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Susan
Mangatal - susan@ariousentertainment.us
Greetings
On-Line Family!
This has been a
very important week in America’s History –
This week Pope Benedict, XVI made his first visit to the
United States.
We at Arious send a Big 
to Pope Benedict XVI on his first official visit to the United
States, and to our area. For
these past 2 days he has addressed several crowds and visited
the White House. This
morning, April 17th, he held mass at the new
Nationals Park Baseball Stadium in Washington DC where
approximately 46,000 people were in attendance.
From what I witnessed per live coverage of the Mass, it
was exceptional and many seemed “moved”.
He addressed several issues and talked about the clergy
sexual abuse scandal in the church; he said “No words of
mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such
abuse”…Yesterday I spoke with the Bishops about this.
Today I encourage each of you to do what you can to
foster healing and reconciliation, and to assist those who have
been hurt”. As he concluded his visit in our area after mass, he meet
with religious leaders from the American Muslim, Jewish,
Buddhist and Protestant communities, and had a conference with
heads of Catholic Schools and Universities from across the
United States.
It’s amazing to
see the joy on the faces of many who were ecstatic about this
visit. This brings back fond memories of a visit one of the previous
Popes' made to California some years ago while I was working for
the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese.
It was wondrous and historical then as it is now.
The Pope continues visiting the United States by heading
to New York on Friday, where he will partake in, and greet many
at a scheduled parade on 5th Avenue.
He plans to address the United Nations and visit Ground
Zero. On Sunday he
will celebrate mass at Yankee Stadium.
Just
a few days ago,
April 16th, we reflected on several
incidents that took place in the United States.
Read about them below!
One year ago on April 16th, the Virginia Tech
Massacre occurred. The
Virginia Tech massacre was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S.
History, which took place at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University College. A
total of 32 lives were selfishly taken and approximately 15 were
wounded by a troubled student gunman with mental health issues.
After gunning down his 32 victims he took his own life. Our heartfelt sympathy, prayers and condolences go out to
the family and friends of these 32 lives that were lost on this
sad day 1 year ago. I’m
sure many of you are still experiencing unbearable heartache due
to lost of your loved one and always will, but hold
on to the memories you hold near and dear.
On April 16th - 45 years ago the Reverend Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. wrote his famous letter from the Birmingham
jail, after being arrested along with fifty-three blacks for
marching into downtown Birmingham to protest the existing
segregation laws. Dr.
King’s letter was a response to eight Clergyman from Alabama
who made statements regarding Dr. King’s activities being
“unwise and untimely”, which was written as Dr. King sat
behind bars in the Birmingham jail.
Below is the famous Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Letter
from the Birmingham Jail. This
document has become one of the fundamental arguments behind the
civil rights movement.
Letter
From Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963
MY
DEAR FELLOW CLERGYMEN:
While
confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across
your recent statement calling my present activities
"unwise and untimely." Seldom do I pause to
answer criticism of my work and ideas. If I sought to
answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my
secretaries would have little time for anything other
than such correspondence in the course of the day, and I
would have no time for constructive work. But since I
feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your
criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to
answer your statements in what I hope will be patient
and reasonable terms.
I
think I should indicate why I am here In Birmingham,
since you have been influenced by the view which argues
against "outsiders coming in." I have the
honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference, an organization operating in
every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta,
Georgia. We have some eighty-five affiliated
organizations across the South, and one of them is the
Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. Frequently
we share staff, educational and financial resources with
our affiliates. Several months ago the affiliate here in
Birmingham asked us to be on call to engage in a
nonviolent direct-action program if such were deemed
necessary. We readily consented, and when the hour came
we lived up to our promise. So I, along with several
members of my staff, am here because I was invited here
I am here because I have organizational ties here.
But
more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is
here. Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C.
left their villages and carried their "thus saith
the Lord" far beyond the boundaries of their home
towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of
Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far
corners of the Greco-Roman world, so am I. compelled to
carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town.
Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian
call for aid.
Moreover,
I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all
communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta
and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We
are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied
in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one
directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we
afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside
agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United
States can never be considered an outsider anywhere
within its bounds.
THE
ABOVE IS ONLY A PORTION OF THE LETTER, PLEASE CLICK HERE
TO READ THIS IMPORTANT LETTER IN ITS ENTIRETY
(Supplied by The King Center at 449 Auburn Avenue, NE,
Atlanta, GA 30312) www.thekingcenter.org.
