tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88150836468330016112024-02-06T20:25:04.711-08:00Suzette Says:A blog stating my opinions, comments, insights, and expressions.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.comBlogger207125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-86480657083384638382018-04-07T13:17:00.003-07:002018-04-07T13:18:21.876-07:00Our Immigration Problem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbI8k-1bPjmbi6mlPRNFTondgIqetmv0NoSZA1mY7COeUjwGXCfF1RGKpDdBTtFtxr_87E9cDKH6DMqkeKaJclJlXYRaQYntmQ6C7EMqRRg40vXvlFSHS4d6APy4pVC0PQUeR09YgE-GU/s1600/ivonne+orozco+2018NM+teacher+of+the+year.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Ivonne Orozco<br />New Mexico's 2018 Teacher of the Year<br />and a Dreamer<br /><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Immigration is a hot topic in our country and we are so divided on how to resolve our immigrant problem I will probably get scorched for taking on this topic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> are basically two ways of thinking about immigration: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. undocumented immigrants have poured into this country illegally and are breaking our immigration laws, should be held accountable and sent back to their country of origin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. undocumented immigrants deserve a path to US citizenship despite the breakage of those laws and being here illegally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can honestly say, I can understand both viewpoints. My grandfather emigrated from Italy to America in the 1920's. He followed all the rules. He entered this country legally. He worked hard, learned English, became a US citizen and made a contribution to this country. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He believed he should assimilate to the American way of life and brought up his family to be Americans not transplanted Italians. All of us have always been proud of my grandfather. Even though Italians faced a lot of discrimination at the time he arrived, he adapted to the American way and earned the respect of his American peers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My maternal great-grandparents also emigrated from Italy in the 1890's and legally entered the United States at Ellis Island and like my grandfather, assimilated to American life, learned to speak English, became US citizens and worked hard for everything, They also earned the respect of their American peers. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The were all were exemplary immigrants in this country, and this country embraced them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, I can identify with those who want to stop the flow of illegal immigrants to our country today. Many believe not every immigrant who wants to come to America can or should get into our country. The immigration rules we have in place should be enforced. The US is a country that follows the rule of law and why should immigrant lawbreakers be allowed to enter</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">? I don't know. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I have come to understand is that the answer is not all black and white. There are many gray areas to our immigration problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I do know is that hopeful immigrants from these parts of the world are fleeing poverty, violence, and oppression in numbers like we have never seen before. Should they not be able to find refuge in the US? Europeans want to resist them too. In fact, immigration has become a world problem not just a US problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But, I digress. Back to America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One thing I have learned is that the immigrants coming from these countries are fleeing because of extreme poverty, violent gangs, and oppressive governments. They run to America to ensure a better life for their children. They want the freedoms we enjoy and take for granted for their children too. Even if it means entering the country illegally and living in the shadows. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the gray areas of our Hispanic immigration problem takes root in the 1980's. In that era, the US looked the other way as many Hispanics entered our country illegally. They found jobs as housekeepers, nannies, and landscapers for very little pay. They remained illegal and became a new illegal working underclass. This was advantageous to Americans, mostly whites, who wanted to pay less for their housekeepers, nannies and landscapers. Members of Congress and those in Washington government jobs all took advantage of the cheap labor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In other words we created our own immigration problem here in America. President Ronald Reagan realized this and that is why he gave amnesty to over one million illegal immigrants at the time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, Americans, always looking out for a bargain, kept hiring illegal immigrants, and kept paying them under wages under the table. This encouraged more Hispanics to enter the US illegally for these types of jobs and so today, we have more than 11 million illegal undocumented workers in the United States, mostly Hispanics.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, living in New Mexico, I have seen the illegal immigration problem from a different perspective. Most of the immigrants to New Mexico come from Mexico, Central America, and a few from South America or Spain. Many of the New Mexican families who have lived here for 500 years still have family still living in these Hispanic countries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most of the immigrants here in New Mexico are making a contribution to our country, work hard, and learn English. And many of them are illegal. Do I come into contact with them? Yes, some are neighbors, some are students, some are Dreamers, and some are working in businesses here in town.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our 2018 New Mexico Teacher of the Year, Ivonne Orozco, is a Dreamer. (DACA) She came with her parents to this country from Mexico, worked hard, learned English, became educated and is now contributing to our country. She helps hundreds of students of all nationalities to excel in school. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She wants a pathway to citizenship, despite her illegal status. It is the children of illegal parents that are caught in that gray area. They had no choice about entering this country as children. The Dreamers, especially, have worked hard to get where they are today and yes, they deserve a chance to become full citizens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are many Hispanic children, not all that go to college, making contributions to our country. They deserve citizenship as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have worked here with children in the schools and in the Taos Children's Theater program and I can tell you that NOT having these children making their small contributions to our community would be tragic. They are talented and smart kids and just want a chance to make a life here in the US. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, there are some illegal immigrants that don't make a contribution to our country. Yes, they break the law, but here in New Mexico they are so far and few between all who come here. The majority are working and want a better life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can't resolve the whole immigration problem here in a short essay, but our country needs to have an open conversation about real immigration reform and come up with realistic solutions. Solutions that are win-win not win-lose. Will that happen with Donald Trump a president who has to win at all costs and has to have a loser to feel good about himself? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What will happen with Congress, so willing remain in gridlock on this issue because Republicans and Democrats can not come together for the common good?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We need to go around Donald Trump to finally resolve our immigration problem. Building a wall and putting the military on the border will only make the problem worse. Who ever really wants to get into this country will. We need to have a humane and realistic pathway for those here working hard in this country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Suzannah Wolf Walker (c) 2018</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-90801477639163389522016-11-18T15:45:00.000-08:002016-11-18T15:45:56.439-08:00What now?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It has been over a week since Trump's election to the presidency. It has been difficult to accept that so many Americans believe this man will make their life better. It has been difficult to accept that so many Americans are misogynist, racists, bigots, etc. just like Trump is. Violence against the vulnerable has ticked upward since his election. It is difficult to accept that so many Americans' vision of our nation is the same as Trump's.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, I must decide which side I am on. I cannot remain neutral.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am distressed and anxious for America and full of uncertainty as to how America will change - and not for the better, and for the direction America will take for the next four years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>The words President and Trump are an oxymoron.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can hardly bring myself to put those two words together and not choke on them. But, what Trump, the demagogue, has been spouting for the last year, is really just the Republican Platform of the RNC.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That scares me even more. When reading the Republican Platform I was looking for a shimmer of light or a glimmer of hope for America, but finding none.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To read the Republican Platform, go to gop.org and be sure to click on and read the FULL Republican Platform for 2016 and not just the abridged edition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For purposes of this blog, I shall highlight four sections of the platform:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Preamble</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Medicare/Medicaid</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Social Security</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Immigration</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I chose the preamble for basic information and the last three because they are what are most important to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the<b> preamble</b> the Republican Party states its general beliefs and creed in the United States of America is:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"We affirm - as did the Declaration of Independence that all are created equal, endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." (p.1)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So far, so good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we know, their major platform is one of government reform.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"The more it (government) intrudes in every aspect of American life, the more it alienates the citizens who work, pay taxes, and wonder what has happened to 'the country they love.' (p. 23)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, here the hypocrisy begins. Republicans don't want government intruding in American lives, but of course they want to intrude where they want to intrude:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">abortion</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Planned Parenthood</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">LGBT+ rights</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They want to keep others, who have 'inalienable rights endowed by their Creator,' </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and interfere in their bedrooms and personal decisions in their lives. This is "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?" This is intrusion into American lives on the most personal and intimate level. I don't want government there. What happens in the bedroom is not the government's business.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, of course, Trump's crude, vulgar language and misogynist comments about women are okay with Republicans because who wants an 'uppity' woman for president? She was defeated by a man and this is how life should be according to Republicans. This is the last grasp of old white men to hang onto their power.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Republicans want to "modernize<b> Medicare</b>, empowering it on a secure financial footing." (p. 23)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, I want that too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They plan to "impose no changes for persons 55 or older." (p.23)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Good to hear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Others, those under age 55 will have the OPTION of traditional medicare or transition to a premium - a support model designed to strengthen patient choices, promote cost saving competition among providers and better guard against the fraud, and abuse that now diverts billions of dollars every year away from patient care." (p.24)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can't stop laughing. An OPTION? What if everyone's OPTION is traditional medicare?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And cheaper premiums means less coverage because in this country you get what you pay for. At a time when illnesses pick up, seniors need more coverage not less.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, do you really believe there will be OPTIONS available?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Medicaid</b> will be part of welfare reform. (p.24) This is because it is too big and too flawed to be administered by the federal government so it will be administered from the states, according to the platform.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, those receiving medicaid from wealthier states will have better health care, and those receiving medicaid from poorer states will have insufficient and incompetent health care.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is "all are created equal?" But, we will have unequal health care for our most vulnerable, especially our children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to the platform, states will have block granting to allow states to EXPERIMENT with different systems to address health, mental health and develop successful models to be replaced in states across the nation. How long will this EXPERIMENT take? We are going to EXPERIMENT with human lives? We are going to EXPERIMENT with the most</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">vulnerable in our nation, the poor, the mentally ill and children?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, of course with Republican Medicaid comes more government interference in women and their families' lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"We respect the states authority and flexibility to EXCLUDE abortion providers from federal programs such as Medicaid and other health care and family planning programs so long as they continue to perform or refer to elective abortions or sell body parts of aborted children." (I assume this means stem cells)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Again, some states will adopt this and some won't insuring discrimination against some and not others. So the women who can't afford to go to another state to receive all types of health care will be discriminated against.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When it comes to Social Security the Republican agenda is to preserve and modernize a secure retirement system. Current retirees and those close to retirement can be assured of their benefits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, that's good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All options should be considered to preserve Social Security. (p. 24 - 25). Then, they turn around and say they oppose, "tax increases and believe in the power of markets to create wealth and to help secure the future of our Social Security system."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Again, I can't stop laughing We are going to leave funding of Social Security to "the power of the markets to create wealth.?" Just like how the economic and stock market crash in 2008 depleted everyone's 401K? This is their answer to a secure Social Security system?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Immigration</b> is the hot topic of this president-elect and the Republican party. According to the Republican Platform, "Our party is the natural home for those who come in search of freedom and justice. We welcome all to the Great Opportunity Party. (GOP) (p. 25)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unless, of course, you are Muslim or Syrian refugees. These people the party does not want. Setting up a religious list or a tracking system does not offer freedom and justice to immigrants. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Director of the FBI (Comey) has said it is not possible to fully vet all potential refugees coming to this country, And, why not? That is his job. His job is to make that possible. If he can't, will someone please fire this guy?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I agree, that all immigrants should enter our country legally and follow our immigration laws.The immigration laws that are already on the books should be enforced. We should not have fluid borders where everyone and anyone can enter our country,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But, if you look back to the start of the Mexican and Central American illegal immigration problem, it began under President Ronald Reagan. Those living in DC and the environs wanted cheap labor; cheap nannies, housekeepers, and landscapers. So, our government looked the other way and allowed an underclass of illegal workers to develop so that they would not have to pay them over the table and also pay employment taxes. We created our own illegal immigration problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That is why President Reagan gave amnesty to about one million illegal immigrants during his presidency. Most of the jobs held by illegal immigrants are those Americans don't want to do. So, why not give them a path to citizenship and allow them to stay and keep those jobs Americans don't want and won't take?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Out highest priority must be to secure our borders...That is why we support building a wall along our southern border...the border wall must cover the entirety of the southern border and must be sufficient to stop both vehicular and pedestrian traffic." (p.25)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Which came first, the chicken or the egg?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The wall has been part of the Republican Platform all along, and this is not just "The Donald's" idea. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Republican Platform is what is scary and Trump is just its mouthpiece. All those Republicans that would not endorse Trump or would not condone what he says, are now jumping on the bandwagon and pushing for jobs in his presidential administration. It is sickening to see them act as lap dogs ready to jump at Trump's snap of the fingers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So which side am I on? I am on the side of truth and decency. I am on the side that is inclusive and not exclusive. I am on the side of a diverse nation because my grandfather and great grandparents were immigrants from Italy and they gave much to this country to make it a stronger and a better nation. My German ancestors came as immigrants and fought in the American Revolution and took part in the building a nation. I am on the side that breaks down walls, not puts walls up. I am on the side that does<b> not</b> see the federal government as interfering in our lives but in making our lives more just and free for all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-29590165584611922392016-05-09T10:14:00.000-07:002016-05-09T11:55:55.462-07:00A President Trump?