Progressive Fashion Statement

Texas Governor Mobilizes Evangelicals...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050612/ap_on_el_gu/texas_governor_religion

Polly! Do something!

Polly love that :), here is something interesting untill the last few years it was Progressives that tended to be wealthier, the biggest differance is, where conservatives want to hord the wealth Progressives generally believe in giving back to the community and the country, they are more likely to vote on issues that affect the country as a whole where conservatives often vote on issues that will affect them personally. Just an observation.

I just got off the phone with Suz I wish her excitement at the things she has heard and seen came through on here :) I am sure her and Karen will figure out a way to make that happen :)

When I first joined in the fight to get Kerry elected I started out here with most of you. The agenda was whats best for the country. Not all of us have always agreed on how we get to that place which is what makes living in this country so great, but we have always then and now known where whatever path we took should end up. This group as a whole from beginning till now and including the new members have always known we might argue amongst ourselves but at the end of the day we have each others backs, that is what being an Independant, Democrat, Progessive is all about. Not always agreeing on the road but agreeing on the destination. We have a huge tent and no to people in the world are alike so of course we are gonna have personality conflicts disagreements and what not, but what we should never do any of us is let ego take over and treat someone like their opinion isnt worth posting. It is if you do not like the view of the poster simply ignore the post, there is no reason for it to start a war and end up hurting our cause. I am a life long Democrat and sadly this is what I see happening to our party alot, now its bleeding over into even groups where we all can agree on the destination but chose or see differant paths. I am sad this is happening here in someways. It wont force me out yet but seriously politics is an ugly game no matter whose side your on if you can not take a few lumps and some can attest I have taken my share then why not just stay home and be quiet.

We are all in this together lets start acting like it! If we divide we all lose.

Sparrow called in with a report on Maxine Waters' presentation--she ROCKED the place. Here is what the AfterDowningStreet.org people had to say about it:

Maxine Waters Rocks Rainbow Push Convention: Denounces Bush Lies on War

Congress / From After Downing Street Dot Org
Posted by downing on Jun 12, 2005 - 04:55 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Congress Member and House Judiciary Committee Member Maxine Waters (D., Calif.) shook up the Rainbow Push Coalition's 34th Annual Convention in Chicago today, winning huge standing ovations for a speech denouncing
President Bush for lying about the war. Waters announced that she and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus plan to inform the House Democratic Leadership that they will introduce amendments on the issue of the war EVERY DAY from now on.

Waters told the crowd that Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard
Dean had received attention for criticizing the Republican Party in recent days, but that "he did not say enough."

"Bush is a liar," Waters said, according to an observer who phoned
AfterDowningStreet.org. "He lied about weapons of mass destruction and he lied about the war."

Waters called Vice President Dick Cheney "a thief," and said that he was stealing for Halliburton.

And Waters said that Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will "go anywhere and say anything they tell her to say, and have the audacity to do it with a smile."

...after which the applause grew too loud for our observer to hear the Congresswoman's remarks.

Posted by: April at June 12, 2005 08:14 PM

April,

See Indy's post in the forum regarding this issue. It is thoughtful and speaks directly to the point you are raising.

http://www.democracycellproject.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=673

Posted by: oncall at June 12, 2005 08:39 PM

Thanks Oncall everyone knows I hopeless at working the Forum lol.

Posted by: Karen at June 12, 2005 08:25 PM

Karen,

I agree with Congresswoman Waters. Dean did not say enough. He did not say enough about the lies, stealing and cheating. But, he said too much when it came to blanket condemnations of Republicans. He needs to refine his message.

media alert!
currently on CBS news website, front page:

British Memo Blasts Iraq Planning
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/24/iraq/main541815.shtml

ditto CNN website:

Report: British had doubts on U.S. postwar plan in Iraq
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/06/12/postwar.iraq.ap/index.html

Awwwk! even Faux has it on their website, front page:

U.K. Memo: U.S. Flubbed Iraq Postwar Plan
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,159287,00.html
[CBS, CNN & Faux appear to have picked up their coverage from the Wash Post front page article today]

Posted by: on.to.victory4Dems at June 12, 2005 08:57 PM

They had two which one, well one wasnt front page but listed on front page of their web-site and was not complimentry about us wanting it investigated.

