Nothing elucidates a fall from grace like the life of O.J. Simpson.
He was the dashing handsome running back all of American's seemed to love. He came to fame during the last stages of the Civil Rights struggle. His name was held high with Cassius Clay and Lew Alcindor. Men who all young African Americans my age could set as genuine role models. Placed on the alters of hope and future aspirations. To many White children my age, O.J. was the Black man they could look up to as a role model without concerns of the intolerant society of the time. I recall the death of one of his children in a drowning accident. The whole nation seemed to mourn with him. He was adored by all.
Then in June of 1994 his whole world came crashing down like a Russian meteor from hell. Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Lyle Goldman, were found murdered in an upscale neighborhood in West Los Angeles, called Brentwood. I actually walked by the restaurant where Nicole had her last meal, and Ron made his last dime. I asked a waiter to point out to me and a date where Nicole had been sitting. He silently pointed to a table near the front entrance.
There was this global gasp. I did not even know that O.J. and Nicole were separated at that time. I stopped paying attention to his love life after he divorced his wife quite frankly, so the details of the volatile relationship was news to me. I dare say to many others, because O.J. was really nothing more than a commercial jockey by then. (It would have been interesting to see, if his reputation had survived to Reality TV)
Then came the words that changed O.J.'s life forever. SUSPECT! OJ was now subject to the word that most Black males in America fear including myself. Because it was commonly felt, right or wrong, in the Black community any Black man suspected of killing a White woman was guilty as sin by most White folks. No trial, no jury needed. I also think that 80% of the people who think he is guilty made up there minds when he decided to do the car chase thing. Had he not done that the percentages would be significantly lower.
There was a trial, THE TRIAL OF THE CENTURY . The world had never seen anything like it since the TV era. Probably the closest trial of the 1900's to compare was that of Bruno Richard Hauptmann and before that Lizzie Borden. I actually believe the OJ trial gave birth to FOX NEWS, which was launched in 1996 during deliberations.
I don't have time to go over all the facts of the trial as I see them, but the prosecution lost me when it opened up the trial with the, Barking of a Dog. In fact the same night I walked passed the restaurant in question, my date and I were in the same neighborhood of the murders. Suddenly a dog barked and I joked, "Listen Honey, a Black man is killing a White woman." Now there is even a case out for a serial killer, who may have done the dastardly deed.
My main reason for believing OJ did not commit the murders is for this reason. He is to stupid to get away with such an elaborate crime.
If OJ had committed those murders the police would have found more, than a glove that did not fit, and scratch on his finger, and spots of blood here and there, and his DNA at the house of his ex-wife and children. He is so dumb they would have found him dressed in bloody clothes, the knife, at the scene, saying "Blood? What Blood? Bodies? What Bodies?
There are a lot of other things I can point to towards his stupidity, I have already mentioned the car chase. The one that sticks out the most is the book, in which he details how he would have done it if he did it. How stupid is that.
Finally, here is a man who is considered worst than Jack the Ripper in many American's minds and he remained in the country. He could have moved to Jamaica, Africa, even Europe, where most people were still objective towards him. But NOOOOOO! He remained in the U.S., where he got set up in a sting and now may spend the rest of his life in jail. (He ain't looking to good these days). Anybody who has read the legal disclaimers on the back of a cereal box can see the trial in Las Vegas was a farce. Yeah OJ you finally got your "UP COME-ENCE". You uppity person you.
I always say if I was a criminal court judge, I would give out "Stupid" sentences along with the regular ones.
"5 years for car theft, 1 year for stealing it at a police station," that sort of thing.
I gave OJ a pass on his first trial. But the second one, he earned, he earned Big Time. Being arrogant and dumb.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Monday, December 17, 2012
Is God A Mass Murderer?
Of course not!
But, if you listen to so-called religious leaders in the media He or She is. Why would God condone the killing of 26 innocent people? Faith or no faith it shouldn't make sense. And it sure does not to me.
I once met a born again, Christian who was formerly a Satan worshiper. He still had tattoos that proved his once diabolical faith. He was a former drug addict who was in recovery and was had to change in order to survive. I was his case manager at the time. When we had our initial one on one, I asked him why he had chose to Worship the Devil. His response will be with me the rest of my life.
He told me that when he was 17 he had gotten a girl pregnant. Soon after his infant son was born, the child passed away. He was told by someone from the clergy, that it 'Was God's Will that his son died.' He then told me if God killed his son, then God was now his enemy.
What startled me at the time, due to my strong faith in Christianity, that it made perfect sense. These foolish people who keep repeating the nonsense, that God's will allows for the murder of innocents for some divine purpose ,are more a deterrent, than a path to God.
If I were on the Empire State Building and jumped, I would be pretty stupid saying, "God see what you did!" What's even more ridiculous is if I start to pray for God to save me once I jumped. Unless there is something only I can do for Him or Her, I will be splattered all over the pavement.
WHY CAN'T THE CLERGY GIVE MORE PRACTICAL AND COMMON SENSE CONSOLATION?
It was a physical condition that killed that former Satan worshiper's baby. It was "Crib Death" (SIDS) that took that child's life, not God. It was being human and mortal and living in a world where there are a thousand ways to die, not God's will. So why not just say something like the what happened, or better yet, be real honest and say "I DON'T KNOW"?
This is what I believe. Prayer does work. It may not change the situation, but it can change my attitude, it can bring comfort. I can question and ask that I receive an answer, if not now, one day. I can pray for something be done to prevent bad things from happening to good people. I can pray for the necessary action to take to make sure it can be prevented. I can pray for family and friends to comfort me, I can be there for those who survived.
"FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD"
I believe that God's will, is for all mankind, to cooperate with each other, so that we can live in peace.
That all reasonable people band together against the unreasonable. That He or She would not want mentally ill people or criminals to get guns without a background check.
Believe me, I am not religious, I am spiritual, and only because I have a condition that warrants it.
BUT IF I HEAR ONE MORE CLERGY SAY , IT'S GOD'S WILL THAT 26 PEOPLE, 20 OF THEM IN KINDERGARTEN, BE MURDERED AND I SHOULD ACCEPT THAT, I WILL GOOGLE THE AMERICAN ATHEIST SOCIETY AND PERHAPS REQUEST AN APPLICATION.
I won't believe in a God that kills babies because He or She can. I just won't.
But, if you listen to so-called religious leaders in the media He or She is. Why would God condone the killing of 26 innocent people? Faith or no faith it shouldn't make sense. And it sure does not to me.
I once met a born again, Christian who was formerly a Satan worshiper. He still had tattoos that proved his once diabolical faith. He was a former drug addict who was in recovery and was had to change in order to survive. I was his case manager at the time. When we had our initial one on one, I asked him why he had chose to Worship the Devil. His response will be with me the rest of my life.
He told me that when he was 17 he had gotten a girl pregnant. Soon after his infant son was born, the child passed away. He was told by someone from the clergy, that it 'Was God's Will that his son died.' He then told me if God killed his son, then God was now his enemy.
What startled me at the time, due to my strong faith in Christianity, that it made perfect sense. These foolish people who keep repeating the nonsense, that God's will allows for the murder of innocents for some divine purpose ,are more a deterrent, than a path to God.
If I were on the Empire State Building and jumped, I would be pretty stupid saying, "God see what you did!" What's even more ridiculous is if I start to pray for God to save me once I jumped. Unless there is something only I can do for Him or Her, I will be splattered all over the pavement.
WHY CAN'T THE CLERGY GIVE MORE PRACTICAL AND COMMON SENSE CONSOLATION?
It was a physical condition that killed that former Satan worshiper's baby. It was "Crib Death" (SIDS) that took that child's life, not God. It was being human and mortal and living in a world where there are a thousand ways to die, not God's will. So why not just say something like the what happened, or better yet, be real honest and say "I DON'T KNOW"?
This is what I believe. Prayer does work. It may not change the situation, but it can change my attitude, it can bring comfort. I can question and ask that I receive an answer, if not now, one day. I can pray for something be done to prevent bad things from happening to good people. I can pray for the necessary action to take to make sure it can be prevented. I can pray for family and friends to comfort me, I can be there for those who survived.
"FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD"
I believe that God's will, is for all mankind, to cooperate with each other, so that we can live in peace.
That all reasonable people band together against the unreasonable. That He or She would not want mentally ill people or criminals to get guns without a background check.
Believe me, I am not religious, I am spiritual, and only because I have a condition that warrants it.
BUT IF I HEAR ONE MORE CLERGY SAY , IT'S GOD'S WILL THAT 26 PEOPLE, 20 OF THEM IN KINDERGARTEN, BE MURDERED AND I SHOULD ACCEPT THAT, I WILL GOOGLE THE AMERICAN ATHEIST SOCIETY AND PERHAPS REQUEST AN APPLICATION.
I won't believe in a God that kills babies because He or She can. I just won't.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
"WE THE PEOPLE" HAVE CHANGED!
