Feeds:
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘President Obama’

“This above all: To thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man [woman, or child].” ~Wm Shakespeare, Hamlet Act One

Lotus Flower

Lotus Flower, Symbol of Spiritual Awakening

 

Today, with all the confusion wrought by our current presidential election campaigns, for those of us who traverse the less-travelled road to the Truth within us, and have realized it, the above truism from the Bard (“To thine own self be true…”) is forever inspiring.

To know the Truth within us is to know who we really are. Thus, we are loathe to relinquish the gift of Truth, which is of God!

Without the Truth we are nothing. Thus, destined to accept life’s illusions no matter how glorified or dismal it seems.

That is: Until we tire of the endless unhappiness that reliance on established illusions will surly bring, and seek the promise of our True Self that illuminates the world around us.

Of course, the Truth is forever calling to us. Perhaps this is why we ultimately hate those who insist upon lying to us. Particularly those seeking influence over our daily lives, this being tantamount to denying our highest purpose in life. Which is to join with other souls and extend real abundance (love) to all without spiritual cost to none.

Truth Illuminates, Lies Darken

To accept the Truth as our Inner Guide is to ultimately realize the value of true happiness and inner peace.

Hence: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~Jesus the Christ (John: 8:32)

In the political realm where society’s laws are ultimately created, some woefully misguided Americans tend to scoff at the idea of a so-called “democratic socialist” daring to run for U.S. president with the realistic intent to restore our failing democracy.

Yet, lest we not forget: Truth illuminates the world, lies darken it. Hence, why thousands of people continue showing up at Bernie Sanders’ historic campaign rallies.

Are Hillary and the Donald of the Same Ilk?

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. (Justin Lane, Andrew Gombert, European Pressphoto Agency)

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. (Justin Lane, Andrew Gombert, European Pressphoto)

Having an obvious aversion to transparency (the truth), could it be that Hillary and the Donald have more in common than most of their ardent supporters care to think? Having the same purpose, could it be that they’re closer than the opposite sides of the same coin?

Arguably, most people tend to embellish or even obscure certain facts now and then. Yet, a truly honest and mature person not only values the truth, but actually hates lying.

While it is beyond the scope of this article to determine why some folks tend to avoid the truth; yet, based on their public demeanor, seems both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are afraid of the truth. As a result, they resist transparency like the plague, or so it appears.

Of course, the habitual need for secrecy is a dangerous attribute, particularly in a world leader!

With Donald Trump, his familiar bully persona and endless chatter seems to be his main defense against the truth. This was abundantly clear during the GOP primary debates where he delivered vicious insult after insult rather than truthfully answer questions posed by the moderator or his fellow debaters. Recently, his alleged retort concerning his tax rate (a forty-year tradition of presidential candidates) was: “none of your business!”

While Hillary Clinton’s dangerous obsession with secrecy is legendary: Consider the FBI”s current investigation of her secret email server as Sec of State, her refusal to produce transcripts of her lucrative Wall Street Speeches (from which reporters were barred), and the press’s ever shrinking access to her. Last April 24th on CNN’s Reliable Sources with Brian Stelter, here, a source stated with noticeable trepidation that:

“Clinton travels on her own plane. The reporters travel on a separate plane. They’re often spending the night in different cities. [And] fundraisers are completely closed to the media.” Clearly a departure from traditional campaigns: “To be able to have a conversation with a candidate on the plane going from one campaign to another, that doesn’t exist anymore,” lamented the source.

As to the Trump campaign, here, the reliable source basically says: “The reporters who cover [Trump] have very little access to him at all. And something that exists in the Trump campaign that isn’t the case with Clinton, is there’s almost a hostility toward the press. The reporters are kept in a pen, usually pretty far from the candidates. Often with police barricades around it.”

Sadly, seems Trump’s alleged hostility toward the press is typical of his defense against the truth. Yet, a bubbly Clintonesque persona can be just as hostile as an abrasive Trump persona. Hence, the mournful destruction of a mild-mannered con artist!

