Rev. Al Sharpton's Ex-Wife Kathy Jordan and Daughter, Dominique, 23, Arrested on Obstruction Charges, Disorderly Conduct

Rev. Al Sharpton's ex-wife Kathy Jordan, 53, and his oldest daughter, Dominique, 23, were arrested in Manhattan Friday night for resisting arrest after speeding past a patrol car and through a red light on Eighth Avenue in Harlem, according to the NY Daily News. Sources said as the officers attempted to issue the women a summons for the traffic violation, the pair became belligerent, arguing that they were only trying to get around the squad car that was driving too slow.

Sources said Dominique was the driver and argued against the summons, which led to disorderly conduct and obstruction of governmental administration charges. They were issued desk appearance tickets and allowed to go home. Rev. Al weighed in through his lawyer Michael Hardy who said, "How what was apparently a minor traffic dispute ended up with two arrests with desk appearance tickets is highly questionable and unusual." I see exactly where this is going. Stay tuned, there will be more to come.

According to Hardy, Dominique Sharpton called her mother, who rushed to the scene and found her daughter handcuffed and in the back of a police car. Rev. Sharpton took to Twitter to voice his anger over the incident. He said, "I cannot imagine how two unarmed women with no record, could be taken in cuffs from a traffic dispute with NO personal or property damage involved." He added, "Well this is what we deal with everyday. We will never accept unfairness."

I got a ticket earlier this year for running a red light, which was unintentional, however, when I was pulled over, I didn't argue with the police officer because I knew exactly what happened. He told me that I ran a red light and asked me if I didn't see that the light had changed from amber to red. Hey, I didn't argue with him. I took my licks like an adult because I was in the wrong. Kathy and Dominique Sharpton think they are above the law and they can drop the "Sharpton" name in the hopes that it will scare the officer. Sorry, if you are pulled over by a cop, there's no need to resist arrest. Take your ticket and move on. If the cop was wrong, there is ample time for them to contest it court and file a formal complaint against him. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense know you don't argue with police officers and expect to walk away.

Anthony Sowell, Convicted Rapist, Arrested on Charges of Felonious Assault and Rape, As Many as Six Bodies Found at His Cleveland House

One more scumbag has been taken off the streets, but sadly this has occurred after as many as six bodies have been found at his house. Anthony Sowell, 50, a convicted rapist, was arrested about noon today in his inner city neighborhood in Cleveland. The police said officers found three bodies and believe they have discovered three more but are awaiting confirmation from the coroner.

The first two bodies were found Thursday night when police went to Sowell's home to arrest him on charges of felonious assault and rape. Police said he spent 15 years in prison for a 1989 rape. He should have never been released from prison in the first place. He was not rehabilitated by his stint in prison. He came out and did the same thing and worst -- murdered six people. It will be interesting to see if he is a suspect in any other unsolved rapes and possible murders in the area.

Jayden Lenescar, 4, Beaten in Bathtub with Belt & Wire Hanger, by Mother Myrna Chen Phang & Friend, for Touching Himself

Jayden Lenescar, 4, never had a chance. He was whipped bloody in a bathtub and left in pain and agony for two days before he died. Why? According to media reports, he touched his genitals. That was a sick excuse for his mother, Myrna Chen Phang, 25, and her houseguest, Steven Dadaille, 26, to have given this poor baby the thrashing of his life. When paramedics examined his body, they could not believe their eyes. One reportedly asked "Who the f--- beat this kid?" The couple have confessed to the October 23rd murder. There is no justification for the fate this child met.

"They said they warned him not to touch himself and he went ahead and did it, so they threw him in the bathtub, threw cold water on him and began hitting him with the belt," one source said. Chenphang beat the boy first, and Dadaille, a houseguest, took the belt away because she was being too easy, sources said. "He said she was being 'too soft,'" a source said. The beating was so severe that Jayden began urinating blood, Dadaille told cops.

Jayden went into cardiac arrest on Oct. 23. An EMS worker summoned to the Brooklyn apartment took one look at him and said, "Who the f--- beat this kid?" a source said. In a disturbing twist, another source told The News Jayden may not have been simply curious about his body; investigators think by touching himself he may have been trying to tell his mother he was being molested by someone. Source: NY Daily News

The bruises and open cuts across his chest were so horrific that investigators think a wire hanger may have been used. What is equally reprehensible is the fact that the mother and her friend did not call 911, but kept the boy home from school for two days and told relatives who heard him moan over the phone that he had the flu, according to statements made by family members to cops.

The brutal treatment being inflicted on so many children in this country is horrific and the perpetrators must be punished to the fullest extent of the law. This little boy, like the thousands of children who have been kidnapped, raped, beaten and killed, do not deserve this and law enforcement must have zero tolerance for any perpetrators brought to justice for these crimes. What would drive a mother to beat her child in such a manner is disgraceful and criminal. New York state has the death penalty and this woman deserves just that.

Photo credits: Myrna Chen Phang & Steven Dadaille, NY Daily News

Domestic Violence, Is it Really Domestic?

Suddenly, it appears that have an epidemic in our midst. No, it is not the H1N1 virus, but something much more tangible, domestic violence. I am beginning to wonder if it really is domestic. The recent headline of the father of Iraqi descent, who ran his daughter down in a parking lot, because "she became too westernized" highlights the need for stricter imposition or enforcement of anger management principles, as part of the rehabilitation process for these individuals.

Wherever in the world, you come from, it is not okay to run your daughter down. What happened to the image of the loving father? How can any one believe in God as father, when the father figure in their lives is often the abuser.

At some point, we have to stop. Domestic violence is a scourge on society. It robs women of their rights as individuals, and children of a loving and caring atmosphere in their homes, which in turn, cultivates an environment in which they can succeed.

Violence in the home is not confined or bound by socio-economic status, national origin,ethnicity, nor financial standing. It is about the individual who chooses to bully and demean the women in their lives. As a survivor of domestic violence myself, I was presented with statistics that once the child becomes twelve years old, the abuser now turns his attention to hitting the child as well as the mother.

This cannot go on. The society cannot continue to turn a blind eye as men continue to hit and murder women and children. Having been through the justice system, there needs to be more enforcement of orders of protection. Sometimes this is the only way to prevent a man from bullying women and children. The recent story of the New York anchor, who for over two decades bullied and beat his wife, all the while maintaining an upright public profile, underscores the fact that women are sometimes threatened , that if they expose what happens behind closed doors, they will be killed.

I applaud law enforcement officers for doing their jobs. Sometimes, it is not that women want to side with the abuser, but they have been choked, and slapped and threatened and intimidated, that they would prefer to live in peace than have to confront the abuser. I have been there.

Now, what do we do? The Word of God says, whom the Son sets free is free indeed. If you are from another culture and you now live in the United States, you are free to leave any abusive relationship and not bound by any cultural ties. Sometimes they use these ties, to make you stay in the abuse. And if you are an American, you are free to leave. Leave and save your life. Walk out, leave everything behind, the courts will apply judgment and determine who gets what. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking that they are the only way for you to live, not in these United States.

And my brothers, as husbands, fathers, uncles, protect the women in your lives. Love them and honor them. Teach them how to be treated by a man, so they can live in expectation of a good life. Live out the Word of God, which says, love your wives as Christ loves the church.

Earlier this evening, I was at Greater Grace Temple watching "To Hell And Back". It's theme resonates with today's headlines. It was a very realistic portrayal of what hell could be like if we don't change our ways. I am beginning to think, that we have become desensitized to the effects that violence has on us. Recently in Chicago, we sat back and watched helplessly, as young people committed senseless acts of violence against one another.

Children live what they learn. Psychologists say that children are products of their environment. Broken children make broken adults. If we allow domestic violence to go on as it does, in twenty years, the society could be advanced technologically, and even financially, but would you want to be in a society, where you hear your neighbor's wife screaming for help? Stop the violence.

Harriet Cammock, is the author of "Musings of the Spirit" a book in which she details her own emotional healing from domestic violence and is the host of the weekly radio show, The Faith Hour.

Faleh Hassan Almaleki, an Iraqi, Charged with Running Down his Daughter Noor Faleh Almaleki & her Friend, Found in Atlanta

Faleh Hassan Almaleki, 48, who had been accused of running down his daughter, Noor Faleh Almaleki, 20, and her friend Amal Edan Khalaf with a vehicle he was driving in a parking lot October 20, because she had become "too Westernized," has been taken into custody at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He was angry because his daughter was not living according to the family's traditional Iraqi values, Peoria, Il., police said last week.

Noor Faleh Almaleki has been hospitalized with life-threatening injuries and her friend's injuries were not life threatening. This man meant to kill his daughter and he should be slapped with attempted murder charges.  According to the police, Noor Faleh Almaleki lives with Khalaf, but they did not elaborate on how the two women knew each other.

