Wednesday Reads: Civil War in Syria, Mittens Wins, and the Iceman Cometh
Posted: February 29, 2012 Filed under: 2012 primaries, China, Diplomacy Nightmares, Foreign Affairs, France, Great Britain, Hillary Clinton, Human Rights, Iran, Israel, Main Stream Media, morning reads, racism, Russia, Syria | Tags: Charlie Bryant, Cody Stephens, Gainesville Georgia Public Schools 48 Comments »
Good morning!
Get your coffee poured, because I have a juicy post for you today.
First things first…Romney wins Michigan and Arizona
Well, good now that is out-of-the-way, lets move on to other more important news…
I wonder, maybe Boston Boomer can give us some thoughts on why she thinks the shooter, TJ Lane, ran after the shooting, compared to so many mass shooter/killers that will eventually turn the gun on themselves. Ohio School Shooting Suspect Confesses, Prosecutor Says – NYTimes.com
The fatal shooting rampage in a high school in this quiet suburb of Cleveland remained a puzzle on Tuesday, with prosecutors saying that a student had confessed to the killings and had told them that he did not know his victims and chose them at random.
Prosecutors said the student, T. J. Lane, 17, admitted taking a .22-caliber Ruger semiautomatic pistol to Chardon High School on Monday and firing 10 rounds at four students at a cafeteria table. He has not been formally charged, but prosecutors said it was likely that he would be tried in an adult court.
Three of the victims — Russell King Jr., Demetrius Hewlin and Daniel Parmertor — have died. Two others were wounded. One has been released from the hospital.
Sticking with stateside news, some people just don’t like Obama, hey…I am one of them, and y’all know my reasons…however, race is not one of them.
But for those who do have a problem with the color of Obama’s skin…it seems they tend to take it to a whole other level. Ariz. police sergeant demoted over bullet-riddled Obama Facebook photo – USATODAY.com
An Arizona police sergeant has been demoted and suspended for two weeks without pay for posting a photo of a bullet-riddled image of President Obama on Facebook.
Makes this next link even more obvious: Suit Says Obama Can’t Run In Alaska Because He’s of the “Mulatto” Race
A man from Juneau, Alaska, has filed suit with the state’s Division of Elections to bar President Obama from appearing on that state’s ballot on the basis that the President is a “Mulatto“, and “the race of ‘Negro‘ or ‘Mulatto‘ had no standing to be citizens of the United States under the United States Constitution.”
Gordon Warren Epperly, who lists his address as a P.O. Box, filed the nomination petition objection on February 21, 2012.
According to the complaint:
Barack Hussein Obama II, Aka Barack Hussein Obama, Aka Barack H. Obama has the race status of being a “Mulatto.” Barack Obama’s father (Barack Hussein Obama I) was a full blood Negro being born Nyang’oma Kogelo, Nyanza Province, Kenya and raised in the Colony of Kenya. Barack Obama’s mother (Stanley Ann Dunham) was a white Caucasian woman being born in Wichita, Kansas on November 29, 1942 and raised in the state of Washington and in the State of Hawaii.
Therefore:
As stated above, for an Individual to be a Candidate for the Office of President of the United States, the Candidate must meet the qualifications set forth in the United States Constitution and one of those qualifications is that the Candidate shall be a “natural born Citizen” of the United States. As Barack Hussein Obama II is of the “Mulatto” race, his status of citizenship is founded upon the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Before the [purported] ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment, the race of “Negro” or “Mulatto” had no standing to be citizens of the United States under the United States Constitution.
“Mulatto?”
Damn, that is horrid…
Yet, it underscores the next story I am about to bring you. The following links are from a town south of my little chunk of redneck heaven, Banjoville, Georgia. The town I am talking about is the poultry capital of the Peach State…Gainesville, Georgia.
Let me give you a bit of background.
There is a highschool in Gainesville that tallied up the students grades and found that a student named Cody Stephens received the highest GPA. So naturally, you would expect Cody to go on to be celebrated as class valedictorian.But remember, this is Georgia…and Cody happens to be black.
