Black Party

Rumblings as of late have caused me to question the strict adherence to the Democratic Party by black people in America. The history of Black America voting Democratically goes back at least 60 years. As more and more Black Americans started to vote, the candidate they identified with was Franklin Roosevelt. It wasn't until 20 years down the road where black support in politics was secure in the camp of the Democratic Party with the rise of John Kennedy and his ties with Martin Luther King and his feelings for civil rights. Since then, Democrats and Black America have been all but inseparable.

The 70s, 80s and much of the 90s passed by without much focus on this voting demographic. During this time, the Democratic Party took Black America's vote for granted, while the Republican Party considered Black America's vote unattainable. It was this view and Black America's overall atrophy that lead to both parties disreguarding Black American in electoral politics altogether. It wasn't until recently that President George W. Bush has shown his concern for the vote of Black America. Not exactly concern for their interest, but at least their vote. To this end, throughout his 2004 campaign, to challenge the Democratic stranglehold on Black America's vote, he did not vie hard for their support. Though he tried, he really didn't attempt to win Black America's confidence through his social programs. His biggest salvo against Democratic control of Black America(yes, that's what I said) was a simple question. What have they done for you lately? Now with allies like Michael Steele and Joe Watkins, the Republican party has been getting a lot of attention from Black America.

Republican's long war to win the trust and confidence of Black America in Bush II's presidency has been a credible one if anything. Starting off with idiotic sloganry like "The Party of Lincoln" and "The more inclusive party" have done nothing but blind the ignorant from the truth. Everyone knows President Lincoln was a Liberal and the Republican Party today is NOTHING like the Republican Party 140 years ago or even 70 years ago. These new-age Republicans may want to recognize their party as the Party of Lincoln, but it's a hard sell to black folks who still see Republicans as the Party of Strom Thurmond, David Duke, Jesse Helmes and Ronald Reagan. In other words, the Party of those who repeatedly stood in the way of their social, economic and political interest for as long as our history goes in this nation.

But their efforts didn't stop there. George Bush continued with his faith-based iniatives. This program was like magic. Knowing how popular religion is with Black America and knowing how much everyone likes money, he couldn't lose. This adminstration lined the pockets of many churches across the nation. And we all know money talks. If these churches wanted to keep that money tree in their backyard, they knew who to support. But that front only lasted so long and had only so much effect. So the president decided his best assult was not with history or pockets, but with logic. He questioned the strong support of a party that has pretty much taken a voting demographic by granted and what's worse is now, everyone knows that. The Republicans knows the Democrats have taken Black American for granted. Democrats know that they've been taking Black America for granted and Black America knows that Democrats have been taking Black America for granted. And so what has all of this acknowledgement left us? Nothing. Black people will continue to vote Democratically. What other alternative do we have? Vote Republican? Hell no. There is no way a consise Black American ideology can co-exist with a conservative ideology. Democrats are too busy helping themselves and trying to fight Republicans to even give a damn. So what would be the next step?

While many don't realize it, the difference between the Democratic and Republican Parties is very little in terms of the electorate. Despite my strong belief that if more people got off their asses and actually participated in what the hell is going on in their lives then the Democratic Party would control this nation. Unfortuately they don't have the forsight to cause this. And because of that, the voting difference between the two is minimal and ideological. The Republican base is strong and it gives the party their support. The base of the Democratic Party is their inherent diversity. Women interest, gay rights, civil rights, the poor all umbrella under the Democratic Party and throw their interest with the Party. And as much as the party wants to represent them, it cannot suit all interest and more often than not, many are left out in the cold. One of these is Black interest. We represent the largest and strongest voting demographic in the nation. Overwhelming numbers of women don't inherently vote Democratic. Large marorites of hispanics don't vote solely Democratic. At the very least 90% of the black population votes Democratically. What would happen if the Democratic party lost that 90%? They would fall apart. The Democrats wouldn't win another election.

