Plagiarizing from his defeated rival, on November 3 George W. Bush promised the nation “a season of hope.” For those who view the U.S. Supreme Court and the federal judiciary as protectors of minorities from unlawful discrimination and as guarantors of civil liberties and constitutional rights, the reality that lies ahead is more aptly described by Rimbaud: “a season in… return to article
-
subscribe to print magazine
-
email this article to a friend
-
Reader Comments (61)Page 1 of 1 pagesIs the auther lamenting litmus tests or (much MUCH more likely) the fact that it is not HIS litmis test that will determine the new federal judges?
Part of winning the presidency is appointing judges. This time, Bush. Next time, whoever wins in 2008. A simple concept really.
Posted by soIsTheProblem on Nov 22, 2004 at 12:19 PM Author Fortunato is absolutely correct that “...the most in peril are...” Black males! The justices (anywhere) and folk who deny this should have to take our www.racismtest.com BEFORE they’re allowed to make decisions about people of color - this goes for any court proceeding in this hostile-to-color country. Where they’re found to be dysfunctionally racist/colorist - they should be referred to psychologists/psychiatrists until they’re able to overcome their pathological responses to culture and color. “President” Bush and ilk should also have to take the Test. Carol Taylor 1st Black U.S. Flight Attendant
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 22, 2004 at 12:38 PM Re: “The test costs money? Um, no thanks!” - What doesn’t? And I’m sure you’re a person with a conscience who’d like to see the epidemic racism/colorism which is tearing this country - this WORLD - apart, resolved so that, As Martin L. King Jr. said, Folk can be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of the skins they wear. There are YEARS of voluntary work behind that test and the over 4000 responses to the 1992 publishing of the Test by the NY Village Voice newspaper, reflecting pathological responses to color by over one/third of those 4000 “liberal” readers, kinda proves our point that EVERYONE should have to take the “Racism/colorism Quotient Test - even if it’s just to find out what damage your U.S. ‘education system’ has done to you (and me) - trust me, I nearly flunked it!
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 22, 2004 at 1:12 PM Hey Carol, I’d love to take your test, but I’m not going to pay for it. Why don’t you send me a copy and I’ll take it, pass or fail, then send you back the proper postage and my opinion. Besides, I’d love to know the reason the I have been “conditioned by society” to be repulsed by the actions of black gangsta hip-hop basketball players punching white, black & hispanic fans in Detroit!!
Posted by tom johnson on Nov 22, 2004 at 4:18 PM Carol, why do call President Bush “‘President’ Bush?” Are you one of those wackos who still can’t accept defeat? And why the hell are you so proud of being a black stewardess?
Posted by Ted on Nov 22, 2004 at 6:30 PM Yo! Get yer Dad to spring for the Test (I’d suggest your whole family take it) I’m not yer secretary - even if I wanted to, I don’t have time to deal with hundreds of ego-trippin’ “Mommy-clean-MY-navel” types. You’d “love to take” the Test - yeah, right. Scared someone else’s questions’ll take yu outta the closet? Fear not: we’re not into blaming, or guilt-tripping; HEALING’s the name of this game - however, you don’t wanna heal - up to you - stay conditioned. It always bemuses me - that (sports-bash reference) whenever racism/colorism issues are raised, queasyfolk RACE to drum up some Blackfolk who’ve allegedly done something ‘anti-social.’
When Arnold Schwartzenegger did his ‘girlie-thing, BlackFolk didn’t rush to compare the bugger with another white guy (like Timothy McVeigh, for instance)...anyhow, where ELSE you gonna find a Test for your inherited colorism?
Chile, let this be the last missive between us until you TAKE THE racismtest.com Love Ya’ anyway...Concerned Advice: Don’t turn into a Black male teenager and walk the U.S. streets - it’s like playing American-roulette with those racist/colorist cops!
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 22, 2004 at 6:34 PM Oh, Boy! It’s ALWAYS these scared whiteboys who like to ‘take’me on...O.K. here goes: Ted, what makes you so angry about my pride in having been a BlackAfrican (that’ll get him) Flight Attendant? I’m proud of being a BlackAfrican Woman, Registered Nurse, Journalist, Businesswoman, Publisher, Editor, Activist (with Rev. Sharpton & others), Author (The Little Black Book: Black Male Survival in America, Staying Alive & Well in an Institutionally Racist Society, Mother of a BlackAfrican male and female, Teacher, GrandMother of a BlackAfrican GrandSon, Farmer, Public Speaker, Actress, Model, Television and Radio Announcer, Property-Linked Insurance Rep.,President/Founder of The Institute For “Interracial” Harmony, Incorporated, (ask me why the quotation marks) Lawdy, do I HAVE to go on? - anyhow, I’m proud of being who I am...is that a crime (or enuff to make yer face red - apoplectic?) Take de www.racismtest.com Pal… our Ethnotherapist, Dr. Mari Saunders put together a rawther crafty Test - you only THINK you’re so clever you can fool around with it! Wrong. And I didn’t even think the LAST four years had brought us a President - and, be more careful - I said “President” Bush not “President Bush,” - that he wasn’t and ISN’T -he’s the Chief Thief - the truth will out - just like the truth about who REALLY did 9/11...heh heh heh...it wasn’t any Alquaeda neither!
