EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY - WRONG...KEEP NATIVE AMERICAN LOG ( HURON )

Eastern Michigan University and Native American Student Organization are WRONG...............Keep the Huron Logo ...

EMU Interim President Kim Schatzel, is buying new EMU Band jackets without the Huron Logo on an inside flap, because of protest against the logo by some Native American students - her decision is wrong !!! and so is Amber Morseau, President of the EMU Native American Student Organization for supporting the decision.

Native Americans were the first people of America - their lands were taken and an estimated five (5) million Native Americans were killed in the Westward Expansion of the United States. The rally cry was 'The only good Indian, is a dead Indian' as the Europeans marched from shore to shore killing Native Americans and stealing their lands...It is interesting that the story came out on the same day that a story was written about the Michigan Legislature, under funding Native American College Funding.

Native Americans were taught to 'scalp' so that the British and French could pay to see how many British and French men were killed during their wars against each other and their own territorial advancements.
Native Americans saw their food (buffalo) killed for sport by the millions, and not for food or clothing. They saw their women and children massacred as the US Army took over for the advancing settlers. Native Americans were forced to leave their homelands and be sent to 'reservations' sometimes in the most desolate areas.
Native Americans must stand up and demand that their story be told and taught in school districts, in every part of the country, so that it is never forgotten (as many Germans deny the Holocaust and the Japanese deny the China atrocities and Turkey denies the Armenian Genocide).

The Native Americans and all the Tribes should develop a list of acceptable - Logos
and Symbols - that honor their Tribes, leaders and people, and offer them to schools and universities so that the Native American image can be seen, revered and cheered for - to not do so allows the image of Native Americans to disappear and allows older unacceptable images (Redskins) to linger on.

So let the debate move forward - let us recognize the contributions, the history, the culture, the food and traditions of our Native Americans to be celebrated.

READ THIS ARTICLE..... DETROIT FREE PRESS...................

Eastern Michigan University announced today it will be dropping the Huron logo from marching band uniforms after controversy swirled in June when members of the Native American community voiced objections at a board meeting.

EMU Interim President Kim Schatzel made the announcement in an email to the campus community.

Several members of the community spoke out during the meeting, renewing controversy over the school's use of the Huron logo, which depicted an Indian with a painted face and two feathers.

"This morning I notified members of the Native American Student Organization and their faculty advisor, Dr. Lori Burlingame, that I am initiating a process to remove the Huron logo from the jackets of the EMU Marching Band," Schatzel said. "The university will be purchasing new uniform jackets with no logos nor symbols other than the block "E," which will continue to be on the outside of the jacket. "

Schatzel said the action will happen "as expeditiously as possible" and the associated costs will be paid for out of donated funds from the EMU Foundation.

Native Americans want 'Huron' logo off EMU band uniforms

Schatzel said there will be no impact on the General Fund and no tuition dollars will be utilized.

"This action results from a thorough review, by myself and members of EMU's senior leadership team, of the 1991 decision by the Board of Regents to stop using the Huron logo and name," she said in an email. "... As we all know, controversy and questions surrounding the use of logos and symbols that are offensive to some groups or community members is a highly complex issue that is not isolated to Eastern Michigan University.'

The use of the logo has long been controversial at the university. The school was known as the Hurons for 62 years but In 1991, under pressure from the Michigan Civil Rights Commission and Native Americans, EMU was one of the first schools in the nation to drop its logo and change from the Hurons to the Eagles.

But three years ago, former university president Susan Martin reintroduced the Huron logo under a flap on the marching band uniforms, along with another logo representing when the band was formed in 1894.

Amber Morseau, President of the Native American Student Organization at EMU, said she was pleased with the announcement, which followed a morning meeting with Schatzel. Morseau said she believes EMU is again on the "right side of history."

