I. AHEPANEWS - AHEPA Encourages US Census Participation
The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the largest and oldest association of American citizens of Greek heritage, and countless Philhellenes, encourages your participation in the 2010 U.S. Census. AHEPA has been a long-standing census partner of the U.S. Department of Commerce helping to inform the community about the importance of census participation. There are 10 questions on the 2010 U.S. Census form, but unlike in previous years, there is no question that specifically asks about your ancestry or ethnicity. However, in Question 9 you can mark or check "White," and under the designation "Some other race" write-in "Greek." To view the questions on the census, please click here. For all questions about the 2010 U.S. Census, please click here.
We're not sure American schools teach civics any more, but once upon a time they taught that under the U.S. Constitution a bill had to pass both the House and Senate to become law. Until this week, that is, when Speaker Nancy Pelosi is moving to merely "deem" that the House has passed the Senate health-care bill and then send it to President Obama to sign anyway. Under the "reconciliation" process that began yesterday afternoon, the House is supposed to approve the Senate's Christmas Eve bill and then use "sidecar" amendments to fix the things it doesn't like. Those amendments would then go to the Senate under rules that would let Democrats pass them while avoiding the ordinary 60-vote threshold for passing major legislation. This alone is an abuse of traditional Senate process. House Members hate the thought of going on record voting for the Cornhusker kickback and other special-interest bribes that were added to get this mess through the Senate, as well as the new tax on high-cost insurance plans that Big Labor hates. So at the Speaker's command, New York Democrat Louise Slaughter, who chairs the House Rules Committee, may insert what's known as a "self-executing rule," also known as a "hereby rule." Under this amazing procedural ruse, the House would then vote only once on the reconciliation corrections, but not on the underlying Senate bill. If those reconciliation corrections pass, the self-executing rule would say that the Senate bill is presumptively approved by the House—even without a formal up-or-down vote on the actual words of the Senate bill. Democrats would thus send the Senate bill to President Obama for his signature even as they claimed to oppose the same Senate bill. They would be declaring themselves to be for and against the Senate bill in the same vote. Fence-sitting Members are being threatened with primary challengers, a withdrawal of union support and of course ostracism. Michigan's Bart Stupak is being pounded nightly by MSNBC for the high crime of refusing to vote for a bill that he believes will subsidize insurance for abortions. Democrats are, literally, consuming their own majority for the sake of imposing new taxes, regulations and entitlements that the public has roundly rejected but that they believe will be the crowning achievement of the welfare state. They are also leaving behind a procedural bloody trail that will fuel public fury and make such a vast change of law seem illegitimate to millions of Americans.
The Obama Administration's recent statements regarding the U.S. relationship with Israel are a matter of serious concern. AIPAC calls on the Administration to take immediate steps to defuse the tension with the Jewish State. Israel is America's closest ally in the Middle East. The foundation of the U.S-Israel relationship is rooted in America's fundamental strategic interest, shared democratic values, and a long-time commitment to peace in the region. Those strategic interests, which we share with Israel, extend to every facet of American life and our relationship with the Jewish State, which enjoys vast bipartisan support in Congress and among the American people. The Administration should make a conscious effort to move away from public demands and unilateral deadlines directed at Israel, with whom the United States shares basic, fundamental, and strategic interests. The escalated rhetoric of recent days only serves as a distraction from the substantive work that needs to be done with regard to the urgent issue of Iran's rapid pursuit of nuclear weapons, and the pursuit of peace between Israel and all her Arab neighbors. We strongly urge the Administration to work closely and privately with our partner Israel, in a manner befitting strategic allies, to address any issues between the two governments. As Vice President Biden said last week in Israel, "The cornerstone of the relationship is our absolute, total, unvarnished commitment to Israel's security. Bibi, you heard me say before, progress occurs in the Middle East when everyone knows there is simply no space between the United States and Israel. There is no space between the United States and Israel when it comes to Israel's security."
