Morty O Sullivan, Irish Brigade Recruiter

Chapter Five - Morty O Sullivan, Irish Brigade Recruiter - author unknown

In the aftermath of the Cromwellian confiscations, Englishmen and their agents came into possession of great tracts of our lands and those of the O’Driscolls, MacSwineys, O’Donoghues and other native families of the area. A Welshman named Puxley acquired land whereupon sat the ruins of Donal O Sullivan Beare’s Dunboy Castle. When he passed on, another Puxley relative in Galway was willed the property. A Protestant without any common sense, he assumed an air of supremacy and attempted to suppress the smuggling of Irish wool for French wines, brandies and the like, business between Ireland and France.

English parliamentary laws were designed to stifle Irish commerce. Another export was recruits for the French armies. One of the most daring of these smugglers was Morty Oge O Sullivan. Morty was descended from the chiefs of the sept but was denied his birthright by the imposition of English ‘law’. As a result, he was landless and poor. He was described as an adventuresome spirit with a long and bitter memory. A veteran of the Austrian Army, he had served the Austrian queen Maria Theresa in 1742. It is reported he was present at the battle of Fontenoy and, in April, 1746, was also with the ‘Pretender’, Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden, where Kerryman Colonel John Vera Sullivan, was Adjutant-General to the Prince (see noteworthy O Sullivans in 18th Century Ireland). Col. O Sullivan was grandson of Owen O Sullivan of Cappanacusha Castle.

Puxley was a revenue officer and guardian of the Crown interests in the region. One Sunday Morty Oge and Puxley became embroiled in an argument and Morty Oge shot Puxley dead. Morty fled to France where he continued to engage in his craft and visited Ireland on occasion to see his family. Unfortunately, word got back to loyalist authorities that Morty was visiting his family in his mountain cabin.

On a dark and stormy night a force set out from Cork to Berehaven in a boat, arriving late. Morty’s watchdog gave warning of the approaching men. What ensued was described in a publication called the Cork Remembrancer, printed in 1783. "Sullivan and his party took the alarm directly. O Sullivan came to the door and opened it in his shirt, with a blunderbuss in his hand; at the same time they might have taken away his life, but the commanding officer, choosing rather to take him alive, did not fire at him.

Sullivan and his men fired several blunderbusses out of the house at the party, but finding them too strong, he thought on a stratagem; by sending them out one man at a time, thinking by that means the party would leave the house to follow them, by which me may get off; but he was prevented by the officer, who only fired at the men as they went off. At length O Sullivan’s wife, with her child and nurse, came out and asked for quarter, which was granted. The officer asked her who was in the house; she answered no one but her husband and some of his men; upon which he ordered the house to be set on fire, which they were a long time doing, the men’s arms being rendered quite useless from the heavy rains; but the house being at last set on fire, they were obliged to come out.

Sullivan behaved with great bravery, as did his men; he stood and snapped his blunderbuss twice at the party, and missed fire; likewise the party snapped at him twice and missed fire, and cocking the third time, shot him through the heart dead." Two of Morty’s confederates, Sullivan and Connel, also lost their lives after being taken prisoner.

Morty’s body was lashed to the stern of their boat and it was towed from Berehaven to Cork. It was beheaded and spiked over the South Gaol (jail), next to that of Sullivan and Connel. The Irish have long memories when it comes to injustice for the name of Scully is given as the name of the betrayer. However, there’s no record to substantiate it there’s only the oral tradition.

Cork poet J.J. Callanan wrote a Gaelic lament for Morty, supposed to have been spoken by the old nurse of the family, who apparently cherished the personhood of Morty. Here I quote it in part:

" The sun on Ivera no longer shines brightly The voice of her music no longer is sprightly; No more to her maidens the light dance is dear since the death of our darling O Sullivan Beare. Had he died calmly I would not deplore him; or if the wild strife of the sea-war closed o’er him;

But with ropes round his white limbs through ocean to trail him,Like a fish after slaughter, ‘tis therefore I wail him. In the hole which the vile hands of soldiers had made thee, Unhonour’d, unshrouded, and headless they lid thee; No sigh to regret thee, No eye to rain o’er thee, No dirge to lament thee, no friend to deplore thee; Dear head of my darling, how gory and pale These aged eyes see thee high spiked on their jail; That cheek in the summer sun ne’er shall grow warm, Nor that eye e’er catch light but the light of the storm.

A curse, blessed ocean, is on thy green water, From the harbour of Cork to Ivera of slaughter, Since they billows were dyed with the red wounds of fear, of Muiertach Oge, Our O Sullivan Beare."

Morty’s comrade, Connel, wrote a lamentation in Cork Gaol on the night before his execution. It was preserved by the Rev. Mr. Gibson in his History of the City and County of Cork, published in 1861. Connel’s words are both beautiful and haunting. His great love for Morty is expressed, along with his great grief over his impending fate.

‘Morty, my dear and loved master, you carried the sway for strength and generosity. It is my endless grief and sorrow that admits of no comfort - that your fair head should be gazed at as a show upon a spike, and that your noble frame is without life. I have travelled with you, my dear and much loved master, in foreign lands. You moved with kings in the royal prince’s army; but it is through the means of Puxley I am left in grief and confinement in Cork, locked in heavy irons without hopes of relief. The great God is good and merciful; I ask his pardon and support, for I am to be hanged at the gallows to- morrow, without doubt. The rope will squeeze my neck, and thousands will lament my fate. May the Lord have mercy on my master; Kerryonians, pray for us. Sweet and melodious is your voice. My blessing I give you, but you will never see me again among you alive. Our heads will be put upon a spike for a show; and under the cold snow of night, and the burning sun of summer.

Oh, that I was ever born; Oh, that I ever returned to Berehaven; Mine was the best of masters that Ireland could produce, may our souls be floating to-morrow in the rays of endless glory; The lady his wife: Heavy is her grief, and who may wonder at that, were her eyes made of green stone, when he, her dear husband was shot by that ball. Had he retreated, our grief would be lighter; but the brave man, for the pride of his country, could not retreat. He has been in King’ places. In Spain he got a pension. Lady Clare gave him robes bound with gold lace, as a token of remembrance. He was a captain on the coast of France, but he should return to Ireland for us to lose him.’

North Korea and Russia - Is Anybody Else Seeing Through It?

According to news reports, the Obama administration is now thinking about offering North Korea incentives to abandon its nuclear programs. I saw it coming when they ranted and raved about attacking the U.S. Yeah, right. But now it looks as if, with the support of the Obama administration, the bastard son of China might get his own way,

I don't know about you but while growing up, when I tried acting that way, my parents were able to see through my thinly-veiled manipulations. Maybe that's why I can see through North Korea's intentions.

When Obama visited Berlin, Germany during his campaign, he addressed the international crowd there as "we". His supporters weren't Americans but Internationalists. He now would have us believe that Russia has a lot to worry about from the eastern nations of Europe. Huh? Anybody remember Poland's Katyn Forest? The murder of millions of Russian citizens? The starving of Ukraine?

J. Edgar Hoover once called it "The Big Lie". I've lived long enough to see it become a reality.

The officials, who are traveling with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Thailand, told reporters that the package is only in its early stages and will not be offered to North Korea unless and until the allies sign off on it. Pyongyang would also have to first take specific, concrete and "irreversible" steps to begin destroying its arsenal of nuclear weapons.

The aides said that the administration needs to see concrete action. Mere assurances from North Korea that it will take action in the future would not be enough to trigger the presentation of the incentives package, they said.

Of course Sotomayor is qualified, that's not the quesiton.

It’s her judgment that we’re afraid of. She’s already gone on the record and revealed her bias. Conservatives should not let her off the hook just because she’s “Hispanic” and female.

Sorry, but she just can't be trusted to do the right thing.

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE - OR YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ME

There are some, legitimate, reasons for having National Healthcare in place for specific classes of people.

1) Those who are retired and have contributed to the U.S. economy throughout their lives.

2) The many Americans who are working but simply cannot afford it or it is not being offered them at a price they can afford.

There are some, legitimate, reasons for NOT having National Healthcare in place for specific classes of people.

1) Those who are residing in our nation illegally.

2) Those born to single mothers.

Yes, this could be classified as discriminatory but what decisions in life are not?
Where is your responsibility to me? I am all for helping one to help themself but I do not believe in doing it over and over again. And I don't believe I am responsible for the illegitimate children you have over and over again.

I am willing to have tax monies pay for healthcare for those truly in need. I don't believe in forced carte blanche coverage.

MICHAEL JACKSON, R.I.P.

We haven't yet seen the end of this saga. While my sympathy goes out to the family and his loved ones, this media circus is being fostered by the major media outlets. If you don't understand it, you don't understand power.

Anytime we see black political operatives show up you know the whole thing is about power - black power. They have what they tout as a black president but it won't stop there....it is never going to stop. It's in your face stuff. Remember, these types of blacks are black first, American second. Not very nice.

If you still don't understand this, go to Richmond, Virginia and visit the boulevard honoring the city's historic heroes of the Confederacy. There you will see a relatively recent addition - Arthur Ashe. Who was he? A black professional tennis player who died of AIDS. Now do you get it?

This is all an example of why I don't vote for blacks. The right blacks I would vote for, but I haven't seen 'em on my ballot yet.

My advice, quit being black and be American.

Signed - American first, Irish always.

4th of July, 2009

I've been waiting for President Obama to apologize to England for having fought them in the Revolutionary War.

In his televised appearance on the 4th of July, 2009, he mentioned he and his family had our military personnel in his thoughts and hearts. What, are they not in your prayers Mr.President?

AN AGENDA BEGINS TO SURFACE ((if you care to look)

The U.S. Supreme Court this week voted in a 5-4 decision to do the right thing and vote in favor of men who studied and passed an exam for promotion in the Fire Department of New Haven, Connecticut. What is distressing about the decision is four Justices dissented. And the reaction from the Left is predictable.

Left hanging in all this is President Obama’s nomination of left-leaning Sonia Santomayor as a Justice to replace David Souter.

In an interview on FOX News, Author Juan Williams said, “I think they got it wrong. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Law that says if you have something that looks harmless on the surface, like a test, but it has a discriminator impact, and you have no blacks here qualifying for promotion in the New Haven Fire Department, something might be wrong with that instrument, that test, and it gives the city in this case the right to go back and say we’re gonna have another test because we didn’t like the results of that one.”

