Name:Victor Country:United States State:California Metro:San Jose Birthday:4/13/1984 Gender:Male
Interests:Listening to music, Helping others, Writing fictional material, Thinking, Walking around aimlessly and wandering, Playing basketball, Playing volleyball, Bowling, Laughing, Shooting pool, Reading novels, Watching movies, Being with people I care about, Watching the night sky, Watching the sun rise, Watching the sun set, Daydreaming Occupation:Medical Industry:Medical
Entry Started at 12:19AM and Finished at 12:30AM in my San Jose Apartment
|-=[2008 Election: My Views on California Propositions]=-| Hello, Everyone, I hope you are well. After dozens of hours researching all 12 California propositions, I have come to solid conclusions for all of them. By voting the way I do, I believe that I can help further human rights, environmental rights, and animal rights. I am hoping that people can go through this list and will agree with me when it comes to which propositions I support and oppose. Of course, please feel free to make your own judgments, as I'm sure your opinion may be different from mine. For each proposition, I explained my reasoning for my support or opposition for the proposition, followed by which groups support or oppose it.
Thank you, and take care, Victor Ly
YES on Proposition 1: High Speed Rail Authorizes $10 billion in bonds to begin construction of a 220 MPH train to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles via San Jose and Fresno. Trains will be powered by renewable electricity and create 160,000 jobs over the next 10 years. It's our best way of quickly moving people around our great state without producing any pollution. Powered by zero-emission energy, high-speed rail could remove 12 billion tons of global warming pollution from our atmosphere. Supported by: Sierra Club, CA Democratic Party, CA League of Conservation Voters, Courage Campaign
YES on Proposition 2: Stop Animal Cruelty Mandates that farm animals such as chickens and pigs are given enough room in their cages to spread their wings, turn and move around, stand up or sit down. Not only will this pro-animal initiative make conditions better for farm animals, it will also reduce the concentration of harmful animal-waste pollution from factory farms, thus improving our health and food safety, protect the air and water, and safeguard the environment, as well as support family farmers. Supported by: Californians for Humane Farms, Sierra Club, CA Democratic Party, CA League of Conservation Voters, Courage Campaign
YES on Proposition 3: Children's Hospital Bonds Provides over $900 million in bond funding to renovate and expand children's hospital facilities around the state. Supported by: CA Democratic Party, Courage Campaign, CA Nurses Association
NO on Proposition 4: Undermines Teen Safety and Abortion Rights Undermines a woman's right to choose. Places young women in serious jeopardy of abuse (or worse) and is part of a strategy to roll back abortion rights for all Californians. Goes against safe, quality medical care, and takes counselors out of the picture. Californians have rejected this proposal twice since 2005. By voting "no" on this proposition, you are defending a woman's right to choose and teen safety, especially for young women who are vulnerable to abuse at home. Opposed by: Planned Parenthood, Campaign for Teen Safety, CA Nurses Association, CA Association of School Counselors, CA Medical Association, CA Democratic Party, Courage Campaign
YES on Proposition 5: Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation An ambitious criminal justice reform measure, Proposition 5 offers common sense solutions to prison overcrowding by providing drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration for non-violent offenders. Proposition 5 also provides treatment rather than prison time for those suffering from a drug addiction. Will save the state over $1 billion a year. Supported by: ACLU, CA Democratic Party, League of Women Voters, CA Nurses Association, Color of Change.org, NAACP, Courage Campaign
NO on Proposition 6: Massive Prison Expansion Forces thousands of juvenile offenders into adult courts, mandates longer prison sentences, and takes billions from the state budget for more prison spending at a time of historic budget deficits. This initiative would deepen the budget crisis by diverting billions of dollars annually from schools, hospitals/health care, and public safety (via violence prevention programs). It is a misguided effort to incarcerate more and more people, including youth. Opposed by: ACLU, Equality California, CA Democratic Party, League of Women Voters, CA Nurses Association, Courage Campaign
