EUGENICS

    Virginia to Compensate Victims of         Eugenic Sterilization

The State of Virginia has passed legislation that would offer financial compensation to victims of the state’s eugenic sterilization program, which forcibly sterilized over 8,000 Virginians deemed “unfit” to reproduce from the 1920s through 1970s. Reports indicate that only 11 surviving victims have been identified, and will each receive a $25,000 compensation. This makes Virginia the second state to address the crimes of forced sterilization through compensation. In 2012, North Carolina announced similar plans to compensate surviving victims of forced sterilization. Payments began in 2014, though the process has been riddled with red tape and loopholes that some say are preventing sterilization victims from receiving their proper compensation.

Virginia passed its Eugenic Sterilization Act in 1924, alongside a “Racial Integrity Act” which made it “unlawful for any white person in [Virginia] to marry any [person] save a white person.” Battles over the legality of the state’s sterilization law culminated in 1927, when the Supreme Court ruled eugenic sterilization constitutional in the infamous ruling in the case Buck v. Bell. Eugenics sterilization laws proliferated after the ruling. Eventually over 30 states adopted compulsory sterilization bills motivated by eugenics.

Though the eugenics movement fell out of popular favor with the onset of World War II, Virginia’s sterilization act remained on the books until 1979. In the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, the law was increasingly used to target Black women within the welfare system.

Emiliano Zapata

   

1879-1919

 

EMILIANO ZAPATA, the  famous Mexican REVOLUTIONARY and rebel leader, who led the Mexican Revolution, was called "THE ATTILA OF THE SOUTH", was AMBUSHED and ASSASSINATED at the age of 40 and believed "IT IS BETTER TO DIE ON YOUR FEET THAN LIVE ON YOUR KNEES."

 

 

Emiliano Zapata was born on Aug. 8, 1879 in Anenecuilco, Mexico to a peasant family. Zapata was an orphan by the age of 17 and began taking care of his brothers and sisters. He grew furious at the INJUSTICES suffered by his neighbors when a nearby hacienda owner stole land from the peasants. Zapata began leading battles to get the peasants land back to them. 

 

In 1897, Zapata was arrested for protesting that large plantations, haciendas, were taking over the peasants land. In 1910, Zapata organized a small force to help Francisco Madero overthrow dictator Porfirio Diaz from office. This was the beginning of the MEXICAN REVOLUTION, which lasted until 1917. Zapata took up arms with the cry "LAND AND LIBERTY" and refused to lay down his arms until Madero, who overthrew Diaz, distributed land to the peasants.  In 1911, Zapata met with Madero to draw up a plan of land reform. Unhappy with Madero's slow progress, Zapata wrote a program of land reform, known as the "Plan de Ayala" in November, 1911. The plan called for the hacienda owners to return the land to the Indian communal farmers.

 

In 1914, Venustiano Carranza, came into power. Zapata led a 25,000 person Liberation Army in the South of Mexico, which occupied Mexico City.  Zapata then began a partnership with Pancho Villa to work together for a new president.  Zapata created a commission to distribute land and formed the Rural Loan Bank, which was Mexico's first organization to give credit to farmers.

In 1917, Carranza's army defeated Pancho Villa, which left Zapata isolated. Carranza was elected president and maliciously set up Zapata to be ambushed.  Colonel Jesus Guajardo, an emissary of Carranza, invited Zapata to meet, pretending to join Zapata's cause. On April 10, 1919, Emiliano Zapata arrived to the meeting and was immediately AMBUSHED, SHOT AND ASSASSINATED.

Zapata's movement was called "ZAPATISMO" and today the famous revolutionaries, "ZAPATISTAS," are fighting for political rights for Mexico's native Indian population. Their most famous voice is Subcommander Marcos. 

 

Zapata remains a folk hero in Mexico, where he is revered as a revolutionary figure. "ZAPATA LIVES, THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES."

Gun control- current event

More than 2½ years after his teenage son was slain in front of him, an Auburn man who starting shooting in that moment of rage will soon be headed home.

Gabriel Wilson’s crime – which he readily admitted to police following the shooting – was opening fire on a neighbor’s apartment he believed housed several young men who helped set in motion his 16-year-old son’s murder. The non-injury shooting occurred moments after his son was shot dead in front of him during a family barbeque in the apartment building courtyard.

Jailed through his son's funeral, Gabriel Wilson may be home by Christmas following a deal that saw him plead guilty to reduced charges in the May 22, 2011 shooting. Wilson was sentenced Wednesday to just more than two years in custody; the first-degree assault charge he had been facing likely would have seen him sent away for more than 15 years.

Speaking following Wilson's sentencing hearing Wednesday, Wilson’s attorney James Bible said his client, now 47, lived any parent’s nightmare before he was threatened with years in prison.

“Gabe Wilson is a loving father who experienced one of the most devastating moments that any human being could experience,” Bible said. “He actually saw his son shot and killed in front of his very eyes, and every action that he committed was a direct result over having seen his precious baby die. …

“He’s looking forward to that moment when the state can recognize, and does recognize, that he was a victim too.”

Bible also said the evidence in the case makes clear that several others – including two teens hiding in the apartment at which Wilson fired – helped to orchestrate the killing and hide evidence after Adrian Wilson was killed.

