Brother Glamrock's take on the Northam scandal

[Glamrock]

Well kids, we're here yet again. Rock and a hard place baby. Do we stick by our oft stated ideals? Or do we back the politically expedient move in a time in which we are literally fighting for the future of this once great country? Both questions are valid.

To be sure, this happened a long time ago. And we've all done some stupid shit in our youth. Hell, I've done some stupid shit in the last three weeks (there was an incident with a hole saw recently..... don't ask). I was raised in a home where ethnic and racial jokes were commonplace. Have I told my fair share? Oh yeah. Have I used the N word? Of course I have, I'm a white male born in '71. Have I grown into a better man? I like to think so. I no longer tell those jokes because I've grown to appreciate my fellow man and all the differences between us that makes our species so vibrant and beautiful. Do I use that word anymore? Of course not. Again I've grown. I've read our shared history. I've delved deep into soul and the blues. A bunch of my heroes and greatest musical influences are black. As ridiculous as that may sound on it's face, it can change perception. Lord knows James Brown, Howling Wolf, Muddy, Otis, etc. changed my perception. Along with Roots, To Kill A Mockingbird, etc. (First time I read that book I wept. And god bless Harper Lee. She taught me exactly how privileged I am....) Nowadays, my family, friends and coworkers know damn well that language doesn't fucking fly with this dude. I won't stand for it. Fucking period. Yes, I'm not the same man I was as a twenty year old (flagrant and copious use of profanity notwithstanding). And I'm sure Northam isn't either. But here's the rub.

I'm not in a leadership position in the party. He is. 35 years ago I was twelve years old. And while I'm embarrassed and ashamed of things I said back then, and the ignorance I possessed, there is no way, no fucking way i'd have donned black face or posed for pictures with people in Klan robes. And my family? While prejudiced they may be, would have tanned my narrow white ass for participating in that shit. While the two may may be cousins, there is a chasm of difference between prejudice and racism. But I'm letting the train run off the tracks here. Forgive me.

Back to the point. As a white male, I've never had to deal with family members being lynched. Or castrated. Burned alive. Raped. Murdered. I've never had to live in fear of people in white robes showing up on my doorstep with evil intentions. Regardless. I can sympathize. I won't insult my black brothers and sisters by saying I understand. That shit ain't part of my history, so I can never understand. But I can certainly sympathize. Fuck, man. I've got family members who hate the Brits for shit they did to our Irish ancestors 4 or 5 hundred years ago. This shit is still going on today.

That being said, I'll get to the point. Northam needs to step down. Fucking period, baby. No ifs, ands, or buts. He was old enough to know better. That's not a question. It was 1984. It wasn't 1923. He knew better. I knew better at twelve. He was in his twenties. Not acceptable man, not acceptable.

Finally, we've cut loose Democratic officeholders for far less. Alan Grayson verbally brawled on the floor with Republicans. Strong fighter for our values. Allegations of spousal abuse? Bye bye Alan! Get the fuck out. Anthony Wiener? Strong voice for progressive policies. Dick pic? Bye bye Tony! Get the fuck out. Bernie has the gall to call attention to some Dems who are cozy with Wall Street. Go fuck yourself. Donna Brazil? Agrees with Bernie. Bye bye Donna! Go fuck yourself! And the list goes on. This isn't nearly as questionable as what happened to Franken. It's a picture of a Democratic governor in black face posing with two dudes in Klan robes (can I digress for a moment to point out these racist fucks are too dumb to even be able to spell clan correctly?). It's politically un-fucking-tenable in todays age.

If we can't sympathize and back our African American allies in the horror they feel seeing these pictures, we're on the wrong path. Hell, if we don't back our AA brothers and sisters in this, we have no right to call ourselves either liberal or progressive. If we don't stand by our ideals of being against racism, homophobia, misogyny and xenophobia because it's not politically expedient? Well, the war is over. We've already lost.

[stonecutter357]

1. K&R

[BootinUp]

2. k&r.