Williams opines that if one is just looking at the firefighters you have to be sensitive to people who have dyslexia and who’ve struggled hard and succeeded. Williams attempted to weaken the clear victory for the Right by claiming it’s judicial activism from the right. Well, turnabout is fairplay, no? Williams then tries to rally his troops by saying, “I think this might be the end of affirmative action in America.”

No one questions Santomayor’s qualifications. Indeed, she is well-educated. What the Right questions is her judgement. If anyone thinks a Hispanic female can reach better conclusions about anything than a white male, they are racist, anyway you look at it.

Left-leaning columnist Connie Schultz, wife of Ohio’s left-leaning Senator Sherrod Brown, opined in the Cleveland Plain Dealer that “The Internet poses challenges we never anticipated.” She opines that Federal copyright law should change. She’s right there. The Internet has provided a platform for those on the Right to express their views. What Schultz would do would be to disallow me to quote Juan Williams and Connie Schultz.

Of course newspaper reporters spend hours developing stories. But she cries wolf about television and radio stations and bloggers using the stories they’ve dug up. In their eyes we’re free-riders.

If newspapers weren’t savvy enough to catch the wave, too bad. Henry Ford almost took the company down when he didn’t see that consumers wanted cars that were other than black. National Cash Register made a wonderful, mechanical and analog cash register that lasted forever. It took wholesale firings to bring their corporate culture in to the electronic age. Kodak is playing catch-up in the digital age. Again, their corporate culture, like American auto makers, in cahoots with unions, was to make money in spite of themselves. We consumers are paying that price.

The danger here, however, is the subtle thought processes that seek to change the mind-set of Americans. The Juan Williams and Connie Schultzs of the world are only two of the many syndicated writers who get top billing in the nation’s newspapers. And therein lies the rub. The majority of we, the living, don’t buy it. The danger is when we pass, will there still be alternate ways to communicate other than left-leaning, government supported/owned newspapers who follow the agenda of the powers that be? Isn’t that how North Korea, Stalin’s Russia, Communist China, Pol Pot’s Cambodia and others were able to come into existence and murder those who didn’t think like they did?

It can happen again.

Was this actually a combat death?

The AP story by Mike Levine says "Group Linked to Al Qaeda May Have Killed Minnesota Man Recruited in Somalia." That's the spin anyhow.

Burhan Hassan, a 17-year-old Somali-American, was allegedly killed by Al Qaeda in Somalia. He was part of a group of American-Muslims who were recruited in Minnesota by Al Qaeda.

The FBI is supposedly "investigating" the 20-some Muslims from Minnesota who recently traveled to the Middle East.

"Families that belong to this Minnesota mosque, Abubakar As-Saddiqu, were suspected of having a role in their loved ones' disappearance," wrote Levine.

One can't 'help but think this death is combat-related, perhaps killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. American media isn't about to question it. This writer, however, will.

The other story not getting any attention was the murder of an American soldier by a Muslim-American. Why are these stories being buried?

In Memoriam - Sgt. Charles G. Rodgers

In memoriam - June 6, 1944. Normandy veteran, uncle Charles G. Rodgers, Sergeant, 9th US Army.

Awarded 4 Bronze Stars - Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe campaigns

Service in England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.

Couldn't have said it any better.

April 17, 2009
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington , DC 20500

Mr. Obama:

I have had it with you and your administration, sir. Your conduct on your recent trip overseas has convinced me that you are not an adequate representative of the United States of America collectively or of me personally.

You are so obsessed with appeasing the Europeans and the Muslim world that you have abdicated the responsibilities of the President of the United States of America . You are responsible to the citizens of the United States .. You are not responsible to the peoples of any other country on earth.

I personally resent that you go around the world apologizing for the United States telling Europeans that we are arrogant and do not care about their status in the world. Sir, what do you think the First World War and the Second World War were all about if not the consideration of the peoples of Europe ? Are you brain dead? What do you think the Marshall Plan was all about? Do you not understand or know the history of the 20th century?

Where do you get off telling a Muslim country that the United States does not consider itself a Christian country? Have you not read the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the United States ? This country was founded on Judeo-Christian ethics and the principles governing this country, at least until you came along, come directly from this heritage. Do you not understand this?

Your bowing to the king of Saudi Arabia is an affront to all Americans. Our President does not bow down to anyone, let alone the king of Saudi Arabia . You don't show Great Britain , our best and one of our oldest allies, the respect they deserve yet you bow down to the king of Saudi Arabia . How dare you, sir! How dare you!

You can't find the time to visit the graves of our greatest generation because you don't want to offend the Germans but make time to visit a mosque in Turkey . You offended our dead and every veteran when you give the Germans more respect than the people who saved the German people from themselves. What's the matter with you?

I am convinced that you and the members of your administration have the historical and intellectual depth of a mud puddle and should be ashamed of yourselves, all of you.

You are so self-righteously offended by the big bankers and the American automobile manufacturers yet do nothing about the real thieves in this situation, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Frank, Franklin Raines, Jamie Gorelic, the Fannie Mae bonuses, and the Freddie Mac bonuses. What do you intend to do about them? Anything? I seriously doubt it.

What about the U.S. House members passing out $9.1 million in bonuses to their staff members - on top of the $2.5 million in automatic pay raises that lawmakers gave themselves? I understand the average House aide got a 17% bonus. I took a 5% cut in my pay to save jobs with my employer. You haven't said anything about that. Who authorized that? I surely didn't!

Executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be receiving $210 million in bonuses over an eighteen-month period, that's $45 million more than the AIG bonuses. In fact, Fannie and Freddie executives have already been awarded $51 million - not a bad take. Who authorized that and why haven't you expressed your outrage at this group who are largely responsible for the economic mess we have right now.

I resent that you take me and my fellow citizens as brain-dead and not caring about what you idiots do.

We are watching what you are doing and we are getting increasingly fed up with all of you.

I also want you to know that I personally find just about everything you do and say to be offensive to every one of my sensibilities.

I promise you that I will work tirelessly to see that you do not get a chance to spend two terms destroying my beautiful country.
Sincerely,

Every real American

P.S. I rarely ask that emails be 'passed around'...PLEASE SEND THIS TO YOUR EMAIL LIST...it's past time for all Americans to wake up!

Ms Kathleen Lyday
Fourth Grade Teacher
Grandview Elementary School
11470 Hwy. C
Hillsboro , MO 63050
(636) 944-3291 Phone
(636) 944-3870 Fax

Frank Borkowski, Korean War Hero

You want torture?

While President Obama declares that waterboarding is torture, the body of an Iraqi interpreter who worked for the U.S. Military defies the President’s phony statement.

David Fisher, writing in the May, 2009 issue of the American Legion Magazine, tells us of the demise of this employee. When found, “the body was riddled with holes from a power drill. The flesh on his back had been burned off with an electric heater.” Forty-two other interpreters, whose identities were compromised by an informant, disappeared. We can guess at their fate.

You want to know what torture is Mr. President? It ain’t waterboarding,

And here they come - Pakistanis with American cash

May 8, 2009

As reported on Fox News today, "The U.N. refugee agency says half a million people have fled fighting in northwestern Pakistan in the past few days, bringing the total displaced in recent months to 1 million."

With the Obama Left House proposing billions for Pakistan, I see it coming. The money will disappear, like it does everywhere we send it, and our nation will be flooded with Pakistanis who have benefited from our "largesse."

Let's see, gas stations, motels, cabs, 7-11 type stores. What else am I missing here? There's no room for Federal jobs, is there? Blacks have those. How about city jobs?

Those who are already here need to become American instead of remaining Moslem in America. If they don't, "That's All Folks!"

OBAMA TOUTS TAX OVERHAUL

May 7, 2009

So read the Plain Dealer Business headline. According to the article, the Left House wants to:

PREVENT US Companies from deferring tax payments by keeping profits in foreign countries.

KEEP companies from writing off domestic expenses for generating profits abroad.

TAX income of Americans from bank accounts held in tax havens like the Cayman Islands

HIRE nearly 800 new IRS agents to enforce the Tax Code. (read homosexual, minority, hispanic, female, out-of-work UAW member).

A little down the road, does all this mean he will want to tax companies who USED TO BE located here in the United States?

We're being had America

April 30, 2009

I read car bombs killed 48 people in Baghdad neighborhoods.
I read that Pakistan has regained control of a town the Taliban held.
I read President Obama wants millions more to train and equipment Pakistan's Army.

Where's that money going to end up? Will it disappear, like other money we give to other governments that becomes untraceable? Are we now going to have more Moslems owning more of America? Don't they already have the gas stations, beverage stores, motels and what else?

Do they come here because they want to be American? For liberty? No, they come because they have pocketfuls of American greenbacks, printed courtesy of Uncle Sam, to be paid for by what's left of the fast-dwindling pool of America's taxpayers.

Back in the 60s, a Marine Corporal in Vietnam wrote that he couldn't tell the cowboys from the indians, a reference to old movies where cowboys were good guys and indians were bad guys. He was killed there.

Our foreign policy of giving away American wealth is phony, part of the Big Lie.
I'm done believing in Democrats and Republicans and the White House. If people want liberty they have to fight for it. And that includes us. They only problem is Americans don't know who to fight - they can't tell the cowboys from the indians.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

April 23, 2009

Are you as tired as I am of hearing about homosexuals and racists?

Where is it written that the issue of what one does behind closed doors is anybody's business? Get outta my face! Why has it been politicized? Are there THAT many of 'em to put the Democratic Left over the top in elections?

You can call it same sex marriage but it's not marriage, only an attempt by the Left to legitimize them. As my friend Padraic says, "The state can say it's right but that don't make it right!"

Diversity? The pc word for giving the hiring heads up to minorities (including homosexuals?)and women. Need I remind readers that my mother, sisters, wife and daughters are women? Say it ain't so Joe.

Report Links CIA to Military Harsh Interrogations

April, 2009

A Senate report this week is seeking to strengthen policies of the leftist Obama Administration. As reported by Fox News, the "harsh interrogation techniques" used by the Bush Administration "directly links the CIA's interrogation program to the military's use of aggressive tactics."

There was a time when matters were not out of control, as they are today. We are seeing continued and successful attempts to discredit the CIA. Now the target of the Left has been expanded. They are infiltrating our National Security Agency. The wolf is in the hen house.

