The Ultimate Law Of Attraction Example!

"I am asking you to believe, not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours."

Quote from the "Obama For President" website

First, Create And Be The Change...

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"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean."

Ryunosuke Satoro

Musical Interlude: I decided to featured the all time favorite band of our "Ultimate Law Of Attraction Example" because this band is not only a band that he grew up loving, but it also happens to be one of my own all time favorite bands as well. How cool!

I spent many, many hours in our family home's basement jamming to the sounds of this highly innovative band during the 70s and I am sure that many of you love their music too...since they totally qualify as Music Legends.

Formed in Chicago in 1969, (the ultra cool city that both me AND our ultimate example originate from), Earth Wind & Fire has been enchanting music lovers for decades, both with the authentic and creative harmonies of their music and the profound and important message that their music holds.

Check out Chicago's own Earth Wind & Fire performing one of their many classics,"September" here:

http://tinyurl.com/2zo8at

Before We Get To The "Perfect Law Of Attraction Example"...

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Also...

Fact: There Are Fundamental Laws In The Universe That Govern The Workings Of All Things!

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And...

The amazing audio program from Law Of Attraction Experts Beth & Lee McCain titled, "The Key: Unlocking The Secret To The Secret" is one of the best introductions to the Law of Attraction that has ever been released.

For a decade and long before the advent of "The Secret", Beth & Lee have lectured around the world bringing the good news of the Law Of Attraction and how it can become the delivery system for all of your dreams and desires.

Join Beth & Lee as they explain the fundamentals of the Law of Attraction, and how this centuries - old gift from the Universe is standing by, ready and willing to help you achieve all you want in life.

Access this extraordinary one hour audio program from Beth & Lee...absolutely Free here:

http://tinyurl.com/6q8gqt

*To access DOZENS of more Free Law of Attraction Tools & Resources, please go to the web page on this website titled, "Law Of Attraction Tools."

Also...

Access the Law Of Attraction Learning Center Called "The Study Circle" On Beth & Lee McCain's Website!

Here you will find numerous extraordinary articles on the many subjects surrounding the Law Of Attraction.

Here are just a few examples of the wonderful and enlightening articles you will have access to:

Shifting Your Focus: A Technique With The Law Of Attraction
A New Thought Creates Change
The Missing Key In The Law Of Attraction
Manifesting The Big Stuff With The Law Of Attraction
Being Positive Through World Conditions
Box Up The Past & Move Forward With The Law Of Attraction
Law Of Attraction: 5 Mental Tools To Rid Yourself Of Repetitive Thought Patterns
How To Change The Lack Of Abundance In Your Life
A New Way Of Thinking...and many, many more!

Access This Truly Amazing and Informative Library of Law Of Attraction Articles From Beth & Lee...absolutely Free here:

http://tinyurl.com/5btvu5

*Be sure to check out the article on LOA Experts Beth & Lee McCain below.

And...

"Man is made or unmade by himself. By the right choice he ascends. As a being of power, intelligence and love, and the lord of his own thoughts, he holds the key to every situation."

James Allen

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Each chapter echoes the timeless wisdom on which successful living is based. Allen helps us to understand how causes and effects of our own thoughts and actions have brought us to where we are today.

He shows us how to turn our dreams into reality. He inspires us to expect more from our lives. He instills in us that we are free agents, determining our own fate in life.

"Man is a thought being, and his life and character are determined by the thoughts in which he habitually dwells."

James Allen

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Also...

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Plus...

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"Some people seem to be turned off when they hear the words "a balanced life". I think one of the reasons this happens is that they don't understand that having a balanced life really means getting to do all the things you've always wanted to do."

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Here are just a few of the many things you'll discover with the vital and strategic information in this Ebook:

Appreciation is more than a "once in a while"attitude; it's a way of life.
Mindfulness gives you the possibility of using your talents to the fullest.
Comprehension gives you the power to distinguish the world as it is from the way you'd like it to be.
Discernment allows you to see your destiny, your goals and your core values.
Empathy gives you the opportunity to build your project team and your support network.
Understanding provides you with the awareness to claim your place with your social systems.
Anticipation gives you the tools to be able to plan and execute your life's projects effectively.

"On your death bed, these are the concepts you'll use to evaluate whether or not your business or your life has been successful."

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And...

In this very interesting one hour audio book titled "A Conversation With Barack Obama", then U.S. Senator Barack Obama discusses his book "The Audacity Of Hope" and his views on American politics with New York Times columnist Bob Herbert.

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Also...

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Lastly...

"The Life Of Abraham Lincoln" by Henry Ketcham is a light and enjoyable biography of America's 16th President.

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Particular attention is paid to Lincoln's relationship with rivals such as Douglas, Seward, Chase, McCllenan and Greeley.

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First, Unique & Interesting Insight Into Our "Law Of Attraction Example"...

"What moves us to action is not neck up; it's the heart. That's sort of where we can get the courage to take risks. Hope is not empty optimism, but the prerequiste for creative social action."

Marshall Ganz - Obama Supporter

First, A Great Quote & Comment...

"Young man, there are only two things you must know to pursue a career in public life. You must know yourself and you must know the times."

Benjamin Disraeli

"Disraeli wasn't entirely right. To make a career in public life a person must know himself and know the times. But to make a historical career in public life, the times must seek you out. That happens only rarely, and now it has happened to a junior senator from Illinois."

"The X factor which set's Barack Obama apart as a unique candidate, is his hard-won self-awareness. If we are lucky, we will wake up and begin the journey back to self-awareness as a people."

"Sen. Obama has written eloquently about his search for identity, and those who have met him personally come away believing that he knows himself deeply, sincerely, and truly.

With such grounding in self-awareness, Obama gave himself something that can't be gained from the outside: the ability to evolve personally and the flexibility to adapt quickly as the times demand."

"In essence, Sen. Obama's speech said, "I am America"and amazingly enough, people from all walks of life, political persuasions, faiths, and ethnic backgrounds believe him.

If Barack Obama makes it all the way to the White House, it will represent a quantum leap in American consciousness and a promise to restore America's position in the world."

Above Quotes From Deepak Chopra

*I don't know if Deepak Chopra is familiar with the Early African American Poet, Langston Hughes, but upon reading the last quote above from Mr. Chopra, it immediately brought to my mind one of Langston Hughes most famous poems.

Here is a poem most appropriate for the occasion...

I, Too, Sing America

"I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen,

when company comes,

but I laugh and eat well,

and grow strong.

Tomorrow, I'll be at the table,

when company comes.

Nobody will dare say to me,

"Eat in the kitchen," then.

Besides, they will see how beautiful I am, and be ashamed.

I, too, am America."

By Poet Langston Hughes (1925)

"What I would like understood as a black american, is that black americans loved and had faith in this country even when this country didn't have faith in them, and that is our legacy."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

Now, On To...

The Ultimate Example, How He Thinks, The Unsung Heroes Who Paved The Way For Him & The City That Influenced Them All - A Unique Memoir!

By Pamela K. Jones

"Hope is not blind optimism. Hope is the opposite, it is imagining and then fighting and struggling for something that did not seem possible before."

Then Presidential Candidate Barack Obama

*To print out a copy of this writing, send a blank email to:

ultimateexample@sendfree.com

I noticed very early on in 2008 that Senator Barack Obama was utilizing Law Of Attraction Principles in the pursuit of his life's mission and purpose, which was, of course, the highest office in the land, the leader of the Free World...to become the 44th. President of the United States of America. It was pretty obvious to me.

As you can see via this website, there are MANY great experts and authorities on the Law of Attraction and I truly expected to be able to just "google" the words, "Obama Law Of Attraction", and find several articles on Obama's obvious use of the Law of Attraction to publish to this website.

Surprisingly, no such luck! I began googling mid-way through the Democratic Primary Elections...and found nothing outside of one blogger commenting on Obama's use of LOA.

I figured, okay, maybe it's too early for people to make the connection and I will just check back later. I have been googling for the past six months now, (it is now December 2008), and I have still yet to find a major article on Obama's very obvious use of the Law of Attraction during his election campaign.

Hence, the reason why this writing is being written by me, as what I believe is the first public record detailing Obama's specific and conscious use of Law Of Attraction Principles to win the U.S. Presidency.

I mean, I waited for the LOA Experts, (meaning the ones who make their career teaching LOA principles), to get on the ball with this HUGE happening in regard to the sheer power of LOA, (Law of Attraction), but it seems that the Universe has chosen me to illustrate the connection. As if I did not have enough to do! (Just kidding, Universe!)

*If you guys can find another article/writing which pre-dates this one, let me know.

I did find a brief yet important mention of Obama's use of the Law of Attraction in the article re-printed below titled, "Can Obama Win The Presidency?"written by Law of Attraction Experts Beth & Lee McCain. The very short article included this interesting and very telling tidbit:

"Obama believes the time is right for his kind of presidency, and he has publicly stated his belief that through the Law Of Attraction, if it is right, it will happen. He is also very aware of the political risk in openly claiming what is still considered a controversial belief system - especially during the opening salvos of such a high profile political race. As he told Oprah Winfrey on a recent show, "I am who I am and I won't hide or deny anything that has been such a strong force in both mine, and my wife's life."

From Article Published In The Law Of Attraction Quarterly Magazine, "The Indicator" Summer - 2008

According to the writers of the article, Oprah had interviewed Obama in 2006 where they both spoke about Law of Attraction principles and how Obama practices them in his daily life. Now, I knew intuitively that Obama was utilizing the Law of Attraction in his favor to win the presidency, but this was the first confirmation that I found that he was utilizing the principles consciously and deliberately.

And it makes total sense that he would have this conversation with his good friend and supporter Oprah Winfrey, who has devoted numerous shows to the Law of Attraction. Oprah is even quoted as saying that her life is a direct result of consciously living the principles of the Law of Attraction. The key word here is "consciously."

I was at a banquet late last year, (2007) and one of the women who was sitting at my table asked me,"Do you use the Law of Attraction?"

I immediately answered her saying "Everyone uses the Law of Attraction, most people just don't know that they are using it." There is the reality, ladies and gentlemen!

Whether you believe in the Law of Attraction or not...it does not matter. It exists. It's a Universal Law. It's almost like saying that you don't believe in the Law of Gravity. Are you going to jump out the window to see if you hit the ground to "prove" or to see if the Law of Gravity exists? I don't think so!

The Law of Attraction has been in existence since the beginning of time. It is not a new "fad" or even a belief system. It just IS. We ALL use the Law of Attraction, every second of every day. The question is are you allowing yourself to be aimlessly steered in whatever direction universal forces are taking you in via your unconscious use of this Law...OR, are you utilizing the Law of Attraction to receive what you truly want from the Universe?

We are ALL Creators, and we are constantly in the process of creating. The question is...are you happy with what is showing up in your life meaning, are you happy with what you are creating? Because please know that what is showing up in your life is there because you have created it. Without exception!

"You have no choice about creating. You are creating all the time, whether you know it or not. The question is, do you want to create your life consciously or unconsciously?"

Dr. Robert Anthony

As I stated earlier, it became very obvious to me early on that President Barack Obama was consciously utilizing Law Of Attraction principles during his historic and unprecedented presidential campaign and the above quote from the magazine article just confirmed the obvious from my perspective.

