While researching the Bush administration's reason for invading Iraq, I came across a 2004 article written by Jane Mayer. This article detailed the role that Ahmad Chalabi had in the Iraq invasion. I know you are wondering, "Who is Ahmad Chalabi." Well, he was BRIEFLY in the news because the Bush administration attempted to discredit him because the media began asking questions. As with all the former weapons inspectors, former military leadership, and former intelligence officials that spoke out against the White House's reason for invading Iraq, the administration discredited Dr. Chalabi before the media (and American people) could begin asking questions. Unfortunately for the administration, Jane Mayer (and others) looked further into Dr. Chalabi's role within the adminstration. What Jane Mayer reveals reminds me of a scene from the televion show "24."
Click on the link for more information: The Manipulator
Written by COWBOY4EVER
Friday, March 24, 2006
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Bush: Powerful Statement
Wow!
Amazing!
Sad!
Anger!
Disbelief!
These are the words that came to mind after I viewed President Bush's press conference from West Virginia this week. I watched this press conference expecting to hear the same rhetoric that the administration uses every week.
You know the statements.......
"We are making progress in Iraq",
"We will not back down from terrorists",
"The UN Council and Congress voted for.......",
"The world is better off without Saddam in power"
I can go on and on...........
During Tuesday's press conference, our leader took his "matter-of-fact" comments to whole different level.
While commenting on the American troops presence in Iraq, Mr. Bush said future troop levels (decisions) "WILL BE DECIDED BY FUTURE PRESIDENTS AND FUTURE GOVERNMENTS OF IRAQ." WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
Being the non-veteran that I am, sadness instantly came over me. If I received that feeling, just imagine what parents and loved ones of soldiers in Iraq felt. Just imagine how the troops in Iraq felt. Just imagine how the troops PREPARING to depart for Iraq felt.
This administration has been playing games with the American public and the American troops from the very beginning. The administration knew all along their intentions for our troops.
American troops and their families..................KEEP YOUR HEAD UP (looking toward God).
Powerful Statement
Written by COWBOY4EVER
The Mouth Can Only Hold What's Really In Your Heart For So Long
Today's Washington Post highlighted a online message board for Montgomery County (Maryland) Police Department. The purpose of this message board was to give police officers an opportunity to share ideas, exchange light banter, and other job related information. Unfortunately, this message board has revealed the true feelings of some of officers that are suppose to protect the community.
Remind me to DRIVE WITH CAUTION while driving through Montgomery County.
Officers' Site Sinks Into Outlet for Attacks
Topics of Race, Sex Permeate Montgomery Police Union Message Board
By Ernesto LondoñoWashington Post Staff WriterThursday, March 23, 2006; A01
What's up with the cop in Silver Spring who's ratting out colleagues? That was the question raised by a police officer who started a thread on the online message board of the Montgomery County police union on July 15, 2004.
Within minutes, a flurry of responses began pouring in to the site, one of many online forums that have changed the way police gripe and gossip.
They called the African American officer in question a "rat," a racist and a lazy cop who needed to "be put in her place." Then her husband -- the department's former diversity training teacher, who was brought in after the agency came under scrutiny over allegations of racial profiling -- was dragged into the online onslaught.
"Let him jump out and scream profiling at me on a traffic stop," a writer identified only as "Irish Cop 4 Life" wrote. "The only profile he's going to see is mine driving him into the pavement by his racist skull!!!"
The message board was designed as a forum where officers could trade tips, complaints and light banter. But several officers say it has become an outlet for personal attacks -- often laced with racist language, sexual harassment and disparaging remarks about police supervisors, county leaders, immigrants and residents.
Copies of the messages from the password-protected Web site provided to The Post provide a rare glimpse of some officers talking among themselves. The authenticity of the messages, posted from 2004 to this year, was verified by officers with access to the site.
The officer attacked in July 2004 was Cpl. Sonia Pruitt, identified on the site not only by her name but also her professional particulars: badge No. 1134, Silver Spring station, central business district. She said the attack stemmed from a misunderstanding of an innocuous episode involving an officer she believed did not follow proper procedure during an arrest.
