While I have in the past been very much been in accord with some of Booker Hodges' posts (particularly those on abuse and discrimination), I am troubled by this last one about "White Leadership" for a couple of reasons.
There really is NO white leadership that speaks for anyone. If anyone said he or she was a "White Leader" he or she would surely be crucified for being a racist, fascist, or Klu Klux Klan'er. People are not allowed to be "white leaders", to advocate for "white people", or be concerned about civil rights issues for "white" people. It is why "poor white trash" are left out of almost anything going on and probably one of the most discriminated groups in this country. Secondly, exactly what are "white people"? I contend there are very, very, few of them. Almost all "White People" are some shade of something off of white. I am sure there are some first generation Swedes and such around, but darn few. All the rest are some shade off of white. (Some are dismayed to find this out). An equally amazing thing is that there are some people of color who are more white than "White People". If we are talking instead about "Power" and establishment inclusion, then is a wealthy Afro-American person with heavy political connections automatically bleached into "Whitedom"? With the same thought is the poor Euro-person from Arkansas, Mississippi, or Tennessee, (or Minneapolis) automatically a person of color? Booker's list of "Who is the leader of White People" is indicative of this problem. He lists Robert Lillegren as a the first mentioned "White Leader". Perhaps Booker is unaware that Robert Lillegren is the first American Indian City Council Member in the history of Minneapolis? I have heard it said that the City needed Don Samuels because the Council previously had only one person of color in Natalie. My question is, "What color is a person of color?" What about Robert Lillegren? Of course I have also heard that Don really does not represent a "Black" person. Exactly what "color" is Don? Or is Robert? "Is" is starting to sound like a question of brother Bill Clinton. It reminds me of the time PPL, Basim Sabri, and Basim's minions apparently attempted to illegally seize control of my neighborhood. Afterwards Basim and his minions wrote "on list" how only white people voted against them. The funny thing was they instantly made several Black neighborhood activists, as well as some Palestinians into "Whites". They also overlooked many American Indian people in the room. The next month there was a joke among some Native people about "Do Indians have to wear feathers to be Indian in Minneapolis?" While it was humorous, it does point out the problem. It also reminds me of the "Bad old days" when if you were anything other than defined "White" you were one of those"coloreds". It would seem the circle is sadly becoming complete, if now you are not agreeing with me or Black, then you are one of those "Whites". I bet somewhere there may be some powerless poor European- Americans asking themselves when they will have the opportunity to be "White". We must all be careful. The one equal opportunity thing in this (sometimes stupid) world is the opportunity to engage in discrimination and prejudice. We live in a self created conflict. In defeat we dream of the pleasure of our will on others. In victory and power we will find little consolation. We continue to gaze upon the bodies of the raped How many generations until we see they are our bodies? See that our follies of today are preludes to tomorrow The sermon is ended for the day, go in peace Jim Graham, Ventura Village >"We can only be what we give ourselves the power to be" > - A Cherokee Feast of Days REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
