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Lead by example, be inspired by a leader
Author: Raine
Date: 10/20/2008 12:30:45
Cape Fear, BBQ, Fayettville, NC. I am sorry to start a Monday off with the hatred from the trail, but this story I found interesting. I found the graciousness and class in our nominee inspiring.
Over the weekend there was a report of a campaign worker assault while canvassing for Barack Obama. Once again - class, understanding and compassion from our nominee.
This is a strange time for me. I am filled with hope for our country, and at the same time I find myself concerned with this country. I have struggled in my blog regarding such stories to not compare them to the civil rights movements of the 1960's, and I still do, but when I see how Barack Obama reacts to the face of fear and hate, I am reminded of the practice of non-violent resistance, used by our Civil Rights leaders during that time.
We did not finish that movement, it never ended. What happened was America got complacent. Perhaps it was out of a post Vietnam era exhaustion, perhaps people thought (wrongly) it was good enough to stop and rest. Clearly it was not.
A few years ago, I had the honour of seeing the Reverend Joseph Lowery speak on the civil rights movement. One point I took away from that speech was that the next phase of the civil rights movement was for the white people of America to join and carry the torch alongside all of the poor and disaffected people of America. I find that today in this political climate, what he said is more relevant than ever before.
When I watch a leader such as Barack Obama, it inspires me to stand up and tell people that racism and xenophobia are no longer acceptable in any form in America. We must help people vote, and have a voice in changing the course of this country. It isn't about desegregation any more, it's about quelling the fear that misinformation and ignorance breed, It's about teaching people. Some, granted will never learn, but by leading thru example, perhaps they will accept the fact that America is changing once again.
Black people in America are far too well acquainted with social and economic inequalities, they have understood the underlying hatred that many 'other' Americans supporting Barack Obama are seeing now. Now is the time when everyone who wants to speak out MUST do so, no matter the skin color, because now is the time to start back up that civil rights movement that our leaders did so many years ago. Those of us 40 and over are lucky that we have a youth movement that doesn't see race and xenophobia the way we do, or even the way our parents do.
This is our time, this is our America. We must come together to show those that would like to divide us will not succeed. We can do this thru non-violence, hope, and peace. We can mend this country that is hurting so badly. Our nominee is showing us how to do that every day.
:peace: and
Raine
Obama arrived at the barbecue joint around 12:30 p.m., where an older and majority white clientele of several dozen were eating lunch after church services. Many patrons applauded as he walked into the diner, but Diane Fanning, 54, began yelling “Socialist, socialist, socialist — get out of here!”
Obama did not look directly at her, as she was across the diner, but it was loud enough that he most likely heard her.
The gentleman next to Fanning, Lenox Bramble, 76, flashed an angry look at her. “Be civil, be courteous,” he admonished her. Another woman, Cecilia Hayslip, 61, yelled back at Fanning (per Reuters), “At least he’s not a warmonger!”
[...]
Later, Obama came to the long table where Fanning and other members of a local First Presbyterian church were gathered. He held out his hand to her and asked, “How are you, ma’am?” but she declined to shake his hand.
Over the weekend there was a report of a campaign worker assault while canvassing for Barack Obama.
“The next thing I know he’s telling us we’re not his people, we’re probably with ACORN, and he started screaming and raving,” Takehara said. “He grabbed me by the back of the neck. I thought he was going to rip my hair out of my head. He was pounding on my head and screaming. The man terrified me.”
The man eventually stopped and the Caledonia police were called. Takehara was asked if she needed medical assistance, but she was not seriously injured. Instead, she says she was shaken up by the homeowner’s reaction.
“This negative stuff has to stop,” said Takehara. “We’re all Americans. This is all about protecting our democracy, not about attacking each other.”
Takehara was encouraged when she had a message waiting at home from the candidate she is fighting for. Takehara called back and she and Senator Obama talked one-on-one.
Takehara said, “Senator Obama understood… it was wonderful. It made me feel wonderful. It made me feel connected to this government again.”
This is a strange time for me. I am filled with hope for our country, and at the same time I find myself concerned with this country. I have struggled in my blog regarding such stories to not compare them to the civil rights movements of the 1960's, and I still do, but when I see how Barack Obama reacts to the face of fear and hate, I am reminded of the practice of non-violent resistance, used by our Civil Rights leaders during that time.
We did not finish that movement, it never ended. What happened was America got complacent. Perhaps it was out of a post Vietnam era exhaustion, perhaps people thought (wrongly) it was good enough to stop and rest. Clearly it was not.
A few years ago, I had the honour of seeing the Reverend Joseph Lowery speak on the civil rights movement. One point I took away from that speech was that the next phase of the civil rights movement was for the white people of America to join and carry the torch alongside all of the poor and disaffected people of America. I find that today in this political climate, what he said is more relevant than ever before.
When I watch a leader such as Barack Obama, it inspires me to stand up and tell people that racism and xenophobia are no longer acceptable in any form in America. We must help people vote, and have a voice in changing the course of this country. It isn't about desegregation any more, it's about quelling the fear that misinformation and ignorance breed, It's about teaching people. Some, granted will never learn, but by leading thru example, perhaps they will accept the fact that America is changing once again.
Black people in America are far too well acquainted with social and economic inequalities, they have understood the underlying hatred that many 'other' Americans supporting Barack Obama are seeing now. Now is the time when everyone who wants to speak out MUST do so, no matter the skin color, because now is the time to start back up that civil rights movement that our leaders did so many years ago. Those of us 40 and over are lucky that we have a youth movement that doesn't see race and xenophobia the way we do, or even the way our parents do.
This is our time, this is our America. We must come together to show those that would like to divide us will not succeed. We can do this thru non-violence, hope, and peace. We can mend this country that is hurting so badly. Our nominee is showing us how to do that every day.
:peace: and
Raine
