Richmond Va. Bigotry

[MR. PIG]

This is only an opinion of mine.

What is wrong with a fire department that keeps drug users, females that can no longer do the job (by doctors orders), promotes convicted drug dealers, has 95% black administrational staff (far above the city population per centage), hires a fire chief with only a high school education (when others with far more education applied for the position), makes racial minorities that are too stupid to pass a promotional test, long term or permanent acting lieutenants.

Why does a fire chief need a humvee for a staff vehicle?

Why does Richmonds chief eliminate captains positions? To provide his side kick a division chief a job possibly. Why are captains not promoted to battalion chief vacancies?

WHY IS A WHITE OFFICER FIRED FOR DOING HIS JOB? WHAT DID HE DO? ONLY WHAT THE FAMILY OF A DEAD PERSON ASKED HIM TO DO. wHY WAS HE NOT GIVEN A SECOND, THIRD OR FOURTH CHANCE LIKE BLACKS GET.

THIS WAS NOT A PATIENT, IT WAS A CORPSE.

When the fire chief promotes his sidekick, is he really setting him up to be the next chief?

Why do the top dogs get no respect?

Because they do not deserve it, thats why!



THERE WILL BE MORE OF THIS TO COME...........

[ericp278]

Do you guys have a Civil Service Comission, or a contract that outlines promotional testing. If so it sounds like to me i would be getting a grievance form. Not for the minority issues but for the improper promotion issues

[E.A.P.]

Maybe you need to take your issues to the county/city government?

[MR. PIG]

The commonwealth of Virginia is a Right to Work state. Employees do not have to join a union if they do not want to. Collective bargaining is illegal for city employees. city government does not have to recognize the union. There is no civil service. Administration "IS" the problem. Requirements for promotion and hiring changes as often as the weather. Sure we have testing by an outside company, or companies, of which many of our current officers also work as evaluators for. Therefore many of these officers (mostly black) already know what answers the will be in the testing process.
After a long process to see who is most qualified, the fire chief then promotes who ever he wants to on the list, hence, black fire chief=lots of black officers.
White boys no longer have a chance if they don't kiss major butt, example, one of our newest lieutenants (white, the rod man) has a part time lawn care busisness. Who's yards does he mow? The fire chiefs, the fire marshalls, and his mothers. All of which he brags about and tells all he kissed butt by mowing these lawns FOR FREE, so he could get promoted.
Guys I don't know where you are from, but here, the best candidates for a position are determined by who sucks the most AZZ.
We no longer have officers that understand that their main responsibility is the firefighters under their command, or the lives of the citizens of the city, but think their main objective as an officer is now to kiss more AZZ to get more promotions.
Also I am not a disgruntled firefighter that did not get a promotion. I am just tired of officers that do not know their job. Nor do they know their AZZ from a hole in the ground.

CAPTAINDOUBLECHECK EATS PIG POO POO
SO DOES LARREEEEEEE
AND JOZ-A
AND ALL THE OTHER BL*** OFFICERS IN THE RICHMOND FIRE DEPARTMENT.

[esfmmk]

This sounds like a vol dept. Who buys the most beer wins the election!.! Stay strong, stick to your guns and choose your battles wisely

[captain4life]

CALL ME MR. PIG

The first decision you must make is do you wish to stay at the same rank you are for life? Be able to take all the crap from everyone above you and those that will pass over you for promotions.
The add this, if you start June first 2004, you will not you see an end result for two to five years from now.
If you answer yes, then:
You must start by collecting all the facts, find out how many black firefighter who been promoted, compare this to how many black firefighters are on the job. DO the homework and find out how much education they have, and other qualification they have, and compare them to those who were not promoted. You then have to find every job announcement that exist, and compare everyone to that announcement. Once there, and you have all this information, first step is to use all the appeals within your department. Get the results of each promotion exam, get the ranking order, and use the freedom of information act for this information. Compare the list to the result.

Remember you must first use you department appeals process [thusly you will never see the next rank] once this is exhausted, then file under the federal EEOC procedures, and then contact the fair labor division of the justice department.

You should get together as many of officers/firefighters that feel that they were step over, and contact the best labor attorney you can afford.

Remember that once this process is started, you will see you department use the dirty trick division to bust you up. You will then see some white officers who are best friends with current chiefs get promoted, no education, no nothing, these guys will just go along with whatever the administration will say, you will be transferred to worst job they can find, you will always be left off of any opportunity for classes, or anything that will benefit your job.

