TIRED OF THOSE CLAIMING TO BE TEA PARTY ACTIVISTS GETTING ON CAMERA, MAKING A STINK, AND MERELY PAYING LIP SERVICE TO OUR TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS AND THE CONDITION OF OUR STATE.
    • I AM DISGUSTED ALSO WITH HOW CAPITOL T.E.A. TREATS GOVERNOR DEAL... A VERY REASONABLE MAN, HE DOES NOT ACT ON WHIMS OR AUTOMATICALLY SIDES WITH SOMEONE, UNTIL HE THINKS THE PROBLEM THROUGH TO THE SOLUTION, SO I’M REALLY SICK OF HIM BEING ATTACKED.

    
    YES, HOT LANES WEREN’T SO HOT... BUT WE WON GA’S WATER RIGHTS TO LAKE LANIER BACK FROM ENGINEERING AND FUNDING OBSCURITIES AND BALANCED THE BUDGET IN 5 YEARS, ACCOMPLISHED DRUG REFORM, AND CREATED A SURPLUS.
    
    YOU SAY YOU’RE SO TIRED OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT LEVEL, BUT THE TRAFFIC IS DISCOURAGING JOB GROWTH AND PREVENTING US BUDGING FROM 8% EMPLOYMENT, THAT’S CREEPING BACK UP TO 9%. THAT IS A REALLY SCARY TREND, CONSIDERING INFLATION HAS ALREADY TAKEN $.67 OF EVERY DOLLAR EARNED BEFORE IT IS EVEN SPENT. THEN WE WONDER WHY WE HAVE NO SALES TAX REVENUE THIS YEAR! RAISING MINIMUM WAGE $.25 DID NOTHING WHEN THE DOLLAR HAS BEEN BORROWED AGAINST SO MUCH, THE DOLLAR BILL IS ONLY WORTH $.33 !!! BEFORE YOU SCREAM AND PULL YOUR HAIR OUT AT THE NEXT RALLY OR PROTEST, CONSIDER HOW INFLATION IS NEEDLESSLY BALLOONING DEFICITS BECAUSE THE DOLLAR HAS BEEN DEVALUED. THERE IS LESS TO GO AROUND FOR EVERYONE UNTIL WE GET THAT UNDER CONTROL.
    
    
    WHEN YOU HAVE TO LEAVE SENOIA, GA BEFORE 6AM TO GET TO THE CAPITOL BY 9AM FOR AN EDUCATION HEARING, THEN A LIGHT SHOULD GO OFF IN YOUR HEAD THAT SAYS... “GEE, I COULD BE IN SOUTH CAROLINA BY THE TIME IT TOOK ME TO GO UP THE ROAD TODAY”. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT STOP AND GO, I AM TALKING ABOUT FLYING YOUR CAR LIKE A PLANE AROUND 2 STOPPED-UP LANES ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER, PEOPLE RIDING THE TAIL END OF OTHER CARS AND HAVING TO SWERVE TO THE OTHER LANE, NEXT TO THE LANE OF CONSTRUCTION BEING CONDUCTED WITH A BARRIER, TO MAINTAIN SPEED, AND THEN HAVING TO LEAVE THE CAPITOL BY 130PM BEFORE ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE. THIS IS AN EVERYDAY THING FOR THOSE COMMUTING.
    
    OUR TRAFFIC IS HELLISH !!
    WHOEVER CREATED SPAGHETTI JUNCTION NEEDS THEIR HEAD EXAMINED!!
    MY GRANDFATHER WAS AN ENGINEER, WHO SURVEYED WHAT YOU KNOW AS MOST OF MODERN FLORIDA TODAY, AND WHEN HE SAW ATLANTA’S INFRASTRUCTURE, HE SHOOK HIS HEAD AND EXCLAIMED THINGS THAT I’M NOT GOING TO TYPE HERE.
    
    DEBBIE DOOLEY WANTS TO MAKE THIS AN ISSUE OF TRUST, AND I SAY THIS IS AN ISSUE OF INTELLIGENCE THAT SHE WILL LOSE EVERY TIME:
    

    • VOTERS MUST MAKE UP THEIR OWN MINDS!
    • WE CREATED THE TEA PARTY TO GET AWAY FROM THOSE DOGMATIC REPUBLICANS WHO WERE OLD HAT, WHO FORCED THEIR POSITIONS ON VOTERS WITH NO ONE GETTING THEIR WAY, UNLESS IT WAS DONE THE REPUBLICAN WAY, OR MORE LIKE THEIR WAY. THOSE OF US WHO WORKED THE 10-15YRS. THAT WE WATCHED THESE PEOPLE MUCK UP THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DURING THE BUSH JR. YEARS.

    
    WAKE UP DEBBIE DOOLEY AND OTHERS LIKE YOU: THIS IS 2012 !! THOSE DAYS ARE GONE!! YOUR SIGN, YOUR SPEECH... IT REFLECTS YOUR VIEW, NOT EVERYONE ELSE’S !!
    
    I AM TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE “NO-TAX INCREASE” ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE NOT GIVEN US AN OUNCE OF WORK TO CRAFT THIS FEDERAL BUDGET BELOW OR ASSIST IN GETTING OUR APPROPRIATIONS BACK UNDER CONTROL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, SO WE CAN GET PEOPLE WORKING AGAIN BY REPEALING OBAMACARE AND ADHERING TO A $1.7 TRILLION DEFICIT REDUCTION PAYMENT PLAN IN ORDER TO RETURN TO 2006 LEVELS IN SIX YEARS. OF COURSE, IF WE GET PEOPLE WORKING AGAIN, WHICH IS MOST FAVORABLE TO OCCUR UNDER MITT ROMNEY, THEN THIS MAY HAPPEN WITHIN 3-4 YEARS.
    
