No Struggle, No Progress
No Struggle, No Progress
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It is indeed a Juneteenth reason to celebrate. An American military installation just west of Alexandria has bestowed an honor on a Black soldier who was much more than a hero. For decades, Fort Polk has served as a military installation that has sent thousands, if not millions of Americans to distant lands to fight for freedom. It is home to the Joint Readiness Training Center and the Third Brigade Combat Team of the Tenth Mountain Division. Now the installation has a new name that opens a new chapter telling the world what this nation can do...
Former Vice President of America Mike Pence is running to be president. That might have been breaking news at one time, something out of the ordinary, but it’s only Mike Pence. And it comes as no surprise that Pence finally decided to put his hat in the ring, as it would have been more of a surprise if he hadn’t. When one looks at the announced candidates already running, Pence, a former vice president, has the credentials to govern as a president. That doesn’t mean he would be a great president, as he didn’t have the “best example...
So we have a deal. At least in principle. After what seems like an eternity, every time the issue of what is to be done concerning the nation’s debt ceiling grabs the attention, a deal gets done. That’s the word from the White House and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as both entities seemed to have played a game of chicken, taking the deadline down to the wire. Perhaps what angers the majority of voters is why it takes Democrats and particularly Republicans to want to take hardline stances, the old my-way-or-the-highway attitude every time the d...
President Joe Biden must be an even bigger threat to Republican presidential contenders than conservatives are letting on, as the latest strategy seems to anoint killers as heroes. Remember when Kyle Rittenhouse killed two people during a Black Lives Matter protest against police brutality? Notice how right-wing media and leading conservative voices came out in support of Rittenhouse calling him a “hero” for killing two people while carrying a weapon in the middle of a protest? Rittenhouse was portrayed as the “victim” even though he was arm...
Declaring that he is “ready” for another one, presidential contender Donald Trump, in the words of the hood, came out “like a fat rat” while appearing on CNN last week. Many thought that Trump was making a big costly mistake appearing on the network, but to Trump with the setup in place with friendly faces in the audience, Trump felt right at home. It didn’t matter who the moderator was at CNN asking the questions, as Trump in his usual style, did things his way. And what did you expect? By now, we(I do)should know that when Trump has the s...
When will it happen again? The clock is ticking. The grief experienced by a Houston area family stemming from five of their loved ones being killed by the next-door neighbor has to be overbearing after hearing about the latest Texas mass shooting in the Dallas area. The latest mass shooting in Allen, TX, again underscores that the nation must somehow come together and do something constructive regulating guns. Some will say that this is “a Second Amendment” issue, while others can rightfully say that this is a “right to live” issue. Eight p...
The manhunt (as of press time) continues for the alleged killer who authorities say shot and killed five people execution-style. Simply because they asked him to stop the shooting. Media reports indicate that a family member asked the alleged suspect to stop shooting because a child was trying to sleep. Instead of being a good neighbor, the suspect named Francisco Oropeza, simply walked next door and proceeded to kill the family one-by-one, allegedly saying that “he had a right” to do whatever he wanted on his own property. A few minutes later,...
That cheering you have been hearing since Monday is coming from the millions of Americans who are delighted and happy, knowing that Tucker Carlson is gone. Yes, that Tucker Carlson. There may be another individual with a name like Carlson, but without the notoriety, but only one worked at Fox News. Now, that Carlson is no more and to the millions of viewers that listened to Carlson every night, there is no joy in Mudville because their right-wing hero is out, gone, bye, “see you later alligator”, gone. However, to his viewers and supporters, Ca...
Who do some in America turn their attention to when it comes to not wanting to tackle the problems/issues that continue to divide this nation? They turn their attention to those in the LGBTQ community as their scapegoat. By now, most of us have heard about Kid Rock shooting up cases of Bud Light beer because he is unhappy over how some companies are including people in their support for those in the LGBTQ community. Kid Rock is not alone, as some others have done the same thing, all in the name of “liberal wokeness”. Wokeness is a term tha...
Former president Donald John Trump is expected or will be indicted in a Manhattan courtroom this/past Tuesday, April 4, 2023. There were so many people in this nation and perhaps around the world probably thinking that Trump would never be indicted. After all, how many individuals do you know of who can tie up the legal system as well as Trump has done? Trump has had many legal issues that he has dealt with over his life, having many high-paid lawyers cut deals that could otherwise have him facing some jail time. As we have seen so often, prose...
One has to wonder what Republicans in Congress and red states are going to do about trying to prevent school shooting after school shooting. The latest tragic event occurred in Nashville TN, Monday, March 27 at Covenant School, a private Christian school. What we are seeing is that it doesn’t matter if it is a public or private institution, school shootings seem to have gotten past a “normal thing” in America. The “thoughts and prayer” phase will come, as leaders, including those who are against any kind of sensible gun legislation, will bemoan...
Everyone at some time in their lives runs from the truth. That is a fact. When one faces the choice of telling the truth, circumstances may dictate whether one will be truthful. There is a story in the scriptures where Abraham lied that Sarah wasn’t his wife, but his sister. It didn’t turn out well for him once the king learned the truth. Abraham was apologetic as he confessed, and from then we learn that he was truthful in what he said. We all pay a price, whether small or large when we fib (snuck that one in) but it pays even more in the eye...
It is still almost two years before the next presidential election, but one would think after hearing from the so-called presidential contenders, the election is next week and that they need your vote. The current field of announced or those who may run include Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott(only Black candidate), and Mike Pence. But, no matter who decides to run, will have to face the biggest elephant in the room, that being Donald Trump. Despite the fact that Trump may be facing an indictment stemming from his legal issues with NY DA Letitia...
The nation has gone bonkers. It is about to go off of its rocker. Not only that, but the guys who started all of this by writing the Constitutional must be turning in their graves, as this nation may be set to show that lawsuits and so-called rights go hand-in-hand. Even when there appears no reason to do so. Case in point. Remember the 2020 presidential election where Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden BIGLY? We all thought that the issue of who won the presidency was settled, as the court had spoken, and Biden was implementing his policies to...
President Joe Biden has been flexing his political muscles lately despite the criticism that comes from Republicans no matter what the president does. The so-called scandal following the Chinese balloon and other objects shot down by the military has only given the president a little more pep in his political step because the sightings are now relegated to the “old news” department. Republicans who now control the House have not exactly gotten off to the start that they were bragging about how varying investigations would “expose” the truth a...
No, I don’t think E.T. is trying to pay us a visit. Nor are we about to experience a “War of the Worlds” moment as in being attacked by “little green men” from Mars. Until this nation lands more people on the moon first, any inhabitants on the planet Mars have nothing to worry about. Over a two-week period, there has been an increased interest in what is going on over our heads and not in a “sky is falling” ruse. To some of our political leaders and media pundits, we may soon see pictures of “Chicken Little” in some media circles, all in a...
By the time these words are read by Dispatch readers, “Balloon-Gate” will still be with us because some Republicans in Washington will try to milk the issue as much as they possibly can. It was the balloon seen ‘round America either in person or through round-the-clock news coverage, as a Chinese balloon somehow found its way into American airspace. How it got here, the Chinese blamed the balloon’s presence on Mother Nature, saying that wind currents pushed it thousands of miles across the globe until it just happened to show up over Alaska,...
By now most of you may have heard of the passing of Ineitha Lynette “Diamond” Hardaway, one-half of the Black sister duo, who rose to fame with Herneitha Rochelle “Silk” Richardson, as ardent and fervent supporters of ex-president Donald Trump. “Diamond” as she was called, along with “Silk” became a 1-2 political punch for Trump during his first campaign and become a familiar face in conservative media, appearing at rallies among conservatives. Hardaway passed away a week ago and was funeralized Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023 with Donald Trump be...
If most Americans think that Republicans in Washington D.C. are going to bring a wave of prosperity to the nation because they are in charge of the House, they are sadly mistaken. As long as the nation is divided along every line that one can think, that being racial, political, cultural, or economic, don’t expect anything of substance to be done. I would love to be wrong, but this nation “crossed the line of separation” a long time ago, as there are those who are making sure that this nation never becomes “united” if it ever was. Democrats...
Kevin McCarthy is finally the “king of the hill”. That’s Capitol Hill. After going through 15 agonizing votes to become Speaker of The House, and years of waiting in the wings, McCarthy has ascended to the mountain top of D.C. politics. It wasn’t an easy climb, as McCarthy “haters” pulled out all of the stops to deny McCarthy the speakership, when in most cases it is only a formality of who becomes the next speaker, as Democrats and Republicans both know ahead of time who they want. Take the example of Democrats, it was no contest that Hakeem...