NO on Proposition 7: Renewable Power Standard Measure is poorly written, loophole-ridden, and poorly drafted; may cause more harm than good by hindering the development of new clean, renewable energy sources in California, like solar and wind power. Passing Proposition 7 would devastate small renewable energy companies. The goals contained within this measure are ambitious, but the proposition lacks the necessary provisions to achieve its target. Opposed by: Union of Concerned Scientists, Wilderness Society, CA Democratic Party, Sierra Club, League of Women Voters, League of Conservation Voters
NO on Proposition 8: Eliminate Marriage Rights Vote "no" on this proposition to take a stand for basic fairness. The right to marry is a fundamental freedom—not one for the government to grant to some Californians and deny to others. Proposition 8 would re-write our California Constitution to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California -- denying gays and lesbians the respect, dignity and responsibility that come with marriage. Opposed by: Equality California, Let California Ring, PFLAG, CA Democratic Party, Anti-Defamation League, California NAACP, CA Nurses Association, Courage Campaign
NO on Proposition 9: More Prison Expansion Like Proposition 6, this proposition would mandate huge increases in prison spending, by using "victims' rights" as a cover. This measure would erode due process protections, giving broad rights to anyone who claims to be a victim, without any standards and without proof they were harmed. The initiative would also increase spending on prison and jail construction. Opposed by: ACLU, Equality California, CA Democratic Party, Ella Baker Center, League of Women Voters, CA Nurses Association, Courage Campaign
NO on Proposition 10: T. Boone Bailout Oklahoma oil billionaire and funder of the 2004 Swift Boat ads against John Kerry, T. Boone Pickens, wants to take $5 billion from our stressed budget for his natural gas companies. The money would go into a program promoting natural gas and other transportation fuels that could achieve little or no reductions in smog or global warming pollution. Would ask taxpayers to fund $5 billion in subsidies for private vehicle buyers, favoring natural gas powered vehicles over cleaner energy technologies. Opposed by: Union of Concerned Scientists, Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, CA League of Conservation Voters, CA Nurses Association, Courage Campaign
NO on Proposition 11: Biased Redistricting A deeply flawed effort to change how legislative districts are drawn. Though we desperately need redistricting reform, this is not it. Undermines voting rights for Californians of color. Opposed by: CA League of Conservation Voters, CA Democratic Party, Mobilize the Immigrant Vote, Legislative Black Caucus and Legislative Latino Caucus, Courage Campaign
YES on Proposition 12: Veterans' Homes Bond Renews a home loan program for veterans that dates back to 1922. The bond must be periodically renewed - this would be the 12th renewal. Enables veterans of current wars to get affordable loans. Bond is repaid by veterans themselves. Supported by: CA Democratic Party, Courage Campaign
I will be voting for Barack Obama in hopes that he will be the next president of the United States of America.
Entry Started at 7:49AM and Finished at 8:19AM in my San Jose Apartment
|-=[in loving memory of Slippers: my adopted baby bunny passed away]=-| Since May 10th, 2008, I have been volunteering at the San Jose Animal Care Center, helping with various tasks, but mainly working with rabbits. On June 12th, 2008, my girlfriend, Lan, and I adopted a bunny rabbit. While we were deciding on a permanent name for her, we called her "Slippers," mainly because Slippers looked like a bunny slipper when she curls up. A couple days later, Slippers passed away due to severe respiratory infection. The following is a short video I made to show tribute to Slippers, who was a very adorable and wonderful bunny rabbit:
Edit (October 2nd, 2008): YouTube seems to have removed the video, so I've hosted it at Vimeo.com and Viddler.com.
The video has bits of text that recounts Slippers's very short life, but for those who'd rather not watch the video or cannot watch it, here's some of the text (slightly edited) from the video: I first met Slippers at the animal shelter where I volunteer. I had not planned to adopt Slippers, but she was hard to resist. After I saw her, I had dream after dream of the baby bunny. I told Lily, the lead rabbit volunteer, about my dreams of adopting Slippers. Lily would later on say that perhaps Slippers was calling out to me.
