What is upon us now
 

I thought it was time to get refocused on some important issues ... I Just wanted to remind everyone that the Democratic National Convention starts today at the LA convention Center. If you missed the Republic or Liberal/right for life Nation Conventions, please try and catch the Democratic one so that you can make a intelligent vote in November. We only have two months to elect a new president of the United States and to try and make a difference!!

Please get registered, register others and go to the polls in groups to VOTE!!

peace!

I agree Soror. Please everyone, get out and vote and exercise your right. Remember people fought and died to give us the opportunity to vote.

Pay attention to the candidates and their platforms so that you can make an informed choice.

One Love.

Thank you, Soror LadyAKA, for starting this thread. It was starting to look like a bad love line/scandal sheet up in here...

DG

I agree with you, Sorors. Excellent advice, LadyAKA.

Sorors and sisterfriends, if you are following this campaign, let's not get fooled by all the hype. This week the GOP launches a new "compassionate convention" as George W. Bush tries to sell himself as "a different kind of Republican." When you scratch beneath the new moderate talk to find the policies and platform, this is still the same old tobacco-loving, gun-toting, race-baiting, gay-bashing, Bible-thumping Republican Party of yesteryear. Never mind that Republican policies are anti-black, anti-women, anti-youth, and anti-gay. They are so desperate to win, that they will not allow a little thing like consistency to stand in their way. They will do everything they can to make you forget they're still Republicans. . . The Republicans won't tell you that "compassionate" Bush is the nation's leading executioner. They won't tell you that Bush opposed hate crimes legislation in Texas. They won't tell you that Bush opposes increasing the minimum wage to a living wage. They won't tell you about Bush's appearance at Bob Jones University or his position on the confederate flag. They won't tell you that the man who wants to be the "education president" chose as his running mate a man who voted against creating the Department of Education. They won't tell you that Dick Cheney voted against affirmative action, against Head Start, against South African sanctions, against releasing Nelson Mandela from jail, against the Clean Water Act, against the Safe Drinking Water Act, against restrictions on cop-killer bullets, against the Equal Rights Amendment, and against abortion even in cases of rape and incest. Far too much weight has been placed on style instead of substance in this campaign. We've heard a lot about Dick Cheney's "moderate image" and George Bush's relative youthfulness. And George W. Bush may
not have been born in the same generation as President Bush, but this is still his father's Republican Party. . . No matter how much kinder and gentler the campaign may appear, if Bush and Cheney win, we're screwed.

So, I agree this was a very important topic to start. At the same time, I believe that the love/non-intellectual topics are important as well. They are all issues that impact us as Black women.

[This message has been edited by SkeeBunny (edited August 14, 2000).]

Good Morning Ladies of AKA and my Wonderful Sisterfriends!

With all the talk of voting and elections going on, I wanted to ask a question that I've been pondering to get some feedback from everyone. Recently, in the city I live in, we had a primary election for several judicial and gov't offices. The voter turn out in my city was, I believe somewhere around 20% http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif Can you believe that? Now I don't know if that low percentage rate was attributed to the fact that this was a primary election or not, but nevertheless, it's nonsensical. I worked the polls on the day of the election, passing out literature on various candidates, and helping out with the voting procedure. The turn out of the 18-35 group was scant (to put it mildly) which brings me to my question. With such low numbers, do you think it's more important (for the upcoming Presidential election in November) to concentrate on voter REGISTRATION, or voter PARTICIPATION (for those already registered). I mean, it seems as if we have a slew of people registered to vote, but they just don't actively participate. I look forward to reading your answers.

I think that we should indeed focus on voter participation as well as continuing to register those that are not registered. The big problem is that we believe we can't make a difference.

Think of it like this. When a new "black" movie comes out on the weekend, we as a people will come together in support of the movie and make sure that it tops the charts and make at least 30-40 million dollars. We need to be just as supportive of candidates who have our best interests in mind. If we go to the polls and spend 10 minutes or less to vote (for FREE!!!) we can put our candidate in the "win" column, just as we do the movies that we support. You will spend less time at the polls voting than you will just waiting in line to get into the movie.

When we realize that - Yes, we can make a difference when we ban together and participate in the voting process instead of standing on our soapboxes complaining about things, then things will begin to change.

In order to get more participation, what can we do? Have information sessions on the candidates stand on the issues. Offer incentives to voters? Offer buses to take folks to the polls? Have polls set up at more accessible areas? I'll have to think on that some more.

Great analogy and well said Soror PinkCashmere.
I agree sometimes we waste too much time, energy and money on things that are not important. If we feel that everyone seeing the movie in the first weekend will make it a hit why don't we feel that voting will make our candidate win ... we have to have a greater belief in ourselves and our vote!!

I wonder a few things.... How George W. Bush feels about Dick Cheney's daughter being lesbian and how does the think that will affect or enhance his Republican voters. I'm very interested to see how he sugar coats that one. Maybe that's the reason why he picked Cheney eh? So he could get more votes from the Liberal and Democratic party. Also I was watching a TV program last night that says Bush has an African-American woman in his office that flies the confederate flag. I think Bush is trying to pull out all the big guns to win this thing. This is going to be a VERY VERY important election.

P.S. If anyone has read different I would like for you to correct me here.

Ali,

You brought up some very interesting points. Bush and Cheney are using the fact that his daughter is a lesbian to their advantage. It actually helps to strengthen their "different kind of Republican" stance. They are using her lesbianism to show the world that they can be liberal. I mean, Cheney is accepting of his own daughter, even though he is anti-homosexuality. Even though he is SUPPOSED to support his daughter, he is saying, "look at what a great guy I am. I love my daughter in spite of her evil ways." Imagine that!

And yes, they have found a Black woman who has agreed to fly the confederate flag. I have been trying to find out more about her (i.e. where she's from, her educational/political background) and when I do, I'll post what I find. Also, has anyone seen the Black woman who Buchanan has chosen as his running mate? Her name is Foster and although these two don't have a chance in hell of winning, I have to wonder what her deal is. I can't believe that she would put her name on the ticket of a known racist KKK supporter. Don't these women realize that they are just two-in-one tokens? They are women and they are Black. These sistas need a true reality check.


[This message has been edited by SkeeBunny (edited August 16, 2000).]

I totally agree I have no idea what these women are thinking. They are feeding into this racist crap to get them elected or something. I've never thought black women who are so strong to even think about helping people like these crooks out. Maybe they are paying them off. It hurts me to think that any person of color would fly a flag like that which represents so much hate especially here in the south.

Just want to make sure that we are all registered!! The last day to register in NYC is OCT 13, so I have been diligently working with a small network of family members to try and get folks registered ... I hope we all remember this is a very important year. I am sorry I have not put the document up that I promised after returning from DC (work has been hectic), but I will just briefly say there are many reasons to get on board with this, our very lives depend on it - it what???
'It' the VOTE, and who wins!!

I received this message this morning and I though I would share. For those thinking about not voting, please remember that voting has not always been a right.
God Bless

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Ain't I a Woman? (1851)

Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?

Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?

Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.

- Sojurner Truth -
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