Photo Diary - #blacklives matter Birmingham

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Monday December 22, 2014 · 10:57 AM PST

2014/12/22 · 10:57

I posted my thoughts on the last few days on my facebook page this morning leading with

Real discussions that move the needle on any important issue generally happen off Facebook. Just a few items to address and clarify. It's possible to empathize with young black males being killed on the street by police with impunity and at the same time empathize with police officers losing their lives. Neither should happen in what will be 2015 in a matter of days. It's my definition of humanity.

Last week #Blacklivesmatter announced plans to hold a Shutdown Protest on Highway 280 where it intersects the busy Summit shopping center while also having a die-in at the Galleria mall in suburban Hoover later that afternoon. Emotions were stirred throughout the week on social media as we saw frankly many people at their worst in terms of irrational fears and anger based on a lot of deep-seeded racism. Birmingham has we know as a rich history in the civil rights movement which still instantly conjures images of Bull Connor, fire houses, dogs, Martin Luther King and Fred Shuttlesworth. Read More

I won my primary last night!! On to November

alpolitics

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Wednesday June 04, 2014 · 7:24 PM PDT

2014/06/04 · 19:24

As many of you know, I've been busy campaigning since February for the Jefferson County Circuit Court Place 3 Judicial position. The current Judge was appointed by our Republican Governor.

We won our primary last night by a margin of 58-42, roughly a 4 thousand margin with approximately 25K votes cast. I am humbled by the support I received from this community in good wishes, advice and a few donations.

alpolitics

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Friday December 20, 2013 · 4:53 PM PST

2013/12/20 · 16:53

As one of the best as well as smartest and wisest people I know responded to this segment of the Duck Dynasty doofus's remarks --"nobody could hear them singing from the colored only restrooms and restaurants"

Seems like everybody in America honed in on what the idiot, making millions from a reality show, expressed this week. But from my perspective I'd say that 75 percent of the responses I've seen only focus on the anti-homosexuality aspects of what was said in the "Gentleman Quarterly" stand up routine and then 24% only touch the tip of he iceberg on the dismissive racist commentary. So while we have to endure another news cycle or three of this quack, keep this in mind while responding.

alpolitics

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Saturday July 13, 2013 · 9:29 PM PDT

2013/07/13 · 21:29

This is essentially what I wrote on my facebook page after hearing the news. I was reminded in a couple of private messages that "Zimmerman considers himself Hispanic". I took down my message a few minutes later because I really didn't know how to properly respond at the time and wanted a few minutes to process that aspect of this case. 90 minutes later, I think my response should have been simply "I don't think that makes a difference." George Zimmerman can consider himself anything he wants, but really the only thing that really mattered is that Trayvon Martin was a young black male. See the photos and analysis of What would have happened if the Victim were White and the accused were Black.

We are going to see but my prediction then when I first heard about this case as it is now is that George Zimmerman is going to be a martyr/folk hero for Fox News, the NRA, the Tea Party and every right wing fringe group in this country. Now because of this trial I had to tell my 14 year old black nephew that once again he's got to face that fact that despite him being a smart, personable, courteous young man he's still facing challenges that I didn't face. Not only does he have folks that are obviously going to see him as suspicious because he's wearing a hood, but they can shoot and kill him and not a damn thing will be done about it. It's just another reality.

alpolitics

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Friday October 26, 2012 · 6:12 AM PDT

2012/10/26 · 06:12

I had a friendshare an opinion written by Lilly Ledbetter with me this morning. I am so glad that it was the first article I read this morning. It really inspired me to keep working over the final few days of this very contentious election cycle. Of course we all know the Lilly Ledbetter story, but there are many that don't and there are many that also contend that this is a non-issue. But as we learned from the second debate , there is a stark difference in how President Obama and former Governor Mittens Flip Flops Romeny view frankly put "women in the workplace".

As Lilly says

During the recent presidential debates, Mitt Romney was asked a simple question: Would he have signed a bill that allowed women to earn equal pay for equal work? He refused to answer. Instead, he suggested that women make less money than men because they need more flexible work schedules.

alpolitics

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Saturday October 13, 2012 · 5:21 PM PDT

2012/10/13 · 17:21

Yesterday my folksannounced they were closing the doors of our retail store in Birmingham Alabama that opened in 1922. It's really hard for me to write this even as we speak because of the history in terms of what Cotton's Department Store meant to our family and the community. So I will have to share a lot of what was written in the local newspaper and said by family and friends and can maybe talk more freely in the comments. Writing has always been cathartic for me but now I find it difficult to find the exact right words to describe how I feel.

Cotton's opened as a dry goods store at 400 19th St. in Ensley in 1922, four days after founders Mitchell and Ida Cotton wed. Mitchell Cotton, who immigrated to the U.S. from Estonia as a toddler, ran the store with his wife until just after the second world war.
In about 1949 their children Bert Cotton Sr. and Merle Schultz took over, with Merle's husband Howard Schultz. In 1980, a generation later, Rhonda and Harry left careers in Atlanta to take the helm, though 88-year-old Howard Schultz is still often in the store on Saturdays.
The store earned a reputation for stellar customer service, and for a willingness to extend credit to customers who might not be able to get it elsewhere. Regular customers still drive from all around the metro area because of the store's selection of dresses and hats.

alpolitics

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Wednesday September 05, 2012 · 8:41 PM PDT

2012/09/05 · 20:41

If there is a soul who watched Bill Clinton tonight and didn't get inspired then their nose is growing. That inspired me to jump off the couch and start cheering. I'm pretty sure my conservative neighbors called the police.

