Septic Racism

Last week thousands of people descended upon the small town of Sanford, FL with marches and rallies and outcries.  People came from all over to express their outrage at the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.  Streets were closed, parking lots were over capacity and there were people everywhere.

Today I walked the streets of Sanford. The parking lot that was over capacity last week was virtually empty, as were the businesses and sidewalks.  Very few people walked the streets, shops were empty.  Even the 3 hairdressers and 2 nail shops were empty, no customers at all.  The library, which is usually brimming with people and students afterschool was eerily quiet.  Store owners are saying that business is down.  People have been scared away from Sanford.  Sharpton, with his septic racism comes in, creates havoc and in this case leaves a wasteland, all in a days work.

Today most of the people who were patronizing the shops in downtown Sanford are those that live in Sanford and there were very few of them.  Many of those who do not live in Sanford are choosing to stay away.  I spoke with a group of women who were deciding where to eat lunch.  One of them suggested a restaurant in Sanford, the others quickly dismissed the idea because they were fearful of going to Sanford.  “I’m not going down there, it’s not safe” said one of the women and the others agreed.  A shop owner told me that one of his customers called and cancelled an order because he wouldn’t be able to pick it up and he wasn’t going to send his wife or secretary to Sanford.  He said Sharpton was making things dangerous and that he wouldn’t be back to do business until Sharpton was gone for good.

Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café has become the focus of a channel 13 news story:

Sanford customers canceling reservations to avoid chaos

Owner Theo Hollerbach took to the café’s Facebook page in an attempt to reassure his customers that it is indeed safe for people to patronize his business and also to express dismay at the actions of Sharpton and his call for economic  sanctions and escalation of civil disobedience:

Sharpton has taken his circus traveling.  If his fight is solely with Sanford, why take the show on the road?  What does he hope to gain?  More importantly, why is he not scheduled to come back, especially in the light of recent events?  Last night a 17 year old was shot and an occupied car was riddled with bullets.  A white or silver vehicle was seen leaving the area.  Where is the reward for the capture of those who shot that boy?  Certainly people with knowledge would be more willing to come forward with information for a 10K reward.   

What is the difference between this case and the Trayvon Martin case?  A 17 year old was shot, the Sanford police department is investigating and the shooter(s) have not been arrested.  Why is there no outrage that the police, the same ones who are being criticized by the Sharpton/Jackson camp, have not made an arrest.  Not a word has been uttered from the Sharpton or Jackson or any of those who have spoken in outrage at the shooting of Trayvon Martin by a Hispanic, who was first thought to be white and therefore is now being called a “white Hispanic” so as not to make those who mistakenly called him white look bad.    Could it be that it is not known at this time what the race of the boy who was shot is or the race of his attackers?  Does it make a difference?  It does if you are in the Sharpton/Jackson camp and looking to promote your racist agenda.  Trayvon Martin, especially the picture of him as a child, makes the perfect poster boy for their cause and “white” (oops) Hispanic the (almost) perfect scapegoat.  Unknown 17 year old and unknown shooter(s) won’t work.  They can’t be used to promote their racism war.

Sharpton, Jackson and the like are promoting themselves as victims to gain power.  it’s the poor pitiful me syndrome that even the non-black left is buying into because of presumed inequality and everyone has to be exactly equal at all times even if the inequality is fabricated.  They will say what they need to say to spread their hate and gain support.  Sharpton himself contradicted himself at the NAACP rally on Saturday, in one sentence saying that the police arrested Zimmerman and did not charge him and if they don't charge him soon the time will run out when they can charge him and a short time later stated that Zimmerman was never arrested and that he should be arrested now.  It's as if he's making things up as he goes along, to say what he thinks will sway the audience even if it doesn't make sense or is contradictory.

While the shooting of both Trayvon Martin and the unknown young man are both sad, one was deemed more useful and therefore exploited as an means to an end.  The real tragedy is that people like Sharpton and Jackson continue to use the grief of a family and play upon the sympathies of people for their own selfish reasons.  If it was solely about a boy being shot, then Sharpton would be right back in Sanford claiming outrage at the shooting of the 17 year old boy last night.  The story is really about Sharpton, Jackson and the like and their racist agenda.  As did Hitler did, using the Jews as scapegoats for Germany’s defeat in WWI, Sharpton, Jackson, NAACP  and the New Black Panthers are using the scapegoat George Zimmerman to unite the masses against a common enemy, the whites.  They make it about the Zimmerman who is "white" Hispanic and the white police who aren't doing anything and all the white politicians and the white laws and they are using the face of a dead young man to do it.  These are hate-filled people care only for themselves and their racist agenda.  The whole thing stinks.  Meanwhile, Sanford remains a no-man's land, a victim of Sharpton's septic racism.

