Sarah Palin Would Hate Rosa Parks
Sarah Palin and the GOP had great fun this week belittling Barack Obama's background as a community organizer. But in doing so, they were not just putting down one person.
They were attacking the (small "d") democratic traditions of the United States, itself.
Let us not forget: the first of America's freedoms is the freedom to speak out for change. That is the rock upon which all of our other freedoms are built. And across the country, in roles paid and unpaid, America's community organizers are the people who help us exercise that freedom every day. They are the invisible champions of America's grassroots democracy.
For little or no pay, they work with neighbors -- or with people in need -- to address tough problems. They are often people who could make a great deal of money in other professions. But many have chosen to dedicate themselves to causes greater than themselves -- and to communities poorer than their own.
Their work epitomizes what it means to put community -- and, yes, country -- first.
Their dedication and sacrifice is nothing new; the idea of bottom-up, democratic action is as old as the republic itself. In fact, constant engagement and debate at the neighborhood, community and grassroots level is what keeps the nation's democracy vital and alive.
My question is this: how can any candidate or party that hopes to lead America take such joy in putting down American institutions -- like grassroots democracy and its hard-working stewards?
Rosa Parks was a community organizer. The PTA moms (with whom Sarah Palin loves to associate herself) are community organizers. Today, organizers are powering our democracy -- registering millions of young people, disadvantaged people and senior citizens to vote for the first time. They do the invaluable and thankless labor of making democracy work.
When factories are shut down and families find they have nowhere else to turn, community organizers step in and step up. They help frightened and frustrated people find shared solutions to wrenching problems.
They help our national leaders correct major policy mistakes. Not only were community organizers the first people in this country to stand up against the war in Iraq. They were also the first to talk about how U.S. soldiers in harm's way were not given enough protective gear.
They come from red states and blue states. Community organizers, including groups led by evangelical Rick Warren, helped to lead the rebuilding of New Orleans following Katrina. Many of those religiously motivated organizers have stayed there after the media, the government big shots and practically everyone else has left.
But apparently, it is not enough that they work under incredibly difficult circumstances for little pay and no recognition. Now they have to listen to broadcast put-down's from the party of Bush, McCain and Palin.
That's a shame -- and a disgrace. Those who make democracy work every day should be respected, along with America's other homeland heroes. Anyone who aspires to lead this country should be saluting them -- not sneering at them.
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Would she know who Rosa Parks was?
B I N G O ! !
I doubt it. She didn't even know who wrote, or when the Pledge of Allegiance was written!
"If it was good enough for the Founding Fathers, it's good enough for me."
Governor Sarah Palin~
She must have missed that civics class as she was hopping around from college to college (6 total) over the course of 5 years, in pursuit of her vaunted journalism, or is it communications, or is it broadcasting degree?
"When asked about whether we should keep "under G*o*d" in the Ple&dge of All*egiance, she said: "Absolutely. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, it's good enough for me." But "under G-o*d" is not in the original pledge. It was added during the Mc Car thy era, one of our country's darkest moments."
http://www
Here's the bottom line why Obama's community organizer job on the resume is a joke to many . . . he never told us what he did or any specifics. Anyone can be a communits organizer so it is nothing special and not in an accomplishment . . .
It would take me 5 minutes to become a community organizer . . . same goes for mayor or governor? Nope.
Are your pants on fire or were you not listening. He and his wife gave details of what he did as a community organizer. He worked on the South side of Chicago with steel worker lost their jobs because the steel factories had been shut down. That was just one of the community organizer details that he gave.
More Palin Deranged Syndrome
When has the Republican party ever cared about the least among us? In the words of the present Bush, it's a party of the "haves and have mores." Palin has aligned herself very well with that philosophy. Thanks for uplifting community service. It's the backbone of this nation.
Probably not since the 1860s.
I think everyone is missing the point. Palin and Rudi were not trying to say they hate community organizati
However, I think the 'hate' here is a bit strong. I think its hypocritical to admonish the GOP for spinning the conotations of the title community organizer by spinning the argument from one of whether Obama has earned such a title to one of how much Republicans hate democracy.
I hate democracy by the way. Modern American democracy that is. Its a hoax, a sham. Special interests own our government. The presidential election is a crumb, dropped from their table, go ahead scramble for it like hungry dogs, fight among yourselves.
I digress. What I meant to say was I know what communities Rosa Parks, Dr. MLK, and JC organized. I'm not sure which one's Obama did. But when all the bickering and Monday Night Raw antics are said and done all your doing is deciding which candidate you dislike the least. So nevermind.
If you wanna cast a vote that will really count-vote with a brick!
Perhaps you should tell the many social workers, non-profit workers and other community organizer what Guiliani and Palin meant to say in their speeched because they all heard the same degradation.
In such a carefully scripted affair as the RNC convention, how could so many speakers insult the community organizers who "keep democracy alive and well"? I think it's because many conservatives really do not know what a community organizer does. Why? Because much of that work has traditionally been done by people from the left. Doesn't conservative philosophy—with its emphasis on self-reliance, competition, and a belief in the marketplace and the "private sector" to solve all our problems— discourage the kind of work Mr. Jones describes in the above article? The gleeful ridicule of community organizers on a night when the Republicans had a huge national audience speaks volumes about the kind of values they hold and the kind of people they really are.
