DEAR SISTERS AND BROTHERS…

Today I want to recognize the artists in our community. I love the painters, poets, writers, dancers, singers… I love to watch others create and inspire us to dream… we need to support our artists and show our appreciation for their art and their presentations…

Each city should have a celebration of the arts with good local people gathering to share with us all their precious gifts…it might just be a gathering of good folks and doing what they do best…SHARING…

coming soon ..A leno reception in Portland and Seattle

a.      Portland July 18^th 6-8 pm

b.      Seattle July 20^th 5-7 pm

The details will be coming in the next mailing…

At these events come and share your dreams and work with others.

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

a.      4^th of July 6, 2008

b.      Watermelon man

c.       DNA and Texas

d.      Olympic dreamer

DID YOU HAVE A HAPPY FOURTH OF July 5, 2008

It was difficult to find something to be happy about given the following

1. gas prices
2. the stupid wars and all those killed and injured on all sides
3. food prices
4. mortgage foreclosures
5. unemployment
6. sub prime auto loans
7. predatory lending
8. Guantanamo
9. the patriot act
10. spying on our phone calls
11. and you can add your items to this list

After all these depressing topics… I did find something to be happy about. And that is there are so many good activists are out there working to change our world. I was also happy for all those who love and support me… I celebrate all those who struggle around the world not matter what the political stripe of their government…

An interesting item for me that this 4^TH of July was that it was brought to us by COMMUNIST CHINA and slave labor. It’s ironic that these patriotic folks across our USA were setting off Fire Crackers made in China which still is a Communist Country. I emphasis this because of all the madness of the right wing talk hosts and politicians that make a big issue of the lapel flag pin..And then turn around and celebrate INDEPENDENCE DAY with Chinese Communist Fireworks.

And if some one wanted to do something to affect all of the USA ..You just need to put something in the fireworks and you would reach our entire country… worst is that most of these brilliant and colorful and very loud items are made by the hands of people who are paid almost nothing and do not have the freedom or liberty that the fireworks honor… I bet you that these fire workers imported to our county  are not inspected and just come in and sold to us the unsuspecting public.

Another thing… I was in Nicaragua during a war and others who have lived in war zones or fought in them will find the sounds of the fireworks frightening given that those sounds are the sounds of war and in a war people die and are damaged.

I welcome the Chinese of Mexican fire crackers as long as the workers are paid well and treated humanely. Other wise we might want to find some other way to recognize out 4^th of July.

Watermelon Rinds

            Just might change some peoples lives

There is a story in the news this past week that Watermelon just might give men the same results as Viagra. It is said that the Rind of these melons could have a positive affect on a person… Well I can tell you that many a watermelon has been sold since this news hit the streets.. Also I found out that you can purchase pickled watermelon rinds.. Or you can just put it in a juicer put some sweeteners and drink to you’re your hearts content. I don’t think this works on women … but who knows..

I was at a birthday lunch with some Nicaraguans and some of the women suggested their husbands go buy a bunch of melons..This was good for a wonderful laugh and long smiles.

I will be waiting for the results of YOUR field studies before investing heavily in Watermelon stocks. But just to be safe I will plant a couple of watermelon seeds in the ground and wait … with much expectation.

Texas man freed by DNA after 15 years in prison

By JEFF CARLTON, Associated Press Writer

A Texas man who spent more than 15 years in prison after being wrongly
convicted of kidnapping and robbery raised both arms skyward and
collapsed in his mother’s embrace Thursday after being told he was a
free man.

Patrick Waller’s sobs were the only sound at a crowded hearing attended
by four other inmates also exonerated by DNA testing.

“It’s all right, honey,” Patricia Cunningham told her son. “It’s over.
You’re out of here. You’re going home.”

Waller had been behind bars since 1992 for aggravated robbery and
aggravated kidnapping stemming from the abduction of a Dallas couple.
He was proved innocent by DNA testing late last year.

“I feel vindicated,” said Waller, 38. “I feel thankful. Most of all, I
feel blessed.”

His release had been all but certain since last week, when the Dallas
County prosecutor’s office announced that DNA evidence had cleared
Waller and matched the profile of another man.

That suspect identified his accomplice, and both men subsequently
confessed in front of a grand jury, prosecutors said. Neither man is in
prison, although one is on parole, and they won’t face criminal charges
because the statute of limitations has expired.

Waller is the 19th man in Dallas County since 2001 shown by DNA
evidence to be innocent of the crime for which he was convicted. That’s
more than any county in the nation, according to The Innocence Project
in New York, a legal center specializing in wrongful-conviction cases.

Four former inmates who collectively served nearly 100 years in prison
before being exonerated lined the back wall of the crowded courtroom.
The men freed by DNA testing in Dallas County have made a habit of
showing up in court for exoneration hearings, and on Thursday they
presented Waller with a prepaid cell phone as a gift.

Their exoneration stories helped Waller during his incarceration.

“All these guys I just met, I have all their clippings,” Waller said.
“It always gave me hope that one day it would be my turn.”

Waller said he plans to ask the other exonorees about the challenges of
rejoining society. He is also about 20 credit hours short of a degree.

John Stickels, an Innocence Project of Texas board member and a
professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, said he wants to
help Waller enroll at the suburban Dallas school.

Waller’s ordeal began in 1992 when two men kidnapped a couple and stole
several hundred dollars. The men also sexually assaulted the woman
after tying up the man, District Attorney Mike Ware said.

Another couple who drove up to the scene were also held at gunpoint. A
security guard arrived and scared off the men, who fled in separate
cars.

