Saudi National Cover Up in Boston Bombing

Disturbing news about a Saudi allegedly involved in Boston Marathon bombings.  We should all be increasingly disturbed about the lack of information provided to the public, particularly in cases where there has been a change in the status of a foreign national as seems to be the case here.

http://news.yahoo.com/beck-breaks-exclusive-information-saudi-national-allegedly-connected-144627335.html

Robert Baldwin

Rich Preachers in Brazil

Just finished reading this article on "Rich Preachers in Brazil." As in the U.S., one must notice the dys-synchrony of the work "Rich" and the word "Preacher." These five have net worths of millions of dollars and the top earner has been jailed for "charlatanism" and other allegations are outstanding. The popularity of these preachers is two-fold: 1. They have charismatic personalities; 2. They preach "Prosperity Theology. Charismatic personalities lead to success in many fields but also can hide faults and false motives from others. In the field of Medicine, for example, some of the worst doctors have thriving practices and patients who worship them, but are acknowledged by their peers to practice sub-par medicine and to use excessive and often unnecessary testing and ill-advised surgery. The peers keep quiet save for talk among themselves for fear of liability issues. Hospitals hesitate to keep them off the staff or to remove them for the same reasons. It is a surmountable task to assimilate the data needed to successfully mount a successful action. In some cases it is not until the insurance companies raise questions of utilization data or malpractice claims that action is forthcoming. The moral: "All that glitters is not old," and personality can hide many faults and false motives. The "call" to preaching is not a call to riches but to service to God and one's fellow man. While these preachers hoard the millions of dollars, build ostentatious church structures, clothe themselves in fine clothing, and eat "high on the hog," there are millions of citizens without sufficient resources to maintain the lowest hierarchy of human needs, food, shelter, clothing (See Maslow "Hierarchy of Needs"). While these preachers may allow some of their fortunes to be used for good purpose, they keep more than the "sower's share" for themselves. If indeed you are serving God, then keeping what is God's, and rationalizing it by preaching a false doctrine, is sinful. Much less, living in a style comparable to Caesar is certainly the antithesis of living in fellowship with God and with your fellow man. Whether the preacher is part of a conventional and mainline religion, e.g. Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, where oversight and accountability is formal and structured, he must be accountable to God. Since there are roughly 30,000 different denominations of Protestantism, for example, most are non-denominational and accountable only to themselves and their cronies, who's minding the store? While false prophets receive their judgment at the end of times, one must ask just what is our responsibility to protect the innocent seeking a Holy path from the charlatans of these churchs? Pray! Robert L. Baldwin, M.D.

"Sobornost," by Austin Wimberly

I have just completed reading Sobornost, a fascinating novel about the process of Russian adoption by a couple from the United States. Although this is a novel, the story is lived out in fact by couples across America that seek to adopt Russian children. The author, writting in a manner reminiscent of Tolstoy, adapts a personal story into a very descriptive and emotional novel as he explores the inner joys and turmoils faced by adoptive parents, adoptees, and the biological mother. The story harkens the emotional and I found myself wrapped up in the characters pysche, experiencing the many trials and tribulations, and joys and sorrows. I would recommend anyone that has adopted Russian children, those now in the adoption process, and those considering adoption read this book. You will be taught in the form of a very interesting and dynamic story just what these parents go through in the process from start to finish over a several year period. I would also recommend it to readers that enjoy a touching story of love between parent and child, be it adoptive or biological parent. There is some adult language and adult situations. www.amazon.com Robert Baldwin

A step forward: Alabama Senator proposes new death penalty bill

by Robert L. Baldwin

Alabama Senator Hank Sanders, who has put forth legislation to end the death penalty in Alabama for the last decade, has introduced a bill that would ban judges from over-riding a jury's decision for life without the possibility of parole and imposing the death penalty.

Alabama is one of only three states that allows judges to override cases such as this, and it is the only one that allows it without any guidelines or even an explanation from the judge. In fact, roughly 25% of inmates on Alabama's death row are there because of judicial overrides of LWOP jury recommendations.  Florida, for example, has explicit guidelines for a judicial override to take place.

One-half of the 204 inmates on Alabama's death row had lawyers whose fees were capped at $1,000. Alabama is the only state that has no state-funded public defender system for indigent inmates, although several counties in the state do have procedures for same. Most of the assigned lawyers do not meet the inmate until shortly before the trial, and most do not do a thorough investigation or mount a thorough or effective defense. Since the only requirement for being a public defender is a law degree and five years of experience in practice, many appointed defenders have little or no experience in capital cases, and these cases are among the most complicated ones to defend. 

In addition, Alabama does not guarantee an inmate's right to DNA testing. In fact some cases that DNA testing could have liberated the accused were not allowed by the judge. In another case, once the judicial machinations reached the point that the court ruled in favor of the inmate's request, prosecutors said the evidence was lost. The state executed man anyway.  It has been said that "State prosecutors have never seen a death sentence that they did not like." 

Alabama continues to be among the worst in the country for racism and bias in arrests for suspicion of homicide, jury selection excluding blacks, prosecutors pursuing the death penalty for blacks killing whites, and for juveniles serving life without parole for murders while in their teens and as young as 13-14 years-old. The majority of these juveniles are black. 

In Alabama, 65% of murder victims are black, but only 6% of the executions are for black victims. Eighty-four per cent of executions in Alabama are for cases involving black on white homicides (about the same as it was when rape was considered a capital crime).   Although that percentage has dropped in recent years, it is my opinion that it has done so to equilibrate the statistics after years of exposure of this atrocity by such groups as Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty. 

Althought the legislature has been lobbied on behalf of a moratorium on the death penalty and a "blue-ribbon" panel of experts in the field to study the state's death penalty process, these efforts fall on deaf ears. None of our politicians, even those convinced of the inequities, have had the courage to speak out for the truth for fear of losing the next election. While perhaps some can be excused because of ignorance, it more likely is because no one in Alabama can get elected if they appear "soft on crime." Even our politically elected judges campaign in strong support of the death penalty, and they do so with large coffers of cash from political donors such as lawyers and other special interest groups. 

These are just a few of the reasons Alabama has been described as one of the worst death penalty states in the nation by the American Bar Association.  The state's politicians refuse to even read the report, and those made aware of the study refuse to recognize or acknowledge the facts contained therein.  

The facts included in this message are many or the reasons that passage of the Hank Sander's Bill to ban judicial overrides by judges would be a step forward toward real justice in Alabama. 

Robert L. Baldwin

I vote for this guy for president, figuring he could be right on in budget projections.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cbUb2_WEk_U

Followers in Ukraine

I am pleased to have so many followers of this blog in Ukraine, a number that almost equals the number of followers in the U.S.  I am not sure why this is but hope that Ukrainians might post comments addressing the reason.  I have also added a Russian translation that may facilitate viewers of this blog in that country.

Thanks for your interest and look forward to your comments.

Robert