For what it's worth, sooner or later, Black America will have to realize not just what we have at stake in this nation, but how much we control our destiny. If we thought the Republican Party suited our interest best, we'd vote Republican and they'd be in power, solid power. Since we believe the Democratic Party serves us best, we throw our lot with the Democrats and the balance of power stays balance. If our support were to vanish, they Democrats wouldn't be able to stay afloat. This nation isn't built for one party to be the sole power in electoral politics. With two superpowered parties in control, no one gets to see the alternatives. With the Democrats without power and a single Republican Party cannot keep power, people will be forced to see altenatives. Maybe not just one. Perhaps two, maybe even three.

Maybe that's what this country needs. Alternatives. Because at this current pace, Black America sees none. They weigh their options and go with the lesser of two evils, if they go with any at all. Maybe it's time for people to realize the choice is theirs to take. If you don't like the choices you are given, then take your own. But for Godsake, don't make do with what you are given. Because you're just gonna be taken advantage of all over.

2005: That's A Wrap

Johnny Tsunami
This year started off full of tragedy. Nearly 180,000 people were killed by an tsunami disaster that destroyed entire villages and families. Numerous individuals from a wide range of nations and cultures were directly affected by what happened in Asia. Unfortunately, it didn't affect us here in America enough. It's just another stark example of how people in this nation can pull wool over their own eyes and how individuals in power show an ignorance to what goes on across the world. If we were being the most astute of students we would have taken notes and been prepared for the rest of the year but this far away problem was just too far away...

Head of State
This is the year that George W. Bush was inaugurated for his return to the presidency. Despite this nation knowing he's not the man for the job, there wasn't a viable replacement. Despite his poll numbers being consistantly lower than the IQ of wood, he won re-election and made his triumphant return to the capitol. Him and his posse: Cheney, Rumesfeld, Rice, Wolfowitz, Rove and Sean Hanntity. But of course everyone recongized that the one missing from this sort was an objective point of view. And to make it more than a slap in the face, they replace him with the negro who'd confirm to the Bush-wacked ideology. It's all a little too convienent...

The Thief of Bagdad
Wow! Iraqis vote! Iraqis finally get to vote! Again and again and again and again! This year also marked the continued democratization of a free Iraq. Now, don't get me wrong. Far be it for me to have a problem with people wanting to participate in a democracy. Hell, I'd find it funny(and damn troublesome) if their turnout is on the average better than ours. What a kick in the ass that would be. My big beef with the deal was how it was done. In my opinion and the experience of those who have garnered it, freedom taste best when you take it yourself. Freedom isn't just something you can simply be given. You fight for your freedom. The more you have to fight for your freedom, the more precious it is. You cannot appreciate the destination until you savor the journey. We gave the Iraqi people freedom. I saw little initiative from the in obtaining their own freedom under Saddam Hussein. And don't give me that excuse that He's a murderous dictator. That never stopped us. Never stopped the English. It never stopped black people in America. Hell, it never even stopped the French. Now that I think about it, it's unfortunate that this insurgency is fighting harder then the Iraqis did to begin with. And that's sorry...

Death Becomes Her
The Terri Schiavo debate! Where do I begin? Hell, I could start anywhere and not do enough to cover the entirety of this issue. There are more angles on this beast than a Frank Lloyd Wright building. It was easily one of the biggest stories of the year. You weren't American if you didn't have an opinion on this issue. And if you ask me, that was the problem. Yes, beyond any shadow of doubt what happen to this young lady was without question a horrible thing. The thing is such horrors, even worse thrive in this world and all the while everyone pays an ungodly amount of attention to one, another dozen transpire without notice. All the while the nation was waiting on the fate of Terri Schiavo, a baby in Texas was in a similar situation. A black woman was forced by the state to surrender the life of her newborn baby girl. She never had a chance at a life. She would never meet the love of her life to discucss end of life issues. Her life lasted about as long as this year's media attention on Terri Schiavo. You see unlike Terri Schiavo, this child had no memory of a life. All she knew was death. And America knewn nothing of her. Yes, it's a sad thing about what happen to Terri Schiavo, but there is indeed a bigger picture many are blinded from seeing. Like how those who like to "ire on the side of life" are the same ones who like to cut the funding to services that are made for the sole purpose of sustainng life. Now what kind of sick perversion is that...

