I am a veteran of the United States Navy. I enlisted in 1972 during the Viet Nam war. As a result of my service I was placed in Harms Way, twice in Panama, in 1976. In one instance if it were not for a woman I had been dating I would have been killed. The other was a mission I was part of which envolved the troops training to take over the Panama Canal, if President Carter had not agreed to turn control of the Canal to Panama. Had I been caught, I'm sure I would have been tortured and possibly executed.
I want to make it known, that not every miltary person is trained to kill for their country, but all are trained to die for their country.
Every where I go and it is established that I am a veteran, I am greeted with a resounding, thanks for your service. It makes me feel proud and I don't mind risking my life. But there is one segment of this country that I don't seem to get this greeting, in fact, I get a feeling that my service was not appreciated at all. Those people are African Americans. In fact I can't recall ever being told thank you for your service by any Black person other than fellow veterans, family and close friends.
If there are a people who owe a debt of gratitude, to their veterans it is the African American community.
African Americans have served in every war this country has had. In the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 . particulary in the battle of New Orleans, African Americans fought while they were still slaves.
In the Civil War more than 180,000 African Americans fought on the side of the Union. It was the bravery and courage of those troops that allowed for the passage of the 14th and 15th Amendments.
It was the Black Calvary troops that protected settlers in the west and their reputation lives today as a result of the Buffalo Soldiers and is still an active regiment in the U.S. Army the 9th Calvary.
In World War I France actively recruited African Americans for service and introduced African American culture to the world.
In World War II,one of the first heroes of the war was Doris Miller, my personal hero, the Tuskegee Airmen, the 761 Tank Battalion, The crew of the destroyer escort the Mason. Because of Black men and women in uniform, the United States could no longer deny Blacks equal rights and lead directly to acceptance of the civil rights movement in the 50's and 60's.
During Viet Nam it was a common sight to see African American troops fighting in every living room in the country on TV. There was no way President Johnson could deny signing the civil rights acts of 1964 which lead finally, to the basic freedoms African Americans enjoy today.
There is a direct coalition of military conflicts and the bravery and dedication of African Americans in the military and African American progress in this country. I truly believe that African American troops in both Gulf wars lead to the belief that a person of African decent could be trusted as Commander and Chief of the United States Armed Forces.
African Americans owe a great debt to black Military, not only did they fight and die to preserve the United States of America, they fought and died so that American society would realize that we are a brave and courageous people. We have earned the right to be called Americans.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Middle Class bites the hand that fed them. Unions
Of all the organizations that middle class Americans reject, the most baffling to me are Labor Unions. Unions help to create the middle class. Before unions worker's wages were at the mercy of employers. There were some employers, like Henry Ford, who understood the value of workers making a decent wage, but by in large most employers were greedy and unfair. Not only did Labor Unions fight for better wages, but they also fought for health benefits and safer working conditions, which also benefited the workers family and communities. In the 1950's and 60's the middle class flourished and the American economy was robust. Industry was booming due to the Viet Nam war, and after the war ended companies started to profit in the billions of dollars. There was always contention between corporations and labor unions, but that is what bargaining is all about. There is nothing wrong with a worker bargaining for a fair and decent wage and safe working conditions.
There were a few bad apples, unions that were under the control of organized crime and there was an aggressive push by the justice department to get rid of them. Most Labor Unions in this country were not controlled by organized crime but along with the news media and major corporations, you couldn't see it. There was an attempt to paint all labor unions as Mafia controlled centers of wealth.
The Middle Class attacks on Labor Unions started under Ronald Reagan. When President Reagan busted PATCO, the Air Traffic Controller's Union, it signaled the decline of Unions and public opinion. Corporations quickly picked up the ball and began a successful campaign to label labor unions as greedy and negative and bad for the nations economy. Then the GOP started to pack the the courts with judges which weakened Labor Union law suits to the point that Labor Unions actually became ineffective and thus furthered it's decline in the public arena. It isn't a coincidence
that the stagnation in wages, the decline of the Middle Class, parallel the devaluation of Labor Unions and the unpopular opinion they have with GOP conservatives. Am I the only one who sees that, not only do the GOP want to take us back in time with social issues, they want to go back to a time where workers are at the mercy of employers.
