Democracy Now

Evelyn Espinoza

 

 The “Untold History: More than a Quarter of U.S. Presidents were Involved in Slavery, Human Trafficking” aired on Presidents’ Day. President Barack Obama visited Jefferson’s home and acknowledged that slaves helped build the structure. He continues on, referring to Jefferson as the drafter of the Declaration of Independence and the complex relation to slavery. Clarence Lusane was glad that President Obama acknowledge the slave history involved with Jefferson’s home but he noted the importance of the slavery that existed in the White House that seems to get overlooked by the millions who go through the building. Lusane could not have said it better when he said, “…Presidents’ Day should be a period of critical reflection, not some kind of blind celebration, but it should be one where we really try to get a better sense of the country’s history.” I believe Clarence is clearly pointing out the forgotten history of America because as American’s we take pride in being the best and have never really admitted the wrong doings as it is swept under the rug. He points out all the presidents who wrote the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Articles of Confederation, and such founding documents on democracy, liberty, equality and yet they were not following their word as they lived in “contradiction”.

The other video dealt with the excessive force used by U.S. border agents as a man was shot dead near San Diego. The U.S. border patrol agents have dangerous jobs but it is being questioned if whether excessive force is used for rock throwing.  Of all the fatalities along the border nearly half involved rock throwing. It is being suggested the use of nonlethal force such as firing rubber bullets.  Of all the confrontations of rock throwing it has not resulted in the death of an agent. The United States expects Mexico to be a friend as the third largest trading partner but is opposed to Mexican individuals coming over, seems a little absurd. John Carlos Frey points out the racism against Mexicans as he compares the same issues with other countries and feels the results would be different. Border patrol is literally physically pushing back and automatically identifying Mexicans as criminals. This will make it very difficult for and immigration reform to get approved by Congress.

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/17/untold_history_more_than_a_quarter

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/20/excessive_force_migrant_shot_dead_by