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Black Lives Have, Do and Will Matter to the Future of America
Townhall.com ^ | July 19, 2021 | Terry Paulsen

Posted on 07/19/2021 5:03:24 AM PDT by Kaslin

Yes, black lives matter. They have mattered, do matter, and most certainly will matter to the future of America. In fact, they matter too much to relegate millions of our black citizens to dependence on dehumanizing government entitlements in the name of righting past wrongs. Demanding reparations and special programs keeps them waiting for politicians to deliver on promises that are unlikely to come. Even worse, the premise that they can't succeed without such help is demeaning and keeps them from the hard work and drive needed to earn their own American Dream.

Booker T. Washington knew the political power that comes with selling victimhood: "There is a class of colored people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs."

Bob Woodson, a veteran of the 60's Civil Rights Movement, advisor to President Reagan and President Bush, and founder of the Woodson Center, voices the same concern today: "You have a right to an education, but you have a responsibility to study. If we are not saying that with every right there is a personal responsibility to respond, we are crippling them. Nothing is worse than telling a group of people that their destiny is determined by what white people do."

Victim thinking will never be the answer. The American Dream, no matter what their race or religion, has inspired millions of citizens and immigrants who have believed in and claimed their right to life, liberty and "the pursuit" of happiness. They believed. They worked hard, and they found a way to succeed.

In spite of the demands of Black Lives Matter and their seeming lack of patriotism, some polls indicate that as little as 7 percent of black Americans share their view. Of course, slavery is a blemish on our American history, but most Americans are proud of our progress in making Martin Luther King's vision a reality--"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." There are many black Americans ready to stand as testimony to what can be achieved in America.

Larry Elder, conservative talk show host, author, and new candidate for governor of California, doesn't shy away from our past: "Yes, slavery is America's horror and shame. But slavery, unfortunately, appears throughout the whole of human history. Europeans enslaved Europeans. Asians enslaved Asians. Those we refer to as Native Americans enslaved other Native Americans. Black Africans enslaved other black Africans. Slave traders brought more African slaves to the Middle East and to South America than to Colonial America. Yet this country fought a civil war that resulted in the eradication of slavery. No other nation can say that."

Condoleezza Rice didn't let any racism or "white privilege" stop her: "It was my mother and father, who, despite the fact that I was growing up in Jim Crow Alabama, always had me convinced that I could be President of the United States. They always taught me to just look past the obstacles. Either blast through them, or assume they're not in your way.... Growing up where I did in Alabama probably gave me a healthier respect for how far we've come. I don't carry anger about that period of time. I think it made me, and people like me, stronger. I just refuse not to be optimistic. You only have one life. And if you spend your entire life seeing obstacles and seeing clouds and assuming everybody's out to get you, then I think you're just likely to waste your life, and I'm just not going to do that."

Ruth Edmonds, an Ohio congressional candidate, is running to help end the hateful rhetoric around race. Honoring the wisdom of her grandmother, she asserted, "Caucasians are not villains, and they are not oppressors. Brown-skinned people are not victims, and we are not oppressed. I'm from the inner city of Baltimore, Maryland, raised by my grandmother who only had a fourth-grade education. And yet she taught me the principles and values and ethics of hard work and perseverance and faith in God and taking advantage of opportunities when they come and not allowing barriers to be excuses."

We should keep working to give every American an equal chance at the starting line, but that in no way should guaranteed their outcome at the finish line. No matter what color wrapping one comes in, to exempt any group or race form having to win their own race is not a blessing but a curse.

America has its first black president elected twice, black Supreme Court justices, amazing professional athletes and entertainers, successful entrepreneurs and authors. There is no shortage of inspiring stories to tell and models to learn from.

But in America, there are no guarantees. People of all races succeed and fail. Resilience and persistence matter. It's not how many times you fail, but how quickly you get back up to keep trying. To label any failure as the result of white privilege or racism leaves minorities powerless, dependent on the Democrat Party's debilitating promises for new and better entitlements. The depression of our age is learned helplessness-"nothing I can do will make any difference in what happens to me...I am a victim!" Black lives matter too much to leave victimhood as the only road to the future.


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KEYWORDS: america; blm; condoleezzarice; larryelder; mlkjr; ruthedmonds
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1 posted on 07/19/2021 5:03:24 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Black Olives Matter


2 posted on 07/19/2021 5:04:38 AM PDT by albie
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To: Kaslin

I’ve had this discussion with libs and I always answer the same way:

“You’re confusing black PEOPLE with Black Lives Matter. Black people absolutely matter. They were created in the image of God, like everyone else, and we’re all called to love our neighbor as ourselves. Black Lives Matter, on the other hand, is a Marxist organization and does not have the best interests of black people (or America) at heart. They simply use race to further the Marxist/communist agenda.”


