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Mar. 17th, 2008 12:23 amPharyngula alerted me:
WELCOME TO THE ATHEIST APOCALYPSE!!!
Although Christopher Hitchens as EQUALITY? Ha!!!
WELCOME TO THE ATHEIST APOCALYPSE!!!
Although Christopher Hitchens as EQUALITY? Ha!!!
Mar. 17th, 2008
Entries from a blog that I just found:
Mar. 17th, 2008 01:09 amMore on the relationship between White feminism and racism. I didn't know that Victoria Hull and Frederick Douglass were nominated for President and Vice- Prez in 1872? Hmm.
The Obama-Clinton Show
Musing on our electoral system and the campaign of Cynthia McKinney
President McKinney
The Title speaks for itself, really.
Our Greatest Cliche:The unexamined Propoganda of Political Correctness
When the American Dream sours
Brokedown Dreamhouses of a New York Suburb
On the Chinese and exactly what they had to do to get to "model minority" status, now.
Immigrant Dreams and Nightmares in the White Supremist Cauldron
The Obama-Clinton Show
Musing on our electoral system and the campaign of Cynthia McKinney
President McKinney
The Title speaks for itself, really.
Our Greatest Cliche:The unexamined Propoganda of Political Correctness
When the American Dream sours
Brokedown Dreamhouses of a New York Suburb
On the Chinese and exactly what they had to do to get to "model minority" status, now.
Immigrant Dreams and Nightmares in the White Supremist Cauldron
Predatory Lenders partner in Crime:How The Bush Admin. stopped staes from stepping in to help Consumers
Bailing out Bear Sterns:Funny how conservatives want as little gov't intervention as possible when times are good, but when said lack of regulations lead to their greed imperilling themselves and the country, well, gov't needs to bail their asses out
Tent Cities in America:As people lose their homes due to fucked up mortages, we are now seeing the rise of tent cities
Bailing out Bear Sterns:Funny how conservatives want as little gov't intervention as possible when times are good, but when said lack of regulations lead to their greed imperilling themselves and the country, well, gov't needs to bail their asses out
Tent Cities in America:As people lose their homes due to fucked up mortages, we are now seeing the rise of tent cities
UPDATE:No, there is no evidence that American scientists developed AIDS to kill black people. So why would anyone give this conspiracy theory any credence? Well, as Roland Martin pointed out on Anderson Cooper, there's this:
The Tuskegee experiment
Also, if you've got a strong stomach? Read this:
Medical Apartheid
The Traditions of Black Preachers in holding up a mirror to the hypocrisies of American Society
God Damn America, in black and white
A kickass breakdown of the elephant in the room: racial issues, one of the best diaries that have been written on the subject.
It's well past time America took some RESPONSIBILITY for itself, and finally changed course.
This isn't to say that every person in America is racist, or anti-Muslim - or a sexist - that isn't necessary. Most of America has never been racist, ever. Not even before the Civil War, however when bigoted policies were implemented then - most people did nothing.
After the Civil War and the promise of reconstruction turned to the bitter ash of Jim Crow - most people weren't wearing White Sheets - Most People Did Nothing.
When Black men were being regularly lynched in the early 20th Century - most people weren't holding the rope - Most people did nothing.
Today, when the Votes of African-Americans are Caged and Denied, when the Terrorism of Lynching Nooses are hung in Jena, LA, when the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ is racially purged, when an entire American City DROWNED - Most people have Done Nothing.
We may be legitimately annoyed that Rev. Wright's language was over-the-top, we may legitimately condemn that language - but we should also recognize that unlike Jerry Falwell's blaming AIDs and the ACLU for 9/11, or John McCain supporter John Hagee blaming the "Sin of New Orleans" for Katrina...
A lot of what Jeremiah Wright said had a point, and that point should be listened too even as we disagree with HOW it was said.
On the ever moving goalposts applied to the Black candidate.
