Glass Houses

We have seen in the last week or so, the onslaught of the McCain campaign trying to paint the Obama economic plan as a socialist proposal. They have been fixed on this premise of the redistribution of wealth. But what we have overlooked the fact that we have and have had since the introduction the federal income tax a system that is progressive in nature.

That is we who make more pay more that is also a biblical principle “those who have been given much, much is required”. The republican party has always been associated with those principles. But now we have John McCain and his surrogates calling Senator Obama a socialist. We have these ridiculous claims when McCain himself opposed the original Bush tax cuts for the wealthy.

I find this to be the ultimate in hypocrisy and just plain political pandering. I am a republican and have been registered as one since 1980. But this year I am seriously considering changing my party affiliation. There is no doubt that I have decided to vote for change and will cast my vote for senator Obama.

Because quite frankly, senator McCain’s behavior has been erratic and some what troubling first he selects Governor Palin as his running mate. I will not take anything away from her most impressive accomplishments. But the fact is as Colin Powell stated “she is not ready to be president”. Over the course of the past few weeks I think that we as Americans have come to realize that she is not ready for prime time.

She may have been able to motivate the base but we are in a national and potentially global crisis and her separatist rhetoric is not conducive to bringing this nation together. When she incites comments at her rallies of “terrorist” and “kill him”, there is something fundamentally wrong with her message. It is not one of healing and camaraderie, but one of us against them. The old divide and conquer strategy of the past. I can’t in light of the critical nature of the serious problems we face endorse these hate mongering tactics that have no place in the our 21st century political scene.

We have a golden opportunity to show the world something very special and concrete. America has arrived. We are living up to the full potential of our creed. We are turning a new page and living up to the dream that Dr. King spoke of so long ago. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." “ I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

I was too young to attend that day, but I have stood on that step in that place with my own children. This is not a race thing this is a human thing. We may disagree on the particulars but let us proceed in the remaining time with a campaigns based on the issues. Not focusing on the old tactics of dividing and conquering and of fear and hate. We face enough hate and mistrust from the rest of the world due to our failed policies of the last eight years.

I close with the immortal words of Dr. King:

“With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.

The Big Bail Out

Our nation is facing a financial crisis that has been years in the making, I recall a song by Gill Scott-heron which said that we that is, America is no longer a producer but we have become a consumer and when the producer changes the game the consumers must dance the dance.

We have allowed our leaders to convince us that as John McCain stated the fundamentals of our economy are sound. Even president Bush for the majority of this year has said that our economy is strong. So now we find the ultimate in flip-flopping and this whole issue has become front and center in the political arena. We are looking at the possibility of the tax payers once again bailing out the greedy institutions of Wall Street. Those who have created this mess are now going to be the recipients of what can be called corporate welfare.

But the irony is that the average American will not truly have a voice in this decision. Those who have been living their live and doing what they are required to do are now facing the real possibility of bearing a burden of $2300.00 per person. What will we, that is you and I really benefit from these actions.

Yes there are problems in the credit markets and business will suffer. But what does this really mean to the average Joe. Deregulation of the financial sector has led to some unscrupulous tactics that have lined the pockets of a few and put the masses in financial peril but our leaders solution is to bail them out and allow the golden parachutes to deploy.

While the average tax payer takes on even more debit that we had no input in creating. There is in my opinion something unamerican about this entire ordeal. Where is the assistance for those home owners who where lied to and put into untenable adjustable loans, where is the bail out for them?

Why are we still spending billions each month in a war when Iraq while is sitting on an oil surplus? Yes, I do agree in principal that we need to stabilize the financial markets. But we also need to look long term at solutions that will preclude a return of these same circumstances in the future.

The microwave mentality of fast and quick must be replaced by more reasonable long term strategies. This will require leadership willing to tell the truth and sacrifice on the part of the American people. There was a time when people really wanted the best for their children. When we looked to the future and weren’t so self absorbed.

The big bail out should become the big wake up call, and we need to let our leaders know no more quick fix. Tell us the truth and let’s deal with it and find some real solutions to the real problems. I once took a Christian leadership class and the instructor began the class with this simple yet profound statement “leader’s lead”. It is time for ours to do just that stop placating and lead.

The George Carlin I knew

There is something surreal and overwhelming sad about the death of George Carlin. In the early eighties I had the distinct pleasure of meeting George at a party. I was in the company of my friend Mike Coleman. Mike was my mentor in this new world of Los Angeles (after leaving the Marine Corps), and it didn’t hurt that he was also a very wealth mentor. Mike had introduced me to a number of celebrities Magic Johnson, Rick James, Jim Brown, Marvin Gaye (just before his death) and of course George Carlin.