The threat about her husband would have been jarring in any context, Pruitt said. But coming from one of her colleagues -- only Montgomery County police officers have access to the forum -- it was downright bloodcurdling.
"Who's to say a guy with a gun wouldn't hurt my husband on a traffic stop?" she asked.
Officers concerned about what they describe as a spate of increasingly odious exchanges say union leaders and police supervisors have largely ignored their complaints. The union president said the site is deliberately uncensored, but he said he discourages its use as an outlet for personal attacks, harassment and racist language.
Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said he has known for some time that some officers were unhappy with the message boards, but he said he was unaware of the nature of the offensive threads until a reporter read him a sample.
"I'm very disappointed to know that we have a handful of employees that would write some of the things that are written in this forum," Manger said. "I know it does not reflect 99 percent of our employees. I will not tolerate any unlawful or improper conduct by any police department employee in the course of their duties."
Five officers interviewed for this story said they think the uncivil messages are the work of a loud minority and do not reflect the values of most officers. But they say the messages offer a disturbing look into the minds of some of their colleagues, and they say they worry that the postings might influence rookies.
"If you treat your brothers and sisters like this," said Detective Terry Ridgley, president of the department's black officers association, "how can we expect you to treat members of the community with respect?"
The county's immigrants, a segment of the population whose trust the police department has worked hard to gain, have frequently been the target of offensive messages.
A January thread that started with a message about a sign at a district station turned into a rant about the county's changing demographics. One officer identified only as "4D" -- the Wheaton district station -- wrote: "Half of the district NO HABLA!!!! COMPRENDE??" Another poster using the pseudonym "SE HABLA AWE SCREW IT, HANDS UP PACO" responded later in the thread, which had "Ig'nant" as a subject line: "HALF, TRY 90 PERCENT . . . BEANERS GO HOME."
A February thread started by an officer looking for "a good painter that would be cheap" led to messages about the Minutemen, an anti-illegal immigration group that recently started scouting day laborer sites in the county.
"Casa de Maryland should be done away with, as should any safehaven for illegals," one writer, identified only as "." offered, referring to a group that assists immigrants in the county. "In 20 years you'll have 150 channels of Telemundo, and you'll be paying for English-language channels -- and you'll be at the day laborer center, waiting for a pick-up."
Another poster, who said he was a Hispanic officer, shot back: "This is the trash I have to deal [with] in this department everyday and it's getting really old. Cut it off. Next time when you call a signal 13" -- code for an officer in distress -- "or help for translation look around and see who's backing you up. Be safe."
Non-Hispanic immigrants have also been trounced on the site. In August 2004, officers criticized a group of African immigrants who protested after a Montgomery officer fatally shot Peter Ayompeuh Njang, 25, a Cameroonian immigrant, on Aug. 12 in Silver Spring.
"What I'd like to know is how many of the protesters are illegals, and how many will be arriving to the demonstration in unregistered, uninsured vehicles with someone else's credit card," one officer identified as "Status Quo" wrote.
Race and demographics are not the only volatile subjects on the boards. There have been sexually explicit postings. One depicted a fictional incident involving a female police commander in SWAT gear demanding sex from a female job applicant. Another posted under the name of a sergeant described how he masturbated while driving.
Message boards frequented by law enforcement officials have proliferated rapidly in recent years, said Chip DeBlock, a detective with the Tampa Police Department who started http://www.leoaffairs.com , a site that hosts more than 150 message boards for law enforcement communities, which he said gets more than 4 million hits per month.
DeBlock said the forums allow officers from different states to swap tips, discuss procedures and speak frankly to management -- frequently emboldened by anonymity.
Keeping the exchanges civil on the leoaffairs.com boards has required the help of 150 volunteer moderators.
In recent years, officers in Baltimore, New York and Detroit have been fired or suspended for running Web sites with online message boards that got out of hand, according to news accounts of those cases. In 2002, 24 District police officers were suspended after an investigation into the use of squad car computers to send offensive or threatening e-mail.
Montgomery officers say the union has declined to require posters to identity themselves on the message boards, a simple step they say would tame the content.
Walter Bader, president of the county's Fraternal Order of Police lodge, said some of the egregious messages could be the work of nonunion members who may have hacked into the site to undermine the union.
