The Political Point

Today, I read a blog that really made me think. About what? The "Us" vs. "Them" underlying mentality that is taking place on the political battlefronts currently being fought for the Democratic Party Nomination and possibly for the seat of what is easily classified by many as the most powerful office in the world.

Here is the link to the blog in which I am referencing and on which the foundational principles of what I have to say were launched from:

http://butforrealthough.blogspot.com/2008/01/clintons-bill-loses-his-ghetto-pass.html

(KUDOS to the Author of this blog for being bold enough to say some things that definately needed to be said!)

There is DEFINATELY a perception looming around that Obama automatically has the black vote simply because he is black. NOW, before I get off into my main points, do I believe that there are those out there who could care less what the issues are and have thrown their vote at Obama because they are black and so is he? YES, I do. BUT...I also believe that there are those out there who will vote against him (black AND white (and everything in between)) for that very same reason. It would be foolish to think otherwise.

Why would it be foolish? Because, let's just face it....regardless of the fact that this is 2008 or that there no longer abides the LEGAL issues of the institution of slavery, RACE is still a very big and very REAL issue with the people of this country. There, I said it.

When we look at the two candidates fighting for the democratic nomination the first two things we see are: 1) Man vs. Woman and 2) Black vs. White, and not necessarily in that order. It is my opinion that if people would stop being in such denial about the issue of race, it would cease to be an issue.

In watching the political warfare that is going on and in many conversations that I have both been a partaker and an observer of, I have heard the opinions and reasonings of many people for the direction in which their political loyalty and support have been sworn. Some, very intelligent and some...well, let's just say, make no sense to me at all. During the course of this race there have been statements and insinuations that there are places that Hillary can not win because the voting majority are black and that those places have a history of strongly supporting the black candidate, which has to automatically mean that the same will be done in this elective process.

Statements of this magnitude really upset me, why? Simple....the statement simply implies that I do not have the capacity to watch the candidate, learn of the issues and their stand on them, go to their political websites and request a written copy of their political plan should they be awarded the office of Commander in Chief, and make a choice as to whom I believe to be the better candidate for me based on my learning and understanding of that candidate on the political level and compare their beliefs and plans to my beliefs and desires, AND THEN, choose to whom the power of my vote will be given! And if it doesn't upset you, it should. As I previously stated, yes...there are those who see "The Black Candidate" or "The White Candidate", or "The Female Candidate" and in that basis immediately "cast" their vote. Do I agree with that...NO! I think it is one of the most foolish things in the world to do, BUT, I have no control over that. HOWEVER, does the fact that there are people taking that path mean that those people are incapable of making a choice on a more substantial foundation? OF COURSE NOT! And THAT is one of the points which bothers me. PLEASE don't misunderstand me to be saying that this is a reasonable path of logic...IT ISN'T! Casting a vote in any election should be rooted and grounded in some reasonable rationale! You should know something about the person for whom you are voting. You should have an idea as to what it is that they plan on doing should they be voted into that office and how their plans will effect your life and the issues that you care about, AT THE VERY LEAST!

So now, I have to look at the otherside of this issue, which is...Have we as a people become so indifferent to and jaded by the effectiveness (or lact therein) of politics that it is more important to vote for a black candidate over the BEST candidate? NOW BEFORE YOU GO AND GET INTO A TYRANNICAL TEMPER TANTRUM, I am NOT saying that Obama is not the best....I am simply forging a point here....and that point is this...We MUST be sure that we are doing the research that should be done when it comes to something as important as an election.

So again I go back to my question...have we become so indifferent....have we sent out the ideology that we we are so shallow as to only vote for someone because we are of the same race as we?

It is certainly something else in which we should be investing some serious thought.

What reasons are the right reasons to back ANY candidate?

I can't say what is right...but I CAN and WILL say that it should certainly be MUCH more than the fact that they are members of the same race as you!

(FYI, I DO support Obama...but his race has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with it b/c I started out a Clinton backer!)

SO WHAT WILL YOU DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOTE IS GIVEN, BECAUSE IT IS DESERVED AND BASED ON MERIT...NOT RACE????

Alpha Kappa Alpha: 100 years later, 100 years from here?

******This blog is a result of much thought and MANY conversations with my Sorors, Collegues, and Friends.******

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc was founded 100 years, one month, two weeks and six days ago. In that time 200,000 women have joined her ranks and left their marks in the sands of time. Women like Soror Rosa Parks, Soror Coretta Scott King, Soror Donda West, Soror Maya Angelou, Soror Mae Jemison, Soror Eleanor Roosevelt, Soror Marva Collins, Soror Leah Tutu, Soror Catherine Hughes and of course, our Guiding Light, Soror Ethel Hedgeman Lyle.

