There is the Minsk cease fire agreement. There are extremists from the U.S. and Ukraine who want to make Ukraine a puppet state of the EU/NATO network. Some American and Ukrainian officials have issued provocative threats and accusations against Russia. This has happened in less than 48 hours after German, French, Russian, and Ukrainian negotiators reached a cease-fire agreement following the marathon of talks in the Belorussian capital of Minsk. It is obvious that the White House and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko want to continue the diplomatic, economic, and military campaign against Russia while blaming this situation totally on Moscow. The pro-Russian separatist forces are still in eastern Ukraine. There has been fighting in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces. The West is accusing Russia of executing Russian military aggression in eastern Ukraine. US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki accused Russia of violating the cease-fire agreement by massing military equipment around the Ukrainian-held city of Debaltseve, which is currently under siege from pro-Russian forces. “The Russian military has deployed a large amount of artillery and multiple rocket launcher systems around Debaltseve, where it is shelling Ukrainian positions,” she told reporters, adding, “We are confident that these are Russian military, not separatist systems.” Psaki also accused Russia of preparing a large shipment of supplies to pro-Russian forces. She didn’t show conclusive evidence to back up her charges. US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters that even with the new agreement, there would be “a long road ahead before achieving peace and the full restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty.” He said, “We will judge the commitment of Russia and the separatists by their actions, not their words.” There has been no conclusive evidence that Russian troops have been directly assisting the pro-Russian separatists in a permanent, collaborative relationship. Of course, the neocons like Republican Senator John McCain (who is the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee) condemned the cease-fire. The extremists want to send military aid to Ukraine, so the war can continue. The Right Sector militia is still here as well. The agreement calls for the pulling back of artillery and other heavy weaponry so as to create a buffer zone along the current lines of fighting. Other key points are the removal of all foreign fighters and weapons from eastern Ukraine and the release of all prisoners of war. The agreement also calls for constitutional changes to grant greater autonomy to rebel-held areas, while requiring the separatists to return control of the border between eastern Ukraine and Russia to the Kiev regime. The Kiev regime used an offensive against rebel held territory in the eastern Donbass region. The pro-Russian separatists used a counter offensive and they captured many territories. They gained control over the Donetsk airport. Deaths have occurred among both sides. Donetsk People’s Republic Defense Ministry official Eduard Basurin told reporters Friday that shelling of the rebel-held cities of Horlivka, Donetsk and Luhansk since Thursday had killed ten civilians and wounded nineteen others, including three children. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) released a report Friday stating that illegal cluster bomb munitions had been deployed in the shelling of Luhansk on Thursday. The coup installed junta caused these problems in the first place. At the end of the day, we will wait and see what comes next.
It is obvious to see that the neo-conservatives want war not peace in Ukraine. There are battles in Donbass. Washington heavily funds, trains, and directs Kiev’s military. The conflict will probably go on for some time. The elites waged the war and they aren’t quitting anytime soon. On September 5, 2014, both sides again agreed on ceasefire terms. At the time, illegitimate oligarch president Poroshenko said: “I give the order to the chief of the General staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to cease fire, starting from 18.00 (local time) on September 5.” Donbass forces ceased fire. Kiev continued conflict. Many factions agreed on terms straightaway. There were September 19 follow-up memorandum provisions. The West will not tolerate Ukraine being truly run democratically. They will accept puppet rule in Ukraine from Kiev. Kiev imposed economic blockade conditions on Donbas. Now, some want U.S. combat forces to train Kiev’s military. In September, Kiev agreed to end fighting, withdraw its forces, continue national dialogue, improve Donbas humanitarian conditions, allow autonomous local elections, and pursue economic recovery and reconstruction, among other promises made. Kiev breached all of these proposals. The West wants Ukraine to be in one piece under Kiev rule or balkanized like Yugoslavia for easier control. Autonomous regions are not tolerated by the NATO elite, especially not independent, democratic ones. The Marioupol shelled hospitals, schools, residential neighborhoods, and city streets. Years ago Maidan sniper killings were false flags blamed on former President Yanukovych’s government. Former Ukrainian Security Service chief Aleksander Yakimenko later admitted it. Saying shots killing police and civilians were fired from Kiev’s Philharmonic Hall controlled by opposition forces at the time. So-called Maidan self-defense commandant Andrey Parubiy ordered the killings. These were controlled events. Later was appointed national security and defense council head. According to Yakimenko, he worked with US Special Forces at the time. Merkel and Hollande have talked with Putin on peace talks. Right now, the conflict in Donbas rages onward. There are more civilian deaths and injuries being reported. The destabilization of President Viktor Yanukovych’s elected government began in November 2013 when Yanukovych balked at a proposed association agreement promoted by the European Union. The truth is that this situation should not be totally blamed on Putin at all.
