September 12, 2009
George Boston Rhynes
Valdosta, Georgia
SUBJECT: Valdosta Makes History by Superintendent Bill Cason denying First Black African American President of the United States from speaking to Valdosta Inter City School Students on September 8, 2009.
TO: Associated Press (AP), National News Media Outlets, News papers, Internet, Blog, and Beyond
I met with Valdosta City School Superintendent Dr. Bill Cason prior to President Barack Obama address to school students across the nation. He expressed his reasons for denying children to watch the president’s speech and it made little to no sense to me. Nor did his quote published in the Valdosta Daily Times saying, “It is not that we were denying the children at all, we just chose the second alternative.”
The failure of our superintendent to consult with parents, teachers and students in a school system where Black African Students are in the majority is a total disgrace, and unacceptable. Superintendent Cason decision reminded me of the old Valdosta City Charter of 1860 to control, suppress, abate, and keep Blacks deaf, dumb, and blind to the times. This mentality is fueled and maintained by Valdosta local television, (ABC, NBC, CBS) newspaper and radio stations by not reporting information to the general public. This practice has been carried on in Valdosta-Lowndes County Georgia perhaps since 1860 without questions from those in control.
It was just five years ago (2004) when this 1860 Valdosta City Charter was removed from the wall on the second floor of Valdosta City Hall leading into the Valdosta Municipal Court Room where citizens came expecting to justice under the law in Valdosta-Lowndes County Georgia. Even our local Judicial System must be called into question because of this 1860 mentality.
Now just five years later we see our City School Superintendent aligned himself with the dictates of this outdated 1860 charter by banning President Obama message to Valdosta inter city school children. Dr. Case should have taken his example from the Lowndes County School Superintendent that deviated in some degree from this document and allowed some students attending county schools to watch the speech.
This outdated Valdosta City Charter of 1860 read, in Article 100, Section XI: “THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SHALL PASS ALL PROPER AND NECESSARY LAWS AND ORDINANCES FOR THE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.”
After retiring from the United States Armed Forces of the United States. I was literally shocked to see Valdosta Mayor and council members conducting the people business with these despicable words displayed on the wall leading into the Valdosta Municipal Court Room of Judge Edwards in 2004.
When I asked that this despicable charter be removed from the wall in city hall. It created much controversy but was reluctantly removed but not without vigorous debate from several members on the city council. Today it seems that the spirit of this document is prevalent in the hearts of our leaders and in other areas of our community that has influenced Dr. Cason disgraceful decision concerning our children.
Moreover the memory of this document along with Dr. Cason despicable decision only fuels the on going debate that some citizens along with their children are not as good as others in Valdosta-Lowndes County. Perhaps this was best described by the words of Valdosta City Councilman Robert Yost of the 6th district who was quoted in the Valdosta Daily Times as saying, “Is Councilman Robert Yost saying that it's OK to kill a person who shoots and wounds a police officer because of cost incurred at a hospital?” The writer of the Letter to the Editor said, “Wow, what a thought process at a council meeting, “
Although the Old Valdosta City Charter of 1860 Charter was removed physically. Dr. Cason seems to have made his point clear as crystal. That a continual system exists in Valdosta-Lowndes County Georgia to control, suppress, and abate all nuisances arriving from hogs, dogs, horses, citizens being properly informed or other stock straying at large in Valdosta, or from other causes that could arrive from a Harvard Graduate (President Barack Obama) telling school children to take on individual responsibility.
In addition it is becoming apparent that our local governmental bodies, television, newspaper, radio, religious institutions and others are contributing to the longevity of the 1860 mean spirited mentality in 2009, and is not just limited to Blacks but to all who live and visit our beloved community.
This controlling and suppressing of news worthy events and the information at Valdosta Public Meetings in the State of Georgia by local ABC, NBC, CBS Television, Newspaper, and Radio Stations keeps local citizens deaf, dumb, and blind to the times and unable to make intelligent decisions based on facts.
