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Can you believe some schools in the south actually taught that the masters (owners of slaves) were kind to slaves.

Really, chains around their necks and being chased by dogs was more like what slaves encountered.

Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton says that slavery was a necessary evil, and this guy wants to run for president. Slavery was evil, not necessary. Most of the lynchings in this country took place in the Bible-belt states. Maybe thats why the religious right and white officials are opposed to critical race theory being taught in secondary education.

Sometimes the truth hurts.

The 1619 Project by Nikole-Hanna Jones should be required reading. I cant believe books such as To Kill a Mockingbird are being banned in some school libraries.

According to the Southern PovertyLaw Center, there are 940 hate groupsin the United States of which 23 are

in Pennsylvania. The worst of these isthe Proud Boys, which infiltrated theBlack Lives Matter protest in Seattle,

Portland, and Kenosha, along withthe Atom-Waffen neo-Nazi group,which started fires and caused mayhem.

Instead of distressing over brown-skin refugees on our southern border, maybe we should be concerned about vigilantes such as George Zimmerman, Kyle Rittenhouse, Dylan Roof and other racist people.

In conclusion, lets welcome all refugees to our country and our city and maybe some of our abandoned churches would become houses of worship again rather than entertainment venues.

Remember, not all immigrants are gypsies, tramps and thieves and lets tell the truth about race in America in elementary, middle and high school.

John R. Aubrey

Johnstown

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Letter to the editor | Welcome all refugees into our country - TribDem.com

By The Associated Press

Todays Highlight in History:

On March 19, 1945, during World War II, 724 people were killed when a Japanese dive bomber attacked the carrier USS Franklin off Japan (the ship was saved). Adolf Hitler ordered the destruction of German facilities that could fall into Allied hands in his so-called Nero Decree, which was largely disregarded.

On this date:

In 1859, the opera Faust by Charles Gounod premiered in Paris.

In 1931, Nevada Gov. Fred B. Balzar signed a measure legalizing casino gambling.

In 1942, during World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered men between the ages of 45 and 64, inclusive, to register for non-military duty.

In 1977, the series finale of Mary Tyler Moore aired on CBS-TV, ending the situation comedys seven-season run.

In 1982, The film Porkys was widely released in theaters.

In 1987, televangelist Jim Bakker resigned as chairman of his PTL ministry organization amid a sex and money scandal involving Jessica Hahn, a former church secretary.

In 1991, Polish President Lech Walesa arrived in Washington for his first state visit to the United States.

In 1995, after a 21-month hiatus, Michael Jordan returned to professional basketball with his former team, the Chicago Bulls.

In 1997, artist Willem de Kooning, considered one of the 20th centurys greatest painters, died in East Hampton, New York, at age 92.

In 2003, President George W. Bush ordered the start of war against Iraq. (Because of the time difference, it was early March 20 in Iraq.)

In 2007, a methane gas explosion in a Siberian coal mine killed 110 workers.

In 2013, Pope Francis officially began his ministry as the 266th pope, receiving the ring symbolizing the papacy and a wool stole exemplifying his role as shepherd of his 1.2-billion strong flock during a Mass at the Vatican.

In 2020, President Donald Trump focused attention on a malaria drug, chloroquine, as a possible coronavirus treatment; the FDA issued a statement saying that there were no FDA-approved therapeutics to treat COVID-19.

Ten years ago: An assailant on a motorbike opened fire with two handguns in front of a Jewish school in the southern French city of Toulouse, killing a rabbi, his two young sons and a girl. (The gunman, French-born Mohammed Merah, was killed in a gunfight with police after a 32-hour standoff at his apartment; he had also killed three French paratroopers.) The Justice Department announced it had begun an investigation into the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida by a neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman. (No federal civil rights charges were filed; Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder after claiming self-defense.)

Five years ago: Author-columnist Jimmy Breslin, the legendary street-smart chronicler of wise guys and underdogs, died at his Manhattan home at age 87.

