Please read this horrifying story. You will laugh.

click on the title of this post, it is a link to laughter!

Vince moves on...

Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks has been selected to become the deputy commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.
The Army announced April 3 that Brig. Gen. Anthony Cucolo, who recently oversaw the Pentagon report on Iraqi decision making during Operation Iraqi Freedom, including the revelation that Russian officials may have supplied information on U.S. troop movements to Iraq, has been named to succeed Army public affairs chief Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks.
Brooks, who has led the Army's public affairs operations since Dec. 2004, will become deputy commander of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.

Cucolo is director of the Joint Center for Operational Analysis-Lessons Learned at the U.S. Joint Forces Command in Suffolk, Va.

His most recent encounter with reporters came March 24 when he briefed Pentagon journalists about the "Iraq Perspective Project," a study by the operational analysis center into the views of Iraq's leaders and military in the months leading up to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq and the command influences on the Iraqi military during the "major combat phase."

Jesse Jackson Gives Back!

We should all take a look at what this man has done and congratulate him, then emulate him--as much as we can.
I never thought I'd see the day--Operation Push refunded a $40,000 corporate donation.
Donations are used to help fund Operation Push and their huge yearly convention so money is important to their survival. However, a sacrifice was made and they put principles before payments.

No Child Left Behind Helps Public Education

(Please excuse the previous title. The report got me all revvved up!)

A just released report by the Education Trust states that by the end of high school, Latino and African-American 17-year-old students, on average, have been taught to the same level as White 13-year-old students.

Students in high-poverty and high minority schools also are shortchanged when it comes to getting teachers with a strong background in the subjects they are teaching.

Classes in high-poverty and high minority secondary schools are more likely
to be taught by out-of-field teacher--those without a major or minor in the subject they teach.

The report, "Teaching Inequality: How Poor and Minority Students Are Shortchanged on Teacher Quality," comes as states prepare their plans to ensure that low-income students and students of color receive their fair share of experienced, qualified teachers.

Those equity plans must be delivered to the U.S. Secretary of Education by July 7 -- and mark the first time that the federal government has demanded that states confront and fix the unfair distribution of teacher talent in their states.

The report also points out that school districts, not teacher unions, are responsible for balancing competing interests among stakeholders.
It would appear that pleasing powerful constituents has sometimes forced equity to take a back seat.

The simple truth is that public education cannot fulfill its mission if students growing up in
poverty, students of color and low-performing students continue to be disproportionately taught by
inexperienced, under-qualified teachers.

The report goes on to say that these manifestly unequal opportunities make a mockery of our commitment to equal opportunity
and undermine genuine social mobility. What we have is a caste system of public education that
metes out educational opportunity based on wealth and privilege, rather than on student or community needs.
Young people learn as much or more by watching what adults do as they learn from any classroom curriculum. Right now, they are learning that where you are born and how much money your parents make determine educational opportunity. Nowhere is this clearer -- or more destructive --than in access to effective teachers.
Education leaders and policymakers must confront this legacy more openly and honestly than ever before. If Americans truly value equality of opportunity, it is time to teach by example.

Senator Barack Obama said these students don't just score lower on tests, they are less prepared for college and the workplace as well.

What does all of this mean? (in my opinion)
If you are poor and dumb chances are you will remain poor and dumb
or
if you are poor and dumb you will get teachers that are poor and dumb
or
there is a problem with teacher retention and assignment when it comes to minority communities.

New teachers cannot stay new for long. At some point, experience is gained. Then what? Teachers who gain experience move to better situated schools?
I believe this report was mean as a wake-up call to those interested in improving public education for poor and minority students--which translates into a better society as those students grow up and take their places in the world.