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 22, 2004 at 6:59 PM Carol, you what would be an accomplishment to be proud of? Try learning the English language. Learn how to spell, construct a sentence, and punctuate Then quit humiliating yourself by suggesting that Bush was behind the 9/11 attacks. Then quit glorifying yourself on the internet to people who don’t give a shit about you.
Posted by Ted on Nov 22, 2004 at 8:45 PM See, Folks, this is the process - this ‘coming out of the closet’ - which is all a part of the necessary treatment to channel bigotted victims into healthy venting - (even with the scatology which appears to be an integral part of the disease of racism/colorism). Ted feels the need to attack the person and not deal with his own feelings of low self-esteem; of course, it is only people who have such low self-esteem who feel the urge to ‘put down’ someone else in such a manner....dangling prepositions and all! smiles...however, we shall not swerve from the healthy path of influencing folk to deal with their feelings of low worth - so that they don’t, eventually, require scapegoating folk who are different from them - including women - show me a racist/colorist, I’ll show you a misogynist - probably one who beats his wife...(like so many cops and firemen do)...Hey, we have a lot of work to do - “Your I.Q. is raised when you take our R.Q.” - Racism Quotient Test, by the way...heavy! Good bye, Ted.
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 22, 2004 at 9:34 PM Ted, how does it feel to get up in the morning, look in the mirror, and realize that you are a fu**in’ whore? At least you can take comfort in realizing that you are not alone in your sellout bitch mentality in America.
Ted, who gives a shit about you?
Posted by Steve Lee, RN on Nov 22, 2004 at 9:46 PM The president the USA chooses is always to an extent the reflection of a trend. And the judges that president will, in turn, choose are also reflective of that same trend. But I disagree with the first comment here inasmuch as the justices don’t change with the president necessarily, they usually survive him. Sometimes by decades. What Fortunato’s point really seems to be here is that the justices chosen by Bush according to the neocon litmus test are not really a very capable bunch when it comes to dealing with real problems, since their tendency will be to react ideologically to the said problems. I am not sure he is propounding any other litmus test. Any ideological “litmus test” is bad for the country as a whole. He is not the first to note that there are no longer any “great minds” in the Supreme Court, minds who can jump beyond ideology. That is a very rare gift in these times. And we cannot expect a parochial—and hypocritical—ideologue like George W. Bush to chose such judges. If he does, I, for one, would be agreeably surprised.
Posted by Talleyrand on Nov 23, 2004 at 3:33 AM Maybe one of these tests are free. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/10/981012074004.htm.
As for Bush appointing judges who reflect the trend...I didn’t think trend was what judiciary action was supposed to be about. The extreme nature of the upcoming appointments and knowing they WILL survive Bush past these next four years scare me more than the educational, social security and tort reform these crooks plan for us. In other words, THEY have theirs, screw the rest of us.
Posted by Robin on Nov 23, 2004 at 3:43 AM Surprise Ted… I don’t even know Carol and I think her accomplishments are worth giving a shit about. You may or may not realize this, but “President” Bush’s judicial appointments are not something that are just going to expire once he relinquishes his throne. Maybe you missed school the day they mentioned that Supreme Court justices are appointed for LIFE. Oh, and by the way, the “President” and all his cronies don’t give a shit about you either. They will gladly whittle away at your personal freedoms if it pushes their agenda forward.
Posted by PenalColony on Nov 23, 2004 at 7:41 AM Part of appointing judges is NOT their personal, political biases. It’s a pervasive, corrosive and evil disease in the heart of America that the secular civil law has to bow to religious and ideological considerations. Judges should be appointed on the basis of their senority, experience and expertise in their field, and a PROVEN record of IMPARTIAL decisions. 50% of a judiciary and a majority of the Supreme Court that decide legal issues on teh basis not of the sound workings of the law, but ideology and fervour is NOT a way to run a society.
That’s the only way in which a democratic society can function - if the bureacracy itself is secular and non-religious. Could you imagine if a Seik judge started interpreting American law under his own religious strictures? You’d go fucking NUTS! So grant the same respect to other peoples in your country, oh bastion of tolerance that is America.
Seems to me your “huddled masses” are huddling a little more these days.
Seems wierd don’t it? The Republicans pose as bastions of free speech and individuality, but their judges decide 65% for government and against the individual person…
Ten, twenty years and you guys will have some sort of anti-gay, anti-minority, centrist, totalitarian monolith as your Governing body.
Sound familiar, history buffs? Yep. It’s the prelude to every disastrous era in the history of man.
