Valley Patriot Blog

Paying Attention! Radio Program with Tom Duggan, Januray 16, 2010

2010-01-18T19:54:00.002-05:00

CLICK HERE FOR MP3

CLICK HERE FOR ALTERNATIVE AUDIO PAGE

In the first hour Tom talked about Lawrence Mayor Willie Lantigua's second week in office including: swearing in Melix Bonilla as Deputy Police Chief without a vote of the city council as required by law, fired Planning Director Mike Sweeney, Inspector Myles Burke and Recreation Director Linda Schiavone. The City Council's responsibility in confirming the firings, Councilor Grisel Silva's latest outbursts and how she was FINALLY called to task by a fellow councilor, Lantigua's first school committee meeting and how he has already violated the charter and lied to the public about school department lawyers.

In the second hour we took calls from listeners about the Senate race between Martha Coakley and Scott Brown, Callers included Sam Mease, Bruce Tarr, Paula Porten, Paul Avella, Jameson, The Guy From Boston Joe Ligotti, and a Coakley supporter Chris Doherty.

Other topics included: giving money to Haiti, negative ads and the Fells Acre Day Care debacle.

Methuen Muslims Speak Out

2008-06-13T18:12:00.000-04:00

Methuen Muslims Speak Out
Tom Duggan

The Valley Patriot was invited into the Selimiye Mosque in Methuen where an interview took place with several members, including Shaban, Yusef and Hussein. More than 250 families are members and worship at the Selimiye Mosque on Oakland Avenue in Methuen. Most are from Turkey and hail from Methuen as well as other cities and towns throughout the Valley.

In 2006, The Valley Patriot published a column by syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin regarding Islam and terrorism. And to show support for our colleagues in Denmark who were in fear for their lives for publishing cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad, (something forbidden by Islam) we published one of the cartoons alongside Malkins’ Column.

It was a sore spot for some of the Muslims at the Mosque in Methuen whom admitted they were Valley Patriot readers at the time. But it wasn’t until we published a letter to the editor last months (written by Dennis Walters) equating Islam to terrorism that the members of the Mosque decided to officially respond. At first, the Mosque’s leader Soner Ungz sent in a letter to the editor in response, but within days, asked for an interview for publication.

Soner Ungz did not attend the interview but seven male members of the Mosque did. Ungz, communicated through a translator via email after the interview.

“I use to read this paper,” Shaban said when he saw The Valley Patriot on the table. “I use to pick it up over on Lowell Street. I thought this was a very good paper. But then I saw that cartoon and the [column] attacking Islam and I tell you that hurt a lot of people. I just couldn’t understand it,” he said.

“I talked to the mayor about the cartoon when he came here and I asked him if he knew who you were, I said I wanted to meet you so we can know each other. So we can see each others face. We were very unhappy, the cartoon hurt us because [Muhammad] is our prophet too, we didn’t complain at the time we didn’t want a back and forth ‘he said –he said’ but I did want to meet you.”

Asked how Americans can attack Islamic terrorists in the media without offending Muslims, Shaban got passionate as did the rest of the group.

“You can say Islam and terrorists, but terrorists can not be Islam. When the terrorist says he is are [for] Islam they are using my faith. They are using my Islam. This is big power for him. Do you think he is a good Muslim? They hurt us more than anyone else when they use Islam for their terrorism. A terrorist is a terrorist and I don’t care what he says he believes, he is a terrorist and I hate him more than you do, he is hurting my religion more than anybody else.”

Hussein, a young man in his 20’s took particular exception to the letter to the editor written by Dennis Walters.
“I was born in Germany and I was in Germany on 9/11. After 9/11, the media painted Islam as violent and that we have to see in the Muslims a terrorist. We are Turks, we have been in Germany since 1916, and we have not created terrorism in Germany in that time. You can twist the verses, [like] this writer took some verses without the history or background, he says in his letter that Islam orders Muslims to kill unbelievers, it’s not true.”

“Jihad is not to kill unbelievers it’s for defense. If you are attacked by another we say ‘Jihad.’ The people [can] call the terrorists Muslims, I call them unbelievers. They change the background and meaning of Jihad, they misuse it, therefore they are unbelievers themselves. They’re changing the word of Allah. They are wrong, see Allah in the wrong way. This is what we want people to know.”

