"Poet" invited to White House

[lawgator1]

They can and should. The problem is that even if they feel this they will never admit it because they fear it may not be politically advantageous.

I believe the Obama buys at least some of the stuff Rev Wright was selling but instead of owning up to it he tossed the Rev under the bus and chastised anyone for suggesting he (Obama) might agree with the Rev.

That's the real shame of the issue. Be true to your beliefs and don't jump all over someone for calling you on your beliefs. Man up.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find more than a handful of black people in this country who don't buy into anything that Wright was saying. In fact, I'd imagine that among Democrats, white or black, a huge majority agree with at least some of his observations about economic injustice in the country.

The issue is whether Obama believes it to the point that he a) favors significant overhaul of the government and economy so as to equalize the injustice; b) favors flat out wealth redistribution; c) favors some horrible end to the country or at least its elite.

Now, Fox News and your fellow conservatives like to play the minutes of tape where Wright was ranting in the neighborhood of "c" above, say that Obama went there, and so therefore he also believes in "c."

I think we all know the inherent pitfalls and weaknesses in that logic.

 

[volinbham]

Why do you believe that? I assume you mean at least some of the controversial stuff. Maybe he never agreed with that part, but he did agree with a large amount of other stuff he said about Christ, fellowship, etc. Just because he was a long time member of the church, doesn't mean he absolutely agreed with everything that was said every sermon. I don't know what Rev wright said, but for all we know, 90% of everything else he preached was run of the mill sermons you could conceivably hear at any church.

Just wondering how you are coming to the conclusion that he at least partially agreed with the controversial stuff.

An accumulation of his comments both pre and post election show his views of using the government to "right some wrongs"; to effect social justice. It's not the damn america I'm talking about. It's some of the Black Liberation Theology. I think the "police acted stupidly" moment was a reveal as well. I think some of his czar choices provide confirmation as well and even his Joe the Plumber moment.

In short, I think Obama does buy some of the institutional racism views of Wright and the use of courts and laws to bring about social justice.

 

[volinbham]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find more than a handful of black people in this country who don't buy into anything that Wright was saying. In fact, I'd imagine that among Democrats, white or black, a huge majority agree with at least some of his observations about economic injustice in the country.

The issue is whether Obama believes it to the point that he a) favors significant overhaul of the government and economy so as to equalize the injustice; b) favors flat out wealth redistribution; c) favors some horrible end to the country or at least its elite.

Now, Fox News and your fellow conservatives like to play the minutes of tape where Wright was ranting in the neighborhood of "c" above, say that Obama went there, and so therefore he also believes in "c."

I think we all know the inherent pitfalls and weaknesses in that logic.

I don't think he is about "c" at all. I do believe he is firmly "a" and pretty firmly "b".

I would also modify "a" to be equalize perceived injustice as well as real injustice.

The problem for me is that he is coy about "a" and flat out denies "b". Then he gets all pissy about any suggestions he is a or b. I believe he also is inherently anti-business but claims daily to be pro-business.

 

[tvolsfan]

I think the vast majority of poetry is garbage.

Doesn't really contribute to the discussion, but I felt the need to say it anyways.

 

[therealUT]

I think the vast majority of poetry is garbage.

I think the same can be said for everything, right? The vast majority of literature is garbage, the vast majority of people who play sports are terrible, ...

 

[tvolsfan]

I think the same can be said for everything, right? The vast majority of literature is garbage, the vast majority of people who play sports are terrible, ...

Not to the same extent, IMO. I despise poetry, and think it's more or less useless.

I know others won't have the same opinion, but I just felt that strongly about it that I felt the need to comment on it.

 

[therealUT]

Not to the same extent, IMO. I despise poetry, and think it's more or less useless.

I know others won't have the same opinion, but I just felt that strongly about it that I felt the need to comment on it.

Fair enough. I do not agree; however, feelings are pretty subjective.

I also can understand, as I cannot stand much, if any, modern art.

 

[lawgator1]

I don't think he is about "c" at all. I do believe he is firmly "a" and pretty firmly "b".

I would also modify "a" to be equalize perceived injustice as well as real injustice.

The problem for me is that he is coy about "a" and flat out denies "b". Then he gets all pissy about any suggestions he is a or b. I believe he also is inherently anti-business but claims daily to be pro-business.

In my view, he is clearly "a" and doesn't hide it nearly as much as you would claim. He probably has a bit of "b" in him, too, but realizes that is beyond his job description.

He is not in the "c" camp, but that is how he is portrayed by those that make an issue out of this poet or Wright or the Black Panther DOJ case.

It is this constant refrain of associating him with the most radical extremes of racial politics that is so offensive to everyone not on the far right.