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkQZPPR-gyQ3NPEoOHqDsLxOmFS1vmxJTAqkTf8fqkHYs6GMum0FxhvJ4JW_z81o6RDYcEPTIKwGO_bFkfKq13ufAodBkSHonlyPRLOvQx0HwL_IThMfLcSnbGEX0UoeFzRWN79sdULrw/s1600/151229111157-donald-trump-good-looking-super-169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkQZPPR-gyQ3NPEoOHqDsLxOmFS1vmxJTAqkTf8fqkHYs6GMum0FxhvJ4JW_z81o6RDYcEPTIKwGO_bFkfKq13ufAodBkSHonlyPRLOvQx0HwL_IThMfLcSnbGEX0UoeFzRWN79sdULrw/s400/151229111157-donald-trump-good-looking-super-169.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The voters have spoken.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, we have Donald J. Trump as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How does this happen when some months ago we all said it couldn't? He is a joke. He is a clown. He is a flash in the pan. No one will actually vote for him. He panders to the worst in the country and won't last a month. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here we are some months later and the unthinkable is happening. How can this be? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As he campaigns for the highest and most prestigious job in the land - President of the United States - and the leader of the free world, we have learned he is a narcissist, a racist, a demagogue, xenophobic, nationalistic, authoritative and a bully who uses intimidation to get his way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He continues to contradict himself during his speeches. No one can pin him down on how he plans to achieve his promise of "Making America Great Again!" And this all appeals to his Republican voters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How does this happen? It happens because Trump taps into the frustration, anger, loneliness, and the disconnect of Republican voters, because the majority of Republican voters are not the wealthy and well-heeled, but the downtrodden middle class. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Republican representatives in Washington capsule themselves in the Washington Beltway bubble, and appeal only to the intellectuals and wealthy in this country, not to the middle class. They have forgotten the common man. They repeatedly promise to help the middle class and then betray them by pandering to the rich. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, because of this,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> those with the least education, but, even some that are well-educated, are flocking to his side and voting for him. No matter how many editorials are written or how many broadcasters speak against the growing phenomenon of Trump, he still wins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because, many Republican voters<b> perceive</b> Trump to be authentic. They like him because Trump is Trump. He puts his largess personality out there. He is who he is and that is what is appealing to voters. He speaks with frankness. He is a racist and doesn't apologize for it. He is a misogynist and doesn't apologize for it. In fact, when confronted with that and his infidelity and three marriages, he embraces it and boasts of his sexual prowling and owns it. That is what the voters love about Donald Trump.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He doesn't profess conservative Christian values and then secretly philander. He is a philanderer out there in the open for all to see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump doesn't apologize for whom or what he is. He is a billionaire (so he says though we have no proof) and he flaunts it. As the saying goes, "if you got it, flaunt it." And he does.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The voters perceive this as authentic. It doesn't matter what outrageous thing he says, or that he contradicts himself the next day, he is just being Donald Trump and the voters have embraced him. And Trump embraces them right back. It's called the "art of the deal," that he has made with his constituents. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When he intimidates other candidates and calls them names like "little Marco," "Lyin' Ted" and "Crooked Hillary," they love it because he is the playground bully and, something that deep inside, they want to be as well. They love him because he doesn't stand for any political correctness. They love it because he sticks it to the Republican establishment, something many Republican voters have wanted to do for years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump also gives his voters a platform to vent their anger. He hints at and encourages physical protest at his opponents' speeches. He has predicted riots if he is not the Republican nominee come July in Cleveland. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He vents their anger as he threatens party leaders with steamrolling over them if they don't do his bidding. He has given the same statements to foreign leaders. Mexico will pay for that border wall. . . or else. And his voters love it. They eat it up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is apparent that our country has lost its way. When the majority of Republican voters see Trump as their 'savior" for all that is wrong with our country, we are in a world of hurt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They love his authority because that is what they want for themselves. They are living through Trump vicariously and he speaks to them in a language they understand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But, what ultimately happens to the playground bully? He continues to bully, but one day someone stands up to him. Someone finally says, "no more." Who will that someone be? A party leader? A national leader? A foreign leader? A foreign enemy? And what, then, will we have left? Nothing but a sniveling coward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What does all this tell the Republican establishment? They need to come down off their high horses and reconnect with their voters. They need to appeal to the middle-class and, for example, cut taxes for them, not just the wealthy. Trickle-down economics does not work and hasn't for the last thirty-some years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Republican party and its leaders need to lead. They need to give Republican voters what they are asking for and help all Americans, just not their selective few. They need to provide us with an alternative to Trump, someone who professes our country's values and wants to really help the common man and not themselves. They need to stop holding our democratic process hostage as they are doing with the current Supreme Court vacancy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We really are teetering on the cusp of anarchy if Trump wins the presidency. Our party system and our ability to govern is breaking down and what will replace it? Who will decide the direction our country will take in this world?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instead of reporting on who will or will not support Trump in the presidential election, we need to ask far more relevant and important questions about the role our parties will take in the political process when the November election falls out. What will be left of our "democracy" and our "democratic process" if Trump wins? What will the Republican party become and for what will it stand?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When is the Republican establishment going to wake up? They are still in deep denial. Trump has been their intervention, but they are still wallowing in their same self-delusion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><i>Copyright Suzannah Wolf Walker 2016 all rights reserved.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-41768787630125594982016-02-14T11:06:00.000-08:002016-02-16T10:02:00.469-08:00Scalia's death leaves a huge vacancy on the Supreme Court<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT12wo-HNVwtVtpI3uKzvrHX0FbudT29rGw7PUIBJZJlFfu7FQuISPeFD9wxfGGgZ0BV_W2x9nPB0EprhV-SeloFsX08uH8BHIgAYKJC3LYb6suJ-dpSHB7_CAB_Dyn-JjkyJKOKhc2Hx/s1600/antonin_scalia_scotus_photo_portrait_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT12wo-HNVwtVtpI3uKzvrHX0FbudT29rGw7PUIBJZJlFfu7FQuISPeFD9wxfGGgZ0BV_W2x9nPB0EprhV-SeloFsX08uH8BHIgAYKJC3LYb6suJ-dpSHB7_CAB_Dyn-JjkyJKOKhc2Hx/s400/antonin_scalia_scotus_photo_portrait_crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Antonin Scalia,</b> 79, the first Italian-American appointed to the Supreme Court, has passed away yesterday while on a hunting trip in Texas. It is believed he died in his sleep of natural causes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scalia was a giant on this Supreme Court, appointed in 1986 by President Reagan, and was the longest sitting justice on today's court. He was an intellectual conservative and a strict originalist in his interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. That means he believed in the words our Founding Fathers wrote as the meaning of the constitution and they always should be interpreted as so. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He did not believe in social activism in interpreting the constitution as he did not see our constitution as a 'living document.' What our Founding Fathers meant in the 1780's is what our constitution means today in the 21st century, according the Scalia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was actually opposed to the majority opinion of</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Brown vs. Board of Education</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> in ending public school segregation and said many times that the constitution did not guarantee non-segregated schools; therefore, he believed segregated schools were not a violation of our constitution and could be allowed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was a strict proponent of the 2nd Amendment of the right to bear arms, although he did believe automatic weapons could be banned under our constitution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was nearly apoplectic over abortion and gay rights. He was against abortion (he was Catholic) in all instances and against gay rights and vehemently against same sex marriages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And it was Scalia who lead the Supreme Court to choose George W. Bush as president by stopping the Florida vote count and denying Al Gore full due process.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His majority written opinions were many times vitriolic, caustic, and acerbic. His minority opinions were scathing and he took no prisoners. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Needless to say, he was my least favorite of the Supreme Court justices. As the old adage goes, "if you can't say something nice about someone, it is better to say nothing at all." Enough said.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtN9wYIjgh3qJr1RBeIWm-_css8kMvTiv_bX7_1q0EOFaW8o9htcGf0gfUfwWCogqaOgm9398Y-R0qo1zPKPtUYG1QNKLFr5lGGrYKq4vTG3rYMhhO3Qj845MWIkb8oRzH7aPMU0DwP-7C/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtN9wYIjgh3qJr1RBeIWm-_css8kMvTiv_bX7_1q0EOFaW8o9htcGf0gfUfwWCogqaOgm9398Y-R0qo1zPKPtUYG1QNKLFr5lGGrYKq4vTG3rYMhhO3Qj845MWIkb8oRzH7aPMU0DwP-7C/s400/maxresdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, President Obama is in the important position of being able to nominate a person to fill Scalia's vacancy on the Supreme Court, and he should do so. It is his responsibility to do so as president and as leader of the Executive Branch of the government.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Republicans who have called for him, as a lame duck president, not to nominate someone and leave it to the next president, because the 'people' should do the choosing by who they elect in 2016, are disingenuous at best.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The people<i> have</i> chosen by electing Obama as president. So the people do want President Obama to nominate our next Supreme Court justice. It is ridiculous for any president, Democrat or Republican, not to nominate a qualified person to a vacant seat on the Supreme Court, lame duck or not. This is a decision that is part of our democracy as a nation and not a decision that is partisan. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If the tables were turned and George W. Bush was the lame duck president, Republicans would be shouting that Bush should be nominating someone to fill the vacancy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, we are in for more gridlock and dysfunction in Washington as the Republicans once more hold our government hostage by refusing to allow Senate hearings for Scalia's successor. There is no precedent for what they are doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The checks and balances of our constitution with its three branches of government, the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial, should be and would be upheld by Scalia. It is what the Founding Fathers wrote and what they wanted. The Republicans are hypocritical at best in this situation.</span><br />
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<i>Copyright 2016 Suzannah Wolf Walker all rights reserved.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-20372760893242277182015-12-20T08:47:00.000-08:002015-12-20T08:47:17.060-08:00Insidious ISIS<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzW9pspilaCEyy0xEte9C9vBZBQrmVLpm_8ac8kVk7a60HejKBSDbrr1qO1ssTSeYe8g5GaE5Fm7b1CKgfu8775KwQ6hYnHBqPlnVRnFGHAaNLnHa1Pedyco8eBgbRQLwyk47QMTpE4GWX/s1600/ISIS-the-disease-of-humanity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzW9pspilaCEyy0xEte9C9vBZBQrmVLpm_8ac8kVk7a60HejKBSDbrr1qO1ssTSeYe8g5GaE5Fm7b1CKgfu8775KwQ6hYnHBqPlnVRnFGHAaNLnHa1Pedyco8eBgbRQLwyk47QMTpE4GWX/s400/ISIS-the-disease-of-humanity.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: www.midasletter.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is what ISIS stands for. Beheading anyone that does not accept its crazed form of Islamic religion or live the life of a working caliphate in the middle east.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To achieve their warped goals, ISIS sends terrorists world-</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wide to kill and wreck havoc upon innocent people in the name of Allah. They are a world-wide poison and so far the world has not found an antidote.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They recruit new missionaries daily and at such a rate that the world cannot keep up with them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their poison has entered our political presidential run, and kidnapped rational candidates and the Republican electorate by instilling stark fear in the hearts and minds of Americans. We behaved more rationally after 9/11 than we are now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What can we do to eliminate this poison from our world?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">President Obama recently admitted that he underestimated the fear Americans have against ISIS and the fact that they don't understand his position for fighting ISIS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He is against sending more troops to Syria and Iraq and "putting boots on the ground," for which the Republicans are calling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His answer is to send special forces over to work with the Iraqis and Kurds and bomb the ISIS strongholds as long as it does not kill innocent bystanders. He cites the chaos that descended on the middle east by our muddled attempt to bring "regime change to Iraq", and which opened a vacuum for ISIS to fill. On that he has a strong point.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However,he seems flummoxed that ISIS has an encryption code used on the Internet that "hides" their most potent messages and recruitment. ISIS fighters are smart and savvy and beat us at every turn, creating more insidious ways to attack us and recruit the young Muslims living in our country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Again, we can turn to history as a guide when it comes to breaking an encryption code.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxSg_vZ8wjBuFXG-rX7GsR06CmXYmC17i1-tiIHVw0bLLjzfNR8efVVuY4POhwuR7we41Qftzq5wuWRqZoCOs9sq2vuidWQFYGk6nYNOMsBCOY2czkjz94ZmXd5uA1oj9kIgKSrr8FbST/s1600/800px-Bletchley_Park_-_Draco2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxSg_vZ8wjBuFXG-rX7GsR06CmXYmC17i1-tiIHVw0bLLjzfNR8efVVuY4POhwuR7we41Qftzq5wuWRqZoCOs9sq2vuidWQFYGk6nYNOMsBCOY2czkjz94ZmXd5uA1oj9kIgKSrr8FbST/s400/800px-Bletchley_Park_-_Draco2008.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bletchy Park, Buckinghamshire, England<br />Source: en.wikipedia.org</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">During WWII, Bletchy Park, located in Buckinghamshire, England, became the central site for Britain's code breakers. The best and the brightest gathered here to break the secret communications of the Axis powers and most importantly the German Enigma Lorenz ciphers. It is said that the ultra-intelligence done here shortened the war by two to four years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Granted, the German encryption codes were not splashed on the Internet, but were private, but the same thing can be done today to fight ISIS codes and recruitment tools.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why is our government not gathering the best and the brightest computer technologists to break the encryption code ISIS uses on the Internet? Why is this not a major focus in the war on ISIS?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is on the Internet, Facebook, and Twitter where ISIS thrives and reaches a mass audience. So we need to stop ISIS here as well as in the middle east. We need warriors on both fronts of this war.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't understand our country's reticence in this. If we can oversee and hunt the social media and Internet to catch pornographers and pedophiles, how can we not do the same with ISIS?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why aren't we using every method possible to stop ISIS in its tracks? We might not catch all ISIS terrorists, but we can do better a catching more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Freedom of speech is cited as to why there is hesitation to go after ISIS on the Internet, yet our Supreme Court has said freedom of speech does not allow someone to yell FIRE in a crowded theater.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Therefore, freedom of speech does not allow terrorists to recruit, to plot against us or to post threatening messages on Twitter and Facebook.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If we don't take these measures pretty quickly, the war of terror and ISIS will continue for years to come. As in the medieval Crusades, it could last hundreds of years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's remember the past and take measures in the present to rid the world of the insidious ISIS poison.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Copyright 2015 Suzannah Wolf Walker all rights reserved</i></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-39976950140124468542015-12-09T08:45:00.000-08:002015-12-09T13:11:00.333-08:00Trump - definitely a concern<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMycPJ9Pm2K9t-ofuEoz9b1_FtgEaicrzhoDTUFL_rxoYfSISGo6tGMcA226Jbw4XSak8QTDvrFw_rV3Yv5bVoWeQjXKV8ql88giaE-NwBcilKnAMp4UVPhZ0hZ5DjXvBlVX5k6rhU5aS/s1600/internment-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMycPJ9Pm2K9t-ofuEoz9b1_FtgEaicrzhoDTUFL_rxoYfSISGo6tGMcA226Jbw4XSak8QTDvrFw_rV3Yv5bVoWeQjXKV8ql88giaE-NwBcilKnAMp4UVPhZ0hZ5DjXvBlVX5k6rhU5aS/s400/internment-image.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese interment camp during WWII in the U.S.<br />
