BOOK REVIEW: “MISSING MAMA” BY AMOKE KUBAT
Amoke Kubat has written a book, “Missing Mama,” that literally grabs you by the throat and holds your attention from beginning to end. Her mother’s tragic death in an auto accident when she was just 2-years-old, catapulted her into a life of constant adjustment as her childhood was spent living with a parade of dysfunctional relatives. Additionally, her father’s multiple marriages, infidelities, and womanizing took precedence over his daughter’s welfare.
Amoke takes the reader on a journey through her young life from pre-school to young womanhood. She describes her relationship with her maternal grandmother, who was probably the closest person in her life to a mother. The journey is a virtual roller coaster ride through child sexual, physical, and emotional abuse at the hands of relatives. She describes the horror of being a young black person in America and experiencing racism in a predominantly white school. She explains how as a teenager, she found solace through it all with her best friend’s family.
In my opinion, the mark of a good writer is one whose words are written so vividly, so descriptively, yet with such subtlety that the words disappear on the page and the reader only sees pictures in his or her mind. Such is the case with Amoke’s writing. After reading the book, I felt as though I had just watched a movie and a very compelling movie at that.
Despite the odds against her, Amoke triumphs in the end. She traces her roots to the Yoruba group in Western Africa and changes her name. Amoke means “to know her is to give her attention; or one who is astute.” Perhaps this is reflective of the attention she needed and never received as a child.
“Missing Mama” is a universal story. It has something everyone can relate to. Amoke was a little girl who dealt with more challenge than most adults ever face. “Missing Mama” is a testament to the resiliency and tenacity of the human spirit. It is a story of triumph when faced with tremendous adversity. It made me laugh and it often made me cry, but most of all, it made me proud to be a human being.
THE PYRAMIDS: SHOULD HISTORY BE REWRITTEN?
From the time I was a child, I remember being taught in school that the Egyptian pyramids located on the Giza plateau were built as tombs to the pharaohs and that they were constructed by slaves. New research reveals evidence that perhaps this part of ancient history should be rewritten. It has been my observation over the years, from scientific papers and books I have read as well as lectures I have listened to, that the evidence refutes much if not all of what we have been taught about the pyramids. It is from this evidence that I have concluded ancient civilizations were far more scientifically advanced than we have given them credit for.
Firstly, we know about the existence of the Egyptian pyramids as well as the ones in Mexico. But pyramids exist on every continent on the planet. Pyramids have been discovered in Bosnia, Peru, India, China and even in the United States. What people may not realize is that the pyramids we are familiar with are in desert climates, thus causing them to be highly visible. Many of the other pyramids are buried under soil and covered with vegetation, obscuring them from view.
The history of ancient Egyptian civilization was recorded in hieroglyphics cut into stone. It is interesting to note that none of these stone records attribute the Great Pyramid to a pharaoh or anyone else. Also, independent researcher, Carman Boulter, Ph.D., has brought to public attention the existence of another pyramid in Egypt which is not known to the public. Located on a hilltop near the Giza plateau, this pyramid is unlike the others in that it is open at the top and observers can walk into it. This structure refutes the notion that pyramids were built by slaves simply by its location. The stone blocks would have had to be literally dragged onto a mountaintop before being put in place during construction. Many of the granite blocks that comprise the structures are as heavy as 80 tons and reach heights of as much as 300 feet. There is not even a crane in today’s world that is able to lift that much weight and we are to believe that slaves built these structures?
The Egyptian pyramids are connected through a labyrinth of underground tunnels and they were open at the very top or apex of the structure. The apices of the pyramids of the Giza plateau are in perfect alignment to the constellations above. It is now known that they were built as energy generators, certainly not tombs to the pharaohs.
Semir Osmanagic, Ph.D., an independent researcher, has written a book called “Pyramids Around the World.” Originally from Bosnia and now living in the United States, Dr. Osmanagic gives attention to the pyramid of Bosnia which is actually larger than the great pyramid of Egypt. Although the Bosnian pyramid is covered with vegetation, its shape is clearly visible.
