Blogs by Cynth'ya Lewis cynthyaspeaks@gmail.com
Pride, Pain, Prejudice, and Obama
8/27/2008 12:46:43 PM
This is a revisitation of Jeremiah Wright and things that our detractors from our higher purpose as one nation may try to use to thrwart our country from moving forward as a UNIFIED nation.
Yep, I'm proud to be an American. But not necessarily in the same way that a person who has never to experience gender and racial prejudice. To know that we need to constantly strive to reach out as not only a nation in this most historic election, but as a gathering of communities who need to remember what Welcome Wagons used to be like, and pot luck neighborhood suppers that fed people who might not have had enough to get by.
This is what we need to get back to in this country in my opinion. And the nice thing about opinions is that none of ours (unlike FOX news) is up for sale.
Case in point: People note Hillary Clinton's speech at the Democratic convention. Some news commentators of the New York Times note that "Obama owes Hillary big-time."
For those who have not yet read Barack Obama's FIRST book (remember this man is an author like most of us here in "the den") maybe I'm crazy, but again in my opinion, authors would make better public servants because as authors MOST of us tend to see characterization, right and wrong, fairness and imbalance...all on one grand stage called "The UnBridled Mind."
We are more research minded, more intuitive, and more responsible because what we say what we feel. And if we ARE wrong about something, we search for ways to correct it even if people are unwilling to forgive us.
But our major strength as authors I believe is this: In spite of "the press" we know "the truth."
Below is an email I received that embodies what every American may not understand, but absolutely needs to know....from a woman in her 70s who tells it like it is....
I'm proud to be black in America, because it teaches me not to give up when one little thing goes wrong. Hence, the letter....do not enjoy it....instill it in the lives of all you meet. And VOTE November 4, for America's future--not the sins of our past.
blessin's
cynth'ya
BEGIN THE EMAIL:
"An Elderly Woman Responds to Michelle Obama & Reverend Wright Contro... Wow! A Must Read!"
Out of the mouth of a life experienced comes wisdom and truth. Not bitterness ... This is definitely one to be shared & saved. This truly is a wonderful response.
As a 78 year old American of African descent, I feel compelled to respond to all this 'much ado about nothing' when it comes to the statement that Michelle Obama made about the fact that this is the first time in her adult
life that she has been proud to be an American.
The country needs to hear this from the Black perspective. Long before I was born, my grandf ather Joseph Burleson, owned a considerable amount of land in oil rich Texas ..
Because during that era, Blacks could not vote, nor could they contest anything in the courts of the United States , my grandfather's land was STOLEN by his White neighbor. My grandfather, who was literate and better educated than my grandmother, drove to town. Seeing my grandfather
leave, the covetous neighbor asked my grandmother to show him the deed to the property.
He snatched it.
She could not insist that he give it back, nor could she have reported this THEFT to the sheriff because of the fact
that Blacks had no rights in the 1800's. The prevailing law at that time was he who held the deed owned the land.
Do you think that is something that I am PROUD OF? Right now I should be living off the oil and gas royalties.
In 1934 when my dad drove us to Texas to meet his family, when he stopped to purchase gasoline, his daughters and wife were not allowed to use the washroom. As a man it was easier for him to relieve himself in the bushes,
but not for the females. We were, however, reduced to having to go in the bushes, also. Do you think I am PROUD OF THAT?
NOTE:(I, cynth'ya reed, remember going to the bushes as a young girl visiting the south.)
In 1938 when my oldest sister went to enroll in Hyde Park High School , she was told by the counselor that she did not want to take college preparatory courses, she wanted to study domestic science.
Do you think I'm PROUD OF THAT?
Of course, when Beatrice Lillian Hurley-Burleson went to school the next day, that was the last time anyone thought that the Burleson girls wanted to study domestic science.
When in 1943 my parents attempted to buy the 2 flat at 5338 South Kenwood , where we had lived since 1933, in Hyde Park, Chicago , IL we were told that
we could not buy it because there was a restrictive covenant that said that the property was never to be sold to 'Negroes.'
Do you think I am PROUD OF THAT?
