Maria Niles's blog

When is Singing The National Anthem Considered Unpatriotic?

2008-07-05T16:12:23-05:00

Rene Marie Sings Black National Anthem Instead

Jazz Singer Rene Marie was booked to sing the national anthem at the annual Denver mayoral state of the city speech (click to read more of Amy Gahran's take on the reporting of the event).

Marie has said that she was engaging in both art and protest.

As Barack Obama was stopping in the state of Colorado the day after, the Democratic convention will be held in Denver and Obama is black, he was asked to make a statement about Marie's performance despite the fact that he was in no way associated with Marie or the event.

Reactions have ranged from supportive, nuanced historical perspectives, anger, outrage, calls for Marie to be sued for breech of contract (she was not paid for the performance), to extreme racism (white racist websites and blogs are having a field day with this).

I am disappointed, though not at all surprised, that most of the reaction has been facile anger with very few examinations of the legitimacy of Marie's claims that her performance constituted art or how it functioned as a form of protest. Similarly I'm saddened but, again, not at all surprised by the depth of professed lack of knowledge of US history.

Yes there is a song titled "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" which became known as The Negro National Anthem or Negro National Hymn (which is how it was formally recognized by Congress). As the term Negro has fallen out of use, it is now often referred to as The Black National Anthem.

In the video it appears that nobody recognizes the lyrics Marie sings to the tune of "The Star Spangled Banner." Outraged reaction followed once it became known that the lyrics (originally written as a poem) were from something known as The Black National Anthem.

While I remain of the belief that the discussions of race which are arising during this political season are important as catalysts to painful but necessary discussions, I fear this incident unfortunately has only served to fuel mostly anger, hatred and prolonged ignorance.

Maybe we can have a discussion here that digs a little deeper. Do you think this a legitimate form of performance art? Did it serve as subversive protest? Does Lift Ev'ry Voice still serve a roll as a "national anthem" for black Americans? Why do we require Obama to speak to every controversial action a black person takes in this country?

Personally I enjoyed the musical mashup and found it interesting from an artistic perspective. And I thought it was effective as a form of protest. Who better than artists to be subversive, to shake us up and get us talking? I wish deeply that some folks will be inspired to learn more about this song, the role it has played in this country's history and will move beyond the superficial reaction many are having to the reference to race in the alternate title. And, seriously people, Marie's choice and expression of thought has nothing to do with Senator Obama.

Jill Tubman at Jack & Jill Politics observes (and click through to see the site's gorgeous and cheeky redesign if you haven't seen it):

I suppose I’d be more sympathetic if her decision to hijack Denver’s annual state of the city meeting was promoting awareness for a specific injustice happening in America or locally Colorado perhaps. Then perhaps it might be construed as a courageous act. As it is though, it seems deceptive — she wasn’t contracted to sing the black national anthem (which is a gorgeous inspirational song). They asked her to sing the National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner, which all African-Americans recognize and sing as our nation’s official anthem.

I’m not sure why this has received so much media attention unless the goal is to portray African-Americans, including and especially Barack Obama as unpatriotic. That’s not real and is Afrpatently false. And shame on the media for trumpeting the story. It’s like a gift to Fox News. Ugh — I’m personally embarrassed.

Queen Ester at Kudzu, Mon Amour recalls the importance of Lift Ev'ry Voice to the black community:

every black anyone in my little kid world knew this song and they knew it cold. they sang it from the heart, with feeling. and in a way, all of us knowing this song gave us a kind of solidarity and a unity that bloomed all the time.

feeling this togetherness as a child in the south amongst black folk gave me a glimpse into the jim crow years that my now 92 year old father lived through and how, in the moments when all we had was each other, we looked out for each other in so many unspoken ways that don't seem to happen anymore ...

i don't know every negro in america but i can't think of any black people that don't know this song. don't believe me? ask an african-american you know to sing it. i don't think we should stop singing it until they acknowledge what happened and apologize for it. there has never been a collective reckoning amongst all americans, where we talk about these things openly and deal with our feelings in a supportive way. like south africa, we need a truth and reconciliation commission of our own.

Sheryl at Girl, Get Me Started! asks "can the black national anthem ever be inappropriate?"

Yes, sometimes we are angry at the way we are treated, but you don’t have to shake red, white, and blue pom-poms all the time to show how much you love this country—any more than loving your relatives means that you must grin at them all the time.

All of that being said, Marie’s action also introduces this question: why can’t the Black National Anthem—its call for hope, faith, and perseverance in the face of oppression—belong to all Americans?

Sociologist Sue Greer-Pitt deconstructs an email forward she received expressing outrage over Marie's performance and asks:

Here's my bet -- if this woman had substituted Amazing Grace for The Star Spangled Banner how upset would these same people be? Would it have made a national news story? Or if a white woman had sung these exact same words, with no one mentioning the phrase "black national anthem" wouldn't these same people be defending her against the ACLU for bringing God (mentioned 4 times in Lift Ev'ry Voice and only 1 time in The Star Spangled Banner) into a political arena?

Content Black Woman points out:

Look at the words of the Black National Anthem. There is nothing about it that is un-American or unpatriotic. Look at your negative reaction - if you have one. It might speak more to your own insecurity and fears of loss.

Fredric at Young Black Professional Guide believes:

Art is always meant to push the envelope and stretch our comfort zones, sometimes uncontrollably. Whether its in the form of raunchy comedy like Chappelle show or unique painted art from Picasso, art tickles are practicality and laughs in its face for being so stubborn.

The real question, however, is whether the current political climate and ‘frank conversations about race’ will ultimately drown this event into an argument about what it means to be American. I’m betting that it will…

Jefferson Morley at The Colorado Independent offers a history lesson in a post that examines Rene Marie's patriotic lesson:

By all accounts, after her performance Marie received a warm round of applause from the slightly puzzled crowd. And there was nothing unpatriotic about it. By singing the melody of "The Star Spangled Banner" but not the familiar “Oh say, can you see...” Marie's effort was likely more an attempt at racial healing. In effect, she forgave the man who penned the national anthem, Francis Scott Key, for his racism....

Those who see controversy in Marie’s song choice not only miss the point, they miss the patriotism.

“As we begin our fourth century as a nation,” Sen. Obama had said the day before in his patriotism address, “it is easy to take the extraordinary nature of America for granted. But it is our responsibility as Americans and as parents to instill that history in our children, both at home and at school. The loss of quality civic education from so many of our classrooms has left too many young Americans without the most basic knowledge of who our forefathers are, or what they did, or the significance of the founding documents that bear their names. Too many children are ignorant of the sheer effort, the risks and sacrifices made by previous generations, to ensure that this country survived war and depression; through the great struggles for civil, and social, and worker’s rights.”

Too many children — and too many adults — are ignorant of the complex strands of race and history that are woven into our history but this presidential campaign may be starting to change all that.

However, many bloggers are outraged:

Sugar and Sugar N Spice believes Marie is an "Obamazoid:"

Seriously though, Ms. Marie was way out of line. Way out. They didn't ask her to come up with "something special" for the occasion. She was asked to sing the "Star Spangled Banner". I don't know this woman from Adam, but I'm willing to bet everything I own, she's one of these crazed Obama supporters. I mean, what.in.the.hell!? She could have even talked to them and told them she was going to do this, but to just spring it on them? hahahahaha Too crazy! She needs to lay off of the Obama kook-aid (not a typo) something terrible!

Bridget at Don't Get Me Started says:

This is ridiculous! There is NO substitute for the national anthem and what this woman did was rude and in poor taste. There should be no such thing as a ‘black’ national anthem. We’re all Americans. If you want to separate yourself, then go form your own country somewhere and you can use that song as your national anthem.

Carol at The Median Sib writes:

I didn’t realize there was a “Black National Anthem” but apparently there is. Video and lyrics are here. Now we learn that the black national anthem is “Lift Every Voice and Sing” which is a great song. I just didn’t realize it had been designated as the black national anthem. I wonder if there is a national anthem for Irish-Americans, Asian-Americans, Mexican-Americans, gay Americans. Most of all, I wonder when we’ll just be Americans and end all these divisive sub-groups. Having a “Black National Anthem” does no one - of any color - any good....

