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As those of you that come to this site with any frequency will soon learn, until I can grow my staff - some of these areas do not get new content for large spans of time. That is not an intentional or comfortable neglect of those of you that are interested enough to come back and check - it is the direct reflection of me being a one stop shop that is working hard every day to expand and grow this that is my passion into a thriving business that serves a civic need - that of age specific political literacy. Simply put as the business of getting the 18-35 engaged in the process.
As the host of On Point, a talk radio program that uses artists to discuss current events, political, and social issues I attempt to do but a part of what is needed to empower an entire generation into owning and using their own power. Featuring on television programs such as Square Off with such notable individuals as Billy Murphy, Esq., Former First Lady Kendal Ehrlich, and Former Baltimore City & New York City Police Commissioner Ed Norris is but an example of what we can do - not me being exceptional. Be inspired. I am not the movement and there is none without the rest of us. It twas truly nothing but the fact that I was a poet at birth it seems so all of this began with writing and as I allowed myself to grow - by start became my full circle to a career that allows me to be in every media form.
I can't say enough that I may be the youngest political journalist that can make such credits in the country, I am still at but the beginning of this part of the journey, so expect still as I adjust for me to not be able to get to every one of these webpages - I am more likely than not working on something that down the road will ensure that there is content for every click your heart desires. I'm still grinding, I'm still building, please stay with me as I do - when it's all said and done it'll have been worth the ride I promise you.
In the meantime the following are the best ways to remain current or in contact with me:
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Today was one of those days when I didn't want to be the Liberal Examiner, can't say I wanted to be the Independent Examiner either, but I sure wouldn't have minded being the Where The Hell Have You Been Examiner! An exclusive story was covered by The Washington Times about a secret meeting in which RNC Chairman Michael Steele conceded spending of RNC funds to party treasurer and his 2 aides, that just so happen to be the same men that Michael fired recently. In this article Michael is quoted as saying that this resolution was a "power grab scheme" which led me to believe that Mr. Steele really thought he'd had some power in the first place. Really Michael?
I am really starting to think that Chairman Steele doesn't know his party at all. Did he think that his being elected to chairman 10 days after the nation watch Pres. Barack Obama take the oath of office had come as a result of his accomplishments within the party? Or in acknowledgment of his work for the party? Did he really? Did he think that they wanted him in GQ talking about listening to rap music, and being down, and pledging to prove that the Republican party wanted minorities by his disingenuous display of his "blackness"? The Republican Party doesn't go get black folks to say that they listen to P. Diddy, they go get P. Diddy...DUH! They didn't need you for that...if they wanted a "down" black man they'd have gone and got one. That was not what you were elected for.
Did he not see their faces go blank during his acceptance speech as he informed them that he intended to take the party to every living room and street corner in the communities? I did. I recognized the look too, it was the "oh no that's not what we meant to do" look. Black people in urban communities have not been hiding nor are they hidden from the Republican Party. They never were Mr. Chairman, if your party had wanted to include people they knew where to find them, and you are a prime example of what they do when they can't - they follow the Democrats.
I feel sorry for the RNC personally, I mean I think they thought they had given this mission to the right person. They do wish to appeal to more minorities, as any political organization does, that's to be expected. But they without having to come right out and say so were seeking I think to show that they too had articulate, personable, and successful black men within their party as well. They weren't trying to get someone to act like they had the same "swag" as the president, they needed someone who really did. Who they picked was so the opposite and I don't really think that they knew that.
The minute I read statements where Chairman Steele said that he had a team specially hired for this new PR campaign into urban areas I saw this coming. Why he didn't I have no clue what so ever, and I have consistently said he had the wrong people around him if anybody was telling him this was the way to go. I could have packaged Michael so much better, starting with playing to his strengths and not trying to over emphasis virtually non-existent facets of his personality. But if he really thinks or ever thought that the RNC was going to let him spend a bunch of their money on urban outreach under this methodology that he has been speaking about, he was delusional.