Exploiting Death to Recruit Members, RevCom Comes to Town

Standing out from amidst a sea of hand held posters was a large green fluorescent banner that read: 17 Afghani people, Trayvon Martin murdered, The system of Capitalism-Imperialism set these crimes in motion.

The Revolutionary Communist Party was present at the March 26, 2012 rally for Trayvon Martin.  They were there to promote their idea that the death of Trayvon is as their website states, part of “an endless chain of such acts that are perpetrated, condoned and covered up by the powers-that-be.”

I spoke with RevCom Member Joey Johnson who parroted the RevCom statement and also said that it is the system and Capitalism is responsible for Trayvon’s death.  “Murdered The system of Capitalism Imperialism set these crimes in motion.” Johnson states that it is the system of capitalism imperialism “that thrives on and depends on things like white supremacy, a pecking order, keeping black people super oppressed and unleashing people like George Zimmerman.”

Johnson says that both those parties (Republicans and Democrats) upholders are and enforcers of the system. That “they all use code words. Traditional values of America, reasserting men dominating over women, reasserting white people dominating over people of colors” Stand your ground is code words for “letting loose more of this vigilante violence.” He calls republicans fascists, democrats are afraid of republicans they are all fascists and that this country is founded on slavery. An underlying system. A modern day version of the haves and the have nots.

* Note: my memory was full and cut Johnson off.  Fortunately Matthew Boyle, from the Daily caller picked up the tail end of the Johnson discussion, watch it here (along with his remarks). Communists, occupiers infiltrate Sanford Trayvon rally

Like the black leaders who looked to take advantage of Trayvon’s death to promote their race war, the Revolutionary Communist Party is there to promote their social war.  They are exploiting the deaths of Trayvon, the Afghanis and even Emmett Till for their own, nefarious ends.  They travelled all across the country with their shiny banner to take advantage of the media hoopla and the large congregation of upset and vulnerable people in order to try and sway these people to their cause. It’s scapegoatism.  They have made the country the scapegoat for Trayvon’s murder.  Capitalism is to blame for Trayvon’s death and it must be stopped.  They call for revolution to make a complete overhaul of the system to one of communism.  As their website states, the want a revolution to “immediately establish a new power.” It calls to strip “strip the capitalist-imperialist class of its property and power.” What that means is they want to take everything from everyone and redistribute it so that everyone is equal.  That means that what you work for isn’t yours, it belongs to everyone.  You can’t spend the money you earn; it all goes in to a pot. In essence, what's yours isn't yours, it's everyone's.

So how is this recruitment going for them?  Evidently not too well.  Their “constitution” which calls for the “immediate” establishment of this new power is from 2008, nothing too immediate about it. I guess it's not too frequently that an event such as this comes along that they can piggyback on.  They say death sells, and Revcom is certainly attempting to sell their wares and using every horrific, widely known, death they can think of to sell it.  It's their marketing strategy, exploit death to recruit members.  Shameful.

They wish to destroy our republic, our country which was founded on liberty and freedom. A country which is the envy of the world because it is the most prosperous and successful countries in the world.  The wish to tear it down and destroy it and they are standing on the backs of those, like Trayvon Martin, to do it.  Silly marchers calling for George Zimmerman to be arrested, don’t you know, it was capitalism that killed Trayvon.

The Death of a Boy Makes Opportunistic Vultures Drool

The case of Trayvon Martin, a black boy, has made the opportunistic vultures drool. These are the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton who never miss an opportunity to take advantage of any situation that may advance their racist cause.  To them everything is about race even when it's not.  As soon as they heard about the case of a black boy being killed by a white man (he's not, he's Hispanic, but let's ignore that fact), they descended like vultures. 

The family of Trayvon Martin, with Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton moved the location of their news conference from the church in Sanford, FL to a church in Eatonville, FL.  All previous meetings and conferences were held at the Allen Chapel AME Church in Sanford or in locations nearby.  Why, all of a sudden when Jesse Jackson comes to town does everything move to the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Eatonville?  They moved it because location is important.  Moving the location of the press conferences from racially diverse Sanford, to majority black Eatonville, one of the first all-black towns to be formed after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, allows them to join together in solidarity as black people.  To present a united front as black people and in essence make this about race which was more difficult to do in more diverse Sanford.  The plan is simple, rile up the locals, go to Eatonville, get the support of the black community locally and nationally and then bring the race hate back to Sanford. It makes it so much easier to play the race card with the support of the black community.There is no better place to garner support of the black community that than in mostly black Eatonville.

