August 13, 2015 by Tam, I am.

You’re Hired

Although our next election is a year away, candidates are currently doing and saying whatever they believe the American people want to hear. The conservative candidates are so plentiful, one can scarcely keep them all straight. But one of the candidates is not like the others.

He is loud. He is obnoxious. He is belligerent. He wears a million dollar kitten on his head. He is…

…The Donald.

A lot can be said about Trump’s candidacy thus far. His disrespectful tone with women, his thoughts on immigration, and his views on political contributions have been ferreted out for our perusal. Well, ferreted is not quite the best word to use, is it? The truth is that The Donald can’t shut up.

While I personally believe that if Trump ever articulated one good political idea, it would die of loneliness…

…He’s hired.

Wait, wait, wait. Don’t curse me like a drunken sailor just yet. I haven’t fallen and bumped my head. I just believe that there are a few things we -conservative, liberal, or other- can learn from this spectacle. Love or hate him. Let’s learn from him.

The Donald is honest. Brutally abrasive, almost cruelly honest. We can debate why he is so blunt, but I don’t believe that matters. What does matter is that Americans are fed up with pandering. A good chunk of America is sick to their back teeth of what they call political correctness. Although rational people recognize that political correctness is a derogatory term for civility, many loathe it nonetheless. Presently, there is a certain level of admiration for a person willing to tell the unvarnished truth as he or she sees it. We are seeing this admiration play out in liberal circles as well. A great deal of Bernie Sanders’ appeal is his speaking truth to power approach.

Then, there is the fact that Trump doesn’t need anyone. He is a very profitable business man who has come back from the brink more times than we can count. He is full of the can-do American spirit; He never gives up. As a known contributor to both parties, he has the freedom to entertain all points of view. As a billionaire, he runs a lesser chance of being bought. Americans want someone willing to hear other perceptions and someone comfortable in his/her own decision-making abilities. While very few openly admit to agreeing with most of Trump’s most outrageous statements, they do admire his confidence to stick to his guns. Again, look left…The liberal juggernaut, Sanders, is drawing huge crowds who adore him for sticking to his guns.

Finally, he is making politics interesting again. For many years, Americans have been, well, angry. Ranging from mild irritation to frothing at the mouth, anger and frustration has been an ever-present undercurrent in political discussions. The Donald has energized us all. I appreciate that. He and his kitten make me laugh, but his unique brand of outrageous foolery has people paying attention again. We need people paying attention. I’ve been saying for years that WE were the tyranny, that we have become far too uninvolved. Apathy does no favors for democracies. The Donald and his kitten are just entertaining enough to draw in viewers. Viewers are voters. For that alone, Trump, you’re hired.

August 19, 2014 by Tam, I am.

We are here.

So Ferguson happened.

The pictures say a lot, don’t they? What they say depends on who’s doing the looking. To me, it says dangerous times are ahead.

If you recall, I wrote about this very thing many months ago. In that piece, the militarization of America’s police departments was discussed. If we are brutally honest with ourselves, we know that Ferguson has been a forward moving train..gathering steam..barrelling toward us at a speed sure to cause massive damage when it finally made impact. Armored vehicles and military grade weapons are not new. SWAT teams are not new. Abuse of authority is not new. So, I won’t go into all that again. This begs the question: Are we truly surprised? Or are we simply expert reactionary Facebook/Twitter/Instagram protesters?

If, indeed, you are truly surprised..or if you really don’t understand why minorities, all across the nation, are angry..or if you find it impossible to fathom the type of desperation, frustration, and hopelessness that causes you to destroy your own communities…

“Hence I have no mercy or compassion in me for a society that will crush people, and then penalize them for not being able to stand up under the weight.”

“I was going through the hardest thing, also the greatest thing, for any human being to do; to accept that which is already within you, and around you.” –Malcolm X

We are here.

Remember when I said it depended on who was doing the looking? Yeah, well, African-Americans have always been here. This type of drama plays out on the stages of our communities Every. Single. Day.

America has done this. America – with her high handedness, her conceit, her total lack of will to right her wrongs – has done this. America is masterful at “breaking” a subset of people, at burdening them until they collapse to their knees, then punishing them for not standing up straight. (Bootstraps, anyone?) Systemic racism is like kudzu in the foundation of this nation. It has sprung up around -and intertwined itself with- every aspect of life. So much so, that far too many can’t recognize what a privilege it is to not be black in America. America wants to keep us in check with The Dream. (That they began waking us up from before we got too deeply involved in it.)

Americans have allowed it. (And by Americans, I mean ALL of us. Hang on, black folk, I’ll get to you in a minute.) There has been silence where there should have been shouting. Heads have been turned when we should have faced issues head on. Apathy has replaced action. The face we show to the world has got to be flawless, but our inner workings are as ugly as homemade sin. That ugliness fuels riots and rebellion. Unfortunately, when a people is left without power, they react in ways those without such experiences can not possibly relate to.

But, here is the thing…you don’t need to relate. You need to acknowledge. So, you’ve heard of Michael Brown. And Trayvon Martin. You posted about how sad it was for their families. You posted about the senseless waste of life. You may have even found a local march in an attempt to show your support. And then, you moved on with your life. Life does go on, right?

Not for Ousmane Zongo, Timothy Russell, Aaron Campbell, Victor Steen, Alonzo Ashley, Wendell Allen, Oscar Grant, Ramarley Graham, Manuel Loggins, Ezell Ford, Kimani Gray, Amadou Diallo, Timothy Stansbury, Jr., Sean Bell, Orlando Barlow, Steven Washington, Ronald Madison, James Brissette, Travares McGill, John Crawford III, or Eric Garner. To name a few.

The constitution was meaningless for these young men and thousands of others like them. But, guess what? That means that the constitution is meaningless for you, too. Today, your kids are pretty safe from lying in a pool of their own blood for hours in the middle of the street. What of tomorrow? Don’t think for a moment it can’t happen. It has already happened. For years, disgruntled blacks complaining of police brutality, harassment, and use of excessive force were ignored. Remember? We had it coming. We deserved it. We were whiners. While you were giving the “birds and bees” talk to your kids, we were giving the “statistics show that you will probably have an encounter with police, so this is how to avoid being shot” speech. Then one day, a funny thing happened. Your neighborhood cops became overzealous. They demanded respect without being bothered to return it. They began bursting into your homes, with or without warrants. Just like that, our problem became your problem. Welcome. You are here. What are you going to do about it? Point guns at officers of the law? You just might get away with it, but black people….

“America’s greatest crime against the black man was not slavery or lynching, but that he was taught to wear a mask of self-hate and self-doubt.”
“So early in my life, I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise.”― Malcolm X

….know they would be shot down. Immediately. So what do we do? March and sing? Riot and loot?

No. Plan our lives! We must give up on the notion that America cares. Still waiting for forty acres and a mule? Ha! Hell, we can’t even eat skittles or jaywalk! The first step is to know your worth. Self hatred, doubt, and lack of pride are the greatest enemies we face. Stop allowing this country to dictate your value. We must be present. Present in our homes and in the lives of our children. Present in our communities and programs that lift one another up. Present in our classrooms where we learn how to play the game. Present in our children’s classrooms to ensure they are well prepared to face the world. And, like my Grandma always said, “America ain’t giving away nothing. Money talks, bullshit walks.” Therefore, we must purchase our equality with the only currency power accepts – ballots and dollar bills. These are our weapons; we must wield them well. The logo on your foot, the name on your rear, nor the initials on your purse are more important than the number on your bank balance. Finally, speaking of walking, high step it to the voting booth. You can’t expect to be heard when you don’t speak!

“We cannot think of being acceptable to others until we have first proven acceptable to ourselves.” —
Malcolm X

So, yes, we are here. But we don’t have to remain here. Stand for something.

Not Far Enough

This past weekend, my family made our umpteenth trek through the nation’s capital.

We picked quite a day for it. It was nearly 100 degrees. And the humidity! Let’s just say it was the type of heat that would make Satan knock on your door to ask for a glass of iced water!

Our plan was simple. The children would see each and every thing they wanted to see. If time allowed, I could do the same. Which was a good thing, since the only thing I hadn’t seen a million times was the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial.

We spent many hours walking and talking. We spoke of the American spirit and discussed inventions that changed the world. We debated which famous American was best, in his/her respective field. I had to referee the occasional brotherly skirmish. In other words, it was your typical garden variety family day-trip.

It never dawned on me that I would learn anything .. from my children.

Let me remind you: It. Was. Hot. My asthma was trying to take center stage. I had four (somewhat spoiled and over-indulged) boys in tow. By the time the kids were satisfied that they had seen all they wanted to see, I was exhausted. And, sure, trying to ensure the satisfaction of four boys can make me a little cranky. My overall mood was not great.

The more we walked, the less oxygen I seemed to take in. I was stopping every ten feet to catch my breath. I wanted to give up on the journey. I was urged to give up and “just see it next time”. But I have lived long enough to know that there may be no next time. And to be perfectly honest, that stubborn Mommy part of me was determined that if I had been walking through an inferno for 7 hours, I would damn well see that exhibit. Or pass out trying.

Not understanding, my oldest son remarked: “Mom, I know you want to see this thing, but it’s hot and you can’t breathe. Maybe we should forget it. Is it really worth all that?”