The year 2022 is rapidly coming to a close, closing a chapter in time of a nation many are saying is no better than it was in 2021. Yes, this is the time that talk “of peace and goodwill” is exchanged, but in reality, when one actually takes the blinders off their eyes, everything is basically still the same. As long as this nation remains as divisive as it has become, that peace and goodwill, goes out of the window. The bible is true when it teaches us, “a house divided against itself will not stand”, is something that one doesn’t hear from th...
We have heard so much in the last year or so about how “being woke” is detrimental to the nation, as it is being used to divide people. You hear that kind of rhetoric from those who really don’t want to address the ills of the nation unless it is from their point of view. You hear from many conservatives how being “woke” turning the races against each other, trying to make one “guilty” for the sins of others in another time. It is a politically charged word that is used often in right wing media and by conservative leaders to label them as...
Donald Trump must feel like a man going down for the third time. First of all, the 2020 presidential election didn’t turn out the way he wanted it to. All throughout the campaign season, Trump had long planted the seed of doubt that would propel his numerous attempts to try to turn the results of the election in his favor, which failed. An attempted coup to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power that he has been faulted with by his followers failed, leading to numerous injuries and several deaths that ensued. The dozens of legal challenges t...
Donald Trump loves to entertain at his residence in Florida. The rich and famous are people with whom the ex-president loves to rub shoulders and let’s not forget, play golf. Normally, someone in Trump’s position know beforehand who he will be associating with before he hosts his guests at his Florida home. I think we all do that. The “old folks” used to tell us that one shouldn’t “have just anybody” showing up at our homes. The same is equally true in today’s climate. So, imagine Mr. Trump allowing rapper Kanye West to have dinner with him...
There is a new “Jaws” movie that is on the horizon. No, not that Jaws. If one would take a look at what is going on in the Republican Party, it is clear to see, that they are not a bunch of happy campers. What was joy and euphoria before the midterm elections quickly turned to gloom as election night wore on. Republicans weren’t able to ride the big wave that they thought was coming, which would have sent Democrats running for the hills. When the wave ended up being only a ripple, it didn’t take long for the finger pointing to start. Now, a...
Don’t Call God By Eddie D. Gillis t’s sems that when election time rolls around, two things voters are sure to hear, “send money so we can win this fight”, even though that candidate might be leading by fifty points, and God “is on our side” as you send the money. We know that there is never enough money to spend on ads even though practically everyone knows who is running and most minds are made up before votes will be cast. Nonetheless, there has long been a tendency for many candidates to invoke God because just by mentioning God, a cert...
By Eddie D. Gillis In last week’s column, this reporter wrote of how things, despite what some will say, are going from bad to worse in this nation and the world. For those of us who read The Dispatch on a regular basis, you know that I end my editorials with the phrase, “Remember, the world is watching. So is God”. The ending to my editorials came to me “in a thought”, as there are not many editorials that end in a phrase reminding us that no matter what we do, He is watching. The singer, Bette Midler also did the same in a song called “F...
In reading Act 246 from the 2022 Legislative Session, there are concerns about Amendment No. 7 on the November 8 ballot. It proposes changes to Article I, Sec. 3 of the Constitution of Louisiana----prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude. The Amendment proposes to delete “except in the latter case as punishment for a crime” from §3(B)(1). It proposes the enactment of a new subpart, (B)(2), to indicate that the prohibition against slavery and involuntary servitude does not apply to the “otherwise lawful administration of criminal justic...
This writer is convinced that most of us like to see the glass half full rather than half empty. When the glass is half full, there is room to add more. By contrast, when one sees the glass as half empty, there is the possibility of losing more of what is already in the glass. If one takes an honest look at what is happening in this nation and quite frankly the world, the glass is half empty. As we get ready to go through another election season, we can see the usual attacks coming from both sides of the political system, with each side...
Every resident of Louisiana should be concerned after reading Act 246 from the 2022 Louisiana Legislative session. There are concerns about Amendment No. 7 on this year's November 8 ballot. Amendment No. 7 proposes changes to Article I, Sec. 3 of the Constitution of Louisiana, prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude. The Amendment proposes to delete “except in the latter case as punishment for a crime” from §3(B)(1). It proposes the enactment of a new subpart, (B)(2), to indicate that the prohibition against slavery and involuntary serv...