The following excerpt from a TIME magazine article published in June of 2008 titled "How Obama Did It", right after Obama won the very hard fought Democratic Primary against Hillary Clinton was very telling in this regard:

"Barack Obama was campaigning last October in South Carolina when he got an urgent call from Penny Pritzker, the hotel heiress who leads his campaign's finance committee. About 200 of his biggest fundraisers were meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, and among them, near panic was setting in. Pritzker's team had raised money faster than any other campaign ever had. It's candidate was drawing mega-crowds wherever he went. Yet he was still running at least 20 points behind Hillary Clinton in polls. His "above the fray" brand of politics just wasn't getting the job done, and some of his top money men were urging him to rethink his strategy, shake up his staff, go negative."You'd better get here, Pritzker told Obama. And fast!" Obama made an unscheduled appearance that Sunday night and called for a show of hands from his finance committee."Can I see how many people in this room I told that this was going to be easy?" he asked."If anybody signed up thinking it was going to be easy, then I didn't make myself clear."A win in Iowa, Obama promised, would give him the momentum he needed to win across the map - but his backers wouldn't see much evidence of progress before then."We're up against the most formidable team in 25 years", he said."But we've got a plan, and we've got to have faith in it." More than seven months later, that faith has been rewarded."

Karen Tumulty - TIME Magazine

This an EXCELLENT example of consciously utilizing Law of Attraction Principles to achieve what you want. This meeting was convened by Obama way back in October of 2007. At that time, there was a whole host of Democratic Challengers in the race, and the least known candidate was Obama.

Conventional Wisdom back then had the race being primarily between Hillary Clinton and Former Vice Presidential Candidate John Edwards, (remember him?) Obama was a mere blip on the radar screen back then in regard to the mainstream media and the beltway political bunch.

They considered Obama to be a "mere novelty", someone who could draw big crowds like a rock star, but who was a "flash in the pan", someone with no substance and absolutely ZERO chance of winning the Democratic Primary...much less the Presidency on November 4th.

To quote Mark Penn, the Chief Strategist for Hillary Clinton's campaign and a heavyweight in political circles, having masterfully handled the re-election of President Bill Clinton in 1996, in regard to Obama's "non-existent" chances for winning the Presidency in 2008:

"All of these articles about his boyhood in Indonesia and his life in Hawaii are geared towards showing his background is diverse, multicultural and putting that in a new light. Save it for 2050!"

Quote About Obama During The Primaries From Hillary Clinton's Chief Political Strategist Mark Penn.

2050 indeed! And, believe me, that was the mindset, opinion, and the "conventional wisdom" of virtually EVERYONE in the mainstream media and the beltway political classes too! Examples? Here are a couple of juicy ones

"When he is forced to fight, Senator Obama's inexperience shows. His record, slight as it is, is tough to defend. He's got a glass jaw, and he will fall into the trap of identity politics. In fact, he already has. The "could we beat Obama?"conversation is purely academic. It's over! The Clintons have defeated him already, because he is leaving South Carolina as "the black candidate". He won't win another state. Even worse, in November, Hillary will carry 90 percent of the black vote, despite their cynical, race - based campaign against the first viable black presidential candidate.

Columnist Michael Graham - National Review

"If Hillary Clinton gets a race against John Edwards and Barack Obama, she's going to be the nominee. Gore is the only threat to her...Barack Obama is not going to beat Hillary Clinton in a single democratic primary. I'll predict that right now."

Columnist Bill Kristol - New York Times

As you can see, I wasn't exaggerating! Even the vast majority of African Americans at that time overwhelmingly supported Hillary Clinton before Obama won Iowa. Wait a minute...what was that I said? Let me repeat that..."before Obama won Iowa". Does that ring a bell to you? What was that line from Obama from the above quote from Karen Tumulty's TIME magazine article...oh yeah, here it is:

"A win in Iowa,Obama promised, would give him the momentum he needed to win across the map - but his backers wouldn't see much evidence of progress before then."

Hmmm...very interesting! And, Obama made that comment almost 4 months BEFORE the Iowa Primary, which is a lifetime in a Presidential Campaign. The conventional wisdom back then was that Iowa would be won by either Edwards or Clinton...Obama was not even on the radar screen of winning Iowa amongst most political pundits.

While the entire mainstream political world found the above premise proposed by Obama "laughable", including Hillary Clinton who reportedly repeatedly told Democratic Delegates whom she was trying to sway to her side, "HE CAN'T WIN!" Obama had his own "plan" aka his own vision...which trumped everyone else's, and he focused on that vision, energized it and manifested it into being...even while some of the nation's biggest media and political experts repeatedly and very publicly said it could never be done.

That's the Power of Consciously Utilizing The Law Of Attraction In Your Favor!

Want More Proof Of Obama's "Conscious" (And Very Deliberate) Use Of Law of Attraction Principles? Okay, how about this:

July 24th 2008 AOL News Online Report By Mark Impomeni Titled "Obama Begins Planning Presidential Transition".

"The Obama campaign has begun to prepare a transition team already, more than three months before the general election, and a little more than four weeks before Sen. Obama receives the official nomination of the Democratic Party, according to a report at "The Atlantic's Blog" A senior campaign advisor told The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder that the campaign has undertaken to begin the process of a presidential transition in order to be able to tackle the "complexity and the organizational challenge" that such a transition would require. The decision could pose some risks for the Obama campaign, which has been showing a "disturbing", (my quote marks, not the reporter's), tendency to take the election almost as a "mere formality." (again, my quote marks)."

A "mere formality" means that Obama was acting as if he had already won the presidency way back in July. Many in the media and the political class found this "disturbing." I would like to emphasize the words "acting as if". A clear and conscious use of Law Of Attraction Principles by Obama.

More? Okay...This Is Fun!

Reporter Alex Spillius from London's Telegraph publication reports in relation to Candidate Obama's European tour in July 2008:

"At times on Mr. Obama's overseas tour, Americans have had to remind themselves that he is still a Senator for Illinois and not the Leader of the Free World. In Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan and Israel, Obama was accorded courtesies normally reserved only for U.S. Presidents. He was pictured and filmed with heads of state, U.S. generals and at presidential visit locations such as Jerusalem's Western Wall and Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. His 20 - vehicle motorcade glided into the West Bank to meet the Palesinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas."

Again...Acting As If!

Or...How About This News Report In Regard To Obama's Stop In Israel:

"Barack Obama strode onto the world stage on Tuesday with trademark audacity, or as his political enemies would have it, a dearth of humility, in the symbolic shadow of Jordan's Temple of Hercules. As he tries to convince Americans he will keep them safe, the White House hopeful held his first major press conference abroad as presumptive Democratic nominee near ancient Roman ruins and a shrine to the mighty Greek mythic hero. Overlooking sun-bleached homes and minarets of the Jordanian capital, Obama spoke about his stealth mission to Iraq, against a backdrop seemingly chosen to suggest a young dynamic potential president, at home and abroad ... The temple's terrace dates to 161 to 180 AD, and overlooks a complex of period Roman ruins, including an ampitheatre, an Odeon and Nymphaeum. The symbolism seemed to convince one local journalist, who yelled "Mr President" to get her voice heard."

Then there are these interesting tidbits from reporters covering Obama published 7/30/2008, from Newser:

"Barack Obama isn't the president yet, but no one seems to have broken that news to Barack Obama. The Democrats presumptive, and increasingly "presumptuous", nominee spent yesterday cavorting about Washington as though he already owned the place, writes Dana Milbank of the Washington Post. Obama met with the Treasury Secretary, the Federal Reserve, and Pakistan's Prime Minister, before holding a "presidential - style" pep rally on Capitol Hill. Obama traveled in a motorcade more closely guarded than the actual president's motorcade. Legislators arrived early to his address, as they would for the State of the Union, and the Secret Service obligingly hurried Obama through the president's side door. Obama spoke of winning in November, but surely that's just a formality, writes Milbank - he's already asked aides to prepare his White House transition."

Milbank also writes: "Some say the supremely confident Obama has become a "president-in-waiting". But in truth, he doesn't need to wait. He has already amassed the trappings of the office, without those pesky decisions."

Ouch! Sounds like somebody is irritated with Obama's "presumptuous" manner.

It almost sounds like he and others are actually accusing Obama of being "uppity."

Just out of curiosity, I went to do a search on the synonyms used for the word "presumptuous"....and sure enough...

The synonyms that were generated for the word "presumptuous" at Theraurus.com are...

arrogant, assuming, audacious, bold, brash, brazen, conceited, confident, familiar, forward, haughty, insolent, pompous, pushy, rude, smug and...(drumroll please)...uppity.

WOW...what a surprise! Then, I decided to look up the definition for the word "uppity."

Uppity: Taking liberties or assuming airs beyond one's station; presumptuous.

Bingo Again! I always knew that this was what Obama was REALLY being accused of being by those in the media and political class when they continuously referred to Obama as being or acting "presumptuous."

What I find kind of humorous is that Obama probably knew the same thing...and probably also found it humorous!

Back to Obama's deliberate and conscious use of Law Of Attraction Principles, here are two other quick examples of Obama consciously and deliberately utilizing Law Of Attraction Principles during his landmark presidential campaign...which also happen to be my two personal favorites:

There was the name of his newly refurbished campaign plane "O Force One", a riff on the official presidential plane, "Air Force One."

And, then there was Obama's short-lived use of a New "Presidential-Like" Seal at the podium during his speaking engagements which combined elements of the actual presidential seal and Obama's logo.

You can't argue with success ladies and gentlemen, he IS now the 44th. President of the United States...just like he always envisioned aka always KNEW he would be!

The media was right..the campaign WAS a "mere formality", at least in "Obama's mind" it was...which is the whole entire point! It really did not matter what anyone else said, thought or had in mind.

When the Law of Attraction is being deliberately and consciously used, the only vision and mindset that matters is that of the LOA user!

Again, there is the sheer power of the conscious use of Law Of Attraction Principles in action and we have just had that demonstrated on the world's biggest and most visable stage...the Office of the President of the United States of America!

Coincidence? I don't think so!

Which brings me to a slightly different yet still related and very important point:

In an article printed June 6th 2008 in a leading San Francisco Newspaper, Columnist Mark Morford asked the question,"Is Obama An Enlightened Being?" says Morford,

"Barack Obama isn't really one of us. Not in the normal way, anyway."

Here is an excerpt from the article:

"Many spiritually advanced people I know, (not coweringly religious, mind you, but deeply spritual), identify Obama as a Lightworker, that rare kind of attuned being who has the ability to lead us not merely to new foreign policies or healthcare plans or what-not, but who can actually help usher in a "new way of being on the planet", of relating and connecting and engaging with this bizarre earthly experiment. These kinds of people actually help us evolve. They are philosophers and peacemakers of a very high order, and they speak not just to reason or emotion, but to the soul."

SF Gate Columnist Mark Morford

There is a lot that I could say from that small excerpt from this article, in fact, I could write an entirely separate writing based on this excerpt but I'm not going to because it would not be appropriate to this writing's main topic. I would like to thank Mark Morford for having the guts to right an article that obviously came from his heart about a topic usually ignored in the mainstream media, except when it comes to ridiculing it. I think we need more "out of the box" writers like Mark.

I am only going to state my own point and state it in a way that resonates true for me, which you can choose to agree or disagree with. I don't think that Obama is an "enlightened being", and I mean, he is no more enlightened than anyone else is or is capable of being. It all comes down to awareness of who you really are. I DO know that he is a man who is singleminded about his life's purpose and his reason for being here and he takes his life's plan very seriously.

Another thing that I know about him, which is rare, is his very conscious and deliberate use of Universal Principles like LOA...an ability that EVERYONE has, but does not know and/or utilize...yet.

This website was created in part to change that! Lightworkers, aka people who work on behalf of the Whole or humanity, are not rare at all, they number in the tens of millions all around the world. The majority of the amazing givers on this website are "lightworkers" because lightworkers are merely people who care about, serve, and benefit more than just themselves or their families.

