jUST FEW WORDS TO President Obama
We like you and we love you, but please, please....:
END THIS WAR, NOBODY WANTS IT
God bless You and the USA
I'd like to make sure everyone here has heard the news about the Zimbabwe cholera epidemic. This has been covered very well by contributors at Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Zimbabwean_cholera_outbreak ). To summarize very briefly, most sources are saying that approximately 600 people have died, 12,000 people are infected, and the death rate of the infection is 10%. It is transmitted by impure water, and the water supply system has run out of treatment chemicals and the capital stopped receiving piped water on December 1. Only one of four major hospitals remains open and has no medicine. Cases have been reported in wards throughout Zimbabwe except in the far west, and cases have been reported in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. Clearly this is a catastrophe of the first order, yet it is only a small taste of what is to come.
I can't guess at what is the best response here - fixing Zimbabwe seemed next to impossible without a deadline. Maybe we need people to talk to Zuma (who seems as well placed as anyone to get something done), try to get through to Mugabe, load a few cargo planes with chemicals, medicine, and bottled water and get them to Zimbabwe... and explore any other ways to end the wider humanitarian crisis in that country.
Even the most heartless Republican should realize that any case of this illness in Africa could become the source for a biological weapon that we could meet up with in our own cities at any time for decades to come. If people can dream that Mugabe and Tsvangirai could get together and arrange a power-sharing agreement, then surely Bush should be able to work with Obama to get some useful response under way before January 20. Stopping a great plague is in everyone's national interest.
Early Voting for the entire state of Florida has just been extended.
Every Early Vote location in Florida will now be every day from 7am-7pm up through November 2.
Please pass along this great news to everyone you know who will be voting in Florida. Click here to find your nearest early vote location.
Here's the release:
GOVERNOR CRIST EXTENDS EARLY VOTING HOURS ~~ ~Ensures maximum number of Floridians can exercise right to vote~ ~~October 28, 2008Contact:GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE(850) 488-5394TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist today signed Executive Order 08-217, extending the hours for early voting during the current General Election. Effective immediately, early voting sites will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., through Friday, October 31, 2008, and for a total of 12 hours between 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2008. "I have spoken with the Secretary of State and members of the Florida Legislature and have concluded that it is always the right thing to do to give voters every opportunity to cast a ballot," Governor Crist said. "I have a responsibility to the voters of our state to ensure that the maximum number of citizens can participate in the electoral process, and that every person can exercise the right to vote." Prior to the 2008 General Election, Florida has seen historic numbers of Floridians registering to vote for the first time. In addition, record numbers of voters have chosen to cast a ballot during early voting. Early voting began on October 20 and runs through November 2. Current Florida law allows for early voting to be conducted eight hours per day on each weekday, and for a total of eight hours during both weekends during the early voting period. Floridians can contact their county's Supervisor of Elections for dates, times and locations of early voting. Florida voters can also request absentee ballots to be mailed to them until October 29. Please see the attached Executive Order 08-217. STATE OF FLORIDA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 08-217 WHEREAS, early voting is scheduled to end November 2, 2008; and WHEREAS, early voting turnout has already reached record levels and is forecast to continue with record turnout. There are only 267 early voting sites throughout the state and long lines have formed at many of the early voting sites; and WHEREAS, a historic number of Floridians have registered to vote for the first time in this election; and WHEREAS, new voting equipment is being used in 15 Florida counties; WHEREAS, as a result of this unique combination of circumstances resulting from the historic voter turnout in this election, there is a possibility that election officials will be unable to conduct an orderly election, and thus residents in our state could be deprived of a meaningful opportunity to vote; andWHEREAS, because of the existing and continuing possibility of an emergency occurring before or during the regularly scheduled election, and in order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral process, and provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to exercise their right to vote;NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHARLIE CRIST, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution, by the Florida Elections Emergency Act, and by all other applicable laws, issue the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:I hereby declare that, based on the above-described conditions, a state of emergency exists. It is hereby found and declared to be necessary to extend the voting hours during early voting. Accordingly, I order the Supervisors of Elections to open early voting sites from 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. through October 31, 2008 and open early voting sites for a total of twelve (12) hours between 7 a.m. November 1, 2008 and 7 p.m. November 2, 2008.IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 28th day of October, 2008. GOVERNORATTEST:SECRETARY OF STATE
GOVERNOR CRIST EXTENDS EARLY VOTING HOURS
~~ ~Ensures maximum number of Floridians can exercise right to vote~ ~~
October 28, 2008
Contact:
GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE(850) 488-5394
TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist today signed Executive Order 08-217, extending the hours for early voting during the current General Election. Effective immediately, early voting sites will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., through Friday, October 31, 2008, and for a total of 12 hours between 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2008.
