Everyday Erinyes #40

 Posted by at 12:05 am  Politics
Aug 272016
 

I have three items today which seem to call for the efforts of the Greek Furies (Erinyes) to come and deal with them. In honor of the 40th post, I am going to start numbering them. As a reminder, though no one really knows how many there were supposed to be, the three names we have are Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone. These roughly translate as "unceasing," "grudging," and "vengeful destruction."

Normally I shy away from calling the Furies' attention to a corporation or group.  There were no corporations in ancient Greece, not as we understand the term; and while there were some groups, they just weren't of the sizes and in the quantities we have today.  I want them to be comfortable doing work they know how to do.

But, in this case, a corporation has acted so much like a particularly despicable individual, that I simply have to address it.  Also, I have a name.  Also, I have a signed letter.

You may have read that Aetna (originally Aetna Insurance Company, later Aetna Life Insurance Company, still later Aetna U.S. Healthcare, now apparently just Aetna) is pulling out of Obamacare in 11 of the 15 states it has been serving.  You may have read this pullout has been attributed to financial loses in those states.  You may have read that Republicans are delighted by this turn of events. 

You may even have read that the pullout is not really due to financial losses, but is retaliation against the administration (and, incidentally, every citizen previously covered by them under Obamacare) because their request to but Humana was denied.

You may or may not have read that Huffington Post has obtained, through the FOIA, a copy of a letter sent to the Justice Department by Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini which in essence said (my reconstruction) "Nice Affordable Care Act you got there.  Be a shame if anything happened to it.  Give us our merger and we won't pull out."

So now, because Bertolini didn't get his merger, Obamacare and ordinary Americans who need health insurance will suffer the consequences.  Obamacare is already facing an uphill battle with regard to critics of the law's suatainability.  By leaving a system which relies on subsidized public-private health insurance plans, Aetna's move will only further tip the scales in favor of Obamacare's criticn [sic] and drive up costs.

Incidentally, Aetna is officially claiming that the letter and the pullout are unrelated.  Right.  I call it extortion.  What do you say, Megaera?  (And what can you expect from a company named after a volcano?)

Meanwhile, back in Tulsa, OK, a family named Jabara has since 2013 or earlier been living next door to a terrorist named Vernon Majors.  I don't know how much earlier, but it was in 2013 that Haifa Jabara, the materfamilias of the Jabara family, filed a protective order against Majors.  He had been sexually harassing her, knocking on windows late at night, stalking her, and subjecting the entire family to racist remarks.  (The Jabaras' family background is Lebanese, but the racist remarks included "dirty Arabs," "filthy Lebanese," "AY-rabs," "MOOS-lems," and he had a whole vocabulary beyond that for use with Mexicans and black people.) 

In 2015 Haifa's son, Khalid, also filed a protective order against Majors.  Majors had been harassing Khalid, stalking him and following him around, leaving notes on the door, and vandalizing the inside of the house.  Wait – what?  Vandalizing the inside of the house?  This creep had been actually getting inside their home to do damage? Eeeeeeww!!

And then in September of 2015, Haifa was jogging in the neighborhood when Majors drove by, aimed his car at her, clearly attempting to run right over her, which he didn't quite do, but he did put her in the hospital.  A broken shoulder, collapsed lung, broken ankle, broken nose, head trauma, and fractured ribs were only some of the injuries she sustained.

Well, he did get locked up then, charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon (which he admitted, providing the motive "filthy Lebanese"), and was awaiting trial, but in May he posted bond.  It was originally set at $30,000.  The prosecutor asked the judge to, first choice, hold him without bond, second choice, set bond at $300.000.  Instead the judge made it $60,000, and he bonded out immediately.  He was released wih no additional conditions – no ankle monitor, no drug/alcohol testing, nothing.

Now, despite having been arrested for a felony, and having been previously convicted of a felony in California, and thus ineligible under Federal law to own a gun , somehow he had one.

The day Khalid was murdered, he called the police to tell them this terrorist had a gun.  The police came and said there was nothing they could do.  Thirty minutes after the phone call, Khalid was dead.

This next thing has nothing to do with the case, it just struck me, so I have used both pictures.  A blind person on a fast horse riding by could see that Khalid is better looking than Majors (much, MUCH better looking.)  Is it my imagination?  Or is he also whiter than the so-called white guy?  A thing like that should not matter to any sane person, of course.  But then Majors apparently isn't.  Sane.  Tisiphone, if you will follow the case and guide at strategic points to make sure the community in general and the Jabara family in particular are never in danger from him again, maybe even instigate the DOJ to investigate as a hate crime – two hate crimes –  it will be most appreciated.

Next, from the "You don't have to be black to get killed by police" files, comes the story of Daniel Patrick Harris, 28, of Charlotte, NC.   Harris is – excuse me, was -profoundly deaf, and he communicated using American Sign Language (ASL).  He was able to drive, and was pulled over, or at least an attempt was made to do so, this month.  The best guess of those who have been covering the story is that he may have been speeding, but that is unconfirmed.

Also unconfirmed is whether Mr. Harris simply did not hear any sirens, or whether he trying to get home, where family were present who would be able to interpret for him,  or some combination.  He was a few within feet of his home, when the two cars collided.  Mr. Harris then got out of his car and started signing to the officer, who, according to neighbors, shot him as soon as he got out, killing him.

The officer, trooper Jermaine Saunders, is on administrative leave while the investigation goes on, and is not giving interviews.  Mr. Harris is dead, so we can't ask him.  The most we can do is speculate.  Did Trooper Saunders think Harris was flashing gang signs?  Did he think Mr. Harris was making threatening gestures?  We don't know.  We only know that Mr. Harris is dead..  Oh, yes, and that he liked turtles. 

Alecto, I didn't have anything specifically for you last week.  But I would say that this is in a category of things that happen All. The. Time.  Let us know what you find out.

Finally – I seldom do humor here, for obvious reasons, but I guess if Shakespeare can use comic relief, I can try.  So here is a little trivia question.  Based on the news from this week, one can conclude that that

a.  Not all gun nuts live in the United States.

b.  Having had a taste of entertainment from the filming of "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit," New Zealand parents have started training their children to star in some future remake of "Game of Thrones."

c.  Both of the above.

Click through for the answer ( spoiler: "c" is correct).

The Furies and I will be back.

Cross posted to Care2 at http://www.care2.com/news/member/101612212/4007417

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  6 Responses to “Everyday Erinyes #40”

  1. We had a stove brand called Aetna in Europe once, so the name of this "insurance company" got me a little confused at first. But after reading about their despicable immoral behavior I thought a name like Lucifer or Spawn from Hell would have been more appropriate than the name of a dormant volcano. Pulling out for financial reasons would have been disgusting enough, but as payback for not getting their extortion honored, is unconscionable. It would be nice if our Greek ladies got with the times and knocked some sense in Aetna's CEO Bertolini and all others involved in this scandalous deed. Either that or get him behind bars for his attempt at extortion.

    I'm sorry, Joanne, but instructing Tisiphone only make sure that the Jabara family and society are protected from any further menace by Majors doesn't quite cut it with me. I think Tisiphone should prevent the judge who let Majors go on a $60,000 bond without any further restrictions and the police officers responsible for ignoring Khalid's warning that Majors had a gun from ever sleeping well again. In fact the whole juridical system in Tulsa has failed the Jabara family terribly and it's nearly impossible not to believe that things would have played out very differently in Tulsa if the roles of this Lebanese family and this American terrorist had been reversed.

    Daniel Patrick Harris' story is such a woeful tale. It makes me wonder if police officers ever take a moment to reflect nowadays. It seems like all common sense goes out the window as soon as troopers put on their siren and adrenaline kicks in, often resulting in their brain being vacating into their bowels and beyond out of fear. The article mentions only Harris' age (28) and not that of trooper Saunders, but I think that it's safe to assume he was about Harris' age if not younger. His behavior certainly was that of an inexperienced rookie who should never have been allowed to carry a gun, let alone to use it on someone. Alecto should get Saunders' administrative leave changed to a discharge and get the officers responsible for the initial covered-up fired too.

