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SUMMER TIME MEANS COLLEGE CLASSES, FAMILY TIME, AND VACATION TIME. I'LL BE UPDATING THE ARTIS BLOG, JUST NOT ON A REGULAR BASIS. I'LL BE BACK ON MY REGULAR MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY SCHEDULE ON SEPTEMBER 9'TH.
UNTIL THEN, HAVE A NICE SUMMER.
TO SEE AN UPDATED ROSTER OF THOSE WHO HELPED WITH "JUNETEENTH '09" PLEASE VISIT THE "JUNETEENTH '09" PAGE ON JEFFARTIS.COM A LINK TO THE "JUNETEENTH '09" PAGE IS POSTED ABOVE
TO ALL WHO HELPED WITH "JUNETEENTH '09" THE ROANOKE SCLC SAYS THANK YOU VERY MUCH JUNETEENTH '09 WAS THE SUCCESS IS WAS BECAUSE OF YOU AGAIN, THANK YOU
THE ARTIS BLOG
7/20/09
* I'd like to thank the readers of my column in THE ROANOKE STAR-SENTINEL for pointing out the mistake I made in my latest column. There are two words in the English language that I always have a problem with; one is principle/principal. The other is capital/capitol. I know what the words mean. However, if I use either of these two words in something I write, I use the wrong spelling of the word 99% of the time.
* Still, as a columnist for a newspaper, I must do better. Just as I want folks to hold me accountable for my what I say and write, I also want people to hold me accountable when I use the incorrect spelling of a word. Again, thanks for pointing out my mistake.
* I just love many of my critics. In the past 25 years, some of my critics have tried to say I don't like Black women, was against funding for Black colleges, was against the Dr. Martin Luther King's holiday, was against affirmative action, was against drug treatment for people in need, was anti-police, was too pro-police (I still haven't figured that one out), was not Black enough, was too Black, I hated White people, I wanted to be a White person and a host of other things. I once had one critic try to claim that I had an ex-wife that I used to beat up, several kids I didn't take care of and I owed back child support. I had to ask my wife about that one. I asked her if she knew something I didn't know about.
* We both laughed. That's how I feel about most of my critics. First, it comes with the territory. When you decide to make a positive difference in your community, folks come gunning for you. Second, most of my critics either don't understand where I'm coming from or can't prove me wrong. When my critics can't deal with the truth, some are not afraid to make things up.
* I've often said that many of my critics never have a problem letting their version of the truth get in the way of the facts. Now comes word that I either think, wrote or said that Roanoke, Va. House of Delegate member, Onzlee Ware, is an Uncle Tom.
* Do I think Onzlee Ware is an Uncle Tom? No. Have I ever thought Ware was an Uncle Tom? No. Do I think Ware has done some things since being elected to the General Assembly that could be considered Uncle Tomish? Yes. Have I said so? Yes. Does this make Ware an Uncle Tom? Again, no.
* I can state chapter and verse, from the Carolyn Word controversy through the Frank Hargrove controversy, the number of times Ware has either sold out the community or has attempted to sell out the community for his own political gain. That is being Uncle Tomish.
* Politicians make compromises. It's the types of compromises that Ware makes in Richmond that I have problems with. With these compromises, it's usually the Black community that gets the short end of the stick.
* Here's the thing. I'm a huge President Obama supporter. However, I don't expect President Obama to address racial issues the same way Jesse Jackson or I would. Why? President Obama has never come to the Black community and said, "Vote for me. I've got your back." Ware has.
* Ware has proven he has the backs of Northwest Roanoke, as long as, it doesn't interfere with his own political agenda. I have a problem with any Black politician who talks like Rap Brown to get elected but votes like Clarence Thomas after getting elected. Ware got elected to represent the people of his district. He's based his political career on Northwest Roanoke being "his district." When Ware's walk matches his talk, I'll be the first one in line to shake Ware's hand.
* No, I'm not picking on Ware. I have a name for White politicians who ask the Black community for our vote and then forget where the Black community is after being elected; Casper, as in Casper the Friendly Ghost. You see these guys when they're running for office and after they win, they disappear.
I will always speak out against the exploitation of people. I will continue to speak out against those who engage in this exploitation. If this person happens to be a government official, Black or White, so be it.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU SOON
THE ARTIS BLOG
7/13/09
* I wanted to wait a little bit before I commented on the Sarah Palin situation. It's simple really. Palin can dish it out, but, she can't take it. That's why she quit as Governor of Alaska. She simply couldn't take the scrutiny. She couldn't handle the heat of politics where she had to be accountable. All that "pit bull in lipstick" talk was a bunch of bull. Alaska will be better off with Palin gone. I just don't know how the Republican Party is going to fair with Palin running around on the loose.
* The gay community is upset with the Obama Administration. I can see why. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is stupid government policy. The U.S. is dealing with two wars. The military has a manpower shortage causing multiple tours of duty by our soldiers. Yet, our government is worried about what people do on their own time behind closed doors. Gays should be allowed to serve this country like anyone else. They should not have to hide who they are.
And while I'm on the subject of military service, I still think we should bring back the draft.