In 1950 when I graduated from college, I was unable to get a job because I was considered 'overqualified'....the code word for they would not hire me because of my race. All of the want-ads called for Japanese Americans or
Neisis (the word given to Japanese Americans at that time).
Do you think that was something that I should have been PROUD OF?
I understood that America was trying to make up for the interring of innocent and patriotic Americans who were our enemy by association.
My cousin's barbershop was bombed in Mississippi in the 50's because he was encouraging Black people to register to vote. His wife who had earned a Masters Degree from Northwestern University lost her position as the
principal of the local school because of the voter registration activities.
Is that something I should be PROUD OF?
Now we get to Jeremiah Wright, the pastor of the Obama family. Wright like so many religious zealots overstates many things, that many of his members do not agree with. To suggest that Senator Obama should leave
the church of his choice is not only a double standard, but it is absurd.
Would any of the talking heads who are so alarmed by Wright's thoughts and speeches suggest that Catholics should abandon their faith or denounce and reject the Pope because so many priests have molested children. These children were exploited and taken advantage of and they had no choice to even know they could resist, reject and denounce. To me the situations are parallel, except for the fact that the priest's behavior is a physical
violation of the innocence of children who are marred for life; and the priest's behavior is a CRIME.
Wright's speeches are just words, that one can listen to or not, the members have a choice. Should Governor Romney denounce and reject the Mormon Church because some of their members practice POLYGAMY?
As Senator Obama has previously stated, we have entered the silly season.
Barack Obama is an adult, and most importantly, he is an exceptionally intelligent adult. Like most of us adults, fortunately, we do not accept all we hear or see. If we did, the world would be more amoral, debased and
perverted than the world of today is. I see all these 'so called' pondering's as an attempt to marginalize the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama.
I cannot truly call this racism because some ignorant Blacks have also spoken disparagingly about him. I accept this as the darker side of mankind who because of their own inadequacies, they project their deficiencies on others.
Barack Obama is a VERY RARE individual, the likes of whom the world seldom sees. Like most geniuses, they are often misunderstood. They are objects of ENVY and JEALOUSY.
They are suspect because they soar above the average man
who does NOT have the intellectual ability to understand the greatness of SPECIAL people.
They are also targets to be pulled down to the level of the
mediocre who cannot stand to see an individual with deep convictions and HIGH standards.
We have not seen a phenomena like Barack Obama in many years and many generations. Like Ghandi, like Jesus, like Einstein, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., like Mother Theresa, genetically, intellectually and spiritually, these people offer the world so much, but they are often
maligned and misunderstood.
Barack Obama is a Christian in the true sense of the word. A true Christian loves his fellow man unconditionally.
A true Christian wants the best and tries to bring out the best in his fellow man.
A true Christian wants to unite and bring the world together in peace and harmony.
This is what Senator Obama stands for; but, unfortunately, he has to get off point to answer these false charges, innuendoes, and just plain lies.
We are in the presence of an angel unaware in Senator Barack Obama, and this country needs him, more than he needs us. He is the only person at this time in history who can restore respect for America with the world's people.
Because of his family background, the influence of his beloved mother who instilled great values in him, the influence of his absent father who vicariously inspired a son to go to Harvard AS THE FATHER HAD DONE, the influence of a minister who brought him to an understanding of
the value and meaning of Christianity, the influence of a brilliant Harvard educated wife who inspires him and keeps him grounded; he is the epitome of a citizen of the world.
He is of the world because the world is in him; and
this is what America needs to bring us out of the abyss to which we have sunk in the eyes of the world.
Like, Michelle Obama, after living in this country all of my 78 years, loving my country and not understanding why my country has not loved me, I now for the first time in my adult life feel PROUD OF MY COUNTRY because I sense a maturing, a recognition of talent and character, and not color, and a field of candidates aspiring to lead this nation coming from very diverse backgrounds of gender, religious beliefs, national origin, ethnicity, age
and experiences.
This to me is the HOPE that America is coming into her own
and will begin to CHANGE and will embrace the philosophy upon which this country was founded, where all men are created equal and are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Now I truly believe, YES WE CAN!
(End of Email)
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