Anderson@Large

Makes Me Wanna Scream

This weekend marks the anniversary of the birth of Duke Ellington. It’s also the last weekend of Jazz Appreciation Month. I’m going to observe the occasions by visiting the Museum of Modern Art, where there will be screenings of films about Ellington.

While at MoMA, I’ll get a chance to check out the Edvard Munch exhibition. Whether or not you realize it, you’re familiar with Munch’s work. Think “The Scream” (and here).

My museum trip will be a welcome distraction from the Bush-it (here and here).  President Bush makes me and 60 percent of Americans, including 75 percent of Connecticut residents, want to scream. History will surely judge him the worst president ever (and here).

From HNIC to B-Boy

Remember Claude Allen?  The “enigmatic” brother who was, um, in charge of President Bush’s domestic policy was scheduled to appear in court today following his arrest for allegedly scamming roughly $5,000 from two low-end department stores.  But his lawyers have reportedly requested a postponement.

In the court of public opinion, Allen is already guilty of poor judgment in allowing Armstrong Williams to vouch for his character.  Armstrong told the Washington Post:

He was always very private. And you always knew which buttons not to push with him and where not to go. There was this space around him. Where others were open and having fun, he was more reserved. I think there were things he kept to himself. You always sensed that.

He was the son, the brother, the cousin that you want to put your arm around and protect.  You always felt that he was fragile.

If Allen is ultimately convicted of felony theft, his conservative sponsors may give him something that is denied most black ex-offenders – a second chance (and here).  In the meantime, Allen, who lives in a million-dollar home, is soliciting donations to his legal defense fund and wants folks to “help pay for the needs of [his] family.”

If you want to donate to a worthy cause, click here.

Jose, Can You See

The illegal immigration debate is again heating up (here, here and here). Later this week, a group of Latino artists will release a Spanish language version of the national anthem, "Nuestro Himno" (or "Our Anthem") "to show [their] solidarity with the undocumented migrants.”  This latest assault on American values and traditions will add fuel to the fire:

Let’s just not be surprised if it stirs other folks to say that America also has a tradition of English, and that if you really want to be part of things here, you don’t make it by singing her song in some other language.

We may not be able to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" – or even know all of the words – but we are outraged when someone messes with it. A Spanish recording of our national anthem crosses the line and will further alienate Americans:

Instead of immigrants coming over to become Americans and assimilate, what’s being encouraged is a silent takeover of our country by Mexico.

Big Ups to Stanford Protesters

A belated shoutout to the Stanford Marching Band and Stanford students who caused such a ruckus that a meeting with President Bush had to be moved off campus:

Although President George W. Bush was scheduled to meet with fellows at the Hoover Institution on Friday, the presence of more than 1,000 protesters forced him to change his plans and meet with advisers and faculty members at the residence of former Secretary of State and Hoover Fellow George Shultz on the outskirts of the Stanford campus.

More than 100 armed law enforcement and Secret Service officers lined the streets outside of Encina Commons, as students, parents, faculty members and local residents protested Bush’s anticipated arrival on east campus.

Incoming freshman Dylan Anderson told the Mercury News:

I’m glad Stanford is taking such a strong stand.  It makes me excited to be coming here.

And it makes me proud to be a Stanford grad.  To borrow a phrase, how are you going to keep them quiet down on “the Farm” after they’ve seen the mess that Bush and Shultz protégé (and former Stanford provost) Condoleezza Rice have wrought in Iraq?

Black Voters Turn Out N.O. Election

Casting aside the barriers to their participation (and here), black voters went to the polls on Saturday to vote for the next mayor of the Big Easy. But it wasn’t easy. Some rode the bus all night in a Freedom Caravan from Atlanta and then had to stand in long lines at a “mega-polling” site.

And their voices were heard (here and here). No candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote so there’ll be a runoff election (and here) between the top two vote-getters, Mayor Ray Nagin and Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu on May 20.

Civil rights groups still plan to challenge the election process (and here).  They will continue to push for out-of-state polling places in cities with large concentrations of displaced voters.  As my friend, New Orleans-based pollster and political analyst Silas Lee, told me:

It’s about the Voting Rights Act. That’s the big issue of this election. It’s not about black political empowerment. It’s really about voter disenfranchisement. It could happen anywhere. It’s not an isolated event. It’s about how democracy works or doesn’t work.  There needs to be vigilance to ensure that everyone has the ability to participate.

It ain't over.

Hot Air

Tomorrow is Earth Day so I plan to take a bite out of the Big Green Apple this weekend.

Since Hurricane Katrina, I’ve been paying closer attention to global warming.  Though the Bush administration views studies about climate change as "an inconvenient truth," the overwhelming weight of the scientific evidence (and here) tells us that Katrina was an early warning sign.  More severe storms with increased frequency are on the horizon.

But, folks, even without global warming it will be hot as hell in New Orleans on Saturday when voters go to the polls to choose their next mayor (here, here and here).

Illegals Not Peachy Keen

Earlier this week, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed into law the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act (here and here), the most comprehensive effort to date to deal with out-of-control illegal immigration.  The legislation:

• requires all employers in Georgia to verify the legal status of their workers in order to claim a state income tax deduction on their salaries
• requires employers to withhold the standard 6 percent state income tax from the paychecks of “independent contractors” who do not provide a taxpayer identification number or Social Security number
• requires companies with government contracts to verify their workers’ legal status electronically through a free federal program
• requires people who want to use certain public benefits to prove they are in Georgia legally.

Purdue said:

This bill makes it clear that Georgia is a welcoming state that wants to treat our guests with Southern hospitality. But we cannot tolerate activity that distracts us from our ability to embrace those who come here legally.

We recognize that immigration is ultimately a national issue that needs a national solution. Because we need to know who is living here in Georgia, and for that matter, who is living in our country.

Though the reform measure doesn’t address the financial drain of providing education, emergency medical care and government services to illegal immigrants, it’s a start (and here).