Just got back from our small faith based community celebration and after an all day discussion of how do we win the debate,and change the messgae ? With so much unease in our nation over the IRW,the economy,jobs,healthcare,SS, retirement anxiety,there's much we can do. The reps percenatge numbers are tanking so we're at a good vantage point...bt we need to act and spell it out .Here's what we came up with. JK/JE had a grrrrrreat message and it was "HOPE AND HELP ARE ON THE WAY." We need to take that message of HOPE and run with it. Spell it out in NO uncertain terms,but with a tangible plan that works for the interest of the people,not the special interests!

Posted by: Patti Ferschke at June 12, 2005 09:16 PM

Amen Patti.

Off Topic:

Patriot Act Push Angers Some on Right

A Senate panel vote riles conservatives concerned about the reach of federal power.

By Tom Hamburger, Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — A closed-door vote by the Senate Intelligence Committee last week to expand law enforcement powers under the USA Patriot Act is prompting sharp criticism from some conservative leaders who are otherwise among the most vocal allies of President Bush and the Republican leadership in Congress.

The conservative leaders — who have formed a coalition with critics on the left, including the American Civil Liberties Union — vowed to press their concerns in coming days with public statements, rallies and radio advertisements in key congressional districts.

Read More...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-patriot12jun12,0,5753799,full.story?coll=la-home-nation

In a world so divided...it is refreshing to see people of like mind come together for the sake of our nation...

Oncall, I can't agree with you more about Dean. He desperately needs to refine his message. No matter how justified he is in his feelings and judgements, this can't be about either. It has to be about specific facts. Dean needs to study the successful communication techniques of Bill Clinton. The only other Dem I know of who manages to communicate almost as successfully is Senator Dorgan from North Dakota. Thank goodness he's on Ed Schultz frequently. That guy has the sound bite down pat.

An example of butt-ugly rightwing aesthetics is that stupid so-called "Christian flag" being promoted on a website (reported by OnCall, last section). Now I've seen everything.

I swear that everything has gone "retro" since Bush got in. Women are dressing like bimbos (that's why Paris Hilton already has "hammertoes," at age 24) or else they look like June Cleaver. Men on the right are epitomized by Ned Flanders on the Simpsons, with the blow dry hair.

For my city (Seattle), people in the conservative areas - those that have money - they dress in two colors. Beige and Navy blue. Most people are blond and most people are white. In the city - basic black or as pointed out, the colors of the rainbow. One gentleman in the movie line tonight was dressed in orange hat, orange velvet shirt, orange jeans, orange over-the-knee boots, pink nails, orange hat, pink and orange hair and beard and to top it off, he had died his arm hair hot pink. That's a little over the top, perhaps, but he was quite a sensible fellow to chat with.

This is submitted by Elizabeth, who likes Dean and Gore just the way they are.

http://www.grist.org/news/muck/2005/06/09/little-gore/index.html
Gore – fiery climate evangelist

http://www.corante.com/mooreslore/archives/037050print.html
H. Dean’s politics not for sissies

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5067889,00.html
From the Guardian UK – Dean says he won’t tone it down

Amy,I agree with you about Dean and his tactics and why I didn't buy his message when he ran in the last campaign. Too much negativity can only go so far. However I must say when the REPS take us on we need great communicators to respond..timely . Clinton was terrific with the "war room" and perhaps that's what Dean needs to look at,then get the right speakers to do so. Yes, and yes about Dorgan! It frustrates me to death that Kerry and Edwards just look like past history and should be speaking up and out,LOUD and clear. Thought they "learned" something! Dems can never,ever allow Reps to say that crap without a rapid response;however that seems to be the tone today and why the nation as a whole says "no one is listening."

Posted by: Amy at June 12, 2005 10:51 PM
and Patti F;

Check out what Maxine Waters said today in Chicago--BLISTERING!!

read up: Posted by: Karen at June 12, 2005 08:25 PM

Looks like Dean got a rise out of Cheney!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5070130,00.html

I really think people are making too much of all this. It's just politics as usual. The real war will start when we get closer to the 2008 primaries, with no incumbent! I will be proud to support whoever survives the nomination process!

