McPhearson Report

U.S. Declaration of Independence

I began this 4^th of July thinking about the Declaration of Independence and the anger and frustration of a population that was so fed up they declared freedom from England and formed their own union to chart their destiny. The colonist knew this would mean war with one of the greatest military powers on earth, but it did not stop them. Most interesting about this period is that these same rebels, having great love for England, did not want to dissolve their ties but felt they had no choice because of the unacceptable behavior of the British Parliament and Monarchy.

Looking back on this time and reflecting on the impact the decision to revolt had on the lives of the founding generation, I wonder if I would have stood with the insurgents? I ask, where should I stand today? I know that as a Black man I could have easily stood against the colonist in a personal effort to break my bonds of slavery, but I hope that I would have the experience of Crispus Attucks to see inklings of something worth defending and the vision of Phillis Wheatley to see the new nation as Columbia, inspiring ideals of freedom. It is hard for me to know. Both sides were seriously flawed on the point of human bondage. However, even with this huge failing it is clear in the epic story of the Revolution there was an underdog to pull for and a great power to fear. Our nation’s story of independence is a chapter in a larger narrative of empire. England, having fashioned a vast domain with reach into Asia, Africa and the Americas, was simply acting in its “national interest.” For the colonist it was a question of self determination and independence from a foreign power. But that was then and this now.

As I think about our past, I must think about our present and I find myself anguished over who we have become. Today the United States is the greatest military power on earth. Our nation exports our culture via music movies and other media around the globe. We dominate global economics as the center of finance and the world’s largest economy. We push our political agenda through economic policies and our more than 700 military bases that ring the globe.  We are no longer the little guy looking to fight our way free from a government an ocean away. We have taken the place of those we fought against. Every era has its empires. Today it’s the U.S. and others fight to free themselves from us. Knowing this, where should I stand?

There is the idea that Americana is the good empire. It is true that much of history can be told as a chronicle of empires; their conquest, dominance, decline and rise of the next. They bring order to chaos spreading common ideas and enforcing common law. Some of humanities greatest advancements in all disciplines were made under imperial umbrellas. But with the good comes the bad. Empire building means political domination. To dominate a people one must defeat them in war or scare them into submission. As a consequence, empires are born in the blood of rebels and patriots.  The U.S. Empire is not an exception. We field our armies to forward or protect our “national interest” in the same way Great Britain, Rome, Egypt and other empires fielded theirs. Our foreign policy today is endless war. Conquest is the process of empire building and the U.S. is on the march. Perhaps we are not as brutal as the Romans or the Ottomans, but there is no such thing as a good empire. Ask the families of the dead who fell fighting for self determination and to protect their homes from the invader. In Iraq and Afghanistan the U.S.A is attempting to build nations and forcing the people of countries around the globe to follow politics in line with U.S. foreign policy. Our interference is in direct contradiction to our own Declaration of Independence. “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”

So where do I stand? This Independence Day I state with a heavy heart that on the global questions of war and peace, the country I love is on the wrong side of history. I stand with the people of the United States; the poor and disenfranchised, the soldiers, veterans, and military families. I stand with those at home who are most negatively affected by U.S. war policy. I stand with the people of the world who struggle to throw off the yoke of U.S. empire building. I stand in resistance to my nation’s foreign policy. We are now the empire builder and aggressor pursuing our “national interest” rather than forwarding the ideals that founded our nation. The light in the city on the hill is growing dim as the world watches a great nation lose its way. I challenge those who love this country to help extinguish the drive for world empire and build a new light of freedom. A light that will lead our nation to uphold the truth that all people are created equal and have the right to self determination. It is within our ability to stop this madness and shape a better world. Let us remember the ideals of the revolution. Let us not falter. Let us take action.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/03/world/middleeast/03iraq.html

A New York Time article reports, “American soldiers still find and kill enemy fighters, on their own and in partnership with Iraqi security forces, and will continue to do so after the official end of combat operations.”

