Article

THREE FOR THE MONEY: MURACA UNREGISTERED … WHAT IN THE NAME OF ROBERT E. LEE? … plus … THE KANGAROOS ARE BLUMIN

0 0 votes
Article Rating

BY DANVALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY AUG. 14, 2017) — For what it’s worth …

… As of September 2016, neither Patrick Muraca of bio-nano infamy nor his girlfriend-cum-fiancee Darleen Zradi, the foul-mouthed Facebook femme futile, were registered to vote. It is not a federal crime, of course, to brush off democracy’s greatest implement, but we’ll leave it to the FBI, the Security and Exchange Commission, and any civil suits to determine if accused criminal Muraca can be found innocent or guilty of the massive fraud of which he has been accused.

… The violence in Charlottesville, Va., over that city’s decision to topple a statue of favorite son Gen. Robert E. Lee exemplifies the political division between Left and Right that has paralyzed America. THE PLANET disagrees with the decision to remove a statue honoring one of this country’s greatest men, and we loathe the reaction of “the streets” in usurping peaceful protest. The “Unite the Right” rally was meant to exercise a fundamental right of free speech, but troublemakers on the other side wanted no part of civilized conduct.

President Donald Trump tweeted on Saturday a response to the violence that erupted in Charlottesville, Va., between protesters and counter-protesters over the “Unite the Right” rally.

“We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!” Trump tweeted early Saturday afternoon. This has a pathetic, almost tragic “Just say no” naivete’ to it. The tragedy to which we refer, though, is that the sentiment is precisely what we need. Yes, we have become that jaundiced and disillusioned.

… Did Supercitizen Alex Blumin get railroaded in a hearing before the Pittsfield Board of Registrars in his objection to school candidate Dennis Powell‘s signatures on the latter’s nomination papers for school committee? THE PLANET believes he did. Blumin contended that Powell did not sign his own papers, that several times spouses signed for each other, and that most of the signatures were done by the same person.

Blumin had two-and-a-half strikes against him going in. The board voted to overrule all the objections. And who comprises the Board? A Moe-Larry-Curley troika of Bill Barry, Jennifer Kerwood, and Jody Phillips. Nothing to see hear, folks, right? Barry, the pie-eyed attorney who comes off like a loopy Woody the Woodpecker, is a former “inner circle” city councilor. Kerwood is the wife of administration lackey and former councilor Matthew “Kufflinks” Kerwood. As for Phillips, how could she, as city clerk, serve as a judge on a panel requiring a verdict on the conduct of her own office? Preposterous. When this court convened, the kangaroos were jumping.

Be clear. We aren’t commenting on the rightness or wrongness of Blumin’s filing. We’re just saying that even if he had a slam-dunk case, he stood no chance in front of these hangmen.

Blah Blah Blah, as the saying goes.

——————————————————

“Nietzsche is dead”God

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views expressed in the comment section or opinions published within the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not those of PLANET VALENTI or endorsed in any way by PLANET VALENTI. This website reserves the right to remove any comment that violates its Rules of Conduct, and it is not liable for the consequences of any posted comment, written word, or information from any source other than PLANET VALENTI as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and PLANET VALENTI’s terms of service. All users of the services of PLANET VALENTI agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
128 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
h
h
6 years ago

You missed the best part. Her Honor was in attendance.

Linden Tyler
Linden Tyler
Reply to  h
6 years ago

She needed a break from her usual vibrancy.

Norm Fernordner
Norm Fernordner
6 years ago

Who the hell is Dennis Powell? I never heard of the guy.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Norm Fernordner
6 years ago

I watched the entire hearing and toward the end Mr. Barry, in an agitated emotional voice told Mr. Powell that he doesn’t know what he would have done if someone challenged Mr. Barry’s signatures back when he was running. Mr. Barry’s unstable demeanor at this point could been seen as an incitement to violence to Mr. Powell and his supporters. It would be advisable that Mr. Barry tone down his emotions and rhetoric when he’s wearing the board of registrars hat. His conduct was quite inappropriate.

h
h
Reply to  Norm Fernordner
6 years ago

Community leader and popular with The Mayor

Norm Fernordner
Norm Fernordner
Reply to  h
6 years ago

h, what has he done and who has he led? Or is he just part of the Dottie’s Kroll Klick?

dusty
dusty
6 years ago

I disagree that American needs to destroy all its historic statues. If it turns out that one of the folk on Mt Rushmore owned slaves should they blow up the mountain? Should we start getting rid of books that mention slavery? Denying our past does not make it go away.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Maybe we shouldn’t glorify traitors?

