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Category Archives: Freedom

FREEDOM FLIGHT: Veterans Depart Despite Shutdown

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Posted on: 6:20 pm, October 1, 2013, by Dave Price, updated on: 06:21pm, October 1, 2013

More than 100 Iowa veterans who served their country in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War thought they would have a once-in-a-lifetime trip when they took part in the Story County Freedom Flight to Washington, D.C.

Little did they know beforehand how memorable it would be.

The veterans left early Tuesday morning for their flight from the Des Moines International Airport not knowing how the federal government shutdown would affect their plans to visit the war memorials built intheir honor in Washington, D.C.

When they arrived, they learned a fence blocked access to the memorials that had been closed due to the shutdown.

Vietnam War Veteran Phil Schendelsaid the veterans were determined they wouldnt let the fences or the guards who stood by to watch them get in the way of their final destination. Schendel said, There were people ready to go to jail. Im not kidding you.

As it turned out, that wasnt necessary.

Fourth District Republican Congressman Steve King wouldnt say who devised a plan. He would admit to distracting a guard so other Republican congressmen could open a fence to let the veterans and their families inside the memorial grounds.

King expressed dismay that guards had tried to close off the grounds in the first place.

He questioned how if there was no money to staff the grounds, then how could there be money to pay for the guards to make sure no one came into the grounds.

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FREEDOM FLIGHT: Veterans Depart Despite Shutdown

Our press freedom in freefall, down 23 spots

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Lack of access to information has hindered press freedom and caused our rankings to drop miserably.

PETALING JAYA: The level of press freedom in Malaysia has deteriorated even further this year compared to its earlier standings as reflected in the latest rankings carried out by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Malaysia dropped 23 spots from 122 in 2012 to 145 this year in the World Press Freedom Index. In the 2011-2012 rankings Malaysia jointly held the 122nd spot with Tajikistan and Algeria.

According to the report, Malaysias ranking plummeted 23 spots due to constant lack of access to information.

The report acknowledged the NGOs and online medias work in pushing for more access to information.

However the government has been drifting towards authoritarianistic and repressive measures to curtail the access, stated the report.

This was illustrated by Putrajayas crackdown on Bersih 3.0 protest in April last year.

The RSF also stated that Putrajaya is constantly involved in repeated censorship efforts that undermine basic freedom, in particular the right to information.

Comparing Malaysias ranking with 12 other Southeast Asian countries including Papua New Guinea and East Timor this year, it appeared that Malaysia is placed in the middle of the chart.

In Southeast Asia; Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Brunei clinched the top three spots. Papua New Guinea is ranked 41; East Timor is at 90 followed by Brunei at 122.

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Our press freedom in freefall, down 23 spots

How Promotion of Religious Freedom Can Help Prevent Extreme Violence

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GWEN IFILL: In addition to last week's church bombing in Pakistan, Christians have also been targeted recently in Egypt and at last week's mall attack in Kenya. Is this merely a coincidence or is there a wider trend?

To explore that, I'm joined by U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Suzan Johnson Cook.

Welcome again, Ambassador.

SUZAN JOHNSON COOK, U.S. ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom: Thank you. So wonderful to be with you. Thank you.

GWEN IFILL: We saw what Fred wrote about or broadcast just now just about Pakistan. Is this something which is a worldwide problem?

SUZAN JOHNSON COOK: Well, it is a worldwide problem.

RELATED INFORMATION

Pakistani Christians Targeted by Violence, Blasphemy Law

As ambassador for international religious freedom, my portfolio is 199 countries of the world. And so we see it frequently. First, though, I want to send my condolences for those who were the victims of attack, those who lost loved ones. We certainly want to send our condolences and sympathy.

It is not just recent. It's been throughout the world and throughout history. And it opens up the whole conversation of religious freedom. We have it in our Constitution that we have the right to believe what and when we want to believe, how we want to express that, but in many parts of the world, that is not true.

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How Promotion of Religious Freedom Can Help Prevent Extreme Violence

Original Freedom Writer to tell his story

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Manuel Scott plans to share his message at a diversity summit at New Oxford High School.

Manuel Scott is never mentioned by name in the 2007 film Freedom Writers, but his story is deeply ingrained in it.