“This letter is dangerous,” Yusef added. “It’s sloppily written. Every verse in the Quran has a certain background. If it happened during a certain times in the Quran the verses have a different context.”

Asked how Americans can tell the difference between peaceful Muslims and the terrorists, Yusef responded;

“There are extremists in all religions that have the same dress and study from the same book as non extremists. How do you know the priest who is not a pedophile versus one [who] is, they dress the same, they read from the same book?”

“All I can say is that Muslims have a responsibility, one way or another to teach others about our religion. We are still searching for the right way to do that right now, Muslims don’t have much of a voice in American media today. Maybe once we do, that will help. But, I think if you are someone from Methuen you know you have nothing to fear from the Muslims because this mosque has been here since 1995, the Turks have been here since late 80’s. There’s been no problem. The [former] chief of police and the mayor come to this Mosque all the time. They come to our summer picnics. We have a good relationship with them. So if you know the Muslims in this area, you know we are peaceful and have nothing to fear. I’d like to think that the people of greater Lawrence know that.”

Asked if Muslims have an obligation to speak out against terrorism, Yusef admitted they do.

“Sure we do, we have an obligation to speak out against any wrong. Long before 911 we had that responsibility.”

Why has that not happened on a large scale?

“A lot of it is fear. But a lot of it is that someone like Sean Hannity is not going to put a Muslim on his show unless he is saying something outrageous and then he will have them on to get ratings.”

“Someone said after 9/11 that the terrorists had hijacked their religion, because if they dress themselves as Muslims, it makes it harder for fellow Muslims to denounce it. It is harder to denounce a family member than someone else. Since 9/11 there is a lot of fear.”

“But, we have to show the difference between us and them that is our responsibility,” Hussein responded.

Shaban said he believed that the terrorists who were using Islam “as cover” should not be associated with peaceful Muslims. “They are using my beautiful Quran and they hurt us so much. I say don’t punish the faith, punish the terrorists. If you are a good Muslim, you do good things for your religion, you help people, you respect people, you don’t hurt them. It is against our religion to commit suicide. How many people know that? These suicide bomber are no way Muslims.”

Osama Bin Laden

When the group was asked if Osama Bin Laden was responsible for 9/11 none of the group would answer the question except Shaban.

“Well, who pushed the button? Who was the cause, we don’t know. Did he do it, Osama Bin Laden? He didn’t do it himself. Who did it? They all attack Islam but they don’t know and it has never been proven. They used them [the people who hijacked the planes]. They found someone stupid enough to do it But they can’t prove who did it.”

Soner Ungz leader of the Mosque later explained that because of Shaban’s poor choice of words he did not want anyone to think that they were denying Osama Bin Laden was responsible for the terrorist attacks on 9/11 .

“I believe that Shaban was trying to emphasize the Al-Qaida Network as a whole was responsible for the attacks and not necessarily the singular effort of Bin Laden. If I recall, correctly, Khalid Shaykh Muhammad was the mastermind behind it. It was more so a consorted effort. I don’t think Shaban wanted to down play the role of Bin Laden, but only to show that there are other major players behind the scenes. A quick example of this, Bin Laden had sought the guidance and edict of the Blind Shaykh, who is in prison now. Bin Laden needed to procure “scholarly” justification for what he and others were planning. I believe this is the common perception amongst American Muslims. They don’t wish to just single out Bin Laden, but stress that Al-Qaida is bigger than Bin Laden.

“The belief held by us at the Selimiye Mosque is that the prepretrators of the 9/11 attacks were not Muslims. We believe this because Islam, when examined in its original sources doesn’t advocate, or condone violence against civilians. He quoted the Quran passage: Sahih Bukhari Volume 004, Book 052, Hadith Number 257. Narrated By ‘Abdullah: During some of the Ghazawat of the Prophet a woman was found killed. Allah’s Apostle disapproved the killing of women and children.”

“Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, had advised the Muslim army along these lines prior to their campaign: “Do not be harsh on them; do not kill children, old men or women; do not cut down or burn palm trees, do not destroy fruit trees, do not slay a sheep or camel except for food. If you see people who have taken refuge in monasteries, let them be safe in their place of refuge.”

