My Earliest Christmas Memory

My earliest memory of Christmas was the days shared with my mother and fellow siblings at my grandmothers home in St.Louis. As a little boy I did not realize how modest her home was it was not as large as many of the homes in today's suburban communities , but it was large enough to entertain each of her 7 grandchildren; from the Amway merchandise filled basement, to the upstairs small 3 bed rooms.

The living room was always the most exciting place in the home it was where the Christmas tree and fireplace would bring the family together before the Christmas feast and after.

My older sisters and oldest brother would assist in setting up the dining room for the Christmas dinner while my mother , grandmother and on some occasions my aunt would be putting the last minute touches on the meal.

My older brother and I were close enough in age to enjoy the same toys but it was not a long time of play for me, because I enjoyed hanging out in the kitchen or bugging my oldest brother for a comic book drawing.

The most exciting moment was when my father would come through the door with a gift or two for both my brother and I. He would sit and talk with my grandfather and uncle as the room would smell of iced spirits and cigar.

My grandfather was the envy of all of the youngest boys in the household, because he owned two items we coveted most, his beige recliner and the old zenith three button color television remote control.

To most adults the recliner was just a nice relaxing chair, but to a young boy of the mid to late sixties it was an Apollo rocket ship or Captain Kirk's commanders chair, and the remote control was our phaser... Oh the fun we would have... until our grandfather was ready to take control of the bridge.

looking back on those perceived innocent days of my youth, I am reminded of how little it took to keep us entertained, we enjoyed each others company, and even during the rough times we managed to find some redeeming value in how we coexisted with each other. My siblings and I were the off springs of a broken home, yet in spite of what some would judged negatively, on Christmas.. none of that mattered.

We may not have been the Osmond's or the Walton's yet today , after seven grandchildren , twelve great grand children, and ten great great grand children our family continues to grow, and most importantly we did.. (and do) share the same precious gift with both of the before mentioned famous families which is... the gift of Love.

Merry Christmas

K Gerard Thomas

He Did It...

President Obama Did It Again ...Just when some thought he was down for the count he got back up to continue his fight for what is best for the citizenry of America. Some may have not got all that they wanted some of those in the progressive or conservative camps complain but it is a hell of a lot better then what would have happened if compromise on both parts had not taken place.

Merry Christmas to all those men and women who worked hard to prove to the world our nation is more than just Democrats and Republicans but we are E plubrius unum.."from many One."

Yes We Did!

"God Bless Us Everyone"

Media Made Controversy

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.
edstetzer.com/2010/11/17/tsa-logo.gif&imgrefurl

TSA Problem 2009

Now that the smoke has cleared since November 2nd election all the pundits and press are focusing their attention on the new uproar regarding pat downs by agents of the Transportation Security Administration.

It has been proven the United States citizenry has a very short term memory and it saddens me to say we are easily duped to follow where ever the media leads, that is why they keep pushing
Palin 24/7.

Why are we now talking about the TSA? It fits the season, (think about it) , this is the high travel season so what better time to keep stirring up controversy and scare tactics with a dash of Palin.

How Did We Get Here?

After 9/11 our nation has been confronting multiple attempted attacks by would be terrorist such as the "Shoe Bomber" and last years "Christmas underwear bomber" .

The online web site The Grio reports the following from an Associated Press story regarding last Christmas attempted suicidal bombing incident on flight 253.

"Passengers on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 forced the alleged bomber to the front of the plane as it approached Detroit Metropolitan Airport last Dec. 25 carrying nearly 300 people. Authorities say he was trying to set off explosives hidden in his underwear. The incident exposed flaws in security and intelligence.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't

After the alleged Christmas Bomber was caught the Republicans blamed the president for not doing enough to protect fliers. Of course they were gung ho for the new stronger security methods, but now it is Obama's fault that some people are complaining about TSA agents going too far in their zeal to assure the safety of the travelers.

According to 'Crooks and Liars' online article.. Republican Jim De Mint Blames Obama for "Christmas Bomber" While putting Hold On TSA Appointment .. Logan Murphy

"Last Sunday Republican Jim DeMint used the alleged Christmas Bomber issue to attack President Obama and the TSA because the agency's screeners might *gasp* unionize.

As it turns out, DeMint was really trying to deflect attention away from the fact that he voted against TSA funding earlier this year and has put a hold on Obama's nominee to head the department"

2010 Problems

Why is the press pushing this story so hard are these complaints new? or is it just convenient because we are approaching the Holiday season and the lazy reporters don't want to cover news of more substantial value.

Has the TSA been searching people more aggressively since the "Christmas Bomber" incident in December of 2009 or did it just start this week.

Ever since 9/11 our national security has been primary and if it takes a scanner or even a reasonable some what uncomfortable frisk by a TSA agent to continue to secure our safety I'll take it .

Yeah.. We Think You're That Stupid

Press manipulation is when they attempt to interview a guest that knows very little about the subject for which they are being interviewed but because they can stir up controversy the press will allow them to proliferate unsubstantiated or vetted comments just because.

Such was the recent CNN interview with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal who as instructed by the Republican House Leaders stuck to the script of attacking his president on every thing from the BP Oil Leak to how the TSA is to intrusive.

