Country Over Party

Wow, wow, wowzers. The daily life of an American citizen these days, am I right? Our news cycle is in overdrive. The idea that democracy itself is under attack is actually a viable talking point. The country is being led by a stooge... and there are legitimate questions about just whose team the stooge plays for-- the United States or Russia. As a citizen watching the quite frequent misses of this administration, I have to say that it is ALL disturbing. The attack on our fundamental values. This dismissive attitude towards the elderly, the poor, minorities and women are alarming (to say the very least). The inability to admit the current administrations faults is mind numbing. For me, the worst sin is the adamant defense of EVERYTHING that Tangerine Dream does. It is irritating and insulting. 

I have no issue in stating (every day, all day) that I am no fan of Tangerine Dream. I have never been. I knew that there were problems with Hillary and wrote that. I have and will continue to dislike Bernie Sanders, but even I would take his fake ass over the Orange Occupant of the White House. Because I am a thinking person, I know that no matter WHO is in the White House they will not satisfy MY agenda 100% of the time. It is impossible. Example: I love Barack Obama. I voted for him twice; if possible I would have voted for him again. I love his family, his demeanor, his deliberate walk and speech patterns. However, Barack and I didn't see eye to eye on some things. Not just White House things... I lived in Illinois when he was a U.S. Senator. I know now and I knew then that sometimes he would have to do some things that I didn't like... for the greater good. That is the life of ANY politician. So the idea that everyone in the White House agrees with EVERY move that the Orange Oligarch says and does insults my intelligence. That shit is impossible. Seriously. 

As the weeks go on and the news keeps coming, I have but one hope for politicians that represent U.S. citizens: I hope (and pray, if that helps) that they choose Country over Party. Listen, I am not a bitter liberal, ok? I get that both the House and Senate are overrun with Republicans. I get that a small number of folks wanted Tangerine Dream in the White House. I get that we lost in November-- and I don't dispute it. I get that there are differences between the parties-- always have been, always will be. What I DON'T get is how those differences have led us HERE. We all want the same thing: we want to be able to live a free life, make money and take care of our families. It is true that there is more than one way to get to those goals, but is possible collusion with a foreign government one of those ways? Is being demeaning to our elderly, our poor one of those ways? Is giving a tax cut (or several) to the ultra rich one of those ways.... even though history has shown us that it doesn't work?? 

What we need right now is some level-headedness. Some common sense. The question is: where the hell are we going to get that? This administration certainly does not supply level-headedness. Hell no on the common sense also. I mean, Pence seems to be right in the mix of all this lawlessness. Paul Ryan just shucks, jives and agrees (even though Tangerine Dream has thrown his ass under the bus SEVERAL times). Orrin Hatch = hot mess. Jeff Sessions = hotter mess. All the appointees thus far have been absolutely ridiculous and unqualified (ok, maybe 2 were qualified). So where does that leave us? Hoping and wishing that these fools choose US over loyalty to a party that seems to be out to get us. Hoping that our Representatives represent our needs. Wishing that we had pushed for Congressional term limits?? Sweet Jesus, take the wheel. 

Woman Crush Wednesday

If I am being completely honest, love bugs, I have been feeling some kind of way lately. It has been a lot of things that have kind of set me off, but just here lately, I have been super duper irritated. I know what it is. It wasn't last night's State of the Union address-- though I LOVED the extreme pettiness of it all. I actually giggled at it and live tweeted it like a sporting event. But here is when the laughs turned to extreme anger. So one a few of the memes created last night, there were some smart ass trolls who commented on the idea that women should make the same amount as a man. President Obama said in his speech that it was about time. I think that it is clearly overdue, but some neanderthals seem to think that all women, but particularly Black women, are meant to be nothing more than barefoot and pregnant in some one's kitchen.

 Besides the fact that I consider myself a feminist, I have to say that as an educated Black woman... uh, I am offended. But the offense didn't just start last night-- and the idiots from last night are not the only way that the message that women are less is passed around. There are some women that are responsible for others thinking that we are air headed, baby making machines, like almost all women on these ridiculous reality shows. Fighting, lip smacking, trifling whores who sleep with celebrities with the hopes that they will have a paycheck baby. Chicks that will put everything they have earned, including their involvement in sororities, on the line-- all for their 15 minutes of fame. Women who will get on tv, share every drop of their business and then loudly object when they feel they are being judged. Sigh.

