Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

October 9, 2007

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Publishers Favourite Sites:

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I'd like to tell you about a new website that I discovered and now love?where all of your favorite authors can be heard on video?from your own computer!

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The website is Bookvideos.tv and is coming to you?from Simon & Schuster publishing. Check it out?at: http://www.bookvideos.tv! You won't be sorry you did.

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Today?s Announcement

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Please note that Storytime Tapestry is a free newsletter to members and there will never be a cost for the newsletter. Donations are purely voluntary and no member should ever feel guilty for not making a donation at this time.

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Today?s Stories

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HATE CRIMES AND THE PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY

Duane Bates

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Many jurisdictions in the United States have enacted criminal statues penalizing criminal acts against a person(s) based on the person?s race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity/national origin or disability. ?The FBI compiles statistics on these hate crimes and publishes them in the Statistical Abstract of the United States.? All 2004 data in this article is based on the published statistics in the 2007 edition of the Abstract.

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An examination of the detailed hate crimes that were committed in 2004 indicates that a number of US historical social prejudices are still very well represented in the our culture in spite of efforts to eliminate them.? In 2004 there were a total of 7,679 hate crimes reported by 12,723 law enforcement organizations representing 254 million of the 293 million US population in that year.

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Hate crimes based on race totaled 4,067 in 2004, 53% of the total hate crimes in 2004.? Hate crime committed against African-Americans in 2004 totaled 2,751, or 67.6 percent of all race-based hate crimes.? African-Americans make up about 13% of the US population, but were the victims of 67.6% of all race-based hate crimes.? In contrast whites, which make up about 70% of the population were victims of hate crimes only 828 times, or 20.4% of the race-based hate crimes.

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In religiously based hate crimes the historical bias is even more pronounced, with Jews, who represent less than 2% of the US population, being the victims of 70.0% of the 1,382 hate crimes in this category.? After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, you would expect hate crimes against followers of Islam to be a major factor, but there were only 157 hate crimes reported against this group, 11.3% of the total, although this is certainly more than their representation in the population.?

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There were 1,192 hate crimes based on sexual orientation reported in 2004.? Of these 738, or 61.9% were directed toward male homosexuals, but when you add in the 245 hate crimes directed toward homosexuality in general, the percentage increases to almost eighty percent.

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It is not difficult to see the social, historical and religious contexts of these hate crimes.? Our history of racial prejudice, slavery, and segregation, legal and de facto, is still reflected in virtually every social indicator, education, earnings, home ownership and many others for the African-American community that lag behind the white population. While America escaped the worse of the anti-Semitic history and behaviors of our European ancestors, there is still a residue of prejudice against Jews that is fueled by the white supremacy movement, proponents of the worldwide Jewish domination conspiracy theories and the belief in some Christians that Jews were the ?killers of Christ?. ?We saw the same type of prejudice begin to develop against Muslims after 9/11 when the entire religious group was tainted by the actions of a few violent extremists.

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Prejudice against homosexuals is deeply rooted in some Biblical verses that clearly condemn homosexually. Most of the objections to gay marriage, civil unions and all other efforts to extend comparative equal to gay couples is based on religious beliefs and theology.

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This information reinforces the concept that the rate of possible social change is inversely proportional to the willingness of the population to cast aside or revise religious or historical prejudices that justify discriminatory laws or social stigmas against a specific group of people. Prejudices based on religious theology or beliefs are the most deeply rooted because of their origin from the authority of religion and the fact that most of us are indoctrinated with religious beliefs by our parents, regardless of the religion, at a very early age.

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One of my favorite artists is the surrealist Salvador Dali, and one of his famous works, The Persistence of Memory, with its melting watches, visually represents the social forces that transmit our cultural values, including prejudices, from generation to generation over time. Hate crimes are the extreme behavioral representations of our historical prejudices.? Everyone has the right to their own beliefs, but when those beliefs are translated into physical attacks against person(s), a just society has an obligation to criminalize and punish those attacks.

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Each of us, to some degree, harbors some irrational prejudices. Xenophobia, the fear of persons who are different from us, was a survival factor at some time in our collective history when we lived in small tribal groups, but now we live in large societies that are blends and mixes of many different cultures, religious and social histories and the rate of social change is often more rapid that the average person can assimilate.

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All of us need to take an inventory of our irrational prejudices and try to determine how they developed, where they came from and how we can reduce or eliminate their effect on our interactions with other people.? It is acceptable and normal to have a dislike or prejudice against a specific person after you meet them and have time to evaluate their behaviors, but a blanket prejudice against a group based on skin color, race, or other basis hurts all of us.

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In our role as parents we must be especially careful not to transmit racial, religious, or any other type of irrational prejudices that violate individual rights to our children.? Virtually all our prejudices are formed in childhood, absorbed from our family, peers of our society.? As adults we need to have the confidence and courage to speak out against prejudice in all its forms and to model the behavior we expect from others.

