To Him Who Overcomes...
Many people in the Civil Rights Era, sang a theme song, an anthem if you will, of "We Shall Overcome" and that old Baptist Hymn, inspired and galvanized the movement.
When President Obama & Vice President Biden were elected in November, 2008; to the surprise of some and the regret of others; it was a manifest destiny of equal rights prayers having been answered.
Yet we all know that the Presidency is not the man or woman that occupies it, but it is the living tradition of American Government, in continuity, and if God will it, in perpetuity.
I asked a question of those "Big Think" experts and contributers: "Where is the place in the whole world that has the best quality of life for Black people?" Not one reply. The silence spoke volumes, of world wide oppression, and economic suppression of a people. The truth is that we are already here. In most countries even the right to ask the question could mean a death sentence. ...But we have elected a diverse Government of representation of every group ever factionalized in our culture.
What looms on the horizon may very well be; the sunrise of the only ethnicity that we think of no matter what color or costume, or religion is presenting is "I am an American."
When our point of origin is less important than our current state of being; then we truly have "Overcome." Then every division, and every prejudice has melted away like so much ice in a springtime sun. The winter of our disconnection is soon to be over...and our connection has begun. The content of our character, and the quality of our interactions will be what truly matters.
We will still be myriad colors, and have a kaleidoscope of experiences, but sharing the same light of unity, within our right to diversity. I don't want a homogenized world; do you?
Instead as the French say: "Viva le difference..." and it really is okay to be different and still be respected, and respectful of the difference of others. We are all in this country together, and hurt to one, ultimately hurts all, because injustice tends to have a cumulative negative effect.
Thanks for reading my blog; and thank God for the United States of America.
In spite of my discriminatory employment experience I love this country. I attended the University of Florida for three years and I graduated from SUNY at Brockport in 1989. I majored in Political Science and minored in Criminal Justice. My only son served this country as a military police officer in the United States Marine Corp. He is currently a police officer a position that he has held for fourteen years.
I am SO thankful that President Carter addressed the fact that “some” people are opposing President Obama’s policy because of the color of his skin. Hopefully, President Carter’s remarks will put those in elected positions on notice that we are watching and listening to them. I am also hoping that it will give other Americans courage to take a stand against racism in any form that it may present itself to them.
It is not necessary for President Obama to address this issue because his supporters will address it for him. Our President is responsible for making this a more perfect nation for all of us and he has more than enough on his plate at this time.
I believe that President Obama has exhibited a spirit of cooperation with all the members in Congress regardless of political party. The economy is getting better, that the cash for clunkers program was successful, that the stock market is recovering it loses, and that the unemployment numbers are down. In spite of this clear evidence that President Obama has made wise decisions for this nation the Republicans have criticized and opposed him.
Vera Richardson
At His Beck And Call
A stunning remark on Fox which deserved a fist
They say that President Barack Obama is a racist
Had no reservation and got no rebuke
It was as if Beck’s action didn’t seem to spook
Smiles emerged with approval on each face
Beck’s attempts to substantiate his remarks on race
Evoked nothing from the threesome sitting there
Couldn’t see any repugnance, they didn’t care
Kept listening but wanted so much to turn them off
And it only got worse when I saw no one scoffed
No one seeing any wrong in this
Didn’t understand how anyone can think Barack’s a racist
Come a few days later I heard Barack was like Hitler
A man who opted for genocide to make the Whites purer
Looks like they are bent on painting our President as evil
Like they are controlled by a dark and more sinister will
We as a nation, at this moment in time, face severe circumstances. Systems vital to the stability and continous growth of the nation, such as education, health care, social and political policies are rapidly deteriorating. This deterioration stems not from the lack of human capital, no this decaying process has been generated by collective members of our U.S. Congress, who are determined to place negative, illogical road blocks in the way of progress.
One must question the motives of individuals who without good, sound reason, have vowed to oppose progress that with hard work and commitment can ensure an inclusive healthy, educated nation as a whole. More importantly it has the potential to ensure a nation of healthy, educated human beings.
Reason based on logic reveals, at this time the nation needs healthy citizens. Given that millions of individuals are currently unemployed, new ideas must be explored, training for new occupations must be developed, implementation of new work standards and policies must be constructed to meet the new 21st century way of work. How can this be accomplished if the majority of our nations citizens are in bad health? This nation is not self maintained, it can not repair nor rebuild itself, it was build by hardworking members of society, by the way of forced labor without pay. So is it logical to believe that, the most powerful nation in the world has the power to rebuilt itself.