There has already been enormous damage done by the Obama administration, which will will continue. Hopefully we can endure this for only four years and return common sense to the White House and Congress by convincing his supporters of the danger they are.

Didn't you see it coming America?

Envy - A Capital Sin

There were, in my 5th grade class at Cleveland's St. Vincent DePaul Grade School, the brothers Lembach. Twins Robert and Richard were the kind of guys who could crayon colorfully and masterfully. Girls could always crayon and stay within the lines. Boys couldn't. The twins were the exception. Their work was always posted in the classroom for all to admire....except me. I was envious of their talent.

At the end of our school year, everyone whose work was posted, the brothers included, had the option of taking their art home or leaving it for someone else to dispose of. That someone else was me.

I snagged what I judged to be the best of the Lembachs' work. He had written his name in the upper left-hand corner. It was a simple matter of fixing - I just tore it off and took it home to proudly show off my work. Dad took one look at the torn corner and said, "What was here? Somebody else's name?"

I was only reminded of this story when I learned of my three year old grandson's talent. Liam, can crayon within the lines.

I'm jealous.

$1.1 billion for Americorps

According to Fox News, "The White House said Monday that the president "will call on people across the country to serve their communities and work together to tackle the nation's tough challenges.

Congress passed the bill last month with largely bipartisan support and Obama is seeking $1.1 billion to fund it next year. Some Republicans complain it is too costly and is an unnecessary intrusion by government into something Americans already do eagerly and in great numbers — helping their neighbors and communities.

The legislation provides for gradually increasing the size of AmeriCorps to 250,000 enrollees from its current 75,000. It outlines five broad categories where people can direct their service: helping the poor, improving education, encouraging energy efficiency, strengthening access to health care and assisting veterans."

Now they've got this writer wondering - will they force federal contractors to use these folks in the PLAs? For those who haven't read about it, PLAs are Project Labor Agreements, which give women, homosexuals and minorities preference in hiring over white men.

Didn't you see it coming America?

"And here it comes....."

We're gonna win this drug war if it takes every last buck out of American taxpayer pockets.

President Barack Obama is continuing the use fight against drugs in America. Thre will be hundreds of additional "agents" sent to the border with their gear and drug-sniffing dogs. "If the steps that we've taken do not get the job done," he said, "then we will do more." Yeah, more money to Mexicans. And more money to the Obama administration employees that will be homosexuals, minorities and women.

Our Secretary of State Clinton says the "more" will come in the form of direct aid. They will "seek" $80 million to "help" Mexico buy Blackhawk helicopters. Add to that $80 million the $1.3 billion President Bush already pledged to provide aircraft and equipment over the next three years.

When the build the Blackhawk helicopters will the Obama administration demand PLAs (Project Labor Agreements) be enforced? That would mean that minorities (which we can presume will include homosexuals), women and illegals, will be given hiring preferences over American-born men?

Like Afghanistan and Iraq, this direct aid money will disappear into the pockets ofcorrupt Mexican and American officials. And the drug war, like money for education, will take all you are forced to give without any real change.

Where's the conservative leadership in America? Where's the separation of powers?

Didn't you see it coming America?

The Domino Theory in Action

April 18, 2009

President Obama, following a road who's destination is socialism, is engaging in a "new aproach" with Cuba and other communist nations in this hemisphere. South America proves the Domino Theory is active and working.

For those readers who don't know, it is the theory that when one democratic republic is taken over by communists, the duly-elected governments of neighboring nations fall. Ask the mayors of Venezuela's major cities why they're in hiding from "Benito" Chavez.

President Obama wants Cuba to release scores of "political prisoners." I'm all for releasing "political prisoners" anywhere but keep 'em in your own country Cuba. Remember the infamous "Mariel Boat Lift"? Cuba emptied their jails and insane asylums and we, like the fools we are, accepted 100% of 'em.

When Ellis Island was in operation we quarantined criminal types, crazies and those with infectious diseases. We didn't let EVERYBODY in. It's time to re-institute that policy here in the 21st century.

I'm laboring under the impression there is a separation of powers in the U.S. If so, where is the conservative leadership in Congress and the Judiciary that is challenging the rampant path to economic ruin?

Didn't you see it coming America?

WILL PRESIDENT OBAMA NOW WANT TO FINANCE CUBA?

Speaking from a meeting that "Bonito Mussolini" Chavez hosted in Venezuela, Cuba's Raul Castro said: "We have sent word to the U.S. government in private and in public that we are willing to discuss everything — human rights, freedom of the press, political prisoners, everything."

What this means, of course, is they looking for American money. Didn't Russia dump financial support of this little communist nation years ago? If Chavez loves Cuba so much, let him send Venezulean money to them.

Will President Obama emerge from these meetings with a continued focus OUTSIDE OF OUR BORDERS? Stay home Mr. President, and pay attention to the real problems in America, like halting the fleeing of capital.

It has been private enterprise that made America great. Jobs are created by capital. Socialism hasn't worked anywhere it has raised its ugly multi-headed being.

Didn't you see it coming America?

Obama Visit to Mexico Signals Support in Drug War.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon welcomes increased U.S. border security and even U.S. training for Mexico's navy against violent drug trafficking gangs.

Of course they welcome it. Don't we all welcome free stuff we don't have to pay for? Let's see now, what could be on the shopping list that American taxpayers will fork over.....ships, submarines, oh yes, and let's not forget paying their salaries.

Didn't you see it coming America?

Millions of Somalis

Ah yes, we can see it coming. The Obama Administration will, acting under a President Executive Order, bring a million Somalis into the U.S. in what will be determined to be a Emergency Humanitarian Act. This will cut piracy in the area as there will then be less poor people there.

In a related action, those who are left in Somalia, including those who have emigrated there from other African nations, will be awarded a million U.S. dollars in reparations for the three Somali killed by the U.S. Navy, who acted under Pentagon orders rather than White House orders. The Navy refused to use water hoses against the "Pirates" as the White House had ordered. As a result of these Presidential Executive Orders there will no longer be any pirates in the area.

In a related action, Somalis who are sent to the U.S. will each be given 1 million bucks too so they can buy, staff and repair the American Interstate Highway System and any other toll roads, like the Ohio Turnpike. They must adhere to PLAs (Project Labor Agreements) while doing so.

PLAs require contractors to negotiate with union officials and abide by collective bargaining, despite the fact that 84% of US construction workers do not belong to labor unions.

Tyranny of the Minority

During his first 100 days President Obama has lost no time in making moves to "help workers". Union officials say this will require federal contractors to offer jobs to current workers when contracts change and will not make it difficult for federal contractors to discourage union activities.

President Obama's 4th union-friendly Executive Order has encouraged federal agencies to have construction contractors and their subs enter Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). They require contractors to negotiate with union officials and abide by collective bargaining, despite the fact that 84% of US construction workers do not belong to labor unions.

For more on the socialization of the United States go to AStrongMiddleClass.gov, to tell you what they're up to. Only one thing though, I wouldn't share my thoughts with them as they suggest. Let 'em muddle around until we can get them outta Washington permanently.

"Don't Tread on Me"

Cleveland's Hibernian Guards - Co. B, 8th OVI

An Irishman in the American Civil War

By JC Sullivan


James K. O'Reilly was returning from Sunday Mass at Cleveland's St. Edward Church on Woodland Avenue when news posters announced the assault on Ft. Sumter, South Carolina. America's Civil War began on that April day. O'Reilly, born in
County Cork in 1838 came to Cleveland in 1858 via New York City. He and his Irish friends James Butler and Thomas Francis Galwey were anxious to join Union forces before the fight was over. They hurried to the armory of the Hibernian Guards and enlisted for three months, officially becoming Co. B, 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. When it was all over, almost five years later, the 8th Ohio would have 97 men present for muster-out out of a total 990 that began the unit.

The honorable Kenneth R. Callahan, most recently a Common Pleas Court Judge in Cuyahoga County, is a direct descendent of Captain O'Reilly, his maternal great-grandfather. He honors the spirit of his colorful and gallant forebear by insuring Americans don't forget the deeds and valor of the 8th Ohio, a unit that fought fiercely in most of the major battles of the Potomac Army. He also wants to insure that history accurately reflects the role they played in turning the famous 'Pickett's Charge' at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in July of 1863.

By June, General Robert E. Lee's rag-tag forces had moved into the farmlands of Pennsylvania, rich in the much-needed resources of food, material and steed. The march to Gettysburg was brutally hot. Unlike modern armies, neither side at Gettysburg had winter and summer uniforms - only heavy wool. Some were lucky to have shoes. During the march it was frightfully hot. O'Reilly suffered sunstroke and went by horse-drawn ambulance to Gettysburg. "When he found out the 8th was positioned outside the Emmitsburg Road," said Callahan, "He left the hospital and ran out and joined the company there."

O'Reilly, deathly ill, arrived at Gettysburg on July 3rd, after the first day of battle. Colonel Samuel Springs Carroll (of the Maryland Carrolls) ordered the Hibernians immediately into a cornfield between the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge and Confederate lines on Seminary Ridge, with orders were to push rebel sharpshooters back. With this advanced picket line established, O'Reilly's
Hibernians spent the night there while the rest of the brigade was pulled out by General Hancock to support other areas. Confederate sharpshooters reminded them of their closeness throughout the evening by shooting at them.

On the morning of the 4th, General Lee, believing the center of the Union line to be weakened, opened up his attack with a two-hour artillery barrage. "Nothing more terrific than this story of artillery can be imagined," said Colonel Franklyn Sawyer. "The missiles of both armies passed over our heads. The roar of the guns was deafening, the air was soon clouded with smoke, and the shrieks and the startling crack of the exploding shells above, a round and in our midst; the blowing up of our caissons in our rear; the driving through the air of the fence rails, posts and limbs of trees; the groans of dying men, the neighing of frantic and wounded horses, created a scene of absolute horror."

General Lee followed this up by sending fifteen thousand gray backs into the fray. The 15O - 18O men of the 8th Ohio poured rifle fire into the left flank of James J. Pettigrew's division. "They moved up splendidly," Sawyer wrote, "deploying into column as they crossed the long, sloping interval between us and their base. At first it looked like they would sweep our position, but as they advanced, their direction lay to our left."

