How soon we forget when it one of our own.
Robert Carlyle Byrd (born November 20, 1917) is the senior United States Senator from West Virginia and a member of the Democratic Party. Byrd has held the office since January 3, 1959; he is the longest-serving member in the history of the Senate. He is also the longest-serving—and oldest—current member of the United States Congress.

Byrd is President pro tempore of the United States Senate of the 110th United States Congress, a position that puts him third in line of presidential succession, behind Vice President Dick Cheney and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He also held this post previously from 1989–1995, briefly in January 2001, and from June 2001 – January 2003.

He also previously held many leadership positions: Senate Conference Secretary, Majority Whip and twice Majority Leader. He is the only former majority leader currently in the Senate.

Participation in the Ku Klux Klan
In 1942, 24-year-old Byrd joined the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), whose parades in Matoaka, West Virginia, he had witnessed in his childhood. He was unanimously elected Exalted Cyclops, or leader, of his local chapter.[4]

Byrd, in his autobiography, attributed the beginnings of his political career to this incident, although he lamented that they involved the Klan. According to Byrd’s recollection, KKK official Joel L. Baskin told him “You have a talent for leadership, Bob ... The country needs young men like you in the leadership of the nation.” Byrd recalls that “suddenly lights flashed in my mind! Someone important had recognized my abilities. I was only 23 or 24, and the thought of a political career had never struck me. But strike me that night, it did."[4] He participated in the KKK during World War II, holding the titles Kleagle (recruiter) and Exalted Cyclops. He did not serve in the military during the war, working instead as a welder in a Baltimore, Maryland shipyard, where he helped build warships.[citation needed]

Byrd commented on the 1945 controversy about racially integrating the military. Byrd, when he was 28 years old, wrote to segregationist Senator Theodore Bilbo, of Mississippi, vowing never to serve in such a military:

Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds.[5]
He had earlier written Bilbo “I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side”.
From Wikipedia

Oh Conservative Yankee,

This made my day!!

“...Even Magic Johnson can’t fuck that many women worldwide and he has a plane!”

I can’t stop laughing.

Now, what about Bill Clinton? Do you think HE could do this?

Of course, Rev. J. Wright was right about racism all the way. Meanwhile, all the white bigots and racists were wrong all the way.

Rev. Wright was ahead of his time in seeing the truth and talking about it, whereas the racists were far beyond the times in discovering their disease and accepting to be treated. The distance between Rev. Wright and the racists is like the distance between one seeing the present and future through the past and ones still living in the medieval mentality of the distant past without recognizing the progression of times.

In light of this, the racists are the ones that should be under attack, not the warrior fighting racism.

Sorry CY. It is Spencer Wells. (His full name is listed a few posts down and I did include it and book title in first post.)

But I am happy to provide again. If you get any of these I would be interested in what you think.

Both are probably availabe at the library too.

I have included links to both the book and the DVD.

Happy reading and/or viewing.

BOOK:

http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Man-Genetic-Odyssey/dp/0 812971469

DVD

http://www.shoppbs.org/sm-pbs-journey-of-man-dvd--pi-1 402989.html

<<<<<< It is physically impossible for “ALL humans” to be “… >>>>>>>

Well get the book or watch the video and see for yourself. He actually traces, with DNA evidence, how humans left this one tribe and migrated all over the earth. And it did not take that long. It happened faster than nost people believed possible. But he shows how it did.

And being a scientist he knows there is always more to learn and that models keep changing as we get more evidence.

