Tag Archives: murder

The Curious Incident of Prez and Prince

Posted on by under Global Issues, Political commentary, Rants

“President Trump’s response to the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is a betrayal of long-established American values of respect for human rights and the expectation of trust and honesty in our strategic relationships. He is placing personal relationships and commercial interests above American interests in his desire to continue to do business as usual with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

The Central Intelligence Agency has thoroughly investigated the murder of this innocent journalist and concluded with high confidence that it was directed by the Crown Prince. If there is reason to doubt the findings of the CIA, President Trump should immediately make that evidence public.

President Trump is correct in saying the world is a very dangerous place. His surrender to this state-ordered murder will only make it more so. An innocent man, brutally slain, deserves better, as does the cause of truth and justice and human rights.

In this failure of leadership from President Trump, it now falls to Congress to stand up for America’s true values and lasting interests.” – Washington Post Publisher and CEO Fred Ryan’s response to President Donald Trump’s statement regarding the murder of Jamal Khashoggi

Two days ago, Trump threw the people of the United States of America under the bus.  He plainly and in no uncertain terms stated that human rights take a backseat to profit (his), and that our allies are less important than Trump’s personal enrichment.  The world is watching, waiting to see what, if anything, our Congress will do to stop the madman at the helm from allying this nation with a murderer.

There is no longer a shred of doubt, but that Mohammed bin Salman ordered the execution of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.  The CIA has verified it, and there are recordings of telephone conversations that can leave little doubt in the minds of any but the most ignorant.  So why, then, is Trump determined to support a murdering tyrant over the objections of almost all?  The simple answer is: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

In October, Trump made a statement via Twitter, the only medium of communication he knows, saying …

“For the record, I have no financial interests in Saudi Arabia (or Russia, for that matter). Any suggestion that I have is just more FAKE NEWS (of which there is plenty)!”

He lied.  Again.

In the early 1990s, Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bought Trump’s prized yacht on the cheap from the property developer’s creditors when he was on the cusp of personal bankruptcy. A few years later, one of Trump’s lenders forced him to sell the Plaza Hotel, a New York City landmark also mired in debt, to Alwaleed.  At that time, Trump was trying to dig himself out of $3.4 billion of debt, about $900 million of which he had guaranteed personally (remember how people said he was such a good, shrewd businessman?  I think not.)  When Trump made fun of him on Twitter two years ago, Alwaleed responded by tweeting, “I bailed you out twice; a 3rd time, maybe?”  Interestingly, Alwaleed and a number of other businessmen and political rivals were placed under house arrest late last year, immediately following a visit to Saudi Arabia by none other than Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.  Coincidence?

The Saudi Arabian government bought the entire 45th floor of the Trump World Tower in 2001.  The Trump International Hotel in Washington has been a favorite venue for Saudi diplomats who have spent lavishly there, as well as at other Trump hotels.  No financial interests???  Do we look that stupid?

And now, when there is no doubt at all that Mohammed bin Salman ordered the hit on U.S. permanent resident and Washington Post journalist Khashoggi, Trump says this …

“It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event — maybe he did and maybe he didn’t! We may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

“OUR” relationship … think about this, folks … he wakes up one morning and while he’s sitting on the potty (12 Big Macs in a day will do that to you) wondering who or what to tweet about today, decides that all 329 million people in the U.S. will rubber-stamp his horrendous decision to stand by a cruel dictator, a murderer.  Allow me to go on record right here and now as saying that Donald Trump does not represent me.  He does not mirror my values and he does not speak on my behalf.  I will continue to re-iterate this statement, I will send it to Trump himself on a daily basis, I will email it to every member of Congress at least once a week, but I will not … I repeat, I will NOT … stand behind such corruption, such a low-life scumbag as Donald Trump who is willing to put human life far behind his own profit.  Oh … one last thing … Mr. Trump – you owe me a plate and a bowl! Mine accidentally broke when I accidentally threw them against the wall.broken dishes.jpgSeriously, though, it is my fondest hope that everyone … Congress, We The People, our allies and other foreign leaders, and most of all, the press … will reveal Trump’s perfidy for what it is … greed, pure and simple.  Call him out!  Show the world that the U.S. is better than this!  Hold his feet to the fire and force him to put the interests of the U.S., humans, and the world, ahead of his own self-interest.  Do it now, for tomorrow may be too late.

