Headless "Horsemen"

Anonymous witnessed...

I was one of those outsiders who attended the extravaganza at Harlows. Wow, what a spread! Alcohol was flowing and the tables were filled with massive amounts of shrimp and prime rib. Yum.

For some reason, they invited spouses...how odd for a coding seminar? And yes, Ray Ray was there; wining and dining his providers. Funny thing is, halfway thru the speaker's presentation, he confidentially rose from his seat with his wife at his side and left. I guess he made it for cocktail hour and ate a good meal and he was done. Just like he is gonna do the folks at DRMC.

He will be gone in a flash after he has feasted on DRMC. And, yes, he had his little blackberry companion there with him, Alphe. Mazie was present too smiling like there was no tomorrow ready for a "yes sir, Mr. Humphreys" on command.

And, let's not forget Allyson, large and in charge in her stiletos. There is no telling how much that deal cost and just today I was in the hospital listening to nurses being sent home for "low census" as their nurse manager assured them, "we gotta be productive, they are watching us closely". What a JOKE!

How productive is that brand spanking new NICU? It is a lonely unit with no docs or nurses. Ray is such a brilliant visionary, isn't he? This board should be ASHAMED of themselves. They know full well exactly what is going on and they allow it to continue.

We can only surmise that the board is IN on it all or else surely someone would do their job and put a stop to this irresponsible team of liars who identify them as the DRMC administration! When will it end??

A "coding seminar"... indeed? I wonder how Ray instructed the accounting department to "code" this little extravaganza on the books? Is there no end to this man's blatant disregard for public trust?

Ray is a "con-man" pure and simple. Literally run out of Hattiesburg, Ray stumbled into the Delta where he found a political system so steeped in corruption, ignorance and apathy, that even his malicious deeds would pale by comparison. He quickly "purchased" a few prominent Docs by offering them ultimate control and power over the DRMC dynasty in return for their support... a sweet deal for all!

Like a puppeteer, Ray could stay in the shadows, pulling the strings, while the "Docs" called the shots. Ray is the perfect front-man with his Bible-thumping humility and phony smile. Who would not trust this deacon of the church... surely he would not lie to us?

So who controls DRMC today you ask? Is it the board of trustees or supervisors? No, they are simply "pawns" who were hand-selected by Ray for their complicity and "silence". The power behind DRMC is a select group of physicians, formally known as the "horsemen". They tell Ray when to dance and when to "sit out".

The "horsemen" revel in Ray's stupidity, for at the end of the day, their jobs are secure. When Ray falls, they will be the first group to indict his character and they shall all rally to challenge his motives. At this point, Ray shall simply move on and we can only hope that we have derived some lesson from fallen empires.

Forthright

"Teflon Ray"

Current Employee notes...

Yes, you should have seen them all, the DRMC Executive suite, last night at Harlowes casino, wining and dining the doctors. It made me sick to look at them.

The biggest Baptist of them all, Sunday school teacher Ray Ray drinking in the casino at a DRMC sponsored event. What happened to the county not being allowed to pay for alcohol?

How does the hospital have the money to pay for a fancy shindig at Harlowes yesterday, when today they made us send staff home because of low census "flexing"?

Former Employee offers:

Allison Williams is simply a bitch. At least Florence has a few friends... Allison has none!

Alphe Wells is the biggest joke of all. He was hired as a token black at the board's direction. He ran off all of the competent staff he inherited from KD and spends his days polishing his fingernails and conversing with Ray via his blackberry.

Alphe is probably the biggest stooge Ray ever hired. He is not only incompetent, but he presents himself as a complete buffoon who knows nothing about human resources.

I agree with the writer above that Courtney Phillips is the only one with any scruples; however, Ray's power to corrupt is mighty strong! Woody White fled Greenville when he finally saw the depth of Ray's corruption and decided he wouldn't look good in stripes!

The physicians practice mess is real! I have friends who are knowledgeable of its finances and DPP is in deep trouble! Ray Humphreys is going to spend his way out of Greenville. Everything he owns is for sale including his house and hunting club membership. He will flee Greenville one day like a scalded dog and we will be left to clean up his mess... just like in Hattiesburg!

I vote we kick his ass out of here before he bankrupts DRMC and leaves the Delta with no viable healthcare. The entire administration needs to go... they are all Ray's peons who have no other interest than to protect their "outrageous" incomes!

Greenville needs to get off their asses and demand quality healthcare for the delta. DRMC is one of the biggest disgraces in the Delta! 4 million dollar ad campaign?... what a waste! It is like dressing a pig...it may be more pleasing to the eye, but at the end of the day, it is still a pig!


Sleeping Giant adds:

The sad part is, Ray does not realize the incompetence of the so called "administrators" he has surrounded himself with. Nor does he care to notice. It does not matter to him because he is not held accountable nor challenged.

As for DPP, Alyson Williams is the head idiot in charge. DPP has lost millions over the past several years. Physicians are employed at three times the national average. If exposed, these extreme overpayments would definitely border on Stark and Anti-Kickback law violations. These physicians have very little incentive to perform since most of there salaries are guaranteed.

Some people have business sense but Alyson Williams has none. As for the wine and dine, I am not surprised. As for religion, it is sad in business when religion is invoked to diminish the possibility of a decision being questioned.

How many times have we heard the announcement of stupid decision begin with, "Well, I have done a lot of praying about this and.......!" I believe God endowed some with the intelligence to make good business decisions without having to ask. I know Ray Humphreys and Alyson William are not of these.

Sincerely,
Sleeping Giant

Anonymous Dittos...

To "sleeping Giant" Ditto, Ditto, Ditto..... were you and I at the same meeting or do these people always say- well I have prayed about this and it would be in the best interest in the hospital if we replaced your job with someone less competent-mmmmm- always beware of the wolf in sheep's clothing.....

Ray Humphreys in a casino... surely NOT... an upstanding deacon of the Baptist Church drinking and gambling in a den of inequity? Perhaps Ray had prayed about it and been directed to go forth and save the fallen souls of these misguided MDs? Huummm?

Ordinarily, I would suggest that the "Boards" be notified; however, I would bet that they were also present at the county sponsored shin-dig, lapping up the spoils of being "bought and paid for".

Lately, I have heard a great deal about the woes of Delta Physicians Practice. It seems that this LLC is where Ray hides much of the massive debt incurred through the outrageous salaries he has guaranteed physicians to come to Greenville.

These physicians get paid the same whether they are productive or not; while, the clinical and nonclinical staff of DRMC are sent home daily due to low census. Periods of low census are a reality in all health care settings and can be adjusted for through proactive, sound fiscal planning.

However, sending low paid workers home to offset the six figure incomes of MDs and Administrators is simply not good practice, not to mention a real morale-buster! It is no wonder their employees are fleeing by the day.

