OUR INAUGURATION PHOTO LIBRARY AND LOCAL INAUGURAL BALL VIDEO ARE NOW ONLINE!
Printer-friendly versionView our full library of photos from local presidential inauguration events in East County and East San Diego at eastcountymagazine.org/?q=414_inauguration_photo_library. Watch our video of the inaugural community ball in City Heights at www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U9e-XN7bXs. Read our inauguration stories at eastcountymagazine.org/?q=403_inauguration, eastcountymagazine.org/?q=404_waymon, and eastcountymagazine.org/?q=405_inauguration_elected. Printer-friendly version
INAUGURATION PHOTO LIBRARY
Printer-friendly version Marine Sgt. Shaka Greene and his son, Shaka, Jr. Artist. (Leon Thompson) Hosts of MoveOn party in La Mesa.. Beat Poet. Nancy Goettler of La Mesa at Move-On party. Saxophonist jazzes up party at MoveOn inauguration event in La Mesa. Beat poet. City Heights ball. Obama campaign volunteers. Dancing in celebration. (Leon Thompson) Printer-friendly version
INAUGURATION POEM
Printer-friendly versionAt the Community Inaugural Ball hosted by City Heights Library Performing Arts Annex, Poet Sylvia Cameron Telafaro read a poem she composed especially for the occasion. Below is the text, along with her photo. View our full library of photos from local presidential inauguration events in East County and East San Diego at eastcountymagazine.org/?q=414_inauguration_photo_library. Watch our video of the inaugural community ball in City Heights at www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U9e-XN7bXs. Read our inauguration stories at eastcountymagazine.org/?q=403_inauguration, eastcountymagazine.org/?q=404_waymon, and eastcountymagazine.org/?q=405_inauguration_elected. Printer-friendly version
CONGRESSMAN HUNTER OPPOSES SENDING GUANTANAMO PRISONERS TO CAMP PENDLETON
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery January 21, 2009 (Washington D.C.) — On his first day in office, President Barack Obama ordered that the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay be closed down within a year. Closure of the now-infamous detention facility could result in some of the 245 prisoners held there being transferred to Camp Pendleton, according to a Pentagon study. Newly elected Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-Alpine) has announced opposition to hosting terror suspects at Pendleton. The Marine Corps Base in Oceanside is not in his district. However Hunter has been named to the House Armed Services Committee formerly chaired by his father. Prior to Obama taking office, Hunter sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates stating that “Any attempt to accommodate detainees at Camp Pendleton would create an unnecessary distraction for the Marine Corps and interfere with its primary mission, which is to combat terrorism” He added, “Redirecting these detainees to Camp Pendleton would also present a serious threat to surrounding military installations and resources, as well as the community’s civilian population. San Diego is not the place to transfer these terror suspects and experiment with new detention procedures.” Hunter, a Marine combat veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, has called Obama’s decision to close Guantanamo “a serious mistake,” adding, “Suspected terrorists should continue being held at Guantanamo Bay, where they can be safely contained.” The U.S. prison at Guantanamo has become an international symbol of oppression and controversy following repeated allegations of prisoner abuse and torture. United Nations human rights investigators have called for the camp’s closure after announcing they found evidence that torture had occurred. In a report in May 2005, the human rights group Amnesty International called the camp "the gulag of our times" and also called for it to be shut down. Torture allegations, if true, would be a violation of international law and arguably the Geneva Convention, which requires humane treatment of prisoners. An FBI memo, reported in the New York Times, described incidents of abuse involving strangulation, beatings and the placing of lit cigarettes into detainees’ ears. A sergeant also complained of seeing an inmate’s head slammed against a cell door. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), allegations of torture or abuse included “the force-feeding of hunger strikers through nasal tubes and the simultaneous use of interrogation techniques such as prolonged solitary confinement and exposure to extreme temperatures, noise and light.” Three inmates have committed suicide and others had mental breakdowns, the BBC reported. A CIA video reportedly contained footage of “horrific injuries” inflicted by torture–including brutalized genitals, according to the UK independent. The British paper also reported that the CIA destroyed tapes allegedly containing evidence of other torture incidents. Many detainees have also claimed they were denied access to a lawyer. The Bush administration argued that the U.S. is entitled to hold prisoners indefinitely without charges as “enemy combatants” who do not have the rights afford to either prisoners or war or to U.S. citizens accused of crimes. President Bush rescinded habeus corpus, the right of detainees to seek relief in court from unlawful detainment. More than 750 prisoners have been detained since the 911 attacks in 2001; only 10 have been brought to trial. Some have been released, but 245 are still incarcerated. Those included suspected 9-11 hijackers as well as alleged enemy combatants in Afghanistan,”a nation where bounties were paid, providing incentive for potential false claims by people seeking money or revenge against another person. “We need to bring a close to this sad chapter in American history,” Obama stated in May 2007. “We can close down Guantanamo and we can restore habeas corpus and we can lead with our ideas and our values.” Obama’s executive order also halts the military tribunal of an inmate held at Guantanamo until the military commission process is reviewed. The process has been criticized because the military serves as jailer, judge and jury. A judge has suspected the case for 120 days. Closure of the Guantanamo prison is expected to take up to a year. Some of the remaining prisoners could be returned to their home countries or granted asylum in other nations if their home countries refuse to take them. Prisoners not released could also be transferred to military prisons or possibly private prisons in the mainland U.S., where they could ultimately face charges in U.S. courts. During a debate with John McCain last year, Obama praised a recent Supreme Court decision allowing detainees to challenge their imprisonments in U.S. Courts (a direct repudiation by the Court of the Bush policey to hold terror suspects without the protection of U.S. law. Even when the Nazis’ atrocities were revealed after World War II, Obama observed, “We still gave them a day in court–at the Nuremburg trials. That taught the entire world who we are.” In his inaugural address, President Obama again emphasized the need to respect justice as well as rights of individuals, rejecting as “false the choice between our safety and our ideals.” Printer-friendly version
LAKESIDE POLICE SEEK MAN IN SILVER CAR WHO TRIED TO LURE 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL INTO VEHICLE
Printer-friendly version Mitsubishi Eclipse with spoiler, vehicle possibly driven by suspect. January 15, 2009 (Lakeside) — Lakeside deputies responded to a radio call of a possible kidnapping at 10133 Maine Avenue in Lakeside shortly before 7 a.m. Upon arrival, deputies contacted the victim, a 15-year-old ninth grade female who attends El Capitan High School. The victim reported an unknown male had followed her as she walked to school from the intersection of Channel Road and Industry Way (near Highway 67). The male suspect made several attempts to lure the female into his vehicle by offering her a ride, and eventually stopped his vehicle on Mapleview Street just west of Highway 67. As the victim attempted to walk past the vehicle, the suspect got out of his vehicle and walked toward the victim. The suspect placed his hand on the victim’s shoulder and she fled the scene to the 7-11 store at 10133 Main Avenue where she called the Sheriff’s Department. The victim stated the suspect left the area by turning southbound onto Highway 67. The suspect is described as a Hispanic adult male in his forties, approximately 5′ 8″ tall with a muscular build, short black and grey hair with a dark complexion wearing a dark blue jacket and blue jeans with a blue ball cap. The suspect vehicle was described as a late model silver two door vehicle, possibly an Eclipse, with a rear spoiler. At this point in the investigation, there has been no actual or attempted kidnapping. The Sheriff’s Department is currently investigating this incident as a 647.6 (a)(1) PC, annoying or harassing a child. Printer-friendly version
The Rolling Reviewer: Show Me the Money! Wait, Bring It Back!