"We don't censor it, we don't actively monitor it," Bader said. "It's free speech, it's 2006, it's technology. I don't agree with some of what I see on there. I don't think people should slander each other. But we're in a free country. We should embrace free speech."
Montgomery officers say the command staff has known about the forum for several months but has not publicly denounced the destructive content. Although the department has no oversight over the board, officers said, commanders could easily restrict access to it from work computers.
"I'm ashamed of my department if they allow this to go on," said Eric Mason, a detective with the department's major crimes unit.
Remind me to DRIVE WITH CAUTION while driving through Montgomery County.
Officers' Site Sinks Into Outlet for Attacks
Topics of Race, Sex Permeate Montgomery Police Union Message Board
By Ernesto LondoñoWashington Post Staff WriterThursday, March 23, 2006; A01
What's up with the cop in Silver Spring who's ratting out colleagues? That was the question raised by a police officer who started a thread on the online message board of the Montgomery County police union on July 15, 2004.
Within minutes, a flurry of responses began pouring in to the site, one of many online forums that have changed the way police gripe and gossip.
They called the African American officer in question a "rat," a racist and a lazy cop who needed to "be put in her place." Then her husband -- the department's former diversity training teacher, who was brought in after the agency came under scrutiny over allegations of racial profiling -- was dragged into the online onslaught.
"Let him jump out and scream profiling at me on a traffic stop," a writer identified only as "Irish Cop 4 Life" wrote. "The only profile he's going to see is mine driving him into the pavement by his racist skull!!!"
The message board was designed as a forum where officers could trade tips, complaints and light banter. But several officers say it has become an outlet for personal attacks -- often laced with racist language, sexual harassment and disparaging remarks about police supervisors, county leaders, immigrants and residents.
Copies of the messages from the password-protected Web site provided to The Post provide a rare glimpse of some officers talking among themselves. The authenticity of the messages, posted from 2004 to this year, was verified by officers with access to the site.
The officer attacked in July 2004 was Cpl. Sonia Pruitt, identified on the site not only by her name but also her professional particulars: badge No. 1134, Silver Spring station, central business district. She said the attack stemmed from a misunderstanding of an innocuous episode involving an officer she believed did not follow proper procedure during an arrest.
The threat about her husband would have been jarring in any context, Pruitt said. But coming from one of her colleagues -- only Montgomery County police officers have access to the forum -- it was downright bloodcurdling.
"Who's to say a guy with a gun wouldn't hurt my husband on a traffic stop?" she asked.
Officers concerned about what they describe as a spate of increasingly odious exchanges say union leaders and police supervisors have largely ignored their complaints. The union president said the site is deliberately uncensored, but he said he discourages its use as an outlet for personal attacks, harassment and racist language.
Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said he has known for some time that some officers were unhappy with the message boards, but he said he was unaware of the nature of the offensive threads until a reporter read him a sample.
"I'm very disappointed to know that we have a handful of employees that would write some of the things that are written in this forum," Manger said. "I know it does not reflect 99 percent of our employees. I will not tolerate any unlawful or improper conduct by any police department employee in the course of their duties."
Five officers interviewed for this story said they think the uncivil messages are the work of a loud minority and do not reflect the values of most officers. But they say the messages offer a disturbing look into the minds of some of their colleagues, and they say they worry that the postings might influence rookies.
"If you treat your brothers and sisters like this," said Detective Terry Ridgley, president of the department's black officers association, "how can we expect you to treat members of the community with respect?"
The county's immigrants, a segment of the population whose trust the police department has worked hard to gain, have frequently been the target of offensive messages.
A January thread that started with a message about a sign at a district station turned into a rant about the county's changing demographics. One officer identified only as "4D" -- the Wheaton district station -- wrote: "Half of the district NO HABLA!!!! COMPRENDE??" Another poster using the pseudonym "SE HABLA AWE SCREW IT, HANDS UP PACO" responded later in the thread, which had "Ig'nant" as a subject line: "HALF, TRY 90 PERCENT . . . BEANERS GO HOME."
A February thread started by an officer looking for "a good painter that would be cheap" led to messages about the Minutemen, an anti-illegal immigration group that recently started scouting day laborer sites in the county.
"Casa de Maryland should be done away with, as should any safehaven for illegals," one writer, identified only as "." offered, referring to a group that assists immigrants in the county. "In 20 years you'll have 150 channels of Telemundo, and you'll be paying for English-language channels -- and you'll be at the day laborer center, waiting for a pick-up."
Another poster, who said he was a Hispanic officer, shot back: "This is the trash I have to deal [with] in this department everyday and it's getting really old. Cut it off. Next time when you call a signal 13" -- code for an officer in distress -- "or help for translation look around and see who's backing you up. Be safe."
Non-Hispanic immigrants have also been trounced on the site. In August 2004, officers criticized a group of African immigrants who protested after a Montgomery officer fatally shot Peter Ayompeuh Njang, 25, a Cameroonian immigrant, on Aug. 12 in Silver Spring.
"What I'd like to know is how many of the protesters are illegals, and how many will be arriving to the demonstration in unregistered, uninsured vehicles with someone else's credit card," one officer identified as "Status Quo" wrote.
Race and demographics are not the only volatile subjects on the boards. There have been sexually explicit postings. One depicted a fictional incident involving a female police commander in SWAT gear demanding sex from a female job applicant. Another posted under the name of a sergeant described how he masturbated while driving.
Message boards frequented by law enforcement officials have proliferated rapidly in recent years, said Chip DeBlock, a detective with the Tampa Police Department who started http://www.leoaffairs.com , a site that hosts more than 150 message boards for law enforcement communities, which he said gets more than 4 million hits per month.
DeBlock said the forums allow officers from different states to swap tips, discuss procedures and speak frankly to management -- frequently emboldened by anonymity.
Keeping the exchanges civil on the leoaffairs.com boards has required the help of 150 volunteer moderators.
In recent years, officers in Baltimore, New York and Detroit have been fired or suspended for running Web sites with online message boards that got out of hand, according to news accounts of those cases. In 2002, 24 District police officers were suspended after an investigation into the use of squad car computers to send offensive or threatening e-mail.
Montgomery officers say the union has declined to require posters to identity themselves on the message boards, a simple step they say would tame the content.
Walter Bader, president of the county's Fraternal Order of Police lodge, said some of the egregious messages could be the work of nonunion members who may have hacked into the site to undermine the union.
"We don't censor it, we don't actively monitor it," Bader said. "It's free speech, it's 2006, it's technology. I don't agree with some of what I see on there. I don't think people should slander each other. But we're in a free country. We should embrace free speech."
Montgomery officers say the command staff has known about the forum for several months but has not publicly denounced the destructive content. Although the department has no oversight over the board, officers said, commanders could easily restrict access to it from work computers.
"I'm ashamed of my department if they allow this to go on," said Eric Mason, a detective with the department's major crimes unit.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Proms Divided by Race
"I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
" Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Last evening, I had the pleasure (if you want to call it that) of watching the Lifetime Movie Network program entitled, "For One Night." This movie followed a fictional character by the name of Brianna McCallister as she attempted to organize the first intregrated prom in her high school's history.
While watching this movie I kept trying to make myself believe that this story was taking place in the 50's, 60's, or 70's. I didn't want to believe the facts. I wanted to come out of my DEEP sleep. Unfortunately, I could not come out of my DEEP sleep, because I WASN'T SLEEP. This story isn't based off events that took place in the 50's, 60's, or 70's. This FRAC-IN-ACLE-BULL took place in ............................................... 2002.
Twenty-nine years after Dr. Martin Luther King gave his now famous "I Have A Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC (August 28,1963), we STILL are having issues with segregation.
The real-life story took place in a small town called Butler, Georgia. The young lady that took a stand against segregate proms in her high school was Gerica McCrary (played by Raven Simone). Gerica didn't understand the need to have two proms (white prom/black prom) when the majority of students interact with each other everyday during the school year. Nearly 75% of the juniors and seniors at the high school supported Gerica's idea. Unfortunately, it was the ADULTS that continued to impart their racial wisdom into their kids and community. If it had not been for Shandra Hill Smith, freelancer writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper, this prom and story would probably be Butler, Georgia little SECRET. Shandra Hill Smith also attended the same high school years ago, so she had a first-hand knowledge of Butler, Georgia secret life.