Three of the four people abducted picked Waller in a photo lineup. The
fourth later picked him out of a live lineup, Ware said.

Waller maintained his innocence and presented an alibi at trial but was
convicted and sentenced to life in prison. He also pleaded guilty to
two charges of aggravated kidnapping, fearing more life sentences if he
were convicted, said his lawyer, Gary Udashen.

In 2001, Waller requested post-conviction DNA testing under a new state
law. The DA’s office, then under different leadership, opposed the
request, and it was denied by a judge. A second attempt in 2005 was
also unsuccessful.

Bill Hill, who was the district attorney when Waller requested his DNA
tests, did not return a message from The Associated Press.

Waller’s 2007 request, which came after Craig Watkins had taken office
as the new district attorney, was granted. Watkins has started a
program in which law students, supervised by the Innocence Project of
Texas, review old cases in which inmates have requested DNA testing.

In Waller’s case, DNA testing was paid for by the Innocence Project of
Texas.

LATE TRAINING FOR THE OLYMPICS

            It’s never too late

I have been doing a bit more exercise in hopes of making the Beijing Olympics….I believe that they should have some events that have some pre qualifiers.. First how about age, weight, level of coordination, muscle mass and perhaps some other qualifiers… Why not give some of us average or below average athletes a chance to compete.  I think that I could be a TIN MEDAL of  PLASTIC MEDAL award winner for my weight and age for some swimming or chili eating events.

While I wait for the Olympic Committee to call I will watch the trials and root for the athletes and their families… and hope that some good third world countries to surprise us at the Olympics…

 A TIME TO SMILE AND PERHAPS TO LAUGH

I marvel at what a good smile and in particular a good laugh can do for us. Some times I have to laugh at myself and some of the silly things that happen. For example… the other evening I went to talk to an adult group of Catholics about non-violence.. I gave what I thought was an interesting and some what challenging talk about my own life.. I was surprised to see that I had their full attention during my talk … I got a warm applause at the end and way too many smiles.. As I walked out of the school room and into the wind and rain I felt a cool breeze chilling my lower extremities… WELL … I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THAT MY ZIPPER WAS NOT CLOSED…

First I got a deep brown color rushing up my neck and flushed in the face.. I zipped up my pants and laughed …and my laughter was carried away with the wind and rain..I am sure that many in the group had a good laugh at my expense… and that is okay….

When I do public talks these days I try to get in some humorous ideas …and don’t depend on my zipper getting the laughs… we are often too serious and we need to laugh so that we can take a deep breath and go on with our lives… so tell a joke, a funny story or just tickle someone close to you …

SMILING AND LAUGHING IN MIAMI

Leno

 PROGRESSIVE RAGS.COM

Go to this web site to get good movement 

And some interesting Obama shirts 

Dear Sister and Brothers

I want to remind you that during this summer time when we have a moment to push our family and friends to register to vote and then to register them as an absentee voter.  That way they could vote prior to Election Day. And thus we are all free to go out and work in behalf OBAMA and others on Election Day.

We have many votes to register and turn out in the 50 states… now let us all do our part

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

a.      to drill or not to drill

b.      mechanic goes to jail

c.       Zimbabwe

d.      Building walls

e.       Respect the laws

TO DRILL OR NOT TO DRILL

            Changing positions for the wrong reasons.

BUSH, McCain and others are calling for drilling offshore and in some very special places that would affect adversely our environment. It is a mistake and we must fight this.

The oil industry has government leases that they are not exploring and should work these leases or give them back.

Drilling and production of oil in these places would not have impact on our oil available for another 7-10 years. And it would not lower the price of gas more than 5 cents per gallon.

About this time in 2000 the price of a gallon of gas was about $1.46 and now it is over $4.20 a gallon ….higher in some places.  I believe that this growth of almost $3.00 per gallon during the Bush Administration is a result of their economic policies, speculators and their collusion with the oil industry.

The cost of many food products have gone up and all this is putting more pressure on the average family.

Bush and company have robbed our banks through their wars, given tax breaks to the richest amongst us and now want to rape our environment. And we have a multi billion dollar deficit which was created by the Bush administration.

The profit for the oil industry has shown to be in the billions and they still can’t find a way to give the consumer a break in the price of gas. I think the oil industry could arrange so that gas could be at $2.00 with their help and they would still hold on to much of their profit.  Do they care about America or just want to empty the  bank accounts of the people of this country of ours?

MY MECHANIC GOES TO JAIL

I own a 2000 Dodge Caravan which has a belt that jumps off the pulleys about every two months. When this happens  I then have to call Israel my mechanic a recent Cuban Immigrant who is good and does the repairs right there in my yard. His accent is so strong that at times that even I have a problem understanding him.  But the work gets done and it is less expensive than a shop.

He had told me to call him last Sunday morning so that he could come and repair my van. When I did call there was no answer… Later his wife called and told me that he had been arrested for driving with out a license … His bond was a $1,000 and his wife wanted him out so that he could work. She was shocked when I offered $210 towards his bond. I just thought it was a natural thing to do. I would have offered more but it was all I had in my wallet. She told me that it is not normal for a customer to take the time and interest to help some one like Israel.

Well he finally came to my home and repaired my van..And I am happy to have my van back and we now have an even deeper relationship.