Corporate America keeps riding their agenda on the coat tails of disgruntled people to have one asset THEY VOTE.
It's the same thing that happened in the Southern States in 1861. The poor whites went to war to keep a system in play that was keeping them poor, Slavery. Why hire a blacksmith when you can own one?
Good or Bad the Labor Unions were the only organizations formed to fight for fair wages for middle class Americans. Even if a company does not have a union, the employers keep their wages compatible as to keep employees from considering forming a union.
It is ironic that the very person who actually helped to vilify labor unions, was the President of a major Union himself. Most of his wealth came from unions fighting to get actors fair wages and salaries for the work they did and the product they helped produce.
There were a few bad apples, unions that were under the control of organized crime and there was an aggressive push by the justice department to get rid of them. Most Labor Unions in this country were not controlled by organized crime but along with the news media and major corporations, you couldn't see it. There was an attempt to paint all labor unions as Mafia controlled centers of wealth.
The Middle Class attacks on Labor Unions started under Ronald Reagan. When President Reagan busted PATCO, the Air Traffic Controller's Union, it signaled the decline of Unions and public opinion. Corporations quickly picked up the ball and began a successful campaign to label labor unions as greedy and negative and bad for the nations economy. Then the GOP started to pack the the courts with judges which weakened Labor Union law suits to the point that Labor Unions actually became ineffective and thus furthered it's decline in the public arena. It isn't a coincidence
that the stagnation in wages, the decline of the Middle Class, parallel the devaluation of Labor Unions and the unpopular opinion they have with GOP conservatives. Am I the only one who sees that, not only do the GOP want to take us back in time with social issues, they want to go back to a time where workers are at the mercy of employers.
Corporate America keeps riding their agenda on the coat tails of disgruntled people to have one asset THEY VOTE.
It's the same thing that happened in the Southern States in 1861. The poor whites went to war to keep a system in play that was keeping them poor, Slavery. Why hire a blacksmith when you can own one?
Good or Bad the Labor Unions were the only organizations formed to fight for fair wages for middle class Americans. Even if a company does not have a union, the employers keep their wages compatible as to keep employees from considering forming a union.
It is ironic that the very person who actually helped to vilify labor unions, was the President of a major Union himself. Most of his wealth came from unions fighting to get actors fair wages and salaries for the work they did and the product they helped produce.
Indefinite Detention: Senator Sees No Need To Change Law That Was Ruled Unconstitutional
Indefinite Detention: Senator Sees No Need To Change Law That Was Ruled Unconstitutional
In 1973 I came home on leave. On the airplane an individual who said he was from Lebanon started up a conversation. He asked about a lot of different places in Los Angeles. For some reason I became suspicious even alarmed. When we arrived at the airport and I was waiting at the baggage area, I noticed a brief case that looked similar to the one the individual was carrying, sitting all alone in the middle of the floor. At the same time my sister and brother were approaching the entrance, I screamed at the top of my lungs, "Get out! Don't come in here.!" I reported my concerns to a uniformed officer and got my siblings out of there as soon as possible.
My siblings and most of the people in the airport probably thought I was crazy. What they did not know was one of my jobs in the Navy was to distribute Top Secret information. I knew of concerns of terrorist attacks on airports.
Of course nothing happened. No bomb went off. But what if it had and I had done nothing?
There are people who want to kill U.S. citizens. They are planning and plotting as I type.
I know I looked crazy and maybe I alarmed a lot of people that day, but I had information they did not. But I would do it again and again to protect my siblings and the people in the airport, even if it upsets them.
In 1973 I came home on leave. On the airplane an individual who said he was from Lebanon started up a conversation. He asked about a lot of different places in Los Angeles. For some reason I became suspicious even alarmed. When we arrived at the airport and I was waiting at the baggage area, I noticed a brief case that looked similar to the one the individual was carrying, sitting all alone in the middle of the floor. At the same time my sister and brother were approaching the entrance, I screamed at the top of my lungs, "Get out! Don't come in here.!" I reported my concerns to a uniformed officer and got my siblings out of there as soon as possible.
