2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forum"An Open Letter to Rep. John Lewis" -- A MUST READ!
Last edited Sat Feb 13, 2016, 10:42 AM - Edit history (1)
Yesterday, you stated the following about Bernie Sanderss record on fighting for civil rights in the 1960s:
I never saw him. I never met him. I was chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee for three years, from 1963 to 1966. I was involved with the sit-ins, the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, the march from Selma to Montgomery and directed (the) voter education project for six years. But I met Hillary Clinton. I met President (Bill) Clinton.
<skip>
Instead, we are going to talk about another person that you never saw or met.
Dorothy Marie Boone-Anderson was born in Gates County, North Carolina in 1935 as one of seven children. She left formal schooling in the eighth grade to go into the fields and work to support her family. Times were always hard for the Boones, and the lack of educational prospects for the family meant that times would always be hard. That was a legacy of a segregation that always kept Black families at the edge of the American Dream; close enough to be eternally tortured by a success that was constantly visible yet always elusive. In early 1953, Dorothy became pregnant by a man named Douglas Washington Williams. Her son, Luther, would be born on September 21, 1953.
It was the birth of my father that spurred my grandmother into organizing within the Civil Rights Movement, determined that her children would never have to live in a world where economic and political opportunities were denied to them because of their race. She organized alongside Haywood Riddick at the Nansemond County SNCC and organizations like the Wilroy Civic League, which acted as a locus for social and political activity in the neighborhood that they lived in. As I am sure you know, it made sense for them to focus on integrating the public school system. My father went to Wilroy School, an elementary school that was built with $900 from the Rosenwald Fund. This fund, set up by Sears and Roebuck executive Julius Rosenwald, was necessary to ensure that Black children received education in areas where the state refused to provide them. It stood as a testament to the disregard that the Commonwealth of Virginia showed to its most vulnerable populations.
Presidential politics might be the backdrop for this story, Representative Lewis, but this has nothing to do with Bernie Sanders. The hurtful nature of your comments has to do with your erasure of the people who worked outside of the spotlight and the national press to make sure that the Civil Rights Movement touched every corner of Black America. As I said earlier, you did not know or meet my grandmother. Your lack of acquaintance with her does not counterfeit the work she put in, like it does not counterfeit the work of any other person you did not know and yet sought to bring to birth a better world than the one they came into.
The limited amount of freedom that we Black Americans enjoy today is due in large part to the rallies organized, the meals cooked, the plans conceived, and the bravery shown by organizers whose names we will never know. Believe it or not, our freedom was not won by the Big Six alone. When you use your history as a hero of the Movement to disparage others because you never personally knew them, it is a slap in the face to all those people who fought hard and never made it into the history books or into Congress. It is a slap in the face to people like my grandmother.
More at link
https://thesouthlawn.org/2016/02/12/an-open-letter-to-rep-john-lewis/?utm_content=buffer6a1c4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)Just because Lewis didn't see it doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)how the vast majority of activists are never recognized for their efforts. They don't expect to be. They roll up their sleeves and do what needs to be done. I've worked with hundreds, maybe thousands over the years on various causes and campaigns and they just are there, planning, organizing, working with feet on the ground. Without them no movement can succeed.
sarge43
(28,941 posts)By implication it insulted everyone who worked and still works for civil rights.
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)well done.
JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)However - his statement was the truth.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)dchill
(38,502 posts)Google it.
timdog44
(1,388 posts)Just because he did not meet Bernie Sanders, and told the truth that he did not, does not mean that what Bernie Sanders did should be diminished. What a slap in the face from an esteemed leader. The problem with the politics of today.
7962
(11,841 posts)noiretextatique
(27,275 posts)He may not have seen him in the 60's, but he did see him at later protests.
Ligyron
(7,633 posts)Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)chervilant
(8,267 posts)utter such condescending crap about Bernie?!?
Why these horrible attacks, Hi11ary? Are you experiencing a sense of deja vu? Seeing your "turn" fade into nothingness?
And, why are you starting to sound like Bernie?!? Do you honestly (yeah, I know...) think people won't notice your attempts to usurp his message?
Go BERNIE!!!
