Progressive Christian Peace and Justice Feed by IPC

A short while ago I checked out from the library and watched Missing, a movie starring Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek. It’s an intense political thriller by director Costa-Gavras. I did not know anything of Costa-Gavras, so I decided to do a little research on him. Costa-Gavras is one of the most respected directors today, the creator of political thrillers that expose government corruption and deceit.

Here is some information on Costa-Gavras from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Gavras). Constantinos Gavras was born on February 13, 1933 to a poor family in the village of Loutra Iraias, Greece. His father had been a member of the left-wing branch of the Greek Resistance during World War II, and was imprisoned after the war as a suspected communist. Costa-Gavras went to France to study of law in 1951, and in 1956 he studied film. In his early years he worked with the famed French directors Yves Allegret, Jean Giono and Rene Clair. He directed his first film in 1965.

Costa-Gavras is reknowned as a master of the political thriller. Michael Wood, a teacher of English and comparative literature in Princeton, wrote in the booklet accompanying the DVD of Missing:

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Two things... 1) It's time for our "What are you grateful for?" thread. 2) It's time for our second annual Christmas Card exchange. If you want to participate

At midnight last night, the Bush administration quietly and without much media attention put into place a new regulation that allows persons working in health care facilities that receive federal funds to refuse to provide services and information to patients if it disagrees with them. It also prohibits the hospitals and clinics from asking prospective employees about their willingness to provideDebra W. Haffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03018331891805010135noreply@blogger.com0

... Obama does come out looking like the bigger person in this, which is why I'm glad he did it, plus, Lieberman owes the dems like no one's business. If he

Praise God! So wonderful to have an incoming leader with such sensibilities in working with people. I pray that he maintains his honor. Some people may be

I was originally in the Take Away His Chairmanship camp. But I've read a lot of punditry from the other side of the issue that makes a lot of sense.

The first openly and truly evangelical president was none other than Jimmy Carter. Who to this very day holds true to his true Christian values. George W.

Faith-Based Politics, The Obama Way Evangelicals won't disappear in an Obama administration. They'll just be a different crew. TheRoot.com Nov. 17,

Gregg DesElms from California contacted Crossleft and asked that this be published on the site. It is interesting and thoughtful. Jim

At the Nationwide Protest Against Proposition 8
On the steps of City Hall in Napa, California
Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 10:30 AM PST

Peace and Blessings to you all. My name is Gregg DesElms. Though I live in Napa, I am a sworn Deputy Commissioner of Civil Ceremonies for Santa Clara County, down in San Jose. And let me just get this out of the way up front: It’s a character flaw, I realize, but I am proudly heterosexual. So, for the next few minutes, if it’s okay with all of you, I’d like to talk about how being party to the same-sex marriage experience in the way that I have has affected this particular heterosexual.

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Subject: Three trees "The Greatest Story" Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree

Calling it "an outrageous and horrifying crime," Janet Murguía, President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, condemned the fatal beating of a Long Island man on Saturday night. Marcello Lucero, a 37-year-old man from Patchogue, Long Island, was the apparent victim of a hate crime by seven teenagers who were arraigned today for his murder. According to Newsday, Suffolk County police say that the defendants "simply wanted to beat up someone who looked Hispanic."

"While we are grateful that the authorities have taken swift action," Murguía said, "it is important for all Americans to understand that this is part of an alarming trend taking place nationwide." FBI hate crime statistics show that attacks against Latinos have been on the rise over the past four years. Similarly, the Southern Poverty Law Center has reported that the number of hate groups targeting Latinos and immigrants has also increased over the same period.

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On November 8, 2008, Marcello Lucero was brutally stabbed to death by a group of teenagers because they thought he was Mexican. In response to the murder of Lucero, local authorities have encouraged others who have been victims of similar crimes in Long Island to come forward. Last night, WCBS-TV reported that a second Long Island resident, Carlos Orellana, alleged a similar gang attack. Orellana asserts that his assailants' attacks were coupled with racial slurs.

These race-related crimes are not anomalies in Long Island. The AP reports that "tensions" over immigration have been acute in Suffolk County for years now. A brief review of recent history reveals that:

Eight short years ago, two Mexican men were beaten in Farmingville by people who had offered them work. Farmingville is ten miles from where the stabbing of Lucero occurred.
On the Fourth of July in 2003, teens set fire to the Farmingville house of a Mexican family who barely escaped with their lives.
In 2005, four teens attacked two Mexican immigrants fishing in Long Island. Shouting racial slurs, the teens beat and stole both of the victims' money.

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Bloggers,

This Thursday (11/20) at 11am EST (8am PST), the Long Island Immigrant Alliance, the Workplace Project, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) will be holding a call for bloggers on last week's Suffolk county hate killing. A man was killed last week because a couple of teenagers were looking to do some damage to a "Mexican". The action of these teens, all under 18, however, is only the latest expression of hate happening in Long Island and the nation as a whole. The tragic death of this man must be seen as an urgent warning and call to action. We will be holding a call to talk about this horrible crime in Long Island, as well as the broader national implications this Thursday, at 11am EST. To date, there has been some media coverage of this incident but there needs to be more. We are hoping to bring more attention to this issue through this call. What happened last week is an outrage and we need to have elected officials and local communities taking note and ensuring that another death is prevented before it's too late.

Please RSVP for this important event to kesquivel@nclr.org. Send any questions you have in anticipation of this call to kesquivel@nclr.org.

What: Blogger Call on Suffolk Hate Killing
When: Thursday, 11am EST
Where: Call in #: 712-432-1620; Access code: 540585 #

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The Obama cabinet's first known pick -- for Senator Tom Daschle for Secretary of Health and Human Services. At first glance and from what I've been able to find, the appointment may be mixed for sexual and reproductive rights. Daschle has a 50% voting record from NARAL. On the other hand, he has a 16% voting record from the Christian Coalition. He supports Roe, but also voted for bans on Debra W. Haffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03018331891805010135noreply@blogger.com1

Hey Stephen, sign me up again! ... for

I have mixed feelings about the Lieberman issue. On the one hand, he really screwed over his (former) party. On the other hand, dismissing him would have

Equip me today, O God, with the humility, which will keep me from pride and from conceit; The graciousness and the gentleness which will make me both easy to

Hmmm. That post was dated December of 2002. I believe Alberto Gonzalez would be out of the race today, even if GWB was choosing. This is a great topic to

by: Chris Bowers Tue Nov 18, 2008 I'm pretty disappointed at the outcome over the Homeland Security and

Bush Contemplating Supreme Court Replacements http://tinyurl.com/5obgsn When, who'd make good US Supreme Court Replacements? .