One year ago: President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris visited Atlanta, days after a white gunman killed eight people, most of them Asian American women, in the Atlanta area. The United States accused China of committing genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghur (WEE-gur) Muslims and other minorities; China accused the U.S. of discrimination and even savage murder of people of African and Asian descent. Four men described as leaders of the far-right Proud Boys were indicted on charges stemming from the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. (The four remain jailed and are awaiting trial.) The U.S. cleared President Joe Bidens goal of injecting 100 million coronavirus shots, more than a month before his target date of his 100th day in office.

Todays Birthdays: Actor Renee Taylor is 89. Actor Ursula Andress is 86. Singer Clarence Frogman Henry is 85. Singer Ruth Pointer (The Pointer Sisters) is 76. Actor Glenn Close is 75. Actor Bruce Willis is 67. Actor-comedian Mary Scheer is 59. Playwright Neil LaBute is 59. Actor Connor Trinneer is 53. Rock musician Gert Bettens (Ks Choice) is 52. Rapper Bun B is 49.

Rock musician Zach Lind (Jimmy Eat World) is 46. Actor Virginia Williams is 44. Actor Abby Brammell is 43. MLB pitcher Clayton Kershaw is 34. Actor Craig Lamar Traylor is 33. Actor Philip Bolden is 27.

Originally posted here:
Today in History: Today is Saturday, March 19, the 78th day of 2022. - wausaupilotandreview.com

A bill pending in a key legislative committee would provide legal protections for innocent targets of criminals, allowing them the use of deadly force, especially firearms, to defend themselves.

While supported by dozens of gun owners and representatives of firearms rights groups during a recent marathon public hearing, the Connecticut version of a so-called stand-your-ground law is unlikely to clear the Judiciary Committee.

The legislation, proposed by Republicans including state Rep. Craig Fishbein of Wallingford, a top GOP member of the committee, would force state prosecutors to presume that the threat a suspect or suspects presented in someones home, work place or motor vehicle was so dire that deadly force was necessary.

It shifts the burden, Fishbein said after the 16-hour hearing on a variety of gun-safety bills. It merely creates a presumption that the action was justified. Of course, the presumption could be overturned, based on particular facts. Currently, one has to prove that their action is reasonable. This bill would put the burden on prosecutors that the presumption of the person was not reasonable.

Floridas stand-your-ground law received national attention in 2012 when George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17 year-old. Zimmerman was acquitted of murder.

Harwood W. Loomis of Woodbridge told the committee that as a disabled veteran and senior citizen, he believes crime has decreased overall in recent years but the nature of criminal activity seems to be more-violent.

There is a general lack of respect and value for human life on the part of criminals, Loomis said. Physically, I am no match for even one younger, stronger assailantand it appears that today, criminals dont work alone. Tthey travel and operate in packs. There should never be any doubt that if I am trapped in my car by an assailant or a group of assailants that I have a God-given right to defend myself.

Lauren E. LePage, state director of the National Rifle Association in Connecticut, said the presumptive defense, combined with another proposal to eliminate the requirement for people in churches and other places of worship retreat before using deadly force, would make it easier for criminal targets to defend themselves.

Expecting the police to prevent all crime is neither practically nor legally justified, LePage said in prepared testimony. Courts have consistently ruled that law enforcement officers have no enforceable obligation to protect individuals.

But it is unlikely to emerge beyond the legislative committee level.

Weve had this bill in the committee off and on forever, said state Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, who opposes it.

First of all, you dont need it. Second, there are racial implications weve seen played out across the country in states including Georgia and Florida. I have no reason to believe people cant protect themselves, Winfield said in an interview Friday. I dont know why some people think well be safer than what we can do already. I dont want people feeling they should have to be a hero. Thinking you have a license to be a hero gets people hurt.

In unsigned testimony from the state Division of Criminal Justice, where Richard Colangelo with retire from the post of chief states attorney on March 31 and John Russotto will take over on an interim basis, prosecutors warned of the potential dangers of the proposal.

Such a change in the law is unnecessary because it will have no effect, the prosecutors wrote, stressing that under current law, if someone claims self-defense, it is up to the state to show it wasnt.

Because the state must meet this high burden of disproving a claim of self-defense in every case in which it is asserted, and because such a high degree of proof always will be sufficient to rebut the proposed presumption of reasonableness set forth in the bill, the presumption will, for all intents and purposes, be a hollow gesture that has no meaningful effect, prosecutors wrote. Intended or not, as written, this portion of the bill will effectively permit one person, absent any perceived threat of personal or third party harm, to kill another person merely because the person employing deadly physical force reasonably believes that the other person is attempting, or has succeeded, with force, to enter their unoccupied motor vehicle.

The division warned that gunfire used to supposedly prevent a motor vehicle theft creates more hazards. Ask yourself: Is your neighbors motor vehicle worth an errant bullet through your childs bedroom window or wall at 3 a.m.? the prosecutors wrote. Moreover, human life, even one engaging in criminal activity, is more valuable than a motor vehicle.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT

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CT version of Stand your ground faces opposition in key committee - CT Insider

Kyle Rittenhouse has shared a meme which uses the moment he started crying during his murder trial to poke fun at rising gas prices.

Rittenhouse, who was cleared of two counts of murder following the highly divisive trial in November 2021, shared the clip on his Twitter account on Thursday, where it has since been reshared more than 4,300 times.

The edited video shows Rittenhouse filling up a car at a gas station while in tears.

The clip superimposes Rittenhouse's body from when he was hyperventilating while describing to the jury the circumstances that led up to him shooting Joseph Rosenbaum during the Black Lives Matter protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020.

"No, it's not Lemon Heads.. it's the burning hole in my pocket thanks to a Joe Biden presidency," Rittenhouse tweeted while sharing the clip.

Rittenhouse then credits the creation of the "funny video" to Twitter user @derfanzor.

The "Lemon Heads" remark is a reference to criticism he received from NBA star LeBron James during the trial as the basketball legend appeared to suggest the 19-year-old was not remorseful for his actions.

As footage of Rittenhouse crying in the court went viral on social media in November 2021, James tweeted: "What tears????? I didn't see one. Man knock it off! That boy ate some lemon heads before walking into court."

The meme shared by Rittenhouse has since been viewed more than 600,000 times.

The clip was also posted onto Twitter by Ron Filipkowski, the Republican attorney who resigned from a Florida state commission in protest at a police raid at the home of data scientist Rebekah Jones in December 2020, where it has been viewed further 660,000 times.

A number of people took to Twitter to criticize Rittenhouse for using the moment he cried during his trial while telling the jury why he shot someone to make a joke.

USA Today columnist Rex Huppke described the 19-year-old as an "absolute sociopath." Blogger and author Kimberley Johnson said Rittenhouse was a "product of the American justice system."

Actor John Fugelsang wrote: "Remember when George Zimmerman tried to cash in on his murder of an unarmed American?"

Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges against him after arguing that he was acting in self defense when he shot and killed Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded 27-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz during the disorder in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Following his acquittal, Rittenhouse has appeared on a number of right-wing news channels and podcasts, met former president Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, and walked on stage to his own theme tune at the Turning Point USA conference in Phoenix in December 2021.

Rittenhouse also set up a donation fund, the "Media Accountability Project," to raise money in order to sue people for defamation over their comments about him before and after the trial.

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Kyle Rittenhouse Gas Meme of Him Crying at the Pump Viewed Over 1M Times - Newsweek

Treasure Coast Newspapers

I appreciated Dominic Calabro's guest column Citizens must have easy access to public notices on Feb. 17. I belong to many environmental organizations and as conservation chair of one and government affairs representative of another I need to be able to access information about plans and meetings of the city of Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie County, South Florida Water Management District, the Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies plans that might affect the environment, our drinking water, waterways, the air we breathe. Also, changes that will affect wildlife, businesses, tourism and even our economy due to their policies that affect our surroundings.