#NotMeUs
Deny and Shred
(1,061 posts)Sec. Clinton is calling in all the favors she can. It is unfortunate that Rep. Lewis allowed himself to be used like this. He has impugned a fellow fighter for civil rights and damaged his own reputation in the process.
chervilant
(8,267 posts)I think you nailed it. I also believe that we, the vast Hoi Polloi, have been using the innertubes to gain awareness about our oppressors, and we've had enough. We're prepared to have each others' backs.
Feeling the BERN!!!
#NotMeUs
PatrickforO
(14,576 posts)made and the way he said it. It is fine that he's for Clinton in this primary. No problem there.
But what he said about Sanders was I thought a bit hurtful. Or maybe just unnecessary. I'm sure he's getting some blowback, and maybe it is deserved, but this letter is important in a much larger sense. There are so many people every day, day in and day out, who take the trouble to think things through and do the right thing, that we ought to be celebrating all of these people. Not in ways that put some 'ahead' and some 'behind,' but that all of together are doing our little part to make the world a better place.
Because who really knows how right thoughts, right words and right actions on the part of just one person can effect the entire world and everyone in it? Even something a small child does or decides can have a huge ripple effect.
That is the biggest, the most compelling reason that I know of for not simply giving up when faced with all the evil in the world.
zazen
(2,978 posts)"There are so many people every day, day in and day out, who take the trouble to think things through and do the right thing, that we ought to be celebrating all of these people."
I support Sanders because he alone out of candidates over the past half century at least has the humility and brutal honesty to begin to acknowledge the righteous power, dignity, and utter necessity of these millions of people in shaping the changes so critical to our future in this country and as a species. He doesn't think he's entitled to any thing more than these everyday heroes whom John Lewis says apparently don't matter because he "didn't know them."
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)Except for the odious behavior of a few Hillarians.
JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)He was not asked about this man's grandmother and wasn't talking about her.
I'm guessing the author would have preferred John Lewis lie and say Bernie Sanders and his grandmother were with him physically every step of the way?
Then we would have a problem proving they were in the back of the same police car.
You know - I'm going to flood John Lewis' social media demanding he lie! He needs to just tell a lie and that will get everyone off his back and onto the next shiny object in this campaign.
Of course his next election his opponent will use it to prove he's not trustworthy. However he doesn't matter. He's only John Lewis and he's not allowed to have his own accomplishments in life.
We get that. Can we move on now? Or are we going to harp on this man for the rest of hs life because he didn't show proper deference to Sanders and Boone-Anderson?
No need to answer. The Harpies are gonna Harp.
A Simple Game
(9,214 posts)JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)I've already started loading Lewis' social media with demands that he lie to get America off his back.
I'm working with a program called photoscape to create the picture for him to use.
Lucky Luciano
(11,257 posts)JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)She's not the best.
I'm not even voting in the primary because I'm so disgusted with these piss poor options I'm left with in June.
Two people who expect me to make them a priority when for them I'm a fucking option?
No fucking way will I press the button for either one of them ,
Shoot me now!
You people have to understand - some of us are only voting against the RepublicanT in November!
kristopher
(29,798 posts)Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)"And this turn - this election -
I'm not that keen on voting anyone - at any level - back in that is currently wherever they are at. One exception - I'm working with a few (mostly republicans) to get our liquor laws changed. They are from 1949 - it's time to change things. Bring my preoperty taxes down and lets get some wine and cigar bars on our main street.
That said - point blank - I don't believe in Sanders platform or approach and I won't vote for him.
I simply won't. " Mon Oct 19, 2015, 08:12 AM JustAnotherGen
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251700805#post95
So how neutral are you? Not at all.
kristopher
(29,798 posts)Cheviteau
(383 posts)You have nothing to say that should interest anyone.
KentuckyWoman
(6,685 posts)just like you had to choose the correct definition of "is" to understand Bill. Just put Lewis' comments in a vacuum without any of the surrounding information and you'll see the statement is true and not at all offensive.
dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)Lewis is an intelligent man, I assume he was fully aware the effect his peculiarly phrased statement would have. A favor was called in, and he stepped up to help deflate Bernie's activism cred among AA and inflate the Clinton's cred with the same audience.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)Perfectly said. John Lewis is a hero, he proved his creds and does not owe anybody deference. I do not understand this drive to diminish this Living Legend.
JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)And still - they assumed my car is covered with HRC stickers.
