Racism

Given the racism that Obama is confronted with, and that presumably will become more prevalent and vicious later on in the campaign, it's a lot easier for Nader to make a (nuanced) commitment to Affirmative Action than it is for Obama. So don't take my posting of this part of Nader's platform as a criticism of Obama for not stating a position on Affirmative Action. Rather, it's a defense of Nader from the charge of "racism".

Obama has suggested in one of his debates with Hillary Clinton that affirmative action in higher education might switch from a focus on race to one on class. See http://insidehighered.com/news/2008/04/17/qt and http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2008/05/12/kahlenberg. That's probably a viable way to go for all forms of affirmative action. Class has been under-emphasized for too long, so that's a plus for those of us who think that "class consciousness" is a good and necessary component of progressive strategies for change. A broad and expanded program of affirmative action based on class would be of practical value to African-Americans, although many are wary that they might be short-changed in its politically sensitive implementation. And there's some loss of historical consciousness and sense of social responsibility if the idea of "reparations" is embedded so deeply in a class-based program that reparations disappears as a distinct factor.

Well, it was only a matter of time I guess, but Fox News had a graphic calling Michelle Obama, Barack's "baby' mama." This of course is black slang usually referring to unmarried woman who has kids. Its usually derogatory and I would say in this case racist. Between that and the "terrorist fist bump", its just ridiculous what's being said over there.

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080613_ap_foxnewsreferstom...

Are there still any conservative hold outs who still think this is a real news station? And the argument about similar liberal bias has no basis in fact.

The good news: Fox and the conservatives are losing! They wanted us to rush to war, they wanted tax cuts for rich people, they said global warming was a farce and now most people realize that the conservative position on these issues is backwards and wrong! There will be a group of holdouts who will still watch Fox New to reinforce their worldview, but most people see the racist language and associated Obama with terrorism as just plain wrong.

In his landmark speech about race, Barack Obama apparently has chosen to ignore some difficult claims raised by the sermons of his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, in favor of seeking unity. He said that Dr. Wright's comments “expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country – a view...that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America.” He also called them “ not only wrong but divisive, divisive at a time when we need unity.” It is one thing to disagree, but to do so with an appeal to unity is effectively to dismiss dialogue altogether.

Criticism Denies Historical and Current Role of Black Church as Central to the Spiritual, Political, and Social Life of the Community

Washington DC January 21, 2008 On this Martin Luther King Day observance, the Institute for Progressive Christianity (IPC) rejects the recent media attacks against the black church, specifically Trinity United Church of Christ, where Barack Obama attends.

Investors Business Daily's January 15th editorial decried Trinity Church for its "'unashamedly black' church that preaches the politics of black nationalism. And its dashiki-wearing preacher - who married Obama and his wife and now acts as his personal spiritual adviser - is militantly Afrocentric."

Investor's Business Daily: "Would Obama put African tribal or family interests ahead of U.S. interests?"
 Racism rears its ugly head. We thought that the Obama campaign was saying that we are now different in America. But clearly there is much more progress yet to be made. Received this message from Media Matters yesterday:

Media Matters recently has documented the media making false claims about Sen. Barack Obama’s church, accusing it of “racial separatism” and “African nativism.” A Townhall.com column went as far as to compare Sen. Obama to David Duke. Please take a moment to look this over. I welcome any questions or comments.

I've been wrestling with Jesus for almost 50 years.

I mean, the guy has this way of getting all over you, under your skin, moving inside your head and never letting go!

The longer I have studied, listened to and observed him in the biblical record, in terms of his historical impact and in regard to the effect he has had on my own life and world, the more convinced I am that most people don't really understand him, what he said or who he was.

Dear Crossleft Community,   The Institute for Progressive Christianity, fashioned out of the CrossLeft community approximately two years ago is a Christian think tank that ecumenically weaves together the progressive Christians of Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical, Mainline Protestant, and Liberal backgrounds.  In its two years of existence it has been gathering momentum toward a faithful, inspired, impassioned and yet reasoned and analytical articulation of Christianity as a progressive journey of greater love and justice toward others and a deeper personal communion with God.  The Academic Review Panel is the work group at the IPC charged with incubating, generating and supporting the products of the IPC.

The following is from Larry James' Urban Daily at www.UrbanDaily.org.

A Place to Call "Home"

"I sleep on the street," William told us. "I cover up with my blankets. My blankets are precious to me because of the cold. One night last week, I woke up and realized there was another person under my blankets with me! A perfect stranger just trying to stay warm. He meant me no harm at all!"

Last Saturday, March 10, on behalf of the IPC, I traveled to the National Black Justice Coalition’s (NBJC) 2nd Annual Black Church Summit in Philadelphia. The NBJC is a black gay right group.  Being in a room of spirit filled LGBT black people was intense.  The praise choirs were on point and the speaking was inspiring to say the least.  The array of people present from the movement for black gay liberation was impressive.