Jack & Jill Politics

Obama’s Zen State, Well, It’s Hawaiian


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/25/us/politics/2...

In Madoff Scandal, Jews Feel an Acute Betrayal
By ROBIN POGREBIN
Published: December 23, 2008


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/24/us/24jews.htm...

Trends beyond black vote in play on Prop. 8
Matthai Kuruvila, Chronicle Religion Writer

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Since the election, there's been a tremendous focus on the fact that 70 percent of African Americans voted to ban same-sex marriages in California.

The vote coincided with the overwhelming support among African Americans for a black presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama. In the aftermath, some Proposition 8 supporters are viewing the black vote as proof that same-sex marriage is a moral rather than a civil rights issue, while some Prop. 8 opponents tout it as evidence of one community's particular homophobia.

But demographers say the focus on one race not only disregards the complexity of African American identity but also overlooks the most powerful predictors affecting views on same-sex marriage: religion, age and ideology, such as party affiliation. Prop. 8's racial fallout raises the question of how the groundbreaking multiracial support of a presidential candidate could coincide with the racial scapegoating now following a failed state ballot campaign.

"It's just a shame to see the sort of coalition that came out behind Obama, and then you come back to California and you see white gays say 'black people cost us the election,' " said David Binder, a white gay San Franciscan and a polling expert who spent the past two years working for the Obama campaign. "It bothers me that people look at the race of the people involved rather than factors that are more explanatory."

For many black gays and lesbians, the result has been a reminder that even with the stereotype-shattering election of a black president, caricatures of black people continue to flourish.

"African Americans get demonized when it comes to topics of sexuality," said the Rev. D. Mark Wilson, a black, gay, American Baptist minister who grew up in Oakland and worked on the No on 8 campaign.

The focus on the black vote comes as two social movements came to a climax: the election of a black president and the vote on same-sex marriage in the nation's most populous state. Those two events have unleashed social upheaval that people are still grappling with.

"People aren't responding from a rational analysis," said Andrea Shorter, a black lesbian and No on 8 spokeswoman. "They're responding from an emotional place."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/...

Thanks for the link to the longer article. I find it interesting that there were two people quoted in the article saying that Black voters were responsible for passing prop 8. Both were white, non-gay men: Bill O'Reilly on Feh News and Catholic Archbishop George Niederauer.

The ten white GLBT people interviewed did not say that it was an issue of race. Rather, it was, in their opinion, an issue of religion. (not much of a survey, but it was what the reporter came up with)

Professor Eddie Glaude, a Black professor of religion and African american studies at Princeton is quoted saying "By allowing conservative Christians to largely claim the discussion about sexuality, events such as the passage of Prop. 8 ensue."

I think that the meme of gays blaming blacks for prop 8 is a setup, started by evangelicals/christian conservatives to polarize blacks and whites, gay and non gay. It's a Rovian move, and I really wouldn't put it past them. I don't know if anyone has researched the progression of the "Blacks passed prop 8" story, but my hunch is it didn't start with Gay whites. I think it is more convoluted and sinister than that. Conservative christians are claiming the conversation. The agenda to take over the moral reins of this country is in play. I think Obama's being played. I think the american people are being played.

Once in play, this meme of gay vs black is powerful and dangerous. Who is profiting from it? That's my question.

Co-sign

RIP Eartha Kitt and Harold Pinter

Eartha's performance of Love for Sale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNvGVVqRJEs

Seeing her live was the best $75 I've ever spent - well besides seeing Nina Simone's last few shows.

Pinter.

I was in college when I first attended a local rendering of "The Homecoming." It was scary...in those famous silences, I thought people were about to kill each other.

That was one kick-ass individual. Probably hard to live with (his son changed his name and was estranged from him) and had dozens of affairs and a couple of marriages. But I know why he got that Nobel--for his criticism of Bush and the Iraq War. Genius in his writing...

He wasn't easy to live with I bet but he was a brilliant writer. Eartha did a lot of work with civil rights, anti war initiatives and gay rights when it cost people their careers. Her 3rd autobiography Confessions of a Sex Kitten is a fave of mines.

We have lost one of our great actors...

Eartha Kitt Passes Away, 81

I'll never forget her performance in Eddie Murphy's Boomerang. She will most definitely be missed.

"Maaaaaarcus, daaaaaaaaaaaaahling"

RIP Eartha Kitt

lol

I tried to find the Youtube clip, but couldn't.

Her version of "Santa Baby" is one of my favorite Christmas songs ever!

"I Want to Be Evil"

"C'est ci Bon"

Show 'em how it's done, girl.

And she was the first black supervillainess on this show.

If you want to skip over some of the bat guano, start it at 1 min 40 sec.

Merry Christmas JJP!

