Winter 2014 Part 1

Winter 2014

The Egyptian junta launched its deadliest crackdown in months. This comes in near the third anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution on January 25 (and a referendum on Egypt's new constitution in for mid-January. Egypt’s military junta is intensifying its crackdown on all opposition to its rule). On Friday, security forces cracked down on demonstrations called by the Muslim Brotherhood led anti-coup Alliance. They killed at least 14 protesters and injured 62 human beings. According to official Ministry of Health reports, five were killed in Cairo, two in Suez Canal city of Ismailia, one in Alexandria and the remaining deaths occurred in Giza, Fayoum, and Minya in Upper Egypt. Security forces reportedly used live ammunition against protesters. The local Health Ministry official of the rural province of Fayoum, Medhat Shukri told Reuters that 3 protesters (including a student) died from bullet wounds to the chest and head. There was another university student shot dead during the clashes in the southern town of Minya. There have been the heaviest clashes taking place in Cairo and neighboring Giza on the West bank of the Nile in the Cairo district of Nasr City. There were heavily armed riot police firing tear gas at protesters who defended themselves with fireworks and stones. In the neighborhoods of Maadi, Al Haram, and Alf Maskan, battles between security forces and protesters continued until late at night. During the crackdown, hundreds of MB members have been arrested. Police said that they have detained more than 258 while the Interior Ministry issued a statement claiming that 122 were arrested for possession of weapons. Last Friday's crackdown was the deadliest since October 6 when security forces killed more than 50 anti-regime protesters on the 40th anniversary of the beginning of the 1973 October War. It comes after the junta has created an anti-protest law late November. The junta created a reactionary new constitution that has enshrined military rule. On December 25, the military backed interim government declared the MB a "terrorist organization" Mursi was toppled in the July 3 military coup. The military is cracking down on Islamist rivals. The junta's apparatus existed before the toppling the longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak. So, the junta wants to end the power of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. The military regime is seeking to create an atmosphere of terror to forestall a renewed explosion in the working class, the main social force behind the revolution. The Egyptian Center for Social and Economic Rights (ECESR) recently published figures showing that workers held 2,486 protests in 2013. While 2243 took place under Mursi and the MB, 243 occurred under the military junta. There is still the violation of workers' rights in the junta. There is the Mahalla textile workers strikes in October, the Sukhari Gold miners’ strike last month—which was dispersed by police on December 15—and the ongoing sit-in of 5000 steel workers from the Egyptian Iron and Steel Company in Helwan for higher wages and production bonuses. Last Wednesday, Egyptian doctors also declared a partial strike, demanding higher minimum wages and an increase of the national health budget from 3.5 percent to 15 percent of the total state budget. According to the ECESR, November—the month when the anti-protest law was passed—witnessed the highest number of workers’ protests since the coup. The military junta is cracking down on other political groups too. So, the Egyptian military junta is violating human rights, cracking down on dissidents, and loves their reactionary constitution. The junta is working with the ruling class of Egypt too. The junta is totally wrong in its actions completely.

The following issue is unique. Gun violence against innocent human life is evil and wrong. We have decreased crime rates in America and in numerous large cities of America. Yet, we still have a long way to go in really ending the gun violence epidemic plaguing society in general. It is a complicated issue and solutions will have to be diverse. A one sized fit all approach will never work. There should be programs to address poverty, there should be education on conflict resolution and unique means to fight crime, folks should be educated on gun safety, our families should grow, and we should handle socioeconomic issues as well (we should condemn the bad policies of the central banks, the Federal Reserve, and Wall Street). The people should have the power and power should not be totally controlled by select, privatized central banks at all. Also, we should fight poverty in independent ways via community based programs including other solutions. Criminals should never own guns, but innocent, law abiding citizens have the right to own a firearm if he or she wants to. It is true that many human beings ignore the gun violence in urban communities. We should have just as much concern for gun violence in the urban areas as we do in non-urban locations. This process to fight gun violence will not be easy, but we fight not because things are easy. We fight because things are hard. Also, we should not only condemn and fight gun violence in our community. We should condemn and oppose the violence of imperialism, the violence of police brutality, the violence of assaults against any innocent human being, and other forms of violence done by the Powers that be too. The violence done by imperialists is truly evil. Yes, the Opium Wars situation was very real. At first the Chinese used all means to resist the offers from the British Empire. Later, the British Empire motivated by greed and a lust for power moved to cause the Chinese people to be addicted to Opium. It was a horrendous situation and multiple wars occurred. Also, America was involved in the Boxer Rebellion as well in 1900. Also, the black community has suffered as a product of the War on Drugs, discrimination, redlining, and other injustices. The Mafia, gangs, and other entities (including government entities) have worked together to harm much of the black community. The PTB used spying programs and other means to try to harm the progress of the Black Panthers and the rest of the black liberation struggle. One example is how the Chicago Police killed Brother Fred Hampton in cold blood during 1969 while he was sleeping. Drug addiction harms true revolutionary movements, so we have to be on our Ps and Qs when dealing with the agenda of the oppressor. We have the right to improve our lives, to help our community, and to be educated on the NATURE OF THE THREAT AS THEY SAY.

