Footprints in Paris - Part 1

Starting tonight, I will share some of my pictures from Paris. My girlfriend is the photographer. She is not a professional photographer but she has a great eye.

So tonight we start with Canova. This was a wonderful statue which was a few feet away from Michelangelo's David. Words cannot describe the beauty of these statues so I'll let you gaze at it and select your own.

Chief Justice May Have Epilepsy

This is very unfortunate for Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. My brother, who died at age 17, had epilepsy and it was one of the scariest things I have ever witnessed. My brother was a very happy and loving kid but you could see the fear on his face when he had an episode. I recall watching him and the shaking and bugged out eyes were scary to me as a little girl. I knew nothing about epilepsy and just knew that it was horrible for everyone but mostly for Mickey. Unfortunately my brother was dropped on his head and even more unfortunate was that we had nor did we know of any medication that could help him lead a normal life. Roberts should go on melds.

And So It Goes

I recently asked a friend of mine to re-resurrect my old blog for me and I was very happy to see it again. I'm going through the articles and after reading them I may post a couple. Because we are in the throes of political campaigns below is one that I find apropos. I tried attaching it but it didn't work so thank goodness for cutting and pasting.

LIFE GOES ON August 3, 2004
I abandoned my initial plan to comment on the Democratic National Convention love fest after listening to John Edwards' speech on Wednesday night. There are several brilliant opinion pieces out there that I have chosen to include here so as not to be redundant. One of these pieces happens to be Maureen Dowd's op-ed in Sunday's New York Times, "Can He Float Your Boat." While I rarely agree with Dowd, this piece is classic. Another brilliant piece is in the National Review and penned by David Frum, "The Two Americas Canard." Frum's piece exposes the hypocrisy that is John Kerry and John Edwards. The hypocrisy that continues to insinuate itself in the lives of the common man. While I'm not as brilliant as these two writers I would still like to give you my two cents.
I'm not sure if I resent both Johns because of their wealth, which is quite possible, or their condescending attitudes towards the "common man." I'm also not sure if I can listen to many more speeches about John Kerry's wartime experience. Yes, Mr. Kerry, we know you served in Vietnam and we know about your commandeering the swift boat and the men you pulled to safety. We know all of it because that's your only response to why you should be our next Commander-in-Chief. So we thank you and we salute you, NOW MOVE ON. How about giving us specifics as to what you and your running mate are going to do for our country beyond telling us that, "hope is on the way" and "we are the optimists." Hope and optimism is all nice and cuddly but these phrases suggest nothing more than emotional rhetoric.
While some maybe satisfied with four nights of rhetoric and feel that John Kerry is the lesser of two evils, (i.e. Andrew Sullivan) I'm not satisfied. If emotional rhetoric is what's going to drive Democrats to the polls in November then I guess Mr. Kerry and Mr. Edwards are a shoo in. If emotional rhetoric like, "so when you return home, you might pass a mother on her way to work the late-shift-you tell her...hope is on the way," works for the populace that calls themselves Democrats then our next president should be John Kerry. If the emotional rhetoric of Wednesday and Thursday night is what it takes to make the two Americas one, then Mr. Kerry is the man. But at the end of the day when some semblance of intelligence finds its way back into the minds of the populace then Mr. Kerry won't be so lucky after all and a place call Hope will have been a little town in a never ending dream.

Where Is The Rest of The Dress?

Ok, someone explain this to me like I'm a six year old. Where is the rest of the dress? I have seen adult women, not men, yet, wear these things called "Baby Doll" dresses. Ok, I had to ask my partner the name. So apparently this is the new look. A swift wind, walking upstairs, any type of bending and there goes the family recipe. Again, this is a dress for "adult" women? I don't get it.

See Me, I'm a Girl

This person wants the Department of Corrections in Boston, read: taxpayers, to pay for his re-assignment surgery. But wait why is he in jail? Well, lets see, he strangled his wife and dumped her body. She's dead, no opportunity to re-marry, laugh, cry, try on new stockings and he wants a sex change operation paid for by Boston taxpayers. Hmmm, lets try to figure out the logic in all this. Hmmmm, hmmmm. THERE IS NONE! Kosilek claims that to leave him inside his body is cruel and inhuman punishment. And strangling his wife and dumping her body is a day at the park right? Cheryl Kosilek's life doesn't count? Oh sorry, it doesn't she's dead. Here we are treated to Kosileks "feelings." Should I start crying now or after I throw up?

