Dead Presidents
By Anthony Bergen
E-Mail: bergen.anthony@gmail.com
Anonymous Asks:
deadpresidents Said:
I would ask them one very simple question: “If your focus is on defending marriage, why are you not banning divorce?”.
If I were a member of Congress, I would tack an amendment prohibiting divorce on any piece of legislation that approached the issue of restricting same-sex marriage. I would introduce legislation stripping all married couples of the rights and privileges that same-sex couples are kept from and currently fighting for. I would suggest criminal penalties for adultery within a marriage.
I would do all of those annoying, ridiculous things to point out how incredibly silly and tragically pathetic it is that there are politicians — actual human beings who were elected to public office by other actual human beings (and the electorate should be accountable, too, because it’s their fault that these people were elevated to and remain in their political position) — who not only actively work to prevent same-sex couples from basic civil rights, but also have no shame in the public knowing that they are the Bull Connor or Ross Barnett of this Civil Rights Movement.
Kamala Harris has been one of my favorite politicians for a long time. I’ll always have fond memories of Kamala, San Francisco’s District Attorney at the time, driving up to Sacramento in the early, early, EARLY days of Obama campaign (I’m talking late-February 2007) to help out with whatever we needed. If you don’t know her, you will.
And, like her, I’m glad I’m on the right side of history. Gay rights are Civil Rights. Don’t ever let anybody tell you differently. You can’t legislate love.
Like I said earlier, I’m doing some organizing of the files on my computer and finding some great little photos that I may or may not have previously posted. Despite what I do, I’ve never really been drawn to political cartoons — even those from what might be the golden age of American political cartoons stretching from the time of Jackson to Lincoln when they were particularly creative and often quite brutal.
However, I’d love a large print of this one. I forget which newspaper it ran in, but I believe it was published the morning after LBJ died in January 1973. This print is located in the stairwell leading to the basement restrooms at the LBJ Library in Austin and I never walked past it without wondering if I could pull it off the wall and make it out the door before security tackled me.
I have a cover story running today on the AND Magazine website that I’d love for you to check out. In the story, I look at President Obama’s dedication of the Cesar Chavez National Monument in California and speak of Chavez’s importance and his impact on people like me — Mexican-Americans from California’s Central Valley. I am a believer that progress in civil rights makes everybody’s life better, not just the people who receive rights that they shouldn’t have been denied in the first place. Equality improves the lives of everyone and for many people, especially those in California who were migrant farm workers or who were related to people that were migrant farm workers at some point, it was not an exaggeration to place Cesar Chavez alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. or Mahatma Gandhi, and I expand on that in the article.
I also fire back at CNN contribute Ruben Navarrette (like Gandhi and Dr. King, Chavez was a proponent of non-violent protest, so maybe “fire back” is the wrong phrase). In an opinion piece posted on CNN.com, Navarette — who has admittedly had issues with Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and the United Farm Workers — suggests that President Obama’s “used” Chavez and the dedication of the National Monument in order to gain traction with Latino voters. As if that’s not quite enough, Navarrette then argues that Chavez’s importance to Latinos overall was overstated and that it’s really only Mexican-Americans who revere the civil rights leader.
In the article, I counter Navarrette’s claims, especially the theory that the President’s recognition of Chavez had something to do with politics. Obama has long admired Chavez and, as someone who can say this with genuine insight, many aspects of Obama’s grassroots campaign in 2007 and 2008 were regional/local techniques and strategies that Chavez’s United Farm Workers used. Not only did Obama’s campaign follow some of the UFW’s models for community organizing, but the Camp Obama training sessions were planned — and in the Camp Obama session that I attended, led by — one of Chavez’s top lieutenants and activists, Marshall Ganz. Even the slogan, “Yes, we can”, was a rough English translation of the longtime United Farm Workers slogan, “¡Sí, se puede!”
I promise that I didn’t just rehash the article in the previous paragraphs. Please go to the AND Magazine website and check it out and PLEASE click on the Facebook “like’ button or the Facebook “share” button so that I can look good to my editors and someone will give me a $10 million book deal simply because of my mediocre writing and better-than-average-yet-not-terribly-impressive web presence.
Football is my favorite sport and like most Americans, I’m thrilled that the NFL season has started, but I became an even bigger fan of the game and the league after reading this article from Politico.
Apparently, Brendon Ayanbadejo, a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, has been an open supporter of same-sex marriage and an advocate for a state law in Maryland that will uphold same-sex marriage in the state. This led an ignorant delegate to the Maryland Assembly, Democrat Emmett C. Burns, Jr., to write a letter to the owner of the Ravens, Steve Biscotti, asking Biscotti to “inhibit such expressions from your employee” by muzzling Ayanbadejo and ordering the linebacker “to cease and desist such injurious actions.”
