by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 7, 2008 | Current Affairs, Politics, Race
For me, I rarely share my political views for obvious reasons. Like religion, one can reserve the right to keep their beliefs to themselves. This is why I have not openly shared my views regarding “my president, Barack Obama” (hint…hint…). The one thing this election shows is that RACE STILL MATTERS and the problem WILL NOT BE SOLVED until Jesus returns’ (come quickly Lord Jesus…).
As African Americans have voted and tuned in on the presidency, Hispanics are firmly opposing Black leaders in favor of white ones. Is the brotherhood among minorities dead? The Democratic primaries in California and Texas woke up a lot of people. During this election, there was a lot of talk going on about the “Black and Brown” divide. Most people have assumed for decades that since Blacks and Hispanics are minorities, it is only natural that they will support each other for elective office. Wrong!
BLACK PEOPLE LISTEN UP: Hispanics have always viewed themselves as a “dominant” group.
While Blacks have helped to elect Hispanics (The wife-cheating Mayor of Los Angeles, for example) it is abundantly clear that Hispanics have a clear opposition to voting for Black candidates. Whether it’s viable Black candidates like Ron Kirk, the former mayor of Dallas who lost his bid for the senate, or now Barack Obama running for president, Hispanics have opted to vote for the white candidate–or not at all. Up until recently, this trend has been most notable in places like California and Texas, but as the legal/illegal Hispanic populations increase across the nation, I note that this trend is not just isolated to the southwest United States.
What we see is that when the candidates are Democrat or Republican, Hispanics will routinely vote Democrat. However, when the candidate is Black and his opponent is White, Hispanics will tend to vote against the Black candidate as we’re seeing in the Obama/Clinton race. During “Super Tuesday” for presidential candidates, California voters chose their candidates for president. Hispanics make up a huge block of voters in California and they overwhelmingly chose Hillary Clinton over Obama by 64% according to MSNBC. It is now clear that being a fellow minority hasn’t created any kinship with Hispanics in America if we ever had this. We’ve all heard of the racial school fights that are almost a daily occurence in California, and the situation in the jails is so balkanized that even rival gangs like the Crips and Bloods put aside their street differences, while in prison, in order to put up a resistance to the Hispanics in jail, many of whom are illegal aliens.
What we see coming into form is a two front assault: Whites against Blacks on the one hand and Hispanics against Blacks on the other.
It’s clear that Hispanic disdain for Black people is no accident and it is clear this is not a trend we will see diminish. As Hispanic influence increases, we will see fewer and fewer opportunities for Black Americans develop. Remain in denial about this if you want, the proof will definitely be IN the pudding. We will be in the middle of a giant squeeze play, crushed between Whites on one hand and Hispanics on the other. While no one should construe this article to mean anyone should be anti-Hispanic (or anti-anyone else for that matter) we as Black people need to see to our own affairs first. We can’t just support people because they are white—-or Black for that matter. Screw-ups cross every ethnic line.
Hopefully this will “open the eyes” of OUR people who have slept on this for years, decades even. “BE for US, by US.”
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 4, 2008 | Christian, Christianity, Church Issues, Communication, Current Affairs, Empowerment, Family, Race, Religion, Vision, Worship
Next week I’m starting a new blog series entitled: "Ten Challenges Facing African Americans & What You Can Do." Trust me, I will hold no punches and exercise my 1st Amendment right.
Will I offend some, YES…
Will I spark debate…YES
Will you disagree…MAYBE
Will you engage…I HOPE SO
Will I cuss…STAY TUNED 😀
Will you comment…I PRAY THAT YOU DO
Stay tuned…Spread the word…Can’t wait till Monday…
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 3, 2008 | Family
There are SIX IMPORTANT areas that pull on my time.
- I want to spend time with my wife.
- I want to spend quantity time with my kids at a very important time in their life.
- I want to lead our staff well and do my job with integrity.
- I want to learn from other church leaders (conferences, visit other churches)
- I want to resource other church leaders (teach).
- I want to write.
All of these areas are great.
All of them are important. And there is a dynamic tension which exists in trying to juggle all of these priorities. I’ve seen leaders mess up.
- Some sacrifice their marriage for their job.
- Some sacrifice their kids.
- Some leaders get on the teaching circuit and stop learning. They spend all their travel time teaching and no longer take time to sit at someone else’s feet and learn.
I want to avoid all these extremes and today, things change. I’ve decided to spend no more than 30 nights away from my wife in 2008. Oh, you should know I realize the 30 night rule is not in the Bible. It’s just what is right for me and my family right now. Others may draw the line at a different place. I don’t think the number is the point–the fact that you give it some thought and get some input is important.
Where do you draw the line?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 2, 2008 | Preaching, Religion, Worship
I have three children (13, 11, & 6) and all of them ask me "why?" about everything. Why is the sky blue? Why are there clouds? Why can’t I go outside? Why do I have to take a shower? Why can’t I stay up past 10PM? Truthfully, it’s frustrating. If you’re a parent, you know what I mean. Why are we frustrated?
We’re frustrated for two reasons. Often we don’t know the real answers to the innocent questions they ask, but even when we do, our answers don’t slow the pace of their relentless questions. That’s because we’ve misunderstood their language and think that when they ask "why?" they mean the same thing we mean when we ask why. Our cause-and-effect answers miss the mark, and so they fail to satisfy.
When it comes to understanding God, we’re just like children and ask "why?"
Ever wondered why you don’t feel the presence of God when other people claim they do? Ever had an unanswered prayer? Wondered why God would love you? Or why He would let bad things happen to good people? If you’ve ever wondered why…this may be just what you are looking for.
I’m planning something totally different this series…Imagine if we were able to get together and have a "Digital Conversation" regarding my series "Why." I’ll provide a link to the questions and we’ll use the comment section to share our thoughts and grow together. What do you think? Please share how we can make this experience better for all.
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 1, 2008 | Communication
Oh my goodness…my day has been filled w/intense meetings…my mind needs a break.
So, I’ve compiled a list of questions, as Arsenio Hall says, "that make you go hmmm…"
Here we go!
1. Have you ever imagined a world with no hypothetical situations?
2. If 7-11 is open 24-hrs a day, 365 days a year why are there locks on the door?
3. If nothing ever sticks to Teflon, how do they make Teflon stick to the pan?
4. Why are there flotation devices under plane seats instead of parachutes?
5. Why are cigarettes sold in gas stations when smoking is prohibited there?
6. Why do "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing?
7. If you can’t drink and drive, why do you need a driver’s license to buy liquor, and why do bars have parking lots?
8. Why does your nose "run" and your feet "smell"
9. Why is it called a "building" when its already built?
10. Why do they call them apartments when they are all stuck together?
11. What is another word for "thesaurus"?
Ok, back to work…my minds is clear now…
What about you – what’s on your mind?
