I can’t imagine that there are many people in this nation who have not heard, at least some part of the George Zimmerman murder trail.

This is the trial in which a member of a neighborhood watch has been accused of second degree murder of a seventeen year old African-American male.

The case has drawn national attention due to the fact that Zimmerman has also been accused of racially profiling Martin the night of the shooting.

As is often the case, anytime a case involves a black victim and a non-black accused perpetrator, the race baiters come out of the woodwork. This includes the media that is drooling in anticipation of violence if a not guilty verdict is handed down. It also includes some well known celebrities and activist within the African-American community.

One example is the actor Jamie Fox who showed up at an awards ceremony wearing a Trayvon Martin T-shirt and referencing his recent violent film, “Django Unchained”, when saying that the nation was about to have its own “Django moment”.

Many in Florida and around the nation are preparing for the type of violence seen after the trial of the police officers who were accused of beating Rodney King, and the innocent verdict that was handed down. Still others actually seem to be adding fuel to the fire in hopes of creating such a response.

This has become a far too common  commentary on the race relation within this nation. On the one hand you have a media that longs for this type of senseless violence in response to what the African – American community sees as their inability to deal with the forces of justice in a manner that does not include violence. On the other hand you have people within that community, that have based their livelihood upon constantly stirring the racial boiling pot until the lid boils off.

There is also a portion of responsibility for the white community, for not always recognizing the unique situation in which the African -American community sees itself, based on the history of slavery in this country.

Cases such as the Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman case are tinderboxes awaiting a match, and unfortunately their are more than enough people, who are more than willing to strike that match for their own selfish reasons. Again, their are people from both the white and African-American communities who are willing to pour gasoline on the kindling and strike the match.

While the Trayvon Martin case has captured the national imagination, we here in Delaware need only look to our capital city of Dover to find a similar case in which both whites and blacks, both local and outside forces, are attempting to stir the racial boiling pot in a case that has many questions, yet to be answered, and why? Well I think in some of these cases, it is to forward personal agendas, and in other cases it is to self promote either themselves or their organizations, or both.

In Dover the controversy revolves around the two bodies of black men, found hanging from trees, and an alleged attempt to hang a third man. In the two case where the men were dead, there is still questions about whether or not they were suicides or lynchings, in the case of the alleged attempt to hang the third man, there are questions about his story of being attacked by two white men. The story also includes pamphlets that were dropped on the streets of Dover containing racially offensive material.

Now it would be very easy to focus on the cases, but my concern here is the act of using these tragedies to forward agendas and political aspirations.

Here is a video from a group by the name of “War On the Horizon”, or WOH.  In the video a member of WOH “questions” the alleged victim of the alleged attempted lynching, Henry Fordham.  Notice the leading way in which the interview is handled.

Now that interview seems rather tame doesn’t it? No real agenda there is there?  Well how about this statement from the website of WOH?

“War on the Horizon (WOH) is a Haitianist organization created for the purpose of preparing Black people worldwide for an unavoidable, inevitable clash with the white race.  whites around the world are absolutely determined to exterminate Afrikan people in all corners of the Earth.

As a result of this reality, WOH has dedicated our time and expertise to properly educating Black people to prepare for Racial Warfare.  This includes intellectual, spiritual, psychological, and physical preparation for a global clash that will mean the end of white rule on this planet or the end of the Black Race as we know it.”

  Or what about the WOH Creed?

 “Afrikan people are an international racial family who share a common: homeland (Afrika), Racial origin, culture, destiny, and a bitter enemy – the white race. We are challenged by our common destiny to eradicate the system of racism white supremacy and its benefactors in order to establish righteous Black Dominion over Planet Earth.

We are mandated by our Creator to return to our proper status as rulers of this world.  It is within the full rights and responsibility of every member of the Black world family to see to it that this ultimate goal is achieved so that we may once again restore peace and prosperity to Planet Earth under the divine and just leadership of God’s first people – The Black man, woman, and child of Afrika.