For further information on this fascinating topic, please type into any search engine, Semir Osmanagic and/or Carmen Boulter. Both experts possess a wealth of information on the pyramids. The age in which we live has made it imperative for us to conduct our own research to find the truth about a myriad of subjects. We have an educational system that has been manipulated and teaches us half-truths and outright lies. This information belongs to humanity. We have a right to know the truth.
FOR JAZZ LOVERS ONLY: SINGER DWIGHT TRIBLE
To say that jazz vocalist Dwight Trible is unique is an understatement. Simply put, “unique” means without like or equal; very unusual. Trible is so much more than that. His rich baritone voice can begin in a soft tone and soar into a crescendo, ending in a shout of anguish or pleasure, depending on the story he is telling in song.
What is it about America’s only original art form that sets it apart from other art forms? There are probably a multitude of factors, but the one that stands out most in my mind is improvisation. Whenever the listener hears a jazz performance by either an instrumentalist or a vocalist, the outcome is not the same. That is to say, it is impossible to duplicate one performance. In essence, the same artist can perform the same song over and over again, but no two performances will be quite the same. Trible is a master of improvisation.
After hearing a recent Trible concert at the Catalina Bar and Grill in Los Angeles, I was transfixed by his artistry. His interpretations of songs both familiar to me and songs I had never heard were astounding. For example, his rendition of what has become known as the first protest song, “Strange Fruit,” resonated with me. The song, originally recorded and made famous by the late Billie Holiday, was familiar. But Trible’s interpretation of it struck me like a lightning bolt and gave me the feeling that I was hearing the song for the first time. He ended the song by intricately weaving his voice in and out of the tapestry of notes produced by the musicians and painting a picture in my mind’s eye of the lynchings in the South that were so prevalent during and prior to the Post-World War II era.
A native of Los Angeles, California, it seems like a miracle to me that Trible is not as well-known as he should be. However, he is certainly no stranger to the world of jazz. He has worked with everyone from Bobby Hutcherson and Charles Lloyd to Harry Belafonte. Additionally, he is the featured vocalist with the Pharaoh Sanders Quartet and the vocal director of the Horace Tapscott Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, a Los Angeles institution with a 40-year history.
What is art? Art is an expression either in dance, in acting, in visual art such as a painting, or in music and the purpose of that expression is to evoke emotion in the viewer or listener. That emotion can be pleasurable, painful, joyful or sad. The visual artist evokes emotion with a paint brush and canvas. The dancer uses the body, and the singer uses the voice. To quote an article that I read recently, because of artists like Dwight Trible “music can be created with enough emotional and intellectual depth to make one confront one’s own life; music that forces one to journey inside oneself.” As human beings, we often find the answers to our questions through self-exploration.
If you are not familiar with the song stylings of Dwight Trible, many of his recordings can be found on YouTube. Music CDs can be purchased through Amazon and other major retail outlets. Give him a listen. You’ll be glad you did.
HOARDING: ADDICTION TO CLUTTER
I once heard my sister say that addiction to clutter or as many people call it, “hoarding,” is symptomatic of a deep-seated hopeless feeling which usually stems from a feeling of being unloved. This is certainly not far from the truth. Underneath all addictions lies fear. Fear of emptiness, helplessness, loneliness and aloneness. Addictions are a way to feel safe from experiencing these difficult and painful feelings and an addiction to clutter is no exception. Essentially, it is about having a sense of control over feeling safe. Clutter, like all addictions, provides a momentary feeling of comfort. However, as with any addiction, the hoarder needs more and more clutter to maintain the illusion of safety and comfort.
When an elderly woman passed away, her grandson took on the task of cleaning out her house. In the process, he discovered huge amounts of clutter. While the woman’s house always appeared neat and clean, the cupboards and drawers were filled with clutter. To the grandson’s amazement, he found six broken hair dryers in one cabinet. Why would she want to keep six broken hair dryers? According to her daughter, the woman grew up during the depression and always had a fear of not having enough. No matter how much she accumulated materially, she never felt that she had enough. The six hair dryers made her feel safe from her fear, even if they didn’t work.
When we don’t feel safe on the inner level, then we try to make ourselves feel safe on the outer level and clutter is one way of doing that. Whether it is things, such as hair dryers, or information, such as in old magazines and newspapers, people who clutter do not trust that they will have what they need. Additionally, hoarders may be resistant people whose messiness and clutter are a way of not being controlled by someone who wants them to be neat.
HEALING AN ADDICTION TO CLUTTER
Clutter is created and maintained by a wounded, frightened part of oneself—the wounded self or the part that operates from the illusion of having control over people, events, and outcomes. As long as this self is in charge of the decisions, the clutter addict will continue to accumulate clutter as a way to provide comfort and the illusion of control over feeling safe, or continue to be messy as a way to resist being controlled.
Healing can only occur when the individual does the inner work necessary to develop a strong, loving adult self. A loving adult is the aspect of us that opens to and connects with a spiritual source of wisdom, strength, and love. Only a loving adult is capable of exercising loving action on his or her own behalf. The loving adult operates from truth rather than from the false beliefs of the wounded self, and knows that the comfort and safety that clutter seems to provide is an illusion. Only the loving adult who is tuned in to the guidance provided by a spiritual source is capable of taking loving action on one’s own behalf to create a sense of inner safety.
MEN’S HATS: A BRIEF HISTORY
Since I was a teenager, I have been fascinated with hats. The well-dressed man always seemed more complete if his expensive silk suit was topped off with a dark-colored felt fedora. The fedora, with its brim obscuring the eyes just a bit, added a touch of mystery. I’ve noticed whenever I wear a hat, I seem to get a little more attention from passersby when I’m on the street.
During the 1930s and 40s, the gangsters of Chicago and New York City had a tremendous influence on men’s fashion and catapulted the fedora into popularity. Until the 1960s, the hat was the one article of clothing that performed the most important role in indicating social distinctions among men. This class distinction, though more prominent in England, was also evident in the United States. However, in 1961 when John Kennedy appeared hatless for his inauguration, the popularity of the fedora began to wane.
Around 1980, we saw a resurgence of popularity in men’s hats. This may have been, in part, due to the emergence of the Indiana Jones movies in which the hero was always seen wearing a fedora.
Today, the hip-hop generation has made hats more popular than ever. Varieties in color, fabric patterns, shapes, and material have made men’s hats more versatile. My favorite hat, the porkpie, which has a lower crown (the part that fits over the head) than the fedora, can be seen today in numerous styles. It is commonplace today, to see young men and boys wearing a fedora or a porkpie to the movies, in malls, at concerts and even in the grocery store.
Whatever the level of popularity is at any given time, I think it’s safe to say that men’s hats are here to stay!
HOW TO DEAL WITH A DIFFICULT BOSS
(A True Story)
Approximately 6 years ago, I accepted a job that was a promotion for me. I was nearing retirement age and wanted to retire in as high level a job as I possibly could, which would, of course, boost my retirement pension. I never planned to stay on this job for more than 3 years. Little did I know at the time, that my immediate supervisor was a psychopath from hell.
I was the medical secretary/office manager of the pulmonary department of a major hospital. In the beginning, the job seemed okay. I have a history of getting along well with people and quickly established a good rapport with the technical staff. However, as time went on, the supervisor became more and more intrusive and would often take things off my desk without telling me, undermine projects I was working on, and send e-mails to me as well as to the manager to make it appear as though I wasn’t doing my job.
As time went on, the woman’s behavior became intolerable and I wrote her an e-mail, copying the manager, and telling her that I could no longer work with her. She was a chronic micro-manager who had her nose stuck in every aspect of my job and I couldn’t function in the job under her “style” of supervision or lack of. I didn’t know why she hired me in the first place. Why didn’t she just do the job herself?
As the months turned into years, I began to lose respect for this woman. Her constant micro-managing convoluted the process of getting work done which actually rendered her counterproductive. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when she started taking steps to get me terminated from my job when I had done nothing to warrant termination. As soon as I left the office to go home at the end of the day, she and the manager would make a bee-line to my desk to check where I had been on the Internet. (A co-worker informed me of this.) To make a long story short, she contacted Human Resources and reported to them that I was shopping on the Internet, conducting online banking and using the office fax machine for personal business. All of these things were lies. She even attempted to coerce two other employees to sign affidavits that they had seen my shopping on the Internet and using the fax machine for personal reasons.
