NEW ORLEANS RISING

            Casey Anthony is in court and  NFL players are too.  The NBA is locked out and who knows when they will gain momentum on their deal. There are wars raging in the Middle East.  Mexico's citizens are held hostage by drug cartels. Civil wars around the world rage on. Gaddafi still kills his own countrymen and women. The bad news goes on and on. The end some days feels and seems like it is closing in on us.  There is hope yet,  the greatest nation in the world still stands.               It's a testament to our nation and us that after 235 years America still is a beacon of freedom in the world. You will get thrown in jail for criticizing the leader of the Communist party in China. In America you may find yourself at the center of a campaign or supporting one if you do. Whether you take your freedoms for granted or not, the fact remains that you have the ability to do just that. In those 235 years blood has been spilled on this land and others to ensure that you can

   New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reacts after gay marriage was  legalized after a vote in the Senate Chamber at the Capitol  in Albany, N.Y., on Friday, June 24, 2011.      On June 24th  the New York State Senate  approved legislation for same sex marriages to be allowed. The vote was 33 for  to 29 against. New York becomes the largest state to approve same sex marriages. New York joins the ranks of Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Washington, D.C. and the Coquille Indian Tribe in Oregon. This is a huge victory for the lesbian and gay community. They have suffered through years of  waiting to be able to be married.  Now for those who want to be married to the same sex  New York becomes a beacon of hope.        One goal of every American politician and citizen is to strive for a more perfect union. It was with this in mind that on  January 1, 1863 Abraham Lincoln issued  an executive order  to free all the slaves. This order was to become known as the Emanc

  JC: How are you doing Ricky?  RG: Yeah,  ya know man I'm just glad to get my  feet on the ground.  Yeah, that was just a horrible experience man. JC: How did you end up in jail? RG: I went to register to vote and they said I had a warrant for my arrest in Jefferson Parish.  They told to go over this place here and next thing I know I'm being told I'm getting arrested for a warrant.  They didn't have no proper arrest or nothing, no Miranda rights or nothing.  They just swept me up like they was kidnapping me. JC: What you were thinking at that point? RG: Well, they brought me up to the arresting place and put me in central lock up. After that it seemed like I was gonna be there not to long so that I could see the judge. It wasn't gonna be too long cause I wasn't to far from the judge and all.  Well, they kept me in central lock up for 3 days. Then they sent me to the other jail to go to Jefferson parish jail.  After that it was another week

            Thank you all for your help and support for Spy Boy Ricky Gettridge.  It is because of your willingness to open your hearts and wallets Ricky is now free. Every single dollar counted. Whether you donated 600 dollars or 5 dollars it is all appreciated. We are still in need of of donations to pay the member of our community who loaned the fund to us. It is because of this member of our community we were able to pay the remaining amount so we could submit the necessary motions and petition to the judge for Ricky's release before Sunday. We accepted  the loan (which we need to pay back) because it takes the jail up to 48 hours to process an individual so that Ricky could be released. At Ricky's and a few of your requests, he was greeted with a tambourine, a pine apple Big Shot soda, and a snickers bars. Ricky came out of jail looking as sharp as ever. He had his hat, dark glasses and a huge smile on his face. Ricky is ready to get back to his family and friends he lo

      The plight of Spy Boy Ricky Gettridge is startling and shocking. What many would consider an once in a lifetime blindfolding of lady justice, others are all too familiar with. The content of  your wallet has more to do with how your treated in this country instead of the content of your character. Let's be honest  here. Do you think O.J. would've be set free if he was a shipyard worker from New Orleans? It's a continuous pattern in our country, our state, and our city.       The lower middle class and lower class are treated as a stepping stone for the upper middle class and the upper class in this society.  While you sit in your warm comfortable home and shake your head about what I'm talking about think for a second.  Many people look down on those who make less than they do. Can you imagine being in their shoes?       You've worked hard all your life to just get by. While your financial situation isn't the best