This is a letter I received just a few moments ago from my son, who is a Haitian born black man who immigrated as a child to North America, and who was special ops police officer for many years. He was with Madiba for four days on security mission... and the letter below is from my son's heart. There are few heroes in our world, though many limelight seekers. Madiba, surely was … [Read more...] about Madiba, Mandela, A Personal Remembrance
Madiba I: A Tribute To Nelson Mandela, One Of The Greatest Men Of Our Time
While there is no question that Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Alfred Einstein, Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King were among the great men of the 20th century, greatness can be a relative thing and often is in the eyes of the beholder. By those lights, my nominee for one of the greatest men of the modern era is Nelson Mandela. Mandela, who left this mortal … [Read more...] about Madiba I: A Tribute To Nelson Mandela, One Of The Greatest Men Of Our Time
Madiba II: ‘I Will Always See Mandela In The Faces Of My Everyday Heroes’
By SUSAN WINTERS COOK EASTERN CAPE, South Africa -- -- It’s a death in the family. A family of millions who call him” Tata”, Our Father. There is no person here in South Africa not affected by Mandela’s passing, even those who opposed him. He is the reason we are where we are today. Not that he achieved South Africa’s transition on his own, many South Africans on all … [Read more...] about Madiba II: ‘I Will Always See Mandela In The Faces Of My Everyday Heroes’
The really dangerous politics of the ACA
Republican governors and legislatures have let their hate of Obama get in the way of the well being of their citizens. Not only will citizens not get health insurance their states will lose billions of dollars in federal money. But it gets even worse: GOP obstruction of Obamacare is closing hospitals The Obamacare website is open for business. But the Charlton Memorial … [Read more...] about The really dangerous politics of the ACA
Breaking: Nelson Mandela Dead at 95
The New York Times has just reported: Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president and an enduring icon of the struggle against racial oppression, died on Thursday the government announced, leaving the nation without its moral center at a time of growing dissatisfaction with the country’s leaders. Mr. Mandela spent 27 years in prison after being convicted … [Read more...] about Breaking: Nelson Mandela Dead at 95
Nelson Mandela Dead At 95
Former South African President Nelson Mandela has died at the age of 95. The official announcement came from South African President Jacob Zuma just before midnight local time. Mandela reportedly died roughly 3 hours earlier. His death was not much of a surprise as he has been in ill health for some time, indeed it may well have been a release for him. In the coming days … [Read more...] about Nelson Mandela Dead At 95
Sully on Limbaugh and the Pope
Andrew Sullivan, a conservative blogger who happens to be Catholic, fisks Rush Limbaugh's take on Pope Francis on The Daily Dish. In some ways, of course, Limbaugh is onto something. The Pope of the Catholic Church really is offering a rebuttal to the Pope of the Republican party, which is what Limbaugh has largely become. In daily encyclicals, Rush is infallible in doctrine … [Read more...] about Sully on Limbaugh and the Pope
A $1500 Stitch and Other Hospital Scams
Outrageous hospital charges are a cliché by now but impossible to ignore in the health-care debate for fear of a taking a cheap shot, something unknown in an emergency room. “A day spent as an inpatient at an American hospital,” says a New York Times report, “costs on average more than $4,000, five times the charge in many other developed countries...The most expensive … [Read more...] about A $1500 Stitch and Other Hospital Scams
Sandy Hook 911 Audio. NO! Have Mercy… and Decency
Columbine April 1999. I ran through back yards to get to the elementary school where parents were waiting to hear if their child was alive or dead. I saw scenes there that will be with me forever. Why did I run down the creekbed and through yards? Because the media machine was already up and clogging the roadways within hours that day, helicopters in the sky rounding and … [Read more...] about Sandy Hook 911 Audio. NO! Have Mercy… and Decency
Sandy Hook 911 tapes: You can listen to them, but should you? (Guest Voice)
