The Agenda

Marching is fine. It's a symbol of unity. A symbol that the people are dissatisfied and feeling under represented.

                What we are missing is an agenda. I was initially distraught at so many people I look up to repeating March, March, March and wished they would stop saying march and get to work. However, as it seems to be the case so often lately I must be the only one willing to do the work. So, since no one else is willing, I have some ideas...

                Police brutality in America, especially New York City, has become expected. The deaths of black men young and old at the hands policemen across the country has nearly become the expected end to police brutality. As tragic as these recent events have been, what is most disheartening has been the response by the 'representatives' of these affected neighborhoods. The severe lack of representation in Ferguson, MO and other cities like Tompkinsville, Staten Island is devastating. That there can be a city like Ferguson where the vast majority of its citizens aren't being represented should be a signal of distress across the country.   What the people demand is proper representation in the pursuit of justice. These citizens have been begging for representation long before this year. It took these tragic events to catalyze them into the streets.  Now is the time to act. Attorney General Holder is holding a civil rights investigation. The White House must come out of that investigation with some concrete actions. The following is what the citizens of this country demand and I expect:

1. There will be immediate elections in cities, like Ferguson, where the officials are obviously not able to represent the interests of the citizens of the city
2. There will be empowerment of organizations like the Staten Island Community Board to "police the police," to do the job they were created to do, represent smaller communities within larger cities like New York.
3. There will be mandatory body cameras on policeman all across the country. 
4. There will be election reform across the country to make it easier for citizens to vote and virtually impossible for any other interest to restrict voter access.
5. There will be a, new, national committee focused on collecting data to ensure the above actions are being fulfilled.

This is just the beginning. There will be more specific demands as the people continue to see holes in their representation that need to be filled. We will continue to march until justice is served. Justice can no longer be subjective. Today justice is not available to all of America's citizens. We must make it so. It is for each of us a sacred duty.

The time to act is now. We have the freedom to ask, as well as the freedom to act. We will be free.

Black And Brown: Election 2008

This democratic primary is making me upset. First, Black women come under fire because some choose to vote for Hillary Clinton and not Barrack Obama. Today, minority voters are showing splits between hispanic and black voters because hispanic voters don't trust Obama to represent them once in office. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. The representation of this primary in the news has not benefited the Democratic Party. There is simply too much division! And the worst part is, the division is among under-represented groups. The saddest thing I ever see is broke people fighting over a nickel to give to the wealthy, so the wealthy can throw the poor more crumbs to fight over at their amusement. We are Bum Fights 2008. A few republicans are having a grand old time watching Black people, Brown people, and women weaken the major focus of this campaign. CHANGE (That is change for the better!)

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one upset by this division. This is not what our leaders died for. You know I'm so upset I can't wtite any more...

Am I missing something?


Have we ever been able to come together on anything? The Browns and the Blacks has/have always been divided and will probably always will. Many of us don't know who we are, many of us don't know the promises that were made, many of us don't care that we are a chose people, people chosen by God. But will we ever see those promises come to fruition? I wonder, because we've chosen to put our selves in the dunce seat. Step N Fetchit is alive and well once again. The Black and the Browns are still a source of amusements for the Others.

Not at all. It's sad to say, but this is the reality that we live in. We are a divided people. Everyone will (hopefully) think and analyze and decide for him/herself which candidate they believe will do a better job. I think a lot of what's going on has to do with Barrack's perceived inexperience and Hillary's perceived advantagous experience. But, then again, I guess this is what democracy is about. Our leaders fought for our right to vote. As great of a tragedy as it is to see disadvantaged people fight amongst themselves and to see the advantaged in our country benefit from it, I think it is a greater tragedy if the disadvantaged didn't disagree with each other at all. For if that were the case, they wouldn't be involved in the democratic process at all. So while it saddens me to see what is going on, I have to say that part of me is content with it because at least there are most people from this demographic involved in the political process now than I can remember at any recent time. Let's just hope that whomever the nominee is, that we can rally behind them and support them through the rest of their campaign.

WORD!
No I don't think you're missing anything and the analogy of the crumbs is a good one. I was just discussing the paradigms ,that are perpetuating this divide, with my coworker yesterday.

He was talking about how the socio-econimic paradigm we live within has created divides or categories even within poverty. He pointed out white poverty versus black poverty, male poverty versus female poverty, and rural poverty versus urban poverty. I couldn't disagree with his assertions.

