Be In the Service To Others.

Life is, I believe, about being in the service to others. I feel we must all undertake the task of helping one another in this journey. What do you think? have you done something nice to someone today? Our journey will teach us a lot about trials and tribulations, but we can all have a sense of fulfillment in this life.
I feel this post has been hijacked for I can not access it on the regular search engines anymore. Has this happened to you lately? Please let me know.
Look inside your heart and do something good and nice for some one today.
Merry Christmas to all of you.
God bless you all.

Christmas Brings Unexpected Miracles In Some Families

I have witnessed during this Christmas Holiday season, that unexpected miracles can happen.
For years, or ever since marrying Nellie, certain members of her family have undertaken that tiresome, tedious task of openly hating me, and excluding me from their idea of "family".

They have tired themselves out, and have done nothing to impair my cheerful spirits. They lose big time by hating me so publicly and so wantonly. I did nothing to my wife's oldest daughter, expect to acknowledge that she thinks of herself as a Know-it-all with a sharp condescending arrogance. She has lost -not me. Life has a terrible way of slapping us back with real drama adversities, and one can only wonder with sadness, if this is the price the evil ones pay for being so evil to others who have done them no harm...ever. I have moved beyond the days when it bothered me that some members of my wife's family openly scorned me. I pray for the haters in that family.

My wife Nellie told me recently that her brother is pondering a possible peace overture with me. I welcome it. I long ago forgave him for for his hurtful remarks directed at me. It has hurt more than I can say, the unfortunate remarks this fellow directed at my Mother who passed away in 1990. During violent confrontation this fellow instigated with me in my own apartment one afternoon in November, 2003, he cursed my Mother, calling her a wh-re and a pro---tute.
If he makes amends for those terrible remarks, the peace will be made between us.

He does not have to like me, nor do I have to like him, but we can be civil to one another after he makes that gesture to me. I told Nellie, I am willing to come to meet him, and to hear him make any peacemaking remarks. I too am prepared to seek his forgiveness, for my stubbornness as well. So, Daniel Cruz, if you read this, I am ready to make the peace, if you are ready to make the peace. If it occurs, may it be a genuine expression of peace on your part, for that is the only way I am prepared to make the peace with you. I will not meet with you to say "I'm sorry..." just to get it out of the way. It's up to my wife's brother to make the first gesture. If he calls on me, I will take his call. I lose nothing. He and the others lose more, by hating me. Hatefulness brings bad health to those that hate people.

My wife's oldest daughter Margie is an extremely difficult person. I am prepared to make the peace with her too. We do not have to like each other to make amends. We can be civil to one another. Who knows, maybe with time, she will come to like me as a person. That would be a nice thing for me. I admit I do not like her, but I harbor no ill will for her, nor do any hateful feelings dwell in me for I can not learn to hate anyone. I refuse to. I have never have and never will.

In the time I have left on Earth, I pledge to be on good terms with those who have hated me, provided they renounce their hatred.

I have witnessed all too well, the pain and anguish that comes from racial discrimination, and lived as a child with the pain of being marginalized for being poor, for being in those days, "a racial minority". I'm glad the stigma and indignities visited on children of color, in those long gone days...is finally a thing of the past.... long gone from our midst. I find it quite sad personally, to be marginalized by certain members of my wife's family, for being me.
I'm grateful to Carville and Bonnie Shaffer for their wonderful unconditional friendship. I feel the same gratitude for Milton and Marilyn Farr. I am enormously fond of these wonderful friends and I get misty-eyed when I think of them. For the life long friendship of Congressman Charlie Rangel, I will forever be in his debt, proud to know this magnificent American patriot who is one of the greatest treasures of our Nation during this 21st Century and of the 20Th Century.

I pray for our next President Barack H. Obama and his soon-to-be Vice President Joseph Biden, and may they lead us with distinction beginning January 20, 2009. Mr. Obama will be the first American president to be elected, that was not born in the Continental United States.

Wherever Fred and Beth Clawson read this, please know I love you both. To all my friends, Johnny C. Rivera, George Ruiz, U.S. Senator Gordon M. Smith, U.S. Senator Harry Reid, to name a few...Thank you all for your warmth, friendship and support. To Congressman Joseph Crowley, my area Congressman, God bless you for being a great, conscientious public servant.
To Anne Marie Anzalone his Chief of Staff, Happy Birthday Anne Marie, and many, many more to you.
Thanks to my friend Jorge Caceres of San Francisco , California for all the inspirational music he has at his store. Look up his website www.duoesperanzastore.com for some great buys.

I pray for Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila of Puerto Rico, and his family. I wish for him all of life's goodness.

To my boss and friend, Suleika Cabrera Drinane, and her family, I wish for all the happiness, good health that God can give you all. Suleika is a national treasure, God bless her.

Until the sun sets on my life, be assured that I will make the peace with those who hurt me and hate me, and I will be in the service of those who are in need. Until my journey in this life ends, be assured that this Serene Warrior will promote goodness and peace, in the hearts of ever person
I can touch with my life.

Miracles can happen even in some families. I will keep you posted.
When Heavenly Father finally calls on me to my rest, may I awaken and find myself cradled in His loving arms.
May I see you all there, and may you all know that I have loved and cherished all of you...for time and eternity.
May our Heavenly Father bless you all.

I have made these remarks in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
So long for now.

Puerto Rico Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila: Innocent!

The ends of justice must justify the means. This is not the case in the manner which the U.S. Department of Justice has framed its indictment of the governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Anibal Acevedo Vila. In fact, we believe the governor is innocent.

The more I read about the sordid manner in which the pursuit of the governor was waged, the more I am convinced he is not deserving of the 19 charges leveled against him. What's next? Are they going to go after everybody that disagrees with them?

Probably. It appears that the local Commonwealth government in Puerto Rico has been superseded by the Orwellian arm of the federal government. The outcome of the prosecution of the Governor of Puerto Rico is unprecedented in its naked cruelty.

I pray for him and his family, and I hope freedom of speech means I don't get a visit by the feds for writing this blog in support of the Governor of Puerto Rico.

I'm On My Space As "Magnificent Serene Warrior"

Dear Friends-
Please look for me at My Space as "Magnificent Serene Warrior", and sign up as "Friends" on MySpace.

I look forward to seeing you there.

I'll write more Blogs here and at MySpace.

Take Care,
Strongbow Red Cloud

Being Nice Costs You Nothing.

Life is the precious gift God has given us to be in the service to our fellow Human Beings. You can see herein that this blog is simple, not fancy, although soon, with my daughter Marisol's help it will take on a cool look. None the less, I am here to make the case that being nice costs you nothing. Being a hate mongering creep like some people I know (this includes Marisol's older sister) , is what gets you life's misery. When individuals go out of their way to be heels and creeps to persons who have done absolutely nothing bad to them, but rather, have shown them care, charity and love, it does not appear to sit well in the eyes of Heavenly Father when these malcontents make the practice of being inconsiderate and cruel to others, their "mod us operand".

I am always going to practice the manners of the Christ who taught us that to love thy neighbor as thyself, is the true labor of love in this journey through life.

The Holy Scriptures (Book of Mormon) say: "When ye are in the service of your fellow Human Beings, ye are in the service of you God.", Mosiah 2:17.