"I have spoken with the Secretary of State and members of the Florida Legislature and have concluded that it is always the right thing to do to give voters every opportunity to cast a ballot," Governor Crist said. "I have a responsibility to the voters of our state to ensure that the maximum number of citizens can participate in the electoral process, and that every person can exercise the right to vote."
Prior to the 2008 General Election, Florida has seen historic numbers of Floridians registering to vote for the first time. In addition, record numbers of voters have chosen to cast a ballot during early voting.
Early voting began on October 20 and runs through November 2. Current Florida law allows for early voting to be conducted eight hours per day on each weekday, and for a total of eight hours during both weekends during the early voting period. Floridians can contact their county's Supervisor of Elections for dates, times and locations of early voting.
Florida voters can also request absentee ballots to be mailed to them until October 29.
Please see the attached Executive Order 08-217.
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 08-217
WHEREAS, early voting is scheduled to end November 2, 2008; and
WHEREAS, early voting turnout has already reached record levels and is forecast to continue with record turnout. There are only 267 early voting sites throughout the state and long lines have formed at many of the early voting sites; and
WHEREAS, a historic number of Floridians have registered to vote for the first time in this election; and
WHEREAS, new voting equipment is being used in 15 Florida counties;
WHEREAS, as a result of this unique combination of circumstances resulting from the historic voter turnout in this election, there is a possibility that election officials will be unable to conduct an orderly election, and thus residents in our state could be deprived of a meaningful opportunity to vote; and
WHEREAS, because of the existing and continuing possibility of an emergency occurring before or during the regularly scheduled election, and in order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral process, and provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to exercise their right to vote;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHARLIE CRIST, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution, by the Florida Elections Emergency Act, and by all other applicable laws, issue the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:
I hereby declare that, based on the above-described conditions, a state of emergency exists. It is hereby found and declared to be necessary to extend the voting hours during early voting. Accordingly, I order the Supervisors of Elections to open early voting sites from 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. through October 31, 2008 and open early voting sites for a total of twelve (12) hours between 7 a.m. November 1, 2008 and 7 p.m. November 2, 2008.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 28th day of October, 2008.
GOVERNOR
ATTEST:
SECRETARY OF STATE
Who hasnt seen change when Obama took centre stage. The unity like never before, love to vote. discussion groups. the hope to realise the american dreem. every one is out on streets, everyone fees concerned with what goes on around them. everyone is eager to say what they have never said. Yes there is more to come during Obama reign. Yes Vote for more to come.
Vote Senator Obama to unravel more and better strategies. The strategies you and me have a stake, "a complete house is made of several bricks". Vote Barack the answer to you stories. Vote barack the guy to work with, in times of frustration, in desperation dont you need a good listner, cool and calm 247. Thats why i like Obama - women they like men who listen - not those who shut your idea down. in the offices staff and workers they all crave for a good listner - not a do that one. In difficulty times someone you can rely on -someone you can share your problems with.
