* You've got to hand it to Republicans. They supported giving hundreds of billions of tax dollars to their banking friends and their Wall Street buddies with no strings attached, (and people still don't know where the money went), but want to give nothing to regular people who could actually put their tax dollars to good use. And Republicans wonder why they got their butts kicked in last year's November elections.
* Republicans took a huge gamble not supporting Obama's stimulus package. Personally, I think it's a mistake.
* That's the thing about Republicans. They are out of touch with the mood of the country. Republicans cannot win elections without expanding their base. They cannot expand their base if they continue to concentrate on social issues and by trying to keep the "culture wars" going. It's difficult for most Americans to worry about or even care about social and cultural issues when they may lose their home, their 401K or may be laid off from work.
* Today, Americans are looking for solutions. Obama, agree or disagree with his policies, is offering solutions. Republicans are offering nothing but obstacles to those solutions. Americans don't want to hear what policies can't work. Americans want to hear what policies can work if those policies are given a chance to work.
* Republicans are saying what they won't support. Americans want to hear what Republicans will support. Even those who hate Obama, who would never vote for the man in one million years, are saying at least he's trying to make things better. No one is saying that about the Republican Party.
* Plus, Obama is setting in the cat bird's seat. No matter what he tries, no matter what he does, if it works he's a hero. If it doesn't work, it's Bush's fault. Politically, it doesn't get any better than that.
* I'll give it Bush. He was a gracious President his last two months in the White House. He worked with Obama when he could. He got out of Obama's way when he needed to. Often, Presidential transitions are a mess. Not this time. We must give credit where credit is due.
* I was asked the other day about the teenage pregnancy rate in Roanoke, Va. My answer was simple. When fathers start being fathers again, and stop being baby-makers and bystanders, Roanoke's teenage pregnancy rate will go down. Fathers need to teach their boys how to be young men. Fathers need to teach their girls how to be young women. Until that happens, Roanoke's teenage pregnancy rate will remain unacceptably high. It all starts in the home.
* I like the Steelers on Super Sunday.
* Two more weeks until the Daytona 500. Three more weeks until Spring Training. Spring is on the way.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU MONDAY, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND
THE ARTIS BLOG
1/28/09
* I hope you got to read the 1/25/09 edition of The Roanoke Times newspaper and the article on the Hershberger Road methadone clinic titled, "Methadone Clinic Fails to Trigger Any Disasters." It was an interesting article. You can read the article by logging onto roanoke.com.
* If you've been reading JeffArtis.com Featuring THE ARTIS BLOG, through the years, you know that I am not a fan, and will never be a fan, of the Hershberger Road methadone clinic. For more on why, please see the "PLAN SHUT IT DOWN" page on JeffArtis.com. A link to this page is listed above under the "ROANOKE SCLC HOME PAGE" link.
* Simply put, I don't support racist economic development. I don't believe methadone clinics should be around schools. I don't believe methadone clinics should be in a neighborhood that has a problem with gangs. I don't support companies who exploit people with disabilities. I don't support companies who fail to do what they say they are going to do. I don't support companies who make promises to a community before moving in and then break those promises once they're up and running. I don't support companies who have a history of exploiting the communities they move into.
* Apparently, The Roanoke Times doesn't have a problem supporting the things listed above.
* I know exactly what is happening at the Hershberger Road methadone clinic. I've talked to clients. I've talked to former clients. I've talked to workers there. I've talked to former workers there. I've talked to the families of clients. I've talked to people in law enforcement. I've talked to people in the mental health field. I've talked to people in the drug rehabilitation field. I've talked to people who have made money on the streets off the Hershberger Road methadone clinic.
I've done my homework. And all of these people have told me to try to do two things. One, try to shut the clinic down. Two, watch the clinic like a hawk so the clinic doesn't mess over its clients and Northwest Roanoke, Va. the same way the company has messed over its clients and other communities across the country.
* Yes, I've done my homework. On the other hand, The Roanoke Times either hasn't, won't or doesn't care to do theirs. The Roanoke Times has decided that the Hershberger Road methadone clinic is good for the Northwest community.
* That's their right. But, here are a couple of things The Roanoke Times article forgot to mention.