    TEA PARTY BUDGET $2.5 TRILLION ANNUAL REVENUE http://lnk.ms/Wb6nV
    
    
    Residents comment on proposed TSPLOST list
    by Matt Shinall
    9 months ago | 1248 views | 0  | 3  |  |
    Residents and officials look and discuss projects proposed for funding by a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax at a public meeting held Tuesday at the Clarence Brown Conference Center in Cartersville. MATT SHINALL/The Daily Tribune News
    Regional transportation projects will be on the ballot next year as a 1 cent Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is decided upon for funding. A list and maps of projects were presented Tuesday for dissemination at a Georgia Department of Transportation public meeting in Cartersville.
    
    Comments were taken in writing at the Clarence Brown Conference Center concerning proposed projects including 11 in Bartow County and 94 others spread across the remaining 14 counties in the northwest Georgia region.
    
    Jeff Lewis, GDOT board member representing Bartow and the 11th Congressional District, spoke on the importance of infrastructure investment and expressed his approval of legislatures putting the measure before voters rather than approving of it independently.
    
    "Of all the things Georgians are asked to vote on, tax wise, this is probably one of the better ones for voters to consider," Lewis said. "Transportation infrastructure is needed, both in the county and the region as a whole. I don't think anyone would dispute the need for it.
    
    "Transportation is the single most important thing that can accommodate economic development. Nothing can have more of an impact for positive economic development than good transportation infrastructure."
    
    The proposed list was created by an executive roundtable of county commissioners and mayors then reviewed by a larger roundtable of mayors before submitted for public comment. Paulding County Chairman of the Board of Commissioners David Austin oversaw the executive roundtable discussions. His observations, echoed by others in attendance, was a fair conversation in which a formula was devised for calculating project and financial disbursement.
    
    "I was just amazed. ... If you think that this is 15 counties with 12 regional commissions -- and I think our project list was the first to be completed. We prayed before every meeting and we did a pledge," Austin said.
    
    Tuesday's meeting may have covered more than 100 projects, but a number of attendees had only one in mind. The Coalition for the Right Road showed up with signs in hand opposing the much-debated 411 Connector redirecting U.S. 411 linking Rome and Interstate 75. Coalition members stood along SR 20 and at the conference center entrance quietly protesting the chosen route defended by the Rollins family.
    
    Tracy Rogers and his wife Leslie Crawford moved to Bartow for an escape from busy roadways like the one which as proposed will lie just a quarter mile from their home. As members of the coalition, Rogers and Crawford cite fiscal and ecological reasons for opposing route D-VE and its inclusion on the proposed TSPLOST project list.
    
    "D-VE became a battle between the family who owns Dobbins Mountain and the people at GDOT," Rogers said. "The truth is, there's a lot of people out here that are opposed to it for other reasons and the best reason for not going through Dobbins Mountain is ecological damage. I mean, when are we going to hit that tipping point where the planet is not going to be habitable for humans? When are we going to destroy enough?"
    
    The next public meeting will be held Thursday at the Whitfield County Courthouse in Dalton from 5 to 7 p.m. The proposed project list is scheduled for a final vote by the roundtable on Sept. 29. Voting on the matter will take place next year. The Georgia General Assembly will decide in their regular session whether the vote will take place in the July primary or the November general election.
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    Read more: The Daily Tribune News - Residents comment on proposed TSPLOST list
    
    OKAY.... BEING NATIVE AMERICAN AND FROM ANCESTRY WHO FARMED, NOT EVERYONE KNOWS HOW TO HUNT, PLANT, LIVE OUTSIDE, OR SEW THEIR OWN CLOTHES. I DO. DOES THAT MEAN I CHOOSE TO LIVE THAT WAY? NO NOT ALWAYS AND NOT ALL THE TIME, I DO ENJOY MODERN COMFORTS AND TOOLS LIKE A COMPUTER AND A FUTON. YET I AM ABLE TO GET BY, AND I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN ALL OF THOSE THINGS I WAS TAUGHT. DO I FORCE OTHERS TO LIVE THAT WAY? NO. NOT EVERYONE CAN SING “KUMBAYA” AND PICK BERRIES. THIS IS WHAT I MEAN BY THE “OCCUPY PHENOMENON”....
    
    THESE PEOPLE WERE NOT WILLING TO LEAVE ATLANTA AND HOP A BUS TO PICK FRUIT IN SOUTH GEORGIA, BECAUSE IT WAS BENEATH THEM TO LABOR FOR THEIR FOOD. OF COURSE, I DO GET THE GRIPE ABOUT THE BANKS BEING CORRUPT, BUT THE MORE SIMPLY YOU LIVE, THE LESS THE BANKS AND THE GOVERNMENT CAN CONTROL YOUR LIFE. HAS THE “OCCUTARD GENERATION” FORGOTTEN ALL OF THE LESSONS OF THEIR GREAT GRANDPARENTS’ GENERATION, FROM THE GREAT DEPRESSION? OR DID THEIR GREAT GRANDPARENTS NOT SURVIVE TO TEACH THEM, OR THEIR GRANDPARENTS NOT TELL THEM WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEFORE WWI AND DURING WWII ??
    
