ACT NOW: Call upon the government of Tanzania to halt on-going genital mutilation of girls and women in the Tarime district. - mnm1512914@gmail.com

Take 1 second (or 60 if you're slower than a neuro gimp), and SIGN this petition.

Call upon the government of Tanzania to halt the on-going genital mutilation of girls and women in the Tarime district.
(click above to go directly to the signature page; or indulge yourself (and me) and read my little treatise on female genital mutilation.

I know exactly where I was standing the moment I learned about this nightmare, a cultural practice, a rite of passage, it's variations in extremes, the death rates, the philistine unsophistication of the doer's butchery, the tacit cultural and cultural antitheses' acceptance of unsurmizable inequities: teen and pre-teen vaginas turned into scar tissue with a pus-filled, sealed entrance... barely the size of a pinhole camera, and that little hole is about the same as her chance of survival - not of her future, not of anything strange or unusual, this is the norm, the expected, dirty scalpels, and unsterile environment.

It's hard to believe there is worse pain than that. It's hard to believe that CRPS, Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome Stage 4, full body, external/internal,  is a 24/7 pain that could rival even one second of that on a scientific pain measurement chart.

But female circumcision is not listed. If it were, it wouldn't certainly rise to the top, above finger amputation no Novocaine, natural childbirth, the vast and incurably endless pain of CRPS. And I imagine that in some practicing countries, the men would celebrate this as a victory. We won! We won!

Lucky to survive, the girl and what parts she has left, what life span she is given, waits to be married.

I could read every article, every Vanity Fair, the Koran, every anthropological study or scientific journal, and I will never understand. Why not even a compromise to start with? Why not remove a kidney? Weigh her down with an antiquated chastity belt? Preach safe sex; the beauty of making love, in love? In how many societies are women all myth, an allegorical Eve?  Why do I not feel guilty eating the last apple in the fruit bowl?

This "practice", this keeping of culture, ritual, butcherous belief-system - the antithesis (in my view) of sacred -  but not a word turned on the heel of it's latter syllables. She is a SACrificial lamb in a dirt-filled room, watched by family, villagers, and now the remnants -  photographed and published in mainstream and English. It is the most extreme variation on the theme.

Infibulation,  this is what we  have named it  - this is what we call it in white talk, West talk, activist mottos ripe with rhyming possibilities for emphasis and memorability only.

She is still a child, waiting, even in severe pain every time she pees, waiting for the naming of the  muslim man who will marry her - only if he can break her open. Literally, break her.

Rip apart a body part that once had lips. Imagine this, your lips sliced off, the remaining skin pulled taught and sewn together. No anesthesia. No percocet recovery.

This is called infibulation (a word not even recognized by spell check). A word new to me until I was just passing the latest possible age to be infibulated myself. But I would be stoned instead. That is how a "whore" like me would be treated. What else is there to do to a woman or girl found to be sexually active before, or after the end of marriage?

More than the photographic analogy (the 1993 or '94 Vanity Fair Article that tangled and untangled me for years following,) saturating page upon page somewhere between George Clooney, or some form of Hollywood Beauty was on the cover(I think) and perfumed perfume ads, were these pages, these horrifying pages, scarier than the madman I lived with at 18 with no escape route either. But I had my art.

These women, what did they have? It was easier to figure out what the negatives: the did not have anesthesia, no art involved, nor just reason, no hospital, no novacaine, no options, no choice.

Trust Women...Support a Pro-Choice America

FROM MY INBOX TO YOURS...ACTION 4 ACTION
This just in from Nancy Keenan, President, of NARAL Pro-Choice America... Declare your support of the "Trust Women" campaign with a $10 donation and receive a “Trust Women” wristband:

Our “Trust Women” wristband campaign is wrapping up, but I still need you to take part. We must stand with the many pro-choice Americans nationwide who have already declared their support.

Donate today and get your “Trust Women” wristbands.

Dr Tiller often wore a button on his lapel that featured his motto, “Trust Women.” After Dr. Tiller’s murder, Dr. LeRoy Carhart, an abortion provider in Nebraska, wore the pin as a tribute to his friend and colleague…and we created this wristband to carry forward the message.

That’s why when you to donate $10 today to NARAL Pro-Choice America, we will send you a “Trust Women” wristband to honor the legacy of Dr. Tiller…and to show your solidarity with Dr. Carhart and all of the doctors and nurses out there who trust women.

Dr. LeRoy Carhart has been a vocal supporter of a woman’s right to safe, legal abortion care. He is one of the few abortion providers to whom women in heart-breaking circumstances can turn. And the anti-choice movement has made him a target of their attacks by enacting a divisive and invasive anti-choice law aimed directly at threatening Dr. Carhart and the women he serves.