A Gun At Auction … Or Not …

Posted on by under Social commentary

It has been over four years since the murder of Trayvon Martin, yet it is a name that lives on in the hearts of most, a name that will not soon be forgotten.  On 26 February 2012, one George Zimmerman fatally shot young Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old unarmed African-American whose only crime was to be in a gated community where he was living with relatives, a community ‘protected’ by a neighborhood ‘watchman’ named George Zimmerman.  Zimmerman claimed it was an act of self-defense, though evidence failed to support the claim. Nonetheless, Zimmerman was found ‘not guilty’ and both his freedom and his gun were returned to him.  Why, you ask, am I bringing this up now?  Because today Mr. Zimmerman is back in the news in the most disgusting way possible.

George Zimmerman plans to auction the gun with which he murdered Trayvon Martin, claiming that it is a “piece of American history” and setting the initial bidding at $5,000. “Prospective bidders, I am honored and humbled to announce the sale of an American Firearm Icon. The firearm for sale is the firearm that was used to defend my life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin on 2/26/2012.” Zimmerman said proceeds from the sale would be used to help prevent violence against law enforcement by Black Lives Matter, to counter the anti-firearm rhetoric of presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and to end the career of Angela Corey, who led the prosecution against him. Such noble goals, don’t you think?

Zimmerman claimed that in the past, many had sought to buy the gun from him, including the Smithsonian. However the Smithsonian released a statement to the contrary, saying, “We have never expressed interest in collecting George Zimmerman’s firearm, and have no plans to ever collect or display it in any museums.”

Certainly it is not unusual for guns used in infamous crimes to be sold or auctioned to either museums or private collectors.  The gun that Jack Ruby used to kill Lee Harvey Oswald after the Kennedy assassination in 1963 sold for $220,000 in 1991.  It was later put up for auction again, but the starting bid of $1 million was not met, so presumably it is still in the hands of the man who paid $220,000.  Other ‘historical’ guns that have been sold include:

  • Bonnie and Clyde’s guns – $504,000
  • Buffalo Bill’s Remington revolver – $239,000
  • Hemmingway’s Double Rifle – $340,000
  • The Fuhrer’s Golden Gun – $114,000
  • Wyatt Earp’s Colt .45-caliber Revolver – $225,000
  • The .44-caliber Smith & Wesson that Killed Jesse James – $350,000
  • Teddy Roosevelt’s Double-Barreled Shotgun – $862,500
  • Simon Bolivar’s Flintlock Pistols – $1,687,500
  • George Washington’s Saddle Pistols – $1,986,000

So, while selling a gun used in a murder may not be all that unusual, I find this particular one to be among the most inappropriate and downright disgusting acts imaginable.  George Zimmerman murdered a young teen in cold blood, got away scot-free, and he is not satisfied to live out his life outside the limelight?  He insists on continuing to re-open the wound for the family of young Trayvon Martin and the rest of us who have a social conscience?  When questioned about his motives, he responded, “I’m a free American. I can do what I’d like with my possessions.” This is true, however it seems wrong to me that a person should be able to actually profit from the commission of such a heinous crime as Mr. Zimmerman committed.

Just as some people are born missing an arm, a leg, or a kidney, I believe that some are born missing the part of the brain we mostly refer to as a conscience.  Apparently Mr. Zimmerman is one of those people. As for the gun?  I firmly believe it should be destroyed. No, I am not saying that the gun itself is evil. The gun is just a tool made mostly of metal. But the controversies that may yet be fueled by the very existence of this tool may light a fire that this nation does not need … now or ever.

Update:  I began writing this piece last night and finished it this morning.  The auction was scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m., but according to CNN, “mysteriously, when the auction was slated to begin, the weapon vanished from the website, replaced by a note that read, “Sorry, but the item you have requested is no longer in the system.” CNN attempts to reach the auction site were not immediately successful. Reached via phone, Zimmerman told CNN, “Thanks for the call. I’m not speaking to media right now,” and hung up.

