An Elderly Woman Responds to Michelle Obama & Reverend Wright Controversies

Out of the mouth of a life experienced comes wisdom ....and truth. Not bitterness ... This is definitely one to be shared & saved.

This truly is a wonderful response.
Read it, and re-read it, then let it soak in. It has some powerful words and parallels.


As a 78 year old American of African descent, I feel compelled to respond to all this 'much ado about nothing' when it comes to the statement that Michelle Obama made about the fact that this is the first time in her adult life that she has been proud to be an American.

The country needs to hear this from the Black perspective. Long before I was born, my gr andfather Joseph Burleson, owned a considerable amount of land in oil rich Texas .

Because during that era, Blacks could not vote, nor could they contest anything in the courts of the United States, my grandfather's land was STOLEN by his White neighbor. My grandfather, who was literate and better educated than my grandmother, drove to town. Seeing my grandfather leave, the covetous neighbor asked my grandmother to show him the deed to the property. He snatched it. She could not insist that he give it back, nor could she have reported this THEFT to the sheriff because of the fact that Blacks had no rights in the 1800's. The prevailing law at that time was he who held the deed owned the land.

Do you think that is something that I am PROUD OF? Right now I should be living off the oil and gas royalties. In 1934 when my dad drove us to Texas to meet his family, when he stopped to purchase gasoline, his daughters and wife were not allowed to use the washroom. As a man it was easier for him to relieve himself in the bushes, but not for the females. We were, however, reduced to having to go in the bushes, also. Do you think I am PROUD OF THAT?

In 1938 when my oldest sister went to enroll in Hyde Park High School, she was told by the counselor that she did not want to take college preparatory courses, she wanted to study domestic science.

Do you think I'm PROUD OF THAT?

Of course, when Beatrice Lillian Hurley-Burleson went to school the next day, that was the last time anyone thought that the Burleson girls wanted to study domestic science.

When in 1943 my parents attempted to buy th e 2 flat at 5338 South Kenwood, where we had lived since 1933, in Hyde Park, Chicago , IL we were told that we could not buy it because there was a restrictive covenant that said that the property was never to be sold to 'Negroes.'

Do you think I am PROUD OF THAT?

In 1950 when I graduated from college, I was unable to get a job because I was considered 'overqualified'....the code word for they would not hire me because of my race. All of the want-ads called for Japanese Americans or Neisis (the word given to Japanese Americans at that time).

Do you think that was something that I should have been PROUD OF?

I understood that America was trying to make up for the interring of innocent and patriotic Americans who were our enemy by association.

My cousin's barbershop was bombed in Mississip pi in the 50's because he was encouraging Black people to register to vote. His wife who had earned a Masters Degree from Northwestern University lost her position as the principal of the local school because of the voter registration activities.

Is that something I should be PROUD OF?

Now we get to Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the pastor of the Obama family. Rev. Wright like so many religious zealots overstates many things, that many of his members do not agree with. To suggest that Senator Obama should leave the church of his choice is not only a double standard, but it is absurd.

Would any of the talking heads who are so alarmed by Rev. Wright's thoughts and speeches suggest that Catholics should abandon their faith or denounce and reject the Pope because so many priests have molested children. These children were exploited and taken advantage of and they had no choice to even know they could resist, reject and denounce. To me the situations are parallel, except for the fact that the priest's behavior is a physical violation of the innocence of children who are marred for life; and the priest's behavior is a crime.

Rev. Wright's speeches are just words, that one can listen to or not, the members have a choice. Should Governor Romney denounce and reject the Mormon Church because some of their members practice polygamy?

As Senator Obama has previously stated, we have entered the silly season.

Barack Obama is an adult, and most importantly, he is an exceptionally intelligent adult. Like most of us adults, fortunately, we do not accept all we hear or see. If we did, th e world would be more amoral, debased and perverted than the world of today is. I see all these 'so called' pondering's as an attempt to marginalize the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama. I cannot truly call this racism because some ignorant Blacks have also spoken disparagingly about him. I accept this as the darker side of mankind who because of their own inadequacies, they project their deficiencies on others.