"WE THE PEOPLE" Those are some powerful words. No matter what the makeup is in this country, WE THE PEOPLE have the final say who leads. We are a diverse people. For the first time in my life I see the beginning of the end of RACISM, SEXISM, and INEQUALITY. WE THE PEOPLE no longer represents White males who own property. We the people are anyone who cast a ballot.
When Sen. Mitch McConnell stated what the priority of the Republican party was, I heard the dog whistle loud and clear. He represented White people who are afraid of diversity in this country. The fear that one day, the White race would no longer be the majority voting race. They would no longer be the shot callers.
How did they not see this coming? You take over a country full of Brown & Red people, you import Black and Yellow people as slaves, (that's right, California has always been different, when everybody else had African Slaves, California got theirs from China), and treat them like shit as well. Oh yeah your women were second class citizens also.
This is not a indictment of the past. It was what it was. But since 1865 a change began with the Emancipation Proclamation. People other than White male property owners were eventually given the right to vote. In 1964 with the passing of the Equal Rights laws, they insured this day would come.
I have heard scuttle butt about a race war, even Donald Dumb Ass Trump seemed to call for a revolution. You see, idiots like him don't see the beauty and the blessing we have with the power of the vote.
We have the ballot so we don't need bullets.
I give credit where credit is due. If it weren't for many of those White Male property owners, I and other non-white citizens and women would not be enjoying the freedoms we share today. They forged this change with the American Civil War.
Yes WE THE PEOPLE are changing, but that doesn't mean for the worst. I am an American of African decent. But an American none the less. I want this nation to remain the greatest nation on this planet for centuries to come. Just because non white numbers, and the changed identity of women have made it possible, that White males may never dominate again. It doesn't mean the destruction of America, it means America is evolving into a greater nation ,that will inspire the world to do the same.
There is no greater word in civilization than "COOPERATION!!!!"
How else do you think mankind made it to the 21 Century?
When Sen. Mitch McConnell stated what the priority of the Republican party was, I heard the dog whistle loud and clear. He represented White people who are afraid of diversity in this country. The fear that one day, the White race would no longer be the majority voting race. They would no longer be the shot callers.
How did they not see this coming? You take over a country full of Brown & Red people, you import Black and Yellow people as slaves, (that's right, California has always been different, when everybody else had African Slaves, California got theirs from China), and treat them like shit as well. Oh yeah your women were second class citizens also.
This is not a indictment of the past. It was what it was. But since 1865 a change began with the Emancipation Proclamation. People other than White male property owners were eventually given the right to vote. In 1964 with the passing of the Equal Rights laws, they insured this day would come.
I have heard scuttle butt about a race war, even Donald Dumb Ass Trump seemed to call for a revolution. You see, idiots like him don't see the beauty and the blessing we have with the power of the vote.
We have the ballot so we don't need bullets.
I give credit where credit is due. If it weren't for many of those White Male property owners, I and other non-white citizens and women would not be enjoying the freedoms we share today. They forged this change with the American Civil War.
Yes WE THE PEOPLE are changing, but that doesn't mean for the worst. I am an American of African decent. But an American none the less. I want this nation to remain the greatest nation on this planet for centuries to come. Just because non white numbers, and the changed identity of women have made it possible, that White males may never dominate again. It doesn't mean the destruction of America, it means America is evolving into a greater nation ,that will inspire the world to do the same.
There is no greater word in civilization than "COOPERATION!!!!"
How else do you think mankind made it to the 21 Century?
Friday, October 19, 2012
S.E. Cupp Queen of the Damn Right Wing Nut Jobs
My Great Grandmother, daughter of an African American slave, was what I considered a social genius. Even though she had a 7th grade education, she would come up with some gems, when it came to social interactions with others. She spoke in a deep "Old Style African American Southern" dialect . Which made memories of some of our conversations so precious. One of the things I use today, she taught me was how weed out a person's true feelings about a subject, idea, or person.
She told me one time, in a soft tone just above a whisper, "Boy, if you got a pack of dogs, in the woods, and you throw a stone against the barn door, the one that jumps and yelps, is the one that is ' doing what it ain't oughta [ought to]".
Yesterday I threw a stone against a barn door and a Bitch, (female dog) yelped. It was none other than S.E. Cupp, co-host of MSNBC's The Cycle.
Reading my tweets while watching The Cycle, and getting nauseated by what Ms. Cupp was saying about President Obama, I read a tweet from a person who usually supports me and my disdain, for her subjective nonsense. I noticed that the person I'm talking about was attacked by someone who used the twitter account name @thecyclemsnbc, because of something she said about Cupp. I in turn tweeted my opinion of Ms. Cupp, That she hated Obama, and the reason she hates him is because he is the First Black President. In 140 characters or less.
