http://charlesbrownblog.blogspot.com/
I was born at University of Chicago Hospital and have lived in Hyde Park, Beverly, Pullman/Roseland neighborhoods in Chicago and Blue Island just South of Chicago. I also Went to School and Worked in Indiana and New Mexico, where I stayed for 14 years working at Las Alamos Medical Center, The University of New Mexico's Children's Pyschieatric Center, And in Bussiness as a manager/ computer guru. Finally I moved back to Chicago and became a Chicago Public School teacher in Computer Science, where I set up 2 computer Labs and several servers. Now I am a stay at home dad and am learning about autism. My areas of Interest for this group are: Healthcare, Eduction and Autism. Energy, The Environment and Global Warming. The Economy, Finite Resources and the US military.
My fields of expertise: Education, Healthcare and increasingly Autism
Friends,
There has been some questions raised about supporters using Hussein as a middle name and whether this was a good thing or offensive and so forth.
I am an Arab from my fathers side and a jew from my mothers side. I have never laughed so hard in my life. Here is what I think:
When I was teaching at a college right after 9/11 and Muslim students were being attacked physically ---a bunch of white women faculty started wearing muslim headcloth my initial reaction was not positive. I felt these white women were missing the reality that they can do that without real fear and we could not.
But I mellowed as I saw the actual affect was discussion of the issue and this was indeed a way they could take a clear stand against such nonsense
I have taken so much flack for being an Arab and for supporting Muslim and Arab rights. My father did everything he could to pretend to be a jewish American as did many Syrian and Lebanese second and third generation Americans. Most attempted to be "white" americans at all costs
It is delightful to see non-Arab, non-muslim Americans wearing Hussein as a middle name. It is a form of nonviolent protest of the bigotry which hangs over my community in the contemporary United States.
Of course for an ARAB or a Muslim to take the middle name is actually scarey and dangerous in a way it is not for those doing it. So long as they don't believe they are having an experience of being an Arab or a Muslim in this country this is a wonderful thing...
Go forth and do it all over the net --not just on this website. a great non-violent protest against anti-muslim bigotry.
Go all you Hussein's GO GO GO!
Part of the difficulty in discussing politics of the middle east is that certain terms are used that mean a range of things to different people.
This is an attempt to open discussion of the hot issue of Israel's RIGHT to Exist.
In politics and in this campaign support for "Israel's right to exist" has been seen as the litmus test of reliability for jewish interests and fairness according to "supporters of Israel" (another term that probably needs clarification.
But let's get past the WORDS to the meaning...
FIRST OFF.. ISRAEL DOES EXIST
No one questions whether or not Israel exists. The fact that it exists is just that a fact not open to debate.
What does it mean to talk about any country or states RIGHT TO EXIST?
The truth is with few exceptions the question is not whether the PEOPLE of Israel have a right to exist at all. The question is
WHETHER ISRAEL HAS A RIGHT TO EXIST ******* AS ********** A JEWISH STATE
That is , a state which privileges jewish culture, holidays , ideas and rights are given official status over any other citizens.
I suspect many who SAY they support the Right of Israel to exist simply mean the right of jewish people to celebrate their own religion and culture in peace. If that is what is meant I am right there with them
BUT if they mean the RIGHT of Israel to give some people rights because they are jews and deny these to others who are not...
Well then I do not support Israel's right to exist
And neither should Obama. A Jewish State of this sort can no more be a Democracy than an Islamic State
(I hope this opens a good, intelligent discussion of agreements and differences. I deliberately started us out with the question of what we mean when we say Israel has a RIGHT to exist as this will sharply clarify commonalities , differences and concerns)
Yes we can..But if we don't...He Won't
Hi,You're invited to join a group on My.BarackObama.com: http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/CriticalSupportYesWeCanBut764
Critical Support discusses issues and differences with Obama's positions and encourages real democratic participation and thoughtful criticism rather than knee jerk support for Barasck Obama. Yes WE can But if WE DON"T He can't
Some Key Discussions planned include
1. Health Care-- Obama Plan versus Sen John Conyers Health Bill and Single Payer Plans
2. A more balanced Middle EAST POLICY especially regarding Israel and Palestine
3. REVERSING THE Patriot Act
4. Challeging the "war on Terror " framework
5. Reversing No Child Left Untested I mean No Child Left Behind rather than revising it
6. Revitalizing Unions or Other forms of Workers Rights
7. A plan to revitalize American Colleges
8. Other Key policy discussions you may raise
Rules:
Intellegent posts only-- no cheerleading.
Disagreement allowed but not attacks on individuals
Posts that deal with specific Policy Suggestions and debate
and posts that deal with clarifying concepts and frameworks for policy permitted