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Tell that to the democrats

Radar
Radar
6 years ago

So in this same vein, Americans who sympathize with Isis and radical Islam should have the same right to arm themselves (as permitted by state law, of course) and walk around the street championing radical Islam while openly carrying guns and waving Isis flags…? Should we allow that to happen to…? It would be wrong of anyone to counter-protest that?

LoneGunMan
LoneGunMan
Reply to  Radar
6 years ago

If they were granted a legal permit, held proper firearm licenses etc. then the answer is yes. I am 100% convinced if ANTIFA had not antagonized and let those nazi/KKK fools go on their merry way nothing would have happened even close to what did

LoneGunMan
LoneGunMan
Reply to  LoneGunMan
6 years ago

Sorry. Not wrong to counter protest. However antagonizingva pitbull will get you bit

Wild in the Streets
Wild in the Streets
6 years ago

If Republicans have their way, Anarchy of the highest order in America, is right around the corner.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Wild in the Streets
6 years ago

Nonsense. Republicans do NOT SUPPORT violence. Democrats are trying to spin it like Republicans support violence so they can make Trump and Republicans look bad and get themselves back in power.

Progressives are totally politicizing this tragedy as they do with every tragedy to score political points. Trump has put down the violence repeatedly. MSNBC hosts and commentators just this morning on Good Morning Joe acting like the president never said a word against the violence.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Wild in the Streets
6 years ago

I think it’s the Anarchists who want that. Hence that’s why they call themselves Anarchists.

Ham Anex
Ham Anex
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

They should be called Facsanarchists.

Pat
Pat
6 years ago

Anyone who sympathizes with ISIS would immediately not be an American in my opinion so the same rules wouldn’t apply. Joining ISIS is literally a crime not only here, but in most countries. To sympathize with ISIS is to be a member of ISIS.

Radar
Radar
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

The KKK is America’s ISIS.

Extreme Christianity vs. Radical Islam.

As AMERICANS, each group (white nationalists versus radical islamists – assuming all are American citizens) has the right to inflatrate American streets with guns and knives and express its beliefs, right?

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Radar
6 years ago

Americans will not tolerate continued violence from these groups or any group. A lot of these radical groups started on college campuses. That would be a good place to start to break them up.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Which university founded the KKK?

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Since Brown has such heavy connections to slavery let’s give that honor to them.

Norm Fernordner
Norm Fernordner
Reply to  Radar
6 years ago

Radar, what the hell is ” inflatrate “

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Radar
6 years ago

Radar, since when was the KKK a religious organization? It was actually started by the Democrat party after the Civil War.
Mr. Powell, when you get on the school committee can you push for a strong civics and history programs. People are lacking in these areas judging by the average citizen of our city and I think it’s due to our poor quality schools. Can you be the people’s champion on this committee currently consisting of clowns?

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

WTF are you talking about moron? There was not democrat party when the KKK first began.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Libtard, the democrat’s party was founded January 8, 1828

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

You are correct.

Pat
Pat
6 years ago

I also agree that tearing down historical statues because they might offend someone is ridiculous. Where does that end?

Americans need to realize that politicians will try to benefit from any kind of tensions in the country whether we are talking race or gender or any other issues that divide us. In the end we have to care about each other and stop politicizing everything.

Akbar Fukwad
Akbar Fukwad
6 years ago

Guess who said this:

As long as blacks continue to live with the whites they constitute a threat to the national life. Family life may also collapse and the increase of mixed breed bastards may some day challenge the supremacy of the white man.

