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THE ARTIS BLOG
5/30/07
* With the planning of the Juneteenth Unity Day Parade and Celebration, I'll be writing shorter blogs for the next couple of weeks.
* Are you ready to get your grub on? Check it out. Where can you go to see a parade and then eat fried chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, deserts, snow cones, pop corn and other foods, plus drinks, plus entertainment while getting information about the community? At the SCLC, COMMUNITY UNITED IN FAITH, AND YOUNG LEADERS OF AMERICA JUNETEENTH UNITY DAY PARADE AND CELEBRATION. You can't beat that. And it's all free. Check out the "JUNETEENTH" page on jeffartis.com. A link to this page is listed to the left.
* Some things are just a huge waste of time. Protesting at someone's funeral is one of them. Couldn't the protesters at Rev. Jerry Falwell's funeral find something else better to do with their time? Maybe these folks could have found something more constructive to do with their time like educating people on why they disagreed so much with Falwell. Whatever. The folks who protested at Jerry Falwell's funeral looked like a bunch of fools.
* MySpace is going to hand over information on sex offenders who use MySpace to law enforcement. It's about time. I'm all for freedom on the Internet. Using the Internet to break the law violates those freedoms.
* Suzanne Moore and Mignon Chubb-Hale have been appointed to the Roanoke School Board. These two women are outstanding choices. I've worked with Ms. Moore. She's one hell of an educator. I consider Ms. Chubb-Hale a dear friend. She's one heck of an educator, also. With the appointment of these two women to the Roanoke School Board, everybody wins.
SEE YOU MONDAY, JUNE 4'TH .
UNTIL THEN, KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
5/21/07
* Check out the three new features on www.jeffartis.com. "REMEMBERING BLOODY SUNDAY" looks at the Roanoke SCLC's remembrance of the horrific events on March 7, 1965. "GOT PICTURES?" contains pictures of events covered by www.jeffartis.com and pictures sent to www.jeffartis.com bywww.jeffartis.com readers. "IN REMEMBRANCE" contains pictures of loved ones sent to www.jeffartis.com by its readers. Links to these new features are listed at the left side of all pages inwww.jeffartis.com.
* The U.S. Mint has issued a $1 coin commemorating the Little Rock Nine. The Little Rock Nine integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. For more in this story, please click on the following link.
* In a recent interview to MTV, singer R. Kelly compared himself to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And we thought singer/actress/reality t.v. star, Jessica Simpson had no living brain cells.
* In Texas, it was announced that 226 juvenile inmates will soon be released from jail. These juveniles were given improper extended sentences through inconsistencies in the Texas juvenile system or through retaliation by those working in the Texas juvenile system. We must ask ourselves, how many other states have this problem?
* I wish the Democrats in Congress would just shut up about the funding of the Iraq War. The tactics the Dems are using are just going to blow up in their faces. Given the current situation in Iraq, we cannot bring our troops home at the present time or in the near future. The Dems need to support the funding of our troops. They also need to come up with a way to make Iraq a viable country with a viable government.
Don't complain about a situation unless you have a solution. That's the problem with the Dems in Congress. They don't have a solution to the Iraq situation. Because of this, the Dem's arguments over the Iraq War are becoming very counter-productive.
* Florida can do something right. Beginning in August, Florida will require P.E. to be taught in elementary schools. Other states should take Florida's lead.
* Speaking of education, it's time to get rid of middle schools. The middle school concept simple isn't working. Let's bring back junior high schools. Grades 1 - 6 should be for elementary school. Grades 7 - 9 should be for junior high school. Grades 10 - 12 should be for high school. We are losing children in grades 6 and 9. Sixth graders need an extra year to mature before going to the next level. Ninth graders are simply not mature enough to handle the rigors of high school.
* Should "The Bible" be taught in our public schools? Yes, but only in an elective "Bible Study" class where a student can get credit toward graduation.
* Roanoke City Council has announced that the lights on the Roanoke Star on Mill Mountain will return to being red, white and blue. If you remember, the lights on the Roanoke Star were white to represent Roanoke being called "The Star City." The lights were switched to red, white and blue to support our troops in the War on Terror. Last month, the lights were switched back to white in honor of the Va. Tech shooting victims. After some debate, the lights will return to red, white and blue. Good move. The Roanoke Star should remain red, white and blue until our troops come home.
