March 9, 2014
The Power of Right
By Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
(TriceEdneyWire.com) – In the last few weeks, we’ve seen a Republican led initiative in the Arizona legislature result in a bill being forwarded to Governor Jan Brewer. The bill would’ve effectively legalized discrimination in public accommodations and commercial businesses under the guise of freedom of religion. On its face, this bill promoted the unconstitutional application of the law to the detriment, instead of the protection, of the rights of citizens. Thankfully, a national outcry from both sides of the political aisle objecting to the signing of the bill into law seemed to have strengthened the Governor’s position for vetoing the bill. She did just that, and it was right to do so.
During the same three week period, we were given a microscopic view into the evil that exists in the mind of a dyed-in-the-wool racist who does not function on truth based information. Most of us were shocked, but not surprised when the aging and unstable rocker, Ted Nugent, spoke these words, “I have obviously failed to galvanize and prod, if not shame, enough Americans to be ever vigilant not to let a Chicago communist-raised, communist-educated, communist-nurtured subhuman mongrel like the ACORN community organizer gangster Barack Hussein Obama to weasel his way into the top office of authority in the United States of America.” That’s not right; it’s racist.
Those obscene, disgusting and morally offensive utterances of Ted Nugent, a draft-dodging, self-styled pseudo-patriot, merely echoed his venomous vitriol made prior to the 2012 election and gives a clear reflection of the sentiments of the racist wing of the Republican Party. (Yes, some of my best friends are Republicans—but not many!) His words were so offensive that even some of those “mainstream” Republicans who usually ignore or explain-away the ludicrous comments of some of their fellows or supporters were moved to condemn them. The Congressman who brought him to the President’s State of the Union was obviously not one of those condemning Nugent. Condemnation would have been the right thing to do!
Sadly, that same three-week period led us to the conclusion of the Michael Dunn trial. Although he was found guilty of something, the failure of the jury to convict him of the murder he committed was tragically reminiscent of the result of the George Zimmerman trial. The hung-jury result on the murder charge left thousands of observers in disbelief. Whether it’s the societal “War on Young Black Men”; or the Republican’s “War on Civil Rights,” “War on Voters’ Rights,” “War on Women” or the obvious “War Against President Obama,” recurring events illuminate the evil intent directed towards all except those who hold the interests of Conservative White men sacrosanct. Moreover, it confirms the belief that, in the minds of many, the lives and ambitions of African-Americans were of little value and unworthy of concern or consideration. That’s not right.
In the midst of the associated angst, while one bad news event follows, good news erupts. Last week, one of the most uplifting news reports was released. As a result of the health and fitness initiatives of First Lady Michelle Obama, many young people have become more conscious of their health and what to do about it. The First Lady practices what she preaches. We see her all over the place, using every opportunity to move, to dance, to play sports, to discuss nutrition, and positive reports about health are coming – especially about childhood obesity.
Many adults have shaped up their arms so they can wear sleeveless dresses like the First Lady. Some have come out of the suits and long sleeves—even on the coldest of days as I shiver for them! What the First Lady is doing is so right—and there is power in what’s right!
(Dr. E. Faye Williams is Chair of the Congress of National Black Women, Inc. (202) 678-6788. www.nationalcongressbw.org)