And this:

I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races. There is physical difference between the two which, in my judgment, will probably forever forbid their living together upon the footing of perfect equality, and inasmuch as it becomes a necessity that there must be a difference, I, as well as Judge Douglas, am in favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
6 years ago

If you missed the Pittsfield Board of Registrars meeting you can judge how everyone involved did and how they comported themselves. Click on the link below.

http://d12pkcpt8jjevs.cloudfront.net/TRMSVOD/27759-Registrars081017-Medium-v1.mp4

Wilson
Wilson
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

McCandless verifies 300% of the signatures, lol “I was at an event and probably watched almost every one of these people sign this sheet”…”and I was at several events where I watched individual people sign their name”

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Wilson
6 years ago

And we are all sure that JIV don’t jive.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Wilson
6 years ago

Wilson 300% and 300 lbs.

Wild in the Streets
Wild in the Streets
6 years ago

Trump, apologize you bastard.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Wild in the Streets
6 years ago

Maybe Hildebeast to all us “deplorables”?

Na!!!! call me that again, next election……..

Tricksie
Tricksie
6 years ago

I found irony in Mr. Powell’s snickering at an immigrant attempting to pursue his rights…& DV your description of the players in the hearing was spot on…Woody Woodpecker – LOL !!!!!

Sum Ting Wong
Sum Ting Wong
Reply to  Tricksie
6 years ago

A Jewish immigrant at that. Perhaps Powell is an anti Semite. Mr. Powell?

Tricksie
Tricksie
Reply to  Sum Ting Wong
6 years ago

good point you may now be – Some Ting Wite

Koz
Koz
Reply to  Sum Ting Wong
6 years ago

Topix Alert

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Sum Ting Wong
6 years ago

And anti legal immigrant. Do we really want anti Semites like Powell running for office?

Ellsworth
Ellsworth
Reply to  Tricksie
6 years ago

Have to agree. Great coverage of the hearing. Other media played for The Suits only the Planet told the truth of what went on. AGREE WITH bARRY AS wOODY wOODPECKER!!!

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

We are a country founded on both Human Rights and Slavery. The United States of America is a contradiction in terms. We hold our ideals of democracy, Human Rights, and Liberty to be sacred. We cannot erase our nation’s unjust past.

Prior to the Declaration of Independence, we lived in British Colonies that were ran like corporations for the profit of the British state. We rebelled against colonialism and British tyranny over the American People. However, our Founders also owned Slaves and exploited that Native Americans in ways similar to the British.

In Europe and In America, there is an alt-Right or White Supremacy movement. Most people are against this newest form of fascism that we fought against in World War Two. But there are minority factions of white groups that support overt discrimination against minorities including the Jewish People, the Muslim People, the Black or African-American People, the Mexican Immigrants or Mexican-American People, and the like.

For the record, and above all else, I stand for Human Rights for all Peoples and people! We all have equal rights under the law. We must stand against hate, intolerance, and discrimination. We should love and respect one another, and embrace our diversity.

I am a disabled Veteran who suffers from mental illness. I live and breathe because I live in a country that accepts people like me. Sometimes, I get made fun of by bullies or ignorant people, but at the end of the day, I am alive and well because of Human Rights under law.

– Jonathan Melle

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

Actually JM the people you call alt right are thugs . Those called counter protestors are the fascists….They are the ones who are Mussolini like…..Do you’re self a favor and Google fascist decalouge

Tequila Mockingbird
Tequila Mockingbird
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

Could you explain how we were founded on slavery?

Ellsworth
Ellsworth
Reply to  Tequila Mockingbird
6 years ago

Foiunded partly on slavery is correct. Cotton was the largest cash crop of the south and contributed greatly to economic stability of the very young America. With slavery, cotton is a minor crop. With it its a cash source lucrative enough to cause civil war.

Tequila Mockingbird
Tequila Mockingbird
Reply to  Ellsworth
6 years ago

Cotton was a contribution to both north and south but US not really founded on slavery.

City Clowncil
City Clowncil
6 years ago

True that.

Shelly Liver
Shelly Liver
6 years ago

There has never been such a struggle of hate and disrespect in the History of the United Hates. People hate Muslims, they hate Mexicans, they hate each other,hate hate hate. Just drive around this City and look at the total disrespect for each other and the law, simply because you don’t go fast enough or you’re willing to follow the rules( law) of the roads.
You know you’re in Pittsfield when the downtrodden sleep Under the benches.

Sum Ting Wong
Sum Ting Wong
Reply to  Shelly Liver
6 years ago

And the judges appear to be asleep on the bench.

