Wallace House Hosts "Held Hostage" Seminar

Every year hundreds of American journalists, humanitarian aid workers, tourists and business people are taken captive by terrorist groups, criminal organizations and foreign governments. Sadly, we work in an age where there is a growing risk to journalists and aid workers who work abroad. 

The Wallace House at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy arranged a panel discussion about being taken captive and how the US and other countries deal with these situations. Margaux Ewen served as moderator. Diane Foley and Joel Simon addressed the issues. I attended to learn more about US policies about negotiating with terrorists.

Diane Foley founded the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation in September 2014 shortly after her son, a freelance journalist, was executed abroad by a terrorist group. She told the audience about her efforts to fund an International Alliance for a Culture of Safety. At the present time, the United States has a policy that allows negotiation with other countries and with criminal groups, but it will not negotiate with terrorist groups. 

Joel Simon is the executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. A former journalist himself, he spoke of the cruel consequences when some of his friends were taken hostage and the US refused to negotiate. Simon also talked about some research that has been done on negotiating with terrorists and criminal groups. 

Diane Foley and Joel Simon shared their views and what they have learned about negotiating with terrorists. Brutal executions of men like James W. Foley and Daniel Pearl who were simply doing their jobs as journalists underscore the need for the United States to change its policy on negotiating with terrorists. Spain, a country that does negotiate with terrorists has had a 100% success rate bringing its citizens home following detention by various groups. France, too, negotiates with terrorists and has had a success rate above 70%. Only 30% of US citizens detained by terrorist groups survive their ordeals because the US refuses to negotiate.

The issue of dealing with those who have been taken hostage is a complicated matter. But perhaps it is time to rethink the policy instituted by Nixon when a terrorist group called for the release of Sirhan Sirhan, who was convicted of killing Robert F. Kennedy, in return for hostages that group held. In that instance, Sirhan Sirhan remained in jail but all the hostages were killed by their kidnappers.

Working Together to Protect Our Environment

I attended an Environmental Town Hall this evening dressed in my patriotic outfit. I may not be carrying my "Dump The Trump in 2020" sign for some of the events I attend, but the Uncle Sam suit stirs up curiosity and brings smiles to the faces of many.

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-12th District) pulled together a group of politicians and policymakers from various environmental groups for a fascinating evening at the Wyandotte Boat Club.  She was joined by State Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), and State Reps. Cara Clemente (D-Lincoln Park), Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), Alex Garza (D-Taylor) and Frank Liberati (D-Allen Park) as well as others who represented climate action and environmental groups.

Panelists discussed the work they and their organizations are doing to revitalize and keep Michigan’s environment clean. The program dealt with efforts to keep Michigan’s air, water and land pollution-free. Everyone agreed that clean energy technology is good for our health and can lead to the creation of good paying jobs. They acknowledged that it was more difficult to achieve their goals at present with an administration in Washington D.C. bent on reversing environmental legislation that has been key to maintaining a clean, healthy environment. 

Too often we find ourselves fighting about issues instead of working together to achieve positive results. Concerned citizens, environmental groups and government agencies have been working for 50 years to return environmental health to Downriver communities with stunningly positive results.

Specific issues addressed by this panel focused on areas that are Downriver. But all over Michigan, politicians, concerned citizens and environmental groups are bringing about positive change to our environment.

Guilty of Being Poor?

I had to do a lot of research to create 2020: The Musical. Each song revolves around a different topic -- so twenty topics had to be fully researched. Eh Boy, the song that relates to criminal justice reform, takes place in a jail and is told through the eyes of a black inmate. His comments reference many of the issues that need to be addressed.

Last night there was a panel discussion in E. Lansing, MI about pretrial detention. I decided to make the drive to the home of Michigan State University (arch rivals of the University of Michigan based on a football rivalry) to see if I could learn more. I could and I did. 

Everyone was so warm and friendly. The first person I met, Trudy Bower, introduced me to some of her friends.

The discussion was part of the Truman Lecture series held at Edgewood United Church. The panel included Truman A. Morrison III (Senior Judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court and son of the man for whom the series in named), Carol A. Siemon (Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney), Cynthia M. Ward (District Judge, 54-A District Court), Shannon Schlegel (attorney), Takura Nyamfukudza (attorney), and Anethia O. Brewer (54-A District Court Administrator). Professor Michael Lawrence of MSU's College of Law was the moderator.

The program lasted for two hours during which time the panelists drew from their personal and professional experiences to shine light on the problems with pretrial detention and solutions that some jurisdictions like the District of Columbia and the state of New Jersey have devised. Other states are wrestling with a system that unjustly punishes the poor and will hopefully do away with money bail soon. 

Outside An Oakland County MI Coffee Hour

When I heard U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D – Holly would be hosting an Oakland County Coffee Hour on Friday October 4, 2019 at the American Legion Hall 234 in Rochester MI, I wanted to hear her remarks. Many Republicans in her district have been unhappy with her decision to support an impeachment inquiry.

The American Legion Hall has a capacity for 75 people. I got there early and expected it would be easy to get a seat. It would have been if I had not insisted on standing around with my Dump the Trump in 2020 sign. The line to attend stretched around the block. Many, including me, did not get to hear Representative Slotkin’s remarks.

I did, however, have the opportunity to meet some of the Republicans who were protesting. One posed for a photo with me, recognizing that you can still be civil even if you do not share the same viewpoints. Some others wanted to argue (which I will not do). When people have made up their minds based on fictions and refuse to listen to what makes sense there is no point in engaging.

Someone told me he really liked my outfit even though he did not approve of my sign. I started to sing a verse of “Dump the Trump in 2020” at someone’s request and a woman told me I had a bad voice and I should stop singing. A Republican, no doubt. I stopped. A man said something deprecating that he thought was clever and then started laughing at me. I ignored it. One man told me it was a good thing I could not change his mind because then there would be two of us who came to the wrong conclusion. Haha.

It was chilly outside – but I wore long underwear under my Uncle Sam costume for the first time. October 4th. There is global warming -- but it won't stop Old Man Winter.