James Mills, the teen who pulled the trigger, was charged in the murder. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, offered an apology and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Responding to Wilson’s claims, King County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Dan Donohoe said Mills was the sole defendant who could be proved to have been involved in Adrian Wilson’s murder.

“There was not the evidence to support a charge against any other individual,” Donohoe said. “The person responsible for the murder is serving a prison sentence.”

Pleading guilty to reduced charges earlier this week, Wilson was sentenced Wednesday to 27 months in custody for the shooting. 

The chaos began during a Wilson family barbeque in the courtyard of the Aspen Meadows Apartments. Wilson lived there with his sons; there was animosity between his family and another at the complex.

Adrian Wilson was slated to leave for Job Corps the day after the barbeque. His father prepped him for the federal work program, and hoped it would start him on a career in construction.

Instead, the teen was shot in the face by Mills, one of several young men at the scene who apparently had issues with the Wilsons. He died in front of his grandmother and many of his relations, including his father.

Gun control / Pros-Con /

• 🌰Gun control Pros
• Most violent crimes are committed with guns. It would stand to reason then, that restricting
  gun ownership would likely reduce the number of such crimes.
• Individuals with mental illness, kids bullied at school, a person that feels dejected, and other
  disgruntled persons can inflict mass casualties with guns that otherwise would not be possible.
• Through legalized gun ownership, guns have a greater chance of falling into the hands of kids
  that could lead to deadly accidents. 
• Lax gun laws can lead to a higher rate of gun-related violence and death.
• The second amendment does not specify individual gun rights.
• Regulating registration of ownership of all firearms will ensure less violent crimes and deaths.
• Preventing gun owners from purchasing arms (assault rifles) is not unconstitutional.
• There are too many senseless accidents involving children and guns due to the carelessness of 
  the adult(s).
• Background checks and a mandatory waiting period would help to deter criminals and possible
  tragedies.
• Semi-automatic weapons should be banned from public use. They are meant for the use by 
  police or military personnel, not civilians.
• 🌰Gun control Cons
• It's a known fact that criminals will always find a way to get their guns and thus leaving the law-abiding citizens without weapons and defenseless. Knowledge of gun possession can help prevent crimes.
• Totally banning guns will create the opportunity of a black market helping with the criminal having more access to guns than the law-abiding citizen. Organized crime will flourish.
• The government placing a ban on guns is yet another infringement of our liberty. We are heading towards socialism and the loss of our individual rights.
• Since guns don't kill people, society will not become safer by restricting gun ownership.
• The second amendment guarantees the right to bear arms. The government has no right to change the amendment.
• Tighter gun control will not deter the criminals from committing crimes.
• By placing restrictions on gun ownership, citizens will feel less safe and more vulnerable.
• Focus less on the guns and more on the commonality of individuals committing the crimes, such as individuals with mental illness.
• If our current gun laws were to be enforced, there would be no need for additional laws.

Diana, Princess of Wales

British royalty Princess Diana Spencer was born on July 1, 1961, near Sandringham, England. Diana, Princess of Wales, was one of the most adored members of the British royal family. She was the daughter of Edward John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and Frances Ruth Burke Roche, Viscountess Althorp (later known as the Honorable Frances Shand Kydd). Her parents divorced when Diana was young, and her father won custody of her and her siblings. She was educated first at Riddlesworth Hall and then went to boarding school at West Heath School.

She became Lady Diana Spencer after her father inherited the title of Earl Spencer in 1975. Although she was known for her shyness growing up, she did show an interest in music and dancing. Diana also had a great fondness for children. After attending finishing school at the Institut Alpin Videmanette in Switzerland, she moved to London. She began working with children, eventually becoming a kindergarten teacher at the Young England School.

Diana was no stranger to the British royal family, having reportedly played with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward as a child while her family rented Park House, an estate owned by Queen Elizabeth II. In 1977, she became reacquainted with their older brother, Prince Charles, who was 13 years her senior.

As the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles was usually the subject of media attention and his courtship of Diana was no exception. The press and the public were fascinated by this seemingly odd couple—the reserved, garden-loving prince and the shy young woman with an interest in fashion and popular culture. When the couple married on July 29, 1981, the ceremony was broadcast on television around the world, with millions of people tuning in to see what many considered to be the wedding of the century.

Even after the divorce, Diana maintained a high level of popularity. She devoted herself to her sons and to such charitable efforts as the battle against the use of land mines. Diana used her international celebrity to help raise awareness about this issue. She also continued to experience the negative aspects of fame—her 1997 romance with Egyptian film producer and playboy Dodi Al-Fayed caused quite a stir and created a media frenzy. While visiting Paris, the couple was involved in a car crash after trying to escape from the paparazzi on the night of August 30, 1997..Diana initially survived the crash, but later succumbed to her injuries at a Paris hospital a few hours later. Al-Fayed and the driver were also killed, and a bodyguard was seriously injured. French authorities investigated the crash and the driver was found to have a high level of alcohol in his system at the time of the accident. The role of the pursuing photographers in the tragedy was also scrutinized.

News of her sudden, senseless death shocked the world. Thousands turned out to pay tribute to the "people's princess" during her funeral procession. The funeral was held at Westminister Abbey, which was broadcast on television. Her body was later buried at her family's estate, Althorp.