Posted by Jeremy on Nov 23, 2004 at 9:59 AM Come on Ted, let’s here some more of your childish blather. Tell us who the heck Ahnold is and what he is made of and what kind of boots he wears. Carol understands how to use the full complement of the English language and its literay forms and you are barely literate if you didn’t recognize it. Stupid is as stupid does from you to the “president.” As Michael Moore said: “Stupid White Men.” Oh but it hurts to have to be 2 out of the three.
Posted by Glen on Nov 23, 2004 at 11:05 AM I agree with Glen’s opinion of Carol’s literacy. I compliment Carol for fighting hard within the limits of this arena, as well as within her entire life. You go, girl. I’m a 52 yr old white southern man who grew up around segregated society, in a small town in rural Louisiana. How in the hell I grew up as tolerant as I am, and as compassionate, I don’t know. I wonder if it’s going to be like the aftermath of the 12 yrs of ReaganBush - when I thought that the USA citizenry would “see through” the Republicans eventually, and get them out - or will it be like
Jeremy says, and we are in for a decades-long period of what my Daddy called “the Republican hard line.” Time will tell. Let us help Carol, let us fight within our own lives, let us win. It is rather alarming to see the Thieves thriving, and they seem to, no matter who is the ‘President.’ What’s that old MAD magazine standby, they used in so many cartoons? ....WAKE UP AMERICA.
:)
Posted by Wyatt on Nov 23, 2004 at 1:46 PM Carol: “Fear not: we’re not into blaming, or guilt-tripping; HEALING’s the name of this game...Love ya anyway”
Nice...until Carol and her ‘supporters’ are confronted, we get:
Stupid White Men.” Oh but it hurts to have to be 2 out of the three.
Stupid is as stupid does
fu**in’ whore?
scared whiteboys etc.
This is *EXACTLY* the kind of wild, bizaare ‘discussions’ we get from liberals, especially in public forums, that have ushered “PRESIDENT BUSH” into the White House. As a Republican, I sincerely thank you for your honest, open, sincere and thoughtful dialogue. Please, I’m begging you, seriously, keep it up, FOREVER, so you can freak out MORE of your democratic members into the Republican party. You have absolutely no idea what a tremendous tool you are to the RNC.Anxiously awaiting condescending/profane/childish ranting to further prove my point.....
Posted by an amused reader on Nov 23, 2004 at 1:57 PM You all need to give serious consideration to upping your dosages. LOLOLOL!
Posted by Liberal AND Proud on Nov 23, 2004 at 2:17 PM Carol, I’ve got to hand it to you. You’ve found the right group of suckers for this particular scam. I’m sure plenty of the folks on this site will think your association with Al Sharpton is impressive, rather than laughable. That’s as good a litmus test as any to separate the thinking people from the brand of knuckledragger who would buy this “racism test” you’re pimping.
Keep your seatback in the upright position.
OB
Posted by Oily Bohunk on Nov 23, 2004 at 2:23 PM i find it interesting that this conversation has swayed so far from Mr. Fortunato’s point.
Racism is a fact of life here in our beloved country; has been and will be.
It was an inheirent part of the formation of this proud nation and thats not going to change.
oh, yes, we try to disguise it in the camoflague of being politically correct but that only makes it that much harder to spot. intolerence is what keeps so many going day after day; people have no desire to improve their own lives unless they can do so to the detriment of someone else.
RNC? DNC? they care nothing for the plight of minorities in this country. Oh sure, we get lip service come election time from the dems. And the repub’s look for any face of color to put up so they can say that they’re the “big tent party” (which i find hilarious). but after the elections are over all us minorities are left with is another batch of empty promises and the opportunity to look forward to more of the same come the next election. There is a reason that the youth of this country, especially minorities feel such apathy for the electoral process. Nothing ever changes except the faces of those that are supposed to represent the country.
Sorry, got a little carried away there. Back to Mr fortunato’s point. You should not place people with little experience into field s were they have none. Especially when you are placing them in positions where they can profoundly alter others lives. I don’t want a dermitologist performing brain surgery on me. Sure, he’s a doctor but he should stay in his field of expertise.
As for amused reader, the RNC has done a fantastic job of keeping non-issues in the forefront of discussions on politics and need to be commended. Dems aren’t flocking to the RNC but kudos to the GOP of keeping this past election focused with pin point accuracy on gay marriage and the “war on terror”. Unfortunately, the “war on terror” will eventually be replaced by a new hot topic in the coming years, much as the “war on drugs” was replaced by the “war on terror”. Speaking of which, what ever happened to the “war on drugs”, did they surrender? did we win? rain delay or what??
just my two cents.....
Posted by Endangered Species (inner-city youth-turned-young on Nov 23, 2004 at 3:08 PM Dear too-frightened-to-share-yer-name ‘amused reader,’
When you wake up and discover that whether you’re a republican OR a democrat - the same ‘new world order’ is gonna skin you - and us (but join de club) irrespective of color,culture, political loyalties, religion or ideologies - and totally ignore ‘civl’ liberties, I guess you’ll realize that Patriot Act II is no respecter of anything you might hold dear. Jeez! I’d love to be a fly on the wall for that! In the meanwhile, keep on playing name games “liberal: indeed! SHEESH! It’s obvious you REALLY need a REALITY CHECK, Babe!
