NEWS ROUNDUP: SOLDIER’S DEATH: SUICIDE? / DR. CARSON HONORED / EX-OFFICIAL SUES NASCAR
Thursday, June 12, 2008
On July 19, 2005, 19-year-old Private First Class LaVena Johnson, stationed in Iraq, stuck an M-16 rifle in her mouth and pulled the trigger. At least that’s what an Army medical examiner told her family.
The House Armed Services Committee announced Tuesday that the committee is looking into her death but said no decision has been made regarding a formal investigation.
Her father, John, a psychologist and motivational speaker, said, “She had a bullet entrance wound in the left side of her head, but LaVena was right-handed.” The bullet was never found and the young soldier looked as if she had been badly beaten.
Her mother, Linda, who spoke with her on the phone two days before she died, said, “She was her bubbly self. This wasn’t someone thinking of killing herself.”
Her father argues that the death investigation photos indicate that Johnson was “raped and murdered and that her body was dumped in a contractor’s tent and set afire”.
A spokeswoman for the House committee said she does not know when the committee will decide whether to open a formal investigation into Johnson’s death. For more information, visit lavenajohnson.com.
DR. CARSON HONORED
Dr. Benjamin S. Carson Sr. was recently announced as a recipient of this year’s Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. He and the other winners will be honored at a White House ceremony on June 19.
Be sure to check out Dr. Carson’s Black History Spotlight.
EX-OFFICIAL SUES NASCAR

Mauricia Grant is suing NASCAR for $225 million, alleging racial and sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination.
Grant, who worked as a technical inspector from January 2005 until her termination, said, “I loved it. It was a great, exciting, adrenaline-filled job where I worked with fast cars and the best drivers in the world. But there was an ongoing daily pattern (of harassment). It was the nature of the people I worked with, the people who ran it, it trickled down from the top.”
Grant said she was referred to as “Nappy Headed Mo” and “Queen Sheba” by coworkers, was told she worked on “colored people time”, and was frightened by one official who routinely made references to the Ku Klux Klan.
Additionally, Grant was subjected to sexual advances from male co-workers and graphic and lewd jokes. Two of co-workers allegedly exposed themselves to her.
Her lawsuit lists 23 specific incidents of alleged sexual harassment and 34 specific incidents of alleged racial and gender discrimination between January 2005 and October 2007. An excerpt of Grant’s 40-page lawsuit is available on The Smoking Gun.






107 Comments
1.
smh
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Oh, great here come the conspiracy theroist out of the woodworks. SMH.
2.
smh
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
My condolescences to the Johnson family.
3.
smh
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
theorists^^^^^
4.
LONDON GURL
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Queen Sheba??? the name sonds familiar cos i heared it int he the bible somewere.bt what does it mean nd what dey meen by coalling her by that??
5.
SHA BOOGIE
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
I hope that the Johnson’s family gets to the bottom of their daughter’s untimely death. This is truly sad. Now what I want to know is why I have not heard any of this on the news! ?????????
6.
mrs sands
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
NASCAR racist…NO WAY! The fallen soilders fam is in my prayers.
7.
Ms. Demi
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Yeah…the first story doesn’t quite add up
8.
Greg_Arious
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
I had dinner with Dr. Carson back in February! He is as brilliant as youd expect him to be and a great speaker too.
9.
Dame(Although I heart Jay z it's all about Barack ba-by)
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Prayers to the solider family
Congrats to Dr. Carson
10.
kaykay
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
That is so sad that someone or somones raped, beat, and dumped that black soldier. i cannot imagine what her family’s going through. yay for dr. ben carson! i believe everything that woman says about NASCAR-I hope she gets paid well and rebounds from the emotional stress they caused her.
11.
kaykay
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
to #4, they were teasing her by calling her a random black persons name in stead of calling her by her name-it was a racist insult. like calling an asian male co-worker jackie chan for example. out of line.
12.
Im Real
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
queen sheba is an african queen from the bible btw
13.
Im Real
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
+ a real queen not just a random black person
14.
YES!
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
SMH:
WHAT POST ARE YOU REFERRING TO CONCERNING “CONSPIRACY THEORIST/THEORIES”?
15.
SEABREEZE (networking)
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Uuuum..I personally don’t want any of my white coworkers calling me Queen Sheba. Race is a very touchy subject and white people, IMO, may try to laugh it off but for the most part it’s derogatory whe they make ANY color/race jokes. Don’t play with me.
16.
Juicy SuperStar
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@story 1
That is so sad…. That family has my prayers…. How does a left handed person shoot herself on the right side of the head????? Conspiracy theorist my a** … The raped, killed and burned her…. Thats not something you just make up, they had to send the body home and if it was that messed up Im sure the family wants some answers.
@story 2
Saw that on the news last night…Congrats….
@story 3
I need to know why and how people put up with stuff like that… How do you not snap and fukkkk somebody up…. If I’m at work and somebody calls me a nappy headed anything I’m going to try to rip thier tongue out… But then agian I guess she did it the right way… I would be broke and fired and she about to be rich!!!!!!! IM RICH BYTCH lol
17.
