Who was Toussaint Louverture? Would the United States of America have become the greatest power in the world without…? Toussaint Louverture was first this young, skinny, and shy slave, but with a dream to free his people; and he did! He would become the general-in-chief then the Governor General of the most important French colony in the Caribbean. He would say, NO to Napoleon's grandiose project to expand his empire to the American continent after being ceded the vast Louisiana Territories in October 1800. He defeated Napoleon who took the matter to the force of arms, forcing the latter to sell the Louisiana territory in 1803. Toussaint was viewed here as the indirect means of expansion of the United States 16 colonies to the West with the acquisition of the vast Louisiana Territory for only 15 million dollars, or four (4) cents an acre. It was the greatest land bargain in history. With the Louisiana Purchase deal, the United States had doubled its size. “Thus, all of Indian Territory, all of Kansas and Nebraska and Iowa and Wyoming and Montana and the Dakotas and most of Colorado and Minnesota and all of Washington and Oregon States, came to us as the indirect work of a despised negro. Praise, if you will, the work of a Robert Livingston or a Jefferson, but today let us not forget our debt to Toussaint Louverture...” Rev. Talmage De Witt wrote (Christian Herald, New York City, November 28, 1908.) More importantly, between 1796 and 1797, at Toussaint’s invitation the government of John Adams had joined Toussaint in a trade agreement with the British that would authorize the latter to trade in all Haiti’s ports and would also safeguard the US goods to reach Europe through Haiti (then the most important colony of France) thereby would help the American merchants to by-pass trade embargo by European powers against the United States. Such trade treaties were indeed vital to the American economy. To facilitate the trade with the French colony Haiti, the US treasury department had passed a law that allowed the use of the French currency in the United States. The late French President Francois Mitterrand said: “Toussaint Louverture was the symbol of freedom for not only blacks but for us all.” Despite all the glories Toussaint had remained a very humble man. In his speech dated August 1797, just a month before his nomination as the general-in-chief of the army, Toussaint Louverture declared: “I was born slave but nature gave me the soul of a free man. Every day I raised my hands in prayer to God to implore him to come to the aid of my brethren and to shed the light of mercy upon them.” In analyzing Toussaint’s remarkable character a certain psychic elevation to spirituality can also be noted, which in turn elevated him above all blacks, whites, or mulattos. This was the origin of his unconquerable power. "Toussaint Louverture, in the words of Dr Wesley- Smith, was one of the truest and noblest of his or any race. He was pure, when to be otherwise was no discredit; grateful when ingratitude was the rule, and self-sacrificing when individual aspiration seldom extended beyond self-interest. More than any other man he contributed to the honor and reputation of that division of mankind with which he was allied by blood and birth." PETITION STATEMENT We, the undersigned of this formal document, request the honor of the United States Congress to consider declaring April 7th as a TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE MEMORIAL DAY, in order to educate our school aged children, the nation, and the whole wide world about the deeds and legacy of this great Champion of Freedom. For we believe that it is an honor for us as a country among others and as a grateful nation among the few to have a day of reflection in honor of this great champion of freedom, “this spirit of peace, the patriot, the father, and benefactor of mankind.” The success of this petition will make the world a better place where people could live in greater harmony, love, and peace. It will also be a source of widespread pride for the people from the Caribbean islands, North, and South America. Last but not least, it will also be the victory of GOOD over EVIL. PS: If you are interested in learning more about Toussaint Louverture, consider this book, titled: “Toussaint Louverture: A Missing Hero from American History” written by Jacques A. Dorcely. Please contact Imperial Book Company at (631) 929-8424

the state house of representatives just voted not to renew the Texas Lottery Commission. This is an act of moral ignorance. They're cutting $$$ from education, and we're already at the bottom of most measures of education, and they're cutting $$$ from veteran services. There's no excuse for this. We settled the issue of whether or not Texans wanted a lottery in 1991 by a 2 to 1 margin. Let your state legislators and Governor Perry know you support the Texas lottery and demand it be kept.

The Koch brothers are the right-wing oil and gas billionaire duo infamous for funding the Tea Party. Now they want to buy their own media empire to spread their extreme views -- including the Baltimore Sun, and its parent, the Tribune Company. The Kochs have spent their fortune funding anti-worker candidates like Scott Walker, right-wing lobbying groups like ALEC and climate-change denying 'think tanks.' They even warned tens of thousands of their employees that there would be "consequences" if they didn't vote for Republicans. Not exactly the kind of guys I want running the most respected newspaper in Maryland. Isn't one Rupert Murdoch enough? The Baltimore Sun is a valuable source of honest journalism. We can't let it turn into a right-wing mouthpiece. Please sign our petition against a Koch brothers buyout of the Sun.

Parkland High school's athletes deserve to play on turf. Our Soccer, Lacrosse and Field Hockey teams could use this turf for games, and possibly even practices. The best athletes should play on the best fields!

