Some political/race-type rambles.

So, there's this case from Massachusetts regarding a black professor who was arrested for breaking into his own home. A lot of people who've read the news coverage regarding this have strong opinions about it. (And there are A LOT of people talking about it.)

Even the president has thrown his two cents in, which is unfortunate, because he doesn't actually know what exactly went down either.

People who think racism is rampant are up in arms. People who think all is well between whites and minorities are up in arms. I've read and heard some people point out that there are two sides to every story (and then go on to, for all tentative purposes, choose a side) -- I'm going to put my neck out here and point something out.

When two people/entities present their "side of the story" it is rarely what actually occured. There is often much more to it than that single event and there is often much left out (or added) to make their case stronger.

From all media accounts (which is all I can trust, as I'm not in Massachusetts to judge), there is a mistrust between the minority community and the Cambridge police force. I'm not saying that this particular occurrence actually had anything to do with race, but the mistrust is there... and it has been there for some time and that is a problem. It's not something that is easily combated, but steps should be taken to do just that.

Saying that someone is simply "pulling the race card" simplifies it far too much. Perhaps his man has heard of some of the injustices done to others (or maybe he has experienced it in another form or fashion). Perhaps the arrested man did overreact. However, if someone was accusing you of breaking into your own house, wouldn't you be a bit incredulous too? Wouldn't you feel it's a bit extreme that someone is arresting you for walking into your own home?

And as a police officer, if you were called to a reported burglary, wouldn't you want to do everything in your power to prevent it?

The situation might have gotten out of control simply because of a misunderstanding, but those previous suspicions or beliefs amplified a problem and made it larger than necessary.

So, yes. There are two sides to every story... but both sides rarely tell the whole truth. Just keep that in mind before you call someone else stupid, racist or insensitive for their veiws.

The morning after.

I'm sure some of the people reading this may feel like they slept with the ugly duckling at the bar and have many regrets this morning. I, personally, am not one of those.

I am ecstatic that Obama won. And idealist, intellectual, optimistic man has won the presidency.
Now, I just hope he makes real changes, like he's promised.

But, for those who may feel the political hangover.
Or feel the need to move out of the country* (which if you're looking for a "less liberal" country that isn't repressed, let me know where you find it)...

Here's a reminder.
The United States cannot pass budgets or tax plans or new programs through the president alone. Congress needs to approve. There are checks and balances.

Not to mention, I feel that Obama is open minded enough that he will listen to people who challenge him and take their thoughts into consideration. He appears, to me, that he genuinely wants to bring people together.

He's not a socialist. He has an idealist core. He wants to help those who need help. He feels that sharing is part of the American ideal. (Personally, I feel the same way. Sometimes we need to help those around us to maintain our own well being.)

That being said, the system itself needs a bit of an overhaul to get it back to a point where only those who need the help are getting it. We should not reward laziness. That should never be the point of "handouts." That's a whole different political posting, however.

Here's to the hope that this can, at least, change some of the ugliness that surfaced during the election regarding "funny names" and race. Here's to a more open minded nation and one that is open to healthy dialogue.

Here's to actually changing minds and giving a voice to those who felt they had none.
Let's try to make America awesome again.

PS: I will go back to my pointless rambling later today, I promise.

* I was only going to leave the country if Palin became president. If McCain had won and stayed healthy and alive, I would have remained in the country.

10.25.08

Christian right steps up attacks on Obama - Barack Obama News- msnbc.com

This is why I am agnostic.

Just for the record, I love Jesus...
I just don't think he'd hate gays, women who have made the difficult decision to abort or Barack Obama. I base this judgment on my gut instinct and the fact that Jesus didn't hate sinners.

Only greedy, holier-than-thou people were on the receiving end of his wrath.
Think about it.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

And McCain likes to talk about Obama's so-called dishonesty?

Ben Smith's Blog: Acorn pushes back, hugs McCain - Politico.com


Heh.
Awesome.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Politics tire me, can I just vote already?

Apparently the Republican party, more specifically Palin and McCain, are trying to tie Obama to Bill Ayers and to the bombings that Ayers is linked to that occurred... in the 70s.