There have been polls that said that only the super-rich or wealthy like the Federal Reserve. There is a new Gallup poll that finds that only those making over $90,000 a year like Ben Bernanke's policies. The poll says that a majority of Americans living in households with annual incomes of $90,000 or more that 54% approve of Bernanke's performance as FED Chairman while 35% disapprove. Lower and middle income Americans show a closer divide between approval and disapproval, with general higher rates of no opinion. Bernanke and other officials at the Federal Reserve have said that the controversial quantitative easing program was created to help the overall economy. Critics say that it has only benefited the wealthy by boosting the prices of assets disproportionately owned by upper income Americans such as equities. The data from Gallup suggests that the wealthy were more aware and more appreciate of Bernanke's actions. The median household income in the U.S. is only $52,100 a year. Three-quarters of all Americans are in favor of auditing the FED to see what they are doing. The FED is an independent central bank. The Federal Reserve is a private bank that is privatized as well. Some want the U.S. Federal Reserve to be abolished outright. Most Americans want the central bank to be more accountable to Congress. Many economists want the FED to be severely reined in. Only 37 percent favor the status quo. We know that the Federal Reserve is corrupt. The FED threw money at several billionaires and tens of multi-millionaires like the billionaire businessman H. Wayne Huizenga, billionaire Michael Dell of Dell computer, billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson, billionaire private equity honcho J. Christopher Flowers, and the wife of Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack. QE mostly benefit the rich and hurt the little guy as confirmed by former high level FED officials. The architect of Japan’s quantitative easing program and several economists has confirmed the errors of QE. The FED has admitted that one of its main goals is to boost the stock market. Professor G. William Domhooff demonstrated that the richest 10% own 81% of all stocks and mutual funds (or the top 1% own 35%). The majority of Americans or the bottom 90% own less than 20% of all stocks and mutual funds. So the Fed’s effort overwhelmingly benefits the wealthiest Americans. The FED's focus on battling inflation has stalled the economy and prevented lending to Main Street. The FED has been bailing out foreign banks more than Main Street or the American people. The foreign banks bailed out by the Federal Reserve include Gaddafi's Libyan bank, the Arab Banking Corp. of Bahrain, and the Banks of Bavaria, Korea, and Mexico. The FED also bailed out wealthy corporations including hedge funds, McDonald's, and Harley Davidson.

There is the story about the Sochi. There is geopolitics involved in this affair. The mainstream media has bashed Vladimir Putin the West. The truth is in between the 2 extreme views of him. The truth is that both America and Russia should clean up their houses period. Both nations are not perfect and both nations have authoritarian policies. On February 6, the XXII Olympic Winter Games started. There are the geopolitical issues involved in this affair. Security is extremely tight. It is like an armed camp. Measures have been unprecedented and around 2 billion dollars was spent on security. There have been 23,000 personnel assured proper measures were in place as planned. Tens of thousands of police officers are deployed. They're backed by helicopters, drones, gunboats, submarines, and 70,000 Russian troops. Hundreds of Cossacks are involved. They will check IDs. They can detain suspects. Sochi is in a close proximity to the North Caucasus raised concerns. Many of the Islamist jihadists have been U.S. assets. After the December Volgograd bombings (which killed 34 people), Russia have raised concerns. Many folks want to find the truth. According to Sochi Organizing Committee chairman Dmitry Chernyshenko: “Terrorism is a global threat, and for terrorism there is no boundaries, no territories, but here in Sochi from the very beginning of the construction phase the state authorities did their utmost to prepare special measures, starting from the screening of raw materials, checking all the venues and preparing far-reaching security measures to provide the safest ever environment here.” There is a controlled zone established. It covers 60 kilometers. It runs along the coast and extends 25 kilometers inland. It includes all venues and they're heavily guarded. The entire areas are for authorized visitors only. There is massively anti-Russian sentiment too. The truth is that Russia and America must clean up both of their houses. Many actions done by America and Russia have been wrong and evil, but this doesn't justify Western imperialism either. There is Cold War politics coming on. Many folks use Putin as a means to make Russia to roll over to Washington. There is the Western meddling in the affairs of Russia, Syria, Ukraine, and other nations. Putin affirms that the “inalienable right to security for all states, the inadmissibility of excessive force, and unconditional observance of international law.” Sochi is expensive. Now, Putin is not perfect, but America has its issues as well. Russian elections are democratic and monied interests don't control them as American ones. Even in the States, we have demagoguery, propaganda, scandal, sleaze, junk food news, and warmongering. We have thousands of political prisoners languishing in prisons. We have the American middle class harmed and our freedoms violated. We have unprecedented levels of public and private corruption in the States. There is corporate empowerment. There is the crushing of organized labor. There is the commodifying and privatization of public education inside of America. There has been the ignoring of international, constitutional, and U.S. statue laws. There is the war on humanity and violations of fundamental human and civil rights. So, Russia and America must clean up their houses since both nations aren't perfect at all. That is the point.