A successful, productive hospital has to have competent leadership and satisfied employees. DRMC has neither! I know of two types of employees at DRMC: those who dred going to their jobs and are vocal about it; and those who dred going to their jobs and are silenced by fear and intimidation from administration. It is sad that anyone has to work in a place they despise.

Like a former mafia leader, Ray's nickname should be "Teflon Ray" because nothing ever sticks to him. His "protective coating" is graft, corruption and bribery. As an added defense, Ray uses God's words and "prayer" to justify his self-serving deeds.

I predict that Ray Humphreys will disappear from Greenville overnight, like a passing storm front. We will awaken to the disaster and devastation that he will leave in his wake, and like all stunned victims, we will suffer and lament, "If only we had been warned..."

Take heed Greenville. The casualties of DRMC will be real; they will be numerous; and they will be among you all.

Forthright

"Curiouser and Curiouser"

Curious said...

Ray Humphreys announced today that this is only the third year that DRMC has lost money since the purchase of KDH. Wow, it was purchased in 2005... and this is 2008... do the math!

The NICU is finally complete and ready to open. All they need are doctors and nurses to staff the unit... a minor detail!

New ER is coming right along. The construction has provided the staff with a handy excuse for the 8 to 10 hour waits... although construction workers outnumber nurses 2 to 1.

LTACH... what a grand idea! It requires twice the staff of an acute care facility and Ray can't even staff the hospital. Just another "build it and they will come" folly.

By the way, what crop are "we tax payers" raising this year in Ray's field of dreams?

My sources reveal that Ray actually bragged about a $50,000 profit! I don't know which is worse... admitting a loss or boasting about a profit of $50K for a multi-million dollar operation. One nurse makes more than $50K! That, to me, would suggest that the county needs to scrutinize Ray's accounting practices.

Let's remember that DRMC is a giant "shell game" composed of many "pieces" such as Home Health and DPP (Delta Physician's Practice). A talented magician such as Ray can shuffle the debt around in such a fashion as to fool even the most watchful eye(s). DPP (the entity that employees physicians) has been operating in the red for several years and continues to hemorrhage "green" every month. Who is watching this "store"?

Who controls DPP and who are the board members? Is there a link between DRMC and DPP? Does the public have access to DPP's accounting and P&L statements? These are all revealing questions that I would challenge our local newspaper to investigate and report; however, I won't hold my breath.

Ray's hands are as dirty as ever, albeit, he has "purchased" the silence of all who surround and protect him. The good news is that like Caesar, he has made many enemies who lust for his power and will not hesitate to bring him down for their survival. A house of cards has to lose but one of its primary supports before it simply tumbles.

Ray, your time is near.

Forthright

What Parents Don't Know...

Protective mother said...

Years ago, my child came home from school upset, frustrated, angry and rebellious, totally out of character. He was not willing to tell me what was wrong, "Nothing" is all he would say. Was it bullies? Was it the school work? Was it the teacher?

I found out one day when I happened to be a Room mother for the day, in my daughter's classroom, her room happened to not be far from my son's classroom. I heard clearly that teacher screaming at the entire class that they were "stupid", "idiots", "lazy"!!!

She singled out several as the worst. One was my son, who until her class, had always been on the A honor roll for years and always considered one of the best students of the other prior teachers. That day, I had a long talk with my son about what I heard and reassured him that I was going to take action. Of course, he was afraid and intimidated by this teacher for fear of her repercussions to him, I told him not to worry things would change for the better.

The next morning, I arrived at the Principal's office and told him what was going on and that it had better stop immediately. But; I took it one step farther, I told that principal that I was going to sit in on this class as a parent observer, until I got the message across to this teacher that this was unacceptable. He agreed. I did just that, it only took one day. I told the teacher I was there to observe the school work to help my son, since his grades were falling.

She was not happy about it, but accepted my given reason. I sat all the way through the day. My son was scared, but at the same time, glad I was there. The other children appeared to be relieved too. At the end of the day, with nothing said prior during the day, I waited till the kids were gone, then I told her the "real" reason why I was there. Of course, she denied it and in my presence, she was well behaved all the day.

She had no idea that I had heard her the day before, but I let her know I had indeed heard her. I told her that if I EVER heard of her doing my kid or any kids like that again, I would go straight to the board and demand her resignation and if that did not work, the local media would be next. Needless to say it did not happen again, I sporadically went by her classroom on every chance I had, all was well.

My son began to do better and at the end of the year received the Presidential Academic Achievement award for the highest average of all the students for the six years of elementary. the award was presented to him by this same teacher. She was shocked that he had been named for this award. Apparently, she had no clue to his prior years of honor roll achievements.

The following year, that teacher was not rehired. I made sure a few board member friends, knew of her out of control behavior to be sure of it. So yes, parents need to take action and back their threats with whatever is at hand, the board, the media, whatever it takes to stop whatever needs to be stopped and to change whatever needs to be changed.....or THEIR child will pay the price for THEIR neglect and shame on them for having no spine to fight for their child and other children. No child can learn in an oppressive or frightening environment.

There is a large difference between classroom discipline and hostile tyranny. I know first hand what that is like, I was that same child, when I was little and promised myself then, that my kids would never have to suffer from an abusive and cruel teacher, as long as I had breath in me to fight back for them.

It is unfortunate that this type of scrutiny and oversight is necessary in our schools these days, but it is. More parents should get involved in their children's education... and the day that I was denied access to my child's classroom would be the last day of his enrollment in that school.

In my day, parents were not only a welcomed part of the educational system, but were present at almost all functions. The PTA was more about getting parents actively involved in a child's education than mere "pot luck and power-point".

Nothing will change if parents do not demand change! If it takes a national "60 Minutes" tell-all story and a band of cut-throat attorneys, so be it. Why should our children suffer under a tyrannical code of silence imposed by power-mongers and their stooges?

Our children have but one chance at a good education. Once that opportunity is missed, their entire future is in jeopardy.

Forthright

Predators Among Us

"Concerned in Leland" writes:

Latest scandals from the wonderful "Leland School District":

A couple of weeks ago Dr. Richards had her latest cover up. She is always covering up something to keep Leland School District's reputation gleaming. This time it is not the inappropriate shenanigans of adults during the school day in front of the little students. This time we had a teacher say grossly improper sexual things to a female student.

This was not the first charge of this kind against him. He even supposedly has sexually related charges against him in his own hometown which is not Leland. Dr. Richards, as usual thinks she is the judge and the jury and instead of alerting the legal authorities that Leland Schools has a sexual predator among us, she did her own investigation and apparently decided it would be wise to let this man resign and keep this all very quiet so his and Leland's reputation will not be hurt.

Now he says he has offers from other school districts and since his reputation is untarnished he can go somewhere else and prey on other young girls. When he got found out though, he apparently blew the whistle on all his coworkers that are doing the same kind of stuff. The students are even talking about another male teacher who bought a female student a cell phone so that they can text and talk privately.