Once You Say the Word Cancer...

I have mentioned before that I have cancer, colorectal cancer. I didn't share it here because I wanted sympathy nor do I consider myself a hero. I'm not in remission and I fight everyday to just feel good. Colorectal cancer is the second leading killer in the US and so we must be scared. But we must not be scared into doing nothing. We must be scared into being proactive. This article drives the point home and should be read by everyone. I ask that you read the article and pass it on to family and friends.

There Once Was a Time

I grew up in the city of Mt. Vernon, NY. Mt. Vernon is, next to Yonkers, the southern most city in Westchester County. When I was growing up in Mt. Vernon it had the feel of a small town where people knew one another or worked at getting to know each other. I remember walking down 4th Avenue, which is considered the main thoroughfare of the city, and stopping in stores that were owned by families with roots in the city. I remember visiting a local music store with my mom and the salesman assuming I wanted the Jackson Five album and not the Osmonds. I remember visiting the Five and Dime and purchasing my first bag of marbles - boy did I love those shiny marbles. I also remember the day the first McDonalds opened on the "Avenue" and paying 35c for a hamburger. There was a lot of quality stores and the street was clean and there wern't many low end stores - they would come years later.

The other interesting thing about Mt. Vernon is that it was and probably still is a segregated town. Blacks live on the South side and Whites live on the North side. When I was in high school, I didn't go to the local high school but attended an all girls catholic high school in New Rochelle, I remember writing a paper on Mt. Vernon and during my research found out that the local train station was built to separate the town into North Side and the South Side. The division is still obvious today. There are black families living on the North side but the majority of homeowners are Italian and in recent years there has been an influx of immigrants from Brazil. Other parts of Mt. Vernon boasts million dollar homes and leafy streets where young couples raise their children in peace and quiet. Mt. Vernon was also home to movie stars, famous singers and professional athletes like Denzel Washington, Ozzie Davis and Ruby Dee, before they moved to New Rochelle, Sidney Poitier, Heavy D, Felice Rishad and many more. Denzel Washington still gives to the Boys and Girls Club and has recently endorsed Clinton Young for his run for mayor. With all his donations to the Boys and Girls Club it still remains a hole in the wall than someplace kids go to play. What has been done with the money is probably a good question to ask Mayor Davis.

Mt. Vernon has changed over the years and in my opinion not for the better. Yes, some of the neighborhoods are still considered nice and couples can still raise their families in peace and quiet but change hasn't been good to the city. Even though I no longer live in Mt. Vernon and have had several addresses since then I still have family there so I go back to spend time with them. The main corridor, 4th Avenue has become a haven for low end stores and many of the more established family run stores are gone. Mixed in with these stores are the Korean fruit stands, the Korean fish store, the Jamaican food store, the Asian nails salon and the ever present Afrocentric bookstores. On first glance, 4th Avenue looks like a black ghetto with a sprinkling of Asians, Indians etc. It is very rare that you see a white face on 4th Avenue especially further South unless they are copping drugs. It is unfortunate but it is what it is.

For the past twelve years, Ernest Davis has served as the mayor of Mt. Vernon. It is my opinion, that he has been in this position for so long because he is black in a predominantly black city. He has maintained the status quo throwing the occasional bone to his constituents to keep them happy, i.e. plans to open the first hip hop museum in the city. He has also boasted plans to improve the 3rd Street corridor which is probably the most dangerous street in Mt. Vernon. So, the question is, has there been any improvements in Mt. Vernon? Yes, there has. The Sandford Boulevard corridor has brought much needed economic growth to the city and the mayor is credited for this success. But, there are still many borded up storefronts, dirty streets, drug problems, mediocre municipal services, and a segregated city. The mayor's most recent project, construction of a European style roundabout supposedly celebrates the city's renaissance. Unfortunatley, a roundabout doesn't make a city and a segregated city is not a positive city. So once again Davis is being challenged and once again he assumes the cockey disposition that helped beat his other opponents. In this article Davis' arrogance comes true when he states, "Everybody thinks they can beat me. I don't know. I must have that look." And that is the kind of arrogance that Westchester County Legislator Clinton Young will have to face in the upcoming primary. Good luck to him but more importantly, good luck to Mt. Vernon.

