Arkansas Blog

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20789361/site/newsweek/page/2/

Arkansas times gets a shoutout in newsweek.

Editor's note:

I have removed a tiresome and ugly comment posted in this spot by Chasv.

Because I can,
Leslie Newell Peacock

Fifty years after the fact and the Little Rock Nine still are riding at the back of the bus. Gov. Beebe even commented that those sitting behind him instead of addressing the crowd about those sitting before them. From out on the lawn you had to look past Bill, Hill, the Gov. and the others to view the Nine. I am sorry for those who did so much but still have to sit at the back of the bus. Today was for those in the back row not for those in the front.

chasv, do you believe your God loves black people? Do you believe black people go to heaven? Do you believe it's a sin to disrespect, dishonor, or degrade a whole race? Do you hate black people? Would you be kind enough on this special day, to explain your position more clearly?

chaz - you've been spoiling for a fight all over this forum (you actually mad a civil war reference in another post - idiot......

you said in your other post that all we learned rom all this is that the military can make you do whatever it wants. How'd that work out for faubus? he sent the national guard out to prevent the law from being enforced - to keep the blacks out in violation of the law - Ikes use of the 101st airborn just set things right

don't you have a Klan meeting to get to - you don't want to be late for the cross lighting.

also - putting the nine in the back row was VERY poor planning a BIG mistake and all those glory hogs in the front row didn't even have the sense to move out of the way as the 9 were introduced.

Ok you guys. chasv is a perfect example of why kids should never be allowed to skip school, even if it is to go huntin.' He has no idea of what he is saying, it's like a programmed response, he is, as we said in the 60s, unconscious.

Putting the politicians on the front row sucks, but face it, the LR 9 were going to be there anyway, the organizers had to suck up to the big name politicians to get them here.

But put it all in perspective, the LR 9 had a horrible and miserable experience in 1957, but they didn't bring integration to the US, the Supreme Court decision did that. Afterwards it was just a matter of who. Like Neil Armstrong for NASA, someone was going to step on the moon first. If Mothershed, Green, or Ekcford had said, "This is too much for me", it wouldn't have changed the fact that the nations schools WERE going to be integrated.

They showed great personal courage, but they didn't change the world. The world had already changed, we just didn't know it yet.

I like to think the politicians who were sitting in front of the Little Rock 9 were acting as human shields to take the bullets from chasv's gun in case of a KKK attack.

NPR (Nice Polite Republicans) Gets a spine.. will it last?

NPR Rebuffs White House On Bush Talk
Radio Network Wanted To Choose Its Interviewer

By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 26, 2007; Page C01

The White House reached out to National Public Radio over the weekend, offering analyst Juan Williams a presidential interview to mark yesterday's 50th anniversary of school desegregation in Little Rock.

But NPR turned down the interview, and Williams's talk with Bush wound up in a very different media venue: Fox News.

Williams said yesterday he was "stunned" by NPR's decision. "It makes no sense to me. President Bush has never given an interview in which he focused on race. . . . I was stunned by the decision to turn their backs on him and to turn their backs on me."

Ellen Weiss, NPR's vice president for news, said she "felt strongly" that "the White House shouldn't be selecting the person." She said NPR told Bush's press secretary, Dana Perino, that "we're grateful for the opportunity to talk to the president but we wanted to determine who did the interview."

Snip (article link at my name)

I watched the commemoration on tv and was impressed with the amount of work the organizers invested to bring the ceremony to a successful climax. I am even more grateful all of the LR 9 were in attendance to see, after fifty years, what an impact their courage, their determination had on the city and the nation. And Cyrus Bahrassa, a class act, has my vote for president---simply awesome!!!!!

I'd like to see report on what happened to Central HS during the 1958 - 59 school year. What lessons did the LRSD then learn from the 1957 crises and how best to handle race integration in the classroom the school year immediately after 1957-1958.

