From Phdcomics.com
peace.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The Financial Crisis
LOL.... whats so hilarious about this is that it completely mirrors a conversation I had with my mentor the other day...
From Phdcomics.com
peace.
From Phdcomics.com
peace.
Monday, September 29, 2008
OPEN LETTER TO NOW from Green Party Nat'l Women's Caucus: support Cynthia McKinney
Although I am a committed Obama supporter... I thought this was interesting...
How many of you knew there were two women of color running for president?
What's interesting to me is that they chose to run in this years election... it seems that any capital they could have gained from the historic nature of their campaign is overshadowed by Obama... I wonder what the political strategy is behind this?
Either way, their press statement speaks to the ongoing estrangement between women of color and mainstream feminist organizations like NOW, that continues to be highlighted in interesting ways by this years presidential election. To date I still haven't seen NOW respond to any of the sexist/racist attacks against Michelle Obama.
peace.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributed by the Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
National Women's Caucus of the Green Party of the United States
http://greens.org/gp-uswomen/
For Immediate Release
Monday, September 29, 2008
Contact:
Morgen D'Arc, Spokesperson, 207-761-7797, morgenizer@yahoo.com
Linda Manning Myatt, Spokesperson, 248-548-6175, lmmyatt@wowway.com
Green Party National Women's Caucus challenges NOW to support the historic McKinney/Clemente presidential campaign
WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Women's Caucus (http://greens.org/gp-uswomen) of the Green Party of the United States has sent an open letter to the National Organization for Women (http://www.now.org) urging support for the Green Party's presidential ticket. The text of the letter is appended below.
The letter cites Green nominee Cynthia McKinney's six terms in Congress and her unmatched dedication to the principles of equality and human rights championed by NOW. The National Women's Caucus emphasizes the historical role that alternative parties have played in the struggle for women's suffrage and rights, and notes that NOW has failed even to recognize the significance of America's first national campaign by two women of African descent: Ms. McKinney is African American and running mate Rosa Clemente is Black Puerto Rican.
OPEN LETTER TO NOW, THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN
National Women's Caucus of the Green Party of the United States
http://greens.org/gp-uswomen/
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Dear National Organization for Women leadership and members:
The National Women's Caucus of the Green Party of the United States is dismayed that your recent endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States did not acknowledge the first all-female ticket in recent U.S. history. Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente are running for President and Vice President, respectively, on the Green Party ballot line.
Cynthia McKinney served six terms in the U.S. Congress and two terms in the Georgia General Assembly. She is a global human rights and peace activist with a substantial voting record supporting women. Rosa Clemente is a community organizer and journalist who was one of the founders and primary organizers of the first national Hip Hop political convention. Their “Power to the People” campaign goal is to ensure that public policy reflects the Green Party values of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy, and nonviolence.
Cynthia McKinney has been a steadfast supporter of full reproductive rights for women throughout her legislative career, including opposition to “abstinence only” sex education, funding for contraception and UN family planning. Rosa Clemente has been an outspoken advocate on issues affecting people of color, particularly women, and has directed her campaign toward the 48% of young people who don’t vote, to encourage participation in the electoral process.
Additional positions of the McKinney/Clemente campaign that will benefit women include:
- Equal Rights
- End to forced sterilization and coerced or uninformed consent procedures,
- Immediate end to the War in Iraq and reinvestment of the money into our communities
- Single-payer, universal “Medicare for All”
- Election integrity where every vote is counted
- Right to same-sex marriage
- Free higher education
- End to the drug war
- Right of return of survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
- Withdrawal from corporate trade agreements such as NAFTA that are devastating economies worldwide
- Promotion of renewable energy (no coal or nuclear) to create hundreds of thousands of new manufacturing, construction and service jobs
Neither Obama nor his Republican opponent John McCain support these positions.
The National Organization for Women PAC repeatedly praised Congresswoman McKinney during her six terms in U.S. Congress; and her record, on every relevant issue, surpasses those of the male endorsees. But now, these two women of color -- powerful and power-challenging, real choices, and nominated by a political party that proudly boasts Feminism & Gender Equity among our Ten Key Values -- don't even receive acknowledgment.
The National Organization for Women, at all levels, has long struggled over diverging feminist paths -- choosing either to press for change within the existing power structure, and its institutions, or to step outside of the expected and challenge the institutions themselves. In the view of the National Women's Caucus of the Green Party of the United States, NOW has best served women when NOW has recognized, in the words of Audre Lord, that "when you look back on the road you've come, and see pain, and look forward to the road you're on, and see pain, then, step off the road, and make a new path."
