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An Incredibly Intelligent Response

By Julie - Mar 6th, 2008 at 3:28 pm EST

Also listed in: Obama Dallas Young Professionals

Today a family member of mine forwarded an email he had recieved. At first I wasn't too keen to read it because I felt the subject was done and overwith.... however I took a moment to read the words Star Jones had to say about Bill O'Reilly and his use of a very negative term and was very glad I did.

I have copied the text of the reply into this message and would encourage you to share it with all your firends. It is a moving and intelligent reply to a underlying problem that most people would consider a flubb or attribute to mis-speaking. It was deliberate and cruel and should be at the forefront of our minds as we move closer and closer to election. We cannot allow this tye of disrespect to continue.

*****

Subject: Star Jones's Response to Bill O'Reilly's Racist Comment
Star Jones' Response to Bill O'Reilly's Racist Comment

Below is Starr Jones's informed and provocative response to Bill O'Reilly's comment about having a lynching party for Michelle Obama if he finds out that she truly has no pride in her country. I'm so glad she made plain the grossly problematic nature and history of O'Reilly's racist assertion, especially in light of the arrogant assumption that accompanies 21st-century assertions like it--the assumption being that black women occupy the lowest space on the social hierarchical ladder and therefore are not valued, remain unworthy of respect, are incapable of speaking up and out, and need not be accountable to or feared. He couldn't be more wrong. There are moments like this when I gain strength from knowing that there are black women like you, Star Jones, Michelle Obama, and countless others who dare, daily, the unthinkable and revise history. And despite those moments when we feel and are alone in our resistance and demand for personal and collective respect as well as social justice, who better than us to set the record straight? I so love being a black woman! -Teresa He said:
"I don't want to go on a lynching party against Michelle Obama unless there's evidence, hard facts, that say this is how the woman really feels. If that's how she really feels - that is a bad country or a flawed nation, whatever - then that's legit. We'll track it down."

Star said:
“I’m sick to death of people like Fox News host, Bill O’Reilly, and his ilk thinking that he can use a racial slur against a black woman who could be the next First Lady of the United States, give a half-assed apology and not be taken to task and called on his crap.