Source: www.lanternreview.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As time marches on and we get closer and closer to the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, Donald Trump is flourishing as the Republican front runner in those states and across the nation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What everyone said, that he was a flash in the pan, he has shown us he is not, and he has a following of Americans that like and support his candidacy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Silent Majority are in Trump's hands right now. And how many of the Silent Majority are out there? We don't know because some are remaining Silent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump trumps himself with more outrageous comments each day that paint a dark future for America based on fear, zealotry, racism, and bigotry. His brush with fascism is truly frightening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His latest promise, that under his presidency all Muslims, with no exceptions, would be barred from from entering the U.S.,and he included even those Muslim American citizens traveling outside the country will be barred as well is beyond the pale.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He has walked back his statement by saying he wants to bar Muslims only temporarily (how long is 'temporary' and how will it be determined?) and not any that are citizens of the United States. Until we find out "what is going on" there will be no admittance of Muslims. No safe haven here for refugees fleeing the ISIS caliphate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He previously said he wants to round up all undocumented workers and send them back to their countries of origin. Eleven million of them. Where will they be housed until they are processed to leave? Detention camps? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">International leaders have publicly denounced Trump and shake their heads in sadness that this is what is happening in the U.S.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many news pundits are claiming Trump will not be be president let alone the Republican presidential candidate. I am not so sure about that. We all thought Trump would have crashed and burned by now, but he is flying high at the moment. Each outlandish comment he makes causes more supporters to flock to his cause.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pundits are also saying that Trump could never bar Muslims from the U.S. because it would be unconstitutional. But, just look back to WWII after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and see what was done to contain Japanese-Americans legally and constitutionally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through Executive Order 9066, President Franklin Roosevelt declared all Japanese and Japanese-Americans on the West Coast were to be rounded up and sent to interment camps where they were to remain until the end of the war.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Relocation, evacuation, and evacuees were some of the euphemisms used at the time to explain to the rest of the country what was happening to them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The truth is, through Roosevelt's executive order, approximately 110,000 Japanese and Japanese-American men, women and children were robbed of their rights, property, and due process of law in the name of "national security." Japanese immigrants were denied American citizenship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you really think Trump would not do the same to the Muslims? In the name of national security, he could do the same as Roosevelt. He certainly could ban them from the U.S. through an executive order as Roosevelt did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As French President Francois Holland has claimed, we are at war with ISIS. Trump has said the same thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Japanese were 'relocated' to barbed wire compounds and hastily constructed prison barracks throughout the nation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If it could happen then, it could happen now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So deep was the persecution and prejudice against the Japanese and Japanese-Americans that newspaper columnist Henry McLemore said, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> "I am for the immediate removal of every Japanese on the West Coast to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> deep in the interior . . . Herd 'em up, pack 'em off, and give 'em the inside</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> room in the badlands . . . Personally, I hate the Japanese. And that goes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> for all of them."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fortunately, I have not heard any news people express those sentiments about Muslims so far and I don't think they will. But, I have heard some Americans voice those sentiments about Muslims. Americans are nervous and frightened right now and so they blame a whole people rather than just the few who are radicalized. Some have even issued death threats to mosques and Muslim leaders throughout America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was so much fear of the Japanese in America that entire libraries of Japanese literature were destroyed to erase the Japanese community's literary history. Remind you of the book burning of Jewish books and literature during the Nazi days of Germany?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All of this through Roosevelt's executive orders. Is this really the type of nation we want to become today? Trump would do this in heartbeat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Japanese and Japanese-Americans, however, kept their literature alive as poetry clubs flourished in the interment camps. Somehow they found a way not to let their dignity and humanity die along with their American rights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two examples of haiku, from the camp poetry clubs, that were written during Japanese interment:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Autumn foliage</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> California has now become</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> a far country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ~ Yajin Nakao</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Frosty night</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> listening to rumbling train</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> we have come a long way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ~ Senbinski Takaoka</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do we really want to return to these dark days in American history? By supporting and voting for Donald Trump, who plays on American's fears, those days may nearer in our future that we think.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Copyright 2015 Suzannah Wolf Walker all rights reserved</i></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-15413756285123361922015-12-08T08:44:00.002-08:002015-12-08T12:36:13.549-08:00Trump's ban on Muslims - there is precedent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBSKwlzSjLHP0tdAMuRsFH-8AK2BkPpsEOUdYMoULytwlu8tNAVZ_tg1P6T91BXrlF2I1s5TbGsy11st2vsBStpzOw_Y2fj_Cu1hQfhj2z6rLht229dTEApLFgGYv6q3KsdptcC7-ZF7x/s1600/ny_08763_dt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBSKwlzSjLHP0tdAMuRsFH-8AK2BkPpsEOUdYMoULytwlu8tNAVZ_tg1P6T91BXrlF2I1s5TbGsy11st2vsBStpzOw_Y2fj_Cu1hQfhj2z6rLht229dTEApLFgGYv6q3KsdptcC7-ZF7x/s400/ny_08763_dt1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jewish on the USS St Louis trying to emigrate from Germany in 1939. No one would take them in.<br />
Source: archives.jdc.org</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So much has been said about and Donald Trump has been reviled because of his statements made about banning all Muslims from entering the U.S., with no exceptions, in the face of the San Bernardino </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">murders and shootings by radicalized <span style="background-color: white;">Islamists. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Republican field of presidential candidates, thankfully, have denounced Trump and his ban. Many others throughout the nation have denounced him also.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is so dangerous and eerie about what is happening today is it rings true about another time in our history when fear gripped our nation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have heard many pundits on the news programs claim that there is absolutely no precedent to Trump's proposed ban of Muslims here in the U.S.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But, sadly, there are precedents to what he wants to do about the Muslims in America and Muslims and others trying to come to America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have to go all the way back to 1939, but precedent does exist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On May 13, 1939 the ship, the <i>USS St. Louis,</i> left northern Germany filled with nine hundred Jewish people who were fleeing Germany because of Hitler's persecution against the them. They were the last Jewish people to leave Germany before Hitler closed Germany's borders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They hoped to reach Cuba and from there travel to the U.S. When they arrived at Havana, Cuba they were turned away and denied entrance and forced to return to Europe. The captain then steered the<i> St. Louis</i> towards the Florida coast. They were refugees and asked for safe haven and entrance into the U.S. Despite, several direct appeals to President Franklin Roosevelt, U.S. authorities refused them the right to dock at U.S. ports and enter the country.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Roosevelt's reasoning for keeping them out was he was too worried about the potential flood of immigrants. Sound familiar? We have Syrian refugees and middle easterners today seeking entrance and safe haven in the U.S..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, the <i>USS St. Louis</i> was forced to return to Germany. More than 250 of the Jewish on the <i>St.</i> <i>Louis</i> were killed by Germany's Nazis. This would not have happened had the U.S. taken them in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is this what we want the U.S., a country founded on freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to deny Muslims entrance to the U.S. based on their religious affiliation and their countries of origin? Do we really want to go all the way back to 1939 and repeat what President Franklin did? Aren't we better than that today? </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOyuldouSiVCRhu43M39X1rB7Iu6YBq807NYY46Y5WSkdHisYqZaLAPbX-BxKwbDP-lyhhNN1tcAPjCViNq18c7Teq4PNni6Qf2x34QkBW6OLYAcWEeki8fedMbkCC07b09-OD0952Upo/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOyuldouSiVCRhu43M39X1rB7Iu6YBq807NYY46Y5WSkdHisYqZaLAPbX-BxKwbDP-lyhhNN1tcAPjCViNq18c7Teq4PNni6Qf2x34QkBW6OLYAcWEeki8fedMbkCC07b09-OD0952Upo/s320/download.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memoir by Monica Itoi Sone<br />
Source: www.paperbackswap.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another shameful precedent is what President Roosevelt did through executive order to the Japanese and Japanese-Americans living on the west coast of the U.S. after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is painfully revealed by Monica Itoi Sone's memoir, <i>Nisei Daughter, </i>that tells the story of her life growing up Japanese-American in the U.S. before and during WWII.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Monica was born on American soil to Japanese immigrant parents, called<i> Issei</i> in Japanese. Monica was known as <i>Nisei </i>or second generation Japanese-American citizen in Japanese. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the tim1e leading up to WWII and long after there were strict laws preventing <i>Issei</i> from becoming American citizens. This happened even though their children born on American soil were American citizens and even though their sons fought in the U.S. Army against Japan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Such discrimination is what we are talking about today and which Donald Trump is proposing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sone's memoir goes on to tell how it was difficult for her, as a<i> Nisei</i>, to fully assimilate into the American mainstream because of widespread fear and prejudice toward the Japanese during the first half of the 20th century.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It foreshadows what the Muslim immigrants are going through today in the U.S. With Americans so nervous and frightened about Islamic terrorist attacks, there is widespread fear and prejudice toward Muslims especially those who practice Islam. Trump says it's okay to profile them. He encourages, and so does the U.S. government to a degree, for Americans to report on Muslims if they have any suspicions of radicalization. Again, so similar to WWII and what Hitler encouraged Germans to do against the Jewish population. Hitler's Youth program even encouraged children to report on their parents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As WWII aproached, Sone, in her memoir, tells of the harsh persecution Japanese and Japanese-Americans faced who lived on the West Coast. Sone was a<i> Nisei</i> living in Seattle, Washington when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. The memoir records the loss of her rights as an American citizen as her family was forced to relocate to an interment camp in Idaho.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While teaching in Canton, Ohio, I had the privilege of meeting Monica Sone in person. We read her memoir,<i> Nisei Daughter</i>, in our 8th grade Language Arts classes. She came to speak to students and teachers about her experiences and writing her memoir. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monica Itoi Sone<br />
Source: bettymacdonaldfanclub.blogspot.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sone is a lovey, soft spoken woman who, amazingly, is not bitter about her experiences of dealing with prejudice and persecution against her and her family and their eventual relocation to an interment camp. She has focused on her family's resiliency in a time of adversity and their willingness to sacrifice for the benefit of the country (U.S.) they love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When she spoke to us it was in hope to educate, especially the students, so that what she experienced would never happen again in the U.S. or anywhere for that matter. It was to show students how to deal with adversity of the most horrid kind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, here we are just at the same crossroads we were at more than fifty years ago. Will we react the same way as we did in the 20th century or have are we become more enlightened now that we are in the 21st century?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Remember, those who do not learn from their history are doomed to repeat it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-89255800861576192912015-12-07T10:03:00.000-08:002015-12-07T10:16:23.345-08:00"We will overcome it." President Obama 12/6/15<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Obama speaking to the nation about ISIS. (12/6/15)<br />
Source: www. google.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was not particularly inspired by Obama's speech last night. I was hoping for tougher talk and tougher measures tak</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">en to vanquish ISIS. What I heard was more of the same and talk of staying the course. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">President Obama reiterated the strategy we have been using in the U.S. against ISIS: airstrikes, special forces, and working with local forces who are fighting to regain control of their own country. He believes this "will gain a more sustainable victory."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the meantime that does not help with the nervousness Americans feel after the San Bernardino shootings and murders. Despite the strategy we are using against ISIS, it is clear that extremist Islamic terrorist attacks are happening in the U.S. now. It is clear that so far this strategy is not working. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How do we know San Bernardino will not happen again? We don't. How do we know more Americans will not be murdered while Obama plays his long game in the middle east? We don't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope his strategy works, but I have my doubts. ISIS seems to be three steps ahead of the western nations and we all seem to be behind the eight ball.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is so much confusion and chaos in Iraq and Syria that millions of its citizens are leaving as refugees rather than stay and fight ISIS. They are frightened of retaliation from ISIS if they do fight and I can't say I blame them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He spoke of establishing a time line to pursue a cease-fire and a political resolution to the Syrian war. Apparently Secretary of State John Kerry is setting this up in the middle east in hopes of getting those countries on our side to fight. Good luck with that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Obama wants the Muslim communities world wide to root out hate in Muslim communities and said Muslims must address this globally. I don't think enough of that has been happening. Good luck with that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Saudi Arabia, supposedly our ally in the middle east, practices a branch of Sunni Islam called Wahhabism. It began as a reform movement and is very strict and ultraconservative. Saudi Arabian women have little rights and cannot drive cars or go anywhere without a male escort. Our ally is not exactly the best example of the Islamic religion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He also wants stronger screening of those who come to America without visas. He wants national security to take a hard look at whether they have traveled to war zones. What will he do with those he finds who have?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can we create educational programs and job creation for Muslim adolescents and young people. Can we do this before young Muslims become radicalized? We need to offer them more than what they will find with ISIS. We must find programs that will empower them instead of ignoring them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can we oversee social media and counter ISIS' recruiting by having recruiting of our own? Again, something more to offer these young people than a death cult and suicide bombings? We must take concrete steps in this area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were some good points to his speech and those I do agree with. We can't blame all Muslims for what ISIS is doing. I agree that we must remember to treat all with human dignity as we are all equal in God's eyes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Obama said we cannot abandon our values as an American nation and give into fear. I agree with that. Americans of every faith must reject discrimination and we cannot turn against one another.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He said he wants authorization from Congress to go after ISIS to show America's unity and resolve. Good luck with that too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Congress does need to step up and do its part in this fight against ISIS as well. But we are in a presidential campaign. Will politicians do what is right, good, and safe for America or just be concerned with their own individual situations? Good luck with that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Again, Obama called on Congress to enact gun laws so that potential terrorists on FBI lists cannot purchase guns here in the U.S. I would think so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But, how do we stop the garden variety of terrorists like Malik and Farook who lived under the radar here in San Bernardino while all the time cunningly planning a terrorist attack.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If it can happen in San Bernardino it can happen anywhere. That is why Americans are so nervous.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Copyright 2015 Suzannah Wolf Walker all rights reserved</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-75716900391226549472015-12-06T11:09:00.002-08:002015-12-09T13:11:22.168-08:00The Jihadist Snake<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tashfeen Malik and Syed Rizwan Farook<br />
Source: www.independent.co.uk.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We now have two more faces to add to our growing list of radicalized </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Islamic</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> terrorists. Two more who hated America and Americans. Two more who murdered and died for what they believed was the 'right and only' religion for the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When will this stop? As long as we continue what we are doing it will not stop.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The San Bernardino Shootings<br />
Source: themapstories.net</td></tr>