This makes good tv theater - that's all. We need to always consider the context of the speech. Dean appeared to have been talking to party faithful in Iowa. Cheney was probably talking to some Chamber of Commerce or military school. Then the press picks it up and the people talk about what "should" have been said.

Good article on Dean/Cheney. I think this is healthy. This time Dean is talking to Jesse Jackson/Rainbow PUSH - not a scene where one would come forth with a moderate stance. Not sure what planet Cheney is on. I do know he dared venture into downtown Seattle recently.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/nation/11879792.htm

& I will be possibly greeting Bush in 5 days in Minneapolis.

I think it would be odd for Dean NOT to be partisan.

Isnt that EXACTLY who we need is someone saying 'See all them republicans...?..THEY LIE."

& I will be possibly greeting Bush in 5 days in Minneapolis.

Posted by: DiAnne at June 12, 2005 11:25 PM

DiAnne,

I feel your pain.

Ok...just got back! Even the starving activists have TO EAT!

Let me relay a little of what Maxine Waters said; she took me by surprise that I could not keep up!

First she spoke quietly about the way our image in the world has been changed for the worse. She spoke how our finances have been destroyed, our jobs sent overseas and she spoke of Americans needing national healthcare. And then she said, "American people are not angry enough! They don't understand what his administration has done." Then she added, "all week people have been discussing what Howard Dean said when he spoke the truth. BUT this is what HOWARD DEAN forgot to tell you:

"YOUR PRESIDENT IS A LIAR. He lied to you about war, he lied to you about weapons of mass destruction. He is willing to send your child off to die in Iraq. He forgot to tell you that Dick Cheney is a theif, that he and halliburten have ....." ok...i could not keep up with the diatribe of TRUTHS that POURED PASSIONATELY FROM HER MOUTH. She said a heck of a lot more and then said, "and he forgot to tell you about Condi.."

Well that is when the place started SCREAMING! So...she said, "Condi will go anywhere and say anything they tell her to say, and have the audacity to do it with a smile."

After she sat down, I ran from the room to find a transcript or video. I'm told we may be able to get one by tomorrow morning.

I will call someone when I get the information. I do not have computer access there.

Dianne,Cheney {as per Julianni's mouth piece} is thinking about running in 08'! Hubby read it in some paper and Jules said this while on Hard ball this week...YUK!!

I think it would be odd for Dean NOT to be partisan.
Posted by: Christy at June 12, 2005 11:44 PM

Posted by: DiAnne at June 12, 2005 11:25 PM

From Oxford Dictionary:

partisan |ˈpärtəzən| noun 1 a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person. 2 a member of an armed group formed to fight secretly against an occupying force, in particular one operating in enemy-occupied Yugoslavia, Italy, and parts of eastern Europe in World War II.

There is nothing wrong with being partisan, but as I see it, blanket condemnations of groups of people is not likely to gather support among those who are being criticized. It will embolden those people who agree with his comments.

If this is some kind of ritual dance that has to be concluded before the intricate political battles begin, we will be having to make up lost ground as our message gets muddled and potential supporters have been turned off. Personally I have no problem if he said what Maxine Waters said in Chicago. But disparaging all Americans who consider themselves Republican is IMHO, a blunder.

Posted by: oncall at June 13, 2005 12:02 AM

I agree, oncall. It's a bit Andrew Johnson-esque. (he started yelling at and insulting people who he wanted to get votes from in 1868.) The main thing is, though, there are much more constructive things Dean could be talking about. And there's a difference between what he’s doing and just being forceful. There are other ways to excite the base. I still support him, though, and am going to hear him speak in Dallas on Friday. I'm excited and will be sure to report back!

now wait what condemnations are you talking about exactly?..see knee jerk reactions like saying you hate repellicans naw thats a blurp..but saying they are the white chrtian party he could not be more correct..thier numbers MORE than confirm that.

Dean is fiery i agree he can be hard on your nerves but i hear McCarthur was not exactly a sweetheart either..deans job is to get the dems fighting and under one banner. After the stuff they have been saying about us for YEARS unchallenged if some mod repell gets offended every now and then oh well.

