Boycott the NY Post

So the NY Post published a political cartoon depicting police officers shooting a monkey or chimp, with a caption that reads something to the effect of  someone else will have to write the next stimulus package.  The fallout of this seemingly innocuous statement has been nothing short of nuclear.

Al Sharpton was the first to latch on and attack.  Many others followed suit, including Dr. Eric Michael Dyson, Julian Bond and Eric Holder, the first African American US Attorney General.

I have to admit that I initially was offended by what I deemed to be an overreaction.  My first thought went to the chimp in Boston who was shot by police after he attacked his owner's best friend.  I was extremely disturbed by this as I had just read an article about the myth of 75 years old Cheeta the Chimp who is apparently a hustler.

My next reaction was that I was expecting this.  When President Obama was elected one of my first thoughts was woe be unto the cartoonist who portrays the President as a monkey. Remember, for better or for worst, President Bush, Jr., was incessantly portrayed as a monkey in looks and deeds.  No one had a fit about this.

I get the historical context in which to be offended, but there is a real opportunity here.  The conversation about the Post should, IMHO, crash and die.  I never read the Post and I never will, especially now.  The conversation needs to focus on Eric Holder's comments about the cowardice of actually having a conversation about race in this country.

I am going to stop here, because this is a topic for another blog, but I hope I have gotten your minds attuned to where I am going with this . . .

Ode to my teachers

As I was driving home today, I heard a phrase that spun me in a time warp . . . Dream Deferred.  I learned this poem by Langston Hughes when I was about 13 and I recite it to myself from time to time to remind me never to find out the answer to the question.  I will blog about this later, but today I wanted to thank the teachers that inspired me to never know experience the answer:

Nancy Nott - 10th grade English teacher who told me that I should do Forensics (acting and orating) because I had so much expression in my face.  I think she was one of the greatest and most passionate teachers I ever had and I hope she would be pleased to know that I minored in English.

Ms. Kirkpatrick - I am not certain if I have the name correct, but yet another english teacher. In my yearbook, she wrote, "always be prepare, which you always are."  I was stunned by this, and it helped me realize I can fake preparation really well ;).  I have no clue where my yearbook is and this is the only inscription I remember.  She was also the Forensics and Debate coach at the high school I graduated from.

George Forrester - 11th grade AP History teacher whom I probably owe an apology to because I neither studied nor applied myself to his class, but was profoundly influenced by the subject-matter.  Mr. Forrester introduced me to "The Elements of Style," by Strunk and White.  I have given this book to many young people, including my so, and I peruse the pages at least once a year.  Do not judge my ability to demonstrate my technical writing ability by this Blog, please.

Emily Duma - 11th and 12th grade French teacher.  I enjoyed learning so much that I almost minored in French, but I chose English instead.  I hope Ms. Duma (and Professor L. Wilhite) is proud that I made it through Paris without any dirty looks because at least I tried.

Julie Bowen - 9th and 10th grade Spanish teacher.  Well . . . I actually have nothing good to say about her and mention her only to say I hated her teaching so much that I pursued French.  Teachers like her should not be allowed to teach!!!  The same goes for Dale ?, the band teacher who I dislikes so much that I did not pursue band in high school.

I say all this to say that I applaud ALL teachers, but rise to applaud those teachers whose passion for teaching and learning inspire generations to whatever greatness they pursue.  I want to thank these teachers and Kay Jackson for inspiring me to find my way and who lit a spark for learning that yet glows bright.

The Economic Grinch who Stole Christmas

So I am watching the classic story of the "Grinch who Stole Christmas," and it seems eerily familiar.  Oh yes, old man economy has come and stolen Christmas from many whos this year.  All around us are stories of plants and businesses closing and people loosing their jobs.  Those who still have jobs are taking pay cuts or are hedging to save money for fear of uncertainty about the what the new year will bring.

There is one bright lining, though.  Just like in the story, many of the whos who have been victims of the economy are taking the downturn in stride and finding ways to celebrate the season sans the overspending and debt accumulation. 

If there is something to be learned about this grinch of an economy is that we are resilient and that we can make it through anything.  Our common humanity has the ability to lift us to heights we do not often realize we are capable.  Maybe I am thinking a little pie in the sky, but what I see for the most part is people coming together to take care of each other.  I hear about children who console their parents for the inability to provide over-the-top Christmas'.   I see people celebrating the little the things, like a smile and a thank you.

It may get worse before it gets better, but have faith and keep your head up . . . this too shall pass. 

Qualified

Okay, so I am paying attention to all this buzz about Caroline Kennedy's expressed desire to be appointed to Hilary Clinton's presumptive vacant US Senate seat.  The issue appears to be that she may not be "qualified."  If you will recall this same issue was raised about Barack Obama, and for the life of me I just do not get it.  Well . . . yes I do.  I get it, but I am angry about it.  We complain about the US education system failing our children and that our current system is far below the systems of other developed nations, yet we talk about and publish stories such as this, which are nothing more than misleading and plain wrong.  There are only three qualifications to be a US Senator, which are that "No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained the age of thirty, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen."  In other words, one must be 1) 30 years old, 2) a US citizen for 9 years, and 3) an inhabitant of the state where elected, when elected.  To my knowledge, Caroline Kennedy meets all of these qualifications.  

More important is the concept of a government of the people, for the people, and by the people. The fact that Caroline is not a "seasoned," politician is exactly what qualifies her for the position.   It is her fresh eyes and lack of ties to special interests that will allow her to excel at her job as Senator.  That she comes from a heritage of politics uniquely prepares her for the political ringer that she is about to be put through.

