At Nature’s Great Table: There are no plates for some

By Eddie Griffin

Am I the only man to openly declare that my constituency consists of the “poorest of the poor”? I am poor by choice of sacrifice. My two-story home was foreclosed upon because of my prolong stay in the VA hospital. I lived with the homeless and choose a life of poverty, living and breathing with the poorest of the poor.

My affections are upon “the least of these”, the children of the poorest of the poor, especially my grandchildren who receives nearly all my pension. Their mother, who is white, must rely on food stamps and charity. Their father, my son, is chronically under-employed and frequently unemployed and cannot afford to support five kids and a new baby by another marriage.

There are children in worse conditions, whose fathers are in prison, and the mother uses up all the food stamps to get crack. Some see it as a life of ease and too much mercy. But I have been there to see that it is a death wish, people wanting to be taken out of their misery. From the overdose on narcotics to the suicide-by-cop shootout with cops, it is a death wish being acted out.

My conversation to politicians and leaders is as one who represents the poorest of the poor. I cannot be refuted because we have nothing to lose. Therefore, I take no backtalk.

Consideration for the Poor

The poor you will have with you always, Jesus said.

I have read it over and over and it seemed so depressing to realize that, no matter how hard I fight, poverty will never go away… so said the bible. The idea burst my little bubble of idealism of some day living in a poverty-free society. What I missed in my early ready was this: Jesus also said. “Whenever you will, you can do them good.”

But Thomas Malthus said, “At nature’s great table, there are no plates for some.” Now I know why the old folks used the expression: “Ole Tom Devil”. Malthus was a man who believed so much in population control that he would commit genocide and mass sterilization against the poor, and put malaria in the drinking water of Africans.

Those for whom there are no plates are the poorest of the poor, and those without a voice, especially for children conceived in hope but born into despair.

Where there is no hope, there is no salvation and no savior. Faith then comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

TOM FOOLERY

Ole Tom Devil is one of those hushed about folklore characters often spoken African and African-American secrecy.

The Old Folks said: Ole Tom Devil gave us syphilis and mutilated our girls, so they could have sex with them without bearing half-white children. They injected our men with syphilis in the Tuskegee experiment. But they did not control the victims’ sexual promiscuity, nor cautioned against it. Therefore, we have a slough of black children with sexually transmitted defects and mental diseases.

Thomas Malthus should have been a villain in history, but today he is respectfully known as the Father of Planned Parenthood and the Birth Control movement.

At nature’s great table, there are no plates for some.

I recall the last two years of my 12-year imprisonment at Leavenworth. It was funny that the warden gave me the privacy and respect of a Mafia don. They filled the prison to capacity, 8-men per cell. But there were only two of us in cell A123.

The warden somewhat reserved other six bunk beds for newcomers. This provided me the opportunity to show the “new fish” the ropes and break them in.

On one occasion, they sent me a kid, fresh off the street, still smelling like cologne, and disrespectful to his elders.

He came into our cell, plopped down on an empty bunk like his whole little world had come to an end.

“Who said that you could sleep there?” I asked him.

“The warden,” he replied tartly.

So, I rolled up the kid’s bunk and threw it out on the tier, and told the kid to tell the warden to put him somewhere else.

And so, it was my job in prison to break juvenile delinquents of their criminal behavior and thinking. As the rule goes, Thou shalt respect thy neighbor and thou shalt not steal his commissary. You can get killed up in here.

I can put you in a comma for a day, a week, a month, or have you on life support for a year. My favorite bluff:

DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT

Today, I teach a school class for teenage boys, as often time I teach the adult class. I tell my boys: Don’t even think about it, when it comes to evil temptations. They don’t know Ole Tom Devil like I do.

But I cannot teach from aloft. I have made too many mistakes in life for that. When I shoot from the hip, it is at point-blank range. I do not hide behind a facade of false pretensions. Kids can see through that.

I use shock value sometime to get their attention. And I have enough unique experiences to tell.

I am one of the last old time Black Panther outlaw, a banker robber and commando. I was taken down by one of the most famous Texas Rangers in history, Tom Arnold, who, with a machine gun to my head, spared my life. Therefore, Eddie Griffin am an anomaly and a freak to have survived near-death experiences, from an adventurous and riotous life.

