Fashion 101

Kenneth Holder is a semi-retired Mental Health worker who has written two plays “The Last Run’, which was performed in Philadelphia in 2003 for National Aids Awareness Week and “Coming Home” which is still a work in progress. His mission in writing this column is just to give an average man’s view on the current issues facing us every day and getting constructive feed back from the brothers in our neighborhood as opposed to the media. I hope to receive and be given the opportunity to answer any feed back. Send feedback to kenman@afrophilly.com

 

Obama vs. Clinton Political History or Strange Bedfellows

The political arena makes for strange bed fellows. Politicians (for some reason the prerequisite for being one is being a lawyer) are not usually noted for their honesty; go figure. The 2008 Presidential election has made history before anybody has won. The question? Do we let the Republican Party continue the mess they have made over last eight years? Or do Americans come face to face with a possibly scary situation? I say scary, because I’m sure that somewhere in this great melting pot of ours, someone is asking, "How did we get here"? Hillary and Barack aren’t supposed to be here? I think I heard a song like that somewhere, but I digress.

Never before in the history of this country has the black vote become such a commodity, yes I said commodity. They are fighting both tooth and nail and endorsement to endorsement. They are spending an amazing amount of money for our vote. Obama has Oprah, Hillary has Maya Angelou, things that make you go whooooom! Obama has 99% of the Kennedy clan, minus the terminator, Hillary has Edward Jr. (who is he anyway). The better question is which candidate has us? After a careful review of the plays so far, I’m not ready to rule yet. But what I’m sure of is that we need to be in the polling booths on Election Day.

My brothers, before that time, when the debates come on television, don’t change the channel, watch and read the news, listen to what they are saying. Let’s go to some of these rallies and get involved. Grasp the power awarded to you by the blood and sweat of generations before us! Let’s wake up and smell the coffee in all its “blackness”. I’m not here to tell you who to vote for but, I don’t want us to waste this opportunity by not voting, or not making an informed vote. Please do not take this article as an endorsement of the Democratic Party, although after the last eight years the Republicans have spoke loud and clear as to where they are in reference to our needs. If however, you agree with them feel free, just vote!

I leave you with this thought, what if Obama and Clinton ran together? Strange bedfellows, or is it truly the history making ticket for change? Until next time, this has just been one brother’s opinion. Let’s strive for excellence!