TAKEAWAY NACAC Championships 2018

by in Africa, JAMAICA, NACAC, OLYMPICS, TRACK AND FIELD, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Shanieka Ricketts wins NACAC triple jump gold

The North American, Central American, and Caribbean Championships held in Toronto August 10 – 12, 2018 were from my observation, too small an International group of Athletes to engender significant predictions for Olympics 2020. Regardless, Team Jamaica performance is worthy of Post event commentary.

It did not appear that all Member Countries participated. There were some good performances but overall un-impressive. Top tier athletes were absent. Elaine Thompson and Omar McLeod were not present or at least I saw or heard nothing to the contrary. According to an unofficial count, 369 athletes from 31 countries participated. See the list below, which should encourage a Geography lesson.

Team Jamaica exhibited significant improvement in Field events. I am impressed with the wealth of Talent. The Team came away with 21 medals, seven gold, nine silver, and five bronze.

Shanieka Ricketts, Fedrick Dacres, Traves Smikle, Hansle Parchment, Danielle Williams, Natoya Goule, Tyquendo Tracey, Janieve Russell, Annsert Whyte, Demish Gaye, and Shericka Jackson were definite standouts.

Shanieka Ricketts has stepped up her Game. She won gold in the Triple Jump. That will encourage Male athletes to step up. Tisanna Hickling won bronze in Long Jump. Fedrick Dacres and Traves Smikle  continue to perform at a high level in Discus. O’Dayne Richards won bronze in the Shot Put. Tajay Gayle won silver in Long Jump. Ramone Bailey won bronze in Long Jump.

The Hurdles event has caught on. Performance has improved exponentially. It can only get better and competition is about to get fierce for both Men and Women. Hansle Parchment won gold in the 110M hurdles. Danielle Williams won silver in the Women’s 100 meters hurdles. Janieve Russell won silver in the 400M hurdles. Annsert Whyte won silver in the 400 M Hurdles.

Natoya Goule won silver in the Women’s 800 meters. It is refreshing to see an athlete step away and try to establish a new frontier. Natoya Goule is someone to keep an eye on moving forward. Shericka Jackson continues to shine and won gold in the 200M. She ran well as the anchor for Women’s 4 × 100 meters relay quartet. I applaud her stellar performance.

Tyquendo Tracey won gold in the 100M. Nigel Ellis won bronze in the 200 M. Jonielle Smith won silver in the 100M. Demish Gaye won gold in the 400M. Fitzroy Dunkley won bronze in the 400M. Stephenie Ann McPherson won gold in the 400M. Women’s 4 × 100 meters relay quartet (Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Jura Levy, Jonielle Smith, and Shericka Jackson) won silver. Women’s 4 × 400 meters relay quartet (Stephenie Ann McPherson, Tiffany James, Anastasia Le-Roy, and Christine Day) won silver.

There is much to take away from the performances at NACAC Championships 2018. The coach or coaches responsible for training the Women’s 4 × 400 meters relay team is doing a great job. Over the years that quartet, mix or match, has been competitive or dominant. Perhaps, they should be responsible for recruiting Male athletes to run the 400M exclusively.

Until there is discovery, nurturing, and development of at least three (3) consistent 400M sprinters, running less than 45.0, lack of significant performance in the Men’s 400M race will be obvious. Excellent performance in the 400M event will require men who can consistently run less than 45.0 and women who can consistently run less than 50.0 seconds for the event.

This is a challenge. The 400M race is the most exhausting of the sprints. Demish Gaye won gold in the 400M with a time of 45.47 and Fitzroy Dunkley won bronze in the 400M with a time of 45.76. Both times are respectable but not Olympics 2020 material.  In Olympics 2020, the 400 M races to date will be a battle between Africans, Americans, and Bahamians. There is still time to upset that plan.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is back. I was certain she would retire but I was incorrect. Obviously, she missed the stage. Her early performances look good but that amounts to burning off energy. History proves that this welcome back period is short lived. Perhaps she will make it to Olympics 2020. I can argue that she might not make Team Jamaica for Olympics 2020. Team Jamaica Track and Field landscape is poised for a changing of the Guard, if not before Olympics 2020, certainly immediately after.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has fans but I think the results of Olympics 2016 say a lot. We all hoped that she had won the Olympics 100M a third consecutive time but that did not happen. She cannot overcome that demon. Hypothetically, if she wins Olympics 100M in 2020 it will not have the same luster.