“The Year of the Hated”

Hatred (a deep sense of loss) can be a vital signal when properly seen as a warning sign. But, we must think and act wisely, then let it go (forgive) lest we be consumed by it.

Thankfully, despite the lack of objectivity that some reporters (though certainly not all) in the Media seem to exhibit during their political news coverage, the printed news media is still publishing good stories that are worthy of its time-honored profession. A profession our free society must surly rely on in order to be free.

Though some television reporters have generally mentioned the public’s disdain for certain presidential candidates, in this Washington Post article titled: “The year of the hated: Clinton and Trump, two intensely disliked candidates, begin their face-off” by David Weigel, posted May 8, we find an objective view of the public’s thoughts and feelings about the current presidential frontrunners, which is very insightful.

In general, though their unfavorable ratings are high, supporters of both Hillary and Trump seem totally oblivious to the sentiments of the rest of society. Yet, according to the Real Clear Politics averages: “Trump has an unfavorable rating of 65 percent. Clinton has 55 percent.”

Nonetheless, widely enabled (to the exclusion of others) by the Media he allegedly treats with contempt, Trump wins the Republican Indiana Primary, much to his apparent surprise.

His final challengers, Sen. Cruz of Texas and Gov. Kasich of Ohio, soon concede and Donald Trump becomes the “presumptive nominee” of the Republican Party. Though absent the usual fan-fare from the GOP establishment.

Bernie Sanders wins the Democratic Indiana Primary, and vows to continue until all voters in the remaining primaries have voted! In conclusion, the above Washington Post article (“The Year of the Hated…”) aptly notes:

“The socialist from Vermont was the only candidate for president not disliked by a majority of voters.” And so, the Democratic Primaries between Bernie and Hillary continues.

“Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil”

Lezley McSpadden and Neighbors, New York Times

A grieving Lezley McSpadden and Neighbors, New York Times

Those who hate lying usually hate being lied too, which is a form of self-preservation.

Lezley McSpadden begins her memoire by saying: “First off, I don’t tell lies because I can’t keep up with them. My grandmother always said, “Don’t lie. Tell the truth and shame the devil.” She then says: “Your word is what you still got when you don’t have any money.”

Lezley, Michael’s mother, has recently published a memoire titled, “Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil: The Life, Legacy, and Love of My Son Michael Brown.”   Mike Mike, as she likes to call him, was an unarmed African-American teenager living in Ferguson Missouri who was shot multiple times by then police officer Darren Wilson on August 14, 2014.

Sadly, Darren Wilson has yet to be tried for Michael Brown’s murder. Truly, a missed opportunity to uphold justice in a society that is slowly declining for lack of criminal and economic justice, he likely won’t be tried in a criminal court.

Having discredited most of the eye witnesses, including Brown’s companion, an African American male who was with him when then Officer Wilson stopped them for walking in the street and ultimately shot Michael Brown to death, the Department of Justice decided not to indict Darren Wilson.

Hoping for some justice, a civil action is pending on behalf of Mike Brown’s aggrieved family. And the oft-painful quest for justice in our society continues.

President Obama and the BLM Movement

Having recently excused Secty Hillary Clinton’s secret email server as “carelessness” during an exclusive interview with Fox News last April, could it be that President Obama is actually a closeted Clinton supporter?

Sadly, President Obama, who seems a Hillary Clinton supporter more often than not, has directly or indirectly spoken out against advocates of the Black Lives Matter Movement (“BLM”) that once interrupted a fancy Hillary Clinton fundraiser much to her chagrin.

While he appears in favor of another devastating Clinton presidency (Heaven forbid!), President Obama seems to belittle the BLM Movement in the process.

Last April during a town hall type meeting with young people in London, Pres. Obama states among other things (see article “Obama Says Movements like Black Lives Matter Can’t ‘Just Keep on Yelling’” New York Times, April 24) that:

Once you’ve highlighted an issue and brought it to people’s attention and shined a spotlight, and elected officials or people who are in a position to start bringing about change are ready to sit down with you, then you can’t just keep on yelling at them,” Mr. Obama said.