Reason based on logic reveals, not only must citizens be healthy, but they must also be well educated. How can a nation hold pride in having the finest educational institutions in the world, but refuse to have highly education individuals that understand their purpose for teaching, is to prepare all children, to become future productive citizens of the nation. These are just some of the issues that are of vital importance to the U.S. This nation must faced racial ideologies, "just for us" social and policial policies, the negative effects of it's ethnic imaging, the list continues. But for now let's focus on the most pressing issues of health care and education, maybe by correcting these social inaccuracy the remainding social barriers won't be as difficult to face and destroy.
22 May, the Federal Court of Appeals in Washington found tobacco companies guilty of misleading consumers because they use cigarettes to the term "light". According to Themis, cigarettes with this symbol represent the same threat to human health, as usual. Thus, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision previously rendered by the lower instance court, and ordered tobacco companies to remove the packs of cigarettes denote light or natural. As reported by AFP, the largest tobacco companies like Philip Morris and Reynolds, likely to appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal in the Supreme Court of the United States. Previously, it was reported that in the past year, the percentage of smokers among the adult population in the United States fell to a record low.
Nabahe acaeka
Uenajda
Uadnaksn
So this morning I go to create a group. And as I am browsing through the categories i find this:
Do you see something wrong with this picture. Under the category people it lists blacks and asians but no other races. Wow what a racist website. Very discriminatory. Yet another example of racism exhibited by supposed ant-racists. Read my paper titled: I'm a racist, You're a racist, He's a racist...look at our faces... here
At least one case of "Moderate" Arab Muslims' bigotry - defeated [Arabism's racism]
Bret Stephens on http://www.foxnews.com/journal/"hits & misses", The Fining of UAE over denial of visa to Israeli tennis player is a "defeat for bigotry"
WTA fines Dubai Open organisers after Israeli Shahar Peer denied visa - Feb 20, 2009 The Women's Tennis Association has fined the Dubai Open organisers $US300,000 ($A465,000) after the United Arab Emirates refused to grant a visa to Israeli ...
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25086276-23209,00.html
Under-fire UAE likely to give Israel's Andy Ram a visaIsraeli doubles specialist Andy Ram is likely to be granted a visa by the United Arab Emirates to play in the Dubai Championships next week, which could prevent a major crisis for tennis..."To discriminate as the UAE did against one player in this way smacks of bigotry and racism," the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations said in a statement. "This must be declared unacceptable by the WTA and all international sporting associations. As we learned in the past, failure to condemn such actions and take corrective measures, proves destructive to international sporting competition."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/atptour/4692024/Under-fire-UAE-likely-to-give-Israels-Andy-Ram-a-visa.html
Sponsors pull out of Dubai Open after UAE deny visa to IsraeliRACISM ROW: The Wall Street Journal Europe and the Tennis Channel have revoked their sponsorship of the WTA Dubai Open because the UAE denied a visa to Israeli player Shahar Peer.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25072951-5005401,00.html
Tennis: Racism Rears Its Ugly Head Shahar Peer is an Israeli tennis player. The United Arab Emirates barred her from participating in the Barclays Dubai tournament
http://ballhype.com/story/tennis_racism_rears_its_ugly_head/
United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has no diplomatic links with Israel, denied her an entry visa into the country. "To discriminate as the UAE did against one player in this way smacks of bigotry and racism,"
http://www.javno.com/en-sports/jewish-leaders-call-on-wta-to-sanction-dubai-event_235390
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed and adopted by the UN General Assembly sixty years ago. Regardless of race, religion, or nationality, all men and women, everywhere in the world, are entitled to the human rights and fundamental freedoms set forth in it's thirty articles. Since it's adoption in 1948 the declaration has been and continues to be a source of inspiration for national and international efforts to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Build community by promoting the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights...to promote cultural diversity as well as the desire for global cooperation and dialogue between different cultures; Unity and Diversity.
http://www.unesco-club-vienna.org/ ...The UNESCO Clubs movement has developed hand-in-hand with UNESCO since the establishment of the first club in Sendai, Japan, on 19 July 1947.
March 12, 2009
I received mail dated March 9, 2009 from the Illinois Department of Human Rights. The letter states "...Your letter to Governor Quinn was referred to the Department of Human Rights for a response. The letter that you received from the Department of Human Rights, dated July 15, 2008, explained the process regarding the cooperative agreement between U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Illinois Department of Human Rights (Department)...When you have received a final determination of your charge from EEOC, please refer the July 15, 2008, letter for further instructions...." Mr. Brent A. Harzman, Acting Manager signed this document, copying it to Rocco Claps, Betsy Ebeling, Governor's Office of Citizen Action and Thomas Roeser.
