I have held the hand of the devil

In comments below, Jeffrey Overstreet LN provided an excerpt (via Jeffrey Overstreet) from the text of Bono's "homily" at the National Prayer Breakfast yesterday. It's too good to leave hidden in comments.

DATA, Bono's advocacy nonprofit, has the full text of his remarks here. Bush got his photo op, but it was a bit like King David posing for photos with Nathan. Speaking truth to power is the task of the prophet, and also, perhaps, of the rock star, and that's a bit of what happened yesterday at, of all places, the National Prayer Breakfast.

This is good stuff. Bono cites the prophets, the Pentateuch, the Koran and Blazing Saddles, and even works in a shout-out to Jim Wallis. This is a big 'ol excerpt, but the whole thing is worth reading:

Look, whatever thoughts you have about God, who He is or if He exists, most will agree that if there is a God, He has a special place for the poor. In fact, the poor are where God lives.

Check Judaism. Check Islam. Check pretty much anyone.

I mean, God may well be with us in our mansions on the hill … I hope so. He may well be with us as in all manner of controversial stuff -- maybe, maybe not. But the one thing we can all agree, all faiths and ideologies, is that God is with the vulnerable and poor.

God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them. “If you remove the yolk from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom with become like midday and the Lord will continually guide you and satisfy your desire in scorched places”

It’s not a coincidence that in the Scriptures, poverty is mentioned more than 2,100 times. It’s not an accident. That’s a lot of air time, 2,100 mentions. [You know, the only time Christ is judgmental is on the subject of the poor.] ‘As you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.’ (Matthew 25:40). As I say, good news to the poor.

Then the carrot:

Here’s some good news for the President. ... You have double[d] aid to Africa. You have tripled funding for global health. Mr. President, your emergency plan for AIDS relief and support for the Global Fund -- you and Congress -- have put 700,000 people onto life-saving anti-retroviral drugs and provided 8 million bed nets to protect children from malaria.

Outstanding human achievements. Counterintuitive. Historic. Be very, very proud.

But ...

Here comes the stick:

But here’s the bad news. From charity to justice, the good news is yet to come. There is much more to do. There’s a gigantic chasm between the scale of the emergency and the scale of the response.

And finally, it’s not about charity after all, is it? It’s about justice.

Let me repeat that: It’s not about charity, it’s about justice.

And that’s too bad.

Because you’re good at charity. Americans, like the Irish, are good at it. We like to give, and we give a lot, even those who can’t afford it.

But justice is a higher standard. Africa makes a fool of our idea of justice; it makes a farce of our idea of equality. It mocks our pieties, it doubts our concern, it questions our commitment.

6,500 Africans are still dying every day of a preventable, treatable disease, for lack of drugs we can buy at any drug store. This is not about charity, this is about Justice and Equality.

Because there's no way we can look at what’s happening in Africa and, if we're honest, conclude that deep down, we really accept that Africans are equal to us. Anywhere else in the world, we wouldn’t accept it. Look at what happened in South East Asia with the Tsunami. 150, 000 lives lost to that misnomer of all misnomers, “mother nature." In Africa, 150,000 lives are lost every month. A tsunami every month. And it’s a completely avoidable catastrophe.

It’s annoying but justice and equality are mates. Aren’t they? Justice always wants to hang out with equality. And equality is a real pain.

You know, think of those Jewish sheep-herders going to meet the Pharaoh, mud on their shoes, and the Pharaoh says, “Equal?” A preposterous idea: rich and poor are equal? And they say, “Yeah, ‘equal,’ that’s what it says here in this book. We’re all made in the image of God.”

And eventually the Pharaoh says, “OK, I can accept that. I can accept the Jews -- but not the blacks.”

“Not the women. Not the gays. Not the Irish. No way, man.”

So on we go with our journey of equality.

On we go in the pursuit of justice. ...

Preventing the poorest of the poor from selling their products while we sing the virtues of the free market: That’s a justice issue. Holding children to ransom for the debts of their grandparents: That’s a justice issue. Withholding life-saving medicines out of deference to the Office of Patents: That’s a justice issue.

And while the law is what we say it is, God is not silent on the subject.

That’s why I say there’s the law of the land, and then there is a higher standard. There’s the law of the land, and we can hire experts to write them so they benefit us, so the laws say it’s OK to protect our agriculture but it’s not OK for African farmers to do the same, to earn a living?

As the laws of man are written, that’s what they say.

God will not accept that.

Mine won’t, at least. Will yours?

Comments

[Holden Lewis]

Wow.

Speaking to all of us, not just to the president.

[LN]

That wasn't Jeffrey Overstreet, that was me, linking Jeffrey Overstreet... :)

[bulbul]

Speaking truth to power is the task of the prophet, and also, perhaps, of the rock star

I hate to quote Noam Chomsky, but he said it best: nobody has to speak truth to power, the power knows it already. They just don't care.

[Laertes]

Holy shit.

[Mnemosyne]

I hate to quote Noam Chomsky, but he said it best: nobody has to speak truth to power, the power knows it already. They just don't care.

Yep, so let's all sit back and do nothing. Let's not even bring it up. That's a good plan.

[Ray]

Why is the alternative doing nothing?

[bulbul]

Yep, so let's all sit back and do nothing. Let's not even bring it up. That's a good plan.

I am glad to see that the common tactic of blowing your opponent's remarks out of proportion is still alive and well.

[Mnemosyne]

Why is the alternative doing nothing?

What alternative do you propose, Ray? I'm fully open to hearing ideas. But saying that you shouldn't even try to discuss Third-World debt with someone who can do something about it if he chooses seems awfully counterproductive to me.

Bono wasn't trying to influence Bush, per se. He knows Bush is a fucktard. You can see it in his face. What he's trying to do is create enough pressure around Bush that he'll be forced to do something because he'll have people like Jesse Helms saying, "But it's the conservative thing to do!"

[bulbul]

But saying that you shouldn't even try to discuss Third-World debt with someone who can do something about it if he chooses

I did not say that. Neither did Chomsky.

[Axiomatic]

Sure, the power knows, the trick is not that they don't care, it's that they're extremely good at ignoring inconvenient facts. The aim is to make it very fucking difficult to ignore said facts.

[Ray]

One alternative, at least, would be to go to the press conference Bush had arranged, and then say "I will not smile for the cameras, and I will not shake hands with this man, who has the power, and the responsibility, to save millions of lives, and does nothing. I will not be another photo-opportunity for a man who promises much, but delivers little. President Bush knows what he can do, he knows what his duty as a Christian is. When he lives up to his responsibilities, then, and only then, will I come here and shake his hand". Then walk out again.