As I said earlier I met George at a t party but he was nothing like I had imagined. When I saw him I told mike” that’s George Carlin.” Mike said would you like to meet him, of course I said yes. We went over and Mike introduced me. I being star struck opened with the obligatory, “it’s a pleasure to meet you, and I’m one of your biggest fans.

Again he was very demure and seemed even shy. But then he responded by saying what was your favorite album. I responded “class clown”. He paused for a moment and very slowly turned and looked at me and said “Wayne, how old are you?” I said twenty-nine. He then looked directly in my eyes and “I’m forty-nine and I have bearded witness to the brain drain of America. How many books have you read in your life, Wayne? You are the next generation and your generation has fallen victim to the mushroom syndrome (kept in the dark and fed bullshit) do not let the mass media machine suck your brain out through the straw we call TV.

That is my memory of George Carlin a man who was concerned about the American intellect. George was a man who studied all aspect of the human condition and had real and deep concerns about the status of our future. He was a philosopher and a man that challenged us to think, to question.

Later in life as I became a parent and began to settle into the routine of life. I did find myself in odds with George on some issue. In particular God, but I never lost my appreciation for his honesty and his challenge to all of us to think and investigate the world we live in and our leaders and the media and their spin on the facts.

The world has truly lost a great free thinker and a very funny man. In irreverence to him, and I think he would appreciate this. GOD BLESS you George and I hope Sister Mary Teresa was waiting for you. May we never forget your plea to challenge us to think for ourselves?

Good Bye Tim

I have been remiss in my stewardship of this blog. But I have seen the political landscape turn into a quagmire of bitter partanship. Attack after, attack, personal in nature. We have once again falling into the same old game. But something has occurred that warrants a new post.

As I was doing my usual observations on Thursday June 12, 2008 a news bulletin came across the net. I was expecting something about the war or perhaps the price of oil. But when I began to read what the bulletin said. I cried, I cried uncontrollable. I cried with the same intensity that I did when I lost my father.

The news was, Tim Russert, a fixture in American homes on Sunday mornings and election nights since becoming moderator of "Meet the Press" nearly 17 years ago, died Friday after collapsing at the Washington bureau of NBC News. He was 58.

But you have to understand the broader context. When I began the Shemwell Report in 1991 I was green as green could be. I had absolutely no journalism experience and was flying blind. But I did have the presence of mind to realize that I needed some network mentors. I needed to know how to interview in a professional manner. I searched the the air ways and found two people that seemed to have mastered the art of the interview.

Ted Koppel, and Tim Russert were those two. What they had mastered was the art of listening a key component in the art fo the interview. As the years progressed I began to also see how Tim had an additional gift. Each Sunday on “Meet The Press” he engaged his guest but it was never a personal attack. He seemed to put himself in the palce of the average Joe. This I think was the greatest journalist gift of Tim.

I will miss him, but I will carry with me the lessons he vicariously imparted to me each Sunday through his dedication to give the American people the real deal. Thank you Tim, GO BILLS.

Wright or Wrong

I am an ordained Baptist minister and have led a congregation in the past; today I am the pastor and spiritual leader of “New Harvest Ministries.” Having been in this position for a number of years I understand the temptation of the pastor to put personal feelings into the message that is delivered on Sunday morning. It is a precarious position, particularly, in the African American community where injustice and prejudice is a constant companion.

I have listened to the sermons of Pastor Wright and I understand how the media and white America can take them totally as an assault on the sanctity of the constitution. But even more as rhetoric that may be construed as un-American. The First Amendment of our Constitution states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

As a pastor and a black man I can understand what Rev. Wright was attempting to impart into the political discourse. He could have been a lot more diplomatic and lot less inflammatory. He could have used more biblical references, yes. Jesus was a revolutionary he fought against the status quo. He was seen as one who was disruptive to the church and to society at large. Rev. Wright’s comments have caused a controversy in the media; but let’s be real, how have these comments impacted the message of unity and the politics of inclusion of Senator Obama? I am the spiritual leader of a small congregation and I understand that sometimes my words can have a significant effect on the lives of some members. But they have a God given right for free will and they exercise it on a daily basis, in congregations all over America.

The fact is that for the last two hundred years there was no question as to who would be President of the United States; A white MAN. Today we find ourselves in a historic position where the nominee will be either a black man or a woman. But we are being distracted by statements from surrogates of the candidates, other than the statements of the candidates themselves. I believe Rev. Wright was exercising his right as citizen of our nation expounding his Freedom of Speech. He can make statements that we disagree with; and I am sure that many in his church disagree with, however, loyalty in the black church goes beyond a few off centered comments by the pastor; believe me I have lived out this scenario.

We need to return the focuses to what the candidates are stating are their plans for the future of our nation.