* Some people just don't get it. The other day I was asked why I didn't like "The Roanoke Times" columnist Shanna Flowers. I like Ms. Flowers. In fact, the first thing I read in "The Roanoke Times" on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday is her column. We often exchange e-mails. There is a link to her column on www.jeffartis.com. I simply had a problem with a column she wrote on the Roanoke SCLC. On that column, we've agreed to disagree. That's cool.
The question I was asked about Shanna reflects one of the biggest problems in the Roanoke Valley. People cannot or will not take the time to differentiate between dislike and disagreement. There are times when I think that dealing with different factions in the Roanoke Valley, is like dealing with a bunch of two-year-olds. You know what I'm talking about; the silly mentalities of, "You don't like so-and-so, so I don't like you," or, "You said something bad about so-ad-so, so I don't like you," or, "You said something bad about so-and-so, so you must not like them." These mentalities are childish, immature and counter-productive.
Like I always say. I love my wife. But, I don't agree with everything she does. And I know I drive her nuts from time to time. Still, we don't go running to divorce court every time we disagree. I love my children. But, I get after them when they mess up. I know I drive them nuts, too. But, I don't have to sleep at night with one eye open like some parents have to. People have to learn to agree to disagree. This shows the maturity of a community which in turn leads to progress in a community. Until we agree to disagree, we are just spinning our wheels. This is something the Roanoke Valley needs to learn. There's nothing wrong with people agreeing to disagree. Oh yeah, read Shanna Flowers' column. It's good reading.
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
5/18/07
REMEMBERING TWO DIFFERENT GIANTS
Jerry Falwell has passed away. I didn't agree much with the man. But, I will say two things about him. First, you have to give it up to anyone who isn't afraid to speak up and to anyone who isn't afraid to stick to their convictions. There are a lot of phony people out there. There are a lot of phony leaders out there. To his credit, Falwell was neither of those. Whether you agreed or disagreed with him, you always knew where the man stood on the issues.
Second, Falwell proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that if people were willing to vote and hold public officials accountable for their actions after they were elected, it is possible for those people to control the politics and the economy of their community. Falwell's message to public officials was simple, "If you want our vote, you have to do this and this." If public officials didn't meet Falwell's criteria, they didn't get Falwell's support. Nor, did the public officials get the support of Falwell's people.
I didn't agree with Falwell's Moral Majority on a number of issues and I don't agree with the Religious Right on a number of issues. But, I have a great deal of respect for the Moral Majority and the Religious Right. Both wanted things done a certain way, and they raised Cain until they got what they wanted. America has changed and Falwell, good or bad, is responsible for some of this change.
I was saddened by the death of Yolanda King. Of all of Dr. King's children, she impressed me the most. If the Civil Rights Movement wasn't so sexist, I have no doubt that more people would have heard or paid attention to Ms. King's message. I didn't know her. I never met her. But, I know people who know her quite well. They tell me she was a great lady, a great person. She will be missed.
So many times the children of famous people feel they should be treated special for no other reason than because they are the child of a famous person. This wasn't true of Ms. King. Ms. King was never out for self. She was real. She was honest. She was genuinely concerned about her fellow man and woman. She never felt special simply because her last name was King. If anything, because of her name, she felt an obligation to continue the work of her father.
I've heard Ms. King speak several times. I was impressed. In fact, no one could come away from hearing her speak and not be impressed. Now she is with her mother and father. She will be missed. And we will be hard pressed to find someone to take her place.
SEE YOU MONDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
7/14/07
* Dale Jr. was smart to leave DEI. Jr. can't win a NASCAR Championship there. If Junior is smart, he'll sign with Hendrick Racing. Richard Childress runs a good team. But, Hendrick is the top team in racing.
* If Junior signs with Hendrick Racing, the team of Junior, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson and Kyle Bush would be racing's Dream Team.
* Teresa Earnhardt will catch a lot of flack for letting Junior go. She should. Letting Junior walk is just plain stupid.
* I see a situation in the future where Junior will return to DEI after he wins a couple of NASCAR Championships in order to either save DEI or to be the majority owner of DEI. Maybe Teresa Earnhardt will give Junior what he wants and he won't leave DEI after all. We will see.
* Jeff Gordon, baby! He's back and better than ever.
* You know how I feel about Barry Bonds. From everything I've read, the man's a jerk. But, you've got to give Bonds his props. Breaking Hank Aaron's home run record, steroids or not, is still quite an accomplishment. I will say it again. Barry Bonds is a Hall of Famer.