In fact, Mary Spaulding Balch of the National Right to Life Committee recently told Politico, “When George Tiller was killed, LeRoy Carhart had national attention. That alerted Speaker Mike Flood to the problem in Nebraska, and he worked to address that.”¹

We cannot let anti-choice operatives go unchecked. Donate today and receive your “Trust Women” wristband.

Anti-choice zealots have proven that they are willing to use both violence and legislation to oppress women. That’s why we need the support of each and every pro-choice American today.

This is your opportunity to show our opponents that we will not be intimidated.

Donate $10 today, and we will send you a “Trust Women” wristband. Please join us and stand against anti-choice violence and intimidation.

Sincerely,

Nancy Keenan, President
NARAL Pro-Choice America

¹“States Test Abortion Limits,” Politico.com, April 28, 2010.

I'm in a Group Show!....Opening art party tonight. Come!

Click on the title to go to the post...It's worth the exercise.

Fun Fundraiser this Friday for Leukemia & Lymphoma

You may be able to live on this earth your entire life without ever knowing someone with a neuro disorder (unless you join my neuro circle), but I can't imagine that there's a person out there that hasn't been touched, harmed, hopeless or hopeful, or in mourning from a friend, relative, or acquaintance with either Leukemia or Lymphoma.

In my 34 years, I lost a great uncle to leukemia, made an inspirational friend who has been fighting a rare form of lymphoma for 20+ years, and just last month while getting plasmapharesis, a young mother of 3(?) sat on the bed next to me as her hair fell out and her stem cells were collected to treat her 2nd bout of lymphoma.

For something so unpleasant, we philly/regional phillyians can have some fun, get a buzz, and meet other socially minded people this Friday - all in support of all of the above.

I'm getting treatment this Friday, but if I'm up to it, I'll be there.

Details below:

What: VIS/CCA

When: Friday, January 15, 2010 7:00 PM

Price: $5.00 per person

Where:
The American Pub at Centre Square
1500 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
267-639-6104

Party for a Cause

COME ON OUT AND PARTY FOR A GREAT CAUSE!

Where: American Pub, 1500 Market St. Philly
When: Friday, Jan 15, 7 to 11 pm

The brand new American Pub at Center Square will be partnering
with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society Team in Training to host an
E X T E N D E D Happy Hour fundraiser!

A $5 donation at the door (100% of which goes to the Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society) will get you these GREAT drink specials from
7-11 pm:

$3 Select drafts
$4 Well drinks and domestic wines
$5 Specialty drinks and Belvedere vodka drinks
$6 Martinis

(They originally offered to have this event go two hours, but
the American Pub has agreed to extend these specials for FOUR
hours!)

There will also be having a 50/50 raffle & a silent auction
with many exciting prizes up for grabs!

MAKE SURE TO BRING CASH FOR THE COVER AND AUCTIONS!!!

All are welcome to attend. Please feel free and encouraged to
invite friends.

P.S. Come hungry--everything on the pub menu is under $10!
(Food will be available until 10 pm.)
http://www.theamerica...

P.P.S. The pub location is in the 1500 Market St. Bldg. Just
take the escalator downstairs into The American Pub.

For those who can't attend, you can still support Leukemia &
Lymphoma research at
http://pages.teamintr...

Learn more here: (I just became a member)
http://volunteerism.m...

Our Voices Are Needed in Harrisburg

As a member of the ACLU, I received this email about two important opportunities to shout out for liberty. Since I can't travel, maybe you'll go in my or someone else's honor. I wish I could stand up and shout out for everyone who needs a voice...one day:


A message from the state capitol

Dear friends of liberty,

March is the month to be in Harrisburg. You are needed at the capitol!

It’s legal in most of Pennsylvania to fire someone from his or her job simply because he or she is gay. On Tuesday, March 17, the ACLU of PA will team with the Value All Families Coalition for a lobby day and rally at the state capitol for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality. It’s long past time for Pennsylvania’s non-discrimination law to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression." To pass this legislation, your legislators need to hear from you! Learn more online.

Two weeks later, on March 31, ACLU–PA will gather with Pennsylvanians for Responsible Sex Education (PARSE) for a lobby day for healthy youth. In recent years, the commonwealth’s teen birth rate and teen abortion rate have risen. The folly of abstinence–only-until-marriage education has come home to roost. Join us on March 31 to lobby for legislation requiring comprehensive sex education in PA’s schools. Learn more online.

Buses from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are available for both events.

Let’s rock the dome!

See you in Harrisburg.

