Keeping It Right

Keeping It Right is for thought provoking conversationist. It's for those who love to talk about today's issues, yesterday's history and tomorrow's future.

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Location: Texas, United States

Monday, August 28, 2006

Any Questions (Repfanz)

Over the weekend, both FOX News reporters were released from captivity after converting to Islam at gun point. I will re-write the whole thing again. Over the weekend, both FOX News reporters were released from captivity after converting to Islam at gun point.

Folks this proves our point about the enemy we are fighting. It proves that these Islamic fascists are WILLING AND READY TO DIE!! for their beliefs and their religion. And now we have two examples of what we are not willing to do. One, is to die for our religious beliefs and two, dying for our country. These two reporters showed "cowardice during common sense." Trust me no reasonable person would have NOT done the same thing, but aren't we having a Peter moment here.

Peter denied knowing Jesus not once, but three times! and this was after Jesus told him he was going to do it. Peter like these two men was facing death and when time came for them to look up high, cowardice during common sense showed up. Again who among us would not have done it?

The thought of possibly having your head literally cut off, your body hanged, quartered or shot in the back of the head is not the way we want to go out. Take these terrorists for instance, I don't think they would convert to christianity under gun point.

Dont' get me wrong, I am not questioning these FOX reporters faith or belief system and I am not questioning as to why these men converted to Islam.

It just seems to me that instead of dying for whatever religious belief or faith they may have had. They in essence denied to proclaim that their religious belief is the truth and their captives is a lie.

Source: www.michellemalkin.com

Story: The two journalists were dropped off at Gaza City's Beach Hotel by Palestinian security officials. A tearful Centanni embraced a Palestinian journalist briefly as he entered, then rushed upstairs as Wiig followed.
Centanni, in a phone interview shortly after his release, said "I'm fine. I'm just so happy to be free."
He said he was so emotional because he was out and alive.
"There were times when I thought 'I'm dead,' and I'm not," Centanni said. "I'm fine. I'm so very happy."
He recounted how he and Wiig were pulled out of their car on August 14 and taken at gunpoint into another car. The kidnappers blindfolded them and handcuffed their hands behind their backs with plastic ties. They were then transferred to another car and driven to a building that they later learned was a garage.
"We were pushed down onto the dirt-covered concrete floor and we were forced to life face down with our handcuffs on," Centanni said.
"Olaf was in the same room with me. Our shoulders were wrenched back, very painful."
Both of the men were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint, Centanni said.
"We were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint," Centanni told FOX News. "Don't get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it, but it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns, and we didn't know what the hell was going on."

LA Times: Life Altering Decisions

The attached story is about the thousands of excuses immigrants seeking asylum give to stay in this country. Some "stories" are sad, while others have you wondering why they got two minutes to speak.

For clarification I want to say this, if you're an illegal alien and you made the decision to come across our borders knowing you are breaking the law and you get arrested for another crime. You should be shrinked wrapped up to your head, have a mail label smacked on your forehead, placed into a parachute and dropped in the furthest part of the country from whence you came.

Story: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-immigcourt28aug28,0,839465.story?page=1&coll=la-home-local

Separated By Race (Repfanz)

Okay I wasn't going to mention this, but since it seems to be entertainment news and it involves race. I guess I better say something about the new season of "Survivor." The new season of "Survivor" will have the twist of all twists in reality television. The "tribes" will be broken down between races. Yup, you heard and read it right. There will be a white tribe, black tribe, hispanic tribe and asian tribe competing against one another. Now some folks are outraged and expressing their frustation over a damn televison show. Quite frankly, I'm a little surprised that people are upset about the upcoming season of "Survivor" and the issue of race. I mean everywhere we look and read, we hear something that is race related. Hurricane Katrina was a national tragedy and yet it was eventually broken down by race. The treatment of some professional athletes is often broken down by race. Every survey or study is broken down by race, i.e. health issues, salaries and social issues. Race has been and will always be a good subject to talk about. If you need to spark controversey, bring up race and you got controversey.

So what makes "Survivor" different? The producers and network are in the businesss of making money and in order to make money, they need asses on couches and eyes glued on the set. And besides, who among us is not curious to see the outcome of who will win. We all have been in this situation before. Remember the 1987 Super-Bowl? The Washington Redskins were taking on the Denver Broncos. Doug Williams, a black quarterback was going against John Elway, a white quarterback. The game was split along racial lines. Most blacks, like me was pulling for Redskins and most whites were pulling for the Broncos. The game featured a tale of two cities, one majority white Denver and two, the majority black Washington DC.

And the network who hosted the Super Bowl that year knew it. The media knew it and so did the NFL. Where was the outrage? I'll tell you. There wasn't any. Everybody wanted to see if Williams could shake the stereotype that most black quarterbacks carried. Are they smart enough? Can they lead a team? Can they maintain discipline by not running first? All of that was being questioned against a quarterback who would be a Hall of Famer and arguebly one of the best ever.

So what is "Survivor" doing? They are looking to shake some of the stereotypes that races have. Will blacks be able to compete in the swimming contests? Can the Asian be able to compete in speed and agility contests? All of those questions will be asked and studied.

And guess what, we all are going to have our asses attached to the couch and eyes glued on the set.

Controversy:

It was reported by Jacque Reid of the Steve Harvey Morning Show on her entertainment report that Rush Limbaugh made a comment about the black tribe and the swimming competition. According to Reid, Limbaugh said that black aren't buouyant.

I have taken the liberty to post Limbaugh's comments with a caller named Tony:

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_082306/content/rush_on_a_roll.guest.html

Also please take the liberty to look at the articles and study attached to the transcript...

Friday, August 25, 2006

Katrina One Year Later (repfanz)

August 29th will mark the one year anniversary of our nations worse storm. Hurricane Katrina ripped through our gulf states causing thousands to be misplaced and homeless. One of the cities hit hard by Katrina was the City of New Orleans. New Orleans like other cities in the gulf region was no different than other city heavily effected. It sustained heavy casualties and had many displaced individuals. But what separated New Orleans from other cities is that, well, for one, PEOPLE GOT THE HELL OUTTA THERE!! Two, most the cities heeded and implemented their emergency procedures for evacuation. That is what separated New Orleans from other cities. The city simply did not implement any of its procedures and assumed every citizens would use common sense and flee the storm. The city made no provisions to evacuate it's elderly and it's poor. The evidence of school buses under water is clear evidence that the city and it's leadership were utterly incompetent.

