The People Versus Jeff Sessions ... Trun(P)cating American Civil Liberties

This week Jeff Sessions was sworn in as the new Attorney General of the United States. Very appalling, considering his record on minority rights and access to the polls for blacks. His abissmal records on civil rights and racial eqaulity are public records. These in part earned him the ire of being the first nominee that had a sitting senator and colleaque of his testifying against his confirmation. Senator Terry Booker alerted the nation that Sessions has never cured himself of his racial bias from his days as Alabama's Attorney General and that there is nothing in his record that will lend us to believe he will be a zealot advocate for minority rights and equal access to the protections of our Laws and Constitution as is required by his current portfolio as the Chief Law enforcer for the nation.

The Digital Editor is even more perturbed about the links between Jeff Sessions and the President. One of the earliest endorsers of President Donald Trump, Sessions came out for Trump at the time when he was tagged to be the least favored to win the Rebublican nomination. Sessions early endorsement happened at the time when Trump called all Mexicans lazy, Drug Dealers and rapists, showed his strong disdain for blacks accussing them of living in sqaulor and crime ridden neigborhoods, disparaged a renowned National Hero of the Stature of Senator McCain and curried favors with White Supremacist groups, just to mention a few. His excesses were scary enough that the Republican leader Mitt Romney called a prime time news conference to urge Republicans to reject the Candidacy of Donald Trump.

As Sessions assumes office working as Attorney General, a position he earned only as a reward and not on merit, we remind him that he is under oath to serve the people and not the President. The attorney General is required by our Laws to check the excesses of those we have put in power. This aspect of Mr. Sessions job description cannot be overstated especially as we have seen in the first weeks of this administration how much disdain he has for the checks and balances imposed by our Constitution for hs despotic tendencies. Recently, in a sweeping Executive Order, he abrogatted the rights of Green Card holders who are lawful permanent residents to return to the Country from visiting overseas. Without any specific intelligence he singled out six majority Muslim Countries for outright ban from visiting the Country irrespective of reason or status. This ban caught so many U.S. Military interpreters and owners of businesses in the United States off guard.

Americans will be watching to see if Sessions is working for the People or helping Trump to avoid being caught in the web of our Laws. In a recent interview, Mayor Gulliani confirmed tto a News Media that the President asked him to assemble a Panel to help him execute his promised ban on Muslims in a way that will be adjudged to be legal under our Laws. We will be curious how many more orders to Mr. Sessions to get around our Laws Mr. Trump will give for rewarding Sessions for his electoral loyalty. My guess is that none of them will be rebuffed. The President has often boasted about his insatiable desire for loyalty. It is my contention that this administration will go down in record history as the regime in which the rights of our citizens and trampled upon the most not only because the President has no respect for them but because he has aligned himself with an Attorney General who got there by going along with all the excesses of President Trump and much more worrisome is that apart from his loyalty to Mr. Trump, perharps, Mr. Sessions shares those excesses and disdain for equal protections under our Laws. The conjoined partnership between a rascal President and a Law Officer who is poised to look the other way or even help with getting around our Laws will soon pit The People against Jeff Sessions Department of Justice.

Charles Abiahu Esq.

           

Judge Bars President Trump's Travel Restrictions on 6 Muslim Majority Countries

On January 28, 2017, the petitioners filed an Emergency Motion of Stay of Removal on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated.

IT APPEARING to the Court from the Emergency Motion for Stay of Removal, the other submissions, the arguments of counsel, and the hearing held on the 28th of January, 2017,

1. The petitioners have a strong likelihood of success in establishing that the removal of the petitioner and others similarly situated violates their rights to Due Process and Equal Protection guaranteed by the United States Constitution;

2. There is imminent danger that, absent the stay of removal, there will be substantial and irreparable injury to refugees, visa-holders, and other individuals from nations subject to the January 27, 2017 Executive Order;

3. The issuance of the stay of removal will not injure the other parties interested in the proceeding;

4. It is appropriate and just that, pending completion of a hearing before the Court on the merits of the Petition, that the Respondents be enjoined and restrained from the commission of further acts and misconduct in violation of the Constitution as described in the Emergency Motion for Stay of Removal.

WHEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the respondents, their officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and all members and persons acting in concert or participation with them, from the date of this Order, are

ENJOINED AND RESTRAINED from, in any manner or by any means, removing individuals with refugee applications approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as part of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, holders of valid immigrant and non-immigrant visas, and other individuals from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen legally authorized to enter the United States.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that to assure compliance with the Court's order, the Court directs service of this Order upon the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of New York, and further directs the United States Marshals Service to take those actions deemed necessary to enforce the provisions and prohibitions set forth in this Order.

SO ORDERED.

Ann M. Donnelly
United States District Judge

Dated: Brooklyn, New York
January 28, 2017

Text of President Donald J. Trump's Travel Ban ...

PROTECTING THE NATION FROM FOREIGN TERRORIST ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq., and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and to protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Purpose.

The visa-issuance process plays a crucial role in detecting individuals with terrorist ties and stopping them from entering the United States. Perhaps in no instance was that more apparent than the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when State Department policy prevented consular officers from properly scrutinizing the visa applications of several of the 19 foreign nationals who went on to murder nearly 3,000 Americans. And while the visa-issuance process was reviewed and amended after the September 11 attacks to better detect would-be terrorists from receiving visas, these measures did not stop attacks by foreign nationals who were admitted to the United States.

Numerous foreign-born individuals have been convicted or implicated in terrorism-related crimes since September 11, 2001, including foreign nationals who entered the United States after receiving visitor, student, or employment visas, or who entered through the United States refugee resettlement program. Deteriorating conditions in certain countries due to war, strife, disaster, and civil unrest increase the likelihood that terrorists will use any means possible to enter the United States. The United States must be vigilant during the visa-issuance process to ensure that those approved for admission do not intend to harm Americans and that they have no ties to terrorism.

In order to protect Americans, the United States must ensure that those admitted to this country do not bear hostile attitudes toward it and its founding principles. The United States cannot, and should not, admit those who do not support the Constitution, or those who would place violent ideologies over American law. In addition, the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred (including “honor” killings, other forms of violence against women, or the persecution of those who practice religions different from their own) or those who would oppress Americans of any race, gender, or sexual orientation.

Sec. 2. Policy.

It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from foreign nationals who intend to commit terrorist attacks in the United States; and to prevent the admission of foreign nationals who intend to exploit United States immigration laws for malevolent purposes.

Sec. 3. Suspension of Issuance of Visas and Other Immigration Benefits to Nationals of Countries of Particular Concern.

(a) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall immediately conduct a review to determine the information needed from any country to adjudicate any visa, admission, or other benefit under the INA (adjudications) in order to determine that the individual seeking the benefit is who the individual claims to be and is not a security or public-safety threat.

(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the President a report on the results of the review described in subsection (a) of this section, including the Secretary of Homeland Security’s determination of the information needed for adjudications and a list of countries that do not provide adequate information, within 30 days of the date of this order. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide a copy of the report to the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence.

(c) To temporarily reduce investigative burdens on relevant agencies during the review period described in subsection (a) of this section, to ensure the proper review and maximum utilization of available resources for the screening of foreign nationals, and to ensure that adequate standards are established to prevent infiltration by foreign terrorists or criminals, pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I hereby proclaim that the immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of aliens from countries referred to in section 217(a)(12) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12), would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and I hereby suspend entry into the United States, as immigrants and nonimmigrants, of such persons for 90 days from the date of this order (excluding those foreign nationals traveling on diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visas, C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations, and G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visas).

(d) Immediately upon receipt of the report described in subsection (b) of this section regarding the information needed for adjudications, the Secretary of State shall request all foreign governments that do not supply such information to start providing such information regarding their nationals within 60 days of notification.

(e) After the 60-day period described in subsection (d) of this section expires, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the President a list of countries recommended for inclusion on a Presidential proclamation that would prohibit the entry of foreign nationals (excluding those foreign nationals traveling on diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visas, C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations, and G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visas) from countries that do not provide the information requested pursuant to subsection (d) of this section until compliance occurs.

(f) At any point after submitting the list described in subsection (e) of this section, the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security may submit to the President the names of any additional countries recommended for similar treatment.

(g) Notwithstanding a suspension pursuant to subsection (c) of this section or pursuant to a Presidential proclamation described in subsection (e) of this section, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security may, on a case-by-case basis, and when in the national interest, issue visas or other immigration benefits to nationals of countries for which visas and benefits are otherwise blocked.

