So you organized your community huh?

The other night I sat and watched the republican nominee for vice-president of the United States make a moving speech. One in which she defended herself against attacks from the media that should never have been done (leave the kids alone); she introduced us to her family and her daughter’s fiancé (why was he even there?); she talked about her accomplishments as mayor (whatever); and her accomplishments on the town council in the same town (far from congressional experience). She also told us how she exemplified being a reformer in the top post in Alaska, the governor’s office (poor brother-in-law). Much of this was impressive. However, she, and the ‘grand ole party’ faithfuls who spoke before her went down a path that they really shouldn’t have. They chose to belittle Obama’s experience as a community organizer as though it meant nothing; as though it made no significant impact on the lives of those he helped; as though no one today remembers who he is, what he did or the fact that it was done for free. She made the unfortunate decision to continue on the path trodden by Guliani.

After watching the diatribe of malevolent verbiage scoffing at Senator Obama, and everyone who, like him, saw a need in the community and took it by the horns rather than waiting until they got in a ‘position’ to do it. They saw a need and met that need. They made fun of community organizations like the NAACP, the SCLC, the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Iota Phi Theta, the sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho, as well as the illustrious Royal Blue family of Zeta Phi Beta Sigma. These are all community service organizations that do what they do because it needs to be done. These organizations and many more not listed here, don’t do what they do because they are receiving a government paycheck or recognition for that matter. They go to their respective jobs and then take time away from their families and lives to do what needs to be done in their communities JUST BECAUSE IT NEEDS OT BE DONE! While the BGLO’s wear different colors, were founded in different paces and on different days, they have a common foundational purpose, the innate desire of bettering their respective communities.

With this in mind, anyone who has worked as a community organizer should have been insulted when Rudy Guliani said, “…Barack Obama has never led anything, nothing, nada.” After quipping that he had experience as a community organizer. We should all be bothered by the fact that Sarah Palin, moose hunter extrordinairre, says, “…it’s not just a community and it just doesn’t need an organizer” as the gop guffawed their approval. What more is this country than one huge community? We are all Americans and we all have the same core values (for the most part) and what more does a president do than organize a cabinet, advisers, etc and assure that the country runs properly? Unless you’re GW, then you listen to the advisors and then do what you want to.

What I saw on that stage was a war cry…stirring the proverbial pot for continuing to fight in Iraq and the rest of that region; affirming that everyone in the convention center agrees that we’re winning the war on terror with the surge in Iraq. Let’s make this clear, the republicans keep stating that Obama will raise taxes. Anyone who knows anything about politics know that’s what democrats do. They create a bunch of social programs that help some people, cripple others and raise taxes to pay for them. However, what the republicans showed me the other night is that they will be raising taxes as well. They’ll keep us in a war that costs this country more in a month than Obama’s healthcare plan will cost us in a year. I’d rather find that than a war that no one knows why we’re fighting.

Furthermore, for this party to make fun of the grassroots, feet on the pavement warriors who go out every day and get things done, means they are not only making fun of those organizations I listed earlier, but let me introduce you to some others they are ridiculing.

• Susan B. Anthony was a very well known leader in women’s suffrage. She played a very important role in the women's rights and was integral in securing women's right to vote in this country. In order to accomplish this, she didn’t get elected to town council or governor, she traveled and gave speeches, organizing the community behind a cause and a movement. Even after the right to vote was granted, she continued this effort for almost 45 years.
• Martin Luther King, Jr, while he’s best known for his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech on the steps of the Lincoln, but he was a preacher and activist in addition to being a community organizer. His accomplishments are many and the impact on the lives of others is still felt today.
• Cesar Estrada Chaves was a Mexican-American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist as well as community organizer. He was one of the founders of the National Farm Workers Association. He worked with them as well as the Community Service Organization. Due to his work, many Latinos relish the right to vote and make their voices and votes count. His efforts achieved fair labor conditions and a fair working wage for migrant workers. His work was so well known that then Sen. Robert F. Kennedy (later to be attorney general) called him "one of the heroic figures of our time."
• Dorothy Day was a journalist, social activist and devout member of the Catholic Church. She became known for her social justice campaigns in defense of the poor, forsaken, hungry and homeless. Day, with Peter Maurin, founded the Catholic Worker Movement in 1933, espousing nonviolence, and hospitality for the impoverished and downtrodden.
• Mohandas Gandhi peacefully led the people of India in effort to acquire labor fairness, women's rights, and ethnic tolerance, and he helped secure the freedom of a nation. Wonder if anyone remembers him in that country?
• Jesus Christ advocated for the poor, for the sick, for the socially excluded. His legacy continues to help provide people solace during their "quiet storms." His community helped found the religion known as Christianity. He said "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
  