The next issue that plaqued New Orleans is the behavior of it's own citizens towards one another. Looting of items that were not needed, such as television sets was rampant. Rumors of rapes, murders and robbery ran rampant during the whole ordeal. Thousands of New Orleans citizens crammed into the Superdome, where little children witnessed the death of elderly people.

New Orleans had suffered unneedlessly because of governmental gaffes on all levels. One, as mentioned, the local government did not adequately prepare itself and implement any of the emergency procedures in prepardness of the Hurricane/Flooding. Two, the state government failed to respond and implement adequate evacuation of citizens now stuck in the floods caused by Katrina. It would be later reported that due to "differences" between Mayor Nagin and Gov. Blanco may have been the cause of this huge failure. Three, although FEMA is not a first responder, they failed to adequately provide the President of the dire situation within Louisana. Mike Brown would later become the nation's whipping boy all by himself. While Nagin, who is black and Blanco, who is a woman basically slid off the skillet, free from blame and harsh criticism.

So going on one year after this storm, after "race" was injected into this otherwise heartbreaking event. The question is what's going on?

Houston's Hospitality Taken For Granted:

Once all three government branches got together and coordinated. National Guardsman and Red Cross Volunteers poured in along with the millions of dollars donated by Americans who gave a damn. Neighboring states began to open its doors to receive evacuees who were stranded on roof tops or crammed in the Superdome.

Houston immediately took evacuees in an effort to assist those displaced with jobs, housing and aid. And how did they get repaid? An 18% spike in violent crimes. Houston in effect had picked up New Orleans high crime and its criminals. New Orleans gangs down for a couple of hours declared war on Houston's gangs and continued it's preying on it's own citizens from the same area they were from. Another thing Houston picked up was New Orlean's poor. The same welfare state of mind individuals are now draining Houston's social programs. Illegal aliens are now complaining about the lack of social programs. It seems that the hospitality Houston extended was blind and ungrateful.

Even after one year, Katrina is still alive.

Eddie Compass Speaks

Former New Orleans Police Chief Eddie Compass finally speaks out about....about.....well nothing. After months from his retirement and virtually staying silent about his resignation after Katrina. Compass took the time to clarify and I guess bash Mayor Nagin for his resignation.

The one thing that baffles me is that Times Piscuyane wasted at least ten pages of this man explaining his emotional breakdown and looking for answers as to why he was basically fired. Nothing in the interview gives us insight as to why the City broke down and basically failed to protect it's citizens before and after Katrina struck.

Source: http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1156485387218950.xml&coll=1&thispage=1

Quote: Eddie Compass

""I've been quiet because I realized that silence can be misinterpreted, but it can't be misquoted,"
- Fmr. New Orleans Police Chief,
Eddie Compass


"Eddie Compass Breaks Silence"

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Hey Spike! I don't Think This Was In Your Show.

Although the situation involving Katrina was a mess on all levels. Director Spike Lee while bashing Bush, Chertoff and by the way Bush, may have forgot to mention this little tidbit of why the levies broke.

http://www.pulitzer.org/year/2006/public-service/works/neworleansps08.html


Don't think this information was let out...and probably never will.

Quote: President George W. Bush

"Some have said we must not act until the threat is imminent. Since when have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions, politely putting us on notice before they strike? If this threat is permitted to fully and suddenly emerge, all actions, all words, and all recriminations would come too late. Trusting in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein is not a strategy, and it is not an option. "

George W. Bush
State of the Union Speech, 2003

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

McCain't Has Done Again (Repfanz)

You know the one thing I respect about democrats is that they stick together. Okay, you have the Joseph Lieberman, Wm. Jefferson and Cynthia McKinney thing, but other than that. Democrats usually kick it with each other and go down together. And that's democrats from both houses. Stupid remarks made by Sen. Biden about 7-11 and who is usually in them..No problem, we got your back. Maxine Waters and her on-going investigation about who is putting drugs in her district....No problem, we'll support the conspiracy that Ronald Reagon, Bush I and Bush II is responsible. The republicans can't say the same thing. Sen. Allen makes a stupid remark and no one from his party, says nothing, nada! A congressman from San Diego caught red handed doing something dirty....nothing. And now this, after thwarting two attempts by the democratic team to set a time table for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. The republican controlled house has a problem with sticking to their guns, no pun intended. It seems that this republican congress and senate can't agree to disagree in private and show a bottem upper lip in public. And noone is more guilty of this turncoating than Sen John McCain't. Yesterday, McCain't basically gave the democratic team some ammo, no pun intended, to use this November and for the next presidential election in 2008. What did he do? He broke a Corleone family secret, he spoke against the family in public. He basically said that the Bush II Administration is wrong in its assessment of Iraq and oh by the way, we were mislead to going into Iraq. This is the same McCain't who, while debating George W. Bush, said that Iraq was a threat and he would rid the world of Saddam Hussein. He considered Iraq a threat and said way before Bush went into the Iraq under faulty intelligence, that Saddam had WMD. My what a difference six years makes. We see in President Bush's six year tenure, McCain't make back room deals with democrats regarding appeals judges nominated by Bush. McCain't make back room deals with democrats on illegal immigration, wait! he prefers to call illegal immigrants, bananas. And now when republicans on his side of the aisle are fighting for their political lives. McCain't comments slap the airwaves like one of those fat dudes bellyflopping in the pool. It's that loud and......


It hurts.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Oh Lawdy! (Repfanz)

News flash!! a politician visits a black church.

It must be an election year. Because that is when politicians, mostly democrats visit black churches. You can almost time when a politician is going to make his or her rare appearance to a local black church to "not" campaign, but be with the people and thank them for their support in the "past."

Now we can add Arnold Schwartzenegger to that list of demcratic incumbants and candidates. Da Ahnold visited a local South Los Angeles Church on Sunday to "thank" them for their support. What? Thank them for their support? Arnold does realize he has a "R" after his name? Well does he?

Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gov21aug21,0,1791207.story?coll=la-home-local

Good Conversation......(Repfanz)

You know I like good conversation as well as the next person and there is nothing better in a conversation, where both persons try to get to some understanding and is enlightened.

Last week, I had to rush home for a family emergency and needed a ride back to the OC. I found out that one of our document services guys, Victor Luna, was going to the OC. So I contacted him and he doubled back to our job site and picked me up.