In addition, Briana Williams, Brianna Lyston, Elaine Thompson, Jonielle Smith, and others will have much to say about her success. Most athletes wait too late to retire. Most recent the Legend Usain Bolt. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce because of her competitive spirit will do the same. Until then we will support her 100 Percent.

Team Jamaica takeaways and grade by Event based on expectations Olympics 2020:

Men:

Event     Analysis                     Grade

100 M – Need Improvement – C

200 M – Need Improvement – C

400 M – Need Improvement – C

800 M – Need much Improvement – D

1500 M– Need much Improvement – D

Long Jump – Need Improvement – B

Triple Jump – Need much Improvement – D

High Jump – Need much Improvement – F

Hurdles 110 M – Excellent – A+

Hurdles 400 M – Excellent – A

Discus – Excellent – A+

Shot Put – Good – B

Javelin – Need much Improvement – F

4 × 100 meters relay – Need Improvement – C

4 × 400 meters relay – Need Improvement – C

Team Jamaica takeaways and grade by Event based on expectations Olympics 2020:

Women:

Event     Analysis                     Grade

100 M – Need Improvement – C

200 M – Need Improvement – C

400 M – Need Improvement – B

800 M – Excellent – A

1500 M – Need much Improvement – D

Long Jump – Need Improvement – B

Triple Jump – Excellent – A+

High Jump – Need much Improvement – F

Hurdles 100 M – Excellent – A+

Hurdles 400 M – Excellent – A

Discus – Need much Improvement – D

Shot Put – Need much Improvement – D

Javelin – Need much Improvement – F

4 × 100 meters relay – Excellent – A+

4 × 400 meters relay – Excellent – A+

Team Jamaica is looking good leading up to Olympics 2020. Women are doing better than Men. Field events now have new Life.

LFT

SHERICKA JACKSON-NACAC

NORTH KOREA – POST SUMMIT

by in North Korea, POTUS, PROGRESSIVES, summit, Uncategorized, USA | Leave a comment

USFLAGWAVINGNORTH KOREA BOT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The summit in Singapore was a stunning surprise, perhaps too much so. Months later reality has set in or Kim jong Un has come to his senses. Maybe “The KIM” heard, deduced enough, and thinks he has a good preview of the adversary.

Posted account of destruction of nuclear installations after the summit may have been a smoke screen. What is beyond the apparent? Certainly, military intelligence should perceive it accordingly. Consistent with that realization, now what.

Will there be a follow up summit. If so, when, where, and why. Will the summit be to rehash the same verbiage, or for POTUS to inquire which word was misunderstood. Sometimes Leaders enter a room and discuss but after leaving, it is apparent that something was lost in the translation or interpretation. Was it because there was an I before an E or E before an I. Something is contributing to exhibiting misunderstandings or seeming disconnecting.

North Korea could not develop nuclear weapons without assistance. POTUS should press the Intelligence community to find out who provided assistance and are they still. Was it China, Russia, or Iran and if not who. Continue with the sanctions and inventory of receipt of goods. Find out through sanctions where from and what goods are arriving. Is it Jelly in the bottle or grey poupon dijon mustard? Is it water in the container or Atomic Isotopes?

The goal is to denuclearize North Korea and prevent use of such capacity to pressure South Korea into unifying the Korean peninsula on their terms. Sanctions will shed light on North Korea intentions. Action delayed is resolution denied.

Some in the International Community would like to imagine there is a diplomatic end to this conflict. That is a noble idea; now imagine there is no Western Civilization. Imagine there are no Olympics in Japan in 2020 or imagine you are not breathing.

Kim jong Un is out of show time. He is at the action stage. “The KIM” is at the point of no return. Saving face and leadership of the rogue regime is at stake. The International Community should be preparing for that moment. As sure as the sun shines tomorrow, he will get there.

The Hydrogen bomb is not an asset “The KIM” should be allowed to have. Therefore, the international community is witness to the arrival of Kim jong Un to the Unacceptable Zone. Hereafter we could be crossing over to the twilight zone. Diplomacy has yet to prove that it is an option. That horse appears to have left the Barn with no intention of returning, anytime soon.

Nuclear Technology is in the hands of the wrong person. Country could take away the ability to use Nuclear Technology but that might require a well-coordinated clandestine exercise. North Korea is a run-away child running wild in search of attention, which undoubtedly becomes a distraction from more important matters. North Korea nuclear ability must be destroyed. North Korea is noise in a quiet zone.

It is time to begin the scale back of proliferation. North Korea chose to be the start point. You have to start somewhere if there is any hope of maintaining civilization. As long as my Brothers and Cousins do not blink too long, the goal will be accomplished – “Stop Nuclear Proliferation” and the provocateurs who promote.