In the movie, a class at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, Calif., is divided by ethnic lines and torn apart by abuse, violence and crime. But the students are transformed by Erin Gruwell's teaching methods. The group of students called themselves the Freedom Writers.

Scott was in the first class Gruwell ever taught as a 23-year-old student teacher. She had Holocaust survivors speak to students and bought books with her own money, working several jobs to pay for them.

The students named themselves the Freedom Writers, after the Freedom Riders of the civil rights movement. Through the

Manuel Scott lived in 26 places by age 16, he missed 60-90 days of school annually, he dropped out of school at the age of 14 and his father was incarcerated, according to Scott s website. He s one of the original Freedom Writers and will tell his story to the students of New Oxford High school on Oct. 7. (SUBMITTED)

Scott has traveled around the country for more than a decade to speak to school groups, telling his story. He'll share his message of how he came to believe he had a story worth telling at a diversity summit at New Oxford High School on Oct. 7.

Scott lived in 26 places by age 16, he missed 60-90 days of school annually, he dropped out of school at the age of 14 and his father was incarcerated, according to Scott's website. After an inspiring encounter with a complete stranger in a park who encouraged him to make something more of his life Scott returned to school and his life was changed in Gruwell's English class.

The

After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School, Gruwell inspired Scott to attend the University of California, Berkeley, and then went to graduate school and is currently working on his Ph.Ds in intercultural studies at Trinity International University north of Chicago.

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Original Freedom Writer to tell his story

New watchdog group protects academic freedom

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Academic freedom is crucial to a strong democracy says Professor Jack Heinemann, co-chair of a soon to be launched group of academics out to defend academic freedom.

The group, Academic Freedom Aotearoa, will be a watchdog and advocacy group made up of academics from all around New Zealand. The group is committed to protecting and enhancing academic freedom and tertiary education institutions autonomous role as the critic and conscience of society.

"Academic freedom is the responsibility placed on scholars to present uncomfortable truths that might otherwise cost them their jobs, liberty and life at some times and in some places. Parliament uniquely gives this responsibility and right to staff and students at New Zealand universities. It is what makes New Zealand a dynamic place to live, learn, and innovate," says Professor Heinemann.

The group will launch itself publically on 4 October, which is the day before World Academic Freedom Day and World Teachers Day. You can find the groups website at academicfreedom.kiwi.nz

The groups other co-chair, Dr Sandra Grey, says one of the big threats to academic freedom in New Zealand at the moment is the way performance research funding is channelled towards research that is commercially applicable rather than research which challenges the government or big business.

"The space for academics who are researching and speaking out on things that the government does not want to hear is shrinking. They are losing research money and they are losing their positions as institutions shuffle them aside in search of performance funding," says Dr Grey.

Academic Freedom Aotearoa will hold two launch ceremonies:

Victoria University of Wellington, Friday 4 October, 3.30pm, outside Milk and Honey Caf, Kelburn campus.

University of Canterbury, Friday 4 October, 4pm, outside the Shilling Club on campus.

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New watchdog group protects academic freedom

Mark Howitt – Metal Master Kingdom: March of Freedom Interview (08-06-2013) – Video

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Mark Howitt - Metal Master Kingdom: March of Freedom Interview (08-06-2013)
Interview with Mark Howitt by Ingrid Newton from Metal Master Kingdom about the March of Freedom. This exclusive Interview took place in Toronto on August 6,...

By: Mark Howitt

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Mark Howitt - Metal Master Kingdom: March of Freedom Interview (08-06-2013) - Video

BLACKLIST # 31 – Fifth Freedom «» Let’s Play Splinter Cell Blacklist | Full-HD – Video

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BLACKLIST # 31 - Fifth Freedom «» Let #39;s Play Splinter Cell Blacklist | Full-HD
Weitere Let #39;s Plays und Hintergrundinfos: http://www.pietsmiet.de Spiel günstig kaufen bei MMOGA: http://goo.gl/tnQtyf Kommentiert von Chris «»--«»--«»--«»--...