    REALLY?!
    WITH THAT SAID, I AM NOT GOING TO TELL PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN ATLANTA HOW TO LIVE OR WHAT THEY SHOULD SPEND MONEY ON, EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUS IT IS INFRASTRUCTURE.
    
    <PSSSST..... DEBBIE DOOLEY...>
    IF YOU WANT JOBS, THEN YOU NEED INFRASTRUCTURE !!
    
    WITH THAT SAID, MOST PEOPLE WOULD RATHER PAY A PENNY MORE, EVEN THOSE FROM THE COUNTRY WHO DON’T LIVE IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, THAN TO HAVE THEIR PROPERTY TAXES GO UP:
    
    

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    Published Saturday, June 09, 2012 in Local
    

    PHOTO BY BOB FRALEY

    Traffic leaves Amlajack Boulevard from Shenandoah Industrial Park turning onto Bullsboro Drive. The proposed TSPLOST includes funding to extend Amlajack Boulevard northward to the future site of a new interchange on Interstate 85.

    TSPLOST vote July 31: Coweta has 21 proposed transportation projects

    BY SARAH FAY CAMPBELL
    SARAH@NEWNAN.COM
    (Editor’s Note: This is the first package of articles in a two-day series looking at the pros and cons of the TSPLOST proposal to be voted on in July. Today we look at what the tax would fund in Coweta and the views of the local business community. Coming Sunday is a look at those opposing the tax and some of their concerns.)
    Coweta County has 21 projects on the Three Rivers region’s project list for the proposed Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. Those projects are projected to be built with $167,545,694 in regional sales tax dollars.
    On July 31, voters from throughout the Three Rivers region will decide whether to implement the TSPLOST, a 10-year, one-percent sales tax. Coweta is in the Three Rivers region for the purpose of transportation planning. This is a separate project proposal from the one being voted on by counties in metro Atlanta served by the Atlanta Regional Commission.
    
    Other issues on the July ballot will be Sunday alcohol sales in unincorporated Coweta and three contested local governmental office races in the Republican primary.
    Absentee ballots will be available starting June 16 and early voting starts July 9. The voter registration deadline is July 2.
    The TSPLOST would apply to most purchases, including groceries. It would not apply to purchases of gasoline, though.
    The TSPLOST is also known as the TIA, for the law that created it, the Transportation Investment Act of 2010.
    The projects on Coweta’s list, as well as the lists for the other nine counties in Three Rivers across the south metro Atlanta area, will take up 75 percent of the sales tax proceeds.
    The other 25 percent will be distributed to the counties and their municipalities, as discretionary funding. The discretionary money can be used for any transportation related purpose.
    Coweta’s share of the discretionary money is estimated to be $3,326,660 in the first year.
    For some of the projects on the list, Coweta has requested enough TSPLOST money to build the entire project. For other projects, the county’s TSPLOST request is for less than the total cost of the project. Some of those projects have already been “programmed” by the Georgia Department of Transportation, meaning that some state or federal funding is expected.
    At least two of the projects already have funding identified through Coweta’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
    Funding for the new Interstate 85 interchange at Poplar Road was included in Coweta’s SPLOST that was approved by voters in March. However, only $15 million for the interchange was included in the Coweta SPLOST. The TSPLOST request is for $25 million. The total cost of the project is estimated at $33.8 million. The DOT has committed to covering half of the construction cost.
    Coweta had originally requested the full $33.8 million from the TSPLOST but lowered the request because of the DOT commitment, and to use the money for other projects.
    If the TSPLOST is approved, the Coweta SPLOST money allocated for the interchange can be shifted to other needed transportation projects.
    The intersection improvements at U.S. 29, Highway 16 and Pine Road south of Newnan near the Moreland exit of Interstate 85 were included in the project list for the 2006 Coweta SPLOST.
    Because of the recession, sales tax collections for the 2006 SPLOST were below predictions, and some projects on the list weren’t able to be funded. If the TSPLOST is approved, some of the 2006 SPLOST money can be used for projects that had to be cut.
    The TSPLOST request for the Pine/29/16 intersection is just $1 million, though the projected project cost is $4.5 million. The $1 million in Coweta’s expected portion; the state/federal money for the rest of the project is already committed, according to Wayne Kennedy, Coweta’s director of development and engineering.
    Coweta’s 2013 SPLOST sets aside $34.8 million for “rehab and paving” and $4.58 million for intersections.
    If the TSPLOST is defeated, the county’s SPLOST categories are probably flexible enough that some of the TSPLOST projects could be funded with the Coweta SPLOST, said Coweta County Administrator Theron Gay. However, Gay said because there are so many needed projects already on the SPLOST priority list, he doubts local SPLOST dollars would be used on any of the unfunded TSPLOST projects.
    The Three Rivers Regional Commission has several documents regarding the TIA/TSPLOST on its website. Check at http://threeriversrc.com/Downloads/tabid/556/Default.aspx for more information.
    