The claim that all combat troops will leave Iraq is misleading at best and totally unbelievable to anyone who understands force protection.  Every troop is trained to fight thus all soldiers are combat troops especially in the Marines and Army. But to be more specific to this situation, it would be irresponsible to leave troops in Iraq without combat capability if for no other reason than to protect themselves. The article tells us that the troops will continue combat operations calling them stability operations. As Major General Stephen R. Lanza, the top American military spokesman in Iraq told the Times reporter, “In practical terms, nothing will change. We are already doing stability operations.”

So two points:  1st,  Don’t let the rhetoric coming out of Washington  claiming that combat operation will stop and combat troops are being brought home fool you. It is not true and I wish they would stop talking to us like we are stupid.  2nd, Our government continues to interfere with the political process in Iraq. A U.S. troop presence retards the people of Iraq determining their destiny. Nations keep troops in foreign lands to ensure a specific political outcome favorable to that nation. We cannot call ourselves liberators and at the same time influence Iraqi politics. Bring all our troops home Now!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14afghan.html

Sunday the President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, flew to Kandahar and told local leaders there to prepare for operations to rid the city and surrounding area of the Taliban. You may want to read the full story, see above NYC Times’ link, but I believe a few lines in the piece provide stark details as to why continued military operations will not work.

Haji Mahmood, a tribal leader from west of Kandahar, told a typical story: Three months ago, he bought a plot of land near his home and invested several thousand dollars to build shops on it. He bought the land from the local government.

A few weeks ago, he said, government agents bulldozed his shops and reclaimed the land.

Finishing his story, Mr. Mahmood shook his head.

“Not many people support the Taliban, because they don’t really have a program,” Mr. Mahmood said. “But believe me, if they did, many people would.”

Can you imagine how mad you would be if that happened to you? Mr. Mahmood has very good reason to help the Taliban or sit on the sidelines to see who emerges the winner. If we are lucky, he may support the current government because he has a vision of a better future than that offered by the Taliban. But that kind of disrespect against the people by the government screams out for resistance.

His last sentence about not many people supporting the Taliban because they do not have a program but if they did people would follow says it all. The people of Afghanistan must find their own political solutions. The U.S. cannot manufacture good government in Afghanistan. That must be left to Afghans. U. S. military operations will lead to more civilian deaths and anger towards the U.S. and the incredibly corrupt Afghan government. That will strengthen the hand of the Taliban, who we must always remember are indigenous Afghans. Military defeat of the Taliban his highly unlikely in the current political climate.

A June 14 NY Times article reports the release of a report detailing Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Agency continuing to influence and at times direct Taliban operations. The report has some weaknesses, but its claims have validity. The basic premise is that Pakistan continues to cause problems in Afghanistan to ensure Indian does not gain influence there. Old habits die hard and old enemies do not change easily. The U.S. is entangled in regional conflicts and depending on actors who ignore our interest but exploit our presence to forward their goals. We simply do not understand what is going on and do not know what we are doing.

Another June 14 NY Times article reports the new found mineral wealth of Afghanistan and how it could change everything. Eventually the nation will have the means to take care of itself. But will these resources create more vying for power in the current government structure and give the Taliban another recruiting tool? I say yes on both counts. If I were an insurgent I would use it for propaganda and I have no reason to think this news gives the current government reason to reform. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14minerals.html

A  June 15 NY Times article reports doubts within the Obama Administration about whether or not current policy efforts will work or if the timeline to begin withdrawal in July 2011 is still feasible and as a result some want to rethink the policy.  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/15/world/asia/15military.html

It makes no sense for more people to die in pursuit of a policy that is destined to fail. We need new direction and we need it very quickly before more die pursuing a policy that relies on having good government but in reality is partnered with a corrupt gangster government. Afghans need room to workout their problem. Let us get out of the way.

Yesterday I posted a piece called Finding Newark – Pride Week. It is the first of what I hope are many post looking at the city of Newark. I originally moved here in 1999 from Saint Louis. I left in 2005 and returned in March of this year. My first time in Newark I really did not take the time to learn about the city or its politics. This time I will not make the same mistake. So I have decided to go out and actively learn about Newark and  find the real Newark, not just what is in the news or what is marketed, but what is really happening in the city. The post about Pride Week is the first of the Finding Newark series.

