WAKE UP, AMERICA!
By Edward North, November 2009

When will "middle class" Americans realize that when this health care bill is passed on tomorrow, that their taxes will go up???
 

We have all been miffed by the Obama administration that only the wealthy will see an increase in their taxes for healthcare.
 

If you actually use your brain and not just believe what they tell you, we would all say this is impossible. Do we think that if we are on Cigna, or Aetna or any other private insurance that the rates or only going to be increased on the wealthy?? This doesn't make any logical sense, but somehow we believe this rhetoric mess. This is just another "entitlement" that will be given to many people that just don't want to do anything for themselves. I am not stereo typing because many people really need government help. Like our elderly, handicapped, children, disabled, and those in-between jobs. The problem is like every other entitlement, you are going to open the door for those that are just flat our lazy and as my dad always said, "want something for nothing". What incentive is their, for people to work??? Why not just sign up for welfare, food stamps, and get yourself a section 8 house??? The government will give you "earned income" credit each year during tax season... and now you can go to the same doctor as the person that has to get up and work everyday!!! Do you think those that are living off welfare and all of these other programs have gone through a recession??? Nope their checks have continued to come and in fact have been increased in the last 18 months!! Why work??

The Obama administration is singing the praises that the actual unemployment counts are increasing each month and the 1st time unemployment claims is also going down. I have 2 answers for both of these assertions...

 
1. Most companies have already cut their staff and head counts to the bone over the last 12 months!!! They can't cut anymore and still be able to operate... This has nothing to do with the "stimulus" or Obama. If you cut 50% of your headcount in January then how could you cut more in October??? It's just simple math.
 

2. This also goes to the reduction in unemployment claims... The roles are already full and congress continues to extend the benefits. If you are already on the roles then I guess you don't need to submit a new claim.

We are being taken to the ringer by this administration. I myself am African American and think that the election of Barrack Obama is historic and a true display of how far this country has come. While, I am okay with the historic of this, we can't just believe anything he says....


WAKE UP AMERICA!!

Submitted by Edward North

THE LAST HANDSHAKE
By Phillip Howard

The “journey” for Americans of color began in 1619, when a Dutch
ship Captain exchanged his cargo of approximately 20 Africans for food
at Jamestown in the Virginia Colony; at this time Virginia was not yet
a state. I stress the reprehensible fact Africans were bartered for
food and so began our experience in this great land.

The “journey” for Americans of color has seen the very best and
very worst of this country’s humanity. Americans of color were
victimized and subjected to an untold number of human rights
violations, along with some of the most licentious bigotry known to
man kind. We were executed for “sport.” As a people, we were deceived
to a point where some were made to believe that we were an
abomination, cursed by God, with a sentence of slavery. The number of
incidents of indescribable horrors perpetrated on Americans of color
are to numerous to fully recount, but for the purpose of this opinion
piece, I will summarize some of Alabama’s worse indiscretions.

To begin with, let’s take the swearing in of the only
illegitimate President in the history of the United States, Jefferson
Davis on February 18, 1861, in Montgomery, Alabama. Must we forget
this headline, “Birmingham: ‘My God, You’re not even safe in Church,”
recalling the most cowardly act ever perpetrated by racist of any era.
That was the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church where
four of God’s most precious children were killed. There was also the
outright assasination, done by fellow Americans, of countless American
men of color, for no other reason than their color. Lastly the
institutional racisum that didn’t allow for the education or
professional advancement of generations of Americans of color,
generations that if given the opportunity could have lifted this
country to even greater heights.


The aforementioned accounts are unpleasant, caustic, and grievous. I
will admit my emotions were flowing as I was thinking about the
distress and utter despair that we, my ancestors, had to experience.
Having acknowledged the legacy of Alabama and this country, I say to
all, “It’s with a clear mind and forgiving heart that I believe it is
time for us to forgive, not forget, but forgive and finally bury the
sins of the past and start a chapter anew.”

In most circumstances, persons who have been "wronged," want the
offender to admit their transgression and apologize. I subscribe to
the notion that when the aggrieved offers forgiveness his reward is
“greatest.” With this act, a person takes ownership of not only his
mind but more importantly his heart.

