Tag Archives: Ku Klux KIan

Point of View Columns

Weekend Edition – April 18, 2014

WEEKEND EDITION – April 18, 2014

This past week the Teapublican Terrorists tried to make a Nevada farmer who wants his cows to graze on federal property for free some kind of hero. Meanwhile, President Obama was pleased to announce that over 8 million people have now received healthcare coverage because of Obamacare and the rightwing of the rightwing is sure that this is one time when the numbers do lie. And finally, Baseball Hall of Fame legend Hank Aaron must have touched a nerve when he told the truth last week.

The Freedom to Steal

By all accounts, Cliven Bundy is a successful Nevada cattle farmer. For a number of years he paid the federal government for the right to have his cattle graze on federal property – a very ordinary arrangement in many parts of this country.

A few years ago Mr. Bundy decided that he would no longer “recognize” the federal government and he stopped paying the grazing fees. As you are reading this column Mr. Bundy owes the United States government over $1 million.

When federal agents arrived to remove his cattle from unlawfully eating grass on property owned by the American people Mr. Bundy reached out to fringe right wing supporters who showed up with rifles, pistols and AK-47’s, ready to do battle with the United States of America on behalf of a thief in a ten gallon hat.

The federal agents wisely decided to stand down – for the moment. But we can be sure that this is not the end of the story. What is more bizarre is that leading Teapublican Terrorists have supported this clearly illegal activity by Mr. Bundy, characterizing his larcenous behavior as a blow for freedom.

The Teapublicans have already shown themselves willing to defend the thieves on Wall Street. It would seem that by defending a thieving cowboy they are equal opportunity defenders of lawlessness – just as long as they are the right color lawbreakers.

The End of the Numbers Game?

A few days ago President Obama announced that 8 million Americans now have healthcare coverage pursuant to the Affordable Care Act, AKA Obamacare. This is a tremendous achievement for the Obama Administration and an even greater moment for the American people.

Finally, the United States is beginning to provide healthcare for its citizens in a manner consistent with the successful policies of virtually every developed nation on earth. And this country is moving to a point in time where universal healthcare will be protected right, a right almost as important as the right to own machine guns.

Of course the Teapublicans have a problem with all of this. Along with over fifty votes in the House of Representatives to repeal Obamacare, the right wing of the right wing has advanced this notion that universal healthcare is a bad thing.

They are also contending that the 8 million people mentioned by President Obama really don’t exist. Of course, when Obamacare enrollment was lagging, they were only too happy to accept the numbers as gospel.

Obviously the Teapublicans are only happy with facts that support their anti-American, nihilist agenda. Unfortunately for them, the facts are apolitical and they cannot select their own version of reality.

It is what it is. Eight million times over.

Hank Aaron Hits Another Home Run

During the celebration of the anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in major league baseball, Hall of Fame legend Hank Aaron was asked if he thought there had been racial progress since Jackie Robinson’s historic moment.

He answered honestly. Hank Aaron stated that there had been progress but that there was still racism in the United States. And, he mentioned that instead of wearing hoods and sheets, some racists now wear shirts and ties.

It is instructive that Mr. Aaron’s comments could be seen as controversial in some right wing enclaves. All kinds of epithets and racial slurs were hurled at this gentleman/star for daring to compare racists of today to the Ku Klux Klan.

It would seem that the truth hurts – when it is true.

Happy Easter – stay strong and be great!

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Point of View Columns

Weekend Edition – June 28, 2013

The evisceration of the Voting Rights Act by the Supreme Court this week is the most racially damaging decision by that Court in exactly 117 years – almost to the day. Meanwhile the end of the DOMA as we know it has been a cause for justified celebration but it is celebration that should be muted given the near death of the VRA. Finally, given the precarious health of Nelson Mandela President Obama’s trip has a somber tinge but it does provide yet another opportunity to put the spotlight on what is good about Africa these days.

RIP VRA

In May of 1896 the United States Supreme Court dishonored itself by confirming the legality and constitutionality of racial segregation in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson. For the next 100 years almost every Supreme Court decision on racial matters has been part of incremental progress.

Now, in its most recent ruling the Supreme Court has eviscerated the Voting Rights Act, one of the pillars of progress built by the civil rights movement of the modern era. Using sham analysis to mask the obvious intent to disenfranchise black Americans and other people of color, the majority on the court has disgraced itself and desecrated the memory of all of the American heroes, black and white, honored and anonymous, who worked and struggled and died so that civil rights could become a civil reality in this country.

The majority of the Supreme Court should be ashamed of themselves but they are not. They will continue to wrap themselves in the self-righteous literal translation of the Constitution whenever it is convenient and suits their damnable purpose.

Somewhere in the depths of Hell Strom Thurmond, the Ku Klux Klan, Lester Maddox, John Stennis, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and the rest of the members of the unrepentant American racist terrorist movement are celebrating.

DOMAcide

The signing the Defense of Marriage Act into law in 1996 was one of the more regrettable aspects of the presidency of Bill Clinton. This law was obviously unconstitutional and was a legislative expression of pure prejudice.

Seventeen years later DOMA has been dismantled by the Supreme Court. While the outcome of this case should have been inevitable – the ScaliaAlitoRobertsThomas wing of the Court has proven itself capable of trampling even the most basic of rights.

While there are twelve states and the District of Columbia where same sex marriage is now legal, that means that there are 38 states that still need to come to the realization that the right to love and care for someone is not something that should be subject to legislative rule or permission.

Back to Africa

As noted, the precarious health of liberation icon Nelson Mandela casts a somber light over President Obama’s trip to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania.

While our prayers are with Mr. Mandela and his family we should not that President Obama’s trip does provide the American media and the American business community with an opportunity to focus on the positive aspects of Africa, not only in the visited countries but throughout the continent.

Business expansion, technological progress, increased democratization and gradual but steady improvement of living conditions are all characteristics of large parts of the African continent.

We have to hope that this message about the “other” Africa will resonate long after President Obama returns to Washington.

Have a great weekend!

 

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