(h) The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security shall submit to the President a joint report on the progress in implementing this order within 30 days of the date of this order, a second report within 60 days of the date of this order, a third report within 90 days of the date of this order, and a fourth report within 120 days of the date of this order.

Sec. 4. Implementing Uniform Screening Standards for All Immigration Programs.

(a) The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall implement a program, as part of the adjudication process for immigration benefits, to identify individuals seeking to enter the United States on a fraudulent basis with the intent to cause harm, or who are at risk of causing harm subsequent to their admission. This program will include the development of a uniform screening standard and procedure, such as in-person interviews; a database of identity documents proffered by applicants to ensure that duplicate documents are not used by multiple applicants; amended application forms that include questions aimed at identifying fraudulent answers and malicious intent; a mechanism to ensure that the applicant is who the applicant claims to be; a process to evaluate the applicant’s likelihood of becoming a positively contributing member of society and the applicant’s ability to make contributions to the national interest; and a mechanism to assess whether or not the applicant has the intent to commit criminal or terrorist acts after entering the United States.

(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Secretary of State, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall submit to the President an initial report on the progress of this directive within 60 days of the date of this order, a second report within 100 days of the date of this order, and a third report within 200 days of the date of this order.

Sec. 5. Realignment of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for Fiscal Year 2017.

(a) The Secretary of State shall suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for 120 days. During the 120-day period, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Secretary of Homeland Security and in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall review the USRAP application and adjudication process to determine what additional procedures should be taken to ensure that those approved for refugee admission do not pose a threat to the security and welfare of the United States, and shall implement such additional procedures. Refugee applicants who are already in the USRAP process may be admitted upon the initiation and completion of these revised procedures. Upon the date that is 120 days after the date of this order, the Secretary of State shall resume USRAP admissions only for nationals of countries for which the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence have jointly determined that such additional procedures are adequate to ensure the security and welfare of the United States.

(b) Upon the resumption of USRAP admissions, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, is further directed to make changes, to the extent permitted by law, to prioritize refugee claims made by individuals on the basis of religious-based persecution, provided that the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individual’s country of nationality. Where necessary and appropriate, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security shall recommend legislation to the President that would assist with such prioritization.

(c) Pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I hereby proclaim that the entry of nationals of Syria as refugees is detrimental to the interests of the United States and thus suspend any such entry until such time as I have determined that sufficient changes have been made to the USRAP to ensure that admission of Syrian refugees is consistent with the national interest.

(d) Pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I hereby proclaim that the entry of more than 50,000 refugees in fiscal year 2017 would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and thus suspend any such entry until such time as I determine that additional admissions would be in the national interest.

(e) Notwithstanding the temporary suspension imposed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security may jointly determine to admit individuals to the United States as refugees on a case-by-case basis, in their discretion, but only so long as they determine that the admission of such individuals as refugees is in the national interest — including when the person is a religious minority in his country of nationality facing religious persecution, when admitting the person would enable the United States to conform its conduct to a preexisting international agreement, or when the person is already in transit and denying admission would cause undue hardship — and it would not pose a risk to the security or welfare of the United States.

(f) The Secretary of State shall submit to the President an initial report on the progress of the directive in subsection (b) of this section regarding prioritization of claims made by individuals on the basis of religious-based persecution within 100 days of the date of this order and shall submit a second report within 200 days of the date of this order.

(g) It is the policy of the executive branch that, to the extent permitted by law and as practicable, State and local jurisdictions be granted a role in the process of determining the placement or settlement in their jurisdictions of aliens eligible to be admitted to the United States as refugees. To that end, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall examine existing law to determine the extent to which, consistent with applicable law, State and local jurisdictions may have greater involvement in the process of determining the placement or resettlement of refugees in their jurisdictions, and shall devise a proposal to lawfully promote such involvement.

Sec. 6. Rescission of Exercise of Authority Relating to the Terrorism Grounds of Inadmissibility.

The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security shall, in consultation with the Attorney General, consider rescinding the exercises of authority in section 212 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182, relating to the terrorism grounds of inadmissibility, as well as any related implementing memoranda.

Sec. 7. Expedited Completion of the Biometric Entry-Exit Tracking System.

