A couple of months ago, when it became apparent that in spite of Hillary Clinton’s extraordinary denial of reality, Barack Obama would be the Democratic nominee for POTUS, I predicted that around the end of September we might very well see some of the ugliest behavior in this country since the height of Jim Crow.
I was wrong…we didn’t make it that long. Having been mystified by whatever message John McCain was trying to send with the Obama-Hilton-Spears joke of an ad, I don’t really believe my fragile psyche was ready for this.
The fear-mongering right has long been spewing the “Obama is your messiah” nonsense, but, and maybe I’m more naive than I thought, I didn’t believe McCain and his minions would resort to such tomfoolery. But there’s the proof, and as someone once said “He’s reached rock bottom and started to dig.”
Desperation is pretty much universally an ugly thing, but when it is emanating from someone who aspires to be leader of the free world, well, it’s downright abhorrent. At this point, McCain is not only engaging in the lowest form of campaigning, but he appears to be quite happy about it– kind of the “pig in slop” syndrome. Of course, as I’ve said before, Senator Obama is nobody’s fool– especially not McCain’s– so in his usually dapper and unruffled manner he is showing that he knows better than to wrestle with a pig (or argue with an idiot). He continues to take the high road (although the face on money quip was definitely a good one), continues to talk about real issues and what he plans on doing about them, and continues to carry himself like “The Man Who Would Be President” ought to carry himself. In contrast, Senator McCain apparently knows even less about dignity than he does about Middle East geography– and that’s saying something.
I would love to say that this is as bad as it gets, but let’s be honest– by November I wouldn’t be surprised if McCain is telling “Yo Mama” jokes and passing out Oreos, all the time claiming he’s just pointing out the “differences between myself and Barack.”
A couple of days ago, Obama made a profound and insightful statement: “It has become increasingly clear in my travel, the campaign, that the crowds, the enthusiasm, 200,000 people in Berlin, is not about me at all. It’s about America. I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions.”
In November, we have a chance to show the world, and ourselves, that we can rise above the mistruths, gimmicks, and mudslinging that is steadily characterizing this presidential campaign, and indeed return to our best traditions while restoring the world’s faith in America.
But until then…stand by.
Although change is constant, the political environment and corporate environment changes only but on the surface. Beneath the rhetoric, lies the historical truths, echoed by the actual policies being implemented right before our eyes, that lends blinding light to the deer(s) staring into the wonderous headlights of “hope”.
America’s creation – a demonic process.
It’s history -speaks for itself.
It’s core -corporate rule.
What changes are we expecting from any president?
MCain’s behavior is no different than Hillary’s, Bush’s, or most candidates on the campaign trail. Now that Obama is a candidate, “we’s now shocked at thems’ white folks behavior?”
I can’t express it enough, the focus you’re on is keeping you two steps behind the already crippled and allowing the swift to sell you smoke screens. Obama, MCain, Hillary…are ultimately all on the same team. Again, what problems are you expecting Obama to fix as president, knowing the limitations of his office?
Comment by brotherman — August 2, 2008 @ 2:53 pm |
Wonderful prose, but you aren’t saying anything except the usual “they’re all politicians” and “don’t fall for the okey-doke.” Okay, now that we’ve established that much, what are YOU doing, besides talking about it?
Comment by Rob — August 2, 2008 @ 3:01 pm |
Trying to enlighten you “where” the real problems are. They say, to know where you’re going, you have to know where you came from. This ol’ world’s problems are aren’t political, monetary, or legal (those are the vices used)… our problems are spiritual at the highest levels that we will never solve by looking at these smaller issues of non-importance. For you to have looked past the things I DID say and came up with that response, it’s evident that you don’t truly want to see the real picture so you stay in the safe zone of personal positions as if your personal position ever matter in this elitist ruled world.
What I do is tell the truth. I don’t waste too many of my word with telling opinions. I take opinions for rides and expose their insignificance in a world that has many beliefs and opinions all because they ignore the truths all around them.
That’s what I am doing about. The oldest addage I can remember is that the truth is what sets us free. Ever wondered why we still aren’t free?
Comment by brotherman — August 2, 2008 @ 5:05 pm |
So what is the safe zone? Going to work? Paying my bills? Ensuring, along with my equally-working wife, that our children are taken care of? Ensuring that their education is thorough enough that they can read and discern many things for themselves? Showing when they need showing, telling when they need telling, explaining when they need explanations? Or would you rather I just sit around, feigning sublime intellect and championing the conspiracy theory of the week?
I believe I’ll take safe over meaningless. Talk is worthless without action.
Comment by Rob — August 4, 2008 @ 9:09 am |
Obama has some pretty good surrogates but I would like to see them swinging a bit harder. They don’t have to get all shrill like the monnbats on FauxNews – just a bit more forceful when the smears and outright lies start pouring outta the mouths of those jackals like Pat Buchanan.