"A moan went up from the battlefield distinctly to be heard amid the storm of battle," related survivor
Galwey. The surprised Southerners, led by gallant officers on horseback, broke and retreated. "...the first sign of faltering came from Colonel J.M. Brockenbrough's brigade of Virginians who, under Pettigrew, were stationed in the extreme left of the advance, that is, directly in front of the 8th Ohio," Callahan related.

With Sawyer admitting their 'blood was up', he then turned his men ninety degrees and fired into the flank of Joseph Davis' brigade. When Union commanders saw this development, they sent reinforcements down to turn the attack. The 8th advanced, cutting off three regiments, capturing their colors and many soldiers. Afterwards, an attempt was made to discharge Colonel Sawyer from the service for
it was believed he was drunk...one would think that no commander in his right mind would attempt such a maneuver with such a small force.

Later that summer, after the battle of Gettysburg, the 8th Ohio was sent to New York City for riot duty. When the draft was instituted, provisions were made for purchasing one's way out through the process of buying a substitute. Naturally, many Irish and other immigrants could not afford to do so and objected to the practice.

Karen Sullivan decorates the grave of 8th OVI veteran, KIA, Gettysburg. St. John’s Cemetery, Cleveland.

While there, O'Reilly met his future bride, Susan O'Brien. "The whole thing was a drinking expedition," Callahan said. "Commander Sawyer was telling everybody not to get drunk but about an hour later he was arrested for drunkenness. I think they had a good time in New York City."

In August, 1865, at the war's end, O'Reilly returned to New York City and married Susan O'Brien at St. Stephen's Parish Church. The couple came to Cleveland and resided at 189 Quincy Ave., where they raised seven children. Part of the time he worked for Thomas Jones Sons Monument Co., which was located at E. 28th & Prospect Ave. Because of his disability from his Gettysburg sunstroke, however, he was never able to work for long periods of time. He tried to get a pension the rest of his life in a protracted struggle with the War Department. His widow was finally awarded one thirty years after his death, in 1930. In 1900, after a funeral Mass at St. Edward's Church, O'Reilly was laid to rest in St. John's cemetery, next to the church. His stone, erected by his daughter, says simply, "Captain J.K. O'Reilly."

Callahan met Captain O'Reilly's daughter, Isabelle, in 1952. She blamed her father for the fact that she never married. "She claimed every time somebody came over to see her he pulled them into the parlor and kept them up until midnight telling stories about the Civil War."

Callahan is a graduate of Cleveland's St. Ignatius High School and received his undergraduate degree from Cleveland's John Carroll University. He received his law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Additionally, he studied art, history, anthropology and literature at both Trinity and University Colleges, Dublin. Callahan is a published author and a military historian. He and his spouse Martha are parents of Casey and Eoin.

As of this original writing, The Callahan and O'Reilly families of Cleveland have never been in touch with any surviving O'Reilly family in Cork. Although they know chances are slim to non-existent, they would be delighted to hear from anyone who recognizes a family kinship. As of this writing in July, 2017, this is no longer the case.

The following letter is Comrade Galwey’s tribute to his friend and Captain as printed in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

New York, May 22nd, 1900

Editor of the Sunday Cleveland Plain Dealer

Sir:

I desire as a comrade officer of the 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry to say through the Plain Dealer (sic) a few words upon the military career of the late Captain J.K. O’Reilly, the news of whose recent death at 189 Quincy Street, Cleveland, has just reached us.

During the twenty campaigns and more than sixty engagements in which the 8th Infantry gained its fame in the Civil War, O’Reilly’s influence and example, first among its non-commissioned officers and afterwards among its commissioned officers, contributed greatly to its fighting spirit, conduct and methods. He was fearless and quick-witted in the moment of danger or other emergency.

The two bravest and most brilliant among the many brave and brilliant acts of that regiment were its bayonet charge across the Sunken or Bloody Lane at Antietam at the end of five hours close fighting, and its wheel to the left at Gettysburg, by which it struck the left flank of Pickett’s confederate column, and put it into disorder at that point, at the very moment when the front of that column had crossed the Emmittsburg Road and was shaking its battle flags at the “high water mark of the rebellion.”

In both of those splendid manoeuvres (sic) O’Reilly was very conspicuous, if he was not to some extent the real author of each. He was at first a man of fine physique, and like many others who constantly exposed themselves, escaped almost unharmed by the enemy, but he suffered to the last from a sunstroke that befell him during fearful hot day on the march to Gettysburg, and I understand that this was the chief cause of his death.

Cleveland is not today the quiet little city it was on the 16th of April, 1861, when, in defence of the Union, O’Reilly enlisted as a private in the Hibernian Guards, which became Company B of the 8th Ohio Infantry. But big and bustling as Cleveland has become, it will not, I imagine, forget the honor done to its name in the Civil War by such a man as O’Reilly.

Respectfully,

Thos. F. Galwey
15 West 123rd St.,
New York City
-30-


Author’s Note: Both Butler and Galwey relocated to New York City. Butler became keeper of General Grant’s Tomb.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

GALWEY, THOMAS FRANCIS,The_Valiant_Hours,_Narrative_of_"Captain Brevet,"_an_Irish-American_in_the_Army_of_the_Potomac. Harrisburg PA., Stackpole Co., 1961. Col. William S. Nye, Editor

DOWNES, CAPTAIN THOMAS M.F., Co. B. 8th Ohio Infantry (Reenactment)from_a_speech_to_the_Ancient_Order_of Hibernians,_Boland-Berry
Division, Cleveland, Ohio 1989.

CALLAHAN, KENNETH, conversations, 1993 - 2009.

POLICIES OF THE LEFT - DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WHITE MEN

"GROUP WANTS TO ENSURE STIMULUS SPREAD AMONG RACES, WOMEN" read the headline in the Plain Dealer this week. 50 advocacy organizations (they used to be called communist fronts)want President Obama to issue an executive order that "encourages the hiring and training of all underrepresented racial groups, women and low-income residents, to work on federal construction projects, particularly those financed by the economic stimulus package."

President Obama signed an executive order in February, 2009 that "encourage(s) executive agencies to consider requiring the use of project labor agreements on federal construction projects of $25 million or more. PLAs are collective bargaining agreements with labor unions.

Well, there you have it. All in the name of what is being called "diversity". Let's hope the damage control can be strong enough from elected leaders who have a lick of sense in their heads. The majority of us are being made fools.

Looks to me as if it's unconstitutional. Hope about it Supreme Court?

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISION

Does anybody know the actual figure the SEC has fined American businesses over, let's say, the last 20 years? I've noted it over the years and I'm willing to bet it's astronomical.

Anybody wondering why money (capital) has flown the coop? Or don't you see it?

AMERICANS HELD CAPTIVE BY SOMALI PIRATES

Where was the US Navy with their firehoses?

DON'T YOU SEE IT AMERICA?

Through Sullivan’s Eye, the crux of our economic problems is the fact that business no longer spearheads our economy. Government Inquisition has put their nose in everything, wanting control. It’s the only way Socialism works, at least for awhile. American business isn’t completely guilty, nor are they completely innocent. Greedy buttheads have opened the door to demonization and American media has run with that spin.

Not referenced anywhere are the enormous fines imposed upon American business and industry by our multi-headed serpent, i.e., local, state and federal government. For example, I’ve noted the vast fines imposed on business for years and should’ve been tallying the numbers. The total $ have to be stunning. It would be interesting to actually see them in print, although I doubt if they can be obtained.

One local example is a $17.7 mm judgment against Serpentini Chevrolet, the largest Chevy dealer in Ohio, and 12th largest in the country. If this is the amount they defaulted on, it’s legitimate. But will the 8.3% annual assessment on the unpaid amount really be an incentive for them to pay it back sooner rather than later? It will probably put them under, and put a number of non-union Americans out of work.

Wouldn’t you think that looking over the shoulder of business and warning them of bad practices would have been a better approach? In other words, using a gentle stick rather than a stick-up. Wouldn’t you also think this approach would have benefited ALL Americans rather than the outcome the inquisitions have produced?

Don’t you see it America

ANOTHER RACIAL HATE CRIME

Four white police officers were shot to death this month in Oakland, California by a black man.

Where's the "white" outrage?

Congress Reviews Potential National Security Threat in Disappearance of Somali Youths

"The FBI and counterterrorism officials say the young men appear to be going to Somalia to fight occupying Ethiopian forces but no one can be sure they won't be radicalized and return to the United States."

This Fox News headline underscores the need to curtail immigration from nations such as Somalia. The difference between immigrants today from areas such as Somalia and other areas is the changing of America's culture.

Other immigrant groups in the past have become American; others today become, for example, "Mexicans in America", or "Iraqis in America".

Illegals are adding to the problem, causing the increase of social costs and criminal incidents.

Nobody's at the switch!

A SUIT AND TIE DOESN'T MAKE YOU SMART

Watch Senator Majority leader Reid attempt a "smoke and mirror act".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7mRSI8yWwg

North Korea Offers Possible Olive Branch Before Clinton Visit

What a crock.....they're licking their chops over American taxpayer money Hillary and the Obama Administration are talking about giving them in "exchange" for them being a good guy and giving up the nuclear weapon capability they allegedly have.

J. Edgar Hoover called them purveyors of "The Big Lie." They have come to power in the United States and most folks don't even know it.

GIVING FELONS A SECOND CHANCE

Now, doesn't that sound like a great idea? Normally I would think that this might be something good. However, in this day and age, the idea sucks.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson has employed a drug and sex felon as a traffic cop. His justification? A "Second Chance Program". Well, through this writer's eye, he ought to be considering a "First Chance Program."

What kind of message has he sent to the youth of the community? It's OK to go to prison because when you get out you'll have a job anyhow? You'll get a job that would normally go to one who has stayed on the straight and narrow?

This is another case of the inmates running the institution.

FEMALE BIAS TOWARDS MEN

Watching FOX News this month, a story on Chief Justice Ginsberg surfaced. She's had a cancer surgery and her tenure as a Justice of the Supreme Court may be ending soon. A woman was interviewed (sorry but I don't remember her name) was interviewed regarding the possibility of an appointment by President Obama. She said, "We're not going back to the days of all men on the Supreme Court", or something to that effect.

Her statement betrayed an attitude that has developed in this nation. We MUST have a woman on the Supreme Court. We MUST have a black on the Supreme Court. We MUST have a Jew on the Supreme Court. Where is all this leading? What's on the horizon? We MUST have a homosexual on the Supreme Court? We must have a homeless person on the Supreme Court? We must have black construction workers replace white construction workers?