What kind of black man does white America want?
The "pastor quotes" you are not hearing this week
In the past few days, people have died in Iraq, the economy has taken some pretty heavy blows, and --- HOLY SHIT, STOP THE PRESSES. This just in! We have received reports that Barack Obama's pastor said the words "God damn America", while referring to injustices faced by the black community in the United States.
We will now go to a split screen for the next 72 hours, where we will put the video of this black man jumping around and getting emotional in front of a black congregation on a continuous loop. As you can see from the video, the pastor is black and so is his congregation.
This black pastor's tone of voice and level of emotion is fairly typical of many, many churches across America, but coming from a black pastor in a black church it is quite troubling. Also note that black Democratic candidate Barack Obama attends this black church and often hears this black pastor preaching. This is a significant blow to the Obama campaign.
And now, we go live to all of the quotes from white right-wing pastors and Republican supporters that we will not be talking about so that we can bring you minute-by-minute coverage of black Senator Obama's black pastor's comments in front of a black congregation in a black church:
Amanda hits it from the atheist perspective
America won't stop until Obama says jesus had blue yes
Melissa Lacewell Harrison lays down the truth unvarnished, as usual.
"Let’s be clear. American democracy has always coexisted with vicious, state-sponsored racism. The nation’s first presidents worked to establish an innovative, flexible, radical democratic republic while simultaneously codifying enslaved blacks as a fraction human and relegating them to intergenerational chattel bondage. After emancipation, as blacks helped make America the greatest industrial and military power on earth, the country stripped blacks of the right to vote, segregated public accommodations, provided inferior education to black children, and allowed and promoted the terrorist rule of lynch-mob violence.
This week Barack Obama was pressured to denounce Jeremiah Wright. But in the hundred years following the end of the Civil War more than five thousand African Americans were lynched and not a single president denounced the atrocities. Because of this history, black patriotism is complicated. Black patriots love our country, even though it has often hated us. We love our country, even while we hold it accountable for its faults."
Brownfemipower asks the question:
but what i find really interesting about all of this is what kind of religion is very steadily being defined as “acceptable” to U.S. voters. we’ve always known that non-christian religions are really, really, really bad (specifically islam), and “fringe” christian religions like mormanism are completely suspect as well. but now here comes evidence that christianity that centers equality and democratic principles (both qualities that we invaded Iraq for, btw) for black U.S. citizens is not any more acceptable than islam or mormanism. in fact, this black centered christianity is outright offensive.
which is weird, because let’s be real–it’s not like george bush’s brand of christianity hasn’t had it’s share of offensive spokespeople and messages.
why is one brand of offensive religious based thought more acceptable (and thus electable) than any other kind?
Frank Shaeffer, son of an influential rightwing pastor lays bare the hypocrisy. Yeah, we've SO got a liberal media.
Obama's Minister committed treason, but when my father said the same thing, he was called a hero
Dna inquires if America can handle a little truth...
There are several ironies at work in conservative criticism of Wright. The first is that I have never heard so many conservatives express concern for black children in my entire life. Unmoved by decrepit, segregated schools, their parents working two or three jobs without guarantee of health care, and dismissive of their abuse at the hand of law enforcement officials, they are suddenly terrified that the Obama children will grow up hating white people.
They shouldn't be concerned about them. They should be concerned about the children living through what I have described above. Those kids don't need a Reverend Wright to tell them what they already know.
The Lone Sophist points out the dangers of the race-baiting by our adults, its leading to bullying on racial lines in schools.
Have we made any progress at all?
Professor Kim hits the spot.
On the patriotism of Wrights Jeremiad and Michelle's pride
I am sick unto death of white people yakking on and on about motherfucking tone! Cause somehow angry white men are fine (see Rush Limbaugh, Bill O Reilly and the host of far right preachers) but angry black men decrying institutionalized racism and foreign policy WTFery =equal Scary! Unpatriotic! Bigoted! Racists!!!!!!111111) However, the general thrust of the dairy below is good.