My advice to anyone who is dealing with a difficult, and in this case, a “crazy and lying” supervisor, beat them at their own game. Fight back with all you’ve got. If you have a union, go to your union and file a grievance every time the supervisor says something to you that you deem inappropriate or out-of-line. Go outside the agency or company you work for. Don’t threaten a lawsuit, file one! Go to the State Labor Board to file a complaint. File a complaint at the federal level. I filed a complaint with the Federal EEO office that she was racially prejudice (I am African-American; she is Caucasian). I knew I couldn’t prove it, but I felt very strongly that she was, so I filed the complaint anyway. I had five (5) separate grievances with my union against her for various reasons.
One day, in a staff meeting, the manager of the department announced that his woman (the supervisor from hell) was retiring. Very suspicious. People don’t just retire from their jobs suddenly. Retirement requires planning, sometime taking years in the process. Nobody bought the story that she decided to retire because her husband had retired and she didn’t want to make the commute from where they lived into the metropolitan area. A likely story.
Anyone who is dealing with a crazed, maniacal supervisor, take my advice–fight, fight, fight with all you’ve got! Don’t let some unscrupulous loony tune sabotage your plans and your future to satisfy their own evil agenda. Remember, her goal was to get me fired, but look how it turned out. She’s gone and I’m still here!
Dr. James Said
Chiropractic and Naturopathic Physician
I’ve been working with physicians for over 10 years now and during that time I have become painfully aware that doctors are taught very little about nutrition, naturopathy, and the body’s ability to heal itself. Instead, medical schools teach them everything about synthetic pharmaceuticals which serve to only lessen symptoms, but cure absolutely nothing.
Despite this dismal prospect, I am happy to report that there are still some doctors who practice naturopathy and are not afraid to try alternative methods of treating illness. One such doctor is James Said, who is internationally known, but practices primarily out of Medford, Oregon.
What is naturopathic medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a complementary and alternative medical discipline which offers scientifically-proven and evidence-based natural therapies and emphasizes the body’s intrinsic ability to heal and maintain itself. It blends centuries-old holistic medicine with modern medical science. Naturopathy includes all aspects of family health and provides effective treatments for acute as well as chronic conditions. Naturopathic doctors, like Dr. Said, use natural remedies such as herbs, nutrition and foods rather than surgery or synthetic drugs to treat illness.
Additionally, naturopathic medicine focuses on whole-patient wellness. That is to say, the medicine is tailored to the patient and emphasizes prevention and self-care. Naturopathic medicine makes an effort to find the underlying cause of the patient’s condition rather than focusing solely on symptomatic treatment.
Because of Dr. Said’s expertise in chiropractic and naturopathic medicine, he treats each patient with modalities that are designed for the uniqueness of each individual. Therefore patients are given treatments that are geared specifically for them. How many times have we gone to the doctor’s office and waited sometimes for hours, only to finally be examined and prescribed some pharmaceutical drug that only masks the symptoms of whatever is ailing us. Usually the doctor is in and out of the examining room in less than 10 minutes. With Dr. Said and other naturopathic doctors, emphasis is on individual attention.
For more information on Dr. James Said, please look up “Dr. James Said – Medford, Oregon” on Google or Bing. You will find his contact information there.
BOOT CAMP FOR COFFEE LOVERS
Okay, I admit it. I’m a coffee lover and a huge fan of the Starbuck’s Coffee Shops that now exist all over the world. For those of you who are like me, we go to our local coffee house and order cappuccinos, café mochas, lattes, and espressos. Please know that it certainly isn’t the paper cup that makes these drinks taste so good, but it definitely is the recipe with maybe just a touch of the prettiness factor involved. Baristas all have a style of their own and every cup of coffee will taste different because of the roast, the grind, the amount used, the water, the temperature and many other factors. Most of us have tried to make these coffee delights at home the way we think they are made, but do we really know the way they are supposed to be made? Do we know how to extract the enchanting flavors correctly?
Here’s a quick list of how to make the basic drinks. Remember the title of this blog is “Boot Camp for Coffee Lovers.”