We are a rich sisterhood of women who have made impact all over the globe since our birth on the human condition. But what about now? Are we still the organization that sets the standard, or have we been reduced to following it? Are we still the sisterhood that consistantly draws the best, brightest and most influential women in the world, or have we been reduced to an organization reduced to just being "pretty girls" with arrogant demeanors and snobbish attitudes? Are we still the community known to lift our sisters up and strengthen one another via our compassion and determination to make a difference no matter what it is, or are we now reduced to being the club of women who lack dedication, pride and the compassion to be sisters who are of Service to ALL mankind, but only a chosen few?

In my opinion, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc is one of the finest organizations to ever grace this planet. The potentiality to influence change and to mold women of standard who will continue to grace our history book in the next 100 years is exponential......should we take the chance to do the work, NOW! What work you ask.....well....the work which is usually the hardest to do; that which requires us to look long, hard and DEEP within OURSELVES and make an OPEN and HONEST inventory or what is there (and what isn't), evaluate the truths of what we find, make a plan to positively effect those truths and most importantly, PUT THEM INTO ACTION!

Now the all important question....What ARE those truths. In all honesty, they are SELF evident, and they in some ways may even be a matter of opinion, but overall...are they really? When we take the time to remove ourselves and look with the eyes of those who have been the observers and mental historians of our journey and the changes that time has brought to it, we then and only then may have the chance to see what is really there. While there are those of us who are devoted to our Illustrious Sisterhood and to BEING the tools through which her purposes breathe, we have to look readily at the impact that WE are making vs the impact that those of us who are desirous of membership in her house because they want to be able to participate in a "party stroll" or send out a "Skee-Wee"; because they want to be able to wear a T-Shirt and a "line-jacket".

In the eye of the world...who is seen more? Well my sorors, I think that it is time to face the unfortunate truth, which is, that the "sorors" who perpetuate the stereotypes and who only particpate in our ranks to say that they belong, the ones who only participate in public events of notoriety, BUT not in community service projects, those who are quick to recommend their friends for membership, but NOT set the standard by being demonstrative of what an Alpha Kappa Alpha woman REALLY is; those who are QUICK to complain, but have not paid dues since they were taken from the fees originally paid for membership; those who walk around looking pretty in OUR pink and gorgeous in OUR green. And now....during the course of the observation of our centennial year, we MUST do some inward reflection if we indeed desire that we live for yet another centennial.

Individually and collectively we must be willing and equipped with the tools needed to ask ourselves and one another the HARD questions and then deliver the honest and often HARD TRUTHS that need to go along with those answers. It is honestly time for our sisterhood and others like her to implement the attitude that we must do what is needed to ensure that our membership(s), our involvements, our projects, our attitudes and processes are about QUALITY rather than the wasted and underlying emptiness of quantity!

Do I have the answer, unfortunately....NO.....I don't; however, I am determined to be a contributor to the solution that needs to be effected in order for us to continue to grow in the cohesiveness that our founding mothers intended for us to exist in. I am of the very STRONG opinion that if we are unwilling to stand and fight for our membership body to be made up more of those who carry her purpose in her heart and mind and the dutty of fulfillment in the ACTIVE palms of her hands....through every fault built and bred in the course inaction, we slowly...but most CERTAINLY, surely dig the grave in which our beautiful sisterhood will be tossed aside, buried and forgotten.

It is time out for taking in members who are merely decorations, designers of great jackets and mere perfectionists at "Skee Wee-ing", It is time to become what we have always been meant to be....The SETTERS of the STANDARD!

So, my dear Sorors and candidates......what will it be?

~~~~~~~~~~~BEAUTIFUL AND INTELLIGENT~~~~~~~~~~~

COMING SOON TO A THOUGHT NEAR YOU

Marvelous Monday to each and every one of you!

In this space you will find topics on interest to me and to the following in whic I expect to develop. Here there will be an openness and honesty that is based on a combination of fact and personal opinion.

It is my hope that this blog comes to cause the evolution of one's thought process, notthrough any miracle of modern day medicine, buth through the simple dissemination of imformation and opinion that challenges the notion to simply "go with the flow."

I hardley expect every topic to be one that is of iterest to everyone, but they will be discussed none the less. Also be aware that all of the topics here will not be ones that are strictly come up with by me as I will open my blog to the suggestions of you, the reader. For it is my goal to provide informative and intelligent "conversation" that appeals to a variety of readers.

Some of the topics that will be up for discussion are as follows:

Greek Letter Organization
~various topics surrounding these entities and their impact or even lack there of in the
communities in which they exist.

Education
Politics
Religion
Parenting
Marriage
Dating
Divorce

And a multitude of others.

So, stay tuned ladies and gentlemen and prepare for education, enlightenment, discussion, debate and growth!


The AKA with a PhD