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Malik<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and </span>Farook<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> by all means, at first glance, were a normal American couple with a six month old child. They worked hard, were good parents, were good neighbors and seemed to fit in well with their San </span>B<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ernardino</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> neighbors. In fact, neighbors say they were just like the rest of those in the neighborhood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is no evidence the couple were members of a militant group or a radicalized Islamic group. Malik, however, had destroyed the hard drive of her computer before the attacks. ISIS has not taken credit for this attack, but has applauded it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We now know them to be radicalized Islamic terrorists after a search of their home. A home where Farook's</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> mother lived with them and their child. A search of the home found 4,500 bullets and twelve pipe bombs and more equipment to build more bombs. They did this surreptitiously, apparently under the nose of the mother. How the mother did not know about all this is difficult to believe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FBI investigators have concluded that both of them had planned this attack for a while because of the arsenal they found in the home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The family has said they are as shocked as the rest of us and the bother-in-law of Farook said the family had no knowledge of them being so violent and wanting to kill. He said he was in as much shock over this as the rest of the nation. He described Malik was a "caring and soft spoken" woman.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The brother-in-law of Syed Farook.<br />
Source: fox61.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, what went wrong? Malik and Farook seemed to be living the American dream. Was there really animosity at work or did Farook set up an incident to give a cursory reason for the bloody attack? Why bring a child into the world if terrorism was their goal or was the child just a prop to make them look like the normal San Bernardino couple?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The people carrying out these terrorist attacks are intelligent, cunning and sophisticated people. They know how to travel, how to appear normal, how to enter the country and how to stay under the radar so they are not suspected before making their attacks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So how do we stop these types of terrorists and other terrorists under the command of ISIS?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No amount of background checks are going to stop them all as is the case here. When Malik and Farook came into this country, background checks were made but there were no red flags so they were admitted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have to stop ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Until we make the fight there and vanquish them there, until we cut off the head of the snake, the rest of the world will be bedeviled by ISIS, Al Queda and other terrorist organizations with no respite. Until we cut off the head of the snake it will continue to produce and produce more and more terrorists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We need a world-wide coalition of armies and NATO to stop ISIS in its tracks. No one wants war, but that is why the western world has armies - to protect us in times of attack. We are being attacked by guerrilla warfare, but we are still under attack. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, our armies stand by. We send 'advisers and trainers' to the armies in Syria and Iraq but it is certainly not enough. The Syrian rebels and Iraqi army are not able to stop ISIS or they would already have done so. If the western world does not do more than air strikes and bombs, the terrorists will NOT stop. They will not stop until WE stop them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the meantime we have fourteen more Americans dead and twenty-one more Americans wounded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is just as important to keep Americans safe from terrorist guerrilla warfare as it was to keep America safe during WWII. We were attacked then; we are being attacked now. There were less American casualties after the bombing of Pearl Harbor than there were after the bombing of the Twin Towers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The western world is forever catching up to ISIS rather than being in the lead and beheading the snake once and for all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Copyright 2015 Suzannah Wolf Walker all rights reserved</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-12846403245322201132015-12-05T06:18:00.001-08:002015-12-12T07:54:34.659-08:00"Just Another Day in the U.S." - BBC - San Bernardino<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZRAvni26XmtRZX4-ZjN_ifOW3X-avIoyO0NoIkTaOAyJ-0lnT0tXDU8Ce9I8T9l6OmfZVTjrzxdUYtL9HzMVNsFf1el4cyvkac3Fkak3FF4e7SXnb7cKhRumrHc45v4UOxDdGNAf8gI7/s1600/635847092891547105-AP-APTOPIX-California-Shootings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZRAvni26XmtRZX4-ZjN_ifOW3X-avIoyO0NoIkTaOAyJ-0lnT0tXDU8Ce9I8T9l6OmfZVTjrzxdUYtL9HzMVNsFf1el4cyvkac3Fkak3FF4e7SXnb7cKhRumrHc45v4UOxDdGNAf8gI7/s320/635847092891547105-AP-APTOPIX-California-Shootings.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: www.usatoday.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Just another day in the U.S." - the BBC's headline in the UK to report the mass killings and shootings in San Bernardino, CA on December 2. Is not anyone else embarrassed by this headline? I am.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, just another mass killing here in the land of the free and the brave. We are becoming numb and desensitized to this news in which three to four mass killing attacks have happened in the U.S. in roughly a two week period.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are so many mass killings happening that the news organizations can't keep up covering them all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Where is the justice for the victims of mass shootings in the U.S.? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Where is the justice for the families who are forever changed by the loss of their loved ones?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why are we letting those who are killed in mass shootings die in vain?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have we become so callous that we have allowed the NRA to dictate our gun access and types of guns sold in this country?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we continue to send "our thought and prayers" to the families who have lost loved ones, do we as a nation do any thing to stop the sale of more assault weapons in the U.S.?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our access to guns in this country is ridiculous. As the two, Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik, were able to legally purchase two assault weapons, two semi-automatic pistols, and all the ammunition they could get their hands on with no problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, we have the right to bear arms in this country and so the U.S. has become a gun culture (and through that a culture of violence and death) </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not only can anyone in the U.S. have a right to a gun, but they can own multiple guns and multiple types of guns. This is outrageous!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is estimated that Americans throughout our country own approximately a total of 300 million guns. That's on average five guns per person in the U.S. So, those of us that don't own guns leaves those that do own guns with many more than five guns on average. Why on earth would a single person need five guns or more? That is why it makes it so easy for someone who wants to commit a mass murder to do so. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We don't have serious background checks for those purchasing guns and those not able to purchase guns (convicted felons) can easily purchase them on the black market from criminal gangs and/or groups. And those that sell guns privately do not have to do background checks at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The NRA (National Rifle Association) has a strangle hold on our country and on our congressmen and women. How did they get so much power that on the day after these San Bernardino mass killings every Republican except for Senator Mark Kirk (Ill) voted against legislation to prevent people on the FBI's consolidated terrorist watch list from purchasing guns or explosives?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Government Accountability Office, since 2007, has documented that over the years of congressional blockage of any gun control, hundreds of suspected terrorists on the watch list bought guns. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Potential terrorists in this country, who the FBI are watching, can legally buy guns in the U.S? Are we nuts or what? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are we so scared of the NRA that we would allow potential terrorists access to guns while in this country? Then, we deserve any terrorist attack we get.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then, we deserve what happened in San Bernardino. Granted, Farook and Malik were not being watched by the FBI or on any potential terrorist lists, but they were legally able to buy two assault rifles and two semi-automatic pistols.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is why we need gun control laws. Why does anyone in this country have the right to an assault weapon? They are being used to assault us. Why are those on the FBI terrorist control lists in the U.S. able to purchase assault weapons? This is insane.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is not possible in other countries, especially in Europe. The terrorists who attacked Paris obtained their guns illegally. France does not hand out guns to potential terrorists. Access to buy guns in European countries is not easy. They have rigorous background checks and Europeans are not permitted to buy automatic guns of any type.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But, in the U.S., anyone is permitted to buy any type of gun. And, we are killing ourselves with them.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtonL2OIYELaeNyrw81OUqsw7t05jY3NfvGEyiNST02f1i2Ie7GU8X-jgbo1V0l6Hxu0HYCm2zAuiFTiWzlXX_i_JWS-oPurgg3lt-dirETTvAdgUs_m6ynUGXqerLyNOlkCdkzqlUXLp/s1600/san-bernardino-shooting-14-dead-12-hurt-photos-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtonL2OIYELaeNyrw81OUqsw7t05jY3NfvGEyiNST02f1i2Ie7GU8X-jgbo1V0l6Hxu0HYCm2zAuiFTiWzlXX_i_JWS-oPurgg3lt-dirETTvAdgUs_m6ynUGXqerLyNOlkCdkzqlUXLp/s400/san-bernardino-shooting-14-dead-12-hurt-photos-002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: radaronline.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why have our police become militarized? Because we have assault weapons on the street, and they have to be able to protect themselves and the rest of us. Look at the firefight the police had with these two mass killers. Do you think they would be dead today if the police had not been militarized and able to fight back?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbObXUZTQLeVDLUKsv2aymhbVJCNUxNA2SC1ygf93PwUA3Tl5tMKufOsI5fPEyeRpTBQo7bwFO32ITkCmgS88ZiJbQHFU9zKJoOWii7KWjGknu7VsIM2ImHgcG9cLyv-f_fTrxBCSRFCQ/s1600/cvwitszuyaabdtf_custom-a6e80729e7bed699efa1d6f0e86e291302707425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbObXUZTQLeVDLUKsv2aymhbVJCNUxNA2SC1ygf93PwUA3Tl5tMKufOsI5fPEyeRpTBQo7bwFO32ITkCmgS88ZiJbQHFU9zKJoOWii7KWjGknu7VsIM2ImHgcG9cLyv-f_fTrxBCSRFCQ/s400/cvwitszuyaabdtf_custom-a6e80729e7bed699efa1d6f0e86e291302707425.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: www.wbur.org</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It doesn't really matter whether the San Bernardino killings are seen as domestic mass killings or, as we now have learned, as Islamic terrorist killings which are part of a Federal terrorism investigation; the fact is, Farook and Malik were able to buy the assault and semi-automatic guns legally right here in the U.S. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is frightening is that anyone with a grudge or anyone who is a follower of radicalized Islam who wants to kill in the name of Allah can get hold of not just one assault weapon but as many as they can buy. </span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When is anyone or any organization or any political party going to have the guts to tell the NRA, ENOUGH!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When are we going to have the guts to pass some responsible gun laws in this country?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Copyright 2015 Suzannah Wolf Walker all rights reserved</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-12893985434049141142015-11-30T14:33:00.002-08:002015-12-06T11:23:23.498-08:00Donald Trump channeling Adolph Hitler<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLy9qrfz0N0PrLdiXSLqT-ImzQcDlQG0xVL91I6Fy60JZUQnxoAhxt14accmxVfZFuLxwfFRIaqB6EwFhzHVHldUwTbZyYiwWzlTPCgSjzwdrMCuvLLMToLryZ-vz3nB1kZRKBhyphenhyphen4u-_wR/s1600/483208412-real-estate-tycoon-donald-trump-flashes-the-thumbs-up.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLy9qrfz0N0PrLdiXSLqT-ImzQcDlQG0xVL91I6Fy60JZUQnxoAhxt14accmxVfZFuLxwfFRIaqB6EwFhzHVHldUwTbZyYiwWzlTPCgSjzwdrMCuvLLMToLryZ-vz3nB1kZRKBhyphenhyphen4u-_wR/s320/483208412-real-estate-tycoon-donald-trump-flashes-the-thumbs-up.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: www.google.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I give Donald Trump NO thumbs up! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When "the Donald" started his presidential campaign some months ago, I thought of him as a clown on the stump. When can we get this clown off his podium? I thought.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sadly, Republicans have catapulted Trump to the top of the heap. He is the front runner in every state in which he speaks and throughout the U.S. Who'd a thunk?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I never dreamed Americans would actually take him seriously, but apparently a lot have. His rocket rise to the top and his staying there has really concerned me. As time goes on, his campaign gets scarier and scarier and not at all funny. He is becoming scary because he is playing on the fears Americans have in these dangerous times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have begun to see eerie similarities between demagogue Trump and another evil demagogue -<b> Adolph Hitler.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump wants to "Make America Great Again,"- the greatest country in the world.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnWMZVGzmRAOAwcws6cbHA8sg2aeyQEGdawQt1DGGVthjsVF0Yt7qFBfDwf-8NENQxKDoQ1IMJXTCcd0xioYq0k00qAL8xWlx4cxwcGziz693O0ZVvSV6XFcbReJilPsFzJWohjJ-C3i-/s1600/rts1xl3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnWMZVGzmRAOAwcws6cbHA8sg2aeyQEGdawQt1DGGVthjsVF0Yt7qFBfDwf-8NENQxKDoQ1IMJXTCcd0xioYq0k00qAL8xWlx4cxwcGziz693O0ZVvSV6XFcbReJilPsFzJWohjJ-C3i-/s320/rts1xl3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: www.google.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the same message Hitler charismatically touted to the German citizens in the 1930's.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Make Germany Great Again - the greatest country in the world. And we fought WWII to stop him from world dominance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hitler started with blaming the Jewish population for all the ills that Germany was experiencing at the time. They were taking away jobs from good Germans. Trump is saying the same thing. He says Mexicans, in particular, are doing the same thing in the U.S. - taking away jobs from Americans. He, of course, lumps all Mexicans together and says that they are murderers and rapists that we are letting into our country. Again, an eerie similarity to Hitler's comments about the Jewish people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump rejects any kind of amnesty for undocumented workers already living here or any kind of pathway to citizenship. Even President Ronald Reagan granted amnesty to approximately one million undocumented workers in 1986, and Reagan is heralded as practically a 'god' to the Republicans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump says he wants to round up eleven million of them and send them back to their countries of origin. He promises to build a 20 ft wall along our southern border with Mexico to keep them out. East Berlin built a wall to keep its citizens in, but even that came down in 1989. I suppose undocumented workers will be sent to detention camps until they can be processed and removed. Same thing Hitler did with his "undesirables."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump is pandering to Americans</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> fear rather than seeing the greatness of America that is already here - our diversity - because we all have ancestors from somewhere else. We are not all Native Americans, so our lineage had to come from somewhere and that somewhere is outside the U.S.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump has ratcheted up anti-Muslim hate and fear mongering just as Hitler did against the Jewish population in Gernany. Trump says he would "certainly implement" a federal database to register an estimated three million Muslims living in America today. This is exactly what Hitler did with the Jewish population - each and every Jew had to register with the Gestapo/or the ce</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ntral government in their German towns and cities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump says he would not rule out having Muslim-Americans carry a special form of ID noting their faith. Hitler had the Jews wear the yellow star of David. Not much of a difference. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recently a Black Lives Matter protester was beaten at the scene of one of his speeches and Trump casually and cavalierly remarked, "he deserved to be roughed up." The same tactic and response Hitler used during his rise to power.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If Trump becomes president, how far away are we from rounding up "undesirables": the undocumented, Muslims, refugees, the homeless, just to name a few? How far away are we from detention camps, internment camps, and concentration camps here on U.S. soil? How far away are we from people hiding in attics and cellars a la Anne Frank?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The hatred that Trump spews is no different from Hitler's. Get rid of these "undesirables", like Hitler did with the Jewish, and America Will Be Great Again. How far away are we from forcing our "undesirables" into concentration camps and finding a "Final Solution" to them?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump's presidential run says less about Trump and, sadly, more about Americans and the state of our nation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Copyright 2015 Suzannah Wolf Walker all rights reserved</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-10154974291508644592015-11-23T13:22:00.000-08:002015-11-24T10:52:48.633-08:00ISIS Terrorism - the Insanity Continues<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mWZAsc6w4CyvraLK-vq_XyvqDvRO5vnceifAV6z_CIGc27W-kRMd_3fs6L_8UYX6VkmVJpjJfS1QxlfIoYKSjgopiGBdcQJWo3iwUsL_q7ZN-YNOG8zmQmLI5yMbGdz7GRKrPTIyxkDY/s1600/12241173_146398949050351_5829088733417578293_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mWZAsc6w4CyvraLK-vq_XyvqDvRO5vnceifAV6z_CIGc27W-kRMd_3fs6L_8UYX6VkmVJpjJfS1QxlfIoYKSjgopiGBdcQJWo3iwUsL_q7ZN-YNOG8zmQmLI5yMbGdz7GRKrPTIyxkDY/s320/12241173_146398949050351_5829088733417578293_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: Facebook.com/JasonLove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the life of me, I do not understand why the world keeps this ridiculous cycle going. It is just like a hamster on its wheel. Running madly but getting nowhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since 9/11 when the World Trade Center Twin Towers were destroyed by Al Queda the world has been spinning its wheels in fighting first, Al Queda and now ISIS, and today the world is stuck in the mud.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While the world has thwarted some terror attacks before they happened, the terrorists still are able to get by our security and intelligence screens and land some pretty devastating attacks on the world. Case in point: the Paris attacks this last week, the Russian jet liner explosion, the Beruit suicide bombings, the Mali hostage attacks. American lives have been lost in these attacks as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each one has brought death and destruction to so many people and their families. Precious lives lost and families torn apart forever by the deaths. Good people dying while the evil continues to live.