Paul the Apostle commands us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep", Book of Romans, Chapter 12 verse 9, New Testament. We are commanded by the Epistles of Heavenly Father to be nice, polite, kind to all.

When we find ourselves angry or displeased by the feelings we harbor when those feelings are unnaturally hostile, we must look inward, ask ourselves why we dislike that person, why we expend so much energy being hateful to someone, when there is more redemption and happiness in loving our neighbor, even our adversaries. Look inside your heart, and see if you can make a difference in some one's life. In the time God has given me in this life, I will always make it my duty to be loving, caring, compassionate to others.

Remember, being nice especially to others, costs you nothing and gains you lots of happiness and blessings.
I say this in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

THE SERENE WARRIOR NEEDS US ALL, By Robert Taft Lincoln

Dear Readers:
Franck L. Strongbow, the Magnificent Serene Warrior and writer of this Blog has asked me to write a few lines here, a rare request by this terrific friend. It appears the Magnificent Serene Warrior has been feeling "Below the weather", and has not wanted to worry those of us who are endeared to him, by keeping a very low profile these last few weeks.

When I saw him a few days ago, he looked worn out, looked considerably thinner, and I took notice of this. I am quite worried and so is his family. My wife told me she was stunned at the visible signs of wear that Franck shows. He is usually a boisterous, humorous, caring fellow.

The ubiquitously energetic Assistant Director of the James Monroe Senior Center in The Bronx looks like he could use a long vacation to rest up, and forget about his worries.

Lately he has slowed. Several years ago Franck had a mild heart attack and that took some of the high voltage fighting-advocate spirit out of him, understandably so.

I will not say here what I sense he's enduring from a health perspective, but I am afraid for him, and my wife shares my worry, along with his children and Nellie, enough said.

Send your prayers to the Good Lord so Franck feels less of a burden on his shoulders and keeps up the fight no matter what.

-Robert Taft Lincoln

New York City Funds N.Y. Yankees, Closes Senior Centers

Look at the photograph above. This is proof I wore the Yankees uniform in 1970 (and in 1971 ).

That's me in the bottom right of the black and white team photo holding the Yankee logo.
Photo is the courtesy of Michael Grossbard/Louis Requena

Franck Strongbow in the Yankees uniform in the summer of 1970 (and 1971), with the famous Yankee Stadium facade of the original Stadium in the backdrop. This photo was taken years before the 1974-1976 disastrous renovation.
(Photo is property of Franck Strongbow, all rights reserved.)

Senior citizens are special. Just ask from left to right: Carvill Shaffer, Bonie Shaffer, Milt Faarr and Marilyn Faarr. Photo is property of F. Strongbow

The City of New York and the State of New York are in a zero-dumb mode now! The City and State have committed over 1 Billion dollars in public financing to subsidize the New York Yankees in building their new state of the art Stadium which will open in April, 2009!
The City of New York is closing 147 senior centers currently located in the public housing projects, with no announcement of any plans to build new senior centers off-site on City-owned land. Senior citizens have given more than their full share to make this City, State, and Nation great. The major newspapers and TV outlets of news appear silent or suffering from "tired-blood" in as much as this big news is invisible and not being read about in the newspapers or television outlets.
It's a question of fairness that seniors enjoy the fruit of their labors. We have public officials asleep at the wheel in the City Council, and in the state senate and assembly, while the City of New York subsidizes a wealthy privately owned sports franchise with a $1,000,000,000.00 dollar subsidy to build their new state of the art play-pen!!!! Count the ZEROS! But they have no money to build 147 new state of the art senior centers!!!! And now, the Yankees want the City of New York to give them an additional $450,000,000.00 dollars, count the ZEROS, to finish the construction project!!! Go figure! Are you outraged like me? So make some noise!!! Write to Mayor Bloomberg now and to your state legislators and tell them you will not stand idle if they do not find money to build senior centers to replace the 147 senior centers in the public housing projects which will be closed by the City of New York.
I can even understand that that there may be a legitimate reason, like public safety that mitigates the need to remove senior centers from the public housing projects as crime in many sites is high and seniors fall prey all too often. But the City must build new facilities to replace the ones they will close. Join me in demanding such priorities for our seniors. What motivates the City mostly to close the senior centers? Safety? Maybe, and that is a very legitimate reason, I believe, since the incidence of crime against Seniors is high in public housing projects around the Nation. The City has thousands of lots it owns, and it should donate those lots of land, to build new Senior Centers away from the housing projects, but within proximity to the Seniors who live in the projects so they can continue to enjoy the benefits that they derive from attending the senior centers. So, where is the plan to build new senior centers? Have we stopped caring about seniors? You must help with your voice, as your tax dollars are being spent to subsidize the rich and powerful Yankees while seniors get the bums' rush. This is not fair, and for me, building off-site Senior Centers to replace the 147 senior centers which will be closed, is a question of fairness. If the City of New York does not build the new Senior Centers while giving bonds totaling more than $1,500,000,000.00 to the New York Yankees a privately owned wealthy sports franchise, then we have here a glaring example of a violation of the federal Rangel and federal Powell Amendments. The Powell Amendment stated that, "Taxes and fees collected form all of the People shall not be used to benefit some of the People".
A violation of the Powell Amendment is glaring in the Yankee drama. The Rangel Amendment helped change life for all Human Beings by insisting that federal tax dollars not be used to promote apartheid whether economically, socially, or racially.
These two federal congressional Amendments make it clear that the City of New York can not subsidize the Yankees to the tune of over 1 Billion Dollars with your tax money while closing 147 senior centers and not making any plans to build senior centers to replace the ones being closed. The new concept of Healthy Seniors being promoted by the City's Department for the Aging relies on the notion that the Baby Boomers ,those persons who were born from 1940 to1948, are going to come to Senior Centers demanding less Bingo, less trips to Atlantic City, no-more serving the trays to seniors at the table (a good idea because Seniors should get their own trays at the food serving windows to enhance their cardiovascular activity and discourage "servility" which is prevalent at many senior centers. We must continue, however, to take the food- tray to the Seniors who are truly frail and can not stand or walk , which must always be done for the frail, and the new Senior Model claims that the Baby Boomers want more of the Tai Chi, Meditation, Walking clubs, Interactive trips that force more walking which is good, less salt, less fat based foods, so the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) thinks, but soda (high in sugar and calories)and Snapple being sold at Senior Centers is okay!!! And selling "frituras", or fried-delicacies for fund raising is okay too. Is this a glaring contradiction? The DFTA leadership is leaning toward getting more being done for less by the non-profits, but it takes money, space in the form of new Senior Center facilities with enhanced lines of vision, disabled access , more bathroom amenities, James Monroe Senior Center in The Bronx, for example, has one Male and one Female bathroom for more than 200 seniors who visit the Center daily!
We need for DFTA to do better planning to help the Baby Boomers who are today's' seniors. We need 147 new senior centers off-site (out of the housing-projects) and DFTA and the City Council can find 1 Billion dollars the same way they have found more than 1 Billion dollars to subsidize the Yankees sports franchise!!! My friends, don't get me wrong on this topic, as I do love Baseball, and I am a Yankee and Mets fan, and I even have my own history with the Yankees. Look up the Yankees Team photo of 1970 and you will see me in that photo wearing the famous pinstripe uniform. I'm sitting on the ground up front along side Mike Slater who at the time of that photo, lived in New Jersey, God bless him. Look for the photo and see that I am telling the truth here. In fact, here is a photograph from my own personal collection, and you can see I too wore the Yankee uniform back in 1970. You can see the photo at the top of this Blog News Note.

