Bergdahl and Other News

In retrospect, the White House should have used more preparedness in figuring out the total story of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. I am glad that he is going home to reunite with his family. Some folks (who once supported Berghahl) want him to remain and die. There has to be an investigation to figure out if he deserted, etc. He could be court-martialed. If he made grave errors, then he has to be made accountable for them. Also, the government of Qatar was involved in negotiating the deal too. The negotiation with terrorists by the American government is not unusual at all. The USA negotiated with the Nazis before. America negotiated with other terrorists before. Also, the CIA has done terrorism in Indonesia, Chile, Iran, and other nations globally. The same people who formed al-Qaeda were once aided by the West including the Saudis back in the late 1970's (when these militants were fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan). Ronald Reagan once supported the Taliban during the 1980's. So, the military industrial complex has no right to lecture anyone on morality or human rights. Western imperialists have some nerve to lecture anybody on treason when their development has been a product of plunder, murder, land theft, and greed. That is reality. The young man should reunite with his parents and we have to investigate to see how such matters can be better brought about. Questions about legal matters must be asked. FOX News and their ilk are exploiting this controversy as a means to advance the war on terror. The war on terror deals with imperialism, war crimes, torture, occupation, and Islamophobia (as expressed by Bill O’Reilly and Brian Kilmeade, We should always condemn imperial wars). In the final analysis, the American troops should come home and Afghanistan should have its opportunity to control their country via self-determination. The GOP has been fully exposed as a fallible, disturbing political institution. Even many of its supporters find difficulty in supporting the possible future candidates in 2016. Many of these candidates refuse to expose the prison industrial complex, refuse to strengthen the social safety net, and refuse to end the Western, imperialist empire. Many of these politicians listed love charter schools, the War on Drugs, a reduction of even legitimate regulations, massive privatization, and further tax cuts for the super-rich. They are the party of Wall Street without shame or regrets. Therefore, people have the right to reject what they advocate and advocate political independent thinking on many issues. Compassion for the sick (when single payer universal health care is better than what the GOP proposes), the elderly, minorities, the poor, immigrants, and the rest of the human family is better than extreme rhetoric. We just have to keep on being active, organize, mobilize, and contribute our time and effort to solve problems constructively.

It is easy to see that fruits, vegetables, and vitamin E combined can slash the risk of stroke and premature death. Eating more foods in their natural, unprocessed state mixed with healthy lifestyle choices can greatly reduce or cut the risk of chronic diseases. Many of these chronic diseases have caused human beings to suffer early death. There have been epigenetic studies that prove that our genetic structure is not static and set in stone from birth, but, rather, is positively or negatively influenced by the quality of each calorie we consume, our lifestyle choices and our environment. It comes as no surprise to most health conscious individuals that the regular consumption of fruits and vegetables and certain vitamins can have a profound effect on a person's risk for having a stroke or a decreased lifespan. Many researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 20 studies over the past 19 years. Their findings were published the results of their findings in the American Heart Association journal called “Stroke.” The findings show that by increasing one’s fruit and vegetable intake, one can dramatically lower the incidence of vascular diseases, especially cardiovascular disease and strokes. The scientists discovered that the occurrence of strokes have declined over the past 40 years in higher income nation. That is due to an increased emphasis on eating more fruits and vegetables. The mortality rates from strokes continue to rise in lower income parts of the world where fresh produce is costly and not readily available. Fruits and vegetables can improve critical metabolic parameters to lower stroke risk too. The study team found a 32% decrease in stroke risk for every 200 g of fruits (or approximately three to four half cup servings) and an 11 percent decrease in stroke risk for every 200g of vegetables (roughly five servings) consumed daily. Lead study author Dr. Yan Qu noted that "improving diet and lifestyle [are] critical for heart and stroke risk reduction in the general population. In particular, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is highly recommended because it meets micronutrient and macronutrient and fiber requirements without adding substantially to overall energy requirements."  The Meta analysis specially concluded that eating fruits and vegetables lowers blood pressure and systemic body inflammation as well as yields improvements to microvascular function, body mass index, cholesterol ratios, and oxidative stress. There is another independent study. Researchers at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center looked to find a natural agent that only helped treat the damaging effects of a stroke after it had occurred, but could actually help lower the risk of a catastrophic vascular event. There is the lead investigator named Dr. Cameron Rink. His team focused on a specific vitamin E isomer or tocotrienol, which has been associated with a lowered risk of functional decline in Alzheimer's patients. Tocotrienols are known to block cholesterol production in the liver and beneficially alter healthy cholesterol ratios. They used an animal for their study. The scientists determined that after ten weeks of vitamin E tocotrienol supplementation, the natural compound stimulated arteriogenesis, an increase in the diameter of existing arteries in response to oxygen demand. This process can prevent brain damage, as it effectively offers a secondary or collateral blood supply. Rink concluded "we think that tocotrienol helps improve the function of collaterals, which would offer someone better protection from an initial or secondary stroke." This research provides yet another compelling reason to include seven to nine combined daily servings of fresh fruits and vegetables to lower the risk of stroke and a host of chronic diseases.