(a) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall expedite the completion and implementation of a biometric entry-exit tracking system for all travelers to the United States, as recommended by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.

(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the President periodic reports on the progress of the directive contained in subsection (a) of this section. The initial report shall be submitted within 100 days of the date of this order, a second report shall be submitted within 200 days of the date of this order, and a third report shall be submitted within 365 days of the date of this order. Further, the Secretary shall submit a report every 180 days thereafter until the system is fully deployed and operational.

Sec. 8. Visa Interview Security.

(a) The Secretary of State shall immediately suspend the Visa Interview Waiver Program and ensure compliance with section 222 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1222, which requires that all individuals seeking a nonimmigrant visa undergo an in-person interview, subject to specific statutory exceptions.

(b) To the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of State shall immediately expand the Consular Fellows Program, including by substantially increasing the number of Fellows, lengthening or making permanent the period of service, and making language training at the Foreign Service Institute available to Fellows for assignment to posts outside of their area of core linguistic ability, to ensure that non-immigrant visa-interview wait times are not unduly affected.

Sec. 9. Visa Validity Reciprocity.

The Secretary of State shall review all nonimmigrant visa reciprocity agreements to ensure that they are, with respect to each visa classification, truly reciprocal insofar as practicable with respect to validity period and fees, as required by sections 221(c) and 281 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1201(c) and 1351, and other treatment. If a country does not treat United States nationals seeking nonimmigrant visas in a reciprocal manner, the Secretary of State shall adjust the visa validity period, fee schedule, or other treatment to match the treatment of United States nationals by the foreign country, to the extent practicable.

Sec. 10. Transparency and Data Collection.

(a) To be more transparent with the American people, and to more effectively implement policies and practices that serve the national interest, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall, consistent with applicable law and national security, collect and make publicly available within 180 days, and every 180 days thereafter:

(i) information regarding the number of foreign nationals in the United States who have been charged with terrorism-related offenses while in the United States; convicted of terrorism-related offenses while in the United States; or removed from the United States based on terrorism-related activity, affiliation, or material support to a terrorism-related organization, or any other national security reasons since the date of this order or the last reporting period, whichever is later;

(ii) information regarding the number of foreign nationals in the United States who have been radicalized after entry into the United States and engaged in terrorism-related acts, or who have provided material support to terrorism-related organizations in countries that pose a threat to the United States, since the date of this order or the last reporting period, whichever is later; and

(iii) information regarding the number and types of acts of gender-based violence against women, including honor killings, in the United States by foreign nationals, since the date of this order or the last reporting period, whichever is later; and

(iv) any other information relevant to public safety and security as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General, including information on the immigration status of foreign nationals charged with major offenses.

(b) The Secretary of State shall, within one year of the date of this order, provide a report on the estimated long-term costs of the USRAP at the Federal, State, and local levels.

Sec. 11. General Provisions.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE, January 27, 2017

Trumpeting Dangers!!!

The world is undergoing a whiplash ... From the New redline to Iran, the stern warning to China, the banning of whole populations from six majority Muslim countries from entering the United States, threatening to send in Federal troops to our Mexican boarders, the City of Chicago, refusing to honor an agreement in good faith with Australia brokered by the Obama administration, etc the new Trump administration has managed to make our world unrecognizable. In just about ten days of assuming the Presidency, Donald J. Trump has managed to scare the daylights out of all of us. He paints a gloomy portrait of gloom and doom, and some more doom around the edges to keep us all wondering. Even world leaders are confused as to how to tamper him or confront him. The world is such a dangerous place, I would concede but this is why we elect governments to bear this burden for us. We expect them to do something about the threat and keep us safe. In doing so, and even if the dangers are as damning as this new regime seems too eager to remind us, most Americans will be well served if the gory details are not so bantered all over our head, everyday.