Did anyone else watch "It's A Wonderful Life" on NBC yesterday? I must admit, it's been a long time since I watched the entire movie, I always seem to see it in pieces and bits. This time was no different, except I got to see 75% of it (all the best parts of course, after he married Mary). I realized something, either I was too young and blessed with ADD, or I was too self-absorbed I guess, but man after George and Mary got married, the movies was damn near depressing at times. When the Depression hit and there was a "run for their money" from the Savings & Loan, when his uncles loses $8000 because of forgetfulness and George tried to beg Mr Potter on his hands and knees to help him and Mr Potter laughed at him, and don't even get me started on what happened after he "got his wish" of never being born and all the depressing things that happened as a result, til finally the happy ending and the angel "getting his wings".

And I watched THE WHOLE DAMN THING! I never realized how engrossing the story can get even though I've seen it like 100 times. I don't know if it's just the financial times that we live in now, but the whole problem with the savings & loans, the war and all the other scenarios going on in the movie could actually be made over or adapted easily to fit an all too common story today, especially with the crisis occuring. Anyway, with everything happening today, it just made the movie seem to much more poignant now.

Sorry, guys back to the regularly scheduled porgramming. Hope ya'll are having a happy holiday.

28 years old, and I've never sat down to watch it in its entirety. I wish I knew it was on sooner.

"It's a Wonderful Life" is depressing from start to finish, but it's one of my favorite movies. George never ever got to do what he wanted to do because he always put other people's needs before his own: his brother, Uncle Billy/the savings and loans, staying in town and getting married to Mary and having 4 kids, etc.

It's not until I got older, did I realize how depressing the movie was. But, I still watch it. And, the thing is, I cry at more parts of the movie now than when I was younger.

I always want to strangle Uncle Billy for being so careless with the deposit but his carelessness forced George to choose once and for all to choose a life of selfishness (committing suicide and letting Billy, Mary, the kids and the town fend for themselves) or finally accepting the fact that his life was about taking care of the needs of the people around him.

Damn.

After seeing that classic dance scene from "Its Christmas, Charlie Brown," I just realized Charles Schultz invented the dance called "The Running Man" 20 years before it became a big hit in the dance club scene.

That's sort of a ' Whoah' moment, isn't it?

LOL

I always thought that, too.

Merry Christmas JJP!

I had to take a break because I am worn out from playing Outdoor Challenge on the Nintendo Wii....I think I've worked muscles I forgot I had.....but I have to let my boys know Mommy can hang!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.

Merry Christmas Folks!!

Obama to boldly go where no geek has gone before
By SETH BORENSTEIN – 1 day ago

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALe...

That was great. E.B. White was a brilliant writer. His book, "The Elements Of Style," is a must-read for every writer.

Happy Christmas to JJP readers all.

Thank you for this link. I'll be visiting Write Black in the coming year.

E.B. White was right on during that season of McCarthyism.

oh what a lovely gift. . . never read it before. in return, here is a poem i received in my email this morning from my friend mel, 80 years old and still organizing to make the world work for everyone:

The season for sharing our gifts

we will feast on the love we share with friends like you
dance to the joy we can bring to the world
sing of the happiness that lifts all spirits
clap to the beat that resounds in our hearts
look to the skies and see the majesty of the gift of creation
know we can create a world where there is peace of mind with in us
with the warmth of our smiles and the light that shines from the love in our eyes
our arms extended hands open wide with hugs of inclusion
all the tribes are welcome and all the gifts are shared
and love answers every question

Merry christmas everyone at JJP!!!!!

Here is some parang music to celebrate!!!

Santa's Looking for a Wife

David Sedaris: Six to Eight Black Men

Hilarious comedy set about Xmas among the Dutch.

lol...i love this video. thanks for the reminder.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

There are actually three parts to this thing; I think yall oughta see all of them.

The 6-8 'brothers' are also connected to the Black Peter phenom, but some immigrants may not know about this. The part about Spain may have something to do with the Inquisition and the bloody religious wars that were fought in Holland by the Spanish/Habsburg empire against the new Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries, but I digress. This is, however, how stuff starts...

Celebrity alert.

Aretha Franklin on The Today Show singing Xmas songs from her new Xmas CD, This Christmas, Aretha.

This is My Grown Up Xmas List.

and

Angels We Have Heard on High

If you can't see it live, or access these links, check the show's website on MSNBC later.

Thanks for those links.

Angels We Have heard on High...is my all time favorite!!

GlooooooooooR OOOOOOOOR ...RIA

in Excelsias ...daaaaaaaaay 0

Merry Christmas blkSistah!!

Merry Christmas JJP!

Rikyrah, thanks for posting "Hallelujah Chorus" from Metropolitan Baptist. I love that church - it would be my personal choice for the Obamas church home while in Washington.

I loved that video. Got me all in the mood for Christmas good cheer.

Yes it DID!!!

Happy Christmas JJP!

In North Carolina for the weekend- about to enjoy some 60 degree weather. Will be back to 30 degrees in NYC soon.