We could argue forever about which alternative is likely to be more effective, but that is a clear alternative. Since we're discussing a quote from Chomsky, it's worth pointing out that he does a lot more than 'nothing', without having to shake hands with people he despises.

[Ray]

I mean, without even discussing the contents of Bono's speech, here's a simple question - how many people will see newspaper photos and TV spots of Bono and Bush shaking hands and smiling at the prayer breakfast, and how many of those will hear or read the text of Bono's speech? Because it seems to me that even the mild criticisms Bono makes in his speech aren't going to get anywhere near as much time as "Bono and George, working together to save the world!"

[Duane]

Jesus. That gave me chills and I'm not a Bono fan.

[Duane]

Maybe I should be.

[Spike]

At the risk of becoming the poster child for internet civil discourse, I think that no one would worse off if we were discouraged from describing politicians as "fucktards." Gimme a break.

[bulbul]

What alternative do you propose?
As I said in another thread, I do not know why is Bono considered such a philantropist. I do not follow what he does, nor do I care about him as a celebrity. But if I were to sugest an alternative to "speaking truth to power", I would say Bono could take his share of profits from the sale of U2 records and go build a hospital or buy a few tons of medication or water purifying installations or whatever. Do something, instead of just show up at a press conference or some award ceremony. Maybe I'm wrong and maybe he does all of those things and more. If I am, please do not hesitate to set me straight.
This is a response to you, Mnemosyne, not an action plan. Then again, Ray's suggestion is probably the best thing Bono could have done.

"Bono and George, working together to save the world!"
I believe this is the only point of that morning prayer breakfast and that is what most people will take away from this.

[bulbul]

I just found this and am still looking for an article criticising Bono from an aid-worker's perspective. Stupid brain, can't keep information in...

[twig]

Hey, bulbul! Did you find out anything about what Bono does to help people, you know, when you were busy looking up those criticisms?

Since you wanted to know why he's considered such a philanthropist, I mean.

[bulbul]

Hey twig! I did, but not a lot of specifics so far, just the usual stuff (DATA, BandAid, The One - I saw that one on MTV - and Make Poverty History). Still diggin'. Why do you ask?
To clarify: as for that article I am looking for, it is a specific one I recently saw in a paper. It was written by someone who actually works for the UN in Africa and described how Bono and other celebrities actually make their work difficult. Don't worry, I am not just looking for any ol' smear piece :o)

[Mnemosyne]

But if I were to sugest an alternative to "speaking truth to power", I would say Bono could take his share of profits from the sale of U2 records and go build a hospital or buy a few tons of medication or water purifying installations or whatever.

He also does that. He has donated millions of dollars.

But apparently that's not good enough if he dares talk to politicians about trying to solve the underlying problems rather than applying, well, a band-aid.

It's weird that this has only popped up on peoples' radar recently, because he's been working on these campaigns for a decade, particularly the one to relieve Third-World debt. Why suddenly all the hate now? Is it because he's trying to work with a Republican president instead of a Democratic one? What choice does he have? Should he suspend all of his work until the "right" person is in power? Or should he plow ahead and hope to make a little bit of headway.

No, Bono's not a saint. I think he'd laugh in your face if you tried to say he was. But he's been plugging away at it for years now and I doubt he's going to shrug his shoulders and say, "Well, I'll just throw 10 years of work down the drain because Bush is an asshole."

[bulbul]

Why suddenly all the hate now?
It's criticism. At wors. Definitely not hate.

It's weird that this has only popped up on peoples' radar recently
Since I do not like his music (although I am familiar with it), I have not been watching his musical career, nor his charity work. He popped up on my radar because at Live 8 and also because I only started paying closer atention to the central issues of his work quite recently.

Should he suspend all of his work until the "right" person is in power?
No. He should however reconsider working with people who might actually work against him.

[pepperjackcandy]

As a wise man once said, "there's no such thing as bad publicity."

The picture of Bono shaking hands with Dubya got me, among others, I'm sure, to worry that Bono was pandering to him.

So, when Fred posted them, I read the excerpts (I hope to get back to read the whole thing soon, but I have an early day tomorrow and am trying to get to bed soon), and was very relieved that Bono hadn't changed his stand on poverty, third-world debt, etc.

If I'm alone in this, I'll eat my second-favorite hat. Or maybe I'll go out and buy a straw hat to eat. It'd probably go down better, plus it'd add needed fiber to my diet. 8-)

[J4]

From Dennis Perrin:
2 Years ago:
Among the many things I find interesting about Bono's activism is his repeated references to a just, engaged Christianity on behalf of the poor. Yes, many TV Christians do this (known in the trade as "Make us rich and we'll toss some crumbs Africa's way"), but I've rarely seen someone with Bono's exposure forcefully remind those listening of their spiritual duty to those dying, esp from AIDS:

"People have been perverting the Gospels and the Holy Scriptures since they were first written — mostly the church. This AIDS emergency actually is just such a valuable example of everything that's wrong and perverted about Christianity today.

"There should be civil disobedience on this. You read about the apostles being persecuted because they were out there taking on the powers that be. Jesus said, 'I came to bring a sword.' In fact, it's a load of sissies running around with their 'bless me' clubs. And there's a war going on between good and evil. And millions of children and millions of lives are being lost to greed, to bureaucracy, and to a church that's been asleep. And it sends me out of my mind with anger.

"This is what's important and why I would be doing this interview with Christianity Today, to implore the church to reconsider grace, to put an end to this hierarchy of sin. … All have fallen short. Let's stop throwing stones at people who've made mistakes in their life, and let's start throwing drugs."

Bono's dedication is such that he'll meet or travel with anyone who he thinks might help bring debt relief to Africa or help export vaccines and medicines to as many people in those countries as possible. This led to him touring Africa with Treasury Sec. Paul O'Neill and meeting with Jesse Helms, as well as his 2002 visit with Bush. (Bono also undertook an American church tour to heighten AIDS awareness.) Predictably, these actions inspired some pretty nasty sniping from those on the left who, it seems, would never reach across the political divide in an effort to save lives. (Political purity may look good in the mirror, but it has severe limitations.) To be fair, I can't see much point in meeting with someone as isolated as Bush when it comes to global issues, esp while he's overseeing mass murder and torture in Iraq. But as Bono told his friend and guitarist The Edge, he'd meet with the Devil if did some good. He's certainly appealing to those with the power to change things immediately. If you're gonna do that, it doesn't help calling them assholes in the process.
The rest here:
http://redstateson.blogspot.com/2004_12_01_redstateson_archive.html

[Toby]

There's a common activist attitude that I find troubling, which basically says: we just have to do something.

