A black rainbow

Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Bill Cosby, and Mayor Ray Nagin marched across the Crescent City Connection Bridge Saturday to protest the upcoming elections in New Orleans.

I have a few observations:

One of the first things I noticed is that the Rainbow Push Organization represents one color; black. Jesse assumes that everyone displaced from New Orleans is black at least those are the only ones he cares to represent.

He further assumes that these people's rights are being violated, because satellite-polling centers are not placed in states with evacuees.

A further assumption or implication is that all of this is a conspiracy perpetrated on blacks.

OK, let's say this is a debate and those are his claims.

The satellite voting idea was discussed, but not implemented for several reasons, none of which were to keep black people from voting, unless Jesse is right. I suppose New Orleans with its black administration and the state government under democratic control could pull such a thing off.

My understanding of the satellite voting option is that it would be too much work for too few votes. People can vote absentee easily and there is no need to put voting centers in all 50 states.

How can the city of New Orleans afford to dispatch election workers nationally? Where would they be located? No matter what, people would have to travel possibly hundreds of miles making the absentee option more pragmatic.

Let's face it. If I lived 300 miles away from Dallas and that was the only place to vote in Texas, I would mail in my vote.

Jesse says that satellite voting was done for the Iraq election, so the Iraqi citizens have more rights than US citizens. I don't see him heading to Iraq to enjoy the expanded freedoms that country offers over America.

This all assumes there are substantial numbers of voters displaced who want to vote, but cannot for some reason. The Times Picyune on 3/25/06 discussed how most voters are still in the metro area:

A substantial majority of New Orleans' registered voters still reside within the city or its suburbs, and their racial makeup closely mirrors that of all registered voters before the storm, according to new data commissioned by the secretary of state. -
Continue reading TP article

One of the news videos showed a lady who said something to the effect, "I marched all the way from Arizona." She went on to talk about standing up for her rights. My thought was that if she could make it all the way from Arizona to protest, she could have just made the trip to vote. See the video

Why can't you just mail in the ballot? I have heard some who hold to the conspiracy theory that there is no guarantee the vote would be counted. How do we know our vote will be counted in the first place? It comes down to policies and procedures that are already established and faith that those hired or elected to do the job will do it.

How do I know the guy at McDonalds did not spit in my food?
How do I know the pharmacist did not give me expired pills?
How do I know if the stuff I pump into my car's gas tank is real gasoline and not water?

To live in society, we have to trust people.

Jesse and his followers do not trust anyone unless things unfold the way “they” want them. They see a racist behind every bush and not just someone with an opinion, but someone motivated to make their life miserable.

Who has the energy? I am too busy working and taking care of my own stuff. Where do these people find the time to march, bitch, and complain so much?

A few weekends ago there were a lot of white people protesting the war in our town. My thought was they were a bunch of middle-aged hippies trying to relive the glory days of the 60's. They love to protest, march, and have sit ins.

I had a similar thought watching Jesse, Al, Bill, and Ray waling across the bridge with about one- thousand people following them. They are going back to the civil rights well of the old days. They see every issue a marchable offense. As if a bunch of people tying up traffic speaks to their poor logic. As if whipping up emotions with a bullhorn really does anything at all.

Speaking for myself, I have been called a racist so much through Jesse’s worldview, that I have become desensitized to the claim. No matter what the issue, his accusation is always the same. He is the little boy who cried wolf. He has become a caricature. Sadly, when racism does happen, he will have no credibility with people outside his organization to address it.

If the election is flawed it is flawed for everyone no matter what skin color you have and no matter what special interest group you belong to. Until we look at each other - black, white, gay, straight, male, female, and "insert your group here" and only see fellow Americans, we will continue to waste time and energy blaming, accusing, marching, and scheming.

Mr. Jackson, if you want me to consider your issues, why not present your arguments logically without accusation. Do not just complain about what you do not like and demand your way. Instead of marching and only being open to your solution why not try to fix the problem yourself. Take your influence and mobilize people to work.

I wonder how much money has been spent by the Black Rainbow to organize marches, traveling, and all of the related expenses. I wonder how far that money could go to help the people he claims to represent.

Mother Theresa just helped people, and there are many like her who see a need and do what they can to meet it, giving no thought to news cameras.

The next time you are tempted to march for a cause, why not roll up your sleeves and work for that cause.

We have enough whiners in the world, but we could use a few more workers.

Until the next time
John Strain

Living large in Indy

I have talked to John several times up at Indianapolis. He is having the expected blast.

Everything from flying alone for the first time to experiencing all of the hype, pageantry, and excitement of a Final Four; he is taking it all in.

John, his roommate Roy, and his dad are all together. On Friday, they went to the RCA Dome and watched each of the four teams go through their 50 minute practice.

I talked to John on the cell phone and it sounded like he was at a game. John told me the place was packed for this "free to the public" event.

When they were buying souvenirs, they ran into a newspaper reporter from the Times Picayune they knew - Ron Thibodeaux. Ron mentioned them in a story published in today's paper.

LSU juniors Roy Burns III and John Strain of Covington spent some quality time Friday afternoon shopping for Final Four T-shirts at the Finish Line sports apparel shop in the Circle Centre mall. Burns and Strain have been buddies since they began playing youth league basketball together as 7-year-olds. Now they're celebrating Strain's 21st birthday, along with Burns' father, the best way they could hope for: seeing LSU in the Final Four.

