How Newsman's Integrity & "You Are There" Quelled a Black Boy's Rage
When I first learned of Mr. Cronkite's illness a few weeks ago, I was deeply saddened. I prayed for his full recovery, but I guess God needed him in heaven to work closely with Edward R.. Murrow, Tim Russert and Peter Jennings on an uncorrupted version of “The Greatest Story Ever Told”. No one would be able to piece the story together better than a man that came to be known as “the most trusted man in America”.
I consider Mr. Cronkite my journalism mentor because of a 1970's Saturday morning program I watched called “You Are There”, which premiered on CBS. It was a series that brilliantly reenacted some of the most pivotal moments in American history, and it would behoove “the suits” over at CBS to revive the show for today's youth. He served as both host and tour guide for what became a mega-hit for the network. In my honest opinion, the show was a smash because Cronkite was at the helm. It probably would've sucked if they tried to do it with anyone else. The suits weren't stupid. They knew Mr. Cronkite wasn't just, as former NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw described, “The Gold Standard” for news, he was a symbol of excellence and integrity in and out of the newsroom.
I also considered Mr. Cronkite my father. I know that may sound strange coming from someone of African-American decent, but when you contemplate the fact that a father is someone that encourages, enhances and enlightens you, which Mr. Cronkite had done for generations, he more than fit the description. Now, initially, I dreaded Saturday mornings. I did so because it was during those times I would often hear my mother being emotionally, mentally and physically abused by my father. At the tender age of 8-years-old, there was little I could do to stop the madness. All I could do was go into my mother's room and hug her after the assaults.
Whenever I watched You Are There, Mr. Cronkite's authoritative voice and presence helped me deal with the intense rage building within me. He was a much-needed distraction from all the turmoil, and he helped me learn fascinating aspects of American history and culture every week. Looking back, I now realize that I eagerly awaited my father's weekly arrival because he was confirmation that great men did exist and that they were capable of sharing themselves with those thirsting for not just knowledge, but love on some level. I connected with Mr. Cronkite, as did millions of viewers over the years, and the connection was immediate, long-term and life changing.
My father and mentor is gone, and the Mr. Cronkite's of today are virtually non-existent because we live in the age of “jackass journalism” and tabloid news. News outlets and their directors have been exposed as complete assholes after publishing bogus information posted by aspiring journalists or impostors on Wikipedia and other “source” websites. To make matters worse, members of the jackass journalism brigade, like conservative kiss-ass Armstrong Williams, continue to trade journalistic integrity for money, recognition and annual White House correspondent dinner invitations.
Unlike the days of Mr. Cronkite, integrity in news reporting today has taken a back seat to advertisers, control by major corporate entities and the quest for high ratings. The news icon often shared this fact with young journalism students. He informed them that integrity matters. He informed them that the story matters. In the process, he was attacked by some of today's most noted conservatives, but the fact is none of them will ever be fit to carry Mr. Cronkite's classic typewriter, let alone question anything he may have said. It's no secret that many of the arrogant and prissy “new jacks” in media viewed Mr. Cronkite as an old-school liberal or a dinosaur. Well, I'll say this to all those disrespectful morons. I would rather walk with a T-Rex instead of a jackass any day of the week!
Finally, I expect the liberal attacks against Mr. Cronkite to start once he's been laid to rest. I'm serving notice. If they do, “The G-Man” will be taking aim at everyone involved and using this blog to kick ass and take names. As a matter of fact, I'm throwing the first punch to let you know what you can expect if you attack my “father”.
You no-good, Brooks Brother suit-wearing, Colgate-smiling, corporate-controlled, 15-cans of hair spray-doused, weasel anchors of today are nothing more than whores that cannot be trusted to give the correct time of day, and public opinion polls have proved me right for the last 10 years. The greedy network owners and station managers aren't much better, and they'd probably steal the quarters off a dead man's eyes....and kick him if the quarters are rusted!
The days of Mr. Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow are gone. This is why there is such an outpouring of love in the wake of Mr. Cronkite's death. The country realizes that we've lost someone who was probably the greatest, most honest and compassionate journalist that ever lived. His finest moment was when he broke down on the air after President John F. Kennedy was killed. America needed to see that, and it is exactly what is missing from the current state of journalism: realism. Given who and what we're left with to represent mainstream news and media, which amounts to a bunch of whores and soulless drones, including Rupert Murdock and his ilk, Mr. Cronkite will be greatly and sincerely missed.
What do South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (pictured left), former Senator John Ensign, Reverend Jimmy Swaggert, Kobe Bryant, A-Rod, Jude Law, Governor Elliot Spitzer and former President Bill Clinton all have in common? If you said they all fell victim to “the curse”, you’re absolutely correct. The curse dates back to the biblical period, when Eve told Adam, “C’mon baby. How much harm can one, teeny-weeny, little bite do?” The moral floodgates have pretty much opened up ever since then, and men continue to fuck themselves up to this very day in their quest to obtain “the three pees”: power, prestige and pussy.
Celebrated men like Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant have been able to salvage their careers and offset the curse by doing things like buying “Wifey” a ridiculously expensive ring and humbling themselves in front of the national and international media. These are the guys who, for whatever reason, have refused to let the curse take complete hold of them. They allowed themselves to be subjected to the trappings often associated with success, but they also acted quickly to correct the situation and seek redemption. Others, like Baker, Swaggert, Spitzer and Clinton, had their legacies destroyed and were severely rebuked by the masses because of their incessant desire for the three pees.