"It is our hope that with this decision, and the reiteration of the damaging effects of racist images, stereotypes, and symbols in our lives and our communities, the environment at EMU will improve not only for Native students, but for all students of color moving forward," Morseau said. "... We are not costumes, we are not mascots, and we appreciate that Dr. Schatzel was able to understand this so easily and was committed to doing the right thing."

OPEN CARRY GUN REFORM - MICHIGAN - DETROIT NEWS - ON RIGHT SIDE

For years I have emailed legislators and the media - about the need of OPEN CARRY GUN REFORM - saying that it 'presents a clear and present danger to the public'. The Detroit News Editorial, Sunday August 16, 2015, finally is on the right side of Open Carry Reform - relating their fears for school children and principals that must make a decision to protect the children. The Detroit News makes a call for the Michigan Legislature to make reforms and to protect the public.....Now they have a provided conservative voice for Open Carry Reform and hesitant legislators should use the Editorial and do what is right - limit Open Carry...protecting children, the public and law enforcement officers.

Additionally - the Michigan Legislature should outlaw realistic looking to guns - and have them replaced with neon colored ones..

READ...

Advocates for unrestricted gun rights are provoking a reckless fight with school districts; it’s one they should lose

Carrying Handguns Openly
(Photo: Ricardo Thomas / The Detroit News)
Open carry advocates who are insisting on exercising their rights to carry pistols and rifles into schools, unconcealed, should put themselves in the place of principals who have the heavy responsibility of keeping a few hundred children safe from harm.

How would they respond if an adult walked through their doors, or even onto school grounds, with a visible gun? After Columbine and Sandy Hook and other places around the country where children have been slaughtered in mass shootings, would they simply shrug and assume the person is a harmless open carry advocate exercising his or her constitutional right?

Or would they mobilize, lock down the school, call the police and take whatever steps are necessary to protect the kids entrusted to their care? If it were their child, how would they want the school to respond?

And what about the police? When they arrive at the school, how do they ascertain whether the gun toter is a threat? Are they supposed to wait until a shot is fired? A misread of the situation can lead to an unnecessary tragedy.

These questions are becoming increasingly relevant in Michigan as open carry zealots get more determined to push their rights. Several school districts have raised concerns about guns being displayed in plain sight by school visitors, and the uncertainty and unease they create.

Common sense seems to have gone out the window. The open carry lobby is intent on provoking a confrontation — gunning for a fight, if you will. That’s a bad practice when firearms are involved.

Last week, a Genesee County judge ruled a local school district could not prevent a father from showing up to school with his gun on full display. The judge said state law gives him that right.

But as an attorney for another school district noted, state law also requires school officials to establish policies to ensure the “safety and protection of students.”

The two laws are in conflict. So the Legislature should provide clarity.

This newspaper has been consistent in its support of the Second Amendment, recognizing that many gun control proposals are little more than feel good measures that would not impact gun violence.

But all rights are subject to reasonable restrictions.

It is reasonable to restrict open carry rights in venues such as schools, theaters or other crowded public spaces where they are likely to create panic and lead to potentially dangerous confusion about the intent of the carrier.

Michigan has very liberal concealed carry laws. There is a low bar for obtaining a concealed pistol license. Those who feel the need to be constantly armed should take the minimal training required and apply for a CPL.

State lawmakers should heed the request of numerous school districts worried about the safety of their students and amend the law to make school buildings and grounds off-limit for the open carry of firearms.

DETROIT NEWS EDITORIAL ...SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 2015

Letter to the Editor

Open Carry Laws, in Michigan, and other states, are a 'clear and present danger' to the general public and law enforcement officers..Persons who 'open carry' frighten the public and the law doesn't allow law enforcement officers to properly investigate that person, so neither the public nor the law enforcement officer knows the clear intent of that person - and wether he / she is a danger or not.

To allow 'open carry' advocates to carry a gun, rifle or other weapons into 'pistol free zones' where persons with a proper Concealed Weapons Permit cannot go, goes against all logic and concerns for the public, in this current state of anxiety over crime and terrorism.

