What will be done about Darfur?

Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit The United States Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. As I walked through the museum I was taken away as I saw the photos and heard the stories of those who were persecuted by the Nazi's during the Holocaust. While I was walking through, I couldn't help but to think about the situation in Darfur. Just as The Holocaust was the biggest genocide of the 20th Century, Darfur is the biggest Genocide of the 21st century, with over 2.5 million being driven from there home in the Darfur region Sudan, with many suffering from starvation and disease and many being killed at the hand of the rebel groups specifically the Janjaweed Militias.

The question that I raise to the Presidential candidates is What are you going to do when you take office? President Bush took the first step, by being the first President in U.S History to declare a genocide, but that is not enough. Yes we as a country can continue to send food and other supplies over to Darfur but until we take down the Sudanese Government the people of Darfur will continue to live in fear. The United Nations is working on the situation in Darfur but we as The United States have a moral responsibility to do our part when it comes to bringing this situation to an end. So lets make Darfur a top priority, and take some of that 10 billion that were spending in Iraq per month and place it into an effort to bring down the Sudanese Government. The first thing that the U.S Government must do is pressure the Chinese Government to stop its oil dealings with Sudan, once this happens the Sudanese Government will feel a huge financial pressures and they will be more inclined to stop and take notice.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum was one of the first groups/organizations to speak out against the atrocities in Darfur back in 2004, and they say that we as U.S Citizens can do four things to help bring attention to the crisis in Darfur.

1. Contact our local media
2. Communicate with your lawmakers and express your sentiments about the situation
3. Get your community engaged and educate them about situation
4. And support the education and relief efforts of various organizations

Some criticize The U.S for not doing enough during The Holocaust and Rwanda situations, although I'm not sure whether those criticisms are justified, we can make a difference and we must not be silent.

~Cam Patt~

Questions regarding Senator McCain's age continue to surface

A news piece written by Mike Allen and James Vandehei of Poltico raises questions about McCain's gaffes that he has had during his Campaign for President. The media is starting to attack McCain for continually mixing up his word choices. McCain yesterday referred to the Iraq/Pakistan border when he meant to say Afghanistan/Pakistan because Iraq doesn't even boarder Pakistan during an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer. In the past three weeks he has apparently mistaken Somalia for Sudan during a conversation that he had with a reporter regarding the situation in Darfur. Also during the campaign he has consistantly refered to the Czech Republic as Czechoslovakia which has held its current name since being split in 1993. During a trip to Germany last year he referred to Vladamir Putin President of Russia as Vladamir Putin President of Germany. And also he has said that while he was in Vietnam he tried to confuse his captors by giving them the names of Pittsburgh Steelers players instead of his platoon members names, but he recently said that he gave them the names of Packers players. McCain has also on a number of occasions mixed up Sunnis and Shiites during campaign stops.


These mistakes come in McCain's main area expertise which is Foreign Policy. And Senator McCain turns 72 the day following The Democratic National Convention and many raise the question of whether McCain is too old to be Commander in Chief. This is a sensitive question but one that many voters feel must be raised, because the next President will have no room for error. Some people will watch the debates this fall they will defiantly be comparing McCain to there relatives and watching to see if he slips up.



Ronald Reagan was the oldest to assume the Office of President during the 1980's and there were some who questioned whether Reagan experienced early affects of altiezmers during his second term in office. Voters have every right to question whether McCain's age will be a henderance while he is in office just as they have the right to question whether Obama is experienced enough to be President, and it will be up to the McCain campaign to reassure the voters as to whether it will or will not have a affect. McCain's gaffes will continue to play out in the media especially with the late night talk show host and the McCain campaign will have to respond and make sure that the criticism and unwanted attention doesn't hurt his campaign, especially as they try to sure up the undecided voters. I think that the McCain campaign will definatley want to make use of his 95 year old mother so voters can see that he has a great pool of genes to work from.

~Cam Patt~

Liberty University set to open Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center

Liberty University will build a ski park on Liberty Mountain in Lynchburg says Jerry Falwell Jr. Chancellor of Liberty University. The Ski Park is the first of its kind and it is set to open in 1yr. This park is funded by a generous 2 million dollar donation that was made to the University specifically for the park.



Although it doesn't snow very often here in Lynchburg, University officials say the park will us a synthetic material that simulates snow. University Officials recently toured Ski Parks in Europe to get a feel for the type of material the park will use. This will be the first Ski Park of its kind in the U.S. The synthetic snow will allow the park to stay open year round. Liberty University Chancellor believes that the Ski Park will help the University change its perception. Jerry Falwell said during a interview with WSET News 13 that he doesn't want Liberty to be know as a school of do's and dont's but a school known for good wholesome fun and the well-rounded experience that students receive.



The park will also be beneficial for Lynchburgs economy. I know that the Snowflex Center will bring in many students from Longwood University, Hampton Sydney College, and other schools in Lynchburg, so this means that they will also take advantage of the malls and restaurants in Lynchburg. The Park will also be able to serve the Lynchburg Community. Lynchburg teens are always complaining that there is a lack of things to do in Lynchburg, well they will no longer have to complain because this will be somethings that is fun for the entire family.



Many people are always quick to down Liberty University. But I'm a huge fan of Liberty and what the Falwell family has been able to do for the city. With the recent donation of Pittman Plaza to Liberty University Jerry Falwell Jr. is in the process of helping to bring life back to the Plaza in Lynchburg by attracting developers and tenants for the vacant stores. Also Falwell Jr. and Liberty are in the process of building The Crossroad Colonnades which will provide alot of great shopping stores that residents and the outside community will be able to benefit from. If it wasn't for Liberty and the expansion of the school then Wards Road would not have prospered the way it has today. So for all you Liberty haters out there just step back and see the wonderful things that the University and Thomas Road Ministries are doing for our community. I just might have to take me some ski lessons so I can be prepared when Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center opens.

~Cam Patt~

Two Directions for Obama's VP Choice

Once Obama returns from his trip abroad the VP sweepstakes will be in full swing. Obama will more than likely announce his choice before the Olympics in China and Senator John McCain will probably make his announcement sometime after Obama. Obama has two directions in which he can take this pick, he can continue with his theme of change and select a Washington outsider such as Virginia Governor and early Obama supporter Tim Kaine, or he could select Kansas Governor Kathleen Sibelius. These are indeed two very qualified candidates that have won in Republican leaning states, and Obama has identified Virginia as a battleground state by opening 20 offices in the Commonwealth. But I do believe that these picks would not give Obama the credibility that many moderate undecided voters feel that he needs when it comes to National Defence and Foreign Policy issues.

Obama needs to go with someone that provides some knowlege and experience on National Defence and Foreign Policy Issues. Here are my top three VP choices for Senator Obama

1.) Senator Evan Bayh - Bayh is a Junior Senator from Indiana and the former Governor of the State. Bayh has served in the Senate since 1999 and is fairly young at the age of 52. Bayh is respected by his Senate Colleagues and many political pundents say that he would defiantly pass the VP vetting process because of his squeaky clean image. Senator Bayh's experience on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee would defiantly provide the Obama campaign with some credibility when it comes to military issues. But although he is respected by his colleagues some wonder if he will be able to go out on the campaign and be the forceful force that Obama will need to hammer away at the McCain campaign.

2.) Senator Jack Reed- Is a Senior Senator from Rhode Island serving since 1997. He has been in Congress since 1991 serving first as a Congressman. Reed is a former Captain in The United States Army and this will definitely provide the Obama campaign with some credibility on Military issues. Reed also serves on the Armed Services Committee and the powerful Appropriations Committee. Jack Reed has accompianing Obama abroad on his trip to the Middle East and many feel that this will be a time for Obama to become comfortable with Jack Reed. But some questions whether Senator Reed would be open to accepting a VP nod.

3.) Former Senator Sam Nunn- Is a former United States Senator from Georgia serving from 1972-1997. Nunn is the former Chairman of the Armed Forces Committee and is well respected on Military matters. Some of his major accomplishments include the Department of Defence Reorganization Act which he co-sponsored with Senator Barry Goldwater and the Nunn-Luger Cooperative Threat Reduction which reduced the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. But there is a huge downfall for Senator Nunn. First he was big supporter of the Don't Ask Don't Tell Military policy which has fallen out of favor with many in the Democratic Party and Gay community. Also Senator Nunn has been out of politics since 1997. Many in the gay community feel that is Nunn is selected for the VP spot it will be a huge slap in the face.

These are my picks for VP, more than likley I will would support the appointment of Governor Tim Kaine and Kathleen Sibileous over Senator Sam Nunn. Choosing Sam Nunn (69yrs old) would make it hard for Democrats to gripe about John McCain's (72 yrs old) age. I'm a big supporter of all the people that have been mentioned and I feel that even if there not selected as a VP nominee then they could indeed play a crucial role in a Obama Administration. But I do hope that Obama will choose someone that will bring some Military / National Security experience to the ticket.

Former School Administrator Tom Webb is back on the Lynchburg City School Board

After a year of rest away from the Lynchburg City School Board, former Vice Chairman and long time Campbell County Schools Administrator Tom Webb was reappointed to the Board with a 6-1 vote from the Lynchburg City Council. Councilman Jeff Helgeson was the only one to vote no on his appointment. Many Lynchburg residents remember when Tom Webb the sitting Vice Chairman was bypassed for reappointment in favor of Liberty University Professor Darren Gerdes a year ago. This vote was contreversial because Councilman Mike Gillete and Ceasar Johnson were absent for personal reason's and the fearsome threesome of Dr. Garrett, Jeff Helgeson, and former Councilman Joe Seiffert proceeded with the vote. Some considered this politically motivated because the threesome knew that without Gillette and Johnson there guy Gerdes stood more of a chance. Usually there is a 4-3 divide on City Council and Gillete and Johnson tend to vote with the majority.



The public out cry over Gerdes appointment over Webb sparked the City Council to reconsider how they approach the School Board appointment process. Now City Council makes the School Board interviews available to the public by airing them over the City's public access network and selling the DVD's for a small fee. A majority of Council feels that now the public can see why they make the appointments that they do.