By: PietSmiet

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BLACKLIST # 31 - Fifth Freedom «» Let's Play Splinter Cell Blacklist | Full-HD - Video

American Freedom Radio Producer Needs Your Donations! Vinny Eastwood 24Sep2013 – Video

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American Freedom Radio Producer Needs Your Donations! Vinny Eastwood 24Sep2013
If you #39;re reading this at http://www.guerillamedia.co.nz click "Original Article" on the bottom right for the video. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE AND GIVE A THUMBS UP! 2...

By: Vincent Eastwood

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American Freedom Radio Producer Needs Your Donations! Vinny Eastwood 24Sep2013 - Video

Story County Freedom Flight begins with send-off ceremony

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The second Story County Freedom Flight is Tuesday, but it began Sunday at Ames City Auditorium with a send-off ceremony honoring the veterans who will be on the flight.

This trip has been on my bucket list, Gary Evans, a Vietnam veteran from Nevada, said. Im just excited to be going.

This years participants are 31 World War II veterans, 50 Korean War veterans and 69 Vietnam veterans, including two women. All of the veterans on the flight either live in Story County now or did when they enlisted.

This means a lot because weve been there, done that, and served our country with pride, Eldon Boswell, of Nevada, said. Boswell, who served during the Korean War, said he wanted to see the monuments with this group, and that there was a sense of brotherhood in seeing them together.

On Sunday, the veterans gathered first at Iowa State University for a motorcade tour through the campus and downtown Ames. The veterans rode on buses with a motorcycle escort and were accompanied by area law enforcement officials and firefighters. The motorcade was greeted when it arrived at City Auditorium by a large crowd of friends and family members.

Highlights of the ceremony included a medley of service branch songs, a performance of God Bless America and a special presentation of an honorary high school diploma to veteran Donald Phipps.

Phipps was a member of the 2012 Freedom Flight, and received his honorary diploma through the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs Operation Recognition program. The program recognizes veterans who didnt complete their high school diplomas because of service during World War II, the Vietnam War or the Korean War. Phipps, a World War II veteran, received his honorary diploma from Boone High School.

He was then also presented with a letter of honorary acceptance to ISU, signed by ISU President Steven Leath.

Also presented at the ceremony were a Gold Star wreath and POW/MIA flag.

The Gold Star wreath, which represents soldiers who lost their lives in service, will be taken on Tuesdays trip and placed on the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, Tony Nussbaum, Sundays master of ceremonies, said.

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Story County Freedom Flight begins with send-off ceremony

Americans' freedom story revealed in 50 documents

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Sunday September 29, 2013

Americans freedom story revealed in 50 documents

Proclamation from Harpers Ferry abolitionist among pieces highlighted

The Associated Press

In this Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013 photo, Erin Paulson stabilizes a 1900th century document at the The Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The society's new web site charts the evolution of American freedom, a story of struggle and conflict through 50 carefully selected historic documents, from an early draft of the Articles of Confederation to a suffragette's letter to her parents to a 1970's tract on gay rights. The organization hopes its interactive "Preserving American Freedom" web site will gain favor with educators.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Historical Society of Pennsylvania holds more than 21 million documents and items. It was Rachel Moloshok's job to sort, sift and select just 50.

What was she looking for? No less than a history of how Americans have defined freedom and how they've fought for it.

After two years of effort, the fruits of her labor can be seen on a new interactive website that charts the evolution of what many Americans take for granted. It's a 350-year-old tale of struggle and conflict told through original documents both famous and obscure, from an early draft of the Articles of Confederation to a suffragette's letter home, from a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation to a 1970s speech arguing against the classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder.

The documents are a reminder that Americans' quest for freedom didn't end with the British surrender at Yorktown, or the ratification of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Rather, it was just beginning, with succeeding generations claiming freedom for themselves and fighting for it, nurturing it and protecting it.

"The way I define this project is not necessarily tracing the history of American freedom, but essentially the history of how Americans have defined or have envisioned and struggled for freedom," said Moloshok, project director of the Preserving American Freedom initiative. "At some point, everybody who has struggled for their own freedom kind of turns around and says, 'Yeah, but we didn't mean you.' It's this great, very complicated history of struggle."

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Americans' freedom story revealed in 50 documents


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