) You
can also click here to hear the audio of this important
Letter.
 
What a week on the political front!!!
In addition to all the things that took place this week, lots
have occurred in Senator Obama’s pursuit for the highest job in the
land. His competitors
called him an “ELITIST and out of touch with Americans”
over and over and over, due to some remarks he made at a San Francisco
fundraiser last weekend, where he stated: “…You
go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small
towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and
nothing's replaced them...And they fell through the Clinton
Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive
administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna
regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then
they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people
who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade
sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
It’s funny they have been calling him an Elitist,
(which really describes them). He
is the only candidate many can relate to/with, who is (1) from a single
family home raised by his mother, (2) his family at an early part of his
life lived on food stamps, (3) according to Michelle Obama in an article
some months ago stated her and her husband only were able to really
begin paying off bills just a few years ago from proceeds from his
first book and royalties for future books, and most importantly (4) he
has never made the many millions both candidates have made in one year -
per their tax returns (they have never seen a poor day in their
life,) and I can go on and on.
These attacks are extremely senseless, these
candidates calling Senator Obama exclusive, discriminatory, selective,
superior, etc. for expressing how many feel in Pennsylvania.
Don’t they know he is talking the truth, and indeed it is
exactly how many people are feeling in Pennsylvania?
They are certainly the ones who are “out of touch” with the
American people, if they do not realize these problems.
I’m actually sorry he didn’t say people all over America in
that particular speech, because I am indeed bitter, upset and very frustrated with
the state of America, and if I believed in guns, you bet I would be
holding on to them.
How about Kentucky
Republican Congressman Goeff Davis’s comments about Senator Obama,
as he spoke at a GOP dinner over the weekend?
He referred to him as a “a snake oil salesman” and further
stated “I’m going to tell you something. That BOY’s finger does not need to be on the button.
He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to
a nuclear threat to this country.”
And they are angry and constantly state that Race in America
should not be discussed! How
could someone in public so consciously refer to a black man as a BOY,
and he is the only candidate in American History who transcend race.
Unbelievable!!! Most importantly he attacked Senator Obama by claiming in
this statement that the Senator is not prepared to defend America.
Why is it that these
men do not respect Senator Obama or the black man, woman, people on a
whole? How could one make such a racist statement?
Clearly, in the hearts of many folks in America and in the
American Government including Congressman Davis, they truly believe
Senator Obama is just a BOY, just a BOY running for the highest
job in the land. As you can guess Congressman Davis on April 14th sent an
apology in writing to Senator Obama (CLICK
HERE TO READ THIS LETTER courtesy of Politico.com entitled
“In
a letter to Obama”.)
As a mom stated on Ebony Mom Politics “Over the past
few days Barack Obama has been called an elitist by Hillary Clinton
and John McCain, now he has been called a boy by Congressman Davis,
hopefully the next name the Senator will be called is MR. PRESIDENT!”
As for the ABC Presidential Democratic
debate yesterday (4/16/08), it was extremely absorbing.
I must say I was surprise that the moderators Mr.
Stephanopoulos and Mr. Gibson found it necessary to spend an
excessive amount of time (approximately 45 minutes) on issues
that many are absolutely not concerned about…how unproductive
and puzzling! Incredibly, the Rev. Wright issue again was
“hammered to death”, and not to mention the statement
Senator Obama made about folks being “frustrated and bitter”
at the fundraiser in San Francisco, along with the implication
that Senator Obama is unpatriotic because he did not wear a flag
pin, and a few other negative issues that I’m surprised they
came up with, and spent so much time on.
Honestly, I am outraged because some of these questions
were absurd and to me were obvious physical attacks.
Eventually, THANKFULLY in the second half of the debate
they asked and rushed through some of the important questions
that I, and many are concerned about, such as trustworthiness,
the Iraq War and bringing the troops home; Iran pursuing nuclear
weapons situation; the economy, tax increases, fixing social
security, job loss, gun control, enormous increases in gas
prices, etc.
Funny, these moderators didn’t
“batter” at any issue regarding Senator Clinton's repeated
untruths, not even her “Bosnia under fire attack” she spoke
about on several occasions, nor any other scandals.