[Glamrock]

8. Hey bradda!

Djoo delete that Pie documentary? Been trying to find it. Saw it at work on a smoke break and called away before I had a chance to bookmark or reply. Curses! The weight of being management!

PS check yo email. I finally got round to it.

[BootinUp]

14. Here's the link glam

https://www.democraticunderground.com/103413410

And yes I saw that email, will DEFINITELY be checking that material out. Still recovering from the work week I’m wound kind of tight ya know, lol.

Loved the thread post.

[Glamrock]

19. Thanks man!

Hope you enjoy. If you do, got lots more to give. Don't hesitate to ask....

[malaise]

3. This is a great post

[Glamrock]

4. Thanks malaise!

I even tried to limit the profanity and sound edumacated.

[malaise]

5. Hehehehehehehe

[lunatica]

16. Well placed profanity is like stringing a beautiful pearl necklace.

I really like your writing! Profanity included.

Oh! And I agree with you.

[Glamrock]

50. Well thanks Luna!

I'm flattered.

[TEB]

6. Good post

[underpants]

7. Sounds a lot like me

But of course I'm older and wiser (born in '67).

I agree. As a resident and employee of the Commonwealth (actually he's my boss) he needs to resign.

The other side is though we once again will have an incident, one big story, and then it goes away and we act like this isn't a thing we need to deal with. If he stays he can use this (throw himself on his sword and take the punishment) to really start the conversation.

[Glamrock]

10. That's where yous at.

Cool to know just to know, pants. The other silver lining (besides being true to ourselves) is, he resigns and there's a new black governor which drives the racists there fucking crazy. Win win.

[underpants]

15. Yes

The funny part is that if Fairfax becomes Governor he can run again in 2021. In Va Governors can't serve successive terms. It's weird. Every new Governor comes in with a biennial budget established by the last Governor and then leaves having set the budget for the next Governor. Basically they only get two years to govern under a budget they helped create.

Fairfax could run again. Virginia is deep blue now so he'll probably win - especially considering the candidates the Repubs keep putting up.

The thing I fear is that if Northam doesn't resign Fairfax could resign in protest. He sat down in the state Senate in protest when some oooold dominion type was giving a speech about how great Robert E. Lee was. The guy is sharp and has principles.

[Glamrock]

20. That's fucked up

I've never heard of a more ridiculous path to governance. Beautiful state though...

[lunatica]

17. The conversation is started and going strong right here on DU.

It’s another reason to love DU.

[Anon-C]

9. You are a good friend to have, Brother!

[Glamrock]

12. Thanks anon

[Solly Mack]

11. ...

If we don't stand by our ideals of being against racism, homophobia, misogyny and xenophobia because it's not politically expedient? Well, the war is over. We've already lost.

Yep


K&R

[EffieBlack]

13. Beautiful. Thank you!

[Glamrock]

18. Thank you

And there's nothing to thank me for Effie. Just calling it like I sees it.

If you wanna thank someone, thank those I listed above who helped me on my journey. Music is a powerful force. Had it not been for them and literature and movies, I could not have grown into the man I am today. And shit, ain't like I'm done either. Being a human being isn't easy. We are a flawed species, but walkin a mile or two in someone else's moccasins equals 10 miles of growth, dig?

I just wish we could all get past skin color and judge each other on our humanity (or lack there of).

[RHMerriman]

24. What's the old line from Saul Alinsky?

What's the old line from Saul Alinsky?

"Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules."

Cuts both ways. Northham should simply resign; Fairfax will be a fine governor.

[Atticus]

21. Well said. Your intellect is exceeded only by your "blue collar eloquence!" nt

[Glamrock]

26. Grassy ass brother Atticus.

Vocabulary seems to be exceedingly harder to change than world view....

[Atticus]

35. Harry Truman had the same problem. He was, even as POTUS, avidly interested in

agriculture and, in that era, the relatively new practice of spreading cow manure on fields as fertilizer.

At a White House dinner, several political wives cornered his wife, Bess, and complained about Harry's frequent use of the term "manure" during discussions at the dinner table. They asked if she could perusade him to say "fertilizer" instead.

