It's time to Break It Down!
Happy New Year; Auld Lang Syne, my friends!
Since we are still in the Sweet Spot of the holidays, once again I shall practice minimalism. For your purposes, that means the blog should be available, but not intrusive. To that end, I am taking a page from last week, but going a step further. Instead of a concert, I give you a song…of reflection.
Robert Burns, a Scot, wrote a poem (Auld Lang Syne) in 1788 that has come to symbolize the spirit of mass contemplation that people around the world invoke as the clock strikes midnight, signaling not just the dawn of a new day, but of a new year. Undoubtedly, you have been somewhere, at sometime, when you joined those assembled to sing Auld Lang Syne, which loosely translated means, Times gone by.
Once again, that time is upon us. After thoughtful reflection on my 2010, I have had no choice but to conclude, my travails have been few and small, especially when compared to my blessings, which have been both abundant and vast! All praises to the one true, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient God; a mighty fortress is He.
No need to thank me for my inherent thoughtfulness. But, by all means, “Drink a cup of kindness,” or eggnog, or Champagne, or “name your favorite adult beverage,” for me. And, if you are a teetotaler, water will do nicely, thank-you!
As I complete my last post for this year, and, prayerfully and faithfully prepare to embrace 2011, I leave with you this familiar Irish Toast:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
I invite you to click on the link below, which leads to a Smooth Jazz interpretation of Auld Lang Syne, arranged and performed by Donnie Thomas (and listen to the remainder of this week’s edition of Break It Down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bffBdmlf0Wo
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bffBdmlf0Wo
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/question279.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Lang_Syne
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_spot
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
"12 Days Of Christmas: The Concert!"
It's time to Break It Down!
Merry Christmas to you! I know some people are caught up in the whole “We Are The (Secular) World” trip; thus the substitute Holiday for Christmas in their seasonal greetings. Of course those innately curious enough to conduct the requisite etymological research know that the root derivation of holiday is “Holy Day;” but I digress.
By now many of you have already begun your well-planned and richly deserved hiatus from work. You may even have finished your shopping and taken care of all the major errands that accompany preparing for the Big Day. Perhaps all that remains is packing and or traveling; maybe that throw-down cooking marathon that precedes the arrival of the family, friends, and guests whom you will host over the coming week.
As is my custom, I am not going to use this Christmas Post, if you will, to challenge you to sort between the facts, be they esoteric or mundane. No, this is your time to take advantage of the opportunity to hang out with your guests, or to be a guest, and enjoy the hospitality of friends.
In either case, I have, once again, identified and pulled together an assortment of my favorite Christmas Standards. Below, you will find bios for the 14 artists, the 13 youtube videos and interpretations, and the 12 songs listed and included in the e-concert. The information and links below tell the essence of the story; but there are a few points I wish to amplify for your consideration.
The number in parenthesis after each artist’s name is his or her current age, or the age at which the artist died, in the cases of James Brown, Eartha Kitt, John Coltrane, Nat King Cole, and Donny Hathaway. Each artist, song and interpretation is special in its own right.
The legendary Godfather of Soul, as James Brown became known, died on Christmas Day (2006), as did Eartha Kitt (2008), whom shall ever remain, to many of us, the incomparably personified Catwoman. There was both a surreal sadness and a resolute completeness associated with them ending their respective earthly journeys on Christmas Day, two years apart. Both artists were born in South Carolina; Brown in Barnwell, and Kitt, in North. Brown was renowned for his energetic performances, which earned him another of his many titles, “Hardest working man in show business.” His rendition of “Merry Christmas Baby” was a reminder that he had earned his chops the hard way, and that he was much more than flash and dash. Kitt’s “Santa Baby” is on my list, not only because it is a classic; it is, but also because like me, it was born in 1953. I’d like to think we both (the song and I) have held up well.
Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” quite simply personifies Christmas for many of us. Hathaway, an initiate of Howard University’s Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, was a brilliant musician, but a troubled man. He endured bouts of depression and suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, which ultimately led him to commit suicide. “This Christmas,” however, lives on, and along with it and many of his other classics, so does his melodious voice.
Chris Brown has had his moments. He is known in most circles as either the Pied Piper to Generation Y (Millennials), or That Guy…you know, the one who beat down Robyn Fenty; Rihanna to you! This post will not attempt to moralize, or capitalize in any other way on the beef between these two. Rather, for the purposes of this commentary, I wanted to touch upon Chris’ cover of Hathaway’s classic tune. I think he did a fine job, and is an example that, many voices to the contrary, Gen X’ers are not only capable, but do in fact, continue to perpetuate the tradition of making great music.
Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole, father and daughter, both stellar musicians, in their own right, also represent two successive generations of the “family business.” Though the elder Cole is probably better known for his interpretation of The Christmas Song,” I intentionally chose his rendition of another standard, “O Holy Night,” to highlight another of his great performances. I included Natalie’s rendering of “The First Noel,” solely because of my partiality to the reverse spelling of “Noel!”
Having eschewed Cole’s version of “The Christmas Song,” I could not omit it altogether. Kem delivers a virtuoso performance of this classic song. He is one of my favorite contemporary artists, singing one of the Christmas songs I enjoy most. Ledisi and Lauryn Hill are two of contemporary R&B’s most accomplished female voices. Their versions of “Give Love On Christmas Day, and “Little Drummer Boy,” respectively, are special treats, and integral components of this e-concert.
John Coltrane and Dianne Reeves add an instrumental (“My Favorite Things”) and vocal (“Christmas Time Is Here”) jazz flavor to the mix. Trane, born in Hamlet, North Carolina, died of liver cancer at age 40; another life cut short, far too young. He and the combo render a cool version of the tune, so much so that it could make it one of “your favorite things.” Ms. Reeves uses her powerful and well-trained instrument to craft a compelling version of “Christmas Time Is Here.”
