Comments on: Whirled Views 11.6

By: HamachiTwo

HamachiTwo — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:16:26 +0000

Most Honorable Joel, I’m not sure why you are compelled to react so defensively. Did you read my post. It was not partisan. It’s okay if you don’t have anything to support your contention, or refute Cosby’s. I am simply curious what Justice Thomas does to actively help others.

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By: michelle

michelle — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:32:44 +0000

I finished Clarence Thomas’ bio last night and found it interesting. His childhood was challenging but he came from a proud family that insisted work and education were the keys to success. I thought Bill Cosby has been saying the same things for a long time.

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By: Joel Mark

Joel Mark — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:14:10 +0000

HAMACHITWO asked, “Could you provide links to the Justice’s recent charitable works and contributions.”

For goodness sake sir, read his book for yourself.

Did you even read my post? It was not partisan. I said that the best of the left wants to empower the public sector to help people and the best of the right wants to empower the private sector to help people.

Cosby was simply as wrong as can be to say that Thomas does not want to help other people. And he was unfair to call Justice Thomas, “brother lite.”

But I will amend my point to say that I do like much of what Cosby is saying but I am sorely disappointed with Cosby’s particular comments about Justice Thomas. There is still much to commend Cosby for, but not those particular false and demeaning comments about Justice Thomas.

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By: Sawgunner

Sawgunner — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 07:52:06 +0000

A disclaimer on my Cos statemt: yes I understand he has had serious and unflattering allegations made against him (”Got me drunk, took me to his house, I woke up semi dressed”) And I recall a women who claimed to be his daughter attempted to extort money from him.
But I also know he had to endure the death of his son, Ennis Cosby.
As Jim Hightower sez, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Cos and Dr Poussaint the Harvard med school psychiatrist have a lot of valid criticisms, but who beyond Larry King will publicize them?

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By: Victoria

Victoria — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 05:22:08 +0000

Joel Mark – 68

“I was sorely disappointed with Cosby.”

So was I, the interview was very revealing, it showed Cosby, as NOT KNOWING what he was talking about. Cosby was playing a ‘dramtic role’ which had not one thing to do with the ‘TOPIC’ and everything to do with ’self importance’.

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By: HamachiTwo

HamachiTwo — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 05:14:46 +0000

That is such a beautiful story, Joel. Could you provide links to the Justice’s recent charitable works and contributions. I am certain there are many overlooked by that gutter crawling Bill Cosby. I see Thomas has accepted more gifts than any other Justice, so he clearly must give more to be so worthy.

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By: Sawgunner

Sawgunner — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 05:08:48 +0000

Joel Mark, I think Bill Cosby has to toss out occasional tripe such as what you and I heard him uttering on the “Larry King Alive” show. Cos still has a lot of credibility among older Americans of all races. I recall lots of criticism over his husband wife characters on his show. It amounted to “Oh yeah like you’ll ever find a power couple like the Huxtables: physician Dad, attorney Mom.” Because it was other blacks making those remarks no one dared call them racist, prejudiced etc (I liked the show, personally. Perhaps lots of youngsters were inspired to study and sacrifice to achieve higher ed in those and other professions).
I saw a clip of Cos speaking in a predominantly black church. I think in our Naked Public Square culture, as all of America has become further secularized, the black church–excluding a few in the south of course–has lost its voice of moral authority. I cant imagine anyone sees Sharpton or Je$$e as any type of serious moral authority of Cosby’s magnitude, not after the Twana Brawley scandal or Jackson’s illegitimate love child with a staffer (which oddly received a brief mention in the MSM)
But Cos is correct in pointing out the “dirty laundry” which everyone views every day in most American cities, school houses, etc. He is unrealistic to expect governmt at any level to solve such an intractable problem as bad moral choices by individuals (illegitimacy, drug use etc)

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By: Joel Mark

Joel Mark — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:32:58 +0000

Larry King pointed out to Bill Cosby that Clarence Thomas also believes that African-Americans should do more to help themselves.

Cosby responded by falsely claiming that Justice Thomas is not for helping other people. Cosby repeated this falsehood over and over.

I have been reading Justice Thomas’ book lately and he was deeply driven by the desire to help people, especially minorities.

Unfortunately, what too many partisans presume is that liberals are for helping people and conservatives are against helping people. That is simplistic and false to the core. BOTH sides, at their best, are for helping people. They just believe in getting there in different ways. One side wants to empower the public sector to help people and the other side prefers to empower the private sector to help people.

The Bill Cosby dived face first into the moral gutter. He called Justice Thomas “a brother lite.” In other words, he is less of a “brother” and presumably less authentically “black” just because Thomas’ ideology does not fit Cosby’s terms for “brotherhood.”

I was sorely disappointed with Cosby.

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By: HamachiTwo

HamachiTwo — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 02:54:46 +0000

Thanks TJ, I have a new gravatar on its way that I believe you’ll like just as much. Oh, and please don’t force me to go to HamachiOneThousand; H2’s are about the silliest accessory ever developed for insecure soccer moms.

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By: HamachiTwo

HamachiTwo — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 02:50:33 +0000

HRW, I’m embarrassed to admit you’re right.

Hey, and we’re going to Canada in a few days. How cool is that. Maybe I’ll run into you. Buy ya a beer, eh! Wait, American dollars are worth less than your dollars now. Maybe we split a beer, eh?

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