- For espresso, use equal parts of steamed and frothed milk. At 140 degrees, the milk should be poured on top of the espresso. Dust with either nutmeg, cinnamon, chocolate powder or shavings. The easiest way is to use a good brand of hot chocolate, pour in a shot of espresso, and top with whipping cream, then dust with chocolate powder or shavings. It looks best if you use a tall glass and a long-handled spoon. A good finishing touch would be to add a saucer. All in all, making coffee correctly is completely up to you and the way in which your taste buds react to the flavor. If you like your coffee a particular way, then make it that way. However, if you have guests over, they may just like the basics, so do both your guests and yourself a favor and know how to make your coffee beverages the correct way–with a napkin. Remember, presentation is everything!
- One suggestion for making a latte would be to use a chocolate-flavored cup so that the chocolate flavor infuses with the espresso. The difference between a latte and an espresso is that the latte blends the two flavors together and the cappuccino separates them.
- To make a good espresso, it is essential that you do the following: Use a fine grind. Tamp the espresso down firmly. Use a high pressure machine or a stovetop model. Don’t try to make too much at once. Easy does it. You must see the cream on top and it should be a golden-brown color. By all means, use an appropriate cappuccino cup to keep the temperature from dissipating too quickly.
I hope this boot camp for coffee lovers has helped.
Happy coffee drinking!
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TRIBUTE TO THE LATE SINGER NANCY WILSON
I feel strongly that some people are meant to do extraordinary things—to use their talents to accomplish great feats in life. For example, Michelangelo was meant to be a sculptor, Picasso was meant to be a painter, and Nancy Wilson was meant to sing. On December 13, 2018, Miss Wilson made her transition at age 81.
It has taken me a couple of days to find the appropriate words to honor this exceptional artist who I have been listening to since I was a teenager. To this day, Nancy’s vocal prowess remains unmatched. She leaves us with a rich musical legacy which I believe will be cherished for generations to come.
As a young person, Nancy was what I call “one of the lucky ones.” What I mean by that is she knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life and she took the proper steps to achieve her dream of becoming a world-class singer.
Nancy Wilson was born in Chillicothe, Ohio to Olden Wilson, an iron worker, and the former Lillian Ryan, a domestic. Nancy was the eldest of 6 children.
Even before she graduated from high school, Nancy was involved with music and she became the lead singer in her church’s choir. By the time she was a teenager, she won a talent contest and began singing on the local television show that had previously honored her. After high school graduation, she entered Ohio’s Central State College (now Central State University) but dropped out after 1 year to pursue a professional career as a singer. One of her mentors, Cannonball Adderley, encouraged her to move to New York City where she landed a secretarial job and began to sing on the nightclub circuit—typing by day, singing by night. In addition to her singing, Nancy seemed to have a talent for selecting the right people to work with her. She chose the legendary John Levy to be her manager and David Cavanaugh of Capitol Records became her producer. Both men were careful to treat this new artist with tender, loving care.
As Nancy developed as an artist, she had an impeccable penchant for storytelling as evidenced in two of her hits, “You Can Have Him” and “Guess Who I Saw Today?” Although, like many popular singers, critics tried desperately to pigeon-hole her, labeling her as a jazz singer. But Nancy preferred instead to be known as a “song stylist.” She was definitely that and more.
A word about her personal life, Nancy Wilson was married twice. The first marriage to drummer, Kenny Dennis lasted 10 years and produced a son, Kacy. Her second marriage to Rev. Wiley Burton, a Presbyterian minister, lasted some 30 years until his death in 2008. The marriage produced 2 daughters, Samantha and Sheryl Burton.
As I write these words, the question, “Do we really die?” begs me for exploration. I would answer that question this way. Of course, when we die, we are no longer here physically, but the essence of the person remains in the minds and hearts of those whose lives were touched. I was listening to Nancy Wilson’s music when I was a teenager and I’m still listening to it now as a senior citizen. Her music has had a profound effect on me. I thank God she was here and that she developed her talent to the point that it shone with a brilliance that could be seen the world over. As long as I’m alive, I’ll never stop listening to “the girl with the honey-coated voice.”