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 23, 2004 at 3:16 PM Isn’t it funny how annonymity brings out the bigotry in wusses.
Posted by Lefty on Nov 23, 2004 at 3:17 PM Dear ‘Endangered Species,’ Honey, right ON! (Except for the “species’ part) - that’s what the racist/colorists would have us all believe, that Black males (mostly ‘cause they’re not threatened by us females, generally) are a separate species -not true - you’re endangered all right, because every time certain ignorant, maleducated-in-America, un-melaninized scaredy-cats spot a male WITH melanin, as Dr. Frances Cress Welsing (Psychiatrist) said, they’re hit with a bogus notion of genetic annihilation - but HOLD-ON there!ALL humans are African - so THE human ‘race’ AIN’T ‘dying’ out! It might be gettin’ browner - heh heh heh...but THE (there’s only ONE) Human Race is not ‘dying out.’ (We at The Institute For “Interracial” Harmony, Incorporated say “There’s NO ‘s’ on that word ‘race!’ Never mind all those professors, politicians, preachers and pundits talkin’ about - “Well, the RACES! Lordy!) If you’d like a copy of our SEMANTICS CHART - log on to littleblackbook@juno.com and ask nicely for a copy - it’ll be sent to you - with sugar on it.
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 23, 2004 at 3:29 PM Carol:
“In the meanwhile, keep on playing name games”
Thanks for proving my point. Please re-read the original posts, and feel free to excuse yourself and supporters from the double-standard you enjoy, ‘name’-calling being a fine example. I don’t really see any specific constructive solutions in any of your posts, beyond perhaps paying to take some test. I have no doubt that to a large extent racism is a pervasive element with all of us in our society and its destruction probably can’t be measured accurately. But rather than continue to berate everyone but yourself, and take everything so personally when someone questions you, how about (beyond taking the pay-for-view test) giving us some *real*, *practical*, *DOABLE*, real-world solutions.Endangered Species post was OUTSTANDING. I would say, however, that demos have their own pet set of ‘nonissues’, and the war on terror was, after all was said and done, as much a part of their campaign as it was the repubs. While dems may not be ‘flocking’ to the GOP, statistics prove that in our country, if dems simply voted as they were registered, we would NEVER have a republican president. So at some level, a LOT of dems are in fact not voting with their party.
Posted by still an amused readder on Nov 23, 2004 at 3:45 PM Yo, ‘Still Amused!’
“Berated?” You wanna know if I’VE been berated? I already HAD more than enuff! - ever since birth as a Black African female in a hostile-to-color country. If YOU wanna experience just a LITTLE of that - go turn Black. And for a “do-able real-world solution,” - you first; I’LL continue our anti-racism/colorism work thanks.
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 23, 2004 at 4:17 PM As a former prosecutor, and one who knows Justice fortunato, let me say that in my experience, black males are arrested by police, chaeged by prosecutors, and plead down to probation and less than jail convictions for ONE PURPOSE: control of future political and social actions by the black males, and to provide a basis for later jail terms for black males, where white males get diversion, no charge, or released by the police without an arrest record. This has been an unwritten, but almost universally carried out policy by the nations’ police departments and prosecutors for years. Any full examination of the arrest, prosecution and conviction records in the U.S. will demonstrate this. No one should fool themselves about the real goals of most police departments.
Posted by Rick Cass on Nov 23, 2004 at 5:27 PM Here are some novel ideas: 1) punish crime rather than skin tone, 2) hire competence and demonstrable qualification for a job rather than skin tone, 3) promote excellent workers, rather than skin tone, and 4) make friends, lovers, and spouses (if the damn f’n law permits you to marry, of course!) out of cool, interesting people who will take care of you, respect your privacy and keep your secrets, rather than concentrating on boring, passe, skin tone. Pinks or browns, what’s the diff? Gzus, what an anchor around our national neck racism has been, even the race-based “cures” for social ills. It’s been a centuries-long blind alley. Wouldn’t mind a centuries-long process of racial deconstruction, bring on the babies of “mixed” (repugnant term!) marriages. May our grandchildren’s generation outgrow our absurdities.
And with regard to the original point of the article, people who live in states with Senators on the Judiciary Committee should research all of the nominees for the Supreme Court. In fact, everyone should, regardless of residence, but folks in those particular states will have greater direct clout. If (haha, “if") the nominee is objectionable, send cards, letters, emails, and phone calls to register your discontent. Bombard the offices of those Senators with your views, and back up your objections with hard data rather than vituperation. That’s what I’ll be doing, and probably sooner than I anticipate.
Posted by Kuya on Nov 24, 2004 at 12:43 AM So Rich would have us believe that young black males are arrested just to keep ‘um from getting too uppity.