The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus (LLBC) invited the public to what is being called a “road show” which stopped in northeast Louisiana on Monday, October 17, 2022. Topics on the discussion menu included healthcare, education, and redistricting, among other topics, such as the upcoming 2022 midterms elections. Many Democratic leaders are fighting against numerous laws that they say are aimed at keeping Blacks and other minorities from voting in large numbers. The LLBC has been in exi...
The cheering that you heard last week came from those who want to see ex-president Donald Trump face a congressional committee where he will have to swear an oath to tell the truth. Speaking of telling the truth, Trump being a former television reality show host, would have been an outstanding contestant on that old time classic show, “To Tell the Truth”. On that show, many Dispatch readers around my age (past 70) would remember that the show’s panel had to guess which of three contestants was telling the truth. They would answer quest...
Another devastating hurricane has struck the U.S., leading to dozens of deaths and a cleanup/repair bill that is in the billions of dollars range. The state of Florida has a long way to go to get past the life changing effects that people go through when they have to rebuild after a hurricane turns their lives upside down. Everyone in the state of Louisiana remembers Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the efforts and resources that it took to rebuild New Orleans and the Lake Charles/Lafayette area, as the memories will never go away. The same...
I'm Luke Mixon, a Naval academy and TOPGUN graduate who served as a fighter pilot for 20 years. Now, I'm running against Senator John N. Kennedy because we need real leaders in the U.S. Senate who are willing to put politics aside and work for the people of Louisiana. People have lost faith in Washington's ability to solve our problems. Why? Because they don't see Washington solving our problems. Instead, they see a bloodsport where everyone blames the other side and nothing gets done. It's all...
By Eddie D. Gillis Former president Donald Trump should be happy( no doubt that he is) that he is a rich man and that he is “living” the American dream. He’s been in the company of kings, a queen, dictators and even a porn star. He has properties worth billions and even lived in one of the world’s most famous buildings, that being the White House. But, one might ask, how can a man who has lived the kind of life many dream about, yet always seems to find himself in some kind of legal quandary. For some reason, the former president and current...
Jackson Parish NAACP Invites You to Meet Your Candiates for Jackson Parish Mayor Town of Jonesboro; Chief of Police Town of Jonesboro; Member of School Board Districts 5 & 7; Alderman at Large Town of Jonesboro & Alderman Districts C & D Town of Jonesboro LA Saturday, October 1, 2022-Come at 12:30 p.m. to meet the candidates Forum 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Boyer-Bell Memorial Building 763 Beech Spring Hwy – Jonesboro, LA 71251 “YOUR VOICE MATTERS” This event is being held to encourage citizens to become more involved in local government, by learn...
The number of voters expected to go to the polls in November should be aware that their votes may not count. Or matter. There appears to be a concerted effort by Republican candidates running for office in the midterms, to openly declare that if they should happen to lose the races that they are in, they plan on not accepting the results. In other words, 2016 will be front and center in 2022 over some Republicans candidates not willing to accept defeat at the polls. There have not been moments in history where a candidate from either party...
It is amazing how one man has been able to turn the rule of law upside down on its face. There are serious conversations being held by people with influential voices over whether Donald Trump should be tried for his alleged crimes of taking government documents that are vital to national security. The line in the sand was drawn a long time ago when Donald Trump became president and with that newfound power, Mr. Trump appeared to show how power absolute can rule. Mr. Trump came into office demanding loyalty to him first and not the nation, nor t...
Donald Trump was back in his element this past weekend. He was getting the kind of attention that he so desperately needs. If there is one thing that Trump loves, it is to be in front of an adoring crowd that loves every word that comes out of his mouth. It doesn’t matter if everything that he says is the truth or how “vicious” the tone of his words may sound. Mr. Trump appeared at a campaign-style rally over the weekend in Pennsylvania to stomp for GOP senatorial candidate Mehmet (Dr.) Oz and gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, both of wh...
A town hall meeting held at the E.P. Robinson Community Center on Jackson St. in Monroe, LA, hosted by District 4 Monroe City Councilman Carday Marshall, Sr., did not appear to go as planned. Marshall and his council colleagues are holding town hall meetings in their respective Districts throughout the city as they try to keep their constituents informed of what is going on at city hall. Marshall brought two representatives from Mayor Ellis’ administration whose task appeared to be for one thing and one thing only. After Marshall extended g...
