❧❧❧ Whatever you can do or dream, you can BEGIN IT. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Goethe ❧❧❧
❧❧❧ You were born whole, not broken. Sandra Hammel ❧❧❧
Sunday, December 12, 2010
"WE CAME TO CLEAN DARFUR" - BASHIR'S FINAL SOLUTION - WHILE OBAMA NEGOTIATES WITH A GENOCIDAL REGIME OF KHARTOUM, SUDAN
I hope you have read ~ Eric Reeves' November 12, 2010 article ~ The Obama Administration"Decouples" Darfur
Khartoum is given free rein to obtain its "perfect ending" ("Misk al-Khitam")
Here is just a sliver of the article:
One well-informed Darfuri has written to me that “evidence of mobilization in Darfur is everywhere: airports, convoys leaving large cities and towns, heading toward villages in North and West Darfur” (email received November 2, 2010). This source continues: “Many tanks, troops were seen in North Darfur near Kutum, Kornoi, and al-Tina. Additionally, Janjaweed gatherings were seen in the West Darfur areas of el-Geneina and Kulbus.” And further, “Loads of pro-Government of Sudan volunteers landed in Kutum (North Darfur) airport.” When asked who they were and where they were going, one enthusiast replied, “We are mujahideen and the government told us we have to fight the infidels and supporters in Darfur. We came to clean Darfur.” The same source reports that a family member in Nyala has observed a sharp uptick in military flights out of Nyala airport.
President Obama, I apologize for saying this so bluntly, but you have failed to stand for human dignity and human rights regarding the Darfur disaster. The blood will be on your watch.You have a role to play in the wars and genocide to come in the next few months in Sudan.What will your legacy be?It has been extremely poor so far for the Darfuri human beings who share this planet with us.
December 11, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese army carried out attacks during the last two days against the troops loyal to the former rebel leader who signed Abja peace agreement the UNAMID said today. Read the article www.sudantribune.com/Sudanese-army-carry-out-more
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FACTBOX-South Sudan's independence referendum
KHARTOUM Dec 11 (Reuters) - Opponents of south Sudan's independence referendum scheduled for Jan. 9 are threatening lawsuits and spreading confusion to try to disrupt the vote, the official running the plebiscite said on Saturday.
Here are some key facts about the vote, which some analysts fear could lead to civil war if delayed or tampered with.
Here are three messages sent to President Obama recently
#9 email sent to President Obama during the grassroots Sudan Sham 2010 grassroots campaign
March 5, 2010
It is not that we can’t make a difference, it is that we choose not to make a difference.What will our legacy be?Will our legacy be any different than all the others that tolerated genocides that this planet has hosted?Sandra Hammel
Dear President Obama,
I have been working as a community organizer, leading my state regarding the issue of raising awareness and moving people to use their voices to get our leaders to have the political will to prevent and end genocide since 2004.I am frustrated with your administration’s placating words, promises, little proof of observable resolve and lack of leadership.From the rhetoric during your campaign, I expected much more.I have a Darfuri associate who like me works to bring awareness of what is going on, but he has actual daily contacts with Darfuris still in Sudan.The news has not been good leading up to these elections to take place in April.The intimidations being used by the government of Sudan is horrifying and certainly these elections are not going to be free and fair.Bashir will only “use” these elections to say to the world in effect “See, world, we had an election and I won, so I am legitimate.”Only we know different.
Mohamed Suleiman helped me with this translation:
If you want peace, work for justice
إذا كنت تريد السلام ، أعمل من أجل العدالة
Please, don’t forget the marginalized Darfuri people, Mr. President.They know everything you have ever said or neglected to say about their situation.