On Saturday May 7 during “Obama’s Full Remarks At Howard University Commencement Ceremony,” published by Politico, the President rightly states:

“You see, change requires more than righteous anger. It requires a program, and it requires organizing,” said President Obama.

Yet, even as we write and with all due respect to President Obama’s ongoing efforts to stop police brutality, according to glaring news reports daily: Black folks, in particular, are still being needlessly detained by unfair police officers (some downright psychotic), raped, cavity searched on the streets, shot multiple times with no chance of survival, and otherwise severely brutalized just because some officers feel they are above the law!

Lest we not forget: It was Hillary Clinton who coined the toxic phrase “superpredator” relative to mostly young Black males who were the target of her husband’s contentious 1994 Crime Bill, which she strongly advocated for. Sadly, this terrible law virtually gutted the humane education of prisoners, wrongly justified lucrative private prisons, and caused the mass incarceration of marginalized Black and Brown citizens that devastated families and communities, from which many are still reeling.

And while Clinton has seemly apologized for saying such, Hillary that is, Bill continues to explicitly justify the “superpredator” term, the Clintons are far from convincing rational voters that things would actually change if they get another chance as president, God forbid!

Mr. President, Sometimes We Just Have to Yell!

Albeit it “politically incorrect,” clearly the BLM is bent on reminding voters of the Clinton 1994 Crime Bill initiative that continues to fuel deadly police brutality towards African Americans in particular without stop. In short, they just don’t want to be killed by another psychotic police officer!

When, after all is said and done, and terrible things continue to remain the same: Well, Mr. Pres, sometimes we just have to yell. And we can’t much blame the BLM Movement for that.

Truth and Justice for all is always a possibility within reach. Thus, we must never be fooled or otherwise sidetracked by the naysayers.

And so the 2016 race for the White House and a More Perfect Union continues.

Free the Mind! Keep the Faith, and Vote Prayerfully!

© Delores L. Adams and The Aunt Jemimah Post 2012-2016. All rights reserved.

 

Read Full Post »

by Ludovic Bertron , New York City, USA

Gay Pride Flag by Ludovic Bertron, New York City

As I understand Universal Law (aka God), only love is real.

When we follow love we get it right more often than not; when we don’t follow love we are on our own.  While society’s laws have been unjust at times, as we well know, today the United States Supreme Court gets it right.

Today, our society has evolved toward that more perfect we all seek.

Today, both the LGBT community and the African American community were edified, and all of us really: The decision by SCOTUS making same-sex marriage the law of the land and President Obama boldly stating that “slavery was wrong”, words myself and other freedom loving people have been longing to hear from our government.

Thus, today, the gay pride flag is now held up by the highest court in our land.

While the divisive Confederate battle flag is fast going down in flames!

In Justice Kennedy’s opinion regarding marriage, he says it best in part:

“The Court, in this decision, holds same-sex cou­ples may exercise the fundamental right to marry in all States. It follows that the Court also must hold—and it now does hold—that there is no lawful basis for a State to refuse to recognize a lawful same-sex marriage performed in another State on the ground of its same-sex character.

No union is more profound than marriage, for it embod­ies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people be­come something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death.

It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be con­demned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civiliza­tion’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.

The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is reversed. It is so ordered. ”   Opinion of the Court, Cite as: 576 U. S. Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

A really big thanks to all the lovely activists who stuck it out and continued fighting the good fight for us all!

© Delores L. Adams and The Aunt Jemimah Post 2012-2015. All rights reserved.

Read Full Post »

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”  ~President John Adams, c. 1798

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the 54-mile Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights Marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Such began on March 7, 1965 and would become known as “Bloody Sunday” due to the beatings and serious injuries inflicted by Alabama State troopers using billy clubs on the nonviolent, multi-racial marchers.

This soon led to the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA) being signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ), who used his political powers to get the bill through Congress.

Since the U. S. Constitution only gives American citizens the right to vote, the States are free to set the operating rules. Which most Segregated States, being die-hard racists, had patently abused! As more extreme rules were set to purposely disenfranchise African Americans, thus denying the moral intent of our U.S. Constitution, the struggle for voting rights arose and ultimately created the 1965 VRA. Sadly, the struggle to vote continues in part.