In 2015 I really did not think that I would have to tell people that women are spectacular. I guess I didn't think that it would have to be talked about. I mistakenly thought that by now, everyone would be able to see that while a few women fit into the stereotype that you see on tv and in the news, they are not representative to women all over the country. Take me-- I am married, but I don't have children. And I am collecting a check-- for going to work every day. I do cook for my husband, but he cooks for me too and other than what you read on this blog-- I am hard pressed to make my everyday troubles fodder for prime time tv.

One of my resolutions for this year is to be a more positive example of womanhood. Right- so I know I am Hot, Black and Bitter, but I do hope that my readers know that I am not 100% bitter all the time. No one is 100% anything all of the time. I want Black girls to look at me and think "jeez she looks like me and she is happy (most of the time)." Or "she looks like me and does not need to be validated by some douche bag who is whispering sweet nothings in my ear." Or, better still "hey-- I want to be like Hot, Black and Bitter when I grow up-- an educated smart ass."  HAHAHAHA! Something like that. Essentially, I want to be the very antithesis of the video chick, reality star, ghetto hood rat that you see on the street corner, on your tv, at your school or sitting next to you in church on Sunday (wearing her club clothes, smelling like last night's drinks).

So one way I am going to be an example is to feature women here. Women who refused to sell their soul for fame. Women who made a difference. Women who took on the fight for all of us, giving us more a voice and being a light in dark tunnel. Women who helped us get where we are now. Revolutionaries. They will be my Woman Crush Wednesday. It is going to be fab. Next Wednesday... it is on. See you then.

Fed Up - Syria

I have been watching the news intently, hoping that this week would bring the result that I have been hoping for ever since Syria has made the news cycle. Boy, am I glad that I didn't hold my breath because it seems that the United States cannot let a year pass without sticking its proverbial nose in someone else's business. Tonight I watched the President deliver a speech that included the biggest bunch of bullshit that I have heard him spew. And I am going to say this: I voted for Barack and in general, I believe in MOST of what he proposes (as much as one can believe in a politician... so, you know, about 45%), but ANY kind of strike against yet ANOTHER regime in a country far, far away... I'm gonna take a hard pass on that one.

I have decided to use this blog entry as a letter to the President... I wonder if he will read it? Ok, doubtful, but I need him to know my feelings on the subject.

Dear Mr. President:

I can only say this directly: I am TIRED of war. We, as a country, are in NO position to play Captain Save a Hoe all over the world. Syria's problems are NOT our problems and "Boots on the Ground" or not, I believe that we need to take a seat and (finally) let some other country be the Superhero of the world.

You have attempted to convince us that we are no longer in a two front war (Iraq and Afghanistan) but, sadly, I am not convinced. I know that tonight you said that we are no longer involved in Iraq- I don't believe that for ONE moment. Our troops are still over there, building schools and helping out. All the while in cities like Chicago and Columbus (both near and dear to my heart) schools are closing and children can't pass standardized tests. In our city of Chicago (yep, I'm still claiming it as mine) there are actual war zones. Kids don't make it home from school; the state of Illinois is BROKE (along with other states like Florida and California); 70% of all people below the poverty line are CHILDREN. American children go hungry in our country EVERY day. Thousands upon thousands of American citizens are STILL underwater on their mortgages and losing their homes, or working hard at a job that just will not (read: CAN not) pay their living expenses. Even more people are living without health insurance and are essentially one serious illness away from financial collapse.

We have a growing population of uneducated youth and no funds to help them. Teachers are being laid off, schools are being closed across the country, families are working multiple jobs are are somehow unable to meet basic HUMAN needs with their paychecks. We have people suffering and a Congress that is refusing to help them- either with health care or job readiness. WE HAVE COLLEGE EDUCATED PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND PAY OFF MONIES BORROWED FOR THEIR EDUCATION. Yet here we are, building schools in foreign countries. What? Here we are answering the call for other countries... Here we are, being concerned with the welfare of children half a world away, all the while the needs of OUR children are not being met. How does that work? I think that our Congress, before they say yes to this "no boots on the ground" attack should look very closely at the constituency that put them in office. Are these people suffering? Are they employed? Are their children eating (outside of the meager school breakfast/lunch that is being offered)?