“In this context, those who purposely contravene the teachings of Islam can’t be necessarily associated with Islam, or more simply put, bear the label of a “Muslim.”

The Muslims of the Selimiye Mosque on Oakland Avenue in Methuen invited The Valley Patriot back for more discussions in the future and though there were some language issues and misunderstandings we fully intend to take them up on that offer.

If you would like to comment on this article you can email Tom Duggan at Tdugjr@aol.com

A few years late... Eagle Tribune Finally Weighs in on McGravey Matter

2008-04-13T10:08:00.008-04:00

It doesn't take much courage to come out and take a stand on an important public issue after that issue has been decided upon and concluded in a court of law.

.. years after other newspapers have discussed and debated the issue a hundred different ways.

Today, however, the Alabama~Eagle FINALLY took a stand against Lawrence City Council President Patrick Blanchette's harassment of former assistant city clerk Jennifer Padellaro.

FINALLY (years after the fact) the Alabama~Eagle has acknowledged that Padellaro was the victim of sexual harassment at the hands of Patrick Blanchette's best friend Jim McGravey. Finally, the Trib. admits that Blanchette acted illegally in protecting McGravey. FINALLY! they have the courage (after the fact) to put the blame squarely on Lawrence city officials ...Finally!

But there were elements of the Alabama~Eagle's editorial today that looked SUPER familiar to us here at The Valley Patriot. Let's compare and contrast today's editorial by the Eagle and the column written in The Valley Patriot's FEBRUARY 2008 edition.

(FEBRUARY 4, 2008)
VALLEY PATRIOT'S PAYING ATTENTION! COLUMN

The Real Disgrace in the Jennifer Paddelaro Lawsuit

(APRIL 13, 2008)
EAGLE TRIBUNE EDITORIAL
Poor handling of McGravey matter cost Lawrence dearly

Councilor rushed to hospital for suspected drug overdose

2008-04-11T17:34:00.003-04:00

Lawrence City Councilor Grisel Silva was rushed to the hospital Wednesday afternoon after a 911 call was placed to the Lawrence Police claiming the District "B" councilor was in her car and had taken a bottle of sleeping pills. (READ TRIBUNE STORY HERE) Officers Flemming and Beauleau investigated the incident and Silva was held for observation overnight. Police said last night that Silva will most likely, not be charged with driving while under the influence. Silva's husband Nelson, refused to comment to the Valley Patriot last night, but did threaten to sue the Lawrence Police the Eagle Tribune and the Valley Patriot if the police report or the 911 call was reported to the public. Oddly enough, Councilor Silva did issue a public statement last night only minutes after the Valley Patriot website posted the story and then was hacked into, making updates to the site impossible for more than two hours. (Grisel Silva's Press Release).

***We at the Valley Patriot are interested in what YOU think about the latest Grisel Silva fiasco.

Her husband contends that this is purely a private matter and others are contending that this is just the Evil Tribune out to get her .... again. Should Grisel Silva resign from the council and tend to her enormous personal and emotional problems before trying to solve the city's problems? Is this story over the line and an invasion of her personal life? And, what if she had fallen asleep at the wheel of her car and killed someone? Shouldn't she be charged with DUI?? Does she bear any responsibility for the bad press she causes the city every time she gets crazy and does something monumentally embarrassing?

Ogonowski Visits Lawrence Declaring "NO AMNEST FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS)

2007-09-21T14:46:00.000-04:00

Ogonowski: Niki Tsongas Supports Amnesty for Illegal Aliens

I will Support a Border Fence and Deporting Illegals

Fifth District Congressional candidate Jim Ogonowski visited Lawrence again Friday morning holding a press conference at the Lawrence Fire Station on Lowell Street.

Ogonowski spoke for ten minutes before a small crowd of Lawrence residents declaring his support for deporting illegal aliens, building a fence on the border between the United States and Mexico and denying government services to those who have come here illegally.

Ogonowski declared today the second day of his “No Amnesty” tour across the district, starting yesterday in Dracut.