Newark Ironbound Portuguese community

I do know that Newark, New Jersey has a long history. It was originally founded in 1666 by Connecticut Puritans and formed as a township in 1693, well before the Thirteen Colony Revolution. It is located about 8 miles from Manhattan and its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean makes it a major port. Newark is the largest city in New Jersey and the 65th largest in the country, but it is also part of the largest region of US population being located in the NYC Metro area. After neighboring Jersey City Newark is New Jersey’s second-most diverse city in a  very diverse region of the country, . Its neighborhoods are populated with people from various backgrounds, such as African Americans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Italians, Albanians, Irish, Spaniards, Jamaicans, Mexicans, West Africans, Brazilians, Trinidadians and Portuguese population.

Dilapidated building on Broad Street in the heart of the city and one of the busiest streets.

Newark has been known as one of the most dangerous cities in U.S. America. When I told a friend of mine in Saint Louis, also known as a dangerous city, that I was moving to Newark, he joked jumping from the frying pan into the fire. From Wikipedia: In 1996, TIME Magazine ranked Newark “The Most Dangerous City in the Nation.” By 2007, however, the city recorded a total of 99 homicides for the year, representing a significant drop from the record of 161 murders set in 1981. The number of murders in 2008 dropped to 65, a decline of 30% from the previous year and the lowest in the city since 2002 when there was also 65 murders.

In the 2006 survey, Newark was ranked as the 22nd most dangerous city in the United States, out of 371 cities included nationwide in the 13th annual Morgan Quitno survey. In the 2007 rankings, now performed by CQ Press, Newark was the 20th most dangerous city in America of 378 cities surveyed. In 2008, Newark was ranked as the 24th most dangerous city. In March, 2010, Newark enjoyed its first month without a homicide since 1966.

Mayor Cory Booker

Newark is also know for a heavy dose of political corruption. Five of the last seven Mayors of Newark have been indicted  on criminal charges, including its three most recent Mayors: Hugh Addonizio, Kenneth Gibson, and Sharpe James. When I left Sharpe James was Mayor. Cory Booker is the current Mayor. He is well know across the country and a rising star. If I had been here when he ran the first time I would have voted for him. I did vote for Cory in the latest election and I am excited about the things he has done and I hope he will do more. But I am also critical and will be watching.

The Rebellion:

An important part of Newark history that still affects the economic and social well being of the city today is the 1967 Rebellion or what many people call Riots.

http://www.67riots.rutgers.edu/n_index.htm
The Newark Riot of 1967 began with the arrest of a cab driver named John Smith, who allegedly drove around a double-parked police car at the corner of 7th St. and 15th Avenue. He was subsequently stopped, interrogated, arrested and transported to the 4th precinct headquarters, during which time he was severely beaten by the arresting officers. As news of the arrest spread, a crowd began to assemble in front of the precinct house, located directly across from a high-rise public housing project. When the police allowed a small group of civil rights leaders to visit the prisoner, they demanded that Mr. Smith be taken to a hospital. Emerging from the building, these civil rights leaders begged the crowd to stay calm, but they were shouted down. Rumor spread that John Smith had died in police custody, despite the fact he had been taken out the back entrance and transported to a local hospital. Soon a volley of bricks and bottles was launched at the precinct house and police stormed out to confront the assembly. As the crowd dispersed they began to break into stores on the nearby commercial thoroughfares. Eventually violence spread from the predominantly black neighborhoods of Newark’s Central Ward to Downtown Newark, and the New Jersey State Police were mobilized. Within 48 hours, National Guard troops entered the city. With the arrival of these troops the level of violence intensified. At the conclusion of six days of rioting 23 people lay dead, 725 people were injured and close to 1500 people had been arrested.

