It’s Time To End Black History Month
As we draw near the end of Black History Month, one thing is for certain: it’s done more to suppress American History than tell her story.
According to history.com the origins of Black History Month begins in 1915 when Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the then Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), which is an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements of blacks and other peoples of African descent. In 1926, the group sponsored a national Negro History week, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Republicans Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
In the decades following, mayors across the country began issuing annual proclamations recognizing Negro History Week. As a result of the renewed Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and a growing awareness of black identity, Negro History Week evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses. Finally, in 1976 Republican President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month and called upon Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Today in America Black History Month has become little more than a tool for liberal academics and the racial grievance industry to perpetuate revisionist history that suits their agenda to transform America. It has produced an entitlement mentality amongst blacks, perpetual victimhood in place of accomplishment in black communities, and racial strife directed at white Christian Republicans. Additionally, Black History Month has conceived an ire amongst illegal aliens and legal immigrant minorities alike who believe they deserve just as much prominence on America’s calendar as blacks. In other words, it’s causing more division than celebration of unity.
Consider some of America’s forgotten history: William Ellison, a former slave turned brutal slave owner helped finance the Confederate Army. We’re familiar with Republican President Abraham Lincoln who signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves, but did you know Hiram Rhodes Revels was America’s first black senator (1870-1871) during Reconstruction? Blanche Bruce also served in the United States Senate from 1875-1881. There were 21 black congressman that served in the House of Representatives during Reconstruction as well. Why aren’t we taught about these civil rights heroes in our schools? I suspect it’s because they were all Republican! William Ellison being the exception.
It gets better! Despite what you’ve heard, the first civil rights legislation was passed in 1866 by the GOP. Not in 1964! In 1870 the Republican Congress passed and ratified the 15th Amendment, which gave blacks and former slaves the right to vote. In 1871, the Republican Congress passed the “Anti-KKK Act” to abolish the Democrats terrorist arm known as the Ku Klux Klan that was created to stop blacks and “nigger loving” whites, known as Republicans, from voting in the south.
In 1957 Republican President Dwight Eisenhower’s civil rights bill was opposed by the likes of Democrat Senators John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. In Anne Coulter’s book “Mugged” she describes how LBJ stripped the 1957 bill of its enforcement provisions. Thank God Eisenhower introduced a stronger bill in 1960. Conveniently, Democrats changed their position on racism due to political expediency. Lyndon B. Johnson adopted Dwight Eisenhower’s ideas on civil rights as his own, and in 1964 the Republican Congress helped him pass the signature legislation known as the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
A.D. King, Father to Dr. Alveda King and little brother to MLK Jr. is another forgotten hero who worked tirelessly in the Civil Rights Movement. He was a juggernaut in his own right. Sadly, he was murdered just one year after his brother.
My point is this: Black History is American History, and it should be treated as such throughout the entire year wherever it’s relevant. America, with all of its flaws has amazing heroes of all nationalities whose stories deserve to be told. Immigrants don’t flock here because they believe we’re a racist society. They flock here because they know that if they work hard they can succeed despite their ethnicity. In our bitterness, blacks have forgotten that we still live in the greatest, kindest nation ever known to man.
If race relations in America are going to get better, if blacks are going to choose forgiveness over blame, if so-called modern-day “civil rights leaders” are sincere about being reconciled to their fellow man, if blacks are ever going to be integrated into American culture, it seems to me a good place to start the healing process would be by eradicating Black History Month.
Giuliani Was Right, Of Course President Obama Doesn’t Love America
If the president’s policies are indicative of his love for America, let’s pray he begins hating our nation soon.
When former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said “I do not believe that the president loves America” at a dinner featuring Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker last week, my response was, “No duh!” So why were Republicans so quick to back away from his words? Whatever their reasoning, I assure you they do so at their own peril. If the GOP stands a chance of winning the White House in 2016 they’ll need to learn to reframe the left’s messaging. For instance, when the left attempts to silence Christians we must never relent in accusing them of censorship, bigotry and intolerance every time we step in front of a camera or microphone. Eventually we’ll create linkage in the minds of our audience. People won’t be able to listen to Democrats without associating words like “censorship” to their causes if our messaging remains singular and focused. With CPAC on the horizon now is as good a time as any to start.
Republicans must be savvy if they’re going to lose an opportunity of a lifetime to go on offense against Democrats. Now isn’t the time to shrink back from Mayor Giuliani’s words, but rather it’s time to use them as a clarion call-a springboard to address what Americans instinctively know, our president and today’s Democrat policies are tearing this nation apart.
A person that loves this nation wouldn’t say he wants to “fundamentally change America.” President Obama’s view of America can be likened to a woman who finds a good man, marries him, then proceeds to tell him everything he needs to change about himself in order to make her truly happy. Before you know it they’re in counseling and their marriage is on life support. The woman doesn’t realize what she had until he’s gone. Liberals don’t appreciate America’s greatness and it’ll be too late by the time they do. Therefore, it is incumbent upon those of us who do get it to lead the charge to save America.
