10
Aug
2004
Very excited to learn that President Bush was going to be in the Quad Cities last week, I immediately decided to take my students to the rally. What a wonderful way to teach young people about how our country selects its leaders, and an opportunity to see the leader of the free world in person!
I called Jim Nussle's office and was told that there were tickets left but I'd better hurry, because they would be gone in two hours. I rushed over and Mr. Nussle's volunteers politely filled my ticket order and helpfully briefed me on what to expect at the event.
Imagine my student's response the next day when I told them we were going to see the president of the United States. I arrived at LeClaire Park approximately 45 minutes before my students arrived with another teacher. During that time I observed what seemed like hundreds of yellow-shirted volunteers very politely and efficiently direct the movement of thousands of guests. The process seemed flawlessly planned and executed.
Now, imagine my dismay as my students were singled out, as no other of the thousands of attendees were, and frisked! Then, they were ordered to raise their shirts for inspection - not once, but twice. This uncalled-for search was even performed on a young woman - all in a public area in view of everyone in the area.
I understand the need for diligent security in this time of war and uncertainty and support the efforts of our police, the FBI, and the Secret Service. However, the persons who made my students undergo the indignity of their hands-on searches were the yellow-shirted event volunteers, not official security officers.
Add to that indignity the fact that the students who were searched were black and Hispanic (the only blacks I observed in the audience). My white students were not searched.
When I questioned the second searchers why they were again submitting my students to this outrageous behavior I was told that they might have something written on their underclothes!
When the students reached the official security-screening site, manned by uniformed officers with magnetometers, they passed with no difficulty.
What began as a fine civics lesson and an opportunity to see the president certainly ended as an unforgettable experience. The lesson that these students learned was that bigotry lives on in our community as evidenced by the uncalled-for racial profiling that these young people were forced to endure.
John D. Vogt
Davenport, Iowa
Survival, Not Heroism, at RIBCO
In Jeff Ignatius' enjoyable article "RIBCO Quietly Marks Its 25th Anniversary" (see River Cities' Reader Issue 488, August 4-10, 2004), he mentions the September 1, 1985, robbery at the club and says: "KFMH DJ Kerry Peace followed the robbers out of the club and got in a brawl with them, and the shotgun broke apart." As macho and heroic a picture as this paints of me, and as tempting as it is to let this bit of mythology live on, I have to confess it wasn't all that.
I was just one of the many frightened victims of this crime. As the last person herded into the cooler, I had the misfortune of being first in line when the by-then lone robber came back looking for a hostage because the club was surrounded by Rock Island's finest. I did get into a scuffle with him, but only after he led me into the alley behind the club with the shotgun tucked under my chin, intent on making a getaway. My actions were merely survival.
To me, the hero of the story was the RIBCO bartender (I've forgotten his name) who got up and ran out of the club early on in the robbery and notified police when everyone else (myself included) was lying face down on the floor and trying not to soil themselves in fear. He not only brought the authorities, but in escaping he bolted right past the robber's accomplice, causing him to flee the scene before the police had even been called.
Kerry Peace
Chicago, Illinois
Constitutional Questions Deserve Public Forum
I appreciate the compliments that I received on my letter to the editor (see "Rental Inspections Unconstitutional," River Cities' Reader Issue 487, July 28-August 3, 2004). However, if I had my druthers, I would druther that you wrote your comments to this paper (or you could do both).
We must have public discussions on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights so that all can understand the difference between the two, and also to determine for ourselves if our system of justice is fair.
We should list the subject matters that we want to learn about and state our opinions or questions publicly so that others might respond. Once we have made a list, then we can put them in the order that we want them discussed.
Some of the questions that we might seek answers for might be:
(1) Do we have a valid grand jury, one that complies with the Fifth and 14th Amendments? (I am of the opinion that we do not.)
(2) The Constitution states that a federal judge shall serve during good behavior. How does this translate into a lifetime tenure? (I am of the opinion that a federal judge's tenure expires upon bad behavior.)
(3) Are members of Congress federal employees, or are they state employees that are being paid by the federal government? (I am of the opinion that this violates our inalienable right to be free from taxation without representation.)
(4) When the court ruled against God in our law, did this abolish our court of equity? Has this caused numerous illegal convictions? (I am of the opinion that Martha Stewart was illegally tried and convicted.)
(5) Our Constitution guarantees us the right to "assistance of counsel." How did this translate in a "right to counsel"? (I am of the opinion that this has placed a prior restraint upon our liberty to petition the government for a redress of grievances.)
These are mere suggestions. Make up your own or suggest which ones we should discuss first.
Don't forget to send your comments on the unconstitutionality of building inspections!
