School District Reverts to Feudalism?

Article I of the United States Constitution forbids any grant of nobility in the United States. Sadly, Dana Carter, the very important new principal of Calimesa Elementary School in Southern California’s Inland Empire, failed to get the memo about the 226-year-old document.

An already-changed policy instituted at Calimesa Elementary for the start of the school year had forced students to kneel down in front of Carter — and potentially other administrators– before being sent to class, reports CBS in Los Angeles.

School officials described the bizarre kneeling policy as a positive effort to ‘protect’ students. During its brief life, the policy was most frequently implemented at the official beginning of each class day and right after recess.

Several parents didn’t love the procedure. A flyer opposing the policy circulated among offended moms and dads.

One parent, the mother of a seven-year-old girl at the school, spoke to CBS Los Angeles.

“She says that she has to drop down on one knee with her hands at her side, wait for the principal to come out, lift his arms and tell them to go to class,” the unidentified mother told the station.

“I feel that the principal wants to be like a king, and we don’t have kings in America,” she added.

Not long after CBS Los Angeles initially broke the story, Cali Binks, the local school district superintendent, announced that the controversial kneeling policy would be immediately eliminated.

The school district notified parents of the change by mass phone calls.

It is completely unclear what threatens the Calimesa Elementary campus to such an extent that the principal wanted to demand that students kneel before him before school and after recess.

Principal Carter has apparently deigned to schedule a meeting with parents to design future ‘safety’ options for the school.

A Celebration

The Bon Odori Festival for 2013 was sponsored by the Olympia-Japanese American Citizens’ League and the Olympia-Kato Sister City Association.

CLICK Slide Show: Snapshots of Olympia 2013 Bon Ordori Festival, Dancers

The summer Bon Odori festival has been celebrated in Japan for at least 13 centuries. Originally a Buddhist celebration, Obon is also celebrated in more or less secular form in many American communities, chiefly on the west coast and in Hawaii. Our Bon Odori celebration is a chance for us to share a living piece of Japanese culture. Originally, BON refers to the Buddhist observance of O-BON, a time when the souls of our ancestors visit their living descendants. They are greeted with song and dance – ODORI is the dance celebration, traditional folk dances joined in by the living and their departed ancesters in joy and celebration. The dance steps depict human activities, like mining, or fishing, and the beauty of beloved landscapes. The dances are composed of simple, repetitive motions, easily learned – all are invited to participate in this celebration.

Lotus Blossoms

6:00 pm Community Presentations; River Ridge High School Taiko; Aikido of Olympia
7:00 pm Reiko Callner & Aaron O\Vada, Emcees
Stephen Buxbaum – Mayor, City of Olympia
Bob Nakamura – President, Olympia Chapter JACL
Junryo Miyashita – Vice President OKSCA
7:10 pm Dances – All Join In
Mikokoro – Traditional Buddhist Dance
Tanko Bushi – Coal Miner’s Dance
Soran Bushi – Fisherman’s Dance
Ganbare Ondo – Inspirational Dance
Yashiro Ondo – Sister City Dance
7:45 pm Northwest Taiko Performance
8:15 pm Shiawase Samba – “Samba” Dance
Hanano Bon Odori – Flower dance w/fans
Hiroshima Ondo – Boat/river dance
Gosho Ondo – Dance from Gosho
Tanko Bushi – Coal Miner’s Dance
9:00 pm Light Procession for Peace and Rememberance of Loved Ones

Sentenced for having students hit bully

Happy Days

The gentle Skokomish Tribal Nation remains committed to its tradition of honoring its elders, the sacred Elk in what is called the First Elk Ceremony which is held in the late summer at a picnic (Tuwadug Community Park) welcoming visitors, and its native creation lore.

Fresh Hood Canal Spotted Shrimp

First Elk Ceremony:

Skomish elders tell us when the world, as we know it, was reaching completion, du’kWibahl, “the transformer”, traveled throughout the highlands. He came upon some animal people. They had been sitting in the dust, which made their rear-ends all dusty.

Fresh Grilled Salmon

When the transformer asked the animals what they wanted to be, they replied, “Make us whatever you wish.” The transformer, du’kWibahl, changed them into d3xWkWa’kap (salted on the rear). The transformer decreed from that time on, they would be the high chief of all the game animals, second to none in significance. The mountain presently known as Mt. Washington, was called si’luahL by the Twana. It is in this area where the transformer came upon the people that he changed into the elk we know now.