SEABREEZE (networking)
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Oh yes, ANGEL/J. DAKAR, as you can see I’m *NETWORKING*
I was wondering if it’s possible you could do a post about us wonderful African Americans career networking. This blog connects people from all over the world. I currently have a wonderful paying job and truthfully, I can’t complain. But I don’t feel like I’m being….., (how can I say this) basically this is NOT for me. I want a career where I can interact with persons of different cultural backgrounds and also that allows me to travel. Yea maybe my head is in the clouds but I want more. Because of my style of dress I’ve been told I should go into fashion/buyer/personal shopper but that’s not for me and besides, here in NYC, it’s not that simple. It’s very competitive and there’s a lot of ass kissing with no proper compensation (besides perks). Sooooo (sorry for rambling) can we have a post about us exchanging what some of the professionals in here know. Us black people who are about bigger and better things need to help put each other on. Thanks. Luv ya!
18.
SEABREEZE (networking)
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
I apologize to all the other bloggers here for being off topic but I just didn’t know where to put that and I figured I’d do so with the most recent post.
My condolences to the family of this young woman/soldier. I swear there is never and compassion (or media coverage) when it involves black people.
Big up Dr. Carson.
Two thumbs up for Miss Grant.
19.
Have Not Thought of a New User Name
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
That dosn’t suprise me about the Johnson death, I know alot of women in the service who say that women get raped and the service covers it up.
20.
SMH
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@14 the first post.
21.
ThatGirlLinda
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Story One: That’s sad. Did it take them 3yrs to decide if they were going to investigate.
Story Two: Dr. Carson worked on a girl from Aledo, TX yesterday removing half of her brain. Shout out to WFAA in Dallas announcing he was getting the award..
Story Three: I read about that yesterday on MSN.
22.
tae04
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Sad about the first story. The last story I wouldn’t doubt it with Nascar. She is about to get paid, I doubt $225 million. I would suspect single digits. LOL
23.
Lady Architect
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
My prayers go out to the Johnson family and I hope they get to the bottom of this. Is it true that if your family member commits suicide while in service that you receive none of their pay? I wonder if that’s what they are trying to do or maybe they are trying to cover up some very familiar people in the service by making people think she killed herself. If she shot herself in the mouth then why would she have an entrance wound on the left side of her head. Wouldn’t she have an exit wound? How come they can’t find the bullet, but they know for sure she did it to herself? Too many unanswered questions.
Congrats Dr. Carson.
I hope this young lady receives every cent and more for what they did to her. People need to realize that our race is just as talented and versatile as the next.
24.
WHAT???
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@12 She wasn’t a queen from Africa nor was her name Sheba, the bible never said what her name was. ” (1Ki 10:1, 2)
25.
JUDAH
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@19
That’s because women have no place in the service.
26.
Fed Up
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
my condolences to the family of the u.s soldier
i always felt a blk person has NO business in iraq but hey we on our way to ridding racism in america- -Obama: “yes we can” (cough bullsh*t cough cough)
27.
SEABREEZE (networking)
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@fed up
Getting rid of racism? Please the thought of having a black president is nice and all but get your head out of the clouds. Don’t believe that if he becomes president then we’ll be rid of racism. please.
28.
SEABREEZE (networking)
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Hi JUDAH.. I would love to deliberate w/ you on some stuff one day.
29.
WHAT???
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@Judah I’m not trying to argue or attack you, because I really don’t care for the service. But I’m just curious as to why women have no business in the service. I’m just curious.
30.
WHAT???
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@seabreeze Thank You! People need to stop believing in this notion that Obama is going to change anything. All he is doing is just manipulating black people and it’s sad you all don’t see that.
31.
babycheif_fl
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
I’ll pray that the Johnson family get the justice they need.
Nascar is full of rednecks.
32.
Original Truth (I don't care if ya get mad)
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Hmmm @ the Private… yeah sounds like a need for investigation esp if she is left-handed.
Congrats Carson!!
Nascar is such a racist spectator sport anyway, just as tennis was before Serena and Venus… we need to infiltrate Nascar now!! sue those clear people! lol…
33.
li
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
I bet if she would of countered them calling her Queen Sheba by saying Okay Hitler she would of been sued….
34.
JUDAH
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@28
Hello sis.
@29
Women have no place in the army because it’s common sense. Why would a woman want to pick up a gun, run around, and throw hand grenades at people for? When we study the history of war, it is clear that rape is what soldiers do when they conquer a land and inhabit it. Why would a woman want to put herself in a position where she is in a strange foreign land, virtually lawless, and be left to the mercy of the indigenous men of that land or her fellow male soldiers. That’s not even taking into account that none of these wars that are waged in this day and age are just wars, so naturally the people that partake in them have a reprobate spirit.
35.
Liz
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
OH MY GOODNESS!! I just read the entire 20 or so page document about the ex-nascar official and I am enraged and disgusted. I had no idea that she has over 50 different incidents of both racial and sexual harassment! Thanks for posting this CL!
