XXX

Some of the actions of people I know really make me question people. A lot of people I know are scumbags. I Hope I will find more people into the things I am into. I hate Drugs and Alcohol. I hate how it takes away peoples live... It Sucks to live in a town like this but Im sure its like that everywhere. This Needs to change. Hopefully something will open up soon that we can have shows in. Music is the only thing keeping me sane haha

WEEKLY ADDRESS 3

I want to

Serve Thanksgiving Dinner to the Homeless tomorrow. I Feel its time for me to give back.

OBAMA ADDRESS 2

UPDATE on Prop H8!

The California Supreme Court will hear Proposition 8 challenge, but denies request to postpone its implementation. Photo by Justin Gonzaga.

Prop. 8 suits win supreme court review

The California Supreme Court agreed yesterday to hear lawsuits challenging Proposition 8 but denied a request to postpone its implementation until the lawsuits are resolved.

Several lawsuits have been filed seeking to invalidate the proposition — which amended the state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriages — on the grounds that it makes such significant changes that it is a constitutional revision, which would need legislative approval.

On Tuesday, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to join an anti-Proposition 8 lawsuit initiated by San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera. Oakland's City Council did the same yesterday, and the city of Berkeley is likely to join in the coming weeks.

"The question before the court is, should the democratic process be allowed to enact this discrimination by a simple show of hands, or is a more deliberative legislative process required?" said Goodwin Liu, a UC Berkeley professor of law.

He said that the lawsuit faces tough legal precedents when it comes to overturning ballot measures but that the great public interest and the civil rights aspect of the issue may make these lawsuits unique.

"It does come as a relief that things can move forward, and there's still hope that it can be overturned before 2010," said Carlo de la Cruz, the ASUC's academic affairs vice president.

A release from the Campaign for Children and Families stated that the state Supreme Court would risk a voter revolt if it ruled against the proposition, which received 52.5 percent of the vote. They also argued that the proposition only affects a single part of the constitution and could not possibly be considered a revision.

In contrast with the state as a whole, the proposition garnered support from only 38 percent of voters in Alameda County. The board of supervisors voted to support the lawsuit in a closed session and made the announcement at their public meeting later that day.

"It's a civil rights issue," said supervisor Gail Steele. "What is that when people are taking rights away from others?"

In Berkeley, Councilmembers Kriss Worthington and Darryl Moore, who are gay, have brought the issue to the city attorney's office to determine whether a vote is required to support the lawsuit. The city has already adopted a policy of supporting marriage equality, so a vote may not be necessary, but if it is, many expect that the vote will be unanimous.

"It would be reflective of the vast majority of our constituents that we oppose the elimination of civil rights in our constitution," said Councilmember Max Anderson.

Phillip Alvarado, the campus campaign manager for the Get Up, Vote Down 4 & 8 campaign, said that if civil rights issues such as segregation and suffrage had to be passed through a vote, they would never have happened.

"Bigoted and homophobic people cannot rule what happens in someone else's life," he said. "The justices will, in the end, uphold equality and fairness."

James Parker reports for The Daily Californian, a student publication at UC Berkeley. The Daily Californian is partnering with Campus Politico for the 2008 elections.

You Know When...

This Video Reminds Me of When Someone falls or says or does something stupid in public or on TV and u Feel Embarrassed for them. George Bush looks sad in this Video. Like He wasn't wanted there. I Hope our new President makes America more world friendly. I hope he brings REAL CHANGE and brings the United States out of the whole the Bush Years has got us in.

xCHAMPIONx

12 Reasons why Gays shouldnt Marry!!!!

1. Homosexuality is not natural, much like eyeglasses, polyester, and birth control are not natural.
2. Heterosexual marriages are valid because they produce children. Infertile couples and old people cannot get legally married because the world needs more children.
3. Obviously gay parents will raise gay children because straight parents only raise straight children.
4. Straight marriage will be less meaningful, since Britney Spears's 55-hour just-for-fun marriage was meaningful.
5. Heterosexual marriage has been around for a long time, and it hasn't changed at all: women are property, Blacks can't marry Whites, and divorce is illegal.
6. Gay marriage should be decided by the people, not the courts, because the majority-elected legislatures, not courts, have historically protected the rights of minorities.
7. Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are always imposed on the entire country. That's why we only have one religion in America.
8. Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people makes you tall.
9. Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage license.
10. Children can never succeed without both male and female role models at home. That's why single parents are forbidden to raise children.
11. Gay marriage will change the foundation of society. Heterosexual marriage has been around for a long time, and we could never adapt to new social norms because we haven't adapted to cars or longer lifespans.
12. Civil unions, providing most of the same benefits as marriage with a different name are better, because a "separate but equal" institution is always constitutional. Separate schools for African-Americans worked just as well as separate marriages will for gays & lesbians.

TAKEN FROM
http://grove.ufl.edu/~ggsa/gaymarriage.html

Weekly Address from the President-Elect

One Of Many I hope... Technology is definitely on the side of the Democrats.