Seriously, all you have is an old senile Clint Eastwood and we have the master, the guy who works a crowd like no other. You throw up a prop and call it an empty chair. Bill Clinton just put Middle Class America on his back tonight and said "Game on for the next two months"

alpolitics

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Thursday March 01, 2012 · 7:44 PM PST

2012/03/01 · 19:44

So hopefully this is like the old adage about riding a bike. Once you learn how to ride it's easy to get back on even after being away from a while. I use to post almost daily during periods from 2008-2010. I started my own blog during that time. The Progressive Electorate, which is down at the moment due to time and some past financial constraints.

However, I've recently gotten back involved in local politics as a member of my county's Democratic executive committee. I'm on the ballot as a Delegate to the DNC for my Congressional District which is one of the heaviest Republican Districts in the Country (AL-06). I'm also serve on the Host Committee for a Gen 44 event this Sunday where Valerie Jarrett is the special guest.

I've committed to raise $1,000 and I'm almost there. But, I'm running out of folks to contact and wanted to reach out to my friends at Daily Kos to see if a few of you could give me a hand.

alpolitics

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Thursday November 24, 2011 · 10:07 AM PST

2011/11/24 · 10:07

I hope that we can all agree that when we pontificate about the meaning of Thanksgiving, that for Americans we are all thankful for the right to express ourselves freely.

Unfortunately, that constitutionally guaranteed right seems to be watered down on so many levels. What specifically comes to mind at the moment are the #ows movement, the immigration HB56 protests in Alabama or just this morning the Kansas high school student who was sent to the principal's office after a harmless tweet about Gov. Sam Brownback.

Yes that's right -

During the session, in which Brownback addressed the group, Sullivan posted on her personal Twitter page:
“Just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot”
On Tuesday, Sullivan was called to her principal’s office and told that the tweet had been flagged by someone on Brownback’s staff and reported to organizers of the Youth in Government program.

alpolitics

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Wednesday November 09, 2011 · 7:32 PM PST

2011/11/09 · 19:32

Presser from PSU Board of Trustees live right now.

Reports are also that a federal investigation is underway.

In case you have been under a rock all of these incidents relates to the Jerry Sandusky arrest for a number of sexual abuse counts and the cover-ups by the Penn State that occurred over at least a 12 year period.

Paterno will not get to go out on his own terms. He will not get a victory lap.

Not only is Paterno out, but so is the President - Spanier

alpolitics

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Wednesday August 31, 2011 · 6:43 PM PDT

2011/08/31 · 18:43

First diary in a long - long time. Months. Seems like decades. Extremely busy with work and other hobbies. But since this issue is directly related to the high school for my home I thought I should weigh in on these series of events.

First a shirt that reads "gay? fine by me." was deemed inappropriate by someone at Hoover High School.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, who does a great job on civil rights issues, wrote a fantastic letter citing ,the landmark Supreme Court case in the area of student free speech,Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 U.S. 503, 506 (1969).

Sara, and all other students at your school, have the right to express their views freely, so long as their chosen mode of expression does not “materially and substantially disrupt the work and discipline of the school.” Tinker, 393 U.S. at 513. A school administrator’s fear of future disruption or interference must have a genuine basis in fact and be reasonable – “undifferentiated fear or apprehension of disturbance is not enough to overcome the right to freedom of expression.” Id. at 508.

alpolitics

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Wednesday May 04, 2011 · 8:44 PM PDT

2011/05/04 · 20:44

The Senate passed a resolution honoring the successful but risky military mission that lead to getting OBL.

The majority GOP House will not follow suit

The decision by GOP leaders follows new rules they enacted in January scrapping the tradition of congratulatory measures, which they complained clogged up the House floor

Oh but obviously nevermind on Monday evening the House named two courthouses for Presidents with the last name Bush.

Also forget the cries permeating all night Sunday and all day on Monday "this isn't wasn't the doing of Obama, this was because of our brave SEALS" -

they aren't the Patriots - they are as someone just pointed out in my twitter stream #hatriots

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Photo Diary - #blacklives matter Birmingham

I won my primary last night!! On to November

"No one sang the blues"

Open Season For White Male to Shoot Black Kid with No Consequences

Equal Pay for Women is Fair and Right (opinion by Lilly Ledbetter)

After 90 years our family retail store is closing its doors

The Big Dog Just Destroyed Clint Eastwood, Chuck Norris

I'm Back in the Game : Obama 2012

I'm Thankful for Free Speech

Paterno and Spanier out at Penn State : Good Riddance

Alabama School Reverses Policy on "Pro Gay T-Shirt"

GOP House So Petty That It Won't Honor SEALS Bin Laden Mission