Now talking about politics and social issues for me is like crossing a railroad track. You know there is a possibility that a train is coming, but yet you have to be careful. Folks that is essentially the life of a conservative. I am always careful with whom I talk politics with. And I don't know why I am this way now, maybe I'm battle weary. You can only debate and listen to the same rhetoric that comes out of the mouths of democratic supporters. So I have resigned to the why bother mode. If they want to wallow in ignorance, let them. If your black and you want to continue living on the master's plantation. Knock yourself out. I can't help you and I won't bring up politics or any other item. But back to my ride home on Thursday with Victor. First any time someone says they heard something on NPR. My red flag instantly comes up. One, NPR is supposed to be a moderate talk radio station, but isn't. So when Victor brought up NPR, right off the back I was thinking, oh no a democrat. But then the conversation turned, Victor said something about Hezbollah / Israel month long battle. Sounded conservative. He then mentioned his disgust of illegal aliens demanding rights to something they don't have a right too, well that opinion is not monopolized by either side, but sounds quite conservative. And then it hit me, Victor is a republican and has voted for President Bush.

From right there we had a long conversation about politics, national and state level. I got some understanding from his perspective in regard to immigration. Victor, like me, knows the difference between "illegal" immigration and "legal" immigration. We both cite that illegal immigration not only hurts the lower and middle class. But that politicians need to stop campaigning for votes they are never going to get.

I have to admit that our conversation was good and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to getting his thoughts and opinions on other items.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Vietnam War

I don't know what to say about Los Angeles Times report on alleged "atrocities" in the Vietnam War. Frankly, if it is true and the allegations are correct. Than John Kerry and any other Vietnam War politician should resign from their post. Kerry, most particulary, one, he admitted to being a war criminal. He should report to his nearest base and make a statement and resign almost immediately. Al Gore should cease from being in public light for failing to make reports based on what he seen as a newspaper reporter.

Then again, why now are these reports coming out now? Exactly what use will it serve to make these alleged findings? Except to make the arguement that our troop in the Middle East are committing war atrocities. Gotta funny feeling that may be it.

Alleged Reports:


VIETNAM: THE WAR CRIMES FILES
By Nick Turse and Deborah Nelson
Declassified papers show U.S. atrocities went far beyond My Lai.
August 6, 2006

VIETNAM: THE WAR CRIMES FILES
By Nick Turse, Deborah Nelson and Janet Lundblad
Decades-old Pentagon records show that Army criminal investigators substantiated seven massacres of Vietnamese and Cambodian civilians by U.S. soldiers — in addition to the notorious 1968 My Lai massacre.
August 6, 2006

By Deborah Nelson and Nick Turse
'Americans don't do things like this,' an officer thought when he learned of three villagers' deaths. His shock grew when the soldier convicted continued to serve.
August 20, 2006

By Deborah Nelson and Nick Turse
Documents show troops who reported abuse in Vietnam were discredited even as the military was finding evidence of worse.
August 20, 2006

Deborah Nelson, who wrote these articles, is a former staff writer and Washington investigative editor for The Times. Nick Turse is a freelance journalist living in New Jersey.
August 20, 2006

Booo MF'in Hoo!!!

This story was found in the Los Angeles Times aka The Democratic Times on Sunday. It's about the border crossing at our Southern borders and the difficulties "illegal" immigrants are having crossing over to the United States.

A little tip for ya. Notice how the paper does identify the illegals as exactly what they are. Notice how they use the world "migrant." This article is for the weak at heart and for those of us who don't give a good damn. I imagine the words "good, it teaches them" will come out. Or the boo mutha fu@#kin hoo!!

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-border20aug20,1,4809417.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Monday, August 14, 2006

Commentary: Israel Lost

JC's Vent: Israel Lost Call it what you want...but a loss is a loss and Israel in fact lost it's one month ordeal with the Hezbollah. Let's go back to what this thing was all about: It all started with some Israeli soldiers being killed and kidnapped by Hezbollah. Hezbolla then fired off rockets on Israeli soil. Israel by right to defend herself, does by air sorties and eventually some type of ground attack. Now, with exception of the United States, the rest of world is shocked and in awe that the Israeli's react the way they did and urges the United States to step in and force a cease fire. Our president, stands by his stance of Israel being able to defend herself. Israel then outlines some items that will make them stop the air sorties and the destroying of Lebanon. One of the items was the disarming and breakup of Hezbollah. Another one was the release of some Israeli soldiers nabbed by Hezbollah. Now lets fast forward to what we know: The UN drafts a cease fire policy, this policy is agreed to by Israel..Notice that I didn't say Hezbollah. Hezbollah and Israel trade last minute rocket volleys up until the last hour. Hezbollah still continues to fire rockets on cities like Haifa, after the cease fire. So with the cease fire in effect, who won? Hezbollah won, Iran and Syria won and you can chalk that win up for Bin Laden. And lets add our incident in Somalia for honorable mention, with special mention to the Vietnam War. It's all tied together folks. Due to the fact that Vietnam war was unpopular at home, a democratic majority congress cut off spending for the war; with promises to support the South Vietnamese. What happened, it was a blood bath which introduced us to Pol Pot. Let's fast forward to Somalia: We went there to ensure food was getting to the people of Somalia, what happened, we remember it as black hawk down and we fled, this along with the Vietnam War was a play book for Bin Laden on how to handle the big bad Americans. Does anyone doubt this would have happened in our Grandparent's America? Hell No!! but it's happening here and it happened to Israel. How shocking must it be for Israel who was attacked, just like we were, by terrorists, just like we were and like us have become the aggressors of this thing. It doesn't make sense, folks. It's like the world is playing snake charmer to a snake that has it's fangs and after killing one charmer, another one picks up the flute and is tagged also. Exactly when will this world wake up to the fact that these people are looking for an outright victory. They don't want to talk!! What kind of enemy takes a big beating, dispurses and comes back in small insurgencies, with a whole new set of rules. The rules of engagement changed. The handling of captured soldiers, changed. And countries like France and a leftist press sides with them. Our politicians wants to get to know and understand a snake that is primed and ready to strike. This is our world folks. Either we kill them or get ready to die ourselves. or get yourself the Qu'ran.

No Excuses!

When someone cries about not being able to find jobs or bitches and whines about warehouse jobs and industry jobs are no long available. We now have the right to kick right in the backside. Jobs that Americans should be willing and used to do (and at those wages) are now coming back. Question is, do we want them or do we want the illegals doing them.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-manufacture14aug14,0,5735356.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Hold Up!!

Although I haven't seen the movie, "World Trade Center." I did hear about the casting of the movie. It seems and now that the movie is out, that part of one of the service-men was played by a hispanic man. In reality, one of the service-men, who risked his life, was a black man. The producers of the movie basically "my badded" the error with a sincere apology.

Source: http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/articlelive/articles/35730/1/World-Trade-Center-omits-Black-soldier/WTC-movies-unsung-hero.html

Better Late Than Never....

