CARING FOR OTHERS IS THE RIGHT THING - VITRIOL IS NOT A STANDARD TO LIVE BY

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Vitriol appears all over the internet. Those who leave their vitriolic words in comments show what they carry around with them on the inside.

There are some on the internet who do the opposite and leave their words of love, compassion, empathy and joy. The energy that each of us puts out doesn't get stuck and dissipate - it continues to get passed on.

There are those who love to hate. Love to drop their anger here and there. Love to put on the outside what they have on the inside. And it doesn't take too many words to show what kind of life is going on inside. We have had "open season" with a lack of civility that goes into the realm of accepted hateful, bigoted, gun-loaded comments directed toward the President. I believe if someone assassinates President Obama, there will be gatherings of USA citizens who cheer.

Treating others the way you want to be treated~ the measuring standard to live by.

Vitriol is not a standard to live by.

Caring for others is the right thing.

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Video posted by a 72 year old of Hong Kong ~ ppmcsk

One comment left at Youtube with this video from shoretalk 55 year old from the USA:

Every single time that I see a video of Mary ... it hits that I won't ever see these three together again. Sadly, no one has stepped up to lead the next generation of bold freedom singers ... we are not about anger messages wrapped in hate rather than bold brave statements filled with love for all.

My reply to shoretalk ~

I appreciate your expression so well putting words to use for your thoughts: "we are not about anger messages wrapped in hate rather than bold brave statements filled with love for all". It is little gems like this thought that came from your heart onto this little comment box that keep the hope alive that good people saying positive things will hold the candle to all those who drop their little hate-filled and bigoted statements on the internet in places such as Youtube.

My Soapbox

Please watch the video and listen to Mary's little speech prior to the Bob Dylan song. Rep. Paul_Broun (R) of Georgia, who has called Obama a socialist, didn't immediately condemn a question asked at a town hall meeting: Who is going to shoot Obama? A response of silence is irresponsible. Leadership requires more than ignoring in the atmosphere that Broun has contributed to. The man would have reasonably believed that Broun would not admonish him. And "we" have turned our backs, "selective deaf" ears and "blind"eyes to “other” people's crisis-type of human rights being denied, such as in Darfur."We" are all we have to make a difference on this relatively little planet. What kind of person puts a head on your pillow every night? Justice doesn't take care of itself. Justice needs us to stand for justice. Stepping down now.

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THE NATURAL STATE OF MANKIND IS...FREEDOM

Slave trade map ~ Click image to enlarge

Amistad ~ a movie which partly was shot here in Rhode Island, Newport included. My favorite scene ~
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"…The natural state of mankind is instead - and I know this is a controversial idea - is freedom. Is freedom. And the proof is the length to which a man, woman or child will go to regain it once taken. He will break loose his chains, he will decimate his enemies, he will try and try and try against all odds, against all prejudices to get home.
…who we are is who we were…give us the courage to do what is right..."

Slavery here in Newport ~

newport history

Newport, Rhode Island played a leading role during the Colonial Period in the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade. By 1776, several thousand African slaves lived, work and eventually died in this New England seaport. At the peak of the Colonial Period they comprised nearly one third of the total town population with one in three Newport families owning at least one slave. Source: newport history

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Here in Newport, Rhode Island we have several physical ‘touch stones’ to remind us of the legacy left by those Africans and later African Americans who graced our city with their presence. From 1696 when the first documented slave ship, the ‘Sea Flower’, touched our shores, to the present, African Americans have worked, raised their families and prospered in the city by the sea.

The American Slave Trade and Newport share similar origins. Newport, the most prosperous of colonial American ports, saw unprecedented growth throughout the 18^th century; mostly from the export and trade of rum, spermaceti candles and slaves. By 1784, the fledgling state government abolished slavery.

Many of the slaves that came to Newport’s shore would arrive, like most goods, at the Long Wharf. These slaves would be auctioned off to the highest bidders at the Granary (market), which is today known as the Brick Market at the foot of Washington Square.

If colonial Newport was known as one of America’s most active slave ports, it was equally known as one of the new country’s most liberal communities for the pursuit of religious freedom. This unique atmosphere of religious tolerance would lead to the demise of popular support of human bondage led by two of America’s first humanitarians and abolitionists; Reverend Samuel Hopkins and Reverend Ezra Stiles of the First and Second Congregational Churches. Both men preached fiery sermons from their pulpits against the evils of slavery. Because of the dedication and vision of these two men, and the decline of Newport as a major trading port after the Revolutionary War, slavery would end in Newport by the commencement of the 19th century.

