Project 21: New Visions

Most liberals enjoy portraying themselves as the champions of minority interests and "social justice," defending the allegedly defenseless against oppression from the rich and powerful. But does the liberal elite live by its own rhetorical standards? Not according to author Peter Schweizer. In his new book, Do As I Say (Not as I Do), Schweizer points out the blatant hypocrisy practiced by many of the liberal community's leading figures. Consider, for instance, movie director Michael Moore, one of the left's most high-profile critics of American culture. In his book, Stupid White Men, Moore issued a scathing critique of the white ...
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Hip-hop has grown from its inner-city roots to appeal to a diverse and worldwide audience. It is no longer the fad some once considered it. Unfortunately, it is also having a profound negative impact on young blacks. This aspect of hip-hop can no longer be tolerated. Hip-hop is not just a style of music. It is a culture borne of poor, inner-city life in America that has evolved into the rallying cry of those unable to negotiate the nuances of the mainstream. It now serves to glorify formerly stigmatized characteristics of the lower class, preventing the impetus for upward mobility ...
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Because so many things seem to get lost among the political minutia when laws and policies are created, it's wise to look back to find the "original intent" that began the process. When it comes to the original intent of liberal abortion and birth control policies, the motivations of their proponents can be downright shocking. Most people probably think the original intent behind the movement to legalize abortion, for instance, was to give women control of their bodies. It was all about a woman's right to choose, right? Wrong. To understand the abortion lobby's original intent, one must start with ...
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It goes without saying that 19-year-old Lionel Tate was dealt a bad hand in life. In 1999, at the age of 12, Tate became the youngest person in modern American history to be sentenced to life in prison. It was for the beating death of six-year-old playmate Tiffany Eunick. After he served three years in a Florida juvenile prison, however, Tate's conviction was thrown out on a technicality. He then plead guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to a year of house arrest, ten years probation, counseling and 1,000 hours of community service. Lionel Tate was given a second ...
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I'll never forget the day when my wife first called me with the good news. She was pregnant. It began with her saying she was not feeling like herself, and I suggested that she see a doctor because she might be ill. What a difference - a baby! I could not contain the feelings of joy that rushed through my body. From that moment on, I knew that my life would be different forever. In a matter of seconds, I became a new man. I added to my roles of son, brother and husband the brand new role of being ...
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To understand racism in the deep South in the late 1950s, John Howard Griffith - a white man - darkened his skin and pretended to be black. His groundbreaking book, Black Like Me, profoundly affected the burgeoning struggle for equal rights. In 2006, U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) announced his own desire to be treated like a black man. Kennedy's goal, however, seems to be political spin. In the dead of night on May 4, Representative Kennedy almost hit a Capitol Police cruiser with his own car. He then smashed into a cement barrier. Officers on the scene reported Kennedy ...
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"Be" is a powerful word for our major religions. "Let there be light," for example, one of the first lines of the Old Testament, heralds our world's creation. Then there is "bee" - as in spelling bee. For one little girl in a fascinating new movie, the word creates an avenue toward building an empowering future. "Akeelah and the Bee," starring Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett and newcomer Keke Palmer, tells the story of a young girl from South Central Los Angeles who rises from modest means to compete in the National Spelling Bee. Highlighting the power of words and knowledge ...
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Condoleezza Rice is possibly the most powerful and most criticized woman on the planet, but much of this criticism is undeserved. As our nation's secretary of state, Dr. Rice articulates foreign policy for the world's only remaining superpower. She is admonished in many circles for her vision of American diplomacy and her handling of issues ranging from Iraq to the Palestinian elections to the rise of China, but such criticism is fair. Every secretary of state is and should be required to answer for their administration's foreign policies. As a conservative black woman, however, Dr. Rice has had to endure ...
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Ideally, college professors should provide an open environment for the free exchange of ideas and promote debate free of prejudice and bias. Tragically, on some college campuses, these ideals aren't applied to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice because she is an accomplished black female conservative. Instead, protests, petitions and prejudice are the faculty-led antics designed to demean and silence her. Observe, for example, the recent circumstances concerning Dr. Rice and Boston College. Considering her significant accomplishments, one would think that having the Secretary of State speak at their commencement ceremony would be a privilege and an honor for the Boston ...
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America is in a downward spiral, plummeting toward destruction. This cataclysm is not due to a depleting ozone layer, global warming, overpopulation, rising gas prices or any other silly doomsday arguments that are wheeled out on virtually a daily basis. Instead, this self-demise comes from our nation's cultural choices. Americans are increasingly embracing lies over the truth. We are cursing that which is good and applauding the patently false. Consider the current hype over the movie "The Da Vinci Code." Dan Brown's best-selling novel, upon which the movie is based, attacks the basis of Christian beliefs. To their apparent delight, ...
