An open letter to Rev. Al Sharpton
Dear Rev. Sharpton,
I'd like to start by noting that I'm not very comfortable taking this tone with my elders. My reverence for your civil rights era contributions makes this even harder to pen. But I'm compelled to go forward.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is based on equality - the equality of men, one to another. It is not, and never was, a dream of equal outcomes.
You recently noted that Dr. King's dream was, "... not to get one black family into the White House, but instead, to make sure that everyone's house has the same stuff". Apologies for paraphrasing - I couldn't find the video or direct quotation. I trust though, that I've accurately captured the gist of your statement.
Reverend Sharpton, Dr. King's dream is based on a principle. Principles are incontrovertible. They are timeless and recognize no borders. Your dream, sir, is based on an ideal. Ideals are fanciful. They are contemporary. They can vary greatly, even among logical and reasonable men.
I ask you sir, to revere and honor Dr. King and his dream by preserving it. If it's about "stop and frisk" policies, evoke his dream. When it comes to the size of my TV as compared to yours, leave it alone.
In closing, I'll acknowledge the fact that you were there, and I was not. Perhaps I'm mistaken. If I am, I invite you or anyone reading this post to correct me. Let me know if, and in what manner Dr. King promoted social justice. I'll apologize set the record straight, even live on your show:)
Sincerely,
The Conservative Brother
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Facts Are in the Headlines, Right?
I'm tired, and frustrated. There seems to be no end to the number of bed wetting liberals accusing the Tea Party of being a bunch of racists. Furthermore, without any evidence.
So what happens next? They need evidence, of course! So a group of researchers at the University of Washington conduct a study. They ask Tea Party members questions that are ideologically biased. They publish the results. And then, on queue, Newsweek runs a headline, New Poll Finds Tea Partiers Have More Racist Attitudes. And finally, a visitor to my blog posts a link to the article, as if to say, "See! I told you so!"
Subsequent comments are addressed to the collective "you"; lemmings on the left that can't read beyond a headline or think one or two steps beyond the sound bites:
Did you even look at the questions in the study? What would you expect Tea Party members to say? A group that is known to favor liberty and individual responsibility?
I remember a conversation that my father had in 1978 with some fellow members of the African Students Association at West Virginia University. I was seven years old. I remember them discussing the fact that as immigrants, they had to work harder than Americans (and particularly white Americans) in order to succeed. Were these men a bunch of self-deprecating niggers? Shiftless and lazy blacks that "knew" they were inferior to whites? If your answer is no, then how can you accuse Tea Party members for being racists if they take the same position?
FACT: African-Americans generally start in a position of disadvantage, as compared to their white counterparts.
It does not take a rocket scientist (or a racist) to see that an African-American has a longer row to hoe.
If the researchers intentions were aimed at the truth, they'd propose a statement like this:
P.S. all of those men in that 1978 discussion went on to become extremely successful. God Bless America.
So what happens next? They need evidence, of course! So a group of researchers at the University of Washington conduct a study. They ask Tea Party members questions that are ideologically biased. They publish the results. And then, on queue, Newsweek runs a headline, New Poll Finds Tea Partiers Have More Racist Attitudes. And finally, a visitor to my blog posts a link to the article, as if to say, "See! I told you so!"
Subsequent comments are addressed to the collective "you"; lemmings on the left that can't read beyond a headline or think one or two steps beyond the sound bites:
Did you even look at the questions in the study? What would you expect Tea Party members to say? A group that is known to favor liberty and individual responsibility?
"It’s really a matter of some people not trying hard enough; if blacks would only try harder they could be just as well off as whites."Of course Tea Party members agree. But agreeing with this statement does not make one a racist.
I remember a conversation that my father had in 1978 with some fellow members of the African Students Association at West Virginia University. I was seven years old. I remember them discussing the fact that as immigrants, they had to work harder than Americans (and particularly white Americans) in order to succeed. Were these men a bunch of self-deprecating niggers? Shiftless and lazy blacks that "knew" they were inferior to whites? If your answer is no, then how can you accuse Tea Party members for being racists if they take the same position?
FACT: African-Americans generally start in a position of disadvantage, as compared to their white counterparts.
It does not take a rocket scientist (or a racist) to see that an African-American has a longer row to hoe.