Architecture as Riddles in Stone


Architecture is important to know, study, and understand. It has existed for thousands of years. There are complex reasons for architecture to exist or to be formulated. In life, we see that corporations and material objects are not superior to the human mind and the human spirit. There is the intrinsic value of the human life. With the recent events, we certainly need to reject mass consumption and materialism.  These items are preventing what America has its potential to become. We are the generation that has discovered more of the secrets behind much architecture spanning the four corners of the world. Many famous buildings are built on ley lines. Many of ancient man believe that ley lines have spiritual power and many cities and buildings are built on them to harness energy, etc. Also, the Sochi Winter Olympic complex is famous too for many reasons. First, the symbolism must be shown about the original ceremony and other things about the event. The 2014 Winter Olympic Games has the Russian built a huge Olympic Stadium. It shows the history of Russia via various symbolism and scenes. There was the huge double headed eagle that was splashed across the screen among other various Russia symbols. One of the symbols was the double headed eagle. The double headed eagle existed for thousands of years. It was famous for its usage in the Byzantine Empire and it was been used in the ancient secrets of the mysteries. The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is famous for incorporating the double headed eagle and Russian Coat of Arms. The double headed eagle represents the law of opposites or balance in equilibrium. In the ancient doctrines of the mystery schools, human and Nature want be in balance among opposites as a means for life to have completion and enlightenment. The two heads in the doubled headed eagle image acts as one. The three horses in the opening ceremony were symbolic of the troika bird or a famous cultural icon of Russia. The horses pull a sun. There ceremony shows the history of the Soviet Union as gears in motion.  The whole Fisht Olympic Stadium is named after Mount Fisht. It has a 40,000 person capacity. The stadium was created by Populous and British design consultancy Buro Happold. The stadium's walls and roof are one continuous glass surface. They are designed to reflect sunlight off the sea during the day. It was opened in 2013 and it cost $779 million to build the stadium. In October 2013, the Central Bank of Russia issued a commemorative 100 ruble note. This was a hundred days before the start of the winter Olympic Games in Sochi. The blue tinted banknote depicts a flying snowboarder on one side, and on the other the Fisht Olympic Stadium and a firebird. The location of the Sochi Olympics is taking place in the Caucasus Mountains. We know the historical significance of those mountains. Now, the Sochi mascots are called Snowflake and Ray of Light. There is a coin called Prometheus, which has tons of esoteric meaning. Prometheus in legend stole fire form Mount Olympics and gave it to the people. A commemorative coin of copper-nickel with a denomination of 25 roubles featuring mascots of the XI Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi – Ray of Light and Snowflake – will also be released. Prometheus is said to be chained in the Caucasus Mountains. Not to mention that the countdown Sochi clock is triangular in shape looking similar to a Pyramid. Many other researchers have found out about the Merkahah connection to the ceremony.

Architecture is important in the world. There is the famous New Masonic Temple in St. Louis, Missouri. It was built in 1926. It has many images that deal with Classical Revival architecture, which deals with many buildings built for Freemason meeting places. It looks very similar to the House of the Temple building in Washington, D.C. and it has great differences as well. The location is designated as a city landmark. Visitors can go into the temple, but only on the days when a meeting is held. The Pear Tree Inn Union Station -St. Louis and Courtyard St. Louis Downtown are the closet hotels to the New Masonic Temple. The Temple builders' studied Greek, Roman, and Gothic modernist architecture before settling on the Grecian model. We know that the temple's exterior is of the Greek Ionic style with its simple lines, towering proportions, and overall monumental size. The top of the temple was influenced by the Parthenon of Greece (that celebrated the goddess Athena). There are columns that line the Lindell Street entrance to the temple. The lower parts of the exterior have other items as well. They are adorned with images of compasses, squares, and other Masonic emblems. There are two Latin phrases and an image of Mercury. Mercury is the messenger of the ancient Roman gods. Mercury is mythology gave light to the Earth. There are a sphinx and a few griffins on the building. The griffins are found on the ends of the south pediment and the corners of the second terrace. All of these features make the New Masonic Temple a very prominent building and have placed it amongst the greatest buildings in the world. It is a famous building in the city of St. Louis. It was built in the 1920's. The temple has stood the test of time and is very durable architecturally.

The Oklahoma State Capitol has tons of architectural influences. It houses the government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma obviously. Both the executive and legislative branch offices are found there. The building is located along Lincoln Boulevard in Oklahoma City. The present structure includes a dome that was completed in 2002. The building is a National Historic Landmark. Oklahoma's first state capital was found in Guthrie, OK. It was moved in Oklahoma City in 1910. The state capitol was constructed beginning on 1914. It was finished in 1917. The state capitol complex is the only state capitol grounds in the United States with active oil rigs. The capitol has many white limestone and pink granite as a means to build up the structure. The building's dome is made up of steel reinforced concrete and reinforced plaster casts. Surrounding the Capitol building is found other government buildings, non-government agency locations, museums, libraries, and tree lined streets and boulevards. The complex includes the State Capitol Park, the Oklahoma History Center, the Oklahoma Judicial Center, and the Oklahoma Governor's Mansion. The 14,000-square-foot (1,300 m2) mansion has a limestone exterior to complement the Oklahoma State Capitol's exterior. The surrounding neighborhood is home to numerous restaurants and bars. The Oklahoma History Center opened in 2005 and is operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society. It preserves the history of Oklahoma from prehistoric Native American tribes to the present day. There are many chambers found in the interior of the Capitol. Tons of artwork is found in the Capitol as well. The Chickasaw artist Mike Larsen created the mural of the Flight of Spirit. This mural honors the Five Moons or the famous 20th century Native American ballerinas from Oklahoma. The mural is found in the Capitol rotunda. There are many large paintings made by Wayne Cooper on display in the building as well. Many of them depict the early heritage and oil history of the state. Seminole artist Enoch Kelly Haney's painting entitled, "The Earth and I are One" is on display on the first floor of the building. The Senate lobby includes a 6 foot by 10 foot oil-on-canvas painting of the "Ceremonial Transfer of the Louisiana Purchase in New Orleans - 1803" by Mike Wimmer. The Senate Lounge displays a watercolor painting entitled "Community of Boling Springs" by Sonya Terpening.