NAACP Chairman and Professor at American University Julian Bond asks that Black America tackle the issue of AIDS/HIV. What's absolutely amazing about this short commentary is that the Chairman actually believes that the government has not done enough or was waiting for the government "to do" something about the changing face of the AIDS epidemic. Now black folk must do something to educate themselves about the disease, now black folk must be "open" to the discussion about homosexuality and talk about the low down dirty man on the down low giving black women AIDS.

I guess kudos and a pat on the back is in store for the NAACP. Finally taking on the issue of AIDS, in the black community, after a huge part of the black community is dying from this disease. Is a start. A little late though....

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/13/AR2006081300714.html

Friday, August 11, 2006

Fanzz's Commentary: Unusal Amount of Chatter

Unusual Amount of Chatter - JC. Lwww.keepingitright.blogspot.com
The effort to foil a terrorist attack involving ten planes was a joint effort between the UK, Pakistan and the United States. Pakistan warned the UK about the plots and in turn the UK warned the United States. In a nutshell it sounds simple and the way things are supposed to be run.
Communication is the best key to any relationship. And any breakdown of that effort to communicate could turn costly. Lets look at our personal relationships. In order for any relationship or marriage to survive, both parties have to communicate. Both sides need to know what the other is doing or how each one feels. A breakdown in that will only show disaster and an eventual end to the relationship. Another illustration? The failure of Federal, State and Municipal Governments in the aftermath of Katrina is a prime example of a communication breakdown. The inability of our own CIA and FBI to supply enough and correct intelligence to the executive and legistlative branches may have played a role on 9/11 and we know, both tragedies in our history was costly.
Now the same can't be said about this week's foiled attacks. We obviously had enough information and intelligence to assist in thwarting the potential tragic event. Arrests and busts by both Pakistan and England were huge, but there is one aspect of the busts that the mainstream media has failed to bring up. That aspect is how the United States did it's part in the foiling. Well, this is going to anger the leftist of all leftists. NSA Wire taps. Yes the same NSA wire taps that all leftist were hollering and screaming about. "The Gov't is listening to all our phone calls!" Even Kanye West was heard saying that after the President didn't like black people, he later added that the president only likes phone calls.
So let me get this straight, the one thing that this country does to avert terrorist activity and monitor it, actually worked. An unusual amout of chatter from suspected terrorists was a key to stopping an otherwise catastrophic event? And the only way to hear this unusual amount of chatter was through wire tapping the right people who were supposed to be monitored and yet no atta boy?
I guess with all this good work, there was one victim of this thwarted attack. Joe Lieberman could have used this information at least two days before his primaries. The next victims will be in November where virtually all democrats who were whining and crying about bringing our troops home, NSA Wire taps and any other program this government is doing on it's end to fight the war on terror. Will be reversing their stance on those programs or acting as if they were supporters of it in the first place.
Unfortunately this pitcher of Kool-Aid, won't have enough sugar in it...and I don't know anyone who drinks unsweetened Kool - Aid....

Who's Checking Donald Sterling?

Bomani Jones of ESPN2 is asking why Clippers Owner Donald Sterling is not getting much deserved attention in regards to a recent discrimination lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Government, against Sterling, for failing to rent to Black and Latino Americans in his posh Beverly Hills and Koreatown apartments.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jones/060810

Thursday, August 10, 2006

What Would You Do?

Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly asks us, what would we do when facing compassion or winning?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/rick_reilly/08/07/reilly0814/index.html

Incredible

The following exchange is between talkshow hosts, Randi Rhodes and Neil Bortz on Larry "dot dot dot" King Live:

BOORTZ: Radical Islam will view negotiations and agreements as a sign of weakness on the part of the west and they will exploit it. This is the way it has been done for generations. This is the way it will be done if we negotiate a peace agreement this time.
KING: Randi Rhodes, hasn't he got a point?
RHODES: No. You know it's really funny but Hezbollah sat there on the border for five years of Sharon's prime ministership (ph) and everybody knew that they were armed. Everybody understood that they were armed and Sharon wouldn't touch Lebanon again because it was his Vietnam.
And so, really the way to take care of terrorists is always going to be a law enforcement matter. It's always going to be a carrot and a stick. It's always going to be through political negotiation. You're never, ever going to do anything but make more terrorists with this sort of attack. And I think that everybody -- I think the whole idea of isolating Israel even further by killing so many civilians, or the idea of isolating the United States in a time when we need our European allies, we need the Middle East, we need to keep Iran from going nuclear, we're isolating ourselves further.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Nightmare on Left Street (Repfanz23)

Forget about the alleged Civil War supposingly going on in Iraq. How about the new Civil War going on here, in this country. This country is split right down the middle and boxing promoters Bob Arum and Don King are vying to get the big fight on per pay view.
It's obvious this country is divided along political, religious and social lines. On the right, we have a group of folks wanting to maintain some sense of morality and the keeping of our religious faiths. That type of maintenance borders along some type of religious freedom. Meanwhile on the left, they want peace and love, they want "the man" to take care of each and every citizen. They want to go away from the biblical teachings of God and some on the left want to do away with God.
Each side favors understanding. One side wants to understand and get to know it's enemies, who by the way, is smiling and stabbing the leftist in back. And the other is of the opinion that they understand their enemy and not willing to fall for the rope a dope.
Thats where the problems lay and unfortunately, where the rift is. Theres going to be a casualty this coming election and one side is going to go away for a long time. Well who are we fooling? If the left wins in November, it's a green light for our enemies to begin attacking and attacking and attacking until followers of the left, wonder out loud, what the hell did we do. Well...in essence what the left will do at it's own hand is commit social and political suicide and die the death it should have died right after the civil war. (ahhh that would be the democratic party who should have died)
Which in turn will leave the right, with two major problems. one, dealing and killing terrorists and two, keeping Ted Kennedy and family sober, which equates to domestic terrorism...Ted has killed before.

Joy! and Pain (Repfanz Op)

Joy!! and Pain.
Repfanz23 Op.