BUILDINGWALLS…BUILDING ANIMOSITY AND FEAR

            Building Berlin in Iraq

Inside of Iraq walls are going up between ethnic-religious communities. These have caused traffic jams and hampered business but it has given some neighborhoods safer streets. But this is a short term victory that will not hold.. These walls like those that had been in Berlin or like those separating Israelis and Palestinians do not make sense in the long run. Same goes for the Wall being built on the Mexican border.

During the Iraq war there has been a cleansing of neighborhoods now you have Shiite enclaves and Sunni enclaves. The Kurds have their own territory and the Christians are forgotten and still persecuted with in this political mess. This tragedy is evident also in the faces and lives of the over 4 million refugees that have had to leave the country.

Building of walls creates even more animosity and fear with in both groups. Over the years many communities had both groups living and working together and some even intermarrying. They had learned how to co-exist. More than I can say for many in the USA …

The cleansing of cities, the building of walls will keep the people divided and keep the country from coming to some road of reconciliation.  This does not bode well for the future. Yes we can reduce the killings but we should know that we are building a time bomb that will go off in the near future…and its far reaching effects will not be pretty.

ZIMBABWE

            Takes another step backwards..

Mugabe continues to rule this country with an iron fist and ridicules any attempts at democracy.. I had the opportunity to visit this country in 1988 with Amnesty International when I was the Media Director for the Human Rights Now world concert tour.

This is a beautiful country that housed many South African ANC activists as they fought to end the Apartheid system. Perhaps this is one reason why President Mbeki of South Africa is soft on Mugabe.

There will be a meeting of African Presidents this week and they should pressure Mugabe to step down… This is a dictator at best and should not be tolerated.

Mugabe was a liberator when he helped liberate Rhodesia as it was then called but since then has been on a road of no return …a road filled with murder, theft and oppression.

Please support all actions to instill democracy in Zimbabwe.

RESPECT YOUR COUNTRY’S LAWS AND CONSTITION

            BECOME A LAW BIDING CITIZEN

We were taught growing up that you should respect the laws of this country and to read, understand and respect the constitution. But what can we tell our children today when our own president and his operatives have broken every law of decency and violated the values of our constitution.

This administration has committed so many illegal and immoral  criminal, financial, and environmental acts against the people of this country that it is difficult to know where to begin in terms of an investigation. We will find out in the months to come just how crooked they were and how much they damaged our country. Those who wave the flag so much that they distract us with their religious fervor and talk about stopping terrorists.

It seems that we don’t need terrorists to destroy our economy, environment and rip apart our judicial and legal system… this administration has done more to destroy our country than any enemy from abroad.

I pray that we will find a way to correct the direction of this country and hope that new leadership will prosecute the appropriate guilty parties..you can do your part by helping to elect those who will make this change.

My best

leno

additional reading if you want on Zimbabwe

NOW FROM THE TELEGRAPH UK

the denunciation from Pan-African parliament monitors came after President Robert Mugabe said he was sure of “a sweeping victory” in Friday’s poll, held in defiance of international opinion and dismissed by much of the world as a sham.

Mr Mugabe is expected to make a public appearance later today to hail his triumph.

But the head of the Pan-African parliament observer mission said the result should not be allowed to stand.

“The current atmosphere prevailing in the country did not give rise to conditions for the holding of free and fair democratic elections. These elections were not free and fair,” said Marwick Khumalo.

DEAR SISTERS AND BROTHERS

The economic turmoil continues as the price of gas continues to escalate and more individuals are out of work. And our president continues to act and speak like a fool who doesn’t understand the mess he got us into and really doesn’t seem to care.

The signs of the economic downturn were there over four years ago and no action was taken by this administration. Instead they continue to preach about tax cuts for the super rich. And this presidents policies are what created this devastation of so many families.

And we must continue to remind our public of who caused this crisis.

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

a.      listening and learning

b.      china’s pain

c.       obama wins

d.      my Dominican dentist

LISTENING AND LEARNING

                        By Ira Moss

I had the opportunity to listen to “The Audacity of Hope,” read by Barack Obama, while on the way to and from the Washington State High School Tennis Championships last weekend. I am fired up and ready to go! Part of what made it so interesting was how prescient Obama was, writing two years before the campaign began. No one who reads or listens to senator Obama could possibly mistake him for a disinterested elitist, a black nationalist, or naive and shallow. I strongly urge any of you who harbor doubts or resentments towards Obama to learn about him through his own words. Don’t allow him to be defined by the same fear mongering voices who have brought us to where we are today.

McCain is claiming to be the candidate of wisdom. However, it is wisdom of the most conventional kind. Exactly the same habits of mind that got us into this mess and are incapable of getting us out. This is a generational election. The choice will be between a candidate with a vision for the future and one who represents, in every way possible, a desperate clinging to the past. We will either move into the future willingly with leadership and direction, or we will be jerked forward, kicking and screaming. Regardless of who wins the election, the future is coming with speed and certainty. “Resistance”, as the Borg say, “is futile.”

CHINAS MOST INTERESTING AND PAINFUL PROTEST

Pictures of grieving Chinese mothers filled the photo in the NEW YORK TIMES.. In their arms they held the photo of their children who had been killed when their school fell on them. These schools for the poor were built substandard with shoddy materials.

While these schools for the poor easily fell killing all inside the schools for the rich did not fall.  Government officials were being taken to task by these mothers.

Here you had humble parents protesting and the military not knowing how to react. These honest and emotional painful protest open many doors to further protest and push back against an authoritarian government.

Many officials and contractors I am sure will be prosecuted in light of the death and destruction in the areas hit by the massive earthquake.