By Timothy

Public Schools

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/02/22-0

More Information

http://manuampim.com/NonviolentTradition.htm


http://www.redmoonrising.com/zombieapocalypse.htm


https://web.archive.org/web/20140221210345/http://www.ajamubaraka.com/president-obama-should-not-be-welcomed-at-march-on-washington-commemoration/

Monday News in late February 2014

Many people want economic democracy. The world should be better and we oppose oppression. February is the third anniversary of the 2011 revolt in Wisconsin. This was when workers and protests occupied the state capital and mass protests existed against the reactionary attacks on workers. Wisconsin was the largest among the protesters in that time. There are still protests across America against foreclosures, austerity, and an unjust economy. Such movements inspire the Occupy Movement, which rebelled against Wall Street. Movements like these are a revolt against big finance capitalism. Capitalism advances a corrupt and unfair economy. The government in West serves the interests of the wealthiest before meeting the necessities of the people. People know what the truth is. The truth is that social and economic justice are pristine goals to fight for. Occupy Wall Street issued its own Declaration of the Occupation of New York City that outlined their grievances. Many people have outlined solutions to our issues too. So, we should love to have an economic democracy agenda. There should be the building of institutions owned and controlled by communities as a means to protect the planet. Wealth should be built in an equitable and democratic fashion. So, the rule of money by oligarchy is weakened. A democratized economy shifts political power away from concentrated capital to the public and further empowers people by meeting their basic needs for shelter, food, education, healthcare and income. So, we should find ways to create a new economy that serves the people. What can be done? There should be the establishment of healthy institutions to grow the economy and an ending of the system of white supremacy including imperialism. An economic democracy is when the people do not cede power to mega corporations, big finance, or a professional elite political class. People shared wisdom to build an economy that strengthen communities and build wealth for all. Economic power should be democratized and empower the people control their own economic lives. There can be cooperative solutions as a means to create wealth for humanity. Economic democracy deals with the concept of the commonwealth. The commons includes not only roads, land, water and resources but also the knowledge and technology developed, often with public dollars, which has been built up over generations. Economic democracy stands in contrast with neoliberal economics. Neoliberalism privatizes public goods and seeks to commodify everything possible to create profit-centers while cutting public services in the name of austerity. Economic democracies deal with universality, equity, accountability, transparency, and participation (or the people having a role in the decision making process). Such solidarity economics have been growing in Latin America and other places in the world. A fundamental belief of economic democracy is to build from the bottom up, starting with local communities.  A report this week from the Institute for Self Reliance found that communities with buy local programs have seen local businesses grow three times as fast as communities without such programs and businesses report a 75% increase in customer traffic. Many food co-ops have helped people get food more locally. Also, we need carbon free, nuclear free energy economies to occur in helping Nature. We should still fight for increasing the minimum wage, so a living wage can happen. That is why democratized economics have been a great way to create global change in the world. Also, there is nothing wrong with the federal government providing the general welfare of society either. The general welfare ought to be promoted. 

Too many of our people embrace pessimism. Pessimism is not a solution. Real revolution takes sacrifice, courage, and strength. We live in a new generation and in a new time, but core truths remain irrespective of time or generation. The fundamental truths of self-determination, black solidarity, and Black Power are eternal truths that should never be shed irrespective of generations. Now, things can happen in a holistic approach. First, we have to know ourselves and our enemy. WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF SELF, NOTHING CHANGES FOR REAL. We have to respect our humanity and love our BLACKNESS ETERNALLY. WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT THE SYSTEM OF WHITE SUPREMACY IS AN ENEMY. Also, individually, we are leaders. The real Revolution will take time to develop, but that doesn't mean that it won't come. If we hate the conditions of society, we have every right to fight for revolutionary changes via working in charities, speaking up, boycotting, advancing self-defense if necessary, fighting to create black owned institutions, working in our communities, educating our people, defending our people, and joining independent organizations (dedicated for black liberation). We need political and economic empowerment and Dr. Claud Anderson gave many great ideas on that. Many of our people are fighting for our liberation day in and day out and their sacrifice should not be minimized here. So, we have to ally with Brothers and Sisters doing the good work. This process will not be immediate now, but we have to continue. Giving up and doing nothing is not a solution. We have every right to fight and to educate. Also, many of the slaves’ families were split up all of the time involuntarily and slaves suffered much more unspeakable atrocities than us, but they persisted and won battles despite obstacles. We can win. There is the decrease in the black crime rate overall since 1970. Teen black pregnancy rates have gone down rapidly since 1992. Over 90 percent of all black marriages are between a black man and a black woman. We have many Brothers and Sisters who are strongly working in green programs, anti-violence crusades, and other efforts to make a difference. We have to inspire our people that they can be greater and better than their current circumstances. You can inspire and be an example as a means to execute change. We all can do something and I reject giving up. It is not in our blood to give up or in our ancestors’ mentalities. No, we continue to fight despite the odds. We are living witnesses of overcoming the odds throughout history. We just need to continue to have faith and do action. I am not naïve since we have a very long way to go, but we have to link up with conscious Brothers and conscious Sisters (BLACK UNITY IN COMMON CAUSE IS A GREAT THING. Dr. Umar Johnson, Neely Fuller, Jr., Trojan Pam, Paul H, and others have made some excellent plans on how to get things going too) to make plans, to develop strategies, and to develop solutions. They or the racists hate a strong, progressive, and intelligent black man and strong, progressive, and intelligent black women in the Earth. That is why they call a black man standing up for himself an ABM or a black woman doing the same an ABW (which are racist, false stereotypical characterizations). So, being intelligent and standing up for black people is cool and legitimate.