Barack Obama is a very rare individual, the likes of whom the world seldom sees. Like most geniuses, they are often misunderstood. They are objects of envy and jealousy. They are suspect because they soar above the average man who does not have the intellectual ability to understand the greatness of special people. They are also targets to be pulled down to the level of the mediocre who cannot stand to see an individual with deep convictions and high standards.

We have not seen a phenomena like Barack Obama in many years and many generations. Like Ghandi, like Jesus, like Einstein, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., like Mother Theresa, genetically, intellectually and spiritually, these people offer the world so much, but they are often maligned and misunderstood. Barack Obama is a Christian in the true sense of the word. A true Christian loves his fellow man unconditionally. A true Christian wants the best and tries to bring out the best in his fellow man. A true Christian wants to unite and bring the world together in peace and harmony. This is what Senator Obama stands for; but, unfortunately, he has had to get off point to answer these false charges, innuendoes, and just plain lies.

We are in the presence of an angel unaware in Senator Barack Obama, and this country needs him, more than he needs us. He is the only person at this time in history who can restore respect for America with the world's people. Because of his family background, the influence of his beloved mother who
instilled great values in him, the influence of his absent father who vicariously inspired a son to go to Harvard as the father had done, the influence of a minister who brought him to an understanding of the value and meaning of Christianity, the influence of a brilliant Harvard educated wife who inspires him and keeps him grounded; he is the epitome of a citizen of the world. He is of the world because the world is in him; and this is what America needs to bring us out of the abyss to which we have sunk in the eyes of the world.

Like, Michelle Obama, after living in this country all of my 78 years, loving my country and not understanding why my country has not loved me, I now for the first time in my adult life feel PROUD OF MY COUNTRY because I sense a maturing, a recognition of talent and character, and not color,
and a field of candidates aspiring to lead this nation coming from very diverse backgrounds of gender, religious beliefs, national origin, ethnicity, age and experiences. This to me is the HOPE that America is coming into her own and will begin to CHANGE and will embrace the philosophy upon which this
country was founded, where all men are created equal and are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Now I truly believe, YES WE Can!


Ethel A. Stanley-Sanders

John. Im glad you have empathy for people who were not given their due until long after the legislation had passed, but to presume that M. Obama share the same experience, and therefore should be vindicated is debatable to say the least. Blacks complain more than any other minority and they arent the only ones who suffered a variety of crimes and indignities. Women werent allowed to vote for a long time. irish people and Jews have been through the ringer. M. Obama is entitled to her opinion, but it was a stupid thing to say. Just like what J. Jackson said something stupid about Obama.

Im not voting for the other guy, because Obamas wife said something stupid. There are lots of reasons. Statements like those tell us about their state of mind. I would flip a coin between McCain and repealing the 22nd amendment and bringing back Clinton. At least I would have the congress back in a couple years. Its not a good choice. Anyone who thinks Obama will actually run the white house ( try congress) and will live to the end of his term is dreaming. Some idiot wants a race war, count on it. It wouldnt matter if it was Jc Watts or Colen Powell. If a black republican cant be elected (reference Clarence Thomas lynch mob) i dont think the country is ready. This isnt a referendum on a color blind society. Its a presidental race. We dont owe any race or religion a quota seat in the white house. I also dont want to see a NRA 5-4 turn into a 3-6 reversal when a liberal appoints two more gun haters to the bench.

WOW! Speaks for itself.

Absolutely Amazing!

Is that rainbow sticker big enough for you to wrap yourself in John?

in 1962 I entered the Air Force and remained there until 1969. Now these were the years SUPPOSEDLY when Blacks were climbing out of the muck.

My first experience with a Black person was my Black roommate. He could not figure out why I could tolerate other Blacks and he could not. He referred to them in constant barrages of derogatory terms I suppose because he considered himself well educated and very athletic.