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The good news is that the annual number of hate crimes is declining.? In 2001 there were a total of 9, 728 hate crimes reported, declining to 7,679 in 2004. Of course, these numbers represent only the hate crimes reported to law enforcement and, like rapes, more crimes may be going unreported.? Let?s hope the numbers of these, and all crimes, continue to decrease.??

Duane Bates

batesduane@yahoo.com

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?~ Then?Cometh the End?~

Joyce C. Lock?

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As?we well know, life has been so hard, for way too long.? Rejection, abandonment, loss of loved ones, poor health, creditors, burden after burden ...?the list could be endless and, sometimes, is.? And it didn't just last for days, weeks, or months, but years.

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Some say, "There's no way I believe this is the tribulation."? Maybe they got off easy.? But,?many of us didn't.

In the meantime, anger stirs as?it feels like God brought us out here to die.? And when that line of thinking brings no resolve, we might tell God, or at least think, "If you're not going to answer, just kill?me and get it over with as, if this is life, it is no longer?worth living.??Just take me?home."

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A?just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again. Proverbs 24:16? And, we did; multiple times seven.? But when?hard knocks?come seventy times seven,?it is easy to?even despair of life.? And by the time it is nearly over, there is no one left we can trust, as all faith in people has come and gone, and (if it be possible) every?doctrine 'known to man' has been tested and proven?false.? Neither are there any?that know how to help us and every ounce of courage, left within us, has been stripped away.

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And by this time, we know we are finally empty, depleted, and even fearful; with barely the strength to move a muscle?and only the slightest hope left that God will, finally, answer our faintest plea ... as there is no more.

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Humans were created with the natural 'instinct of survival' to choose life.? However, that very instinct, which keeps us physically alive, has just the opposite effect on our spiritual life.? And so, perhaps, our spiritual life requires an end before there can be a resurrection.

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And when there is no more to reason, we finally come to the realization that it is God's job to prove He is who He says He is.? It is His integrity at stake, to keep His promises.? It is all up to Him, and that is 'all there is' as we barely have the strength to move our bodies at all,?even less?the spiritual strength to make the climb towards Him.

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And so, in final exasperation, we say, "God, please, do not lose me.? I can, no longer, hang on.? If you do not?save me, I am done."? And that is when our dying to the 'flesh' is finally over; when the world within us has come to its end.

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All works of the flesh are?dead and gone, along with said tribulation, as (at that very moment) we have accomplished what otherwise?seemed impossible as our focus was elsewhere.? We have put down all rule, all power, and all authority (within us)?... and given?our kingdom back to God.

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And we come to the conclusion, we're dead anyway.? So, what does it matter if other's throw their swords at us?? And so, we slowly begin the spiritual climb, again; only, this time, without reservation.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Then, cometh the end ... receiving the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls.

If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.? Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression.? As whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

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For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.? And if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

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There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.? For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

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And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest.

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And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

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Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

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They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.? For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

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? 2007 by Joyce C. Lock, KJV

http://iam.homewithGod.com/glimpsesofgod/

This?article may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.

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Poetry Corner

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??Friends of the Soul

Mary Dees

There are so many simple pleasures in life,
And they are hidden so discreetly.
Tucked away in a tedious way,
Covered up completely.

For a time, it was me,
Who fell victim to this wrath.
Not able to see, right in front of me,
The light that lit my path.

I was bitter and despondent,
Not one wish seemed to be coming true.
It was dim at a glance, yet I took a chance,
And found that, my absent light was you.

Your gentleness was the strength I needed,
To remind me once again.
No matter how much we try, we can never get by,
Without the guidance of a friend.
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Knowing all to well, what I know now,
I'm sure that the measures of the heart;
Can't be stretched to thin, with any true friend,
Who cares for you from the start.

I realize our friendship is altogether new,
And just a beginning to a lifelong bond, I hope to share with you.
But as the years unravel, like sand through the vase of time.
My hope for you, is to always stay true, to yourself
Girl ...you're one of a kind!

By Mary M. Dees
marlena7694@yahoo.com

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Readers Feedback

Thanks so much for publishing my story and I trust you are keeping well. Best wishes from Australia??? Keith

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Thank you for "My Father Knows My Name."? It was the perfect ending to my day.
Constance Gilbert

Thank you for Chris Hansen?s new Christian column. This is really inspiratonal and helpful.

Thank you !!

Vantrice Burkes

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Storytime Tapestry Angels

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Angels on earth, they exist they are out there.? Angels come in all ages, shapes and sizes, civil status, and religion.? Their nature is love and their purpose is giving to the less fortunate of this world.? Storytime Tapestry angels are no exception.? These angels are loyal members who have contributed to the upkeep of Storytime Tapestry newsletter so that Storytime Tapestry can continue come to your email box 350 days of the year.

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Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank?those of you who?chose to be a silent angel and?gave an anonymous donation to keep?Storytime Tapestry up and running.

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Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks, Charlotte Hilliard, Maria Keller

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