And folks, it is time to stop all this stupid division... Let’s stop allowing ourselves to be boxed in and all be AMERICANS.

And Venomous Kate at Electric Venom asks "how many national anthems do we need?"

Not surprisingly the response has been heated with the word “racist” being bandied about by both sides. And me? I just don’t get it. I don’t understand any circumstances under which a person would think it’s appropriate for them to swap out lyrics to a national song to be sung at a civic event just to advance their own agenda, which is precisely what the singer was trying to accomplish. Under Marie’s own reasoning, would it still be “art” if, say, some good ol’ boy bluegrass singer in Mississippi decided to sing “Dixie” at the start of a city government meeting?

BlogHer CE Maria Niles last sang Lift Ev'ry Voice at her Great Aunt's funeral.

What's A Woman's Worth? (Plus an Independence Day Bonus)

2008-07-04T01:38:12-05:00

Do you ever question your worth? Are you afraid to speak up for yourself? Do you diminish your self with self-deprecating humor and beat them to the punch you know is coming?

I suspect that we all experience crises of confidence in our selves. How do we move through those moments? Is it just a matter of sitting in front of a mirror and reciting Stuart Smalley's affirmation" "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and doggone it, people like me!"

Whenever I struggle with knowing or appreciate my worth in any situation I find that a couple of practices work well. One is meditation. Anything where you are able to sit still, quiet your thoughts and breathe. Shutting up those voices in your head that tell you that you are insufficient or that you shouldn't stand up for you. The other technique I find useful is just to listen for evidence that I am worthy (or, really, any question I'm grappling with) and why which often comes during those two great thinking opportunity, epiphany-giving activities: walking the dog or taking a shower. I wouldn't be half the genius I am if it weren't for showers and dog walking.

If showers and dog walking aren't really working for you allow me to share the wisdom of other bloghers.

Jennifer Stoddart at Work In Progress writes of The Importance Of Knowing Your Worth

We know our worth in our careers and our friendships, but why do we sometimes forget our worth when it comes to relationships? It seems that there will be people in our lives that we will fall for who will not completely see our worth, and in their self cherishing ways, will bruise our hearts.... Know your worth, don't ever forget how special you are; and if someone makes you doubt your value or compromise yourself or your integrity, know that you do deserve more than that.

Samantha Smikle at On My Own Writes says:

Whether it's a job, a relationship or a pair of shoes that you can't afford (but you think you deserve)--you have to know your worth.

Terreece M. Clarke at Freelance Writing Jobs & More offers Freelance Writing Commandment #3 - Know Your Worth:

Each day, freelancers troll job boards, contact editors, follow-up with clients and screen offers for gigs. And with each contact we make decisions on our worth. The question is, are you treating yourself with the respect you deserve?... [So] Be a professional and know your worth!

Cesca at On The Garden Wall... confessions of a bad housewife is feeling burnt out, but...

Yesterday at 5pm I realised that I was feeling faint and physically terrible. It took me a while to realise why - I'd been on my feet all day, racing around the place, but had forgotten to actually eat anything all day. Not good.

I've made up for that today, and intend to enjoy my merlot tonight. As that ad goes, I'm worth it.

Nathalie Lussier at Billionaire Woman explains The Difference Between Fulfillment and Achievement:

Real fulfillment is when you wake up knowing that you are enough, you have everything you will ever need (or it will fall into place soon enough). You are filled with joy, with a deep lasting satisfaction that doesn’t disappear with the changing of circumstances. It is something that stays with you always and that cannot be shaken....

How to Get Fulfillment [?]

4. Count your blessings and know that you are enough.

Christy Murphy's blog name and description tell the story:

You Are Enough: The first error is the assumption that you are not enough. The second error is that you can do something about it because it operates under the incorrect assumption of the first error. You are enough. No matter where you are in life, what you did or did not do today, YOU ARE ENOUGH--ALWAYS.

Finally, JLITT62's SparkPeople blog shares this wisdom:

Some time ago I came up with this mantra:

You are enough. You have enough. You do enough. ...

We think we aren't good enough. Not a good enough mother, not a good enough friend, not a good enough wife, not good enough for anyone to ever fall in love with. But you are enough.

And, an Independence Day bonus - three bloggers who are declaring their independence:

Gertiecranker says:

Quick Draw’s advice to me (well, he had several advices on some of his favorite topics—some of you will know what I mean) was to “Get over being a sick person.” He meant, go do stuff! Take my cane, or my walker if I have to, but go do stuff.

I think that’s what Sarah meant by declaring independence. I am no longer a passive sick person. I may limp a little, and I won’t jog the Tart Trail or step dance on the tabletops…but I have a lot of reasons to celebrate tomorrow, personal as well as patriotic.

Lorie Marrero at The Clutter Diet® Blog says:

What if you declared independence from your stuff--forever? What if you could just walk away from everything and start over?

Megan at Free my Brain from Migraine Pain says:

I wish you independence from pain, from fear and from worry!

Obama: He's Tan, Talking White and Ready Plus More on The Week in Race in the Race

2008-06-28T18:57:50-05:00

When I was asked to cover a regular beat on race and the current political cycle I expressed my hope that I wouldn't have enough to cover on a regular basis. Well, that dream died quickly.

Now, I don't really need to call the racial po-po out on McCain supporter Grover Nordquist's behind for calling Obama "John Kerry with a tan" 'cause that ish is obvious in its racism. Fo shizzle.

Now, would that be "talking black" or perhaps "talking white" since those slang terms, if not completely played out, have certainly gained currency amongst white hipsters who do stuff like watch The Wire. But, aw dayum, black folks like The Wire, too. If only we had clear racial boundaries, definitions and cultural signifiers or at the very least, someone to interpret and translate such things.

Well golly and gosh, Ralph Nader to the rescue who informs us that Senator Barack Obama is trying to "talk white" and appeal to "white guilt".

"There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American," Nader said. "Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson?"

"He wants to show that he is not a threatening . . . another politically threatening African-American politician," Nader said. "He wants to appeal to white guilt. You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful. Basically he's coming on as someone who is not going to threaten the white power structure, whether it's corporate or whether it's simply oligarchic. And they love it. Whites just eat it up."

In other words, Nader presumes to know not only that there is such a distinction but also what the definition is for black vs. white speech and that there is a standard of blackness (or, oddly, lack thereof) that can be used to lay a guilt trip on defenseless white people. Nader also instructs Obama on how to be black:

"I mean, first of all, the number one thing that a black American politician aspiring to the presidency should be is to candidly describe the plight of the poor, especially in the inner cities and the rural areas, and have a very detailed platform about how the poor is going to be defended by the law, is going to be protected by the law, and is going to be liberated by the law," Nader said. "Haven't heard a thing."

Somebody please tell John Edwards that he missed his opportunity to become the real first black president. If only he had claimed he is black in addition to offering a poverty platform, Edwards would be rolling towards 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. on some 24 inch rims, no doubt.

Ta-Nehisi Coates is relieved to learn that he is not black:

In fact, judging by these standards--which apparently require you to fall somewhere between Maulana Karenga and Jesse Jackson--there are roughly 317 black people in America. All of them live in the projects. All of them earn their keep by making white people feel bad.

This is such a relief. Now, without any guilt, I can finally get to those keg parties, cucumber sandwiches, and most importantly, white women. Wait, if I were a black man, I'd still be chasing white women...Hmmm, seems there are still some kinks to work out...

Latoya Peterson at Racialicious points out that the notion that "certain agendas are tied to whiteness and certain agendas are tied to blackness" is offensive.

And I love that last bit - plight of the poor, inner cities and rural areas are the specific area of black American politicians. Who needs to talk about white stuff like healthcare, Iraq, the economy? Obviously, we missed the memo that Barack is running for President of Blackville, USA.

