My experience at the Obama Boot Training Camp in Community Organizing.
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Posted By: Marta Fernandez on September 21, 2008 My Christian values of humility and turning the other cheek..were not on the agenda!! It was an all day training session. About 200 people came to the Union Hall in Newark , N.J. The "instructor" a professional campaign organizer delved right into a definiton of selfless and selfishness. Apparently, having a strong self interest is the operative quality to run for office. Well, gosh gee call me naive..I never looked at it that way. Neither did 3/4 of the participants!! It's not my first time in a grassroots training camp. In 1995 I being the "nosey anthropologist " that I am , joined the Republican Party, because I wanted my own observations or empirical evidence of just what kinds of people were members. I wanted to know, that just because Dr. Bob Bailey, from Las Vegas or other luminaries were successful businessmen, and were Republicans, and very committed to the civil rights cause, that there was another group or clan that had a different mindset. That was the time they were recruiting Blacks folks big time, promising them political offices, and getting out the vote to register Blacks and Latinos. They opened their arms or maybe their jaws and welcomed us. We were taught the rudiments of grassroots organizing, and had access to the State Party. The Democrats had gotten a wee bit too comfortable, with us just handing them our vote, and made no effort to reach out to us. The Republicans sensing this dissatisfaction, jumped in with all fours. This was happening in Las Vegas. Th e result is we were able to move freely through the body politic. We had access to top level events and receptions. "The Grand Ole' Party." or so it seemed. Then a few of the community activists, Hispanic Judges and other candidates, who were influenced to join the party were abruptly ignored by the Party leaders after they got what they wanted from them..the followers. That was the crux of yesterday's training. The leaders..identify the leaders in your community and let them use their influence to bring in votes for Obama. The trainer, made it very clear, that the sacrificial mindset, inclusive, mindset of our Judeo-Christian values was not what we wanted to display. Basically, our job is to GOTV -get out the vote- If you are not for Obama, then thanks for opening the door , you're for McCain. Thank you and good-bye. We have goals and numbers to reach. I struggled with this concept. So did others. But at the end of the day, after one and one exercises, we realized we are in the fight of our lives. Dante Lee had posed a question? If you had to leave the United States where would you go? I answered that if Obama does not win, I am not hanging around..the backlash from the anger in the GOP, the Palin issue, the Hillary issue, the issue of a Black man daring to take the helm of the most powerful country in the world for now..would be expressed in a serious roll back in affirmative action..the reasoning? you had a Black man that almost made it..but the fact that he was the nominee, raised over 100 million dollars..well it just proves, that "you people" have no need for affirmative action. I can go on for another day..but we know what time it is ..and we know what the fallout will be ..a hot mess. A ball of confusion, a " punish them and make sure they don't try that again" message. Not directly,but covertly. This is a do or die time for America. Cesar Chavez just kicked out the Ambassador to Venezuela Mr. Duddy. We depend on them for almost half of our oil . We all had different stories and different reasons for taking a lovely Saturday afternoon, and spending it in a dark basement Union Hall..but we all had one thing in common..America is Broke..and Obama who enjoys an 80% approval rate around the world...is the man who can bridge these divides. It was obvious from President Sarkozy's embrace of Obama, and the comments which basically alluded to "when you get in office,we can do great things together" are just part of the feeling the world has as they watch this manifest of Biblical passages in Revelation. Ultimately it is OUR election, we hold the key. He must win Pennsylvania. He must. www.mybarackobama.com, set up your page and click on "My Neighborhood." If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Marta Fernandez
From Queens, NY CUNY -Queens College class of 1985 Member Since July 2008 |
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