* As you know, I'm a supporter of Gay Rights. Gays in the military, gays adopting children and gays getting married doesn't bother me. Allowing gays to have the full rights of first class citizenship will not bring an end of western civilization as we know it.
* Last week, President Obama told African countries to end their corruption and to stop their infighting. I couldn't agree more. While China is making huge investment inroads into Africa, no one else is going to invest big money in African until the countries of Africa get their internal houses in order. Yes, Africa is a mess due to the remnants of colonialism and the Cold War. However, it's time to move forward.
* I know you've heard about the Burr Oak Cemetery scandal in Chicago. The folks responsible for the scandal deserve to go to prison for a long, long time. Of course, those folks will say they made a mistake. Please spare me. A mistake is turning left when you should have turned right while driving to the store. A mistake is discovering you are wearing a blue sock with a black sock after getting dressed in the dark in the morning. Criminal behavior deserves jail time. I hope these people gets lots of it. There is no excuse for what these grave robbers did.
* If former Vice President Dick Cheney did something illegal by running a top secret CIA spy program without telling Congress, he should be prosecuted. At the very least, there should be an investigation into the matter to make sure Cheney did nothing illegal in this program. After everything that happened to the CIA in the late 1970's, you would think Cheney and the CIA would have known better to do such a thing.
* I hope Congress takes its time on health care legislation. We need to get this thing right from the start.
* I've spent the last couple of days going back and forth with Hank Bostwick of the Star City Harbinger. Interesting guy. On some issues, he has the knowledge of a sack of hair. But, he's an interesting guy. Plus, you know me. I can't resist messing with anyone who belongs to the Onzlee Ware Fan Club. From what I've seen on Bostwick's site, Bostwick must be one of the Onzlee Ware Fan Club's charter members. What's with Bostwick and Roanoke Mayor David Bowers?
* It looks like Bill Bestpitch is going to run for Roanoke City Council in the spring. I supported Bestpitch when he first ran. In fact, I was at his announcement. I won't make that mistake again. While serving on Roanoke City Council I don't remember Bestpitch doing much for the people of Northwest Roanoke. I know I wasn't too impressed with the job he did on council, especially on the issue of the closing of the police substation on the corner of Florida Ave. and Lafayette Bvld. at a time when the residents there, myself included, were trying to clean up the neighborhood from being controlled by the drug dealers and the gang bangers who made their livings there.
* Is it me or has NASCAR racing been pretty boring this year? It is nice to see Mark Martin having such a good year. Maybe life does begin after 50. If Jeff Gordon can't win the championship, I'd like to see Mark win it.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU SOON
THE ARTIS BLOG
7/6/09
THE FOLLOWING IS MY 7/9/09 COLUMN FROM THE ROANOKE STAR-SENTINEL
Much has happened since my last column, so here goes. Through the years, I have been an outspoken critic of Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham. But, three things must be said about her time as city manager. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Bridge happened on her watch. Burcham opened up City Hall to the citizens of Northwest Roanoke. She has been a big supporter of the Roanoke SCLC Juneteenth Celebration. These things would not have happened under other Roanoke City Managers. I have a great deal of respect for Darlene Burcham. Our disagreements never became personal. To be honest, she only did what Roanoke City Government allowed her to do.
A mayor without a secretary? How silly. Maybe Roanoke could have used the $48,000 it spent on two electric vehicles to keep Joyce Johnson as the mayor's secretary instead of wasting tax dollars buying two electric vehicles that really have no practical purpose. Getting rid of Johnson is nothing more than political payback for Mayor Bowers defeating Nelson Harris in the last mayoral election. This controversy shows just how petty Harris and his crew, some of whom are still on Roanoke City Council, really are.
I taught at William Fleming from 1985-1988. During those years, I was told in writing that I failed too many students, that if I did not find a way to pass more students, my teaching contract would not be renewed. Rather than pass students who did not deserve to be passed and after being told by the Frank Tota administration to get with the program, I quit.
The 2009 William Fleming SOL cheating scandal pains me. Susan Willis, principal of Fleming at the time, is either the mastermind of the SOL cheating scandal or she has shown a complete lack of institutional control at the school. Simply put, Willis is either too corrupt or too incompetent to be in education. Either way, she should be fired. Her license to work in education should also be revoked.
As for the other four people involved in the Fleming SOL cheating scandal, I understand their situation. In education, there are instances when your principal says jump and you better ask how high. If you don't start jumping right then and there as high as you can, you put your career on the line. I also know that it is rare when a school system's central administration and school board supports a teacher over a school's principal.
Still, someone has to look out for the children. Career on the line or not, no one has the right to violate state and federal law when it comes to educating our children. Also, no one has the right to violate the civil rights of our children to get a proper education, SOL test scores or not.
One thing for sure, given the state report on this controversy and the numerous complaints about Susan Willis' management style, the discussion of merit pay for Roanoke, Va. school teachers should finally be put to rest. Susan Willis is the best argument against merit pay for teachers there ever was.
To my wife, Happy Anniversary. It's been a wonderful 23 years. Thank you for everything.