Jindal is hocking his new book and thus he must concentrate on how the last two years was the apocalypse. ( Here is the funny part ) Jindal said former Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin could make a "compelling case" for president." I like governors because they have to balance their budgets, they have to run their states,".. Oh but didn't she quit the governor ship.

Another Jindal zinger was he said there should be some system of profiling of passengers who deemed to be a threat ...Yeah Bobby Jindal said that.

What Will the New Congress Suggest we Do?

Here is the sneaky part.. John Mica(R Fla) stated on CNN this weekend that Private Security Firms should be in charge of Transportation Security thus opening the door for corporate money making entity like maybe "Black Water" ...Nah they wouldn't do that.

K.Gerard Thomas


http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1110/111910nj2.htm

http://crooksandliars.com/logan-murphy/republican-jim-demint-blames-obama-ts

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/21/top-goper-appears-to-discount-white-house-run/#more-136536

Update to... What Will Happen If Democrats Loose House and Senate on November 2nd?

Prophetic Words of October 2010 now has come to pass as result  we are in trenched in a battle between those who know very little about our democracy and those who are willing to forgo political power or posturing for the sake of the greater good. 

In the next two weeks the press will continue to push the alleged consensus that the Democrats are doomed for a great defeat on November 2nd, this is the only narrative that matters to the main stream media. The only thing that can shut them up is a strong powerful showing on or before November 2nd.

If these so called "Tea Party" Republican candidates succeed in taking control of the house and Senate there will be a return to the Bush era of greater partisan bitterness and an even larger divide within our nation not seen since 1994 a time of constant grid lock in Washington DC where nothing gets done because the needs of the people are less important then the needs of the wealthy and the elected officials political ideology.

As a nation we should be working together to try to move forward yet there are those who continue to stand in the way and block our ability to offer more assistance to the nation's middle class.

If the Tea Party candidates win ..our country will suffer the greatest loss since the days of the depression and we will no doubt discover (too late) that most of these candidates were and are limited in their knowledge of how government works.

In the opinion of some .. after listening to their rhetoric regarding what they will do if elected they will damage our economy in ways the Bush administration could never dream of.

Some of these candidates have zero qualifications to hold the office they are running for, but because our nation is still in recovery from the eight years of recession like treatment of the middle class (under the republican party I might add ) disgruntled Mc Cain Palin voters from 2008 have re branded themselves as members of the Tea Party are willing to put any body in office.


The only way to offset the financial power of those who are the financial backers of the Tea Party is to use the ballot as your weapon. The wealthy Republican leaders don't have to worry about medi-cal  medicaid, or paying for their child's college tuition. It is simple they are wealthy the middle class worker is not wealthy so they struggle to pay bills and enjoy financial security. 

The middle class is expendable, and while our unemployment rate is high multimillion dollar corporations ship jobs over seas assuring that citizens of other nations benefit from cheap labor while many citizens in America benefit from zero labor.   

The national Press has written off the Democrats and are continuing to push the same old tired talking points that the Republicans will sweep the upcoming election on November 2nd even when polls are tightening all across the nation and many of the Democratic candidates are now taking lead in their races but don't let the truth or the facts get in the way of a good national press induced fight.


Go Vote... as if your life depended on it ...(If health care reform is repealed) it just might.

A Day of Remembrance Ten Years Later

Ten years ago while getting ready for work I turned on the television as I often do in order to check the local weather and traffic report just like most commuting suburbanites who have to travel some twenty plus mile or more to work and back, we had no idea that this terrorist attack would for ever change the lives of millions of Americans for ever.  

On that Fateful Day

Our local Los Angeles newscast was preempted by a live video feed from New York City and what first seemed to be just a containable fire coming from a floor in the World Trade Center soon became a story about a possible small Cessna airplane that flew off course into on of the Twin Towers in Manhattan.    

The Video Footage Changed the Story

Within minutes of the first live journalistic assumptions and questions, a video footage showing a large (high jacked ) passenger transcontinental air plane crashing into the north tower of the WTC,  the public later learned it was American Airline flight 11 caring 92 passengers of which there were no survivors.

While observing the live feed from New York a second plane crashed into the south tower once I witnessed this tragic event  before my very eyes, I knew right away, this was no accident, and my family and I were now witnessing in real time one of the most horrific and heroic moments in our nations ever changing history.  The second plane was United flight 175 caring 60 passengers as well as the hijackers. Two other flights were also hijacked on the same day  flight 77 which was en route for the Pentagon in Arlington Virginia ,  and flight 93 which was assumed to be en-route for the White House.    

Like many Americans I was worried that this was not the end of attacks. I was raised with a strong faith in God’s sovereign ability to watch over our nation, knowing we as Americans would have to rely on each other and Gods mercy to get us through this painful moment for years to come.


What Have We Learned ? 

As a result of what took place on September 11, 2001 multiple lives have been affected worldwide. Each year since we still mourn those whose lives that were taken on that fateful morning, and we honor the thousands of service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our nations freedom.

Today I am saddened and angry at the way some have used this terrible moment in our history to excuse their bigoted remarks, and physical and verbal attacks on innocent citizens and others who are seeking a peaceful solution to the bitter narrative of anger, racism, and revenge.

