Miami Dade County Courthouse And My Subpoena Experience

I was called to jury duty recently. That was my third subpoena, but it was my first time at the ancient Miami Dade County Courthouse building at 71 Flagler Street downtown Miami. I was curious to know how the court would handle the situation in this Covid epidemic atmosphere. The two entrances were opened as usual to the public - one on Flagler Street and the other on NW 1st Avenue. Items were scanned upon entry and body scans could be done if there was a beep going through the metal detector. All were expected to wear masks. But, there were no temperature checks so anyone with a fever or Covid could have easily entered this old, crowded building. 

It appears that instead of calling numbers in a room packed with all receiving subpoenas, it is now predetermined the day and courtroom for persons to show up.  Approximately 24 of us potential jurists waited outside the assigned courtroom. However, it was disappointing that we were expected to get to the courthouse at 8:00 AM, but the bailiff did not usher us into the courtroom until past 9:30 AM at which time the attorneys for the civil case seemed unprepared on Monday morning. The judge began the questioning close to 10:00 AM to begin the process for the civil case instead of us having to wait on unprepared attorneys in the packed small courtroom with a huge column blocking the view for all at every angle. 

The judge made the grand usual speech on our expectations as citizens to serve on a jury and that excuses not to serve would go against the perceptions of being a U.S. citizen. But, her utterance of $8 per day was a bit startling and a slap in the face to me. Now, $15 a day at Miami Dade County's criminal court seemed outrageous when I was called to jury duty there some years ago. So $8 for service at this courthouse seemed beyond outrageous. Actually, it is downright inconsiderate and disrespectful! Clearly, the court has no sympathy or consideration for those workers and others who will not be paid for taking a day off for jury duty. So, federal judges with their six-figure salaries cannot dictate to others about the nobleness of serving on a jury when they will never experience the financial hardships of taking off even one day from work. This lack of respect for my time gives me the impetus of not considering jury duty as an honor.

A quite capable white Anglo woman was convincing in the judge's eyes, so she was released prior to the voir dire. However, others were not so lucky! Such sympathies were not extended to the issues of two minority potential jurists. Understanding the lawyers' questions or not, the judge spitefully kept them right up until the end of jury selection. Nevertheless,  I and others dismissed were happily relieved that we would not have to return to the antiquated Miami Dade County Courthouse at 71 Flagler Street for another non-productive, unpaid day. 

Non-Concession of U.S. Elections - A Scene From a Dictatorship

 

It was expected....Trump suggested that he would not go easily if he lost the 2020 election. But, it is unimaginable that he would further tarnish his reputation by stubbornly holding out after losing not only the electoral college but the popular vote. However, one has to wonder if he simply has a fear of the unknown that he will have to face when he returns to becoming a regular citizen. The legal protections that afford him as president will no longer be available. After four years of using the legal system at his every desire, it will be difficult to no longer have that safeguard. More so, the high expenses for frivolous legal challenges will come out of his pocket and no longer be taxpayers' responsibility. Yes, it's frightening to go back to the real world and give up so many benefits that have afforded an untouchable life. But, eventually, the dream will end and reality will return. It's just a matter of time. 

Missing Fathers - You Can be Denied When Your Children Grow Up To Be Famous

Too often, men make babies but disappear when it's time to be a part of their children's lives. Too often, mothers are burdened with the responsibilities of having to also take on additional responsibilities when there is no father. Too often, these men move on with their lives and start other families without making any effort to see or support their children from previous relationships. These men do not consider that more often than not, these abandoned children are inspired by the hard work and dedication of their mothers. These children see how their mothers struggle to make ends meet to ensure their children have a better life. These children are inspired by their mothers to obtain higher education. They know education is a path to become successful so that they, in turn, can provide a better life for their mothers. 

But, when these fatherless children become successful, too often the way-ward father miraculously appears and sometimes wants to become a part of their children's lives. They seem to have every excuse in the book why they had not taken the time to be present in the growth of their children while their mothers struggled to make ends meet. The speech of the elected Vice President, Kamala Harris, showered her mother with praise - as she always does. But, apart from mentioning that her Indian mother was married to her Jamaican father, she is silent on providing any further information on him. There was an article that Mr. Harris indicates there is no closeness between himself and his children as he was not present in their lives due to a contentious divorce. That is a shame especially at this time when the world is so proud of his daughter's many accomplishments. But, hopefully, there will be some healing between both sooner than later.    

What of Donald Harris?

Covid Acceptance Versus Covid Stigma

There is a difference between people in the United States who had been hospitalized for Covid 19 and those with similar situations in certain countries. In the United States, it is usual to see great fanfare and best wishes for patients who have overcome their serious Corvid battles and have been discharged. It starts for them from the hospital where the staff forms a train line on both sides, cheering with balloons, etc in celebrations that the patient is able to leave the hospital and go home. But, it doesn't stop there. News cameras show the joyous occasion to viewers as these patients are wheeled out of the hospital's entrance with accompanying family and friends as they enter their vehicles. Once the patient arrives home there may be neighbors waiting outside the house with welcoming words of support as large banners and more balloons decorate the front yard. It is a great time not only for the discharged patient but for the hospital staff and loved ones who may have thought previously that the seriousness of their family or friend meant that he or she would not have lived to see another day. 

