The Pastor & The Politician: Which Will Prevail?
As the saga continues to unfold with the president endorsing same-sex marriage, the fall-out also continues to take place. While the NAACP decided to support President Obama’s endorsement, the National Coalition of Black Churches (http://www.naltblackchurch.com/), a 34,000 member organization, decides to withdraw their support from both.
Now, I’ve always said that the Republican Party is not the complete anti-thesis to that of the black community. In fact, in my 7th book “Rebuilding the Black Infrastructure: Making America a Colorless Nation”, I examined some of the causes that throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century Blacks overwhelming support the Democratic Party by default. It’s primarily economics. The Republican Party shares many of the same non-economic virtues as the black community: gun rights, anti-abortion ($50 million abortions since it’s become legal), heterosexual marriages. However, we agree with the Democratic Party’s economic policies: larger government, social programs, job bills, government-sponsored healthcare, increased taxes for the wealthy, etc. As we can see, the economic issues have historically and continually prevailed.
So now what will happen? The federal government has stayed out of many of the virtue issues, where most black voters mostly participate in national election cycles. In doing so, the Democratic Party has been able to dodge the “mass-exodus-of-black-voters” bullet. The federal government has separated church from state, continued to remove the word “God” from government buildings and abolished praying in schools. Yet, we didn’t intelligently create much of an outcry. None of those things the federal government intervened and changed were guaranteed to us or any other group in the Constitution or Bible.
But now… Our president has done something very interesting. He is the very first president to publicly announce his support for same-sex marriages. What will the black community do? I make it no secret. I am not in support of same-sex marriages but I am in support of same-sex unions. I think same sex couples should be granted all of the man-made privileges available to them but my support stops short of the God-made ones.
What has now become very interesting for me to observe is what direction the black community will massively go in. Will we go for the economics or for the virtues? I believe the man that controls your economic source controls you; why I strongly support black entrepreneurship, but hey, that’s another discussion. Why would our president make such a public announcement knowing the black vote will be divided? Why would he do so seeing that just over a year ago Bishop Eddie Long came crumbling down, not because of anything illegal, but because of his same-sex closet operations? The majority of Blacks don’t like it. Is the homosexual vote more powerful than the black vote? Are blacks overlooked because he knows we will be voting for him regardless or is it that homosexuals have much more economic power than the black community, which means they control him too? Entertainers, such as T.I. and Jay-Z, have come out in support of same-sex marriage despite their anti-gay lyrics in past. Is it because of the economics? Can Blacks still be bought in the 21st century? You ponder that…
Whatever the reason, our president has challenged us intently to decide what side of the coin we will support. He has forced us to consider how our spiritual position will translate into physical action. Republican candidate Mitt Romney, on the other hand, who is a Mormon, a religious sect that has been suspiciously racist against Blacks is strongly against same-sex marriage too. So what will we do? Is it even fair to use spirituality as a determinant to how we vote? After all, we are not voting for a pope, we are voting for a politician? Will we go with the presumptive racist politician or the God law changing one? Will we vote at all or will we pray about it or will we see our financial prayer requests being answered by voting Democrat?
I raised my voice, now you raise yours!
Devin Robinson is an author and business & economics professor. Learn more about him at www.devinrobinson.com.
Same-Sex Marriage… Do I agree with President Obama?
In the age of “inclusion” we have often found ourselves fearful of offending others not wanting to be labeled as bigots, prejudice or closed-minded. So those who have an opinion are silenced. They are silenced by the activists who are fighting for the underdog or minority even when their points might be valid. I haven’t ever been a person who was afraid to speak my mind as long as it is done respectfully.
The president recently came out with his support of same-sex marriage and created a lot of discussion. Some say his opinion was personal. C’mon though, if Robin Roberts referred to him as Barry, she would be seen as disrespectful. The president does not have the privilege of a personal opinion while addressing the public. His opinions are attached to his public servitude. Anyways, I digressed.