But I did point out to him that the paradigm is not new. It has existed since before the advent of the U.S. as a country. It is not new it is long seated and deeply ingrained.

Yet, the fact that people like ourselves are having these conversations point to the hope of change....and I don't mean in the sense of some political movement.

I think there are more of us that will rally behind either democratic candidate despite the divisive speech and childish antics some of our peers are exhibiting.

I'd have to agree with Theo on this one. The participation within the democratic party has superceded that of previous years. People do want change and they are voicing their opinions by voting. I think if Barack Obama was not running, I 'may' rally behind Clinton, but personally, I feel he is the best candidate, despite his perceived inexperience (in comparison to Hillary's years of experience - including the 4 years she played the role as the wife of the President...). One of these democratic candidates will be the primary democratic candidate. When that happens, hopefully all - inclusive of men, women, blacks, hispanics, etc.. will rally together and elect a democratic candidate. This primary campaign has proved that people DO have the know how and capability of coming out to the polls and voting. So if we combine the support gathered by Obama and Clinton, a DEMOCRATIC candidate shall be elected! This country needs a democratic president, more than it has ever before (in our lifetime). Both Clinton and Obama's plan takes into account universal health care, ending the war on Iraq, and other pertinent issues, so this will benefit the masses. Last but not least, for your Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island friends - cast your vote if you haven't already. This is a vital time in history. I suggest you vote for Obama because he is NOT indebted to ANY lobbyist and he is in a position to evoke change that will be holistically benefit the American people. His grassroots movement has surpassed all prediction. If you are a Texan, voting isn't enough. We need you to be at your precints by 7pm tonight. Do the Texas 2 step by voting AND caucusing.

Barack the Vote!!

Poor Democrats

So I was going to let another political fiasco go by with out saying a word about it. I mean, I thought about talking about the gay Republicans. I thought about talking about why Barack Obama may or may not be the first black president of the United States. Or why Hillary Clinton may or may not be the first woman president. But no, I will talk about why John Kerry will never be president and why the Democrats are going to get their asses handed to them next week.

I'm listening to Frank and Wanda this morning (I wanna find Frank after this and tell him how wrong he is on this), and they are talking about this Kerry fiasco. It didn't become a fiasco until he apologized. I knew he would and when he did, I just shook my head.

The Republican party has the best spin doctors in the universe. Virtually all of America is afraid to say the wrong thing about this war we allegedly won years ago. Its been years people. Remember Bush in the flight suit. How dare we mention how many soldiers are still dying lest we insult the soldiers who will die tomorrow. Don't even point out the FACT that more soldiers die in a month now than the entire time before Saddam was caught and victory was declared. And by no means, should you ever, ever, EVER ask when we are going to pull out of Iraq. The answer by the way is - when we have something going on bigger than Iraq going on.

Just my take for the ones who want to know about what Kerry said. (By the way - he told a bunch of college students to study and get good grades or they would end up in Iraq.) He made a reference to options. But mainly, he was talking about the draft. There will be one. And if you flunk out of school. Or can't pay. Or have to leave. You're going to Iraq. Soldiers who are already enlisted, had a choice. They chose to enlist. Picked the branch. And tested for a job they would like to have. A draftee has less of a choice. They will be tested but they get last priority compared to enlisted men/women. All that is to say - Study or Front Line.

Kerry is a smart man. But as smart men do, (think Gore turning down Clinton's help) he made a fatal error. He backed down to the Republican spin machine. For Christ sakes! There are gay congressmen chasing minors!!! (The key word is minors not gay) AND he back down to a democratic party he has all but turned his back on. John Kerry has (had) the democratic nomination whether or not they wanted to give it to him. He starts out as unafraid and independent of everyone. Then he buckles. He buckled in '04. He's buckling now. Two years later! That's chronic buckling. You don't want to be known as a chronic buckler. People like to play with buckles. Push the button while they're at the light. Push it when they're on long trips just to pass time. Just checking to see if it still works or how long it will last. John Kerry has become a sometime safety restraint. Sometime plaything. He's a buckle.

The Democratic National Convention is only partially to blame. Granted they buckled first. But they are just an approval body. They are supposed to represent all registered Democrats. Whether or not they actually do that is of no concern. They continue to get punked by the Republicans. It takes a candidate who operates oblivious to Democratic cowardice. Like Bill Clinton. Like Barack Obama. Like Hillary Clinton. Not like John Kerry.

But don't ask me. I voted for Nader. I probably will again.