One can see why Republicans in Congress don’t like investigative hearings about Republican misconduct when they are not in charge of Congress, as evident of them largely being silent as the opening rounds of the Jan. 6 insurrection is over. They don’t talk about it only to say that the American people want Congress “to tackle the issues” that Americans care about. They somehow forget that when President Joe Biden tried to do just that, Republican cooperation was almost non-existent. They were too busy licking their chops because of the 6-3 con...
The La State Bond Commission will recommend 10 Cash Line of Credit/Non-Cash Line of Credit projects in Ouachita Parish. To view the LA State Bond Commission meeting on 7/21/2022 @ 10 am, visit the Louisiana State Legislature home page www.legis.la.gov. and select View Today's meeting - Joint Committee Meeting – State Bond Commission---If you have any questions, please call Representative Pat Moore's District Office at (318) 362-3014 or email to [email protected]....
As this nation inches closer to the 2022 midterm elections, it will be a battle over which party will take control of Congress; one that will make sure that President Joe Biden will be a lame duck with two broken legs or a party that will do what it can to save Mr. Biden’s presidency. Some will say that the Republican Party “owns” the Supreme Court with their long-awaited victory over Roe V. Wade, as the conservative wing of the court delivered on just what Republicans wanted in the abortion war. When one thinks of the Supreme Court, the phras...
On a day when America celebrates its independence with parades, backyard barbecue events, and fireworks, this fourth of July celebration will be remembered for the carnage at such a celebration in a Chicago area suburb. An individual that law enforcement identified as a person-of-interest, 22-year-old Robert E. Crimo was apprehended without incident not long after the shooting occurred., as the nation once again has to come to grips over the continuing horrors of mass killings that have left many dead and people wondering, is it safe anywhere...
The Supreme Court has spoken. Only it didn’t happen last (June 24, 2022), Friday. It spoke over a month ago when the infamous leaked drafted of its upcoming decision on abortion. On Friday, the Court did not disappoint. Certainly not those who were pleased with the decision to outlaw abortion and not those who saw the decision as something that was expected. After all, the Court is 6-3 conservative which means just about any cases before the Court involving “individual liberties” such as religion or other “moral” issues, will likely be ruled...
Louisiana State Senator Katrina Jackson may have cemented her an opportunity to become Louisiana’s first Black female governor, if she decides to run, thanks to her Republican colleagues in the House and Senate passing her highly controversial abortion bill. Senate Bill 342 will become law even if Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards refuses to sign the bill, saying that “vetoing the bill wouldn’t accomplish what he would have liked to, which is the exceptions for rape and incest”. The bill would outlaw abortions in just about all cases, except...
Things are not going so well in the Russian republic, as it is embroiled in a conflict in Ukraine that, if not resolved soon, will seem like the war in Afghanistan was a picnic. That is because the people of Ukraine are giving the Russians at this moment in time, more than they can handle. Russia, with its superior military, was seen as the antagonist who would in a “matter of weeks” pull off a resounding victory over the Ukraine military and Ukraine would once again be a part of Russia. There is only a short list of nations that are supporting...
I can’t wait for the movie to come out. Political movies like “All of the President’s Men”, where the nation learns just how Watergate played out and what led to Richard Nixon’s resignation, showed us the corrupt nature of American politics. When art imitates life, we often see what lengths some people will go to remain in office. Even when they know that their days are numbered. Former president Donald Trump gave the nation/world a vivid glimpse of what he would not only do, but also who he would throw under the bus to save himself, those bein...
History was made in the city of West Monroe on March 26, 2022. On that Saturday, the first Black to hold representation on its city council as Alderman was elected by a majority vote. Local West Monroe resident Rodney Welch stepped into history and will now represent what many had called a forgotten voice in the city, its Black population, which never had someone who looked like them be their voice at council meetings. That all changed as Welch is poised to bring in a fresh face at council...
While America and the rest of the world go about their affairs, one should not forget that there is a devastating war going on in the nation of Ukraine. It’s been almost a month since Russia attacked the nation, as President Putin tried to rein in what in his mind, is a breakaway republic, that needs to come back to the motherland. The only problem with that assessment is the people of Ukraine got more than a taste of freedom, of self-governance and they don’t want to give that up. The nation seems to be having a better relationship with wes...
