Open Letter to Jackson from Najee (Political Activist)

Rev Jackson, your vulgar tirade caught on tape by Fox News where you said you wanted to
cut Barack Obama's nuts off and accusing him of talking down to Black folks by giving
moral lectures at churches is the last straw for me and a growing number of African
Americans who are outraged at your comments.

There are many Blacks across the nation, myself included, who are appreciative for
the work and contributions you have made in your civil rights career. But at this point,
you're hurting Black America and Obama.

In September 2007 it was clear that you were frustrated by Obama, when you stated in
an interview in South Carolina that Obama needs to stop acting white, because you felt he was not engaged in the Jena 6 movement enough to your liking.

Rev Jackson your continued verbal attacks on Obama are unwarranted it's as if you're
jealous that Obama has eclipsed you and both your campaigns for the Democratic nomination
by actually preparing to win it as the 2008 presumptive nominee.
[http://www.eu!%20rweb.com/images/jesse_jacksonbarack_obama(2005-med-wide).jpg]
Jesse Jackson & Barack Obama
For years you have been criticized as an ambulance chaser and opportunist. Many of
Dr. King's insiders and aides say that King did not trust you. 40 years ago in Memphis as
King lay dying from an assassin's bullet your first thought and action was to smear your
shirt with Dr. King's blood.

You then proceeded to appear in Chicago the next day on several news programs
wearing the same shirt you deliberately smeared with his blood as if you were the heir of King's movement. Obama's recent comments about Black fathers not abandoning their
children and accepting moral responsibility in our lives is a lesson you apparently needed to learn when you were younger. If you had, it may not have caused you to cheat on your wife and father a child out of wedlock with a former staffer.

Maybe that's what really bothered you about Obama's message to the church that Black
fathers should be responsible for their children; you certainly haven't been.
[http://www.eurweb.com/images/Jesse_Jackson&daughter-Ashley(undated-med-wide).jpg]
Jesse Jackson and daughter Ashley

Living in Los Angeles I have watched your ten year old daughter Ashley Laverne Jackson grow up. Over the years I have had the pleasure to spend several holidays with your daughter including Christmas, her birthday parties and other milestones in her life.

I will never turn my back on Ashley her mom and their family. It's about providing
friendship, support and love to them while you have been missing in action. Your daughter has never traveled or taken a trip with you, you have an annual birthday party in Beverly Hills every year where your entire family is welcome but your youngest child has only attended it once. She has had very little contact with her
siblings and has never even met her big brother Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr, who
apparently doesn't want anything to do with her. And allegedly (I believe it to be true), he was the one to leak the scandal to the media concerning your affair. Now don't get
me wrong, Obama is not above reproach. He is a politician and is fair game to be fairly
criticized by you or anyone else. But to personally attack Obama is crossing the line.
Obama is not talking down to Black people; he wants you and other dead beat dads to
spend time and care for your children properly. The destruction of the Black family and absentee fathers is a major problem in our community.

It's a problem that King spoke out and fought against. 40 years after King's murder
I can see why King didn't trust you. If you can't and won't sincerely help Obama in this
historic run then at least stop attacking him. Listen to Obama's message of being a
responsible father and start taking care of your daughter Ashley.
Najee Ali

Hands Off Zimbabwe!

Presidential Candidate Barack Obama has presented himself as a
political leader who will talk and listen to other world leaders. His
recent (imperialist-toe-the-line) attack on President Robert Mugabe
contradicts this position.

We encourage everyone to contact Mr. Obama's campaign headquarters and
dare him to do what he said he would do. The situation in Zimbabwe
smacks of the recolonization of Africa. President Mugabe reclaimed
the Zimbabwe land stolen by British colonizers and return in to the
indigenous people of Zimbabwe. Ever since then President Mugabe has
been under constant attack by US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Western
Europe. It is crystal clear that the opposition party MDC-T is bought
and paid for by former european colonizers.

Tell Barack Obama -
MUGABE IS RIGHT!
HANDS OFF ZIMBABWE!
ZIMBABWE WILL NEVER BE A COLONY AGAIN!

To reach the Campaign Headquarters by phone, please
call: (866) 675-2008

Contact by mail at:

Obama for America
P.O. Box 8102
Chicago, IL 60680

EMAIL
finance@barackobama.com
or http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/contact2 WOMEN FOR
OBAMA (718) 398-1766