[Enter visions of cotton fields, torched houses, protests, jail cells]

To which, I responded: “That is why I must keep going. Men and women, like King, got sick. They kept going. People told them it wasn’t worth it, but they kept going. Heat wasn’t the only thing beating at them, but.. They. Kept. Going.”

So…we kept going. I was dizzy, light-headed, and wheezing. But I kept going.

Finally!! We were there! At that moment, my fatigue vanished. My initial joy was not in seeing the monument. It was in pride that I made it without collapsing. It was all about me.

Once I realized that, I took a step back. I removed myself from the equation. I remembered how grateful I am for those – like Dr. King – who removed themselves from the equation, daily, so that we all might have a better quality of life. I read his words on the Inscription Wall, and I felt humbled. And small and petty. My small accomplishment of “making it” paled in comparison to the type of endurance he needed. Every day of his life.

After having splashed my face and arms with water from the waterfall, I turned to the faces of my children. Observing me.. and my humility.

Initially, I was a little embarrassed. They, then, did something I will never forget. They, too, splashed their faces and arms.

At that moment, a lesson was driven home. Children need to observe humility. They need to see adults continually fighting for what is right, fighting for a more perfect union.

Sadly, it isn’t hard for me to imagine Dr. King’s America.

An America of fear, prejudice, and hatred. An America where equality is privilege.

True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice. MLK 1963

An America of poverty. An America that excuses bad behavior and ignorance. An America where workers are treated poorly.

I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits. MLK 1964

An America at war.

It is not enough to say “We must not wage war.” It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war, but on the positive affirmation of peace. MLK 1967

I can imagine it, because that is MY America, to a lesser degree. We, as a society, have become complacent and selfish. We rationalize this by saying we have come pretty far from King’s America. Well, I say we haven’t come far enough. I say there is always work to be done.

Wouldn’t you agree?

Related articles:

July 19, 2013 by Tam, I am.

Shared Suffering

Anyone who took the time to read my last post, may be a little surprised at what I say next.

Beneath all of the sadness and hiding behind all of the outrage…was pride. Yes, you heard me, Pride!

Why? What on Earth was there to be proud of??

US!!

Not just the above us, but…

THIS US!!

The us that stood together – shoulder to shoulder, our voices mingling – to protest our displeasure. Displeasure with a culture that hasn’t yet gotten over its biases. Displeasure at how cases, involving our children, are handled. Displeasure at how our laws are written. Displeasure at how our justice system works.

A large number of Americans – all across the nation – came together for a common cause. No matter our respective “colors”. How’s that for tasting the rainbow? You’re proud, too, right?

(Feel the but coming?)

But with that being said, many of us know that we are not headed for the pot of gold. We know that our (individual) voices are often marginalized, if not silenced.

And as much pride as I have in what we did above, I fear that we won’t use that momentum going forward.

That is because each of us is guilty. We are guilty of paying especially rapt attention to the hot-button issues that touch us on a personal level. And..we are ALL guilty of not paying (as much) attention to the suffering of others. Sure, we are quick to jump to the defense of someone who has been blatantly wronged and gets enough media coverage (which seems to be up to fate). But, then what? We have a tendency to return to our respective corner, lick our wounds, and rest up for the next assault against our rights.

I, as a non-wealthy, cisgendered, black woman, have my own problems. (You do, too. Am I right?) Sometimes it is difficult to step out of my shoes and into someone else’s. Further, it is extremely easy to focus on what matters to me, to the exclusion of all else.

I was as guilty as anyone else. I spoke out against an injustice, here or there. I volunteered for a campaign or two. And I was proud of it. But, I have come to realize that is not enough. Not by a country mile.

Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable…Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. – MLK

We must combine our grievances to fight for the common good. We can not afford to become so encapsulated in our little bubbles, that we forget about the gay couple who asks only the freedom to marry. We can not focus all of our energy on the plight of the woman when our oceans are becoming more acidic by the day. It would be a mistake to disregard the plight of the immigrant, in favor of the black struggle.

Let’s be perfectly honest. Any politician who does not believe that a woman is a fully cognitive being, capable of making her own decisions..probably won’t believe that poor people are not making a concerted effort to remain in poverty. If any politician is able to look in your face and deny climate change, that politician is equally likely to think ‘drill, baby, drill” has no impact on the environment and that “education mills” have got it all wrong. Any politician that doesn’t recognize the ingrained cultural biases in society..probably won’t understand why “the gays” are making such a fuss. A future leader who will snatch your right to vote..will snatch your right to marry. If he or she wants to pay for prisons and not schools..chances are he or she will not be too worried about the uninsured. If a politician can’t value the unions..how much does he value the worker?