This is a war for hearts and minds. He not only has to gather us hes got to SAVE US. I truely believes he WANTS too. and thats a HELL of alot more than our so called other dem leaders care to do.

Im not a deaniac, but i believe we have to make a stand now..NOW..and we have a fighter there who knows enough to keep trying.

Ried has Dean under control. Lets just hope Ried tells him to go for the juglar.

If lies were water I would say...

LET IT BURN.

Dean will lead us if we just TRUST him.

This is getting exciting - enjoy it!

Texas Governor Mobilized Evangelicals

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5070063,00.html

This is nutty

I can't quote exactly, but the implication that Republicans don't work for what they have "never made an honest living in their lives"was unfair to many hard working Republicans that I know.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5070227,00.html

Cheney: No Plans to Shut Guantanamo

creepy ominous spine-tingling bad vibes

yes but those commnts were also skewed slightly out of context. he was refferring to the elitists in power. It was not something that went over well but then again limpball said the same stuff about dems some 4 days BEFORE Dean made that comment.

Again I believe Dean is SUPPOSED to be a partisan hack...The time for being politically correct is over...literal revolution is upon us. im not saying the insults are just ok. im saying the gloves are off and people talk tough when when in a confrontation.

Can you think of a better defined word than CONFRONTATION for what must happen?

you know what as far as the sins of the elite repells coming down upon the mod base...

SO WHAT?

THEY wanted him, if they are ashamed of being lumped in with him I say to HELL with them. Make them OWN him in shame.

In addition, Dean's comments about DeLay going back to TX so that he could go to jail, though satisfying, are a distraction. Nobody would be happier than me to see Delay in jail (we would all be equally happy), but those kinds of statements are perfect ammunition Democratic opponents.

Oncall,

I know you are very level headed, and I agree with you that Dean does need to hone his sound bites. I remember a conversation I had with you once a while back, and you had alot of good things to say about Dean in that particular conversation. I did too. Actually, I doubt that I would have "seen the light" when I did a little over a year ago, if it had not been for Dean's campaign, and his words of truth about the ongoing war. I have to tell ya, he really got me thinking, and opened my eyes. Of course, this was before Kerry got the nomination, and I wholeheartedly supported Kerry, and think highly of him.

I am wondering, perhaps, if the reporters aren't picking up things that were never meant to be "sound bite" material, maybe just a very off the cuff remark, and taking it and blowing it up into gigantic proportions. It affects us, people get upset, and it seems to set us back a bit. I know the Rove tactics are to go viciously against anyone perceived as a threat, and make mince meat out of them on a large media scale, in order to discredit them from the outset. I am telling you, I think that is what is happening in this case. I think Dean needs to keep on keeping on, but be very much on guard (for the good of our cause) against off the cuff remarks any where near any press or media. He needs to reign it in with a bit more discipline, IMO, but I have to say, I am very glad he is choosing to speak out and not shrink back in the face of the criticism. GO DEAN!

I have to say how very very proud I am of Harry Reid from my home state of Nevada, I watched his career grow, literally, from the beginning.

I am also very very proud of Senator's Dorgan and Conrad of N.D., they are truly champions for good.

"My view is FOX News is a propaganda outlet for the Republican Party and I don't comment on FOX News," Dean said. That was in response to vice president Dick Cheney calling Howard Dean "over the top" on Fox News on Sunday.

AMEN.

Sorry so very late today, there was a marathon of yard work done around here today, most done by yours truly. The dear hubster was beset by a kidney stone, which he passed successfully here at home. This one was a doozy; he's had quite a number of them over the years.

I am hoping that I can free myself up for a 7:00pm feathers and friends meeting. Isn't it just like me to suggest that everybody go out an buy some such handy item as a yellow feather and then not be around for the aftermath?

I thought of something that might be interesting, but it needs some thought and a bit of polish. I'll toss it out, and it can either be discussed or dropped at the meeting. Is there any way a costumed PBS character, Elmo, Barney, whoever could be invited to a selected, friendly member of Congress with a nice big container of yellow feathers, along with a VERY BIG MESSAGE on the container "DON"T PLUCK BIG BIRD!!!"

Would 'theatre' like that be possible? I'd just love to see a member of congress meeting with Elmo.

