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Male Privilege: I Am the Problem
As men, some of us are likely to "gag" every single time the issue of male privilege comes up. Though we gag, that still doesn't negate the fact that we …
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Home Cookin’ Capsule
Mississippi State University women's basketball is No. 13 in the AP Top 25 poll after a home win over Texas A&M. Morgan William picked up SEC Freshman of the Week …
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Bryan's Rant
Family Business
Even before the Super Bowl, a battle that could affect the Saints' offseason began in New Orleans. Things turned extremely ugly and public after the family of Saints owner Tom …
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3 Sentenced to Prison in James Craig Anderson Murder
Three people were sentenced to federal prison Tuesday, following a hate crimes investigation stemming from the death of a black man who was beaten and run over by a truck …
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Longtime Aide: Obama Misled on Early Gay Marriage Opposition
President Barack Obama feigned opposition to gay marriage for most of his political career, compromising his true beliefs out of concern it could hurt him with voters, Obama's longtime political …
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Civil Rights
New Civil Rights Museum on Track For Completion
In former Gov. Haley Barbour's address Tuesday morning about the progress of the state's new civil rights museum, he stressed the importance of not only recognizing Mississippi's history, but improving …
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Civil Rights
Jesse Harris
The murders of Mack Charles Parker and Emmett Till in Money were the catalysts for Jesse Harris' lifetime of working for voting rights and social justice across the South.
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Biz Roundup
Jackson: A Great Place for Art, Food and Black Businesses
Flowood native Sean Alexander will open Zeek'z House of Gyros (132 Lakeland Heights Blvd., 601-919-9832) Monday, Feb. 16, next to the Flowood Walmart.
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SpaceX Tries Again to Launch Observatory, Land Rocket at Sea
SpaceX is taking another stab Tuesday at launching an observatory into deep space and landing the booster that carries it up.
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Obama to Send His New War Powers Request to Capitol Hill
The White House was ready to share with lawmakers Tuesday its plan to seek authority for the use of military force against the Islamic State group, setting up the first …
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Fighting Intensifies in Eastern Ukraine Ahead of Peace Talks
Fighting intensified Tuesday in eastern Ukraine ahead of much-anticipated peace talks, with both sides claiming significant advances.
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Parents of American Woman Held by IS Notified of Her Death
Kayla Jean Mueller, a 26-year-old American woman held by Islamic State militants, has been confirmed dead, her parents and the Obama administration said Tuesday.
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From Jordan Base, UAE Resumes Airstrikes on Islamic State
United Arab Emirates fighter planes roared out of an air base in Jordan on Tuesday to pound Islamic State militant positions, marking a return to combat operations by one of …
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Sentencing for 3 in Racial Beatings that Killed Man
U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves is scheduled to sentence Deryl Paul Dedmon, John Aaron Rice and Dylan Wade Butler on Tuesday.
Entry
Suddenly Pro-Woman, the AFA Blasts '50 Shades' Flick as Degrading
By R.L. NaveThe American Family Association has no love for the release of the film "Fifty Shades of Grey” for the upcoming Valentine's Day Weekend.
In a news release today, the Tupelo-based nonprofit threw some shade of its own at the movie, which is based on an E.L. James novel of the same title, calling it sexually graphic and degrading to women.
“Nothing in ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ builds up society, respects or empowers women or demonstrates healthy relationships,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon in the release. “Rather, the film glorifies abusive relationships and glamorizes abusive tendencies such as stalking, bondage sex, intimidation and isolation."
This sudden gush of concern from the same organization that often disrespects LGBT women (and men) by calling them immoral. AFA also recently said the landmark Roe V. Wade decision, which protects the right of women to have abortion, is tantamount to a "war on women." Reproductive-justice advocates and people possessing a uterus, however, say abortion access empowers women to make decisions about their bodies that can have positive impacts on their lives.
A quick search of the AFA's website turned up no support of, say, equal-pay legislation at either the state or federal level. Also, while the AFA writes frequently on the harms of domestic violence, it's usually in the context of its tirades against the pornography industry and not simply protecting the safety of women.
"A more apt title for the movie would be 'Fifty Shades of Evil,'" Wildmon said in the release. "Without question, this film will have a corrosive effect on cultural views of what normative sexuality ought to be. Healthy relationships seek to safeguard the emotional and physical well-being of another; this film promotes inflicting emotional, physical and psychological harm on another for the sole purpose of self-serving sexual gratification. It is the epitome of elevating abuse, and we call on all theaters to reject promoting such abuse on their screens.”
In the meantime, AFA is supporting a social-media movement, #50DollarsNot50Shades, that encourages potential moviegoers to donate $50 to a local domestic-abuse shelter instead of going to see “Fifty Shades."
So there's that.
http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2015/feb/09/20286/
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City & County
It's Official: Kenny Stokes is Back on City Council
"He's back," a man shouted from the back corner of Jackson's crammed city council chamber this morning upon newly re-elected Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes's completion of the oath of …
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Politics
Analysis: New Democrat Johnson Has Tough Campaign Ahead
Former state Sen. Tim Johnson jumped from Republican to Democrat last week to launch his campaign for Mississippi lieutenant governor, and he faces a difficult path in a state where …
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Civil Rights
Anne Moody
Anne Moody, whose memoir "Coming of Age in Mississippi" gave a wrenching account of growing up poor in the segregated South and facing violence as a civil rights activist, died …
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Old Questions About Saudi Arabia, 9-11 Raised Anew
For years, some current and former American officials have been urging President Barack Obama to release secret files they say document links between the government of Saudi Arabia and the …
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EU Puts Off Fresh Russia Sanctions Awaiting Minsk Talks
The European Union decided Monday to hold off temporarily on slapping sanctions on more Russians and Ukrainian separatists and await the outcome of possible peace talks later this week.