Here is a Darfuri saying, that Mohamed shared with me:
Nowhere to hide for those who take else's life
يا كاتل الروح وين بتروح
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
Sincerely yours,
Sandra Hammel
Use Your Voice to Stop Genocide RI
Leading Rhode Island in Sudan Sham 2010 campaign
See 50 days of actions running up to the Sudan April 11, 2010 Elections at the website:
GENOCIDE WILL only STOP WITH US - Our leaders have taught us this
My twitter:
@ilovemylife5
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#7 email sent to President Obama
March 2, 2010
Dear President Obama,
With April elections fast approaching, it is clear that conditions on the ground are neither free nor fair. Please directly show us your leadership in the Sudan ongoing genocide. Fundamental human rights and civil rights have been violated and have escalated running up to the April 11, 2010 Sudan elections. There is a real danger for resumption of full-out war between the north and south, and the genocide in Darfur continues on your watch, with millions of people living in squalid camps and exposed to horrible violence. The time for credible multilateral consequences in support of genuine democratic processes and verifiable commitment to peace is now. The US must lead.
Furthermore, the types of situations such as in Sudan create the very places for terrorists to meet and organize, which means it is in our own interest to bring peace to this multi-year genocide.
Thank you for your political will to make a difference with this deeply defining issue.
Sincerely yours,
Sandra Hammel
Use Your Voice to Stop Genocide RI
Leading Rhode Island in Sudan Sham 2010 campaign
My twitter:
@ilovemylife5
Facebook: Sandra Hammel
the "Sandra Hammel" currently with the Red, White and Blue Sudan Sham Election 2010 avatar
GENOCIDE WILL only STOP WITH US - Our leaders have taught us this
INGREDIENTS OF A GENOCIDE - PERPETRATORS, UNARMED CITIZENS AND A WORLD THAT TURNS THE OTHER WAY
"The Most Important Office is That of Private Citizen" Louis D. Brandeis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#4 email sent to President Obama
February 27, 2010
Dear President Obama,
Enough Project's recent paper, A Peace Process Play-by-Play, includes the following two paragraphs that are very relevant to the USA grassroots Sudan Sham 2010 campaign that I am participating in daily:
President Bashir is also deeply focused on using the April 2010 national elections as a means to legitimize himself, help fend off war crimes charges from the International Criminal Court, and minimize threats to his rule within his own party. A “successful” election in Darfur, ironically financed in no small part by the international community, would allow Bashir to again argue that he should not be held accountable for his repeated and flagrant violations of international law.
It is also clear from comments of the U.S. special envoy that President Bashir hopes to use the JEM agreement to pave the way for lifting of U.S. sanctions. One can only hope that any consideration of altering the current sanctions regime is based on demonstrable changes on the ground, as per the U.S. policy on Sudan, not simply the willingness for Khartoum to sign a piece of paper.
To those of us citizens who are up-to-date of what takes place in Sudan, we feel we are more concerned than our leaders.“We ARE the ones we have been waiting for” as you said while campaigning to be our President, but we also need our leaders to lead in matters of such importance.
President Obama, I know you are working on many important issues.I support the “public option” in the health care reform.I am thoroughly appalled by the misbehaving congress people who are more inclined to “play games” than to do the work that we deserve to be done.And the media so often ill-informs us, when we so need to be informed.On and on. However, letting this issue regarding crimes against humanity, genocide and victims languishing for far too long - go on and on, while you are in a position that could make the difference is unacceptable.
Please, go into your heart and contemplate better ways to deal with this deeply defining issue.These are our brothers and sisters and we must not forget all of the genocides in the past that when we felt safe that we weren’t going to be asked to do anything about them any longer, we have always said “Never Again”.And we know we don’t mean that, because we are letting it happen again on our watch.
Shame on us.
It is time to be who we can be.We can stop genocide.Yes we CAN.
Sincerely yours,
Sandra Hammel
Use Your Voice to Stop Genocide RI
Leading Rhode Island Sudan Sham 2010 campaign
GENOCIDE WILL only STOP WITH US
I contacted the President using Organization form:
Are we humane human beings? Do we care about people being eliminated based on the group of people they are? And would it matter to us, if we were the group? We care about what happened in recent history on September 11. We felt the target based on who we are.
