"The Last Word with Laurence O'Donnell" blog here!
Dude (Cain), how are you gonna get upset at Laurence O'Donnell for his questioning of what you wrote in your own book?! Yeah, yeah, you're the CEO of a pizza franchise, and yes, you do get props for reaching that height of success, but to say that America made that possible to you and not give the credit to the civil rights movement that played a part in you being where you are today is just asinine.
And.... you also said in the book that you didn't participate in the sit-ins and other protest because you were too young.....yet, you were in college at Morehouse (Atlanta, GA) during some of the most explosive (no pun intended) times of the movement. I will not say that Herman Cain was a coward for not participating, if it were me I would probably choose the path of least resistance as well. "Let's see... should I (a) sit my black ass in the back of the bus and keep my mouth shut, or should I go out and march and protest like those other guys? Let's look at the pros and cons here. Back of the bus: Pros- I get to ride the bus instead of walk. Con- I'm content with the way things are. Now, protesting: Pros- Standing up for my equal rights as an American, AND a human being. Cons: Getting beaten, shot, hung from a tree, maybe all three. I think I'll take door number 1."
That's some scary shit to be faced with something like that, and there are too many people out there with their "would'a, could'a, and should'as", but you never know what you would do in that situation unless it were to actually happen. Cain's father told him to "stay out of trouble", which is what my dad would tell me back when I was a teen, and I did just that. I was not looking to get into any situation that result in something negative happening to me... well, maaaaybe one or two situations here or there, but that's another story. So in respect to that I understand sitting on the sidelines. It doesn't make him a coward, it makes him human. It also shows you how courageous those people who stood up for civil rights actually were.
My issue comes from this cat just having the audacity to not acknowledge the hard work and sacrifices made by individuals of all colors that made it possible for him to be anything other than a laborer. He attended the same college as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. That in itself would be bragging rights to me. I would like to think (and I say "like to think" because I have not been in his situation) that if it were me I would say, "No, I did not participate in any acts of protest during the civil rights movement, but I would like to thank those that did, as I would not be where I am at today had they not put their lives at risk for the betterment of the entire nation."
Another thing. The comment in regards to black people being "brainwashed to vote Democrat" is idiotic.
Herman Cain stands by "brainwashing" remark
Mr. Cain, you should slap yourself. In my hometown there was a billboard with a picture of Dr. Martin Luther King stating that he was a Republican. If you cracked a history book every once in a while you would know that during and after the Civil War Republicans were the ones fighting for equality while the Democrats were the ones responsible for spawning terrorist groups like the Klu Klux Klan. Somewhere between then and now (possibly the 60's or 70's I'm not sure on that) things did a flip flop. Republicans became the ones seemingly stuck in a time rut, wanting to revert back to the 1950's, while the Democrats became the more progressive group. I believe that the billboard's intent was to play on the ignorance of those persons who know little about political history. I found it insulting. To me it looked as if blacks were being taunted with this image of Dr. King in an attempt to confuse. "Martin Luther King Jr., a republican? If he was a Republican and he fought for our rights, then I should be a Republican too!" Since a lot "Republicans" that are not the 1% are just misinformed individuals I would not put this little con past their "leaders".
If you look at the entire body of congress seated during session a few things stand out. On the Republican side, the right -both figuratively and literally- you see a group of people with three things common in about 95% of them. They are: men, older, and white. All wearing the same suits and showing little to no emotion other than anger or disgust. This leads some people to see them as "crotchety old men" who fear change and long for the "good 'ol days". On the "left" are the Democrats. Their side is a potpourri of different colors (both skin and clothing), gender, and ages. They smile, and they seem to be for issues that benefit society, versus Republican views that tend to be more so for the wealthy. The wealthy usually being large corporations or anyone (aren't corporations considered to be people now?) That will scratch their backs with large campaign or other donations. No one is being brainwashed in regards to which political party to vote for. It is mainly perception. I look for those individuals that have similar views to mine. This so happens to be the Democrats. No, I don't agree with everything they say, but in comparison to what I have seen and heard from the Republican side (with whom I find very little I agree with), the choice is easy.
Here's another quote by Mr. Herman Cain directed to the "Occupy Wall Street" protesters: “If you don’t have a job and you are not rich, blame yourself." I'm like "Maaaaaaan, STFU!" Is this dude serious?! That is one of the most insensitive and douchebaggish (yeah, I said it, douchebaggish) things a person could say as they look down from their high horse. Once again he fails to understand that it is people just like those protesters that he is looking down his nose at that made it possible for him to achieve his "American Dream, and then some!" I recently came across Carlo Parcelli's "House Nigga/Field Nigga: An Appraisal Of American Poetry At the Dawn Of The Twenty First Century With Special Emphasis On The Master/Slave Dialectic. In Mr. Parcelli's thesis I found an excerpt that, to me, sums up how I feel Herman Cain comes across with his recent comment.
The battle, such as it is, has raged for some time between the House Nigga or, generally speaking, the academic poet and the Field Nigga who, again generally speaking, is a poet not attached to a university, grant factory or other institution and who, therefore, has no chance of ever winning one of the CIA's MacArthur genius awards for exceptional servitude. Like some working stiff seeking the presidency, neither can he or she become poet laureate of this fair nation, not to mention state or local municipality, if he or she is past the age of 35 without having morphed into some form of insitutional House Nigga poet. Yet, nevertheless, the Field Nigga poets dream the House Nigga dream.
The Field Nigga chafing at his "marginalization" whines and grouses. The House Nigga says the Field Nigga's delusional, been out in the world too long, and any way if he had any gifts he'd have become a House Nigga a long time ago. The blunt implication is those suited for the asslicking compromises of the academy are better suited for writing poetry that which will,in turn, compromise the general culture through contact with the minor, whimpering sub-culture of the House Nigga poet. The House Nigga poet also implies that the Field Nigga poet is simply untalented and unworthy, but, as it turns out, unworthy of the wrong things, things that essentially have nothing to do with poetry and much to do with servitude to a series of Massas. We have all witnessed during the past five decades the kind of fire in the belly the House Nigga poet captures in his work and the myriad of aesthetic antacids now on the market to counter the effects of the burning sensation generated by the academy affiliated bard.
Read entire thesis here: "House Nigga/Field Nigga:"
I have more to say, but I'm too tired now (close to face-planting into the keyboard). I am in no way a scholar, professor, nor political guru. I'm just a guy sitting at his computer talking about what I see. I learn as I go, hoping to entertain, enlighten, or give pause to thought. I thank you for taking the time to read this, and please excuse any misspellings or grammatical errors. Peace.
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