Patty F.,

Just MHO, but, Kerry is a very smart man.

Good cop, bad cop. Keep the faith, baby.

Perfect ammunition for our opponets?..

It was PERFECT because it VERY LOUDLY brought the issue to immediate national attention.

He said it straight on and by gawd delays fall started in that moment. he beacame RADIO ACTIVE after that.

HMMM.....I'll bet we'd need permission to use the likeness of a character. Maybe we could come up with an un-muppet?

THEY wanted him, if they are ashamed of being lumped in with him I say to HELL with them. Make them OWN him in shame.

Posted by: Christy at June 13, 2005 01:13 AM

No, make them see that they can change their allegience to a different party. Making their potentially new party affiliation a way for them to abandon Bush is something Dean needs to do. If it is by shameful self realization that they supported a liar, that is fine with me. But it wont happen by shaming them in order to join a different party.

Tutt,

I like it. Really cute idea! That's my .02 worth. Hope to see you tomorrow night at 7:00. Don't chicken out. Er, heh.

they will have to be shamed to admit they were wrong, it is shame that will make them distance themselves from bush

we have won people.

new british leaked docs are front page washington post.

they dont even realize yet that they have fallen. the repells will never live down this pack of lies.

DeLay was radioactive before Dean's comments. Truth, You are saying exactly what I have been saying. I am just asking Dean to continue to stay on message. By doing that he is more likely to get support without creating dust storms than if he lets his emotions get the better of the message. We have a message that speaks to the value of human beings and Dean can be the most articulate deliverer of that message when he needs to.

Tutt,

I am wondering if there would be a problem getting permission to use the muppet characters, since it is public broadcasting that has been airing them for years. It might be easy to accomplish.

Karen would probably know, you could ask her in the morning.

nite all

Oncall,

I know. I agree, it will take discipline and honing. He sure has a message though, does he ever. If he can just keep the Rove machine at bay by not giving them any ammo.

Wonder how we could get our message to him to actually be heard? Anybody got any ideas?

And now I'll put in my two pennies on Dr. Dean....

Think about it this way, if he made wimpy lets all play nice statements, there would be a lot of very upset people that Howard isn't taking it to the GOP. He is throwing down the glove (lots of gloves) I'm not nearly as upset with the things he's said as I am with the way the Michael Jackson/runaway bride media has acted about his statements. And, I'm not liking the party gaggers who feel they have to run to the microphone to disagree with Dr. Dean.

Why are his comments a big deal? Too much truth in them? Is he supposed to take into account the tender feelings of the GOP? If you think there is any way to 'rise above it' think again. Those happy heads on the talk shows will only talk about Howard being to meek to do what needs to be done. Then it will be all about Howard having to defend his weakened party in its weakened state with only weak comments to portray the hopes of his party.

Dr. Dean is not ever going to be known as a panderer. He is never going to be known as soft spoken or conciliatory. He is all about making waves and shaking things up. He is working with and for a lot of people who have no idea or not enough spine to attack.

As for the message--we are not the minority, we are the everyone. We are not the GOP because the GOP is not for you. We are not the founders of the fiasco's, we are hope for the end of the fiasco's. The GOP has spent the years of their power building the wall between the haves and the have nots. We are the people who are going to help everyone tear down the wall. The GOP climbed the ladder to the top and pulled it up so you could not follow them. WE are here building new ladders.

They missed reruiting by 75%

Holy shittokki batman.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States will "have to face" a painful dilemma on restoring the military draft as rising casualties result in persistent shortfalls in US army recruitment, a top US senator warned.

Joseph Biden, the top Democrat of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the prediction after new data released by the Pentagon showed the US Army failing to meet its recruitment targets for four straight months.

"We're going to have to face that question," Biden said on NBC's "Meet the Press" television show when asked if it was realistic to expect restoration of the draft.

"The truth of the matter is, it is going to become a subject, if, in fact, there's a 40 percent shortfall in recruitment. It's just a reality," he said.

The comment came after the Department of Defense announced Friday the army had missed its recruiting goal for May by 1,661 recruits, or 75 percent. Similar losses have been reported by army officials every month since February.