Where did these slave and free Africans live and work in early Newport? What were they like? Do any of these sites exist in Newport today? Numerous sites exist today that were built, lived in, or in some way touched by Newport’s long history with the African and African American community. Source and for more information ~ www.eyesofglory

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“…unless we all have plenty

one of us will become a thief and the ghief will make you angry

you will hurt him

this will hurt his children

they will punish you

this will hurt your children

they will punish his children

and that’s how it begins

to believe in man is to know

peace will not work if just one man alive

is unjust

if one man alive

is ignorant

or hungry

or crazy

or ashamed

FOR we have seen if only one of us

decides to pull the plug, the millions of us can kiss

the world good-bye

whether we like it or not.

From Joseph Pintauro’s little book “to believe in man”

Illustrated by Sister Corita Kent

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Click the post title for Newport history regarding slavery

I DON'T READ MANY BOOKS, BUT THIS ONE IS A MUST READ

I own lots of books. I check out books from the library. But to be truthful, I don't read many books. Rarely do I get through an entire book, even when I start it. I read biographies, non-fiction, seldom does a fiction book get more than a promise that some day I'll sit with it. And yet, I prefer the book over the kindle and similar inventions. And when I do read a book, I like to mark it up for favorite lines and passages.

Yesterday, I sat down and finished a book that I had started a few weeks ago, liked and wanted to finish. But that has happened before, the wanting part and the book never gets read. But, I had a day that I decided to sit down and actually use the hours to read. No television on as background to my life, no music, no computer to gobble up my attention and time. First, I went to bed early the night before, which is also a rare thing for me to do and I took the book to bed and read a little before closing my eyes. In the morning, as the pen went dry that I was journaling with I decided to get my day started and then sit down with Michele Norris' book, The Grace of Silence. That is the book I finished yesterday. Of course, knowing that it was due at the library tomorrow was a bit of a motivation. And my son, inspired me, as well. He loves to read books and spoke of it on Saturday.

This book was an inspiration to me because I want to write about chapters in my life. And it was also relevant because the years that she wrote of her father's life was during the time I was about to be born and the time my father was also the age to go into the service for World War II as her dad was.

I highly recommend this book and hope that high schools and colleges will put it on their reading lists. It should be included certainly on history course book lists.


Click on the images to enlarge


The chapter The War at Home is worth the price of the book.




There is an excerpt at Michele Norris' website.

You can buy the book at Amazon

Or you can check it out at your library. It is a "must read" if you want to take the advice from someone who doesn't take the time to read a book very often.

The portion below from page 81 in the chapter Service is relevant to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy today by Senator Mc Cain and the like. The color added is mine.

Over the course of my father's enlistment, the navy adopted new attitudes toward Negroes and their abilities, deciding that the marginalization of men with able bodies and agile minds only served to undermine the war effort. In February 1945, the navy published a new pamphlet for all naval officers, called the Guide to Command of Negro Naval Personnel, it spelled out the reversal of p0licy: "In modern total warfare any avoidable waste of manpower can only be viewed as material aid to the enemy. Restriction, because of racial theories, of the contribution of any individual to the war effort is a serious waste of human resources." 6

Personally, war is a waste of human resources to me. But Michele Norris book is about racism in the USA and she covers it in ways that I never learned about in my history courses.

These pictures are not from The Grace of Silence. The link is below for more pictures of African Americans who fought in World War II

US Army

1. "On parade, the 41st Engineers at Ft. Bragg, NC in color guard ceremony." N.D. 208-NP-4HHH-2. (african_americans_wwii_001.jpg)

2. "An MP on motorcycle stands ready to answer all calls around his area. Columbus, Georgia." April 13, 1942. Pfc. Victor Tampone. 111-SC-134951.

Pictures of african-americans World War II

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Also, I saw the HBO documentary Wartorn-1861-2010 recently. It is about post-traumatic stress and the veterans and their families who live with the effects of it after serving in the military.

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The Buzz

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Film Clip 1

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Film Clip 2

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synopsis

FAILURE OF OBAMA'S PRESIDENCY IS MORE IMPORTANT TO SOME THAN THE USA SUCCEEDING - UNACCEPTABLE BUT TRUE

Be aware that this post is not meant to be well organized....just thoughts

Glenn Beck - a spokesman for God? Sarah Palin - a spokeswoman for God?

If I was God, I would need to be on an antidepressant due to those who are claiming to speak for me.

