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The Dream Continues
Author: BobR
Date: 08/26/2013 13:02:06
This coming Wednesday is the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream Speech" on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was one of his most profound and eloquent addresses. This past week here in DC has been a celebration of that moment, the advances made, and workshops to help young people understand the progress, and prepare them to continue it into the future.
Our own Raine and Scoopster attended a reenactment of the march on Saturday (I had a previous engagement that I could not get out of). The advances of our society since Aug 28, 1963 are certainly affirming, most notably a bi-racial president (who is identified as black), elected and re-elected by an obvious majority of voters in this country. People of color are or have held offices such as Attorney General and Secretary of State. Rights for other groups (such as women and LGBT people) have been recognized and legalized through the years.
There is still a lot of progress to be made, however. Voting rights being curtailed by targeted laws, police over-reaction and an often blase response to it, lingering education problems in inner cities are but a few. There is also the problem of mindset, and that is a much tougher nut to crack. Among some quarters (and unfortunately often those in power), there is a growing resistance to change that might help level the playing field for all. This resistance manifests itself in blame.
This weekend, conservative columnist George Will pulled out the dusty canard that the real problem for blacks is single moms, not a lack of rights. Thus, he accuses the black male for abandoning his children, rather than look at the reason for the fathers' absence (hint). Likely presidential candidate Canadian/American Ted Cruz is also always reliable for placing blame. In his case, he blames "Obamacare", and tries to sell the story that repealing it will help black and hispanic families:
Bobby Jindal blames it on trying to maintain one's cultural identity, as if the cure for racial discrimination is to become assimilated into the Borg. That's right - the cure for being a victim of racism is to join up with the oppressors. That's the nature of a certain segment of black Republicans anyway, although they're never really trusted. Perhaps that's because even they have certain limits. Colin Powel has tried to point out the problems to them; his latest is recognizing that trying to limit voting is self-destructive.
There's a flip-side to that coin though - well-meaning white left-wing extremists. This is perfectly encompassed by a column in The Nation by Dave Zirin, where he finds fault with the speakers chosen for Saturday's event:
The irony of course is that AG Eric Holfer is black, as is Cory Booker, who seems likely to be on the fast track towards presidential consideration. Nancy Pelosi is the first female speaker of the House. These are the types of accomplishments that Dr. King wanted, and would (and should) likely be very proud that he helped accomplish by laying the groundwork in the minds of Americans.
Because ultimately - that's where the change needed to occur first (and where it needs to continue to be changed). The mindset of America needs to be that we are all equal. We may look different, or talk differently, or have different customs, but underneath the set of genetics that shape our appearance, and the happenstance of our birth, we are all the same. We all want life, liberty, and the ability to pursue happiness. That we are recognizing this at all, and looking past the superficialities - that is the true measure of success, and the legacy which Dr. King left behind.
Our own Raine and Scoopster attended a reenactment of the march on Saturday (I had a previous engagement that I could not get out of). The advances of our society since Aug 28, 1963 are certainly affirming, most notably a bi-racial president (who is identified as black), elected and re-elected by an obvious majority of voters in this country. People of color are or have held offices such as Attorney General and Secretary of State. Rights for other groups (such as women and LGBT people) have been recognized and legalized through the years.
There is still a lot of progress to be made, however. Voting rights being curtailed by targeted laws, police over-reaction and an often blase response to it, lingering education problems in inner cities are but a few. There is also the problem of mindset, and that is a much tougher nut to crack. Among some quarters (and unfortunately often those in power), there is a growing resistance to change that might help level the playing field for all. This resistance manifests itself in blame.
This weekend, conservative columnist George Will pulled out the dusty canard that the real problem for blacks is single moms, not a lack of rights. Thus, he accuses the black male for abandoning his children, rather than look at the reason for the fathers' absence (hint). Likely presidential candidate Canadian/American Ted Cruz is also always reliable for placing blame. In his case, he blames "Obamacare", and tries to sell the story that repealing it will help black and hispanic families:
"But what about, you lost?" Crowley asked. "This has been put into law. It's already law. Why not just get on board and try it?"
"Because it's not working and it's hurting Americans," Cruz insisted. "And by the way, the people that it's hurting the most are the most vulnerable among us are the more vulnerable among us. The people who are losing their jobs are young people, are Hispanics, are African-Americans, are single moms. I don't think that’s fair, I don’t think that’s right."
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 500,000 young African-Americans and 913,000 Latinos have already benefited from Obamacare because they have been allowed to stay on their parents' health care plans. Additionally, 6.8 million African-Americans and 10.8 million Latinos will have opportunities to buy coverage through health care exchanges.
Bobby Jindal blames it on trying to maintain one's cultural identity, as if the cure for racial discrimination is to become assimilated into the Borg. That's right - the cure for being a victim of racism is to join up with the oppressors. That's the nature of a certain segment of black Republicans anyway, although they're never really trusted. Perhaps that's because even they have certain limits. Colin Powel has tried to point out the problems to them; his latest is recognizing that trying to limit voting is self-destructive.
There's a flip-side to that coin though - well-meaning white left-wing extremists. This is perfectly encompassed by a column in The Nation by Dave Zirin, where he finds fault with the speakers chosen for Saturday's event:
Based upon the speeches during the main portion of today’s events there can be little doubt that the Dr. King who was murdered in Memphis in 1968 would not have been allowed to speak at this fiftieth-anniversary commemoration of his life. There was no discussion of the “evil triplets.” Instead, we had far too many speakers pay homage to the narrowest possible liberal agenda in broad abstractions with none of the searing material truths that make Dr. King’s speeches so bracing even today.
As Representative Nancy Pelosi spoke, it was difficult to not think of her defense of the NSA spying program or her vote against cutting funding to stop the mass monitoring of phone calls.
As future New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, Wall Street’s best friend, spoke at the front of this March, it was difficult to not think of the Dr. King who said, “The profit motive, when it is the sole basis of an economic system, encourages a cutthroat competition and selfish ambition that inspires men to be more concerned about making a living than making a life.”
As Attorney General Eric Holder, the person who is not bringing federal civil rights charges against George Zimmerman, was allotted 30 minutes—fifteen times that of Julian Bond—to speak from the front stage, it was difficult to not think about the fact that it has taken five years for him to say anything about mass incarceration in this country. The late Bayard Rustin insisted, as the lead organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, that no politicians or political appointees be allowed to speak. Clearly, there were different principles at work today.
The irony of course is that AG Eric Holfer is black, as is Cory Booker, who seems likely to be on the fast track towards presidential consideration. Nancy Pelosi is the first female speaker of the House. These are the types of accomplishments that Dr. King wanted, and would (and should) likely be very proud that he helped accomplish by laying the groundwork in the minds of Americans.
Because ultimately - that's where the change needed to occur first (and where it needs to continue to be changed). The mindset of America needs to be that we are all equal. We may look different, or talk differently, or have different customs, but underneath the set of genetics that shape our appearance, and the happenstance of our birth, we are all the same. We all want life, liberty, and the ability to pursue happiness. That we are recognizing this at all, and looking past the superficialities - that is the true measure of success, and the legacy which Dr. King left behind.
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
Scoopster on 08/26/2013 13:21:12
Scoopster on 08/26/2013 13:21:12
oops, I gotta log Scoop out of my MacSheen. 
Comment by 
Raine on 08/26/2013 13:24:41
Raine on 08/26/2013 13:24:41
Let's try this again... 
Good morning!
I cringed when I read that.
Empowerment was the centerpiece of the march in 1963. BobR right to say that seeing these people up there on stage would make people proud. The author speaks from a rather privileged and ignorant attitude About Rustin via Wiki:
Good morning! The late Bayard Rustin insisted, as the lead organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, that no politicians or political appointees be allowed to speak. Clearly, there were different principles at work today.
Empowerment was the centerpiece of the march in 1963. BobR right to say that seeing these people up there on stage would make people proud. The author speaks from a rather privileged and ignorant attitude About Rustin via Wiki:
After passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act, Rustin advocated closer ties between the civil rights movement and the Democratic Party and its base among the working class.
With Tom Kahn, Rustin wrote an influential article called "From protest to politics" that analyzed the changing economy and its implications for African Americans. Rustin wrote that the rise of automation would reduce the demand for low-skill high-paying jobs, which would jeopardize the position of the urban Negro working class, particularly in northern states.
The needs of the African-American community demanded a shift in political strategy, where the blacks would need to strengthen their political alliance with mostly white unions and other organizations (churches, synagogues, etc.) to pursue a common economic agenda. It was time to move from protest to politics, wrote Rustin.
Comment by Scoopster on 08/26/2013 13:29:17
Gooooood morning mon peeps!
<- just a lil sunburnt..
Scoopster on 08/26/2013 13:29:17
Gooooood morning mon peeps!
<- just a lil sunburnt..
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 13:33:01
I was tempted to mess around with your FB news stream after you left scoop. 
I didn't tho... It was really weird. I go to get online, and I was seeing strangers and weird discussion -- I was very disorientated for a few moments....