To prove what has been achieved during the 22 months of campaign, Visit www.Barackobama.com groups - what problem hasnt been shared in these groups? What mouth has not been accessed a platform? Go youtube as young as zero months to undisclosable years lived on earth. People inside America and people outside America all eyes on Obama> Nothing special other than his love, his likes to deal with issues - clearly seen on kitchen tables he has had.
what havent we seen the past 22 months - no smoke without fire - the past 22 months - where havent we seen fire raising up, in every place Obama reached out. Who doesnt want something the smell of refreshment of new & fresh flowers. He is fresh, his ideas too - what hasnt he said what he is gona do during his reign. One many billion stories to resolve.
The unity, the love, the neighnourhood like never before. "nation building is not one person - every one has a stake - from helping to improve your children education, respect for each other, working hard, being responsible citizen, offering best attitude to whichever the work, love and respect one another no matter the colour, age, religion above all behave honestly.
VOTE OBAMA. VOTE OBAMA. VOTE OBAMA FOR PRESIDENCY 2008. THANK YOU VOTERS.
Joe in the SpotlightBy Larry Rohter AND Liz Robbins
One week ago, Joe Wurzelbacher was just another working man living in a modest ranch house in Toledo, Ohio, thinking about how to expand his plumbing business. But when he stopped Senator Barack Obama during a visit to his block this weekend to ask about his taxes, he set himself on a path to being the newest media celebrity â€" and, like other celebrities, found himself under scrutiny.
Turns out that “Joe the Plumber,� as he became nationally known when Senator John McCain made him a theme at Wednesday night’s third and final presidential debate, may run a plumbing business but he is not a licensed plumber. His full name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher. And he owes a bit in back taxes.
The premise of his question to Mr. Obama about taxes may also be flawed, according to tax analysts.
An official at Local 50 of the plumber’s union, based in Toledo, said Mr. Wurzelbacher does not hold a license. He also has never served an apprenticeship and does not belong to the union. (The national plumber’s union, the United Association of Plumbers, Steamfitters, and Service Mechanics, endorsed Mr. Obama, it should be noted.)
“He’s basically playing games with the world,� Thomas Joseph, the local’s business manager, said in a telephone interview Thursday morning.
...
Unlike some other states, Ohio does not have a formal statewide licensing system for plumbers. But the city of Toledo and other municipalities do, Mr. Joseph said, and Mr. Wurzelbacher has not met those requirements.
“All contractors are licensed, and he does not have a license, either as a contractor or a plumber,� the union official said, citing a search of government records. “I can’t find that he’s ever even applied for any kind of apprenticeship, and he has never belonged to local 189 in Columbus, which is what he claims on his Facebook page.�
According to public records, Mr. Wurzelbacher has been subject to two liens, each over $1,000, one of which â€" a personal tax lien â€" is still outstanding.
He went on, "You know, I’ve always wanted to ask one of these guys a question and really corner them and get them to answer a question,� he said, “for once instead of tap dancing around it. And unfortunately I asked the question, but I still got a tap dance.�
He added, “Almost as good as Sammy Davis Jr.â
FOREIGN POLICY AND CHILDREN & WOMEN-RAPE IN THE WORLD. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
THIS HAS TO COME ON THE AGENDA THIS TIME AROUND!! THE STIGMA OF RAPE DOESNT GO AWAY. IW ANT TO HEAR THE CONTENDERS SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS GRAVEST SIN, WHEN SOLDIDERS COMMITT RAPE TO CHILDREN, YOUTH AND WOMEN!!! HEAR THE CRIES BUT WITH NO HELP - ONCE THE HUSBANDS THEY ARE THE DEAD. PUNSIHED MORE ONE ONCE.