I have seen scenes like no man has seen. I saw blood on the floor in prison, a man’s throats cut from ear-to-ear, another stabbed with barber scissors in the jugular and blood skeet up to the ceiling, and a man’s stomach cut open like a can of beans and not dropping a drop of blood as he walked to the prison infirmary, a man stabbed in the back and the blade going all the way through his body and out the other side.

I have seen a man fake his own death and escape from the morgue, a helicopter escape attempt from the prison yard, a mass escape from the most maximum security prison, and hand-to-hand combat that brought me close to death.

I can tell these stories first hand in vivid details. It leaves some of my kids gasping and covering their eyes. They cannot bear to see it, not even through my eyes as I describe it.

Then I teach: There is only one Race, the Human Race, but two different spirits. Don’t confuse the two.

At nature’s great table, there are no plates for some. What kind of spirit said that?

A Prolonged Economic Crisis

Dear Congressman Burgess:

We could not have prevented the passage of a bailout plan and the market meltdown that followed.

People are losing their homes, and now their retirement funds and life’s savings are being gobbled up. (Have mercy on the man when it cost as much to drive back and forth to work as a man makes in a day). Who’s going to bail us out?

I inquired about the sanctity and solvency of our employee retirement funds, put at risk through no fault of the employee. Who eats this loss?

Do our employees understand that their retirement accounts are going up in smoke while they wait for their third quarter retirement earning statement? Everybody else is bailing out. (See “Legislators may be asked to address Texas pension fund losses” by Yamil Berard, Star-Telegram)

The stock portfolios of some of the state’s largest investments funds — supporting government employees’ retirements and public education — have taken quite a beating this year. By summer, the value of some of the funds had dropped by billions of dollars…

Many funds also had significant stakes in some of Wall Street’s highest rollers that went bust. Some even increased their exposure by buying more shares early this year as the stock of those companies was plunging.

None of the funds have yet to make public their third-quarter rates of return, which would give the most up-to-date look at losses. But by the end of the second quarter on June 30 — before the markets rapidly deteriorated, former Wall Street powerhouses like Lehman Bros. failed and Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were taken over — all the funds saw significant erosion of their portfolios.

Status of Employee Retirement Fund Inquiry

City of Fort Worth
1000 Throckmorton St.
Fort Worth, TX 76102

City Manager Dale A. Fisseler

Re: Status of Employee Retirement Fund

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Dear Dale:

In light of the recent developments in the financial markets, I am compelled to ask questions that relate to our city’s solvency. And before writing Congressman Michael Burgess again about voting for the next bailout bill, I would need to know something about our economic condition.

I have included Asst. City Manager Fernando Costa, another man of integrity much like you, who is not afraid of the tough questions. Also, I have included Human Resource Department Director, Karen Marshall, who might provide some insight into how many employees may be at risk due to the city’s retirement investment in troubled financial accounts.

1. How is the City’s “retirement fund” performing at this time?

2. How close are we to resolving the under-funding issue we had before the current Stock Market crisis? Did the current crisis exacerbate the problem on retirement liquidity?

On a personal note, how is your own 401(k) retirement fund performing? Would you recommend putting retirement institutional funds in the current market?

By the way, who is managing our city employee retirement fund? Into what fund is it located?

These questions come to mind as we look at this so-called bailout bill in Washington.

Sincerely,
Eddie Griffin
http://eddiegriffinbasg.blogspot.com

Early Voting Starts in Texas October 20th

Early Voting Starts October 20th through October 31st.

