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Comments Posted By FrustratedPA

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On a Cloudy Day

JM, thank you my friend for sharing your powerful story. I am sorry that it happened to you however, there is much to be gained from sharing it.
Unfortunately, I do know the reality of DWB. I have not only intructed at police academies but defended Black men in Court who were the ultimate victims of racism. I always brought up racial profiling and DWB in my classes. Always controversial, always hotly debated but that is the forum to do so. We need to have the open and honest debate without being afraid of “racist” tags or “race card” thrown about loosely. Eric Holder is right, stories like yours have to be shared with audiences who may never understand the reality that this occurs on a daily basis. Police officers are far from perfect, too many are not properly trained and too quick to act without judgment. Nevertheless, in a country with millions of guns, how do you not feel paranoid every time you go out to do your job?

One of the hardest things I ever did in my career was advise a man to take a plea because he was a Black man who would never get a fair trial in the county he was nabbed in. It was 10 years ago and I still feel the impact. Instead of 8 years in prison, he got 18 months but despite the “good deal” the reasons were abhorrent. He would never have gotten a fair shake with the jury and my duty was to advise him of not only the law and facts of the case but the reality of the system.

What is ironic is that I have seen your photo and you are a very non-threatening looking man. This white woman looks far more shady than you can ever look! A Black President cannot undo hundreds of years of racism and prejudice although too many folks think it can.

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 16, 2011 @ 11:10 am

From a union worker family standpoint…

Belinda, thank you for sharing that wonderful personal story. You nailed it including the recent surge in “education reformers” and their war against teachers.

Watch “Schmatta: From rags to riches to rags” for the hisotry of the textile union and the impetus of the Triangle fire. My Nonni was a proud Union seasmstress adn dressmaker, her factory closed down….textiles, another industry outsourced to third world hell.

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 15, 2011 @ 12:17 pm

I have not been watching as much MSNBC since Olbermann left (not that I was a huge fan but the Comcast merger does not sit well with me) however I happened to catch this segment last night. The rep from the Firefighters Union was great and the gentleman from the Wisc. AFL-CIO. Unions are convenient to demonize, despite teh assertions, Unions do not have the vast amount of money corporations now have to fight with under Citizens United.

I say to all who despise unions or are jealous over workers’ benefits…….”Don’t hate what I have, fight for what I have FOR YOURSELF!”

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 15, 2011 @ 11:37 am

DON’T APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHING MOM!!! KUDOS!

Reagan and his destruction of the air traffic controllers was just the beginning, the “welfare queens” and his constant misuse of the idea of socialism started this ball rolling.

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 15, 2011 @ 11:29 am

Ahh, I see Penner has made his way and continues to be deliberately obtuse. Enjoy your free healthcare Mr. Canadian while we join the unions to fight for every scrap of healthcare we can get.

By the way, if those “people’ you cite in your example are such self-loathers that they despise the very organization that keeps them in the middle class and not among the working poor, here is a novel idea….don’t join! It is not mandatory to join a union, it is a fallacy. No one has to join. If you think you can do better as an individual fighting for basic employment needs with the Major Corporate Whores who run the entities then go for it. Personally, I will take the Collective Bargaining Unit against that scenario everyday and twice on Sunday.

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 15, 2011 @ 11:27 am

A most excellent post! I am a union advocate. I am the granddaughter of both a Union mine worker and Union dressmaker. My father was also a coal miner and truck driver with the Teamsters. Unions have become the boogeyman, the all-encompassing demon that the right can blame to distract the low-information voters. I am still amazed at how there are many, rank-and-file union members that will vote against their own interests. I know some in the local IBEW and Laborers union that voted republican. I just shake my head and congratulate them on destroying the very organization that would have fought to save their job and benefits.

But look at what is going on with the Teacher Unions. It has become fodder for both left and right, Democrat and Republican. Many in my family and friends are Teachers and they are so disgusted by the politics being played with their job, the blame from everyone, including Arne Duncan that failed basketball d-bag, for poor students. Not parents, not students, just teachers……if the pipes were to freeze in the school, teachers would be blamed. The War on Unions has spread and we need to remind people that without unions there would still be women and children dying in sweatshop fires (Triangle Shirt Factory), men dying in mines (Non-union Massey Coal) and more destruction of the already eroding middle class with increased rolls of working poor.

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 15, 2011 @ 9:47 am

Bill Maher’s Big Lie Contribution?

Bill has a very hard time reconciling the thought that someone he admires or supports is religious. At least that is my take. He is a zealot in his atheism but I am not sure it comes from such a bad place. My feeling is that he is so disgusted by religion in govt. or the bad things that have resulted from the evangelicals of the Reagan/Bush years that he goes in the complete opposite direction.

On the other hand, Dr. Cornel West was brilliant and eloquen as always. The man speaks and I clap, literally clap. He is a modern day civil rights poet, inspiring and thought-provoking. Love Brother West.

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 14, 2011 @ 10:59 am

An HP Moderator Replies

There is a distinct vibe coming out of that place that just smacks of corporate media. Not sure what it is, could just be my own subjective feeling of not liking anything AOL related but the moderation is so over the top.

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 14, 2011 @ 11:02 am

You know I would NEVER forget my Rosie!

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 14, 2011 @ 10:54 am

And to you as well! Looking forward on checking the place out, already read some really interesting stories and comments.

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 14, 2011 @ 10:54 am

Cher!! How are things? I have been hit or miss at the other place and was getting rather tired of all the drama.

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 14, 2011 @ 10:53 am

Thank you for the info!

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 14, 2011 @ 10:52 am

Hey boomer! I am playing lazy and checking out the site instead of working. I did my taxes yesterday and my brain is fried…..needed some leisure time.

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 14, 2011 @ 10:44 am

Thanks zoot! Still trying to navigate, checking out the stories but nice to see some familiar faces.

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 14, 2011 @ 10:42 am

So I thought I would pop in and check it out over here at the POV. very interesting. And some of my favorite people are here to add weight and depth to discussions. Thanks for sharing zoot!

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 14, 2011 @ 10:38 am

Is that my friend Miss Alina?? My renegade Alabama progressive sister?? I thought I would pop in and check it out.

» Posted By FrustratedPA On February 14, 2011 @ 10:35 am

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