Tequila Mockingbird
Tequila Mockingbird
Reply to  Shelly Liver
6 years ago

Do you approve of Muslim honor killings, female genital mutilation and death penalty for gay people. I’ll admit to hating anyone who does this stuff. Live and let live.

mi
mi
6 years ago

The Registrar hearing is on now channel 18 PCTV political news hour.

May Hemm
May Hemm
6 years ago

Blumins up, this ought be good

H
H
6 years ago

Is the Chhairman from Pittsfield?

Norm Fernordner
Norm Fernordner
Reply to  H
6 years ago

GB

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Gobsigkeymouse

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

Robert E Lee was fighting for slavery and that is not to be honored by any American or Christian.

Akbar Fukwad
Akbar Fukwad
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

LIBTARD, these are the words of Abe Lincoln and we honor him

As long as blacks continue to live with the whites they constitute a threat to the national life. Family life may also collapse and the increase of mixed breed bastards may some day challenge the supremacy of the white man.

And this:

I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races. There is physical difference between the two which, in my judgment, will probably forever forbid their living together upon the footing of perfect equality, and inasmuch as it becomes a necessity that there must be a difference, I, as well as Judge Douglas, am in favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position.

Akbar Fukwad
Akbar Fukwad
Reply to  Akbar Fukwad
6 years ago

Lincoln DID NOT invade the South to end slavery.

Tequila Mockingbird
Tequila Mockingbird
Reply to  Akbar Fukwad
6 years ago

Jefferson Davis and his wife adopted and cared for a black child named Jim Limber

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Akbar Fukwad
6 years ago

No country works harder at stupid than America

Tequila Mockingbird
Tequila Mockingbird
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago
Akbar Fukwad
Akbar Fukwad
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Lincoln: “If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that.”

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

PHS or Taconic Dropout/Alum?

Ham Anex
Ham Anex
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Not many people realize that Lee was opposed to slavery

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Ham Anex
6 years ago

Why did Lee fight for slavery?

Ham Anex
Ham Anex
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Tell me where he said he was fighting for slavery.

Ellsworth
Ellsworth
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Lee fought for his beloved state of Virginia and out of honest principle. One of US Grants classmates at W Point. Grant loved and respected Lee.

dusty
dusty
6 years ago

What if they piss off the ghost of Robert E Lee and he comes up outta the ground and starts smiting peoples? And don’t think it can’t happen what with all the 3D printers and cloning and stuff. You people have no idea what is going on behind the closed doors of labs hidden deep in the forest.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Sounds like something Pittsfield would give a tax break to. Is Muracca working on this?

Sum Ting Wong
Sum Ting Wong
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

Yeah, the investors are already lining up.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Girl goes to an anti-hate protest and gets murdered in broad daylight in front of cops and national t v.

mi
mi
6 years ago

Jung can reach Pittsfield, can he?

2112
2112
Reply to  mi
6 years ago

As an illegal alien he’d be welcomed with open arms and an EBT card.

Don t
Don t
6 years ago

Why don’t those two dinosaurs go on vacation, take the wives.

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

So heres what we learned today.Lee did not fight for slavery and Lincoln did not free slaves….Trump USA

Akbar Fukwad
Akbar Fukwad
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

The Emancipation Proclamation applied only to slaves in Confederate-held lands; it did not apply to those in the four slave states that were not in rebellion (Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, and Missouri, which were unnamed), nor to Tennessee (unnamed but occupied by Union troops since 1862) and lower Louisiana (also under occupation ..

The fugitive slave law was enforced in these states until the end of the Civil War.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Akbar Fukwad
6 years ago

You are correct, Lincoln cared little about slaves. He just wanted to cause chaos in the South as a war tactic.

H
H
6 years ago

Trump didn’t denounce the group Saturday, he’s a bigot and a loser. I was driving down one of the main streets and actually seen a poor human being under a bench sleeping. What the hell are we in this city.

Spider
Spider
Reply to  H
6 years ago

Are you kidding? Homeless have been around for a good long time. And you are going to point to Trump as responsible?

Bing Bongby
Bing Bongby
Reply to  H
6 years ago

Read Trump’s words quoted in the column. He did denounce.

dusty
dusty
6 years ago

So why did Trumps sister Maryanne feel the need to go into hiding?