But experts said even that figure was misleading because the army has quietly lowered its May recruitment target from 8,050 to 6,700 people.

This says Kerry, Edwards, and Bill Clinton will be at the Rainbow/PUSH tomorrow.

http://www.rainbowpush.org/conferences/annualconference/2005/06132005.htm

Tutt,

Things are already heating up for '06, and they are going to do everything they can to discredit Dean, just like you said.

Probably more than '06 is the fact that all this is coming down about the Downing St. Memo, the war is in it's quagmire, Bush's approval nbrs are way down. Anything, ANYTHING to deflect from their own mess. Of course Darth Cheney is going to come out. He has always played the bad cop while Bush is out on a campaign to improve his nbrs. Expect the terrr campaign to kick up a notch. It already has some. I just hope they don't get desperate enough to resort to even more dastardly deeds.

Well, night. See you tomorrow night - don't yella out. I don't want to get stuck holding the bag. (Of feathers.)

BY THE WAY..While CConyers hearings go on the 16th a protest is being held..A sit in to 'surround the WH'

No joke.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/mparent7777/97770.html

Christy,

Holy Shittaki Batman is right. O.M.G. those figures are LOW.

Native Texan, re: the appearances of Kerry, Edwards, and Clinton at the Rainbow/PUSH tomorrow. Don't know if you read the thread above, but our DCP, our own Suz, is there. How neat for her.

Posted by: April at June 12, 2005 08:14 PM

You have brought up a good topic April. The Republican Party has done a fantastic job of dividing our bases and driving wedges between them. What used to be our bedrock constituencies no longer trust each other. White union workers can't stand Latinos, who in turn can't stand gays, and so on... and environmentalists can't stand any of them.

We need to find a common message, a message that says that the Corporate Dominionists don't care about the Christians, the average Americans, or anybody else except themselves. Only by pounding on this message, and only by making sure everyone knows that the country is on a seriously wrong track because of the Dominionists, will we ever gain any meaningful momentum.

Howard Dean says it like it is. So did THK. Good for them. And so will I. If the right wingers can parade a blonde anorexic miniskirt-clad (speaking of fashion...) transgender woman around and get away with her saying all sorts of vile crap, we on the left can definitely afford to have a not-so-blond not-so-anorexic miniskirt-clad transgender woman speaking up for our cause - and that's me, and I will say it like it is.

Nite all.

Pukes choke on Freedom Fries, adopting positions they ridiculed from JK
(The

Republican lawmakers urge shift in Iraq plans
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-06-13T035757Z_01_N12671786_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-IRAQ-USA-REPUBLICANS-DC.XML

"Rep. Walter Jones, a North Carolina conservative, said on ABC's "This Week" that he would offer legislation this week setting a timetable for the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.

"I voted for the resolution to commit the troops, and I feel that we've done about as much as we can do," said Jones, who coined the phrase "freedom fries" to lash out at the French for opposing the Iraq invasion.

Other Republicans on television talk shows joined Democrats in criticizing the administration for playing down the insurgency, while overestimating the ability of Iraq's fledgling forces to fight without U.S. soldiers in the lead and failing to plan for the post-invasion occupation.

"The insurgency is alive and well. We underestimated the viability of the insurgency," Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said on CBS' Face the Nation. He said the administration has "been slow to adjust when it comes to troop strength and supporting our troops."

Graham said the Army is contending with a serious shortfall in recruiting "because this war is going sour in terms of word of mouth from parents and grandparents." He said "if we don't adjust, public opinion is going to keep slipping away."
*************
Jones, a member of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, said "primarily the neoconservatives" in the administration were to blame for flawed war planning.
*************

[Hmmmmmm... Don't blame "real" Repugs- it was those whacky neocons-- They're almost intellectuals, you know...]

more convention coming up. Leaving now for this morning's section.

This telling little ditty just showed up in my email...

A Secretary of State's Lesson in Faith
Condoleezza Rice's defining moment as a child carried her through difficult times as an adult.