On Wright and Race in politics
Finally, should Obama have repudiated Wright?
Is Obama wrong about Wright?
Ishmeal Reed gives detailed overview myriad religious extremists that are with white politicians and commentators
Crazy Rev. Wright
The Tuskegee experiment
Also, if you've got a strong stomach? Read this:
Medical Apartheid
The Traditions of Black Preachers in holding up a mirror to the hypocrisies of American Society
God Damn America, in black and white
A kickass breakdown of the elephant in the room: racial issues, one of the best diaries that have been written on the subject.
It's well past time America took some RESPONSIBILITY for itself, and finally changed course.
This isn't to say that every person in America is racist, or anti-Muslim - or a sexist - that isn't necessary. Most of America has never been racist, ever. Not even before the Civil War, however when bigoted policies were implemented then - most people did nothing.
After the Civil War and the promise of reconstruction turned to the bitter ash of Jim Crow - most people weren't wearing White Sheets - Most People Did Nothing.
When Black men were being regularly lynched in the early 20th Century - most people weren't holding the rope - Most people did nothing.
Today, when the Votes of African-Americans are Caged and Denied, when the Terrorism of Lynching Nooses are hung in Jena, LA, when the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ is racially purged, when an entire American City DROWNED - Most people have Done Nothing.
We may be legitimately annoyed that Rev. Wright's language was over-the-top, we may legitimately condemn that language - but we should also recognize that unlike Jerry Falwell's blaming AIDs and the ACLU for 9/11, or John McCain supporter John Hagee blaming the "Sin of New Orleans" for Katrina...
A lot of what Jeremiah Wright said had a point, and that point should be listened too even as we disagree with HOW it was said.
On the ever moving goalposts applied to the Black candidate.
What kind of black man does white America want?
The "pastor quotes" you are not hearing this week
In the past few days, people have died in Iraq, the economy has taken some pretty heavy blows, and --- HOLY SHIT, STOP THE PRESSES. This just in! We have received reports that Barack Obama's pastor said the words "God damn America", while referring to injustices faced by the black community in the United States.
We will now go to a split screen for the next 72 hours, where we will put the video of this black man jumping around and getting emotional in front of a black congregation on a continuous loop. As you can see from the video, the pastor is black and so is his congregation.
This black pastor's tone of voice and level of emotion is fairly typical of many, many churches across America, but coming from a black pastor in a black church it is quite troubling. Also note that black Democratic candidate Barack Obama attends this black church and often hears this black pastor preaching. This is a significant blow to the Obama campaign.
And now, we go live to all of the quotes from white right-wing pastors and Republican supporters that we will not be talking about so that we can bring you minute-by-minute coverage of black Senator Obama's black pastor's comments in front of a black congregation in a black church:
Amanda hits it from the atheist perspective
America won't stop until Obama says jesus had blue yes
Melissa Lacewell Harrison lays down the truth unvarnished, as usual.
"Let’s be clear. American democracy has always coexisted with vicious, state-sponsored racism. The nation’s first presidents worked to establish an innovative, flexible, radical democratic republic while simultaneously codifying enslaved blacks as a fraction human and relegating them to intergenerational chattel bondage. After emancipation, as blacks helped make America the greatest industrial and military power on earth, the country stripped blacks of the right to vote, segregated public accommodations, provided inferior education to black children, and allowed and promoted the terrorist rule of lynch-mob violence.
This week Barack Obama was pressured to denounce Jeremiah Wright. But in the hundred years following the end of the Civil War more than five thousand African Americans were lynched and not a single president denounced the atrocities. Because of this history, black patriotism is complicated. Black patriots love our country, even though it has often hated us. We love our country, even while we hold it accountable for its faults."