Bring our troops home from these far off places and use their energy to rebuild OUR country before we begin to worry about ANOTHER country. Listen, el Presidente-- I am not trying to be insensitive. Really, I am not... and I am trying to come up with a good way to say that I don't really care what happens in other countries, but I can't come up with anything... without curse words involved. And since my mom thinks that you are her boyfriend, let me try to keep this as professional as possible... Ok, I did not cast MY vote for you (in both elections, I might add) so that you could run around here and take care of everyone else BESIDES the American public. We cannot and should NOT attempt to save everyone. To make matters worse, you tried to make us believe that you have good intentions with this strike- that it was for the dead children you saw in that video last week. C'mon now, Barack, you know THAT is not true. We would not get involved if there was not a benefit coming to the United States. You wanting to get involved makes me want to ask exactly what you think we are going to get out of this... but I don't really care because we need to tend to our own business.

Lastly, let me just let you know that the fact that you took to the television airwaves the night BEFORE the 12th anniversary of one of the most hurtful events in recent American history- talking about threats to American security- was not lost on me. I see through right through that bogus shit. It doesn't look good on you... and it is very Bush-esque. Let me say... he is NOT the President that you want to emulate. You aren't doing this for our safety. You aren't doing this for the Syrian people and you certainly do not have the betterment of the American people in mind. Let's take a year, 365 days and really put forth some effort to examine and turn around some problems that face the American people. You know, those people who pay your salary and the salaries of the Congress members that you are asking to do your war-mongering deeds. Yup, us. Care about US. Take care of US. Fix OUR problems. Worry about other countries second... for once.

Sincerely,

One concerned, Hot, Black and Bitter Voter


 

Fed Up Friday - A Week of Disrespect

This Fed Up Friday should not NEED to be written, but here I am, doing my angry fast typing because of foolishness running ramped. The things that I am about to say are absolutely common sense, but as my parents have said on more than one occasion-- common sense is not so common. It is so surreal that people need to be reminded that their rude behavior is unacceptable... good thing I like to point it out and correct these mofos ASAP. If you happen to be one of the people that I have to correct, I'm going to have my mother "the church lady" pray for you-- because you clearly need some divine intervention for being a MORON. Please be offended, if necessary because I meant that.

Week In Review:

Kyle Williams and Death Threats:

Um, wow. So I am NOT a fan of Kenny Williams. As the GM of the Chicago White Sox, I think he is a cocky bastard and he needs to be fired. With that smug, shit eating grin on his face all the time-- eh, makes me want to punch him on sheer principle. When I saw his name in the news this week, I immediately shook my head and wondered what that asshole did THIS time- only to find out that his 23 year old son was getting death threats for two fumbles in this week's NFL game? Wait, what?!?!
Ok- how deranged do you have to be to actually send death threats to someone because they dropped a ball? I mean, was that ball the last hope you had with breathing? Was someone threatening your children/wife/husband/parents if the 49ers lost? Was world peace hanging in the balance? Oh, no? Then get over yourself, Jesus! This boy is 23 and fumbles or not, you got nothing except an adrenaline rush out of that game. People take this shit too seriously. You didn't see me going ape shit when my Ohio State Buckeyes suffered a loss to a completely sub par team from a northern state this year, did you? And if I can get over THAT, you should be fine. And if you can't get over the 49ers loss without wishing DEATH on a person, pay very close attention... You.Need.Help.

Joe Paterno

Here is where I am going to lose some people. I'm ok with that. Joe Paterno dies on Sunday. His family had visitation for three days and a funeral. The comments that people left on articles about him; the "protesters" are absolutely reprehensible. OMG. There is so much I could say about this situation... what I will say is this: clearly, funerals are not for the DEAD fucker in the casket. Funerals are for the loved ones of that person. Joe Paterno was not sitting there enjoying his OWN fucking funeral. His wife was there, reflecting on the man that she was married to since 1962. His children were there; his grandchildren. How dare you get on your high horses and ruin that day for THEM? No matter what you felt/thought of Joe Paterno (which, by the way, should not be anything negative) you should at least have the decency to let his family grieve without putting up with assholes. Some people are as bad as those dummies who protest military funerals. Why protest someone who died for your freedoms? Why protest someone you don't know, never met and only know through what the media has presented? Be fucking decent human beings and extend his family some common courtesy. If protesting funerals was at ALL acceptable (which it is NOT) imagine what people would say about you. That should keep your ass quiet, huh?

President Obama and Jan Brewer

Ok- I have to deep breathe on this subject because this TOPS the list for absurdity. By now everyone has seen Jan Brewer shaking her decrepit finger in President Obama's face saying that SHE felt threaten by him. (I repeat in my head that I will NOT pull the race card- racial stereotypes from the "Birth of a Nation" era... I will NOT). What the fuck is this bitch smoking? I am not even going to consider her "I felt threatened" argument and I want you to think about the following sentence VERY carefully. Ready? Sure? I have NEVER in my whole life seen a PRESIDENT of the United States ROUTINELY treated with such disrespect. Barack Obama is the President. You don't shake your fucking finger at the President. Why didn't the Secret Service guys shoot her? What if the President felt threatened? Routinely, he is called "Mr. Obama" on television, people boo him, congress people call him a liar, and act like they have NO sense. He is not Mr. Obama. That is for some fucker on the street. His official name is "Mr. President." The same is true for that very slow George W. Bush, his dad, Bill Clinton and everyone else that has ever held the office. People turned out in droves to elect him and if I had to put up with 8 years of W and his questionable intelligence, and people telling me not to call him a moron because he is our President, then that bitch Brewer could at least be civil. I know that President Obama said it wasn't a big deal... you know what that is? Grace. And if I were him, my grace would be waning. Fuck that hoe. She would be in jail or recuperating from a taser shock. People think they can just say/do anything they want. Jan Brewer, Congress and you radicals better understand something- President Obama deserves a modicum of respect- at least to his face. If/When he gets elected again... I hate to be that hoe, because somehow, I think she is going to regret the day that she wagged that crypt keeper, bony finger at the sitting President of the United States.

Thank You, Mr. President

In the last three weeks, our President has had a busy schedule. First the tragedy in Tucson and last night, he delivered the State of the Union address. I am generally not too impressed with the State of the Union address-- although, that is a comment made after having to watch W deliver said speech and picking it apart in my mind, while he was still talking. Plus, the State of the Union address is usually rah, rah, rah and I am not too big on the cheers- I am much bigger on the doing, not the saying. With that said, I have to say- I liked the address last night.

We all know that Barack is a great orator, right?! He is amazing, and there are few men that I have seen that can do it better. His delivery of the speech in Tucson was as close to flawless as I have seen in a while. You could look in his face and see that he meant it. We need to do better for our country, our neighbors and our children. It was great. Last night was not as good as the speech in Tucson, but it was better than he has been in a while.

He was rah, rah, rah... a cheerleader for America. Tying the history of America, with modern day issues that we are dealing with. He says that we can do it- if we work together. He reminds us that we are part of bigger picture; that we aren't all island, we are countrymen. Cuts need to happen- and he is willing to giving up things that he cares deeply about in order to get our debt under control... Now, he didn't say anything about ending the wars (which is what I wanted to hear), or extensively hitting on how he was going to cut out tax loopholes for the wealthy, but he wasn't supposed to-- this was his rah rah moment, and he did it well.

It made my night that people that I follow on Twitter were so engaged in the address- my timeline looked amazing. People were using 140 characters to agree/disagree with what was being said. More people taking part in the political process definitely put a smile on this hot, black and bitter face! If you didn't see the State of the Union address- google it and listen for yourself- no matter what political affiliation you have aligned with. Listen to what your President has outlined for you. Listen and digest it for yourself... this is too important to just blindly follow what someone else says happened. Know for yourself.

Below are six of my favorite speaking points of Barack's State of the Union address. Oh, how I hope that we can take at least one of these ideas and make them work for the betterment of the United States of America. (rah- rah- rah!) :)

"What comes of this moment is determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow."

"We will move forward together, or not at all."

"To win the future, we will need to take on challenges that have been decades in the making."

"The future is ours to win... but to get there, we can't just stand still!"

"We reinvented ourselves. That is what Americans have been doing for 200 years."

"American Muslims are a part of our American family." (Some of y'all need to be reminded- for real)

Moment of Silence

The President has asked all Americans to join him in a moment of silence tomorrow morning. All flags will be flying at half staff, and we will reflect and remember those who lost their lives in the ridiculously awful and unnecessary shooting in Arizona yesterday. Please see below for the details and please join in tomorrow to honor your fallen countrymen.
Love your neighbors, hugs and kiss your family and love yourself. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us.