Essex County College Campus

Since then, the city has struggled to recover, but lately has experienced a renaissance of sorts. I know for fact that their are lovely beautiful spots in Newark. I will stop here as part of the mission of Searching for Newark is to examine the status of the city. Watch out there is more to come.

I went to a Rainbow Flag raising in Newark, New Jersey in front of  City Hall to to kickoff  Newark Essex Gay Pride Week. Mayor Cory Booker was in attendance. He gave wonderful heartfelt remarks. Most all of the speeches were inspiring. I was especially happy to see the young leadership from high school on up. Watch the videos and you will be impressed with the quality of the speakers and their commitment. They presented a wonderful vision of the human family as the Beloved Community where everyone is respected and we all care for and about each other. It was not a kumbia moment. The Mayor reminded everyone that while much has been accomplished, there is still much hate in Newark and we have work to do to change it. He reminded us that people have been murdered in Newark for being part of the GLBTQ community. He challenged us to be warriors of justice, warriors of peace, warriors of love. He paraphrased Dr. Martin Luther King’s  words, “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.” The Mayor’s speech is worth the listen.

If you are in the Newark area, checkout www.newarkessexpride.org/events.php for local events. If you are outside the area, Google local Pride Week activities. Attend at least one event this week. We must support each other and turn the world from hate to a new day of King’s Beloved Community.

Newark-Essex Pride Week-Flag Raising,  June 7, 2010.

Part One - Darnell Moore

Part One Darnell Moore -Newark-Essex Pride Coalition and Newark’s LGBT Advisory Commission , George – Central High School Senior, Jacquelyn Holland – Liberation In Truth Unity Fellowship Church.

Part Two - Ketlen Alsbrook

Part – Two Ketlen Alsbrook Newark Department of Child & Family Well-Being. These remarks are very good.

Part Three - Newark Councilman Ronald Rice

Part Three Bryan Epps – CEO Newark Pride Alliance, Ronald Rice – Newark City Council

Part Four - June

Part Four Thanking June for her vision of Newark, Gay Pride Week followed by remarks by Cory Booker.

Part Four - Mayor Cory Booker

Part Five Continuation of remarks by Cory Booker.

Mottorrad of St. Louis, where I get my work done. The team that hooked me up for the trip. Thanks guys.

Monday, I finally left Saint Louis after 14 days. I am sure my friend Keith was happy to see me go after invading his apartment for two weeks. Thanks Keith for putting me up. I was waiting on parts for a passenger seat backrest and a cable for a GPS electrical system I had installed. The cable never came but the technicians provided a solution for the trip. Why did I need a passenger backrest? Well my passenger is my luggage and the backrest allows me to better secure the bags.

By the time I rigged up my bike to carry everything including working around a strap breaking on my knapsack, I did not get out of STL until noon. I have never ridden this far in one sitting. My butt hurts and I was sweating like a pig, but am ecstatic I have started my thousand mile trip.

Unfortunately, since I left STL so late I cannot take the route I intended to visit VFP members and other activists. Instead of heading south through Memphis, Birmingham Atlanta, Charlotte etc., I am traveling directly East on US 40 to Newark.

While on the road I meet other bikers who asked where I am heading. It is pretty obvious I am on a trip to somewhere with my big load. Monday I met Mike C in Carlyle IL. He has 3 bikes; a Harley he hates, a Yamaha V-Star Classic that he was riding (very pretty) and a Honda Gold Wing that he has driven all over the country including to rallies with his Christian motorcycle club. Originally from Seattle, he moved to IL, and made some changes in his life including becoming serious about his faith. He must have been a super wild man before the changes because he is still, as he said, crazy. He told me he laid down his bike a few days ago because he took a curve too fast. I asked did  he get hurt. He told me it would take more than that to keep him down. He’s had plenty of spills. “I ride a little crazy.” He went on to tell me a story about being stopped for going 170 mph.

I asked, “What do they do to you when they catch you going 170?”

“He chewed me up and down for 45 minutes. I just hung my head and took it. Then he asked, ‘Mr. C think you can slow it down?’ I answered yes sir and he let me go.”