Anyone see that documentary on HBO lastnight. That one girl, the young african American girl taking the AP classes. Wow!

She was just so amazing. And her mom. Wow again. The documentary was a very interesting perepsctive into the reality and complexity of what makes up CentralHigh and on complex, sometimes simplified, often glossed over, issues of race and school and economics. No one cam eoff looking like idiots and no one came off looking like heroes. Except this girl and her mom. They are my new heroes. I'm not kidding in saying that if I had $50,000 grand or even more of money I just didn't need and it didn't matter I'd let that girl know that it was for her college education. She was one special kid.

She needs to get a full ride to a good school and some money somehow and dream big.

Click on my name Ron....there was no 1958-59 school year at Central.

It is a SIN with a captial letter to respect anyman, white or black...any christian black person would know that and as you say, they'd respect it, too. We are all sinners!
God said, "Jacob I love and Esau I hate." Anybody have a problem with that take it up with the creator of all things.
dbi, the blacks I know knows that I don't hate anybody. Some are very good friends I don't take it lightly the bs you throw back at me. You are imaging things that only a raciest would think. I am not one no matter what you think!
God loves everybody, the whole world, that is why He sent his Son to die on the Cross for you and me...
To hate someone is equal to murder that is too much.
I know you don't believe in God so why do you mention him when you are trying to make a point?
Howard don't have a heart attack, relax if you can.
Miss peacock owns this site so she can do anything she wants.

You all have a good day,
chasv.

For emphasis: This girl was simply amazing. It was, to say the least, very, very humbling and inspiring and heart wrenching and uplifting and educational and many other special things to watch her and hear her story. You have to check her out. Damn sometimes I just wish I were a gabillionaire. This is one of those times I'd just write the check and feel like it was one of the best things I did no matter what else I managed to do with my life.

Some will say that she should be more the rule than the exception. Well, as you'll see in the documentary that is not the case and not realistic.

You see this great, amazing, level-headed, smart kid and tell me you aren't smarter and wiser and somehow a better person for it and I'll say you are lying.

You wait till you see her and her mom. Wow times 100.

Disclaimer: Some will say the movie was "too this" or "too that" but forget all that and don't let it cloud what this kid is achieiving and dreasm about and wants to have happen in her life, and under what conditions and how special she is.

Ron,

Dr. Sondra Gordy, a history professor at the University of Central Arkansas, has done an excellent job researching 1958 "the lost year" in Little Rock. That url is www.thelostyear.com .

Thanks to DBI and OnesandZeros. I knew the following year became even nastier. With just the level of coverage that I was reading, the years following 1957 were not being reported on. I'm glad to see that Spradlin and Gordy did indeed report on it.

(The Soup and Chili food fights reported by Spradlin were humorous)

I'm disappointed with the majority vote from LR residents at the time and the backing they gave to Faubus' pro segregation agenda.

HEY chasv,

Because I can!

Seven Things or People That God Hates
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.

Sermon Summary: Does God love every person and everything? No! In fact, Scripture reveals a number of both people and things that God hates!

Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things the LORD HATES, seven that are DETESTABLE to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

.. There are seven things listed that God hates, that He detests.

. Many mistakenly conclude that God is love only. But this Scripture tells us that there are things - even people! - that God hates.

. Let's examine ourselves to see if we are doing any of the things that God is said to hate.

1) "HAUGHTY EYES", KJV: "a PROUD look" -

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

.. Shortened by many to "Pride goes before a fall."

. A pastor who fell into adultery once told me: "I thought I was doing a good enough job God would overlook it." Pride before a fall!

. Another minister was heard to say not long before he fell into sin and disgrace: "This is the most anointed ministry on the face of the earth today." Pride before a fall!

. A young man said to a pastor friend of mine, "I'm having trouble with pride." My friend succinctly and wisely replied, "Why? What do you have to be proud about?"

.. The fast track to a fall? - Pride

. Contrast Jesus' Beatitude: "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3).