What more can be said about Malcolm X. He was a living representation of black manhood in action. Before and after his Hajj, he expressed compassion, strength, and he spoke truth to power. He was a strong spokesman for black liberation and he loved black people. He not only spoke about justice, but he spoke on the need for us to have a firmer linkage with our Brothers and Sisters in Africa (including all over the globe). Malcolm X taught us about courage and the necessity of us to love plus respect our black physical features and our black heritage. He was right to advocate self-defense and self-determination among black people. He was once in the Nation of Islam and the NOI's influence on Malcolm X can't be understated. The FBI and the CIA (2 wicked organizations who killed humans globally, spied on people illegally, and they advance the agenda of imperialism plus authoritarianism even today) followed him everywhere. He was a real threat to the establishment all of the time. I want to mention this point too. Malcolm X challenged Dr. King to be more militant in public. Dr. King was a little naive in the beginning. Malcolm X inspired Dr. Martin Luther King to strongly agree with these following truths: that we must love our black identity, that there is nothing wrong with Black Power, and we should confront imperialism in the strongest terms possible. Malcolm X opposed the Vietnam War early on too. That is why Dr. King advocated black freedom schools and black cultural events as part of his Poor Peoples Campaign in early 1968. When Malcolm X publicly exposed the psychology of the wickedness of Western society and how it harmed humanity (along with wanting America to be made accountable for its crimes against then 22 million African Americans. He gained supporters among African & Asian nations to do this in front of the U.N. Also, Dr. King wanted to work with Malcolm X. Malcolm X and Dr. King shook hands and planned on working on more collaboration on fighting the system of oppression), then the enemy wanted him eliminated. Malcolm X and Dr. King spoke to each other on the phone. In February of 1965, Malcolm X and Dr. King agreed to have a meeting and work together on common solutions to create black liberation. That is a fact. THEY WERE PLANNING TO HAVE FURTHER BLACK UNITY. Malcolm X allied with progressive African leaders like Tanzania's Abdul Rahman Badu. Malcolm X evolved further intellectually and criticized capitalism too. Malcolm X was one of the first men to use the term African American in public view. After his Hajj, he continued in his fight for liberation. He believed in pan-Africanism and he endorsed gender equality (as he wanted a progressive society where women ought to have education and real opportunities in their lives) just before he passed. Not to mention that the FBI infiltrated and try to play the divide and conquer game in much of the black liberation movement. That is why UNITY is such an important concept to be embraced strongly in the black community. When we have TRUE UNITY and fight for justice (along with using tons of proactive steps), then we are a real force to be reckoned with. One bodyguard of Malcolm X was aided by the NYPD named Gene Roberts. The FBI via BOSSI and other groups infiltrated the OAAU. Real folks know that real Muslims or real people of faith never killed Malcolm X. Malcolm X was murdered by a group of people in full support and funding by the Western state entities. Malcolm X had never forsaken his core convictions (of embracing black solidarity, being anti-imperialist, loving black self-determination, and believing in self-defense if necessary against the oppressor). He always stood by black people and Africa. He just said that he will judge a person based on their deeds not on their skin color (and the deeds of white racists have been blatantly offensive, degenerate, and evil). His Hajj was about him gaining more insight about the world. It was never about him compromising his core convictions to please a racist society. RIP Malcolm X.

 Yes, ACTIVISM against these injustices is a key function of our lives. WE CAN'T BE SILENT WHEN OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING MURDERED IN THE STREETS BY BRUTES. WE CAN'T BE SILENT ABOUT THE EVILS OF IMPERIALISM AND POLICE BRUTALITY. WE CAN'T EXPRESS SILENCE ON ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION. SO, WE ARE NOT SILENT. Our oppression and our plight have been minimized by mainstream society for a long time. When the masses of people (of other backgrounds) experience overt injustice from crooked police, unjust laws, etc. then many those who wouldn't of care about our plight would start to care about their own plight. We have been victims of brutality for decades and centuries in North America, while many whites (especially in the middle class or upper class) never suffered these things in a massive scale like black people have suffered. We have to care about our own interests even if others refuse to care about us. WE ALL WE GOT. KARMA is an Universal law. When the evil white supremacists harmed the environment, harmed our people, and did unspeakable acts (that I can't mention here), then the Universe will respond back. The Universe is responding back by us as black people standing up against them, by more of us waking up to our spiritual, human value, and more events coming on in the world. The murderer explicitly, in a premeditated fashion, chooses to get his gun and voluntarily killed the young Brother. He thought about it and he referenced music. Michael Dunn harassed the youth and he came back to kill. These are facts. Many of these racists refuse to respect the humanity of Jordan Davis. Ironically, they want to humanize Michael Dunn when he expressed no true humanity in his actions. You noticed that the murderer expressed no remorse about his actions and no regrets. So, he has no humanity in his soul. Michael Dunn is a disgrace. Why is it so difficult for some to open their eyes and profoundly realize that Michael Dunn committed first degree murder? It is like that you have to have every dot crossed when dealing with the death of an innocent black human being, but if a white man was murdered like that, these same people would want to literally try to send the death penalty against the guilty party. Yes, we have to be honest when dealing with ignorance. HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. You are correct on doing what is right. We have to do what is right regardless of the consequences. NOTHING CHANGES UNLESS WE CONFRONT AND FIGHT EVIL. GOOD IS SUPERIOR TO EVIL. The African American juror is young and hopefully she can open her eyes later on. She needs to know about the how vicious system of racism/white supremacy has harmed the black community then and now (and how that system currently uses stereotypes and other slick tactics in maintaining the status quo). It is obvious that Michael Dunn is not a good guy, but a murderer who is desperate for making perverted, false rationalizations of his deed.