The screaming, the tears the pain, i hear women being raped but without help! From all nations where war takes place - i hear women crying from pain - they are raped by soldiers of honour, country men, gangs. Sadly there is very little done the foriegn policy concerns itself with food not with sex inhumanity that goes on in refugee campls, in places of war where many women give birth to unwanted children. where do you get love for such a kid however human you may. the fury, the disgust that my womb carries - a certain baby from a man unknown ,whom i cannot trace. the disgust to imagine the unimaginable - the rapist is the father of my foetus. Cry children from rape, cry women raped everyday - without anyhelp - the stigma felt in Rwanda, Darfur, Irqe, Afaghn, India, Korea, Georgia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya. East Congo, Sudan, Somalia, America, Europe just to mention but a few. Who is responsible for the unwanted children from rape - sometimes from western soldider, the peace keepers. When we talk about foreign policy this is what we mean. Women escaping persecution, women escaping hostile war only to end up in the horror of rape - the act similar to ter. Women escaing hotile wars to end up in the horror of rape, carrying wombs fromt he unknown. Foreign policy need put this on top fo the Agenda.
Foreign policy and women-rape world wide - this has to be on the agenda.
People wonder what is so special about this election. They think of the big things, yet they are not that special, the bewildering economy, iraq, education, women and men, disabled and abled, health cae and insurance, unemployment, greed and corruption in washington you name it, endless wars in the world caused by General Bush. Hasnt all these been there before peoples eyes? Didnt the People see days and months but didnt have the story teller. Not a mere story teller, but of special dyanmism who would corageously lead the change. a person not only my story teller but of great action to get my story onto the shelf,and from there to the table for action.
What is so spcial what they dont say is one man telling a billion stories, everyone of the billion listens attentively as their story unravel near and far, they wait wht next. What follows it comes on the shelf where slowly is bought, then into the table and is discussed. The same man [pushing that far those billion stories. then comes the question who would take action, again comes back the same person Barack, full of determination, wisdom and above all the strategies to unravel in action the billions story he represents. That they dont say. and to take to the next step.
What they dont say - Senator Obama is Peoples President, peoples mandate by the fact he carries billion stories other people. Senator Obama listens, buys, sells and lays strategy way forward.
What they dont say, is the word thank you for no matter the end of the road the stories have unraveled and some peace of mind instilled in some hearts to the billions who had never had the hope of ever thir stories being heard.
What they dont say, he has offered pyschological healing, for the fact that at least my story, my door for once has been knocked. my vote seem it will count. what we dont say is thank you senataor Obama the first phase is done, done honourably, done successfully.
Look at this website -how many stories have been written, how much thoughts have been shared via this interaction "mybarackobama", like never before, what they dont say is thank you for what has been achieved. not all accomplished what they dont say is what so far accomplished.
The rest to accomplish waits tomorrow - For what we say today we need more, but before we get more, Barack we say thank you for telling our stories, for years ruled out, the never wanted to hear stories - today every website carries my stories, the happines you have created, relief of mind. Billion stories are being bought from the internet shelf.
Senator you started the job, we need you to fisinh it, and finsih it successfullly. You sowed the seed, we pray you nurture that seed till it bear the fruits that all Americans and the world will enjoy. the fruits that will be sweet and soothing where we shall all feel the "change".
What they dont say is that change the story teller so far achieved - the exchange of views in billions via internet, the media involvment, the earnings in different promotion activities. what they dont say the visual changes already taken place!! Yet is all crystal clear. What they dont say the billion stories already heard, the grievances shared through you ideologies of community organisation. what they dont say is the great achievement and change your leadership principles, your love for the people and concern has so brough about. How Degree of achievement are awarded, if by this kind of achievements i dont know how many you should be wearing now. the internet providers with all honest should have awarded you how many - what they dont say!!!
what they dont say the increase use of internet, the traffic flow on internet. the primary changes you have achieved where you stimulated all kinds of stories to be told in you.
Yes we can. Thank you Senator, Michelle, the democratic team, well wishers etc.
What
His father was in prison with Nelson Mandela for 24 years. This morning he was the President of South Africa. Today he is out of a job. Thabo Mbeki is out and fresh from his rape charge acquittal, Jacob Zuma is the new President of South Africa.
It is very likely that Obama is very familiar with Mbeki. But we can only speculate on how much Obama knows about Zuma. It will be interesting to see how Obama relates to the new President of South Africa, a country that is a leading voice on the African continent.