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am not an expert in the geo-political situation in this world, so you may take my comments with a grain of salt, but I am coming from a place called common sense. A place many Americans are coming from these days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I won't even go into the Iraq War, fought because of weapons of mass destruction which never existed there, because I have written enough about that at the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I don't understand is our continued response to ISIS which is to send arms, money, and advisers to the natives in Iraq and Syria to have them raise armies to fight ISIS. They are not capable of fighting against ISIS and they know it. In fact, the Iraqi army put down their arms and fled from ISIS knowing they could not fight them. They know they will be slaughtered it they do and if captured they will be beheaded. Only the strongest armies of the world - the U.S., European countries, and NATO have the means of defeating ISIS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So when we have one of these terror attacks we send our big, bad fighter jets to bomb ISIS, for example, in Raqqua, and then we stop after the bombs are dropped. Of course, ISIS knows we will do this, because we have done this time and time again, so especially the ISIS leaders make themselves scarce from where the bombs fall.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because of all this, the Syrians and many Iraqis are fleeing the middle east by the hundreds of thousands and Europe is struggling with finding them all homes. The U.S. is only taking ten thousand of them over the next two years and now some Americans and politicians are fearful and going berserk over having them come here because several of the Paris terrorists came into Europe hidden with Syrian refugees.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We keep repeating the same behavior and expecting different results.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During WWII, Hitler and his German army was stopped not only with bombing but also with boots on the ground in Europe. We stopped Hirohito and the Japanese army by having boots on the ground in the South Pacific and completely ended the war with the dropping of nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ISIS and Hitler are the two most evil regimes we have been up against in modern times. I realize WWII was a different era, but we put boots on the ground and fought after Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why aren't we putting boots on the ground in the middle east, Syria and Iraq, and once and for all stopping ISIS? We cry and mourn and wail about terrorist attacks, but we are not cutting off the snake's head. Until we do that, there will be more terror attacks and deaths to deal with. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hate to see our soldiers over there fighting too. But I hate seeing innocent people killed by terrorists even more. This is why nations have armies; to protect us in time of war. And, we are at war with ISIS as Francois Holland has announced.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I for one, want ISIS stopped because right now they are the most evil element in the world. Then we need to go after Al Queda and the Taliban in the same manner. And Africa obviously needs help riding its continent of Boko Haram. The world needs to rid itself of these terrorist groups. Until we do this, there is no real safety and security anywhere in this world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We must be more vigilant and we need to have some kind of response, as well, on social media to counter attack ISIS' insidious use of it to recruit fighters, soldiers, and suicide bombers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When is the world going wake-up and fight ISIS instead of putting states of emergencies in place that restrict a people's democratic rights. This is what ISIS wants. We are playing right into their hands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Copyright 2015 Suzannah Wolf Walker all rights reserved</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-6145777517140877612015-11-19T07:51:00.002-08:002015-11-19T07:54:41.970-08:00ISIS Terrorism in Paris<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4XAhRjCQ43U99nxkfHeD9NgZGAI2E_T4IpgFXE-Yz7Wrq85DBkhB5a_79OwjwSP2hwqsaAY7U5pJL6Pv11ILxjw9QiyrGvw6Z3JQBoZ7hzapPeciTFWf0ePlq8Lg9eLE80cWzA5Kz5Tb/s1600/2015-11-13t234202z1lynxnpebac17srtroptp4france-shooting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4XAhRjCQ43U99nxkfHeD9NgZGAI2E_T4IpgFXE-Yz7Wrq85DBkhB5a_79OwjwSP2hwqsaAY7U5pJL6Pv11ILxjw9QiyrGvw6Z3JQBoZ7hzapPeciTFWf0ePlq8Lg9eLE80cWzA5Kz5Tb/s320/2015-11-13t234202z1lynxnpebac17srtroptp4france-shooting.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: www.google.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Je suis Paris.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Je suis Francais.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My condolences to all of the people of France. What a horrible week it has been, but I commend the French people for going on with their lives and not being intimidated by ISIS. To walk the streets of Paris again, brings Paris back to the "city of light."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, how do we stop ISIS? I don't know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I do know is that we must alter our response to ISIS if we ever want to defeat them. The same old, same old is not working. We have the same response each time, bombing them in Syria, and then wonder why we are not defeating them. To have the same response to each western attack by ISIS and then wonder why we are not defeating them is INSANITY.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While we were sleeping, thinking we had won the war in Iraq, ISIS quietly and quickly grew to terrorize Syria and Iraq. The Syrians are fleeing their country rather than fighting back. The Iraq army laid down their arms and fled rather than fight ISIS knowing they would be slaughtered if they did.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We think we have contained ISIS in Syria. Obviously we have not. They are still sending their "soldiers" to the west to wreck havoc with free and democratic societies, and so far it is working. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For every one we kill, ten more rise up to fill the slot. ISIS appeals to the disenfranchised, the hopeless, and the petty criminals. ISIS gives these lost young people, in their 20's and 30's, a home, a sense of belonging, and a cause for which to fight. These misguided youth have a cause to believe in for the first time in their lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, what do we do to stop ISIS? I don't know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We know and understand that true Islam is not a violent religion of death. I have not read the entire Q'uran, but the parts I have read espouse love and peace, not death and destruction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What, then, do we do with ISIS, whose followers believe in their own brand of Islam, that teaches hate, terror and death to all that do not share their beliefs? What do we do with an organization that is clearly not a "JV team" and that sells women as sex slaves? What do we do with a people that behead all that do not believe in their radicalized Islam? What do we do with a people that reject democracy for a totalitarian medieval caliphate? What do we do with a people that want to extend that caliphate to rule world wide?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Obviously, as a world, we have to provide better opportunities for these disenfranchised youth so that they have something else available to them than joining ISIS. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think, world wide, we have the military means to defeat ISIS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The world must unite, and that includes other Muslim nations, to defeat ISIS once and for all, so that those who have died in France, London, Madrid, Beirut, Egypt, and the U.S. have not died in vain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVk1FEp_QPPHsx0MZbiWzuzPlAgGUk-_zSKebtbCH87AqyZlZnT1xqzoJ2e03VYv43u-dAgwxOm1fEI8cBo7TXlrDddb6vWPYsh3zZxSpWZao_TlGwOCdhI7tVreTZvtuNBCQmMb6ewT-/s1600/Ce-soir-nous-sommes-tous-Fran%25C3%25A7ais.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVk1FEp_QPPHsx0MZbiWzuzPlAgGUk-_zSKebtbCH87AqyZlZnT1xqzoJ2e03VYv43u-dAgwxOm1fEI8cBo7TXlrDddb6vWPYsh3zZxSpWZao_TlGwOCdhI7tVreTZvtuNBCQmMb6ewT-/s320/Ce-soir-nous-sommes-tous-Fran%25C3%25A7ais.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: www.google.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Copyright 2015 Suzannah Wolf Walker all rights reserved</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-5416142579853941532015-11-14T08:24:00.001-08:002015-11-14T09:59:18.092-08:0011/13 <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitBSTXAsp3qExAR56FLytKzdqdkl6olC_29_d59qwAttuTr-DP4W6vvu8R2ROkbgVRVUJMK3Rf-aYR_z8a1zVnyBxADa2oMU0KW6p8nAvaZA8JOfUmmInq90N2ocOvxB1tnxhr4yoELgk/s1600/newton.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitBSTXAsp3qExAR56FLytKzdqdkl6olC_29_d59qwAttuTr-DP4W6vvu8R2ROkbgVRVUJMK3Rf-aYR_z8a1zVnyBxADa2oMU0KW6p8nAvaZA8JOfUmmInq90N2ocOvxB1tnxhr4yoELgk/s320/newton.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newton's Diagram<br />
Source: users.math.yale.edu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>AP Calculus exam </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>quiet musings on</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>a bleak November day</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>The wind roars and whistles along</b><br />
<b><br /></b><b> rattling the windows</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YtT_6haXnjhVyYapD4XvJbqve5UN5mMl79XVKPONGJsM3DjC8IWoM6y890Iuq3TFj5RFUbFXPu8AjoROeUhcFbhHFE-gskSkVZfXYSDtvjm7x7YwCgG2LHnpIb-NvnBBJAXi5HSXkdCs/s1600/abstract-autumn-leaves-wallpaper-with-unique-design-beautiful-autumn-wallpaper-for-interior-wall-decor-idea-autumn-desktop-wallpaper-free-autumn-desktop-wallpaper-autumn-desktops-falling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YtT_6haXnjhVyYapD4XvJbqve5UN5mMl79XVKPONGJsM3DjC8IWoM6y890Iuq3TFj5RFUbFXPu8AjoROeUhcFbhHFE-gskSkVZfXYSDtvjm7x7YwCgG2LHnpIb-NvnBBJAXi5HSXkdCs/s320/abstract-autumn-leaves-wallpaper-with-unique-design-beautiful-autumn-wallpaper-for-interior-wall-decor-idea-autumn-desktop-wallpaper-free-autumn-desktop-wallpaper-autumn-desktops-falling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: katlourenco.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b><b>Outside each leaf joining another</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>swirling around </b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>to form a small cyclone</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>just outside the window</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>"Let's open the window and catch leaves!" he exclaims.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Compete innocence.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Later, sirens roar</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>as dark death descends to claim its victims. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>It swoops down to collect its due</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>. . . a stadium</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>. . . a restaurant</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>. . . a theatre</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Perpetrated by evil</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>wrapped in a false cloak of faith</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Allah Akbar!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Where is the innocence?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>La vie en rose?</b><br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h1l9NXzAKMsmqnXgFkJBaim4L4fYm2TANtXC8BCfuSha4F4CK0HZ3T7oAPqhaSRCEyYYbIlAuvKeDsOFJ5ghVmqONmppsdITYqydkICQsniF4fRPNxs1hIugREvEg_GHVoW45W9OOuWM/s1600/2015-11-13t234202z1lynxnpebac17srtroptp4france-shooting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h1l9NXzAKMsmqnXgFkJBaim4L4fYm2TANtXC8BCfuSha4F4CK0HZ3T7oAPqhaSRCEyYYbIlAuvKeDsOFJ5ghVmqONmppsdITYqydkICQsniF4fRPNxs1hIugREvEg_GHVoW45W9OOuWM/s320/2015-11-13t234202z1lynxnpebac17srtroptp4france-shooting.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: www.google.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>Copyright 2015 Suzannah Wolf Walker all rights reserved</i><br />
<b><br /></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-87672436906970151222015-11-05T06:55:00.001-08:002015-11-13T11:38:08.973-08:00The Hilarious Late Show with Stephen Colbert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIKlFT1RS3nMUqdOozcmTCfbaodyOUxTC-aafwsyle1UxSqnMKu3Dny3F2hvtFbtNfJEmrgS1CZLVnKsWi0Of9Tn-8O0a5sIbj0ximyspLyf64CEAfS9TwG76JH7ZXSPlSCtKZ3-tIwhK/s1600/sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIKlFT1RS3nMUqdOozcmTCfbaodyOUxTC-aafwsyle1UxSqnMKu3Dny3F2hvtFbtNfJEmrgS1CZLVnKsWi0Of9Tn-8O0a5sIbj0ximyspLyf64CEAfS9TwG76JH7ZXSPlSCtKZ3-tIwhK/s320/sc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, my favorite all-time TV show is the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Not my favorite late night show, but my favorite show on all of TV. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Colbert has succeeded David Letterman with a flair that is funny, acerbic, zany, and as a comedic genius all at the same time. He is a refreshing replacement for Letterman, who could be too serious and sometimes too intellectual. Colbert has an intellect that can be comedic or serious depending on the topic or interview and he has a razor sharp wit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I have not laughed out loud so much as I have with his late night show. He is so energetic and his show so high energy that I am fully wide awake and fully engaged watching his show. He does not disappoint.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> At the end of the day, I want to be able to laugh out loud and forget my cares, and for this hour I do. He is funnier than Jerry Steinfeld, Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, Margaret Cho, Chelsea Handler, Jimmy Fallon, and Jimmy Kimmel, and, I never though I would say this, but Johnny Carson as well. Colbert is a crack-up! He is even giving SNL some real competition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Just in the short time he has been on the Late Show (only since September) he has grown as a comic and an interviewer. On his first show, his interview with George Clooney was mediocre and a bit silly, although he did ask Clooney about Darfur. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> But, he has become much better. His interview with Jeb Bush was brilliant and he did not let Bush get away with evading any questions or giving ho-hum answers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I loved his Halloween show with Colbert as a vampire. He was hilarious and the jokes just kept on coming. His scenes with trick or treaters were a rare treat. When Charlie Rose came out, transformed into Frankenstein, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">I was surprised that a somewhat serious interview could take place. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Colbert has a rubber face that can convey any thought or emotion and he uses that contorted face in every situation from monologue, to comedic sketch, to interview. But at all times he is an adult having fun and we have fun right along with him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> He has transformed the Ed Sullivan theater into his own. I love the dome and think that is a brilliant idea. I love the jazz band, Jon Baptiste and Stay Human, from New Orleans, Lousianna. Baptiste and Colbert have a real rapport with one another and it shows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With all the controversy over whether Colbert could just be himself and not the persona he was on the Colbert Report, I think he has succeeded brilliantly. I see a real person on the show and not just some character. Do I think he is wearing a mask? No. Do I think I am seeing the 'real' Colbert? Yes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> As Colbert moves on with his shows I believe he will become better and better at what he does best: comedy and interviews. And, I will continue to laugh out loud for years to come.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Oh, and by way, he dances way better than Ellen.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-2292933997995253072015-02-15T09:20:00.000-08:002015-12-07T18:39:08.166-08:00Should Brian Williams return?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: www.google.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The tale of Brian Williams is a Shakespearean tragedy. His hubris, his pride, and his sense of self-importance have brought Brian Williams down from his lofty position as the most trusted name in news. As the saying goes, "the higher they are, the harder they fall." This most definitely describes Brian Williams.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How did this happen? Some embellishments and exaggerations in his reporting in the middle east wars became to be out and out falsehoods about his time embedded with the military. And, the military wanted to set the record straight, which they did. Brian Williams and his helicopter were never in direct fire and never took any hits from RGP's. In fact, his helicopter was an hour behind those that were hit by enemy fire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why did Brian Willliams, the leading anchor in evening news, feel he had to embellish or exaggerate anything? We all saw him as brave for being embedded with U.S. soldiers to begin with. We saw and knew he was as close to the fighting as a newsman could get. We believed and found accurate his reporting - what was the need to puff up his part in all this?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While Brian Williams was the most watched of the evening anchors, my preference to watch was ABC's Diane Sawyer or PBS Newshour with Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff. Is it because I am a woman? I'll admit that might be part of it, but mostly I find these three women to be the most accurate, trusted, and believable news anchors on television. I was sad when Diane Sawyer left ABC. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had watched Brian Williams at times deliver the news, but he always came across to me as slick and a bit smug. Therefore, I was not surprised when he was called out for his embellished reporting of the middle east wars and his Hurricane Katrina reporting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To be honest, I have not been keen on NBC News for a while. There always seems to be too much drama in its news department going all the way back to Jane Pauley. I was quite disturbed at how NBC handled her departure from the Today show and the entrance of Deborah Norville to replace her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is a ruthlessness at NBC News that I don't see on the other networks. I was unhappy with how Anne Curry was treated and her departure from the Today show. In fact, with Curry's departure I have not viewed the Today show since then. I do not care for Samantha Guthrie at all, and I feel that Anne Curry was the best reporter on the Today show - yes even better than Matt Lauer. Perhaps that is why he eagerly helped in Curry's departure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am also sad to see David Gregory dumped from "Meet the Press." I thought he was an intelligent, thoughtful, and assertive reporter and moderator on this show. Again, I do not care for Chris Todd, who replaced Gregory on "Meet the Press." Will there ever be a moderator like Tim Russert?. No, he was unique - perhaps his son can fill his shoes someday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And now Brian Williams. NBC News is a mess and has been ever since Tom Brokaw retired from the anchor's chair. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can Brian Williams redeem himself? I don't know. All a news anchor / reporter has is his or her credibility and sterling, accurate reporting. Without those two qualities an anchor / reporter is not worth his or her salt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the next six months, I urge Brian Williams to look within himself for the answers. He is the only one who can fix his credibility issue. Perhaps he can do some grunt reporting and/or write a book without embellishments and exaggerations. Perhaps he can tone down the slick and smug image that come across in his reporting. Perhaps he can go back to where he began to find himself again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I do not wish anyone ill and I do believe everyone deserves a second chance. Should Brian Williams return to NBC News? I don't know. Will Brian Williams return to NBC News? Again, I don't know. Only Brian Williams can answer these questions.</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-478182149485892802015-02-10T07:27:00.001-08:002015-02-10T07:42:10.178-08:00Vaccination War<div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the 21st century right? When it comes to vaccinating children against diseases some parents have slipped back to the 19th century. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is so horrifying is that measles had been eradicated in this country back in the the year 2000, but now an outbreak in Disneyland in Anaheim, California has brought back this horrible childhood disease. From California, the measles have traveled to approximately 30 other states in the U.S. Today, we have more than 100 cases of measles in the U.S. and that number is rising every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How did this happen? We have parents who are refusing to have their children vaccinated against measles and other virulent diseases. They wrongly believe that vaccinations are causing autism in children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This theory has been debunked for nearly ten years now. The study made of vaccinations causing autism has been proved to be wrong and the doctor conducting the study has been stripped of his medical license. The science says vaccinations of any kind do not cause autism. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why are upper middle class soccer moms and dads, supposedly well educated, not believing the science which proves vaccinations do not cause autism or any other kind of mental illness? Why are these parents violating common sense when the CDC announces that vaccinations are needed to stop the rampant rise of measles and that the vaccination does not cause autism? The CDC states that it is because of vaccinations that many childhood diseases have become rare or completely eradicated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How in the 21st century have some parents, fearing the worst about vaccinations, harm innocent children that cannot have the vaccine, those under one year old and those children suffering from cancer?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When do the personal rights of parents take precedent over the best health of the entire nation? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now this vaccination conundrum has become political with President Obama urging parents to have their children vaccinated, and with presidential hopefuls Rand Paul and Governor Chris Christie (NJ) weighing in that parents should continue to have the right to make the decision as to whether their children are vaccinated or not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Governor Chris Christie's stand on this issue puzzles me because he was adamant that Kaci Hickox be quarantined for the Ebola virus when she returned from W. Africa as a nurse with Doctors Without Borders fighting the Ebola virus there. Why does he now believe it is the parent's decision as to whether to vaccinate their children when measles are much more contagious that the Ebola virus? And, those with measles or those who have been in contact with someone with measles and not vaccinated, should be quarantined. Why is Christie not calling for quarantines now?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every child should be vaccinated to prevent illnesses to the child and to other children especially those unable to be vaccinated because of age or illness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are diseases that have been stopped by vaccines and which parents who do not vaccinate their children are putting those children and others at risk:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Measles </b>is a viral respiratory disease which causes a fever, cold-like symptoms and a body rash. The serious complications of measles include pneumonia, deafness, permanent brain damage and death. A vaccine against this disease was licensed in the U.S. in 1963 and before that year there were up to four million illnesses and five hundred deaths each year from measles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Pertussis or whooping cough</b> causes violent, uncontrollable coughing. The vaccine for this sometimes wanes and booster shots are recommended. Widespread vaccination began in the 1940's and before then 200,000 children were sickened each year and approximately 9,000 died.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Mumps</b> cause swollen salivary glands and are usually a mild illness that includes fever and muscle aches. Complications of this disease include deafness and meningitis and are seen more in teens and adults. This vaccination was licensed in 1967 when nearly 200,000 cases occurred annually nationwide. Today, only 1,100 cases have been reported.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Rubella or German measles</b> cause a rash and fever and is most dangerous if caught during pregnancy. The complications of this disease are birth defects in the baby. The U.S. vaccination for this disease began in 1969.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Diphtheria</b> is a bacterial disease which causes neck swelling and thickening in the throat that causes breathing problems. Diphtheria was a common cause of death and illness in the U.S. before the vaccination which began about eighty years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Polio</b>, which can be life threatening, causes flue-like symptoms and paralysis. It has been mostly eliminated in the U.S. A vaccine became available in the U.S. in 1955.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tetanus or lockjaw</b> can be a deadly disease that causes tightening of the neck and jaw muscles that makes swallowing difficult. A vaccine was introduced in the U.S. in the 1930's.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hepatitis B </b> is a liver attacking virus that can lead to liver failure or death. There were almost 3,000 cases reported in 2012. Vaccinations for this disease began in 1982.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Varicella, or chicken pox</b>, has diseased approximately four million people in the U.S. and caused at least one hundred deaths each year before a vaccine was introduced in 1995.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Human papillomavirus or HPV</b> is one of the most common sexually transmitted infection throughout the U.S. Some types of this virus can cause cervical cancer, anal cancer and oral cancer. A vaccine for this virus was licensed in</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 2006 for girls and women aged nine to twenty-six and in 2009 for boys and men in that age range.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why parents would not want to protect their children from these life threatening diseases is beyond me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Should these vaccines be required for all children? I think so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Source: <u>Akron Beacon Journal</u>, February 7, 2015.</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-58697009486029498092015-01-16T13:33:00.000-08:002015-01-20T09:01:20.088-08:00American Sniper - an eye opener of a film<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0hfvUztGbvdEy3Q9sLafOaxBkqF2j2COM4xJfeyNkfbXo35qd8LOXXLL6KzL40cGtaw4pMvWLVqfDU6Nbwzy55QvoCZ35rUjYKb12gA_Kzo3dPwVm4ThowYKVtFNqKkumIfsIcslSALG/s1600/AMERICAN-SNIPER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0hfvUztGbvdEy3Q9sLafOaxBkqF2j2COM4xJfeyNkfbXo35qd8LOXXLL6KzL40cGtaw4pMvWLVqfDU6Nbwzy55QvoCZ35rUjYKb12gA_Kzo3dPwVm4ThowYKVtFNqKkumIfsIcslSALG/s1600/AMERICAN-SNIPER.jpg" height="247" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bradley Cooper (right) as Chris Kyle, the<i> American Sniper.<br />Source: www.google,.com</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What to write about this movie? I don't even know where to begin because this film is so excellent on so many levels. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> American Sniper</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> should win every Academy Award out there because of the brilliant quality of the film.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a war film right up there with the best:<i> The Hurt Locker, Saving Private Ryan, Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now, Coming Home,The Longest Day. </i>Add <i>American Sniper</i> to the list and Clint Eastwood as its brilliant director. This is above all the best film Eastwood has directed ever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was captivated and engaged, in fact, glued too the film screen. This film portrays the guerrilla war our soldiers are engaged in over in Iraq and Afghanistan twenty-four hours a day. It is tough, gritty, and honest. It portrays the soldier's lives as always on the line; they can never put the gun down. If they do, they are gone in an instant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the hits just keep coming from all directions. It could be Al Queda, ISIS, the Taliban, the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunni's, the Sharia or anyone else fighting for control of Iraq. And, sadly and most difficult to watch are the women and children these factions use to fight the U.S. soldiers. They tote guns, they throw bombs, they become suicide bombers. And our soldiers always must be diligent in defending themselves from all the number of people that surround them in the war zone trying to kill them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The soldiers try to create relationships with the Iraqi people in this war zone only to be betrayed and the enemy brought to their doorstep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, this film is about one soldier in particular, Chris Kyle, who was a sniper and the best sniper at that; the best in American history. His job was to save as many American soldiers as possible in picking off the enemy before they could shoot their weapons. It is kill or be killed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throughout the movie we learn what, how and why Chris was motivated to become an "American sniper." He made more than 160 successful sniper killings. Chris had to assess the situation and decide in a blink of a moment whether to shoot to kill the young boy holding a grenade, or a young boy struggling to carry a SAM, or the mother or father just walking with their child from one building to another.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kyle was a phenomenal shot from his time as a child hunting with his father. He realized he had a gift for sharp shooting and felt it his patriotic duty to serve four tours of duty in Iraq to protect U.S. soldiers in harm's way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, he had a wife and children he left behind in Texas as he struggled with his conscience over the duty he felt he had to save our soldiers. Bradley Cooper playing Chris is phenomenal and he should win the Best Actor Academy award for his performance. It is nuanced, honest and he becomes the character, Chris.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sienna Miller portrays the wife of Chris Kyle.<br />
Source: www.google.colm</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sienna Miller as his wife also gives a phenomenal performance. She wants her husband back to stay not to return to the U.S. only to return back to Iraq. We watch her anguish and alarm when Chris is able to phone her literally from the battle field and she hears the shouts, gunfire, grenades, bombs and sounds of the war field. She, too, should win an Academy Award for her performance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their relationship together is very touching and loving and shows the struggle both went through during the time Chris was in Iraq and also when he was at home stateside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In between tours, we see Chris struggle with PTSD, and another different and nuanced performance by Cooper. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Chris' fourth tour of duty, he finally is able to take out his nemesis: the enemy's sniper, an Olympic medal sharpshooter. From one mile away, Chris is able to take out this enemy sniper and save more lives. It is the culmination of his time in Iraq.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't say enough good things about this film. I urge everyone to see it as their American duty. It is a real eye opener to see what our soldiers are going through in our fight to bring democracy to the middle east. Is it even worth it? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was to Chris Kyle who bravely did his duty to save so many U.S. soldiers. He was a legend in his own time. When he returned from Iraq for good, he continued to help soldiers but in a different manner. He bonded with them and helped the wounded warriors by showing them how to sharp shoot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ironically and tragically, after surviving four tours of duty in Iraq, Chris was killed by a wounded warrior (probably suffering from PTSD) that he was trying to help. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The end of the movie shows Chris' funeral and the thousands of U.S. citizens that lined his funeral route to salute such a great American hero. When the film ended and the credits were scrolling in silence, the theater audience also remained silent and emptied the movie theater in complete silence in respect for Chris Kyle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May he rest in peace.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The real Kyles<br />
Source: www.google.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-46573995733329541132015-01-12T08:10:00.000-08:002015-01-12T08:10:54.767-08:00A college education for all<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiat1RqBOn_Um041kGlFduSh21fzHe-aeY6R4_HlbccvaM3pOl3A7FDyD9MAFL-GtOWmILGPETUEyi9Q34zutt_R9SavivjGsWRaxDe31_GAseny-IVeRXzzH0WKkX6afqMIJ_LO6QFWspf/s1600/635563424366606181-uscp-6inz7e2ka3s1c3mpi4ee-original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiat1RqBOn_Um041kGlFduSh21fzHe-aeY6R4_HlbccvaM3pOl3A7FDyD9MAFL-GtOWmILGPETUEyi9Q34zutt_R9SavivjGsWRaxDe31_GAseny-IVeRXzzH0WKkX6afqMIJ_LO6QFWspf/s1600/635563424366606181-uscp-6inz7e2ka3s1c3mpi4ee-original.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Obama announcing his free community college education plan in Knoxville, Tennessee last week.<br />Source: www.google.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the tragic terror attacks in Paris last week and the outcry and rally informing terrorists we are united and not afraid of them, an important educational initiative by President Obama nearly went unheard. It is a good initiative and should be supported by everyone in the U.S. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, even the Republican congress, the voice of "no" to any initiative by President Obama, would be smart to embrace and support this educational initiative.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President Obama, last week, traveled to Tennessee to give voice to his educational idea of providing two years of study at a community college free of charge to all American students. This is currently being done for students living throughout the state of Tennessee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By providing this, any American student who maintains a 2.5 GPA could earn an associate degree paid for by the government. These credits then could be transferred to a four year degree at another college or university if the student chooses to continue his/her education.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With four year degrees and college and university tuition crazily out of control, it will soon be only the rich, privileged, and elite that will be able to pursue higher education. Higher education will not be an option for the middle and lower classes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To obtain associate or B.A degrees today, students amass a debt anywhere from $25,000 up to hundreds of thousands of dollars that they must begin paying back a few months after the awarding of their degrees. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of those who attended Ivy League Schools or the best school for their education are paying off a debt that will take clear up to their retirement from the working world to pay off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Somethings gotta give here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was able to work my way through college and I paid for my tuition and books. That is not plausible today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President Obama's educational initiative is a good one. I know because of the educational degrees available with the school system I retired from - the Canton City Schools in Canton, OH.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Canton City Schools really do offer a world class education to students here in northeast Ohio. At the high school level, the Canton Schools offer the rigorous Early College High School to students.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students who opt for the Early College High School, can graduate with a high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time. Students earn their high school diploma from the Canton City Schools and they earn their associate degree from Stark (county) State College, a community college in Canton, OH.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Professors from Stark State College come daily to the Timken Senior High School Campus, where the Early College High School is housed, to teach the college courses and teachers from the Canton City Schools teach the high school courses. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stark State College, Canton, OH<br />Source: www.google.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students work on both their high school diploma and associate degree simultaneously during their four years at the high school. It is hard work, but worth it in the end when they march across the graduation stage and are handed a high school diploma and their associate degree.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, who pays for all this? The Canton City Schools pay for the student's associate degree. The student pays nothing to attain this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I know, where does the school system get their money - partly from the federal government, partly from grants, and the rest from property taxes. <br /><br />I know, I know, no one wants their property taxes raised - they are high enough all ready. But in the end, we actually are investing our money in the education of our youth who will one day run our country. Don't we want those running our country, as we retire, to be educated rather than not? I do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is why I fully support President Obama's educational initiative to have the government pay for each student who attends a community college in the U.S. in pursuit of a degree.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By, paying for this degree now, we are insuring a better life for all of us later. It is better to "bite the bullet," now so we don't get shot with it later down the line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I urge everyone to support President Obama in his quest for this educational initiative because it works. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA to have their community college education paid and this is a reasonable demand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe in our American youth. I have worked at Canton Schools, which is an inner city school system, and those students need our help in obtaining at least an associate degree. There are students living in poverty that want out of the ghetto and the only way out is through education. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That means less gang members and less people on welfare, which we pay for through our taxes already. I prefer my tax dollars to go to investing in the education of our youth, not for welfare checks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So those of you who don't like or care for President Obama, don't just say no to this because you don't like him, or because he is black, or because he is a democrat, or because he is too liberal, or because he is too intellectual, or just because you think he is arrogant and aloof. Think about what is best for our country and our country's growth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put our youth first and foremost in your minds and sights and invest in them to make our world an educated one. Remember, the youth of today will be taking care of the rest of us in our retirement and old age tomorrow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-80927800309584945432015-01-10T08:28:00.000-08:002015-01-10T08:47:47.906-08:00Inclusion rather than exclusion for Muslim immigrants<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JN3bbz9ERmuKoDv_8xKI1ysreLWTfjOC_sA91XZD0spcBBFQvrqmx3pi1jSP5wDyRJQZVPmdtmzL1Ht8Y__iHH3NniQVyUjKJwYawLe_tOkmhk2HPqjgnVzkH7Uq9XiifsDaAI_7MOER/s1600/ap_paris_shooting_12_kb_150107_1_16x9_992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JN3bbz9ERmuKoDv_8xKI1ysreLWTfjOC_sA91XZD0spcBBFQvrqmx3pi1jSP5wDyRJQZVPmdtmzL1Ht8Y__iHH3NniQVyUjKJwYawLe_tOkmhk2HPqjgnVzkH7Uq9XiifsDaAI_7MOER/s1600/ap_paris_shooting_12_kb_150107_1_16x9_992.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris demonstrations because of the murder of Charlie Hebdo cartoonists.<br />
