Lose your home, lose your vote?

Dera friends,

The information below was sent to me via e-mail. It is worth reading, so I decided to share it with you on this blog.

G. Djata Bumpus

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Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:19:11 -0700
Subject: Lose your home, lose your vote?

The Republican plan for struggling homeowners in Michigan? Take away their right to vote. Help us stop this, now.

Dear Kathleen, It's the ugliest attack on voting rights we've seen in recent history--if you live in Michigan and you're in danger of losing your home to foreclosure, Republicans will try to take away your right to vote.

1. McCain's response? Silence. Like Bush in 2000 and 2004, he's trying to keep a safe distance from these tactics, while benefiting from them. McCain could end this with a phone call. But he won't.

It's voter-suppression at its worst. They're taking advantage of folks falling on hard times and using it for political gain--kicking people while they're down. It's time to hold McCain publicly accountable for this strategy.

Will you join us in outing McCain for not denouncing these tactics and invite your friends and family to do the same? It just takes a moment:
http://colorofchange.org/michigan08/?id=2122-206436

For years, Republicans have engaged in 'caging'--challenging the eligibility of voters on election day to suppress turnout and intimidate voters.

2. They'll often try to reject voters by claiming they don't live at the address where they're registered. This year, they've taken it to a new low--the chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County, Michigan said last week, 'We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren't voting from those addresses.'

3. In other words, they'll target every voter whose house is on a foreclosure list, and challenge their voting rights on election day. But just because your name is on a list, it doesn't mean that you've lost your home or moved. In fact, many homeowners stay in their homes for months after the foreclosure process has begun, and some people are able to catch up on their payments and reverse the process.

4. So why are Republicans illegally targeting homeowners who've had a tough time under Bush's economy? Because they know they're likely to vote for Democrats, and for Obama for President. In Michigan, over 60% of sub-prime loans were made to African-Americans.

5. And in general, people who've been hit hard by the economy are less likely to vote for Republicans. This tactic won't just affect struggling homeowners--it will cause longer lines and delays at the polls for everyone that lives in a neighborhood with a high number of foreclosures. And that's the point. After making the plan public, Michigan Republicans are backtracking and claiming they were misquoted.

6. But everything indicates that these are exactly the kinds of tactics they'll use,

7. Aand they're just trying to squash an embarrassing story.

8. Similar tactics are being used across the country, but the McCain campaign simply sits in the background, quietly benefiting from voter suppression. The Obama campaign is fighting against this plan in the courts,9 but they need our help to expose these dishonorable tactics and make this a national story.

If enough of us step up and connect the dots, we'll give the press a reason to make the connection between McCain and what's happening in Michigan. And as we've seen in our other campaigns,10 when we stand together behind a clear message, the press covers it and moves our message forward.

Calling on McCain to publicly reject these tactics is just the first step in our campaign to shame the Republican Party for attacking the voting rights of struggling homeowners.
Please join us:
http://colorofchange.org/michigan08/?id=2122-206436

Thanks and Peace,
-- James, Gabriel, Clarissa, Andre, Kai, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
September 17th, 2008
1. 'Lose your house, lose your vote,' Michigan Messenger, 9/10/08 http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=mich&?id=2122-206436&link=1
2. 'Caging list,' Wikipedia http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=mich&?id=2122-206436&link=2
3. See reference 1.
4. 'Obama campaign files suit over 'voter-foreclosure' plans,' Michigan Messenger, 9/16/08 http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=mich&?id=2122-206436&link=4
5. See reference 1.
6. 'Flap over foreclosure challenges in Michigan grows,' Chicago Tribune, 9/16/08 http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=mich&?id=2122-206436&link=6
7. 'Former GOP operative explains why Republicans will use foreclosure lists to block voters,' Michigan Messenger, 9/15/08 http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=mich&?id=2122-206436&link=7
8. 'Messenger rejects GOP plea for retraction,' Michigan Messenger, 9/12/08 http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=mich&?id=2122-206436&link=8
9. See reference 4.
10. ColorOfChange.org campaign against Congressional Black Caucus debate on Fox News http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=mich&?id=2122-206436&link=10
11. 'D.N.C. Shuns Fox in Debate Schedule,' The Caucus (New York Times blog), 4/5/07 http://colorofchange.org/link/?cat=mich&?id=2122-206436&link=11
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Video about Senator Obama - from his Canpaign

Dear friends,

The video on the link below is a chronology of Senator Obama's voyage to his/our current situation. It may or may not be very new info to you. Nonetheless, here it is.

G. Djata Bumpus
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid452323111 Read full post

Hundreds upon hundreds of Alaskan women hold a big anti-Palin Rally

From: Joseph Wei [http://us.mc355.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=josephwei@comcast.net]

Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 9:06 AM

Subject: Fw: Fw: This does my heart good!!!!! Fwd: Pics of Biggest Rally in AK history... anti-Palin

Read and look at the pics below and be heartened that the lunacy of the past 8 years will end in November! Loving peace to all, Joseph Psssst...pass it on! [The] Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was to be held outside on the lawn in front of the Loussac Library in midtown Anchorage . Home made signs were encouraged, and the idea was to make a statement that Sarah Palin does not speak for all Alaska women, or men.

I had no idea what to expect.The rally was organized by a small group of women, talking over coffee. It made me wonder what other things have started with small groups of women talking over coffee. It's probably an impressive list. These women hatched the plan, printed up flyers, posted them around town, and sent notices to local media outlets.

One of those media outlets was KBYR radio, home of Eddie Burke, a long-time uber-conservative Anchorage talk show host. Turns out that Eddie Burke not only announced the rally, but called the people who planned to attend the rally "a bunch of socialist baby-killing maggots," and read the home phone numbers of the organizers aloud over the air, urging listeners to call and tell them what they thought.

The women, of course, received some nasty, harassing and threatening messages.I felt a bit apprehensive. I'd been disappointed before by the turnout at other rallies. Basically,in Anchorage, if you can get 25 people to show up at an event, it's a success. So, I thought to myself, if we can actually get 100 people there that aren't sent by Eddie Burke, we'll be doing good. A real statement will have been made.

I confess, I still had a mental image of 15 demonstrators surrounded by hundreds of menacing "socialist baby-killing maggot" haters.It's a good thing I wasn't tailgating when I saw the crowd in front of the library or I would have ended up in somebody's trunk. When I got there, about 20 minutes early, the line of sign wavers stretched the full length of the library grounds, along the edge of the road, 6 or 7 people deep! I could hardly find a place to park. I nabbed one of the last spots in the library lot, and as I got out of the car and started walking, people seemed to join in from every direction, carrying signs.

Never, have I seen anything like it in my 17 and a half years living in Anchorage. The organizers had someone walk the rally with a counter, and they clicked off well over 1400 people (not including the 90 counter-demonstrators). This was the biggest political rally ever, in the history of the state. I was absolutely stunned. The second most amazing thing is how many people honked and gave the thumbs up as they drove by. And even those that didn't honk looked wide-eyed and awe-struck at the huge crowd that was growing by the minute.This just doesn't happen here.

Then, the infamous Eddie Burke showed up. He tried to talk to the media, and was instantly surrounded by a group of 20 people who started shouting O-BA-MA so loud he couldn't be heard. Then passing cars started honking in a rhythmic pattern of 3, like the Obama chant, while the crowd cheered, hooted and waved their signs high.So, if you've been doing the math Yes. The Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was significantly bigger than Palin's rally that got all the national media coverage! So take heart, sit back, and enjoy the photo gallery. Feel free to spread the pictures around to anyone who needs to know that Sarah Palin most definitely does not speak for all Alaskans.The citizens of Alaska , who know her best, have things to say.A bunch of pictures of that rally:

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Alaskans speak out against Palin

Dear friends,

In spite of the fact that the overwhelming majority of journalists and their editors seem to be turning their heads away from the protests coming from people all over the country - especially women of all kinds of groups, about Sarah Palin, I am pleased to share the following link that was forwarded to me the other day.

