Please sign this online petition by clicking here. Your address and email will be not published. You have the option of signing your name without it being publicly displayed. It will get sent to all the supervisors. I know it is intimidating to sign a petition or even write a letter to your supervisor knowing that it may get FOIAed by Help Save Manassas and end up on Greg’s blog. We must all stand together to confront their bullying tactics. We can’t give up our rights to representation out of fear. Once you are done signing, please forward to your neighbors, friends and family in Prince William County. Thank you.
To Chairman Stewart and Supervisors Stirrup, May, Nohe, Caddigan, Jenkins, Principi and Covington:
We, the people of Prince William County, express deep disappointment at your appointment of Robert Duecaster to the county’s Strategic Goals Task Force, Human Resources Committee confirmed on September 16, 2008 with a 5-3 vote.
We commend Supervisors Jenkins, Principi and Caddigan for voting against it.
You have the right to vote however you wish as a supervisor, and we respect that is part of the process. However, it light the of fact that Mr. Duecaster has made anti-Hispanic, xenophobic, and anti-Catholic statements both addressing the Board during Citizens’ Time and writing on blogs,
And, in light of the fact that the appointment was confirmed on the inaugural day of Hispanic Heritage Month, we ask you for the following,
1. Please make a statement as individuals, not as the Board, explaining why you voted the way you did. Tell us how you feel about Mr. Duecaster’s anti-Hispanic, xenophobic and anti-Catholic comments. For example:
This really is not about immigration, it’s not about legality or illegality, it’s not about economics, I’m going to tell right what it’s about; it’s about and invasion of this country. This country is being invaded no less than if hordes of armed people came across its borders. This invasion is not armed, but they’ve got weapons. The weapons that they use are their anchor babies…This invasion is being funded by foreign governments…We’re going to repel this invasion, one way or another, it will be repelled. You can either be part of the repulsion or you can be part of the other side. (Robert Duecaster during Citizens’ Time, October 16, 2007)
What’s even more ironic is the fact that el Pape will be here bemoaning how some jurisdictions have ‘treated’ the illegals. He’ll disregard the facts that we’ve educated their anchor babies, provided social services, indulged their vulgarities, cleaned up their trash, and provided them with a higher standard of living and more freedoms than their own countries used to give them. He’ll berate us for not embracing them wholeheartedly, for not allowing them access to our universities at the expense of our own children, and for not rewarding them for violating the sanctity of our borders. He’ll be pandering to them to gather members to replace those who left the Church due to the institutionalized approval of his priests’ penchant for little boys’ behinds. (Robert Duecaster comment written as “Advocator” on bvbl.net, April 14, 2008. He admitted to being “Advocator” to the DC Examiner. Click here for the article.)
Please click here and review this collection of his written comments.
Please click here to review a video documenting his statements to the Board or ask Channel 23 to assemble the county’s own video documentation of his statements.
2. To mark the occasion of Prince William County’s declaration of Hispanic Heritage Month, please make a statement, and take meaningful action as an individual citizen and as a District Supervisor to express your appreciation of people of Hispanic heritage in this community.
We recognize that you have not always voted in accordance with your moral beliefs or your best judgment. We ask that you take this occasion to come forward and make a statement based on your personal beliefs instead of obscuring them behind such protocols as courtesy votes and unanimous votes.
You are our elected representatives in government. We need and deserve to hear you express how you really feel and what you believe.
People of Prince William County, Virginia
I’ve already sent my expressions of support to my Supervisor who supported Duecaster.
Hispanic Heritage Month. Uhhhhh, Yeah.
Slowpoke, you exemplify what the real problem is in this county, thank you, as always, for reminding us of the core issue.
Elena, you are on fire! This is an amazing idea. This looks like the beginning of a brilliant campaign to restore some sanity and harmony to our county. I think we should also do educational outreach to our fellow citizens. They deserve to know the truth about Help Save Manassas and what’s hit this county in the past year. It really feels like a natural disaster has struck the county given the seriousness of the damage.