It seems that this is not only going on at Leland School Park but at Leland High School also. It's all being kept very hush hush. But Dr. Richards is true to form and wants nothing to hurt the reputation of HER level five school district. It seems that she has crossed the line this time and put students in danger trying to further her own agenda. She has allowed so much to go on at Leland School Park this year, putting first graders to 8th graders in harms way.

The principal there is apparently also unconcerned about all the inappropriate stuff going on right under her nose. How do they continue to get away with all this. Somebody with some power has got to stop them!

Once again, these are serious charges leveled against the LSD Superintendent. There are strict laws against any form of harassment, particularly sexual, and public schools are certainly not exempt. Sexual predators in our schools should not be tolerated. If any school official has knowledge of such behavior by a staff member and does not report it to the authorities, he/she is as guilty as the predator.

To permit this type of behavior is to promote it! Such acts are not "rule violations", they are malicious crimes of abuse and should be dealt with by the law. If Dr. Richards has made such a gross error in judgement as to grant this sexual predator his freedom, she should be dismissed immediately.

Parents have enough worries about peer pressure when they send their children off to school. Being "hit on" by a staff member should be very near the bottom of their list. School officials who cover up these deplorable crimes should share the same cells as the predators!

Forthright

L. Ray's LTACH... Another Waste of Money

A Little History...

Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACHs) are specialty care hospitals designed for extended stay patients with chronic conditions. Patients are admitted to LTACHs following treatment in a traditional acute care hospital, but they no longer require intensive diagnostic procedures.

The care provided is more individualized and resource-intensive than is provided in a skilled nursing facility or nursing home.

LTACHs operate as freestanding facilities or as a “hospital within a hospital," with each type of facility operating under a different set of regulations. The average length of stay for LTACH patients is 30 days. Under Medicare guidelines, patients admitted to LTACHs must be in need of hospitalization for greater than 25 days and typically have multiple or complex medical complications.

Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACHs) have been around for nearly 20 years, but they may soon become extinct in American health care. First created to fill a vacuum in the continuum of care between the short-term acute care hospital and other post-acute care venues, LTACHs have provided a much-needed supplement to patient care, particularly the medically complex, long-stay patients that the venue was legislatively intended to serve.

Now, after several years of chipping away at LTACHs by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Congress has imposed a 3-year moratorium on new LTACHs and additional LTACH beds.

A hospital-within-hospital LTAC must be:

• Separately owned and licensed
• Must maintain a separate board and administrative structure and must have a separate medical staff
• The hospital must operate for a minimum of six months under acute care PPS to establish its average length of stay at greater than 25 days before it can be certified by CMS as a long term acute care hospital for Medicare payment.

Here we go again...another one of Ray's misguided attempts to salvage the dying DRMC. The "hospital within a hospital" description should tell you all you need to know about the fiscal "organization" of an LTACH.

Here's how it works... Hospital official to patient: "Well, Mr. Jones, you are not sick enough for us to keep you in our hospital any longer (CMS won't pay us anymore), but we are going to transfer you to our LTACH, (three blocks away), so that you can continue to benefit from our specialized treatments." (Rehabilitation for which we can get paid by CMS). "Admission to our LTACH will greatly enhance your recovery."... (and our reimbursement as long as you don't die within 25 days of admission).

Get the picture? A properly run LTACH can be a valid alternative to home health or a nursing home, but given DRMC's history, you can bet the only one that will benefit from this new "medical service" is L. Ray Humphreys!

Forthright

The Debts of our Forefathers

Anonymous said...

LET IT GO...it is 2008 and neither myself, my parents nor my grandparents were slave owners. At some point, we all have to move forward and stop dwelling on the past.

I work as a medical professional and I can tell you that I have many black, white, filipino, hispanic and asian colleagues. They all got there the same way I did - hard work, determination, and sacrifice. Say what you want, but the only thing holding people of ALL colors back is their own poor choices and lack of motivation.

I am SICK to death of hearing this bull. I don't care if you are purple polka dot, you can still make a life for yourself in America if you have the drive. Enough of the racial mumbo jumbo. And, as for Obama - I think a lot less of him since he has defended just last week Rev. Wright.

There is no good exucse that anyone should accept about such behavior no matter what color you are and what your beliefs are. Preaching hate and negativity only produce more. Positive words go a lot further with all of us.

My point exactly. How many generations must suffer for the sins of our forefathers? Three, five, ten, fifty, or do we just keep harping on slavery ad infinitum? Basically, all descendants of the pilgrims can be traced back to traitors and heretics who thumbed their noses at England and the Queen as they defected to the "new world". Should we hang our heads and offer monetary reparations to England for their loss of taxpayer revenue?

My great, great, great grandfather shot and killed two chicken thieves he caught in his back yard. Does that make me a murderer? Should I bare a sense of guilt for an action that happened 100 years before I was born? No, slavery happened and it was a bad thing, but there is absolutely nothing anyone can do to change that fact today. No amount of money, racial quotas or public assistance will erase the memory of slavery, nor should it.

We need to heed the lessons that slavery taught us as a nation and focus on the future to ensure that such an atrocity never happens again. Our children are taught the history of the Civil War, not as a morality lesson, but as a lesson of how ignorance, apathy and greed can become a drug which numbs the minds of a democratic and free society.

My parents and grandparents instilled in me the belief and skills needed to overcome the obstacles that I would face in my generation. They spoke to me of the past to remind me not to make the same mistakes and to learn from others foibles.

As a human being I deeply regret slavery; I also regret Auschwitz, Hiroshima and 911. The only thing we can do as a society is learn from these tragic events in our past and work together to ensure that they never happen again. To dwell on the sins of our past only distracts us from the enemies whom we currently confront.

Forthright

Racism in America

Article: A Brief for Whitey by Patrick J. Buchanan
Posted: 03/21/2008

How would he pull it off? I wondered.

How would Barack explain to his press groupies why he sat silent in a pew for 20 years as the Rev. Jeremiah Wright delivered racist rants against white America for our maligning of Fidel and Gadhafi, and inventing AIDS to infect and kill black people?How would he justify not walking out as Wright spewed his venom about "the U.S. of K.K.K. America," and howled, "God damn America!"

My hunch was right. Barack would turn the tables.Yes, Barack agreed, Wright's statements were "controversial," and "divisive," and "racially charged," reflecting a "distorted view of America."But we must understand the man in full and the black experience out of which the Rev. Wright came: 350 years of slavery and segregation.Barack then listed black grievances and informed us what white America must do to close the racial divide and heal the country.

The "white community," said Barack, must start "acknowledging that what ails the African-American community does not just exist in the minds of black people; that the legacy of discrimination -- and current incidents of discrimination, while less overt than in the past -- are real and must be addressed. Not just with words, but with deeds ... ."And what deeds must we perform to heal ourselves and our country?

