The train is never late.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/27/AR2007052700978.html

Property values down, gas prices up, the Wall St. catastrophe, stuck in the mire of Iraq; where do you turn to next? Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has decided to go back to the land of the first and "fair" exploitation. Africa.

In Feb. 2007, National Guard officer George Walker Bush, created Africom (The U.S Africa "Command"). This is supposedly the "Pentagon's first effort to unite counterterroism, training and humanitarian operations..." Africom will begin "operations" on October 1, 2008 out of Stuttgart, Germany. Nonetheless, there are "deep suspicions in Africa about it's intentions."

So, let's take a step back. Why would Africans be worried about white people coming to their continent? Its not like the Western "civilization" crusaders raped every resource, including the humans, of the continent. Or that tens of 1,000's of years before European nations came to Africa, Asians and Semitic tribes laid the foundation of what the Europeans built on, namely rape, pillage and plunder.

"Africom will support, not shape, U.S Foreign policy on the continent." Now that statement is absolutely true but lets put it into context. As uncovered by the recent Sarah Palin interviews, there is some sort of Bush "Doctrine" which supposedly spells out our current foreign policy. Our current foreign policy is kill first, pardon yourself and your friends after and leave the effects for another person to inherit. So its no coincidence that 17% of our oil comes from Africa. T. Boone and Big Oil must have gotten in Bush's ear again. I don't think it's a stretch to think that America has another war on its hands. Let's see how this visit from the misanthrope of the West is received by the incipient inhabitants of the land.

Hopefully, you will read the article yourself and draw your own conclusions. If you don't read it though, by the end of the article, the U.S has already; this is a military mission to "counter" terrorism (the act of being black or doing anything that is not white) and to "train", better yet brainwash, people to believe the U.S is doing something positive.

Now, back to Western Mass.

I had to skip the whole primary election campaign "fodder". The three candidates had all summer to get their name and message to the people but only one public forum was set up; the day before the primary. Of course, Swan won; no one knows who Chelan Brown is and no one knows Lorenzo Gaines (both in a political aspect). The other races were comical at best especially O'Reilly taking on Yale grad' John Kerry.

As soon as the primary is over, here comes more "controversy". "State Rep. Benjamin Swan comes to defense of Springfield Towing Alliance" (Masslive.com). All Ben Swan is asking for is an "independent" auditor (even though the auditor is probably from the state which doesn't make it all that independent). Is it a crime to ask a favor? Or is it because 5 "people of color" are making their claims known and not just taking the City "Auditor's" word that they owe this money? Would I be going out on a limb by saying that the city and its staff could be wrong or at least not 100% correct?

The Flip-Flop Administration doesn't stop (see http://therealwesternmass.blogspot.com/2008/09/change-for-springfield.html). This audit of the Springfield Towing Alliance started in March. It took the city 6 months or 180 days to come up with this report. One of the early figures was that the STA owed $81,000 but, of course, after "further investigation" the fees total up to about a quarter of a million dollars. This flip-flop didn't take as long as the others, so progress is being made in this administration. Sarno, head of the FFA, has not answered any questions about his flip-flops. It's OK to flip-flop, everyone does, but at least get out in front of the issue and say, "this is why I changed my opinion and here is what I'm changing it to and for these reasons."

To add insult to flip-flop, a letter was sent by Mayor Sarno, Police Commissioner Fitchet and Stephen P. Lisauskas from the Finance Control Board to note the violations. The Springfield Towing Alliance has had the contract for 18 months. If all these charges were so egregious and atrocious, why wasn't a word spoken until March? When tows and money started to come up missing in the first 12 months, where was the city? I know where Sarno was; making appearances and publicity stunts.

He had a pep talk with the High School of Commerce football team before their game last Friday. The team lost.

In other News...

Despite all the "other" problems in the U.S, Washington D.C has "decided" to loan Wall Street $50,000,000,000.00.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080916/ap_on_bi_ge/fed_credit_crisis

But, who wants to talk about the economy, right? Let's all keep talking about November 4, 2008 or in Western Mass, the primary elections today, Sept 16. Or we could always talk about Obama or McCain or pigs or any other piece of gossip that's probably false.

