Hello Friends;

  I was sent this today.  If you may recall, the Michigan republicans decided to put wolves on the list for hunting after decades spent on the endangered species list.  I guess having just barely reached 700, that was sufficient.  What was actually sufficient is that someone is trying to make a dollar on hunting wolves.  And, republicans seem all for decimating anything to get their greedy hands on that dollar.

  Please read the below, follow the link, send a letter to your senator or the Michigan senate.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.  I am too angry right now.  I was one who helped with the signatures noted below in paragraph 2.  The republicans have decided that the voice of all us voters matters for naught!   jerks!  Sorry, still angry!

Please speak up!

hugs;

randy

Speak Up for Your Right to Protect Wolves

In an appalling power grab by politicians in Lansing, legislation (S.B. 288) has been introduced that could undo all the work we've accomplished so far for wolves. And even worse, it would undermine Michiganders' longstanding right to have a say in what happens to all of our state's wildlife!

Just last month, thanks to the hard work of volunteers across the state, we turned in more than 250,000 signatures of registered Michigan voters to place a referendum on the ballot that would protect our wolves. But now in a stunning assault on our voting rights, some politicians are trying to pass a bill to undermine the hard work of our volunteers.

Senate Bill 288 would put all power in the hands of politicians and the Natural Resources Commission, and prevent voters from having a say on these issues. The agency bureaucrats could open a new hunting season on any species without public input and there would be no way for voters to intervene.

We need your voice to stop these politicians. Please make a brief, polite phone call to your state senator and your state representative today and urge them to vote NO vote on S.B. 288.

After all of our hard work in this campaign to protect wolves, we can't let politicians undermine our role in the democratic process

https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=6021&autologin=true&s_src=em_ha041013

Michigan Lawmaker: Transgender Protections ‘Violate The Privacy Rights Of Women And Children’

By Zack Ford on Apr 9, 2013 at 2:27 pm http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/04/09/1842701/michigan-lawmake

The city of Royal Oak, Michigan was on track to become the 22nd city in the state to establish LGBT nondiscrimination protections, but that measure is now being challenged at the ballot through a citywide referendum. State House Rep. Tom McMillin (R) issued a news release explaining why he thinks the protections would “violate the privacy rights of women and children”:
MCMILLIN: Why the city would want to force places like schools, businesses and fitness centers to allow men to use a women’s restroom or locker room – and allow boys to access girl’s restrooms and locker rooms in schools, is beyond me.
It certainly violates the privacy rights of women and children. At the very least, the council should have also included a requirement for warning signs on women’s and girl’s public restroom and locker room doors saying that women and girls may be confronted there by men who think they are women.
Like Arizona state Rep. John Kavanagh (R), McMillin seems to be afraid that women and children might see a transgender woman’s penis. But transgender women are not “men who think they are women,” they are women. They are not predators, nor does anybody need to be warned that they might be in the same space. Indeed, McMillin seems to have little concern for transgender people’s same right to privacy or for their basic dignity and safety to use a gender-appropriate facility.
McMillin’s statement also claimed that requiring Christians not to discriminate against LGBT people is tantamount to “bullying”:
MCMILLIN: The discrimination and coercion this ordinance supports — that a Christian photographer or baker must, if asked, offer their services to a so-called ‘gay wedding’ or face a $500 per day fine is wrong… Bullying Christians is wrong, too.
Tom McMillin has previously said that homosexuality is a “lifestyle” and a “choice” that people have “come out of.” In 2011, he proposed a bill to ban any Michigan municipality from extending LGBT nondiscrimination protections.

Hello My Friends;

  I have never been Transgendered, so I am speaking out of ignorance.  Unlike that pompous fool above, I realize that I may not have all the answers.  But, as mentioned in the article, a person who is transgendered is not someone just dressing up for fun.  These are people who are caught in the nightmare of not living in the right body.  They are men who identify as a woman, and women who identify as a man.   In all liklihood, these folks would be dressing gender identity appropriate.  So, the only way a person would know the difference, the only way one would know a person is not physically (ie: has a penis or vagina) a man or woman is to engage in considerable ogling.  

  So, here is my question Mr. McMillian:  Are you simply protecting the right to stare and intrude into another's personal space without risk of "surprise"?

  In regard to Mr. McMillian's statement that expecting businesses to NOT discriminate against LGBT people is, in fact, "discrimination and coercion"; I am guessing that this person is also saying that if it is against one's religion to serve "whites", "blacks", Latino, Italian, Polish, Irish, Native American, Slavic, etc... that that's ok, too.  I'm sure there are people in extreme groups that would love that.  Why, I remember reading a series of historical records in which Christians were hunted, killed, treated as second class citizens.  It was not only a religious question, you see, but a cultural allowance to kill Christians.  How about we go back to that Biblical Historical Tradition Mr. McMillian?  Would that be good with you?

  

  

Anytime You Need a Friend

Listen to this with your eyes closed and relax...

Hello My Friends;

  I hope you have about three and a half minutes - turn off the tv.  Get your dog or cat in your lap, or snuggle with a favorite someone and just relax as you listen to this.  Hugs.

Scared!

Hi Friends;

  I'd like to tell you about a moment in my life recently that had me very frightened.  A few weeks ago, during a normal shower washing, I found a lump on my scrotum.  Scared me to no end.  I, of course, immediately decided it was nothing, didn't exist, figment of my imagination.  Still, I couldn't concentrate at work, couldn't sleep at home, couldn't handle stress.... Finally, a coworker asked me why I was so uptight.  Now, this isn't someone who I would call a good friend.  He's more an acquaintance, but a decent person and one who has seen a few turns of this world.  So, I told him.  That, for me was the opening, the strength I needed to not just deny it but to have it checked out.
  Two days later I'm in my doctor's office and she's got my balls in her hands.  Good news:  Cyst.  No danger.  I was so relieved!  You see, my mother, my mother's mother and aunt, my dad's father - all had cancer.  Was I next?  Well, so far - no.
  But, this does bring up this important post.  Check them, guys!  If you don't know how - I'm including a little pic down below to give instruction.  If you are really cute, give me a call - I'll check them for you :)