Spitzer and Clinton, and others of their ilk, seemed to believe obtaining the first two pees automatically entitled you to the third; which is what ultimately led to their downfall. Their egos went into overdrive and they began to function on primal urges, as opposed to their moral compass. Ladies, here’s the bad news. In some cases, men only need obtain a smidgen of success in order to become a statistic. You want proof? Just ask yourself these two questions. How many women do you know, yourself included, whose husbands or long-term boyfriends “changed” after receiving a job promotion, notoriety or some type of award? How many of them ended up, or are now in the process of, filing for divorce or leaving their boyfriend because their significant other fell victim to the curse and cheated? If any of you can name at least two women, I’ve proved my point.
Now, some women may respond to this piece by saying, “All men cheat! It doesn’t matter if he has power or prestige. If he has a chance to nail someone, he will. All men are dogs!” The G-Man would counter by asking one simple question. If all men are dogs, what does that make the women who choose to lie down with them, especially if they know the man is involved in some type of relationship? The argument could indeed be made that cheating is part of the male condition, but that isn’t the focus of this article. The point I’m making is that when men achieve a level of success that presents extreme wealth, recognition and an assortment of gorgeous women, they are likely to fall victim. The only thing that will save them is having the foresight and moral center to understand what is actually happening. If they’re somehow able to uphold these attributes, it becomes much easier to understand why the wives and girlfriends of disgraced men are often present during those humiliating press conferences.
New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez was also "cursed". His wife Cynthia stated that he kept company with many women during the course of their marriage, which ended in divorce. Music icon Madonna was one of the women the slugger kept very late hours with. Rodriguez gave a whole new meaning to the name "A-Rod".
I can hear all the men out there throwing beer cans, shot glasses and blow-up dolls at their computer and yelling, “What the hell is The G-Man doing? He’s breaking the ‘Man Law’ codes and selling us out!” If guys are mad, then they’re probably in a relationship and doing something they shouldn’t be doing. So don’t shoot the messenger. If they’re pissed now, they’ll probably go into convulsions over the next little ditty I’m about to drop on you lovely ladies out there. Some men totally operate in reverse regarding the curse. The fact that they’re able to fuck a multitude of women, at any given time, gives them an enormous sense of power and prestige. This applies to both married and single men, and if anyone wants to challenge me on this I’ll refer them to the latest divorce stats, which cites cheating by a spouse, usually the male, as the number one reason for the dramatic increase in over the last 10 years.
The power, in this regard, comes from devising and successfully executing a plan to get the panties, which ultimately boils down to the manipulation, domination and conquest of the female species. Prestige is acquired as a result of where the woman ranks in the social order. In other words, the conquest is likely to have far greater sexual impact and meaning if he has an opportunity to spend the night with a celebrity, a stripper or a “Victoria’s Secret” model/salesperson, as opposed to an average housewife with three kids or a local librarian. Sorry, no disrespect intended to housewives or librarians. So, sometimes the curse works in the reverse. However, any way you look at it, the three pees will always have the capacity to destroy men regardless of their place in society.
AmericanVice.com & ViceList.com Drawing Millions with Unique Style
Ezra Miller and his partner, Reg Berkeley, are the forces behind AmericanVice.com and ViceList.com,two unique adult websites that are literally transforming and shaking up the porn industry. People are logging on to ViceList.combecause of its vast catalogue of films and an impressive roster of talented writers that are willing to tackle anything from politics to sports. In addition to being a partner in the business, Miller contributes brutally honest, insightful, funny and sometimes-acerbic critiques of the more than 2,000 porn films he’s watched, and the reviews have earned him a global following. Both sites were launched in 2006 and continue to expand at a rapid pace.
According to Berkeley, “What we offer is a constant weaving of intellectual thoughts, pop culture references and sex . . .all within one cogent paragraph. Our writing is of the highest quality, with a bent towards crass, vulgar humor like Kevin Smith, Dennis Miller, Bill Maher, National Lampoon, etc.” People are definitely interested in what Miller and Berkeley are offering, as IAFD(the adult equivalent of IMDB which tracks numbers of reviews) has listedViceList.com as #5.
Miller allowed me to conduct an exclusive interview and ask some tough questions about the websites, the dark side of porn and the duo’s mission to revolutionize the industry.
G-Man: What is your professional background and how did it lead to this endeavor?
Miller: I graduated from Cornell University with a BA in English and a Creative Writing concentration. Obviously, a degree like that usually lends itself useful to two things: A lifetime of academia or the starving artist waiting for his big break, ala J.K. Rowling. Thankfully, I was never forced to live out of my car, though I came close. I bounced around between several jobs after college, everything from selling office furniture to the military to parking cars and waiting tables. None of those positions provided me with any sort of satisfaction, so I packed up my life and headed west to seek my fortune. That’s where I hooked up with Reg Berkeley.
G-Man: What makes your website(s) so different from the thousands of porn sites showcased on the Internet?
Miller: We care. I know that sounds like a ridiculous notion, given the nature of our business, but we sincerely believe that quality is important even in the realm of Internet pornography. Reg spends countless hours agonizing over the tiniest details of the sites in order to make them better, faster, stronger for our customers. In terms of my role, I give our patrons an honest perspective on the content we offer.
G-Man: The economy has even forced online businesses to shut down, but your website recently catapulted to the number five site in the world! How would you explain this amazing accomplishment, given the state of the economy?
Miller: Persistence. The number of people who will either pay for porn or who have the inclination to read our reviews is extremely overblown. The media bandies about figures like $12 billion in annual revenue. The reality is that an actual porn consumer is more akin to a Star Trek devotee. The challenge for us has been finding our niche audience.
G-Man: You’ve watched more than 2,000 porn films. When critiquing them, what are some of the things you look for?