“Today in America we have a real problem with illegal immigration and our border security is at a breaking point. Every day that we leave our borers and our ports unprotected it puts a strain on our national security, our school, and hospitals. Congress and the president can no longer fail the American people on this important issue. My friends, true immigration reform does not include amnesty for illegal immigrants.”

Ogonowski said that congress and President Bush’s proposal to grant amnesty for illegals “a national disgrace.”

“Not once, but twice they tried to pass an immigration reform bill granting amnesty for illegal immigrants. The people didn’t want it he first time and they tried to do it again. Congress and the president have failed us on this issue. We must penalize those who break our laws. When I go to congress I make this pledge to you, my interest will be your interests, not the special interests.”

“First things first real immigration reform does not include amnesty for illegal immigrants. When I go to Washington I will deliver this message. And this is the big difference between myself and my opponents. Niki Tsongas wants to give amnesty to illegal immigrants. She wants to give them a pathway to citizenship even for those who violate our laws, somewhere between 10 and 20 million of them. For me rewarding illegal activity will never be an option.”

“She supports a pathway to citizenship for those who are here on a gust worker program and have remained here illegally. I believe illegal immigrants need to go back to their home country and apply for citizenship the right way. To me, her agenda is bad for the fifth district, bad for America and its just plain wrong.”

“She claims to be a Washington insider; her ideas represent the broken Washington that continues to fail us each and every day.

I believe our immigration system is broken we have left our borders unprotected and therefore threatens our national security.”

“I believe we must develop a comprehensive strategy for securing our borders. A strategy that actually stops people from crossing the borders illegally. I support a fence, both a physical fence and a technological fence along the border to stop the influx of illegal immigrants.”

“You know, many times your basement may flood, but before you bail out your basement you fill up the cracks, it’s the same thing. Let’s fix the border and then we can start bailing out those who are here illegally.”

Ogonowski said he believes that congress can set aside enough resources to enforce existing immigration laws and wants to give employers a means of checking the status of people who come to the United States looking for a job to ensure they are here legally.

“We must also end the police of catch and release. We’re not fishing here; this is not a fishing expedition. When illegals are caught they should never be released on U.S. soil. This seems like a no-brainer to me. I will advocate against catch and release policies and will always stand strong that illegal immigrants who are caught need to be returned to their home nation.”

Ogonowski also said that temporary work visas “must never lead to automatic citizenship.”

“Securing our borders are not enough. We need to know who is in our country and why. To do that we need to pressure the Bush administration to implement a system of keeping track of those who enter this country with a tamper proof ID.

“There are some sneaky politicians in Washington who are always looking for a way to sneak amnesty for illegal immigrants into bills that are going though congress. Just a few weeks ago Congress were considering an S-chip bill. For those of you who don’t know about this, it provides help for uninsured children with health benefits. But this is what they did in congress; they filled it with reckless spending, cuts to our seniors and benefits to those who broken our laws, the illegal immigrants. Included in this bill was legislation to allow illegal immigrants access to free government health benefits.”

“Guess what? My opponent Niki Tsonga supports that bill and then she lied about my record by saying I don’t want to help poor children. I’m not going to stand for it and neither should you. I don’t think she noticed … that we would notice she was just trying to further her agenda of giving amnesty for illegal immigrants. This is wrong.

Ogonowski shook hands with Lawrence residents and promised each of them individually that he would stand strong on border security and illegal immigration.

2007-06-22T13:29:00.001-04:00

North Andover

Thomson Mothers, Sandy Gleed & Dawn Crescitelli
Absent TUFF Group
$1.65 Mil Override Passes
Without the support of the TUFF group
N. Andover finally approved an override,
rendering Diane Huster and the
"Desperate Housewives" completely
irrelevant and ineffective in town elections.

	YES	NO
1	290	563
2	432	566
3	357	468
4	544	523
5	190	172
6	766	520
7	817	455
8	765	494
Total	4161	3761

Hispanic Week Schedule 2007

2007-06-10T13:26:00.000-04:00

Thursday June 7th - 6pm
VIP Dinner - Wyndham HotelANDOVER.