In the likely event that I will be branded a homophobe, or anti-female, I would remind readers that my mother was a woman, as is my wife and three daughters. Oh yes, I have six sisters too.

Reparations for African-Americans

I heard on the radio recently that a Conference on Racism and Reparations was held in Barbados. After convening they voted to exclude any non-blacks from attending. Hmmmm.

When it comes to reparations for African-American descendants of slaves, I’d think that any who think themselves deserving of this should begin with those in the motherland that sold their ancestors in the first place. In case you haven’t figured it out – they were blacks selling blacks.

Pounding a square peg through a round hole.

Writing in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, columnist Regina Brett believes a domestic registry for homosexuals is a human and civil rights issue. Huh?

Although I agree with much of whhat she writes, I vehemently disagree with her on this one. It's not about human or civil rights, it's about power. It's about getting the door opened a crack so it can be kicked fully open later.

Why the issue of homosexuality is a political issue used to befuddle me. However, understanding power, I understand matters more fully.

You've heard it before - what is done behind closed doors is ones own business. I condemn the act, not the actors. Sorry, but neither Ms. Brett or Cleveland Councilman Cimperman's self-righteousness on the issue doesn't make it right.

Through Sullivan's Eye, the problem is legitimizing homosexuality - why it's OK to do it; it's a normal thing. Well, it's not normal and I won't sit around and let it the squareness of the issue be pounded through a round hole.

"Don't ask, don't tell." That door's been opened a crack and now they're trying to kick it wide open. Know what I mean?

THIS OPINION IS PROTECTED BY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. ''That Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and consult for their common good, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.''

ValKyrie

Possessing a passion for history, I don’t remember when I first became aware of Claus Philipp Maria Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg. I remember him for who he was for what he attempted to accomplish. A German officer during World War II, he was central in German resistance to Nazi rule. He was also Catholic. I write this one day after release of the movie Val Kyrie, Hollywood’s version of events.

Although I haven’t’ seen the movie yet, it appears propagandists still exist. Take Roger Friedman’s review for example. It seems , as if on cue, Friedman has reacted to the movie from a parochial viewpoint. He believes the movie “opens the door to a dangerous new thought: that the Holocaust and all the other atrocities could be of secondary important to the cause of German patriotism.” He is concerned that the movie’s’ characters, “heroes” he calls them, tongue-in-cheek, were aware of what was going around them. Curious reaction from Friedman given the topic of the movie.

Also forgotten in the movie is another central theme of the war, Germany’s attempt to crush the Communist Party government of Moscow’s Joseph Stalin. Like Germany’s Nazi Party, communists killed millions of their own citizens to further their end cause.

Freidman is upset because not once in “Val Kyrie” do any of the movie” “heroes” mention what’s happening around them, “that any of them is appalled by or against what they know is happening or has happened: Hitler has systemically killed millions in the most barbaric ways possible to imagine.”

Val Kyrie is an attempt to bring Von Stauffenberg and his co-conspirators into the light of history. We all know of Nazi atrocities to Jews. However, among those of the Holocaust were others, such as Catholics like Von Stauffenberg. What occurred in Nazi Germany was not solely put upon Jewish people.

If anything, this movie does not appear to be an attempt to de-Nazify Germany. Rather, it is an attempt to cast Germany into proper historic light. Germans have had enough guilt imposed on them. Many theorize World War II would not have occurred if Germany had not suffered the huge remuneration penalties that burdened them after World War I.

Most German soldiers, like German civilians, had been dragged into events they had no power over, the web the Nazi Party was casting. Val Kyrie is, through this writer’s eye, a long-overdue postscript to World War Two and those who sought to change things.


Sullivan, an avid military historian, is an internationally-published writer residing in northeastern Ohio.

BAILING OUT SYNCHRONICITY

Back in the 80s the trucking industry was deregulated. What occurred was the collapse of poorly-managed trucking companies that had been supported by collective rate making. Management and union at the time were in synchronicity with each other. Rate increases were routinely approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission so union wage demands could be met. Teamsters unions were smart. If a national strike was called they didn't strike ALL the trucking companies, they would just choose one of them. Kind of like the UAW.

The safety net of collective rate making went out the door with deregulation. Those companies who had been riding along were forced to close their doors. Thousands of union truck drivers and support personnel were forced onto the streets. No bailout then. Fast forward to 2008.

President Bush has bailed out our automotive industry. We can't close them down, of course. However, I accuse management and labor to be in synchronicity with each, just like pre-regulation trucking in the 80s.

U.S. car makers had it all. When quality was introduced, and the American people began to buy foreign-made cars, the American auto industry woke up. They made giant strides in putting out better cars but they lost one invisible item - MOMENTUM. Kind of like a football team that fumbles the ball on opening drives and allows the opposition to get one or two up on them. It becomes pretty hard to regain any pretense at composure. Unless you have referees who give you the ball back.

President Bush has given the U.S. auto industry the ball back. My prediction is the UAW and American automobile executive management will continue to fumble. The question will then be, who's going to kick the referees out to make sure the rest of us witness an honest game?

WHEN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY RAN AMERICA

It is extremely popular for political writers and elected officials to demonize american business. If one believes Plain Dealer writer Dick Feagler, "Business Leaders Show Ignorance." He, too, demonizes American business. The fault is not entirely theirs however.

If one has followed the path of the fines to our businesses, e.g., EPA and SEC to name a few, the figures number into the hundreds and hundreds of millions. It is as if government entities have the luxury of time to explore us under a microsope. Eureka! We have found an area where we can extract money from them.

Yes, as I said, business leaders have only themselves to blame. But government, through its voracious appetite for extracted money, has forced industry to locate outside of our borders. We are not a place to invest capital. That only leaves a void for government to look for money within the borders. And that ain't much honey.

How does one create an atmosphere for investment? One can begin by looking at the Republic of Ireland where the tax rate for industry is low. Ireland donates money abroad without having to borrow. Contrast this with the tax rate in the British political entity called Northern Ireland and it becomes clear. And we must begin to pay down our national debt.

The incoming Obama administration has only one option. Oh yes, there are others, but they won't have the courage to create an environment for investors, both local and international. The place they want to take us is called socialism.

Profit is now a bad word in America, aided and abetted by government and media. Add the guilty in corporate America to the mix and we're ripe for "change". No, the option they exercise will be to print more money, exactly the same thing that has gotten us to this point. And, at some point, the American dollar will fall. I mean, utterly fail. No socialist government will accept the American dollar. For socialism to "work", every nation's government must be socialistic. Until they are, moral capitalism will be the only entity that creates wealth.

If we don't want wealth, what do we want?

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S GONNA DO BUT HE'S GONNA DO SOMETHING"

Those words were spoken by a black man on WHK Radio news, 1420am, Cleveland, Ohio, on the morning following Obama's election. And, in those words one finds the reason many voted for Obama.

The quest for the White House by the Democratic National Committee was crafted to look as either-or. In other words, blacks voted for another black. Many "white" Americans voted for Obama to show that they are not prejudiced.

I don't know about others, but this has never been my case. I will vote for who I believe to be the right man or woman....I just haven't seen that person emerge yet.

In all this, I believe liberal Americans voted for Obama for the wrong reasons and some, witness the radio interview referenced above, only voted for him because he's black. We'll now give it four years to see what damage is done.

Redistribution of Income or Payment for past injustices

We have learned this week that Senator Obama, in a NPR Interview in recent years, said the Supreme Court did not go far enough with Civil Rights. In an allegory he said the Court should have addressed paying for the meals at the lunch counter.

What Americans can expect from a Democratically-trolled House, Senate and White House will be the words - REPARATIONS. This is their justification for the evil of slavery.

Many other ethnic races and nations, particularly the Irish and the Poles, could rightly claim REPARATIONS from England and Germany/Russia respectively.

An Obama presidency scares the hell of me.

Muslims in America

by

JC Sullivan

I just read that 100 employees of JBS Swift & Co meat packers, Grand Island, Nebraska, were recently fired. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer on 09/22/08,
"The firings occurred after the Somali Muslims observed Ramadan prayers at sunset while still at work." What's wrong with this picture?

I have questions. What the hell are Somali Muslims doing in Nebraska? Shouldn't they be in Somalia? Why are Americans not working there? What policies of the US Government have permitted this to occur? Folks, it's outta control.

Answers, please.

The Confession of One Who Discriminates

Ah yes, I do it everyday. In my choice of music, television shows, coffee, wine, food and, yes, even in whom I vote for.

If I don't like your politics, I discriminate by voting against you.
If I don't like you personally, for whatever reason, I vote against you.
If I don't like you personally, I do not choose to have you as a friend.
If I don't like you because you're a man, I vote against you.
If I don't like you because you're a woman, I vote against you.
If I don't like you because you're Protestant, Jewish, Catholic, Agnostic, Australian, black, or whatever, rightly or wrongly, IT'S MY RIGHT!

So, is there something wrong with discriminating?

VERB: Inflected forms: dis·crim·i·nat·ed, dis·crim·i·nat·ing, dis·crim·i·nates

INTRANSITIVE VERB: 1a. To make a clear distinction; distinguish: discriminate among the options available. b. To make sensible decisions; judge wisely. 2. To make distinctions on the basis of class or category without regard to individual merit; show preference or prejudice: was accused of discriminating against women; discriminated in favor of his cronies.
TRANSITIVE VERB: 1. To perceive the distinguishing features of; recognize as distinct: discriminate right from wrong. 2. To distinguish by noting differences; differentiate: unable to discriminate colors. 3. To make or constitute a distinction in or between: methods that discriminate science from pseudoscience.
ETYMOLOGY: Latin discrminre, discrmint-, from discrmen, discrmin-, distinction. See krei- in Appendix I.

AL QUEADA - DON'T THEY HAVE FAMILIES TOO?

Any civilian death in a war zone is unfortunate. American and international media, however, seem to forget that when we target enemy combatants they might just have their families with them.

Enemy combatants should realize that if they are picking up arms against us they shouldn't expect to be able to safely hide amongst their family and friends. Let's see now.....did they distinguish between women and children when the knocked down the twin towers?