Instead, Biscotti, the Ravens organization, Ayanbadejo’s teammates, and players around the league have offered their support. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended Ayanbadejo by saying, “I think in this day and age, people are going to speak up about what they think is important. They speak as individuals and that’s an important part of democracy.”
The best statement of support, however, came from Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, who wrote an open letter to Delegate Burns that might be the greatest piece of writing by an American since the Gettysburg Address. I can’t help but post it in its entirety, courtesy of Deadspin:
Dear Emmett C. Burns Jr.,
I find it inconceivable that you are an elected official of Maryland’s state government. Your vitriolic hatred and bigotry make me ashamed and disgusted to think that you are in any way responsible for shaping policy at any level. The views you espouse neglect to consider several fundamental key points, which I will outline in great detail (you may want to hire an intern to help you with the longer words):
1. As I suspect you have not read the Constitution, I would like to remind you that the very first, the VERY FIRST Amendment in this founding document deals with the freedom of speech, particularly the abridgment of said freedom. By using your position as an elected official (when referring to your constituents so as to implicitly threaten the Ravens organization) to state that the Ravens should “inhibit such expressions from your employees,” more specifically Brendon Ayanbadejo, not only are you clearly violating the First Amendment, you also come across as a narcissistic fromunda stain. What on earth would possess you to be so mind-boggingly stupid? It baffles me that a man such as yourself, a man who relies on that same First Amendment to pursue your own religious studies without fear of persecution from the state, could somehow justify stifling another person’s right to speech. To call that hypocritical would be to do a disservice to the word. Mindfucking obscenely hypocritical starts to approach it a little bit.
2. “Many of your fans are opposed to such a view and feel it has no place in a sport that is strictly for pride, entertainment, and excitement.” Holy fucking shitballs. Did you seriously just say that, as someone who’s “deeply involved in government task forces on the legacy of slavery in Maryland”? Have you not heard of Kenny Washington? Jackie Robinson? As recently as 1962 the NFL still had segregation, which was only done away with by brave athletes and coaches daring to speak their mind and do the right thing, and you’re going to say that political views have “no place in a sport”? I can’t even begin to fathom the cognitive dissonance that must be coursing through your rapidly addled mind right now; the mental gymnastics your brain has to tortuously contort itself through to make such a preposterous statement are surely worthy of an Olympic gold medal (the Russian judge gives you a 10 for “beautiful oppressionism”).
3. This is more a personal quibble of mine, but why do you hate freedom? Why do you hate the fact that other people want a chance to live their lives and be happy, even though they may believe in something different than you, or act different than you? How does gay marriage, in any way shape or form, affect your life? If gay marriage becomes legal, are you worried that all of a sudden you’ll start thinking about penis? “Oh shit. Gay marriage just passed. Gotta get me some of that hot dong action!” Will all of your friends suddenly turn gay and refuse to come to your Sunday Ticket grill-outs? (Unlikely, since gay people enjoy watching football too.)
I can assure you that gay people getting married will have zero effect on your life. They won’t come into your house and steal your children. They won’t magically turn you into a lustful cockmonster. They won’t even overthrow the government in an orgy of hedonistic debauchery because all of a sudden they have the same legal rights as the other 90 percent of our population—rights like Social Security benefits, child care tax credits, Family and Medical Leave to take care of loved ones, and COBRA healthcare for spouses and children. You know what having these rights will make gays? Full-fledged American citizens just like everyone else, with the freedom to pursue happiness and all that entails. Do the civil-rights struggles of the past 200 years mean absolutely nothing to you?
In closing, I would like to say that I hope this letter, in some small way, causes you to reflect upon the magnitude of the colossal foot in mouth clusterfuck you so brazenly unleashed on a man whose only crime was speaking out for something he believed in. Best of luck in the next election; I’m fairly certain you might need it.
Sincerely,
Chris KluweP.S. I’ve also been vocal as hell about the issue of gay marriage so you can take your “I know of no other NFL player who has done what Mr. Ayanbadejo is doing” and shove it in your close-minded, totally lacking in empathy piehole and choke on it. Asshole.
Chris Kluwe, Minnesota Vikings punter, is now the greatest person alive.
“¡Sí se puede!”
César Chávez (March 31, 1927-April 23, 1993)
Malcolm X, “Message to the Grass Roots” speech, November 10, 1963, Detroit, Michigan
(This is, by far, my favorite Malcolm X quote and something I’ve always tried to live by.)
stationtostation asked: I know he was never President, but what do you think about Malcolm X?
I love Malcolm X. He was an magnetic leader who was absolutely devoted to his cause. His speeches were electrifying and, even now, when you go back and listen to his speeches or watch video clips of Malcolm, you can almost feel the intensity and passion he had. He was so fearless, his charisma was so raw, and his words were so sharp that it’s almost frightening to watch. Even still photos of Malcolm X are intense.