I do not know what happened, but I do know that last night there was a huge outpouring of incredulity and anger at Zimmerman’s arrogance.  In an interview on Wednesday, he claimed that he had received death threats since announcing that he would put the gun up for auction.  So, my best guess is that some of the threats proved credible, as I do not believe the opinion of society matters one whit to Mr. Zimmerman, and I am certain that he didn’t suddenly have a change of heart and realize the inappropriateness of his actions.  We may never know.

Racism at its Finest … Charleston, South Carolina 2015

Posted on by under Rants, Social commentary

I had almost completed a humorous post for this blog about Donald Trump’s bid for the presidency and had planned to post that today. However, I am afraid that I don’t feel very humorous today in light of yesterday’s tragedy at the historic African-American AME church in Charleston, South Carolina, and I think it would be inappropriate and nearly a sacrilege to mock and make jokes today. Instead, I want (need?) to voice my opinion about yesterday’s horrific tragedy.

I watched Jon Stewart’s monologue about the tragedy and several things he said really resonated with me, but one in particular took my breath away with the truths he told. He said “… I’m confident, though, that by acknowledging it, by staring into that and seeing it for what it is, we still won’t do jack s—. Yeah. That’s us.” And he is so right. This could segue into a commentary on gun control vs gun rights, but that is a topic for another day. This post is simply about what happened in Charleston and what it says, not only about the southern states, but about the nation as a whole.

To any who cared to listen, I have been saying for about the past year that our society is going backward toward a return to the racism and bigotry of the 50’s and 60’s. Many have pooh-poohed this notion and told me I was making a federal case out of a few minor incidents, a mountain out of the proverbial molehill. Still think so? Who among you remember the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, on September 15th, 1963? I remember it well. Four young girls were killed, and many others injured in what would today be called a “terrorist attack”. Are there parallels to the 1963 bombing and yesterday’s shooting? Sure there are. Both are a result of the murderous actions by those who think of themselves as “white supremacists”, who think themselves better than others simply because of the colour of their skin! Make no mistake: this was a racially-motivated hate crime. This, my friends, was racism rearing its ugly, ugly head again nearly 52 years after the Birmingham church bombing, nearly 51 years after the Civil Rights Act was signed into law.

Twice in the past 24 hours, somebody has accused me of “playing the race card”. WHAT???? When a young man, a child really, goes into a church stating he’s there to kill black people because, in his words, they “… are taking over our country.” He claimed that he was “on a mission”, a “mission” that he almost called off because the people in the church were “… so nice to me.” So how in hell am I playing the “race card” when I state that this was a racially-motivated hate crime? And why do I keep reading that he was a “smart kid”, a “normal kid”, and a “typical American kid” who was simply “mentally ill”? No, this was an evil, malignant individual who had been planning this act, according to a former roommate, for some six months and intended to “start a civil war” and then kill himself. Make no mistake, mental illness or not, this was a deranged and evil individual. He has confessed with no sign of remorse. I do not ordinarily support the death penalty, however in this case, I will make an exception. Or perhaps I would prefer that this “all-American, smart kid” be tossed into prison with a bunch of rapists and murderers and left to rot for the next 70 years or so.

Where did this boy get these ideas? Well, he was raised in one of the most racist states in the union, South Carolina, where the confederate flag is still revered and the streets are named after confederate generals from the Civil War. But I think we must look closer, to the parents. Parents are the ones who teach children their values, or lack of. Nine times out of ten, a young person will tend to follow the same political views are his/her parents, believe in the same social norms, ascribe to the same religious beliefs. Racism is more open and more prevalent in the southern states, but make no mistake, it exists in every single state in this nation and until we unite to confront racists, to shun them, we will not conquer this national cancer.

What have we learned in the last 50 years? 100 years? Apparently nothing. Today we are experiencing a return to an era where white supremacists walk freely among us, where the KKK is making a concerted effort to increase its membership, where racial profiling is the norm in police departments in every state, and where those of us who protest police killing unarmed young black men willy-nilly are called “agitators”. I am only one voice and my voice is not heard by many, but believe this: I will make sure that my voice is used to fight racism and every other form of bigotry in this nation for as long as I live.