4 days ago  5 comments

Enraging, Sad and Scary

When the convention was in town, my boss was concerned about the consequences she and other African Americans would face after Obama accepted the nomination. She was equally concerned leading up to election day. Sadly, she knows of what she speaks: http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/WireStory?id=6261962&page=1.

I can't say I'm shocked or even surprised. Mostly what I feel is disappointment, a bit of fear and a true loss of hope, at least on some level. There are people out there, black and white, who fight the good fight every day. I'm proud to say I'm one of them, but seeing this type of behavior makes me very sad and makes me concerned for the road ahead, al least in the near future.

21 days ago  4 comments

I will remember THIS day forever...

...and I'll share it with my kids and grandkids and whoever will listen. Today I voted for a black man for President and a gay man for Congress. For today, at least, my hope for social progress and equality is alive and well. Today the sun is shining on that dream. And on this one:

"...And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.... 

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

                Free at last! Free at last!

                Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

-Excerpts from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech - August 28, 1963

34 days ago  3 comments

THIS is what everyone's panties are in a bunch over??? Really?!

I caught a bit of a discussion on the radio this morning about Newsweek's Palin cover: http://www.kool105.com/pages/2435120.php (make sure to scroll down for the cover.  scroll even further for a funnier pic)  The DJs, mostly the female, were going on and on about how awful the picture was, how Newsweek had done Palin no favors, how is was sexist and unfair, etc, etc. They said "shopping" cover photos was a common courtesy that is always done and that it was not right for Newsweek to not "shop" Palin's photo.

Now, let's leave aside the argument of the portrayal of perfection to the general public and the damage that can do, especially to young kids. And let's even leave aside the argument over whether this was sexist or even an attempt to damage the McCain/Palin campaign.

WTF is wrong with the picture? I think she still looks good. Politics aside, I think she is a pretty woman, and from what I can see, the picture does her no injustice. They say that when you look at the actual cover, versus online versions, that you can see blemishes, wrinkles and facial hair. And, oh yeah, a spit bubble in her teeth. *GASP* The horror!!!! How will she ever recover? The female DJ said if a pic of her that showed these types of imperfections were ever published, she would be DEVASTATED!

Granted, I have not seen the actual magazine, just the online version, but - really???? This is a bad picture and is sexist, partisan and unfair??? Palin is just gonna curl up in a ball and cry herself to sleep? And if she does, do you really want her as your VP? Give me a fuckin' break. Obviously those who are outraged think the public's perception of Palin will be lessened, but I would say that a picture like this, that shows a bit of her age and imperfections, would probably serve her well. The lines on her face help to show her age and she desperately needs to portray "experience" in some way. If they were to show her all "shopped" up and looking like a fresh-faced twenty-something, I think that would reduce her credibility. But the way she looks here, I can't see how it diminishes her likeability, such as it is.

And just for clarification, I am NOT sticking up for Palin in any way, shape or form. I just think the idiots who are outraged over this need to get the hell over themselves and pay a bit more attention to issues and qualifications than to smooth, hair free skin.

Go Obama/Biden!!! (Did I mention I'm logging some Obama/Biden volunteer time this weekend?  Just doin' my part.)