Recent news stories shed some light on how 9/11 has become a tool of manipulation to further the political, monitory, and racist agenda for those who continue to fan the flames of division in our nation and the world. We are still learning how to accept what happened it is a process but we must not turn on each other because that would play into the hands of those who committed this horrendous act.


How do we pay our Respect to Those who’s Lives Were Lost?


Some used this solemn day of remembrance to offer service to others donating their time and skills, such as helping in a shelter for the less fortunate, assisting in building homes, donating or serving food at a food bank, giving monetary assistance to a charity or church out reach program. Whatever we could do to offer some menial service to those in need, cannot in any way comparing to what our service men and women encounter each day on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.

This week rather than focusing on the negatives of those who have used 9/11 for their personal agenda, (which in most cases has some negative slant), I choose to offer a narrative of respect and honor to the lives of those lost and to my country as a whole.

Billy Graham in one of his last national appearances with a sitting president Reverend Graham stated " We come together today to reaffirm our conviction that God cares for us, whatever our ethnic, religious or political back ground may be."



May God Bless the 9/11 Families, the men and women of the Armed Services and their families, and our President and Congress and finally May God Bless the United States of America.

K. Gerard Thomas

You Shall Know Them by Their Fruit

The name of Jesus and his teachings have been used and misused by some of the most evil and hate filled people in-order to spread fear and intimidation to those with whom his so called followers do not agree. This goes back to the days of the Inquisitions and Crusades, as well as using religion as divine justification to attack and conquer indigenous people through out the world .

Any real honest student of history will admit that religion has been used through out the centuries to justify a false doctrine of pain, hatred , malice, bitterness, un-forgiveness,and intolerance. Although from a generic stand point this is true of all religions from Hindu, Islam, Judaism, Christianity and a host of others the two largest faiths Christianity and Islam garner
the most attention positive and negative.

Unlike the middle ages today's civilized individuals and countries should offer a better understanding of those who are of a different faith , unfortunately in the United States there are some who don't practice the truth of their faith but choose to make up the rules as they go.

9/11 Gives The Excuse to Hate

Ever since our nation was attacked on 9/11 some in America feel they have a right to go after Muslims and have done so just because they are Muslims, some feel justified in causing pain to those who are simple innocent believers of Islam in-order to pay back those evil men who set up the hijacking of the planes that flew into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

The latest attacks have been the angry protest regarding the building of an Islamic community center in New York two blocks from ground zero, protest against this building project have been shown around the world. The complaint by some is that it is a sign of insensitivity to build any thing Muslim near Ground Zero even though this center will honor other faiths much like the Pentagon which was also attacked yet it still has a Muslim prayer room inside .

The Islamic Community Center that is set to be built is the catalyst for the newer intolerant assaults on Muslims such as the cab driver who was stabbed by a passenger when he discovered (the driver) was a Muslim, and now Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Center Outreach Church in Gainesville Florida is threatening to host a Koran burning ceremony on the Anniversary of 9/11.

Despite calls from General David Petraeus , and other religious and political leaders including president Obama to halt this planned act of hate Reverend Terry Jones still plans to go ahead with the burning of the Koran even after he was warned of the possibly blow back to all the efforts our nation has accomplished in our work in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Muslim community through out the world. This act would put our soldiers and civilian citizens in greater harms way.

Bottom Line

This church is what some would call a fringe Christian Church who obviously do not read the Bible or studied the early church fathers , when you consider the idiocy that is running the conservative movement in America today in which the dumber the better, it is no surprise that this false representative of Christ has found his fifteen minutes of fame. If Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin are considered religious heroes of the faith, it is not hard for extreme radicals like Jones and possibly copy cats to rise up and cast a dark shadow over our nations efforts to win the hearts and minds of Muslims the world over this is a public relations night mare that has received very little attention from the Conservative Christian Community because they are bought and paid for by the Republicans and big business.

God Help Us!

K.Gerard Thomas

New York Daily News.com
pict provided by John Raoqux

The Beck Factor

Glenn Beck with the assistance of his marketing through Fox News hosted his "Restoring Honor Rally" yesterday on the Washington DC mall, forty seven years to the date of the historic "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom" lead by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. John Stewart of 'Comedy Central' came up with the best head line for the big rally calling it "I Have a Scheme".

This rally was on par with the older religious gatherings on the mall since "Washington for Jesus" in nineteen eighty. This event has been marketed as restoring honor and a fund raiser for the Troops, but like the "Music Man" or "Elmer Gantry" there is more to him than meets the eyes this will prove to be a financial wind fall for Beck and his sponsors.

Becks Previous Version of Honor

Becks Rally was used to voice a political agenda with out any doubt, these so called followers of the ultra conservative cognitive challenged Christian Republicans have nothing in common with the 1963 civil rights march of Dr. King forty seven years ago. Dr. King would have more than likely been treated the same way Beck attacked Van Jones, Acorn and not to mention his constant attacks of the President.