Consider this…

Those who have no problem stepping all over our rights have a plan. They have a view of the world that we do not share. Say what you will about them, they are tenacious. They are determined and they are fighting with all they have. They are investing millions and millions of dollars into their efforts. They are buying the kind of country they want. And have absolutely no guilt over it. In fact, when we are hesitant to get with their program, we are labeled as lazy. Or takers. Or, sometimes, traitors.

And what are we doing? We’re waiting..

Well, we can not afford to rest up for the next assault on our rights any longer. We simply can not. When we fight for the rights of the poor, the worker, the children – we are fighting for our rights. When we battle for the rights of our fellow citizens, we win the battle for ourselves.

As long as justice and injustice exist, human beings must be willing to do battle for the one against the other.

– John Stuart Mill

July 14, 2013 by Tam, I am.

Liberty and Justice for All

To the Parents of Trayvon Martin:

I am so sorry. So very sorry.

As a mother, I am tempted to say something insensitive like I feel your pain. Perhaps even I can imagine how you must feel. But, both are lies. I can not feel your pain, nor can I even begin to fathom how badly this must hurt. My brain can not wrap around the excruciating, soul-wrenching pain you must be in. So, I am left with…I’m sorry.

I, like millions of others, am sorry that you will never again hug or kiss your boy. We are saddened that his life ended in such a senseless, tragic, and preventable way. It breaks our hearts that it took nothing more than traversing the street – in a hooded shirt – for Trayvon to become a “suspicious” person. To be thought of as “up to no good”. To be stalked, and murdered.

Those millions and I are further sorry that our justice system failed you. We were shocked that your son had barely been retrieved from the ground before his killer was home. Home. We were upset that it took national flash mobs to ensure an investigation. We were angry that his character was attacked and his named maligned. We were livid at the notion that somehow Trayvon has less of a right to be on that street than his attacker. We were determined to stand with you, and all who loved your son, while the wheels of justice turned.

We were stunned and outraged that, after all was said and done, George Zimmerman was convicted of nothing.

While we may not know how you feel, we did feel. We do feel.

We feel that it is shameful, in America, that the way your son was dressed garnered suspicion and began this entire train wreck of events. We know that the pervasive racism in this country continues to give credence to ridiculous stereotypes like the one your son came face to face with. And that is wrong.

We feel that it is completely and totally unacceptable that our children are being stalked and killed due to someone else’s irrational fears. We know that, in this country, the acts of rogue vigilantes should be discouraged.

We feel that if Stand Your Ground is a right of some, it is a right for all – Trayvon included. He had just as much right to be where he was that night as his shooter did.

We try to imagine the confusion and fear your son must have felt that night. We teach our children wonderful lessons about America. We continually remind them that they can be anything they so desire, if they try hard enough. We recount the horror stories of the past in order for them to appreciate the freedom and equality they enjoy now. We tell them that their clothes, their hair styles, their shoes don’t matter. Because what matters is on the inside.

I am certain Trayvon learned differently that night. I am sure he didn’t have the foggiest idea why he was being pursued. How could he? His pursuer only knew he “looked off”. He learned what hundreds of thousands of young, black males already know. He learned that, for some, fitting a profile is deadly. He learned that stereotypes can get you killed. He learned that, sometimes, adults are wrong. Sometimes, you don’t have to look for trouble, because trouble looks for you.

And that is the hardest thing to admit. We were wrong. We failed him.

Regardless of how hard we wish it, we will never be able to change the horrible events of that sad night. But there are things that we can do. We can’t give you back the child of your heart. But we can work so that his dying was not in vain. We can’t give you justice for his death. But we can fight to change laws, removing them if necessary. We can’t get rid of every irrational person. But we can fight for a society that does not condone irrational actions. We can’t heal you. But we can stand with you.

We can stand with you in our communities and states. We can stand with you in our jails and courthouses. We can stand with you in the voting booths.

Our sympathy is a start, but we can do more. We will do more.

Because liberty and justice for all is more than a slogan.

Our hearts, heavy and broken, are with you.

Sincerely,

America

July 12, 2013 by Tam, I am.

Southern Style: Tar Heel Turnaround

Friends, it has been a while since our last stop on the Southern Express. And, honey-chile, this one will be a real treat. One you surely don’t want to miss. So, go on, grab your sweet tea, immerse yourself in insect repellant, and…

North Carolina. Majestic mountains. Beautiful beaches.

One of the more progressive southern states prior to the..

Tar Heel Turnaround?

The North Carolina that we are seeing today is at odds with the trajectory the state has been on in recent years. The southern states may seem as though they are vehemently opposed to ideals like change and progress. In my view, North Carolina has always been different.

A little history….

