Black Republicans

Here is an oxymoron for you -- I am a Black Republican. I read that only about 13% of Black voters are Republican so I suppose that makes me a double minority.

I am proud of my Black heritage and I am proud to be a conservative Republican. Why “Black America” fails to understand or accept that these two realities are capable of coexisting is something I do not understand.

Contrary to popular belief, all Black people do not fit comfortably into the Democratic Party. Some of us have opted for a different affiliation. This does not make us less Black.

Being a Republican does not mean that I do not care about “my people”. As far as race and the “plight of Black folks” are concerned, hmmm, well let me just say this – it’s time to stop waiting on that 40 acres and a mule. I just don’t think either party is going to do much for Black people. And quite frankly, I think that we have a whole lot that we need to do for ourselves before we start looking toward politicians for help. With that said, I’ve decided to remove racial issues from my political decision making process.

Without race as an issue, what are some of the things that really matter to me? Preservation of the principles on which this country was founded (yes, I am serious), protecting the traditional family, individual responsibility and less government are a few of my issues.

I believe that the Bible was divinely inspired and that every single word in it is true. The Democratic Party (as a whole) is making a mad (and frightening) dash away from all that is Biblical. The Republican Party is not perfect and I disagree with some their issues but I believe that most of the issues (and Biblical truths) that I hold dear are in better hands with Republicans.

I’m completely perplexed as to why so many Black folks have remained loyal to the Democratic Party. Historically we have always been conservative people. I would like to pose the challenge question – what have Democrats done for “us” lately?

Some consider my switch to the Republican Party the equivalent of treason. Some call me a rebel. Some say I should be required to turn in my “Black Card.” Some say it makes me a bourgeois b _ _ _ _ .

I will admit that it saddens me that instead of Black Democrats accepting Black Republicans they tend to characterize them as sell-outs or out of touch with the "community". Their negative feelings toward Black Republicans are so strong that I cannot even casually talk politics with members of my family or certain friends. They think I'm crazy.

For the record, I have not lost my mind. I made a conscious decision to register as a Republican. Other people probably have deeper, more interesting and profound reasons for their political affiliation. My reasons are a reflection of who I am and the way that I think.

I just love America!
 

Birds

Bob Rosner and Sherrie Campbell of Payscale.com wrote an article called Recession-Time Do and Don'ts. The article says that during hard economic times we act like either a chicken, an ostrich, a buzzard or an eagle.

The chicken is the pessimist. He runs around as if it’s doomsday screaming “the sky is falling”. The ostrich protects himself from what is going on by keeping his head in the sand. The buzzard circles, just waiting to capitalize on the circumstances. Finally, Rosner and Campbell say that “eagles know the storm is coming before other birds and they use the storm's winds to rise above the trouble.” While others merely weather a recession, the eagle rises above it.

I am sure we would all like to say that we are eagles. However, I believe that to successfully survive, we really need to be a combination of all four.

We should warn our friends, like the chicken; take cover like the ostrich; and, be resourceful (or perhaps a bit entrepreneurial) like the buzzard. Lastly, we should gracefully ride out the storm like the eagle – finding comfort in knowing that no storm lasts forever.

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Desensitization

I received an email from the American Family Association (AFA) a couple days ago. They send email alerts to their subscribers regarding issues of concern to the family or issues that threaten the traditional family. Sometimes I think that they get a little nitpicky with their issues and the emails get to be too much. Other times, I appreciate them keeping me “in the know.”

The email that I received was about a homosexual couple on the soap opera, As the World Turns. This couple recently had a scene in which they kissed (open-mouthed) on screen. (Can I say “yuck!” at this point without being called homophobic?)

Proctor and Gamble sponsors As the World Turns and they established a toll-free number for viewers to call and let them know if they approve or disapprove of the homosexual couple. The AFA wanted subscribers to call Proctor & Gamble to let them know that they oppose the gay kissing scenes.

According to the AFA, “The motive behind P&G’s push is to desensitize viewers, especially younger viewers, to the homosexual lifestyle. The ultimate goal of homosexual activists is homosexual marriage.” Whether this is Proctor & Gamble’s true motive or not -- I do not know. What I do know is that we certainly are becoming desensitized to homosexuality, violence, gore and crime.

Here's an example of what I mean. Growing up I was frightened to death by Alfred Hitchcock movies. The Birds was one of those movies that made me nearly jump out of my skin. A few years ago I rented The Birds because I wanted my kids to see it. To me, it was a classic and Alfred Hitchcock was the greatest.