According to President Obama: “Right now, in 2015, fifty years after Selma, there are laws across this country designed to make it harder for people to vote…the Voting Rights Act, the culmination of so much blood, so much sweat and tears, the product of so much sacrifice in the face of wanton violence, stands weakened.”

As President Obama also said: “We know the march is not yet over.” Yet, this was a very special event! Particularly, for those of us who lived through the turbulent 60s and saw on live television, the Selma Marches that racism brutally tried to stop.

Thus, having President Barack Obama, the first African American president, and a host of others recreate this historic march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge while holding hands with “foot soldiers” John Lewis, now a U.S. Congressman, and Amelia Boynton Robinson, now crossing in a wheelchair, was very significant for all Americans amid the ongoing struggle to end the disease of systemic racism in our beloved country.

It is estimated that 40,000 people attended, mostly African Americans, but not all. Of course, for many, just being there and crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge likely meant more than the actual event. As it was for me years ago, it likely was a pilgrimage, a silent prayer of thanks offered up to the great “foot soldiers,” an honorable phrase coined by Dr. King, who bravely took the blows, endured the pain, and kept marching for us all. Yet, such suffering is never, ever in vain!

Hit by the Reality of the GOP’s Unprecedented Letter to Iran

Yet, little did any of us suspect that behind the pride and pageantry of the widely televised commemoration of the Selma Marches lurked a group of 47 U. S. Senators seeking to usurp the negotiating powers of the United States President and act in its stead, or so it appears.

Thus, that Monday, via national television, the reality of such unprecedented arrogance hit most of us like a ton of bricks, so to speak. Having to set aside my own reflections on the Selma March tribute, soon I began to wonder. Initially, it was unbelievable! Yet, like a lot of Americans, given the sharp comments posted online, it soon was infuriating.

Who would have thought that 47 U.S. Senators would sign a letter stating their emphatic disapproval of the not-yet-known outcome of the ongoing negotiations between the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and Iran regarding Iran’s nuclear program, and then send it to Iran’s leaders!  Who would have thought the wily GOP[1] would take such overt action, but they did!

Reactions to the GOP’s Unprecedented Letter to Iran is Telling

Naturally, the White House was furious as are most concerned Americans. According to many reports from both near and afar, seems the GOP Senators’ letter is failing rapidly…as it must. Thus, many publications across the political spectrum have firmly denounced the letter.

Given our right to petition our government, it is important to note that many Americans are calling for the 47 GOP Senators to be charged with treason. For more information: See Petitions at WhiteHouse.gov re violation of the Logan Act, a 1799 law which forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments.[2]

In this article titled, European officials Criticize Republican letter to Iran, Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Negotiator to these talks, allegedly states the letter: “Risks undermining the confidence that foreign governments in thousands of important agreements commit to.” Yet, Secretary Kerry, being a true patrician, will likely handle the Republican’s unprecedented intrusion with the same dignity and style we all have seen in him over the years.

In his Statement on the Senators’ letter to Iran, issued March 9, Vice President Joe Biden states among other things that: “This letter sends a highly misleading signal to friend and foe alike that our Commander-in-Chief cannot deliver on America’s commitments—a message that is as false as it is dangerous.” We hear you, Vice President Biden, loud and clear!

In this Huffington Post article, ‘I’m Embarrassed’ For Republicans Who Sent Letter To Iran, President Obama allegedly states: “I’m embarrassed for them,” Obama told Vice News. “For them to address a letter to the ayatollah — the supreme leader of Iran, who they claim is our mortal enemy — and their basic argument to them is: don’t deal with our president, because you can’t trust him to follow through on an agreement… That’s close to unprecedented.”

Of course, Iran has also responded. This is very telling given the past warmongering of the Republican Neo-cons who lied about Iraq having “weapons of mass destruction” to justify their war on Iraq, and who may well be behind the GOP’s letter to Iran, or so it appears.

