Herland Sister Resources

The founder of our Herland Hikes, Jane Powell, recently received recognition for completion of the Triple Crown of hiking, successfully backpacking more than 7000 miles on three long distance trails over the last sixteen years. Her completion this fall of the Appalachian Trail added to her hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail in 1993-94, and the Continental Divide Trail in 2000-2001 made her the 12th woman – and first Oklahoman — to attain Triple Crown status.

The Triple Crown was awarded to her in a ceremony at Donner’s Pass in October by the American Long Distance Hiking Association – West. Kathy Faulks, a friend from England known as Wandering Star on the trails, received her Triple Crown at the same ceremony, the first British woman to achieve the award. Wandering Star met Jane on the Appalachian Trail in 1988, when they both began this endeavor. Most of the three trails they walked together, so Wandering Star waited to receive her award until Jane, too, had earned the Triple Crown.

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AfterEllen.com

According to news from Fox23 in Tulsa, two top executives of Chesapeake Energy, based in Oklahoma City, gave $500,000 each to Club for Growth.net and Americans United to Preserve Marriage in the last weeks of the Brad Carson/Tom Coburn Senate Race. The money was used to run ads painting Carson as a liberal who would support gay marriage. If only!

Alberto Gonzales has been named by Bush as his choice for US Attorney General, the post being vacated by John “Cover Her Breast” Ashcroft. Gonzales penned the famous 2002 memo advising the Administration that in the new war on terror some of the provisions of the Geneva Convention concerning questioning of enemy prisoners had been rendered quaint and obsolete. Some suspect that this contributed to the weakened US policy on torture and led to the mistreatment and scandals at Abu Ghraib. Expect Mr. Gonzales to be a rigorous advocate next year for extending the provisions of the Patriot Act giving a wartime president privileges to suspend privacy rights and normal detention procedures.

Speaking of detention, 550 suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives have been kept at the US military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for three years now without any charges brought against them. A Supreme Court ruling in June allows them to challenge their detentions in federal court. The Bush Administration says they should not be allowed any legal help in filing those challenges.

W’s brother Jeb has said that his state, Florida, does not need a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Is anyone listening?

The worldwide Anglican Church continues to pressure the affiliate US Episcopal Church to “express regret” over the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson, who lives openly gay with his male partner. Sorry, no can do!

Joe Blundo, Dispatch columnist

The flood of American liberals sneaking across the border into Canada has intensified in the past week, sparking calls for increased patrols to stop the illegal immigration. The re-election of President Bush is prompting the exodus among left leaning citizens who fear they’ll soon be required to hunt, pray and agree with Bill O’Reilly.

Canadian border farmers say it’s not uncommon to see dozens of sociology professors, animal rights activists and Unitarians crossing their fields at night. When liberals are caught, they’re sent back across the border, often wailing loudly that they fear retribution from conservatives. Rumors have been circulating about the Bush administration establishing re-education camps in which liberals will be forced to drink domestic beer, learn how to shoot a handgun and watch NASCAR.

In the days since the election, liberals have turned to sometimes ingenious ways of crossing the border. Some have taken to posing as senior citizens on bus trips to buy cheap Canadian prescription drugs. After catching a half-dozen young vegans disguised in powdered wigs, Canadian immigration authorities began stopping buses and quizzing the supposed senior-citizen passengers.

Many others were caught wearing Birkenstock sandals with young appearing feet in them — a dead giveaway. “If they can’t identify the accordion player on The Lawrence Welk Show, we get suspicious about their age,” an official said. Canadian citizens have complained that the illegal immigrants are creating an organic-broccoli shortage and renting all the good Susan Sarandon movies.

In an effort to ease tensions between the United States and Canada, Vice President Dick Cheney met with the Canadian ambassador and pledged that the administration would take steps to reassure liberals, a source close to Cheney said. “We’re going to have some Peter, Paul & Mary concerts. And we might put some endangered species on postage stamps. The president is determined to reach out.”

The YWCA Rape Crisis Center provides a full range of services to help the primary and secondary survivors of sexual assault regain control over their lives. If you would like to help, here are several ways:

• Become a YWCA Hospital Advocate — Volunteers are trained to go to the hospital and provide the survivors with support, information, clothing, food and encouragement.

• Donate clothing for sexual assault victims — Frequently the victim’s clothing must be left at the hospital so that it may be used as evidence at trial. Clothing and shoes are needed so that the woman has something to wear home when she is released from the hospital. (You can drop off donated clothing for sexual assault victims at Herland throughout the month of December and we will deliver it to the YWCA.)

• Volunteer at the YWCA Center — Volunteers are needed for many of the daily functions of the center. Besides the Rape Crisis program, the YWCA provides support for women and children who are victims of family violence, counseling, and prevention activities.

• Donate Toys for Children at Passageway this Christmas — Non-violent toys, for children ages three months to 16 years, are needed for the YWCA Passageway Shelter. Passageway is the only shelter in Oklahoma City exclusively for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. It is an emergency shelter and provides help in obtaining legal services, medical care, child care and advocacy services for up to two months. (Drop toys at Herland also and we will deliver to Passageway for the holidays.)

Call 947-4506 to find out more.