36.
JUDAH
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@What
Numbers 31:17,18, Isaiah 13:16, Lamentations 5:11, Zechariah 14:2
37.
Common Lady
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Good Post J.D.!!!!
RIP L. Johnson
Congrats Dr. Carson!!!!
You better get that money M. Grant. I don’t care what race, background or gender you are! Nobody deserves that kind of treatment!!!!!
38.
grapefruit
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
THIS IS ONE FUCKERY OF A MESS!!! JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED… MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE JOHNSON FAMILY….. I’M APPAULED THAT THEY DIDN’T GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS AT FIRST!!!
39.
dukesman2000
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
That is so unfortunate….Being ex-military myself, I can tell that I have seen a lot of “mysterious deaths.” The military trains you to be a killer of no limits, which means that it is easy to kill someone for every and any reason, even if that person is part of your own battalion.
That is so unfortunate….Being ex-military myself, I can tell that I have seen a lot of “mysterious deaths.” The military trains you to be a killer of no limits, which means that it is easy to kill someone for every and any reason, even if that person is part of your own battalion.
I don’t blame Ms Grant for trying to pauperize NASCAR….no one should have to work in such a hostile environment
40.
WHAT???
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@judah thank you for responding intelligently.
41.
Cmeez
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@ Judah #34
You ain’t never lied about that, brother. And the silly women who fought for that “right” are nothing shy of idiots. The whole women’s liberation movement was a joke in which we lost the things we should have kept, and gained things that we had no business having (i.e. the right to fight in combat).
42.
DETROIT ALL DAY!
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
WOW…This post is horrible (minus the honoring of Dr. Carson). So obviously (R.I.P.) LaVena Johnson’s case is a homicide and not a suicide. I mean come on, the facts seem to speak for themselves. As for Ms. Grant, that’s a shame what she had to put up with. I started reading the filed lawsuit and stopped 2 1/2 pages in because what she had to put up with IN 2008 is/was disgusting! “Why are the palms of your hands white”…are you serious?!
43.
JUDAH
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@What
I always respond to people based on how they come at me sis.
@CMEEZ
It’s ridiculous sis. The point was to sow dissension in the household.
44.
SHA BOOGIE
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Judah, I still do not understand your point on why women do not have a place in the service. I was in the Army for five years and the service is just not about gun toting, grenade carrying and killing. And who are you talking about when men conquer new land they rape women???? Please enlighten me….Also women have a vital role in Today’s military and I do not know to take your comments as sexist or what but I just don’t agree with them. One being because I have been a soldier deployed to Iraq for a year, and 2 because it just sounds acinine coming from someone who knows nothing about the military experience. As for this tragedy on Miss Johnson it is very sad, and hope that her family get some answers.
45.
WHAT???
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
LOL!!!! Well put and what you said made plenty of sense.
46.
SHA BOOGIE
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
*asinine*
47.
Ion Care(kids stay in school or others wont r-e-s-p-e, respect you!!!!)
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
mannnnn i dont wanna hear about no more deaths i was awaken today by my family members screaming and crying cause my cousin died this morning so im really heart over Lavena Johnson my condolences to her family…and that nascar drama has really pissed me off for the week
48.
JUDAH
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@Sha Boogie
Are you telling me that there are no women being raped in Iraq sis? Had it not been for Abu Ghraib you would probably have tried to deny the torture as well. No disrespect but I don’t take the word of anyone that puts on that uniform. Especially a black man or woman (especially man) that would fight for this country after what our people have endured. I’ve read numerous accounts not only of the rampant rape of women in Iraq, but also the rampant rape of men and children. I’ve also seen enough panhandling black men with army medals on them to know that the U.S. military cares nothing for it’s own soldiers. You should tell me what the purpose of having women in the military is. First off, the only regime that would have women in it’s military is a militarist regime because they need as many bodies as possible to maintain their armies and dominance by force across the globe. Be honest sis. I know cats that were in the armed forces. It’s racist as hell, you negroes stay to yourselves, and the women are virtual concubines.
49.
yeahisaidit
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
BLACK PEOPLE DON’T BELONG IN THE MILITARY!
50.
SHA BOOGIE
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
First of all, I am not your sis…I never said or denied the definciencies of the the Armed Forces. I was commenting on how you said that we have no place in the army and this rant you went on about women being raped after men conquering new land. Okay you know people that were in the ARMED FORCES, good for you! But have you stepped in the shoes of a soldier?No! And so your are telling me you don’t trust anyone in uniform. Do you mean just soldiers….cops….doctors……McDonalds workers. Give me a break What I can say is that I have personally never been raped or misguided in the years that I served in the army. I was in for a mission, (to pay for school) and just happened to get in right before 9-11. Did I know that I might have to fight for my country if needed, yes. And I did it because I was a soldier. I really do not want to get into a long back and forth conversation with you because you have your opinion and I have mines. And to get to the point of what are the roles of women in the armed forces, well there are pilots, admin, supply, doctors, communication, medics, aviations operations etc that play a role in the Armed Forces. We are not merely in to fill a slot, so please don’t go there with that. So Judah tell me where women belong, because I still dont get it. So I guess any male dominant profession, women do not belong in that field…..wow I thought this was 2008….LMBAO!!!!!