North Korea is interested in unifying the Korean peninsula. The only problem is a North lead unification with Communist ideals will be unacceptable to an International Community led by the USA. On the other hand if the unification of said peninsula is promoted by the South Koreans, promising a Republic political system, that might be an action acceptable by the World community. Course this is assuming that South Koreans are interested in unification, though you will admit that would be an ideal situation.

Which kind of unification would you prefer? Would you prefer a Korean Peninsula that looks more like North Korea or South Korea? In many ways the question is the equivalent of asking, if there was no day or night, which would you prefer to be right. North Korea has an opportunity to take POTUS country upgrade offer but will “The Kim”, accept.

Most Historians knew this time would come. Unfortunately, the eventuality is harder than anticipated because of the ineptitude of the two previous Administrations. Liberals and Regressive – alias Progressives, would like to bury their heads in the sand like Ostriches and hope the problem will depart. Unfortunately, that movie will not be coming to the Political Theater anytime soon. The best POTUS can hope for is that someone is ready to go to the Gym and engage in a clandestine exercise.

Diplomacy has not worked for 65 years. On what basis will it work now? It could get ugly but not any uglier than it will look if Kim jong Un is allowed to carry out his obsession of destroying South Korea, Japan, and the United States. This confrontation could be the prelude to World War III but that war is years in the future. A United States North Korea confrontation is several years late but it is better to be late than never. Country is up close and personal with never and that has to be prevented.

These moments try men soul. It comes when Country has important things to address and no one wants Military confrontation. However, the “way forward” is clear and Country has to attend to details. The cards are in hand, both sides need a card, two cards are on the table and face down. Are the faces of the cards Eagle or Red Star?

What will the Korean Peninsula look like in 2020? No one knows but 2020 will be a pivotal year in World History. There is a time to cry, a time to Laugh, a time to talk, and a time to fight. The challenge is knowing when to do each. As my Mentor Winston Churchill would say, Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. It is time for the Peninsula to have some Positive vibrations.

LFT

STATE OF KOREAN CONFLICT - MODIFIED

DRIVERLESS VEHICLES

by in DRIVERLESS VEHICLES, JAMAICA, missiles, TAXI DRIVER, TRUCK DRIVER, Uncategorized, USA | Leave a comment

DRIVERLESS CARS TOP

Technologically the concept is good but beyond the apparent, driverless vehicles will have Global Economic and Security impact. For whom are driverless vehicles being made? Whom will the Technology benefit? Artificial Intelligence (AI) is good but at some point, it will threaten Human existence or the survival of some. Technology in the form of computers and the Internet has replaced and displaced some in our Global Community. Barcode scanning replaced Cash Registers and displaced Cashiers.

Driverless vehicles will benefit individuals who have lost Motor Skills or the coordination required to operate a vehicle. However, said persons will have difficulty getting to and inside the vehicle. Clearly, the Human element will still be required, unless a Robot provide assistance. The Robot is Artificial Intelligence.

It is possible that Driverless vehicles will benefit Business entities convinced that automating that task might reduce expenses and increase Revenue. That is imaginable if the intent is to replace the chauffeur or the driver of a Van or Truck. However, you will need someone to open the door or deliver the flowers, unless you intend to replace that person with a Robot. The challenge will be, is it cheaper to purchase a Robot or hire a person.

Not everything new, even that which is good, is better. Driverless vehicles will have an adverse effect on Global Economy. The Technology will have an undesirable impact on the Workforce. All who make a living driving a vehicle, from Taxi Drivers to Truck Drivers; will have to seek alternative occupation.

If driverless vehicles replace Taxi and Truck Drivers, how will those individuals and their families survive? Around the Globe, Millions of people make a Living driving some kind of vehicle. If replaced and displaced, how will they survive?

The knee jerk response is a displaced worker can be re-trained. Good luck in re-training Millions or Billions of people. It has been my observation that those who utter the re-train narrative are individuals who never considered that option for themselves. Many in the Professional/ Vocational ranks should retrain but that would undermine the time and effort invested to attain their status, including Student Loans. We should respect and provide for those who choose to drive vehicles for a Living.

Driverless vehicles will have potential safety risks. Driverless vehicles are the use of a computer system. Computer systems can be hacked. They can also malfunction – intentionally or accidentally. Hardware also age leading to malfunction if not maintained. What are the consequences of malfunction?