In the words of a former mentor of mine, Brad Bright (son of Bill Bright, Founder of Campus Crusade for Christ), “Never react, always reframe!”
If the President were on trial for loving America would there be enough evidence to convict him? Can you recall heartfelt speeches or accolades attributed to America by this president? I can’t. Would a man that loves America take cheap shots at its Judeo-Christian heritage, while attributing make-believe contributions to another religion for our founding that simply didn’t occur? Would a man that loves America relegate the poor to perpetual poverty by sucking money out of the non-government working class that could’ve been used to employ them? Does a man that loves America nearly double its national debt thereby weakening our financial credibility and national security?
Furthermore, does a man that loves America send our bravest defenders to war with suicidal rules of engagement and dare not name their enemy, or clarify their mission? Would a man that loves America stack the Federal judiciary with activists intent on usurping the votes of everyday citizens? Would a man that loves America provide money to organizations like Planned Parenthood that are killing off future generations of Americans, especially minorities? Would a man that loves America invite strangers across our borders who don’t care to assimilate? Would a man that loves America demand that our watchdogs-the media, pledge their allegiance to him rather than remain adversarial for us?
Would a man that loves America destroy the best healthcare system by presuming politicians know how to practice medicine better than doctors? Would a man that loves America embolden our foreign enemies, including those that potentially are an existential threat while simultaneously emasculating our allies? Would a man that loves America seek every opportunity to divide its inhabitants among racial lines? Would a man that loves America attend Jeremiah Wright’s church for more than a week? I think you’d agree with me that the answer to all of these questions is a resounding “no!”
Right or wrong, in the political arena whomever frames the debate and controls the messaging typically wins the argument. Accepting the left’s premise on any given issue can lead to a second place finish for the GOP in 2016. Frankly, I’m not sure if there will be an America if that happens.
My Hope For The Man Bruce Jenner
We’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and I did just that every Sunday evening at 8pm eastern standard time when I tuned in to watch “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”
Say what you will about the materialistic, big booty and beautiful daughter’s of Bruce (stepdad) and Kris Jenner, what appealed to me most about the show was the family unity, laughter and sheer fun they seemed to all have together. Sure, Kris Jenner was overbearing at times but it appeared to me that everyone knew their roles in the family, including Bruce. I’ve been genuinely saddened by his apparent transformation from male to female and I pray he’ll get the psychiatric help he needs to conquer his illness. There could be nothing worse than avoiding who you’re supposed to be by becoming what you were never meant to be.
I can’t fathom the torment a 65 year old man must be going through in order to voluntarily castrate himself. What I can say is that it’s not normal or necessary. Mr. Jenner doesn’t deserve our scorn or ridicule but he needs to hear the truth in love. So, let’s start with the basics.
Did you know that transgenderism is a mental disorder? Nothing more, nothing less. Dr. Paul McHugh, the former psychiatrist-in-chief for John Hopkins Hospital and its current Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry has stated that “transgenderism is a ‘mental disorder’ that merits treatment, that sex change is ‘biologically impossible,’ and that people who promote sexual reassignment surgery are collaborating with and promoting a mental disorder.”
During a more sensible time in American history, a few years ago, we use to call it “gender dysphoria” or “gender identity disorder” and for good reason. Professional psychiatrist like Dr. McHugh, who are trained in mental disorders regularly diagnosed patients who suffered from a “disorder of assumption.” Gender identity disorder is comparable to the eating disorder Anorexia where people become dangerously thin, and Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID), where a sufferer is perfectly healthy but does not accept a limb or limbs of their own and seek to amputate them – sometimes on their own, or even become paraplegic. All of these mental disorders lie in the person’s “assumption” that they are different than the physical reality of their bodies.
Sadly politicians, diversity counselors, leftist physicians, elitists and ignorant activists in states like California, New Jersey and Massachusetts who presume to know more about psychological disorders than trained psychiatrists and psychologists, have climbed on their high horse and invoked laws banning mental health professionals, despite parental permission, from working to restore natural gender feelings to what is described by Dr. McHugh as a transgender minor. The lesbian and gay (LGBTQ) community have done themselves a disservice by aligning themselves with transsexual sufferers in order to promote social acceptance. Fighting for a group of people of whom 70% -80% “spontaneously lose their feelings” of gender dysphoria seems hardly worth the effort if your claim is “I was born this way.”