Throughout my career I had numerous encounters with great Black NCOs, Black Officers and Black co workers and subordinates, as well as Whites. Amazingly, according to people like Michelle, these Blacks got promoted, demoted, decorated and courtmartialed just like the Whites did. No it wasn't amazing, it was plain old reward for work done. Good god, I even knew some Whites and Blacks who were dealt awful hands, often thru no fault of their own or simply because they lacked the intelligence to do any better. I never heard any of them blame their fate on the USA! They stood tall and saluted the flag in the morning and evening just like everyone else!

I'm tired of the whining! And I'm tired of excuses for pieces of crap like the Rev. White. I'm Catholic and I never once defended the abusive priests. They don't speak for me or anyone I know. I put them in the same class as Wright.

Obama may be charismatic, intelligent, and cool. But Ghandi, Jesus Christ!

Give me a break!

Informed and balanced.

Why does anyone respond to anything that JLH writes. He comes on to stir the pot and never makes a point. He just preaches his idiosy and leaves for the rest of us to straighten out. Comparing M obama and this day and age with the experiences of an eighty year old african american that really went through it is a joke just like all his arguements are. Go be an apologist for yourself as the rest of us have nothing to apologize for. Nice use of avitars though.

This day and age? 78 is the age of a lot of grandparents of all races.

More idiosy. Read JLH read...I said comparing M obamas life and what she grew up with in an attempt to be apologist for her comments and what happened 80 years ago in the south is like comparing hurricane floyd with last nights sprinkling. This country had some problems in the past and still does but trying to say make it sound OK for her not to be proud of her country after all she has been given is ridiculus.
Similar in an attempt to apologize for BO taking his kids to listen to a racist for twenty years. We all know he did it to get the votes and it worked......Do I think he believes what Wright does, NO. But he let his kids listen to it. Anyway you shake it and however you attempt to make it OK and no big deal, it was a dumb dumb decision. Then again, maybe not because he would not be where he is today without those votes in the first place.....but to take one quote from that book you hate so much, you reap what you soe.

Oh Really?

Reading love poems <>
I have come to realize
I dont know a thing about love
In my heart
I feel this longing
To have a boy I like
But is this love
Are what we thinking
Really love?
Could it just be something else?
I wish I knew
I want to understand
I want to be loved
To have someone hold my hand
Its not just about kissing
Though that is nice
Not just about not wanting to be alone
Though it is like being on ice
But is what I'm feeling love?
Can any of you really know?
Is the fluttering in my stomach
A sign of forever
Is the blush on my cheeks
A token of my heart
Are the scrambled words I say
Really poems
I am so confused
So much so I told him the truth
He didnt reply
So I'm trying to fall for another guy
But why wont it work
Why dont I feel the same
I wonder to myself
If I will ever truely love
For how am I to know
If anyone was sent from God above <>
I started this poem
To say there is no love
But look at me now
.... I dont know for sure
how can anyone know for sure
Like always
I'll just try to forget
But what is funny
Is that I'm a git
I have writing poems about him
For who knows how long
And I always just back away
Never trying to see if he feels the same
I do wish him happyness
Though he is a dwit
He will just be heart broken
Over her
He'll come to me for support
If I havent moved first
oh yeah did I mention
I'm moving to a state over
My friend who i so deeply care
Will be a thousand miles away
I will never laugh with him again
As the crow crys "Never More"
I will love another
When I dont know
I really need to get over him
Hmmmm
I wonder if he has a brother >_<
But seriously
I'v written to much
Have you seen normal love poems
They are like five sentances
I guess I ramble
On things I have no knowledge
But I now know
what my plight is
He'll my friend
Nothing more
Happy we'll be
I guess Forever More
Tottells
Rate if you liked
Isnt this great
I can try to get vote through writing
Ok no more funny business
This is really to long
I just hope you liked it
Well
So Long

TTT

This is a bit interesting to say the least. I have hard time follwing all of this stuff because it seems people talk in circles despite themselves. I think that a huge problem we face right now is that there is too much emotion involved in the running of this country. I know, our country is somewhat based on compassion. But right now what we need is someone to come in with the fact in mind that our country needs to be ruled with a hard fist. There has been far too much compassion afforded to the wrong people at the wrong time and that has been much to the detriment of our country. We need to worry about now. We need to worry about the problems we have facing us today. Like the fact that our country has one foot in the door of depression looking from the room of recession.