The rapes, killings, drugs, etc - not really their fault. Perhaps the only *real* justice in some minds is what OJ recieved?
It is a sad state of affairs when we attempt to convince people the are victims instead of responsible people. But there will always be a cadre of folks who want to perpetuate this myth - usually for their own benefits (and the the vast detriment of the underclass).
Sad.
Posted by soo on Nov 24, 2004 at 8:30 AM Interesting how an article on the upcoming rape of the judiciary by an incompetent “President” can suddenly turn into a promo for the Al Sharpton-Black Agenda, and a diatribe by a forelock tugging, goose stepper who is incapable of thinking for himself ( possible his perpetual amusement clouds his thinking.
Thanks to the few who actually posted thoughtful comments.
Do notice that Carol has yet to give anyone a reason to pay for her “racism” test.
Posted by omg on Nov 24, 2004 at 10:33 AM The rapes and crimes you speak of are all too real, however, many black “convicts” of serious crimes have been found by scientific evidence instead of unreliable “eyewitness”: evidence to be INNOCENT. Often after years in jail.The crimes I spoke of are the minor felonys and misdemeanors that, on a daily basis, are the foundation for markedly differential treatment of minorities (blacks and hispanics, not asians or european immigrants), from the very decision to stop and question, through the racist lens of fact viewing to the decision to charge and the sentence recommendations by prosecutors. Even those opposed to this sometimes get caught up in it because of the “dangerousness” element of judgment in the criminal justice “system” It’s not really a system, but that’s another discussion.
Just as black people are marginalized and seen as “dangerous”, those with progressice views are treated the same way, but with different tools. Al Sharpton is belittled as a race baiter and attention seeker. ML King was slandered as a “communist”, “militant”, “troublemaker”, “womaniser”, and his academic achievements were belittled, all in an attempt to diminish the message by belittling the man. If you listen to sharpton, and forget his skin color, he sounds like Bobby Kennedy. The same has been done to John Kerry, and this started in the mid seventies, and to every white politician who has had ideas different from the right mainstream, and it will continue so long as we remain afraid of change.
Finally, Race is a problem in this country on many levels, but the most pernicious is the institutionalized racism long fostered in the nations law enforcement bureaucracies at every level.
Posted by Rick Cass on Nov 24, 2004 at 11:08 AM Soo Sad:
CHECK OUT RICK CASS POSTS!) The O.J, verdict wuz from yer jury system. “Rapes, killings, drugs,etc., - not really their fault.” - Who “their” - WHICH case you talkin’ ‘bout? Stop treating us BlackFolk as thought we’re monolithic! Take the racismtest.com yet? You sound just like one of the folk who need it most.
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 24, 2004 at 11:23 AM Right ON, Rick! (Except that ‘race’ is NOT the “problem;” - ‘COLOR’ is the issue! MostFolk, however, are in DEEP denial - which, ‘amused,’ ‘oily,’ “liberal,” ‘steve,’ ‘costs,’ ‘tom,’ ‘ted’ and ‘sols,’ is WHY we constructed the Racism Quotient Test www.racismtest.com in the FIRST place! Yo! (This is OUR effort to resolve the thorny problem of colorism - what’s Y’ALL’s?)
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 24, 2004 at 11:28 AM OMG - interesting how a reference to Al Sharpton is construed as “promotion.” (how does one spell “nitpicking?) And - the $ for the racismtest.com helps to pay for stationery and other office supplies, phone bills, etc., of course, OVER TWENTY YEARS of everyone’s efforts-not-paid-for - all voluntary - inconsequential, yeah? (AND, it sounds like - unappreciated! Nevermind - WE’ll still carry on - ‘cause WE’re - COMMITTED TO JUSTICE & EQUITY!)
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 24, 2004 at 11:35 AM Carol: Interesting how you are promoting the racism test and the agenda you espouse yet bristle when someone uses the word “promote”
If I was promoting a test for secular humanism or homosexuality and asking for people to pay to take the test, I wouldn’t be so touchy. Don’t hide, stand up and be proud, admit what you’re doing, nothing to be ashamed of.
Posted by omg on Nov 24, 2004 at 11:51 AM Carol - you MUST be a Bushie. He has “unmarginalized” blacks (e.g., Condi Rice, Colen Powell, etc) and Hispanics (now the biggest minority - time for blacks to stop whining now?).
Life is what you make of it. Life is not always fair. Teach self responsibility (ala GW Carver and very possibly Bill Cosby) and you put the bozos (ie, Jackson, Farrakhan, etc) out of business. They are the ones preying on the underclass - and for profit no less. Despicable!
Posted by iBet on Nov 24, 2004 at 11:58 AM iBet! And bush & the warddawg gang AREN’T ‘preying on’ human beings here and all over the world? And if you really believe that “minorities” - as you call THE MAJORITY (people-of-color) of the world - have been “unmaginalized” - go turn Black and then come tell us about equity & justice. (Have you taken the racismtest.com yet?
