You Think What?

 Mounting pressure in the Trayvon Martin tragedy has succeeded in bringing forth the following result:

Just moments ago the federal  Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and the FBI announced they will be investigating the murder of Miami Gardens teenager by a neighborhood watch volunteer.

The department announced late Monday it has begun an investigation into the fatal shooting death of an unarmed black teen, Trayvon Martin, in Sanford, Florida by a self appointed neighborhood watch captain. (more…)

Late last month, April 2011, the American public was informed of a last minute amendment tacked on to the federal legislation known as the James Zadroga bill. It’s a legislative act providing funds for health care  of the 911 responders who sustained injury while they worked, sacrificed and even died, at New York City’s World Trade Center as well as supplying money for surviving members of their families. It is a law enacted to help those like the man for whom the bill was named. It was intended to be a way We, the people, remember and reward the people who bravely helped during the tragic collective events we remember as September 11, 2001. It was a date that changed our world forever.

It took nine years to get the law passed to provide treatment for the responders who survive and who are experiencing devastating health issues as a result of breathing toxic fumes at the site of the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings, number 1, 2 and 7. The emergency medical technicians, police and fire personnel inhaled the dusty debris while cleaning up the mess, searching for colleagues and saving lives of those injured and recovering the dead in the rubble.

Unfortunately the man for whom the bill is named died of respiratory disorders during 2006. James Zadroga was a New York City police officer, in fact he is the first NYPD officer whose illness and subsequent death has been attributed to his participation in rescue and recovery operations in the rubble of the World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks. Zadroga was the first whose death was attributed to his contact with toxic chemicals at the site of the deadly attack of September 11th 2001.

We learned last month there is a caveat that comes with the bill passed last December during the so called “lame duck” session of the United States Congress. Prior to passage of the bill  congressional representative from Florida’s 6th District  Cliff Stearns suggested an astounding last minute amendment:

Thank you Mr. Chairman.  This basically I’ll give it in one sentence.  Before a person is certified as eligible for the program, the Secretary of Health and Human Services has to confirm with the appropriate federal agency that that person is not a terrorist.  So it’s a simple straightforward amendment.” REP. CLIFF STEARNS, R-FL (5/25/2010)

and received support  from HENRY WAXMAN, a Democrat from Fornicalia

I think it makes a lot of sense, and I’m willing to support it.  All those in favor of the Stearns amendment, say ‘aye’.REP. HENRY WAXMAN, D-CA(5/25/2010)

And as they say “the ayes have it”, allowing the passage of the law with the following amendment in place as reported by reputable news outlets around the nation:

Under the new 9/11 health bill, responders and Ground Zero workers seeking benefits will receive a letter, notifying them that ‘the Act also requires the World Trade Center Program Administrator to determine whether a World Trade Center responder or survivor is on the terrorist watch list prior to his or her enrollment or certification.’ “

We, the people,have knowledge of this most recent added insult to grave injury amendment to a bill intended to help those who were courageous to expose themselves to toxic chemicals and disease when the rest of us were left standing about trying to figure out just what had happened.

The law has been passed. Many of us are feeling helpless. That is why the staff of YouThinkWhat believes the best way for us be helping the individuals and their families who have been damaged by this bad law is to support the efforts of the organizers of an event that will be taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 9, 10, 11, 2011 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the September 11th 2001 attacks, also known as 911,  by commending and raising money to assist the 911 responders.

The event is called 911Remembrance. We’ll have more details  in an upcoming post.

As a public service to visitors to this site YouThinkWhat presents a video to provide a better understanding of events occurred to cause the British Petroleum oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and the steps that have not been have been taken to remedy the situation.

We recognize how busy everyone is; that despite 24 hour news outlets repeating the same story ad nauseum there may be a couple of people who were out of town since this story of the debacle in the Gulf emerged. (more…)

Televangelist, and teevee preacher who occasionally makes crazy statements who many thought was dead- read that as a play on Mark Twain’s famous quote, “Rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated”– Pat Robertson, and the rich fat guy on the radio Rush Limbaugh have made remarks that have caused members of the political right and left to wince.
(more…)

“France has been with the No. 59 Brumos Porsche since the inception of the Daytona Prototype class in 2003. He was the first overall winner in the history of the class, joining Hurley Haywood in the No. 59 Fabcar for back-to-back victories at Homestead and Phoenix in 2003. He has co-driven the No. 59 Riley for the past two seasons with Joao Barbosa. His best finish since then was third in the 2009 Rolex 24, joined by Haywood, Barbosa and Terry Borcheller. A veteran of three different types of motorcycle racing – flat track, road racing and motocross – France drove in the KONI Challenge in 2002 before joining the Rolex Series.

France and Barbosa are currently eighth in the Daytona Prototype standings, only two points out of sixth. The 2008 winner of the Jim Trueman Award, France holds a 202-point lead over Rob Finlay as he bids to become the first two-time winner of Grand-Am’s  ‘Gentleman Driver’ award.”~ from news item August 2009.

The recent arrest and subsequent charges surrounding the adolescent episode of 44 year-old Jamison C. (Jamie) France, grandson of NASCAR founder,the late Bill France Sr., son of Jim France, founder of the Grand-Am circuit and cousin to Brian France, NASCAR CEO and chairman; reminds us of a scheme that might have been concocted by two characters from the Will Ferrell, John C. Riley film called “Step Brothers”. It’s the 21st Century version of “Dumb and Dumber” starring middle-aged men.

The film comedy is the story of Brennan Huff and Dale Dobeck two middle aged, very spoiled guys, who become competitive step brothers when their formerly single parents marry. We had no idea, in addition to being local ce-lout-brities big deals, a Hollywood film had been made about France and his step brother. (more…)

“Allah have mercy on this rich boy who has never done anything in his frickin’ life except drugs and bad deeds. May he spend a long time in jail and have 10 poor families of Holly Hill, Florida and Daytona Beach, Florida inherit his fortune. He does not deserve a penny!

Lesson to all rich parents: Don’t give your kids a penny. Give your fortunes to institutions and poor people and let your children make their own fortunes.”
~ Mahmoud – Ormond Beach, Fl, reader reaction to news of arrest of NASCAR heir.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, October 8, 2009, in Daytona Beach, Volusia County Florida,  reliable sources report the grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France, the son of Grand-Am founder Jim France; and cousin of Brian France chairman and CEO of NASCAR; 44 year-old Jamie C. (J.C.) France,  was arrested and charged with speeding, DUI and possession of illegal narcotics.

When the story appeared online at the web site of the local newspaper this is the advertisement that briefly accompanied the local news story: (more…)

Edward M. Kennedy, the man  known as “the Lion Of The Senate”  has been laid to rest.  Senator Kennedy’s funeral services concluded yesterday with interment at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. (more…)

On August 19, 2009 a group of approximately 140,000 people of faith joined online for an unprecedented national conference call with President Barack Obama and members of the American faith community.

If you wish to hear the call go to Forty Days For Health Reform. (more…)

In this video recording of a speech given by the late Senator Ted Kennedy during 2008 in Pennsylvania, he describes what he knows about receiving the best in medical care for his family and what he has observed are the challenges faced by those who are less fortunate. (more…)

Our favorite Florida cub reporter, Damon Weaver has had his reportorial dream fulfilled.

Eleven year-old Damon Weaver of Canal Point, Florida
is a student reporter at the Katherine E. Cunningham Elementary School in Canal Point, Palm Beach County, Florida. Damon Weaver has conducted an interview at the White House with President Barack Obama. (more…)