Commentary
dopper0189, Black Kos Managing Editor
They say the worse fights are always between family. This may seem counter-intuitive at first, but it makes more sense as you start to stew on it. Those who care about you the most, their opinions, matter to you. You expect them to be on your side, you enemies you expect them to attack you but not your friends.
Unfortunately on the Progressive web when you gather large numbers of opinionated people, stir it up fights and arguments are bound to happen. Especially around issues a person cares deeply about. Calling for a return of civility, isn't accessing blame, it's a call to change the tone.
We have had men and woman at each others throats (the infamous pie wars), candidate wars (Dean v. Clark through Obama v. Clinton), Black and Gays after Prop 8, and lately some of the biggest fights have been over health care. Universal health care has been a part of the Democratic platform for 50 years yet we still haven't all agreed on how to deliver it, or even more importantly how to reach that goal.
This disagreement was the catalyst, if not the heart of the issue, that has recently divided the progressive blogosphere. While I feel many "attack" were well deserved (Jane Hamsher thinking that an allegiance with the Tea Party set was a good idea deserved a take down) many other were not.
To paraphrase Neil Arnstrong we just took "one big step for the Democrats, one giant leap for America", yes that first step isn't as big as we wanted (we wanted the leap) but it's still a substantial first step. So sfter a big victory it's time to bring some peace to our camp. I like to save my ammo for the opposite camp, not for allies. Yes we disagree amongst ourselves, and we all fall at different places on the political spectrum, but we all fall rise to the left.
You see there has been a fight brewing between many bloggers here at Black Kos and a group of bloggers who crosspost quite a bit at another website. Health care is an issue that we would EXPECT Democrats to be passionate about. Universal Health Care has been a part of the party platform for 50 years, it was first proposed in the 1930's, even as the party has moved geographically (for example from a mostly Southern base to mostly Western and Northern one), even as it has changed other stances, Health Care has been one of the most consistent issues that makes someone a DEMOCRAT.
On this weeks Tuesday's Chile, guest writer shanikka wrote a commentary
titled "FACE, FRONT, and RESPECT!", that encapsulated what a lot of felt at Black Kos during the recent debates, if I may quote her:
Black professionals have been fighting for "Face, Front and Respect", even if we wouldn’t call it that, on all fronts since day one. We continue to do so. Ask any who have had to make it in the workplace, about the micro aggressions which assume we are less than we are, based on absolutely no evidence other than the visuals (we even do it to ourselves). About the petty criticisms, overreactions, dismissals and the dishonesty where you can’t even tell if folks are happy with you, or unhappy with you, because they won’t be straight with you – they won’t give you front, and they themselves are fronting ½ the time. And don’t even get us started on the lack of respect – 20 years into my profession with published appellate decisions to my name I am still having to hip folks to the fact that no, I’m not an affirmative action hire! Yes, I am a "real lawyer" and most importantly, that I ideas and opinions, valuable ones, to share and want them to be viewed not with agreement, but with respect for the fact that I am smart enough to have them. I am confident that I am definitely not alone in my feelings on this.
But no matter what I have to complain about, I know that nobody has had to cope with a lack of Face, Front and Respect more than President Obama in the past 15 months. NOBODY. This past week with the passage of HCR, it is clear to me that folks no longer see fit to even pretend that they are willing to give this administration the Face, Front or Respect that it is due. Certain elements has also shown that pretty much that also applies to Black politicians across the board. (Spitting on a sitting US congressman? Oh, hell no.)
The irony is that there are and always have been plenty of folks’ hollering about President Obama’s "lack of respect" – lack of respect for his "base", lack of respect for the flag (anyone else remember the whinging about him having his hands to the side once when he stood for the Pledge of Allegiance to whether his refusal to wear a tie all the time and that ridiculous flag pin?), lack of respect even because of him hoisting his Size 12’s (or whatever size he wears; I don’t know) resting upon the President’s desk (you know, HIS desk) are ‘disrespectful’ to the office.
Too many of those very same folks seem simply incapable of giving President Obama his own props. His own Face, Front and Respect. Too few feel uncomfortable about that, in my opinion. They certainly don’t examine it, mostly. You have to read folks of color for the most part to hear it stated plain. Unfortunately, much is lost in the translation.
What a lot of people interpreted as "just defending Obama on everything" was actually us demanding the respect he deserved. Giving some of his fiercest Progressive critics the benefit of the doubt, many in their hearts maybe felt they were being "color blind" in their criticism, and only attacking the "office". But the office is THIS President, as much as this President holds the office. Criticizing Mr. Obama on policy is always except able, hell I do it myself every week, but disrespectfull criticism, not giving him his due as both our duly elected President, and as the leader of our party, is always going to elicit a fierce response. Anyone acting surprised at that is being willfully ignorant.