Brownfemipower asks the question:
but what i find really interesting about all of this is what kind of religion is very steadily being defined as “acceptable” to U.S. voters. we’ve always known that non-christian religions are really, really, really bad (specifically islam), and “fringe” christian religions like mormanism are completely suspect as well. but now here comes evidence that christianity that centers equality and democratic principles (both qualities that we invaded Iraq for, btw) for black U.S. citizens is not any more acceptable than islam or mormanism. in fact, this black centered christianity is outright offensive.
which is weird, because let’s be real–it’s not like george bush’s brand of christianity hasn’t had it’s share of offensive spokespeople and messages.
why is one brand of offensive religious based thought more acceptable (and thus electable) than any other kind?
Frank Shaeffer, son of an influential rightwing pastor lays bare the hypocrisy. Yeah, we've SO got a liberal media.
Obama's Minister committed treason, but when my father said the same thing, he was called a hero
Dna inquires if America can handle a little truth...
There are several ironies at work in conservative criticism of Wright. The first is that I have never heard so many conservatives express concern for black children in my entire life. Unmoved by decrepit, segregated schools, their parents working two or three jobs without guarantee of health care, and dismissive of their abuse at the hand of law enforcement officials, they are suddenly terrified that the Obama children will grow up hating white people.
They shouldn't be concerned about them. They should be concerned about the children living through what I have described above. Those kids don't need a Reverend Wright to tell them what they already know.
The Lone Sophist points out the dangers of the race-baiting by our adults, its leading to bullying on racial lines in schools.
Have we made any progress at all?
Professor Kim hits the spot.
On the patriotism of Wrights Jeremiad and Michelle's pride
I am sick unto death of white people yakking on and on about motherfucking tone! Cause somehow angry white men are fine (see Rush Limbaugh, Bill O Reilly and the host of far right preachers) but angry black men decrying institutionalized racism and foreign policy WTFery =equal Scary! Unpatriotic! Bigoted! Racists!!!!!!111111) However, the general thrust of the dairy below is good.
On Wright and Race in politics
Finally, should Obama have repudiated Wright?
Is Obama wrong about Wright?
Ishmeal Reed gives detailed overview myriad religious extremists that are with white politicians and commentators
Crazy Rev. Wright
The Monthly Review
Via:Problem chylde
An Open Letter to All Feminists: Statement of Solidarity with Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim Women Facing War and Occupation
by Piya Chatterjee and Sunaina Maira
As feminists and people of conscience, we call for solidarity with Palestinian women in Gaza suffering due to the escalating military attacks that Israel turned into an open war on civilians. This war has targeted women and children, and all those who live under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, and are also denied the right to freedom of movement, health, and education.
We stand in solidarity with Iraqi women whose daughters, sisters, brothers, or sons have been abused, tortured, and raped in U.S. prisons such as Abu Ghraib. Women in Iraq continue to live under a U.S. occupation that has devastated families and homes, and are experiencing a rise in religious extremism and restrictions on their freedom that were unheard of before the U.S. invasion, "Operation Iraqi Freedom," in 2003.
At this moment in Afghanistan, women are living with the return of the Taliban and other misogynistic groups such as the Northern Alliance, a U.S. ally, and with the violence of continuing U.S. and NATO attacks on civilians, despite the U.S. war to "liberate" Afghan women in 2001.
As of March 6, 2008, over 120 Palestinians, including 39 children and 6 women (more than a third of the victims), in Gaza were killed by Israeli air strikes and escalated attacks on civilians over a period of five days, according to human rights groups.1 Hospitals have been struggling to treat 370 injured children, as reported by medical officials. Homes have been destroyed as well as civilian facilities including the headquarters of the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions.2 On February 29, 2008, Israel 's Deputy Defense Minister, Matan Valnai, threatened Palestinians in Gaza with a "bigger Shoah," the Hebrew word usually used only for the Holocaust.3 What does it mean that the international community is standing by while this is happening?