Nader reinforces that notion in his response to Obama's response to Nader's initial remarks:

"And it's clear from Sen. Obama's campaign that he is not willing to tackle the white power structure,' he said, "whether in the form of the corporate power structure or many of the super-rich -- who are taking advantage of 100 million low-income Americans who are suffering in poverty or near poverty."

Um, last I heard Ralph, low-income Americans suffering from poverty included people of all races. When I wrote about "desperation lending" last year, there were people profiled in the links who are Native American, black, white, Latino - a veritable rainbow of poverty! Congress granted payday loan curbs to protect members of the military who are targeted by this industry. Why then is Nader not calling out John McCain for not sufficiently talking about a poverty agenda?

And speaking of un-equal opportunity calling out... why is Nader not calling himself out for not defining and being sufficiently focused on an Arab-American agenda as some commenters have noted?

The problem ultimately with Nader's attention seeking remarks is, as Carmen Van Kerckhove, blogging for CNN, explains:

Noticing a person’s race doesn’t make you racist. What does make you racist is if you make assumptions about that person’s intellectual, physical, or emotional characteristics based on the race you think the person is.

And Nader is not the only white guy making pronouncements on the unacceptable state of Obama's blackness. Based on a new television ad which shows Obama's roots (raised by a white mother and white grandparents) "Washington Post Congressional Reporter Jonathan Weisman said that Barack Obama is 'much more white than black.'"

Johnathan, dnA at Jack and Jill Politics has a news flash for you: Black People Not Actually All Alike.

Possibly a more legitimate racial criticism of Obama are complaints that his campaign is not doing a strong job of reaching out to Latino leaders and voters.

But certainly the most disturbing race and politics news this week is that "3 in 10 Americans admit to racial bias" in voting. The scary thing is that anyone versed in survey methodology will know that the actual number is likely higher as many who hold such feelings will not openly admit them to pollsters. And racist hate groups are using those feelings to fuel their campaigns. Watch the video from the The Southern Poverty Law Center in conjunction with the National Council of La Raza that Marisa Treviño shares at Latina Lista which details the hate groups behind the formation and funding of many of the active anti-immigrant groups operating today. Also, Jill Tubman at Jack and Jill Politics points out that white supremacists are using Obama's candidacy to increase their membership:

"I haven't seen this much anger in a long, long time," Billy Roper, a 36-year-old who runs a group called White Revolution in Russellville, Arkansas, told The Washington Post. "Nothing has awakened normally complacent white Americans more than the prospect of America having an overtly non-white president."

Sigh. People, I beg of you, give me nothing to talk about next week. Thank you in advance.

I leave you with a few more bloghers on the Nader comments:

Rachel Sklar at The Huffington Post wonders Ralph Nader, Who Asked You?

Yes, there's much that Nader could have done to draw attention to poverty issues — like be right. As it happens, Obama does have poverty positions — see here, subdivided for urban and rural areas. But that's actually not even the point. The point is, he lost any and all credibility the instant he dragged race into it, impugning not only Obama's worth as a black candidate but his "blackness" — an old and tired argument that I'd hoped we'd done away with a year ago. I mean, sheesh.

Jasmyne Cannick On Nader and Obama "Talking White"

Obama can’t be the Black president if he expects to win, he knows that and Nader knows that. But what Obama can do is champion a platform that reaches out to all poor and working class peoples, which most certainly includes Blacks. For example, the cost of food, gas, and housing affects more than just Blacks. Our jails are filled with Black men and women, but they’re also filled with Latinos as well. You get the point.

Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist on Ralph Nader claims Obama talking "too white"

Since Nader is now the expert on what is "really black," I wonder why it's ok for him to be educated and successful but not ok for Barack Obama. I can only wonder what would make Obama acceptable to Nader. Would Obama have to fit Ralph Nader's stereotype of a black person? As a member of a successful interracial, interfaith family I was appalled by his remarks. I think we need to do all we can to create an inclusive culture in the US and in the world.

Mailie La Zarr at Sky Star thinks Nader is right to call on Obama to challenge the white establishment

Nader is right: Obama needs to challenge the sacred cows in Washington – the white power structure, as Nader says. That is the change that American voters are hoping for – a Washington, DC that responds to the necessities of the American people rather than those funding corporate-government candidates. Listen to Nader and a landslide is Obama’s; don’t listen and join Dukakis, Gore and Kerry in losing to weak Republican candidates who should have been easily defeated.

BlogHer CE Maria Niles sometimes writes about race and politics at her blog PopConsumer.

Getting By With Help From Friends

2008-06-25T01:19:45-05:00

Tonight I spent 2 hours driving a friend to the airport. My friend didn't ask me for this favor but when I heard she needed one, I offered. When I got home I called the real estate agent for the house across the street (the family has moved out) to let him know that the garage door was standing open and anyone could enter the house. He was unable to come attend to the house and he asked me to take care of it as a neighbor and as a favor to the family. I did so happily.

I'm not telling you this because I want you to think what a magnificent human being I am, because I'm no saint. I helped my friend and former neighbors because it makes me feel good. I got to spend a bit of time with a friend who lives halfway across the country now. And not only am I glad I could help my neighbors but it helps keep our neighborhood a little safer.

My motivation, however, was not just out of a selfish desire for endorphins but also out of gratitude for the many, many times when friends and family have helped me. I'm not keeping some sort of obligation scorecard but in general, in my life, like everybody else, I have had times when I've needed a little or a lot of help. The very least I can do is to repay my karmic debt by cheerfully helping when I can. I don't discount the happiness rush, though. It just feels darn great when I can do something to help someone else. None of us is in a position to help everybody we would like in every way they need. But looking for those opportunities where we can look beyond ourselves for a moment, recognize a need and an opportunity to fill it, no matter how simple, enriches both the givers and recipients of favors.

Tales of help from bloggers:

Duck from Speculum Stories And Other Confessions From A Fertility Challenged Woman is grateful to finally be able to help a friend live a dream. The friend took over doing "the Devil's" work but now has struck out on her own. Duck writes:

Today was the first day I got out to give her a hand... I created vendors and inventory in simply accounting. It felt great.

Not just to see her.
Not just to have work for my idle hands.
But to be productive.

To help someone achieve a dream.
If felt great.

I'm going back again tomorrow!

Right Said Red at Building Cathedrals discovers the importance of asking for help.

In the past, I was a person always willing to offer help--and I felt that, by offering, I was somehow working towards building a real sense of community in our church and town. And I am. But community isn't just about offering and giving, it is also about receiving, and doing so graciously. I can't have "real" relationships with people if I am giving, giving, giving, but not also opening myself up to asking and receiving.

And that brings me back to my new friend. By asking for help she started a real relationship with me and did more to build community than the 50 unaccepted offers of help I have given out in the past several months. And that is an important lesson for all of us type-A mommies!

Serena Barton receives help from two friends and makes a new one.

Sometimes I really have to make an effort to let people help. It's much easier to help someone than to let someone do nice things for you just because they want to. I'm glad I could accept Sally's wonderful help and enthusiasm.

A friend asked Ria K. to offer a temporary home to Stubby, a homeless cat. Ria discovered that Stubby needs extensive surgery or will face euthanasia. Ria decided to help Stubby "lead a long, happy life" with the support of blog reading friends:

I’ve created a website called http://www.freewebs.com/surgeryforstubby, where you can learn a little more about Stubby as well as make donations in any amount to help cover the cost of the surgery. For every $5 donated, you’ll receive an entry in the Thank You Raffle for a chance at the Grand Prize of a $50 SuperCertificate to http://www.GiftCertificates.com

Adrian F is fighting foreclosure (a possibility she is facing due to divorce) with help from friends and family. Adrian's mother persuaded her to accept help from family rather than friends because she recognizes how much support she will need through this process from her friends.

My mom is the one who came up with the idea of paying for movers for me. I had this elaborate plan that involved eight friends, four SUVs and a partridge in a pear tree. Mom put the kibosh on it and insisted on me just hiring movers to do the work; as she said, "You will be relying on your friends for a lot over the next year, let's save them (and their backs) for something else." I couldn't argue with her logic*, so I tried to graciously agree.