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/167/story_16735_1.html

-snip-

While John and Angelena (her parents) felt strongly about the emerging civil rights movement, they were not activists. They believed in fighting racial prejudice of the mind. Within the church and public school settings, they inspired many young blacks to see themselves as equals, and they left nothing to chance with their only child. Condoleezza could read at an age when most children were just beginning to walk. By the time she was three, she was learning to figure skate, dance ballet, speak French, and play what became the love of her life-the piano. Condoleezza's parents initiated these pastimes into their daughter's life to overcome the racism that would surely confront her as she grew up. Perhaps, if she excelled at the activities prized by white society, she would be accepted on her own terms and not judged simply because of the color of her skin.

But education and hard work are only half the story of Condoleezza's upbringing. Being the child of a minister, she grew up holding hands with prayer and Scripture, resulting in a deep faith in God. However, there comes a time in each person's life when she must either reject or claim for herself what she was taught as a child. Condoleezza's defining moment came when, as a twelve-year-old, she was visiting her grandmother along with several other family members. During the visit her Uncle Alto became sick and needed immediate medical attention. While the rest of the family ran anxiously about the house, Condoleezza's grandmother sat calmly praying on the edge of the bed beside her son.

"Grandmother, aren't you worried about Uncle Alto?" Condoleezza asked.

"God's will be done."

Seeing her grandmother's trusting spirit, Condoleezza realized that God really could be trusted with any crisis, no matter how great. Little did she know then that this lesson in faith would carry her through many turbulent times in the future.

-snip-

The job is sure to be her toughest yet. Condoleezza has conceded in the past to being overwhelmed at times. Amid renewed peacekeeping efforts between Israel and Palestine with a new PLO leader, ongoing conflicts in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and growing nuclear threats from several fronts, her new job may well summon more of the same. When this happens, she momentarily sets everything aside and focuses once again on prayer and Scripture, especially Romans 5,6 where she finds the assurance of peace with God and the promise of hope even in the most difficult circumstances. "When I'm concerned about something, I figure out a plan of action, and then I give it to God. I just ask to be carried through it. God's never failed me yet."

Not sure how many of you saw David Brooks column on AIDS in Africa yesterday, but here was my response:

Dear Mr. Brooks,

In the novel "A Mixture of Frailties, Robertson Davies has his protagonist, Monica Gall, define chastity as "body in soul's possession". Whether one is describing the tragedy of sub-Saharan Africa or the bug-chasers of Fire Island and Key West, Davies' definition strikes me as one that is as relevant as any of our time.

Whether one is liberal or conservative, or religious, spiritual, or secular and ethical, it has become clear that the hyper-sexuality of our era is simply unsustainable. But the vexing question we must answer is how we go about transforming this situation.

Nic Kristof wrote a column a few weeks back in which he noted that in Guatemala only 4% of first time sexual partners use condoms. This kind of behavior strikes me as the definition of cultural insanity. He also noted in this same column that the women of South and Central America that he had spoken to were as much up in arms over the contraceptive policies set forth by the old men of the Vatican as any college-educated American woman.

There's a common thread here. Men telling women what to do with their bodies. Men forcing themselves on vulnerable women in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. Men showing so little regard for their own lives that they increasing return to unprotected sex, or actively seek to infect each other as a form of initiation (as documented in Louise Hogarth's powerful film, The Gift).

While I don't want to discount your conclusion that an appeal to a transcendental reality would help, I do want to make the point that the AIDS crisis is ultimately a crisis created and perpetuated by men. Speaking collectively, our gender certainly appears to have lost its way.

I'd further argue that this phenomenon extends far beyond the realm of sexuality, to the realm of war and peace. The loudest advocates for the war in Iraq were men who never saw a day in battle, yet had no problem questioning the character and courage (and actual experience) of men who did. From my reality-based perspective, I can easily conclude that these advocates' confidence was nothing more than posturing, bluster, and machismo - attitudes not far removed from that of the man who, in an age of AIDS, convinces his partner that there's no need this time for use of a condom. This kind of mindless bravado and deadly self-deception, be it in the cause of sexual gratification or alleged wars of liberation, hardly strikes me as a shining example of healthy male behavior.

