The Day before The Day and Night!

Today is November 3, the day before the election. Democrats hope (and are expected) to pick up seats in the House of Representatives as well as the Senate and the, dat dat da daw, the all important seat--the presidency. We all need to Get Out and Vote, for all of this to happen. I went to a GOTV breakfast for Obama this weekend hosted by Congressman Fattah, Senator Hughes, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and our newest Councilman, Curtis Jones, Jr. It was well attended--about 500 people I think. And we are were geared up. Sheryl Lee Ralph, Vinnie's wife, gave a rousing speech talking about how she voted early in LA. It was a good time. We had a very busy Saturday, Trey started basketball, I had a campaign meeting, and our dog Titan, graduated from his obedience class. That night, my sister-in-laws came by for a drinkey drinkey. At every stop, the topic of conversation was Barack Obama and his campaign. I have to admit, we get some insider info. I have friends who are surrogates who've met him on more that one occasion and get backstage access. So I hear how much work has gone into getting where "we" are. I just want everyone to Get out and Vote tomorrow so that we can begin transforming this country. I'm putting out my flag today and will be wearing my red, white and blue earring tomorrow. Hass has a red, white, and blue bracelet and Trey will be wearing his Obama T-Shirt. Last week, it was Go Phillies. Today it is Go Obama!! I'm sure we'll be up all night!

Mavericks or Intellectual Exterminators

As you may may have noticed in my last entry, I think a United States led by the McCain/Palin Mavericks will be a bleak place to live for anyone who has been encouraged to think on his or her own. The notion that being a "smart" or "intellectual" person is a bad thing, to me, wreaks of pre-Stalin Russia, pre-Hitler Germany, and every other country changed by paranoid extremists. Soon after entering office, each of these administrations adopted an anti-intellectual policy. After these so called mavericks took over, doctors, lawyers, artists, philosophers--anyone with an original thought--were targeted for extermination.

This is serious people. Look back at your history, especially people of African descent. Remember, being called an uppity black person in the not to distant past meant a visit from the local KKK chapter--and I don't mean Kappa, Kappa, Kappa.

McCain and Palin say they represent change, but so did the Khmer Rouge.

Brave New World: An Opinionated Short Story

"Put that down now," Lucresia said to her five year-old daughter Maysa, abruptly grabbing the November 5, 2008 edition of The New York Times. "No one must see you reading and especially that," she said as the two waited patiently for their weekly food rations. It was Tuesday when all Philadelphia residents with last names beginning with the letters K through P, collected their rations. Lucresia's family rations were dropped at the center between 9 and 11 pm. Lucresia didn't complain. After all, at least the family received relatively clean water and flour for bread. Late night rations were left for those considered intellectuals--anyone with a reading level above third grade. This was the group treated most inequitably by The Administration for the past seven years.

Maysa had been born before The Administration took over. In fact, her mother at one time had great hopes for her future, but the Mavericks changed all of that.....

I'm baaaack

Sorry I was gone for a bit. I got completely caught up with school ending and summer beginning. Anyway things are back to normal now.

I am completely lovin' Barack's visit oversees. He has received such warm welcomes and looks totally presidential. McCain, on the other hand, seems to be quite frustrated with the coverage. But, after all, I believe it was McCain that suggested that Senator Obama travel. Be careful what you ask for. I don't think that anyone knew just how well received Barack would be.

On another note, I watched CNN's Black in America series last night and was very impressed. I thought it would be another session of intellectuals pontificating about the plight of Black Americans. Instead, it was a well produced and thoughtful piece about real people--their struggles and their triumphs and what being Black in America has meant for the them. I look forward to the continuation tonight.

Unrequited Mother's Day

I woke up this morning with a deep sense of despair. First, I thought it was because of the primary yesterday, but Barack trounced Hillary in North Carolina and she barely won in Indiana--a state that she should have done well in. It appears that barring a last minute onslaught of anti-Barack media served-up by Clinton spin doctors and campaign operatives (images of Rev. Wright in Pennsylvania, Clinton's campaign misrepresenting Obama's aide's NAFTA comment in Ohio, and over blowing Barack's remarks in Pennsylvania), she loses. Oh they tried with--heck I don't even remember the allegation because Obama's camp readily and handily squashed it as they should have been doing all along. So I knew that wasn't it. I wondered and prayed for God to help me lift this despair. The image of Neo being debugged in a scene from The Matrix came to mind as I prayed. I hoped it wouldn't be that unpleasant, but the need for the release is great. I prayed that God would allow my mother to help me ease the hurt and then it came to me. It is nearly Mother's Day--marking the 15th Mother's Day without my Mom.

My eyes are cloudy and sting from the salt from my tears as I write this. I thought, maybe I should call someone, maybe write in my journal--I even thought if a drink would help. No, I'll blog. The journal wouldn't do because I know that no one else reads it. Even if no one comments here, I do feel like I am sharing with others and for some reason, that helps.

I miss my mother so very, very much at times I just don't know what to do. I think picking out the Mother's Day cards last night helped get here. I didn't realize it then. I do delay purchasing Mother's Day cards. Now, I know why. So what do I do? I'll be sad for awhile, I'm sure. This feeling in the pit of my stomach will subside as the day's demands take over. At some point I will decide to celebrate her life and will thank God for her. I will remember all of the things I am grateful for. But for now, I will be depressed and continue to feel pain, sorrow and anguish. I think I can take this time to feel the void.

I miss you mommy and I love you.

So What's Up With Reverend Wright?

I don't know if the Clintons paid Reverend Wright or what, but his antics (and his appearance at a Clinton sponsored event) makes me wonder. I mean, he's been quiet for nearly six weeks and then all of a sudden: Here he is in full performance mode. I am trying so hard to laugh so I won't cry. What does this say? Is Reverend Wright capitalizing on his 15 minutes of fame with no regard to his impact on Senator Obama's candidacy or he he really an "egomaniac?" I'm sorry, but I think he is trying to get paid and is getting paid.

The Day After

Okay, so Barack didn't win Pennsylvania--on to Indiana then. I still think he'll secure the nomination. I do think they need to take a good look at their campaign and do some minor adjustments. I do wonder why the pundits harp on questioning his ability to win over blue-collar white voters, while they don't question Hillary's ability to win over African-American voters. Is it because the pundits take us for granted? They believe that if Hilary is the Nominee, we will automatically file suit. Will we?

The media has been really anti-Barack in the recent months. Hey, he will be truly tested by the time the General rolls around.

Check u on da next post!

Primary Election Day

My family and I went to the polls today. We think it's important to show our children the value and importance of voting. It was bit bittersweet, however. We had gotten news that the campaign didn't expect win. We were disheartened, but nonetheless, will dutifully watch the returns this evening.

I kinda feel like I'm in limbo--a limbo that will abruptly end around 8:30 pm this evening when the news outlets project a winner. I'm hoping that it is Senator Obama. Even if it isn't, for him to have come into this with a double digit deficit--and get really close, if not win--is a tremendous victory for Pennsylvania.

All of the hoopla around this primary was at first exciting, but the tactics I see folks resorting to to win are downright reprehensible. This election will probably be the subject of scores of political science classes around the country come next year. Heck, I would be interested in taking one.