If you reside in any of the precincts below:

TARRANT COUNTY EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS
Revised 08/25/2008 10:14:13 PM

MAIN EARLY VOTING SITE,
Tarrant County Elections Center
2700 Premier Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76111
*Emergency and limited ballots available
At this location only
Arlington

Bob Duncan Community Center
2800 South Center Street
Arlington, Texas 76014
Arlington

Elzie Odom Recreation Center
1601 NE Green Oaks Blvd
Arlington, Texas 76006
Arlington

Fire Training Center
5501 Ron McAndrew Drive
Arlington, Texas 76013
Arlington

Southeast Sub-Courthouse
700 E Abram Street
Arlington, Texas 76010

South Service Center
1100 SW Green Oaks Boulevard
Arlington, Texas 76017

Azle
B. J. Clark Annex
Room 4
603 Southeast Parkway
Azle, Texas 76020

Benbrook YMCA
1899 Winscott Road
Benbrook, Texas 76126

Colleyville City Hall
100 Main Street
Colleyville, Texas 76034

Crowley Community Center
900 East Glendale Street
Crowley, Texas 76036

Dalworthington Gardens City Hall
2600 Roosevelt Drive
Dalworthington Gardens, Texas 76016

Euless Public Library
201 North Ector Drive
Euless, Texas 76039
Forest Hill

Mahaney Community Center
6800 Forest Hill Drive
Forest Hill, Texas 76140

Fort Worth
Diamond Hill/Jarvis Library
1300 Northeast 35th Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76106
Fort Worth

Griffin Sub-Courthouse
3212 Miller Avenue
Fort Worth, Texas 76119

Handley-Meadowbrook Community Center
6201 Beaty Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76112

Lake Como Area Council
3507 Horne Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76107


Summerglen Branch Library
4205 Basswood Boulevard
Fort Worth, Texas 76137


Southside Community Center
959 East Rosedale Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76104

Southwest Community Center
6300 Welch Avenue
Fort Worth, Texas 76133

Southwest Sub-Courthouse
6551 Granbury Road
Fort Worth, Texas 76133

Tarrant County Plaza Building
201 Burnett Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Villages of Woodland Springs
Amenity Building
12209 Timberland Boulevard
Fort Worth, Texas 76248

Worth Heights Community Center
3551 New York Avenue
Fort Worth, Texas 76110

Grand Prairie
Starrett Elementary School
2675 Fairmont Drive
Grand Prairie, Texas 75052

Grapevine Community Activities Center
1175 Municipal Way
Grapevine, Texas 76051

Haltom City Recreation Center
4839 Broadway Avenue
Haltom City, Texas 76117

Hurst
Hurst Recreation Center
700 Mary Drive
Hurst, Texas 76053

Northeast Sub-Courthouse
645 Grapevine Highway
Hurst, Texas 76054

Keller Town Hall
1100 Bear Creek Parkway
Keller, Texas 76248

Kennedale Community Center
316 West 3rd Street
Kennedale, Texas 76060

Lake Worth
Northwest Sheriff’s Patrol
6651 Lake Worth Blvd
Lake Worth, Texas 76135

Mansfield Sub-Courthouse
1100 East Broad Street
Mansfield, Texas 76063

North Richland Hills Recreation Center
6720 Northeast Loop 820
North Richland Hills, Texas 76180

Saginaw City Hall
333 West McLeroy Boulevard
Saginaw, Texas 76179

Southlake Town Hall
1400 Main Street
Southlake, Texas 76092

White Settlement Recreation Center
8213 White Settlement Road
White Settlement, Texas 76108



Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Texas Wesleyan University UNT – Health Science Center in Fort Worth
John Naylor Student Activities Center Brown-Lupton Student Center Building A
1900 West Boyce Avenue 1108 South Collard Street 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard
Fort Worth Texas 76115 Fort Worth, Texas 76105 Fort Worth, Texas 76107

Tarrant County College Northeast Campus Tarrant County College South Campus
Technology & Arts Building NTAB Foyer Student Center Room SSTU 1112
828 Harwood Road 5301 Campus Drive
Hurst, Texas 76054 Fort Worth, Texas 76119

Tarrant County College Northwest Campus Tarrant County College Southeast Campus
WSTU 1303 North Ballroom
4801 Marine Creek Parkway 2100 Southeast Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76179 Arlington, Texas76018

UTA – University of Texas at Arlington TCU – Texas Christian University
Student Center Brown-Lupton University Union
300 W. 1st Street 2901 Stadium Drive
Arlington, Texas 76013 Fort Worth, Texas 76129

State Representative Marc Veasey Job Fair

Are you looking for a job???