Last night in some parts of the country, folks were going through different emotions. Of course I'm speaking about the Primary Elections which saw former Vice-Presidential Candidate Joseph Lieberman lose his state's primary to a relatively unknown anti-war, Bush lied-People died, leftist candidate. That's the pain part. Lieberman who voted for the war and had mild criticisms of the Bush administration, chose to maintain his dignity and stand by his support of the war. Lieberman also did not participate in the leftist agenda of cutting and running. He along with some moderate democrats saw the bigger the picture. But this isn't the reason why Lieberman lost. At least not the real one, I believe Lieberman lost because of his religion. He's Jewish. And right now the left and hereafter will continue to divide itself from Israel and Jews. Some may think thats pretty low and shallow for me to throw in the religion card (which is the "lil joker" in a game of bid whist). I can't help it, my funny math equation brings me to the fact that one, Lieberman voted for the war against terrorism and for us to go into Iraq, plus one, that Lieberman went to Iraq and echoed something totally different than Kerry, Kennedy and "Yellow" Murtha said about Iraq, plus one, Lieberman did not and have not voted along party lines, plus one, that Israel, a Jewish state, is now putting foot to azz!! to Iran errr!! Syria err!!! I mean Hezbolla, which equals that Lieberman, a Jew, who voted and supported the war and the President, who went against the leftist grain is out as a democratic representative.

Emotions are little mixed here. Lieberman has said he will run as an Independant candidate, I wish him luck.

Now the joy. All in the land of Oz, the locals are singing, ding-dong the witch is dead! Thats right Cynthia McKinney has been ousted. A resounding 59% ousting by the good people in the Decatur, Georgia area. Who basically had enough of her monuments to Tupac Shakur and her conspiracy theories about 9/11. At least the folks of Decatur will hear more of Tupac's never heard or released stuff, before they hear from McKinney. At least I hope. And as joyful as I am for the people, McKinney went out looking just as bad as her new hair do on that dreadful day for the DC police-officer. You all remember, that's the time when McKinney decided to go from one bad "do" to one that was just as worse. McKinney apparently on "CP" time, forgot to wear her congressional lapel and decided to just walk past the security check area. The officer just doing his job, stopped McKinney and instead of hearing, "Officer, I'm Cynthia McKinney, representative from Georgia, District (whatever number), I'm running late for a meeting, here is my identification or password of the day," got the right hand to jaw explanation. What the citizens of Georgia got for an explanation was, at first, the cop was racist, second, the system is against me because I'm a black congresswoman and third, just heard last week, I'm not perfect.

For some reason I think I'm forgetting something about McKinney, lets see, what is it? Oh!! Instead of hearing apologies and speculation as to why she lost her seat. McKinney went as far to say this in her supposed concession speech:

"We aren't going to tolerate any more stolen elections. We're watching you and we want our leaders back or we will become the leaders."

Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga.

Well at least she went out finally talking partially for the people of her district. True, it was because they were watching HER and in total disgust, that they all said, we want our leaders back......

At least the true ones....

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

You Can Catch Me On Booker Rising

Today has turned out to be a good day. I was looking at one of my favorite blogs, Booker Rising, and saw my very own blog was listed on this great blog site. I am hyped and now I have to take my game to a different level.

Thanks Booker Rising!!

Why liberals love pedophiles
By Kevin McCullough
Sunday, August 6, 2006

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Liberals love pedophiles, because they must do so to keep their own belief system intact.
Consider the bizarre case just this week of thirty-four year old Phillip Distasio.
Distasio runs a "school" called Class Cutters near Cleveland Ohio. The goal of the school is to somehow counter the "No Child Left Behind Act" by getting kids to rush through a few academic excercises each day on the computer - and then to spend the majority of the time performing some sort of "community service." It seems to be set-up to help the child find "productive" use of their time in after school hours. On Distasio's web-site he even makes mention that even kids who attend a traditional school can join the program for the "after school activities."
A disturbing element also seems to be that Distasio seeks parent's involvement in "choosing the curriculum" that their child engages in. They even have a chatroom blog to log into the program with.
What's really horrifying is that Distasio is an admitted pedophile of 20 years who doesn't even have the decency to be ashamed of his craving for sexual activity with boys.
In fact... he embraces it.
Presently Distasio is finding himself facing 74 charges of molestation of boys in his "program." Instead of denying his guilt he's trying a new approach - claiming his sexual intent is a civil right.
In my brand new book MuscleHead Revolution: Overturning Liberalism with Commonsense Thinking I point out how painfully obvious it has become to us all that the clear-headed absolutes of right and wrong and good and evil were thrown out with the modern feminist bathwater of the 1960s. But few of us ever thought it would get to the point that we are now seeing - pedophiles claiming constitutional civil rights protections for their desire to engage in homosexual pedophilia.
So where does Distasio get the boldness to make such ludicrous claims?
How about modern liberalism, academia, and the Clinton administration?
As I document in MuscleHead Revolution, Judith Levine, the academic who released the book, Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children from Sex, argues that it is harmful to protect children from sexual activity. As I point out, she goes so far as to encourage adults to not think prudishly about sexual activity between adults and children. She even advocates for the "rights" of children to be able to "give their consent" for "legal" and "healthy" sexual activity with adults.
One might think that Levine is just a nutcase, except that she was published by the University of Minnesota Press. Her book was endorsed by Dr. Jocelyn Elders who also wrote its forward. Elders was the Clinton era, surgeon general.
Taking his cues from Levine/Elders, Distasio argued in court this week:
"I'm a pedophile. I've been a pedophile for 20 years. The only reason I'm charged with rape is that no one believes a child can consent to sex. The role of my ministry is to get these cases out of the courtrooms." Also adding, "Not all pedophilia is bad, and sex [with boys] can be healthy."
Sounds like a liberal on a mission; just like Levine.
Since modern liberalism's true goal is the actual eradication of God, moral values, and the ideas of absolute right vs. wrong, it should surprise no one that not a single leftist politician in America has denounced Distasio. Nor did they denounce Levine. The truth is liberals seek sexual utopia where no rules apply. Restraint has in fact become a dirty word to them. Self control - a throughly foreign concept.
Waging the revolution for all that is true, just, and good involves every single one of us who know better to actively demonstrate this by preventing such an agenda from becoming reality.
For liberals to denounce pedophiles, ultimately they would have to denounce, lesbianism, homsexuality, and their particular favorite - adultery. And that's just no going to happen.
At the end of the day there are such a thing as moral values, and liberals despise them - because as they see it - those moral values limit their sexual freedoms. And if this is "America" - isn't it all about the freedom to get your groove on?
Liberals love pedophiles.
Isn't it shameful?
And don't we all wish - that they loved the well being of children more?

Now I am very critical about the Catholic church. As a matter of fact, yesterday I just had to stop and chant with a catholic anti-war, anti-bush protester. I asked why they feel the need to protest in front of a Veteran's Hospital. Of course I got the same "Bush lied-People died" bullbleep. Then I noticed at the bottom of their signs, it said they were from the catholic church. And right off the back, I hit them with a catholic priest and alter boy blasts. How can anyone from the catholic church throw stones at anyone when they have priests with a long history of molesting boys? (they had no answer, either) Talk about throwing stones and glass houses.

