Face to Face

[ManndingoNUPE]

Now I am going to pose a question to my fellow Greeks, and black folks in general.

"Are we as tolerant of people within our own community who have different viewpoints, as we expect others to be of us?"

Ok, let me explain. I got an unsolicited e-mail forwarded to me from a friend, and this sista was on it talking about how we needed to mobilize, and we needed to do this and do that, and it was like a day or two before Gore conceded.

Now I simply shot back to her that I thought that it was time to let it go. The cards were stacked to high, and the person dealing the cards was not going to let you win (Federal Supreme Court, Governor Jeb Bush, The Republican Money Machine). I mean at what point do you focus your resources on a battle that you can win, as opposed to continue to fight on a playing field that is not of your choosing. Also for me, it was never a fight for Gore, it was more about having the votes that were not counted, count. Making sure that all of our people's votes counted in this election. It wasn't about party's, because we are too tied to the Dems, and the Rep. don't like us in my view.
This sista shot me back one of the most hateful e-mails I have ever gotten basically questioning my blackness, where would I be when folks were getting hung, basically calling me a Tom for not agreeing with her.

Now I happen to believe that we can all disagree without questioning someone's being black. Blackness is a state of being, not a way of thinking. It is not something that you can attain. Were that the case the millions of little white kids who run around here trying to imitate what they think an African American is, would be considered black.

But in our community we have a BIG, and yes I mean BIG problem with tearing down folks who choose to believe differently from what our "Black Leadership" believes.

I got mad love for those who came before us, and those who lead today, but hate to hear how we label folks on the Right Uncle Toms or house N*&^s. Come on, I may disagree with them, but we need to respect each others views.

For the record, I hope and pray that Collin Powell, and C. Rice do excellent jobs in their respective positions. As all of should, because they are now our country's leading voice on foreign affairs. I believe that Collin Powell happens to be in agreement with a lot of what we view as important in African American community. He is for Affirmative Action, he is for a woman's right to choice, he is has our children's best welfare in mind. Now I probably disagree with him on a lot, but he is not head of that division of the Executive.

I will not tear him or C. Rice down, but I will give them the opportunity to see what they can do. Our country's and our welfare depend on how well they do.

But we have to move beyond the hate speech that I see going on today. As my frat brother N4L said, it sickens me to hear about that Minister on the Right who basically called us all lazy and all that. That is not productive, and harms his cause, but I dislike hearing that type of speech from our side as much. And I believe that we are a lot more guilty of it that those on the right.

Let's respect everyone's views. I have heard some folks called everything except a child of God. I love Jesse, but sometimes I disagree with him, (well he is an Omega so that's not surprising)LOL. But for real, I believe that we need to move to make sure that we are mobilized within the next two years to make sure that the party that best represents our interest (most likely Democrats) are put into office. That is going to take a lot of hard work. We also need to make sure that folks votes count. All of this will not be accomplished by shouting. It will be accomplished by all of us working within our respective orgs, to make sure that our chapters work within our communities.

The time for shouting is passed, let's start working.

Peace and Luv

MN

[MIDWESTDIVA]

Originally posted by ManndingoNUPE:
Now I am going to pose a question to my fellow Greeks, and black folks in general.

"Are we as tolerant of people within our own community who have different viewpoints, as we expect others to be of us?"

The simple answer to your question is NO. I have often wondered if other ethnic/racial
groups face the same issues that we face in regards to their dealings with each other. For some reason, we always feel the need to question someone else's "blackness". As if there is a choice in the matter. If you don't speak a certain way, you're not Black enough. If you don't vote democrat, you're not Black enough. If you don't listen to rap/hip hop/r&b/jazz/blues you're not Black enough. If you join a PWGLO you're not Black enough. We need to cut out all the crap about who's Black enough and get down to business. Collectively, our priorities are not in order. We spend too much time trying to label people and not enough time solving our problems.


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"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." ~Harry S. Truman~

[ZetaAce]

MidWest Diva is absolutely right. We are not tolerant at all. I personally don't agree with some of the stance that our black 'leaders' have on the issues. We definitely need to cut out the crap and get to work in our communities. We need to stop waiting for the dems to be our saviors cause they aren't helping black people and stop thinking that every republican is a klansmen in disguise (they're not helping us either, but at least they aren't faking like the dems).

On an election note it's amazing to me how most black people have vilified George Bush (not to mention Rice and Powell) and think Gore is a saint. Um, yeah right. What's Gore done for me lately? Nothin!

ZetaAce

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FinerWomanhood: Learn it, Live it, Love it!

[This message has been edited by ZetaAce (edited December 21, 2000).]

[Shelacious]

ZetaAce...your colors are showing, LOL

I do agree with you all, BTW. To look for this "monolithic" group of folks who will share the same political issues, philosophies and thought processes is absurd. It is OK to like the person and disagree with their philosophies. It is OK to agree with part of what a person has to say and disagree on other points. Just because someone's methods differ doesn't mean they don't share your same goals and objectives. I wish people would open their minds...we might learn something (horrors)...

For example, I am a fiscal and social moderate...not a liberal and not a conservative. That means that sometimes I will agree with a more "Democrat" philosophy, sometimes a more "Republican" one. I carefully consider the views of Independents. Sometimes I listen to classical music. Sometimes I listen to MTV-era 80's music. This is NOT the definition of my "blackness", as I am very comfortable in the "skin I'm in" (and wouldn't change it for the world, by the way) ! Change is hard, I know, but in order to grow, one must first embrace change.

And no, there is no "one" leader of black people in America, be it Colin Powell, Condie Rice, Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakan or even the most respected (by me, at least) Dr. Cornell West, although I have agreed with each of these people on certain issues during my lifetime. Folks, one person just ain't gonna cut it.
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Finer Womanhood: the "Cat's Meow" Since 1920

[ZetaAce]

Originally posted by Shelacious:
ZetaAce...your colors are showing, LOL

They're always showing Shel!

SZL,
CK

[NubianBlue]

Greetings to all of my sorors! I just was inducted into my graduate chapter here in Tallahassee, Florida, and I am so glad to be a member of the Blue and White Family!
I agree with a lot of what some of the sisters are saying here. I get incredibly upset when Black people are seen as one monolithic group with one viewpoint-determined by our black 'leaders' which have not even been chosen by us! I don't think that I, or many other black people are sheep that need to be led! My views are probably different from those of a lot of our leaders. And those leaders AIN'T always right! I didn't agree with many of the sexist comments issued by Black leaders before, and I don't now. (Because, sorors, we know we have a problem with sexism in our communities AND churches too!)
That said, I do think that certainly there are many pressing social and economic issues that are relevant to most blacks. And, my PERSONAL view is that I, as a black woman, cannot afford to be a conservative. There is simply too much at stake, and Black people cannot afford to maintain the status quo. We are NOT overcome by a long shot! People like Clarence Thomas really bother me because they benefit from programs like affirmative action, and then turn around and vilify them! What kind of hypocrisy is that?!? And what about the black conservatives that benefit financially and otherwise from their 'pull 'em up by their bootstrap views?
So, I think we should all agree to disagree, but we need to keep in mind that everybody, black or white has an agenda. And it often places self above all else. Just a thought.....