. God hates pride.

2) "A LYING TONGUE" -

Revelation 21:8 ...and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

.. God hates lies.

. Psalms 5:5b-6a ...you hate all who do wrong. [6] You destroy those who tell lies.

. Parents, teach your kids always to speak truth.

. Jesus: "I am...the Truth..."

. Good relationships cannot be built without honesty.

. Decent societies cannot survive on a foundation of falsehood and lies.

.. God hates a lying tongue.

3) "Hands that shed INNOCENT BLOOD" -

Joel 3:19 But Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert waste, because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.

.. God hates the shedding of innocent blood.

. That is one of the reasons God judged Egypt.

. Imagine the blood guilt of abortion doctors!

. Imagine the blood guilt of the judges and politicians who allow the shedding of the blood of innocent, unborn babies!

4) "A HEART that DEVISES WICKED SCHEMES" -

Jeremiah 17:9, KJV The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

.. Jesus gave a list of sins and said that they proceed "out of the heart" (Matthew 15:19).

.. Proverbs 4:23, KJV Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

NIV: "Guard your heart..."

.. God hates the heart given over to wicked schemes.

5) "Feet that are QUICK to rush INTO EVIL" -

.. Quote #4 above, about the heart's tendency to wickedness, has already brought up evil.

.. The hated conduct here is the quickness to rush into evil.

Titus 2:6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.

.. Self-control is the antidote to quick falls into temptation.

. For example, (Proverbs 29:11) "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control."

.. God hates a swiftness to rush into evil.

6) "A FALSE WITNESS who pours out LIES" -

.. "False witness" - violates one of the Ten Commandments.

. God hates those who lie about other people.

. God hates those who do harm and disservice to His system of justice.

. I was once selected for jury duty in a trial in which the accused had allegedly been drinking alcohol. In the questioning of us potential jurors, integrity required that I had to speak up about my beliefs and preaching against alcohol. I was admittedly not impartial from the outset, and the judge rightly dismissed me from the jury selection.

.. God hates a false witness.

. Notice that this is a person that God hates! I've heard Christians say that God hates no one. That sounds noble, but it is anti-Scriptural. Here it is clearly said that "...the Lord hates ... a false witness."

. See below for another type of person the Lord hates.

7) "A man who STIRS UP DISSENSION among BROTHERS" -

Titus 3:10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.

.. Another PERSON that God hates!

. A pastor friend of mine was once counseling a very divisive person. The pastor concluded with the startling statement, "...and besides that, GOD HATES YOU."

. I imagine that the man he was counseling was shocked. But the Bible clearly declares that "...the Lord hates ... a man who stirs up dissension among brothers".

. "...a man..." - that is a person that God hates.

.. What is a fast track to incurring God's hatred? - be a talebearer, a gossip, a person who sows seeds of discord.

. Contrast the Beatitude: "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9).

In summary: There are seven things or persons that God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19):

. Haughty eyes

. A lying tongue

. Hands that shed innocent blood

. A heart that devises wicked schemes

. Feet that are quick to rush into evil

. A false witness who pours out lies

. A man who stirs up dissension among brothers

the fact that any of you educated people actually believe in a God that you feel you can "characterize" one way or the other through quoting and expounding on scripture of any kind is fairly amazing. I don't know much but I do feel pretty certain that in 2007 that is a pretty naive and wholly futile exercise. God is either much bigger and grander than all of most of our stupid "beliefs" or he is a schmuck anyway and he can kiss my ass.

Who would really want to believe in a God most people believe in anyway. What would be the point of that. And chasv.. get some therapy for that shit will you. Find out what you loathe in yourself so much and go from there. Did you not get picked up enough as a kid?

Everyone, someone, please grow up about this stuff. And get some balls. Throw some of his shit back in his face. Hell, if you wwere God would you be such a hardass. God can handle it. And if not $%%^&* him/her/it.