___________________________________

Obama says world not doing enough on ZimbabweThu 26 Jun 2008, 5:16
GMTBy Caren BohanCHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. presidential candidate
Barack Obama said on Wednesday the international community must do
more to try to help resolve Zimbabwe's political crisis and to
pressure President Robert Mugabe who is clinging to power.He singled
out South Africa as one country that needs to apply more pressure on
Mugabe, 84, who has refused to step down."What's happening in Zimbabwe
is tragic. This is a country that used to be the bread basket of
Africa. Mugabe has run the economy into the ground. He has perpetrated
extraordinary violence against his own people," Obama told a news
conference in Chicago.Obama, a Democrat, is running in the November
presidential election against Republican John McCain."Not only do I
think that the United Nations needs to continue to apply as much
pressure as possible on the Mugabe government, but in particular other
African nations, including South Africa, I think have to be much more
forceful in condemning the extraordinary violence that's been taking
place there," Obama said."And frankly, they have been quiet for far
too long and allowed Mugabe to engage in this sort of anti-colonial
rhetoric that is used to distract from his own profound failures as a
leader," he added.In the heaviest pressure yet on Mugabe by Zimbabwe's
neighbors, a troika of southern African nations urged the postponement
of Friday's presidential election which they say would lack legitimacy
in the current violent climate.Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai
took refuge in the Dutch embassy in Harare this week after announcing
he had pulled out of election because of violence which has killed
about 90 people and displaced 200,000.The government has said it will
go ahead with the presidential election despite a storm of
international condemnation and calls to postpone the vote."What is
remaining of this election is a complete and total sham," Obama said,
echoing U.S. President George W. Bush."I don't think that whatever the
results of this election on Friday, that Mugabe will be able to claim
any sort of legitimacy as a democratically elected leader in
Zimbabwe," he added. _____________________________

Amadi Ajamu
amadi4@aol.com
718-398-1766

*Zimbabwean Spirit Against The Gathering Storm*

The unfolding anti-Zimbabwean initiative of Britain and the United
States government is a part of the racist ideology of the West against a
free, independent Zimbabwe. As an African American who worked and lived in
Zimbabwe immediately after the Second Chimurenga I am appalled at the lack
of understanding on the part of those Zimbabweans who support the activities
of the Movement for Demoncratic Change, a party underwritten financially
from the United States and Britain.

Indeed, Samora Machel used to say that "The struggle for liberation is a
university." The only problem is that many people never went to war for
their lilberation. Harriet Tubman said that she could have saved a thousand
instead of the 300 she led to freedom if she could have convinced them that
they were enslaved people.

In fact, what we see in Zimbabwe is the attempt on the part of American
conservative groups joined with British groups to introduce a Trojan Horse
in the middle of the Zimbabwean nation. This is to be expected. This is the
pattern of destabilization and it is a shame that many of our own leaders in
the United States have not understood the intention of the sanctions against
Zimbabwe.

Morgan Tsvangarai is a creation of the white landed class in Zimbabwe.
Through their money, as seen with Tsvangarai's support from the white farmer
Roy Bennett, who is the treasurer of the MDC, and other whites the MDC has
been able to buy votes, influence the peasant populations in the rural
areas, and create chaos.

I trained journalists in Zimbabwe at ZIMCO in the early l980s and was
responsible for its first diploma class. I have been angered by the
continuing propaganda of the Western media against the liberties and
freedoms of Zimbabweans.

While we all condemn the actions of the goons who attack innocent
people, we reserve our greatest condemnation for the political goons who are
like Uncle Toms begging their former masters for bread. They will sell their
mothers and fathers' inheritance for money from the West.

MDC is an instrument of the Western imperialists in the most concrete
terms. It receives its money, resources, and support from the most
reactionary elements in the Western countries and has shown itself to be
against the general interests of the masses of people.

Freedom loving people realize the attempt to paint Zimbabwe as a rogue
government, disconnected from the people, by the Western media. There is no
reason for the people of Zimbabwe to be despondent because there are many
friends of freedom and independence who see the hoopla in the British and
American media as a part of a wider orchestration of the imperialist
corporate attempt to undermine African agency.

On CNN in the United States, Jesse Jackson said on June 24th that Robert
Mugabe was a hero but not anymore. This is a heresy. What has Mugabe done to
be demoted as a hero? He gave his youth and adult life fighting in the bush
against the white occupiers of his foreparents land. Mugabe will always be a
hero to freedom loving African Americans. No, Mugabe's land reform action
to return stolen land to the legitimate owners has caused an orchestrated
campaign against Mugabe and his government. But the catalogue does not stop
there. He captured and put in prison a group of military adventurers who
were planning to overthrown an African nation. Many of them had ties to the
white community in Britain.

I see Jesse Jackson's position as part of the international effort to
pressure the Zimbabwean people to submit to intervention and international
pressure. Even Nelson Mandela was in Britain condemning Mugabe for the
tragedy of leadership. This is the power of the Western political system.

When Mandela was in jail, Mugabe allowed the use of his own country and
his own resources to aid the ANC fighters in trying to overthrow the
minority regime in South Africa. Has Mandela forgot this or did someone fail
to tell him?

I think that the progressive elements in the African American community
must reassure the Zimbabwean people that they have many friends in the West
and around the world who truly understand the reason for the suffering in
Zimbabwe and know that the MDC is being used to reassert racist and
compradorist elements in the country.

Zimbabweans are the only people who can solve their problems; however,
the Zimbabwean people must know that their enemies have been working around
the clock to undermine the legitimate functioning of the government.

Since the land reform movement the reactionary white and black elements
in the United States, Australian, South Africa, and Britain have been
seeking an internal Zimbabwean lever to pry loose the strong, committed, and
determined will of the Zimbabwean people.