Later at a BP gas station (I have been avoiding BP, but not when I’m scared I will run out of gas and I need to put on raingear) I met John, a rider heading to Texas. His bike was very nice. He brought a pillow along to sit on, but like me his butt still hurt. Of course his bike had more horses than my 500 ccs. Everyone’s bike is bigger (except for Juan’s). But like I always say, I’m a little guy and right now it works for me. But I have seen some nice bikes, so who knows.

I also met a father and his 9 year old son riding back to Jefferson Barracks, MO from Indy. It is his first long distance trip.

It was hot all day and I hit rain twice, but nothing real heavy.

Juan's 50 cc bike. He'll sell it cheap.

I landed in Terra Haute, IN and slept like a baby at a Travelodge. Jumped out of bed at 7:45, ate breakfast and cycled to one of the numerous Wal-marts to replace the backpack with the broken strap. Almost every town I motor through has a Wal-mart. It is amazing.

While loading my bike I conversed with Juan, who I mentioned earlier. He was busy resurfacing the parking lot and stopped to talk to me. He has spent time working in Saint Louis and Woodbridge, NJ.  He owns a small motorcycle I noticed when I checked in. I was real curious because it was so small. I thought it might be a 250, maybe a Honda Rebel. No, it was a 50 cc motorcycle, don’t know the make. He offered to sell it to me cheap. I said no thanks.

Pretty. I want one.

Today, Tuesday May 25th, was hot, but thank goodness no rain. The only other bike owners I met today were two tough looking older Harley riders. I was taking a lunch break at a rest stop when they drove up pulling their beautiful cycles. When I told them my destination, the Big Guy told me he couldn’t imagine traveling that far in his 1100 cc much less mine. Well I repeated the small guy mantra. While talking, I mentioned my recent nuptials, which led to me finding out that one of the bikers just married Sunday. The other biker (the bald one in the picture) is his father in law, whose 49 year marriage anniversary is May 28^th. There were congratulations all around.

I got married May 1st. The Big Guy's 49 year marriage anniversary is May 28th, and the other rider married Big Guy's daughter Sunday. Congrats all around!

Now I have landed in an American Best Valve Inn West of Dayton, OH, in a small town named Vandalia. On the way here I passed the 5 Rivers Meter Park. A beautiful location that I wish I had time to visit. Of course I also went through Indianapolis. I enjoyed riding through the city. But the sprawl is crazy.

I have a few crazy stories share the proprietor of the Inn told me, but it is time to go to sleep. Until next time.

Saturday on the way to a friend’s house for dinner,  I decided to take a few pictures of the Robert’s Tower, a luxury condominium building under construction in downtown Saint Louis. The building itself is beautiful. The landscaping with its reflecting pool, waterfall and umbrellas creates a wonderful sense of ease. It is an extraordinary example of present day urban architecture. More than the building, I wanted to take a photograph of the partial head and torso metal man that is the centerpiece of the picturesque setting. More about the metal man in a future blog.

While I was standing across the street from the building taking the picture, a man rode by on his bicycle and glanced at me so I said hello. He immediately stopped and jumped off his bike, “What’s going on here? I need to check this out.”

He ran up and placed himself right next to me, shoulder to shoulder as if he was going to look through the camera lens with me. I felt slightly uncomfortable, but l stayed pleasant.

“What are you taking a picture of?”

I answered, “I’m just taking a picture of this building here.”

“I hear the guy who owns that building is a bad guy.”

“What, the Robert’s brothers? What do you mean?”

He went on to say some things that I will not repeat here because I’m don’t think he knew what he was talking about.

“Well I think this a beautiful building so I thought I’d take picture of it,” I said to him.

“Yea it is nice. You want to see a cool spot for pictures?”

“Sure, where?”

“Follow me I will show you.” He grabbed his bike and headed down the street. “Hurry up.”

“OK. Let me put my camera away. But, I’m not running,” I said with slight agitation as he walked quickly ahead of me.

