Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 1-18-19

Feature
Residents Sound Off About Government Shutdown
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The impasse between
President Donald Trump
and Congress over funding for a security wall is now affect- ing citizens. As a result of their not reaching a mutual agreement, federal employees are either experiencing a lay- off, or working without com- pensation.
The question of the week presented to Sentinel read- ers about the stalemate about the wall that won’t go away is, “It seems that neither Presi- dent Trump nor Congress is willing to compromise or give in. What is your opinion about the standoff that is causing people to suffer be- cause they are not receiving pay checks?”
Here are some of their re- sponses.
Ms. Denese Meteye James
said, “I think this speaks vol- umes about those indi- viduals who hold peo- ple’s lives in their hands.
This wall is something Trump wanted all along — even using it as part of his campaign platform.
“Therefore, for him to try to justify it as concern for safety/security is a joke. This standoff in my opinion is an- other example of the haves and the have nots, and it is a travesty that have nots have to suffer. This is another prime example of the impor- tance of VOTING.”
Danny Green said, “I think it’s a
fects a lot of American peo- ple.”
Tyrone Keys said, “A seed is true
fight as hard for programs to house our residents, feed our residents, provide them healthcare and jobs for our residents and safety within the country. It’s not illegal immigrants that are the dan- ger now... it’s guns on the streets. Do something about that 45.”
Mrs. Bonnye Crews
out a pay check, due to the lack of action by President Donald J. Trump and most of the mem- bers of Con- gress.
MS. DENESE METEYE JAMES
Dr. Samuel Wright, Sr., said, “Ignorance! We have a
leader who
really does-
n’t care
about the
people he
was elected
to serve. If
he did, he
wouldn’t
make nearly
a million federal employees suffer.
“It is deplorable that these same folk must visit food pantries to feed their families. I suggest that when Congress reconvenes, they put a policy in place that this will never happen again. Praying contin- ually that this mess will be fixed and soon!”
Rev. Karen Jackson Sims said,
ible thing we
all need to understand
is that the
Wall in Donald Trump’s
mind and
his adminis-
tration is
more ideo-
logical than concrete.
“The wall is a monument to white racism and Keeping America White Again. To the extreme racist far right the wall says we have had enough of people with color in this country, the white birth rate is way down and people of color will make this nation a major- ity minority nation by 2040.
“They see it coming as a higher birth rate for Black and brown, as well as an immigra- tion system they feel is too lib- eral allowing more people of color into the country. So the wall is essentially about white nationalists in the Trump administration hitting the panic button. Their goal is to make America white, like in the 1950s, but it ain’t gone happen, and Trump ain’t gone get $5 billion for his stu- pid wall.”
Rev. Willie Dixon said, “As a tax-paying citizen, I have empathy for the 800,000 government work- ers who have been suffering for over three (3) weeks with-
shame that people are
not getting
paid. They
need to sup-
port their families.
Most fami-
lies live
from pay-
check to paycheck.
“The President and Con- gress are still getting pay. I blame Trump just because he can’t get a wall. He told American people that Mexico would pay for the wall. We don’t need a wall. Most drug dealers and terrorists come by plane or ship. Most Amer- icans do not agree with Trump. The shutdown af-
a very clas-
sic example
of a “HAVE”
president
who cares
little or
nothing for
the “HAVE
NOTS” and
the per-
ceived “HAVE LESS” folks! Forget the wall - solve the funding crisis so folks can get paid. People FIRST!”
MRS. BONNYE CREWS
DANNY GREEN
because it
cannot be
manipu-
lated. It has
to be what
the charac-
ter of the
seed was
meant to be.
Therefore,
we must realize never to glory in these accomplishments, it’s just seed completing its TASK. Where is the out- rage?!”
Ms. Fredi Beck said, “I think this is
REV. WILLIE DIXON
TYRONE KEYS
said, “It’s in-
conceivable
that after 2
years of hav-
ing a Repub-
lican House
and Senate,
the Republi-
can Presi-
dent has
now decided
that his wall
is so urgent, it has been placed above the well-being of 800,000+ Americans.
“Besides, in 2017-18, the Senate allocated more than 41 billion dollars for border security. If Trump didn’t build a wall with $41 billion, he’s not going to do it with $5.7. McConnell should take a vote and end this madness.”
Otis Anthony, “The most incred-
“There are cases where our government workers had to sell their blood, jewelry and other items to put food on their tables and beg for mercy from their landlords and mortgage companies until they return to work.
“I pray that our heartless President and Congress mem- bers will come to their senses and remember, ‘for whom the bell tolls.’ The action of our elected officials to do their sworn job, is tantamount to malfeasance and their lack of action should be edged in the mind and spirit of every voter in the next election.
“I believe God allowed this to happen in order for all Americans to see the heart and intent of some of our self- ish elected officials, for they too will reap what they sow, under a natural and spiritual divine law. Therefore I, pray that God will have mercy on their souls as the people re- turn to the polls in future elec- tions.”
Stan Gray said, “I feel the “Wall” is
MS. FREDI BECK
DR. SAMUEL WRIGHT
OTIS ANTHONY
pure sym-
bolism and
campaign
rhetoric. Any
and every-
body who is
familiar with
the issue
knows that
immigration
reform is needed, which en- compasses more than a “wall.” That job lies on the shoulders and in the souls of Congress. It is a dag-gum shame that it has not yet oc- curred.
“Extenuating and mitigat- ing factors matter not! And besides, it will take far more that $5.7 billion to build the proposed wall. Congress must do what it must to be good stewards of taxpayers’ money and needs. 45 must learn that he represents all Americans, not just his base. I hate to be so principled knowing the harm that is being caused to the government workers and the Coast Guard, but this shutdown must be executed until 45 understands and ac- cepts that he works for Amer- ica, not just his base.”
STAN GRAY
“The “wall”
is a massive
waste of
money. This
is the 21st
century and
technology
has ad-
vanced and
brought new
systems and
techniques that can be used for border security. How about we also invest in more personnel instead of continu- ing to reduce the federal work force?
“Here’s a thought... let’s
REV. KAREN JACKSON SIMS
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2019