Comment by Miranda — August 4, 2008 @ 3:12 pm |
So where did you go with that one? I see now. You ran to the convenient conspiracy bail out safe button buzzword.
It’s incredibly interesting how you put everything you are supposedly about; on the future of the children, but yet, under your breath, you sing a song called, Ignorance Is Bliss, and you dance the back-peddle shuffle so well, that you raise brows like, Bill O’ and stand out like, AL Sharp.
How can any child have a future in a world where their own parents perpetuate “ignorance and denial” of the highest powers that control the very air they breathe? If they don’t know, they’ll never have a chance. Are you in the sheep making business?
You herald Obama more than any woman I know, dude..to the point that you’re literally afraid to look at the deeper picture, behind Obama, above Obama, as if he couldn’t possibly be like any other elitist that takes the executive office of this nation.
I think I understand you now. Too pride to say I wasn’t aware and too shook to look.
I’m going to end with this statement because I’m beginning to share the same sentiment of a friend who expressed such in analyzing your position:
“Reminds me of El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz’s autobiography, 2008 looks a lot like the 30’s-40’s-50’s, etc. Negros aspiring, fighting, begging, and pleading to be included in White culture. Then beaming with pride and self-righteousness when they think they’ve “made it”.”
When Obama becomes President, everything (you think) you’re fighting for now will still be at great risk -even more -the children. But noooo, you really want to believe that this country that makes nonbinding resolutions with the people it utterly destroyed for 400+ years is going to set you free.
The real problem is that, with all your intellect and determination, you don’t even know that you aren’t free to think freely. So I offend, because I freely express people greatest fears like -”What if, what brotherman says has any merit to it?”
Some people still teach their kids things like, Santa Claus is real, the created myth of Jesus coming back, instead of imparting real power of knowledge in understanding that Obama, being a Council of Foreign Relations member, who’s about to take the highest office in the land to become the next official inductee into the Bohemians, is not the best interest of anyone in the middle class or below. Are you middle class or below?
For once, I’d like for you to investigate, before you just simply run away and hide behind rhetorical excuses and semantical deflections, as if that’s going to make anything I say less true. Man up, it’s only knowledge, freedom, real power, that doesn’t require hyperventilating over Obama to attain.
Just once.
Comment by brotherman — August 6, 2008 @ 4:48 pm |
Let me just cut to the chase: Until you man up and starting taking care of your personal responsibilities, all the rest of your crap is just that– crap. And that’s for real. I’m sure you feel self-impressed in your 15 year quest for knowledge, but from what I know of you– and I know enough of you to go here– ain’t a damn thing coming out of your mouth going to impress me as long as you fit clearly within the adage “triflin’ assed Black man.”
And I’m done with you.
Comment by Rob — August 6, 2008 @ 5:51 pm |
Ha ha ha, dude you’re funny -weak in your response and yet still funny for self destructing when challenged in your viewpoints.
You only know as much as your sister shares with you about me -or maybe you do and don’t believe the nature of who I am. And since you’re family in my eye (because I love sista too), regardless of your weak attempt of dealing with me, which is obvious that you can not; I won’t take this public attack on my person as anything but just that -a weak and ign’ant loss of composure.
And since I don’t run from deflective language as you might have thought would have, my “responsibilities” to my children, that you’re so pathetically trying to infer without the direct notion of inference, are on my terms -not yours or the phallic sucking western values you’ve embraced as you lord god and saviour that you live and too scared to die for -only preach.
You invited me to “your” blog. For what? To agree with everything you say? Nope dude, you’re on some “we shall overcome ‘ish as long as we don’t upset the status quo”, while trying to appear as if you’re in opposition to it.
But let’s analyze this. Where in your response was “your” manhood? Was that it? That response? Point, If you can’t handle cynicism being directed at you, simply refrain from directing it at others.
You’re still fam though, black man. No one ever said that all black men, great and small would think alike. In this day and time, I guess fear makes anything possible.
And I like how you ended with, “you were done with me”. Obviously, dude, obviously. I’m going to allow you to be the alpha male you need to be in your own blog.
Obama ‘08 still, just in case you thought different.
Comment by brotherman — August 14, 2008 @ 4:48 pm |
Man up.
Comment by rricejr — August 15, 2008 @ 9:16 am |
And I mean that in love.
Comment by rricejr — August 15, 2008 @ 9:18 am |
It’s all good dude, I am preparing to launch a blog where the dialogue I am passionate about will have its own platform. I realize that this is your spot and not the barber shop and that we can verbally joust opinions there instead.
No harm no foul.
One.
Comment by brotherman — August 20, 2008 @ 3:28 am |
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
Comment by sandrar — September 10, 2009 @ 9:38 am |