A New Agenda

The annual “State of the Union” address has always been something that most Americans pay a lot of attention to, especially when there is a lot at stake for the nation and the world.  Over the past six years the “State of the Union” addresses have been more closely watched since President Barack Obama (the first Black President) has been in office.  In particular his addresses have been more scrutinize than other former US Presidents and many believe it is because he is Black. 

Regardless of what others think or believe; our nation is in a far better place than when President Obama was first elected in 2008. It has been quite remarkable, the stock market has doubled to all-time highs, we are out of combat roles in two countries, over 10 million more Americans can now afford health insurance, the economy is coming back, unemployment is coming down, graduation rates are improving, immigration reform, the housing market is rebounding and we now lead the world in oil production, natural gas and renewable energy.  Of course this is only the short list of his accomplishments.

Many people have considerable differences with President Obama and some of that is expected and some of it does not make any sense.  Every President will have distractors, doubters, haters and opposition.  It comes with the territory and many see it as more about the political process than being personal.  In the case of President Obama, I believe it is more of the ladder, it is personal, and its deep and it is about “race.”   However, President Obama keeps on going and moving forward and working for all Americans regardless of their culture, ethnic group, faith, race or creed.  His primary agenda as he believe is... “to protest the best interests of all Americans.”   

During the “State of the Union” address this year, President Obama laid out a bold and new agenda for the nation as he declared the "state of the union strong."  In so many ways he covered it all or what he sees as the most glaring issues facing most Americans and the nation.  These included rising taxes on the rich, racial tensions, income inequality, making community college education free and developing safeguards against cyber-attacks.   Well as expected that ruffles the feathers of a lot of people, who have other intensions and want to take the nation into another direction all together. Well, until I hear another plan that is far better than what the President laid out, then this is the new road map.   What do you think?            

Dr. Andrew Calhoun, can be contacted at andrewiiicalhoun@gmail.com, Twitter #AC53, and Facebook.   You can hear Dr. Calhoun each Sunday at Grace Fellowship Church, 3879 N. Port Washington Rd. Milwaukee 414-265-5546.  

A New Selma

The recent opening of the major motion picture “Selma” has enabled a new generation to take a stroll back into history to one of the most significant events of the Civil Rights Movement in America.   It was Sunday, March 7, 1965, when nearly 600 hundred people began a fifty-four mile march from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery.  This event was a part of the Selma Voting Rights Movement and was planned to commemorate the shooting death of Jimmie Lee Jackson, who was shot just three week earlier by a state trooper while he was trying to protect his mother at a civil rights demonstration.  

It was on this peaceful march from Selma to Montgomery in which the demonstrators were attached and brutally assaulted after they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge by state troopers and deputies.  What happen next was unbelievable and was caught by photographers and journalists as they were reporting on this event to the nation and the world.  That Sunday became known as “Bloody Sunday.”  Because of what occurred on that Sunday, more people came to Selma and joined the march.  Seeking judicial relief and help from the White House, day by day more pressure was building for intervention.  On March 17, the judge granted a restraining order that would allow the demonstrators to continue their march to Montgomery.   Over 2000 federalized National Guard, FBI and US Marshalls were assigned to provide protection for the demonstrators as they continued on their journey.  On March 25, 1965, well over 25,000 people stood before the state capitol in Montgomery, with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaking.      

As a director consequence of the events that occurred during this March to Selma, President Johnson was able to call the Congress back into session and passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, in which guarantees every American Twenty-one and over the right to register and vote.  And because of that and within four years the number of blacks eligible to vote rose from 23 to 61 percent. 

 

When you think about it, what started out as a simple demonstration and marching 54 miles by a group of about 600 people, turned into some far greater, more meaningful and became a lightning rod for the movement and helped to pass Landmark legislation.  This coming March will be the 50^th Anniversary of that historical march and boy has things changed in Selma, AL since then.  There is no problem crossing that bridge today!  We can all learn something from Selma.  What do you think?            

 Dr. Andrew Calhoun, can be contacted at andrewiiicalhoun@gmail.com, Twitter #AC53, and Facebook.   You can hear Dr. Calhoun each Sunday at Grace Fellowship Church, 3879 N. Port Washington Rd. Milwaukee 414-265-5546.  

Just One More Thing

Don’t look now... we are picking up where we left off in 2014 in Milwaukee... more gun violence in our community.   For most of us as we witness a turnaround in the economy, stock markets rising to new heights, gas prices coming down, troops coming home, more Americans getting health insurance, more assistance being given towards keeping people in their homes... we all were hoping for the best and praying for a sharp reduction in crime as well.   That was my hopes and I am sure I was not alone.  But here we are and already people have been shot and killed in homes, cars and on the street... and they are were Black. 

 Recently, I reviewed the crime statistics in Milwaukee since 2005 and many things stood out... 926 homicides and over 4000 non-fatal shootings over the past 10 years.  Yes!  When you see the chart, your eyes, head and heart will begin to hurt.  This tells me that nearly 5000 families have also been affected, traumatize and also have become victims in a vicious cycle that seems to never end.   However, the more glaring stat that stands out is that nearly 80% in each category, the victim and the suspect were Black.   

And when you add it all up, the persistent Black on Black crime is unacceptable.  Life is hard enough as it is to just make it, find a livable wage job, affordable housing, get an education... but to continue down this path of community self-destruction through gun violence is beyond and defy common sense or logistic.  The varied opinions, endless debates over what is good for the community; by so many who chose to look the other way, others who will not discuss it and some who just give lip service...  is also a matter of grave concern.   

 

What will it take to change the situation, environment, minds and hearts of those who see no way out but to resolve their issues through the only means possible is a mystery?   Is it because of a lack of education, feelings of hopelessness, desperation, poverty, mental health, no jobs, rejection, drug use, depression, oppression, left behind, and racism ... or have we just lost our way in the New Jim Crow.   Can it be that we as a nation have lost our moral compass and have created a culture that only benefits the rich while taking more from the poor?   Have we found it acceptable to have a permanent underclass of citizens that are always kept from reaching the ladders of opportunity or have the ability meet the rising bar of expectations?  The issues are very complex, hard to put your hands around... but each day the beat goes on, on and on.   And you know what, Milwaukee is not alone.    What do you think?