I am sure that there are more protests to come

Recent news show that China is back to its old school habits… It is censuring internet stories about the earthquake,  does not allow journalist or families into the hardest hit areas and is cracking down on the family demonstrations.

International pressure must be placed so that people can demonstrate and so that the disaster areas are open for investigations.

OBAMA WINS which means you won

All of you who worked so hard during the primary in behalf of Senator Obama got to see your candidate get the nomination  …Victories are always wonderful … but having been on the end of a number of losing campaigns I know how difficult it is to lose

Hillary has taken it very hard as have some of their supporters. And Bill has also taken this loss very hard. The Clintons had never lost a national election..In the process of this campaign they lost a lot a face because of some tactics of the campaign and missteps by both Hillary and Bill.

Prior to the Campaign they were the power house with in the Democratic Party.  They had secured the inside track on major donors, and party leaders across the country. They also had counted on the SUPER DELEGATES bailing them out at the last minute.

Many things went wrong with the Clinton Campaign but I do admire her hard work and tenacity. Now the real leadership challenge for Hillary is CAN SHE DELIVER HER VOTERS. If she can’t deliver than she will lose most of the  influence that she might have as a national leader.

Hillary should show us all that she can be a team player and if she campaigns hard for the party she will gain back all the love we have had for her for so many years.

Too much is at stake for us not to be united.

MY DOMINCAN DENTIST         

The other day I went to a new dentist to have a major tooth removed… it had broken off at a terrible diagonal slant and made it almost impossible to save.  The roots of my teeth go deep and are strong .

This petite female dentist had her work cut out for her… she had to wrestle with this tooth and give me more than the usual amount of Novocain. … It took hours to get it out

And then she had to stitch up the gums after all this digging  … during this process she was most reassuring …and afterwards she gave me her cell phone just in case I had complications.

I fear going to the dentist…

Later that night after taking antic biotics and my pain medicine …I got a call from my dentist. She wanted to know how I was doing and if I needed any thing … I have never had my dentist call me except to collect payment so this was a most pleasant call.

I must admit that my personal physician a Cuban by the name of  Felix Guzman hugs me when I go in the office and has been known to call me when I am taking serious medicine..

Is it me or just my good luck in doctors..??

My best

leno

DEAR SISTERS AND BROTHERS

It is very warm in Miami and the pool invites me in every afternoon to cool off and get my blood pressure down. Then all I have to do is watch Lou Dobbs on CNN and I get upset again that he can have a free hand to attack many decent individuals. And to think that CNN has him as their key host for the election results panels..

We need a good progressive television station that runs the news with good analysis 24 hours each day. Thank goodness for Keith Olberman on MSNBC. At least this is one program I can watch..

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS
a. attacks on immigrants in south Africa
b. burger king agrees
c. Hillary speaks and has to apologize
d. Tennis and all the jazz
e. Puerto Ricans vote
f. Obama speaks in south florida

THE HORRIFIC ATTACKS ON IMMIGRANTS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Just can’t believe it

In the past week we have seen widespread violence against immigrants who had fled to South Africa for some economic Sanity. Roving groups of men mostly young have attacked these helpless immigrants beating them, burning their humble dwellings and autos. Many lives have been lost and the South African government has done nothing to protect these workers.

Many African nations have raised their protests to the highest levels of government. And yet no protection for these workers.

These youth and others don’t remember their recent history. During the days of Apartheid many ANC members and others fled the brutal repressive government of the Boars.. African, European and other western countries allowed for many to have safe haven until the change of government. While there was some tension in some areas there were no whole sale attacks on these immigrants.

Immigrants are not the cause of economic conditions but a pawn in this PROFIT AT ANY MEANS chess game played by the SUPER RICH…

In the USA HOMELAND SECURTY has arrested over 900 in California, and have given prison sentences to hundreds for using false identifications to get employment.

Immigration is a world wide economic symptom that can no be cured by killing and beating, nor by harsh regulations, laws and imprisonment. We must find a solution that goes beyond borders, race and cultures..

This HUMAN RIGHTS situation is one of the gravest and I others are waiting for the premier human rights organizations to organize world wide campaigns

Burger King finds a way to recognize farm workers
Celebrations of the CIW …the Coalition of Immokalee Workers

This past Thursday night I got a phone call from the leadership of CIW they were in Washington DC and were telling me of the good news that Burger King had signed… they were calling key supporter around the country to tell them that on Friday they would have a great press conference. To announce the agreement with Burger King. I am enclosing a piece done by a friend.

I had the pleasure of being the MC at the last two demonstrations in front of the Burger King Headquarters here in Miami and was asked by CIW to do this part of these actions. And I always enjoy a good demonstration…

Friends,

On behalf of the National Farm Worker Ministry and South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice, I’m delighted to be forwarding this wonderful news to you and to congratulate the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) on reaching an agreement with Miami-headquartered Burger King. Thanks to all of the wonderful people in South Florida and across the country who joined with the CIW to help make this happen.

But it doesn’t stop here. The Florida Tomato Grower’s Exchange has announced its intention to lift the $100,000 fine for each incident of cooperation with a CIW contract, but is still encouraging its members to not cooperate. Hopefully, the continued intention of Taco Bell parent corporation, Yum Brands, and rival burger corporation, McDonald’s, to participate in the agreements will encourage reluctant growers.

The terms of the agreement between Burger King and CIW include a penny more per pound of tomatoes picked, to be passed on directly to the workers, and a half a cent more to be paid to the growers to encourage participation and to cover any administrative costs. The details of the code of conduct are still being worked on.