January 29, 2009 Honorable President of the United States Mr. Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 CERTIFIED MAIL Re: Bias and Prejudice Investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Mr. President: Please excuse me from taking your valuable time away from governing our country, but I must submit this writing seeking advocacy for shared beliefs in an honorable employment system free from discrimination and indifferent treatment along with responsible government intervention when an employment entity compromises the laws governing employment practices. At this time in your Presidency, it appears your priorities are focused on the economy and employment. This writing addresses both priorities. You signed a bill today, January 29, 2009, requiring women to get equal pay in employment, which also expands the time for filing discrimination claims. The lady to whom the bill reflects battled the powers to be for equal rights and pay for everyone. My fight is similar. I have been battling with the powers to be for equal employment under the law. Background/History with the Illinois Department of Corrections: First, I have been subjected to discrimination, marginalized and retaliated against because of my non-violent criminal drug convictions in 1988 and 1992. Sir, when I was sentenced in 1992 I did not have a G.E.D. I received my G.E.D. in Chicago’s county jail while waiting to go to the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). I started going to college in prison. Once released in December of 1994, I achieved my Bachelor degree in General Studies with a focus on Social Science (1997) and a Master degree in Mental Health with a focus on Community Counseling (1999) from Roosevelt University in Chicago. I started my PhD program with Walden University in 1999. I will receive my PhD in Human Services with a focus on Social Policy Analysis and Planning in February of 2009. While I was incarcerated in IDOC in 1992, I suffered racial discrimination, indifferent treatment and retaliation attempting to access the courts. I was still litigating my criminal convictions while incarcerated. When going to court from an IDOC prison in Vandalia, my legal papers were purposely taken and destroyed by IDOC personnel. The legal papers contained information against Judge Paul Foxgrover who convicted me and my personal lawyer William Swano. Paul Foxgrover was convicted of a felony 18 months after convicting me receiving a 6-year sentence, and Attorney Swano was convicted in Operation Greylord and disbarred. I filed a civil action against IDOC for denying access to court, with the caption Fred Nance Jr. v. J.D. Vieregge, et al. The District Court denied my claims. The U.S. District Court of Appeals overruled the District Court on appeal stating “Nance has two options, which are not mutually exclusive: to seek damages in state court for the value of the photocopies as ordinary personal property; and to initiate a collateral attack or request for pardon concerning the judgment that rests on his guilty plea.” As stated above, this Appellate Court overturned the lower court’s decision dismissing my original complaint stating I had not pleaded facts showing that Vieregge acted deliberately. I did not know about this Appellate court decision until 2005. I was litigating another matter regarding “access to court” in the Federal court when through my research I found my case. I filed for clemency with Governor Blagojevich in October of 2006. Governor Blagojevich never responded to my petition for clemency. After I filed my civil complaint against IDOC and J.D. Vieregge, IDOC transferred me from a minimum security prison to a medium security prison. I was put in segregation because I complained about my missing legal papers. I was put in segregation 2 more times bogusly for administrative reasons. I was transferred 2 more times to various Southern Illinois institutions with IDOC knowing I would not get visitation because my relatives lived in the Chicago area. My wife of 16 years was murdered on July 5, 1993 while I was incarcerated. My daughter, who was 9-years-old at the time, found my wife’s body lying in the alley behind the house where they were living. IDOC refused to let me attend my wife’s funeral and visit with my children at the funeral home. Present matter with IDOC and EEOC: Second, I filed 2 charges, one on April 16, 2007 and one on May 12, 2008, for employment discrimination based on race, sex, age and retaliation against the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and WestCare Foundation, Inc. (WestCare) with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which has been severely hindered and nefariously interrupted with biases and prejudices by staff of the Chicago District office of EEOC. Facts: I applied for a counseling employment position with Gateway Foundation, Inc. (Gateway) on or about April 2005. Gateway had the State of Illinois counseling contract with IDOC at Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan). IDOC refused my employment and security clearance. I appealed IDOC’s decision. One of the issues for my denial of employment with IDOC was that I visited my brother while he was in prison. I was not a convicted felon when I visited my brother. In April of 2006 I was granted a security clearance to work at Sheridan. I reported for work on May 1, 2006. On June 6, 2006 AFSCME the union had a strike at Sheridan. I tried to come to work and cross the picket line. Sheridan’s Warden Michael Rothwell denied me access to work. Warden Rothwell and a person who identified himself as an Assistant Director in Springfield informed me I could not cross the picket lines and go to work. They would not tell me why I could not cross the picket lines. I filed for unemployment compensation. I was denied because IDOC said I was off from work because of misconduct. Upon successful