That could be YOU or your neighbor next door. We ALL know lightworkers, who are just people who care about much more than just themselves. Lightworkers care about the "whole" aka humanity at large and are working in some capacity in their lives to benefit many versus what has been termed "me and mine". Obama DOES have a pivotal and specific role to play, particularly at this very pivotal time in human history...but we ALL have pivotal and specific roles to play!

Your role? To discover and then to live your life's mission and purpose....whatever that may be! Obama's role is truly no more or no less than the role that we ALL came here to play since EVERYONE is equal here....no exceptions!

"Ultimately, the TRUE purpose of achieving Power is to expand and increase our ability to Serve."

Pamela K. Jones

And that is WHY the main theme of this website is Self Empowerment....so that we can first claim and stand in our own individual power...and then use that power to better serve and change the world! You see...there IS "a method to my madness!"

Obama has multiple roles leading us, as the Leader of the Free World into a Brand New Era, but his most important role, I believe is his role as an Example. Obama is indeed here to as Morford's excerpt above states, "usher in a new way of being on the planet."

He is here to show or reflect to us what we ALL have the capability of doing and being in this world. He is a mirror, reflecting back to us what is already within us. He is here to shine his light...so that we can see that this is okay...so that we can then ALL begin to shine our light! That is the TRUE meaning behind Obama's rallying cry...Yes We Can! The operative word being, "We".

The word Obama uses most often and consistently is the word "we". For example, Obama used the word "we" an astounding 47 times in his Presidential Acceptance Speech the evening of November 4th. The question is...WHY? It's because as he has so often said, "this is not all about him; it's all about YOU!"

It's about US!

It's about, as our Constitution so eloquently states,"We the People"...and what each and everyone of us can contribute to the Whole...the One aka Humanity...Our World...in creation of that better and more "Perfect Union."

As Obama has also so often said, "We are the ones we have been waiting for!" It's all up to us, ladies and gentlemen! And Obama's ultimate role in all this?

Obama Is Ultimately Here To "Lead By Example."

Actually, we are all here to lead or live by example, but Obama just happens to be the most high profile person at this time, which I guess makes his responsibility even greater. I believe Obama's conscious and deliberate use of Law Of Attraction Principles is a critical part of that example he is reflecting back to us. I also believe that his calmness and relative "coolness" is also an excellent example.

By the way, NO ONE who is consciously and deliberately utilizing Law of Attraction Principles in their daily lives is in any way "freaked out" or fearful about our current financial markets or the current state of the world.

We just don't live or "vibrate" within that space!

Obama publicly and visually demonstrates how to "live authentically" which means to fully embrace your Truth, your Power, your Authenticity...(with NO apologies!), and to most of all, Follow Your Life's Mission and Purpose...to Live Your Dreams, to Live Passionately...no matter what happens, what anyone else says, does or decides to throw at you.

Obama is a shining example of both "keeping it real" and "keeping your eyes on the prize" in spite of whatever insanity or craziness may be going on around you. He demonstrates to us how to trust in "THE REAL" versus the "Illusion."

That brings me to this excerpt from a Manifesto I wrote on a web page on this website titled, "Only You Can Liberate You". Here it is:

"As a matter of fact, the attacks and criticism against him, (Obama), were the mere equivilent of "dirt to be brushed off his shoulder." Check this out:

"On April 17, 2008, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama referenced the song "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" by rap music superstar Jay - Z in gesture, in response to sharp attacks from his rival Hillary Clinton in a debate which was widely criticized for focusing on trivial issues and sensationalism. According to "The Nation" magazine, Obama "told his supporters not to fret about all the "textbook Washington" drama, recounting the debate moderators and Clinton's attempts to "twist the knife" on trivial issues. Then Obama made pop cultural history, miming the rapper Jay - Z's iconic hand signal to "brush the dirt" off his soulders. When asked whether Obama was deliberately referencing the song, a campaign spokesman said, "He does have some Jay - Z on his iPod."

Source: Wikipedia

Check out this cool one minute video showing Obama in action:

http://tinyurl.com/55r5dx

To echo Obama's words from the above video in regard to "brushing dirt off his shoulder"...

"That's what you got to do!"

(And don't forget your pants cuff too...I love it!)

And mind you, this is the same guy who went on to offer his toughest, most fierce campaign rival, who was leveling much of the dirt, Hillary Clinton, THE plum position in his Presidential Cabinet; the Secretary Of State position, putting Hillary fourth in line to the Presidency. Uh-oh, I am being inspired to write a quote right here on the spot...

"True leaders do not lead by cultivating followers whom they presume they can tell or teach what to do; true leaders lead by the sheer power of their example."

Pamela K. Jones

*End of Excerpt

It has been noted often that Obama shares a very special affinity with another Illinois based President, President Abraham Linclon. Obama acting in such a generous and concilatory fashion towards Hillary Clinton after their rough and tumble primary campaign reminds me of one of my most favorite quotes from Lincoln:

"Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?

Abraham Lincoln

There are many ways that President Obama will "lead by example" but one of the ways that I most look forward to is highlighted in the following quote:

"Brace yourself. It's going to get rocky soon. We are about to have a very bright man as our president. And we've been away from that territory for a very long time. Barack Obama is what social scientists describe as "cognitively complex".

He can accomodate within his views and values what others see as contradictions. He inhabits an abstract rather than concrete world. For the cognitively complex among us, the gray area is broad.

That's why he doesn't rush to a microphone to explain actions that generate controversy. He operates on this rule: "They won't remember you got it to them late so much as that you got it to them wrong." He may have begun this race for the presidency with the single concept of Hope, but he will begin his presidency with considerably greater complexity. He may have captured us with his heart, but he will lead us largely with his mind. He grasps passion and has exuded it often, but he will be a "thinking person's president."

Kathleen Reardon - Huffington Post Columnist

Now, I have to admit that this excites me in part because I can so identify and relate with Obama as a fellow "cognitively complex" mind. I mean, come on, only a "cognitively complex" mind to the innth degree could have created this website! I am mostly excited for the broad implications that Obama's inherently complex "thinking style" means for the U.S. and the world.

"Barack Obama is a potentially transformational figure. In political style and intellectual outlook, he is unlike anything that has come before."

New York Times Columnist David Brooks

To state the obvious, an exceedingly complex world requires an exceedingly complex mind to figure how to actually solve things! To give an example of WHY this extremely valuable trait, (so rare in a politician), is so great in our new president, I will quote a person named Carol (obviously another "cognitively complex" mind), who "hit the nail right on the head" when she wrote this response to the Huffington Post Columnist's observations:

"He is very smart and if Republicans don't figure him out soon, they won't know what hit them. Their tendency is to just object because it's (the future stimulus package), too much spending but you know it's kind of hard to do that when you just okayed 700 billion dollars for Wallstreet. This is a big reason why Obama supported that Wall Street Bail Out. It makes it easier for him to get his package to help Main Street (the people), passed. If the Republicans object they are going to be seen as only caring about Wall Street (the wealthy), and not Main Street, (the people). Obama is always thinking ahead and in order for you to be able to figure him out, you have to think ahead. You can't limit your thinking to the here and now and expect to figure him out. When he was giving his support and helping with the Wall Street Bail Out, we were all in the present but Obama was where we are now. He was already after the same thing that they gave Wall Street to be given to Main Street. Now there is no way Republicans can come up with a logical excuse to deny his package to now help Main Street."

Huffington Post Commenter - Carol

All I can say about Carol's comment is...EXACTLY!

I figured out the exact same thing a long time ago. Obama is a "true progressive" which is a person who is always thinking ahead, always thinking and moving forward, and never stuck long in one place. He is always evolving.

One of the hallmarks of a person who is "cognitively complex" is the knowledge that there is no "black and white" only varying shades of gray. There is a saying that goes, "The more one knows, the less black and white and the more gray things become."

Consensus: The judgement arrived at by most of those concerned; Group solidarity in sentiment and belief.

Definition From Merriam-Webster Dictionary

"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."

George Patton

The cognitively complex thinker is very, very wary of "Consensus". Their criteria before anything even close to consensus is ever reached is very broad and very steep...with an iron clad solution or answer being the ultimate goal. Even then, they always leave a tiny door open in their minds just in case new evidence emerges to alter or "perfect" their view of the consensus.

The absolutism (or what could be called the "cognitively simplistic"), of "black and white", "good and evil", "us and them" even in some instances "right and wrong" is also not the domain of the "cognitively complex" mind.

We realize that it is in the "gray area" which consists of a "diversity and complexity of viewpoints", is where you will eventually find truth or reality, but we also realize that truth is never really static and stationary....it's always evolving! That's because Truth is Life....and Life is forever evolving!

"People who believe in democracy should be suspicious of permanent truths and principles."

Mitchell Aboulafia

If you want to know the REAL reason why Obama chose a Cabinet with such diverse and complex view points and personalities, some who have been known to disagree with him strongly, this is the main reason. He is not looking for arguments, tension, or disagreements. Obama's ultimate goal is Self Mastery.

"We face three challenges. First: Competence, which is what is expected. Second: Excellence, which only some seek. Third: Mastery, which very few ever try for. Mastery is a level of proficiency and skill so high it allows you to do something better than anyone else. Seek that!"

Barack Obama in a speech given in college as the President of the Harvard Law Review, (from Newsweek Magazine).

Obama is willing to bring the best minds and intellects together, even if some of them are diametrically opposed to his own viewpoint, because he is always open to "bettering his best", which means he is constantly refining and perfecting himself and his point of view. A "cognitively complex" person never wants to be the smartest person in the room.

That would almost be like a fate worse than death to him. He surrounds himself with highly intelligent people with a diversity of points of view because his ultimate goal is Mastery of himself, and that means that he is constantly and consciously in a state of perpetual learning and growth. Even though Obama has said many times that he is not perfect, that does not mean that perfection is not his ultimate goal.

"What I want to do is get past the habit that sometimes occurs in Washington, where what matters is whose idea is it or what ideological corner does it come from. Just show me!"

Quote from President Elect Barack Obama in a response to a question about being open to accepting ideas from critics of his forthcoming Economic Stimulus Package, Jan. 2009.

Obama wholeheartedly welcomes critics. He owns his own truth and point of view...until you can "prove" to him that it may be faulty, BUT...he is also very open and welcoming to you trying to prove his view faulty!

This is, in fact, thrilling to him because he is not attached to ideology, his only attachment is to his neverending goal of self perfection and mastery. He is constantly evolving and fluid and never static and entrenched in his own mindset, customs or beliefs. At his core, Obama is a being in a perpetual and constant state of Becoming.

"Man is not a being who stands still, he is a being in the process of becoming. The more he enables himself to become, the more he fulfills his true mission."

Rudolph Steiner

A "cognitively complex" person know's that he/she does not know everything and is not even close to knowing everything. First of all, we know at a very deep level that it is people who "think" they know everything, or who claim or give the impression to have all the answers, are the ones who in reality know the least or who are the most static aka "stuck in their own beliefs or mindset".

By having and even welcoming this honest level of awareness about themselves, the cognitively complex person turns out to be the wisest of them all. This illustrates a perfect example of the "paradoxical complexity" of a cognitively complex person.

The cognitively complex person has no qualms in saying the words that are so hard for so many so called "enlightened" people to utter, those three horrid, wretched words, "I don't know." Cognitively Complex individuals are also very wary of any person who calls themselves or who allows themselves to be described as "enlightened", a "guru" or the like.

That is usually a HUGE red flag to us that this person is pretty much full of it. Our BS detector immediately goes off. This is all a MAJOR factor in Obama's "cool" and killer self confidence; supreme comfort and inner serenity in knowing what he knows and knowing what he does not know, but always and forever on a perpetual road of growth and evolution, leading towards ultimate Mastery.

"To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know...that is true knowledge."