Christina Aguilera and Brian McKnight unite in a superb collaboration on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” They revel in demonstrating multiple octave range and elasticity in framing their unique arrangement of this classic that makes it a song I enjoy listening to again and again. Last, but certainly not least, Will Downing, perhaps my favorite musical artist, delivers a silky smooth rendition of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” What can I say? Will...is Will!
That’s it; 14 artists, 13 videos (a Baker’s Dozen), and 12 songs. Add it all up and you get “12 Days Of Christmas: The Concert!” Enjoy, and by all means, remember the Reason for the Season!
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
James Brown (73) – Merry Christmas Baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xg6FcaYHf4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown
Eartha Kitt (81) – Santa Baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfqZmlfQEto&NR=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eartha_Kitt
Donny Hathaway (33) – This Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj1mVUEHeUE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donny_Hathaway
Chris Brown (21) – This Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty2eya8zWyE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Brown_(American_singer)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna
Nat King Cole (45) – O Holy Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4uP32mnAjY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_King_Cole
Natalie Cole (60) – The First Noel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf6fTRTQrG4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Cole
Kem (41) – The Christmas Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jk34lUQoyQ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kem_(singer)
Ledisi (32) - Give Love On Christmas Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehBwM0a9Hf8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledisi
Lauryn Hill (35) – Little Drummer Boy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxv88-euQtE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauryn_Hill
John Coltrane (40) - My Favorite Things
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I6xkVRWzCY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Coltrane
Dianne Reeves (54) – Christmas Time Is Here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hInJstw1cGE&feature=related
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianne_Reeves
Christina Aguilera (30) & Brian McKnight (41) – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftva4G2vmDw
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Aguilera
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_McKnight
Will Downing (47) – I’ll Be Home For Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhT1_ybF-tI&feature=related
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Downing
Merry Christmas to you! I know some people are caught up in the whole “We Are The (Secular) World” trip; thus the substitute Holiday for Christmas in their seasonal greetings. Of course those innately curious enough to conduct the requisite etymological research know that the root derivation of holiday is “Holy Day;” but I digress.
By now many of you have already begun your well-planned and richly deserved hiatus from work. You may even have finished your shopping and taken care of all the major errands that accompany preparing for the Big Day. Perhaps all that remains is packing and or traveling; maybe that throw-down cooking marathon that precedes the arrival of the family, friends, and guests whom you will host over the coming week.
As is my custom, I am not going to use this Christmas Post, if you will, to challenge you to sort between the facts, be they esoteric or mundane. No, this is your time to take advantage of the opportunity to hang out with your guests, or to be a guest, and enjoy the hospitality of friends.
In either case, I have, once again, identified and pulled together an assortment of my favorite Christmas Standards. Below, you will find bios for the 14 artists, the 13 youtube videos and interpretations, and the 12 songs listed and included in the e-concert. The information and links below tell the essence of the story; but there are a few points I wish to amplify for your consideration.
The number in parenthesis after each artist’s name is his or her current age, or the age at which the artist died, in the cases of James Brown, Eartha Kitt, John Coltrane, Nat King Cole, and Donny Hathaway. Each artist, song and interpretation is special in its own right.
The legendary Godfather of Soul, as James Brown became known, died on Christmas Day (2006), as did Eartha Kitt (2008), whom shall ever remain, to many of us, the incomparably personified Catwoman. There was both a surreal sadness and a resolute completeness associated with them ending their respective earthly journeys on Christmas Day, two years apart. Both artists were born in South Carolina; Brown in Barnwell, and Kitt, in North. Brown was renowned for his energetic performances, which earned him another of his many titles, “Hardest working man in show business.” His rendition of “Merry Christmas Baby” was a reminder that he had earned his chops the hard way, and that he was much more than flash and dash. Kitt’s “Santa Baby” is on my list, not only because it is a classic; it is, but also because like me, it was born in 1953. I’d like to think we both (the song and I) have held up well.
Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” quite simply personifies Christmas for many of us. Hathaway, an initiate of Howard University’s Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, was a brilliant musician, but a troubled man. He endured bouts of depression and suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, which ultimately led him to commit suicide. “This Christmas,” however, lives on, and along with it and many of his other classics, so does his melodious voice.
Chris Brown has had his moments. He is known in most circles as either the Pied Piper to Generation Y (Millennials), or That Guy…you know, the one who beat down Robyn Fenty; Rihanna to you! This post will not attempt to moralize, or capitalize in any other way on the beef between these two. Rather, for the purposes of this commentary, I wanted to touch upon Chris’ cover of Hathaway’s classic tune. I think he did a fine job, and is an example that, many voices to the contrary, Gen X’ers are not only capable, but do in fact, continue to perpetuate the tradition of making great music.
Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole, father and daughter, both stellar musicians, in their own right, also represent two successive generations of the “family business.” Though the elder Cole is probably better known for his interpretation of The Christmas Song,” I intentionally chose his rendition of another standard, “O Holy Night,” to highlight another of his great performances. I included Natalie’s rendering of “The First Noel,” solely because of my partiality to the reverse spelling of “Noel!”
Having eschewed Cole’s version of “The Christmas Song,” I could not omit it altogether. Kem delivers a virtuoso performance of this classic song. He is one of my favorite contemporary artists, singing one of the Christmas songs I enjoy most. Ledisi and Lauryn Hill are two of contemporary R&B’s most accomplished female voices. Their versions of “Give Love On Christmas Day, and “Little Drummer Boy,” respectively, are special treats, and integral components of this e-concert.
John Coltrane and Dianne Reeves add an instrumental (“My Favorite Things”) and vocal (“Christmas Time Is Here”) jazz flavor to the mix. Trane, born in Hamlet, North Carolina, died of liver cancer at age 40; another life cut short, far too young. He and the combo render a cool version of the tune, so much so that it could make it one of “your favorite things.” Ms. Reeves uses her powerful and well-trained instrument to craft a compelling version of “Christmas Time Is Here.”
Christina Aguilera and Brian McKnight unite in a superb collaboration on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” They revel in demonstrating multiple octave range and elasticity in framing their unique arrangement of this classic that makes it a song I enjoy listening to again and again. Last, but certainly not least, Will Downing, perhaps my favorite musical artist, delivers a silky smooth rendition of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” What can I say? Will...is Will!