One day after I rescued Slippers, she started getting sick. Instead of her normal playful self, she started resting more. Slippers looked like she had trouble breathing, and by just looking at her, I could almost feel her pain. After calling several veterinarians, I found one who could help her immediately. The veterinarian diagnosed Slippers and said she had a respiratory infection. Slippers was also dehydrated and had nasal discharge. The veterinarian said there was a good chance Slippers wouldn't survive.
I continued to do all that I could to keep her alive and happy. I remember holding Slippers in my arms and against my chest as she grew weaker and weaker. For hours, she laid on my chest, unable to move, just looking at me. At 1:33a.m., June 14th, 2008, Slippers's body heaved twice, then she was gone.
Lan and Lily consoled me as I attempted to gain my composure, saying that if I hadn't rescued Slippers, she would've died alone at the shelter. Lily also told me that another rabbit at the shelter had a respiratory infection. We figured that was how Slippers had gotten sick.
Slippers was buried in Lily's beautiful garden on the evening of June 14th.
Entry Started at 10:24PM and Finished at 11:45PM in my San Jose Apartment
|-=[human rights and the olympics]=-| Tomorrow, the official torch for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing will arrive in San Francisco, California, its only North American stop. Along with thousands of other human rights activists in San Francisco, I will be peacefully protesting China's record on human rights.
My Mom and I had some of our biggest arguments in years this past weekend because of our differences in opinions in regards to the protests. She seems to have no problems with the way the Chinese government runs their country, and she does not think I have any business protesting. Additionally, she does not seem to differentiate or care to separate nonviolent protests, of which I am often involved, from ones that are violent. My Mom may not be considered a racist, but I am sure that if the 2008 Olympic Games were in a different country other than the one her ancestors are from, she would not even care this much about the protests. Unlike my Mom - for better or worse - I cannot and will not allow my beliefs to budge just because my own ethnicity is involved.
In approximately a dozen hours, I will protest all the human rights crimes China has committed and those that China has helped intensify. China agreed with the Olympic Committee that they would improve their human rights record in return for having the honor to host this year's Olympic Games. However, China is currently conducting the worst crackdown in Tibet in nearly half a century. On March 10th, 2008, protests began to mark the 49th anniversary of the failed Tibetan revolt against the Chinese Communist occupation. In less than a month, nearly 140 Tibetans have been killed during protesting. Hundreds of monks have been arrested and jailed, even though there are no charges against them. As the violence escalates, China has ignored the Dalai Lama's call for calm, and I am urging Chinese leaders to resolve the current crisis.
I am also protesting the fact that China is Sudan's largest trade partner, buying approximately 70% of Sudan's oil. The cycle continues with Sudan using that money made from oil sales to purchase weapons from China. China has supplied Sudan with around 90% of its small arms and munitions, which have been used to maim, kill, and leave people homeless in Darfur. In half a decade of conflict in Darfur, over 200,000 people have been killed and more than 2.5 million people have been left homeless. China has a great amount of leverage with Sudan that they can use to help end the conflict in Darfur so that more people will not be killed. However, China has failed to act.
I will be representing a multitude of human rights groups, including American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Amnesty International, Human Rights First, and Save Darfur Coalition.
P.S. Please note that I am not using this opportunity to portray China as evil because is different from the United States of America. Human rights and my beliefs know no geographical boundaries, and I will protest no matter which government is at fault. In the last several months alone, I have written dozens of letters and signed plenty of petitions that criticize countries other than China, including the very one I live in.