G. Djata Bumpus

http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/09/05/alaskans-speak-in-a-frightened-whisper-palin-is-%e2%80%9cracist-sexist-vindictive-and-mean%e2%80%9d/ Read full post

Does Sarah Palin benefit from "white" privilege?

Dear friends,

I am honored to have received permission to publish this great piece, below, here on this blog. It is in regards to the whole issue of "white" privilege. Moreover, it is quite timely, because of the sudden media fanfare caused by the Republican Party choosing Sarah Palin as its vice presidential candidate. There are many facts that are raised here which have not been given a single bit of attention by the mainstream media...

This is must-reading!

Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus

**************************************
This is Your Nation on White Privilege
By Tim Wise 9/13/08

For those who still can’t grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because “every family has challenges,” even as black and Latino families with similar “challenges” are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself a “fuckin’ redneck,” like Bristol Palin’s boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll “kick their fuckin' ass,” and talk about how you like to “shoot shit” for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don’t all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you’re “untested.”

White privilege is being able to say that you support the words “under God” in the pledge of allegiance because “if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it’s good enough for me,” and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the “under God” part wasn’t added until the 1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.

White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you. White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was “Alaska first,” and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she’s being disrespectful.

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you’re being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you’re somehow being mean, or even sexist.
White privilege is being able to convince white women who don’t even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a “second look.”

White privilege is being able to fire people who didn’t support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.

White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God’s punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you’re just a good church-going Christian, but if you’re black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you’re an extremist who probably hates America.

White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a “trick question,” while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O’Reilly means you’re dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.

White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a “light” burden.

And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren’t sure about that whole “change” thing. Ya know, it’s just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.

White privilege is, in short, the problem.

Tim Wise is the author of White Like Me (Soft Skull, 2005, revised 2008), and of Speaking Treason Fluently, publishing this month, also by Soft Skull.

For review copies or interview requests, please reply to publicity@softskull.com

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Sarah Palin is a phony "tough girl"!

Dear friends,

I normally am not in agreement with what this particular columnist from the Boston Herald has to say, regarding a number of subjects. However, he makes a great point here about Sarah Palin's readiness to be the commander-in-chief. Perhaps, either one has- or both of us have- grown, during this assault on humanity by the Republican Party.

Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://bostonherald.com/news/opinion/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1118553 Read full post

US refuses Israel bomb technology?

Dear friends,

At least to me, it is quite curious that, just in the last day or so, a "former" George Bush aide has revealed that the president will not attack Iran before he leaves office...

That statement comes only a few days after the US government refused to sell certain military technology to Israel. To be sure, during South Africa's apartheid era, the US reneged on its promise to abide by UN sanctions against South Africa, by funneling technology and other assets through Israel. I now wonder: What country will be Israel's conduit for what they need from the US?

Meanwhile, Russia and Iran are developing closer ties. Talk about the economy, if you want. Wait until Mr. Obama is faced with having to defend Israel. Big problems. A new world order is apparently on its way.

Finally, the link below raises more questions than it answers.

At any rate, as the washed up whale insisted: Life's a beach, and then you die.

G. Djata Bumpus
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080911/wl_mideast_afp/irannuclearpoliticsisraelusweapons_080911123836
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Getting Paid to live in Alaska

Dear friends,

On Saturday the 13th, I was rappin' with my longtime mail man about the current election, and he mentioned to me that people get paid to live in Alaska. I am not one to accept people's claims so easily, so I investigated. I found him to be exactly correct...

Then I began thinking about how easy it must be to win a political office in a state where every single citizen, child or adult, gets paid to live there. Moreover, I cannot imagine that many people would even bother going to the polls to vote. Why would anyone care who was in office, as long as the money came on time each year?

At any rate, the link below says it all.

Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.printnpost.com/articles/1348/1/Get-Paid-to-Live-in-Alaska/Page1.html
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Palin's record with Alaska's Native peoples

Dear friends,

The two pages-long piece below was forwarded to me via e-mail, a few days ago. It is well worth reading....

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus

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Sarah Palin's Record on Alaska Native and Tribal Issues

1.Palin has attacked Alaska Native Subsistence Fishing. Perhaps no issue is of greater importance to Alaska Native peoples as the right to hunt and fish according to ancient customary and traditional practices, and to carry on the subsistence way of life for future generations.

Governor Sarah Palin has consistently opposed those rights. Once in office, Governor Palin decided to continue litigation that seeks to overturn every subsistence fishing determination the federal government has ever made in Alaska. (State ofAlaska v. Norton, 3:05-cv-0158-HRH (D. Ak).) In pressing this case, Palin decided against using the Attorney General (which usually handles State litigation) and instead continued contracting with Senator Ted Stevens' brother-in-law's law firm (Birch, Horton, Bittner & Cherot).

The goal of Palin's law suit is to invalidate all the subsistence fishing regulations thefederal government has issued to date to protect Native fishing, and to force the courts instead totake over the roll of setting subsistence regulations. Palin's law suit seeks to diminish subsistence fishing rights in order to expand sport and commercial fishing. In May 2007, the federal court rejected the State's main challenge, holding that Congressin 1980 had expressly granted the U.S. Interior and Agriculture Departments the authority to regulate and protect Native and rural subsistence fishing activities in Alaska. (Decision entered May 15, 2007 - Dkt. No. 110).

Notwithstanding this ruling, Palin continues to argue in the litigation that the federal subsistence protections are too broad, and should be narrowed to exclude vast areas from subsistence fishing, in favor of sport and commercial fishing. Palin opposes subsistence protections in marine waters, on many of the lands that Natives selected under their 1971 land claims settlement with the state and federal governments, and in many of the rivers where Alaska Natives customarily fish. (Alaska Complaint at 15-18.) Palin also opposes subsistence fishing protections on Alaska Native federal allotments that were deeded to individuals purposely to foster Native subsistence activities. All these issues are now pending before the federal districtcourt.

2. Palin has attacked Alaska Native Subsistence Hunting Palin has also sought to invalidate critical determinations the Federal Subsistence Board has made regarding customary and traditional uses of game, specifically to take hunting opportunities away from Native subsistence villagers and thereby enhance sport hunting.
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Page 2

Palin's attack here on subsistence has focused on the Ahtna Indian people in Chistochina.Although the federal district court has rejected Palin's challenge, she has carried on an appealthat was argued in August 2008. (State of Alaska v. Fleagle, No. 07-35723 (9th Cir.).)In both hunting and fishing matters, Palin has continued uninterrupted the policiesinitiated by the former Governor Frank Murkowski Administration, challenging hunting andfishing protections that Native people depend upon for their subsistence way of life in order toenhance sport fishing and hunting opportunities. Palin's lawsuits are a direct attack on the coreway of life of Native Tribes in rural Alaska.

3. Palin has attacked Alaska Tribal SovereigntyGovernor Palin opposes Alaska tribal sovereignty.Given past court rulings affirming the federally recognized tribal status of Alaska Nativevillages, Palin does not technically challenge that status. But Palin argues that Alaska Tribeshave no authority to act as sovereigns, despite their recognition.So extreme is Palin on tribal sovereignty issues that she has sought to block tribes fromexercising any authority whatsoever even over the welfare of Native children, adhering to a 2004legal opinion issued by the former Murkowski Administration that no such jurisdiction exists (except when a state court transfers a matter to a tribal court).

Both the state courts and the federal courts have struck down Palin's policy of refusing torecognize the sovereign authority of Alaska Tribes to address issues involving Alaska Native children. Native Village of Tanana v. State of Alaska, 3AN-04-12194 CI (judgment entered Aug. 26, 2008) (Ak. Super. Ct.); Native Kaltag Tribal Council v. DHHS, No. 3:06-cv-00211-TMB (D. Ak.), pending on appeal No 08-35343 (9th Cir.)). Nonetheless, Palin's policy ofrefusing to recognize Alaska tribal sovereignty remains unchanged.

