Veterans Day always brings sad feelings to me. I am not a veteran nor will I ever be. I am unable to salute the American Flag so my induction would be a troublesome issue. I believe that violence should always be the last resort in human conflict and that is a deeply un-American concept, disqualifying me from military service if I were so inclined— I am not! I am terribly frightened by this country's penchant for war. Recent actions by President Barack Obama sent chills down my spine. First, he said that the government has the right to kill an American citizen deemed a security threat without due process.

When I turned on the television news on the morning of Thursday, October 20, 2011, I heard the vacuous network news reporters talking about the death Muammar Gaddafi. He was killed as the Transitional Government armed forces had overrun Sirte, Gaddafi’s birthplace. The news programs showed a photo of the Libyan dead.

The following remarks are the ones I would have made if I had been invited to the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall.

I am deeply puzzled by the events of the day at this place on the National Mall. I have been informed that this ceremony is to dedicate the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the first to honor

The election of 2011 in Baltimore City will go down to the wire. Usually in this overwhelmingly Democratic city, the winners of the Democratic Primary are assured a general election win. Republicans still exist in the city, but not enough to put up a substantial general election fight. This year might be the one where write-in democracy takes a strong stride forward. At least three candidates, who lost in the Democratic Primary, are running write-in campaigns. Shannon Sneed in the 13th District, Michael Johnson in the 9th District and Councilwoman Belinda Conaway in the 7th District are running write-in campaigns.