* There are no longer any people serving on the Roanoke, Va. City Council who supported the Hershberger Road methadone clinic. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to figure out why.
* I also found it interesting that The Roanoke Times article quoted police statistics. The same Roanoke Times has written articles on how those same police statistics cannot be trusted.
How credible are statistics and information coming from the Roanoke, Va. Police Dept? The Roanoke City Police Dept. says there are no gangs in Roanoke, Va. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies say there are at least 16 gangs based in Roanoke, Va. Is there a credibility problem here? Yes.
* And who hasn't forgotten the last time the Roanoke Police Dept. got caught rigging their crime figures. That scandal cost E. Wayne Harris his job as Superintendent of the Roanoke City Public School System when it was discovered the crime rate in our schools was rigged to keep the numbers down to make the general public feel our schools were safe.
* I know and the community knows what's happening at the Hershberger Road methadone clinic. And we will continue to watch the Hershberger Road methadone clinic as long as Folger's makes coffee.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU FRIDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
1/26/09
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: In the 1/25/09, Sunday edition of The Roanoke Times, there was a story on the Hershberger Road methadone clinic which opened four years ago. I will give my take on what has happened at the clinic over the past four years in Wednesday's ARTIS BLOG. Take care.
Jeff Artis, Publisher, JEffArtis.com Featuring The Artis Blog
* I will tell you now that we are not in an economic recession. We are in a worldwide economic depression. Remember, it's not just the United States economy that is in trouble. The worldwide economy is in trouble. My guess is it will take 3 to 5 years for out economy to get better. The good news is that as economies go, our economy is in better shape than anyone else. Also, as worldwide economic depressions go, this economic downturn is rather mild. Yes, we are in the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression. However, we have a long ways to go before we experience the type of economic devastation we suffered during the 1930's.
* To those of you who have money in the bank, in stocks, in investments, in 401K's and retirement funds, I have one piece of advice for you. Stay the course. Why? When our economy recovers, and it will recover, it will recover big time. Not only will you make up for your current loses, you will make profits big time. If you thought our last bull market was good, just wait for the next one. You ain't seen nothin' yet.
* Any economist will tell you that during economic downturns, there must be responsible government spending. Because of this, I support President Obama's economic stimulus package.
* Republicans will tell you this is a typical liberal tax and spend program. Republicans who say this are sadly mistaken. Their claim also shows the hypocritical nature of the Republican Party, a political party that seems to much rather help their banking buddies, stock brokers and business associates, than help regular people on the street, given their support for the Bush stimulus package and lack of support for Obama's.
* We need to fix our infrastructure; schools, roads, bridges and such. We need to produce jobs in order to fix our infrastructure. State and local governments do not have revenue to fix these things by themselves.
* The only valid solution available to address these needs is the Obama economic stimulus package. Call your members of Congress and let them know how you feel.
* Oh, that Rush Limbaugh. If you've been a regular reader of THE ARTIS BLOG, you know that I'm not a fan of Rush Limbaugh. Rush is a blowhard, a man who will do and say anything for ratings. So I'm not surprised when he said he hopes the Obama Presidency fails.
* I'm not upset that he said this either. We live in America. Everyone has the Constitutional right to be stupid.
* Which brings me to Ann Coulter. Same as Rush, only skinnier. Look, these folks are running scared. The politics and economics these type of people have been talking about since 1980 have proven to be dismal failures. A free market economy left to run itself without government regulation doesn't work. Trickle down economics doesn't work. The politics of hate and division doesn't work. America working as the world's lone wolf doesn't work.
* If the Obama Presidency is a success, all of these people, Rush, Coulter, Neal Bortz and all of those right-wing talking head will be unemployed. I say listen to their shows. Read their interviews. Check them out on television. But, when it comes to their exposing of their so-called political expertise, take what they say with a grain of salt. Use these people as comic relief.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
1/23/09
THE FOLLOWING IS MY COLUMN FROM 1/22/09 EDITION OF THE ROANOKE STAR-SENTINEL
Some of my friends think I have lost my mind. They have asked me how I could pass up such easy money. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion. What my friends do not understand is the five biggest events in my life are: 1) August 17, 1985, the day I met my wife, 2) June 7, 1988, the day my daughter was born, 3) October 21, 2007, the day my grandson was born, 4) April 4, 1968, the day Dr. King was assassinated, and 5) January, 20, 2009, the day Barack Obama was inaugurated President of the United States.
