A boycott at this point won't hurt the people of Zim. Well that isnt necessarily true since all boycotts do hurt. Yet, the inflation rate hovers in 3 digits by the month. The inflation only helps the whites that have all the business connections outside of Zim and run the black market on products inside Zim now. Any action at this point is better than no action at all. There is only so much turmoil and dislocation that that part of the world can take without something bad happening. The time is running short and we have yet to do anything but fiddle. This needs leadership of at Democratic President. Yet, I don't believe the time is there. The Chinese influence can't be lost on anyone.

Lastly, we can't allow Africa to become the new Southeast Asia in a "cold war" between China and ourselves. I can only hope that the Obama Presidency will bring some order to this chaos.

Posted at June 30, 2008 5:44 PM in response to Chinese upholding another dictator in Africa

I applaud the effort. There needs to be solid follow through.

Posted at June 30, 2008 5:00 PM in response to Once Again - Judgement to Lead

Think the NYT should be looking at NYC before they go looking for racists in the south. But, of course, most NY'ers are geniuses about the south because they go to Miami every year.

Posted at June 30, 2008 4:33 PM in response to The Problem Isn't "Race," It's Racism

That is why anythign that is going to be done starts with the AU. And AU troops. I know that SA is having its own problems right now but it does lead the continent on so many issues. President andn Candidate Obama needs to do his level best to coax the powerhouse out of its slumber to lead the Continent. SA has historical and cultural roots to Zim. Let them take the lead to help sort it out. The leaders there are quite familiar with the whole cast.

I am not saying we should take an overt role in any action. Yet, we must make our voices heard. Not sounding out about what is happening on the Continent now would be a very large mistake.

Posted at June 30, 2008 4:30 PM in response to Chinese upholding another dictator in Africa

I think its more to your point Ben. Its all racism no matter how you cut it. It just is silly to point at the south when it isn't just a southern problem. Not to point fingers at the latte drinkers but when was the last time that an upper income community in any state north of the Ohio river allowed mixed housing within its borders. i.e. lower income houses and apartment buildings within the community. I can save you looking it up . Zero. The white north has walled itself off from other cultures till they have "paid" the price of admission. That is as a your face type of racism that anyone could ever experience.

Posted at June 30, 2008 3:57 PM in response to The Problem Isn't "Race," It's Racism

With either Candidate we are screwed once again. The dream of Universal Health Care in the US will again be that. Just a dream.

Posted at June 30, 2008 1:36 PM in response to Barack Care Versus John Care: Health Care Under the Next President

Of course any move would be in conjunction with allies and the AU. Even to the point of using only AU troops. But, stopping Mugabe is a test case for the world in the ability deal with Africa. We cannot afford to ignore this situation any longer. Southern Africa is becoming even more pressurized. The lid blowing off.....will not be pretty.

Posted at June 30, 2008 1:34 PM in response to Chinese upholding another dictator in Africa

Or go to his church and live in his neighborhood and go to his school. But, I don't agree with your premise at all. The patronage woven into they politics of Chicago or Boston is more in your face racism than anything the south could come up with. In both cities you are better off having an Irish last name when making that application.

Posted at June 30, 2008 1:30 PM in response to The Problem Isn't "Race," It's Racism

White flight in the north or riots against busing in Boston aren't evidence of Dominance of racism in those areas? Do the kids in and around the Cabrini area get to go to school with the kids in Libertyville? I think not.

Posted at June 30, 2008 1:26 PM in response to The Problem Isn't "Race," It's Racism

Both of us are just pissing in the wind cause we can't know but if Wallace sits it out Humphrey wins. Anyway we can't know that.

My real point is that racism in the south is no different from racism in the nort east west or on mars. Racism is racism. Go talk to Axelrod about his run with Harold Washington in Chicago if you want to talk racism.

Someone below mentions private schools in the south. In the north Whites move to the burbs in gated communities and build their schools with local tax money that are far superior to any other schools in the region. And if you suggest that they should pool the tax money and give it equally to all school districts then you are voted out of office. Now, that folks, is racism.

Call it what you will. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck..its a duck.

Posted at June 30, 2008 12:53 PM in response to The Problem Isn't "Race," It's Racism