Anyway the columnist is correct in pointing out the double standard. But I won't admit I'm wrong in attacking folks who support a religion that aides and abets its very own molesters errr!!! priests.

Mel Gibson and politics of bigotry
By Brent Bozell III
Friday, August 4, 2006

Since he's made no effort to deny them, one has to accept that the police report was accurate and that in a drunken stupor Gibson hurled those anti-Semitic insults. He has been humiliated and in his unequivocal apology, humbled.

"There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark. I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I have said "

Gibson's remarks were disgraceful. But is Gibson now to be disgraced? And who is qualified to make that judgment?

The paparazzi news media can't get enough of this story, and some, like ABC's Diane Sawyer, can barely conceal their glee.

The hard news covered, here comes the analysis, with this-man-will-never-get-another-job-in-this-town reports everywhere you turn, fueled by the likes of Arianna Huffington, who has denounced Gibson's "odious racism" and her colleague Ari Emanuel, who writes that " ... the entertainment industry cannot idly stand by and allow Mel Gibson to get away with such tragically inflammatory statements ... Now we know the truth. And no amount of publicist-approved contrition can paper it over. People in the entertainment community, whether Jew or gentile, need to demonstrate that they understand how much is at stake in this by professionally shunning Mel Gibson and refusing to work with him ... There are times in history when standing up against bigotry and racism is more important than money." Others like Christopher Hitchens, Joy Behar, Barbara Walters and Sony Pictures chairwoman Amy Pascal have piled on with their denouncements of this religious bigotry.

The first thing Mel Gibson and everyone else should do is ignore people like these. They are hypocrites.

They were nowhere to be found when "Da Vinci Code" actor Ian McKellen publicly accused the Catholic Church of "perhaps misleading us all this time," and stated, "the Bible should have a disclaimer in the front saying this is fiction." And what of the movie itself, a bigoted anti-Catholic screed if ever there was one? Any denouncements from them?

Where were they when Comedy Central's Dennis Leary aired his "Merry F*ing Christmas" special, publicly called the Christmas story "bull[bleep]" and said of the baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary, "I also believe that about nine months before he was born, somebody sure as [bleep] banged the hell out of his mom"? Any religious bigotry there, folks?

Have any of these people ever said a word about the "South Park" DVD featuring an episode called "Red Hot Catholic Love," in which almost every Catholic priest and cardinal in the world favors having sex with altar boys because supposedly it's been enshrined in Vatican law? What about the "South Park" episode aired on television depicting a statue of the Virgin Mary with blood coming out her rectum?

There was that contestant "Tammy" who thought she was very funny on NBC's "Last Comic Standing" when she joked, "It's a good time to be Catholic cause we're grading on the curve. As long as you're not touching pee-pees you got a get-out-of-hell-free card." Did Gibson's critics condemn her -- or did they laugh? How about Penn and Teller's skit on their HBO show about Mother Teresa, one of the world's holiest women and presently on the fast track toward sainthood? The title -- "Mother F---ing Teresa" -- tells you all you need to know. Barbara Walters and Co., where were you?

Arianna, where were you when one wag said of Pope John Paul the Great's teachings on sexuality that "in his perversion pecking order, you had to be dead-set against 'self-love' but when it came to buggering little kids, there was some wiggle room"? Oh wait a minute. Those were your words, weren't they?

How about the TV show "Committed," which featured a scene in which the main characters accidentally flush what they believe to be the Sacred Host down a toilet? Or "Judging Amy" with its storyline about a transvestite priest? What about the show "Rescue Me" with its plots about pedophilic priests and the character who has visions of Christ and Mary Magdalene, including one in which "Tommy" is having sex with Mary Magdalene, Jesus catches them and in a jealous rage tries to blow Tommy away with a shotgun?

The examples of anti-Christian, anti-Catholic bigotry in Hollywood are seemingly endless. Each and every one is uglier, more mean-spirited than anything Mel Gibson said. While Gibson's comments were those of a slobbering drunk, these anti-Catholic rants were not just deliberate, in most cases they were scripted . And while Gibson has apologized profusely, none of the people cited above has any intention of showing contrition because they have none.

Gibson's statements were awful, and deserved condemnation. But the anti-Catholic bigotry raging in Hollywood is far worse. Those who suddenly proclaim themselves to be shocked -- shocked, I tell you! -- over Gibson's religious bigotry, but have remained silent all these years as the Catholic Church is mercilessly pummeled, ridiculed and insulted, are frauds.

Saturday, August 05, 2006

From Larry Elder.com

Despite the assertion made in the movie, Akeelah and the Bee, Nelson Mandela did not write this quote. Nor, as many believe, did Mandela cite it in his 1994 inaugural speech as the new president of South Africa. The quote is from Mariam Williamson, known as a spiritual guru.

Here is the quote: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Jason Whitlock: That's Entertainment

Your Role Model Wants His Check
By Jason Whitlock
Special to Page 2

I never realized my belief that big-time sports had sacrificed its final scraps of integrity in pursuit of television cash until I had the audacity to suggest it on the most recent episode of "The Sports Reporters."

Judging by Mike Lupica's and Mitch Albom's reactions, you'd have thought I'd just busted into a kindergarten classroom and shouted: "There is no Santa Claus."

My view that professional sports (or televised sports) is nothing more than entertainment -- tools to drive TV ratings with little more integrity and importance than Season 6 of "The Sopranos" -- seemed to shock my esteemed fellow panelists.

I've literally spent the past four days examining my own beliefs, trying to understand why some of the brightest sportswriting minds are adamant that athletes not be classified as pure entertainers -- no more important than Mel Gibson, Dave Chappelle or 50 Cent.

Another respected friend and colleague, William Rhoden, just published a powerful, provocative and compelling book, "Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall and Redemption of the Black Athlete," that laments the fact that African-American athletes are no longer players in the fight for social justice.

Sportswriters, particularly those who lived during the civil rights movement and/or covered Muhammad Ali's career, desperately want athletes to remain important and relevant in a larger context than as just entertainers.

Ali, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Curt Flood, Jim Brown, Joe Louis, Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, John Carlos and Tommie Smith elevated the stature of the American sportswriter. Their intended and unintended social stances made us chroniclers of something important.