    
    T-SPLOST VS. STIMULUS:
    RATHER THAN WORKERS RIDING THE CLOCK AND DRAGGING OUT STIMULUS PROJECTS FOR YEARS, WAITING ON WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL OR CAN DUMP SOME MONEY OVER TO FINISH IT (THINK EAGLES LANDING AREA), T-SPLOST GIVES US A TARGETED WAY TO FUND AND FINISH PROJECTS IN MANY DIFFERENT LOCAL AREAS WHOSE BUDGETS ARE IN THE RED BY MILLIONS THAT CAN’T PAY FOR IT AND WON’T PAY FOR IT WITHOUT HUGE, LET ME REPEAT THAT HUGE PROPERTY TAX BURDENS.
    I HATE TO DISAPPOINT DEBBIE DOOLEY AGAIN, BUT.... I KNOW EVERYONE THOUGHT ONCE WE’D HIT THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION THAT WE WOULD HAVE CLEAN-BURNING JET PROPELLED CARS LIKE “THE JETSONS”, BUT IT JUST DIDN’T HAPPEN.
    SEE OBAMA THOUGHT THAT TOO!
    UNTIL WE ABANDON FOSSIL FUEL, WE WILL STILL NEED MORE THAN A FOOTPATH, EVEN THOUGH SOME OF US LIKE THE OLD WAYS AND TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED!
    
    
    PERSONALLY, WITH THE DRUG REFORM LAWS ENACTED, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR YOUNG MEN 20-40 OUT HERE WORKING THESE ROAD PROJECTS AND RESTORED, NOT ROTTING IN JAIL, WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS AND ASSISTING CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES LIKE CARTELS AND TERRORISTS. SINCE THEY ARE NOT OUT TENDING THE FIELDS, THEY SHOULD BE OUT SECURING OUR STREETS AND REPAIRING THEM BY EARNING A DECENT AND HONEST LIVING!
    
    REAL FUNDING CONCERNS...
    

    Townhall The Tipsheet Leah Barkoukis

    
    

    Yikes: UN Agency Shipped Computers to N. Korea and Iran

    
    

    • Leah Barkoukis
    • Blogger, Townhall.com

    Jul 05, 2012 01:31 PM EST
    

    Sign-Up

    Another scandal developing out of the UN? Shocking, I know. Apparently the obscure UN agency ‘World Intellectual Property Organization,’ is being investigated by the State Department for shipping “computers and other sophisticated equipment” to North Korea and Iran - despite the fact that both the U.S. andU.N. have sanctions against the pariah regimes in an effort to halt the development of their respective nuclear weapons programs.
    
    According to a Fox News report:
    

    The broadening inquiry raises new concerns about the ways in which U.N. agencies have managed to sidestep restrictions that the world body expects the rest of the world to obey in halting the spread of sensitive technologies to nuclear-ambitious pariah regimes.

    It also calls into question how much U.N. member states know about the activities of agencies they supposedly approve and supervise.

    In this case, there are hints that the top official at the U.N. agency, the Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization, or WIPO, “has not yet been fully open” to the inquiries, according to a senior U.S. official.

    The State Department probe came in the wake of Fox News revelations in April about the actions by WIPO in sending such sensitive equipment to North Korea by a complicated method that seemed designed to bypass U.N. Security Council sanctions against the country.

    WIPO claims on its website that:
    

    IP is not an end in itself but rather is a tool that could power countries’ growth and development. WIPO, as the lead United Nations agency mandated to promote the protection of intellectual property through cooperation among states and in collaboration with other international organizations, is committed to ensuring that all countries are able to benefit from the use of IP for economic, social and cultural development. Implied in this are the notions of balance, accessibility and reward for creativity and innovation.

    
    So, they were just concerned with North Korea and Iran’s growth and development? I believe one of those countries blatantly declared that Israel should be “wiped out from the map.” Just sayin'.
    
    The Fox report continues:
    
    

    The shipments took place in late 2011 or early 2012, and were financed through the Beijing offices of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

    The WIPO actions also violated the sweeping restrictions of the equipment manufacturer, Hewlett-Packard, which forbids any HP equipment from being sent to such regimes.

    The U.S. is a member of WIPO, yet apparently knew little or nothing about the controversial delivery of computers and sophisticated services. And within a month, the State Department discovered the problem went beyond North Korea, a spokesman said in response to questions from Fox News.

    In 2011, the gross contribution the U.S. made to the U.N. budget was $582,678,514.
    
    

    WND EXCLUSIVE

    ISRAEL, IRAN ALREADY AT WAR?

    Nations trading blows under the table, say analysts

    Published: 58 mins agoby MICHAEL CARLEmail | Archive
    Michael Carl is a veteran journalist with overseas military experience and experience as a political consultant. He also has two Master's Degrees, is a bi-vocational pastor and lives with his family in the Northeast United States.More ↓ Subscribe to author feed
    

