Values of the Neo-Cops: Feeding the Bottom Line by Chelle Stockman

Subj: Opinion: The changing values of our police today  Date: 6/24/2006 11:23:48 PM Pacific Standard Time From: GoddessOf7Worlds To: opinion@timesheraldonline.com

Good policing brings honor to a city, its people, the police force; and last but certainly not least, its individual police officers.  Ethical policing unites a community instead of divides it; and creates respect instead of creating fear, doubt and distrust.

I've seen torn cities turn into wholesome communities because dedicated officers compassionately served the people they pledged to protect.  They were fence builders, involving potentially renegade youth in activities that served the community they lived in which built confidence and respect for others.  Some of the officers so believed in the communities they served they died because of it. Yes, I'm sure most cities across our country mourn the loss of dedicated individuals whose main purpose was to protect and serve.

I come from a long line of police, clergy, military and union folks; a line which extends from Ireland and Italy, Canada and Argentina, and the United States.
Growing up, family reunions were the spiciest events in my life.  The Irish and Italians didn't always seem to mix well in close quarters but I found that to be interesting as well as exciting.  There was one basic component to our reunions that applied throughout each day until the last visitor departed.  The men gathered together in one area while the women took over the rest of the space, except during meal times of course. I'd always work my way into the men's room where great discussions occurred.  I remember one discussion in particular between an uncle, Constable Patrick Gleeson of Munster and another great-uncle, Leo Vitali who was a policeman in the Calabria region.  Uncle Patrick spoke of losing some friends and coworkers in political attacks while Uncle Leo spoke of cutthroat illegal immigrants and their crimes.  I got scared and spoke my fear.  Uncle Patrick told me to pray for the protection of those who serve us.  I remember the men grew silent and nodded. Though I was only eleven at the time, I understood.

To this day, without wavering, I pray for the protection of those who serve us-the physical protection.  Yet, something has changed drastically in the way policing is done, at least in our city of Vallejo.  I've noticed it changing in the past five years.  The youth have never been more alienated from the community as they are now, while the sick and elderly are being victimized by police assistants in the parking area of Kaiser, having their handicapped placards taken away and then cited.  The process to clear themselves involves paying the fine and registering a complaint to Irvine.  You see, our accounting is outsourced to a Southern California city. 

While I feel deep within my heart that our police are missing some community building opportunities, I'm pretty upset about the parking patrol at Kaiser and highly suspicious of the force behind this.  It is as though our police department is being run like a greedy corporation, full of bean-counters living off the "bottom line" feeding off the youth, the sick and elderly.  Whether its a competition of who writes the most citations, or some hoorah about new discoveries off of "My Space," it is counterproductive to building healthy relationships with citizens and the community they once ethically protected and served.

I'm still going to pray for the protection of those who serve; but as for those who put glory and profit over those they were hired to serve, they'll have to pray for themselves.

With Intention,

Chelle Stockman

Why Respect Becomes Fear

The world must shudder and quake whenever our United States gears up for elections.  People die.  Buildings come down.  Terrorism dominates. Policies fall short.  Investments become unstable. Accusations fly.  New appointees have to be dealt with.  Friends are given an ultimatum and enemies become allies. 

It's like the Maffia insists, "You are invited, you must attend; you aren't invited, you don't go; or else...

Seems the only thing we have succeeded doing in the recent years is to scare the crap out of other countries.

To think we only mean to do away with OPEC and privatize oil.  Why are they all so scared of us?

Was It a Dream? 6-12-06

While up at Jen's this weekend for a gig her son put on (which was fantastic) I logged into one of my favorite chatrooms.  I missed news because most folks in her area watch very little televison and radio reception sucks.  While driving, I could have sworn I heard a BBC report announcing another message of bin Laden. I was sure he told Iran to hold their ground or he was issuing a fatwah against them for their involvement with the crusaders.

But LMMTO and I searched and couldn't come up with it.  I haven't slept a lot since leaving my home town for this visit but the best I can make out is that I had to dream this.  No one else has heard this either.  Hope I'm not going bonkers.  I had to have heard it in a dream.