Any Means Necessary

If you have read my blog before you know how mcuh I hate pedophiles. I use the word hate because hate is a word that everyone who cares about children should use. The power of the word hate reminds us of how animalistic and debased they are as they indulge in debauchery that many children barely survive. I don't believe that these people can be reformed and do believe that they should be medicated. I also believe that they should be kept as far away from children as is legally possible. In this story we find that the legal system cannot touch Jack McClellan even though he claims to be a pedophile and has a website detailing places where children can be found. According to the article McClellan's activities are not against the law so he goes untouched. I'm not one for more laws but in this case we need to do something to protect our children.

Al Sharpton in Yonkers July 21st 2007

I would like someone to explain this to me like I'm a six year old. Why is it that blacks feel the need to march, rally, disturb the piece for something as simple as "loving yourself"? Could someone answer this for me because I'm truly perplexed. I realize what this "Love Yourself" rally was suppose to do but why? How about working within the system? How about having a liaison to the police in Yonkers? How about asking the mayor to address blacks who have felt that the Yonkers police is out of control? Why do we need to have a Love Yourself Rally? I don't understand it. In 1995 Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam held a Million Man march in Washington to register blacks to vote. Why? Couldn't they do that back in their neighborhoods? The March also advocated "unity, atonement and brotherhood." And participants were asked to "clean up their lives and their neighborhoods." Do you need to go to Washington to do this? I don't get it.

Update on the Bruhaha at City Hall

It seems that Viola Plummer was sitting next to Councilman Charles Barron on the floor of the New York City City Council. She was not suppose to be there because the floor is reserved for councilmembers, speakers and guests of the City Council Speaker. Plummer fit none of these categories because she was fired two weeks ago. On the way out Barron pointed at Quinn and said, "Christine you will never be mayor." Sounds like a threat to me. And as I reported earlier Plummer, I heard her this time, screamed "Let go of me, let go of me." She was talking to the guards and Barron believe it or not. But the best soundbite was when Plummer said, "What difference does it make where I sit? I could sit in there, I could sit out here (the hallway), I could sit on the roof. But I know what she is doing, she wants to aggrivate me." And this comes from a woman who thinks she doesn't have a behavior problem. She vows to be back at the next session of the council in August. Too bad I'll be on Cape Cod or else I would try to be there just for the fireworks.

Behavior Speaks for Itself

Apparently there was some excitement in the New York City Council chambers as Viola Plummer, the fired staff member of Councilman Charles Barron, was escorted from the chambers. Plummer was seen being escorted from the chambers by guards and then to compound it she behaved like a child throwing a tantrum by stomping her feet and yelling something inaudible. And she thought Quinn was rude when she asked her to have more decorum in the chambers. It seems like Quinn was right in asking Plummer to curb her behavior. Oh, but I forgot Blacks are not suppose to be asked to curb their behavior because its racist.

We have trouble on the horizon. Charles Barron is running, here, for Borough President of Brooklyn. See his comment to Speaker Quinn. The question is, will Sharpton denounce Barron's rhetoric?

Awash in Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy - a semblance of having desirable or publicly approved attitudes, beliefs, principles, etc., that one does not actually possess. We live in a world where this definition tends to stick to individuals like white on rice. Unfortunately, it seems like second skin to elected officials and bible stomping cretins. When people ask me how can I be a Republican when there are so many homophobes in the party I cringe and then ask them to look at elected officials that are neither homophobic nor want to amend the Constitution. And even though our friends aren't numbered in the thousands we can find sweet revenge in folks like Mark Fowley, Jim McGreevey and as of last week, David Vitter the Republican Senator from Louisiana.

It seems that Senator Vitter has some splaining to do to his wife and kids who he used in his ad supporting amending the Constitution to make marriage between one man and one woman. Frank Rich has an excellent article here on Mr. Vitter's rise and I'm hoping huge fall from grace. When I was a child growing up there was one saying that I heard over and over which was - when light comes to day all the sins of man will be reveiled. I also learned as a young child that christians were loving people. But I guess people like Vitter lives by the saying, do as I say and not as I do.