That’s it; 14 artists, 13 videos (a Baker’s Dozen), and 12 songs. Add it all up and you get “12 Days Of Christmas: The Concert!” Enjoy, and by all means, remember the Reason for the Season!
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
James Brown (73) – Merry Christmas Baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xg6FcaYHf4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown
Eartha Kitt (81) – Santa Baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfqZmlfQEto&NR=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eartha_Kitt
Donny Hathaway (33) – This Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj1mVUEHeUE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donny_Hathaway
Chris Brown (21) – This Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty2eya8zWyE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Brown_(American_singer)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna
Nat King Cole (45) – O Holy Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4uP32mnAjY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_King_Cole
Natalie Cole (60) – The First Noel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf6fTRTQrG4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Cole
Kem (41) – The Christmas Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jk34lUQoyQ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kem_(singer)
Ledisi (32) - Give Love On Christmas Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehBwM0a9Hf8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledisi
Lauryn Hill (35) – Little Drummer Boy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxv88-euQtE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauryn_Hill
John Coltrane (40) - My Favorite Things
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I6xkVRWzCY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Coltrane
Dianne Reeves (54) – Christmas Time Is Here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hInJstw1cGE&feature=related
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianne_Reeves
Christina Aguilera (30) & Brian McKnight (41) – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftva4G2vmDw
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Aguilera
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_McKnight
Will Downing (47) – I’ll Be Home For Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhT1_ybF-tI&feature=related
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Downing
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Justice: A Long Time Coming
It's time to Break It Down!
Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King is a staunch opponent of the Claims Settlement Act of 2010. Chances are you have never heard of it. President Obama signed the bill into law a week ago today, just ahead of the onset of the great tax debate of 2010. The Claims Resolution Act of 2010 is a $4.6 billion piece of legislation that includes the $1.15 billion Claims Settlement Act to compensate black farmers fro having been discriminated against by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the $3.4 billion Cobell Settlement for Native American plaintiffs who claimed that U.S. Department of Interior officials mismanaged royalties from leases of tribal lands used to harvest oil, minerals, and timber. The sum of the Claims Settlement Act is in addition to a $1 billion settlement awarded earlier, making the total amount allocated to offset all claims by black farmers (more than 90,000) $2.15 billion.
Congressman King is joined in his persistent opposition by two other Republican Representatives, Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, and Bob Goodlatte of Virginia. All three House members support a congressional investigation into both settlements. They allege the claims are fraught with fraud and abuse.
Two weeks ago, in an effort to gin up support for his position, Congressman King, appeared on CNN’s John King Show, where he defended:
1. His contention that the bill had been promoted by a very, very urban (then) Senator Barack Obama.
2. His characterization of the settlement as Slavery Reparations
3. His assertion that the claims were riddled by rampant fraud
Where does one begin to deconstruct? There is so much material with which to work. Many people know urban is frequently used as code for pejoratively referring to blacks from the inner city. Mr. King insists that he did not. In fact, he indicated, in response to intense reaction to his comments, he had to go and look it up:
• “We had to go look this up to try to figure out how anybody could hyperventilate over calling the president a very urban, actually a very, very urban president, or a very urban senator at the time. He comes from a very urban area. It is not something that would ever occur to anybody in my background that that would be something that could some kind of racial pejorative. It’s just simply, he comes from the city, that’s urban. You come from the country, you’re rural.”
Fair enough. To make more of that, one would have to debate the Congressman’s intent. I have no doubt a great many people would, and in fact have done so. I don’t think I need to. You have seen both his comments, and his subsequent defense. You may decide that one for yourself.
In his initial speech, on the floor of the House of Representatives, Congressman King argued, forcefully, “We are not gonna pay slavery reparations in the United States Congress. That war’s been fought. That was a century ago. That debt was paid for in blood and it was paid for in the blood of a lot of Yankees, especially.” This type of diversion is frequently referred to as a straw man; fundamentally specious:
• The topic of Slavery Reparations is a familiar and frequently explosive one. As made evident by his line-in-the-sand posture, Representative King views this as a particularly weighty matter. However, the simple truth is, the settlements have nothing whatsoever to do with either reparations, or slaves. These agreements were designed to compensate American citizens, most whom happened to be black, because they were discriminated against while pursuing their livelihood, ostensibly because they were black.
Representative King also described the claims made by African American farmers who were discriminated against by the USDA in the 1980’s and 1990’s as fraudulent. This is yet another assertion that appears inconsistent with record, and that is not supported by investigatory research:
• The USDA has admitted that it denied loans to claimants in a discriminatory fashion, and that this pattern of discrimination was cause of most of the black farmers losing their livelihood.
• Moreover, a federal judge approved the second settlement after an FBI investigation.
• A USDA spokesman, called King’s allegations, “Nothing more than an attempt to derail an effort to provide long-overdue compensation to thousands of farmers who were discriminated against over several decades.”
• Out of 15,000 claims processed under the first settlement; the FBI determined that only 3 were fraudulent.
The current Administration has expressed a commitment to ensure that the new claims process is executed with integrity, and that it provides justice to those who have suffered discrimination. A familiar legal maxim dating all the way back to the 13th Century and the Magna Carta is, “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
Over the nearly 30 years that have passed since the vile acts of discrimination were wrought upon a group of our nation’s farmers, undoubtedly, many of them have died. To those farmers, justice was unquestionably denied. But, to the survivors and heirs who participate in the settlements, I can imagine them harkening back to April 3, 1968, and channeling, not Representative Steve King, or CNN’s John King, or even John, King of England (upon whom the Magna Carta was imposed), but Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., when he said, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Indeed, “Justice: A Long Time Coming!”
