New Area of Leadership
Kennedy had King, who does Obama have?
A New Area of Leadership
A great man once said over forty years ago that, “one of the great liabilities of history is that all too many people fail to remain awake through great periods of social change. Every society has its protectors of the status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent who are notorious for sleeping through revolutions. But today our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenges of today.” This man gave his life for the better tomorrow. These words were spoken out in the world hoping to motivate the masses to become apart of the process in creating a better tomorrow, this he called the “beloved community”. This man was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Throughout history, the Beloved Community has always been the over-arching goal. For example, Tolstoy wrote that the Kingdom of God is within you. Other faiths and traditions would describe a state in which justice and truth would prevail. It is a goal that must pre-exist within the hearts and souls of those who seek change and use nonviolence to achieve change.” It is time for us to wake up and if you are awake, now demand the most from this moment in time.
Not to long ago blacks and white were forced to use separate public accommodations by law. Now America has elected a man to the most powerful elected position of office that this countries has to offer, who’ s parents, one a black continental African and the other a white American, who shared the same bed. America is changing! President Elect Barack Obama calls all members of congress to work together to make good on this countries promises. How do we help the next president of the United States implement the change that we want to see? Many of the news reports are crediting the Obama campaign managers for the strategic approach they took on the issues and there organizing ability for catapulting him to the presidency. While there are others that are saying that McCain’s campaign made strategic decisions that may have back fired and that is why the United States elected an individual that many would descried as an African –American or person of color to sit in the White House as Commander and Chief. But, I think it is much more. I think it was an accumulation of generations of disappointments and mismanagement of the people trust that created this momentary period in time where some are describing it as one of America’s greatest victories while others describe it as one of America’s greatest tragedy.
Across the country people believe in a new tomorrow. The Gathering was most recently organizing and training in the state of California and many of the residence of this state are expecting great things from the current president elect and his Cabinet. “According to CNN’s official website, Obama has announced one senior staff appointment so far. Two days after the election, he picked Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois to be White House chief of staff. “
Many names have emerged for potential Cabinet posts, including Sen. Hillary Clinton for secretary of state. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska also have been mentioned for that position and Robert Gibbs he is widely considered the top contender for press secretary. Democrats said there's also serious talk of Obama briefly keeping Robert Gates, Bush's defense secretary. As we review the names and think about the different groups that these individuals have worked with in the past and we remember there success and downfalls some of us remain hopeful and optimistic and others doubtful and pessimistic. While some law abiding citizens are running out to equipt themselves with more guns and ammunition because they believe that certain rights guaranteed by the Constitution are going to be taken away others, are studying and practicing the philosophy of Kingian Nonviolence to protect and bring forth the promises imbedded in the document.
I have spoken with a few of my friends who are well experience in politics from around the country and they are saying yes to the fact that President Elect Obama is relatively new and brings a fresh ideological presentation and a new passion to the political arena. However many of the potential Cabinet members have been involved with Presidential administration of the past. They all continue with a different version of the same and I will summarize with this analogy. You can change the exterior of the car and it may look different, but if you do not change the parts under the hood it will inevitably run the same. I feel that they are right in their analysis and I think the lesson we must learn is found in the analogy. By electing a President with a background never found before into the White House is a victory, but it is not the final goal. It is a good first step to a much larger marathon. In 1965 The Voter Rights Act was passed due to the sacrifices of so any people whose name’s I won’t try to mention. The goal of the Voters Rights Act was not to elect a Black man into office but rather to have the protection of the law that allowed full participation in the democratic process for citizens of this country. Understanding that through participation in this process a Black man one day could become the president of this country. Just as we as a people have continued to fight for full access to the vote for all through the defending of the Voting Rights Act, we must make sure that we hold all elected official especially our President Elect and his cabinet members accountable. If we truly desire change, we have to ensure that the desire is manifested. We must be the change we want to see in our local, national and international interactions. As member of the Gathering for Justice our job is to manifest and materialize the real change and to hold fast to our guiding principles.
A New Area of Leadership
A great man once said over forty years ago that, “one of the great liabilities of history is that all too many people fail to remain awake through great periods of social change. Every society has its protectors of the status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent who are notorious for sleeping through revolutions. But today our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenges of today.” This man gave his life for the better tomorrow. These words were spoken out in the world hoping to motivate the masses to become apart of the process in creating a better tomorrow, this he called the “beloved community”. This man was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Throughout history, the Beloved Community has always been the over-arching goal. For example, Tolstoy wrote that the Kingdom of God is within you. Other faiths and traditions would describe a state in which justice and truth would prevail. It is a goal that must pre-exist within the hearts and souls of those who seek change and use nonviolence to achieve change.” It is time for us to wake up and if you are awake, now demand the most from this moment in time.
