President Bush Humor
On Friday, November 20th I experienced a life changing/affirming event, and it took place in a motherf*ckin’ Barnes& Noble. Dr. Cornell West stood in front of a standing-room only crowd of about 250 people (I was 3 rows away from him, thanks to my fambam Greg, who saved us seats by arriving 3 hours prior to the event) in Oakland, CA. The event began with a 13-year-old Hatian American boy/man reading a poem entitled, “Good Monring, America.” It was insightful, poignant, powerful, biting and filled with righteous indignation.
As Dr. West took the stage he informed the crowd further of this young man’s wisdom, courage and strength. We were notified that this young man had recently represented Oakland as an ambassador in Japan, and that his father had been murdered one year ago. Dr. West pointed out that the young man had not come alone and thanked the friend of the young poet who accompanied him, reminding the entire crowd that we all need our partners. We need our companions and allies who will see us through this messy life. Cornell West pointed out that his mother, cousins and big brother were in the crowd, and informed us that his older brother Clifton taught him to read as a 6-year old. Cornell West has been literate since the age of 3.
His talk was equal parts unscripted love, passion, joy, sorrow, anger and reminding us to never grow “adjusted to injustice,” or “adapted to indifference.” I believe what stuck with me most throughout his speech (and what I pull from his writings) is that it is more than possible to be both critical of someone/thing and simultanouesly love the sh*t out of them/it (i.e. Barack Obama, Rap/Hip-Hop, Japanese-Americans, white people, etc.). His ability to love those who hate, neglect, and/or disrespect him is something I am still working to comprehend completely. He is one of those (from my point of view) very rare Christians who is literally Christ-like. I was and continue to be moved by his mere human existence.
Protect. Respect. Co-rrect. These were the three words Dr. West used when speaking on and about our current President. He addressed the ways in which Barack Obama used much of the rhetoric of Martin luther King Jr. to become elected, while very much straying from the plight of those in need of the most love and support. The plight of the poor in America and the world has been largely ignored by the President and although (like Irene, Dr. West’s mama, reminded us) he’s only been in Office a year, “he is not on track to be justified in using the words and rhetoric of Dr. King.” West stated, “Brother Barack using those words and then becoming the leader of the most powerful empire in human history is like kicking it with Moses and then becoming Pharaohe.” Currently, Obama is like most of us, locked into a moral dillemma of epic proportions – the difference is, his making bad decisions will adversely affect the entire human race. In the words of Brother West, “We need to protect our dear brother, we need to respect him…but we also need to CORRECT him.”
As his talk came to a close I got in line to have him autograph my books. As I stood there wondering what to say, I wondered if at any point in time, he had ever come into contact with my grandfather who taught at Union Seminary in Berkeley, CA, as well as at Stanford University where he campaigned with the Anti-Vietnam-War movement. When I finally got to the front of the line, I shook his hand, introduced him to my partner, told him what an honor it was to meet him, and asked him if he had ever crossed paths with Robert McAfee Brown. Dr. West looked at me with wide eyes and said, “Robert McAfee Brown??? Of course!” I told him I was his eldest grandson and he jumped out of his seat, embraced me and told me “He was my dear brother and we were comrades at Union Seminary! I read his Making Peace in the Global Village every year!” He asked about my grandmother and told me to send his love to her. It was one of the most memorable moments of my young life.
I think for much of my youth and young adulthood, there was a part of me that internalized an idea that tied Christianity to white supremacy. Due to folks like Hitler, Jerry Fallwell, the KKK, George W. Bush, and a host of others who have used a false image of Jesus Christ and God to gain power, privilege and rob so many of their precious lives and resources, I began to see going to Christian church as something that was counter-revolutionary. I began to polarize the teachings of Christ as a weapon used by hetero/male/WASP to create and reproduce systems of incredulous domination. As ignorant and f*cked up as it sounds, I didn’t believe it possible to be a Christian and also truly righteous because you had to, on some level have blind faith in something. As Dr. West reminded me however, “there is an aspect of faith in every element of our lives.” Because there is no such thing as absolute certainty in human skin, we must use the knowledge we have about our world and make a leap of faith. When my wifey and I became “partners for life,” we were literally leaping out into the abyss together; using what we knew of each other to believe without certainty that we would do this together – regardless of the pain, funk and suffering that is fundamental to the human condition.
Even if being “Christian” is something I still struggle in thinking about due to all the people who use that word to perpetuate oppresion, I’m undoubtedly wanting to make more efforts in being Christ-like (i.e. loving people openly even if they don’t do the same, or even mistreat or disrespect me, etc.).