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2010/12/president-obama-signs-claims-settlement.html
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-signs-bill-settling-black-farmers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_3Ei1VYWCQ
http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/12/02/iowans-in-war-of-words-over-black-farmers/
http://politifi.com/news/Steve-King-Black-Farmers-Settlement-Is-Slavery-Reparations-VIDEO-1355860.html
http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/moving_america_news/23865&page=2
http://www.radioiowa.com/2010/12/02/king-rails-against-slavery-reparations/
http://www.blackfarmers.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Bachmann
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Goodlatte
http://minnesotaindependent.com/74627/bachmann-king-fight-discrimination-claim-for-black-farmers
http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-national/rep-king-r-ia-accuses-obama-of-supporting-slavery-reparations-video
http://www.blogrunner.com/snapshot/D/0/1/steve_king_black_farmers_settlement_is_slavery_reparations/
http://www.mediaite.com/online/usda-responds-to-andrew-breitbart-and-rep-steve-king-on-black-farmer-settlement/
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/steve_king_black_farmers_settlement_is_slavery_rep.php
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2635266/posts
http://www.buzzbox.com/top/default/preview/history-and-geography-lessons-from-steve-king/?clusterId=2575860&id=17024758&topic=settlement%3Asteve-king
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/rep-king-equates-black-farmers-settlement-slavery-reparations/
http://okhenderson.com/2010/12/01/grassley-king-differ-on-pigford/
http://conversations.blackvoices.com/entertainment/99435682aaea4564b24369ed6fc90973/gop-says-obama-adva%20.../712ad1f579b94e29977dc7637872726b?sn=18
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/30/republican-calls-obama-ve_n_789723.html
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/254189/king-disputes-allegations-racism-brian-bolduc
http://www.youaredumb.net/
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=urban
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reparations_for_slavery
Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King is a staunch opponent of the Claims Settlement Act of 2010. Chances are you have never heard of it. President Obama signed the bill into law a week ago today, just ahead of the onset of the great tax debate of 2010. The Claims Resolution Act of 2010 is a $4.6 billion piece of legislation that includes the $1.15 billion Claims Settlement Act to compensate black farmers fro having been discriminated against by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the $3.4 billion Cobell Settlement for Native American plaintiffs who claimed that U.S. Department of Interior officials mismanaged royalties from leases of tribal lands used to harvest oil, minerals, and timber. The sum of the Claims Settlement Act is in addition to a $1 billion settlement awarded earlier, making the total amount allocated to offset all claims by black farmers (more than 90,000) $2.15 billion.
Congressman King is joined in his persistent opposition by two other Republican Representatives, Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, and Bob Goodlatte of Virginia. All three House members support a congressional investigation into both settlements. They allege the claims are fraught with fraud and abuse.
Two weeks ago, in an effort to gin up support for his position, Congressman King, appeared on CNN’s John King Show, where he defended:
1. His contention that the bill had been promoted by a very, very urban (then) Senator Barack Obama.
2. His characterization of the settlement as Slavery Reparations
3. His assertion that the claims were riddled by rampant fraud
Where does one begin to deconstruct? There is so much material with which to work. Many people know urban is frequently used as code for pejoratively referring to blacks from the inner city. Mr. King insists that he did not. In fact, he indicated, in response to intense reaction to his comments, he had to go and look it up:
• “We had to go look this up to try to figure out how anybody could hyperventilate over calling the president a very urban, actually a very, very urban president, or a very urban senator at the time. He comes from a very urban area. It is not something that would ever occur to anybody in my background that that would be something that could some kind of racial pejorative. It’s just simply, he comes from the city, that’s urban. You come from the country, you’re rural.”
Fair enough. To make more of that, one would have to debate the Congressman’s intent. I have no doubt a great many people would, and in fact have done so. I don’t think I need to. You have seen both his comments, and his subsequent defense. You may decide that one for yourself.
In his initial speech, on the floor of the House of Representatives, Congressman King argued, forcefully, “We are not gonna pay slavery reparations in the United States Congress. That war’s been fought. That was a century ago. That debt was paid for in blood and it was paid for in the blood of a lot of Yankees, especially.” This type of diversion is frequently referred to as a straw man; fundamentally specious:
• The topic of Slavery Reparations is a familiar and frequently explosive one. As made evident by his line-in-the-sand posture, Representative King views this as a particularly weighty matter. However, the simple truth is, the settlements have nothing whatsoever to do with either reparations, or slaves. These agreements were designed to compensate American citizens, most whom happened to be black, because they were discriminated against while pursuing their livelihood, ostensibly because they were black.
Representative King also described the claims made by African American farmers who were discriminated against by the USDA in the 1980’s and 1990’s as fraudulent. This is yet another assertion that appears inconsistent with record, and that is not supported by investigatory research:
• The USDA has admitted that it denied loans to claimants in a discriminatory fashion, and that this pattern of discrimination was cause of most of the black farmers losing their livelihood.
• Moreover, a federal judge approved the second settlement after an FBI investigation.
• A USDA spokesman, called King’s allegations, “Nothing more than an attempt to derail an effort to provide long-overdue compensation to thousands of farmers who were discriminated against over several decades.”
• Out of 15,000 claims processed under the first settlement; the FBI determined that only 3 were fraudulent.
The current Administration has expressed a commitment to ensure that the new claims process is executed with integrity, and that it provides justice to those who have suffered discrimination. A familiar legal maxim dating all the way back to the 13th Century and the Magna Carta is, “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
Over the nearly 30 years that have passed since the vile acts of discrimination were wrought upon a group of our nation’s farmers, undoubtedly, many of them have died. To those farmers, justice was unquestionably denied. But, to the survivors and heirs who participate in the settlements, I can imagine them harkening back to April 3, 1968, and channeling, not Representative Steve King, or CNN’s John King, or even John, King of England (upon whom the Magna Carta was imposed), but Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., when he said, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Indeed, “Justice: A Long Time Coming!”