Not to long ago blacks and white were forced to use separate public accommodations by law. Now America has elected a man to the most powerful elected position of office that this countries has to offer, who’ s parents, one a black continental African and the other a white American, who shared the same bed. America is changing! President Elect Barack Obama calls all members of congress to work together to make good on this countries promises. How do we help the next president of the United States implement the change that we want to see? Many of the news reports are crediting the Obama campaign managers for the strategic approach they took on the issues and there organizing ability for catapulting him to the presidency. While there are others that are saying that McCain’s campaign made strategic decisions that may have back fired and that is why the United States elected an individual that many would descried as an African –American or person of color to sit in the White House as Commander and Chief. But, I think it is much more. I think it was an accumulation of generations of disappointments and mismanagement of the people trust that created this momentary period in time where some are describing it as one of America’s greatest victories while others describe it as one of America’s greatest tragedy.
Across the country people believe in a new tomorrow. The Gathering was most recently organizing and training in the state of California and many of the residence of this state are expecting great things from the current president elect and his Cabinet. “According to CNN’s official website, Obama has announced one senior staff appointment so far. Two days after the election, he picked Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois to be White House chief of staff. “
Many names have emerged for potential Cabinet posts, including Sen. Hillary Clinton for secretary of state. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska also have been mentioned for that position and Robert Gibbs he is widely considered the top contender for press secretary. Democrats said there's also serious talk of Obama briefly keeping Robert Gates, Bush's defense secretary. As we review the names and think about the different groups that these individuals have worked with in the past and we remember there success and downfalls some of us remain hopeful and optimistic and others doubtful and pessimistic. While some law abiding citizens are running out to equipt themselves with more guns and ammunition because they believe that certain rights guaranteed by the Constitution are going to be taken away others, are studying and practicing the philosophy of Kingian Nonviolence to protect and bring forth the promises imbedded in the document.
I have spoken with a few of my friends who are well experience in politics from around the country and they are saying yes to the fact that President Elect Obama is relatively new and brings a fresh ideological presentation and a new passion to the political arena. However many of the potential Cabinet members have been involved with Presidential administration of the past. They all continue with a different version of the same and I will summarize with this analogy. You can change the exterior of the car and it may look different, but if you do not change the parts under the hood it will inevitably run the same. I feel that they are right in their analysis and I think the lesson we must learn is found in the analogy. By electing a President with a background never found before into the White House is a victory, but it is not the final goal. It is a good first step to a much larger marathon. In 1965 The Voter Rights Act was passed due to the sacrifices of so any people whose name’s I won’t try to mention. The goal of the Voters Rights Act was not to elect a Black man into office but rather to have the protection of the law that allowed full participation in the democratic process for citizens of this country. Understanding that through participation in this process a Black man one day could become the president of this country. Just as we as a people have continued to fight for full access to the vote for all through the defending of the Voting Rights Act, we must make sure that we hold all elected official especially our President Elect and his cabinet members accountable. If we truly desire change, we have to ensure that the desire is manifested. We must be the change we want to see in our local, national and international interactions. As member of the Gathering for Justice our job is to manifest and materialize the real change and to hold fast to our guiding principles.
About
The Gathering’s Mission
The mission of The Gathering is to build an Intergenerational, movement, rooted in history, cultures and non-violent direct action to heal communities, build collective strength and generate an environment of hope and opportunity.
Civil rights and social justice organizations have come to understand that collective action on a national basis is required to stop child incarceration and challenge the immoral process which perpetuates an unjust justice system. These groups are working under extremely difficult circumstances and many of them with little or no resources. The Gathering is a national movement that creates a coordinated space to 1) fortify relationships between regional groups, 2) support local endeavors and 3) enhance the ongoing organizing of non-violent direct action training. Central to its mission is strengthening our moral environment.
- “a project of tides center” -
"The Gathering" is a project of Tides Center 501c3
Civil rights and social justice organizations have come to understand that collective action on a national basis is required to stop child incarceration and challenge the immoral process which perpetuates an unjust justice system. These groups are working under extremely difficult circumstances and many of them with little or no resources. The Gathering is a national movement that creates a coordinated space to 1) fortify relationships between regional groups, 2) support local endeavors and 3) enhance the ongoing organizing of non-violent direct action training. Central to its mission is strengthening our moral environment.
- “a project of tides center” -
"The Gathering" is a project of Tides Center 501c3
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