John Navarra
And as we look about as the sun peeks above the horizon, we see that although the day is clear and bright, it has revealed the detritus of our long national nightmare. While a portion of that is the remnants of the past eight years, some of it stretches back to our Cold War days and even more reaches back unto the founding of this republic.
Now is the time to address these old wounds, to bandage them and allow them to heal. They will scab over - initially - and it will be painful, but ignoring a wound will never cause it to heal.
I never know what words I will type; I do not do much planning. I start with a few ideas and a general concept of the path to trod and then witness what comes next as my fingers attempt to consolidate a swirl of thoughts into sentences, paragraphs and theme.
If you are willing to walk this journey with me, I have consolidated a few of those (my?) thoughts on foreign policy below. Warning: content more focused on larger memes as opposed to specific policy recommendations.
The MPLA and UNITA are in the news again. I am having visions of Nixon and Kissinger crafting cold war African policy. The two Angolan political parties haven't been in American newspapers much since 1975 but The ruling MPLA and challenging UNITA faced each other in an election in Angola on Friday. I have included below a very well written Council on Foreign Relations article on the election. Angola is rising and it is now the biggest producer of oil in Africa and most of the world. But it has an uneducated young populace. Now they have had their first election in sixteen years. I don't know if the MPLA will stay in power but Angola might be one of the fastest rising countries in the world.
African Policy Group moderator
McCain and Palin still don’t get it?
Some of us never stop being Americans.
There are many who are looking for the negative story or issue about the McCain choice of Gov. Palin as his VP running mate. My question for all of us is – Do we get it yet? The Watergate Republicans desire to continue in power has never been about who has the best policies to lead our country but what can we do to remain in power. The choice of Governor Palin as Vice President once again demonstrates that John McCain does not need to develop any plans for a future America. The McCain America is the same as the Bush America and it is a future that is not good for our America. John McCain recently remarked when speaking about the impending strike of hurricane Gustav “We will act like American not Republicans…”. As all of us who work for real substantial change with Barack those of us who assist develop policy ideas for a better tomorrow we are always Americans.
During his acceptance speech Barack said we need to be able to disagree with each other without having to relay on negative, personal attacks. What should we really be concerned about when a person is running for the highest political offices in America? Fortunately we have a candidate in Barack Obama who has the strength and wisdom of character to remind us all that the most important consideration in an election for President and Vice President is the attitude toward issues and developing policy that works for our world.
The more we learn of John McCain, the clearer the picture becomes of where a President McCain will lead America. As a direct result of the policy decisions John McCain formulated in reference to his active participation in the Gang of Keating 5, he ran for cover behind the coattails of campaign reform. Now that the high priced political consultants and lobbyists are needed, the spirit of campaign reform is quickly forgotten.
In issue after issue John McCain has demonstrated the same shallow depth of understanding and commitment to issues. If the issue is the war in Iraq, is it a well thought out policy to remain there for 100 years. If the question is the definition of the middle income individual, is the answer $5 million dollars. If the question is business policy, is the answer a sole source military supply contract in Iraq or protected beer distributorship network in Arizona ever the answer in our American, open market society? Has there really been a conversion from the Keating 5 days for John McCain? Given John McCain’s rather rubbery policy history, can we hope that the more complex issues that face locations in America or Africa or Russia even see policy solutions that match the ability of America to deliver?
We are now presented a Gov. Palin as a “reform minded” Vice Presidential nominee. Those of us who have spent time in the great state of Alaska need to remind the rest of the country that very few in Alaska from either party objected to the largess of Senator “Uncle Ted” Stevens until he came under investigation for corruption. Certainly, neither Senator McCain nor then Mayor Palin objected to the other gifts that were lavished upon the state of Alaska over the years Sen. Steven chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee. It is extremely easy to become an Alaska reformer when so many in elected officials in Alaska have been indicted over the last few years. We cannot really be so naïve about the oil business to believe that giving the new benefits to a new group of oil oligarchs is not really “taking on Big Oil” nor allow you to take on the reformer label for yourself.
