Just Me & My Views

Politics. Advocacy. Civil & human rights. Social justice. Kids. Family.

[horsesnbayonets]

They’ll never expect the Horse and Bayonet attack…

[hnombi-blog]

Unlike Mr. Salesses, or Ann’s adopted daughter, as American Indians, we are tracked by the federal government by our blood quantum, exactly the way the American Kennel Club tracks poodles. If we are unable to prove “enough” Indian “blood,” we are not able to be federally recognized, which means we have no access to the promises of the treaties that were signed in exchange for our traditional lands–and this includes health care and education. Many states sealed adoption records, which means an adoptee might know he or she has Native heritage, but will never be able to discover the tribal nation of his/her biological family. I can’t begin to express the sorrow of such young people who show up on our reservation doorsteps saying, “I know I’m American Indian, but I don’t know where I’m from.” We fully understand their pain–many of our families have lost their children in a similar way–but we don’t know how to answer them. The term that’s used in our communities for such individuals is “lost bird.”

Ty Nolan's comment on What I Would Like to Tell Adoptive Parents (About Answers): A Letter from an Adoptee from The Good Men Project

[newsweekscience]

I was shown how fragile life was on Saturday. I saw the terror on bystanders’ faces. I saw the victims of a senseless crime. I saw lives change. I was reminded that we don’t know when or where our time on Earth will end. When or where we will breathe our last breath. For one man, it was in the middle of a busy food court on a Saturday evening. I say all the time that every moment we have to live our life is a blessing. So often I have found myself taking it for granted. Every hug from a family member. Every laugh we share with friends. Even the times of solitude are all blessings. Every second of every day is a gift. After Saturday evening, I know I truly understand how blessed I am for each second I am given. I feel like I am overreacting about what I experienced. But I can’t help but be thankful for whatever caused me to make the choices that I made that day. My mind keeps replaying what I saw over in my head. I hope the victims make a full recovery. I wish I could shake this odd feeling from my chest. The feeling that’s reminding me how blessed I am. The same feeling that made me leave the Eaton Center. The feeling that may have potentially saved my life.

Jessica Redfield was shot and killed last night at a midnight screening of ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ along with 11 others when a gunman opened fire in a theater. The above is from her blog, written in June, after she narrowly escaped another senseless shooting at a mall in Toronto. (via newsweek)

[hnombi-blog]

This kid's amazing!

[hnombi-blog]

It doesn't have ANY effect on your life. What do you care?! People try to talk about it like it's a social issue. Like when you see someone stand up on a talk show and say "How am I supposed to explain to my child that two men are getting married?" ... I dunno, it's your shitty kid, you fuckin' tell 'em. Why is that anyone else's problem? Two guys are in LOVE but they can't get married because YOU don't want to talk to your ugly child for fuckin' five minutes?

Louis C.K.

[ sorry for the swears :) ]

[washingtonpoststyle-blog]

I think it’s a book about a haunted theme park and it stars a magical magic guy and he’s good and evil and he’s trying to get rid of the ghosts. And I think at the end, since it’s haunted by a ghost, he tried to make the park go on fire.

What “The Great Gatsby” and other novels are about, according to six-year-olds, based on their covers.

(via washingtonpoststyle)

So close. 

(via think-progress)

[hnombi-blog]

Voting is a right, not a privilege. Voter ID laws infringe on a citizen's right to vote, and adversely impact low-income, minority, aging, student, military, & homeless populations.

Additionally, studies have shown that many of the individuals that will be negatively impacted by voter ID laws tend to lean Democrat; seeing as how these laws have been actively pursued by primarily Republicans, it's hard to dispute the notion that these laws are meant to suppress voters among the Democratic population.

[hnombi-blog]

How to walk on water.

More info: http://discovermagazine.com/2012/jul-aug/17-running-on-physics-why-you-can-walk-on-cornstarch-and-water

[amprog]

The Supreme Court’s decision upholding the Affordable Care Act was a huge victory for millions of Americans, but the Court’s ruling on Medicaid expansion creates uncertainty about whether Americans with incomes below the poverty line can access health insurance.

(source: Center for American Progress)

[hnombi-blog]

YES and my state is among the committed!

[hnombi-blog]

The first-ever civil union on a military base. Congratulations to Tech. Sgt. Erwynn Umali & his partner, Will Behrens!

[hnombi-blog]

Things everyone should know.