But it's not true. If the only thing you can think of doing, or are able to do, or end up doing, is actually more harmful than doing nothing--well, no, you don't have to do anything, and, under such conditions, you shouldn't do anything.

If it is indeed true that Bono's presence at events like this serves more to (say) legitimize the illusion that Bush is a respectable human being than it does to actually improve America's policies regarding Africa--then, doing nothing would be preferable.

Emphasis on the ifs, of course. And it's true: Bono did indeed say some things worth saying.

But, as has been noted, I would tend to think that, for the vast majority of people, Bush's photo-op is going to speak infinitely louder than Bono's words. This seems perfectly predictable. And I would tend to think that Bush covered his ears and started singing "lalala" the moment Bono uttered the words "Bad news". Again, perfectly predictable.

[bad Jim]

Goddamn it, at least Bono's trying. Yeah, he hangs out with people like Bush and O'Neil (the former secretary of the Treasury). A rock star gets to work at that level.

For each person who thinks that the Bush and Bono photo-op suggests that Bono hearts Bush, there are probably a hundred who have just now gotten the idea that Bono might be on to something.

[bad Jim]

Moreover, Mnemosyne must always be extended the benefit of the doubt. Never deny the muse! In this case she was objecting to defeatism, as we all must, if we are to persist.

[Scott]

I love it - according to some in the comments, "I'm doing this to help the poor", which ordinarily justifies Any Damn Thing We Want So Screw You, You Selfish Bastard, doesn't extend to the ultimate crime of having your picture taken with GeeDub. Photo ops, and only photo ops, bring on the questions of unintended consequences and the like.

Bono said he did the prayer breakfast to help the poor, that is the Ultimate Nuclear Weapon in liberal debate, so all good leftists must now STFU about it.

[Beth]

"Nobody has to speak truth to power, the power knows it already. They just don't care."

For a linguist, Chomsky betrays an awfully tin ear for language. The phrase isn't "tell power the truth," but "speak truth to power," and the difference is more than just rhetorical flourish. If someone told Kim Jong Il that water is wet, they'd be telling [the man in] power the truth, but they wouldn't be speaking truth to power. Oppressive power relies on falsehood. The doesn't mean that power doesn't know the truth; it doesn't even mean the oppressed don't know the truth. (I suspect, for instance, that most Poles knew that the USSR wasn't really their beneficent protector.) But as long as people are afraid to speak the truth or dare speak it only in secret, as long as they can be compelled to act as if the lies were true, oppression can continue. In a truly oppressive society, it takes courage to speak the truth even in a whisper and well out of earshot of power, but it takes a special kind of heroism to get right up in power's face and speak the forbidden truth. And while there's value in keeping the spark of truth alive in some dark basement, publicly challenging enabling lies with clear unwavering truth can ignite an entire nation and ultimately bring power to its knees.

So did Bono "speak truth to power"? I'm not sure. Certainly Bush is a powerful man and what Bono said was true, but it doesn't sound as if his speech did much to bring the truth out into the open and challenge power's lies. If all the general public hears from Bono's presence at that breakfast is that he (and, by extension, liberal, compassiate Christians in general) support Bush's presidency, the net result isn't speaking truth to power, but speaking falsehood to the powerless.

I can't really judge Bono's actions in this case, not because I'm too humble or fear being judged myself, but because I don't know enough of the facts. Maybe Bono went to the breakfast expecting to have the opportunity to speak truth to power for all to hear and was simply outmaneuvered by masters of media manipulation. Or maybe he made a secret deal to obtain enough concrete aid for those in need to justify any harm his presense might have done, or reasonably expects to be able to leverage his presense at the breakfast into such aid in the future. Maybe he saw it as the last best chance to convince or compel Bush to make good on his generous promises. Maybe he was simply seduced by the glamour of power and couldn't resist the opportunity to rub elbows with some of the most powerful people in the world, or maybe he willingly sacrificed some of the respect of his strongest supporters for the sake of those most in need. I just don't know enough about Bono or his relationship to Bush to say.

[Jon H]

The phrase "speak truth to power" is trite and worn out and really needs to be retired. It's a lefty shibboleth, a rhetorical crutch, a marker as plain as patchouli and hemp clothing.

[bulbul]

For a linguist, Chomsky betrays an awfully tin ear for language.
That would explain the fact most of Chomsky's thoughts on language are rather misguided :-)

[Erick Oppeen]

My first question is...why is Africa a US problem? Last time I looked, the colonial powers there in the old days were France and Britain, with help from Portugal, Spain and (prior to WWI) Germany. Why not go talk to _them_ about fixing the messes they left behind?

I will agree that we supported some unsavory dictatorships in Africa during the Cold War. Newsflash---that was about all there was to support there, and I could make an excellent case that we wouldn't have if the Soviets, who had even less reason to be meddling there than we do, had kept their fingers OUT. I wonder how many Cuban boys went to Africa and either never came home, or came home crippled or racked with disease?

Secondly, I don't think that any interpretation of Christianity requires that we give money when we _know_ for a fact that the vast majority of the money we give will end up in the pockets of ruthless kleptocratic dictators. Just throwing money at Africa is "enabling"---basically, allowing them to continue in a dysfunctional pattern of behavior. When Jim Rogers toured Africa, he found quite a few places that had become so dependent on foreign largesse that the local people had literally forgotten how to work---and saw that a lot of the money spent on African aid never got near poor hungry Africans.

[bulbul]

My first question is...why is Africa a US problem?
All the money they owe you?

Why not go talk to _them_ about fixing the messes they left behind?
That is precisely what G8 meetings are for.

. When Jim Rogers toured Africa, he found quite a few places that had become so dependent on foreign largesse that the local people had literally forgotten how to work
I heard a lot of similar stories from aid workers and diplomats. One of our ambassadors to Africa once described to me how most of the aid is basically stolen by the prime minister's junta and sold for profit. The rest was distributed by the dictator himself, accompanied by speaches about the evil west.

[Ali]

Bono isn't saying Africa is a US problem. He's saying it's a world problem. If you look at his full speech and at his website (www.data.org). From part of the speech:
This is not a Republican idea. It is not a Democratic idea. It is not even, with all due respect, an American idea. Nor it is unique to any one faith.