Unfortunately many people only racism as attacking a person based on their race, religion, or creed. But while generally "public" attacks of that nature are rarer, what is far more prevalent and open to interpretation, is a "lack of respect". Many people don't remember that one of the first placards carried in the civil rights movement were sign reading "I AM A MAN". Ponder that. The sign could have read "equal rights", "I should vote too", "equal pay", but instead it was even more basic. "I AM A MAN" was a call for respect. Respect me.
Perception is personal reality, what one person perceives as fair criticism, another perceives as racism. The only way to break the cycle, is to look at the world from another person perception. This sounds easy, but in practice is very hard to do.
It's easy to fall into the familiar "frames". Is one side being racist, is one side "using the power to declare an opinion racist" to ostracize dissent (who wants to be called a racist?), is someone not acknowledging their "white privileged". Perception rules these judgment calls.
I for one trust the judgment, of most of the posters here at Black Kos. Their judgment on what is an isn't racist, and one is and isn't proper respect has been proven in many threads, over several years now. And Yes like all the communities on Daily Kos we do have quite a bit of leeway to police our own group (if you think this is unique try and talk politics at "Pooties and Woozles" get ready for the slap down). So yes we will ask disruptive folks to leave. By that same token I respect the rules of other communities and blogs when I enter them, give respect and get it.
While I don't expect one commentary from me to cool everything down, I do think, I should attempt to. I have contacted the owner of this other blog, and emailed him several times. Quite frankly some of our differences in perception will most likely never be breached. I suspected this was the case, when I reached out, but I did so anyways, because I would rather spend my energy fighting conservatives. But at the same time, being a veteran of several primaries, I know how important battles over what both being a Progressive and/or a Democrat means are. So I don't mean to shortchange real differences over what are REAL issues.
I have a rule in life, to paraphrase Churchill I don't discuss politics with people "who won't change their mind, and won't change the subject", at some point, these argument reach the point of futility.
What I'm asking is for all sides to tone down the level of discourse. Look I can't speak for our President. Even though I met him several times before he became our commander in chief, I don't have any special insight into his thinking, but I do feel I have some.
I think the reason he keeps reaching out even when the opposition towards him is anything but loyal, and mostly disrespectful, isn't about doing something for THEM, it's about doing something for HIMSELF. Being gracious under fire does make you the better person. Thinking not what you think your words mean, but what other do, makes you the better person. Because if your approach turns off the people your trying to reach out to, what's the point of even blogging it?
So since it takes two to start a fight, I've asked the same of all sides. If your "attacked" of course respond, but don't launch or provoke attacks.
Let me be clear. This isn't a do this or get banned from Black Kos request. Since I have for the most part not been involved in these "flame wars" I can't do much about them. I'll keep Black Kos clear of disruptors, but that's only on Black Kos. What other people (even Editors for the most part) do outside of Black Kos, whether in their own diaries and on other blogs is for the most part their own business.
But I am asking for a little more civility and a lot more respect.
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Commentary
by Black Kos Editor, Sephius1
One of the wondeful things I'm discovering, while doing this research, is that african americans have been playing a pivotal role in the computer devices arena. One such person is George Alcorn.
A noted academic and administrator, George Edward Alcorn, Jr. is a noted pioneer in the field of semiconductor devices and one of the top inventors in the field of aerospace.
Born March 22, 1940 in Indianapolis, Indiana, George was the son of Arletta and George Alcorn, Sr., an auto mechanic. Both parents promoted the virtu of education to George, Jr. and his younger brother Charles.
George was an excellent student in high school and entered Occidental College in Los Angeles, California on an academic scholarship. He was a remarkable athlete and received varsity letters in baseball and football. He also graduated with honors with a degree in physics in 1962 and followed this by enrolling in the Nuclear Physics program at Howard University. He completed his Master's work in 1963.
He obtained work during the summers of 1962 and 1963 at North American Rockwell, a leading aerospace company. He worked in the company's the space division and was assigned to perform computer analysis on the orbital mechanics and launch trajectories for rockets and missiles. Some of his work involved the Titan and Saturn rockets from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Apollo space missions and well as the NOVA missile.....Read More
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Todays News by dopper0189, Black Kos Managing Editor
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The former Atlanta mayor promotes private-public partnerships to bring underserved communities up to speed. The Root: Shirley Franklin Helps Close the Broadband Divide
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Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin has taken on a new role as an advocate for broadband access for the underserved. She was recently named by the Alliance for Digital Equality as a senior policy adviser. In a special report to Roll Call, Franklin and former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz collaborated to spell out the role they saw high-speed Internet access playing in disadvantaged communities. "Broadband is the cornerstone to providing more affordable access to health care for the unserved and underserved, and is really the bridge to the future for our children."