Arrogance Personified

This political season had been historic from the democratic perspective. We will have history made know matter who wins. But I find recent development disturbing. I find the recent declarations from the Clinton campaign the epitome in arrogance.

Senator Clinton has from the beginning of this campaign projected of an air of inevitability, as if she was ordained by God to be the democratic nominee. She is behind in the number of states and in the popular vote to senator Obama. But she has the unmitigated gall to suggest that senator Obama would be an excellent vice president..

This is an insult not only to senator Obama, but the democratic process. The arrogance of Senator Clinton with the suggestion that senator Oama would make a good vice president, when she is mathematically unable to catch senator Obama according to the majority of experts. Is an insult to the millions of individuals who have voted for senator Obama. She validates this tactic by referring to her wins in so-called big states as if some states in this process mean more than anothers because of the number of delegates forgive my naivety, but I recall from civic class, the one with the most votes is the winner. .

Adios Fidel

I was born in 1957 and all my life there has been a communist threat from Fidel Castro. Now with out any fanfare he has resigned as the leader of Cuba. I recall being sent home from school during the missile crisis in October of 1962, when we were taught to stop drop and cover. When we found that our world was on the brink of nuclear annihilation.

This was the mantra of my youth. Personal bomb shelters where in vogue. We feared the great communist threat and the fact that they would one day attack and change our way of life. So, after the incident that almost brought us to the brink of nuclear war. The patriotic gene was ignited in me. I thought that Fidel was the devil incarnate.

But now we have a world were Fidel has resigned his reign over the lives of the people of Cuba. Perhaps Raoul is much like his brother. But I agree with what senator Obama said, he said “we should not fear to negotiate, but not negotiate out of fear.” Fidel outlasted 8 of our presidents and numerous covert attempts on his life. Now he is old and by all accounts feeble and not able to manage the affairs of his nation. We now have a golden opportunity to do something different. We can do something bold and unprecedented in the annals of American, Cuban relations, in our lifetime. We as the world’s super power can reach out and regain the position as the world’s leader on moral and human rights and offer an olive branch to the nation of Cuba.

Our image on the world stage has been so seriously damaged by the war in Iraq. And as result we are no longer looked upon as leaders in the world as it pertains to the issue of human rights. This is a direct result of how this war has been propagated. So we are in desperate need of a foreign policy coup and Cuba could be that victory. Will we allow the politics of the past to continue to define the foreign policy of the 21st century? Or will we take bold new steps to ensure the safety and economy of the future? The current political situation has this as one of its core issues, whether or not the candidate is qualified to take office on day one. Also who is best suited to address America’s stand on this new and dynamics world stage. One in which America may not have the same influence as it had in the last century. One in which the global economy makes it a necessity to deal rather than mandate.

Will we continue to be a nation that looks down on the rest of the world? Or will we become the nation that reaches out to the rest of the world?

What can we eat?

We are once again facing a major recall of food. This time the Westland/Hallmark Company of Chino, California has been sited for improper treatment of cattle at that plant. 173 million pounds of beef are question. What concerns me is that it took the Humane Society to make this discovery. When according an FDA spokesman, there are government inspectors on site.

So what where the inspectors doing when these violations occurred? Additionally why did it take over a month for the recall to be announced? This is the latest in a long line of recalls from spinach to peanut butter. If you check the FDA website you will see that there have been over thirty recalls issued this year alone.

If we don’t do a better job of protecting our food supply then we all might be at risk from some type of food borne epidemic. This epidemic could have devastating consequences on our population in general and our children in particular.

I have personally endured one major health scare with my daughter. She had to undergo a bone marrow transplant a few years ago. When we asked what caused her to develop aplastic anemia the doctors said the cause was idiopathic. In layman’s terms that means they had no idea what caused it. We also have an autistic son and the causes for autism are still unknown.

I can’t say conclusively that my children’s condition where caused by some type of contaminated food. But this can not be ruled out a cause either. We must protect the safety of citizens and restore confidence in our food supply before a national disaster of biblical proportion befalls our country.

America In Black and White

Well it has finally reared its ugly head we digress to America in black and white. It seems the historic democratic primary has digressed. We now find ourselves mired in a name calling race based circus. This process started with so much promise and potential to be a defining moment in American political history. But the democrats, in particular the Clinton’s and their surrogates are now playing the race card. CNN, MSNBC, FOX, ABC all the major news networks have run with the story. We now find ourselves mired in an emotional quagmire and the issue be dammed.

I find this whole situation deplorable. Why do we in 2008 find ourselves returning to the tactics of fear and segregation? When our backs are against the wall, play the race card. Play to the fears and the lowest common denominator the color of ones skin. But that is exactly what it is skin it covers all the essentials that all of share. We all have hearts, lungs Kidneys and the other essential items that make us human.

