Take Action this Sunday for Marriage Equality!

Thanks to the miracle of modern technology, with only a phone, an online computer, and a couple of hours you can help protect marriage equality in Maine this coming weekend.

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National Day of Action: Save Gay Marriage in Maine!

2.5 hours to save Gay Marriage in Maine. You don't even have to leave your house. No more excuses - if you believe in the dignity of equality for all, YOU CAN DO THIS!

Host: Equality Network

Type: Causes - Rally

Network: Global

Date: Sunday, September 27, 2009

Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm

Location: Virtual Phonebank

Description

Marriage equality is under attack in Maine, and no matter where you live, there's something you can do about it.

Far right extremists have imported their national anti-equality agenda to the Pine Tree state with the goal of stripping away marriage rights. The same group that bankrolled Prop 8 in California has set up shop in Maine and has out fundraised the local effort by 2-1.

Despite that, polls show fairness is winning by a slim margin, thanks to the local grassroots No On 1 effort to protect Maine equality.

We can't leave them alone to stand their ground. We need to rally to support the local effort! No matter where you live, there is a way to help win this fight.

**All you need is a phone and a computer with an internet connection. No long distance fees, no dialing- the web-based software does it all.**

With 500 people ACROSS AMERICA, donating 2.5 hours of time, we can accomplish 1250 volunteer hours!

This is a VIRTUAL PHONE BANK on Sunday, September 27th to SAVE MAINE FROM RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS, and pave the way for a repeal of Proposition 8 in California!

Sign up and you will get all the information you need to be a part of the Sept 27th Maine Day of Action. IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE, YOU MUST PROCEED TO THE FOLLOWING URL AND FILL OUT THE FORM:

http://www.protectmaineequality.org/phoneformaine

www.protectmaineequality.org

© 2009 Protect Maine Equality, 550 Forest Avenue, Portland, ME 04101 Paid for and Authorized by Protect Maine Equality.
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(Be sure to check out the great coalition of groups that are working to preserve marriage equality up there. We really do increase our strength dramatically when we team-up and work as a group. Together we stand ....)

Giving to Others, and Yourself

Next Monday is MLK Day, and the King Day of Service is a great time to begin a habit of helping out someone else. I'm saying don't just do it once, but instead start doing it regularly. I'm going to be doing just that, and I'm doing it for the best reason of all: to benefit myself.

I've had many discussions with a friend of mine about where the line between enlightened self-interest and greediness ends, and altruism and philanthropy begin.

For example, when I go to church, I'm not going to glory in God or anything. (Sorry, God! I'm certain you know what I'm talking about. I appreciate the whole agape, caritas thing. We'll talk later. 8-]) Religion is way too personal and individual to muck it up with organization and dogma.

I'm going because I like the people there, I often enjoy the minister's little philosophical, slice-of-life homilies, and I think it'll be good for my partner and kid to have the church as a resource for us.

My motivations are certainly self-involved, but they're not negative, and the results are positive.

Similarly, I've increased my community involvement and volunteerism. The reason I'm doing it? Because I want my kid to see this behavior modeled and to learn it as a regular part of life.

I don't have any specific expectations on this one. I mean, I could say our trips to spend time with folks in nursing centers will hopefully mean he'll come visit me if I become old and infirm, but I hadn't even considered that until right this moment. (I hope it'll be true if it comes to that, though!)

The purpose of the King Day of Service is "to strengthen communities, empower individuals, and break down barriers." All of that is very useful to the larger whole, but it also helps the individual.

Service, volunteerism, and charity aren't about others versus yourself. If anything, it's about unity over dualism -- true service helps both the giver and receiver.

Why you do something matters, but a lot of time just the fact of doing it is what's important. What we get out of volunteer activity often exceeds our expectations, and in helping others, we help ourselves in ways we don't necessarily know or expect.

"Just do it" is the slogan of the Nike shoe company, and Nike is the Greek goddess of victory. Participating in the day of service, in any capacity, for any reason, is win-win for everyone.

-Shawn Long