Parkland High school's athletes deserve to play on turf. Our Soccer, Lacrosse and Field Hockey teams could use this turf for games, and possibly even practices. The best athletes should play on the best fields!

We all know politics are broken in the United States these days. We can take a big step in fixing those problems by demanding campaign finance reform to stop big money from buying our elections before the 2014 elections.

After the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, last week killed 15 people, including workers and volunteer firefighters, and injured 150 more people, Gov. Rick Perry said he's comfortable with current government regulation of such facilities. This is absurd. We need stronger safeguards to keep our communities safe from more deadly accidents like this one. Sign our petition to the president and urge him to make this a priority.

Filibusters are killing everything we care about: gun control, climate, jobs, health care, protecting and enhancing the safety net, etc. We have to change this. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had a great opportunity to bring about reform at the beginning of the 113th Congress, but he caved in. His "compromise" gave us nothing. He must take firm action to bring about reform that really will make filibusters rare. Sen. Reid is from Nevada. The only influence most of us have over him is the tourism that Nevada depends on. By choosing to vacation or gamble elsewhere, we can put economic pressure on our Majority Leader to take the actions we all so desperately need. So let's take our tourism dollars elsewhere. Instead of Las Vegas or Reno, visit San Francisco or New Orleans. Help Native Americans by going to an Indian Casino. Instead of the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, stay on the California side. Don't spend any less money or create any fewer jobs; just choose where you want that money to go. Nevada residents: We understand you can't actually pledge to avoid Nevada. Please sign, though, as a sign of solidarity with us. We are not out to hurt Nevada. We fully expect that getting a good number of signatures on this petition will help Reid feel he can take action. Knowing Nevadans will be with him on filibuster reform will make it easier for him to make this decision. And when Reid acts, we'll tell everyone to make a point of spending EXTRA money in Nevada. Filibusters used to be rare. It was understood by both parties that they should be used only for exceptional circumstances. Many bills passed with a slim majority, less than what would be needed to overcome a filibuster. Now we have rule by "two-fifths majority." Nothing can get passed without 60 votes. And running a filibuster does not even require showing up. Only the number of votes to end debate matters. Not voting and not showing up counts as if you want debate to continue in order to kill the bill. If we are to have a filibuster at all, we must at least require a "talking filibuster." Those wanting to obstruct government must care enough to be dedicated to show up and keep talking. A filibuster must end if fewer than 41 senators are present to keep it going, and the majority must be able to keep retesting the resolve of the minority by calling for periodic cloture votes. Endorsements of filibuster reform: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/23/2611533/senate-filibuster-hurts-governing.html http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/opinion/sunday/filibustering-nominees-must-end.html http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-senate-rules-filibuster-20130502,0,7466527.story http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-judges-20130602,0,4411661.story http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/04/20/3265607/editorial-the-filibuster-has-to.html http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/editorials/nuke-em-harry-reid-should-break-the-minoritys-filibuster-grip-690399/ http://www.registerguard.com/rg/opinion/29882117-78/filibuster-senate-rule-reform-block.html.csp http://www.sentinelsource.com/opinion/editorial/senators-should-have-to-filibuster-with-their-words/article_dd2944bc-b777-58b2-bb34-f1ed2f5d5ccf.html

Elderly people and many other retirees need this for their 401K by the time they have to collect their pension.

In reflecting on the conversation of equal rights for all, I am reminded of my personal struggles of being a lesbian in a state that does not recognize gay marriage. Thus far, I'm unable to be legally connected to my partner, file joint taxes, share health benefits, obtain joint adoption and foster care, and receive tax or insurance breaks. In the worst of circumstances I would be unable to take sick leave to care for her, make medical decisions on her behalf, take bereavement leave, receive social security survivor benefits, automatically gain inheritance, and many other benefits. Currently, we do not have the same rights and the LGBTQIA should have the opportunity to legally marry and obtain these same privileges.

URGENT UPDATE: Earthjustice attorneys have heard that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service might put out its proposed national wolf delisting rule within days. We need you to act now! Any day now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may remove federal Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves across nearly the entire lower 48 states. This would be a disastrous setback for gray wolf recovery in the United States. The recovery of gray wolves is an American success story, from their reintroduction in the northern Rocky Mountains to their comeback in the western Great Lakes states. But there are few, if any, gray wolves in the vast majority of their former range. If the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removes gray wolf federal protections, wolves in the Pacific Northwest, California, the southern Rocky Mountains, and the Northeast will face even more difficult odds than they do already. It is critical that the administration not proceed with a blanket national delisting of the gray wolf, when wolves are still missing across so much of the U.S. landscape. Urge President Obama and Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell to maintain protections for gray wolves in the lower 48 states.

My petition is about raising taxes on gun purchases at retail and guns sold at gun shows. A "Weapon Tax" should be place on all guns and have some of the money go to a fund for victims and/or their families affected by the used of a weapon. My Father was shot and killed. Leaving my Mother to raise three girls and pregnant with my father's only son that He didn't get to see.My brother to this day has remorse that He never met his Father.