I was there at the old Stadium, and I will forever cherish my memories of Mickey Mantle whom I saw up front then. I have a lasting friendship with Lindy McDaniel the great Yankee relief pitcher from the 1968-1973 teams. I saw Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan of the Mets up front in their prime when they came to Yankee Stadium to play the Mayor's Trophy Games before packed Stadium crowds of over 60,000 fans in the 1970 and 1971 Trophy Games. I was there in the Yankee dugout. I knew the late and beloved Mike Burke, former President of the Yankees before the Steinbrenner Era really started, although Burke was the Chief Executive for about 100 days during the beginning of Steinbrenner's reign of ownership.

I do not dislike the Yankees, I am endeared to them by history ,my own personal fondness for the game, and the brief time I worked for them in 1970 and 1971.
I am enormously saddened that the actual Stadium where Babe Ruth heralded the dawning of the home-run era is going to be razed, torn down! This breaks my heart! How can all that history be demolished for the sake of a new ornate cathedral-looking Stadium? Had the City been possessed with more vision and a true sense of history, they could have saved hundreds of millions of dollars by doing the renovation correctly that first time during the 1974-1976 renovation. Instead, when the 1974-76 renovation was completed, what was once a magnificent looking cathedral-exterior structure that featured on the exterior front entrance to the old Stadium, the beautiful eagle with wings spread that rested inside a circular seal that was joined to the right by another seal that symbolized major league baseball, and the magnificent Stadium facade (they now call it by another name, "Frieze"), that draped the whole upper deck of the old structure, what we got was the look of a federal prison penitentiary-J.Edgar Hoover federal building-look! The current exterior of the old Stadium was made to look like a federal slab of cement! No expression, no character, no sentimentalism, much like the cold arrogant fishes who have run Major League Baseball for the last 34 years!
Additionally, the old Stadium of 1923-1973 had a Stadium capacity of up to 57,000-67,000 seats. The renovated Stadium of 1974-76 was reconfigured and reduced to hold 52,000 fans largely because the suits found that it is more profitable to sell luxury boxes at 5 Million dollars a season, to corporate bigwigs or high rollers.
There's nothing wrong with bringing in big money, I'm all for it, but why diminish the Stadium experience for the fans who pay general admission? The new ornate-looking Cathedral style exterior (Thank God they finally found an architect with vision and appreciation for the distant past) is magnificent on the new Stadium slated to open in April, 2009, but, the general admission fan-seats will be reduced even more to 42,000-44,000 people. This means the new Stadium will have 23,000 fewer general admission seats than the original site built in 1923, but it will have close to 1,000 executive suites, and "Premium Seating Areas" for well to do patrons. Hard Rock Cafe, not your regular-person type of venue, already has a lock on the new Stadium and it has not opened yet.
Senior Citizen discounted games are reduced even further in the new Stadium, and won't include August and September 2009 games. General Admission tickets at the new Stadium are 200 per cent more expensive than the ones sold in 2005. 3 general admission seats and say, 3 beers, 3 Cokes, and 3 hot dogs will run you about $300.00 plus parking fees.

The City of New York must build 147 new Senior Centers and they have the money to build them. It is a question of fairness. New York City's congressional delegation should review and consider if they can assign federal funds to build 147 new Senior Centers over the next 10 years. The City of New York has thousands of acres, lots of land that it owns which can be used to construct new Senior Center buildings. Congress should assign federal funds in the form of grants of $100 million dollars each, to non-profits like the Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, Inc. and R.A.I.N. , Well Care, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Touchstone, Health First, to name a few, so they can build new Senior Centers.
They must build from the ground up, and the structures should be at least three stories tall with wheel chair access ramps, elevators, lots of bathrooms, large dining areas, lots of class rooms, lots of Staff office space., lots of air conditioning for the summer months, and good heat for the winter, big activity rooms for special events, senior birthdays, etc, ample parking for seniors , visitors and staff. I would seek environmentally safe wind power for energy. The structures should be built within 3 miles from the nearest bus stop of subway stop. Congress can help us, Congress could assign the federal dollars directly to non profits or the City of New York. I may even run for public office to make some noise about this, maybe for state senator. I would push for tax credits for corporations like Jet Blue, Chase Bank, Microsoft, Smith Frozen Foods, the Yankees, Mets, to underwrite the construction of new Senior Centers. A partnership with business and the non profits can be created, even a consortium to get federal funds for this purpose. This would be worth running for public office to promote, along with safe streets, reduction in crime, more money for police, and when was the last time you saw a public campaign to teach drivers to drive 20 miles per hour on City streets, to use directional signals when turning, keep to the right, etc.? When was the last time you saw the City of New York using the airwaves to promote Cross at the Green, not in between? Of course, I'm, thinking out loud. What do you think? We need new Senior Centers to be built, and the City of New York can find the money, so can the State and the Congress.

Send your protest letters today to :
Mayor Mike Bloomberg,
City Hall,
New York, New York 10007

and
The New York City Council
Attention: Christine Quinn, Speaker
City Hall
New York, N.Y. 10007

James Monroe Senior Center Open House June 20,2008

On Friday June 20, 2008 the James Monroe Senior Center will have it's 46Th anniversary Open House fund raiser.

Above is a photo of our senior center along with the flyer for this event which I created on my home computer.

The days' events will run from 9AM to 3PM for the public to drop by see the Center, and view the exhibits of tables set up at the entrance to the Senior Center.
The presentation ceremony will begin at 1:30PM sharp. We are recognizing James O'Neal, a wonderful advocate of seniors who has spent a life time laboring out of love for the golden age population. We are also honoring Elizabeth Rosado who is a tireless fighter of senior rights, and advocates a healthy life style along with Zenaida Roger of Touchstone Health, herself a peerless leader in the effort to give seniors a larger voice in the corridors of power. We will recognize Juan Tavarez who is a an outstanding supporter of senior rights, whose life reflects the love he has for our Golden Age seniors.

No surprises are anticipated, although I would welcome a nice surprise set of announcements from the huge corporate community in the City of New York.
I would love for the corporate bigwigs to come forward and offer to bankroll our need for a new building. It promises to be a nice day to highlight and show case what the James Monroe Senior Center offers seniors and the community. We need money for our programs and the Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, Inc. needs your financial support today, now, ahora, please.

This is the 9Th Open House I will oversee, and it is probably my last one. I am quite certain of some things that life gives us, and some or most, I can not predict. I do not know if I will be alive one year from now, so if my health holds up, and Heavenly Father feels I can still make some noise on this Earth, then we will all see my rumblings next year. I have lived my life in the service to others, and I am enjoying quite thoroughly the time that God has given me.

Any how, back to the big event. The James Monroe Senior Center has been open to the public since 1962.