Miller: It depends on the genre. There are basically three or four different types of adult movies out there: feature, gonzo, reality and fetish. I strive to put myself in the shoes of the person who would want to watch a particular kind of porno and write about the things they’re looking for. So when it comes to a feature, I’m hammering on the points of storyline, acting, pace of the movie, etc. Gonzo, I’m talking more about energy, gratuitous close-ups and quality lighting. Reality and fetish are a little tougher because they tend to be so unique. But there is one all-encompassing and paramount quality in my mind and that’s chemistry. It can make or break a scene before the clothes come off.
G-Man: How do you keep the subject matter “fresh” when you’re writing porn reviews?
Miller: It’s really hard and a cross I bear constantly. You reach a certain point where you’ve seen so many similar scenes over and over again that coming up with new things to talk about becomes a struggle. That’s where I have to be especially creative with my references. I try to bridge the gap between mainstream popular culture and adult entertainment whenever possible. If I can make the content seem more familiar, then hopefully it gives the reader a better sense of what they’re getting.
G-Man:You also tend to attack established porn stars, directors and producers on a regular basis in your reviews. Why do you have such disdain for them?
Miller: The kiss of death for me is unoriginality. If someone continues to pump the shelves full of the same predictable garbage every month, they’re bringing the entire industry down. It’s my job as a critic to call that out, whether it is the responsibility of the director, studio or performer. Thankfully, the format of our websites allows me to be brutally honest in my reviews, even if it’s not always gracious to those who should have failed years ago.
G-Man: Some critics still regard Bob Guccione’s 1979 classic “Caligula” as a landmark porn film because of its stellar cast, production and societal impact. What did you think of the movie and why haven’t more porn films been made on this scale?
Miller: That’s simply not the market anymore. You don’t have people running across the tracks to take in the latest adult feature film on its opening weekend. The industry has become so saturated through Internet and DVD consumption that the revenue potential is incredibly limited. Hence, studios are unwilling to pump a bunch of money into epic masterpieces of adult cinema.
G-Man: Do you think we’ll ever see a global, critically acclaimed film, which happens to have real sex scenes, considered for major award consideration in Hollywood?
Miller: Probably not. There are too many factors to overcome. Aside from the fact that most mainstream Hollywood actors would not cross that line, it’s simply unnecessary. What’s not shown in a major studio production is oftentimes just as important as what the director allows us to see. You can create far more heat through imagination and artistic camera angles than by actually displaying hardcore.
G-Man:What shocking and/or painful realities have you discovered about the industry?
Miller: Beneath the thin, glossy veneer of the Adult Video News (AVN) Awards, Jenna Jameson’s mainstream success and celebrity sex tapes, there is a harsh reality to face. I won’t say “all” because that’s never the case when you’re talking about any group of people, but a lot of these performers are hopeless. You can rant all day about the drug use, STD’s and torture they put their bodies through. That’s the obvious stuff. What gets me is the acceptability of psychosis. These people are fucking nuts.
G-Man: What do you think of the following men: Hugh Hefner (Playboy Magazine) and Larry Flynt (Hustler Magazine)?
Miller: I admire Hugh Hefner a lot for revolutionizing the print industry with an original idea. He wasn’t afraid to try something new and juxtapose class with sex. His legacy and success are well deserved. As for Larry Flynt, he’s fought the good fight for free speech and been the loudest voice in the room.
G-Man: Do you or your business partner ever feel that you’re “feeding the beast” or contributing to the problems plaguing the industry by promoting these films?
Miller: Are you asking me how I can sleep at night doing what I do? The fact of the matter is that these films already exist and have existed long before American Vice was even an idea. If anything, our voice is a step in the right direction for the industry. We’re holding them accountable to a higher standard of quality.
G-Man: Clinical studies have indicated there is a link between people who watch porn and those who commit sex crimes. Do you believe Internet porn, including your sites, should face strict regulations in order to deal with the rising number of sex crimes being committed against women and children across the nation?
Miller: I don’t claim to be an expert on this, but that doesn’t mean I’m not entitled to an opinion. From what I’ve seen, the bulk of the research done on the subject has been with confirmed sex offenders. These are people predisposed to such behavior, and they’ve already acted on it. Human nature requires them to justify their existence, so naturally a majority of their first inclinations are to say, “Porn made me do it.” I’m all for reducing crime, which most studies would indicate is more correlated to the strength of the economy than anything else. But I still believe that 99% of people who watch porn do it purely to masturbate. Some psychopath is more likely to get crazy ideas from watching “Saw” or “Hostel.” Those movies graphically depict horrendous violence with the benefit of massive special effects budgets and a two-hour attention span. Even the most outrageous or aggressive porn that I’ve seen can only be guilty of bad taste. It’s so low budget, sophomoric and fleeting, that you’d have to be truly deranged to take it seriously.
G-Man: How do you respond to critics, particularly those in the Christian community, who say you’re simply peddling smut and immorality to obtain wealth?
Miller: Judge not lest ye be judged. As far as wealth, I’ll let you know when it happens.
G-Man: You’ve openly discussed many of the evils associated with the porn industry. What positive thing can you say about it that would justify your involvement and continued support?
Miller: Porn is a very polarizing topic. Just mention it in a crowded room of people and ears perk up. For better or for worse, it is a true reflection of humanity in its most raw and vivid form. Some people love it, and others are repulsed by it. I find that intriguing. When the chemistry between the performers clicks and the scene is right, there is nothing like it. That’s why I watch.
In recent weeks, North Korea has launched short-range missiles and detonated a nuclear device underground. These acts have caused tensions to mount between the United States and a country that President George W. Bush claimed was part of the “Axis of Evil”. World leaders, military officials and the general public observe the situation with great interest and concern, and many are wondering if North Korea’s defiance will lead to all-out war.
