Sole Focus

News, Views, Rantings & Ramblings by Carey Parrish

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Location: Georgia, United States

Monday, November 22, 2010

Salvation Army Hates Gays More Than It Loves The Sick, Poor

There goes any support I had for the Salvation Army.

From truthwinsout.org:

Posted November 22nd, 2010 by Evan Hurst


That’s the only conclusion that can be drawn here:


The Salvation Army is threatening to close soup kitchens for tens of thousands of New York’s homeless and walk away from other projects if the city enacts legislation requiring firms that do business with New York to offer health benefits to the partners of gay staffers.

The evangelical faith is prepared to give up the $70 million a year in city funding it receives and pull out of New York entirely the New York Post reports.

With soup kitchens, shelters, foster care programs, and HIV services the Salvation Army is one of the largest private aid groups in New York serving some 5 million people annually.

The Salvation Army has several multiyear contracts with the city totaling $250 million. Six city contracts worth $12.8 million are to expire June 30, by which time the bill may be law.

New York City council overwhelmingly approved the legislation earlier this month, and it is sitting on the desk of mayor Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg is opposed to the bill, even though his own company offers partner benefits. Even if the mayor vetoes the legislation, the support in council is considered sufficient to override it.

An official from the organization is quoted as saying that opposing gayness is a deep theological issue for them. Funny, he doesn’t say that about, you know, helping the poor.

This is a good time to remind readers that when you see the Salvation Army Santas, it’s best to take whatever money you would be inclined to give them and give it instead to a better, more loving organization that does the same work.

Monday's Author

One of the most talented writers I've had the privelege to meet, Arthur Wooten is a master of his craft. The author of the bestsellers On Picking Fruit and its sequel Fruit Cocktail, Arthur is also an accomplished playwright. His original play Birthday Pie has been developed into a motion picture with the involvement of Phylicia Rashad and her uber-famous sister Debbie Allen. Arthur was also instrumental in the production of a documentary on the life of singer Paul Nicholas, who was stricken with Multiple Sclerosis at a young age and became the recipient of a stem cell transplant.

What really sets Arthur apart from his peers is the sheer humanitarianism of his soul. Arthur is never one to pass by another who is suffering without finding out what he can do to help. His heart is bigger than the Manhattan he calls home. I had the pleasure of meeting Arthur last spring when I was in NYC for the finale of Survivor Heroes vs. Villains and I asked Arthur to go along with me for the evening. His company is certainly - and highly - recommended, and his work is more than worthy of all the praise it has received.

http://www.arthurwooten.com/

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy Assassinated 47 Years Ago Today


Today is a sad anniversary in the history of our nation. Forty-seven years ago today, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. The whole world was shocked by the senseless tragedy of this horrific crime. Americans everywhere plunged into mourning as soon as they knew it was true. Walter Cronkite delivered a galvanizing report live on CBS TV minutes after the whole nightmare began. Who can ever forget the magnitude of this tragic event? Let us pause to remember this great man who gave his life in service to his country at the highest level.


Monday's Flashback

One of the most talented - and one of the undernoticed bands in the US - of the last decade, Scissor Sisters has been scoring mega hits with ease across the pond in the UK and Europe. Fronted by the enormously versatile Jake Shears (real name Jason Sellards), Scissor Sisters has all the appeal of an 80's super group while sounding contemporary at the same time. Why they've never hit like wildfire here in the states baffles most observers, especially being that the group is from Lexington, Kentucky. Some critics think it's because they came along during the ultra conservative Bush era; when nobody was taking chances on anything deemed risky. Others think their appeal is simply too continental to endear them to American audiences. Whatever the reason, the group has a major underground following on the West Coast and in New York City, and their albums regularly delight their fans.

One of their biggest UK/Euro hits, I Don't Feel Like Dancing is a song written by Elton John and released on the group's 2006 album Ta-Da! It was the fourth biggest selling single of that year in Great Britain and the album went double platinum. Here in the US the song only charted at #72 on the Billboard Hot 100, but radio's refusal to give it ample airplay only cheated American audiences of the pleasure of this infectious track. One just can't sit still when this one gets cranked up.

Thought For Today

"Our lives improve only when we take chances - and the first & most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves." -Walter Anderson

(Thanks, David.)