If the MDC pulls out of the election then the election must continue
because Tsvangarai's name is already on the ballots. The African Union has
observers in the country already but Mugabe has wisely kept out of the
nation those individuals who would enter the country to spy, undermine, or
to create chaos by trying to find enemies of the government.

The MDC is pulling out of the election because it knows it cannot win.
They will try to convince the world that the decisions of the people are
forced, but Zimbabweans must stand with their heroic history and refuse to
allow outside forces to rob the country of its independence. Long live the
heroes of the Chimurenga! Long live the comrades who gave their lives in the
mountains and valleys of beautiful Zimbabwe.

The European and American dance toward intervention inside Zimbabwe is a
part of the same hypocrisy that Africa has experienced for many years.
If Morgan
Tsvangarai believes that his attachment to the West and its interests in
supporting the minority white landholders in Zimbabwe will bring him to
power he is absolutely wrong.

The masses of Zimbabweans understand that when 4000 whites held 75
percent of the arable land in Zimbabwe there was no outrage on the part of
the Europeans and Americans. These masses may have to tighten their belts,
rein in their materials needs in order to maintain their freedom as Britain
and American play out their sanctions.

Should Zimbabwe acquiesce to the interests of the white minority against
the masses of its own people it will surely be the worst form of slavery
that has appeared in southern Africa. The fact that Mugabe at the head of
ZANU was a military leader means that he knows what the situation was in his
country before the rise of the MDC-T and its supporters from the American
and British right wing.

So long as the people elect the ZANU-PF government it should remain in
power as the vanguard of the revolution. When the people, without coercion
from the outside, choose another party then ZANU-PF should leave office.

There is no wonder that a survey of young Africans a couple of years ago
gave Robert Mugabe higher marks for leadership against the West than any
other continental leader in Africa. Long Live Robert Mugabe!

*Molefi Kete Asante*

President, Association of Nubian Kemetic Heritage

Author, The History of Africa

www.asante.net

Back to the Bush: No Compromise for Zimbabwe
By Rashieda Shukuraht Weaver

There is no compromise in the Mugabe government for shared power with neo-colonial interests of Africa. African Union meetings at Sharm El Sheik this week proved only one thing: and that is simply Zimbabwe’s revolution continues. ZANU-PF representatives say that releasing the Presidential seat to Morgan Tvansgarai is tantamount to re-instituting colonial rule. Freedom from colonialism may sound to some of us living in the west as a remnant of the past. Nostalgic rhetoric from a by-gone era; but for the Mugabe government the war for freedom has not ended. ZANU-PF representatives viewed the African Union talks as suggestive and not mandatory because the A.U. has been consistent in asserting its support of sovereignty for the member states. Five of the member states spoke out against the elections in Zimbabwe with NEPAD member Botswana being most vocal. Benin and Senegal in the western region echoed Botswana in objection to recent Zimbabwe elections. Western democracy has failed again at flexing political muscle to exercise its will in Zimbabwe.
Movement for Democratic Change lead by Morgan Tvansgarai is the contending party seeking government control. MDC and Tvansgarai are supported by western interests. It has been reported that the European Union refuses to recognize any government other than a Tvansgarai government in Zimbabwe. Current sanctions by the European Union and the United States have hampered the countries financial markets with hyper-inflation. Only two months ago #10 Downing Street responded to Tvansgarai’s call for regime change in Zimbabwe by stating that the U.K. finds the situation in Zimbabwe untenable and that a ZANU-PF government is “no longer relevant to the people of Zimbabwe.” The U.K. has lobbied SADC officials to exert its influence at the United Nations Security Council to impose additional economic sanctions. Yet Zimbabwe stands defiant in the face of western ridicule. ZANU-PF representatives are still hopeful saying that Africa and the west will see Zimbabwe triumph over neo-colonialism in the end.
Run-off election results are only indicative of the commitment to principle that was initiated by freedom fighters in the Rhodesian colonial period. The blood soaked earth of the Zimbabwe bush has been memorialized in the voting booths of Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Manicaland, Matabeleland and Mashonaland. The western world was rocked by these results. In fact the African Union Observer Mission to Zimbabwe was split over election results. Some of the participants were accused of fostering a “hidden agenda” favoring Britain and the U.S. because the Mission was in part funded by Britain in the amount of 7 million pounds.
The Run-off election ended with the inauguration of Robert Mugabe for another term but the A.U. Observer Mission was still dead-locked. Both MDC and ZANU-PF allege violence leading to the election yet voter turn out was strong. It was difficult for the Mission to determine what segment of the voting population was influenced by the violence and for which candidate. The March election results showed that MDC gained considerable ground. They now have thirty more seats in Parliament and the A.U. Observer Mission officially cited little change from March elections to the run-off election results. Dissenting members of the A.U. Observer Mission still pointed to “voter apathy” even after head of the Mission Jose Marcos Barrica of Angola concluded “that it is impossible to force two million people to vote.” He added that “voting is done secretly and if you force someone to vote there is no guarantee he will vote for you.” Dissenting members of the Mission are from three SADC nations, Tanzania, Botswana and Swaziland the difference of opinion over results was abridged with a call for national unity.
African Union Commission Chairman Mr. Jean Ping commended leaders of SADC in the speech he made at Sharm El Sheik, Egypt in their efforts to assist Zimbabwe through a very hotly contested election process. Essentially the A.U. did not make a strong admonishment of Mugabe or a hearty endorsement of Tvansgarai. Western efforts to oust Robert Mugabe at this point are fruitless. Western styled democracy is not compatible with the African political scene. The people of Zimbabwe have spoken but not in a language the west wants to hear. The days of the puppet government in Africa are numbered. Many have forgotten the unity of spirit that brought Rhodesia to its knees. The task of African democracy is to liberate. The goal set by Joshua Nkomo and all those who died in the bush before him will be met. African democracy will be forged from a culture of resistance to all forms of exploitation which include: gender, ethnic, social, political and economic.
Inter-cooperation between African nations such as increased trade and bi-lateral partnerships are threatening to western agendas of containment. Mugabe’s government has opened venues for increased trade routes inside Africa. His government has enabled regimes in the region to conduct elections. Mugabe’s government has provided resources to neighboring countries in crisis during natural disasters and sent in Zimbabwean troops to secure peace in the region. The land and mineral resources once at the sole use of the west is now challenged by Mugabe’s regime. His government signals an end to the western lifestyle and the favored candidate will maintain the status quo. Pope Benedict was recently quoted as saying; “Our western way of life has stripped Africa’s people of their riches and continues to strip them.” Resistance to this exploitation today is borne out in the ballot box the democratic response rejects western control. Mr. Morgan Tvansgarai has publicly vowed to re-write Zimbabwe’s constitution and return land reclaimed by the Mugabe government to the settlers.

