[speechlesstx]

By Walter E. Williams
Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Last May, firefighters at a Baltimore, Md. fire station came under scrutiny for displaying a deer with an afro wig, gold tooth, gold chain and a cigarette hanging from its mouth.

Marvin "Doc" Cheatham, president of the Baltimore chapter of the NAACP, went ballistic, charging, "There is now and has been a culture of racism and white supremacy within the Baltimore City Fire Department."

As it turns out, it was a black fireman who dressed up the critter. Cheatham refused to apologize for his accusations of fire department racism, maintaining "there is now and has been a culture of racism and white supremacy within the Baltimore City Fire Department."

On Nov. 21, a hangman's noose was found at the fire station with a note, "We can't hang the cheaters, but we can hang the failures. No EMT-1, NO JOB." The noose and note turned up on the heels of an investigation into allegations of cheating on the test that emergency medical technicians must take for certification.

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, a black, in a written statement said, "I am outraged by this deplorable act of hatred and intimidation. Threats and racial attacks are unacceptable anywhere, especially in a firehouse." Doc Cheatham said, "We're going to demand that this be handled as a hate crime. This thing really needs to end here in Baltimore city." The incident prompted a federal investigation.

Last week, Donald Maynard, a black firefighter-paramedic, confessed to having placed the noose, note and drawing depicting a lynching on a bunk in the firehouse. City officials said Maynard was recently suspended, prior to his confession, from the department Friday for failing to meet requirements for advanced life-saving training. A spokesman for Mayor Dixon said there would be no criminal charges filed.

In response to Maynard's confession, NAACP President Cheatham still blamed white racism, saying, "It really saddens us to hear that evidently things have reached a stage that even an African-American does an injustice to himself and his own people as a result of a negative culture in that department."

Doc Cheatham is a poster boy for demonstrating a much larger problem, namely that the once proud and useful NAACP has outlived that usefulness and has in some instances become an impediment to black progress. The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a black liberal-to-moderate Washington-based think-tank, reported that 88 percent of blacks favored educational choice plans. A Gallup Poll found 72 percent of blacks support school choice. The NAACP, acting as handmaidens for the teachers' unions, is solidly against school vouchers. A Gallup Poll shows 44 percent of blacks are for the death penalty and 49 percent against it, but the NAACP is solidly against it.

The major problems confronting a large segment of the black community have little or nothing to do with racism -- problems such as unprecedented illegitimacy, family breakdown, fraudulent education, crime and rampant social pathology. If white people became angels tomorrow, it would do nothing to solve problems that can only be solved by blacks.

But I'm somewhat optimistic. More and more blacks are seeing through race hustlers such as Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Doc Cheatham. An even more optimistic note is the financial decline of the NAACP. Declining black support is good evidence that the civil rights struggle is over and won. That's not to say there are not major problems but they are not civil rights problems.

Today, most civil rights organizations get their financial support from white businesses and foundations caving in to intimidation or seeking to sooth feelings of guilt. For them, I have a cheaper alternative, "Proclamation of Amnesty and Pardon Granted to All Persons of European Descent," available at walterewilliams.com.

Do we still need more evidence that black 'leadership' in this country feels the need to inject racism where it doesn't belong? If Williams hadn't granted me Amnesty and Pardon (.pdf) I might be persuaded to write the Baltimore chapter of the NAACP [email protected] and ask ol' Doc Cheatham for an apology, maybe even contact the national organization.

Exactly what good is the NAACP, Al Sharpton and Jesse doing for the black community? With groups such as the Congressional Black Caucus, Black Alumni Associations, "black faculty" groups, Black Social Work Caucuses, African American Cultural Centers, African American Affairs offices, African American Fraternities and Sororities, etc. on campuses, the African American Chemists, ACORN, Black Geeks Online, Concerned Black Men, The National Association of Black Journalists, National Society of Black Engineers... one might get the impression they've managed to establish segregation. :)

[shygrneyzs]

I had read about this and am terribly disappointed in the "black leadership" in America. Who has allowed men like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Marvin Cheatham to rise and surpass their own levels of incompetence? Any time a dog gets run over, there one of them appears on Larry King, on CNN, on any media that gives them a camera and a mike. And for what? Whose purpose are they advancing anyway? Their own, I am afraid. I am surprised they have any credibility whatsoever.

Never cared for Jackson, he never impressed me as someone who gave a hoot for anyone but hiimself. He would go to all these places and say just what the audience wanted to hear, then continue on. I once worked as a Community Organizer back "in the day" and saw him doing a press conference on a farm - pitching that farm vote. He showed up in a nice car, nice suit. He got into a brand new pair of coveralls and got photo op shots of him milking a cow. How heartwarming. Said a speech about American farmers being the backbone and yada yada yada and got in his car and drove off.
Got my vote all right! :rolleyes:

But then, that is politics, isn't it?

[tomder55]

Steve ;did you follow the news about Sharpie Sharpton? He's in a little hot water .
Subpoenas for Al Sharpton's aides

Hey ;he's got to pay for those fancy suits he wears somehow! I wonder if Jesee Jackson is getting a bit nervous about the financial shenanigans of his shake-down charities.

[CaptainRich]

Those three are like a caustic catalyst. Any whiff of impropriety and they pounce like hyena's. Their purpose has expired.