May our Black Brothers and Sisters see eternal progress,

May our International friends reap the benefits of refined Black leadership and,

May all of our global enemies perish by means of our Black swords.

 Amen Ra!

 War on the Horizon

We’ll See You on the Battlefield!”

Here is a link to their website if you think I am making any of this up.  http://waronthehorizon.com/site/

All of this sounds very much like white supremacist and KKK rhetoric to me.

So as you can see you have these outside agitators coming in with their hate filled agenda and attempt to further complicate and incite a situation that is already volatile.

But truly we don’t need outside agitators to do this, since we have people right here in our own local communities that are willing to play the role of agitators.

One is a former Delaware State University professor, Dr. Jahi Issa, who has had his own racial run ins with the law, and who seems to be more interested in what divides us, rather than what unites us. He spends a lot of time running around yelling “racism” at every turn.

The other is a former losing candidate for the state General Assembly, Douglass W. Beatty, who is also a member of the Independent Party of Delaware, who along with another losing former candidate, and IPod member and wanna-be journalist, Don Ayotte, have taken these cases on as a cause, for whatever reason, and seem to be riding them for whatever they are worth.

Here is another video from WOH in which Mr. Beatty is “interviewed” by the same member of WOH about his, “INVESTIGATION” of the controversy surrounding the cases.

Take note that Mr. Beatty offers no real facts or evidence, he speaks of “hearing about”, and talking to a reporter, and of knowing things that he isn’t going to talk about. In the end Mr. Beatty says nothing at all, all the while inferring that two black men were lynched, and a third was attempted.

In the Trayvon Martin case justice is running its course the way our system of justice was meant to be, the problem is that there are people who will paint any verdict other than guilty of second degree murder as a travesty, and will incite others to violence.

In the cases of the alleged lynchings, and the alleged attack in Dover, Delaware there are people who are attempting to circumvent justice also. They seek to plaster the public square with innuendo and supposition in order to promote themselves and to further divide two communities that already have a problem trusting each other.

This post is not about the cases of Trayvon Martin and the Dover incidents, it is about the shameless trivializing of them by those people who want only the limelight for themselves.

Work has been busy (always a good thing) and so I have been lax in my posting of new articles. Please feel free to bring up any topics that are news worthy, or that you feel deserve a discussion. Please respect the rules of the site as posted on our rules page.

Well Sussex County is again at the center of a controversy. This time it involves the New Covenant Presbyterian Church and a request to hold an event at the Band Stand on Rehoboth Avenue in Rehoboth, De.

Pastor Robert Dekker sent in a request for a permit to city manager, Gregory J. Ferrese and received this response, “I am so sorry to inform you that I cannot grant your request to have church services on the public beach in Rehoboth. I cannot mix Church and State”.

After being denied the use of the Band Stand, the Pastor asked about using the beach, and was also told that because it was a religious event they would be denied the use of any public area.

In my opinion Mr. Ferrese was correct, he could not grant Pastor Dekker’s request, nor could he deny it, because in my opinion the city has no authority to prohibit anyone from using the public beach based solely on their religious affiliation.

The fact that other groups use the Band Stand and beach area clearly shows a bias against religious groups in Mr. Ferrese’s decision-making process. One also has to ask how this  squares with the fact that there is a yearly Easter Sunrise Service event held in Rehoboth, also weddings are held on the public beach routinely, are these not religious events?

In my opinion Pastor Dekker had no need to seek a permit, or permission from the city, he and his flock could have simply shown up at the beach and held their event. But by seeking to do what he felt was right, he allowed the city to have authority over his actions. My view is, if a group of people, say around a hundred or so, decide to go to the beach, and they assemble peacefully, and do not impede others from using the beach, and do not break any laws or ordinances, why do they need a permit? Oh! And if they happen to say a few prayers while there, who have they hurt?

