Tag: USA

Posted on

Sochi Olympics 2014: “We Are All Athletes”

This video – “We Are All Athletes” – features athletes of varying gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and abilities.

Included in the video is openly gay hockey player Chris Brand hugging another man as they exit the rink.

From the US State Department via press release:

In honor of Team USA’s participation in the 2014 Winter Olympics (February 7-23) and Paralympics (March 7-16) in Sochi, Russia, the U.S. Department of State has produced a one-minute video highlighting the diversity of the U.S. athletes competing in the Games as well as everyday Americans. The video focuses on the theme “We Are All Athletes,” to promote diversity, social inclusion, sportsmanship, and teamwork.

“We Are All Athletes” showcases U.S. Olympians, Paralympians, and recreational athletes of various backgrounds, including gender, race and ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and abilities.

Posted on

Map of the United States as labeled by Australian who knows nothing about geography

This is making the rounds on the interwebs today. This is apparently a map of the United States as labeled by an Australian who has never been to the US, and clearly doesn’t know much geography.

Some of the state labels are very funny. Click on the pic to enlarge.

(h/t Buzzfeed)

Posted on

What Americans want

Image via Politics with Jarred and Dave

The Republican-controlled House has voted to keep the government funded but its “continuing resolution” comes with a poison pill to defund the Affordable Care Act that Democrats have vowed is dead on arrival in the Senate. http://n.pr/19lQPNc

House Majority Leader says what he “thinks’ Americans want.

Let’s look at the numbers from the last election:

House Popular Vote:
Democrats – 54,301095
Republicans – 53,822,442

President Popular Vote:
Barack Obama – 65,917,257
Mitt Romney – 60,932,235

It’s clear what the American people voted for.  And it wasn’t this.

Posted on

Map: Updated view of US states with marriage equality

Twelve states plus the District of Columbia now allow same-sex marriages, including Rhode Island and Delaware, which approved their own measures this month. Colorado lawmakers this year also approved a civil union bill.

Iowa, the other Midwestern state to allow same-sex marriage, does so because of a state Supreme Court ruling.

Illinois could soon allow gay marriage as well. The state already allows civil unions and a measure passed the state Senate in February, but has stalled in the House. Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, called on lawmakers last week to approve the measure.

Thirty-three states now don’t allow gay marriage by either state law or constitutional amendment.

Click the image above for larger view.

(via Stateline)

Posted on

Next US states in play for marriage equality

(image via USAToday)

The Associated Press gives us a run down on what appear to be the next states in play for marriage equality:

Delaware: The state’s House approved a bill Tuesday legalizing same-sex marriage on a 23-18 vote. The bill now moves to the Senate. It has the support of Democratic Gov. Jack Markell. Delaware approved same-sex civil unions last year.

New Jersey: The Democratic-led legislature is expected to attempt to override Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s veto of gay marriage legislation a year ago. But there aren’t enough Democrats to guarantee an override, and Christie has suggested putting the question before voters.

Oregon: Gay marriage advocates hope to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the 2014 ballot that would reverse a ban on gay marriage passed by voters in 2004. The effort has the support of Gov. John Kitzhaber.

Minnesota: Hundreds of gay marriage supporters gathered at the state Capitol this month to urge lawmakers to vote for gay marriage. Legislation has cleared committees in both the House and Senate.

Illinois: The state’s Senate approved gay marriage legislation on Valentine’s Day. Supporters in the House say they’re still a few votes short but hope a vote is held before the General Assembly adjourns this spring. Gov. Pat Quinn supports the bill.

(h/t JMG)

Posted on

Boston: Crowd sings National Anthem at Boston Bruins game

At last night’s Boston Bruins game – the first major sporting event in Boston since the bombing – Americans made their voices heard.

Rene Rancourt, who has been singing the National Anthem there for more than 40 years, began to sing. He quickly let the crowd take over.

We are Americans. We will not be terrorized.

Forward.

Posted on

Spend Local this holiday season

From my uber-smart friend Phil Attey: “Spend Local” means “Made in the USA” – and that means this Holiday Season, no shopping at Walmart or buying anything that says “Made in China” or any other foreign country.

If every American who complained in the election that too many companies were outsourcing jobs to China, made a pledge not to purchase any Holiday presents that weren’t made in the USA, Corporate CEOs would realize it’s not good business to screw over America.

Posted on

Obama administration stops deporting DREAM Act-Eligible Immigrants

The Obama administration will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives.

Under the administration plan, illegal immigrants will be immune from deportation if:

• they were brought to the United States before they turned 16
• are younger than 30
• have been in the country for at least five continuous years
• have no criminal history
• graduated from a U.S. high school or earned a GED or served in the military

They also can apply for a work permit that will be good for two years with no limits on how many times it can be renewed.

The policy will not lead toward citizenship but will remove the threat of deportation and grant the ability to work legally, leaving eligible immigrants able to remain in the United States for extended periods.

Only those individuals who can prove through verifiable documentation that they meet these criteria will be eligible for deferred action.  Individuals will not be eligible if they are not currently in the United States and cannot prove that they have been physically present in the United States for a period of not less than 5 years immediately preceding today’s date.

I personally support this policy change. These kids were brought to the US by family, not by choice. If they fit the above criteria, then they are law abiding people for whom the US is their home. They should be given the opportunity to remain.

Read more at Politico