And from the website, DATA acknowledges that changes need to be made to the current system:
DATA calls on the governments of the world's wealthy nations — the United States, Europe, Canada and Japan — to put more resources towards Africa, and to adopt policy that helps rather than hinders Africa in achieving long-term prosperity. We also call on Africa's leaders to strengthen Democracy, Accountability and Transparency toward their own citizens- to make sure that support for African people goes where it's intended and makes a real difference.

I don't believe God wants people to look at this situation and say "it's broken and corrupt and there's nothing we can do. Oh well." I think God wants is for us to say "It's broken and corrupt. What can we do to fix this and help these people who need so much?" And then act.

[Scott]

My first question is...why is Africa a US problem?
All the money they owe you?

So forgiving the debt will make it not a US problem? (As far as I'm concerned, they don't owe anyone money - just because some thugs calling themselves a govt borrowed money in the name of the people of an African nation doesn't mean they have any debt to me or Citibank, IMHO, they have every moral right to just default).

[straight]

If it is indeed true that Bono's presence at events like this serves more to (say) legitimize the illusion that Bush is a respectable human being than it does to actually improve America's policies regarding Africa--then, doing nothing would be preferable.

Please. Are you really worried that millions of Democrats are going to see Bono shaking hands with Bush and say, "Gee. Bono's endorsing Bush! I guess I should vote Republican next time"? This kind of thinking is the reason Bush is in the White House in the first place. Because too many Democrats care more about their ideosyncratic ideals of personal political purity than winning elections and making real political progress

Sorry Africa, we couldn't risk giving Bush a photo op.

My first question is...why is Africa a US problem?
Bono's argument is that the poor of Africa are God's concern and so African poverty is a problem for anyone who wants their priorities to be in line with God's priorites. Most Americans claim to want that.

I don't believe God wants people to look at this situation and say "it's broken and corrupt and there's nothing we can do. Oh well." I think God wants is for us to say "It's broken and corrupt. What can we do to fix this and help these people who need so much?" And then act.

Yes. The point of Bono's sermon is that cynicism is not an option for people who love God. The plight of Africa's poor must dominate our agenda. Of course kleptocrats are going to steal our money if we just write a check and then go back to complaining about Bono shaking hands with Bush.

[bulbul]

So forgiving the debt will make it not a US problem?
It depends on whether you see the debt as the only reason for US involvement.

As far as I'm concerned, they don't owe anyone money
I agree, most - if not all of it - is odious debt. The problem is that creditors do not accept it as such. If Bono and others manage to convince them to do so, power to him.

[KCinDC]

If you remove the yolk from your midst, ...

A bit of egg on the transcriber's face (should be "yoke").

[Scott]

It depends on whether you see the debt as the only reason for US involvement.

I was responding to your comment to another's post, where that was the reason you gave.

I agree, most - if not all of it - is odious debt. The problem is that creditors do not accept it as such. If Bono and others manage to convince them to do so, power to him.

Can the creditors reposess a country? What's the real difference between nonpayment by default and nonpayment because the creditors were pressured into forgiving the debt? Future loans will be impacted by the likelyhood of being repaid - can you really assert that forgiveness vs. default changes that? This isn't an assertion - it's a straight question.

[Andrew]

It’s not about charity, it’s about justice.

Interesting. In Hebrew, the word for the act of giving money to the poor is "tzedakah," which means "justice." There is no word for "charity."

[Toby]

Please. Are you really worried that millions of Democrats are going to see Bono shaking hands with Bush and say, "Gee. Bono's endorsing Bush! I guess I should vote Republican next time"?

Well, now that you mention it, no, I'm not really worried about that possibility. I'm not sure why you saw fit to put such words in my mouth. (When I mentioned "the illusion that Bush is a respectable human being", did you think I meant to attribute that illusion to Dem voters?)

This kind of thinking is the reason Bush is in the White House in the first place. Because too many Democrats care more about their ideosyncratic ideals of personal political purity than winning elections and making real political progress

Are you suggesting a connection between the present case and the failed campaigns of Gore and Kerry? The connection is not apparent to me.

As far as purity goes, I'm fine with Bono shaking hands with the devil, if it helps. I'm just not sure it helps in this case. (It seems to me he's done better in the past.)

I've seen a few news stories covering the Breakfast event. The ones that mention Bono attenuate the critical tone of his speech. Little to no time is spent describing fair trade, debt cancellation, cheap AIDS medication, etc.--if they are mentioned, they are mentioned briefly and vaguely, with minimal detail or motivation given. And then this is followed up with a quip from Bush praising Bono.

Now you've got these kinds of news stories floating around, maybe accompanied by pictures of the sort posted in the previous blog post. Keeping in mind the attention span of the average American media consumer--how is this supposed to play out in the general populace?

[Ray]

Erick's post reminds me of a dilemma I've heard is faced by a lot of charities. If they put a lot of thought into directing aid, making sure that resources go to those most in need, keeping stuff out of the hands of the government and gangs.... they're criticised because a high propoprtion of donations are going on 'administration'. On the other hand, if they reduce the administrative overhead and act as a simple money funnel, then they're throwing money at the problem.
I suspect if Erick was running a charity the administrative overheads would be higher, given that he'd have to keep sending people out to check who that bell is tolling for.

[Merlin Missy]

http://3quarksdaily.blogs.com/3quarksdaily/2006/01/monday_musing_i.html

Link followed from Making Light last month. A longish opinion piece about the conventional wisdom about "throwing money" and Bono and such. Worth a read.

This kind of thinking is the reason Bush is in the White House in the first place. Because too many Democrats care more about their ideosyncratic ideals of personal political purity than winning elections and making real political progress

Funny, I thought we lost because people chose a milquetoast centrist to run because they thought he could beat Bush, instead of a dynamic speaker who actually stuck to his liberal convictions. (And the voting fraud in Ohio this time and Florida before didn't help, but we're not supposed to talk about that.)

[Mr Ben]

What would this world be like, if the ones whose speech dripped as honey with the truth, were also those who lead us out of this chasm of hatred? Why must the mechanisms of representation in our political process be sold rather than given?

[julia]

OK, fwiw - Bono got Jesse "I am staring eternity in the face and I still feel the need to get a few digs in at black folks before I go" Helms to fund medical intervention in Africa.

What do you suppose he would have accomplished if he'd spit in Bush's eye that would have compared to forcing Bush to acknowledge that it's a religious virtue and an obligation (as opposed to terrorist sympathy and communism) to love your fellow man even if he's brown?

[KCinDC]

There's nothing new about Bush saying that, Julia. He says all sorts of nice-sounding things all the time. Hell, he even uses his love of brown-skinned folks to accuse opponents of the Iraq war of racism ("Some of the debate really centers around the fact that people don't believe Iraq can be free; that if you're Muslim, or perhaps brown-skinned, you can't be self-governing or free").

The question is whether Bono has changed anything about what Bush does.

[zeke]

>National Prayer Breakfast.

Are effing kidding me?
No ONE is going to comment on this except its a beautiful speech?

Its ok to humor people and their voodoo beliefs I guess, so I cant wait for you guys to keep this up for the next speaker at these luncheons.

[Erick Oppeen]

My learned colleague, Rav, has said that if I were running a charity the administration costs would be high because I'd have to constantly check on who the bell is tolling for.

He might find the Theodore Sturgeon story "And Now the News---" of interest. It is the tale of a man who believed, as John Donne did, that "every man's death diminishes me."

I won't spoil the story, but I do urge my learned friend to look it up.

[Ray]

It doesn't appear to be online.

[Mainline Protestant]

Scott asked: "Can the creditors reposess a country?"

I'd suggest you learn a little more about the World Bank and international finance if you want to discuss these issues - it's clear from your question that you really don't understand how this sort of debt cripples a third world nation.

Bono and U2 have been active in helping in Africa since Live Aid in 1985 - that's over 20 years now. He's learned a lot and adapted his efforts over time. Live Aid raised something like 100 million. It knocked him out that Africa collectively pays out over 100 million in debt payments every month. What is the more effective approach? Pull out some millions to build a hospital, or work to have that debt forgiven freeing up 100 million a month?

Not that he hasn't dug into his and U2's pockets. The profits of various U2 releases over the years have gone to Aids efforts and African debt relief. There have been all manner of benefit concerts.

You can sniff your music snob sniffs about U2, but who had the balls to perform in Sarajevo in 1997? Toby Keith? The Stones? Feh!

Bono understands that he'll be more effective if he talks the talk that his audience is going to hear. He could go to an evangelical conservative and lay out all the secular liberal reasons for helping with Aids - or he can talk to them about the lepers of the Bible, how Jesus responded to them, and get them to see that Aids is the new leprosy. With his strong, personal beliefs, he's in a solid position to do this - and he's gotten a lot more money out of Bush and the repubs than anyone else has.

As to why we should be helping, you didn't read his speech - we should help because God wants us to, and God promises we will be rewarded by doing it. It's pretty much basic, real Christianity - not the clown posse Puritanism that dominates the current American discourse.

[DAMARI]

CITIBANK ATTORNEY TOLD THE US DEPT OF LABOR WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION THAT I AM STILL AN EMPLOYEE AND THAT THEY WILL SEND ME A LETTER EXPLAINING THIS TO ME BUT YET I HAVE ABOUT 9 DOCUMENTS WHICH CLEARLY READ THAT I WAS TERMINATED
PLEASE HELP ME

AN EMPLOYEE OF CITIGROUP IS SENDING ME EMAIL WITH A VIRUS ATTACHED! WHAT ELSE WILL THEY DO?

WHY DOES CITIBANK IN CARMEL LIE TO THEIR CLIENTS ABOUT WHY I AM NO LONGER AT THE BANK? ARE THEY ASHAMED OF WHAT THEY DID TO ME? THEY KNOW VERY WELL THAT I DID NOT LEAVE TO WORK WITH MY HUSBAND THEY FIRED ME VIA UPS AND I AM ON DISABILITY DUE TO THEIR TREATMENT, THREATS AND HARASSMENT

