Cornel West's Note to Obama on his first yr in office (BBC)

[Mari333]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/8471606.stm


this is really good.

[Mari333]

1. Cornel West is a wonderful black professor and anyone who unrec's this is a moron

[bobbolink]

19. thanks for reminding me.... I made up for the stolen rec...thanx!

[chimpymustgo]

40. West is a wonderful professor. Period. Great message.

A great thinker and advocate. I PRAY Obama listens to him.

[harmonicon]

69. thanks for reminding me why I haven't commented on a post in weeks:

too often the first reply is from the OP whining about some rec/unrec shit, which only makes intelligent discussion impossible.

[proud2BlibKansan]

82. +1

[Lars39]

2. *Really good*, Mari333.

Plain speaking, for sure.

[JVS]

3. Wow.

[StarfarerBill]

4. Oh. My. God. Thank you, Mari, for sharing this with us! One of my proudest K&Rs.

Dr. West...what compassion, what intellect...what passion! I so wish everyone here at DU could see this, especially those for whom Obama and his administration have done, and can do, no wrong; I hope it would be an eye-opener as well as an inspiration for them.

:fistbump:

[gimama]

5. WOW. This oughta go viral..

"My dear Brother President..How deep is Your LOVE..for poor, and workin' People?"
Thank YOU, Dr. West, and thank YOU for posting it here.

[Mari333]

6. my friend just called me and told me she just saw this on BBC

so I found it and posted it. I love this man!

[gimama]

10. Thank Your Friend for us!

I LOVE Dr.West, too.. his KIND,gentle FIERCE-ness soothes my Soul.
Do You know how to put this on the you-tube?
AnyWays, thank YOU,again, for posting it here:hi:

[Mari333]

11. oh gosh I hope it ends up on YouTube

I have no idea how to do it. someone put it on there..! I think this will go viral, its so simple, and true.

[gimama]

12. Now on my fb page..we need a you-tube brainiac!

HOPE(!) it gets shared alot!
ps, sure like Your whirled peas!:)

[StarfarerBill]

15. Ditto: on my FB page, too.

Thank your friend for me too for alerting you to Prof. West's brilliant piece, Mari.

[Turborama]

16. I'm trying to download it so I can upload to my YouTube channel but the BBC make it impossible

I saw a really good Spike Lee clip last year that I couldn't download, as well. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8268054.stm

I tried everything but none of the flash download software seems to work for BBC vids. If anyone has any tips, please pass them on. I'd really appreciate it.

[gimama]

21. sending You you-tube success Vibes

:freak:

[Grand Taurean]

7. K/R

Is Obama listening to this?

[niyad]

8. do you have a transcript of this, as the link isn't working for me.

[Mari333]

9. I am looking for one, right now it is a new video

I will post it as soon as I find one.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

13. Bravo, Dr. West...............

One of the most respected voices in America today. President Obama would do well to heed his words.

Thanks Mari.

[JanMichael]

14. Well stated and to the point. Keep up the pressure.

Or Obama will go down as just another colorful caretaker of a failing/failed brutal empire.

[C_Lawyer09]

17. Great stuff Mari333

Cornell West has mastered speaking with acuity. I really love to listen to him.

[Turborama]

18. K&R & Thanks Mari333. I saw this on TV and it was awesome!

Been trying to look for it on YouTube since it was broadcast but haven't found it yet.

[stranger81]

20. Oh how I hope someone puts this in front of Obama to watch. [n/t]

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

22. Excellent. A succinct statement of what's needed. Thanks for posting. K&R

[onestepforward]

23. Simply brilliant and from the heart. I hope Obama will hear it.

Thanks so much for posting it!

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. This is good...

[laughingliberal]

25. Very good! rec'd nt

[democracy1st]

26. K & R thanks Mari

[Forkboy]

27. West is one the people I'd most like to shoot the shit with.

Spark up a fatty perhaps, and just talk. The man is fascinating.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

28. Excellent ! Thanks, Mari333. K&R

[jgraz]

29. That. Was. Awesome.

:applause:

[leftstreet]

30. K&R

Thanks for posting

[ProSense]

31. Cornel West is brilliant.

That is what constructive criticism is about, not the mindless attacks and ridicule.