The picture that comes into focus with the McCain/Palin ticket paints a very troubling portrait of a future America based on the same old Republican “business entitlements” solutions that we rejected during the Watergate years. Perhaps we ask too much of a the reform minded pioneer who would be Vice Presidential candidate, when she confesses to not even knowing what a Vice President of the United States does on a day to day basis. Of course we all know Dick Cheney reformed America and our world substantially in only 8 years. Do we need a President and Vice President who have consistently demonstrated over the years that their policy ideas are only reform Trojan Horses that are loaded with the long established Republican business entitlement elitist ideals of Nixon, Bush, Cheney and Rove?
Obama asks us how together we can bring reform to Washington. Can we continue to allow the Republican Party of Nixon, Bush, Cheney and Rove tell us what reform looks like in America? During Watergate, we as a country rejected the failed policy and leadership direction of the Republican Party and Richard Nixon. We need to take the lead of Barack and keep the focus of the voter on our solutions for America. Just as we have learned after 9/11 and in the long years since, it is vitally important for all of us to elect people who understand domestic and foreign policy implications from the beginning.
The story that Senator Obama told on the 27th August 2008. until this day i thought it was my story alone. what a shame -after he spoke it was no longer my story, it was mine and thousands others. those who openly shed tears beyond their cheeks as Barack unfold the story i thought for decades it was mine. Elsewhere 40 million watched their story unfold in a distant place - in the end there was hope raised in million hears amazingly local and international. The most incredible to everyone's story was lack of "auctioneer" to auction their stories. When th hammer fell at dawn w all stories were sold - the buyers sheed tears beyong their cheeks. Each story was a bomb shell waiting to burst - every stage of the story rightly brought down emotional tears. The story teller has unexpectedly emerged to tell stories within reach and those in distant. People run wild as their stories unfold in a distance - the tone, the rythm, the drums caused join in the dance. My story and their stories that lacked a perfect story teller. To me breaking my story through was the hardest. now that is done way forward is probable. it may take decades but someone knows where i stand, this is what gives me hope. Breaking my story was the hardes . light is shed on my issies now i can walk freel someone knows where i am.
The immigration, the refugee camps caused by the gun in fulfilling a certain market, the rich getting richer at the cost of the poor, the life long dictators 20 years and beyond without being challenged. When their popularity reaches the lowest they cling on power by the gun -behind the curtain fulfiling the duties of certain powers from the west. The underdevelopment that is agendadised. Otherwise one western rich man can build a trillion city within weeks , but that man cannot build a realistic aids drugs investment plant in the South to save lives. Instead is the constant exportation of the latest guns, jet fighters - money donated in jet fighters instead of food to help the hungry. American can stand up and chant Eight is enough Africa home and away can.
The most expensive communication, sea and air transport is found in Africa. Yes we have friends keen to see the development of Africa sadly unware of those barriers that hamper the effective development of Africa. Hunger in Africa - where on earth farming takes place under persisent gun fire or air bombardment. The story that will chance the west understand farming takes place where there is peace not under air raids.
THANK THANK THANK YOU FOR BREAKING MY STORY THROUGH. I AM HOPEFUL FOR THE LIGHT TO REIN UPON ME AND THOSE WE SHARE THE SAME STORY. THANK THANK YOU SENATOR OBAMA.
It's official, Barack sent out the email this morning, did you get it?
Friend --I have some important news that I want to make official.I've chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate. Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois -- the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago.I'm excited about hitting the campaign trail with Joe, but the two of us can't do this alone. We need your help to keep building this movement for change.Please let Joe know that you're glad he's part of our team. Share your personal welcome note and we'll make sure he gets it:Welcome Joe Thanks for your support,Barack
I have some important news that I want to make official.
I've chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate.
Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois -- the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago.
I'm excited about hitting the campaign trail with Joe, but the two of us can't do this alone. We need your help to keep building this movement for change.