Adrian's mother's lesson is an important one. As denisesays at Get Away asks, helping a friend - is it ever too much?

I have been helping this friend.. a lot. Almost too where it is effecting me to where I can be harmful to my own situation. I understand that you should always have a friend’s back and that it is better to give than to receive but at what point do you have to say I can’t help you anymore? Just to type it I feel guilty.

How has help from friends affected your life? Or do you hesitate to ask? Do you get a sense of joy from helping others? Have you ever had the disappointing experience of having your friendship and willingness to help taken advantage of?

Overcoming Resistance

2008-06-21T21:39:53-05:00

Due to the current state of the economy and some changes made by some of my clients, I have had to open my mind to thinking about different approaches to my business and work. And though I have often made major changes in my life often and eagerly, this time I have experienced a difficult degree of resistance.

Resistance is a particularly difficult feeling for me to deal with because it is an expression of fear and I have been very much working towards living my life without fear. I think I'm succeeding and then I find that there is this pocket of fear I haven't eliminated, merely suppressed and now it has escaped and bubbled up bigger and bolder in this form. And, even better, it doesn't just come up when I'm alone and gazing at my navel but in conversations with others about different subjects and I inexplicably turn into a blubbering or angry nonsensical babbler. Fun!

But as is often the case, what works is to go back to basics and recognize my crazy for what it is, let it go and then go myself. Change may be scary but change I must and changing I have been with positive results. I have found a couple of approaches helpful to resisting resistance. First imagine all the horrible worst case scenarios that could happen if you did whatever it is that you are resisting. Let your mind and imagination go as wild as possible but writing it down helps it seem as absurd as these fears often are. Next, brainstorm every idea you can come up with for how you can make the change and how you can avoid or minimize any realistic fears.

Thinking about my experience of resistance reminds me that I am unlikely to be alone in feeling this and sure enough, I found several bloggers talking about how they are recognizing and working through resistance.

Jennifer at Ginger Lime observes:

So day by day I'm challenging my resistance to change...my resistance to being fully alive and the vunerability that comes with not hiding behind facades and pretenses. I'll stop there, but with such a heavy thought process I feel I owe whoever reads this some ninjas and chuckie tennis shoes

Julia of Ffynnonweb guest posts at Corvida's blog, SheGeeks, about "Resistance To Change Online And Techniques To Overcome It"

A recent case study that I undertook as part of my social media research project, provided evidence to back up the suggestion that resistance to change is by no means confined to employees within business organizations. Although much of the literature related to change and the successful management thereof, is primarily focused upon organizational change, many of the lessons and implications can be equally well applied to changes in all aspects of life including that of online communication.

Trisha of Ideas For Women News Blog is reviewing the book Overcoming Underearning by Barbara Stanny. In Part 7 Trisha writes:

Fear has always been my biggest problem with everything.

Barbara says “feel the fear, endure the discomfort, observe the resistance, and go for it anyway”.

I’ve been trying that, but it isn’t always easy.

Your Magic Wanda has this reassuring advice:

Resistance just seems to happen. You don’t consciously decide to resist. It’s just that unconsciously you are trying to control everything. When you stop trying to control resistance, it will go away.

1. Notice how you feel, it’s your emotions, your feelings that tell you whether or not you’re walking the right path.
2. Let it be okay-the resistance is a learned behavior, you can unlearn it. Allow whatever is going to happen, happen. Allowing is one of the rules of the Law of Attraction.

Changes in your growth are part of life. Look for the gift on the other side of upheaval. It’s there.

As Wanda also notes in her post, resistance is something we learn young. Stacey at Home and Family also finds that resistance can manifest in childhood with toilet training.

Michele Bergh at More Reflections from Infinite Light finds that resistance can manifest in physical pain:

There's a fear that comes up about the unknown. Sometimes it feels safer to stick with what we know even though it's uncomfortable. Because of this, resistance often creeps up. It shows its ugly head in a variety of ways. For me, I've developed a really bad headache, and although it was real and hurt like heck, I knew that was because I was resistant to something coming up. I've also felt like I'm too busy and I just don't have time to do something. In reality we always make time for things that we're open to.

Pam Slim at Escape from Cubicle Nation asks "How do you know which of your inner voices to trust?" In the post she wonders "Why do we get so anxious when we are headed in the right direction?" To answer this question she quotes author Steven Pressfield and his book The War of Art:

Remember our rule of thumb: The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.

Resistance is experienced as fear; the degree of fear equates to the strength of Resistance. Therefore the more fear we feel about a specific enterprise, the more certain we can be that that enterprise is important to us and to the growth of our soul. That's why we feel so much Resistance. If it meant nothing to us, there'd be no Resistance.

Jackie Young at Jackie Young Writes is evolving and taking the path of most resistance (yes, you read that correctly - I'll let her explain):

Sometimes it’s the right thing to do but lately, I’ve been challenging my “path of least resistance” mentality. And I realize that, in some instances, in order for me to truly make progress, to be successful in reaching my goals, I have to take “the path of MOST resistance”. The one that has the obstacles - real or imagined.

I’ve learned that my “comfort zones” can sometimes get TOO comfortable. That in order to really reach my highest intention in this life, I have to be willing to be uncomfortable — “COMFORTABLY UNCOMFORTABLE” ....

Bottom line? It’s a risk. This “thing” I’m resisting. It’s a very risky situation. But life itself is a risk. And there are no guarantees so I can either chuck my resistance, my fears, my “comfort zone” mentality, dive into the situation up to my neck and trust that things will work out just as they’re supposed to. OR…I can continue to give my time, energy and focus to what I DON’T want, fight against myself and live to regret not having taken a chance at what I really want.

Do you struggle with resistance? Have you found strategies for overcoming this fear? Please share with us in the comments.

BlogHer CE Maria Niles channels her inner Effie and sings "I Am Changing" at her blog (where she isn't really) Beyond Help.

Business Plan Competition Highlights Boomer Business Clout

2008-06-19T21:26:22-05:00

On Wednesday I attended the fifth annual Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit which is a $10,000 business plan competition for businesses aimed at the needs and concerns of baby boomers. The competition was founded and co-produced by Mary Furlong, Ed.D. who is a serial entrepreneur who has raised over $120 million focusing on the boomer/senior marketplace.

The competition was divided into two categories: health and general. The health category offered a variety of devices designed to better diagnose or provide rehabilitation for various diseases and health conditions in order to improve care and outcomes to boomers. The general category covered an array products and services aimed at boomers. For example, About Face Technologies is creating gadgets such as universal remotes which feature a very simplified interface. Caresquare.com offers the ability to find senior caregivers within a social network, expanding on its initial child care services.

There were several women involved in founding the competing companies, particularly in the general category. And many of the services offered (such as Caresquare) are aimed primarily to women. Additionally, the judging panels included women from the worlds of business, venture capital, academia, and public service.

This is a competition that seems to be well suited to women entrepreneurs who have bright ideas for how to meet the needs of this market. I'd love to see someone from the BlogHer community pitching their plan next year!

If you are a entrepreneurial boomer, here are some resources:

Marci Alboher who writes the Shifting Careers column for The New York Times has "Options for Those Nonretiring Boomers"

Jean Murray writes the Small Business Boomers blog with "business advice for boomers"

Susan Ward writing for the About.com Small Business: Canada section notes "10 Baby Boomer Trends & How to Profit from Them"

Andrea J. Stenberg writes The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur blog. Today's post focuses on "Networking on Facebook"

Are you a boomer with a business or a great idea for one? Or do you have a need that an entrepreneur could meet for you? Share in the comments or develop it and let us know when you are a finalist in next year's competition!

BlogHer CE Maria Niles is a boomer with a business and blogs about it at Fizz from ConsumerPop.

Millennial Makeover: Will Young Voters Radically Transform American Politics?

2008-06-14T18:14:16-05:00

Somewhat lost in the attention being paid to race and gender in this historic presidential election campaign is the issue of generational change. According to Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais, authors of Millennial Makeover: My Space, YouTube, & the Future of American Politics, Millennial voters will drive:

a tectonic realignment of the sort that occurs about every four decades, leading to a fundamental shift in policy priorities and voter coalitions. ... [and that] the party capturing the White House in 2008 has “a historic opportunity to become the majority party for at least four more decades,” and that the rising generation of Millennials (born between 1982 and 2003) will imprint the coming national discourse with its own temperament and predilections, washing away “the current politics of polarization and ideological deadlock” and putting in its place “a new landscape of collective purpose and national consensus that involves individuals and communities in solving the nation’s problems.” (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times)

One key difference between Millennials and their elders is that they are far less concerned with race and gender identity issues:

In contrast to older generations that are sharply divided by sex and race in their ideology and party identification Millennials are united in their political leanings, a fact that serves to enhance the potential decisiveness of this powerful new generation.

Possibly this is because of changes such as the diversity and achievements of their generation. "40 percent of them are people of color" and girls now graduate at higher rates than boys.

According to Martha Irvine, given the growing racial diversity they have grown up with, race as a factor in voting decisions is much less an issues for younger voters. And Jocelyn Noveck finds that, in contrast to some older female supporters of Hillary Clinton, despite her loss, younger women viewed Clinton's candidacy to be a source of optimism and one of the many reasons why they were energized and enthusiastic about politics.

The Millennial generation is also large - the largest generational cohort in American history - they number about 100 million. And the impact and shift of this "biggest" generation is already visible. For the first time since the voting age was lowered to 18, youth turnout has increased in three successive political cycles. Young voters are also impressively engaged. In Oregon, for example, Betsy Hammond notes:

Each year, The Oregonian surveys the top Academic Achievers at all public and private high schools in a five-county metro area. This year's survey of nearly 500 valedictorians and top-achieving students at 100 schools found they love to follow politics, can't wait to vote and are ready to use their collective political clout to better the world.

"People my age . . . can bring in a fresh point of view and really help decide our country's future," says Marissa Connolly, a valedictorian at Hillsboro's Liberty High.

Unlike the inward-looking Gen X grads of a decade ago who have shown record-low voter participation, this year's scholars are part of a civic-minded, all-hands-on-deck generation hungry to take part in politics and government.

Young voters mostly identify themselves as Democrats and overwhelmingly support Barack Obama. Despite a reputation for not showing up to vote, their participation and turnout has steadily increased and reached record levels. Only time will tell if indeed they will usher in an era of progressive politics but what is certain now is that young voters are a force that should not be ignored and will be fascinating to watch.

Related Reading:

Roger Cohen, writing in The New York Times, posits that it is the current era of social networks and connectivity that is driving support for Obama as well as creating a framework for understanding global politics.

Carla Marinucci of The San Francisco Chronicle says that the Millennial Generation is set to rock the vote.

sonnypi67 at junkdrawer67 is concerned that the book perhaps diminishes the contributions of Generation X to political change in favor of Millennials:

I found the premise of this book to be both encouraging and vexing. Encouraging because it seemed to suggest a major shift in politics in this country and God knows we need that. And vexing because, well, it seemed to be crediting such a change to the Millennial generation. It touched a GenX nerve. It’s happening already, I thought. The Millennials are coming! The Millennials are coming! And they’re going to get all the fucking credit and Generation X is going to get pushed to the back of the bus, if not off of it entirely.

Joyce Schwarz at Hollywood 2020 has a podcast interview with the authors.

Sara Robinson welcomes the authors to the Firedoglake Book Salon.

Judy Woodruff interviewed the authors on PBS' News Hour. You can read a transcript or view the video.

Young Democrats of America have gathered statistics to support their claim that young voters are the new Democratic base.

CIRCLE, the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement, has data on the "dramatic increase in youth voter turnout" in the 2008 primaries.

"Future Majority is a blog dedicated to covering the involvement of young voters in progressive politics."

Data showing evidence that young voters in Connecticut are increasingly Democratic and overwhelmingly supportive of Obama.

BlogHer CE Maria Niles admires the politics of young people at her blog PopConsumer

Book Review: Just Who Will You Be? by Maria Shriver

2008-06-11T00:49:30-05:00

Maria Shriver is known as many things: currently the First Lady of California, previously a broadcast journalist with NBC, always a member of the Kennedy family. However, a moment with her teenage son shocked her into no longer knowing who she was.

I was out shopping in Santa Monica with my son. Along comes a guy handing out leaflets. He gives one to my son and then motions to me and says to him, "Are you with that woman?"

"Yep!" my son says.

The man asks, "Is she a model?" I give my hair a toss.

"Naaaah," my son says, looking over at me. "She's a housewife." p.9

And with those three words, Shriver first protested and then started questioning. Around the same time, a nephew cajoled her into giving a speech at his high school graduation. Shriver's soul searching led to an inspirational speech which serves as the core of this book.

In the graduation speech, Shriver shares this wisdom:

Now, what do I mean by "an inside job?" I mean that the only way you can come to feel worthy, and really good about yourself---the only way to find a life of meaning and joy---is to find your own voice, find your own path, follow your own heart, and live your own life, not an imitation of somebody else's. p.33

The book is warm and funny and shares Shriver's journey through self-doubt to acceptance and a ten-point pledge to herself. In the end, Shriver invites you to craft and honor your own pledge. The book is slim - it took me a mere half-hour to read - but it need not be longer to make its point. I appreciated the economy of words. And while it is nothing earth shattering and the insights are not new, it is very accessible and grok-able.

I predict this book will join the ranks of classic graduation gift books like Dr. Seuss' Oh The Places You'll Go particularly as a gift for teens. But many who find themselves at a crossroads where they are trying to define themselves separately from their jobs and family will find helpful insights as well.

Reviews and more

Read an excerpt at Oprah.com

Mary at Owlhaven:

I liked her emphasis on character over fame. It was a good reminder that wealth and fame don’t make life problem-free, and that in the long run who you decide to be is more important than how rich or famous you end up being.

Liz Thompson at this full house reviews:

I mean - she's a Kennedy for goodness sake - all she has to do is take one look in the mirror and see her awesomely powerful features to know, yep, the strength is in her genes.

Still.

I was very surprised to learn that the First Lady of California and it seems that we ARE related, by confusion:

Lisa at Books and Cooks:

This little book is the perfect graduation or birthday gift for someone who is about to enter a new phase of their life or even someone who is thinking of making a change and just needs a little encouragement.

Robyn Roark at Who's The Boss? Reviews:

Personally, I found it to be a lovely little book, a fast read, and an important message. You won't find any answers to the meaning of life in reading Just Who Will You Be?, but you may find inspiration to change yourself for the better.

CityMama met Maria Shriver at an event for bloggers:

She also said—and this is what spoke to me the most—that she is done with putting everyone else's needs before her own, something mothers do a lot. She acknowledged that many of us had to juggle childcare and our husbands' schedules just to be able to meet with her that evening, but instead of feeling guilty, she reminded us not to ignore our needs of our own "souls."

Review copy received courtesy of Authors On The Web

Am I Too Cynical For A Better Life?

2008-06-07T18:42:30-05:00

While watching So You Think You Can Dance? the other night I saw a commercial that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'll let the blog "Live Manly" describe the action:

A young boy is tossing a baseball to himself and trying to hit it. Before each pitch he yells, “I am the greatest hitter in the world!” and promptly misses it. Before the 3rd pitch, he spits in his hands, gets serious and takes another swing… missing entirely and technically striking out. He looks sullen at first, but then looks up triumphant and declares, “I am the greatest pitcher in the world!”

Sounds cute, right? But what's it for? Optimism. And who is selling optimism I hear you asking. That would be the Foundation for a Better Life.

When I saw that sponsor I immediately thought "religious cult." Cynical much, Maria? But their "About" section says this:

We are a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the values that make a difference in our communities. We create public service campaigns that model the benefits of a life lived by positive values. In turn, we hope to inspire people to make values a part of their own lives, and then to communicate the benefits to others.

And their FAQ dispels a bunch of other notions by explaining that they are a non-profit organization, funded anonymously by a family and unaffiliated with any religion.

