This is a rant.
There are people over the years I have admired, respected and supported for their willingness to risk life, limb, health and family in the ongoing battle for civil rights. People use different descriptive terms for them. In my day "radical" was one of them. "Freedom Fighter" was another. Some folks have used the term "revolutionaries".
Some of those people are deceased. Some were assassinated and others died natural deaths. Some of them are still fighting the good fight, but have shifted their focus to legislative and electoral realms. Others are still out there on the front lines. They are being joined by younger cadres these days - so the struggle continues.
They are my heroes and sheroes.
There are other people I respect and admire as well. Some are academics and critical thinkers, but not really activists in the "put your life on the line" mode. Others are politicians, elected to push a civil rights agenda forward, along with other important positions. There are attorneys who wage struggle in the courts, and there are journalists who try to spread the word. There are also cultural artists/workers who carry the message using a variety of media.
I am not minimizing any of their contributions to the common good.
So to be clear, when I say "civil rights" in this context, I'm referring to the frontlines battle against racial injustice in the United States, though there are world wide figures who merit esteem.
This does not mean that I'm ignoring other movements, and other issues - many of which i also engage in and support. Just setting the parameters for this discussion and my very personal opinion.
This rant was sparked by the recent disrespect shown to Congressman John Lewis on his facebook page after announcing his endorsement of Hillary Clinton, discussed in the linked diary, but it has been building in me for some time.
If you've gotten this far - please follow me below the fold.
I've ranted about Congressman Lewis here before, in October of 2011.
Brief Thoughts on Occupy Atlanta and John Lewis
Commentary by Denise Oliver Velez
By now you have probably seen the video, or read news stories or blogs about Congressman John Lewis not speaking or not being allowed to speak, or his speaking being postponed, or showing up and being silenced or dissed, or not dissed at the Occupy Atlanta site.
Needless to say, he handled himself with class and continued to voice support after whatever occurred.
What has disturbed me are the online comments attached to many of the news stories.
Those from the right wing are predictably racist - no surprise.
What I am perturbed about are the negative comments that purport to be from occupiers or supporters.
They are all pretty similar - and essentially impugn Congressman Lewis' integrity, call him a corporatist sell-out, warmongering has-been yadda yadda.
I'm not going to bother copying them or printing them here.
Not even going to link to them.
I'm only going to give my opinion.
We have fought a long battle to get the black vote, and black representation. We are watching continuing moves from the right wing to disenfranchise black, latino, native american and asian voters.
Our battle is not over.
Now some of these young folks have the luxury, and privilege (via their ipads and iphones) to turn their backs on our long struggles and disrespect those who died, were jailed, beaten and repressed to get our foot in the door. Folks we've been proud to vote into office. Folks who paid plenty dues.
It pissed me off - so I'm doing a short rant.
This comment is really not about what did or didn't happen. It's about what I'm reading - and yes, I've read some of it right here.
It's about r.e.s.p.e.c.t (and the lack of it) or in Spanish, "falta respecto"
Or as a Native American commenter put it at theGrio
I am Ongwehonweh (the original people). we have inhabited Turtle Island for time immemorial and established a system where everyone and all life had a voice. I have been very excited to see this movement grow yet curious as to where Indigenous people fit into the picture.I have fought my whole life for the protection of my Earth Mother and all her inhabitants. In 2003 a small group of us filed charges at the United Nations against the United States for the continuing genocide of our people. I have NEVER been afraid to stand up, speak out and do the right thing! That being said, I was physically sick to see how a few people blocked John Lewis from speaking . You have a lot to learn about the land you are "occupying" and RESPECT! We were taught always to respect our Elders and listen to their voice as they have the wisdom of life experience that the young can not possibly know. Are you so new and insecure in your beliefs that you can not listen to an Elder speak, because you fear his job and his words might sway you from your beliefs? He has paid his dues and has much useful knowledge for you. Shame on you for this disrespect! I had planned on joining you after the harvest on my organic farm, but I must say that I am reconsidering after what I saw today! Oneh, Melissa Jacobs
Amen.
End of mini-rant.
So here I go again.
Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, and Martin O'Malley are not - imho "life long civil rights activists."
They are politicians - who have supported a spectrum of issues that can be categorized as addressing civil rights.
I respect stances they have taken that address the issues that have meaning to me.
I am refusing to read - over and over again, references to - particularly Bernie Sanders (though I've seen it said about Hillary Clinton as well, though not as frequently) that he is a "life-long civil rights activist" without speaking up about it, cause it is pissing me off.
Attending the March on Washington in 1963 does not make you a life long civil rights activist. (btw - this characterization is pissing off a lot of black folks I know) Getting arrested as a student and bailed out for 25 bucks once or twice does not make you a life long civil rights activist. Hillary Clinton leading a student strike on her campus to get black studies does not make her one either.
The thousands and thousands of people who marched in the 60's and 70's and perhaps got busted at an anti-war rally were great. But that does not make them long term Freedom Fighters, in my book.
I'm sorry folks, but Bernie Sanders ain't Fannie Lou Hamer, or Martin Luther King Jr. or John Lewis, or Rosa Parks, or Yuri Kochiyama, or Grace Lee Boggs, or Fred Hampton, or Madonna Thunderhawk.
You had to be willing to die so that others could live. Period.
I know plenty folks whose names you would not know who did put their lives on the line, over and over again. Some are dead. Others are still waging the long term struggle, which we have not won, or overcome. Still others have shifted their efforts into other venues and spheres and are no longer risking life and limb but are continuing to help move us forward. That's okay too. Age has a way of slowing some folks down.
Do a google search. Or just search right here at Daily Kos. If I had a dollar for every time that term, "lifelong civil rights activist" is applied to Bernie Sanders I'd be able to fix my leaking roof and retire in comfort.
Attempting to re-write his history and embellish his resume and wrap it in some new mythology does him no favors, and turns those of us who know the difference off. The man is a progressive politician. I respect those of you who would like to see him win the nomination, and the Presidency. I have no beef with that.
Lecturing black people and talking down to us about Sanders is getting more than just mildly irritating. For me, the attempt to place him on the same level as folks who did and do merit the honor, is demeaning the lives and work of those people who earned that label. Many who paid for it in blood, suffering and incarceration.
Lecturing John Lewis, who the folks who organized the March on Washington thought was "too radical" and censored parts of his speech is beyond my comprehension.
I'm posting this.
Some of y'all will get pissed off. So be it. Won't be the first time I've pissed off folks on Daily Kos, and it won't be the last.
To make it even clearer, I've voting for Hillary Clinton - but not because she was a "civil rights activist". I have my eye on a different prize (SCOTUS) and I think she can win. Do I agree with all the political positions she has taken - hell no. Same goes for Sanders and O'Malley. What I do think is that all of us should be united, no matter our candidate of choice, against the rising tide of right-wing extremists, who are advocating for our deaths.
If Bernie Sanders wins the nomination, I'll bust my ass trying to see him get the Presidency.
And I'll keep spreading the word about civil rights activism that is ongoing, whether it is the Moral Mondays Movement, or Black Lives Matter, or the work of the Dreamers. And trying to get readers here to support their battles, if not by joining, at least by sending them some funds.
"The revolution will be slogged, not blogged" A quote from me. ;)