She clearly seemed very excited that they opened up with
attacking Senator Obama on old stories, and she took every
opportunity to “tunnel in” further on them.
Senator Obama is truly magnificent though, especially since he
refused to comment when asked to do so by the moderators about
Senator Clinton’s Bosnia Trip untruths.
One good thing that came out of this debate
is that Senator Clinton actually stated Senator Obama can win
the nomination…he is elect-able, which truly conflicts
with all her statements that Senator Obama is unelectable
and she is the better person to elect as the nominee to run
against McCain in the General Elections.
All of this politics stuff is crazy, but very
interesting.
Since they brought up and spent so much
time on the good Reverend Wright issue I decided to share with
you 2 videos that one of our on-line family sent me.
It originally came from a member of Rev. Wright’s
Church, and they the full sermons of Rev. Wright where he
discusses government, slavery and politics and some important
and interesting issues. Check
them out below and let me know your thoughts susan@ariousentertainment.us.
As I reflect on all that transpired
regarding the democratic campaign this week, it is evident to me
that Senator Obama endured some major assaults this week, and
throughout this debate. I thought he did extremely well though, and it is clear he is
full of integrity and empathy.
There is no doubt in my mind he can bring America “back
on its feet”, with its failing economy, its trillions of
dollars in debt, its dying American dollar which is constantly
losing value, and most importantly bring our families home who
are serving in this Iraq war.
I also must agree with Senator Bob Casey (a supporter of
Obama) who stated Senator Obama is a gifted under-achiever.
He also felt that it was not surprising that
Pennsylvanians are bitter and cling to guns or religion or
antipathy, because indeed they are enduring frustration and
anxiety over this economy and the state of America.
The latest polls taken recently and reported up until
April 16th, shows that even with the recent elitist
name calling attacks and controversies, there is no dramatic
drop in Senator Obama’s standing.
He remains within single digits of Senator Clinton (he is
still 5 points and closing.)
According to LA Times/Bloomberg in PA they show Senator
Clinton leading Obama 46% to 41% (a 5 point lead), and the
Quinnipiac University poll shows Clinton with a 6 point lead
(which is equal to what they reported a week ago.)
As a matter of fact Senator Obama was endorsed by a few
people on the 16th, (1) superstar Bruce Springsteen (Click Here to read Mr. Springsteen’s letter endorsing Senator
Obama (courtesy www.brusespringsteen.com)
, as well as (2) Super Delegate from North Carolina - Representative
Mel Watt of Charlotte; (3) North Carolina Representative David
Price of Chapel Hill; and
(4) Congressman Andre Carson from Indiana who stated why
he is supporting obama: ”because he is "a fighter
for working families, and part of a new generation of leadership
that will bring needed change for our country."
Rep. Watt and Price announced their support for Mr. Obama
on a conference call with reporters and stated: “Only
one candidate has marshaled this spirit of change into a
movement that is completely inclusive, uniquely democratic and
uniquely American.” “That
candidate is Barack Obama!”
Pennsylvanians, go out
this coming Tuesday, April 22nd and vote for Senator Barack
Obama. Go out and vote for Change. Also, remember
other primaries will be taking
place in May: 6th of May is Indiana & North Carolina; May 13
- Nebraska & West Virginia; and May 20 - Kentucky and
Oregon. As these primaries approach, please keep talking, sharing and coming up with
solutions regarding the important RACE issue.
As
I close out my comments and views about politics this week, I leave
you with the same statement I have left you with every week. "Please
remember to
judge Senator Obama on his words, his actions and the content of
his character.
Kindly continue standing up and not
accepting the same old tactics, rhetoric
and old politics. I encourage you to continue talking about race and
the hurtful issues you might have experienced throughout
life. Most importantly let's continue building this movement
and voting for Senator Obama. You must know by now that with your support and votes Senator
Obama will continue succeeding. We know he is "the
one"..."the one" who absolutely has the
ability and wisdom to move us forward; "the one"
who has the answers to all of the many issues plaguing America
currently, and we know he is "the one" who can take us
forward toward that change we are seeking in a positive
manner. I hope you are looking forward to
the overall change as I am, so lets continue making history
together!!!!"
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The
Rev. Jeremiah Wright Full Sermon
(The
small clip that was broadcast on all the news channels
regarding "America's Chicken has come home to
roost")
Courtesy
of www.alternet.org
(9 mins. & 57 secs.)