So what do you think the principal of the school does? He names two valedictorians. (Yup…two.) The co-valedictorian, Charlie Bryant, had a GPA that was slightly lower than Cody Stephens. (Did I say that Cody Stephens is black?) Cody would have been the first African-American valedictorian in Gainesville history.
This caused a big stink as you can imagine, which led to a school board meeting and vote. The resulting vote, 4 to 1 in favor of having two valedictorians…you can say the shit hit the fan with that…eventually the parents of Charlie Bryant issued this letter stating:
The academic achievements of Cody Stephens and Charlie Bryant stand on their own merits and are to be celebrated, not tarnished by controversy.
After much prayerful consideration, we would like to offer an alternative perspective to those being discussed so prominently. Because of Cody’s unique position of being our first African-American valedictorian, we propose that Gainesville High School utilize the upcoming graduation ceremony to celebrate his, and only his, academic record as valedictorian of perhaps one of the most talented classes that GHS has ever produced.
Cody and Charlie, as students and friends, can deservedly share the honor at school, and we as a community, can collectively lift up Cody’s accomplishments as a unifying element to be proudly witnessed on graduation day. In support of this approach, we have made the decision to respectfully withdraw from the ceremonial recognition bestowed at graduation. We believe that this decision is in the best interest of GHS and our community. More importantly, we feel the decision is in the best interest of two incredible young men, our son Charlie and his friend, Cody Stephens.
Stephen’s mother welcomed the letter, but felt it came a bit late. Yesterday, she gave a press conference and had this to say: Valedictorian student’s mother says issue still open
Valerie Stephens credited Charlie Bryant’s parents for withdrawing him for co-valedictorian honors, but added that does not let school board members who voted 4-1 for co-valedictorians off the hook.
“That does not mean that the Gainesville City School System or Gainesville High School should not be held accountable for the things they set in place,” she said.
Stephens said Board Chairman Willie Mitchell voted the right way for Stephens sole honor but the others did not ‘vote the right way.’
Stephens vowed to campaign against board members up for re-election, and called for dismissals for superintendent Merrianne Dyer and high school principal Chris Mance.
Stephens said the co-valedictorian issue is not going away and she wants an investigation into why the system went against its own policy of granting the sole honor to the student with the highest grade point average.
“We cannot allow this situation to happen anymore to any parent or any child,” Stephens added and then she smiled and announced that “Cody Stephens is the sole valedictorian of Gainesville High School.”
Marcus Coleman, Founder of the Atlanta Chapter of Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network added his concerns on the matter.
“Here this school board on Friday had this emergency secret vote and it’s four to one,” Coleman said. “I think it’s unfair to the public and definitely unfair to the system because the honesty is not there.”
Coleman said the public was expecting a public meeting on the 28th, which was canceled after the board’s decision was disclosed Monday. Coleman added that he was glad the Bryants had some integrity because the school board did not.
“We don’t want another child, black, white, Latino, Asian, to go through this same thing when it deals with simple math,” Coleman said. “We plan to do something about the members of the School Board.”
I’m glad Cody is the sole valedictorian, bottom line is, he has the highest GPA in the school. End of story. I wonder if it were the other way around, would Charlie be sharing the spotlight with a co-valedictorian. What do you think?
I’m going to post some links on Syria now, because it is really turning into a human right’s disaster. The makings of a Civil War is going on right before our very eyes.
Syria Crisis Highlights Paradoxes of Assad Support – NYTimes.com
Abu Ali fled his life as a Shiite cleric and student in Homs, the besieged Syrian city at the center of an increasingly bloody uprising, but it was not the government he feared.
It was the rebels, who he said killed three of his cousins in December and dumped a body in the family garbage bin.
“I can’t be in Homs because I will get killed there,” he said from this religious city in Iraq where he has taken refuge. “Not just me, but all Shiites.”
Like his fellow Shiites in Iraq, Abu Ali, who used his nickname to protect his family back in Syria, said he regards the Syrian rebels as terrorists, not freedom fighters, underscoring one of the complexities of a bloody civil conflict that has persisted as diplomatic efforts have failed. In spite of President Bashar al-Assad’s willingness to unleash a professional military on a civilian population, with lethal results, Mr. Assad retains some support at home and abroad from allies, including religious and ethnic minorities who for decades relied on the police state for protection from sectarian aggression.
“What the government is doing is trying to protect the people,” Abu Ali said, echoing the Assad government’s propaganda. “They are targeting terrorist groups in the area.”
That is one point of view, here is another:
WRAPUP 2-More than 7,500 killed in Syria, UN says, as new resolution tried | Reuters
Syrian forces kill 25 in bombardments – activists
* UN official says Syria toll exceeds 7,500
* France says Security Council working on new resolution (Adds US drafts outline of new resolution, China comment)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could be classified as a war criminal, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said as the United Nations announced more than 7,500 civilians had been killed by his forces since the start of the revolt.
At least 25 people were killed in the shelling of opposition strongholds by Syrian forces on Tuesday, activists said. In Homs alone, opposition groups said hundreds of civilians had been killed or wounded in the 24-day-old assault.
As world dismay grew over the bloodshed, France said the Security Council was working on a new Syria resolution and urged Russia and China not to veto it, as they have previous drafts.
An outline drafted by Washington focused on the humanitarian situation in order to try to win Chinese and Russian support and isolate Assad, Western envoys said. But they said the draft would also suggest Assad was to blame for the crisis, a stance Russia in particular has opposed.
In the besieged district of Baba Amro and other parts of Homs, terrified residents were enduring dire conditions, without proper supplies of water, food and medicine, activists said.
A wounded British photographer managed to escape from Homs, but the fate of French reporter Edith Bouvier was not clear.
She was the journalist who sustained more severe injuries than British photographer, Paul Conroy.
“There are credible reports that the death toll now often exceeds 100 civilians a day, including many women and children,” U.N. Under-Secretary-General for political affairs Lynn Pascoe told the U.N. Security Council. “The total killed so far is certainly well over 7,500 people.”
Syria’s government said in December that “armed terrorist groups” had killed more than 2,000 soldiers and police.
Asked by a U.S. senator whether Assad could be called a war criminal, Clinton told a Senate hearing: “There would be an argument to be made that he would fit into that category”. She added, however, that using such labels “limits options to persuade leaders to step down from power”.
More on what Hillary Clinton stated at the Senate hearing: Hillary Clinton: Syria’s Assad could be labeled a war criminal
Clinton was also asked whether she thought Assad was on his way out eventually. “I do,” she said. “I just don’t know how to define eventually.”
Please take a look at the rest of the article, it gives more details of the latest developments. Including details and quotes from the “delusional” meeting between the UN and the Syrian Ambassador.
It is painfully obvious talks are not moving forward. As we witness the struggle of those journalist remaining in Syria, whose whereabouts are still unknown… including the remains of Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik, who were killed last week. It truly brings the desperate nature of the situation home. Especially with the dramatic escape this morning of Paul Conroy, in the face of Syria’s refusal to allow safe passage of the foreign press out of Homs.
Syrian activists killed in Paul Conroy rescue mission | World news | The Guardian
Up to 13 activists died smuggling the Sunday Times photographer out of the country, it has emerged.
Conroy survived the attack last week that killed his colleague Marie Colvin. Three other western journalists, including Edith Bouvier, who was badly injured in the same incident, were reported to be still trapped in Homs on Tuesday night. A claim by the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, that Bouvier had also been evacuated was later retracted by his office.
I actually sighed a heavy sigh just now…so sad.
Then you have this, from MSNBC: Fears grow of Israel-Iran missile shootout
With tensions between Israel and Iran running sky high over the latter’s nuclear program, U.S. officials and military analysts are growing increasingly concerned that Israel will launch a multi-phase air and missile attack that could trigger waves of retaliatory missile strikes from Tehran.
Such a shootout could quickly spiral into a regional conflict that would potentially force the U.S. to intervene to protect its interests.
