A Message To HAMAS And FATAH:

January 28-2009:

A Message To H.A.M.A.S. And F.A.T.A.H.!

It is now high time for both of these political camps to unite for the common good, progress, and survival of all Palestinians. The continuous infighting, murder, and disunity between you, will not serve any of your separate interests in the long term.

As you continue to divide and rule your supporters or sympathizers, and continues to fight among yourselves. Israel will continue doing or acting arbitrarily, without any regard for how the international community views them.

And they will always say to the international community, that they are fighting terror!

So here are a few suggestions that I believe will pave the way towards Palestinian unity, and finally sovereignty.

* HAMAS MUST declare publicly that they accept Israel as a sovereign nation, and has no designs to obliterate them.

* FATAH MUST seek to incorporate HAMAS in the political processes, in order for any unity to take place.

* There must be consorted efforts on both sides, to seek unity, in order to govern Palestinians from both regions, under a political system that recognizes both political camps, and respects each other's right to seek converts or supporters voluntarily, and without threats or coercion.

* HAMAS MUST seek to repair the breech with FATAH as quickly as possible, and declare it's intention to join FATAH in a united political administration, which would strive to ensure that the democratic process is maintained, and that political checks are put in place for a peaceful transition of governance, after any democratic election is held.

FINALLY:

Until there is unity between HAMAS and FATHA, the international community will be unable to work effectively, or support both camps effectively, in times of crisis, and military aggression.

Until as I said before, HAMAS declare and incorporate in it's constitution a clause, that declares they have no designs to eradicate the state of Israel. Then and only then, will the international community of nations know, they are truly serious about a Palestinian state. And would be more willing to assist in every way to bring this about!.

Derryck S. Griffith.
Educator-Advocate & Blogger.
NYC.

The Time To Act With Resolve Is Now-President Obama!

January 26-2009:

The Time To Act With Resolve Is Now-President Obama!

The American people gave you 53% of the vote this year. This was done for the following reasons:

* To rid Washington DC of time wasting, and get The People's Business done.

* And not allow the same old pussy footing, partisan politics, and filibustering from preventing
anything meaningful from getting done.

Now we are seeing a replay of the same old political partisan politics with the 825 billion stimulus package. And I get the impression that you Mr. president, along with the Democrats in both houses seem to feel, that you have to appease the Republicans, regardless of how watered down the stimulus package will eventually become.

Just to show how much you are for 'working with Republicans,' or reaching across the aisle!

This delay, indecisiveness, and ridiculous appeasement, may cause you to lose whatever political credit that you are still enjoying eventually!

Derryck S. Griffith.
NYC.
PS: The Time To Act With Resolve Is Now!

Will The Eight Billion Dollar Stimulus Package Work?

January 25-2009:

Will The Eight Billion Dollar Stimulus Package Work?

After 9/11, George W. Bush urged Americans to go shopping, and not let the terrorists win by cowering in fear. But the economy continued to move downhill, fueled by crocked stock brokers, mortgage scams, and Federal "Out Of Control" spending.

So What Difference Would The Stimulus Package Make In The Short Term?

* If this package is managed wisely, and with transparency, rigid oversight, and regulatory controls, the possibility of a turnaround may be realized.

* Mortgage holders, foreclosures and bankers, MUST be given some financial assistance.

* Limited tax reductions MUST be allowed to small businesses, with provisions for loans from banks, included for overheads, retooling costs, internal growth and productivity, and for the creation of employment.

* All working class people (especially the lower and lowest) income brackets, MUST be given some financial help or stimulus. And encouraged to spend some on household essentials.
Long Term Benefits:

* States should allocated funds that would create employment across the board.

* Essential infrastructure/repairs to Bridges, City and Freeway projects, should also be considered.

* Targeted businesses, including 'Startups' must also be used as a way to stimulate and dispense funding to essential areas of industry, and service oriented enterprises.

Derryck S. Griffith.
Educator-Advocate & Blogger.
NYC.

America Does Not Torture-Barack H Obama!

January 23-2009:

America Does Not Torture-Barack H. Obama!

Definitions of TORTURE:

* Extreme mental distress:

* Intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain:

* The act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean:

* The deliberate, systematic, or wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons in an attempt to force another person to yield information or to make a confession or for any other reason:

So what kinds of torture are we referring to, in relation to how we treat prisoners that are terror suspects?

America Does Not Condone Torture!

This is the view and contention of president Barack H. Obama, in relation to torture. But what is still not clear to us all, is what aspect of torture do we condone, and what we do not condone, in relation to prisoners that are incarcerated for terrorist activities, at home and abroad.

Until some CLEARLY spelled out explanation is given to the American people about torture, this issue will continue to be debated online, via the media, and any forum where this issue is of some concern.

Derryck.
NYC.