My siblings and most of the people in the airport probably thought I was crazy. What they did not know was one of my jobs in the Navy was to distribute Top Secret information. I knew of concerns of terrorist attacks on airports.
Of course nothing happened. No bomb went off. But what if it had and I had done nothing?
There are people who want to kill U.S. citizens. They are planning and plotting as I type.
I know I looked crazy and maybe I alarmed a lot of people that day, but I had information they did not. But I would do it again and again to protect my siblings and the people in the airport, even if it upsets them.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
When will Mitt Romney take the stand?
Mitt Romney's Bain Playbook Remains Unclear As Attacks Grow
This is perhaps the most confusing political campaign I have ever witnessed. Romney is like a defendant in a court case who will not take the stand in his defense. It's like he's taking the 5th on his history, be it Bain or his job as Governor of Mass.
What is more confusing is that he seems to be getting away with it. Imagine if you will candidate Obama not explaining, Rev Wright, or any other criticism of his background. You don't have to be a political scholar to say he would not be POTUS.
Yet Romney seems to be getting away with bashing Obama, saying that he has no skills to be POTUS despite holding the office. Yet Romney does not say what makes him uniquely qualified.
It appears that Romney is banking on, that enough people will dislike Obama's record as POTUS, and he can just slide in safe to the White House. Sneak in with his coat over his head.
Are the American voters really that gullible, or just plain stupid? If they elect Romney into office without having him take the "stand", well stupid is as stupid...you know the rest.
This is perhaps the most confusing political campaign I have ever witnessed. Romney is like a defendant in a court case who will not take the stand in his defense. It's like he's taking the 5th on his history, be it Bain or his job as Governor of Mass.
What is more confusing is that he seems to be getting away with it. Imagine if you will candidate Obama not explaining, Rev Wright, or any other criticism of his background. You don't have to be a political scholar to say he would not be POTUS.
Yet Romney seems to be getting away with bashing Obama, saying that he has no skills to be POTUS despite holding the office. Yet Romney does not say what makes him uniquely qualified.
It appears that Romney is banking on, that enough people will dislike Obama's record as POTUS, and he can just slide in safe to the White House. Sneak in with his coat over his head.
Are the American voters really that gullible, or just plain stupid? If they elect Romney into office without having him take the "stand", well stupid is as stupid...you know the rest.
Gordon Marble: I just heard today that Exxon/Mobile spends most of it's
Gordon Marble: I just heard today that Exxon/Mobile spends most of it's
“I just heard today that Exxon/Mobile spends most of it's political contributions on GOP candidates and law makers. More than 100 million dollars. So who do you think will have the leverage in Congress? The only way I can help make a dent is to vote and educate as many of my peers as possible. All the people I have known in my entire life, I could not collect a million dollars let alone 100. I question whether the average American can ever effect policies in this country again. But I for one will die trying. I will go to the polls on a gurney with an IV if I have to. Corporations may win this battle, but I see it like war. In the words of Winston Churchill, "Never, Never, Never give up!"
“I just heard today that Exxon/Mobile spends most of it's political contributions on GOP candidates and law makers. More than 100 million dollars. So who do you think will have the leverage in Congress? The only way I can help make a dent is to vote and educate as many of my peers as possible. All the people I have known in my entire life, I could not collect a million dollars let alone 100. I question whether the average American can ever effect policies in this country again. But I for one will die trying. I will go to the polls on a gurney with an IV if I have to. Corporations may win this battle, but I see it like war. In the words of Winston Churchill, "Never, Never, Never give up!"