The "white community" must invest more money in black schools and communities, enforce civil rights laws, ensure fairness in the criminal justice system and provide this generation of blacks with "ladders of opportunity" that were "unavailable" to Barack's and the Rev. Wright's generations.What is wrong with Barack's prognosis and Barack's cure?

Only this. It is the same old con, the same old shakedown that black hustlers have been running since the Kerner Commission blamed the riots in Harlem, Watts, Newark, Detroit and a hundred other cities on, as Nixon put it, "everybody but the rioters themselves."Was "white racism" really responsible for those black men looting auto dealerships and liquor stories, and burning down their own communities, as Otto Kerner said -- that liberal icon until the feds put him away for bribery.

Barack says we need to have a conversation about race in America.

Fair enough. But this time, it has to be a two-way conversation. White America needs to be heard from, not just lectured to.This time, the Silent Majority needs to have its convictions, grievances and demands heard. And among them are these:First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known.

Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.

Second, no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans. Untold trillions have been spent since the '60s on welfare, food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs designed to bring the African-American community into the mainstream.

Governments, businesses and colleges have engaged in discrimination against white folks -- with affirmative action, contract set-asides and quotas -- to advance black applicants over white applicants.

Churches, foundations, civic groups, schools and individuals all over America have donated time and money to support soup kitchens, adult education, day care, retirement and nursing homes for blacks.We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude?

Barack talks about new "ladders of opportunity" for blacks.

Let him go to Altoona and Johnstown, and ask the white kids in Catholic schools how many were visited lately by Ivy League recruiters handing out scholarships for "deserving" white kids.

Is white America really responsible for the fact that the crime and incarceration rates for African-Americans are seven times those of white America? Is it really white America's fault that illegitimacy in the African-American community has hit 70 percent and the black dropout rate from high schools in some cities has reached 50 percent?Is that the fault of white America or, first and foremost, a failure of the black community itself?As for racism, its ugliest manifestation is in interracial crime, and especially interracial crimes of violence.

Is Barack Obama aware that while white criminals choose black victims 3 percent of the time, black criminals choose white victims 45 percent of the time? Is Barack aware that black-on-white rapes are 100 times more common than the reverse, that black-on-white robberies were 139 times as common in the first three years of this decade as the reverse?

We have all heard ad nauseam from the Rev. Al about Tawana Brawley, the Duke rape case and Jena. And all turned out to be hoaxes. But about the epidemic of black assaults on whites that are real, we hear nothing.

Sorry, Barack, some of us have heard it all before, about 40 years and 40 trillion tax dollars ago.

Okay, we don't all agree with Patrick Buchanan, but he begs a salient question.... how long do we have to suffer for the sins of our forefathers? No other nation in history has done more to right the wrongs of our past and yet we are still viewed as a racist, segregated nation.

How much "equality" must we endure? When do racial quotas become "reverse discrimination"? This is 2008 and even in the South, race is no longer a limiting factor. Laziness, ignorance and "self-entitlement" are the only barriers to success that remain in our society.

Monetary reparations for slavery? What a ridiculous concept. At some point, we ALL need to let it go.

Forthright

Too Close to Call?

Thanks to all that have contributed to this very lively and insightful discussion of our Presidential rivals. It is obvious that this is going to be a very close race... which begs these questions:

If the election can not be determined by a majority electorate vote, what are your feelings about letting "Super-delegates" determine the outcome? Who are these people and how are they chosen? Several have already proclaimed their vote, so doesn't this bias the election?

I am a bit concerned that the next President could be chosen by a handful of wealthy, influential politicians who may or may not have the best interests of our country at heart. The potential for corruption and pay-offs seems quite likely in such a situation.

Trusting this election to "super-delegates" will be like auctioning the job on E-Bay! Let's hear your thoughts.

Forthright

A "Bumpy" Ride!

(Will Obama recover?) I hate to say it, but NO. I could have dealt with the preacher issue alone, but when Obama added the thoughtless comment about "typical white people," he lost my vote.

I had looked froward to supporting him. If that comment slipped out as easily as it did while he was campaigning and supposedly choosing his words carefully, how much more of his feelings would have emerged later in office?

I'm not voting for Hillary---her motives are somewhat self-focused---so it looks like McCain in '08. I hope the Democrats are pleased with themselves.

Another reader comments:
Yep, Obama just keeps digging the hole deeper. He is such a disappointment. I think most of America has realized his judgment skills are seriously lacking. What kind of man would expose his daughters to the likes of "Rev" Wright??

Obama may be down, but he is far from out! Luckily, Reverend Wright has been put out to pasture where he can do no more harm; however, Obama's "typical white person" comment was certainly prejudicial and a poor choice of words. Both of these issues will continue to haunt Obama's campaign.

There are many miles to go before the election and all candidates are being scrutinized like no other time in history. We seem to dismiss sexual scandals as par for the course... the newly appointed governor of New York proudly revealed in his second press conference that both he and his wife had participated in numerous extra-martial affairs while he served as lieutenant governor. Perhaps being both black and legally blind offer some special dispensation?

Presidents (and candidates) are human beings subject to all of the foibles and sins of their past. Lest we forget, Bill Clinton not only disgraced the office of Presidency, but was publicly impeached for his "sins" and poor judgement. Many consider breaches of personal trust and honesty to reveal much about a person's worthiness for public office. A man (or woman) who will lie to his/her spouse and family would not hesitate to lie to his country to protect himself.

Richard Nixon was the quintessential liar. He lied to everyone, about everything and when caught by the public in a lie, he lied his way out of it. Nixon will be recorded in history as one of our greatest Presidents!

My best advice to the American public is to "buckle your seat belts; it's going to be a bumpy ride" to the White House!

Forthright

"Wright" and Wrong!

Fed up with the Obama nightmare...

The media nor anyone else chose Obama's church and pastor for himself and his family. HE DID. Obama has been a faithful member of this "church" (and I use that term lightly to describe the maniacal definite non-Christian behavior) for at least 20 years. There is no way on God's green earth Obama didn't know what was being preached.

ABC news bought many sermons, they all contain racist remarks that damn America. We are not talking about a preacher who is having a bad Sunday. So, rd, go ahead and down play the entire fiasco. There is no way I would ever put my trust in a political candidate who openly and independently supported this organization and leader full of hate for our United States. And, laugh if you like at Joel Osteen. He's not my pick either, but at least he does not proclaim, "God Damn America" from the pulpit.

So don't blame the media, don't blame anyone but Obama for choosing to be a sheep in this lunatic's pasture. It is hard to believe that all of a sudden he wishes to "distance" himself from this pastor...I mean he has been his spiritual advisor for two decades and is a part of his official campaign? Hopefully this will be a sign for Americans to wake up and see past the white veneer and the eloquently delivered motivational speeches.