Other restaurant chains and tomato purchasers still need to get on board. Fair food means no sweatshop conditions and no slavery in the fields anywhere!

So maybe when you next visit Subway, you could ask the manager when Subway plans to work out an agreement with the CIW. Let folks know that you are a Fair Food Alliance supporter!

Joyfully,
Jeanette
Coordinator, Quaker Peace Center
Southeast Florida Organizer, National Migrant Ministry

HILLARY RAISES ASSASSINATION ISSUE
DEFENDS LONG-RUNNING CAMPAIGN
While campaigning in North Dakota Hillary Clinton yesterday brought up the assassination of Sen. Robert Kennedy while defending her decision to stay in the race against Barack Obama.
“My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don’t understand it,” she said, dismissing calls to drop out
There was a huge tidal wave of questions raise by many in the media and in political circles as to why she would use such language..She later issued an apology for the remark.
“I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation and in particular the Kennedy family was in any way offensive. I certainly had no intention of that whatsoever,” the former first lady said.
Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson defended the comments to The Post, “She was talking about the length of the race and using the ‘68 election as an example of how long the races in the past have gone — she used her husband’s race in the same vein.”
There still many questions that need to answered and there will be many asking those questions.
TENNIS AND ALL THAT JAZZ
by Ira Moss

For the last five years, I’ve spent Memorial Day weekend at the Washington State High School Tennis Tournament, where the top players in the state gather for an intense competition to win state championships in both boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles play. This year I will be heading to Vancouver, Washington, just across the river from Portland, Oregon, a two and a half hour drive from my home in Seattle where I coach both boys’ and girls’ tennis at Garfield high school.

Garfield is an amazing place (in the interest of full disclosure, both my children went there). It’s an inner city public high school, the sort of place that has been endlessly attacked in certain circles as failing our kids and providing a third rate education. However, Garfield has tremendous diversity, with students from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan as well as African American, white and Asian students. They come to Garfield from all over the city, drawn by the AP college-level classes and the internationally famous jazz program.

Garfield’s jazz band has been a finalist in the Ellington high school jazz contest for an amazing 12 consecutive years, and this year finished second, narrowly losing out to its local competitor, Roosevelt high school. For mysterious reasons, the Seattle area consistently produces the best high school jazz musicians in the country. Three of the top four placements in the NYC contest this year went to Seattle schools.

Garfield is the public school of choice for many of Seattle’s brightest and most talented kids. Our tennis teams have benefited from this trend. We’ve had many outstanding musicians play tennis for Garfield, and our team GPAs are the highest of all state teams. The boys’ team has been undefeated three of the last four years, and the girls’ team has produced state level players for the last three years as well.

There seems to be an interesting connection between tennis, high academic achievement and jazz. I’m not sure how to explain it — perhaps it’s merely chance, but as a lover of the game, I have to think it’s something else. Tennis requires more than size, strength and athleticism. It’s a thinking person’s game that rewards discipline, decision-making, emotional control and proper technique — attributes also necessary for success in music and academics. Whatever the reasons, I consider myself one lucky guy to be able to do something I love — working with young people every day who restore my faith in America’s future.

PUERTO RICANS VOTE ON June 1st
I welcome the inclusion of the island in this primary process and just wish they could vote in the general… now wouldn’t that be great. My compromise since the island is split on the issue of statehood.. is that they be allowed and that their votes be counted as part of the Florida vote. More and more Puerto Ricans are moving to Florida and soon we will have more of this special population than New Jersey or New York.
We have a few days so if you know folks on the island than encourage them to vote… of course I would want every one to vote for Obama but I guess some will call the Hillary troops and try to get hem out
Obama SPEAKS IN BROWARD COUNTY..20,000 cheer
This is the county just north of MIAMI –DADE.. I went to this auditorium and joined a line of over 3,000 already forming a line at 1pm we were let in at 2pm and Barack finally spoke about 4:30 pm and no one was complaining … the Auditorium was filled with a wonderful mixture of Haitian, Latinos, whites, blacks and a sprinkling of native Americans and Asians. Soon we were over 20,000 voices cheering our candidate and hope.
When I was parking my car upon arriving at the venue I noticed a welcoming African American brother who was so excited to be at the event. I began talking to him and an older white woman who wanted to use my cell phone. On an urge of the moment I gave him one of my red OBGAMA SHIRTS AND ALSO ONE FOR HIS WIFE… I saw them after the event and they were most happy.. And wearing their red Obama shirts.
I ended up sitting with this older white woman and another wonderful woman Beatriz Balding a business woman who moved to the USA about 35 years ago from Argentina… I met her as I was standing there in line.
It was a wonderful celebration ..and while I had the pleasure to shake Baracks hand and mention Fannie Lou Hamer quote to him IAM SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK TIRED to him in Seattle almost two’ years ago … I had never been in a space where there was such a wonderful energy around this special spirit.
No political candidate has ever drawn these kinds of crowds and not since the Kennedy’s have ever attracted so many youth and so much diversity … and I am sure there were many republicans and independents in the crowd… the older white woman told me that for many years she had been a republican but with the help of her daughters she changed
And Beatriz told me that this is the first time she has been moved to attend such an event.
It was a good day for cheering and believing.. And of course Barack rocked.
———————————————————————————-
Summer is a time to enjoy mother earth Take a day or two … go for a walk …get out on the water or perhaps just take a drive to a new location. And enjoy all that Mother Earth has given us.. Enjoy and know that we must all protect her so that she can continue to give my best Leno

DEAR SISTERS AND BROTHERS

In the past days my house has been more like a dog pound.. we recently adopted a young and small dog now called LUNA and we were baby sitting my daughter Aviva’s boyfriends English bulldog whose name is LeeRoy … or could be Leee Roy.