The Domino Theory

Youngsters today don't know what dominos are. Those of us old enough to remember them know that when you stood them up in a line and then knocked one down, the rest were then knocked down.

In the Americas we saw Nicaragua go the route of communism. Now, a man with a pocketful of oil money, is in power in Venezuela. He has invited the Russians to establish a presence there.

Regardless of what is said of the "Cold War", it has never really ended. They have only repositioned themselves while they tried to figure out what happened to the old Soviet Union. The fact is, they're forming a new one - in the Americas.

If we apply the domino theory we can expect the nations of Brazil, Columbia and, yes, Mexico, to become Soviet satellites. What does that translate to?

If anyone remembers allied involvement in Korea and Vietnam they will know that the Russians supplied arms to dissatisfied people to overtake government. Those arms killed, and continue to kill, America's best.

We have been too quick to jump into the fray while neglecting our own yard. Our allies have not stood up to help with money and other measures of support. Oh yes, they've been only too glad to take it. What happens when we don't have it anymore to give to them? We're fast arriving at that gate.

Chasing wealth out of America - the problem of government.

Writing in The American Spectator, Pete Ferrara has detailed the Left's tax plan under Barack Obama. The following website is an eye-opener.

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13769

What most Americans don't care to know is these policies only serve to chase capital (uh, like money) out of investment in America and off to other shores. It's popular to blame the Bush Administration. Or China. Or who ever else. How about we blame ourselves?

During World War II we were the richest nation on the face of the earth. Why? Because investors world wide trusted us. We were stable and strong. Their money was safe from invaders and from their mistrusted, unstable governments or the governments of neighboring nations who had a history of invasion. They knew government was the problem, not the solution. That truism still exists.

American media has become infiltrated by those who support the views of the Left. Not good for free enterprise and nations who support the concept of freedom.

China has deported eight Americans who were detained in Beijing last week after a wave of pro-Tibet protests coinciding with the Olympics

by

JC Sullivan


China, the communist nation, has not allowed a small number of protesters to disrupt the Olympics and grab the world's television headlines. Good for China! Never mind what they're attempting to protest. The point is the Chinese are controlling western media attempts to portray to the world the lack of some individual rights. Just like they attempt to control the import of pornography via the Internet. Let's compare this to the Democratic National Convention opening this week in Denver.

We're already seeing them gather with their costumes and choreographed actions. Network cameras are right there, broadcasting to the world how bad it is here in the U.S. I've always wondered who pays these folks for their antics.

It's too bad we aren't more like the Chinese in this case.

An Argument for Admission to NATO

by

JC Sullivan

The Russian Bear has awakened from its hibernation. Declaring a defense of Russia, they have begun a war that threatens to expand and involve the United States, a terribly risky venture. Russian apologists would have us believe that Russia is fearful of being "surrounded" by nations that look to the West, rather than to the East. They have good reason to believe it. Those of Eastern European heritage know what "Katyn" and "Ukraine starvation" and "Gulag" mean. Moreover, they know it can happen again.

In 1940, in the Katyn forest, Russian communists executed an estimated 22,000 Polish military officers, police officers and civilians taken prisoner in the 1939 invasion of Poland by both the Third Reich and Russia. Included in this figure is the execution of prisoners of war at Starobelsk, Ostashkov and in Kalinin (Tver) and Kharkiv, Moscow.

At that time, Poland’s “draft” required university graduates to become reserve officers. Russian communists included them in their round up of Jews, Ukrainians, Georgians and Belarusians of Polish citizenship. In Smolensk was the headquarters of the NKVD (Narodny Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del. Here the Soviet secret police murdered “political prisoners” from West Belarus and West Ukraine.

The Russians also operated forced labor camps for those they did not murder outright. The late Russian exiled author Alexander Solzhenitsyn liked them to a chain of islands, the “Gulag Archipelago.” An estimated 29 million people passed through them between 1929 and 1953. They were imprisoned for being absent from work, petty theft or by telling a joke about the government, just like American late show hosts David Letterman or Jay Leno say today. Those sent to the Gulag were mostly there without any trial.

From Prague, Askold Krushelnycky wrote about the Communist-generated “…famine deliberately engineered by the regime…claimed millions of lives, mostly in Ukraine but also in some other parts of the Soviet Union. Today it is considered one of the worst atrocities of the Communist regime and a terrifying act of genocide. Even so, the famine of 1933 is relatively unknown." Krushelyncky writes "Estimates of how many people died in Stalin's engineered famine of 1933 vary. But they are staggering in their scale -- between seven and 11 million people."

Given this history, one is only left to conclude that former Soviet "Republics" have more to fear from the Russian Bear than the Russians have to fear from them. Does anyone not understand why Ukraine and Poland wish to join the NATO family?


Sullivan is an internationally-published writer and US Army veteran who served in Europe with NATO forces. He resides in northeastern Ohio. His website can be found at http://www.geocities.com/osuileabhain2000/Index.htm

ELECTION 2008

It began when John Kennedy was murdered. Up to that time, America was in a positive mode. Since that time, however, American media has fed us with European-style communist propaganda. You know what I mean. On the other hand, depending on your age, maybe you do not.

If you are too young to know, look at old film or newspapers of France. Labor unions led the way, carrying caricatures of their leadership, ridiculing them. It has been exported to America.

Democratic Party leadership, i.e. its Central Committee, with its roots in our working class, has been taken over by leftists. The agenda is straight out of post-WWII Europe.

With the possibility of an American leftist becoming the next American President, it will be business as usual. We will continue to hear how bad America is. The domino-theory will continue to operate with friends being overtaken by kooks. Our American media will ignore it (how about Lebanon, Iran or Venezuela and Nicaragua).

The change has been slow and insidious, culminating with leftist judges changing law in spite of the will of Americans. A court just ruled our military "don't ask, don't tell" policy to be unconstitutional. The door was opened a crack and it's now been kicked open. Those discharged for being homosexual, excuse me, "gay", can now sue the military? Need another recent example?

A federal court just ruled that gay marriages are legitimate. With more leftist judges being appointed by an American leftist President, who knows what other door will be opened a crack, only to be kicked open when we least expect.

Just this week I heard an African-American elected official in Washington attempting to intimidate American oil executives. She could not spit out the words she wanted to, a sad spectacle. She ended up by blurting out "Nationalization", referring to the American oil industry. That's what Venezuela has done,under their leftist leader Chavez.

It is unfortunate that many do not know how it was up until November 1963. They are only going to learn about it through their own initiative.

Fathers Day

http://www.mayoalive.com/Mag0696/SulEye04.htm

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IT

Cleveland's left wing newspaper, the Plain Dealer, has finally said it - "Democrats fear black backlash if Obama's denied the nomination." Doesn't that have a totally negative connotation - as if he DESERVES the nomination? And what are African-Americans going to do - pull out their gun stash and attack white voters who backed Clinton or McClain?

The problem with the vast majority of American Democratic black voters, as I see it, is their narrow focus. They don't see things in black and white - they see them in black only. And vote black.

Folks, we don't live in a democracy. This is a REPUBLIC - representative government. Popular vote doesn't win elections. And black America forgets there's others who vote. And, judging from the Plain Dealer, we better vote the way black Democrats want us to vote or else.

Senator Obama initially defended his former pastor. When his campaign finally realized that middle America didn't take too kindly to the inflammatory remarks, Obama finally changed his tune. That's what chameleons do. And maybe it's why some of us don't trust him to be President.


Sullivan is an internationally published Irish-America writer residing in northeast Ohio. His website can be visited at http://jcsullivan.net/

ELECTING A LEFTIST AMERICAN PRESIDENT

The consequences of America's continual drift left will peak with the election of a socialist president. The federal courts, already tilted left, will then crash left with the appointment of their favorites. A federal judge in Ohio, for example, has already gerrymandered the political boundaries of a Cleveland suburb so that a minority can sit on the town council. The boundaries had been set up since 'day one' but it was ordered. The city affected could hardly afford to fight big brother in this case.

We have been reading about the loss of jobs in America. We can truly blame both the democrats and republicans for it. They've been asleep at the switch. But its not simply about jobs - its about capital, or the lack thereof. It is fleeing the coop. It has no flag, it goes where it gets. With a leftist President, its gonna get worse.

Former NY Governor Eliot Spitzer targeted those American industries he could sue for umpteen millions. Other states followed suit, literally. Cleveland's Sherwin Williams, for example, is being attacked for manufacturing lead-based paint. A kid left unsupervised on a porch ate the paint chips that were coming off it. While the story is indeed a tragedy, apparently its the fault of Sherwin Williams. These stories and countless others are forcing investors to find other areas in which to invest.....and apparently many of them are not within the boundaries of the United States.

Since Ohio Governor Strickland took office, overtime for has topped over $1,000,000. In one year the state payroll rose 116 million dollars. What's the state's payroll? Only 3.6 billion, an increase of 16%.

This trend will only increase with the election of a leftist President. More "jobs" will flee as federal and state tax and spend policies continue to dominate. Federal and state judges from the left will incerase. We can expect other federal mandates and state expenditures to creep into our lives and change the landscape of a free enterprise system. It's soviet style folks, and it used to be called communism.

AT THE CROSSROAD OF SACRIFICE

Prior to WWII, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin traveled to Germany in the hopes of avoiding war. He returned to England proclaiming "Peace in our Time." Not long afterward they were drawn into war.

Adolph Hitler led the German people into WWII with catastrophic results, despite Chamberlin's erroneous read of the situation.

George S. Patton, American Army WWII General in Europe, prayed for spiritual and corporal guidance each day. He sacrificed the few to save the many.

As we move forward in time, I look at the young children across the street playing on their lawn. I see my grandchildren and do not want to see them in harm's way. What decisions are we to make that will insure the peace?

WWII restored peace. However, it is known that had England, France, Poland and others stood up to Hitler early on, there would still have been sacrifice but it would, in all probability, been far less than what the eventual casualties of WWII were.

The crossroads we face now is one we could call unity. While I am fearful of giving power to Muslim radicals I am also fearful of nuclear explosions in this world we inhabit. Do we continue to act now and hope our sacrifices are relatively small, or do we withdraw and hope for "peace in our time"?

American Failure

There has been much bashing of the American president by both the Left and the Right in this great nation. Some blame the Democrats, others blame the Republican Party. As I see it, the problem is a reflection of all of us.

Congress appears to be reading newspapers instead of reading the American people.

