Busy Weeks Ahead (and behind)

Hello MiNdependents!

As you probably noticed I've been off the wagon here for a bit. I have been extremely busy at my paying job and as I need it for various things, its important I dont' get canned. But here I am again, with a lot to say and very little time to do it in. So, for now, just a couple points.

First of all, every one should join my.barackobama.com its very much like Myspace except quite a bit better put together - there are already thousands of members and it is a brilliant grassroots organizing venue. Carl from obamaMN says every time he posts an event people are signed up before he's finished posting it. There are thirsty people out there.

Second, there are thirsty people out there. Everyone I talk to who is not an obama supporter yet, wants to be. Its like the guy in Full Metal Jacket said, inside every [Vietnamese] is an American trying to get out. That's the case with Barack, he's got such a positive message that people want to be for him. At some point in the future I'll expand on why I feel this is the case but for now, go with it as an assumption. People want to vote for him, they also dont' want to be pressed so since we've got two years practically, I'm using the slow crush method of overwhelming positive thinking and good press.

Third, someone recently posted a "Gore Obama" page somewhere. I didn't want to reply to my group because that would be rude, but I think that could possibly be the one way we guarantee failure. Face it people, Gore is a loser. He has no personality, he's already lost once (officially), and conservatives hate him. I don't dislike the man, but like Hillary, he is so divisive, that the key converts we need will automatically dismiss him as a crank. Plus I think the guy's about as captivating as a toenail fungus.

Four, what is this "Obama isn't black enough" crap? How dare they? I mean is this what this country's about, a man's blackness? When did it become necessary for black man to be a certain level of blackness? This is a "walk away" issue if you ask me. We shouldn't debate it because its stupid and it only proves the race question is still alive and well - particularly in the high and mighty media circles who claim objectivity. I don't feel I'm qualified to say who is or is not black enough to accomplish a certain task. In fact, I'm appalled that this is a requisite - that is, codifying Obama's blackness. The next thing we'll need are tint charts that qualify skin color, one side will have a very light tan, maybe even white with blue eyes - this person is still black by every standard that the US has ever had for discriminating a person's race: one drop of blood, but now, we've suddenly given ourselves a pat on the back for being so not-racist (letting a black man run in the first place) that we can focus on his blackness, how black he is, where his blackness originated and the different gradiations of blackness out there. Tell me, did we ever decide a protestant is more white than a catholic? How about italians, they seem a bit darker, are they not white enough to do certain things? As Seth said on the main independents for obama page, the idea that someone would vote for obama just because he's black is ludicrous anyway. It really means the media is assuming A: that black people are so dumb they'll vote for any black candidate, and B: That civil rights so ingrained now, there's no reason we shouldn't delve into the level of a black candidate's blackness. To what end? What does that prove at all? How is it in any capacity relevent? On the other side of the chart would be all black, however, as this person is usually from Africa, not a descendent of slaves, this person too, is not black enough. Physically it would be impossible to be blacker, but they're just not black enough. I believe if we kept looking at our imaginary "blackness chart" we would find the only variation currently allowed to be president would still be old, out of touch, fabulously wealthy, white men. You see how muddled this is all getting? That's why its a walk away issue. Tell the person "That's almost certainly the stupidest thing any one has ever said to me" or, "Wow, that's about the most racist thing I've heard since I watched Roots." and just walk away. If they ask you why its racist, pick an argument, there are about 40. A final question to the pundits and racists who ask "Is Barack Obama black enough?": Do you honestly think that he experienced less discrimination because he was from Africa? That the people who double check their wallets on the bus or hug their purses tighter on the subway cut him some slack because he was a different type of black person? Though there are a million variations of every race (in fact, race really isn't real if you talk to anthropologists, its just a outward expression of a beneficial trait in the face of a certain environment over many millenia) not one of those variations has ever been anything but "black" to the status quo of America, but as soon as one of them rises up to be our next great hope, suddenly they're all over him as not beign black enough. Talk about hypocritical bull stuff. This is exactly why we need Barack Obama. To a lesser extent, and I hate to say it, its exactly why we need a black president. To take the next step to a truly colorblind society.

Five - I think, i've lost track because the typing window is quite small...that's mostly it. We've got a tremendous head of steam built up. Read everything you can on this man and his candidates, but cut them all some slack. Everyone goofs on a speech every once in a while, it just shows how vindictive we are if we jump all over an opponent. Let's be the decent ones, the ones others want to be around, the ones who don't alienate, the ones with the gentle, sound voices, the ones who people see campaigning with smiles on our faces instead of grim stoney-faced determination. Let that determination be in our hearts but do not force it upon others. Let them ask you questions and see that you are resolved. Let them see that you are not a sheep lulled by the siren song of a skilled orator, or a white guilt approver. Show them that we believe that this man is the best man for the job, that he has the experience and more importantly the skills to be president, that he can win this election, and that we can start a new age of peace and prosperity in America and more importantly, the World.