State Representative Marc Veasey Job Fair

“Save the Date”

Wednesday, September 10, 2008
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Resource Connection Conference Center
2300 Circle Drive
Fort Worth, Texas 76112

Business attire encouraged and please be sure to bring a current RESUME!!

This is a free event to the public of all ages.

Marc Veasey, State Representative
James E. Guinn/Tech Fort Worth
1120 South Freeway, Suite 121
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
Phone: (817) 339-1430
Fax: (817) 339-9352
Marc.Veasey@house.state.tx.us

In the Face of Kim Brimer: Courage abandons Republican Incumbent

The coward is not a gentleman, says Eddie Griffin, Fort Worth. So says other constituents:

Republican state Sen. Kim Brimer is so reluctant to face Democratic challenger Wendy Davis that he would rather file non-meritorious lawsuits than have the voters decide who is more qualified to serve as their state senator. State District Judge Tom Lowe upheld Davis’ position on every important disputed point. Brimer is apparently fearful of running on his Senate record and wants to avoid an exchange of ideas with the formidable Davis. This is understandable, given his poor record and her excellent qualifications. — Juana Byrd, Arlington

Brimer’s playing a political game, all right. It’s a new version of hide-and-seek where Brimer hides behind judges. (See J.R. Labbe column, "Blatant political game playing in Senate race?," July 27) Is that the focus of Brimer’s "high-profile" campaign? What about rising utility rates? Rising gas rates? Rising insurance rates? Air quality? Transportation, light rail, rush-hour gridlock? Unemployment and underemployment? High-profile campaigning is where you defend your voting record and lay out your positions on key issues. Possibly Brimer is hoping none of that comes about by playing musical judges.

The constituents of Senate District 10 should be able to choose their representation on the basis of the candidates’ position on issues important to them, not on political gamesmanship. Brimer’s silly games deny them that information and insult their intelligence. — Fred Harper, Fort Worth

Unlike J.R. Labbe, I think the 236th District Court gave a very definitive answer to the legal question of Davis’ eligibility to run for State Senate, and one that is highly unlikely to be overturned on appeal. However, even if there were unanswered legal questions, as Labbe suggests, Brimer has shown quite clearly that he doesn’t care about those questions. He didn’t even bother to show up to the courtroom for his own hearing.

My mother always told me that actions speak louder than words, and Brimer’s actions make him look like he is afraid to let the voters have their say in who represents them. I can only guess that’s because he knows that Davis is the stronger of the two candidates. — Jim Klimchock, Arlington

I have always voted Republican. But I’m voting for Wendy Davis. Sen. Kim Brimer has turned into "one of them." One of the "good guys" who have turned their backs on their constituents and are now part of the Big Business Machine running things in Austin.

Case in point: Brimer was in a key position as a state senator, along with Chris Harris, to put some limits on just how badly the deregulated electricity market was going to be able to put the screws to us. They helped squelch every law out of the Regulated Industries Committee that would have somewhat protected consumers. Don’t believe me? Check it out. Their excuse? They didn’t want to regulate "free enterprise." What a joke! — John T. Johnson III, Arlington

Free Online Training on Economic Stimulus Payments

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

ALERT TO: Low-Income Retirees, Disabled Veterans and Low-Wage Earners

Starting in May, more than 130 million households will receive an economic stimulus payment from the Internal Revenue Service. Most people don't need to do anything special to get a payment; they can just file their taxes as usual and the IRS will do the rest.

But millions of people who are usually exempt from filing tax returns -- including low-income retirees, disabled veterans and low-wage earners -- must file a return in order to receive their payment.

You can help by serving as a resource for the individuals and families in your community.

The National Women's Law Center is hosting a free webinar to give service providers and advocates the information they need on the economic stimulus payments, including:

* Who's eligible for the payments
* How much the payments can be worth
* What individuals and families need to do to apply for the payments
* When individuals and families will receive the payments
* Tools that can help organizations educate the public

Register today for this webinar (free but registration required):

"Economic Stimulus Payments: What Families Need to Know"

Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern (Note: 2 pm CST)

To register, go to: http://action.nwlc.org/stimuluswebinar

These webinars are part of the National Women's Law Center's Citi Education Series on Family Economic Security: www.nwlc.org/educationseries