Nicholaus Copernicus - Legendary Mathematician

Obama is what I would call "inner or soul sustained". This is a level of inner sustainability that you have without needing to partake in continuous and routine spiritual practices, tenants, studies, or without needing to meditate like a Buddhist Monk.

I have noticed that the mainstream media have been repeatedly commenting on his "Zen - Like" calm and disposition...referring to him as "No Drama Obama". Obama is just Being who he is. You don't have to "practice" to just Be who you know yourself to be. He is ultimately and supremely comfortable in his own skin.

"Obama has an old soul's perspective and an intellectually secure man's confidence."

Andrew Sullivan

And it is obvious that Obama brings this penchant for perfecting and mastering himself into ALL of his relationships, including his marriage. Michelle Obama is NOT a "yes dear" woman or someone whom automatically defers to her husband because "he knows best".

You can tell a lot about Obama's character, integrity and inner security as a man just by observing his marriage to Michelle. As smart as Obama is, he would NOT be where he is today without Michelle. And one of the many things that makes Barack so smart is that he totally knows this! When asked in interviews who is the smartest person he knows, Obama will without hesitation answer "my wife".

Michelle would have to be this for Obama and much more because that is the ONLY type of mate that would hold the prolonged attention of the cognitively complex individual, particularly for more than 16 years of marriage. A constant intellectual challenge is paramount to us in a mate, in addition to the usual love, attraction, honesty, fidelity, passion, friendship, fun, sensuality, excitement, adventure, etc.

"It's like, why don't you mind your own business? Solve world hunger. Get out of my closet!"

First Lady Michelle Obama to the NY Times speaking playfully about her husband questioning her about her clothes.

Yes, we have extremely high standards for our mates...the SAME standards we have for ourselves. If we are lucky enough to find them in a mate, we are head over heels in love, happy as a clam, bonded and hooked forever...and also so very demonstrative and imaginative in our love and appreciation! Michelle has said in interviews about her husband, (paraphrasing), "yes, he knows how to deal with a great diversity of viewpoints that may challenge him, mainly because he is married to me."

"Young men, your goal should be to marry a woman who is superior to you."

Quote From Candidate Barack Obama At A 2008 Campaign Rally

That quote from Obama represents a MAJOR KEY to Obama's success. He does not surround himself with "yes men or yes women", people who only agree or defer to him, or even people who are in awe of him or who see him as some sort of guru or messiah. How boring, limited, and not to mention, egoic and insecure would that be!

Obama seeks Superiority, or at the very least Equality, in ALL of his relationships because he knows that this is the only way to True Self Mastery.

He knows at a deep core level that we perfect and master ourselves, not through scriptures, studies or practices, although this may be helpful to some of us while on our journey.

Obama realizes at a very deep and intrinsic level that we truly perfect and master ourselves via our honest and conscious relationship to others. There is no pretense or hypocrisy whatsoever. Obama sought and has in Michelle the KEY ingredient that every cognitively complex individual MUST have in a mate if their partnership is going to last, someone whom he truly considers to be his "intellectual equal or counterpart".

When you look at this sharp, young, vibrant and alive couple, it's hard to imagine that they have been together for almost 20 years, married for 16 years.

They do not have that "old married couple feel", nor do they seem to be more compadres or buddies than lovers. This vibe usually sets in a marriage around year seven, what is popularly referred to as the time in a marriage of "the seven year itch." Of course, this does not happen in every marriage, but it happens enough to take notice.

When it DOES happen, this usually means that things have gotten stale, passionless, routine and boring between the two mates, and sometimes eyes begin to wander, clandestine affairs begin to occur and inevitably lies are told, sometimes while continuing to maintain the charade to their circle of friends, associates and the public at large of the "perfect, idyllic and committed marriage".

This sadly happens because there is no more passion or "stimulation" mental or otherwise, in the marriage, which happens and is nothing to feel ashamed of or guilty about. However, you create a HUGE problem for yourself and everyone you delude with this knowingly false scenario when you are hypocritical or intentionally not honest about your true reality. I referenced this exact same scenario in regard to John and Elizabeth Edwards on another web page on this website.

You basically end up selling out your heart and soul in the form of dishonesty, pretense and egoic illusions. The saddest part is that the people who invested and bought into that pretense, which was mostly encouraged by you, will be greatly disappointed and disillusioned when the truth is finally revealed as it always inevitably is. And they will then be greatly hurt.

If your ultimate goal is living your life's mission and purpose & True Life Mastery, as, for example, President Obama's goal very obviously is, this will never, ever happen.

It would be totally unthinkable to live with that level of self deception and self denial. A person whose ultimate goal is Self Mastery MUST be authentic in every aspect of his/her life. It's non-negotiable. There is NO pretense whatsoever in his/her game.

This higher type of relationship may have been far and few inbetween in the Old Paradigm, but it will become more prevalent in the New Paradigm, since as we better ourselves on an individual level, we will simultaneously better and bring our relationships with our mates to a much higher level as well.

Intellectual Stimulation and Challenge is also important for any married "cognitively complex" person for a very basic and very primal reason....it's a total sexual turn on!

It's a part of their foreplay together and it also helps to liberate their inhibitions and imagination, always evolving and taking their relationship into new and exciting territory. The element of mystery is also a huge factor for us. It most definitely "heats things up...big time!"

"I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it."

Harry Emerson Fosdick

Getting back to how President Obama will govern, he is compassionate and intelligent enough to realize that just because he does not agree with a person's overall viewpoint, does not mean that this particular person does not have something valuable and meaningful to offer or say. He is also always open to refining or perfecting his own point of view.

He has the utmost respect for another's view point, even to the point of consciously leaving the door open to possibly modify his own, because he realizes that ALL people have something of benefit to offer, not just people who share the same views as he does.

"I'll tell you, I very rarely read good press. I often read bad press, not because I agree with it, but because I want to get a sense of, "Are there areas where I'm falling short and can I do better."

Quote from President Elect Obama in an interview with CNBC's John Harwood

That's a perfect example of the "ideal focused" cognitively complex person...always thinking "can I do better?" We don't mind criticism because we are our own worse critic, but in a good way that helps us to continuously evolve. Obama is ALWAYS focused on Self Mastery and open to criticism aka "bad press" for precisely this same reason.

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

Aristotle

This is not about "tolerating" another's viewpoint, but about first truly respecting it, and then authentically attempting to understand and to evaluate it, even if it greatly differs from his own views. Understanding and accepting are two totally different things!

Very little is "set in stone" with the cognitively complex thinker. We are always open to continuous evolution, growth and renewal and, most importantly,...we live and breathe Curiosity.

"The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has it's own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. Never lose a holy curiosity!"

Albert Einstein

To not only single out Obama's possible problems with Republicans, here is a great example in regard to recent problems with some liberals with Obama choosing the Right Wing Pastor, Rick Warren to lead his inauguration prayer.

Some liberals responded in a totally "knee jerk" fashion, freaked out, and cried foul. To correctly understand Obama's thinking in his decision, just look to the governing style of one of Obama's most respected role models, Former South African President Nelson Mandela.

In the recently released new book titled "Playing The Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made A Nation", by John Carlin, this fascinating book gives unique insight into how the popular South African sport Rugby played a key role in Mandela's rise from a 27 year Political Prisoner to the President of South Africa, a rise that trumps even Obama's ascendency to the Presidency. To quote from a book review from the magazine "The Economist":

"Several books have been written about Mandela's crucial role in coaxing his countrymen towards a more civilized form of government. John Carlin's is the first book to tell the tale through the prism of sport. This premise is not as odd as it sounds. It was not only Mr. Mandela's regal charm that won over white South Africans. It was the fact that he took the trouble to study and understand their culture. At a time when many blacks dismissed rugby as "the brutish, alien pastime of a brutish, alien people," Mr. Mandela saw it as a bridge across the racial chasm. Mr. Mandela knew that if he was to convince these people that "one man, one vote" would not mean catastrophe, he had to "address their hearts", not their brains. If the fearsome terrorist on the other side of the negotiating table was a rugby fan, could he really be as bad as they thought?"

Book Review From "The Economist" Magazine

The book reveals in great detail how Mandela learning the favorite game of the "supposed" enemy changed South African politics for the better forever. And what may have given Former President Mandela this unusual idea? Here is another quote for you:

"Towards the end of his 27 years in jail, Nelson Mandela began to yearn for a hot plate. He was being well fed by this point, not least because he was the world's most famous political prisoner. But his jailers gave him too much food for lunch and not enough for supper. He had taken to saving some of his mid-day meal until the evening, by which time it was cold, and he wanted something to heat it up.

The problem was that the officer in charge of Pollsmoor prison's maximum security "C" wing was prickly, insecure, uncomfortable talking English and virtually allergic to black political prisoners. To get around him, Mr. Mandela started reading about rugby, a sport he had never liked but which his jailer, like most Afrikaner men, adored. Then, when they met in a corridor, Mr. Mandela immediately launched into a detailed discussion, in Afrikaans, about prop forwards, scrum halves and recent games. His jailer was so charmed that before he knew it, he was barking at an underling to "go and get Mandela a hotplate!"

Book Review - The Economist Magazine

I really hope you guys are beginning to get the picture here. Mandela chose to try to better understand and relate on a human level to the White Afrikans in South Africa via their beloved sport of Rugby and this seemingly small gesture was a key to bringing power back to the black majority in South Africa, with Mandela as the first Black South African President. Former President Nelson Mandela is another perfect example of the "cognitively complex" mind.

"If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner."

Nelson Mandela

Back to Obama and Pastor Rick Warren, the jury is, of course, still out as to what exactly Obama is trying to accomplish, but I would like to note that since Warren was chosen to lead the inauguration prayer, he has made a point to reach out to the Gay and Lesbian Community, so much so that popular Lesbian Musician Melissa Etheridge has spoken out on Warren's behalf in an article she recently wrote for the Huffington Post website.

Warren has also scrubbed content from his church's website which had previously been discriminatory towards the Gay and Lesbian Community. Of course, this is not major...but it's a start!

"It is understanding that gives us an ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow's point of view, and he understands ours, then we can sit down and work out our differences."

President Harry S. Truman

If we can just come out of our respective corners and meet each other in the middle and begin to communicate and relate to one another as human beings, instead of symbols of what we find objectional about each other, we may just discover that we have more in common than we think and maybe, just maybe, healing and a better understanding of each other can begin to take place.

In order for this to happen, you not only have to "address the other's heart" but you must also bring your "head in alignment with your heart". Another way to say this is you must "think with your heart." It's not about being ruled by your emotions or responding to any situation in a knee jerk fashion based predominantly on emotions or ideology.

It's about using your intellect to solve what now "appears" to be insolvable. In order to do this, you have to venture into unchartered territory aka delve into what you do not know in order to gain a fresh perspective which may hold the true answer to the problem. This is also where the extreme value of Curiosity comes into play.

This is why President Obama's cognitively complex thinking style is so valuable and necessary in this day and age. He knows "where there is a will, there is a way", and his primary objective is to find the way!

By operating by this higher level of thinking, he is receiving the answer from a broad section of views and perspectives versus limiting himself to the views and perspectives of only those who "think like him or who are like-minded." In this way, EVERYONE becomes a part of and contributes to the answer, which makes perfect sense, since we ALL are the answer!

"Well, if it's just Roosevelt and Churchill sitting in a room with a brandy, you know, that's an easier negotiation. But that's not the world we live in. And it shouldn't be the world that we live in."