The James Monroe Senior Center is administered under contract with the New York City Department for the Aging by the Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, Inc. The Institute has been operating the Center since 1997. The Chief Executive Officer for the Institute is Suleika Cabrera Drinane who founded the Institute in 1977. Suleika is a dynamic, compassionate leader who sees the trees beyond the forest. In my time as Assistant Director of the James Monroe Senior Center, Suleika has given me a free hand, along with My Director Glisette Rivera, who is an outstanding leader always willing to go the extra mile for seniors. I am indebted to Suleika and Glisette, whom I consider dear friends. They put up with me in spite of my grouchy demeanor. I'm a nice Sort of "Oscar the Grouch". meaning, You might greet me with "Hey, it's nice and sunny today", I may say "Aah what's so sunny about this morning?"...but I'll quickly add..."You know what? You're right...it is a nice sunny day indeed." I'm a nice Grouch not a mean Grouch. I have a big soft spot for nice people, children, and the Elderly.

Our senior center is located at 1776 Story Avenue, The Bronx, New York. We need a new structure, so I'm campaigning to get corporations to build us a new state of the art building for seniors and the community. It probably will take upwards of $50,000,000.00 to buy a tract of land and build on the site a three story senior center, but it can be done. I'm hoping to convince Microsoft, JetBlue, TimeWarner, The Yankees, Chase, Sovereign Bank, to kick in money so the Non profit Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, can look forward to getting a new building for all of us to have our seniors go for daily holistic activities. If I don't convince the big companies, maybe I will run for public office and use the effort as a "bully-pulpit" to create awareness via public opnion in support of a new senior center building in The Bronx.

At the James Monroe Senior Center we are renting tables for just $150.00 on Friday June 20, 2008, to various companies, but we need a big infusion of funds to stay a float. I'm sure the Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, Inc., the sponsor agency would not mind it if a big corporation finances the construction of a new building, and puts their corporate name on it. Please help us make this happen.

To all of you who love seniors as I do, please send your donations to Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, Inc. 105 East 22 Street, New York , NY 10022, ATTN: Suleika Cabrera Drinane, CEO, in support of buying land and constructing a new senior center for the James Monroe Seniors.

Maybe the U.S. Congress can buy land for us and donate it to the Institute.
Thank you all for your support of Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, Inc., a wonderful organization. For more information log on to iprhe.org.

To all my friends throughout the U.S.A. please support this worthy endeavor. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Sincerely and gratefully, I am,
Franck Strongbow Red Cloud

I'm Back. Summer 2008 Is Here. It's Hot Out There.

Dear Friends-
I'm back to blogging after a hiatus of a few months. Nothing happened. I was too busy living life and earning a living. Every time I leave my home in the morning I'm usually lucky to see my very nice neighbor who lives across the street, and some times we trade parking spaces because she works far away, and I usually have the alternate-side parking spot she could use, when I'm lucky to see her and her husband is gracious to a fault in a nice quiet way. She is a magnificent Lady who is kind, polite, friendly, and possesses a magnificent aplomb that is fast becoming a thing of the past. God bless her.

Well friends, I'm doing well, yet taking each day at a time. Please stay in touch and comment on this blog when you want to. It's nice to know friends do care. Indeed, I have lost weight, and I know I am living on the time God has given me, so I am trying to sound the clarion call about things that matter to me, even if only two handfuls read my blogs on a given day. I have always promoted niceness, so I do not like rudeness in people who should know better. I don't wear black not because it is not an agreeable color to me, black is beautiful, but because I wear it only for mourning.

I was never a bully so I don't like bullies. I was imbued with a sense of caring and a possession of sensitivity for the feelings of others. In the time when I was a handsome very young man, I dated the young ladies, and once in a while I stole a kiss, but I was never rude, disrespectful or "fresh" with any of them, and they all went away with a good impression of me. Most said, "He's a real nice guy, has good manners, and is very respectful", and they always asked me to go on a date with them because they felt safe, secure, and felt they could have innocent fun around me. I prided myself in knowing them as persons, they were never sex objects to me, and I loved knowing their Moms and Dads, and in turn, they loved me for I was genuinely a nice kid, and parents knew this.

I remember with a measure of somber recollection, the time long ago, when I dated a very nice Jewish girl while I was in High School, and we were quite fond of each other. She liked me immensely and I liked her. I remember she approached me in the cafeteria and said, "Can I sit here?", and I replied, "Sure, you're welcome". We got to talking, and she enjoyed my conversation. I got invited to her home, and her Mom loved me, for she saw I was a good young man at heart, but Dad did not like me. I was not Jewish. I had visited the home a half dozen times before, and he was never friendly to me in my visits. Racial prejudice got the best of him, and he went into a tirade about race, and one night, when I made an intended brief visit, this misguided Jewish Father lobbed racial slurs at me, hurting his daughter's feelings, while stunning his wife as he threw me out of his home, literally pushing me out the door of the apartment in Yorkville, with the hurtful words; "I don't welcome your kind, my daughter will not marry below herself, and don't come back here anymore. Don't let me catch you with my daughter at school!"

I went home shaken, teary-eyed, saying, "What did I do to deserve this, we were just talking." I got it, so I avoided her with much heartache, and I often went home during the first few weeks of that somber Winter, looking over my shoulder fearing her Dad might jump all over me if he even saw me greeting her. In spite of the deep hurt I felt, I moved on with my life. She graduated, kept correspondence with me through the college, years, and by 1974, she had married a Jewish fellow just like her Dad wanted. Time moved forward, and so did life.

Ten years later, I found myself changing trains at a subway station near Houston street on the East Side. There, to my amazement, I heard someone calling my name, and when I turned it was her Dad, approaching with caution, a half smile, and a kind word. "Franck .....my goodness you have gained weight, all these years I have wanted to see you.", he said. "Me? What do you want with me, I was not welcome in your home, remember?", I replied as I offered a delayed, limp handshake in return.

He answered, "I was wrong for what I did and said to you. I am so very sorry I hurt you, and how I hurt my daughter and my wife. I have regretted that day more than you will ever know." I replied with serene words of peace: "It's over, in the past, and we must move on. I have no hard feelings, I forgave you Sir." The gentleman 's eyes welled with tears as he took a few moments to disclose how his daughter had long ago left her husband who had been racially insensitive like him, and cruel to her during the marriage. He commented on the daughter he pushed away from this once-young man who was all too Human, but not Jewish : "She's in Vermont now, lives by herself, and I have always thought of you all these years living with remorse for my cruel words and terrible behavior, I am so sorry I treated you with such disdain." His words spoke to a heartfelt contrition, a sincere remorse, and I felt sorry for him at that moment, sensing he had also lost a lot as I observed the emotional toll his own cruelty took on him, the isolation, the despondency of a daughter who seemed to have put lots of distance between herself and her Dad, and this made me sad for him and for her.

I told him I wished him , his daughter, and his wife well, and that I wanted for his daughter nothing but the best in life. He seemed genuinely surprised that I could wish for him nothing but good things, but life had to go on and I had cast my hand of forgiveness over his memory a short time after his offense to me. I was stunned by his parting remark though: "My daughter probably would have been happy with you, if I had not gotten in the way. I guess I turned the hand of destiny's happiness, away from her, and I will always regret this" he said, as his tears fell. I hugged the now older gentleman.