So the other day I am walking them with leashes on them both … they get into a bit of scrap and I being MACHO MARTINEZ.. .tried to break them apart with my bare hands.. Luna took a snap at my pinkie on my right hand. I did not know it until I was near the house but I was injured..… I was bleeding like crazy .. once I got the dogs in their crates I washed my hand and noticed the gash on my finger… it was worthy of 3-5 stitches.. I got it bandaged and then mopped up the blood I had left along the tiled floor…

By then my finger was beginning to hurt.. and I  wondered if I should bite Luna as a method of revenge.. or just give her a swift kick… hmmmm?/ instead I got her out of her crate and scratched her back and neck and decided to give her more walks and some training…

As a child I always joined my dog CHARLIE BOY in all his fights and often was bitten more than once.. but I have found that a dog bite hurts more now that one is older..

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

            a. got marriage

            b. election items

            c. george bush

            d. back from new york

GOT MARRIAGE?????

The California Supreme Court took an important step into the future.. The Court recognized the importance of Gay Marriages. It was important to recognize that marriage was important and that a class of people should not be excluded from this right.

It should be noted that this state supreme court was not chosen by a liberal or progressive governor but by those wit ha conservative agenda. Perhaps other states will challenge the ban on gay marriage and begin to change their laws…

At one point in our history we banned inter racial marriages as late as 1928 and while this was held as a high and moral American value… it was wrong and it was finally changed.

Listening to the cheers and watching the hugs of all those in love who celebrated this decision it made me very happy to see their joy….and sad that I could not be there to celebrate with my fellow citizens.. It makes you feel better about this country of ours..

ELECTION ITEMS

Hilary Clinton wins in West Virginia by a huge margin. It should be noted that Barack only campaigned there one day and did not spend a lot of money. Hilary had a reason to celebrate. It is unfortunate that she had to mention HARD WORKING WHITE PEOPLE who she says support her. And never did mention HARD WORKING PEOPLE OF COLOR and their importance.

Barack Obama continues to get more super delegates daily. Right now it is about 4 per day and it is possible for this to increase in the days ahead. Recently John Edwards gave Obama his endorsement and you will soon see Edwards on the campaign trail

GEORGE BUSH

            How wrong can this man be?

While in Israel to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of this country took a swipe at Barack Obama and his willingness to negotiate with other governments. Bush accused Obama and other democrats indirectly of being willing to negotiate with terrorist and he threw in the issue of a US SENATOR who years ago thought that by negotiating with HITLER that they might have avoided the killing of so many individuals.

We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: ‘Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.’

“We have an obligation to call this what it is - the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history. By President Bush

It should be noted that this senator was a republican and that Bush’s grandfather was supportive through some business dealings with the Nazis’.

A president should not use a public forum in a foreign country to attack another American Politician…This is wrong and should be condemned by everyone…

Back From New York

          Ira Moss

FILLING UP THE GAS TANK

It hurts every time I have to buy gas … it took over $70/00 to fill up the gas tank on my van. I have a hard time paying this but it is even more difficult for low wage workers. The price of gas has gone out of this world during this administration and the public should be outraged about the policies of George Bush.

So if you fill up your tank take the time to drive to the next demonstration…

My best

leno

DEAR SISTERS AND BROTHERS       

Last night we had two interesting primaries… Indiana which Clinton won by a narrow margin and North Carolina which Obama won hands down. Can this primary process continue or should it come to and end???

Today we found out that Hillary has lent her campaign another 6.4 Million Dollars. If she is not getting the financial support from her supporters than it should be clear that the funds and the delegates are not there for a victory.

In the next few days the super delegates will be wondering what to do and there should be some movement towards Obama. There are a lot of decisions to be made inside the Clinton Campaign in the next 72 hours..

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

a.      Burma can’t wait

b.      death in detention

c.      new bill on detainees introduced  

d.      the Kentucky derby

e.      ariana huffington

BURMA CAN’T WAIT

       We must all help

Friends and Supporters,

thanks for the support so far…

As headlines have told us, Cyclone Nargis has hit Burma hard.  22,000 to 60,000 have passed and tens of thousands are missing….the Junta is doing nothing to help the people.

Fortunately, timing proves to be on our side, as we are in the midst of a month-long campaign to help the people of Burma.

HRAC, US Campaign for Burma and Fanista.com have organized a 30-day video campaign to educate Americans and others around the world about the military regime in Burma.  Our goal is to mobilize 1 million people to sign up to take action.  Just as the world came together to help free Nelson Mandela and South Africa in the 1980s, we are now organizing an effort to help Burma’s imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma.

view the spots here…  Today’s spot with Eddie Izzard was directed by Anjelica Huston.
www.burmaitcantwait.org

I ask you to share these videos with as many people as possible. 

thanks again.

Jack

DEATH IN DETENTION

We need to call for a congressional investigation of the number and causes of death of immigrants being detained. There are serious concern about the treatment and well being of all Immigrants who are at the mercy of these private contractors who run these institutions..

You should google Detention Watch Network or email Andrea Black at ablack@detentionwatchnetwork.org and find out how you can become involved.

Better Health Care Sought for Detained Immigrants

By NINA BERNSTEIN and JULIA PRESTON

Published: May 7, 2008

The head of a Congressional subcommittee looking into complaints of inadequate medical care in immigration detention announced on Tuesday that she had introduced legislation to set mandatory standards for care and to require that all deaths be reported to the Justice Department and Congress.