President Obama at the 2009 G20 Summit In London

Exactly! This is not about putting our lives in the hands of a few people to decide our collective fate, but about us all coming together, contributing our own unique views and ideas to become a part of the overall solution. Obama totally "gets" and understands this and this is one of many reasons why I am so optimistic and hopeful about his Presidency. The following 2006 quote from then Senator Obama, which was long before he became President, pretty much sums up his understanding of this fact nicely:

"I think that I have the capacity to get people to recognize themselves in each other. I think that I have the ability to make people get beyond some of the divisions that plague our society and to focus on common sense and reason and that's been in short supply over the last several years. I'm not an idealogue, never have been. Even during my younger days when I was tempted by, you know, sort of more radical or left wing politics, there was a part of me that always was a little bit conservative in that sense; that believes that you make progress by sitting down listening to people, recognizing everybody's concerns, seeing other people's points of views and then making decisions."

Then Senator Obama in 2006 on ABC's This Week.

The key phrase for me in the above quote is "make progress". That is the ONLY point to all of this, to make progress, to find the way or the answer, to find the solution, to move forward. If you are caught up in ideology, that means that you are only interested in finding the answer or solution if it fits in with your personal views and opinions. To those of us who are "cognitively complex" that means that you are not really interested in finding a solution or answer, you are primarily interested in being proven right.

This is why I have always called myself in terms of my political affiliation, "an independent." I would like to coin a new phrase, (if it has not yet already been coined), I'm a "independent progressive". This means that my ONLY allegiance is to "progress, evolving and moving forward", no matter how we do it.

I, like President Obama, am totally independent of ideology, and to quote him from a quote of his above, "just show me!" Forget where the idea comes from, the question is, does the idea work...does it solve the problem, does it move us forward? When all is said and done, ladies and gentlemen, that's really all that matters!

"The empires of the future will be the empires of the mind."

Winston Churchill

Interestingly, there seems to a precedent for this style of advanced thinking for the future. Harvard Professor Howard Gardner is the originator of the "Multiple Intelligence Theory".

In Gardner's fascinating 2007 book titled "Five Minds for the Future", Gardner posits five sets of cognitive capabilities that will be needed, he says, by ANY successful citizen, professional, or business person in the future. These include:

The "disciplined mind", which is the ability to focus oneself enough to master a major school of thought such as mathematics, science, or history. Without at least one discipline, the individual is destined to march to someone else's tune.
The "synthesising mind" which is the ability to integrate diverse ideas into a coherent whole. The synthesising mind takes information from disparate sources, and puts it together in ways that make sense to the synthesiser and also other persons...the capacity to synthesise becomes ever more crucial as information continues to mount at dizzying rates.
The "creating mind" which is the capacity to uncover new problems and questions, and solve them. The creating mind "breaks new ground", Gardner says. It puts forth new ideas, poses unfamiliar questions, conjures up fresh ways of thinking, and arrives at unexpected answers. In so doing, the creating mind seeks to remain at least one step ahead of computers.
The "respectful mind", which is the ability to form and maintain good relationships with other people. The respectful mind notes and welcomes differences between human individuals and between human groups. In a world where we are all interlinked, intolerance or disrespect is no longer a viable option.
And the "ethical mind", which is the ability to fulfill one's responsibilities as a citizen and to identify with fellow human beings. The ethical mind conceptualizes how workers can serve purposes beyond self-interest. The ethical mind then acts on the basis of these analyses.

Gardner does not suggest that he has summarised in his book the ONLY qualities any of us need to prosper and succeed in the future. But he makes a very convincing case for the importance of the five minds needed in the New Paradigm aka the Future. And from the five descriptions above, most fit the ability to be cognitively complex.

Gardner states that "information overload and subsequent helplessness is the fate of those unable to synthesize complex data."

For all of those people who fear the supposed superiority of computers and technology in possibly replacing human beings, please CHILL OUT! That is only an illusion with absolutely NO basis in reality. Human beings have access to the one treasure which sets us apart from all of nature and creation.

That Treasure Is Creative Intelligence!

To put it in an even more simplistic way...we have the ability to THINK! My own personal definition for "creative intelligence" is "the ability to create with our thoughts." Creative Intelligence sets us apart from intelligent machines that threaten to make us "supposedly" less able humans redundant, because any one who is under this totally ridiculous assumption, is forgeting that a machine can't think. In other words, the person who makes that false assumption is not thinking! A computer can most definitely best you if you choose not to think, but that is your choice.

This can only happen if the creativity that every man, woman and child on this planet is endowed and born with remains not recognized and utilized. If you allow your creativity to remain dormant, then you are absolutely right; you are less able than the computer. But, again, that can ONLY happen if you CHOOSE it to happen!

*An amazing Free tool that I myself have used which will help you to develop the "mind of the future" is featured on the web page on this website titled "Try Brain Evolution Free Here.

**Also, you can pick up a copy of Howard Gardner's thought provoking book "Five Minds for the Future" at the Secret Wealth Network's Online Bookstore or at the following link:

http://tinyurl.com/c5dtlj

"Our constitutional heritage rebels at the thought of giving government the power to control men's minds."

Thurgood Marshall

Not only giving the government the right, but anyone else! I would also like to add that the fact that President Obama is a Constitutional Law Expert, having been a Constitutional Law Professor at the University of Chicago for 12 years, is even more reason to be hopeful and optimistic about his presidency.

"I was a Constitutional Law Professor, which means unlike the current President, I actually respect the Constitution."

Then Candidate Obama at a 2007 Fundraiser

The next quote says it all about President Obama and the long awaited safety and security of our beloved U.S. Constitution:

"It certainly is an advantage that he really knows the Constitution of the United States. I don't know if we have recently had a President that knows as much about America's founding document as he does."

Professor Cass Sunstein

One last point about President Obama's encouragement, and even his expectation of debate and criticism:

"In this President, we at last have someone who doesn't see criticism as disloyalty. He sees it as our responsibility. He's right. And it's about time Americans lived up to the challenge."

The Atlantic Magazine's Andrew Sullivan

Late Breaking - January 14, 2009

I just had to include a link to an article from the political blog "The Daily Beast" in regard to a dinner that President Elect Obama attended at the home of Conservative Columnist and TV Commentator George Will and about 10 other ultra conservative luminaries last night, January 13th, 2009.

The blogesphere (particularly the liberal blogs), are up in arms and trying to decipher the meaning behind Obama's "dinner party" with these very conservative icons, a few who even fall into the "right wing" or "neo-con" category.

One of the conservative dinner party guests, Columnist William Kristol is even one of the columnists that I chose to include on this web page as a vivid example of the type of extreme criticism Obama received from the mainstream media throughout his historic presidential campaign. The author of the Daily Beast article totally misses the point, but what else is new? Here is a link to the Daily Beast article:

http://tinyurl.com/8x8rzb

I am also including this comment from a blog poster, (screen name: intelligentbydesign), commenting on the Daily Beast story which pretty much sums up my own take on it:

intelligentbydesign wrote: "Personally, I find myself reading the musings of many of the named pundits on both sides of the aisle. And I frequently find that both sides have good points. Obama has spoken of his hope to hold conversations with all sides of an issue on many occasions. It is wholly possible that the reason he held this conference is just that - to open a dialogue with the other side of the aisle in order to balance all viewpoints.

Some would point out that's a bit of an optimistic viewpoint. But maybe, just maybe, Obama is actually trying to listen to the most intelligent voices of both sides in order to better govern the whole of the country. Whether that proves to be the case or not will only be told by the actions of the next few years. But Batchelor seems to completely disregard this possibility with no suggestion as to why he so doubts Obama's stated goal of inclusive government."

EXACTLY!

I mean, Obama made it clear during his Presidential campaign that diplomacy was going to be a major and significant part of his agenda as President. He received lots of flack from Republicans about his stated intentions to communicate with our "enemies" like Iran.

So, the fact that our new President would sit down and break bread with a group of the same conservative columnists who bitterly opposed him, (and still do), should be cause for question and concern?

"What is interesting is the fact that he would want to do this. And you see that since his election he has kind of reached out to people that may not be ideological allies, to Rick Warren, the pastor who will be at his inaugural; to John McCain, whom he has treated with a lot of dignity and respect, and to a bunch of right wing columnists last night, in part, because I think he is a guy who is intellectually curious and wants to exchange ideas, but also in part he wants to co-opt the vast Right Wing Conspiracy. And I'm here to tell you that, speaking for myself, he has succeeded. I am brainwashed entirely. I'm in the tank, and I am a believer of hope and change and, above all, Audacity."

Right Wing Columnist Charles Krauthammer, a guest at the Conservative Dinner Party with Obama the following day on FOX News.

That last line in particular by Krauthammer was, of course,"tongue in cheek" but you still get the main point of his quote. Please review the above quote from Abraham Lincoln again which I included in relation to Hillary Clinton. No, I think I will just repeat it again here for good measure:

"Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?"

Abraham Lincoln

So many people, on both the left and the right, still have so much to learn about our New President and I very much look forward to witnessing the education. It's going to be very interesting! I'm not the only one who thinks so...

"It is very interesting to watch how this economic crisis reveals and highlights character: the sniveling, privileged Wall Street Upper-Crust, the semi-hysterical, uninformed punditocracy, the puerile Republican opposition - and Obama, cool as a cucumber, playing his game, five steps ahead, setting up moves that won't come to fruition for months or years, while his opposition flails at the thin air where he used to be. I love it! It's the future that is calling Obama, not the present."

Commentor from The Atlantic's Daily Dish Website - Feb. 2009

Speaking Of Influences....

As I stated earlier, Nelson Mandela is someone whom Obama speaks frequently of as one of his most respected mentors and heroes, but I feel I should mention the politician which I believe it can be proven to have had the MOST influence on Obama. In fact, if it had not been for this particular politician, we would NOT have Barack Obama as our President right now. First let me ask the question, have you ever wondered WHY Obama came to Chicago?

First, some background: I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, (South Side Girl!) A quirk about Old School Chicagoans, is that when you tell someone that you live or are from Chicago, the first question that is usually asked is...South Side or North Side? Chicago is kind of territorial. You are usually identified by which "side" you are from, and when you identify which side, people usually think they have you all figured out. It's really interesting!

This came into my recollection recently because when then Senator Obama was in Iraq last summer during the Presidential Campaign, a young female soldier in the crowd shouted to Obama,"I'm from Chicago!" and the first question Obama shouted back to her was "South Side or North Side?" I laughed because I had not heard that question in years! We don't get that question here in Los Angeles.

Both my mom and dad were small business owners, my dad owning his own Ice Cream and Candy Distribution Company and my mom owning two stores, a gift shop and a clothing store, in the South Shore area of Chicago's South Side. South Shore, a very small section of Chicago's South Side, is the same area that Michelle Obama was born and raised, and also where she and Barack lived at the beginning of their marriage.

While growing up as children, my brother and sister and I spent most of our time in the South Shore neighborhood because we all worked in our Mom's two stores after school, on weekends and during the summer, which were located just blocks from where Barack and Michelle lived and where Michelle's Mom still owns a home. My oldest brother also has lived in the South Shore area with his own family for decades and still lives there to this day.

For those who know a little about Obama's history, you may know that Obama moved to Chicago, IL. in the early eighties, which is where his political career was launched and became his beloved chosen native home...but why? He had NO family, friends or associates in Chicago. He knew absolutely no one! Why did he choose Chicago out of the many places in the U.S. he could have moved to with "seemingly" much better opportunities. Again, I will use a quote to set the stage:

"The powerful magnet that drew a 23 year old idealist named Barack Obama to Chicago was Harold Washington, Chicago's first African American Mayor. As a young man, Obama idolized the politician who had vanquished the "Chicago Machine" and two of it's most powerful players, then - Mayor Jane Byrne and future - Mayor Richard M. Daley, after they split the white vote in a three - way race in 1983. The young Obama wrote the New Mayor asking for a job, but heard nothing back, so he signed on as a Community Organizer on Chicago's South Side, arriving in his beat up blue Honda in June 1985."