Driverless vehicles have potential security risks. In an era where vehicles are used by terrorist or abnormal human elements to kill, it is possible to imagine Driverless vehicles as missiles. You probably have never seen a Land Missile but stay alert and aware, that event is coming to an intersection near you.

The tragedy from those incidents will make the All State and Farmers Insurance commercials depiction of mayhem appear kindergarten. Insurance companies will seek to benefit from the Technology by creating special policies. Profiting from inventions or emerging technology has always been how some business entities thrive – drive on.

LFT

DRIVERLESS CARS BOTTOM

TAKE AWAY FROM COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2018 – AUSTRALIA

by in ANTHEM, COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2018, ELAINE THOMPSON, FLAG, JAMAICA, OLYMPICS, Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, SPORTS, TRACK AND FIELD, Uncategorized, Usain Bolt, WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS | Leave a comment

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It seems to me, that Jamaicans should be proud of the performance. The team placed 11TH out of 43 teams with 27 Medals in total – 7 Gold, 9 Silver, and 11 Bronze. See the Final performance results. Not too shabby for an Island Nation.

Previously I said, “I am expecting improvement in the Field events such as Long Jump, Triple Jump (Hop, Skip, and Jump), Javelin, Discus, Shot Put, Hammer throw, and High Jump.” Oops, it happened.

Fedrick Dacres and Traves Smikle won gold and silver respectively for Jamaica in the men’s discus. Kimberly Williams won gold in the Triple Jump. Shanieka Ricketts won silver in the Triple Jump. Danniel Thomas-Dodd won gold in the Women’s Shot Put. Aisha Praught-Leer won gold in Women’s 3000 meters steeplechase. Alia Atkinson won silver in the 50 meters breaststroke. The Net Ball team won Bronze.

Clearly significant improvement in Field events, since World Championship 2017. I am impressed with the wealth of Talent on the Female side of the Jamaican Track and Field Ledger. Perhaps, that will get the Male athletes to step up. Very soon, I expect the Men to step forward with stellar performance in Field events.

The Hurdles event has caught on. Ronald Levy won gold in the 110M hurdles. Janieve Russell won gold in the 400M hurdles. Hansle Parchment won silver in the 110M hurdles. Danielle Williams won silver in the Women’s 100 meters hurdles. Jaheel Hyde won bronze in the Men’s 400 meters hurdles. Yanique Thompson won bronze in the Women’s 100 meters hurdles. My expectation is that it will require less effort to improve the performance in Hurdling than it will for additional improvement in Field events. I am wondering who will start throwing the Javelin – someone, anyone, Male or Female. It is a unisex sport.

Shericka Jackson continues to shine and won silver in the Women’s 200 meters. Anastasia Le-Roy won silver in the Women’s 400 meters. Christania Williams won silver in the Women’s 100 meters. Gayon Evans won bronze in the Women’s 100 meters. Javon Francis won bronze in the Men’s 400 meters. Natoya Goule won bronze in the Women’s 800 meters. Natoya Goule is someone to keep an eye on moving forward. Yohan Blake won bronze in the Men’s 100 meters. Women’s 4 × 100 meters relay quartet won silver. Men’s 4 × 100 meters relay won bronze. Men’s 4 × 400 meters relay won bronze. Women’s 4 × 400 meters relay won gold.

That Yohan Blake won bronze in the Men’s 100 meters and Elaine Thompson did not have a good outing by her standards, is cause for concern. There is only so much continuous running in the legs of a Professional sprinter. Yohan Blake might be approaching that point. I think he participates in the 2020 Olympics and then retire. It might be a good idea for Elaine Thompson to switch camp and work with Glen Mills.

The people responsible for training the Women’s 4 × 400 meters relay team is doing a great job. Over the years that quartet, mix or match, has been competitive or dominant. Perhaps, they should be commissioned to recruit Male athletes to run the 400M exclusively. The 400M race needs new stars. Until there is discovery, nurturing, and development of at least three (3) consistent 400M sprinters, lack of significant representation in the Men’s 400M race will be obvious. Excellent performance in the 400M event will require men who will consistently run between 43.01 and 44.5 and women who will consistently run between 48.0 and 49.4. This is a serious challenge. The 400M race is the most exhausting of the sprints.

Having said the above, what are my expectations for the Olympics in 2020? I have none now. It is too early to speculate. I am confident they will take home some Hardware from Olympics 2020.The results from Commonwealth Games 2018 are impressive. Congrats to the entire team!!!

