Until your posts, I had never heard of Yoruba. I’m pleased to say that not a day goes by I don’t learn something. Fascinating history I’ve been reading thanks to you.

I appreciate different cultures and dislike the current xenophobic mentality that seems to flourish under neocon republican government.

Thanks for posting!

Oh, Rove will claim his innocence. He is pathological.

Want to do something about this? Sign the petition.

Done, thx for the link.

Game of Life Says: Miro, are you serious or just another typical repug?

American Politics is the art of shutting down debate, not to mention brainstorming. I’ll readily admit to being a political naif.

But yesterday I was reading about Ishmael Reed and Richard Pryor and the New African-American [literary] Criticism of the 60s and it’s difference from the goals of the Harlem Renaissance. Central to the discussion of the article was the issue of framing and that the context of the language and cultural context from which the message during the 60s was sent was important. Reed in fact has used language as context from Japanese to Yoruban to force change to the context of the discussion. And context still is important for Reed who also believes as a writer that if you are going to report from the neighborhood then you need to live in the neighborhood.

Norquist tries to frame his message in the context of “scarey brown skinned people” not even “African-American”. Norquist’s frame only retains any power by it’s vague un-known-ness. But I don’t think Norquist “lives in the neighborhood” that he’s trying to influence–or snear at or provoke for that matter. He’s become known for what he is. He’s a bore.

But in the meantime, Norquist and and some in the media have been trying to shut down, divert and coopt, my interest and other people’s interest in our different backgrounds and cultural heritages, and US immigration history (not just during the time of the collapse of the Yoruban Empire and the slave trade, but of any immigration movement). And so I’m saying to myself, “Why let the politico’s shut down my interest in immigration history, cultural backgrounds and the Obama?” And it’s boring to just call Norquist a bigot. Most people know that. He knows it. What would be more interesting is to call his bluff as he nudges with the race issue and turn it into an interesting discussion about history.

But then I suppose, this is a political season and we all gotta STFU and act frightened till the elections.

Ah Life! Olodumare is everwhere! :-)

Maybe this ISN’T the way to go… again I don’t know, but it would seem to me, the wise approach would be to take control of the issue and at the same time signal to people like Mr. Norquist that if he’s going to talk background he better be clear with the specifics–otherwise he reveals himself as a bigoted idiot and he’ll have Edwards or some other surrogate on his back.

And by the way Norquist is a Euro-American… (excuse me! Realllllly truly sorry for that insensitive remark: I meant: Scandinavian-American.)

[sigh!]

(As Conyers said, “Okay, I think we know what kinds of games are being played here.”)

Republicans: masters of race-baiting in subtle ways…

Enough said.