Colin Powell Endorsed The Black Man
Does He Really Love America?

This will be the headline in the minds of so many people around the world, but specifically in the minds of so many in America and more specifically in many minds of white America. People will be baffled and will ask many questions. I can imagine a conversation between a Black and white man and the conversation going something like this.

White Man: Isn’t Powell a Republican?

Black Man: T he answer to that question is Colin Powell is a Republican and was President Bush's first secretary of state.

White Man: Then why didn’t Powell endorse McCain?

Black Man: According to Associated Press reporter Stephen Ohlemacher, “The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said either candidate, both of them senators, is qualified to be commander in chief. But he said Obama is better suited to handle the nation's economic problems as well as help improve its standing in the world.”

White Man: Do you think Powell is endorsing Obama because he is Black?

Black Man : Again I quote Mr. Ohlemacher; “Powell is a black man and Obama would be the nation's first black president. Powell said he was cognizant of the racial aspect of his endorsement, but said that was not the dominant factor in his decision. If it was, he said, he would have made the endorsement months ago.

Powell expressed disappointment in the negative tone of McCain's campaign, his choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a running mate and McCain's and Palin's decision to focus in the closing weeks of the contest on Obama's ties to 1960s-era radical William Ayers.

Powell said McCain's choice of Palin raised questions about judgment. [ my emphasis]

"I don't believe she's ready to be president of the United States," Powell said.

White Man: Now we have been friends for a long time. Both of us have been members of the Republican Party. In fact, I persuaded you to become a Republican because the party needed a Black presence. We needed your face on certain issues so we would not look to be racist. We offered you plenty of opportunity and look how well off you are now. You have been appointed to be a high government official, you have a six figure salary, you live in a big house, drive nice cars, and are looked at as a leader in the community. We bought and paid for you to be the public face of the conservative cause. I think that I am within my right to ask you for whom are you voting?

Black Man: You know in the past I have lied to you on how I really feel because I did not want to jeopardize the benefits of being a conservative. Lying is a tool that Black people use against white people so that we can experience some kind of economic success. We fear is we let you in on our real thoughts that you will become afraid of us and take away our chance of succeeding. But history has dealt us another hand. Barack’s success has shown us that we can be truthful and still succeed. Colin’s endorsement is a signal from God that it is time for us to take our rightful place in the world order of things. It is time for God’s will to exist on earth as it does in heaven. God is showing that it is the role of the Black man to make God’s will reign. Let me explain.

Although I agreed with some of the positions of conservatism, in reality I was more opposed than for conservative issues. Truly, I am against abortion. I do not think that a homosexual lifestyle is acceptable to how God would have us to live. But even with being against a homosexual lifestyle I still believe that homosexuals are part of God’s family and should be treated humanely and with respect. We can dislike and be against the sin without disliking and being against the sinner. And just like I am opposed to the homosexual lifestyle as being counter to how God would have his child to live I also do not believe that God wants his children to be liars. I don’t think that God is happy that conservatives continue to support the war in Iraq when we know for sure, now, that the reason given for going to war is not true. The war in Iraq was never a just war. There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. And even Colin Powell in his interview on Meet the Press stated that he does not believe there would have been a war in Iraq if the Bush administration did not believe that weapons of mass destruction existed in Iraq. It seems to me that if conservatives were really trying to do what God would have us to do, then they would support getting out of Iraq, apologize for being there, and offer restitution to the people for the death and destruction that America caused under false pretenses. America would also give restitution to the American families that lost love ones through death and injury. To offer restitution for the mistake seems to me the godly thing to do. But to directly answer your question I’m voting for Barack Obama.

Clearly the white man is perturbed. How dare this Black man go against conservative values after all the things conservatism and the Republicans had done for him? The white man is thinking in his head; “Hell we made this nigger. How dare he go against the party line?” But Mr. White man kept his cool and didn’t expose his inner thoughts and continued to question the Black man. Mr. White man understood that this was a good opportunity to see if history was actually breaking the mental chains of slavery that white dominance had placed on the mind of this Black man. Mr. White man prayed silently, please lord, say it ain’t so!!

White Man: Are you voting for Barack Obama just because he’s black?

Now brother is getting real tired of being grilled by Mr. White man. It is almost like the white man thinks that with accepting the job the brother gave up his rights, and freedom to do his own thinking, which includes the right of casting his vote as he sees fit. And not only can Brother cast his vote as he sees fit, he can think and have the thoughts that he sees fit to understand the world from his seat of experience. This white man has got on brother’s last nerve. So brother decides to let Mr. White man in on some personal, and Black truth. Brother has become confident and begins to boldly speak. Colin Powell did it. Why can’t he. Unfortunately, Brother does not have the diplomatic skills of Colin Powell. Buckle up. The ride gets a little rough right here.

Black Man: “Why not? Hell, in this country men are pulled over everyday just because they're black, passed over for promotions just because they're black, considered to be criminals just because they're black, and there are going to be thousands of you who won ’ t be voting for Barack just because he's black! However, you do n ot seem to have a problem with that!
This country was built with the sweat and whip off the slaves back, and now a descendent of those same slaves has a chance to lead the same country, where we weren’t even considered to be people. Where we weren't allowed to be educated, drink from the same water fountains, eat in the same restaurants, or even vote, so yes, I'm going to vote for hi m! But it's not just because he's black, but because he is hope, he is change, and he now allows me to understand when my grandson says he wants to be president when he grows up, it is not a fairy tale but a short term goal, Because he sees, understands, and knows, he can achieve, withstand, and do anything just because he's black” (Author Unknown).