Performance in the Diamond League will determine Olympic 2020 readiness. I think there will be a changing of the Guard in the Sprint events. There is unlikely to be replacements for Usain and Shelly-Ann by 2020. If you considered Usain – Yohan and Elaine- Shelly-Ann One-Two punches, until proven otherwise I have not seen that male or female athlete. I have not seen another Male athlete capable of running sub 10.0 seconds or a Female athlete capable of running sub 11.0 seconds for the 100M. Yohan Blake and Elaine Thompson have demonstrated they can. However, based on recent performances, they are required to prove they still can.

Warning: no one is winning the Men’s 100M in 2020 unless he runs sub 10.0 seconds. No one is winning the Women’s 100M in 2020 unless she runs sub 11.0 seconds. You can put that in the Retirement Fund.

LFT

JAMAICANFLAG WAVING

COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2018

by in COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2018, ELAINE THOMPSON, JAMAICA, TRACK AND FIELD, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

commonwealth games 2018 logo

 

The list of Countries scheduled to participate in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, tell a story. Well, at least to a History buff. Do you reflect on the significance of that list? Probably not but this is a list of Countries that remain loyal to England. However, this is not a moment to dwell on that History. The focus is Jamaica consistent with Track and Field expectations for the Games in Australia April 4th to April 15th, 2018.

Previously I mentioned take away from world championships 2017. I said that Nathon Allen emerged as the class of the Jamaican 400 M pool of athletes when he ran 44.19. Demish Gaye ran 44.55, which is respectable time for the 400 M. Both athletes had some work to do but they are capable.

Omar McLeod continues to impress. His performances created renewed interest in the 110 M Hurdles. Until Omar is defeated at the Olympics or does not compete in the Finals in 2020, he owns that event. Elaine Thompson stumbled out of the blocks and as such had a minor slip in her career. It did not appear to be serious. Until Elaine is defeated at the Olympics or does not compete in the Finals in 2020, she will be the favorite in the 100M and 200M events. However, it is time to focus on Commonwealth Games April 4th to April 15th, 2018. So “Wah Gwaan” Jamaica.

The Holidays are over and now it is time to run off the libation. Amidst the expected preparations, there is talk that some Jamaican athletes have or considering switching allegiance. I take exception to the characterization that because Winston Barnes, Jacques Harvey, Shericka Williams, Andrew Fisher, and Kemarley Brown are considering taking their talent elsewhere that they are switching allegiance. This is an amazing moment. If you recall in a previous article I said the following:

“The Era of Speed Merchants has begun. Men and Women who can run fast become Speed Merchants. Equally important, persons will migrate and some will change Nationality in pursuit of their Sprint dream. They will become Track and Field Mercenaries.

I was the one in 2006 who dared to stake claim regarding the potential, capabilities, and abilities of the Jamaican Track and Field athlete. Therefore, since Jamaica might only select three or four persons to represent the Nation for each event, there will be individuals who will feel disenfranchised. As a result, Athletes will seek inclusion by migrating and Countries will recruit them in search of Track and Field stardom. Countries will recruit Speed Merchants. Every Nation will seek strong representation in the Men and Women sprints at World Events.

There will be an Olympics in this Century, sooner than later, where all Eight (8) or Nine (9) Finalist in the Men 100 M will be of Jamaican extract of one form or another. They will be Jamaican by birth or of Jamaican parentage and representing multiple countries including Jamaica. Take note that Jessica Ennis is of Jamaican parentage.

If all Eight (8) or Nine (9) men in an Olympics 100 m Final are of Jamaican extract representing multiple countries and Jamaica is not represented, that would be tragic for the JAAA but also Jamaica. However, the preferred scenario will be multiple countries represented including Jamaica. Do not assume that the Athlete representing Jamaica will win.” Remember Ben Johnson is Jamaican but he represented Canada. Linford Christie is Jamaican but he represented Great Britain.

What are the expectations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games? Who are the athletes on the Track and in the Field that will represent the Sprint Nation? Where is Martin Manley? Excluding Visa issues, I expect all athletes from Olympics 2016 to represent the nation, except Usain and Shelly-Ann.

This is definitely time for Yohan Blake to perform at his best in the 100M and 200M. With Usain Bolt Retired, the stage is set for Yohan to have solid performances in the Commonwealth Games 2018 and Olympics 2020. Unless, Zharnel Hughes is the real deal. I do not think he is but I will keep watching. Seems to me Zharnel was leaning for the tape and not running through it in his face-to-face with Yohan. Akeem Bloomfield is someone to watch in the 200M and 400M assuming he can take his game outdoors.