Reporter Carol Eisenberg

The Late Honorable Mayor Harold Washington. Mayor Washington was a Lion, an unapologetically progressive, reformist, racially unifying, anti machine politician, who became known as "The People's Mayor".

25 years ago, Washington was the FIRST politician in Chicago's colorful and very racially divided history who took on the notoriously corrupt "Chicago Political Machine"...and won!

Being a Chicago native, I remember that election and that time very well. It was 1983, the year I turned 18 years old and graduated high school and my first involvement (and passion) for politics came about because of Mayor Harold Washington.

The first vote I ever cast in an election was a vote for Mayor Washington. Both of my parents knew Mayor Washington and were active in his 1983 Campaign, so our whole family lived and breathed that election.

Mayor Washington was a totally fearless, very charismatic, highly intelligent, (yet another "cognitively complex" politician), and a truly beloved figure in Chicago. Obama idolized Washington so much that he consciously and deliberately chose to follow in Washington's political footsteps. Obama moved to and set up his political base in the progressive and racially diverse Hyde Park section of Chicago, because that is where Washington lived and was based from. Obama even launched his political career from the same Chicago Hotel that Washington launched his Campaign for Mayor from. And Obama's Campaign Manager and now White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod also worked on the Mayoral Campaign to elect the late Harold Washington and was also one of his confidants.

"He was fascinated by Mayor Washington. Harold Washington inspired him to think about becoming a politician. Obama wanted to follow in the mayor's footsteps. Washington had gone to Law School, later becoming a State Senator, then a Congressman, and finally Chicago's mayor. He told me that he was thinking of running for mayor some day."

Obama friend and fellow community organizer, Mike Kruglik

Obama sought out people who had known Washington well and who had worked with him and picked their brains for all the insight he could get on Washington. Obama studied Washington's style and rhetoric and then began to copy it. Sadly, Washington died of a heart attack in his second term in office in 1987, so Obama never got a chance to officially meet his idol. As the quote above states, Obama did attempt to get a job working at the Mayor's Office, but he never heard a word back after writing numerous times for a job.

This is ironic because when Obama left Harvard Law School, he had more than 600 job offers, many from some of the most prestigious law firms, and even offers to clerk for a Supreme Court Justice. Obama turned all of those job offers down and returned to Chicago. In regard to Obama's affinity and connection to Washington, I think the following quote is very telling and revealing:

"In some ways, Obama's first book "Dreams of my Father" is not just about Obama's biological father, but also his political father, Harold Washington. To me, Obama's words are the most insightful and eloquent observations about Harold that anyone has made, and Obama never even met him."

John K. Wilson

For those of you who do not know Chicago, the city of Chicago back then was like a "miniature version of America", or what I will call "Little America", very racially segregated and extremely polarized. Every ethnic group had their own neighborhood or area, and you knew not to go into certain areas.

At that time, Chicago was well-known as "the most segregated city in the nation."

Polish people had their area. Italian people had their area, Irish people had their area, African Americans had their areas, Jewish people had their area, various Asian groups had their own individual and separate areas, etc.

I would say Hispanic people had their own area, but Chicago was so segregated that you did not even use the term "hispanic" back then because Mexican people were segregated from Puerto Rican people, and had gangs that were at war with each other along with the three main African American street gangs, the Gangster Disciples, the Blackstone Rangers and the El Rukans.

The gang problem was so bad in Chicago in the late seventies and eighties that I remember high schools banned kids from wearing specific colors because certain colors were affiliated with gangs. When Barack and Michelle Obama were on the news show 60 Minutes last year and the interviewer asked Michelle if she was afraid of someone harming her husband if he became President, Michelle answered the interviewer saying (paraphrasing), "they don't live their lives based on fear of what "could" happen, they were not raised that way" and then she added the most telling observation, "Barack could get shot right here (in Chicago), just by going to the gas station."

When Michelle made that stark but very real observation, she was speaking from the reality of a women who has lived in Chicago her whole life, and who totally understands the city's dynamics, complexity and realities, both the good and the bad.

The history of racism in Chicago is legendary. For example, the 1966 standoff between Mayor Richard J. Daley and Dr. Martin Luther King's SCLC, (a failed group attempt to challenge Chicago's residential segregation), was met with so much hostility that Civil Rights Leader Ralph Abernathy later remarked that the SCLC had received a worse reception in Chicago than they had in the South.

Yes, Chicago was THAT racist back then!

"In 1966, when Martin Luther King Jr. came to Chicago to campaign for housing desegregation, he was met with jeers of "Martin Luther Coon" and bricks thrown at his head. It prompted King to observe that people from Mississippi should move to Chicago to "learn how to hate."

The Nation Magazine

It is no exagerration to say that it requires a certain level of "inner toughness" and courage to excel and thrive with your good reputation still intact in a city like Chicago, and that goes for ANYBODY, regardless of your race, gender, etc. But it is particularly true if you are African American. Fortunately, many courageous African American Chicagoans rose to the occasion.

"Politics in Chicago is an all season sport, and it's not for the "faint-hearted."

White House Chief Of Staff, (and Native Chicagoan), Rahm Emanuel

That's for sure! No "faint hearts" allowed! We are talking about take no prisoners! If you were involved in anything political in Chicago, you come at it as a dedicated and righteous fighter and warrior for your side, whichever side that may be, or you will be destroyed in the process. No joke!

"The politics of the Windy City are arguably the most ruthless in the country."

The Spectator

In the case of the side of Equality, Fairness and Justice, aka the side of the Independents or the Progressives in Chicago, if you were anything less than a tactical and fierce advocate for your side, the Machine and all of the darkness that it represented would have eaten you alive...and with no trace of indigestion or second thoughts!

"Ours is a blunt, brawling way. People are upfront about their self-interest."

A Quote from Obama Senior Advisor David Axelrod in reference to Chicago Politics

That was one thing positive you could say about Chicago Politics. As Axelrod says, people involved were "upfront" meaning they were authentic and honest about their motives and intentions. You knew the side that each person was on and exactly what that side stood for. There were no illusions or pretense in being someone other than exactly who you were. People were just REAL, which I did not fully appreciate until after living away from Chicago for a while.

There was no half stepping in Chicago Politics, it was an all or nothing game. It's like that old saying, "Hate the game, not the player." There is no playing around or postering, not if you wanted to remain relevant and taken seriously. Those who did engage in postering or playing around were quickly ignored or discounted. They were considered to be a flash in the pan. Successful Chicago politicians quickly learned how to play the game to win for their side. They were also the perfect definition of the word "Warrior." Chicagoans know how to fight! It's pretty much in our DNA!

"The Democratic Party is full of Rhodes Scholars - Rahm Emanuel is a Road Warrior. He's just what the Democrats need to fight back."

Democratic Political Consultant Paul Begala speaking about Obama Chief of Staff, Chicagoan Rahm Emanuel

I personally tend to think of everything in terms of the polarities of Light and Dark, and my perspective is that the Dark's entire purpose is to give the Light a chance to shine. I think it's important to note that one person's light is another person's darkness and vice versa. The real challenge comes when you attempt to always keep this in mind.

I mean, think about it...how would you know that you are the light if there were no darkness, whatever side you happen to believe you fall on? If I am not willing to shine my Light brightly in contrast or in opposition to the Dark or what I find totally unacceptable and unjust, then in my opinion, the Dark deserves to win. It's really only fair. It basically comes down to the survival of the fittest!

"What is to give light, must endure burning."

Viklor Frankl

If you are not willing to fight as strongly and as passionately for your position as the other side is willing to fight for his, then if he wins, how can you really complain? They won because their side gave more than your side did. Their side was more righteous, passionate and committed, not to mention smarter and more tactical than yours. They were not only the better players, but they also had more players in the game. It may also be a good idea to keep the individual battles separate from the overall war.

In other words, just because you lose a battle does not mean that you have lost the entire war...unless you decide to give up after that battle loss. In that instance, you have just forfeited the whole war in favor of your opponent. You basically gave up and waved the white flag!

Please know that the words "war" and "battles" are being used as metaphors to make an overall point. I actually abhor violence. Honest! Interestingly, I totally believe in Angels and the angel which I have always felt an affinity with is Archangel Michael. I was in a bookstore a few years ago, and as I was at the checkout counter, I noticed some books on Archangel Michael on display and I purchased it. It was the first publication that I had ever read on Archangel Michael. Here is a quote from that book:

"Who is Archangel Michael? Never unkind, but not always gentle, he embodies the essence of the "Spiritual Warrior" - courageous and strong in the face of injustice or illusion, a ceaseless devotee of truth. The spiritual warrior wields the sword of discrimination. With this weapon always at his side, he is ready to cut through illusion and liberate that which is real. He is perpetually honing his blade, and his powers of detection are sharp. When he perceives falsehood, he names it, and then he destroys it. He is not afraid. He has nothing to lose. When we call upon the spirit of Michael, we are invoking the courage and strength to see the truth and live it, to hear the truth and share it, to know the truth and let it change us"

Quote from the book "Saint Michael The Archangel" by Mirabai Starr

I call on the Spirit of Archangel Michael often, and I have found it to be most liberating and empowering. It's one of the few "spiritual practices" that I still do on occasion. There was a point and time in the past when I called on Archangel Michael daily. To say that this has been life changing for me would be a vast understatement. If I "name and claim" anything in my life, it is most definitely the Spirit of Archangel Michael. Another quote:

"Michael embodies the spirit of inquiry. With his sword of discrimination, Michael continuously cuts through the layers of illusion to uncover the truth. He never ceases to question reality. Michael invites us to cultivate curiosity and challenge ourselves to place the Divine at the center of everything we do and everything we are."

Quote from the book "Saint Michael The Archangel" by Mirabai Starr

According to biblical legend, God appointed Archangel Michael to cast Lucifer out of Heaven. The story/legend/myth whatever you wish to call it, goes that as Michael engaged Lucifer in battle, the rebel angel took the form of a fire breathing dragon, and Michael took the form of a knight in shining armor. Michael fought single-handedly, while Lucifer was flanked by an entourage of evil spirits. They fought a tremendous battle at the gates of Heaven. Michael, the most virtuous opponent, prevailed.

"Archangel Michael to my left. Archangel Michael to my right. Archangel Michael to my front. Archangel Michael to my back. Archangel Michael above me, below me, and in my center. I am now covered."

A Quick Archangel Michael Protection Mantra I frequently say, (particularly when driving), and which I have gifted to many others. I now gift it to you. This Mantra will help you in any situation where faith, protection, courage, truth and right action are needed.

Archangel Michael immediately came to my mind because he reminded me of the ways you can act as a Warrior for your cause or for your truth, without engaging in actual violence or harm. To be honest, it is the Warriors in life who actually get anything done, because Warriors are primarily about taking action. And the Warrior Spirit was most definitely alive and well in the city of Chicago, on both sides of the equation!

Granted there are some people who like talking or complaining instead of actually doing something constructive to actually change things. Some like cultivating a persona or reputation for being a changemaker or a "doer" which, of course, is not the same thing as actually taking action and "doing something."

"I think because I tend to be relatively even-tempered, people underestimate my resolve."

Then Senator Barack Obama

I believe that if you perceive you are on the side of the Light, the Dark is there as a contrast to illuminate for you exactly what you stand for so that you can begin to act upon that stand. And by the way, that stand happens to be your Truth. This does not happen by remaining still, talking or lecturing, postering, complaining or by playing tiddlywinks aka playing around!

I have noticed that many people are foolish enough to believe that the morality of their position or the fact that their position is "on the side of the angels" is enough for it to prevail. They believe that because they are on the side of justice and truth, justice and truth will win out, but it has been proven conclusively that this is not the way it works.