They descended upon the family and dragged them in to the race baiting and into their devious politics because the face of a little black boy is great publicity.  Look at how they've used it to get the community and the country caught up in their whirlwind.  There was not all this rallying and hoopla before Al Sharpton got here.  There were no national news outlets, with their big shiny trucks blocking the roads before the vultures came to town. 

Hundreds of people lined up in Sanford outside the civic center in the hopes of going inside to speak their minds to the council.  There have been other council meetings held prior to the vultures, why now do hundreds wait in line?  While hundreds waited in line for the council meeting, hundreds more took to the streets of Sanford with their signs and chants of “No Justice, No Peace” and “We want justice, we want it now” marching in a parade to the rallying point in Ft. Mellon park. Most of the marchers were calling for the arrest of George Zimmerman, with some even calling for his death or injury.  Many supported the theory that it was a race related murder.  Something must be compelling them to do this.

 Of course, the media was there to nibble up every bit of the brouhaha.  What makes better news than the martyrdom of a boy?  Outside in Ft. Mellon Park, the people gathered and the news crews national, local and independent were mulling around interviewing people.  Cameras were everywhere.  Many of the national news organizations such as CNN and MSNBC were broadcasting, not from amidst the people, but from a sectioned off area set up just for them.  Some of them were even barricaded off from everyone else.  They’ve seen it before, send the photographers and videographers in to get some shots and sound bites, but not need to go out and actually talk to people, they already know the story they will present. The only news people out and about among the crowd were local and independent news and citizen journalists.  This is why I generally recommend getting your news from local news, they tend to be less agenda oriented. 

In racially diverse Sanford, the crowd was primarily black.  Though I never felt uncomfortable, I was well aware that I was a small white woman in a big black sea.  There were other white people there.  Many of the journalists were white, and some of those rallying were white, but the crowd was mostly black.  The black community was rallying.  Busloads of people from other black communities showed up.


The New Black Panthers were in Sanford, they were cordial and respectful when I spoke with them.  When I said, it’s hot out there today, their leader said, “Issues are hot, police and government are not doing their jobs.”  They weren’t nasty or threatening, they did not say anything about “lynching” George Zimmerman. I though it odd the way the members stood around the leader as if to put their bodies between themselves and anyone who may harm him and also the posting of one person to stand guard at the window, I just assumed this was because there’s been a lot of negative talk about them and they wished no harm to their leader.   I was shocked later on to see a flier put out by them calling for the capture, dead or alive of George Zimmerman for the murder-execution of Trayvon Martin, it was chilling.  I had never seen such a thing.  In this country where we have laws, due process and presumed innocence. It's disheartening.

Here's the New Black Panther leader I met being interviewed by CNNs Anderson Cooper:
"Bounty Put on Trayvon Martin Shooter"


The rally took on a strange, almost a carnival/party atmosphere. Many of people held colorful signs with pictures and sayings, each one trying to be more creative than the rest.  There were skittles galore.   There were even a few people in costume.    There were large screens which showed the council meeting and later provided everyone a view of the speakers. 
I ran in to this gentleman, dressed as a jester, who did not agree with the Black Panther reward.  He felt that George Zimmerman should be arrested and go to trial.

It seems a bit odd that the one person who seemed to have a somewhat level head about the whole thing is the one wearing the jester’s hat. 

Most of the people were buying in to what Jackson and Sharpton were selling.  As good little followers should, they were appalled that the police would report information that would make Trayvon look bad, even if it’s true.  Jackson and Sharpton worked feverishly to denounce the reports.  It is not helpful to their cause for the information that was reported in the Orlando Sentinel which the police released, that says witness statements say that George Zimmerman was heading back to his SUV and that Trayvon attacked him from behind, punching him in the face and breaking his nose, he continued beating on George Zimmerman and had him pinned to the ground.  Sharpton, Jackson and the family are upset that reports are coming out that show Trayvon in a negative light. Yet, for days, they complained that the police had no proof that George Zimmerman had acted in self-defense.  When the police then reveal the information that they had, Zimmerman’s statement backed up by statements from eye-witnesses, they complain because this information can squash their case.  They lose ground in the race baiting they are doing.  They don’t even acknowledge that Zimmerman is Hispanic.  He is a “white-Hispanic,” whatever that is. 