Bess chuckled and said "Ladies, it's taken me all these years to get him to call it MANURE!"

[Glamrock]

36. Ha!

Love that story!

At least I'm in good company. LBJ was even worse. And who could forget Biden's "this is a big fucking deal, man! "

I'll admit to it, but I ain't apologizing for it.

[HipChick]

22. Could have not said it better myself..

[Iggo]

23. He had roughly 12,780 chances over the past 35 years to come clean.

Shoulda done it a long time ago. He didn't and now he's fucked.

To add, cutting your losses is also a politically expedient move.

[Glamrock]

25. That's a good point Iggo.

Can't argue against it. But, you probably know, that's not where I'm coming from. Regardless, a truer point has never been spoken. Thanks for pointing out the flaw in me logic.

[Iggo]

31. There's no flaw in your logic I went off on a tangent.

Which tangent is this, there's not one single expedient course of action. Cutting our losses is also expedient. We don't have to try to save this man's job. And it wouldn't need saving if he had done the right thing a long time ago.

But to come back to your point, we change. You did. I did. Millions of people did and more do every day. I'd like to think he did, too. If he did, I'd love to hear his story.

That would be a great start for him on his road redemption. A great start. But he can't start at the end. Doesn't work that way.

[Glamrock]

32. I get it.

And I get the apologists here on DU. The man has been a good Dem leader. Why should he resign when there's far worse on the other side? But that's not the point is it? I won't sacrifice my ideals to win. And, perhaps, that's where we end up in a horrible place. But I gotta look in the mirror everyday, ya know?

[Iggo]

34. Every day.

[Ohiogal]

27. Well said, as usual, Glam.

Bravo and I agree 100%.

Spoken as the daughter of a guy who used to use every racial epithet in the book..... I guess it just never penetrated my hard head.

[Glamrock]

29. Me too

Dad and grandpa. Funny thing, my Dad has left most of that by the wayside. But he's grown considerably. Mrs. Glam likes to claim it's because of me. She's watched our conversations where I've tried to get him to walk in another's shoes. Maybe I've helped, but people like Obama certainly turned the tide against the horrible stereotypes he was accustomed too.

And thanks for the kind words....

[Blue_playwright]

42. I grew up in a racist environment... oddly

...as a kid I dressed up as Michael Jackson myself. Went all out and bought the expensive stage makeup so I looked real and not made up. I was skinny and had curly black hair and far too many copies of jackets he wore during his Thriller heyday. I got tons of compliments that day at school from my white and black friends alike.

No Hatred. No thoughts of racism - I just hero worshipped him and wanted to be him for Halloween. I was Princess Di another year. I’m certain a lot of people from our generation did the same thing then and are struggling to internally see that as anything but hero-worship while the world now sees it differently.

I’m in theatre and I would never cast someone white in a non-white role, though, I cringe when watching old movies with white people obviously in heavy and bad makeup.

And oddly, growing up repeating horrific N- word jokes and being in that environment, it was discovering Jackson at the same time I transferred from an all-white Evangelical hellhol- I mean school - and actually knew some black kids... well, it all changed my thinking. And I became vocal. My dad knows not to say the n-word or Mexican slurs around my kids.

That’s a Trumpian jumble of a post. I guess I’m just thinking of a lot this weekend because of the controversy and mentally questioning my motives.

[Glamrock]

49. Can't be faulted for that.

Living in white America, news like this makes many of us rethink our past. Thanks for sharing.

[2naSalit]

28. K&R

[MaryMagdaline]

30. K&R

You said it all and you said it right.

[Glamrock]

33. Grassy ass Mary!

[NBachers]

37. Yup, I'm afraid he's gotta go. I wish it wasn't, but it is.

[BadgerMom]

38. K & R

[JDC]

39. Bump and rec

I like shit from the heart. Your truth, my truth, their truth; just truth.