The history of genocide began before the world manufactured the word genocide. This country, the United States, was built upon stolen land while killing the people who were living here before immigrants arrived here from Europe. I wrote about this on a post that is one of my most read posts: ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/2008/10/neglected-story-of-discrimination
And many hold that a citizen or leader from the USA, has no right to speak out against genocide, when our own country committed the same kinds of crimes against humans, the native Americans, the "Indians".
But I speak out even though I see the reason for this thinking. I also say out loud that our country was and continues to be wrong on some important and moral issues. I exercise my freedom of speech and won't be held hostage by the crimes of the heart and morality of my ancestors.
I have written about the basic human rights violations done by our early settlers before in other posts:
Having said this about our blatant wrongs and disregard for basic human rights to live their own people's customs, beliefs, cultural activities as what was done to the indigenous peoples of this land, I ask the world this question? How do you define our human race? And who decides? And isn't justice the most important standard upon which to define any country or group?
We can't be right when we turn our backs on justice and only care about our own insular worlds.
We make the world what it is. In our little worlds and in our bigger worlds on our international stage.
Peace will only come when we make it a priority to care about those who are less powerful and less free than we.
And that will determine what kind of world we live in.
....................................................... November 11th, 2009 by Allen Combs
On Tuesday, November 11th Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler and STAND Student Director Layla Amjadi sat down for an hour long discussion with Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration and NSC Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs Samantha Power about the Obama Administration’s plan for promoting peace in Sudan. Jerry and Layla asked questions submitted by hundreds of activists from around the country. Take a look.
Source: blogfordarfur.org/archives/2040 This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 11:14 am and is filed under Obama Administration. An article - gration_and_power_answer_activists_questions_on_sudan - November 11, 2009 about Gration and Powers meeting with Stands' Student Director Layla Amjadi and Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler. Darfur in the News VOA News:Student Activists Encourage White House to Raise Anti-Genocide Concerns about Darfur. Close to 1,000 student opponents of the genocide in Darfur capped a long weekend of rallies and congressional lobbying with a question and answer session yesterday at the White House. Less than a month after the Obama administration unveiled its Sudan policy review, Special Envoy Scott Gration and National Security Council Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs Samantha Power fielded questions about U.S. determination to make ending the Sudan violence a top policy priority for the new president. Tuesday's White House panel was the final Washington Darfur event for students, who had spent the previous four days in the U.S. capital holding workshops, consulting and lobbying with legislators and congressional aides, and utilizing a stunning array of modern technological tools, from webcams to mobile phones, to illustrate their commitment for legislative action to stop Sudanese genocide and mass atrocities. Read the entire article: www.voanews.com
Reuters:Expulsions hit Darfur rape victims: Aid groups. Rape victims in Sudan's Darfur region have lost vital medical and psychological support since Khartoum expelled aid agencies working against sexual violence this year, the United Nations and aid workers said. Sudan ousted 13 foreign aid groups and closed three local organizations in March after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al- Bashir to face charges of masterminding atrocities in Darfur. Khartoum accused the groups of passing information to the Hague-based court, a charge they deny. Ten out of the 13 expelled foreign groups were doing work related to protection and sexual violence, said an official from one of the ousted organizations who asked not to be named. "Women are now feeling a lot less safe in reporting rapes and there's been a resurgence of the bad old days when women victims are treated like criminals if they report it," the official said. Read the entire article: af.reuters.com
Sudan Tribune:Sudan to close down Darfur IDP camps in early 2010: official. The Sudanese government will begin closing down the camps for the displaced population in war torn region of Darfur next year, a senior official said today. Speaking to the UN sponsored Miraya FM radio the humanitarian aid commissioner Hasabu Abdel-Rahman said that the Sudanese government has plans to close down displaced camps in the greater Darfur region by early 2010. The Sudanese official disclosed that the government is building 20,000 housing units for the IDPs in the capital towns of El-Fasher, El-Geneina and Nyala. Darfur rebel groups today reacted angrily to the government's announcement. "The government wants to send our people back to the same places they fled from so that they can get killed again under the whole world eyes" Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur leader of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) told Sudan Tribune.Read the entire article:www.sudantribune.com
blogfordarfur.org "The Most Important Office is That of Private Citizen" Louis D. Brandeis Comments to President Obama: 202-456-1111 or 1-800-GENOCIDE Join the Fast for Darfuris "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
......................................... Uploaded by obaidkarki Title by the youtube poster, Obaid Karki: Obama giving blind eye to Sudan, letting President Omar al-Bashir get away with genocide and a million homeless I found this youtube video by typing in my online name, ilovemylife and being linked to it. This blog, http://ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/ ,is one of many listed in this video's sidebar. I didn't see this important blog included in the list: http://whilewewaitsudan.blogspot.com/
"We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around. When yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen." From Reverend Joseph Lowery's Inaugural Benediction January 2009
Odetta wanted to sing at President Obama's Inauguration, however she died December 3, 2008. Odetta was born December 31 1930. I want to include Odetta on this post to honor her wish. ...........................................................
WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid the outpouring of inaugural joy over the racial progress represented by President Barack Obama, there was a single, humorous mention of work still to be done.
After the first black president had been sworn in, Rev. Joseph Lowery' ended his benediction with a rhyme familiar to black churchgoers:
"We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around..."
There was laughter from the enormous crowd. The 87-year-old civil rights pioneer continued:
"When yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen."
Rev. Lowery Offers Benediction Praying For Obamas And For Economic Recovery
(AP) The Rev. Joseph Lowery has thanked God for letting Barack Obama inspire the nation to believe that "yes, we can" work together toward a "more perfect union."
Delivering a benediction at the end of Obama's inauguration ceremony, Lowery said Obama takes office at a "low moment" in the nation's and the world's economic health. He prayed for an end to "exploitation" of the weak and poor, and what he called "favoritism toward the rich."
The 87-year-old Methodist is considered the dean of the civil rights movement, helping lead the Montgomery bus boycotts in the 1950s and delivering a list of demands to Alabama Gov. George Wallace during the bloody Selma-Montgomery March in 1965.
After being asked to deliver the benediction at Obama's inauguration, Lowery said he's long hoped that an African-American would one day become president, but didn't think he'd live long enough to see it.
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The election does not augur a "post-racial" era any more than it ends the civil rights struggle, writes Rev. Joseph Lowery. (Tribune photo by Alex Garcia / January 15, 2009)
Civil rights figure Rev. Joseph Lowery reflects on a movement
Rev. Joseph Lowery, 87, a major figure in the civil rights movement who marched with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to overturn discrimination in voting rights and other aspects of American public life, will give the benediction at Barack Obama's inauguration Tuesday. The Tribune invited Lowery to reflect on the journey from King to Obama. Here is his essay.
They tell me that when you stand on the Capitol steps and look down the Mall, you can see the Lincoln Memorial. I look forward to that experience when Barack Obama takes the oath to become the 44th president of these United States.
I will look down that Mall and in my mind's eye I will see a 34-year-old preacher standing before a crowd of nearly a quarter of a million at that Lincoln Memorial in 1963, calling on Americans to move beyond the color of their skin to the content of their character.
Obama's inauguration is a nation's response to that call.
We celebrate Martin Luther King's 80th
birthday the day before the nation's first black president takes office. Obama accepted his party's nomination on the 45th anniversary of that young preacher's "I have a dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial. Interesting connections, right?
In those days, we thought there would be a black person serving as president someday, but I don't recall any of us thinking we would live to see that day.
When Martin was killed in April 1968, there were only a few hundred black elected officials in the U.S. Today the number is around 10,000!
The 1965 Voting Rights Act—the most significant legislation in my lifetime—opened the door to political emancipation. In 1965, the first casualty of the voting-rights campaign, Jimmie LeeAlabama state trooper in a town named Marion. Out of this tragedy came the idea of marching from Selma to Montgomery to gain national support for the right to vote. Then Martin named a committee to take our demands to Gov. George Wallace, and I was appointed chairman.
But when we reached the Capitol steps to go to the governor's office, we were blocked by a sea of blue-uniformed state troopers. The National Guard was there too, and was authorized to protect us. I looked back at the general of the National Guard, and he barked some commands to the guardsmen and they tramped over in front of the state troopers and made motions with their rifles across their shoulders. Just as dramatically as it sounds, the "blue sea" parted, and we walked up the steps to the door of the Capitol. Moses had the Red Sea—we had the blue sea!
Even so, the governor didn't want to meet us, so he sent his secretary to ask for our demands. I said we didn't march 50 miles from Selma to give our concerns to the governor's secretary. A few days later, Wallace finally met with us.
Our struggle in Alabama awakened the nation, and the Voting Rights Act soon became the law of the land.
The "I have a dream" speech is Martin's most famous and is an international institution. It has been so used and abused that sometimes I think its beauty and power may have been tucked away. There are forces in this country who have deviously used lines from the speech to claim that Martin opposed affirmative action! As we celebrate Dr. King's 80th birthday, I want to call your attention to my favorite of all his writings, "Letter from Birmingham Jail."
In the heat of the Birmingham movement, eight white Alabama clergymen issued a statement calling on Dr. King to halt the demonstrations. Interestingly enough, the clerics affirmed the righteousness of the cause but condemned the timing. "Wait," they cried, "for a more convenient season."
Martin's response, written on scraps of paper, even toilet paper (jailers would provide no paper at all), was classic. He expounded on the efficacy of non-violence in achieving social change, the urgency of now and the futility of waiting on a more propitious moment. He set forth the moral and theological underpinnings of the movement. He discussed the nature and purpose of "direct action"—civil disobedience—and explained his great disappointment with the failure of white moderates and the white church to come to grips with the moral imperatives of both the Christian and Jewish faiths.
He made clear that the goal of the movement was not to defeat white folks but to change a system that harmed both the oppressor and the oppressed.
To appropriately celebrate Martin, we must honor both the man and the movement. To ennoble the man and ignore the movement is to do injustice to both. We must not let the spirit of the movement be overcome with sentimental ceremonies that omit the sacramental nature of the struggle. Ceremonies end with the benediction while sacraments begin with the benediction. Ceremony is like putting a ring on her finger at the wedding. Sacrament is ringing her life with love and joy ever after.
"Letter from Birmingham Jail" keeps the focus on the movement—the continuing struggle for justice. The need to honor the mission as well as the missionary is expressed in a poem by Carl Wendell Hines called "Now That He Is Safely Dead":
Now that he is safely dead
Let us praise him ...
Dead men make
such convenient heroes: They
cannot rise
to challenge the images
we would fashion from their lives.
And besides,
it is easier to build monuments
than to make a better world.
Now that the American people have elected an African-American president, I'm hearing terms like "post-racial." I don't understand that any more than "post-civil-rights." Are people implying that we have reached the goals of the movement now that we have a black president? No way. The election of one black even to the most powerful office on the planet does not resolve all the problems of racial discrimination. The advocacy community must continue to "speak truth to power" no matter who holds the reins of power. The racial/ethnic/color/gender identity of the powerful should change from time to time, but the advocacy for "justice to roll down as waters" must be everlasting.
The median income of blacks is about two-thirds of the median income of whites; the criminal justice system of 2008 is too much like the criminal justice system of 1938 as far as race is concerned. But thank the Lord, we have come a long, long way, and I am proud of my country for the election of Barack Obama. It is a giant step forward.
When I recall the image of that preacher at the Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday, I'm sure he will be smiling, and both of us may have eyes moistened with tears of joy. I'm equally certain that we will continue to pray for justice to roll down as waters, and for that day when there will be peace in the valley, and for that day when every man and every woman will sit under his or her own vine and fig tree and none will be afraid, and for that day when black will not be asked to get back, brown can stick around, yellow will be mellow, the red man can get ahead, man, and white will embrace what is right! Amen! Read the article at the source www.chicagotribune.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jan-19-2009
Civil rights figure Rev. Joseph Lowery reflects on a movement
Barack H. Obama is the 44th President of the United States.
His story is the American story — values from the heartland, a middle-class upbringing in a strong family, hard work and education as the means of getting ahead, and the conviction that a life so blessed should be lived in service to others.