So I decided to do a bit of online sleuthing to see if bloggers were inspired or suspicious of the campaign and I found a bit of both. Alison at She Blogs She Blogs saw billboards and cried.

Anyway. I’m sure you’re not as much of an emotional mess as I am. And you keep your cool when you see billboards. But you can go to the Foundation for a Better Life website and read more about the stories of any of the people on the billboards.

Deborah Knight at Shear Bagatelle saw billboards, checked out the foundation and messages and decided:

I'm glad there are organizations like Foundation For A Better Life that remind us that there is still a lot of good in the world. All we have to do is to look for it.

However, it turns out that FBL has been around for nearly a decade and bloggers have unearthed some information about the family behind the foundation.

Notably Lindsay Beyerstein and Majikthise hit up her readers for help and learned that the campaign is funded by:

Philip Anschutz, who the BBC described as having "a reputation as one of the hungriest of US corporate vultures", is currently using his wealth and power to support a slick ad campaign appearing on 10,000 billboards, in hundreds of movie theaters, and on nearly a thousand TV stations across the country. [Read the entire post here for links to further information]

Fenriss is cynical like me. But then also does a bit of digging and is disturbed:

Well, see, if you check out their FAQ, you’ll find that the Foundation is funded by “a family that wishes to remain anonymous.” But in fact, all you have to do is check Wiki to find that it is actually funded by one Philip Frederick Anschutz, an evangelical Christian, a vocal supporter of anti gay rights legislation, and a wildly successful oil man with a penchant for drilling in protected forests and Native American sites.

This fine citizen, who would like us all to return to a set of beneficial personal values, was named America’s greediest executive by Fortune magazine. He’s also given tons of cash to Colorado for Family Values. Those are the guys whose stated goal is to halt "the militant gay agenda." You’ll remember them for inspiring the boycott on Celestial Seasonings tea in the early 90s.

Alrighty then. So I've discovered that the the funding for a series of positive, uplifting messages - one of which put a smile on my face - comes from a person who apparently does not share my values. What do I do? It seems that they are running ads weekly on SYTYCD and I'm going to see more of them. Do I ignore them? Do I try not to laugh, cry or be inspired? Do I overlook that the funding comes from a place and spirit which I don't? Do I pass the message along anyway? Do I harden my heart and look away or do I not fear a different point of view and open my heart instead?

What would you do?

BlogHer CE Maria Niles blogs about television, pop culture and her love for dance competition shows at Beyond Help.

McCain Talks to Bloggers, Focus is on Obama and National Security

2008-06-04T21:28:06-05:00

John McCain held another in his series of question and answer calls with bloggers today and BlogHer was invited to join in (though I was unable to make it into the Q&A queue before time ran out). The call came on the heels of his speech last night in Louisiana (video available at this link to Catherine Morgan at The Political Voices of Women and his media call this morning where, along with Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA) and his foreign policy and national security director Randy Scheunemann, McCain responded to Senator Barack Obama's earlier speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

Today's blogger call confirmed that McCain is now campaigning against Obama and that national security and foreign policy will be key issues.

McCain began the call with a few remarks prior to the questions. First he congratulated Senator Hillary Clinton on her hard fought campaign which he said inspired women around the world. Then he said that it is obvious that Obama is the nominee of the "Democrat" party. And, just an aside here... I found it somewhat hypocritical that while claiming that he will run a respectful campaign, McCain chose to repeatedly and exclusively refer the the Democratic party using a rhetorical device developed by the petty, childish wing of the Republican party which is designed to belittle, diminish and slight Democrats.

Next McCain noted that he has sent Obama an invitation to engage in weekly town-hall debates for a total of ten.

"What a welcome change it would be were presidential candidates in our time to treat each other and the people they seek to lead with respect and courtesy as they discussed the great issues of the day, without the empty sound bites and media-filtered exchanges that dominate our elections," McCain said in a letter to Obama released by McCain's campaign.

Additionally, McCain has suggested that he and Obama fly together to the first debate:

McCain also suggested the two candidates fly together to the meetings, joking that that would save energy and money.

"I even suggested we travel to them together on the same plane, probably help out on energy savings," he said to applause from an audience in Baton Rouge.

Given his expenses and his fundraising that trails Obama's by a wide margin, he said: "I know my campaign would agree to it.

Both McCain and Obama have made fighting global warming and cutting down on foreign oil dependence key themes of their respective White House bids.

McCain concluded his opening remarks by stating that Obama continues to deny that the surge in Iraq has succeeded, that it is the 788th day since Obama has been to Iraq and that Obama has not made an inquiry to General Petraeus demonstrates Obama's lack of foreign policy judgment.

The first question asked came from Griff Jenkins of Fox News who asked if McCain would be willing to adapt his preferred town hall format to a longer speech format if Obama was unwilling to agree to McCain's invitation:

I think Americans probably, if you asked the majority of them, in long speeches (laughs) are not their favorite topic. so I think they want to participate. They want a great debate. I don't think they want to hear long speeches to tell you the truth - that's why I keep mine short.

Next, Dan Noike from the Arizona Republic asked what McCain would do to attempt to prevent outside groups from running race-based attack ads against Obama. McCain said he can't control 527's but that MoveOn.org is "setting the agenda for the Democrat (sic) party" and then called on Obama to condem the MoveOn "General Betray Us" ad as he did not vote on the Congressional resolution which denounced the ad.

McCain was then asked about (unfortunately I don't have the blogger's name) about the tone of statements some conservatives have found offensive. The blogger claimed one statement compared immigration foes to supporters of Jim Crow laws and McCain denied that he had ever used such language, specifically a reference to Jim Crow. McCain wanted to engage further with the blogger but there seemingly were technical difficulties and they were unable to finish the discussion of this issue.

James Kirchick of the New Republic asked if McCain has a position on the just qualified November ballot initiative in California to amend the state constitution in order to overturn the recent legalization of gay marriage. McCain did not state a position on the specific initiative as he has not read it but noted that he supported a similar amendment in Arizona (though that amendment went further and also banned civil unions and domestic partnerships), that he supported the general goal of the California initiative, that he supported the "Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)" and that he believes states do not have to recognize the position of other states on this issue.

The final question came from Jennifer Rubin of Commentary Magazine who asked about Obama's AIPAC speech. McCain expressed the belief that Obama is changing his positions on Middle East policy and feels that the American people won't buy that. McCain also said that Obama's statements and changing positions show that he doesn't have the knowledge and judgment necessary to make foreign policy decisions. Also he claimed that Obama's position on the surge in Iraq further demonstrates his lack of readiness because no objective (emphasis McCain's) observer does not agree that the surge is working.

Additional Reading:

Lauren Williams at Stereohyped says Obama 1, McCain 0

That adviser on John McCain’s campaign staff who suggested that the Arizona senator might want to give a sleepy, uninspiring, ill-rehearsed, ungracious speech in front of an unenthusiastic crowd, all of whom needed a couple of shots of Lil Jon’s Crunk Juice, in a sparsely-populated Louisiana auditorium, on the very same night that Barack Obama, current gold medal champ of American political speech-making, was scheduled to give an acceptance speech before tens of thousands of people in a packed stadium in St. Paul, MN, the site of this year’s Republican National Convention? Yeah, that guy’s head is probably rolling right about now.

Of McCain's speech, Republican strategist Amy Holmes writes at the National Review

McCain's speech was creaky, ungracious, and unnecessary....

It would have been more statesmanlike — precisely the profile McCain is attempting to craft — to acknowledge this historic moment in American politics. A major party is on the cusp of selecting an African American to be their nominee for President of the United States. It's a tribute to America that we've come this far. It would have been magnanimous to leave it at that, and wait until tomorrow to declare with enthusiasm and relish, "It's on!"

Nancy Youssef, McClatchy news service Pentagon correspondent, writing at the group blog "Nukes & Spooks" says "Now that it appears the presidential race will be between Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain, it seemed only fitting to begin comparing their stands on key military issues."