On the Female side, I have not heard much beyond Elaine Thompson but I anticipate  preparation and appearances from Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kerron Stewart, Aleen Bailey, and Sherone Simpson. Unless someone or all has retired without my knowledge, I anticipate solid representation on the Track and in the Field.

I am expecting improvement in the Field events such as Long Jump, Triple Jump (Hop, Skip, and Jump), Javelin, Discus, Shot Put, Hammer throw, and High Jump. I anticipate Shardia Lawrence will continue improving in the Long and Triple Jump. There is renewed interest in the Field events and the performance of the youngsters is encouraging. Will it translate into Podium appearances at the Commonwealth Games April 4th to April 15th, 2018? I hope there are Podium appearances from the Group of athletes below.

MALE: Everton Clarke, Kimmari Roach, Omar McLeod, Javon Francis, Steven Gayle,Kemoy Campbell, Ronald Levy, Demar Forbes, Clive Pullen, O’Dayne Richards,
Andre Clarke, Jermaine Gayle, Peter Matthews, and Rusheen McDonald

FEMALE:Remona Burchell, Gayon Evans, Elaine Thompson, Dominique Blake,Tovea Jenkins, Stephanie-Ann McPherson, Natoya Goule, Aisha Praught, Rushell Burton, Jeanine Williams, Shanieka Rickets, Kimberly Williams, Daniel Thomas-Dodd, Tiffany James, and Anastasia Leroy.

Overall, even if the medal count is not high, I expect the athletes to come away with an analysis of what will be required to do well in Olympics 2020. Frankly, the Olympics are the stage and all other Athletic events are mere actors.

LFT

JAMAICANFLAG WAVING

ASSAULT ON CIVILITY III

by in Anarchy, ASSAULT WEAPONS, JAMAICA, Neighborhood, POLITICS, SCHOOL SHOOTING, TRAGEDY, Uncategorized, VIOLENCE | Leave a comment

ASSAULT WEAPONS TOP AC

Sale of assault weapons must be regulated. A “need to have” system must be developed. Otherwise, we will continue to have incidents like Virginia Tech, the Colorado Theater, Sandy Hook Elementary School, Orlando nightclub, Las Vegas massacre, and Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

In the Military, you are not issued certain weapons unless your Military Occupational Specialty requires it. An Assault Weapon compared to a handgun, is the equivalent of purchasing a car when you only need a Wagon wheel. There is no point in purchasing a car if you are not going to drive it. In the same token, there is no point in purchasing an Assault Weapon if you are not planning to shoot it. Yes, you can go to the range but some persons who purchase Assault weapons are not interested in silhouettes or pop up targets. People who purchase Assault weapons are interested in shooting an animal or another human being.

I am appalled that individuals can purchase Assault weapons in a civilized setting without justifiable reasons. How is it possible for it to be legal to sell Assault weapons in a civilize Country? We need to stop selling Assault weapons. This is not a war Zone. Many of the idiots buying weapons would not serve a day in the military because they are physically or mentally incapable or just plain cowards. Unfortunately, those people commit heinous acts.

Except in the unusual situation where someone snaps from imminent danger, there is no understanding use of an Assault weapon in a civilized setting. What happened in Sandy Hook, the Orlando nightclub, Las Vegas, and now Stoneman Douglas High School is Barbaric.

Sales of Assault weapons are not good for the civil health of our society. Gun shops are all about the money. Once again, greed rears its ugly head similar to those who took money to teach individuals how to fly airplanes, even after realizing that said trainees had no interest in learning how to Land. Greed got us into a financial crisis. Greed from the sale of Assault Weapons will create mayhem in our society. We have to regulate the sale of assault weapons. Our Society and way of Life is in danger of falling off the proverbial Cliff.

In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy and other school shootings, there is talk about arming teachers. That is a bad, ridiculous, and ludicrous idea. Arming teachers is an idea that has permanent residency in the preposterous.

The simple solution is to take some of that ridiculous money Superintendents of the schools make and install cameras at all corners. In addition, put a security detail together with qualified Guards and CCTV. Use common sense and security measures to ensure that unauthorized persons do not gain access to said premises. Maintenance of such a system will require two shifts of Guards. The second shift on duty until all school personnel leave each day. The second Amendment is alive and well but it is time to restrict or prohibit the sale of assault weapons. Neighborhood facilities are not war zones.