There are many things that should be known. First, I do agree with infrastructure development in Detroit. That is a great thing. The issue is that Detroit's local power has been taken over by unelected managers and many reactionary, corporate forces (much of corporate urban planning have been done in secret). Private corporations and foundations are using money to advance the austerity agenda. You will notice that the sacrifice is given mainly to the poor, the workers, and not the super-rich. Real estate moguls like Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert is advancing heavily this privatization agenda in Detroit. The city is being restructured in service of the rich not all of the people, especially the poor. The state imposed bankruptcy against Detroit is against the state of Michigan's own laws. With most pensioners already at or near the poverty threshold (pensions range between $19,000 and $34,000 per year), the cuts will drive a substantial portion of the city’s 24,000 retirees into destitution. Tens of thousands of workers who gave their lives to the city, and were legally promised money for a secure retirement, are being kicked to the curb. So, this plan is very much slick since the banking elite has exploited Detroit for years and decades. So, independent urban planners from Detroit should have a leading role in handling the issues in their own city (not Wall Street interests). There should be a real audit of the city and democratic related development programs to improve the city. A multifaceted approach is needed not a one size fit all solution. I would not worry about Detroit though. Detroit is filled with strong people, great locations, great music, great culture, and Detroit will bounce back into another level no doubt. We see this scheme as the bondholders to strip city worker pensions, health care, and other resources from the people of Detroit. Some want the further privatization of city resources and the transfer of control of the Detroit Institute of Arts. The cuts in pensions are aimed at establishing a national precedent, using bankruptcy courts to override benefits that are explicitly protected by the state constitution. This process was sanctioned by Judge Steven Rhodes in his December 3 ruling. Most city workers will have their pensions cut by up to 34 percent, while police and firemen will face a 10 percent cut. In addition, cost of living increases for all pensioners will be eliminated for at least a decade, meaning that the real value of payouts will steadily decline. The city’s main union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 25, issued a statement criticizing the deal, but the unions have played a central role in the bankruptcy proceedings. After first agreeing to $180 million in concessions, AFSCME executives have been jockeying to defend their interests and their role in the exploitation of workers, including through their control of the new health care VEBA. AFSCME has aggressively advocated for the sale of city assets, including the art at the DIA. The city has committed $265 million to a new stadium controlled by the billionaire Mike Illitch when folks are suffering in Detroit now. The UBS and the Bank of America has extracted hundreds of millions from city revenues. This counterrevolution is about redistributing wealth into the pockets of the corporate and financial elite. The big picture is that anti-democratic entities are forcing Detroit to follow their demands with the masses of the people involved. The Democrats and Republican want this austerity, privatization agenda accomplished. Trillions of dollars have been sent to select banks and workers’ rights are being violated in the process.

By Timothy

The Radicalization of Ray Richardson: Suspicion Still Surrounds Death of Black Activist TV Producer

http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/radicalization-ray-richardson-suspicion-still-surrounds-death-black-activist-tv-producer

http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/medical-self-defense-and-black-panther-party

Remembering Malcolm X 49 years on

http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/90650

Weekend News

We know what we must do. We have to gather as much accurate information on the conditions in our community (both the good and the bad) and we should create revolutionary solutions. Many in this generation have talked about cooperatives. I do believe that cooperatives (or economic independent systems used to benefit the common people) are one solution out of many to address such things. We should form more community based solutions dealing with education, health, etc. We should attack poverty. If we don’t attack and try to end poverty, then we will not see true liberation. The reason is that many Brothers and Sisters now still suffer in poverty and even homelessness. There should not only be an increase in the minimum wage, but we should break up the big central banks causing much of the recession in the first place (with its evil QE and pro-bailout policies). Corporate international banks have to be prosecuted too. Evil Wall Street bankers should be tried and go into jail after they have been proven to conduct criminal actions. In its replacement, state and localized banks can assist the common people more. Ending the war on terror and taxing the super-rich fairly (including ending the Bush tax cuts for the top 2 percent) can get resources necessary to fund our infrastructure. There should be an ECONOMIC BILL OF RIGHTS (that will address the need for economic justice as the late Dr. King advocated), end unfair corporate tax loopholes, even place a special fee on Wall Street corporations, end tax breaks & subsidies for big oil, gas, including oil companies, end wasteful spending from the military industrial complex, end imperialism, and even institute an annual guaranteed income to assist the poor. We have to address the environment, health, our family issues, and massive economic inequality as a means to improve the black community. Not to mention that we need more self-determination. The black nationalists are right that we should pool our resources as black people to fund our own black institutions (like using our pooled resources to fund our businesses, our stores, our schools, and the rest of our infrastructure. This has been advocated by Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, and Dr. Claud Anderson. They are correct. We need GROUP ECONOMICS). Independent black organizations helping the community for real ought to receive support by us. Many black kids are scapegoated for the social ills of Western society. The vast majority of black youth are strong, they are fighting for what is right, and they desire to just live their lives in a productive fashion. It is our responsibility to nurture the youth, so when they became adults, they are imparted with wisdom, strength, and the commonsense to live out their lives maturely. The kids today do need discipline, but also compassion. They need to be told that they should never dream small. They need to be continually told that they are somebody with great dignity plus worth. They ought to dream big and thrive for excellence in their conduct and their overall being.