Thanks to Congressman Bob Goodlatte, of Roanoke, Va., I own two of the hottest items to come along in quite some time. I own two tickets to the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. No, I did not sell them. No, I will not sell them. Thus, some of my friends think I have lost my mind.
Although I was not able to attend the inauguration, those tickets mean the world to me. Those tickets will always remind me of several things. I will always be reminded of the day America came together as one. Yes, America has come together as one before. However, when we come together as a country, it is usually the result of a tragedy, the last time being 9/11.
The tickets will remind me of the day the myth of the Black gangsta’ died. With Obama as President, no longer is there justification for the mentality that says real Black men are men who disrespect women, make babies they do not take care of, do poorly in school, sling dope, have a jail record, gangbang and carry a gun.
During his, "I Have a Dream Speech," Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. talked about America’s promissory note, a check that America had written that had been returned to America by the Black community due to insufficient funds. Those tickets show that America’s promissory note is closer to being paid in full than ever before. We now know there will come a day when all Americans will enjoy the full rights of citizenship written about in the Declaration of Independence and guaranteed in the United States Constitution.
The inauguration of President Barack Obama is truly a monumental event. This event completes the circle begun by Frederick Douglas and goes through W.E.B. DuBois, Marcus Garvey, Dr. King and Brother Malcolm. The Obama inauguration completes the legacy that began with slavery and the Middle Passage, through being counted as 3/5 of a person, through living with the Slave Codes, through Jim Crow, through the violence of the Civil Rights Movement, to a Black American, becoming the most powerful man in the world; a Black man who vows to be President to all Americans.
Yes, I could have made some nice money selling my inaugural tickets. I could have made enough money to buy that motorcycle I have wanted for years. But, I learned a long time ago some things are better and more than money. Thank you Congressman Goodlatte.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU MONDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
1/21/09
* I was asked the other day by a friend of mine why it was so cold. I answered, "Hell has frozen over. A Black man has become President of the United States." My friend understood what I was saying.
* I was born in the "Colored Section" of the Winchester Memorial Hospital in 1957. If you look at my birth certificate, "Colored" is the race I'm listed as.
* According to my family tree, one of my great-great grandmothers was a slave. My great-great grandfather was her owner, a White man whose last name is Jarret.
* My wife and I had to leave Roanoke, Va. in 1988 after the Roanoke County Dept. of Social Services tried to take our children away. My wife and I were accused of hurting our children. The accuser was a known racist who flirted with joining the KKK, had psychological problems and was a known child abuser. He was also my wife's ex-husband.
This man abused our son, took pictures of the abuse and sent the pictures of what he did to the Roanoke County Dept. of Social Services. He claimed my wife and I were responsible for what the pictures showed. When the truth finally came out, the courts took away all rights this man had to the children. As for the Roanoke County Dept. of Social Services did nothing. In fact, the Roanoke County Dept. of Social Services found all charges of the abuse unfounded. However, they basically called my son a liar, in spite of the fact the man confessed in court to what he had done to my son.
I wasn't surprised that the Roanoke County Dept. of Social Services would do nothing. Why? The Roanoke County Dept. of Social Services had told my wife in 1985 that they objected to a White woman having a relationship with and then marrying a Black man. They claimed our relationship was bad for the children. To this day, the Roanoke County Dept. of Social Services is still the most racist organization I have ever had to deal with.
* In the last 90's, during the controversy surrounding the effort to name a proper memorial after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Roanoke, Va., a White businessman wrote me saying he didn't want his business to be located on a street named after Dr. King, a Black man. He was convinced people would think his business was in a Black neighborhood and be afraid to come into his store and shop. In that same letter, this White businessman added that he had no problem with his business being located on a street named after Robert E. Lee. He went on to suggest that I work to name a street after Lee instead of Dr. King.
* Also during this controversy, a group of White businessmen contacted me offering me big time money to drop my plans to name a memorial after Dr. King in Roanoke, Va. After a public hearing on the matter, I needed a police escort to my car. The racists who were at the meeting had decided they needed to teach me a lesson.