What the hell? If it’s ‘legit,’ you’re going to ‘track it down?’ And then what do you plan to do? How dare this white man with a microphone and the trust of the public think that in 2008, he can still put the words ‘lynch and party’ together in the same sentence with reference to a black woman; in this case, Michelle Obama? I don’t care how you ’spin it’ in the ‘no spin zone,’ that statement in and of itself is racist, unacceptable and inappropriate on every level.
O’Reilly claims his comments were taken out of context. Please don’t insult my intelligence while you’re insulting me. I’ve read the comments and heard them delivered in O’Reilly’s own voice; and there is no right context that exists. So, his insincere apology and “out-of-context” excuse is not going to cut it with me.
And just so we’re clear, this has nothing to do with the 2008 presidential election, me being a Democrat, him claiming to be Independent while talking Republican, the liberal media or a conservative point of view. To the contrary, this is about crossing a line in the sand that needs to be drawn based on history, dignity, taste and truth.
Bill, I’m not sure of where you come from, but let me tell you what the phrase ‘lynching party’ conjures up to me, a black woman born in North Carolina . Those words depict the image of a group of white men who are angry with the state of the own lives getting together, drinking more than they need to drink, lamenting how some black person has moved forward (usually ahead of them in stature or dignity), and had the audacity to think that they are equal. These same men for years, instead of looking at what changes, should and could make in their own lives that might remove that bitterness born of perceived privilege, these white men take all of that resentment and anger and decide to get together and drag the closest black person near them to their death by hanging them from a tree — usually after violent beating, torturing and violating their human dignity. Check your history books, because you don’t need a masters or a law degree from Harvard to know that is what constitutes a ‘lynching party.’
Imagine, Michelle and Barack Obama having the audacity to think that they have the right to the American dream, hopes, and ideals. O'Reilly must think to himself: how dare they have the arrogance to think they can stand in a front of this nation, challenge the status quo and express the frustration of millions? When this happens, the first thing that comes to mind for O'Reilly and people like him is: 'it's time for a party.'
Not so fast...don't order the rope just yet.
Would O'Reilly ever in a million years use this phrase with reference to Elizabeth Edwards, Cindy McCain or Judi Nathan? I mean, in all of the statements and criticisms that were made about Judi Nathan, the one-time mistress turned missus, of former presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, I never heard any talk of forming a lynch party because of something she said or did.
So why is it that when you're referring to someone who's African-American you must dig to a historical place of pain, agony and death to symbolize your feelings? Lynching is not a joke to off-handedly throw around and it is not a metaphor that has a place in political commentary; provocative or otherwise. I admit that I come from a place of personal outrage here having buried my 90 year-old grandfather last year. This proud, amazing African-American man raised his family and lived through the time when he had to use separate water fountains, ride in the back of a bus, take his wife on a date to the 'colored section' of a movie theater, and avert his eyes when a white woman walked down the street for fear of what a white man and his cronies might do if they felt the urge to 'party'; don't tell me that the phrase you chose, Mr. O'Reilly, was taken out of context.
To add insult to injury, O'Reilly tried to 'clarify' his statements, by using the excuse that his comments were reminiscent of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' use of the term 'high-tech lynching' during his confirmation hearing. I reject that analogy. You see Justice Thomas did mean to bring up the image of lynching in its racist context. He was saying that politics and the media were using a new technology to do to him what had been done to black men for many years -- hang him. Regardless of if you agreed with Justice Thomas' premise or not, if in fact -- Bill O'Reilly was referencing it -- the context becomes even clearer.
What annoys me more than anything is that I get the feeling that one of the reasons Bill O'Reilly made this statement, thinking he could get away with it in the first place, and then followed it up with a lame apology in a half-hearted attempt to smooth any ruffled feathers, is because he doesn't think that black women will come out and go after him when he goes after us. Well, he's dead wrong. Be clear Bill O'Reilly: there will be no lynch party for that black woman. And this black woman assures you that if you come for her, you come for all of us." -- Star Jones Reynolds

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Help Please

By Julie - Feb 12th, 2008 at 8:55 pm EST

Also listed in: Obama Dallas Young Professionals

I am new to Texas and have never voted before. When I switched my license over, I registerd to vote as well. I thought that was all I needed to do. But after reading different blogs and commentary, I am concerned that there is more to it.

Can anyone provide more information about the process involved here in Dallas,Texas.?I really want my vote to count.

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Revving up

By Julie - Feb 12th, 2008 at 7:47 pm EST

Excitement is in the air. The broom is out of the closet. It is resting after a busy weekend, but it is stirring again as today's contests take place.

OK, so Dr,. Suess I am not. But the reality is that we have momentum. Like we have never had before. A wise young man in another blog stated that it is no longer a matter if Hillary winning the big states, it is a matter of how much she can win.

Every vote will count. Every man and woman will count. Every idea and ray of hope will count. If the exit polls are to be believed (and we all know they are somewhat subjective) Barack has done something no one thought possible. He has infringed on HRC's base enough to gather almost 50% of the white vote in a decidedly Southern state. HOW INCREDIBLE!

With every day that passes, with every hour of every primary or caucus, we are proving to Washington that we can change the status quo.

I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!

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The Next Hurdle

By Julie - Feb 9th, 2008 at 10:01 pm EST

My firends, the next hurdle has been reached. Washington, Nebraska and Louisiana polls have closed (or are pretty darn close) and it appears that our man has made it through with FLYING colors.

Our movement has overcome despite the pesky comments of the past week. Attacks over drug use and tax information deamnds aside...we are still in front.