LBJ and Nixon were in error about the Vietnam War. Nixon's treason never justifies LBJ's Vietnam mistakes. It just places the truth into context. The Vietnam War has ended the Lyndon Johnson reelection chances. He made many domestic successes and foreign policy mistakes and miscalculations. If LBJ's Vietnam peace talks succeeded, we might live in a totally different world. Luci Baines Johnson is Lyndon Johnson's daughter. She made complaints about the views on LBJ's administration. She wanted folks to understand his landmark advocacy and passage of social legislation like civil rights, medical care for the elderly and environmental protections. LBJ tried to end the Vietnam War in 1968. That effort was sabotaged by the Nixon Presidential campaign operatives. This has been proven by documents and tape recordings declassified by the National Archives. Many mainstream journalists and some conventional historians don't know about this information. Establishment historians like even Doris Kearns Goodwin refuse to acknowledge the new material. Many documents contained in a file that LBJ's national security adviser Walt Rostow labeled “The ‘X’ Envelope” and those archivists at the library privately call their “X-File.” LBJ tried to end the war before he left office. Yet, he should be blamed for the decisions to send a half million U.S. combat troops to Vietnam and his other aggressive, militarist policies worldwide from Latin America to otherwise. More than 30,000 American soldiers and possibly a million Vietnamese died during LBJ's Presidency. He ordered bombing campaigns. By 1968, Lyndon Johnson wanted to end the war as shown from the documents from Rostow's "The X Envelope." Johnson learned of Nixon's sabotage of the Paris peace talks by Nixon agents getting South Vietnamese President Nguyen van Thieu to boycott them in exchange for promises of a better deal under a Nixon administration. LBJ called this maneuver treason, which it was. He told this to his confidantes including Republican Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen. And among the White House inner circle, Johnson seemed the most inclined to go public with the evidence before the 1968 election, but he was dissuaded by several top aides, including Defense Secretary Clark Clifford who told Johnson, “Some elements of the story are so shocking in their nature that I’m wondering whether it would be good for the country to disclose the story and then possibly have a certain individual [Nixon] elected.” Nixon was involved in Watergate 3 years later. The fact that Johnson in January 1969 secretly ordered Rostow to take with him the file on Nixon’s peace-talk sabotage – what Rostow then labeled “The ‘X’ Envelope” – clarifies the longstanding mystery of why Nixon launched his “Plumbers” operation in June 1971, thus setting in motion what would become the Watergate scandal. Nixon wanted a file about him found. Nixon was desperate to cover up – might finally drive a stake through the heart of the Watergate-era trope endlessly recited by the mainstream U.S. news  media that “the cover-up is always worse than the crime!” That silliness might not survive recognition that the “crime” that Nixon was ultimately covering up was his treachery that blocked peace talks which might have saved the lives of more than 20,000 U.S. soldiers and maybe a million more Vietnamese. LBJ first found out about Nixon’s plan to “block” the peace talks from the private discussions of a Wall Street banker in Nixon’s camp who was placing bets on stocks and bonds based on his inside knowledge that Nixon was making sure Johnson’s peace talks failed. Johnson then confirmed the conspiracy through NSA and FBI wiretaps. Richard Nixon did not start the Vietnam War, but he prolonged the war. Richard Nixon used the Southern strategy as a means to exploit and profit from white resentment against the civil rights movement of the 1960's in order for him to get elected. He betrayed many Republicans who ended slavery and supported fair treatment for black human beings. Richard Nixon carried out the illegal, secret bombing of Cambodia. Nixon supported reactionaries that overthrew Allende in September 11, 1973. So, we see that great leaders have favored public action as a means to address the nation's problems. When states are left to do what they want and when business tycoons are left to do what they want to do, then suppression of human rights always come about. When the national government provides for the general welfare of society in a strong, progressive way, then humanity is enriched. 

Today, we see that Haiti is oppressed by many Western forces from the U.S., Canada, and France. The West is continuing to exploit cheap labor for Western industrial assembly lines. There are even many Canadian mining companies in Haiti that are exploiting Haiti's impoverished population. They exist in Africa and in Latin America too. As black people and human beings in general, we have the responsibility to advance an anti-imperialist agenda for Haiti. We are in solidarity with the oppressed in the world. We all disagree with ending the cycle of Western military interventions, coups, and the propping up of anti-democratic, anti-people regimes. We reject the capitalist exploitation of the people in Haiti. We do these actions in the memory of Toussaint. We are near the 10th anniversary of the February 29, 2004 coup of Haiti. It was created by imperialists against the laboring classes and the democratically elected government of President jean-Bertrand Aristide. Even Canada's Jean Chretien's Liberal government wanted to discuss Haiti's future without input from Haitian officials. This meeting wanted Haiti's elected president to go. The meeting had high level U.S., Canadian, and French officials there. President Aristide had been kidnapped and exiled to Central African Republic. Many FL or Fanmi Lavalas supported have been killed and harmed with the U.N.'s military intervention as well. The FL government wanted investment in education, job creation, healthcare, public services, and increasing the minimum wage. The FL has been banned from serving an electoral instrument of the people. We have the Michel Martelly regime in Haiti now. The UN should end its occupation of Haiti. The Haitian Revolution was about African defeating Western imperialism. It was the Haitian Revolution by way of its June 1801 Constitution that unambiguously declared universal freedom from enslavement in Article 3, “There cannot exist slaves on this territory, servitude is therein forever abolished. All men are born free, live and die free and French.” The Haitian Revolution beyond the hypocrisy of the French & American Revolutions, brought enslaved free from bondage. Napoleon restored slavery by France in 1802 and that is why France was again defeated by Haiti. France really abolished slavery in 1818. Haiti also aided Bolivar, Francisco de Miranda and other revolutionaries too. Today, many Haitians are in solidarity to fight for real education and workers' rights. There are grassroots efforts that are fighting for truth and justice. There are the human rights group called Défenseurs des opprimés (or Defenders of the Oppressed), Tèt Kole Ti Peyizan Ayisyen (Small Peasants Working Together) — Haiti’s largest organization of small farmers; Batay Ouvriye — one of the most prominent labour organizations; Ayti Kale Je (Haiti Grassroots Watch) — investigative reporting; SOPUDEP (Society of Providence United for the Economic Development of Pétion-Ville) — education and community development; and Bri Kouri Nouvèl Gaye (Noise Travels, News Spreads) — investigative reporting. The imperialist IMF was involved in the 2004 coup too. The United Nations should be held accountable for its introduction of cholera in Haiti. The 2010 cholera outbreak killed over 8,300 deaths and infected close to 650,000 Haitians. We have to fight neoliberalism too. Haiti's rice industry has been harmed with heavily subsidized agricultural products from abroad. 