"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing."

Winston Churchill

I mean, if that was the case, justice and truth would have prevailed a long time ago. If it did work that way, we would have lived in a much different world up to this point. I have my own personal theory about all of this. I believe that the Universe/Source/God/Creator, whatever you wish to name it, wants us all to collectively DECIDE the kind of world we truly wish to live in. I believe that we are all being called to choose sides and whichever side has the most people working and "doing" on it's behalf, will rule or win.

I personally believe that the Universe does not choose sides nor does it favor one side over the other. It's totally neutral, albeit a very interested observer. I know that many of us have been brought up to believe that there is this mysterious presence somewhere which judges our every move, but in my Reality, there is most definitely a powerful and benevolent Life Force or Presence that permeates all of existence, but this Presence is not judging any of us.

Mainly because judging in and of itself is not cool, and this Presence happens to be cooler than cool. You see, I believe that the Universe knows who we all are, because it created us in it's own image, and would never presume to do our work for us. The Universe/God/Source/Creator knows better than anyone what humanity is capable of...since humanity is it's own creation. It is for this very reason that we were all given the gift of Free Will.

Therefore, I believe that the purpose for why we are all here is to choose a side, the side of wherever our purpose, principles and passion lies, and then to fight our hearts out for it, whatever side that may be. Whether we each choose to do so, is up to us. At least that's the theory I have come up with after a lifetime of careful thought and consideration. That's my "take" on things! And in regard to this fight?

May the best fought side win!

Whatever your own personal theories may be, I believe that it is past time for people on BOTH sides to finally realize that this is indeed a Fight...a fight between two polar opposites of one another which is why I use the terminology Light and Dark.

And that fight is now beginning to slowly reach a climax. The conclusion of that fight will decide exactly what humanity stands for. The good news is that, from my own perspective at least, the Light is now winning, or at least equal...but the fight is far from over! Everyone is needed to take a definitive stand for one side or the other. I believe that this is why we are all here, to decide exactly what humanity's future will be and what we all stand for.

What would even be better is if it's figured out that each side may have at least some merit. Both sides has it's own purpose, and part of that purpose is in helping us to better define ourselves and our own purpose...if we can just allow it to do so instead of just doing nothing while expecting things to change on their own. Here is where being able to encompass a "complex" or diverse mindset versus a mindset that sees things as either black or white comes into play.

Interestingly, Political Independents, those who encompass elements of both perspectives and who have no allegiance to one side or the other, is an increasingly growing and expanding group who I personally think are the KEY to it all and the wave of the future.

Of course, seeing things as black or white was absolutely necessary in the Old Paradigm because there were so many things that were non-negotiable like racism, inequality between the sexes, discrimination of gay and lesbian people, etc. In some instances, it still may be needed now.

And we are so much better off for the courageous warriors who fought against that overwhelming darkness, some who even risked or gave their lives in the fight. From my point of view, it is in their names that we must continue to fight. But things are much different now. And aren't we so very blessed that they are. Yet, it is now time for a New Breed...which is exactly what we now have!

"Emanuel, who was reared in the rough and tumble world of Chicago politics, makes no apologies for his style. "If I got worried about that, I'd sit beneath my desk all day," he says. I don't."

Rolling Stone Magazine

And it is time to finish the job that these courageous warriors started and doing so requires a change in thinking. We are required to "step it up!" We are now entering a New Reality aka a New Paradigm. Of course, the ability to think more from a diverse or complex perspective is the domain of the cognitively complex mind or as Professor Gardner described above, "the mind of the future."

But make no mistake, change and progress can only happen by us actually "doing something" versus just stating or pontificating beliefs, theories and ideals. Along with "thinking differently" we must also take decisive action. That is, if we are truly serious and not just playing around!

This is also yet another example of how we are all the Creators of our own Realities. Exactly what reality are you creating, keeping in mind that creating really means taking action? When you think about it, the vast majority of people are "theoretically" on the side of the angels.

I know it does not look that way because the people who are opposed to equality, justice and fairness get so much more attention, but that pretty much makes my entire case. WHY are they getting so much attention? Because they are courageously out there, upfront, making their positions known.

"One with courage makes a majority."

Andrew Jackson

This is how the Conservative Movement remained in power for so long, because their advocates were much more passionate, stronger, and more vocal than the other side's. They truly had the courage of their convictions, and their convictions were well known...because they made sure they were!

"If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all."

Noam Chomsky

The other side or the Liberals didn't, (many were even called wimps), and subsequently got creamed or defeated time and time again. I personally can't fault anyone who has the courage of their convictions, even if their convictions are diametrically opposed to mine. I have to give them their props aka their respect.

"The height of your accomplishments will equal the depth of your convictions."

William F. Scolavino

To give an example of what I mean in regard to "theoretically," most Americans "theoretically" claim that they are against torture. Most Americans theoretically believe that America should be a country of high ethical standards and that we reflect our high standards and morals in the example that we set for the rest of the world. Most Americans theoretically believe that no one should be above the law.

"If we can't protect ourselves with our morals intact, we don't deserve to be protected in the first place."

Political Author Bob Cesca

This section is being written in April 2009, right after the release of CIA Memos which basically PROVE that the Bush Administration engaged in torture during the last eight years. The proof is now out in the public domain in black and white. Whether this country is TRULY a country who believes in setting high ethical and moral standards, will depend on which side of this issue is the loudest and most passionate for their side.

Will it be those who vehemently reject this behavior coming from a great country like the United States of America or will it be those who make excuses and allowances for this illegal and immoral conduct?

Whoever responds the loudest will win. And whichever side wins will say what America REALLY stands for. In straight Chicago talking style, to those on both sides of the issue, I would bluntly say in regard to what you "theoretically" claim to believe in regard to what America stands for in regard to the issue of torture...to put up or shut up!

Let your voices rise up and be heard and whichever side is the loudest and most passionate will win. Which is as it should be. Whichever side wins will say what America REALLY stands for. I am talking the real deal, not "theoretically." As Mayor Washington use to always say, that's "fairer than fair", don't you think?

"America does not torture!"

President Obama

I won't go into detail about which side I land on in regard to this issue on this web page, (even though it's probably a no brainer), but I will provide links to two invaluable resources which have given me much clarity on this issue, many months before these memos were even made public.

In other words, these two guys were way out in front on this issue long before it became "trendy."

Here are the links if you are interested in educating yourself and learning the "real deal" on this very important issue:

Andrew Sullivan - http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com

Glenn Greenwald - http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/

May 28th 2009 Update On Issue Of Torture: I have just returned from a website that showed extremely graphic photos of rape and extreme sexual abuse of both female and male prisoners in Iraq at a website which I will absolutely not link to. This is after finding out that the true reason why the Obama Administration had decided to go back on their pledge to release additional torture photos was because it would have meant releasing the photos I just saw.

Needless to say, the President made an excellent call. When President Obama went back on his pledge in regard to releasing more photos, I knew that there was an extremely good reason for doing so. Some in the media and some of those on the left, immediately acting like they had the instincts of being triggered by "Pavlov's Dogs", came immediately rushing in to condemn the President for "breaking his pledge."

Even my favorite journalist, whose quotes are all over this website, Andrew Sullivan, had an immediate "knee jerk" response to the President's reversal on his pledge. But I must say to Sullivan's credit, which is why he is my favorite journalist, he had the honesty to come back the next day after having thought about it to amend and take back much of his criticism of the President. In essence,Sullivan came to the same conclusion that I had immediately come to upon hearing about the broken pledge. There had to be a good reason for breaking it. And believe me, these photos were an excellent reason.

One of the people who saw and wrote about them admitted that he went outside and vomited after viewing just a handful of them. President Obama has an obligation to do everything in his power to protect the troops and America by extension. Had these photos come out, they would have been like waving a red flag in front of a bull to the Muslim world, particularly after Obama is going to great lengths to improve our image over there.

He is scheduled to go to Egypt this summer to give a major address to the Muslim world which is being greatly anticipated. Al Quada is on the defensive now, and those photos would have definitely given them a HUGE advantage to use and exploit. The West would have been viewed as the devil incarnate even more so by the Muslims, and after having personally seen those photos, I ask...who could blame them?

"These pictures show torture, abuse, rape, and every other indecency."

Major General Antonio Taguba - The Official who conducted an inquiry into the Abu Ghraib Jail in Iraq

There are many people, on both the left and the right, who are complaining about Former Vice President Cheney's refusal to just go away. I never was one of those people, because I think that each side or team needs a clear representative of what that side is all about, and Cheney is a perfect example of exactly what the other side represents. His values and principles are pretty much what the other side is all about, and if the Political Left is smart, they will stop complaining about him. The other side needs a face and Cheney's face is perfect! And he is a perfect spokesman.

And seeing those photos makes me even more grateful that he has stuck around, attempting to make the case for justification of all that went on over the past eight years of the Bush Presidency. Listening to Cheney during the major address he gave, coincidently on the SAME day that President Obama gave HIS major address on the same topic, was like living in the Twilight Zone.

We could not have seen two more polar opposites of one another, two more fitting examples of Light and Dark. Cheney made what the Bush Administration did and allowed during the course of the last eight years they governed seem to be as "American as apple pie!"

I could not help thinking to myself while listening to Cheney's address,"This guy is insane!" But that's what happens to you when you dabble in darkness aka torture, lies, deceit, etc. All matters of darkness become excusable or tolerable to you. And then days later, the knowledge of these rape and sexual abuse photos come out.

"When Dick Cheney defends his policy of torture, remember, he is defending this."

Investigative Journalist Larisa Alexandrovna - Referring to the rape torture photos

That's it in a nutshell, ladies and gentlemen! Those photos represent just one of many huge stains on the entire legacy of the Bush Administration. Those dark actions, (rape, sodomy, etc.), were carried out under the American Flag. They were carried out in the name of every American citizen under the leadership of Bush and Cheney. They were also carried out in the name of every person who voted for their administration and supported them. This may not be easy to swallow for many, particularly if you voted for this insanity not once, but twice, particularly because you must remember that it was because of the Supreme Court that we even had a first term Bush Administration. But it is true nevertheless.

Ironically, I found a great quote just a couple of days ago that I wrote in my journal which I never thought that I would have reason to post on this website, but the discovery of the knowledge of those photos, (and personally viewing them), has given me the PERFECT reason to post it, because this quote was tailor made for this very topic. The quote is by Artist, Writer, Astrologer, Eric Francis and several of his truly thought provoking quotes are on this website:

"The most disturbing thing about being confronted by a Bush or a Cheney or a Rumsfeld was the insanity reeking into the room, oozing out the remote control and into the digital recording gadget in the cable box. Madness. Murderous madness. Early in the Bush War era, I was looking for an analogy to illustrate Dubya, and it was: a father goes out, kills the next door neighbors, comes home bloody, sits down to dinner and the family doesn't say anything. The family would be us."

Eric Francis - Planetwaves.net

I personally cannot think of a better analogy for the Bush years, and this was my feeling BEFORE I viewed those soul destroying pictures today. I just watched a news report last night about how there is an epidemic of suicides among the enlisted in Iraq. Something that investigators found very curious about this tragically growing trend, is that it is not the recruits who have been sent on multiple deployments who are commiting suicide, it is the ones who are on their first tour and for the most part either still in their teens or barely out of them.

Imagine being a teenager, barely out of childhood, and being forced to either watch or participate in such dark and insane behavior. Imagine seeing people blown up and killed right in front of you, many of them women and children, for a war that we engaged in under false pretenses or lies. Being the mother of a 22 year old, close to the same age as many of the recruits who have committed suicide, my heart literally breaks for not only these young recruits who signed up to do something worthy and patriotic for you, for me, for our country, but I cry for the parents of these children, to have hoped and prayed so hard for the safe return of their son or daughter, only to lose their child by a self-inflicted act aka suicide.