Monday, May 21, 2012
Cory Booker Bain Remarks Complicate Things For Romney, Axelrod
Cory Booker Bain Remarks Complicate Things For Romney, Axelrod
Whether Mayor Cory wants it or not he as earned 30 pieces of silver. He "Kissed" Obama on the cheek in front of millions of people. I understand he is a politician and he has to protect his political contributors, one in which I now suspect is Bain Capital. He has provided the GOP with a poison apple they will use to cripple Obama's campaign. The problem is he may have crippled his chances for national office. The Dem base is very unhappy with the way he has cruciifed their leader. I know I am.
Whether Mayor Cory wants it or not he as earned 30 pieces of silver. He "Kissed" Obama on the cheek in front of millions of people. I understand he is a politician and he has to protect his political contributors, one in which I now suspect is Bain Capital. He has provided the GOP with a poison apple they will use to cripple Obama's campaign. The problem is he may have crippled his chances for national office. The Dem base is very unhappy with the way he has cruciifed their leader. I know I am.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
What? Contraception Again?
One of the benefits of growing older you see how things evolve. Sometimes they evolve into something else, and sometimes they evolve back to where they were in the beginning. Controversy on contraception is one of those things I thought was extinct but now it's been discovered under a mountain of political debris. The Archaeologist digging up these old skeletons seems to be the Tea Party Republicans. I don't think so. It's not religious zealots either. The benefactors of this ancient dig in my opinion are White Supremacist.
When Roe v. Wade became the law of the land in 1973 many states had already passed the law to some extent. In 1965 The Supreme Court made Birth Control legal with it's decision on Griswold v. Connecticut. In both cases there was raging controversy during what is commonly known as the "Civil Rights era".
I can recall around that time that Right Wingers, which was a mix of Hoover Republicans and Southern Democrats, seem to warm up to the notion of Legal Abortion and Birth Control, because of the belief mostly Blacks and Poor Whites, and Hippie types would be participating. Not only would it control the population of the "Unwanted Class", but there would be less babies to take care of on welfare.
Then came the 1980 Census.
The 1980 census showed a clear reduction of the White race in America compared to minorities . I can't remember all the details concerning the report, but I do recall that there were major concerns that by 2080 Whites would not be the majority race in The United States of America. This set the Right Wing media ablaze. And all kind of theories as to why started to hit the air waves and print.
Abortion, Immigration of Latinos, Gays and Contraception were the main culprits, that was common the consensus of the Right Wing media. At the same time Abortion Clinics, Hispanic Immigrants, and Gays were placed on White Supremacy hate list along with Blacks and Jews, and Communist.
So it starts to make a little more sense that Abortion, Immigration of Latinos, Gays and Contraception again major social issues in the 2012 elections. Anything that decreases the majority rule of Whites is a foe.
White Supremacy are ugly words, unless you are a White Supremacist. Therefore a more acceptable group had to come into the picture so it could be brought forth in better light to the public. Blowing up abortion clinics and lynching Gays wasn't going to get it. Hispanic gangs knew how to shoot back.
Then along came the Moral Majority. Jerry Falwell and his cohorts began to attack reproduction rights, specifically abortion as a sin against God. They started calling it murder, and they cited millions of babies as victims. In my opinion the only babies they were concerned with were White babies, if they were just Black babies, this would not be a national issue.
No one likes abortion, yet a woman should have the right to choose,in cases of rape, incest, danger of life to the mother and even economic reasons, if she can't afford another mouth to feed. I personally question knowledge of birth defect, having an Autistic son whom I love very much.
But the issues on the Right is not about, religion, or a woman's health. That is a facade. The real reason is, the fear of the extinction of the White race in America. The Tea Party Republicans are full of people who feel this is a real and present danger. And if they succeed in attacking Gays, reproduction rights, and civil liberties of Hispanics, they will be coming after mixed race marriages next. If Obama was all Black many would have a more favorable opinion of him.
The question is simple does a Government have the right to protect the racial make up of it's nation?
It seems that the Tea Party Republicans and the Communist Chinese have a lot in common after all.
When Roe v. Wade became the law of the land in 1973 many states had already passed the law to some extent. In 1965 The Supreme Court made Birth Control legal with it's decision on Griswold v. Connecticut. In both cases there was raging controversy during what is commonly known as the "Civil Rights era".