It’s equally troubling to me that doctors who swear to “first do no harm” under their Hippocratic Oath would endeavor to perpetuate a mental disorder like transgenderism where the suicide rate is 20 times higher than the rate amongst non-transgender people. Transgender sufferers like Bruce Jenner will never achieve their goal of becoming a member of the opposite sex. According to Dr. McHugh, at best they’ll become “feminized men or masculinized women.” If Bruce Jenner chooses to undergo sexual reassignment surgery, it is unlikely that he’ll ever experience a sexual orgasm again, conveniently he’ll never have a menstrual cycle or menopause like real women, and smegma-mucus from his make shift vagina will have to be flushed out routinely due to its shallow walls. Disgusting, yes, and this is just the tip of the iceburg.
If that weren’t enough, according to Dr. McHugh, “for those who had sexual reassignment surgery, most said they were ‘satisfied’ with the operation,’ but their subsequent psycho-social adjustments were no better than those who didn’t have the surgery.” This is the reason John Hopkins Hospital, the very place that pioneered sexual reassignment surgery, has stopped performing these surgeries. They no longer saw a need to amputate “normal organs.” Screw political correctness! If proponents of the transgender movement were really compassionate and caring they wouldn’t seek to subject mentally ill patients to a life filled with turmoil and mutilation!
God doesn’t make mistakes, and he certainly didn’t with Bruce Jenner. I don’t know how long Mr. Jenner has struggled with his mental illness. I know with advanced technology, counseling and medicine, the tools exist for him to conquer his disorder. I wish his family, friends, and community were informed and courageous enough to convey that to him, and insist that he remains the patriarch of the family. They don’t need another matriarch. They’ve got Kris.
Why Every Civilian Should See The Movie “American Sniper”
Much to the chagrin of Hollywood leftist like Michael Moore, Seth Rogen and Bill Maher, “American Sniper” has been the No. 1 watched film in America for the second weekend in a row.
This is the best war film I’ve ever seen depicting the parallel worlds of the battlefield, home front and the transitional world where post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) lies in wait for new victims.
The film is based on the true life story of America’s most decorated sniper, Chris Kyle. With all I expected from the film, what I didn’t expect was to walk away with an overwhelming sense that I had failed our troops and their families as a civilian. Judging by the silence that overcame the entire audience at the end of the film, I suspect I wasn’t alone.
There are some givens in the movie. Iraq was a “hotbed” for Islamic terrorist. Chris Kyle, and many like him, were inspired to enlist and risk their lives for their love of country and fellow man, particularly following the Nairobi embassy bombing in Kenya and Sept. 11. Navy SEALs are an elite military force that can’t be reckoned with in the theater of war. Lastly, Islamic terrorist are evil incarnate, as suspected.
However, in addition to war, the struggle to retain a sense of normalcy that our soldiers face when returning home is something civilians often take for granted, and it left me more appreciative of their sacrifices than ever before. “American Sniper” isn’t just a movie. It’s a stark reminder of who America’s heroes really are. Bradley Cooper’s portrayal of Chris Kyle was uncanny. Clint Eastwood’s ability to capture the struggles of PTSD and how it affects a soldiers family life, the love for his brothers at arms, the desire and perhaps addiction to protect America at all cost comes to life on the big screen.
Here are a few of my takeaways from the film every civilian should see:
1.) The lack of respect, appreciation, or simple acknowledgement expressed by media, politicians and civilians to our returning troops may partly contribute to their inability to re-assimilate into society. There was a scene in the film that will likely go unheard of unless you see it. Chris Kyle returned home from one of his tours overseas. He and his wife were driving to the mall and it was evident to her he had PTSD. She confronted him with her concerns. In frustration, he yelled out that no one was even talking about the war anymore. The guilt of driving down the street, windows down in his big black F-250 as sunrays warmed his forearm with the breeze flowing over his sullied ball cap while his brothers were facing sandstorms, saving lives and bullets wisking over their heads was almost too much for him to bear. He couldn’t enjoy the very freedoms he helped to provide.
2.) Women and children in America are held in high esteem. Compare that to women and children in Middle Eastern war zones who are often used for sex and to advance the cause of Jihad. Many Americans, especially leftists, cannot comprehend the depths of depravity and evil that exist within the hearts and minds of our enemies. In the film, Chris Kyle’s wife uses her phone to call her husband. A female jihadist uses her phone to call an Islamic assassin. Likewise, Chris Kyle, despite his foibles, returned home to play with his kids. In Iraq, he was forced to shoot kids attempting to kill Marines with explosive devices.
3.) Without God and counseling, I don’t see how any marriage could withstand multiple deployments. Clint Eastwood was masterful in helping his audience grasp the dynamic of the chasm that exist between the war zone and the home front. At times in the film I wasn’t sure if Chris Kyle preferred his military family or biological family at home. The competition between the parallel worlds that plays out in a soldiers mind is a real one that needs to be addressed by all Americans.