BIO OF WELLS FROM WIKIPEDIA

“Wells did his Ph.D. work under Richard Lewontin, and later did postdoctoral research with Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza and Sir Walter Bodmer. His work, which has helped to establish the critical role played by Central Asia in the peopling of the world, has been published in journals such as Science, American Journal of Human Genetics, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

He wrote the book The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey (2002), which explains how genetic data has been used to trace human migrations over the past 50,000 years, when modern humans first migrated outside of Africa. According to Wells, one group took a southern route and populated southern India and southeast Asia, then Australia. The other group, accounting for 90% of the world’s non-African population (some 5 billion people as of late 2006), took a northern route, eventually peopling most of Eurasia (largely displacing the aboriginals in southern India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia in the process), North Africa and the Americas. Wells also wrote and presented the PBS/National Geographic documentary of the same name. By analyzing DNA from people in all regions of the world, Wells has concluded that all humans alive today are descended from a single man who lived in Africa around 60,000 - 90,000 years ago, a man also known as Y-chromosomal Adam.[1]

Since 2005, Wells has headed The Genographic Project, undertaken by the National Geographic Society, IBM and the Waitt Family Foundation, which will add to our knowledge of human history by analyzing DNA samples from around the world, thereby creating a picture of how our ancestors populated the planet.”

It keeps evolving.

Out of context sound bites selected to make the comments contentious and unpatriotic, dost not matter to the bigots for it was spoken by a black man.

Jeffersom us one of my favorite Presidents. I have read numerous bios and have been to Monticello three times.

As for children:

“Members of Hemings’ family have passed down the paternity claim through the generations. Last year, a DNA study concluded that Jefferson was likely the father of at least one of Hemings six children, Eston Hemings, the slave’s youngest son (JET, Nov. 16, 1998). “

You can read the entire article here:

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-54851954.html

This is not the definitive piece on the issue. But there is no doubt Hemmings was his mistress.

The Monticelleo organization says that more study needs to be done. NOT. DNA is pretty compelling proof.

The school system must be worsr than I think. Can’t you even read a simple sentence and understand it?

THIS IS WHAT I WROTE

Spencer Wells who wrote the book The Journey of Man (also an excellent PBS special and video) who has proven that all humans alive today are descended from a single man who lived in Africa around 60,000 years ago.

Wells does not say this ‘single man’ is the FIRST man (or woman), just that everyone else on earth today is descended from this man.

The book is sometimes a hard read becasue of all the DNA background. The video is much easier to understand. Better to see it than to rely on Wikipedia. Plys Wells’s research is far more recent than Peking Man, and actually fills in some of the holes.

Not to worry JimBob,

I figured it out, and probably the rest of us did as well.

I was fortunate enough to FINALLY learn the real history of the US, and I’m embarrassed to say that it was only in the past decade.

As a person of color born in the 50’s, the true history of the US (which had slavery and racism at it’s foundation at the onset) was NEVER taught in my first 12 years of education. Rather, we just got the standard Thanksgiving stories about the Natives sharing turkey dinner with the Pilgrims, like everybody was all happy and stuff.

Not quite. Those times were outright VIOLENT!!

And now, in my further and more detailed studies of Constitutional Law, the truth reveals itself.

And, I do believe in the adage that “The truth shall set us free.” ALL of us. That does mean that we have to find it out though. History is the best place to begin. It’s been hidden under the rug for far too long. Just sweeping it there DOESN’T make it go away.

This is beautiful, Lee. You are so right. Despite her faults there is still much to be proud of and love.

Like you my maternal grandparents were from, ‘the old country.’ And they had similar expereinces as yours.

And I am glad you spoke out to those who only have bad things to say about the US.

When I was in ccollge in the 60’s and marched against Vietnam and for civil rights and women’s rights Some printed up some bumper stickers that a lot of us slapped on our b cars that read, “America - Fix it or Forget it.”

So some local truck drivers came up with a bumper sticker that saud, “Anerica - Love it or Leave it.”

Today with a few more years and a lot more expereince I realize both groups were wrong. The bumper sticker should have said “America - Love it and Fix it.”

If you are not in the trenches teaching in an inner city, working in a political party, walking in the marches or on the picket lines, lobbying and testifying before city, county, state and federal legislative bodies, working a food kitchen for the poor, enlisting in the military then you really don’t get it.

