Filed under: health, politics, racism | Tags: obama, joseph cao, anh cao, louisiana, health care, reform, racism, vietnam, post-racial
By now, you’ve heard that Representative Anh “Joseph” Cao from Louisiana cast the single Republican vote in favor of the health care bill.
Quin Hillyer writes a reasoned response to the outcry from conservatives on The American Spectator, citing Cao’s longtime promise to support the bill if it included pro-life language. Representative Cao posted a statement himself on his website:
“I read the versions of the House bill. I listened to the countless stories of Orleans and Jefferson Parish citizens whose health care costs are exploding — if they are able to obtain health care at all. Louisianans needs real options for primary care, for mental health care, and for expanded health care for seniors and children.”
Say what you want about Cao’s politics–whether he made a “secret” back-door deal with the Obama administration in return for Hurricane Katrina funds, for example–but to attack Cao’s ethnic heritage? In what is lauded so often as a post-racial, Obama-happy world? How could this be?
I’m always in shock when I read blatant racial epithets like those directed at Rep. Cao. Just take a look at the public tweet in the graphic to the right for an idea of misdirected vitriol.
Filed under: gay rights, homophobia, racism | Tags: african american, black, cnn, eddie long, equality, farrah gray, gay, obama, steve perry, tyree simmons, tyrone mcgowan
CNN presents a special report on “Blacks and Gay Equality”. The “down low”, black churches, Obama’s promise of gay equality: CNN anchor Don Lemon poses the issues to a panel of prominent African American men, including authors, college seniors, and preachers, including Tyree ‘DJ Drama Simmons, Bishop Eddie Long, Tyrone McGowan, and Steve Perry.
My favorite quote comes from author Farrah Gray, who says, “Many of us live in the 51st state of the United States: the state of Denial.” He admits the problem of African American homophobia did not come to his attention until the publication of J.L. King’s ground-breaking book, On the Down Low.
Citing a speech by President Obama at the recent Human Rights Campaign fundraiser, the newsclip presents sound bytes about the African American community and its issues with homophobia. Interesting fact: The leading cause of death for African American women, aged 25-34, is HIV/AIDS. Though the assumption by one of the guests is that this is linked directly to the down low, this health statistic is surprising–and worrisome–nonetheless.
As cantakerous and opinionated as ever, Gore Vidal talks with The Times about the deteriorating state of the U.S., his disappointment in President Obama, and his disinterest in discussing his writing.
How does Vidal, who switched support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama during the primaries, feel about the current President’s performance?
I was hopeful. He was the most intelligent person we’ve had in that position for a long time. But he’s inexperienced. He has a total inability to understand military matters. He’s acting as if Afghanistan is the magic talisman: solve that and you solve terrorism.
He couples Obama’s lack of military experience with his pandering to the religious right:
Obama believes the Republican Party is a party when in fact it’s a mindset, like Hitler Youth, based on hatred — religious hatred, racial hatred. When you foreigners hear the word ‘conservative’ you think of kindly old men hunting foxes. They’re not, they’re fascists.
And his suggestion for a brighter, more effective Obama administration?
Obama would have been better off focusing on educating the American people. His problem is being over-educated. He doesn’t realise how dim-witted and ignorant his audience is. Benjamin Franklin said that the system would fail because of the corruption of the people and that happened under Bush.
Also responding to questions about his biography, Vidal speaks briefly to The Times reporter about his childhood with the Kennedys and the perils of Hollywood screenwriting. Perhaps most interesting is his riff on the differences between heterosexual and homosexual relationships. “Don’t make the error that schoolteacher idiots make by thinking that gay men’s relationships are like heterosexual ones. They’re not.” Of course, Vidal was speaking about straight and gay relationships in the objective, as he has long rejected labels throughout his public life. Identity politics seemed the least of his wide-ranging interests.
Gore Vidal, still fearless in his opinions and opinion-making. PBS has a fairly comprehensive introduction to Vidal’s work, if you’re interested, including a timeline and video. One of the hidden treasures on the PBS site is filmed footage of a photo shoot with Vidal, Norman Mailer, and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Filed under: gay rights, government, politics | Tags: dan choi, don't ask don't tell, gay military, knights out, obama
President Obama fired his first gay military officer today. Navy Lt. Dan Choi was fired under the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy because he is gay. His appearance on national television, as a spokesperson for Knights Out, a group of 38 GLBT military women and men, violates the antiquated and discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Aaron Belkin of The Huffington Post argues that, if he chose, President Obama could issue an executive order that would effectively end the policy.
As most of us know, the firing is a loss not only because of its discriminatory stance, but because Choi is an Arabic translator, and the military is desperately short in this field.
Overall, President Obama’s report card on gay and lesbian issues has been mixed, and outlets such as the Times have been pressing the President on his cautious agenda on GLBT issues. I’m giving him a C+ because of his hiring of several high profile members of his cabinet (can you tell that I’m in grading mode?). However, he merits only an average rating because of his failure to move on campaign promises to GLBT constituents. So far, he has remained silent on the gay marriage legislative decisions in Iowa and Maine, and now failed to act upon the firing of gay servicemen and women.
The White House released a photostream of President Obama’s first 100 days in office. It’s a delight to see images of the President both at home in his job–and, in some of the photos, seemingly in awe.
The photos include everything from meeting with Secretary Gaithner (one can only assume they’re trying to unravel the knots) to greeting everyday visitors inside the White House to glimpses of his love for his family and the First Lady.
Interestingly enough, alongside the photos of the Cabinet meetings and press conferences, there’s photos of the women and men who cook in the White House kitchen, who polish the White House floors, and who open the grand double doors for President Obama to walk through.
