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Gun Power: The Real Reason for America's Gun Obsession

4/22/2014

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Close your eyes and imagine if you will, you were a Pilgrim setting foot onto the shores of an America occupied by Native Americans. Imagine also, you were a white man going over to Africa to capture people for the purpose of slavery. Can you see yourself in either of these situations? Alright, now that you can, imagine as a Pilgrim your intent was to steal as much land as possible from Native Americans but you didn’t own guns. How successful do you imagine that campaign might have been? Furthermore, how much success do you think you might have had as a white man in Africa trying to capture slaves without guns? Not much in either case wouldn't you agree?

You see, most Americans don’t own guns for protection from the future, they own guns for protection from the past. Allow me to expound. The other night I took part in a discussion on ‘Hot Topics Talk Radio’ with my good friend and host Toni Breedlove about “The Threat of the Black Man,” http://www.hottopicstalkradio.com/grammies-blog-spot.html and on http://ow.ly/vS9gS. During the discussion, the phenomena of white women locking their car doors when they saw a black man arose, and one caller remarked that he believed that behavior, (locking doors) was human nature. I immediately challenged that notion by pointing out that I never locked my doors when I saw a white woman approaching, adding that I believed that behavior was not a natural reaction but in fact was learned behavior. However, while reflecting on the topic later in the evening, I realized the behavior is not only learned behavior but that it also constitutes paranoia, yes, paranoia.

Wikipedia defines paranoia as, a thought process believed to be heavily influencedby anxiety or fearoften to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of conspiracy concerning a perceived threat towards oneself.  Need I say more? Anxiety or fear often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Anxiety, fear, delusion and irrationality, classic perceived tenets for “Stand Your Ground,” “Make My Day,” and “Shoot First,” state laws asserting expansive rights to self-defense. Why are these people anxious? Why are they fearful? What is the catalyst for their delusion and irrationality? Well I say guilt and the fear of losing power.

You see, Pilgrims could not have overpowered Native Americans, or stole their lands, and displaced a people without guns. White men could not have made slaves out of Africans without guns. Hell, for that matter white folks would not be in power without guns –their power lies in their guns. Guilt plays its role in making whites paranoid in the belief that all people of color despise them (whites) based on the way whites have treated people of color throughout history. Speaking of history, the aforementioned learned behavior of whites to lock cars doors, clutch purses, etc dates back centuries. I wrote an article some months ago,“Nigger Stealing”: How the myth of blacks and crime …, in which I talk about a scene from the movie “Lincoln.” In that scene a woman from Missouri, talks about the belief that slaves would steal chickens and her husband’s job if given their (slaves) freedom. The question that came to mind was how did slaves gain a reputation for stealing chickens, not to mention a white man’s job, in 1865?

That sentiment is par for the course. When faced with the prospect of losing power whites revert to one of three things, 1) demonization 2) criminalization and 3) assassination. Native Americans were portrayed as drunken devils (demonization) that would plunder and pillage cities and towns and rape white women. Blacks and in particular black men were and continue to be portrayed as unintelligent, lazy good-for-nothings who will steal, kill and rape white women (criminalization). The potential for the first two justify number three, assassination. Slaughtering of Indian Nations, ethnic cleansing of black towns, Rosewood, Fl in 1923, Tulsa, Ok (The Greenwood District) in 1921 etc, with the razing of Rosewood occurring as a result of false claims of rape by a white woman.

Not to mention Emmett Till another victim of the perceived fear of a black wanting a white woman, the assassinations of Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King and the countless and nameless number of strange fruit hanged from trees at lynching parties. No need to site statistics, because the only number that matters is one, the one that represents the loss that counts to a family. Fast-forward to present-day America and the aforementioned “Stand Your Ground” Make My Day” and “Shoot First” laws represent legal substitutions for assassinations and lynchings.