I was a little apprehensive following this somewhat strange man I just met to who knows where. But there was something innocent and eager about him that made me feel like I should be patient and spend some time with him. He led me to the tenth floor of a building overlooking the plaza in front of the Robert’s Tower. While I was beginning to feel more and more comfortable, I stayed alert looking for any signs of an ambush.

“See look.”

Hey was right. It was a nice view. He sat down and invited me to sit with him. We began to talk. I asked, “How do you know about this place?”

“I’m homeless and don’t have anything to do all day, so I know about a lot of places.”

“I’m sure you do,” I answered. We shared names. He told me his name is Tim and asked me if I wanted to hear his story. “Sure, what happened?”

“I use to be somebody before I was homeless.”

“Wait, you still are somebody. Everyone has worth. Why did you say that?”

“Because a lot of people don’t want to talk to homeless people and think we are nothing.”

I replied, “Well I don’t think that way. We all have value. People who think like, that are…excuse the language…fucked up” His words and tone of resignation to the belief he is worthless was heartbreaking.

“I did floors,” he went on. “Then I had a car accident. I blew out my knee.” He showed me scars on his right knee from stitches. “And I hurt my back. I couldn’t work, so I fell behind in my child support. They put me in jail. I got out and all I have is here in my backpack, plus a multi-tool, that was stolen yesterday and this bicycle.”

“Good thing you have that bike.”

“I keep it with me. But loosing the tool really hurt. I had that from before all this happened and it was $80. It was a good tool.”

I told him why I was in Saint Louis and that I recently spent some time visiting a tent city in Camden NJ where I met a number of homeless veterans. I asked him if he was a vet?

“No, unfortunately I’m not, but I always thank vets.”

“I’m a veteran.” I pointed to the Veterans For Peace logo on my sweatshirt. “I was once this organization’s Executive Director and our mission is to abolish war.”

“That will never happen. There will always be war.”

“Well in the work I do I have to believe differently.”

“Uh oh, now we are really talking,” he replied.

“It’s good you’re not a veteran.”

“No it’s not. I thank vets for what they have done for me. I say thank you all the time and they don’t even know why.”

“It’s good your not vet because wars are a bad thing and I’m glad you did not have to experience it.”

“Will you still talk to me even if I’m not a veteran.”

“Of course I’ll still talk to you.”

We talked more about a few other topics, but the thing that got me most was a simple request I could not fulfill.

“Can you stay and talk for awhile?” He asked. “It’s so nice to have someone to talk with.”

“No, I can’t.”

“Why?” He looked at his watch. It was about 6:15 pm. “You have about five more hours.”

“No I don’t. I was on my way somewhere when you met me on the street and I’m running behind now.”

“Well I would have rather we had not talked at all if you can’t stay and talk more.”

“That’s not fair,” I replied. “Now you are trying to lay a guilt trip on me.”

“Yea, your right,” he conceded. “But it feels so good to talk to someone.”

“Yea I know.” I began to gather my stuff to leave.

“No you don’t. “

“Yea, I kind of do. I tell people all the time. I was just talking to one of my nephews about talking to the homeless.”

“You don’t know how much I miss talking to people and how good it feels. It’s almost as good as having a shower.”

“Almost as good as a shower. Hmmm, I have to remember that.”

Once we were back on the street he asked me, “So when you see me again will you say hello?”

I answered, “Of course I will.”

“Don’t ignore me if you see me.”

“I wouldn’t do that. My mother taught me better. You take care Tim.”

I share this because there could not be a better example of what I have been trying to explain for years. How a simple acknowledgment of a person as a person can be a huge act of kindness. My nephew related a story of giving a homeless person some money and the person wanted to express his gratitude with a hug. Like most of us, my nephew did not want to accept the hug and felt it was inappropriate. I would submit to you that seldom will you find such sincere gratitude and never for the small amount that is usually given in that situation. The hug is a gift from the heart. It’s an attempt to affirm their humanity from us because we are not homeless and seem to care. I told my nephew that hug was a kind of gift from God(dess).