Even during our nation’s ugliest time, the Civil War, this state was a bit progressive. “The second to last (technically the last) state to secede from the Union” did so reluctantly in 1861, and wasn’t as sold on slavery as the rest of the south. They – along with Virginia, Tennessee, and Arkansas – initially chose to remain with the Union, after Lincoln was elected. Confederate forces in South Carolina (Boy-oh-boy, our stop there will be fun!) fired on the Union, forcing the hold-out states to fight for the federal government or their neighbors.

The above facts, in no way, justify the actions taken statewide during Reconstruction. The state did, however, make great strides once it became clear that they couldn’t put skeletons back in the closet.

The eat-ins and sit-ins led to incremental integration. Education became a priority, and was heavily invested in. Tobacco was replaced with textiles, then technology.

There was…progress.

North Carolina attempted to rise above the title of “confederate sympathizer”. Instead, it focused on its memories of the Wright brothers and Kitty Hawk. Those majestic mountains and beautiful beaches were boons for tourism. I, myself, thoroughly enjoy time spent at Atlantic Beach each year.

Many have grooved to Thelonious Monk, Pink Floyd, and Roberta Flack. We were touched that James Taylor had Carolina in his mind. The Andy Griffith show was mandatory viewing in many households. And everybody wished they could jump like Mike!

North Carolina gave us Duke University, a pioneer in the medical field. It gave us Shaw University, the first HBC, as well as Salem College, the first school for young women. The state’s Research Triangle brought in major industries – such as IBM, GlaxoKlineSmith, and LabCorp – providing jobs and careers for residents.

What a difference a (voting) day makes!

This is not progressive.

North Carolina’s Republicans took simultaneous control of the legislature and governor’s mansion in January for the first time in more than a century. The current session has been marked by sweeping conservative measures in what has long been counted as among the South’s most progressive states.

Arrests? Of nearly 675 people since these peaceful protests began? Because they do not approve of your policies, and are exercising their right to protest, they are “morons” who deserve to be arrested? To further marginalize them, they are called “outsiders”. Never mind the fact that arrest records show that nearly all are from within the state and the fact that slashing unemployment benefits for over 100,000 residents and decreasing benefits for the rest might be seen as irresponsible.

We can’t call this progressive either.

As legislators enter the final phase of closed-door state budget negotiations, young children could wind up being the biggest losers.

Children with special needs will lose much-needed services, like speech and developmental therapy. Ten thousand Pre-K slots will be lost over a two-year period. Prenatal care will be unaffordable for many. The Child Fatality Task Force will be eliminated, even though child death rate has dropped 46%. Healthier, more well-adjusted children is a smart investment that residents support.

Need more?

Repealing the Racial Injustice Act? Not progress. Because racial discrimination has never been the best option for a state, or the nation.

Quietly imposing “the biggest overhaul of the state’s tax system in more than a decade.” … not progressive. Decisions that impact a state should be discussed, no, especially when you’re favoring one segment of the population at the expense of another. FTA: Supported by Gov. Pat McCrory, the bill adds a sales tax to numerous exempt services, such as car repairs and appliance installations, to pay for moderate cuts in personal and corporate income taxes.

The necessity for stealth doesn’t usually indicate progress. I know we women can be freedom riders, but seriously? One of the most basic human rights is full and complete dominion over one’s body. Why not just ban women and be done with it?

Does anyone, especially college students, find this progressive? I think not. Because didn’t we already determine this was not the way forward?

In retrospect, perhaps we ALL should have been worried when this hit the news. Because Church of North Carolina meet the Constitution, already!

So, yeah, I would say the Tar Heels got turned around. Wouldn’t you?

What to do..what to do..

THIS!!!

Protest. And protest some more. Transform “Moral Mondays” into “We, the people Week”.. “Month of Marches”.. straight to the voting booth!

Because this is not about conservative and liberal. It is about right and wrong.

Once you were a progressive state. You can be again.

July 5, 2013 by Tam, I am.

Battle for the Ballot

America has celebrated another birthday. Americans, all over the country, hung up flags and fired up grills. We drunk ice-cold beer, ate, and laughed with friends and family. We enjoyed parades and fireworks. Pride in our country was evident, and rightly so. I hope the day was enjoyed by all.

While Independence Day is over, the fight for those founding ideals rages on. We are left to deal with this. The Supreme Court of the United States, in a 5-4 decision, dismantled the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This will now allow problem states, mostly southern, to alter voter laws without obtaining advanced federal approval.

The majority (Justices Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, and Alito) held that Section 4 is unconstitutional, as the formula used is out-dated.

Regardless of how one looks at that record, no one can fairly say that it shows anything approaching the “pervasive,” “flagrant,” “widespread,” and “rampant”discrimination that clearly distinguished the covered jurisdictions from the rest of the Nation in 1965.

