I have always chuckled at the acronym for the Democratic National Convention, and imagine that many Republicans do likewise, DNC is similar to the medical acronym of D&C which signifies an abortion. Recent conventions have been vacuous exercises in demagoguery, where ideas are thrown about for theatrics rather than as expressions of actual ideas and platforms to be acted upon. This year's convention, in some ways was more of the same, but no one could escape the irony of a democratic party, holding its convention in a building named after a multinational banking power, Fleet, and surrounded by barricades, razor wire fencing, hundreds of riot police, secret service, and national guard units. Some delegates were barred from entering and those who protested, were arrested ! Citizens, American democracy is in peril.
Within the building, unity was wrought by frowning on dissent, by confiscation of 'questionable' banners and visits by 'high profile' politicians on delegations promising to vote for Kucinich and told to instead vote for Kerry. Citizens, American democracy is in peril. The day after the Rev. Al Sharpton delivered his controversial speech, I heard people debating its worthiness. Sharpton was dismissed for his theatrics, dismissed for his irrelevance, and dismissed for his brazenness.
I read the speech, and then listened to a video playback of the speech. I now dismiss those critics as irrelevant. Sharpton 'pulls no punches', he tells it like it has been, and continues to be in America. Sharpton dares to speak the truth, and for that, he is reviled. He is not a polished man, nor a very learned man, he spent his life in the school of hard knocks. But he deserves to be heard, he deserves to be considered, and he deserves our respect.
Anyone that has the courage to have an open mind that can put aside any preconceived notions or prejudices, can recognize much merit in Sharpton's speech, because it was the earthquake at the DNC. It salvaged what would otherwise be another abortion in logic. Read the speech, and make up your own mind...
"Mr. President we love America not because all
of us have seen the beauty all the time, but we believed if we kept working, if
we kept on marching, if we kept on voting, if we kept on believing, we would
make America beautiful for everybody." READ ENTIRE SPEECH
· Excerpt
from the Rev. Al Sharpton address before
the Democratic National Convention, Boston July 28, 2004
M.L. / Contributing Correspondent
Posted: August 9, 2004
URL: www.thecitizenfsr.org SM 2000-2004