Local Television, newspaper, and radio stations failed to keep citizens properly informed on how our 44th President is treated during a war on two fronts in foreign lands. We can only imagine Why?
George Boston Rhynes,ADDRESS TO VALDOSTA CITY MAYOR JOHN FRETTI, COUNCIL, AND CITIZENS. (September 10, 2009 5:30pm, in Council chambers)
George Boston Rhynes,ADDRESS TO VALDOSTA CITY MAYOR JOHN FRETTI, COUNCIL, AND CITIZENS. (September 10, 2009 5:30pm, in Council chambers)
PRESENTATION: Mr. Mayor and Council my name is George Boston Rhynes. During Citizens to be heard portion of the meeting we are asked NOT to engage any individual council member and that you will get back with us at a latter date. Therefore I would like to say several of my issues brought before you have not been addressed. And when my questions are not addressed it reminds me of the Old Valdosta City charter of 1860 that was removed from these walls, and I won’t get into that now.
The second item I have Mr. Mayor, Council, and fellow citizens is that our Valdosta City School Superintendent made history the other day when he denied inter city school children to listen to the 1st Black African American President, a Harvard Graduate, and the Executive-Commander-In-Chief of some mothers, and fathers now serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and in other countries around the world.
Mr. Mayor, council, and fellow citizens this is totally unacceptable to me for this to be done to our children. This is a disgrace at a time when our nation is progressing towards change, and inclusion but caught up in economic hard times.
I am a United States Armed Forces Military Veteran, I mean a Retired Militay Veteran of the United States Armed Forces living in a School System where Black Students are the majority (80%). It really hurts me, my heart bubbles, and I am standing here today because I want the people of Valdosta and Lowndes County Georgia to know. That I am not happy, by the decision made by our superintendent of Valdosta City School System. It does not please me when I reflect upon my service to this country. You know; I could have been killed while in a foreign nation defending this country. I was once on a plane over Guam we looked over the wing and saw an engine on fire, I could have died that day.
So I want to add this Mr. Mayor and council. That never before in the history of our beloved nation have a President of the United States been called a lier before the United States Congress, the American People and the world. Mr. Mayor and council---Black Folks! Black African Americans, and the reason---I use Black African Americans is because there are White African Americans that came from the continent of Africa too. But they did not go through the pain, suffering, and mistreatment as Black African American People.
So I say Black African Americans. Blacks were terrorized in this country. It was in the year of 1555, when Sir John Hawkins a European Slave Trader brought our ancestors to these shores aboard a slave ship called Jesus. Blacks were adult napped, and kid napped, murdered outright, without receiving justice, not permitted to assemble in groups of more than five at a time, not permitted to attend church without a white person being present, called three fifths of a human being, forbidden from having a family, the black woman carried half-white babies in their womb for nine months that did not look like them. Blacks were forbidden from learning how to read and write, not permitted to protect their own children, it was against the law to strike a white person even in self-defense, Blacks were stripped of their name, not allowed to speak in their mother tongue, stripped of their God, and given a White God, a White Jesus, and told that their Black skin was a curse from God. Yes the Black man was stripped of his religion, their culture, and the knowledge of self.
But through it all Blacks never criticized, condemned, threatened or called any of the other 43 White Male Presidents a lie. We never denied White Children or Black Children for that matter from listening to the other 43 White Male Presidents. Many of whom fathered Half Black Children and walked away from them for Blacks to raise and accept as their own family members without any type law in the courts to make the white man accountable for individual responsibility.
Mr. Mayor and Council; we never treated White People like they have consistently treated us; but it is a major disgrace to see what has been done in the Valdosta City School System by our superintendent, and it hurts all human beings with a conscience, it really hurts. I want to go on the record, because I want the people of Valdosta to realize, that all Black folks are not happy about Dr. Cason decision. Many of us are sadden by this despicable act. Many of us will not speak out publicly because of fear and the power of those in control. But if I have to be the voice of our people, then let the waters flow, where ever it must go. Not only that, but some Whites that are sitting among us today are not happy with the superintendent’s decision---but they too are afraid to stand up for for what they know in their heart, soul, and mind is right, and just.
So we may not like President Barack Obama because he is of a darker hew. But I ask you to think about the pain, suffering and mistreatment of Black people in this country. We fought for this country. Yet! The ones who denied us, of our God given rights, we respected them.
Yes! We did. O’ Yes, we did. We respected these undeserving White People, and we did not send NEGATIVES around the world condemning the ones who kept us under Jim Crow, under Slave Laws, and working from can’t see morning to can’t see night without an equal days pay, for the work we did. Moreover, it was written on white paper in black ink. That No Black person had rights---that a White man had to respect.
So now I am coming to a close Mr. Mayor and Council. But I just want you all to know today. That we, in Valdosta, Georgia can move forward or we can move backwards or we can follow the old 1860 Valdosta City Charter which says:
In Article 100, Section XI: “THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SHALL PASS ALL PROPER AND NECESSARY LAWS AND ORDINANCES FOR THE CONTROL OF SLAVES AND FREE PERSONS OF COLOR IN SAID TOWN AND SUPPRESS AND ABATE ALL NUISANCES ARRIVING FROM HOGS, DOGS, HORSES, OR OTHER STOCK STRAYING AT LARGE IN SAID TOWN, OR FROM OTHER CAUSES.”
