"Hope is sweeter than despair." ~ Thomas Jefferson
"My mind is my own church." ~ Thomas Paine
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." ~ Benjamin Franklin
True Patriots put Country above Self and Religion, and are committed to leaving America in better condition on the day we die than on the day we were born. What George Bush, John McCain and their ilk do is use "flag-waving patriotism" as a means for retaining power by perpetuating fear, hate and greed, with singular focus on boosting the personal profits and religious beliefs of the true-elitist few at the expense of the many. We know they put Profit before Country, caring only about preserving their fortunes and keeping it all in their families, while We the People suffer. Throughout the course of history, these are the conditions that have brought about Revolution, and make no mistake: Revolution is at hand.
Read More »Is a Black President Too Much Change for America to Bear?
Ok, let’s drop the nonsense and be real, here. If Barack Obama was White, he’d be at least twenty points ahead of John McCain in every major poll in the country. His election would have been so certain by now that Michelle would have already been sent the keys to the White House--and we all know it.
By any indicator--intellect, character, prudence, demeanor, or competence--Barack Obama is clearly not only head and shoulders above John McCain, but he’s one of the most impressive presidential candidates in the history of this nation. So what American voters have to decide at this pivotal point in our history, is how much do they truly love America. It’s time that we really embrace this question, instead of simply paying lip service to it. Read More »
"Joseph never came home."
Some mornings I remember what is really important, to day is one of them.
"Iraq Vet in Famous Press Photo Dies from Overdose" Read More »
(Proudly cross-posted at Clintonistas for Obama)
Is it just me, or is there something truly special about the Fourth of July holiday? I know, I know, it should be special to all of us because it's when we celebrate what our nation is about. I guess I'm just blessed that I'm able to see and experience this holiday in a special way.
It's fast becoming a tradition for me to march with my local Democratic Party in the world-famous Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade. And when I march with my fellow Democrats in the parade, I notice something amazing. I also noticed this afterwards, when I was working with local Barack Obama volunteers on voter registration.
You know what it is? I'll tell you after the flip... Read More »
In the largest re-enlistment ceremony in the history of the U.S. military, 1,215 U.S. troops serving in Iraq marked Independence Day by extending their promise to defend the "land of the free." Here, the service members take their oath at Camp Victory outside Baghdad on Friday.
BAQOUBA, Iraq (July 4) - It's Staff Sgt. Edgar Covarrubias' second Fourth of July in Iraq. No family barbecue, no fireworks, but Covarrubias says he'll call his mom, wife and kids to share the day anyway.
Read More »Thank you Benny for putting together tomorrow's Unity BBQ, and for reminding us all what it is about:
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws ofNature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
“We hold these truths to be self-evident,that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effecttheir Safety and Happiness.”
“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
didn't he say it doesn't matter? didn't he say he doesn't wear a flag pin, because he doesn't think it represents his patriotism? why, then, is he sporting one as he campaigns in west virginia?? anyone? anyone? bueller? is obama aware that many americans question his patriotism? so is he pandering for their votes now? wearing his pin for all to see! look at me! i'm patriotic!! what is it with this dude? say one thing, do the other. hypocrite much? wake up, people! N O B A M A! clinton 08!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-democrats-optional,0,6749272.story
(This suggests a new formula for the production of stupidity: whiteness + power = stupidity; and the more power and privilege one has--especially when that power is in the media or politics--the more stupid many seem to get....)
And PLEASE NOTE: since "stupid white man" is a state of being rather than a skin color or gender, you do not need to be either light-skinned or in possession of an xy sex chromosome to fit the category of "stupid white men."
Inspiration for these notes on patriotism: The white media pundits and corporate media structure cannot seem to get enough of asking Obama about his relationship with Rev. Wright. Instead of focusing on the real problems and policy issues confronting this country, they would rather focus on white noise, repeating the same dumb questions over and over again:
Why don't you wear a flag pin, Mr. Obama?
Why would your wife ever suggest she had problems with the way this country has been run, Mr. Obama?
