What and old soldier thinks....
Four years ago yesterday, the headlines were “Commander in Chief lands on USS Lincoln”, since that time the media and the political opponents of the President have besmirched this action as phoney, and grandstanding. Maybe so, but I saw it differently. I saw a president willing to meet the returning warriors and just say thank you. If that is political grandstanding then it is good grandstanding. This old soldier swelled with pride when that jet landed on the deck of the Lincoln, tears swelled in my eyes when I saw a man as important as the President of the United States willing to take the time to say thanks. A small thing, hell no, the effect this had on moral of the military forces of this country was overwhelming. Anyone who cannot understand that needs to stand the post, walk in harms way, suck it up when someone is trying to kill you, then you will understand.
Fast forward four years, the Congress passed an Emergency Funding Bill, a surrender bill, last Friday, April 27, 2007. Purely for political gain, the Congress sat on this most important piece of Legislation that they have produced in today’s Congress for four days so they could further besmirch our President. It was a truly shameful attempt to destroy the moral of Americas fighting force. What the hell is wrong with these people, are they cowards, or worse, traitors, we have men and women in harms way and while Senator Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. smirks while uttering the words “we will shove this down the presidents throat.” I consider the source and try to ignore what he said, but he is a candidate, trying to be President of the United States. I will not say what I would like to shove down his throat.
This crap is not funny folks, it is serious and deadly, soldiers are in harms way, they need what they need, and we should give it to them, no strings attached. What is happening is shameful, truly shameful.
And that is what I have to say about that.
Roots does idealize the slaves, but you know what—I have entered the homes of African-American foster parents for some years (when I was a social worker), and I can definitely say that I experienced the same kind of quiet dignity that Roots portrays. Nothing in Roots reads untrue for me.
Anti-White?
One thing I disliked about Roots was the total anti-White sentiment that was expressed by most of the slaves. Yet, who am I kidding—what else would a slave feel but hatred and contempt for the slave owners who denied him/her their freedom, slept with their women, physically and emotionally abused them, and robbed them of money, property and their very names? It's totally understandable. Besides, there were plenty of good white characters in the series, like Old George and his wife.Islam
I wasn't crazy either about Kunta Kinte being a Muslim. Of course I feel this way because of 9/11 and terrorist reasons, which were not a factor at the time of the making of Roots. So, I'll give it a pass on this one.Afro-Centrism
One main objection I have to the series is the insistence on Afro-centrism. I guess you might say I disagree with Alex Haley's main premise—that in order to be free, you must know your roots. I think you are free in America as an American. You don't need to be hyphenated to be a full human being. If you celebrate your roots, that's fine—but not to the extent that you separate yourself, so that you are not a part of the whole, as a full member of America.