So check this, we can only imagine how the Black Teachers, Black Principals, Black Parents, the Black Soldiers NOW fighting, and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan on foreign battlefields for this country---feels. When their little children were NOT permitted to listen to their EXECUTIVE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF in whose name they are willing to die for; but their own children cannot listen to a 20 minute speech about them getting a quality education. What about the mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers of the parents of these children that our Superintendent has disrespected even cross the racial divide?
Who would have EVER believed, that “TITLE TOWN USA” would keep little children from watching their president and their parents Executive Commander-In-Chief from speaking to them in Valdosta City School System where Blacks are 80% of the students attending Valdosta City Schools. How Sad?
We can, and we must do better, or we might was well close up our BIBLES, close up the HOLY KORAN, close up the HOLY BOOK of the Native Indians, close up the HOLY TORAH BOOK of the Jews. So our children can see us, for what, and who we truly are in Valdosta-Lowndes County Georgia.
Thank you very much!
Then Councilman Sunny, District 3, was the ONLY MEMBER on the Valdosta City Council to say a single word. This includes Blacks on the Council, and James Wright, was NOT present from the meeting:
COUNCILMAN SONNY VICKERS SAID FOLLOWING MY ADDRESS: “I agree with you 100 percent. I’m appalled at what happened in schools systems all over the country.” “I share your sentiments.”
MY RESPONSE TO MY VICKERS: Yes Sir! Councilman Vickers, I appreciate your words. We are living in a time, when we must be reflective of the greatness of our nation, or we’re going to see the destruction of our nation. God sent us, Dr. Martin L. King Jr., and Dr. King spoke of Non-Violence, and yet he was murdered, and died violently.
MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL: I have said it before several times before this council, as well as at the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners. That if something else goes off in this city, I don’t believe the young people, I don’t believe anybody could control them, and I only make this comment for one reason. Many people are talking the 2nd amendment concerning guns and gun control. Well, these GUNS, these young Black boys have in their possession today, scares the heck out of ordinary people, including me.
Mayor responded to my concerns at the beginning of my address when I raised questions about several of my questions not being answered.
MAYOR FRETTI SAID: “We are working to answer (them) your questions…..” I then apologized about saying that no Black Pastor was on the Crime and Domestic Violence Panel a few weeks ago. I apologized, and said to the council that Pastor Morgan, and another pastor was scheduled to be on the panel, and attended a session of the planning of the meeting. However, they say they had previous commitments, and was no shows.
I told Mayor Fretti, and council members. That if they had informed the general public at the start of the meeting that two pastors from the Black African Community was scheduled but did not come. Then this could have been avoided and the community would not have felt left off the panel.
Again, I thanked the Mayor and Council and returned to my seat.
GEORGE BOSTON RHYNES
Retired United States Armed Forces Veteran
A concerned citizen and brother of humanity
The second item I have Mr. Mayor, Council, and fellow citizens is that our Valdosta City School Superintendent made history the other day when he denied inter city school children to listen to the 1st Black African American President, a Harvard Graduate, and the Executive-Commander-In-Chief of some mothers, and fathers now serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and in other countries around the world.
Mr. Mayor, council, and fellow citizens this is totally unacceptable to me for this to be done to our children. This is a disgrace at a time when our nation is progressing towards change, and inclusion but caught up in economic hard times.
I am a United States Armed Forces Military Veteran, I mean a Retired Militay Veteran of the United States Armed Forces living in a School System where Black Students are the majority (80%). It really hurts me, my heart bubbles, and I am standing here today because I want the people of Valdosta and Lowndes County Georgia to know. That I am not happy, by the decision made by our superintendent of Valdosta City School System. It does not please me when I reflect upon my service to this country. You know; I could have been killed while in a foreign nation defending this country. I was once on a plane over Guam we looked over the wing and saw an engine on fire, I could have died that day.
So I want to add this Mr. Mayor and council. That never before in the history of our beloved nation have a President of the United States been called a lier before the United States Congress, the American People and the world. Mr. Mayor and council---Black Folks! Black African Americans, and the reason---I use Black African Americans is because there are White African Americans that came from the continent of Africa too. But they did not go through the pain, suffering, and mistreatment as Black African American People.
So I say Black African Americans. Blacks were terrorized in this country. It was in the year of 1555, when Sir John Hawkins a European Slave Trader brought our ancestors to these shores aboard a slave ship called Jesus. Blacks were adult napped, and kid napped, murdered outright, without receiving justice, not permitted to assemble in groups of more than five at a time, not permitted to attend church without a white person being present, called three fifths of a human being, forbidden from having a family, the black woman carried half-white babies in their womb for nine months that did not look like them. Blacks were forbidden from learning how to read and write, not permitted to protect their own children, it was against the law to strike a white person even in self-defense, Blacks were stripped of their name, not allowed to speak in their mother tongue, stripped of their God, and given a White God, a White Jesus, and told that their Black skin was a curse from God. Yes the Black man was stripped of his religion, their culture, and the knowledge of self.
