I've been trying to figure out best way to accomplish a new "offering" at Dagney's Rant.  When I went to Israel, I asked Carolina to add some content to the blog.  Being Colombian, she contributed brilliantly and educated thousands of people about what is really going on in her home country.  Check the archives for all of her posts.  But she and I have so many brilliant and articulate friends, that I offered Dagney's Rant as a forum for their thoughts after I got back from my recent trips.  Here is the first of those entries, this one by "Fountainhead";

"There’s something I’ve been pondering for a while now, and especially in the past couple of days since the discussions in Washington, DC, about the reparations for slavery. I’ve listened to a lot of comments from both sides about this, and I have an honest curiosity as to what’s behind this.  I am not black, and I cannot profess to know anything about being black, so I raise this as an earnest desire to understand.  There are many, many hard-working, productive, talented, admirable black citizens of this great country, praise be to God.  But, if I may be blunt, what is it that other blacks (I’ll identify them as liberal, for the purposes of this discussion) are looking for, that will finally make them a satisfied citizen of the United States?  If they receive the official apology from Congress, and then perhaps financial reparations, added to affirmative action, and other programs that have been, and will be, developed....  will this give them the dignity they appear to long for?   If not, then what will it take? 

Is the situation similar to what we have with the liberal gays and their supporters who are piling on legislation and judicial decisions in order to make us accept their "lifestyle"?  We keep giving them just about anything they ask for, in the name of correcting discriminatory actions.  But there are no laws that can really force an individual to accept the gay persona.  We do have to obey the law, but we do not have to accept that they are right.

I am not comparing being black with being gay.  But the liberal agendas behind the radical aspects of both these groups seem to have similar methods.  Will we ever be able to pass enough laws or funding, or the right laws or funding, to dissolve all evidence of discrimination in this country, or the belief that it is still prevalent here?  Unfortunately, there will always be people who discriminate.  It’s the ugly side of humans, and discrimination can be against blacks, Jews, Hispanics, Asians, women, fat people, handicapped, etc. 

You can't force individuals to change their belief, although you can attempt to educate them.  They might obey the laws against discrimination, but their hearts might not really accept the “equality” of these individuals, for whatever reason.  They have to change of their own accord, and this attitude change usually happens through observing the behavior of those they're discriminating against. They'll react positively or negatively to this behavior, and hopefully change their opinions when positive behavior is observed. 

Since discrimination occurs against an assortment of our citizens, not just blacks, I wonder why it is that some blacks appear to want to hold onto the past, more than the others do?  When you observe that the vast majority of ethnic groups such as Asians, Hispanics, Jews, etc., seem to have moved forward in spite of the discriminations they face, or faced at one time, it just does not seem to be the same for many in the liberal black community.  How many laws, apologies, mea culpa's, opportunities, programs, etc. will it take before these individuals feel that the situation is right with them?  Never, I suspect, because the "right" (the dignity and self-worth) is something that has to come from within the individual, not from someone else telling you it's okay now."

Those are some very sincere questions, well thought-out, and provocative to say the least!  My answers to these questions have been answered in one way or another over the years I've written this blog, so many of you know that I believe the answer to anyone's self-realization, or self-esteem comes from their own accomplishments.  Esteem is earned, not "given".  I know of many many blacks, some of whom are great friends, who are conservative, and resent the dickens out of the programs (especially affirmative action!) that seem to suggest that they need special programs to succeed  because they are somehow "less than".  I don't blame them.  It's insulting!

That's my 2 cents worth.  Now here's an observation from another friend who will be hereinafter referred to as "Fossil";

"Fountainhead, your thoughts got my thoughts rolling around!  The black issue is as complicated as people are complicated.  Much of it must be life experiences, and education.  I grew up in "segregated" northeast Texas, however, neither my family nor friends were racists.  When hubby entered the military it had been non-segregated for several years.  He served with some great black officers and troopers.  When someone has your back, the color is not important. The Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons have found racism to be their ticket to power. They learned it is financially lucrative and power enhancing to push the "white guilt" thing in their extortion schemes. There have been far too many who have used "get whitey" to twist the minds of susceptible people.