Sincerely,
Andy Hoover
Legislative Director
ACLU of PA

Activism In Philladelphia and how you can Help! in Protesting the atrocities in Gaza

Although....

• I said I'm on hiatus from this blog while focusing my energies on battling transverse myelitis (which you can read about at http://neurodetour.com)
• And many of my Jewish relatives will hold me in contempt for this
  
• And some of them also live in Israel and have their own experiences to share
  

But...

• I'm sleepless,
  
• and as a dedicated member of WILPF servingon both theMiddle East Committee and the National Development Committee, I'm doing what I can to spread the word...
• copy...paste...publish.

Before you begin reading, I grabbed this interesting fact from the ADC Website:

• Famous Arab Americans include: Ralph Nader, Salma Hayek, Casey Kasem, Doug Flutie, Shakira, Paula Abdul, Spencer Abraham and many more (click here to see an illustrated brochure) The Arab American market is considerable. Arab American consumers have a buying power of $104 billion.

It's always fun to start with fame, fortune, and fantastic cleavage. But on to the less fortunate we go.

************

The following newsletter was sent to me from my dear friend and Philadelphia WILPF president (Libby forgive me if I've gotten your title wrong). Please note, copy and paste leads to whacky formatting. But activism isn't about formatting, it's about doing.

Dear Members and Supporters,

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee--ADC Greater Philadelphia reiterates its horror at Israel ’s ongoing military attacks on, blockade of, and massacres in Gaza. As the world calls for an immediate ceasefire and protection for civilians as enumerated by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1860, Israel's overwhelming attacks on Gaza resulted in over 919 Dead and 4150 Injured-- 46% Women and Children.

We need to let our voices be heard.
We need an end to the Israeli massacres in Gaza.

As vital as it is to keep up the public protest, and as important as it is that we make sure our elected officials in Washington hear from us, this is also a crucial moment to bring our message to the mainstream media.

There are many ways you can help:

1. Attend the events planned in the Philadelphia Area this week (Below).
2. Make your voice heard in the media! (Write to local papers, Talking points)
   
3. Contact your Representatives and President-Elect Obama
4. Help the Victims in Gaza by Donating to United Palestinian Appeal, Inc. (UPA)
5. Help the Victims in Gaza by Donating to ANERA
6. Thank The 5 representatives that voted "against" and 22 representatives that voted "present" on a resolution that framed Israel's disproportionate attack on Gaza as "self-defense". IF you know ANY constituents of any of these representatives, then please urge them to let their voices be heard.
7. You can view the actual resolution here.

THIS WEEK’S, PHILADELPHIA ACTION FOR GAZA EVENTS
Don't hesitate to get in touch with questions.

• Monday 1.12.09- ADC National Wear-Your-Kaffiyah day

• Tuesday-1.13.09- ADC day of fasting

• Tuesday 1.13.09- panel discussion sponsored by IAC [contact Betsy, bpiette@hotmail.com]

• Wed 1.14.09- 4:30-6 pm Rally Israeli Consulate, 19th and JFK. [contact SUSTAIN at sustainphilly@gmail.com]

• Fri 1.16.09 @4:30pm- Mourning Vigil for Israel's Massacre of Civilians in Gaza and demanding immediate cease fire--Gathering at Israeli Consulate (1880 JFK Blvd) and March to City Hall planned by Arab community [contact Linda Hannah, aridfishing@verizon.net or Nehad Khader, nehadk262@gmail.com]

• Saturday 1.17.08-Obama Protest, 30th Street Station [contact Koyuki, livinginphilly@gmail.com]

• Monday 1.19.08-Tables at Gallery, Rittenhouse, 69th Street, ect. [contact Betsy, bpiette@hotmail.com]

• MLK Day Candlelight Vigil focused on impact on Women and children, 5:30, Israeli Consulate: [contact SUSTAIN at sustainphilly@gmail.com]

RECENT EVENTS OF NOTE

Last week, ADC held a town hall meeting where various ideas and strategies were discussed and considered. In response to direct community input, ADC NATIONAL Office extended its hours of operation (Monday-Friday from 8am-8pm) and community members are encouraged to volunteer.

- To volunteer, contact: organizing@adc.org

- For all media inquiries, contact: laila@adc.org

- For legal matters, contact: legal@adc.org

Last Thursday, ADC held a workshop on “Nonviolence Demonstrations and Actions”, which was conducted by Nonviolence International. Participants learned:

• basic communication techniques
• history of nonviolent action
• principles of nonviolent action
• campaigns for social change
• direct action techniques, and
  
• coalition building

On Friday, January 9, the House of Representatives passed a resolution that framed Israel's disproportionate attack on Gaza as "self-defense" and failed to hold Israel either responsible or accountable for its role in causing Palestinian civilian casualties and injuries, and extensive damage to Palestinian civilian infrastructure.