The evils in the world is why we don't need to follow the ways of the establishment. There are still tons of people who are of black African descent telling the truth, who are spiritual. Many black people are helping their own people. It is just that we have some people in our community who thrive on ignorance, who want to disrespect their own people in offensive terms, and who seek evil (just like white racists). Many pastors (not all of them) make a mockery of religion by supporting materialism, greed, and exploiting the suffering of the poor. That is why any pastor talking about revolutionary solutions, talking about community based solutions, preaching about economic justice (in opposition to laissez faire capitalism), preaching about our real history, teaching about true reconciliation among our people, firmly disagreeing with imperialism (we know how our Brothers and our Sisters in the Caribbean, etc. are fighting for their liberation), and talking about opposing police brutality are strongly reviled or suppressed in society. I do find that many of the same people calling for the forgiveness of Sterling will not forgive many of the suffering Brothers and Sisters in the poor communities across America (for their errors) at all. Many of them will refuse to acknowledge the great contributions that numerous poor black people are making in society now as well. Therefore, we have the right to condemn racism and to stand up for real values like having solidarity with Africans globally. Time changes and decades change, but the truth is stable and it is purely immutable. One thing about me is that I won't back down from my core convictions. One person is a leader. He has great understanding of the conditions in Chicago, so he is the right man to speak out against violence in the city. Arthur “Silky Slim” Reed is an inspirational Brother. We have to do our part to counteract the vicious violence in our communities. Arthur Reed is doing the right thing and he deserves encouragement to continue on his great work. I am from Generation Y or I am a Millennial. Too many human beings from my generation or younger have too much entitlement. Arrogance and entitlement expressed by some youths can prevent progress, because progress is executed by sacrifice & strength not by arrogance. In other words, children have to learn that real, strong accomplishments in life are earned by hard work and real effort not with a lackadaisical mentality. Disciplining children young is a great way for them to retain valuable lessons down the road. As a child gets older, he or she can further incorporate wisdom, intelligence, and authentic precepts in their minds (from their parents) as a means to go forward in the realm of adulthood in a fruitful fashion. Children need tools too as you have mentioned. No one can sustain a revolutionary life without the tools involving building, interacting with humanity, problem solving, and analyzing ideas. Parents should raise children not vice versa. Children should respect their parents as adults and adults should respect their children as children too.