 
I am amazed that many of these fathers are so fanatical about their daughters maintaining family traditions in a foreign country where the way of life is completely different. Still, if you are concerned about your daughter's lifestyle or behavior, you don't get behind the wheel of a car and run her down. That is a criminal act that was premeditated and he should be charged as such, in addition to the fugitive charges.

UPDATE#1: The Peoria Police Department said Noor Almaleki, who was run over by her father, died around noon today. She had undergone spinal surgery. Almaleki and her boyfriend’s mother were walking across a Peoria parking lot when they were struck, officers said. The girl’s father was returned to Arizona Saturday to face aggravated assault charges. Faleh Almaleki was arrested Thursday when he arrived at Atlanta's airport, sent from the United Kingdom after authorities denied him entrance. He was returned to Peoria, booked and taken to a county jail.

Family members said Noor Almaleki had been living with her boyfriend and Khalaf, and Faleh Almaleki was upset that his daughter had become too "Westernized," had failed to live by traditional Muslim values and had disrespected the family. After the incident, authorities said Almaleki went to Mexico. He eventually flew to London, but United Kingdom Port of Entry authorities denied him entry into the country.They contacted U.S. authorities and Almaleki was put on a flight back to Atlanta, where he was arrested. Source: CNN

This is a sad turn of events and now I hope the prosecutors will throw the book at him. What an animal!

Large Debris Field Found in Aftermath of Crash Between Coast Guard C-130 Plane and Marine AH-1 Cobra Helicopter Southern California Coast, Nine People Missing

URGENT:  A large debris field has been found and a search and rescue mission has been launched following the collision of a Coast Guard plane and a Marine helicopter off the southern California coast. Nine people are believed to have plunged into the water after the mid-air collision, a Coast Guard spokesman said. The assumption is that there may be survivors, but the longer it takes to find any survivors the likelihood that there will be casualties.

According to media reports, a Coast Guard C-130 plane and its seven crew members had been searching for a missing person when it collided with a Marine AH-1 Cobra helicopter on a military training exercise, Farris said. The helicopter had a two-member crew. A pilot reported seeing a fireball about 7:10 p.m. Thursday near the crash site off San Diego, California's, coast.
Coast Guard cutters, small boats and helicopters searched the area all night with help from the U.S. Navy. With the water temperatures in the 60s, it is estimated that survivability could be up to 20 hours. The Coast Guard plane had been on a search mission for a couple of days before Thursday's collision.

Photo credit:  Crash site, CNN

Dominic Carter, 45, NY1 Anchor, On Trial for Beating His Wife Marilyn, Led Double Life as Secret Family Revealed

UPDATE: DOMINIC CARTER GETS ONE MONTH IN JAIL FOR BEATING WIFE!!!
Domestic violence is often a dirty little secret, hidden from the world, but it is important to note that it cuts across economic lines and often encompasses well-known, powerful and wealthy people. This time, NY 1 star Dominic Carter's domestic abuse and his "secret family" have been revealed and threatens to destroy his career.  A relative has charged during a one-day court hearing that he spent two decades brutalizing his wife, Marilyn, and showed total disregard for her that he fathered two children out of wedlock. Carter is on trial for allegedly punching and choking his wife in their suburban home last year. She had written to the district attorney saying she lied when she said he beat her. She's only trying to protect a monster who didn't get two cents about her. This hot mess exposed Carter's hidden private life and has painted a rather sinister side of a man who is widely regarded in New York City as an amiable and tough interviewer of local politicians since 1992. Well, there goes a career down the tube, literally and figuratively. The judge will issue a verdict November 19.

This one-day trial reads like an episode of "Young and the Restless." Among the allegations:

• Marilyn's brother, Larry Stevens, said Dominic had beaten and verbally abused her for two decades -- and that her family has repeatedly begged her to leave him.

• Even while allegedly abusing his wife, Carter fathered two children with his high-school sweetheart, one of them a son he named Dominic Jr., said Stevens, a retired cop. Carter also has a son with Marilyn named Dominic.

• Marilyn had told cops Dominic called her "a dumb project bitch" during the alleged Oct. 22 attack at the center of yesterday's trial. Source: NY Post
  

What's crazy is when Mrs. Carter, 52, was called to the stand she just kicked the prosecutor in the gut by bizarrely blaming her assault on a mysterious day laborer. She had blamed her hubby at the time, she claimed, only because she was "angry" at him for having an affair. Why is it that the victims chose to make excuses for their aggressors? I just cannot understand it. For me, the fact that he fathered two children with another woman while they are married is enough grounds for a divorce. He is having unprotected sex with another woman and most likely having sex with his wife too. Given all the sexually transmitted diseases out there, that's just living dangerously.

Meanwhile, NY 1 General Manager Steve Paulus said Carter went on an "indefinite leave of absence." Yeah, that means he is finito, done, washed up, history. What's equally striking is the arrogance this man oozed as he strode into court, with his sidekick standing dutifully by his side. "I have never laid a hand on my wife, he declared. "I will be exonerated in court." Didn't Scott Peterson proclaim his love his wife and his innocence, while he knew he murdered her and their unborn baby? How many times have we heard these men try to paint the picture of a caring and doting husband, yet they were guilty of domestic abuse?

According to the NY Post, Marilyn spoke still more strongly, insisting, "This is a character assassination against my husband! "This has caused a lot of pain to my family, but he will be vindicated." Lady, let me put it bluntly, your husband is being accused of being a wife beater and an adulterer. That has ended many marriages, as it should. It seems as though she has forgotten that there are multiple police reports detailing verbal arguments between the couple. In this most recent incident, he has been charged with misdemeanor assault, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail.

According to police records, Marilyn told cops at the time that he punched her twice in the face, swelling her lip; grabbed her throat while wearing a watch that scratched her ear; punched her arm; and "kicked her in her lower right shin, causing a small cut with minor bleeding." So, wouldn't the bruises and scratches be visible to the officer who went to the home? She also gave the cops a written statement detailing the same accusations. She said the day laborer assaulted her and not her husband. "Oh what a tangled tale we weave when we lie, hurt and deceive!" She should be charged with a crime for lying under oath. This is coming from the same woman who reportedly took out an order of protection against her husband in March, 2007 after another argument at their home. There is also a police report in 2003 that in which she said her husband choked her until she almost passed out. Here's my question, how come NY 1 still had this monster smiling for their cameras and yukking it up with NY politicos?

Kristy Sanchez-Trujillo, Albuquerque, NM, High School Social Studies Teacher, Arrested & Charged with Sex with Middle School Student

Teachers engaging in sexual relations with their students won't stop until the sentences handed down by judges are severe, such as life in prison. The latest child sex predator is Kristy Sanchez-Trujillo, a social studies teacher at Jimmy Carter High School in Albuquerque, NM. She has been charged with three counts of rape after she confided to a fellow teacher that she was having sex with one of her 13 year old male students. Thankfully, the teacher did the right thing and contacted the authorities immediately. Her arrest will spell doom for her father, Chris Sanchez' quest to become sheriff, since his daughter is now accused of being a child rapist.

Police said the teacher told them that the relationship simply started out as a student teacher relationship, but it spilled outside of school this week. They also said Sanchez-Trujillo and the 13-year-old saw some movies and were talking on the phone. Sanchez-Trujillo is a single parent with three children. She will most definitely lose custody of these children and her teaching license will be revoked, as it should.

This woman abused her power and violated this child. The judge should throw the book and everything else at her. She needs to be locked away for the rest of her life. Once a pedophile, always a pedophile.

Shaka Cobb, 25, and Ebony Smith, 25, Teachers at Rex Hill Middle School, Fight Over Man in Front of Student

Police said a love letter found on Facebook sparked an all-out, on-campus, profanity-laced brawl between two teachers. Shaka Cobb, 32, who said she and a man who teaches at Rex Hill Middle School in Rex, Ga.,  are expecting a child together, got into a fight with Ebony Smith, 25, because she discovered a love letter from Smith. What is shameful is that the altercation reportedly got so out of hand that both teachers were arrested. This love triangle erupted into a fight before students. If the teachers cannot conduct themselves with some dignity and grace, what do they expect the students to do? Of course, the school district had nothing to say. Both women have been placed both on administrative leave with pay pending an investigation. Both teachers face disorderly conduct charges and Smith faces simple battery as witnesses described her as the aggressor. If you ask me, these two hood rats should be fired immediately.

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(WSBTV) Police: Teachers Fight Over Man In Front Of Students

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If the students displayed this behavior they would be suspended or expelled. These two teachers should be fired immediately. According to police, Cobb found the love letter on her fiance's Facebook page last weekend. She angrily responded back on Facebook and all hell broke loose on Monday when both women met at the school in the eighth-grade hall. The police report states that there was cursing, threats to put the love letter on a blackboard for all to see and punches being thrown. The police officer did the right thing by arresting these two women. The last thing a pregnant woman should want to do is get into an verbal altercation, much less an all-out brawl.