The minority (Justices Ginsberg, Breyer, Sotomayer, and Kagan) held that while there has been improvement, the legislation is still necessary.

Early attempts to cope with this vile infection resembled battling the Hydra. Whenever one form of voting discrimination was identified
and prohibited, others sprang up in its place.

Technically, both the majority and dissenting opinions have some validity. The majority is correct. There is no longer blatant violence keeping minorities from the polls. The intelligence tests and poll taxes are a thing of the past. The dissenting opinion, which I strongly suggest reading, is also correct. Atrocious methods of the past gave way to all-white primary attempts and racial gerrymandering.

Think Voter ID. Since last year, 41 states have introduced some form of restrictive voting legislation, and of those 18 passed laws. Among the most popular are those that require voters to show a photo ID in order to vote, which proponents say helps to counter fraud — a phenomenon that almost never happens, analysts say.

Both opinions clearly state that it falls to Congress to legislate a formula that discourages this type of strategy.

Optimistic? Anyone?

While it is up to Congress to come up with a formula that takes into account the types of racial voter discrimination we face today, it is up to us how we react to the Court’s decision. One thing we can do is to contact our representatives. We can let them know that we expect them to get off their asses and do something. We can send letters and emails. We can pick up the telephone and voice our demands.

That being said, if you have been paying attention the past few years, you know that train will be slow to leave the station. I am not convinced that Congress can decide what to have for lunch. I don’t hold out much hope that they can come to an agreement here. Do you?

The best way to combat what we know to be disenfranchisement attempts is to…

Vote when you are inspired by a particular candidate. Vote when you are not. Vote when you have a much-needed day off from work. Vote when it takes your entire lunch break. Stand in line, proudly, when the sun is shining. Stand, defiantly, when it is raining. Exercise your right, whether it takes fifteen minutes or five hours.

No matter which hydra head comes at you,…Stand and be counted.

I am committed because of scenes like the one above. My ancestors, and their freedom-loving allies, fought, bled, and died so that I could vote.

Water hoses didn’t work. Biting dogs didn’t stop them. Baton beatings didn’t deter them. Jail cells could only hold them for so long.

Burning homes and lynchings…Did. Not. Stop. Them.

I am not about to let a little redistricting stop me. Nor am I about to wait around for Congress to pull its head out of its ass.

Voting is my right, my duty, and my privilege.

I will go to the polls because our power is in the ballot. But, I will also go for my fellow citizens.

My thoughts will be with my children, and all children, who we encourage to participate in our democracy. My thoughts will be with the working poor, who risk their jobs to cast their ballots. And, with those who wait hour after hour to have their say. I will stand in solidarity with immigrants, who have also been subject to discrimination and intimidation.

Inequality for one is inequality for all.

I will stand and be counted, or the sacrifices made on my behalf were in vain.

Will you?

June 21, 2013 by Tam, I am.

We’re #1 ..er..

America.

Wealthiest nation in the world.

It’s no wonder our middle class is number one in the world!

As the chart above clearly shows, America’s median income is the best in the…

Wait…WHAT??

We are not number one? Or two, ten, or twenty?

According to this, America is #27. Our middle class is being beaten by the likes of Germany, Canada, and Switzerland. Topping the list is Australia.

But how can this be? Our economy produces hedge fund managers that earn more per hour than the average family earns in two decades!

Surely, that kind of wealth is trickling down!!

So, why aren’t we drenched? Hell, at least misted?

Healthcare: We continue to pay more while becoming no more healthy. And becoming seriously ill lands many in bankruptcy court.
Minimum Wage: Our wage is indecent in comparison to the likes of Canada ($9.75), New Zealand ($11.18), and Australia ($16.45). So much for claiming the top spot, again, right? Not to mention that many other developed nations provide a month of guaranteed paid vacation time on top of paid sick days.
Wall Street: Has gone wild. Enough said.
Tax Structure: Our code favors the wealthy with loopholes, tax havens, ridiculously low capital gains taxes, etc.
Higher Education: The more you know, the more you owe. In America. Our counterparts are offering higher education practically tuition-free.

So, yeah. No drenching, no mists, no trickles.

I think we were… PUNK’D!

Financialization. (Note when the two began to split.)

Financialization means the increasing role of financial motives, financial markets, financial actors and financial institutions in the operation of the domestic and international economies. – Economist, Gerald Epstein

Financialization was labeled the most important factor in our stagnant middle class. Deregulation of the 80’s has given rise to a whole host of problems.

It “made shareholder value the ultimate goal.”
Hedge fund growth began destroying the “productive wealth” in the economy.
“Too big to fail” institutions were created, and basically granted license to gamble with the economy.
Barely regulated world markets became responsible for financing globalization.