The Godfather
After twenty-six years, the third longest of any Pope, John Paul II dies in Vatican City. Even I, who at times, am usually under-whelmed by such figures. However, hearing about this guys life makes me think more positively about the human race. He was a popular figure and took an archaic position more into the mainstream of a modern world. He did not discriminate, visiting dictatorships, Islamic states, mosque, synagouges and even football stadiums. He's a remarkable human being, despite those who succeed him. I'm sorry, but I really have to question the motives of individuals who are in charge of selecting a viable candidate for a particular position and select themselves. That's exactly my biggest beef with Dick Cheney. it's quite self-motivated if you ask me. But maybe that's just my opinion...

Corpse Bride
Prince Charles married Camile Parker-Bowles.

Big deal.

Deep Throat
A fitting title from another story that has it's roots in the time before I was born. Who is Deep Throat, the question that many asked over the years but never had an answer until the summer of 2005. The number two guy in the FBI, Mark Felt was revealed by Vanity Fair to be the enigmatic source of the reporters that lead the charge of impeachment of Richard Nixon. And now that we know, the world is underwhelmed. It wasn't Kissinger. It wasn't Ford. It wasn't even Ben Stein. It was pretty much nobody. And we waited 30 years just for this...

Michael Jackson's Thriller
Built as the Trial of the Century, part II, the King of Pop was put on trial for several charges, among them was rape. Now, far be it for me to disagree with the ruling of a legal case that took months to determine the guilt or innocence of a man, but did we really think he'd get convicted? First of all, the evidence wasn't that strong to begin with. Secondly, they showed extreme prejudice with this case. There was definitely the feeling of the prosecution "out to get him", which tainted their case. But aside from all of that, even if all of the evidence pointed to Michael Jackson without question, there is still no chance he would have been found guilty. He made Thriller... Thriller...

Terror By Night
It came from out of nowhere. London was rocked by an explosion in the dead of rush hour. This terror attacked killed over fifty and injured 700. This was the largest attack in England since World War II. Which would give old country a new perspective on terrorism. Now was their response an desperate need to send thousands of soldiers to a land to kill people who had nothing to do with the attack? Did England rededicate themselves to our war on terrorism? Did they use this attack as an excuse for their government to do what the hell it wants in the name of security? No, none of that is true. At least not to the extent the United States has taken it. Yes, England can now officially claim they are in the same boat as the U.S. But their reaction is quite different than ours. That alone should make anyone question whether or not our course of action is for the better or worse...

The Perfect Storm
If a Category 5 hurricane simply wasn't enough to severely cripple the infrastructure of the city of New Orleans, inevitably the levees broke flooding many parts of the city. And the result of this was nothing short of disgusting. People who were already poor and had next to nothing had things worse when their lives were destroyed and they really had nothing. There was nothing positive to come from this experience. The late response was plain criminal. And all these people did was play the blame game. The mayor blamed the governor, the governor blamed the FEMA and Homeland Security and they blamed the president. And the president blamed any of the above. His excuse was "they didn't ask for help". What the hell kind of excuse is that? "We're not to intervene unless directly given permission". THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE DYING AND YOU SIT THERE!!! That's criminal! Especially when you not only have the mandate to do something, but the power and cause to act as well. And beyond all that, everyone looks to point fingers at Ray Nagin, the mayor of the ravaged city. The thing is, Mayor Nagin has nothing to do with what happens across city borders, let alone state borders. Who has the authority to act across state lines? Not Governor Blanco. Not Mayor Nagin. Speaking of Mayor Nagin. Throughout this crisis, he was responsible for an 80% evacuation of New Orleans. Last I checked, New Orleans isn't Sparta, Mississippi. 80% is a damn lot of people. Especially when you also consider that most cities in the path of a hurricane evacuate only 60%. They want to talk about buses that were left and people left in their homes. What they don't realize those buses did not do nothing for the panic at the Superdome. Hurricane Katrina was a perfect example of inefficiency of our government and how much they care about their mandate to protect the people they were elected to protect. They can set up wiretaps to spy on Americans and send more Americans in a vain attempt at an excuse to combat terrorism, but they can't prepare properly for a fucking hurricane!?! Something definitely ain't stirring the Kool-Aid...