LFT

ASSAULT WEAPONS BOTTOM1

BLACKS AND BENEFITS FROM POLITICAL PARTIES

by in Alan Keyes, Blacks, Colin Powell, Democratic Party, Entrepreneurship, JAMAICA, POLITICS, republican Party, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

BLACKS PICKING COTTON

Since the Presidential election of 2016, there has been much talk about what it means to be Republican or Democrat. As a result, I decided to do some research specifically as it pertains to Blacks in Country.

Given the level of discord, acrimony, and in some cases hate, I decided to do some research on Politics in Country and seek to discover why Blacks seem obligated to support the Democratic Party. Simultaneously, I wanted to see if Blacks support of the Democratic Party was legitimate.

My findings indicate that Blacks support of the Democratic Party is illegitimate and misguided. Here are some of the facts gathered from my research.

  • The Republican Party was established to oppose slavery. The 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery, passed in 1865 with 100% Republican and only 23% Democratic Party support.

  • The Republican Party wanted to end slavery and Grant freed Blacks citizenship. The Democratic Party opposed.

  • Lincoln Vice President, Andrew Johnson, was pro-Union but also a pro-slavery Democrat. After Lincoln’s assassination, Johnson opposed Republican Party efforts to recognize the civil rights of Blacks.

  • The 14th Amendment, giving citizenship to Blacks, passed in 1868 with 94% Republican and 0% Democratic Party support.

  • The 15th Amendment, the right to vote, passed in 1870 with 100% Republican and 0% Democratic Party support.

  • The Ku Klux Klan was an arm of the Southern Democratic Party. Its mission was to terrorize Blacks and “nigger-loving” Republicans who sympathized with them.

  • In the 1950s, President Eisenhower, a Republican, integrated the US military and promoted civil rights for minorities. Eisenhower was responsible for the development of the Highway System, which literally developed paths for Blacks to relocate.

  • President Eisenhower’s primary opponent on civil rights prior to 1957 was Lyndon Baines Johnson, then the Democratic Senate Majority Leader.

  • In the 1960’s the Democratic Party engineered a subversive and clandestine strategy to get blacks dependent on government to secure their votes. Formally known as Welfare.

  • The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was supported In the House of Representatives by 80 percent Republicans and 63 percent of Democrats. In the Senate, by 82 percent Republicans and 69 percent Democrats.

  • Credit has to be given to the Republican Party for the Civil Rights Act of 1968, the Fair Housing Act, providing for equal housing opportunities regardless of race, religion, or national origin.

Barry Goldwater’s opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 attracted some racist Democrats to the Republican Party. However, Goldwater was not a racist or at least not an overt racist like many Democrats of the time, such as George Wallace and Bull Connor. He publicly supported racial equality and his opposition to the 1964 Act was consistent with his support of states rights. Regardless, his views were inconsistent with the mainstream, and he lost the 1964 Presidential election to LBJ in a landslide.

Goldwater’s opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act provided liberals an opening to characterize the Republican Party as racist. They have echoed that narrative since. That is unsubstantiated myth. Every political party has its racists.

The liberal media narrative that Republicans are more racist than Democrats is unsubstantiated innuendo and assertions. It is a classic example of a Lie that becomes true, simply by repeating it many times. Sadly, that has become a tactic used by Politicians. In essence, Politicians believe that if they tell you we are Angels numerous times, then you will start believing.

In the 1960s, the Democratic Party changed its strategy in dealing with Black Americans. Thanks to Republican initiatives on civil rights, blatant racial oppression was no longer a viable political option. Whereas before that time Southern Democrats had overtly and proudly segregated and terrorized blacks, the national Democratic Party decided to be subtle and get them dependent on government as much as possible. As LBJ so elegantly put it, “I’ll have those niggers voting Democratic for the next 200 years.” At the same time, the Democrats started a campaign of lies and innuendo, falsely equating any opposition to their Welfare State with racism.

From a political perspective, the Democratic Party strategy of black dependency has been extremely effective. Lyndon Baines Johnson knew exactly what he was doing. Black Americans routinely voted well over 90 percent Democratic for fear that Republicans would cut their government benefits and welfare programs. Fact is before LBJ’s Great Society welfare programs, the black illegitimacy rate was about 23 percent, but it tripled to about 72 percent by the 1970s. It was a Democrat as President in the 1990’s, who began the dismantling of the Welfare program. That certainly threw a monkey wrench at the buzzword “Democracy” and it was probably about the time that the Democratic Party realized that with an influx of new immigrants they might not need a majority of the Black vote to win Elections.

