The Audacity of Hope

I am just fifty-one, so I haven’t experienced the kind of economic strife the likes of what we as a nation endured in the great depression of the nineteen thirties. However we are facing just such an ordeal after the lack of leadership on the domestic front of the past eight years.

So now what is there to do? How do we recover from this economic nightmare? President Obama has created a wave of hope and has inspired many to have hope in the future. We have witnessed the passing of the largest economic package in the history of the country in less than thirty days.

Of course it was passed basically down party lines. This doesn’t seem to lend itself to the kind of bipartisanship we so desperately need. The political pundits have had a field day with this fact. But polls show that the America people still have hope and confidence in the new administration.

But the president seems undeterred by the lack of support from across the aisle. The status quo in Washington wasn’t an over night development and change will take time. But the press conference I saw today was a real sign of encouragement. The president held a meeting with leaders from both parties and took question from them as well as sought input. The most dramatic moment in my opinion came at the beginning of the conference. The president called first on his opponent in the presidential election senator John McCain.

How audacious of him, to think that we could come together and work as one people to solve our problems. In every challenge we have faced, it has been a leader that saw the best in the American people. Yes hope is audacious by its very nature. Because hope flies in the face of convention and as Robert Kennedy said” some people see things and say why, I see things that never where and say why not.”

No More Excuses

I have been somewhat remiss in writing and for that I apologize. But I have had to deal with some personal issues, which have now been resolved.

So now I finally address the most historic event in the long history of the American presidency. The election of Barrack Obama as the first African American president does mark a pivotal point in the long struggle for equality in this country.

I think of all the images of the sixties when so many marched and suffered and in some cases died that this day might come true. It is amazing the overwhelming response the American public has had to the message of hope from president Obama.

He has struck a cord, touched a nerve with people of all races and economic backgrounds. In my life time I have never seen such hope and optimism from so many placed in a candidate for president. But president Obama does have a remarkable story.

It is that story I feel resonates with the American public. Barrack's story is the story of many American‘s who endure the hardship of a broken home. But with Obama’s ascension to the most powerful position on the planet, we must reexamine the traditional mindset.

I didn’t come to this revelation on my own, I must admit. I was out at a local mall when I heard a black woman tell her son “Obama was raised by a single mother, that’ no excuse.” That statement shot through me like a hot knife through butter. There has been this long held stigma placed on and believed by many that the child raised by a single mom was destine for a life of crime or serious under achievement.

But as that woman said we no longer have any excuses, a wonderful by-product of this historic event is the outlook for so many children has changed. I read somewhere that one little boy said that Michael Jordan was his hero, but now it’s Barrack Obama. As Timbuk3 said back in the eighties “the futures so bright we gotta wear shades.

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.