Today, we call these transformed people “Elk”. The transformer made the law that until the end of time the Twana would honor the Elk with the First Elk Ceremony. This ceremony was believed to be necessary in order to placate the spirit of the “Father of the Game Animals” as decreed by the Transformer.

As a rule, the ritual treatment of the Elk was considered to be highly essential in order to ensure the prosperity of the Elk People. The First Elk Ceremony was also believed to feed asta’laX, power of the land game hunter and the shaman power of sxW34da’cH. The headman of the Elk drive would let out a holler that froze the game animals in their path, making them easy prey.

The first Elk was taken in a community Elk drive, after which the ceremonial bull Elk was dressed and butchered. A pit was dug and the skin of the “father of the Game Animals” was used to line the pit. The skin lined pit was called sTLa’b. The Elk meat was cooked by boiling water with heated stones. All parts of the elk were to be used by the people. Only after this ceremony were the tribal hunters allowed to hunt for their own subsistence.

The Elk meat obtained during the subsistence hunting was butchered and dried in a village at the mouth of Big Creek, which was named e’lo’ahL. The Elk would be hunted during the fall and early winter, but would remain unhunted for the rest of the year.

The Skokomish Tribes annual Elders Picnic includes a ‘Chum Run’ (typical 3-mile run for those wishing to participate), Opening Prayer, 1st Elk Ceremony, Lunch served to Elders, recognition of the Eldest Man and Woman in attendance, followed by raffle ticket drawings with the proceeds to help support the event.

Repose

Skokomish Children

The Color Purpole

The Journey

Future Heart Breaker

Skokomish Repast

Strong Hands, Willing Backs

Hot Off the ‘Griddle’

Angst

Sacred Tradition of the Skokomish

Honoring the Wapita

The Procession Begins

Is that you/me?

Tribal Elders

The Queue

Young Skokomish Warrior

Family Camaraderie

Invocation

Skokomish Women

Skokomish Men

Skokomish Couple

Skokomish Elder

Skokomish Elders Picnic Logo

Never Surrender!

Skokomish Yarmulkas

Glad Hand

Native Design

Paddling Their Own Canoe

Skokomish Woman Elder Is Honored

Tribal Elder Honored w/Blanker

Hugs Of Appreciation

Going the Distance

98 Year Old Elder

98 Year Old Guest

Standing Tall @ 98yo

Elder Born Circa 1915

Community Visitor Helps 98yo Elder Fold Her Award Blanket

Elder Women Receive Tokens of Appreciation

Most Senior Male Tribal Elder

Most Senior Tribal Male Elder Displays Blanket Gift

Most Senior Tribal Male Elder in Attendance

Tribal Elder Reflects on His Honorary Status

A Token of Gratitude to a Senior Tribal Elder

Tribal Elder Begins to Speak

Tribal Elder Sings Ancient Song

Battle Worn Tribal Warrior

Skokomish Tribal Jewels

Raffle Winner

Spanning the Generations

What’s the difference between violent (A)narchists and the police?–The police have uniforms.  Yeah, the distinction between the incompetent cops and the political street thugs is one without a difference. Both gangs harass, assault, and attack photojournalists at every opportunity. Members of either group sufficiently competent to respect 1st Amendment principles guaranteed to all citizens are rare. The following video clips illustrate the point.

One commentator notes the Illinois Attorney General dismissed the case (as the defendant predicted) against Michael Allison.

The above video reveals police pulling HIPPA law out of their @ss!

Both are equally pernicious, but in a no holds barred throw-down, which will prevail?

The following actual bank robbery video footage gives a clue:

Triage

The following clip shows robbers throwing cash out the window for over 15 minutes trying to escape:

Rehearsal

Click SLIDE SHOW: snaps of Latvian Children attending KURSA-2013.

Sisters

Latvia and it’s capitol, Riga, are a long way from the Pacific NW. There are about 2 million people in the tiny, but fiercely independent nation. Only roughly half are Latvian. The others are largely unwelcome ethnic Russians given the keys to the country by Stalin not long after WWI. With perestroika, glasnost, and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the ancient Latvian people are once again free from tyranny and Communist oppression. What makes this miracle all the more amazing for a fertile but flat land devoid of natural barriers to invading armies from its much larger neighbors is only 1 in every 7,000 people on the planet is a Latvian speaking native–an ancient people long predating the Russians themselves and a virtual endangered ‘species’.