I would like to help you. Please get in touch with me through email.
Warning long post. Sorry
Slowpoke,
I’ve sent an email to all of the Supervisors.
And I’ve heard back from my Supervisor’s office, and they thanked me for my letter.
All,
The time has come that we must speak for ourselves. The BOS needs to see each of our own words expressing concern. We are ALL individuals living here in PWC, and we all have varying views on matters of concern. The same ole rhetoric is NOT doing anything to help the current “climate” in our county. I believe all feel they are doing is right in their mind, and therefore passions/emotions will run high. However, we’ve now had about 16 months of this. It MUST come to a screeching halt. I think if ALL took the time to truly listen to others with differing views they might actually learn something.
I said the other day ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I mean that. We must all stop the bashing. This serves no valuable purpose, it’s only adding fuel to the fire.
I’m attaching the letter I sent to the Supervisors. I know all won’t like what I’ve said in it, but it is my true heart felt beliefs. I urge all to please, let’s try to get along. We do all live together in this county. We need to work together to move forward and begin the “healing process”. We do all want what best for the county don’t we?
We must all stop with the name calling, disrespecting, and making assumptions of those we do not know or have spoken to personally. I’ve always called those out wanting to resort to name calling and bullying tactics.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sent to the BOS,
I know yesterday’s meeting once again has the county all a flutter. I want to say each and everyone of you are entitled to make your appointments as you see fit, and that’s what you were elected to do. I feel each of you made your choices with great consideration. I think it’s important for all sides to be represented in such matters as Committees/Task Forces, etc. I know all were not pleased with the appointment of one in particular, and by the same token I’m sure there are other appointees that all weren’t pleased with either. The point is appointees are like anything else. You can please some of the people some of the time, and none all of the time. There’s very serious business to come before you with the 2010 budget, and the foreclosures are still listed daily in the newspapers. I would like to see the county partner with organizations for more programs, etc. where it’s beneficial for the common good of the entire county. We need as much citizen input as possible. We’ve all seen the citizens become more involved and speak out over the last sixteen months regarding our county. This is a great thing. I can’t say I agree with everything I hear, but the important thing is citizens are taking an active role in our local government by merely exercising their first amendment right. This past Saturday I had the opportunity to participate in a “Pilot Study Circle” on immigration in PWC. It was comprised of a diverse group of individuals all with varying views on the issue. There was one common goal and that was we all truly wanted what was best for the county. There was one thing missing and was any member of the BOCS and/or their staff. The goal is to get people to come together and have open and honest discussions on the issue of immigration. A single issue is never a single issue. I’ve said this many times at Citizens’ Time. Immigration effects many aspects of our day to day lives. I would like for each of you to review the attached press release & announcement of an informational meeting September 27, 2008 about future study circles. Please, give it serious consideration this should be beneficial for the county overall. Even though I’m not always in agreement with all, being a true INDEPENDENT. I do respect and appreciate your service and dedication to our county. I Please, feel free to contact me. I would really appreciate a response from all with regards to the “Study Circles”.
Sincerely,Chris *******
This is superbly written, Elena. You are like ice on fire (hear me Red Dawn, that’s your cue). You have never lost your cool but you always look hot!
I’m sure there are a lot of citizens who would prefer not to give their names, seeing that it is Gospel Greg Hysteria Season.
I love your perspective, Chris! I hope to meet you in person soon and talk about what we can all do to contribute to the future of our county.
I’m really shocked by Duecaster’s statements. I had seen the video of him on 9500 Liberty site, but I had no idea he’s made such filthy anti-Catholic statements. The man is grotesque and I can’t understand how he was appointed. I’m sorry I can’t sign the petition because I don’t live in Prince William. I live in Centreville and work in Gainesville. What can I do to help? I just can’t believe what is happening here. I was thinking about moving here as well. I’m sorry to admit that I wanted to take advantage of the bargain basement prices on the homes in the county. Well, not anymore. I don’t want my taxes supporting this government and these horrible policies.