What really captivates me about Malcolm X is that there was an unusual earnestness to what he believed and what he said. Obviously, he wasn’t saying anything that white people were happy to hear, but he also wasn’t saying things that a lot of black people wanted to hear, either. I mean, Malcolm criticized the non-violent protests and tactics of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, and he did so with language that was often brutal and cutting towards MLK and other Civil Rights leaders. The non-violent protests aren’t the only reason the Civil Rights Movement was successful. Malcolm’s rhetoric gave Americans a glimpse into how genuinely angry many of the country’s oppressed people were. Although I’m over-simplifying things and it wasn’t coordinated in any way, MLK and Malcolm X appeared as almost a good cop/bad cop duo. Many Americans couldn’t help but think, “Okay, this Civil Rights thing is inevitable. Do we want to do it Dr. King’s way, or do we want to do it Malcolm X’s way?”. Malcolm hinted as much when he showed up in Selma, Alabama during the protests there and said, “I want Dr. King to know that I didn’t come to Selma to make his job difficult. I really did come thinking I could make it easier. If the white people realize what the alternative is, perhaps they will be more willing to hear Dr. King.”
Malcolm’s earnestness, however, was most apparent in the last year of his life. There had been issues in the Nation of Islam with Malcolm because he was so popular with the media and many members of the NOI felt he was overshadowing the NOI’s leader, Elijah Muhammad. When Malcolm X realized that Muhammad had been carrying on affairs with some of his secretaries and fathered children outside of his own marriage, Malcolm was disgusted. Malcolm was deeply, genuinely disappointed because Elijah Muhammad had been his mentor. In Malcolm X’s view of Islam, Elijah Muhammad’s actions had been haraam and Malcolm felt so strongly about it that he no longer had the respect for the NOI leader that he once was so passionate about. To me, that is an incredible display of faith — because of his strong, abrasive language and perspective, Malcolm didn’t have many supporters outside of the Nation of Islam, but he couldn’t bring himself to remain faithful to the NOI because he felt the NOI’s leader wasn’t remaining faithful to Islam.
Then Malcolm made his hajj and had this transformative experience during the pilgrimage. At Mecca, he prayed with and ate with and completed the steps of the hajj process with Muslims who were black, brown, and even white. When he returned from Mecca, he was a different person. He was still a black nationalist, but he renounced racism. He talked of how he had “learned the truth”, and it has always amazed me that someone who built a national profile on such combative language and extremist views could go in front of that same audience and say that he was wrong. Malcolm X had the strength to admit that his beliefs had evolved and that people of different races could live together and work together and love each other. In my opinion, that’s Malcolm’s greatness, and it’s summed up best in The Autobiography of Malcolm X:
“I’ve had enough of someone else’s propaganda. I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against. I’m a human being first and foremost, and as such I am for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.”
stationtostation Asks:
deadpresidents Said:
I love Malcolm X. He was an magnetic leader who was absolutely devoted to his cause. His speeches were electrifying and, even now, when you go back and listen to his speeches or watch video clips of Malcolm, you can almost feel the intensity and passion he had. He was so fearless, his charisma was so raw, and his words were so sharp that it’s almost frightening to watch. Even still photos of Malcolm X are intense.
What really captivates me about Malcolm X is that there was an unusual earnestness to what he believed and what he said. Obviously, he wasn’t saying anything that white people were happy to hear, but he also wasn’t saying things that a lot of black people wanted to hear, either. I mean, Malcolm criticized the non-violent protests and tactics of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, and he did so with language that was often brutal and cutting towards MLK and other Civil Rights leaders. The non-violent protests aren’t the only reason the Civil Rights Movement was successful. Malcolm’s rhetoric gave Americans a glimpse into how genuinely angry many of the country’s oppressed people were. Although I’m over-simplifying things and it wasn’t coordinated in any way, MLK and Malcolm X appeared as almost a good cop/bad cop duo. Many Americans couldn’t help but think, “Okay, this Civil Rights thing is inevitable. Do we want to do it Dr. King’s way, or do we want to do it Malcolm X’s way?”. Malcolm hinted as much when he showed up in Selma, Alabama during the protests there and said, “I want Dr. King to know that I didn’t come to Selma to make his job difficult. I really did come thinking I could make it easier. If the white people realize what the alternative is, perhaps they will be more willing to hear Dr. King.”
Malcolm’s earnestness, however, was most apparent in the last year of his life. There had been issues in the Nation of Islam with Malcolm because he was so popular with the media and many members of the NOI felt he was overshadowing the NOI’s leader, Elijah Muhammad. When Malcolm X realized that Muhammad had been carrying on affairs with some of his secretaries and fathered children outside of his own marriage, Malcolm was disgusted. Malcolm was deeply, genuinely disappointed because Elijah Muhammad had been his mentor. In Malcolm X’s view of Islam, Elijah Muhammad’s actions had been haraam and Malcolm felt so strongly about it that he no longer had the respect for the NOI leader that he once was so passionate about. To me, that is an incredible display of faith — because of his strong, abrasive language and perspective, Malcolm didn’t have many supporters outside of the Nation of Islam, but he couldn’t bring himself to remain faithful to the NOI because he felt the NOI’s leader wasn’t remaining faithful to Islam.