    • inShare

    Though it might seem far from Jerusalem, a border battle in Africa, some analysts warn, is the site of a proxy war being waged between Israel and Iran.
    Middle East analyst Joseph Puder explains the boundary area between Sudan and the recently formed South Sudan has become a battleground for Jerusalem and Tehran to quietly exchange blows.
    “Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, eager to win over the Sunni-Arab world, has been more than happy to comply and provide Khartoum with arms, ideology and strengthened economic ties, including oil exploration,” Puder writes.
    “For Tehran, Bashir’s Sudan is a major Shiite Islam success story,” Puder writes. “Sudan is both an Arab and Sunni-Muslim [nation] previously allied with the West (under President Jafaar Numeiri). Omar Bashir transformed Sudan into an Islamic theocracy allied with Iran and turned it into a base of operations for Tehran in Africa and the Middle East (supplying arms to Hamas in Gaza through Sudan).”
    Meanwhile, a former CIA station chief who asked not to be named says Israel is also invested in the region, creating a possible scenario in Sudan that pits Islam versus the West.
    “The Muslim countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and Iran are indeed providing financial and military support to Bashir’s regime,” the CIA station chief said. “[And while] the West is essentially doing ‘lip service’ to the newly independent South Sudan, the only nation that is putting action behind its words is Israel.”
    The Times of Israel reported earlier this year that South Sudan looks to Israel as a “role model.”
    “South Sudan’s fondness for Israel extends to the diplomatic arena,” the Times of Israel report stated, “where the two countries have been building strategic ties in a relationship that long preceded the founding of South Sudan last July.”
    “They see in us kind of a role model in how a small nation surrounded by enemies can survive and prosper, and they would like to imitate that,” said incoming Israeli Ambassador to South Sudan Haim Koren, according to the Times.
    American Enterprise Institute Middle East analyst Michael Rubin pointed out that Ahmadinehad has a vested interest in pestering Israel wherever possible.
    “His interest is to muck things up where he can,” Rubin said. “He does similarly in Senegal and in St. Vincent.”
    Yet Rubin suggested Israel’s most significant long-term strategic security is elsewhere.
    “They (Iran and Israel) may be on opposite sides (with Sudan and South Sudan), but Egypt, Syria, Lebanon would be what counts,” Rubin said.
    “What happens in Southern Sudan isn’t of existential interest to Israel; what happens in southern Lebanon is,” Rubin said.
    Rubin adds that he doesn’t believe Egypt and Syria have much of an interest in al-Bashir or South Sudan. Yet, some type of conflict is still possible.
    “Even if they (Egypt and Syria) fall on other sides, it will be a side show. Unfortunately, a very brutal side show,” Rubin said.
    Rubin believes ultimately the biggest player in the region may be China, and where they invest their money because of commercial interests.
    Christian Solidarity International, USA President John Eibner, however, says while the proxy battle scenario is possible, the problem is in Khartoum’s side of the equation. Eibner doesn’t think al-Bashir would risk associating with Shia Muslims.
    “The analysis does not address Sudan’s relations with the rest of the Sunni world, or its intelligence-sharing arrangements with Washington,” Eibner said. “It is hard to believe that the latter does not also help America’s allies, including Israel.
    “By focusing exclusively on the relationships between Iran and Sudan, without putting it in the broader context, it is possible to overstate the case,” Eibner said. “If Bashir were to forge a strong alliance with Shia Iran, he would end up in the same boat as Assad in Syria, with the United States and the Sunni Arab world actively seeking his overthrow.”
    Still, Rubin says the Sudan scenario is worth watching.
    “I’d keep an eye on what is going on between the Middle East and the Sudans,” Rubin said.
    

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    • Iran revives Hormuz threats

    Iran revives Hormuz threats

    
    

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    By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 7/7/12 3:51 PM EDT
    TEHRAN, Iran — Iran will block the strategic Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the passageway through which a fifth of the world’s oil flows, if its interests are seriously threatened, a senior Iranian military commander said Saturday.
    “We do have a plan to close the Strait of Hormuz,” state media quoted Gen. Hasan Firouzabadi as saying Saturday. “A Shiite nation [Iran] acts reasonably and would not approve interruption of a waterway … unless our interests are seriously threatened,” Press TV quoted him as saying.
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    The comments by Firouzabadi, the chairman of Iran’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, come days after the European Union enforced a total oil embargo against Iran for its refusal to halt its uranium enrichment program.
    A halt in crude oil imports from Iran is intended to increase pressure on the Islamic Republic to stop enriching uranium to the 20 percent level, an issue at the center of an international dispute.
    Western powers fear material produced at that level — well above the 3.5 percent enrichment needed for energy-producing reactors — can be turned into weapons-grade material in a matter of months. Iran insists its reactors are only for energy and research.
    Iranian lawmakers have prepared a bill that would order the country’s military to stop tankers headed to countries that have joined the oil ban.
    But Iran’s parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, was quoted by Iranian media on Saturday as saying that the proposed bill has not yet been studied by parliament.
    Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard has warned in the past that Tehran would order the closure of the Strait of Hormuz if the country’s oil exports are blocked.
    
    
    Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78196.html#ixzz200xQJTuW
    
    

    Adams hits Mica where it hurts

    
    

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    By CHARLES MAHTESIAN |
    

    7/6/12 5:16 PM EDT

    The incumbent vs. incumbent primary races are turning out to be some of the most bruising contests this year and the match-up between Florida GOP Reps. John Mica and Sandy Adams is no different.
    Thus today, in honor of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Mica’s expected attendance at the White House for the transportation bill signing, Adams hits her colleague where it hurts in a press release.
    Twenty-year incumbent John Mica, who calls himself President Obama’s biggest cheerleader, will join his "soul mate" Barbara Boxer for President Obama's signing of their budget-busting transportation bill.  As Mica stands with the president today, does he also agree with fellow big-government Republican, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, that “The Chinese are more successful [in building infrastructure] because in their country, only three people make the decision?”
    As attacks go, this one hits a trifecta for a GOP primary. It references a Mica encounter with the President (where the congressman gets the president’s autograph), reminds voters of Mica’s warm words for a noted Senate liberal and throws in a China mention for good measure --  all red flags for GOP primary voters.
    Read more about: John Mica, Sandy Adams, Florida House Races 2012, Transportation Bill
    

    U.N. Arms Trade Treaty Negotiations Underway

    Posted on July 6, 2012

    
    As we reported last week, for nearly 20 years, the NRA has fought tirelessly to oppose any United Nations effort to undermine the constitutional rights of law-abiding American gun owners.  That fight has grown more intense lately, as the U.N. and global gun banners have markedly stepped up their attack on our Second Amendment freedoms by including civilian arms in the proposed Arms Trade Treaty.
    