THEN TO MY AMAZEMENT, I SAW THAT @SECUPP HAD RETWEETED MY COMMENT. TWICE!
I looked on her account to see how many followers she had, and it was more than 16 thousand. I thought to myself, "Oh Shit!" and BOOM! they started coming. The Queen of Right Wing Nut Jobs, had called upon her brood to verbally assault me, and Boy did they. I got about 100 tweets calling every name in the book. The funny thing is that they were not defending S.E., they were mostly attacking both me and Obama in some very choice racist words and terms. One said he would burn a cross in my yard if gas prices wasn't so high. I loved that one. I had to laugh I now admit. But it is not funny!
My point is this, I use twitter, this blog, and other sites in which I can leave a comment as the Stone to throw. The social and internet media, is my barn door. The Stone is made from, agree with me or not, the truth as I see it.
But let's look at it another way. I'm 5'11 and Big Boned, (ok I'm fat) and Black. I would look pretty foolish if someone were to rush in a room, crowed with people which I am also located and yell, "YOU WHITE REDHEADED SKINNY FRECKLED FACE IDIOT", and I jumped and say, "WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ME LIKE THAT?" A reasonable person is only going to respond to WHAT IS
TRUE ABOUT THEM.
Face it I'm a nobody. What I say shouldn't matter to a mediocre celebrity. But in the 50 years since my Granny Ronsie, gave me that advise, I can say this with certainty, only the truth makes makes someone jump and yelp like that.
So I will say it again. S.E. Cupp hates that the President of America is Black. She talks less about is policy and mostly about his ATTITUDE. As a former EEOP counselor, that is one of the signs of discrimination in the work place.
She told me one time, in a soft tone just above a whisper, "Boy, if you got a pack of dogs, in the woods, and you throw a stone against the barn door, the one that jumps and yelps, is the one that is ' doing what it ain't oughta [ought to]".
Yesterday I threw a stone against a barn door and a Bitch, (female dog) yelped. It was none other than S.E. Cupp, co-host of MSNBC's The Cycle.
Reading my tweets while watching The Cycle, and getting nauseated by what Ms. Cupp was saying about President Obama, I read a tweet from a person who usually supports me and my disdain, for her subjective nonsense. I noticed that the person I'm talking about was attacked by someone who used the twitter account name @thecyclemsnbc, because of something she said about Cupp. I in turn tweeted my opinion of Ms. Cupp, That she hated Obama, and the reason she hates him is because he is the First Black President. In 140 characters or less.
THEN TO MY AMAZEMENT, I SAW THAT @SECUPP HAD RETWEETED MY COMMENT. TWICE!
I looked on her account to see how many followers she had, and it was more than 16 thousand. I thought to myself, "Oh Shit!" and BOOM! they started coming. The Queen of Right Wing Nut Jobs, had called upon her brood to verbally assault me, and Boy did they. I got about 100 tweets calling every name in the book. The funny thing is that they were not defending S.E., they were mostly attacking both me and Obama in some very choice racist words and terms. One said he would burn a cross in my yard if gas prices wasn't so high. I loved that one. I had to laugh I now admit. But it is not funny!
My point is this, I use twitter, this blog, and other sites in which I can leave a comment as the Stone to throw. The social and internet media, is my barn door. The Stone is made from, agree with me or not, the truth as I see it.
But let's look at it another way. I'm 5'11 and Big Boned, (ok I'm fat) and Black. I would look pretty foolish if someone were to rush in a room, crowed with people which I am also located and yell, "YOU WHITE REDHEADED SKINNY FRECKLED FACE IDIOT", and I jumped and say, "WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ME LIKE THAT?" A reasonable person is only going to respond to WHAT IS
TRUE ABOUT THEM.
Face it I'm a nobody. What I say shouldn't matter to a mediocre celebrity. But in the 50 years since my Granny Ronsie, gave me that advise, I can say this with certainty, only the truth makes makes someone jump and yelp like that.
So I will say it again. S.E. Cupp hates that the President of America is Black. She talks less about is policy and mostly about his ATTITUDE. As a former EEOP counselor, that is one of the signs of discrimination in the work place.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
The GOP want to stop African Americans from voting:PERIOD
In August of 1939, the Germans and the Soviet Union signed the famous "Non-Aggression Pact". The Nazis had duped the Russians into believing that they only wanted to invade Poland and had no intentions of going to war with them. But in June of 1941 with the Germans "Operation Barbarossa", the Russians found out the Nazis were full of you know what.