The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release January 09, 2011 President Obama Calls for Moment of Silence for Victims of Shooting in Tucson, Arizona

“Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. eastern standard time, I call on Americans to observe a moment of silence to honor the innocent victims of the senseless tragedy in Tucson, Arizona, including those still fighting for their lives. It will be a time for us to come together as a nation in prayer or reflection, keeping the victims and their families closely at heart.”

The President will observe the moment of silence with White House staff on the South Lawn. The moment of silence will be pooled press.

Today, the President has signed a proclamation calling for flags to be flown at half-staff.

Also, the planned trip by the President to Schenectady, New York, on Tuesday, January 11, to the General Electric energy division is postponed. The trip is expected to be rescheduled.

Bush vs. West- The Battle of Idiots, Part 1

I find that the moment I try to keep my political comments to myself, someone does something just ridiculous enough to make my comments necessary. I can absolutely say that I pull no punches when it comes to the office of the Presidency- I have written about some of my disappointment with a President that I have voted for and those I have not voted for. I think that it is important to be able to intelligently show dissent; it is part of the political process. Dissent is the reason that “proper” people don't discuss politics at dinner parties, right? That has definitely been a rule at some dinner parties I have attended. But dissent is also the reason that people are so passionate about their parties, their candidates, their own agendas. I am going to not make friends with some of my posts... I am ok with that, so let's get into it.

I am currently watching Matt Lauer's interview with former President Bush on my iPhone. I have to say, I wasn't as disgusted as I thought I would be. I have never been a Bush supporter (no secret). I don't like how he “won” the election in 2000; I don't like his policies and I am not a supporter of his tactics- but that is a completely different post. Seeing this interview, I must say that former President Bush is a little more put together than I thought. Often I see him as a bumbling idiot, and currently I only seeing him as...an idiot, so at least he has dropped out of the bumbling category, right?! I think he is very calculating, or at least the people who run him are, and I think that comes to light in this interview. So which parts pissed me off? There were a few. One stood out a little more than the rest. So there he is, one on one with Matt Lauer, reflecting on his eight years of...ruling. His Presidency started on a bad note with the election against Al Gore, was in its infancy when September 11th happened, the United States reputation was obliterated with the affair at Abu Ghraib, Hurricane Katrina demolished three states (and some citizens still haven't bounced back from that), he was directly responsible for starting and continuing TWO wars in the Middle East- which is costing us trillions of dollars TODAY, and an economic recession that is the second worst financial pitfall in American history (as I see it). However, when asked about his worst moment of his Presidency, Bush didn't mention any of those.

When asked about the time surrounding Hurricane Katrina, President Bush said that the lowest point in his Presidency was when Kanye West said that he “didn't care about Black people.” Dude, what? What the hell is he smoking? Are you kidding me? All the shit that happened when he was in office, all the names that he was called (mostly by me, I admit), all of the destruction that was seen during his Presidency, and THE worst moment in his eyes was when a rapper said that he didn't care about Black people? Ok. This shows exactly how ass backwards George W. Bush is. Kanye is a nobody. He is one rich guy that showed his dislike for another rich guy. George says that Kanye called him a “racist.” Hell, maybe he is. Millions of Americans are still presently suffering from the wrath of hurricane Katrina, five years later. We live in the richest country in the world and after five years, parts of New Orleans still have not been rebuilt. Thousands of displaced people from New Orleans are Black. They didn't receive the help that they should from the state or the feds. The response from the federal government was lacking, which Bush admits. Why is that? Where were they? Spending tons of money and sending more troops to our never ending war fronts? Bailing out banks? Does that make Bush a racist?

I am not one to overuse the race card. I don't (necessarily) think that Bush is racist. I think he was and is completely shortsighted in his approach- to most things and especially the Katrina disaster. In 2005, nothing should have come before fixing the three states hardest hit by the waters of Katrina. There is no excuse that five years later, whole neighborhoods still lie vacant, carrying the stench of death and hopelessness- no matter who used to inhabit those houses. There is no excuse that after five years, people- Black, White or other- should be sleeping in FEMA trailers. Finally, after five years, there is no excuse for people to still be waiting on the government to do what they said they were going to do. Where is the pledged help? What happened to all the money raised? Where is the urgency to help your fellow man?

So, at worst, Bush is a racist and at best, he is an elitist that doesn't care about poor people. The fact that the people who are still displaced are poor and MOSTLY Black is something he *might* want to look at... Hmmm? I wonder if, after reading this blog post, former President Bush will say that this was the hardest moment of his life after the White House?