Sunday. - June 10 - 6-9pm
Haitian Night 94 Broadway
Peruvian NightSt. Mary’s

Monday June 11 - 6-9pm
Colombian & Salvadorian Night
Galaxia 6-9pm

Tuesday June 126-9pm
Ecuadorian Night - TBA

Wednesday, June 13 - 6-11pm
Puerto Rican Night -Pemberton Park

Thursday June 14th 6-11pm
Dominican Night- Pemberton Park

Friday June 15
Hispanic Week Activities on the
Common begin at NOON!

Saturday June 16th Hispanic Week Activities
on the Common - Noon - 11pm

Sunday, June 17th
Hispanic Week Parade - Noon2-11pm
MORE festivities on the common

For more information you can visit Hispanic week on line atwww.semanahispana.org

Hero Veteran Speaks at Memorial Day Service in North Andover

2007-05-28T15:21:00.000-04:00

Local Hero Speaks on War on Terror

Memorial Day Services were held all around the Merrimack Valley today in honor of those who lost their lives serving the United States Armed Forces. In North Andover, Massachusetts, Valley Patriot of the Month, Thomas Hudner, a Medal of Honor recipient, spoke to the hundreds of onlookers about the sacrifices made by the men and women of the United States Military. His speech is published below.

Also present were former Valley Patriot Heroes, James Cassidy, Ed Mitchell, John Doherty, Bill Callahan, LST Commander James Henderson, and several others who participated in the honoring of our servicemen and women.

(As a side note, I found it amazing that those who proclaim to support the troops, but not their mission in Iraq, were NOWHERE to be found today in Lawrence or North Andover (and I suspect around the nation) when our brave troops were being honored. If these cowards who reiterate the propaganda of our enemies while pretending to support our troops really and truly cared, why are they ALWAYS noticeably absent whenever Memorial day, Veteran's day or other days of commemoration for the troops roll around? The Valley Patriot would like to thank all those who honored our heroes today, and in their memory we have been granted permission from World War II and Korean War Hero Thomas Hudner to post his speech given at the Ridgewood Cemetery in North Andover Massachusetts at noon time today.)

MEMORIAL DAY - NORTH ANDOVER - MAY 28, 2007

Thomas Hudner

"It was 232 years ago, within a day’s march of where we are now gathered, that the first shots were fired in Concord that marked the start of a war that changed history. It signaled the start of “A new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

In that battle and the ensuing war, a tiny nation stood up to the world’s greatest power in its quest for freedom. Because of brilliant leadership, a dedication to the belief that all mend are created equal and a relentless determination to attain liberty in the face of almost insurmountable hardships, that small group of colonies conquered its former oppressor and has since evolved into the greatest nation in the history of mankind.

Close by are memorials to all those patriots of generations past who gave their lives to preserve those liberties, not only for us Americans, but also for the people of those nations around the globe who looked to us to attain or maintain theirs.

Today we are observing Memorial Day which commemorates all those who gave their lives in the defense of that “New nation’s freedoms and equality of all men which are articulated in our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. It is an occasion for the American people to reflect on the sacrifices in human lives which led to the independence and the growth and the maturation of our country and of the freedoms we now enjoy.

My generation has experienced three major wars; World War II, The Korean War and the Viet Nam War. World War II was fought by the great generation of Americans who saved the world from fascist aggression and secured the blessings of liberty or hundreds of millions of people around the world. Four hundred thousand American sided in that war and of over 16 million who fought in it, less than 4 million are still alive today. And, 100,000 more American lives were lost in Korea and Viet Nam in the cause of freedom.

Today, their descendants are fighting a global war against terrorism. They are serving and sacrificing in Afghanistan and Iraq and at other outposts on the front lines of freedom. The lives of every one of them are precious to their loved ones and to our nation. And each life given in the name of liberty is a life that has not been lost in vain.

This war in which we are now engaged, truly another world war, is a vicious guerrilla war, one in which religious zealots are determined to destroy us. It is a war between two cultures, one which values life and the dignity of man and the other which considers that any lives sacrificed for violation of Islamic Law, regardless of sex or age, are a tribute to Allah.

Although most fighting is in Iraq and Afghanistan, the enemy is striking in locations all throughout the world, intent on destroying the civilized world we live in. And it WILL be a long war.

