Do Something Before It’s Too Late

One of the most scariest images is an ideologically confused, unsocialized person with a gun in one hand and the Bible and Constitution in the other. What is more scary are the people who enables them.

For weeks I’ve been writing about race, rage, religion and the right. Some has attributed all of this to one bloggers obsession with race and republicans. And your assumption would be wrong. Many people who are silent on these issues are so because they either sees the truth in what has been illustrated and/or they’re simply uncomfortable speaking with authority about any of these subjects.

As I’ve illustrated last week is that it’s not always about race, it’s not always republicans, but it is about race and the role republicans are playing in the rage against this President. Many choose not to accept the reality of that truth, but what other logical conclusion can you draw if it isn’t about race? Politics is just the proxy, not the problem.

I give up on the realistic relevance of the Republican Party these days. It doesn’t want anyone who will question its authority. It doesn’t want anyone who will demand discussion. It doesn’t want anyone who is progressive, moderate, Black, Latino, Muslim, Young or even female. If you’re White, Male and Southern you’re welcomed. As a southerner I know that’s not a fair assessment, but many polls are trending in that direction when it comes to the GOP. It’s trending higher to those groups. The Democratic Party is not infallible, but at least I’m welcomed.

The fringes of society, whether it is the Birthers, the Deathers, the outrageous 2nd Amendment folks and the Racists they are not ruining the GOP, they have ruined the GOP. Who’s talking about bringing guns, Hitler, Nazis and the socialists. It’s not all Republicans, but it is a Republican problem and an American issue.

I’m surprised about the silence of those Republicans who has previous criticized me on various issues. What is worse is the timid tendencies of Democrats confronting them. It’s not all Republicans, it’s not all Democrats, but when will we finally have a Conservative who will talk down the paranoia of Republicans to Republicans? When will we finally have Democrats speak critically towards the timidness of the Democrats to Democrats?

I have restrained myself from saying this for many months, but I simply give up any possibility of having a reasonable conversation with most Republicans on many of these issues. I will continue to push Democrats to speak up, but their time is coming too if they don’t start doing what needs to be done.

Comment, criticize if you please. I give up. Let the M.F. Burn. (Reference to a previous post)

If what happened in November of 1963, February of 1965 or April of 1968 happens in today I will be sad, but I would feel sorry for those who helped caused it, because the blood would be on their hands. The outrage of the right could not match the rage that would come from the left and in the unexpected corners of society. I don’t want any of this to happen and urge people to do something more than nod in agreement or disagreement, do something before something happens. Before it’s too late.

By All Means Necessary

In a telegram to Mrs. Betty Shabazz after the assassination of Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had this to say about Malcolm X.

“…I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had a great ability to put his finger on the existence and the root of the problem. He was an eloquent spokesman for his point of view and no one can honestly doubt that Malcolm had a great concern for the problems we face as a race.“

Today, February 21^st forty-four (44) years ago an assassins murdered Malcolm X. Maybe they like some today feel that they should by any means necessary do whatever you have to do to prevent the rise of anyone who could unify and electrify the majority of the nation into a progressive movement of change.

Perhaps it’s too late, although many will continue to try.

Here’s a clip from the “Segregation or Integration Debate” between Bayard Rustin & Malcolm X. It’s a Fascinating Debate when or if you study it. It’s been a long time since I’ve listened to this debate.

Regardless of what many may choose to believe about Malcolm X or what you’ve been told without taking the time to research I invite you to read and listen to what he has to say in depth. Try to understand the meaning of his message and not just the words on the surface. Perhaps you may take away something that may benefit or expand your understanding of the man.

I love this quote from Malcolm X regarding Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. after the March on Selma he said in a conversation with Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Primarily because I understood the humor and seriousness in his statement.

“I want Dr. King to know that I didn’t come to Selma to make his job difficult. I really did come thinking I could make it easier. If the white people realize what the alternative is, perhaps they will be more willing to hear Dr. King.“

Malcolm X is undutiful overlooked, misunderstood and mischaracterized. When you look towards the bent of his life you’ll see and appreciate his journey.