Raine on 08/26/2013 13:33:01
Quote by Scoopster:
I didn't tho... It was really weird. I go to get online, and I was seeing strangers and weird discussion -- I was very disorientated for a few moments....
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 13:33:32
My face is burnt.
Raine on 08/26/2013 13:33:32
Quote by Scoopster:
Gooooood morning mon peeps!
Comment by 
wickedpam on 08/26/2013 13:33:54
wickedpam on 08/26/2013 13:33:54
Morning 
Coincidence or Irony? Manassas decided to hold his Civil War weekend at the same time as the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington.
Coincidence or Irony? Manassas decided to hold his Civil War weekend at the same time as the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington.
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 13:39:15
!!Happy Birthday Mondo!!!
Raine on 08/26/2013 13:39:15
!!Happy Birthday Mondo!!!
Comment by 
clintster on 08/26/2013 13:47:40
clintster on 08/26/2013 13:47:40
Happy birthday, Mondo!
Comment by wickedpam on 08/26/2013 13:48:04
wickedpam on 08/26/2013 13:48:04
I now can't unsee that Miley performance any one have extra brain scrub?
Comment by clintster on 08/26/2013 13:50:05
clintster on 08/26/2013 13:50:05
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 13:52:49
Do they have it every year on that weekend?
Raine on 08/26/2013 13:52:49
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning
Coincidence or Irony? Manassas decided to hold his Civil War weekend at the same time as the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington.
Do they have it every year on that weekend?
Comment by wickedpam on 08/26/2013 13:52:56
wickedpam on 08/26/2013 13:52:56
Happy Birthday Mondo!
Comment by clintster on 08/26/2013 13:53:56
clintster on 08/26/2013 13:53:56
Comment by wickedpam on 08/26/2013 13:54:30
you know I don't know, they've been trying to push the whole civil war history thing to get more tourists so I haven't really paid attention. The last 2 years they re-enacted the 1st and 2nd battles of Manassas but I thought those were earlier in the month.
wickedpam on 08/26/2013 13:54:30
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Morning
Coincidence or Irony? Manassas decided to hold his Civil War weekend at the same time as the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington.
Do they have it every year on that weekend?
you know I don't know, they've been trying to push the whole civil war history thing to get more tourists so I haven't really paid attention. The last 2 years they re-enacted the 1st and 2nd battles of Manassas but I thought those were earlier in the month.
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 13:55:06
Here Mala:
Raine on 08/26/2013 13:55:06
Here Mala:
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 13:55:50
Great minds, Clint!
Raine on 08/26/2013 13:55:50
Quote by clintster:
Comment by wickedpam on 08/26/2013 13:57:11
aahhh, that's gonna taint one of my fave movies now!
wickedpam on 08/26/2013 13:57:11
Quote by Raine:
Here Mala:
aahhh, that's gonna taint one of my fave movies now!
Comment by 
Mondobubba on 08/26/2013 14:04:46
A pony! Aw! Thanks, Mala!
Mondobubba on 08/26/2013 14:04:46
Quote by wickedpam:
Happy Birthday Mondo!
A pony! Aw! Thanks, Mala!
Comment by clintster on 08/26/2013 14:05:26
Love that they snuck Lydia Dietz into the pic.
clintster on 08/26/2013 14:05:26
Quote by Raine:Great minds, Clint!Quote by clintster:
Love that they snuck Lydia Dietz into the pic.
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/26/2013 14:20:32
That is truly and deeply disturbing. Mala's right, that is going to taint a favorite movie.
Mondobubba on 08/26/2013 14:20:32
Quote by Raine:
Here Mala:
That is truly and deeply disturbing. Mala's right, that is going to taint a favorite movie.
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/26/2013 14:23:42
Mondobubba on 08/26/2013 14:23:42
Thanks for all the birthday wishes everyone 
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 14:48:39
Raine on 08/26/2013 14:48:39
I'm going to be honest -- I have not seen Miley's performance. I am too frightened to watch.
Comment by wickedpam on 08/26/2013 14:57:39
lets just say this - the last Britney performance I saw on the VMA's was more entertaining
wickedpam on 08/26/2013 14:57:39
Quote by Raine:
I'm going to be honest -- I have not seen Miley's performance. I am too frightened to watch.
lets just say this - the last Britney performance I saw on the VMA's was more entertaining
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/26/2013 15:02:19
Mondobubba on 08/26/2013 15:02:19
Best reactions to Miley Cyrus...
If an alien species came across footage from last night’s MTV VMAs and watched it, trying to determine whether we’re a race worth saving, Earth surely would have been blown up by now. And Miley Cyrus is the woman we’d all be able to thank for that. Cyrus, who is desperately trying to make a name for herself as an expert twerker, forced all of America to watch her indulge her new hobby while on stage.