Again Lee, great post and thanks for telling it like it is.

<<<<<< I am very surprised you were unaware of sexual exploitation of female slaves. NAIVE!! >>>>>>

Quote me jack. Cite from one of my posts where I say or I deny this. I have never even duscussed this topic on this or any other blog. (until now)

I was referring only to your wildly insane and historically inaccurate assertion that Strom Thurmond was a founding father. And the woman in question was not a slave.  “At the time of Washington’s birth, her mother worked for Edgefield’s segregated school system, and Thurmond taught and coached white students. “ [Ken Cummins 12/02, The Black Comment]

In the first post you never mentioned Jefferson. You mention his name in your 2nd post or response to me.(And yes, I know about Sally Hemmings. And she was his long term lover.)

The only example you cited for founding fathers in that first post was Thurmon. I hate to tell you {well, not really} he was NOT a founding father.

And here is your actual quote:  “Our founding fathers raped slave women, were racist and white supremacists but we do not think any less of them (i.e. Strom Thurmon)” Posted By jack, March 31 at 8:39 am #145660(Unregistered commenter)

i.e. means ‘for example.’ So you said/wrote that Strom Thurmon was a founding father. He couldn’t have been. He was not even born yet. He was born after the Civil War. Different age in American history.

And here is part of my reply back - “I never knew Strom Thurman was a Founding Father.” I was needling you about your apparent lack of knowledge about U.S. History.I take it you don’t get sarcasm very well either.

And no it neither shocks or surprises me that we are all of mixed blood. I have know that all my life. And I have already dealt with this on a different thread when I talked about geneticist Spencer Wells who wrote the book The Journey of Man (also an excellent PBS special and video) who has proven that all humans alive today are descended from a single man who lived in Africa around 60,000 years ago. The book and the video document his discovery.

So get off your high horse jack and learn your history and learn how to write.

Compared with other sites Truth Digs is a bit ‘off’ with regard to Main Poat and replys. It probably was not your fault JimBob.

We know who the racist is, anti American Church?  So anyone who calls our government on it’s lies and deceptions is anti American.  Great logic, small minds think alike, yes we do know who the racist is.

Never question authority, it hurts.

Backers of Barack Obama say he has the best opportunity to create a new sense of national unity and to transcend divisions within this country ...You mean the same Barak Obama who attended an anti-American, racist church for 20 years? ... You mean the same Barak Obama who swore allegiance to the divisive ‘black value system’ for 20 years? ... You mean the same Barak Obama whose chosen mentor/advisor for 20 years is an anti-American, racist, who gave a disgusting, racist like Louis Farrakan a life time achievement award? This is the best person to bring unity to America? WHAT, ARE YOU KIDDING?

Have not seen anyone comment on the truths that are U.S. yet, but could have missed them.  Our country has abused many over the years, the Back people may be at the forfront, but I suspect we are forgetting the Native Americans and of course what we did to our own Japanese citizens. 

Bigotry has to do with differences any little differences, now we have the Mexicans to abuse, everyone gets a turn in the barrel. 

Bigots need something to make them selves feel good about their disfunction, why not pick on someone different, there are many easy targets to choose from. Hell, make one up.

The above was meant to be a response to cyrena’s reply to my post below, but I mis-posted it.

You’re quite right.  At the same time, many other populations came to America in poverty and subjugation if not slavery yet their whiteness allowed them to assimilate rapidly.  In fact, why was it possible to enslave Africans if not because of the marked extent of their Otherness?  There were other primitive and defenseless white populations on the planet which could have been dragged here in chains, but the lack of an inherent sense of their Otherness would not have allowed Americans of European descent to accept them as slaves. 
My point is that the maintenance of the institutional, habitual, ingrained racism to which you refer is at least partially fueled by something that is built into human DNA.  It is not so much secondary as it is fundamental, with many layers of socialized behavior overlaid upon it. It is never discussed, never admitted to; I propose that if it were, a healthier discussion of the evils that were allowed to happen because of it could take place.