In Massachusetts, Gov. Patrick continues to sign various "bond" bills. Bonds are loans. Not only do these bills have to be paid back, taxpayers have to "help" pay the state's debt.

http://therealwesternmass.blogspot.com/2008/08/2nd-entry-081408.html

The economy is terrible but all people seem to talk about is gossip, condos or towing fees.

Real News: Not about Condos.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has thrown the United States Ambassador out of Venezuela. If you only read "news" about old buildings, you should stop here.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080912/ts_nm/venezuela_chavez_dc

So, T. Boone Pickens and other "Big Oil" associates buy a large amount of oil from Venezuela via THEIR oil reserves in the Middle East.

T. Boone doesn't want to pay for oil anymore. So what do we get? The Pickens "Plan".

I'll save my opinion on this issue; I just wanted to see some news other than condominiums, Democrat v. Republican, pictures and videos. If you drive, you pay for gas. It's nice to know the relationship we have with the country who sells us the oil.

Barack Obama chances November 4, 2008.

This is a view of the number of electoral college votes each state has for the 2008 presidential election. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to become president. 16 Southern states (the "old" Southern slave states: SE USA) and Washington D.C (a city-state) hold 200 votes, which equals 200 Republican electoral votes. All, the Republican presidential nominee needs to do is get 70 more votes. The map shows you that there are many states the Republicans can get, subtracting California and New York because they almost always vote Democratic. Obama desperately needs to get Virginia to break up that "old South" Republican voting chain. No electoral college member below Virgina is going to vote for Obama. If you are going to make any change, please make the right one and vote for Barack Hussein Obama.

A CHANGE For Springfield.

This change is not ambiguous like the change of Barack Obama and John McCain.

This change fits the current administration perfectly.

The Sarno Administration is now the Flip-Flop Administration.

After about a month "Kristen" has decided to have a conversation with Mayor Sarno again (http://blog.masslive.com/springfieldmayor/). He talked about schools and new business "deals" with East Longmeadow; the two most interesting topics were recycling and the search for a home for the Mason Square Library.

We last saw Mayor Sarno on his city tour to try and rectify the already crumbling Flip-Flop Administration. He was standing in front of a lot trash the other day, talking about how recycling will help the city.

"Kristen" threw Sarno a softball question about his thoughts on the "heat" he was taking for flip-flopping on the trash fee issue (a central campaign issue that got him elected). His response, "Nobody like nay-sayers...[they] bring nothing to the table." Really Mayor Sarno? That's great analysis. So aside from the fact that he got elected by lying (I know, he is a politician), lets look at his "plan" for this recycling program. First, according to the FFA, Springfield "is taking the lead" on this issue. What is taking the lead? The FFA says its giving you another blue trash barrel. And guess what you can do with this big blue trash barrel? You can put ALL of your recyclables in it. I mean that is leading from the front; the FFA is "giving" you another plastic receptacle (which is not good for the environment and which they will charge you for eventually) and they are going to let you put ALL of your trash in it instead just some of it. Also, the FFA "can't tolerate" a city who is only "recycling" 9% of its trash. A wise man once said, "Another man's trash, is another man's trash." Where was all this recyclable trash going before and why was there no uproar then? Mayor Sarno asked himself a question, "What can we do here?" It seems like his answer was, lets give the residents more space to put all of their trash so they forget all my flip-flop's, all my "appearances", my do nothing Police Commissioner and my staff who got a 2% raise even thought it took 8 months to set up the lame duck Citizens Complaint Review Board. Lastly, there is no foresight for this recycling program. The FFA is going to give their new blue barrels to East Forest Park residents first and then "moderate and observe" the program's progress. I guess thats "taking the lead".

I mean look at the picture above. Both the containers say "RECYCLABLES ONLY". They couldn't even get it right at the press conference, where they are suppose to look good.

In the discussion about the Mason Sq. Library, the host of this convo brought up the fact that the property, Muhammad's Mosque #13, may only be worth $400,000. I guess our Muslim brothers are going to be "doubling up" with this sale.

And the FFA has another 3 years. It should be interesting.