Comment by 
TriSec on 08/26/2013 15:08:42
TriSec on 08/26/2013 15:08:42
Comment by wickedpam on 08/26/2013 15:12:19
like I said on FB - she's working hard to be as badass as P!nk
wickedpam on 08/26/2013 15:12:19
Quote by Mondobubba:
Best reactions to Miley Cyrus...If an alien species came across footage from last night’s MTV VMAs and watched it, trying to determine whether we’re a race worth saving, Earth surely would have been blown up by now. And Miley Cyrus is the woman we’d all be able to thank for that. Cyrus, who is desperately trying to make a name for herself as an expert twerker, forced all of America to watch her indulge her new hobby while on stage.
like I said on FB - she's working hard to be as badass as P!nk
Comment by clintster on 08/26/2013 15:13:16
clintster on 08/26/2013 15:13:16
Meanwhile, in South Carolina you can have a group of African-Americans removed from a restaurant if you are 1) white and 2) feeling "threatened".
The restaurant chain offered them a free meal as recompense (after pressure on the company), but Michael Brown, part of the party of 25 that was turned out, wasn't having any of it:
The restaurant chain offered them a free meal as recompense (after pressure on the company), but Michael Brown, part of the party of 25 that was turned out, wasn't having any of it:
We weren’t coming there for a free meal. When we came there that night, we were coming to patronize the business. This is not a situation where you can just give us a free meal and everything is ok because it’s deeper than that.
Comment by 
Will in Chicago on 08/26/2013 15:14:42
Will in Chicago on 08/26/2013 15:14:42
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MONDO!!!!
Comment by Will in Chicago on 08/26/2013 15:17:15
Will in Chicago on 08/26/2013 15:17:15
BobR, thanks for a great blog.
I think that the March may make a difference if it indeed inspires people to be more active when they get home. Also, I do understand the criticism by some on the left. In the end, politics and political change is a ground game. We are seeing it in Wisconsin, North Carolina and elsewhere.
I think that the March may make a difference if it indeed inspires people to be more active when they get home. Also, I do understand the criticism by some on the left. In the end, politics and political change is a ground game. We are seeing it in Wisconsin, North Carolina and elsewhere.
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 15:22:29
Mr. Brown is spot on correct. I'm really just stunned that this is happening -- again.
Raine on 08/26/2013 15:22:29
Quote by clintster:
Meanwhile, in South Carolina you can have a group of African-Americans removed from a restaurant if you are 1) white and 2) feeling "threatened".
The restaurant chain offered them a free meal as recompense (after pressure on the company), but Michael Brown, part of the party of 25 that was turned out, wasn't having any of it:We weren’t coming there for a free meal. When we came there that night, we were coming to patronize the business. This is not a situation where you can just give us a free meal and everything is ok because it’s deeper than that.
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 15:24:05
Raine on 08/26/2013 15:24:05
Quote by Raine:
Let's try this again...I cringed when I read that.The late Bayard Rustin insisted, as the lead organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, that no politicians or political appointees be allowed to speak. Clearly, there were different principles at work today.
Empowerment was the centerpiece of the march in 1963. BobR right to say that seeing these people up there on stage would make people proud. The author speaks from a rather privileged and ignorant attitude About Rustin via Wiki:After passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act, Rustin advocated closer ties between the civil rights movement and the Democratic Party and its base among the working class.
With Tom Kahn, Rustin wrote an influential article called "From protest to politics" that analyzed the changing economy and its implications for African Americans. Rustin wrote that the rise of automation would reduce the demand for low-skill high-paying jobs, which would jeopardize the position of the urban Negro working class, particularly in northern states.
The needs of the African-American community demanded a shift in political strategy, where the blacks would need to strengthen their political alliance with mostly white unions and other organizations (churches, synagogues, etc.) to pursue a common economic agenda. It was time to move from protest to politics, wrote Rustin.
Comment by Scoopster on 08/26/2013 15:24:14
Scoopster on 08/26/2013 15:24:14
Started uploading some pics from my phone.. Here ya go Raine!
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 15:25:39
I loved those freaks! 
Raine on 08/26/2013 15:25:39
Quote by Scoopster:
Started uploading some pics from my phone.. Here ya go Raine!
