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Politics : How Quickly Can Obama Totally Destroy the US? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: unclewest who wrote (14356)	3/11/2015 1:54:43 PM
From: joseffy	1 Recommendation Recommended By unclewest Respond to of 16547

State Dept Reinterpreted Law by Allowing Iranians to Study Nuclear Engineering ............................................................................. Breitbart.com ^ \| 03/11/2015 \| Dr. Susan Berry

To: unclewest who wrote (14356)	3/12/2015 11:03:56 AM
From: joseffy	1 Recommendation Recommended By Blasher Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 16547

Conservative Student Group Commits 'Act of Violence' for Defending Christian Values Christian Post ^ \| 03/12/2015 \| Michael Gryboski A conservative student group at The George Washington University faces punishment, including the loss of its funding, for refusing to engage in LGBT sensitivity training on campus. The students are now being condemned and attacked on campus by those who claim they're committing an "act of violence" for standing up for their members' individual rights and Judeo-Christian values. The Young America's Foundation chapter at the Washington, D.C.-based academic institute has refused to participate in LGBT sensitivity training recently made as a requirement. Amanda Robbins, vice president of GW YAF, told The Christian Post that their objection to the training "stems not only from many of our members' Judeo-Christian values, but also from our organization's commitment to defending the individual rights of every student on campus." "We firmly believe that there should be no such preconditions for any student organization to be able to operate freely on campus," said Robbins. "GW YAF welcomes any individual to attend our meetings and our events on campus; our organization has always behaved in a respectful manner." The issue derives from a few bills that GW Student Association, the university's student government, passed requiring the training. "The student association does not need to dictate this to us or to other students," Robbins told CP regarding the sensitivity training. "In fact, the national YAF organization has existed for over 50 years, and in this time, it has consistently treated with respect individuals of all orientations." Last month, the GW Student Association passed a bill that would create sensitivity training for student leaders regarding LGBT issues, according to Victoria Sheridan of the GW Hatchet. "Trainings, which would be led by staff at the Multicultural Student Services and LGBT Resource centers, would teach professors about gender identities and using proper gender pronouns," reported Sheridan. "Student organization presidents and treasurers would also be required to undergo similar trainings." GW YAF's stance has been criticized by multiple student groups, including the university's LGBT group, Allied in Pride. "The Young America's Foundation is a political organization, not a religious one, so they cannot seek a religious exemption," argued members of Allied in Pride on their Facebook page. "And their refusal to use preferred gender pronouns should be considered an act of violence and a violation of the non-discrimination clause required in all GW student organizations' constitutions." Alex Pollock, chairman of the GW College Republicans, explained to the campus publication GW Hatchet that the training "should be mandatory from a sensitivity perspective." "Regardless of your views on LGBT people, LGBT people exist. … The intent is not to belittle political or religious organizations," said Pollock. "The purpose of this bill is to make student organization leaders aware that we have a diverse student body and make people feel included." Regarding the possible result of the controversy, Robbins of GW YAF told CP about the best and worst case scenarios. "In the best-case scenario, the university recognizes the constitutionally-protected free speech rights of every student on campus and refuses to support the student association's legislation and juvenile attempts to silence us on campus," said Robbins. "The worst-case scenario is that the university supports this mandatory training and removes our funding and ability to organize on campus for refusing to participate."

To: unclewest who wrote (14356)	3/12/2015 1:03:13 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 16547

Veterans Administration "Social" Worker Ridicules US Military Veterans ........................................................................................................................... Indianapolis VA Hospital Under Fire for Email Making Fun of Veterans ABC News ^ \| 3/9/2015 \| ABC NEWS via World News A manager has apologized for sending an email to staffers at an Indianapolis VA hospital that made fun of the mental health problems suffered by returning combat veterans. ABC News The Department of Veterans Affairs took another hit today as news surfaced that an email had been circulated to staffers at an Indianapolis VA hospital making fun of the mental health problems suffered by returning combat veterans. The Dec. 18 message included several images of a toy Christmas elf, according to The Indianapolis Star, which obtained the email. The email was sent by social worker Robin Paul to her staff within the Seamless Transition Integrated Care Clinic at the Roudebush VA Medical Center. VA Secretary Robert McDonald Apologizes for Misstating He Served in Special Forces In one photograph, the elf pleads for Xanax, which is prescribed to treat anxiety and panic. The caption reads: "Self-medicating for mental health issues." In another image, the elf hangs by a Christmas light with the message: "Caught in the act of suicidal behavior (trying to hang himself from an electrical cord)." The news comes at a time when suicide among military veterans claims an estimated 22 lives a day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Critics called today's news just another black mark on an agency mired in scandal. In May 2014, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned amid accusations that the department had hid unacceptably long wait times for patient care. In February, his replacement apologized after falsely claiming that he'd served in Special Forces. "All we want for the VA to do is to be able to fix what's broken, to hold employees accountable and help restore the faith of veterans in their VA health care system," said Joe Davis, director of public affairs for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. "This one employee, this one supervisor, violated all three of those. ... It was [an] extremely poor attempt at humor." In a statement released by a facility spokeswoman, Paul , the social worker who sent the email, said: "I would like to sincerely apologize for the email message and I take full responsibility for this poor judgment. ... I hold all Veterans and military personnel in the highest regard and am deeply remorseful for any hurt this may have caused." In an emailed statement, the hospital called Paul's email "totally inappropriate." "The Indianapolis VA Medical is committed to treating our Veterans and the health conditions they face with the utmost respect and compassion," the hospital said. "We apologize to our Veterans and take suicide and mental health treatment seriously, striving to provide the highest quality." The VA would not say whether Paul had been fired, only that the matter had been handled.