Barack Obama didn't play the race card until he observed his poll numbers were not to his liking...couldn't be his fault...it's racism!  It further reveals that he is a weak, hollow man. I heard on Laura Ingraham that classmates at Harvard Law reported that Barack Obama spoke with clipped speech...almost a British accent.  And, now he has a Jeremiah Wright-type southern accent. One of the classes Barack Obama taught at Columbia was black studies...the required reading was amply illustrated with sickening accounts and awful photos of lynchings. This Obama persona has been carefully crafted.  Growing up in Hawaii could not have been a nightmare experience of racial discrimination.  Many colors and nationalities have been woven into the fabric of Hawaii for the entire recent (200 years) history of the place.  It seems to me that Barry Dunham chooses to be Barack Obama because it serves his purpose in this theater of the mind he has decided to bring to the political stage. He has been studying "being black" for his entire adult life. The messiah bit is brilliant..."I am the one; I am the symbol". This junk has been used successfully by Marxists, Socialists and Fascists for centuries...I am your religion!  "People who believe in nothing will fall for anything."  He is a user and racism is his sledge hammer (and sickle?).  Barack Obama's handlers and supporters will consume this koolade because they too want the trappings of power, ease, and no guilt...no conscience either, I suspect.  And, the Democrat Party is their religion (says Rush...I agree).

As far a reparations are concerned, a lot of you have heard my family story.  I will repeat for those who have not.  My father's paternal grandfather...way, way, back...came to Texas in 1834.  He participated in the fight for Texas independence from Mexico.  When Texas became a Republic, land (600 acres) was given to participants in the struggle.  Grandfather Richard divided his acreage into three parts.  He traded 200 acres for a wagon and two oxen.  He gave 200 acres to the FREE black woman who helped him raise his large family.  He was a widower.  He kept 200 acres to farm.  That 600 acres is now Dallas, Texas. None of that valuable real estate ever made it to my generation.  I hope that black lady and her family managed her 200 acres more effectively!  Can I assume our family's reparation bill is considered paid in full?

And, Michelle is back!  What great fun.  Heard her (recorded) on Hugh Hewitt Wednesday night.  This time she could almost have broken into song...(from Old Man River, no less)..."I gets weary and sick o' tryin'".  Golly gee, working moms, poor Michelle has to work, take care of the girls (her mom helps a lot, and there is a full-time housekeeper (and au pare, maybe?)), get to her personal trainer 4 times a week, pay the bills, prepare nutritious meals, help with homework, drive to school and dance lessons, be a mom, keep their home (mansion) running (Oh yea!)...."I's tired o' livin but feared o' dying".  These two frauds are so out of touch, they have to play act stereotypes of what they think black folks and actual working mothers are like.  This is a minstral show!  Barack is now pushing a "stimulus" payment taken from oil "windfall profits" (the only entity that makes a windfall profit from an oil company is the U.S. government...taxes, taxes, taxes).  He wants to send $1000 to each family making less than $150,000 a year to offset higher gasoline costs.  The lovely Michelle referred to the last stimulus package (a la Bush) as not enough to buy a pair of earrings.  Michelle needs more earrings?  Where does she shop anyway?

Fountainhead, I have no idea how it all gets so convoluted.  La Raza, MALDEF, NAACP, Labor Unions, all had a valid reason for being when they began...same is true of Greenpeace, Sierra Club and such.  They take the power trip; we buy the tickets.

As far as the homosexual lifestyle is concerned, the ones I have known and worked with have been admirable human beings, but not so comfortable with their sexual orientation.  The activists are not so comfortable either, which, I believe, is why, we are all supposed to validate the lifestyle for them.  A young man I knew well in recent years was homosexual and how I wished he had been straight...would have made a wonderful husband and father...just a great guy.  He died of aids.  I will always miss him.  We are...the larger population...required to place a stamp of approval on gay marriage. I can't do it.  I do believe valid homosexual folks are born that way.  I can't do anything about that.  And more personally, I can't put a stamp of approval on a man, an Episcopal priest (now Bishop), who believes that his lifestyle is more important than the church he took vows to serve, and the inconvenient scriptures that WERE the foundation of that church.  That same man decided it was OK to split a church, just to satisfy, and validate (in his own mind) his selfish behavior.  I could admire this man if he took a vow of celibacy when he realized that because of his sexual orientation he could no longer be the husband and father he had been.  There are celibate homosexuals.  However, he chose to require God to follow his personal will rather than offering up celebacy as a gift to God and continue the work of God, as he had been ordained to do.
Perhaps when creeping humanism and self-worship began to replace God in homes, schools, families, churches, government and life, we loosened our grip, our strength and our direction.  There are enough of us out here to reverse this and bring our nation back...I continue to pray for that.  As good ole Mark Twain says, "humans are the only animal that blushes...or needs to".         
 
Sorry this is so long...the thoughts just keep rolling along...and along...and along."

What a joy it is to have such bright and articulate ladies as friends.  I'm thrilled to add their "2 cents" to Dagney's Rant.  I hope you enjoyed their contribution.