Valnai's threat of a Holocaust against Palestinians was not just a slip of the tongue, for the war on Gaza is a continuation of genocidal activities against the indigenous population. Israel has controlled the land and sea borders and airspace of Gaza for more than a year and a half, confining 1.5 million Palestinians to a giant prison. Supported by the U.S., Israel has imposed a near total blockade on Gaza since June 2007 which has led to a breakdown in basic services, including water and sanitation, lack of electricity, fuel, and medical supplies. As a result of these sanctions, 30% of children under 5 years suffer from stunted growth and malnutrition. Over 80% of the population cannot afford a balanced meal.4
Is this humanitarian crisis going to approach a situation similar to that of the sanctions against Iraq from 1991-2003, when an estimated 500,000 Iraqi children died due to lack of nutrition and medical supplies, and the woman who was then Secretary of State, Madeline Albright, proclaimed that the death of a half million Iraqi children was worth the price of U.S. national security?
As feminists and anti-imperialist people of conscience, we oppose direct and indirect policies of ethnic cleansing and decimation of native populations by all nation-states.
In the current climate of U.S.-initiated or U.S.-backed assaults on women in Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan, we are deeply troubled by one kind of hypocritical Western feminist discourse that continues to be preoccupied with particular kinds of violence against Muslim or Middle Eastern women, while choosing to remain silent on the lethal violence inflicted on women and families by military occupation, F-16s, Apache helicopters, and missiles paid for by U.S. tax payers. This is a moment when U.S. imperialism brazenly uses direct colonial occupation, masked in a civilizational discourse of bringing Western "freedom" and "democracy." Such acts echo the language of Manifest Destiny that was used to justify U.S. colonization of the Philippines and Pacific territories in the 19th century, not to mention the genocide of Native Americans. U.S. covert, and not so covert, interventions in Central, South America, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean have devastated the lives of countless indigenous peoples, and other civilians, in this region throughout the 20th century. The U.S., as well its proxy militias or client regimes, has inflicted violence on women and girls from Vietnam, Okinawa, and Pakistan to Chile, El Salvador, and Somalia and has avenged the deaths of its soldiers by its own "honor killings" that lay siege to entire towns, such as Fallujah in Iraq.
Via:Problem chylde
An Open Letter to All Feminists: Statement of Solidarity with Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim Women Facing War and Occupation
by Piya Chatterjee and Sunaina Maira
As feminists and people of conscience, we call for solidarity with Palestinian women in Gaza suffering due to the escalating military attacks that Israel turned into an open war on civilians. This war has targeted women and children, and all those who live under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, and are also denied the right to freedom of movement, health, and education.
We stand in solidarity with Iraqi women whose daughters, sisters, brothers, or sons have been abused, tortured, and raped in U.S. prisons such as Abu Ghraib. Women in Iraq continue to live under a U.S. occupation that has devastated families and homes, and are experiencing a rise in religious extremism and restrictions on their freedom that were unheard of before the U.S. invasion, "Operation Iraqi Freedom," in 2003.
At this moment in Afghanistan, women are living with the return of the Taliban and other misogynistic groups such as the Northern Alliance, a U.S. ally, and with the violence of continuing U.S. and NATO attacks on civilians, despite the U.S. war to "liberate" Afghan women in 2001.
As of March 6, 2008, over 120 Palestinians, including 39 children and 6 women (more than a third of the victims), in Gaza were killed by Israeli air strikes and escalated attacks on civilians over a period of five days, according to human rights groups.1 Hospitals have been struggling to treat 370 injured children, as reported by medical officials. Homes have been destroyed as well as civilian facilities including the headquarters of the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions.2 On February 29, 2008, Israel 's Deputy Defense Minister, Matan Valnai, threatened Palestinians in Gaza with a "bigger Shoah," the Hebrew word usually used only for the Holocaust.3 What does it mean that the international community is standing by while this is happening?