Linked to this is the American people's inattention to what their elected leaders have been doing, or rather not been doing.

In other worlds, we're all to blame.

"A Man Without A Country" - Philip Nolan and Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's "Spiritual Adviser"

Readers may well remember the movie of the same name about a fictional U.S. Naval Officer who cursed “Damn the United States! I wish I may never hear of the United States again!” Thus was the Philip Nolan court-martialed. (http://www.bartleby.com/310/6/1.html)

Senator Barack Obama's so-called spiritual adviser said the same thing last week. Only he invoked the name of God. We all saw the video on television. Mr., I'll not call him Reverend, Wright was obviously reading the lines. They must've been written by Moscow. I'm calling for Mr. Wright to become a non-fictional Man Without A Country.

Question - shouldn't that particular church have its tax status revoked because of using the pulpit for politics?

“WASHINGTON (with a date which must have been late in 1807).
“SIR—You will receive from Lieutenant Neale the person of Philip Nolan, late a lieutenant in the United States Army.
“This person on his trial by court-martial expressed, with an oath, the wish that he might ‘never hear of the United States again.’
“The Court sentenced him to have his wish fulfilled.
“For the present, the execution of the order is intrusted by the President to this Department.
“You will take the prisoner on board your ship, and keep him there with such precautions as shall prevent his escape.
“You will provide him with such quarters, rations, and clothing as would be proper for an officer of his late rank, if he were a passenger on your vessel on the business of his Government.
“The gentlemen on board will make any arrangements agreeable to themselves regarding his society. He is to be exposed to no indignity of any kind, nor is he ever unnecessarily to be reminded that he is a prisoner.
“But under no circumstances is he ever to hear of his country or to see any information regarding it; and you will especially caution all the officers under your command to take care, that, in the various indulgences which may be granted, this rule, in which his punishment is involved, shall not be broken.
“It is the intention of the Government that he shall never again see the country which he has disowned. Before the end of your cruise you will receive orders which will give effect to this intention.
“Respectfully yours,
“W. SOUTHARD, for the “Secretary of the Navy.”

RACE AN ISSUE IN OHIO PRIMARY?

The Cleveland Plain Dealer today (Sunday, March 9th, 2008) reports that race played a major role in Barack Obama losing Ohio and Hilary Clinton winning. Are readers supposed to be surprised that racial politics played a role in the Ohio Primary? While the Plain Dealer writers spun it to be whites voting against a black candidate, the fact is that virtually ALL African-Americans voted for Senator Obama. Doesn't the pendulum swing both ways?

Hiram College Professor Jason Johnson, evidently an African-American, dismissed the Obama loss as hardcore white folks voting against a black man. White voters I know only voted against this particular black man. They're ready to support the right man or woman, regardless of religion, marital status or color. This far-left candidate just isn't the one.

University of Maryland Professor Ronald Walters, apparently another African-American, put Reagan Democrats in a group he calls "economically sensitive." And these guys are teaching young Americans?

Seems to me the narrow-minded bigots here aren't white guys.

Visit Sullivan's website at http://www.geocities.com/osuileabhain2000/Index.htm

What You Get With State Control of the Internet

According to Fox News on 03/04/08, "Several million users will not be able to follow political news or access Web sites operated by political parties during the largest Internet blackout in the nation's history, reported the Tribune.

Iranian officials offered differing public explanations for why the republic would restrict private access to the Internet, according to the Tribune.

"Shutting down the Internet service will depend on security plans and on the Ministry of Telecommunication," Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi told an Iranian daily quoted by the Tribune.

Another election official told the Iranian press that an Internet blackout would ensure that government online service would operate without interruptions despite recent upgrades to its lines."

Can we expect the same thing in the America of the future? When the door is opened a crack by the Left, it always follows that it is then kicked wide open.

My Fear of African-American in Political Office

We're seeing a phenomenon in American politics with the candidacy of Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama for the office of President. As individuals, I don't fear either. However, I've long thought that African-Americans (A-As)are black first and American second.

There's a joke about having Irish Alzhemers - one forgets everything except the grudge. The fact that Senator Barama does not wear the American flag in his lapel signals to me that me has a grudge - he's a member of an African-American nation and is not one of us.

Speaking of the Irish, we are proud of our Irish roots. However, I don't know any who are Irish first, American second. The majority of us came to America better equipped - we had a shirt on our back, our strong faith, and we spoke English. That's about it.

The ancestors of most Americans did not arrive on these shores as slaveholders or with gold in their pocketbook. Neither did they have the economic value that slaves had. Southeners will tell you that, in the case of the Irish, they were given the jobs that blacks wouldn't be given. Why? Slaves had value and Irish laborers did not. I've also read accounts about Civil War era slaves who were obviously better fed than the soldiers in both camps.

What could we expect from an A-A President? Let me leave that to your imagination. However, the American Left has rarely taken issues head-on. They can't win them with a direct approach. But, when they've been able to open the door to a political issue just a crack, it has then been kicked open. What would happen with an A-A President? The first thing that comes to my mind is the issue of reparations.

I'm not writing this because I'm anti-black - I'm pro-American. The big issue in the upcoming Presidential race should be about investment in America. Our national economic policies continue to force capital to flee our country as fast as water over Niagara Falls. What is now disappearing is the industrial backbone of this nation - the American working class. No, not unions, Democrats or Republicans - American jobs. And our bankrupt American government, which would have been called "Red" in the old days, is the cause.

If you believe the Democratic candidates for President, Republicans are the problem. I you believe Republicans, Democrats are the problem. Both say their style of Government is the answer. However, Americans who incorrectly perceive this are the problem - they elect people who would like us to believe that Government is the answer. It is not. Americans are the problem.

Quit treading on me.

American News Media - How to Speak With A Forked Tongue.

A man went berserk in Kirkwood, Missouri this month, killing several people. The dead included police officers and citizens who held political office. A picture in the news showed the killer to be African-American.

I suppose those killed were all white as there was no mention in any reports of their racial background. If they had been black, and the shooter white, American news media would have applied a different standard and certainly would have spun the story in a different fashion, e.g. it would be portrayed as a racial event. And we would see the City Hall protests. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson et al would be flown in to give the outcry of injustice a sense of legitimacy in the eyes of the press.

However, because the shooter was black, this story does not further the agenda of the American left.

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

I've always been puzzled by the fact that Ohioans can go to West Virginia, Michigan, Canada, New York and elsewhere to gamble, yet Ohio has successfully fought it.

I picked up the Plain Dealer this morning and saw the headline "CAN THIS NUMBERS GAME HELP FIX OHIO'S BUDGET?" State-run Keno, they profess, could raise $73 million smackeroos in a year. This is occurring five months after Ohio outlawed video gambling games in bars and taverns. They stuck it to veteran's clubs too. How can the State of Ohio have their cake and eat it too? Well, here's their fork-tongued, crafted answer.

Governor Strickland opposes casino gambling. State-run Keno is not a casino game, it's a lottery game. Well, thanks for pointing out the difference to me. I thought for a minute there you were trying to take over the gambling trade in Ohio.

This past December Governor Strickland launched another program called "Connect Ohio." According to lw.pennet.com, Strickland says it "will help expand broadband services across the state by working with local communities and providers to map gaps in access and facilitate local technology planning teams that will encourage adoption of broadband and other technologies."

Does anybody else think this is akin to the attempt by the state to, degree by small degree, eventually control the Internet in Ohio (read $$$), just like the attempt to have state-controlled gambling?

If the Gov. was smart he'd say it's all to benefit Education. That's worked in the past.

"It's time for....."

Senator Ted Kennedy has spoken his mind in support of his candidate. "It's time for Barack Obama" What gives? Is it "time for" Hilary Clinton because she's a woman? "Time for" Barack Obama because he's an African-American? Time for John McCain because he was in the Hanoi Hilton?
Sorry folks but I don't wear the cape of "time for" and the generalization that it assumes. It insults what's left of my intelligence. If I like a candidate's ideas, and that candidate has no legs, I'll vote for that candidate. If my candidate is female? Black? I'm listening to their ideas and how they would manage the issues I deem to be important to Americans. I'll cast my vote based on this, not because I'm supposed to feel one way or the other.
This crafted appeal to the feelings of the American voter is nothing more than a manipulation. And lots of folks continue to fall for it.

EARLY IN THE RACE

Americans have just witnessed the 2nd state to host a presidential primary with "winners" being John McCain and Hilary Clinton. What hoopla!

Iowa was touted as Senator Obama Barack's rise. Does Iowa even count?

In New Hampshire, less than 200,000 people turned out to vote. And the pollsters were surprised at the outcome. Way to go New Hampshire! Turned those folks on their pinheads.

It's interesting, however, to see that faith, religion and color don't seem to matter anymore. Nor do issues. The outcome of this election will be interesting. Women will vote for Clinton. African Americans will vote for Obama. Who will "white" men vote for?

OHIO SCRAPS 2 YEAR OLD 21 MILLION DOLLAR VOTING SYSTEM

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections recently voted along party lines to change the two year old electronic voting system. The two Republicans voted no, the two Democrats yes. The tie-breaker was cast by Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. She had previously recommended scrapping it.

Voters in other Ohio counties had no problems with identical and/or similar systems. Why Cuyahoga County? One is lead to believe that there are only a few of reasons for it:

1) The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections doesn't know what they're doing.
2) Cuyahoga County voters are too dumb to do things right.
3) There is a deliberate effort to sabotage the electronic voting system.
4) Jennifer Brunner and the Democratic Party will somehow benefit from the new ($9 million)
way of doing things.
5) Cuyahoga County will go over to Dennis Kucinich in the upcoming Presidential Elections.
6) All of the above.

How our friends and fellow Americans will lose the War

If I were the other guy, given the propensity of the American Congress, I'd just wait things out. You know sooner or later we're going to pull out. How about a little historical perspective behind my thoughts?

Henry Kissinger, a German-born naturalized American citizen, negotiated "peace with honor" on behalf of the American government of the time. The so-called Vietnam peace treaty was signed in Paris, France. We pulled out and it wasn't long afterward that the other guy came out of his hole and pushed into the capitol of South Vietnam, Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City). After the military victories won there by our courageous fighting forces, we allowed the other guy to win the political victory and eventual military victory.