Charles K. Armstrong is the Korea Foundation Associate Professor of Korean Studies - in the Social Sciences in the Department of History - and Director of the Center for Korean Research at Columbia University. A specialist in the modern history of Korea and East Asia, Professor Armstrong has authored several critically acclaimed books and appeared on numerous cable news networks as a commentator. He graciously consented to an interview to discuss the crisis and what can be done to prevent it from escalating.
G-Man:The situation with North Korea has intensified, and they’ve vowed to use military force against the U.S. and South Korea if threatened. North Korea has “flexed” on the U.S. and its allies in the past, but they seem to be taking it to another level entirely this time. Why do they continue to brazenly challenge the world and what should be done to prevent them from flexing in the future?
Professor Armstrong: We’ve seen this movie before at least twice: first in 1993-4, when for the first time suspicions about North Korea’s nuclear program brought the US and North Korea to the brink of war. This was followed by an agreement that froze their plutonium-reprocessing program (which is what they’ve used to make bombs) for about eight years, until the agreement fell apart during the first Bush administration in 2002-3. Then, North Korea’s missile launches and first nuclear test in 2006 led to UN sanctions, which North Korea attacked as a virtual declaration of war. But war didn’t break out, and soon the US, North Korea and the other members of the Six-Party Talks (South Korea, Russia and Japan) returned to negotiations and made considerable progress on a new denuclearization deal. Now the Six-Party process itself has all but collapsed, and North Korea is once again talking about war. But the speed and extent of this flexing is unprecedented: a second nuclear test, followed by a half-dozen short-range missile tests, and threats of a long-range test.
North Korea is good at these attention-getting provocations and unfortunately the lesson of the last fifteen years that they seem to have learned, is that launching missiles and testing nuclear weapons are the only ways to get the US to take them seriously. The Obama administration, which of course has other crises to deal with, hadn’t paid much attention to North Korea. Now, thanks to Kim Jong Il, they have to pay attention. I don’t think North Korea really wants war; they’re not suicidal. They see the US as a mortal threat and nuclear weapons as a good way of defending themselves until they reach an agreement with the US that guarantees them some sort of security. Reaching such an agreement will be very difficult now, but we came close in the past and maybe, when the missiles have stopped flying and everyone has calmed down, we can return to negotiations that will end the state of conflict between the US and North Korea – a conflict which, by the way, has continued for almost 60 years, since the Korean War broke out in 1950. Diplomacy may not sound very appealing right now, but the alternatives are either ineffective or unthinkable. There is really is no military option because of the catastrophic consequences that would result, especially now that North Korea has nuclear weapons. Nor have sanctions been very successful in the past, both because North Korea is already about as isolated as a country can get and because China is unlikely to agree to truly punitive sanctions. So sitting down and talking with Pyongyang, at the highest levels possible, is the best way out the current crisis.
G-Man: For those who may not be familiar with the tensions that exist between North and South Korea, could you briefly explain why North Korea continues to act as an aggressor to its neighbor?
Professor Armstrong: North Korea doesn’t see itself as an aggressor. It acted with unequivocal aggression against South Korea just once, when North Korea invaded the South in June 1950, triggering the Korean War. The war brought in the US (leading a United Nations force) which in turn evoked the intervention of “People’s Volunteer” soldiers of the newly communist China. But this invasion came after a very tumultuous period following the end of World War II, when Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule only to find itself divided into Soviet and American occupation zones. By September 1948, there were two states on the Korean peninsula, one in the North and one in the South, and each refused to recognize the other as legitimate. The war ended in 1953 with Korea still divided, and Seoul and Pyongyang have been fighting a localized “cold war” ever since, with the US as South Korea’s main supporter.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union and other communist states in 1989-91, North Korea found itself almost completely isolated with only China remaining as an ally. On top of that, its economy went into a tailspin, culminating in a famine in the late 1990s that killed hundreds of thousands of people. But the leadership dug in its heels and refused to give in to outside pressure to change, although North Korea embarked on some limited economic reforms in the early 2000s. We must not forget that North Korea is a country on a constant war footing. It feels virtually surrounded by hostile powers: the US, South Korea (especially under the current more hard-line President), and Japan are all sworn enemies as far as North Korea is concerned. Russia is not much of friend, and North Korea doesn’t trust China either. To some extent this is self-reinforcing paranoia, but that’s the way the regime sees the world. Remember, the Korean War fighting ended in an armistice, a cease-fire. Technically the war never ended, and the US and North Korea remain at war to this day. The invasion of Iraq in 2003 gave North Korea even more reason to distrust the US and develop its own nuclear deterrent. So, what looks like aggression to the outside world, North Koreans justify as self-defense. Getting them out of such a mindset will not be easy.
G-Man: At this point, who is primarily responsible for creating this dire situation: Kim Jong-il, leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or others within the government who want to chart a different course for North Korea?
Professor Armstrong: As far as we know Kim Jong-il is still in charge. One theory is that he’s flexing his military might in order to prove his toughness to his own military, as he prepares for a new leader to follow him. Kim apparently had a stroke last summer and has been looking frail since he re-emerged in public a few months ago. It has recently been reported that he is preparing his youngest son (aged 25) to succeed him, just as Kim’s father starting grooming him for leadership when he was in his late 20s and 30s. It may also be that different groups and individuals within the leadership are trying to impress Kim Jong Il with their militant patriotism. What’s clear is that any trends toward openness and reform that we saw in past years have been sidelined by a newly robust military-first politics.