    As called for in a resolution adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 2009, a conference began this week in New York City to draft the treaty's language.  The United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty is one of the most serious threats to American gun owners in decades.
    
    The NRA will continue to maintain a strong presence at the ATT meeting, which will run through July 27.  And we will continue to champion the position that any ATT must in no way impact gun owners' rights.
    
    Day one of the conference began with a stunning degree of inaction, as the meeting failed to formally convene for either morning or afternoon sessions.  However, anti-gun groups are present in force and are insisting that civilian firearms be included within the scope of the ATT.   
    
    Addressing the conference on Tuesday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made an emotional speech calling for an ATT.  He said, it was a "disgrace" that there is no treaty covering conventional arms (the implication being the inclusion of small arms) and that the world is "over armed."  He also called for strict national legislation to control arms.  Meanwhile, Norway made its opening statement and called for the scope of the treaty to include "non-military arms," a direct call that civilian firearms should be included within the ATT.
    
    Thursday's negotiations got off to a very slow start due to procedural issues, and adjourned late due to more of the same.  Some countries did make statements that illustrated the deep divisions in the assembled body, especially over the issue of civilian firearms.  
    
    While the New Zealand delegate stated that, "The task is not to regulate state's internal matters, such as conditions of domestic sales of arms or national systems of gun control or registration,"  the delegate from Mexico took the opposite tack, saying individuals' rights (i.e., the Second Amendment) are not an excuse for "products traded without controls."  This statement continued Mexico's efforts to blame its drug cartel problem on American guns.  The Mexican delegate then went on to say specifically that civilian firearms needed to be included in the ATT.
    
    And, in a joint position statement issued this week, French, German, British, and Swedish government officials said, "We believe that an arms trade treaty should cover all types of conventional weapons, notably including small arms and light weapons, all types of munitions, and related technologies."
    
    It's important to note, however, that in order for any treaty to take effect, it must be ratified by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate.   To ensure that ratification of an anti-gun treaty cannot take place, the NRA has worked to get as many U.S. Senators as possible to publicly oppose any ATT that includes restrictions on civilian arms.
    
    Last year, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) and 57 other senators signed a letter to President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reminding them that the Senate has final say on treaties, and stating their unequivocal opposition to any treaty that would affect civilian ownership of firearms, challenge the authority of Congress to regulate firearms within the United States, or call for an international gun registry.
    
    This echoes what NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said in a speech at the U.N.  last July, when he told delegates that the NRA would vehemently oppose any U.N. treaty that in any way restricts American gun owners' rights. (To watch the speech, please click here.)
    
    In March of this year, Sen. Moran introduced the "Second Amendment Sovereignty Act," (S. 2205), an NRA-backed bill that would prohibit the administration from using "the voice, vote, and influence of the United States, in connection with negotiations for a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, to restrict in any way the rights of United States citizens under the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States, or to otherwise regulate domestic manufacture, assembly, possession, use, transfer, or purchase of firearms, ammunition, or related items, including  small arms, light weapons, or related materials."
    
    Last month, during consideration of the Fiscal Year 2013 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, Sen. Moran took additional steps to safeguard our rights and joined Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in offering an amendment to protect the rights of American gun owners from being undermined by the proposed ATT.  
    
    The Tester-Moran amendment, which passed by a voice vote, will block any taxpayer dollars from being used to advocate or agree to any provision that would restrict in any way the rights of United States citizens under the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, or that would otherwise regulate the domestic manufacture, importation, assembly, possession, use, transfer or purchase of firearms, ammunition or related items.
    
    A similar amendment, offered by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), was adopted by the House Committee on Appropriations in the Fiscal Year 2013 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs last Thursday by a bipartisan vote of 30-20.
    
    Finally, last Friday (June 29, 2012), U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and 129 co-signers sent a letter to President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton detailing their concerns regarding the negotiation of the ATT and saying, in part, " The U.S. must not accept an ATT that infringes on our constitutional rights, particularly the fundamental, individual right to keep and to bear arms that is protected by the Second Amendment, as well as the right of personal self-defense on which the Second amendment is based.  Accordingly, the ATT should not cover small arms, light weapons, or related material, such as firearms ammunition.  Further, the ATT should expressly recognize the individual right of personal self-defense, as well as the legitimacy of hunting, sports shooting, and other lawful activities pertaining to the private ownership of firearms and related materials.   
    
    Rest assured that NRA will be present throughout the entire U.N. meeting and will provide frequent updates.  You may also rest assured that NRA will continue to lead the fight against any U.N. treaty that undermines the constitutional rights of American gun owners.
    
    As we await the conclusion of the meeting, please be sure to contact your U.S. Senators and urge them to strongly oppose any U.N. treaty that in any way diminishes our constitutional rights.
    