John and Roy at Navarre Beach, Florida 1994, age 9

John and Roy in Allen Field House, Univ. of Kansas for basketball camp 2002, age 17

John and Roy moving in at LSU 2004, age 19

The fun is only beginning. Today are the two semifinal games. I can't imagine the excitement they will feel waiting until Monday's final if LSU beats UCLA. Even if LSU loses, they will be there to see who becomes the National Champion.

Yes sir, they are living large in Indy.

Oh and your shoestring is untied. Gotcha! April Fools! Hahaha.

Until the next time
John Strain

Interesting

This quiz was nabbed from Cindra's page.

Which Art Movement Are You? (pictures)

You're Realism! Needless to say, realism was an art movement which aimed to portray the world as realistically as possible. This didn't apply only to the technical look of the paintings, but also for the contens and the light in which the world was portrayed. Unlike romantic painters, realists wanted to capture the world on sheet exactly as it was without romantisizing or sexing up what they saw in any way. Most of them also had a cause; they wanted to draw the public's attention to politics and social issues, such as poverty, class differences and the rough life of the unprivlidged. So, in a way, some realists were kind of photojournalists of their era. Famous Realists: Camille Coot, Jean-Francois Millet Picture: The Shephedress by Jean-Francois Millet - Realists loved their peasants. After years of mythical themes and portraits of the rich and famous artists were drawn to the average people, who were both a fresh, unworn source of inspiration as well as a timely political subject - they wanted people to know the reality of the harsh countryside. The Shepadress represents realism perfectly; its unprentious, rough, truthful, and it even makes a stand.
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Manipulation

I hate to be lied to and to be manipulated, but my cable company has been running a con on me which does both.

First of all I have DirecTV and cable. I got DirecTV for the NFL Sunday Ticket so I could follow my beloved Kansas City Chiefs. At the time, I still needed cable for the local channels.

Eventually, DirecTV began to provide our local channels, but since the cable bill is only $10 a month, I have just kept it for backup. There are other advantages to having both, but I won't go into all of that here.

The Con:

I receive a friendly phone call from the cable company – always timed to be an inopportune moment:

THEM: Mr. Strain, this is your friendly cable company and we want to make sure you are getting all of the channels you are supposed to get and that your cable service is working correctly.

(Gee, it’s nice to know they care so much.)

Would you tune to channel 50; the History Channel and tell me if you are receiving it clearly?"

(I did this the first time they called)

ME: OK just a second. (I then turned on the TV, made sure I was on the cable and tuned to channel 50. It was on.)

Picking up the phone I respond, "Yes, I am getting channel 50."

THEM: Oh Mr. Strain, you are not supposed to be getting channel 50, because you only have the basic package which is only good through channel 23.

Now, as a special one time offer we could upgrade your service to "more than you want to pay because you already have DirecTV."

ME: No thanks, I will just stick to the basic service. (I then explain I only have cable for a backup and DirecTV is my main provider.)

THEM: Well, Mr. Strain, we will have to cut off those extra channels.

ME: OK.

THEM: Blah, blah, blah, waste more of my time, BS some more. Is there anything else we can do? Thank you for using "blank" and here is the toll free number, email address, oh yeah we are recording this so we can use it in court against you - I mean for training purposes. Blah, blah, blah.

ME: Good-bye.

I then watched channel 50 waiting for the guy back at the cable company to throw the switch, but it blazed on with documentary after documentary about ants, Mayas, and the Golden Gate Bridge construction - all fascinating stuff; especially since it was free. Muahahahahaha.

It never got cut off.

6 months later, I get a similar call. Same result. Last night, I get the call again. This time I told them I was chewing my salad and could they call back in an hour and a half.

They called back in two hours and I let the phone ring.

The truth is, they can't filter out the upper channels. They try scare tactics to get me to by more of what I already have.

There is some regulatory law that allows satellite customers cheap cable. I suppose it is to provide the local stuff. There way around it is lying to me.

F them.

Until the next time
John Strain

The fortunes of fathers and sons

Tuesday morning started normal enough. I got up, ran, and got ready for work. Just before I hopped into the shower, I heard Barbara say, "Oh no, we have a flat tire."

We joined the ranks of people victimized by construction workers. Throughout the New Orleans metro area, people are getting flats left and right due to all of the roofing and other construction that is going on. The nail in our tire is proof.

Lucky for me I wasn't already cleaned up. I quickly changed the tire, but when I lowered the jack, the spare was nearly flat. No problem again, I got out my good bicycle pump and started pumping. After about 150 plunges, the tire had 35 psi and we were good to go.

I have had worse days, but it is more striking when you compare my little set back with my son's good fortune.

John called me up from LSU to tell me his roommate was going to the Final Four with his dad and they had a spare ticket. In no time, I was booking a flight from New Orleans to Indianapolis and soon his ticket to NCAA heaven was punched.

It should be quite a time. He gets to see both semi final games and the championship game. Hopefully, LSU will be playing Monday night for all the marbles.

I'm not even jealous. Well maybe just a bit, but it is funny, I am deriving a lot of satisfaction just knowing he gets to go. I am glad he will get to have the experience. It will be something he remembers his whole life.

Besides, I have been to a Final Four myself. 1982, North Carolina and Georgetown. Michael Jordan, James Worthy, and Patrick Ewing. It was some game.

Until the next time
John Strain