Blah, Blah, Blah

My partner and I are part of a small minority of movie goers who actually like watching coming attractions. I realize that many hate trailers but I love them. And the uproar to have theaters publish the actual start time of movies so as to avoid these trailers is another faux issue for pretentious Manhattanites who have convinced themselves that their time is more precious than anyone else's. Sitting back and watching coming attractions is fun and actually helps in deciding if we are going to see the movie or not. My partner and I have given many a thumbs up or down to movies we saw by way of comming attractions. Watching coming attractions also gives a birds eye view of the kind of crap Hollywood is selling to movie goers. Unfortunately its also a barometer on the likes and dislikes of movie goers as when a trailer comes on screen for an inane movie like Wedding Crashers. Of course that one received a double thumbs down from us.

One recent movie that got the thumbs down is Chuck and Larry. I, like many, enjoy watching movies with gay themes and I can take a joke like the next guy but... I'm not a fan of Adam Sandler. His "antics" is reminiscent of the kind of slapstick comedy of which I'm not a fan. And while I'm all for making us mainstream this is not the way to do it. But it seems as though Chuck and Larry got a pass from GLAAD. How this happened is beyond me but what do I know. I'm not so sure if the movie is offensive as stupid. And for that alone they should have received a thumbs down from GLAAD. But as I said, what do I know?

House of Pain

Many years ago I read a book titled, "Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies and Bucks An Interpretative History of Blacks in American Films," written by Donald Bogle. The book talked about the image of blacks in American film over a fifty year period. When I read the book I was amazed but came away with more knowledge about blacks in film. Some of the images presented in the book were quite negative but I think Bogle's point was to show where we were and where we are now. He goes on to show more positive images in his book to make his point that we have come a long way. And we have come a long way.

I remembered Bogle's book the night I watched Tyler Perry's House of Payne's debut on TBS on June 6th. I remembered the book and its descriptions of blacks in movies because "House of Payne" was so painful to watch and in my opinion depicts the buffonery that Bogle told of in his book. Whether you want to believe that blacks want to make these types of shows is a discussion for another time but to think that blacks actually vie for these roles is something altogether different. The show, in my humble opinion, is a mockery of blacks. It's the kind of humor that Bogle talks about in his book where the mammy types are dark black, loud and obnoxious. Its the kind of show that blacks probably would run away from instead of embracing it as a commentary on black life in Atlanta. The "multigenerational" family is, in one word, embarassing.

I realize that Tyler Perry has made a name for himself doing this type of work but maybe he needs to quit while he's on top. House of Payne is not funny and is an embarassment to blacks. While watching it I felt as though I had been transformed back to the fifty's when shows depicting blacks as simpletons were popular. House of Payne is a House of Pain.

When Liberals Misspeak

Whenever I write something on my blog and think to myself that readers are going to think I'm way too right or that I have sold black folks down the river I read an article penned by John McWhorter and I know I'm ok. This article is, as usual, on point and reflective of a conversation I had today with a friend. It would seem to me that liberals not only don't get it they have somehow loss their hearing. Why? Because I don't think they hear the stupid things that come from their lips. When a liberal says that black kids learn better when they are in a classroom with white children instead of in a classroom of all blacks that is saying something about "black" kids. It is saying that somehow blacks can't learn among one another. It's probably saying that they are too stupid to learn among their own. And it's probably saying that the only way black kids are going to learn is when they are in the company of white kids. Now, does anyone find this a bit racist? Hmmm. So, if you were to follow this logic then liberals should be against HBC's (Historically Black Colleges) since they admit and enroll only blacks. And if you were to follow this "logic" you would then agree that these schools need integration because "white" kids could benefit from being in the classroom with black kids. Right? Or maye the integration only goes in one direction. Maybe I should pose the question to Mrs. Clinton.