So, yes, I agree that an appeal to a transcendent reality is in order. Men are in crisis, and men need to be healed. Our gender needs to collectively discover a new model for empowered masculine behavior. Men need to become strong enough to allow women to emerge as true partners, and exert full dominion over their bodies. We need to loosen the tie between our sexuality and our egos, and instead reacquaint ourselves with the ideal of an inner marriage between head and heart - or as Davies put it, "body in soul's possession". If the men alive today accomplished nothing but this, then the spread of AIDS would surely end in our lifetime. And the sacrifice of
everyone who died as result of this terrible plague would have not been in vain - since the world their suffering brought into being would be a far better place than the one they left behind.

Sincerely yours,

Posted by: tutterfly at June 13, 2005 01:45 AM

I supported Howard Dean as DNC chair precisely because he could speak to the issues. I still support him. My point is really pretty simple. Be blunt, accurate, and stay on point. My priorities are getting out of Iraq, and reversing all the harm that our current government is causing to innocent Americans while delivering health care to those without health insurance. I think Howard Dean spoke convincingly about those issues while running for President. I think he still does. Don't be meek when it comes to the issues. Show some spine, as you say Tutter, but be careful. It is the kind of advice our parents gave us.

I believe blunt, truthful criticism is more likely to convince those who have doubts about the direction our country is headed. For the most part, we know where we stand on most of the issues. Even "progressives" don't entirely agree on every single point. We don't need to be "fired up". If there are Americans who need a cheerleader making blanket statements that don't apply to all Right wingers in order to mobilize action or increase contributions, the important meesage will become trivialized.

Posted by: Cyrano at June 13, 2005 08:05 AM

Excellent.

Good news, from Andree in Paris - I am especially thankful as I'd been trying to follow this in French & am very slow:

French Journalist Is Released and Returns Home From Iraq

PARIS, June 12 - A French journalist who had been held captive in Iraq was freed Saturday, President Jacques Chirac announced Sunday, after months of secret negotiations with her captors.

The hostage, Florence Aubenas, who works for the newspaper Libération, and her Iraqi interpreter, Hussein Hanoun, were freed after about five months in captivity. They had been abducted in Baghdad on Jan. 5, just days after France had secured the release of two other French journalists, Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, who had been held for four months.

"I feel good," a smiling Ms. Aubenas told reporters after stepping off a French government plane at the Villacoublay air base outside Paris.

Mr. Chirac, who greeted her at the airport, made a statement earlier in the day in a nationwide broadcast formally announcing the release. "On behalf of everyone, I want to express to Florence Aubenas and Hussein Hanoun our happiness and that of the entire nation to know that they are free and will soon be returning to us," he said.

Mr. Chirac did not repeat his appeal, made after the release of Mr. Chesnot and Mr. Malbrunot, that French journalists avoid Iraq.

French officials denied that a ransom was paid to win Ms. Aubenas's release.

On Saturday, as word that Ms. Aubenas might be free started to spread, the leader of the Paris-based media rights group Reporters Without Borders, Robert Ménard, told Agence France-Presse, "There is no hostage release without something in return and, among the demands, there is obviously a demand for money." He later issued a statement saying he had "badly expressed himself."

Ms. Aubenas, 44, has covered many hot spots, including Rwanda, Afghanistan and Kosovo. When she was abducted, she was reporting on the fate of Iraqis driven from their homes by the United States military assault on the city of Falluja.

On Sunday, she described the conditions of her captivity as "harsh" but said her kidnappers had allowed her to lift her blindfold at one point to watch a French television broadcast of a message of support for her. "You're so happy when you see that," she said. She said she would give a full account of her experience in a news conference on Tuesday.

Her release is a welcome bit of good news for Mr. Chirac, who has been forced to shuffle his cabinet after his popularity dropped and he failed to persuade voters to back a European constitution in a referendum. Negotiations for Ms. Aubenas's release were largely conducted under the administration of Mr. Chirac's former prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, and the former foreign minister, Michel Barnier.

Mr. Raffarin's replacement, Dominique de Villepin, expressed "great joy" on Sunday at the release and praised his predecessor's efforts. Mr. Barnier's replacement, Philippe Douste-Blazy, flew to Cyprus to meet Ms. Aubenas and accompany her on the rest of her journey home. Agence France-Presse quoted Mr. Barnier as saying of her safe return, "Mission accomplished."