I can recall around that time that Right Wingers, which was a mix of Hoover Republicans and Southern Democrats, seem to warm up to the notion of Legal Abortion and Birth Control, because of the belief mostly Blacks and Poor Whites, and Hippie types would be participating. Not only would it control the population of the "Unwanted Class", but there would be less babies to take care of on welfare.
Then came the 1980 Census.
The 1980 census showed a clear reduction of the White race in America compared to minorities . I can't remember all the details concerning the report, but I do recall that there were major concerns that by 2080 Whites would not be the majority race in The United States of America. This set the Right Wing media ablaze. And all kind of theories as to why started to hit the air waves and print.
Abortion, Immigration of Latinos, Gays and Contraception were the main culprits, that was common the consensus of the Right Wing media. At the same time Abortion Clinics, Hispanic Immigrants, and Gays were placed on White Supremacy hate list along with Blacks and Jews, and Communist.
So it starts to make a little more sense that Abortion, Immigration of Latinos, Gays and Contraception again major social issues in the 2012 elections. Anything that decreases the majority rule of Whites is a foe.
White Supremacy are ugly words, unless you are a White Supremacist. Therefore a more acceptable group had to come into the picture so it could be brought forth in better light to the public. Blowing up abortion clinics and lynching Gays wasn't going to get it. Hispanic gangs knew how to shoot back.
Then along came the Moral Majority. Jerry Falwell and his cohorts began to attack reproduction rights, specifically abortion as a sin against God. They started calling it murder, and they cited millions of babies as victims. In my opinion the only babies they were concerned with were White babies, if they were just Black babies, this would not be a national issue.
No one likes abortion, yet a woman should have the right to choose,in cases of rape, incest, danger of life to the mother and even economic reasons, if she can't afford another mouth to feed. I personally question knowledge of birth defect, having an Autistic son whom I love very much.
But the issues on the Right is not about, religion, or a woman's health. That is a facade. The real reason is, the fear of the extinction of the White race in America. The Tea Party Republicans are full of people who feel this is a real and present danger. And if they succeed in attacking Gays, reproduction rights, and civil liberties of Hispanics, they will be coming after mixed race marriages next. If Obama was all Black many would have a more favorable opinion of him.
The question is simple does a Government have the right to protect the racial make up of it's nation?
It seems that the Tea Party Republicans and the Communist Chinese have a lot in common after all.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
African Americans and the LGBT Community
There are three things I can't control. Who my parents were, who I fall in love with, and what turns me on sexually. As a child naked manikins did something too me. I know that is TMI. But I'm trying to make a point. I did not wake up with this information. I had to learn it.
Yesterday President Obama made an historic announcement stating that he supports marriage equality. And immediately the question arose, how will Black voters view his disclosure? To listen to the questions from a middle aged black man's perspective, it's really insulting. It's as if African Americans are homogeneous in every thing we do. Just like in other cultures there are differences in thought about a variety of subjects, depending on your family background, belief systems, morals teachings, religion and education. The Blacks from the South can have different views from all other Blacks in the Country, and the Blacks from Mississippi have different views than from Blacks from Georgia. We are not of the Borg Collective. Yet because we share a common heritage there are things that bond use like no other race.
As I stated before I had to learn that you cannot control who you fall in love with. It happens. What arouses me sexually I don't have a choice. As a man I can tell you, I have a meter indicator that lets me know when I am aroused and believe me it seems to work on it's own.
Many African Americans believe that Homosexuality is a life style choice. They don't believe that people are born that way. The problem is education. Most African Americans get their education on Gays from Church. And most Black Churches like in White or Hispanic Churches all point to Sodom And Gomorrah as the reason God hates Gays. It's pretty hard to combat something that has been embedded in you since Sunday School.
African Americans know more than any other race that prejudice in learned from repeated lies passed down from generations.