Forgiveness comes with a price: “reparations.” Yes, that is
right, I said “REPARATIONS” defined in the following terms: When I
select you as my physicians, diagnose me properly, give me all
pertinent medical advice, and offer me the same subscriptions you
would anyone else. When I take out a loan, review my credit
worthiness as you would any other person that is seeking access to
capital and/or assets. When I come before the judicial system,
adjudicate my grievance or penalize me according to the law without
prejudices. When I apply for a job, review my qualifications, work
history, and education as you would any other applicant.

Americans of color have proved their worth because our
contributions and sacrifices more than speak for themselves. There
are some who say a monetary reward is the only thing that will make up
for the countless injustices, but all I ask is that from this moment
forward that we be paid in “FAIRNESS.” It will not cost a thing; LET’S
SHAKE ON IT..


This editorial was submitted by Phil Howard. Phil is a former member
of the Marines and has earned degrees from both Stillman College and
Troy University. He has been a regular guest on First Call.

THE ONLY LIVING DOCUMENT
By Phillip Howard

Two hundred and thirty-two years ago, 13 all-white males endorsed the second most important document ever written, The Declaration of Independence.

We all know the history of this distinguished document. Thomas Jefferson primarily wrote it and submitted on July 02, 1776. On July 04, 1776 the collection of signatures began, birthing America on her journey in this grand experiment called, “Democracy.”

As I started my quest of understanding about this document, I researched other countries and I realized the splendor of this country in a new light. Most nations are born of conflict. But at its creation, none was more determined than the U.S.A to bring those “inalienable rights” to all its citizens. All Americans should feel blessed and thankful to live in a country that judges men by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin. Furthermore, I believe we should acknowledge more profoundly the signees of this The Declaration of Independence. Therefore, it is incumbent on all Americans, especially Americans of color, to forgive and embrace our “Founding Fathers.” Not forgetting that they own slaves, but moving passed that point, acknowledging that their contributions outweigh all fallacies passed.

Perplexed will be those, by a “black-male” with my mentality, considering the “black elites” in the minority community that never miss a chance to bring up this nation’s past transgressions. Yet and still there or others so caught up in the fireworks and BBQ that they don’t think about the reason for the second most important holiday of the year. But contrary to popular opinion, I believe that our feelings toward the “Founders” should be marked with jubilation for their foresight and not antipathy.

The fruits of The Declaration of Independence did bring opportunity to white Americans quicker than Americans of color. This fact is no longer relevant. What is critically important is that the opportunity came. Eighty-four years after the founding and signing of The Declaration of Independence, Abraham Lincoln, the greatest American President, freed the slaves. One-hundred eighty nine years afterwards, Americans of color got their “Declaration of Independence,” the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This Act gave Americans of color the exact charge that 189 years earlier the “Founders” sought. Finally, two-hundred and thirty two years later we have the first American of color as President. To some these events came well past their due, but I challenge anyone to find a society more inclusive of a group that was once enslaved by their brethren.

I wish that slavery never happened, but it did. Had it not happened I wouldn’t be here. I for one would much rather be a citizen of this country than Africa. I wish racism or Jim Crow didn’t exist, but we can’t live the rest of our lives being held captive by the cancer that is “hate.” When persons throughout history have argued in defense of justice, they quoted from this document, “…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.” Even today as we witness the events taking place in Iran, the words in this document take on a more profound global meaning.

Whether by greed of the worst kind or by the divine plan of God, our journey as a nation was for its citizens to be either indifferent to the practice of slavery or to be participants. But our history is just that, history. Let it be remembered and celebrated for the destination and not the journey. It is with that, that I implore all to let our “Founders” be judged by God and lest all Americans bear no ill-will toward these honorable men, for what they authored is, “The Only Living Document.”


The Author, Phillip Howard, is the third youngest of ten children born to Rev. James and Lois Howard. He is a former member of the United States Marines Corps. He graduated from a Historical Black College, Stillman College, and he received his MBA from Troy University in Montgomery. He now lives and works in the Birmingham Area in law enforcement and is a Big Brother in the Big Bros. & Big Sister Program..