I don’t know if any of the information coming out is true or not.  I was not there.  This is why there needs to be a thorough investigation and, if warranted, a trial.  Then if found guilty, punishment.  You can't just skip to punishment.  This is what the 5th Amendment is all about, presumed innocence and due process, gathering the facts before passing judgment.  Yet there are those who have already, such as the New Black Panthers, found George Zimmerman guilty of murder without an investigation and without a trial. 

No one disagrees that it is very sad that a teenage boy is dead.  What is terribly tragic is that there are those who are exploiting Trayvon’s death for their own selfish purposes.  In doing so, they tend to do and to report only that which is useful to further their cause. It's a shame that a boy's death has become a travesty, to exploit his death to promote a racist platform.

We can’t allow opportunists like Sharpton and Jackson to use the death of this boy for their racist agenda.  It has to be about finding out the truth.  We can’t ignore our laws because it doesn’t fit in with the promotion of a racist agenda.  We must stand true to the Fifth Amendment, to support due process and presumed innocence.  If we stray from our laws as put forth by the framers of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, if we ignore State and local statutes, our country will be lost.  We can’t allow that to happen.   God Bless America!

Lessons from the Ride

Top 10 lessons I learned from the Ride 2 Recovery Gulf Coast Challenge. 

 I recently participated in the Ride 2 Recovery Gulf Coast Challenge and the Tallahassee Hero ride, not as a cyclist, but as a support driver and ride nurse. 

The cyclists rode 450 miles from New Orleans to Tallahassee.  With ride 2 recovery, every day is someone's birthday and this ride was no exception.  The ride began on March 4, 2012, my "21st" (50th) birthday and ended on March 10th with a 24 mile honor ride in Tallahassee, FL.  I can think of no better way to spend my birthday than with my ride 2 recovery family.

I'm driving the "Delvin" out of New Orleans

Ride 2 Recovery www.ride2recovery.com is a mental and physical rehabilitation program for healing heroes and features cycling as the core activity.  For those of you who rode from New Orleans to Tallahassee, I tip my ride 2 recovery cap to you, you are my inspiration.

Riders at the USS Alabama

This group has become a second family to me and I have learned much from them.  Here are some of the more important lessons I’ve learned, in no particular order.   

Lesson #1: I don’t know diddly about “riding” a bike.  What I know about riding a bike I learned as a child on my bike with tassled handlebars and banana seat.  I had a road bike in college that I somehow managed to ride all around Tallahassee, FL, something I would not be able to do at this time, but I’m inspired to get in to good enough shape to be able to do this once again.  Currently I own an older steel frame mountain bike.  Yes, I said steel frame, which is a laughing point among serious riders.  My goal is to get a “real” bike with a carbon fiber frame and to have it fitted to me.  I have learned that I will need to have my seat and petals and shoes adjusted to me.  If one of the pros makes a suggestion, listen, they know what they are talking about and will make your ride easier and more comfortable.  

Speaking of shoes, lesson #2:  The important thing I’ve learned about clips is to not only clip in, but more importantly clip out.  When you clip in you are attaching your shoes to the pedals which means you are attached to your bike.  Clipping in means you can use your peddling energy more efficiently.  It also means that you must clip out before stopping, unless you are one of those cyclists who can balance while standing still, or you will fall over, bike and all.  It happens more frequently than you think.

Lesson #3: What you wear is important.  While it is important to wear snuggly fit bibs and jerseys for better aerodynamics, what I’m talking about is what you wear on your skin.  Sun screen will not only help prevent uncomfortable sun burn, but also the interesting tan patterns that the holes in your helmet will make on your forehead!  Don’t end up looking like an alien, use sun screen. 

Another important thing to apply on long rides is chamois butt’r®.  Chamois butt’r is used to prevent friction in all those friction prone places such as where your body meets your seat.  Chamois butt’r keeps your butt bett’r. 

Lesson #4 is more of an observation: Women can hold it, men not so much.  It seems that women, out of necessity, have learned to hold it.  Men, on the other hand, see every tree, fence or gas station as a call to pee.  It’s almost a pavlovian response.  It’s as though these place have a magnetic attraction and cause an almost instantaneous urge to urinate in those with a Y chromosome.  Every few miles, or so, a male rider will jump off his bike and run behind a tree or into a gas station, do what they do and then catch up to the rest of the group.  I have yet to see a female rider do this.  Female riders will line up at the port-a-potty, while the men line up along the fence.  In all fairness, when there is a bathroom, the men do line up and on a ride like this, the men greatly out-number the women, so it is a rare time when the women’s line is significantly shorter than the men’s, and it has been pointed out that this is not natural. 