"Put this behind you Sir, and see how you can make her happy now.", I replied.
With this, we moved in different directions toward our next destination in this journey through life. I never saw him, his wife, or his daughter again.

I have shared this story, so that you can know that I have lived through life's enduring lessons. I hope to find my way to God's Rainbow when the sun does set on my life. When that time comes, I hope those who have cherished my impact on their lives shall feel blessed to have given me the honor of being their friend, and for having shared their lives with me. I have never spoken from a pulpit of high acclaim, nor have I ever made headlines, but if I could be the tallest tree in the forest of wisdom, it would be to promote the peace, bring reconciliation, herald the hope of tomorrow in the future of our great Nation. I hope I am not being partisan in terms of political remarks, but I sense that United States Senator Barack Obama will give us as President of the United States, an America that honors the Elderly by ensuring that their lives will be filled with love, nurturing, and care until the twilight of the evening sun sets on their lives and they levitate to the everlasting embrace of God. Mr. Obama reminds us that our future can not be embarked with any degree of promise, if we do not honor those citizens who gave more than their full measure to make this Nation great for all of us to enjoy freedom, and peace, along with economic prosperity.

Senator Obama gives me that great feeling of hope much like I felt when John F. Kennedy ran for president in 1960, and I was enthralled then by Senator Kennedy's youth and vision for America. I see that vision in Senator Barack Obama, God bless him, and for once in my life time, I feel connected to a future President that is all too human like me. He lives every day, smiling for the promise of the sun as it greets us in the morning, while hurting and crying when we hurt, because he feels the hurts of all Americans. His wife Michelle, like his own children, hold him dearly and preciously in their arms as the caring devoted Husband and Father that he is, and we can cradle him in our arms and hold him in our hearts for a life time. I honor this magnificent American. I feel Senator Obama will leave his imprint on the history and posterity of our Nation like no other American has since the great Lakota-Sioux Chief Red Cloud,Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Geronimo the great Apache Warrior, Louisa May Alcott, Harriet Tubman, Congressman Charles B. Rangel, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Edward Brooke, Mary McCloud Bethune, Marion Anderson, Hattie McDaniel, Shirley Chisholm, Nydia Velasquez, Ellen G. White, Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez, U.S. Senator Dionisio "Dennis" Chavez, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr, Joseph Smith the Mormon prophet, and Brigham Young. When we look back in posterity and recall the everlasting impact that these venerable Americans have had on our Nation, we will also crystallize what Senator Obama has imprinted on the American Landscape.

We can all hold in our hearts, the feeling of honor that comes to all with deep gratitude for United States Senator John McCain as the great patriot that he is, and a superb United States Senator from the great state of Arizona. Senator McCain honors America by his service in the hallowed halls of the United States Senate, and for his undaunted courage in the face of great and terrible adversity as a prisoner of war during the era of the War in Vietnam.

And so we move on.....

Please know that I will put up a more improved set of blogs with animated characters soon. My wonderful and lovely daughter Marisol who is quite the computer-Trekkie is helping me with this part, and she pledges that I will have one of those cool web sites before too long.

June, 2008 in New York has been pleasant except for 3 days we had: June 3rd, 4Th, 5Th, which were 91-99 degrees days...when the mercury went up quite badly. Hopefully we will not experience any meltdowns this summer. Yes I'm back.
Summer 2008 is here, and boy it's hot out there. Let's hope for a nice pleasant Summer. and stay cool out there. Remember to stay in touch and keep smiling.

Talking To You Through This, My Space

Talking To You Through This , My Space.

I have always believed in the healing power of friendship that is predicated on nurturing good will, honest dialogue, and giving of one's self to help others, and to be a real friend, meaning, one can tell a friend what they need to know, not what they want to hear.
We can agree to disagree without being disagreeable.
Yes indeed. I love freedom of choice.
My journey through life has taken me many places. As I continue the research on the book of a lifetime, about a 19Th century individual who shaped the destiny of the United States, I think of the Women and Men who carved foot prints in the sands of time, and etched their everlasting legacy on posterity.
I see every venue that brings one close to a good friend or a new friend, as useful, as long as it is not a road that takes anyone on a path of ill-will or brings bad tidings. Some of my acquaintances have ventured into the Internet forays of MySpace, You Tube, and the Blogs. These are all good mediums. I have met many kind and interesting people on this Internet journey. Please know that my heart is in the right place if I come knocking at the door of your heart's well of friendship .
To make matters interesting on this journey, I am using the pseudonym of the "Author" whose name will go on that book, so don't look or feel surprised if the name starts with an E and ends with an R. Writers like me do that . Remember the author of all those great children's books of the 1950s and 60s? Dr. Seuss was not his real name, but we loved the characters he wrote about all the same, and we loved him for this. Who knows, you may wind up helping me write several chapters, or that last great chapter in the book. Publication is in late 2009. That's all I'll say about the book's deadline. Think of the lasting friendship that can be made on such a journey.

I'm a journeyman writer. If I knock on your door in this journey through life, be assured that I bring a friendship carved by a legacy and tradition that goes back many ages. My friendship is pure, clean, harmless, caring, good natured, and imbued with compassion.
Know that my heart is always in the mindset of doing good for others, promoting and doing random acts of kindness. Being nice costs you nothing and pays off in lots of affection and reciprocal kindness and gratitude, even when we do not want anything in return for being nice.
Can a Man be nice without being "fresh"? Absolutely! Can Men be caring, polite and compassionate without falling into stereotypes of "misplaced" machismo? Yes! Can a Man say to a Lady without regard to her age as long as she is 21 or over , "That's a pretty dress", and mean just that, nothing more?" Indeed.

I see the glass half full when others see it half empty.
I believe in personal redemption for those persons often scorned or turned away by the cruel hand of bigotry, innuendo, indifference, arrogance, or ignorance.
Do I like humor? Yes indeed. Do I understand there is a time and a place for everything as the Book of Ecclesiastes tells us in the Holy Scriptures? Yes. So if I am at a party, I rejoice with those who rejoice, and if I must attend a funeral, I solemnly weep with those who weep.
Life is wonderful. Let's be friends. Let me be a friend to you. Tell me what can I do for you to make your life more live able, to help improve your life, as you also enhance mine by your friendship. I'm not perfect, I don't know it all, don't need to a be a "know it all" either. I have many flaws, faults for sure.
But my heart is in the right place. If I have said a word of hurt to anyone, or my knock on the door to your life has been not to your liking? Please forgive me. I came in peace and in honest and selfless friendship. If I do not fit into your life as a friend? I"ll understand too, so go in peace with my prayers, and if you do not wish to hear from me again? I'll abide by your wishes and I will walk out of your life, into the posterity of the future and I will quickly become for you a figure from the past, never to be heard from again. I have never applauded naked cruelty toward any one, and I will never laugh or gloat over the misery of others. We are all beautiful on the inside, and all of us, every Human Being deserves a second chance at redemption. Let Heavenly Father walk with you, talk with you, and cradle you in His loving arms. In the forest of wisdom, the light that shines upon our lives comes from within our hearts, and this light shows the content of our character and the Heavenly Father's abiding love in us.