Send your comments and questions to U.S. Senator Charles Grassley and his challenger, Mr. Art Small. (You may not have this opportunity for another six years.)
We have less than three months until the election.
Richard M. Boalbey
Rock Island
Imagine my student's response the next day when I told them we were going to see the president of the United States. I arrived at LeClaire Park approximately 45 minutes before my students arrived with another teacher. During that time I observed what seemed like hundreds of yellow-shirted volunteers very politely and efficiently direct the movement of thousands of guests. The process seemed flawlessly planned and executed.
Now, imagine my dismay as my students were singled out, as no other of the thousands of attendees were, and frisked! Then, they were ordered to raise their shirts for inspection - not once, but twice. This uncalled-for search was even performed on a young woman - all in a public area in view of everyone in the area.
I understand the need for diligent security in this time of war and uncertainty and support the efforts of our police, the FBI, and the Secret Service. However, the persons who made my students undergo the indignity of their hands-on searches were the yellow-shirted event volunteers, not official security officers.
Add to that indignity the fact that the students who were searched were black and Hispanic (the only blacks I observed in the audience). My white students were not searched.
When I questioned the second searchers why they were again submitting my students to this outrageous behavior I was told that they might have something written on their underclothes!
When the students reached the official security-screening site, manned by uniformed officers with magnetometers, they passed with no difficulty.
What began as a fine civics lesson and an opportunity to see the president certainly ended as an unforgettable experience. The lesson that these students learned was that bigotry lives on in our community as evidenced by the uncalled-for racial profiling that these young people were forced to endure.
John D. Vogt
Davenport, Iowa
Survival, Not Heroism, at RIBCO
In Jeff Ignatius' enjoyable article "RIBCO Quietly Marks Its 25th Anniversary" (see River Cities' Reader Issue 488, August 4-10, 2004), he mentions the September 1, 1985, robbery at the club and says: "KFMH DJ Kerry Peace followed the robbers out of the club and got in a brawl with them, and the shotgun broke apart." As macho and heroic a picture as this paints of me, and as tempting as it is to let this bit of mythology live on, I have to confess it wasn't all that.
I was just one of the many frightened victims of this crime. As the last person herded into the cooler, I had the misfortune of being first in line when the by-then lone robber came back looking for a hostage because the club was surrounded by Rock Island's finest. I did get into a scuffle with him, but only after he led me into the alley behind the club with the shotgun tucked under my chin, intent on making a getaway. My actions were merely survival.
To me, the hero of the story was the RIBCO bartender (I've forgotten his name) who got up and ran out of the club early on in the robbery and notified police when everyone else (myself included) was lying face down on the floor and trying not to soil themselves in fear. He not only brought the authorities, but in escaping he bolted right past the robber's accomplice, causing him to flee the scene before the police had even been called.
Kerry Peace
Chicago, Illinois
Constitutional Questions Deserve Public Forum
I appreciate the compliments that I received on my letter to the editor (see "Rental Inspections Unconstitutional," River Cities' Reader Issue 487, July 28-August 3, 2004). However, if I had my druthers, I would druther that you wrote your comments to this paper (or you could do both).
We must have public discussions on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights so that all can understand the difference between the two, and also to determine for ourselves if our system of justice is fair.
We should list the subject matters that we want to learn about and state our opinions or questions publicly so that others might respond. Once we have made a list, then we can put them in the order that we want them discussed.
Some of the questions that we might seek answers for might be:
(1) Do we have a valid grand jury, one that complies with the Fifth and 14th Amendments? (I am of the opinion that we do not.)
(2) The Constitution states that a federal judge shall serve during good behavior. How does this translate into a lifetime tenure? (I am of the opinion that a federal judge's tenure expires upon bad behavior.)
(3) Are members of Congress federal employees, or are they state employees that are being paid by the federal government? (I am of the opinion that this violates our inalienable right to be free from taxation without representation.)
(4) When the court ruled against God in our law, did this abolish our court of equity? Has this caused numerous illegal convictions? (I am of the opinion that Martha Stewart was illegally tried and convicted.)
(5) Our Constitution guarantees us the right to "assistance of counsel." How did this translate in a "right to counsel"? (I am of the opinion that this has placed a prior restraint upon our liberty to petition the government for a redress of grievances.)
These are mere suggestions. Make up your own or suggest which ones we should discuss first.
Don't forget to send your comments on the unconstitutionality of building inspections!
Send your comments and questions to U.S. Senator Charles Grassley and his challenger, Mr. Art Small. (You may not have this opportunity for another six years.)
We have less than three months until the election.
Richard M. Boalbey
Rock Island