The fact that Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Joe Namath, Rocky Marciano, John Wooden, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and even Joe Montana and Michael Jordan could be held up as cultural heroes and icons, standards of American excellence and global symbols of American might, added to our importance as recorders of a vital part of history.
That's why there is so much angst among sportswriters concerning the performance-enhancing drug era. Floyd Landis, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Justin Gatlin and countless other alleged performance-enhancing cheats are tearing down the hero, icon and role-model platform that sportswriters built for athletes and sportswriters to stand on.

If we accept that athletes have shed the responsibility (burden) of being role models and are totally zeroed in on making as much money as possible by any means necessary, then we must acknowledge we are no more important than Ebert and Roeper.

We're not ready to do that. That's why we're very protective of Lance Armstrong. He might have dominated a sport we care nothing about, but he beat cancer and there's no hard evidence to convict him of doping.
Obviously, I contend the notion of athlete as hero -- athlete as fighter for social justice, athlete as role model -- is an outdated one.

Athletes in televised sports are cold-blooded businessmen willing to inject themselves with whatever corporate farmers inject into the chickens, cows and pigs we eat.

And should we really blame them?

Do you honestly believe that Carlos and Smith would've raised black fists had there been seven-figure endorsement deals waiting on them after the Olympics, let alone the freedom to spend that money anywhere they chose?

Do you honestly believe that pro athletes in the 1950s and 1960s would've avoided using HGH if it meant they could play with less pain and earn $10 million a season in their 30s and 40s?

Come on, we're not being remotely fair when we judge the modern-day athlete. We've adopted extremist views for a problem that is extremely complex. We're beating up athletes for crimes many of us would commit if placed in the same position.

We don't even truly understand the consequences of their actions. It's fun to shout about Lyle Alzado, but what has happened to all the other NFL players of Alzado's era? He was far from the only player of that era exploiting steroids. I know some of those players. The ones I know are in relatively good health and leading productive lives.

I'm not advocating the use of performance-enhancing drugs. I don't think it's fair or OK. However, given the money that has been dumped into televised sports, I don't think it's going to be possible to rid professional sports of performance-enhancing drugs. It would be as difficult as removing promiscuous sex, alcohol abuse and recreational drug use from Hollywood.

Ain't gonna happen.

So athletes will not be making a return as role models. Sports are nothing more than reality TV. They're "American Idol" on steroids. In some ways, we sportswriters are not much different from Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

Are we diminished because of it?

Not in the pocketbook. Albom and Lupica have made millions writing novels, and we've all made money judging athletes on radio and TV. We volunteered to join the entertainment industry. We have no right to bash athletes for embracing the role of entertainer.

Jason Whitlock is a regular columnist for The Kansas City Star. He can be reached by e-mail at ballstate68@aol.com.

Quote From Dan Rather

"I agree it happens. And I agree it's a problem. It's a problem that those of us in journalism have been reluctant to address. I do not exclude myself from this criticism. Reluctant to address that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization" - Former CBS News Anchor Man Dan Rather

On the O'Reilly Factor = 8/2/06

In The Long Haul

I won't even comment on this:
Source: Israpundit
These Pirates Didn't Sing Opera

I pray you, pardon me, ex-Pirate King!Peers will be peers, and youth will have its fling.The Pirates of Penzance

In an article appearing on National Review Online, Joshua E. London writes about the first case of an unprovoked attack on Americans by Muslim terrorists under the protection of Arab dictators--when Thomas Jefferson dealt with the Barbary pirates:
The Barbary states, modern-day Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, are collectively known to the Arab world as the Maghrib (“Land of Sunset”), denoting Islam’s territorial holdings west of Egypt. With the advance of Mohammed’s armies into the Christian Levant in the seventh century, the Mediterranean was slowly transformed into the backwater frontier of the battles between crescent and cross. Battles raged on both land and sea, and religious piracy flourished.
The Maghrib served as a staging ground for Muslim piracy throughout the Mediterranean, and even parts of the Atlantic. America’s struggle with the terror of Muslim piracy from the Barbary states began soon after the 13 colonies declared their independence from Britain in 1776, and continued for roughly four decades, finally ending in 1815.
One of the key points London makes is to focus on the reason behind the ongoing conflict between these Moslems on the one hand and the US--which did not understand the reason for the attacks in the first place. The answer to that question was later explained at a meeting:
the 1786 meeting in London of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja, the Tripolitan ambassador to Britain. As American ambassadors to France and Britain respectively, Jefferson and Adams met with Ambassador Adja to negotiate a peace treaty and protect the United States from the threat of Barbary piracy.
These future United States presidents questioned the ambassador as to why his government was so hostile to the new American republic even though America had done nothing to provoke any such animosity. Ambassador Adja answered them, as they reported to the Continental Congress, “that it was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Musselman who should be slain in Battle was sure to go to Paradise.” [emphasis added]Based on this, Mr. London makes what should be a point well taken but one that will undoubtedly ignored anyway:
Note that America’s Barbary experience took place well before colonialism entered the lands of Islam, before there were any oil interests dragging the U.S. into the fray, and long before the founding of the state of Israel. [emphasis added] True, Israel holds a special place in the hearts of Moslems, in part as the dhimmis that got away and are now the equals--and more--of the one-time Moslem empire.
After all, while Moslems are fond of pointing to "Palestine" as occupied territory, they tend to gloss over the history of the Moslem attempted expansion which started from the originally Christian areas of Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and North Africa, and invaded Russia, Belgrade, Spain, Budapest, and Vienna, France and Iceland--before the Moslem invaders were repulsed. (see Israeli Occupation? Moslems Are Just Being Modest) The Crusades were a reaction to Moslem imperialism, a piece of history that seems to get forgotten.
Daniel Johnson, a senior editor and columnist for the London Times and Daily Telegraph, and currently a columnist for the New York Sun writes in How To Think About The Crusades:
In that larger perspective, they take their place as a short-lived counteroffensive against another, much lengthier, and much more relentless holy war — namely, the Muslim jihad against Christendom. For the fact is that whereas the Crusades were a temporary phenomenon that flourished for some two centuries and had quite limited purposes, jihad is and has been a permanent and ubiquitous fact of Islamic life.
Jihad evolved into a doctrine of Islamic jurisprudence as a byproduct of the great Arab expansion after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, thus predating the First Crusade by more than four centuries. Muslim scholars were well aware of the uniqueness of this institution. Ibn Khaldun, the greatest of all Islamic historians and a key witness from the period just after the Crusades, compares Islam with Christianity and Judaism in this respect: In the Muslim community, the holy war is a religious duty, because of the universalism of the Muslim mission and the obligation to convert everybody to Islam either by persuasion or force… . The other religious groups did not have a universal mission, and the holy war was not a religious duty to them, save only for purposes of defense. But today, past history amounts to little. Quoting Santayana is droll. The Crusades were evil. The Moslems were victims--and don't even mention the 'C' word, lest you offend. Meanwhile, the Barbary pirates are forgotten. Moslems are not all evil, but without the viewpoint of history we are being led to the belief that the West, and Israel, is.
As long as millions of dollars are being offered to universities to offer even more courses on Islam, isn't it about time to finally have an honest presentation of Islam and Islamic history--warts and all--instead of babying those who claim that Islam and Moslems are just being misunderstood. It's time for Islamic studies not only to grow but also grow up.