Rumors have it that she is living in a cave in South America, wears a fake beard and pretends not to speak English. When asked if she knew Donald Trump she vomited up two bananas and a small pile of acorns

Pat
Pat
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Didn’t Obama also have a brother that he ignored and other family members as well? Dems need to give all the facts not just those that make their own side look good. This is part of the reason why the country is in such trouble. The media picks and chooses what makes their side look good and goes into overdrive finding dirt on the other side.

http://www.wnd.com/2015/04/brother-dishonest-obama-abandoned-family/

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

You are right Pat. Fox needs to work on giving two sides. And who are all their new help they got to replace all the sex offenders? When they have their panels they are all over the place. It is like they are talking about five different subjects at once. One amateur hour after another.

And much like Pat, they pivot and try to blame everything Trump does wrong on Obama. Because that is all they got.
“Uh, Obama did it.”

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Fox is now blaming Obama for Russia of course….they try to keep all the white supremacist informed

Non Essere Uno Stronzo
Non Essere Uno Stronzo
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Non Essere Uno Stronzo

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Trump will have surpassed the equivalent of 35 Presidents with the detail of protecting himself and his entire family,he also has received in the form of air time on television two and half billion dollars of essentially infomercials because of the brand name of his businesses, Trump,every time he appears on T V. Had he not been elected, all of this free commercial and protection of his family and businesses would have cost him about a quarter billion as a private citizen that would have secured his or his family’s safety.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

and what will that number be in four years?

but at least we all getting tremendous tax cuts

2112
2112
6 years ago

Question, is there an Erwin Rommel statue anywhere in Germany? He was one of the greatest Generals in military history. Or is the fact he was on the side of one of the most evil dictators in history preventing his statue from being erected?

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  2112
6 years ago

In 1944, Rommel was implicated in the 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler. Due to Rommel’s status as a national hero, Hitler desired to eliminate him quietly. Rommel was given a choice between committing suicide, in return for assurances that his reputation would remain intact and that his family would not be persecuted following his death, or facing a trial that would result in his disgrace and execution; he chose the former and committed suicide using a cyanide pill. Rommel was given a state funeral, and it was announced that he had succumbed to his injuries from the strafing of his staff car in Normandy.

Maybe he deserves a monument

2112
2112
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

Rommel was never involved in the plot to kill Hitler. Hitler, being the paranoid megalomaniac he was, implicated him for something he never did. He often did this, especially towards the end.
Rommel was a most loyal soldier but was loyal to one of the most evil causes and dictators in history. He was a brilliant general, no doubt, but no one loyal to Hitler deserves any kind of monument.
Hitler was pure evil and had little regard for human life. Many think he was insane. He was also perhaps the most incompetent military strategists in history.
Why anyone would idolize him is beyond comprehension, especially in this day and age.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  2112
6 years ago

What’s the source for this fiction?

2112
2112
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

“Rommel opposed assassinating Hitler. After the war, his widow maintained that he believed an assassination attempt would spark a civil war.[64] According to journalist and author William L. Shirer, Rommel knew about the conspiracy and advocated that Hitler be arrested and placed on trial. The historian Ian Becket argues that “there is no credible evidence that Rommel had more than limited and superficial knowledge of the plot” and concludes that he would not have acted to aid the plotters in the aftermath of the attempt on 20 July,[58] while the historian Ralf Georg Reuth contends that “there was no indication of any active participation of Rommel in the conspiracy.”[65] Historian Richard Evans concluded that he knew of a plot, but was not involved.[66]”

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

Ian Becket….why didn’t you say that before?

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  2112
6 years ago
2112
2112
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

If you’ve ever watched the World at War series (a must see) or WW2 in Color they both contend Rommel did not plot to assassinate Hitler. The link you supplied is to a show not know for its credibility. Read all the comments below the video to find out.

12 gauge
12 gauge
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

So the smithsoniam has no credibility?

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

And the clowns commenting on youtube videos know so much.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  2112
6 years ago
Blorch
Blorch
Reply to  2112
6 years ago

But there IS a statue of Mussolini in Rome. And rightly so.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Blorch
6 years ago

I believe there is a Mussolini statue in democrat national HQ.