    You can find contact information for your U.S. Senators by using the "Write Your Representatives" tool atwww.NRAILA.org.  You may also contact your Senators by phone at (202) 224-3121.

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    U.N., Arms Trade Treaty, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Sen. Jerry Moran, Tester-Moran amendment, Rep. Denny Rehberg, Rep. Mike Kelly

    Afghan woman publicly executed near Kabul

    Video allegedly shows woman shot dead for adultery in Parwan province; Afghan officials blame the Taliban. Last Modified: 08 Jul 2012 00:19 inShare Email Print Share Feedback

    A man who Afghan officials say is a member of the Taliban shot dead a woman accused of adultery in front of a crowd near Kabul, a video obtained by Reuters showed. In the three-minute video, a turban-clad man approaches a woman kneeling in the dirt and shoots her five times at close range with an automatic rifle, to cheers of jubilation from the 150 or so men watching in a village in Parwan province. "Allah warns us not to get close to adultery because it's the wrong way," another man says as the shooter gets closer to the woman. "It is the order of Allah that she be executed." Basir Salangi, the provincial governor, said the video was shot a week ago in the village of Qimchok in Shinwari district, about an hour's drive from Kabul. Such rare public punishment was a painful reminder to Afghan authorities of the Taliban's 1996-2001 period in power, and it raised concern about the treatment of Afghan women 11 years into the NATO-led war against Taliban insurgents. "When I saw this video, I closed my eyes... the woman was not guilty; the Taliban are guilty," Salangi told Reuters. 'How could this happen?' When the unnamed woman, most of her body tightly wrapped in a shawl, fell sideways after being shot several times in the head, the spectators chanted: "Long live the Afghan mujahideen!", a name the Taliban use for themselves. The Taliban could not be reached for comment. Despite the presence of over 130,000 foreign troops and 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police, the Taliban have managed to resurge beyond their traditional bastions of the south and east, extending their reach into once more peaceful areas like Parwan. Afghan women have won back basic rights in education, voting and work since the Taliban, who deemed those rights un-Islamic, were toppled by US-backed Afghan forces in late 2001. But fears are rising among Afghan women, some lawmakers and rights activists that such freedoms could be traded away as the Afghan government and the United States pursue talks with the Taliban to secure a peaceful end to the war. Violence against women has increased sharply in the past year, according to Afghanistan's independent human rights commission. Activists say there is waning interest in women's rights on the part of President Hamid Karzai's government. "After 10 years [of war] and only a few kilometres from Kabul... how could this happen in front of all these people?" female lawmaker Fawzia Koofi asked. "This is happening under a government that claims to have made so much progress in women's rights, claims to have changed women's lives, and this is unacceptable. It is a huge step backwards," said Koofi, a campaigner for girls' education who wants to run in the 2014 presidential election. Salangi said two Taliban commanders were sexually involved with the woman in Parwan, either through rape or romantically, and decided to torture her and then kill her to settle a dispute between the two of them. "They are outlaws, murderers, and like savages they killed the woman," he said, adding that the Taliban exerted considerable sway in his province. Earlier this week a 30-year-old woman and two of her children were beheaded in eastern Afghanistan by a man police said was her divorced husband, the latest of a string of so-called "honour killings."

    
    
    

    'Heart attack' sandwich can stay on N.Y. menu

    Updated 23m ago

    
    

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    Sponsored Links

    NEW YORK (AP) — New Yorkers can still order up an instant heart attack.

    The Second Avenue Deli won a court fight with a Las Vegas-based burger joint Friday over the names of their gut-busting foods. The New York deli's sandwich called "instant heart attack" is made of sliced pastrami and fried potato latkes. It costs $24.95.

    The Heart Attack Grill in Vegas had ordered the deli to stop serving the fare on trademark infringement grounds. The deli took the grill to court, and a federal judge in New York sided with the deli. Owner Jack Lebewohl tells the Daily News of New York he's delighted by the ruling.

    The Second Avenue Deli is also allowed to sell another sandwich called the "triple bypass." Lebewohl says it includes "everything but the kitchen sink."

    For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
    
    

    Army officer fired over racy e-mails

    By Army Times

    Updated 3h 12m ago

    
    

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    The married commander of a recruiting unit in Iowa was relieved after it was reported he and a former Des Moines, Iowa, schools superintendent exchanged racy emails from their work accounts.
    

    Sponsored Links

    Capt. John Hintz was relieved pending the outcome of a Recruiting Command-led investigation, according to John Largent, an Army spokesman. Hintz headed a Des Moines-based recruiting company.

    "This type of conduct doesn't uphold Army values and what the Army stands for," Largent said.

    The revelation of the emails between Hintz and Nancy Sebring led to her resignation from administrator posts in Des Moines and Omaha.

    Hintz has 14 years in the Army and is the recipient of the General MacArthur Leadership Award, the Army Commendation Medal with "V" and the Purple Heart.

    Hintz did not respond to a request for comment.

    The emails, released by the Des Moines school board in response to an open records request, reportedly contain discussion of a school fitness event Hintz helped organize but also discuss work, family and personal problems. Many of them are sexually explicit.

    Hintz and Sebring also discussed the ramifications of being caught. In April, Hintz switched from his military email account to a private account.

    Sebring's resignation sparked a court battle in Iowa as she requested an injunction to block the school district from releasing the emails, arguing the messages were private. That request and a request that Hintz's name be redacted from the emails were denied.