Africans who are responsible American citizens must stay abreast of political occurrences in Zimbabwe and all of Africa. This is the first article in a series revealing the inconsistencies of reporting on Zimbabwe. Back to the Bush is only a synopsis on the statements of resolve many Africans have conveyed regarding franchise and current economic conditions. The author of this article Rashieda Shukuraht Weaver is organizer for the Zimbabwe Support Committee of Chicago and can be reached by e-mail address: sparkchange@aol.com

Pastor

I communicated with Najee and he is not necessarily for Barack Obama even though he chastised Jesse.

I think Black people need to look at Jesse's face and see that a remark about personal responsibility would not engender that much rage and anger in Jesse Jackson. I have watched him since the civil rights days with King. He came to Americus, GA on my behalf as I fought with my local hospital that retaliated against me because I demanded that Blacks be treated fairly in a hospital where I was feeding Whites who were in the best jobs.

If he got that angry, I would dare say that he and Al Sharpton know something that most of us don't know. That was too much anger in Jesse's face.

When Al Sharpton was asked to comment, Al was extremely uncomfortable. He said Barack was not talking down to Blacks and that people should not forget all of the great work done by Jesse Jackson.

When it comes to Barack Obama, our people have deified him and he is up there with Jesus. So Jesse, Tavis, several great Blacks in Congress had better run for cover because they will not tolerate any criticism of Barack Hussein Obama.

I held my nose and endorsed him in my small town newspaper because I couldn't support a Republican of any stripe. And as bad as I think Barack will be, he could not be worst than McCain.

Barack is moving to the political right and it is so disturbing to all of us who supported Hillary but the Obama supporters are still sipping on his Jim Jones like Kool Aid.

How many insults will the Obama Blacks endure. The NNPA, the Black press association, invited the brother twice, he turned them down twice. He gave money to the White media but not a dime to the Black press. Why were they inviting him and they had planned on giving Barack an award twice? How much more are our people willing to take.

Poor Tavis Smiley invited him twice, Hillary came to the show. He avoided the King Remembrance in Memphis, Hillary and McCain went.

I hope he doesn't think White people are so stupid that they don't see his deceitful trick on them. Ignore the Black concerns now and then address them after elected president. That should be enough for Whites to abandon him.

Finally, Jesse Jackson knows more than we think. I did not know his son Jesse Jr was a co-chair of the Obama campaign. So, Jesse had to whisper and he remained gagged so his son can get that Obama money. Everybody needs to just stay tuned as this stranger from offshore will be fully revealed pretty soon.

john marshall

SOUTH AFRICA/AZANIA

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE CRISIS IN ZIMBABWE

The Socialist Party of Azania is noting with great concern the recent developments in the region most particularly concerning Zimbabwe. While we are also concerned about the situation, however, we note that despite the many hardships, the country still remain in tact with most of its functions in place and also with great wealth from platinum, the recently discovered oil, uranium and other minerals. The calls therefore, for military intervention from most particularly Britain and the US is extremely worrisome to us.

Western imperialism would have us believe that they have great concern about the democracy project but existing and available evidence tells us the contrary. America has gone on record as saying 'We have no friends but interests,' then the question that begs an answer concerning Zimbabwe is since the country of Zimbabwe is not their friend, what then is their interest in Zimbabwe. African countries and leaders should not agree to be coerced into schemes designed to, at end destroy Africa and its people.