Make no mistake about it, all of this talk about 2nd Amendment rights and “Don’t Tread on Me,” is a load of crap. Mainstream America, or as it is popularly known, “Real America” is scared out of its wits just as the founders were of the British. Just as the pilgrims were of Native Americans, just as slave owners were afraid of Africans and slaves, and finally, just as they are afraid of all people of color in America today especially since we have our first African-American president but not because of a real threat. They (whites) are paranoid. I learned some time ago that when a person is left with no reasonable argument to defend his or her actions violence usually follows. If that is the case then I imagine we are left to assume that as it relates to White America past is prologue and that somewhere in the distance there is a chicken on his way home to roost.

~~~ Jay Arrington, Maryland Daily Examiner

- See more at: http://www.marylanddailyexaminer.com/gun-power-real-reason-americas-gun-obsession/#sthash.lPLWOtdU.dpuf
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Just A Little Farther West

4/17/2014

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“Someday, somewhere, someone may find out the damn truth. We better. We better, or we might just as well build ourselves another government like the Declaration of Independence says to when the old one ain’t working — just a little farther out west.” 
                                                                                                                            ~~~ JFK the Movie

Conjecture notwithstanding, Oliver Stone’s movie “JFK” is perhaps one of my favorites, if for no other reason than its attempt to satisfy conspiracy theorists such as myself concerning the Kennedy assassination in Dallas. The aforementioned quote refers to the scene when New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, played by Kevin Costner gives his closing arguments in the only criminal trial presented in the matter. Garrison references the line in the Declaration of Independence that suggests that as citizens we continue to move forward in pursuit of establishing a government of the people, for the people and by the people when and if the current government fails to meet these objectives in any sense.

So in keeping with that notion of moving “just a little farther out west,” we set our sights on the state of Colorado where in March of this year, the Colorado Women’s Hall of fame inducted 10 women. I make no efforts here to critique in any way the merits for induction nor will I infer that any accomplishments considered do not warrant inclusion into what I am sure is a fine organization. That said however, there is one inductee that I along with several others take exception to and that is Federal Judge Christine Arguello. Reading the introductory bio about Judge Arguello on the Hall of Fame website makes quite the impression and highlights the many ‘firsts’ in Judge Arguello’s storied career.

However, while the accomplishments of Judge Arguello made, and continue to make members of her family proud there are at least six families who do not judge the judge from that perspective. In fact, I would venture to say the families of The IRP6, (Kendrick Barnes, Gary L Walker, Demetrius K. Harper, Clinton A Stewart, David A Zirpolo and David A Banks) see the Hall of Shame as a more appropriate place to honor Judge Arguello. For those of you familiar with the saga of the IRP6, you know the accusations brought by the IRP6 regarding Judge Arguello’s handling of the case. In particular, the missing 200 pages of transcript purportedly containing evidence that Judge Arguello violated the 5th Amendment rights of the IRP6 during trial and Judge Arguello’s refusal to make those transcripts available for purposes of appeal.

According to court transcripts, court reporter Darlene Martinez confirmed that she (Martinez) failed to include more than 200 pages of transcripts pertaining to the prosecution of the IRP6. Moreover, Judge Arguello refused to make those missing pages available to the defense for appeal. Court records reveal the following exchange between Martinez and Judge Arguello,“First of all, the unedited version (of the transcript) cannot be used for any purpose… how many pages is it?” Martinez affirms, “Over 200 pages.” Judge Arguello further states, “Over 200 pages…for no purpose that I can see that would be served by having that at this time.” “I am not going to have an expedited, and unedited version (of the transcript) delivered to the defendants (IRP6)”, concludes Arguello. (D. Ct. No. 1:09-CR-00266-CMA, October 2011, Court transcript pages 2062 -2063)

Perhaps it’s just me but I was under the impression that relevance of evidence as it relates to appeal be established by the appeals court, not the presiding judge on the original case. The only reasonable conclusion to be drawn from Judge Arguello’s actions suggests an attempt to cover her error. Unlike Judge Arguello who somehow channels a hidden clairvoyance in regards to what is relevant for appeal, I will make no claims as to knowing her state of mind. Benefit of the doubt notwithstanding, if touting the judge’s many accomplishments and her acumen concerning Jurist Prudence validates her induction into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame, should we not then presume she knows better concerning the missing transcripts and the sidebar conversation therein.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Any man can withstand adversity but if you want to test a man’s character give him power.” The reason this is so important is that power reveals any holes in claims of those who say where they came from to where they are humbles them. Humility should if genuine, cultivate compassion and fairness especially for someone with the power to destroy the lives of others and their families. Proper function of any system is dependent on those who work the system more so than policy and it is no different as it relates to the criminal justice system. The adage “you get out what you put in” has never been more apropos than in the courtroom. So then, if we are indeed putting justice and fairness ‘first’ as Judge Arguello likes to be associated with, should we not then get out what we put into the system.

We can only hope and pray the truth will one day come out. In fact, we know that it will. It better or we might just as well build ourselves another government like the Declaration of Independence says to when the old one ain’t working — just a little farther out west.