    According to the Des Moines Register, the district's policy states that communication over its networks should not be considered private. It also forbids using school computers for personal correspondence and the exchange of sexually explicit materials.

    In a statement quoted by the newspaper, Sebring apologized to faculty, students and parents for "my lapse in judgment over the past several weeks."

    For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
    
    SPEAKING OF JOBS.... SINCE WE NEED INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUSTAIN JOB GROWTH....
    STATE-BY-STATE STRATEGIC UNEMPLOYMENT REDUCTION PLAN: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L2ZmGM-izViR2QkN_RRhV9lG82z-n7VZcUpetHQi2F0/edit
    
    30 STATES IN 30 WEEKS: http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm
    
    TEA PARTY SLATES REDUCING FEDERAL WORKFORCE 1/5, REPEAL BY INJUNCTION TO HIRE WITHOUT OBAMACARE, 30 STATE UNEMPLOYMENT REDUCTION STRATEGY BY RETURNING 30 MILLION-150 MILLION ON FEDERAL PAYROLL TO PRIVATE SECTOR WITH GRANTS TO HIRE AND CREATE JOBS...
    Federal, state, local employees 150 million relieved to work in private sector/create small businesses
    http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm #30states30weeks
    WEEKLY TEA PARTY NEWSLETTER FEATURES 1 STATE PER WEEK,
    AS ROMNEY TAKES 1 STATE PER WEEK, FOR 30 WEEKS
    TEA PARTY BUDGET $2.5 TRILLION ANNUAL REVENUE http://lnk.ms/Wb6nV
    The Tea Party is here to REFORM and REVOLUTIONIZE -- D.C. - 37 fed pgms. to be cut/govt. employees don't contribute as private sector employees: it takes 5 private sector employees to fund one govt. employee=Tea Party to shrink federal workforce 150 million employees to private sector.... 150 million federal employees need to get a federal grant NOW, and start your OWN small business, BEFORE YOU LOSE YOUR JOB TO CUTS !!!!
    51ST WORST RANKED NEVADA
    50TH RHODE ISLAND
    49TH CALIFORNIA
    48TH DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
    47TH NEW JERSEY
    46TH SOUTH CAROLINA
    45TH GEORGIA...
    
    DID THAT SURPRISE YOU???
    SEE WHAT GEORGIANS THINK ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT RULING...
    

    Aja Brooks

    11 hours ago

    Tea Party Chief @2012_TeaParty
    @MittRomney Obama now has hardest time with female voters: they see their loved ones premiums going up and they have no insurance #Obamacare
    
    1m Tea Party Chief @2012_TeaParty
    @MittRomney 3 female employees in #GA most likely any given #Saturday would've been talking about #Sunday not #Obamacare their jobs #worried
    
    2m Tea Party Chief @2012_TeaParty
    @MittRomney They said "that's what has us so worried, etc. #Obamacare/hope they get rid of it" I said "they'll be voting on it next week"
    
    2m Tea Party Chief @2012_TeaParty
    @MittRomney I said to them "#Obamacare didn't give anyone any insurance, turns out it is just a tax increase, #Medicare premiums going up".
    
    3m Tea Party Chief @2012_TeaParty
    @MittRomney I couldn't help but speak to them: I said "You're wondering -- <where the heck is my insurance?> right?" They nodded #Obamacare
    
    5m Tea Party Chief @2012_TeaParty
    @MittRomney They didn't see me and they continued whispering in muted tones "What does it mean? What's going to happen?" #WorriedByObamacare
    
    7m Tea Party Chief @2012_TeaParty
    @MittRomney I went shopping at the local #HobbyLobby employees were whispering among themselves "Did ya hear about that #Obamacare? OMG...."
    
    3:54 PM - 7 Jul 12 via web · Details
    

    6Like ·  · Share

    
    OTHER PROPOSALS....
    IN ORDER TO PAY CONGRESS FOR THEIR WORK, WE ARE LOOKING AT PERMANENTLY CUTTING NEARLY $200 BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY UMBRELLA THROUGH A PACKAGE OF JUDICIAL REFORMS: BOND REFORM ON VIOLENT CRIME (NO BOND), DRUG REFORM LAWS; LEGALIZATION LEGISLATION PACKAGE SIMILAR TO DECRIMINALIZATION (IT WON’T BE ALL DRUGS, BUT SOME RECLASSIFICATION AND REDUCTION OF PENALTIES) AND RECLASSIFICATION OF OTHER SYNTHETIC DRUGS AND LAWS, CHILD SUPPORT REFORM, AND SO ON.
    
    DOING THIS WILL HELP US PREVENT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN 9/30/12 SO THAT WE CAN HAMMER OUT TAX REFORM. WE ARE WORKING ON THIS LEGISLATION, ETHICAL LENDING AND TRADE, AND CONSIDERING INCREASING THE LEGAL AGE TO 25 TO PREVENT OUR YOUTH FROM BEING SENT TO THE WAR MACHINE MEAT GRINDER BY INVESTING IN COLLEGE EDUCATION AND HIGHER OR SPECIALIZED DEGREES.
    
    DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR COMMUNITY? THE GOVERNMENT? MAKE YOUR MARK ON THE WORLD? DON’T JUST SIT BACK AND SAY NOTHING,
    GET POLITICALLY INVOLVED BY USING YOUR RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH AND PEACEABLE ASSEMBLY!!
    BECOME A LOBBYIST!
    
    
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