“This should not be part of the debate about illegal immigration,” the chairwoman, Representative Zoe Lofgren of California, said of the bill, which she introduced late last week. “This is about whether the government is conducting itself according to the basic minimum standards of civilization.”

The need for the bill, she said, was underscored by an article in The New York Times on Monday about the 2007 death of Boubacar Bah, a 52-year-old tailor from Guinea. His name was one of 66 on a government list of detention deaths obtained from Immigration and Customs Enforcement by The Times under the Freedom of Information Act.

Tragedy overshadows unbeaten Big Brown’s Kentucky Derby win

By RICHARD ROSENBLATT –

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A day after Big Brown blazed across the finish line, the snapshot of Eight Belles down on the dirt set off a raging debate that extended far beyond the Kentucky Derby: Is horse racing now facing an image crisis?

With the memory of Barbaro still fresh, Eight Belles’ catastrophic breakdown Saturday put increasing focus on a sport already trying to overcome a decline in popularity.

Leno’s note..the Kentucky Derby is the horse racing event for the SUPER RICH … and it is a week long festival. Many of the grooms and most of those who clean the stalls and feed the horses are immigrants. And many undocumented.. There are a lot of people working in the shadows of this famous race and festivity.

 ARIANA HUFFINGTON

        WELCOME THE GREEKS

Last night I went to hear Ariana speak about her new book
Right Is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution, and Made Us All Less Safe.

It was a delightful presentation with a lot of good information. You need to take a moment and visit the Huffington Post… there is a lot of good information there for you. If you are well informed you can make good decisions.

My best

leno

Dear Sisters and Brothers

There are many more signs of the economy going sour….now folks are dumping their SUVs.. And many are defaulting on their auto loans… Car sales that are increasing are the ones for compacts and others that give better gas mileage… No matter what the president says we are in a recession.

Recently two friends in Miami told me that the mortgage companies were foreclosing on their land lords… and this is happening each and every day in every neighbor hood across the country….

Food and gas prices are taking their toll on the average citizens… reasonable health care has been out of the reach for many Americans and it is only going to get worse..

My hope is that the progressive foundations that fund community programs look at this economic situation and decide to fund programs that work on policy and immediate actions to give some relief to the working poor.

It we had the same commitment financially to the working men and women as we do for this most foolish occupation of Iraq we would be in a much better situation..

NOW FOR MY VEIW OF NEWS..

a.      former gang member

b.      how low can you go

c.       escape to new York

d.      got newsletter?

AHORA …FORMER GANG MEMBER CALLS ..

out of the blue came the call from a 713 area code… Houston Texas…

Hello this is leno I answered

Magdaleno this is Estela from El Salvador

Oh ya… I was not yet sure who this could be

It’s me Estela who was with HOMIES UNIDOS .. I just wanted to call and thank you for all you did for me. .

What me …?/ I asked. Still trying to picture her face…

Yes you gave me all those good words of encouragement and helped me and now I am in the states and doing good… I just wanted to call you and thank you … I got your phone number from Alex Sanchez at Homies Unidos in Los Angeles…

Alex had told me a couple of weeks ago that some woman was trying to reach me and could he give my number to her…

I guess what surprised me was that 8-10 years have past since I last saw Estela Arias… and did not expect to hear from her again… but it was nice to hear that I had done something good for some one… her father had petitioned for her and got her to the states.

It made me start thinking that I don’t thank enough all those who have helped me over the years to become the voice and presence that I have become for human rights… I know that I had a lot of help … sometimes I had to be picked up and put back together after serious mistakes… and it’s a wonder that I am still doing all this work…but I had a lot of helping hands and hearts along the way..

Take a minute today and call or write to someone who has made a difference in your life…

How low and how far back can you go?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24338217/page/8/
MR. RUSSERT:  David, we had in the debate–and Andrea–Hillary Clinton jumping on Barack Obama about William Ayers, the Weatherman, is one of the questions, and  Hayden, the former radical from the ’60s, has now written a piece which is basically saying, “Time out.” And he writes this, “Hillary is blind to her own roots in the sixties.  …  She was in Chicago for three nights during the 1968 street confrontations.  …  She was involved in the New Haven defense of Bobby Seale during his murder trial in 1970, as the lead scheduler of student monitors.

“Most significantly in terms of her recent attacks on Barack, after Yale law school, Hillary went to work for the left-wing Bay Area law firm of Treuhaft, Walker and Burnstein, which specialized in Black Panthers and West Coast labor leaders prosecuted for being communists.  Two of the firm’s partners, according to Treuhaft, were communists and two others `tolerated communists.’

“All these were honorable words and associations in my mind, but doesn’t she see how the Hillary of today would accuse the Hillary of the sixties of associating with black revolutionaries who fought gun battles with police officers, and defending pro-communist lawyers who backed communists?  Doesn’t the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, whom Hillary attacks today, represent the very essence of the black radicals Hillary was associating with in those days?”

Are we going to have a debate in November about past associations and pastors, or we going to have a debate about the war, health care and economy?