Those claiming to be Christian and who also promote hate, racism and/or are the epitome of rudeness and narcissism are walking and talking contradictions to what a Christian is by definition. Or if not, and they all go to heaven, then I don't want to go there. Living in the mortal world and listening to them is so close to unbearable that the thought of living in eternity in a place they claim is where they are going is not a desire I have.

If there is a heaven and those like Glenn_Beck, Rupert_Murdoch, Sarah_Palin and Mitch McConnell are going to be there, then I have to wonder what are the standards of that kind of a heaven? Inciting bigots is leadership, just not good Christian leadership. Or if it is, again, I don't want to belong to that kind of religion.

Good leaders lift us up to our best selves, which certainly doesn't include blatant polarizing statements. As for politicians who care more about their careers in politics than the good of the country and its people, I deeply suspect they are not in the "good leadership" category. I put Mitch McConnell in this category, as well as all the "just say no" politicians the first two years of President Obama's time as the President.

Leadership

This is my opinion...

THE FEAR ISN'T ONLY THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL GET ANOTHER TERM
Racism is the central reason people, including politicians want President Obama to fail, more than they want the country's people not to fail. These people will do anything to make President Obama look like his Presidency is a failure. They are afraid that if it is perceived that he is succeeding not only will he get a second term, but their even deeper fear is that we will one day have another President who isn't "white".

Jon Stewart's - The Manchurian Lunatic of November 18, 2010

Watch the entire episode. It is well worth the time.

Note: After watching Jon Stewart with Rachel Maddow and their Discourse I have this to say ~

I believe Jon Stewart is wrong, when he claimed that his show is not a part of the dialog of politics in the USA. It is for me. And I believe it is for many others who watch his show. He holds that Rachel Maddow's show and his show are in different "mediums", but in reality he makes "statements" even though it is humor. And his claim that his show is more like Jerry Seinfeld's show than Rachel Maddow's show is wrong. "Seinfeld" was a show about "nothing" by Jerry Seinfeld's definition. And Jon Stewart's show is about "some thing(s)". "Some thing(s)" that are very important and and at times need some levity, though they have serious responses and sobering resulting residual effects.

Related piece with Stephen Colbert's Doom Bunker with Jack Jacobs and Stephen Moore

And . . .
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I am not qualified to be President. And I know it . Sarah Palin is not qualified to be President. She doesn't know it. Retired Governor Palin said this week that she could win against President Obama.

☙☙☙☙☙☙☙☙☙☙♡☙☙☙☙☙☙☙☙☙☙

1-800-GENOCIDE

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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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.

RACISTS WHO DON'T KNOW THEY ARE RACISTS

AND THE SILENCE OF THOSE WHO AREN'T

If the loudest words and the current atmosphere of spreading opinions as facts continues without being called out for what they may very well be - uninformed, prejudice-based and racism in the United States of America - then it will take people with the backbone and courage to become loud and repetitive in our own "loop" of saying:

"This is racism and this is not how I want to be defined. This is not the direction I want this country to continue."

The agenda of this country will continue to be highjacked by this segment of the United States of America, until a saner segment speaks up and steers the agenda. Silence will not get us what we want, unless we want racists to lead us into the valley of sick.

Racism - dressed up - as normal is where we are right now.

If racists are the ones using their right to spread ignorance and hatred and the ones on the other side are being apathetic and voiceless, there is only one outcome. And it won't be a proud period of history.

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to auto workers about labor and health care at the GM plant September 15, 2009 in Lordstown, Ohio. Obama said that the economy depends on getting the auto industry back on its feet.

September 14, 2009
Photo credit: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

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HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel featured University of Memphis Swim Study

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Next week, eyes will be on President Obama as he gives his speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

Today, you and I have one more chance to tell him unequivocally—"Don't Forget Darfur."

In a few days, Save Darfur's president, Jerry Fowler, is meeting with the U.S. Mission to the United Nations to talk about peace in Sudan and deliver our "Don't Forget Darfur" petitions.

Ask others to add their voices to speak up for justice in Darfur

Pittsburgh - Voices for Darfur given permision to protest the G-20 meeting to draw attention to the situation in Darfur

United States Darfur special envoy Scott Gration criticized by refugees

Click on post title to go to While We Wait - a blog by a Darfuri

UNDER THE SKIN OF A RACIST

IS FEAR IN THE DISGUISE OF JUSTIFIABLE BELIEFS

Not all racists think it is wrong to believe they are better than other groups of people based on their fears. Okay, they also probably don't believe it is their fears that are at the root of their racist comments or underpinning philosophy. But if you could remove vision from all of us, probably this racist stuff would be about as weak as the economy right now. And just how would we be able to give our fears a way to judge people different from us if we couldn't see them?

