I apologize to come back to this diary only this late in the night. I got hold up on my way back home from work and had to attend other responsibilities. I will try to read through all your comments and react, if I feel I can. Thank you for commenting at all! I didn't expect that.
Second apology: For some reasons I can't spell Cornell just with one "l". I made this mistake all over the diary and in comments. Forgive me, it's my German inner spelling nazi who just needs to spell Cornell with two "l"s. Honestly, I am ashamed. I will try to edit this, where I can. I should not try to write anything while at work.
You tell me that this is not a place where principled black leftists should be supported or even mentioned ?
Cornel West speaks from the bottom of my white privileged social-democratic heart. Just because he hits you with some uncomfortable truth that is tough to swallow, I say, you take the bitter medicine and listen. Unless you want to end up seriously sick, the medicine needs to be taken, swallowed and digested.
Here are a couple of paragraphs of his interview this morning on Democracy Now.
AMY GOODMAN: During his remarks on Friday in the White House press room, President Obama addressed the calls for the Justice Department to file civil rights charges against George Zimmerman.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: I know that Eric Holder is reviewing what happened down there, but I think it’s important for people to have some clear expectations here. Traditionally, these are issues of state and local government, the criminal code. And law enforcement is traditionally done at the state and local levels, not at the federal levels.
AMY GOODMAN: That’s President Obama.
CORNEL WEST: And that’s not true.
AMY GOODMAN: Professor Cornel West?
CORNEL WEST: That was him saying, "Keep your expectations low. Sharpton, don’t get them too fired up. Keep the rage contained." We know, when it comes to the history of the vicious legacy of white supremacy in America, if the federal government did not move, we would still be locked into state’s rights. And state’s rights is always a code word for controlling, subjugating black folk. That’s the history of the black struggle, you see. So what he was saying was: Don’t expect federal action. Well, Sharpton is going to be in trouble. Marc Morial, two brothers, they’re going to be in trouble.
AMY GOODMAN: Urban League.
CORNEL WEST: The Urban League, absolutely. Ben Jealous—God bless the brother—he’s going to be in trouble. He’s getting folk riled up to hit up against this stone wall. The next thing, they’ll be talking about, "Well, maybe we ought to shift to gun control." No, we’re talking about legacy of the white supremacy. We’re talking about a criminal justice system that is criminal when it comes to mistreating poor people across the board, black and brown especially. And let us tell the truth and get off this Obama plantation and say, "You know what? We’re dealing with criminality in high places, criminality in these low places, and let’s expose the hypocrisy, expose the mendacity, and be true to the legacy of Martin." You know there’s going to be a march in August, right? And the irony is—the sad irony is—
You may read the transcript or listen to the interview here. I have no expectation that anyone would actually agree with what Cornel West is saying, set aside even talk about it... and especially not here. I am discouraged to write a real diary about this. I would need serious time to express why this moves me and then it would only upset me to read the reactions to it. But you can't say now you didn't know about these thoughts. And I find them important to think them through - thoroughly.