After 10 years of death threats, nasty letters and blatant racism, Roanoke, Va. now has a proper memorial after Dr. King in downtown Roanoke. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Bridge was completed in 2008. To hear the complete story and to see pictures of the bridge, please click on the, "MLK, JR. BRIDGE" link posted above.
* I didn't get to go to the inauguration. I watched the ceremony with my history class at school. Although I wanted to be in Washington, watching the inauguration with my students was just as nice.
* My students were surprised to see me cry as Barack Obama, a Black man, became the 44'th President of the United States.
* My students were just as happy as I was. Many of my students haven't experienced many positive moments involving Black men and women. As I told them, you can achieve anything you want to if you are willing to work hard to get what you want. It doesn't matter if you are Black, poor, grew up on welfare, don't have a good relationship with your father, live in a single-parent home, was raised by your grandmother or any of those things. Obama's life isn't much different from yours. If he can come from less than perfect circumstances to become President of the United States, you can become successful, too.
* I did something yesterday I've never done before in my 51 years on this earth. I sang the "Star Spangle Banner." Unlike the past when I went through the motions, this time I meant it every word of it. What a wonderful country. I am proud to be an American.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU FRIDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
1/19/09
* It's interesting being Black, living in the South and being a Southerner.
* Today, the nation celebrates the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
* Today, the South celebrates the birthdays of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. In Virginia, today is "Lee, Jackson, King Day." Notice how Dr. King gets third billing. But, that's the South.
* I'm not a fan of Lee and Jackson. Yes, these two men were great generals. But, how can you honor two men who led an army in rebellion against the United States of America? To me, Lee and Jackson are guilty of one thing, treason.
* Plus, how can anyone honor two men who were fighting to preserve a way of life that included the most evil institution in American history, slavery?
* But, that's the South. In the South, April is Confederate History Month. And of course, let's not forget about the interesting, yet, hypocritical honoring of the Confederate flag, a flag which promotes White supremacy and racism.
* Some say this isn't true. Some say the Confederate flag represents heritage, not hate. Yeah, right. Confederate heritage is hate. What did Confederate heritage teach? Black slaves were not people. Black slaves were property. Slave owners were actually doing Black people a favor by keeping them slaves. Free Blacks were less a person than a White man. And let's not forget about the stereotypes concerning Black people which came out of slavery, stereotypes Black people are still trying to overcome today.
* Tomorrow, the nation celebrates the inauguration of Barrack Obama as President of the United States, an event I'm sure has Lee and Jackson rolling over in their graves.
* The Lost Cause, the cause of the Confederacy, has finally lost.
* We have overcome.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
1/14/09
With a new year comes new challenges. One of the challenges I'd like to put out there is to challenge all men to become better fathers. In fact, I want to call 2009, "The Year of The Father."
Pure and simple, we are losing our children. One of the reasons we are losing our children is because many of us have abdicated our role of being a father to these lost children. Somewhere, somehow, we have decided as men, that our lives are more important than the lives of our children. We have decided as men that our wants and needs are more important then the wants and needs of our children. This is wrong. As a consequence, when we look in the mirror and ask what is wrong with our children, quite often the answer to this question is looking us square in the face.
Children are a gift from God. They should to be treated as such. I have three children, one deceased. To be honest, there is nothing I wouldn't do for my children. I get after them when they are wrong. I support them up when they're right. I've done without so they can have. There have been times I've told them,"No." We've shed our tears of joy. We've shed our tears of sorrow. We've had our fights and arguments. I've been wrong a few times in how I've handled things. Through it all, I love them and they love me. Most important, there's very little I would have done differently in raising my children.
I've often said that a man who doesn't take care of his children isn't worth a warm bucket of spit. Some say this is harsh. It isn't harsh at all. In this age of PC, we've forgotten about honesty. Given the current state of many of our children, honesty is something that is sorely needed in our society. Some men try to justify why they aren't the fathers they should be. However, there is no justification for not taking care of your children. I'll tell a man in a minute, "You made that child. You had fun making that child. Now take care of that child. After all, that child didn't ask to come into this world."