Really frightening to think that this God everyone seems to take to heart so much, whatever your religion, may actually exist. And to think we'll all blow the world up over such silliness one day.

Thank you bejeeus, nothing is better than God's word.
AND I LOVE ANYONE WHO CORRECTS ME and who loves God's Holy words.
I am nothing but the Lord God is everything!
A small statement, coming from me.
Ye must be born again.

IABL1969 thy shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. I told you he is real and you'd better call upon him now while you have time.
God can put somehthing on you that ajax can't wash off so do not tempt him.
Folks, Jesus is God!

You all know what you, all of us, myself included, would be better off believing in? The girl at Central High that I menioned earlier. That would be far more productive and "holy" than the misplaced faith many of us put in this thing called Go, whatever flavor of God you're into.. And does anyone get that Jesus, as a historiical and salvific figure, if you believe in that end of it, did not have any special "powers" that gave him a special insight into the human condition on moral and ethical issues of the day. If you say his being human was integral to his "mission" then why do you give him some special mental power as if somehow he was not human. He was a guy of his age who knew as much or as little as the pople back then. So don't go spouting off like he knew his shit, even if he is God in your eyes, when he was runnning around telling parables etc. So don't quote him on issues that we have more understanding about today.

It's just silly.

chasv

Wow, that even ajax can't wash off. Well, now that you put it that way.

Hey, chasv, how much fear do you live in that you can even begin to entertain the notion that God might be bigger than you thought, or not even exist at all. What a silly God that won't even let you "think" or "doubt" or trust your gut, or take in the big bad, wonderful, crazy, people of all kinds filled, complicated world without question. How pitiful is that. Thjat is just sad chasv. Just sad. And you are like so many of many religions and "faiths" which is scarier to me than most anythng else in the world. That God sucks so you can have him.

chasv

Wow, that even ajax can't wash off. Well, now that you put it that way.

Hey, chasv, how much fear do you live in that you can even begin to entertain the notion that God might be bigger than you thought, or not even exist at all. What a silly God that won't even let you "think" or "doubt" or trust your gut, or take in the big bad, wonderful, crazy, people of all kinds filled, complicated world without question. How pitiful is that. Thjat is just sad chasv. Just sad. And you are like so many of many religions and "faiths" which is scarier to me than most anythng else in the world. That God sucks so you can have him.

IABL1969 You will think silly when you stand before Him at the Great White Throne Judgement. He will require of you and you will give an answer.. After you fall on your knees and confess with your tongue that he is Lord. Then will be cast in to outer darkness where weeping and nashing of teeth takes place.
Don't go there!

The other judgement is the Judgement Seat of Christ.
Hear and learn!
Pride is sin.

chasv

I'll take my chances. If God needs me to bend down and bow to his holier than thou ass before I get a pass to heaven then he's a conceited eotistcal power hungry shit. I might better cast my lot with the maggots or, better yet, those that got relegated to the eternal second tier which I'd say can't be all that bad as they say and might even be a bit more enjoyable on Friday nights.

And frankly, If I were God, and could make it so, I wouldn't necessarily have made some of the shit that happens so hard. What's he trying to prove? Some thrologically significant, abstract "I'm God so There" Cosmic Point. I'd like to chew his ass out about half the crap that goes on that he could have had work a different way without all the side effects he seems to get off on. So he's a bit of a dick if he/she/it does exist anyway. You can't deny that.

Chasv

You kow what makes it so hard to entertain the mindless faith you revel in? The very fact that if there is a God, and I'm not saying there is, that he is in fact also an arbitray asshole on so many levels. I mean how can you deny that. It's just so readily apparent when you really think about it. I would think that God, if he really were to do some soul searching of his own, would admit that he really sucks at it and it could've all been so much nicer and he still could've proveed whatever point it is he is trying to prove. So basically i can't reconcile my wanting to somehow beleiv ein some greater something beyond the immediate with the fact that I just can't entertain the notion of a God that is just so pedestrian and obviously inept and well, cruel. I neeed a God who'd handle the job a little better. No way for me to get over that one buddy. But you go for it.