One of the most controversial deeds that people have done is when people have critiqued or criticized capitalism. Too many people view capitalism as a god instead of just an economic system. There are religious people who are capitalists, socialists, and followers of diverse economic philosophies. We know that global capitalism has oppressed many people for centuries. In essence, the people should have the right to democratic rights. The oligarchy should not own the majority of the wealth and the resources of the Earth. Wealth should be fairly distributed. At the heart of true spirituality is LOVE. Without love, we can’t know God, because GOD IS LOVE. That is why when commercialization is used as a means to exploit others and when the pursuits of power and worldly gain overshadow the necessity to help out the community, and then problems arise. We should reject carnal pursuits and focus on loving our neighbors as ourselves (which is part of the Golden Rule). The Golden Rule never fails. It is the love of money which is the root of all evil. Altruism has been condemned and rejected by Bernard Mandeville, Friedrich Hayek, Ayn Rand, and others. We are interdependent as human beings and no marketplace is infallible. Only the Creator is. Placing maximum freedoms for markets and merchants without legitimate regulations have caused corruption and injustices. We see how the capitalist system embraces the love of money evil concept, which has become the foundation of modern day society (from that root have caused evil fruit as capitalism deals readily with the expansion of carnal desires and the praise of the human ego). The grand lie that capitalism is the only possible way to organize an economy must be exposed and opposed. We see that half of the world’s population lives on less than 2 dollars a day. That is more than 3 billion people. Things must change. We must always reject greed, because not only damages resources, but it distorts the value of human dignity. The repugnant and even vulgar thought - central to the system of capitalism - that the world should be divided into a management class of "haves" (i.e., the rich) and a laboring class of "have nots" (i.e., the poor) is really a shame. When everything is turned into a commodity, then we see more corruption. In other words, selfishness is wrong and we need to be selflessness. That is why people all of the time are acting in ways of service from teaching others to read, helping the homeless, coaching teams, mentoring, improving the environment, and other positive actions. A great spiritual human being will always respect labor rights, want equality for all people, and to advocate justice. There is nothing wrong with having godliness with contentment as this is great gain.
Her story (from Victoria Rowell) is very sad and very common. The mistreatment of black actresses and black actors is very common (not just back in the day, but today). Many actors and actresses, who are black, have been degraded, denied jobs, and struggle harshly. Victoria Rowell’s lawsuit represents how far society has to go in respecting the dignity and humanity of black people. Victoria Rowell is an amazing actress. As others have mentioned here, along with the suit (which she has every right to pursue), she and others can collaborate and form of their own infrastructure (to promote their own black acting services and their own movies plus shows, which can accurately portray the diverse experiences of black life). We are a gifted people and a strong people. We have the spirit, the strength, and the ingenuity to make revolutionary changes in the world. I wish the best for Sister Victoria Rowell. This is a great, blessed campaign. When we learn more about the legacy of strong, intelligent, and courageous black women, we certainly understand more about black history itself. The sacrifice and the contributions of Betty Shabazz, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Coretta Scott King, etc. The past inspires us. Not only does the past inspire us. The present inspires us too. Many activists today are engaged in a real campaign to combat racism, police brutality, misogyny, and all forms of injustice. Their work should be acknowledged and respected as well. We have to not only condemn and oppose evil. We have to build up our people and be a living example of caring for each other as one people and as one community. We are one family.
#We are Black History
From 1964 to 1965, Malcolm X developed both of his MMI and OAAU organizations. The MMI or the Muslim Mosque Incorporated was purely religious and it was used to express Islamic expression (outside of the framework of the Nation of Islam). The OAAU organization was a political group that accepted black people who were religious, secular, etc. The OAAU stands for the Organization of Afro-American Unity. The OAAU wanted to unify black people globally as a way for the black community to have freedom, justice, and equality. Both the MMI and the OAAU were formed in June of 1964. At the heart of the OAAU was that it was a Black Nationalist organization whose goal was building up the black community, having voter registration drives, set up black enterprises, and allows black people to control their own community. Malcolm X traveled overseas to meet with African heads of state to not only promote pan-African unity. He wanted to gain their support, so America can be tried in international court for America committing human rights abuses against African Americans. He met with Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Nasser of Egypt as a way to defend the interests of the Third World. Malcolm X supported the independent revolutions of Africa and the Third World as a means of standing up to the Western, imperial hegemony. As time went on, Malcolm X spoke in more international terms. He said that black people are in an international struggle for freedom in fighting for human rights. Malcolm X opposed imperialism and he criticized capitalism by his own words. We know that some NOI members threatened his life. Harassing phone calls are sent to him and to his wife. Also, the FBI and the CIA monitored him worldwide illegally not just in the States. Malcolm X attends the second African Summit Conference in Cairo in August 8, 1964. His views are furthered articulated when he speaks in Oxford University in England on December 3, 1964. In that speech, he exposes the hypocrisy of American “democracy,” and he endorses self-defense. He said that: “…extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Malcolm X spoke in December of 1964 to support Fannie Lou Hammer and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Malcolm X speaks at the Militant Labor Forum in his “Prospects for Freedom in 1965.” By January of 1965, Malcolm X’s views evolved rapidly. He was ideologically become more progressive and he allowed women to have leadership positions in the OAAU. During the last months of his life, Malcolm X was developing a revolutionary, anti-racist, and anti-capitalist approach in fighting oppression. He planned to send a petition to the United Nations as a way to make America accountable for its human rights violations against black Americans. He not only criticized the Kennedy administration for its response to the civil rights issue. He opposed Lyndon Johnson for his reformist rhetoric and for his advocacy of the Vietnam War. On February 14, 1965, his house is firebombed. His wife and his daughters also survive the attack. It happened in 2:46 am. He comes to Detroit to speak about it. While addressing an OAAU rally at the Audubon Ballroom, Malcolm X is shot several times and murdered on February 21, 1965.
By Timothy