Illegal Immigration: Letter to Feinstein by Chelle Stockman

Dear Senator Feinstein:

 

Regarding the "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006" that will allow 325,000 temporary visas available to "unskilled" workers in the first year alone; many whom I spoke with share your concerns.  We got to talking about this and the intricate problems in our foreseeable future and decided to write to you about one of the issues we find important.

 

The majority of our graduating students won't go on to get degrees in our school district here in Vallejo, California.  Few graduate knowing how to manage a home budget let alone how to write a check.  More graduate without knowing how to shop for and plan healthy menus to insure they live a longer more robust life.  Due to budget cuts to shop classes, home economics classes and several other related electives, our graduates won't have the skills to survive; they'll graduate as an unskilled labor force.

 

This Reform Act you are so concerned about allows for another 325,000 unskilled laborers who will be competing with our children.  We are on a downward spiral because we don't take care of those whom we have here.  We ask our children to regurgitate facts for an exit exam but fail to teach them basic tools to earn a living.  Most will not become doctors and lawyers.  Our labor unions are suffering a loss of workers in the fields of electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters and insulators.  Shouldn't we be seeing to it that our high schools help to supply that demand?

 

Just whom did we sell our liberty to?  Who is the leaseholder of our children's future?

 

I'm writing on behalf of many from my community. 

Thank you for alerting us to this, another dilemma.

 

Sincerely,

 

Chelle Stockman

 

Letter to Lou Dobbs by Chelle Stockman

 

Regarding the rights and wrongs coming out of our representatives and this administration:

 

This is not witty but it is the truth. I write diligently to many congressmen and senators around the country, utilizing their fax numbers often and calling their aides to leave messages.  I am in the habit of thanking them when they do something of higher ethics.  I write to all parties involved in the different issues.  I watch Cspan to see how they present their arguments and then research when necessary.  I send them research as I did pertaining to Harriet Miers and Doncaster LTD when they were selling off their holdings to Dubai corporations.  They do respond. Unfortunately they made one right choice and one wrong choice as they allowed Dubai to control and oversee our Pentagon contracts.  As for the other areas pertaining to Doncaster/Dubai, we haven't acted yet.

 

 I've pissed Hillary off once but made up for it by asking her to reintroduce her brilliant health care reform that her husband helped to kill off when she was with her father as he died.  She was first lady then.  I love when our reps are informed but in many cases I found that they aren't given the correct information as in the case of our demands upon the EU.  This administration was supposed to give the house and senate a copy of this demand(19 page pdf) and made subtle changes to the copy the congress was given. 

 

This administration is being controlled by the man behind the throne, Karl Rove.  This man needs to be removed from ever practicing politics or economics in our country ever again.  Terms like "robust diplomacy" and "regime" (Rice's favorite) are products of Rove.  Even Rummy doesn't bark or sneeze without clearing it through Rove.  This president is merely a member of the sales force for an unseen but felt oligarchy and its my guess Rove is their CEO. That's all for now.

Emotional letter to John Murtha by Chelle Stockman

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

From: Chelle Stockman
            California

To:  Congressman John Murtha

 

Dear Sir:

Today like so many other days, I woke burdened by the multi-tiered plight of our country. (I'm reminded of an old nursery rhyme about Humpty Dumpty.)  I was first treated to British news which reported the annulment of an EU-US agreement which required airlines to transfer passenger data to US authorities.  I researched to find if we violated any rights of those abroad and found some 50 cases.  The one that had the most profound affect upon me pertained to a University professor of cryptography in Spain, Dr. Arturo Quirantes Sierra.  After reading for a few hours, I grew sad that our country's sins in the name of fighting terror are creating terror for many around the world as well as for us. 