Racism is just a way to lift up how you feel about your weak opinion of yourself. It fills a need to put someone down to pretend you are better than you are.

The Star of Canada

TheStar.com | World | A nation's underbelly is exposed

AMERICAN SCENE

McCain Exposes America's Underbelly

David Olive posted online Oct 11, 2008

This is the week, Joe Biden said, that John McCain decided to take the low road to the White House. A partisan observation, certainly. But true just the same.

With increasing desperation, McCain and his presidential running mate, Sarah Palin, have depicted Barack Obama as a naive, untrustworthy, Manchurian candidate who "pals around with terrorists."

Irony is not given to Republicans. McCain attacked Obama this week as the cause of the global financial crisis, when it was the Republicans' sustained effort to remove the bars from the Wall Street zoo that culminated in the current spectacular mess.

McCain's proof of Obama's doubtful patriotism is the Illinoisan's vote against an Iraq-war funding bill that McCain also voted against because it was too pork-laden. But the ugliest and most potent McCain-Palin charge is that the Democratic Party's presidential nominee is not one of us.

"This is not a man who sees America as you see it and how I see America," Palin told a rally this week – an allusion to Obama's skin colour, foreign-born father, and "exotic" upbringing, in Indonesia and mostly Hawaii.

McCain, as it happens, was born in the Panama Canal Zone, a quasi-sovereign but U.S.-administered jurisdiction at the time. The latter status negated objections earlier this year that McCain is foreign-born and thus disqualified for the presidency under the Constitution.

But Obama is blessed with the quality of growing on people the more they see of him – pretty much the opposite effect that Stephen Harper has. Thus Obama's improbable triumph over Hillary Clinton, and success in winning the first two presidential debates.

With victory prospects dimming – Obama has a commanding electoral college edge in states already in his column and others leaning that way – McCain has gone heavily negative, not on Obama's policies but the rival himself.

Even Karl Rove has said McCain steps outside the bounds of truth. So it wasn't a surprise this week that, with the GOP character-assassination machine in high gear, The New York Times editorialized that McCain and Palin "have been running one of the most appalling campaigns we can remember, (entering) the dark territory of race-baiting and xenophobia."

What McCain has been doing this week is inadvertently exposing the underside of the country he professes to love. As Palin has inveighed against Obama's supposed intellectual snobbery, his fleeting affiliations with Weather Underground co-founder Bill Ayers, and his supposed disdain for the troops (elaborate praise for whom figures into most Obama speeches), crowds in Ohio, Florida and elsewhere this week have shouted, "Traitor!" and "Kill him!"

Palin has made no effort to restrain these animal spirits. This is the part of America that time forgot. Where an angry white McCain supporter approached an African-American TV technician this week and yelled: "Sit down, boy!"

With his appeal to suspicion of "the other," McCain has identified that part of America not ready for the challenges of the 21st century – the very people Obama's policies, and especially his commitment to education reforms, are meant to help. These are the past and future victims of outsourcing, few with better than a high school certificate, who will be left behind in a global, knowledge-based economy. Obama grasps the implications, proposing steps to revive U.S. competitiveness. McCain exploits them as a wedge issue.

In the twilight of his career in presidential politics, McCain is shaping a legacy for himself not as a problem-solver, but one hopes as the last White House candidate determined to showcase for the world the worst of America.

David Olive's American Scene appears Saturdays in World & Comment.

Included here is one comment to the above article that makes a substantial point:

Blowback

My fortune cookie yesterday said "Do not release tigers if you live in the forest" a sort of "Glass houses" admonition. For every attack McCain has sent he is many times more vulnerable to worse stories. Obama knows old extremists, McCain and Palin are on stage with current ones. Obama has a crazy pastor. McCain & Palin are one stage with several who are very much worse, while they are there. It goes on and on.

Posted by FreeDem at 9:51 AM Saturday, October 11 2008

Below is a link to an interesting article from Australia's Sydney Morning Herald

The Weight Is Behind McCain, But Obama Has the Votes
written by Dr Lesley Russell is the Menzies Foundation Fellow at the Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney / Australian National University and a research associate at the US Studies Centre. Dr. Russell talks about the weight of the voter and how it is parallel to living-in-poverty or not-living-in-poverty and how the pounds of the voter give a clue who citizens will vote for.