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2010/12/president-obama-signs-claims-settlement.html
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-signs-bill-settling-black-farmers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_3Ei1VYWCQ
http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/12/02/iowans-in-war-of-words-over-black-farmers/
http://politifi.com/news/Steve-King-Black-Farmers-Settlement-Is-Slavery-Reparations-VIDEO-1355860.html
http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/moving_america_news/23865&page=2
http://www.radioiowa.com/2010/12/02/king-rails-against-slavery-reparations/
http://www.blackfarmers.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Bachmann
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Goodlatte
http://minnesotaindependent.com/74627/bachmann-king-fight-discrimination-claim-for-black-farmers
http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-national/rep-king-r-ia-accuses-obama-of-supporting-slavery-reparations-video
http://www.blogrunner.com/snapshot/D/0/1/steve_king_black_farmers_settlement_is_slavery_reparations/
http://www.mediaite.com/online/usda-responds-to-andrew-breitbart-and-rep-steve-king-on-black-farmer-settlement/
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/steve_king_black_farmers_settlement_is_slavery_rep.php
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2635266/posts
http://www.buzzbox.com/top/default/preview/history-and-geography-lessons-from-steve-king/?clusterId=2575860&id=17024758&topic=settlement%3Asteve-king
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/rep-king-equates-black-farmers-settlement-slavery-reparations/
http://okhenderson.com/2010/12/01/grassley-king-differ-on-pigford/
http://conversations.blackvoices.com/entertainment/99435682aaea4564b24369ed6fc90973/gop-says-obama-adva%20.../712ad1f579b94e29977dc7637872726b?sn=18
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/30/republican-calls-obama-ve_n_789723.html
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/254189/king-disputes-allegations-racism-brian-bolduc
http://www.youaredumb.net/
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=urban
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reparations_for_slavery
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Sell Out Vs. The Sanctimonious
It's time to Break It Down!
This has been a fast-paced week, as far as issues go. The developments of the past 7 days have served to remind me, yet again, why I seldom identify blog topics in advance, and why I almost never write a pre-Blog Night outline. I was reasonably certain I knew, by the middle of last week, what I would write about for today. Then the past 48-hours unfolded, resulting in my totally changing focus.
During the past several days, I have had direct communications with two good friends, one of whom I consider the most dyed-in-the-wool Capitalist, Republican in my immediate friend circle; the other, the most fervent Liberal Democrat I have ever known; also my friend. In communing with them, I had the opportunity to discuss their views on the ideological chasm between Democrats and the GOP-T Party on the so-called Bush Tax Cuts Debate.
Their opinions were about what one would imagine, given their respective political bent and ideological persuasion; almost diametrically opposed. My friend, the self-proclaimed Capitalist (in discussions before the latest BFD), argued passionately for the Bush Tax Cuts, at least in part, on the basis that he believes the federal government is an inefficient monstrosity that cannot help but use the people’s money less prudently than the people would, left to their own devices. He also felt that the Inheritance Tax was simply wrong on its face, and quite frankly, both “un-American and unconstitutional.”
Alternately, my Liberal friend noted (yesterday, after the new BFD) that he is “really disappointed” by the President’s decision to proffer an agreement to extend the Bush Tax Cuts to the wealthy. He added that this proposal would “pass along more debt to future generations, while we watch the country go down the tubes.” Finally, he concluded by reminding me of one of my earlier comments about a previous action taken by President Obama, when I said, “If we continue to make deals like this, we may as well have the Republicans in power.”
While I didn’t make this retort to his last comment, based on the results of the November 2nd Election, we do, for all practical purposes. And, good, bad, or indifferent, I am left to presume, that is the will of the people...or at least it was on November 2nd.
I find it compelling, in a theatrical sort of way, that my friends have so cogently and succinctly stated the key tenets of the two sides. By stating their Guiding Principles, they inadvertently affirmed the notion of the aforementioned great and wide chasm separating the two sides. In a way, it is akin to Kipling’s “The Ballad of East and West,” in which Rudyard proclaims, “Oh East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.” That dear readers, is the paradigm; the Sphinx-like riddle President Obama is challenged by, and is trying to solve.
Alas, in attempting to leverage a win for the middle class, albeit a short-term boost that will be consumed by additional red ink added to the deficit, the President has elicited a full-throated roar of derision and scorn from the Left, including Democratic members of Congress, and a variety of economists, and media types. In the most contentiously shrill version of these intra-Party friendly fire attacks, President Obama is characterized as having sold out. His critics argue he turned his back on a bedrock campaign pledge by endorsing the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans.
While the President has been maligned often for his even-temperedness (not enough fire and/or passion for some people’s tastes), he did seem to take great offense to the allegation that by driving this compromise, he was somehow a sell-out. In fact, he bristled at the notion. In a hastily called news conference to further explain the details of the agreement, and to defend it, President Obama stood his ground and addressed the questionable tactics of the opposition, as well as the stinging criticism of his fellow Party members.
He suggested that Republicans were “worshipping the “holy grail” of Trickle-down economics and using procedural maneuvers to hijack a serious economic policy debate.”
He called out his own Party for suggesting that he had not laid out priorities or made progress on his promises. He likened that aspect of the current conversation to the public option debate, and expressed it thusly:
The reality is, of course, President Obama is no more a fan of the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthy than any other Democrat. He is motivated by the irreducible responsibility that he bears to be the President of all the people, most notably, the 98% who would have seen their taxes increase, had he not acted, as well as a too vivid recollection of the outcome of the November 2nd Election. It was those election results that strengthened the Republicans' hand for the next Congress. Failure to act responsibly and judiciously now would be a prescription for even more severe consequences meted out by the 112th Congress, in which the GOP-T Party will boast a Majority in the House, and increased numbers in the Senate.
Moreover, let it be clear, the President did indict the GOP-T Party, directly, for its intransigence. Finally, it must be noted, this battle did not begin Monday. Had the Democrats shown this apparent newly found zeal to do battle; had they demonstrated this moxie and readiness to unite and challenge the GOP-T Party, earlier, when they actually had the numerical leverage, and time on their side, the President would not find himself in this compromising position now. Of course, gentlemanly, and even-tempered as he is, President Obama, despite all his bluster, has been simply too civil and dignified to remind his esteemed colleagues of that slice of contemporary American History.