Lesson #5: The legion riders are awesome!  They block traffic and keep our riders moving.  Without them, the riders would be stopped at every red light.  We’d still be in Louisiana.  Police escort can be hit and miss. 

In Mobile, AL, the police escorted through the tunnel instead of making the group go an additional 8 miles around even though bicycle traffic is forbidden in the tunnel. 

In Liberty county Florida, group C was “pulled over” by the police for blocking traffic.  Once we got to Tallahassee, the police escorted us all the way to the hotel.  They were also great during the honor ride.  For those of you who don’t know, the route all the way is marked by orange arrows on the ground so that the riders know which way to go.  Bruce does a great job making sure the route is marked and also reviews the route every morning during the ride brief.  The Tallahassee honor ride was not marked and the police were the only ones who knew the route.  There were only two of us riding in support vehicles and it became difficult to catch up with the group when a rider, male of course, would stop to relieve themselves at a gas station or to fix a mechanical problem.  This wasn’t a problem if the rider had a radio, but we had to keep tabs on those without a radio because the route wasn’t marked.  Most of the time I was able to watch the riders in the rear view but there were times I had to slow or stop and ended up behind the traffic.  One time I was way behind traffic.  I managed to maneuver fairly close to the pack but still behind a few cars with no way to pass.  All of a sudden the cars parted, as though they were the red sea, and I see a police officer moving traffic out of my way to catch me back up to the group.  That was a first and was greatly appreciated.  All riders made it to the finish, 24 miles, no crashes and no pick-ups.



Pushing



Lesson #6: The support riders and pushers are the reason everyone makes it to the ending point every day.  The lead riders communicate with the support riders in the back and keep the group together.  They are the motivators and are also pushers.  Pushers are those who are the stronger, more experienced riders who physically push other riders.  They help push the hand cyclers and recumbants and also the upright riders who fall behind.  It is the pushers who get those who stop for a tire change or to relieve themselves or who simple fall back behind the group, back to the group.  They not only ride the miles but do it pushing others, sometimes with head wind gusts of up to 30mph with blowing sand.  Take a gander at their calves some time, you’ll see how they are able to do it.  I seem to be over-using the word amazing, but that's what they are, amazing.

Chris Swan and Terri Quirk

Lesson #7:  The Ride 2 Recovery staff are unbelievable.  They coordinate everything so well.  Everything is planned and taken care of.  It’s so well planned that many of the riders don’t even know the hard work that was put in to get everything done.  I don’t want to mention names because I’ll forget someone, but they all work together and do their jobs incredibly well.  One person I will mention is Chris Swan (he coordinated everything in all the towns we pass through, from the school visits to the police escort to the buses that shuttle us where we need to go) not because he is any more important than any other staff member, but because he’s our ride 2 recovery groupie, a weird stalker or crazed fan, we frequently see along the side of the road, in his blue ride 2 recovery shirt, cheering the riders on.  Kudos to Chris for riding, and completing all 24 miles of the Tallahassee Honor ride. 

Lesson #8: Accident prevention tips: 

·     Do not adjust your odometer or mess with anything near the spokes while moving: OUCH!

·     Watch where you are riding and pay attention to what is in front of you or you may crash in  to a stopped bike or vehicle. 

·    Every once in a while I make a decision that I look back later and think, boy I made a good decision.  This happened while driving along the beach.  While catching up to the group after stopping to pick someone up, I almost missed the group that was pulled over in a parking area and I missed the entrance.  I pulled up in the exit, I said to my passenger “I’m stopping here, I don’t want to get stuck in the sand.”  I did not ride on to the side of the road as shoulder and stayed in the exit even though there was a risk of blocking traffic.  I soon learned how good of a decision I made.  Right after we left the parking area, we came around a curve and saw one of our compatriots stuck on the side of the road.  Another vehicle also, from what I understand, got stuck.  Tip: Don’t drive on soft sand.

photo by Lisa Scherr

photo by Lisa Scherr

·    When the EMT’s ask you where you are, make sure they know that you didn’t know where you were BEFORE the crash and that not knowing where you are now is not an indication of brain injury.  They will look at you strangely if you mutter something about being at about mile 20.