So, we sat down to watch this movie and I anxiously monitored my kids' faces for a response. At the start of the very first bird attack scene, they started laughing! Then they questioned me, wanting to know exactly what part of the movie was supposed to be the “scary part”. They really wanted to know how and why that movie could have frightened me. They just could not understand. I understood though.

My children had already seen so much on television and in the movies that was a hundred times worse than The Birds, that this movie was more of a comedy than a thriller for them. They had been desensitized.

That’s exactly what is going on in our world in general. The things of the world that used to shock us no longer have that effect. From sex on television to profanity in magazines to vulgarity in songs to homosexuality and over the top violence in movies – we accept it all. Nothing has shock-value anymore. Not only do we fail to think anything is wrong with any of it – we reward it.

Just think about it. What kind of movies typically win awards? Things that used to be considered trash are now considered brilliant works of art. I think it's all such a shame.

Webster defines the word "desensitize" as follows: to make emotionally insensitive or callous; specifically : to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli that formerly induced it. That sums it up perfectly. We are all desensitized.

My grandmother used to ask, “What is this world coming to?” We no longer need to ask what it's "coming to", we've reached that dreaded point to which she was referring.

Let's Vote

I was listening to the radio on my way to the office this morning. Today presidential primaries in both Indiana and North Carolina are being held. The radio show’s phone lines were busy with potential voters calling to complain about voting improprieties.

Apparently polling places have been moved, incorrect information was given to voters regarding requirements to vote, names were missing from lists, and so on. "They" are out to get “us” – again.

These calls led to conversations about the recommendation that people be required to show identification in order to vote. According to the radio program and the callers – there is a calculated, strategic conspiracy to prevent Blacks from voting.

For me, this is getting really old and tired. Racism absolutely exists, Black people still have a long way to go to achieve true equality and there are those who would be happy to ship us back to Africa – but must we truly be paranoid about everything? I just don’t believe that everything is racially motivated.

I am all for having to provide identification in order to vote. We have to provide identification to write a check, rent a video, board a plane, make a credit card purchase, and hundreds of other things. Why not show identification for something as significant as voting?

Who are all these people who do not have identification? Why don’t they have identification? And why are “we” OK with them not having identification? Forget about voting – how are they getting through life?

We are focusing on the wrong thing. Let’s not cry about the hardship that requiring identification will cause for people without ID. Instead, along with the campaign to get people registered to vote should be a campaign to assist people in obtaining government issued identification cards.

Why would we want to make it easier for people to remain ID-less? Why would we want to keep people in a position that prevents them from doing the things that average Americans can do – like write checks at the market?

Let’s make sure that all of “us” have what we need instead of making it easier for us to remain without. Without identification -- doors remain shut. With identification -- doors open. As far as I’m concerned – this is how we truly empower Black folks.

Mother's Day Corsages

Having lost two of the most important women in my life (my mother and grandmother) in the late 1990’s, Mother’s Day is one of those “holidays” I wish I could fast forward through.


As a child, I remember going to church and getting a red carnation corsage on Mother’s Day. A red corsage meant that your mother was living and a white one meant that your mother was deceased. Apparently you were to receive a yellow corsage if you had lost a child but my church never went that far.


Because my mother was living at the time, I never gave my red corsage much thought. However, many years later, on the first Mother’s Day after my mother’s suicide, I went to church and was given a white carnation. I burst into tears on the spot. How sad and embarrassing to be “singled out” that way.


I immediately went back to my first memories of the red vs. white corsages and felt sadness for all the prior recipients of white corsages.


So, now I think I’d just rather not wear a corsage at all. Or, maybe this year I’ll wear an orange one. After all, orange is my favorite color. I just don’t want that white corsage distinction. I don’t want people to wonder what happened to my mother. I don’t want the people with red corsages to feel guilty looking at my white one.


Who in the world came up with that tradition anyway? B and L – are you “listening”? Mom wants orange.

Being Kee

I've always enjoyed writing. People have always told me that I was good at it and I've got lots of opinions, thoughts, views, etc. Starting a blog is just a natural transition, I guess. Who knows, maybe this will lead to that book that my sisters and I are always threatening to write.

You'll get a glimpse of my thoughts on politics, Christianity, entertainment, family, business, love, friendship, trivia and a whole lot of other things. Be sure to add your comments. That's what will make this fun.

Anyway, I think I'm more than a little different so I will likely (albeit unintentionally) offend some and make others scratch their heads in disbelief. I'd like to think that there are a few folks out there though, that think a lot like I do.

I really don't know how to be anything other than who I am so this is the beginning of me -- Being Kee.

Hold on, here we go. . .