Please let Joe know that you're glad he's part of our team. Share your personal welcome note and we'll make sure he gets it:
Welcome Joe
Thanks for your support,
Barack
Send Joe a note! Welcome Joe!
Make sure to turn on your TV at 3:00 p.m. to join Obama and Biden in Springfield, Illinois. Or, watch online at http://www.BarackObama.com.
You can look up on Washington Note under the google search engine and see the African Policy Group's contribution to the Democratic Platform. Africa was a few short paragraphs and they used some of the contributions I gave word for word in some places. You can tell in the paragraphs that they actually used our ideas even if the wording was different. They also gave credit to my Africa Platform meeting in Daytona Beach, Florida.
African Policy Group
All Images & Content © 2008 Nicolle A. Ward
I wrote this paper some years ago, before my trip to Kenya in 1986. I was surprised to find the word "Baracka" in it.
"Beginning in the fifteenth century Morroccan society the "agents of synthesis" between traditional African religion and the religion of Islam were muslims who were called marabouts. The word marabout is a variation of the North African Arab word, "Mrabot" or "al-moravid" which means a man inside a sanctuary or fortified in a monastery. "Al-moravid" also means religious.,"means to bind together-to unify or bondage to god." Thus a Marabout is a man bonded or hitched to god."Like a camel to a post or a ship to a pier." in ki-swahilii the word is translated as mwalimu or shekhe (vincent monteil, in Islam in Africa, ed Krizackp.88.)
In a period of transition and turmoil the common men looked to these members of a higher authority for guidance. The marabout became a symbol of religious virtuosity;a role model that they could follow, and through whose example they could work out a strategy, and a rational order for thie lives. The marabouts were not considered in themselves immortal or divine, but through their connection to god they were imbued with a divine spirit and blessing.
This divine spirit the Arabic word for which is "Baraka" is used by Africans to describe the emmanation of a fantastic charisma from a mans soul.
"Baraka" is the mode through which the divine manifests his powers of earth. Once the marabout ackowledges the presence of that power, he can use it to formulate his own vision of the world, and strengthen his power, in that world. The possession of "baraka enables marabouts to exist above the fray.
They do not passively watch the world go by but through the use of their imagination and strength of will, they gain a sense of control over their surroundings. Baraka help to clear the path of habitual trivialities and enables men to "render life less outrageous to plain reason and less contrary to common sense
(Gertz p.101) Gertz also says that the posession of "Baraka" is a mode of construing-emotionally, morally, intellectually,-human experience, a cultural gloss on life (Geertz, p.44)
A marabout fixes himself a nook in the universe from which he can act forcefully and vividly in accordance with a religious mysticism which embodies itself in a moral intensity. A Marabout is someone who aggressively affirms his personal presence, force and character and moral vividness. By encountering a world view and internalizing it into his personality he can lead others to try to do the same:to help others envision and follow a marked path through life.
Once Marabouts have established their world view, their "barack" brings them into the forefront of public life. In a world that is overwhelming and causes people so much anxiety, a marabout has quite a large role to play in cvatering to the needs of the ...masses," As well as playing a spiritual role in society he plays a practical role. In a society that full of "tribal" disputes and conflicts he acts as a peacemaker and mediator. He works to prevent the oppression of the poor and the underprivileged...as a teacher in educating the illiterate....
I just finished reading Barack Obama Sr's critique of Jomo Kenyatta's ecomomic plan of 1965. Obama warned of economic disparity, underused land, lack of good jobs for native Kenyans and poor investments. If Kenya had followed Obama who was Kenyatta's senior economist at the time Kenya may not have had a riot over land redistribution after the December 2007 election. Obama's crtique may have been written by his son today because it urged how everyone in Kenya could help improve the country. Obama did not advise Kenyatta that foreigners would ruin the country but that native black Kenyans needed to have a share of running their country and producing goods. Obama senior had a plan for his country similar to a John F. Knnedy or Barack Obama Jr. If only Kenyatta had listened to his senior economic advisor. The feeling of inequality now in Kenya probably wouldn't exist.