Why did you wait so long to renounce your pastor, Mr. Obama?
Why didn't you hold your hand over your heart that one time when saying the pledge of allegiance, Mr. Obama? Read More »
When there is a stain of black blood
Within the rich red of the American flag
In my tears see no longing for a distant land
But the source of anguish
Of abuse by your oppressive heavy hand
I commence my pledge of unwavering loyalty
Confirmed in my blood
Within the independence from British royalty
Boasting of freedoms not always afforded to me
With my hand placed at my heart
I proudly sing your songs of liberty
Symptoms of persisting pain forever remains
Though my ankles lay bare
Far gone is the weight of shackles & chains
My soul, my value you attack
With signs of colored only
I am forced to the bleak back
With my schools and community still sub par
I cling to antidotal notions
Promoting strength and unity to propel us far
I contest the barriers of all that I believe
Challenging our Constitution and concepts
To the true greatness we can achieve
Tonya J
mark twain died on april 21, 1910.
"patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it".
today, the state of massachusetts is celebrating patriot's day. so here's to mr twain, a great american patriot.
thank heaven for little girls....
IF WE ALLOW OUR BEST TO BE DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD
THE AVERAGE AMERICAN DOESN’T HAVE A CHANCE
Along with the ability to inspire, a president should have the intelligence to see the big picture, the maturity to handle power, and the class to ensure that his or her own personal needs remain secondary to that of the people. This election process has given us an excellent opportunity to assess those qualities in the candidates, and while Hillary Clinton has demonstrated that she is an exceptionally intelligent woman, she’s also demonstrated that she leaves much to be desired in the area of maturity and class. If we’ve learned nothing else about Hillary during these primaries, we’ve learned that nothing is more important to her than becoming President of the United States��"not the nation, not the people, and certainly not the Democratic Party. Hillary is more than willing to throw the entire Democratic Party under the bus--along with the Senate, Congress, and the Supreme Court--if it means she’ll end up sitting in the Oval Office.
Hillary’s behavior has been so radically single-minded during these primaries that it sounds like I’m indulging in hyperbole, but the facts will bear me out. Essentially, Senator Obama has won the primaries--he’s won more states, he’s won the popular vote, and he has an insurmountable lead in pledged delegates. If Hillary won all of the remaining primaries, she would still fall short of Obama’s lead. Hillary knows that quite well, and she also knows that the longer she slings mud at Obama, the greater the chances the Democratic Party, along with many of its elected officials, will go down in defeat. So the classy thing for her to do would be to swallow her pride and encourage her supporters to get behind Senator Obama’s candidacy with all of the enthusiasm that they’ve brought to her campaign. But instead, she’s endorsed the Republican candidate as more qualified to be president than Obama, and continues to sling mud in the vain hope that she can hurt Obama so badly that his candidacy will lose all viability. She’s calculated that if she hurts Obama badly enough, even if the party doesn’t nominate her by default, Obama will lose the general election. That way, since there won’t be a Democratic incumbent in the race, she’ll still be young enough to run in 2012. Read More »
THE REV. JEREMIAH WRIGHT
The Reverend Jeremiah Wright is an outstanding church leader whom I have heard speak a number of times. He has served for decades as a profound voice for justice and inclusion in our society. He has been a vocal critic of the racism, sexism and homophobia which still tarnish the American dream. To evaluate his dynamic ministry on the basis of two or three sound bites does a grave injustice to Dr. Wright, the members of his congregation, and the African-American church which has been the spiritual refuge of a people that has suffered from discrimination, disadvantage, and violence. Dr. Wright, a member of an integrated denomination, has been an agent of racial reconciliation while proclaiming perceptions and truths uncomfortable for some white people to hear. Those of us who are white Americans would do well to listen carefully to Dr. Wright rather than to use a few of his quotes to polarize. This is a critical time in America's history as we seek to repent of our racism. No matter which candidates prevail, let us use this time to listen again to one another and not to distort one another's truth.
