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Link to this important report: MSNBC: Healthcare Politics Takes Nasty Turn

Whatever forward steps we felt we have taken towards eradicating racism in America were met with crushing hammers of racial slurs yesterday as members of the Tea Party movement sought to cripple the steps of African American members of Congress as they made their way into the Capitol for the final vote on the health care bill. And being the equal opportunity bigots that they are some took homophobic swats at Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank.

I think it’s time the good citizens of America stand up to such bigotry with the power of the vote. Just as we saw major ground-swell for the election of President Obama we ought get off our duffs and make sure that those politicians seen openly supporting this intolerant belligerent group of bigots be voted out of office in these upcoming state elections. If we are truly passionate about justice we need to make more noise than these fanatics but do so through the thunderous sound of the ballot. No! No! No, to bigotry!

Only when we stand up by our voting power will we sit down and out of office the kind of thugs I saw on the floor of Congress during last night’s vote of the bill. Shame on you Senator Boehner and company! Your behavior was reprehensible!

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As Haiti has been devastated by a massive earthquake we are beginning to hear the familiar reports of looting mobs running the streets and striking fear in the hearts of the citizens.

What????

Let me make sure I understand what we are being asked to believe:

1. There was a major earthquake in Haiti destroying most of the country’s infrastructure. (Yep, confirmed.)

2. Thousands of people are dead and many are still missing. (Confirmed)

3. The airport has been shut down because there is no more room on the runway. (Confirmed… but temporary)

4. Cell phones and basic utilities such as electricity and running water are not functional. (Confirmed)

5. Bands of youth wielding machetes are stepping over dead bodies, breaking into stores and looting…huh??

Come on! Why is it that a country that has been largely ignored - except for the influx of missionaries and church folk many of whom feel it is their responsibility to “go down there and help get some souls saved” - by their capitalistic Western neighbors is now made to look like mere barbarians? And why does this report reek with the putrid odor of the same manner of racist reporting done during Katrina? How ridiculous is it to declare that “looting” is going on when black folk try to care for themselves in the midst of crisis, especially when they know that the first rescue efforts will not be primarily about them but about foreigners?

This is not to say that there have not been some genuinely caring workers who have done excellent health and welfare work as well as building projects through the years. And, this is not to say, that an agency should not put itself to the task of finding its workers. (I get that. I am United Methodist. I want our workers found.) But, let’s be clear, our Haitian neighbors are NOT LOOTING!! They are either surviving in the midst of chaos or responding to the false dream of capitalism by trying to take hold of some of the “good life” exemplified by the rich and wealthy who come as tourist or live (d) “in the rich part” of Port-au-Prince!

And finally, just because I could NOT believe it. Pat Robertson - uh him, I’m not wasting much more of my spit to form words to speak about. But Kristi Watts either has no sense of integrity or is plain ignorant. How could she sit and listen to him spew such venom about Haitians without question? Is the money and fame so critical to her survival that she dare not challenge him on air when he is so blatantly racist? His comments, her silence… now that’s real looting! Where are the po-po’s when you need them?

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A few days ago I visited the DuSable Museum of African American History here in Chicago.  The museum is uniquely this country’s first and oldest such tribute to the history and culture of African Americans.

One of the most difficult artifacts on the walls of the museum’s civil rights exhibit is the historic photo of the open casket where the swollen, beaten and mutilated body of Emmett Till lay in rest.  The 1955 murder of this young 14-year-old child mobilized the civil rights movement and remains a point of deep pain for many Americans involved in the movement and is particularly poignant for African Americans of that generation and those following.  Though I was born several years later, it was recounted to my peers and myself many times.  This telling and retelling of this horrible true story is indicative of its place as one of those tragic “lest we forget” events in the psyche of Black America.

This year, October 28th, President Obama signed into law the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act which expands the existing federal hate crime laws to now grant federal protection on the basis of gender, gender identity and disability.  The law was named after two men who were murdered for no other reasons than racism and homophobia.  Matthew Shepard was tortured and left to die tied to a fence in Wyoming in 1998 because of his sexual orientation. James Byrd was tied and dragged behind a truck in Texas, in 1998 because he was black.  It has been over a decade since these crimes and over a half century since the murder of Emmett Till.

Despite the opposition from  the politicians representing the state of Wyoming, the law was enacted with overwhelming approval.  I’m so thankful for this new law! Creating this law was - has been - the right thing to do.  For the memory of Till, Shepard, James and so many more.

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On March 31st, Daily Intel, New York magazine’s blog posted an article which was at best inappropriate and at its worst racist.  The blog featured a picture of President and Mrs. Obama boarding Marine One.  The headline of the post, “Now That’s Something to Salute” refers to the author’s opinion that President Obama’s attention is not on the traditional salute to the marine guarding the helicopter but instead the author makes this note: “It also looks like Obama might just be blocking the sun’s glare as he checks out Michelle’s booty.” see  article at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/31/emnew-yorkem-magazine-blo_n_181491.html (more…)

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Today, as we celebrate the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. many will draw comparisons between his ministry and dream for equality for all America’s citizens and the passion and hope of President-elect Barack Obama. Few will speak of the great work and tremendous suffering of the many foot soldiers for justice who made the celebrations of today and tomorrow possible. On my mind this morning, is the great question asked over 44 years ago by a Mississippi sharecropper and civil rights activist by the name of Fannie Lou Hamer. Testifying before the Credentials Committee of the Democratic National Convention, August 22, 1964, Mrs. Hamer recounted her work and the beating she endured. I have provided a transcript of her full testimony below. Today, I shall ponder her question,”Is this America?” (more…)

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