This is just a little past history from a major city north on I95 from you.

Good luck

[Vollies Suck]

For all those vollies who think of me as a defender of any career department, well then, this seems to be a sterling example of a poorly-managed municipal fire department. What a shame.

This is also a lesson in the value of collective bargaining and strong unions. While it may not guarantee that there will be no hanky-panky, problems like this are far less likely where an IAFF local is strong and vigilant.

[ericp278]

All i have to say is im glad PA has Binding arbitration.

[MR. PIG]

We have an almost newly promoted lieutenant the is dumber than a rock. Even "all" of the blacks that I have talked to over the years since this one came into the fire department have thought much the same. Not just a little dumb, but dumb as fricking rock. Well it seems this Orlando dude come lately is on the pit crew of the fire chiefs drag race car. Azz kissers the lot of them. This wanna be fire chief will be long gone and these idiots will still be here. Hence this is a good way to set a fire department back 20 or more years. Promote those that will be here long after you are gone, makes sense to the PIG.

Even better, fire all the white officers, you have a good start. larreeeee.

Then recruit new employees at the high schools in the city that are predominitly black. Hence the idiots promoted today can promote more idiots tomorrow.

All it takes is 1 bad apple to spoil the whole basket, well we sure have a basket full of racist apples now.

This is what the pig thinks of the fire chief.

[FIRE FROG]

Hey brother pig, did you hear about the study groups the brothers have when it's time for promotions to come around? NO, you didn't, well let me tell you the real story of them bro's and how they do their studies for a promotional test.

First Larrreeeee tells that joz-a which bro's to get together for a "STUDY" group, then after that is all done, one of the officers that has done some of the evaluations in a different city comes to someones house for the study group meeting. Those hand picked members of the study group are told what to say during the evaluations and are given the answers to the written tests. But that is the only hard part to getting promoted, the easy part is kissing LaRReeeee's azzz to get promoted before the other bro's. Cause all a bro has to do is get on a promotional list then, sit beck, relax, the gold bars are on the way.

Site of the bro's next study group is at.......

[MR. PIG]

Well Super Chief You Done It Now.

You Canned One Officer That Has Forgotten More About Being A Firefighter Than You Will Ever Know.

If He Was Black And You Were White Would The Same Thing Happen?

Why So Many Blacks In Your Office? Do Whites Not Deserve To Be A Part Of Management?

Oh, I Forgot, If You Put More Of Your Hand Picked Officers In Suppression, You Would Have To Put In More Second Alarms To Get Enough White Guys At The Fire To Put It Out.

With You And Hoz-a-hole, Who Is The Pitcher And Who Is The Catcher?

With You And Joz-a-hole, Who Is The Husband And Who Is The Wife?

Besides Mz. Flamin Azzz-hole And Mary Ding Dong Jr, Which Of You 2 Swallow?

You Have To Get Your Jollies Busting White Guys Chops, Cause You Aren't Picking On Any Blacks.

Maybe That Shows You Are A Real Man.

Did You Get The Computer Geeks To See Which Station I Posted From The Other Night?

There Is Not A Reason In This World That Many Of The Black Fire Fighters In Our Department Can Not Become Outstanding Officers. But Not The Way You Select Them, By Picking The Dumbest Or The Biggest Brown Nosers You Can Find. Let Them Earn It, Let The Cream Rise To The Top.

Long After You Are Gone And Neatly Tucked Into A Warm Cell, All These Worthless Pieces Of Crap Will Still Be Around As Officers.

For The Next 15, 20, Or 25 Years The City Will Suffer Because Of The Black Good Old Boy System You Have In Place.

Yeah, How Many Years Did You Cry And Whine Cause The Whites Ran The Good Old Boy System?

Now Is Is The Same System, It Is Just The Whites Getting Sh*t On By The Blacks.

Super Chief..... Kiss This

[Jake Rixner]

Piggy, and Frog,

Can we tone down the racist shit please, Yes I know the people your talking about are as racist as they come. But lets not sink to their level.

I have plenty of things I want to say, but I'm being gagged by a guy smarter than me who tells me to save it for the courtroom.

I can tell you that I remember Jose quoting the bible, "When I was a child, I did childish things, but now that i'm a man" He was embarrased when I told him, "Thats nice Captain, but I know the bible to." He acted like he had made the passage up. Several times on the fireground, I was suprised by his Cowardice.

Tina, Worked with her to, Was a good fireman until she figured out she could sit on her ass and reap the rewards anyway, without all the work.