Comment by wickedpam on 08/26/2013 15:26:16
wickedpam on 08/26/2013 15:26:16
you know what ticks me off about that "refund" thing for insurance? the fact that it went to my employer
Comment by clintster on 08/26/2013 15:28:38
clintster on 08/26/2013 15:28:38
I get frustrated when I hear conservatives denounce Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and other civil rights leaders as "race baiters", opportunists", "gold diggers", etc. It seems like an attempt to silence any future generations of people willing to fight for equality by saying "see, you don't want to be like THOSE people. Now just settle down and we'll give you rights and justice when we're good and ready."
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 15:36:32
I thought that applied to privately bought insurance.
Raine on 08/26/2013 15:36:32
Quote by wickedpam:
you know what ticks me off about that "refund" thing for insurance? the fact that it went to my employer
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/26/2013 15:36:47
I didn't get one this year.
But then my ass hat governor signed a bill saying insurance companies can jack their rates for 2 years since the Feds are regulating insurance costs under the ACA. :eyeroll: You know if you are going to hate the ACA, it might be a good thing if you actually knew what was in the law there, Gov. Skeletor.
Mondobubba on 08/26/2013 15:36:47
Quote by wickedpam:
you know what ticks me off about that "refund" thing for insurance? the fact that it went to my employer
I didn't get one this year.
But then my ass hat governor signed a bill saying insurance companies can jack their rates for 2 years since the Feds are regulating insurance costs under the ACA. :eyeroll: You know if you are going to hate the ACA, it might be a good thing if you actually knew what was in the law there, Gov. Skeletor.
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 15:37:28
Corrected it for you...
Raine on 08/26/2013 15:37:28
Quote by clintster:
I get frustrated when I hear conservatives denounce Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and other civil rights leaders as "race baiters", opportunists", "gold diggers", etc. Itseems likeis an attempt to silence any future generations of people willing to fight for equality by saying "see, you don't want to be like THOSE people. Now just settle down and we'll give you rights and justice when we're good and ready."
Comment by wickedpam on 08/26/2013 15:42:04
I thought it was both, just with the employer's they got the refund. At least according to the letter I got from Kaiser anyway.
wickedpam on 08/26/2013 15:42:04
Quote by Raine:I thought that applied to privately bought insurance.Quote by wickedpam:
you know what ticks me off about that "refund" thing for insurance? the fact that it went to my employer
I thought it was both, just with the employer's they got the refund. At least according to the letter I got from Kaiser anyway.
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 15:42:49
You're probably right.
Raine on 08/26/2013 15:42:49
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:I thought that applied to privately bought insurance.Quote by wickedpam:
you know what ticks me off about that "refund" thing for insurance? the fact that it went to my employer
I thought it was both, just with the employer's they got the refund. At least according to the letter I got from Kaiser anyway.
Comment by 
livingonli on 08/26/2013 15:43:26
livingonli on 08/26/2013 15:43:26
Good morning, folks. Let's not forget that J. Edgar Hoover had targeted MLK under the old sad history of COINTELPRO which has a long and shady history.
Comment by wickedpam on 08/26/2013 15:47:33
wickedpam on 08/26/2013 15:47:33
I think Chris is hurting himself 
Comment by TriSec on 08/26/2013 16:03:30
TriSec on 08/26/2013 16:03:30
The air wing has fired up the big guns for Mondo's birthday...
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 16:06:57
Not sure what you are referring to, Liv. COINTELPRO was really bad, I have no questions about that. If you are referring to David Zirin's article that Bob used in the blog -- I'm gonna have to say that Zirin was really off base in a lot of that article.
(I could just be misunderstanding)
Raine on 08/26/2013 16:06:57
Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, folks. Let's not forget that J. Edgar Hoover had targeted MLK under the old sad history of COINTELPRO which has a long and shady history.
Not sure what you are referring to, Liv. COINTELPRO was really bad, I have no questions about that. If you are referring to David Zirin's article that Bob used in the blog -- I'm gonna have to say that Zirin was really off base in a lot of that article.
(I could just be misunderstanding)
Comment by TriSec on 08/26/2013 16:13:13
TriSec on 08/26/2013 16:13:13
Comment by wickedpam on 08/26/2013 16:20:52
wickedpam on 08/26/2013 16:20:52
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 16:23:10
IT really was a great turnout -- Scoop and I got there at 3:30 and they were turning away people who didn't already have tix.
This could become a DC thing, to be honest.
Raine on 08/26/2013 16:23:10
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
HEY -- Post march BBQ pics!
that was quite the epic turn out
This could become a DC thing, to be honest.
Comment by Raine on 08/26/2013 16:24:16
Raine on 08/26/2013 16:24:16
Consider this, Mala -- there were 500 tickets that were available to be sold. As of the day of the event, 80 were still available.
I'd call that a win.
I'd call that a win.