Entry Started
at 2:54AM and Finished at 3:56AM in my San Jose
Apartment
|-=[i need your support in the fight against AIDS]=-| Every day, AIDS orphans over 6,000 children, according to AVERT, and there are now over 40 million people who are living with HIV/AIDS (AIDS Coalition Silicon Valley). These victims all have faces, names, and lives; however, the lives of approximately three million people around the world are taken each year because of AIDS (AVERT). Won't you help in the fight against AIDS?
Next Sunday, on October 21st, 2007, I will be joining thousands of people in The Walk for AIDS Silicon Valley, a 6.2 mile walk that may help change the face of this epidemic. Join me in my efforts to fight a global problem that has taken the lives of millions and will continue to take the lives of millions more if there is a lack of support. Please visit my Walk for AIDS Silicon Valley Donation Page and either sign up to walk or donate money to support this cause. I do not care if all you can donate is a dollar because in the battle against AIDS, every single bit of support will help.
Thank you, and take care, Victor
Ly
P.S. If you are unable to use a credit card to donate online and would like to give money directly to me, I will make sure that every single penny I receive from you will go to The Walk for AIDS Silicon Valley. Feel free to leave a comment for me with your contact information, or e-mail me directly at victorly@ victor-ly.com if you'd like to arrange a way to give me your donation. Thank you.
Entry Started at 2:06AM and Finished at 2:47AM in my San Jose Apartment
|-=[to be an american]=-| The following is a poem that consists of some of the issues that I have strong moral views on. Chances are that you won't agree with all of my views; that's completely fine and I welcome the difference in opinions. I just finished this piece approximately half an hour ago and this is still the rough draft. I am thinking of performing this at Poetry Cafe, an open mic/poetry performance show that I have showcased my written materials at in the past, but that is only if I can touch up this piece enough by next Wednesday. Thoughts are, as always, wholeheartedly welcomed.
In late 2006, Professor Michael Fallon of my sociology class asked his students, "What does it mean to be an American?" Approximately nine months later, I'd like to present this poem as my answer.
The puppet master can't pull my strings But he sure has jerked my chains Can't wait much longer for freedom to ring My blood's boiling in my veins
What happened to the American Dream? Where did the middle class go? I think about Bush's schemes And I feel like I could explode What are we supposed to do When his dreams are our nightmares? I must get through to you Infinite tissues can't dry these tears
I passed by a broken-down man Whose home was a dirty street With him was his daughter of ten She asked me for a bite to eat I searched my wallet for some money So I could offer them some change Then I heard a growl from her tummy And the sound sure did sound strange I asked her when she last ate When it was she couldn't recall Her fragile body couldn't hide her weight She was malnourished and so small
I'm a proud American There's no doubt that I am But what does it mean to be an American? Must I choose and condemn?
I'm well aware that I'm male But I'm also a feminist And I know that we won't fail We can fight back without our fists A quarter of all women are raped In the good ol' U.S. of A Can't say you don't participate Because not speaking up isn't okay It isn't about women's rights It's an issue regarding humans Don't give up without a fight Take a stand for our friends Our sisters and our mothers Our aunts and our wives Make a choice and create a stir Speak up and save some lives
I'm a proud American Are you questioning who I am? But what does it mean to be an American? Must I bow down to Uncle Sam?
Thousands of Americans have died For Operation Iraqi Freedom How many mothers have cried? Thinking of the numbers make me numb I can't understand the point of war Though I see the price of it All this violence, all that gore On his throne, he proudly sits I do support my troops Which is why I want them home Let them kick back without their boots Let their spirits not wander and roam I thank those who've given their lives And those who have given their all But I wonder if America can survive Do we have much longer before we fall?
I passed by a loving couple Each holding the other tight Then a cry, above a mumble "Fuckin' fags - outta my sight!" When did love become political? When did we all begin to judge? Why are so many people labeled? All this hate we must rise above Why is it so wrong to love freely? Why can't all Americans wed? Let those who are gay be happy Which way will this country head?
I think I'm a proud American But sometimes I can't be sure What does it mean to be an American? I just don't know anymore