Orlando, First officer Ive ever seen giving himself the rit assignment when he was second due at a working fire. I was in charge and had to give him 3 direct orders to stretch into the fire building.

Assessment centers, Jack Fulton told me man to man they were brought here to increase the number of minority supervisors. hell if the Director of Public Safety is ok with discrimination, what the heck can we lowly people do?

To the real backbone of "THE BUREAU" and you know who you are, Keep on doing what you do best, and look out for each other. Until I can get back to the streets I love. Remember, Its for keeps. Jake

[Vollies Suck]

This whole thread describes a sad, sad situation. I hope the advocates of "justice" and "fairness" who value "diversity" over all else read this and see what such policies do to morale and attitudes.

A wise man I worked with once said to me: "Am I prejudiced? Yes, and I've earned every last damned one of my prejudices!" He had a point. To a large extent (certainly larger than many would care to admit) bigots are made, not born.

Good luck to you, Mr. Rixner. Your courage in posting openly on TWD is highly commendable. And Mr. Pig, you had best be very careful...you might end up as a slab of bacon on your Chief's breakfast plate one morning!

[crackerjack]

Hey to all you guys in VA, I am with ya. The same shit happens everywhere. To get into the county FD here, you either gotta be black, or you have to kiss some politicians ass to get in. I am white, qualified, and ready to work. But, I didn;t get in. Out of a 28 person class....about 60% is black. It is a goddamn shame that the communities in the USA have to suffer because of these moon crickets. They are not qualified and have no clue what the hell they are doing. I am really starting to not even want to be in the career dept. because of all the injustice and prejudice. But, you gotta remeber guys, there is a qouta they have to meet, and heaven forbid a black does'nt get in..there will be a lawsuit to follow for sure. "You didn't hire me cuz Im Black yo" No, you fucking idiot. they didn't hire you because you are unqualified and have been raising your ten kids on welfare for the past 20 years.
I am a redneck to the core...The USA is no longer run by the "good ol boys".
Now the blacks run it and walk all over the politicians because they can. The politicians have allowed them to and they will take advantage of it for the rest of our lives. Fairness is no longer in their vocabulary. Justice doesn't prevail anymore, and white people can't get a fucking job.

[Hopewell]

Hey to all you guys in VA, I am with ya. The same shit happens everywhere. To get into the county FD here, you either gotta be black, or you have to kiss some politicians ass to get in. I am white, qualified, and ready to work. But, I didn;t get in. Out of a 28 person class....about 60% is black. It is a goddamn shame that the communities in the USA have to suffer because of these moon crickets. They are not qualified and have no clue what the hell they are doing. I am really starting to not even want to be in the career dept. because of all the injustice and prejudice. But, you gotta remeber guys, there is a qouta they have to meet, and heaven forbid a black does'nt get in..there will be a lawsuit to follow for sure. "You didn't hire me cuz Im Black yo" No, you fucking idiot. they didn't hire you because you are unqualified and have been raising your ten kids on welfare for the past 20 years.
I am a redneck to the core...The USA is no longer run by the "good ol boys".
Now the blacks run it and walk all over the politicians because they can. The politicians have allowed them to and they will take advantage of it for the rest of our lives. Fairness is no longer in their vocabulary. Justice doesn't prevail anymore, and white people can't get a fucking job.Way to go you stupid nimrod! The reason that some African-Americans can still get away with pulling the race card is because back-woods, window-lickin' retards like yourself haven't learned that racist hate speech is exactly what justifies doing so!

I get as angry as anyone at reverse discrimination, but when you use racial slurs and lump an entire race into an insulting stereotype, you are the worst kind of advocate for whatever cause you think you are advancing.

Here's an idea. Why don't you try studying a little harder for the civil service test, and score high enough to get hired on your own merits instead of blaming blacks! Wait a minute. On second thought, don't bother. If your statement is any indication of how you feel about a racial populace that may place demands on a public service, you really have no business being a provider of that service. The citizens who rely on it deserve better than you.

[crackerjack]

Way to go you stupid nimrod! The reason that some African-Americans can still get away with pulling the race card is because back-woods, window-lickin' retards like yourself haven't learned that racist hate speech is exactly what justifies doing so!

I get as angry as anyone at reverse discrimination, but when you use racial slurs and lump an entire race into an insulting stereotype, you are the worst kind of advocate for whatever cause you think you are advancing.

