More U.S. Military Veterans Suffering Sgt Dakota Meyer's Fate....

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On September 23, 2011 we issued a Press Release regarding Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer and how he needed help fighting a bureaucracy. Due to the help of people like you his request, which had to that point hit a dead end, immediately began receiving attention. Unfortunately the judge approved the one option Sgt. Meyer said from the beginning he would not accept- an extension of the filing period for him alone and no one else- and Sgt. Meyer, true to his word, declined to take advantage of it even though it meant he would not be able to take the next test. Our admiration for him only grew because of this action.

We are now asking you to help not just one Marine but many other members of the US Armed Services who through no fault of their own have also been caught up in a bureaucratic snare. Read Keith Sullivan's filing (see attachment) about Greg Della Valle's predicament and then, as you did for Sgt. Meyer (who Greg served with), forward it to anyone you know in the media or elected and other officials and ask them to do what they can to help. Greg is not asking for special treatment; he was not treated fairly and just wants a fair shot.

His name may be familiar to you and that may be because he approached Merit Matters earlier this year for help. We were happy to help him then and now and Greg has always graciously thanked us when he has appeared in the media.

Anyone with questions can contact me or Keith Sullivan. I thank you in advance for whatever help you can provide.

Paul Mannix

President - Merit Matters

Cell: 516-848-9847

www.meritmattersusa.blogspot.com

FDNY Boxing Team supports Merit Matters

We are happy to announce that the FDNY Boxing Team officially supports the goals of Merit Matters. Our thanks go out to President Bob McGuire and the team.

If you step into a boxing ring without strength, ability, preparation and commitment you stand to get yourself very badly hurt. If you step onto the fireground without these you stand to get yourself, your fellow firefighters and the citizens you are supposed to be protecting very badly hurt- or killed. This would seem to be common sense but as we have seen common sense isn't common or, what is worse, it is ignored for ideological or selfish reasons.

On November 19th the FDNY boxing team will square off against the NYPD. This is always a great night - plan to attend and support The Bravest. Once again, we thank Bob McGuire and the Boxing Team for their support. If your group would also like to be listed along with our other supporters please contact us at any time.


Paul Mannix

TWO Interesting Pieces in The Chief-Leader newspaper this week (Monday 10/31/2011)

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The Chief-Leader newspaper published two interesting pieces this week, the FIRST is an article by FDNY Hispanic Society President Lt. George Ricco Diaz titled, "FDNY Hispanic Leader Says Entrance Exam Not Biased."

SEE: http://thechiefleader.com/news/news_of_the_week/article_934756de-03d7-11e1-99f9-0019bb30f31a.html


AND


A great piece written by Merit Matters President Chief Paul Mannix, entitled, "Both Sides of FDNY Racism"

http://thechiefleader.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/article_3644e648-03c5-11e1-9253-0019bb30f31a.html

Here is the full and unedited piece by Chief Paul Mannix;

October 27, 2011

Jose Garcia, intentionally or not, mischaracterizes the point made by Rocco DiMieri about FDNY racism. Garcia writes that, “It truly riles me up to have a white firefighter state that ‘no racism exists within the department’” (if you’re going to use quotation marks you have to get the quote correct, else you look asinine) although Lt. DiMieri never wrote that and has no control over the heading placed above his letter, which read “No Racism in FDNY”. While he could have made his point more succinctly, I believe Lt. DiMieri was commenting on the charges of systemic, endemic, top to bottom racism (“this great lie”) recently leveled in court by people who then curiously went on to say that the FDNY is the greatest job in the world. It is these same people, the Vulcan Society leadership and its ever dwindling (based on its philosophy, not demographics) number of supporters, who also demand that hiring decisions be made based on race which means Lt. Garcia is right- racism does exist in the FDNY, at least within one organization.

Lt. Garcia is also right that there were (and are) a few individuals who have no problem spewing the N or the S word, just as there are black and Hispanic racists. No group has a monopoly on virtue or vice. Those stories he heard from his members when he was President of the Hispanic Society- any chance it wasn’t racism that caused them to be treated badly? Even one time? If one individual has a problem everywhere they work, when other minorities get along just fine in those firehouses, could it maybe be because the problem is with that one person?

One of the most gratifying things about the group we have formed is the support from, not minority firefighters, but firefighters who happen to be minorities. That is not a distinction without a difference- those who support us are firefighters first and put the safety of New York’s residents and firefighters before the narrow and damaging agendas of dangerous whiners. Racism is thankfully marginalized in our society and that is proper- no matter what individual or organization it emanates from. Demanding that hiring decisions be made based on race (which said another way means not hiring someone based on race) is racist and should be marginalized- not excused, supported and promoted.

I would very much like to attend, as Lt. Garcia invites, a meeting of any fraternal group to discuss the issues concerning FDNY integration (especially a Vulcan Society meeting) and, consistent with our Mission Statement, will help anyone who is a victim of racism. As I once advised Charles Barron, I’m easy to find (although, alas and alack, he never did contact me) and will gladly accept any invitation offered.

Paul Mannix

President - Merit Matters

Cell: 516-848-9847