We say for NO TO MILITARY INTERVENTION IN ZIMBABWE, WE SAY NO TO ANY IMPERIALIST AND FOREIGN AGGRESSION IN ZIMBABWE: Military intervention has not assisted any country anywhere in the world, except to bring untold suffering to those countries that have been invaded. Yesterday it was Somalia which was completely dislocated and destroyed, Iraq is literally destroyed, Sudan is a deathly crisis and Zimbabwe will definitely be destroyed should military intervention become a reality. REMEMBER, tomorrow it will definitely be South Africa.

Against a military intervention headed by American and British imperialist and NATO, we are on the side of the Zimbabwean people and of Mugabe.

We henceforth call on all the workers and their organizations, our people, the youth and all organizations to support this call for a campaign against the intended occupation of Zimbabwe and we will work with anyone who is trying to work to defend the land, the people, the sovereignty of Zimbabwe, peace and stability. We urge all workers in their organizations, peoples, locally and internationally to endorse.

For more info, contact:
Victor Moeleso
Moatihadi Molefe

Precisely.

Thank you Rev. Ajabu for another incisive view on recent issues that ought to concern every person in this and other nations. I am intrigued by Mr. Marshall's email response and his suggestion that Blacks are blindly following Barack, that there is a loyalty that appears to be clinging because of race. I have seriously contemplated this phenomenon of race loyalty --- something that occurs not only with Blacks, but other racial groups including Whites. Surely, it is very likely the case that some Blacks endorse Barack because of his race, but to claim that (most?) Blacks do this BLINDLY is to go against factual evidence (past Black presidential contenders have not garnered this level of Black support) and sadly, perpetuate ideas of Black-inferiority. Do you believe, Mr. Marshall, that Blacks are so nimble-minded that they can't decide on a candidate based on the scope of qualities he or she possesses?
I like to look at this phenomenon more complexly. When Blacks do gravitate toward Black leaders without closely scrutinizing these candidates, it seems a far better task to examine the converging historical and contextual factors that influence these decisions. Obama offers a complicated profile but he also generally displays a genuine desire to seek change in a society that has primarily bolstered the quality of life for White, monied males. And when the opposing candidate, Hillary Clinton, shores up some racist comments, then the misunderstandings and hostilities that characterize societal racism are invoked, leading to divisiveness and perchance some blindness. Wouldn't the more appropriate attacks be on structures, like media and "acceptable" language, that promote the divisiveness? Yet another structure that promotes racism is the silence surrounding White racism: the centuries-long loyalties of Whites toward White leaders (yes, because of their Whiteness) continue unabated within our society and are too often unexamined.
Doesn't science dictate that we take into account the historical and contemporary contexts that help shape our thoughts in order to understand ANY human phenomenon? More pointedly, isn't it time we were all were better informed by taking bold steps to address the role of racism in influencing virtually ALL matters that shape our existence in the world? Racism is not all-encompassing, but it most certainly is a phenomenon that few really want to speak about so we're left with lopsided understandings or no understanding at all.
Let's take those bold steps. It is the easy way out to say Black support for Obama is a blind action. It would also be the easy way out to conclude that the Whites who support Obama are blindly supporting a Black man. Neither position has a sound scientific foundation to be able to draw the conclusion MAINLY because we do not ask such questions in surveys and the nature of racism requires some transparency in this sort of inquiry. I am sure that race is a factor for many Blacks supporting Obama as it is a factor for some Whites not supporting him. In my opinion, the real phenomenon that should be studied is how all of us employ racism in our decision-making and what its impact helps either to alleviate or perpetuate the strain of this malignancy. ct

Queen Nzinga,

To what does your comment "precisely" refer? Please elaborate.

Chalmer, I hope Marshall reads your comment carefully. We cannot over simplyfy the complexity of our historical situation. There are several phenomena surrounding the candidacy of Senator Obama. To really understand them we would have to collect and analyze empirical data.

Marshall, how did you get in touch with Najee? It would sure be interesting for him to share his position on Barack's candidatcy.

On yesterday, Bishop Benjamin spoke about the phenomena of how Barack responded to Jesse's insult. Typically, in American politics it is tit for tat. You insult me, I insult you back. But Barack, again, took the high road. He displayed his Christian proclivity to accept Jesse's apology in a most genuine fashion. The world awaits the dawning of the Obama era as President of a country whose very foundation was built on supposed white race superiority. God, I beleive, is truly moving in a mysterious way. May God continue to order our steps.

Mmoja, I enjoyed your column and particularly like the following statements to Jesse and Bernie Mac:

To legitimately chastise is appropriate, to suggest to neuter Barack is emphatically unacceptable. (I supported Jesse in his runs for the presidency and always thought of him as an opportunist, but also intelligent and capable. I certainly did not expect such a vicious remark from him about Barack, even privately. I am stunned and can only assume that he is absolutely green with envy!)