Most Damage?

The more things change, the more things stay the same. And for that matter, the issue of the Confederate Flag is making headlines again. You know we used to laugh at the "Scarlet O'Hara" line of "The Souf shall rise ahgain." Hell its been over 140 years ago that the South did surrender in the American Civil War and yet here in 2006 we're talking about a flag, that represented the Southern states in that war.

Here's my position, realizing that the flag's history was tarnished by a few a-holes, who decided to put on sheets and pillow cases and become America's first terrorists. And let's not forget about a few a-holes who decide to follow the sick doctrine of some nut case in Germany. It's safe to say the flag has shown up in areas where it should not have been. I mean lets look at it, whats the difference between the flag we pledge allegiance to and the Confederate Flag. My opinion is, nothing. Both are red, white and blue with stars. Each star represents a state, so there is similarity to them. Lets go a little deeper, Which flag representing the new United States was flying on the coast of Africa? I believe that would be the Ol Glory. Which flag was present when the constitution was written? Ol' Glory. Which flag was present during the 100 years of segregation? Ol' Glory. So it seems to me that the American flag has done more damage than the confederate flag and yet no-one is crying to take that flag down. When was the last time you seen someone burn a confederate flag in protest? I mean if the confederate flag is supposed to represent "bad america," doesn't it make sense to burn the confederate flag since it represents one of the negative about this country?

Another thing about this protest is that the NAACP is making this a huge issue. I'm not going to go over other issues they could be tackling. I wonder if anyone knows that there are members of the Son of Confederate, who are black? These men fought in the Civil War in what ever capacity. Why? because like black men who fought in every American War, they were fighting for their people, freedom and a better life for their families. In the Civil War, blacks on both sides were promised a better tomorrow if they fought for the cause of that day. One side lost and the promissory note of basic civil rights came with a caveat for the victors. The caveat was "equal but separate." So who did more damage?


Note of Interest:
Source: Wikipedia
African Americans in the Confederate Military

Due to the controversial nature of the subject and the poor quality of surviving records, the service of African Americans in the Confederate military is contentious. One estimate by Ed Smith of American University suggests that between 60,000 and 93,000 blacks, both slave and free, served in the confederate military in some capacity, however the vast majority of these were likely teamsters, cooks, musicians, and hospital attendants. [2],
For most of the war the Confederate Government prohibited the enlistment of African Americans as armed soldiers in the national army. The Confederate Congress authorized salaries for black musicians in 1862, stating "whenever colored persons are employed as musicians in any regiment or company, they shall be entitled to the same pay now allowed by law to musicians regularly enlisted."
Some individual states in the confederacy permitted free blacks to enlist as soldiers in their state militias. The first to do so was Tennessee, which passed a law on June 21, 1861 authorizing the recruitment of state militia units composed of "free persons of color" between the ages of 15 and 50. Louisiana, which had a sizable free black population, followed suit and assembled the all-black 1st Louisiana Native Guard. This regiment was later forced to disband in February, 1962 when the state legislature passed a law in January, 1862, that reorganized the militia by conscripting “all the free white males capable of bearing arms… irrespective of nationality”. The regiment was reformed as the first all-black Union regiment the following September.
Alabama authorized the enlistment of "mixed blood" creoles in 1862 for a state militia unit in Mobile.[3] In January, 1864, General Patrick Cleburne and several other Confederate officers in the Army of the Tennessee proposed using slaves as soldiers in the national army since the Union was using black troops. Cleburne recommended offering slaves their freedom if they fought and survived. Confederate President Jefferson Davis refused to consider Cleburne's proposal and forbade further discussion of the idea. The concept, however, did not die. By the fall of 1864, the South was losing more and more ground, and some believed that only by arming the slaves could defeat be averted. On January 11, 1865 General Robert E. Lee wrote the Confederate Congress urging them to arm and enlist black slaves in exchange for their freedom. On March 13, the Confederate Congress passed General Order 14, and President Davis signed the order into law. The order was issued March 23, 1865, but only a few African American companies were raised, and the war ended before they could be used in battle. Two companies were armed and drilled in the streets of Richmond, Virginia shortly before the besieged southern capital fell. One of the units accompanied General Lee's retreat toward Appomattox and fought at the battle of Amelia, Virginia two days before Lee's surrender.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Over the past weekend in Las Vegas, I caught a little bit of ESPN to catch up on some scores and to see what Roy Jones, Jr., did in his last fight. By the way, Jones did enough to win, not wow. As I waited to see those results, a segment came up as to should Mark McGwire be voted in the Hall of Fame on his first try? I automatically thought, hell yeah, he should, but then like a prick on a finger, my hell yeah, went to oh yeah, that steroid thing.

I have always maintained and stated that I don't care what an athlete does to his body. I really don't, especially if it's a baseball player. Look, I want to witness a no-no just like any other baseball lover, but once a player reaches first base from a batted ball. I want to see home runs, a bunch if necessary. I don't care if they barely make it over the fence or if they're hit so hard that the ball ricochets of a plane and hits an eagle in the ass! But obviously that wasn't the subject and baseball "purists" still wanting to believe in statistical numbers of way dead ball players, want to hold McGwire's feet to the fire. Deny him entry to the hall? On what grounds, did he or did he not entertain the masses who came to the ball park to see the one thing I come to see. Did he or did he not meet all the expectations of what a power hitter is. And exactly what rule did he break in baseball to get him labeled as a cheater? Now he may have broke public law and he may have some moral responsibility to thousands of young men who idolize him. However that last time I checked, McGwire, Bonds and Sosa broke no written rules in baseball. none.

"If I had a vote, I won't vote him in," was the most used line by so called sports journalist and I won't even repeat what some Hall of Famers said.

Well why not vote him in? He has over 500 homeruns and he along with Sammy Sosa revived a dying baseball back from going into the light, like other great sporting events, such as boxing. Another reason, unlike some of the present day HOF'ers, we'll remember Mark McGwire.

So to all the sports journalist, get off your high horse and let the man through and hold the door open for Barry.