He is the most powerful person in the world. So who would disagree with the “king” of the land? So what we find in many cases is the king reigns while we hope his decisions are upright and of moral good. But what if the king is ill-informed? We hope he has good advisers and a good conscience but what if he doesn’t? I absolutely find President Obama to be a good person, from what I’ve observed, but that doesn’t mean we should arbitrarily agree with him on everything because he has made history, and continues to, for our community.
We will find people who once stood on the other side of his opinion moving over to his side because of the president’s influence. They are silenced by the benefits of being in his graces and being seen as an Obama supporter. If you disagree with someone’s position, it doesn’t mean you being unsupportive. I disagree with my parents at times, but I would still go to war for them.
So what’s my position on this? Sometimes I think we get distracted from the core issue. Where we went wrong is when the government got involved with the marriage institution and made it a universally applicable thing. Marriage was (and should be) a covenant between believers of God. That’s how it was originated right? Let me go further. Atheists and Agnostics are involved with steering the direction of marriage. In many cases, they are even citing “God loves everyone” (which is absolutely true) even when they don’t believe in God. I believe marriage is being hi-jacked by government (for political gain) and non-believers for tangible benefits. Remember, America was built on biblical principles and many of our early laws, rules, charters and constitution reflected such. When government decided to separate church from state, it also needed to understand that marriage needed to be separated from their reigns as well. But of course this didn’t happen because marriage is a money-maker for many counties and cities in the form of marriage licenses.
Government can be knee-jerk and often doesn’t think things out critically, or sometimes they do and just hope the voters won’t. When we don’t we wind up arguing the wrong points in a surface-manner not uprooting the true core as the bureaucrats laugh at our distracted vision. We want to be a people of benefits but not responsibility. If you don’t believe in God, if you want to separate church from state, then lobby for a similar but equal union-type but don’t call it marriage. If you want to call it married, then follow the rules of what marriage and what marriage was originated under. We removed God from the government buildings but allow judges to perform nuptials and divorces.
People, let’s see the root instead of just the leaves. I again, stand in the position that government should’ve never been involved with this issue if they continue to want church to be separate from state. I could care less what same sex couples do, live and what benefits they receive, but if we want to be honest with ourselves, same-sex marriage, in biblical terms (which is the only term there is if we are using the word marriage) is an oxymoron. There can be no such thing. This is like a stranger trying to hi-jack your legacy by legally changing their last name to yours and forcing you to give them the benefits of being in your family. That doesn’t biologically make them your relative nor entitled to the benefits, inheritance, etc. of being in your family.
Some argue that this is a civil rights issue and this requires the government’s involvement but I disagree. When interracial marriage was illegal, we were denying a man and a woman from marrying each other; clearly something the Bible says commensurate a marriage (a man and a woman). Its language doesn’t disqualify people by race but it does disqualify people by gender, the same way it disqualifies a person from marrying an animal. In addition, the civil rights movement was fighting for the Constitution to be enforced, not amended. However, my take on this still lies that the church should be the institution to amend what we have traditionally practiced, not government. Church will be guided by the moral compass that the Bible instructs. If the church decides that same gender is acceptable, my position will follow the church, as I see them as being the professional interpreters of the Bible and responsible for the body of people that follows it.
We must stay focused on the principle of what we are doing and how we can be offensive to others as we are working towards being inclusive of some. Let the churches decide, if you ask me. There is where marriage is shaped. The Bible is what lays out the covenant and the directives to marriage, not government policies or the Constitution. This may sound harsh to same-sex marriage proponents, but it is all about being honest. The government can recognize and grant EQUAL tangible benefits of marriage (tax breaks, citizenship, etc.) to same-sex couples by creating a union with a different name. If we use the word marriage, I believe…we should abide by, respect and honor the manual that sanctioned it…the Bible.
I raised my voice, now raise yours!
Devin Robinson is a professor and author of 8 self-help books. Learn more about him at www.devinrobinson.com.