51.
Umm....
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Uh oh here we go.
52.
modest-goddess
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
There are many stories of women being raped in the military and the military not protecting them and covering up the crime. Anybody remember that pregnant Army Woman that turned up dead after accusing someone of rape?
53.
jus my opinion
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
black people have no business in the military. r.i.p. lavena johnson
smh @ nascar
54.
Ara
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
In the Johnson case, that sounds like a government cover up. Anytime you hear the government say someone is crazy or they commited suicide, a red flag should go up. They use those two excuses frequently. As for Ms. Grant, I’m not surprised at all. White people have always been racist and they still are. Some are just more subtle with it.
55.
KIA
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
I should be fireball mad right now, but I’m not.
For the jackasses in the military, karma is a serious thing and I hope anyone that has anything to do with the death of that girl will burn on hell.
As for Nascar, that woman is truly a strong black woman. Either I would be dead or in jail over that because I clearly would have burned some shit down or stabbed whomever was too close.
56.
ja
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Wow I love to see the comments of people who have never served.
First and for most regardless if she killed herself, her family will recieve full benfits. The only difference is if she killed herself she will not recieve 12 gun salute.
Two, the millitary dose not teach its solider to kill just anybody. Thats like say the police are trained to shoot at will. Lets stop blaming bad parenting on the millitary. The Army dosen’t make you a man or a woman. Your parents do that. Yes men are raping women and men are raping other men, but also women are raping men and women too. So as far as a womens place is bull. The Army is like any other job.
Lastly, I do not dispute thet Iraq is dangerous being I have complete to tours as well as duty in kuwait. We must put what we see on the news in context. People died for no reason everyday in America. People purposely steal and kill for reason being only because they too lazy to get out and do for themseleves. You can die just as easliy in Iraq as you can on MLK BLVD.
No matter how you feel about the war you should respect the Soldier who selflessly put their life on the line to help those in another country abtain the same rights that we as American take foregranted. Be they Male or Female.
57.
THERE IS NO NEED
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
# 43 JUDAH WROTE:
” @What - I always respond to people based on how they come at me sis.”
—————————————————-
That is not completely true Sir. No disrespect but I remember you ripped on me several months on a blog here at CL for simply agreeing with someone you disagreed with…you two were exchanging thoughts. The funny thing was I also approved of your comments however I first responded to the young lady you were speaking to. You responded so fast (before I could even reply to state my agreement with you) and basically clowned both of us, LOL. Just shut us down! It’s cool though. Everyone is entitled to your opinion but you do speak the truth. I hope you don’t take what I said personal but sometimes you do tend to talk down to people. Hey I could be wrong and if I am sorry.
—————————————————-
I give condolences for the family of the soldier and everyone affected by this event. I hope this story gets media coverage, justice for whom ever committed the crime and all questions being raised get answers.
Congratulations to Dr. Benjamin S. Carson Sr.
And good luck on that lawsuit again NASCAR Mauricia Grant. I knew that organization had issues with people of color. I hope she win all the funds she is requesting.
58.
D.Lani
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
may lavena rest in peace
59.
HEHE!!!
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@55 I don’t believe there is a such thing as karma, however since you said it I’m going to go with it.
If karma is going to go around for those who killed this girl, then maybe karma came to her and that’s why she’s dead. I mean going by what you said, it’s logical isn’t it? I mean she is trained to kill or assist in killing people. 80% of them are innocent civilian. So if there is such thing as karma, then she had this coming right?
60.
D.Lani
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
My mom is in the military, my boyfriend is in the military, and I have tons of friends in the military (and they are all African American). And for those who says that black people shouldn’t be in the military, should stop, take a look and compare the african americans in the military to those whom aren’t.. ANd im not saying that other people don’t have good jobs but, my mom is doing way better than her siblings, and other family members and we’re the ones they come to when they always need money. Don’t get me wrong. There are a lot of other professions where African Americans are well off, but don’t count the military out. Not to say that there aren’t instances where the military can be racist, or prove to be harsh, but every job comes with its pros and cons.
61.
KIA
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
How can you not believe in karma? What goes around comes around is very serious. If something happened to you and you didn’t deserve it, then it’s just your time to leave this Earth. Sometimes the innocent has to pay for what others have done. One person could be starting mess and the whole town, city, state or country has to pay for it.
62.
reggie
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
only dumb niggaz that wanna get killed joins the army
63.
MANDY
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
The military is an entirely different world. If you are not a veteran then you would not and could not understand. I am female and my job was not to carry a gun and shoot anybody. I had a great job that helped me get an even better job once I got out. I loved the military and it can be a great place for women. They just have to pick the right job. You people do know that you have a choice right? I guess thats the problem. Those of you commenting about the military know nothing about it.