G-Man: Is Kim Jong-il a maverick, a madman or both?
Professor Armstrong: I wouldn’t call Kim mad, although his way of thinking is not like that of most other leaders in the world. His whole country might be viewed as maverick, given the current world system. When Kim first started running the country under his father’s tutelage in the 1980s and 1990s, some people thought he might be a reformer, others that he was an unstable lunatic. He turned out be neither: his problem was that, as a good filial son, he carried on his father’s legacy and led the country as if nothing had changed. But the world has changed a lot since the elder Kim died in 1994, and the more North Korea stays the same, the stranger and more out-of-step it looks.
G-Man: Would sanctions actually work, or are they useless at this point?
Professor Armstrong: As I briefly noted earlier, sanctions are not likely to have much effect, unless they were extreme enough to lead the regime to collapse, but China would be unlikely to support such strong sanctions. The last thing China wants is a destabilized or collapse North Korea. Some people have called for “smart sanctions” that would target members of the North Korean elite, but I doubt freezing Swiss bank accounts or denying Kim his shipments of cognac will change North Korea’s behavior. Finally there’s the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) that South Korea recently signed onto. This would allow foreign authorities to interdict and board North Korean ships on the high seas, which North Korea says would be considered acts of war. It probably isn’t smart to test them on this.
G-Man: Russia has indicated it will not support sanctions against North Korea. With North Korea threatening to launch nuclear attacks, why would Russia be reluctant to join the growing list of countries calling for strict sanctions?
Professor Armstrong: It’s very unlikely Russia would be a target of such attacks. Russia’s position is similar to China’s: they still have some leverage over the North, which is also useful for their relations with the US. So long as all-out war can be avoided, the status quo is preferable to destabilizing pressure on the Pyongyang.
G-Man: News reports indicate that Kim Jong-il is gravely ill. If he were to die in the next six months, would the situation change for the better or get worse with his successor?
Professor Armstrong: Bad as things are, they could be worse: an anarchic North Korea with loose nukes, a truly crazy man at the helm, or any of a number of nightmare scenarios. But I don’t think North Korea will fall apart even if Kim were to die tomorrow. In the near term a post-Kim North Korea will probably be much like the one we have today, perhaps run by a collective leadership rather than one Dear Leader.
G-Man: As previously stated, North Korea has ‘shown their ass’ in the past, but when they were dealing with President George W. Bush or President Clinton, they always managed to come to their senses and the situation was defused. This time, they’re not only showing their ass, they’re practically giving the U.S. and its allies ‘the finger’. The situation has gotten so bad that the U.S and South Korean military have been placed on high alert. Most journalists won’t ask this question, but The G-Man will. Give it to me straight, Professor Armstrong. Do you think the North Korean government’s belligerence, particularly toward the U.S., has anything to do with the fact that a black man is seated in the Oval Office?
Professor Armstrong: Racism should never be underestimated, but North Korea’s official media is equally vicious toward American presidents whatever their color. They probably hoped to get a better deal with Obama after Bush (more like they had at the end of the Clinton years), but as their own media said, “change” didn’t happen. North Koreans have shown themselves to be equal opportunity America-bashers.
G-Man: Do you think North Korea will blink, so to speak, or are we on the verge of World War III?
Professor Armstrong: I hope, and believe, that cooler heads will prevail. Korean War II wouldn’t be World War III, but it would be devastating for Northeast Asia. And the last thing the US needs is another regional war.
To review footage of Professor Armstrong explaining the crisis and the impact Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could have on it, please visit the link below.
A Poem Honoring U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq and Afghanistan
I've had the good fortune of being able to showcase a wide range of work on this blog.You can find anything from investigative news stories and celebrity interviews to stinging commentary and social satire. However, the one thing I have never showcased is my poetry. That's because I didn't want to get laughed at by all the real, hardcore poets out there. After several close friends pleaded with me to post at least one, I decided to do so.
I'm sure many will find this poem controversial and perhaps "un-American", but I'll take my chances. The G-Man has pissed off so many that it's getting to the point where people are going to have to start taking a number. It is being published in order to highlight the difficulties U.S. soldiers face and the unpleasant aspects of war that are not often seen, heard or talked about in American media or our culture. Given this fact, I would like to present this poem as a very, very special Memorial Day tribute to every soldier that died in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially the ones who always tried to do the right thing, under the most extreme circumstances, and represented America in a positive way. May you all rest in peace.
The Ballad of Colonel Kelly, USMC
My name is Col. Kelly, United States Marine
This is a tale of war, and the horrors I have seen.
Like the young Iraqi girl, whose skull was crushed to bits
By a demon insurgent who beat her, and cut off both her tits.
Habib was a local merchant, who served my Hell Hounds bread
His mother found him in the street, a body with no head.
Sgt. Winston was from Dallas, a sniper’s bullet found his eye
He prayed for his wife and baby, as I helplessly watched him die.
PTSD took three of my best, Cpl. Thomas, Smith and Ligger
They sat in a circle, kissed a cross, and simply pulled the trigger.
Sgt. Harris was from Brooklyn, serving his fourth tour in Iraq
His body parts were strewn about, after being shot in the back.
We had orders to storm a mosque, where the enemy laid its claim
Thirty children were killed that day, and I refused to take the blame.
Several soldiers stained our flag, having no regard for human life
Holding an Imam at gunpoint, while fellow soldiers raped his wife.
Car bombs explode around me, the screams are commonplace
An Iraqi boy lies bleeding, with only half a face.
Semper Fidelis is our motto, for honor and country we’ll die
Some Americans support the war, while most denounce the lie.
