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Quotation Thought-train

Quotation Thought-train

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“Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official.” — President Theodore Roosevelt

In the one case the government and the king may rightfully furnish you their notions of patriotism; in the other, neither the government nor the entire nation is privileged to dictate to any individual what the form of his patriotism shall be. The gospel of the monarchical patriotism is: “The King can do no wrong.” We have adopted it with all its servility, with an unimportant change in the wording: “Our country, right or wrong!” We have thrown away the most valuable asset we had:– the individual’s right to oppose both flag and country when he (just he, by himself) believed them to be in the wrong. We have thrown it away; and with it all that was really respectable about that grotesque and laughable word, Patriotism.” –Mark Twain

“The people of this country, not special interest big money, should be the source of all political power. Government must remain the domain of the general citizenry, not a narrow elite…. This means that the values and preferences of all citizens, not just those who can get our attention by waving large campaign contributions in front of us, must be considered in the political debate. One person, one vote — no more and no less — the most fundamental of democratic principles.” — Senator Paul Wellstone (may he rest in peace)

“The separation of the power of declaring war from that of conducting it, is wisely contrived to exclude the danger of its being declared for the sake of its being conducted.” — James Madison

“Statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank G-D for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception.”
– “Chronicle of Young Satan,” — Mark Twain

“Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as a heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors.” — Abraham Lincoln

“Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.” — John Adams

“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” — John Adams

“Educate and inform the whole mass of the people… They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.” — Thomas Jefferson

“My kind of loyalty is loyalty to one’s country, not to its institutions or its office-holders. The country is the real thing, the substantial thing, the eternal thing; it is the thing to watch over, and care for, and be loyal to; institutions are extraneous, they are mere clothing, and clothing can wear out, become ragged, cease to be comfortable, cease to protect the body from winter, disease, and death.” — Mark Twain

“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.” — Thomas Jefferson

Protest McMansion Development

Protest McMansion Development

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How do you Disappear a Middle Class? By disappearing their homes.

A Special Guest Post from Laura Ellis

Report from Dekalb County, Georgia

If you have motored around Dekalb County (Atlanta, Georgia) lately, you’ll notice something different. That something is the towering “McMansion” that threatens to replace all the existing homes in ITP (Inside the Perimeter) Atlanta, as well as those in suburbs nationwide (as reported on repeated Primetime, 20/20 like magazine news shows in recent months). This massive-scale development exceeds any reasonable rate of speed at which suburbs have been planned, approved, built and inhabited in the past.

As a lightning rod for national consumer trends, relatively young and economically stable Atlanta is at the forefront of this destructive wave, cheering it on in many quarters, through a combination of tradition (remember “Save the Fox?”), ignorance about how property values are affected, and a dash of myopic self-absorbtion.

“Oh, of course, that can’t happen!” you say. “I live in one of these homes! My neighbors are well educated, with prestigious jobs in established neighborhoods and with strong bonds with schools, churches and community! We would not CHOOSE to sell our houses to be torn down!”

Well, the choice is no longer a choice once one of these blockbuster developers gets his hands on a home on your street. After the landscape is defaced and left as a sci-fi horror, none of the remaining “lesser” homes are increased in value, and history shows that flight is inevitable. Developers pay less and less as they march down the once-stable street, mowing down houses that are now desirable for nothing but the lots they rest upon.

“But I want to expand MY home!” you may say. “Why would I vote for another restriction?”
Because after you read the facts on these websites, you may understand that you may not have a home to expand……..

Want to know more? read on………

savedekalb.org
dekalbinfill.org

Show your support for the infill amendment

Come to the Board of Commissioners Hearing
Monday, November 21, 6:30 pm (4th, 5th and 6th items on agenda)

This should be the final vote on the proposed Quality of Life Ordinance, so it’s important for those who support the amendment to come and express their views. Show your support by wearing a green shirt or jacket.

The meeting will be held at:

Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. (404) 371-2886

Protest Pesticide Testing on Children!

Protest Pesticide Testing on Children!

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Public comments are now being accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its newly proposed federal regulation regarding the testing of chemicals and pesticides on human subjects. Earlier this year, Congress had mandated the EPA create a rule that permanently bans chemical testing on pregnant women and children, but the EPA’s newly proposed rule puts industry profits ahead of children’s welfare. The rule allows for government and industry scientists to treat children as human guinea pigs in chemical experiments in the following situations:

Children who “cannot be reasonably consulted,” such as those that are mentally handicapped or orphaned newborns may be tested on. With permission from the institution or guardian in charge of the individual, the child may be exposed to chemicals for the sake of research.

Parental consent forms are not necessary for testing on children who have been neglected or abused.

Chemical studies on any children outside of the U.S. are acceptable.

Learn more and take action now:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa6.cfm

2000 US Dead in Iraq

2000 US Dead in Iraq

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The number of reported U.S. military casualties in Iraq has reached 2000.

Not one more day, not one more dollar, not one more life. Wage Peace.

Join or organize an event in your community to honor the dead and call for the troops to come home.

American Friends Service Committe, Cosponsored by
Gold Star Families for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Military Families Speak Out

JW Arsonist

JW Arsonist

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Church arson suspect sought – gainesvilletimes.com

Two minor local fires were set in Kingdom Halls early Monday morning. At least one of the Kingdom Halls was burglarized.

I’m not terribly surprised that the suspect is the son of JWs. He has poured some kind of “flammable liquid” through the entrance and into the “sanctuary,” by which they must mean down the main center aisle. The ugly flame-retardent carpeting probably saved the place. At this point, the sheriff describes it as a “revenge act.”

He attended both Kingdom Halls – just lately he had been attending his parents congregation despite his “tenuous” relationship with them.

In the last two weeks, however, the man’s increasingly strange behavior had church members “suspicious about his state of mind,” Paxton said.

The suspect left “unusual” phone messages with his parents and other church members, the sheriff said.

I hope they find him soon, and that no-one gets hurt. If there are any Georgia JW’s reading this – please cooperate with the police. Please overcome your reluctance to assist worldly authorities. Looking at the pattern I’ve been seeing for the last several years, I would say that this young man could be a danger to himself and others – and particularly to Jehovah’s Witnesses.

He is a Kennesaw man in his mid-20s, a self-employed tree cutter. It looks like he had been attending the Acworth congregation until recently. His parents attend the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Doc Bramblett Road in Cumming. If you have any information that might help the police, please contact the Cobb or Forsyth County Police Department.