Why don’t we know how throughly we were played? Good question.

Wealth dominates the media. The idea of conservative media or main stream media is foolish. There is but one media. Corporate media. And do we honestly believe that the guys ripping us off will tell us that they are doing so? Pfft. Just go back to fake scandals and Hollywood hook-ups, if you please.

Here’s another good question. Why aren’t we working, with due diligence, to reverse this?

Wealth dominates our politics, it is true. Corporate lobbyists are boldly buying representatives and co-authoring legislation. They are using their extreme wealth to their advantage. Who needs or wants a level playing field when pulling in the kind of dough they do?

They are buying the team, the field, the equipment, the concession stand, and referees. But that is not all they are buying. It seems they have also purchased quite a few fans.

There are actually those among us who don’t realize or acknowledge that they have been, are being, and will continue to be fleeced in this economy. They believe more corporate freedom is an appropriate action. They believe, and loudly regurgitate, policy that will only serve to keep them from ever seeing the trickle they so patiently await. To do anything else would make you a “taker”. They have difficulty separating who built that from who purchased that.

Looks like there is nothing left to do, but sit in the stands and clap.

Uhm, .. no.

The first thing we can do is recognize this for what it is. Class warfare.

Next, we need to forget about changing the minds of the purchased fans. If the past few years haven’t demonstrated the damage deregulation causes, nothing will. The information about corporate greed destroying the economy is out there, and it is plentiful.

Protest what is being done. You don’t necessarily have to stand in a picket line. Petition. Support local businesses over big box chains. Start a garden. Use the services of a local credit union in lieu of a banking institution.

Most importantly, instruct and supervise your elected officials, while keeping an eye out for their replacement.

Republicans: we will not tolerate your policies of carrying the rich on the backs of the poor.
Tea Party/Libertarians: Atlas Shrugged is fiction.
Democrats: the pretty words are nice, but the time has come to try on a backbone, thank you very much!
Progressives: Come out, come out..wherever you are.

They need to know this is our game, too. Comply or face ejection. Period.

Because… We’re #27… is pathetic! As a standing and a chant!

May 20, 2013 by Tam, I am.

Virginia is (Not) for Lovers

Virginia. My (sometimes) beloved home state.

Home to our nation’s first leader, George Washington. Home to our most (mis)quoted founder, Thomas Jefferson. The birthplace of presidents.

Home to Historic Jamestown and Mount Vernon. Home to (my favorite) Virginia Beach. <Lover’s Paradise!

But be careful, all you lovers! Virginia is also home to these gentlemen.

Steve Helber/AP – Republican nominee for Governor, Ken Cuccinelli, right, is joined onstage with the other members of the ticket, E. W. Jackson, left, his wife, Theadora, Attorney General candidate Mark Obenshain, and his wife, Suzanne, and Tiero Cuccinelli at the end of the Virginia Republican convention.

Ken Cuccinelli. What can you say about this contender for Governor? For starters, you could say he is a Tea Party darling. Mr. Ken Cuccinelli is anti-Obama, anti-health care reform, anti-abortion, anti-environmental protection, and anti-gay rights. As attorney general, he fought back against the Affordable Care Act. He has also compared his fight against abortion to the slavery movement. Oh, did I forget to mention that he feels the Attorney General’s office is “special”?

Mr. Cuccinelli is for the extreme right-wing. He is not for lovers.

Reverend E.W. Jackson. Reverend Jackson is a relative newcomer to Virginia politics. He beat out six potential contenders to nab the nomination for Lt. Governor. I am reluctantly proud to admit that he will be this state’s first African-American nominee for a statewide post in over twenty years. Why reluctantly? Here a few of Jackson’s statements: “Planned Parenthood has been far more lethal to black lives than the KKK ever was. The Democratic Party and the black civil rights allies are partners in this genocide.” He feels “Obama clearly has Muslim sensibilities.” Lastly, he vows to “get the government off our backs, off our property, out of our families, out of our health care, and out of our way.”

One can only assume that remaining true to his Christian faith, he would also be a Tea Party fave. A lover’s…not so much.

Mark Obenshain. You’ve just got to love this guy! Mr. Obenshain favored and introduced a bill requiring women to report a miscarriage to police within 24 hours or face criminal charges. Can’t you just feel the love?? Nothing says love like forcing a woman, who has just endured the agony of miscarriage, to have the wherewithal to inform local police of her situation. Mr. Obenshain is a defender of liberty. Er…certain liberties. He opposes abortion and health care reform. From his website, we can get a sense of what he’ll fight for. From his page, “With the Attorney General called upon to issue opinions and go to court on issues like the right to bear arms and the right to make one’s own health care choices, and with overbearing federal agencies saddling farmers and small business owners with excessive and unwarranted regulations, Virginia cannot afford to elect an Attorney General without a firm commitment to defending liberty.”