So smile, Heavenly Father loves you, and I love you all.
What do you think? Let me know.
I send my greetings to the Clawsons, the Farrs, the Archibolds, the Shaffers, the Ellsworths, Bishop Brignoni, Senator Gordon Smith. Marisol, Melody, Maria, Johnny, Henry O.

Thomas S. Monson, God's Prophet For All Time.

This photograph of President Thomas S. Monson was copied with great reverence and profound respect.

The photo published above this note is published with special thanks to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It was downloaded with reverence from the lds.org site. We are grateful to have the honor of publishing the Salt Lake Temple on this site.




This photo was taken June, 2004 at the Open House of the new Manhattan-New York Temple in New York City, N.Y. Let to right: U.S. Senator Gordon H. Smith, Strongbow Red Cloud, Ms. Neliza Cruise, U.S. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada and his wife Landra. Photo was taken by Jason Howell and given as a gift to Mr. Strongbow.







Dear Friends:
With a voice that was moved by Heavenly Father's prompting, our President and Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thomas S. Monson exhorted us this day (Sunday April 6, 2008) in Conference, to be kind, and to show respect for those whose religious faith is different from ours, and who show cultural differences from those we espouse. President Monson inspired us to see the beauty in every Human Being, and to bring our kindness to bear on all our neighbors.
He has often and lovingly spoken of those moving experiences in his life that helped shape the content of his own character, and thankfully, President Monson is a Prophet who walks with
Heavenly Father whispering into his ear. I am impressed by the sheer humanity of President Monson, and I am immensely moved by his unpretentious, humble manner.

Conference today was in 2 parts. For those of us who are members of the Church, the heartwarming call by our Prophet, is the clarion call to bring this Gospel of the last dispensation to every Nation, kindred and tongue. President Monson reminded us of Christ's everlasting assurance that He would bear our burden and care for us by citing Mathew chapter 11 , verse 28 which says: "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I shall give you rest." This scriptural verse reminds us that in spite of life's challenges and burdens, we are truly loved and cared-for by our Savior Jesus Christ, and His yoke is for us to partake of, for His burden is easy.

When life comes at you with tornado-like trials, and tribulations set in, we can take hope in our Savior's promise to help us bear our burdens and bring us through the fire of perfection time and again. President Monson called on us to share our burdens and to muster the courage to be there for one another. We are very grateful for this very inspiring message from our beloved Prophet. It would be for me, an honor, to one-day, meet President Monson and make his acquaintance.

Let us strive to heed the Prophet's counsel, and to serve others in a manner that glorifies our Heavenly Father, and makes manifest, the serene image of Christ.

I say these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts on Conference. Thank you for reading this.

For more information on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, log on to lds.org

Where Are We Going As A Nation?

Where Are We Going As A Nation?

Our economy is in the doldrums, to say the least, and things look bleak down the line. I do not mean to sound like a worry wort but, the economy is tanking...sliding into a recession that is mimicking a depression. The "stimulus rebate" checks that more than 170 million Americans are waiting to receive beginning in May, 2008 will do little to turn things around except for a momentary boost.

Our tax dollars were used a few days ago by the Federal Reserve Bank in New York (Week of March 20-26, 2008), to bail out Wall Street banking- lion Bear Stearns to the tune of billions of dollars! They speculated, gambled, ....and we paid the bill. What do you think of this? When was the last time the Federal Reserve Bank bailed you out of your mortgage-debt? Never! The Fed says it was necessary to bail-out Bear Stearns to prevent a major run on Wall Street and the economy.
Congress bailed out Chrysler Corporation in the 1970s even as it did nothing to stave off bankruptcy for the City of New York in 1974! How do you feel about the federal government using your tax money to bail out Wall Street bankers and big business, while ignoring your ills altogether?
Why are we so indifferent it seems, to the pain of our families? We can do more for one another.
But...let's see what can be done to help our National economy.
Private enterprise can step in and do more to pump up the National economy. Government intervention is often saddled with a price tag at the end of the crisis. Once everyone cashes that "economic stimulus" check, we can anticipate a rise in our taxes some time around the year 2010 or 2012. They will make us pay for the money we got...by taxing it out of us down the line. You will see this sooner or later. New York State is tanked. We will be in the red fiscally for a few years. One way to pump up the economy is to raise the cigarette tax at the federal level so a pack of cigarettes costs up to $15.00 and we use the money to fund health research to combat the cancer rates that have soared from habitual use of cigarettes, which will create thousands of research jobs. Take the "Sin Taxes" on Rum and boost them to levels the equivalent of the booze- bottle-cost itself, and you will find more money for research to aid the campaign against alcoholism. If we do this nationally, raise the cigarette and rum taxes, we will pump 1 Trillion dollars into the economy.