Australian Daily Telegraph
'Hate'claim fires up John McCain in US presidential race
There is a video with this article that shows Australians about the racism that has come out of the closet in campaign.

The above article and links are from the website Watching America.com ~ which gives links to articles from around the planet and how the USA is viewed from without. If you go to the bottom of the page, the articles are listed by regions and countries. If it is not in English and you want to translate it, you may try this google language tool.

Link to Watching America's collected articles and posts about the USA Presidential campaign

June through August 2008 articles from Watching America.com on Racism:
Racism is the Biggest Obstacle Obama Faces Kenya
Obama and the Question of American Racism Germany
Obama Support Riding on Racism Uganda

Recommended read by a South African blogging acquaintance and internet friend:
Message to America Where I Come From

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Barack Obama

Senator Obama's Economic Rescue Plan for the Middle Class

Senator Obama delivered a major economic policy address to lay out his economic rescue plan for the middle class in Toledo, Ohio this afternoon. He unveiled his Economic Rescue Plan for The Middle Class . This is a comprehensive four-part plan to deal with the immediate crisis that builds on proposals he has previously announced and includes several major new ideas. We can’t wait to help workers and families and communities who are struggling…

CONTINUE READING

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WHEN YOU LIE UPON YOUR DEATH BED ~ WHAT WILL HAVE BEEN THE IMPORTANT THINGS YOU DID

OR SAID?

To gain and keep perspective in my life, I visualize and feel what I expect to feel if I get to my end knowing my death is soon to be. It instantly makes all things right for me. What will be important then comes front and center and what I once labored or fretted over just loses its grip on me. It won't matter that my family is broken, disconnected or differs from me in their beliefs, politics and ways of handling the truth. What will matter is how I lived my life. What I said, but more how I said... It will matter to me if I chose to be silent when I should have spoken up. Clear and with passion. It will matter to me if I consistently had truth as my anchor, strength and target.

This is one of those things that has my attention. And I feel stories such as these are neglected, dismissed and thrown out while our narcissism consumes our behavior.


The following is from the Enough Project

September 30, 2008

Peace process near collapse in eastern Congo

The peace process in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is on the verge of collapse due to resumed hostilities between Government forces and rebels loyal to Congolese general Laurent Nkunda. Absent immediate and robust diplomatic pressure on the Congolese government and a more impartial effort by United Nations peacekeepers to stop the fighting, the region could descend back into total war.

After weeks of tit-for-tat violence, large-scale fighting between the Congolese army and Nkunda's National Congress for the Defense of People, or CNDP, began again on August 28 in the territory of Rutshuru, North Kivu. Violence has since spread to Masisi territory in North Kivu, and Kalehe territory in South Kivu. The clashes are the largest violations to date of the cease-fire agreement signed last January in Goma (capital of North Kivu) between the Congolese government, the CNDP, and 21 other armed groups active in the East.

The fighting has newly displaced an estimated 100,000 civilians in North Kivu, and has curtailed access for humanitarian aid agencies across the province. On September 25, the Enough Project -along with 82 other NGOs-released a statement on the humanitarian costs of faltering peace efforts. This follow-up examines why those diplomatic efforts are failing and what steps the international community must immediately take to halt the violence and reinvigorate the peace process.

• To read the full statement, click here
• To read the Congo Advocacy Coalition's September 25 release, click here
• To join our Raise Hope for Congo Campaign and learn what you can do to help protect and empower Congolese women, click here

Check out the Enough Project's website for our new Raise Hope for Congo Campaign

McCAIN IS A RACIST or WANTS YOU TO BE ONE

McCAIN CALLING ALL RACISTS

HE WANTS YOUR VOTE
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at 3:35 of 8:39 Racist McCain is discussed
Uploaded by HeartofdraknIsAlive

John McCain wasn't maverick enough when Sarah Palin was picked to be Vice-President

He didn't want Sarah Palin

But the Republican party didn't want who he wanted

The maverick theme is used but it was sidelined when John McCain picked Sarah Palin

So many McCain flaws to point out, so little time

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New Rules by Bill Maher
September 26, 2008
Uploaded by TULLYCAST2

The part about racism is the last new rule
A candidate for President should not be judged by the color of his skin......
As Bill talks about "white" substitute the word "black" or Mexican or Native American or Indian or ...
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Chris Rock with Bill Maher
September 26, 2008
"Obama thinks the vote count matters"
Uploaded by TULLYCAST2

OBAMA - BIDEN 2008

www.barackobama.com

RACE BAITING ADS AND COMMENTS - NOT OBVIOUS TO WHITE RACISTS - ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO CLAIM NOT TO BE RACIST