3 posted on 07/19/2021 5:08:38 AM PDT by Kharis13
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To: Kaslin
Saul Alinsky wrote the template for this in Rules for Radicals

“The despair is there; now it’s up to us to go in and rub raw the sores of discontent, galvanize them for radical social change.”
4 posted on 07/19/2021 5:10:30 AM PDT by ProudDeplorable (Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty. ~ Ronald Reagan)
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To: Kharis13

Excellent answer.

Just drop that first word and it’s fine.


5 posted on 07/19/2021 5:12:14 AM PDT by budj (Combat vet, 2nd of three generations.)
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To: Kaslin

For the most part, as a minority, blacks are irrelevant.

There are of course numerous individuals who assimilate and see beyond their black noses but in the main, aside from occupying jails, being black doesn’t really matter


6 posted on 07/19/2021 5:14:55 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. N.C. +12) Like BLM, Joe Biden is a Domestic Enemy )
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To: bert

Why is it that all Democrat issues involving ‘race’ have to do with less jail time or restoring voting rights for people that have been in jail, or jail reform...?

Is that all that democrats think is important to them?

I suppose that when 3% of the population is responsible for 50% of all crime I guess it would be.


7 posted on 07/19/2021 5:19:11 AM PDT by Mr. K (No consequence of repealing obamacare is worse than obamacare itself)
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To: ProudDeplorable

The fascist regime and the Marxists responsible for it don’t give two craps about black Americans. I have a feeling with the incredible success the regime has had in destroying America, blacks’ usefulness to them is waning. As a matter of fact, blacks are beginning to believe the BS our masters have been spouting and might start making demands on the regime for their payoff. The logical response from the regime is to use the violence, lawlessness and gutter culture of urban black America to actually turn the other Balkanized groups in America against this new deplorable group. I’m sure the regime is beginning to get a little nervous about those powerful uppity blacks demanding a real seat at the fascist powerbroker table. As they say, what goes around comes around.


8 posted on 07/19/2021 5:29:27 AM PDT by hardspunned (former GOP globalist stooge)
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To: Kaslin

“Lowest unemployment rate in history.”

Should not be left out.

It’s also the reason for all of this crap from the Left.


9 posted on 07/19/2021 5:31:10 AM PDT by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: Kaslin

Around 150 years since emancipation. Around 50 years since civil rights. Yet the disconnect on the needs of this group of people vs the corruption of their chosen political leadership is more out of balance than ever. I am not sympathetic.


10 posted on 07/19/2021 5:31:41 AM PDT by No_Mas_Obama
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To: Kaslin

CRT is the black version of Mein Kampf.


11 posted on 07/19/2021 5:34:55 AM PDT by Noumenon (The Second Amendment exists primarily to deal with those who just won't take no for an answer. KTF)
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To: Kharis13
I’ve had this discussion with libs and I always answer the same way:

“You’re confusing black PEOPLE with Black Lives Matter. Black people absolutely matter. They were created in the image of God, like everyone else, and we’re all called to love our neighbor as ourselves. Black Lives Matter, on the other hand, is a Marxist organization and does not have the best interests of black people (or America) at heart. They simply use race to further the Marxist/communist agenda.”

You're 1000% correct. Have you noticed that even with that logical distinction, so many on the left/center-left in the Democrat Party STILL don't get it? They view any opposition to the Black Lying Marxists as being anti-black and therefore racist?

You just can't fix stupid - no matter what skin color it is.

12 posted on 07/19/2021 5:38:57 AM PDT by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: bert

By 2024, more Latinos will exist...than blacks, and the voting power will flip over to Latino communities.


13 posted on 07/19/2021 5:53:21 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: pepsionice

OK, I take your point.

However, that must mean that Hispanics must lodge themselves in the city states and dislodge the entrenched and corrupt blacks. The only national change can occur is if control of the city states changes.

I can’t visualize that happening any time soon

On reflection, is there a meaningful difference between Latinos and Hispanics?


14 posted on 07/19/2021 6:03:33 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. N.C. +12) Like BLM, Joe Biden is a Domestic Enemy )
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To: bert

The five states that I expect Latinos to affect the next decade of elections...are the ones with high populations (Cal, NY, Tex, Fl, and Az). At the state level....those five will have to go and influence Latino votes, rather than black votes.


15 posted on 07/19/2021 6:10:10 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: Kharis13

Well said.


16 posted on 07/19/2021 6:44:47 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit..)
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To: Kaslin

Patriotic American law-abiding lives matter.


17 posted on 07/19/2021 7:24:15 AM PDT by myerson
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To: Kaslin

” relegate millions of our black citizens to dependence on dehumanizing government entitlements”. What if a majority don’t want to leave the federal plantation?


18 posted on 07/19/2021 7:29:27 AM PDT by stuckinloozeeana
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To: Kaslin

“Black Lives Matter” do not include all of the Negro American military veterans under their umbrella.


19 posted on 07/19/2021 7:47:37 AM PDT by Terry L Smith
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To: Kaslin

Does Terry live in any of the democrat run cities that are killing thousands of people every year?
Who is doing the killing Terry?


20 posted on 07/19/2021 9:20:26 AM PDT by minnesota_bound (I need more money. )
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