I know how my nephew felt because I remember my 1^st hug from a homeless man. About 13 years ago in Saint Louis, I was entering a grocery store when a man approached me to ask for money. I told him to wait until I come back out. It was night time, he was not alone and I did not want to pullout my wallet in front of him because I was aware that I needed to be careful. On the way out, my hands were full with grocery, so I said hold on, I’ll be back. I put the bags in the car, pulled the money out of my wallet and drove over to him. I don’t think he thought I was really coming back. He was so grateful he hugged me. It was uncomfortable, but it was genuine. That began my understanding that the homeless need more from me than money. They need something that is easier to give, but much more important; recognition of their humanity.

What am I saying? Hug the homeless? No, only if you feel OK about it (and if they want a hug, most don’t) and for women there are other issues to consider. I am saying that we must remember to treat all people with respect. That advocating for the oppressed means looking a homeless person in the eye and saying, “I can’t help you today,” instead of ignoring them because you don’t want t give them money. It means sometimes shaking hands asking their name and sharing yours. It means taking some time out every now and then to share in a homeless person’s life. Every time we pass a homeless person by without a hello or a nod it confirms they mean little. Every time we ignore a homeless person who has politely approached us, we peel away another layer of their humanity until one day like Tim they begin to believe, “I use to be somebody.” Remind them with a simple smile, a hello or a honest, “I can’t help you today,” You Are Somebody.

Reggie Clemons Then

Nothing ever goes like you plan. I landed in Saint Louis last Sunday hoping to pickup my motorcycle from the shop and then hit the road NLT Thursday or Friday, but I am still here. I am waiting on two parts for my bike. The deal is that I am having an electrical harness installed for my Nuvi 200 GPS system and a passenger seat backrest to help better secure my 2 bags. A cable for the harness and the backrest have not arrived. So I probably will not leave until Wednesday.

I haven’t been wasting time. Monday I attended a press conference concerning new deployments in the Reggie Clemons death penalty case. I did a quick interview with Virginia Druhe the Office Manager for the Veterans For Peace National Office about her personal activism. I had the pleasure to interview Montague Simmons the new chair of the Organization for Black Struggle (OBS) here in Saint Louis and I attended a Nakba or day of the catastrophe, remembrance at the Quaker House. I have made a few new connections to meet with activist in Memphis, Birmingham and Charlotte. But obviously my schedule is totally blown so I am not sure how that will turnout.

Reggie Clemons Now

Reggie Clemons (From http://www.justiceforreggie.com/?p=74)

In 1991, two young women went missing after visiting the abandoned Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis Missouri — a popular hang-out with local teens — with their cousin. The cousin told the police an impossible tale: that the girls had been pushed from the bridge, but he was ordered to jump by an unknown assailant and survived the nearly 80-foot fall into strong currents with no injuries and dry hair. The police were naturally skeptical of his account and, within hours, he confessed to killing the girls.

Yet this man, who is white, has never spent a day in jail. Instead, the police arrested four local youths who were also on the bridge that night. Three of the young men, all African-American, received the death sentence. The fourth young man, who is white, received a 30-year sentence and will be eligible for parole soon.

Reggie Clemons is one of the youths that received the death sentence; even though prosecutors conceded that Reggie neither pushed the women nor planned their deaths. The prosecutor simply theorized that Reggie was an “accomplice” even though there is no physical evidence linking Reggie to the crime for which he received the death penalty: no fingerprints, no DNA, no hair or fiber samples.

Many of Reggie’s claims have never been heard in a court of law because of procedural rules that have barred the presentation of important evidence. After reviewing the evidence, two federal judges voted to overturn his death sentence and found that Reggie was denied a fair trial. But Reggie’s sentence of death remains.