Bounce your material off of them before you make this mistake again. Get an elder’s, who has history in the struggle, opinion on how a joke will be received. They have the wisdom to direct you in this regard. We must understand the game that we are in. It is not a joke. (Unfortunately, I'm not sure that the elders--like Jesse--who have history in the struggle would be able to help Bernie with this. For people who have made a living exploiting black victimization, this uncharted territory is threatening. For some who may be interested in exploring the new territory, fear may be inhibiting them because they don't know what to do. Others, like Jesse, don't want to go into the new territory at all because that means a total revision of a comfortable lifestyle. Humans are notoriously resistant to change, even when it's for the better. A lot of black people are having real problems with even the IDEA of a black president. It unsettles them. They never expected it; they don't know how to react. It inevitably alters their view of the world and their role in it. I write about this on my blog:

http://janetcheathambell.com/
http://agingrace.blogspot.com/

Correction: President Mugabe to choose his predecessor.However, the person to proceed him...(This is my English teacher self speaking. The words you want here are successor and succeed.) Precede means to go before and succeed means to come after.

Keep it going, Mmoja.

Janet,

As always your are right on target. I wish I had you to read the article before it was published. Thanks for the correction. Constructive criticism can do nothing but take us forward. Together WE WILL WIN!! God continue to bless and keep you and yours. That means our's. Thanks again.

Chalmer

I read your comments and I must say that was the most eloquent rambling that I have read in a long time. You began with a simple statement by me that Blacks are blindly following Barack Obama and it is solely because of race. I do stand by that statement which is an opinion.

That opinion is not scientific but it is simply an opinion based on asking non assorted individuals a simple question. Who is Barack Obama. Invarialbly, I get, " he is a community organizer on the Southside of Chicago," or "he was president of the Harvard Law Review," but never any solid answers as to who this man is. There are Blacks who admit that they know he is a brother and that is all. That is why I made the statement that it seems to me that blacks are blindly supporting this man. Is that a scientific survery? No one said it was.

You lose me when you decide for the writer what should or should not be attacked. This is not a teacher critiquing an essay, this is an opinion and you have to take what is given and either agree or disagree. It is quite arrogant for any reader to even suggest what another writer should or should not attack. That is a new one for me.

Your discussion on racism goes nowhere. I would suggest that you read what you wrote again and see if you can understand the convoluted thinking that does not come to any logical conclusion. It sounds good but there is no substance.

I have attacked Whites who voted to re elect George Bush, 59 million strong; and the London Times said in 2004, "How can 59 million people be so dumb." We who write opinions can call the group dumb or blind. You would have to agree that Whites have not been too bright by electing Republicans like Reagan and the Bushes. Likewise, Blacks cannot be thinking if they think that the White majority will vote to elect Barack Obama as president.

Even if they do, Barack will be what they want him to be and Blacks will be made irrelevent. Not only do we criticize Blacks for blindness and emotionalism but even the Democrats keep making the same mistakes. If you couldn't elect Gore and Kerry and they are white, what makes them think they can get an unknown Black man like Obama over.

We are giving opinions on this blog not scientific papers as you seem to imply in your analysis of my comments. I don't submit scientific papers to a blog like this.

So I would respectfully ask you to remain approriate for the type of forum that we are engaged in and save your lofty arrogance for a scholarly endeavor.

John D Marshall, MD

Zimbabwe thanks China, Russia for UN veto
Posted: 07/15
From: MNN

In an interview yesterday, Deputy Minister of Information and Publicity Cde Bright Matonga hailed China and Russia for vetoing concerted efforts by Britain and the United States to victimise Zimbabwe.

(The Herald)

GOVERNMENT yesterday thanked Zimbabwe’s true and trusted friends for thwarting efforts by the West to impose more sanctions on the country through the United Nations Security Council last week.

In an interview yesterday, Deputy Minister of Information and Publicity Cde Bright Matonga hailed China and Russia for vetoing concerted efforts by Britain and the United States to victimise Zimbabwe.

He also thanked Libya, South Africa and Vietnam for their unreserved support for Zimbabwe.

"We are grateful to our all-weather friends, particularly China and Russia. We thank them wholeheartedly for their continued support and for the work they have done before, during and after independence. They continue to support us even during these difficult times," he said. "We are very grateful for their support.

"As Zimbabweans, we now need to work together as a united front. We have to put our house in order and be organised. This is the time for nation building."

Cde Matonga said it was important for Zimbabweans to put their differences aside and join hands for the development of the country.

"We have to work together as a nation. We must be united and disciplined. We do not need to take our friends for granted by always putting them in difficult circumstances as they might fail to defend us next time," he said.

Cde Matonga acknowledged the support the country was receiving from Sadc and the African Union but noted that some African countries were being compromised by the budgetary support they receive from the West.

He said there were no divisions in Sadc and the AU over Zimbabwe although the West had tried to use divide-and-rule tactics.

"The enemy has not rested. The enemy is very bitter, vindictive and racist. We should not relax and say we have defeated them. It may look as victory, but it is not. We did not want to be on the agenda. We have to focus on nation building," Cde Matonga said.