Valnai's threat of a Holocaust against Palestinians was not just a slip of the tongue, for the war on Gaza is a continuation of genocidal activities against the indigenous population. Israel has controlled the land and sea borders and airspace of Gaza for more than a year and a half, confining 1.5 million Palestinians to a giant prison. Supported by the U.S., Israel has imposed a near total blockade on Gaza since June 2007 which has led to a breakdown in basic services, including water and sanitation, lack of electricity, fuel, and medical supplies. As a result of these sanctions, 30% of children under 5 years suffer from stunted growth and malnutrition. Over 80% of the population cannot afford a balanced meal.4
Is this humanitarian crisis going to approach a situation similar to that of the sanctions against Iraq from 1991-2003, when an estimated 500,000 Iraqi children died due to lack of nutrition and medical supplies, and the woman who was then Secretary of State, Madeline Albright, proclaimed that the death of a half million Iraqi children was worth the price of U.S. national security?
As feminists and anti-imperialist people of conscience, we oppose direct and indirect policies of ethnic cleansing and decimation of native populations by all nation-states.
In the current climate of U.S.-initiated or U.S.-backed assaults on women in Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan, we are deeply troubled by one kind of hypocritical Western feminist discourse that continues to be preoccupied with particular kinds of violence against Muslim or Middle Eastern women, while choosing to remain silent on the lethal violence inflicted on women and families by military occupation, F-16s, Apache helicopters, and missiles paid for by U.S. tax payers. This is a moment when U.S. imperialism brazenly uses direct colonial occupation, masked in a civilizational discourse of bringing Western "freedom" and "democracy." Such acts echo the language of Manifest Destiny that was used to justify U.S. colonization of the Philippines and Pacific territories in the 19th century, not to mention the genocide of Native Americans. U.S. covert, and not so covert, interventions in Central, South America, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean have devastated the lives of countless indigenous peoples, and other civilians, in this region throughout the 20th century. The U.S., as well its proxy militias or client regimes, has inflicted violence on women and girls from Vietnam, Okinawa, and Pakistan to Chile, El Salvador, and Somalia and has avenged the deaths of its soldiers by its own "honor killings" that lay siege to entire towns, such as Fallujah in Iraq.
( Read more... )
Monday, March 17, 2008
The problem with progress
Okay, that’s just a catchy headline. The problem isn’t with progress, but our reaction to it. When it comes to social progress, America is like a chronically ill person who stops taking his meds prematurely once the most egregious symptoms are gone.Regarding racial inequality and black Americans, our country took its “medicine” through civil war, grassroots rebellion and governmental upheaval. As a result, the most egregious symptoms of racism are gone—slavery, lynching “parties,” poll taxes, “sundown towns” and government-sanctioned (or at least ignored) hate crimes against black citizens, are for the most part, sad stories from out past. And so, America put away its medicine. And because we have stopped having substantive racial dialogue, because we have too soon forgotten the sins of yesterday and too long ignored the sins of today, America’s low-grade fever is turning into an infection: a race-torn presidential primary where a nationally-known politician can say without irony that black men are privileged in American culture, and even white progressives are shocked at the anger coming from the pulpit of a black church.
From recent conversations in the media and online, several things are clear to me:
To many people, racism against blacks is something that happened long, long ago. Some folks indignantly point out that slavery ended more than 100 years ago, as if with the stroke of Lincoln’s pen, white citizens embraced their black sisters and brothers as equals, gave them 40 acres and a mule, taught them to read and write, and all lived happily ever after. No Reconstruction. No Jim Crow. It escapes people that a 30-something like me could have a parent who grew up with the specter of lynching, and who was not allowed to attend school with white children, drink from white fountains or ride at the front of the bus; that I could have grandparents who were not allowed to vote until they were well into their 60s. For most black people alive today, egregious racism is not some long ago thing, it a thing that has touched our lives and those of people we know and love.
Rest here:What Tami Said