William Gorzynski, 15, Stabs Brother, Matthew Gorzynski, to Death Over Loud Music

William Gorzynski, 15, is being held in juvenile custody on suspicion of second-degree murder in the Monday afternoon death of his brother 14-year-old Matthew Gorzynski. The two brothers were alone in their home when an argument occurred, which spiraled out of control, leading to one brother stabbing the other to death. For those of you with siblings, how many times have you gotten into an argument with your brother or sister? I am pretty sure you never grabbed a knife to stab he or she. I really am stunned at the level of violence being exhibited by some of our young people today.

According to police in Coral Springs, Fla.,, Matthew was playing music on a home computer. William was watching television nearby and complained the volume was too loud. He told him to turn it down. Matthew refused. The two yelled at each other, then fought. Sgt. Joe McHugh said William then went to the kitchen, grabbed a 7-inch knife and stabbed his brother in the upper left chest. He called 911 soon after and told the dispatcher that he had just stabbed his brother. Because of his description of the incident, the police have said this murder was not accidental.

According to the police report, officers responded and smelled an "overwhelming odor of marijuana" inside the home. The report said the younger boy was "lying on the floor of the bedroom near a stain of blood that soaked into the carpet."

To Hell And Back

It seems that we have gone to hell and back, literally. A review of today's headlines -- violence, racism, more violence, more inconsequential racism, which leads to heightened tensions, amongst peoples of different ethnic persuasions. What on earth is going on? Would seem to be the next logical question. When will it all end? We must rise up and take control of our society and employ persoanl restraint as much as possible. We have to learn to live with one another, learn from one another, and learn to appreciate the differences in us. 

Why are we using racism as a tool to separate and divide? Why are we using incendiary language when we address one another? I am calling on our leaders to stop this violence. You, a city leader, county leader, State leader, Senator, Congressman, Governor, the President. Stop this violence. Lead by example. You don't have to retaliate to everything some one says. Learn to ignore, and restrain yourself. Recognize that sometimes, someone is deliberately pushing the buttons that triggers the kind of behavior they are accusing you of portraying. And, I am calling on you,the reader to also lead by example, in your home, school, work, church, and community lead by following non-violent principles.

Every Halloween, my local church Greater Grace Temple, of Detroit, MI, puts on a play titled "To Hell And Back". It attempts to present what happens in hell and how to avoid going there. Go to the church's web site and get a DVD or if you are in the South-Eastern MI area, come and watch this play. We need to avoid creating hell on earth whilst we are here.

Harriet Cammock is the author of "Musings of the Spirit," a book in which she details her own emotional healing. She is also the host of The Faith Hour a weekly radio show aired on wpon.com/AM 1460 and at Blogtalkradio.com/The-Faith-Hour.

Sheila Bethea Smoked Crack, Did Heroin & Drank Alcohol Before Crashing Van, Killing Two Foster Children, Injured Three Other Children

Sheila Bethea admitted she smoked crack, did heroin and drank alcohol before she wrecked a minivan, killing two foster children. Ms. Bethea caused an accident, killing two of four foster children and injuring her biological daughter, none of whome were wearing seat belts. According to law enforcement sources, investigators believe she wrapped a crack pipe in a tissue and hid it in a body cavity after the crash shortly before 5 p.m., law enforcement sources said.  The foster mother for the children, Genevieve Bethea, is just as complicit in this tragedy. She knowingly allowed this woman to get behind the wheel of a car with the children, when it should have appeared obvious that she was impaired.

Bethea was held on $500,000 bail last night after pleading not guilty to manslaughter, assault and endangering the welfare of a child charges.  Queens Criminal Court Judge Mary O'Donoghue also ordered Bethea not to have any contact with the surviving girls. When will the courts hand down lengthy prison sentences for repeat DUI offenders? How many more children will die before something drastic is done?

What is incredulous is that Ms. Bethea is no stranger to driving under the influence. She pleaded guilty in 2003 to driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, told cops she lost control of the van because a replacement tire gave way.

She said was going 45 mph at the time of the crash, though cops believe she was traveling more than 70 mph.  One of the foster kids in the van said yesterday that she knew they were in danger moments before they slammed into another car on a St. Albans street in Queens, NY.

Katherine Willis, 15, and Melissa Elh-Mirra, 5 - two of the four foster children in the care of Bethea's mother - died hours after being crushed inside the vehicle. Bethea's daughter, Tatiana, 6, is in a medically induced coma with massive internal injuries. Alyahh suffered massive bruises on her chest and neck and cuts all over her body, but said she was only worried about her 10-year-old sister, Camara Sergonvich, who was crammed into the backseat. Source: NY Daily News

The biological parents of the four foster children and Bethea failed them on so many levels. What is ironic is that two of the biological mothers for two of the foster children, railed against Sheila and foster mother Genevieve Bethea for putting the kids in harm's way, when they shoulder some of the blame as well. Another mother, Pholia McArthur, 50,  had six of her 10 children placed in foster care, and had the nerve claimed the Bethea family used the kids as "paychecks" and abused them, yet she is clearly guilty of being a bad mother to her children. How do you allow yourself to have 10 children and then have six of them in foster care? Isn't there a big problem here? Genevieve Bethea was not arrested in this tragedy, but she should have been, for endangering the welfare of the foster children, by allowing them to get in a car with someone who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Photo credit: Sheila Bethea, NY Daily News

Black Students at University of Maryland Demand Apology for Slavery

It seems like demanding an apology for slavery is becoming commonplace in our society. The latest group to jump on the bandwagon is a group of black students from the University of Maryland, College Park. In light of the recent revelation that slaves helped to build the university, without any type of acknowledgement, some Black students have called for President C. Dan Mote, to issue a formal apology for the institution's use of slave labor. I am now awaiting those descendants of the slaves who helped to build the White House to seek President Barack Obama's apology for the use of slave labor.

The university held a forum, "Release of a New Study on Slavery and UM Early History" Mon., Oct. 9 and remarks were made by Mote, noted historian Ira Berlin, the Rev. L. Jerome Fowler, a descendant of one of the Blacks who played a role in the early years of the university-Adam Plummer, university curator Elizabeth McAllister and Dottie Chicquelo, assistant director of the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Education and president of the Black faculty and staff organization.

The study, "Knowing Our History,” which was produced by an undergraduate class taught by Berlin and Herbert Brewer, a graduate student, delves into the origins of the University of Maryland, with passages that explore the origins of slavery in Europe and how it evolved into a lucrative, worldwide enterprise that reached into the Americas. Source: The Washington Informer

So, some students say that he should apologize and give credit to those who sacrificed their labor. I do agree that our forefathers were brought here through no will of their own and subjected to denigration for eons, but what good will an apology do? The perpetrators of this unspeakable injustice have dead for eons.

The University of Maryland was founded by wealthy plantation owner Charles Calvert as the Maryland Agriculture College in 1856. Classes began at the institution in 1859 and, with the norms of 19th century America, excluded women and Blacks. However, in the "Overview and Appreciation" section of the publication, released in August 2009, Berlin pointed out that the issue of slave labor was discussed during the building of the institution. This was particularly relevant because the school's first president, Benjamin Hallowell, was opposed to slavery. He was told by Calvert and the board of trustees that slave labor would not be used in the construction of the university. Hallowell resigned one month into his term as president and while the publication does not say directly that it was tied to slavery, there is an inference of it.

"...although the evidence points elsewhere," Berlin said. "Slavery was the elephant in the room, which everyone recognized but no one could acknowledge. Political necessities may have forced both Calvert and Hallowell to avoid the direct discussion of slavery, but slavery's omnipresence-as a source of wealth, status and labor-made it clear that slaves were no silent partner in the establishment of the Maryland Agriculture College." Source: The Washington Informer

I agree that is it important to acknowledge the contribution of African Americans in American history, but I still don't get why apologizing for slavery will change how we feel in any way. Slavery was an abhorrent practice and no matter how it is viewed, it will forever be a stain on America's storied history. As a country, we all shared in the benefits and the tragedies of that dark era. As a country, I am sure most of us are remorseful of the suffering and injustices perpetuated upon our African American foreparents and even today when isolated cases of racism occur, but I still cannot say that an apology for slavery will change anything.

Violence Against Women and Children has to Stop

Recently on The Faith Hour, we did a series on Emotional Healing. As part of this, we highlighted pornography and especially, internet pornography, computer games, etc., which promote violence against women and children. In the last episode of this series on emotional healing that is -- healing applied by the Word of God to those places in our emotions where we hurt.  I had, as my special guest, a software developer of the Mother Protection System. This software acts as a filter to exclude certain kinds of programming from having access to your computer hard drive. 