But through it all Blacks never criticized, condemned, threatened or called any of the other 43 White Male Presidents a lie. We never denied White Children or Black Children for that matter from listening to the other 43 White Male Presidents. Many of whom fathered Half Black Children and walked away from them for Blacks to raise and accept as their own family members without any type law in the courts to make the white man accountable for individual responsibility.
Mr. Mayor and Council; we never treated White People like they have consistently treated us; but it is a major disgrace to see what has been done in the Valdosta City School System by our superintendent, and it hurts all human beings with a conscience, it really hurts. I want to go on the record, because I want the people of Valdosta to realize, that all Black folks are not happy about Dr. Cason decision. Many of us are sadden by this despicable act. Many of us will not speak out publicly because of fear and the power of those in control. But if I have to be the voice of our people, then let the waters flow, where ever it must go. Not only that, but some Whites that are sitting among us today are not happy with the superintendent’s decision---but they too are afraid to stand up for for what they know in their heart, soul, and mind is right, and just.
So we may not like President Barack Obama because he is of a darker hew. But I ask you to think about the pain, suffering and mistreatment of Black people in this country. We fought for this country. Yet! The ones who denied us, of our God given rights, we respected them.
Yes! We did. O’ Yes, we did. We respected these undeserving White People, and we did not send NEGATIVES around the world condemning the ones who kept us under Jim Crow, under Slave Laws, and working from can’t see morning to can’t see night without an equal days pay, for the work we did. Moreover, it was written on white paper in black ink. That No Black person had rights---that a White man had to respect.
So now I am coming to a close Mr. Mayor and Council. But I just want you all to know today. That we, in Valdosta, Georgia can move forward or we can move backwards or we can follow the old 1860 Valdosta City Charter which says:
In Article 100, Section XI: “THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SHALL PASS ALL PROPER AND NECESSARY LAWS AND ORDINANCES FOR THE CONTROL OF SLAVES AND FREE PERSONS OF COLOR IN SAID TOWN AND SUPPRESS AND ABATE ALL NUISANCES ARRIVING FROM HOGS, DOGS, HORSES, OR OTHER STOCK STRAYING AT LARGE IN SAID TOWN, OR FROM OTHER CAUSES.”
So check this, we can only imagine how the Black Teachers, Black Principals, Black Parents, the Black Soldiers NOW fighting, and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan on foreign battlefields for this country---feels. When their little children were NOT permitted to listen to their EXECUTIVE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF in whose name they are willing to die for; but their own children cannot listen to a 20 minute speech about them getting a quality education. What about the mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers of the parents of these children that our Superintendent has disrespected even cross the racial divide?
Who would have EVER believed, that “TITLE TOWN USA” would keep little children from watching their president and their parents Executive Commander-In-Chief from speaking to them in Valdosta City School System where Blacks are 80% of the students attending Valdosta City Schools. How Sad?
We can, and we must do better, or we might was well close up our BIBLES, close up the HOLY KORAN, close up the HOLY BOOK of the Native Indians, close up the HOLY TORAH BOOK of the Jews. So our children can see us, for what, and who we truly are in Valdosta-Lowndes County Georgia.
Thank you very much!
Then Councilman Sunny, District 3, was the ONLY MEMBER on the Valdosta City Council to say a single word. This includes Blacks on the Council, and James Wright, was NOT present from the meeting:
COUNCILMAN SONNY VICKERS SAID FOLLOWING MY ADDRESS: “I agree with you 100 percent. I’m appalled at what happened in schools systems all over the country.” “I share your sentiments.”
MY RESPONSE TO MY VICKERS: Yes Sir! Councilman Vickers, I appreciate your words. We are living in a time, when we must be reflective of the greatness of our nation, or we’re going to see the destruction of our nation. God sent us, Dr. Martin L. King Jr., and Dr. King spoke of Non-Violence, and yet he was murdered, and died violently.
MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL: I have said it before several times before this council, as well as at the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners. That if something else goes off in this city, I don’t believe the young people, I don’t believe anybody could control them, and I only make this comment for one reason. Many people are talking the 2nd amendment concerning guns and gun control. Well, these GUNS, these young Black boys have in their possession today, scares the heck out of ordinary people, including me.
Mayor responded to my concerns at the beginning of my address when I raised questions about several of my questions not being answered.
MAYOR FRETTI SAID: “We are working to answer (them) your questions…..” I then apologized about saying that no Black Pastor was on the Crime and Domestic Violence Panel a few weeks ago. I apologized, and said to the council that Pastor Morgan, and another pastor was scheduled to be on the panel, and attended a session of the planning of the meeting. However, they say they had previous commitments, and was no shows.
I told Mayor Fretti, and council members. That if they had informed the general public at the start of the meeting that two pastors from the Black African Community was scheduled but did not come. Then this could have been avoided and the community would not have felt left off the panel.
Again, I thanked the Mayor and Council and returned to my seat.
GEORGE BOSTON RHYNES
Retired United States Armed Forces Veteran
A concerned citizen and brother of humanity
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