Source: www.google.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the tragic deaths of cartoonists and editors at</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Charlie Hebdo, </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris' satirical cartoon magazine, and the deaths of hostages at the Kosher market in Paris both by Islamic religious extremists, it is apparent that a change is required in how we treat and integrate Muslims into our societies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With every event there is a cause and we must examine what causes these Muslims to connect with religious extremism and as a result cause murder and mayhem like what has happened in Paris this week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why do young Muslim men and women in France, the UK, the United States and other western nations turn to the twisted beliefs of imams of radical Islamic teachings and kill and maim in the name of Allah (God) and his prophet, Mohammed?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why are these young people attracted to terror groups, Al Qaeda and ISIS, rather than to moderate Islamic groups here in western nations?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why do these Muslim young people want to kill and destroy rather than to build in society? This situation has become just as much a cultural conflict as a religious one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part of the answer is young Muslim people are disenfranchised and are not part of the main stream society in western nations. The Kouachi brothers who killed at <i>Charlie Hebdo</i> in the name of Islam, turned to religious extremism because in living in their poor Muslim enclave in a suburb of Paris they were not really full members of French society. They were excluded rather than included in French society.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is sad is that the Kouachi brothers are second generation Algerians, born and living in France all their lives. They are French nationals, yet they identify more with being Algerian rather than with being French.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">France has a stagnant economy and high unemployment which hits the poor suburbs of Paris the most, and this is where the Muslim immigrants live in poverty. They do not enjoy the lifestyle of the middle and upper classes of Parisians who live well in the city of Paris. They are on the outside looking in, and these young Muslims become resentful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is true of Muslim neighborhoods in other western nations as well as the U.S. Those Muslims that live on the fringes of society are the ones easily targeted and tapped by terror groups such as Al Qaeda and ISIS as the glory of fighting and dying for Allah becomes their way of obtaining a dignified and glorified identity, something that has been missing all their lives as they live on the fringes of great societies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Therefore, western nations are part of the problem. While there is no excuse for murder and terrorist plots ever, western nations must begin to look within and determine what could they be doing to give cause for these Muslims to turn radical.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While no one should ever be murdered for drawing cartoons as was the radical Muslims' goal of attempting to silence freedom of speech / press, we must look at the root of why Muslim young people become radicalized to believe this is the only way to achieve dignity for themselves and their religion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It all begins with education - teaching tolerance and understanding - and including those that are different from us rather than excluding them. We cannot allow young Muslim people to languish on the fringes of our societies. We must find a way of including them in mainstream society so that there is no need for them to turn to radical terror groups for their identities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So far, in our fight against radical Islam and terror groups, western nations are playing a game of tit-for-tat. Each side in this war of terror seeks revenge for each terror action. Western nations kill in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as they try to bring democracy to these nations, and then Al Qaeda and ISIS seek revenge for these killings by causing terror attacks in western nations and lopping off the heads of western hostages. Then we (the western nations) take revenge on the beheadings by killing more radical Muslims and the cycle just continues. Killing, retaliation, killing, retaliation, more killing and more retaliation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prisons such as Abu Gharib and Guantanamo Bay, where it has been proved that torture was used against prisoners, and against some prisoners eventually found to be innocent, this has proved to be the reason and cause also for terror attacks to western nations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this rate, we are in this fight for the next one hundred years. Tit-for-tat killings just prolongs the murder and mayhem on both sides. Where is this getting us? Each side fights to the death in this war on terror. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Somehow cooler heads must prevail and we (Western nations) must find a way to integrate Muslims into our societies in positive ways. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is easy to say that if Muslims don't like western society then they can just go back to the Middle East, but that is not being realistic. If we include them in our western society in positive and vibrant ways and respect their religious beliefs there will be less reason for Muslim young people to turn to terrorism.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In American inner cities, we educate the poor and provide programs to help them to rise out of the ghettos and enter our mainstream society. It is time we did the same for the Muslim immigrants who come here also.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We provide alternatives for the poor in our inner cities so that they don't have to turn to gangs for their identities. We must do the same for Muslims.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is only through education and tolerance that we (Western nations) can affect the lives of Muslims with their Islamic beliefs and integrate them into our societies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I strongly stand in solidarity with<i> Charlie Hebdo</i> and the right of free speech / press, I also must look at what causes such terror acts to begin with. If the Kouachi brothers had been part of the well employed and part of a thriving French society they would have had no reason to have been recruited by Al Qaeda in a search for their identities.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-28588283157274775432015-01-08T07:34:00.001-08:002015-01-08T07:56:03.971-08:00Power of the Pen<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmLJie-Ex1Tk5Fsl4G_O-lK-c3ltMTP5B70nfSFflMxxgbdHQyQk4uDtxP14_c9wQGiF1tZfJT_7uTJ4zAprbUCPnlf3CBvqO3EGZt2KjDOkpWzWY5jk7mYroxSL-2oDg1fBpRWOuFVrA/s1600/paris-hebdo-silenc_3158255f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmLJie-Ex1Tk5Fsl4G_O-lK-c3ltMTP5B70nfSFflMxxgbdHQyQk4uDtxP14_c9wQGiF1tZfJT_7uTJ4zAprbUCPnlf3CBvqO3EGZt2KjDOkpWzWY5jk7mYroxSL-2oDg1fBpRWOuFVrA/s1600/paris-hebdo-silenc_3158255f.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Je suis Charlie. I am Charlie.</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I write this I stand in solidarity with all of France and the cartoonists who tragically lost their lives yesterday because of cartoons they published poking fun and satirizing Islam and Mohammed, their prophet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My pen is raised in the air as a message to these extremist, fundamentalist Muslims that you will never stop our freedom of the press and freedom of expression. You can snuff out the lives of journalists, but you can never snuff out our freedom of expression, whether it satirizes your religion or not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>~ Voltaire.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">France's own countryman, many years ago, reminded us of what was important in freedom of speech, press, and expression.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The lives and loss of these four talented cartoonists will never be forgotten and the U.S. stands with France in fighting these jihadists wherever they may strike.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is interesting to note that in researching the covers of<i> Charlie Hebdo </i> I find that<i> </i>it is a magazine that is an equal opportunity satirist. By that I mean, <i>Charlie Hebdo</i> satirizes all religions: Christianity and especially Jesus Christ, Catholicism and especially the popes, Judaism, and Islam among them. No religion escapes the cartoonists' pen in this magazine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charlie Hebdo</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is much like our</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Mad </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">magazine here in the U.S. It focuses on satirizing politics and religion. I don't always like what </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mad </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">magazine has to say, but like Voltaire, I support its right and freedom to say and satirize what they want.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have never written about this before, but I too have been in the position of standing up for freedom of the press and freedom of expression.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a high school newspaper adviser, I had one of the best high school newspaper and staff in Summit County, OH. When I took the job as adviser I made it clear to the principal that he would have no editing or censorship privileges. He would have to trust in me as an adviser as to what we printed in our newspaper,<i> Paw Prints.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My students were well taught in freedom of the press and the responsibility that goes with that. They were well schooled in press ethics. They had to save all their notes from interviews in a special cabinet I had in the class. They were brave to take on subjects in our high school and community that were controversial, but they handled those subjects and topics with seriousness and aplomb.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were times when teachers or community members questioned the authenticity and truthfulness of the articles / editorials they wrote. I mediated many meetings when my students presented their notes to me and the person questioning them. In every single instance, when the notes and information were presented, and I asked the person if they had been misquoted or misunderstood, they sheepishly had to admit the high school reporter was correct in quoting them and the article written without a bias.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I trusted my high school reporters and in return they rose to the occasion and gave excellent reporting and writing of news articles and editorials. Several times they scooped the<i> Akron Beacon Journal </i>our newspaper here in Akron, OH. Even on the high school level we had freedom of the press and expression. It is vital no matter what level of a publication even at a high school level.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, even as I write this, I am also involved in freedom of speech and expression in my own condominium development. After 9/11, I posted on my front window a poster from the newspaper that depicts the American flag and the date, September 11, 2001 and the words, "We will never forget." It has been posted in my window since the day after the Twin Towers attack and demise and is a tribute to all those that lost their lives that day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a former employee of the Department of Defense and so 9/11 resonates with me as I know first hand the sacrifices our soldiers make to keep our country safe and free. The three thousand+ Americans that died that fateful day made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and they fought their Muslim perpetrators to the end in crashing airplanes. I can never forget their lives or sacrifice they made that day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several years ago a Muslim family moved into our development. The man teaches Middle Eastern Civilization at the University of Akron. He and his wife dress in their native clothing, but the children do not. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was expressed to me that this Muslim family resented my poster in the window and the constant reminder of 9/11 and they wanted it taken down. My response was that I respected this Muslim family and their Islamic religion, and I expected their respect in return for expressing my feelings and beliefs about 9/11 with this poster.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will never forget what was done to us and the American lives lost on 9/11 because of Islamic extremists and fundamentalists. While I know this Muslim family is not part of Islamic extremists or fundamentalists, the poster will remain in my window as long as I live here, and freedom of expression and speech will always be a part of me and my home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The believers in Islam cannot be allowed to dictate to us or anyone else in the world what is said, written, drawn, posted, or expressed about them or their Islamic religion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Freedom of the press, speech and expression must prevail at all costs. Even at the cost of the death of four cartoonists of a satirical magazine,<i> Charlie Hebdo.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Je suis Charlie. I am Charlie.</i></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-78274502385821885992014-12-24T12:48:00.001-08:002014-12-24T12:48:50.440-08:00The Interview - a good movie<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYevnoh5bTsynZQVhIAQ3BQbipKhRqoxjaXha4k1lWkNHsdSz0ocOOJtv6ex_NJ1IJ_9jwRnNpyFO0GyQ3ZBHKIVZNI1wBO62MGEhlaqZJvFkZQiRiA8vK4Hr0fU4nWdyIgewes1urcPYy/s1600/the-interview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYevnoh5bTsynZQVhIAQ3BQbipKhRqoxjaXha4k1lWkNHsdSz0ocOOJtv6ex_NJ1IJ_9jwRnNpyFO0GyQ3ZBHKIVZNI1wBO62MGEhlaqZJvFkZQiRiA8vK4Hr0fU4nWdyIgewes1urcPYy/s1600/the-interview.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James Franco and Seth Rogen as CIA operatives in the funny film, <i>The Interview.</i></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Interview</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is hilarious!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just viewed it on YouTube which steamed the movie starting at 1 p.m. this afternoon. I clocked in around 1:10 p.m. paid $5.99 to rent the movie and viewed it. I saw it for cheaper than at the movie theater and that is also cheaper than a senior discount. LOL! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, Kim Jong Un probably has my credit card number now, but hopefully with N. Korea's Internet service going in and out he won't have the capability to display it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recommend seeing this much talked about movie. Since I am a proponent and advocate for First Amendment rights and freedom of speech and of the press, I had to view this movie and I am glad I did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I won't go so far as to say Seth Rogen is a genius but I will say he is brilliant. And, he has written and produced a brilliant film. This film is definitely a parody and satire of N. Korea and Kim Jong Un, but it is also a parody of talk shows and talk show hosts and their producers, as well as the CIA. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And all this along with Katy Perry's song,<i> Fireworks</i>. You have to see it to believe it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This film is definitely a "bromance" between talk show producer (Rogen) and talk show host (Franco). That alone is hilarious. Seth Rogen plays straight guy to James Franco's egotistical, shallow and sallow, bumbling character.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Franco's talk show host name is Dave Skylark and by the end of the movie the viewer realizes it is a play on the James Bond 007<i> Skyfall</i> movie, which also adds humor to this movie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, the premise of this movie is not so implausible with the recent visit of Dennis Rodman to N. Korea and his friendship with Kim Jong Un. There is a scene in the movie of Dave Skylark playing basketball with Kim Jong Un in which they bond as friends. It is eerily reminiscent of Rodman's visit to N. Korea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is even reference to Kim Jong Un's "ankles" during the basketball scene. Again, just hilarious.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If Kim Jong Un had just ignored this movie it would not have become a beacon for freedom of speech and probably not as many people would have seen it. I urge everyone to see the movie to prove to Kim Jong Un he can't scare us into censoring this movie. I am glad that Sony has found several hundred movie theaters that are going to show the film tomorrow, Christmas Day, December 25, 2014. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am also glad they are streaming it on YouTube. While the critics have dissed this movie, I found it to be hilarious and not over the top which some Seth Rogen films can be. It is funny, satirical and pokes fun, not at just Kim Jong Un, and N. Korea, but also the CIA, talk show hosts and the talk show industry, as well as the producers who create the talk shows.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, the ending is not as bad as the critics have said. Actually, the ending is funny and I won't go into the details, but there is the demise of Kim Jong Un and his face is the last thing we see from that scene.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This movie made me laugh out loud several times and yes, it is a farcical parody, but it is a good one and I think Seth Rogen is brilliant for having come up with the concept, written it, and produced this movie. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kim Jong Un, you should have just ignored this movie. It is much to do about nothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-90404432847002268782014-12-11T13:56:00.003-08:002014-12-11T14:01:47.979-08:00Senate CIA Torture Report<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Torture is used against terrorist detainees and prisoners of war.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Torture has been used by the rogue nations of the world: Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan (WWII), N. Korea, N. Vietnam, Russian KGB, Al Qaeda, ISIS, Iraq, Syria.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, now the U.S.A.