The teary eyed followers of Beck claim their goal for this Rally was to restore honor in the United States and offer support of our military with out politics being involved, but just like the 1980 Washington for Jesus gathering the event was used to build voter support for then presidential candidate Republican Ronald Reagan, this rally was a successful tool used by the Moral Majority and the GOP to assure Jimmy Carters defeat in the 1980 election...sound familiar

Honorable Racism

This so called honor that his followers claim to want to restore is questionable at best, especially when you consider that many of those supporters are big corporations and ignorant duped fearful politicians and followers who offer the nation lies, war-mongering, greed, deceit, racism, fear, anger, gun touting , threats, and an unwillingness to help there fellow man.



It is old news that Glenn Beck accuses a man who is half white or Caucasian as “having a deep seated hatred for white people or the white culture” yet all Obama ever knew was white culture he was raised by his white mother and white grand parents.Fox & Friends July 28,2009

Sarah Palin who tweeted on August 20 that Dr. Laura's Schlessinger first amendment rights were threatened because the public complained about Dr. Laura use of the word Nigger 11 times on the air, Palin's advice: "don't retreat...reload!" Steps aside bc her 1st Amend.rights ceased 2exist thx 2activists trying 2silence"isn't American,not fair") not fair for her not to be able to use the N word. ... That's Honorable.

Who was Dr. King?

The March on Washington in 1963 was a historic event that put the United States treatment of its citizens of color on notice before the world. Dr. King on that day became public enemy number one to J. Edgar Hoover and the Klan and any crazy kook who had a gun and felt black Americans are now a serious threat to their financial supremacy of white Americans. King was called a Communist, a Marxist, Radical, Hates his Country and of course the famous N word ...sound familiar?

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

This was the real name of the 1963 March not just the "March on Washington" as it is commonly called or the "I Have a Dream Speech" which really limits the speech to one particular sentence "I have a dream that my four 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."

This may be the most commonly quote but other portions of the sixteen minute speech were just as significant. If one examines the speech from beginning to end you will discover that there are portions of the speech that would make those member of the Tea Party and Beck followers cringe.

1. "America has defaulted on a promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, which has come back marked " insufficient funds "


2. "Don't ignore us it would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro"

3." Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual.

4. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights.

5. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges

6. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" In these comments and questions Dr. King is prophetic, how was he to know the challenges people of color would be facing "

Racial Harmony for Whites Only

Each of these quotes from the actual speech delivered by Dr. King is in complete contradiction of the Sarah Palin , Glenn Beck, big corporation, wealthy elite, ideology, it was a message of economic justice not just the ability to eat in the same restaurant of a white but justice would be if the African American would be allowed the same opportunity to own the restaurant.

Here is the crust of the matter would any of the ninety five percent Caucasian Tea Party members be willing to work with or for a black man or would any of them be willing to allow their son or daughter to marry a black man or woman and if they notice racial bigotry taking place would they do the honorable thing and confront it head on or would they like there leader Sarah Palin make excuses for someones blatant racism and ignorantly use the first amendment as a an excuse to use the word nigger even though it is offensive to me. (What Would Rabi Jesus DO?


Bottom Line


This rally was a tester for 2012 and I guarantee that there will be more rallies before the 2012 elections. Some may laugh at Beck but they also laughed at other men or women who came to power through good propaganda campaign.

Beck has successfully sealed his place in the psyche of the Christian Conservative, the Tea Party the Republican Party and most importantly the press.

He will be the sounding board for attacks on the Obama administration for the next two years using God to garner support for his warped agenda and unfortunately he laughing all the way to the bank... while his angry, mostly retired, some unemployed, misinformed middle class followers keep reminiscing about the good ol days when Dr. Kings dream was nothing but a dream and the idea of a black man running the country was also only a pipe dream.


K. Gerard Thomas

I Have A Scheme.

John Stewart of the Comedy Central came up with the best head line for the big Rally on the Washington DC mall . "I Have a Scheme" The Restoring Honor Rally is another republican rally for freedom from the democrats. During the 1980 n the of c to restore freedom, liberty, and Glen Beck claims that these uneducated followers of his, will take back the Civil Rights Movement.

According to ABC on line ...The rally will be held at the footsteps of the Lincoln Memorial on a significant day -- the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, which was delivered in the same location 47 years ago.

Beck says that Saturday's rally is non-political and intended to honor American troops. Still, many Tea Party chapters from across the country are planning to attend, and both Beck and Sarah Palin will deliver the keynote speeches.

Becks Previous Version of Honor

This Rally was used to voice a political agenda with out any doubt, these so called followers of the ultra conservative cognitive challenged Christian Republicans have nothing in common with the 1963 Civil Rights march of Dr. King forty seven years ago. Dr. King would have more than likely been treated the same way Beck attacked Van Jones, Acorn and and not to mention his constant attacks of the President... That's Honorable .

These teary eyed followers of Beckism claim their goal for this Rally 47 yrs to the date when Dr. Martin Luther King made his historic speech on the same mall is to restore honor in the United States and offer support of our military.

This honor that his followers claim to want to restore is questionable at best, especially when you consider that most of these people have offered nothing but lies, war-mongering, greed, deceit, racism, fear, anger, gun touting , threats, and unwillingness to help there fellow man to the nation and the world... That's Honorable .