4. Palin has attacked Alaska Native LanguagesPalin has refused to accord proper respect to Alaska Native languages and voters byrefusing to provide language assistance to Yup'ik speaking Alaska Native voters. As a result,Palin was just ordered by a special three-judge panel of federal judges to provide various formsof voter assistance to Yup'ik voters residing in southwest Alaska. Nick v. Bethel, No. 3:07-cv-0098-TMB (D. Ak.) (Order entered July 30, 2008). Citing years of State neglect, Palin was ordered to provide trained poll workers who are bilingual in English and Yup'ik; sample ballotsin written Yup'ik; a written Yup'ik glossary of election terms; consultation with local Tribes toensure the accuracy of Yup'ik translations; a Yup'ik language coordinator; and pre-election andpost-election reports to the court to track the State's efforts.In sum, measured against some the rights that are most fundamental to Alaska Native Tribes –the subsistence way of life, tribal sovereignty and voting rights – Palin's record is a failure.
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Open Letter to Barack Obama from Leonard Peltier

Dear friends,

Some of you are already familiar with the longtime prosecution of Leonard Peltier. He is the US version of Nelson Mandela, if there ever was such a person. Only his connection to all of us who embrace human freedom keeps him sane; I am sure...

At any rate, below is a letter that he has written to our dear brother, presidential candidate Barack Obama. Following the letter, there is some information from some of his closest supporters about how to help Brother Peltier.

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus
******************************************

August 28, 2008

An Open Letter to Barack Obama
Symbolism Alone Will Not Bring Change
By LEONARD PELTIER

I have watched with keen interest and renewed hope as your campaign has mobilized millions of Americans behind your message of changing a political system that serves a small economic elite at the expense of the peoples of the United States and the world. Your election as president of the United States, where slaves and Indians were long considered less than human under the law, will undoubtedly constitute a historic moment in race relations in the United States.

Yet symbolism alone will not bring about change. Our young people, black and Native alike, suffer from police brutality and racial profiling, underfunded schools, and discrimination in employment and housing. I sincerely hope your campaign will inspire some hope among our youth to struggle for a better future. I am, however, concerned that your recent statement on the Sean Bell verdict, in which the New York police officers who fired 50 shots at a young man on the eve of his wedding were acquitted of criminal charges, displays a rather myopic view of the law. Until the law is harnessed to protect the victims of state violence and racism, it will serve as an instrument of repression, just as the slave codes functioned to sustain and legitimize an inhuman institution.

As I can testify from experience, the legal institutions of this nation are far from racial and political neutrality. When judges align with the repressive actions and policies of the executive branch, injustice is rationalized and cloaked in judicial platitudes. As you may know, I have now served more than three decades of my life as a political prisoner of the federal government for a crime I did not commit. I have served more time than the maximum sentence under the guidelines under which I was sentenced, yet my parole is continually denied (on the rare occasions when I am afforded a hearing) because I refuse to falsely confess.

Amnesty International, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama of Tibet, my Guatemalan sister Rigoberta Menchu, and many of your friends and supporters have recognized me as a political prisoner and called for my immediate release. Millions of people around the world view me as a symbol of injustice against the indigenous peoples of this land, and I have no doubt that I will go down in history as one of a long line of victims of U.S. government repression, along with Sacco and Vanzetti, the Haymarket Square martyrs, Eugene Debs, Bill Haywood, and others targeted by for their political beliefs. But neither I nor my people can afford to wait for history to rectify the crimes of the past.

As a member of the American Indian Movement, I came to the Pine Ridge Oglala reservation to defend the traditional people there from human rights violations carried out by tribal police and goon squads backed by the FBI and the highest offices of the federal government. Our symbolic occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973 inspired Indians across the Americas to struggle for their freedom and treaty rights, but it was also met by a fierce federal siege and a wave of violent repression on Pine Ridge. In 1974, AIM leader Russell Means campaigned for tribal chairman while being tried by the federal government for his role at Wounded Knee. Although Means was barred from the reservation by decree of the U.S.-client regime of Richard Wilson, he won the popular vote, only to be denied office by extensive vote fraud and control of the electoral mechanisms. Wilson's goons proceeded to shoot up pro-Means villages such as Wanblee and terrorize traditional supporters throughout the reservation, killing at least 60 people between 1973 and 1975.

It is long past time for a congressional investigation to examine the degree of federal complicity in the violent counterinsurgency that followed the occupation of Wounded Knee. The tragic shootout that led to the deaths of two FBI agents and one Native man also led not only to my false conviction, but also the termination of the Church Committee, which was investigating abuses by federal intelligence and law enforcement agents, before it could hold hearings on FBI infiltration of AIM. Despite decades of attempts by my attorneys to obtain government documents related to my case, the FBI continues to withhold thousands of documents that might tend to exonerate me or reveal compromising evidence of judicial collusion with the prosecution.

I truly believe the truth will set me free, but it will also signify a symbolic break from America's undeclared war on indigenous peoples. I hope and pray that you possess the courage and integrity to seek out the truth and the wisdom to recognize the inherent right of all peoples to self-determination, as acknowledged by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. While your statements on federal Indian policy sound promising, your vision of "one America" has an ominous ring for Native peoples struggling to define their own national visions. If freed from colonial constraints and external intervention, indigenous nations might well serve as functioning models of the freedom and democracy to which the United States aspires.

Yours in the struggle.

Until freedom is won,

Leonard Peltier
# 89637-132
U.S.P. Lewisburg,
P.O. Box 1000,
Lewisburg, PA USA 17837
*********************************************
Special Note:

Please Help Support the LPDOC for Leonard's Freedom

As Leonard Peltier marks his 64th birthday on Sept. 12, the LPDOC is redoubling its efforts to win his freedom. We are planning an ambitious organizing drive in our new Fargo office to persuade North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan, chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, to investigate the federal government's role in the violent counterinsurgency on the Pine Ridge Reservation from 1973-1976, the FBI's withholding of thousands of pages of documents related to the AIM activist, and the unfair federal trial in Fargo which led to Leonard's conviction in 1977.

Leonard is suffering from partial blindness, diabetes, a heart condition, high blood pressure, and prostate problems. He needs your help.

We need your help too, if we are to do the work that needs to be done to obtain justice for one of the longest-serving political prisoners in the world. At the moment, we are barely keeping up with our rent and phone bills, our two full-time staff members are working without pay, and we badly need a new photocopier. Due to the damaging actions of a former LPDC employee, who removed valuable office equipment and contributor records, we are rebuilding our committee virtually from scratch. We have found an experienced volunteer editor for our Spirit of Crazy Horse newspaper, but in order to resume publication, we will need your support.

If you are able to contribute $20 or more for this campaign, you will receive a free subscription to the newsletter to keep abreast on developments in Peltier's campaign and in Indian Country generally. Please contribute as generously as you are able, and also take the time to write and/or call Sen. Dorgan With your help, we can win Leonard's freedom from the same city in which it was taken away. Even if you are unable to contribute at this time, please send us your name and address to help us rebuild our list of supporters at the state and national level.

Please send your donation to:

LPDOC
PO Box 7488
Fargo, ND 58106
701-235-2206

Thank You,
Betty Ann Peltier-Solano,
Executive Director
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee


Kari Ann
Co-Coordinator
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee

www.whoisleonardpeltier.info
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Black business "Chamber of commerce" goes to Alaska

Dear friends,

In the recent past on this blog, we have taken a look at the African American population in Alaska, as well as one of that state's Black elected officials. Below, is a link to a story about African American businessmen from outside of Alaska who are seeking to do business there. What do they want? As well, does it have to do anything with that which will benefit African Americans generally?

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.adn.com/money/industries/native_corporations/story/420060.html Read full post

A helping hand

Dear friends,

The link below is a wondeful piece, regarding human powers like discipline, focus, endurance, and love. It was written by an absolutely wonderful person and outstanding Philadelphia journalist, Jill Porter. Her work has appeared on this blog before. Please enjoy.