I am convinced that by now you have heard about President Obama’s secret service detail getting caught up in confusion in Colombia with prostitutes the day before the president’s arrival. Here’s the skinny. One night about 21 secret service officers and military personnel went out to get them some “Colombia Experience” at a nearby brothel. Not content with what they received there, they decided to bring the allegedly 21 women back to their hotel rooms for more action. One agent contested his bill of $47 with one of the women that drew attention by the hotel staff and eventually the U.S. Embassy. From there, everything went into a tailspin.
Now, in Colombia prostitution is totally legal. No laws broken there. So judge their morals, not he crime. It’s so interesting because I had this discussion with one of my classes the other day saying, “While travelling, should people be held to the law of their nation or the land where they are visiting?” And then, came this! My issue isn’t to condemn the agents’ sexual behavior. That’s between them, their wives (if they had any) and God. But what is up for discussion is their poor ethical decision-making. Let’s get to it.
The agents are charged to protect the president. They have high secret clearances, expensive resources and extensive training. They are regarded to be the best security in the world. But what happened here? Did these women hypnotize them? Was it that good that they forgot who they were? What would cause them to bring women back to the government-sponsored hotel rooms, exposing them to procedures & data just before the president’s arrival? Were they planning to shoot a spin-off pilot for a new tv show called “21 Jump-Off Street?” I know about the elaborate, and sometimes unethical, parties that elected and appointed officials hold using tax payer monies but at this level, unheard of!!!
Yes. Let’s not overlook that this was done with tax payer money. Even if they were on their own personal time, they got to Colombia with tax payer dollars and the hotel rooms they used to bust a… to bust a move was paid with tax payer money. So how did we get to this?
I have to say that the president’s safety was in fact in jeopardy. Men are famous for “taking a nap” after having a good intimate session. That alone leaves us vulnerable for the taking. Now, I know some may say this is a stretch, but to me I haven’t heard of such carelessness with any other president. Do we simply kick off our shoes and shirk our duties when it includes a black person? I am not even saying that everyone involved had to be White to make my case. There may have been minority agents involved. I don’t know. It wouldn’t make a difference to my argument.
But yes, Black people are also guilty of devaluing the black worth. It is evident every day when we kill, maim, rape, and violate each other in our communities. It’s evident when we expect certain handouts or treatment from black-owned businesses. People see us treat each other that way, so they simply join in fun… Wait, or is it vice versa? One thing I do know that begging for equal treatment is tougher to succeed at than working hard for it. I am sure these guys’ careers are over and thank God the president’s life isn’t; leaving a wife and children behind.
From the delay in finding our missing, to the urgency in sentencing black men to serve time, the Black life is often marginalized.
So, when will people see pass the color scheme? I guess, as soon as we do…
I raised my voice. Now, raise yours!
The Professor
Transitioning from weary to wealthy
You would be amazed how loud your mind speaks to you when you be quiet. The topic of discussion in this type of economy is what role do I play in being able to dig myself out of weariness? Well, what has to first take place is the shifting of the mind. I know this sounds cliché, but I am living proof. The difficult part for many to understand is when the mind shifts, actions in accordance with the mind’s belief must follow. Let’s take the economy for example. The way businesses are able to push past different recessions and growths is how the company deploys business strategies for the new economy’s needs. We can’t go back to old habits when we get new mental revelations. That’s what keeps us bound. We succumb to the pressures of family and our friends who tease us about thinking we are better than them. Meanwhile, we are simply trying to just be better than the circumstances we were born into, but instead our circle takes it personal.
We have to make that tough decision, because realistically, wealth does not come in the form of a lottery ticket or sweepstakes checks showing up at our doors. It starts in our brains and in what we believe. When we believe it, we act accordingly and our best potential emerges. The problem with many people is they go around looking for fruit to pick instead of finding seeds to plant. They will never see their own harvest. We panic instead of plant. There are other challenges that hold us captive to unhappiness and despair. A major one is our relationship with mistakes. We have a peculiar relationship with mistakes. We have to develop a better relationship with them. Yes, we want to avoid them but we shouldn’t act allergic to them. Mistakes are mostly uncomfortable just following the occurrence. Think about the clarity, experience, and insight gained long after making the mistakes. Because we view it as our arch nemesis, we refuse to make a move or take a chance. We worry about embarrassment, setbacks and labeling so we simply dream while putting the realities of them on hold.
