IntEgrItY?

I CRAM TO UNDERSTAND!!!

(on the way out the door) GOVERNOR BLANCO OF LOUISIANA:

"I have received hundreds of calls, letters and e-mails from citizens concerned about the situation involving the case of the high school students in Jena, La.," Blanco said in the statement. "As Governor, as a citizen of the State of Louisiana and as a mother, without rushing to judgment, I condemn racism in any form, and I fully expect that those involved in this case, including all parties, will act with fairness and in complete good faith."

Dear Governor, your political talk disgusts me. You cannot say one thing and act in the exact opposite manner. Practice what you preach! Your intervention will NOT be "rushing to judgment." Just read the FACTS of this case. Fairness and good faith were never involved from the beginning. For you not to exercise your influence in this case shows complete disregard for the Black people, and all others who are appalled, of your state and the country. It's an attack on equality, and you choose to ignore it. I understand that you're not running for re-election, and you're trying to coast through the remaining time of your term. But that term has not ended yet. The people of Louisiana are STILL paying your salary. Not to mention, you have a WHOLE LOT of FEMA money. And that's MY tax money. Don't clock out early.

"I must clear up a widespread misunderstanding of my authority in this case. Our State Constitution provides for three Branches of State Government -- legislative, executive and judicial -- and the Constitution prohibits anyone in one branch from exercising the powers of anyone in another branch. This issue is currently a matter in the Judicial System, and should those involved in this case suffer any defects, it is their right to address them in that system through the appeals court."

I assume that many governors have presidential aspirations. Even if they never act upon them, they're there. A lot of governors HAVE become president. It's fair to say that governors model themselves after the president. I say this in the generalest of terms. But the governor's statement contains such irony when compared to the CURRENT president. I know not whether to applaud Blanco for having such respect for her Constitution, OR despise her for using it in vain. The precedence has been set on the national and federal level. The importance of the 3-branch system we're so used to is being marginalized. On a daily basis the line is blurry; but God help us if there's a "national emergency" because then, the line becomes transparent, if there at all. The president also set a precedence by "updating old laws" when it's convenient for HIS legacy. George Bush made a federal law for a single person. That makes me very skeptical, when you say there's NOTHING you can do.

Blanco went on to say that oversight with the entire case -- from arrest to prosecution -- is in the hands of the justice system, and she has contacted Attorney General Charles Foti and Donald Washington, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Louisiana. She said Foti has been speaking with Washington and other members of the justice system about the case as well.

"... Regardless of the outcome of this case, the Jena community has much healing ahead of it, and I urge all those citizens to come together for the common good of their community and their state," Blanco said. "Our children deserve nothing less."

These communities are being destroyed by your insensitive and immoral inaction. As their leader, you need to provide HOPE. Their inability to "come together" is the root cause of this issue. The reinforced separation and segregation is not how you should represent AMERICA. You may wonder why people from around the country have raised concerns about the goings-on in this little town. The nation is watching because we're all American, and your state is a part of America. And don't forget about all the displaced Louisiana citizens that are STILL sprinkled all over the country. They're watching too. Don't you WANT them to come back?

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link!


PETITIONS

A SENSITIVE SUBJECT

MY LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR