ALPHA 184

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.  We can no longer afford to worship the god of hate or bow before the altar of retaliation. The oceans of history are made turbulent by the ever-rising tides of hate. History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals that pursued this self-defeating path of hate".      -MLK


Early 2009. Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club. Redondo Beach, CA.  Standing at the desk, reviewing the list of arriving guests, scanning the list of VIP's, one name stood out. I'd gone my whole life without seeing or hearing of anyone with this name, such a common word in our language, but as a surname it struck me as peculiar, unique. Dr. & Mrs. Pepper spent several nights at the hotel, I didn't see them until the day of their departure. Face to face with Dr. William Francis Pepper, bearing no concept of the man or his achievements, yet feeling something, something familiar . .

A week later, I received a customary e-mail from a fellow patriot announcing the upcoming guests on his weekly radio show. Among the names, William Pepper. A year spent since, learning about and speaking of Dr. Peppers work, I wish I had seized the opportunity to shake his hand when I had the chance.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed April 4, 1968. He was considered one of the most influential leaders in American history. By my own account, he was the greatest, and most important man America ever produced. From Baptist minister, to the African-American civil rights movement, to human rights activism leading to a Nobel Peace Prize, no citizen has had a stronger influence on the events of our nation. Incredibly, at the time of his death, his work had only just begun.

Spring 1967. A young journalist named William Pepper had just returned from time in Vietnam. He had thoroughly documented his time and experience through photographs and written articles. The war seen through the lens of Pepper's camera centered on the damages inflicted on the civilian population. Images of children badly burned by napalm and phosphorus, villages ravaged and burned to the ground. It was upon his return that he met, and became friends with Dr. King. For several years King had been in a state of limbo on whether or not he would take a public stance on the war in Vietnam. Upon reviewing Pepper's work, in particular, a piece in Ramparts magazine titled, "The Children of Vietnam", Dr. King was moved to stand against the conflict.

"After reading that article, I said to myself, never again will I be silent on an issue that is destroying the soul of our nation".

King was planning a march of 500,000 impoverished men and women to the streets of Washington during the summer of 1968. He had spent the previous year building an opposition to US involvement in Vietnam. The inability to satisfy the requested addition of 200,000 troops to the war effort by General Westmoreland signified the calamity that would be created by an influx of half a million men and women into the nation's capital. King's proposed march was deeply threatening to the federal government. What if the people took a page from Thomas Jefferson's playbook, formed a revolution and demanded Washington be held accountable for their actions?  What if they demanded a solution for poverty in America?  What would happen if they demanded we end our involvement in Vietnam?

King was in Memphis to support a sanitation workers strike, he was shot and killed while standing on the balcony outside his room at The Lorraine Motel. After an unexplained trip around world, a man named James Earl Ray confessed to the murder, and was arrested by authorities in London. Ray changed his story 3 days after his confession, and was denied trial 7 times before his death.

In 1977, longtime friend of Dr. King, Reverend Ralph Abernathy, asked Dr. Pepper to interview James Earl Ray. Pepper went in believing Ray was the assassin, only to become his legal representation a decade later. He agreed to represent Ray only when completely convinced he was simply a patsy, and "used by forces well beyond his comprehension to carry our this murder".

In 1993, HBO aired a program titled "The Trial of James Earl Ray". I was in middle school at the time, and remember watching portions of this show, and my surprise with how different it was from everything else I'd ever seen on television. This was a mock trial of course, and the guilty verdict reached a very small crowd, the news traveling a very short distance through the mainstream media. The program was perceived, at the end of the day, as little more than entertainment.

In 1999, Dr. William Pepper was finally granted a real trial.  The King Family filed a wrongful death civil action suit against, "Loyd Jowers and Other Unknown Co-Conspirators".

Seventy witnesses took the stand and painted a multi-faceted, cohesive time-line of the crime as it was actually conceived, carried out, and covered-up. Ranking among the accused were J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI, Richard Helms and the CIA, the US military, Memphis police, and organized crime members from Memphis and New Orleans. Loyd Jowers, a local restaurant owner, stated that Lt. Earl Clark, MPD's best marksman, handed him a smoking rifle through the back door of his restaurant just after the shots were fired. Clark was hired by local organized crime members to carry out the act, but a back-up plan was in place at the assignment the US Army. Strategically placed around the scene of the crime; 20th Special Forces team Alpha 184. During the trial, each member's name, rank, serial number, and place of origin were brought to light. Further detailed; the briefing held at 4:30am the day of the assassination, and individual location points at the time of the shooting. If the first chain; government - intelligence - mafia - Memphis police failed, a crack squad of Army sharp shooters was in place to insure completion of the job.

It took just one hour for a verdict to be reached, at which point The Honorable James E. Swearengen stated to the jury:  "In answer to the question did Loyd Jowers participate in a conspiracy to do harm to Martin Luther King, your answer is yes. Do you also find that others, including governmental agencies, were parties to this conspiracy as alleged by the defendant? Your answer to that one is also yes."

From my perspective, this was the single most damming verdict in a long history of American conspiracy. Yet, each person I've ever addressed with this information, had no prior knowledge of the case's existence. The deafening silence generated by this monumental achievement is a true testament to the selective information made available to the American people by the mass media.  Dr. Martin Luther King was murdered by the same people who designated a day to commemorate his memory.  It's been proven in a United States court of law.  

So once again, I must inquire . . . Where is your outrage?


"He is depicted on King Day as a civil rights leader. And that's the way you're going to see him probably forever. But he was much more than a civil rights leader and that's what no one in official capacity wants you to know. He had moved well beyond the civil rights movement by 1964-65 and he had become effectively a world-figure in terms of human rights people and particularly the poor of this earth. That's where he was going. That's the area you don't really get into safely when you start talking about wealth, redistributing wealth. Taking, diverting huge sums of money into social welfare programs and health programs and educational programs at the grass roots. When you start going into that you begin to tread on toes in this country, in the United Kingdom, and in most of the western world.
Perhaps the lesson of the King assassination is that our government understands the power of nonviolence better than we do, or better than we want to. In the spring of 1968, when Martin King was marching (and Robert Kennedy was campaigning), King was determined that massive, nonviolent civil disobedience would end the domination of democracy by corporate and military power. The powers that be took Martin Luther King seriously. They dealt with him in Memphis".    -WILLIAM F. PEPPER

"For a quarter of a century, Bill Pepper conducted an independent investigation of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. He opened his files to our family, encouraged us to speak with the witnesses, and represented our family in the civil trial against the conspirators. The jury affirmed his findings, providing our family with a long-sought sense of closure and peace, which had been denied by official disinformation and cover-ups".     -CORETTA SCOTT KING

http://www.williampepper.com/audio.html
https://www.thekingcenter.org/KingCenter/Transcript_trial_info.aspx  

ALL-PRO

Do you remember 1986?

I was six and a half years old on new years day. The Patriots were gearing up for a Super Bowl XX battle with the "Monsters of the Midway". The Celtics were running the Eastern Conference, well on the way to their sweet 16th World Championship. The Red Sox boasted a balanced, veteran ball club, spearheaded by the hottest young pitcher in baseball. And the NHL Bruins were playoff bound, only to be swept away in the first round by the rival Canadians. Three of four major franchises in the final round of their respective post-seasons. These were my first conscious memories of professional sports.

Fast forward a quarter century and the names have changed, but the status remains largely the same. Fellow New England sports fans and I were born into a special set of circumstances, never to be taken for granted. Over the past decade, we've earned somewhat of a "New York status". By this I mean a magnetic dislike generated by a winning atmosphere accompanied by an over-confident, under-educated fan base. Unfortunately, this is simply a symptom of the times. Though my New England pride is unparalleled, to suggest that our sports fans are the exception to the rule would be absurd. That said; I do hold fast to the belief that we possess some of the greatest and most loyal sports fans on the planet. But, when things start heating up, and we head closer to the championship title, the fair weather fans will spring from the woodwork. Each will have their defense ready to deliver upon any questioning by the true fan.

My time away has earned me an objective view on New England and many other sports markets. In southern California there is such a spectrum of people from such different backgrounds that I was able to get a great feel for sports nation. In a true sports market, stuck with losing atmospheres for stretches of time, you'll find hard nosed, well versed sports enthusiasts. Between '86 & '04, Boston sports had a long run of mediocrity with very few highlights. Though rich with history, we faced a great many losing seasons and shattered hopes. Along with an 86 year drought between World Series championships, stretches like 86-04 created a crash course education in professional sports. A "keep your friends close and enemies closer" approach has enriched true fans with a greater understanding of entire leagues; a wider body of coverage. In addition to Boston; Chicago, Philadelphia, and Detroit are prime examples of this case.

Professional sports are our nations strongest pastime, at the same time, one of our most lucrative businesses. Perhaps above all else, sports are our greatest distraction. In a media-driven society such as ours, sports serve as one of our healthiest diversions from an otherwise contaminated news feed. Personally, baseball serves as my greatest avenue to peaceful timelessness. Between the World Series and Spring Training I find myself more susceptible to irritability . . more easily drawn to frustration.

Where I'm from, sports are an incomparable unifying factor in our lives, sometimes, even to a fault. The highs and lows of our beloved teams often have a stronger effect on New England's morale than do the extremes of weather. Literally. When I say "to a fault", I don't at all mean to belittle the die hard fan. In fact, true fans are some of the most noble, stand-up, fun to hang with people around. The fault comes when mood, stress, attitude, blood pressure and overall health are impacted by a teams performance. Healthy distraction=good. Living & dying by your team=bad. To whatever degree our dedication amounts, we must be served the most upstanding competition possible. I wish this requirement went without saying . . I wish it didn't require a second thought . . but as with all things; we must seek an all encompassing view.

Do you know anyone who places regular bets on sporting events? Have you been exposed to sports bars consisting of single men sitting alone watching three or more games at once? How about fantasy football? Now, please consider player salaries, television & radio time, advertising, endorsements, merchandising, and ticket sales.

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil.

The "Black Sox". Pete Rose. Tim Donaghy.

Cases like this survive media filtration by the uncovering of indisputable evidence by unflinching investigative journalism. These events are detrimental to the guilty organization, and send shock waves to the very top. Though sadly, much like the "once in a blue moon" athlete caught cheating on his wife, society agrees to isolate these instances rather than recognize the icebergs lying beneath. I understand the comfort felt by the ignorance is bliss crowd, but recently, I've been insulted repeatedly by pro sports, in particular; the National Football League.

I've grown accustomed to the uncanny popularity the league has enjoyed over the years, it's impossible to ignore. I've been neck deep in crowds whose lives have been dedicated to fantasy football . . glued to the ticker, stat-tracker, and mobile updates. NFL is the only league I know of that has its own show airing each day of the calendar year. From where I stand, nothing in American entertainment is so glorified and spotlighted as this mighty league.

At this point, on field officiating is almost entirely for show. Calls made unavailable for review are generally so bad, they are impossible to predict. And if a play, or ruling, is challengeable . . look for the red flag . . it's coming. One of the great aspects of baseball is the long duration of game play between short commercial breaks. Being away from New England as long as I have, many of the games I've watched have been at sports bars with little control over conditions. This consistent hassle of watching my game while having to listen to the audio feed of another, has truly brought NFL Sunday viewing into perspective. In my estimation, roughly 40% of all football coverage, during a game, is advertising. The world's biggest day for commercials is Super Bowl Sunday . . and during the season, many of the largest campaigns launch during football games. Just when you think they've maximized the number of game-break/advertising opportunities, they surprise you and come up with a few more.

Money makes the world go round. The huge sums of money claimed by professional athletes is proportional to the revenue generated by their performances. Sports are a good thing. Healthful distraction is a good thing. The concern I raise is a simple question of integrity. Are we getting what we pay for? Are all events transpiring on the field of play clean and fair? Are the athletes whom we idolize and make rich, focused on doing all in their power to propel their team to victory? At the end of a season, or career, which carries more weight . . . the contents of your trophy case, or of your bank account? I believe that any professional athlete, motivated by anything other than the relentless pursuit of victory, is a sellout, and void of credibility.

I am a life long sports fan. I don't know what I'd do without the wonderful gifts I've been blessed with over the years from the wide world of sports. From my foundation in "The Hub", to Vin Scully and the Dodgers, on to Chi-town and it's rich history and legendary clubs. I am better versed and more involved than ever before. My understanding and compassion for professional athletes is at its peak. In competition, heart is immeasurable.

Invaluable.

Everything.

THE YEAR WE MAKE CONTACT

The turn of the decade. The end of the '00s. I trust a fresh start is a welcome sight for all, and what a sharp year for us to begin anew . . just look at the number . . fresh & clean. For decades we've looked towards this moment as the future . . depicted in literature and film as a far off, often post-apocalyptic setting with society assembled in a far different formation, holding vastly different values. As the world turns, the numbers we use to quantify time are held in different esteem by different people. Time is relative. Yet, as we've discussed before, our interpretation of time is measured largely by the time we've spent here on earth, and upon turning 30, I gained new perspective of our portion on the timeline.

Currently, we find ourselves smack dab in the center of the information age, and like so many other quantifying charts and measurements, information and technology are increasing at an exponential rate. This, of course, includes the information available to us, and served to us. As efforts increase to secure and control information about American agenda, so too increase the number of breakthroughs by investigative minds. The quiet scientific research commissioned to further state understanding of our universe, our planet, and life at large is slipping little by little into the mainstream. People are getting better and better at reading between the lines of corporate controlled news feeds. As economies and societies fall to new lows, the ruling class is beginning to feel a loosening of their grip. A person, class, or nation with nothing to lose is difficult to control.

Whatever your interpretation of Mayan predictions, it is impossible to believe all is well on our planet. From extreme weather events to political and social unrest, life is certainly out of balance. The question raised by earthly chaos is simple; What is our role? What can we do? Does this pondering relate to you? Do you consider yourself part of the fabric of all life on earth? Do you recognise your impact and potential? Thankfully it is becoming more and more popular for Americans to face reality, to think for themselves. Of course it's not easy to transition from prescription existence to actual fact. Fiction is broadcasted in full color HD while truth is black and white. The static between the two comes exclusively from the messenger. The truth is ever present, yet a challenge to obtain. The first step, in my experience, is to discover oneself. To acknowledge your own strength and capacity for good; your potential footprint.

I began this platform at a pivotal point in time. Personally, it was the start of a brand new chapter in my life. Globally; I signed on as the wave was truly building strength and momentum. 2012 or not, the momentum will continue to build . . this must be distinctly understood. The mission is simple; when the wave begins to break, have as many surfers as humanly possible upright and balanced on their boards. As my friend Mike once said; "When you're at a campsite, and a bear attacks, you don't have to be faster than the bear . . you only have to be faster than the slowest camper". It is my mission to have all those I care about to be ready, and faster than that slowest camper.

Those I had the great honor of spending some time with over the past few weeks heard me speak of "The Line" I've effectively drawn in the sand. Years of reading between the lines has brought me to a great understanding of how the world truly operates. I wouldn't expect anyone to take each and every word of mine as fact . . at the same time I would expect mainstream press to receive the same scrutiny. Those on the other side of the line are not my enemies; in most cases far from it. The line was drawn to separate those committed to reality from those who prefer to be fed what they know. To separate those whose minds and lives are aloft; subject to head whichever direction the wind blows, from those who know how to use a compass, and have the ability to read a map. People who navigate their own way through space and time. The line divides the people who can accept hard truth from those with a strict diet of comfortable, familiar falsities. On one side: appearance, the other: substance.

The debate is ever present; do people change? or do we mature then remain fundamentally the same for the rest of our time? It's a person to person case by case scenario in my view. Like most things in life, the power to change comes from within. When it comes to belief and interpretation however, we always have the ability to change, and it's our responsibility. As more information becomes available, as scientific and spiritual developments advance, it's our duty to open our minds and embrace discovery. Many ills of this world can be strictly contributed to antique perspectives and stubborn unwillingness to evolve with the times. Most American military activity over the past hundred years has been based on the perpetual pursuit of profit. Our entire infrastructure has been built of the consumption of a finite supply of fossil fuels. Why didn't we emphasise and promote renewable resources since back when they were first developed? Because like so much else, the decisions are made by dinosaurs at the top of the pyramid whose income is based on the sale of antiquated energy sources. Many businesses, one time leaders of industry, fail due to refusal to grow and mature with changes in society. Countless relationships and friendships are broken from the same inability to adapt. My dream is to live in a society of transparency, based on truth and discovery. A world that exploits and celebrates advancement in scientific development and natural understanding. A world that shuns secrecy and monetary based political and military conflict.

My friend Mike, who I cited earlier, is Mr. Michael C. Ruppert. Those who know me best are likely already familiar with Mr. Ruppert and his work. His influence on me and my quest is unparalleled. I met up with him last May, we spoke for several hours on a variety of topics. His film, "Collapse" is in limited release in theaters across the nation and into Canada, and available on-demand from cable providers coast to coast. He brought the following story to my attention, among many insightful observances. Visit collapsemovie.com for directions to this very important film.

The 100th Monkey by Lyall Watson

The Japanese monkey, Macaca fuscata, had been observed in the wild for a period of over 30 years. In 1952, on the Island of Koshima, scientists were providing monkeys with sweet potatoes dropped in the sand. The monkeys liked the taste of the raw sweet potatoes, but found the dirt unpleasant. An 18 month old female named Imo found she could solve the problem by washing the potatoes in the salty ocean water, improving the taste of the potato. She taught this trick to her mother. Her playmates learned this trick and taught their mothers too. This cultural innovation was gradually picked up by numerous monkeys in the troop and observed by the scientists.

Between 1952 and 1958, all the young monkeys learned to wash the sandy sweet potatoes and make them more palatable. Only the adults who imitated their children learned this cultural improvement. Other adult monkeys kept eating the dirty sweet potatoes. In autumn of 1958, something startling took place. A certain number of Koshima monkeys were already washing their sweet potatoes, the exact number is not known. The hypothetical number given was 99. Then it happened. The hundredth monkey learned to wash the sweet potatoes. The added energy of that hundredth monkey somehow created an ideological breakthrough. Almost everyone in the tribe was washing their potatoes before eating them, but a surprising occurrence was observed by these scientists. The habit of washing the sweet potato had jumped overseas. Colonies of monkeys on other islands and the mainland troop at Takaskiyama began washing their sweet potatoes.

Although the exact number may vary, this Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon means that when only a limited number of individuals knows a 'new way', it remains the conscious property of those individuals. However, when one more individual manifests this new awareness, the field is strengthened, a critical mass is reached, and the awareness becomes the conscious property of all. This new awareness is communicated mind to mind.

We're looking for the 100th monkey.

"Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers" -VOLTAIRE