If the researchers intentions were aimed at the truth, they'd propose a statement like this:
"Blacks are in their social position because they're genetically inferior to whites."But why ask that question? Well, perhaps because they'd find out that hard core lefties are in fact, openly and unashamedly the real racists. And here's some REAL evidence:
P.S. all of those men in that 1978 discussion went on to become extremely successful. God Bless America.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Top Ten Predictions Revisited
January 20th - 2 years in the White House for President Obama. I'll mark the milestone by revisiting my Top Ten Predictions for Obama’s First Term. Here are the updates:
10. The Hip House
It didn't take long for the coolness factor to fade away. I'll concede that more young people are politically engaged, though it be through The Daily Show. Better than total apathy, perhaps.
9. The dis-armed forces
What can I say - I was wrong on this one. He's been down right bellicose. Dare I say, Obama's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech was a justification of the Bush Doctrine. But as a concession for the left, he's come through on his Iraq pledges. A parsimonious House will cut defense spending over the next two years, though not out of allegiance to an anti-war agenda. The erudite residents of Nob Hill won't be doing cartwheels though - they'd have liked to see the money funneled into windmills and family planning clinics.
8. Baby love
S-chip passed, so I guess I was right. I didn't know how right I'd be though inasmuch as Obama Care passed as well. If you've got a penchant for Social Justice, you've gotta be happy with this one. I mean, who cares how much debt we'll accumulate in the long run... at least we covered everyone, right?
7. America! What a country!
What made Obama think that he could gain international favor through contrition? We appear weaker to our allies and adversaries alike.
6. Roe v. Wade through 2040
If you're pro choice, so far, so good. The appointments of Sotomayor and Kagan are in keeping with Obama's position on Roe v Wade, not to mention a "Constitutional blind spot", and how to address it through the Judiciary.
5. Yo, bra’ Man! No More Excuses!
A racial quiescence imbued the first six months of Obama's presidency, until he weighed in on the Skip Gates Saga. If I were a conspiracy theorist, I'd say he commented specifically to introduce the issue. So much for a post-racial America.
4. Same deal, different century
Ding, ding, ding - I didn't exactly go out on a limb on this one though. It wasn't a secret that Obama wanted to expand entitlement programs. So what's in this New Deal? Perpetual unemployment checks, more food stamps, s-chip, and coming soon, Obama-Care. I was wrong about one thing though - it's actually quite easy to quantify... can you say "deficit spending"?
3. Will work for food (stamps)
Though the economic outlook isn't as bad as it was 2 years ago, the working man works for less, if he works at all. Despite Bush's tax cuts being extended, there's still not a lot of hiring going on out there. It looks like 9% unemployment is the new "normal".
2. Kilo-what!
Filled up lately? It's not a surprise that gas prices are going up. But there's hope... our President will lift additional restrictions on off-shore drilling in time to lower prices before for the 2012 election. Somewhat of a push on this one though. At this point, there's not enough political capital to even bring up Cap & Trade.
1. The check is in the mail
Our national debt grew by an additional three and a half trillion dollars in the past two years. If we keep spending at this rate, we won't have to worry about the impact on our grandchildren, or even our children. The price will be paid within the decade.
So two years in, we're not the "socialist republic" I thought we'd be. Why? Perhaps 235 years in, checks and balances are working. Either that, or our President is not as far to the left as I thought he was. Maybe a little of both. It'll be interesting to see if he moderates in the second half. Ah, politics... you gotta love this stuff.
10. The Hip House
It didn't take long for the coolness factor to fade away. I'll concede that more young people are politically engaged, though it be through The Daily Show. Better than total apathy, perhaps.
9. The dis-armed forces
What can I say - I was wrong on this one. He's been down right bellicose. Dare I say, Obama's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech was a justification of the Bush Doctrine. But as a concession for the left, he's come through on his Iraq pledges. A parsimonious House will cut defense spending over the next two years, though not out of allegiance to an anti-war agenda. The erudite residents of Nob Hill won't be doing cartwheels though - they'd have liked to see the money funneled into windmills and family planning clinics.
8. Baby love
S-chip passed, so I guess I was right. I didn't know how right I'd be though inasmuch as Obama Care passed as well. If you've got a penchant for Social Justice, you've gotta be happy with this one. I mean, who cares how much debt we'll accumulate in the long run... at least we covered everyone, right?
7. America! What a country!
What made Obama think that he could gain international favor through contrition? We appear weaker to our allies and adversaries alike.
6. Roe v. Wade through 2040
If you're pro choice, so far, so good. The appointments of Sotomayor and Kagan are in keeping with Obama's position on Roe v Wade, not to mention a "Constitutional blind spot", and how to address it through the Judiciary.
5. Yo, bra’ Man! No More Excuses!
A racial quiescence imbued the first six months of Obama's presidency, until he weighed in on the Skip Gates Saga. If I were a conspiracy theorist, I'd say he commented specifically to introduce the issue. So much for a post-racial America.