If we end the War in Iraq and Afghanistan in three years, we will start reducing the federal debt by about 50 billion dollars a year over the next 20 years. If the National government stops parceling off, meaning, selling off our National services to foreign interests, like the postal jobs at your local post office, to countries like China, we could reverse our unemployment numbers from up to down...meaning...we can actually create more jobs for Americans. Contracting our ports to foreign interests for millions, does us national harm in terms of security and we lose jobs that Americans should have had in the first place.
Take all the state lotteries and sell them to private companies! The government should not be in the business of encouraging gambling vices. Such sales or "Leases" of the state lotteries to private companies for 10-20 years per-lease, could rake in about 500 billion dollars annually for the National economy.
If we end all government subsidies and anti-trust protections to private monoliths like Major League Baseball, Pro-Football, Pro-Basketball, Pro This, Pro-That, we can actually save about 900 million a year in real money!
If we abolish the IRS, we can save billions of dollars by moving to a flat tax structure system.
We should stop taxing senior citizens after they turn 65 years of age! What do I mean?
Seniors should get FREE medicine, FREE Health care once they turn 65 years of age.
We should not require seniors to pay 30 per cent of their monthly income to keep an apartment in a federally subsidized public housing project or senior residence! Let's reduce this to less than 5 percent of their monthly income. Let's help our seniors keep more of their hard to live-on social security checks.
Social Security Fund: Start taking social security taxes from working teens at age 15 . This will help fund the Social Security Trust Fund, and will keep it in place 50 years from now.
Take the Federal Reserve Bank and vest it with powers to impose fines and seek prosecution of any lender , bank, institution who engages in fraud or speculative fraud.
Impose a 20 year moratorium on foreign investment in the U.S. A. meaning, don't let any foreign government buy our government bonds!
Tell China, Russia and any Nation that bullies us with imports that tip the scales heavily in favor of these Nations, that we will not accept their imports to the U.S. A. and are prepared to impose a 5 year moratorium -an embargo- stopping their imports...until... they let the U.S.A. level the playing field!
End the subsidies to the tobacco industry. This lucrative private enterprise has received one welfare subsidy after another for over 100 years from taxpayers thanks to the federal government! Enough already! we will save 900 million dollars a year, and surely help improve the health of all Americans , and our next generation will learn NOT TO SMOKE!
Mortgage foreclosures now underway, and the Mortgage mess of today should be dealt with by prosecuting the mortgage dealers who sold bad mortgages to unwitting families by inflating their numbers in terms of salary and income. The mortgage mess should be handled by the federal government by decreeing that all interest -rate on these bad mortgages is now at ZERO, and that all arrears owed on these secondary mortgages is FORGIVEN!
They just bailed out Bear Stearns with your tax money, and they did a lot of business in this mortgage fiasco, so you should be bailed out too.
Let's reinforce family values and faith-based initiatives, and reaffirm our faith in God. The principles upon which this Nation was founded are based on sacred Biblical truths. And remember this, you can't go around walking the walk of the righteous if you're going to walk and talk like you see nothing remiss with the "low-down and dirty...cussing and swearing", that a lot of so called faith keepers indulge in. I've seen a lot of Mormons saying "That S- - -ks!" You can't wear the breastplate of righteousness while promulgating and practicing the "lowest common denominator" in your home. If your children hear you swearing and cursing, what will they think of your church worship and your efforts to instill in them the value of going to church and of being faith-keepers? Perhaps they'll learn the double message that it's a joke to you as you want to be "righteous" when you want to be, that's what.
Living a righteous life means we walk the walk, and talk the talk, without middle grounds. You either are cold or hot. I have never dignified the behavioral practice of hypocrisy. You can't hate a person, promote hatred, while taking sacrament in your church on the Sabbath! You cant' go to Temple, or ...to Sunday worship, and practice cruelty and insolence to any one who has done no wrong to you simply because you do not like that person! In this case, examine your heart, and what you are doing in Church, and find out why it's become a daily dalliance of irrational aberration, for you to live one life in Church , and another outside the Church. You can do better. I too can do better. Heavenly Father needs you to be righteous in the fullness of the Gospel. Please don't indulge in "religion of convenience". Look inside your heart.
Our Nation was formed by the breath of revolution which was born from being enslaved by an antique colonial empire that once controlled our continent from far away shores. The Revolution of 1776-1783 gave rise to the greatest Nation on God's earth, the United States of America. Not surprisingly the founding "Fathers" of this Nation named our Land "United" just like the colonial empire that ruled us is called the United Kingdom.
In 1789 we cap stoned our National government by incorporating the imperial presidency. Our first president George Washington was elected by a chosen few delegates who spoke for the privileged families of that day, to be our Nation's first president. In 1789 only the wealthy families could read and write, and could afford private education of their children. Public eduction as we know it conceptually today, did not exist then. Most if not all of the 6 million citizens of the new United States of 1789 were illiterate and they lived on frontier land. From 1789 through the time of president James Monroe, the president was addressed as Your Excellency, and each president up until the 11Th president James K. Polk, was addressed formally in this manner. Public election of the president by the common people, did not commence until the time of Andrew Jackson in 1828.
In 1812 the Colonial Empire (The United Kingdom) launched an invasion of the former colony hoping to recapture the "United States". They failed because Americans were determined to live free of the Colonial Empire, and because friendly Indian tribes, and the French government once again helped us stay free of British hegemony much like they helped us in 1776-1783 during the Revolutionary War.
Today we are friends with our former colonizers and this is a nice thing, except when the British attempt to calibrate our foreign and domestic policy and influence our National elections.
Yes it's true that former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who governed Great Britain from 1979 until 1991, has a home in Texas.
Our Nation practiced slavery in one the most terrible chapters of our history and racial segregation was open and prevalent up until some would say 1968. Today racial segregation still exists in our colleges where you can see how students mingle only and mostly with members of their own race, with a few exceptions. Housing is still sold on the basis of race and class to perpetuate racial segregation. There exists today an usual effort at promulgating inclusion by hiring only Women to the exclusion of Men, at many workplace settings even when the laws of the Land forbid discrimination based on sex. Those who practice this form of discrimination usually tend to have a "so-what" attitude because Men "controlled every thing for so long, and still control" policy and government in this Nation and in the World in general. So this justifies this modern form of discrimination? Do I want to vote for and elect a Woman president? Yes emphatically!
But not the candidate on the National high-beam at this time. Since 1988 two families have ruled and governed this Country for the last 20 long years! Enough already !!!
That's how I feel. You can disagree with me.
Our Nation is great and magnificent. We can make it greater and we can make it the beacon of light to the World. We must love our Nation, cherish this great Land, show tolerance for Americans of different nationalities, and colors, and see mistreatment and abuse of undocumented aliens as a cruel aberration that we must not condone. They are Human Beings created in the image of God. They are looking for work honestly, looking to feed their families, to bring the full measure of the American dream to their innocent children. Undocumented aliens are the innocent and cruel victims of fate. If a child , say, an "illegal alien child", were to knock on your door and ask for a glass of water or a piece of bread out of hunger, who among you would deny that child a piece of bread or a cup of water? Can anyone be that cruel and indifferent ? Not me!! Let's' show compassion and tolerance, please. We all love this great land. We must fight terror as long as it takes until the enemies of freedom and liberty finally learn we are not afraid. Let freedom ring. Where are we going as a Nation? For me the answer is onward ever upward.
God loves you. I love you all.
What do you think? Let me know. Thanks for reading this.

Puerto Rico Governor Acevedo Vila Is Indicted.

On Thursday March 27, 2008, the 110 year old territorial relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico which began on July 25, 1898, took a serious hit when the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Hon. Anibal Acevedo Vila, (a democrat), was indicted recently on federal charges by the (republican) interim U.S. Attorney in Puerto Rico, whose office waged a protracted probe of some 8-10 years, often overlapping the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth government in a manner that raises legitimate questions about the cost to U.S. taxpayers of this probe that netted approximately 12 individuals who received indictments.
It is interesting to note, that when Governor Acevedo Vila appeared for the arraignment, the federal judge presiding over the Arraignment was flown in from the state of Maine out of long held concerns that the U.S. District Court in San Juan, Puerto Rico has allegedly become a political clubhouse for the pro-statehood- oriented New Progressive Party (Partido Nuevo Progresista). Federal judge Margaret Kravchuk of Maine, did not require that the Governor be shackled or hand cuffed upon entering the Federico Degetau federal building in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico yesterday. Bail was not demanded, and the Judge did not require the Governor to surrender his passport. The Governor entered a plea of "not guilty". He has hired the services of the very able and experienced defense attorney Thomas Green, a respected Washington, D.C. trial lawyer.

It remains to be seen what will happen in the trial. The indictment has clearly dealt a death-blow to the Commonwealth-status itself, and to the sovereignty of the Commonwealth Constitution which had been approved in 1952 by Congress and the voters of Puerto Rico following a Constitutional Assembly. Many of the legal areas touched on by the long arm of the federal government in this matter, are issues that the Commonwealth Courts can and should have been allowed to address in their Courts. Until the trial is over and a verdict is reached, I will not make any remarks about the Governor of Puerto Rico, nor will I cast any aspersions on him in this terrible time for him and his family. I will not join the cruel chorus of detractors who have jumped on the bandwagon blasting noise and clatter that "kicks" the Governor when he is down. Cruelty is the order of the day it seems. I pity all who indulge in this insidiousness.