Sandy Hook 911 tapes: You can listen to them, but should you? (+video) (via The Christian Science Monitor) A bus drives past a sign reading Welcome to Sandy Hook, Dec. 4, in Newtown, Conn. The 911 calls from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings released Wednesday show town dispatchers urged panicked callers to take cover.(Jessica Hill/AP) With the… … [Read more...] about Sandy Hook 911 tapes: You can listen to them, but should you? (Guest Voice)
911 Sandy Hook Calls plead for help (CNN video with audio of calls)
[two_third_last] 911 Sandy Hook Calls plead for help (via CNN Video) CNN's Deb Feyerick reports on released 911 Newtown shooting tapes which capture the fear, but lack of panic of victims. … [Read more...] about 911 Sandy Hook Calls plead for help (CNN video with audio of calls)
MSNBC’s Martin Bashir resigns after Palin comments fallout:
MSNBC's Martin Basir, whose comments about Sarah Palin and defecation set a new low in the already South Pole low of American political talk, is now (bad) history. He has resigned. Martin Bashir has resigned from MSNBC following weeks of controversy over his incendiary comments about Sarah Palin, he announced in an email posted by Mediaite on Wednesday. "Upon further … [Read more...] about MSNBC’s Martin Bashir resigns after Palin comments fallout:
Officials Continue to Investigate the Cause of the Metro-North Train Derailment
Early in the morning on Sunday, December 1, a devastating train crash occurred on New York's Metro-North railroad. 4 were killed and 62 were injured during the crash. Unsurprisingly, many are demanding to know how and why the tragedy occurred. Just hours after the crash, officials launched an investigation, and although they aren't 100% clear on what caused the event, here's … [Read more...] about Officials Continue to Investigate the Cause of the Metro-North Train Derailment
Christmas Drones (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2013/12/04/christmas-drones/ Copyright 2013 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Christmas Drones (Cartoon)
Tree of Angels 2013
Once again, for the 18th year, my wife and I attended the Tree of Angels ceremony last night at a local church in Austin, Texas. I have written about this touching ceremony before, the last time in 2011, and I will jut recall some details and do a little update. Every year for the past 22 years, a wonderful organization, People Against Violent Crime, led by Verna Lee … [Read more...] about Tree of Angels 2013
Democrats and GOP Obamacare Suicide Pact
If and when the ACA finally works, what will be left of Barack Obama’s power to make things happen? If and when a Republican finally retakes the White House, what will remain of the GOP’s ability to govern? Both parties should step back and consider what happened to the Greek King Pyrrhus who defeated the Romans but lost so much in doing so that his name is enshrined in … [Read more...] about Democrats and GOP Obamacare Suicide Pact
Newsweek to resurrect print edition: report
Newsweek to resurrect print edition: report (via AFP) International current affairs magazine Newsweek plans to relaunch its print edition in early 2014, just over one year after ceasing publication to focus on its website, the New York Times reported Tuesday. Newsweek editor in chief Jim Impoco was quoted… … [Read more...] about Newsweek to resurrect print edition: report
Human ancestor was less-chimp-like than thought
Human ancestor was less-chimp-like than thought (via AFP) The last common ancestor of Man and Ape was not a knuckle-walking, tree-swinging hominid resembling today's chimpanzee, said a study Tuesday challenging some long-held theories of human evolution. Rather than a prototype chimp as commonly believed,… … [Read more...] about Human ancestor was less-chimp-like than thought
Is Obamacare finally working?
Are there signs that Obamacare may survive -- even if the Democrats' majority in the Senate doesn't? Are there reasons why it is likely to survive and perhaps thrive, despite on one of the most bumbling and politically disastrous launches of a program in American history? And are there reasons why Republicans should be smiling? There's a wealth of takes and stories on … [Read more...] about Is Obamacare finally working?
The Eternal Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh, who never fails to pander to the fear and entitlement of his audience, accuses Pope Francis of "pure Marxism" as Caitlin MacNeal reports on Talking Points Memo. "I have been numerous times to the Vatican. It wouldn't exist without tons of money," Limbaugh said in a show titled "It's Sad How Wrong Pope Francis Is (Unless It's a Deliberate Mistranslation By … [Read more...] about The Eternal Rush Limbaugh