God did not give US citizens the 'right to carry a gun' ....carrying a gun is NOT a God given right....it must be regulated for the protection of the public and law enforcement officers.
If you qualify for a CPL then you should abide by the laws and not be allowed to 'open carry'. CPL training must also be increased, to protect the licensee and the general public.

The Michigan legislature should, immediately, make reforming the 'Open Carry Laws' a priority, because of the current and past incidents that have children, teachers and the public fearful.I am one of the few, but growing law enforcement officers that have spoken out about 'open carry laws' and the need for restrictions on the purchase of handguns, military assault style weapons and toy guns.

We must make Michigan residents and all US citizens safer from gun violence and that will take standing up to the National Rifle Association. It will take legislators and congressmen courage - now is the time to add to those 'Profiles in Courage'.

Sgt David Malhalab, Detroit Police Retired

ps: Open Carry Laws in Michigan need to be reformed....A person should not be able to Open Carry guns / rifles / assault weapons anywhere that a Concealed Weapon Permit restricts their prescense, stadiums, schools, college campuses, government buildings, bars, restaurants etc... and Toy Guns should all be colored neon colors and NOT resemble real handguns / rifles / assault weapons for public safety and law enforcement safety. Contact your State Legislator and US House and US Senate representatives and tell them to make your streets safe.

Open-carry activist speaks out after school lockdown scare
Two Michigan gun advocates tested their rights to openly carry in the most controversial of places allowed by the state — public schools.

DETROIT POLICE ARRESTS DOWN, MORALE LOW, DETROIT UNSAFE

DETROIT POLICE - ARRESTS LOW.... MORALE LOW, DETROIT UNSAFE...
Rumor - has it - that arrest rates are down 80%, in Detroit, normally 300 a day, now 60 a day...a person connected to the Department has said and others say the rumor is well known and that supervisors have tried to COERCE... DPD officers into making more arrests....

Reasons are ooohhhh so numerous: Low starting pay $14.00 and hour ($8.00 and hour after taxes / pension), Wage cuts for senior officers, pension and benefit cuts, unfounded citizen complaints, constant criticism from people like, Ron Scott (Citizens Against Police Brutality) who seems to get a comment into every news story about police taking action... low hiring standards (GED minimum requirement), poor and unsafe equipment, and continuing UNDER STAFFING (1590 officers / more minus every month.

Where is the $113m that was supposed to flow to the DPD after bankruptcy ??????? The GM - Ford - Chrysler vehicles donated, over two (2) years ago, to the department, need to be replaced. A recent news story about two children being killed in a police chase, had the officer testifying that their 2004 scout car was so bad, they didn't want to drive it over 50 miles and hour - for the officers safety.

While (BILLIONAIRE) Ilitch and Gilbert and Ford get hundreds of millions of tax dollars (err: captured downtown development dollars) for an uneeded M1 Railway System - a transportation boon doggle, a baseball stadium, a ice area and a football stadium, Detroit Police Officers, Detroit Fire Fighters and EMS staffers still suffer from low pay, pension and benefits, while Ilitch, Gilbert and Ford reap millions of dollars from tax payers supported projects - if the projects are so lucrative, then let them borrow the money ( at 0% interest - from the Feds).

Call the Mayors office and City Council offices and demand a better police department, with increased hiring standards, better pay, pensions and benefits for officers / fire fighters and EMS techs. Your safety as a Detroit resident and / or Visitor depends on this....until it happens - Detroit will be unsafe - everyday and night.
Crime should be the #1 issue - everyone agreed during the election - but now the rich get the dough and residents the crumbs.

DETROIT UNSAFE - DETROIT POLICE - UNDERSTAFFED

Detroit Police Department - needs 1,030 new police officers - NOW.

June 26, 2015: 1590.....police officers

347.....sergeants
150.....detectives
28.....investigators
80.....captains / lts
59.....dpd assistants (former POs - now civilian assts)
2,254 TOTAL........... - 59 == 2,195

This is not enough officers to make Detroit residents safe, or visitors !!! Think how many police officers are going to be needed at CoMerica Park, Ford Field and downtown events throughout the summer - your local precincts will be drained.