So this now brings me to the rest of the story. Enter local activist, and businessman, Christian Hudson. Mr. Hudson learned of the denial of the churches request and has taken it up as a cause. Mr. Hudson is known locally for being outspoken on issues involving faith and politics. Mr. Hudson is extremely motivated and bright. He has sent out flyers announcing that Pastor Dekker will preach a sermon on the Fourth of July, on Rehoboth Beach in defiance of tyranny, the sermon is to be titled, “A Line In The Sand”.

But it doesn’t stop there, this story has now gathered national attention in the form of Glenn (the carny)Beck, who is talking and writing about the event in defiance of tyranny.

I believe that Pastor Dekker and his congregation have every right to use the public beach for any peaceful reason they choose. I believe Mr. Ferrese has gotten it wrong in becoming involved at all, and certainly for stating that the church cannot use the beach.

I am however concerned, that what was originally intended to be a moment to honor our Lord and Savior, will now be turned into nothing more than a, “hey look at me”, moment.

Thanks to the national attention, what was likely to be a hundred or so local people, could swell to thousands of people from around the region and even the nation. Also, I would have liked to see how the city of Rehoboth handled the fact that Pastor Dekker intended to show up anyway, without all the outside pressure. Would the police have been ordered to disperse the congregation?  Would people have actually been arrested? Or would the city simply have waited to see if there were actually any issues stemming from the gathering?

We will never know now, because the Glenn Beck style “Circus Olay” has come to town, and I believe now that this will most likely end badly for all involved.

If Pastor Dekker is truly moved to do this, then he should. If on the other hand, this has somehow gotten away from him, he should seek guidance from prayer and ask himself why this is now happening the way it is.

Is it just me? Or is anyone else as weary of all the conspiracy theories as I am?

It seems that not an issue can be discussed, or a story told, that does not somehow end with the most sinister  contrivance of intent on someone’s part.

As  a conservative, it is particularly troubling that most of these, “theories”, seem to begin and end with, and from,  people who self describe themselves as conservatives, and or “patriots”.

It would seem that some of these people can’t simply debate an issue, nor discuss a problem, based on known facts and reasonable assumptions. These people are either a bit off-center, or they are deliberately attempting to excite and exercise others with their tales of impending doom.

There are any number of issues that will set off the doomsday tattlers.  But of course there are certain issues that are their oldies but goodies hit list.

One of their favorites here in Delaware is the so-called sheriff’s issue. This involves the attempt by the current Sussex County Sheriff to return the office of the sheriff back to what he considers to be its original function, and is seeking arrest authority and other powers that actual law enforcement agencies have.

This has drawn the Sussex County Council and the Delaware General Assembly into an ongoing dispute with Sheriff Jeff Christopher in which the Council and the G A  seem aligned to retain the sheriff’s office as merely an office to handle foreclosures, sheriff’s sales and the serving of court documents.

Many believe that this is simply a case of the County Council not wanting to pay the increased cost of funding the expansion of the sheriff’s office and the duties that such an expansion would entail. As for the state’s part, clearly there is a power struggle, the state would not want to have to deal with three new law enforcement jurisdictions, that would clearly confuse the issue of who responds to what and when.

Now enter the doomsday tattlers! For them it cannot be as simple as funding and jurisdiction, for them it is an attempt to rob us of our Liberty by a tyrannical state government, and the County Council is but a willing tool of the tyrant. We are to believe, if we are to believe the tattlers, that if the county sheriff does not have arrest powers, that it will be only a matter of time before President Obama sends in federal troops and starts hauling us away to camps.

It would seem as though the federal government is simply waiting for the law suit filed by Sheriff Christopher to run its course, and then the feds will storm the gates of Delaware and impose martial law. They will confiscate all guns, they will force us to eat our veggies, and no one will be allowed to say anything negative about Pres. Obama.

Gun confiscation is another of the oldies but goodies that the tattlers love to sit up late at night, with flashlights under their chins, and tell stories to their children about how the big bad government is going to come and kick in the door of their homes and  take away all their hunting rifles, and bazookas!

Of course this is again because of tyranny. The tyrannical government has to take away our guns first, before they can begin to place us in camps.