Tom Brokaw pushed Powell on this same issue. And just like Colin I have a problem with the narrowness that is being displayed. McCain has shown very poor judgment. I, like Powell am very concerned about the negativity of McCain’s campaign. A person with good judgment would understand that allowing people at your rallies to speak hate speech about Obama has the potential of creating the environment that got Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, John and Robert Kennedy, Fred Hampton, and countless more to lose their lives. John Lewis was speaking with a historical informed voice when he stated that the hate speech being expressed at McCain and Palin’s rally reminded him of the environment that George Wallace created that got four little Black girls killed while attending Sunday School because ignorant white men in Alabama took Wallace’s words to the ultimate end. Lewis had seen and felt it before. His speech to this day is slurred from the beating in the head from white folks acting out the environment created by George Wallace and the like. He knew what this type of behavior this type of rhetoric will cause. Yes, John McCain exhibited poor judgment to allow this hate speech at his and Palin’s rallies. Choosing Palin as a running mate again is an exhibit of poor judgment on the part of John McCain. I agree with Colin, she is not ready to be President.

In my opinion, John McCain does not love America. If he did he would not put an unqualified person next in line to be Commander In Chief if, God forbid, something tragic happened to him. Choosing Palin was not an act of love for America. It was poor judgment on the part of John McCain to choose Palin as his running mate when he knew she had justice issues pending. McCain would have shown wise insight if he had chose a person who had made a mistake with the law, served time and fulfilled the sentence to society, and said that he made the choice because mistakes should not follow people for the rest of their lives. John McCain would have shown profound wisdom if he chose and ex-felon and said he did so to send a strong message to the country that says once a person has fulfilled his obligation for the crime then he/she should be made whole. But, old John decided to pick someone who might go to jail as she is campaigning to get him elected President her to be elected as his running mate. Whew, John you are consistently displaying poor judgment.

On the other hand, again like enunciated by Powell, I observe Barack. He didn’t return the hate speech with hate speech to counter that speech spoken at McCain and Palin’s rallies. Barack displayed good judgment when he chose Biden as his running mate. With Joe Biden’s impeccable foreign policy credentials Barack truly chose someone who has been chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Biden has been dealing with world relations for decades. He was not so naïve as to try to make America believe that by looking out his back door and seeing Russia was an indication of his understanding of the nuances of world relations as Palin did. Can you believe that?! And McCain chose her to run the country if something should happen to him!! My Lord. Give me a break. McCain displayed very poor judgment. I watched Barack be cool, calm, thoughtful, and collected as the economy took a drastic turn for the worse while McCain erratically suspended his campaign in an attempt to be at the White House to have his input to solve the problem. When he got there it is reported that his words made things worse. It is reported that McCain’s position killed the deal that was on the table. McCain again displayed poor judgment. His being at the table did not solve the economic problems facing the world. His being at the table made the decision making process worse. His erratic behavior was again a display of poor judgment. McCain still wants to continue the Iraq war knowing the pretences for the war are false. This is clearly bad judgment. He couldn’t love the country if he is willing to risk the well being of the country with bad decisions and choosing an unqualified person as his running mate. He may say he puts the country first, but his behavior clearly says he is lying. If he loved the country he would not behave as he is behaving.

In my opinion Colin Powell exhibited true love for America. If Colin had followed traditional wisdom and the example be set by John McCain, Colin would have looked at his service as Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff under a Republican President, his service as Secretary of State under a Republican President, he would have looked at his history with the Republican Party and because of his history and loyalty it would dictate that Powell would endorse McCain for President. But Powell’s love for America trumped his loyalty and history with the Republican Party. His love for America would not let him endorse McCain. He knows better than most that nothing less than being President can prepare a person to be President. The qualification for being President is good judgment. In the times we live in it is critical that America has someone at the helm that has good judgment. Powell’s love for America dictated that he choose to endorse Barack over McCain. Barack has displayed the judgment that makes him clearly the better choice to be the next President of America. My momma affectionately used to tell me that sometimes the truth is hard, but it’s fair. Always go with the truth. It is what God would have you do.

White Man: You make a compelling case. I was trying to be mad at you, but now I truly see that you love America. I wanted to be afraid to support Obama because I know how as whites we have really mistreated Black people in this country. I was afraid that if a Black man got into the ultimate seat of power that he would seek revenge against us for our behavior. You have helped me to see that my fears are unfounded. God is doing a new thing. God is doing a just thing. God is love. It is time for a change. I want to be a part of that change. I see clearly that Barack is trying to increase the love and decrease the hate. I want to be a part of that love fest. I must be a part of that. I will not continue to be a prisoner of my history. I will not let my history jeopardize our future. Thank you for helping me to see. God is a good God. He has chosen this man for a time like this.

Black Man: Now you must not get confused. Barack is not God. He is like God, but he is not God. A cup of water from the ocean is like the ocean, but it is not the ocean. Likewise, Barack and all of God’s children are like God, but we are not God. The oppressed cannot truly be free without freeing the oppressor. Oppression is a relationship. The oppressed do not help human relations if the tables of oppression are turned around on the oppressor. With sincere repentance we all can get along as children of God. May God continue to order our steps?

If you want to see Colin Powell’s entire interview, here’s the link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27265729#27265729