THANKS TO RACHEL MADDOW FOR SPOTLIGHTING THE UGLY BEHAVIOR TOWARD PRESIDENT OBAMA by USA CITIZENS - "TRAWLING FOR ASSASSINS"

TO USA CITIZENS

DOMESTIC BIGOTS ARE NO BETTER
THAN FOREIGN TERRORISTS

I have plans to write another letter to President Obama, expressing my feeling of being let down by his not matching his words and actions since President to before he was President - regarding genocide and the extreme situation for the Darfuris and southern Sudan.

Then I saw this on television tonight:

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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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I agree with the message in this video.


I still will write my letter to President Obama, but I will keep in mind that I must write with the respect that he merits, while reserving no truths from being expressed from my heart.

This ugly head rearing of racism in this country has been going strong towards Barack Obama since his Presidential campaign started. And it is not lessening, but getting bolder and bolder.

It is blatant. It needs more attention that the Rachel Maddow show, but thanks to her for doing what she can.

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Strange Fruit sung by Billie Holiday.
This video uploaded by MonsieurBaudelaire

Text from the same song of BedsUniversity at Youtube:

As a child brought up in financially impoverished community, the artist remembers creating makeshift toys from the discarded items of others; old tyres being a particular favourite. Often such items were decorated in an attempt to personalise them.

In many cultures the "tyre swing", is associated with childhood memories of play, often being found in woodland clearings or near water.

The upheavals in 1980-90's South Africa witnessed the establishment of the 'tyre necklace', a punishment which involves placing a tyre soaked in petrol around the victim's neck and setting it alight.

These things, amongst others, inform the making of this work. The title of the piece and soundtrack references a dark period in American History.

"Strange Fruit" is a song most famously performed by Billie Holiday that condemns American racism, particularly the practice of lynching and burning African Americans that was prevalent in the South at the time when it was written.

In her autobiography Lady Sings the Blues, Billie Holiday suggests that she, together with Lewis Allan, her accompanist Sonny White and arranger Danny Mendelsohn put the poem, written by Abel Meeropol, to music.

The "strange fruit" referred to in the lyrics are the bodies of African American men hanged during a lynching. They contrast the pastoral scenes of the South with the ugliness of racist violence. The lyrics were so chilling that Holiday later said "The first time I sang it, I thought it was a mistake. There wasn't even a patter of applause when I finished. Then a lone person began to clap nervously. Then suddenly everyone was clapping."

Lyrics of Strange Fruit

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

Project work by 2006 graduate Terry Massiah.

I am not what I consider a religious person. But I do consider myself a deeply spiritual person and one who tries to live with love and compassion for myself and for others. So, it is rare I quote Bible scriptures, but here I have included a passage:

Matthew 7 - Jesus speaks here

A Tree and Its Fruit

¹⁵"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

²¹"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' ²³Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

The Wise and Foolish Builders

²⁴"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

²⁸When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Wikipedia includes this topic -Racism_in_the_United_States

There are regular radio and television commentators who would not be unhappy if President Obama was assassinated. Some have been routinely using rhetoric to incite and inflame such an idea.

What is Happening in the USA is Directly Related
to the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsis in Rwanda

The radio was majorly used as an instrument to incite neighbors to use garden tools and 10 cent Chinese machetes to kill approximately one million human beings in 100 days. See the Media Propaganda section for basic information on this issue: wikipedia Rwandan_Genocide

Here are the first and second sentences from the section:

Media propaganda

According to recent commentators the news media played a crucial role in the genocide: local print and radio media fueled the killings, while the international media either ignored or seriously misconstrued events on the ground.^[9] The print media in Rwanda is believed to have started hate speech against Tutsis which was later continued by radio stations.

^[9]

1. ^ http://www.comminit.com/en/node/189378/36

My first letter to President Obama is read in this video:


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Dear President Obama - A Letter Sent March 12, 2009
Uploaded by ilovemylifesblog

When I was set up to receive comments on this video, I received comments that were self-absorbed at best. I was told I would never receive a response by one poster.

I received a reply July 25, 2009 and two more replies to more of my letters. I have sent several letters regarding Darfur and his inaction. I am sure any more of my letters will simply reap the same letter in response, as I have three copies of this letter so far. Two from USPS, addressed to Dear Friend. One of those with an envelope with my name and address typed on it and the latest with my name and address handwritten on the envelope. In the email response to my email letter to him, the response greeting included my actual name, not "Dear Friend". All of the letters are the same text.

The first letter of response from President Obama:

Click to enlarge
Any bigoted comments will be deleted.
As explained in an earlier post, this is my home online
and just like in my virtual home,
I don't allow bigoted comments.

I figure if you want to express yourself anyway you want,
you can do it on your own blog.

Just not here.

Shalom.

FREEDOM WITH CIVILITY MISSING IN ACTION

FREEDOM OF SPEECH HAS BECOME ANARCHY...

West Wing was one of the best written, relevant, best acted USA network television series. Not HBO, but one of the three original TV networks. I feel the second term of George W Bush may have happened because some people thought the fictional President Jed Bartlett on the West Wing was our President.

You can still catch the West Wing on Bravo weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. with back to back episodes, with an occasional disruption in the scheduling. The only thing is I can't stand when Bravo goes to commercial - their resident announcer is intolerable. Just beyond any scale of good taste. I have to mute the sound immediately to bear it.

Youtube has many great scenes for those of you who aren't familiar with this wonderful series.