Why hasn’t Citibank responded to the Dept. of Thrift Supervision and what else will they lie about to the Dept. of Fair Employment & Housing ?
Citibank Ethics?! Please post & forward my story I need your help, please help us get this story out, please forward to everyone you know. Why do the employees at branch 915 in Carmel, Ca., tell their clients that I left the bank to go work for my husband, instead of telling them the truth which is that I was fired on 12/13/05 via UPS & their HR- Connect One system has me as an active employee out on disability and now I am an active employee on leave of absence with pay. So, am I fired or on leave of absence??? If I am on leave of absence then why don’t they say that instead of lying to the clients and telling them that I left to work for my husband. I don’t work for my husband, I am not allow to work , I am ill thanks to Jeff Ursino and Citibank treatment. Why won’t they tell the truth to the clients and what else are they lying about? Are they ashamed of what they have done? Perhaps I should take out an AD in the local paper and tell the community the truth myself? Why do these employees tell clients that they aren’t allow to talk about why I am not at the bank, but yet when they do talk about it they lie!!
On 5/31/06
Sharon Law Tucker sent me her new business card and asked me to call her because she had miss placed my phone number during the phone call she mentioned that it was Laura Richardson which told her a few months ago that I left to work for my husband, is there anyone at the Carmel branch that can tell the truth???
The letter I’ve include with this email is from a concern client of Citibank
My question is will the teller be fired and if not why not? This teller left out about $10,000.00 in the unlocked front drawer 2 different times with in a two week period and had two shortages in one year, one for $100.00 and the other for $450.00.
Where the cash drawer is concern two employees signed the vault book stating they witness her put the cash away, obviously not true.
One of these two employees had the bank pay for her daughters overdrafts and the manage was aware, against company policy.
This teller entered false referrals into the systems to make the banks numbers look better and this was done under the supervision and direction of the supervisor, when I brought this up to the manager none of the three tellers which input false referrals were written up, falsifying bank documents and no write up but I get written up for missing a Saturday, why? Unfair and unequal treatment by the manager. Where are the ethics?
As I’ve stated, the unethical employees still have jobs and I get fired after the manager receives my email on 12/13/05 at about 1:45 p.m., and he acknowledges receiving it, it clearing answers his question/comment that he was calling to see if I was coming. The email states that my doctor had called in and spoke to Kathleen: as well as faxing in my doctors note which the manager returned to me with my termination letter received two days after I had been fried with no check, with no break down explanation, no vacation pay, misleading information and so on, note clearly stating my disability time off. Did he read the doctors note? Did he let upper management know that my doctor had call and faxed information?
The manager called I returned his call but he was with a client.
I requested to communicate via email and I emailed him, Kathleen and Human Resource, so why was I fired sometime after he received my email and the end of the day if he was just calling to see if I was coming in and if not to contact HR? Unfair and unequal treatment.
It makes no sense. Why weren’t the labor codes followed? Did he get HR permission to fire me?
Why then wasn’t my check included with my letter of termination? Aren’t I to be fired at the location which I work? Were my rights violated when he had Kevin send me my termination letter, did he know I was getting fired prior to me receiving my letter?
March 25, 2006 Dear Ms. Deloney,
I would like to take a moment and thank you for responding to my comments regarding Damari and the manager. I am sure that you are a very busy and important person and I appreciate your time. Damari is truly missed at the bank, since her unfair termination by the manger, the atmosphere at the bank is boring to say the least. Damari added life and laughter and she enjoyed serving the customers. I feel deeply, that the manager made a huge mistake in dismissing her while she was ill. What kind of a manager would dismiss an employee while they are ill?
As I say this, I now have further concerns about another teller name Andrea. I was in the bank and was told that she has injured her knee and will be out of work for about six weeks. I’m sure that Andrea has a doctors note as Damari did, I hope that the manager doesn’t make the same mistake and decides to terminate her and mail her a letter before she returns as he did Damari when he terminated her instead of waiting for her to get well and return to work. Although I would understand if he were let her go as she spends most of her time at work doing her homework , reading and she isn’t available everyday. Andrea will move on, on her own to become a teacher, this is what she goes to school for two days a week. By her going to school, I feel this puts a strain on the staff. I understand that the rest of the tellers along with Kathleen are now having to work six days a week and Kathleen is running a window: she doesn’t have the charm or customer service skills which Damari offered the bank.
We go into the bank often and we rarely see that manager. I feel that it would be in the best interest of the bank to find a permanent manager as soon as possible, one whom appreciates competent employees as Damari. Frankly, I don’t understand how a temporary manager was given the authority to dismiss an employee such as Damari with her wonderful skills , talents and dedication to her job. Therefore my concerns are now for Andrea whom doesn‘t compare with the kind of service Damari offered your customers. As I stated before, the other tellers spend too much time speaking to customers about personal things and shopping on the computer instead of banking conversations. I frequently witness them reading and eating while at their windows: this is very unprofessional.
I feel it would be in the best interest to Citibank to launch a complete investigation on the manager, as you stated would be done and seriously consider removing him from Carmel. In my opinion since he arrived the atmosphere is tense and if I can sense it I am sure that other customers do. This manager has taken all the personal touch and charm out of the bank and I feel the employees fear for their jobs: no one should have to work under those conditions. Keeping this manager at this or any branch is sure to destroy you business. Again, thank you for your letter and taking the time to look into this situation.
Sincerely, Clifford Bagwell
In a letter dated 01/06/06,Citibank states, Pursuant to Section 1089 of the Ca. Unemployment insurance Code, regarding notification of changes in employment status, please be advised that your employment was terminated on 12/13/5 for failure to follow call in procedures
RE Section1089 and other codes which Citibank may have violated
Other codes they may have violated labor code section 208, 226, 226.3,201.25,2441, 2800,2802,2926,2927,6400,3602(6),3852,2922,civil code 47(c)
I was fired on 12/13/05,it states that each employer shall notify the employee immediately, yet I didn't find out until 12/15 as I received my notice of termination via UPS on12/15
When I was fired I was not supplied with "copies of printed statements or materials relating to claims for benefits by Citibank.
Citibank claims that I didn't follow the call-in procedure yet my doctor called on 12/12 & faxed in a notice which stated that I would be out from the 12th-16th.
Jeff claims that he called me to see if I was coming in on 12/13 at 10:25am,almost 2hrs after my shift started, he states that if I wasn't coming in that he wanted me to contact HR to inform them of my extended absence. How does one go from calling to see if I'm coming in & ask me to call HR to Jeff stating & deciding that I should be fired yet in my email to him at 1:45pm on 12/13 it states that the doctor had spoken to Kathleen & faxed in my doctors note which he returns to me w/letter of termination.
How does he justify terminating me? I was out on work related stress and my blood pressure, my doctor called for me to keep my stress & blood pressure down, as far as not calling in I had my doctor call: the call was made for me to protect my health. Why wasn't it stated in my termination letter that I failed to follow the call in procedure. Why does Citibank state to the DFEH that I called in on 11/15 & said that I would be out the rest of the week yet I worked on the that day & the supervisor approved my timecard on 11/22. What else are they not being honest about?
Why are the employees which falsify bank documents & break policy still have jobs?
CITIBANK IS NOT BEING HONEST WITH DFEH THIS IS A LETTER I SENT MY GOVERNOR
Dear Governor, First Lady and Staff,
I have been awake since 1:05 a.m. I was having a difficult time sleeping again due to my conversation with Ann Lueckeman from the DFEH. Ann and I spoke on 3/08/06, Citibank apparently faxed in their reply on 3/07/06. Ann read to me some of the statements that Citibank made on their reply Citibank states: that I called in on 11/15/05 and that I stated that I would be out the rest of the week, this is a lie!!! I happen to have my time card for the week ending 11/19/05 and it clearly shows that I worked the 15th, I was off the 16th and I worked the 17th and that I was out sick on the 18th and 19th and that the manager approved my time. Citibank states that I refused to work on Saturdays but they don't mention that I, unlike them, was willing to meet them half way. Citibank is not telling the truth. To further support that I was at work on the 15th and 17th I have my journal notes with specific times of things that occurred on those two days. How does an honest and ethical person fight against unethical people who lie? How can I protect myself if I can't afford an attorney and I can't find one to work on a contingency basis? The other night, on TV, my husband and I heard that the government spends 4 million to train wasp and I can't get help from The White House or our Senators or Congress, to defend myself against a corporation which is taking advantage and lying about this situation? The only one that has offered to help is the Governors office and although I appreciate the letter and the call from the Governors office this does not get me an attorney. I have diligently search for assistance to no avail. I am now begging for help, I can't continue to loose sleep and live on anxiety medication; this situation is wearing on me. Again, please, is there anything more that you or our government can do to help my family and I, for this wrongful termination? Why is Citibank lying? I feel like I am going to have another panic attack and I had to resign to taking medication to calm down. This is totally and completely unfair, unjust, wrong and no one should have to go through what Citibank has put my family and I through. I only wonder how many other wrongful termination's Citibank has gotten away with because people are afraid to go up against them or just don't have the money to fight and protect them selves? My husband and daughter are worried about me and so am I.
PLEASE HELP US. I don’t know what else to do and I don’t want to give up. Sincerely. Damari
AS OF 4/21/06 SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
I SPOKE WITH THE EMPLOYEE RELATIONS DIRECTOR OF CITIGROUP TODAY, IT WAS ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS SOME WRONG INFORMATION GIVEN TO THE DFEH REGARDING THE 17th OF NOVEMBER, 2005. CITIBANK WILL BE SENDING IN A "NEW' RESPONSE DUE TO NOT DOING THE INVESTIGATION THOROUGHLY THE FIRST TIME. SO WHAT ELSE ARE THEY NOT DOING THOROUGHLY OR ETHICALLY? DAMARI
I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOUR OFFICE AS I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED PLEASE FOLLOW UP WITH ME, THANK YOU
A BETTER EXPLANATION Mother fired by Citibank for no good reason
I am searching for an Employment Attorney willing to work on a contingency basis. I was fired while I was out sick, the managers states in a note added to my personnel file that he had called me to see if I would be coming into work on Dec. 13th but yet with my letter of termination he returned to me the faxed in doctors note, faxed in at 3:44p.m. on 12/12/05 by my doctor, which clearly stated that I would be out from 12/12-12/16/05. He sent me my letter of termination thru UPS, which arrive on 12/15/05. The manager knew that I was out on work related stress and I had a workers comp case pending. The manager states that I was fired for not complying with my warning and I asked how I could comply if I wasn't there to comply so then I get a letter from HR stating that I was fired for failure to follow the call in process but my doctor had called in for me on the 12th due to my stress level and blood pressure. The doctor had spoken to the supervisor on the 12th so they were aware that I wouldn't be in on the 13th and my doctor has the notes on my file that she had made a call in for me. Citibank did not follow their own procedures when they fired me. The EEOC has given me the right to sue and the letter arrived on 2/17/06 so my 90 days have started. The DFEH has also launched their own investigation which Citibank received notice on 1/23/06 and should be responding to the notice any day now, (as of 3/8/06they haven’t responded). I had an outstanding performance history with the bank; I had worked there for 4 years 2 months 6 days. I was the head teller one of the notary and the only Spanish-speaking teller. I have at least 40 letters of support from Citibank clients and I can prove that the manager was not equal with all the employees and although he was aware of the teller cooking the books under the direction of the supervisor none of them were put on corrective action yet I was written up for missing my first Saturday and then again when I missed my 2nd Saturday although I had a doctors note to be out of work due to my blood pressure and stress brought on by the manage and the unfairness in treatment. I had been threaten with job abandonment but at that time I hadn't missed any work long enough to be accused for this. Citibank violated code 132A of the worker comp law and I do have an attorney for that but they are unable to deal with all the other issues. I have a strong feeling that the manager never told HR that my doctor had called in for me nor did he share my doctors note with them, he is to get approval from HR before firing me yet fired me by 4:30 pm or so, I had also emailed him that day at 1:45 pm and explained that my doctor had spoken to the supervisor and faxed in a note, again he was aware that I wouldn’t be in. The manager had called my cell phone and left a message at about 10:25 am, he states that he called because I hadn’t called in a half an hour prior to my shift, which started at 8:30 a.m., why did it take him 2 hrs before calling me? And I would bet that the supervisor had made arrangements to have a teller there to cover my shift since my doctor called her. Please help my family and I. Sincerely, Damari
Home 831-583-9077 all calls to this number are screen please leave a message, Cell phone 831-236-0112 Again please help us
Sheri, (4/22/06)
The reason the conversation came to an abrupt ending is due to my frustration with this issue, yes I was upset and angry and my stomach was turning and my chest tightening, I had it get off the phone and calm down and I took some Xanax to calm the anxiety attack which I felt coming on.
As I explained on the phone, I have lost 25 pounds since Jeff Ursino first threaten me with job abandonment, I don't sleep well, I grind my teeth , I have gone to the emergency room for chest pains and a heart doctor and so much more. I have nightmares. From my house I see Highway 1, a constant reminded of the unjust done to me.
I have seen about 10 different doctors and I have been given about ten different medications, I have been seeing a therapist every Friday since Nov. 2005 and I have only missed 2 appointments with him.
My job was very important to my family and I, I have cashed in my IRA and 401k, my pension is on the way, I have sold some stocks at a lost to insure I have funds and all this because I was fired and I don't know how long I will be ill and I have bills. I have spent hours doing paper work for things such as unemployment, disability, activating credit protection dealing with connect one, Met Life. health insurance and more. I don't know how my benefits are being paid, I am not being directly billed and no one sends me the information I requested. I have lost my employee rate on my credit card and I still have to make payments to one of them.
Can you imagine arriving home and seeing a UPS envelope addressed to me from Kevin Squires only to open it and find a letter from Jeff terminating me. Every time I see a UPS truck I feel I will be getting more bad news from Citibank. I did call him, he was with a client, I called his cell phone, he didn't answer, I emailed him, he received it and didn't respond but instead fired me, he lies, he returns my doctors note which stated the time I would be off, they lie to the DFEH, why wasn't the research done thoroughly in the first place, why were both of my write ups sloppy with incorrect dates and information? I wasn't fired for my performance, Jeff just wanted to hurt me more and this was his way.
I was told that the center didn't have enough employees for some one to have Saturdays off but even though the center is short staff he fires me and allows Andrea to be out every Tuesday and Thursday but yet we were short staffed. I can't believe that all of this has happened to me for being ill and yet other employees did things that were more of a risk to the center than being out ill.