From a distance it seems that most of these dangers are being trumped up. The United States have enjoyed prolonged peacetime with our neighbors from the Southern boarders forever and this digital editor is wondering what happened in this past ten days that we are now being told the Mexicans are such enemies of our State. The levity and insults to the Mexican and Australian Presidents played out on Twitter is nauseating. Can someone please remind Mr. President that these are heads of sovereign nations and not employees at the Trump Towers. The world has become a global village and we are interdependent on each other for our security and survival. During the Iraq wars, the Australians spilled the blood of their citizens fighting along side U.S soldiers. The Mexican government has lost so much personnel fighting drug barons from overrunning the U.S boarders with illicit drugs. We also depend on foreign intelligence Agencies to help us thwart threats. In an atmosphere where we have attracted too many enemies because of our wide footprint around the globe, the last thing we need is a Macho  mentality. Very soon, it would be expedient for another world leader to call Mr. Trumps bluffs and we would be on a downward spiral to escalation, or Wars.Just because the dog barks loudest at night does not mean that the other animals do not fear the dangers that lurk in the dark. Sometimes you might attract the danger to your turf by being the one that screams.

The other danger for this regime is that if we are always on the fray and fear of danger, we will soon become desensitized and may be unable to react in real times when confronted with real and actual dangers. What about the lost of Trust in our governmental institutions when they actually tell us about real and present dangers. We may dismiss these as hype. In such a short time, this government has been caught with lies and exaggerations that it will boomerang sooner or later. The sovereignty and pride of other nations will not let them be beaten up by this President for long. Sometimes men will choose to die in dignity than to live in fear. Enough with the insult of other world leaders already. Even the least of nations deserve respect. A bully will soon have no friends and nobody to defend him someday when another bully decides to confront him. To threaten to rip up the nuclear deal negotiated with Iran by six global powers is an insult to those allies. Independent reports is that Iran continues to comply with terms of the agreement which does not cover conventional weaponry. If we overstretch ourselves, our ego and our independence, the other nations will deem it in their interests to ally with each other against us., Trumpeting world dangers plays into the hands of our enemies and detractors; To exaggerate those dangers is to do their work for them.

Charles Abiahu Esq.
(Digital Editor)

Trumped Up Wars!

Any observer of the silence by Muslim leaders on the rise of terrorism around the globe will not be surprised about the recent wave of nationalism around the globe. A great example is the Brexit experiment with Britain pulling out of the European Union. Here in the United States, Donald Trump has risen to power, as flawed a candidate as he was by promising Americans that we are under siege by radical jihadist and only he can save and protect us. The list will continue to grow. There is ample example in history that people will trade their liberties for the promise of security. The onus is on all good Muslims to reject extremism and scream at the top of their lungs that they reject the mayhem and innocent killings of civilians around the world in the name of their religion. Al quada, Boko haram, and the Islamic State are some of the top of the list that have made our world very scary. These and so many others claim to be professing or protecting the Islamic faith. Sooner or later, someone was bound to take the bait by these groups and push our world into a religious war.

This is why the Executive Order issued by President Trump is worrisome. The way and many that this order is being executed gives me pause if this is the best strategy to meet the challenge that this wave of terrorism poses. During the campaign Mr. Trump canvassed a total ban of all Muslims from entering the United States and there is something to be said that the rash and haphazard execution and chaos that have ensured portends that this tactics was more of a fulfillment of a campaign promise and almost little to do with actual security for the nation. Even administration officials concede that this ban and the rushed implementation is not based on any actual intelligence of a threat. Americans value their security and we want our leaders to be doing everything possible to keep us safe. But we also expect any and all policies along this line to be well thought out, and more especially must not be policies that make us even less safe. The goal of the global jihadists is to upset the current world order and cause a religious war of Muslims against Christians. This Executive order targets all Muslims from these Countries irrespective of their ideology and or believe and is bound to anger the majority of people of that faith who in fact abhors the tactics of terrorist groups as much as we do.

The American way does not target people based on their religion and to ignore the fact that we have law abiding Muslims who are fighting against terrorists in our Military uniforms, and so many others contributing to the peace and security of our nation is very naive. This order is very suspect not only because of what the President promised and campaigned for but also because it defies tact and the sensitivity that policies like this deserves. I also fear that this government will be bogged down with this Trumped Up war on terrorism at this level and distract our intelligence and other security officials from the actual duty of acting on actionable intelligence and threats to our Nations Security. I saw a sturdy today that show that no single American have been killed in any of the Countries that are the targets of this Executive Order. It is also very doubtful that this Law will pass the smell of our judicial systems and Courts of Law. So, if we get a lot of people riled up from around the world, if we make our service and security personnel who are working for the State and our military to wonder if they are viewed with suspicion by the head of our government we do no less than the bidding of terrorist groups by pitting ourselves against each other. A nation divided by a Trumped Up war will be shaken to the core. So help us God.