@whom ever said black people dont belong in the military please stop. If you live by that philosophy then black people dont belong in America either. If your ass has a job and you pay taxes then you are serving America in one way or the other so why not the military. And the military is not racist. People are racist
64.
ASH
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
This is to the first story, i feel so bad that they arent doing a full on investigation. If it was a white women that was raped, beaten, and murdered they would have already have done a full on investigation. There shouldnt be no ifs and buts it should not matter how she was killed, they should be down there figuring out who murdered a soilder that was down in Iraq serving our country.
MY CONDULENCES GO OUT THE THE FAMILY!!!!!
SORRY TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENED THAT IS A CRYN OUT SHAME!!!
GOD BLESS!
65.
What????
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@ JA WHAT!!!!! “The Army is like any other job.” Are you serious!!!! 95% of “any other job” don’t train their employees to kill people. Let’s keep it real, that’s what the military is all about, killing people. That’s not why we are in Iraq, we are not there t”to help those in another country obtain the same rights that we as American take for granted” Remember we was there because they WMD. Then it turns around and it’s about bringing democracy in the country. Who are we to go into another country and tell them what to do? You will never see that happen to the U.S.A.We all why they’re there, it to get control of the oil. They can less about the Iraqi people. Why not help in Darfur where they need help? Look I respect soldiers decisions to enlist, but I don’t support them or any war.
66.
What????
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Sorry for the typos, i was typing to fast.
67.
MW09
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Rest in Peace Lavena Johnson, you were a beautiful young lady taken away to soon. I hope they can find the real truth in this case. I know everyone who played a part in her death is going to get their’s FOR SURE!!!!
Dr. Ben Carson is an amazing person, He should be a role model and hero to everyone.
Mauricia Grant, I hope you get compensated accordingly. Those bastards deserve to pay!! NASCAR….racist?? Of course not, they’re some of the nicest, most open, diverse people in AmeriKKKa!!!!
68.
Hehe!!!!!
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@61 I’m not calling you stupid but what you said was stupid. No disrespect.
You still didn’t answer my question. If there’s such a thing as karma, then that girl got what she deserve right? How would you explain miscarriages when the mother did everything right? It doesn’t make any logical sense. What about people who do good things and yet can never get a break. Nothing good comes there way. Karma says if you do good things, good will come your way. Explain that to me.
69.
Jamillah
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
The Johnson case happened in 2005 and we are just now learning of it…that’s a tragedy in itself. Young women are enlisting to serve their country and in return their country does them a terrible “dis”service by not bringing their murderers to justice. Is the military so desperate for enlistees that they will resort to letting murderers go free just so they can keep them in the uniform? This young woman deserves justice and the government has a responsibility to give it to her. If the military refuses to protect women, then women should not join. If the army is really about serving and protecting, then they are failing miserably in their mission.
70.
SHA BOOGIE
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
WHAT????, What the heck are you talking about. What basic training or AIT (Advanced Individual Training) have you ever been in. You must watch the news and base your opinions off of an infantry guy getting killed. They are the ones that are getting killed most of the time. But anyways like I said I was in the army for five years and dont recall 95% of my time talking about killing the enemy. My daily duties were just like any regular job and the only time we did anything was when we went to the “field” and we still didnt just talk about killing. Please have some facts “What???”. The amount of ignorance is making my tummy tickle…..lol!!!
71.
babylove
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
She is so cool.Her father argues that the death investigation photos indicate that Johnson was “raped and murdered and that her body was dumped in a contractor’s tent and set afire”.
Lindsay’s joining on the famous free interracial dating site I n t i m a t e m i n g l e DOTC o m.. ? Is this news true or not? who knows…
72.
D.Lani
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Those who keep saying that the military does nothing but “train people to kill” has their stuff all messed up. Not everybody in the military goes through training like that. They go through boot camp training for fitness, and survival purposes. The doctors in the military aren’t trained to kill, the chefs that are in the military aren’t trained to kill, the nuclear engineers, painters, computer techs.. i could go on. Im going to need you selected few to research your information, without using the news, or “he say she say” as a research tool.
73.
divainva
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Cosigned Judah 100%.
74.
D.Lani
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
i guess movies are to blame too.
75.
marci
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
I live here in the stl area, and the paper here said that her nose was smashed in , and she had LYE in her vaginal area
76.
SHA BOOGIE
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
D.LANI THANKS SO MUCH FOR ELABORATING ON MY POINTS….I AM SO OVER THIS CONVERSATION. THE MATTER AT HAND IS THIS POOR SOLDIER WHO WAS KILLED, AND YET TO FIND ANY ANSWERS!
77.
smiley
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
Congrats to Dr. Ben Carson. I am a nurse at Hopkins on a childrens unit and everytime I see him, I am starstruck. I still havent gotten enough courage to speak though…LOL.