When Blacks Become Racists

In his book, "The Content of Our Character," Shelby Steele states, "If conditions have worsened for most of us as racism had receded, then much of the problem must be of our own making. To admit this fully would cause us to lose the innocence we derive from our victimization. And we would jeopardize the entitlement we've always had to challenge society. We are in the odd self-defeating position in which taking responsibility for bettering ourselves feels like a surrender to white power." This idea of taking responsibility for bettering ourselves that Steele wrote about in 1990 is still, in 2007, absent in the black community. And why is it absent? A good answer could be found in the same book where Steele talks about the challengers and the bargainers. The challengers are those blacks that say, "if your innocent then prove it. The bargainers says, "I already believe you are innocent (good, fair-minded) and have faith that you will prove it." He goes on to give examples of blacks that fall into these two categories.

Throughout the years there have been many challengers and bargainers in the black community. The first bargainer that comes to mind is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the challenger that immediately comes to mind is Malcolm X even though it could be argued that he later became a bargainer. There are others throughout black history and today we have Councilman Charles Barron. Councilman Barron is never at a loss for words especially when he is calling out whitey. The latest episode in a very vetriolic life, Councilman Barron says, "We are not bowing down to white supremacy, never, never, never. He was chanting this after Council Speaker Christine Quinn suspended Barron's chief of staff Viola Plummer. They have since brought a law suit against the speaker.

This has come about because Plummer was accused of calling for the assassination of Councilman Leroy Comrie after he did not vote for a name change of a street in Brooklyn. Plummer, however, denied that and said she called for an assassination of his political career. Plummer was suspended by Quinn for sixe weeks but continues to work in Barron's office.

So what's the problem? The problem is this-if Charles Barron was a white councilman he would be "forced" to resign because he would be tarnished as a racist. But we live in a society that says that blacks can't be racist because of their innocence. Blacks can't be criticized because they are the victims. Blacks can't have power because they are the oppressed. The other problem with this issue is that Barron and his chief of staff refuse to listen to those who think that the renaming of a street in Brooklyn the Sonny Carson Street. Sonny Carson, who died in 2003, claimed to be antiwhite. So why would the City Council name a street after him? Because Barron and Plummer says so. Sonny Carson as written about here by Tamar Jacoby not only does not deserve a street named after him he also doesn't deserve to be discussed in a positive light. The name of Sonny Carson should be brought up as an example to young black children that people like Mr. Carson owe a debt to society instead of the other way around.

I do not believe that there should be any street naming. It is not necessary and simply a waste of our time and money. But what's more important is that we need to start talking up and against people like Charles Barron. We need more bargainers and less challengers.

No To Jamaica: Part 3

It seems that there is no shortage of hate for gays in Jamaica. When gays or people perceived to be gay are killed the gay panic defense is used to decry the foulness of killing. In this instance, Rev. Richard Johnson was killed by a young man who claims that the Reverend sexually attacked him. Here and here are stories of the killing. A year after the brutal stabbing of Ambassador Peter King, Jamaican officials have finally arrested a suspect. And as you would have it Sheldon Pusey, the suspect, claims the ambassador was making sexual advances and so [he] had to defend his honor. I guess simply saying no is not enough and so to prove your not a battyman it's easier to stab the person to death. I'll keep track of this story and report back. Unfortunately my cynicism tells me this young man will get off especially since leading politicians are already warning that the laws against homosexuality will not be rescinded anytime soon. Jamaica will be having elections in the near future and here is what the opposition leader Bruce Golding of the Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) had to say.

In reading these stories I came across blogs discussing the killings and a young man said something that I have been thinking for awhile and have probably been afraid to say it but I will now. He said, "I just think Jamicans are gutless and have no respect for life. Any place that murder, children, old people, priests, nuns is just a jungle. The only thing Jamaica has going for it is the glorious past as my grandmother remembered it." I'll add to the list, gays. And I'll add this as well, the glorious past was also a time when Jamaica was ruled by England. Maybe its time to return to that past because its obvious to me that blacks can't rule themselves.