 

[tvolsfan]

Fair enough. I do not agree; however, feelings are pretty subjective.

Fair enough. I'm taking a Spanish class in which we've been reading a lot of poetry, and I think I just said on here what I didn't say when we were actually discussing the poems we read.

I also can understand, as I cannot stand much, if any, modern art.

If you don't mind elaborating, why do you feel this way?

My annoyance with some art is I too often find myself looking at something which doesn't really appear to be anything, but I keep hearing it getting praised. That being said, I don't really pay a lot of attention to art in general, so I don't have as strong an opinion.

 

[therealUT]

Fair enough. I'm taking a Spanish class in which we've been reading a lot of poetry, and I think I just said on here what I didn't say when we were actually discussing the poems we read.

If you don't mind elaborating, why do you feel this way?

My annoyance with some art is I too often find myself looking at something which doesn't really appear to be anything, but I keep hearing it getting praised. That being said, I don't really pay a lot of attention to art in general, so I don't have as strong an opinion.

Modern art and the entire avant-garde thing is, IMO, too internally focused to convey anything to any audience that includes neither the artist nor his close inner circle. The beauty of all forms of art, in my opinion, is that the artist is able to express his most intimate emotions and desires in a medium that conveys those same emotions and desires to the world.

To feel the emotions of Renaissance and Classical art, one need not be an art historian nor know much about the artist and/or what is displayed in the work of art. The Triumph of Neptune or the centerpiece of the Sistine Chapel ceiling can be understood and felt by persons who know nothing of Roman or Christian mythology, respectively. Knowledge of those stories certainly adds extra benefit for the viewer, however, the dirth of knowledge does not keep a viewer from experiencing some of the most basic emotions the artist wanted to express.

For me, the first emotion that is inspired when I see most works of modern art is confusion. Then, I have to find and read the placard to try to understand what it is the artist is conveying. When I understand, the experience is only mental, not emotional and/or sensory.

 

[volinbham]

In my view, he is clearly "a" and doesn't hide it nearly as much as you would claim. He probably has a bit of "b" in him, too, but realizes that is beyond his job description.

He is not in the "c" camp, but that is how he is portrayed by those that make an issue out of this poet or Wright or the Black Panther DOJ case.

It is this constant refrain of associating him with the most radical extremes of racial politics that is so offensive to everyone not on the far right.

A bit of "b"? Realizes it's beyond his job description? You are smoking crack rock.

 

[milohimself]

I've never gotten that... Aren't taxes redistribution of wealth by definition? For somebody to be against that they would be for eliminating taxes altogether. I feel like it's one of those words or phrases that has been turned into such a dirty word for some people that its meaning gets bastardized and honest conversation doesn't happen because of it.

 

[Unimane]

Get over yourself. The context hurts your point.

As to my anger, don't be a retard. I simply said it's absurd to act if people bothered by his invite don't have a legitimate beef, and it is.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

No, the context doesn't hurt my point and I have no idea why you decided to be the arrogant douche towards me, but I guess that's your perogative.

As for the "absurd" nature of the objection to Common's invite you seem to think is so natural, realize that this objection is based upon an obscure poem years ago with a line extremely tenously linked to attacking the president. Certainly, no one thought it was an advocation to attack the president at the time and do you know why? Because you have to be a moron to think so.

If you are taking that poem to say someone should set George W. Bush on fire, then, yes, you are a bonified moron. You can give me all the faux moral outrage or self-righteous indignation, but the fact remains that you have to actively search for a reason to be offended by the invite to actually become offended.

So, yeah, your outrage is still stupid and based upon a lack of knowledge of the subject and an acceptance of dumbasses expressing outrage over twisting of an obscure line from 2007 for the purposes of a political hack job.

 

[milohimself]

George Bush hates black people.

 

[milohimself]

It's hardly just guilt by association when there are this many anti-American characters in his circle.

You are right, and it is my right to call this guy and his wife out for inviting someone who advocates violence against those who protect us every day.

They can. Many more people have that same beef and Many of those don't just talk about killing people.

There is no written rule, but my guess is that the Bush family doesn't view this similarly to those here mincing the words to pretend that they have some other meaning.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

I think the vast majority of poetry is garbage.

Doesn't really contribute to the discussion, but I felt the need to say it anyways.

Just reposting these for posterity...

How DARE the president give an official invite to the WH to somebody who promotes violence. How incredibly irresponsible, clearly shows that Obama is in cahoots with a violent extreme.

Oh, wait...