I'm tired of those men who claim to love their children, but, when the time comes to "take care" of their children, they are no where to be found. You can't truly love a child if that love doesn't come with financial support, proper guidance, putting aside your wants and needs for the needs of your child, emotional support for your partner regardless of whether you live together or not, or if you are a man who is still breast feeding at 21, letting your Momma run your life instead of being a real man and taking care of your business on your own. After all, Momma wasn't that bedroom when you made that baby. If she was there, then something is seriously wrong.
The primary goal of all fathers should be to want their children to become successful adults. For this to happen, children need three things. Children need love. Children need structure. Children need discipline. Children must receive love, structure and discipline in equal measure. Giving a child love, structure and discipline must start from day one. Too much of one and not enough of another is a recipe for problems on down the road.
Let me say one other thing. Men, the way you were raised as a child may not work in raising your child in today's society. For example, maybe you got whippins' as a child. That type of discipline may not work on your child today. Also, you must always remember that your child is not a carbon copy of you, especially if your child is a boy. What do I mean? You may have been a star football player in your youth. Maybe your son won't be interested in playing sports as they grow up. You may not have gone to college. Maybe your son wants to be a college graduate. Sometimes to be a successful father, you have to check your ego at the door. There's nothing wrong with that. If you think there's something wrong with checking your ego at the door when dealing with your children, there's noting wrong with your children. There's something wrong with you.
Again, I can think of no greater honor than being a father. Our children are gifts from God. They should be treated as such.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU FRIDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
1/12/09
* With the exception of bombing Iran, I support Israel in any and all attempts to protect itself. If the Palestinian people of Gaza want to get upset with anyone over the current state of affairs in Gaza, they should get upset with their own government, Hamas. The same holds true for those in the Muslim world. Hamas, while the legitimate government of the Palestinian people, is nothing more than a terrorist organization bent on the total destruction of Israel. Peace in the Middle East could be achieved if Hamas would simply stop attacking Israel and consent to Israel's right to exist.
* Gov. Blogojevich of Illinois is an arrogant twilight zone. He's a crook. But, he's a smart crook. I hope you got to see his press conference on Friday after impeachment charges were brought against him by the Illinois legislature. It was a joke. Gov. Blogojevich tried to claim that the charges against him were brought about because he tried to help the little people of his state.
No, the charges against Blogojevich are legitimate. The man is going to jail. The only person who doesn't seem to understand this is Blogojevich himself. But, then again, that's how crooks think.
* The Roland Burris situation in the United State Senate is nothing more than political theater. Gov. Blogojevich, as the rightful governor of Illinois, had the legal right to appoint Burris to the U.S. Senate. And there was nothing the U.S. Senate could do to stop Burris' appointment. The U.S. Senate refused to seat Burris because the Senate didn't want a Blogojevich flunky in the Illinois Senate seat fighting against President Obama's legislative agenda. The Senate refusing to seat Burris had nothing to do with race. It was all about politics.
* I like Obama's Cabinet. It's diverse, highly intelligent, very knowledgeable and filled with people willing to speak their truth to power. With all of the uncertainty facing us, we don't need a bunch of "Yes People," running the United States government.
* I feel for the family of Oscar Grant, the young man who was killed by the Oakland Subway Police. It is difficult for me to believe the story surrounding Johnnes Mehserle, the man accused of killing Grant, that the killing of Grant was an accident. Still, this horrible situation does not give the people of Oakland the right to riot. Rioting, in situations such as these, is a waste of time. Rioting solves nothing.
* Congratulations to Ms. Brenda Hale, the new President of the Roanoke, Va. NAACP.
* A note to the Roanoke, Va. City Council. I am a Christian. I pray everyday. However, government sanctioned prayer at any government meeting or event is Unconstitutional. That's basic Government 101. And to those of you who disagree, please spare me the, "We're trying to take God out of our society," argument. I don't want to hear it.
We take God out of our society everyday when children go to bed hungry every night and we do nothing about it. We take God out of our society everyday when we refuse to fund social programs aimed at helping those who cannot help themselves, while giving government handouts to the crooks, thieves and incompetent people who have run Wall Street, America's banks and Fortune 500 companies into the ground over the past 2 decades.
Prayer has its place, just not at government events. Instead of having someone say a prayer at the beginning of Roanoke City Council meetings, Roanoke City Council should have a moment of silence before council meetings. A moment of silence will achieve the same thing that prayer does.