PALIN...GO HOME!

I HOPE SHE RUNS THE GOP. I MEAN... I HOPE SHE RUNS THE GOP INTO THE GROUND. ROMNEY 2012? PALIN 2012? PAWLENTY 2012? JINDAL 2012?... WE'LL SEE... ACTUALLY LETS HOPE WE DONT. OBAMA ISNT EVEN THE PRESIDENT YET. PALIN NEEDS TO GO HOME. SHE IS GONNA OVERSATURATE HERSELF AND WHATS WORSE IS SHE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT JTP. NOONE GAVE A DAMN ABOUT WHAT HE SAID! HE WAS CRAZY AND A LIAR! JUST GIVE IT UP... NOONE IS SAYING U CAN'T RUN FOR PRESIDENT BUT WHY SET UR SELF UP FOR IT WHEN THE NEW PRESIDENT ISNT EVEN IN THE OFFICE YET.

Today I was in The Tracy Press' OUR TOWN

http://ourtown.tracypress.com/content/view/4714/131/


Manuel Zapata runs a concert promotion business and sees himself growing more and more involved with politics, so much so that he canvassed for Rep. Jerry McNerney and mayoral candidate Celeste Garamendi in the 2008 election run-up.

His politics is a mix of leftist and libertarian ideals, and his musical tastes lie in metal, punk and rap.

He’s set the bar high for the upcoming years.

He wants to bring a venue to Tracy for metal and punk acts to play at and wants to run for City Council in 2012 or 2014.

“Tracy has a really bad drug problem,” Zapata said. “It’s not gonna necessarily stop if we get a venue here, but it would help if (people) had a safe, positive place to have fun where they could listen to local bands.”

“Lots of parents commute to work here in Tracy, leaving their kids to do whatever. Kids get bored, and boredom leads to drugs,” he said. “A lot of kids just want to be a part of something. Hopefully, through shows and straight-edge music, they can be without drugs and alcohol.”

Zapata eventually wants to be an in-house booker for a venue and an activist for youth. He sees a lot of potential in the bands he promotes, but stresses that they need more local venues — especially in Tracy — if they are to get their music more widely heard.

Zapata and a friend have been looking at warehouse locations to set up some sort of stage and sound system in town for kids to play at, but there have been road blocks.

“Setting up a business in Tracy is hard, especially for someone my age.” he said. “We need a place to call our own here.”

His call for a local venue is as strong as his political message, as evidenced by his blog at change209.blogspot.com.

Zapata set up a rally for President-elect Barack Obama near Tracy High School last week to show his support, but Zapata was disappointed that Proposition 8 passed.

“Just think, on a night where we elected our first African-American president, we also proved that such a progressive-in-thought state like California is really a discriminatory state in practice,” Zapata wrote in his blog the day after the election. “How the hell would that pass?”

Many questions lie ahead for the young man, but from the looks of it, he seems to be tackling them in his own positive way.

• In the spotlight is a weekly feature in Our Town. This week’s interviewer was reporter Our Town editor Aaron Rognstad. To reach him call 830-4221 or e-mail him at aaronr@tracypress.com.

Most Powerful Comment...

I almost teared up

John Duran Speech on Results.

WWJD??: Jesus WOULD NOT Discriminate!

"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned, forgive, and ye shall be forgiven."

~Luke 6:37~

The "YES ON 8" Campaign declared its victory Last night, making it a very Bitter-Sweet evening. Barack Obama was elected to be the next President of the United States... An amazing step forward for American Society but at the same time Prop 8 in California looks as if its going to pass. Just think, on a Night where we elected our first African American President, we also proved that such a progressive in thought State like California is really a discriminatory State in practice. How The Hell would that pass. How in this state of ours could we allow the vote to even be close to passing. HOW COULD CALIFORNIANS VOTE TO TAKE AWAY A RIGHT FROM SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T EFFECT THEM! Who the Hell are we to deny people in love, the right to marry??! Marriage between Same sex couples has been on the books as legal since May 15th, Has the world came to an end? has your life been changed for the worse?, Did God come to earth and Speak to u telling you to pick up your sword of hatred and swing it at the world of acceptance?, Probably Not. You Speak from the Moral Mountain Top but have lost the real message of the Bible. Cherry picking its words Doesn't Make you right [SEE BELOW IN RED WHY CHERRY PICKING IS RIDICULES].
This is the United states of America! A place where we are all created Equal. This Will be Defeated. If not now, then later. We must move forward in thought and practice! Slavery is over, African Americans Can Vote, Women Can Vote, interracial Couples Can marry, The American Spirit is a lot more beautiful than what the voters of California showed themselves to be Last Night. I Know it.

