The Dream Lives On!

Today is not a celebration day, but one of reflection and looking forward. Many people have memories of Dr. King, I have 3 specific memories of him. The first is the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965. My father, who was a US Marshall, was part of the security detail for the march but only made it through half the march because granddaddy died. The second was July 30, 1967 at County Hall in Charleston, SC. I had just turned 9 when Dr. King came to give a speech there. It was a hot Sunday afternoon and I remember almost not going. My brothers and my mother didn't want to attend, but my father did. He asked me and I went. I remember Dr. King that day, he would always start out in a slow, deliberate tone and would end up in rousing sweat drenched, thundering tone. Little did we all know that this would be his last visit here. Third was the night of his assassination. My father was in New York at the time and my mother was sleeping because she was a nurse and was on the 11p-7am shift at Roper Hospital. Me and my sister were watching TV when around 8:30pm EST a news flash came on CBS that Dr. King had been shot. We immediately jumped up, ran into my parents room and woke her. By the time she got to the TV Walter Cronkite announced that he had died.

These memories I will carry with me to my grave. People, WE MUST NOT LET DR. KING'S MESSAGE FADE AWAY OR DIE IN VAIN. It is in every one's interest to get over the race issue that is still a festering cancer in this country. Some people say Dr. King's dream is dead, some say it's impossible, and some say nothing at all. It's been 42 years since the Civil Rights act had been signed, about that same time the first African-American, Harvey Gnatt, attended my alma mater, Clemson University. I could go on and on, but let's face it, progress has been made! The lovely lady you see in this picture is my niece, Kourtney. This year she was elected homecoming queen at a predominantly white private school in Charlotte, NC. She will graduate in the top 1 per cent of her class and has the OPPORTUNITY to attend the college of her choice. She IS the next generation for us. My grandfather never had an education, his son wanted to be a tailor but ended up a US Marshall, I'm in the field of science, Koutney's mother is a Pharmacist. In other words, we have come a long, long way but we still have miles to go. I was born on the tail end of Jim Crow and segreation, but on the threshold of the Civil Rights movement. For me DR. KING'S DREAM WILL NEVER DIE! Why? All you have to do is look at Kourtney for the answer.

Sunny day in Heaven

The snow is gone and all that's left is a sunny, cold day with high winds. Football is on the menu with both the AFC and NFC Championships taking place. Clemson lost at Duke last night, so what else is new!

McCain and Clinton both won last night, but this run up to the convention will be fleeting for whoever wins the nomination. Both parties are experiencing volatility amomg voters. The liberal wing of the Journal-Constitution endorsed Obama yesterday. In the beginning my vote was for Hillary because I didn't think Obama could win; let's face it, this is America for God's sake!! But one premise I forgot to consider, there are a slew of new voters coming into the process for the first time, in fact, a whole new generation of voters. These people were born on or before the first Gulf War and they have TOTALLY different views than previous generations. What we thought was impossible is achievable for them. Frankly, I feel that Hillary has an old message, one that does not resonate with this generation. To be honest, I find myself more in the camp of the younger versus the older generation. At this point in History we need a leader who can point us to the future, not the past. For me, that person is Obama. Folks, it's time to retire Hillary and Bill, they have had their time in the sun.

As for the Republicans, give me a break!! There is NO ONE on that side even worth mentioning besides McCain and he too is like Hillary - so 20th century! On the Faux News Channel one night I saw all of them standing, old white guys of the country club sort, it was pathetic! Huckabee is a complete joke! His "get rid of the IRS" mantra was worn out long ago. He knows that will not happen because the IRS does not make tax law, it enforces it. Congress is the entity that make these laws, so now you're telling me that Congress should get rid of itself!! Romney is a COMPLETE hyprocrite, I can't believe him on my best day, and the rest, well like I said before, these guys are old and need to be put out to pasture with their nowhere ideas.

I see the genius Dubya is planning another "tax rebate" for us "shop till you drop Americans". People, this is I skinny, I worked for the IRS in Customer Service during the time of the first tax rebate. This is a SCAM and a complete waste of taxpayers dollars! The overtime, paper, equipment and other logistics needed to get the rebate in people's hands will COST YOU MORE than the entire rebate itself!! And besides, if you owe the IRS or state any money they are going to snatch that rebate away from you. Tell Uncle Sam thanks, but no thanks on this one! Just like Rapid Refund, this idea is to line other people's pockets - NOT YOURS!!

Snow day in Hell

The weather man said it would snow and it did! Even with all the high tech gadgets at our disposal weather forecasting remains an art, not a science. This was taken from the rooftop deck of my loft building in downtown Atlanta. If you look closely you'll see the GA Aquarium in the foreground. Don't worry, no animals were killed in the shooting of this photo!

Hillary won Nevada tonight. All the political pundits have put the pressure back on Obama for an SC win next week. Frankly, it is Hillary who needs to fret. She won Nevada, but not by much, she carrries little momentum into next week's primary. Right now Obama has a healthy 12 point lead there and I feel Hillary can't make that up in a week's time. On the Republican side, Romney won Nevada, but let's face it, if he didn't win there where else could he have won!? Looks like Thompson will drop out of the race by next week, his plan to take SC failed miserably. Both these races will be long and brutal, right up to the conventions. Eventually, Edwards will drop out and pledge his support to Obama, that's the way I see it.