News-Record.com

Yes, yes, yes! It takes respect and empathy and a willingness to really hear one another. Obama recently quoted William Faulkner -- the south's greatest writer, who thought and wrote profoundly about the southern experience: "The past isn't dead and buried. In fact, it isn't even past."

When I hear white folks say that black folks should "just get over it," when it comes to race issues, it makes me very embarrrassed for them, because they don't see the breathtaking narcissism that is inherent in that mindset.

When I see black folks play the race card in an illegitimate way, it makes me sad and angry, because there is genuine racism in our society that is glaringly obvious in the racial disparieties that we see in prison population, in income, in education, in health and wealth, etc., that a nation that is dedicated to the founding proposition that all people are created equal needs to confront.

Another writer whose name escapes me also said, "We don't see the world as it is -- we see the world as we are." It would help if we as individuals recognized that tendency as an inherent weakness that we all share as human beings, but that we can overcome through honest relationship building.

You know, I was really starting to feel a draw to Obama during the speech. A lot of what he said made sense and he had me going down a path where I could support him. Then he encouraged his "audience" to get out the family to register to vote. You know, the cousins "Pookie" and "RayRay." Sorry, Barak. Now I know who your audience is. Race was never an issue in this election until then. If McCain or Clinton had said that, they would have been crucified. If they encouraged everyone to get "Bubba" and "Cooter" out to vote, they would have been branded, too.

If McCain or Clinton would have said their grandmother was "a typical black person",
there would be demands for them to step aside.

Considering that America represents a beacon light of hope for people around the world, it is unfortunate that race, gender, and religion have tarnished this historic moment in American history.

Nevertheless, this historic campaign between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama has revealed to the world that the consciousness of America is evolving somewhat; that the rights of all American citizens are respected; that life, liberty, and happiness is truly possible for all.

Best wishes for a successful election process in North Carolina

As Americans we are not a colorblind society nor should we be. What we should be doing is taking the blinders off so that we can truly see each other. Ignoring that Pookie or Bubba exists is the kind of blindness that stunts our own social growth and impedes our ability to understand each other. Let's lay a foundation for future generations rather than being bogged down by the baggage of our own.

"Nevertheless, this historic campaign between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama has revealed to the world that the consciousness of America is evolving somewhat; that the rights of all American citizens are respected; that life, liberty, and happiness is truly possible for all."

Adjusted for spin:

"Nevertheless, this get-down-and-dirty campaign between Senator Billary and Senator B.H.O. has unveiled to the world that America is drifting steadily left-ward; the "rights" of criminals and terrorists are pandered to; that life, liberty, and (the pursuit of) happiness is becoming more and more a fading memeory."

It's NOT Obama's blackness that bothers me; but his slackness - when it comes to closing our borders, winning the war on Islamo-fascism, and shrinking the size of a bloated Washington behemoth - ever encroaching, ever sucking, ever dismantling our representative federation of stateSSSS.

Maya Angelou turns 80 this week, and I recall her life-changing words on courage and leadership when confronted with racism. Per Angelou, "I will not sit in a group of black friends and hear racial pejoratives against whites... I will not hear it. As soon as I hear it, I say, "Excuse me, I have to leave. Sorry." Or if it's in my home, I say, "You have to leave. I can't have that. That is poison, and I know it is poison, and you're smearing it on me. I will not have it." When we talk about racism, we have to see that we are not just talking about acts against blacks; we are talking about vulgarities against any human being because of her -- his -- race. This is vulgar. That is what it is, whether it is anti-Asian, whether it is the use of racial prejudices about Jews, about Japanese, about Native Americans, about blacks, about Irish, it is stupid, because what it is, really is, it is poison. It poisons the spirit, the human spirit.
See full excerpt at http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/ang0int-4

Sen. Obama should have demonstrated courage and left his church. But he didn't. He stayed... for 20 years. Who isn't troubled by the Obama Family's judgment and character when the comparison is drawn between their religious affiliation and that of Sen. McCain or Sen. Clinton? Can you envision an image of the Clinton Family attending a Sunday mass, wherein their preacher advocates anti-American and racial rhetoric? How exactly do you explain these actions away regardless of which candidate performs it? You don't. It is completely indefensible, and it is this point that will be pushed to the limits by GOP ads in a continuous loop in the fall. This is Obama's paramount problem, it was self-created, and despite what a flawed 1,000-person poll may show, it is actually spreading uneasiness and anxiety in living rooms across America with regard to his candidacy. He should demonstrate courage and leave. It is time to drop out of the race.

Many of us view this election cycle as one of great historic value, and as such, actively discuss and critically assess the nomination process. What were once pro Senator Obama supporters are now switching their vote over to Senator Clinton.

The main reasons for increasing uneasiness over Sen. Obama center on (1) lack of experience (2) no original policy making (3) plagiarized speeches (4) Obama-Reszko corruption scandal (5) lying about NAFTA-Canada for political gain (6) poor judgment with regard to pharmaceutical lobbying (7) disenfranchising Florida and Michigan by rejecting a revote, and most importantly (8) lack of courage and accountability with his role in the Reverend Wright atrocity.

In short, the candidate who has primarily been running his campaign on change & unification, is now the poster child for divisive racism. An overwhelming number of Americans do not have an issue voting for Obama because he is a black man... the underlying issue is Obama is not the right black man. If he did have courage, he would acknowledge his candidacy in the general election is ruined, he would step down from the nominee race, he would stop muddying the waters thus allowing a GOP win, and he would support Sen. Clinton toward a strong victory.

When a candidate is a female running for the most powerful position in the world in a man's world . . . When a candidate stands strong on her issues and convictions in the face of strong media bias . . . When a candidate and her husband are known as "the Black Man's President and First Lady" and receives endorsements from influential black leaders in this country . . . When a candidate proposed SOLUTIONS to the present economical crises while her opponent says he doesn't know much about economics . . . You don't let this strong, surviving WOMAN of leadership get away. YOU PUT HER IN THE WHITE HOUSE TO FIX THE HORRENDOUS PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION!!! It takes more than SPEECHES.

Cudos to Stand Up and Accountability,
And please read this op-ed (appeared originally in the LA Times) by Mr. Michael Meyers, Exec Director of New York Civil Rights Coalition:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-meyers20mar20,0,3898931.story

And read some of the 948 responses this piece received if you feel like you are thinking in the minority.