Very useful! That’s what I’m talking about. Quite important stuff they’re doing. Life-changing ideas, indeed, sure to advance colored people. Keep up the good work. 
Update (7/15): BHO tells black parents they need to turn off the idiot box. Dream on. Ain’t gonna happen. He adds:
“I know some say I’ve been too tough on folks about this responsibility stuff. But I’m not going to stop talking about it. Because I believe that in the end, it doesn’t matter how much money we invest in our communities, or how many 10-point plans we propose, or how many government programs we launch—none of it will make any difference if we don’t seize more responsibility in our own lives.”
I say the same thing and get called a “self-hater.” Perhaps BHO will have better luck. After all, he is their Messiah!
Then again, people like blaming others and pointing fingers away from self. Raising standards for yourself is too hard, too much work. As far as they’re concerned, “racism” is the sickness, and more government programs, with a heaping helping of misplaced guilt, are the cures. I could go on and on in this vein, but I’d only be repeating myself. I’ve been saying this for four years. It’s boring now. Check out the archives if you want to read more.
Related post:
The NAACP used to have a valuable purpose, but now, it seems to be a viper-filled vessel of vanity and vitriol. Hopefully, the Confederate flag problem is near the bottom of their very long list of really pressing issues.
Comment by heliotrope — 07.14.08 @ 4:06 pm
LaShawn,
Here’s a great article by an extremely bright young man that is one of many that sheds light on the flaws of the present iteration of the NAACP, and does so without being trashy, as some are prone to do.
It may be a tad dated, but poignant nonetheless.
http://www.nationalcenter.org/P21NVShabazzNAACP704.html
Maybe you’ve heard of him?
Comment by THEBIGDODDY — 07.14.08 @ 4:36 pm
The many misconceptions the NAACP seems to have about the Confederate *battle* flag aside, don’t they have better things to do lately?
Comment by Ryan — 07.14.08 @ 5:19 pm
Bread and circuses.
Comment by Mwalimu Daudi — 07.14.08 @ 6:36 pm
Well, I suppose it is slightly more useful and relevant than complaining about describing a county office as a “black hole” or the name of different cakes. But just barely.
Comment by MikeM — 07.14.08 @ 7:31 pm
So the stars and bars is a bigger issue than the 70% out of wedlock birth rate, black on black violence and all the other ills the inner cities face?
Ummmmm if you say so…
Does that mean I shouldn’t be excited to teach at an inner city charter school?
Comment by vegas art guy — 07.14.08 @ 11:45 pm
I’m usually on the other side of the fence on these issues, and the NAACP definitely has more important things to be involved in, but I must admit, I can’t stand the sight of the Confederate Flag.
As a black man growing up as a kid in the 70’s, along with the “white hood” it is THE “visual brain stamp” of racism in America. I know this is America and people have the right to fly that thing on their private property if they desire, but I can’t agree with it being flown on government property in ANY state.
Those people who feel it is a part of “southern pride” need to find something else to be proud of. They are, in my opinion, being either completely insensitive, or lying about what that flag REALLY means to them. There’s one all inclusive red, white and blue flag. Fly that one and be done.
Comment by David — 07.15.08 @ 9:54 am
Black folks act like Obama is saying something new…Responsibility.I remember Bill Cosby saying the same thing couple years ago and many black folks tried to jump all over him…James David Manning(Atlah) has also been “preaching” the same message,eventhough he is more radical and sometimes a lil off his rocker.Obama supporting all these government programs contradicts his idea of responsibility..because the government acts like Americans,especially “minorities” are unable to care for themselves.The whole flag issue is mind blogging,wasting time on insignificant crap.
P.S.- Your picture made our page because my partner asked for inspirational women.Any woman who is honest,classy,and upholds God’s word deserves to be up there.
Comment by Erin Giddens — 07.15.08 @ 10:59 am
David,
I am more than happy to respect your feelings, since I wouldn’t do anything with malice or offensive intent, but understanding goes both ways.
As a Southerner, I see flying the Confederate flag as akin to flying an American flag with a circular pattern of stars. I don’t care for “inclusion”, nor do I think an entire sense of identity - since there are strong ties to family and heritage down here - can be tossed out the window just like that.
Sure, the issue has become confused by legitimate racists that sport the Confederate battle flag on their white robes, conflating pride in familial heritage and pride in racial heritage.
What hasn’t.
But, your looking at everyone who disagrees with you on this issue as though they are either covert racists (as I gather from the statement where you say people “lie about what the flag really means”) or complete and total jackasses doesn’t help. It’ll only divert your attention from real instances of racism that should be called out and condemned.
Comment by Ryan — 07.15.08 @ 1:34 pm
Nothing More Pressing?…
Oh, like say the drop out rate? The high birth rate to unmarried teens? Black on black crime?…
Trackback by An Ol' Broad's Ramblings — 07.15.08 @ 1:44 pm
As a southerner, I do not know what the Confederate battle flag flying in a front yard is supposed to mean. But as I pass by one, I notice it and I wonder what the message is. Usually, I find that the same residence is not also flying “Old Glory.”
Furthermore, I seldom notice anyone flying a lone state flag.
Now, I realize that people in the family may have died fighting for the Confederate States. But what is so important in the family history that people still feel a compulsion to connect with the “lost cause”?
Perhaps there should be a specific symbol that denotes a person who is related by blood to someone who was a slave. Then, those who want to memorialize that chapter in our history could fly their unique flag. And some could ride down the road and look at the slave flag and wonder what that is all about.
I fully support your right to fly the stars and bars. I think the NAACP is idiotic to go after it. What I don’t agree with that it is a benign symbol and people should just see it a meaningless decoration. Conversely, if I were to pass by the “slavery” flag I have posited, I would wonder why they “can’t get over it.”