I went up to Memphis and I met Delia there
Found her in her parlor and I tied her to her chair
...
First time I shot her, I shot her in the side
Hard to watch her suffer but with the second shot she died
Delia's gone, one more round Delia's gone

Or...

Early one mornin' while makin' the rounds
I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down
I went right home and I went to bed
I stuck that lovin' 44 beneath my head

I hope that a sitting president would never invite anybody who promotes that kind of misogyny, drug use and gun violence on an official visit to the white house, or associate with him in public in any way...




















wait for it...

Oh, damnit...

Anybody with a beef over Obama inviting Common to the WH, that ^^^ is the exact equivalent of what you're doing.

 

[CSVol]

I see we get our news from the same place. It was hilarious to see Hannity look foolish....AGAIN.

 

[tvolsfan]

Modern art and the entire avant-garde thing is, IMO, too internally focused to convey anything to any audience that includes neither the artist nor his close inner circle. The beauty of all forms of art, in my opinion, is that the artist is able to express his most intimate emotions and desires in a medium that conveys those same emotions and desires to the world.

To feel the emotions of Renaissance and Classical art, one need not be an art historian nor know much about the artist and/or what is displayed in the work of art. The Triumph of Neptune or the centerpiece of the Sistine Chapel ceiling can be understood and felt by persons who know nothing of Roman or Christian mythology, respectively. Knowledge of those stories certainly adds extra benefit for the viewer, however, the dirth of knowledge does not keep a viewer from experiencing some of the most basic emotions the artist wanted to express.

For me, the first emotion that is inspired when I see most works of modern art is confusion. Then, I have to find and read the placard to try to understand what it is the artist is conveying. When I understand, the experience is only mental, not emotional and/or sensory.

Fair enough. Thanks for the info.

I feel like I've been spoiled because I've seen a lot of famous art, and I haven't taken much time to appreciate it. I did, however, think the works in Sistine Chapel and in the Vatican in general were very cool. And at the risk of setting myself up for a gay joke, I'm glad I also got an opportunity to see the statue of David.

 

[volfanjustin]

Commentary: Jill Scott Talks Interracial Dating - Essence.com

My new friend is handsome, African-American, intelligent and seemingly wealthy. He is an athlete, loves his momma, and is happily married to a White woman. I admit when I saw his wedding ring, I privately hoped. But something in me just knew he didn't marry a sister. Although my guess hit the mark, when my friend told me his wife was indeed Caucasian, I felt my spirit...wince. I didn't immediately understand it. My face read happy for you. My body showed no reaction to my inner pinch, but the sting was there, quiet like a mosquito under a summer dress.

Another person invited to poetry night. I wonder if she knows that if were not for mixed relations her president would not be here.

 

[lawgator1]

The far right's outcry on this would mean that no black rapper could ever come to the WH. It is part of the art form itself to use hyperbole and vent frustration at the (real or imagined) injustice of our economy and institutions. Certainly one would find lyrics similar to these for just about all black rappers. So if that were the test, then none could ever come to the WH.

But then again, that's sort of the point of the far right here, isn't it?

 

[kptvol]

Just reposting these for posterity...

How DARE the president give an official invite to the WH to somebody who promotes violence. How incredibly irresponsible, clearly shows that Obama is in cahoots with a violent extreme.

Oh, wait...



Or...



I hope that a sitting president would never invite anybody who promotes that kind of misogyny, drug use and gun violence on an official visit to the white house, or associate with him in public in any way...




















wait for it...

Oh, damnit...

Anybody with a beef over Obama inviting Common to the WH, that ^^^ is the exact equivalent of what you're doing.

I have no idea what Common's lyrics are about, but the Cash songs you're referencing certainly aren't promotions or glamorizations of murder.

 

[lawgator1]

Every prez invites someone controversial to the WH.

 

[DinkinFlicka]

I have no idea what Common's lyrics are about, but the Cash songs you're referencing certainly aren't promotions or glamorizations of murder.

Then let's get down to brass tacks and compare Cash's criminal record to Common's.

 

[kptvol]

Then let's get down to brass tacks and compare Cash's criminal record to Common's.

Don't care. Just pointing an incorrect interpretation of Cash's lyrics.

 

[volinbham]

The far right's outcry on this would mean that no black rapper could ever come to the WH. It is part of the art form itself to use hyperbole and vent frustration at the (real or imagined) injustice of our economy and institutions. Certainly one would find lyrics similar to these for just about all black rappers. So if that were the test, then none could ever come to the WH.

But then again, that's sort of the point of the far right here, isn't it?

So expression should in no way be punished - I agree.

Sorry about that Trent Lott. I guess the far right was responsible for that too.

 

[volfan2024]

I'm in your corner BPV on this matter.