He provided some interesting statistics on the society's development and what types of computer games available which provide detailed accounts on how to attack women and children. Games like Battle Rapist detail how to target certain women who leave work late at nights and use public transportation; how to hurt babies, etc. He also supplied in detail how sexual predators target certain neighborhoods, watch young children and provide information to other predators, who do not live in the same area. Almost as though there is a network of predators who describe what they want and have some one else ssource it for them. I am not suggesting that this is what happened in Florida to Somer Thompson, but as concerned parents everywhere, we need to be mindful of what types of games, and internet predatory activity exists, which provides tools and resources to attack those who are precious to us.

Guard your privacy. Engage in ongoing review and supervision of what your children view and access on the internet, as well as find out what kinds of games they play. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:17-19, "put off the old man and be renewed in the spirit of your mind." It also goes on to say, not to engage in lewdness, and unclean conduct, not to give your self over to deceitful lusts. Don't engage in activities which pollute your mind, spirit, emotions or thought processes. These activities are corrupt and grieve the Holy Spirit in you. Some images you view on the internet through pornography or other media, have caused harmful behavior to children.

As a society we need to examine ourselves and hold ourselves accountable for our conduct. Allowing such types of entertainment suggests that we have become a society given over to our lusts. Somehow, each of us has to demonstrate restraint and be kind and loving to one another. That is the message of Jesus, for if we love our neighbors as we love ourselves, we will become our brother's keeper.

Harriet is the author of "Musings of the Spirit, a book in which she details her own emotional healing, and is also the host of The Faith Hour, a weekly radio show available from wpon.com or AM 1460, and at blogtalkradio.com/The-Faith-Hour.

Rep. Jeffrey Wood, I-Chippewa Falls, Wis., Caught on Dashcam Being Arrested on 5th DUI Arrest, Falls During Sobriety Test

It is a dirty shame that Wisconsin's Rep. Jeffrey Wood, I-Chippewa Falls, was caught for a fifth time driving under the influence of alcohol. A video was released yesterday showing Wood getting pulled over after officers see his Buick Skylark stop in the middle of a road and then slowly swerve across both lanes of traffic.

When he was asked to walk a straight line, he stumbled backward into his car before falling down into some grass. An officer helped him up, and Wood is put in handcuffs a short time later. The video also shows police seizing bottles of prescription drugs from Wood.

He has apologized for his actions and says he won't seek re-election next year. He should be expelled from his position. He had been arrested on September 23, 2009, for a similar offense. This man needs to be put in rehab involuntarily if he refuses help.

The former Republican was also charged with bail jumping for violating the conditions of his original bond. This arrest marks Wood’s fifth for some form of operating while intoxicated. Why wasn't he incarcerated for a long time, since he is a repeat offender? There is no need for him to keep driving on the streets. The next time he gets behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or prescription drugs could spell disaster and death. How many more chances is this man going to get before someone says enough is enough?

NYPD Brass Launch Investigation Into Tense Standoff in which White Cop Pressed Black Detectives for IDs

New York's Finest is in the news again and this time it's for infighting. The NYPD is investigating a confrontation between white uniformed cops and  black hate-crime detectives who claim they were racially profiled. According to the NY Daily News, a detective and a sergeant had to be physically restrained during the tense, profanity-laced standoff, which has caused a debate among police brass about who was out of line. The uniformed officer reportedly demanded identification from the detectives,  who were following up on a possible bias crime. It is a real shame that these detectives were subjected to the very same behavior they were investigating. For all those people who think that white cops do not give black males a second look when they are patrolling are deluded into thinking that racial profiling isn't an issue.

The detectives were investigating an incident in which a black woman's car windows were shot out in the predominantly white neighborhood of Gravesend, Brooklyn. Hate crime task force members Stephon Garland and Gregory Wilson, who are black, and Faisal Khan, who is Pakistani, were wearing suits for the door-to-door canvass.

About 15 members of the Shomrim Jewish Community patrol arrived, and someone dialed 911, alleging the detectives were police impersonators, according to a report reviewed by The News. The detectives identified themselves over the air to the radio dispatcher, but the situation escalated when uniformed cops from the 61st Precinct responded and demanded their ID cards. Khan told Officer Craig Malamed, who is white, that he and his partners were from the task force and what they were doing.

After Khan and Wilson showed the cop their IDs, Malamed complained to his sergeant that Garland was sitting in the SUV and had not displayed identification. Garland, the report states, called the cop a "f-----g d--k."  Community-based Jewish patrols like Shomrim and Shmira have been criticized for inflaming racial tensions and allegedly taking the law into their own hands. The son of a black cop was allegedly beaten by a Shmira member last April in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Source: NY Daily News

We will see what the investigation reveals and if these detectives were given a hard time because of the color of their skin. All too often many people just shrug their shoulders when a black man complains that he was roughed up or pulled over by a police officer for no other reason than because of the color of his skin. This is a real problem and it is a shame that it can also happen to black police officers too.

Lawsuit Claims East St. Louis Passed Up White Police Chief, Ronald Grimming, Because He is White

There may have been a case of reverse discrimination in East St. Louis.  City officials are seeking a new police chief, but they passed up the former director of the Florida Highway Patrol, Ronald Grimming, who formerly was a top commander of the Illinois State Police and two former members of the city board claim it is because he is white. Wyatt Frazer and Della Murphy allege in a federal lawsuit that they were forced off the Police, Fire and Civil Service Board for their advocacy of a white candidate when the chief's job was open in 2007. The suit against Mayor Alvin Parks, City Manager Robert Betts and the city itself does not identify Grimming by name or qualifications.

According to U.S. census records, East St. Louis has a 97.7 percent black population. The candidate they chose at the time was Michael Baxton Sr., an African-American who had been a police detective in adjoining Centreville and police chief in Brooklyn, a village of fewer than 700 residents.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Matthew Curran, Teacher at Lenape Middle School in Bucks County, Pa., Under Fire for Racist Cartoon on Math Worksheet

It is absolutely inexcusable that any school could use such a reprehensible picture on any worksheet to educate children. This disgusting picture appeared on a work sheet used by a teacher at Lenape Middle School in Bucks County, Pa., called "Solving Equations using Multiplication and Division!" and it featured a photo of a black man wearing a straw hat, shirt and suspenders, with his mostly toothless mouth wide open. As if to underscore the man's stupidity, at the bottom of the picture was written, "No wai!!!" A parent discovered this picture when she was helping her son with his homework Saturday night.

The mother learned that her son, the only black student in his eighth-grade pre-algebra class at Lenape Middle School, was teased by another student when the assignment was distributed. "One of the kids in the classroom turned around and said, 'Is that your father?' " she said.

"We are highly insulted and offended. We sent him to school to learn pre-algebra. He should be protected from this stuff, not have it thrown in his face...He gets enough (racial slurs) and negativity from the kids. To have the teacher encourage it?"

Both the mother and her son are black. On Monday, the student stayed home from school and his mother called the principal first thing in the morning. Source: Philly Burbs

What is equally unconscionable is the fact that the math teacher, Matthew Curran deliberately chose to use this picture. A school district spokeswoman said that Curran frequently uses photos and other illustrations on his work sheets to engage the students and said he found the image by doing a Google Images search for the phrase "multiply and divide."

"I chose it because it said 'no way,' which is a comment my students make when I require them to show each calculation," he wrote in an e-mail. "I had no idea that I might offend anyone. I am very sorry for any distress that this has caused my students and the community."

A Google Images search for "multiply and divide" provides other images that might be considered more math-related - a cartoon drawing of a child holding math symbols, a cartoon calculator with legs and various photos of calculators. Source: Philly Burbs

This is a disgrace and it is continued proof that racism is alive and well in the U.S.A., no matter how subtle. This teacher should make a public apology to the entire school. This picture was deeply offensive and racist.

Republican National Committee Under Fire for Racist Picture of President Obama on Group's Facebook Page

The Republican National Committee's Facebook page is raising eyebrows after a "racist" picture of President Obama appeared on the group's fan page. A “fan” of the committee posted a picture of President Obama eating a piece of fried chicken with a caption that reads: “Miscegenation is a crime against American values. Repeal Loving v. Virginia.” Wow. Miscegenation or the mixing of different racial groups was deemed unconstitutional in 1967 during the Loving V. Virginia court case. The court's ruling ended all race based legal restrictions on marriage. The picture has since been removed from RNC's page.

Shepard Smith Apologizes For "Lack Of Balance" In Fox News Report on New Jersey Gubernatorial Race (VIDEO)

Shepard Smith and Geraldo Rivera are two on-air personalities at Fox News that I can tolerate. I have found them to be "fair and balanced" in every sense of the word. Shep did something no one else at Fox News Channel has to guts to do, well, maybe Bill O'Reilly on occasion when he gets cornered. He apologized for a story not being fair and balanced. Here's a quick synopsis of the incident:

Reporter Shannon Bream was covering the campaign for governor in New Jersey when she snagged an interview with the Republican candidate Chris Christie, but when Smith asked her when she would interview the the Democratic candidate, and current Governor, Jon Corzine, Bream replied, "We have in multiple requests, and when it comes in, we'll let you know."