ESCAPE TO NEW YORK CITY

                                    By Ira Moss

I notice that when I opened my NY Times this morning I skipped past the front page with its obsessive coverage of Reverend Wright, the failing economy and the world wide shortage of manure (don’t get me started).
Instead, I settled into the “Dining Out” section, to read about the restaurants and latest food trends capturing New York City. My good reason was that I am flying to NY this weekend for the short reunion with old friends that brings me back every year at the start of spring. But the real reason was probably avoidance of the head line news which has become monotonous in its repetition of all that is wearing, tiresome, and stultifying. I needed something comforting and in these trying times, food works best for me. And so I took a virtual tour of New York City’s sandwich shops, reveling in such offerings as the Cemita Poblana, a sandwich from Mexico made from pork butt marinated in citrus, chilies, cinnamon and cumin, made on a griddle and served with shreds of fresh pineapple, soft avocado, chili peppers and papalo, described as “a fresh herb with the bite of watercress and the breath of cilantro” (I know I’ve got Leno’s attention by now). The article mentioned in passing that New Yorkers “got lucky” in the late 1990’s due to an influx of immigrants from the Mexican state of Puebla who brought there love of food and cooking with them and now provide the work force for many of the cities finest restaurants. As Anthony Bourdain, the NY restauranteur, author and TV personality has observed, there are very few restaurants in NY that could survive a crack down on undocumented workers.

When I was through day dreaming about the meals I would eat in NY, I reached for the sports section, but along the way stumbled over the obituaries, something I usually prefer to avoid. But the one about the death of Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman (no relation to Abbie) who died this week at age 102, caught my attention. Hoffman is the fellow responsible for bringing LSD to the world. Dr. Hoffman took acid hundreds of times and credited it for recreating a transcendent moment from his youth, when he first experienced a oneness with nature and was infused with “an indescribable sensation of joy, oneness and blissful security.” He believed that he had discovered a powerful therapeutic tool with great beneficial potential for mankind, but of course took no responsibility for its misuse at the hands of fools, knaves and profiteers. I was one of those sixty era kids that, prodded by the likes of  Timothy Leary (fool, knave and profiteer) “turned on, tuned in and dropped out”, at least for a while. Now, having reached my sixties, I was intrigued by Dr. Hoffman’s statement that his LSD day’s were long behind him. “I know LSD; I don’t need to take it any more,” he said. “Maybe when I die, like Aldous Huxley.” He went on to add that LSD had not altered his conception of death. I go back to where I came from, to where I was before I was born, that’s all.” And that’s enough.

GET THE NEWSLETTER AND FIND OUT WHATS UP WITH LENO AND HIS WORK

This week we are printing the first copy of our new newsletter for my work project here at SOUTH FLORIDA INTERFAITH WORKER JUSTICE.  This will let you know you know what I am up to and the challenges that low wages workers face..

Please send me your street address if you would like to receive this bit of news in the mail…that is to say via snail mail…

Get the news..

My best

leno

Dear Sisters and Brothers

Yesterday I was working with a friend and noticed that she had colored her hair.. I told her I thought it looked good. It was a nice black color. She said she was covering up her gray hairs.. I had to laugh since I don’t have much hair and about 1/3 is now gray.. and now half of my 12 chest hairs are gray … so will I color my hair? About every six months this hair issue comes up …

Next I will be going abroad to get my body fixed by some plastic surgeon and then will I be beautiful?

Maybe I will be a redhead or a blond… maybe green to celebrate Mother Earth.

So don’t be surprised if you see me with a new color..

Meanwhile I will continue to work on my Miami tan.

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

a.      may 1^st

b.      something else

c.       drop outs

d.      Hillary’s math      

MAY 1^ST in INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY

Around the world workers, unions and community organizations will march and celebrate the rights of workers. .These workers are the people that help us to lead the good and comfortable lives that we do.

In Colombia many union organizer are killed on a regular basis and this could be stopped by the government … a government that receives a lot of money from the USA…we need to raise the spirits of these workers on this day.

In many parts of the USA many will take to the streets to speak out about the rights of immigrants and will ask for comprehensive immigration reform. But for now we need to get rid of this NO MATCH PROGRAM (trying to match up social security numbers) which will not work and will intimidate workers, employers and organizing efforts..

Given that the 1^st is on a Thursday some activities will take place on the 3^rd,   you must take some time out of your life and raise your voice.

———————————————————————————————————

SOMETHING ELSE I AM INTERESTED IN

                                                BY IRA MOSS

Something else I’m interested in (besides politics) is tennis. In fact, I play tennis, teach tennis, coach high school tennis and officiate at college tennis matches. I spend a lot of time relating tennis to life, translating the lessons of the game to the high school student that I coach. For instance, tennis is a game of making decisions and those decisions involve balancing risk versus reward. Each shot requires almost instantaneous decisions, where to hit it, how hard, how close to the lines. In other words, how much risk measured against how much reward?

Lately I have been thinking about Brad Gilbert’s book on tennis tactics, “Winning Ugly.”  Brad was an over achiever in the tennis world, who made his reputation by beating players more talented than himself. He has since had a highly successful career as a coach, helping to return Andre Agassi to the top of the tennis world and working with other top pros like Andy Roddick and Andy Murray. Gilbert knew that you had to make a better player play your game not his own. If you can not raise the level of your own game, you can still win by making your opponent play down to your level. If Gilbert was a political consultant, he would certainly be working for Hillary Clinton. Hillary’s campaign has realized that their candidate can not soar to the heights of Barack Obama. She lacks his charisma, his ability to rethink the big issues or his communication skills. She can’t play the game at his level, but she can try to drag him down to hers. This was her only chance and she has not shirked from the task. She has gone low at every opportunity and has relied on a political system that depends on the opinion of the lowest common denominator to win elections. Once again we are seeing th