Obenshain..Tea Party dream. Lover’s nightmare.

In order for that motto to hold true, Virginians, there needs to be some love somewhere, no? Perhaps love and compassion for women suffering the loss of a child? Perhaps love and equality toward lovers of the non-traditional variety? Perhaps love and comfort of the ill who need medical care? Perhaps love and respect for our nation’s leader? Nah… I’m kidding! That one is pushing it!!

You know what? Forget love. That is not what I, as a Virginian, am asking for. I am asking for a balanced approach to leadership. I am asking for, at least, a slight left turn towards fairness. I am asking for less tea, more water. Water is neutral, right?

How about this slogan…Virginia is for Equality??

Give it a practice run. It might stick.

May 17, 2013 by Tam, I am.

Let’s Talk Tyranny

In a free society, government reflects the soul of its people. If people want change at the top, they will have to live in different ways. Our major social problems are not the cause of our decadence. They are a reflection of it.

–Carl Thomas

Tyranny. It seems that almost everything the government does is “tyrannical” these days. Clearly, that is a bit of an exaggeration. As defined by Merriam-Webster, tyranny is an oppressive power or a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler. Our president is, indeed, a powerful man. But he is no tyrant. Comparisons of Obama to these men is to disregard reality (not to mention commit dreaded logical fallacies).

President Obama is no Führer. Our nation continues to suffer from racial tension, we have no concentration camps. There are no plans for concentration camps. I will be the first to admit that this country’s media machine and news corporations leave a lot to be desired. However, news (biased or not) is presented for our consumption.

That means Dear Leader is out of this equation. News is handed over to us on platters, and we eagerly consume. We are, obviously, not being forced from urban areas into labor on collective farms. So, while Obama sports brown skin, he is not Brother Number One.

Then WHY all the talk of tyranny? We are very vocally angry. As well, we should be. We are being watched and heard everywhere we go. We are being profiled on the streets and in airports. We are losing our retirements, homes, and sometimes shirts, as corporations – and our representatives – gain more wealth. We feel powerless and we need someone to blame.

Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.

– Thomas Jefferson

Our government, good and bad, is only what we make of it. “We, the people,” is not just a catchy slogan. We, the people, are charged with holding our elected officials accountable. We, the people, are charged with being well-informed, so as to ensure that the elected officials are representing us. We, the people, are given the responsibility of keeping them honest and humble. We, the people, are, also, responsible for making short work of any who get too big for their britches.

In this, we have failed. Miserably. A great many of us are totally uninformed. Many are apathetic (perhaps out of a sense of helplessness) to the things taking place all around us. Some feel like their vote doesn’t count. Some feel like politics are too complicated or frustrating. Many say they are too busy. We, the people, don’t consider that our continued political disinterest allows our politicians the freedom to become disinterested in us.

Many of us, though, are misinformed. We are interested, yet are basing our viewpoints on issues that are simply not factual or true. Certain news outlets, and I use that term very liberally (pun not intended!), profit from our biases. This profit from slanted, biased news is not even a secret anymore! It really doesn’t have to be when you consider things like this. We, the people, are being told things, untrue things, and we do…nothing?

Times are hard, and we are frightened. I understand that. Our representatives don’t represent us often, and for that, we are rightly angry. I understand that. What I do not understand is placing blame everywhere…except where it belongs. With ourselves. We are the problem. We, the people, are the tyranny.

Did you hear me? I said, We, the people, are the tyranny.

We continue to be used by politicians who thrive off of our ignorance. We continue to be lied to, openly, without ever doing any fact-checking of our own. We don’t engage because that is why we elect politicians, right? Wrong. We discuss our children, our cars, our cats and dogs, complain about the price of gasoline, etc. If we will poke around Google to find out why a certain dog food makes Fluffy cranky, we should be willing to figure out why a certain politician is not voting in our interest. If we are willing to search for recipes (and pin them on a virtual board), we should be willing to search out representatives to replace those who forget their job description.

Oh, everyone will say, “Congress works for us, we don’t work for them! And they are driving us right over the cliff!” I have heard it a thousand times. But if we truly feel that way, it is time to put our money where our mouths are. The best thing we can do is take back the wheel. We need to take our feet off the gas, apply the brakes, and pull over. We must not be distracted by the smoke, and instead take action. Fix the car: pop the hood, dig deeper. Once we see what the problem is (or problems are), we can go about fixing it. It won’t happen in a day, or even a year, but we can get our car back in shape and running smoothly.

The vehicle is ours, we are not leasing it. We determine our direction. Nobody is forcing us to take Tyranny Avenue.

So, why are we?