I picked the one below to post because I feel it is relevant in a way to the off-the-rails behavior of the bigots in the United States of America who seem to have highjacked the media and the decency of leadership in the Republican party that could exercise...well, some leadership. Not the sick kind that we have been subjected to over the last few months. But political leaders who say with clarity that the bigots are wrong - that the calling our President "The Joker", Hitler, and on and on with the sick hurling insults, bigoted and incendiary statements - need to stop and be replaced with some uncommon common sense. These people aren't patriotic. They are ignorant at best. They have sucked the life out of any semblance of honest debate about the health care issues. At worst, our President's life is made more likely to be taken by the polluted environment that they have put into motion. And you don't hear Republicans say anything to help reign in the lies, misleading rhetoric or steer the conversation to civility. This started during the Presidential campaign. And now it is even more blatant. Scarcely veiled "pretend" facts are racists' remarks and behavior. They might as well all be wearing sheets.

Freedom of speech has become anarchy of speech.

President Obama is not admitting the racism that is at the root of the behavior. But that is what is at the root. These insecure people feel empowered because the Limbaughs, the Glenn Becks, the Joe Wilsons, etc. make them feel they have legitimate principles. But it is hate's vile bile.

swastika-painted-outside-office-of-black-congressman

Boehner dismisses talk of race
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Uploaded by sarahkatheryn

Fictional President Barlett "You'll denounce these people, Al. You'll do it, publicly. And until you do, you can all get your fat asses out of my Whitehouse..."

"Two Cathedrals"
Uploaded by Cath1888

"Let Bartlett Be Bartlett"
Uploaded by chochanga

"Young Jed Bartlett and Mrs. Lanningham"
Uploaded by sarahkatheryn

"Brothers in Arms"
Uploaded by hanley55

"Homeless Veteran - In Excelsis Deo"
Uploaded by ksol1460


"Posse Comitatus" ending Part 1
Uploaded by DanthemaN9199

Click on post title for another West Wing youtube:
The speech President Bartlet gives about the judiciary, term limits, and campaign finance reform. Josh and the team refuse to be stared down by Republican Senators.

OUR PROMISE IS OURS TO MAKE TRUE

Who cares what I have to say? Is it people who are looking for someone who already thinks the way they do? Probably. And does is matter that I write my thoughts and feelings for the sake of the reader? Sometimes, probably.

Writing for me is a way to express myself which always makes me more enriched. And it helps me gain clarity.

Since this is a monumental day in our history, and we have had RACE as an issue simply because some or many of us still can't see the person for the essence of his or her spirit and gifts without looking at the visual, we have RACE as an issue that affects our judgments and decisions about what is acceptable in our own prejudices overt or covert.

As blatantly wrong as the KKK is, I would weigh more damaging to our society are racists who don't understand that subtleties and undercurrents of racist thoughts, comments and judgments cut into our country's integrity far more than the blatant hatred borne out in groups like the KKK. And where the we would benefit most to figure out. It is the ignored racist comments, jokes or withholding of rights that go on unchecked that hold us back more from being really free as a nation.

The power plays that we don't even acknowledge in conversations, the putting down of someone because we need to feel more powerful ~ it is this kind of behavior that needs acknowledged, admitted, owned and given our conscious awareness to evolve out of our racist personal states. Some racism is given a pass by people who claim they are not bigots. Certain bigoted behavior is more acceptable because it is hidden by those in the group who feel empowered. But it is not hidden from the receiver of the behavior. This type of racism is buried beneath the light of consciousness. It is more insidious and odious than those who claim their bigotry as a crown of being right.

We are not free until we are all free.

The following text is shared.

Today is the 40th anniversary of the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and I want to share a video that reveals how far we've come and how much this campaign owes to Dr. King's legacy.

Students at a high school in the Bronx, who had no real interest in their government, have found new hope. They were surprised by their own excitement and engagement, but to me, they embody so many reasons why Barack and I decided to get into this campaign.

It's truly moving to see young people inspired by a political leader -- someone who gives them hope and reminds them that they can be anything they want to be if they work hard.

Watch what these kids have to say about politics and race in this country:

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Our Promise is Ours to Keep

Much has changed in this country since Dr. King's death, and thanks to his life and work we have taken critical strides towards racial equality.

The simple fact that Barack is running a competitive campaign for President is a direct result of Dr. King's legacy -- and this movement for change would be impossible without the support of people of all races, ages, and backgrounds.

I remember back in December of 2006, a group of us were discussing the possibility of Barack running for President. And as you might have read, I was hesitant about the idea.

But then Barack started talking about why he really wanted to do this -- to bring people together and to change the tone of the way we talk to each other in this country. He talked about the need for people to be inspired by their leaders, and the importance of leadership to chart a different course. He talked about Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy, and their passion to challenge a new generation and provide them with role models.

Barack promised that as a candidate and as President he would do everything he could to bring new people to the table. He shared his desire to reach out to our neglected inner cities, to strive to be a role model for young people, and to connect with people who are not involved in politics -- those who feel their voices haven't been heard, those who have been left behind, and those who have been turned off by all the petty bickering in recent years.

We can change that, by standing on the shoulders of folks like Dr. King who came before us.

Watching these students who are excited about their own role in politics for the first time, and watching Barack as he strives to live up to the challenges Dr. King made possible, I am truly touched.

Thank you,

Michelle Obama

WISE MEN AND WOMEN KNOW

it is you and me who can make a difference

or we can continue without making a difference

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Martin Luther King assassination
Uploaded by DwightFrye

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Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.
by DwightFrye

Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes Overlooked
USA Black History Matters