With a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, President Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. He was raised with help from his grandfather, who served in Patton's army, and his grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle management at a bank.
After working his way through college with the help of scholarships and student loans, President Obama moved to Chicago, where he worked with a group of churches to help rebuild communities devastated by the closure of local steel plants.
He went on to attend law school, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Upon graduation, he returned to Chicago to help lead a voter registration drive, teach constitutional law at the University of Chicago, and remain active in his community.
President Obama's years of public service are based around his unwavering belief in the ability to unite people around a politics of purpose. In the Illinois State Senate, he passed the first major ethics reform in 25 years, cut taxes for working families, and expanded health care for children and their parents. As a United States Senator, he reached across the aisle to pass groundbreaking lobbying reform, lock up the world's most dangerous weapons, and bring transparency to government by putting federal spending online.
He was elected the 44th President of the United States on November 4, 2008, and sworn in on January 20, 2009. He and his wife, Michelle, are the proud parents of two daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7.
THE ADMINISTRATION • FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
When people ask Michelle Obama to describe herself, she doesn't hesitate. First and foremost, she is Malia and Sasha's mom.
But before she was a mother — or a wife, lawyer, or public servant — she was Fraser and Marian Robinson's daughter.
The Robinsons lived in a brick bungalow on the South Side of Chicago. Fraser was a pump operator for the Chicago Water Department, and despite being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at a young age, he hardly ever missed a day of work. Marian stayed home to raise Michelle and her brother, Craig, skillfully managing a busy household filled with love, laughter, and important life lessons.
A product of Chicago public schools, Michelle studied sociology and African-American studies at Princeton University. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1988, she joined the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin, where she later met the man who would become the love of her life.
After a few years, Michelle decided her true calling lay in encouraging people to serve their communities and their neighbors. She served as assistant commissioner of planning and development in Chicago's City Hall before becoming the founding executive director of the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, an AmeriCorps program that prepares youth for public service.
In 1996, Michelle joined the University of Chicago with a vision of bringing campus and community together. As associate dean of student services, she developed the university's first community service program, and under her leadership as vice president of community and external affairs for the University of Chicago Medical Center, volunteerism skyrocketed.
As First Lady, Michelle Obama looks forward to continuing her work on the issues close to her heart — supporting military families, helping working women balance career and family, and encouraging national service.
Michelle and Barack Obama have two daughters: Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7. Like their mother, the girls were born on the South Side of Chicago.
Here is the first Whitehouse Official Website's Blog post:
Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov
Welcome to the new WhiteHouse.gov. I'm Macon Phillips, the Director of New Media for the White House and one of the people who will be contributing to the blog.
A short time ago, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and his new administration officially came to life. One of the first changes is the White House's new website, which will serve as a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world.
Millions of Americans have powered President Obama's journey to the White House, many taking advantage of the internet to play a role in shaping our country's future. WhiteHouse.gov is just the beginning of the new administration's efforts to expand and deepen this online engagement.
Just like your new government, WhiteHouse.gov and the rest of the Administration's online programs will put citizens first. Our initial new media efforts will center around three priorities: Communication -- Americans are eager for information about the state of the economy, national security and a host of other issues. This site will feature timely and in-depth content meant to keep everyone up-to-date and educated. Check out the briefing room, keep tabs on the blog (RSS feed) and take a moment to sign up for e-mail updates from the President and his administration so you can be sure to know about major announcements and decisions.
Transparency -- President Obama has committed to making his administration the most open and transparent in history, and WhiteHouse.gov will play a major role in delivering on that promise. The President's executive orders and proclamations will be published for everyone to review, and that’s just the beginning of our efforts to provide a window for all Americans into the business of the government. You can also learn about some of the senior leadership in the new administration and about the President’s policy priorities. Participation -- President Obama started his career as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, where he saw firsthand what people can do when they come together for a common cause. Citizen participation will be a priority for the Administration, and the internet will play an important role in that. One significant addition to WhiteHouse.gov reflects a campaign promise from the President: we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it.