Then Malcolm made his hajj and had this transformative experience during the pilgrimage. At Mecca, he prayed with and ate with and completed the steps of the hajj process with Muslims who were black, brown, and even white. When he returned from Mecca, he was a different person. He was still a black nationalist, but he renounced racism. He talked of how he had “learned the truth”, and it has always amazed me that someone who built a national profile on such combative language and extremist views could go in front of that same audience and say that he was wrong. Malcolm X had the strength to admit that his beliefs had evolved and that people of different races could live together and work together and love each other. In my opinion, that’s Malcolm’s greatness, and it’s summed up best in The Autobiography of Malcolm X:
“I’ve had enough of someone else’s propaganda. I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against. I’m a human being first and foremost, and as such I am for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.”
This is the political cartoon I mentioned in the last question’s answer. It’s in the basement of the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas.
•This is an Historically Accurate Transcription starring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X•
KING: Yo…Brother Malcolm, what it do?
MALCOLM: Hey! How’s it going, Doc? What’s new?
KING: Nothing, man. I’m getting ready for this March On Washington. I’m making a speech to a bunch of crackers at the Lincoln Memorial.
MALCOLM: Yeah…I heard. Good luck with that…
KING: Shit, no one listens to what I’m saying anyway. A lot of good all my other speeches have done so far. I’m just gonna change my tactics.
MALCOLM: Like what? You know I’m not down with that non-violence shit, but it seems to work for you.
KING: Nope. I’m tired of it. I’m announcing a new way of doing business at this March.
MALCOLM: What do you have in mind?
KING: Well, I had a dream and I’m gonna talk about it.
MALCOLM: You’re gonna talk about a dream? I don’t know, Doc. That sounds boring.
KING: Naw…you’ll dig it. I was dreaming about punching white people. I’m going to announce the new tactic: Punch A White Guy.
MALCOLM: Whoa, homie. That’s a big change!
KING: Hell yeah. Punch a white guy, sleep with the white women, and eat white babies.
MALCOLM: Martin, you’ve been getting some respect. Things are still rough, but maybe you shouldn’t throw it all away by doing this, especially when your audience will be so big.
KING: That’s the best time! We’re gonna have a big, diverse group of people in front of us. I’m going to have the brothas turn and punch the closest white person! I thought you’d love this!
MALCOLM: Naw, bro…you should stick to what you’ve been doing. It’s a good balance with what I’m doing. It’s a good cop, bad cop thing. It works. Slowly, but it works.
KING: I’m changing my name, too. Not to that Muslim shit like you guys, but to something cool…King Martin Fucks Your White Women. “The Second”.
MALCOLM: I think you’re making a mistake, Doc.
KING: What do you think I should do? Go up there and talk about how I dream about my kids playing with the kids of the people holding us down?
MALCOLM: Yeah…actually I do. Keep doing what you’ve been doing.
KING: I’m gonna say, “You’re right. We’re not equal. Black folks are WAY better at basketball than you crackers. Also, bigger dicks.”
MALCOLM: No…no, don’t do that, Doc.
KING: I’m going to say, “Do you know where I see white people and black people in the future?” and then pause and say, “STILL ON DEEZ NUTS!!!”.
MALCOLM: Well, I’m gonna pray that you think differently, Martin. I think you can do better than that.
KING: Maybe. Who knows what I’ll do, Malcolm? I’m fucking high as hell right now. You wanna hit some of this Indo?
MALCOLM: No thanks. Listen, I gotta run. I’ve gotta prayer group I’m meeting. I hope things work out for you, Doc.
KING: Word.
KING: (After Malcolm’s gone) Is it me, or is he turning into a bitch?
Hey guys, I promised to share this link when it was published, so here you go. This is the article I wrote for AND Magazine in honor of the Civil Rights hero Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, who passed away on Wednesday in Birmingham.
I’m actually very proud of this article, so please check it out and use your Facebook to “like” it.
Steve Jobs wasn’t the only visionary we lost today.
The Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth died in Birmingham today. Reverend Shuttlesworth was a co-founded of the SCLC and just as important of a figure to the Civil Rights movement in the 50’s and 60’s as Martin Luther King, Jr. If you want to talk about someone who changed the world — changed the very soul of the people in this country — then don’t leave Rev. Shuttlesworth out of the conversation.
I’ll do my best to write more about the Reverend tomorrow, either here or in AND Magazine.