I'm too disgusted with America to give a shit beyond my own kitchen table and bank account.
These people need to stop their assumptions and realize there is a group of Americans not falling for the shock treatment.
American Cynics Arise!
bravenak
(34,648 posts)And this show? Oh my god, I cannot understand what is running through folks heads. This is enough, I do not care about any of this, anymore. No revolution for me, if this is what it is? Not good enough.
No
kristopher
(29,798 posts)We must recognize that we cant solve our problem now until there is a radical redistribution of economic and political power . . . this means a revolution of values and other things. We must see now that the evils of racism, economic exploitation and militarism are all tied together . . . you cant really get rid of one without getting rid of the others . . . the whole structure of American life must be changed.
-MLK
I do not understand John Lewis' drive to diminish Bernie Sanders' activities on behalf of civil rights for minorities. Lewis doesn't need to prove his 'creds', but Sanders does? I've never witnessed a 'hero' do so much damage to his reputation in such a short period of time as did John Lewis in that endorsement statement. Mr. Lewis should have given his reasons for backing Clinton; leaving Sanders out of the equation.
questionseverything
(9,656 posts)lewis announcing his support for hc would of been a great day for her
why the need to bugger it up with all this stuff,whether he met bernie or not really doesn't matter
then the coordinated lie with capehart/matthews...geesh
i swear some would rather lie when the truth would work as well
Dustlawyer
(10,495 posts)Swift Boating of Bernie! Deny it, call it whatever you want, but Bernie was there getting arrested as one of the student leaders for the cause in Chicago in the early 60's!
What's next, saying Bernie participated, but it was because he knew he would run for President 50 years later?
7962
(11,841 posts)The point is, the WAY Lewis made his statement was to make it look like Sanders is lying.
He could have easily said "I never met Bernie back then, but that doesnt mean he wasnt involved"
Its ridiculous to think that John Lewis met every person who was involved
The photographer who took the pictures that people say is NOT Sanders says that yes, it IS him.
randys1
(16,286 posts)Seems to, based on the way you stated it.
7962
(11,841 posts)but my response was to the post that said Lewis's opponent in the next election could use a mis statement against him. It wont be a problem at all, because he never has any opposition.
But IMO, Lewis and anyone who has been up there for as long as he has, nearly 30 yrs, should be gone. Its not like his district would ever vote GOP.
I think 16 years is long enough for anyone. Maybe thats even too long, but at least it would still allow for "elder statesmen"
Anyway, today Lewis clarified his statement to make clear he didnt mean to create any doubt about sanders or his activism.
I said in another post; he could have easily said "I never saw him or met him, but that doesnt mean he wasnt there"
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,330 posts)Downwinder
(12,869 posts)and introducing me to the author.
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)What do Lewis' remarks about Bernie Sanders have to do with this writer's grandmother? I see no logical connection.
JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)ucrdem
(15,512 posts)Per Mother Jones it was limited to his three years at University of Chicago starting in 1961:
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2016/02/bernie-sanders-core-university-chicago
Empowerer
(3,900 posts)Apparently, it's just fine to say over and over that "Bernie marched with Dr. King" even though that's false - and "Bernie's spent the last 50 years fighting for civil rights" but you can't ask, "Really? What exactly did he do?"
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)but once they started working or went back for higher degrees lost interest in it. It's not unusual though Sanders graduated in 1964 or 65 so I'm hoping something more will turn up.
MaeScott
(878 posts)panader0
(25,816 posts)bravenak
(34,648 posts)He spoke his truth, he never saw him at any event. How that causes such strong feelings of bitterness and such anger, I do not KNOW. The very idea that he owes something to someone regarding civil rights because they are running for president is astounding. I am seeing a complete lack of cultural sensitivity and a need to own the history of this man and control his words.
John Lweis earned his creds many times over and got his head bashed in for his trouble. Why that man needs to apologize?????? No. People need to have RESPECT.
kristopher
(29,798 posts)At this point it is completely evident that he did not intend a "true" statement.
Lie of Deception
A deceiver tries to create an impression that causes others to be misled, by not telling all the facts, or creating a false impression. ... Causing deception is a powerful and hurtful tool. It can be very subtle yet deadly.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)kristopher
(29,798 posts)At this point it is completely evident that he did not intend a "true" statement.