[pwb]

40. Nice take on things Glamrock.

At 69 it is hard for me to put two sentences together but you encouraged me to speak out. I am a Vietnam Veteran and i cant count the times Black Friends had my back there, so much that I came to love them. No one can say the N word around me without me telling them to shut the fuck up. It is as bad as someone I know lying to me. I have left very good friends forever for both reasons.
I too think the Governor should resign, he fucked up. Peace

[Glamrock]

51. And peace to you too.

Out of curiosity, what were you like before those experiences. Like, were those experiences enforcement of what you already believed, or a wake up call that your prejudices were wrong. Just curious. No judgement.

[pwb]

56. Guess i am like dogs i like every race.

Always curious about the races and how we all are scattered around the earth. All of the races I have met in their area of the earth were all very nice. Language and looks should not be a barrier to friendship.

See you over on Music Appreciation.

[B Stieg]

41. THX!

Smart, even-handed and well-said.
Thanks! I needed that.
GRock, you do Rock!

[Glamrock]

52. Thanks B!

[zentrum]

43. Agreed. And

...I take your point that you wouldn't have done it at age 12. He was 25 and in med school. This is not just a "youthful indiscretion." He was an adult, educated man in 1985.

Glad he apologized but that's not enough. He's got to go.

[yonder]

44. Very good thoughts there GR, and expressed nicely

[Glamrock]

53. Gracias yonder.

[volstork]

45. Righteous rant.

Thanks, Glam.

[ProudLib72]

46. Damn straight dude!

I particularly like the part about not "understanding" but "sympathizing". Yep.

[kooth]

47. Right-On!

Well-said! I with you 100%

[cemaphonic]

48. I'm only a couplle years younger than you, and grew up in a very "post-racial" environment.

Being born after most of the civil rights era, and growing up with liberal parents and a mostly liberal social circle, I wasn't exposed to very much in the way of racist language or attitudes. But growing up in suburban Denver & Seattle in the 70s-80s, I didn't know any black people, except one of my Dad's coworkers and his family. My middle school had exactly one black student through the 3 years I attended. So I would say that my default attitude was that racial prejudice was bad, but was an ugly relic of the past, and a mostly solved problem.

We moved to Atlanta right before I started highschool, and one of the units in my language arts class was a media literacy course, and one of the topics was prejudice & bigotry. One day, our teacher wheeled in a TV, and played a bit of the old Amos & Andy show, and asked for our reactions. To me, it just seemed like silly, innocent slapstick, like Elmer Fudd, and the fact that the characters were black was incidental. But to the black kids in the class, it was every single stereotype staring them in the face. Dumb, lazy, simple & childlike - every single one of these 14-year-old kids had faced those insults directly. It taught me that prejudice was very much not a solved problem, and I started to notice a lot more of the ways in which those same stereotypes still played themselves out in the mass media (both news and entertainment) in the late 80s-early90s.

That class also had several South African Jewish immigrants, and they had a pretty interesting perspective too. The blackface minstrel context of Amos & Andy was culturally alien enough that they didn't have a lot to say about the show itself, but of course South Africa has its own difficult racial history, plus they had all faced a fair amount of prejudice themselves, both for being Jewish, and for being presumed to be pro-apartheid as white South Africans.

So I'm with you Glamrock. I've had to periodically examine my own prejudices and beliefs, and often found them lacking. But I understood at 14, despite a sheltered childhood, that those wounds run deep, and there is nothing funny about blackface or klan costumes.

[Glamrock]

58. Great post cemaphonic!

You said it all better than I could.

[Heartstrings]

54. Well done, Glam!

You have a down to earth, easy to relate to cadence in your writing, and in the mix you get your point across in an empathic, thought provoking, reminiscent yet humorous style....

written any song lyrics? You should......


.

[Glamrock]

55. Thanks Strings!

I should probably write more, based on the comments I get here. Seems I have a talent to write, but lack a writers motivation. Such the shame.

[ProfessorGAC]

57. Great Post Glam!

I wore a costume on Halloween that I'm sure was offensive to many . (It wasn't anything racial)
But, everybody knew I was a stone cold liberal who didn't really agree with what the costume represented.
But, I ain't running for governor.