Charles Abiahu Esq.

The Dawn of Trump: The American experiment in Democracy.

The Dawn of Trump: The American experiment in Democracy.

On this first day of a Trump Presidency, Americans are wondering what the future holds for our Union. Every four years this great Country continues an experiment that has eluded the vast majority of Countries around the world. The peaceful hand over of the reins of power to the winner of elections by a sitting President to the winner at the polls is something to be celebrated. This contrast with thuggery, rigging of the polls and sometimes a military takeover of power at the force of machine guns is why all Americans should be proud as we welcome the 45^th President. Yet, we should be reminded that this great democracy is not made so great just by our beliefs and practice of free and fair elections or the governmental agencies and democratic institutions. All of these can be corroded or lost. The American experiment is protected by us. The citizenry of this Country is the greatest asset and safeguard for our democracy. Our believe in each other and in the duty of each citizen to preserve the “American way” is an unshakeable culture. As Americans we believe that all people are created equal and should be treated as such with certain rights that no one can take away from us no matter how privileged in governmental position or wealth. Everyone is equal in the eyes of the laws of the land and deserve equal protection by the State and her apparatus of power. Americans cherish our rights to freely express our opinion of praise or condemnation of people in power without expecting recrimination or sanction.

I am wishing the new President well for the sake of my Country but as I reminisce over the eighteen months of the Trump campaign to the Office of Presidency of this Country, I am very wary that the new President either does not understand what makes this Country great and the envy of so many around the world or would not hesitate to erode them. President Donald Trump continues to fight the media with a penchant that is only practiced in fascist regimes. Just recently he threatened to relocate the white house Press core to a different building upon resuming Office. During his campaigns, he denied credentials to media houses he felt were not flattering of him in their reporting and openly feuds or mocks reporters who have authored reports that are not so favorable. Free speech and the independent media are the bedrock of this democracy and Americans will soon take notice that the President is trying to silence dissenting speech. I have seen this President beat down on individual citizens just for speaking their convictions, calling people names and mocking them just because of a political disagreement and my hope is that yesterday's inauguration will bring Mr. President to a new awakening that a political witch hunt will be intolerable to Americans. He is now President of all Americans, including those that did not vote for him or who has a legitimate disagreement.

Perhaps this President will prove me wrong but everything I saw during the campaign portends that this government is poised on rolling back the achievements of this Country in our believe in the citizenship and rights of all races and colors, the equality of all genders and citizens under our laws, the rights of all citizens to freely express their opinion and believes and protest their government and the non-interference in the practice of a chosen religion of citizens. Mr. Trump launched his campaign by condemning all Mexicans as rapists and drug dealers, He has derided women and judges them only by their beauty or body physic, he continues to trash blacks as lazy and living in squalor and has promised a more rigorous immigration policy against Muslim Americans. You may want to dismiss these as the exaggerated speech of a rigorous campaign  but my heart sank yesterday when the same divisive rhetoric were repeated in his inaugural speech. It was another campaign speech, if you will, rather than the traditional opportunity of bringing the Country together and foreclosing on the campaign. I had high hopes that he will reach out to those electorates that were in Majority that voted for Mrs. Clinton but he did not. It was also troubling that he never acknowledged the United States Congress or the Supreme Court that are equal and co-branches of our government. It was all about what he will do and his campaign promises. Sounded more like a speech of a despot rather than the leader of the world’s most revered democracy.

