Page 6 - Florida Sentinel 12-18-15 Edition

Editorials
Christ The Savior Is Born
The Final Republican Presidential Candidate Debate: A Dream As Now
P icture if you dare, an America under President Don- ald Trump where so-called Homeland patriots mur- der mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins of the 9-11 and San Bernardino terrorists as a means of reaping
vengeance on the ISIS Islamic State.
Imagine an America where distant relatives of rob-
bers, rapists, murderers, molesters and such are robbed, raped, or murdered as punishment for the heinous crimes of their third-cousins. In fact, why not butcher the families of anyone who murders someone else if that someone has a next-of-kin anywhere handy?
Following the logic of a certain Republican presiden- tial candidates (one in particular) why not jail parents of any American criminal as punishment for his or her child’s crime?
Please believe that we are appalled at Donald Trump’s line of thinking, and even more repelled at the lack of outcry from America’s (re)public on Trump’s and others’ harsh and barbaric proposal for general retribution against enemies of America.
Indeed, we have not stigmatized the religions of America’s mass murderers and school shooters. In fact, no one even thought to discover the religious back- grounds of such terrorists, let alone propose to kill their sisters-in-law. However, suppose that most domestic ter- rorists, criminals etc., were Catholics, or Primitive Bap- tists. Does that mean we’d place all Catholics and Primitive Baptists under house arrest or in concentra- tion camps while figuring out which one of them is a ter- rorist?
Well, if Donald Trump is elected president, don’t forget we warned you when they come to get everybody in your household, including your dog or cat.
This is Christmas time of the year, but it is different from all of the Christmases except the very first one. You have read or heard the story of how sinful this world had become. There was prostitution, gambling, robbing, public drunken- ness, adultery, mistreat- ment of the old and the needy, murder and any other sinful act imaginable.
The acts of mankind did not please God, the Creator of the earth and everything in it. Think with me for a while and answer the ques- tion, does this sound famil- iar? It should because with a few additional sins we are living exactly like we lived before the first Christmas.
The Bible tells us that the
Marc H. Morial President and CEO
National Urban League
“The Earned Income Tax Credit is the most effective anti-poverty program in the United States. It both encour- ages and rewards work by al- lowing low-income workers to recoup money that other- wise would have gone to taxes. And since low-income people are more likely to spend their income than to save it out of necessity, it is also an economic stimulus.”
Alice Lieberman, Professor, University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.
With only a few weeks left in the year, Congress is de- bating a series of key issues for working families. One of the most important is the fate of key parts of two tax credits that help millions of low-income working Ameri- cans.
The two credits — the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) — are powerful tools that reduce poverty and encourage and reward work. Together, they lift more chil- dren out of poverty than any other program, while also promoting greater mobility
first time the world became overrun with sin God Almighty was so displeased that he thought about de- stroying the world.
Biblical scriptures tell us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begot- tenSontodieonacrossin order to save the world. The world is in that old sinful condition today. This may beatimeforallofustore- think our Christmas holi- days.
Maybe this Christmas we should concentrate less on presents, partying and bar hopping and spend more time with family, friends, and worshiping ‘our Father who art in Heaven.’ We must remember that Christ- mas is named in honor of
and opportunity for families. And, with four million African American children living in poverty today, the EITC and CTC make a criti- cal difference in our commu- nities.
In 2009, President Obama signed into law tem- porary improvements to the credits that dramatically ex- pand access to the CTC to very low income working families and provide addi- tional help for some families receiving the EITC.
Although these very im- portant improvements to both tax credits were ex- tended in 2012, they will ex- pire in 2017 unless Congress acts to make them perma- nent.
This fall may be the best opportunity that Congress has as it debates legislation that could make some busi- ness tax breaks permanent. As the House and Senate consider this legislation, they cannot leave working fami- lies behind. They must make the improvements of the EITC and CTC permanent as well.
If they don’t, African Americans would be dispro- portionately harmed: two million working African American families and 4 mil-
Jesus, the one who died for all of us.
He came upon a mid- night clear. It was a Silent Night before the Heavenly host began to sing O Holy Night. As people found out that Christ the Savior was borne they started to sing Joy To The World.
As we enjoy Christmas, we should do so with good company, with a lot of love, and season’s greetings. Just like above, Christmas carols always tell a beautiful story that might be the answer to some of your problems.
On the real serious side, this world is in a terrible fix. It is covered with every kind of sin that there can possibly be.
The Lord got very upset the last time man had His world in almost this condi- tion. We should take this holiday season as ‘a get right with the Lord opportunity.’ In the meantime, be you friend or foe, from the bot- tom of my heart I wish every living soul A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
lion children would lose an average of $1,200 per year. A single mother of two work- ing full time at the federal minimum wage would lose every penny of her CTC.
“In many cases, these two measures are what allows working families to stay in their homes,” said Don Cravins, Jr., Executive Di- rector of National Urban League Washington Bureau. “The consequences of ending the credits would be nothing of devastating.”
In the course of these dis- cussions, Congress also has a chance to address the plight of lower-income workers without kids, many of whom are left out of the EITC. Ex- panding the EITC to cover these workers has bipartisan support and would help pro- mote work, could reduce in- carceration rates, and boost earnings.
The Obama administra- tion is calling for Congress to make the improvements to these working family tax credits permanent.
Now is the time to make your voice heard in the halls of Congress. You can help by contacting your senators and representatives, urging them to make the improvements to the EITC and CTC perma- nent and reminding them of the importance of fixing the glaring hole in the EITC that leaves out childless workers without kids.
With your help, we can make the key provisions of these credits permanent so that they can keep making a difference in our communi- ties.
Act Now To Make Anti-Poverty Tax Credits Permanent
Eye For An Eye: Trump Style Is Ridiculous
P
erhaps, it was indeed, a dream, but it sounded so real
as each Republican candidate stood his and her ground hammering into the ears of millions seen and un- seen what he or she would do to save a so-called floun- dering America from its first Black president.
“America is at war,” each candidate crowed.
Jeb Bush – looking ever the preppy Ivy-League candi- date, not only repeated the warning, but reminded Amer- icans of his plan to save our over-Obamacized society. A quiet Ben Carson followed Bush with the same message that was hooted this time not so bombastically by the TV- Huckster-turned Politician Donald Trump himself.
And so, the final GOP debate played out, at least in the dream. But this time, there was a new candidate . . . a dark horse who seemed not to have much to say . . . until the issue of immigration was introduced.
Trump was his usual anti-Islamic/ “Mexiphobic” self. And like always, the others seemed to fight for his scraps . . . until the dark horse was asked how she felt about the immigrant issue. And this is what she answered: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free/ The wretched refuse of your teeming shore/ Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me./ I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
The audience was stunned as the candidate stepped forward to fully reveal herself. For, the dark horse was none other than the Statue of Liberty.
PAGE 6-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015