I am disappointed, but why I am not surprised. The reality is that race is a critical part of the judicial system from arrests, trials, and to verdicts. She is not alone. Many black people refuse to ACCEPT THE TRUTH THAT THE EVIL OF WHITE SUPREMACY is still pernicious and firm in the world today. Some black people want to minimize white racism as a means to embrace some colorblind, fictional reality. The reality is that a white man profiled black people and killed Jordan Davis for just playing loud music, which is evil, demonic, and unjustified completely. Even Nancy Grace admitted that if a black man killed a white teen for playing loud music, there would be no extensive trial (that black man would easily be convicted of 1st degree murder). This is Nancy Grace. Racism against black people is very strong in the culture. Racism is not just about overtly disrespectful words. It is about institutions that discriminate, harm, and deny basic human rights to black people. The verdict never convicted Michael Dunn of murder and she said that the verdict was about justice, but justice was not completely served in this situation. Michael Dunn talked about "thug" music. Many racists use the word thug for you know what. We should not place Creshuna Miles as a scapegoat here. We have every right to disagree with her interpretation, but we have to keep our eyes on the prize. The reality is that Michael Dunn not the Sister Creshuna committed murder against Jordan Davis. Michael Dunn profiled black youth and is known for his racist letters. So, we should be careful here not to place undue blame on this Sister while peacefully disagreeing with some of her words here. Many of the young of our people can't be naive. Obviously, the parents of Jordan Davis have shown commonsense, strength, class, and real discernment in their lives. The family of Jordan Davis is blatantly correct to strongly disagree with the juror. The case blatantly relates to race. Folks can open their eyes and see that Michael Dunn is a white murderer who killed an unarmed black male. Justice was not was shown in that trial. Hold up, I had to research the following point again. She or the juror called Michael Dunn a "good guy." She is more naive than I once anticipated. Michael Dunn is nowhere near a good guy. He is a cold blooded murderer who prejudged black people unfairly. He is a notorious racist that shed innocent blood, because of his irrational ideologies. How can folks talk about justice and the law when the judicial system is filled with unjust, racist laws? The War on Drugs has blatantly unjust policies as exposed by human beings from across the political spectrum. So, we have some work to do in educating our people about the viciousness of mainstream society. We have to educate the black youth that naiveté is not the answer and our blackness should be cherished. We should never tolerate post racial propaganda, but strong discernment in fighting for real justice. As black people, we are going to continue to fight.

We are in a continual fight for our dignity. Many black actors and black actresses had to suffer a lot of indignities, stereotypes, and other obstacles during their lifetimes. When you research many famous actors and actresses, you begin to realize the strong, stirring sacrifices that they have made like Paul Robeson, Dorothy Dandridge, Angela Bassett, and Denzel Washington. It is the mainstream industry (not just many actors or actresses) that perpetuate international stereotypes about black people in the most offensive terms possible. Also, the mainstream media use exploitation of our BLACK IMAGE, use capitalist exploitation of labor, etc. If we want change, then we have to stop degrading each other from private places to the movie screen. We have to love each other and endorse BLACK UNITY PLUS BLACK LOVE. The leaders of our people made the right point in that we have to have the KNOWLEDGE OF SELF as means to build in our community. We have to know ourselves in order to free ourselves from oppression. Now, we can't view the Oscar in godlike terms since tons of independent black movies have excellent messages, great storylines, dedicated talent, etc. but they haven't won an Oscar because of obvious reasons. It is true that the Oscar has been portrayed by some as the only measuring stick of acting talent at the highest level. That is not true since we have the right to utilize our own measuring stick to praise those of excellent talent (n the black community) via our award shows too. We should be more focused on praising real work in the acting field, strive to form independent black owned production companies, and to make our people psychologically more in love with BLACKNESS (and to further appreciate REAL BLACK TALENT). It is a long process, but we have to start. It is as simple as that. Also, we should be careful never to embrace the nefarious goal of "black capitalism." Nixon's FBI mounted a repressive campaign against black revolutionaries and Innis soon supported Republicans. That system only creates a black elite class at the expense of the black poor in the world. When Black Power was turned into black capitalism (or using mainly electoral campaign or just embracing the free enterprise system can win social and political power within the 2 party system), we only see more black oppression of the workers and the rest of humanity. Black capitalism was used to quell the rebellions of the 1960's and it was used to prevent real revolution in the world. We have to critique and criticize capitalism (because token middle class interests is not the vanguard of revolution) if we want to be free. We should address unemployment, low wage jobs, and racist discrimination. We have to use our power to oppose the racist system (for the roots of our oppression are found in the system not in black people at all). We should reject token reforms within the limits of capitalism. The agenda of the establishment is about racism, joblessness, and austerity. So, we should have mass action to struggle and fight being passive toward evil. We have to address the social conditions of the world caused by the ruling class elite and no scapegoat poor people for our oppression at all. 

By Timothy