Of course, that’s just my assessment. I look forward to your feedback, and your unique and personal points of view. After all, this may be the just start of a regular dialogue about the pros and cons of “The Sell Out Vs. The Sanctimonious.” It is quite possible that scenarios such as this will play out repeatedly over the next two years. Get ready; all indications are it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703296604576005270162137088.html
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/07/tax.deal/index.html?hpt=T2
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2010/12/07/explain.it.to.me.tax.cuts.cnn?hpt=T2
http://celebrifi.com/gossip/Extension-deal-taxes-Dems-patience-4205975.html
http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-cohn/79694/the-tax-deal-hate-the-tax-deal
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/12/05/1444486/after-the-tax-fight-parties-move.html
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/12/07/obama_and_gop_make_deal_on_taxes/
http://www.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/12/obama-addresses-possible-deal-on-bush-tax-cuts/1?imw=Y&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Usatoday-MostViewedArticles+(USATODAY.com%3A+Most+Popular)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/02/AR2010120206050.html
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/12/06/1555453/obama-gop-reach-deal-to-extend.html
http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2010/12/07/news/national/free/id_420845.txt
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec10/taxcuts_12-07.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/APb16f0a0fb3974d95a4890c331b0cf356.html
This has been a fast-paced week, as far as issues go. The developments of the past 7 days have served to remind me, yet again, why I seldom identify blog topics in advance, and why I almost never write a pre-Blog Night outline. I was reasonably certain I knew, by the middle of last week, what I would write about for today. Then the past 48-hours unfolded, resulting in my totally changing focus.
During the past several days, I have had direct communications with two good friends, one of whom I consider the most dyed-in-the-wool Capitalist, Republican in my immediate friend circle; the other, the most fervent Liberal Democrat I have ever known; also my friend. In communing with them, I had the opportunity to discuss their views on the ideological chasm between Democrats and the GOP-T Party on the so-called Bush Tax Cuts Debate.
Their opinions were about what one would imagine, given their respective political bent and ideological persuasion; almost diametrically opposed. My friend, the self-proclaimed Capitalist (in discussions before the latest BFD), argued passionately for the Bush Tax Cuts, at least in part, on the basis that he believes the federal government is an inefficient monstrosity that cannot help but use the people’s money less prudently than the people would, left to their own devices. He also felt that the Inheritance Tax was simply wrong on its face, and quite frankly, both “un-American and unconstitutional.”
Alternately, my Liberal friend noted (yesterday, after the new BFD) that he is “really disappointed” by the President’s decision to proffer an agreement to extend the Bush Tax Cuts to the wealthy. He added that this proposal would “pass along more debt to future generations, while we watch the country go down the tubes.” Finally, he concluded by reminding me of one of my earlier comments about a previous action taken by President Obama, when I said, “If we continue to make deals like this, we may as well have the Republicans in power.”
While I didn’t make this retort to his last comment, based on the results of the November 2nd Election, we do, for all practical purposes. And, good, bad, or indifferent, I am left to presume, that is the will of the people...or at least it was on November 2nd.
I find it compelling, in a theatrical sort of way, that my friends have so cogently and succinctly stated the key tenets of the two sides. By stating their Guiding Principles, they inadvertently affirmed the notion of the aforementioned great and wide chasm separating the two sides. In a way, it is akin to Kipling’s “The Ballad of East and West,” in which Rudyard proclaims, “Oh East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.” That dear readers, is the paradigm; the Sphinx-like riddle President Obama is challenged by, and is trying to solve.
Alas, in attempting to leverage a win for the middle class, albeit a short-term boost that will be consumed by additional red ink added to the deficit, the President has elicited a full-throated roar of derision and scorn from the Left, including Democratic members of Congress, and a variety of economists, and media types. In the most contentiously shrill version of these intra-Party friendly fire attacks, President Obama is characterized as having sold out. His critics argue he turned his back on a bedrock campaign pledge by endorsing the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans.
While the President has been maligned often for his even-temperedness (not enough fire and/or passion for some people’s tastes), he did seem to take great offense to the allegation that by driving this compromise, he was somehow a sell-out. In fact, he bristled at the notion. In a hastily called news conference to further explain the details of the agreement, and to defend it, President Obama stood his ground and addressed the questionable tactics of the opposition, as well as the stinging criticism of his fellow Party members.
He suggested that Republicans were “worshipping the “holy grail” of Trickle-down economics and using procedural maneuvers to hijack a serious economic policy debate.”
He called out his own Party for suggesting that he had not laid out priorities or made progress on his promises. He likened that aspect of the current conversation to the public option debate, and expressed it thusly:
- "So I pass a signature piece of legislation where we finally get health care for all Americans, something that Democrats have been fighting for, for a hundred years, but because there was a provision in there that they didn't get that would have affected maybe a couple million people, even though we got health insurance for 30 million people, and the potential for lower premiums for 100 million people, that somehow that was a sign of weakness and compromise.
- Now, if that's the standard by which we are measuring success or core principles, then let's face it, we will never get anything done. People will have the satisfaction of having a purist position and no victories for the American people. And we will be able to feel good about ourselves and sanctimonious about how pure our intentions are and how tough we are, and in the meantime the American people are still seeing themselves not able to get health insurance because of a preexisting condition. Or not being able to pay their bills because their unemployment insurance ran out.”
The reality is, of course, President Obama is no more a fan of the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthy than any other Democrat. He is motivated by the irreducible responsibility that he bears to be the President of all the people, most notably, the 98% who would have seen their taxes increase, had he not acted, as well as a too vivid recollection of the outcome of the November 2nd Election. It was those election results that strengthened the Republicans' hand for the next Congress. Failure to act responsibly and judiciously now would be a prescription for even more severe consequences meted out by the 112th Congress, in which the GOP-T Party will boast a Majority in the House, and increased numbers in the Senate.