What does this have to do with voter suppression and African Americans? The GOP have duped a lot of Blacks into believing that voter ID laws are for protecting against voter fraud by illegal alien Latino voters. They have also duped a lot of independent White voters into believing the same thing.
THE GOP KNOW IF THEY CAN PREVENT 10% OF AFRICAN AMERICANS FROM VOTING ESPECIALLY IN SWING STATES, THAT CAN INCREASE THEIR CHANCES OF DEFEATING OBAMA BY 25%.
To me it should be obvious to all. It started out in 2004, with the GOP calling for voter ID, in all elections, and ended up including the shutting down of all voting traditions used by African American communities in 2010.
The GOP Think Tanks, have concluded they have lost the African American vote perhaps forever. They thought maybe they could counteract Obama by naming, an Uncle Tom like, Micheal Steele, as RNC Chairman. He failed at his task to lure the Black Vote from the Dems, and they kicked him to the curb.
SO SINCE THEY COULD NOT LURE THEIR VOTE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO SUPPRESS IT.
They also knew that they could not just come out and say that their purpose, was to prevent Blacks from voting, not until Mike Turzai spilled the beans. So they hid their true agenda under the guise of preventing illegal alien Latinos, in the hopes Blacks would not come out to challenge the legislation with a massive voter turn out. IT WORKED. Blacks had no idea that they were actually the intended target.
As a middle aged Black man, I use to hear Blacks and Whites use this notion, "If you want a negro to do something, tell them to do the opposite". I know this is offensive to many, but you have to remember 50 years ago, it was politically correct to use such racist crap as fact. Blacks joked about it, racist Whites believed it.
THE PROBLEM FOR THE GOP, IS, THEY BETTER HOPE IT IS JUST A MYTH.
To use another analogy from WWII, they may have wakened a sleeping giant. Since the truth has come out and Blacks are no longer in denial of what the GOP is attempting to do in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio, we are more galvanized than ever to make sure their attempt fails. In Social and Public media Blacks use,
GET OUT THE VOTE IS A GROWING THEME.
Now many more may vote, who did not intend to vote, before the truth came out.
Like my grandma use to say,
"THEY SHOULD HAVE LEFT, WELL ENOUGH, ALONE."
What does this have to do with voter suppression and African Americans? The GOP have duped a lot of Blacks into believing that voter ID laws are for protecting against voter fraud by illegal alien Latino voters. They have also duped a lot of independent White voters into believing the same thing.
THE GOP KNOW IF THEY CAN PREVENT 10% OF AFRICAN AMERICANS FROM VOTING ESPECIALLY IN SWING STATES, THAT CAN INCREASE THEIR CHANCES OF DEFEATING OBAMA BY 25%.
To me it should be obvious to all. It started out in 2004, with the GOP calling for voter ID, in all elections, and ended up including the shutting down of all voting traditions used by African American communities in 2010.
The GOP Think Tanks, have concluded they have lost the African American vote perhaps forever. They thought maybe they could counteract Obama by naming, an Uncle Tom like, Micheal Steele, as RNC Chairman. He failed at his task to lure the Black Vote from the Dems, and they kicked him to the curb.
SO SINCE THEY COULD NOT LURE THEIR VOTE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO SUPPRESS IT.
They also knew that they could not just come out and say that their purpose, was to prevent Blacks from voting, not until Mike Turzai spilled the beans. So they hid their true agenda under the guise of preventing illegal alien Latinos, in the hopes Blacks would not come out to challenge the legislation with a massive voter turn out. IT WORKED. Blacks had no idea that they were actually the intended target.
As a middle aged Black man, I use to hear Blacks and Whites use this notion, "If you want a negro to do something, tell them to do the opposite". I know this is offensive to many, but you have to remember 50 years ago, it was politically correct to use such racist crap as fact. Blacks joked about it, racist Whites believed it.
THE PROBLEM FOR THE GOP, IS, THEY BETTER HOPE IT IS JUST A MYTH.
To use another analogy from WWII, they may have wakened a sleeping giant. Since the truth has come out and Blacks are no longer in denial of what the GOP is attempting to do in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio, we are more galvanized than ever to make sure their attempt fails. In Social and Public media Blacks use,
GET OUT THE VOTE IS A GROWING THEME.
Now many more may vote, who did not intend to vote, before the truth came out.
Like my grandma use to say,
"THEY SHOULD HAVE LEFT, WELL ENOUGH, ALONE."
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
African Americans and military veterans: A great debt owed.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)