There are a variety of other reasons Blacks can't get the Gay thing. One is they don't believe that Gay Rights is equal to Civil Rights in the 60's. You can hide that fact that you are Gay but you can't hide that fact that your skin is dark and your hair is kinky. And of course there is the fact that a lot of Gays wore White Hoods and Burned Crosses. Oh! You didn't think we knew that? And if my child already faces discrimination because of the color of his/her skin, I would be concerned that them being Gay would be another burden. I might discourage it if I did not know better.
All that said, I think it's time for African Americans to look at the big picture. Look at the similarities and not the differences in Gay civil rights issues. If we allow the civil rights of others to be controlled by majority vote, who do you think is next? We are not in a post racial society. Tea Party folks are still teaching that blacks are bad and dangerous and race mixing is still an issue down south. Denying the civil rights of one group is a template for denying the rights of another group. Blacks in California may remember we were repaid by supporting proposition 187 with the passage of proposition 209. Google it.
To my LGBT friends I have one suggestion. Go into Black Churches and educate the congregation.Get them to understand that being Gay is not a life style choice. You will see a change in African American attitudes. Trust that.
Yesterday President Obama made an historic announcement stating that he supports marriage equality. And immediately the question arose, how will Black voters view his disclosure? To listen to the questions from a middle aged black man's perspective, it's really insulting. It's as if African Americans are homogeneous in every thing we do. Just like in other cultures there are differences in thought about a variety of subjects, depending on your family background, belief systems, morals teachings, religion and education. The Blacks from the South can have different views from all other Blacks in the Country, and the Blacks from Mississippi have different views than from Blacks from Georgia. We are not of the Borg Collective. Yet because we share a common heritage there are things that bond use like no other race.
As I stated before I had to learn that you cannot control who you fall in love with. It happens. What arouses me sexually I don't have a choice. As a man I can tell you, I have a meter indicator that lets me know when I am aroused and believe me it seems to work on it's own.
Many African Americans believe that Homosexuality is a life style choice. They don't believe that people are born that way. The problem is education. Most African Americans get their education on Gays from Church. And most Black Churches like in White or Hispanic Churches all point to Sodom And Gomorrah as the reason God hates Gays. It's pretty hard to combat something that has been embedded in you since Sunday School.
African Americans know more than any other race that prejudice in learned from repeated lies passed down from generations.
There are a variety of other reasons Blacks can't get the Gay thing. One is they don't believe that Gay Rights is equal to Civil Rights in the 60's. You can hide that fact that you are Gay but you can't hide that fact that your skin is dark and your hair is kinky. And of course there is the fact that a lot of Gays wore White Hoods and Burned Crosses. Oh! You didn't think we knew that? And if my child already faces discrimination because of the color of his/her skin, I would be concerned that them being Gay would be another burden. I might discourage it if I did not know better.
All that said, I think it's time for African Americans to look at the big picture. Look at the similarities and not the differences in Gay civil rights issues. If we allow the civil rights of others to be controlled by majority vote, who do you think is next? We are not in a post racial society. Tea Party folks are still teaching that blacks are bad and dangerous and race mixing is still an issue down south. Denying the civil rights of one group is a template for denying the rights of another group. Blacks in California may remember we were repaid by supporting proposition 187 with the passage of proposition 209. Google it.
To my LGBT friends I have one suggestion. Go into Black Churches and educate the congregation.Get them to understand that being Gay is not a life style choice. You will see a change in African American attitudes. Trust that.
Monday, May 7, 2012
BRK: Before Rodney King
In 1970 a young man was returning home after walking his girl friend home in Compton, CA. When for no reason at all a police car swooped in front of him and blocked his path. Two uniformed officers, had bright lights and two guns pointed at him. He was told to get on his knees, with his hands on his head. He was harassed and called ugly names and was never told why he had been stopped. One of the police pointed his finger, in the form of a gun, into the forehead of this young man. He cocked back his thumb and said "POW!" The young man was startled at the sound he made. He looked at the young man and asked, "You scared Boy?"