Printer-friendly versionFebruary 1, 2009 (San Diego) — The tide of economic prosperity seems to be in the ebb-phase of the cycle as insecurity and doubt flows swiftly in, and millions of job-seekers are finding themselves in strange and unsettling waters. For thousands of disabled individuals eager to enter the workforce — whether for the first time or after a leave of absence — the seas can be especially treacherous. Concerns over qualifications, accommodations, and benefits, are daunting for us all, and must be tackled before anyone can confidently dive in. Fortunately, the information and peace of mind many of us need is right here, right now. Numerous government-funded programs and educational tools are in place to give us the support we need to lead successfully self-sufficient lives, while safe-guarding the programs and tools we need to survive. Many of us toasted 2009 into being with a slightly crooked smile and a tentative cheer of hope, while we continued to stagger beneath the weight of the year past still doggedly clinging to our backs — faint memories of stimulus checks spent haunting our nights, and incessant reminders of blooming discontent suffocating our days. Unemployment, in its many forms, has taken up residence in millions of homes nation-wide. Countless well-experienced workers have been thrown back into the mix with a new, somewhat greener, generation of folk just as hungry and driven to do the job. Competition is high; the scent of blood is in the air. It is tempting to believe that the best, most qualified, applicants surface to the top each time to claim their rightly-earned victories through hard work and determination. Sadly though, this “survival of the fittest” scenario often times has less to do with a potential hire’s merits than politics and discrimination. In 2005, a census revealed that of the 291.1 million people in the population, 54.4 million (18.7%) had some level of disability. While the types and severity of disability varies tremendously in any population, we must take into account that almost 20% of the American populous claims some degree of handicap — this percentage only accounts for individuals who’ve been properly diagnosed, and leads me to suspect the true number is much higher. When we relate this staggering percentage to The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate that the unemployment rate in December, 2008, reached 7.2%, it may suggest that a large population of disabled Americans are also finding themselves unemployed and looking for work. In many cases though, it is not as simple as finding a job; gaining employment can actually compromise many Americans’ safety and wellbeing. The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs are managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA), and are intended to compensate individuals for a degree of income they’ve lost due to some level of handicap. According to Alpha One: a Center for Independent Living, based in Maine, 10.6 million Americans received SSDI ($12,756 annually) or SSI ($7,149 annually), or a combination of the two programs ($8,567 annually), in 2007. When the three baseline yearly incomes provided by these programs are averaged and compared to the national poverty level for the same year ($10,210), we see that it is about $721 below the national level, at $9490.66. Another disheartening fact is that many government-funded services like Medicare and In-Home-Supportive-Services (IHSS) strictly prohibit clients from retaining assets; even a relatively small amount of personal savings may compromise services. The prospect of millions of citizens exposed to a unique degree of vulnerability, coupled by a forced dependence on substandard programs and services, is grim. People with disabilities across the country have refused to resign themselves to that prospect, however, and our government is responding accordingly. Many programs are finally in place to offer individuals the assistance they need to find, gain, and retain, employment without the fear of being penalized for doing so. And I’m happy to point out that all of these services may first be investigated online. Each state and local government has particular programs that vary in funding and restrictions, but SSA itself provides key plans that compliment benefits and encourage us to find employment. One such program is called Ticket to Work. By obtaining a “ticket,” individuals who receive SSDI or SSI are given more freedom to choose employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other supportive service to aid in finding a job. Using the ticket also ensures that SSA will not conduct a continuing disability medical review during that period. The ticket gives you access to “employment networks” (EN) of state-run programs and other approved private organizations and government agencies. The EN you commit to will help you create an Individual Work Plan (IWP) that details your job goals. Once you have met the specifications of your IWP, including earning desired wages to meet your goals, the EN may submit forms for reimbursement. This program provides a supportive and goal-oriented environment to not only encourage you to fulfill ambitions, but to help you maintain them as well. SSA has also coordinated a series of programs to meet specific goals and concerns as working people with disabilities face various stages of employment. The Trial Work Period (TWP) allows individuals to accumulate nine months of work experience before their SSDI benefits may be adjusted. These nine months are not required to be consecutive, and they are monitored by the individual’s submission of his or her work activity. Once the TWP is completed, an Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) begins. For thirty-six consecutive months, you may receive your full SSDI benefits if you earn less than SSA’s substantial gainful activity level, and your disability does not change. Benefits are suspended during the months your earnings are greater than the cut-off point, but they may be reinstated without filing a new application. Numerous other services also exist, and some may be particularly relevant to individuals with sight and/or hearing impairments. Medicare and Medicaid coverage is maintained with little change in the majority of cases, as well,
SIMPLE WISDOM — Are you having trouble keeping your New Year’s Resolutions?
