Congratulations Conndi!

[BigMix]

Condi is Secretary of State of the United States of America.  If you really think Oprah compares, then you should take a course on international politics.  There is a difference between popularity and power.

moved and seconded

Not saying that Condi doesn't have sway in politics etc, but what undergirds power is influence. Oprah influences people more. Don't think about the ouvert paradigm shifts on the international landscape, think more subtely of the social change that seeps into a nation through media, that conditions the thinking of people in a couvert manner.

When Bush, Powell, and Cheney have to drop pamphlets in Iraq and Afghanistan; viagra was already there. No matter what the policy implications be, the subtle social influence that gets perpetuated via media is way more powerful in my opinion.

[THE BLUE SWEATER]

Condi is Secretary of State of the United States of America. If you really think Oprah compares, then you should take a course on international politics. There is a difference between popularity and power.

moved and seconded

Not saying that Condi doesn't have sway in politics etc, but what undergirds power is influence. Oprah influences people more. Don't think about the ouvert paradigm shifts on the international landscape, think more subtely of the social change that seeps into a nation through media, that conditions the thinking of people in a couvert manner.

When Bush, Powell, and Cheney have to drop pamphlets in Iraq and Afghanistan; viagra was already there. No matter what the policy implications be, the subtle social influence that gets perpetuated via media is way more powerful in my opinion.

Keyword in your argument was nation. THi is in regards to the world. Oprah cant decide wether nations continue to starve. Nor can she determine who goes to war with you. Nor does Oprah had a sway on the decisions of three presidents likely more in the future. Yes Oprah has affects on american society but her influence is heavily diluted outside of our borders where condis increases many times over.

[BigMix]

Keyword in your argument was nation. THi is in regards to the world. Oprah cant decide wether nations continue to starve.

You think Oprah's influence only extends to America?

And about Nation's starving, niether does Condi. Condi does not have infiniti options. She has her constraints, albeit, even more now since they are using that debunk coldwar mentality in this day and age. "Threaten them into submission".

[Burning Sands, Esq.]

There's no doubting that Condi Rice is accomplished, but so was Adolf Hitler.  I just can't respect her views on Black america.  She fits in perfectly with the Bush administration.  Perfectly.

[THE BLUE SWEATER]

Keyword in your argument was nation. THi is in regards to the world. Oprah cant decide wether nations continue to starve.

You think Oprah's influence only extends to America?

And about Nation's starving, niether does Condi. Condi does not have infiniti options. She has her constraints, albeit, even more now since they are using that debunk coldwar mentality in this day and age. "Threaten them into submission".

Ok I did not say that Oprah has no influence overseas and you know that. But the reality of it is. A U.S. soldier in Iraq, Osama bin Ladin, Children starving in Niger,  and Sudan, Oil tycoons, people watching gas prices, airline industries, Every head of state, farmers in Poland, miner in Uzbekistan are a little more concerned about how Condi will react. Trust me I have had interaction with just about evry group I listed here and they are aware on condi and her power. Oprah believe it or not is not as popular in many places of the world as she is here. especially not to the point to merit enough influence to be the most influential woman in the world. The mayor of Athens is a woman and will probobly be the next prime minister at a time when they are buting heads with Cyprus and Turkey. If Oprah had a press confrence the same time as her would would be watching. If the sudanese child starving could have 30 minutes to explain her plight and beg for help would it be with oprah or condi. If the farmers in poland could wanted to better be able to distribute their crops do they talk to coprah or condi. If terrorists could kill oprah pr condi which one owuld it be? COme on. Oprah is great and she is influential. But another one of the reasons is she is the richest black woman in the world. Beating out Ms. Johnson ex-coowner of BET when it comes to assets. It isn't just her media.

[BigMix]

Powell knew why he bailed. Condi is in her zone. I do agree with you with that. Since her she began her Phd in Poltical Science she was in her zone, it was like Russia totally consumed her.

[THE BLUE SWEATER]

At the time Russia was all there was. Sands could you explain your problems with Condi's views on black america.

[LegalLassie]

There's no doubting that Condi Rice is accomplished, but so was Adolf Hitler.  I just can't respect her views on Black america.  She fits in perfectly with the Bush administration.  Perfectly.

Ditto, Sands.  Well said.

[Burning Sands, Esq.]

Sands could you explain your problems with Condi's views on black america.

Certainly.

Condi Rice rice does not support the Black community or what it stands for.  Condi Rice has achieved a great deal for any person, irrespective of race. Graduated college when she was 19, interned for the white house, ran a few corporations and not to mention she was Stanford's provost for a number of years.  I'm not knocking her academic or professional achievements at all.  They are something to aspire to.

However, like many black conservatives in her position, her view is very narrow and very conveniently tailored to suggest that just because she has made it, all other black people "should" make it.  In essence, her understanding is flawed by virtue of inductive reasoning.  What's true for a few does not = true for all. And the republicans hold her up like a beacon of truth as if to say "if she can do it, there's no reason why you can't you lazy porch monkeys."  Of course she made it to college, she comes from a third generation college educated family.  Why wouldn't she go to college with that road map available?  But many of the members of the BSLD here, who I consider to be very progressive in seeking a law degree, do not share that same luxury.  In fact, many of us are the first members of our family to even make it past high school.  Unless your family is from ATL or DC, the far majority of Blacks in this country do not come from 3rd generation college educated families.  But moving beyond that point, that's not the true problem with Rice.

The true problem with Rice is that she denounces that racism exists or had the ability to hinder her progress in life, and she is avidly opposed to government intervention in civil rights or discrimination, affirmative action programs, etc...YET ironically it was that same government intervention that allowed her to get to where she is today by way of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Brown v. Topeka Board of Education, executive orders prohibiting segregation in all areas of life, including education, etc.  Rice may have been born in Alabama, but she went to school in Denver, Colorado, away from the jim crow laws of the south.  She was afforded that opportunity, and that's great for her, but again inductively speaking, her life story is not representative of the black community as she might insist.  She has clearly demonstrated that she is detached from what it means to be apart of the black community.

[BigMix]

well said.