We have taken the position that the terrorists must be confronted and destroyed where possible. We offer prayers every day for the safety of our troops and for their success in subjugating the evil that has been infiltrating through our and other societies for many years.

Our precious freedoms and our way of life envied throughout the world have been attained only through great sacrifice and the wisdom of those who came before us.

Today, also, we share the sorrow of the mothers and fathers and families and friends of those who never returned from the field of battle. They have suffered the greatest human tragedy – the loss of sons and daughters, spouses and brothers and sisters.

America has always been a beacon of hope for freedom for oppressed and threatened people of the world over. We have used our military might to enable other people, as well as our own, to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And it has been our veterans throughout history who have been the key players in making the world a safer and better place to live.

We must give special thanks to those veterans who bear the scars of combat, many of whom are disabled and in need of constant medical care. Our hospitals are full of veterans suffering from illnesses and injuries incurred during combat or from the rigors of military service, afflictions that prevent them from living pain free lives enjoyed by most Americans.

So, today we express our honor to those men and women who have followed in the footsteps of our forefathers starting with the colonists and the minutemen. They were, and are today, those who were willing to fight as necessary to perpetuate the way of life passed down to them by warriors of earlier generations. They know there is no glory in war; it can be utter hell. But, thanks to them, we are living here in peace.

In closing, let is be reminded of President Abraham Lincoln’s words in 1863 at the cemetery by the battlefield of Gettysburg, and I quote;

“The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which, they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they have the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shot have died in vain….”

With Americans fighting in the cause of freedom in a land almost half a world away, think of how applicable Lincoln’s words are today. Although eh spoke of he dead, his words apply equally to those men and women in uniform who are devoted to the cause of freedom and peace.

We are blessed to be Americans. Let us not, in the selfishness of forgetfulness betray those we honor this morning. Our legacy from them, obtained at the cost of the blood of millions, is priceless.

God Bless them, - And god bless us all. "

.

(All pictures (c) copyright, 2007 The Valley Patriot)

Front Runner Tsongas Calls For Immediate Withdrawal from Iraq

2007-05-16T01:37:00.000-04:00

Front Runner Tsongas Calls For
Immediate Withdrawal from Iraq
Former Congressman Jim Shannon Endorses Tsongas
Tom Duggan, The Valley Patriot

Niki Tsongas, the front runner in the race for the 5th congressional district visited the city of Lawrence last night at the opening of her Essex Street headquarters only feet away from city hall.

Tsongas is seeking to replace Marty Meehan who abandoned his position in congress to take a job at the University of Massachusetts after denying to The Valley Patriot that he was even looking to leave his elected post in Washington.

As part of her 24 hour bus tour throughout the district, Tsongas was met by former mayoral candidate Marcos Devers, Lawrence High School teacher Pedro Payano, Carlos Campana and several other Lawrence residents who were responsible for opening the headquarters downtown. A few days ago Andover State Rep. Barry Finegold opened his Lawrence headquarters on Essex St. a few blocks away.

Tsongas was accompanied by former Lawrence Congressman Jim Shannon who endorsed her saying “There is only one candidate that we have running for congress in this district who can really hit the ground running and have a big impact in Washington from the day she gets there ...Niki Tsongas.”

Shannon said he had had many opportunities to work with Tsongas on various projects troughout the years, adding “the number one priority has to be [to] send a strong voice to Washington and stop wasting the millions in the middle east and bring them home where they can do more good.”

Tsongas of said her number one priority, “it is clear to me that we can no longer pursue a policy of folly in Iraq. And as a member of congress, if elected, I would commit to ending that war and ending it now so we can no longer …” the applause in the room was so loud that Tsongas could to be heard finishing her sentence.

Tsongas is running for the democrat nomination against Lowell city councilor Eileen Donoghue, Andover state representative Barry Finegold, and representatives Jim Miceli and Jamie Eldridge.

Also calling for the surrender of U.S. troops to the Muslim terrorists in Iraq is Lowell city councilor Eileen Donoghue and representative Jamie Eldridge.

Neither Tsongas, Eldridge nor Donoghue have addressed what the U.S. should do to quell the millions of deaths and tortures that will take place at the hands of the Muslim terrorists once the US leaves the region. In fact, none of the candidates who favor surrendering in Iraq have addressed how to fight the Muslim terrorists around the world who have declared war on the United States.