When the republicans made fun of community leaders they further separated themselves from ‘real people’ with ‘real issues’. They fail to realize the importance of the inspiration these people bring to people in every community. They insulted the support base for one major community organizer in doing so as well.

• Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton worked hard to galvanize a constituency behind her and put 18 million cracks in a glass ceiling, in doing so inspired millions of Americans, especially women, to realize that they can reach the highest level in all fields of life.

What they fail to realize is the fact that this country was founded by community organizers like Ben Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. Men who realized that the country should be run by citizens who ‘temporarily’ become lawmakers (hence George Washington’s short time as president), not by lifetime career politicians like McCain. People who make laws that benefit the country as a whole including the common man because they are the common man, not someone who has received a government check for over 30 years and has never had a regular job. They forget that the American way was forged by citizens who stepped out on faith and went against the status quo; people who set trends and forged paths; people who were relentless in their pursuit of justice, equality, and freedom. American was built on the backs of people who did what they did for a better America, not because they were paid to do it; but because those who were wouldn’t do it. This country was set firm due to the actions of a community activist who said, “If you hear the dogs…keep going. If you see thee torches…keep going; if they shout after you…keep going; don’t ever stop…keep going. If you want to taste freedom, you have to keep going." [Harriet Tubman]

I advised a friend that I still had not made up my mind who I’d vote for as we spoke last week. I said I was going to wait until after Barack’s speech at the close of the DNC and McCain’s at the close of the RNC so I could weigh the two evenly. Unfortunately, I lied. I made up my mind after hearing Palin’s speech and witnessing the fervor surrounding it. I fell asleep on McCain’s speech last night so what he did or did not say really played no role in my decision NOT to vote for him. You see, being one who has worked as a ‘community organizer’ and in several capacities, I still do, I desire to support a ticket that respects those in the community that actually do the work whether the camera is there or not. Those who not only do it for free, but those who make a difference and are under compensated for their efforts like the police, fire, teachers, and military men and women of this country.

I read somewhere that “…it's never really about the organizer; it's about the community...” and what more is America, than one huge community?

I’ve made my decision and will stick with it. You MUST make your own and get out and vote on November 4…I don’t care which you chose all I ask is that you choose wisely and choose whomever makes best sense for you AND America.

It’s just my opinion, but I’m not wrong!

Who's She Trying to Fool?