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/20080910_Jill_Porter__A_helping_hand__a_life_reclaimed_a_way_to_say_thanks.html?viewAll=y Read full post

Blacks in Alaska

Dear friends,

Considerng the deliberate practice of what I call "falsification by omission" that has excluded the experiences of African American people from being trecognized for our significant role in this country's history, I thought that the information on the link below will be a good start for folks to take a brief look (a few paragraphs) at part of that state's history which is unfamiliar to so many...

African Americans are everywhere in this country, and have been, long before people of Irish, Italian, or Polish descent (the largest body of so many of those who, mean-spiritedly, make the phony claim of being "white", thus forming an artificial "majority" group).

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.akhistorycourse.org/articles/article.php?artID=233
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Fairbanks, Alaska's first Black mayor was in 1993

Dear friends,

Considering the info on the link below, it seems that winning a political office in Alaska may have more to do with no one else wanting the job than it does with having even a modicum of political savvy. Consequently, at least to me, it seems to trivialize Sarah Palin's assertion that she has genuine executive experience.

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n12_v48/ai_13275721 Read full post

The road ahead

Dear friends,

Now that the dust has cleared from both conventions of the two major political parties in this country, at least to me, it is really bizarre how absent the Clintons have suddenly become, from the dialogue, regarding the presidential race. What's that all about?...

McCain is going around the country talking as if he has had nothing to do with any of the bad decisions made by Washington's career politicians, and most of the government- and corporate-controlled media are going along with his charade. Additionally, his running mate is being so manipulated that she cannot even do an interview, unless it is orchestrated by the McCain organizers. In fact, if one looks at all of the new enthusiasm over Sarah Palin's nomination as the Republican Party's vice presidential candidate, he or she may question both the integrity of and purpose for the electoral process in this country altogether.

In any case, the link below is to a piece by someone with whom we have shared ideas previously on this blog. Moreover, Sandy Banks, the distinguished LA Times journalist, makes some interesting points, thus raising equally interesting questions, when she remembers her journey to celebrate with others, on the night of Senator Barack Obama's now-historic acceptance speech for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

Please check it out.

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-banks30-2008aug30,0,4436772.column
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Sarah Palin action dolls for sale!

Dear friends,

Are the Republicans really serious about trying to win this election, or is the whole thing just a charade to make the public believe that there is more than one choice, during this election season? Please click on the link below.

G. Djata Bumpus
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/11/merchandisers-cash-in-on-palins-popularity/ Read full post

Female Vets

Dear friends,

On a serious note, please look at what the war in Iraq is doing to our neighbors, at the same time the Republicans are claiming to be so interested in the future of women in this country...

I am quite proud to say that the thoughtful and compassionate piece on the link below was written by a buddy of mine who is a well-known journalist in Philly, Dave Gambacorta.

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080911__nbsp__nbsp__nbsp_FEMALE_VETS_SEEKING_TO_HEAL_LIVES.html?viewAll=y
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B B King opens museum

Dear friends,

The link below, from the very best R & B station in the nation, WDAS - in Philly, connects to a FYI message about the latest work of a legendary musician with whom we are all familiar.

Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.wdasfm.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=104659?feed=104653&article=4218396 Read full post

Palin: Is she really a "pit bull"?

Dear friends,

We have been hearing, for the past few days, that Sarah Palin is a "pit bull". However, we may consider asking ourselves whether or not she is simply "full of bull"...

The link below is to an article by someone who, in my own biased opinion, is one of North America's premier journalists, male or female. Her name is Annette John-Hall. Her work has appeared on this blog before. Moreover, this piece helps to inform us, while, simultaneously, providing an insightful glimpse at the highly-touted Republican vice presidential candidate.

Check it out!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/annette_john-hall/20080905_Annette_John-Hall__Pit_bull_of_a_soccer_mom_leading_war_on_diversity.html
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McCain's choice of Palin

Dear friends,

The link below is to a piece that is a must-read for every citizen in our country who is eligible to vote this fall. The author, Elmer Smith, needs no introduction. Enjoy!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080905_Elmer_Smith__Palin_pick_says_a_lot_about_McCain.html Read full post

Slavery in America today- where are the Republicans?

Dear friends,

Less than a week ago, 9/2/08, in the state of Florida, five men pleaded guilty to: "numerous charges of enslaving Mexican and Guatemalan immigrants, brutalizing them and forcing them to work in farm fields." We have been hearing about slavery in Africa, but it is right here in our own presence. Moreover, where are all of the journalists of the New York Times, and other media outlets, who have been hollering about Darfur? Where is "fair and balanced" Fox News?

At any rate, the link below tells the story. Amd, by the wsy, what are McCain's and Palin's take on this horror? Florida, after all, is a longtime Republican stronghold. Is slavery happening in Alaska too?

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.ciw-online.org/
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Why is Hillary Clinton so silent these days?

Dear friends,

In light of her replacement, by Sarah Palin, as "the" female candidate being embraced by the mainstream media, it is mind-boggling that Senator Clinton has not come out as vocally in opposition to Governor Palin as she did with Senator Obama. During the Democratic campaign season, when everything seemed to be going Senator Obama's way, some had been arguing that Clinton wanted Obama to lose, so that she would get the nomination in 2012. Now that suggestion seems prophetic. But, in my opinion, it will not work out that way, and Clinton, nor anyone from her family, should ever receive the support of an African American person again...

After all, Clinton can come out and tell her supporters that they should ignore Palin. They are supposed to be totally diferent on most issues. Nevertheless, below, is a link to a piece where some interesting points are made that completely contradict what we have been hearing from the mainstream media, regarding Palin being a "maverick" who fights the "big oil" companies.

G. Djata Bumpus

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What abouts Bristol Palin and her choices?

Dear friends,

Sarah Palin taught her daughter that abstinence is the right way for young people to go sexually. Her teenage daughter, Bristol, got pregnant when she was in the 11th grade. Heck! She waited at least 17 years. That's long enough to abstain. Right? Besides, don't you think that 17 years is honorable? After all, how many adults under 40 ain’t had none in 17 years? Yeah, that’s what I thought. She did good...

Heck. I admire Bristol’s parents. If I had a daughter that age and she came and told me that she was pregnant, I’d be supportive too. In fact, Id even drive her right down to the abortion clinic and wait.

And what about the fiancé or whatever. He’s been thrown into this mess. The boy brags that he is a "f------ redneck". Wow! That sounds like the coming of a great father. Does Bristol see her beau as a kind of miniature Daddy? Is this another one of her good choices?

At any rate, below, regarding the Bristol Palin issue, you will find links to three brilliant, must-read pieces, by three special journalists, that take serious . yet different, looks at the abstinence issue - and abortion.

"Love is the weapon of the strong!"

G. Djata Bumpus

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080902_Ronnie_Polaneczky__Bristol_Palin__Proof_that_abstinence-only_education_doesn_t_work.html?adString=pdn.news/local;!category=local;&randomOrd=090208052107


http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/20080903_Jenice_Armstrong__Teenage_pregnancy.html

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080903_Jill_Porter__Bristol_Palin_s_frightening__distraction_.html
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Barack Obama sets "goals" to take America back

Dear friends,

Can we take back America? Maybe, the real question is: Was America ever ours? After all, when has this country belonged to the majority of the people who live here? Did someone mention the bigtime campaign contributors like the banking, insurance, and real estate industries? Of course not.

Still, the Howard Dean-esque message at last week's Democratic National Convention of "taking this country back" reverberated throughout the stadium for all of the evening, leading up to Mr. Obama's speech. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the only thoughtful words said were actually sung by the great Stevie Wonder who called upon all of us to love each other and all of humanity, doing so in unity. Absolutely no one else who stood at the podium that night expressed such sentiments. Instead, it was a show of us against them - that is, no love or unity...

The first "Black" president? Well, he certainly has been choosey about when he is a Black man. Let us not forget that Mr. Obama made sure that his "white" mother and grandparents stayed splashed across the huge outside screens all night. Additionally, while he admitted having only met his father once, Barack Obama drew absolutely no connection between himself and his relatives in Kenya. Yet, the parade of generals and admirals which featured both men and women who were African American and European American was quite impressive, especially since there may very well be an even larger number of such folks at the Republican National Convention. Perhaps, we can count on it. Eh?