We'd also like to hear from you -- what sort of things would you find valuable from WhiteHouse.gov? If you have an idea, use this form to let us know. Like the transition website and the campaign's before that, this online community will continue to be a work in progress as we develop new features and content for you. So thanks in advance for your patience and for your feedback.
Later today, we’ll put up the video and the full text of President Obama’s Inaugural Address. There will also be slideshows of the Inaugural events, the Obamas’ move into the White House, and President Obama’s first days in office.
The Office of Public Liaison & Intergovernmental Affairs (OPL-IGA) is the front door to the White House through which everyone can participate and inform the work of the President.
OPL-IGA takes the Administration out of Washington and into communities across America, stimulating honest dialogue and ensuring that America's citizens and their elected officials have a government that works effectively for them and with them.
OPL-IGA will bring new voices to the table, build relationships with constituents and seeks to embody the essence of the President's movement for change through the meaningful engagement of citizens and their elected officials by the federal government.
We'll be adding many more ways for you to interact with OPA-IGA at this page in the weeks and months ahead. In the meantime, please take a moment to share your thoughts using the form. (500 character limit)
Here are my two messages sent January 20, 2009 (Keep in mind the composition was stifled a bit by the 500 character limit, but I think the core message is transparent.):
As a citizen who has been a human rights activist since 2004 ~ specifically for the Darfuri families who have genocide as a way of life ~ I want to know what your administration's real commitment will be immediately for the Darfur/Sudan crisis. We need a commitment to end and prevent genocide. I do not want to be defined by our complicity in this terrible historical legacy. Our own government is responsible for institutionalizing genocide toward the indigenous peoples here. Let us begin anew.
Thanks to President Obama & VP Biden for their service toward our principles of justice & human rights. Keep your commitment to address the injustice done to the indigenous peoples of our country. They had their lands taken from them, their way of life stolen from them. I believe it is the time to acknowledge that those of us who claim this country as the land of the free to admit we based our democracy on principles that were betrayed from the very beginning. Please, resolve 12-yr Cobell lawsuit. Learn more about the Cobell Vs. Kempthorne www.indiantrust.com and Court Opinions ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Dr. Jill Biden made their way to the inauguration on a whistle stop train tour that wove its way from Philadelphia through Delaware and Maryland on its way to Washington.
"To the children who hear the whistle of the train and dream of a better life -- that's who we're fighting for. That's who needs change," President Obama said at one stop along the way. "And those are the stories that we will gather with us to Washington."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reverend Joseph_Lowery gave a great rhyme in his benediction at the Inauguration today...
The only part I wrote down at the time "...when the Red man can get ahead man...."
I love my life. I love where I live. And I am passionate about my passions. I love to dance. Necessary to live: music, piano, singing, writing, acting, painting.
I have been fighting for and supporting the arts all my adult life. Since 2004, I have been working with other activists to end the Darfur genocide.
I have traveled to Europe many times since my early twenties. Places I have been: many USA states including Hawaii, Montreal, Canada, Barbados, France, Spain, Luxembourg, England, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Germany - and have wonderful memories.
My last trip was in May - June 2013 to Spain.
I would like to travel to Europe and Kyoto, Japan.
I love the southwest where I have visited Hopi, Navajo, Zia and San Idlefonso potters.
Life is exciting and I intend to live it full-out to the end.
B.S. and M.M., both in music
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Khartoum, Sudan Stop Genocide Time
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Spain Time
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Melbourne Time
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Hawaii Time
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RAFA NADAL -BRING BACK LONG PANTS - SLEEVELESS TOPS
Double Click on Videos to Enlarge
Darfur - The Abandoned Genocide - a video by Sandra Hammel
Want to help? Call 1~800~GENOCIDE
"May I Suggest" by Susan Werner
Satchita - Playing for Change
Stand By Me ~ Playing for Change
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Genocide is not only a word,
it is crying of the whole human race.
There is nothing redeeming about being silent
when speaking up is the humane thing to do.
The honor and integrity of the human race is at stake.