In this article titled “Iran’s leader: Fall of U.S. ‘political ethics’ highlighted by GOP letter,” the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, allegedly states: “Every time we reach a stage where the end of the negotiations is in sight, the tone of the other party, particularly the Americans, becomes harsher, harder and more aggressive.” IRNA, the official news agency, quoted Khamenei as saying, “This is the nature of their tricks and deceptions.”

Warmongering again! Or could the Republicans simply be trying to undermine the Democrats and the Obama Administration so as to gain political support in the 2016 presidential elections? Though good reason dictates that this recent affront to President Obama’s authority is not only unwise, an unprecedented breach of protocol but is also quite dangerous. Then again, who said the GOP’s soulless strategy actually cared about anything except winning!

Insidious Race-baiting, The GOP’s Soulless Strategy

Race-baiting, a popular idiom now part of the American lexicon, is a hateful scheme generally used to arouse the ridicule, prejudice or fears of one racial group regarding another through speech or inference, particularly when deployed as a political tactic.

A recent example of race-baiting was the relentless use of contemptuous cartoons by Charlie Hebdo’s founding publisher in Paris, which, of course, ended tragically. Race-baiting was recently used in a film titled, The Interview that infers the removal of a North Korean leader, which caused a mini cyber stir between the East and the West, so to speak.[3]

In 1980, Ronald Reagan’s first presidential campaign stop was in Philadelphia, Mississippi, former Klan vicinity where the young Voting Rights activists: Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner and James Chaney were tragically gunned down by angry whites in 1964. Hardly a Civil Rights advocate, former California governor Ronald Reagan successfully used the classic race-baiting code, “I believe in states rights” [4] to affirm where he was really coming from, and has been a revered hero of the Republican Party since, which continues to divide our nation.

Thus, as if to infer that “white folks” are still in charge, it is no accident that the 47 GOP Senators (mostly all white) issued their unprecedented letter to Iran the day after the Selma March Tributes, or so it seems. Overly assured by years of insidious race-baiting campaigns that proved successful, the GOP Senators knew exactly what they were doing. Of course, being all too familiar with the Republicans’ soulless tactics, African Americans would also know.

Yet, what the wily GOP did not seem to anticipate were the reactions of the other “white folks” in our fair land, who would not only disagree with their unprecedented actions but be outraged. See, Some Republican Senators Surprised by Backlash to Iran letter.[5]

Although many Americans are calling for charges against the erring senators under the Logan Act of 1799, it has only been used once. Then again, perhaps that’s the problem! The unparalleled arrogance of the 47 GOP Senators speaks volumes to the ego’s refusal to respect the law when left unaccountable. Hence, the democratic of rule thumb: no one should be held above the law, including its lawmakers.

Thus, in order to preserve our American democracy let this be the start of something new…real equality for all and a swift accountability of our government officials in times of crisis!

Meanwhile, we can take heart in these immortal words from Sr. Winston Churchill during WWII: “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

© Delores L. Adams and The Aunt Jemimah Post 2012-2015. All rights reserved.

[1] Oft-claiming to be the party of Abraham Lincoln, the GOP (the Grand Old Party) is far from what it once was. Founded by anti-slavery activists in 1854, it allegedly made a dramatic shift in the early 70s to what it is now.

[2] For more information see Petitions at White House.gov : “We Petition the Obama Administration to file charges against the 47 U.S. Senators in violation of The Logan Act in attempting to undermine a nuclear agreement”:

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/file-charges-against-47-us-senators-violation-logan-act-attempting-undermine-nuclear-agreement/NKQnpJS9.

[3] This contentious 2014 Hollywood film titled The Interview, stars Seth Rogen and James Franco.

[4] From the New York Times article: Righting Reagan’s Wrongs? by Bob Herbert, November 13, 2007.

[5] Ref: Some Republican Senators Surprised by Backlash to Iran letter by Sean Sullivan, Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/03/12/some-republican-senators-surprised-by-backlash-to-iran-letter/?wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1 .

Read Full Post »