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, the U.S.A. now joins the rogue nations of the world who use torture. We have stooped to the level of these rogue nations. Where we used to take the high road with our POW's and detainees, now we grovel in the torture mess of the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We hear of the brutal interrogation</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tactics</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nothing less than torture, in graphic detail in the recent Senate Intelligence Committee CIA Torture Report complied at the request of Senator Dianne Feinstein, head of the Senate Intelligence Committee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of the brutal interrogation attacks (torture) include but are not limited to:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sleep deprivation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sensory deprivation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">water boarding</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">chained to walls and floors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">chained and then hung</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">forced stress positions</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">isolation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">threats</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rectal hydration</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ice baths</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">wall slamming</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you saw the Osama bin Laden movie,<i> Zero Dark Thirty, </i>then you saw the use of some of these torture techniques against detainees in the movie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, former vice-president Dick Cheney, who coined the euphemism <i>"enhanced interrogation techniques," (EIT) </i>in place of the word torture, has weighed in by calling the Senate report of the CIA to be "bolognie". He claims, opposite of the report, that the EIT was approved by the Bush administration. The report claims torture of detainees was never approved by the Bush administration and further more, then President Bush was never informed of the torture techniques used from 2002-2006 during his presidency. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Private, secret torture prisons were set up by the CIA around the world because torture techniques could not be used in the U.S. prison system nor could they be used on military base prisons. Some prisons were built in the Middle East such as Abu Gharib, one in Thailand, and several in Afghanistan run by Blackwater, and of course, Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. These prisons have no accountability or oversight and are free to use these torture techniques. They are free to keep detainees as long as they wish without due process of a trial.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coercive psychoanalysis techniques were used to induce psychological regression in detainees according to the Senate report. The CIA interrogators hoped to bring a superior outside force to bear on the detainee's will to resist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They used academic research on interrogation, "learned helplessness," or other methods that can't be tested in an ethical way in the real world and provide little guidance for effective questioning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Military psychologists and the American Psychological Association are outraged that these types of techniques were used as methods of torture against detainees. Psychological techniques are to be used to help not to torture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Senate report findings conclude that the brutal techniques used against detainees were torture and did not add valuable information to what had been already obtained through less coercive means.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Severe stress disrupts people's ability to think quickly and some experienced interrogators emphasize the value of establishing rapport with a detainee and obtaining information on the basis of trust rather than cruelty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under torture, a detainee will say anything the CIA operatives want to hear to stop the torture. Torture also creates hate on the part of the detainee and causes more resistance to information wanted or completely false information given during torture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our country completely overruled the Geneva Conventions, partly written by the U.S., and is accepted internationally as the accepted treatment of prisoners of war and detainees. No longer can the U.S. insist on the Geneva Conventions being followed for U.S. soldiers as prisoners of war because we have ignored it when it comes to our detainees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The use of torture by the U.S. has opened the door for beheadings and torture being used against our soldiers and hostages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be fair, the report did not interview the interrogators or CIA operatives that used the torture methods and it is why there has been an outcry from the CIA that its side was not included in the report.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The CIA has come out with rebuttals and Republican politicians have come to the CIA's rescue by publicizing findings of their own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, the fact still remains, torture was used in secret for many years against detainees and we can't now complain when our soldiers and hostages are tortured or beheaded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What values does the U.S.A espouse? Do we want to be known as a rogue nation that tortures or do we want to be known as an humanitarian nation that that respects all life?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-5608922262566484332014-12-04T08:10:00.000-08:002014-12-06T05:01:18.885-08:00Eric Garner - "I can't breathe"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusRAH0zqj57mEc2JGEVwheO5hqsc-xK3Rjytxp0oX6xa1IwfnMphyphenhyphenSUn1mvAeLqIskBZte7T3swIz0CX8aK8Jr6aY8OF3oJrzYaIcA6C3-rmYWFdpGOxwbWFxyhA8OvQ4TWm3Ry1p7oE6/s1600/eric-garner-police-brutality-ramsey-orta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusRAH0zqj57mEc2JGEVwheO5hqsc-xK3Rjytxp0oX6xa1IwfnMphyphenhyphenSUn1mvAeLqIskBZte7T3swIz0CX8aK8Jr6aY8OF3oJrzYaIcA6C3-rmYWFdpGOxwbWFxyhA8OvQ4TWm3Ry1p7oE6/s1600/eric-garner-police-brutality-ramsey-orta.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric Garner being arrested by NYC police officers<br />
www.google.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"There is something rotten in Denmark." Denmark being New York City this time. Again, within ten days we have a grand jury find 'no indictment' in the death of an unarmed African-American while being arrested. Eric Garner, a African-American male lost his life when he was arrested by the NYC Police department. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What makes this arrest different than Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, is that this arrest was completely videoed by a passerby on his cell phone. I have watched the video.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eric Garner, under suspicion for selling loose cigarettes (selling them tax free) in Staten Island does resist arrest. He tells the police officers not to touch him and at that point a swarm of police officers attack him with one officer putting Garner in a choke hold. Garner is wrestled to the ground, in a choke hold, with an officer pushing his face to the ground. Garner gasps out eleven times, "I can't breathe." But, the police officers push him even further into the ground and do not heed his pleas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is so horrifying is watching these police officers literally kill Garner before our eyes. The video is disturbing and difficult to watch. I find it horrifying to watch the breath and life squeezed out of Garner by the police simply over suspicion of a misdemeanor in this arrest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, there is something rotten in our country and it is blatant racism. The NYC coroner's office ruled Garner's death a homicide. So how could a grand jury exonerate the officer that held Garner in a choke hold? Why were the other officers in this arrest given immunity? If they were given immunity that suggests wrong doing. Who is going to pay for this homicide? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many have argued that Garner was obese, had asthma and possibly a heart condition and this is what caused his death. Had Garner not been arrested in this manner, I don't think he would have dropped dead from obesity, asthma, or a possible heart condition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many have argued if he could gasp, "I can't breathe," then he wasn't being strangled and losing his life at that point. He could get breath out, but he couldn't get breath in to replace it. That is how he died from the choke hold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, again, Garner should not have resisted arrest and he would be alive today if he had followed the police officers' commands. But, again, an African-American man dies because he questions his arrest. But, what if Garner was truly innocent? He was being arrested on <u>suspicion </u>of selling loose cigarettes, not the definite act of selling loose cigarettes. Garner was not caught red handed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What has happened to innocent until proved guilty? No man of any color should lose his life over being arrested for a misdemeanor or being arrested at all, for that matter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, here in lies the problem. Yes, African-American mens' lives are seen as less worthy than those of white men. Our rule of law system is not working correctly. How can a grand jury watch a man being killed before their eyes on this video and not find the police officer guilty of homicide? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The prosecutors are not prosecuting these cases when it comes to African-American men being killed by white police officers. They are not getting indictments because they don't want to get indictments. Most prosecutors and police forces have a symbiotic relationship. They are co-dependent on one another to get convictions and/or protect one another. And, when it comes to a white police officer killing an African-American male during an arrest, the prosecutor protects the police officer at all costs. This relationship between prosecutors and white police officers needs to change.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When an African-American male is killed by a white police officer a special prosecutor must be brought in to handle the case. No more can the given prosecutor of a community/city handle these cases before the grand jury. It is obvious the prosecutors and police are in bed together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, our country has the rule of law, but it must be applied equally to all citizens no matter the race, class, or gender of the accused. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The profiling of African-American males must stop. Our culture has been conditioned since the days of slavery to see African-American men as sub-human animals. Even with the end of slavery, our culture has continued to be conditioned over the years to believe that African-American males are dangerous, out of control, up to no good, and committing crimes. This is not so for the majority of African-American males who live peaceful and law abiding lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, "there (definitely) is something rotten in Denmark."</span><br />
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Video taken of Eric Garner's arrest</div>
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www.youtube.com</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424356527209947801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8815083646833001611.post-82275166178371547712014-11-26T07:44:00.000-08:002014-12-05T03:40:37.429-08:00Ferguson, MO - a hotbed of racial divide<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgNjHM07GPt8FJfflBZYy15w7aAA50SHeAY7zN5G-1xOkoidozv2b16oxexAfrtviAlHjTEiqASL-8PYqQb9CUIApvklDvkB2S8LzGQGLL7Tr1FTme67LFrreCBL_CAm9bI0OAdvzbF9u/s1600/_76994258_76994257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgNjHM07GPt8FJfflBZYy15w7aAA50SHeAY7zN5G-1xOkoidozv2b16oxexAfrtviAlHjTEiqASL-8PYqQb9CUIApvklDvkB2S8LzGQGLL7Tr1FTme67LFrreCBL_CAm9bI0OAdvzbF9u/s1600/_76994258_76994257.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: www.bbc.uk.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a mess Ferguson, MO is today. There is so much wrong with this Michael Brown killing, both on the part of the Ferguson police, the prosecutor, and the protests of the community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Ferguson Police</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, Michael Brown, an unarmed young man, is killed in an altercation with a white Ferguson policeman. Michael Brown does have to take responsibility for robbing the convenience store of cigarillos. Had he not done that, this tragedy probably would not have occurred.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although he was unarmed, testimony of Officer Wilson and other witnesses claimed Brown reached into the police car and tussled with Wilson for his gun and was ultimately shot in the finger/hand. Again, that is something Michael Brown has to take responsibility for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Officer Wilson's claim that Brown was punching him in the face so badly that Wilson feared he would be punched out don't seem to go with the photos taken of him that day. There is not even a bruise on his face; no black eye etc. How hard could Brown have punched Wilson if he ended up with no bruises?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, according to the testimony of Wilson and of witnesses, Michael Brown, who had run down the street, then turned around and "charged," at Officer Wilson. Other witnesses testified that Brown had his hands up in surrender when he turned around. Wilson, believing his life was in danger, shot the fatal bullets that killed Michael Brown. All this took place in a flash - ninety seconds -and a promising African-American young man lay dead on the ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where was Officer Wilson's stun gun? That is something all police officers throughout the U.S. should have on them at all times. Had Officer Wilson stunned Brown instead of shooting him, Brown would be alive today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why was Officer Wilson alone in the police car? Why didn't he have a partner with him? Police are suppose to work in twos. Why not in Ferguson? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, why isn't the Ferguson police force more diverse? Why are there not more African-American police officers on the Ferguson police force?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our police departments have been militarized as never before. Our police culture is to shoot first and ask questions later. This is something all police departments throughout the U.S. have been trained to do. There needs to be a huge paradigm shift and police officers need to be trained differently. They need to be trained in how to diffuse a situation rather than escalate it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have seen the same thing unfold time and time again. The African-American male is seen as the aggressor, even if he is just asking the police why he is being stopped. If he challenges the police in any way, the guns come out and the shooting begins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does this happen to white perpetrators? Certainly not as much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Prosecutor</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prosecutor McCulloch should have been recused from handling the Michael Brown case because, as everyone knows, years ago, his father had been murdered by an African-American man. That, right there, is conflict of interest in such a high profile case.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A special prosecutor should have been brought in to prosecute this case so that fairness was assured by someone neutral, someone who had no ties to the Ferguson community, and someone who would not be seeking election to office in this community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is frequently said that a grand jury can indict a ham sandwich. That certainly did not happen here. The grand jury proceedings here in Ferguson were most unusual with every bit of evidence in this case being given to them. They became both judge and jury deciding on Officer Wilson's fate, something that is not their duty to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was shocked that there were leaks to the media during this grand jury proceeding; a procedure that is suppose to be secret. That, in itself, illustrated the bias and unfairness of these proceedings. Prosecutor McCulloch wanted a 'no indictment' decision from this grand jury and he manipulated evidence and leaks so that he would get the decision he wanted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Should this have gone to trial? I believe so because there was so much conflicting testimony by witnesses, this needed to hashed out in a trial where both sides could give evidence to what occurred that day and at that moment of death.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, the timing of Prosecutor McCulloch's announcement of the indictment was manipulated to help raise the anxiety and hot tempers of the African-American community. For at least two weeks prior to the announcement, the media reported they were being told that a decision from the grand jury was due any day, any moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The endless waiting for the decision just served to rile up the Ferguson community that much more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, announcing the decision at 9 pm, Monday evening, I believe, was Prosecutor McCulloch's manipulation so that anger would spill over into the chaos, rioting, looting and burning that occurred.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't see Prosecutor McCulloch as trying to maintain calm in the Ferguson community but as a perpetrator to setting off the rioting that occurred. I think it was part of his 'grand plan.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Protests in the Ferguson community</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peaceful protests against Officer Wilson have been going on in Ferguson since August 9, when Brown was killed. Because the grand jury had so much evidence thrown at them, this process took three months and this also helped to work up the community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, the community has McCulloch announcing the 'no indictment' at 9 pm in the evening, tempers are flaring anyway, and the chaos and rioting begins. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brown's step-father, trying to console his wife and Michael Brown's mother, did not help matters by screaming to burn down the city. The shock of the announcement boiled over and the protesters went nuts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is especially sad, are the businesses the crowd burnt down where mostly African-American businesses. The protesters were destroying themselves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is sad, that African-Americans destroy when something doesn't go their way. How much more relevant and important their protest against the 'no indictment' of Officer Wilson would have been if it had been peaceful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their burning and destruction just adds to people's perception that African-Americans break the law and 'go crazy,' in these kinds of situations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, as this rioting and burning was going on, where was the National Guard? There is poor leadership on the local and state level in Missouri and no one is exempt from the responsibility of protecting the Ferguson community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How this grand jury was handled, the announcement of the decision, and the protection of the citizens of Ferguson was woefully incompetent. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ferguson is just an example of the racial divide that permeates our country today. White police officers do see African-Americans' lives as cheaper than white lives. African-American lives do matter, yet they don't seem to when they come in conflict with white police officers.</span></div>
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