Beck accuses a man who is half white or Caucasian as having a deep seated hatred for white people or the white culture yet all Obama ever knew was white culture he was raised by his white mother and white grand parents.Fox & Friends July 28,2009

Sarah Palin who tweeted on August 20 that Dr. Laura's Schlessinger first amendment rights were threatened because the public complained about Dr. Laura use of the word Nigger 11 times on the air, Palin's advice: "don't retreat...reload!" Steps aside bc her 1st Amend.rights ceased 2exist thx 2activists trying 2silence"isn't American,not fair") not fair for her not to be able to use the N word. ... That's Honorable.

Who was Dr. King?

The March on Washington in 1963 was a historic event that put the United States treatment of its citizens of color on notice before the world. Dr. King on that day became public enemy number one to J. Edgar Hoover and the Klan and any crazy kook who had a gun and felt black Americans are now a serious threat to their financial supremacy of white Americans. King was called a Communist , a Marxist, Radical, Hates his Country and of course the famous N word ...sound familiar ?

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

This was the real name of the 1963 March not just the "March on Washington" as it is commonly called or the "I Have a Dream Speech" which really limits the speech to one particular sentence "I have a dream that my four 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."

This may be the most commonly quote but other portions of the sixteen minute speech were just as significant. If one examines the speech from beginning to end you will discover that there are portions of the speech that would make those member of the Tea Party and Beck followers cringe.

1. "America has defaulted on a promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are
concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked " insufficient funds "

2. "Don't ignore us it would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro"

3." Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual.

4. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights.

5. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges

6. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let

us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and

hatred.

7. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?"

In these comments and questions Dr. King is prophetic , how was he to know the challenges people of color would be facing .

No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

but truth be told it was Becks tester for 2012 will he be able to repeat this again before the 2012 presidential elections. Beck has successfully sealed his place in the psyche of the Christian conservative , the Tea Party , and to their

ttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/18/sarah-palin-supports-dr-laura_n_687148.html
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/glen-beck-rally-planned-lincoln-memorial-mlk-speech/story?id=11495396

Intelligence Always Trumps Ignorance

pic provided by television.gearlive.com

In spite of all the negative press, poll numbers and the constant radio and cable talk show attacks the president continues to offer a strong sense of resilience, and possesses a willingness to express that he still has much work to do in his efforts to get the country back on track.

It is unfortunate that there are still those who continue to lavish in their ignorance of the facts, and still cant get over how Americans could elect a person of color to be president. I am still proud that we have made enough progress in our country up to this point to elect an intellectual man of hope regardless of race.


During President Obama's conversation with the hosts of The View he offered a strong sense of optimism and belief in America's ingenuity and (I have to admit) inspires me and possibly others to make an effort to encourage our political officials and citizenry to do what must be done ,( regardless of race or social status) to work hard to build a positive path to a "More Perfect Union."

K. Gerard Thomas

Truth.. What Truth ?

The Shirley Sherrod smear and forced resignation on July 19 has over taken the media by storm and it shines a light on a national issue that is as old as the United States..Race.

Shirley Sherrod who was the Georgia State Director of Rural Redevelopment for the United States Department of Agriculture was forced to resign from her position by a White House representative from the Department of Agriculture. The resignation resulted from an online posted video excerpt of a speech Sherrod gave to a Georgia chapter of the NAACP in March 2010. Hunting for a smoking gun regarding racism in the NAACP Andrew Breitbart a right wing blogger and regular guest on Fox News posted the edited video excerpts from the March 2010 speech on his conservative web site "Big Government."

The edited speech was cut in such away as to make Sherrod look like she was a racist and a story she told about an incident that took place over twenty years ago was recent and while serving in the Obama administration. When Fox News decided to run with the story they turned it into a " Stop the Presses Event " Fox News interrupted their programing calling the edited video a "Fox News Alert" giving the deception that this was a recent story.

Breitbart allegedly claims to have been given the video by an unknown individual who doctored the tape but being that he is not a journalist the rules of vetting and or checking your sources do not apply.


How did This Happen ?

At a recent NAACP convention it was voted by the members of the convention that they would ask the leaders of the Tea Party Movement to repudiate the racism in their ranks. Fox News and Andrew Beirbret countered by attacking the NAACP as racisit and began searching for dirt on the NAACP and its members.


Beirbret wanted to prove that the NAACP were racist he was more than happy to immediately post the video. It was given first to Fox News who was willing to air the unsubstantiated smear, it is no secret that Fox News is a 24 hour propaganda machine for the GOP, and an ardent critic of democrats, the president and the NAACP. When the White house discovered that Fox News and Glenn Beck were airing the video they panicked.

In an attempt to preempt the controversy and the press coverage, according to Ms Sherrod in a CNN interview, a White House official contacted Ms.Sherrod by Black Berry and insisted that she resign on the spot, with out giving her the benefit of explaining her side of the smear campaign, truth be dammed and journalism integrity was thrown out the window. Beirbert, Fox News, and not one member of the White House staff took the time to check the facts before destroying this woman's life.

The whole story of her speech that was taken out of context and supposed racist statement was really a story of change. How a young black woman in the rural south helped a white farmer save his farm in spite of her struggle with anger against white men because her father was murdered in 1965 Georgia by white farmers when she was a teenager.

Once the press picked up on the video, Ben Jealous the president of the NAACP also suggested she resign.