I am not also very encouraged by the ironic coincidence that all of President Trump’s appointees to High Offices of Power conveniently are those who has rolled back or participated in rolling back the rights and privileges we have come to take for granted. Jeff Sessions has a lifetime record of fighting against the rights of minorities to vote unimpeded and has supported police brutality against blacks and is Mr. Trumps choice for Office of Attorney General, an office that enforces equal protection and access to our Laws; His pick of Treasury Secretary, an Office that regulates Banks and formulates economic policies that advances the pocket lines of ordinary Americans is Steven Mnuchin whose public record disclosures show that none of his seventy bank branches was cited in minority neighborhoods. Redlining, the banking practice of mapping predominantly poor or black neighborhoods to deny them loans was outlawed by the National Bank Act of 1863. His own deputy revealed to investigators that Mr. Mnuchin ran a “foreclosure machine” that took away homes from struggling families at an unprecedented rate in spite of a government funding guarantee that offered banks credit and incentives at refinancing subprime mortgages.  Mr. Mnuchin foreclosure machine preferred to throw families that have come on difficult times due to illness or loss of a job in a family instead of modifying their loans. Also, in part the high literacy and political awareness in this Country is guaranteed by the Constitution for early public education. Trumps’s nominee for Education Secretary, Betsy Devos is a billionaire who admits that her children have never attended public schools and has spent fortunes promoting for-profit charter schools over public schools for more than thirty years. After spending a lifetime depleting funding for public schools that offer equal access to education for children of both rich and poor, she earns a badge from Mr. President to do the same thing on a national level. Mrs. Devos admits she has no training or experience in education or education policies and administration.

The irony of Mr. Trumps agenda at shaking up the fabrics of this Country is so glaring in his pick for energy Secretary.  Rick Perry campaigned for Presidency singling out the Department of Energy as one of the three Ministries that were worthless and he wishes to disassemble. He is now to head the same parastatal he promised to dissolve. Scott Pruitt came to National prominence suing the Environmental Protection Agency and is Trump’s pick to head the EPA. The EPA has rolled back industrial pollution and protects our air and waterways from dangerous chemicals and pollutants. Of all the great talents this Country has to offer, the President’s Secretary of Sate nominee is Rex Tillerson, the Exon Mobil Chief. Under Tillerson, Exon Mobil enriched despots around the world and helped them siphon the wealth of their Country and oil and mineral deposits out of their lands, leaving their lands devastated, polluted and the citizens hungry and impoverished. He received the highest award from the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, whose continued interests to embarrass the United States and antagonize our interests around the world is well cataloged. Why is the new President so eager to roll back everything we have accepted as part of the American fabric, why does it seem so obvious that he is muzzling the free press that has kept our governments on their toe, why does he not hesitate to use his high offices to fight the individual citizen or attack a private business holding or pick every fight with his critics or perceived enemies, why is he so insecure that he surrounds himself only with immediate family or those who have proven loyalty to him.

Take a look at the incoming cabinet … Why is his cabinet so lacking of the diversity that we have come to expect and was practiced in previous regimes. There is not a single nominee of Hispanic origin and the only black nominee is Dr. Ben Carson who supported him early after losing out in the campaign. Dr. Carson, too will head the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) after he ran a campaign that criticized his black brothers as lazy and too dependent on government Housing and other programs that have been engineered to help the poor and weak of our society to live an honorable life than to die homeless on our streets. His all white cabinet is an insult to this Country that prides herself on the diversity of our races and cultures. Immigrants have made this Country the envy of the world by blazing the trails of multinational inventions that power our world. Almost half of the Fortune 500 industries were founded by immigrants or their children. A few landmarks include Google, Uber, Intel, Proctor & Gamble, eBay to name a few. The President of Western Union, Mr. Ersek was born in Turkey and once told a reporter he relocated from Europe to the United States to avoid racism. According to him, in America, “they don’t ask where you are from, they ask what can you do”. It is utterly depressing to watch Mr. President of this Country of Immigrants disparage immigrants so utterly and with malice. Ironic too that his wife only became a U.S. citizen ten years ago.  His “America First” slogan is nothing more than the closed-mindedness and bigotry that have hindered progress in too many Countries and has helped to attract the best talents from all over to the U.S.  Others say he has given voice and comfort to white supremacist that most new immigrants did not even know exists in the shadows. 

Most third world Countries have missed their economic potential and progress almost exclusively due to tribal and religious feuding and favoritism that have elevated mediocrity over talent and merit. I don’t think Americans want to degenerate to the regime of fear of our leaders or our neighbors. We are Americans and will resist any attempt to suppress us from speaking freely and holding our leaders to account. The trust of our democracy is not in our government. It is ingrained in the American spirit. It is a way of life, almost a religion that we are our brother’s keeper. We do not give up our beliefs to speak truth to power and to protect the oppressed. Many Countries have trampled on their citizens by eroding the institutions of government and the Laws, but in America, our rights are given by God. They are protected by the willingness of ordinary citizens to march, to protest and if need be to die to protect the rights of fellow citizens. On this Dawn of a new administration, Americans will awake and safeguard our democracy from any “enemies, foreign or Domestic” to bring them down if they trample our way of life of freedom and equality of all. So Help us God.