4. Same deal, different century
Ding, ding, ding - I didn't exactly go out on a limb on this one though. It wasn't a secret that Obama wanted to expand entitlement programs. So what's in this New Deal? Perpetual unemployment checks, more food stamps, s-chip, and coming soon, Obama-Care. I was wrong about one thing though - it's actually quite easy to quantify... can you say "deficit spending"?
3. Will work for food (stamps)
Though the economic outlook isn't as bad as it was 2 years ago, the working man works for less, if he works at all. Despite Bush's tax cuts being extended, there's still not a lot of hiring going on out there. It looks like 9% unemployment is the new "normal".
2. Kilo-what!
Filled up lately? It's not a surprise that gas prices are going up. But there's hope... our President will lift additional restrictions on off-shore drilling in time to lower prices before for the 2012 election. Somewhat of a push on this one though. At this point, there's not enough political capital to even bring up Cap & Trade.
1. The check is in the mail
Our national debt grew by an additional three and a half trillion dollars in the past two years. If we keep spending at this rate, we won't have to worry about the impact on our grandchildren, or even our children. The price will be paid within the decade.
So two years in, we're not the "socialist republic" I thought we'd be. Why? Perhaps 235 years in, checks and balances are working. Either that, or our President is not as far to the left as I thought he was. Maybe a little of both. It'll be interesting to see if he moderates in the second half. Ah, politics... you gotta love this stuff.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Things I've Learned
It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything to this blog. I’ve resolved to write more in 2011. Having said that, allow me to zero the scale and provide a snapshot of where I am, ideologically speaking that is.
I’ve reaffirmed, learned, and realized that:
1. I believe in American exceptionalism
2. There’s a difference between stupidity and ignorance – the latter can be assuaged
3. Philanthropy is a moral obligation, not a legal one
4. In helping the needy, private sector charities generally do a better job than governments
5. Your rights, as a rule, cannot result in the diminution of mine
6. Politicians lie
7. Morality matters
8. A man’s morals have little to do with his godliness
9. Debt, either personal, corporate, or national, is oppressive
10. Nothing in the Tea Party platform is racist
11. Hypocrites abound
12. North Carolina boasts my favorite state motto – “To be, rather than to seem”
13. Kenya cannot escape poverty without free enterprise and individual liberty
14. Private property is freedom
15. Generally speaking, conservatives are driven by logic, liberals by emotion
16. Nothing is more important to me than my family
17. The U.S. Constitution provided the framework for the abolition of slavery
18. People are too easily offended
19. The poor are afforded representation without taxation
20. Wealth necessarily results in increased consumption
21. Environmental awareness is important
22. The weak or defenseless will be preyed upon
23. Social justice cannot be achieved through confiscation or legislation
24. As a group, African-Americans are politically exploited by the left
25. Fatherhood is an awesome responsibility
26. These topics will define the 21st century - access to affordable energy and religious fundamentalism
27. A flat tax would be fair and equitable
28. Humility is important
I’d love to get your feedback. I can elaborate on any of these at your request. Happy New Year!
I’ve reaffirmed, learned, and realized that:
1. I believe in American exceptionalism
2. There’s a difference between stupidity and ignorance – the latter can be assuaged
3. Philanthropy is a moral obligation, not a legal one
4. In helping the needy, private sector charities generally do a better job than governments
5. Your rights, as a rule, cannot result in the diminution of mine
6. Politicians lie
7. Morality matters
8. A man’s morals have little to do with his godliness
9. Debt, either personal, corporate, or national, is oppressive
10. Nothing in the Tea Party platform is racist
11. Hypocrites abound
12. North Carolina boasts my favorite state motto – “To be, rather than to seem”
13. Kenya cannot escape poverty without free enterprise and individual liberty
14. Private property is freedom
15. Generally speaking, conservatives are driven by logic, liberals by emotion
16. Nothing is more important to me than my family
17. The U.S. Constitution provided the framework for the abolition of slavery
18. People are too easily offended
19. The poor are afforded representation without taxation
20. Wealth necessarily results in increased consumption
21. Environmental awareness is important
22. The weak or defenseless will be preyed upon
23. Social justice cannot be achieved through confiscation or legislation
24. As a group, African-Americans are politically exploited by the left
25. Fatherhood is an awesome responsibility
26. These topics will define the 21st century - access to affordable energy and religious fundamentalism
27. A flat tax would be fair and equitable
28. Humility is important
I’d love to get your feedback. I can elaborate on any of these at your request. Happy New Year!
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