Minority Affairs

g-naacp 06-08-06
copyright2006 LJM


GARY--Wrapping up a series of meetings in the area, a representative from Governor Mitch Daniels met with constituents Thursday at the Barbara Leak Wesson Center to hear from the local branch of the NAACP.
Tony Kirkland, Senior Advisor, Minority Affairs of the
Intergovernmental Affairs Department said it's important that the
Governor's office is in touch with the needs of local residents.
"I wanted to let the members of NAACP know that I am in the office
and I want to get some of the Governor's initiatives out. We want
to make sure we are being inclusive to minorities. (Business)
opportunities do exist and (residents) should take advantage of all
of them," he said.
Mentioned were the "Major Moves" initiative and the "Indiana Plan".
Major Moves is a comprehensive ten-year investment plan in IndianaÂ’s infrastructure to improve the economy and create job opportunities for Hoosiers. Major Moves eliminates the stateÂ’s transportation budget deficit and invests in the stateÂ’s future through public-private partnerships to complete over 200 vital transportation projects.
The Indiana Plan is a unique approach to preparing people for careers in the construction industry. The Indiana Plan accepts all people, regardless of educational background, work experience, age, gender or race. Opportunities for good-paying, skilled positions are available for people who are trained for the task. The construction building trades are one of the fastest growing areas of our nation's economy.
Specifically, officials were in the area this week talking about some of the programs that involve starting adult day cares and training programs that instruct in the building trades and road work construction.
Kirkland found that some qualified business aren't certified as minority
or woman owned due to mistrust of big government by minority and woman business
owners.
Sometimes not registering is due to lack of knowledge. The
state wants to protect itself from being scammed by front companies,
where businesses are minority or woman owned in name only.
In spite of this, to be considered for contracts with local and state
government designated for minority and women businesses, those
businesses must be registered as such, Kirkland said.
"They think they will miss out on funds coming to the area. There are
problems communicating the (details) of how to operate their own
business. Companies need to come to the table prepared," Kirkland
said.
Money from the state for repairing roads and other infrastructure
improvements is in the works. Each county in the state could see up
$150 million.
"Northwest Indiana stands to get money after the Toll Road is
leased," Kirkland said.
The money may be administrated by local city government, he said. He
guessed possibly from $2 to $6 million could be seen in the area,
however, "it's not etched in stone". Workforce Development may be a
sponsor of a training program where people are trained on completing
roadwork and construction jobs.
Tammi Davis, president of the NAACP said it's important that
information like this gets around.
"We invited Tony Kirkland to come here so that we can have someone
who represents the minority community to the Governor's office. We
thought it was time we had a conversation with him--not about
anything in particular but in general. We want our voices to be heard
and taken seriously all the way downstate," she said.
###

On Dissecting Blacks

Television producers and Newsroom managers: Please stop producing

and writing segments that ineffectively dissect African American

men and their community. To examine a problem you have to know a

problem. Mainstream America doesn't know the Black man or the Black

woman because they don't know the person--they know the persona.

Everyone has a persona.
You don't need to dissect a persona.

African American men and women want to be free to pursue their desires as do

White ones and Mexican ones and Asian ones. We all

want the same but have different routes to get there.
Some want to marry and raise a family financially and emotionally.
Some simply want to live in peace and not be in the corporate world

or wealthy or have a family at all.
Some just want to have a baby and let it raise itself. Some don't

understand what they want to do and do it anyway and when the times

get tough--they go.
And some are just self-destructive. They want to be a pimp, playa,

hustle and maybe grow-up one day.
One real solution is that African Americans need to create their

own wealth. Start a business needed in your community, put up with

your people and the baggage they carry and keep your money in your

community. Start a union in your community at your business and pay

union wages to your people. And live in your community because

well-to-do whites are running out of places to live Black-free.
(y'all know what I'm talking about)
Have you noticed that whites aren't breaking down the door to live

in economically depressed or wealthy Black areas? If the community

is on the upswing, then the indigenous peoples are priced right out

of the neighborhood or they sell and move.
African Americans make a habit of finding the whitest area--no

matter if the schools are crap or not--and move in and then cry

when the KKK is on the doorstep burning crosses.
(is it because there is too much crime in our communities?)
We don't like living in our own community that much and I know why

but if decent Whites and Mexicans can live and work amongst

themselves without needing or seeking out others to bolster their

community, why can't we?