The Latvian people’s antipathy toward their ethnic immigrant Russian interlopers might be more easily understood given their recent WWII hardships caught between the Communists to the east and the Nazis to the west. Their love for their land, their language, their heritage, traditions, history, culture and, above all, their children, stands as a remarkable example of courage in the face of adversity.

In the wake of WWII, those Latvian refugees who survived became part of a diaspora. Many struggled to arrive in the U.S. where they remain today. Although they left their home thousands of miles away, they continue to maintain a bond to their kin and countrymen. They encourage their children, 2nd and 3rd generation Latvians, to do the same. Part of this article of faith resides in the Latvian Village situated a few miles outside of Shelton, WA, abutting a large parcel where State Prisoners are housed in a penal/corrections institution. For all that, the Latvian Village property is beautiful, lush, and covered with firs, a lake, streams, and a climate somewhat milder, but reminiscent of the home they were forced to leave behind. Some still make pilgrimages to Latvia to attend cultural festivals. Those who cannot manage that expense often send their children for several weeks to the Latvian Village summer camp held exclusively to promote the Latvian language (related to Sanskrit and believed to have migrated up the Indus valley thousands of years ago), their ancient tribal history, customs, dress, dance, and music.

Through the magic of modern multimedia communication technology, you can see, hear, and perhaps feel some of the bright spirit with which they imbue their children, hoping to preserve what is precious in both.

The 15 or so video clips posted on Youtube are from the culminating event/performance of the KURSA dance/music festival from which children are ultimately awarded a graduation certificate after years of summer attendance, work, and the fun of each other’s company as kindred spirits.  HD DVD’s of the performance and snaps may be purchased from Maija Reikstins, the Latvian Village music director. All proceeds will go to the Latvian Village only and scholarships for the Latvian children who could not otherwise attend.

A full Latvian:English translation of the lyrics, as well as links to a slide show of snaps taken at the event can be found at: amicuscuria.com/wordpress/?p=10969

The first 5 or so clips are largely the invocation, prayer, awards of recognition, diplomas, acknowledgments, and attributions of those who made the event possible and participated. The children’s names can be heard. The spelling of the same is beyond my ken as I don’t speak the language.

It’s self evident the camp building used to host this event was not a studio. Hence, the lighting is difficult, hard to reach, and the fire exit signs need a bag over their heads during the performance. Some concessions were made to the photographer in blacking out the windows and doors which would have back lit the subjects. There were too many folding metal chairs unnecessarily within the frames, but the children were universally beautiful and gave a stunning performance for all of only 3-weeks they had to learn a language in which they were not fluent. Thus, except in the dance numbers, their eyes (and windows to their souls) are averted downward to read the Latvian songs they perform. There were many tears and hugs at the end while they bid their goodbyes to one another. Norman Rockwell could scarcely have created a warmer ambiance for his subjects. Roll over, Beethoven!…all this heartfelt goodness is available to you only through your local Latvian Village, right here in the woodsy glens of Mason County.

Kursa-2013 @ Latvian Village, Shelton

MĀRAS  MIĶELI  MĀRTIŅI                    

KURSAS PROGRAMMA  2013 g. 3. augustā                             CLOSING PROGRAM                                                                                                                        KURSA Aug. 3, 2013

Dziesma:  Nāk’ Rudentiņis   t.dz.                                 Song: Autumn is coming                                                                                                                                           (folk song)

Māras diena iezīmē vasaras beigas, ražas             Maras Day signals the end of                                                                                                      summer

vākšanas laiks,un ka dabā sākas pirmās               and the beginning of harvest.                                                                                                    Mara cares

vēsuma jausmas.  Māra rūpējās par visu              for all living things and works Laima,                                                                                  with who

būtību un strādā kopā ar Laimu. Un, ja līdz         determines the fates. And, if šim laikam meita nav saderēta,                                  by this time of year, a                                                                                                                   maiden  is not betrothed, she                                                                                                     will have

tad būs jāgaida uz nākamo gadu.                               to wait for another year.

