Monthly Archives: July 2009

(Community Matters) . . . call the pound. See them as the obstructionists claiming to be protectors of something they’re not. 47,000,000 Americans without health insurance. Our costs are twice the average, infant mortality is highest, life expectancy is decreasing, American manufacturing competitiveness is hamstrung, white collar competitiveness next, medicare/medicaid will break the bank, and insurance companies continue making obscene profits while kicking back claims.

Lots of questionable motivations among this bunch. Rep Ross from Arkansas who leads the health care task force for Blue Dogs still owns a pharmacy, is simultaneously “employed” by a pharmaceutical operation and received most of his campaign contributions from the health care industry.

In the Senate, MT Senator Max Baucus? According to the Nation, former Baucus staffers are currently being paid $1.4mm per day by the health care industry. coincidence? go figure . . .

(Community Matters)

(Community Matters) Capped off our 5th wedding anniversary with dinner at Margaret Keys. Oh my . . . she enlisted Meg to cook for just the three of us. And, Meg can cook!

For starters: 1) avocado & ginger on slices of jicama, 2) peppered & spiced garbanzo paste on black bean tortilla chips accented with cilantro. Halibut and miniature garden vegetables baked in parchment with an herb salad and crispy, black rice. Dessert under the stars, amidst a surprisingly cool breeze, outside Margaret’s studios – rich, flourless chocolate cupcakes and fresh berries. Wonderful stories, sharing and ruminations. Margaret so very dear to us and deeply woven into our lives – together and separately.

(Community Matters) A guest editorial in the NYTimes (racial profiling).

(Community Matters)

(Community Matters) Senator Fiengold

(Community Matters) A friend wrote questioning my earlier posting of USA/Gallup poll indicating 70% of Republicans would vote for Sarah Palin for president. I’d only referenced the citation in a Frank Rich column. And, since I have much respect for my friend who questioned the results, I went searching for the poll’s information.

In fact, it’s correct – actually 72% of Republicans in a July 6 poll were somewhat and very likely to support Palin for president. +/- 3% margin of error. survey results here

(Community Matters) Guest blogger Chris Bodenner in Andew Sullivan’s Daily Dish.

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(Community Matters) Nice write up on John Thornton’s and Evan Smith’s venture in the San Antonio Express News.

I should expand the providence to now include Ross Ramsey, Alisha Ring, Matt Stiles, Abby Rapoport, Emily Ramshaw, Elise Hu and Brandi Grissom.

(Community Matters) The International Brotherhood of Police Officers and KLBJ listeners are responding forcefully and defensively within their perceptions of unfairness. In the first case against one of their own, Cambridge Sargent James Crowley; in the the second case protesting the cancellation of the Todd and Don Show.

African American Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. was arrested at his home after having to bust through (with the help of a black cab driver) a stuck front door. Neighbors called the police, who responded and demanded identification of the home owner. What transpired, after, is a matter of dispute. Prof Gates states Sgt. Crowley was disrespectful and racial profiling. Cambridge police officers say Prof. Gates was out of control, yelling and uncooperative while they were just doing their job. President Obama – asked about the incident during Wednesday’s press conference – said the police “acted stupidly” when it had already been proven someone was in their own home, and the President admitted he didn’t have all the facts.

KLBJ responding to US Hispanic Contractors Association pressure canceled the Todd & Don Show. Don Pryor had repeatedly used the term “wetback” to describe illegal aliens. The contractors’ protested and were not satisfied with public apologies and a two-week suspension, threatening the radio station’s parent with an advertiser boycott. Now, the AAS reports some listeners are boycotting existing KLBJ advertisers in their own, reverse boycott.

A quick blogosphere search confirms both incidents – especially the former – are tearing at the seams of barely hidden racial tempers.

President Obama in clarifying statements is backing off his unscripted remarks during Wednesday’s press conference. Should he have answered the question while admitting he didn’t have all the facts? I suspect many in the majority would answer no. I suspect many Black and Brown Americans, based on decades of discrimination and racial profiling at the hands of law enforcement, think otherwise.

Did the Hispanic Contractors Association overreach? Did KLBJ management respond appropriately? I’m not sure these are the questions.

I’ve been struck by the ferocity of the Hispanic contractors’ youngest leaders. Now appears their dawn of time for remediating the past sins of discrimination and racial profiling. And, I’m informed by my own recent reflections of personally being too judgmental, too quick to respond without empathy and compassion. Some of my political blog posts just a few examples.

If the question is how do we prevent hurtful racial slurs, discrimination and racial profiling in the future . . . or how do we avoid a boiling over of racial tensions now simmering and – imo – threatening to erupt physically all around this country, then perhaps there are different answers in the broader context. I don’t know. I’m still figuring out the questions.