And all I have to say is GOD BLESS AMERICA.

As the saying goes, "we can't choose our parents"... but we can choose our pastors. Most who have heard the sound bites from Reverend Wright's sermons would agree that this man is a bit over the top. What concerns me is why would Obama, an intelligent man with a firm grasp of the English language, tolerate such blatant racism, hatred and bigotry from his "spiritual" leader of 20 years?

Wright's sermons aren't the equivalent of a Trent Lott, "Whoops" ...they are cold and calculated words from an ignorant hate monger. Obviously, Obama does not control what his long time friend and pastor espouses from the pulpit, but why should he tolerate or excuse such outrageous racism in the name of religion?

I am not ready to write off Obama as our next President, but I think his campaign was seriously damaged by his association with Reverend Wright. True, Obama is an eloquent speaker and his views on racial equality were quite ground-breaking in his speech on Monday; however, there is no justification for ignorance and hatred being spewed by anyone, regardless of his race or "association" with God.

Senator Obama has the potential to become a true leader in the campaign for racial equality in our country, but he will never succeed until he distances himself from those continue to preach separatism and hate.

Forthright

Just Plain..."Duh?"

With Eliot Spitzer's career and reputation sizzling on the grill, at least nine other rich -- and likely powerful -- men have already begun to sweat. The federal complaint that describes the sexual and financial history of Client 9, otherwise known as Spitzer, also gives tantalizing details about the nine other men caught in the same net.

Spitzer, who may have spent as much as $80,000 on the call girls according to some accounts, announced his resignation today.

Judging by the complaint, each of the clients were wealthy, traveled a great deal, liked to meet the women while on the road and were willing to pay a lot of money for time with a beautiful woman. While the complaint does not identify the men or their professions, it has to be giving a great deal of heartburn as the prostitution case makes its way through the legal process and the media pry out details.

The court papers provide an inside view of the exclusive world of the Emperors Club, its customers and its employees. One man asked that a woman be flown from Los Angeles to Chicago for an evening, while another requested one of the high-priced prostitutes to be flown from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

One apparently lusty client had the Emperors pimps scrambling Feb. 2 because he was looking for "three girls, possibly four, for four hours each." Those guys were cheapskates, however, compared with Client 7, who was quoted a price of $25,000 to have a woman join him in Vienna.

Client 7 "has enough credit that they can take their time this evening and tomorrow morning," wrote one of the Emperors Club's pimps, who was caught by the feds text messaging another club manager. "She ... doesn't necessarily have to race out @ 9 a.m." Aveline, who made the Vienna rendezvous, was one of more than 50 women whom the club allegedly had available to its high rollers in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Paris and London.

Hooking was often a sideline for the women and they sometimes asked for shorter assignments because they were answering casting calls the next day. One griped that she wasn't being paid enough. "This is the kind of money I make very easily in photo shoots," she complained in an e-mail to the club's managers. The men who hired the women were generally wowed. Client 4 told the agency he was delighted with his last two dates. "Two A+s in a row ... I don't know where you get these young ladies."

It is hard to believe that anyone could be so stupid. Spitzer is a brilliant attorney who has spent his life prosecuting people for the same types of crimes and has authored several articles on how these crimes can be easily detected. What hypocrisy... what nerve... what a "schmuck"!

This "public servant" ought to be tried on every single count including the Mann Act, for which HE convicted numerous wrong-doer. I am sure that when the full "role" is called, there will be many more elected officials who believe that they are "above" the law.

The truth is that "prostitution" and "politics" are pretty much the same concept in our country today. Both deal in lies, deceit, illicit behavior, cover-ups and the exchange of "favors". Spitzer not only violated his public (and private) trust, but did so with our money! We will have allowed a great travesty of justice if this man is permitted to quietly disappear into the footnotes of corrupt politicians.

And what about Spitzer's wife... Silda. In standing by her man, she evokes an even more frightening concept of blatant stupidity. Have we grown so accustomed to this gross indifference for corrupt politicians, that we expect everyone to be cleansed by a public apology? If I were Silda Spitzer, the only public appearance the Governor would have made today would have been telecast from an ICU bed in Albany!

THIS is what is wrong in America! The norm is for politicians to be liars, cheats and thieves. If you are "caught", you simply wave good-bye to the suckers who supported you, retire to the talk show circuit and hope for a Hollywood mini-series on your life!

Spitzer needs to stay on the "spit" until he is fully roasted!

Forthright

From Mania to Marx

Anonymous posts:

This article is the perfect opposite to the Clinton/Dick Morris -FoxNews.com

I totally agree with this fella!

OBAMA MANIA
Ken Blackwell - Columnist for the New York Sun

It's an amazing time to be alive in America . We're in a year of firsts in this presidential election: the first viable woman candidate; the first viable African-American candidate; and, a candidate who is the first front running freedom fighter over 70. The next president of America will be a first. We won't truly be in an election of firsts, however, until we judge every candidate by where they stand. We won't arrive where we should be until we no longer talk about skin color or gender.

Now that Barack Obama steps to the front of the Democratic field, we need to stop talking about his race, and start talking about his policies and his politics. The reality is this: Though the Democrats will not have a nominee until August, unless Hillary Clinton drops out, Mr. Obama is now the frontrunner, and its time America takes a closer and deeper look at him.

Some pundits are calling him the next John F. Kennedy. He's not. He's the next George McGovern. And it's time people learned the facts. Because the truth is that Mr. Obama is the single most liberal senator in the entire U.S. Senate. He is more liberal than Ted Kennedy, Bernie Sanders, or Mrs. Clinton. Never in my life have I seen a presidential frontrunner whose rhetoric is so far removed from his record. Walter Mondale promised to raise our taxes, and he lost. George McGovern promised military weakness, and he lost. Michael Dukakis promised a liberal domestic agenda, and he lost.

Yet Mr. Obama is promising all those things, and he's not behind in the polls. Why? Because the press has dealt with him as if he were in a beauty pageant. Mr. Obama talks about getting past party, getting past red and blue, to lead the United States of America .

But let's look at the more defined strokes of who he is underneath this superficial "beauty." Start with national security, since the president's most important duties are as commander-in-chief. Over the summer, Mr. Obama talked about invading Pakistan, a nation armed with nuclear weapons; meeting without preconditions with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who vows to destroy Israel and create another Holocaust; and Kim Jong II, who is murdering and starving his people, but emphasized that the nuclear option was off the table against terrorists - something no president has ever taken off the table since we created nuclear weapons in the 1940s. Even Democrats who have worked in national security condemned all of those remarks.