##yeah##

Memorial Day and Fleet Week

Memorial Day is a day set aside to honor Veterans who gave their lives for this country and to a certain extent, men and women who are active in the U.S. Military. It's not just about chillin' and grillin', however, it is the day we use to signal that summer is right around the corner--so we blend the two. I heard that the end of May was chosen because it was thought that by that time, flowers would be in bloom all over the world.

Former POW Cpl. Joseph Hudson (right) presented the then U.S. Military Academy Commandant Brig. Gen. Leo Brooks with an American flag on behalf of all who serve and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our nation's freedom during the 2003 pre-game events of the 104th Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia. Brooks now works for another branch of the U.S. Government.


A 10th Mountain Division Soldier uses binoculars to look for enemy activity while a fellow Soldier unfurls an American flag near the village of Loy Karezak, Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Gul A. Alisan. This photo appeared on www.army.mil.


In 1866, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the birthplace of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff.

By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation. State legislatures passed proclamations designating the day, and the Army and Navy adopted regulations for proper observance at their facilities.

It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays.

Linda Patterson, founder of America Supporting Americans, applauds the U.S. Army Drill Team during a Twilight Tattoo in her honor on the White House Ellipse. Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks, chief of Public Affairs, applauds on left and on the right is Military District of Washington Commander Maj. Gen. Galen B. Jackman.

But what about Fleet Week? I was led to believe it was a time to be as friendly as possible with all of the seamen.

According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia,Fleet Week is a United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard tradition in which active military ships recently deployed in overseas operations dock in a variety of major cities for one week. Once the ships dock, the crew can enter the city and visit its tourist attractions. At certain hours, the public can take a guided tour of the ships. Often, Fleet Week is accompanied by military demonstrations and airshows such as the Blue Angels.

Well, it all seems like a fine reason to celebrate to me. Pull out the grills, balance the veggies with the pork, beef and fish and have all the fun you want.

Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks salutes a fallen Soldier display for Sgt. DeForest Talbert, an Alexandria native who was killed in Iraq this year while on patrol. Talbert was memorialized during a Veterans Day program at Alexandria's Black History Museum.

These days were set aside for Americans to enjoy being in this country because of the hard work of many who have come before us. That would be Africans brought over from Africa enslaved then later freed, European, Hispanic, and Asian immigrants who willingly traveled to this country and anyone else who wants to be here.
Because of those who gave their time and lives in the U.S. Military, we get to chill and grill, kick back and enjoy. Just don't forget who made all of this possible.
##yeah##

Legends Ball

Oprah is so wonderful. Her parties, I thought, were usually a

private affair. It wasn't until I saw all of the love and power

under one roof did I really truly think of how wonderful a person

Oprah has become and what a wonderful gift she has given television

viewers by broadcasting the Legends Ball.

She can have all of the parties she wants and never reveal what happens

to the public but she shared the Legends Ball.

I was moved by the tribute because I understand how
the road to success for women and minorities is paved. It's not a crystal staircase at all. There are insults to endure, wrongs slow to be made right, hurt feelings rushed to heal and tears. Most of this is held inside and turned into either destruction or resilience. Oprah and the Legends she honored Monday night defined the latter. Success is a hard road for anyone but for Oprah to remember to thank these women gave me strength to do better.

She is such a positive role model.

Before the show came on, I was in a mood and a little tired. But after a homemade

pizza, clothes washed and children bathed, I found

it was one of the few shows of interest my 14-year-old daughter and

I could watch together and not feel uncomfortable.

No one but Oprah could do this kind of work and make it work. Tears

flowed when they passed the mic. I had never seen anything like the

Legends Ball in my life and now Oprah will have to bless the Lord

and make it a regular televised event--Amen--because no one can

ever get all of those voices together but Oprah!

Whooweeee Barry Bonds is the Man!

Congratulations Barry Bonds on tying Babe Ruth's record with your 714th career homerun.
...and it was all on Marshaund's Birthday!
Happy Birthday and I hope it was a good one!