To: unclewest who wrote (14356)	3/12/2015 1:11:18 PM
From: joseffy	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 16547

VA Manager mocks veteran suicides in email ....................................................................................... March 9th, 2015 http://popularmilitary.com/va-manager-mocks-veteran-suicides-in-email/ Robin Paul, a licensed social worker who manages the Roudebush Veteran Affairs Medical Center's Seamless Transition Integrated Care Clinic. Photo Credit: Facebook UPDATE: (10MAR2015) Lawmakers call for VA action on veteran suicide email March 09–A manager at the Roudebush Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Indianapolis appears to mock the mental health problems of returning combat veterans in an email to her employees. The email obtained by The Indianapolis Star contains photographs of a toy Christmas elf posing as a patient in what appears to be the hospital’s transitional clinic for returning veterans. In one photograph, the elf pleads for Xanax. In another, he hangs himself with an electrical cord. The woman who sent the email is Robin Paul, a licensed social worker who manages the hospital’s Seamless Transition Integrated Care Clinic. The clinic provides returning veterans with transition assistance, including mental health and readjustment services. When initially asked about the email, Paul responded, “Oh my goodness.” She then referred a reporter to the hospital’s public affairs department, which emailed The Star a statement on her behalf. “I would like to sincerely apologize for the email message and I take full responsibility for this poor judgment,” Paul said. “I have put my heart and soul into my work with Veterans for many years. I hold all Veterans and military personnel in the highest regard and am deeply remorseful for any hurt this may have caused.” Julie Webb, a Roudebush spokeswoman, said administrators were made aware of the email “a couple of months ago.” “The email is totally inappropriate and does not convey our commitment to veterans,” she said. “We apologize to our veterans and take suicide and mental health treatment seriously, striving to provide the highest quality.” Webb said the issue was “administratively addressed.” She declined to provide specifics, citing employee confidentiality. Paul remains employed at the hospital and continues to manage the clinic, earning an annual salary of $79,916. She received a $2,000 performance bonus in 2013, records show. More recent bonus information was not immediately available. The Dec. 18 email was sent to the “IND STICC Team” with the subject, “Naught Elf in the STICC clinic.” “So, photos have appeared that indicate that the STICC clinic may have been invaded,” the email says. “Looks like this magical character made his way through a few areas.” One photo depicts the elf peering between the legs of a female doll. “Trying his skills as a primary care provider (doing a pap),” the email says. Another shows the elf next to a sticky note with the words, “Out of XANAX — please help!” A caption says, “Self-medicating for mental health issues when a CNS would not give him his requested script.” A third photograph shows the elf hanging from a strand of Christmas lights. “Caught in the act of suicidal behavior (trying to hang himself from an electrical cord),” the email says. It is unclear from the email whether other VA employees were involved in the joke, but a note visible in one photo appears to include directions about passing the elf to others. Webb said she didn’t know how many employees were involved. The email surfaces as the nation grapples with an epidemic of veteran suicides. An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide in the United States every day, according to the VA. The email immediately drew outrage from veterans groups. “It is a slap in the face to our recent and past veterans suffering from mental health issues every single day,” said Ken Hylton, commander of the Indiana Department of the American Legion. “These men and women went to war and do not deserve this type of ridicule. This is a disgusting display of mockery. This is supposedly someone who is caring for our veterans, and we in the Indiana American Legion are disgusted.” He called for an investigation and the “immediate dismissal of this government employee and all of those who received this correspondence and said nothing.” Paul Rieckhoff, founder and CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said, “We hope it’s an isolated incident, We hope this person has been dealt with aggressively..”