Mr. Obama is a foreign-policy novice who would put our national security at risk. Next, consider economic policy. For all its faults, our health care system is the strongest in the world. And free trade agreements, created by Bill Clinton as well as President Bush, have made more goods more affordable so that even people of modest means can live a life that no one imagined a generation ago.

Yet Mr. Obama promises to raise taxes on "the rich." How to fix Social Security? Raise taxes. How to fix Medicare? Raise taxes. Prescription drugs? Raise taxes. Free college? Raise taxes. Socialize medicine? Raise taxes. His solution to everything is to have government take it over. Big Brother on steroids, funded by your paycheck. Finally, look at the social issues. Mr. Obama had the audacity to open a stadium rally by saying, "All praise and glory to God!" but says that Christian leaders speaking for life and marriage have "hijacked" - hijacked - Christianity.

He is pro-partial birth abortion, and promises to appoint Supreme Court justices who will rule any restriction on it unconstitutional. He espouses the abortion views of Margaret Sanger, one of the early advocates of racial cleansing. His spiritual leaders endorse homosexual marriage, and he is moving in that direction. In Illinois , he refused to vote against a statewide ban - ban - on all handguns in the state.

These are radical left, Hollywood , and San Francisco values, not Middle America values. The real Mr. Obama is an easy target for the general election. Mrs. Clinton is a far tougher opponent. But Mr. Obama could win if people don't start looking behind his veneer and flowery speeches. His vision of "bringing America together" means saying that those who disagree with his agenda for America are hijackers or warmongers. Uniting the country means adopting his liberal agenda and abandoning any conflicting beliefs.

But right now everyone is talking about how eloquent of a speaker he is and - yes - they're talking about his race. Those should never be the factors on which we base our choice for president. Mr. Obama's radical agenda sets him far outside the American mainstream, to the left of Mrs. Clinton. It's time to talk about the real Barack Obama. In an election of firsts, let's first make sure we elect the person who is qualified to be our president in a nuclear age during a global civilization war.

I must agree that we are suffering from a bit of "Obama mania". I think that everyone is so tired of George W. that we are being persuaded by the "anything but Bush" mentality. McCain's biggest obstacle will be Bush's personal endorsement. There are very few died in the wool, partisan voters left in this country. I view Americans as more "intelligent" voters today who look beyond party rhetoric to the character and personal views of the candidates.

Let's face it...we are headed for a major recession. Six hundred dollar checks mailed in May will barely offset the "price at the pump" for most of us, let alone stimulate an economy which has hit all time lows. The "sub-prime" mortgage scams were another failed attempt to stimulate our economy by asking Americans to once again, roll the dice. Well, they did and 95% lost.

No candidate wants to address the real problems with our economy... graft, corruption, kick-backs, political perks and secret deals. No one can survive in DC unless they play the game. What game you ask? Go rent "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and study it. Fifty years ago it was considered entertainment. Today, it should be considered a "documentary film in the reality category". Today, the only difference is that the little man can never win against the political machinery that exists.

Karl Marx once noted in his writings that, "No democracy has ever survived throughout all of history, because a true democracy will feed upon itself, until it is completely consumed by the freedoms on which it is based."

Think about it.

Forthright

A Daunting Task!

Present at the event said...

I attended the Delta Economic Development Center's meeting tonight, there was an excellent turn out of members. Good news and renewed hope was heard during the evening through the new goals and economical plans of CEO Ed Johnson's for the Delta.

He has a lot of work ahead of him bringing hope back to this community, so far he appears to be the man for the job. Time will tell. He has some great ideas for the delta area and economy. I think the main thing is the community has to have open minds and be willing to work together to turn things around quickly.

Our City, Economic and County leaders have to get over themselves (and their own self-importance) and start working together for the common good of the community, not just the city, but the county, the delta. The main thing is the "follow through", a lot of balls are dropped in the community leaders' offices, because those who should be taking care of business at home are too busy following their own political or financial agenda at the expense of the region. Never being available, forever traveling for self promotion, ignoring the public needs, ignoring the needs of their own employees/staff in getting things done, forgetting promises made, all those things are major obstacles to a better Greenville.

Our leaders HAVE to be accountable, accessible and listening to their community to know what is needed. Focusing only on their needs and their gains can only lead to more political embarrassments that we have been seeing in the last few months. Greed and conceit are two evil components in a leader with access to public/business funds or resources. We need to get honesty, integrity and good work ethics back in the requirements of our leaders and in the mind of our community citizen's demands and self behaviors. Otherwise, we will only continue down this over trodden path of destruction.

I was not present at the Economic Development Center's event the other night, but I have heard mixed reviews of Mr. Johnson's views for the Delta. The author above makes some good points about what it will take to unite and change Greenville. I have also spoken to those who feel like there is nothing new about Mr. Johnson's ideas, plans or talents.

What qualifies Mr. Johnson to be CEO of our EDC? Is he a skillful grant-writer or economic wizard? He looks a bit young to have a lengthy track record as a proven change agent. Is he from the Delta and does he understand that "we" are truly like no other place on earth?

The downtown revitalization song has been sung by everyone from the Garden Club ladies to slick talking con men promising a bogus "Beale Street" concept. Sure, "downtown revitalization" has become a buzz word for promoting Greenville... but is it something we really want or need?

Grant money is a great quick fix to get an idea off the ground, but without public support, its fruits die on the vine as soon as the grant money disappears. Federal and State grants are intended to demonstrate that a program or idea works or doesn't. If successful, the community has to take the ball and run with it... and support it.

The Delta has a long tradition of the "entitlement" mentality. The truth is that no one outside of the Delta is going to invest in a culture that doesn't respect itself. I wish Mr. Johnson the best of luck in his very difficult role. I suggest that he think outside of the box when it comes to developing Greenville; otherwise, his voice will be just another whisper in an ever-growing chorus.

Forthright

Limited Powers; Limited Choices

Hilary in the news said...

HILLARY UNMASKED
By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN
Published on FOXNews.com on February 28, 2008.

The real Hillary Clinton stood up at the Democratic presidential debate this week: angry, sarcastic, stubborn, secretive, arrogant, mired in the past, victim of the media, and still firmly convinced that she is uniquely entitled to the Democratic Party nomination and the presidency.

That Hillary hasn’t really been on display much since the debacle of her disastrous health care plan and the end of Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial, when she haughtily flaunted her combative personality.

But make no mistake about it — that’s the Hillary Clinton that we’ll see if she somehow manages to steal the Democratic nomination.

She’s found her voice. The one that so alienated everyone she came into contact with over her health care plan that her own party destroyed it. The one that publicly and loudly defended Bill and arranged for attacks on Monica Lewinsky when she knew the complete and sordid truth.

She’s always had a chip on her shoulder and a strange paranoia, but it’s definitely gotten worse. Now it’s not just the vast right wing conspiracy that is out to get her. Now it’s the mainstream media. How are they doing that? By asking her the first questions at the debates!