Gerica was able to successful have ONE prom for her senior class. Unfortunately, the white students (and parents) decided to have WHITES-ONLY proms again (and still do).
I would like to thank Gerica McCrary and Shandra Hill Smith for taking a STAND!
Click on the attached links for more information on the Taylor County High School proms.
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/fyi/teachers.ednews/04/22/integrated.prom.ap/
http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/05/02/separate.proms.ap/
http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/originals/foronenight.html
Friday, March 10, 2006
It's Hard Out Here for a ........
Daylight shootings.
Carjackings.
Rappers are celebrated for getting shot or doing time in prison (see Lil' Kim).
Cable stations that were created for African Americans highlight the sex and drinking aspects of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Through various media outlets, the "pimp" lifestyle (or wannabes) is only associated with African Americans.
Blacks only win Oscars when they are degrading women.
I originally planned to write a very thought provoking piece on this whole "pimp" thing, but after reading Washington Post writer, Jabari Asim's article, I decided against it. His article summed up my feelings. Enjoy!
Needed: A Replacement for 'Pimp
By Jabari Asim
Thursday, March 9, 2006; 12:00 AM
The best thing about Three 6 Mafia winning an Oscar for Best Song is the likelihood of "pimp" losing its luster of hipness.
While the prospect of previously oblivious whites adopting the word is a nauseating probability, the mainstreaming of "pimp" should reduce its popularity in the black communities where it first shucked its cobwebs and regained its currency. Its anticipated lapse in popularity creates an opportunity to suggest new lingo to my fellow African-American city dwellers, who often originate the nation's catchiest slang.
My first suggestion: "scholar."
Imagine yourself amid all the men who used to gather aimlessly on street corners, lounge on the steps of other people's houses and hang out with the rest of the worshipful congregations outside package liquor stores -- all of you deeply absorbed in library books.
Except you can top them all by trundling down the street with -- you guessed it -- a wheelbarrow almost overflowing with the latest volumes by our nation's best authors.
You'll help to popularize an exciting new trend. Once it catches on in "urban" neighborhoods, it will inevitably "cross over" into white ones and, before you know it, openly building one's intellectual muscles will be known as "acting black."
You can win friends and influence people -- plus earn the undying admiration of the women in your neighborhood who are pining for an intelligent, well-read mate -- by handling your load with a mixture of staunch self-discipline and weary resignation.
"Say, brother," one of your fellow intellectuals might say, "looks like you have quite a bit of studying to do this fine evening."
"You're right," you might reply. "I could be off luring vulnerable women into an exploitative economic relationship based on the trading of sex for money -- behavior that would benefit neither myself, the hapless women or all those desperate, duplicitous and disease-spreading customers who should be home with their wives and children (see below). But what can I tell you?
It's hard out here for a scholar."
A second suggestion: "husband."
American society seems perfectly poised for the reintroduction of a once-revered but fading tradition -- and you, my trend-savvy friend, can be at the forefront! It's really not so hard to picture yourself in a committed relationship with one -- just one -- of those smart, attractive African-American women who have spent their single years dreaming of a faithful, loving and hard-working scholar (see above). I can see you now, hurrying home with your briefcase or lunch bucket in tow, rushing to keep pace with that growing assembly of black men striding with similar briskness home to their wives and children (see below).
"Say, brother," one of your equally dedicated peers might say, "looks like you're doing your utmost to keep those home fires burning. And might I also say that you are carrying one lovely bouquet?"
"Why, thanks," you might reply. "A dozen roses for my sweet, but that's not all." Here you lean forward with a conspiratorial wink. "I also have a paycheck in my breast pocket." After a mutually celebratory chuckle, you could add: "I guess I could have chosen a less disciplined life of slacking, stealing and engaging in exploitative relationships that involve the trading of sex for money (see above), but what I can say?
It's hard out here for a husband."
Finally, a word that, like our previous suggestion, seems to have lost much of its prestige during an era in which 68 percent of African-American children are born out of wedlock: "father."
