Forum tackles tough political controversies

[jp_48504]

http://www.bartlettexpress.com/articles ... 5forum.txt

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Forum tackles tough political controversies

by Drew Harris

What do immigration laws, activist judges, trade agreements, political parties, President George W. Bush and political correctness all have in common?

They all came under attack at the Political Cesspool Freedom Forum Sept. 11 in the Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center.

Organized by the Political Cesspool radio talk show hosts James Edwards and Austin Farley, the forum included immigration activist and member of the Texas Minutemen Frank George, Sons of Confederate Veterans Tennessee Commander Tarry Beasley and 2000 vice-presidential running mate of candidate Pat Buchanan Ezola Foster. Arlington Alderman Mike Morrison and John Birch Society member Mitchell Morrison, as well as Edwards and Farley, also participated.

One of the biggest hot button items at the forum was immigration. Frank George, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Cuba, chastised the U.S. government for allowing the "human tsunami of immigration coming from the south" and warned that illegal immigrants could demolish the American way of life.

"Our politicians tell us frequently that we have 10 or 20 or 30 million illegal immigrants. They tell us that there are too many to do anything about," he said. "We have to worry about losing our culture and our heritage that has been paid for with American blood."

He explained that when he came to America, he went through the legal channels by "carrying a green card" and applying for citizenship. But the current influx of illegal immigrants, he said, is weakening the country by diluting American culture and usurping government funds. Even worse, he said, were politicians who allowed it to happen.

"What has happened is the big corporations want cheap Mexican labor so they fund Democrat and Republican candidates so they can get that," he said. "It does not matter what party you go with, you get the same thing."

He also criticized President Bush for, what he said, was a lack of action on the issue.

"We need a strong movement to impeach George W. Bush - maybe the W means worthless," he said, drawing applause from the crowd of about 40 people. "When you do that, you will begin to take back the democracy that was paid for with blood."

Beasley also drew applause from the crowd with his talk on states rights. He said the American Civil War was about the rights of Southern states' - rights he believes are being violated today. He encouraged the audience to work to get those rights back, using traditional grassroots efforts.

"We've got to get our states' rights back, and we can do it," he said. "Go to the Democrat, Republican or Libertarian Party - any party you want to go to - and take several of your friends. You can get control of the party and make sure that their candidates are conservatives, true conservatives."

He also said constantly contacting politicians could help raise awareness of states' rights and other issues.

"Get involved and make political contact," he said. "Wear their phones out. Wear their mail carriers out."

Keynote speaker Ezola Foster discussed a variety of issues from political parties to political correctness and race relations. As an African American woman, she said race was becoming a divisive tool in America, used by corrupt leaders and liberal professors.

"It is so embarrassing to us to have these hoodlums-turned-preachers leading us," she said.

She also said black history month "is nothing more than teaching hatred to our black students," and argued that the Confederate flag has its roots in a Christian symbol.

"I tried to tell some of my more liberal friends that (the Confederate Flag) was St. Andrew's Cross...they just told me that I was just supporting the white man. That is so sad that someone can be brainwashed that way."

Other speakers argued that the United States should pull out of world organizations like the United Nations and the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement and should fight against future initiatives like the Free Trade Area of the Americas.

Arlington Alderman Mike Morrison said the UN and FTAA could one day supersede local and federal laws if Americans were not careful of their influence. He asked the audience to contact their representatives to fight against foreign control in the U.S.

"It is time we step to the plate and begin to fight," he said "Ponder if our local, state and federal laws had no meaning. Too many conservatives are focused on things like homosexual marriage and abortion - make no mistake about it, those are important issues - but while we are worried about that, they are slamming things through like NAFTA, CAFTA...and FTAA will be next."

Morrison said that when the government compromises with foreign countries, Americans lose.

"When you compromise you have to give up something, and I don't want to give up anything," he said.

[jp_48504]

This sounds like it was one heck of a meeting.