Race, Breitbart and Fox News

Two media entities MSNBC and Media Matters have joined with a minority of bloggers and editorial writers call out Fox News for their continued fake bias news. Yet ABC, NBC, CBS,CNN and others have run scared of criticizing Fox News the big question is why?


It is no secret that Fox has a carefully thought out strategy of keeping negative press on Obama before their audience 24/7. Even MSNBC who is touted as having a liberal slant takes a break from politics on the weekend, dedicating their weekend programing to crime and prison stories
but Fox News never sleeps and neither does their President Obama attack Squad.

Money Buys Intimidation Power

It is as plain as the nose on ones face the owner of Fox News is one of the wealthiest men in the world and as such he calls big shots. Rupert Murdoch is an Australian born billionaire who is the owner of multiple media entities, such as News Corp,Fox News, Fox Business News and all things Fox. The New York Post News Paper as well as 174 other papers. He owned as many as 35 Television stations that reach about 40 percent of the country including Direct TV. He owns the ultra conservative "Weekly Standard Magazine."

He process so much power and pull, that he can command a private meeting with politicians and world leaders even President Obama. So the bottom Line is Rupert Murdoch is a billionaire ultra conservative who is an apologist for the powerful and wealthy racial majority.


Even though all of our news is controlled by big business corporations such as Disney, General Electric, Viacom, only Fox News has decided that lies sell better then the truth. What if Shirley Sherrods whole 30 plus minute speech had not been taped and her story of learning to help others no matter what race and her ability to over come her own prejudices had not been revealed to the press? What if the white farmer who's farm and land Shirley helped to save had not been reached by CNN and they stated on air she was responsible for helping them.

Blame Obama " Why Won't Obama Tackle the Race Issue"?

It worked Fox News and even Berbreit escapped the real media scrutiny because the press decided to go after the president and not the real source of the smear and where it all started. On Sunday Morning programs spent all the time discussing "the rush to judgment and placed the issue at the presidents door.

(Here is the funny part) I love how the Sunday Morning political talk shows want to discuss racism in American with a panel of five white guest and one black guest and they see nothing wrong with that. The president does walk a thin line because if he talks about race he is called a racist, if he does not talk about race he is attacked...a simple case of " Damned if You Do and Damned if You Don't "


Even Fox News got on the band wagon and started blaming the White House for not vetting the information on Ms Sherrod that is like shooting some one and blaming them for getting in the way of the bullet.


Bottom Line

Fox News has been scarring the White public for years and recently they have been using the fact that Barrack Obama and Attorney General Holder are black as an excuse for not going after two or twelve loony members of the so called New Black Panther Party for voter intimidation. Fox News whole agenda is to assure that Republicans take control of the house and possibly the Senate in November at any cost even the truth.


What If the media allowed Fox News and Beirbret racism to continue to control the spin and did nothing..... Oh Yeah They Are


K Gerard Thomas

THE TRUE CLARION CALL: Are Credit Scores Really Good for the Economy

THE TRUE CLARION CALL: Are Credit Scores Really Good for the Economy

Are Credit Scores Really Good for the Economy

The Credit Master

A couple of weeks ago my brother and I were sitting and discussing the state of affairs in our nation, he made an astute comment about setting up a moratorium on credit scores this would be a great incentive to increase more spending and get the economy moving. The question I have often asked is why is it that we are slaves to the almighty credit score. This is one major obstacle that hinders our nation from true economic recovery. Our nations middle class is held hostage by the banking system who continue to keep their pockets full and the rest of America (with exception of the wealthy ) in a constant state of financial purgatory.

" Money is to the Economy as Oil is to the Engine."

The moratorium will begin on a particular date and it will be in affect for two years and as such it will assure that consumers will not be solely judged on their ability to make a purchase based mainly on there credit rating but other factors will be taken into consideration such as employment history , and financial income. Some middle class workers employed for multiple years have been stymied in their ability to make purchases of homes , cars, small business loans, even a toaster all because of the almighty credit score.

A credit score moratorium will encourage consumers to start spending more, possibly leading to increase in GDP sales such as cars,and homes ,even helping previous home owners who after facing or going through a foreclosure are more educated and if given a shorter sentence of negative credit rating would jump back into the market, if financially able. The rules will be stricter but since we immediately bailed out AIG, and other banking institutions when they failed why not the consumer ? who makes it possible for these big banks to continue.

They Changed the Rules

At one time a credit score of 685 or 700 was considered a good score but now it is considered just above fair. The credit score rules our lives even though the market was saturated with foreclosed and financially challenged citizens some how the credit score numbers value increased now.. what was excellent is now good and what was good is now fair and what was fair is now poor.

Free Credit Score Lie

There is no such thing as a legitimate instant free credit report unless one is willing to pay for it up front. Companies who pull your credit will only except the report from their in house agency. Even if you send for a report directly from Trans Union, Equifax, and Experian it would not even be recognize as a legitimate report because it is coming from the consumer and the bottom line is they want to charge you for the report, $25.00 , $30.00 or higher just to pull the report this is a rip off scam.

