The Economic Crisis (...if nothing else, is good for a laugh).

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

"[The burden of race] is not behind us now; it's right in front of us" -NY Rep Yvette Clarke

"The CBC agenda is the agenda of America. It can help America become not the America that it has been, but the America the we know America can be [...] i don't see anything left about wanting to put people to work, feed people who are hungry and provide energy to people who are cold." - IL Rep Danny Davis

I cannot believe that there was a line all the way across the quad at seven for an event that didn't start until eight. But indeed it was a big deal to have nine members of the congressional black caucus present and the governor of massachusetts speak here. and I'll admit, it was pretty amazing. My only regret about the situation was that the moderator spent a lot of time polling every person's reaction to obama's election instead of allowing whoever wanted to respond as she did when asking questions later in the evening. While their reactions were interesting, I believe that their political opinions on what I personally would consider greater matters would have been a better use of time. Nonetheless, there were many interesting points raised by the congress men and women present. I'll mention a notable few. First, that although Obama will be president and he was a member of the black caucus, the agenda of the black caucus will remain progressive because that is it's role - in one congressperson's opinion, the caucus serves to state things that others don't feel they are able to for whatever reason - the caucus is progressive in so many ways and they won't change their agenda - it will simply have more help now. Second, the election served as a barometer on the issue of race in the USA - think about what it would have said if mccain had been elected instead. Last piece that stuck with me was that while a senator from California argued that the gay rights movement was not comparable to the civil rights movement, a senator from Georgia completely advocated for gay rights and that it too was a pursuit of fundamental human rights - for people to be allowed to fall in love and marry whomever they like. I must say I agree with him. In any case, while the topics and conversation of the event were not altogether very surprising in terms of content, the event was certainly thought-provoking and enlightening - both perfect for a college campus, don't you agree?

Prop. 8.

Who would have thought that it would pass? Well, I guess I, being the pessimist that part of me is, had heard and sadly believed that it would pass. Tears. I sincerely wish it hadn't and realize that while (luckily) motions like a law stating that life began at birth were not passed, gay rights and gay marriage were struck down pretty hard at the election a few weeks ago. How depressing. We make a big move by electing a (half) black president (um, why has it taken so long?) and we (again, *finally*) have a female asian-american state senator but still. I wonder how much truth there is that the fact that minorities came out in force contributed greatly to the passing of prop. 8 because statisticly they voted for the measure. so when push comes to shove, can you blame the minorities? Perhaps. But it might be better to poll people on what their religion is because it seems to me like that has a greater influence. nonetheless, to massively abuse my capacities to generalize (always a bad thing, I know), many minorities, Latinos especially, are Catholic or otherwise deeply religiously affiliated in a way detrimental to open-minded-ness about sexuality. so maybe there is a connection to be made. And here's the other ish, because I don't really have an answer to the previous one, the "separation" of church and state. Non-existant if you actually thought about it. First (unrelated) get under god out of the pledge of allegiance. It wasn't there to begin with, it really has no place there now. Second (related) why oh why can the state give out marriages...they should really give out civil unions which are effectively the same as marriages in terms of legal privileges without the religious connotation. I know, I know, not gonna happen because the term marriage in both its nonreligious and religious affiliation are deeply ingrained in our society (like racism...wait did i say that out loud?). End ramble.

p.s. cool anti-prop. 8 shirts available at blacklava.

Comedian: Ahmed Ahmed.

One word. Hilarious.

No joke the guy was really funny which I suppose is a good thing since he is after all a comedian. Granted it was a bit un-PC given his liking of arabic/muslim jokes often of the "yes we can laugh at ourselves, and you can laugh too" nature. It was a little sad to see how PC the campus is and the oohs and aahs at some of the more un-PC jokes, but still, I of all people understand where they come from. Racial jokes can go a bit too far but they're also excellent fodder for comedians - what's better than a strong accent? Someone who can laugh at their own identity? (But of course, try not to make fun of someone else's identity...that might be labeled easily and readily as very not cool). Ok so in all seriousness part of me opposes this kind of comedy but at the same time, it's funny. I can't deny that. Is there a line we're supposed to be drawing between making cracks at certain stereotypes and degrading ourselves or others? is it wrong to laugh? the first question I'd say I'm sure there is only I don't know where it goes. The second I'd say in most cases not as un social justice like of me that is.

"He's a little weird...he talks to his invisible friend allah five times a day"

"Look she's blushing! She's turning yellow" [about asian girl in the audience]

There was more. It was better than what i can type.

Peace. (Insha'allah).