Here's an idea. Why don't you try studying a little harder for the civil service test, and score high enough to get hired on your own merits instead of blaming blacks! Wait a minute. On second thought, don't bother. If your statement is any indication of how you feel about a racial populace that may place demands on a public service, you really have no business being a provider of that service. The citizens who rely on it deserve better than you.

First of all, if you are going to bitch at me for using 'racial slurs' why don;t you check yourself before you start calling names like a 5 year old.
I did score high enough. I did pass the written exam and I did well on the agility test. However, I made the mistake of trusting in the system. The system is corrupt, you and I know that. I decided not to kiss anyones ass and get a letter from some arrogant politician saying they believe I should get in. I thought that just MAYBE they would hire people based on skill. But yet again, I was VERY wrong. I was not talking about ALL blacks. I was talking about the deleted. Just like there is whites and white trash. This is the USA and I am entitled to my opinion. And on your comment about 'the citizens deserve better than you'. When I am in the field, there is no race. If you are hurt I will help you, whether you are black, white, purple, red, whatever. I see no color there. I DO see color when the injustice of the system affects my life.
You know NOTHING about me or my life. You have NO clue what I have been through and what that job meant to me. I DESERVED it, but I didn't get it because I wasn't black and I didn't kiss any ass. It is a crime and a shame that this happens here. The whites are now being oppressed. We are suffering for what our ancestors did hundreds of years ago.
I do not appreciate your personal attack on me, my skills, or my beliefs. I am far from a "window lickin retard" or "back woods". But, since you like to call names, you sound like and arrogant, snobby asshole who has probably kissed a lot of ass and I offended you by stating the truth.

[Hopewell]

I read your reply and duly noted what you had to say, but I'm curious what others might think about your post before I make my rebuttal. The floor is yours ladies and gentlemen...

[crackerjack]

You know what hopewell, i really don;t care what you or anyone else thinks about me on this site. You don;t know me, and you are judging me based on my opinion. I don;t have the time to argue with you and act like a high schooler. Go find someone else to call names. Your in the career dept anyway, so what do you care?

[allpro]

"Now the blacks run it and walk all over the politicians because they can. The politicians have allowed them to and they will take advantage of it for the rest of our lives. Fairness is no longer in their vocabulary. Justice doesn't prevail anymore, and white people can't get a fucking job."

So, I take it that it was ok when the shoe was on the other foot? It didn't bother you so much when blacks were openly discriminated against?


"The whites are now being oppressed. We are suffering for what our ancestors did hundreds of years ago."

Hey, I don't know if you realize this, but the same shit is still going on.

[BCFD in Philly]

"Now the blacks run it and walk all over the politicians because they can. The politicians have allowed them to and they will take advantage of it for the rest of our lives. Fairness is no longer in their vocabulary. Justice doesn't prevail anymore, and white people can't get a fucking job."

So, I take it that it was ok when the shoe was on the other foot? It didn't bother you so much when blacks were openly discriminated against?
Following your line of reasoning: So, I take it IS ok with you when the shoe is on the current foot. Must be, since every time the topic of current FD hiring practices and qualifications being driven by political agendas instead of objective standards arises, you defend it or deny it is causing huge morale and performance problems in the fire service.

Simply stated, it was wrong then and it is wrong now!

[Conflaguration]

So lets all go out and get lawyers and see who is better, or who has the better lawyer. Any discrimination is wrong and should be dealt with justly. Remember the business we are in is saving lives..........in one way or another. Anyone who does get in to a department because of a "quota" or by way of the lawyer must be careful. Because when tragedy happens........who is going to have the blood on their hands. Hopefully you are qualified and do know your job.....or your lawyer is really good.

Those who have jobs on a department; good bad or otherwise; should feel lucky you arent on the outside looking in! The view from out here sucks!!

[crackerjack]

all pro
so this policy must benefit you in some way or another since you are so quick to defend the system. get over ot. I am entitled to my own opinion, as you are entitled to yours. Why don't you reconsider the facts and your statements and then try to write something intelligent.

[allpro]

I have never defended poor or unfair hiring practices. All I ever did was try to make people realize this is what minorities have been dealing with for a long time and still do today. I don't remember seeing too many white males standing up and shouting when blacks are openly discrminated against. Now, you want sympathy from the same people? PLEASE! I would never condone unfair employment practices, but at the same time who have you helped along the way who doesn't look like you?

[closet ff]

See what this thinking has done, it's caused people to question some one's abilty because of their race or sex, which is wrong! We should go back and put everyone on the same playing field and let the most qualified person get the job. Then if you don't get hired all you got to blame is your self for not being the best.

[BCFD in Philly]

Now, you want sympathy from the same people? PLEASE! I would never condone unfair employment practices, but at the same time who have you helped along the way who doesn't look like you?

No, I do not want sympathy from anyone. Sympathy is no substitute for condemning the practice of manufacturing "hiring crises" by the diversity industry. In Baltimore, the "industry" saw no problem with skipping higher-ranking non-minority candidates to hire minorities over an 18 month period. However when non-minority candidates were the only ones left on the list for the next class, all of a sudden a crisis existed. Where was the condemnation of the duplicity in that matter? If it was too long to run the list why wasn't it brought up earlier by the "industry" watchdogs. Hmmmm, maybe because their suppporters were benefitting from the long list, ya think?

As I said before, discrimination was wrong in the past and it is wrong now.

Actually I have helped many people along my way, and none of them looked exactly like me, so I guess I passed that test. However what race a person is appears to be the primary criteria the diversity industry uses to decide whether a crisis exists requiring their "intervention".

[SHkneedeepIT]

My two cents...which are only worth about two cents.

I am a white male and new to the fire service. I went to a historically black college on a baseball scholarship originally and changed to an ORG...Other Race Grant...since I was the minority at the school. One thing I took from my experiences in college was a statement made by a senior. He had aspirations of being the first black Donald Trump. And he asked ONE favor of me as a white male....if I ever got into a position of power, had the ability to make hiring decisions, only hire the black candidate IF he/she is the MOST qualified. He said he could SEE the white backlash building from the effects of affirmative action. I told him I would do my best to oblige.

Now, if we could get ALL of society to feel this way and ONLY use the concept of quotas as the final determination for two candidates who have identical qualifications, we would be a better and more equitable society. I cannot sit here and say we will be EQUAL because one cannot honestly say that whites, blacks or orientals will be more qualified. Bottomline, do your work, bust your ass and hope the system will open its eyes and as Spike said, do the right thing.

peace

knee deep

[BCFD Engine 25]

I don't remember seeing too many white males standing up and shouting when blacks are openly discrminated against....I would never condone unfair employment practices, but at the same time who have you helped along the way who doesn't look like you?

Allpro, you usually make very good points, but this post has left me shaking my head. Opposing modern affirmative action, and resisting the demands of today's cynical race hustlers, does not mean one is opposed to civil rights, unconcerned about true injustices, or unwilling to take a principled stand.

In the heyday of the civil rights movement, when black Americans were engaged in the noble struggle for such basic freedoms as the right to vote, the right to live where they wanted, and the right to use public accommodations, they were aided immeasurably by white Americans who saw the justness of their cause, supported them, and worked alongside them. In fact, the entire civil rights movement of that era was funded to a great degree by white people.

Not a single piece of federal civil rights legislation ever passed without the support of white Congressmen and Senators and their constituents. Think about it: 40+ years ago, when many black Americans could not vote, or were discouraged from voting through the use of literacy tests and poll taxes, and when there were very few black elected officials, the only way any civil rights legislation could pass was with the support of white people of good conscience.

BCFD in Philly and I went to the same Catholic elementary school in Baltimore. During our summer vacations back then, the nuns who taught us were actively working on civil rights issues. And during the school year, they made sure we understood the injustices of that era. Our experience was not unique: many, many white people were, and are, deeply committed to the philosophy that we are all God's children, we are all in this world together, and that an injustice done to any one of us hurts us all.

In closing, do the names Michael Goodman, Andrew Schwerner, and Viola Liuzzo mean anything to you?

[Mini Me]

So whats the answer? I am waiting for someone to come up with a brilliant idea to stop what so many people fell passionate about: Racisim. I can only offer this tid bit:

It has to start somewhere. Why not our children. If they are taught that colors dont matter at a young age and that everyone is created equal, wouldnt that start something. if everyone who reads this thread taught 1 child where would that lead us all. Think of the possibilities. We may never see the results but our children would. And dont we do things so our children will have a better life? I know I do.

I just bought my daughter, who is 2, a book. It is called "The Calico Buffallo" by E. J. Stapleton. Yes the son of former Fire Commissioner and author Leo Stapleton. What a great book this was. I read it before reading it to her and it is a wonderful story of diversity and racisim put so that a child can understand. Buy that book and give it to a child. Read it to your children. Let it start from there. There has been just under 3000 people who have viewed this thread. What a start that could be.

This is only my "Bright idea" and it is my opinion. And no I am not in any way related to Stapleton and will not recieve any money from the sale of his book.

Have a great day!

[allpro]

You are absolutely correct. You could go back to the times of slavery. If not for some white people; blacks were taught to read, helped with the underground railroad, the emancipation, and the civil rights movement. I'm in no way saying that no whites helped blacks. I believe it's hard for people to see things through your eyes if they could never be in your situation.

"In closing, do the names Michael Goodman, Andrew Schwerner, and Viola Liuzzo mean anything to you?"

I think Schwerner was the young man killed in Mississippi along with two other young men (black&white).

[BCFD Engine 25]

"In closing, do the names Michael Goodman, Andrew Schwerner, and Viola Liuzzo mean anything to you?"

I think Schwerner was the young man killed in Mississippi along with two other young men (black&white).

Michael Goodman and Andrew Schwerner were white civil rights activists who, along with James Chaney (who was black) were killed by the Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi in 1964. You can read more about this case at http://www.core-online.org/history/chaney.htm

Viola Liuzzo, who was white, was a 39 year old wife and mother, and a member of the NAACP, who was murdered by the KKK in Alabama in 1965. You can read more about her case at http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAliuzzo.htm

I vividly remember both of these cases from my youth. It brought home to me the evil of the entrenched bigotry of that day, the desperation of those who were resisting reform, and the courage of those who were fighting for change.

[dlo]

To go back to the original issue-- if this activity is what the RFD is promoting-- even by looks, then it is wrong. The good ol' boys club has no place anywhere, not just the fire service. A comment was made that the best, most qualified person be promoted, or hired. That, is how it should be. I work in a department where we have men and women that flat out suck. It scares me to work beside or under these ones. I don't care if you have testicles or ovaries, or whether you skin color is the same as mine. If you cannot do the job, then please, please, please, do not bid my station. By the way, I am an African-American. I am qualified. I am an Engineer-Paramedic, assigned to our Special Operations Task Force. I am one of eight black firefighters (all male) in a department with about 250 line personnel, all paid. Two of us are Captains, six are firemedics, one is on Special Ops. with me, and the other is on probation. We hire by lottery, so, if you're not qualified, you're not working. Promotion takes the best of the best, so, study hard. There are no secret study sessions wherein answers are given. You have to be the best on the list, and that's it. There are some in the department who show their true colors when they feel threatened or intimdated by others, and it shows in their words and actions. It seems that some here have that same issue going on. I must admit that I was appalled at some of the posts that were written here. You probably shouldn't give the perception that you are a racist bigot to everyone. Venting is okay, but sometimes you take it too far, even for an open forum such as this. I was always taught that two wrongs don't make a right. Just because I'm black and have a "cultural history" doesn't mean that I can hate white men, or lesbian women, or asian businessmen. The same goes for those venting here. Be angry at the RFD admin. and city heads for letting these practices occur. You never know, those officers may turn out to be fine officers. You can't judge a book by it's color. For those that feel wronged by the admin. of the RFD, they must work twice as hard to be the best so that they cannot give any reason for being passed over-- or, get out. Someone else will appreciate the expertise and education that you have to offer. Spewing out anger and racial epitaths don't help you, the situation, or anyone reading this thread. As a college educated black man who works at a majority caucasian male populated metro fire department, I know first hand that I have to be excellent due to some thinking that I got there on affirmative action and crap like that. Some feel I am unworthy. However, my performance, my record, and my education silently tell them to shut the *@$% up. My pursuit of excellence is not for my race, it's for myself, my wife and children, and the time and effort my parents put into me to make me succeed. It is also for the people that I work with day and night who depend on me to do my job right. My performance shows that I am worthy of being where I am at. I am sorry that there are still many out there that use favoritism and unfair promotional and hiring practices to fill their starting line up. I hope that those who have been wronged get justice, or make a positive change their own way. Your performance will eventually be noticed. Change takes time. It's just ironic to see the shoe being on the other foot for once. Stay low folks.

[closet ff]

Couldn't said it better myself. But because of affirmative, you will have people question your abilities and knowledge until you prove yourself to them, which shouldn't happen. All that reverse discrmination does is create more rasisim. I'd just wish we could go back to MLK's thinking, judge a man on his charicture [spelling] and not the color of his skin. But hell I don't think the laywers will let us, becuase there's to much many in race bating either way :(