If you'd take time to be still He might show you something. I saw him and at another time he spoke to me.
He healed the sick, made the lame to walk, made the blind to see, the deaf to hear and brought some people back from the dead, cleansed the leprosy, walked on water. A woman simply touch the hem of his garment and was healed of her issue she had and so many other things that the world could not, if written, contain .
And HE did not charge a price for any of the healings HE DID. He only ask that ye believe in Him.
Praise God all ye earth!

anyway, the main point is that the girl from Central High in the documentary was simply an amazing girl. That's the only point I want to leave in the boards today. Everything else is beside the point for me today. I want to hold that thought. I'm out. And I need to get some billable hours in. Or else.

I saw the documentary but am not too sure of the girl of whom you speak. Are you referencing the young lady with the two children? There was a second young lady who declared she was from an underprivileged neighborhood but had chosen to take classes that would allow how to extricate herself from that kind of life cycle.

Not the goofy girl with the kids. What was that fiasco? That was pitiful. What a mess.

Yes, the other girl. Lived with her mom and brother in some run down house, barely had running water it appeard. No oven or stove. Cracked out neighborhood. Took the APclasses. But it was that and the way she had dreams for her future and wanted to rise above and was working so hard and under what are such incredibly diffcullt conditions and with so many obstacles at many levels. She was just such an amazing, together, special kid. Such reilience and optimisim and can-do attitude. Her mom was special.

Her brother looked whacked out on dope but maybe he was just camera shy or something.

She was awesome. Beyond Awesome.

IABL, I'm glad you enjoyed this young ladies success story at Central. Think back to what was said by each of the LR Nine yesterday, "my parents and family supported me in my education". There are a lot of success stories that occur at Central every day but very seldom do you hear their story.

I watched everything yesterday but had a critical eye on the Air Force ROTC Color Guard. What a job they did! Major Bledsoe and Chief Fields prepared them well. My oldest son is a '07 graduate of Central and was four year member of the Color Guard. The Commander of the Color Guard in '07 was a young black man who I will not mention his name but on par with this young lady.

This young man in his four years of Central ate more chili dogs and cheeseburgers at my house than you can imagine. His car was always in the garage being tuned or waxed as High School students will do.

One night this summer, sitting on the front porch with all of these kids I felt like a proud parent to hear that he had received a partial Tuskegee scholarship to Washington University and that he wanted to go into the Navy and work on aircraft carriers. He has a picture of exactly what he wants with his future.

Fate intervened a couple of days later as one night everyone showed back up on the front porch so we could see our friends new car. At 10:00 everything changed - time to cut hair! ROTC ritual. As the hair started to come off, one of the boys looked at me and said "full ride at the Air Force Academy!"

Did I weep, yes. AM I'm I proud, yes. These things go on every day at Central. Go meet some of these kids, they will blow your socks off!

Response to IABL1969 and chasv...First, will you guys stop with the back and forth arguing please? The original post was about the pictures taken at the 50th Anniversary of the integration of Central. Second, I too saw the documentary...at the Clinton School this evening. The girl you (IABL1969) were so impressed with was one of the members of the panel discussion that followed. She was as impressive in person as she was on film. You say if you had zillions of dollars you'd float her education. Instead, why not encourage others to see the film and set up a fund for her at a bank. People do it all the time. You could post the information here, and I'll even contribute and try to get others to do the same. You could contact Nancy Rousseau, the school's principal. I'm sure she would assist with the administering of the fund. Every little bit helps!

Don't do your alms before men so they'll think kindly of you but do them before God in secret and he will reward you openly.

As a former educator in the Little Rock Public Schools, I had the opportunity to teach some classes at LRCH as a substitute teacher during the mid-90's.