Both Amnesty International and the National NAACP have taken up his cause. The press conference I attended was held in front of the courthouse where Reggie was sentenced. Amnesty announced the release of their report on the case “USA: Model Criminal Justice? Death by Prosecutorial Misconduct and a ‘Stacked’ Jury.” A May 15^th Huffington Post piece By Laura Moye, Death Penalty Abolition Campaign Director at Amnesty International USA details pat of the report and Amnesty’s involvement in the case. I have been aware of this case for years. When asked why few Black activists attend traditional peace and anti-war movement events l explain that the activist are busy addressing issues that plagued our community long before the Iraq and Aghan wars. White peace activist seldom show up for Black struggles and there is no guarantee that ending the wars will do anything to end the immediate pressures facing the community. The Reggie Clemons death penalty case is a prime example of those struggles.

The women killed in April 91 Julie and Robin Kerry were sisters. Their and Reggie’s families deserve justice. There has been more than enough pain.  You can help. Please read more here.

Sunday was the 50^th year anniversary of the birth control pill. I had no idea until I heard it on the news. It was briefly discussed on CNN airport addition. The news anchor asked people to call in to give their opinion on whether not the pill revolutionized sex and is it still relevant in an era of high concerns about STDs.

CNN reported that despite the pill, about 50% of pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned and about half of those are ended by abortions.

I was a little dismayed by the questions, did the pill revolutionize sex and is it still relevant today? It seems to me that it would have been more appropriate to have a short segment on how the pill changed relations between men and women including sexually and educate us on how the pill affects us today. Leaving the question open for debate without an informed perspective allows for unchecked silly uninformed comments and opinions. So here is mine.

It seems obvious that the pill allowed for a new level of freedom for women and continuous to be a powerful tool. A woman who uses the pill does not have to rely on the man to use condoms and can decide if she is ready to have sex for procreation or pleasure, a choice men have always had by default. Many men have impregnated women and then gone on to continue their lives as if nothing has changed. A woman who becomes pregnant and goes on to have the child is taking on the toughest life changing responsibility a person can face. Before the pill a married woman almost had no choice but to live the barefoot and pregnant life in the kitchen or simply not have sex. Now she can decide for herself if and when that life is right for her. Certainly the pill created a platform for women to transform their lives at home and created opportunity to change how women related to the workplace.

The birth control pill really helped level the playing field for women. At the end of the day this is a sad thing because the field should be even based on valuing women. All societies should value women for who they are as individuals and what women mean to the world in a collective sense as life bearers and givers. It is believed by many that women were once seen as the center of society. The first God was a Goddess. Today even in the most advanced and so called civilized societies, women continue to be devalued and under rampant physical attack. The pill has been and continues to be an important defensive tool for women in their struggle to control their lives. Let us hope one day it will simply be a tool for planning in a world where women do not need to defend themselves from us men.

Later today I leave to begin a little adventure. I am riding my motorcycle from Saint Louis, MO back to Newark NJ. That is over 1000 miles. I have never ridden my bike more than an hour or around fifty miles at one time. This is a challenge for me. However I know that thousands of people ride their motorcycles cross country every year. My trip is an adventure for me but in the larger scheme it is rather ordinary. Which for me is good, so this ride should not be a problem.

One of the experiences I enjoyed most about my time with VFP was that I could find myself sleeping in a tent, the back of a van or under the stars. I like to do an easy night camping every now and then so traveling across country with a tent, sleeping bag and pad is a must.  To prepare I purchased the gear from REI. It all fits neatly in my Tour Master bag. Before I leave I will pack a black duffel bag with the clothes I think I will need on the trip. The idea is to put my clothes and gear in 2 bags. One bag will fit on the luggage rack; the other on the passenger seat. I’ll put my computer in a small ruck on my back. This leaves me the two saddlebags for rain-gear and misc stuff like food.

I want to make talking to people a big part of the trip. What are people thinking? I have never talked to a person who IDs as a Tea Party member. How do people feel about the economy? What do they think about the wars? Do people think the nation is going in the right direction?  Has living in the time of the first Black president made a difference in Black people’s lives? What do people think should happen next? How many Laker fans will I run into? I hope to get a glimpse into what is talked about and happening in our great country.

More to come as I see and hear it.

peace