* I believe there has been rampart steroid use in all of sports over the past 40 years. For some reason, baseball gets all of the heat for steroid use. This just shows the hypocrisy of sports reporters. Please spare me the self righteous stuff about how terrible it will be when Barry Bonds breaks Aaron's home run record. Anyway, the gloom of Bonds owning the home run record will be replaced by sheer joy when A-Rod breaks Bonds' home run record in a few years.
* In the golfing world, is "Phil the Thrill back?" I hope so. Golf is getting a little boring with Tiger kicking butt just about every time he plays. Shoot, golf is boring when Tiger doesn't play. Phil and Tiger facing off in the last round of a major, tied, and in the final paring? This is the stuff of legends.
* Boxing isn't dead. It is just on life support.
* Pistons-Spurs in the NBA Finals.
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
5/11/07
* There are two people I have the utmost respect for, my Mother and my wife.
* My Mother taught me to never give up, that even when you lose everything, it is still possible to overcome and make a new life. And that new life can be even better than the life you had before.
* My Mother taught me to never be a victim. She taught me that life isn't fair and I needed to get used to this fact. However, my Mother also taught me that when life wasn't fair, it still was my responsibility to overcome and to persevere.
* My Mother taught me the value of hard work and perseverance. She told me that there would be times when I would have to be ten times better than someone else to be considered that person's equal. And if I had to be ten times better than that person to be considered their equal, don't complain, just do it.
* My Mother taught me to never say, "I can't." She taught me that regardless of economic situations, race, class or anything else, if I wanted to be successful, I could be successful. All I had to do was to be willing to work hard to acheive that success, beginning with getting a good education.
* My Mother taught me to always look out for those who couldn't help themselves and to look out for those who didn't have a voice to help themselves. She taught me that doing this was doing God's work. We all need to do God's work.
* My wife taught me that true love knows no racial boundaries.
* My wife taught me that I didn't have to be a "player" to have happiness in a relationship with a woman.
* My wife taught me that for a man, there is no greater happiness than the love of his wife and his children.
* To these two wonderful women, I'd like to say, Happy Mother's Day.
TO ALL OF THE MOMS OUT THERE I'D LIKE TO WISH YOU A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
SEE YOU MONDAY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
5/9/07
* From the "Just Say No To Drugs," file. . . In an interview with MTV, Snoop Dogg talked about his role in stopping rap feuds. During the interview, Snoop said, "I try to play my hand like Martin Luther King, but sometimes I gotta be Malcolm X." Can anyone say "reefer madness?" Snoop, put the blunt down.
* Has Princess Paris Hilton left the country, yet? I mean, dude, that judge in her case was, like, so unfair. Instead of starring in "The Simple Life," Hilton can now star in, "The Prison Life."
* Yo, Paris, check this out. Time Magazine reports that 9.5% of African-Americans are likely to be searched after being pulled over by the police.
* For Hispanics, this number is 8.8 percent. For Whites, this number is 3.6 percent.
* The percentage of Whites 16 to 20 who reported driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs is 26 percent.
* For Blacks, this number is 10 percent. Yo, Paris, that number is, like, for real.
* Here's an interesting stat from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Time Magazine reports that U.S. allies offered the United States $854 million in aid in cash and oil contributions after these two hurricanes. So far, the United States has used $40 million of this. Many of the aid offers were retracted, routed to private charities or rejected outright.
* Roger Clemens won't help the Yankees.
* The other day, I was asked about the NBA Playoffs. I answered, "The NBA Playoffs? Who's playing?" Call me when we get to the Conference Finals.
* If you get a chance, check out Bayo Olorunto. Interesting reading. You can check out him out at www.knowledgeofwealth.wordpress.com. The Brother has also written, "THE HIPHOP DRIVEN LIFE: A GENIUS LIBERATION HANDBOOK." Bayo's MYSPACE page is, www.myspace.com/thehiphopdrivenlife.
SEE YOU FRIDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
5/7/07
* This is to former CIA Director George Tenet. Will you please just shut up? Quit crying. Quit whining. In case you haven't noticed, it's too late for you to claim that the Bush Administration played you in the lead up to the Iraq War. Look, be a man. Admit that you sucked up to your boss to stay in his good standing. Admit that you had a chance to try to prevent the Iraq War, but, you willingly choose not to.
Mr. Tenet, it's o.k. to admit that you screwed up. It's o.k. to admit that you only have yourself to blame for screwing up. As for the dead and injured soldiers and their families who have suffered because of your screw up, well, you'll just have to live with that. I can't help you there.