You write:  “Our founding fathers raped slave women, were racist and white supremacists but we do not think any less of them (i.e. Strom Thurmon)”

Where did you learn history?  What history book did you read? Your teachers must be really proud of you. I never knew Strom Thurman was a Founding Father.

Also, go read what black liberation theology is all about.

You write “I think Clinton’s tactic to publicize and emphasize Obama’s relationship with Wright is underhanded,..”

For the 100th time, Clinton had NOTHING at all to do with the Wright controversy. The information has been out there for over a year, especially on right wing conservative blogs and newspapers.

In fact on Jan. 9, 2008 Joe Conoson posted right here on Truth Dig about what Obama could expect if he was the nominee, and Wright was on his list. That was several months before he became a household name. Link below.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/print/20080109_the_comi ng_attack_on_barack/

Why do you always blame Hillary? This controversy is of Obama’s own making. Obama made it an issue by not breaking his association with him, and t making him his mentor, and staying in the church for 20 years.

And for the record, Brian Ross of ABC News broke the story and no Clinton did not leak it. There were rumblings from several sources, all Ross did was go to the church web site, biught the tapes, then watched them. The rest they say is history.

Lee! Whites are of two types: one type is noble and conscientious,like Tim Wise; and the other type is called white trash, so which type are you?!

This is part of it JimBob, but only part of it. Other cultures don’t have these same issues.

We have to also accept all the rest that comes with it, which is that our nation was founded on slavery.

Even now, you’ll find people that are perfectly accepting of black folks and others of color, UNTIL they (the people of color) manage to acquire something that the member of the dominant culture doesn’t have, and it doesn’t matter what it is. It could be an assumed better job, a bigger house, a better education, fame, power, whatever it is.

That’s just the way the socio-psychological structure of our society, which has been based on capitalism from the beginning.

So yes, these other standard human reactions do come into play, but they are secondary to MAINTAINING the the racism that is institutional. You’re talking about racism on the micro-level, (generally a result of ignorance or lack of exposure) and people get over that the same way they get over a fear of flying at 40,000.

Racism in America exists on the MACRO level, and it’s endemic. It’s part of the structure of the society. It always has been. That’s why we need to know our American history, for it to really correct.

We’re in denial about the basis for racism which, if perhaps we can own it and face up to the truth of it, will allow all humans, of every color and race, to live together more peacefully.  That truth is that we, like other “pack animals,” are most comfortable when surrounded by those who look, sound and act like us.  We can overcome that basic instinct, just as we can learn not to freak out at 40,000 feet in an airplane or while maneuvering down a crowded freeway with death or serious injury hovering mere inches away from our bumper.  But first we have to acknowledge that, just as we’re more relaxed on the ground or strolling through a park, we are in fact conditioned to want to see ourselves in those around us.  Too many millennia of human development, in which small differences in physiognomy signaled danger from groups with threatening agendas, have passed for us to simply wave away our gut reaction to “the Other” because we’ve arrived at the intellectual conclusion that “all men are created equal.” Obviously, this doesn’t mean we should all clan up into homogeneous groups and build walls to keep out “exotics.” But if we’re going to derive the benefits that accrue to heterogeneity we need to admit that on a reptilian level, it goes against the grain.  Once we do that, we can develop the means to accommodate and mitigate natural reflexes.  But as long as we are in denial about our fundamental nature, as long as we tell ourselves that it’s just plain morally wrong to feel as we do, we won’t find a true and lasting solution to the question of how we can all live together in acceptance and peace.

I swear some people are thick as a brick arent they?

Thanks Fadel Abdallah for posting Tim Wise’s article.

While I agree with some of the points pastor Wright brings to the forefront I also believe that many of his comments and actions perpetuate the same kind of racism he is so vehmently preaching against. Furthermore, I think Clinton’s tactic to publicize and emphasize Obama’s relationship with Wright is underhanded, but then again that’s politics.

