Thursday, December 16, 2004
Black Tactics
Over at Black Introspection they have another of their patented posts about how bad negro cons are. One of the reason I read that site on a regular basis is that I think they are a good example of classic communist thinking. The basic tenet of communistic thinking is that group identity and collective work is required for individual progress. This thinking works on all levels. A person can't be healthy on their own by exercising, eating right and avoiding personally risky behavior like cigarettes and unsafe sex. In their thinking the collective must provide health care to everyone. And of course this cooperation must be provide by the only organization that has a monopoly on coercion in America, the government.
I think I understand them pretty well. At one time I was them. But as I learned more, I realized that group progress is made by individual's work. The civil rights movement made this change possible for black Americans. Before the civil rights act, it was not only legal but is was required to deprive blacks of opportunity. Since their mortgages were redlined from the federal mortgage market their homes couldn't appreciate. Because of racist hiring they could be legally denied to use their education to earn a good living for themselves. They could be forced to use inferior hospitals, or groceries. It was legal to charge them higher prices just because they were black.
To remove these obstacles my parents and civil rights leaders used economic and legal tactics that were appropriate to the problem. Some of the tools were economic boycotts, marches and voter registration drives. They were very effective, I know they were because my life is much better today than it was for a young black man 40 years ago.
Being Americans we never settle for good enough. We still want more, and many people like the people over at Black Introspection believe that the tactics of the past would still be working if it wasn't for the small numbers of negro-con that have been bought off by THE MAN and halting our progress. But can 20 years of zero political progress for black America be blamed on less than 1% of the America's population. I don't think so. I think the political progress for black America has stalled because the tactics of the past don't work anymore.
I don't speak for all negro-cons, but we all have something in common, and that is a belief in new solutions, new tactics to accomplish our goals.
Black leaders, and the writers of Black Introspection should stop trying to use negro-cons as a classic scapegoat for their tactical failures. We also want what is best for black America, but we a tired of the doing the same old, same old that doesn't help the majority of black Americans.
We have similar if not the same goals, just different tactics. At the base of our tactics is empowering the individual.
Over at Black Introspection they have another of their patented posts about how bad negro cons are. One of the reason I read that site on a regular basis is that I think they are a good example of classic communist thinking. The basic tenet of communistic thinking is that group identity and collective work is required for individual progress. This thinking works on all levels. A person can't be healthy on their own by exercising, eating right and avoiding personally risky behavior like cigarettes and unsafe sex. In their thinking the collective must provide health care to everyone. And of course this cooperation must be provide by the only organization that has a monopoly on coercion in America, the government.
I think I understand them pretty well. At one time I was them. But as I learned more, I realized that group progress is made by individual's work. The civil rights movement made this change possible for black Americans. Before the civil rights act, it was not only legal but is was required to deprive blacks of opportunity. Since their mortgages were redlined from the federal mortgage market their homes couldn't appreciate. Because of racist hiring they could be legally denied to use their education to earn a good living for themselves. They could be forced to use inferior hospitals, or groceries. It was legal to charge them higher prices just because they were black.
To remove these obstacles my parents and civil rights leaders used economic and legal tactics that were appropriate to the problem. Some of the tools were economic boycotts, marches and voter registration drives. They were very effective, I know they were because my life is much better today than it was for a young black man 40 years ago.
Being Americans we never settle for good enough. We still want more, and many people like the people over at Black Introspection believe that the tactics of the past would still be working if it wasn't for the small numbers of negro-con that have been bought off by THE MAN and halting our progress. But can 20 years of zero political progress for black America be blamed on less than 1% of the America's population. I don't think so. I think the political progress for black America has stalled because the tactics of the past don't work anymore.
I don't speak for all negro-cons, but we all have something in common, and that is a belief in new solutions, new tactics to accomplish our goals.
Black leaders, and the writers of Black Introspection should stop trying to use negro-cons as a classic scapegoat for their tactical failures. We also want what is best for black America, but we a tired of the doing the same old, same old that doesn't help the majority of black Americans.
We have similar if not the same goals, just different tactics. At the base of our tactics is empowering the individual.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Rumsfeld was Right
Why is Afghanistan a success and Iraq's fate is still up in the air? Because in Afghanistan we followed Rumsfeld's plan and in Iraq we didn't. In Rumsfeld's War on frontline they talk about his real plan. Just 50,000 troops, backed with Kurds and other anti Saddam forces. Strike directly at Baghdad, quick elections through local caucuses (like Iowa does) and no occupation. Here is a link to someone complaining about his original plan.
The problem of Iraq is simple. Too many America troops. Local militias of which there were many should have been used for local security, that is the only security that matters to Iraqi. Kurds were our allies, Shiites were our allies they should have been trusted but the state department would have nothing of it. I admire Rummy for dealing with facts instead blaming others when he is doing his job. For example General Garner had a long standing relationship with the Kurds. If he was in charge of the occupation the Kurds would not have vetoed the 40,000 Turkish troops were ready to be send to Iraq. Imagine how that would have changed the occupation.
I advise everyone to do some research on your own, ask questions, like why are we still in Bosnia. Mistakes were made by all people involved in Iraq, mistakes are made in every war. But the mistakes may not be the ones you read in the press. Both Europe and the Arab world have reasons to make sure we fail in Iraq and our liberal press believes that every war is Vietnam.
Why is Afghanistan a success and Iraq's fate is still up in the air? Because in Afghanistan we followed Rumsfeld's plan and in Iraq we didn't. In Rumsfeld's War on frontline they talk about his real plan. Just 50,000 troops, backed with Kurds and other anti Saddam forces. Strike directly at Baghdad, quick elections through local caucuses (like Iowa does) and no occupation. Here is a link to someone complaining about his original plan.
The problem of Iraq is simple. Too many America troops. Local militias of which there were many should have been used for local security, that is the only security that matters to Iraqi. Kurds were our allies, Shiites were our allies they should have been trusted but the state department would have nothing of it. I admire Rummy for dealing with facts instead blaming others when he is doing his job. For example General Garner had a long standing relationship with the Kurds. If he was in charge of the occupation the Kurds would not have vetoed the 40,000 Turkish troops were ready to be send to Iraq. Imagine how that would have changed the occupation.
I advise everyone to do some research on your own, ask questions, like why are we still in Bosnia. Mistakes were made by all people involved in Iraq, mistakes are made in every war. But the mistakes may not be the ones you read in the press. Both Europe and the Arab world have reasons to make sure we fail in Iraq and our liberal press believes that every war is Vietnam.