The emerging consensus among current and former U.S. officials and other experts interviewed by NBC News is that that an Israeli attack would be a multi-faceted assault on key Iranian nuclear installations, involving strikes by both warplanes and missiles. It could also include targeted attacks by Israeli special operations forces and possibly even the use of massive explosives-laden drones, they say.
The Iranian response to such an attack is uncertain, but many experts and officials believe it is likely to include retaliatory missile strikes. Iran has more missiles in its arsenal than Israel, according to some estimates, and has the capability of striking targets in most Israeli population centers.
Now this story was published about 30 minutes after Michigan was called for Romney. Seems a bit of a coincidence to me. The article is not reporting an actual incident that has already happened, it is reporting on what could happen. It rubs me the wrong way. I don’t like the media induced fear and war mongering when it comes to Iran. I hope that we aren’t going to see another US war in the region. With all the talk of bombing Iran from the clown circus that is the GOP primaries. This kind of “what if reporting” gives me the creeps.
After all that, lets check out the latest findings in a murder that took place 5,300 years ago. BBC News – Oetzi the Iceman’s nuclear genome gives new insights
New clues have emerged in what could be described as the world’s oldest murder case: that of Oetzi the “Iceman”, whose 5,300-year-old body was discovered frozen in the Italian Alps in 1991.
A reconstruction shows what Oetzi may have looked like before an arrow felled himOetzi’s full genome has now been reported in Nature Communications.
It reveals that he had brown eyes, “O” blood type, was lactose intolerant, and was predisposed to heart disease.
They also show him to be the first documented case of infection by a Lyme disease bacterium.
Analysis of series of anomalies in the Iceman’s DNA also revealed him to be more closely related to modern inhabitants of Corsica and Sardinia than to populations in the Alps, where he was unearthed.
My son Jake contracted Lyme disease in Connecticut when he was three years old. It never occurred to me Lyme could actually be found over 5,300 years ago.
Albert Zink, from the Eurac Institute for Mummies and the Iceman in Bolzano, Italy, said the nuclear DNA study was a great leap forward in one of the most widely studied specimens in science.
“We’ve been studying the Iceman for 20 years. We know so many things about him – where he lived, how he died – but very little was known about his genetics, the genetic information he was carrying around,” he told BBC News.
He was carrying around a “haplotype” that showed his ancestors most likely migrated from the Middle East as the practice of formal agriculture became more widespread.
It is probably this period of transition to an agrarian society that explains Oetzi’s lactose intolerance.
Jake is also lactose intolerant…hmmm…funny. Now I can tell him not only was he named after Jake Barnes in Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises…he also has the same health problems as the 5,300 year old Iceman. Some how I don’t think he will be that impressed. Perhaps his sister Brett will get a kick out of it…Yes and she is named after Lady Brett Ashley, doesn’t it make you want to go and re-read The Sun Also Rises.
With all the disturbing news lately, I think losing myself in The Lost Generation would be a treat.
So that does it for me, catch y’all later in the comments.
Sima
dakinikat
ecocatwoman
fiscalliberal
grayslady
mablue2
NW Luna
peggysue22
quixote
That Iceman looks like he should ride a Harley…
Woman arrested in ‘The Senator’ tree fire | News – Home
Ohio school shooting suspect “not well” – CBS News
Wonder how many mental midgets it took to determine that boy was “not well”. Jeesh.
The only personal info I’ve heard is that he lived with his grandmother. That could mean some kind of trauma–either his parents are dead or they abandoned him for some reason. Obviously he was troubled. Duh!
Syria: reports of ground invasion on Baba Amr – live updates | World news | guardian.co.uk
Mitt may be breathing a sigh of relief that he barely pulled out a win in MI. I say barely because Rick was not that far behind in the vote counting.
If there were ever two more lackluster candidates being offered up as alternatives, these two lead the pack.
A dull, boorish millionaire v a wide eyed theocratic zealot. Wow!
I will give Rick “credit” for the ability to speak extemporaneously while Mittens read his speech from a teleprompter.
Had Rick STFU about JFK he may have been the one to have come out the winner but I see his chances dimming as a result.