One can’t help but feel a bit optimistic at our President’s youthfulness and energy.
Filed under: economy, government, world | Tags: economy, fox, martin luther king, materialism, money, obama, religion, shopping mall, thailand
It has occurred to me lately that money does, indeed, equal power. Seems like common sense, right?
But for me, it’s been the convergence of many distinct places that I’ve noticed this privileging of money: in the irresponsible actions of mortgage companies and Wall Street bankers, of course; in the evolution of shopping malls as the public square instead of parks and community centers; and in the decision-making processes of my undergraduates, who must (unfortunately) choose between private employment, public service, graduate education, or, literally, unemployment. That personal choice often boils down to the workforce (“Finally! A living wage!” they cry); volunteer organizations like Americorps (“I’m not making any money, but doing something good” as a palliative to their lack of choice); more higher education (“Putting off the real world”–a choice motivated, hopefully, by the desire for greater knowledge rather than fear of not finding a job), or a route afforded only to the very affluent or the very down-and-out: Unemployment. What’s a person with only four years of college to do?
This morning, I learned of the announcement of the FOX Network (that bastion of liberalism) that they wouldn’t carry President Obama’s address. At first glance, I chalked the decision up to politics as usual. Then I learned that in the past, the FOX Network had turned down the request to televise former President Bush’s address. I put two and two together: FOX has its own business interest in mind. The network is less about right or left ideology, and more about the millions of dollars they would lose in advertising revenue in exchange for the common good. For the cable network, broadcasting is less about providing some public service (e.g. information, public policy, education about our nation’s state of affairs) and more about the gains and economics of their corporation.
We need to find more opportunities for individuals to combine interest in the public good with a living wage. Even I’m not that naive to think that Americans are not driven by an individual, liberal, Capitalistic approach to life. “It’s the American way,” we say, shrugging our shoulders. Or worse: “What are we going to do, become Socialists?”, echoing fears of the 50’s Red Scare.
A Buddhist monk that I met at a temple in Bangkok. His vocation was not one of materialism, but rather enlightenment. Interesting to reflect on the ways that his nation has shaped his individual pursuit.
When I was travelling through Thailand a couple years ago, I remember being in awe at the sheer numbers of young monks on the street, carrying books and bunching their loose orange robes. So many men had chosen to commit themselves to learning, and this was awe-inspiring to me. Only later did I learn that this was part of their national agenda: many Thai men commit to sanctified religious training. It is not required, but highly encouraged.
In contrast, some nations have set a militaristic agenda: young women and men must serve the security interests of their countries. I have taught undergraduates from Israel or Korea who must interrupt their studies in the states to return to their home countries for a year of required military service.
What would the U.S. look like if we required our young people to serve one year in a religious school or the military? Public outrage, for sure (maybe even the burning of draft cards like in the 60’s). But maybe also an alternative way of thinking, a diversion from the pursuit of materialistic desires. Let me be clear, I’m not advocating for required religious or military service. However, I am asking what else is out there besides the pursuit of money?
Dr. Martin Luther King once gave an impassioned speech against the Vietnam War, asking for this shift in our nation’s priorities: “I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a “thing-oriented” society to a “person-oriented” society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”
It is the last bit of King’s words that have always resonated for me: the ways that we, as a people, privilege “profit motives and property rights” more than people.
Filed under: economy, politics | Tags: GOP, maddow, obama, tax, taxation without representation, teabag
Last night, whip-smart (and comedienne-in-training?) Rachel Maddow reported on the new conservative movement to teabag Washington on April 15.
Ostensibly, the goal of the GOP loyalists seems to be to rail against taxation without representation. After all, it’s been a whole ten weeks since the Democrats have been in the majority. The solution?
Teabag.
Teabag Obama! Teabag the White House! Teabag the liberal dems before they teabag you!
As Maddow implies, with all this “non-consensual teabagging action,” the conservatives seem to have no idea about the many meanings of the term “teabag”. Later in the segment, Ana Marie Cox of Air America Radio, asks, “Well who wouldn’t want to teabag John McCain?” and “You know, it’s gonna be teabagging 24/7 when it comes to midterm [elections].”
Enough said.
Filed under: gay rights, global justice, government | Tags: gay rights, obama, united nations
In 77 countries around the world, it is legal to sentence death to a gay or lesbian person.
Yesterday, Obama’s administration signed a U.N. declaration calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality around the world. The move is notable for the fact that it is exactly the opposite of the Bush administration stance, who refused to sign on to the same declaration in December and reinforcing the U.S. lack of support for international GLBT rights. Well, this has all changed. In the clip above, one of my favorite talk show hosts, Rachel Maddow, notes that Obama’s support means that “it is OK to have the Gays.”
President Obama has made another sure sign of his support for GLBT equality. Now comes the hard part: convincing citizens on the domestic front to support home-grown issues of federal marriage equality, repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and unjust bans on adoption for gay families in places like Arkansas.
In this red-carpet interview, Cher talks about her admiration for President Obama. “Republicans just about killed me,” she says, about the past eight years under Bush and the Republican agenda.
And what does the grande dame think about choosing to be a Republican? “If you’re poor, if you’re any kind of minority: gay, Black, Latino, anything, if you’re not rich…I just don’t get it.”
You’ve gotta admire a woman who doesn’t mince words.
I love this compliation of President Obama (the first time I’ve written that title–how good it feels!) gracing the front pages of newspapers around the world (from Gawker). More specifics about global newspaper takes on the new adminstration is available on the Newseum website.
For all the naysayers (yes, they’ve already started), it’s nice to see that many of the world’s media are providing President Obama with a few pages of optimism before the inevitable doubt.