4.) Lastly, our current rules of engagement are simply unrealistic for a war zone. I’m convinced fewer American soldiers would be killed, as well as innocent civilians, if we left the rules of engagement up to our generals on the ground rather than politicians in D.C. who have never seen a battlefield, and are naive enough to believe our enemies think like us. The side that kills the most bad guys wins in war. Let’s stop pretending there’s an alternative. If we’re going to send our troops into harm’s way, let’s have the decency to let them win.
“American Sniper” is just as much a call to action for civilians as it is for troops. Let’s make sure we answer the call.
5 Easy Steps to Eliminate Racism in the New Year
Choosing to hate people simply based upon the color of their skin is despicable! Likewise, presuming that all whites are inherently racist based strictly upon the color of their skin is appalling.
“How is it that Asians can succeed in America and we can’t?” That was the question some of my friends and I asked ourselves as teenagers. Growing up in Los Angeles, Asian owned businesses were plentiful throughout the ‘hood. Equally common was the animus blacks felt towards them. Rappers and racepreneurs like Jesse Jackson contributed to the disdain we felt for foreigners establishing their businesses on our turf. The perception was that the American dream was obtainable for other ethnic groups, just not for blacks.
To our detriment, we didn’t realize it was our own racism that prevented us from understanding that Asians were simply capitalizing on the opportunities available for all Americans within our borders. Unfortunately, many blacks today have hindered their own progress by blaming “the man” for their socioeconomic status rather than themselves.
Racism in America has moved to the back of the bus. Desegregation and public shaming made that possible. It’s largely episodic and situational today. Those that advance this notion of “institutional racism” not only ignore the fact we have a black president, they’ve neglected to realize blacks occupy government jobs more than any other ethnicity by percentage. Check out your local DMV, post office and Clerk of Courts, or look up the actual employment numbers. http://www.npr.org/2012/05/09/152297370/government-job-cuts-threaten-black-middle-class). In short, blacks are the institution.
Perceived or real, racism doesn’t have to deter you from being all God created you to be. That’s why I’ve come up with 5 easy steps to eliminate racism, and here they are:
1.) Remove “conversations” on race from the national limelight: Have real conversations to resolve the problem rather than providing excuses to cause violence. There should not have been any protest in California over Ferguson, Missouri. I recently heard author and syndicated radio host Michael Medved attribute the success of the Jewish people, despite the Holocaust and anti-semitic rhetoric often heard across the globe, to their ability to shut up, forgive and move on. I’m paraphrasing of course. He confessed that when he meets with other Jews they hardly, if ever, discuss past atrocities that killed so many of his people. The reason is simple; doing so would unnecessarily resurrect emotions and issues that have largely subsided and been resolved. Victims can become angry people if they’re unwilling to forgive and move forward; anger makes it harder for anyone to move forward. As long as you hold onto a grievance you will feel entitled to recompense whether it’s justified or not.
2.) Stop with the “Color Blind” Nonsense: I know your intentions are well meaning, but it’s unproductive. God enjoys variety and so should we. If he didn’t he would’ve created all of us the same. We travel because we like to see different regions, ethnicities and cultures. There’s nothing wrong with that! We’re doing each other a disservice by perpetuating sameness at the expense of diversity-in the true sense of the word. Our differences can help us to appreciate one another if we let them.
3.) Learn from our kids: Martin Luther King Jr. succeeded! It’s foolish to have “conversations” on race relations while ignoring obvious gains. America is less racist now, not more. Our kids aren’t as concerned about who’s racist. They’re concerned about who is safe, trustworthy and fun to be around. Just last week I observed a group of teenage friends walking a dog together and enjoying each other’s company. Two were white, one Latino and one black. Let’s hope their college professors don’t teach the minorities their best friends they’ve grown up with are inherently racist.
4.) Eliminate Political Correctness by confronting the cause rather than the symptom: It’s beneficial to stereotype and racially profile, particularly when chasing down criminals and terrorists. We’ll never correct the endemic problems in our communities without pointing out the obvious problems that exist within them. Single parent homes, absentee dads, promiscuous “baby mamas,” joblessness, low high school graduation rates and high crime rates aren’t going to be solved by pretending the American dream is nonexistent for minorities. Cause and effect is not a fantasy. Similarly terrorism cannot be contained by blaming Americans and Jews for Islamic hate. Like addiction, the first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one.
5.) Differentiate prejudice from true racism: Everyone has natural prejudices towards others due to fears, unknowns and stereotypes. However, most of us aren’t racist! Prejudice can easily be overcome through education, integration and humility, but racism is largely a spiritual issue that deals with pride and other matters of the heart. Any conversation to be had on race requires thick skin coupled with an ability to discern between right and wrong. Jumping to conclusions rarely helps matters.
We shouldn’t be so quick to pull the trigger on the “R” word; it might come back to bite you. That’s certainly been the case for black Americans.