During my tenure, I was shocked to learn of the few numbers of Black students in the AP classes that I sometimes taught for. I am even more shocked that the trend seems to continue.

I felt that it would have been nice if someone has addressed this issue during the commeration ceremonies (I'm sure Principal Nancy would have fell out of her chair if they had). I believe it is important that in commerating the efforts of the nine, that we 'keep it real' about the current struggles that many black students face at LRCH even after '57.

Another issue that hasn't been addressed, the graduation rate of black students today at LRCH. Even though I no longer live in Little Rock, many friends tell me that the numbers are shocking. It would be interesting to see the current statistics regarding this. I'm sure this isn't what the nine had in mind when they intergrated 50 years ago.

Also, keep in mind that there is still a lot of resentment from Black graduates of LRCH. Many alums, well after '57, talk about the harsh treatment they received from members of the faculty of Central and fellow white students. It would be interesting to see a documentary of this issue. Do black graduates truly feel that they were welcome during their tenure at Central in '57, '67, '77, 87, '97, or '07? It makes you wonder. All I can say is thank God I went to Parkview.

Markton Cole - You need to see the new HBO documentary about Central. It discusses most everything you mention here.

Markton, I don't mean to be insensitive, but

"As a former educator in Little Rock Public Schools"

"I was shocked to learn of the few numbers of Black students in the AP classes that I sometimes taught for"

AP? You taught AP?

"I'm sure Principal Nancy would have fell out of her chair if they had"

fallen ... would have fallen.

"It would be interesting to see the current statistics regarding this."

Easy to find. Go to http://arkansased.org/performance_report/index.html

Graduation rates reflect student motivation. No one can make their child, or anyone want to do the work. And no matter what you think? You do have to DO the work to get the diploma. Although now a high school diploma may or may not signify any achievement in Arkansas.

"AP? You taught AP?"
I was thinking the same thing, O&Z.

To address the comments of O&Z and Durango:

Yes, I did teach AP during my tenure as a substitute at Central during the mid 90's. You may not be aware of the process at it regards substitute teacher assignments. There wasn't, at the time, any distinguishing practice of determining which sub-teachers took over for AP classes in the absence of the regular teacher. I am proud that I had to opportunity to sub for AP classes at LRCH, which served to give me insight on some of the things that were mentioned.

I did't find your comments insensitive O&Z, maybe ignorant, but not insensitive.

As it regards you comments on student motivation, I am well aware of the lack of motivation by all students (not just black ones) but I am also keenly aware of a educational system that is not fair and equitable for all of it's students.

I can assure you that this is not just specific to Little Rock, or LRCH. After leaving Little Rock, I went on to teach (certified) in Chicago Public Schools and also Maryland Schools, where I currently live. So trust me, the same issues exist. But I will not, for one moment, dismiss the inequitity of public education for children of color by simply saying, "They didn't do the work. They don't work hard enough!" That's a bunch of crap, and anyone who buys it, is ignorant at best.

Markton,
You probably missed the essence of the prior comments: your narrative contained several glaringly obvious grammatical errors. Substitute teachers usually do not actually 'teach' the classes to which they have been assigned; if it is a long-term substitute position, then the person to whom the job has been assigned should be able to demonstrate a level of proficiency, certainly in basic information.

You made some really good observations; however, we can no longer blame others for the conditions we find in our communities. Racism is an evil reality, but we can't permit it to abort our visions and goals. There is no guard standing in the doorway of any AP class to preclude any black student from entering; the choice lies with the student. Many students are not prepared to contend with the rigors of an AP course. Many people do not want to accept ownership for their life---it is much easier to place blame--it is more politically and socially expedient to play the victim.

I, too, know many graduates from Central, and the blacks who attended for the academic opportunites appreciated their experience; the blacks who possessed a different agenda usually blamed their white teachers for all their problems. And, I really don't envision too many black students allowing white students to intimidate them. Thanks for sharing your insights, Markton.