[Solly Mack]

32. K&R

[shanti]

33. spot on, dr. west!

:thumbsup: thanks for sharing this!

[saorsa]

34. Thank You !

That reminds me, does anyone know if there is a link where we can read or listen to Dr. West's keynote address at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Monday?
thanks,





http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/photos/2010/01/martin-luther-king-jr-day-cele.html#more

[EFerrari]

38. You might check the CSPAN archives.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/

If it's not there now, it should be soon. Email them and ask them -- might be put up faster. Welcome to DU. :hi:

[highprincipleswork]

35. You said it

You said it. Really good. Sending good wishes to all Youtube translators.

[andym]

36. Professor West knows how to criticize

He cuts to the heart of the matter. He reminds the President of the big picture. He urges constructive action. He pledges to do more by organizing a progressive movement to keep the pressure on the President to do the right thing.

We could all learn from that video.

[EFerrari]

37. God, I love that man.

Thanks, Mari.

[democracy1st]

42. I know thats a bad boy !

[Jeanette in FL]

39. Dr. West: "You need the Progressive Movement"

That was excellent Mari333, thanks for posting. I could listen to Dr. West all day, he has a wonderful and colorful way with his words.

[malaise]

41. Excellent

Rec

[democracy1st]

43. Cornel West Links

www.cornelwest.com
www.twitter.com/cornelwest
www.myspace.com/cornelwest
www.blackplanet.com/drcornelwest
www.facebook.com/drcornelwest

[Solomon]

44. Aw, I'm really tired of everybody who thinks they can

be president better.

Shit, he's only been in there one year. I'm just really tired of this shit.

[ShamelessHussy]

45. Aw, I'm really tired of everybody who thinks they can

condemn other dem and progressives opinions when they disagree with OUR president.

Shit, he's already been in there for 1/4 of his term. I'm just really tired of this shit.

[Solomon]

49. Yay Cornel West for President then. He won't let us down.

Has nothing to do with disagreeing with the president. I'm tired of that straw man too.

Tomorrow there will be another spouting wisdom about what Obama needs to do.

I suggest they first give him a magic wand since they act like he has one.

[readmoreoften]

58. How can you talk about straw man arguments when your entire argument is an ad hominem argument.

"You don't like Politician X's positions? Oh, so you're doing a better job running the state than politician X."

If I and those around me are getting abused by a system, and I complain about those who control the system, I'm not saying that I want to run the system. I'm telling them to stop abusing me and the people I care about.

[Ken Burch]

60. The window is almost closed already, though

Democratic presidents only get to do progressive stuff in the FIRST half of their terms.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

46. "Don't be seduced"

Remindiing President Obama of his duty to help the poor and the working class.

I found it to be truly inspirational.

I also admire Dr. West for acknowledging and reminding all of us that this battle is not for the queasy and requires actual courage. That advice applies to all of us who want success for this Democratic President and our country. We need to make ouyr voices heard more in our cities and towns so that we do not become the silent majority crushed by a violent and ignorant minority.

Since President Obama is already repeatedly and ignorantly bashed as a "leftist", socialist" for his decidedly centrist, moderate, middle of the road, pro-corporate policies - he has literally nothing to lose by actually taking a turn to the left. Thanks Rush, Teabaggers, etc. for already clearing the way for him.

I would also advise President Obama to rewatch the speech Al Gore gave on MLK Day a few years ago. It was a breathtaking defense of the role of government - Obama could take a few notes, because this will be the core of future arguments and the direction of the nation. The insane conservative/Tea Baggers would effectively like to dismantle the government and privatize all aspects of it, leaving a population with no defense against cannibal capitalism and corporate facism.I hope he takes Dr. West's advice and moves towards the left, not because it is the politic thing to do, but because it is the moral thing to do.


If President Obama is thinking of setting up "commissions" to oversee "entitlements" (SS, Medicare, Mediaid, etc.) their role should be to protect and expand the entitlements. I think what we need more than an entitlement commission is a commission to study Military Spending.