* My, my, my. Poor little rich girl, Paris Hilton. That girl is like a bad car accident. You know you shouldn't look, but, you just can't help yourself.
* Drunk driving, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, failing to take an alcohol responsibility class after getting caught for drunk driving, showing up late for court, and then getting a 45 day jail term for thumbing her rich little nose at the law by violating her parole for her outstanding driving skills. Well, you know what I say about these types of people. What an idiot.
* An even bigger idiot, (if that's possible), then Paris in this situation? Momma Hilton, who had some choice comments for the judge in this case, who according to Momma Hilton was, (sniff, sniff), being too hard on her poor, little baby girl.
* Still even bigger idiots, (anything is possible), than Momma Hilton in this situation? Those folks who are claiming that the courts are, (sniff, sniff), trying to make an example out of poor little Paris. The nerve of the courts enforcing the law.
* But, fear not. All is not lost on poor little Paris. With a sex video, a theft video, a video of her using the N-word, drunk driving charges, a criminal record, a parole violation, jail time, fights with her peeps, big time partying, and lots of money to blow, Paris could always be a . . . rapper. Since the title of Queen is taken, Paris could call herself MC Princess Paris. Yeah, boyeee. Now that's hot.
I can't wait for the video of MC Princess Paris and 50 Cent. I can see the two of them giving interviews in the media dissin' Oprah and telling of her love of "real" Black men in order to drive MCPP's CD sales. Nicole can be part of MCPP's posse wearing dreads, looking hard and packing a pistol. Flavor Flav can be MCPP's spiritual advisor. And think of the reality show narrated by used to be pop star, but, now another new rapper, No Mamma Brit Brit. Yeah, boyeee. BET will never be the same.
* Enough is enough. I've invited Fox News stars Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity to put up or shut up. I'm tired of hearing about this phony War on Rap. First, I've invited these two men to come to Roanoke, Va. and participate in our Juneteenth Unity Day Celebration on June 16'th. I've also told these two men if they really wanted to do something productive about the rap situation, they could come to Roanoke, Va. and help me fight against gang violence here in the Valley, beginning with exposing the Valley's law enforcement community's reluctance to use the laws on the books to make sure those guilty of committing gang crimes are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Think they'll show? We will see.
* I've told you before that America's public schools were putting school children, especially minority school children, in special education classes who are not actually special education students. This just in. Educators in the Bush Administration are re-examining special ed. Experts say there is an over-placement of minorities in special education classes. I guess it's better late than never.
* I've got two things to say about guns. First, people who are mentally ill or who have a history of mental illness should not be allowed to legally buy guns. Yeah, I know that in the real world, if a person wants to buy a gun, that person is going to get a gun regardless of the law. So what. We need to close all loopholes in the buying and selling of guns to make sure the people buying guns are responsible people and are not a threat to society. Before you say I'm an anti-gun nut, I'm not. I support the Second Amendment.
Second, any student caught bringing a gun to school or on college campus should be expelled. Roanoke, Virginia House of Delegate member, Onzlee Ware may represent these types of folks in court, (Ware represents gang members in court as well), but, as far as I'm concerned, if you get caught bringing a gun to school or on a college campus, you forfeit your right to get an education at that school or college.
* Anyone found guilty of being an Internet sexual predator should be put away for a long, long time. The problem is, people who get convicted for this crime don't. Check out the case of Ricky Zirkle here in the Roanoke Valley. Twenty bucks says this guy gets a slap on the wrist.
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
5/4/07
READERS ASK:
* "Jeff, is Virginia House of Delegates member Onzlee Ware a member of the Roanoke, Va. SCLC?"
According to Ware's campaign material, Ware claims to be a member of the Roanoke, Va. SCLC. However, according to the Roanoke, Va. SCLC, Ware didn't renew his membership in the Roanoke SCLC during the time the Roanoke SCLC came out against the Hershberger Road methadone clinic back in 2003-2004. The Roanoke SCLC is currently triple checking its membership rolls just to make sure.
* "Jeff, is it true Onzlee Ware doesn't have a good relationship with the Roanoke SCLC and Roanoke NAACP?"
This is very true. Members of both organizations have reported that Ware has called the Roanoke NAACP and the Roanoke SCLC dysfunctional and/or irrelevant. You see, Ware doesn't watch what he says when he's on the other side of town. That's why many Republicans love the man and support the man. United States Supreme Court Justice Clarance Thomas should take lessons from Ware.