Super Tuesday will set the stage going forward. Either reviving Newt’s chances, striking out Mittens, or elevating Rick.
The Evangelical South is about to weigh in.
Catholic school fires gay teacher planning wedding
His partner says their 20-year relationship was not a secret.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/catholic-school-fires-gay-teacher-planning-wedding/article_c65612c2-c939-55e2-b379-acfffcd594ed.html
Hate still seems to be a religious value.
sad too.
So, his reward for being honest, being a good teacher for years, committed to his students, being true to himself, being true to his community, in a loving relationship for over 20 years is to be fired?
Sad indeed…
religion does seem to be at the root of all conflicts, doesn’t it. Just my opinion of course. Was speaking with my friend the Afghani yesterday and we touched on religion, which used to be a taboo topic according to my Mom – religion and politics should never touch friends. Anyway, he asked whether I was Catholic – because the mall where he owns a shop is constantly subject by shoplifting by the students of a local Catholic school. I didn’t know how to respond, being that I have no beliefs anymore in a male in the sky diety and of course, atheists are not welcomed anywhere, however I did comment that I had a friend married to an undercover detective who looked very young, who was stationed in the very same school for years because of the preponderance of criminal activities – minor stuff mostly – drugs, shoplifting, beatings etc. When my friend got too old to pass, they replaced him with two young looking detectives, and have since kept up their surveillance. All at a Catholic school. Where are the parents in all of this? Just me, but I knew when my kids were snowing me, and my neighbours had permission to intervene should either of them be out of line, then report back to me – so my kids knew that not only could they go to the neighbours in times of trouble, but that the neighbours would keep me informed. Takes a village, thanks Hillary.
WRT to that disgraceful situation in Gainsville and the Mulatto situation in Alaska, shameful. I thought we had evolved – obviously I was wrong.
Excellent roundup, Minx, although it’s depressing, we need to know.
BTW, Jake and Brett – brilliant choices. Mine were Ryan – Little King in Celtic lore (my background), and Lauren – after the laurel plant after Greek lore.
HT, it looks like you are on the mend…so wonderful to have you commenting again.
When I was in high school, my mother would use the Catholic high school as a threat. “If you keep acting up we’ll send you to Tampa Catholic.” Which always made me laugh because the students were always getting in trouble at the school.
Sigh… bigotry is alive and well.
Hate has always been an organized religion value. Every one of them.
Then there’s this from a professor at BYU:
http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/joannabrooks/5748/racist_remarks_by_popular_byu_religion_professor_spark_controversy/
I especially found it interesting that he used the feminine pronoun when talking about black men.
That is sickening…Oh man that is horrible…
@Ralph 11:37 So true…
Dak, did you see this: D.C. archdiocese: Denying Communion to lesbian at funeral was against ‘policy’ – The Washington Post
Yeah, I did. Did you see Santorum lost the Catholic vote in Michigan? Sounds like they walked out on him they way they are walking out of the pews.
Great round up, Minx! The Iceman story is fascinating. I’m surprised I never heard of him before.
Thanks BB, National Geographic also had a program about this: Video — Iceman was Murdered — National Geographic
Franklin Graham apologizes to President Obama for questioning his religious beliefs, claiming his (Graham’s) reasons for opposing Obama’s reelection have nothing to do with religion. He said his reasons are Obama’s “positions on gay marriage and abortion.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73428.html
Two questions: 1) What are Obama’s positions on gay marriage and abortion? I believe Obama is opposed to gay marriage and I’m not sure what he thinks about abortion. 2) If opposition to gay marriage and abortion has nothing to do with religion, what is that opposition based on?
Franklin Graham is an ignorant fool, and should retire from the “public square” until he can get some remedial education.
actually, Graham should retire permanently. Anyone who opposes anything to do with abortion and equal opportunity for all people, should not be given a podium to broadcast their personal vision of what is so called normal. I really am learning to hate – it’s taken 60 years to imbed the vileness of hatred and I’m still fighting it, however cretins such as Graham and any one of the Republican’s best of the best representatives makes me wonder why I resisted for so long. one thing, at least Graham had the political saavy to apologize – but one wonders at the timing. Is it perhaps that the GOP lineup is a no go, so he recognizes what side his bread is currently buttered?