References & Inspirations

Islamic Videos “The Life of Malcolm X”

CBS: City Desk “Interview with Malcolm X”

Columbia University “The Malcolm X Project”

Malcolm X Museum “Virtual Tour”

An Overactive Mind: Part 3

Thought #2 — This really sets into motion the need for all of the things that followed. If you really want to get down and dirty to why it appears that some Black people have a heighten sense of discrimination, unequal treatment or even mistrust, you can look to 1862 as a benchmark. Slavery is absolutely apart of it, but the journey to the White House didn’t begin on February 10, 2007 in Springfield, Illinois, it began long before that.

An understanding of this and other events before and after the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s & 60’s may be enough to put into context the jubilation you saw on election day not only in America, not only with Obama supporters of all races and not only with Black people.

I think this is important to include. Historically and symbolically the election of Barack Obama was a fulfillment of a promise and a reality of a dream. What you will see on inauguration of Barack Obama, as President will be more than what it appears on the surface to some. It’s not about Barack Obama. You have heard him say that. Barack is a representative, a benchmark of sort of a larger struggle within Black America and the American society as a whole. It’s bigger than any one person.

Regardless of what he does, to paraphrase a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Barack Obama does not belong to Black people, he belong to the ages. The struggles of yesterday are now the fights of today in hope for a better tomorrow. So all the people who got upset with me throughout this year this is just a touch of what I mean by when I told you that you’re missing the point or you’re uninformed. I was speaking beyond the surface of the moment, but towards the magnitude of the meaning of it all.

Thought #3 — What Barack did was take a different approach, an approach that wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the actions of Americans of all races, religions and creeds.

If it wasn’t for the actions of President Lincoln, Frederick Douglas, W.E.B. DuBois, Dred Scott, Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King, President Kennedy, President Lyndon Johnson, Rosa Parks, Dr. Vernon Johns, Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy, Robert Kennedy, Rep. Shirley Chisholm, Rep. Barbara Jordan, Jesse Jackson and thousands of other unnamed people 2008 would have been the year of the Same and not a year of Change.

Barack is a student of history when you think about it. He understood the message these people were essentially trying to convey, the American Dream.

Thought #4 – The American Dream is a continual quest for freedom, equality and justice for all. The substance of the dream is expressed in the profound words of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. It is expressed the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s expressed in the Supreme Court decision in Brown vs. The Board of Education in Topeka, KS. Women demanding equal rights expressed it on the protest outside of the White House. It was expressed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial August 28, 1963. It was expressed by thousands of Anti-Immigration Protesters marching in the streets around the country demanding justice. It was recently expressed in the voting booth on November 4, 2008. It is expressed everyday by people like yourself.

Thoughts #5 — Change is not instantaneous. Change takes more than a coalition of Blacks, but a collaboration of Whites, the cooperation of Latinos the inclusion of Gays & Lesbians the support of Asians, the participation of Jews and the acceptance of Muslims to make good on the promises of America. The proclamation is the emancipation of us all. Out of many came one. In 2008 it was Barack Obama on the surface, but in essence it was all of us. Those who supported him and those who scorn him. We are the dream that makes up America as unperfected as we are, we must always keep in mind the ultimate purpose of America.

Thoughts #6 — I need to conclude here. I apologize for my tangents. It’s like I start out with one thing and 5 other things partially related just flows out of my mind onto the page. I really am trying to focus more, but I wanted to share so many things that I find significance about this year its difficult to summarize.

So I will do spin the bottle again back around to the original topic, Watch Night. LOL. Now that was a journey of thought. I hope I didn’t lose too many of you. If so, just read it in bits.

Watch Night – December 31, 2008 is like its historical counterpart of this day in 1862, but today we share the great anticipation of the emancipation of tomorrow. January 1, 2009 will be the beginning of a new year and new possibilities.

Thank you 2008 and welcome 2009.

These are my thoughts, ideas and suggestions,

Tim Valentine