Līgo saule vakarā,  līgo gani sētiņā                                         The evening sun sways, the                                                                                                                shepherds sway in

Līgo pati mīļa Māra  telītēm vārtu vērt.                               the yard. Mara sways as she                                                                                                               opens the gates for the calf.

Salmi čaukst, salmi čaukst, kas tos salmus čaukstināja?   The straw crackles-who is                                                                                                                   crackling the straw?

Mīļa Māra čaukstināja, sav’ telītes barodama.                    Dear Mara crackles the straw,                                                                                                           feeding the calves.

Kas iemeta zelta rīksti manā govu laidarā?                          Who has thrown a golden rod                                                                                                             into my stockyard?

Mīļa Māra iemetuse raibaliņas skaitīdama.                          Dear Mara threw it as she                                                                                                                  counted the spotted cows.

Gotiņ, mana raibuliņa, kas tev raibi norakstīja?                 My spotted cow, who made those                                                                                                       spots?

Svētā Māra norakstīja, svētu rītu ganīdama,                       Mara made the spots, as she                                                                                                             herded them on a blessed morn.

Mīļa Māra rotajasi  mūsu jumta virsiņāi                              Dear Mara plays upon our roof

Mīļa Māra mums jautāja, kādu dzīru mēs dzeram;            She asks what drink do we have?

Nāc  iekšā, mīļa Māra!                                                             Come in, dear Mara!

Mīļa Māra mani sauca: Nāc meitiņa sieviņās!                      Mara calls me to come to wife

Es neiešu, mīļa Māra, vairāk sievu, ne meitiņu.                 I will not, Mara, many wives- few                                                                                                      maidens.

Svētā Māra, gausā Māra  nāc pa logu istabāi                     Blessed Mara, lingering, come                                                                                                           through the window into the room

Jau māmiņa galdu klāja pirmajai meitiņai.                         Mother already lays the table for                                                                                                       her first daughter.

Kas rīb, kas brauc, gar istabiņu?                                          Who rattles, who goes by the                                                                                                              room?

Svētā Māra rībēja, svētā Māra brauzdeja.                          Dear Mara rattles, Mara rustles.

Nāk, Māra, iekšā, svinības dzērt.                                         Come inside Mara, share our                                                                                                              celebration.

DZIESMA:  Pie Dieviņu gari Galdi- t.dz.                  SONG: God has full tables                                                                                                            – folk song

Miķeļi iezīmē rudens saulgriežus. Nu saule        Mikel marks the fall equinox.                                                                                                   The sunlight

dilst, un tumsa pieauga. Iesaistīts ir ražas          shortens, the dark lengthens.                                                                                                    Celebrations mark the                                                                                                                  harvests. Jumis is heralded in                                                                                                  the

novākšana izdarības un svinības. Jumis tiek      harvesting. At this time, the                                                                                                      regional fairs

godināts lauku novākšanā. Šinī laikā notiek       are held where folk may buy                                                                                                      new implements,

pagastu tautas tirgi, kur ļaudis var iegādāties    handiwork, livestock, and etc.                                                                                           Here young

darbu rīkus, rokdarbus, lopus, utt. Te ari             people meet each other and      jaunieši satiekās un priecājās.                                   share good times.                                                                                                    

Trīs Miķeļi bungas sita vārtu staba galiņā;                         Mikels’ drums hit the gateposts

Nākat,  meitas, skatīties, kur sitās maizes tēvi.                  Come girls, look how the fathers                                                                                                        work!

Lieldieniņa, liela sieva, tā atnāca tukšu roku;                     Easter was a big day, she came                                                                                                          empty handed

Miķelītis, mazs vīriņš, tas atnāca pilnu roku.                      Mikel, a little man, he came with                                                                                                        full hands

Miķelītis, bagāts vīriņš, tas atnāca zābakos.                       Mikel, a rich man, he came                                                                                                                 wearing boots.

Jānīts dienu sasēdēja, ar Jēkabu  runādams.                     Janis sat the day, talking with                                                                                                           Jekabs.

Jānīts skaita siena kaudzes, Jēkabs savas rudzu kaudzes  Janis counted his hay stacks,                                                                                                              Jekobs counted his rye bunches.

Miķelītis nokliedzās auzu kaudzes galiņā.                            Mikel cried aloud on top of his                                                                                                            wheat stacks.