To be sure, the mass communications media has gone wild with Mr. Obama's "historic speech". Additionally, there have been voluminous amounts of columns by journalists and other such pundits, regarding Mr. Obama's having "finally told us" specifically about what his goals are. Unfortuunately, Mr. Obama has told us absolutely nothing about the intellectual grounds upon which he understands and defines our societal problems, much less how he would actually accomplish "goals" to solve them.

For example, his solution for Education is to have "world class" schools and hold teachers "accountable". Okay. How does that differ from George Bush's rap? In fact, how does that position differ from the stance taken by almost all other career politicians in this country? The words are the same, so what is so "fresh" about Obama's spiel? Moreover, how does that describe the goals for an educational process for which he will work to create cooperative, thoughtful, competent, and independent citizens? Moreover, as Confucius taught us, "Teaching is the half of learning".

In other words, by teaching others, we find how inadequate our own knowledge and skills are, regarding any particular topic. Additionally, the most significant job of any teacher is to get your charges to follow your ideals. After all, you normally only have these students for a year or less. Therefore, the subject matter is irrelevant, because some students will want to learn certain things, while others will not. Consequently, at least to me, as a lifelong teacher, what is most important is: One's charges learn to appreciate ideals like hard work, courage, thoughtfulness, consideration, kindness, and patience, and so forth, that they witness in their teacher(s).

Of course, this can only happen in a "safe" environment. By safe, I do not mean that a school needs more metal detectors or police. What I am referring to is that the learning environment, classroom or otherwise, be a place where kids can "take chances" with their minds and bodies, without being scolded, punished, or ridiculed by the teacher(s) or ridiculed and bullied by fellow classmates. Only then will a student feel "safe" to take a risk expressing an unfamiliar idea or activity.

Also, students must be encouraged. I always love to share a quote by one of my brothers, Eshu, himself a lifelong educator, who insists, " The range of a student's ability is seldom as wide as the range of encouragement that he or she recieves". Focusing on testing and grading schedules does not develop anything other than an automaton. If anything, the main purpose of tests and grades is to sort out and classify students for their later roles in the workforce. My own experience is: I do not allow my students to fail; therefore, they always get A-pluses. Besides, there is no way to measure a teacher's success, eespecially since the ideals that he or she has shared, as were mentioned above, may not even show up until many years later, in any given student's life. Can you think of doing something based upon what you had learned from a teacher years earlier, although, perhaps, you did not do well "grade-wise" in the aforementioned teacher's class?

In any case, Mr. Obama never made it clear about what he intends to do about the Health Care Industry? What about the Military/Industrial Complex? What about the Crime Industry that is maintained by those whose best interests are served by continued criminal behavior in our society. A good example lies with the fact that, all across the country, in many municipalities, district attorneys are allowed to use confiscated drug money, for instance, for future hires, raising wages in their offices, and improved pensions for the same workers just mentioned. It is not, therefore, in the best interests of prosecutors and their agents to be too “tough on crime”. As a matter of fact, it makes more sense for such people (DAs, and so forth) to actually regulate crime. And, of course, I have not mentioned private, for-profit companies, that now run jails and prisons across America.

Alao, what is all of this hogwash that guys like Bill Cosby and Mr. Obama spout about "fathers" taking more responsibility? Maybe they (fathers) would, if they had an understanding of and plan for what it is to be a good father. That is, many men, of all ages, need to understand, appreciate, and cherish it (i.e., responsibility) as a quality of character, as opposed to it being trivialized, as it currently is, by associating it with concepts of conformity like honor and duty? Bill Cosby, "America's father", has not been the greatest parent when he is off of the television screen, after all, in my opinion.

Nevertheless, speaking of Mr. Obama's ambition to stop our dependence upon "foreign oil", what will Mr. Obama do about giant oil corporations like Exxon/Mobil who buy oil in the millions of gallons from OPEC, then store their product in tanks for later sale to other nations, for larger profits. Will Obama stop that practice?

And what about women getting "equal pay for equal work", as Mr. Obama put it? Most men do not even have that kind of pay equity! Worse yet, what sexism really does most is: It does not allow a woman to seek to be fully human. As a result, from an early age, far too many females are taught to be manipulative and deceitful, so they cry for special favors from men. That explains Hillary Clinton, a grown woman, crying for votes, earlier this year. It also shows why so few women have much self-esteem. We must destroy sexism! Yet, neither Hillary Clinton nor Sarah Palin are willing to stand up to the sexist marauders - American males, particularly those in the US Congress and the presidency. In fact, and unfortunately, the US is one of the only advanced nations in the whole world that refuses to sign on to the International E.R.A. Treaty. As well, E.R.A. was unable to be ratified in all fifty states of our country, two decades ago.

So what really are Mr. Obama's goals? That is, Americans are so used to listening to pols calling their ambitions - "goals" - that they do not even know the difference between the two, any more than the latter. Yet, we must distinguish goals from ambitions. For example, a quarter of a century ago, while studying at Temple University, I developed an intellectual model that I call the "Urban Fire Department Paradigm", in order to help people distinguish goals from ambitions. It goes like this: A person is named as the new chief of a fire department. A reporter asks, “Chief, what are your new goals for the fire department?” The chief confidently responds, “I’m going to have a truck at every fire in city limits, before the fire becomes dangerous.” But that is not a goal. Rather, it is an ambition. Consequently, an answer by the chief that would represent a goal would be, “I’m going to have a truck at every fire in city limits, in twenty minutes”. In other words, the chief does not know how bad the fire will get or how quickly it will spread; yet, he or she is determined that there will be a truck full of fire-eaters there fairly soon.
We must build genuine communities - African Americans, European Americans, Latinos and Latinas, Asian Americans, and Early American Natives. That is our "responsibility"! All of us! If we do that (build our communiies up), invariably, though time, we will then begin to choose competent federal representatives who will truly fight on our behalf, as we did when we supported Ron Dellums of California, but, obviously, on a much larger scale. That way, the useless sycophants of big business, euphemistically-called politicians, who have been squandering our tax dollars for generations will, one day, become a thing of the past.

No. I'd not expect any genuine change to come out of Mr. Obama's administration. Things may even get worse, in some ways. However, I still insist that we must vigorously support his candidacy/ourselves, as it reminds me of the eight African American women who helped O.J. Simpson beat his murder case. Deliberately, O.J. has never done anything for African Americans. He still doesn't! Instead, he is the same idiot and despicable, low-life coward who murdered the mother of his children. Those women knew that. That is not why they helped him though. Rather, they were doing it for themselves/us as members of a cultural group that has continued to move forward, in spite of a means-spirited denial of our humanity by so many of our fellow citizens, for centuries.

And so, this can be a start, in other words, for building strong African American and other non-European American communities across our nation, because no longer can the excuse be made: "White" folks are keeping us down. After all, now many citizens who embrace the phony claim of being "white" in order to be part of an artificail "majority" group, are now willing to support someone who does not have the outward appearance to be considered a part of their group. Or, so it seems. As Malcolm taught us, "Time will tell". Right? Peace.

G. Djata Bumpus
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What a "convention" for the Republicans

Dear friends,

The link below leads to a piece by a Philadelphia journalist who I have only read occasionally. However, after reading this article, I think that I will be checking his stuff out more often.

Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080902_John_Baer__So__there_s_no_rhetoric_in_Minnesota__Cue_the_eye_roll.html?adString=pdn.news/local;!category=local;&randomOrd=090208052421 Read full post

Why ALL women must vote for Obama

Dear friends,

Considering John McCain's "clever" choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate, in his bid for the presidency, I thought that it is a good idea to re-publish a post that appeared on this blog back in June. The author of the piece that is linked below, Jill Porter, is a highly relevant and influential Philadelphia journalist who is also a longtime friend of mine. She admits to having been a Hillary Clinton supporter, but insists that Senator Obama deserves the support of all women...