Liberal Democrats ran most major American city governments for decades, and most of those cities have large black sections that are essentially dysfunctional ghettos. With Gangs and drug dealers, with burned out homes on every block in some areas, they destroyed cities like Detroit and Chicago. The land values are so low due to crime, blight, and lack of economic opportunity that condemned homes are not even worth rebuilding. Who wants to build a home in an Urban War Zone? Yet Blacks continue to elect liberal Democrats and blame presumed “racist” Republicans for their problems.

A convincing argument can also be made, that the Democratic Party support for affirmative action is racist. Affirmative action is the antithesis of Martin Luther King’s dream of a Color-Blind society. Not only is it “reverse racism,” but the premise is that Black Americans are incapable of competing in the free market on a level playing field. It is predicated on the notion of white supremacy, though “benevolent”, rather than the openly hostile white supremacy of the pre-1960s Democratic Party. My issue with Affirmative action has always been, yes, it is great to get me into an “Ivy League” school but does it get me the Professional or Career opportunity.

These days, Political philosophy and thus Party lines are sometimes blurry. It depends on the person or candidate running for office. Far be it for me to suggest that you should vote for an individual because he or she is Republican or Democrat or Black. However, seems to me that Blacks need to get a Political attitude adjustment. My findings indicate that Blacks support of the Democratic Party is illegitimate, misguided, and unsubstantiated. Seems to me more reason why Blacks should support the Republican Party going forward. The Way Forward (Black America) is clear.

Years ago, I became a Registered Republican. Many in the Black community uttered dirty remarks. It is refreshing to see that some Black celebrities now realize the “Way Forward”. The Black community should embrace this change. For too long the leadership held to the Civil Rights platform apparently not recognizing that Era is over. It is time to move forward and stop complaining, fighting, and marching.

To effect change and bring about your ideals you must be in the room. You must sit at the table. You must articulate the issues and needs. You must have a Road Map and be ready and able to implement plans and solutions.

The Democratic Party is not your conduit or path to solutions. The situations and conditions that affect the Neighborhood will not leave via the assistance of the Democratic Party. The only thing leaving the “Hood” from the assistance of the Democratic Party, are the “so called” Senators and Representatives. In fact, the Democratic Party added insult to injury with the installation of the previous Executive Branch of Government. The previous Administration was ineffective. What was accomplished was not meaningful and what would have been meaningful was not accomplished.

For too long the Black community placed their eggs in the basket of the Democratic Party. They waited decades for the chickens to hatch. Finally, there is an epiphany. Those who thought the ideology of the Democratic Party would bring forth progress and salvation have realized they were WRONG. In the past eight years, there was a Democratic Party administration in the White House and the Black Community received nothing. Chicago and other inner city neighborhoods are rapidly approaching extinction status.

The President in office was Black and presumably, from Chicago yet the community looks the same. In fact, I would argue that Chicago looks worse than it did in 2008. Setting expectations, the Black Community should not count their chickens before they are hatched in interaction with the current Administration but anything is better than nothing. However, my bet is the Black community will get attention and assistance to begin moving forward.

The Democratic Party is all about Handouts, keeping you poor and in pursuit but never attaining. The Republican Party is about ideas and Puritan Work Ethic. Look around you, everything you see was once an idea. If the current leaders of the “Way Forward” are looking for prominent Republican Party members to contribute, they should invite Alan Keyes and Colin Powell. There is work to be done and enough glory to go around.

Here are keys to the success of the “Way Forward”:

  • Empower and encourage young Black people to become Entrepreneurs

  • Train them to be computer literate

  • Encourage them to focus on developing Industries missing from our infrastructure

  • Encourage them to “Think” and improve on existing Industries

  • Encourage them to look at Manufacturing and Farming and not relegate themselves to Services

  • Encourage them to utilize and promote their own talents and not be copycats

  • Instill in them that not everyone is academically inclined. There are roads, buildings, bridges, and other important segments of our infrastructure that need attention.

  • Encourage them to research George Washington Carver, Uncle Ben, and persons of that Ilk so that they can aspire to creativity and ingenuity.

The NAACP and Urban League are in need of an attitude and focus adjustment. The Way Forward is not about complaining, fighting, and marching. The “Way Forward” is not about Jobs, corporate sit-ins, or Internship. Jobs are initial but short-term solutions. Apprenticeship and Entrepreneurship are long-term solution and the “Way Forward”.

If you need something done, be willing and able to do it yourself with the necessary business support. You must be in the room where ideas are being discussed and decisions made. You must sit at the table. You must articulate the needs and issues. You must have a Road Map and be ready and able to implement plans and solutions.

LFT

BLACKS IN POLITICS -BOTTOM