In this Issue:

The Word Duplicity
Art for Peace & Justice Launches at Artizen Fine Arts Gallery
Help Us Fight Gun Show Ads on Dallas Billboards
Inside the H4PJ Blog: Gay Niggers
H4PJ Online Action Center: Make a Difference Today!

Duplicity

Beside the word “duplicity” in the dictionary should be a picture of the Republicans, especially when it comes to the issue of sex. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy to have Larry Craig out of office, but the means by which he went leaves me deeply troubled. The political party that has claimed the mantle of “family values” certainly hasn’t valued my family, and Senator Craig was no exception.

What infuriates me is that Craig is expected to resign, but the GOP has been almost completely silent about Louisiana Senator David Vitter. Vitter’s name was found in the phone records of an infamous Washington, D.C. madam. Vitter acknowledged his involvement with her, and even Fox News reported that D.C. prostitutes weren’t the only ones he enjoyed. () Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but the last time I checked prostitution was illegal in both Washington and New Orleans. In fact, the government is vigorously prosecuting the “D.C. Madam” but not bothering her Senator customer.

Both of these men ran for office on right-wing, religious fundamentalist, family values platforms. One had to go; the other created a brief stir and went right back to work as if nothing happened. Both campaigned hard to protect marriage from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender taxpayers, but dishonored their own marriage vows with illegal activity. Both men are hypocrites, but the greatest hypocrisy seems to be in how the Republican Party demanded that Senator Craig resign, but thought Senator Vitter should be forgiven.

Is the difference that soliciting sex with a man is somehow more sinful than soliciting sex with a woman? Was it that Vitter paid for his sex, but Craig sought it for free? Or was it that the Governor of Idaho is a Republican and would appoint a Republican successor while the Governor of Louisiana is a Democrat and likely to appoint a Democrat if Vitter resigned? So which hypocrisy motivated the different reaction? Do Republicans only care if you are caught violating your marriage vows with someone of the same gender? Or do they only care which party will retain the office? Either way, those certainly are not MY family values.

There is a grave danger in letting EITHER party play fast and lose with the “V” word. Frankly, I haven’t seen much integrity on either side of the aisle. What I’d like to see is a return to what once was the core value of the Republican Party: Get the government out of our private lives. Still, it is vital that we object vigorously to the duplicitous way these two men have been treated. We cannot afford to let gay adultery be treated as somehow worse than heterosexual adultery. Ultimately, what both these men did was between them and their spouses. When they are up for reelection then they should be judged by the voters based on the job they’ve done. Frankly, I think they both should be defeated, but that has nothing to do with whom they have sex with.

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Art for H4PJ Launches At Artizen Fine Arts Gallery Don’t miss the exciting launch of ART for Peace & Justice THIS Saturday SEPTEMBER 15TH! Artizen Fine Arts Gallery in Dallas’ Design District is proud to present the opening art exhibition for Art for Peace & Justice (Art4PJ).  The group show, which opened this past Saturday and will continue through Oct. 7, features art by local Dallas artists chosen by independent curator Sarah Jane Semrad. The exhibition will feature the unveiling of the first work of art created specifically for Art for Peace & Justice. Local artist Marty Ruiz was commissioned to create a piece that expresses the multi-faceted nature of the new program, which utilizes art in its various forms to help create a culture of peace and justice where beauty is valued and preserved for future generations. Marty’s artwork, featuring dramatic use of color, is in great demand across the U.S. “We are thrilled to have a wonderful artist such as Marty Ruiz create the very first work of art for Art for Peace & Justice.  His work is expressive and full of variety and color.  It is a perfect representation of the concepts we espouse through our organization." said Tim Seelig, Director of Art for Peace & Justice. Signed and numbered Repliques™ will be on sale during the show, as will the original work. Proceeds will benefit Art for Peace & Justice.

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Help Us Fight Gun Show Ads
on Dallas Billboards

Your actions now can help make a difference on this issue.

Bill board companies are averse to advertising controversial subject matter.  We need them to understand that we consider gun show advertising to be obscene and a contributor to the rising gun violence in our city.  We will insist that this sort of advertising be removed.

Your job, when you see these signs, is to:

1. Note the advertising company (usually found on the bottom frame of the sign) and the location of the sign
2. Go to the link associated with this Action alert and give us that information.s

Once we have that information, we will alert all our partner activists to contact the bill board company with our complaint.

This ACTION will MAKE a DIFFERENCE!

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Inside the H4PJ Blog

Gay Niggers OK so did the title of this blog make you as uncomfortable as it did me? Good...then you are a southern liberal. Actually, that phrase was something an African American friend used to say all the time. Every time he saw the religious or political right use gays as a "values issue" he used to say "You gays are the modern Republican niggers." I hated that phrase but I understood completely what he meant. Unfortunately in the south bigotry isn't a Republican monopoly. I have been outraged...

The Real antiChrist: How America Sold Its Soul On Sale now! Bishop John Shelby Spong calls The Real antiChrist, “A searing indictment of popular Christianity by a passionate Christian.” When you sign up to support H4PJ on a monthly basis, we will send you a free copy of Rev. Piazza’s new book. Click here to sign up today!

H4PJ Online Action Center
Make a Difference Today!

To better equip our supporters to work for peace and justice in their communities, Hope for Peace & Justice launched the H4PJ Online Action Center to help you and thousands of others to contact your elected officials and the media about important issues and legislation.

With the H4PJ Online Action Center you can:

• stay up-to-date on current legislation and votes
• find who represents you at the Local, State and Federal level
• know how your representatives are voting
• email your representatives
• contact local, state and national media organizations
• Sign up for updates on important legislation

The Online Action Center gives you the ability to quickly and effectively cause change. You can easily find out information about important legislation and send alerts to your friends and family. You have been faithful in taking action with the H4PJ Action Alerts and we know you'll continue to help now as well via the Online Action Center.

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