SHE SURE WOUL NOT LIKE MOTHER TERESA
I was thinking the same thing! how dare you criticize someone's work in community organizing? doesnt make sense..the
It really amazes me that Palin & the Christian Right put down Obama's "community organizing" experience.
I would think from the Christian Right perspective that they would see JESUS as the "ultimate" community organizer!! JESUS went among the "people" & offered them HOPE against the tyranny of the POWERFUL ROMAN EMPIRE. America today is an Empire far beyond anything that Rome achieved. The Republican Party is the party of "judgment", of wealth & power. They "use" religion to divide our country & enrich their "sacred" CORPORATIONS.
Helping people from the grassroots level has always been seen as God's work i.e. Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, etc.
When I looked at the audience shots at the Republican Convention it dawned on me, mostly WHITE, OLD, MEN. A heavy emphasis on war, military, fear (911), war hero (POW) & a strong "southern" bloc. In large part these people are the ancestors of the Confederacy from our Civil War that was fought over "slavery".
The plantation owners who at one time felt no guilt about "owning" human beings all the while holding their Bibles & singing praise to Jesus.
I ask the Christian Right - Would JESUS be working for Exxon, Haliburton, the Pentagon OR would JESUS be a "community organizer" helping the sick, the needy, the less fortunate???
The Christian Right is "neither" Christian nor Right!!
Would Jesus work for the CORPORATIONS or THE PEOPLE????
so true
Remember, you are only hearing Palin's voice, not her words. Nearly EVERYTHING she says has been written by speechwriters - mostly men.
You are just hearing what the Right-wing machine wants everyone to hear.
WAKE UP AMERICA!
Palin's speech was written by Bush's speechwriter. She is being schooled by Bush's economic and foreign policy team while under media blackout. It truly is a Bush third term they seek. Now that's change we can believe in.
So what are you saying?
That she will amazingly throw off the handlers writing her speeches and acti differently? She chose to speak those words, she owns them now.
Granted, she doesn't sound nearly as good when she is speaking unscripted in church about how Iraq is god's war. In her church I guess they know that Jesus was never interested in peace, and was just misquoted in the bible, right?
You mean that bulldog with lipstick can't stand up the the 'good ole boys'
true...BUT
The Greedy Obnoxious People (GOP), are the ones who really do not understand the struggles the middle class, working poor, and underprivileged face on a daily basis.
Because Obama worked as a community organizer for several years qualifies him to understand what we in the middle class are dealing with. He helped the unemployed steel workers, he assisted the uninsured facing health crises', he registered voters, he mobilized and educated the ignorant citizens to the paths they could take in helping themselves.
Community organization is the grass-roots which created the movement which is demanding the change OUR country needs.
Grumpy McSame and Palin will never get it. They have never walked in the shoes of the sufferers, and indend to end everything which was put in place to help create equality.
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VOTE! Save OUR Supreme Court from the right wing radicals.
Blah, blah, blah...and the beat goes on.
I am not going to write what I want to write regarding the views of Mrs. Palin on this subject because I do not think the comment will make it through moderation. I tried once before to voice my opinion on her “misguided” statement (understatement trust me) only to be slapped down in moderation land even though I could not find the offense in what I wrote. I understand; the harsh truth can be offensive.
I will just say that Mrs. Palin and Ms. Parks are worlds apart in my mind. It is not even a contest. The ignorance of her statement speaks for itself as will the ignorance of anyone who votes for thing 1(McCain) and thing 2 (Palin).
the difference between Palin and Parks is stark. One has achieved, strictly on her own, many things. The other sat in a bus seat and wouldn't get up.
Rosa Parks did much more than refuse to adhere to virulently racist Jim Crow laws, which btw took great courage.
It's a shame that so many people are so amazingly ignorant about the history of their own country. Why do you revel in your ignorance? Why are you proud of your inability to understand history?
Jerk.
Thing 3 heard from!
So TRUE, FALIN PALIN is being run by idiots who could give a damn about helping anyone. They are trying to win at any cost
I would like to expound on the shame and disgrace you mentioned in your last paragraph. first the people who are leading and running the repbulicant campaign KNOW no SHAME OR DISGRACE. period. They have laid the politics of fear on us in every way imaginable for the last 7 years and as evidenced this week......
Sarah Palin...."
I small breeze just came through my window and for a moment I thought it might bring some fresh air. But no, it was the same old huffington and puffington we've seen before. The Republicans were not attacking the democratic (small d) traditions of the United States. In fact, most of the really usefull and helpful of community and grass-roots organizations are run and supported by conservative Republicans (check the facts). They are also the ones least likely to seek to feed at the public trough and tax-payer support. To quote Michell Malkin: "Let me clarify something. Nobody is mocking community organizers in church basements and community centers across the country working to improve their neighbors' lives. What deserves ridicule is the notion that Obama's brief stint as s South Side rabble-rouser for tax-subsidized, partisan nonprofits qualifies as executive experience you can believe in."
I, for one, actually work in my community, without pay, to help make our community a better, healthier place to live. What do you do?
lol, ok that made me laugh.
Does she really think hating is sexy? I've heard hating makes the person ugly.
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