There is not enough time each day to go on each of these and other organizations' websites, but I can find out their plans by checking your newspaper's public notices. If this stops, we all may suffer from not knowing what special interests may have gotten our public officials to do without our being able to have input. Please contact your state representative and ask them to continue to provide these important notices in the newspaper.

Diane Goldberg, Port St. Lucie

The West Corridor of Vero Beach is not being served fairly by the Indian River County Commission. Dozens of separate communities were approved and developed without any overall plan that includes mixed zoning, retail and business properties, as well as homes. Then these communities were left with limited county services such as parks, recreation programs and office buildings. The goal should be to provide citizens with these amenities without having to drive downtown.

To my knowledge there are no parks or recreation programs west of 58th Avenue. Additionally, infrastructure is non-existent or in poor repair. Examples include the horrible and dangerous condition of the 12th Avenue roadway; lack of adequate lighting on 74th Avenue south of SR 60, particularly at the bridge crossing at 14th Lane; the dangerous intersection at 74th Avenue and 16th Street, and the general lack of sidewalks and bike lanes throughout the West Corridor.

So, whats the solution? Tens of thousands of citizens are living in the West Corridor. We need to make our voices heard by getting involved in the commissions work. Additionally, lets support the movement to single-member districts rejected recently by the commission so we will know whom to hold accountable. Our commission argued that this would lead to provincialism. Perhaps that would be a good result given that our current elected-at-large commissioners are not serving the entire county equally.

Betty Hearn Morrow, Vero Beach

I appreciated Cray Littles Jan. 5letter, in which, in the context of a discussion about democracy, he wrote: Admitting our failures is painful, and Human behavior is addicted to pain avoidance. It is true that acknowledging anything less than genius of our sacrosanct Founding Fathers isnt always easy. Is it possible that the conditions surrounding the establishing of our election processes were unique, and that the authors were not thinking 200 years into the future?

True confession No.1: I probably wasnt paying as much attention as I should have been during high school civics class. And true confession No. 2: At the 2000 George Bush/Al Gore recount, my heart was too heavy with losing to notice that, recount or not, there were still more votes for Al Gore on a national level than ever would have made a recount necessary.

I hereby penitently admit, it took me years to notice that the election did not always go to the candidate achieving the most votes nationally. Time may or may not heal all wounds, but it does have a way of bringing illumination. I now understand that the Electoral College, so ominously and suddenly a player on election night, has never once in its long archaic history actually overturned an election.

I have to say: It is ironic that the racial inequalities meant to be addressed by the tradition of winner-take-all states are now heightened by it. Every Vote Counts! minorities are urged. And, Voting Matters! From sea to shining sea, however, two recent elections have proven that not every vote may count. Democracy is a matter of luck. Officially, it is little more than a mirage.

Until Electoral College reform is confronted, a country governed by its people is an option higher than the moon.

Chris Lowery, Palm City

The Feb. 21 article about "Stand Your Ground" laws is very misleading. Most importantly, the SYG law did not even apply in the George Zimmerman prosecution. The SYG law applies if you exercise your right of self-defense in public and it gives the prosecution a heavier burden of proving that you could have avoided the use of deadly force.

In the Trayvon Martin case, at the time Zimmerman drew his gun, Martin had him pinned to the ground and was banging Zimmerman's head on the sidewalk, placing him in fear for his life. That's what the jury heard and why there was an acquittal. There was no issue of whether Zimmerman could have withdrawn and avoided the use of force. The fact that Zimmerman approached Martin before the two became engaged in a struggle is not relevant. The only thing that is relevant is the situation at the time Zimmerman drew his weapon.

Tom Morris, Jensen Beach

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Letters to the Editor: Feb. 26, 2022 - TCPalm