Iraq is constantly changing, and it seems to me that those running for president should keep up with those changes as they enter the general election. The Iraq they talk about in the months ahead will likely be very different from the one the next president will ultimately inherit. Iraq gets more complicated with each passing day. Now is as good a time as any for Obama and McCain to adjust accordingly.

Corinne Ramey asks "Where's McCain on Climate Change?"

Veronica Villafañe of Media Moves notes that McCain is courting Latino voters by making his first general election radio ads in Spanish.

Jeanne Sahadi of CNN Money says "Game on: McCain v. Obama on economy" (Hat Tip: Economist Mom)

Note: I will update with a link to the audio of today's call when it is available.

BlogHer CE Maria Niles blogs her personal politics at PopConsumer

Open Thread: Puerto Rico Primary (Democrats)

2008-06-01T13:48:51-05:00

Puerto Rico holds its Democratic primary today. There are 55 delegates at stake and Hillary Clinton leads in polls heading into today's vote.

According to a survey conducted for the newspaper El Vocero and Univision, Clinton is leading Barack Obama there 51 percent to 38 percent among all adults in the primary.

Although delegates from Puerto Rico do count towards the selection of party nominees, Puerto Rico cannot vote in presidential contests. Clinton supporters argue that this contest is important because it will add to her vote total in primary contests. Obama supporters counter that the size of vote totals in Puerto Rico do not matter as Puerto Rico cannot vote in the general election.

And, despite yesterday's effort at moving towards party unity, CNN (which has exclusive exit polling data) notes that the number of Clinton supporters who say that they will not support Obama in the fall (and now stands at over 70%) still exceeds the number of Obama supporters who will not support Clinton by double digits but also that the gap continues to grow with every contest. Certainly Democrats continue to face an uphill climb towards party unity and it will be interesting to see if the final contests will help or hurt that journey.

If you are blogging the Puerto Rico primary, please add a link to your post or blog into Mr. Linky below.

Additional resources and reading:

John Norris, MTV Newsroom "Why Does Puerto Rico Vote on Sunday, While We Have to Take Time Off From Work & School?"

Morgan Felchner, U.S. News & World Report "Puerto Rico Primary Facts and Figures"

Live Results (polls close at 3pm EDT) at Puerto Rico Statehood Students Association

Latino Politics Blog "Puerto Rican Primary Tomorrow - Clinton leads polls, Obama speaks to the people en Español"

Marisa Treviño at Latina Lista notes that "Spanish music artists continue the endorsement split between Clinton and Obama"

Scan, guest posting at Taylor Marsh, find it "pretty amazing that Pat Robertson's network has the best reporting on the Puerto Rico primary that I've seen thus far"

Gerry Vázquez at American Taíno has a round-up of Puerto Rico primary issues coverage

Susan Milligan at The Boston Globe reports that the presidential primary brings attention, frustration to Puerto Rico

Kari shares her thoughts and some videos to illustrate her discussion of the primary in Puerto Rico

Eliina shares some striking images defining the two candidates' campaigns at BallotVox

Don't Hate: Strippers Fight The Government - Shattering Stereotypes

2008-05-29T20:11:32-05:00

Imagine the following groups of people:

1. Exotic dancers
2. College-educated parents watching their children on the playground while speaking of their appreciation of a career that allows them to afford a private school education for their children that they themselves did not enjoy
3. A group of concerned citizens who take on the government and are plaintiffs in the case to stop proposed legislation
4. Documentary film makers
5. College graduates with computer science degrees

Did you imagine the first two groups as women? Did you imagine any of them as black? Did you imagine any of groups 2-5 as exotic dancers?

I ask because generally the media portrayals of these groups would suggest the answers are yes, no and no. However, I read recent article about a new documentary that shatters all those stereotypes.

Don't Hate: Strippers Fight The Government is the story of a group of African American male strippers represented by an African American attorney that took on the government of Prince Georges County, Maryland to fight proposed legislation that would prohibit tipping of the dancers thus significantly reducing their earnings.

Violet Gaze in Baltimore's City Paper has a fascinating interview with Jim Bell, the film maker and the dancers' attorney, and dancer Ed "Total Package" Cloyd. Gaze writes:

Cloyd, who earned a bachelor's degree in computer science before deciding his career lay in adult entertainment, rejects the idea that he could just get a job somewhere else rather than fight the ordinance. "I like to do what I'm good at," he says. "And evidently, wherever [people] work, that's what they're good at. It's not like I couldn't do anything else. It's just what I choose to do."

The most humanizing scene in Don't Hate features Cloyd playing with his young son outside their suburban home, cavorting on a playground, watching his son ride a bike, the boy's mother making sure her child is wearing his safety equipment. Cloyd's son is absolutely the apple of his father's eye, and anyone unconvinced that male exotic dance can be a wholesome entry into middle-class opportunity and contentment will be after seeing father and son together. "That's how my son goes to private school," Cloyd says of his profession. "I didn't get a chance to go to private school."

Cloyd takes out his key chain to share a picture of his little boy, unalloyed pride washing across his face. "I don't think I've ever seen a television program where you show a black mother putting safety equipment [on their child] before riding a bike," Bell says. "I don't think I've ever seen that. It's almost like black people are still portrayed as less human, less intelligent, less caring of their children. And this film shows a whole different aspect."

Film critic Emanuel Levy reviews the documentary and shares Cloyd's perspective (and also believes it is a myth shattering/mind opening work):

This film will take you to a world that you have never been before or let you see a whole world that you think you know in a completely different way! It is a very good piece of character driven entertainment! The film was shot in HD!

This film was made for African American moviegoers who want to see their own concerns and struggles -- their own lives told from their perspective. To often in film, Black Men are portrayed as innately savage, animalistic, destructive and criminal. They are depicted as an anti-social predators terrifying the community in which they dwell. This film depicts Black People (as they truly are) as people relating to other people -- not as mere plot devices and not as characters defined solely by how they relate to the white world.

When the government tried to take away the dancers constitutional rights they did not riot in the streets or picket in front of a government building. Instead, they got a lawyer and went to court to fight the government. This is a story that the government does not want you to know about. It is not often that Black Men fight the government in federal court with a Black lawyer and win!

And it is not just an alternative vision of black men men the film offers, as Bell points out in the interview with Violet Gaze, the ordinance shows the fear created by the growth of African American prosperity and from women exercising economic power coupled with the intersection of the not uncommon eagerness to limit "adult entertainment":

Inside the sports bar, as Bell explains his story, the pedestrian traffic outside on the shopping boulevard is just like any outdoor mall in White Marsh or Hunt Valley--gaggles of teens discussing sneaker brands, professionals in office attire making plans for happy hour, moms and grandmoms taking the baby for a stroll. The only difference is that here, in the most prosperous majority African-American county in America, every well-heeled shopper is black--a detail that, even in this day and age, still unfortunately contains the slightest hint of the Twilight Zone. In Bell's opinion, it's this entry of African-American money into the pool of upper-class prosperity that's crucial to understanding what's going on behind the ordinance directed at venues such as Classics, the Camp Springs nightclub serving as home base to most of his dancer clients.

"Does race play a factor? Yes. Here's the reality: The people who drafted the law"--he stumbles for a moment, choosing his words carefully for this white reporter--"were not African-American. You have to realize those [dancers] are stereotypical of big black bucks with large genitalia. There are men in America who have problems with that. Now you deal with the fact that women in Prince George's County have achieved enough financially to exercise their economic power and tip these men. There's a lot of people who don't like that. It's easy to scapegoat people during an election year with adult entertainment, especially when you don't show people what it really is. Because if you see it, it's nothing."

Another female perspective the film shares is that several women club patrons interviewed say that they go to the strip clubs because:

this is a harmless way to spend a night out, in the company of their friends and free from harassment they'd encounter at other nightclubs.

"I didn't know that men grab on women when they go to clubs," Bell says, remarking on how eye-opening it was to hear the same comments from many different women. "I didn't know that if a man buys you a drink, he believes he can follow you around the parking lot. And some women actually go to [strip clubs] because they don't want to deal with that.