Did that sentence make sense? Anyway, yeah.
Obama was a child when the bombing happened.

I believe I talked about this before.
Anyway, Barack Obama and Bill Ayers met in the 90s.
They worked together on a non-profit educational organization's board.
This organization dispersed funds to Chicago area schools.

They also served together on a board of an anti-poverty organization.

Oh, and Obama has publicly denounced any bombings that occurred in the 70s by the group Ayers was associated with.



Personally, I feel it's pathetic that McCain-Palin feels it is necessary to criticize Obama's work with legitimate, non-profit organizations.

I'm a little late, but this is what I'm watching this morning.

The presidential debate.
I heard McCain won... but I'll probably think differently because, well, McCain can never win in my mind.

But, I should watch it and keep an open mind. *deep breath*

Cross-post: Because I am consistently dumb enough to watch the news.

Lipstick. Oy.

One: Probably a phrase to avoid after Palin made a lipstick comment.
Two: The "lipstick on a pig" phrase is a common phrase and has been used in the past by various politicians and regular people in general.
Three: I have a hard time believing that Obama, as a minority who knows struggle, is a sexist pig.
Four: I don't think he was calling Palin a pig.

HOWEVER, I could believe that he was referring to Palin in some way... a way MSNBC doesn't seem to be discussing.

Could it be that Obama is referring to Palin as the Lipstick and McCain as the Pig?

As in, McCain is not an agent of change.

By pulling Palin to be his VP, he has created a historic moment and made himself look more "change" worthy.
But it's a shallow, superficial change because she is very republican in thinking. She is not going to change much in Washington either.

He has effectively used Palin to pretty up his campaign, draw attention to it and add the all important sex appeal to it. Let's face it, she is young. She is attractive. She is a "she." Therefore many attacks on her will be twisted somehow to be sexist... just as many attacks on Clinton were twisted to be sexist as well.

It's still a man's world, but women need to stop playing the victim.

The dumbest part? I'm beginning to lose faith in the American people being intelligent enough to watch the news and see Obama's quote in context. In context, if doesn't appear to be a swipe at Palin at all.

In other news, there are some Hebrew National hot dogs in my freezer and I really want to eat them.
There is no pig in those. So it is safe to apply lipstick.

So, please stop talking about lipstick.

Something that scares me.

Jerome Corsi was just on C-Span defending his book, "The Obama Nation..."

It worries me that there are people who will take his conspiracies as unbiased fact when he is obviously very biased. All of his books lean very far right on the political scale.

Someone seriously called him "unbiased."



I don't know why all of my posts have been of the political nature right now.
And they all are way too short.
I apologize.

I saw the new, updated, McCain ad...

You know, the one where they try to make it seem like Obama is just a frivilous celebrity...
Ignoring his extensive educational background and public service work.

Well, They took out the Britney and Paris pics, but they still implied their presence with one blonde head on a number of magazine covers they display in the beginning of the ad.

I love how politicians believe the public is so stupid.
Of course, maybe they're right.
But I feel like calling them out.

Discussing politics at the dinner table.

McCain rejects 'audacity of hopelessness' for Iraq - Yahoo! News

Grow up. Ok?

These two men have vastly different takes on war.
To say that Obama is hopeless regarding Iraq is ignorant.

If you read the article, you will find that be has voted for every bill (with the exception of one) that provided funding for our troops. The fact of the matter remains that Obama did not support going to war in the first place. If we had not become involved, we would not have needed to withdraw and we could have fully focused out attention in Afghanistan, where the Taliban is regaining some ground because we are not providing ways for Afghani citizens to provide a life for their family.

I will admit to not knowing much about foreign policy, but it sounds very desperate to be making comments like this, McCain. Very desperate. Me thinks Johnnie boy is becoming a bit nervous about his political contender.

Obama is not a dumb individual. In fact, he is just the opposite.
His foreign policy experience has been put into question, so he explored the world and discussed potential policy with the leaders he would be working with, if he were president. And he's won a lot of foreign leaders over.

A good leader is one who listens, who considers multiple solutions and then picks the best one. Listening is key. Listening gets you friends and friends will back you.

And lets face it, America could use a little more international backing.

Blogged with the Flock Browser