Smith was clearly not happy with that response. He remarked "Wow. I didn't know that was about to happen. My apologies for the lack of balance there. If I'd had control it wouldn't have happened."

John William Lomax III Charged with Murder of Jasper Howard, UConn Football Player Stabbed Outside University Party

John William Lomax III, 21, was charged with the murder of University of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard, 20. His defense attorney has maintained that he was just trying to break up a fight. Two others were charged in the fight that led to the untimely death of this promising young man. Lomax bond was set at $2 million, which basically means he will sit in jail until his case is tried.

Police charged Hakim Muhammad, 20, of Bloomfield, with conspiracy to commit assault and Jamal Todd, 21, of Hartford, with a felony charge of falsely reporting an incident and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment. Police say he pulled the fire alarm that emptied the dance early Oct. 18, triggering the fight.

Lomax is not a UConn student and lives in Bloomfield, which is approximately 30 miles from campus. His lawyer Deron Freeman said he wasn't present when the argument started and doesn't know what it was about, but tried to break up the fight. "He was just partying," Freeman said. "Often people from out of town go to the UConn campus to party." He is a Bloomfield High School graduate and works in information technology. He goes by the nickname "Pooda."

On his Facebook page, Lomax's friends include Muhammad and 21-year-old Johnny Hood of Hartford, who was arrested last week and faces charges of breach of peace and interfering with police. Freeman said he was first told that Lomax would be charged in connection with the fight, but not with murder.

Howard, a starting cornerback whose nickname was Jazz, was stabbed outside a university-sanctioned dance, hours after helping his team to a homecoming game win over Louisville. The entire UConn team attended his funeral Monday in Miami, where he was eulogized by coach Randy Edsall as "the ultimate son, he was the ultimate brother. He was the ultimate teammate. He was the ultimate friend. They didn't come any better than Jazz." It's a real tragedy that this young man was murdered. He has gone too soon.

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) Comes Under Fire for Referring to Linda Robertson, Ben Bernanke Aide, As a "K Street Whore"

Florida Rep. Alan Grayson is at it again. He recently called Linda Robertson, an aide to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, a "K Street whore." That was just plain disrespectful to this woman and he owes her an apology. His latest gem came during a radio interview a month ago, which seems really weird that it is just now making the rounds on Capitol Hill.

What's equally reprehensible is that Grayson's spokesman, Todd Jurkowsk, said the congressman's comments came in response to an attack from Robertson over the his support of a GOP-backed bill to audit the Federal Reserve. "She actually questioned his understanding of the difference between fiscal and monetary policy," he said in a statement to CNN. "She had the audacity to attack a congressman who used to be an economist. She's a career lobbyist who used to work for Enron and advocates for whatever she gets paid to promote." Still, her response did not warrant such a horrible response from the congressman. Surely he could have been a little more tactful in his response.

The comments are the latest in a string of controversial statements from the freshman congressman, who last month angered Republicans but became a hero to the left when he declared on the House floor that the GOP health care plan is to let sick people "die quickly." He owes this woman an apology and Nancy Pelosi had better have a stern talk with him about the hateful rhetoric that emanates from his mouth.

Thousands Bid Farewell to Somer Thompson, Who Was Kidnapped and Murdered While Walking Home from School

Thousands bid farewell to Somer Thompson who was kidnapped and murdered as she walked home from school a little over a week ago. The public memorial will by followed by a private graveside funeral. What happened to this little girl is unconscionable and parents cannot let down their guard for a moment. When we were children, it was such a different place and time. Nobody bothered kids. I walked to and from school without any fear of being kidnapped. Today, I do not allow my children to walk from the gate of my subdivision to my home after getting off the school bus. Either my husband or I will go to meet them. They are not allowed to play unattended in the yard or roam the subdivision with some of their friends.

Somer's body was found on last Wednesday at the south Georgia landfill where Orange Park's garbage is dumped like trash. Investigators will no say how she died, but Beseler called it a "heinous crime." According to media reports, investigators have received more than 1,500 tips but still don't know who killed the first-grader who disappeared while walking home from Grove Park Elementary School about 2:45 p.m. Oct. 19.

There's a vile beast roaming around the community who needs to be taken off the streets and locked up before he/she strikes again. This little girl, like the hundreds of children who are kidnapped and murdered in this country, did not deserve this fate. It is time for each person to take a stand against these murderers and child predators. There should be zero tolerance. Any person guilty of molesting a child should be locked up for the rest of their lives so that they do not re-offend.

Chicago, Cook County to Pay Cash Bounties for Informants on Business Tax Cheats

Attention all rats in Chicago and Cook County, the city is debuting a "tax whistle-blower" program that could literally pit neighbor against neighbor in the city and county's business community. The geniuses at city hall will pay cash bounties to informants who turn in business tax cheats around the city.

According to media reports, the reward would amount to some a percentage of the tax money that the city recovers.

"It's just another way of bringing people into compliance," Revenue Department spokesman Ed Walsh told the Sun-Times. How exactly would a resident know that a business isn't paying its taxes? Wouldn't that be more related to a business knowing in some way that a competitor isn't remitting a tax? Or it could be an employee of the tax-dodging business who could possibly have some inkling that this is going on.

Russia' Pravda Ru States "America Moving from Kingdom of Cash to Socialism Slowly but Surely"

I came across an interesting article on Pravdu Ru's website that says America is moving from a "kingdom of cash to socialism, slowly but surely." That may be just what the right wing is hoping would be the conclusion that many are reaching about Barack Obama's presidency. Here's the article in its entirety:

America Moving from Kingdom of Cash to Socialism, Slowly but Surely

Obama’s decision not to build the Missile Defense System in Poland and the Czech Republic and his Noble Prize have not yet been comprehended from a philosophical viewpoint. It’s time to do it.

Power of Money against Power of Spirit

The last turning point similar to the current one happened approximately 400 years ago. The Western European society discovered a new hierarchy of values. Feudalism that valued service and chivalry was replaced with capitalism. Wealth became the measure of success, and everyone was to care about his own pocket only. The cult of money replaced all other values, including religious.

Capitalism turned everything upside down and made people more excited about stuffing their bank accounts than anything else. This system turned out to be extremely efficient in terms of production of goods, services, and comfort. America benefited from the system the most, and decided that the rest of the world has to adopt it as well. If some underdeveloped countries are unable to appreciate the benefits of capitalism, they should be forced to do it.

Collapse of the Illusion

Meanwhile, philosophers says that capitalism is driven not by hard cash, but rather, striving for hard cash. It’s driven not by the production of goods, but rather, striving for consumption of these goods.

If everyone had these values, the “dog-eat-dog” principal would be the major principal in the world history. But America failed to do it. There are plenty of “underdeveloped” people in the world who continue to cherish spiritual values. There are not that many chances left to force them into worshiping money since these “underdeveloped” people adopt western technology and become stronger. The appeal to adopt American values doesn’t work either. Why would we adopt the system if the system is in crisis? Pragmatic America realized that billions of people are not willing to live in the kingdom of hard cash and decided that it would be better off leaving this kingdom itself. Now the USA is talking about introducing elements of socialism.

What does Obama’s decision not to build the Eastern European Missile Defense System have to do with all of this? Well, it means that it’s not capitalism that’s undergoing the crisis, but the belief in its high efficiency. And this, in turn, means that America, the bulwark of capitalism, is no longer the boss of the world. And if it’s not the boss any more, it has to be friends with everybody, including Russia. And it’s America’s turn to offer Russia to push the reset button. Or maybe it’s just tired of imposing its rules on others and felt that friendship is more valuable than money and power? If this is the case, we will soon witness another turning point in the world history. Source: Pravda Ru

I viewed President Obama's decision not to proceed with the Eastern European Missile Defense System purely as a calculated political move to allay Russia's fears. I didn't view this as an indicator that the country is moving towards Socialism.  President Obama decided to take that course of action on counsel of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the Chiefs of Staff and opted for a "smarter, stronger and swifter" system involving both sea-based and land-based mobile interceptors. President Obama also said that the latest intelligence suggested that the threat of long-range missile attacks from Iran had receded, but the threat of short- or medium-range attacks were a real one. I don't agree for one minute that the threat from Iran has receded. He said that the system would be "phased and adaptive" and used proven technologies to create an effective missile defense system.

ESPN Suspends Announcer Bob Griese For Racist Remark he Made About NASCAR Driver Juan Pablo Montoya

Another ESPN on-air personality is in the hot seat. Bob Griese was suspended for a racist remark he made about NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya last Saturday. During the Ohio State/Minnesota game, the NASCAR promotion turned downright nasty when broadcaster Chris Spielman asked where Montoya was in the standings ... then Griese let this gem fly out of his mouth: "He's out having a taco." Montoya is a Colombian.

