On May 7th, 2007, a civil rights forum was held at the Atlanta History Center. Among others, Robert Benham, a current justice seated upon the GA Supreme Court, was a guest panelist. Like the 2 other guest speakers, Justice Benham attested to the irony of a black man being forced to accept a white surname, and growing up in times as a child, when he perceived the joy and opportunity ONLY expected by a child unaware. Unfortunately, as he shared, there was the learning experience of bias, prejudice, and dishonor. His father having attempted to escort Boy Scouts (a grooming organization once of prestige) to an outing in Atlanta, was informed that because of color, access was barred, admonishing his father for not knowing this tacit fact. He shared his father's shame and retreat without comment to his bedroom upon returning home. As my children sat in awe knowing more injustice than that of color alone, we listened with great emotion to the pain of Benham's recounting his father's disgrace for no dishonor borne of his own hand, much like that of our own family.

Benham spoke of ethical behavior becoming THE driving force, acknowledging,the law would follow and adapt to the will of the people. And he spoke of strong wills doing what is right despite suffering and loss, forcing the 'rule of law' to conform, negating any control by judiciary members bearing a pecuniary interest, as ALL Americans recognize today. Notably, there was no mention of the National Justice Institute, at which members of the judiciary were instructed to deny the rights of citizens bearing Constitutions, labeling Constitutionalists them 'Terrorists' and/or 'Freemen'. And yet in direct dichotomy Benham, sharing his dreams of being a lawyer, which were verbally denied by a childhood teacher, stated he knew his cousins were able to become lawyers and join the 'brotherhood' obtaining membership. Thus, he pursued his own dream undaunted.

Like even the Scots Irish historically, the key lesson of raising a family lawyer, was obviously not lost. Justice Robert Benham would from Cass (a rural GA city), rise as did the GA Supreme Court's history, to not only be a member of the body, but an individual for whom awards are afforded fellow judiciary members. When 1 notably well spoken, 40 something member of the audience asked for comment on the diminishing and willful extermination of civil rights so overt to ALL across America today, Justice Benham responded, as to what a great opportunity current times were. There seemed to be a shocked and silent hush, in direct opposition to the stunning and poignant personal acknowledgement of overt wrong, he had so recently conveyed with regard to his personal childhood experiences.

Another panelist, Dr. Clark Warren, demanded reparations noting that others had received their fair share of compensation for the 'American Experience.' But it was the 3rd panelist, Fay Bellamy Powell, who pinpointed the key to life in America, defining perception or what people know, to largely originate through media sources, making such knowledge and awareness key to opposing the slavery any dictatorship imposes. She spoke of the need for a single voice like that of Martin Luther King, who is recognizable, yet in her very example, the voice she referenced had been so willfully conspired against, only to be tragically silenced.

At the close, there were private conversations and insights, always a cherished part of any learning experience. But when Justice Benham stated to small children made targets of judicial corruption sanctioned and condoned by the GA Courts to become lawyers, and told a victim of unending denials of due process to continue to persevere, the irony of the moment became resounding. In the face of hope, triumph, or success, Justice Benham had unequivocally confirmed rights are for those who obtain membership, while those who 'persevere,' continue to be marked and robbed. But in the face of 32 US Attorneys fired not at the beginning of any presidential term, terminated solely for doing their jobs well, is there any assurance that being a 'member of the brotherhood' will guarantee any protection?

Is a legacy of civil rights travesties, injustice, loss, and despair, what Americans will continue to leave their children? And as America was previously touted worldwide as a 'land of opportunity' secretly for the brotherhood alone, will 'Lady Liberty,' doling out injustice and robbing her own citizens in the name of government serving a selected few at the detriment of many, become more widely recognized or better known as the biblical 'Whore of Babylon?' Each American will decide the legacy, by which this nation is known with or without regard to BAR Membership, one property issue at a time.