[Rhodes22-list] Sailboats - Weather - Politics (Big Al, he was your governor)

Tue Mar 25 09:41:03 EDT 2008

Good morning, friends.

Slim has a very interesting point here.  

Those of us who believe that the Republican machine 
has taken us in the wrong direction on a number of 
major issues are interested in changing horses -- 
in mid-stream if necessary.  

The focus is on change, and Obama has a good grip on 
that.

Like Slim, my father and his contemporaries were 
racist ethnophobes.  Initially, up to the age of 25 
or so, I bought their values.  Then I wound up 
thinking for myself, and questioning things.  That 
has led to a rather different view of the world.  

Now I live in the uncertain territory between "is" 
and "ought to be" -- depressing, exhilarating, 
tragic, dangerous, and the ultimate comedy.

In our system of government, parties can assume too
important a role, but they are the current reality,
good and evil simultaneously.

/Robert
----------------------------------------------------
Steven Alm wrote:
> 
> Brad,
> 
> Let me get this straight.  You think Obama's toast because he knows some one
> who's angry about the black experience in America?  Or he knows some one who
> knows some one who knows some one who likes Farrakhan?  This guilt by
> association is a lot of BS.  Do you really think Obama's a racist
> extremist?  Do you really think he's a Muslim?  A commy?  Do you really
> think he has some hidden, anti-American agenda?  First, he's just as much
> white as he is black.  Why not call him a white man?  Next, let's remember
> that the USA has not exactly been kind to blacks and I think it's pretty
> easy for us white folks to dismiss Rev. Wright's comments as racist, but he
> (Wright) is not wrong when he says America is controlled by rich white men
> to the exclusion of blacks.  If you were black, I'm sure you'd have a whole
> different take on the American experience.  But it's almost impossible for
> the typical white person to see that.
> 
> I do not use the word "typical" lightly.  Neither does Obama.  Of course
> there is such a thing.  We all have our own bias.  It's like the default
> setting on your computer.  If you told me a story about a person who... I
> would automatically think you're telling me about a middle-aged,
> middle-class white male because that's my default bias.  I can't change
> that.  I can't change who I am.  And of course there's nothing wrong with
> that.  It's when you get to the stereotypes and prejudice (root word is
> pre-judge) that we get into trouble.  This is where Rev. Wright got into
> trouble--by letting his bias lean into the stereotypes and prejudice and I
> think Obama made that very clear in his now-famous speech addressing race in
> America.  The only road to success is to be positive instead of divisive.
> 
> I know what the right is asking here--how can you damn America when she's
> sending you a welfare check every month?  The left is saying we wouldn't
> have to send the checks if we didn't have such an inhospitable environment
> for them.  This paradox will not be solved anytime soon but I truly believe
> Obama's got the issue well-organized in his head and has the guts to fight
> the good fight against this ugly monster of racism that is still so
> prevalent in our great but could be greater country.
> 
> To put it in another perspective, my own dear old dad is a dyed-in-the-wool
> right winger and many times I've heard him utter extremely racist remarks,
> the specifics of which I'm far too polite to repeat here.  Were I a
> candidate and his remarks were leaked to the public, I suppose my campaign
> would be over.  After all, he's not merely my pastor, he's my flesh and
> blood.  I could hardly deny that he's been my mentor.  I love my dad no
> matter what trash he talks but many would conclude that I'm a racist too by
> association.  Is that fair?
> 
> Next question: who said the world is fair?  Maybe you're right, Brad, and he
> is toast because of this.  Or maybe the general population forgets all about
> this by the time of the general election.  People have pretty short
> memories.  Either way it doesn't speak very well for the typical American
> voter if they vote one way or the other based on this single issue.  Many
> will not vote for Obama because he's (half) black.  Many will not vote for
> HillBilly because she's female.  Many will not vote for McCain because he's
> old.  I think you're in the minority though if you're voting
> *for*something--most people vote
> *against* something--myself included--I'll be voting against the incumbent
> party.
> 
> Slim
> 
> On Mon, Mar 24, 2008 at 5:07 PM, Tootle <ekroposki at charter.net> wrote:
> 
> >
> > Captain Rummy,
> >    The list is quiet because of the weather.  Brad sailed his boat to his
> > house... And how much snow did you get this afternoon?  It was snowing in
> > Wahalla around 2 P.M.
> >
> >     Maybe all the snow in Upstate New York has kept the New York Rhodies
> > quiet about their former Governor and for that matter their current
> > Governor...  Apparently they both have the same problem, only one was
> > caught
> > by wire tap...
> >
> > Brad,
> >
> >     Come on now, Obama is not toast.  He still has some Rhodies in his
> > following.  You never heard those Rhodies disclaim him.  They probably
> > enjoyed Rev. Wright's sermons.  You should send those sermons to Bill
> > Effros
> > and ask him to comment.  Maybe those Rhodies can get Rev. Wright to preach
> > at their boat launchings.  They probably enjoy those UTubes:
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdJB-qkfUHc&feature=related
> >
> > See this:
> > http://www.nabble.com/file/p16262834/cloth.gif cloth.gif
> >
> >
> > Ed K
> > Greenville, SC, USA
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Obviously, the list is slow to take advantage of 'global warming' and not
> > starting the season early.  I'll take advantage of the lull and fire some
> > shots at something other than squirrels.
> >
> > Economy - Business runs in cycles, get it?  There's always the 'next best
> > thing' and when it falls flat on its ass, there's always 'the next best
> > thing'.  If you have half a brain you understand this cycle.  If you have
> > 1/4 a brain, you worry about recessions.  Don't believe anything anyone
> > says
> > about our current economy.  We're in a recession!  Either the sky is
> > falling
> > or stocks are on sale!  I'm buying!
> >
> > Politics - Obama is toast!  You don't win 'white' votes lecturing them on
> > how their grandmother was a 'racist'.  This guy will be lucky to get
> > re-elected to the Senate from Illinois.  Trust me on this, a lot of people
> > in downstate IL would love to have their vote back.  He doesn't stand a
> > chance in the general as POTUS and is a footnote in Illinois politics as
> > well.
> >
> > Sailing - the cost is going up!  Sails are made from oil based products
> > and
> > you'll see the price increases at replacement time.  On the other hand, my
> > fuel budget for five years of sailing is still less than $200 (not
> > counting
> > the cost of getting to/from the boat).  Just when you lose faith in the
> > world, you realize there are a few good men like Stan Spitzer who build a
> > superior product that everyone can enjoy.
> >
> > Have a nice day and 'don't worry, be happy!"
> >
> > Brad
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
> >
> > http://www.nabble.com/file/p16262834/cloth.gif cloth.gif
> > --
> > View this message in context:
> > http://www.nabble.com/Politics---Economics---Sailboats-tp16256610p16262834.html
> > Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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> >
> __________________________________________________
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-- 
Robert Skinner  "Squirrel Haven" 
Gorham, Maine         04038-1331
s/v "Little Dipper" & "Edith P."