Friday, November 7, 2008

Obama is Elected the Community Work Must Continue

I am excited to have had the opportunity in my lifetime, to have witnessed the election of a Black man to the office of POTUS. As far as I can see looking around me, I am not alone. Black folks not just in the US but the world over, are charged up and inspired and expressing positive thoughts about themselves and the race as a whole. I've seen quite a few interviews where people are already saying that they feel like if he can do it they can likewise achieve their loftier goals.

I am a firm believer in the idea that things happen because people expect them to happen and thus take steps to bring about the reality.
On the other hand when people expect things to happen because others are going to make them come about, disappointment often follows.

If Obama does nothing else he has supplied us, at
least for the present with a focal point and a suitable mantra that everyone is capable of understanding (Yes We Can).

We are way behind on the scoreboard but for the moment the ball is in our possession I hope we don't get distracted and fumble right away.



excerpt
Community organizing redeemed

from Seattlepi.com

By AMY GOODMAN
SYNDICATED COLUMNIST

There are two key camps that feel invested in the Obama presidency: the millions who each gave a little, and the few who gave millions. The big-money interests have means to gain access. They know how to get meetings in the White House, and they know what lobbyists to hire. But the millions who donated, who volunteered, who were inspired to vote for the first time actually have more power, when organized.

Before heading over to Grant Park in Chicago, Obama sent a note (texted and e-mailed) to millions of supporters. It read, in part: "We just made history. And I don't want you to forget how we did it. ...

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Congratulations President elect Barack Hussein Obama

From now on there will be no sideways glances when a Black child says,
"I want to be President of The United States".

 President elect Obama delivered a speech after his victory that I can
only describe as perfection.  

He acknowledged those who helped him with the election, which included
his family, his campaign team and the voters. 

He acknowledged his opposition and their concerns and started right away 
by offering an olive branch to start the healing process. 

He spoke of the work that lies ahead for all of us and  tasked all to be
prepared to work and sacrifice to restore the republic to it's place in 
the sun.

The speech was not about himself at all but about all of us. I loved it
and even teared up.

 I am still  wondering where these multi millions of dollars in 
campaign money came from though.

Pinch Me. Barak Obama is really the top Democrat on the ticket.

  I can honestly say that I didn't think I'd  live to see this day even if Obama doesn't win. If he does, well then that goes double. All this has me very apprehensive about the events to come in the not too distant future.
 I'm not one who has a lot of confidence in the political mis-leadership we've had to endure over the years, so while I'm surprised at the current turn of events, I'll be even more surprised if Obama is elected and actually does bring about major change. Then again the mere fact of his election would repressent a major change in itself. Wouldn't it? Obama '08?


Sunday, November 2, 2008

Sept 16, 2008 A Black Man Was Dragged to Death in Paris, Texas

 On September 16, 2008 - not 1908,  Brandon McClelland was dragged to his death by  2 white men in a pickup truck. Apparently the authorities tried to hush this up but it's coming out just the same. I first became aware of this atrocity today while listening to a report on Breakdown FM
entitled - Horror-in-Paris-Texas. Paris Texas, infamous for the 1893 lynching of Henry Smith.
The same Paris Texas where 15 year old Shaquandra Cotton was sentenced to 7 years for shoving a 58 year old hall monitor, in spite of the fact that this was her first offense of any kind.

See the Final Call article by Jesse Muhamed titled Jasper-style lynching in Paris, Texas?


      Now where's the outrage? Here's some.


 It really is time for a change folks, wouldn't you say?
Let's start by paying more attention to local politics for a change.
It's time to get involved on a scale like never before and elect some our
own representatives to these city councils  and school boards and such.
It's time to start petitioning issues we feel strongly about and not spending
money in places that don't benefit our communities.
While we're at we need to start changing some of this high security
legislation designed to protect us from ourselves. Yeah we want Change!