I have spent some time thinking about this over the past several days and I cannot hep but as a question... At what point did we begin to expect that our leaders would NOT be normal people who make normal people decisions? I would challenge any individual who casts stones due to drug experiementation or alcohol consumption to swear on their children that they never did it themselves. I would challenge any of the voters for any other campaign to deny that they haven't ever made a numbskull decision that they regret. I would challenge any voter that says they are above reproach.

Why do we expect our leaders to be lily white, when the simple act of leading a country in today's day and age dirties us instantaneoudly?

Lets wake up from our stupor and recognize that our man in human and has made human mistakes. BUT WHAT MAKES HIM DIFFERENT IS HIS ABILITY TO ADMINT IT.

I have yet to hear Hillary admit to a single mistake. (She definitley can't admit that her backing the war was a mistake)She wants us to believe that she is "normal", but normal people dont' have $5 million dollars to contribute to a campaign. NOrmal people get angry when their husband cheats. Normal people don't turn a blind eye becasue of a political aspiration.

Normal people get angry and cry and scream to the heavens and wonder why. Normal people spend their youth trying to figure out their worth when a parent leaves them. NORMAL PEOPLE STUMBLE.

I appreciate his ability to convey his humaness, and that is why I will vote for Barack Obama.

ONE OF THE MANY ;0)

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Who's in Whoville

By Julie - Feb 6th, 2008 at 1:06 am EST

That is really how I feel right now.

I have been watching CNN with baited breath. Every 5 monutes (if that) I refresh my browser to view the most recent percentages. Fretting over the numbers that don't change and grimacing at the ones I don't like. Beaming at the number of states in the win column and worrying my hands over not knowing the delegate allotments.

I feel like an expectant parent. The difference is that I was never as scared about the impending birth of any of my children as I am about what will happen to this campaign if the delegate awards are not in our favor.

I fear what might be lost. I fear that loss like a river fears the receeding waterline of low tide. Where will the young people go? Who will leave the cause? Will the flavor of the campaign change?

My fiance said tonight that he is afraid to get too excited or put too much effort into it, becasue you just end up disapponted.

I find myself praying every night when I go to bed that that does not happen. We need this too much. We need this man too much.

We need to hear his voice chanting YES WE CAN.

I want to believe....

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Nervous Anticipation

By Julie - Feb 5th, 2008 at 9:00 pm EST

TOdya is the day...or at least the first of several "the days".

I am so nervouse that I feel sick to my stomach. For the sacke of the future of this country...Obama has to win. For the sake of the future my children will inheirit, Obama must win.

This country needs a future that is not ruled by religion no matter how important it is in an individuals daily life. There is no room in politics for someone to force their beliefs down someone elses throat. We need leadership...not preachers. We need a leader, bigotry and divisive lines.

Obama must win if we want to retain peace of mind and freedom of choice. A Republican cannot populate the White House. Obama is the Democratic candidate that can beat any of the Republicans.

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Amazed and Awash with Hope

By Julie - Feb 1st, 2008 at 11:41 pm EST

Also listed in: Obama Dallas Young Professionals

I have never voted.

EVER.

I turned 18 in 1991 and have yet to witness a campaign that even made me pause to consider exercising my right as a citizen. My thoughts have always been cynical and selfish. What difference can I make? My voice won't count. On occassion I even felt a twinge of guilt that I wasn't fulfilling my duty that as a Veteran, I stood for. But it would be truly rediculous to say that I ever lost sleep over the lack of participation.

Until now.

Mr. Obama is a man that speaks to my personal, moral and ethical compass. There is something about him that rings of truth and rightness. It may sound like inexperience and hokum to the jaded voters of the other campaign...but I happen to believe in the power of hope and inspiration. It is that hope and inspiration and hope that is pulling a lethargic generation out of their seats and into action.

Leadership does not always require experience. Leadership requires the ability gather those to you who will help you acheive your goals. This candidate has that...

I think this link is fabulous. Share it with your friends.

http://www.youbama.com/popular/

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