IV. HURRIYET - Birth tourism in US on the rise for Turkish parents
With more Turkish parents wanting their child to be born in the US, tourism companies are starting to offer ‘birth tourism’ packages to US cities. Many women say giving birth in the US has benefits including cheaper education and fewer visa worries. Some Americans, however, want to restrict the practice, citing fears of illegal migration. According to tourism expert Gürkan Boztepe and media sources, 12,000 Turkish children have been born in the U.S. since 2003.The numbers are significant enough to draw the attention of tourism companies and inspire them to pursue “birth tourism.” “We found a company on the Internet and decided to go to Austin for our child’s birth,” said Selin Burcuoğlu who gave birth to a daughter last year. “It was incredibly professional. They organized everything for me. I had no problem adjusting and I had an excellent birth,” she told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. Burcuoğlu said she and her partner chose to have the birth in the U.S. to make their child’s life more comfortable. “I don’t want her to deal with visa issues – American citizenship has so many advantages.” In terms of cost, Baş said the minimum expense is $25,000, which rises to $40,000 if the destination is New York. Birth tourism organizations are located throughout Turkey. While the small-scale companies have started investing in the birth market, bigger firms are also entering the market with alternative packages. The Turkish-owned Marmara Hotel group recently announced a birth tourism package that includes accommodation at their Manhattan branch. “We hosted 15 families last year,” said Nur Ercan Mağden, head manager of The Marmara Manhattan, adding that the cost was $45,000 each. According to the U.S.’s 14th Amendment, the country grants citizenship to anyone born on its soil. At the same time, however, many have demanded the elimination of the “ius soli” law. According to Emre Özgü, a partner at law firm Barst Mukamal & Kleiner LLP in New York, people in favor of tightening immigration laws have been attempting to end “ius soli” citizenship for years. “Those trying to restrict immigration argue these babies, who are occasionally called ‘anchor babies,’ serve as a key link in the ‘chain immigration’ process that they would like to see eliminated. However, there is no current pending legislation before Congress that would limit the claim to U.S. citizenship of a child born in the U.S.” When asked whether birthright citizenship could be considered a loophole in the law, Özgü said he would not classify the “ius soli” citizenship as such because it is explicitly included within the U.S. Constitution.
Kiev is seeking to be the venue for the signing of a new nuclear arms reduction treaty between Russia and the United States. According to Kommersant, new Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych made the suggestion to his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, during his visit to Moscow on March 5. The deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Anna German, told Kommersant on Monday that Moscow showed interest in Ukraine's initiative. This issue will also be discussed on Tuesday in Moscow between the countries' foreign ministers, Sergei Lavrov and Kostyantyn Hryshchenko. The talks will be held ahead of the upcoming visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Moscow, during which she and Lavrov are expected to coordinate the final details of the replacement to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START 1), the paper said. German said the bid to host the signing ceremony was part of Yanukovych's efforts to position his country as a link between Russia and the West. "I believe this is a very interesting idea," Kommersant quoted German as saying. "The Russian side responded with interest to it. If the Americans are not against it, Ukraine will finally become the bridge between the East and the West that our leader always speaks about." Russia and the United States have been negotiating the arms reduction pact since the two countries' presidents met in April last year, but finalizing a document has dragged on, with U.S. plans for missile defense in Europe a particular sticking point. Moscow wants to include a link between missile defenses and cuts in offensive weapons, but the U.S. Senate is unlikely to ratify any document formally linking the two issues. START 1, the cornerstone of post-Cold War arms control, expired on December 5.
VI. B92 - Serbia thanks Oman over Kosovo
Serbian FM Vuk Jeremić stated in Oman that he highly appreciates the policy of the Sultanate regarding Kosovo. Jeremić said it was in keeping with international law, and expressed gratitude to the country for its support to Belgrade in view of the unilateral proclamation of the independence of Kosovo and Metohija. According to the Oman News Agency ONA, following the talks with his Omani counterpart Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Jeremić said at a press conference that the Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement should be held in Belgrade, 50 years after the last one was held in the Serbian capital, and invited the minister to visit Serbia soon. Jeremić announced that the two countries will appoint ambassadors to Muscat and Belgrade as part of promotion of their cooperation and sign several political and economic agreements.
VII. OCANEWS - OCA blog up and running; Seeks articles, artwork, and photos
Since making its debut at www.ocawonder.com February 26, 2010, the OCA’s young adult blog, "Wonder," is already averaging 300 hits per day. Accessible at www.ocawonder.com, the blog was launched by the Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry. Its content is geared toward providing thought-provoking articles on a variety of topics touching young adults, college students, and those who minister to this age group. The blog’s first installment explored the theme, "Engaging Modern Atheism," and featured articles by Father Sean Levine, Andrew Boyd, and Logan Johnson. "Capital Punishment" will be the theme of the second installment, slated to appear on March 25, while the April 25 installment, "Help My Unbelief," will explore the topic of faith and doubt. Readers are invited to submit articles, creative writing and artwork, poetry, photos, and videos for these and future installments. Suggested topics for subsequent installments are also welcome. Send all materials and comments to wonder@oca.org. Every month, "Wonder" will feature four articles on a specific theme, blending theological and academic insights with practical ideas for ministry, according to co-moderators Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak and Andrew Boyd. To subscribe to "Wonder," log on to www.ocawonder.com and click the "sign me up" link on the left of the page.