Larson E. Hall
Larson E. Hall
Reply to  Blorch
6 years ago

When do we get a Linda Tyer statue?

Linden Tyler
Linden Tyler
Reply to  Larson E. Hall
6 years ago

I’ll bet it’ll be vibrant!

Gary Wood
Gary Wood
Reply to  Larson E. Hall
6 years ago

My vote if for a Gerry Doyle statue. I’ll bet a brewery will fund it.

Milt Plum
Milt Plum
Reply to  Gary Wood
6 years ago

Maybe it could be fashioned from empty beer cans.

Spider
Spider
6 years ago

What’s next? Will they demand that all books about R.E. Lee and the Civil War be burned? Pictures about the Civil War and Confederate generals be removed?

And will “Gone With The Wind” be banned?

Where does it end?

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Spider
6 years ago

A
book on Lee would be bought for privately educating yourself about his fight to own slaves

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

As if you ever bought or read a book

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
6 years ago

What’s in a name? A lot more than history, apparently.

Faculty at Brown University — the seventh-oldest and arguably the most progressive of America’s higher learning institutions — caved into pressure by students and teachers trying to right the perceived wrongs of history by voting earlier this month to rename the Columbus Day holiday as “Fall Weekend.”

Proponents cited Christopher Columbus’ enslavement and violent treatment of Native Americans, and argued the name of the Italian explorer should be expunged from the day of celebration.

While 67 percent of Brown students reportedly approved of the decision, some off-campus took “particular offense” to the renaming, including David Cicilline — a Brown alumnus and mayor of Providence, the town where the university is located.

In March, a commission — established by Brown, the city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island — tried to right another perceived historical wrong when it released a report that made six recommendations to acknowledge the university’s ties to the slave trade.

Among other things, it recommended building a public memorial that recognizes links between slavery and the university’s early benefactors.

Brown’s founder, the Rev. James Manning, was a slave owner who accepted donations from many slave owners and traders, including the Brown family. The four Brown brothers, a wealthy family from Providence, made their fortune in part by trading slaves.

John — the second born — was the college’s treasurer and used slave laborers to construct campus buildings, including University Hall. Eldest brother Moses — supported by family money — freed his slaves and became an abolitionist, as did his nephew, Nicholas Jr., who became the university’s namesake.

The commission also called on the university last month to re-examine how to teach this history at the 8,000-student institution. But those recommendations did not include the possibility of renaming Brown University, something critics blast as hypocritical.

“If you’re going to get rid of the day honoring Columbus because he was involved in slavery, I don’t see how you can bypass the Brown problem,” said John Leo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. “They have to be consistent with their message on slavery. And if they’re not willing to do that, then there’s no reason to take them seriously.”

Cicilline, who graduated from Brown in 1983, said the decision to drop Columbus Day doesn’t mesh with the university’s express commitment to expose the evils of slavery, even if it extends beyond its own historical past.

“Brown University made itself an example to the nation by carefully exploring its ties to the slave trade and using that process to promote greater understanding,” Cicilline said in a statement released after the decision on Columbus Day. “The decision to simply erase the celebration of an incredibly significant moment in world history and Italian-American culture for sake of political correctness does just the opposite.”

Raymond Dettore Jr., national historian for the Sons of Italy, said Brown’s decision to drop Columbus is “laughable” and has damaged the university’s reputation among Italian-Americans. Brown’s “intellectual escapades” should not stop until the school’s name is changed as well, he said.

“If they want to be consistent, that’s exactly what they should do,” Dettore said. “If Columbus Day was offensive to Native Americans, is a slave trader offensive to African-Americans?”

Mark Nickel, director of communications at Brown, told FOXNews.com that the university’s name has not been an issue since 1804, when the College of Rhode Island became Brown University.

“The colonial-era Brown family was a complicated and contradictory circle of people,” Nickel wrote in an e-mail. “They ranged from the unrepentant slave trader John Brown to some of the most ardent abolitionists like Moses Brown. Although John Brown and other prominent Rhode Islanders were among the University’s founders and early benefactors, the University’s actual namesake is Nicholas Brown Jr., an abolitionist.”

Nickel said a $5,000 gift from Nicholas Brown Jr. in 1804 ultimately led to the original renaming.

