The disrespect shown by the New York City Police to the City's elected Mayor was disquieting to people around the country. It was a visual pantomime of how we view personal and professional responsibility toward each other, the nation, and the communities in which we live.
When the police, attending the funeral for Officer Rafael Ramos turned their back on their Mayor, it took the quiet, sober, experienced voice of the New York police Commissioner William J. Bratton to say, "it was very inappropriate."
Referring to how African Americans perceive the police,
Mr. Bratton said, " their perception is the reality we have to deal with, " and saying, "the issues go far beyond race relations in this City."
Would that this kind of strong, honest leadership prevail in every American City in 2015.
Monday, December 29, 2014
Thursday, December 18, 2014
NO MR. CHENEY, 9/11 WAS NOT TORTURE!
In a recent interview, Dick Cheney said, "Torture is what the Al Qaeda terrorists did to 3000 Americans on nine-eleven."
No Mr. Cheney, nine eleven was not torture! On that awful day in September, 3000 innocent men and women were killed, and an untold number of people were disabled for life. It was an act by a group of murderers who wanted to terrorize this country.
The murderers hoped they could change our way of life and our values. Unfortunately Mr. Cheney, they did! At the time, we were over whelmed by horror and fear. Newspapers and citizens around the world proclaimed, "We Are Americans too!" They and citizens here looked to you and other& officials to give us a sense of how to express our anger, our collective grief and to still maintain the sense of who we are.
Unfortunately Mr. Cheney, we learn now that you believed, and may still believe, we as Americans can become like our murderers and still maintain our value for all human life and law. Even after so many young lives were lost, misdirected at the hands of profiteers and questionable policies, still you seem ready to discount and deny the truth.
Mr. Cheney, when a powerful nation like America fails to admit that it has made mistakes or erred in judgment, it weakens our resolve as citizens to uphold our laws and respect our government.
Mr. Cheney, history has proven the strength of ordinary men and women to defend this land in time of war and adversity but history also warns us against political cover up and misplaced trust in those who would deceive us.
Please Mr. Cheney, no more excuses! Let's move forward knowing we must vow never to forget what happened when we became less than the Americans we are.
Have a good holiday and Happy New Year, Mr. Cheney.
No Mr. Cheney, nine eleven was not torture! On that awful day in September, 3000 innocent men and women were killed, and an untold number of people were disabled for life. It was an act by a group of murderers who wanted to terrorize this country.
The murderers hoped they could change our way of life and our values. Unfortunately Mr. Cheney, they did! At the time, we were over whelmed by horror and fear. Newspapers and citizens around the world proclaimed, "We Are Americans too!" They and citizens here looked to you and other& officials to give us a sense of how to express our anger, our collective grief and to still maintain the sense of who we are.
Unfortunately Mr. Cheney, we learn now that you believed, and may still believe, we as Americans can become like our murderers and still maintain our value for all human life and law. Even after so many young lives were lost, misdirected at the hands of profiteers and questionable policies, still you seem ready to discount and deny the truth.
Mr. Cheney, when a powerful nation like America fails to admit that it has made mistakes or erred in judgment, it weakens our resolve as citizens to uphold our laws and respect our government.
Mr. Cheney, history has proven the strength of ordinary men and women to defend this land in time of war and adversity but history also warns us against political cover up and misplaced trust in those who would deceive us.
Please Mr. Cheney, no more excuses! Let's move forward knowing we must vow never to forget what happened when we became less than the Americans we are.
Have a good holiday and Happy New Year, Mr. Cheney.
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