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Relationships are funny things…

March 16th, 2008
By T-STEEL, Site Administrator

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BlackPanthersPIC1.jpg

THE BLACK PANTHERS

I was born to and raised by former members of the Black Panther Party. I also grew up around my parents’ friends (other former members). Throughout a childhood filled with love and support, the ideas of militant activism rubbed off on me. You could say I was an honorary member of the now-defunct Black Panthers. I fell in love with them. Their struggle. The strength of seeing those black people carry guns in unity. A Black Militia for social activism. But my parents weren’t starry-eyed militants. They were realists. For every romantic notion, I was fed caution. I was told to judge people not by skin color but by actions. I was told to follow the laws of the land and to protest peacefully. Many times they hammered their caution home with looks that would peel the armor off a tank. In the end, they created an independent thinker. A son that volunteers his time to help others. A son that is more optimistic than pessimistic. But they still wax poetic about their Black Panther and militant days. Some of their friends lay the black nationalism on thick over the BBQ. I call these people my friends also. They’ve helped me with homework (thanks Mr. G for your invaluable Calculus lessons), helped me with relationships, and just plain helped me with life. Even though some of things they say are on a par with Minister Louis Farrakhan and Reverend Jeremiah Wright and make me cringe many times.

Reverend Jeremiah Wright… Senator Barack Obama… Relationship. Mentoring. Friendship. All parts of the human experience. Not easily shaken off. Yet this is what running for the President of the United States is about: shaking off “damaged goods” even if you respect, care about, and/or love those “damaged goods”.

The whole Wright-Obama saga (and thanks to my fellow co-bloggers and commenters for their insightful thoughts on this subject) has made me take a look at my associations and friendships. I realize that those friends of mine who have said and continue to say disparaging, inflammatory, and hateful things about people are still my friends. Their impact on my life has been too great. I can’t just drop them. They mean too much to me. They are an integral part of my life, my wife’s life, my children’s life. Even though some of the words out of their mouths embarrass and sometimes repulse me.

Senator Barack Obama has made his choice. His friendship with Rev. Wright means too much to just cut off. He can’t destroy the man that impacted his life so much. Sure Rev. Wright has left his unofficial role with the Obama Campaign, but Senator Obama will not throw him under the bus. Obama must feel that Rev. Wright has not done enough “dirt” (positives outweigh the negatives) to cancel his friendship with him. I admire that since I feel the same way about some of my friends.

Relationships are funny things. We can be impacted by the strangest of characters. One person’s hero may be another person’s villain. Senator Obama’s emotional soft spot has been exposed for all to see. And in the uncaring, unflinching, and harsh world of American politics, a emotional soft spot is easy leverage; manna from heaven.



This entry was posted on Sunday, March 16th, 2008 at 6:30 am and is filed under Christians, Newsweek Blogitics, USA, Barack Obama, 2008 Elections, Politics. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Viewing 41 Comments

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    I plan to vote for the Democratic nominee, whether it's Obama or Clinton.

    I plan to do that because I've lived through the past eight years, which have featured two incompetently managed wars, tax cuts in a time of war, tax cuts in a time when the largest entitlement program since Medicare was instituted, a ballooning budget deficit, the decline of the strength of the dollar, bailouts for large banks which failed in their due diligence in making loans, recession, the destruction of a large American city, unwillingness to deal with the looming healthcare crisis, incompetence (and likely worse) in the Department of Justice, rising gas prices, an assault on science, and a President satisfied to serve 28% of country.

    Naturally, Republicans are going to do what they can to change the subject. Naturally, they'll be abetted by our dumb news media.

    They've had fifteen years to trash Hilary Clinton and she's still standing. I respect that about her--very, very much. But remember what happened to John Kerry. If the nominee is Barack Obama, they'll use anything (including, apparently, things said by someone other than Barack Obama) to trash him. And they'll be abetted by our so-called news media.

    It's not like Republicans can run on the issues.

    I can't wait to vote!
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    They've had fifteen years to trash Hilary Clinton and she's still standing. I respect that about her--very, very much.

    True enough George. This whole process of "vetting" is heartening and depressing at the same time. Heartening that we give those running for POTUS a thorough poking, prodding, and coroner-like internal investigation. Depressing that we are increasingly hypocritical in that vetting.
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    TO: T_Steel
    RE: Living With Ones Past

    Thanks for confirming my concerns about Obama and his spiritual mentor of the last 20 years.

    RE: Soft Spots

    "And in the uncaring, unflinching, and harsh world of American politics, a emotional soft spot is easy leverage; manna from heaven." -- T_Steel

    True.

    However, allow me to point out that this is ALL part of the necessary process for us to choose the 'Man' with his finger on a nuclear arsenal.

    Would you have US be any less demanding of that much power?

    Regards,

    Chuck(le)
    P.S. We all have our cross to bear. For me, I could not be promoted to field grade officer in the active Army. Why? Because of the man my sister married....and Iranian expat. God bless them both. But I've learned to live with it. Obama should be prepared to do the same.
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    And those of us who find his relationship with Rev. Wright troubling, have every right to do so. It is rather difficult to believe that someone to whom he is so close, and has considered his spiritual mentor for so long, will have no influence on his ideas and decisions. If the Dems nominate Obama, I'll vote for McCain.
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    TS - At least no one soiled their diapers over your ties to the BP. In Detroit's history, the BP weren't all that violent in comparison to other cities. Kenny Cockrel was more of a threat than the Panthers.
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    cbpelto: "Would you have US be any less demanding of that much power?"

    Nope. I'm somewhat conflicted. On one hand I want us to be critical of those running for POTUS. On the other hand, I want us to look at our lives and the "shady characters" that may have influenced us. But in the end, your point is more valid than mine cbpelto. :)

    And those of us who find his relationship with Rev. Wright troubling, have every right to do so.

    You sure do. And I would be un-American to say otherwise. My point in the post is that you can have a relationship with someone that means so much to you but that same relationship can be used against you. And when found out, BAM! You got a problem.

    I know for a fact that I couldn't run for POTUS. Both of my parents being former Black Panthers? A best friend that served time in prison for gang related activities? Growing up around members of various black nationalist groups? I would be rhetorically flayed alive no matter what I say. *shudder*
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    It occurs to me that, with the advent of the internet, and blogging (and commenting), we're going to rapidly narrow the field of folks who can survive the scrutiny. Lots of folks are on record nowadays with incendiary statements.
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    TS and BO both turned out OK, even with controversial mentors. Many fail even with mainstream mentors(GWB).
    LOL - A Panther mentor for calculus, was this in HS (Cass Tech) or at a local college? I don't picture your mentor helping out in the Pointes.
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    This is an excellent post.

    Whether you are against or for Senator Obama...it is difficult to see behind his persona to understand who he is and what is driving him.

    T-Steel's analogy is indicative of how emotionally difficult the Wright issue is for Obama.

    I wonder at how much of the Black Separatist rhetoric Obama has internalized, and whether this accounts for his distancing himself from overt signs of patriotism (altho, on Olberman, the Stars and Stripes were immediately beside him...unusual for Obama, and a sign that Sen Obama's advisors are taking this issue seriously).

    It may not cost him the nomination, but it certainly may the presidency.
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    I told my children to Choose their friends wisely as