I can’t imagine that John Stirrup will be re-elected about this fiasco. He nominated Duecaster and stands by this hateful man. I thought he was Catholic.
Chris,
You wrote an excellent letter. Inviting them to the study circle is a really great idea. I have always agreed that there were issues this county had to deal with, but it was the HOW they dealt with it that concerned me. We don’t all have to agree on the issues, but certainly, we can find common ground and common language that will not deny others their status as human beings.
I’m really shocked by Duecaster’s statements. I had seen the video of him on 9500 Liberty site, but I had no idea he’s made such filthy anti-Catholic statements. The man is grotesque and I can’t understand how he was appointed. I’m sorry I can’t sign the petition because I don’t live in Prince William. I live in Centreville and work in Gainesville. What can I do to help? I just can’t believe what is happening here. I was thinking about moving here as well. I’m sorry to admit that I wanted to take advantage of the bargain basement prices on the homes in the county. Well, not anymore. I don’t want my taxes supporting this government and these horrible policies.
I can’t imagine that John Stirrup will be re-elected after this fiasco. He nominated Duecaster and stands by this hateful man. I thought he was Catholic.
AnonForNow,
I have to tell you. I’m giving serious thought to posting this on bvbl too. I feel very strongly about the words I’ve written today.
Chris,
Please, please, do post it bvbl. I admire and adore you. You, Alanna and Elena make me so proud of being a woman from Prince William.
Elena,
Thank you. There really is common ground. I know some will doubt this. We are dealing with a human issue in immigration. I feel that unfortunately the “human factor” gets left all too often in a debate regarding human beings.( Hello!)
I was also offended by Duecaster’s horrible portrayal of catholics. But I also believe in free speech.
Pax, we’re not trying to censor Duecaster. We object to his appointment to the county Strategic Goals Task Force. BOCS should not be seeking his wisdom and guidance on the future direction of the county. Do you agree with that or not?
Pax,
No one is disagreeing with you regarding free speech. I may not like what Mr. Duecaster has to say, but he has the right to yell it from the tree tops if he wants. What I disagree with, is his appointment to a committee that crafts public policy.
Who is this Doocaster? How do I find out more about him? Can I meet and talk to him in person? Are these committee meetings open to the public? I just can’t believe such a man even exists in 2008. I have to see him for myself.
Maybe I should move to Prince William just so that I can be directly involved in making changes here. I do work here and I am impacted by pwc government policies.
Elena,
Right back at ya!
Slowpoke,
I would like to meet you and people like you in person. Do you attend Help Save Manassas meetings? Are they still open to the public? Do you personally know Doocaster? How do you come to believe such hateful things? I’m really confused and shocked.
Awesome letter, Chris. Thank you for inviting the supervisors and for considering posting the informaton on Greg Letiecq’s blog. I sent a news release to him at bvbl.net and to the Help Save Manassas blog, as well as here. For anyone who is interested, here’s the basic information.
PRINCE WILLIAM STUDY CIRCLES ON IMMIGRATION, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Room 130, Bull Run Hall, George Mason University’s Prince William Campus, 10900 University Blvd, Manassas. Informational meeting for anyone who lives and/or works in Manassas, Manassas Park or Prince William County and wants to better understand all sides of the immigration issue, to build relationships across groups and to develop action plans and policies based on common ground. Free. 703-927-0531 or http://www.cvdnva.org.
Elena,
Why don’t you send this petition to all Catholic churches in Prince William?
Appeals court upholds Arizona immigration law
“A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld an Arizona law that penalizes businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants and requires them to verify the employment status of their workers.” [more at link]
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/09/17/national/a124413D91.DTL
All Saints was at one time the largest Catholic congregation in the Commonwealth. I think that may still be true.
JustinT you are welcome at the study circles.
I think one of the supervisors attends All Saints. And I know Corey and John are Catholic. Isn’t Marty as well?
Cindy,
Yes, JustinT would be welcome at the study circles. Afterall, he did say he worked in Gainesville.