The Republicans Rendezvous with Destiny

"Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem." So said Ronald Reagan followed by Barry Goldwater's wise words, "I fear Washington and centralized government more than I do Moscow." In 2007, however, it would seem that the words of these two politicians have gone unheaded by the Republican and conservatives. Ryan Sager, gives us much evidence to prove that the Republican Party has lost its way and have abandoned Republican values. Sager makes the following statement: "Today, no longer bound together by the Cold War or opposition to Bill Clinton and having tasted power at the small price of bending their beliefs, the two aides are fighting over nothing less than whether the Republican Party will complete its abandonment of the very principle upon which their fusionist marriage has been based these many years: a commitment to limited government."

Sager goes on to ask the following questions: "Will they continue to accept the idea of government as nanny, protecting children from sex and violence in TV shows, movies, video games, and ever other conceivable medium, in lieu of demanding a society in which parents are expected to be responsible for their own children? Will social conseravtives continue to accept billions of dollars of government money channeled to religious charities in lieu of reducing the tax burden on Americans so that they could give more money to charity themselves?" Sager goes on to ask more questions and answer them in later chapters.

So what is a Republican doing reading this book? Well it's very simple, the Republican Party has strayed away from Republican values and this president is the worse culprit of all. Also, zealots of any stripe drives me crazy. And maybe, just maybe I don't understand Evangelicals who have been allowed to take over my party by this president to preach to me that I am less of an American because I'm gay. The Republican Party needs to own up to their mistakes.

Sager's book is a good one in that he traces the party of Lincoln through its many permutations. Here are a few comments on the book.

1) When big government takes the place of Republican value of limited government you have lost the race before the last vote is counted;

2) Compromising principles on education is analagous to the "soft bigotry of low expectations;"

3) Securing the boarders is more important than amending the Constitution to restrict rights of gay and lesbian Americans; and

4) Your rendezvous with destiny is here.

Sager pretty much nails the problems facing Republicans and Conservatives and backs them up with convincing evidence. For those of us who are concerned about our party this is a good book to read and discuss with friends who want to see change. Sager presents excellent comments from various leaders and journalists and one of my favorite is Peggy Noonan. Sager quotes Noonan as saying, "If we are going to spend like the romantics and operators of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society; If we are thereby going to change the very meaning and nature of conservatism; If we are going to increase spending and the debt every year; If we are going to become a movement that supports big government...shouldn't we perhaps at least discuss it?"

We need to do more than discuess it we need to stop the bleeding out of the party.

What Are They Thinking?

I hope that what I'm about to do is not seen as disrespectful but as harmless humor. This morning my gf and I were sitting around drinking coffee and reading the morning paper and ran across this picture on the front page of The New York Times. We immediately launched into a conversation as to what each person was thinking in this picture. Once again, no disrespect intended. I wish I had pop ups for this but I'll make do with what I have.

Nancy Reagan: "I hope this many people come to my funeral."

Rosalyn Carter: "I don't know why Jimmy keeps dragging me to these events."

Jimmy Carter: "I could use a peanut butter and jelly sandwich right about now."

Laura Bush: "It's so damn hot in here my makeup is running."

Bill Clinton: "Hillary, I knew you did that."

Hillary Clinton: "So, tomorrow I have six speeches, and oh I have to remind Chelsea that we are scheduled to have dinner this week."

Barbara Bush: "And they thought I was old."

Banish Coulter

A reader writes:

For the life of me, I can't figure out why conservatives don't disown Ann Coulter. Is it that silly old rule about never criticizing one of their own? The Hannitys, the Limbaughs and the other self-appointed spokesmen for the Right are going to have to grow some cojones and learn to stand up to her.

Unfortunately, you are correct in that it's a long standing rule amongst Republicans and I think Ronald Reagan was the one who started it. And while I agree with not airing your dirty laundry the Republicans seem almost hypocritical by not saying "anything." Plus, on principles alone somone should say something. Thanks for writing.

Rock On WCBSFM

I thought I had a Twilight Zone moment this morning when I heard a familiar voice on the station 101.1fm. For sometime now the 101.1 band had gone rock and roll much to my chagrin. But then I realized that I hadn't stepped into the Twilight Zone but back into the great sound of WCBSFM. The familiar voice I was hearing was that of Bob Shannon and Mr. G doing the weather. To say I was estatic is an understatement. Now I can enjoy "real" music on my way to work again. Thanks CBS.

