Letters from Our Readers

Jahan Chowdhry, BAR Comments Editor

03 Apr 2019

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This week readers wanted to discuss Tulsi Gabbard’s views on war and Barack Obama’s black critics. Thoughtful responses came for “Get Tulsi Gabbard On the Debate Stage” and “A True Defense of Smiley and West”.

In his latest piece, Danny Haiphongcalls for the anti-war movement to “Get Tulsi Gabbard On the Debate Stage” since she is the sole pro-peace candidate in the presidential primary.

Adam Miyashiro writes:

“She's anti-Hawaiian and pro-US military. Dare you to ask any kanaka maoli, or any legit Hawai'i based anti-war person about it. At Pohakuloa Island, which Gabbard represents, the military has been using depleted uranium bombsthat they send to Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq. Also, I'm curious why she is against intervention in Syria and Venezuela, for example, but not against Israel's murderous assault on Gaza and continued genocide against Palestinians. If anyone can answer why people here are ready to dispose of Hawaiians, Palestinians, Chamorro (indigenous Guamanians), or others, I would really love an answer. Because I'm pro-BDS, anti-war (completely) and I don't trust someone who volunteered to go kill Iraqis being called a ‘peace candidate.’”

Ti O’Driscoll writes:

“Regardless of the cognitive dissonance her record evokes, I'm hoping she makes it into the 'debates' as she's got some tough questions to pose regarding U.S. military interventions that nobody else is likely to raise.”

In “A True Defense of Smiley and West” Bryan K. Bullockhighlights how Tavis Smiley and Cornel West have faced unfair attacks from segments of Black America for their criticism of Barack Obama.

Dr. Scott Shepherd writes:

“I always agreed with West's criticisms of the president, understanding exactly the righteous place from which they came. And I was disappointed some of the younger commentators, such as Ta-Nehisi Coates say things like 'we had eight years.' I mean, we have had thirty years of Clarence Thomas so what does that prove?

“It's the policies, the actions, that matter the most, I think. The president made out very well, and Michelle did, and their girls. But so many things that are going wrong Trump inherited from things that never got fixed in Obama's eight years.

“And even now, when presumably, the fat cats have nothing to hold over his head, Obama does not step back into the fray the way that Jimmy Carter did when got out of office.”

Michael Davis writes:

“I turned on them and I regret it. I didn’t wake up until around 2013, well after he threw Shirley Sherrod, Trayvon Martin, Black fathers, Henry Louis Gates, Morehouse Men, & HBCUs under the bus. Now, even 3 years after his Presidency and enough time for people to look at his record, you still get treated like West & Smiley if you criticize Obama! Trump is horrible but he ain’t go up to Flint to convince Black folks to drink poison…”

Swan El writes:

“Tavis was spot on during the Obama years. Obama was only a feel good experience for most African Americans. Everyone put money on the Obama years and haven’t received a return. I look back on how he turned his back on Rev. Jerimiah Wright and Trinity Church. I look how he turned his back on Chicago. I look how he never fixed the schools or the criminal justice system in Illinois.I did see Obama fail to overturn the conviction of Marcus Garvey when asked by his family prior to leaving office. But, you fools will place him on pictures and posters with Martin King and Malcolm X. These men were revolutionaries. Obama was just a puppet for the elite and he did his job. He just opened up markets in Africa. So, let the trading begin. Africa, here come the U.S. corporations.”

We are proud that BAR was among the strongest critics of Obama’s imperial presidency. We will need your feedback to keep us sharp against imperial policy today.

Jahan Choudhryis Comments Editor for Black Agenda Report. He is an organizer with the Saturday Free School based in Philadelphia, PA

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