Moves in the Security Council to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe at the UN level failed on Friday when Russia and China, two of the 15-member body’s permanent members, vetoed the US draft resolution that could have widened the current illegal embargo against Zimbabwe to include an arms ban, among others.

The US, Britain, Italy, France, Panama, Croatia, Belgium, Costa Rica and Burkina Faso voted in favour of the sanctions while China, Russia, Libya, Vietnam and South Africa voted against. Indonesia abstained.

The negative vote of a single permanent member kills a resolution.

Russia condemned the move, saying it was an attempt to take the Security Council beyond its mandate of maintaining international peace and security.

It noted that such "illegitimate and dangerous attempts" could unbalance the whole UN system, adding that the problems in Zimbabwe could not be solved by the imposition of sanctions.

Stung by their failure, Britain and the US criticised Russia with America’s UN envoy saying Moscow’s veto cast doubt on its reliability as a G8 ally.

But Russia slammed the accusation as "unacceptable".

"Representatives of the United States and Britain have declared that our vote betrayed the G8 Tokyo summit accords on Zimbabwe and that this posed questions about Russia’s reliability as a partner in the G8," government spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said in a statement.

"We consider such statements unacceptable," he added.

In a separate statement, the Russian foreign ministry condemned violence but warned the proposed UN resolution would have set a "dangerous precedent" for interference in countries’ internal affairs.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said they would shift to the European Union to see what further action to take against Zimbabwe.

http://www.herald.co.zw

Dear Dr. Marshall,
Opinion that relies on the comments of a few --- and probably on a few whom one views negatively --- can be dangerous, especially when the opinion-giver has influence over others. What I've tried to do in my remarks is to point out ideas that are all too pervasive and based mostly on lore. I'll admit that I am a researcher, consequently I have a slant in how I see the world. But think of the benefit of scholarship and science to the public's understanding of virtually everything! Reasoned, systematic ways of approaching complex phenomena is how people have been able to make sense of the world. Opinion based on gut feelings and random queries surely is not what will help us deal with racism or any other phenomenon.
This situation is much too serious for ANYONE to give off opinions as though these were sufficient enough for us, those who truly care about the situation, to truly wrestle with it. Forgive me if I sounded too harsh,but my main point merely is to urge you to consider evidence and yes, scholarship. In all likelihood, we can do a better job of changing the world progressively when we are informed by truth. ct

Truth will set you free. Opinion not based on truth will lead you to pointless conversation. We must seek the truth. Chalmer your point is well taken and well made.

Pastor,
I concur with Queen Nzinga....Precisely!!!! This was good talking!

Rev. Jackson has displayed the same problem that Tavis Smiley did...jealousy and envy. They are no longer the men, voices, or hope for the future and are about to go nuts! It saddens me to see this happen. It happened to Diana Ross when she couldn't take the pressure from Beyonce! She began to drink and publicly embarrass herself. After several times to the drug rehab facilities, she got it together. Moving on is a signal that another is coming through and, indeed, it is time to move aside and let the youth take the lead with some freshness. It bothers me greatly that Blacks do this. It seems to me it's a part of life, but a part that needs to be handled with grace and dignity. When your time is up at least leave the good that was done at the forefront of people's discussions. At this rate, the only thing they can remember is that Rev. Jackson wanted to cut off the nuts of the only successful man currently running for president. Sad...It was hard to look at him at the Ecumenical Service!

On July 10, 2008 at the The Indiana Black Expo Ecumenical Service in Indianapolis @ Light of the World Christian Church I felt Bishop T.G. Benjamin did a very commendable job of leaving him in tact, but I didn't like the pressure or the position it placed Bishop in. The biblical principle was correct, but when you have a senior in position to lift up anyone... and a preacher...the expectations are so much higher than for that mistake to have happened. He's been in front of mic's for years and FOX News too....No talking should have been done. As Jackson stated on Amos Brown Show, it was a dumb thing to do!

The analogy of his son and the scripture you cited was beautiful. It sho' was the truth! Maybe, Rev. Jackson needs to get a real job! The truth hurts and since he has a daughter standing in the wings....he was convicted by his own sinful activity.

Bill Cosby has been speaking this responsible truth for a while....and no matter who says it IT STILL IS TRUE!!! Barack isn't perfect, and he will make mistakes, and time will show us the reason, BUT God has blessed us with such an individual for such a time as this and I'm grateful to be alive to witness it.

Now, Bernie....
Because he grew up with the audience of the street corner, brotha's, he obviously doesn't know that we must choose our audiences. And as you said, their is a time and a place for such humor. Because Barack's skin color is Black, one better wait and weigh what they say and how they say it, as he must do. The politics of fear are raging and the ignorance of folks is alive and well, especially amongst Blacks! How much news do you have to watch to discern that? It probably was an honest mistake. I hope he got the message and the rest of the jokester that are employed doing such.

This column sure got a sistah fired up this morning!

Do not remain silent....this column is so refreshing and enlightening...you are blessing the masses, even Marshall!

