President Bush spoke today to the Urban League. He said, in part:
"I know plenty of politicians assume they have your vote, but did they earn it, and do they deserve it?""Is it a good thing for the African-American community to be represented mainly by one political party?"
"Have the traditional solutions of the Democrat Party truly served the African-American people?"
"There is an alternative this year."
Bill Cosby recently blew the whistle on the subject least likely to be talked about by African-Americans; the failure of urban blacks to achieve.
In response to Mr Cosby's remarks, Sherita A. Hill of Newport News wrote:
I find it disappointing that some African-Americans are angry and upset, but like my dad used to say, "Stop carrying your feelings in your hands." Cosby didn't say anything wrong. We as black folks didn't want to hear it.Most of us have played the victim so long that we don't realize that we're sometimes the culprits. It's not cute when a 3-year-old says he's a "(expletive) pimp" or a little 10-year-old girl gyrates and shakes as she imitates what she's seen on television or in the street. It's worse when the neighborhood drug dealers get more respect than parents, elders, teachers and other important people in the community.
We all need to teach our children the value of hard work and getting an education. It's time to pull those pants up (and put on a belt). Take the fake gold tooth out of the mouth and check the diction and speech. It's time for African-Americans to carry themselves with dignity and respect, stop hanging on the corner, pull those skirts down, and realize that they're special.
Cosby has given black America a wake-up call. It's time that we answer it.
Let's review, in the last 40 years, Democrats have held the White House for half. More importantly, Congress had been held by Democrats for nearly 30 years and still today have enough a minority in the Senate to block Republican proposals.
What have the Democrats done to alleviate the problems annunciated by Mr Cosby and Ms Hill?
Could it be that The Great Society was a contributing factor to the problems outlined? Could programs that encourage dependency not on one's self, but on others, on Government be a contributing factor?
Obviously, Republicans think so. And many are under the false impression that trying to shift programs from dependency to self-reliance is heartless, mean, and disrespectful.
Few consider that it's just a different approach. If you can only think of two solutions to a problem, or worse, one, then you're missing something.
So, in keeping with this policy, the President comes to the Urban League with an approach that is different than what the Democrats have offered:
...we've got work to do to encourage and train a new generation of entrepreneurs. And that's why I'm pleased to announce today that we're joining with the Urban League to expand minority business ownership. It's an interesting project. You can't say to somebody, you must be an entrepreneur. You can't say that. But you can say, if you want to start your own business, we'll help you. And I want to thank Marc's leadership on this and the board's leadership in understanding the need to work with the federal government to set up what they call one-stop centers where minority enterprise can receive business training. It's one thing to say, let's go be an entrepreneur. But if you're not certain how to do it, people need help. You may have a great idea, but you're not sure how to keep the books. It's a practical application of federal assets to help people understand how to own and run their own business. You can develop contacts there. You get advice on financing. It's practical ways to help people realize their dreams, is what we're talking about here.
It's an offer of something other than dependence on government.
Maybe it will work.
Climbing out of the window
Climbing up the wall
Is anybody gonna save me
Or are they gonna let me fall
Well I don't really wanna know
I´ll just hold on the best I can
And if I fall down
I´ll just get back up
It'll be alright
It'll be okI'm gonna make my world a better place
I'm gonna keep that smile on my face
I'm gonna teach myself how to understand
I'm gonna make myself a better man-Keb' Mo'