Lie of Deception
A deceiver tries to create an impression that causes others to be misled, by not telling all the facts, or creating a false impression. ... Causing deception is a powerful and hurtful tool. It can be very subtle yet deadly.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)randys1
(16,286 posts)bravenak
(34,648 posts)Carolina
(6,960 posts)A passive-aggressive smear.
Those who can't see that are willfully blind
m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)timdog44
(1,388 posts)Support Hilary by supporting her with good words about her. Not by trying to use back door insults to the opponent.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)DhhD
(4,695 posts)bravenak
(34,648 posts)I'd love to know where you think he was.
MuttLikeMe
(279 posts)His FUCKING HEAD BASHED in for black liberation.
How DARE YOU.
Would Sanders risk his life for civil rights?
Better yet, would you?
I'm thinking not.
SoLeftIAmRight
(4,883 posts)no spin will change that
noiretextatique
(27,275 posts)But he most certainly has seen him at protests since the 60's. I lost respect for him.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)noiretextatique
(27,275 posts)Not enough ass-kissers to make up for the backlash. Whatever the reason: good on him.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)daleanime
(17,796 posts)bigtree
(85,998 posts)...interesting to me that after decades in the national legislature, Sanders doesn't already have a more personal relationship with John Lewis.
That speaks volumes to me.
Oh, and he's not responsible for any slights to this man's grandmother. It's just absurd to suggest John Lewis hasn't acknowledged average Americans who worked with relative obscurity in the movement, just because he didn't acknowledge Sander's role.
noiretextatique
(27,275 posts)And I am not sure he did a good job.
gregcrawford
(2,382 posts)Mr. Williams' articulated most succinctly what millions of us were thinking when news broke of this classic Rovian "attack their strengths" pile of noxious innuendo. And for the record, The Clintons were 13 or 14 years old when Bernie was an activist in Chicago, so Lewis damned sure never met them at the height of the Civil Rights struggle. By his own account in his autobiography, Lewis didn't even know who Bill Clinton was until the seventies. And Hillary was still a Republican Goldwater Girl when she was in college at Wellesley, and NOT a Civil Rights activist.
I'm three weeks older than Hillary, so our timelines coincide closely. I, too, was politically active in the sixties. I got the shit beat out of me by Cambridge cops when I attended a speech by Bill Baird. This was not the Bil Baird who created Kukla, Fran and Ollie, the fifties TV puppet show. This Bill Baird fought for the right to TALK about birth control in Catholic-a-chusetts. It was also the day I stopped trusting cops.
Not even close to what Bernie was doing a few years earlier, but neither was Hillary's privileged life at an exclusive women's college a few miles west of Cambridge.
I am surprised and disappointed that the venerable Mr. Lewis allowed himself to be used. It is my hope that he did not know his words would be misappropriated in such a callous and cynical manner.
bec
(107 posts)Maybe I am reading this wrong, but President Clinton and Hillary were not in college during dates that these sit ins and freedom rides were happening. It is a very misleading comment from Mr. Lewis...sadly.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Stuart G
(38,434 posts)dlwickham
(3,316 posts)I don't think I've read anything more condescending in my life
Just wow
FlatBaroque
(3,160 posts)When you use your history as a hero of the Movement to disparage others because you never personally knew them, it is a slap in the face to all those people who fought hard and never made it into the history books or into Congress. It is a slap in the face to people like my grandmother.
Tarc
(10,476 posts)"...all over anyonewhocriticizesmycandidate"
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)Babel_17
(5,400 posts)I think it's possible Representative Lewis was misinformed by the Clinton campaign, or someone close to the Clinton campaign. In this scenario, he was told that Senator Sanders had falsely been claiming credit for being "the guy in the photograph".
So Lewis might have been justifiably aggrieved at what he saw as someone inflating their contributions to the movement. His remark would be still be strong, but now it's understandable what motivated that strength.
Imo, one way or the other, people he trusts were feeding Rep. Lewis false information. If even some of that info was the nonsense about the photo, then he was used. In which case I'd hope he sought getting even, instead of absorbing the fallout so as to spare Secretary Clinton's campaign.
Live and Learn
(12,769 posts)noiretextatique
(27,275 posts)Backpedaling, but glad he did.