Hillary’s snide comment about whether Barack needed a pillow to be made more comfortable was downright embarrassing. The anticipated applause line on her script never happened. The audience was silent. The press was amazed. And Barack seemed genuinely startled by her nuttiness — he looked over at her as if he was viewing a dotty old aunt at a family dinner, the one that everyone politely humors.

Her lifelong pattern of secrecy was once again evident. While publicly promoting transparency in government, she steadfastly refuses to release her personal income tax returns. That’s a clear tip-off that there’s something to hide. Recall that the Clintons selectively released tax returns in Arkansas, but refused to go back to 1980, when Hillary had her windfall in cattle futures.

During the debate, Hillary suggested that she’d release the returns “soon,” but her staff quickly backtracked. She implied that she’s been too busy to deal with releasing the returns. Does she really think anyone believes that it will take more than simply making a copy of the return? She’s stalling and there’s a reason for that.

Most likely, the return will show how much Bill has been making from his partnership with the Sheik of Dubai and his other business ventures. Should the spouse of a presidential candidate be in business with a foreign leader who needs favors from the U.S. Government? Definitely not. That’s why we’ll never see those returns.And then there are the Clinton Library records that document her schedule as first lady. She doesn’t want them released either because they will definitively show that she was never the co-president. The Library has been stalling on the release of those documents for years. During the debate, she said that she wanted them released as quickly as possible and seemed to blame the Bush administration for the delay. But today, the White House indicated that she had made no requests for any expedited release.

The old Hillary, the real Hillary, is back.And there’s apparently been no one to stop her from acting on her own worse instincts.Underneath the veneer of the practiced smile and the strategically used giggle, there is a rage that is always close to the surface. It was on display in the debate.Hillary Clinton is furious that America has not agreed to her coronation. She doesn’t understand why voters are rejecting her and embracing Barack Obama. She just doesn’t get it.

Never one to engage in self reflection, she can’t blame herself or even her incompetent strategists and advisers. They’re too close to her. She can’t accept the sorry fact that her campaign has been a disaster because it was based on the past and not the future, because it was premised on her phony experience and maintaining the status quo, and because her negative outlook is completely out of step with the mood of America. And finally, because in the positive message of Barack Obama, Americans see a stark contrast with her doom and gloom view of the world.

So, she’ll blame the media. It’s their fault.

And she’ll keep screaming about what a fighter she is.

More like a bully.

Obama is an eloquent orator. Clinton is a cheer-leader. The difference is simple. An orator can read the back of a box of Cheerios and make us want to believe that it is true and buy into the dream. A cheer-leader depends on mass persuasion to promote her beliefs, hoping that the "game" will end in her favor.

The primary issue in this election is becoming quite clear: It is time for a change. McCain offers a different perspective than Bush, but not one which is significantly different. Even Bush supporters are tired of his ineptitude and ignorance on foreign policy and everyone is ready to "move on".

Obama or Clinton... either will do. Keep in mind that the President is little more than a figure-head in our democracy. There are many checks and balances to keep "his/her" powers at bay.

If I had to bet on a gifted "orator" or a "cheer-leader" , my money would be on the former... which is why Al Sharpten and Jesse Jackson pose no threat to our democracy. Racism is any form should be rebuked!

Forthright

Prophecy and History

Obama, thats yo momma! said...

Obama 'Frightens Me'. The Bible has warned us that 'A man will come from the East that will be charismatic in nature and have proposed solutions for all our problems and his rhetoric will attract many supporters!'

When will our pathetic Nation quit turning their back on God and understand that this man is 'A Muslim'....First, Last and always....and we are AT WAR with the Muslim Nation, whether our bleeding-heart, secular, Liberal friends believe it or not.

This man fits every description from the Bible of the 'Anti-Christ'! I'm just glad to know that there are others that are frightened by this man!Who is Barack Obama? Very interesting and something that should be considered in your choice. If you do not ever forward anything else, please forward this to all your contacts...this is very scary to think of what lies ahead of us here in our own United States...better heed this and pray about it and share it.

snopes.com ..' confirms this is factual.

Check for yourself.

Who is Barack Obama? Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white ATHEIST from Wichita , Kansas.

Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii.When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya. His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia.When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocated to Indonesia. Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta. He also spent two years in a Catholic school.

Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, 'He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school.' Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that that he is not a radical. Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son'seducation.

Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta.Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world. Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major public office in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background.

ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran. Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegiance nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their hearts, Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches.

Do you want someone like this as your PRESIDENT?

Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential candidacy.The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the President of the United States, one of their own!

Interesting information; although the author's "pen-name" is a bit racially insensitive.

Whether any or all of this information is fact is for us to decide. Remember, getting your ideas published on the Internet is not that difficult these days... "we" do it almost every day in the form of email, blogs, surveys, etc.

If the statements above are fact, some are quite disturbing. It is true that Americans are easily swayed by eloquent speakers such as FDR, JFK and MLK. We trust that anyone who strives to become the leader of our free nation has our best interests at heart. Prior to 911, we were a very trusting nation, almost smug to the rest of the world.

Today, we have been humbled and are more cautious, as we should be. The greatest empires of our history have tumbled by internal treachery, corruption and deceit. The historical lesson of the "Trojan Horse" is not one we should easily forget.

Forthright

You Have to Look Back...

"Put up" says:

Okay, let's be fair, Greenville has been sinking for years, ever since we lost our towboat industry! At that time it was all white everywhere. Today's Black (and white) officials have no control over where we have come from, only what our future can be, with everyone's help!

It is a total cop out to blame it on a race of today for what began in the late 70's during the Carter administration. It was then that our delta was hit hard and we have never recovered. Once we lost the towboats, we lost the subsidary industries, the businesses that supplied them and so on and so on. THAT is why so many have left...NO JOBS!!!!!!! It is not a race issue, it is an economy issue and has been for years and years!

Until we can find and attract more industries to replace the lost, we are in limbo and sinking further into oblivion. First thing that has to happen is to stop the blame game! We have to work together to turn it around, finger pointing and blaming has gotten us no where so far...duh? Let's try something new, let's think of what can be done and get it done!

In order for new business/industry to even consider Greenville, we have to have something to offer. A clean city, great schools and safe neighborhood communities. We need attractive shopping and variety dining, activities for everyone, young and old, culturally, physically and spiritually.

WE ARE NOT DEAD YET! Don't make it worse by sucking what little oxygen we have left out of the city with negative and non-productive complaining...take actions, let's turn it around!

Put up or shut up!

The author makes a good point. The current conditions that plague the Delta are the results of a "perfect storm". The '70's and '80's brought about many changes in our economy, schools and local industry. Agriculture gave way to "aquaculture"; the tow-boat industry fell victim to spiraling fuel prices and various manufacturing industries, such as Fruit-of-the-Loom; Mebane, and Uncle Ben's came and went.