"I've taken on very few initiatives since I've been mayor," said Franklin, who currently holds the William and Camille Cosby professorship at Spelman College in Atlanta, co-chairs the Regional Commission on Homelessness, serves as vice chair of the Center of Civil and Human Rights and serves on the board of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.
"As I look forward into the future," Franklin said, "broadband access is as important as any infrastructure questions I dealt with as mayor."
On becoming the first African-American woman to lead Atlanta, Franklin faced a major challenge--to fix the city's aging sewer system. The city's system of underground pipes, woefully inadequate for the population it served, had been in place for decades--some of it since the end of the 19th century--and many of its main arteries were beginning to crumble. The mayor bit the bullet and slowly convinced taxpayers that investing billions to upgrade the city's sewer was crucial to Atlanta's growth.
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Reuters: Startup helps inner-city businesses find funding.
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Chinwe Onyeagoro, a 31-year-old Chicago consultant with personal roots in underserved communities, created her Web-based venture - New Equity Daily - to take the headache out of hunting for alternative sources of financing. It provides an easily searchable database of funding available at the city, state and federal levels such as tax breaks, grants and other non-traditional sources.
"This tool is really about trying to make it a more efficient process for them, trying to make it as easy as comparison shopping for appliances," said Onyeagoro, who works on the ground with community development groups as CEO of Chicago-based O-H Community Partners, a social impact consulting firm. The firm has raised more than $115 million since she founded it in August 2004.
Besides the search capabilities, New Equity Daily contains a host of proprietary content, including blog posts and policy briefs, as well as links to related national news stories, all designed to help small businesses and municipalities decode the often complicated processes associated with securing non-traditional financing.
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Carib World News: Donor Pledge For Haiti Comes In Under Forecasted Price Tag
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For weeks prior to the build up to Wednesday`s donor conference for Haiti, the price tag for the rebuilding effort has wavered between US$11.5 to $14 billion. Yesterday, the pledge from the dozens gathered at U.N. headquarters in New York came in slightly under.
International donors gathered at the day-long donor conference entitled `Towards a New Future in Haiti,` pledged $9.9 billion, less than the much touted amount the U.N. and Haitian leaders say is needed to rebuild the earthquake-devastated country.
But while the amount remains pledges so far and not actual dollar amounts, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon was beaming, insisting the pledge Wednesday is `far beyond expectations.`
He added that pledges at the conference were `the down payment Haiti needs for wholesale national renewal. It is the way to build back better.` His co-chair at the conference, US Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton, also lauded the pledge count, insisting the pledges are `an impressive sum by any standard.`
The EU led the pack with a pledge of $1.6 billion followed by the US with $1.15 billion. Haiti`s president, Rene Preval, thanked donors for the `heartfelt effort that demonstrates that Haiti is not on its own` and said his country `must take advantage of this opportunity that we now have.`
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Statesman: Austin running full speed ahead to embrace Texas Relays.
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Austin is getting smart about the Texas Relays. If it succeeds, the city could generate a greater economic windfall instead of bad headlines or damaged relations with African American tourists.
Instead of shutting down major roads and clubs, or closing Highland Mall early, Austin is promoting the Relays and expanding cultural events. That is likely to send a positive message that the 40,000 black tourists who flock to Austin for the track and field events at the University of Texas and accompanying social activities are welcome. That has not been the case in previous years, and that has tainted Austin's reputation as a tolerant city. In some years, the city's chilly response to the Texas Relays has given an impression that blacks are not welcome in Central Texas.
Typically, the Relays attract a multi-generational crowd, with parents who are 50- to 60-something attending with their Gen-X and Y adult sons and daughters, who bring along their young ones. But it also has become a major social networking event for teenagers and college students, who have dubbed it "Black Mardi Gras" because of the social scene — with lots of parties geared to their age groups.
Relays weekend generates at least $8 million for the Austin economy. But it also puts additional stress on Highland Mall, which becomes the central gathering spot for 20,000 teenagers and young adults. They flock to the mall to do things that young people do — hang out, catch up with friends and show off everything from their cars and grills (gold plating that covers the teeth) to their biceps and short hemlines. Many shop at smaller mall vendors whose products target African Americans.
African Americans long have complained about the inhospitable reception they receive in Austin during the four-day Relays weekend that starts today. But things took a turn for the worse last year when the city again closed some Interstate 35 exit ramps to Sixth Street and other downtown arteries. Also, a couple of Sixth Street bars said they would not open that weekend, and Highland Mall's management said mall shops had to close at 2 p.m. to ensure the safety of shoppers. Those slights spurred protests by local black ministers and the Austin NAACP.