ESPN has suspended Griese off the air for one week. ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said Griese "understands the comment was inappropriate." This latest drama comes after hotpants Steve Phillips was fired after news broke about his extramarital affair with a nutjob who also worked for ESPN.

Tyler Perry Responds to Spike Lee's Characterization of His Films as "Coonery and Buffoonery"

Must we always air our dirty laundry in public? Well, Spike Lee picked a fight of sorts with Tyler Perry earlier this year and he responded during an interview on "60 Minutes." Personally, I like Spike Lee's work -- "Miracle at St. Anna," "Do the Right Thing," "School Daze" and "Jungle Fever." I do like some of Tyler Perry's work -- "Dairy of a Mad Black Woman" and "Meet the Browns." I have had enough of Madea and I am looking for some serious work from him and not just comedy. However, I don't think that Spike Lee should have thrown him under a bus, at least not by calling his work similar to "Amos and Andy" skits. There are many African Americans who find some of his characters -- Madea and Mr. Brown -- demeaning and harken back to a period in the African American experience that we need to move away from, but there are also many who love his work.

Tyler Perry said, during his appearance on "60 Minutes" he said he was “insulted” and “pissed off” by Spike Lee’s criticisms of Perry’s hit TV shows and movies. Lee recently called Perry characters such as Madea examples of “coonery” and “buffoonery.”“I would love to read that [criticism] to my fan base,” Perry told "60 Minutes" correspondent Byron Pitts. “All these characters of mine are bait, bait to get people talking about God, love, family, and faith.”

Tyler Perry has an unbelievable gift for comic impersonations and making his audience laugh, but Madea and Mr. Brown are getting tired. Stuttering black men in colorful clothes feel really old -- a little like Amos n Andy. Surely, Tyler Perry can make us laugh with other characters than his usual bumbling black men. To his credit, maybe he has started to move away from these characters through a recent collaboration, "Precious" with daytime queen Oprah Winfrey.

As for Spike Lee, I could also make an argument that he tends cast lighter-skinned Black and/or Latina women as his black lead's love interests. Don't get me wrong, I have no issues with light skinned black women, but it seems that Spike Lee may have a problem with dark-skinned sisters. The reality is that using lighter skinned love interests only reinforces how the black community defines physical beauty and, in essence, socio-economic mobility. That's just as problematic as a bumbling black man like Mr. Brown.

These two men are bringing different things to the table. Tyler Perry has found a way to bring African Americans to the movie theaters, more than Spike Lee has. Spike Lee confronts racial discrimination in his movies and racial equality in Hollywood, still rarely examining his own regressive "color" politics. So, at the end of the day, I guess I'll take my chances with Tyler Perry and his business acumen, but I hope "Madea Goes to Jail" is the last of his movies to feature this big-breasted angry mammy. It's time to let her go. Really.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Wife, Maria Shriver, Caught Breaking Traffic Laws Again

Sorry, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger needs to get his wife, Maria Shriver a driver because she keeps breaking the traffic laws. This time, according to TMZ, she left her Cadillac Escalade in a red zone for almost an hour while visiting the doctor's office in Santa Monica. Gee, does she ever get off her cell phone? She ought to read Department of DMV's 2009 California Driver Handbook -- Red: No stopping, standing or parking.

Larry Whitten, Taos, NM, Hotel Owner, Comes Under Fire for Asking Hispanic Employees to Anglicize Spanish First Names

Larry Whitten, a former Marine, resurrected a failing hotel the Paragon Inn in Taos, New Mexico, but what happened when he took over is just downright discriminatory. He forbade the Hispanic workers at the hotel, renamed the Whitten Inn, from speaking Spanish in his presence and ordered them to Anglicize their names. You know, instead of Marcos, Mark would be the new name. His management style worked as he turned around other distressed hotels he purchased in recent years, but he wasn't prepared for the fallout. His rules and his terminations of several Hispanic employees angered many in the area. Former workers, their relatives and some of the town's residents picketed across the street from the hotel and, in essence, brought the issue to the national stage. Mr. Whitten should have taken the time to learn about the culture of Taos and the heavy Hispanic influence before purchasing the hotel.

Whitten spent 40 years in the hotel business and turned around more than 20 hotels in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and South Carolina before moving with his wife to Taos from Abilene, Texas. When he took over the hotel, he reportedly said that he immediately noticed that they were hostile towards his management style and he feared that they might start talking about him in Spanish. Is he really racist or is he just asking his Hispanic employees to be respectful and mindful of the fact that he doesn't speak their language? I think it is just bad manners for people to converse in another language in front of someone else who isn't.

What I do find disturbing is Mr. Whitten's request that his Hispanic workers change their Spanish first names. That's just ridiculous and may reinforce the position of the workers that they are being discriminated against. He said that it is a routine practice at his hotels to change first names of employees who work the front desk phones or deal directly with guests if their names are difficult to understand or pronounce. Is Juan, Pedro, Marcos, Jose, Jesus, Enrique and Alejandro hard to pronounce or remember? I scarcely believe so. He said, "It has nothing to do with racism. I'm not doing it for any reason other than for the satisfaction of my guests, because people calling from all over America don't know the Spanish accents or the Spanish culture or Spanish anything." Really? He's basically saying his guests are stupid.

Mr. Whitten should have familiarized himself with the Spanish culture and the local culture of Taos before he purchased the hotel. He has reportedly made comments to the local media, referring to townspeople as "mountain people" and "potheads who escaped society." He cannot possibly think anyone in their right minds would tolerate such a despicable behavior from anyone, much less a businessman. I guess he summed up his predicament better than anyone else could. He said in an interview, "What kind of fool or idiot or poor businessman would I be to orchestrate this cray thing that's costed me a lot of time, money and aggravation?" Yeah, you are a fool alright. I was on his side with conversing in Spanish before him since he didn't speak the language, but he lost me with the name calling and changing Spanish first names. His demands are just discriminatory and plain crazy.

San Jose Police Officers Steven Payne, Jr. & Kenneth Siegel, Two Others, Placed on Leave for After Video Surfaces Shows Student Phuong Ho Beaten

Four police officers in San Jose have been placed on administrative leave while the department conducts an investigation into the beating of Phuong Ho, 20, a San Jose State University math major from Vietnam, who was taken into custody on September 3, after police responded to a disturbance call. The incident was captured on a grainy cell phone video and showed Ho repeatedly struck with a baton and was shocked with a Taser gun. Police reports of the incident state that officer Kenneth Siegel used his baton, and officer Steven Payne Jr. used his Taser gun to subdue Ho, whom the reports detailed as violently kicking and refusing to comply with their orders as they attempted to place Ho in handcuffs. The video shows a far different story.

The grainy video, which was taken by one of Ho's roommates, shows more than 10 baton strikes as well as Taser gun usage that can be considered as excessive and possibly criminal. Police officials said Siegel and Payne, Jerome Smith and Gabriel Reyes were placed on leave while their internal investigation proceeds.

What is equally disturbing is that Ho can be heard moaning and crying as he was on the ground. So, how can the police officers say he was resisting arrested and being combative? What is alarming is the fact that the final baton blow came as he was handcuffed.

What led to this beating?

The video shows San Jose officers' actions after they were called because of a Sept. 3 encounter between Ho and a roommate, Jeremy Suftin, that began when Suftin slopped soap on Ho's dinner steak. The two scuffled and Ho picked up a steak knife, saying that in Vietnam "I would kill you" for this.

At least some roommates laughed at the comment, as shown on a videotape reviewed by the Mercury News. But Suftin said he took it seriously, and the police were called.

Ho quickly dropped the knife and was not armed when police arrived, according to witnesses. But police reports state he ignored commands to stand in a hallway as officers entered his room to check his wallet for identification. When Ho tried to follow officer Siegel into his room, officer Payne pushed him into a wall in the hallway, forced him to the floor and attempted to handcuff him, their reports state. It was then that another roommate captured on video the officers using repeated baton strikes and a Taser gun on Ho, who was on the floor. Source:  Mercury News

Even if this young man initially resisted arrest, how far should the police go to subdue him? It certainly does not rise to the level of brutality that is seen in this video. It will be very interesting to see the outcome of this investigation. It is quite obvious that the police incident report and what transpired on the video are vastly different accounts of what happened.

To watch the video, CLICK HERE.

Melody Barnes, Chief Domestic Policy Adviser, Joins President Obama on the Links Sunday

The best The Washington Post could come up with this weekend was that President Obama has a female golfing buddy -- Melody Barnes, his chief domestic policy adviser. She is the first woman to become a part of this tight-knit foursome. Okay, so this is a first and a rarity for a regular golf outing that has long been dominated by the so-called "boys" of the White House, but is this really what people want to hear about? We all know that President Obama's first love is basketball, so what's with this new sport? This is scarcely as newsworthy as it is being made to seem. It seems that the President made a quick decision to take a woman along to play golf, but can't seem to make a solid decision on Afghanistan or the public option in the health care reform fight.