Admittedly, we have very little control over fuel prices; however, the primary factors that attract today's industry are a stable and qualified work force, fair wages and a high quality of life for its workers. Here's where Greenville falls short.

In speaking with previous industry leaders, I was told that what had initially attracted them to Greenville was our relatively low cost of living, lack of unions and a seemingly viable and plentiful workforce. Upon their departure several years later, I inquired of these same industry leaders as to their reasons. Most pointed to two key factors.

First was the general lack of work ethic... people took no pride in their jobs, failed to show up for work, were lazy and did not seem interested in learning how to improve their skills. Many workers would habitually come to work late, often impaired and take excessive "breaks".

The second predominant factor was employee theft. I was told by one regional manager that their Greenville plant had the highest cost of employee theft out of its 72 locations, including Mexico and India. As this manager stated to me, "We would come out better fighting labor unions, than losing a third of our inventory to dishonest employees."

All of these issues go back to education, values and self-esteem. Until we can fix these problems locally, we can not expect others to bring us jobs.

Forthright

Eyes Wide Open...

Anonymous educates:

Do you not understand that there is a difference between whites using the N word and blacks using the N word? Black people use the N word as a term of brotherhood or camaraderie. Whites use it as a term of hatred and ignorance. Blacks have taken an ugly word that was used against them and reclaimed it as a term of affection.

Chris Rock makes fun of black people. He can do this because he is black. Jerry Seinfeld makes fun of Jews. He can do this because he is Jewish. Jeff Foxworthy makes fun of rednecks. He can do this because he is a redneck. Being from a certain group allows you to say things that people from outside your group cannot.

Finally, do you not think that there is racism in Greenville? Look at the myriad of racist comments in this blog over the last few days. People arguing that the creation of the white academies didn't have anything to do with race, that Obama is not worthy to be president because his church celebrates its African roots, that the school integration of the 70's was peaceful.

It was peaceful for the whites of Greenville. But how many blacks were harassed, how many families received threats, how much anger and fear was directed towards the black community?

You don't have to open both eyes, but at least open one.

Wow! Now that I have both eyes open, I can see the problem. We aren't teaching our children that there are "black" and "white" definitions to the words in our "shared" language. I feel cheated that my Miriam Webster only defined the word, part of speech and offered pronunciation guides. A modern dictionary should also include cultural meanings of the words depending on what race uses the word and to whom it is spoken.

Why not? The Latin language assigns a specific gender to each word, so why can't we assign a race? That way our children could clearly understand whether the "N" word was being used as a "term of brotherhood and camaraderie" or a "term of hatred and ignorance". Once again, our educational system has failed us, but my eyes are wide open now.

In my next life, I want to come back as a black, Jewish redneck. I could pretty much slam everyone!

(Okay, a little "tongue-in-cheek", but I have to agree with a previous comment that we need to lighten up a bit. Racsim wasn't born in this country and it won't be abolished in our lifetime. Why don't we just bury the "N" word for both races. It seems less complex than revamping our dictionaries.)

Forthright

Double Standard?

Anonymous observation...

Does anyone else find it ironic that a bunch of white people on this blog are talking about how people in Greenville are not racist? And that the school integration of the 70's was peaceful? I'm sure an African-American from Greenville would have a different picture of school integration.

As a white person I can't tell you the number of times another white person has used the N word in front of me, usually in the context of: "Well, you got your blacks and you got your N_____."

To argue that racism does not exist in Greenville, or that it is not a problem, is to argue that the world is flat; all you are doing is illuminating your own ignorance.

Anonymous reply...

Perhaps you should court a different group of friends if your acquaintances are in the habit of using offensive terms. My friends don't speak that way.

And I think I can speak for the white children who remained at Solomon Junior High and Greenville High in the 70's. There was no violence in our school, although resentment was present on both sides, as has been previously mentioned. Those who were not there may assume that it was not that way, but they'd be wrong---wouldn't they?

I was there. My children attended the private school, which by that time had long since shed its former past. Enrollment was and is open to everyone, and my children received a top-notch education. They have excelled in every area, and I wouldn't have trusted their education to a system that has deteriorated to the degree that the GPSD has.

And as for the quality of the environment there, I'd take the security of Washington School over parent-volunteers-policing-the-halls at GHS any day. My kids never had to worry for their physical safety when they were in school.

I think that we can all agree that the use of the "N" word is quite offensive to most people. I would also have to "rethink"my group of friends who routinely use this word as a racial slur. However, the last time I heard the "N" word being repeatedly used was from the blaring car stereo of a vehicle parked at a convenience store... and yes, the occupants were black.

It seems odd that a word that is so repulsive to the black race is tossed about so freely in rap music, black comedy and films. It appears quite acceptable for a black person to use the "N" word in describing other black people, just not themselves.

The truth is that the "N" word is offensive to both blacks and whites, but as long as we "support" its use in music, comedy and films, it will never go away. Chris Rock has made millions of dollars denigrating his race on stage and a great majority of his fans are black. Rap music is filled with violence and racial slurs against many races including blacks. If the "N" word truly offends you, don't support artists in music, comedy or films who make millions by using it to entertain you.

Forthright

Education in the Delta

Whatever the original reasons for the creation of private schools in the Delta, the fact is that they remain today. In 1970, there may have been a knee-jerk reaction to the unknown as well as the Federal Government's mandating forced integration. It was a major change for both black and white citizens and neither group fully understood why it was being done.

The fact is that they remain today because they serve a purpose. Had forced integration of the public schools proved that there was no need for private and parochial schools, they would have died on the vine. Why would anyone want to spend thousands of dollars on their childrens education when they could get the same quality education via their tax dollars?

Public education has had 30+ years to prove their "equality". They have more federal and state funding, their teachers are paid significantly higher salaries than their counterparts in the private schools and yet they continue to miss the mark in ratings of quality.

Sure, "white-flight" created the private schools, but what sustains them today? Quality education... even at a higher price. Look at the enrollment of Washington School. It is comprised of numerous races, ethnicities, religions and lifestyles. The one thing these parents share in common is that they do not want to sacrifice their childrens' future with a substandard education... and are willing to pay "twice" for that security.

Public education in the Delta is in the mess that it is because we do not demand better. We have allowed our public schools to become "day care" and "free lunch programs" by those parents who do not value true education. At the end of the day, parents are responsible for their childrens education. Private schools will always thrive as long as public education continues to fail to meet our educational needs.

Our children's education is far too important for us to risk being "politically correct". The reality is that our public school system has failed us all, reagardless of race or relgion. The cost of a quality education is now the same for all. When will privte schools diminish... when we demand quality from our public educational systems.

Forthright

PS: Great political debate! Thanks to all of you who have commented. Keep it up... we have many months to decide on our future!