WE VOTE ON EMOTIONS NOT ON THE ISSUES PRIMARILY

According to clinical, personality, and political psychologist and neuroscientist Drew Westen

Today on C-span 2, which is where Book TV airs authors speaking, I watched a show that explained why campaigning is about soliciting our emotions, especially our unconscious ones. Including discrimination. The author Drew Westen of the book The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation explained how grab-our-attention words and images should be framing issues in a positive way and how they are used unethically and amorally. The best was when he dissected a campaign ad that had covert racial messages. I always thought that many of the ads and messages during the primary Democratic party's season were covertyly racist. And when I say covert, I mean covert to white people, primarily, including the media. Black people have experience with it and it is in the overt category to them. I am white by the way. Very white. I sunburn easily.

The show isn't on the Cspan website, yet. However, I have included some bits of Drew Westen speaking that have been posted on Youtube. The person who uploaded the following video thinks it is funny. This is HIS text from the youtube page where the campaign ad is posted: "A funny video poking fun at Harold Ford Jr, made by Scott Howell." The post titles this as " Harold Ford Jr. not for Tennessee".
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This is the ad that Professor Westen used in the C-span 2 Book TV airing where he detailed and illustrated race baiting embedded in the political ad. This is an example of how Tennessee Bob Corker used racist covert messages against the losing candidate Harold Ford in 2006. Westen went into some detail with different parts of it. Westen said that it took him a few viewings of the ad to figure out why he was bothered by the ending that reads
Harold Ford
He's Just Not Right
with white letters against black
which Westen says is the opposite of the usual way of black letters on white. What Westen decided after repeated viewings is that the hidden message at the end was
Harold Ford
He's Just Not White

Also, Westen said that the idea of a white woman soliciting Harold Ford was using the fear of white men: a black man with a white woman. I was told years ago that it is much less bothersome to whites that a white man "has" a black woman. Black women were subjugated by white masters during slavery. It was considered a right by whites. So not so bothersome to white racists. Personally, my black partner and I received many looks until people got used to us or until I stopped noticing.

Westen also pointed out that it was intentional to have the woman appear like she could have been nude. It is the image that is intended and the rest is left up to your psyche.

Westen said that if we had a functioning FCC these ads and comments used on Fox News (such as "terrorrist fist jab", adding Barack's middle name of Hussein every time his name is said, etc) wouldn't be allowed on the air.

Westen goes into more of the messages laid out in the ad above than I have abbreviated here. But if you are not a racist, you will catch some of the not so subtleties with your own brain. No matter your race.
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Chris Matthews shows his disgust with the race-baiting ad that was run against Harold Ford in the 2006 Tennessee Senate race.
Uploaded by jazzcyclist

I don't believe for one minute that Corker didn't have full knowledge of this ad before it ran.
There are some candidates who are after the morally retarded voters. They will never fund education programs because they want stupid voters. Voters smarter than them are a threat to them. They will call you elitists.
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dsf3g text of this uploaded video "The RNC is running patently racist advertising against Harold Ford in Tennessee..."

Westen also said that Hillary Clinton's ad that used words in the Primary such as lightweight, muslim and two others I can't rememeber had racism beneath it.

Barack Obama needs to hire this man.

These words are from the C-span 2 Book TV page:
About the Program

Psychologist Drew Westen argues in The Political Brain that Americans vote not based on reason, but on their emotions. Mr. Westen contends that Republicans are more skilled than Democrats when it comes to making emotional appeals to voters.

About the Author

Drew Westen is a clinical, personality, and political psychologist and neuroscientist. He teaches in the psychology and psychiatry departments at Emory University. He is also the founder of Westen Strategies, a political and corporate consulting firm. He has been an adviser to several political candidates and organizations. He is the author of Self and Society : Narcissism, Collectivism, and the Development of Morals.



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Dr. Drew Westen speaks on how Democrats should frame their positions
Uploaded by tedhuman7

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The Political Branin, Part 1
Drew Westen discusses emotions over mind, and how this fact has failed Democratic candidates
Uploaded by goodmanl

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The Political Brain, Part 2
Uploaded by goodmanl

Here is one has no embed with Katie Couric, but here is the link.

Harold Ford's concession speech:
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Uploaded by bsm1970
Text by the poster: "Nov. 7, 2006 Harold Ford, Jr. gives a classy concession speech in the Tennesse U.S. Senate race."

OBAMA - BIDEN 2008

www.barackobama.com