I am sorry for raising my voice at you, I hope you understand it isn't directed at you, it is about the situation which Jeff created. I can't deal with more paper work and I don't trust anything Jeff or Kathleen say, they are unethical and will say anything to make themselves look good. At this point I will not be reading the attached Arbitration policy which you attached to this email, I can't deal with more paper work, I will research other avenues and continue to tell my story since I can't sleep.
Met Life denied my long term disability but yet didn't talk to any of my doctors and I need to deal with that and other issues. Thank you for you time, Sincerely, Damari
SENT TO SHERI PAULO 5/01/06 Hello Sheri,
I received your phone call and all I want to know is what is it that we need to speak about?
I don't understand what we have to say to each other. I feel that you and Citigroup will stand behind Jeff Ursino no matter what really happened. Jeff states that he called to see if I was coming in 2 hours after my shift was to begin and if not to call HR. I did call him and emailed him but he ignored that and fired me. He returned my note which stated that I would be out and yet called to see if I was coming in, did he not read the note he returned with my letter of termination and did not Kathleen let him know that my doctor called in at least I did something about it and my doctor and I were just protecting my health. Why did they lie? You said that they got bad information and now will submit a new response to the DFEH why not check your facts first before submitting information to the DFEH? why, because Jeff Ursino couldn't tell the truth.
Hope to hear form you soon. Sincerely, Damari God bless us all
AS OF 5/3/06 ==CONNECT ONE OF CITIBANK STATES THE I AM ON LEAVE OF ABSENCES WITH PAY AND THAT I HAVE 163 HRS OF VACATION TIME 80HRS OF HOLIDAY PAY AND 96HRS OF SICK TIME YET I HAVE LETTERS WHICH STATES I WAS FIRED ON 12/13/05
05/06/06 ==IS THIS APPROPRIATE? SEARCHING FOR A CHAIR ON CITIGROUP TIME, I BET HE DOESN’T GET FIRED!AND ALL THE OTHER ONES DOING PERSONAL SEARCHES ON CITIGROUP TIME, I BET THEY DIDN’T GET WRITTEN UP OR HARRASSED AS I DID FOR BEING ILL AND WANTING TO PUT MY DAUGHTER FIRST!!!
ronald.a.walter@citigroup.com I am interested in buying a good condition mid-nineteenth century Shaker rocking chair. Ron Walter office - 212-559-4393 home - 212-752-8453 fax- 212-793-3402
given my insurance back, why? Why did Citibank wait to the last day to respond to the DFEH and then fax in there reply with false information, they had 45 days or so to get their facts right so who gave them the false information and why? Why didn't they check their facts first?
I was fired then the status was changed to active employee out on short term disability the on leave of absence? Why was my 401k sent to me? If I am an active employee why was the rate changed on my employee credit card? Why did HR tell connect One that they had made an error yet I have a letter of termination and one letter that was sent over night to make sure that I did not return to work on 2/01/06? Why did the bank not follow their own firing procedure? If I was fired why do I have all that vacation, sick leave and holiday time. Why was I sent a check for my vacation time and then they rolled over the time to the 2006 year? Why can't I get an answer to my question regarding who is paying for my medical, dental, vision? Why is Met Life now billing me for premiums for the Life insurance policy which I carry for my husband and also mine?
I WAS AT COSTCO (5/17/06) WITH MY NEIGHBOR AND RAN INTO RICHARD WHITE HE MENTIONED THAT HE HAD GONE INTO THE BANK AND MISSED SEEING ME THERE, WHEN HE ASKED WHERE I WAS THEY TOLD HIM I HAD LEFT CITIBANK TO WORK WITH MY HUSBAND, 5/19/06 My daughter and I were at Ross to day and we ran into another Citibank clients, we said hello and he said that he had gone into pay his credit card bill and when he asked about me he was told that I had left to work for my husband, yet again another lie from Citibank in Carmel. I gave him my address and asked him to put this in writing and mail it to me, he said he would get the letter out to me on Saturday
Dear Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, 01/28/06
My name is Damari Carollo Stratford, my daughter, Leah Carollo, attends Seaside High School and I wanted to personally thank you for visiting the school on Friday, January 27, 2006.
My husband, Jeff Stratford and I have a small plumbing business named JND Plumbing, Inc., we, as a company, we donated money to the volley ball team to purchase 36 warm up uniforms for the girls. My daughter was on the freshman team and I was team mom and proud of it. I never missed a game and I drove to all the away games with team players in my mini van. I made sure they had sandwiches, fruit and water for all the away games and water for all the home games and practices.
On, December 13th, Citibank in Carmel, California wrongfully terminated me. On, Dec. 15th, 2005 I received a letter via UPS telling me that I had been terminated on the 13th. At the time I was terminated I was in the middle of a pending workers comp case which wasn’t denied until Dec. 21st, 2005, this is in violation of code 132A of the workers comp law. Also, I had been out of work since the 6th of December with a doctor’s note, 2 notes that excused me from work from the 6th thru the 16th. I was out due do work related stress and anxiety. My doctor called in for me, upon my request, spoke to Kathleen and faxed in my doctors note on 12/12/05. According to HR, Chrys Smith, I was terminated for ‘ failure to follow call in procedure’ on 12/13/05. My doctors note which had been faxed in on the 12th was returned to me with my letter of termination from Jeff Ursine, acting manager of the branch. The note clearly stated that I would be out from the 12th thru the 16th.
I went and spoke to an attorney in Salinas, California and after about 45 minutes to an hour of listening to what I had to say, they took the case on a contingency basis. Also, I have filed a complaint with the EEOC and they have launched an investigation on my behalf.
I was not allowed an exit interview, which is their policy, nor was I ever asked to turn in my keys, which is also their policy. I was a very good employee and my reviews can prove this, one of them even stated the I
‘ Greatly exceeded expectations’. I was the Head teller, a Notary and the only Spanish-speaking teller. Before some one is terminated they are, per their own policy, to consider the employees performance. I worked the for 4 years 2 months and 6 days.
Please take some time and read the pages I have sent you and also forward it to your friend Oprah because when you and her speak people listen. This situation has caused my family and I emotional and financial burden and I need some help. Corporate America needs to be kinder to their employees and more understanding of their personal needs.
I am currently on disability and the legal system is too slow, I need help now. Due to loosing my job I can no longer offer the athletes at Seaside High School the financial support that I was willing to give them but I will still give my time. We need more parents like me, please help me.
DAMARI
Dear Office of Thrift Supervision.
RE: letter dated 06/05/06
Case # 0505382006
Citibank advised you that Human Resources and Employment Legal Departments have handles this internal matter. How did they handle this matter? They lie to clients about why I am not there. They tell clients that I left to work for my husband, this is a lie. Lisa Austin from Citibank Benefits departments states that when I come back to work they will set up payments for arrears regarding my benefits yet how can I go back to work if they fired me? Citibank states in a letter to a former clients on 3/13/06 that they would like to thank her for the comments on “our former” employee.
Citibank lied to the DFEH and they are telling lies to clients, what else will they lie about? Citibank never offered me FMLA, violated Labor codes and this is all I get?
I would like details of what was said. If Citibank will lie to the DFEH and clients they will lie to you also.
You say you can’t provide me assistance but Citibank gets away with lies, wrongful termination, etc. I was not fired at work I was fired while at home, ill with a doctors note. How can they get away with ruining my life and lying to clients about it. Their Human resources department has had me listed as terminated, then on short term disability and now on leave of absences, so which is it? Am I suppose to go back to work there when my doctor releases me from disability. If I am an active employee on leave of absences then why did they send me my pension, change me employee rate on my credit card and make me do something with my 401k?
Would you kindly ask them what my status is ?
Sincerely
Damari