Optimum Capital Management, LLC
Announces ENOUGH!
New York, NY - September 8th, 2008
As a community organizer, I want to send this letter to John McCain and the Republican Party, on behalf of all of the community organizers in America. This is letter is written for all of those community organizers like myself who wake up every morning with only one thought on their mind, "How can I make my community better?" It is written for all of those like me who rarely get paid and are hardly ever provided any incentive much more than the joy we feel from seeing one of our fellow community members get a paying job because of our efforts. Rudy Giuliani, you asked what a community organizer is. Sarah Palin, you implied that you were unaware of any real responsibilities that a community organizer had. Let me take a few brief words to explain it to you.
Community Organizer Responds to GOP Attacks!
Community organizers are the ones who actually roll up their sleeves and work in the neighborhoods and communities that are hardly ever seen by a politician. The main gripe that we hear from those we assist is, "We try to reach out to our local politicians but we never get any response." Where a void is left from the inability or unwillingness of our local politicians to insert some action where an abundance of words exists we are the ones who step up to the plate. We are the ones in the prisons teaching for free so that we can lower recidivism rates in our communities. We are the ones holding private meetings with gang members to urge them to trade in their guns for books and job applications. We are the ones who are working with the neglected population of homeless teens providing them with education about financial literacy, health, drugs, safe sex, and life skill implementation.
Governor Palin, do not talk to me about "real responsibility" until you have walked in our shoes. I am not going to down grade your responsibility, because I am sure that to be the Mayor of a town with 6000 people can have its difficulties and challenges. However, for you to disrespect the efforts of the people in the nation who love this country just because you want to score a political point is blasphemous. You hold yourself to be a true follower and believer of the Word of God, but where in the Word does it say that we must down others efforts just to uplift ourselves? Where in the Word of God does it say that we must attack the character of others in order to fulfill our own personal agenda? Do you honestly believe that the only way that one can sacrifice for this country is to be a POW? Of course not! You should be thankful for the sacrifice and the responsibility that is taken on every day by community organizers across the country. You would not have gotten elected into your seat as Mayor or Governor without the efforts of community organizers. If there were more community organizers in Alaska maybe your state would not have such high methamphetamine addiction and youth STD rates.Instead of thanks, we are belittled. I guess that you don't have to thank Martin Luther King Jr. who helped millions doing community organizing to lead the civil rights movement? I guess you would have been condescending to Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Stanton, and Lucy Stone for their work in the National Woman Suffrage Association community organizing for women across this nation? What about Jimmy Hoffa who was a community organizer for the rights of workers? Maybe he didn't have responsibility either? Let's travel overseas to look at the Ghandi, the community organizer who helped millions in India and around the world. Maybe he should have been belittled for his efforts. He himself stated what should be the creed of all community organizers, "Be the change that you want to see in the world." Are you encouraging those in this country and around the world to be that "change" with your words Governor Palin?
Last but not least, my favorite community organizer of which you and I owe a lot to because of our similar faiths, Jesus Christ was a community organizer. Do you think that He would condone your words against Barack Obama and degrading his actions to make a change in his community?
I don't have to point out famous community organizers, but can also make note of those community organizers who do not do the work for personal recognition but because it is just right. Wayne Harris who has dedicated his life to helping homeless youth...keep it up Wayne! Kevin Powell who has dedicated his life to making a positive change in the life of Black Males and who speaks out against violence against women...we need you Kevin and keep it up! George Mitchell who pulls people together to figure out ways to increase traffic to local community businesses...you have a lot of responsibility Brother George and we need your efforts! Dante Dixon who is a minister who uses the Word of God to help people start businesses across the country...I respect your efforts Mr. Dixon and please keep it up! Christina Hodges who has dedicated her life to teaching financial literacy for free throughout her community...don't let the comments from the GOP party discourage you! Lloyd Cambridge who works with youth and adults for free helping them start businesses...I respect you Lloyd! Darnell Canada who is an ex-offender yet still started numerous businesses for himself AND other people in the community...I respect and admire your work Darnell even if Giuliani and Palin do not! Barack Obama who served over 90,000 people while community organizing on the south side of Chicago... we know you could have used your Harvard degree to earn millions but you chose to work with the people! Barack, you are not the savior to the people but your actions and deeds have empowered millions across this country to be a savior to themselves! There are people who have jobs and a future because of your efforts. A "from the bottom up movement" is a movement that you started on the south side of Chicago but will end in the White House! We thank you and need more of you! To all of the community organizers out there who like me are overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated we cannot stop our efforts!As a community organizer I have had my life threatened, been assaulted, disrespected, dismissed, rejected, and undercut all because I want to help my community teaching financial literacy and spreading economic empowerment. These things happened because like other community organizers, we want to create opportunities for success but many times we get the most resistance from those we are trying to help. Governor Palin and Mayor Giuliani, the criticism and disrespect that you provide will NOT dissuade us from helping our community. It only serves to show that you and the Republican Party are out of touch with the American people. You get mad at Barack because he eats arugula but degrade those across the country whose only purpose is to make a difference. You get mad at Barack's statements of clinging to guns and religion, then you belittle the earnest efforts of those in the community trying to improve the lives of those around them. Then you claim yourselves to be patriotic and always put America first? In November the people will speak...if we are smart our voices and votes will put Obama in the White House because he has proven to be the only candidate who has not displayed the moral turpitude that has been destroying this country for the past 8 years! ENOUGH!