DEJA:                                                                                                     DANCE:

Es izcepu kukulīti, vidū dūru caurumiņu;                            I baked a loaf, poked a hole in the                                                                                                       middle.

Es mielošu Miķeļīti caurumainu kukulīti.                             I will serve Mikel an indented                                                                                                             loaf.

Jānīšam alu daru no sējiņas paliekiem;                                 Beer was made for Janis from                                                                                                           leftover seeds

Darīš alu Miķeļam no jauniem miezīšiem.                            Mikel’s beer is made from new                                                                                                           grains

Ak tu Miķelīti, salds gan ir tavs alutiņš.                                Oh, Mikel, how sweet is your                                                                                                              beer!

Trīs graudiņi,sešas mucas, caur saknēm tecināts.              Three grains in six barrels,                                                                                                                 filtered through the roots.

Miķelītis kas par vīru, iet pa ceļu dancodams;                     Mikel, what a man! He goes                                                                                                               dancing down the road

Miežu svārki, rudzu krekliņš, apenīša cepurīt’.                   Coat of wheat, shirt of rye, a hat                                                                                                       of hops.

DZIESMA:  Div’ pļaviņas es nopļāvu – t.dz.             SONG: Two fields I plowed –                                                                                                    folk song

 Rudzu druva lielījāsi nolocīt man muguriņu.                       The rye field boasts that it will                                                                                                          break my back

Smagas vārpas, viegli stiebri, pļāvējam kājas lauž.           Heavy  heads, light stalks, will                                                                                                           break the harvesters’ legs.

Nelielies, rudzu druva, es sanemšu  dziedama.                 Don’t boast so, rye field; I will                                                                                                             gather you singing.

DEJA:  SPRIGUĻA SIŠANA                                              DANCE: Threshing game

Visu dienu Jumi dzinu pār to visu tīrumiem.                       All day I chased Jumis over the                                                                                                         entire field

Tur sadzina, tur saņēma pie tā lielā akmentiņa.                 Chased him and caught him by the                                                                                                     big rock.

Pie tā lielā aknemtiņa tīrumiņa vidiņā.                                  By the big rock in the middle of                                                                                                          the field.

Bēdz, Jumīti, bēdz, Jumīti, meitas dzina pakaļā;                  Run, Jumi, run! Girls are at your                                                                                                      back!

Ja nevari citur bēgt,bēdz gubiņas galiņā!                              If you can’t escape, run onto the                                                                                                        stack’s top!

Bēdz, Jumīti, bēdz Jumīti, puiši dzina pakaļā;                      Run, Jumi, run! Boys are at your                                                                                                        back!

Ja nevari citur bēgt, bēdz klētiņas cekulā!                            If you can’t escape, run into the                                                                                                        storehouse crest!

DEJA:                                                                                                     Dance:

Nu, rudens beidzās, visi lauku darbi                       Well, autumn ends. All the                                                                                                         field work is done.

 padarīti, klēts ir pārpildīts ar ražu, gotiņas visas        The storehouse is filled                                                                                                                 with grains and hay, all

ir stallī, lopi nosargāti savās vietās….nakts palieka    the livestock are in their                                                                                                               barns. The nights

gari un tumši  un mēs dzirdam…. Mārtiņš nāk!     grow long and dark.. and we                                                                                                      hear- Martins arrives!

Eit ārā, eit ārā, kas ārā rībināja?                                            Go outside, go outside, who                                                                                                                 rumbles outside?

Mārtiņš savus kumeliņus uz istabu dancināja.                    Martin brings his horses to dance                                                                                                       in the room.

Vakar Mārtiņs, no Rīgas, laidās, šodien sētā ierībināja.       Last night, Martin arrived from                                                                                                        Riga. Today he rumbles into the                                                                                                        yard.

Deviņi rati, simts kumeliņi, trīssimts sulaiņu, bruņoti vīri.   Nine carriages, 100 horses, 300                                                                                                         armored servants.

Atbrauca Mārtiņš, atrībināja, pakāra mēteli vārtu             Martin arrived, shook, hung his stuburā.                                                                                      coat on the gatepost.

Aizbrauca Mārtiņš norībēja, aiznesa mēteli zobena         Martin leaves, rumbles, carries his galā.                                                                                         coat on tip of his sword.

Ei Mārtiņ, labais vīrs,baro manus kumeliņus.                  O Martin, good man, feed my                                                                                                             horses.