Detroit needs to raise its hiring standards (2 - 4 yrs of college / military) and raise the pay and benefits to attract and retain these officers using: STATE and FEDERAL GRANT MONEY !!! that our local, state and national elected officials should be trying to get, every day.
Public Safety should be the #1 issue in Detroit - It's NOT...

Let It Rip : Defending yourself in Detroit / Fox2 Detroit, June 11, 2015

Let It Rip Pt. 2: Defending yourself in Detroit - Fox 2 News Headlines
(click above - to see the video clip)

Detroit cannot be a properous successful city - it needs 1,000 new police officers, using State and Federal grants.
Detroit needs to raise its hiring standards (2-4yrs college / military experience), raise the pay (above $14. hr), better benefits, training and equipment.

BOYCOTT - DETROIT PUBLIC TELEVISION / PBS

Detroit PBS...Boycott....

Detroit Public Television has failed to air the documentary, Stranded at the Corner, about historic Detroit Tiger Stadium - Why ???? even after all these years since the Stadium was demolished, Rich Homberg refuses to air the documentary, directed by Gary Glaser and produced by Peter Comstock Riley.

It is shameful that Detroit Public Television is afraid to air the documentary and have a public discussion about it, because the fear of retaliation by Mike Ilitch, who many believe had been the driving force behind 'demolition by neglect' and who profited greatly as the Stadium sat neglected, while he collected money for its upkeep.
So - please withhold donations to Detroit PBS, until they put the documentary in its lineup, and have a round table discussion about - Why it was demolished and Who is responsible. !!

STRANDED AT THE CORNER
This film explores the public and private maneuverings that resulted from the abandonment of Tiger Stadium, one of the nation’s classic ballparks. Featured in the film is archival footage and interviews as well as the rich history of Tiger Stadium, the struggle to prevent the team from leaving the ballpark, and its current state of neglect.
Run time: 83min
photo by: David Malhalab, ON facebook...MNS Photo / M News Service

MICHIGAN PROPOSAL 1 - ROADS - VOTE NO NO NO

Michigan Roads - Proposal 1 - Vote NO NO NO.... Update

L Brook Patterson, Oakland County Executive, said on the WXYX Chl 7 News that Proposal 1 - "is a TRAIN ROBBERY" by insurance companiews who want to get their hands on the $20b Catastrophic Insurance Fund for 'their nefarious purposes'. So Tuesday - Vote NO...NO ...NO... to bad governance.

Michigan residents should not reward bad governance by voting to apporve Proposal 1 - a convaluted proposal to fix Michigan roads, which are a disgrace and dangerous.

Republican policies in Michigan and across this country are anti-middle class, anti-poor, anti-women, anti-minorities, anti-GLBT and their anti-President Obama statements, actions and rhetoric have weakend America around the world - Republicans have done this - not President Obama.

For six years, and as the Tea Party movement has grown, good governance by Republicans has disappeared and and so has their common sense and decency - good thinking Republicans have been shunted aside, in favor of, strident ignorant voices who appeal to the base fears and prejuidices of people.

Michigan residents must reject Propoasal 1 and demand a long term comprehensive proposal to fix the roads, bridges, sewers, power grid, and to protect our water resources. This will cost billions of dollars not $1.2 billion, but a continuing spending of tax dollars to protect us into the future and we must not wait !!!!
Now - threats !!! US Sen Carl Levin is implying in TV spots that if Proposal 1 - isn't passed - that cuts to schools and public safety will have to be made...

Lies: That Proposal 1 will mean that 'quality control' measures will be instituted to make road and bridge builders pay for failed roads and bridges - but Michigan has for the past 13 years had such provisions - but Mi Dept of Transportation has never forced a road builder to make repairs, letting the taxpayer pay and pay.