Comment by heliotrope — 07.15.08 @ 2:17 pm
Sounds like it falls well within the category of speech I will protect, but don’t agree with.
And while I think it’s inclusion as part of a state flag should be, like anything else, up to the constituents of the state to decide through the democratic system, I don’t think it’s appropriate for the Stars & Bars to fly by its lonesome on government property.
Comment by Gabe — 07.15.08 @ 2:53 pm
Ryan,
I’m no bleeding heart, but there are certain areas of which we all have some sensitivity. As much as I may be conservative in most of my social and political views (this comes from my faith in Christ and not some allegiance to the right wing portion of what I feel is our corrupted political system) there are times when things are just “freakin personal” for lack of a better term.
I’m not looking to debate the issue, for in these times, with the real problems we all face, it really is an inane topic. I also understand that some may have an affinty for it for various reasons.
To me it’s one of those issues that will forever be in debate because of the impossibility for people to ever really “walk in the shoes” of others. It’s kind of like the N-word debate. As a white man you will never understand the emotions that may arise in someone upon seeing that flag, or by hearing that word.
As I cannot phatom how this flag, regardless of the personal sentimental attachement some may have, can be seen as so important that it must be displayed in arenas that are shared with a large portion of this countries population that sees it as a “scourge” on the history of this country. Like I said previously, private property yes, government property no.
We’ll have to agree to disagree I guess. By the way, I don’t see the problem with me referring to the American Flag as “inclusive”, nor do I see why you would have a problem being included. I guess you could always secede. j/k
Comment by David — 07.15.08 @ 2:56 pm
All,
Excuse my spelling of fathom above. Brain freeze. : )
Comment by David — 07.15.08 @ 3:00 pm
Heliotrope: Furthermore, I seldom notice anyone flying a lone state flag.
You don’t get to Texas much, do you? My sister & my mom live there, and I see at least as many Texas flags as American flags when I go to visit, and many of the Texas flags are flown alone.
Some people need an identity, and they seek a reminder of a time that they or their people were at their finest. For Southerners, perhaps the Stars & Stripes are a constant reminder that they’re losers, and the Confederate flag brings them back to the glory days of defiant independence. (I say this as a non-Southerner.)
And now that I say this about the flag, perhaps that’s why Obama strikes such a chord for blacks. He’s black America’s finest moment, and they want to cling to that glory. (I say this as a non-black.)
Just a thought or two…
Comment by SkyePuppy — 07.15.08 @ 3:09 pm
I don’t hate on any one’s solemn reverence of anything, so if people want to fly a Confederate Flag, then that’s their business, as long as they don’t bother me in word or deed, because they will be emotionally and physically dismantled without pause.
Here is a statement from
http://www.usflag.org/history/confederatestarsandbars.html
“Note: It is necessary to disclaim any connection of these flags to neo-nazis, red-necks, skin-heads and the like. These groups have adopted this flag and desecrated it by their acts. They have no right to use this flag - it is a flag of honor, designed by the confederacy as a banner representing state’s rights and still revered by the South. In fact, under attack, it still flies over the South Carolina capitol building. The South denies any relation to these hate groups and denies them the right to use the flags of the confederacy for any purpose. The crimes committed by these groups under the stolen banner of the conderacy only exacerbate the lies which link the seccesion to slavery interests when, from a Southerner’s view, the cause was state’s rights.”
If this confession were mere uniformly held and CONFESSED, then so much of the rancor regarding this matter would be mitigated.
Comment by THEBIGDODDY — 07.15.08 @ 3:10 pm
THEBIGDODDY
“because they will be emotionally and physically dismantled without pause”
Yeah, sporting that flag here in my area in NY could cause grievous injury.
Comment by David — 07.15.08 @ 3:49 pm
David,
Really? They get like that over a Flag? Well hopefully they don’t just bum-rush people.
What I meant was that people just enjoy what they enjoy and don’t cross my personal boundaries. That’s generally when it’s on.
In Cincinnati people are generally content with it displayed on their porches and such. I rarely see it displayed on someone’s person, which is rather surprising since Cincinnati is considered by many to be the “gateway” to the South; in a positive AND pejorative sense.
Comment by THEBIGDODDY — 07.15.08 @ 4:08 pm
SkyePuppy, Right you are! Aside from stops at airports and runs to universities, I have not been free to roam in Texas for at least 25 years.
I can well image the Texas flag flying in yards. After all, the United States attached itself to Texas and we are all glad to be associated with it. (Except those with Bush derangement syndrome, of course.)
Comment by heliotrope — 07.16.08 @ 12:08 am
On Flags and Skin…
The flying of the Confederate flag has two meanings, according to the media. To blacks in America, the flag is racist. …
Trackback by Skye Puppy — 07.16.08 @ 7:01 am
THEBIGDODDY
“Really? They get like that over a Flag? Well hopefully they don’t just bum-rush people.”
Not me, and maybe not most, but I’m in the Bronx. There are a lot of things people from other places need to learn not to here that they may do at home.
Comment by David — 07.16.08 @ 9:50 am
I gotcha David.
Certainly people need to be more conscious of their presentation wherever they go.
As I have a home-girl from the Bronx, she does attest to folks not being too friendly about the matter of which you speak.
But it should be noted that these people may not likely be giving solemn reverence to that era. They are likely wannabee white patriots who know not what they do. They are not really worth anyone’s time.
It’s more complicated than flying flags and such.
Comment by THEBIGDODDY — 07.16.08 @ 10:15 am
But apparently the NAACP has more important things to do than oppose the racist genocide of abortion.
Trackback by jillstanek.com — 07.17.08 @ 2:31 pm