* I doubt if I ever go to the new Taubman Museum in Downtown Roanoke, Va. Still, I hope this venture is a success.
* That being said, with the opening of the new Taubman Museum in Downtown Roanoke, Roanoke City Council wants a higher class of clientele to run the businesses in the City Market Building, next to the Taubman Museum. Roanoke City Council just doesn't have the guts to say so publicly.
* Which brings us to the use of consultants by Roanoke City Government. Whenever Roanoke City Government does not want to make the tough decision, it pawns those decisions off on consultants who are paid tens, if not, hundreds of thousands of dollars. Roanoke City Government doesn't need a consultant to make a decision on what to do with the City Market Building. Roanoke City Council simply needs to do the job they were elected to do.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
1/9/09
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. KING
YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE ROANOKE SCLC AS WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF SCLC FOUNDER, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
On Friday, January 16, 2009, the Roanoke, Va. SCLC will be holding the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Banquet. The banquet will begin at 6:30 P.M. and will be held at the Valley View Holiday Inn, 3315 Ordway Drive, NW, Roanoke, Va. The Guest Speaker for our banquet will be Dr. Billy Cannaday, a veteran educator who currently serves as Virginia’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Dean of the University of Virginia's School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
The banquet will be the first event of our annual “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration” which culminates with our annual “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Day Celebration” on Saturday, January 24’th. This event begins at 12:00 Noon at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge in Downtown Roanoke, Va.
Ms. Dawn Jefferies of Channel 10 News will be receiving “The Dr. Perneller Chubb-Wilson Award” for her outstanding work in the community at the banquet.
Nine deserving people will be receiving the “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award” for their outstanding work in the community at the banquet, as well. These nine award winners are:
Ms. Mae Huff, School Board Member, Roanoke City Public Schools
Mr. Courtney Penn, School Board Member, Roanoke City Public Schools
Ms. Anita Price, Member, Roanoke City Council
The Buffalo Soldiers, Community Activist Group
Ms. Brenda Hamilton, Clerk, Roanoke, Va. Circuit Courts
Ms. Octavia Johnson, Sheriff, Roanoke, Va.
Ms. Estelle McCadden, Community Activist, Retired Educator
Rev. Gina Rochelle, Pastor, St. Paul Church, Volunteer of Veteran’s Affairs
Ms. Rosa Hardy, Health Care Professional, Member Black Nurses Association
Tickets for this event are $40.00. A table for this event will be $400.00. For more information on this event, please contact Roanoke SCLC President, Bishop Edward Mitchell at (540)345-5030.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU MONDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
1/7/09
THE FOLLOWING IS MY COLUMN FROM 1/1/09 EDITION OF "THE ROANOKE STAR-SENTINEL."
Real men do not hit women. Any man who hits a woman is a coward. Any man that kills a woman should burn for eternity. People, especially friends and family members make excuses for those who commit domestic violence, are not only fools, but are perpetrators of domestic violence themselves.
I know there are men who are reading this column who strongly disagree with me. Some will claim they love their woman, the woman that they beat. Some will claim they never would have hit their woman if she had not have done something wrong. Some will claim they hit their woman because they snapped under stress. Some will claim they hit their woman because of drugs, alcohol or some mental defect. To all of those men, I have this to say. Excuses are for children, liars and cowards. Real men do not hit women.
I do not blame women for staying in abusive relationships. In many, if not most of these relationships, some women feel it is better to be beaten than for her children to be homeless. Some women feel it is better to be beaten than it is to be killed. Some women feel it is better to be beaten than to have their children killed. Other women feel it is better to be beaten than to have their family members killed. To me, these women are making a sacrifice. These women have traded their well being for the well being of others.
I have often said laws protecting victims from domestic violence are a joke. Let me be honest. These laws will continue to be a joke as long as judges, policemen, lawyers, members of the General Assembly and other government officials commit and get away with acts of domestic violence. These people are not going to pass laws that will put them or their buddies in jail. Plus, with pastors, teachers, socialites, businessmen and other so called "fine, upstanding citizens" with political connections continuing to commit acts of domestic violence and getting away with it, I do not see a change in domestic violence laws in the near future.