The French elites was so evil that they forced the Haitians to pay reparations to them when the French Empire brutalized the Haitian people for centuries (the European imperialists also exterminated the Arawak peoples like the Tainos in the island of Hispaniola as well). Brothers Toussaint L'Ouverture, Dessalines, Henri Christophe, etc. (including Sisters too) fought French oppressors as a means to cause Haiti to be the first black Republic of the Western Hemisphere. America immorally occupied Haiti militarily in the 20th century as well. These actions of sanctions, embargoes, debt, reparations paid to the oppressors, etc. (all caused by Western imperial forces) have harmed the Haitian nation economically and politically. Some in the mainstream media outline racist portrayals of the Haitian people while they ignore the dynamic Haitian culture, cuisine, music, and intellectual power. The good news is that in Haiti now, there are progressive Brothers and Sisters fighting for their rightful liberation now. The Afro-Haitian Sister Ezili Dantò has written excellent articles on Haiti. Dr. Jemima Pierre and other Haitian leaders are still presenting the truth to the world. This video (involving Alexandria Randle and Brandy Hamilton) outlines the overreach of many police officers. Both women were humiliated and violated. The refusal to change gloves by one officer in the searching is purely unsanitary. One officer has been fired and the other officer received a slap on the wrist. The other female trooper should be fired period. If these overzealous crooked police officers have no respect for the dignity of black women, then they have no respect for the rest of us as a community. These two women are courageous to describe their stories in public, so we can have awareness that unwarranted, perverted and unsanitary cavity searches have no place in any human society at all. The police officers blatantly acted unprofessional. There is no justification for this cavity search at all. There are tons of alternatives that can be used without this injustice inflicted on two human beings. Some folks must comprehend succinctly that cops are not gods and they can't do whatever they want to. We have every right to firmly defend our human civil liberties. I hope that the lawsuit is 100% successful.

In life, we know about the white racist power structure in the world. We also need to be careful of the black misleadership class. This class is made up of human beings who suck up to big bankers, the military industrial complex, corporate interests, etc. They receive some influence by the ruling class in order to be used as a means for the ruling class to maintain the capitalist system. In essence, they are the buffers that are placed to strife, real revolutionary change in the black community. Many of them overtly bash the poor and believe in neoliberal including imperialist policies. That is why that Africans in America have a strong legacy in being against imperial war, being for full employment, better housing, universal health care, and a strong public education. Too many of the misleadership are lobbyists for military contractors, Big Oil, Big Pharma, greedy banksters, gentrifies, etc. Decades ago, faux revolutionaries like Ron Karenga were involved in the harm done to the Black Panthers. RIP Bunchy Carter and John Huggins. One sign of knowing a fake revolutionary is their uncritical, unconditional love of capitalism. Folks know that capitalism (regardless of its diverse forms and mutations) was involved in the murder of over one billion human beings since the 16th century. Capitalism is a wicked ideology. Our enemies are people like Columbus, Hitler, Bundy, etc. Also, we should learn about those who hated the progressive hero Patrice Lumumba like Tsombe, Mobutu, etc. Agents ought to be exposed and repudiated like Earl Anthony and Gene Roberts. In Congress, pro-corporate measures are very common. Even an ex-former Capitol staffer (and a Sister) wrote an article that exposes the CBC’s links to Wall Street. This is why the elite support measures to end public schools to be replace with charter schools (instead of using revolutionary solutions to rebuild public schools). In the 21st century, our issues are very complex. Yet, it is right to stand for revolutionary, progressive insights. We have the right to oppose school privatization, massive austerity, nukes being built in black communities, the expansion of the military budget, massive surveillance, and other corporate friendly policies. Unfortunately, some black lobbyists and black legislators would agree with these regressive measures. We have to continue to stand up for the poor and the oppressed. True politics must be from the bottom up. Today, there are still many Brothers and many Sisters fighting for adequate housing, for the development of the public infrastructure, for voting rights, and for an end to unjust wars. It is our responsibility to not only condemn the evil policies of token politicians. It is also our job to be active in our communities to. Nothing changes unless we act. We should learn about the issues found in our communities and fight for solutions. We have to take a stand and ally with independent political groups that are genuinely dedicated for change in the world. No one has the right to take away our destiny, our humanity, and our liberty away from us at all. We have the right to be independent and sovereign in our own power. We are battling against imperialism, which is allied to capitalism. We seek economic justice for the poor and for all of humanity. There must be a radical redistribution of economic and political power as the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has said. The bourgeois of many backgrounds act very similar in their exploitative ways, but we should be strong and compassionate at the same time. We are all in solidarity with African Brothers and Sisters worldwide. Collectively, we have the power to overcome adversity.

By Timothy