After a little more harassment and insults, the police finally let the young man go, and even told him to "Run". The young man refused and said, "I'm not going to run, you have to shoot me walking." The young man walked away trembling, hoping he wouldn't hear the shot that killed him. They did not shoot. The young man reported the harassment the next day, and 42 years later,. is still waiting for a response. The young man this happened too was me.
When I was coming up this was common. Police abused African American men with impunity. There were many cases here in Los Angeles, in which Blacks where shot and killed by police, beaten almost to death in the same manner as Rodney King, with many people claiming to have witnessed the abuse or shooting, yet the police where vindicated by internal investigation or commissions. Before Rodney King I do recall one case in Los Angeles, in which a police officer was indicted for Police Abuse.
On that fateful night of March 1, 1991. A miracle seemed to have happened for African American men. A brand new technology would once and for all question the integrity of Urban police and the abuse of Black men, The Hand Held Video Camera. There for all to see, the LAPD were video taped beating an unarmed helpless black man. The eyes don't lie, or do they?
Well a couple of things changed. For the first time in my life, police officers were indited for police abuse. The other was the majority of public opinion was on the side of the victim. They were charged and brought to trial. Yet were found not guilty by a jury in a court of law. A riot occurred, more than 30 people lost their lives, and there was billions of dollars in damage.
Yet 20 years later, I do see a big change. I have seen other cases in which police were put on trial. It was never an automatic release from prosecution for police to abuse an African American male. Police units now have video cameras mounted, all across the nation, so police can protect themselves from malicious claims of police abuse. The benefit has been a reduction of police abuse claims and those that do occur are prosecuted immediately and there has been some justice. It also reduced the reputation of the LAPD and in my opinion, helped uncover the scandals of the LAPD Rampart Division.
Of course there are still claims of abuse and I have no doubt that most are true. But at least now in this day and time, calls for justice will be answered and hopefully it will speed up, not like in the case of Trayvon Martin. And one day the plight of being a African American male in America, will not have to have a tragic event to have it resolved.
After a little more harassment and insults, the police finally let the young man go, and even told him to "Run". The young man refused and said, "I'm not going to run, you have to shoot me walking." The young man walked away trembling, hoping he wouldn't hear the shot that killed him. They did not shoot. The young man reported the harassment the next day, and 42 years later,. is still waiting for a response. The young man this happened too was me.
When I was coming up this was common. Police abused African American men with impunity. There were many cases here in Los Angeles, in which Blacks where shot and killed by police, beaten almost to death in the same manner as Rodney King, with many people claiming to have witnessed the abuse or shooting, yet the police where vindicated by internal investigation or commissions. Before Rodney King I do recall one case in Los Angeles, in which a police officer was indicted for Police Abuse.
On that fateful night of March 1, 1991. A miracle seemed to have happened for African American men. A brand new technology would once and for all question the integrity of Urban police and the abuse of Black men, The Hand Held Video Camera. There for all to see, the LAPD were video taped beating an unarmed helpless black man. The eyes don't lie, or do they?
Well a couple of things changed. For the first time in my life, police officers were indited for police abuse. The other was the majority of public opinion was on the side of the victim. They were charged and brought to trial. Yet were found not guilty by a jury in a court of law. A riot occurred, more than 30 people lost their lives, and there was billions of dollars in damage.
Yet 20 years later, I do see a big change. I have seen other cases in which police were put on trial. It was never an automatic release from prosecution for police to abuse an African American male. Police units now have video cameras mounted, all across the nation, so police can protect themselves from malicious claims of police abuse. The benefit has been a reduction of police abuse claims and those that do occur are prosecuted immediately and there has been some justice. It also reduced the reputation of the LAPD and in my opinion, helped uncover the scandals of the LAPD Rampart Division.
Of course there are still claims of abuse and I have no doubt that most are true. But at least now in this day and time, calls for justice will be answered and hopefully it will speed up, not like in the case of Trayvon Martin. And one day the plight of being a African American male in America, will not have to have a tragic event to have it resolved.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
China? What about Michigan?
