Martin Luther King, Jr., Would Be Disappointed With....The African-American Community Today

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Martin Luther King, Jr.

• It was the summer of 1958. I was ten years old. Our family was headed to Florida for a vacation in my uncle's sweet 1957 two-tone, Chevy convertible. We decided to drive straight through leaving the South Bronx early morning. One of our stops was a gas station just south of Atlanta, GA. As a New York kid, I wasn't prepared for my first real introduction into segregation. We stopped at one of those long-gone gas stations. In those days they were referred to as filling stations and/or service stations. While I don't recollect  the brand of fuel, I still remember pulling up to this old, dilapidated white building (looked somewhat like the old train station buildings of that day). It had two old-fashion pumps standing out front.  As soon as we pulled up, an attendant greeted us to pump the fuel, check the oil and wash our windows. I had to go for the usual pit stop and we wanted to get something to drink anyway {McDonald's were few and far between in those days}. I recall walking toward the front door of the station to ask where the bathroom was located. As I approached the rickety screen door, an older black gentleman was also walking toward the door at the same time. So, as my parents had taught me, I held open the screen door for the man. As I did, he looked down at me, hesitated for a moment, as if saying, "What the hell are you doing? You're not supposed to do that son." He bowed his head and went inside the station. I remember grabbing a coke from one of those antique red coolers, and heading outside to where the rest room was located. It was at that very moment when I came face-to-face with segregation--a sign below the rest room sign that said "white" and "colored" with an arrow pointing to the direction of the rest room that was to be used. It freaked me out.
• That was a large part of America five years before Martin Luther King made his great 1963  "I Have A Dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial in the March on Washington. It was six years before the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• This week and next week, America will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of that speech, one of the greatest in the history of our young Republic. Five decades ago the mood surrounding that speech was all about freedom, justice, jobs and ending racial discrimination and segregation.
• The fact is we're a different and better nation today because of what happened on that day.  While it would be absurd to say racism is no longer a problem, it would be just as absurd to proclaim---as many have---that we've not made great strides in human dignity for all racial groups. For example, we are currently living in the era of the first black President of the United States, a president who was elected by a majority of white voters. I sincerely believe Martin Luther King is smiling down on America for that great achievement in American history including  the 42 black Americans in Congress today as well as 10 women, 31 Hispanics and 12 Asian Americans.
• Having said that, I also believe Martin Luther King would be disappointed in the African-American community today. I believe he would be saddened by the  disturbing amount of black-on-black crime and gang violence occurring on American streets today. I believe he would be troubled to learn that the number of black children being raised by single mothers is 54% nationwide and as high as 75% in many of our urban areas. And, as I wrote earlier this week, I believe he would be angry at many black Americans who promote perpetual victimhood as well as black leaders who stroke the flames of racial conflict and tension. I also believe---based on many of his writings and speeches---he would be displeased with the pursuance of so many failed social programs that promoted anguish, dependence and misery (that's been evidenced by looking at public housing alone). In other words, the black community also has a lot of work left to do.
• So, as I did in my previous piece, I'll leave you with this from a man who helped shape the greatest nation in history:

Will Empowerment Ever Trump Perpetual Victimhood For The Black Community?

Jesse Jackson Is Being Honored For Providing Inner-City Youths With Increased Photo Opportunities...The Onion

• Much has been written about the failure of black leadership in America over the last several decades. I revisited this issue after reading and hearing reports of Oprah's alleged encounter with racism while shopping for a purse in Zurich, Switzerland, several weeks ago. But that's not what I found interesting about the story. I found it interesting that one of the richest black women in the history of the planet, a women who made much of her wealth from a message of empowerment, had to resort to whining and portraying herself as a victim.
• And this incident is precisely what brings me to my point today. Too many African Americans promote perpetual victimhood---even those who have been remarkably successful.
• There is no doubt that racism still exists in America. But there is also no doubt that African Americans have too many black leaders who promote racial division largely for fame and financial gain. One can make a lucrative career in America by stroking the fires of racial conflict and tension. Too many continue to pursue failed social programs that only promote unending hopelessness, misery and anguish. They know they can make a lucrative career by stroking the flames of racial conflict and continual tension.
• Not long ago, I wrote a piece about Al Sharpton, a race-baiting hustler and hypocrite of the worst kind. Not only has this thug been involved in promoting some major hoaxes on the public, Jonah Goldberg of the National Review wrote Sharpton knows how to cash in on his access. It's the likes of Sharpton and other so-called black leaders who always turn to a failed ideology that relies on victimhood instead of promoting empowerment, a process where marginalized people can truly flourish without being dependent on the government and society for perpetual handouts. It's through the help of others who sincerely care---not charlatans---that marginalized people will get access to the many opportunities available in life and society. And those "others" happen to be other distinguished black Americans that many never hear about.
• And that brings me to the media, another important piece to the challenges facing African-Americans. What are many blacks to do when the media's impression of black leaders always happens to be people like Sharpton and other "establishment" blacks (who also happen to be members of the political class)? It's invariably the media who turns to the very people who promote racial tension and class warfare. That's what sells their news. In other words, exploitive black leadership and the media are remarkably efficient in manipulating the very people they pretend to help  (I wrote about just this in my July 15, 2013 piece entitled, "The Continued Exploitation Of African Americans By Black Leadership And The Media."). It's a con of the worst kind, and it's been going on for decades. It's certainly not the message that was promoted by Martin Luther King, Jr., and others of the civil rights era. It's not even the message promoted by the likes of Allen West, Herman Cain, Condi Rice, Thomas Sowell, Larry Elder. Zora Hurston and a whole host of other prominent black conservatives. Unfortunately, many Americans have never heard of these and other eminent black conservatives because the likes of CNN, MSNBC, and most of the other alphabet networks pretend these people do not exist. Yet, these black Americans have become successful by not resorting to pulling out the race card or using their skin color to get ahead. In other words, victimhood has never been part of their vocabulary (One might be able to make the argument that even Pres. Obama rose to power through empowerment not victimhood although he's been to deal the race card when it suits his political agenda).