We recall when NOW distributed buttons proclaiming that "Women were not born Democrats, Republicans, or YESTERDAY." We recall when the heroines of our heritage were Belva Lockwood, Alice Paul and Sonia Johnson, each willing to form her own political party, or run for president independently, or both. They were willing because that path provided fewer barriers to telling the plain truth, the truth that needed to be heard, than did service to the establishment parties. We even recall when NOW announced the formation of its own, alternative, political party, the "Party for the 21st Century," with Dolores Huerta at its head. We rejoiced when NOW sought to make a new path, because the old political road was simply too filled with the pain of condescension and compromise, deferment and settling for what was offered.
Even when NOW, through its political action committee, decided in the last two decades to bestow its endorsement on candidates from the over-represented political parties, it was to reward them for actually moving closer to the day when a woman might be president, with a Geraldine Ferraro and a Hillary Clinton sitting in the candidate car, and not just trudging behind it, pushing. But this past week, that endorsement reward was offered without even that, out of the same "fear of the alternative" that has driven women to set our own hopes, dreams and destinations aside, time and again, to let the men drive the car.
Belva, Alice and Sonia did not become president of the United States, but, with the support of the feminists of their time, speaking truth, each re-formed the vision that America had about women. While men can be feminists too, their institutions can only be deemed feminist if they produce equality. The dearth of elected women, at every level, is its own condemnation of the party structures that are the paved road of American democracy. It disappoints us greatly, that earlier this month, NOW has not made a new path. By failing to commend, or even comment on, the presidential candidacy of Cynthia McKinney and her Green Party running mate, Rosa Clemente, NOW is driving on the wrong side of history.
We invite the National Organization for Women, and feminists everywhere, to support the Green Party and the McKinney/Clemente campaign. Come walk the walk with us, and make a new path.
Sincerely,
National Women's Caucus, Green Party of the United States
Nan Garrett, Co-Chair
Ginny Marie Case, Co-Chair
National Women’s Caucus Member Claudia Ellquist, National NOW Board member, 1990-94, participated in the drafting of this letter
National Women’s Caucus
Green Party of the United States
1711 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-319-7191
202-319-7192
How many of you knew there were two women of color running for president?
What's interesting to me is that they chose to run in this years election... it seems that any capital they could have gained from the historic nature of their campaign is overshadowed by Obama... I wonder what the political strategy is behind this?
Either way, their press statement speaks to the ongoing estrangement between women of color and mainstream feminist organizations like NOW, that continues to be highlighted in interesting ways by this years presidential election. To date I still haven't seen NOW respond to any of the sexist/racist attacks against Michelle Obama.
peace.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributed by the Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
National Women's Caucus of the Green Party of the United States
http://greens.org/gp-uswomen/
For Immediate Release
Monday, September 29, 2008
Contact:
Morgen D'Arc, Spokesperson, 207-761-7797, morgenizer@yahoo.com
Linda Manning Myatt, Spokesperson, 248-548-6175, lmmyatt@wowway.com
Green Party National Women's Caucus challenges NOW to support the historic McKinney/Clemente presidential campaign
WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Women's Caucus (http://greens.org/gp-uswomen) of the Green Party of the United States has sent an open letter to the National Organization for Women (http://www.now.org) urging support for the Green Party's presidential ticket. The text of the letter is appended below.
The letter cites Green nominee Cynthia McKinney's six terms in Congress and her unmatched dedication to the principles of equality and human rights championed by NOW. The National Women's Caucus emphasizes the historical role that alternative parties have played in the struggle for women's suffrage and rights, and notes that NOW has failed even to recognize the significance of America's first national campaign by two women of African descent: Ms. McKinney is African American and running mate Rosa Clemente is Black Puerto Rican.
OPEN LETTER TO NOW, THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN
National Women's Caucus of the Green Party of the United States
http://greens.org/gp-uswomen/
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Dear National Organization for Women leadership and members:
The National Women's Caucus of the Green Party of the United States is dismayed that your recent endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States did not acknowledge the first all-female ticket in recent U.S. history. Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente are running for President and Vice President, respectively, on the Green Party ballot line.
Cynthia McKinney served six terms in the U.S. Congress and two terms in the Georgia General Assembly. She is a global human rights and peace activist with a substantial voting record supporting women. Rosa Clemente is a community organizer and journalist who was one of the founders and primary organizers of the first national Hip Hop political convention. Their “Power to the People” campaign goal is to ensure that public policy reflects the Green Party values of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy, and nonviolence.
Cynthia McKinney has been a steadfast supporter of full reproductive rights for women throughout her legislative career, including opposition to “abstinence only” sex education, funding for contraception and UN family planning. Rosa Clemente has been an outspoken advocate on issues affecting people of color, particularly women, and has directed her campaign toward the 48% of young people who don’t vote, to encourage participation in the electoral process.
Additional positions of the McKinney/Clemente campaign that will benefit women include:
- Equal Rights
- End to forced sterilization and coerced or uninformed consent procedures,
- Immediate end to the War in Iraq and reinvestment of the money into our communities
- Single-payer, universal “Medicare for All”
- Election integrity where every vote is counted
- Right to same-sex marriage
- Free higher education
- End to the drug war
- Right of return of survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
- Withdrawal from corporate trade agreements such as NAFTA that are devastating economies worldwide
- Promotion of renewable energy (no coal or nuclear) to create hundreds of thousands of new manufacturing, construction and service jobs
Neither Obama nor his Republican opponent John McCain support these positions.
The National Organization for Women PAC repeatedly praised Congresswoman McKinney during her six terms in U.S. Congress; and her record, on every relevant issue, surpasses those of the male endorsees. But now, these two women of color -- powerful and power-challenging, real choices, and nominated by a political party that proudly boasts Feminism & Gender Equity among our Ten Key Values -- don't even receive acknowledgment.
The National Organization for Women, at all levels, has long struggled over diverging feminist paths -- choosing either to press for change within the existing power structure, and its institutions, or to step outside of the expected and challenge the institutions themselves. In the view of the National Women's Caucus of the Green Party of the United States, NOW has best served women when NOW has recognized, in the words of Audre Lord, that "when you look back on the road you've come, and see pain, and look forward to the road you're on, and see pain, then, step off the road, and make a new path."
We recall when NOW distributed buttons proclaiming that "Women were not born Democrats, Republicans, or YESTERDAY." We recall when the heroines of our heritage were Belva Lockwood, Alice Paul and Sonia Johnson, each willing to form her own political party, or run for president independently, or both. They were willing because that path provided fewer barriers to telling the plain truth, the truth that needed to be heard, than did service to the establishment parties. We even recall when NOW announced the formation of its own, alternative, political party, the "Party for the 21st Century," with Dolores Huerta at its head. We rejoiced when NOW sought to make a new path, because the old political road was simply too filled with the pain of condescension and compromise, deferment and settling for what was offered.
Even when NOW, through its political action committee, decided in the last two decades to bestow its endorsement on candidates from the over-represented political parties, it was to reward them for actually moving closer to the day when a woman might be president, with a Geraldine Ferraro and a Hillary Clinton sitting in the candidate car, and not just trudging behind it, pushing. But this past week, that endorsement reward was offered without even that, out of the same "fear of the alternative" that has driven women to set our own hopes, dreams and destinations aside, time and again, to let the men drive the car.
Belva, Alice and Sonia did not become president of the United States, but, with the support of the feminists of their time, speaking truth, each re-formed the vision that America had about women. While men can be feminists too, their institutions can only be deemed feminist if they produce equality. The dearth of elected women, at every level, is its own condemnation of the party structures that are the paved road of American democracy. It disappoints us greatly, that earlier this month, NOW has not made a new path. By failing to commend, or even comment on, the presidential candidacy of Cynthia McKinney and her Green Party running mate, Rosa Clemente, NOW is driving on the wrong side of history.
We invite the National Organization for Women, and feminists everywhere, to support the Green Party and the McKinney/Clemente campaign. Come walk the walk with us, and make a new path.
Sincerely,
National Women's Caucus, Green Party of the United States
Nan Garrett, Co-Chair
Ginny Marie Case, Co-Chair
National Women’s Caucus Member Claudia Ellquist, National NOW Board member, 1990-94, participated in the drafting of this letter
National Women’s Caucus
Green Party of the United States
1711 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-319-7191
202-319-7192
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Living Single Reunion
Anybody that knows me knows that Living Single is absolutely my favorite show of all time.
So I was beyond excited when TV One announced that they would be having a Living Single Reunion Show (TV One will now be showing Living Single episodes as a part of their weekly lineup).
I should have known better than to get excited about anything orignally produced by TV One... but I foolishly did...
and sure enough... it was HORRIBLE. Queen Latifah didn't bother to show up, so it featured the rest of the cast reminiscing about what great actors they were and how important they felt the show was.
*sigh*
The weird thing is... the actress who played my favorite character (max), Erika Alexander, looked totally lifeless. She barely said anything and did not look like she wanted to be there.
Makes one wonder what the real politics behind the show were.
Either way, I think I'll just stick to the Living Single re-runs...
peace.
So I was beyond excited when TV One announced that they would be having a Living Single Reunion Show (TV One will now be showing Living Single episodes as a part of their weekly lineup).
I should have known better than to get excited about anything orignally produced by TV One... but I foolishly did...
and sure enough... it was HORRIBLE. Queen Latifah didn't bother to show up, so it featured the rest of the cast reminiscing about what great actors they were and how important they felt the show was.
*sigh*
The weird thing is... the actress who played my favorite character (max), Erika Alexander, looked totally lifeless. She barely said anything and did not look like she wanted to be there.
Makes one wonder what the real politics behind the show were.
Either way, I think I'll just stick to the Living Single re-runs...
peace.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Things I've Discovered During My Absence
1. The critical nature of exuding positive energy while in this space (or anywhere actually)... Happiness starts with you... all my negativity is out the door!
Complaining is for suckers ;-)
2. The blog Hip Hop is Read
3. Which lead to my discovery of Ivan's (the creator of Hip Hop is Read) funky drummer compilations (featuring ?uestlove)
4. Which led me to my discovery of the Jazzyfatnastees (might be old to you, but deliciously new to me!)
5. Twitter :-)
6. Solange's new album... yes Solange! check it out... you'll love the funky 70's feel :-)
7. Neyo's new album Year of the Gentleman (FYI don't waste your time with the new Eric Benet album)
8. ING High Interest Savings Accounts... in this economy [and in general] everybody should have enough money to cover at least three months of rent/bills/utilities/food... put your money away in a high interest savings account! (and make a budget!)
9. Clear skin!!!!! my first year of graduate school acne is finally gone! (see all that positive thinking is paying off already *smile*)
10. Chicago artists The Cool Kids, I love their album The Bake Sale (for blasting in your car speakers only)... their mixtape leaves a lot to be desired...
11 . Janelle Monae... actually... I definitely was listening to this before my leave of absence I just forgot to mention it... I just wish it wasn't such a short album!
12. Raphael Saadiq's new album The Way I See It
13. Shop It To Me.com
14. funniest thing ever: Pundit Kitchen
15. Finishing a 20 mile run feels GREAT... but finishing your first qualifying exam? PRICELESS
peace.
p.s. I swear I've had more people than I can count ask me about applying to graduate school, so I'm going to start writing up the advice I got from others that I found helpful when I applied to my program. Make sure you stay on the lookout for that!
Complaining is for suckers ;-)
2. The blog Hip Hop is Read
3. Which lead to my discovery of Ivan's (the creator of Hip Hop is Read) funky drummer compilations (featuring ?uestlove)
4. Which led me to my discovery of the Jazzyfatnastees (might be old to you, but deliciously new to me!)
5. Twitter :-)
6. Solange's new album... yes Solange! check it out... you'll love the funky 70's feel :-)
7. Neyo's new album Year of the Gentleman (FYI don't waste your time with the new Eric Benet album)
8. ING High Interest Savings Accounts... in this economy [and in general] everybody should have enough money to cover at least three months of rent/bills/utilities/food... put your money away in a high interest savings account! (and make a budget!)
9. Clear skin!!!!! my first year of graduate school acne is finally gone! (see all that positive thinking is paying off already *smile*)
10. Chicago artists The Cool Kids, I love their album The Bake Sale (for blasting in your car speakers only)... their mixtape leaves a lot to be desired...
11 . Janelle Monae... actually... I definitely was listening to this before my leave of absence I just forgot to mention it... I just wish it wasn't such a short album!
12. Raphael Saadiq's new album The Way I See It
13. Shop It To Me.com
14. funniest thing ever: Pundit Kitchen
15. Finishing a 20 mile run feels GREAT... but finishing your first qualifying exam? PRICELESS
peace.
p.s. I swear I've had more people than I can count ask me about applying to graduate school, so I'm going to start writing up the advice I got from others that I found helpful when I applied to my program. Make sure you stay on the lookout for that!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Sarah Palin...
In the words of my ever so insightful mother...
McCain's pick of Sarah Palin for his running mate brings up some serious questions about his judgment. Picking someone with only one year of experience (as governor of a state with less people than Charlotte, North Carolina), when you are 72yrs old, at risk for heart disease, and after being diagnosed with skin cancer... is just insane to me...
It also speaks to his sexism... to McCain, all women are the same... any woman will do, regardless of her [lack of] qualifications..
Polysigh makes an excellent point about how the acceptance of this nomination brings up some serious questions about Sarah Palin's judgment as well... Especially after she has admitted that she knows nothing about the position...
For more comments about the Republican VP selection check out The Kitchen Table and On The Dig.
In the meantime...
I hope you have enjoyed this weeks coverage of the Democratic National Convention.... South Side Scholar will be going on temporary hiatus until after September 20...
During my absence please continue to check out past blogs and leave comments... and come back after the 20th to see what new stuff South Side Scholar is up to!
peace.
McCain's pick of Sarah Palin for his running mate brings up some serious questions about his judgment. Picking someone with only one year of experience (as governor of a state with less people than Charlotte, North Carolina), when you are 72yrs old, at risk for heart disease, and after being diagnosed with skin cancer... is just insane to me...
It also speaks to his sexism... to McCain, all women are the same... any woman will do, regardless of her [lack of] qualifications..
Polysigh makes an excellent point about how the acceptance of this nomination brings up some serious questions about Sarah Palin's judgment as well... Especially after she has admitted that she knows nothing about the position...
For more comments about the Republican VP selection check out The Kitchen Table and On The Dig.
In the meantime...
I hope you have enjoyed this weeks coverage of the Democratic National Convention.... South Side Scholar will be going on temporary hiatus until after September 20...
During my absence please continue to check out past blogs and leave comments... and come back after the 20th to see what new stuff South Side Scholar is up to!
peace.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Final Day of the Democratic Convention
I was deeply moved by the speech of Rep. John Lewis who did the introduction to the tribute to Martin Luther King jr. Rep Lewis is the last living main speaker from the March on Washington.
(Although Dr. Irene Height... one of my sorors/former president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc... was also on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March and Washington and is still alive and was present at the convention today)
Jennifer Hudson's rendition of the national anthem was absolutely beautiful
LOL... side note: I love Spike Lee, when interviewed by MSNBC about what he thought about Barack Obama, he said "I think history will be defined as B.B. and A.B... Before Barack and After Barack..."
I know ya'll are going to want to burn me at the stake for this... lol... but I really didn't get into Stevie's first song... don't get me wrong... I LOVE me some Stevie Wonder, but I just think his song choice was lacking... However, in typical Stevie fashion he proceeded to bring the house down :-)
Unfortunately I don't think the live version of will.i.am's "yes we can video" worked out very well...
Al Gore's speech was so poignant and so powerful... the comparisons he made between the critical nature of this election and his 2000 election really struck a cord with me...
One thing that I can't help but be amazed by, is the way in which all the major Democratic heavyweights... both Clintons, the Kennedys, Al Gore and John Kerry... are all coming out to support Barack Obama... a black man... in such a big way... I know most of you are like... "well they don't have any choice... he is the party nominee." But think about it... this time last year, the chances of this occuring seemed next to impossible... but the people spoke and the party was forced to let go of their "chosen daughter" and listen to the voices of the primary voters... I don't know about you... but I continue to be awed by the power in that....
John McCain's rinky dink commercial congratulating Obama on his nomination had absolutely no purchase for me... After teasing the media relentlessly about his VP pick in the middle of the Democratic Convention and the loads of petty and childish commercials (which had absolutely nothing to do with politics) that hes been shoving down my throat for the last three days... McCain has made it clear that Obama isn't the one who has no idea what he is doing... I'm predicting it now... once the debates start... any gains McCain has made are going out the window....
It's amazing... Obama managed to draw 90,000 people to Mile High Stadium... McCain is having a hard time convincing 10,000 people to show up to his acceptance speech... yet somehow pundits are describing this as a problem for Obama?
Lets be honest... McCain is the media darling... he absolutely gets away with anything and everything... How is it after weeks of negative commercials, he all of a sudden is "gracious and classy".... ??!!
Onto pleasanter things...
I did think it was appropriate for Sen Dick Durbin to introduce Obama... those democrats love them some symbolism huh?
But onto the most important part of the night....
I LOVED Obama's speech... he did absolutely everything he needed to do. Like Micheal Eric Dyson told Wolf Blitzer on CNN prior to the speech... the trademark of agreat orator is to draw the audience in emotionally, and then to lay out the meat and potatoes of his political policy... and that is exactly what Obama did...
He described himself in a way that everyone... regardless of race or class could identify with... from talking about growing up with a single mother to his and Michelle's struggle with student loans... it would be ridiculous for McCain (with his seven houses) to think about calling Obama an elitest...
and yes... his discussion of individual responsibility and the necessity of "fatherhood" did make me a bit squirmish... but I did appreciate his ability to link issues and to make an arguement about how folks from both sides of the aisle can begin to see eye to eye on issues like domestic benefits and abortion...
And he finally REALLY critized John McCain!!!
My favorite lines?
"this election isn't about me... this election is about you..."
"at the defining moments of history... change didn't come from Washington, it came to Washington"
"I don't know about you... but I'm not willing to take a 10% chance on change"
and lastly...
"America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise - that American promise - and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess..."
That scripture is actually from Hebrews 10:23. The full quotation is as follows (international standard version):
Let us continue to hold firmly to the hope that we confess without wavering, for the one who made the promise is faithful.
peace.
(Although Dr. Irene Height... one of my sorors/former president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc... was also on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March and Washington and is still alive and was present at the convention today)
Jennifer Hudson's rendition of the national anthem was absolutely beautiful
LOL... side note: I love Spike Lee, when interviewed by MSNBC about what he thought about Barack Obama, he said "I think history will be defined as B.B. and A.B... Before Barack and After Barack..."
I know ya'll are going to want to burn me at the stake for this... lol... but I really didn't get into Stevie's first song... don't get me wrong... I LOVE me some Stevie Wonder, but I just think his song choice was lacking... However, in typical Stevie fashion he proceeded to bring the house down :-)
Unfortunately I don't think the live version of will.i.am's "yes we can video" worked out very well...
Al Gore's speech was so poignant and so powerful... the comparisons he made between the critical nature of this election and his 2000 election really struck a cord with me...
One thing that I can't help but be amazed by, is the way in which all the major Democratic heavyweights... both Clintons, the Kennedys, Al Gore and John Kerry... are all coming out to support Barack Obama... a black man... in such a big way... I know most of you are like... "well they don't have any choice... he is the party nominee." But think about it... this time last year, the chances of this occuring seemed next to impossible... but the people spoke and the party was forced to let go of their "chosen daughter" and listen to the voices of the primary voters... I don't know about you... but I continue to be awed by the power in that....
John McCain's rinky dink commercial congratulating Obama on his nomination had absolutely no purchase for me... After teasing the media relentlessly about his VP pick in the middle of the Democratic Convention and the loads of petty and childish commercials (which had absolutely nothing to do with politics) that hes been shoving down my throat for the last three days... McCain has made it clear that Obama isn't the one who has no idea what he is doing... I'm predicting it now... once the debates start... any gains McCain has made are going out the window....
It's amazing... Obama managed to draw 90,000 people to Mile High Stadium... McCain is having a hard time convincing 10,000 people to show up to his acceptance speech... yet somehow pundits are describing this as a problem for Obama?
Lets be honest... McCain is the media darling... he absolutely gets away with anything and everything... How is it after weeks of negative commercials, he all of a sudden is "gracious and classy".... ??!!
Onto pleasanter things...
I did think it was appropriate for Sen Dick Durbin to introduce Obama... those democrats love them some symbolism huh?
But onto the most important part of the night....
I LOVED Obama's speech... he did absolutely everything he needed to do. Like Micheal Eric Dyson told Wolf Blitzer on CNN prior to the speech... the trademark of agreat orator is to draw the audience in emotionally, and then to lay out the meat and potatoes of his political policy... and that is exactly what Obama did...
He described himself in a way that everyone... regardless of race or class could identify with... from talking about growing up with a single mother to his and Michelle's struggle with student loans... it would be ridiculous for McCain (with his seven houses) to think about calling Obama an elitest...
and yes... his discussion of individual responsibility and the necessity of "fatherhood" did make me a bit squirmish... but I did appreciate his ability to link issues and to make an arguement about how folks from both sides of the aisle can begin to see eye to eye on issues like domestic benefits and abortion...
And he finally REALLY critized John McCain!!!
My favorite lines?
"this election isn't about me... this election is about you..."
"at the defining moments of history... change didn't come from Washington, it came to Washington"
"I don't know about you... but I'm not willing to take a 10% chance on change"
and lastly...
"America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise - that American promise - and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess..."
That scripture is actually from Hebrews 10:23. The full quotation is as follows (international standard version):
Let us continue to hold firmly to the hope that we confess without wavering, for the one who made the promise is faithful.
peace.
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