We've all seen and heard all there is to see and hear with regard to the Democratic Party’s selection process and how they are STILL dealing with two presidential hopefuls. I have a question for "the other candidate"...Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. She sat in the smoke-filled rooms several years ago as a decisions maker with the Democratic Party and aided them in putting together a process that would assist the party in choosing their nominee for the election in November against whomever the republicans chose as their sacrificial lamb. However, since this race began and she wound up in the role of the underdog, she has done all that she can to circumvent the very process she helped construct. This last gaffe is just one in a series of blunders, screw-up’s and mistakes that she has committed that have driven people away from her and embittered those who are sticking with her. Even some of her most staunch supporters are most likely sitting in the audience as she makes her pseeches whispering to one another and asking the qieston, "Can she really win?" or "How's she going to pull this off?"
She has done everything from have her husband state that black people only voted for Barack Obama because he's black to releasing photos of him in an African garb to fuel the rumors of his religious beliefs. Many have forgiven her of these. Then she had imaginary sniper fire in Bosnia that she irresponsibly took her daughter into on a good will trip to the country. [Yeah right] Many forgave her if this as well. However, I cannot and shall not overlook the statement that she made on several occasions that came out this past Friday. She basically stated that she's waiting around to see if Barack gets assassinated, like Bobby Kennedy did. The she'll become the nominee of the party. No matter how you spin, twist, or turn it, that's what she implied. Then after being called on it she simply states, "...if this offended the Kennedy family, that wasn't my intention." Not even saying I apologize, I'm sorry, or anything else that would indicate that she was even remorseful that she made the inference toward the senator.
Now, to take attention away from that 'Slick Willie' is out on the stump reiterating what Hillary has been stating for the last few weeks. She can win in November against McCain. She is ahead in polls; she has more white people voting for her...blah, blah, blah. All of these accusations, inferences, innuendo and crap is going to cause a major issue in this country come November. Many, like me have stated emphatically, that they would have no problem voting for Hillary should she become the nominee of the party. Even after careful scrutiny, the platforms of Obama and Clinton don’t have much difference between them. However, their tactics are where the differentiation comes in. This race has shown exactly how they will and would react in time of crisis. She pulls out all the stops and gets down and dirty, even underhanded while not seeing reality. He keeps a cool head and calculates his next move in accordance with what he believes his opponent’s shall be. Which do you want running this country at this time next year? Should she gain the favor of the party and become the nominee against the votes of the people, I would hate to waste a vote on Nader, but I would have to. I couldn't have someone like that as my leader.
Hillary is on a path to assure that McCain will be our next president. She’s giving directives to her supporters not to vote for Obama should he win the nomination of the party. She’s ostracizing those who support him referring to them as turncoats and Benedict Arnold (i.e. Richards); she’s doing all she can to tear the party apart using the victim card and inferring that she’s not getting the same press, respect, or treatment because she’s a woman. What’s next? Will they accuse the ‘Obama people’ of being racist? That brings up another question. Why is it when I watched the news the other night when they were talking about the race and referenced Clinton’s ‘camp’ and Obama’s ‘people?’ Hmmm…I guess I’ll close with that.

It's Just My Opinion, But I'm Not Wrong!

All's Fair in Love and Politics

In recent weeks we are seeing actions, words, and misdeeds unraveling what should be an easy presidential win for the Democratic Party. With presidential approval at an all time low and public distrust of the whole party [republicans] just as low, the democrats are self destructing with this race for the party nomination. You have one upstart senator from Illinois who’s taking America by storm with ‘rock star’ like receptions everywhere he goes. Then you have the senator from New York who feels the road to the white house is a birthright, and presents herself in a manner that dictates such.

I recently read an article where Hillary Clinton was quoted as saying that the primaries in Michigan and Florida were fair and should be counted. SHOCKER!!!! Especially considering the fact that she [technically] “won” both of those primaries and was the only one on the ballot in Michigan; what had me at a loss for words was the fact that she was actually trying to justify her position in saying these two contests were fair. She then went on the say that if they don't count them as is, they need to do a revote. Hmmm...could that be because she's behind and both of these areas are rich with her voting base? Could it be because she's attempting to get a leg up on the popular vote so that she can have a reason to argue at convention that she should be the nominee for president rather than VP? I'm just speculating. I am one of those who has researched these two candidates in order to decide which I would support. Strangely enough, I really didn’t make my mind up until a week or so before the primaries. What I found was, essentially they are clones of one another with almost identical platforms (substantive exceptions being education and healthcare). In recent weeks, because they really can’t attack one another’s platforms without attacking their own, the personal attacks and underhanded dealings have begun. We have the tale of two candidates:

From the Clinton camp, you hear references to Obama's middle name as if to associate him with Islamic extremists; a staffer [who was later released from the campaign] circulating emails directly [inaccurately] linking him with Islam; releasing photos of him in traditional African garb [including turban]; making a huge commotion of Farrakhan speaking well of Obama [not even endorsing him] to the point of forcing Barack to 'reject and denounce the man; then simply stating that what Geraldine Ferraro said was 'regrettable'. I have a question for the Clinton Campaign...Was it regrettable that she said it? Or was it regrettable that someone heard her say it [for the 2nd time] in public? What we're seeing from the Clinton campaign is plain and simple. I want it and I'll do all that I can to get it - even destroying the Democratic Party’s unity. It's a classic case of simple selfishness - nothing matters, but what I want. This is apparent when she offers the vice presidency to him and he's ahead in all categories. What kind of pompous, egotistical idiot would do something like this? While I don’t like to play the race card [how Ferraroesque of me], I wonder if she would have done this had he not been black? Mathematically, she doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in the Sahara of gaining more popular votes or delegate votes than Obama by the June deadline, but she refuses to concede and continues to berate someone who’s not fit to be commander in chief, but fit to be my vice president [btw-who is second in line to be commander in chief? Makes you think doesn't it?] Keith Olbermann said it best, “Grab the reins back from whoever has led you to this precipice before it is too late. Voluntarily or inadvertently, you are still awash in this filth...”