A Time To Remember

I have had the good fortune to read several books in the last couple of weeks and this one is really special. I'm pretty much a voracious reader and am never without a book, a magazine, etc. This book is a must read for anyone who liked or disliked Ronald Reagan. Peggy Noonan's writing is excellent, descriptive and extremely compassionate. Noonan gives insight to a man that was truly misunderstood and hated but at the end of the day he was truly a remarkable president and human being. He gave America back its backbone and helped Americans rediscover their values.

From actor, union chief, host of GE Theater, cochairman of of Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign, governor, and president Ronald Reagan gave it 100%. He was known as the great communicator and to many he was also known as an "everyday" man. There were many quotes that resonated with me but here are just a couple that really stood out. "I didn't leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me. As many know, Reagan started out as a Democrat but like many of us experienced first hand the limitations of the party. "But as long as we remember our first principles and believe in ourselves, the future will always be ours."

I'm sure that many people will continue to agree to disagree about Ronald Reagan's leadership but at the end of the day there is something that no one can take from him-his honesty and integrity. Read the book.

Open The Gates Part 2

In his book, Patrick Buchanan states that Theodore Roosevelt "thundered again and again against hypenated-Americans." Let me take you one step further and present Roosevelt's comments in their entirety:

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who
comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself
to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an
outrage to discriminate against any such man becuase of creed, or birthplace,
or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an
American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance
here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an
American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this
excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization
just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We
have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we
have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

In 2007, assimilation is a curse word and hypenated Americans are cool. We hang American flags only when it suits us. We stand at baseball games and refuse to put our hand over our heart and sing our national anthem. We no longer recite the Pledge of Allegiance in school. And "diversity" is the name of the game today. In this article Walter Williams reinforces the notion that something has to be done other than throwing up our hands and resign ourselves to the fact that they are here and there is nothing we can do about it.

I Don't Understand

I have mentioned before that I have colon cancer and when one is diagnosed with cancer they ask lots of questions. Why me? What did I do wrong? Did I drink too much? Did I smoke too much? Did I eat the wrong things? There are a ton of other questions but this story presents one that in a million years would never have crossed my mind. I just find it really really hard to comprehend. So is the logical question here to be is this part of the reparations owed to blacks?

Time to Act

Who would have thunk it that I would not only have read a book penned by Patrick Buchanan but also agree with him? But as I have said over and over, you can't make an intelligent argument if you don't know what you are talking about. Plus, reading evrything and anything opens your mind up and reinforces your opinions.

Two weeks ago the Senate voted down the immigration bill and helped reinforce president Bush's lame duck status. They made the right decision and maybe, just maybe a few headed Buchanan's warning. For those of you who care about our country and what crimes illegal immigrants are perpetuating then read this book. If there are those out there who are reading my blog and believe that I have a thing or two to say, go read this book. And for those of you who may not agree with Buchanan on most issues but are willing to hear him out, go read this book.

Here are three points that I would like to make about the book. First, it seems that whenever you talk about not wanting to support illegal immigration you are almost immediatley branded a racist-because you are talking about brown people; you are immediately targeted as a xenophobe; and you are targeted as anti-immigrant because we are, afterall, all immigrants. But the one that gets me the most is the canard that illegal immigrants do work that Americans wont do and according to Vincente Fox not even black people want to do. Buchanan quotes from a study done by Harvard economist George Borjas in which Borajas states that "cheap immigrant labor has reduced by 7.4 percent the wages of American workers performing low-skill jobs." He goes on to quote New York Times writer Paul Krugman as saying, "Americans are hurt fby immigration. Because Mexican immigrants have much less education than the average U.S worker, they increase the supply of less-skilled labor, driving down the wages of the worst-paid Americans." And who are some of these Americans? blacks, Hispanics, and working-class white Americans without high school diplomas.

Second, years ago I stated to friends that a lot of illegal immigrants are criminals and are adding to our criminal justice system. The retort was, Americans are criminals too. Buchanan offers some facts by way of Heather MacDonald who covers a lot of gang activity and other problems presented by illegal immigrants in California. The facts state that 95 percent of all outstanding warrants for homocide, which total 1,200 to 1,500 target illegal aliens; Two-thirds of the 17,000 outstanding fugitive felony warrants in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens; and Some 12,000 of the 20,000 strong 18th Street Gang that operates across Southern California are illegal aliens. The addition of illegal alien criminals to our justice system doesn't mean we look the other way it means we do something about it.