I am not a New Yorker, and will likely not have a vote or say in the next NY Senate race, but I do feel strongly that we need to stop "qualifying" and "disqualifying" potential candidates based on who we consider to be "next in line" because they have paid their "political due."  To continue this asinine practice only discourages the average, or not so average, citizen to do exactly what they should do, which is get involved.  If we keep holding out that House and Senate seats are reserved for a select few, we will become a country trapped in cycles bound to impede our movement towards evolution.  After all, didn't we learn anything from Barack Obama.

A House Divided

Do you remember about four months ago, when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were at each other's throat clawing to gain the Democratic Party nomination for president? Do you remember how the Republican Party reveled in the loud splintering of the Democratic party? Do you remember how the pundits waxed poetic about how the Democratic party would have to heal and become reunited after such treacherous campaigning, the greatest fear being that the Hillary supporters would jump ship and swim to John McCain's sturdy ship? Do you remember for a moment the air was sucked out of the atmosphere when John McCain picked Sarah Palin as his running mate and many Democrats thought their fears were being realized? Do you remember all this?

I do. And what I find amazing is that the house that is, and was, truly divided is the Republican house. Do not get me wrong, I am not happy about this but by the same token I am not surprised. I also think that the Republican party, while on shaky ground, would have survived a loss of the Presidency (they saw it coming) had it not been for Sarah Palin. One could say John McCain for picking Sarah Palin, but I would not and will not.

I think the Republican party should view this turbulent time as an opportunity to remake itself. The Republican party has splintered into not just two branches, the Bushes and the Palins, but many branches. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as no one loses sight of the roots. I have ideologically flirted with the Republican party but have always been turned off by the fact I do not see myself represented among the party. As a disenfranchised conservative Democrat, or right of center Independent (I'll accept both, but I lean Independent), the one quality that I feel is lacking in the Republican party is tolerance! As diverse/splintered as the Republican party is, one would think that there would be an appreciation, even celebration, of the differences that could prove to be the strength of the party. Maybe that is why certain minority groups who have traditionally voted Republican found themselves voting for a Democrat. Perhaps many left-leaning disenfranchised Republicans found a place to voice a difference, be heard and be appreciated for an opposing view.

Perhaps the party of Lincoln can take a cue from the President-elect and openly create a party of opposition where challenging views are met with curiosity and common sense to unite for a common good and solve more problems than are created. After all a house divided cannot stand.

Thoughts?

Level Setting Expectations II

I promise at some point I will blog about more than Obama, but right now I am in my Obamamania.

In a way I am starting to be very afraid for President Elect Obama. So many people have so many expectations. I heard a comment today on CNN from a commentator/pundit who remarked that if all of Obama's top picks (Sec of State, Treas Sec, Sec of Defense, not to mention Chief of Staff) were white guys then that (his election) was not much a change. Hmmm : This comment was in response to rumors that Governor Bill Richardson may be on a short list for Sec of State.

OK, so here are some realities to mull:

1. Health care will not be fixed the first year
2. Not every out-of-work American will be employed as of January 20, 2009
3. Not every out-of-work African-American will be employed as of January 20, 2009
4. The economy will not rebound because it too is drunk off the hope espoused by the election of Obama
5. Obama will not betray the voters if a lot of his appointments are white males (if they all are, well . . . I might have to raise my eyebrow)
6. The new administration cannot come to the aid of every ailing American industry. While the autos may get a shot in the arm (or electric shock to the chest) they still must find a way manage responsibly, become a friend to environment, and lift the community it sits weightily in

Just some things to think about

Level Setting Expectations

Can you believe it!!! I truly never thought that I would see a Black President in my lifetime. Call me what you want, and I am sure you will, but I really never had that much faith that the majority culture had the ability to trust the son of a people that they enslaved, and moreover fought to enslave a race of people. These words may seem harsh to the majority, white Americans, but they come from a place of honesty and history. I am not that person to blame racism for all the ills of the black community, I am that person who demands personal accountability no matter the skin you were born in, but my experience has been that for whatever reason many white people fear and distrust Black people. And, as a result, whites have been very discerning about who they allow in to take advantage of class fluidity, and how many, for that matter. I have to say that the fear and distrust that white people display against Black people has always baffled me, given that history would suggest that the fear and distrust should go in the other direction.

Beyond race, and hear me that I want to get beyond race and that I do not expect that the conversation about race will be stuck where it has been for the last 40 years, Barack Obama's election as the next President has set some very high expectations. There are many people who truly seek the second coming. There are people who expect that President Elect Obama has or will have all the answers to society's current and future woes. Obama inspired a nation to hope for the future and and not fear. Such inspiration carries the high price tag of expectations.

President Elect Obama made a most inspiring and profound victory speech last night November 4, he said that this election was about us and a win for us as a nation. Indeed what he was saying is we won this election to work together. In so many words he challenged us to ask not what our country can do for us, but what we can do for this country. No matter your political philosophy Obama is wise enough to see that our current situation can only be cured by us coming together and taking up for the least of these. He realized that it is going to take every single one of us coming together and lifting our country back to its greatness.

I believe that our voting for the best candidate, in spite of his race, is evidence that we are starting to see each other as fellow Americans. This new sense of solidarity will be the substance that we draw upon to come together and address and overcome our current difficulties. In the next four years, I hope that we can all think back to Barack Obama's words on November 4, 2008 when he said that this will be difficult and that he needs our help, our service and our sacrifice. In the next four years, when you desire to complain about what is being done and not done, remember Barack Obama's words and get to work, make a change and make this country better because Yes, We CAN!