(Real Times Media)—Joseph Andrew Stack’s decision to fly his plane into the IRS building in Austin, Texas last week is going to be interpreted along two main camps. There will be those that look at Joe Stack’s life, read his extensive suicide note and see a great deal of themselves in the story that he tells. Hard working, played by the rules they were taught and yet still seem to be thwarted at every turn by a federal government singularly focused on the uber-rich. Then there are those that will look at Joe Stack’s life, read his extensive suicide note and see precisely what is wrong with America in general, self absorbed, lack of values and paint him as the epitome of the whining baby boomer generation. Of course, neither side is entirely wrong, but no one is going to give much credence to the main truth. Joe Stack was just one crazy individual who had the same problems as a lot of people; he just handled them in a spectacularly deadly way. Of course, that story is much less sexy narrative than making Joe Stack a sign of our recessionary times.

Dear District Attorney Zappala:

On behalf of the Black Political Empowerment Project  Planning Council, the Coalition Against Violence and B-PEP’s Regional Monitoring Project I respectfully request that the charges against CAPA High School student Jordan Miles be dropped. In our opinion this honor student, violinist and viola player has been damaged enough, both physically and psychologically from the brutal beating he received at the hands of three undercover Pittsburgh police officers while going between his mother’s home and that of his grandmother in Homewood on the evening of Jan. 11.

by Akwasi Evans

(NNPA)—Many Black-owned newspapers across the country recently ran a scathing criticism of the NAACP by the National Black Church Initiative. NBCI President Anthony Evans (no relation) said that during the Congressional Black Caucus weekend he “cornered Mr. Jealous,” and told him “the ministers will not stand for the oldest civil rights organization to be used by the gay community to justify their unethical sexual behavior.”

Evans’ letter to NAACP Board Chair Julian Bond warned that there was no way the Black church was going to allow the NAACP or anyone “to utilize these institutions that African Americans have put their lives on the line for to be prostituted for a contribution from the White, gay community.” Evans claims the NAACP “has no business in the issue of marriage.” “Marriage,” said Evans, “is a church matter.” But, in reality marriage is more of a state matter than a church matter. Applicants for marriage must seek a license from the government, not from the church. Couples can marry in the church, but they can also marry in the courthouse or even their parent’s house.

by Shannon Williams

Since I try to educate, support and pay homage to the Black community in everything that I do, the month of February for me, is just like the other 11 months of the year.

Nonetheless, I certainly appreciate Black History Month and all that it represents for our people as well as the general population. With that said, it’s important for us to not only reflect on our history, but also our present state of being. In doing so, I was reminded of how far we’ve come as a people and unfortunately, how far behind we are.