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  • Politics Is Like Hiring A Hitman
    by Scott Woods inPolitical on2020-08-13

    For me, politics is like hiring a hitman. I have values and things I care about. I care enough about them to at least bother voting for 5 minutes every year for one issue or another. And because I care at least that much, I vote for people who align with the ability to realize the things I care about.

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  • Punching Above Our Weight
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-07-24

    I believe our vote is the punctuation of our voice. Without that resounding exclamation mark, I believe our voices are just incoherent noise.

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  • BLACK PROGRESS AMIDST SOCIAL CHAOS
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-06-16

    Recent events have raised the profile of historical injustice and inequities here in the USA. The entire world has taken note of the fact that BLACK LIVES MATTER.   We invite all of our friends to engage in actions that result in the greatest movement for change in our history. It is imperative that we take advantage of this opportunity to affect a positive change by ACTING IN OUR SELF-INTERESTS.

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  • Living in a Black No-Man's Land
    by Roger Madison Jr. inOur Community on2019-10-28

    There are many narratives that define the Black experience in America in this 2nd decade of the 21st century. Our striving over the centuries of our sojourn in this nation is a tapestry of every human experience -- oppression, enslavement, forced assimilation, dehumanization, exclusion, segregation, isolation, struggle, perseverance, achievement, excellence, celebration, mourning, despair, progress, setbacks, lynching, assassination, genocide, terror, self-hatred, low esteem, pride,...

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  • Fighting Racism
    by Scott Woods inOur Community on2018-10-25

    I had a boss who was racist. Not an outright bigot, of course; her toolbox was more subtle than most. We bumped heads a lot over inconsequential things. She frequently couldn’t keep my name out her mouth. Lot of gaslighting. You know…2018 style. I tried a lot of ways to combat or navigate her issues. None of them worked, and that’s saying a lot because I’m really good at fighting racism. But at the end of the day – every day – she was my boss, I had to deal with her, and that was that. Finally I...

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Indifferent, Incendiary and Ire: The Making Of A New America

Like most Americans and humans around the globe, I was profoundly saddened by the senseless, savage beating of 16 year old Derrion Albert of Chicago on last week. The news brought an instant ache to my heart and tear to my eye. Days later a devastating typhoon ravaged the Philippines, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Unemployment continues to soar, homes are still being lost to the foreclosures, uncertainty and fear of the unknown inhabits the hearts and minds of people daily. A poor economy, war and threat of terrorism are not new in America. This is not the first time that this nation has faced multiple issues. Yet, this time it's different. This time we have a scapegoat. This time the finger of blame is poking the eyes of our 44th President in an effort to knock him off stride and sabotage his plans. But is President Obama to blame? Should those fingers of blame not only poke the eyes of former leaders but also current political court jesters whose sole purpose for rising in the morning is to create a political atmosphere so hostile that it causes the ultimate demise of 44? The Republican Party, Conservatives in particular, are acting like uneducated, spoiled brats that only want to be the "banker" in the monopoly game of politics. A lesser role does not meet their agenda of being able to keep the rich wealthy and the poor unhealthy. Their many manipulations, interferences and oppositions have only resulted in futile attempts to derail 44's favorability rating. Although he has slipped in the polls, President Obama still remains favorable in the eyes of Americans. The unwillingness of those on the right to work with the administration in a true spirit of bipartisanship has caused some to resort to lies, slander, treason, unethical behaviors, manipulation and the very powerful politics of fear to rally the troops against 44. Let me break this all down for you from the perspective of a normal, average citizen concerned about the derangement that is causing this nation to no longer be united, brave or free but rather indifferent, incendiary and full of ire.

Indifference. Unemployment and health care costs are making life miserable for countless Americans. The poor and sick are being cast aside as worthless and useless, left to fend for themselves in a defenseless state. Health Care Reform would significantly contribute to the stabilization of the economy and job market. But how do the court jesters (right-wingers) respond? They fight against it. "No Government Interference!" they shout. "We won't support any federal program that will help the indigent. Let them take care of themselves or just, well...die! In the movie, "The Ten Commandments" starring Charlton Heston, Hebrew slaves were toiling from sunrise to sunset with little to eat. The character of Moses opened up the temple grain storehouses in order to feed the people. When questioned about this by the Pharaoh, Moses replied: "the strong make many, the starving make few, the dead make none." Moses justified raiding the temple grain to feed the slaves in order for them to have strength to build the city. I said that to say this: the unemployed need jobs, the hungry need food, the uninsured need care, and the poor need help. Yet, through their actions those on the right says, "we're going to oppose 44 whether we agree or disagree with his policies, whether he's right or wrong, whether he succeeds or fails. In fact, we'll rejoice in his failures, gloat in his shortcomings and emphasize his defeats. That makes for a good patriot! We don't care, we're the party of NO and we proudly wear that badge. Now take that stupid dems and independents!

Incendiary: While young people are being violently killed across the country, poverty rising, homelessness increasing, diseases raging, and more students being "left behind" than ever, the court jesters continue to rally their troops against 44 in wild, hostile, unpatriotic, "constitutionally-protected?" protests around the nation. Tea parties, protests and town halls have become forums for Obama hate fests and the spewing of hate rhetoric. Protesters are yelling and carrying signs depicting 44 as the joker, Hitler, Stalin, monkeys, and other signs of disrespect. They're angry, claiming to protest against higher taxes, health care reform, and other "administration" issues. However, posters, signs, t-shirts, and buttons suggest that these individuals are afraid of losing their beloved America to minorities, people who are Americans too! Threats against the President's life and weapons are not unheard of at these gatherings. Thanks to the incendiary rantings of nut jobs like Beck, Limbaugh, Coulter, Palin, Hannity, and O'Reilly, the minds of many have crossed over into the valley of derangement and don't even realize that they need health care reform for mental health treatment and meds. Nuff said.

Ire: Americans are mad! Don't believe me? Just watch a protest. Listen to commentators. Read blogs. What is everyone so doggone mad about? Huh? 44 is less than 9 months into his young presidency and already some are calling for his impeachment and his head. This country was in dire straits before Obama took the oath of office. These same issues persisted before he moved into the White House. The difference now is that he's being held to a higher standard under the microscope. All eyes are on the black guy. His failure would send a distorted message to America that this country was never meant to be headed by minorities. Why did we give that African American a chance? He's failed us in 8 months! Toss him out on his hind parts! We're mad and not going to take this anymore! Let's stir up dissension and incite riots by letting conservative talking heads fill our empty brains with biased, heated rhetoric that can easily cause us to commit dastardly acts of treason, violence or worse. We even intend to change the bible to become more "conservative-friendly" and remove any "liberal" references. Word of caution conservatives: "Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." Proverbs 30:6. Got it guys? America as we know it, is no more.

Afterthoughts Signing Off...

S. Denice Newton
www.sandradnewton.com