·    Don’t grab onto vehicles.  If you do, don’t be surprised when you end up face down on the pavement answering the question “Do you know where you are?”

·    The nurse (me) will attempt to allow you to ride if at all possible, so if the nurse says you are not riding it is because it is not safe for you to ride.  It may be because you passed out and tell me you had pizza for lunch when there was no pizza.  The nurse will not allow you to present a dangerous situation to yourself or others.  If you cannot stand, you cannot ride.  I will not hold it against you if you don’t know where you are, I probably don’t know where we are either. 

·     Breakfast is important.  Some hotels have better pre-ride breakfasts than others.  It’s kind of weird that one of the fanciest hotels we were at had the worst breakfast. Some of the high carb breakfasts will burn off fast and will not last.  Make sure you have snacks with you and replenish your supply at rest stops and lunch.  While I enjoy the company, the goal is to ride your bike to the finish.   Most popular ride snacks: slim jims for the salt, snickers for the salt and all around energy boost, bananas are good for the potassium to prevent cramping and some people swear by the rice krispies snacks.

Lesson #9:  While many of the wounds are visible, not all are.  Traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as some physical injuries are not visibly evident.  Many of those who gain the most attention in the group are those with physical injuries you can see.  Those with missing limbs, prosthesis and wheelchair bound.  They are the ones the news crews flock to because the viewers can see their injuries.  The wounds that cannot be seen are just as real and just as important.  Ride 2 Recovery assists healing heroes with all kinds of wounds, both visible and non-visible.

Lesson # 10: Ride 2 Recovery makes an incredible difference in the lives of healing heroes.  If you are reading this, go to ride 2 recovery and see if they are coming to a town near you.  Come out and cheer on our healing heroes.  Better yet, click on donate/sponsor a rider button and make a donation. 

I was given a Gulf Coast Challenge sticker by one of the riders for being there with them from beginning to end.  I don’t deserve the sticker, I didn’t ride the ride.  I will, however, keep the sticker to remind me of what can be accomplished if you put your mind to it, to motivate me to keep going, to ride further and not give up.  It is a reminder of those incredible riders, if they can do it, so can I.  I thank you for the chance to experience these unforgettable rides with you, and I am honored to be a part of the ride 2 recovery family.

 

Fabulous photos by Tiffini JonesVanderwyst :

My photo of Tiffini Jones Vanderwyst

See all of Tiffini's Gulf Coast Challenge pictures.

The Last of a Generation

The Passing of Daniel Dube

Danny's 103rd Birthday Portrait

My Great Uncle, Danny passed away Thursday night.  He was 103 years young!  He was an amazing man with a warm smile, a kind heart, a great sense of humor but not a great sense of direction.  We love him and will miss him dearly.

Danny was my Grandmother, Judy's (my mother's mother) brother.  Danny’s father, my great-grandfather Newman Dube, came to America in 1888 at the age of 20 from Russia.  He peddled pots and pans in Wisconsin, and even became involved in boy’s suit manufacturing.  He married and settled in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn.  After Newman's daughter, Lillian, Danny's sister, died from the Spanish flu, Newman gathered his friends and told them that the neighborhood needed a hospital.  They founded Israel Zion Hospital.  Newman was its first president.  Israel Zion is now a 700-bed teaching hospital, Maimonides Medical Center. 

Danny, Newman, Joe and Herbert (in front)

In addition, Newman started a family business, Park Surgical a medical supply and orthopedic fitting business.  His second-to-youngest son, Daniel was there from the beginning.  Oldest son Joseph also joined the business a couple of years later.  During WWII, youngest son Herbert enlisted in the army and Daniel was drafted.  Newman and Joseph kept the business going during the war.  Dan rejoined Park Surgical, bringing with him his experience fitting corsets and prosthetics, which he acquired during the war at Fort Sam Houston. Herbert’s 2 sons Jim and Peter run the business and Jims children and Peter’s wife also work there.  

Peter, Danny and Jimmy clowning around at Danny's 103rd Birthday Party

Up until a few days ago Daniel Dube at 103 years old still walked to work every day at Park Surgical and still fit prosthesis.  “I’ve never been married, I take a tablespoon of cod liver oil daily and I eat lots of wheat bran” is what Daniel Dube attributed his longevity to.  His father, Newman, lived to be 105 years old.  Uncle Danny was never married and had no children, but he had a ton of family who loved him and who will miss him.  He was the last of that generation.