You’re welcome. I really felt it was the right thing to do to extend an invitation to the BOS. I have also, posted it on bvbl. We need folks with all views on the issue at hand. I’ve already been asked for more information on bvbl. I would like to post the press release over there. Can you post it here so I could share with bvbl too?
Thanks Chris and Cindy. That sounds really wonderful. I will call about it.
Being new to the details of this situation, I’m a little freaked out by what I’m learning. I actually feel sick and angry. I can’t believe I have been so passive about this situation. I feel guilty that I didn’t stand up for Hispanic people when they were being persecuted by Help Save Manassas and driven out by the government’s policy. Is the study circle anything like group therapy? Because I feel very emotional right now.
All Saints is in the City of Manassas, not Prince William County. And any flyers that get placed on cars there will be summarily removed, as they have been in the past.
assuming that is what you have in mind.
Not flyers. And it’s fine that it’s in Manassas.
We should ask Father Cilinski to host a forum at All Souls about hatred. How do we respond to hatred as individuals and as a community?
And you’re targeting the Catholic Church why?
Sorry to highjack the thread with a long release, but here it is, JustinT and Chris:
Public Invited to Take Part in Dialogues on Immigration
MANASSAS, VA – An initiative called “Prince William Study Circles on Immigration” is inviting the public to a Saturday, September 27 informational meeting to learn how they can become involved in creating action plans and policies on immigration issues. The “Study Circles” effort aims to involve all kinds of people in dialogues to find solutions to the immigration issues facing the area.
What: An informational meeting about “Prince William Study Circles on Immigration.”
When: Saturday, September 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Room 130, Bull Run Hall, George Mason University’s Prince William Campus, 10900 University Boulevard, Manassas. Parking is available in the King Lot.
Who’s Invited: People who live and/or work in Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County.
The purpose of the Prince William Study Circles on Immigration is to help participants to better understand all sides of the immigration issue, to build relationships across groups and to develop action plans and policies based on common ground.
A pilot study circle dialogue was held September 13 that included a diverse 14-participant group of conservatives, immigrant advocates, public sector employees, business leaders, human rights advocates, members of the faith community and other people from the Prince William area.
“I learned a lot about other people’s ideas,” said pilot study circle participant Hank Azais, a member of the board of directors of VACOLAO (Virginia Coalition of Latin American Organizations). “I think we could put them together and come up with a result that would be beneficial to the community.”
“I was somewhat surprised to find so much interest and agreement around the idea that we need to rebuild welcoming neighborhoods and communities,” said study circles organizer Dexter Fox, Chair, Unity in the Community. “We know there is work to do. It’s a beginning.”
Additional informational meetings are being planned at other locations in the Prince William area later this fall.
More than 84 study circles, with trained facilitators, have been used by Montgomery County Public Schools (Md.) to successfully address the challenges posed by cultural and racial differences in the schools. The Prince William Study Circles effort follows and builds upon interest and community involvement in three recent immigration-related programs: the Dialogue and Diversity conversations, sponsored in 2007 by George Mason University; a National Issues Forum on immigration, convened at GMU by the Center for Voter Deliberation of Northern Virginia this past June, and; Crossing the Line, a film series on immigration at GMU and co-sponsored by Unity in the Community, that took place over four weekends in August.
For more information, or to sign up to participate, contact: Bill Corbett, 703-927-0531, [email protected], http://www.cvdnva.org or Dexter Fox, Unity in the Community Chair, 703-368-5225, [email protected]; http://www.unityitc.org.
I believe the Catholic Church has been targeted actually.
Are you denying that the Church had mishandled its sex-abuse problem?
As a Catholic, I found that very disillusioning, heartbreaking, even. The Church attacked itself.
Alanna and Elena,
I admire your tenacity. I appreciate you sticking your necks out to make our community a better place for all. I appreciate the fact that you are on the front lines holding our politicians accountable for their actions. I am so happy that I have met both of you and look forward to getting to know each of you better. I look forward to working along side you for the betterment of our community and to help make it a civil place for all people. Thanks for the tireless hours you spend to keep us informed. Thank you for a place we can have dialog where all opinions are welcomed.