...and to date, none of them have even listed "defeating the terrorists" as one of their main priorities when listing "health care," "econimic development" and "global warming" as their main issues.

Tom Duggan

Siglo21 Misleading Latinos

2007-05-07T02:21:00.000-04:00

Last week Siglo 21, (a partially bilingual newspaper) printed the following paragraphs about the ACLU and our website posting about the meeting: (Siglo21)

"Tommy Duggan, the director of The Valley Patriot, the only member of the Anglo-American press present at the gathering with the ACLU, reported the event on his web page with the following words: "And all the criminals, cop haters and social malcontents came out of the woodwork to tell their sad and sordid tales of victimization at the hands of the evil, white, racists at the Lawrence Police Department." With those remarks, Duggan dismissed the complaints as claims coming from Latino delinquents taking advantage of the racial conflict to justify their antisocial behavior. To validate his point of view, the director of The Valley Patriot forgot to mention that there were "white Americans" at the meeting who gave their testimony regarding police violence. Mr. Duggan also failed to mention in his initial report that some of the victims pointed to Latino policemen as part of the abusive officers."

The only problem here is, this is a blatant falsehood (lie?).

There was only one "white American" who spoke at the ACLU meeting among all the cop bashing that went on and it was Kurt Charenza (who didn't bash anybody).

Charenza, a decorated military man, did not speak one word about police abuse, racism or police brutality. His beef (the only one who seemed to have a legitimate complaint that night) was that he was stabbed and beaten by civilians to the point of having permanent nerve damage to his face and, according to Charenza, the Lawrence police refused to investigate the crime.

This is a far cry from what Siglo21 described as: "white Americans at the meeting who gave their testimony regarding police violence."

It is sad, yet predictable that the Spanish language media cannot give an accurate portrayal of what happens at meetings like this because they are so beholden to an agenda of promoting fear and distrust among Latinos towards the police.

The only "Latino policeman" mentioned at that meeting was by Mr. Charenza who mentioned a "Latino" police officer he spoke with while trying to get his case resolved.

Mr. Charenza did not ever make an allegation that he was abused by Lawrence cops and the fact that Siglo21 would promote such a lie only goes to show what lengths people will go to promote hate.

Ethics in the Eagle Tribune

2007-04-22T21:39:00.000-04:00

Did anyone else notice in the Alabama Eagle~Tribune's story on Ethics among elected officials on Sunday quoted Lawrence Council President Patrick Blanchette without mentioning that he had his city council office renovated out of the DPW budget, all the while he was calling for the firing of John Griffin for having his office renovated out of someone else's budget???
Well, I guess the Trib isn't going to tell you that now because they never covered the story when it happened. ONly the Valley Patriot covered THAT story.
Did anyone notice they didn't mention Blanchette had his own street paved at 200% the original bid?
Isn't it hysterical that the Tribune goes out of their way to quote Blanchette on ETHICS (of all things) without mentioning HIS conflicts of interest and ethics questions! How come they didn't mntion how many ethics complaints Blanchette has filed? It's called journalism, and the Trib is doing a sloppy job at it while they bend over backwards (forward?) to ease the coming blows out of the ethics commission.
Just to top it all off, then Mark Vogler (Blanchette's press boy) quotes him in a story about TREES in Lawrence... LMAO, I guess Mr. Vogler couldn't find any other relevant city officials to interview so he just threw another bone to Blanchette to give him more ink.
Why was there no mention of the fact that Blanchette has been advocating for the LOWEST bidders on property the city is disposing of?
WOW
Maybe they should rename the Eagle~Tribune to "Patrick's Pravda!"

Valley Patriot Blog

2007-04-19T13:04:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Valley Patriot Blog. Here you can post thoughts and opinions, news tips, scheduled events in the community, and discuss the topics of the day. Any personal attacks on individuals will be deleted and the IP adress of the offending party will be blocked from posting further comments. Here we encourage dissenting opinions on any topic you please, so blog away. Just try to remember this is a public forum! Don't say anything you don't want your mother to read!