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News One: LL Cool J Battles Fox News, Sarah Palin.
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Fox News has an unlikely adversary: rapper LL Cool J.
After the network announced that Sarah Palin would host a special Thursday called "Real American Stories" — featuring an interview with LL Cool J, among other celebrities — the rapper hit back on Twitter claiming they were lying.
"Fox lifted an old interview I gave in 2008 to someone else & are misrepresenting to the public in order to promote Sarah Palin’s Show. WOW," he tweeted.
Fox News responded Wednesday morning, saying they would cut the footage of LL Cool J (aka James Todd Smith) from the special."Real American Stories features uplifting tales about overcoming adversity and we believe Mr. Smith’s interview fit that criteria," a network spokesperson told TVNewser. "However, as it appears that Mr. Smith does not want to be associated with a program that could serve as an inspiration to others, we are cutting his interview from the special and wish him the best with his fledgling acting career."
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Everyone agrees the difference in punishment for crack and cocaine makes no sense. So why settle for less than zero, asks the leader of Color of Change. The Root: Your Take: No Compromise on Sentencing Disparities
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More than two decades ago, President Ronald Reagan signed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, making penalties for possession of crack-cocaine offenses 100 times harsher than those for powder cocaine offenses. This glaring disparity has since become a defining symbol of the racism encoded in our criminal justice system. We treat crack--which is often found in low-income black communities--as if it were 100 times worse than powder cocaine--the kind more prevalent in white, wealthier communities.
Now, nearly 24 years later, Congress is finally revisiting the law. But instead of reverting to a 1:1 ratio--as scientific evidence and moral imperative demand--our legislators are heading toward a problematic compromise. In order to placate Republicans, the Senate has passed a bill changing the disparity to 18:1. Worse, the White House has endorsed the compromise, despite the Obama administration officials' earlier, vocal support for equalizing the sentences. At Color of Change, we--and more than 28,000 of our members--believe that it is essential to keep fighting, not just because there's still a chance to make this bill better, but also because of what this fight says about how our democracy should work.
For those unfamiliar with the crack/powder debate, its history is rooted in myths about the effects of crack that are now ingrained in the public consciousness. There is now wide agreement that treating two versions of the same drug differently makes no sense from a law enforcement or public health perspective. But the disparity in sentencing for crack and powder offenses continues to break up families around the country and contribute to the over-incarceration of black people. It's an ineffective policy that does nothing to stem addiction or reduce crime. Granted, there's more violent crime associated with crack, because the armed robberies and gunfights associated with the drug trade mostly happen at its low levels. But the kingpins who actually make big money from powder cocaine--which is cooked into crack by lower-level dealers--remain untouched, which would likely continue to be the case even if the disparity drops to 18:1.
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Race Talk: Equal access doesn’t mean equal outcomes
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Equal access doesn’t mean equal outcomes
Featured, Racial Equity — By Kira Hudson Banks on April 1, 2010 at 5:33 am
Originally published at St. Louis Beacon
In the wake of the health-care debate, I’ve been struck by the blanket criticism to federal programs, much of which lacks historical context.
U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., said , "The proponents of this legislation reject an opportunity society and instead assume you are stuck in your station in life and the role of government is to help you cope with it. Rather than promote equal opportunities for individuals to make the most of their lives, the cradle-to-grave welfare state seeks to equalize the results of people’s lives."
To suggest that making something accessible also makes the outcomes homogeneous is false. It is also false to suggest that federal programs cancel out individual variation (e.g., perseverance, ingenuity). The larger issue is the implication that a federally legislated program is inherently evil and replaces opportunity with accepted mediocrity ("stuck in your station in life"). My hunch is that this well-crafted insinuation is a light version of the more blatant scare tactics I will discuss below. But before jumping ahead, I want to be clear that the very government that Ryan suggests is rejecting opportunity literally handed opportunity to our ancestors.
Take the Homestead Act of 1862, for example. The act basically gave land to citizens (or would-be citizens). We will leave the fact that the land belonged to others and that only whites were eligible for citizenship at that time for another day. Let’s focus on the fact that with more than 1.6 million applications, this act gave 270 million acres, or 10 percent of U.S. land to individuals. I would categorize that as a big government "handout."
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I don't even know what to say ???
[] A letter and rant to Black Kos by JupiterIslandGirl
[] The Story That Will Never Die: Black Farmers by laurenburke007
[] "Too many blacks calling in on CSPAN" by Verbalpaintball
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FRIDAY WAKE UP MUSIC