In any case, while I have issues with the context of the, albeit unwitting, but, nonetheless, alienating and offensive tone of Jill's use of the word "women", because of its historical European American denial of the existence of African American and all other non-European American women, I know that her intent, because of her wonderful character and personality, is to embrace all of her sisters, regardless of their skin complexions. We will need lots of women like her, in order to continue moving our society forward.

Women make up half of our society's/world's population, and, therefore, have half of our society's/humanity's wisdom and strength (both inner and outer). Considering this, I have said, for decades, when dealing with the issue of gender inequality: We as men must cease being fools. After all, only a fool walks out of his door with half his brain. (pun intended). More importantly, at least to me, it is time that we as men swallow the "big pill" that is sexist oppression and exploitation.

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus

Jill Porter: Why Hillary backers must vote for Obama Philadelphia Daily News 06/06/2008*




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Hit-&-Run Driving - unconscionable murder

Dear friends,

With all of the talk about terrorism and our enemies around the world, it seems, at least to me, that there are many people, in the thousands, who have murdered far more citizens in our country, than those cowardly, inhuman terrorists from Saudi Arabia did on 9/11. Yet, these murderers go free. They sit and laugh with us. They go to church with us. They serve in occupations from politicians to janitors. They are of all genders and skin complexions. Worse yet, even when they are caught, they are simply slapped on the wrists. Low-lifes like them are far more dangerous to our livelihoods than Al Quaeda. Why are not more resources used to catch them? Why are their "punishments", when they are caught. so laughable? Moreover, in my own angry opinion, if there were ever a case for a mandatory death penalty, hit-and-run drivers should be posture children for such a law. Why do we need people like this in our species?

G. Djata Bumpus
tp://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080827_Hit-and-run_deaths_up_this_year.html?adString=pdn.news/local;!category=local;&randomOrd=082708025504 Read full post

Tribute to the Godfather

Dear friends,

Last week I had the honor of sharing some thoughts without you, regarding the significance of Isaac Hayes' presence on this Earth. Earlier last week, I read a piece in the Boston Herald that, at least to me, should be shared by more than just Boston residents. It regards James Brown...

Actually, I had never heard of James Brown having any association whatsoever with Africa, in either a magazine or on a television program - in my whole life. I do recall Brother Brown being lambasted by African Americans of all political stripes for his lack of conscience in how he carried himself and the type of music that he sang. Please remember, this was all happening during the early years of the Black Consciousness Movement. Brown's coiffure and flashy clothes did not represent the newfound yearning of African Americans to reclaim our African identity.
It all came to a climax when Brown put out a record called "America is my home". On it, he bragged, "I got a brand new jet...when I need to move...a soul brother made it...ain't that a groove?" That did it. Black youth began to shun him. He turned around, rightfully so, in the midst of such dismissal and recorded the revolutionary masterpiece of the era, "Say it loud, I'm Black and I'm proud!" That song would blare during protest marches as well as dance parties. He soon followed that song with, "I don't want nobody givin' me nothin', open up the door ( I'll get it myself)". And so, in recognizing his contributions, we must also appreciate the integrity that James Brown displayed, when he put love for his culture first, in sharing his art.

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus
http://bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/general/view.bg?articleid=1113464
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Was US expecting Russia to attack Georgia?

Dear friends,

In light of the bold move by the US government in signing a missile defense deal with the government of Poland, it appears that, at least to me, the Russians, knowing what the US was going to do with Poland, decided to strengthen its own military might in both the Northern and Eastern European regions. On the other hand, it also seems that, perhaps, the US government, claiming that Russia's recent activity in Georgia, as well as Norway and Estonia, is cause for concern. Is there a lot of grandstanding on both sides? Who wins or loses? Please check out the two links below. THen think about it. Cool? Peace.

G. Djata Bumpus

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08202008/news/worldnews/us_signs_missile_defense_pact_with_polan_125304.htm

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,407262,00.html Read full post

Reaction to Clintons releasing White House information

Re: Documents released about Cluntons and Lewinsky issues and Whitewater
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:52 PM

Hey Djata,

It's interesting that all this garbage is coming out now and not during the final battle between Democrats and Republicans. It looks as though the same greedy people that spent so much time fighting against Clinton, instead of doing anything to help people, are now trying to create some sense of desperation to make Clinton and Obama go more at each others' throats. They've got Obama trying to explain himself, Clinton trying to explain herself, and, meanwhile, McCain, our gentle was hero quietly comes to everynody's rescue.

Obama seems too mature to fall for it, but he'll still have to respond if Clinton falls into the trap. They need to get their stuff together and focus attention on the real issues, like how the heck are they going to end this war (Fight the War Industry), get health care people can afford (Fight the drug and insurance lobbies), make education available to people (Do away with the Fear Mongering and misdirecting BS like gay marriage), and provide safe housing and disaster relief for the poor.
E

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A "Terrorist" gets a fair trial

Dear friends,

The link below is to a piece that was written by a very dear friend of mine who is a longtime and well-traveled journalist out of Philadelphia. His name is Elmer Smith. He writes for and serves on the editorial board of the Philadelphia Daily News. Actually, aside from having a personal relationship with a number of writers from that newspaper, I actually have a long history with the Philadelphia Daily News,

You see, back in the Fall of 1978, a couple of months after Joe Frazier brought me from New England (where I was a top amateur boxer) to Philly, in order to make me a pro fighter, I was in a tv commercial promoting/marketing the Philadelphia Daily News...

It was aired regularly in Philadelphia and the surrounding area television markets, for well over a year. The players in that commercial were myself, Joe, and Willie "the Worm" Monroe. Willie, in fact, a legendary middleweight, was the only fighter to ever really beat Marvin Hagler. Marvin himself was an occasional gym buddy of mine. That is, when the roof of our gym was leaking, or my stablemates and I just needed sparring, Goodie Petronelli, Marvin's lifelong trainer (coach), would let us come down to their gym in Brockton to work out. Our leaky-roof gym, by the way, was shown on television, over a period of several years, at the beginning of each episode of "Spenser for Hire" (which starred the late Robert Urich and our good brother Avery Brooks - who later drew even greater "fame" in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine tv series)...

The link below, once again, shows Elm Smith's combined wit and wisdom, that, in my biased opinion, reveal him to be the best male journalist in America (and I am including Paul Krugman of the New York Times in my pool of great ones). In any case, the piece here is about the recent prosecution of Osama bin Laden's former driver. It raises questions about what many Americans may believe, regarding equality, dignity, and justice. And at least to me, it also makes me wonder exactly where the "War on terror" presently is, much less where it is going.

Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080808_Elmer_Smith__Lovers_of_our_Constitution_can_t_feel_good_about_this_trial.html?adString=pdn.news/local;!category=local;&randomOrd=080808021908
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Swimming and Golf - are they "Black" enough for you?

Dear friends,

Nothing is more crucial to maintaining systems of oppression and exploitation than stereotypes - i.e., images and symbols - that give one group a feeling of superiority over another. The idea that "Blacks can't swim.", for example, does not even make sense; yet, the phrase is constantly bandied about. We do all have the same type of mental and physical structures, after all. Besides, as Melville J. Herskovits pointed out in his book about the pioneering scientist Franz Boas, "the range of the average of differences within any specific group is greater than the range of the average of differences between all groups"...

Also, in his special book, The Mass Psychology of Fascism, Wilheim Reich, the great scientist and clinical psychologist, insisted that the concept of race is only of interest to an "imbecile". He points out the reality of the pejorative moniker just mentioned, by reminding us that the exception in human has been racial circumscription. The rule, on the other hand, has been promiscuous mating among all people. Of course, the activities in which we engage have much more to do with cultural expression, than our biological assets. Yet, those expressions are themselves based upon availability or lack thereof, regarding specific resources. However, if the context of culture is ignored, if not altogether denied, and replaced with the notion of "race" - a totally unscientific concept that is solely based on politics, our view and understanding of reality gets twisted.