I have to say, although I've certainly read about issues around the rights and concerns of female exotic dancers, strippers and sex workers, I've never thought about these issues from the perspective of male workers or seen them discussed (that's not to say they aren't discussed but rather I suspect much less attention is paid). And I greatly appreciate the portrayal of black men as productive citizens and loving, present fathers rather than as thugs and criminals (e.g. Rapper T.I. will have a reality show on MTV prior to entering jail for possession of unregistered machine guns and other weapons charges). And I cheered the notion which I had never considered of stripping being a venue for economic empowerment for the male dancers and female patrons.

Without having seen the film I love the story behind it and the lesson it provides me. It is an important reminder to remember to view stories with a critical eye and to consider perspectives that may be hidden or buried under common myths. Although it was a bit uncomfortable to be reminded that I can get lazy and succumb to thinking in stereotypes, I really appreciated having my mind blown open.

You can view a trailer for the documentary here (Warning, though there is no nudity, it may not be work safe viewing. Also, several comments are explicit).

Related topics:

Renegade Evolution asks "What about the men?"

Consistantly, without fail, without hesitation, there are a group of people left out, and yep, marginalized, when it comes to any and every debate about sex work...

You know who they are?

Male Sex Workers. And yep, they sure as hell do exist. Male strippers, male escorts, male porn performers, male pro BDSM'ers...there are men in the sex biz.

DevilsReject at Suicide Girls wonders "Which Creeps Run Your State?"

National Elections are up and coming in November. They will be here before you know it. While doing some research online about local issues I continuously ran across an organization known as Citizens for Community Values (CCV) based out of Cincinnati, Ohio.

I finally decided to research them a little bit, considering they are a major force in Ohio politics. I started browsing their site and reading up a little bit on what they consider "Community Values"....

CCV prides themselves on their site for cleaning up the Cincinnati area. They speak proudly of having removed strip-clubs from that area, and how they helped get stricter stripper legislation passed in all of Ohio. They have even gone as far as launching a "Dancer Hotline" in which you can call to help an exotic dancer leave the industry that is supposedly killing them....

Thank you CCV for protecting the decency of my life by preventing companies that could potentially supply thousands of jobs for Ohioans from coming here. Thank you for saving me from that evil money that is spent at casinos, and driving it out of Ohio to the surrounding states. Thank you for protecting me from the deviant homosexuals and strippers. I feel much safer.

While CCV continues to battle these issues and congratulate themselves on removing jobs from Ohio, wonderful blogs and articles like this one continue to come out.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Ohio had 209,400 fewer nonfarm jobs in December 2007 than it had in December 2000. This loss of 3.7 percent of Ohio’s jobs is the worst seven-year loss in state records that begin in 1939 as the Great Depression was ending.

So while Ohioans are attempting to find work, the CCV does everything it can to prevent jobs from coming into the state, and are destroying jobs that are still in Ohio.

Cheeks Filibuster at Sex in Canada says "Enough With The Stripper Shortage Already"

Which brings me to the axe I grind: Tim Lambrinos of The Adult Entertainment Association of Canada's incessant and long-running assertation that there is a shortage of strippers (or "skilled workers" as they like to professionally refer to us, how quaint) in Canada is really burning my ass. That the AEAC can proclaim such outlandish non-facts about the stripping industry shows just how ignorant the general public is about what goes on in it; how shielded our working environments are from labour rights, objective scrutiny, and the law.

There is no shortage, PERIOD. Alrighty then? No. Fucking. Shortage.

The fast-track stripper visa was created without requiring strip club owners to prove a shortage of Canadian dancers....

I say: What about the Canadian dancers, including male dancers, who talk from the heart about providing financial support in their own homes, here at home?

Again, there are too many workers in the clubs, a hell of a lot of prostitutes included, all jumbled in together and diving for scraps into this teeming "skilled worker" pool.

D. Aaron Lacy: "The Most Endangered Title VII Plaintiff? African-American Males and Intersectionality Claims"

The article gives a brief history of the African-American male and their struggle with confronting discrimination in the workplace versus other groups as well as the common stereotypes and perceptions of African-American males.

African American Dad: One good black father among many.

Politics and Blogging: Candidates Call, Bribe and Can't Ignore Bloggers

2008-05-24T21:37:45-05:00

Recent news about several political campaigns illustrates the still bumpy road they are traveling to learn how to effectively proceed in the era of blogs.

Hillary Clinton "held her first blogger-only conference call" reports Katharine Q. Seelye in The New York Times. Barack Obama has not participated in any blogger-only calls but, as we have seen here at BlogHer, has responded to blogger questions via other methods. Despite increased interaction with bloggers there is still somewhat of a feel of candidates not getting it, as the focus of the Clinton call was, in part, to request that certain talking points be seeded into the blogosphere:

The purpose of the conference call was to thank bloggers for their support, deliver her talking points and have those talking points conveyed to the blogosphere — and ultimately to the superdelegates who may control the outcome of the race.

“Your voices make a real difference, and your engagement in these incredibly significant ways helps to set the ground for what we are trying to say in the campaign,” she told them, adding that they can “influence the rest of the blogosphere and beyond.”

The key talking point presented in the call was "It's the map, not the math" which several of the bloggers on the call did share afterwards including Pamela Leavey at The Democratic Daily and Katiebird at The Confluence who writes:

The meat of the conversation is that Hillary sees a clear path to the nomination. She said that the campaign had “acknowledgment” that Hillary is ahead in the popular vote. And (she said) she expects to be ahead on the popular vote after the last primary on June 3rd.

However, as the message has appeared, not every blogger is buying the argument. Sara at Dreaming in Wanderlust says: "This faulty argument is one of a desperate campaign."

Clinton supporter Taylor Marsh has a recording of the call here.

John McCain regularly participates in blogger calls and not just with uncritical supporters as again, BlogHer discovered. Given the McCain campaign's seeming transparency and savvy, it makes the latest blogger outreach move a bit of a head scratcher.

The new "Spread The Word" section of JohnMcCain.com invites supporters to:

Help spread the word about John McCain on news and blog sites. Your efforts to help get the message out about John McCain's policies and plan for the future is one of the most valuable things you can do for this campaign. You know why John McCain should be the next President of the United States and we need you to tell others why.

Nothing too out of the ordinary there but then it veers into a call to engage in behavior which is generally frowned upon in the blogosphere. The site provides daily talking points, links to suggested blog on which to comment (seemingly regardless of the specific content or posts) and offers reward points for reporting comments left on blogs.

This program has been roundly criticized across the spectrum of the political blogosphere. Conservative blogger Michelle Malkin wants disclosure and suggests reciprocity:

In the spirit of transparency, if any of you leave pro-McCain comments in order to earn those “points,” I request that you disclose that information when you post here.

In the spirit of open dialogue and outreach, I encourage the rest of you all to reciprocate and leave your thoughts about McCain–say, his decision to retain Juan Hernandez, speak at the the La Raza/The Race conference, embrace anti-assimilationist campaign finance co-chair Jerry Perenchio, and perpetuate global warming hysteria, for starters– on the McCain campaign blog.

Republican Michelle McGinty at Reformed Chicks Blabbing on Beliefnet expresses her disappointment:

If we had a decent candidate, we would be doing this on our own. It's telling that he has to bribe people to do it.

Jonathan Martin at Politico has response from the McCain campaign to clarify the purpose and goals of the program.

And beyond the extensively blogged presidential race, bloggers are flexing their muscles in covering state and local races. Monica Davey reports in The New York Times that the US Senate race between humorist Al Franken and incumbent Norm Coleman "is going to the blogs" and warns:

What Mr. Franken’s circumstance has proven, though, is that no Minnesota candidate this fall can afford to ignore Mr. Brodkorb, or the rest of the state’s vast universe of Web sites devoted to local politics. Experts here say the abundance of these blogs is a mirror onto this state, its partisan split in recent years and its long tradition of intense political activism (by some measures, voter turnout here was the highest in the nation in 2006). That said, they are anything but Minnesota Nice.

It will be fascinating to watch as campaigns continue to figure out and adapt to a political landscape increasingly shaped by bloggers.