Back home there’s talk of victory, but in war no one wins
Blood soaks a once sacred land, who will pay for these sins?
None of this matters to me now, as I am finally headed home
Unlike many American veterans, I haven’t been left to roam.
I am Col. Richard E. Kelly, and I now accept my fate
Killed by a roadside bomb…. August 20…in the year 2008.
Wife Says Husband Left U.S. After School Reps Created "Illegal" History
Xiao Ying Zhang, pictured with her infant daughter, traveled all the way to Capitol Hill to request help from elected officials. To date, none have taken a position in a case that could mark a watershed moment in U.S./China relations.
Howard Wang and Xiao Ying Zhang were born and raised in the Sichuan province of China. Like many married couples from foreign lands, they often dreamed of coming to the United States to gain citizenship, start a family and build a new life. That opportunity came eight years ago when Wang and his wife entered the country under F-1 and F-2 dependent visa status. The F-1 allows non-immigrant students to enter the U.S. and the F-2 is a non-immigrant visa that grants access to dependent spouses and children. “My husband had an F-1 visa. He was studying computer science courses while we were living a nice, quite life in Wyoming. The people there were very nice and made us feel welcomed,” said Zhang. “My husband graduated in August of 2002. I was not working because the F-2 visa does not allow you to be employed. I was taking care of my child at home and learning English sporadically. I can now read most English with the help of a dictionary.”
The family soon migrated to Arizona after Shono Preparatory High School hired Wang as a math teacher in December of 2002 under the Optional Practice status. An F-1 student has a one-year optional practice period. On June 1, 2003, right before his optional practice status ended, June 2, 2003, Wang was granted H1-B status and Zhang was granted H4 status as a result. However, the couple's life was about to undergo another major transformation, as the Cincinnati Public School (CPS) district in Ohio requested Wang’s services. “On September 16, 2003, my husband was offered a teaching job at the Academy of World Languages (AWL) through the CPS district office. He quit his job at Shono on September 19, 2003 and moved to Ohio right away. This is when our American dream began to turn into a horrible, horrible nightmare,” said Zhang.
The couple provided official faxed documents from AWL to Wang, dated September 16, 2003. The two-page application confirmed that a “position of acceptance” had been agreed to by Wang and Stephen Hoyt, a principal that is no longer at the institution, to teach a class entitled “Chinese Languages”. The document also indicated that all necessary paperwork would be processed. Zhang contends that once they arrived at the school, they were immediately classified as illegal and that problems seemed to develop right from the start.
“First, the public school’s attorney, Mary M Godar, claimed we were illegal. In my opinion, for whatever reason, this woman was paid by the public school to 'operate' on our legal documents for months,” Zhang proclaimed. “She was paid very well by the public school for months, but our family was forced to wait until the matter was investigated. We had no income from September 19 to November 25, 2003. It was because of the generosity of people that we were even able to eat and pay our bills. We really didn't understand why this was happening because my husband had done the paper work for his first H1-B in only a few days.”
Zhang indicated that the situation took a dramatic turn on November 25, 2003. The CPS, still acting under Godar's legal guidance, suddenly let Wang work at the school on an as needed basis. Meanwhile, Wang’s legal status between September 19, 2003 and Nov. 25, 2003 was exactly same. “The school district and its attorney were obviously above the law. When they didn’t want my husband working, they said he was illegal. When they needed him, the illegal status they claimed was forgotten. So, in essence, he taught American kids with an illegal tag posted by the district and its attorney. We have the paycheck stubs to prove it,” said Zhang.
Zhang further alleges that in September of 2004, her husband, who has a Masters Degree in mathematics and possessed a valid math certificate, was placed on-call while many people in the Cincinnati Public School district, including those with certificates in non-math related fields, were allowed to teach math classes on a regular basis without any valid math certification from the state. To substantiate his claim, Wang says a representative from the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers (CFT), of which Wang was a member, gave him a complete listing of math-teaching vacancies for the entire CPS district for the 2004-2005 school year that were allegedly filled internally with non-math certified teachers. Zhang provided the listing in its entirety.
The couple believes the motive was to let people in the CPS district have first shot at the jobs, even though they were non-math certified teachers, in order to save money and offset the enormous shortage of math teachers in the district. When Wang sent numerous complaint emails to related sources, copies of which were provided for this story, it greatly angered district officials; particularly Human Resources Chief Manager, Deborah Heater, who was the correspondent with Wang in the contentious emails. According to Zhang, “They retaliated by forcing him to take part in a disciplinary meeting on December 14, 2004 to reveal the name of the source who informed him that non-math certified teachers were working in the classrooms, but the school district couldn’t discipline him for anything because they knew he was telling the truth!” A copy of a letter from the CPS district office to Wang was provided to validate Zhang's statement. The content of the letter, dated December 14, 2004, stated the following:
Dear Mr. Wang,
As a condition of your H1-B visa, you will be returned to your position at AWL effective Wednesday, December 15, 2005. You will remain in this position until June 2005. When staffing activities for 2005-2006 are concluded at your school by February, you will know that status of your position for 2005-2006.
On January 10, 2005, your name will be included in the Superintendent's recommendations to the Board and you will be returned to long-term substitute status retroactive to September 27, 2004. After January 10, 2005, you will receive back pay to September 27, minus any pay you received as a daily substitute.
Finally, I need immediately your visa (from Canada) and Form I-94 (white card) for you and your family. Please bring these documents to me by 4:30 pm January 15, 2005. I will copy and return them to you.