Therefore it is imperative that Americans understand that Black African Americans endured much abuse, suffering and mistreatment in America. However Blacks never stooped so low as to spread hate filled speeches, criticism, condemnation, call a sitting president a lie before the United States Congress, the American people via satellite around the world as was done by a white Southerner from South Carolina.
copy and paste VIDEO, A FIGHT FOR YOUR SOUL:
http://vimeo.com/3686946
Not even during slavery, Jim Crow, segregation or the lynching crusades in the south did Blacks disrespect the other 43 White Male Presidents as is now being done to our 44th President of the United States of America, his wife, and children. We must understand that NEVER before in the history of our beloved nation has an American President been disrespected as President Obama and it is sad that Valdosta is on the wrong side of history in the 21st Century.
Therefore Dr. Cason has highlighted a need for all people of conscience to understand that “the fight for our soul must continue.” So how much is enough in the land of the free and the home of the braves?
So in 2009 the Old Valdosta City Charter Mentality of 1860 seems alive; and well in the most effective controlling and suppressing process. As it was on May 5, 2005 when an elected official made comments during the Valdosta City Council Meeting similar to those in the 1860 charter that resulted in fifteen law-abiding citizens being arrested because they address their elected officials concerning placing an item on the agenda to rename Barber Park. This was a public park that was located in a community that is 89 percent Black. But as it is often the case in Valdosta this arrest and the circumstances surrounding the arrest and incarceration is perhaps the best-kept hush, hush secret in our community. Thanks to our local television, newspaper, and radio controlling, and suppress machines that keep the general public ignorant.
Therefore we must not permit Dr. Cason to control and suppress information designed to inform and educate our children. He has NOW set a disgraceful white cloud, and dangerous precedence so no other American President, military recruiter, Politician, Celebrity, visitor, mark election for students, law enforcement officers, city mayor, Councilmen, county commissioner, fire chief etc., should be permitted to come into the Valdosta City School System and address our children-----without first getting approval from certain parents or a law suit should be filed immediately against the Valdosta City School System based on the superintendent actions in this case.
Seemingly the City of Valdosta made history by our superintendent denying students to watch the presidents address and saying, “It does not align to Georgia state standards, and therefore would not meet the district’s instructional goals, nor would it help students achieve or exceed personal and educational goals, use every instructional minute we have to bring these kids up to par, especially in language arts and math....and following the Georgia Performance Standards.”
Therefore Dr. Cason should consider resigning to another position or retiring so he can better serve our students and community so all children can reach their highest potential. This will better empowered our children to face the future with confidence instead of remaining deaf, dumb, and blind as a result of political arm-twisting by the few over the many.
In addition this control, suppress, and abate mentality can only lead to long-term indoctrination, and incarceration of our children instead of being properly educated by a Harvard graduate. God bless Valdosta, Lowndes County, the State of Georgia and our beloved republic.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/georgerhynes/CvHq/commentary
GEORGE BOSTON RHYNES
Retired United States Armed Forces Veteran
A concerned citizen and brother of humanity
Other proof of Control, suppress, abate etch
Video: A fight for your soul, http://vimeo.com/3686946
Video: A chorus of fear and the disparity of Black income VS Whites:
Part One:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3930808120854021155#
Part Two:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3930808120854021155#docid=932407478921834517
Reporter Johnna Pinholster Coverage of a public meeting.
http://jdeaths.blogspot.com/2009/09/letter-on-omissions-from-valdosta-city.html
George Boston Rhynes on Obama Site
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/georgerhynes/CvHq/commentary
Friday, September 11, 2009
President Barack Obama Complete Speech, that Supt. Cason denied to children including the children of military stationed at Moody AFB, but living in Valdosta, Georgia. How Sad?
President Barack Obama Speech to American School Children. However Valdosta City School Superintendent Bill Cason said-- NO WAY! And so our children were NOT permitted to watch and hear the 44th President of the United States. Therefore history was made in Title Town U.S.A. How Sad?
How will those parent now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan feel bout Dr. Bill Cason denying these members sof our Armed Forces the right to hear from their Executive Commander-In-chief? Talk about disrespecting our Active Duty Personnel and Retired Military Veterans----this is it.....