EVEN WHEN THE ‘ENDS’ HAVEN’T PROVEN TO BE A GENUINE ‘WIN’.

Let me try and understand what you are saying. Is this statement a kin with Donald Rumsfeld’s , know unknowns and unknown knows? Kinda sounds like it.

“....but would a true Christian espouse hatred of an entire race of people from a pulpit?...”

Well, indeed I HAVE heard alleged Christians DO this..espouse hatred of an ENTIRE RACE from a pulpit, (and other locations).

However...WRIGHT HAS DONE NO SUCH THING!!

So, it’s all in your imagination cracker.

(and those twisted out of context sound bytes).

Your over contumelious denial of Racism and bigotry is exactly the problem.  But only in part, their are many other problems in our country that need address, seems for some and you denial is a river in Egypt.

Your assumptions are without merit, the flaw in your craw is you assume way to much.

Tim Wise article address a problem of how people perceive things, compassion would go a long way in helping your assertions.

You know, there are still a lot of Americans who are patriotic, and proud to be Americans. Although there are some things wrong with this country, there are a lot more things right with this country. I guess that’s why in spite of the continual America bashing from people like you and Cyrena and Leefeller, you choose to live here, instead of the Islamic countries you constantly defend. What have you three ever done to positively contribute to America? Have you been in the military, or public service of any kind? I have ... as did my father, cousins, uncles, etc.. Please let us not forget that thousands of Americans of all races have either risked their lives, or given their lives for the freedoms you ingrates now enjoy.  My Grandparents came here from an oppressive foreign country in order to start a ‘free’ new life. They ran into bigotry and racism, but they respected and embraced the American culture, instead of bashing it. They worked in sweat mills, along with people representing other countries and races to help make this country they were so proud of a better place. Like many others who came here, they assimilated into the American melting pot. People like you, Wright, etc. enjoy all the benefits of living here, while constantly complaining, accusing, etc..  This whole country is composed of various minorities with difficult histories, but you seem to think this country owes you entitlements over and above the rest of us.  if you think it’s so bad here, why don’t you move to an Islamic country, and see how many rights, freedoms, and harsh punishments you would endure. Talk is cheap! You malcontents wouldn’t even have the freedom to shoot off your mouth in the Islamic countries you defend. One of the great acts of wisdom that was established in America was to separate church and state. The thought of living under a 12th century theocracy with brutal restrictions and punishments is pretty scary. If you America bashers prefer to live under that kind of tyranny, fine ... but, don’t try to shove it down our throats.

Rob Adcox:

“… would a true Christian espouse hatred of an entire race of people from a pulpit?”

***

Well duh ... watch them go after those “Islamo” fascists on the boob tube! Complete with backdrop portraying typical “Arab” tooting gun, dressed in red robes and sporting small horns on forehead!

***

“I know he’s arrogant (another unchristian trait), but come on.”

Right ... come on already!

Definition of arrogant:
- Exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one’s own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner.
- Having excessive pride in ones self.
- Making claims or pretensions to superior importance or rights; overbearingly assuming; insolently proud:

Now if that doesn’t describe most well known Christian Preachifyers, I don’t know what does!

That humility thing can often be found among their “followers” but rarely in the “leader.” Which pretty well insures the guy taking the name of God in vain will continue receiving un-earned respect, un-earned income and un-earned power.

And, in spite of the fact that the “piously” outraged Wright attackers claim to be offended by his alleged racism. The reality is, they are delighted. Kinda takes the spotlight off their own racism, while still allowing them to lustily pursue said racism!

A win-win for the lose-losers.

Ok We should never disturb the Disneyland with reality. People should never hear the Blunt Truth, they cannot handle it and of heaven forbid, they may agree with it, we cannot have any of that.

Live a lie or keep ones head in the sand. Apathy or ignore, well it has worked before.