There are times I like to be wrong but I've seen it happen before. Once we pull out of Afghanistan and Iraq they'll come out of their holes. The fact that they can kill at will doesn't matter. 50 innocent people were blown up this week there. They will blow up 50 anywhere they choose and nobody's standing with us in our attempt to prevent it.

Let's see what happens when we have radical Muslim governments in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, etc. Then-President Jimmy Carter turned his back on the Shah of Iran and we "lost" them. Who will then turn their backs to us? We still don't know who are friends are.

Thumbprint Identification

I recently had to ask a claimant to provide identification. He was seeking money for a auto-rental truck accident (he was in the car) that appeared to be staged. He asked me to meet him at a residence that was not where lived. In my presence, he pulled out a Social Security card from a desk drawer. It had his name on it. As he put the card back into the desk drawer I glanced down at it. Inside the drawer were many social security cards.

Whatever happened to the idea of thumbprint ID? Couldn't this solve a myriad of problems? For example, people who vote twice (like those who put Cleveland's Dennis Kucinich in office).

How about people with multiple IDs? Who knows, there might be the John Smith who is employed by a government beauracy or private industry, and then there might be the same John Smith, aka Muhamed whatever, drawing social benefits from Uncle Sam.

Wouldn't thumbprint ID eliminate cheaters? The pool of deceivers that would be cut from their income stream might be far larger than anyone could imagine.

Sell the Ohio Turnpike and help Iraqi Refugees

There has been talk this year of selling the Ohio Turnpike. There has also been talk about settling Iraqi "refugees" here. I've got a plan that will solve both issues.

Sell the Turnpike to Iraq. Can you see it - an Iraqi in every Toll Booth!

Thank you Bill Cosby

This was checked on Snopes.com as True.

"They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English. I can't even talk the way these people talk:

Why you ain't,

Where you is,

What he drive,

Where he stay,

Where he

work,

Who you be...

And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk.

Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth. In fact you will never get any kind of job making a decent living. People marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an education, and now we've got these knuckleheads walking around.

The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal. These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids. $500 sneakers for what? And they won't spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics.

I am talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit. Where were you when he was 2? Where were you when he was 12? Where were you when he was 18 and how come you didn't know that he had a pistol? And where is the father? Or who is his father?

People putting their clothes on backward: Isn't that a sign of something gone wrong? People with their hats on backward, pants down around the crack, isn't that a sign of something? Or are you waiting for Jesus to pull his pants up?

Isn't it a sign of something when she has her dress all the way up and got all type of needles [piercing] going through her body?

What part of Africa did this come from? We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans; they don't know a thing about Africa. With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed and all of that crap, and all of them are in jail.

Brown or black versus the Board of Education is no longer the white person's problem. We have got to take the neighborhood back.

People used to be ashamed. Today a woman has eight children with eight different 'husbands' -- or men or whatever you call them now. We have millionaire football players who cannot read. We have million-dollar basketball players who can't write two paragraphs. We, as black folks have to do a better job. Someone working at Wal-Mart with seven kids, you are hurting us.

We have to start holding each other to a higher standard. We cannot blame the white people any longer."

Dr. William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr., Ed.D.

Illegal Immigation - the polarization of the issue.

The reported Hispanic community's alleged alarm over perceived backlash against illegal immigration only confirms this cultural anthropologist's observations.

All Americans, including "native Americans" have roots somewhere else. However, American media has done an effective job of polarizing the issue of illegal immigration.

The message to the illegal community, if one can call them that, is COME IN THE FRONT DOOR.

The problem exacerbates itself when amnesty is considered for those already illegally residing here. Don't you think they will bring in MORE illegals from their families?

If we don't maintain control it won't be long before the question will be asked, "Is Los Angeles (or Cleveland, or......) burning?

Religion in Politics

Religion is man-made, an outward expression of what most consider their "faith".

True faith, however, transcends "Religion". That is in the arena of spirituality. And those who are in touch with their spiritual nature can be Moslem, Christian, Jew or simply one without any outward expression of any particular "religion".

One's spirituality should be evident in the way they live and doesn't need to be questioned or broadcast. Religion, on the other hand, like homosexuality, has no place in the political world.

Is your bottle being filled?

Cleveland Plain Dealer writer Regina Brett recently wrote a column on what she termed "the culture of disrespect."

Ironically, it appeared the morning it was reported a Cleveland firefighter, Mr. Hough, killed three people by shooting them. I believe the Brett's "culture of disrespect" and this shooting to be related events.

It’s been said that we’re all one step away from insanity. If alcohol wasn’t involved with Mr. Hough’s behavior I believe he probably has no recollection of events. He just has had his “bottled filled.”

I, too, like Mr. Hough, live with a disrespectful neighbor. There’s no father in the home, only a lazy boyfriend. They leave their trash out front, never bothering to put the cans away like everybody else. When I’ve tried to talk to the mother she’s only been disrespectful to me. As a result, I call the police when there’s problems. Recently one young son was hot rodding on a very, very loud gasoline operated “motorbike” in the back yard. The police were no help. They “couldn’t do anything….it’s there back yard.” I asked him to at least talk to the family ‘cause I can’t. I tried one time talking to the lazy boyfriend. His reply was “We’re moving next year anyway.” Well, they make ME want to move!

Mr. Hough went crazy, true, but he’s been complaining about these neighbors for a long, long time without anything being done. The neighbors should have taken a clue. People need to begin to take clues. It can happen to any of us.

Like many others, I, too, have had to drive around black youngsters who walk in the middle of the street instead of using either sidewalk on the street. I’ d like to yell at them about what they’re doing and why they are not earning anyone’s respect by doing so. But, I drive around them, choosing not to say anything. I don’t judge all blacks by these actions but there’s enough of them earning disrespect and enough of us having it hurled into our faces that a lot of bottles are being filled.

I hope I never see the day when my bottle becomes filled and, like Mr. Hough, I lose it.

Memorial Day

At the end of WWII, four of General James Doolittle's Tokyo raiders were released from captivity in Japan. In Carroll V. Glines book, Four Came Home, the epilogue is titled 'The Battle Shall Be Won'.

George Barr, Jacob D. DeShazer, Robert L. Hite and Chase J. Nielsen said of their captivity:

"We learned the ultimate meaning of democracy and the freedoms that a democratic government represents. In the hundreds of lonely hours we spent trying to keep our sanity by reviewing the things we had learned in school, often reluctantly, one the documents we recited to ourselves was the Declaration of Independence."

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. THAT TO SECURE THESE RIGHTS, GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED AMONG MEN, DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED......

Rocky Colavito’s Foul Ball



As a youngster, my father introduced my brother Rodger (Red) and me to sports. We were already young fans before most kids knew who the Cleveland Browns were. In those days it didn’t cost an arm and a leg to buy a ticket. Red and I always got the cheap tickets to get in and them moved around to find better, unoccupied seats. And we roamed Cleveland Municipal Stadium at will, learning every nook and cranny.

Sitting in Right Field one day with our friend Jerry Szabo, we watched as Cleveland Indian right fielder Rocky Colavito came up to bat. He swung at the first pitch and we saw it fly upwards behind him and onto the stadium roof. I was immediately inspired.

“Rodge, I know how to get on the stadium roof. Let’s go get the ball!” Red didn’t take much coaxing after he learned I really did know how to get onto the Stadium Roof. I had previously seen the ladders and hatches to the roof in highest echelon of the upper deck seats. Sometimes they were open, sometimes closed. Szabo, citing discretion being the better part of valor, opted to stay where he was. Red and I took off.

In the Right Field upper deck I saw the hatch was open. Climbing up and through the opening we gained access to the roof. Like Marines landing at Iwo Jima, we immediately began to sprint in the direction of home plate. Quickly arriving behind the plate, we spotted the baseball, about a foot from the edge. Red crawled over and picked up the ball. We immediately began our return sprint back to right field.

Red was always the better athlete of the two of us. About halfway there I got a pain in my side from running and yelled that I had to stop. He got upset at me and kept running. When I pleaded, he stopped, looking at me in a disgusted fashion. He must’ve had a vision because as we walked past another open hatch a Cleveland Police Officer stuck his head through it and yelled, “Hey, you two, Come here.” .

We were taken to the Stadium Security Office where we knew we were in deep doo-doo. We let it be known that our father was also a Cleveland Police Officer, figuring we might get a reduced sentence. They called him and I imagine dad’s response, after hearing a description of our antics that day, said something to the effect of, “Send those two idiots home!”

By this time it was late in the game, when the entry gates became unattended. Although we were booted out of the stadium, we went to another gate and re-entered. We found Szabo where we left him in Right Field, wondering if we were ever going to come back.

Hindsight, they say, is 20-20. What we had done was calmly surrender to the policeman. What we should’ve done is run like a bat out of hell. Now, come on, what cop can catch a couple of young teenagers who are running for their lives? And we also should’ve looked for an open hatch that was closer to the home plate area!

I’m sure Dad silently contemplated which head doctor he should send his sons to. When we got home he read us the riot act, of course. But we didn’t suffer any just consequences. And after all we had been through, we didn’t even get to keep the baseball.

TAX THE SAINTS

Sinners Unite!

You have been maligned, trashed and have had your pockets picked by government goody-two shoes for too long now. Anytime a rising politician or millionaire wannabe gets an idea in their head they look for other peoples money. In their latest quest for funding construction of a Summit County, Ohio new soccer stadium, they are mouthing the ole sure-bet way - TAX THE SINNERS!

I think it's time they got creative and announced alternative plans - TAX THE SAINTS! Now I have absolutely no idea which saints they should go after. Perhaps my readers could offer some. Tax those who go to church on Sundays? Perhaps roadblocks could be set up and drivers and passengers asked, "Do you smoke?" If they proudly announce they don't, "aha, we got another saint boys."

What about volunteer organizations as alternative sources of tax revenue for a new soccer stadium? How about the Salvation Army? We know where to find their volunteers at Christmastime. Empty their pockets, those darn saints.

Let's see, oh yeah, why not the Saint Vincent de Paul Society? Why, every can of food or piece of clothing donated and distributed could be counted with a percentage of the value given to build that new stadium. Coats for Kids? Toys for Tots? Why, the limitless possibilities are just beginning to fire my imagination.

Maybe my readers can offer insight and inspire politicos with other ways to take money from saints. Well, at least those saints who are left with a job these days.

Editors note - the writer is a non-smoker.