He Gave Me Roses

The documentary Saving Face reminds me of this poem I heard read on the Domestic

Violence Rememberance.

Please keep your eyes, ears, hearts and minds open to the plight of far too many.


He Gave Me Roses

I got flowers today.
It wasn't my birthday or any other special day.
We had out first argument last night, And
He said a lot of cruel things that really hurt me.
I know he is sorry and didn't mean the things he said because
He sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.
It wasn't our anniversary or any other special day.
Last night, he threw me into a wall and
Started to choke me.
It seemed like a nightmare.
I couldn't believe it was real.
I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over.
I know he must be sorry because
He sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today and it wasn't Mother's Day
Or any other special day.
Last night he beat me up again and
It was much worse than all the other times.
If I leave him what will I do ?
How will I take care of my kids ?
What about money ?
I'm afraid of him and scared to leave.
I know he must be sorry because
He sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today. Today was a very special day.
It was the day of my funeral.
Last night, he finally killed me.
He beat me to death.
If only I had gathered enough courage and
Strength to leave him,
I would not have gotten flowers today.

-- Author Unknown

Give it Time It all works out

I love the saying,"What goes around comes around."

Someone I helped a great deal betrayed and defamed me.

Now when you google this person the first link is a photo of their mugshot.

Justice prevails in time.

Dec 4 Star Tribune Letter to the Editor

GOP presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry should be commended for using both their heads and hearts when it comes to immigration policies.

We are a nation of immigrants. We need to remember how we treated the Chinese, Irish, Italians and Polish when our ancestors came to this land of opportunity. Where are Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty in our national consciousness today?

If our immigration quotas were the same today as then, the door for a legal pathway would be much wider. Why do we have such a scarcity mentality in this land of milk and honey?

This displaced anger toward immigrants really should rest with the bankers, Wall Street traders and corporate executives. The laborers in the fields, the housekeepers and landscapers are not the source of our economic hardship.

The undocumented laborers among us contribute more to our Social Security system and pay more taxes then they consume in public benefits.

If we are to find a humane and lasting solution to this challenge, we need to address more than just border security and workplace enforcement.

With compassion and reason, we can see the human plight of the undocumented among us and appreciate where their hearts are. Family values for the whole human family.

THE REV. HOWARD DOTSON, MAPLE GROVE

Bill Would Repeal In-State Tuition For Immigrants

Bill would repeal in-state tuition for immigrants

Published February 11th, 2011

The Education Committee heard testimony Feb. 7 on a bill that would repeal in-state tuition rates at Nebraska’s universities and colleges for children of illegal immigrants who are not lawfully present in the United States.

State legislation passed in 2006 offered in-state tuition to students who:

•resided with his or her parent, guardian or conservator while attending a public or private high school in Nebraska;

•graduated from a Nebraska high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma;

•resided in Nebraska for at least three years before the date the student graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma;

•have the bona fide intention to make Nebraska his or her permanent residence;

•are registered as an entering student in a state postsecondary educational institution no earlier than the 2006 fall semester; and

•provided to the state postsecondary educational institution an affidavit stating that he or she will file an application to become a permanent resident at the earliest opportunity he or she is eligible to do so.
Fremont Sen. Charlie Janssen, introducer of LB657, said children of illegal immigrants should not be considered residents of the state and therefore are not eligible to receive in-state tuition rates.

“Nebraska should not grant in-state tuition to illegal immigrants unless they do to all citizens,” Janssen said.

Giving a benefit or subsidy to someone who is not lawfully present and denying it to someone who is lawfully present is in direct violation of federal law, he said.

Dale Monsell, representing Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, testified in support of the bill.

These students are not legally employable in the U.S. after they graduate, Monsell said, and their education should be the responsibility of their nation of origin.

John Wiegert, a resident of Fremont and supporter of the bill, said in-state tuition for illegal immigrants directly rewards people for their parents’ illegal acts.

Shirley Mora James, president of the Nebraska Hispanic Bar Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Mora James said, granting in-state tuition to an undocumented student is not one of the benefits regulated by illegal immigration reform.

Individual states must decide whether or not to allow illegal immigrants to attend post-secondary institutions, she said, and the state of Nebraska has the authority to grant admission to undocumented students if it chooses to do so.

J.B. Milliken, president of the University of Nebraska, also opposed LB657.

The ability of undocumented young people to contribute to the state’s economy depends on their education, Milliken said in a letter to the committee.

The state claims that education is a priority, he said, so repealing a law that promotes education is counterproductive.

Rev. Howard Dotson of the Westminister Presbyterian Church testified in opposition to the bill, saying education plays an important role in the Latino community.

Nationwide, 50 percent of Latino youth fail to graduate high school, Dotson said. Having more Latino high school graduates in Nebraska who attend college will provide the community with invaluable mentors, he said.

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.

Immigration Bill Gets Mixed Reception in Lincoln

Immigration Bill Gets Mixed Reception In Lincoln

Senator Doubtful Measure Will Get Out Of Committee

POSTED: 2:35 pm CST March 2, 2011

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A Nebraska lawmaker who has introduced an Arizona-style immigration bill said he is doubtful the bill would even get out of the Judiciary Committee as state senators openly questioned it at Wednesday's public hearing in Lincoln.