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 24, 2004 at 12:09 PM Interesting that folk who expect to have credibility raise issues and when they’re answered just go on to other topics instead of ‘following through.’
$ for stationery and other things
‘promoting’ when mentioning Sharpton
OVER TWENTY YEARS of volunteer anti-racism/colorism activismpicky picky picky
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 24, 2004 at 12:16 PM Carol: Interesting how you never give a straight answer but always twist every comment to your viewpoint.
And of course we can’t forget the 20 yrs of no payment for your efforts.....hey they are your efforts.....no one is holding a gun to your head....how much was Dr. King paid for his efforts? Or Ghandi? Either you’re in it because you believe in it, or for the money, can’t have it both ways.
Yes it would be nice to ask for donations.....but to come to this forum and blatantly shill for it and make payment mandatory....that’s something else entirely.
Posted by omg on Nov 24, 2004 at 12:32 PM Carol - too late, i am black already. Not the ghetto nigga type, the one that some call uncle Tom or Oreo (both are very offensive!). Because i believe that personal responsibility and hard work pay off. Because i studied hard in school (despite being denigrated for it by my “peers"). And worst of all, because i am successful.
Carol, why would you make such dumb assumption as to my color? I can see why you may have had trouble with that “test” you are attempting to hawk!
Posted by iBet on Nov 24, 2004 at 12:45 PM Anybody get any popup ads? All I mean is that Carol telling us to take this test is not “shilling.” If I was struck meaningfully at the right time in my life with this mention of this site and this test, I would take it. What’s 30 bucks? I spent $65 last night at Bennigans. They charge too much for drinks! But the food is good. I just ordered a Time Life set of CDs for about $180. Don’t use your computer and tell me the 30 bucks for the damn test is what keeps you from taking it...THAT , my friends, is “shilling.”
:) Carol, you GO girl!
Posted by Wyatt on Nov 24, 2004 at 3:49 PM Carol, I’m so sorry you have to live in America. My heart breaks for you. If it’s so bad then feel free to move to whatever third-world African shithole your ancestors came from, free from the blue-eyed devils keeping you down in America. I know you’d be much better off living in a grass hut and blowing darts at gazzelles for dinner. That all-black utopia named Liberia might be a good spot.
Posted by Randy on Nov 24, 2004 at 5:22 PM HEY! Everybody need to take my test. It awnly be twenny dolla so take de damn test! Don’t make me ax again. All this advertizin ain’t ez and my posts aint brought in as much as I need. You racist/colorist motherfuckers needs to take dat dam test fo’ my Excalade git ree-possessed!
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 24, 2004 at 5:28 PM At least that last post was humorous…
BUT, I think I’ll hang on to the $20 for now and invest it in the postage I’ll need when I try to influence the confirmation process for an SC nominee (assuming I’m not perfectly happy with that nominee, which is unlikely at best).
(...I guess I know I aint racist, dont have to spend $20 to find out...)
Posted by Kuya on Nov 24, 2004 at 7:01 PM Yo OMG!
I am really touched that you have compared me to Dr. King and Ghandi! Whew! And as far as “shilling” goes - I do believe thatanother Poster has put both of his dear feet in not only yore mouth, but also that of scatological Randy and even others who appear to be so disturbed by my concerns about the pathological responses to culture and color which are ravaging this ‘democratic’ country. (How’d you like bush yackin’ about OTHER countries’ elections? What GALL! HYPOCRISY REIGNS, yeah!)
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 24, 2004 at 9:19 PM “Hey ‘Carol Taylor’ - [the bogus one]
Tell me something! What’s a ‘Excalade?’ And for you to hide behind my name I suppose is some kinda compliment...have YOU taken the racismtest.com yet? And - funny - I don’t recall mentioning a price - (even if you DID get it wrong!) - you musta visited the Site a’ready! Tch Tch - so scared - afraid of using the name Yo Momma gave ya’! And what was YOUR score? Our Psychologist is ready, willing and able to help you with alla that low self-esteem, Pal!
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 24, 2004 at 9:27 PM I’ve been duped, tricked, taken in! Ah, bitter deception, thy name is “bogus Carol Taylor”! Damn me for a fool, who knew that name-theft was an authentic risk?? My trusting heart is dashed on the rocks of online duplicity. Sorry, “actual CT”, what can one say? Thought you were joking us with lampooned accenting, ah do it awl the tahm wit a slooooow Alabama draawwwl, y’all.
Posted by Kuya on Nov 25, 2004 at 2:20 AM The federal courts have never, in my experience, ever held up any of my Bill of Rights. Over the years I have had corporations, individuals, cops, district attorney’s, and judges commit crimes against me, some felonies. None of these people have ever been convicted of the crimes they committed, and the lawsuits I started against the corporation that committed discrimination crimes have been dropped for BS reasons (had one in state court and when the state dropped the case fined a new one in federal court, neither case ever went forward, my rights were never upheld.