At any rate, I brought all of the aforementioned up, because as you will read on the link below, at the end of the article, Cullen Jones, the African American swimmer who won an Olympic gold medal ten days ago, in an excitedly proud moment and loving lament, tried to connect the absence of African American golf champions with their counterparts in swimming, saying, "Not many black people played golf before Tiger Woods." Actually, that is not true. In fact, there have been many great African American golfers, long before Tiger.

Remember Lee Elder of the Seventies? He played on television, at times. Here in New England there have, for a long time, been great African American golfers. For example, the late Spencer Leek, of Lexington, Massachusetts, won the New England Championship and other tournaments, back in the 1940s and 1950s. Of course, all over our country, for, at least, a few generations, there have been and are African American golf champions. Tiger Woods simply represents a long tradition, although he does not recognize himself as either an African American or Black man. As a matter of fact, I have read that he invented a term for self-description with the help of Michael Jordan, the basketball legend. Woods calls himself a "Caublanasian". Wow!

A short note: First of all, as far as I know, neither Tiger's father Earl (an African American who has passed), nor his Mother (Asian), are of immediately European descent. Why did he and Michael Jordan put the "Caucasian" element in (and first, mind you), for his self-description? Secondly, when Herodotus, the man who Europeans and their offshoots in the Americas call "the father of history", was travelling through the Caucasus Mountains, some 2500 years ago, he ran into a people called the Colchians. That meeting, just mentioned, has been documented by many other historians since. Nonetheless, Herodotus described the Colchians as a "dark-skinned, woolly-haired" people. Considering his vigor to disassociate himself with African Americans, it would seem, at least to me, that if Tiger Woods knew more history he would call himself something else. After all, Caucasian, just like "white", is a means-spirited term that people use in order to put themselves in an artificial majority group. Let us face it; people who live in mountains are hardly very much of a part of civilization. That is why they live on the periphery of it (civilization). Imagine, a thousand years from now, instead of describing themselves as Americans, our descendants called themselves Appalachians. What rational person would identify with people, culturally, who deliberately live apart from civilization?

At any rate, a buddy of mine, Corky Siemaszko, who writes for the New York Daily News did a piece, recently, about Cullen Jones who is, as already mentioned, the young African American swimmer who won an Olympic gold medal, as the third leg of a relay squad, a little over a week ago. Corky raised the issue of stereotypes and, also, wrote to me personally after I sent him a message about the piece (and I am printing this part with his permission), " Thanks Djata. And thanks for the golfing history lesson. I can't say that's my sport. But I'm sure glad swimming is Cullen Jones' sport. When I began writing that story, I remembered hearing theories about Blacks being poor swimmers because of heavier bone density and things like that. I don't know if that's true or not, but it struck me as silly. I always figured a lack of access to quality swimming pools and quality coaching was a more likely reason for the scarcity of competitive African American swimmers. "

Amen to that, Cork. But please do not leave out another obstacle - i.e., discrimination. Cool? After all, if the European American (white) coach does not give an African American swimmer the same attention that he/she gives to others, or the European American person who is timing a race gives an African American competitor a "bad" time so that the aforementioned swimmer will not qualify for higher levels of competition, then that also reveals a much broader issue of why more African Americans are not seen at the higher levels of some sports - and other activities.

At any rate, friends, please join Corky [and myself :-)] in celebrating the achievements of a young man, while he is revealing both his inner and outer powers to the whole world.

Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2008olympics/2008/08/12/2008-08-12_riding_olympic_wave_bronxborn_swimmer_no.html
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Ike - a real Rapper, a true Player

Dear friends,

Last Sunday, one of the most genuine artists of this era, Isaac Hayes, passed. He was an original who took his craft seriously and had the integrity to expand his genre of music in a way that it would retain the status of being, in his own words, "classical". That is right; Europeans are not the only people to have classical expressions of their sounds. African Americans have classical music of our own, some of which is called "jazz"...

Isaac Hayes followed the flamboyant style of some of his other popular contemporaries. That is, his outlandish dress was nothing new to African American entertainers of that time. Players like Little Richard, James Brown, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone preceded him with their exotic style of stagewear and stage antics. Most of the other Black male performers maintained a more traditional type of dress - suit and tie.

Ike's first album went relatively un-noticed. However, he "broke out" on his second album "Hot Buttered Soul", opening with his cover of Dionne Warwick's gigantic hit "Walk On By", and a smooth but sympathy-garnering narrative covering Glen Campbell's mega-hit, "By the time I get to Phoenix". Although the other two numbers on the album were great too, a stirring ballad and a funk-jam, the previously-mentioned two munbers by themselves made him a star.

At least to me, his real "rap" though was on the Black Moses album, when he did "Good Love", a number that could easily be called the national anthem for "Players", if one is to make a comparison to what was formerly called "rap", but has now deteriorated into what has been rightfully called, by the likes of music giant Wynton Marsalis and noted writer Stanley Crouch, "buffoon minstrelsy". I am speaking, of course, of the so-called "hip-hop" genre of music.

Nevertheless, while his singing and rap were unique, the music was down right funky - and sweet. But Ike came along at a time when there was great social upheaval happening in our country. Unlike many of the other popular African American artists of the time, he did not involve himself with either politically- or socially-conscious lyrics, except, on the record called "Soulsville", of the Shaft movie score, as well as a rather accommodating social piece called "Windows of the World" that he actually recorded on both of his live albums. And so, he was criticized for that by many Black progressives, at that time, myself included. Of course, the music itself in that movie (Shaft) was incomparable, and, in hindsight, very culturally-correct. It cannot be diminished! Additionally, the Shaft score was phenomenal then, and still is, almost four decades later. I believe, in fact, that it will always be.

At any rate, prior to Shaft's huge success, Ike was being marketed as "Black Moses" - vigorously. An album with that title was released. On it, to name a couple of them, he covered Jerry Butler's R & B classic "Never Gonna Give You Up" and Michael Jackson's (then the Jackson Five) equally classic "Never Can Say Goodbye". Of course, great singers/musicians always do great covers, from Smokey Robinson to Nancy Wilson to Diana Ross or Stevie Wonder to Luther Vandross, for example. Moreover, Ike's concept of maintaining a "classical" expression of any music that he played, cover or no cover, reveals a level of personal, artistic integrity that is rarely displayed by the artists of today, especially the younger ones.

Ike's musical style became contagious too. Therefore, a mere two years after the Black Moses album., a brother named Barry White came onto the music scene, [in a huge way (pun intended :-)]. Barry's voice was deeper than Ike's and he "rapped" more frequently, using a sexy tone that made his female listeners swoon and his male listeners plagiarize. As a matter of fact, to this, any brothers who are World War II baby boomers will testify. For it was not uncommon to hear a cat say to his buddies, "I'm gonna put some Barry White on that woman". Of course, that meant that, whether calling her on the phone or seeing her in person, the fellow was going to playfully imitate White's deep voice and smooth talk to the woman or girl.

To be sure, that created a big smile on the face of any woman or girl who had the pleasure of being approached that way. Anyhow, Barry's songs were accompanied with incredible orchestral arrangements that echoed Hayes' own orchestral offerings, in their magnificence. Moreover, it is an accepted fact that those sounds, of both Ike and Barry, helped to bring in the "disco" era. By the way, even more so than Isaac Hayes, Barry White stayed away from political or even social views in his lyrics, completely. His stuff was about personal, erotic relationships only.

Finally, Isaac Hayes' music career seemed to just disappear, as the Seventies wore on. He reappeared as an actor and radio show host, in the Eighties. He was a different man though. He was no longer Black Moses. Rather, he was just a brother "doin' his thing", so to speak. He co-starred in Keenan Ivory Wayans' classic movie, "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka", a spoof of what had been called "blaxploitation" films of the Seventies. That was a surprise, because, again, Ike had normally stayed away from being involved with political affairs - at least publicly.