Sukādams, barodams, sēsties  siles galiņā.                        Comb them, feed them, seated at                                                                                                       the manger’s end.

Devu, devu, Mārtiņam,ko es biju solījusi                           I gave to Martin what I had                                                                                                                promised.

Melnu vistu kankarainu  ar visiem nadziņiem.                   A black tattered chicken,  with all                                                                                                      the claws.

Cekulainu vistu kāvu Mārtinīša vakarā                               A crested chicken was killed on                                                                                                          Martin’s eve

Lai aug man raibas govis kā vistiņas cekulainas.                So that my cows will grow as the                                                                                                       the chicken’s crests.

Paldies devu Dieviņam,man rociņa labi  gāja;                     I give thanks to God; my hand did                                                                                                     well.

Pilna kūts govju, vēršu, pilns stallītis kumeļiņu.                  A barn full of cows, stalls full of                                                                                                         horses

Dietu, deitu, saiminiece, Mārtinīša vakarā.                          Dance, dance, our hostess, on                                                                                                             Martins’ eve

Lai telītes  dietu veda par vasaru  tīrumā.                           So that our calves will dance in                                                                                                           the summer’s fields.

DEJA:                                                                                                     DANCE:

Ej Mārtiņ, nu uz Rīgu, nu mēs tevi  pavadām;                      Go, Martin, now to Riga. We will                                                                                                         see you out.

Nāc atkal citu gadu, tad mēs tevi gaidīsim.                           Come again another year, we will                                                                                                      await you.

Visi saka, visi saka; Mārtiņdiena, Mārtiņdiena!                   All say, all say, Martin day!                                                                                                                Martin Day!

Kad varētu Mārtiņdienu aiz ausīm noturēt!                         If only I could hold on to Martin                                                                                                        by his ears!

DZIESMA:  Latviešu gadskārtu kantāte,                                  SONG: Cantata of the                                                                                                                    Latvian Year,

IV daļa – “Miķeli-Mārtiņi” – Maija Riekstiņa                       Part IV, “Mikeli-                                                                                                                              Martini” – Maija                                                                                                                              Riekstins

Christopher Trotter

By Ebony Chappel

Pendleton, Indiana — The year was 1985. Christopher Trotter, a former member of the United States armed services, was serving a four-year sentence for petty theft at the Indiana Reformatory (now known as the Pendleton Correctional Facility), former home to infamous bank robber John Dillinger and infamous instances of corruption and gross mistreatment of inmates under the leadership of former Superintendent Edward L. Cohn.

In 1988, Cohn was reprimanded for not following prison protocol in restraining prisoners. Reportedly inmates were bound by placing handcuffs around their wrists and connecting them to leg irons with a short chain in a position that allowed them neither to stand up nor lay straight.

On Feb. 1 of that year, in an attempt to protect fellow inmate Lincoln Love, who was being beaten, Trotter along with co-defendant John Coe, found himself at the center of a riot in which seven correctional officers were stabbed and three employees were held hostage for 17 hours.

“We did not go to commit an act of violence. We went to prevent an act of violence that was already happening on a prisoner who was being beaten while he was handcuffed and shackled” said Trotter of that fateful day in February.

Trotter, who had experienced beatings himself while an inmate at the reformatory, described the environment as a “pressure cooker” as there were several instances of violence against prisoners especially those who were African-American.

He says he intervened on the behalf of Love after hearing other prisoners scream, “They’re killing him!” “It was how I was raised,” says Trotter “I know deep down in my heart of hearts that it was the right thing to do. Had I walked away I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself.”

As a result of his involvement in the riot, Trotter was given an additional sentence of 142 years. Of the 32 years he has already served 11 have been in solitary confinement, a portion of those years were spent in a windowless cell.

Trotter, now 52 years old, shared his remorse for the people who were hurt as a result of the incident, two of whom were his parents, now deceased – his father as a result of stroke and his mother in a car accident.

Patricia Shelton, a close friend of Trotter’s has taken the charge of sharing his story with people all over the world. “I got reacquainted with Chris after my brother called me and told me about his interview on MSNBC Lockup” says Shelton. The two have been corresponding via letter, telephone, and supervised visits at the correctional facility ever since.