Us,

Dear Chalmer

With all due respect, I am somewhat puzzled to hear your plea for a writer on a simple blog to support opinions with evidence. I can deal with evidence but to encourage scientific truth in a conversation on a blog.

Opinions made in my comment did have evidence and examples to support my position. For example, when I maintained my position on the "Blindness of Blacks on Barack", I gave the example of the London Times calling 59 million American Whites "dumb." Again, that was an opinion just like my Blacks are "Blind" about Barack.

I unscientifically asked many Blacks why they are supporting Barack Obama and his supporters seemed stunned by the question. Likewise, I have inundated this blog and others on the numerous reason why I supported Hillary Clinton.

I would ask you as a researcher to put the question to Barack supporters that you know and see what answers you come up with. You will be amazed how little our people know about Obama. I had no other choice but to conclude that Blacks support Barack mainly because he is a brother. Of course, that is not scientific but it is an opinion after asking Barack supporters.

You claim you look more complexly at these things but you never presented any evidence of what you were espousing. In fact, you did a critical analysis of my comments as if I was registered for a course in Engish or Communications that you are teaching. You must be an educator as your comments were replete with unsolicited suggestions as if you were getting paid to respond to a blog.

My comments on Bush being reelected, Democrats losing the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, and Obama's lack of a track record were opinions that are well supported by evidence and logic. You don't have to base those facts on "lore" because Americans did re elected Bush, even though they knew he was unable to govern.

The Democrats were defeated by the Republicans with Al Gore and John Kerry losing their elections. The comment that I made was that Democrats would support an unknown Black man over a well known and accomplished former first lady knowing that the majority of Americans are White and racist.

Politics is a science and it is risky to run a Black candidate against a White when the majority of the voters are White. As a former NAACP president and local activist, we have never done that. If you polled the members of the Black Congressional Caucus, the majority will have come from areas with large Black numbers and liberal Whites to get elected.

You were not harsh in your original comments. You did come across as an instructor grading her class papers. I am glad to know that you are a researcher by profession but you have to learn to remove your researcher hat and have a simple conversation. Your loftiness is most inappropriate for a blog that is loaded with opinions that are not based on any scientific evidence. You seem to imply that truth is not the foundation of the writer's thoughts; we both know that it is up to the reader to sort it all out. Again, you can agree or disagree but you can't dictate to the writer his thoughts and reasons behind those ideas.

I think we have begun a great dialogue that can only benefit us as communicators. I am truly enjoying the conversation and I hope you are too.

Marshall

Rev Ajabu,
In reference to the statement from Marshall that said, "It is risky to run a Black candidate against a White when the majority of the voters are White." It seems to me that If we do what we've always done, then we'll always get what we've always gotten! Should there not be a chance for a Black man to run for the highest office in the land? Because it has never been done, does that mean that it can't or shouldn't be a possibility? The fact that Barack is new to the scene, it seems to me that "Blind and Uninformed" are too different positions. When you begin something and are new to the scene that doesn't mean that you are ill prepared to perform...it means you are just getting your foot in the door to begin what may be the most phenomenal presidency in history. Our present presidential leadership has lied, and been so ill prepared, and uninformed on matters that have the country in a real mess. I don't think it's wise to start looking for, and speaking gloom and doom on Obama. Since it has "never been done before" are the words that may have the country held back from positive world relations right now. Give Barack Obama a chance and World Peace may abound to ALL!
G

G

You can respond directly to me. It is too late to do anything but support Barack Obama as he is the Democratic nominee. I was dissecting the political ramifications of putting forth a Black man in hopes that a White majority will vote for him. I think that was not wise.

A minister told me yesterday that we are testing America as the world watches us. I told him that the world watched America brutalize us in slavery, lampooned us as ginnies and coons, segregated us, called us 3/5 of a man, discriminates against us now, and they run from us whenever we move near them. The world knows what racist we live with in America. So what are you testing when you throw dark meat {Barack} to the beasts when it prefers white meat {Hillary} that looks like the beast. [of course they are not pieces of meat].

We will have 99% of black people voting for Barack including myself. But we can't act like we don't know these racists Whites in the South and the Republicans; even half of the Democrats are not solidly behind Barack. We must hold on to reality as we charter our way to having a Black president.

I think it is a dangerous time to test white people to see if they finally have some love for Black people. We are in a "meltdown" of America and it is not time for on the job training. That is why some of us supported the Bill and Hillary team, they are ready.

You guys act like we just have to have a Black president. What is wrong with y'all. We are in the worst crisis since the Great Depression and it is too risky hoping that whites will vote this brother in. At least Hillary and Bill look like the majority. I just hate that we are in this position.

Remember, politics is a game of numbers and they have the numbers even if every Black votes for Barack. What Barack has on his side is the Bush "meltdown" because God knows they ought to be sick and tired of Republicans. That is the hope that I have for Barack making it in, even though I still question his loyalty to Black concerns.

We are not arguing but we are discussing this political matter like intelligent human beings as we try to sort out where we are at this point. Thank you Chalmer and G for your input. Pastor likes to beat on me too much so I can't thank him yet.

Be Blessed

Marshall