As Dr. West hugged me, I felt both gratitude as well as incredible responsibility. I thought of all the amazing people I know in my life who didn’t have a Grandparent who was a public intellectual, and that Dr. West was in fact hugging me for the work my late Grandfather did with his life. As I end how I began, I think about my the Celtic proverb, “You must do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.” I am unable to feel anything other than incredibly fortunate and privileged these days. Due to my roots and family histories I have been placed into a position of privilege, education, and access to love and support. Simultaneously, due to my ancestry, community and background, I have ties to working-class struggle, middle-class guilt, furious anger at racism, knowledge of white privilege/guilt/fear and what it means/takes to be an ally, and what many times seems like an overwhelming amount of righteous indignation at oppression in all its forms. I feel today that regardless of my “occupation,” that my vocation/calling is to apply any privilege I possess to exposing and combatting injustice while loving the sh*t out of everyone around me.
I believe it true when Cornell West states, “examples are the go-cart of judgement.” Due to the righteous and courageous examples laid befor me by my parents and grandparents, I am able to have obtained a small degree of righteous and courageous judgement as I stumble through the f*cked-updedness of this land we call North America. All of this is owed to the foundation that came before me, and I am doubtful I will ever be half of the human being my parents and grandparents were/are. I am always working to love “my crooked neighbor with my crooked heart.” As try with all my might to be genuine and love openly, I will undoubtedly at times, trip into the pitfalls of the racist, classist, sexist, homophobic society that bore me. I will sometimes “become drunk with the wine and felicities of bourgeoise existence” (also known as “being a markass sell-out”). But through the thick and thin of it, I am confident that if I am surrounded by community, I will never “grow old inside,” and will have used my imperfect mind and body to have achieved some sort of love and liberation.
How does one keep from “growing old inside”? Surely only in community. The only way to make friends with time is to stay friends with people…. Taking community seriously not only gives us the companionship we need, it also relieves us of the notion that we are dispensable.
-Robert McAfee Brown
Race Matters because as we balance our Hope on a Tightrope by Living & Loving Out Loud, Democracy Matters are being attacked from all sides and directions.
LOVE
Colin Masashi Ehara
p.s.
Best New Blog of the Day @ The Other McCain-Smitty writes -"Stacy pointed me to the Left Coast Rebel, who's got a spot-on collection of right-of-center material.""Those looking for that Margaret Thatcher fix are directed to a post of simple genius. Subscribe. Together, we can make the Google Reader explode. Reader Kevin Cox, Department of Aviation McCarran Airport Las Vegas - "You're a great writer! I'm glad that I found your blog, it's on my "Read First Thing" list.Eric Dondero at Libertarian Republican -Tim's stridently entrepeneurial, pro-capitalist blog, the Left Coast Rebel, is vastly becoming one of the most popular libertrarian blogs on the web.Nancy Armstrong, blogger at MsplacedDemocrat, featured on Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly, a real hero and activist against ACORN - I am working with the ACORN 8, they are real patriots. I forwarded your email to Marcel Reid, it always boosts their self-esteem when they good hear good things about what they are doing....thank you from them. Hubby and I were active duty Navy when the kids were young.....the life just makes you teach your kids differently. I like your stuff! Rest in peace Nancy, you will be missed.Right Girl at Girlontheright.com -I really like the Turncoat 8 article, the content is super-solid, keep it up!Andrew 33 from Kook'smanifesto.com -You have a really big blog, with a lot of readership. I really think highly of you and your blog and being asked to fill in for you gives a deep sense of satisfaction that we are respected by our peers enough to be given the "keys to the Ferrari."KOOK from Kook'smanifesto.com -The goal here is to spread the word. We all know the truth of things, we all are in 90% agreement with what is wrong and what needs done. Small issues are small issues. The big picture is what is important. LIFE, LIBERTY, PROPERTY.Subversive joy is the ability to transform tears into laughter, a laughter that allows one to acknowledge just how difficult the journey is, and to delight in one’s own sense of humanity and folly and humor in the midst of this very serious struggle. This is true freedom of spirit.
-Cornel West
Bungalow Bill at BBCW.com -
You continue to amaze, great stuff!
RighKlik from RightKlik.com -
Keep the truth coming. This is going to be a tough fight, but we can turn things around.
Becky at JustaGirlinShorts.com -I see why you like it--we are twins:)I added you to the blogroll and am following on bloggerLandshark at Landshark5150 -
I Wish I had your political insight at your age. My hats off to you, Sir. You are toting the load now. Your voice is more important. You still are able to reach youth and elders with it. Your mind is strong and your passion high. The people of this great country want to live free, free of yokes of restraint of government. But that freedom comes with responsibiilies and sadly so few accept that for themselves or their future. They simply don't/won't take the stand or carry the burden of freedom.It doesn't matter who said this, or who wrote that, it is our responibilty to repeat and live those ideas. For it is not ours to keep, but ours to protect and give to the future.
RRR @ Reaganite Republican Resistance -I have been on your blog, my friend... good work! I think you know Stacy McCain, too-I have seen you on TOMc....and great work digging that, (Barney Frank mystery man expose), up bro- makes me feel like I'm sleeping. Keep up the Good Fight- our sides' winning now-Gallery:
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