“It’s time for him to come home because he has paid his debt to society. No one was killed, no lives were taken. Just his,” Shelton said. She hopes that if more compassionate people heard his story they would be touched as well.

Due to financial strains, the family of Christopher Trotter has not been able to retain a lawyer. In a letter posted to his profile on the petition site change.org, Trotter details his legal predicament – “I have a petition for post-conviction relief that has been dormant since 1992. The state public defender withdrew from my case in 1998. Then in 2002, all my legal documents (14-year-old transcripts, dispositions, witness statements, etc.) mysteriously came up missing. There has been no activity on my post-conviction petition since 1998. The state of Indiana will not provide me with another copy of my trial transcripts without charge, and I do not have the financial means to hire an attorney.”

Even in the midst of such adversity, Trotter and Shelton use faith in God as the foundation to maintaining a positive outlook on their future. In a very hopeful gesture the pair have began writing “Already Done, Home 2013” on the back of all their envelopes, many of which contain uplifting “spiritual vitamin letters” the two share to keep their spirits high.

When asked how Trotter keeps himself going, Shelton said, “Chris keeps to himself these days for the most part. He spends time with the Lord. He speaks to the younger guys that are troubled and encourages them to put God first – his former cellmate was serving three life sentences and he just kind of gave up on life. Chris spent time ministering to him and a few months later he passed away. Just think if Chris wouldn’t have spoken with him his soul would have been lost.”

On the role of faith in his will to survive, Trotter said, “I’ve survived all the assassination attempts on my life, I’ve survived the isolation … but not on my own. It was only through the grace of God that I survived it.”

Shelton has written to several politicians on Trotter’s behalf including Gov. Mike Pence, and the office of President Barack Obama. She received correspondence from the White House that explained that the president is working diligently to pass legislation that will prevent such harsh sentencing from happening.

In an effort to keep Trotter’s story going, Shelton has created Facebook and Twitter profiles on his behalf. As a result people from as far away as Ireland, Australia, and Sweden have become involved in Trotter’s cause. “These people just can’t comprehend the level of injustice we experience here in America,” says Shelton.

For more information on Christopher Trotter’s story visit indianapolisrecorder.com/blogs.

Black August movement

Black August is a movement that originated out of the California prison system to honor fallen members of the Black liberation movement of the 1970s, many of whom had been imprisoned or assassinated.

Some notable figures of the movement are George Jackson, Angela Davis and Assata Shakur.

Black August has evolved to include film festivals, hip-hop concerts, and mass letter writing initiatives to prisoners all over the world with all activities structured to focus on spreading the message of liberation and activism.

Ring of Fire

Tepco is struggling to contain the highly radioactive water that is seeping into the ocean near Fukushima. The head of Japan’s NRA, Shinji Kinjo exclaimed, “right now, we have an emergency,” as he noted the contaminated groundwater has breached an underground barrier and is rising toward the surface – exceeding the limits of radioactive discharge. In a rather outspoken comment for the typically stoic Japanese, Kinjo said Tepco’s “sense of crisis was weak,” adding that “this is why you can’t just leave it up to Tepco alone” to grapple with the ongoing disaster. As Reuters notes, Tepco has been accused of covering up shortcomings and has been lambasted for its ineptness in the response and while the company says it is taking actions to contain the leaks, Kinjo fears if the water reaches the surface “it would flow extremely fast,” with some suggesting as little as three weeks until this critical point.

Highly radioactive water seeping into the ocean from Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant is creating an “emergency” that the operator is struggling to contain, an official from the country’s nuclear watchdog said on Monday.

This contaminated groundwater has breached an underground barrier, is rising toward the surface and is exceeding legal limits of radioactive discharge, Shinji Kinjo, head of a Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) task force, told Reuters.

Countermeasures planned by Tokyo Electric Power Co are only a temporary solution, he said.

Tepco’s “sense of crisis is weak,” Kinjo said. “This is why you can’t just leave it up to Tepco alone” to grapple with the ongoing disaster.

“Right now, we have an emergency,” he said.

‘Freeamerican’ comments:  “It has been leaking into the sea and the fumes into the air constantly since 2011. Stupid america thought because the media stopped talking about it that it was all fine. It has not been fine. Your seafood has been poisoned long ago. But fat america won’t notice, even though the west coast has been having a higher rate of birth defects. Too many people are idiots.”

Bulls Eye