I've been trying to find a list that is similar to the one we receive that shows how much of your donation goes to the people or cause you want to help, and how much goes to pay the staff or goes towards their own agenda. I can't find anything just yet but I'll keep looking. My advice is to do some research on any charity that you are considering donating to, and see if they will give you the numbers. More than likely, the ones that are more willing to give you the information you request, the more likely they are genuinely trying to help those they advertise to help. If I can find a website that has a list of the percentages, I'll post it here on the 912 project.

I was just thinking about this ACORN thing and something came to me. If we can start spreading the word of the true charities that stick to their principles, and blow the whistle on those who are making profits on our generosity, we could start hitting these corrupt politicians where it hurts, the wallet. Every year, we in the military, participate in a program called CFC (Combined Federal Campaign) which, for those unfamiliar with this, is where we get the opportunity to give money to charities of our choice and it comes straight out of our pay check over the following year. I bring this up because when we get the list of charities (which is very very long) we can see how much of our money will go to the cause, and how much will go to organization itself. I always looked for the organization that gave the highest percentage to the cause and the least to the organization. You would be amazed at how much of your donation to certain organizations, goes to pay the people running that organization. My point is, is that there are many corrupt, so called charities out there, that use your donations to help promote their political agenda, instead of using the money to help those you intended the money to help.

Here is a website that I found that can help in finding a genuine charity to give to.
http://www.charitynavigator.org/?gclid=COmenJ6rwp...

I urge everyone to stop giving to the charities of the lobbyist and start giving to charities of people who truly care.

YES

I love it, great analogy with the use of baseball to explain what is happening and what needs to happen. I would add that we need a Ted Williams, a Lou Gerhig and a Rogers Hornsby ( people who can get on base) in front of a Babe Ruth so he can do the most damage.

HAHAHA, Drive by thumbers. I would like to add Weezo to that list as well. I listen to Rush Limbaugh a lot and as many who listen to him know, he use to refer to many in media as the drive by media. He now calls them the State Run Media. So I guess we could call these Drive By Thumbers, State Run Thumbers. HAHA

To answer your first question: Mortality during the Middle Passage varied considerably from ship to ship. On average, about 15 percent of the slaves died, but sometimes half or more perished. The average mortality among the white crew of the slave ships was often nearly as bad.
As for your second point: We are at least a generation removed from segregation. Though there are many who are still alive today who had to endure true discrimination, how long do you think we need to continue to dwell on past discrimination? It seems to me, that the way to true equality is to look at the now and into the future. When we look at the country today, we have more equality than in any country in history. It is time to move on and look towards the future and realize that we all need to come together as Americans. We are not German American, Italian American, African American, Asian American, etc. We Are ALL simply AMERICANS. The only reason we are still dealing with this is because of people like yourself who refuse to let go and see the opportunity that is laid out in front of every man, woman and child in this Great Nation. We can recognize past discretions without dwelling on them!! Move on and free yourself from your own self placed chain and ball I say. If you're not willing to act in your own self interest, then do not expect a damn thing from me.

This is a topic that has driven me to near insanity through out my life. Let me see if I can apply some common sense to this argument. I will start off by saying yes, the U.S. did have slavery which is absolutely repulsive. Now let's get to some facts: From 1451-1870 (that's 419 years) there were an estimated 10,000,000 slaves imported into the Western Hemisphere, to include North America, Central America, South America and all the islands in the Caribbean . During that time only an estimated 4% were imported into what is now the United States. That works out to be an estimated 400,000 through out a 419 year span. The only country with a lower rate was Mexico. Why is it that the U.S., from what I can see, is one the few countries still dealing with this issue? Slavery was abolished almost 150 years ago, yet we are still talking about it as if it happened yesterday. As far as discrimination goes, what group of immigrants haven't found themselves discriminated against? Every group that has immigrated here to the U.S. has been discriminated against in some form or fashion, yet almost all of them have risen through it to become successful in our society. Anyone who finds themselves wanting, is in that position due to their own choices! If you choose to adapt and overcome, you will be successful. If you choose to hold onto the past and to the injustice that you may or may not have had to endure, you will remain wanting and I have no sympathy for you. Those are my thoughts, love em or hate em.

I just want to make sure more people get the story of 'Old Glory' for Independence Day. So here is a bump.

For sicofit. It happens to me from time to time where I can't read replies or sometimes even get the page to load. Just give it some time and it should work itself out by tomorrow for you.

I've always heard the Stars and Stripes refered to as "Old Glory". I didn't know where this came from until now. Here is the story of how OUR FLAG came to be known as "Old Glory".

"OLD GLORY!"

This famous name was coined by Captain William Driver, a shipmaster of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1831. As he was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig CHARLES DOGGETT - and this one would climax with the rescue of the mutineers of the BOUNTY - some friends presented him with a beautiful flag of twenty four stars. As the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed "Old Glory!"
He retired to Nashville in 1837, taking his treasured flag from his sea days with him. By the time the Civil War erupted, most everyone in and around Nashville recognized Captain Driver's "Old Glory." When Tennesee seceded from the Union, Rebels were determined to destroy his flag, but repeated searches revealed no trace of the hated banner.

Then on February 25th, 1862, Union forces captured Nashville and raised the American flag over the capital. It was a rather small ensign and immediately folks began asking Captain Driver if "Old Glory" still existed. Happy to have soldiers with him this time, Captain Driver went home and began ripping at the seams of his bedcover. As the stitches holding the quilt-top to the batting unraveled, the onlookers peered inside and saw the 24-starred original "Old Glory"!

Captain Driver gently gathered up the flag and returned with the soldiers to the capitol. Though he was sixty years old, the Captain climbed up to the tower to replace the smaller banner with his beloved flag. The Sixth Ohio Regiment cheered and saluted - and later adopted the nickname "Old Glory" as their own, telling and re-telling the story of Captain Driver's devotion to the flag we honor yet today.

Captain Driver's grave is located in the old Nashville City Cemetery, and is one of three (3) places authorized by act of Congress where the Flag of the United States may be flown 24 hours a day.