Judge Dredd
In the span of a short few months, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor retires and Chief Justice Reinquist dies, giving a juicy opportunity to a sitting president that is rarely seen. George Bush was given the chance to nominate two Supreme Court Judges with his ideology, his agenda and his way. His number one draft pick was a little known advocate that no one could have guessed named John Roberts. Now instead of having him replace the recently retired O'Connor, he seizes the opportunity of Reinquist's death to put him up for Chief Justice. Now, both democrats and republicans both know little of Roberts. All they know is that he represented President Reagan some time ago. So based upon this and whatever other faulty logic the president often employs, he suggested Roberts to be the best man for the job. Now because that so little is know about the guy, not just democrats, but even republicans had a hard time with this guy. And to make matters worse for our fearless leader, he then nominates Harriet Miers for the court as well. And if no one knew who Roberts was, now there's Miers, who not only people know little about, but she was no where nearly qualified for the job and she took every opportunity to kiss the president's ass. This was a ridiculious and disgusting selection. It was so phoney in fact that it had to be a cover for his replacement for such an assine pick, Alito. Sam Alito, who is just as bold in letting it know exactly how he feels. At least he doesn't kiss Bush's ass as much, which could prove to be his saving grace... if he wants to get on the court...

The Client
After such great seasons in the "Trial of the Century" series, we finally got a trial that actually meant a little and had more of a public utility than rich black celeberties. The former ruler of Iraqi, Saddam Hussein was finally put on trial for exactly what I'm still not sure. Because he was bad? He was the law. I've heard people try to write off slavery for it being law and therefore acceptable. Yes, it is idiotic babble and Saddam Hussein probably deserves what he gets. The problem is he deserved it 20 years ago just as much when he was honing his style on Iranians we didn't like. And because we didn't like them, what Saddam did was a-okay with us. And that simply isn't right, by no stretch. And of course, this trial is ending up to be a spectacle. Saddam screaming about everything, the United States(yes, that's right) claiming about anything. I wonder exactly what would happen if Saddam was to actually be pleaded not guilty? So much for a fair trial. He'd have no chance for that in Iraq, which is why this would have to be handled internationally, which the U.S. would be damned to let happen...

The Killing Fields
In late October, the toll for our fight in Iraq reached a landmark of 2,000 dead and at least five to ten times as much wounded and God knows how many more are affected across the world. At the same time, I hear people try to minimize this atrocity by comparing it to being a low number when taking in consideration the first couple of years of other wars like World War II or Vietnam. I have to wonder if these people knew someone personally to have been affected by this. Have they tried living their lives with them and then having them snuffed out quickly. I am constantly reminded of this whenever I visit my brother in Arlington. It has become a ritual to see how many more have joined him in the months since my last visit. I look at their names, their ages and where they left us and there's no way this is anything other than tragic. And I just think a lot of people on teh right don't see what this does to people and if they do, it's clear they don't really care...

All The President's Men
This year would see it's ending with a myrid of political disasters for our fearless leader. With roots back to his triumphant return to office, the president's men like Dick Cheney, Bill Frist, Tom DeLay, Mike Cunningham and Lewis "Scooter" Libby all get their balls thrown through the ringer by involving themselves in a number of shady dealings ranging from CIA identity leaks to fraud to just being an asshole because most of them are. Thinking they can get away with just about anything and they thought Clinton was bad. All he wanted is some head. These guys, no telling what they want. One by one we see these guys go down. Already there's two going off to the big house. One's heart can hardly put up with all the corruption and many more are simply going to be taken out the old fashion way with the people's vote. What started off as a year for victory for the Republicans be re-emerging from a frantic election year, it tappered off to a sad and dire mess they brought upon themselves. Not only are they looking at hard times in 2006, many will be looking at just hard time in the years beyond. This is the price you pay for your political capital, Mr. President...

Strange Days
Now, here we are at the year 2006. A new day, a new time and a new start for everyone. However, there are those who insist on the same trends they slid into the new year with. This new year began with Judge hearings, dead miners and mislead families, Republicans on trial and as usual, more bad news from Iraq. Many wonder if this new year will bring hope. Will it bring encouragement. Will it bring enlightenment. Well, it's a wonder exactly what this year will bring indeed...