Printer-friendly versionTrouble keeping resolutions? By Penelope Young Andrade February 1, 2009 (San Diego) — Are you having trouble keeping your New Year’s Resolutions? For many, February finds you slinking back to old habits. You hate and berate yourself for being ˜weak willed” but can’t find a way to resist temptation. The problem, typically, is not that you’re weak willed, but rather that you haven’t found a way to use your will skillfully. Here’s the tip. First, check if the habit you’re trying to change is the one you’re really ready to change. Be sure you’re focused on the right one for you in this moment (not your partner, parent, or friend’s pick.) Next, list why it’s really important, to shift this particular pattern. You’ll need to have your values front and center whenever you attempt the hard work of deleting old and installing new behaviors. Third, make another list of how pleasure in life will increase if you let go of this pattern. This is crucial because pleasure will not be denied. You’ll need to see specifically how this change will bring you more pleasure. Fourth, make this change easier — exercise with loved ones, stock your fridge with healthy, tasty treats, plan for comforting activities (baths, funny movies), find soothing shoulders and empathetic ears to help cope with the inevitable separation pain of dropping unhealthy crutches. Join a group designed to support recovery. Finally, consider any relapse an opportunity to re-up and strengthen your resolve. Be gentle. Loving yourself is the most important skill of all. Penelope Young Andrade LCSW is a San Diego-based licensed psychotherapist with over 35 years experience integrating the best of traditional and alternative approaches for bodymind transformation. www.penelopetalk.com 858-481-5752 penart@abac.com Printer-friendly version
KING’S VISION LAUDED AT LA MESA MULTI-CULTURAL FESTIVAL:
Printer-friendly version Music, Dance, and Storytelling Highlight 13th Annual Event — VIEW OUR VIDEOS! Moreton Bay Fig Morris English Dance Troupe. By Miriam Raftery Photos by Miriam Raftery and Leon Thompson January 18, 2009 (La Mesa) — "On Tuesday, we will celebrate a historic day–I never thought I would see the day when we would have an African-American president," Dr. Eugene R. Bailey, retired U.S. Navy captain, told an audience of several hundred people at La Mesa’s Multi-Cultural Festival. "Today I have to pinch myself to believe I actually commanded ships," said Bailey, who entered the Navy when opportunities for minorities were restricted. "We Americans have actually come a long, long way." Bailey praised slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King. "He really changed the U.S. and the world," Bailey said. "But he stood on some shoulders to get there." He lauded the efforts of abolitionists Frederick Douglas and Harriet Tubman, as well as the many "foot soldiers" who marched for Civil Rights. Bailey recalled his own experience enlisting in the Navy during an era when only 30 of 72,000 Naval officers were minorities. "President Harry Truman issued an executive order to desegregate the military in 1948, but that wasn’t integration," said Bailey. Although opportunities for African-Americans in the Navy during the 1950s appeared limited to "shoe shiners, cooks or stewards," he enlisted in the Navy after being drafted. Then in the 1970s, Admiral Zumwalt issued equal opportunity policies that made it possible for those who work hard to advance. When commanding a ship, Bailey used to tell his crew members that working together was a requirement, despite differences. "If the bow goes down, the stern won’t be far behind," he observed. "American, we’ve got work to do." The Multi-Cultural Festival also featured musical performances by the Moreton Bay Fig Morris English Dance Troupe, Ballet Folklorico en Aztlan Dance Theatre, and the Axis Gospel Singers from Meridian Baptist Church. In addition, Black Storytellers of San Diego members provided a captivating recitation reflecting African-American history from Rosa Parks and the civil rights era to modern day. In addition, the City of La Mesa presented human relations awards of excellence to students from Parkway and La Mesa Middle Schools, honoring Dr. King’s vision of a society in which people will "not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character," as King described in his now-famous "I Have a Dream" speech delivered in Washington D.C. To view the full video of King’s famous speech, visit: www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm. Printer-friendly version
La Mesa Multicultural Festival Videos
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