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Vaccination Hoax
Whether you know it or not; whether you believe it or not, we are at war. I am not referring to the war in Afghanistan or the war in Iraq or Syria. I am referring to a silent war that is taking place as I write these words. There are no guns, there is no ammunition and there are no bombs exploding. It is a war between the good people of the earth and a force that is so diabolical and so evil, that it is difficult for the human mind to grasp the enormity of this wickedness which presently envelopes the entire planet.
Why is the U.S. government telling us of an imminent epidemic of the so called swine flu? Yet simultaneously, in medical circles, scientists are saying that the swine flu is not even remotely that serious and that the number of deaths from the swine flu so far, are much less than those deaths which occur annually during the flu season. Why are local governments (for example, Los Angeles County) keeping records on employees who refuse to be vaccinated and are asking them to state in writing why they refuse?
The truth is vaccinations are not safe. They never have been. Please read below a caption by American citizen, Charles M. Higgins, who wrote in 1919:
In order that there shall be no misunderstanding about the serious charge which I bring against vaccination, as being now actually more dangerous to public health and human life than natural smallpox, and the equally serious charge which I made against vaccinating doctors—who now control our Departments of Health and Vital Statistics—of denying and concealing these facts from the people, I now issue this special challenge to the Departments of Health of the City and State of New York, which cover a population of 11 million, and with whose records I am more familiar, that I will undertake to prove from their death certificates and vital records, now concealed and withheld from the public, that there have been more deaths from vaccination than from smallpox in every year for the past 15 years in the City and State of New York.
What are adjuvants?
Adjuvants, which may be either water-based or oil-based are substances which are added to vaccines to increase the effectiveness of the vaccine upon the human body. Oil-based adjuvants which are typically used in flu vaccines have been linked to the transmission of autoimmune diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and even the skin disorder, vitiligo which attacks the skin’s color-producing melanin, causing large patches of skin discoloration.
Recently, medical journalist Jane Burgermeister, who lives and works in Vienna, Austria, was fired from her position with a medical publication because of her articles exposing Baxter (a pharmaceutical company) and the World Health Organization (WHO) for their participation in the distribution of vaccines that were contaminated with dangerous amounts of the so called, bird flu virus.
There is very strong reason to believe that the U.S. government as well as the governments of other nations will enforce mandatory vaccination programs. But this will never succeed if enough of us simply stand up and say, no. We must never accept mandatory vaccinations.
A public who is ill-informed can never make good and proper decisions. The American public is spoon fed a continuous stream of lies and deception in the mainstream media. Why is CNN still broadcasting videotapes of Osama Bin Laden that were probably taped a decade ago? In all probability, Osama Bin Laden is dead. He was reported in Indian and Japanese newspapers as having been killed in December of 2001 when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan shortly after the 911 attacks in New York City. If you believe that Osama Bin Laden is hiding in a cave in Afghanistan and is planning the next terrorist attack on the U.S., then you probably believe that George W. Bush won his first election (against Al Gore) fairly. Wake up!
What Are the Georgia Guide Stones?
If you are thinking by now who would make it mandatory for the public to take a vaccine that is potentially contaminated and that could potentially make people sick or even cause death, you need to conduct your own research. Perhaps you have heard of the Georgia Guide Stones. If you haven’t, they are sometimes referred to as the “American Stonehenge.” They are a group of huge granite blocks placed on a hilltop in Elbert County, Georgia. There are messages inscribed on the blocks in 8 different modern languages. One of the messages, written in English reads: “Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.” With the world population presently at over 6 billion, 500 million would require quite a bit of elimination. No one seems to know who actually constructed the Georgia Guide Stones or why.
For further information regarding the dangers of vaccines please see:
- Project Camelot Interviews: Jane Burgermeister (this can be viewed from You Tube).
- www.iamthewitness.com “The French Connection” website by Daryl Bradford Smith. (please look at the column to your left. Scroll down until you reach interviews with Dr. Nancy Banks, Dr. Rebecca Carley and Jennifer Lake; These are audio taped interviews from an Internet podcast).
- www.drcarley.com Website of Dr. Rebecca Carley, who has conducted extensive research on vaccinations.
- Interview with Dr. Russell Blaylock (this may also be viewed from You Tube. Simply type in Dr. Blaylock’s name from the You Tube website.