The Pursuit of Happiness

God help you if you are a minority especially African American and or Latino it appears you will suffer the red zoning curse for being African American. The news reports have informed the public of cases where African American credit scores are always significantly lower then other consumers even if they pay their bills on time, and have no credit issues. Generally speaking if an African American has a 680 plus credit rating it will remain under 700. This has been used by some to offer higher interest rates and sub prime loans to mostly African Americans thus assuring that African Americans remain in a constant state of limited advances financially.

If our country is serious about living out the true creed of the Deceleration of Independence and our Constitution then there should be a system were we do away with the unfair practices of discrimination within the financial sector. The Wealthy do not have to worry about credit scores, case in point particular movie stars and celebrities, politicians and dare I say preachers are given swag items that we ordinary citizens would have to have a credit score of almost 790 or higher to obtain. Paris Hilton does not need free gifts, George Bush, Dick Cheney, or George Clooney all of their credit score can be as low as 550 , but it does not matter because the wealthy are well taken care of.. while the poor and the middle class are judged by a number.

Bottom Line

Finance Metric Online states " We know using more credit might affect our future plans. Yet we keep using it. If you have a bad score, you will find it difficult to get a job, rent an apartment, buy a car, or even a cell phone plan for your iPhone. But to get a good score, as mentioned earlier, you need more credit. Without using credit, you are not even allowed to have basic amenities."

My Father never believed in credit he was born in 1910 his motto was if I cant buy it I don't need it. We are under a new set of rules were even if you pay off your debt it can hurt your credit score. We are living in a Bizarro world were wall street makes the rules for main street.

Of course this is a pipe dream for those of us middle class citizens who don't have the money to lobby particular leaders in congress to back such a revolutionary idea.. could you imagine how the banking industry would squawk at taking away their ace in the hole in assuring that they and the crooked politicians who don't worry about credit scores remain in control of our nations middle class financial setting.



K. Gerard Thomas

http://www.financemetrics.com/how-helpful-is-credit-score-in-our-lives/

Fox News Channel ...America's Fake and Biased News Source

Today Fox News promoted the Tea Party rally in Searchlight Nevada, where Sarah (I truly have nothing to say) Palin, was one of the main speakers. The Tea Party crowed gathered in Searchlight the senatorial district of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ( D) with hopes to intimidate the senator who is in a struggle to hold on to his senatorial seat in the fall.

Fox News promoted this event with glee assuring that Sarah Palin is a celebrity who's appearance is more valuable to Fox then the President of the United States. One blogger on Media Matters for America wrote ...

"I'd like to know how Fox reconciles their assertion that they're an authentic news outlet with their practice of selectively covering events. For instance, President Obama gave several speeches on the health care legislation that was under debate at the time, and Fox was the only cable news outlet that didn't carry any of them. Yet they'll cover Sarah Palin? A half-term Republican governor rates more airtime than the President of the United States? How do Fox fans keep their gazes so firmly averted to the unsubtle bias in such practices? "

n'est-ce pas http://mediamatters.org/research/201003270028


I personally observed how the Fake and Biased Network snubbed the President when all other cable news channels covered his speeches. When former president George W. Bush spoke they were there 24/7 but for some reason since the election of President Obama Fox finds something else to report on when the President speaks the only attention the president receives from Fox is constant attacks on his administration 24/7.

One reason to give her this type of promotion is she is part of the Fox misinformation team she has been hired by Fox to represent the less educated, angry, fearful, racist, extremist, violent, Fox News watcher and keeping in the Fox News tradition she is a good looking woman.


K.Gerard Thomas

The Tea Party'ers the Republicans Black Eye

A gun is used to make a threat against health care reform supporters or possibly
the president. Photo courtesy of the Huffington Post .

They're at it Again

The racist , the homophobic religious zealots, and the down right ignorant have come out to attack all of the democratic congressional leaders who are voting today on the most historical bill since Lyndon Johnson's administration. Since the presidency of Teddy Roosevelt over 100 yrs ago health care for the American people has been a serious issue that 18 previous presidential administrations have not been able to tackle fully until today.

It is unfortunate that the current Republican Party is void of true intellectual leadership and has little to offer in their supposed counter argument except for appealing to the abased ideological attacks on ones race or sexual orientation. The frustrated Tea Party movement made ugly remarks yesterday towards Representative John Lewis one of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.

According to Sam Stein at the Huffington Post

A staffer for Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) told reporters that Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) had been spat on by a protestor. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a hero of the civil rights movement, was called a 'ni--er.' And Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) was called a "faggot," as protesters shouted at him with deliberately lisp-y screams. Frank, approached in the halls after the president's speech, shrugged off the incident.

Clyburn was downright incredulous, saying he had not witnessed such treatment since he was leading civil rights protests in South Carolina in the 1960s.

The unfortunate response by the Republican leaders is that this is an isolated incident and it does not represent the so called tea party movement, yet when one examines the so called movement it has been latent with those who use racist placards or comments that speak negatively towards the president based on his race.



As of the time of this posting it appears that the vote in favor of Health Care reform is going to take place favorably for those Americans who feel the need for true reform. The republican party will have to wake up tomorrow wondering why the Apocalypse did not take place.