Obama, Race and the fight of his Presidency

IF you follow me on Twitter (jovonnam) or Facebook, you would know that I have been a little more than disappointed with the topic of race relations this week. The whole Shirley Sherrod situation grated my nerves like you would not believe and I said as much in my updates. While sending out resumes, I saw her on the Today show where she said that while she was not expecting an apology from the President, she would like to talk to him about her situation. There is so much wrong with that statement. So, I was all in attack mode about her and then I read this article, which made my panties get all bunched up even more.

This article criticizes the President for being silent on race for the vast majority of his reign in office. Um, why are we talking about that like it is a bad thing? The author says that the President has has nothing to say regarding the deaths of Oscar Grant, Sean Bell or Aiyanna Jones. So. Neither do I. I am not saying that I don't give a shit about these deaths- all were at the hands of the police (Grant in California, Bell in New York and Jones in Detroit)- but what exactly does it have to do with the office of the President? Why does Shirley think that she should get to talk to Barack?

In my honest opinion (which is what you get when you read this blog) people are pissed off because they voted for Barack for the wrong reasons. If you voted for Barack simply because he is Black- shame on you. If you voted for him because you thought that he was going to cure all social ills that have plagued minorities- again, shame on you. If you think that race relations are going to magically be fixed because America has a Black President, or that said President HAS to respond every time there is a Black person shot at the hands of a non-Black person- you are naive and shame on you. Why do people think that Barack owes you a speech on race every time an Oscar Grant situation comes up? Every time a Sean Bell situation surfaces? Every time someone like Shirley loses her job? Did Barack shoot Sean Bell? Did he fire Shirley? Um, no. So why does he have to talk to their families? Why does Shirley think she is good enough to have a conversation with the President?

The author says that the Sherrod situation was "one of those folded arms, pursed lips, neck-twisted, 'so-what-you-gonna-do-now-Barack?' moments for Black America." Let's all be clear: I do not like that description. I find it very stereotypical (I mean can't you just see some overweight Black woman with ridiculously long fake nails mouthing those words?) Not only do I find the description off putting, it is also not a true statement for me. I don't care that Shirley lost her job. Is it unfortunate? Sure. But is it clear that everything you say (or type) now a days can and will be used against you? Absolutely. PLUS, that woman was offered another job... and she said that she doubted she was going to take it. If someone wronged you and offered to make it right and you are too proud to take it... shut the hell up with your complaining. Especially during this time when people are fighting for jobs.

Are race relations important? Yes. Are they relevant in these days? Sure. Should our President be commenting on every instance of inequality? That is totally a no brainer... NO. That is not his job. Would you expect George W. to comment every time a Yale graduate got into some trouble? Every time an oil tycoon was taxed extra money? Any time a Texan was shot and killed? You think that Bill Clinton should respond every time an Arkansas resident is unjustly arrested or fired from a job without cause? No. That is never gonna happen. As the President, your job is to work towards the betterment of the COUNTRY, not groups within the country. If Bush and Clinton had done any of the above, they would have been instantly lambasted, but at the slightest nod in the direction of a racial situation people expect that Barack is gonna drop everything and be at the head of the equality march. Listen, unemployment is well above 9%; we aren't really bouncing back from this last recession; our country is involved in two wars; the Gulf Coast has yet to recover from Hurricane Katrina (5 years ago) let alone this BP fiasco; violence is taking over our major cities (Chicago included); states are going bankrupt (Illinois included); foreclosures are engulfing neighborhoods like wildfire; and in the richest country in the world some children are going to bed hungry every night.. the list goes on and I point these items out because it is clear to me that the President, no matter what ethnicity he is, has more to worry about that what Shirley Sherrod is going to do with the rest of her life.

You want racial equality? Try this out: the outrage should be coming from our neighborhoods, our churches, our city officials, our police. Shocking, I know. Local movements should be taking place. You want violence to stop? Start reporting violence when it happens. You want better neighborhoods? Get involved. I complain... you know why? Because I am involved. I call the police. They know who I am. The kids know that I will call on them in a split second. Go to city council meetings; get involved in city politics; PTA... anyone? America was built on the actions of a few that changed the tide of a whole nation, not on the apologies of a President. If you are putting all your race relations hopes in the 'Barack will fix it basket' you deserve to be disappointed.