In addition, there is a serious double standard with this crime. If "Joe Thug" beats up or kills his wife or girlfriend, we want to throw "Joe Thug" in jail. If "Joe the Important Person" beats up or kills his wife or girlfriend, we blame the victim of "Joe the Important Person" for making Joe do such a terrible thing. Then we line up and tell the world what a wonderful person "Joe the Important Person" is in spite of the fact that "Joe the Important Person" is no better than "Joe Thug." Both are want to-be men who are nothing more than thuggish control freaks.
Real men do not hit woman. Why is this such a difficult thing for many people to understand?
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU FRIDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
1/5/09
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Now that the holidays are over, THE ARTIS BLOG will be returning to its Monday, Wednesday and Friday format.
* I have two tickets to the Obama Inauguration. I am honored to be able to witness history. I will post pictures of the Inauguration on JeffArtis.com FEATURING THE ARTIS BLOG for all to see.
* I don't have a problem with Rick Warren participating in Obama's Inauguration. Obama said he would have an administration that was inclusive. People should not be surprised. As for the anger directed at Warren and Obama over this situation, this anger is misplaced. If you are going to get angry over something, get angry over something important. And no, I do not think Warren is homophobic. It is possible to be against gay marriage without being homophobic.
* Caroline Kennedy is not the most qualified candidate for the New York Senate seat. However, she is the best qualified person for that position. She is an Obama ally. She is a quick study. She can raise money for her party and for other candidates. The Kennedy name gives her access that others can only dream of. She will make an outstanding United States Senator.
* I told my Republican friends that I would say something good about the Bush Administration. President Bush did an outstanding job fighting AIDS in Africa. Yes, his funding programs had strings attached. However, you have to give credit where credit is due. Bush's programs there helped make a difference.
* As for the Bush Presidency, it was a dismal, unmitigated failure. It's interesting watching the Bush people work the media in their sad attempt to revise history. But, then again, what do they have to lose?
* Anyone who has read THE ARTIS BLOG through the years knows I'm not a George Bush fan. However, the reporter in Iraq who attacked President Bush should be punished for his actions. I don't care that his weapon was a only a pair of shoes. His actions were uncalled for. After all, this reporter did attack the President of the United States.
* I number of you have asked how I like teaching at Roanoke, Va.'s alternative education school, the Noel C. Taylor Academy. I'm loving it. Those students are the smartest students I've ever been around. I have to be honest with you. I've never had more fun in a classroom. As for the horror stories you hear about the students who attend Noel C. Taylor, don't believe the hype.
* Roanoke, Va. has the second highest teenage pregnancy rate in Va. I am not surprised. This is just another example of how Roanoke, Va. fathers aren't doing their j.o.b. I have two daughters. As they were growing up, all of their boyfriends knew that if they got my girls pregnant, they would regret doing so. I raised a son. My son knew what would happen to him if he got some girl pregnant.
My wife and I sent clear messages to our children that some things were wrong and unacceptable. While these messages didn't work all of the time, these messages worked most of the time. Those parents who say their children are going to do whatever they want to do regardless of what they tell them are, quite frankly, fools. They are also bad parents. Children need love, structure and discipline. It's up to parents to provide these three things to their children in equal doses.
* Congratulations to WalMart for their $25,000 grant to Roanoke, Va.'s Overage Academy at Forest Park School, a school that was created by Roanoke Public School Superintendent, Rita Bishop. The school was created to attack Roanoke, Va.'s dismal dropout rate. So far, so good.
* It's an election year in Virginia. Here's hoping a qualified candidate runs against and defeats Roanoke, Va. Virginia House of Delegate member, Onzlee Ware. As a delegate, the man is a joke. It's time for him to go. Feel free to make a comment about Ware's work in Richmond on THE ARTIS BLOG MESSAGE BOARD.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
FROM DECEMBER, 2008
THE ARTIS BLOG
12/15/08
The following is my column from this week's "Roanoke Star-Sentinel" about the wonderful folks at the Franklin Road WalMart. I'll be back with a new ARTIS BLOG on January 5. Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Take care.
Jeff Artis, Publisher JeffArtis.com Featuring THE ARTIS BLOG
Sometimes, leaving a job is tough. I have spent the past 8 years working at the Franklin Road Wal-Mart. During this time, many people have asked me why I have stayed at Wal-Mart for such a long time. I knew what these people were really getting at as they looked down their noses while asking this question. My answer to this question was simple and surprising. I worked at Wal-Mart because I liked my job. I liked the people I worked with. Plus, I have never worked at a better place or for a better company.
