As regular readers know, I am not a fan of Al Sharpton. In fact, I am a great non-fan. I don’t even like the new, improved, cuddlier, non-murder-inciting Sharpton. But earlier this week, something important, almost epochal, happened. He demonstrated against the Cuban government — particularly over its treatment of black political prisoners.
(We can talk about non-race-based human-rights advocacy later. One step at a time.)
I cannot overemphasize how unusual and amazing this is. This represents a major break in an ugly historical pattern. For 50 years, American black leaders have been among the biggest supporters of the Communist dictatorship. There are reasons for this — bad ones, but reasons. I explored the subject in a 2000 piece, called “In Castro’s Corner: A story of black and red.”
(Go here.)
Jesse Jackson, Charlie Rangel, and Randall Robinson — to name only three — have all been great friends of Castro. I do not mean that they have merely failed to condemn him. I do not mean that they have ignored Castro, or let him off lightly. I mean that they have been great friends, boosters, and apologists.
For many years, some of us have asked, “Why do black leaders persist in being on the side of people who kick in the teeth of black heroes, such as Biscet and Antúnez?” Well, Sharpton has come out on the other side. He has broken ranks.
Does this have anything to do with the fact that the beloved Fidel has stepped aside? (Raúl is less beloved.) Even so . . .
To see a report on the Sharpton matter, consult the Directorio Democrático Cubano,
here. And give thanks.
Many people have remarked that John McCain has come in for less-than-glowing media treatment, where he was once a great media pet. Why is this? Well, the main answer seems clear: Back then, he was in the way of George W. Bush. Now, he is in the way of Barack Obama.
Same thing happened to Hillary Clinton, as a matter of fact.
P.S. If McCain had become the nominee in 2000 — the media would quickly have found fault, with Al Gore to elect.
P.P.S. Does that sound paranoid, even fringy? To me, it just sounds wearily experienced.
Quite possibly, Michael Ramirez, the brilliant and right-leaning cartoonist, has had the quip of the season so far. In one of his cartoons, he had Obama, speaking in Berlin, say, “Ich bin ein Beginner.”
Nice going, Mike!
More in my long-running saga of America’s stupid race-and-gender consciousness. In an article about Patti Solis Doyle, a politico who has gone to work for Obama, we learn that she describes herself as a “two-fer”: both Hispanic and female. (For the article, go
here.)
Are there people who really think of themselves that way? Who think of themselves as races, ethnicities, and sexes, instead of people? Yes, Virginia, there really are.
It is, in my opinion, not just an American trait, but an American sickness.
I recently learned something from my friend Scott Johnson, one of the sages at
Power Line. Actually, I learned a couple of things. First, I learned about Leo Thorsness, a Medal of Honor
recipient. He is stumping for McCain. For the Thorsness citation, go
here. And I learned about Cuba’s role in Vietnam — something of which I had been unaware (or about which I had forgotten).
From that Medal of Honor citation:
Thorsness was in captivity when a Cuban team came in 1968 and stayed for a year. They taught the North Vietnamese how to extract information.
Thorsness was not among the eight tortured by the Cubans, but they systematically tortured another in the camp, Earl Cobeil, to death. Cobeil was struck along the brow with a hose and didn’t blink. And they took a rusty nail and carved a bloody X across his back.
Etc., etc. And this is the regime that caused a million faculty hearts to flutter.
On a similar subject: I have read many articles about McCain and his Vietnam bravery. One of the most clear and affecting ones was recently penned by James H. (Jim) Warner, who was imprisoned with him. If you’re interested, go here.
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