Guantanamo Bay Facility Will Be Closed!

January 22-2009:

Guantanamo Will Be Closed!

Today the president (Barack H. Obama) reiterated that Guantanamo Bay facility will be closed within one to two years. But in the interim, a special committee was selected to make the following recommendations about who and what action/s take, to facilitate habeas corpus for those prisoners therein.

* The volume of prisoners to be allowed due process currently. This includes the length of time served therein already.

* Who would be considered a threat to America at home or abroad, if released and sent to their home countries.

* Those who are foreign combatants/terrorists, and can be sent back to their respective countries for habeas corpus, without fear of arbitrary punishment or death.

* What types of legal processes will be necessary for each category of prisoner.

* Who are eligible to get habeas corpus as US citizens currently.

* And those whose nationality cannot be determined.

FINALLY:

It is my belief that any prisoner or prisoners who do not fit any of the above profiles or qualifications. MUST be incarcerated here in the USA. In some facility specially constructed for such prisoners.

This (to my mind) is necessary in the (war on terror). And should be modeled after current US prisons that provide the same security precautions, and other infrastructure, that ENSURES that TORTURE is NEVER used in any interrogation process.

Derryck.
NYC.
Total Inmates-245:

Direct Answers Without Embellishments Are Preferred!

January 16-2009:

Direct Answers Without Embellishments Are Preferred!

President elect Barack Obama was asked in an interview with John King-CNN a anchor today, the following question:

* When will the bleeding stop?

This was in relation to the state of the economy.

Barack Obama answered in his accustomed manner with a speech, that did not answer the question asked at all.

Question:

Is it so difficult for our next president to answer a question with a direct reply, to the point, and honestly?

Why couldn't president elect Barack Obama say, "I Don't know. Nobody knows that answer. But I sincerely hope that with the stimulus packages that are in the process of getting passed. We hope will speed up the process to recovery very soon."

Is this too much for our next president to say?

Derryck.
NYC.

What To Do With Captured Enemy Combatants!

January 15-2008:

What To Do With Captured Enemy Combatants!

We have seen under the George W. Bush administration, the creation of The Guantanamo Bay prison for enemy combatants or terrorists, caught during our war on terror worldwide. But there have been concerns with the incarceration of some of these alleged combatants, who may never have actually done something to validate guilt. But may have associated with, advocated for, or said things that inspired or encouraged terrorists acts against the USA, her interests, or allies abroad.

Such prisoners may not qualify to be treated like American Citizens in a Civil Court under US jurisdiction. But still have to face some form of habeas corpus for their alleged crimes. And this poses some complications as to where such trials will take place, and under what jurisdiction it would it be legally feasible to do.

So I have decided to submit some suggestions in that regard.
Enemy Combatants:

* If someone deemed an enemy combatant is captured in the field of war, or in any terrorist act abroad, or in a foreign country. That person is subject to that country's legal jurisprudence first.

* If such proceedings are not possible for that or those individuals. Then it is incumbent upon the US military officials in concert with The State Department, to seek the expulsion of that or those combatants, to be brought to the USA for such legal proceedings.

* Foreign enemy combatants that are already housed in the Guantanamo Bay facility, must be allowed legal counsel of some sort.

Be it military, or civil. And be tried by some military tribunal or civilian appointed magistrates or judges, in a setting similar to that of our local judicial system. So that at least the perception of due process is followed and practiced.

* Those combatants that have served more than five years already in Guantanamo Bay facility, and have not been given due process as yet. MUST be allowed same very soon, under any of the above scenarios.

And if found guilty, imprisoned in a special facility somewhere within the USA, that is appropriate and secured for such prisoners.

* Finally, every attempt MUST be made by the military in consort with The State Department, to consult with our allies in the war on terrorism, about the possibility of incarceration and due process, for any of their citizens captured, while indulging in terrorist acts.

Because that is the responsible thing to do in this war on terror. And will be expected of them at this time.

FINALLY:

Every effort must be made to expedite the closure of Guantanamo Bay prison facility, within the first two years of President Barack Obama's administration.

Derryck S. Griffith.
Educator-Advocate & Blogger.

How Do You Define Special Interests?

January 09-2009:

How Do You Define Special Interests?

I need someone to explain what is meant by Special Interests. In relation to president elect Barack Obama's Stimulus Package, and his expectation that no 'Air Marks' would be allowed in this package.

However, as far as I am aware, special interests are what any elected representative tries to include, or put in, in a piece of legislation for his or her state. As a matter of fact, every elected official (be it the City-State or Federal), is expected to represent his or her constituency.

It is also expected that in so doing, he or she must never allow any organizational Lobbyist to influence his or her decisions, to the point where they get TOP PRIORITY over those who elected that political representative to office.