“If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that”

I implore the Clinton’s and their surrogates to abandon the politics of fear and division and take the high ground.

The Black Holocaust

As we go through this political season, I find it interesting that there has not been much of a discourse from the candidates on the epidemic of AIDS in the black community. In particular the rate of AIDS in black women is growing at an alarming rate. I understand that personal responsibility plays a significant role in steming the tide; however, our leaders should lead and have some type of plan to address this growing issue.

Without question, there is a higher percentage of HIV and AIDS in the black female population in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year looked at data from 1999 to 2002 reported by 29 states that track HIV infections. The data is somewhat skewed because several states that have serious AIDS problems—including California, New York, and Illinois—did not at that time tally HIV infections. The study found that black women accounted for nearly 72 percent of the female cases, whites made up 18 percent and Hispanics 8.5 percent. Given that only 13 percent of Americans are black, you don't need a statistician to see the scale of the problem. (Encouragingly, the number of new HIV cases reported in women, regardless of race, did not increase during the four years of the study.)

So in this season when the front runners are claiming to be agents of change. Will they change this Nation’s current indifference to the plight of the black community and the growing pandemic of AIDS?

The Dream

I have a dream; these are the immortal words of Dr. Martin Luther King and on this day when we celebrate his life. This my friends is an exciting time to be a live. We are witness to the fruition of the dream. Senator’s Obama and Clinton are causing a revival of sorts in the electorate. I must add that in my life time, when I first voted for Jimmy Carter. I have never been so excited about our political process.

Yes, America for the first time in this nations long political history we have a black man and a white woman who are viable candidates for the highest office in the land. But of course we now see race rearing its ugly head and I pray, this tactic will be short lived by all involved. I am not going to place blame. But I will say this to the Democratic Party. You have an opportunity to fulfill the dream that Dr. King eluded to back in 1963. Don’t allow that racial divide to destroy this amazing moment in history.

I remember back in 1966 when Dr, King came to Louisville, to Quinn Chapel and my father took me to see Dr. King. I would be lying if I said I remember what he said because I was only nine years old. The most memorable moment to me was when my father put me on his shoulders so I could see Dr. King. He did however make an indelible impression on my life in that is a father son moment I will never forget.

But that moment stayed with me and has shaped my life and my views of the world. Before he passed my father imparted this prophetic statement to me “in your life time there will be a black president.” I don’t know if senator Obama is the one, but he is showing us that the dream is at hand. That Dr. King’s dream of a man being judged by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin is closer than we thought.

Happy Birthday Dr. King and thank you for your DREAM.

The Plight of Black Men

Louisville, KY – The plight of black men in the United States is far more dire than is portrayed by common employment and education statistics, new scholarly studies warn, and it has worsened in recent years even as an economic boom and a welfare overhaul brought gains to black women and many other groups.
The studies, by experts at Columbia, Princeton, Harvard and other institutions, show that the huge pool of poorly educated black men is becoming ever more disconnected from mainstream society, and to a far greater degree than comparable white or Hispanic men. Especially in the country's inner cities, finishing high school is the exception, legal work is scarcer than ever and prison is almost routine, with incarceration rates climbing for blacks even as urban crime rates declined

Although the deep problems afflicting poor black men have been known for decades, the new data paint the most alarming picture yet of ravaged lives, the scholars say.
“There's something very different happening with young black men, and it's something we can no longer ignore,” said Ronald B. Mincy, a professor of social work at Columbia University and editor of “Black Males Left Behind.”

Many of the new studies go beyond the traditional approaches to looking at the issue. For example, official unemployment rates can be misleading because they do not include those not seeking work or incarcerated.
Terrible schools, absent parents, racism, the decline in blue-collar jobs and a subculture that glorifies swagger over work have all been cited as causes of the deepening ruin of black youths.
In response to the worsening situation for young black men, a growing number of programs are placing as much importance on teaching life skills – like parenting, conflict resolution and character building – as teaching job skills.

Among the findings:

The share of young black men without jobs has climbed relentlessly, with only a slight pause during the economic peak of the late 1990s. In 2000, 65 percent of black male high school dropouts in their 20s were jobless – that is, unable to find work, not seeking it or incarcerated. By 2004, the share had grown to 72 percent, compared with 34 percent of white dropouts and 19 percent of Hispanic dropouts.

Incarceration rates reached historic highs in the past few years. In 1995, 16 percent of black men in their 20s who did not attend college were in jail or prison; by 2004, 21 percent were incarcerated. By their mid-30s, six in 10 black men who have dropped out of school have done time.

In the inner cities, more than half of all black men do not finish high school.