Come Together Congress and Prevent a Shutdown

 Here we go again! It seems like every time the legislature is faced with pressing financial issues like balancing the budget and keeping crucial services supported by taxpayer dollars available and running like a well-oiled machine, there is ultimately some delay. Differences of opinion and political convictions are expected and understandable when debate is in progress. However, inabilities little to reach reasonable compromise when smooth government function is at stake is another matter. Democrats and Republicans must come together and solve this shutdown very soon. The deadline is 12 midnite tonight.

The following is an excerpt from an article written ten years ago on October 1, 2013 when a government shut down was threatened during the Obama administration. It was successfully averted.

“It’s after midnight, an hour and a half past, to be exact. I am filled with deep disappointment and disgust about the behavior of some members of our Republican Congress and the

poor example they are setting for future leaders, our country in general and world allies, many of whom must be gaping in disbelief, if not quietly embarrassed. Of course, they would never openly express this to the US. Then there are probably those—our enemies—who may undoubtedly be quietly thrilled if not amused to learn of the superpower’s dysfunction and inability to prevent their own government from shutting down. The question which keeps reverberating through my mind is, “what could these elected representatives be thinking and why could they not find a more reasonable and constructive way of resolving the matter? Why this constant display of brinksmanship and political derring-do?”

I am joining with Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia in praying for a resolution to this crisis. There are many people’s sources of monthly income at stake, funding of crucial government programs that will come to a halt and services that will shut down. Yes. My prayers are with our country, our Congress and specific requests for a fair and reasonable solution to this matter.

We Need Warnock’s Wisdom, Judgment and 51st Vote:Thanks Raphael for Your Candidacy

 There are two Black men running for a powerful and influential political office in Georgia. The office of Senator no less. Pursuing and gaining that level in politics is no small feat. One candidate is considered highly qualified and has demonstrated his promise. The other is a retired football player with stellar accomplishments as a sports figure and questionable Republican backing, but encouraged to run initially by former President Donald Trump who is currently maintaining a low profile on his support. Mr. Walker has crossed over bravely into politics with no background or experience and though he has received a considerable amount of pushback about it, the race has been close, now requiring a run off. Indeed Walker has a right to run for Senator like any other politically vetted person. However, the question is—is he the most qualified? 

Democratic Party icon, former President Barack Obama who believes in Warnock’s political potential recently stumped for Warnock in Atlanta before an enthusiastic crowd.

His re-election would give Democrats the 51st vote and more readily provide a way for bills to get passed. Many believe that Raphael Warnock is the better candidate and the best one to move the citizens of the great state of Georgia forward on issues that need addressing to assure those in the state a better future.

Raphael’s accomplishments are remarkable. He has proven during his term in the Senate that he is a confident trailblazing leader who has the interests of both the public he competently serves and the congregation he pastors at heart.  He is Senior Pastor of the iconic and storied Second Ebenezer Baptist Church  in Atlanta, a pulpit the civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. occupied during the height of the civil rights movement. Dr. Warnock has served the church faithfully for nearly 20 years.  A recent New York Times article credits his impressive first term accomplishments. See article here. He is the author of several scholarly books, including an upcoming children’s book set for release in January. Learn more about him in his book A Way Out of No Way: A Memoir of Truth, Transformation, and the New American Story.

Senator Warnock is a graduate of  revered Union Theological Seminary of New York City where he earned a PhD in Theology under the guidance of legendary Liberation Theologian Dr. James H. Cone, author of several ground breaking books including “Black Liberation Theology”, “God of the Oppressed” and “The Cross and the Lynching Tree”.

This current political race between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker is proof positive that obstacles once facing Black voters in the past have been transcended.  The racial and physical barriers that hindered Blacks from the polls back in the early 1960s and before then that spurred President Lyndon Baines Johnson and Dr. Martin Luther King to collaborate urgently to push and promulgate the 1964 Voting Rights Act have been substantially overcome. Even though the fight to uphold and enforce voting rights continues in various forms to this very day. No doubt, Blacks have made significant inroads into the electoral process in the Deep South since Dr. King’s era. This Georgia run off election is evidence that part of his dream has been realized.

Support Senator Warnock. Assure his re-election by getting to the polls on Tuesday and making your voice heard. Send a strong voice/vote for social justice, economic parity, progress and freedom for Georgians. Like the Rev stated in a recent video clip, “Your voice is your vote.”

Re-elect Senator Warnock. Send him back to the Senate and strengthen the Democrats’ voting margin in congress with his 51st vote. Please join me in keeping candidate Warnock lifted in prayer and well wishes for his victory.

Prayerfully,

Rev. Cynthia Wilson

Union Theological Seminary Alum ‘06

Go Midterms!

Today, I am topping a blogpost I wrote on the Importance of the 2014 midterm elections. Obama was in the White House then and the midterm elections were very crucial. Nothing much has changed about their cruciality since then. The midterms remain important to the Democratic process and pave the way by providing a trajectory for future National elections. 

I encourage you to read this and get energized about the campaigns now underway. I am for various reasons paying close attention to the senate race in Georgia between incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker. The very fact that Walker is running his campaign for office under the auspices of former U.S. President Donald Trump is definitely worth analyzing from a number of angles. Especially in light of the buzz presently circulating about how republicans are using selected Blacks to ramp up diversity within their party and gain more credibility and votes from Black voters. Time to pay attention. Things are heating up indeed.

Here is the actual extended link if for some reason the above link does not work:

https://cynthiadwilson2.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-importance-of-your-2014-midterm-vote.html?m=0

Have a blessed day,   

Cynthia Wilson

Visit to Second Ebenezer on the Way to New Orleans

Willie Baptist , UTS Poverty Initiative and 

Cynthia Wilson

Here is a link to a blog article I posted recalling my visit to Second Ebenezer  Baptist Church back in January 2005 as part of Union Theological Seminary’s Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Mission to the Gulf Coast.

http://heavieroctaves.blogspot.com/2006/01/povertyracism-and-katrina-first-stop.html?m=0

Note:

I tried to post “my photos” from this blog post that I took with my cell phone this morning, but they would not post. They are in fact my photos. Any ownership rights that are being claimed electronically this morning by others are unauthorized and not based on any fair, open and equitable negotiations. Nobody has exchanged a mumbling word with me about any such arrangements. I refuse to continue operating my blogging ministry, and now business, in the dark.  I did not negotiate any agreements with any other entity assigning my photo rights or any other rights away. As a matter of fact, I have been more than generous in sharing my insight, photos, videos and artwork images with the public over the years. My writings across the net via blogs is plentiful and I suspect legendary by now.

Concerning the blocked photos-I recall taking the photo of the church marquis, Pastor Warnock, Steed Davidson and had a friend to take the photo of me and Willie Baptist. So, your blockage of my posting of them this morning on this blog-which was made available for music fans for years, is woefully inappropriate, an act of harassment and duly unlawful. If you are protecting me from theft of photos, videos and the like, I appreciate your efforts, of course, if your intentions are pure. However, if this is just a “grab bag” action on your part to snatch as much “get”, as I have slowly learned it’s called, for yourself,  just make sure you give me credit both literary and financial for your “takings”. A commensurate donation will suffice. Find a link coming soon for donating on my site.Come on guys, let’s play fair and help one another out for real.

I should be the millionaire.