This is often called “racial profiling”, and to make matters worse, all of the entities listeed above have profiled me for being a “Mexican”. But I am not a “Mexican”, if that should make any difference (Torre is an Italian name, and I was born in California, all I can speak/read is english).
Every lawyer I hired to defend me or take my case has double crossed me. They promise me the world, take my money (sometimes thousands), and turn on me in court proceedings.
The worst of these was in Oregon. I used to be an electronic R&D;engineer and when I got sick of the corporate BS I moved to Oregon to start my own business, I could afford to do so with the economy there. A neo-nazi cop soon set his sights on me and had some friends of himstart harassing me and vandalising my work. This went so far as assaulting me with mace. I was arrested for crimes I did not commit without a warrant and spent several day’s in maximum security in prison before I was released. At trial the attorney I hired didn’t produce evidence or a witness that was there that would have proven I did not commit the crimes. The DA fabricated a law and had “witnesses” commit perjury to fabricate the crime. And the worst part was after the trial the “judge”, who screamed and yelled at me at trial and told the jury to “retire to the jury room and deliberate a guilty verdict”, edited the tape recorded record of the trial to remove his screaming and yelling and change his last instruction. I have had two forensics experts testify in a hearing that the record was edited. The court eventually removed the record so there is none of the trial. And no state appeal or supreme court, and no federal court, has reversed the conviction or given me a new trial. This violated all my rights to be free from arrest without a warrant, the right to being defended by an attorney at trial, and my right of due process. NO COURT CARES!
They say that in the US anyone can do whatever they set their mind to, but I have lost all my assets ($300,000 worth), and have had to struggle to survive since. The engineering work I did before has almost all been outsorced oversees (thanks to the bush thing), and the few jobs that remain are hard to get, companies would rather hire someone fresh rather than someone who didn’t do this work for 12 years.
The US SUCKS, I am looking to move to Italy to live with my relatives and start over.
Posted by Robert Torre on Nov 25, 2004 at 3:39 AM Yo, Robert Torre! Feel your angst - understand your need to escape the ‘color’-profiling - believe me. The one observation I made as I read your evocative message was, if you had been a darker male, you might not even be alive today; I think that if the true number of slaughters of BlackAfrican males in the U.S. today were known, there might be Watts-types of rebellions in the streets everywhere. Not that you should take heart from “misery loves company’ sorta thing - but maybe you should think about staying here, battling with - the too-few of - “us,” and above all, remember, as Sydney Smith said, “It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can.” Bless you and your Family.
Your Sister-in-THE-Struggle, Carol
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 25, 2004 at 10:25 AM Robert Torre: you’re pathetic. And I don’t believe one word of your little sob story. What were you charged with and convicted of? Do you really expect anybody to believe the court destroyed the records of the trial? Name some of the other crimes you claim “corporations, individuals, cops, district attorney’s, and judges” have committed against you. What were the “BS reasons” for which they were dismissed?
It’s not the government’s fault you can’t make a living, but keep on blaming everybody but yourself. And please follow up on your plans to leave the country. We’ll be fine with one fewer deadbeat whiner.
Posted by Ralph on Nov 26, 2004 at 3:09 PM Yo, Whiteman-Hardhat-Raplph! If you’re basing yer disbelief on not being able to understand that courtworkers are human - and as my Son says “Mum, humans’ll do ANYthing! - and they WILL and DO ‘lose’ court papers - you’re in a baaaaad way, Bosie! And have you never heard of “...but fopr the Grace of God - there I go!?” And don’t YOU ‘leave the country;’ we still have to re educate cha’ and give ya’ some compassion. Have you taken the racismtest.com yet? We can help you.
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 26, 2004 at 3:27 PM Carol, learn how to write intelligibly. And for Christ’s sake, QUIT PLUGGING THAT GODDAMN TEST! I’m basing my disbelief on the fact that Torre claims all the records of his case have been destroyed. It doesn’t take a lawyer to see through that lie. I don’t care what your son says, a judge can’t just make the records of a case disappear.
Posted by Ralph on Nov 26, 2004 at 4:44 PM Great Offer!!
To every progressive that has been contemplating leaving the country after the election for greener pastures but can’t afford to do so, there is help available. We have an unexpected ally in a Mr. Stephen Moore of National Review and the Club for Growth, who has suggested establishing an “Export a Liberal” fund. I think such a generous offer merits looking into at the very least. Here is a link to an outline of his proposal :
http://www.nationalreview.com/moore/moore200411170839.asp
And here is a little background on our new patron:
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/stephen.php
Join me in congratulating Mr. Moore on a fine idea and prod him to take the initiative further. Surely this is not just a hollow promise? He will recieve e-mails sent to :
author@nationalreview.com
Posted by notweny on Nov 26, 2004 at 8:38 PM Paranoid by any stretch of imagination, Mr. Ill-fortunato, Jr., puts several carts before a single horse. The issue (judicial nominations) is in peril by right wing idealogy. This is something of course, Mr. Fortunato doesn’t believe can be so if one of his future boys or perhaps future girl, gets elected. And if it is so, what will more conservative types do? Rant? Tell Americans the nation is in peril? Write quantum leap editorials? Nope...they’ll just deal with it...I take great consolation that the more people like Mr. Fortunato get to write, and the more folks like Michael Moore get to speak, the further into the election abyss liberalism will fall. It’s half dead already. The final touches are being tended to as we read. Merry Christmas, and I hope it offends you!
