So---Ms. Sherrod wants to speak to Obama? As a man of Afro-Caribbean descent I ask....About what? Really---about what?
It seems to me that American Blacks are eager to talk about race and poverty in America----while the rest of the America, including immigrants from African and Afro-American countries, are not interested. And for good reason---we're just too busy! Too busy trying to make a life for ourselves and our families; too busy trying to lay hold of the opportunities that America offers, even now!
The other problem about race in America is that Blacks in America are too obsessed with race---too eager to throw the racist charge at anyone who doesn't measure up to their world view. They also think that their experience in America is so profound, so unique, that they have some special moral license to lecture people and judge the hearts and minds of other people! They think they alone knows what's it like to suffer poverty and privation and injustice, and the rest of America---especially the whites---are REQUIRED to just sit and listen!
Ms Sherrod says the President doesn't have her experience. To which I say---so what? SO WHAT? Does she have HIS experience? Does she know what it is like to live in Kenya, or Indonesia, or any of the developing countries, whose people are trying desperately to leave and come to America? Does she think she's somehow superior to President Obama because he's only "part African-American" and she's obviously FULLY "African-American"?
And what does that say about the "power of racism" in America---that a man of his background, including his Marxist upbringing, can become President of the United States? How powerful is racism in America that such a thing can even happen??
Obstacles abound in EVERY country, especially in countries as diverse as America. But the true test of a country is whether the GOOD things, the opportunities, out-weigh the obstacles. In this, America passes the rest, and continues to pass the test, and that's why people are coming. It may shock some people in America that American Blacks have problems immigrant Blacks too, especially if they come from the Ivory Coast, or Ghana, or the Caribbean. This sorry episode shows that black racism is just as cruel as white racism---it's time for the American Blacks to stop the preaching and lecturing, and search their own hearts and souls!!

The Mayor didn’t Raise his Hand

 

 “Si Se Puedes!” or Something Like That.

By Perry Hartline

Any reporter who claims they want only facts is a liar. Shouts, screams, shame and disgrace; fistfights, shootouts and knife fights; tragedy, pain and tears are news food. Tonight held the promise of fine dining: a racial scrap. White media vans circled city hall hunting it.

 

On city hall plaza ten people costumed as traditional ethnic-Mexicans, campesinos, in white trousers, white anti-Arizona T-shirts, red bandanas and LA Gear running shoes gripped hand-lettered signs in Spanish chanting “Hey! Hey! Ho-Ho! Racist laws have got to go!” and “Si se puedes!” [Yes we can!], “We’re Here! And we’re Not Going Away!” and “What’s yours now will be ours!” The only thing missing was sombreros.

The Arizona boycott, open border, amnesty and reconquista organizations were out, armed with slogans and signs. They were attended by a menagerie of lawyers, community organizers; a civic leader in a suit; and potbellied central labor council figures wrapped in suspenders and Ben Davis work pants.

 

In city hall’s polished-glass and butter-yellow marble rotunda, thirty-or-so people milled about hoping for seats in-chamber. Four 30-ish, manicured men in suits who feed off local government stood chatting and laughing. Twelve anti-boycott, pro-Arizona citizens stood silent, holding the flag of the United States. To their left eight practicing ethnic Mexicans surrounded a large sign in Spanish.

 

Painted faces in high heels waving microphones towed cameramen panning for head shots.  Newspaper reporters squeezing pens and pads prowled the thin crowd with photographers. Telemundo, the Spanish language network, sent a shiny brunette and a duck-walking, bent-kneed man with a video cam stuck to his face. The brunette waved her mic at a stranger asking, “What brings you here tonight, sir?” The man turned to speak. The camera pulled in tight as a city officer stepped out of chambers and counted heads. She motioned four people to the security scanner, and eyed the door for anybody leaving the meeting. The man spun around and marched to the scanner.

 

The city council chamber was stuffed, the air fuzzy and warm from bodies squeezed belly-to-butt, and nostrils breathing down necks. The media packed the forward areas and blocked the aisles with cameras for close-ups of Mayor Johnson and the city council members, particularly Councilman Fong, who called for the boycott resolution. About Three-fifths of the citizens came to encourage Fong and demand the City of Sacramento officially boycott the state of Arizona for passing SB 1070, the law that adopted Federal immigration law and applied it to state law, only less stringent. The remaining two-fifths had come to oppose Sacramento telling Arizona how to govern itself.

 

City Attorney Eileen Tiechert stood and read the law, SB 1070, to the citizens. She did so clearly and correctly. SB 1070 sounded reasonable and straightforward, and brief.

 

The Ground Rules

 

Each side was allowed an equal number of speakers, with two minutes to make remarks. The anti-boycott supporters would lead. Most were blue-collar workers, tradesmen and small business people, and included two unemployed people. They had no leaders, lawyers, politicians, community organizers or venerated community symbols to stand with them. They understand Republican Party politicians simply go along with the ‘progressives’ and are frightened by “racism!” and ‘racialists.’ They accommodate the progs, cower before ethnic groups, take what goodies they can and merely delay the erosion of law, and the fall of America. They’re afraid to fight.

 

The people who came here to fight the boycott aren’t financed by government grants. They aren’t funded by Federal, state or community programs and funds. They have themselves, a dream handed to them by dead white males 234 years ago, and a feeling of doom that the dream is vulnerable and being destroyed. They’ve come to do combat the way Americans always have against wrong, injustice, lunacy, fascism, what have you. They use individual initiative. Nervous, disorganized, unschooled in public speaking, inexperienced in community organizing and public protest, they’re the ineloquent average American standing up to say “NO!” to a threat. Some of their remarks follow.