Danny's 103rd Birthday Party with the family

New York Times Obituary:

DUBE--Daniel L., died February 23, 2012 at the age of 103. Son of Newman and Jennie. Brother of Judith Seakwood, Joseph, Irving, Lillian and Herbert Dube. Uncle Dan was the uncle to scores of family members and friends. Dan and his father founded Park Surgical Company of Brooklyn, NY where he worked until the end of his life. He was at the first meeting of Israel Zion Hospital (as a child) which became Maimonides Medical Center of Brooklyn. His father was the founding president. Counselor at Camp Winadu in its inaugural year, trustee of Temple Emanu-el of Boro Park and president of the Boro Park YM-YWHA. Truly the end of an era. He will be sorely missed by everyone who ever met him. Dan was absolutely one of a kind.

Depoliticizing the Abortion/Breast Cancer Link

Read the studies, look at the facts, keep an open mind, do not base your opinion on your beliefs about abortion and determine for yourself: Is there a link between abortions and breast cancer? What is your opinion? All comments welcome. Also, if anyone has links to other, independent studies, I'd be interested in seeing them.

The recent events of the Susan G. Koman foundation pulling and then renewing support for Planned Parenthood has brought up, once again, the issue of “does Abortion increase the risk of breast cancer?”

As a nurse, I was interested to know the facts.  It seems that there are a lot of studies out there with differing viewpoints.  Both sides use the studies that support their views as “proof” one way or the other.  The interpretation of the studies has been so politicized, that it is difficult to determine if there is a connection or not.

This topic is coming up again is because of the Koman foundation’s monetary support of planned parenthood.  It is an issue because, if there is a connection between abortion and breast cancer then how could the Koman foundation, who's main goal is eradication of breast cancer, support an organization, planned parenthood, who’s main focus is abortion, if there is a link?  Both organizations have stated that they believe there is no link between abortions and breast cancer.

But why should the Koman foundation be funding planned parenthood, what does planned parenthood have to do with breast cancer.  According to both the Koman foundation and Planned Parenthood, the funding is for breast cancer screenings.  In my opinion, I believe that Planned Parenthood is not the best use of this money and that the Koman foundation would be better able to provide breast screenings more cost effectively if they remove the middle man, Planned Parenthood.  This opinion has nothing to do with Planned Parenthood’s abortions, but rather, it makes better business sense.  It seems that the Koman foundation is bending over backward to accommodate Planned Parenthood and I find their connection suspect.  It seems, to me, there must be something more going on.  In order to do justice to the topic, I am eliminating both the Koman foundation and Planned Parenthood from the discussion.

Back to the topic of abortion and breast cancer.I have looked over many studies.There are studies to support both sides. 

First, let me start by saying that I am pro-life.I do not believe in abortion and I believe that abortion is the killing of a baby. In conversations, I have never used the alleged abortion/breast cancer link to support my belief. I do not need there to be a link between abortion and breast cancer for me to be pro-life. To me, the killing of an unborn baby is wrong, plain and simple. I have approached the topic with an open mind and have tried to present both sides fairly.

Those who support the “no-connection” theory, and that it has been proven debunked will show you this from The National Cancer Institute based on a 2004 report from a 2003 workshop:

This includes the results from a wide variety of studies and it has been determined to be definitive proof by those who believe there is no connection.  I have found that almost all of those who support the "no-connection" theory reference either this fact sheet or the conference that reported the study that this fact sheet is based on. 

The American Cancer Society's statement.

This also links back to the above information from the National Cancer Institute report and they make the conclusion:

"At this time, the scientific evidence does not support the notion that abortion of any kind raises the risk of breast cancer or any other type of cancer."

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynocologists  (ACOG) also refers to the 2003 workshop and the above information.  They however preface the information with the following statement:

"This document reflects emerging clinical and scientific advances as of the date issued and is subject to change. The information should not be construed as dictating an exclusive course of treatment or procedure to be followed."

On the other side of the debate is Dr. Joel Brind who counters in this 2005 article in the “Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons” that there was reporting bias in the 2003 workshop and subsequent 2004 report.

 Dr. Brind has also mentioned that during the 2004 seminar, conflicting viewpoints were not allowed to be presented.  In essence he is saying that, instead of investigation all data and letting the data dictate if the theory is true, they found data to support their theory and disregarded the rest.  In some cases they  may have even manipulated the studies to fit the theory.

Dr. Brind:

This video of Dr. Brind is from the “Life Matters” program, again politicizing the issue.