But now Webb finds himself back on the School Board where he belongs and the citizens of Lynchburg may rest easy because the School system has gotten one of its biggest advocates and supporters back on board. Also the School Board voted to reappoint Webb as Vice Chairman and Julie Doyle as Chairman. To me this vote shows that many of Webbs collegues on the School Board feel that he should have never lost his position in the first place. I'm sure Jeff Helgeson is not happy about this appointment because in 1yr Chairman Julie Doyle's term will expire and she will not be eligable for reappointment and Tom Webb will be one of the top candidates to replace her as Chairman of the School Board. In the end I do feel that this is a complete win win for the citizens of Lynchburg. Because on one hand you now have the fiscally responsible and business savy Darren Gerdes on the Board and the experienced former Administrator Tom Webb on the Board as well and the school system will definatley benifit from that.

Prince Edward Board of Supervisors passes resolution regreting school closing

I was very schocked and happy when I read this article in the Richmond Times Dispatch. The Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors who are usually in the news for the foolish things they do such as the land deal gone bad, have finally done something worth commending. The Board voted to pass a resolution 7-1 apologizing for the role the county played in the school closing from 1959-1964 which was apart of the countys effort not to seperate the schools.

Prince Edward officials regretful
Supervisors' resolution says school closings from 1959 to 1964 were wrong

Thursday, Jul 10, 2008 - 12:08 AM

By DIONNE WALKER
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Officials in Prince Edward County -- once ground zero for Virginia's Massive Resistance against school integration -- are expressing regret for the push that shuttered classrooms rather than let black children share them with whites.

The county's eight-member Board of Supervisors voted 7-1 Tuesday night to approve a resolution aimed at mending lingering tensions in the region where, in 1951, a group of black teenagers walked out of classes to protest separate but unequal facilities.

The resulting court case was bundled with others to form Brown v. the Board of Education and ultimately helped desegregate schools; later, county officials responded to a desegregation mandate by chaining public schoolhouses and sending white students to private schools. Their nine-year resistance was the longest in the nation.

Tuesday's resolution called the physical closing of schools from 1959 to 1964 wrong, and expressed remorse for "how those locked doors shuttered opportunities and barricaded the dreams our children had for their own lifetimes." It goes on to express sorrow for "all wounds known and unknown."
"The county was instrumental in what happened in the entire commonwealth and the nation as a whole," County Administrator Wade Bartlett said. "We're just trying to move forward from that."

The resolution comes as officials in Richmond prepare to unveil a civil-rights memorial honoring Barbara Johns, the 16-year-old who led the original walkout. Officials will unveil the stone slab ringed with images of Johns and other civil-rights pioneers on the state Capitol grounds July 21.
"It has come full circle," said Rita Moseley, 61, one of thousands of students forced from schools.
Frustrated with going to school in a subpar building with cramped classrooms and inadequate supplies, students walked out of Moton High School in Farmville on April 23, 1951.

They later partnered with attorneys, including Richmonder Oliver W. Hill, to take the case and others to the Supreme Court. The case resulted in the landmark 1954 ruling that struck down school segregation.

Virginia responded with what was dubbed Massive Resistance -- a systematic refusal to desegregate schools. By summer 1959, Prince Edward had chained the doors to local schools.
After a 1964 ruling forced the county to reopen schools, thousands of students like Moseley were left playing catch-up. She finished her bachelor's degree this May, using money from a state-established scholarship fund to aid victims of Massive Resistance.

Wording from the resolution will be included on a memorial slated for construction in front of the county courthouse. A perpetual light, to be unveiled atop the courthouse in conjunction with the Richmond memorial, will honor the late Johns and her classmates.

The Sorensen Experience

During the month of June I had the opportunity to attend the Sorensen Institute at The University of Virginia with 30 of the brightest minds from around the Commonwealth of Virginia. The purpose of the Sorensen Institute is to prepare its attendees for active political leadership here in Virginia, connect us with various leaders from across our state and with one another, and to engage us in the political process. I defiantly believe that Sorensen succeeded at accomplishing those three things.


From my Sorensen experience I truly grasped one important concept one that I think will stick with us as many of my Sorensen friends begin there political careers and that is the importance of bipartisanship. It is so important especially today as our state battles complex issues such as transportation, higher education, and health care that lawmakers in Richmond work together across party lines.


We have recently seen how important working together in a bipartisan manner is with the recent special session which was focused on transportation. Lawmakers racked up a $117,000 tab that was paid for by the taxpayers and they saw that absolutely nothing was accomplished. Democrats huddled in one corner crying out for one policy change and Republicans hudled in another corner crying out for something completely different. And the person sitting in a 3hr long traffic jam in Northern Virginia cryed out because absolutely nothing was done to solve a problem that continues to haunt Virginia drivers.

That is why the mission of Sorensen Institute is more important today than ever before. We need qualified person's who have the knowledge and nohow to get things done for the betterment of our Commonwealth. With the recent graduation of the Sorensen Institute College Leaders Class of 2008 we are the newest bunch of young Virginia faithful who have been prepared and equipped to go out and affect change across our state.

~CamPatt~