Sincerely,
Doris M. Stokes
Human Resources Specialist
Zhang mentioned that what happened next was completely shocking. “They tried to find something else to punish my husband for truth he had told. When attempts to paint him as a disgruntled employee failed, the school district asked him if he completed a requested trip to Canada for matters concerning his visa, which they knew was unnecessary. Godar arranged for this to be done. When my husband told them no, they stopped him from working again, without pay, on January 26, 2005. They did this despite the fact that my husband was told by a United States Customs and Immigration Service officer, 'Sharon', that the trip to Canada was unnecessary and unwarranted. The school district and Godar said the USCIS officer was wrong.” Wang and Zhang submitted a riveting piece of evidence that refuted the claims made by the school district and the attorney: an eight-minute recording of the actual conversation that took place on June 8, 2004 between Wang and the USCIS agent. The officer even provided Wang with her badge number, which was identified as 6135, and stated that all of Wang's papers were in order, that his approval notice was valid and that he was in good standing until August 18, 2006.
In an attempt to bring attention to their plight and what they believed was a major scandal within the Cincinnati Public School district, Zhang went to Washington, D.C. and protested in front of Capitol Hill on December 7, 2006. “When I protested in D.C., the complaint was on record. I believe the CPS district knew about it. Godar didn’t file the proper papers to update my visa in 2003 or 2004, which caused me to be charged by the USCIS,” stated Zhang. “My husband told the truth and complained publicly and formally to many officials and offices, such as former Ohio Senator Mike DeWine, current Senator George Voinovich, the County Commissioner and the Ohio Department of Education. He was confident that he was telling the truth and was willing to face the consequences for speaking out. So was I. That was why I was protesting in front of Capitol Hill, the U.S. Supreme Court, the White House, and the U.S. Department of Education. Unfortunately, those we were speaking out against were too powerful.”
Zhang and child in front of the U.S. Supreme Court
In the end, Zhang said the school district and its attorney secretly sent a withdrawal application, a copy of which has been obtained, to revoke Wang's H1-B status in March of 2005. The application was approved on April 5, 2005. “So, he unknowingly was regarded as an illegal alien since April 5, 2005 and made the decision to leave the country,” Zhang tearfully explained. “When a complaint was made against the attorney for ethnics violation, Godar said she was only doing what the school district instructed her to do. My husband received a letter from Robert R. Berger, District Counsel for the Ohio Supreme Court, indicating that no formal charges were going to be filed against Godar.
When asked why she was allowed to remain in the U.S., Zhang noted that her children were recognized as U.S. citizens. Therefore, remaining in the U.S. was not a problem for her. Then, according to Zhang, the situation got much worse. “When my husband had been illegally charged for overstaying since April 5, 2005, I was not charged. He left the country in 2007, and now I am being charged by the USCIS for overstaying since June 2, 2004 because of an illegal history created by the school district and Godar. I had been dependent on my husband in America. Godar should have submitted my documents with my husband's because she was in charge of all processing of our legal documents since September of 2003. She didn’t do it! She secretly created an illegal history for me, too.”
Wang was the only income source for the family when he was charged for overstaying. His wife contends he was denied all legal rights to work right after September 2006 and that his valid passport identification was withheld by USCIS on December 3, 2006. To make matters even worse, the couple received a phone call in 2006 from the Bureau of Child Welfare, while in Virginia, and was advised to provide their kids with a standard means of support or they would lose their parenthood rights. Given the extreme circumstances, Wang accepted all the charges and voluntarily left the country.
Within a matter of months, Zhang was forced to make the ultimate sacrifice. No longer able to support her four children on $100 a week, she had no choice but to send them all to be with their father. “All of my children were born in America. The last time I saw my two smaller children, ages three and one, was July 2008. I saw the other two, ages seven and five, back in February of 2007. They are a few months older now,” said Zhang while wiping away tears. “I have no one in America. I am all alone. I couldn't be with my family on Thanksgiving, Christmas or when the American and Chinese New Year came. I'm all alone, and it's hurts me so much not to be with my husband and my children, and it's all because we told the truth.
An immigration hearing took place on March 9, 2009, and the judge set another hearing for June 18 because Zhang has not been able to obtain legal representation. It could take years before the case is ever decided. “According to U.S. immigration law, since I am charged by USCIS, I am required to stay in the country (legally) by the U.S. government. The fact is I'm forced to stay here. I cannot leave the country without resolving this charge. If I admit the charges on June 18, 2009, I will be permitted to leave the U.S. at that time. I will not do that because the charge against me, remaining in country after June 2, 2004 without authorization, is completely wrong! I was authorized by the Department of Homeland Security and the USCIS to stay here from October 2005 to October 2006. As evidence, a copy of Zhang's official identification, issued by the Department of Homeland Security and the USCIS, was provided.
The China native is currently in the process of trying to locate a better paying job. Although she is not being charged a penalty fee while staying in the U.S., she does have to pay $340 a year to apply for a work permit. If you would like to contact Zhang to offer assistance or services, you may email her at w345345y@hotmail.com.
In order to present a fair, balanced and accurate story, calls were placed and emails were sent, from December 4 to December 12, to all of the following:
The Cincinnati Public School District- to try and obtain contact information regarding former AWL principal Stephen Hoyt. A representative by the name of “Marita” indicated Hoyt left the school in 2004 and suggested Public Affairs Director, Janet Walsh be contacted for more information. After speaking with Walsh, she was uncertain as to whether or not she would be able to locate contact information for Hoyt and said she would call back. Several follow-up calls were never returned.