It is difficult to look at all of these and not say they are biased.  Each side has an agenda.  On one side are the pro-abortionists wanting to prove that there is no increased risk of abortion and breast cancer and the pro-life side that wants to use the link as additional ammunition against abortion.

I do need to point out that the video’s that feature Dr. Brind give logical thought as to WHY there is a risk whereas the other studies simply say there is no link, end of story.

I also need to point out that Dr. Brind, while not the only one supporting the connection, he is the most vocal.

 

Medical groups that support the connection theory.

 
Again, this list is published by abortion/breast cancer coalition

So who do you believe?

I have done some research and came across this article from 2010, that is peer reviewed, but that no one has, of yet, used as a weapon in this abortion/breast cancer link war entitled:

Radiological Diagnostics of Frequent Interruption of Pregnancy as a Primary Factor of Breast Carcinomas

 
  The conclusion of this study is that “Based on the researches done for the purposes of this project, we concluded that artificial interruption of pregnancy is one of the numerous causes (factors) of breast cancer arising.”
This study does not appear to have any bias and does not seem to have been sponsored by any group. 

In addtion, the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute believes there is a link between abortion and breast cancer.

A pamphlet from the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute:
Abortion & Breast Cancer: Is there a Link? What is the Truth Behind the Controversy

In it they state that abortion is a factor which increases breast cancer risk:
Induced abortion leaves increased number of immature breast lobules and increases risk of premature births.  It also increases estrogen exposure.

How Does the Link Between Abortion and Breast Cancer Work?

 

 

Two principles account for the link:

1. Estrogen Exposure
2. Breast Lobule Formation

Estrogen Exposure

As soon as conception occurs and even before implantation in the uterus, the embryo secretes a hormone, hCG (Human chorianic gonadotropin), which causes the mother’s ovaries to produce more estrogen and progesterone. This causes the mother’s breasts to become sore and tender.

In a viable pregnancy, estrogen levels increase 2,000% by the end of the 1st trimester. This surge in hormones causes the breasts to grow by making more Type 1 & 2 lobules where cancers can start. The breast doubles in volume by 20 weeks.

Breast Lobule Formation

• After 32 weeks of pregnancy, the Type 1 and 2 lobules mature into Type 3 and 4 lobules in preparation for breast feeding.
• If the pregnancy ends by elective abortion, the increase in numbers of Type 1 and 2 lobules formed in the first two trimesters provide more places for cancers to start, increasing risk.
• Women who never carry a pregnancy beyond 32 weeks never fully mature their breast tissue and have increased risk.
• Women who delay full-term pregnancy past age 30 have a 90% higher risk of breast cancer than those who carry a pregnancy to term by age 20.

A Woman’s Choice

A woman who chooses induced abortion of her first pregnancy:

• Denies herself the risk reduction of a full-term pregnancy.
• May never have children—a risk for breast cancer.
• Or, delay a full-term pregnancy which increases her risk of premenopausal breast cancer by 5% per year delayed after age 20.

A woman who chooses induced abortion after she has had a child:

• Denies herself a further 10% reduction in risk by another full-term pregnancy.
• Will have increased the number of Type 1 & Type 2 lobules where cancers start in her breast.

Here is a video that explains why it is believed that abortion increases the risk of breast cancer but it also has a segment where Dr. Brind’s explains about studies and how they should be done. This video is put out by an organization that supports the abortion/breast cancer link.

The 2007 study that is mention in the video: (which comes after the 2004 report that supposedly “debunks” the theory) supports the abortion/breast cancer connection.

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Research Analysis, My Opinion:

Being that there are such conflicting reports, I cannot state for certain that there is not an abortion/breast cancer link. If you compare the evidence from one side or the other, the side supporting the link has presented a much better case with better references. The National Cancer Institute's fact sheet that everyone else seems to reference is lacking the information department. They make a list of findings, "studies show," but really no reference to the studies upon which those findings are based. 

   

The breast cancer prevention institute, on the other hand seems to believe there is a connection as addressed in their pamphlet.

In addition, if you remove all of the previous studies that have been biasedly used and focus on the independent study of 2010, there seems to be more proof that there is a link than there is not. If there is a link and there is a cover up, would those involved in the cover up be guilty of negligence? Would they not be criminally liable for withholding pertinent information from those receiving abortions? It is unlikely there will be a conclusion to this debate anytime in the near future. Though in my mind it seems there is, indeed, a connection between abortion and an increased risk for breast cancer.