Still, others close to the debate say Brown’s decision to distance itself from Columbus was a “positive message” to students and the university community as a whole.

“It shows leadership in an issue that’s been swept under the rug by most of the education institutions in the country,” said Patrick Crowley, editor of Rhode Island’s Future, a politics and culture blog. “It’s an important step.”

Changing Brown’s name would accomplish little, Crowley said, and present many other possibilities to consider.

“If we started changing the names of every institution connected to the slave trade, we’d have to change the name of the White House,” Crowley said. “Acknowledging the role that the university’s founder played in the slave trade does more to address the problem than simply a name change.”

If Brown does eventually consider changing its name, one critic suggested a title with a familiar ring — “Columbus University.”

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

So it looks like Brown needs to be shut down and go away.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

Columbus day will probably go away

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

so you’ll have to push the broom at work that day.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
6 years ago

What’s clear from viewing this blog that many people are victims of the poor education that they received from the Pittsfield Public School System.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

Are you not one of those products?

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

No, I hail from parts unknown,

Pat
Pat
6 years ago

These people are out of control. Many of the groups these radicals are trying to save from being offended are not even offended, but these groups insist they should be offended. A Native American wrote on this site recently that Native Americans are proud when sports teams used their names even though radicals wanted to change the names of the Taconic Braves and other sports teams. Native Americans thought the name highlighted their courage and bravery. Radical groups wanted to convince everyone that it was offensive to Native Americans. Who are these people speaking for when even the people they are supposedly trying to save from being offended are not offended?

It’s no accident that schools are the hotbed of all of this insanity. They care more about recruiting the young for their causes than of giving them an education that shows all sides of issues so they can make their own informed decisions of what to believe. Instead many colleges now routinely prevent conservative thinkers from speaking on campus. Education is sadly no longer about hearing all sides of an issue and making an independent fully informed decision requiring critical thinking skills. Instead, modern education teaches the young to believe what is popular at the moment.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Pat this is fake informatio about schools,how does one teach liberal math

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

The school committee you are a total buffoon.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Conservatives are trying ty o rid their party of white supremacy

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

go to taco bell and eat a taco supreme

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

Love tacos

mi
mi
6 years ago

Rommel ran out of gas, or was that Trump?

dusty
dusty
Reply to  mi
6 years ago

Trump has lots of gas

oh yeah he does

the bloviated blowhard

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  mi
6 years ago

Ted Kennedy ran off a bridge

dusty
dusty
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

but Obama was the real culprit…I bet he colluded with the Russians to get elected..how else can we explain it?

May Hemm
May Hemm
6 years ago

He acts like a child. He’s not half the man my good friend Chuck Garavaltis is.

Howard Jay
Howard Jay
6 years ago

This just in:

Dennis Powell just got a parking ticket and Chairman of the Pittsfield Human Rights Commission declared parking kiosks racist. The kiosks will be sent to re-education camp,

Larson E. Hall
Larson E. Hall
6 years ago

Kroll unopposed so he gets health insurance for himself and family while he runs his fake business…..such a parasite.

WARDS
• In Ward 1, Helen Moon is facing off against Michael Cirullo for outgoing Lisa Tully’s seat. Tully is not running for reelection.
• In Ward 2, Dina M. Guiel is challenging incumbent Kevin Morandi.
• In Ward 3, James F. Gleason is challenging incumbent Nicholas J. Caccamo.
• In Ward 4, William E. Wright is challenging incumbent Christopher J. Connell.
• In Ward 5, William Keane is challenging incumbent Donna Todd Rivers.
• In Ward 6, incumbent John Krol is running unopposed.
• In Ward 7 Rhonda L. Serre is challenging incumbent Anthony J. Simonelli.
AT LARGE
Of the four at large seats on the council, one is being vacated, by Kathleen Amuso.
There are six candidates for the four seats, including the remaining three incumbents: Melissa Mazzeo, Peter T. White, and Peter M. Marchetti.
They are being challenged by Edward James Carmel, Earl G. Persip III and Graig Caetan

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Larson E. Hall
6 years ago

Gaetani gets fewer votes for clowncil than he did when he ran for mayor!

mi
mi
6 years ago

Gaetani will win Councilor at Large, blame Putin if he doesn’t.