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In Florida, the chances that a black child can get a decent education got worse on January 5, 2006. On that day, the state’s supreme court struck down the Florida Opportunity Scholarship Program.  This program gave the parents of children who were entering or already enrolled in underperforming government schools the power to move them to other public schools or participating private schools that they felt could do a better job or were a better fit for their needs. It may not have been intentional, but the Florida Supreme Court’s decision helped increase segregation more than a gaggle of Klansmen.  ...
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Tough legislation recently passed by the House of Representatives to crack down on illegal immigration has created an intense national dialogue. According to polls, the once dormant issue of immigration reform is now a top priority. Illegal aliens don't want existing immigration laws to apply to them. They and their supporters are trying to flex their political muscle with nationwide rallies and marches. According to lawmakers such as Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA), John McCain (R-AZ) and even President Bush, illegal aliens can do jobs that Americans refuse to do. They are only disregarding our laws and borders to improve the ...
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When a law-abiding black man automatically arouses the suspicion of a shopping mall security guard, is it racism? It may not be outright racial animosity, but it certainly betrays a bias - that security guards seem to think all blacks are potential thieves. Why? One reason may be the new television show "Thief" which recently debuted on the FX network. In it, Emmy-winner Andre Braugher - who is black - plays a master thief. While watching the first episode of "Thief," I recalled an old Southern adage: "If you lie, you will steal, and if you steal you will kill." ...
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In the 14-plus years that Associate Justice Clarence Thomas has occupied a seat on the Supreme Court of the United States much has been written about him. Some of it has dealt with his ascent from the humblest of beginnings to the highest court in the land. Some has rehashed the bruising confirmation battle that activists on the Left turned into a deplorable circus. Some has discoursed on how liberals have retreated into the courts as the last bastion of furthering an agenda that is anathema to the majority of Americans and thus can't be forced through unwilling legislatures. And ...
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When trial lawyers win excessive monetary awards in lawsuits against doctors and health care facilities, urban communities lose. The number of medical malpractice lawsuits has climbed steadily over the years, contributing to skyrocketing medical liability insurance premiums for doctors and medical health care facilities and massive payouts. These costs are passed on to patients through higher medical costs and less - or no - services. Some doctors and medical facilities are being forced to adjust to increasing litigation risks, and it's not good for patients. Doctors are moving to other states and neighborhoods or closing their doors for good to ...
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What does the selection of Dr. Ben Bernanke to replace retired Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan mean to the average American? From those who already own a home or dream of homeownership, to anyone with a credit card, has a bank account, small business or pension, it's very important. Greenspan retired in January after nearly 20 years of leading the U.S. central banking system known as the Federal Reserve, or "the Fed." This independent government institution was created in 1913 by Congress to increase the stability of the U.S. banking and financial system. The Fed strives to keep economic growth ...
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Four decades after the civil rights movement's pinnacle, positive changes in black America are evident. While the small-mindedness of prejudice can never be totally extinguished, institutional discrimination is a thing of the past. The black family, however, is suffering. Before the marches and sit-ins, poor and working-class black communities were relatively stable and progressive. Children were taught to embrace hard work, education and personal responsibility in the face of systemic racism. It's a far cry from the poverty, welfare dependency, crime, drugs and fatherlessness plaguing black ghettos today. Why has urban black America descended into such a decadent state of ...
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Black-on-black crime is tragic in more ways than one. The terror felt by a black crime victim is stressful and degrading enough. Knowing that the violence came from the hands of a black thug only adds insult to injury. Such crimes occur almost daily in black communities across our nation. Criminals rove our neighborhoods like wild dogs, causing women and children to barricade themselves inside their homes. Contrary to popular belief, racism is not the main cause of black-on-black crime. I grew up ten miles outside East Saint Louis, Illinois during the late 50s and early 60s. It was a ...
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Throughout black American history, religious leaders have played an influential role.  We are familiar with the names of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., Fred Shuttlesworth and Hiram Revels, but what about William J. Seymour? A largely unsung hero, Seymour is a founder of the Pentecostal Movement.  His Azusa Street Revival had long-reaching influences on the black community and religion in general.  His accomplishments deserve recognition both during Black History Month and throughout the year. They especially deserve notice and praise this year, as the Azusa Street Revival — the pinnacle of Seymour’s achievements — celebrates its centennial. William J ...
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One of my high school teachers back in the day desperately wanted his students to like him. Although our parents paid good money for us to be taught a prescribed curriculum, this teacher frequently chose to do his own thing. For example, on most days we got a free-flowing "rap session" instead of science as he spouted off his largely uninformed opinions on politics, religion, dating and whatever else happened to be in the newspapers. He often tried to use the same slang we kids were using, and most of us thought he was a fool. My silly high school ...
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