Here's the ridiculous coverage by the Washington Post on the president's golf outing yesterday:

Obama departed the White House at 12:18 p.m. wearing a black short-sleeve shirt. Barnes was wearing a baseball cap, dark long-sleeve shirt and beige pants. Marvin Nicholson, the White House trip director, loaded the golf clubs into the motorcade. The group headed for the course at Fort Belvoir on a chilly but clear day in Washington. They arrived just after 1 p.m. for several hours of golf.

Questions about the president's chumminess with the men on his staff -- to the exclusion of the women -- has become something of a buzz about Washington.  White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton said Barnes was not the first woman to play golf with Obama, but he later notified reporters that he had been wrong, and that Barnes was in fact the first woman Obama golfed with as president. "I was wrong about this -- all apologies," Burton wrote. "He golfed with women on the campaign trail." Source: Washington Post

Is it me or was this fluff? What about job creation, making a decision on whether or not to send more troops to Afghanistan, or what to do about Iraq, since there were two car bombings that killed hundreds yesterday. Better yet, what about stemming the rising foreclosure rates in this country and tackling job creation?

John White, Convicted in Shooting Death of White Teen, Daniel Cicciaro, Fights to Overturn Verdict

Lawyers for John White, a black man,who was convicted of killing Daniel Cicciaro, a white teenager in a racially charged shooting on Long Island, has been waging the fight of his life to get his conviction overturned on Friday. The hearing on Friday was to determine whether or not he received a fair trial for the murder of the teen in 2006. White is out on $200,000 bail while his appeal is heard. On Friday, he was flanked by dozens of members of the NAACP, the Nation of Islam and others on the courthouse steps to proclaim the injustice of the jury's decision. He was convicted of manslaughter and other charges in the August 9, 2006, shooting.

An all-white group, including Daniel Cicciaro, followed White's then-20-year-old son Aaron to his home because they wrongly thought he made sexual threats to a woman. Mr. White confronted the teens with a gun as they threatened to enter his house. He later told jurors the gun went off accidently when Cicciaro jumped him. Prosecutors said White was guilty of reckless homicide for bringing out the handgun instead of calling 911, and a jury found him guilty, three days before Christmas 2007. On Friday, White's lawyer, Richard Mischel, argued to a four-judge panel that jurors were coerced by a judge pressing them to decide. He also argued that his defense was unfairly kept from putting a psychologist on the stand or to talk about racial incidents before the shooting. A decision from the four-panel judges won't be made for at least a month.

This is a tragedy on all fronts, but what I would love the boy's mother to answer, is why her son was chasing this young man and had the nerve to confront the young man's father? Having lived in New York City for many years, I recall several incidents in which white kids accosted and/or beat black kids, most notably Yusef Hawkins, who was shot to death after being taunted by a mob of bat-wielding white youths in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Mr. White's actions may be considered by some as excessive, but given the isolated racially motivated beatings that have occurred in New York and New Jersey, he had every right to protect himself and his home. No parent should have to bury their child, but Daniel Cicciaro was clearly up to no good when he accosted this man. Mr. White had a right to defend his home and the prosecutor should have taken this into consideration. Sorry, but I don't think this man should have ever been charged with a felony.

If they can free the four thugs in upstate New York that beat an immigrant to death and found them guilty on lesser charges, then surely Mr. White, who has never run afoul of the law and was only protecting his home and his family, should have his conviction overturned.

Chicago Bar, Original Mother's, Accused of Racist Conduct After Barring Entry to Six Black Males because Their Pants Were "Too Baggy"

Original Mother's, a popular Chicago Gold Coast bar, has come under fire for allegedly discriminating against six black college students, visiting from Washington University in St. Louis, who were prevented from entering last weekend because their pants were "too baggy," while their white friends, attired in similar clothing were admitted. The Anti-Defamation League and the Chicago Urban League have called for formal apologies and retraining for employees at the bar.

On Thursday, the bar's human resources manager Dan Benson said security concerns, not racism, guided the decision to exclude the six students and four of their friends. Benson said gang violence was common nearby and pointed to security video that showed two black members of the group with backward ball caps. So, isn't that a form of discrimination to readily assume that once you see a black kid in baggy pants he or she is up to no good? The black students, visiting from Washington University in St. Louis, even offered to change clothes in their hotel, but the bar told them it wouldn't matter. They also said a white student traded pants with a black student and got into the bar without trouble. The students raised civil rights complaints, including one with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.

The letter from the civil rights group read, "We strongly suggest that Mother's re-examine its dress code, conduct immediate retraining of all employees to avoid any future racial discrimination or appearance thereof, and issue a formal letter of apology to the six students who were denied entry."

In a statement issued late Friday afternoon, the bar's management said it is taking the issue "very seriously."

"Consequently, we are conducting a detailed investigation of the events this past Saturday evening to determine what happened and why," the statement said. "And if anything inappropriate was done or said by anyone employed or affiliated with Original Mother's, we will take appropriate disciplinary action against the people involved, do everything in our power to promptly rectify the situation and make sure nothing of a similar nature occurs in the future."

The bar's management also said it plans to contact the students. I do understand that there are many troublemakers who come to many bars across the country, but you cannot readily discriminate against a black male just because you have had problems with some rowdy patrons before. Newsflash -- not every black male is a thug.

Dallas Police, Including Officer Gary Bromley, Ticketed 39 Drivers for Not Speaking English

Texas-style justice rears its head once more. Police Chief David Kunkle said Dallas police, including rookie officer Gary Bromley, wrongly ticketed at least 39 drivers for not speaking English over the last three years. The pending cases will be dismissed and those who paid the $204 fines will be reimbursed, he said. The citations were reportedly issued in several different patrol divisions by at least six different officers. Kunkle said one of those officers was responsible for five of the citations. These officers should be suspended immediately, since their names are on these tickets. 

Thankfully, one victim had the gumption to challenge the citation and that's what led to the discovery of all the others. According to Dallas News, Ernestina Mondragon was stopped on October 2nd for making an illegal U-turn in the White Rock area. Rookie Officer Gary Bromley cited her for three violations: disregarding a traffic control device, failure to present a driver's license and "non-English speaking driver." Beyond the legal ramifications, this is blatantly discriminatory against Latinos. The excuse being used by some officials is that the "the officer was confused by a pull-down menu on his in-car computer that listed the charge as an option."

But why would Bromley, a trainee officer in the northeast patrol division, even select that law which the computer referred since it is a federal statute regarding commercial drivers that Kunkle said his department does not enforce? Bromley and his training officer Senior Cpl Daniel Larkin should both be suspended, since Larkin was aware of the Mondragon citation. Further, the department stipulates that a sergeant must sign off on all citations, therefore, the supervisor who signed off on the Mondragon ticket, St. David Burroughs, 50, should be suspended immediately. Isn't it conventional wisdom that a trainer bears a great deal of responsibility in what a trainee does?

Dallas police said they will drop all charges against Mondragon, who speaks limited English and does have a Texas driver's license. Police officials declined to release the names of the officers and supervisors involved in the other cases, but Kunkle said he expected the investigation to last at least a few weeks and could reach back several years. Funny, the police is supposed to uphold the law, but a few rogue cops broke the law and this investigation could go back years, as the chief rightly said. Here's the crazy part, when you pay your fines, doesn't it list the offense? So, why didn't anyone notice this before?

The citations reportedly amount to a small percentage of the roughly 400,000 tickets issued by Dallas police each year, but it is very troubling nonetheless and the total is large enough to have serious legal ramifications. This seems like a trend to me and a policy. The problem for me is that this injustice is being perpetrated against a fairly voiceless and helpless section of the population. There are police officers on the streets who actually believe that it is un-American and possibly criminal not to speak English. This is a blow to the department's relationship with the Hispanic community and it may even lead to lawsuits in the near future.

Jose Feliciano, 64, Arrested for Murdering Rev. Ed Hinds, 61, Roman Catholic Priest, in St. Patrick's Church in Newark, NJ, Suburb

Rev. Ed Hinds, 61, a Roman Catholic priest, was found murdered Friday morning in his clerical robes, in the rectory of his northern New Jersey parish. Authorities warned that a killer was on the loose. No one has been arrested, and police have reportedly said they would not discuss possible motives.

Hinds was found around 8 a.m. Friday in the kitchen of the rectory attached to St. Patrick's Church in the affluent Newark suburb of Chatham, after he failed to appear to preside over morning Mass.

He was last seen alive around 11 p.m. Thursday, following a safety seminar held by police at the church in which they fingerprinted and photographed young children. According to media reports, the roads and intersections around the church and its Catholic school were closed as authorities investigated. Hinds, who was born in Morristown, N.J., had been at the parish since 2003.