Moreover, let it be clear, the President did indict the GOP-T Party, directly, for its intransigence. Finally, it must be noted, this battle did not begin Monday. Had the Democrats shown this apparent newly found zeal to do battle; had they demonstrated this moxie and readiness to unite and challenge the GOP-T Party, earlier, when they actually had the numerical leverage, and time on their side, the President would not find himself in this compromising position now. Of course, gentlemanly, and even-tempered as he is, President Obama, despite all his bluster, has been simply too civil and dignified to remind his esteemed colleagues of that slice of contemporary American History.
Of course, that’s just my assessment. I look forward to your feedback, and your unique and personal points of view. After all, this may be the just start of a regular dialogue about the pros and cons of “The Sell Out Vs. The Sanctimonious.” It is quite possible that scenarios such as this will play out repeatedly over the next two years. Get ready; all indications are it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703296604576005270162137088.html
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/07/tax.deal/index.html?hpt=T2
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2010/12/07/explain.it.to.me.tax.cuts.cnn?hpt=T2
http://celebrifi.com/gossip/Extension-deal-taxes-Dems-patience-4205975.html
http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-cohn/79694/the-tax-deal-hate-the-tax-deal
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/12/05/1444486/after-the-tax-fight-parties-move.html
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/12/07/obama_and_gop_make_deal_on_taxes/
http://www.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/12/obama-addresses-possible-deal-on-bush-tax-cuts/1?imw=Y&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Usatoday-MostViewedArticles+(USATODAY.com%3A+Most+Popular)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/02/AR2010120206050.html
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/12/06/1555453/obama-gop-reach-deal-to-extend.html
http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2010/12/07/news/national/free/id_420845.txt
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec10/taxcuts_12-07.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/APb16f0a0fb3974d95a4890c331b0cf356.html
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
American Exceptionalism: Sorry, No Rabbit In This Hat!
It's time to Break It Down!
As the dust settles from the recent 2010 mid term elections, the truly ambitious are gearing up for 2012. While there are rumors and innuendo suggesting President Obama may face a intra-Party challenger, what is known at this time is there will be an all out Festival of Lights among Republicans and the Tea Party to identify the White Knight that will champion the conservative cause in the race for the White House.
Nothing gets such a grand adventure underway like identifying the one undeniably unifying theme that all adherents may cleave to, even while maintaining their individual differences. At the moment, the GOP-T Party’s political Wheel of Fortune seems to be stuck on American Exceptionalism. This quaint, esoteric concept, has been pulled out of moth balls, and is being used as the hand grenade of choice to lob at President Obama.
First of all, the trouble with the term American Exceptionalism is there is no standard, or universally agreed upon definition. Even before President Obama, there were many variants of the expression, and numerous pros and cons held, based upon specific assertions of what it meant. In a most amusing irony, the term itself is thought to have been coined, not by an American, but by Alexis de Tocqueville, a Frenchman.
Tocqueville and Gustave de Beaumont, two French Aristocrats, were commissioned by the French government to study the American prison system in 1831. They spent nine months traveling about the country and taking notes on all aspects of society. Both penned books about the experience; Beaumont wrote a novel about race relations in the United States, and Tocqueville authored an analytical political and social commentary, loosely translated, Democracy in America (De la democratie en Amerique). The latter became widely popular in Europe and the United States. Given the era, not surprisingly, Beaumont’s work is less well known.
So what is American Exceptionalism, and why is President Obama perceived (by his opponents) as its enemy?
One view of the term is:
• American Exceptionalism refers to the opinion that the United States is qualitatively different from other nations. Its exceptionalism stems from its emergence from a revolution, becoming "the first new nation", and developing a unique American ideology, based on liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism and laissez-faire". This observation can be traced to Alexis de Tocqueville, the first writer to describe the United States as "exceptional". Although the term does not imply superiority, some writers have used it in that sense. To them, the United States is a "shining city on a hill", and exempt from historical forces that have affected other countries.
For President Obama’s part, he has weighed in on the subject and (part of) his statement is used as kindling for the wildfire that has become the revival of American Exceptionalism. In response to the question of whether, like his predecessors, he believed in American Exceptionalism, Mr. Obama began:
"I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism."
While this egalitarian reply seemed to give credence to his recognition that many abroad hear talk of American exceptionalism as worrisome jingoism, his detractors took that as an indictment that the President of the Country lacked pride in America and “the American Way.”
Of course, such a leap ignores the fact there was more to Mr. Obama’s answer. The President added, in the same response:
“In addition to the world's largest economy and its mightiest military, we have a core set of values that are enshrined in our Constitution, in our body of law, in our democratic practices, in our belief in free speech and equality, that, though imperfect, are exceptional."
He closed by adding:
“I see no contradiction between believing that America has a continued extraordinary role in leading the world towards peace and prosperity and recognizing that leadership is incumbent, depends on, our ability to create partnerships because we can't solve these problems alone."
A number of Republicans presumed to be at least considering a Presidential bid in 2012 have invested personal capital in the new hot stock of political topics. Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and Mike Pence have each waxed poetic…or rather, political, about the idea. It is early, but if the craze has the staying power to last until the heat of the campaign, American Exceptionalism may replace the GOP’s 2008 toxic “He is not like you. He is not one of us” as the reigning catch phrase to emphasize to specific voters that Mr. Obama is “Other;” not like us.
This observation is not designed to paint Mr. Obama’s challengers, or the voters, as racists. It is intended to underscore and amplify the simple fact that the notion of American Exceptionalism is a straw man; a diversion; meant to steer voters and the debate away from substantive issues and a meaningful exchange of ideas.
The reality is if all the GOP-T Party candidates were gathered in a room, they would be hard pressed to reach consensus among themselves on a working definition of American Exceptionalism. Moreover, the variations among them would likely be greater than with that of the complete statement made by the President. In short, as fodder for Presidential debate, American Exceptionalism is both disingenuous, and vacuous. Certainly, upon deeper reflection, the ruse should be readily apparent…"American Exceptionalism: Sorry, No Rabbit In This Hat!”