This is where the definition MUST be made QUITE CLEAR, in terms of the 'people's interest', vs the private commercial or wealthy donor to the campaign, of a particular political representative.

Favors can sometimes get in the way of what should be the PRIORITY of that elected representative!

Therefore, in relation to the Stimulus Package that president elect Barack Obama has proposed, and expects to be devoid of AIR MARKS.

How possible is it for him to expect that all Congress And Senate Representatives, will ignore their own constituencies, to accommodate his proposals, without bargaining for some form of Air Mark, for his or her constituency.

Should this expectation be realized for Barack Obama, then it would indeed be a TRUE TURNING Of The PAGE on PRIORITIES, that the people expect to be honored!

Derryck S. Griffith.
Educator-Advocate & Blogger.
NYC.

Barack Obama-We Must Spend Our Way Out Of Recession-2009!

Barack Obama-We Must Spend Our Way Out Of Recession-2009!

Tom Baldwin in Washington and Philip Webster, Political Editor

Barack Obama declared yesterday that only unprecedented and urgent government spending could prevent the deepening recession stretching for years into the future.

Eleven days before taking office, the US President-elect said that he was entering his presidency "in the midst of a crisis unlike any we have seen in our lifetime". The "day of reckoning" had arrived, he said, and the risks of "doing too little or nothing at all" were even greater than those of allowing a federal deficit – already projected to reach the record figure of $1.2 trillion – to spiral on into the years to come. Mr Obama used his first major policy speech since his election to call on Congress to act quickly on his request to pump hundreds of billions of dollars into the American economy. He said that figures to be released today would reveal that the United States lost more jobs last year than at any time since the Second World War.

"At this particular moment, only government can provide the short-term boost necessary to lift us from a recession this deep and severe," Mr Obama said. "Only government can break the vicious cycles that are crippling our economy." Mr Obama’s speech was his most outspoken public pitch so far for his massive spending plan. It was the frankest recognition of his belief in the role of government to save the economy.

The President-elect’s words were strongly welcomed by Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling as clear evidence of a growing world consensus that governments must support their economies with fiscal injections.

A Downing Street official said: "We agree with every word of his call for action. You need to take action and you need to take action now to avoid a much deeper and longer recession." Mr Obama’s pledge came as British interest rates were cut to 1.5 per cent, their lowest level in history. But only around half of borrowers will benefit and savers will be hit by another cut in returns on their investments. Nissan yesterday announced the loss of 1,200 jobs at its Sunderland plant, the worst day for the car industry in its present crisis. The factory was once the most productive car plant in Europe.

Mr Brown travels to Berlin for talks with Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, next week as she appears ready to announce another €50 billion (£45 billion) stimulus for its economy. The Prime Minister, who chaired a Cabinet meeting in Liverpool yesterday and pledged fresh measures to bolster the British economy, is also due to meet Ben Bernanke, the head of the US Federal Reserve, next week.

The Prime Minister believes that Mr Obama’s action will boost public confidence in his own package of spending and tax cuts and improve the chances of the British initiatives bearing fruit.

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Barack Obama's Personal Black Berry Dilemma!

January 08-2009:

Barack Obama's Personal Black Berry Phone Dilemma!

ATTENTION:

Historically, the president of The United States are expected to follow security protocol when it comes to communication via personal mail, telex, and now the Internet.

Not withstanding the current president elect's promise to keep his ears to the ground, to keep personally in touch with the national constituency, and others that he feels the need to contact personally, without going through the White House Security protocol arrangement.




It is also common knowledge that The President of the USA, Russia, Israel, France, and Germany may have direct communication via telephone with the president of the USA, should an emergency arise, and that kind of person to person contact is needed.

So why should president elect Barack Obama be expected to discard his personal Black Berry phone, for some (so called) security reasons.



I am certain that some technology is now available, to provide this need to the president without being compromised or hacked into.


Should this be made available to Pres. Barack Obama, I am sure he would be pleased, and it would also give him some more external access and views, as per how he is doing, or how his policies are impacting ordinary Americans, without prior confirmation and monitoring!



Derryck.
NYC.

An Opology Is Owed To Mr. Roland Burris!

January 07-2009:

A Public Apology Is Owed To Mr. Roland Burris!

Mr. Roland Burris said the Senate majority leader Harry Reid, asked about his credentials, his family, his love for his country USA, etc..

But what I find appalling is the following.

* Mr. Roland Burris is the only Black American Senator to follow Barack Obama in Washington-DC.

* Mr Burris is fully qualified to fill that vacant seat left by president elect Barack Obama, to represent the State Of Illinois.

* Mr. Burris does not have to please anyone in the senate, regardless of their seniority, to qualify for that position.

* Mr. Burris was nominated by the current governor of Illinois to that position.

Though he may not have been the preferred candidate for that seat.