The Obama Administration And The Pinata

"I must confess when I see anyone with an Obama 2012 bumper sticker, I recognize them as a threat to the gene pool." Col. Allen West

• I recalled that quote by Col. Allen West from last year, and the thought of a piñata came to mind.  But not in the sense you might think. As most people know, a piñata is a paper-mache container of candy or small gifts that's hung from a ceiling and is hit and broken by blindfolded people with sticks, usually during Latin American festivals.
• The piñata reminds me of Obama voters including those who still support progressive policies. The piñata---to me---is a metaphor for the Obama administration and it's long list of broken promises. Yet even the failed policies of this administration and those of Congress, there are Americans who keep trying to hit the piñata hoping more toys and goodies will fall from the sky.
• On those rare occasions, some people do get "lucky" when they strike the piñata and are showered with  all kinds of government freebies. We've seen this with the free cellphone program, the abuses in food stamps, disability payments, Medicaid and corporate welfare (Yes, crony capitalism exists. Believe me, the political class knows how to play that game too).
• More often than not, the piñata has been empty as many of the "blind" Obama supporters have found out. They've kept striking the piñata for over five years hoping for something good to fall from the sky. But nothing.
• African-Americans are still experiencing unemployment rates over 13% (in many urban areas, black youth unemployment is over 40%). Hispanic unemployment rates are still over 10% in many parts of the country.

Our Anemic Response To Islamists Contributions To Peace--One Christian Body At A Time

"If Islam is a 'religion of peace,' it's time to show the evidence to the endangered Christians of the Middle East," Ralph Peters

 

We've heard on countless occasions that Islam is a "Religion of Peace." If it is, they have a strange way of showing it. Almost as disturbing has been the virtual silence by most of the Americans media and our administration (including much of Congress) on Islamists murdering Christian throughout the Middle East and in parts of Africa. With few exceptions (NY Post, USA TODAY and FrontPage), most of the news about Christians being murdered by Islamists is coming from the foreign media and bloggers. It's time we alert Americans to this on-going holocaust against Christians. 

• Boko Haram is a Islamic  Jihadists  terrorist organization that has murdered well over 1000 Christians in Nigeria since 2009. International Christian Concern
• In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood targeted Christians throughout the country. Most recently, many Christian Coptic churches have been burned. This past July a Coptic priest was kidnapped and murdered. Financial Times 

• "In scattered locations across Egypt, mobs of hard-line Muslims...attacked Christian homes, business and church buildings." The Morning Star News
• Last week, pro-Morsi protesters set fire to the Virgin Mary Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the world. Raymond Ibrahim
• Thriving Christian communities in Iran, Turkey, Mecca and Medina have been gone decades ago (including Jewish populations).
• "Since Morsi's Ouster, Violence Has Been Escalating Against Copts." USA TODAY
• Islamists thugs attacked a school operated by Franciscan nuns in Bani Suef (upper Egypt) a few days ago and raped several teachers and abused the nuns. The nuns were paraded through the grounds as if they were POW's.  Asia News
• In 2010, an Afghan court ordered the destruction of the last Christian church remaining in the country. Hoover Institution
• Since American forces pulled out of Iraq, half of the country's Christians have left. It is estimated that over 2 million Christians lived in Iraq a decade ago (located largely in Mosul and Tikrit). Todays there are less than a million. NY Post
• Christians are being targeted and murdered by Islamists in Syria. Just this past weekend, 11 people were murdered, mostly Christian, in central Syri. Voice of America
• Last year, pro-government forces in Syria murdered almost 200 Christians in one week as well as burning down churches. Priests have also been killed. Catholic Communications, Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia.
• Last April in Nigeria, during Easter Week, Islamists raided several villages and murdered up to 80 Christians many were children. In addition, over 200 homes were burned as well as eight churches. Church in Chains: Irish Voice for Persecuted Christians.
• Churches have been demolished in Indonesia. Morning Star News
• "The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia has again declared that it is 'necessary to destroy all churches in the region.'" Gatestone Institute (Note: a Grand Mufti is the highest official of religious law).
• Last October, a gunman killed 46 in the Nigerian town of Mubi. But, before he opened fire, he first asked them if they were Christians. He told those who were Christians to deny Christ. Those who refused were killed. The previous January, 13 Christians were killed in the same town while holding a town hall fellowship meeting. Morning State News
• Since 9/11/01, there have been almost 22,000 recorded attacks carried out by Islamists world-wide. These attacks were against Christians, Jews and other Muslims. The week of August 10-16th of this year, 53 Jihadists attacks have been reported resulting in 351 killed and 1016 critically injured. That's just one week. The Religion of Peace.Com

I can continue to list hundreds of additional attacks by Islamists against Christians and others but it would take me several weeks to document each one.

One more point. While there are many Muslims who do not support these attacks upon Christians and minority groups, an important question must be asked of them: Where are Muslim defenders of religious minorities? By not expressing outrage at this on-going genocide, their silence---in my opinion---makes them complicit to these crimes.