    Yup, some comic relief was definately in order here. Thank you.

  2. Aetna: Boy, this is really cold blooded of them to do this. They certainly are not living up to their Motto: 'Turning Promise into Practice'. Should be: 'Turning Promise into Extortion' would be a better logo. Jail time sounds about right, Magaera.

    Such a sad story, that is happening (it seems), more frequently all over. This is so painful to read, of Khalid's unnecessary death, being shot by this convicted felon. The judge and those police officers who did nothing to protect him, and his family should be investigated, and resign. Stalking is a federal hate crime, I believe.

    *Personal story here. I can relate to this story. Several years ago, I had to work through several abusive incidents (which was happening to a family member), who had filed 2 protective orders against another person. Over a period of time,  it seems that the police have 'tied hands' when it comes to defending innocent people vs. raging, hateful, and abusive persons. It's a frightening experience, that no one should never have to endure. When this family member  filed w/the local police for protection, this was their response.  'It takes 10-15 minutes to get to your house, so if the person who is harassing/threatening/stalking you is there, it's better to leave your premises immediately, through a window, or back door, and leave.' This family member was also being cyber stalked, and has resorted to getting off the media/social pages, even to this day.

    I had read about Mr. Harris' death a couple days ago, and feel that the police need to be trained for any and all situations that may happen. Whether on the road, or in communities, police should not use lethal force against anyone. Alecto, take away their guns!!! and get this guy fired from the force. My condolences to Mr. Harris' grieving family, as this should have never happened!!

    Unleash the Furies!

    Thank you, Joanne for post.

  3. There can be only one response tgo Aetna: boycott!

    I'm surprised Majors wsasn't hired by Oklahoma's Republican Party.

    Far too many police arre racially prejudiced… against the human race.

    Thanks JD.  Great job!!

  4. Aetna may have lost several million dollars with the ACA plan, their words, but, they made billions in profit. Aetna wants to have the lucrative merger with Humana. "Politico noted the only real difference between now and then: “The Department of Justice’s effort to stop Aetna’s proposed $37 billion merger with Humana. "is retaliation against the administration (and, incidentally, every citizen previously covered by them under Obamacare) because their request to buy Humana was denied." "The two sides go to court in December.”" 

    Yes, this amount to "extortion". The Aetna CEO, Mark Bertolini, should be charged with extortion and sent to prison. 

    Text:
    Insurer’s ACA plans spark unexpected controversy

    http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/insurers-aca-plans-spark-unexpected-controversy
    _____

    IMO: The Tulsa police and its justice systems were grossly incompetent in this case with Khalid. More should have been done against an american terrorist named Vernon Majors. Majors looks like a patsy yellow-orangey when compared to 
    Khalid's whiteness in skin color. 

    "From Chapel Hill to Tulsa: Families Speak Out About Deadly Anti-Arab Hate Crimes"   Video & Text, Special Report: 
    http://www.democracynow.org/2016/8/23/from_tulsa_to_chapel_hill_families
    _____

    If Harris was trying to communicate with his hands, the trooper, Saunders, could have seen that Harris did not have a weapon in his hands. But the trooper shot him anyway without any regards as soon as he got out of the car. The video, most likely, will be held up for awhile. Another shoot to kill and ask questions later will be the determining factor as the trooper will say "I feared for my life" defense. Another senseless murder was committed upon a defenseless person, a handicapped one at that. sigh. 

    A thought just occurred to me that Harris looks a bit like in Arab in the photo in this article. Could Harris' killing have been racially motivated… 
    .

    • Thank you for validating what I saw in Tulsa.  As far as Harris, he doesn't to me, but, looking at Khalid, who was Lebanese he might have looked somehow Middle Eastern to an officer.  But I also think the disability would have been enough to draw his fire.  They are really scared of the disabled.

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