Rep. Charlie Rangel D-N.Y. once said: George (W.) Bush is our Bull Connor -- and if that doesnt get to you nothing will be able to get to you. Its time for us to be able to say that were sick and tired were fired up and were not going to take it anymore.
Connor was a racist sheriff who sicced dogs and water hoses on civil rights workers in the 60s. Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz D-Fla. says Republicans want to literally drag us all the way back to Jim Crow laws.
The tactic is as obvious as it is insulting. Tell black voters that they are out to get them -- and pull that lever for us Democrats so we can resist their racist attempt to undermine your success.
Never mind that this kind of anger wrapped in paranoia -- assuming that others are out to get you -- is precisely the formula to undermine your own success.
Accomplished entrepreneurs say one of the keys to success is the assumption and the confidence that you can influence the outcome.
Anger is an opponent of success.
The movie Red Tails is a fictionalized film of the Tuskegee airmen the brave black fighter pilots of World War II. They overcame racism and fought for their country in a segregated military that considered them unequal.
In one scene a Tuskegee pilot goes into an officers club in Italy. He is taunted and told whites only. He starts a fight and ends up in a military jail possibly facing court-martial.
His commanding officer played by Terrence Howard confronts the aviator whose anger threatened the mission: What am I going to do with you? Everythings a fight isnt it? It must be so goddamned exhausting being you. You know something ... ? Youre a punk. You remind me of one of those kids from a comic strip. Walking around pushing your sleeve up one arm hand balled in a tight fist. Walking and looking at the world through a squint always looking to knock something down just because its standing.
Its right there says the CO pointing his finger to the temple of his officers head. Its right there. You really want to knock something down? Try using that. Because I will tell you straight I dont have anything against you. I have the highest expectations for you. Lieutenant ... I need everyone on this next mission and youre lucky youre the best damn pilot weve got. Report to your unit.
Rep. Rangel wants anger for votes and power. In discussing the Trayvon Martin case the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Blacks are under attack. Under attack? By whom?
The battle against racism removes pressure from people to practice what works: personal responsibility hard work pursuing an education and a pledge to refrain from having children until capable of assuming the responsibility. Blacks are not helped by the angry pessimistic rhetoric of those who claim to operate in their best interests. Getting ahead becomes elusive when others train you to think like a victim that The Man holds you in a trap of weights and barriers.
Black actor Charles Dutton playing a high school teacher in the movie Menace II Society gives to students this dismal advice: Being a black man in America isnt easy. The hunt is on and youre the prey. Have a nice life boys.
I was blessed with parents with no patience for those who felt sorry for themselves and who allowed others to make them feel inferior. In high school my literature class read a poem that went something like this:
While riding through old Baltimore so small and full of glee
I saw a young Baltimorean keep a-lookin straight at me.
Now he was young and very small and I was not much bigger
And so he smiled but put out his tongue and called me nigger.
I saw the whole of Baltimore from May until September
Of all the things that happened there thats all that I remember.
The teacher angrily talked about the permanent damage done to this little boys psyche. The permanent stain of racism. The denial of the little boys dignity. The boy said the teacher will never be the same. By the time the bell sounded everyone was angry.
I went home and read the poem to my mom as she prepared dinner. When I finished -- of all the things that happened there thats all that I remember -- she took a spoon out of a steaming pot rapped it on the side turned to me and said Too bad he let something that trivial spoil his vacation.
As Aristotle in the Nicomachean Ethics wrote: Anyone can become angry -- that is easy. But to be angry with the right person to the right degree at the right time for the right purpose and in the right way -- this is not easy.
Apparently Aristotle wasnt a Democratic strategist.
Larry Elder is a best-selling author and radio talk-show host. To find out more about Larry Elder or become an Elderado visit www.LarryElder.com.
Rep. Charlie Rangel D-N.Y. once said: George (W.) Bush is our Bull Connor -- and if that doesnt get to you nothing will be able to get to you. Its time for us to be able to say that were sick and tired were fired up and were not going to take it anymore.
Connor was a racist sheriff who sicced dogs and water hoses on civil rights workers in the 60s. Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz D-Fla. says Republicans want to literally drag us all the way back to Jim Crow laws.
The tactic is as obvious as it is insulting. Tell black voters that they are out to get them -- and pull that lever for us Democrats so we can resist their racist attempt to undermine your success.
Never mind that this kind of anger wrapped in paranoia -- assuming that others are out to get you -- is precisely the formula to undermine your own success.
Accomplished entrepreneurs say one of the keys to success is the assumption and the confidence that you can influence the outcome.
Anger is an opponent of success.
The movie Red Tails is a fictionalized film of the Tuskegee airmen the brave black fighter pilots of World War II. They overcame racism and fought for their country in a segregated military that considered them unequal.
In one scene a Tuskegee pilot goes into an officers club in Italy. He is taunted and told whites only. He starts a fight and ends up in a military jail possibly facing court-martial.
His commanding officer played by Terrence Howard confronts the aviator whose anger threatened the mission: What am I going to do with you? Everythings a fight isnt it? It must be so goddamned exhausting being you. You know something ... ? Youre a punk. You remind me of one of those kids from a comic strip. Walking around pushing your sleeve up one arm hand balled in a tight fist. Walking and looking at the world through a squint always looking to knock something down just because its standing.
Its right there says the CO pointing his finger to the temple of his officers head. Its right there. You really want to knock something down? Try using that. Because I will tell you straight I dont have anything against you. I have the highest expectations for you. Lieutenant ... I need everyone on this next mission and youre lucky youre the best damn pilot weve got. Report to your unit.
Rep. Rangel wants anger for votes and power. In discussing the Trayvon Martin case the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Blacks are under attack. Under attack? By whom?
The battle against racism removes pressure from people to practice what works: personal responsibility hard work pursuing an education and a pledge to refrain from having children until capable of assuming the responsibility. Blacks are not helped by the angry pessimistic rhetoric of those who claim to operate in their best interests. Getting ahead becomes elusive when others train you to think like a victim that The Man holds you in a trap of weights and barriers.
Black actor Charles Dutton playing a high school teacher in the movie Menace II Society gives to students this dismal advice: Being a black man in America isnt easy. The hunt is on and youre the prey. Have a nice life boys.
I was blessed with parents with no patience for those who felt sorry for themselves and who allowed others to make them feel inferior. In high school my literature class read a poem that went something like this:
While riding through old Baltimore so small and full of glee
I saw a young Baltimorean keep a-lookin straight at me.
Now he was young and very small and I was not much bigger
And so he smiled but put out his tongue and called me nigger.
I saw the whole of Baltimore from May until September
Of all the things that happened there thats all that I remember.
The teacher angrily talked about the permanent damage done to this little boys psyche. The permanent stain of racism. The denial of the little boys dignity. The boy said the teacher will never be the same. By the time the bell sounded everyone was angry.
I went home and read the poem to my mom as she prepared dinner. When I finished -- of all the things that happened there thats all that I remember -- she took a spoon out of a steaming pot rapped it on the side turned to me and said Too bad he let something that trivial spoil his vacation.
As Aristotle in the Nicomachean Ethics wrote: Anyone can become angry -- that is easy. But to be angry with the right person to the right degree at the right time for the right purpose and in the right way -- this is not easy.
Apparently Aristotle wasnt a Democratic strategist.
Larry Elder is a best-selling author and radio talk-show host. To find out more about Larry Elder or become an Elderado visit www.LarryElder.com.