I read where Sharpie was forced to return $100,000 in matching taxpayer funds after an investigation a couple years ago. Of course, he denied breaking any laws but he still gave the monies back. If you or I had tried the same thing, we'd be identified by a number and assigned a cell.

[speechlesstx]

Steve ;did you follow the news about Sharpie Sharpton? He's in a little hot water .
Subpoenas for Al Sharpton's aides

Hey ;he's gotta pay for those fancy suits he wears somehow! I wonder if Jesee Jackson is getting a bit nervous about the financial shenanigans of his shake-down charities.

"Wakeup subpoenas" for Sharpie and pals, lol. His lawyer gives a hint of what's to come, "I can't think of a time when the Rev. Sharpton wasn't under investigation." That tells me more than likely the charges of racism over this investigation should be flying any minute.

[speechlesstx]

Those three are like a caustic catalyst. Any whiff of impropriety and they pounce like hyena's. Their purpose has expired.

I read where Sharpie was forced to return $100,000 in matching taxpayer funds after an investigation a couple years ago. Of course, he denied breaking any laws but he still gave the monies back. If you or I had tried the same thing, we'd be identified by a number and assigned a cell.

Like all good activists their purpose flows with the changing tides. I still think all they've managed to accomplish is segregation.

Steve
P.S. Curse those NE Patriots :D

[speechlesstx]

I had read about this and am terribly disappointed in the "black leadership" in America. Who has allowed men like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Marvin Cheatham to rise and surpass their own levels of incompetence? Any time a dog gets run over, there one of them appears on Larry King, on CNN, on any media that gives them a camera and a mike. And for what? Whose purpose are they advancing anyways? Their own, I am afraid. I am surprised they have any credibility whatsoever.

The only reason the media give these folks any attention is to assuage their own guilty consciences, there's nothing like a little self-flagellation to give one a cleansing feeling over all the evils done in the white man's name.

Jesse pitching for the farm vote? That had to be a sight - he didn't have the smarts to put on a Carhartt jacket and some jeans? Nah, I can't picture him dressing down like a commoner.

Steve

[tomder55]

Curse those NE Patriots


I need Brady to have a bad day if I have a chance of advancing to the finals in the fantasy league . Hopefully the weather stops him because the Jests won't

[speechlesstx]

Curse those NE Patriots


I need Brady to have a bad day if I have a chance of advancing to the finals in the fantasy league . Hopefully the weather stops him because the Jests won't

Since I don't have Brady or Moss I curse them when I use their players and I also curse them when I face their players, lol.

[CaptainRich]

Yer killin' me... :cool:

[speechlesstx]

Yer killin' me... :cool:

Yeah, and they're killin' my fantasy teams. I'll be nice if Welker gets 3 TD's this week :D

[CaptainRich]

Hopefully the weather stops him because the Jests won't

No, the Jets won't stop N.E.
Miami may show up - *snicker-snicker* - hic, sorry
We still have to face the Giants on the 29th - y'all going to play the spoiler?
The fat lady hasn't sung yet. I hope I like the song!

The last game of the regular season is a Monday night, New Years Eve, the Jets host the Chiefs. I wonder what attendance will look like...

[MOWERMAN2468]

Those three are like a caustic catalyst. Any whiff of impropriety and they pounce like hyena's. Their purpose has expired.

I read where Sharpie was forced to return $100,000 in matching taxpayer funds after an investigation a couple years ago. Of course, he denied breaking any laws but he still gave the monies back. If you or I had tried the same thing, we'd be identified by a number and assigned a cell.

You are correct, but the naacp wouldn't protect us and cry to the public!! Because we are white. And that suits me fine, I don't want someone fighting my battles.

[tomder55]

Capn

I don't need the Jests to win but I'm hoping the weather turns it into a runnig game. My fantasy team plays against the team with Brady as QB this week .

The last game will depend on a lot of factors. I think the Pats will go for it if a perfect season is on the line .But I think the Giants will lock up their playoff spot this week and begin to rest players the last 2 weeks... especially Buress and Jacobs .

NOBODY N-O-B-O-D-Y will watch the Jests v Chiefs on New Years Eve Night .How stupid is the NFL for scheduling it?

[CaptainRich]

I don't recall MNF and NYE ever conflicting before...
But I don't keep that close track.
Anybody?

[RubyPitbull]

IDK Cap'n but in response to everyone's comments on this thread...


GO NE PATRIOTS! YEAH!!
Hahahaha.

Regarding the original post. Yes, NAACP has outlived it's purpose I am afraid. They should stick solely to raising money to help underpriviledged minority children go to college. If they feel absolutely compelled to comment on any legal issues regarding race, it should be done after all the facts have come out. They need to regain some credibility or they will fall to the wayside completely in the not too distant future.

Al Sharpton? Please pass the maalox. Just uttering the man's name gives me instant indigestion. Hope the feds find enough to put this Ambulance Chaser Extraordinaire out of business for good.

[shygrneyzs]

Note to self -send Ruby a case of Maalox. ;)

[CaptainRich]

Note to self -send Ruby a case of Maalox. ;)

Note to self: Laugh every time that happens! ;)

Go New England! Someone's got to! :cool:

[RubyPitbull]

Go New England!! Someone's got to!! :cool:

Hmm. Sour grapes meybee? Hmmm? Let's face it. NE has the winners. You guys should just all accept it and make your peace with it.:D

[NeedKarma]

Let's see how they do in 10" of snow. :)