It is not lost on many citizens who see and suggest there could be the appearance of a taint or a politically motivated witch hunt designed to bring down democratic governors throughout the United States and Territories. This lamentable indictment in Puerto Rico suggests a political vendetta directed against the Governor of Puerto Rico who is a pro commonwealth advocate, and who had protested the tragic circumstances in the death of a pro-independence renegade advocate who died by gunfire at the hands of the FBI when they allegedly raided his home a few years ago. The Governor had directed his Secretary of Justice (Attorney General) to investigate the tragedy, and to subpoena the FBI agents who were implicated in the death of Filiberto Ojeda Rios.
The Governor had also previously (2007) sent a pointed letter to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice several months ago, asking her to clarify if the United States had in fact "lied" to the World in 1952 when it told the United Nations that the creation of Commonwealth-status for Puerto Rico ended it's colonial status of then, and thus did not require the U.S. to report annually on the "progress" of Puerto Rico as was the protocol of the U.N. at that time in our history. The federal government's involvement in Puerto Rico in the 1930s, 40s, 50s was often violent, and some times tragic.

The Governor has also previously claimed with ample evidence of press clips and TV reports that he was subjected to a concerted effort of unprecedented press leaks attributed to the U.S. Attorney's office in San Juan, designed to heighten speculation and turn public opinion against him, in regard to the Grand Jury inquiry into the Governor's fund raising practices when he ran for Resident Commissioner to Congress in 2000 and for Governor in 2004.

Many observers who watched the drama unfold on Thursday March 27, 2008 in San Juan, Puerto Rico have been publicly asking:
1-Is the motive behind the indictment of the Governor of Puerto Rico designed to shatter Commonwealth status once and for all, and to force statehood, while destroying Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila in the process?
2-When Governor Acevedo Vila won election as Governor in November, 2004, a federal judge who was a dinner friend of the defeated "republican" candidate for Governor, "coincidentally" was assigned to the case -suit filed by the defeated candidate, and he held up a recount that was already underway, some have suggested this was so, to buy time for his friend, in the hope that the defeated candidate could find the votes to be declared the "Winner". The federal Appeals Court of Boston stepped into the matter, probably suspicious of an "attempted fix" and overruled the local federal judge, while publicly citing his "abuse of discretion", and Governor Acevedo Vila was declared the winner of the 2004 gubernatorial election.
3-Does it really make any sense to have the federal government bullying the Commonwealth government in a way that shows Orwellian arrogance, condescension that is neither necessary or fair, while displaying such outward and brazen contempt for the Laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in a manner that is so disrespectful of the special relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico?
4- Two pro-statehood advocates goaded the local FBI and US Dept of Justice to conduct a federal probe of the Governor, which resulted in his indictment on March 27, 2008. Many are openly asking: Is the office of the U. S. Attorney in Puerto Rico at the beck and call of one particular political group in Puerto Rico ? The fact that the feds pursued the probe at the request of two statehood advocates does this taint the indictments handed down yesterday? Does this kind of pursuit of the Governor not show a vengeful process of pursuit that is selective in prosecution?
5-Should the federal government make incursions that interfere with the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico's system of Laws and ordinances?
The federal government at any level, should not impose its' will on the People of Puerto Rico under the color of an "indictment", and if Commonwealth-status must end, should this not be the prerogative of the People of Puerto Rico in consultation with the Congress? If democracy is the sacred protocol of enacting Laws with the consent of the governed, shouldn't the federal government allow for democracy to play out this process where Puerto Rico is concerned?
5-The Indictment was announced just 8 months before the next election for Governor. Was this done to deliberately help the PNP candidate for governor of Puerto Rico and to push the tide of public opinion in favor of the statehood party? The candidate for governor of the statehood party was instrumental in pushing the nomination of the current interim U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the Governor, and who is seeking to be permanently appointed as U. S. Attorney by Congress.
6-The sovereignty of the Commonwealth Territory of Puerto Rico warrants no role or interference by the federal government in local matters. This has been a long standing principle for over 200 years, and a benchmark that guides most of our states especially in the South West United States where our citizens publicly resent the Orwellian incursions of the federal government in their local matters. It is the guiding principle long defended by our American Indian tribes who denounce the technical and often supercilious incursions on their sovereignty as Nations, by agencies of the federal government. The U.S. Attorney firings in the U.S. points to what appears by some critics as a pattern of selective prosecution of democratic governors. Even George Washington and Thomas Jefferson warned that the federal government must never be allowed to become a tyranny in and of itself over the citizens that gave birth to our system of laws.

Puerto Rico's Jurisdiction Appears To Be
Under Unfair, Unwarranted Intrusion By The Federal Government.

We recall how a few years ago, a federal district judge in Puerto Rico interloped his way into a local election matter and he brazenly interfered with a local election where a candidate who was "republican" like the judge, was defeated , and the judge interceded in a manner that was highly unusual and unethical for a federal judge. Since at least the year 1993, the role of the federal government in the internal matters of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has increased by over 500 percent. Pro-commonwealth supporters in the Popular Democratic Party appear to be targeted for scrutiny in a manner that is unprecedented by the federal government.
Even White House efforts to discredit Commonwealth-status point to what appears to be a concerted effort to discredit Commonwealth, "by any means necessary".
The cruelty of one pro statehood advocate's arrogance is glaring in the recent indictment of the Governor of Puerto Rico. It is truly sad and the height of arrogance for the republican candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuno to be casting stones of aspersion on the Governor. Surprisingly, this individual too is under scrutiny by the U.S. Dept. of Justice in regard to his own fund raising activities. Not surprisingly, the interim U.S. attorney in Puerto Rico who is a counting on the republican candidate for governor to get her a permanent designation as U.S. Attorney, has interestingly recused herself from that probe.
Is this what that office has become? A peddler of deals where inncoent citizens are prosecuted in what appears to be an effort to advance a career or enhance a republican office holders' chances of becoming governor of Puerto Rico in November, 2008 by smearing the democratic governor of Puerto Rico?
It was Jesus Christ who exhorted us to remember when we become possessed of condescending arrogance to cast judgment on others in their time of misery to remember Christs' Scriptural exhortation: "He who is without sin, may cast the first stone." Demagoguery is the bench mark of those who have no compassion.

I am praying for the Governor and his family and for all the others implicated in this terrible saga. I am probably not in the "popular majority" who has called for Governor Acevedo Vila to resign now. An indictment is a formal charge of accusation where a bill of particulars in tendered with the charges laid out. The discharge of his duties as Governor are not disabled by the indictment, and if he has legal counsel, it is really the prerogative of the Governor of Puerto Rico if he feels he can stay in office during this tumultuous time. I will not throw stones at him as others have been doing since yesterday.

I have never met the Governor of Puerto Rico, but I sense he is a good man with a compassionate heart. May our Heavenly Father guide him and protect him, and may he give the full measure of his worth during this trying time in his life, God bless him.
Let the ends of justice take their course. If any one subverted our Laws, they will eventually answer for their malfeasance. The Governor of Puerto Rico must answer the charges. Until then, I suggest we keep an objective mindset.
What do you think? Let me know your opinions and thoughts.
Even those found in the wanting on the scales of justice can also hear what Isaiah the Prophet said: "And ye shall seek me, and ye shall find me when ye shall seek me with all of thine heart." Amen.
Thanks for reading my comments.

Please remember my friends:

I love the United States of America, and I will always be a voice for patriotism, peace, and for peaceful dissent in the redress of grievances.
Freedom of speech is sacred, and is a protected right under our Constitution.