78.
trina
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
That’s rednecks 4 yah. Especially North Carolina. YES CHARLOTTE– NASCAR COUNTRY!! It’s like slavery never ended in that place. This is an everyday thing for dark skinned Blacks in the South. Fact is Nobody gives a damn, Administration, police, law, the Whites have it. She might get a million just so she’ll go away, but $225….Ain’t gon happen, NOT THERE. I mean they just intergrated the scools a few yeas ago LOL
79.
notbuyingit
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
Can we quit trying to play detectives and let the investigators sort out the mess. My condolences to her family. I don’t believe in war, I on the other hand do respect how others feel about it and their decision to be in the military. I think this name calling and this arguing back and forth is ridiculous for this post. Let’s just hope this woman’s family get the justice they deserve and move on.
I’m not surprise about the NASCAR incident. 225 million is ridiculous she isn’t going to receive nothing close to it if any. SMH.
That’s a good look for Dr. Carson
80.
olskoolgal
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
I am a resident of St. Louis, MO; the city that the soldier Lavena Johnson was from, and the local media has done it’s best to keep this story out there, but the MSM (mainstream media) has grossly refused to take notice. I agree that if this was a caucasian young woman with Lavena’s identical character and background that this would have been covered by Katie Couric, Charlie Gibson and Brian Williams! Not to worry though, her family is committed to the truth and I applaud there diligence. We here in St. Louis have watched the difference in this story of a local war hero being ignored while another “local” soldier, Pat Tillman, was honored, given a medal of valor posthumously, and then later to be found out that his hero efforts that reported that he charged the enemy to safe his comrades was a lie and that he was killed by his own men. This story made 60 Minutes. I believe that any movement starts from the ground up (also Obama’s message), and that is is up to “us” to urge our local and national media of why this is not NEWS worthy. Remember, it could have been your sister, cousin, girl or daughter. P.S. This sister had been accepted at a good university upon graduation, but chose the military to help pay her tuition as to not burden her family. This is the thanks that she and her family get for that commitment and decision.
81.
EBZ01
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
smh @ the military trying to cover up that girl’s death….that sh-t sounds like murder damnit.
@ the woman that worked for nascar….mostly rednecks run that….. I hope she wins big. Smh @ all this racism and sexism in 2008.
82.
black luv
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
they kill people even here in England, i live near the Army Barracks site and you can hear gunshots and some of those have been known to be people being shot by thier own colleagues, i cant say were i live exactly as i would probably get into trouble but we even know eye witnesses. Black peeps do not join the army- spare yourselves.
83.
Tbeenitsince87
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
Now im not an expert on guns or anything, but if your right handed wouldnt the hole be in the left side of your head if you shoot through the mouth, unless you angle your hand to insure that it would go through the right side…?
Anyhow, I definitely wouldnt be suprised if they 1 dont do a full investigation and 2 are trying to cover something up. I just dont agree with black people in the service. I pray daily that my kids NEVER make the decision to join. We’ve served our country long enough oka
And as far as Nascar is concerned, they DEFINITELY need to be blasted on every news station. But again I wouldnt be suprised if the allegation are true, hell i wouldnt be suprised if she didnt get anything for what they put her through…
84.
Kira
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
I live next door to Lavena’s family and we graduated high school together. I know for a fact that Lavena’s dream was to go fight for her country. She always knew that’s what she wanted to do so I can’t imagine her going over there then commiting suicide. When they flew her body back to St. Louis they had done plastic surgery on her. One of her teeth were missing. I’m not saying that they are definitely lying or covering up something but they were very secretive with her family.
85.
KIA
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
#68 You really are digging into me aren’t you? It’s cool though. No disrespect to you either. I don’t think there’s anything logical about karma. But it must be real because everyone has a saying for it whether it’s karma or what goes around comes around or reaping what you sow, but it’s all the same. I’m glad you mentioned people doing good things not getting a break. What do you consider a break? There are a lot of blessings in disguise that people don’t even realize. You may have stopped to help someone out stranded on the highway and in return you avoided a bad accident. If you do something wrong and you know it was wrong, it will come back to haunt you. Maybe not in the same form or fashion but it will come.
Now, if you do everything you were supposed to do and you had a miscarriage, then it was not your time to have a child. Maybe the Lord was not ready for you to have a child as yet. Maybe that child could have grown up and could have done a lot of damage in the world or could have caused you a lot of pain so the Lord says nope not yet. With this soldier, I don’t know her so I can’t say if she was a good or bad person. If you are truly a good person, and something like this happens to you, then you have done what you were put here to do and now the lord is taking you away from this crappy earth to live in peace with him.
86.
Stepdadep
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
My Lord…Please investigate if nothing more than to help this family with closure….if someone is responsible for her death, then they should be bought to justice!
87.
STLCHICK
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
I hope that they get down the bottom of LaVena’s case. That is crazy!
The Nascar suit is sickening! She needs to sue for more.
88.
JUDAH
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
Just in general, the commentary that I see most most of the black women that were in the armed forces always revolves around a job or money. No integrity or understanding about your people at all but it is what it is.