Franklin Graham should crawl under a rock somewhere and stay there. Personally I always thought his father was nothing more than another pompadoured televangelist, just more successful at it than most.
Bingo, Elmer Gantry in suits.
Agreed, now if we could just get rid of the 700 Club too.
Exactly. His father was an ignorant fool too, and I read that he beat little Franklin horribly. Poor Franklin has to lash out at someone. It’s probably way too late for therapy. He’s completely brainwashed.
Funny thing about the 700 club – and you are so right, it should be wiped out. My aunt was one of it’s supporters – I have no idea of how much she donated, but she was on a monthly list. Anyway, she died at age 95 – a horrible death of starving herself (why is euthanasia such a hot button issue? she wanted to die for many years) Anyway, the executor notified all the appropriate people including the ones that she had contributed to for years. One year after her death, the executor receives a notice regarding the lack of contribution. Two years after, same notice. They weren’t the only ones. Some guy named Benny something or the other did as well.
After a while you almost appreciate the really stupid racists, because they aren’t so much work and buffoonery of them could almost make you smile. What’s up with that newspaper that even thought that newsworthy? Or maybe the point is to allow ourselves a little self righteous smugness.
The haters are predictable.
is it me or does the iceman look like W after a 5 day coke binge. just sayin
Peace
I wonder how old he was when he died. How can they know that he had gray hair and all those wrinkles?
I believe he was around 45 when he was killed. If I am not mistaken, the mummy was in good condition and hair and other items around him where found as well. It was truly fascinating. However because of the location, the Swiss and the Italians fought in court for years over who would get the body.
The body was fairly well preserved, being kept in a glacial deep-freeze since shortly after death. He probably had lots of sun exposure, so wrinkles are likely. Lots of interesting info here:
@kurt …he sure does.
So we have HRC telling us that the situation is exceedingly dangerous, Egypt let Iranian destroyers/frigates through the Suez Canal last week, to join Russian ships-one consequence of the Mubarack overthow.
Iran, since Jan., has been threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz.
http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/hormuz.htm
Dozens of multinationals (including USAns,) are being held in Egypt. As of last Sun. at least some for will be put on trial and charged with “establishing unlicensed chapters of international organizations and accepting foreign funding to finance these groups in a manner that breached the Egyptian state’s sovereignty”.
There are riots and at least 12 killed in China.
Reports, emanating from AsiaTimes and spreading around the right wing blogosphere are indicting that drone strikes using US drones have been conducted on the Phillippine rebels in the south part of the country.
The only good news is that North Korea is suspending nuclear testing.
Oh, I forgot, Dandelion Salad is reporting that HRC has said Al-Qaeda is helping to support the Syrian rebels, which puts us in a precarious position.
http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/syria-clinton-admits-us-on-same-side-as-al-qaeda-to-destabilise-assad-government/
I know, I have heard this too. That is why the UN taking the lead here is crucial.
BB- National Geographic has run great articles on the Iceman since he was found. Here is one from 2007:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/07/iceman/hall-text
Yes, I almost linked to those too! Very informative.
How Obama Ignored The NDAA’s Military Custody Provision
This is a good implementation of very bad law. I’ll give Obama credit for doing this well.
8 dead in storm aftermath; weather threat isn’t over – CNN.com
If you are in the path, keep an eye out for severe weather…
Davy Jones of the Monkees is dead.
The Daily Show Destroys Grover Norquist With Think Tank Of Twelve Year Olds (VIDEO)
Go Samantha Bee!
and so young too.
Geez check out the shit Patricia Heaton is saying about Sandra Fluke on twitter:
Patricia Heaton (patriciaheaton) on Twitter
Apparently while everybody loved Raymond, nobody loved Patricia
She’s been a douche nozzle for a long time.
Senate is debating Blunt agreement: Live Video – C-SPAN2 | C-SPAN Watch it live!