* "Jeff, what local politicians will be participating in the Juneteenth Unity Day celebration?"
Roanoke, Va. City Councilman Sherman Lea and Roanoke, Va. City Manager Darlene Burcham have been helping with this event from the very beginning. Other than that, Roanoke, Va. Congressman Bob Goodlatte and Roanoke, Va. House of Delegate member William Fralin are the only Roanoke politicians who have committed to this event. All members of the Roanoke Valley's City and Town Council's, Board of Supervisors and members of the Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate have been invited to join us on this wonderful day.
* "Jeff, why is Wal-Mart helping with the Juneteenth celebration?"
Wal-Mart is helping with this event because they want to and because Wal-Mart believes in this event. Mike Young, Wal-Mart Market Manager for the Shenandoah Region, feels this is a wonderful event to be a part of. Because of Wal-Mart and Mike Young, several other companies got involved in the event, namely Pepsi and Frito Lay. Other companies connected with Wal-Mart will be joining us on this day, as well. We are just working out the details.
I want people to remember one thing. Wal-Mart, Pepsi, Frito Lay and companies associated with Wal-Mart are making plans to make food for and to give drinks to 500 people. No one else has offered to do this. Wal-Mart told me to let them know what I needed to make this event work. Other businesses have said, "Jeff, let me get back to you on this." That was two months ago. You better believe that I will make sure to tell people at the Juneteenth Unity Day Celebration to make sure to support those companies and businesses that support the Juneteenth Unity Day Celebration. Some people talk. Some people do. I support those people that do.
* "Jeff, how much will it cost to attend Juneteenth?"
The event is designed to be free to the public. This includes the food, the drinks and the entertainment.
* "Jeff, what's this Roanoke Black Summit you talk about on "THE ROANOKE SCLC" page of jeffartis.com?"
The Black Summit will be on June 15 at 7:00 P.M., the night before the Juneteenth Unity Day celebration. The location for this event will be announced soon. So far, Roanoke City Councilman Sherman Lea, Mac McCadden, and myself will be holding a community meeting in which we will discuss the problems facing the Roanoke Valley's Black community. We will also discuss solutions to these problems. The Roanoke NAACP, members of the Roanoke Valley media and other Roanoke Valley officials have been extended an invitation to either participate on the panel or have been extended an invitation to attend. I think it's time we got together and discussed things. Discussion is good. Out of discussion comes solutions.
* "Jeff, what do you think of what Barak Obama is saying about the Black community in the United States?"
Well, I've been saying the same thing for the past 15 years. But, I haven't said anything that hasn't already been said by Frederick Douglass, Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. DuBois, Malcolm X and Dr. King. America has its problems. We know what these problems are. However, things aren't as bad for much of Black America as some people think. Things aren't as bad for much of Black America as Black America thinks. For the first time in the history of this country, Black America has the means and the resources to control the economics and the politics in many of our communities. We simply have to choose to do so. Some of the problems Black America faces are complex. Some of the problems Black America faces can be made better by simply making sure our children stay in school and get an education, by being responsible parents, by being law-abiding citizens, and by simple getting involved in political campaigns and elections so we won't continue to be exploited by local, state and national elected and appointed officials.
After all, how hard is it to check a report card? How hard is it to give love, structure and discipline to our children? How hard is it to be a law-abiding citizen? How hard is it to register to vote? How hard is it to go to the polls and vote on Election Day? How hard is it to tell an elected official that they are either doing a good job or a crummy job? How hard is it to hold elected and appointed officials accountable? These are things the Black community doesn't do the way we need to. We see the negative results of our passiveness and apathy everyday.
* "Jeff, how's your health?"
My health's coming along. I've gotten fat and out of shape. That's not good. I need to watch my weight. I need to give up the junk food. I need to exercise more. I need to get back into the shape I was in a year ago. But, other than that, I'm hanging in there.
* "Jeff, what do you think about the Presidential Debates?"
Right now, the debates are more like beauty pagents than anything else. Ask me that question after Sept. 1'st. Given the dates of next year's Presidential Primaries, with the big primary day being on Feb. 5'th, Sept. 1'st will be when the gloves will come off, when things will get interesting. I do find it interesting that the Republican candidates seem to be saying that if they are elected President, they will invade Iran. Now that's all we need.
* "Jeff, you need to run for office again. Will you?"
