Oh goodie, Pope Francis said he interpreted Morales’ gift through the prism of Espinal’s Marxist bent and viewed it as protest art.  I wonder if he’d be similarly accepting of “piss Christ“.

(Via The Guardian) Pope Francis has said he wasn’t offended by the “communist crucifix” given to him by Bolivian president Evo Morales during his South American pilgrimage.

Morales surprised the pontiff with the unusual gift, a crucifix attached to a hammer and sickle, when Francis arrived in La Paz on Wednesday.

The crucifix was a replica of one designed by a Jesuit priest, the Reverend Luís Espinal, who was tortured and killed by Bolivian paramilitary squads in 1980. Francis prayed at the site of Espinal’s assassination upon his arrival in Bolivia. (more…)

This is what happens when single issue activists are supported by the State and take judicial action against Christians. Not only did this couple lose their freedom of religion, but they also are forced to lose their freedom of speech.

OREGON – Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian finalized a preliminary ruling today ordering Aaron and Melissa Klein, the bakers who refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding, to pay $135,000 in emotional damages to the couple they denied service.

“This case is not about a wedding cake or a marriage,” Avakian wrote. “It is about a business’s refusal to serve someone because of their sexual orientation. Under Oregon law, that is illegal.” (more…)

[…]  The all-black board voted unanimously to bring down the 110-year-old statue…

ALABAMA – A huge change may be on the way to Linn Park. Birmingham’s Parks and Recreation Board voted to remove a monument honoring confederate soldiers and sailors.

Pelham’s original Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy no longer exists. Its gift to the city of Birmingham does. The chapter put a monument celebrating confederate soldiers and sailors in Linn Park in 1905.

“There is nothing offensive about these soldiers standing up for their rights. Just like those who fought for the civil rights. They fought for their rights. There is no flag on it to be offensive. It’s just a monument to war veterans,” said Birmingham Resident Ronald Hagood.

Hagood wants the monument to stay at Linn Park. He’s taking pictures to remember its rightful place.

Sarah Jackson never paid attention to the monument in her 67 years of living in Birmingham.  She’s taking the time now to look and finds it offensive. (more…)

There are times when operational entities “react” to events, and then, in hindsight, live to regret their decision.  The decision by Macy’s Department Store to discontinue their relationship with Donald Trump brand merchandise is easily one of these examples.

Have you ever been into a Macy’s?  Have you ever looked at the location of ‘viable’ Macy’s locations?   Ever perused their store or their merchandise?  What you’ll notice is the vast majority of Macy’s customers are socio-economically aligned with Donald Trump’s populist, albeit perhaps unartfully stated, beliefs. (more…)

The Bringing People Together version: At Carnegie Hall, gospel singer Wintley Phipps delivers perhaps the most powerful rendition of Amazing Grace ever recorded. He says:

“A lot of people don’t realize that just about all Negro spirituals are written on the black notes of the piano. Probably the most famous on this slave scale was written by John Newton, who used to be the captain of a slave ship, and many believe he heard this melody that sounds very much like a West African sorrow chant. And it has a haunting, haunting plaintive quality to it that reaches past your arrogance, past your pride, and it speaks to that part of you that’s in bondage. And we feel it. We all feel it. It’s just one of the most amazing melodies in all of human history.”

After sharing the noteworthy history of the song, Mr. Phipps delivers a stirring performance that brings the audience to its feet!

The Tearing Them Apart Version: (more…)

SCOTUS – Justice Kennedy begins his opinion for the Court with a paean to the institution of marriage:  he describes it as “essential to our most profound hopes and aspirations,” “sacred to those who live by their religions” and offering “unique fulfillment to those who find meaning in the secular realm.”

But it is also, he continues, an institution that “has evolved over time” from an “arrangement by the couple’s parents” to a voluntary agreement between a man and a woman.  Similarly, although being gay was once considered an “illness,” public attitudes have shifted significantly.

The Supreme Court, Kennedy’s opinion explains, has long recognized the right to marry as a fundamental right.  And although until today it has always done so in the context of opposite-sex couples, he continues, all of the same principles on which the Court has relied in cases involving opposite-sex couples apply equally to same-sex marriage and the recognition of out-of-state same-sex marriages.  (more…)

SUSPECTS IDENTIFIED – NEW THREAD SEE HERE – All Earlier Updates Prior to ID Below Fold

A vicious attack has been captured on a video. –earliest identifiable origin here– A baby and young woman are both victims of a brutal attack, that appears to have taken place on/around 6/23/15.

The video includes no specifics as to location, or identity, of victim or perpetrator.  U-Tube continues to chase the video and delete it, keeping it hidden.

However, it is on FaceBook:

https://www.facebook.com/mediatakeout/videos/1011486218883325/

and also on LiveLeak HERE And we have saved a copy:

[wpvideo YkB3TyQI]

The horrific manner of the attack has impacted many Treepers and discussion participants of this site. Therefore we are offering a reward (currently $500  $1,000 $1,250 ) for information about this attack, to include location, which will lead to the identification of the person(s) involved.  Our intent is to contact the local authorities with this video and identifying information therein.

UPDATES BELOW:

(more…)

Actions and Consequences

ACTIONS = Activists organize/rally in Charleston South Carolina yesterday:

CONSEQUENCES = The above professional agitation occurred simultaneous to this next event happening. (stay with it, you’ll see): (more…)

The latest example:

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — A Confederate monument at White Point Gardens was vandalized with graffiti.

The graffiti was discovered Sunday morning as thousands gathered downtown to honor the victims killed at Emanuel AME Church.

The words ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘This was the problem #racist’ is spray painted on the base. The vandals also called out Mayor Joe Riley and Governor Nikki Haley scrawling “Riley and Haley -Why defend this evil -This the root of our evil.”

A couple of local men moved quickly to cover the base with a tarp but it was just as quickly uncovered by other passers-by.

A lively debate soon followed, attracting Barry Tighe from the organization Code Pink. He wrote up his own sign that read “Take down racist statues” and it was followed by a local protester’s sign that read “All lives matter #CharlestonUnited.” (more…)

That’s what I’m talking about right there !!  Shout it !!

(video 02:48 bearing witness – spreading the glory)

https://youtu.be/Xhe1HhGbudk?t=2m48s

(more…)