 

Geo Riley, California Republican Veterans Association, a Native American and Jew. [Riley?!] “Considering the city’s forty million dollars in debt why are you worried about Arizona?!” Riley asked, “How many of you have actually read the law, or ever had it read to you, until tonight?” Riley scanned the room. Perhaps fourteen or fifteen hands went up. Councilman Fong didn’t raise his hand. The Mayor didn’t raise his hand.

Carl, an African-American, “I don’t feel sorry for people who break the law! They should not be rewarded! Why should they be? Why should we let them in? Why do we have a border? So far they’re doing more harm than good. The people of Arizona want help. The government should be working alongside them, not fighting them!”

David, “I’m dismayed we’re talking about this! This law mirrors Federal law! We’re a nation of laws! We can’t pick-and-choose which law to break and which one to enforce. And why does Mexico get special treatment? Why? Has anyone ever looked at what the Mexicans do to illegal immigrants? How the Guatemalans are beaten, raped and put in jail? Is that okay?”

A woman, name unknown, a legal immigrant from Central America spoke passionately to those who would boycott, “You here!” She turned to the crowd, “Fix Mexico first! You should not be forgiven because of sympathy! I waited in line. I’m here legally. I attended classes for years, learned English, and studied our government. Take your Spanish signs and demonstrate in front of Calderon!”

Paul Smith, “You’re considering boycotting Arizona. What’ll you do if seventeen other states adopt Arizona’s law? Will you boycott them too? And what does this tell people all over the world, in the Philippines, Ireland, Vietnam, who want to come here and be Americans?”

Dan Starr, “I was a marine in Iraq.” Some in the audience clapped, more snorted or sighed. “I support the Arizona law! But here! Here are people wearing Che Guevara T-shirts! Carrying signs in Spanish!” He paused, “What does this tell us? You don’t care! Illegal immigration’s okay with you, by doing that, by supporting illegal immigration, you’re opposing legal immigration!”

Lars, currently unemployed. “Arizona’s law is lesser than the Federal law, which is not enforced. All Arizona wants is for the Feds to do their jobs. Only lawbreakers need to worry. Federal law is the highest law. Not to support it is treason. Your oath of office requires you to enforce the law, not boycott it. The city council is trying to do economic damage to people who are trying to save themselves.

Crystal Taylor, an elegant, well turned-out African-American woman. “This is a legal issue! No one in this room should be opposed to it. Boycotting Arizona means you support illegality!”

 

The Boycotters & Reconquistas Rise

 

SB 1070 is condemned by a troop of speakers, almost all are Latino. A female ACLU lawyer who works the immigrants’ rights desk, lawyers from various Hispanic organizations, and a poetry reading college professor describes the law as xenophobic and inherently racist; that it’s racial profiling; it’s mean-spirited and anti-human and an overt attack on Latinos to preserve “white privilege.” They say a boycott of Arizona is the only way to ‘send a message’ and fight this example of racism and inhumanity, and to support human rights. Mayor Johnson was continually assaulted with comparisons to the Civil Rights struggle, and Rev. King’s name was used freely throughout the night. 

 

Former Police Chief Arturo Venegas. “This is a racist law! It’s an outrageous attack on those least able to protect themselves! It is the civil rights issue of our day!” His remarks were followed by cheers, shouts and applause.

President (?), La Raza Lawyers Association. “The express intent of this law is to achieve attrition through law. It discriminates against everyone, Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics, anyone not “Caucasian like me.” It’s a hate-based law and must be abolished! We must stand up to it! We must say ‘NO!’ A boycott is the only way.”

Melinda Guzman, Attorney, “This is Federal preemption. It’s not just racial profiling; it bans ethnic studies, and even accented teachers. Soon kids will be turning in their parents to authorities. Let the Feds do their job! Tell Arizona to back off! Boycott Arizona!”

Central Labor Council representative. “This law is racism! It’s racist and it’s anti-worker, pure and simple!”

The meeting broke up late. There were a few shouts but nothing more than “Racist!” and calling Dan the Marine a “KKK redneck.” Mayor Johnson conducted himself well, and reprimanded speakers only four or five times.

 

At this writing no other country has open borders, the Arizona immigration law is favored by 73% of Americans, and seventeen states are considering adopting it, or some form of it. In May the city of Boston adopted tough new immigration ordinances and is enforcing them. The most recent (6/2/10) Quinnipiac poll shows Americans want strong enforcement of existing federal law, not ‘comprehensive immigration reform,’ or reform followed by amnesty or linked to citizenship.

 

Current immigration policy and Southern Border Defense is the result of the past four administrations ignoring the problem deliberately. The Bushes wanted cheap labor, Clinton and Obama wanted voters.

 

Those who would boycott Arizona offer no rational reason for doing so. Those who would repeal the law offer no solution to securing the border; in fact they don’t want it secured. The reconquistas would flood the Southwest with illegal immigrants and eventually take it over. Remember, a mass migration is a slow invasion. Arizona’s SB 1070 is ‘controversial’ only with Mexicans crossing our southern border illegally, La Raza, ethno-centric enablers, useful idiots and drug dealers.

 

As of this writing the City of Sacramento has yet to vote on Councilman Fong’s silly resolution.

 

What is described here can be viewed on your government public access channel, only it’s six hours longer.