Posted by MKJ on Nov 27, 2004 at 2:24 PM Allow me to define where I am coming from before I comment on this article Judicial Chainsaw Massacre by Stephen J. Fortunato Jr. I am a conservative independent who belives in most of the libertarian philosophy.
One point that Mr. Fortunato forgot to mention in this article that President Bush has said he would only appoint judges who will interpert the law as it is written. So why would this scare anyone?
To his credit Mr. Fortunato did quote the U.S. Constitution, but let’s also take a look at the Tenth Amendment: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
It is when the Supreme Court over steps it’s authority and over rules decisions lawfully made at the state level, we are straying away from our own Constitution. President Bush is only trying to get the courts to operate within the limits of the Constitution.
But don’t mislead by what you may think President Bush is trying to do with the Constitution. Most recent example is that nutty politically motivated game by the Republican party to pass a Constitutional ammendment to define marriage between a man and a woman.
Anyone who is not blinded by a political idealogy on the left or right will see it for what it is and will not let it pass. It is a issue that needs to be decided at the state level, not the national level as per the Tenth Amendment. And for those concerned about the differances in the laws fom state to state, they ought to take the time to read and understand the full faith and credit clause in Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution.
Bottom line: If a state supreme court makes a ruling on a law the people don’t like, then the people needs to change the state law instead of trying to bypass the system in place by asking the national supreme court to overstep it’s authority.
Posted by David J. Reid on Nov 27, 2004 at 10:47 PM David Reid: You forgot one thing in your homily about “president” bush - he LIES - AND he’s racist/colorist. (And if you say, but he’s appointed Concupiscent Rice and Powerless Colon!” Remember Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings!)...hmmmm
Posted by Carol Taylor on Nov 28, 2004 at 11:04 AM This exchange must have turned ugly because the second page is disabled.
Posted by Neil on Nov 29, 2004 at 11:13 AM I just want to say that Carol is a courageous woman, she didnt come here to “solicit” money from you omg, she challenged you to take a hard look at your own biases, what are you afraid of? She might prove to be right about you and most of the other posters here. I am a white woman, live in Oklahoma, you know the good ole boy country where racism and bigotry thrive today. I am a democrat and a liberal who happens to believe that like the constitution says all men are created equal. Guess some people still just have a problem with that. As far as the mention of the debacle at the sporting event, from what I saw of it on tv the fans acted as despicably as anyone else there, one of them even threw a chair and injured someone. So are they better than Artest or Wallace who reacted in the heat of the moment?And one other point worth making, if any of you conservatives out there honestly believe bush, rove, cheney, rice or any other bush croney has your best interests at heart, well I cant wait to see what the next four years brings you! Merry Christmas.
Teresa
Posted by teresa on Nov 30, 2004 at 7:10 AM This room has reached a new level of absurdity. Just the kind of thing I like to read (from the safe distance of italy) while I kill time until lunch. Aside from Carol’s amusing and unique sales pitch is how it riles up white males more than any other issue on this site, how people bring up irrelevant issues like Detroit fights or OJ as counters, exposing their deep-seeded antagonism towards the Other. Keep seeing the world in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’, folks; there’s just no substitute for the entertainment value of blunt conflict. Or else I may need to buy a TV.
Posted by rocco on Dec 10, 2004 at 4:45 AM Page 1 of 1 pages -
register a new account »Posting Security
Also by Stephen J. Fortunato Jr.
- Supreme Court OKs Racial Profiling
- Supreme Court Inc.
The Roberts Court unravels a generation of progress - And Now The Justice Department Eight
- Judging Harriet Miers
Democrats must rise up and challenge conservative claptrap about "activist judges" - Bad on the Basics
John Roberts' affability masks a callous indifference to some of our most fundamental rights - Origin of the Specious
Popular Discussions
- The 9/11 Faith Movement
Many Americans believe 9/11 was a conspiracy by the U.S. government
1968 posts since Jul 11 06 - What’s the 411 on 9/11?
891 posts since Dec 21 05 - Democrats: It’s the War
659 posts since Nov 1 05 - Was the Presidential Election Stolen?
459 posts since Jun 19 06 - A Fundamental History Lesson
The rise of National Socialism proved politics and religion don't mix
426 posts since Oct 10 05
© 2004 In These Times | Reprint Policy | Privacy Policy | Powered by Expression Engine | RSS Feeds