UPDATE#1:  Jose Feliciano, the janitor at St. Patrick's Church, has been charged with murder in the slaying Rev. Hinds. According to Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi, Feliciano stabbed Hinds 32 times with a knife after they got into an argument on Thursday. The body was found on Friday morning. Feliciano, 64, has been employed with the church for 17 years. He also faces two weapons charges. He confessed to the murder of Father Hinds.

Roberta McCain, 97, Mother of Sen. John McCain, Hospitalized in Lisbon, Portugal, After Falling & Hitting Her Head

Sen. John McCain's mother has been hospitalized in Lisbon, Portugal, after injuring her head in a fall, McCain's spokeswoman said Friday. Roberta McCain, 97, was visiting Lisbon as a tourist when she fainted and hurt her head. She is reportedly in stable condition and will be held for observation. It is not clear when she will be allowed to leave the hospital.

Portuguese TV station TVI24 reported that Mrs. McCain was taken to the hospital Tuesday afternoon after falling in a street in downtown Lisbon. She was found lying on the ground and had hurt her head and face, the station reported.

Sarah Palin Goes Rogue, Endorses Third Party Candidate Doug Hoffman over Republican Party's Dede Scozzafava for New York House Election

True to form, Sarah Palin has gone rogue again. The former governor of Alaska has endorsed a third-party candidate in a House race in New York over the Republican nominee. On her Facebook page last night, she endorsed Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate, over Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava in the 23rd Congressional District's special election. Scozzofava was selected for the nomination by state Republican leaders. I can't believe I am giving Sarah Palin credit for taking a stand against the Republican Party in major way. I guess I understand her position and I feel the same way about some in the Democratic Party. Sarah Palin wrote:

The votes of every member of Congress affect every American, so it's important for all of us to pay attention to this important Congressional campaign in upstate New York. I am very pleased to announce my support for Doug Hoffman in his fight to be the next Representative from New York's 23rd Congressional district. It's my honor to endorse Doug and to do what I can to help him win, including having my political action committee, SarahPAC, donate to his campaign the maximum contribution allowed by law.

Political parties must stand for something. When Republicans were in the wilderness in the late 1970s, Ronald Reagan knew that the doctrine of "blurring the lines" between parties was not an appropriate way to win elections. Unfortunately, the Republican Party today has decided to choose a candidate who more than blurs the lines, and there is no real difference between the Democrat and the Republican in this race. This is why Doug Hoffman is running on the Conservative Party's ticket. Source: HuffPo

This race has bitterly divided Rethuglicans, many of whom see Scozzafava as far too liberal for their liking. It seems that Hoffman has a slim chance of winning in the moderate district. He will, however, divide the Republican vote and most likely give the seat to Democrat Bill Owens. Of course, Sarah Palin has absent from high-profile gubernatorial races this year and it is common knowledge that her offers have been ignored, which basically means she isn't the "shining star" in the Republican Party as many of her most ardent supporters believe. To her credit, since she ran from her political responsibilities in Alaska, she has remained steadfast in her pledge that she will work for candidates she believed in, regardless of their party affiliation.

Jamal Blair, 18, Arrested in the Murder of Sadie Mitchell, 92, As Stray Bullet Fired from His Gun Pierces Her Lung as She Walks in Her Home

Cops have arrested another thug roaming the streets of a major city, after he fired his gun and the stray bullet killed Sadie Mitchell, 92, as she was in her home in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx. Jamal Blair, 18, was picked up late yesterday evening. Ms. Mitchell, who has been called a beloved "mother to everyone on her block," died after this scumbag fired his gun and a bullet blasted through the window of her home and pierced one of her lungs as she walked into her living home. 

I am glad that the witnesses gave up his dirtbag's name and cops tracked him down. He was spotted on video near Mitchell's home immediately before the shooting and was later placed in a police line-up. He confessed hours later and is being charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Another armed thug roaming the streets with no good intentions in mind. We'll hear about his rap sheet soon enough. That will come after his family tells the media that he is a good kid, who stays out of trouble and would never act recklessly. You know, the usual nauseating bullsh**.

Jamal Blair Arrested in Death of Sadie Mitchell, Schwartz for News

What are the odds that this woman's life would end this way, in the house that she has called home since 1954. According to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, the bullet was fired during a turf battle between a group from the block and another from the nearby Edenwald Houses. I remember Edenwald Houses when I lived in the Bronx back in the 1980s. It was a cesspool then and it is a shame that they have not cleaned it up yet.

Kelly said, in an interview with the NY Daily News, that there had been a fight earlier in the day between the two groups, and the melee appeared to be sparked by a quest for revenge. It is a shame that this woman met such a terrible end. This dirtbag needs to be sentenced to the death penalty. Considering that New York state has tough penalties for illegal possession of a weapon, this dirtbag won't see the outside of a jail cell for the greater part of his pathetic life, if he is spared the death penalty.

Photo credit: Sadie Mitchell, Delmundo/NY Daily News

Isaiah Thomas Riled by Comments in Magic Johnson's Soon-to-be-Released Book "When The Game Was Ours"

Magic Johnson has been relatively drama-free since we all got over the shock of his explosive revelation that he was HIV positive. He has done pretty well for himself as a mover and a shaker in the business and philanthropic circles, but now comes a new drama in the pages of a soon-to-be-released book, "When The Game Was Ours," which he co-wrote with Larry Bird and author Jackie MacMullan. The book, to be released on Nov. 4, tells the inside story of the most important rivalry in basketball history. What is equally interesting is how quickly Isaiah Thomas has come out swinging against allegations made in the book. I won't diminish Thomas' contribution to basketball, but after the allegations of sexual harassment by a former executive for the NY Knicks and his actions in the aftermath of the trial, which she won, I take his comments with a grain of salt. However, it is safe to say a lot of people questioned Magic Johnson's sexuality when the news broke. At that time, so little was known about HIV and the assumption was that mainly gay or bisexual men contracted the disease.

What has Isaiah Thomas really riled up are the allegations of gossiping and "back-biting" he allegedly engaged in after Johnson disclosed he was HIV positive, at least that's how Magic sees it. According to Sports Illustrated, Johnson said in the book that Thomas was responsible for spreading rumors that he was gay or bisexual after he tested positive for HIV, forcing his retirement at age 32. "Isaiah kept questioning people about it,'' Magic says. "I couldn't believe that. The one guy I thought I could count on had all these doubts. It was like he kicked me in the stomach.''

When he heard the criticisms from his former friend Magic Johnson in a soon-to-be-released book, Isiah Thomas said he'd had enough. And so he began to fight back. "I'm really hurt, and I really feel taken advantage of for all these years,'' said Thomas, the Hall of Fame point guard and former NBA coach and executive, most recently with the Knicks. "I'm totally blindsided by this. Every time that I've seen Magic, he has been friendly with me. Whenever he came to a Knick game, he was standing in the tunnel [to the locker room] with me. He and [Knicks assistant coach] Herb [Williams] and I, we would go out to dinner in New York. I didn't know he felt this way.''

Much of their story involves Thomas, who as captain of the Detroit Pistons served as a primary threat to the championship ambitions of Bird's Celtics and Magic's Lakers. The book offers revelations that have stunned Thomas. Magic addresses years of rumors by finally accusing Thomas of questioning his sexuality after Johnson was diagnosed with HIV in 1991. Magic also admits that he joined with Michael Jordan and other players in blackballing Thomas from the 1992 Olympic Dream Team, saying, "Isiah killed his own chances when it came to the Olympics. Nobody on that team wanted to play with him. ... Michael didn't want to play with him. Scottie [Pippen] wanted no part of him. Bird wasn't pushing for him. Karl Malone didn't want him. Who was saying, 'We need this guy?' Nobody.''

"I'm glad that he's finally had the nerve and the courage to stand up and say it was him, as opposed to letting Michael Jordan take the blame for it all these years,'' Thomas responded during one of several interviews he gave to SI.com on Wednesday. "I wish he would have had the courage to say this stuff to me face to face, as opposed to writing it in some damn book to sell and he can make money off it.''

"What most people don't know is, before Magic had HIV, my brother had HIV,'' Thomas said. "My brother died of HIV, AIDS, drug abuse. So I knew way more about the disease, because I was living with it in my house.'' His brother, Gregory Thomas, died five years ago, Isiah said. "Magic acted and responded off some really bad information that he got,'' Thomas went on. "Whatever friendship we had, I thought it was bulls--- that he believed that. Let me put it to you this way: If he and I were such close friends, if I was questioning his sexuality, then I was questioning mine too. That's how idiotic it is.'' Source: SI.com

Okay. Enough of this he-said, he-said mess. Couldn't Magic Johnson have just gone to Isaiah Thomas years ago and told him how he felt? Did we really need to hear about this eons after it allegedly happened? I know that writing can be therapeutic, but dang. You want to build bridges, not tear them down.

Photo credit:  Magic Johnson and Isaiah Thomas, Andrew Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images