Charles Abiahu Esq.

Perspectives on the Task of Being a Father:

On this father’s Day, many of us are second-guessing ourselves. Wondering if we are doing it right; debating within if the old time religion and our fathers were right or if we should defer to the new-age ‘wisdom of sociologist, psychologist and so many other professions that tell us very strange things about the psychology of our children. With all due respect, and nothing against practitioners of these professions, may I submit that the majority of what is being spewed out there is nothing but errant nonsense to create more jobs and financial opportunities for themselves. We have all read the stories and psychoanalysis of why Michael Jackson and other child stars went astray in their later years “because their father spanked them”. Really?. A dad instills principles and work ethics on a child that helps them to rise above their peers and develop their potentials early. They become a phenomenon and hugely successful and then the wealth and fame corrupts their mind, and they lose themselves in the glory and accolades of mere mortals and derail; they overindulge in the good life, the good things of this earth and in drugs, and experiment the limits and soon they fall like a pack of cards.

Why does the father get the blame for his downfall, but never his rise to fame and fortune you ask?. I am still waiting for an answer too. The other question is why anyone thinks they can predict or understand with certainty how anyone would act in any set of circumstances. The only check on anyone’s behavior given the opportunities is your character and set of values. Show me a man without set values and I will show you a disaster waiting to happen. Show me a man who is not accountable to anyone and there’s your whirlwind ready to embrace any and all ideas, good or bad. A man who is grounded in his faith and believes in a higher being checks himself. As Christians, we are guided by our belief that we are ultimately accountable to God for how we live our lives. We are guarded by set Biblical principles for everyday life and living to treat others as we wish to be treated and that we are all of God’s children. So, this father’s day I wanted to cheer us on. There is no way to measure our success or failures but be assured that there are listening and watching. Our children are molded by our character and set of values. They hear you and at other times, they see what you did and how you reacted under pressure or a given set of circumstances.

I have not advocated spanking here but I do not rule it out as a tool for discipline. A parent must weigh the circumstances. A good rule of thumb is never to spank a child unless they are physically aggressive or hurtful to their sibling. Most other character issues can be dealt with by talking it through and other sets of punishments and or rewards. It is always a balancing act between the carrot and the stick. As they get older, employ other tools. I have found out that my kids at ages 6, 9 and eleven enjoy the responsibility of self-policing … “if one person cries, then everyone cries”. You will be surprised how they make peace among themselves and resolve their disagreements without running to you. Ultimately discipline must be fair and relative. The Bible enjoins us in Ephesians 6:4,” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”. Even kids will revolt if your reaction or punishment is unwarranted, is out of anger and over the top relative to the error. There used to be times when as a kid I thought I have done it and I am in real trouble but my Dad completely ignores me. One day I remember stupidly asking him why I did not get disciplined for bad behavior. His response surprised me. He said he saw I had already disciplined myself by my remorse and recluse. When a child clearly show they understand the error of their ways is the time for an embrace and a pep talk about character and responsibility. “Accidents happen but be careful next time” was all I got when I broke my Dad’s favorite soup bowl. So, sometimes, we need to surprise our kids even with our love, understanding and our judgment as to where they are in their development and age. “Daddy, why did I get in trouble and Praise didn’t”, my son asked me last week. Because you are older and ought to know better. You should set a better example for your younger ones, I answered.

Yet, the best training for our children is ourselves, our lives and how we live it. Take them out to the prisons to appreciate that there are serious consequences when character flaws affect others in the larger society, visit hospitals, etc to teach them that overindulgence has it’s ‘unrewards’ and volunteer at shelters or helping the less privileged. They will learn to appreciate what they have and most importantly study the Bible with them so they understand that true happiness and satisfaction comes from God, from within us and not the acquisition of material things. Know that you are doing your best and that is all that is required. God will mold them if we do our path. When in doubt, go to God in prayers. Being a Christian father is a balancing act and sometimes we wonder. At those times, stop and be comforted by the word of God … Hebrews 12:11 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” Happy Father’s Day!.

Charles Abiahu Esq.