Oh, it sure warmed my heteronormativity-critiquing heart (yeah, some of us critique with our hearts and our heads, and other parts, too) to get an e-mail today announcing the release of “Beyond Marriage,” a statement by hundreds of LGBT activists who hope “to move beyond the narrow confines of marriage politics in the United States today.”

The statement offers a new vision for securing governmental and private institutional recognition of diverse partnerships, households, kinship relationships and families.

Read it here .

And then thank Clamor editor Kenyon Farrow for coauthoring the statement with a whole bunch of fine folks, and then pass it on!

I learned this thanks to Black Commentator Editor Bruce Nixon, in this week’s Cover Story. Nixon points out the obvious, that few want to state publicly: that Israel practices apartheid.

The BC article merits reading in its entirety, as well as serving as a portal that directs readers to other resources including the Electronic Intifada, and Noam Chomsky’s historical lens towards apartheid — with roots originally planted in South Africa, pollinating into policies in Israel — albeit a stronger, more virulent descendent. How’s that for a non-traditional form of Darwinian evolution?

For continued depth and analysis and coverage that you won’t get on your corporate MSNBC or NBC, rely on the Israelis for Peace and Justice who are Gush Shalom.

Meanwhile, the disproportionate over-reaction continues. So much for being a supporter — who lives the actions and not just words — of President Dubya’s ‘democracy spreading in the Middle East.’ I suppose that the Israeli Defense Force and Cabinet misunderstood, because spreading by wildfire and Howitzer certainly aint one and the same.

As Americans, it is often difficult to know what is happening around the world because of the failure of the mainstream press to adequately report it. Sure you’ve may have heard that following the capture of Israeli soldiers by Palestinian and Lebanese militants, Israel has launched a full scale assault on civilian infrastructure in both Gaza and Lebanon. Do you know what this really means?

Find out more at sites like:

Left Turn Magazine - one of Left Turn’s founders lives in Lebanon, and this site includes reports, links to more information, and photos.

Democracy Now’s interview with Rania Masri is here.

Angry Arab News Service - photos and commentary.

On Friday, the New York Mercantile Exchange set a new record for the price of oil, closing the day at $77.03. This broke the previous record — of $76.70 — that was set the day before.

Israel occupies the Palestinian territory of Gaza. Jordan supplies those in Gaza. People and arms flow across the Sinai between Egypt and Gaza. Israel re-invades Lebanon, chasing Hizbullah (aka Hezbollah).

With each passing day and additional explosion — regardless of whether it is triggered by a belt or launched by a tank or plane of the Israeli Defense Force — further shakes the region, causing tremors within the oil markets and shaking the foundations of commerce, on the brink of a whole new meaning to Friendman’s flattened global economy.

For some insight of how other parts of the world view, read and understand the potent mix brewing along the Mediterranean coastline, see:

Al Ahram Weekly (Egypt)
The Guardian (UK)
Reporters Without Borders (Paris)

And, what may be the most important perspective of all for Americans to understand comes from Al Jazeera (Qatar).

On July 15, Suzanne Swift’s supporters are calling for a National Day of Action, calling for call for an honorable discharge for Swift, who was sexually abused by her sergeant while doing her duty in Iraq as a military police officer. Please do your part by spreading the word, making a donation, or joining an action! For more information, read about Suzanne’s case here.

A statement from Sara Rich, Suzanne’s mother:

Suzanne joined the Army with stars in her eyes. She was told she would see far away travel, be trained as a military police officer and when she got out she would be given money for college. Hell of a deal. Not once did the recruiter mention the deadly statistics for women in the military and how going to war dehumanizes many soldiers to a point where they think that raping and harassing women is acceptable behavior.

Peace
Sara Rich, M.S.W

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– By Kristina Hallez, khallez@wesleyan.edu