~~~ Jay Arrington (Maryland Daily Examiner)

- See more at: http://www.marylanddailyexaminer.com/just-little-farther-west/#sthash.86RHM2M3.dpuf



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The Civil Rights Act of 1964 - Fifty Years Later: Nothing Civil About it

4/15/2014

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“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19 


When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed the United States Congress, no doubt many who voted in favor of the bill never envisioned the consequences of its passage. Never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined the advancements the bill would afford women, immigrants (illegal or otherwise), gays, and most certainly blacks. Surely, very few if any foresaw that fifty years later America would have its first black President and first black US Attorney General. Hence, the significance of the above referenced scripture. Because if we examine the recent assaults on several of the protections afforded by the legislation, we see a section of the country gradually brought into bondage by that which it is overcome, power. 

You see, the very thing The Civil Rights Act of 1964 promised those of muted voice, power, is now the very thing many are in fear of losing and are therefore making every attempt to render moot the most crucial protections of the legislation. History if nothing else shows that man is more willing to share power when it poses no serious threat to his own. However, when the sharing of power becomes a threat man is not always as eager to share or relinquish his power. Think about it, the Civil War epitomized both sides of the power issue. For confederates, emancipation of slaves meant they (confederates) would no longer enjoy the power and life of leisure that slavery afforded and therefore were willing to defend to the death the right to hold on to that power. For those in the north however, whose power had no correlation to slavery and therefore felt no threat, defending its (slavery) abolition was a moral issue. 

In order to achieve passage of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, President Johnson not unlike President Lincoln with the 13th Amendment relied heavily on the votes of the rival party for passage of the bill. Although there exist no empirical evidence to support this theory, there were no doubt some of the opposing party who voted in favor of the bill because of some quid pro quo with President Johnson more so than out of any fervent belief in the bill itself. The point being again that no threat to power arose to impede the sharing of power. Fast-forward to present day America and we find those in power operating from the Monday morning armchair of the survivalist…brought into bondage by that which he is overcome, power. 

At its core, the Civil Rights Act by law eliminated discrimination based on color, religion, sex, national origin and race. In addition, and most importantly for purposes of this discussion the law did away with discriminatory voter registration requirements. With more than thirty states passing restrictive voter ID laws over the past few years in addition to last year’s SCOTUS 5-4 decision to gut the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one does not have to be a Rhodes Scholar to figure out what is going on. The rules for sharing power have changed particularly since those rules now threaten to render moot the power of those accustomed to welding said power for their own advancement. As a result, as previously mentioned, many statehouses across the country have passed restrictive voter ID laws which target in large part the voting rights of the very people the Civil Rights Act targeted for protection, blacks. 

Not surprisingly, these voter suppression efforts are concentrated in republican lead statehouses and intensified with the election of President Obama. Furthermore, attacks on women’s rights to control their own bodies relative to reproductive issues, stand your ground laws, the failure of Congress to pass sensible gun legislation, denial of livable wages and efforts to deny healthcare to Americans, again are indicative of an emerging pattern. Each of the aforementioned issues effect as a majority low income Americans, mainly blacks. Stand your ground laws result in a disproportionate number of black victims and, exonerated white defendants. Denial of affordable healthcare, access to birth control, abortions, and livable wages disproportionately affect minority/lower income women thereby increasing economic hardships and the odds against realizing the American Dream…another threat to power. 

Finally, the light shines on the portion of the bill that symbolizes its role within society and that is the word ‘Civil’. The word civil indicates that regardless of personal beliefs citizens display a tolerance (civility) toward fairness in society and recognize that all men have equal protection under the law. Unfortunately, civility cannot be legislated. Respect for the humanity of others does not exist as a subsection of a House Resolution or within the bylaws of a charter. The election of President Obama revealed that when threatened with extinction a species will use any arrow in its survivalist quiver to hold on to power and ensure its survival. Comments never uttered to or about a president from the floor of Congress to the floors of town hall meetings, cable news shows, and right wing radio permeate the airwaves as the ‘new normal’ of incivility without so much as a whisper of reprimand from so-called republican leaders. To the contrary, the most incendiary comments spew from elected representatives who tell the President, “You lie,” or insinuate that Attorney General Holder be in jail, others even going so far as to say they can’t stand to be near the President or to even look at him.  

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 fifty years later, and were it not for the bill’s existence one would never know from our behavior that America ever attempted to address societal fairness and equality. Quite frankly, “There is nothing civil about it.” 


~~~ Jay Arrington, Featured Writer
        Maryland Daily Examiner  


 See more at: http://www.marylanddailyexaminer.com/civil-rights-act-1964-fifty-years-later-nothing-civil/#sthash.s28X6t5k.dpuf

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    Jay Arrington

    Jay Arrington is a featured staff writer and reporter for the Maryland Daily Examiner.  

    Jay's political commentary is cutting edge, and stands on truth and justice.  

    An activist and advocate for civil rights and a fair judicial system, Jay reports with the conviction of equality for all. 

    Jay Arrington's EMAIL

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