While the resolution contained substantial language that was "one-sided", it also contained language in support of "a just and sustainable resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict", making it appear "balanced" enough to many members of Congress to obtain their support. You can view the actual resolution for yourself here.

While 390 representatives voted for the resolution, 5 representatives voted against the resolution and 22 representatives voted present on the resolution. The names, phone numbers and fax numbers of those representatives are below.

If you are or KNOW a constituent of one of these representatives, then we ask you to take 5 minutes to follow up and thank them for their votes. We want to demonstrate to these representatives and to their colleagues that, if they stand for an equitable U.S. policy, then we will stand with them.

VOTED "NO"

• Rep. Maxine Waters (D), California, District 35 -- Phone: (202) 225-2201 / Fax: (202) 225-7854
• Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D), Ohio, District 10 -- Phone: (202) 225-5871 / Fax: (202) 225-5745
• Rep. Ronald Paul (R), Texas, District 14 -- Phone: (202) 225-2831 / Fax: (202) 226-6288
• Rep. Nick Rahall (D), West Virginia, District 3 -- Phone: (202) 225-3452 / Fax: (202) 225-9061
• Rep. Gwen Moore (D), Wisconsin, District 4 -- Phone: (202) 225-4572 / Fax: (202) 225-8135

VOTED "PRESENT"

• Rep. Raul Grijalva (D), Arizona, District 7 -- Phone: (202) 225-2435 / Fax: (202) 225-1541
• Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D), California, District 6 -- Phone: (202) 225-5161 / Fax: (202) 225-5163
• Rep. George Miller (D), California, District 7 -- Phone: (202) 225-2095 / Fax: (202) 225-5609
• Rep. Barbara Lee (D), California, District 9 -- Phone: (202) 225-2661 / Fax: (202) 225-9817
• Rep. Fortney Stark (D), California, District 13 -- Phone: (202) 225-5065 / Fax: (202) 226-3805
• Rep. Sam Farr (D), California, District 17 -- Phone: (202) 225-2861 / Fax: (202) 225-6791
• Rep. Diane Watson (D), California, District 33 -- Phone: (202) 225-7084 / Fax: (202) 225-2422
• Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D), California, District 47 -- Phone: (202) 225-2965 / Fax: (202) 225-5859
• Rep. Henry Johnson (D), Georgia, District 4 -- Phone: (202) 225-1605 / Fax: (202) 226-0691
• Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D), Hawaii, District 1 -- Phone: (202) 225-2726 / Fax: (202) 225-4580
• Rep. Donna Edwards (D), Maryland, District 4 -- Phone: (202) 225-8699 / Fax: (202) 225-8714
• Rep. John Olver (D), Massachusetts, District 1 -- Phone: (202) 225-5335 / Fax: (202) 226-1224
• Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D), Michigan, District 13 -- Phone: (202) 225-2261 / Fax: (202) 225-5730
• Rep. John Dingell (D), Michigan, District 15 -- Phone: (202) 225-4071 / Fax: (202) 226-0371
• Rep. Betty McCollum (D), Minnesota, District 4 -- Phone: (202) 225-6631 / Fax: (202) 225-1968
• Rep. Keith Ellison (D), Minnesota, District 5 -- Phone: (202) 225-4755 / Fax: (202) 225-4886
• Rep. Donald Payne (D), New Jersey, District 10 -- Phone: (202) 225-3436 / Fax: (202) 225-4160
• Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D), New York, District 22 -- Phone: (202) 225-6335 / Fax: (202) 226-0774
• Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D), Oregon, District 3 -- Phone: (202) 225-4811 / Fax: (202) 225-8941
• Rep. Peter DeFazio (D), Oregon, District 4 -- Phone: (202) 225-6416 / Fax: (202) 225-0032
• Rep. James Moran (D), Virginia, District 8 -- Phone: (202) 225-4376 / Fax: (202) 225-0017
• Rep. James McDermott (D), Washington, District 7 -- Phone: (202) 225-3106 / Fax: (202) 225-6197

ABOUT THE ADC
The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), a non-sectarian & non-partisan Civil rights organization, is the largest grassroots Arab-American movement in the United States committed to protecting the rights of Arab Americans by being at the forefront in combating defamation and negative stereotyping. ADC welcomes people of all backgrounds, faiths and ethnicities as members.

For more information on the ADC's Philadelphia Chapter, visit www.adcphiladelphia.org.
For the main ADC Website, visit www.adc.org