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/28/AR2010112804139.html?wpisrc=nl_pmheadline
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Alexis_de_Tocqueville
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/11/american-exceptionalism-does-t.html
http://gingrichforpres.blogspot.com/2010/11/lefts-problem-american-exceptionalism.html
http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/sarahposner/3328/gingrich_on_obama%E2%80%99s_%E2%80%9Ckenyan,_anti-colonial_behavior%E2%80%9D_and_%E2%80%9Camerican_exceptionalism%E2%80%9D
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/opinion/25Cohen.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hpYHDdQHK8
http://www.periscopepost.com/2010/11/the-myth-and-reality-of-american-exceptionalism/
http://mikepence.house.gov/index.php?Itemid=71&id=4392&option=com_content&task=view
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/American-Exceptionalism-A-Nicer-Way-to-Say-Obama-Isnt-One-of-Us-5955
http://www.gop12.com/2010/08/president-of-us-or-world-and.html
As the dust settles from the recent 2010 mid term elections, the truly ambitious are gearing up for 2012. While there are rumors and innuendo suggesting President Obama may face a intra-Party challenger, what is known at this time is there will be an all out Festival of Lights among Republicans and the Tea Party to identify the White Knight that will champion the conservative cause in the race for the White House.
Nothing gets such a grand adventure underway like identifying the one undeniably unifying theme that all adherents may cleave to, even while maintaining their individual differences. At the moment, the GOP-T Party’s political Wheel of Fortune seems to be stuck on American Exceptionalism. This quaint, esoteric concept, has been pulled out of moth balls, and is being used as the hand grenade of choice to lob at President Obama.
First of all, the trouble with the term American Exceptionalism is there is no standard, or universally agreed upon definition. Even before President Obama, there were many variants of the expression, and numerous pros and cons held, based upon specific assertions of what it meant. In a most amusing irony, the term itself is thought to have been coined, not by an American, but by Alexis de Tocqueville, a Frenchman.
Tocqueville and Gustave de Beaumont, two French Aristocrats, were commissioned by the French government to study the American prison system in 1831. They spent nine months traveling about the country and taking notes on all aspects of society. Both penned books about the experience; Beaumont wrote a novel about race relations in the United States, and Tocqueville authored an analytical political and social commentary, loosely translated, Democracy in America (De la democratie en Amerique). The latter became widely popular in Europe and the United States. Given the era, not surprisingly, Beaumont’s work is less well known.
So what is American Exceptionalism, and why is President Obama perceived (by his opponents) as its enemy?
One view of the term is:
• American Exceptionalism refers to the opinion that the United States is qualitatively different from other nations. Its exceptionalism stems from its emergence from a revolution, becoming "the first new nation", and developing a unique American ideology, based on liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism and laissez-faire". This observation can be traced to Alexis de Tocqueville, the first writer to describe the United States as "exceptional". Although the term does not imply superiority, some writers have used it in that sense. To them, the United States is a "shining city on a hill", and exempt from historical forces that have affected other countries.
For President Obama’s part, he has weighed in on the subject and (part of) his statement is used as kindling for the wildfire that has become the revival of American Exceptionalism. In response to the question of whether, like his predecessors, he believed in American Exceptionalism, Mr. Obama began:
"I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism."
While this egalitarian reply seemed to give credence to his recognition that many abroad hear talk of American exceptionalism as worrisome jingoism, his detractors took that as an indictment that the President of the Country lacked pride in America and “the American Way.”
Of course, such a leap ignores the fact there was more to Mr. Obama’s answer. The President added, in the same response:
“In addition to the world's largest economy and its mightiest military, we have a core set of values that are enshrined in our Constitution, in our body of law, in our democratic practices, in our belief in free speech and equality, that, though imperfect, are exceptional."
He closed by adding:
“I see no contradiction between believing that America has a continued extraordinary role in leading the world towards peace and prosperity and recognizing that leadership is incumbent, depends on, our ability to create partnerships because we can't solve these problems alone."
A number of Republicans presumed to be at least considering a Presidential bid in 2012 have invested personal capital in the new hot stock of political topics. Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and Mike Pence have each waxed poetic…or rather, political, about the idea. It is early, but if the craze has the staying power to last until the heat of the campaign, American Exceptionalism may replace the GOP’s 2008 toxic “He is not like you. He is not one of us” as the reigning catch phrase to emphasize to specific voters that Mr. Obama is “Other;” not like us.
This observation is not designed to paint Mr. Obama’s challengers, or the voters, as racists. It is intended to underscore and amplify the simple fact that the notion of American Exceptionalism is a straw man; a diversion; meant to steer voters and the debate away from substantive issues and a meaningful exchange of ideas.
The reality is if all the GOP-T Party candidates were gathered in a room, they would be hard pressed to reach consensus among themselves on a working definition of American Exceptionalism. Moreover, the variations among them would likely be greater than with that of the complete statement made by the President. In short, as fodder for Presidential debate, American Exceptionalism is both disingenuous, and vacuous. Certainly, upon deeper reflection, the ruse should be readily apparent…"American Exceptionalism: Sorry, No Rabbit In This Hat!”
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/28/AR2010112804139.html?wpisrc=nl_pmheadline
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Alexis_de_Tocqueville
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/11/american-exceptionalism-does-t.html
http://gingrichforpres.blogspot.com/2010/11/lefts-problem-american-exceptionalism.html
http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/sarahposner/3328/gingrich_on_obama%E2%80%99s_%E2%80%9Ckenyan,_anti-colonial_behavior%E2%80%9D_and_%E2%80%9Camerican_exceptionalism%E2%80%9D
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/opinion/25Cohen.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hpYHDdQHK8
http://www.periscopepost.com/2010/11/the-myth-and-reality-of-american-exceptionalism/
http://mikepence.house.gov/index.php?Itemid=71&id=4392&option=com_content&task=view
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/American-Exceptionalism-A-Nicer-Way-to-Say-Obama-Isnt-One-of-Us-5955
http://www.gop12.com/2010/08/president-of-us-or-world-and.html
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