I get so many people asking me, how I did it. How did I go from growing up on a small island to impacting millions of lives, how did I barely get through high school to become a college professor, how did I successfully leave Corporate America, how did I develop successful businesses without years of experience in those industries, how did I establish new long-lasting habits and how do I handle the criticism that comes with bettering myself. I simply stay reminded that where you are in life doesn’t mean it is where you are destined to be. I believe there’s a circle out there for everyone. Find your true purpose and the rest will eventually emerge.
I am sure many of you were expecting to hear some technical areas that will help you transition from worrying to wealthy but quite honestly, before any of the tangibles present themselves, your mind has to be pointed in the right direction.
Listen, whether you are wanting to open your business, expand an existing one or simply better yourself, you must first look at two things: who’s around you and what do you TRULY believe; not what you say you believe. Wealth comes in the form of all of these. Know that criticism comes to those who steps out of what is expected of them. You should wonder, if you are criticized for trying to better yourself, exactly how does your circle see you and what do they really expect of you?
Devin Robinson is a serial entrepreneur and author of Power M.O.V.E.: How to Transition From Employee to Employer.
Teacher fired for planning a Trayvon Martin fundraiser
An undated photo provided by the Southern Poverty Law Center shows Brooke Harris, a teacher at Pontiac Academy for Excellence, in Pontiac, Mich., who alleges she was fired over a fundraiser for Trayvon Martin, a teenager who was killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida. Harris was dismissed in March from Pontiac Academy for Excellence after she supported students' efforts to plan a wear-a-hoodie-to-school day.
I think principle is principle. If schools are doing fundraisers, then what is the problem? Let me tell you something, this situation has REALLY pulled the sheets of America’s bed. It should be an eye-opener to the disenfranchised. Even with a black president in office, we still can’t get an arrest for someone who shot down a black teenager. Does President Obama not have the influence or does he view him getting involved as another act of political suicide? This is ridiculous and though voting is important and elected officials have an influence, the election of a black president obviously does little to the elevation of the black community, both socially and economically.
America reminds me of a situation I had with a cellphone carrier about 10 years ago. Everytime I left the metro area, I would lose service even though I had a nationwide plan. When I returned, I would complain to them and they would say everything is fixed now and would give me some lame excuse. I would believed them. Several weeks later, I would leave town and the same thing would happen. This went on for months until I got so pissed I just had to discontinue my service with them. This is the BS excuses America serves up to black people regularly (though there are truly impartial people of all races, I am speaking as a whole). We believe after every situation that the problems are fixed, only for tragedy to reoccur every few months (nationally) and almost daily (locally). When will we discontinue our economic service to others and connect service to ourselves? What will it take? I am planning something to do my part to restore our community. I hope you are doing the same thing as you sit in your cubicle waiting for payday…
Okay, I am done with my piece. I am just perturbed… Paste this link into your browser for the story from the Associated Press or read it below.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hH_2HDvczBTGnotvyMcXKGURfq9w?docId=d4a6fd878e22443fbf921d0580743016
DETROIT (AP) — A teacher fired from a Michigan middle school after encouraging students to raise money for the family of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin said Tuesday she is confused by the dismissal and wants the school’s administration to explain.
Brooke Harris was dismissed in March from Pontiac Academy for Excellence after she supported students’ efforts to plan a wear-a-hoodie-to-school day. Martin was wearing a hoodie Feb. 26 when he was shot to death by a neighborhood watch volunteer.
A number of groups, including the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala., have called for Harris to be reinstated.
“I’m really confused why I got fired,” Harris told The Associated Press. “I don’t think I did anything wrong.”
According to the SPLC, a national civil rights group, Harris’ eighth-grade journalism students asked her about the death of Martin, 17, who was unarmed when he was shot in Sanford, Fla. No charges have been filed.
