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Re: Would we still be swinging in trees?

Sharing some knowledge & resources with Michael Dingwall (based upon scanning his article @ www.thecommentatorjm.com). I'm taking the liberty of writing to Mr. Dingwall briefly to share some resources that are relevant to his essay at www.thecommentatorjm.com titled: "Would we still be swinging in trees?" I'm a Caribbean native and Howard University graduate currently residing in the Washington, DC area for many years.

They should make reading of Professor Jared Diamond's book "Guns, Germs, & Steel" (OR viewing of the documentary) a liberal arts requirement at every university in the US and Caribbean. That's how important of a work it is. I had never heard of Professor Diamond before seeing this film. I can't assess has rank or "status" as a social scientist, but he's done a tremendous job in going back through centuries of human history to piece together a very logical explanation for why civilization has developed the way it has, why some peoples came to colonize, exploit, enslave other peoples and why the eugenics movement has resulted in the made up concept of "race." Visit http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel

Although, I earned "A's and B's" in every history class I've ever taken - I don't believe I ever heard of the "Eugenics" movement or the film: "Birth of a Nation" until maybe one or two years ago.

I was watching an episode of Tony Brown's journal when he had Joseph Graves, Jr., Ph.D. (university professor and author) as a guest. Dr. Graves has written 2-3 books on the subject of eugenics. So, then I went doing some further research and discovered more on the topic. I learned about the film: "Birth of a Nation" while watching a Ken Burns documentary on Jack Johnson (the World Heavyweight Boxing Champ).

I thought maybe I didn't know some of these things due to my growing up in the Caribbean, but when I've occasionally asked some "educated" persons who grew up on the US mainland - they didn't have a clue either.

It's believed (by some historians) that a Caribbean plantation/slave owner named "willie lynch" visited America in the early 1700's and shared his protocol for keeping slaves in submission to American plantation owners. They've turned African peoples from an inventive, intelligent people into a group dependent on others for jobs, food and other basic necessities.

R. Foy, Bridge Comm, Inc. rxf77@hotmail.com

Re: Was Jesus Gay?

That was interesting about Jesus. I have often wondered about that subject, but I always thought the man must have had a girl friend or something. Remember he had an encounter with a prostitute.

In any case that was another view that I never thought about, though I do not think so, But I am always ready to listen to other people's views. And oh, I am pretty much homophobic. I agree with them Rastafarians about being against homosexuality. Just my opinion, brother man.

sindisompofu5948@sbcglobal.net

No excuses for 1980s

An excuse is a substitute for something not done or something done badly. Your weaker child needs it most. A mother or/and a father who overly use excuses in front of a child will no doubt inculcate this bad habit it that child. He or she will grow up relying on it as a way of life as it is a convenient tool for explaining away lateness, dishonesty (including corruption) etc. This will no doubt continue a cycle. This cycle affects the individual, the community and ultimately the country.

In the 1970s the excuses for Jamaica's problems were the USA, CIA, and IMF. There is none for the 1980s (apologists not available) for a JLP government – worst one led by Mr. Seaga. In the 1990s, its globalization, the WTO, shift in paradigm, slavery, political tribalism, the opposition, god soon come, and on and on and on. You name it, it’s a lot. Judge the performances of the above periods separately.

If the function of a government is to ensure the welfare of all individuals of a state, then Jamaica is a failed state. IT IS NOT DOING THAT. What about justice for ALL? What about an opportunity for ALL of us to pursue happiness within the state of Jamaica?

NO MORE EXCUSES PLEASE, IT WILL NEVER WORK.

Patrick Rowe, patd1rowe@hotmail.com

Wealthy Minded Jamaicans Needed!

Here is a real way for my fellow Jamaicans to become wealthy soon. Please peruse www.enuffmoney.com then feel free to call me at 678-413-0392 or zap me an email with regards to placing investments. Spread the word please.

Best regards.

Llewellyn Brown, enuffmoney@yahoo.com

More lies

The White House and a senior Republican lawmaker expressed concern on Thursday about secret military payments to get Iraqi newspapers to print pro-American articles, but the military said it was important to spread the truth while insurgents were "lying to the Iraqi people."

US troops in an "information operation" task force have written articles with positive message about U.S. mission in Iraq that have been translated from English into Arabic and planted in Iraqi newspaper in return for money, according to defense officials speaking on condition of anonymity.

Journalists often have very little say in how their stories come out, and how they're slanted! And, unless they're especially courageous, after a while many reporters will just take the path of least resistance and write their stories in a way that they know they'll have the least trouble. The result is that most people who watch or read the news wind up with a very distorted, perverse view of what's happening.

Politicians are expert liars, because they make their living by telling people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. Politics is an evil game in which all the players are vying for control. They don't care about the poor people who'll get hurt as long as they get what they want. Nothing they do is for honest and pure reasons. They'll tell the true tale of man's inhumanity to his fellow man, and all those who take part in such atrocities.

Ted Rudow III,MA, 650-814-1077 or Tedr77@aol.com