It's going to be a hard road for President Obama to regain the trust of those who feel he left them in the dust in favor of new better dressed friends in high places. I hate to use a cliche, but actions do truly speak louder than words. Word are important and they can guide and explain his future actions to the American People. I hope he speaks to us almost daily and won't be hindered by the braying right wing who will call him "over-exposed" and use other tools of ridicule against him.

It's been a tough first year.The road ahead is will be rougher, not smoother. Good luck to President Obama and all of us.

[Mari333]

47. k for morning

[mdmc]

48. Cornel West is the MAN!

Come to NY and run for Senate!

[Ken Burch]

72. OR he could run in NJ when Lautenberg retires

n/t.

[mdmc]

50. thanks for posting mari

peace and low stress

[mrs_p]

51. exactly how i feel

loving pressure...

[DisgustedInMN]

52. I have "The Audacity to Hope" ...

.. this powerful narrative will actually be heard by Obama. As tone deaf as he has become, I have my doubts. He's too fucking busy listening to the Rahm whispering in his ear.

[Jamastiene]

53. Great man.One of my most favorite people.

Profound words.

K&R

:thumbsup:

[Blue Owl]

54. YES my brother

n/t

[Better Believe It]

55. K & R

[Chiyo-chichi]

56. "You can't just cut deals. You also have to take a stand."

Very good.

[whatchamacallit]

57. Awesome! K&R

:applause:

[Lorien]

59. "You can't just cut a deal. You have to take a stand. You have to have a backbone."

Amen! (And thank you professor for choosing "backbone" over "balls").

[jwirr]

61. That was inspiring and the best advice we could receive. Don't give

up - keep the pressure on President Obama and Congress. If we lose it will not be our fault.

[emsimon33]

62. Thank you for sharing. Now, if only Obama will listen.

None is so blind as those you can not see. None is so deaf as those who will not listen. I hope that the scales fall from Obama's eyes and the wax from his ears before it is too late.

[BlueJac]

63. I wish I could say this wasn't a waste of breath because it was right on!!

[big david]

64. mari333

thank you for this post. the fundamental question is one of priorities that alone is very powerfull dr.west, for if we are to believe the things we see then we allready know where obamas priorities lie and no matter the eloquent speeches which are no longer effective the american people are slowly wakeing up to the fact that obama is just a tool that was used by the elite to pacify the people after eight years of misdeeds of the bush administration, now that obama is in office its bussines as usual just look at the background of his economic team and advisors that alone is enough to let everyone know there is no real change in the near future anytime soon

[BeHereNow]

68. Welcome to DU Big David.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Personally, I don't think enough Americans understand what
has transpired.

I wish I could believe that Obama will actually
see this video.

Somehow, I doubt it would make any difference if he did.

BHN

[southernyankeebelle]

65. Wow, Your so right Professor. We liberals are pushing him but he needs to listen to us.

[tpsbmam]

66. K&R Great first year note. I love his tone, too -- too often these days we

get to sounding around here like Obama is the enemy. He's not. He's fucking up too much as our "friend", but he's not the enemy.

[DesertDiamond]

67. Cornel West!!! You ROCK!!!!

[BrklynLiberal]

70. Cornell West is a wonderful, intelligent,articulate, insightful man.

That is all.
Even if I disagreed with everything he said, I would want to listen to him say it.

[varelse]

71. That is beautiful

:')

[AwakeAtLast]

73. Posting so I can find it later

Lots of craziness in my house today - I will try to watch this weekend.

[MissDeeds]

74. Excellent

Cornell West's words were spot on. I hope Obama hears them, and really listens.

K&R

[orbitalman]

75. This bears repeating over & over & over, in Obama's case...

"You can't just cut a deal. You have to take a stand. You have to have a backbone."

[mix]

76. inspiring K&R

"...don't simply be the friendly face of the American Empire..."

[puebloknot]

77. K&R Simple truth from a towering intellect! nt

[Agony]

78. "How DEEP is your love for poor and working people"

It IS a matter of priorities.

[ejbr]

79. that was nice n/t

[sendero]

80. Beautiful..

... my sentiments exactly.

[Greybnk48]

81. listened to this one twice. I hope the Prez does too.