"The SAT's are 'culturally biased' " - Neon Bodeaux (Blue Chips, 1994)

Shaquille O'Neal played Neon Bodeaux in the film, Blue Chips. The character said the quote in the title of this piece to his coach Petey Bell, played by Nick Nolte. He was asked by Coach Bell why he had only gotten a 400 on the test and why he never took it again. I see how this line made to the movie.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080826/ap_on_re_us/sat_scores

"Minority students accounted for 40 percent of test-takers,"
"You only had the best of the best taking the test,"..."The SAT has become far more inclusive."

The second half of the quote is by James Hull, a policy analyst for the Center of Public Education. He was referring to the 1970's as the time period in which the "best of the best" were taking the test. So, who are these people Hull refers to as the best? I'm going to go out on a limb and say he wasn't referring to minorities. Isn't the point of public education and the "standardized college entrance exam" to be all inclusive so all of us have the chance to get a higher education, if we choose?

I took the SAT's 5 years ago. The total score you could get was 1600. Presently, the scoring is up to 2400 and there is now a written portion to the test. How can Hull or anyone complain about inclusiveness, when you add 800 total points to the test and give these young adults another section of the test to show their intelligence? If they think too many people are taking the test, simply put, why offer it anymore? The SAT has never been a good gage of what young adults learn throughout their education because everyone child in America doesn't have the same "standard" education. Kids in Massachusetts are having trouble passing the MCAS, how are they going to have a shot at the SAT's which is much broader in scope? They and other kids across the nation, no matter race, color or class, who have not had access to private, parochial or charter schools are at a severe disadvantage.

If you haven't clicked on the link above, there is a graph on the page on the left side that shows the mean or average scores among 3 ethnic groups: Asian, Black and white. Asian students excelled in math and were even in reading and writing. Black students average score didn't crack 450 for either 3 parts of the test. White students tested slightly above average in all three test categories.

So, 54 years after Brown v. The Board of Education (Kansas) and 8 years after George W. Bush "promised" to Leave No Child Behind, how far has this society really come?

If you'd like to contact the College Board, the COMPANY that OWNS the SAT, click http://www.collegeboard.com/html/communications000.html#prof ... they have dozens of email address, phone numbers and address that will get you caught up in the "customer service" web.

RNC speeches - 9/3/08

One of the overall themes I got from last night's Republican National Convention speeches, is that the Republicans don't think very highly of "community organizers". So once again, to all the community organizers, you have no place on the Republican platform. The three keynote speakers: elitist, billionaire, Mormon and former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney, the gender "confused" former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani and Canadian, errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Alaskan governor Sarah Palin, all attacked the "community organizer". I mean, who could have time to organize in the community, especially if it involves working with low income or poor people? I forgot, Republicans don't believe or acknowledge that the poor exist, which may be the reason there was no mention of that "bottom 20%".

It's obvious that John McCain picked this woman because she is a woman and he thought some of the women who were upset at the Hilary Clinton vice presidential "snub" would just jump on the bandwagon. Or maybe he thought independents and democrats who don't like "community organizers" would jump on the bandwagon. The other reason, and George W. would be proud, is for the oil in Alaska. Gov. Palin always seems like she can't wait to mention how she "took on the old boy network" and how she "shook things up in Alaska". She also loves to mention the oil and natural gas pipeline that was built in the state. I guess the Rockefeller monopoly of the oil business is getting to old and some new "blood" needs to fill his shoes.

Also, I've never been to Alaska and I don't know much about Alaska but couldn't Palin and her husband have named their kids with slightly more normal names. Track, Piper, Willow, Bristol and Trig are, to say the least, interesting names.

On another note, if Geraldo Rivera can be kicked out of Iraq for questionable leakage of coordinates, how can the governor of Alaska repeatedly say the exact date that her son is being "deployed" to Iraq (which happens to be 9/11/2008) and the branch of the Armed Services he is participating in? If it isn't "illegal", it might the dumbest thing for a governor to say. Why not tell the "insurgents" or "Islamic terrorists" the exact plane he is flying in on?

Lastly, what was up with that post-9/11, sans-Twin Towers background that Rudy Giuliani spoke in front of? We get it Rudy. You happened to be the Mayor of the city where a "terrorist attack" took place. You did a great job coordinating that day in the community.