They are still trying to explain how a black president has not destroyed the country, yet most of these angry people are still going to work , paying their bills, enjoying life to the best of their idiotic ability. They will have to face the facts that our nation is at a pinnacle of change and
even though they continue to use the tactics of fear and bigotry this momentous vote will start a greater movement of true governmental change that will finally work for the benefits of the people, and there's not a damn thing they can do about it.


K.Gerard Thomas

Haiti Judgment or Act of Nature

Photo from Media Matters & Huffington Post.com


God Dislikes Slavery Unless Its Black People

I could not believe my ears when I heard Pat Robinson say on his 700 Club television program that Hatti made a pact with the Devil and that is why Haiti is suffering now , so in other words any one who assists Haiti is going against God's will.

"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it," he said on Christian Broadcasting Network's "The 700 Club." "They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it's a deal."

Being a person of faith and a believer in God's Love and Grace I find it abhorrent that a well paid conservative so called Christian is using a terrible tragedy like yesterday's earth quake to some how blame the victim , and use his warped opinion of God's judgment, thus doing more to alienate people from his so called faith.

What.. Not Enough Righteous People ?

Pat Robertson ideology and his perceived Christian belief in God's word which he claims to represent. If one reads the book of Genesis chapter 18 it is a story where the Hebrew patriarch Abraham's is an ombudsman or intercessor on the behalf of the city of Sodom with whom God was displeased and informed Abraham he was going to judge the city for it's wickedness , wanting to save his nephew Lot and his family Abraham and God struck a deal.

Through out the chapter Abraham pleads with God not to destroy Sodom and he bargained with God to not destroy the city if 45 righteous people could be found, Abraham was afraid that he could not find that many, therefore he asked God if he would settle for ten. God agreed and told Abraham he would spare the city of Sodom from his judgment if only 10 righteous people could be found.

Using this scriptural reference to examine Pat Robertson thinking regarding Gods judgment, why would God spare Sodom over one mans intercession and judge America on 9/11 , New Orleans and the Gulf Coast with Hurricane Katrina and now Haiti? when I am sure there are multitudes of Righteous people who prayed and interceded for America or Haiti before any of these catastrophes took place.

Pat Robertson Apocalyptic History

Referring to 9-11
"Don't ask why did it happen. It happened because people are evil. It also happened because God is lifting His protection from this nation and we must pray and ask Him for revival so that once again we will be His people," Pat Robertson response to 9/11

http://www.patrobertson.com/pressreleases/terroristattack.asp

Referring to Katrina

On the September 1 broadcast of The 700 Club, Robertson also claimed that, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Roberts can "be thankful that a tragedy has brought him some good," inasmuch as Democratic senators may be less likely to question him aggressively.

http://mediamatters.org/research/200509130004


Both of these former tragedies were also blamed on Gods angry judgment against those Innocent people who's lives were taken by tragic events and I would venture to say many of those who died in each of these tragedies were believers in the so called same Jesus as Pat claims to serve and worship.

Haiti Struggle for Independence is Evil but America's is God Ordained.

This online article titled God, Satan, and the Birth of Haiti by
Jean R. Gelin, Ph.D taken from the web site Black and Christian .Com

Explaining Haiti
Right or wrong, Haiti is considered the point of entry of Christianity into the New World because it is the place where Christopher Columbus built the first Spanish colony after landing on December 5th, 1492. Roman Catholicism was the official religion of Spain, and thus was imposed on all the original inhabitants of the island. The natives were made Christians by force and the island was called ‘Hispaniola’, meaning ‘little Spain’. Before long the Indian population was enslaved and wiped out, and Africans were imported as replacements. But that’s not all.

Haiti is the only place in the world where revolutionary African slaves successfully ended slavery and colonialism to build a new and independent country. All this happened when Jean-Jacques Dessalines, his Generals, along with the indigenous army, proclaimed Haiti’s independence from France on January 1st, 1804. On that day, they rejected the colonial name ‘Saint-Domingue’ and reclaimed the Indian name Haiti (Ayiti¹) for the country.

Seeks to offer some explanation as to the lie that was made up by racist religious leaders or missionaries who sought to bring disdain on the freed people of Haiti because former slaves could not be freed with God's help only the devil would help the black slaves. This co insides with the lie of the curse of Ham and the Mormon belief that God cursed the black race.

The worst part of the whole picture is that the story is believed by many sincere Christians in America and around the world; and not only do they believe it, they also spread it as fact. The tragedy of our age is that repeated lies are often mistaken for the truth, especially when repeated long enough. That’s particularly the case in religious circles where faith on the part of the audience is generally expected, but that should never be so for those who believe in the Bible.

Maybe, believers need to return to biblical texts like 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Test everything. Hold on to the good”.

It’s hard to know where the idea of a divine curse on Haiti following the purported satanic pact actually originated, whether from foreign missionaries or from local church leaders.

http://www.blackandchristian.com/articles/academy/gelin-10-05.shtml


Bottom Line

Dr.Jean R. Gelin, along with most of the civilized cognitive thinking adults in the year 2010 can see that Pat Robertson is an intellectual dwarf and it should be obvious that the notion that Haiti is a nation that is cursed comes form some antiquated superstitious lie that was birthed during the days of the colonial slave trade and it should remain there for the rest of eternity never to raise it's ugly racist head again .


Kevin Thomas