Third, the cost to our social services system is ushc that hospitals are going out of business. Buchanan tells us thet according to the Center for Immigration Studies, "22 percent of all births in California are to illegal aliens. As these 'anchor babies' are citizens by birth, they instantly begin to draw a lifetime of the benefits we provided all American children and their parents. Thus, social welfare costs continue to soar, though our native-born population has been close to stable for years."

If there are those out there who believe that illegals are just immigrants and they are here to make a living think again. The Mexican economy maybe be doing well but we are slowing but surely rotting under this weight. Maybe Buchanan's words will move people to do the work necessary to not only secure our borders but secure our country.

Ray Charles - America the Beautiful

I'm on vacation in VA but wanted to post something for 4th of July and this seems most appropriate. America, warts and all I love you. And for all the men and women fighting for freedom I thank you. God Bless America.

Not Black Enough

I'm always amazed at the things that are said and done in the black community especially when it comes to supporting one of our own. You would think that given our history we would support one another based on the facts or simply agree to disagree. Now don't get me wrong, I don't think we should simply support each other on the basis of skin color but at some point we have to give each other the benefit of the doubt that we can actually think and lead other blacks without being accused of "acting white," not being "black enough," or simply being too uppity. To suggest these things flies in the face of our rich history. Unfortunately, the people of Newark NJ feel just the opposite and are calling for a recall of Mayor Cory Booker.

In a recent article Booker has come under attack by constituents accusing him of being an outsider, not black enough and intimations of his sexual orientation. And are these rumors coming from racist whites? No! They are coming from the same people who saw him a year ago as someone who could save Newark. While offering no facts, blacks are calling for a recall of the mayor. It seems that his "light skin" and graduation from Stanford and Yale are factors playing against him. So much for Dr. King's dream of blacks being judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.

I have often said that blacks have no fear from racist whites when they do such a good job of keeping each other back on the plantation.

Tit for Tat?

A little shagging for losing on immigration? Here is Bush's blow back.

Balancing Act

Last week's Supreme Court decision, Seattle v. Jefferson County Board of Education, according to many, has once again thrown gas on the flames of the race problem in this country. Many, including the NAACP, declared the decision to be re-segregation. Hillary Clinton and other liberals have declared that Chief Justice Roberts and the "right wing" court have turned back the hands of the civil rights clock. But as with many things in our society today, the facts are not always clear nor are they always forthcoming. A few comments about the case and the decision.

First, years ago I sat on a panel where the issue being debated was the participation of blacks in the Republican Party. I remember using a line from Dr. King's I Have a Dream speech to drive home my point and was summarily dismissed by a black man on the panel as he basically called me an Uncle Tom. The diminution of my character was heart felt but I kept my composure and continued on. The line I used then and will use here is, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." I countered that the Democratic Party gave and continues to give lip service to Dr. King's dream and continues to regulate blacks to a life filled with affirmative action programs where race supercedes intellect. The line came to mind as soon as I heard about the decision of the Supreme Court and was reinforced by Chief Justice Roberts statement, "The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race."

Second, the case was not about the content of the children of Seattle's character but rather about their skin color. The case was not about learning but about "diversity." The case was not about separate but equal but a numbers game where kids were moved around to create a sense of "balance." Of course "learning" was not paramount on the minds of those moving the chess pieces.

Third, moving kids around for the sake of balance, does little if anything for the kids and nothing for the environment in which they need to learn and become citizens capable of critical thinking. Fourth, the process undertaken by Seattle shows no evidence that the balancing act makes a difference in academic performance. Abigail Thernstrom has been trying to argue the point of closing the academic gap between blacks and whites for somtime and states here that this balancing act does little to help academic performance. And of course the idea that blacks tend to do better when among middle class blacks or whites is part and parcel of the argument but no one makes it better than John McWhorter here.

I'm sure the case will continue to be debated and Chief Justice Roberts will be demonized for a long time to come but we don't help blacks by constantly referring to their skin color.