I am following the news today regarding the Blind Chinese Dissident who is attempting to leave China and come to the US. Though I am concerned about freedom of everyone in the world, and I am quite aware of the diplomatic problems that have arisen as a result.
But what about freedom being in jeopardy right here in the continental United States of America.
As I type these words there is a battle in Michigan going on, due to a law that was voted on and passed by the Republican control state Congress, which allows the Governor of the state to suspend the duties of elected officials in cities, and replace them with a City Manager. One appointed City manager proclaimed himself to be a "Tyrant". The law was supposed to help cities that found themselves in financial insolvency, and one person is appointed to run the city to bring the city back to economic stability, by getting rid of government excess, solely based on the opinion of the City Manager. In other words, what the citizens of a city under the control of a City Manager want DON'T COUNT. It would take all day and a book to describe the mess in Michigan right now. But Democracy has all but been suspended in these cities. One more thing most of the Cities under control of a City Manager, the majority of the citizens are African American. I don't think this is a mere coincidence.
A recall movement began to repeal the horrid law, and guess what? The GOP controlled State Congress is against it. After petitions were passed around to repeal the law and place it on the ballot in June, it has been blocked by a board with connections to the Governor of Michigan and the State controlled Congress. It wasn't that the citizens of Michigan did not get enough signatures, they did. The problem is the board rejected the petitions because the were not printed in the proper FONT SIZE.
According to eclectablog.com 50% of African Americans in Michigan have been affected by the anti-democratic law. There are law suits and and even a request by the Justice Department to investigate the constitutionality of the law, but what I am angry about is, the mainstream media does't seem that issues like these deserve national attention. The only way I have been keeping up with what is going on is via MSNBC and notably Rachel Maddow and Al Sharpton, who have devoted major airing of what is happening in Michigan.
Again I understand how importantit is to pay attention to a Blind Chinese dissident, but what about our own back yard. Along with voter suppression with voter ID laws, (which is another Blog in it's self) this law is Michigan is one of the scariest things I have witnessed in my 59 years of life. It's happening right under our noses, and the organization which has the legal and constitutional authority to make us aware, is not doing it's job....The Press!
But what about freedom being in jeopardy right here in the continental United States of America.
As I type these words there is a battle in Michigan going on, due to a law that was voted on and passed by the Republican control state Congress, which allows the Governor of the state to suspend the duties of elected officials in cities, and replace them with a City Manager. One appointed City manager proclaimed himself to be a "Tyrant". The law was supposed to help cities that found themselves in financial insolvency, and one person is appointed to run the city to bring the city back to economic stability, by getting rid of government excess, solely based on the opinion of the City Manager. In other words, what the citizens of a city under the control of a City Manager want DON'T COUNT. It would take all day and a book to describe the mess in Michigan right now. But Democracy has all but been suspended in these cities. One more thing most of the Cities under control of a City Manager, the majority of the citizens are African American. I don't think this is a mere coincidence.
A recall movement began to repeal the horrid law, and guess what? The GOP controlled State Congress is against it. After petitions were passed around to repeal the law and place it on the ballot in June, it has been blocked by a board with connections to the Governor of Michigan and the State controlled Congress. It wasn't that the citizens of Michigan did not get enough signatures, they did. The problem is the board rejected the petitions because the were not printed in the proper FONT SIZE.
According to eclectablog.com 50% of African Americans in Michigan have been affected by the anti-democratic law. There are law suits and and even a request by the Justice Department to investigate the constitutionality of the law, but what I am angry about is, the mainstream media does't seem that issues like these deserve national attention. The only way I have been keeping up with what is going on is via MSNBC and notably Rachel Maddow and Al Sharpton, who have devoted major airing of what is happening in Michigan.
Again I understand how importantit is to pay attention to a Blind Chinese dissident, but what about our own back yard. Along with voter suppression with voter ID laws, (which is another Blog in it's self) this law is Michigan is one of the scariest things I have witnessed in my 59 years of life. It's happening right under our noses, and the organization which has the legal and constitutional authority to make us aware, is not doing it's job....The Press!
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