It is my opinion that the dangerous times in which we live must be met with personal responsibility. The good people of this planet far outnumber the psychopathic demons who seek to oppress, control and ultimately destroy us. We must not sit idly by and do nothing. I do not believe that is what the Creator would have us do. Join me in screaming a resounding NO to mandatory vaccinations.
Take care of yourselves, take of your families, be empowered and thrive!
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SO, WHY ISN’T SHERRY PEEL JACKSON A HOUSEHOLD NAME?
“In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” –George Orwell
Most Americans do not know who Sherry Peel Jackson is. You won’t hear her name mentioned in the mainstream media. She will never be named to People Magazine’s most fascinating people list or be included in CNN’s latest group of heroes. Yet, she is a courageous American activist who put her life on the line so that the American people could be told the truth about the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Reserve Bank and the financial system of the United States, with all of its farce and absurdity.
Ms. Jackson was a licensed certified public accountant who worked for the IRS. During her tenure there, she received numerous awards for outstanding service. One day, while reading the newspaper, Sherry came across an advertisement that offered $50,000 to anyone who could find a law requiring the average American citizen to pay an income tax on his or her wages. She thought to herself, “Well, this should be a piece of cake.” An easy $50,000, right? Wrong. After several days of research, reading various documents and the like, Sherry couldn’t find a law requiring the average American citizen to pay an income tax on their wages. Of course, there is the 16th Amendment which gives Congress the authority to tax incomes. However, most Americans do not know that the 16th Amendment to the Constitution was never ratified by a majority of the states.
When Sherry finally came to the realization that the American income tax was really a fraud, she began to speak out. She did not advise other people to not file an income tax, but rather she only told people of her findings from the research she had conducted. As time went on, she began to do some public speaking and eventually appeared in the late Aaron Russo’s film, “America: Freedom to Fascism,” giving her more visibility. She subsequently left the employ of the IRS.
Sherry did not file an income tax for about 2 or 3 years, which is actually a misdemeanor. However, she was arrested and after a brief trial (another farce), she was sentenced to 4 years and incarcerated in a women’s prison in Florida. Therefore, whatever charges the government had against her were treated as a felony. Do you think we don’t have political prisoners in this country? Think again. Do you think we have freedom of speech in this country? Think again.
“America: Freedom to Fascism” is a film every American should see. The film gives a detailed explanation of the IRS and the Federal Reserve Bank which is not federal at all, but is rather a conglomerate of foreign banks. Please search YouTube to view of clip of Sherry in the film. Her website can be found at www.sherrypeeljackson.com.
While Sherry was in prison, I tried to keep myself abreast of what was happening to her through the Internet and I was able to write her letters and she answered me. To this day, I still have her letters which I will keep forever. She spoke of failing health due to a thyroid condition for which she was not being properly treated. Additionally, her health was also failing due to lack of proper nutrition.
Today, I am happy to say that Sherry was released from prison about 3 years ago and returned to her loving family. She has founded a women’s ministry and has written several books. Her son recently graduated from college.
Sherry is a living example of what can happen to a person in this country who speaks the truth. We do not have freedom of speech in the United States and what happened to Sherry could happen to any of us.
I salute Sherry Peel Jackson for her courageous activism and for doing her part to wake up the American people to the truth. For more information on her, please visit her web page where her newsletter, which is published every month, may be read. Also, if you have not seen the Aaron Russo film, “America: Freedom to Fascism,” you must. It is imperative viewing for all American citizens.
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INTRODUCTION TO MY FINAL THESIS PROJECT IN FINE ART
“I have always been interested in and fascinated by art. Whoever was responsible for inventing the word, “ubiquitous” and incorporating it into the English language, certainly must have had art in mind because art is literally everywhere. It is in the buildings we live and work in, the cars we drive, and even in the clothes we wear, from a fashionable felt fedora right down to the shoes on our feet. Historically, art provides us with a window through which we can examine our past; we can study ancient cultures that tell us stories about our predecessors, thus providing us with another window that gives us the ability to peer into the future. Art saturates every waking moment of our lives. It is even in our dreams.”
— Harvey A. Huggins, Jr.