This decision wasn't made as a power struggle, there never was a struggle, there are forces within the RNC that have always and will always run that party. I want to make this a race thing but it's not even fair to the RNC...they'd have had to step in like this with any one that has represented their party like this. It's been embarrassing if I may be frank...as if there hasn't already been enough decent and division since the election. Something had to be done and some attempt at restoring order had to be made. They can't work at repairing and strengthening their party and crafting it's new direction, if they have to also be concerned with their Chairman's effect on their overall image.
But I really want to know what will come next? Is Michael going to try to stand up against the party? Will others stand with him? Do they have enough money for anyone to care that they do? And if the resolution is passed on May 20th, what does Michael's role than really become? I have a few predictions, but I'll wait to share those for now (lol)...something tells me that we won't have to wait too long to find out.
OK so what a week it has been, while it may seem that I became so consumed with the Moore's Ford Mission Project that I had forgotten about politics you couldn't be more wrong. As a matter of fact I was that much more in tune with politics and changes on city, state, and national levels attracted media attention. My president called for the firing of the CEO of GM (good move sir), the Baltimore City Council proposed a bill that will practically disable the local venues and party promoters in the city maliciously, and so much more - Mexico, the President of Brazil, Iran...take your pick.
I will be getting around to writing more in depth about a few of these, but not sure just when. What I do know is this - I doubt that God (or Jesus - however you look at Him) was Brazilian, GM had bigger issues than my president firing their CEO, and this bill while it is intended to LOOK like it is to help the community is flawed because it negates the fact that these entrepreneurs, business owners, and promoters are also a member of the community. There has to be a better way, we must get this first bill as it stands quashed and come to the table as a collective and figure out one that satisfies the needs of the concerned citizens and those of the businesses and business people that it will effect.
Until I get more time to elaborate that is all. Hope everyone continues to follow the poems for the Moore's Ford Mission Project and other things such as the Byrd's Nest on Examiner.com and my weekly appearances on The Reporter's Roundtable.
On July 25, 1946 not far from the foot of the bridge at Moore's Ford, just 60 some miles outside of Atlanta, Georgia 10-15 unmasked assailants kidnapped and murdered two young black couples. George & Mae Murray Dorsey and Roger & Dorothy Malcolm were in the vehicle of white farmer Loy Harrison, who was giving the couples a ride home across town at the time that the incident occurred. Some 63 years later, after national outrage and actions taken by previous presidents...to this day still - no one has been tried or convicted for these four slayings.
Committed during a time of tense race relations and accepted bigotry especially in the southern region, this crime went on without punishment being sentenced - though there was never any doubt as to who had committed the murders. Fear of retaliation by both white and black members of the community stifled cooperation with law enforcement. That climate has not changed much in the 63 years since I am sad to say. However, the voice of the people and the tolerance of such intolerance is not - and justice can be served for these families.
In the days and weeks ahead this blog, the main Catalina Byrd website, and various pages on other social networking sites will feature more information on this case and what can be done now to help insure that justice and peace are achieved for the families of the Malcolm's and the Dorsey's. Though when (Lord willing) the surviving members of the lynch mob are tried it will only be for 4 lives, know also that Mrs. Dorsey was 8 months pregnant, so really 5 lives were lost that day. I've agreed to lend my voice and my pen to the other organizations in Georgia and throughout the U.S. in asking that those still left living step up and speak the truth and relieve themselves the burden of the secrets weight. Allow the rest of us to make such a fuss that justice is served, no matter how late and be those that take the weight of the pain from the shoulders of the surviving family....and give their mind rest as we do their loved one's spirits.
As I do every night I was watching Larry King, his first guest of the night was Meghan McCain - I knew who she was but didn't know why she would be on there. I hadn't heard about comments made about her by Anne Coulter and Laura Ingrham and I do not watch The View, but I always am willing to listen to someone and hear what they have to say. I did that last night and am SO happy that I did!
I've since emailed her through her blog site to ask that she be a contributing writer for CatalinaByrd.com Let's all pray that she accepts the invitation. She is a positive young voice in the Republican party, which has been in turmoil since the election. It too is the party of my father though I did not register as a Republican when I came of age to vote. If ever I considered changing affiliations - last night was that night.
You can read more about Meghan and her views in case you missed Larry King last night by going to her blog with the link provided below. Keep this phenomenal young woman in your prayers please.