* However, he was chosen by the governor, he is fully qualified for the job, and he does not have any known legal proceeding or malfeasance allegations about his character, or political office, or political activities.

So when senate majority leader Harry Read said that he (Mr. Burris) was a "nice man" in his comments about their meeting. I feel that was ethnically condescending, irrelevant, snobbish, and self righteous.

Imagine the only Black American candidate for the US senate, being SHUT OUT from entering the Senate floor, by all of the White Senators. Because of their own ridiculous historical, and traditional practice. Which has no Constitutional or Legal bearing, to debar Mr. Burris from obtaining that senate seat.

This embarrassment does no auger well for the Democrats, in light of the president elect political promise and agenda, of TURNING THE PAGE on the MINDSET in Washington-DC.

I sincerely hope that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid APOLOGISES to Mr. Roland Burris publicly, for that inconvenience and national embarrassment, when this is all resolved.

Derryck S. Griffith.
Educator-Advocate & Blogger.

A Proposed Statement For Barack Obama On The Israeli & Hamas Conflict:

January 06-2009:

A Proposed Statement For Barack Obama On The Israeli & Hamas Conflict:

The time has come for both parties to cease the fighting, bombings, and firing of missiles towards each other. At the current rate of fighting, more deaths will certainly ensue, and the Palestinians will be the ones to suffer the most at the end of this conflict.

I would advise Israel to STOP the incursion immediately, withdraw to the border of Gaza, initiate for a sustainable cease fire with HAMAS via any of the established negotiators or others, that would be eligible to mediate of the behalf of both Israel and HAMAS representatives.

* Israel you have made your point already!

* HAMAS, you cannot win this fight, not today, not tomorrow, or with any means that would allow Israel to respond militarily in the future.

Failing to take this advice may be unwise for all parties involved, especially the Palestinian civilians caught between the fighting and bombings!

Derryck S. Griffith.
NYC.

Does The USA Really Need Israel's Headaches?

January 02-2009:

Does The USA Really Need Israel's Headaches?

Israel has been \a staunch ally for the USA in the Middle East. And for this, she has been enjoying the privilege of the latest munitions and military technology from the USA, to ensure her sovereignty and national security.

But this privilege has been taken for granted by Israel for many years now, and she is behaving like a spoiled child that is never satisfied with playing in her own backyard, or with her own toys. So she takes away some of her neighbor's toys (or lands), and accuses that neighbor of being a spoil sport, and a cheat.

Hesbullah has embarrassed Israel in the conflict in Lebanon in 2006 very gravely. So the current unpopular Israeli government is using this new military incursion by them, to punish Hamas and the Palestinians in general for that loss and national embarrassment. And at the same time, testing the political appointee to The White House come January-20-2009.

President Elect Barack Obama said publicly and in Israel, that he believes that if his daughters lives are threatened by anyone, then he deserves the right to retaliate, (or words to that effect). He also told Israel that he agrees with them in responding to Hamas whenever Israel and her citizenry are being threatened with death via suicide bombs or missiles.

But will Barack Obama maintain his position on Israel when he assumes The White House?

Would his administration allow Israel to KILL Palestinians en masse, whenever missiles are being shot into it's territories or cities?

And would Barack Obama continue to follow his predecessor, sit quietly and do nothing, while Israel commits ethnic cleansing or mass genocide on the Palestinian people unabated?

Derryck S. Griffith.
Educator-Advocate & Blogger.

President Barack Obama's First Term National Agenda!

January 01-2008:

Ref: Rick Sanchez of CNN question about Barack Obama's ability to unite the

American people:

President Barack Obama's First Term National Agenda!

Firstly, Barack Obama was not elected to UNITE this country. That unity was expected for the Democrats, after he had won the democratic nomination.

And as for the general election results. It seems like he has!

Secondly, Barack Obama's promise to the American people was to do the following:

* Make the Federal government MORE transparent in what it does for the general electorate.

* Working with all parties in the Congress and Senate (Republicans-Democrats and Independents) alike.

* Enact legislation that would deliver National Healthcare for all Americans.

* A New National Energy Policy, Green Jobs, Infrastructure repairs and Construction jobs, College Affordable Programs like Grants for High School Drop Outs and Under Achievers, and College tuition for the dis-enfranchised.

* A Comprehensive Immigration Bill that covers all who qualify, and desire to live and work here as tax paying residents and citizens.

* Ending the War in Iraq, and bringing home our active duty troops within 16 months to two years in office.

NEW UPDATES:

* With the current state of the national economy, the president elect will be sending a Stimulus Proposal to Congress, for the approval of billions of dollars to 'Jump Start' the economy.

This (according to Barack Obama & his transition team of advisors), is necessary in order to stimulate the national economy, the banking systems, and the spending power of consumers.

Derryck.
NYC.