To
View Click
the picture below, and you will enter Alternet's page
once on the page please follow the instructions and
click the video to view. Also, please read the
page!
You
can also click here to view it directly from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ
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Another
Full Sermon of Rev. Jeremiah Wright you must listen To
(This one
is the full sermon of the small clip that was broadcast
on all the news channel regarding "God Bless
America, no God.....)"
Courtesy
of YouTube (6 mins. & 48 Secs.)
or
Click the link
below to view:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvMbeVQj6Lw |
 
I hope many of you were able to tune in to MSNBC last
Friday as they broadcasted the documentary “Meeting David Wilson”.
I thought it was very interesting, and I understand (according
to David A. Wilson per an interview) many folks were indeed able to
view his work, and the responses from many were very favorable.
Observing both the Wilsons: young David A
(African-American. and older David B. (White) as they meet, talked and
interacted, it clearly depicted some of Martin Luther King’s
statements from his “I have a dream” speech from 1968:
(1) “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia
the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be
able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood” and (2)
in one of the scenes I noticed little white and black children holding
hands, playing, which depict MLK's statement in his I have a dream
speech "...little black boys and black girls will be able to join
hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and
brothers..."
The discussion
that took place after the broadcast live at Howard University was
fascinating and enlightening as well. Let me know your thoughts
on this issue and how you felt after viewing this broadcast. susan@ariousentertainment.us.
As I close out this week, I want to send a friend special
Birthday Greetings. Mr. Von Martin we
at Arious hope you have a very happy birthday, and may your day be
filled with lots of joy. Von is one of our local Caribbean personality of
WPFW 89.3 FM (WDC). He is a well known Broadcaster and
Producer and the founder of Caribbeana Radio Services. For
several decades Von has been the host of his long running
Caribbean Radio Program "Caribbeana", and which he
still hosts each and every Saturday on WPFW 89.3 FM from
7pm-10pm. Check him out on Saturdays at 89.3 FM or on the
net at www.wpfw.org.
   
To all of you
our on-line family, thanks for reading, sharing your thoughts
and comments with us, and for always supporting
us. As you know without you there would be no us.
So thanks very much for your support and One Love!
For All Events
Go To
Our "Events"
Page
Check out our
"Featured Events" and PSA listed below. Many are taking place
this weekend, so log on to our "Events Page" above to
view all the events, and please go out and Support!
Also, there are
several taking next weekend and beyond, so to view all the Events please log on
to our "Events" Page above!
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Washington
DC
 
ROOT
INC., AND CAPITAL CITY CHAMPS
HOST
"KNOCKING
OUT GUN VIOLENCE III"
Saturday,
April 19, 2008
WHO:
ROOT Inc., WKYS 93.9, United
Black Fund, Supreme Defense,
Capital City Champs, Two Time
World Champion Lisa Foster, ,
Unity Healthcare, WPFW 89.3 FM,
and the Neighborhood Investment
Fund
WHAT:
Knocking Out Gun Violence III is
a free community boxing event to
promote the ROOT message of GUNS
ASIDE by “Knocking Out Gun
Violence" . This
event is the third in a
continuous series.
WHEN:
April 19, 2008 12pm-6pm
WHERE:
Old Petworth School Metropolitan
Police Clubhouse #6 801 Shepherd
St. NW, Washington, DC 20007
WHY:
This event is geared to bring the
community out for fanfare and
entertainment while relaying the
message of ROOT’s Guns
Aside/Community in Action program
whose mission is to reduce gun
violence and increasing incidents
of youth violence. Boxing
teaches focus, control, and
comradeship and is proven to be an
effective aggression reducer among
youth.
Contact:
David Crocker at 202-332-7668,
crockerd@rootinc.org or visit www.rootinc.org
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Maryland
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Silver
Spring, Maryland
Sunday
- April 20, 2008
Jackie
& Associates
Presents
“MAS*MAS”
For
DC Carnival 2008
Member of CBLA
Band
launching & Fundraiser
Sunday
April 20, 2008
@805
Philadelphia Ave.
Silver
Spring, MD. 20910
From
5pm – 9pm
Music:
By DJ Blast or DJ Sprang
International
For Info: (301) 565-9037
or
301-524-8718
Or visit us on the
web at
www.Jackiecarnival.com
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or Click
Here