Sen. Charlie Janssen, of Fremont, told the committee that his bill, LB-48, would help Nebraska get a handle on what he believes is a serious illegal immigration problem. Janssen testified lawmakers cannot ignore their obligation to taxpayers as health care and education costs rise.

Janssen was among the first to testify in a packed hearing room. Janssen said he was grilled by his colleagues during the hearing on everything from costs of enforcement to what constitutes reasonable suspicion.

Janssen said the bill is a cost-saving measure for a state that faces a nearly $1 billion shortfall.

The legislation would require police to confirm the residency status of suspected illegal immigrants who have been stopped for another reason.

"(LB-48) makes it open season on immigrant women and children -- putting targets on their heads."
- Shirley More-James, resident


LB-48 got a mixed reception at the hearing as lawmakers and residents spoke.

"I think you have to look at the overall picture of what LB-48 will do -- deter illegal immigration into the state of Nebraska," proponent Susan Smith said.

But residents opposed to the bill spoke about concerns of racial profiling.

"(LB-48) makes it open season on immigrant women and children -- putting targets on their heads," Shirley Mora-James, a resident who opposes the bill, said.

Lincoln Police Chief Tom Casady said he is also opposing the bill because enforcement costs would be too high and many who are arrested would just walk.

" It exposes the state and counties to serious liabilities and expenses in defending themselves." - Judge David Piester A retired federal judge also weighed in on the bill.

Judge David Piester said law enforcement agencies could end up paying the price in enforcing an Arizona-style immigration law if it's approved.

"It exposes the state and counties to serious liabilities and expenses in defending themselves," Piester said. "Equal protection and discrimination claims would almost certainly follow."

Community activists present at the hearing agreed and said they hope the bill never gets out of committee.

"Charity and reason will prevail," the Rev. Howard Dotson said. "It's a federal responsibility -- the senators understand that."

Arizona's bill has been suspended pending a court challenge.

Copyright 2011 by KETV.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved

Mayor Suttle's Focus on At Risk Youth

Day 14: Vote No because Mayor Suttle has focussed on at-risk youth
Posted on January 23, 2011

As an urban pastor, I have seen far too much poverty and violence. I serve on the Mayor’s Clergy Advisory Council and I’ve had the privilege of following his administration’s work over this past year.

Mayor Suttle has the vision and the strategy to bring peace and prosperity to our streets.

His three Es (education, employment and enforcement) and the From Poverty to Prosperity initiative will help keep our kids in schools and bring jobs to our under employed communities. We stop the bullets when more kids achieve their caps and gowns and have access to jobs.

Our law enforcement officers cannot suppress the violence on their own. It takes a village of concerned citizens to bring peace to our streets. We are One Omaha, and Mayor Suttle understands our commitment to educate and empower all of our citizens.

Mayor Suttle has made the difficult but necessary choices that have preserved our essential public services.

This recall will distract and detract us from the critical peacemaking work underway in our communities. The bottom line is that life is sacred.

Mayor Suttle’s vision will continue to help save lives and secure a brighter future for our youth. “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Rev. Howard Dotson
Presbyterian Church (USA) pastor serving in Omaha

P.S. Join Mayor Suttle and Rev. Dotson tonight – From Poverty to Prosperity

Omaha Police and Illegal Immigration Omaha Crime Examiner

Omaha police and illegal immigration...is business the problem?
By Michael Ramon, Omaha Crime Examiner
December 27th, 2010 10:51 am CT

In a recent letter to the Omaha World-Herald the Reverend Howard Dotson, representing Equality Nebraska, opined that if an Arizona-type law became a reality in Nebraska the result would be disastrous for the immigrant community. He fears that local enforcement of immigration laws would result in immigrants being afraid to contact police if they become victims of crime, and suggests that such a law would encourage the targeting of immigrants since they would have no recourse in getting aid from the law enforcement community. Unfortunately, crime statistics (see www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/ucr) confirm his analysis.


What role, then, is appropriate for local law enforcement? The answer depends on your values. If you think anyone should be able to contact the police if they become a victim of crime, the answer is to leave the enforcement of immigration laws to ICE. If you believe that an immigrant's status is more important than their protection and you are frustrated by the ineffectivement of the federal government in controlling illegal immigration, you would probably be inclined to want the state and local authorities to get involved. Omaha police probably see things differently. Given their limited resources and the expense of putting someone in jail, most officers would prefer not to arrest immigrants who are otherwise law abiding; clogging the jails and courts with these cases in not an effective way to lower the crime rate. It may, in fact, help to do the opposite.

Given this conundrum, is there any way to control illegal immigration? The answer is simple: yes. Illegal immigrants come to the United States, Nebraska and Omaha because they find employment here. Take away employment opportunities and the illegal immigration problem will be solved. Of course than means holding businesses accountable. Our elected officials seem, for the most part, very reluctant to do that. The cynical might suggest this is because businesses and those who run them are politically powerful. Hiring illegal immigrants is a great way to increase profits; after all they will work for less money, they seldom complain about illegal working conditions and the American taxpayer has to pay their health insurance. Maybe we don't have an illegal immigration problem after all, we just have politicians who put self-interest and business interests ahead of our interests.

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