It pays to Discover - NOT

I just informed my other credit card company - Discover - that I will no longer be making monthly payments to eliminate my balance of $6,300. Instead, I will be diverting their monthly payments to the United Negro College Fund, as I'd already started doing in the case of my Visa card.

I mailed my first payment to the UNCF, as Discover Card's unduly authorized representative, today. I've already made two monthly payments, which "should" have gone to Visa, to the UNCF. I suppose this means that I am now a man without credit - much to my credit, I believe.

This is the text of my email just now sent to Discover:

QUOTE:

This is to inform you that I will no longer be making payments directly to Discover. Instead, I will be paying you indirectly by donating at least $125.25 per month to the United Negro College Fund. This will be done until my outstanding balance of $6,329.94, plus whatever interest I deem appropriate, is in the hands of the UNCF. Please consider this action I'm making on your behalf to be a payment of reparations to the black community in this country, from whom US banks have derived much undeserved wealth.

:UNQUOTE.

My message to Rabbi Lerner of Tikkun Magazine

I also just now responded to an appeal from Rabbi Michael Lerner for a donation to either Tikkun Magazine or the Network of Spiritual Progressives. I e-mailed to say, "Someone has to start. Someone has to take a stand on this issue of overdue reparations, which is inspired by the same sentiment as your Global Marshall Plan. President Obama won't move, Congress won't move, so I'll move. Anyway, though I cannot help your cause directly with a donation, my prayers and my actions are with you."

I am a little, powerless man, without influential family, background, or backers. But I am pleased to say that I've been quite happy with the less-than-$40,000 per year I earn as a civil servant after 28 years on the job. [Yes, this allegation is true: The best things in life are free.]

Needless to say, I can't do much. But rest assured, I will move whatever mountains I can, however I can, if that just might inspire movement which the powerful are paralyzed from making.

In closing, to my fellow Gaians

I ask your prayers in support.

Steven Searle (was) a candidate for U.S. President in 2008:

"I like their slogan - It pays to Discover. I hope it comes to mean: It paid Discover et al huge dividends shortly after they started paying the reparations they'd owed for too long" - Steve.

Founder of The Best Party Available

Contact me: bpa_cinc@yahoo.com

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