appeal with the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) I received my benefits. I was identified as “non-participatory” with IDES in this matter. IDES reported in its summary “…The unemployment of the “non-participatory” claimant-appellants is not due to a work stoppage caused by the labor dispute…there was one efficient cause of the claimants’ unemployment and it was not the labor dispute. It was the unilateral actions of IDOC…The actions of IDOC were a separate and the only cause of the claimant’s unemployment.” After this decision and my return to employment on September 6, 2006 I was retaliated against by IDOC personnel and the administration at Sheridan. I suffered race, sex, and age discrimination in my job duties, promotions and job placement at Sheridan with IDOC personnel and WestCare employees. I was denied supervisory promotions several times while white and black females, younger than me, were placed in the supervisory position with less experience than I. I was discriminated against when IDOC and its staff denied me access to work while allowing white males and females, younger than me, to cross the picket lines. Yet, EEOC says I have no case. EEOC has all the documents I am sending you. Ms. Janel Smith is the investigator on my cases with EEOC. I have complained continuously to her supervisor since filing my charges about her biases and prejudices toward me and my endeavors for EEOC to litigate my charges against IDOC and WestCare. Finally, I wrote President Bush whose office forwarded my complaint to Chicago’s District office Director, Mr. John P. Rowe, where my EEOC charge is filed. I thought Mr. Rowe would monitor the process. These events are documented in detail on my blogs. The letter to President Bush is posted on your website. I will be posting this letter on your website. My intention by posting this issue is to demonstrate the inadequacy of EEOC and the discriminatory practices of IDOC and WestCare. Also, I believe there is an unethical and unnatural partnership between EEOC and IDOC, along with WestCare. Let us not forget about Governor Blagojevich and Illinois politics. This is real. Sir, it is rare we find someone of your integrity and honesty. Even though you practiced law in Chicago, you did not taint your character and behavior. For that, I applaud you. Since the EEOC is a Federal entity, I plead with you for your intervention. Ms. Janel Smith informed me on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 and on Thursday, January 29, 2009, that my charges with EEOC were being terminated. On Tuesday I asked Ms. Smith did IDOC tell her why they took my security clearance. Ms. Smith told me that IDOC did not want me working at Sheridan. On Thursday Ms. Smith told me that IDOC and WestCare told her I was locked out for poor performance and misconduct. I wrote a letter to Director Roger Walker on July 30, 2008 requesting a reason for being lockout of Sheridan and my employment. Mr. Walker never answered my certified letter to him. I asked Ms. Smith did IDOC and WestCare provide written documentation for this charge against me. Ms. Smith said they sent her the same documents I gave her. What does this mean? I told Ms. Smith that WestCare sent me a letter telling me that I was terminated because IDOC locked me out. I informed Ms. Smith that I worked for WestCare and not for IDOC. Therefore, how could IDOC say that I was locked out for poor performance and misconduct? It seems strange as I told Ms. Smith that she would call me now after I e-mailed her last week requesting status on my charges. It appears on its face that she decided as she has tried to do all of last year to dismiss my charges. Ms. Smith once told me that EEOC does not have the manpower or resources to properly address the discriminatory charges I bring before it. Where I do I fit in this scenario? I guess I get sacrificed. I guess IDOC’s discriminatory actions continue. Sheridan’s substance abuse program is supposed to reduce recidivism. How can it promote such a charge if it is not willing to work with those who have rehabilitated themselves? It may be due to my personal rehabilitation because IDOC had nothing to do with mine. I am enclosing the following documents with this correspondence: EEOC charges 440-2007-04512 (original and amended) & 440-2008-05507 Illinois Department of Human Rights control #s 090714051 (WestCare) & 090714051 (IDOC) Initial letter to Rod Blagojevich dated June 6, 2006 regarding IDOC denying access to cross the picket lines at Sheridan Illinois Department of Employment Security responses to my claim for benefits (discharge for misconduct, Labor Dispute Determination (I appealed decision), Recommended Decision after appeal, Decision of the Director of Employment Security giving me my unemployment benefits) Termination letter from WestCare Foundation Inc. Letter to Governor Blagojevich dated May 12, 2008 Letter to President Bush dated May 19, 2008 Letter received from EEOC Director John P. Rowe dated June 23, 2008 responding to President Bush’s letter Letter to IDOC Director Mr. Roger Walker and Asst. Director Deanne Benos dated July 30, 2008 requesting a reason for taking my security clearance Appellate Court decision Fred Nance Jr. v. J.D. Vieregge et al Profile of Judge Paul Foxgrover from an Internet address http://www.ipsn.org/foxg.html Petition for Post Conviction Relief filed by Attorney Roosevelt Thomas, my 3rd lawyer in my conviction case Respectfully submitted, Fred Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS cc: President Obama’s website and Certified Mail Mr. Patrick Quinn, Governor of Illinois (Certified Mail) Mr. John P. Rowe, District Director, Chicago District Office (fax this letter only)http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/ http://click.townhall.com/ http://clickforjusticeandequality.wordpress.com/ http://www.frednance.newsvine.com/