Thanks go out to Moon-howler as well.
Elena,
I wish I could sign the petition but I do not live in PW County.
Chris,
Awesome letter to the BOS. You are absolutely right. We all need to come together to heal our communities. I think of the disaster in Galveston and realize everyone there is on level ground. There are no rich, no poor, no educated, no uneducated, no citizens, no immigrants. All are equally effected, yet they will be working together to restore their community. We have had a disaster, too, but at our own making. It is time to come along side of one another to restore our community.
I plan to attend the Prince William Study Circles on Immigration Sept 27. I hope many of you will be able to attend.
Chris,
Please post to posting your letter on bvbl, too. Many of the posters there need to hear some sound reason.
Emma,
It looks like my posts with you and Elvis have been deleted on bvbl. I wonder why? All I was trying to reach to people concerned about immigration. I guess a “study circle on immigration in PWC” is not a topic for bvbl. Oh well, at least I tried. It’s really ashame that all taken down. It looked Elvis was a willing participant, and it looked like you may’ve even come around and decided to attend too. It really is too bad.
Cindy B.
It would be a good idea for you to post information about the Prince William Study Circles on Immigration meeting taking place a George Mason.
Chris,
Typo’s again but you get the drift.
Marie,
Never apologize to me of all people for typos. Thanks for your kind words and hope to see you there.
Here’s what now on bvbl. I did state at the begin of my post there wasn’t a fitting thread so I would post on current one with the most traffic. I’m truly saddened that this information is not getting to as many people as could with today’s modern technology.
# Greg L said on 17 Sep 2008 at 8:03 pm:
Ed note: numerous off-topic comments that started digressing into a flame war have been removed. Let’s please not try to drag threads off-topic, please?
# Lafayette said on 17 Sep 2008 at 8:19 pm:
My only intent was to share information regarding immigration in PWC.
I thought that was a topic. Greg, you really should consider sharing that information on the Study Circles with you posters and members of HSM.
I do sincerely apologize. I am not willing to participate in a flame war BTW.
sorry,
Chris
Please keep us up to date on how many have signed the online petition. I forwarded it to as many people as I could think of.
There’s free speech and then there’s being held accountable for what you say.
wow Chris,
Here you are, offering a real forum of building solutions together as a community and Greg says what? You responded with alot of class Chris, I commend you, I truly do. I am going to try to make it to the study group too. Just need to get child care arranged.
And who might we have to thank for that flame war? Not Chris.
Chris thanks for trying to reach out to EVERYone in the county, regardless of political affiliation or sentiments on immigration. Obviously you want to solve problems and Greg does not.
Still waiting for the flame thrower to ‘fess up. Who started a flame war with Chris when she tried to invite bvbl/hsm people and the BOCS to participate in the study circles?
Chris wants nothing but the best for this county. To those individuals who tried to block her efforts, shame on you!
tapping foot. Waiting…………
Greg doesn’t want to be part of anything he can’t totally control. He can be marginalized and left to howl in the wind. Just move on without him. No one needs to wait on him in order to try to make progress. Chris did a classy thing in trying, but when you’re dealing with him and his remaining dozen minions, it’s wasted time.
Guns of Love,
If you click the petition, you can see for yourself how many people have signed.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/we-deserve-to-know
10 people have signed so far.
It’s really great hearing women talk about politics. There is so much more humanity and warmth in the conversation here.
Are there any men on this blog? I assume Slowpoke is a man. Emma sounds like a man posing as a woman or is she just a manly woman. No disrespect. My mom is a manly woman and I love her. She’s tough as nails out to prove that she needs nobody to be a somebody. Love her. Would love to meet Emma. Will she/he be at the study circle?
Censored,
Yes, Greg is to blame. He should have handled the situation differently.
However, there is another guilty party who is too chicken shit to own up to what they did. I am waiting for that person to confess AND apologize to Chris for sabotaging her very sincere efforts.