@Sha Boogie
One thing I always find pervasive amongst blacks that were in the military is how when they come out, they either come out really sober or really obtuse. I thought that the army provided you with money for an education? That can’t be true because you obviously still can’t read properly. I said that I have no respect for anyone in “that uniform”, not “a uniform”, lol. Your conduct is one of the main reasons why. I always respect people in McDonald’s uniforms because that’s where many of you army negroes end up, or like I’ve said already, in a homeless uniform. I know that you don’t believe that you’re there to “just fill a slot”, but you are. There’s no doubt about that and the only thing that the woman’s presence in the army does is cause confusion. The only reason why women are allowed in the army is as an alternative for the male soldiers to engage in sexual relations with as opposed to raping the women of the conquered land. Furthermore it was the offspring of the feminist movement. America is modern day Rome. It’s power and prestige is predicated off of the fear that it’s armies instill in the other nations, and to maintain that power, they need as many people as possible. No peaceful nation would have women in their armies because they wouldn’t need women. This is how one knows that they will bring the draft back because these campaigns in the Middle East have depleted their ranks. That’s when their going to throw women like yourself onto the front lines and make you prove that you love your country.
I can tell by your simple, aimless rhetoric that you don’t even know what’s going on in that land because you speak as if people should take your word for something without providing any insight. The things that I say are based on research, not opinion. You didn’t have to tell me that you don’t know where women belong. I already picked up on that, lol. This is a generation that mistakes confusion with freedom, which is why you have transgender men having children and the like. What’s funny though is that even though you claim to not know where a woman belongs and what she should be doing, I bet that you think you know what a man’s role is don’t you, lol?
There’s still time for you and “JA” to volunteer for duty sis since you’re both so passionate about it. It’s better that negroes like yourselves grab that rifle for master because me and mine certainly will not. Someone’s legs have to be blown off by those roadside bombs fighting a war with no purpose, and I’d much rather it be negroes like yourselves than a black person with sense. You’re both far more qualified. Black people with sense will be needed to fight the real war. This is why it’s hilarious to me when people say that they support the troops but not the war. That’s like saying that you support the bullets but not the gun. It’s uncanny how many of these armed forces commercials I see that are blatantly geared towards the recruitment of blacks and hispanics, specifically black men. It’s obvious that the want to use our people as cannon fodder.
89.
KIA
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
And another thing #68, good people die everyday. That doesn’t mean that they deserved it and that it was karma, it was just their fate or destiny or whatever you want to call it. But for whomever beat that girl and killed her, and for whomever tried to cover it up, like my boyfriend says, FIREBURN PON DEM!
90.
Ami J
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
Damn Judah, who are you and where do you come from? Lol… No seriously
91.
Deezee
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
Thats so sad of a story, especially for the parents of the soldier. If it appeared was suicide which I greatly disregard, it sad that the reason that the soldiers are even in Iraq is all par tof Bush’s scheme.
http://triplerdeezee.blogspot.com/
92.
JUDAH
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
@91
I’m from The Bronx, NY.
93.
Lady Architect
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
wow judah…i’m speechless. very good intense read. Love your comment.
94.
HEhe!!!
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
@kia you said: ” Now, if you do everything you were supposed to do and you had a miscarriage, then it was not your time to have a child. Maybe the Lord was not ready for you to have a child as yet. Maybe that child could have grown up and could have done a lot of damage in the world or could have caused you a lot of pain so the Lord says nope not yet.”
Okay I don’t believe God has nothing to do with miscarriages nor do I believe in destiny. Now if God was the cause of miscarriages, then explain why Hitler, Stalin, Osama Bin Laden, Idi Amin, and countless others were born? We make our decisions and we choose either to do good things or bad things. There’s countless of bad mothers out here who don’t raise their children right and their children becomes a meance to society. If God controls pregancies, then why do he feel that they are ready to be mothers and not those who will be great mothers and raise good children are not ready? Some in fact never have the children they so desperately want. Why then, would God withheld the joy they would have from being a parent? That isn’t loving.God is love right?
you said: ” You may have stopped to help someone out stranded on the highway and in return you avoided a bad accident.”
That’s not karma, that’s just being at the right place at the right time.
I know good people die, I had a family member who died that was a good person.
What does :FIREBURN PON DEM! means? LOL!!!! I’ve been scracthing my head trying to figure that out. LOL!!!
I have to end this with saying it’s good to know that I can come on here and talk to someone who won’t act ignorant and do all the name-calling that is a pervelent on this blog.
95.
Notbuyingit
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
@Judah Your comment about America being the new Rome is the truth. If y’all don’t believe it, then where do you think things like senators,congress, taxes (etc) come from? Rome! Our so called “Founding Fore- Fathers” (or whatever they call them LOL!!!) didn’t come up with nothing new or groundbreaking. History is subject we all should be more interested in. Nice post Judah.
96.
Smile
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
Every.post.that.Judah.comments.on.I.follow.through….the.brother.knows.so.much!!!
However,although.knowledge.is.power,it.can.also.be.dangerous…..careful.bro.
97.
1nubianqueen
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
@47 sorry for your loss!