On the other hand, in some countries, the reaction towards such a patient is quite opposite. The patient holds on to a feeling of shame as he or she knows that the public, even some family members, will shun them for having the virus. So, in some countries, there is a stigma against those who have tested positive for Covid and have been hospitalized. These recovering patients are spoken about badly and many times have to leave their communities and go elsewhere to live. It is a sad reaction for people who may have caught the illness due to no fault of their own. During the initial stages of the Corvid 19, some were even staying clear of health care workers who they thought were carrying the virus. But, as months passed, many in these countries have a changed mindset on the virus. Nevertheless, for the most part, recovering patients still fear for their welfare and continue to keep the matter a secret so that they can live in peace when they return to their communities

Avoiding Covid 19 Stigma

Jamaica - Land of Sun, Fun, and Jungle Justice

Jamaica has always been promoted as a tourist destination that is welcoming to all visitors who want to get away from their monotonous lives and enjoy a country with a warm climate, beautiful beaches, and participate in other cultural aspects of an island. The attractive side of the island is promoted on million dollar advertisements throughout North America and Europe. But, although the sun and fun notoriety are popular, the dark side of the island, such as the prevalence of jungle justice, is hidden quite well. In April 2019 Shantae Skyers, a beautiful 8 years old child, did not return from school at her customary time. Her decomposed body was found five days later in the bushes of Sterling Castle Heights, St. Andrew. A 20 something year of a man with a mental disability, Miguel Williams, with no previous criminal record became the town's suspect. Instead of waiting for the police to do their investigation, an angry mob took justice into their own hands and viciously attacked, beat, and set Miguel Williams' body on fire. During the brutality, one woman in the community, known to be a "Christian" remarked that the mob should have outed the fire for Williams to feel pain then relight the body! Now, as a result of a police investigation, men have been taken into custody for the rape and murder of Shantae Skyers. So, does that mean that Williams was innocently and senselessly murdered and his family's house burned down without cause? But, this is certainly not the first time that mob justice in Jamaica has taken place. In 2013, Dwayne Jones was beaten, stabbed, shot, and ran over by a car by a Jamaican mob for his homosexual preference. In fact, throughout time, there have been countless incidents of Jamaican mobs taking justice into their own hands with beatings and murders committed without any arrests.  It must stop - let the police and court do their job!

Dwayne Jones Murdered

Broward County Community Stands Up to Parkland Shooting Victim's Mom

As Lori Alhadeff wept for her daughter who was murdered in the Parkland High School massacre, she spoke in front of cameras in favor of control. Her name was subsequently entered in the November 2018 ballot to run for a seat on the Broward County School Board. Sympathetic to her grief and passionate at her stance on gun control and positive messages, Broward County citizens voted for Adhadeff to become a member of the school board. However, her plea for gun control and other causes were overshadowed since she turned her focus to Robert Runci, the Broward County Public Schools Superintendent.  She made it her mission to do all that was possible to remove him as the superintendent with the aid of her supporters including the Sun Sentinel. All previous accolades and praises that Superintendent Runcie received from his own school board, national associations, and the community were not important to Adhadeff, the inexperienced school board member. She dug up all that she could possibly find to smear the superintendent's name in her effort to replace him with a  person who quite possibly would not have reacted any better to a horrific mass shooting on a school campus despite vigorous Code Red policies, procedures, and drills at all Broward County schools. But, the Broward County community came out in full force to town hall meetings and spoke passionately in their defense of Mr. Runci. People from a wide cross-section ranging from parents to even a city mayor made their voices heard, and the overwhelming support was quite clear when the majority of the Broward County School Board members voted in favor of keeping Mr. Runcie. Now, Mr. Runcie must watch his back as the devious intentions of Alhadeff is still present despite her hypocritical assurance that she will "work" with him.

Ralph Northam - Only the Tip of an Iceberg

Whether or not Ralph Northam is different from who he was in his younger days, as he claims, the fact is that photos in the yearbook indicate that he was associated with hurtful, racist practices while in medical school or more than likely many years prior to 1984. But, the racist photos do not only expose Northam's hidden life, but it opens the door of curiosity on:

1. A racist culture that was prevalent and apparently acceptable at, of all the places, a medical school!? For a yearbook to be published with such offensive photos of costumes that are associated with hatred of a race without any editorial scrutiny makes one wonder what editorial oversight was in place at the medical school to prevent such hurtful material from being published.

2. The lack of attentiveness in screening this candidate prior to endorsing him to run for governor since proper vetting would have certainly uncovered this yearbook that anyone could have easily gotten a hold of. It shows that no focus was given by his political party associates to digging into the past of a wealthy, white doctor who has now become a total embarrassment to them.

3. The scary thought that any of these doctors dressed in black-face or the KKK hood and robe is attending to Blacks or any minority race patients is very troubling. Moreover, the thought of Northam's graduating class or even other graduating classes from that medical school attending to people of color is frightening at the least.

4. Why Northam would be so clueless and nonchalant about admitting to blackening his face to depict Michael Jackson is mind-boggling. But, then he would not have any clue on the hurt and pain caused by the blackface caricature because he clearly indicated that he is not Black and doesn't know what it means to be Black.

Ralph Northam is the tip of an iceberg of the pain that one group of people have suffered so long after the abolition of slavery. "How long - not long....." is an opening lines from a Dr. Martin Luther King speech as he tried to encourage Blacks that changes would be coming soon. Fifty years later, in a country where racism has once again become the norm in support of the country's leadership policies, sadly Blacks and other people of color have a long, long way to go be "judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin".