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IDENTITY

Forced to Choose Under Pressure

By Raina Kelley | NEWSWEEK
Mar 17, 2008 Issue

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  • Posted By: Johndavidprince @ 03/17/2008 9:32:13 AM

    Comment: The debate over Obama???s Church is reminiscent of the backlash to the Civil Rights Movement by southern whites or the refusal to accept the Court decision that allowed for desegregation, thus leading to the showdown in 1957 at Little Rock Cent. High School.
    Now all of the sudden religious conservatives are upset over what a preacher or reverend in a Christian Church has to say. For years religious conservatives have said, ???How dare people question what goes on in Church,??? they consistently scream ???freedom of religion??? when they come under attack for controversial statements from the pulpit. Now the tables have been magically reversed. Why? It might be the only political weapon in their arsenal. It might be the best they have to combat a potential Democratic candidate for the President of the United States. What theological hypocrites. What a show of contempt for the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech, and blatant use of fear of the black man in modern America. What a despicable display of a double standard this has turned out to be. This may scare the conservative agenda in the minds of rational Americans for a long time.

  • Posted By: Johndavidprince @ 03/17/2008 9:31:54 AM

    Comment: We forget about some of the conservative AM Radio pundits who like to use inflammatory speech to gain ratings as well religious leaders of many faiths. People who are out of touch with the Black community are distorting the issue of Rev. Wright???s statements. In New York City there were police involved with sales of crack and cocaine. It is a fact. There were 100???s of officers convicted for corruption in a well-documented case. Where is Wright distorted in his thinking? Now on the HIV issue he is postulating a theory, true. We must remember that there are many Christian leaders who espouse shaky theory. Wright???s 911 comments may be inflammatory to pro-war/America can do no wrong foreign policy wing nuts. Yes. But on closer analysis the foreign policy actions of the past have been and will be debated on their ethical correctness or their potential for what the CIA calls ???Blowback.??? This issue is being blown out of proportion. Those who harbor racist thoughts would view some of Wright???s statements as controversial but only out of historical ignorance or denial of the years of proven oppression. Should Wright or any African American feel happy about the years of discrimination, slavery, lynching, Jim Crow Laws, and other aspects of US history? So now the right wing has issued a de-facto religious test for office. Well we should analyze all republican candidates religious associations and every word their religious leaders have spoken. This is sick and shameful how some in the press or media have reacted to the Wright issue. The man has the freedom of speech that we should respect even if he offends some of the racists within the right wing. Now on Talk Radio there are Christians claiming that Rev. Wright???s Church is no Christian. What? Is this the new Protestant v. Catholic, Christian on Christian infighting? Are we to believe that opinions from predominately white Churches have a cultural clue as to how African Americans feel or should feel. How dare those who claim to ???judge not lest ye be??? start violating their own tenants? Since when is it a crime for a Black pastor when talking about the injustices bestowed their people to use the N-word? The proper use of that word in terms of history is not a symbol of reverse racism. Yet now we have people judging if his comments are Godly enough. This is a joke of a debate when you boil the water down and look at the facts left in the pan. We have sunk to a new low as a Nation. This ugly debate is the result of years of fusing politics and religion by the right wing thus making all pulpits a voice for politics rather than pulpits of faith.

  • Posted By: Nins @ 03/13/2008 8:14:54 PM

    Comment: A blogger named Edson writes "Did the word Democrat really come from democracy?"

    Here is a derivation of the words "Democrat" and "Republican."

    The United States of America is a republic, that is to say, a Federal government in which the people are represented by elected officials from the various states. Before we were a republic, we were a democracy made up of 13 individual states that were not united. A democracy is a form of government where the individual citizens have the right to speak their minds and influence the political discourse. Democracy was named after Demosthenes, a citizen of ancient Greece with a speech impediment who practiced talking with his mouth full of pebbles to overcome his disability. Demosthenes later became a great political orator. This is where the Democrats derive their name.

    The original Republicans were in favor of the states joining to form a republic (which is how that party got it's name). The original Democrats were opposed to this idea, they represented the individual states and were worried that the republic could gain too much power over the states, and through the exercise of tyranny, deny individuals their freedom. Trust me, people were pretty passionate about their liberty in those days, having just fought for independence from England. The Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were all hammered out by serious-minded men who sought to balance the need for individual freedom with our shared common cause, the needs for united strength and social order. Balancing the rights of the individual against the rights of the whole society is what America is all about. This is not only a great achievement for our nation, it is one of the greatest achievements of mankind. And we have, by and large, been true to our ideals over the past 227 years. The system of government we initially established, although needing occasional revisions, has stood the test of time.

    Let's not forget where we started from, that impulse towards equality and freedom.

    America is, with all it's faults, a meritocracy. Most of our founding fathers would never have had a voice in the 18th century English government they rebelled against, a monarchy where you had to be born into power. In America it was different. If you had intelligence, passion, ambition, drive, talent and a little luck, you could change the world.

    This is the real secret to Obama's popularity. This is why a white, conservative middle-aged female Republican like me wants to vote for him. He's got that blend of intelligence, passion, ambition, drive and talent. I'm giving him my vote to proffer him the last ingredient, a little luck, so I can watch our Republican Democracy in action, and once again change the world.

    IN GOD WE TRUST

  • Posted By: Mad in Texas @ 03/13/2008 3:55:43 PM

    Comment:
    "When [Obama's] enemies find out that in 1984 I went to Tripoli [in Libya]" to visit Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, Mr. Wright recalled, "with [Black Muslim leader Louis] Farrakhan, a lot of his Jewish support will dry up quicker than a snowball in hell." [March 6, 2007 Disinvitation by Obama Is Criticized By Jodi Kantor]

    VOTER's BEWARE: GO TO; http://WWW.\Trinity United Church of Christ Listen to some of Rev. Wright's sermons.
    What this has to do with Obama. He has been a faithful follower of this man for twenty years. Obama's book is based on sayings of this man.
    This Rev Wright also met with Qaddafi of Libia in 1984.

    Rev. Wright preaches with a bible held high in one hand and cussing America in every sermon he makes. Obama sets in his congregation and does nothing.

    VOTE FOR: HILLARY or McCAIN but not this man who wants to destroy America.

  • Posted By: JohnGaltlaketahoe @ 03/12/2008 12:26:08 PM

    Comment: Domestic espionge and this Bush Administrations war on terror has netted a democratic super delegate for the State of New York, Elliot Spitzer!!!!!!!!

    It took three Offices of the Attorney General of the United States to bag this criminal. Lets take this war all the way to the White House and bag George W. Bush before November 2008!

  • Posted By: jckirven49 @ 03/12/2008 9:44:22 AM

    Comment: I like Obama and Hillary, But I think both can do a remarkable job in running the white house. I had all intention of voting for Hillary in the South Carolina voting. When I talked my husband and children in voting they changed my mind. They mention the fact that there has never been an African American running for President. And the Clintons have already had their chance because both of them will be in office again. It bother me for awhile, then I joined my family and cast my vote for Obama since we have always voted as a family on the same issues. I still feel that Hillary has the best experience much better than John Mcclain. I believe in change for American People, and Obama can handle the tactice that facing this world. So as President Obama has the ability to make the changes.

    Posted By Davis sc @8:47am 3/12/2008

  • Posted By: leemav @ 03/12/2008 6:00:58 AM

    Comment: .... LOL....I wish I were a white man. At least then I wouldn't have to bear the joint legacies of racism and sexism on my back..... Surely you jest -->as a white male that is but a part of that baggage others would have you carry around .. add to that the cause of all the ill's of humanity ..... XD

  • Posted By: leemav @ 03/12/2008 5:58:32 AM

    Comment: ...... wish I were a white man. At least then I wouldn't have to bear the joint legacies of racism and sexism on my back. LOL -- surely you jest!

  • Posted By: brownize @ 03/12/2008 3:24:47 AM

    Comment: Barack Obama is Presidential, has the wisdom and ability to get things done. Hillary Clinton is past tense. The Clintons were a team, but Hillary is unwilling to accept shared responsibility, she wants to pick out the plums and leave the pits. History contains the sad, undeniable facts of their many shady deals that have changed our country forever. They had too much power, too many wealthy influential ???friends??? that would not betray them. The words ???I do not recall??? were constantly repeated during the Clintons many trials of denials. The "Teflon Team" avoided responsibility for their acts, thanks to friends in high places. Want a repeat performance?? Don???t let them go for Act III. No curtain calls, this time the curtain falls and if the Clintons finally ???get smart???, they will leave it at that. The Clintons have some bad history, don???t believe the Clinton???s myth that Bill is loved and respected throughout the world. The person handing out the ???donations??? may be greeted with smiles, but the needy do what they have to do (smile for the cameras). What makes you think that the rest of the world is going to develop ???Clinton Amnesia???? The power of the Presidency would be reduced; some nations find it beneficial to ???know thy enemy???. The Clintons have diminished power today; some nations (either friendly or unfriendly) may regard them with camouflaged contempt. Some dire mistakes made during the Clinton reign changed not just our country, but world history, Acts of terrorism were committed during the Clinton terms, but the focus was elsewhere. We need a President willing to accept responsibility and act for the good of our country, not for the profits of corporations. We need a president who can command respect, provide transparency, and end partisanship. One who ???owes no favors??? and will appoint those who truly are the most qualified to fill government posts.

  • Posted By: Vinette @ 03/11/2008 7:24:51 PM

    Comment: That's correct. Hence the expression, "Stant up and be counted" not hide and endorse!! You have a good reason for hiding your choice -- because it's eating you alive!!!
    We're clear here. Believe me, NO-ONE is confused as to why you simply CAN'T endorse Barack Obama!! We all know why, and sadly, you know too, Ms. Raina! Don't you, Sweetie?
    I'm Vinette, and that's my opinion!
    vinettesopinion@blogspot.com

  • Posted By: beinformed @ 03/11/2008 11:18:04 AM

    Comment: I am sorry to say that in a caucus, you so have to stand up and cast your vote publicly...

  • Posted By: purrmonsta @ 03/11/2008 1:08:09 AM

    Comment: No Matter Ms. Raina, Hillary won by a large margin in New York. Also, it is our right as American citizens to keep our votes private. You do NOT have to tell anybody who you vote/voted for EVER. That's the reason there's privacy built in to our voting system.

    You could, however, volunteer by signing up to make some calls for HIllary in the coming weeks. To volunteer, just go to hillaryclinton.com and click the "Make Phone Calls" button to sign up. The rest of us hilla-phones will welcome you to the growing ranks of active volunteer Hillary supporters - it's not too late!

    FYI - In 1869 the 15th Amendment guaranteed the right to vote to black men (though it was not always possible to participate due to the sabotaging state laws in many southern states that were outlawed finally in 1965).

    The 14th Amendment that gave women the right to vote was not passed until 1920.

    There's no shortage of historic oppression, there's enough to go around for everybody.

  • Posted By: Nins @ 03/11/2008 12:59:05 AM

    Comment: When will the media finally ask Hillary Clinton "WHAT EXPERIENCE?"

    Clinton is making a baseless assertion that she has "35 years" of relevant political experience. She must be counting the 16 years she spent at Rose Law Firm (1977-1993), specializing in representing mega-corporations such as Wal-Mart and Tyson Foods. Wal-Mart, famous or it's union busting and sexism, paid Clinton $18,000 per year for serving on it's Board of Directors, plus $1,500 per meeting and gave her $100,000 worth of Wal-Mart stock (these figures are a matter of public record, since Wal-Mart is a publicly traded corporation). How does this count as 16 years of political experience? And how could Hillary have been involved in foreign policy matters if she never had a security clearance, never attended a single NSA briefing, and didn't receive any of Bill's foreign policy briefings? The truth is that after she tried to force her health care plan down people's throats and it blew up in her face, Hillary was a relegated to relatively traditional role for the First Lady: attending events relating to women and children, and occasionally traveling on "good will missions" to other countries. She doesn't want to release the records of her schedule as First Lady, because people would see that she spent 8 years giving tea parties. For the facts that back up these assertions, see these websites:

    http://www.slate.com/id/2182073/
    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18391632
    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18335120

    When will people notice that Hillary has only 8 years in elected office, compared to Obama's 12 years? But, even if it were true that she had "35 years" of relevant experience, democracy is not a quid pro quo. Americans aren't interested in being told by ANY candidate that they are "entitled" to be their party's nominee. The last thing Americans want is another "inevitable" president put in place by political elites because of who they know, just like "W" Bush, who arguably may be the worst president in history. Puppet leaders of the United States, not elected by the people but engineered by a political machine? Elections where your ballots are meaningless? Is that what you want, America? If we let this happen, how can we call ourselves "the land of the free?"

  • Posted By: Vinette @ 03/11/2008 12:45:02 AM

    Comment: Raina, Raina, Raina! Poor, sweet, misguided, confused, colored Raina! It was no mistake that you carefully dropped that you are a black woman, married to a white man. You foolishly wove that thread into the fabric of your discourse, just as you also boasted, all your white female friends, (emphasis intended to highlight, "so many" white female friends) tell you that Hillary is a woman, yes, but also a fine senator, and the best candidate for the job. What you didn't say is, when you sit in the company of these white female friends if you concentrate real hard, you can sometimes even forget that you're colored, because lucky for you, they seem to have forgotten too!! Aren't you fortunate to have been chosen by white female friends, and a white husband to boot!!

    What you don't know, Sweet Raina, is that YOUR matrimonial choice which you "sport and flaunt", was paid for in full by unselfish, sacrificing, pioneers and sojourners in movements like this very one you have chosen to not be a part of. It wasn't but a minute ago, you, your daddy and yo momma would have been lynched for you falling in-love with a white man!!!!!!!!!! So Raina, Darling, Sweet Raina, when your colored friends attempt to gently speak with you about Senator Obama and his fine attributes, they are really attempting to un-do you Miseducation, and lift you out of the miry clay of ungratefulness, unselfishness, single-mindedness, narrow-mindedness, forgetfulness that you clearly display in your "matter-of-fact" endorsement of Hillary Clinton.

    So don't act like you're just "exercising your sweet, little right to vote", one way or another. Quit whining about who's pressuring you. Somebody might have been trying to help your feeble mind grasp that this thing is so much bigger than this senator or that senator. But maybe it's to no avail. Maybe you're just among the confused minority (no pun intended) who are content to enjoy the FREE DARN RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    If you can feel good about that, Raina-Love, hey??? rock on Sista, oh, sorry, in your case it's, "Sister".

    I'm Vinette D, and that's my opinion!
    vinettesopinion@blogspot.com

  • Posted By: i'm listening @ 03/10/2008 10:16:19 PM

    Comment: And the Clintonistas say all black people vote for Obama because hes black...last i checked as a African-American USA citizen, blacks don't vote for people because there black...it could be equated to the metaphor of crabs trying to pull others down to get higher...FURTHERMORE, i'm not trying to put Obama on the same level as MLK Jr. but i will say that has done the best job since his passing to unify the black community again and to remind it that we just got the right to vote no more than 50 years ago...PEOPLE TEND TO FORGET THIS POINT...1965 repeat 1965 and its 2008

 
 
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