Dean J. Snyder, Senior Minister
Foundry United Methodist Church
March 19, 2008
Eric L. Wattree
wattree.blogspot.com
JEREMIAH AND AMERICA’S BLIND SPOT
The American media has become absolutely fixated on Rev. Jeremiah Wright. How could he say what he did about America? Why didn’t Senator Obama storm out of the church in protest? And how can Barack Obama be the man he claims to be and embrace such a man? These are all questions that might have also been asked of another man and his supporters over two thousand years ago, and today just as then, the answer is short and sweet--because the man speaks the truth.
The controversy over Rev. Wright’s sermon says much more about America’s blind spot than it does about either Rev. Wright, or Sen. Obama. Because while the words were indeed ugly, the truth therein was as pure as virgin snow. Thus, the problem is not with Rev. Wright or Sen. Obama, the problem is with America’s inability to handle the truth, and as long as that continues to be the case, America is doomed to be led by demagogues whose claim on leadership will be based on lies, and the very worst in an otherwise great nation. Read More »
In the wake and aftermath of The Ranting Reverend Wright, I can understand why the focus is still on the Race aspect of the event. That’s something that will be an ongoing discussion and I am so glad that Barack Obama opened the door to dialect in that respect. That’s kind of what I want to talk about, but I also want to focus on something else. I notice that there is a misunderstanding where the lack of trust that Blacks have in our government is being interpreted as a lack of national pride. I want to talk about that with specific emphasis on the HIV/AIDS Epidemic within the Black Community.
I have only heard one or two commentators mention this during the over all discussion, but I am not seeing much attention being paid to this. What am I talking about? I’m talking about the comment that was made by Fmr. Pastor Wright regarding accusations that the government intentionally infected the Black Community with H.I.V Aids. I think I have a good explanation not EXCUSE, but explanation for why he would say something crazy like that. Meet me in the extended portion of this post.
Read More »Crooks & Liars has a neat vid to watch. Interviewer Dan Abrams asks Obama-critic Congressman Jack Kingston where his lapel flag is. Kingston, who has suggested that Obama isn't a patriot because he doesn't wear a flag pin, answers.
Amazing what passes as good politics these days.
some would tell us this is a non-issue. this article proves that's certainly NOT the case.
" For the first time in my adult lifetime , I'm really proud of my country...because I think people are hungry for CHANGE " ~ Michelle Obama Via You Tube ( Try It )
You know , not only as an African American woman , I am offended at the criticism coming from people who I feel have no moral authority whatsoever to even question Michelle's patriotism , but I am also offended as a Progressive Patriotic American that war mongering Republicans and cowardly Democrats , who are responsible for the deaths of over 4,000 American Troops, the maiming of over 50,000 American Troops and Allies and over 500,000 deaths of innocent Iraqis , would have the nerve to criticize and question the patriotism of the wife of the man who had the judgement to oppose this war in Iraq from the start.
But , this isn't about me and what I'm offended about. This is about stating the facts and setting the record straight. Now , as you can see above the photo of Michelle Obama , I have posted her exact comment she made with the link to the speech in which those comments can be found in their full context. Anyone with a brain who watches it , will not have a problem understanding where she is coming from.
But it is that comment , that was extracted from her speech in Milwaukee Wisconsin , that the rival campaigns of John Mc Bush and Bush/Cheney Lite Clinton , have taken , re-worded , and expressed fake outrage over their respective re-wording of her comment. I just recently read another idiotic re-wording that said
" Michelle Obama saying this is the first time she's been able to be proud to call herself an American "
Now , go back up to the top of this post , and tell me how that idiot came up with that re-wording? I don't mean to criticise those with a High School Diploma , but at some point , you are required to learn something called COMPREHENSION SKILLS. That does come in handy you know. So, I guess , my advice to those who don't have a television or who are too busy to keep up with the News or , don't have access to YOU TUBE , don't rely on ignorant people and those who are rivals of the Obama Campaign. Go find out for yourself. Because , apparantly , not everyone has is right .
And we wonder why our children are not learning.
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