There are a number of reasons why I will miss working for Wal-Mart. Community activists have told me their jobs were on the line if they took a particular stand on a particular issue here in the Roanoke Valley. While working for Wal-Mart, I never ran into this problem. Wal-Mart made it clear to me that they wanted their associates to be active in the community. In fact, there are a number of instances when Wal-Mart told me to do what I needed to do in the community, whether it was working to make the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge a reality, educating the community about gangs and gang violence, talking about improving our schools or getting involved in voter registration.
I got a chuckle in the last Presidential Election, when the media reported that Wal-Mart was telling its associates not to vote for Barack Obama. I was in charge of my store’s voter registration program. Some companies talk the talk about community involvement. Wal-Mart walks the walk supporting numerous charities, the Roanoke SCLC’s "Juneteenth Celebration," and awarding a $25,000 grant to the Overage Academy at Forest Park. Wal-Mart is truly community driven.
More than anything else, I will miss the people I have had the pleasure of working with for the past 8 years. Many of my co-workers and management are like family, some actually are. Together, we have shared and been through the highs and lows of family life. We have joked and laughed together. When someone needed help, help was easy to find.
Over the past 8 years, there were times when I do not know what I would have done without the support of the people I worked with. They have watched over me, looked out for me and fussed at me when they knew something was wrong and I did not ask for their help. When I had my health problems, my co-workers let me have it when I cheated on my diet or did something I was not supposed to do. The management team let me know I always had a job in spite of the time I missed. Other businesses would have fired me the first chance they got.
Much has been written and said about Wal-Mart as a company. All I have to say is do not believe the hype. There are some great people at the Franklin Road Wal-Mart. I am really going to miss them. Thank you for making the past 8 years fun.
WE THE PEOPLE
I'LL BE SEEING YOU ON JANUARY 5, 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR
THE ARTIS BLOG
12/01/08
THE OBAMA EFFECT
The following is from my column in this week's ROANOKE STAR-SENTENEL. Take care. Jeff Artis, Publisher, JeffArtis.com
I was talking to my history class the other day. I asked if they fully understood how the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States was going to affect them. Some in my class said they did not care. Most in my class said it was nice to have a Black President. They were proud of what Obama had accomplished. Again, I asked if they fully understood how the Obama Presidency was going to affect them. After getting blank stares, I told my class the following.
"You have to understand that the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States of America is a game changer. And it is your game that is about to change. You will no longer be able to say, "I can't make it because I am Black." Obama is Black. You will no longer be able to say, "I can't make it because I am poor." Obama was not well off growing up. You will no longer be able to say, "I can't make it because I don't have a good relationship with my father." Obama didn't have a good relationship with his father. You will no longer be able to say, "I can't make it because of racism." Obama made it in spite of racism and went on to become the most powerful man in the world, President of the United States."
"Because Obama overcame adversity to become President of the United States, American society will now expect you to be able to do the same thing; overcome adversity to become a successful and productive American citizen. Now that Obama is President, there is no longer any excuse for any of you to fail. Now that Obama is President, there is no justification you can use to fail. It no longer matters if you are Black, White, Latino, man, woman, poor, come from a single-parent household, raised by your Grandmother or anything else. The days of you using excuses to be unproductive are over. American society will no longer feel sorry for you because of your circumstances."
My comments were met with silence. Then, my students, as teenagers do, started asking, "What if," questions. I told my class that since Obama was elected President, there were no longer any, "What if's," that American society will expect them to be successful in life in spite of their circumstances with no exceptions.
As the light bulb came on in some of my student's head, I explained. "American society will now expect you to stop your whining, stop your complaining and stop your excuse making. American society will now tell you that if Obama can become President of the United States in spite of what he had to deal with, the least you can do is stay in school, graduate, get a job, take care of your family, be a good father, be a good mother and be a productive citizen. Some of you are standing in the middle of the interstate and you are about to get run over by a tractor-trailer truck named "Change." It is my job to tell you that truck is getting ready to run over you so get out of the way."