On the other hand, we have Barack Obama who’s ties to the Rev Dr Jeremiah Wright are being questioned in recent days. Some think that this is an unfair examination, but I don’t. My pastor and my faith have a profound effect on how I view life, the world and those in it. Most who are devout in what they believe would agree. Others draw a correlation between the Hagee and Parsely endorsements of McCain, there’s no comparison. In McCain's case you have a couple of televangelist who have chosen a candidate that they think can lead the country in the way they think it ought to go; in the case of Obama and Wright, Obama has Wright on his African American Religious Leadership Committee and calls him a spiritual mentor. Barack has been a member of the church pastored by Wright for 2 decades, was married by this man and had his children baptized by him. This situation is totally different, and the characterization of Wright, may not take into account his total body of work as a preacher, teacher, and Biblical scholar, but what's being examined shines a poor light on him, Obama, and the ‘black church’ [that’s a horse of a different color] as a whole, especially when some Obama supporters write this off as a typical sermon in the ‘black church’ [Michael Eric Dyson].

Each of us has a number of variables that aide us in shaping our personal views, morality and global outlook, but for those of us who love and serve God in a house of worship where we are tuly fed, the lessons learned from across the pulpit play a significant role. Having been a member of this church for 20 years, I find it difficult to swallow that Barack had no knowledge of at least some of his pastor’s inflammatory statements from the pulpit, yet I’ll take him at his word; taking into account that his travels throughout his senate tenures (state and federal) spanned much of that 20 year period, as well as the fact that even the ‘best’ members don’t make it every Sunday.

I do, however, place blame squarely at the feet of Wright. What He failed to recall when he made statements that are being played as a “greatest hits” of incendiary comments is that he can't always preach the word of God and have people receive it in the manner it was meant to be received. What was he thinking? It's as if he believes that his role, while in the pulpit, is to spew the word of God. He should scour each sermon to ensure that nothing he says can be misinterpreted as divisive statements of hate and ignorance. When he answered his call to preach, his directive was to spread the Word of God in season and out of season, from the hilltops to the valleys’ in the streets and in homes. As long as he is led, directed and guided by the Lord God Almighty, he needs to keep saying whatever it is that God puts on his heart. The editing work done by FOX, NBC, CBS, and the other news conduits really made him look poorly in the light of a presidential parishioner.

What the edited releases of this man’s tirades have done is effectively caused many of Obama's supporters to think twice about him and his ability to bring America together. If he’s sitting in the pews listening to sermons of this nature, what does he really think about America and the people in it who are not the same hue as he? I don't agree, but I can see the reason for the question that some might have...if they only heard a portion of the sermons. Especially some of those that, regardless of context were totally offensive.

Obama will weather this particular storm and those that he'll face in the future on his way to the white house. Due to the nature of the statements and the manner in which they are being dissiminated, Barack needs to get a tad more forceful on his repudiation of Wright's statements, be they exemplative [new word for you] of Wright’s personal feelings and life experiences or not. Obama has won over a great many people by being able to deflect attacks, setbacks, etc. in the past several months, but this is something that he needs to get passionate and forceful about. He needs to face this one head on and not try to deflect it. This type of tom-foolery in the pulpit of ANY church should not take place and if it is, it should not be condoned, regardless of congregational makeup. Scripture dictates that there’s a time and a place for all things. The TIME for him to share his personal views [which we are all entitled to] is NOT when he is representing God almighty as a purveyor of the Word, or when he is formally representing the church. The place for his personal views [which we are all entitled to] is NOT the pulpit. His personal agenda against 'white America' has put a dent in the campaign of a man who not only aspires to be its first black president, but has a great chance of accomplishing this goal [no thanks to the tyrades of Wright].

It’s just my opinion, but I’m not wrong!