Here in Delaware HB 88 has gotten a lot of attention. This is a bill that deals with background checks and mental illness. Of course the tattlers are running around saying that this is just the first step in placing the people of Delaware in chains and enslaving us all under the boot of the governor. And of course once again the federal government is waiting at the border for HB 88 to pass, so that they can come in and declare martial law. And they will force us to eat our veggies, and no one will be allowed to say anything negative about Pres. Obama.

On the federal level the Benghazi attack is another favorite story rife with conspiracy theories. The most used is that Pres. Obama and then Secretary of State Clinton chose not to defend the American Embassy in order to allow the Muslim attackers to kill the Americans. Why you ask? Well because Pres. Obama is a Muslim.

We also have the NSA tracking phone calls, not actually listening (so we are told), in order to fend off terror attacks.

We have the IRS paying special attention to so-called conservative and TEA groups when considering whether or not to bestow non-profit status on the groups.

Of course all the above mentioned issues deserve to be discussed and debated. The sheriff’s issue is a matter of the opinion of the courts in the end, whether or not the General Assembly has the authority or not to define the office of the sheriff. The question of HB 88, again deserves to be debated, I certainly think that background checks are an attempt to restrict the number of people who will be allowed to own guns going forward. The questions surrounding the Benghazi attacks and the statements made afterwards should be investigated and those involved should answer the questions that must be asked. The people of the United States deserve to know whether or not the NSA is abusing its powers and going beyond acceptable practices in seeking to protect us from terrorist, and the IRS also must be held accountable for any over reaching of its powers and authority.

That being said, what purpose is served by crying that the sky is falling at every turn.

Of course certain groups benefit from this behavior, they attract new members, they raise money to fund their agendas. But how does this constant bewailing of nefarious intentions on the part of our elected officials help solve the problems facing the nation? Like the economy and unemployment?

The reality is, those who oppose the expansion of the sheriff’s office most likely do so based on the cost, and that there is no real need for another separate law enforcement agency. Not, for the reason of setting up some perceived takeover of our state by the federal government.

The people supporting HB 88 are likely doing so because they feel that guns are a danger to all people, they believe the world would be safer without so many guns, it is not necessarily an attempt to disarm the people in order to enslave them to the federal government.

Benghazi is most likely a simple case of SNAFU! People were slow to react and people died, then government being government, they attempted to spin it, and it got out of control. The idea that a U.S. President would allow American citizens to die on purpose is quite a stretch, especially at the Ambassador level.

Of course the NSA is tracking phone calls and emails, that is what the NSA has always done, this is nothing new and no surprise. But can anyone name one person who has been arrested in the middle of the night never to be heard from again? Can you name one case that is currently ongoing in which a citizen has been falsely accused based on this tracking of data?

As for the IRS paying special   attention to certain groups? Again is this really anything new? The same self-styled defenders of freedom who are so upset about the NSA and IRS scandals would not blink an eye if it were leaked that the NSA was tapping the phones and emails of Muslims, and there would be cheers of joy in certain monthly meetings if the IRS revoked the tax status of a mosque.

The point here, is again one of optics, is any purpose served by looking like we are off our rockers?

While these tactics may attract some people to a cause, these tactics in my opinion, drive more people away from the conservative view points.

The conservative message will be heard clearer and further, if instead of always talking about the conspiracy theories, we would stick to known facts and reasonable assumptions. Instead of always looking for the federal agent behind the curtain, maybe we should look for the money trail. Most issues in this nation center around revenue.

How to generate it, and how to spend it. When you know these two things, you can see exactly what is behind most of the things that happen involving our government.

The conservatives need to recognize that the time for crying from the hill-top that the Federals are coming has passed. The average citizen is no longer listening. They are too concerned about finding a job, or maybe a second job. They want lower gas prices, and food prices. They want to know that their kids will be safe walking home from school. In other words, the average citizen is no longer buying into Glen Beck’s brand  of “Circus Olay”.