Harris gave the students an editorial-writing assignment on the shooting. But the students wanted to raise money for Martin’s family and asked the school’s administrators if they could each pay $1 to wear hoodies instead of school uniforms for a day, the group said. It said the school regularly has fundraisers in which students are allowed to “dress down.”
The 26-year-old English teacher said she approached school administrators “through the chain of command” but that Superintendent Jacqueline Cassell said the project could not go forward. Harris said she was in the process of explaining this decision to the students when she was called for a meeting with Cassell.
The superintendent suspended Harris for encouraging the students and then fired her after she showed up at the school to drop off prizes for students when she had been told to stay away, the SPLC said.
“I didn’t tell the kids, ‘Let’s go and do it anyway.’” Harris said. “I was actually, literally, in the process of talking to my kids about what we could do instead when (Cassell) requested the meeting with me and told me that I needed to let it go.”
Cassell said she couldn’t discuss personnel matters but that she wanted students to focus on learning, not activism.
“I’m a child of the civil rights movement,” Cassell said. But “this is not the time in the school year” to distract students from academics.
“In every situation, there are work rules,” she said. “When rules are violated, there are consequences.”
Harris said her teaching record was clean and that Cassell “wouldn’t let me defend myself.”
Harris said she still wants someone from the school to provide more details on why she was fired.
“I just want a reason,” Harris said. “She’s got my phone number, and I’d appreciate if she’d tell me what I did wrong.”
Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the Academy’s decision was a “travesty” that would only hurt students.
“It taught the students who tried to organize and tried to raise their voice in terms of social justice that they will be repressed,” Walid said at a news conference Tuesday morning at King Solomon Baptist that previewed a rally that evening at the Detroit church. “Instead of empowering our children … the Pontiac Academy is actually teaching children to internalize oppression and internalize racism.”
A few dozen people who attended the rally — including a number of clergy members and community activists — voiced their displeasure over both Martin’s slaying as well as Harris’ dismissal.
Speaker after speaker at the rally offered their support to Harris, who sat in a chair behind the podium and smiled and nodded in appreciation.
“We’re ready to protest, we’re ready to march, and we’re even ready to give you legal counsel,” Walid said, turning and looking at Harris. “If we can’t settle this in the streets nonviolently, then maybe we need to settle it in the courts of law.”
Charles Williams, the church’s pastor, said that if Harris doesn’t have her job back by Friday, he will lead a march at the school in Pontiac on Monday.
Harris wore a blazer to Tuesday’s rally, but underneath it was a hoodie.
“I thought it was appropriate,” she said.
___
Associated Press writer David N. Goodman contributed to this report.
Former NAACP leader accuses Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton of exploiting Trayvon Martin’s death
I am not sure what to say about this… He accuses Jackson and Sharpton of dividing but his comments don’t seem to inclusive to me. How can we get where we need to be? Read below…
Former NAACP leader C.L. Bryant is accusing Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton of “exploiting” the Trayvon Martin tragedy to “racially divide this country.”
“His family should be outraged at the fact that they’re using this child as the bait to inflame racial passions,” Rev. C.L. Bryant said in a Monday interview with The Daily Caller.
The conservative black pastor who was once the chapter president of the Garland, Texas NAACP called Jackson and Sharpton “race hustlers” and said they are “acting as though they are buzzards circling the carcass of this young boy.”
Jackson, for example, recently said Martin’s death shows how “blacks are under attack” and “targeting, arresting, convicting blacks and ultimately killing us is big business.”
George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain, killed Martin, a 17-year-old black man who was unarmed at the time of his death, last month. Zimmerman has claimed to have shot Martin in self-defense and has not been charged with a crime.
But Bryant, who explores the topic of black-on-black crime in his new film “Runaway Slave,” said people like Jackson and Sharpton are being misleading to suggest there is an epidemic of “white men killing black young men.”
“The epidemic is truly black on black crime,” Bryant said. “The greatest danger to the lives of young black men are young black men.”
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/26/former-naacp-leader-accuses-sharpton-and-jackson-of-exploiting-trayvon-martin/#ixzz1qdrUaBFX