It’s really a shame what happened with the young lady, furthermore I don’t remember seeing her story on the news, running the story over and over and over again! Don’t mean to make it a race thing but that’s what it seems to be, because I’d bet my last dollar that if Miss Johnson was white, we would still be hearing about the case.
Congrats to the Dr. for the award!
Hope all turns out well for Ms. Grant.
98.
Ladymemeisbak
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
I’m so sorry to hear about the tragedy of Ms. LaVena Johnson. My prayers go out to her family.
My only question about the nascar situation is why did she wait so long to take action??????
99.
reportergirl
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
Very sad about LaVena Johnson. I hope her family gets the answers and closure they deserve soon. They’ve waited far too long already.
Dr. Benjamin Carson continues to excel and shine. Congratulations.
How sad that Mauricia Grant had to endure this kind of harassment by her employers and coworkers. I’ve never been to a NASCAR event, (I don’t really get it. Cars just going around and around a track and sometimes crashing doesn’t excite me) but judging by the people who love it, I have to say I’m not surprised.. But a corporation of this size should have never let it get to this point. You have to do provide sexual harassment training, not because it’s not stuff that any adult with sense DOESN’T know but so when people violate, you have grounds to fire. Then everyone knows where the line is. Unfortunately, the fact that it was so pervasive suggests racism and sexism is part of the culture there.
100.
bsb1216
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
Judah I must say eloquently spoken. Let’s lift up these blinders we have on and see America for what America really is.
101.
moxpoe1
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
I’m really sorry to here that something like that happened to Lavena Johnson. I’m glad her family is fighting for justice and the truth.
102.
KIA
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
#94, Still going at me I see. Well, I never said God controlled all pregnancies or miscarriages. I said that maybe God had other plans for the woman. Just because she had a miscarriage the first time doesn’t mean that she can’t try again. And if she just can’t have kids at all, there’s always adoption. She can bring joy into some orphan especially if she really wanted kids. God does not withhold joy, people do.
I understand that you don’t believe in destiny but some of us do. When it’s your time to go, then it’s just your time to go.
As for the bad people being born, then there’s a reason for them as well. People make there own choices as to whether they want to walk a good path or a bad one. Those bad people may have inspired others to become great people. Just because a bad mother raises a bad child, does that mean they will remain that way? Also, I never said stopping to help someone and avoiding an accident was karma. That was my explanation of good things happening to good people. A blessing in disguise. My explanation of karma is you will get what’s coming to you if you do something bad knowing you were wrong. That’s it.
What does Fireburn mean? Well I said that’s something my boyfriend says. What does it mean? It’s the same as saying hell will be hot for some people.
I’ve had a family member die as well. Great person. They also inspired another family member to study medicine to find better advancements on their condition.
I’ll end in saying that we just don’t have the same beliefs and that’s perfectly fine. I’m just explaining what I know and what I’ve seen. I’ve seen karma and I’ve seen things happen for people who walk the right path. I’m to old for name-calling but I don’t know everything either.
103.
Dree
Saturday, June 14, 2008 /
My high from Ben Carson’s achievement just went down, after reading that 40 page complaint by ex. nascar worker Mauricia Grant, that shit just depressed me. It makes all my faith and hope dissapear. I hope she gets every bit of that 225 million, and uses it to piss on all those mother f*****. Anyways moving away from that, to all you people that thinks women shouldn’t be in the military, Your not comprehinding the point. Her parents are trying to prove she didn’t kill herself. whether or not she should be in the military should not take away from the fact that she had may been raped and murdered, a crime is still a crime, that doesn’t give a someone the okay to rape and kill, just because they believe she shouldn’t be in the military, DUH!
104.
» NEWS ROUNDUP: TOP PRODUCER OF BLACK GRADUATES / NASCAR UPDATE / REACTIONS TO RUSSERT’S PASSING // 'CONCRETELOOP.COM'
Monday, June 16, 2008 /
[...] Mauricia Grant filed a $225 million lawsuit last week alleging racial and sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination. [...]
105.
» NEWS ROUNDUP: TOP PRODUCER OF BLACK GRADUATES / NASCAR UPDATE / REACTIONS TO RUSSERT’S PASSING // 'CONCRETELOOP.COM'
Monday, June 16, 2008 /
[...] Mauricia Grant filed a $225 million lawsuit last week alleging racial and sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination. [...]
106.
» NEWS ROUNDUP: TOP PRODUCER OF BLACK GRADUATES / NASCAR UPDATE / REACTIONS TO RUSSERT’S PASSING // 'CONCRETELOOP.COM'
Monday, June 16, 2008 /
[...] Mauricia Grant filed a $225 million lawsuit last week alleging racial and sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination. [...]
107.
» NEWS ROUNDUP: GA EXECUTION STAYED / NASCAR OFFICIALS FIRED / BALTIMORE POLITICIAN MURDERED // 'CONCRETELOOP.COM' - quality not quantity
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 /
[...] Knox and Bud Moore, two NASCAR officials who had been suspended during an investigation in a $225 million racial discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit, have been [...]