It could go like this:
Minutes after rushing home with your briefcase and/or lunch bucket, library books and bountiful bouquet, you change into loose clothing and take your children to the park with your wife (see above) while there's an hour or two of daylight left.
One of the other dads pushing his sons on the swings or tossing a ball with his daughters might turn to you and say, "It's a perfect evening for family fun, is it not?"
"Right on, my brother," you might say in response. "I'll admit to feeling a tad fatigued after a long day of rigorous, engaging and lawful labor, but my night's rest will be well earned."
"I suppose I could have chosen a different lifestyle," you could add while keeping a loving eye on your beautiful family.
"Perhaps I could have been a slacker, thief, deadbeat dad or participant in the trading of sex for money, but what can I say? It's hard out here for a father."
It may indeed be tough going for pimps these days. But what can I say:
It's also hard out here for all of the above.
Outside Looking In
Today's Washington Post featured an article that included the following statement: "For a long time, the life and security of the people of the United States has not been under efficient protection. Blacks are given heavier criminal penalties, arrested more frequently and are more likely to be targeted for hate crimes."
Can you guess where these comments originated?
Do you give up?
Come on, think a little harder!
Okay, time's up!
These comments come from The State Council, China's Cabinet. China on Thursday lashed out against the U.S. criticism of its human rights record.
Isn't it sad that other countries can see the blight of many African Americans, but our own country refuses to acknowledge it.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-03-09-china-humanrights_x.htm
Can you guess where these comments originated?
Do you give up?
Come on, think a little harder!
Okay, time's up!
These comments come from The State Council, China's Cabinet. China on Thursday lashed out against the U.S. criticism of its human rights record.
Isn't it sad that other countries can see the blight of many African Americans, but our own country refuses to acknowledge it.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-03-09-china-humanrights_x.htm
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Church Arsons
The cowards have been caught! The cowards have been caught!
If you recall, a few weeks ago I posted my commentary on the arson fires in Alabama. Well, I'm happy to announce that the "cowards" have been caught. According to reports, the suspects started burning the churches as part of their college pranks. What makes this "prank" even more interesting is the fact that they attended an religious institution of higher learning.
I'm not going to spend too much of my valuable time writing about these "cowards." Please read the attached link concerning their methods and reasoning for the crimes. Also, let's pray that every church effected by these suspects be rebuilt in a timely manner.
P.S. "What you do in the DARK, God will expose publicly."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/08/AR2006030800724.html
If you recall, a few weeks ago I posted my commentary on the arson fires in Alabama. Well, I'm happy to announce that the "cowards" have been caught. According to reports, the suspects started burning the churches as part of their college pranks. What makes this "prank" even more interesting is the fact that they attended an religious institution of higher learning.
I'm not going to spend too much of my valuable time writing about these "cowards." Please read the attached link concerning their methods and reasoning for the crimes. Also, let's pray that every church effected by these suspects be rebuilt in a timely manner.
P.S. "What you do in the DARK, God will expose publicly."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/08/AR2006030800724.html
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Which War Is More Important?
Today's Washington Post has a article that starts by saying, " execution-style slaying are the latests in increasing cycle of sectarian bloodshed across Iraq." This type of killings are becoming commonplace in Iraq. We have the U.S. military in the area trying to restore order to Iraq. We have the members of Congress developing bills that will address this issue. We have the United Nations paying close attention. This has become a national crisis. All of the national television networks devote an enormous portion of their time discussing whether Iraq will break out into a major civil war.
With all this discussion about Iraq taking place, we have failed to discuss the war that's taking place in the United States. Yesterday, there was a execution-style slaying in Washington, DC. This slaying took place in broad daylight (around 12 noon). At least 30 gunshots were fired. After a police chase, three suspects were arrested, one man was dead, another man was shot, and his wife escaped. Apparently this was retaliation for a killing a week earlier.
What is going on? Why has our society chosen to ignore this crisis? Why has the African American community allowed the media (radio, television, movies, and videos) to glamorize the hood lifestyle? Why are parents allowing their children to grow up with no discipline or guidance? Why are the churches concentrating on the issues within their four walls only? Why has our government chosen to liberate and fight for other countries and not their own? Has society become NUMB to these crimes?