Nevertheless, he later took some other movie roles and got a regular spot as the voice of a cartoon character on cable television. Yet, it had just been announced, recently, that he had planned to resume his music career next year, even though he had unsuccessfully released "comeback" albums in both the Eighties as well as the Nineties (and one in 2003). The sad part is: Unless he already recorded some of it, we will never have any idea of exactly what he was going to share. But his music of the past, mid - Seventies and before, is unforgettable. and we will not only always have that, but it (said great music) will surely continue to inspire other musicians for a long time. For what more can we ask?

A link to Ike's discography appears below.

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Hayes,_Isaac/Discography/Index/P83140/1/
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Obama is "heckled" about the Pledge of Allegiance

Dear friends,

Yesterday (8/5/08), in Berea, Ohio, Senator Barack Obama was skillfully set up by a terrorist who identified himself as "John Q. Public". The man displayed "press credentials" and appeared to be taking photographs throughout Senator Obama's "town hall" meeting...

This is going to be a tactic from now until November. Mr. Obama should "nip it in the bud", as it were, before it becomes a distraction like the ones that Hillary Clinton used during the primaries to manipulate voters (e.g., the "bitter remark" and Michelle's "I'm proud of my country for the first time"). If the "heckler" was so concerned about liberty, then why did he use phony press credentials? It was a blatant act of terrorism.

Additionally, of the thousands of "hit and run" drivers in this country, who cumulatively kill thousands of innocent people each year, how many have "pledged allegiance"? How many of the thieves of today have pledged allegiance? How many politicians who have been indicted for crimes while still in office pledge allegiance? How many pedophiles have pledged allegiance? What does pledging allegiance mean, if you are treating your neighbor badly? Have many executives of US "multinational" corporations who outsource work away from American workers pledge allegiance? Do the executives of the oil companies pledge allegiance? Do the actuaries of the insurance companies pledge allegiance? Do the executives of the "health care" conglomorates pledge allegiance? How about the executives who control the food and automobile industries? Do they pledge allegiance? And, if so, to whom - or what? Moreover, who is under the illusion that pledging allegiance makes you a good citizen? There is absolutely no connection between pledging allegiance and/or saluting the American flag, or wearing a flag pin on one's lapel - and being patriotic. Duh?

Anyone can say that he or she believes in whatever he or she chooses, but how does that reflect his or her behavior? How many mass murderers, conveniently, believe in "God", once they are on death row? How many citizens who "pledge allegiance" either have wronged or are still wronging African American, Asian, and Latino men and ALL women, much less Early American Native peoples?

As well, it is both a false abstraction and a distraction, if not deceitful, to suggest that Senator Obama has no "allegiance" to our country and is, therefore, unpatriotic, for not leading a town hall meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, when the person who was inquiring did not even have the integrity and decency to reveal his true identity. Besides, if the Pledge of Allegiance, in and of itself, is such a sign of conformity to societal values, it sure does not seem to help much.

Below is a link to the Associated Press report about the incident. I have been to town hall meetings before, right here in New England where they began, and, although maybe they do - it has been a long time for me - I do not recall ever hearing anyone leading with the Pledge of Allegiance, in order to open such a forum.

"Dare to struggle - dare to win!" - Frederick Douglass

G. Djata Bumpus
http://breakingnews.nypost.com/dynamic/stories/O/OBAMA_HECKLER?SITE=NYNYP&SECTION=HOME

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Them Ole Blues.and All That Jazz...

"Where does

this music

come from?

Not seeking truth

sure seems wrong.

Where did

this music start at?

Not with some crazy,

stiff cat.

Did it start

with the sax,

or

some other ax?

Or,

was it cow bells

and

sea shells.?

Where did this music come from?" -

"This is That"

lyrics by G. Djata Bumpus

music by Wil "Soye" Lettman

Dear friends,

The history of Black music in America is the history of the first secular songs played here. For example, during the War of Independence, basically, all fiddlers who led the troops were Black men...

Lorenzo Johnston Greene further confirmed this assertion in his timeless book, The Negro In Colonial New England, "Zelah, a Negro of Groton, Massachusetts, who later fought in the American Revolution, became famous in his neighborhood as a musician." Greene also refers to Newport Gardner, "...the slave of Caleb Gardner of Newport, Rhode Island, was given music lessons. He soon excelled his teacher and later opened a music school of his own on Pope Street where he taught both Negroes and white persons."

Thje link below points to a tradition that has gone on for centuries. Please enjoy!!!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92423408&sc=emaf
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Someone to keep an eye out for this Olympics

Dear friends,

Considering the fact that the Olympic Games, to be held in China, are only a few weeks away, perhaps, it is instructive for us to pay attention to some of our proud and distinguished athletes. Moreover, with all of the talk about "patriotism" this presidential election year, what about cheering for our fellow citizens who work so hard at revealing both their physical and intellectul powers to us through sports? At the link below, legendary LA Times columnist Sandy Banks makes us aware of an athlete, who represents our nation, to whom we should pay close attention...

Cheers!!!

G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-banks19-2008jul19,0,5611847.column
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Pledging Allegiance to Immigrants' Citizenry

Dear friends,

The link below is to a piece by a young man, Damon Williams, who I hold in deep regard. In my own biased opinion, he is a rising star in journalism. That is quite refreshing, because, except for female African American journalists/writers (some of whom have been featured on this blog), at least to me, especially since the Eighties, the overwhelming proponderance of their male countrerparts, although the latter often have had a longer history of being employed in the field of journalism, spend far too much of their time being in deference to both the views and wishes of their publishers and editors, while, simultaneously, engaging in intellectual acrobatics, to even recognize truth, much less share it with others. And there is such a thing (i.e., truth). After all, as myself and others have been insisting for decades, "If there is no such a thing as truth, then why do so many benefit by hiding it?"...

To be sure, although capitalism has contributed tremendously to our country's development in many areas, in its present "advanced" state, our economic system is having trouble insuring that all of our fellow citizens even have food and housing. That is, whereas USA capitalism has created great amounts of food and, thus, a large population, it has not been able to provide sufficient resources for a good many of its citizens.

Some of our fellows attribute the lack of the aforementioned resources of food, and so forth, for all of our citizenry to "immigrants" acquiring too great a share of the nation's income. However, the facts prove differently. The truth is: Most low income people in this country are European Americans or so-called “whites”; therefore, it is they (said EuropeanAmericans) who receive the largest share of benefits from government programs. Consequently, the argument that Caribbeans, Latinos, Asians, Africans, or other non-European groups are taking anything away from "native" citizens is a complete fabrication, if not s lie.

At any rate, this particular message that Damon is sharing is quite personal. It is, in fact, about his wife, Francina, gaining full American citizenship. Because she comes from Barbados, the same island from which, almost a century ago, my maternal grandparents (the only grandparents who I ever knew) emigrated to the US as adults (they both lived well into their Nineties), I have some personal reasons myself for sharing this piece with you.

Of course, whenever people leave their homes of origin there are always - or, at least, usually - feelings of guilt. Many people, like my grandparents, never return to their former homelands -not even to visit. And so begins the process of self-alienation that is so ingrained in citizens of this largely immigrant - whether voluntary or forced, "advanced" nation.

One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080719_New_American__A_woman_s_path_to_citizenship.html?adString=pdn.news/local;!category=local;&randomOrd=071908071819
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About what is Senator Obama's plan for leaving Iraq?

Dear friends,

Yesterday (7/14) the New York Times had an Op-ed by Senator Barack Obama where he made his case for the United States military leaving Iraq. First of all, personally, I am still not sure of what the purpose of the US being there is. Have thousands of American soldiers and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people, let alone the thousands more crippled on both sides, been used as a means to an end to enhance power and profits for various governments and religious institutions (like the Muslim sects at war there)? How is any war going to benefit either American or Iraqi citizens, much less the rest of the world? And what will the war with Afghanistan - or, if included, Iran - do for everyday people here and abroad? Again, if the people are simply being used as means to ends, then it seems, at least to me, that the ends are greater wealth for a few and more power and prestige for institutions like governmental and religious ones - at the expense of people. Please think about it.

G. Djata Bumpus Read full post