PRESIDENT ADDRESS TO CHILDREN ACROSS AMERICA. BUT NOT TO VALDOSTA, GEORGIA, INTER CITY SCHOOL CHILDREN. THANKS TO SUPERINTENDENT BIL CASON.
Hello everyone - how's everybody doing today? I'm here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we've got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I'm glad you all could join us today.
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could've stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.
I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday - at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn't too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."
So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.
Now I've given a lot of speeches about education. And I've talked a lot about responsibility.
I've talked about your teachers' responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.
I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.
I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working where students aren't getting the opportunities they deserve.
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world - and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.
And that's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.
Every single one of you has something you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide.
Maybe you could be a good writer - maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper - but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor - maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine - but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.
Story continues below
And no matter what you want to do with your life - I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can't drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You've got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.
And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.
You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You'll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.
We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don't do that - if you quit on school - you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.
Now I know it's not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.
I get it. I know what that's like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn't fit in.
So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I'm not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.
But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.
Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there's not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life - what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home - that's no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That's no excuse for not trying.
Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.
That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.
Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school. Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either. But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr. Jazmin Perez.
I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three. He's endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer - hundreds of extra hours - to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he's headed to college this fall.
And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods, she managed to get a job at a local health center; start a program to keep young people out of gangs; and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.
Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren't any different from any of you. They faced challenges in their lives just like you do. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same.
That's why today, I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education - and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you'll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.
Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.
I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you're not going to be any of those things.
But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won't love every subject you study. You won't click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.
That's OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures. JK Rowling's first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
These people succeeded because they understand that you can't let your failures define you - you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.
No one's born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song. You've got to practice. It's the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day.
Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust - a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor - and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.
And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you - don't ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough. It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.
It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.
So today, I want to ask you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?
Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you've got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down - don't let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.
How will those parent now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan feel bout Dr. Bill Cason denying these members sof our Armed Forces the right to hear from their Executive Commander-In-chief? Talk about disrespecting our Active Duty Personnel and Retired Military Veterans----this is it.....
PRESIDENT ADDRESS TO CHILDREN ACROSS AMERICA. BUT NOT TO VALDOSTA, GEORGIA, INTER CITY SCHOOL CHILDREN. THANKS TO SUPERINTENDENT BIL CASON.
Hello everyone - how's everybody doing today? I'm here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we've got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I'm glad you all could join us today.
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could've stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.
I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday - at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn't too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."
So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.
Now I've given a lot of speeches about education. And I've talked a lot about responsibility.
I've talked about your teachers' responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.
I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.
I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working where students aren't getting the opportunities they deserve.
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world - and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.
And that's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.
Every single one of you has something you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide.
Maybe you could be a good writer - maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper - but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor - maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine - but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.
Story continues below
And no matter what you want to do with your life - I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can't drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You've got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.
And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.
You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You'll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.
We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don't do that - if you quit on school - you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.
Now I know it's not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.
I get it. I know what that's like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn't fit in.
So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I'm not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.
But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.
Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there's not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life - what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home - that's no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That's no excuse for not trying.
Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.
That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.
Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school. Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either. But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr. Jazmin Perez.
I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three. He's endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer - hundreds of extra hours - to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he's headed to college this fall.
And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods, she managed to get a job at a local health center; start a program to keep young people out of gangs; and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.
Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren't any different from any of you. They faced challenges in their lives just like you do. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same.
That's why today, I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education - and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you'll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.
Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.
I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you're not going to be any of those things.
But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won't love every subject you study. You won't click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.
That's OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures. JK Rowling's first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
These people succeeded because they understand that you can't let your failures define you - you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.
No one's born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song. You've got to practice. It's the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day.
Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust - a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor - and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.
And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you - don't ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough. It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.
It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.
So today, I want to ask you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?
Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you've got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down - don't let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.
Presentation to Mayor and Council on.....Supt. Cason Resignation, and is Valdosta, Television, News Paper, and Radio Stations keeping citizens deaf, dumb, and blind to the times---by NOT reporting the news?
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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