At this point, we need to stop having discussions (i.e. State of Black America, etc.) and start TAKING OUR STREETS, CITIES, TOWNS, and STATES back.
What do you think?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/08/AR2006030800043.html
With all this discussion about Iraq taking place, we have failed to discuss the war that's taking place in the United States. Yesterday, there was a execution-style slaying in Washington, DC. This slaying took place in broad daylight (around 12 noon). At least 30 gunshots were fired. After a police chase, three suspects were arrested, one man was dead, another man was shot, and his wife escaped. Apparently this was retaliation for a killing a week earlier.
What is going on? Why has our society chosen to ignore this crisis? Why has the African American community allowed the media (radio, television, movies, and videos) to glamorize the hood lifestyle? Why are parents allowing their children to grow up with no discipline or guidance? Why are the churches concentrating on the issues within their four walls only? Why has our government chosen to liberate and fight for other countries and not their own? Has society become NUMB to these crimes?
At this point, we need to stop having discussions (i.e. State of Black America, etc.) and start TAKING OUR STREETS, CITIES, TOWNS, and STATES back.
What do you think?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/08/AR2006030800043.html
Monday, March 06, 2006
The Lent Season
The Lent Season begins six weeks before Easter Sunday. It is a time of repentance and preparation. In Lent, we remember the temptation of Christ in the wilderness and His journey to the Cross. We become aware of how Christ humbled Himself and how God calls us, also, to humility as we participate in His redemptive purposes. We consider, also, what our own place of service and sacrifice is in His divine plan.
Lent concludes with Holy Week. On Palm Sunday, we think of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, knowing that soon He would be rejected by the very ones who waved their branches and shouted Hosanna! Many Christians talk about what they are “giving up” for Lent. But that needs to be understood in the context of what we are taking on. That is, what am I willing to let go of so that I may accomplish the destiny God has for me?
Jesus extends this invitation:
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give your rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30)
Paul put it this way:
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
In closing, the forty days of Lent is an opportunity to enter into the purpose, passion, and power of the Lord Jesus Christ, and be made more like Him. So what are you "giving up?" Is it unforgiveness, bad attitude, bad financial stewardship, Go-Go music, dates, self-dishonesty, pride, bad language, shopping? When making your decision, please be honest with yourself. God already KNOWS the things that are keeping you from getting closer to Him.
DON'T PLEASE PEOPLE, TRY TO PLEASE GOD
Written by COWBOY4EVER
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Hurricane Katrina Briefings - SICKEN
Let's see! A couple of days after Hurricane Katrina hit the New Orleans, President Bush said, "I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees," and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff agreed. Now six months later the Associated Press released a video that shows Michael Brown, then-Director of the FEMA, giving President Bush not only warnings about the levees in New Orleans but warnings of possible disastrous conditions at the New Orleans Superdome stadium. Although this video CLEARLY illustrates the Bush Administration's lack of action during this crisis, they are attempting to downplay the significance of the video.
When I saw this story being reported on the 10'o clock news last evening, I instantly received a sicken feeling in my stomach. I didn't get angry, I became sick. How can my wonderful country go to other countries to liberate the citizens, but NEGLECT the citizens at home. How can my country allow this to happen? Did the slow response happen because the majority of the 9th ward resident are black? Is it because the majority of people that tried to find safe haven in the New Orleans Superdome was black? I'm going to leave that question for you, the reader, to ponder. The question I keep asking myself is, "Would this slow response have happened in the State of Florida?" I DON'T THINK SO!
As the evening continue I started to become angry because several cable news network's tried to blame the residents for their fate. These buffoons on television blamed the residents because they didn't evacuate the city. When you have many people in that area (and globally) living paycheck to paycheck, these residents probably didn't want to leave their homes with "no money." This pro-administration media blitz was done to divert attention from their lack of effort.
The one lesson that I have learned from this disaster is, "don't put your total trust in the federal government." They will fail you every time.
PLEASE SHOW YOUR DISPLEASURE WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION BY VOTING DURING YOUR LOCAL ELECTIONS. WE NEED TO SHOW THAT WE DEMAND RESULTS.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/02/fema.tapes/index.html
Written by COWBOY4EVER
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