"Oh, I don't reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ."
-Ghandi


Shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, mussels, all these are an abomination before the Lord, just as gays are an abomination. Why stop at protesting gay marriage? Bring all of God's law unto the heathens and the sodomites. We call upon all Christians to join the crusade against Long John Silver's and Red Lobster. Yea, even Popeye's shall be cleansed. The name of Bubba shall be anathema. We must stop the unbelievers from destroying the sanctity of our restaurants.

Leviticus 11:9-12 says:
9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

Our Obama Rally in The Tracy Press!

Manuel Zapata (left), Maryanne Alford and Brandon Hines join the rally at 11th and East streets today. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Written by Jennifer Wadsworth Wednesday, 05 November 2008

Tracy Democrats marked President-Elect Barack Obama’s victory with spontaneous celebratory rallies Tuesday that continued today — like the one late this afternoon near Tracy High School.

For the paltry group of mostly teenaged Obama supporters, the Illinois senator’s victory bolstered their faith in their own power to affect change.

“I definitely know that we made a difference,” said Brandon Hines, 18, a first-time voter and Obama fan who celebrated the Democratic victory by waving pro-Obama signs with about a dozen other young adults to passing drivers on 11th Street today.

“The world is changing and it’s incredible to be voting in really the most historic election.”

Most of San Joaquin County’s voting public agreed with Hines and the street side group of young Democrats.

Of the 169,914 votes cast Tuesday in the county, 53.8 percent supported Obama and 44 percent were for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. In absolute numbers, that’s 90,851 county votes for Obama and 74,318 for McCain.

As of the last count today, 63.3 percent of the 268,476 county voters cast a ballot Tuesday. Voting officials originally predicted as much as 80 percent of registered voters would turn out on Election Day. More than half had already voted by mail, and others took absentee ballots in person to the polling places.

Results remain unofficial for the month following Election Day.

Tracy High School senior Chantel Smith — who joined the group on 11th Street today when she spotted them after school — screamed in excitement when she heard the major news networks announce that Obama was a shoo-in for top office.

“I feel like things will be different now,” she said, crouched behind a poster emblazoned with glittered letters spelling out the word “hope.”

“I feel like a lot of stuff will change,” she said. “And I think that some people are scared of that change.”

For some, the election of the nation’s first black president even inspired tears of joy. And as much as it encouraged the youngsters who put on today’s rally to believe in future change, to older voters it represented the culmination of years of hard-fought battles to overcome institutionalized racism.

For some, the election of the nation’s first black president even inspired tears of joy. And as much as it encouraged the youngsters who put on today’s rally to believe in future change, to older voters it represented the culmination of years of hard-fought battles to overcome institutionalized racism.

Toni Beckham, 58, cried even this morning talking about the historic victory.

A member of the Tracy African American Association, the Tracy resident said she remembers watching TV news reports of police brutality toward black America during the Civil Rights marches in the 1960s.

“For a lot of us, we had the thought that never in our lifetime did we expect this to happen,” she said. “Early on, I, like I’m sure millions of other African-Americans when Obama first announced his candidacy, didn’t believe he could do it.”

But as he started gaining ground after the Iowa Caucus, she said she began to let herself hope.

And though she’s proud to see a black president in office, she said his ability is what earned him her vote.

“He did not interject race into his campaign at all,” she said. “He won on his own terms. He’s a president who happens to be black.”

• Contact Tracy Press reporter Jennifer Wadsworth at 830-4225 or jwadsworth@tracypress.com.

Young adults rally at the corner of 11th and East streets as they celebrate President-Elect Barack Obama’s victory in the presidential race. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Sarah Burrell (left) and Germani Williams show their support at the rally for Obama today. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Young adults wave to passing cars as they rally at the corner of 11th and East streets today. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

My Prediction

POLLS AND SUCH... IS IT TIME FOR CHANGE

You Get what you put in, and People get what they deserve

So today was pretty Interesting, I was at the mall and all of a Sudden I got a Text from My Friend Aaron Telling me about a "YES ON 8" rally on the Corner that we are Rally'n on Tomorrow. Mike and I drove by and I decided to go home and Get my Sign and get dropped off with the Counter Rally across the Street. I joined My new Pricinct walking buddy Micheal and a group of 10 or 12 people waving both Official and homemade signs for "NO ON 8". We got so much support, The "YES on 8" People packed up and Left and we stood in the Rain for another hr waving and getting honked at. Pretty good day. I learned something today tho. The People that are being threatened with the potential reality of Not having the right to get married are way more nice about their position then the High Horse Religious groups so set on taking marriage away from them. Its funny how the ones so set on protecting God's View of marriage are the ones who jump to being "GODS MILITANT LAW ENFORCERS" Remember as u read the bible, Scripture can be read from both points of view and must be respected from both. Maybe You are indeed the people who the ones working agaist your God. You are No Judge, You may be no Religious Jury to doom people to hell. You are not GOD.


"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:43)

per·se·cute (pûrs-kyt)
tr.v. per·se·cut·ed, per·se·cut·ing, per·se·cutes
1. To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs.
2. To annoy persistently; bother.