"IF HE WAS ALIVE HE'D BE A SICK MAN" DICK GREGORY ON PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH

NOTE: YouTubes added to this post February 26, 2008

There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society, with a large segment of people in that society, who feel that they have no stake in it; who feel that they have nothing to lose. People who have a stake in their society, protect that society, but when they don't have it, they unconsciously want to destroy it. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Fear and God do not occupy the same space. "Dick Gregory
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"I'm tired of people talking about these elections from the standpoint of fear..."
Dick Gregory from the Black State of Union 2008

We are not makers of history. We are made by history.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

I had C-Span on all day today and listened as I did the wash and carried on my day. It was the live airing of The State of the Black Union from New Orleans, Lousiana. It can be seen online now as the morning session, Part 1 and the afternoon session, Part 2. It will reair on C-Span, Friday February 29 at 8:00 p.m. Tavis has a forum to talk the issues of being black in America.

As much as I really got a lot from this and I appreciate the discussion of "blacks", "browns", "yellows" and "whites" ~ I am disappointed the "reds" are almost always completely left out. I hate the use of color to identify human beings. None of us are those colors anyway. No Asian is yellow and the indigenous people we call Indians are not red... Very, very rarely do we ever include the first American, the Indians in any discussion. This is WRONG.

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become reality. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I hate it when I am dismissed. And we as a country are dismissive of the First Americans, indigenous people to this land ~ like they don't count, like they don't exist. And they do exist. And they will be the LAST to be recognized. Let us start including them in the dialog.

Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.
The Measure of a Man, 1958
Martin Luther King, Jr.

We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Link that will allow you to see the whole day, February 23, 2008 in New Orleans

C-Span complete coverage of the State of the Black Union

See Tavis Smiley "State of the Black Union" ~ Morning Session

See Tavis Smiley "State of the Black Union" ~ Afternoon Session

NOTE: This link of the entire morning and afternoon sessions worked for me February 23, but every time I have tried it after the first successful loading, it has not worked. Keep checking youtube, because it will eventually show up there most likely ~ too good not to... I just checked today, February 26 and that is when the Youtube embeds on this post were found with portions of Dick Gregory's sharing and I added them to this post for my readers.

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Dick Gregory "apologizing" to Bill Clinton
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"...How in the world can a nine year old child find a heroin man, but the FBI can't find it...."
Dick Gregory

Highlights were Donna Brazile at the 1 hour 2o minute mark, hurricane Katrina survivor Herreast Harrison at 2 hours, 29 minutes, and Dick Gregory really gets everyone going at the 56 minute mark, then again at 3 hours, 2 minutes. He zeroes in on Bill Clinton being a black man at 3 hours, 9 minutes.

DON'T MISS DICK GREGORY!

I particularly liked Eddie Glaude, Princeton University Professor of Religion's about "What is the prize?" at the 3:28 mark, that is the 3rd hour, 28 minute mark. But he is also good at the 50 minute mark.

I missed the bru-ha-ha between Tavis and the fact that Barack Obama was invited to come and participate and made the choice of campaigning for President in Ohio and Texas instead. But he did tell Tavis that Michelle Obama could come to represent the black perspective. But Tavis said no. This next link I think spells out quite well why Barack's decision was the correct one.
Why Obama should skip Tavis Smiley's State of the Black Union
Roland S Martin

Here is the letter Senator Barack Obama sent to Tavis Smiley:

The following letter dated February 13, was sent to Tavis Smiley asking him to reconsider his decision not to let Michelle Obama stand in for her husband at the 2008 State of the Black Union forum in New Orleans.

February 13, 2008
Mr. Tavis Smiley
President and CEO
The Smiley Group

Dear Tavis,

Thank you for the invitation to participate in the 2008 State of the Black Union forum in New Orleans, Louisiana February 21-23. The exchange of ideas raised at this annual symposium are invaluable as our nation strives to address the critical issues facing not just African Americans, but Americans of every race, background and political party.

I especially commend you for hosting this dialogue in New Orleans. On the eve of the Louisiana primary, I visited this great city for the fifth time since declaring my candidacy to share policy proposals for rebuilding the Gulf Coast so that we never experience another Hurricane Katrina. On February 9, I was deeply humbled to win the Louisiana primary with 86 percent of the African American vote and a 14 point lead among all voters who said they were adversely affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Uniting our country and creating a national constituency for fundamental change is why I am running for President of the United States. We have come a long way in this race, but we still have a long road ahead. In the final stretch, I will be on the campaign trail everyday in states like Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin talking directly with voters about the causes that are at the heart of my campaign and the State of the Black Union forum such as affordable healthcare, housing, economic opportunity, civil rights and foreign policy. I am committed to touching every voter, and working to earn their vote.

That is why with regret, I am not able to attend the forum. I understand that you have declined the campaign’s request to have Michelle Obama speak on my behalf. I ask that you reconsider. Michelle is a powerful voice for the type of real change America is hungry for. No one knows my record or my passion for leading America in a new direction more than Michelle Obama.

Tavis, this is our movement and our time. I look forward to working closely with you throughout this election. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,
Barack Obama
Source: The Black Political Review Tavis Smiley Feeling Blowback of Obama

When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Tavis Smiley's Covenant with Black America

It is not enough to say we must not wage war. It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.”Martin Luther King, Jr.