Another Noose?

On August 11, 2008, a noose was found in the electrical room at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (The city of "Brotherly Love").

http://www.blackchristiannews.com/news/2008/08/noose-hung-at-childrens-hospital-in-phil.html

1. If the case of the "Jena 6" (Jena, Louisiana) was too Southern for people in this area, here is another example of the racism that still exists , even in the North.

2. I saw this story in the middle of August and I was sure some major news medium would have at least mentioned it by now. Not only has that not happened, the FBI is "investigating" but no reports of progress has been presented.

3. If lynching is still on people's minds in 2008, has the "lynching" ever stopped?

Metacomet's War

"It's hard to ignore history and memory; and when you do, you are not empowered as you should be." - Cornel West

You might be looking at this title and saying, "Who is Metacomet and what war did he fight?" Well since the "victor" of the war gets to name the war, you might know the Wampanoag chief Metacomet as "King Philip" and the war as "King Philip's" War. First, their is no such title "king" in Indian/Native American culture. The highest position is sachem. Second, Philip is not an Indian name. Why did WASP's in this day always give their names to indigenous people who, I am 100% sure, had their own names?

Metacomet was the son of Massasoit. Massasoit and Squanto helped the first illegal English immigrants in Plymouth and surrounding Massachusetts Bay colonies because Indians are generally nice people. What do the Indians of that area get in return? Death by disease or warfare waged on them by the very same people they helped or they were relocated and scattered, as would be the tradition the WASP's would use against Native Americans (see the Trail of Tears and the fact that America has broken every treaty ever with the Native Americans).

So if you are an Indian tribe who doesn't want to face death or relocation, what do you do? Well, the Mohegan tribe and the Pequot tribe (both of whom have casinos today in Connecticut) cut deals with English. These two Connecticut Indian tribes were already rivals and enemies of the Wampanoag and Metacomet, so when the English came along and gave them an offer they couldn't refuse -basically, help us defeat any Indian tribe and by help they meant tell us everything you know so we can destroy other tribes - and of course the Mohegan and the Pequots did not refuse.

Metacomet's War only lasted a year but it was on the bloodiest Indian/Colonist wars. Battles were fought across MA, CT and RI. In 1675/1676, there were only about 100 towns in all of present day New England and remember that Maine was a part of Massachusetts until 1820. Many of these scattered New England towns were attacked by Metacomet and his army. Longmeadow and Springfield were two very important towns in Metacomet's War. The land in present day Longmeadow named " 'King Philip's' Stockade" could have been the site where Metacomet's army defeated the colonist and held them prisoner (see definition of 'stockade'). While the Spingfield militia was away fighting, Metacomet's army burned some of the small town. After that, all the towns along the Connecticut River were made in to fortified defense posts. The colonists finally realized that they were up against people who had superior knowledge of the land and the type of war the Indians wanted to fight was not the war colonists wanted to fight. Colonist "victories" at Turners Falls, MA (named after Capt. Williams Turner), Hadley and Marlborough, MA, tipped the scales of the war to the colonists.

Another very important part of Metacomet's War are the two "praying Indians" who started and ended the war. The term "praying Indian" means an Indian who, by some force whether it be nature or a WASP's musket to your temple, converted to Christianity. The first "praying Indian" was John Sassamon. He was an adviser to Metacomet but probably more of a translator. Sassamon told the WASP's of what seems to be an early plan of Metacomet's War. Sassamon was found dead in a pond and his alleged murderers were all hanged. By the end of the war, Metacomet took refuge in Rhode Island. He had no Indian allies and his supplies were almost non-existent. Metacomet was shot in the head by "praying Indian" John Alderman, who was under the control of Capt. Benjamin Church and Capt. Josiah Standish. Metacomet's corpse was decapitated and then hanged. Metacomet's head and one of his hands was given to John Alderman. He later sold the head for 30 shillings - the going rate for an Indian head at that time.














These two pictures are by colonist Paul Revere. Notice the short stature in both the pictures and how much of a resemblance to Revere or some colonist the second picture holds. Also notice the 5 point star in both of the pictures.

I think it's past the time that we should all be learning the REAL history that Western Mass. has to offer or we that live here will never be empowered.