Former Ohio Senator Mike DeWine and Current Senator George Voinovich - to confirm a joint email sent to Wang from the senators indicating their investigation and conversation with USCIS officials revealed that the Cincinnati Public School Board was at fault and that the school’s attorney should have filed the necessary paperwork to upgrade Wang's legal status. A PDF copy of the joint email was sent to Voinovich's office for comments. DeWine left office in January of 2007, but on the evening of December 11 an email comment was sent from Voinovich's press secretary, Garrette M.K. Silverman. Silverman indicated that the senator's office was not at liberty to discuss the case.
Robert R. Berger, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel for the Supreme Court of Ohio - to discuss the decision regarding Wang’s claim that Cincinnati Public School Board attorney, Mary Godar, did not act in his best interest when she failed to submit the documents necessary that would allow him to remain in the U.S. Berger stated, “You need to be aware of the following. There are two types of cases that we deal with: those that are filed and investigated as official complaints and those that are looked at and dismissed. I do not recall the case you are referring to, which leads me to believe the case was probably dismissed. Therefore, I can neither confirm or deny the existence of the case, nor can I make any official comments because the latter cases are deemed confidential.” When informed that I was in possession of an official document from his office, which included his signature, indicating Godar did not inform Wang in time regarding his H1-B revocation, which was key for his legal status, Berger claimed he had no knowledge of the document. When the offer was made to email it to confirm the document’s authenticity, he again stated, “I can neither confirm or deny the existence of the case, nor can I make any official comments because the latter cases are deemed confidential. He declined to offer further comments.”
Mary. M. Godar, the law firm of Frost Brown Todd, LLC – to obtain comments from Godar regarding Wang's allegation that she was the central figure in an elaborate cover-up by the Cincinnati Public School district to oust him. Her assistant, who indicated the attorney’s name was actually Peggy Godar, immediately suggested that a message be left on Godar’s voicemail. The voicemail confirmed the attorney’s name as Peggy Godar. A detailed message was left on voicemail and with the assistant informing Godar that the story would be posted the week of December 11 and that her comments, via email or phone, would be appreciated. Not one of the phone calls made was ever returned.
The Ohio Department of Education - toconfirm whether or not teachers needed to be certified to teach math or any other subjects in the Cincinnati Public Schools district. Scott Blake, Director of Public Relations, responded a half-hour after the initial call was placed. Blake stated, unequivocally, that teachers must be certified and have a valid certification number, which is provided by the state. He also indicated that this has always been the policy and that teaching certificates and licenses were regarded as the same in the state of Ohio.
Trump's Pageant Call a Major Diss to Vanessa Williams
You folks better hold on to something because “The G-Man” is madder than a hellhound! Let me get this straight. Donald Trump, owner of the Miss USA Pageant, has decided that Carrie Prejean, the 2009 winner representing the state of California, can retain her crown after topless photos surfaced in the media? Okay. Next question. Trump and other pageant officials actually reviewed the photos and deemed them ‘acceptable’ and stated that “in some cases the pictures were lovely”?Well, given the fact that the lovely and talented Vanessa Williams was forced to abdicate her Miss America crown after racy photos of her popped up 26 years ago, I think this is a bunch of bullshit! Even Albert Einstein would’ve said “What the fuck?!!” while trying to make sense of this decision.
First of all, Trump is one of the biggest pussy-chasers walking. Yeah, I said it! Go ahead and sue my well–rounded black ass, Trump! Everybody knows it, including his comb-over ass, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he looked at the pictures and got a “woody” before making the decision. I’m willing to bet that he nearly broke his damn wrist because he couldn’t get the envelope open fast enough! Obviously, Prejean had the deck stacked in her favor going into this thing. Secondly, the fact that his panel looked at the pictures means absolutely nothing because it’s not like any of them were likely to overrule Trump in the first place. Can somebody please pass me a gas mask? The stench from all this “Trumped-up” bullshit is killing me!
While people and the national media state the scandal was due in large part to her comments against gay marriage, I believe there is an even greater controversy that Prejean, her pastor, her church and every Christian in America needs to respond to. This woman recently received a standing ovation from every member of her congregation during an appearance. What the hell were they applauding? Prejean blatantly lied and pissed on the pageant guidelines in her ruthless quest to become Miss USA! She clearly stated to pageant officials that she never took explicit photos. Excuse me, but The G-Man knows a pair of titties when he sees them, and those looked like titties to me! Thus, the congregation must have been applauding her for being a liar or having a great pair of tits. The last time I checked, lying and lust weren't very big on the "Christian" list. Prejean, her punk pastor and every member of the congregation that stood up all need to look in the mirror, check themselves, stop pimping God for their own purposes and act like real Christians. Yeah, I said it! If you have a problem with it, bring it to my blog! For the record, Satan had nothing to do with that previous comment. That’s The G-Man talking!
Fair is fair! Vanessa Williams was raked over the coals for her actions, and if Carrie Prejean is a true Christian, she will renounce her Miss USA crownimmediately!
In my honest opinion, Donald Trump has proved, without question, that he believes white people are to be held in high regard and not be judged on the same level as what some would call a “lowly nigger-bitch”. If Miss America officials, the national media and average citizens saw fit to strip and rip Vanessa Williams for hiding the fact that she took racy photos in the past, Trump should’ve had the balls and integrity to do the same in Prejean’s case. He can try to explain it six ways to Sunday, but the fact is there is no damn difference between the two cases. What he did was straight up fucked up, and I suspect he’s pissed off a whole lot of people, especially in the black community.
Donald Trump - Photo source - http://flickr.com/photos/flasporty/3265524444/ Photo date: February 6, 2009 Photo source: Michele Sandberg Permission: GNU Free Documentation License Vanessa Williams - Photo source: Sacredhands at en.wikipedia
How Newsman's Integrity & "You Are There" Quelled a Black Boy's Rage