Secondly, I was treated to the news playing on the television in the background that addressed the civilian deaths at the hands of our Marines and the Pat Tillman story.  I half heartedly listened as I continued my avenue of research and did so at all because my eldest goes off to Ft. Benning, Georgia upon his high school graduation.  I wondered what he would do if his squad went on an enraged carnage as the Marines are reported to have done.  I kept finding one disappointing truth after another from our EU trade agreements-- letters to the EU containing demands and letters to the congress that were supposed to be a copy of the same but read a little different; and also the history of Secretary of Treasury Posts since G.W. Bush became our president.   The outlook was bleak to speak lightly of such serious subjects. 

I began to pray, sir.  I wanted to know why so many cover-ups, non-disclosures and out right lies are coming out of this administration.  My acquaintances around the world say America is living her darkest moment since her formation.  The answer came to me in a still voice-my inner dialog during times of great woes.  It said, "You asked me for truth.  You cried out for truth to manifest.  I delivered to you certain truths; now what are you going to do with this information?" 

I began writing in my blogs about some of the information I came upon trusting that somewhere someone would see it.  I tell ya Sir, it's as though I'm a salmon swimming upstream in a polluted river hoping to lay a few eggs.  I heard your name mentioned as "coming right up."  I listened to you as I always do.  Your words have resonance with me.  I appreciate your bravery coming against our sins in times when people are dirtied in order to be removed. 

You spoke about accountability and peace keeping on the ground.  It was peace keeping I breathed in deeply and I whispered, "Peace."  Our ground troops are essential in peace keeping missions.  If it were about massacre we'd have attacked by air and been done.  We must train our soldiers equally in peace keeping and local negotiations which involves knowing the customs of indigenous people of the regions we are deployed to.

I love you John Murtha.  You make me feel like an American once again. I'm sorry to be so uncharacteristically emotional, but I'm buckling under the pressure as I sit hoping truth will prevail and that we the American people are brave enough to handle the truth.  Lead us sir as a Representative of the People.  Continue long on our behalf unlike the presidents who I'm coming to believe are nothing more than the sales force for an unseen but felt oligarchy.

Sincerely,
Chelle Stockman

 

The Power to Snoop Continues by Chelle Stockman

"The Power to Snoop Continues"

Those boarding trans-atlantic flights are probably aware that their personal information is stored in security data banks of the governments. The Bush administration demanded of EU countries they hand over PNR Data for "purposes of security." PNR is short for Passenger Name Record. The agreement between the European Commission and the US government failed to establish limitations on their reasons for data collection and storage for the millions of travelers who fly. The Parliment kept up their protest that it violated the British citizens rights of protection but got nowhere as many people felt the governments had every right to this information if it prevented terrorism.  
 
There has been no terrorist caught since this program went into place some 3 plus years ago and the European Court of Justice annulled the Eu-Us illegal agreement pending a viable legal solution. They have until September 30 of this year to accomplish this. Meanwhile the searches will continue. The Bush administration fired back that it would impose heavy fines and deny landing rights for any airline failing to meet the agreement demanded of them sending a message of threat to our allies and others. 
 
The testimonies of people who were detained for hours and in some cases days were alarming to say the least. In each and every case, no probable cause was given other than they had the rights to investigate any individual they deemed necessary. The list of those detained were interesting. Most worked in fields of engineering or were professors at Universites around the world, specialists in computer encryptian fields, etc. These people were due to give speeches on such things as government spying using encryted programs. So what happens to them? They are detained for a lengthy period of time until they miss their event and any monetary suffering is the responsibility of the detainee. They are put on a list and get singled out every time they fly and probably will continue to do so.  
 
The most interesting case that I found myself heartsick over was of a Professor out of the University of Granada in Spain. Professor Arturo Quirantes Sierra, a specialist in cryptography and member of the Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility has a huge story to tell. For more information, I urge you to log on to: 
 
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2003/oct/12pnrspain.htm. 
 
From there, you'll be able to find a slew of valuable information by way of links on the last page of the article.  
 
You won't easily find the news article about Washington's threat to the EU about what will occur if they follow their courts annullment of the "agreement". So, I'll post another link for you: 
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/5028918.stm 
 
I submit to you that if we continue on our path of dominance we will suffer the same shame Humpty Dumpty did. 

By Chelle Stockman