Holders Cowards Comments Examined : NPR

There’s a bunch of commentary out there regarding Attorney General Holder’s Black History Month comments.  I thought this particular exchange on NPR between Joe Klein and Michael Eric Dyson was an interesting microcosm of the problems that come with discussing race.

Al-Qaida’s stance on women sparks extremist debate – Yahoo! News

Ok, I thought this was an interesting story. On first blush, I’d want women to be respected and included and to contribute fully to any enterprise. But wait! The relevant enterprise is the use of violent means for political gain. I’m not sure that I want these folks to leverage their gender diversity in order to be more effective in their core mision.

Nevertheless, I can’t help think that if women were truly included in the top level leadership, the “movement” would tend to gravitate away from senseless violence and immolation and toward more practical, sensible, and ultimately constructive strategies.

So wait, perhaps I do want women to be fully included?

Newsweek: How Our Unconscious Votes

In this article, Sharon Begley discusses conscious and unconscious bias and racism and how it affects voters. Counter-intuitively, perhaps, she suggests that the Obama camp should be talking up the issue of race and simultaneously finding points of similarity with the voting public in order to counteract latent racist attitudes. She also brings up the finding that conservatives are generally happier than liberals.

NYT: California Court Affirms Right to Gay Marriage

California Court Affirms Right to Gay Marriage By ADAM LIPTAK

“The ruling, striking down laws limiting marriages to unions between a man and a woman, would make California the second state to allow same-sex marriage.”

It’s amazing how much time and energy some folks will dedicate to reverse this rather than on working to make this a more just and inclusive society for everyone.   I suppose it is easier to suppress and deny rather than build and affirm.

Racist incidents give some Obama campaigners pause

This article in the AJC is originally from the Washington Post.   Young, idealistic, and enthusiastic campaigners for Obama are coming across blunt examples of retrograde racist attitudes and behaviors.   Interestingly, the Obama campaign is very much interested, apparently, in downplaying any and all incidents.

LA Times: Talking about race: Um, you first

Newsflash! The LA Times indicates that speaking frankly and honesty about race is a difficult and sticky matter.

CNN: Transcript of Obama speech

Obama’s speech on race was probably as good a speech as could probably be expected from a politician in this country. I wonder how this intelligent and nuanced speech will resonate among the public at large?

Offensive costume causes trouble for political nominee – Yahoo! News

Costume flap imperils immigration post - Yahoo! News By SAM HANANEL, Associated Press Writer – Sat Nov 17, 7:43 AM ET
WASHINGTON – Just when it appeared Julie Myers had cleared every hurdle in her quest to officially become the nation’s top immigration official, a dreadlocked wig and a prisoner’s outfit could cost her the job. Myers, director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ran into trouble earlier this month after she and two other agency managers gave the “most original” costume award to a white employee who came to the agency’s Halloween party dressed as an escaped prisoner with dreadlocks and darkened skin.

The Politics of God

NY Times Magazine article – The Politics of God By MARK LILLA, Published: August 19, 2007

After centuries of strife, the West has learned to separate religion and politics — to establish the legitimacy of its leaders without referring to divine command. There is little reason to expect that the rest of the world — the Islamic world in particular — will follow.