Too much is focused on the matters of race and gender. That is old business and should be on a back burner to the fact that we are destroying our infra structure from the inside out. We need a serious redirection on the path we are on. And I don't think that is going to happen by voting someone in because they are female, or black, or anything else for that matter. It would be nice to see a run for the presidency that was completely on paper. No pictures, no faces, no voices. Just paper. I would be curious to see what would happen then. Politicians need to focus on what they were hired for and not showing their faces in as many places as possible to gain notoriety and support. Who the hell is supposed to do their job if they spend two years of their term in seat campaigning to get the seat again? Basically we are paying these people 200,000 dollars a year to work half the time they were hired for. If you or I did that we would surely get fired.

Really? Does $395 million in Box office revenue for the Dark Knight sound like one foot in the door of depression. (in 3 weeks)?

Or a trip to Costco?

Mf

I was just talking about that exact thing to someone about three days ago. I was noticing how it seems like any time we are in a recession of some sort the movies start to have kickazz numbers. I figured that had something to do with the fact that less people can afford to throw away money on weekends at the lake in the $50,000 boat with the tow tower for the wake board and the $300 in gas it is going to take run it all day. While a night at the movies for the whole family might cost a whopping $75. And everyone has a movie theater of some sort close to them. Way easier.

Our country is so grossly dependent on imports its is going to be impossible for us to continue to sustain a stable economy. Growing one is not goig to be possible with the import to export ratio that we have right now. I cant recall the exact numbers, but we are talking about something to the tune of 3 to 1 ratio. Three being the imports and 1 the exports. Now if you look at your bank account and right checks for $1500 every month and only $500 going in, it doesn't take a scientist to run the numbers to tell you that you are going in debt and soon are going to have to change something to get out. Otherwise you are going to lose everything you have.

I agree that our country needs to get back to ruling with an iron fist.

The difference, however, is that we, the people, need to start ruling our "leaders" with an iron fist...their fear mongering, self-aggrandizement, and selling off of our national treasures to the highest bidders needs to stop, and now.

It's time for the people to stop the elitists who have been running the show from making billions on our backs, our soldiers, and our natural resources...

Fish on...

Todd

Todd how come you don't run for office?

Mf

We gotta take the power back! You hit the nail on the head Todd. We seem to have forgotten the most basic of fundamentals which we formed our government on. For the people buy the people.

+1

+1

". . . buy the people."

Yup, cheaper by the millions, economy of scale and so forth.

Sorry Pug, couldn't resist.

Sg

No better time than now.

Revolution
Writer, lead vocal: John Lennon


You say you want a revolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

You say you got a real solution
Well you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

You say you'll change the constitution
Well you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well you know
You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

Sg,

You are a fountain of fecetiousness aren't you? That was a good one though. I'll give you that.

When you want a chief executive for any corporation or organization an extensive search and process is conducted to find the right person. If the person doesn't get the job done by getting things turned around he/she gets fired.

When you want a chief executive of the most powerful country in the world you wait for some rich person to step forward, run 10 second sound bites on TV, make speeches promising all kinds of shiat that panders to the target audiance and when you get in and don't get it done then just repeat the process and get back in again or lose and the other liar gets in.

Something is seriously wrong with this.

Awhile back I saw some comments about a subject and the buzz words used by the media and politicians. If it wasnt for focus groups and pollsters, many of these empty suits, on both sides would not have a clue what is important to you. Politicians are given the EXACT words to say to you in the sound bite. 700 billion going overseas to people who dont like us?
Canada is our number one supplier of oil. Mexico isnt doing us any favors and everybody wants to drown the commie in Venezuela.

Thats why they have two polls. Voters and Likely voters.