There was a small window of time when the TEA movement and other conservative groups held sway over a growing number of citizens, but that time has passed and the numbers are shrinking. That movement has been left to, and taken over by, a faction that is a radicalized version of conservatism. They have no tolerance for any opinion beyond their own, they use Saul Alinsky type tactics to bully their opposition, and they are slowly driving people away from not only the GOP, but from conservatism in general.

There was a time here in Delaware, when the GOP was too moderate and left of center. Many of us felt the need to move it to the right, but we didn’t stop it fast enough, and it has now gone so far right, that it has come out on the left, in a place that breeds totalitarianism.

It will take leaders who understand that all of the issues I mentioned above, and many more, are of the utmost concern for the future of the nation and the state of Delaware. But they will have to also understand that to solve them we must all be willing to work together to find the solutions, and that to do nothing beyond using fear tactics, will lead to one party rule for a very long time.

On Thursday the Delaware state House unanimously approved a bill that would rob the owners of manufactured housing parks, of their private property rights.

This bill has seen many manifestations in the past, and some prefer to call it rent justification, when in reality all this is, is rent control, plain and simple.

It is the government stepping in and telling the rightful owner of a property how much they can charge for rent of that property.

The bill will now return to the Senate where it was already approved, since it was amended in the House, and if it is again passed in the Senate it will require only the signature of Gov. Markell, and why wouldn’t big government Jack sign it?

Each time a park owner wishes to raise the rent of their property, they would be forced to apply, one might say, come begging,  to the Delaware Manufactured Home Relocation Authority for “PERMISSION” to do so. This so-called authority, would then use the arbitrary formula of the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers in the Philadelphia-Wilmington area for the preceding three years.

The park owners would have to demonstrate that the cost of maintaining their parks had risen more than that index in the preceding twelve months, if not, then the government would deny their right to raise the rent on the property that they own. This formula means that the landowners would always be behind the curve of rising cost.

If on the other hand the owner can prove that cost have risen enough to satisfy the “AUTHORITY”,  then the “Authority” would determine an appropriate rent increase.

My friends, this is a most dangerous precedent for the state of Delaware to set concerning property rights. This is the state saying that as an owner of a property, you have no rights.

One has to ask, why just manufactured housing? Why not rental properties of all kinds? Why should any landlord be allowed to raise the rent of their property? How long before some feel good legislator decides to expand this heinous takeover of private property? Why just rental properties? Why shouldn’t government just take over all decision-making of any and all rates and charges incurred to rent or own a dwelling? Come to think of it, why should some be allowed to own land and homes when everyone can’t? Maybe government should just confiscate all property and then decide how much rent each person must pay to the government to live there. I bet you one damned thing for sure, if government were the landlord, there would be no rent control formula.

This legislation stems mostly from malcontents in the Long Neck area of Sussex County. This is an area with a large number of manufactured housing parks, and to a large extent these parks are populated with move-heres.  People who have moved here from other states, some of these states had rent control, so you would think that these people would know the effect that rent control has on the areas that it is instituted in. The quality of life will see a down turn, property values will decline. Those who can afford to, will move out of these areas. Park owners will reduce the number and quality of amenities that they offer within the parks. Some owners may decide to sell the parks to developers and thus forcing the renters to relocate.

The truly ironic part of this, is that I have been to several candidate forums in the Long Neck area, and many of the same people and organizations that scream about protecting our rights and freedom, are some of the same people and organizations that are pushing for rent control, and in doing so, robbing the land owners of their rights and freedom.

To the renters, I would say, be careful what you wish for. You now have two masters, the park owners still have some options to reduce their overhead and protect their profits, of which I don’t think you will care for any of them, and second you have just invited government to play a larger role in your lives. Don’t be surprised if the government suddenly takes a larger interest in these parks, and begins to mandate improvements, said improvements will raise the cost above the CPI and thus will give the park owners that which they need to raise your rent.

The fact that any of you living in these parks actually think that you should live there without facing the increases that every other person in the world faces, confounds the mind. Hope you enjoy your new and improved way of living.