Our young people and children deserve so much better than this. This among many other reasons is why we cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand anymore, ladies and gentlemen! We cannot be that family sitting around the dinner table pretending that daddy is not sitting there covered in blood, acting as if everything is normal. Not anymore. We cannot continue to be "enablers" or to remain complicit via our silence, excuses and inaction. Another quote from Eric Francis:

"So far as I can see, we are not in a political moment or an astrological one or a time when the government - corporate complex is getting restructured. We are in a moment of growing up; of taking responsibility for our existence on the planet, even though we cannot fully take responsibility for being here in the first place. But lo, we are indeed here. You, me and the rest of us. In such a space, we can become capable of thinking not just about our own futures, which would be impressive enough; we can open up that part of our mind that can think beyond the limits we see."

Eric Francis - Comments on the Obama Election

"Think beyond the limits we see." That is in large part WHY this website was created, to help you to do that if you should choose to do so. We need a significant number of you to think and visualize beyond what you see and hear; to come up with and create NEW solutions and visions to actually change what you "see and hear" and also to give you the necessary tools to help you to take action on those new solutions and visions. That is in large part what The Secret Wealth Network is all about! One final quote from Eric:

"The weight of the future. A metaphor saying that we each have to agree to "carry something", a burden, and take it forward. This is different than optimism. It's different than hope. Not optimism or hope, but something else: the feeling, that sense of collective soul. You know what I mean? We reached a point where it became okay to care."

Eric Francis - On the meaning of Obama's Election

Here is a link to a 3 minute video interview response to Former Vice President Cheney's address on the total legitimacy of Bush Administration policies many consider to be torture. The interview is with Matthew Alexander, a former Senior Interrogator with the Elite Task Force in Iraq, who has conducted thousands of interrogations in Iraq.

http://tinyurl.com/p8t3ob

And here is a popular conservative who has had a "change of heart" on the issue of waterboarding and torture, by actually agreeing to be waterboarded himself. And of course, it gives me great pride that this guy, a conservative radio talk show host, is from Chicago. That is EXACTLY what most Chicagoans are all about. First, they are courageous as hell and they are all about putting up...or shutting up, even the conservatives!

Fox News's Sean Hannity was supposed to be the one being waterboarded, get this, "for charity", but he chickened out! How surprising! Erich "Mancow" Muller is a popular Conservative on WLS in Chicago and here is a video of both his being waterboarded and then his interview with Keith Olbermann afterwards. It's very interesting!

http://tinyurl.com/iqnafl

And here is a link to a news article on the real reason being disclosed as to WHY President Obama chose not to release more torture photos:

http://tinyurl.com/qyqrjh

End of update, as the rest of the writing continues...

I have observed that it's very easy for many people to state what they "claim" they stand for or believe in, but it is not so easy for them to act upon what they state and/or claim. Some people are even deluded enough to think that making statements amounts to the same thing as taking action, and then wonder WHY things are so hard or difficult...or why things are not changing.

Some are actually quite shocked and then they promptly blame or curse the other side for winning and triumphing over their...statements, pontificating and complaining! Wow, that was some fight! You really gave it all you've got, didn't you? And you wonder why your adversaries are laughing at you or fail to take you seriously? Can you really blame them?

News Flash: ladies & gentlemen...REAL change happens by declaring what you stand for not only in words and your stated philosophy aka your "mission statement", but primarily by your deeds and by taking action!

If you are not willing to take action and give as good as you are getting on the side of truth, justice and fairness, don't bother to show up because you have already lost the game! As my mom use to always say, "if you don't like the sight of blood, don't become a surgeon!" (Yes, my mom was and still is one tough cookie!)

To be totally blunt, if your actions and deeds don't match what you stand for or your stated "mission statement" you are basically full of it! I won't, in classic Chicago style, say exactly what "it" is, but I think you get the picture. This goes back to this website's motto "You can only "be the change" by first creating the change."

Creating = Taking Action!

And by the way, I have personally found that when you have the perspective of the Dark helping you to better define who you are and what you stand for, (which I will admit, did not happen overnight for me), it ALL eventually becomes the Light since the Dark has helped you to define exactly who you truly are, which may have never happened without it.

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves."

Carl Jung

And I believe that no one understood the need to take action in contrast to what you find unacceptable and unjust better than Mayor Harold Washington. This is why he was so courageous, because he had no choice if he was intent on changing things and making real progress, which he most definitely was intent on doing. Mayor Washington was a very effective and far reaching teacher in this respect.

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence will stop."

Henry Brooks Adams

The potential danger of it all took a backseat to the cause, which was first and foremost. To me, it's a metaphor for how to live life in general, to live life from your authentic truth; intelligently and strategically living your life's purpose and doing whatever you have to do to do so, regardless of obstacles or circumstances, and it is because Barack Obama understood this critical dynamic completely that he is now the President of the United States.

"In the ways he waged his electoral bid, and is assembling a White House staff, Obama has demonstrated how much he has learned from the Chicago Masters. An Obama Presidency will be like a Chicago Mayoralty in that it will be aggressive and take no prisoners."

The Spectator

In June of 2008, while fundraising in Philadelphia, then Candidate Obama took a lot of heat from the media and the McCain Campaign when he said at a fundraiser in reference to the general election showdown with the Republicans the following:

"If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun."

If that line sounds familiar to you guys, Obama totally stole it from the scene in the movie "The Untouchables" when Jimmy Malone (played by Sean Connery), tells Eliot Ness, (played by Kevin Costner), what it will take to get Al Capone.

As Jimmy told Eliot in that movie scene "That's the Chicago Way!"

Here is a cool clip of that movie scene from "The Untouchables", which was based in Chicago, on the real life efforts to get Al Capone:

http://tinyurl.com/5qguzt

That, ladies and gentlemen, IS "The Chicago Way." That's also Chicago's "Warrior Spirit" in full effect! Of course, Obama was not talking about fighting John McCain and the Republicans with weapons, in hand to hand combat, but what he was referencing was a metaphor of what every Chicago Politician eventually learns, that you must always have as a goal to best, trump, out think and outwit your opponent.

When you think about it, it's really like a game of chess where you are continuously attempting to strategize your next move. You are constantly engaged in a game of "one upsmanship." You always wanted to be at least one step ahead of your adversary.

Mayor Harold Washington was a Master at this. I had a front row seat during his first 3 years as Mayor, before the Mayor outmaneuvered the Machine and gained full control of the City Council. Before that stunning victory, a white majority in the City Council known as the "Vrdolyak 29" named after Mayor Washington's Arch Nemesis, Eddie Vrdolyak, which was a bloc of 29 Machine Aldermen who opposed the Mayor on the City Council, for the explicit purpose of trying to destroy the Mayor. And when I say explicit, I mean explicit, they made their intentions and motives crystal clear. They wanted to destroy him and made no apologies about it!

"Seventeen years later, during the Washington campaign, that same ugly side of the city was on full display. Washington was heckled and threatened. After Washington won, it arguably got worse. The White Machine Alderman who opposed the Mayor formed a bloc in the City Council that did everything it could to undercut and humiliate him. The "Council Wars", as the ongoing battle became known, came to embody city politics at it's worse: racial civil war fought by parliamentary means."

The Nation Magazine

The fierce battles at Chicago's City Hall became legendary and were called "Council Wars", and make no mistake, it was all out war! The racial animosity and fighting against Mayor Washington became so intense that it gained widespread media attention and the national media coined the name "Beirut by the Lake" for Chicago. Chicago was seen by the nation as a city at war.

"The city was paralyzed!"

David Axelrod's reflection about that very tense time in Chicago.

I found two clips on You Tube which very briefly tells the before and after story of what went on between Mayor Washington and Eddie Vrdolyak. Both of these short videos deal with Mayor Washington's strategic move to undercut what the Vrodolyak 29 were doing in holding the city hostage with their racially motivated actions and the other video deals with the results. Both, (humorously, in my opinion), give you an idea of "classic politics" in Chicago at that very volatile time. Check out these two short videos here:

1) This video consists of a short one minute news interview between Washington and Vrdolyak which is funny to watch because they start arguing with each other right on TV. The topic is about Mayor Washington's strategic attempts to stop Eddie and the Vrdolyak 29 via an upcoming Special Election:

http://tinyurl.com/cskgqd

2) This video is a news report which details the results of that Special Election and Mayor Washington's strategic moves against Vrdolyak. I can almost hear Vrdolyak saying to himself "Curses...foiled again!"

http://tinyurl.com/cmjm9v

After that masterful election win, which was totally engineered by Mayor Washington, the Mayor finally gained complete control of the City Council for the first time, and Eddie Vrdolyak became a embarassment and disgrace, particularly after he ran for Mayor against Mayor Washington, and handily lost. As News Anchor Walter Jacobson said in that second clip, Eddie Vrdolyak's political career was now "kaput."

Mayor Washington outwitted, outplayed and outmaneuvered the Machine once again!

And being the typical Chicago Politician, he wasn't shy about boasting about it either!

"The winner gets all the marbles. That's the way the game is played. Washington is the Boss!"

Mayor Washington late in his second campaign for Mayor, BEFORE he even won it!

Here is a link to a great 1987 New York Times article on the Mayor's election victory titled "With Victory In Chicago, Mayor Finally In Control."

http://tinyurl.com/lh5ehf

And I have to tell you, the cliche' about Chicago is true: it's citizens follow local politics with the same fervor they do their Cubs, White Sox, Bulls, and Bears games. It was like a HUGE spectator sport and extremely interesting. For me personally, watching Mayor Washington constantly foiling, fooling and outmaneuvering his opponents was great fun to watch. I guess I have a weird idea of fun!

"A Warrior lives by acting, not by thinking about acting, nor by thinking about what he will think when he has finished acting."

Carlos Castenada

Mayor Washington was, most definitely, a Warrior, and a brilliant one at that, and his example taught Obama that this is how you succeed and win elections, not by singing kumbaya or by attempting to reason with your opponent who has made it crystal clear that he is out to destroy you.

You cannot "reason" with the Machine, anymore than you can reason with the current Republican Party, as they have shown since President Obama took office in January.

In fact, their self appointed leader, Rush Limbaugh has brazenly stated that he hopes Obama fails, which really means that he wants America to fail. Either that or he is too clueless to realize that if the President fails, the entire country fails.

The Vrodolyak 29 was out to destroy Mayor Washington and (news flash!), although more subtle and covert about their true intentions, the right wing republican conservatives were out to destroy all things liberal and democratic, and succeeded for a very long time, but only because no one put up a real fight against them. Thankfully, we now no longer have that problem.

The New Breed is now in command and a New Era is at hand!

To give one great example of what any seasoned Chicago political watcher should have been able to see in regard to the ulterior motives of the Republicans during the Democratic Primaries in 2008 between Obama and Clinton, did you notice how "supportive" of Hillary Clinton Republican Pundits and Commentators were on the political news shows and in their written political commentary? Fox News even became Hillary fans!

All of a sudden, Republicans and Right Wingers became "Clinton Fans", the same Republicans and Right Wing Commentary which were out to destroy both Hillary and President Clinton since the moment they stepped foot into the White House in 1993. Richard Mellon Scaife, the leader of the "vast right wing conspiracy" that Hillary Clinton herself labeled before the Monica scandal broke, was the most notable and curious cheerleader for Hillary last year. The same Richard Mellon Scaife who was the Right Wing Zealot behind "The Arkansas Project", which ultimately led to the impeachment proceedings against her husband, President Bill Clinton.

Scaife's own newspaper, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, was the chief proponent of editorials and news columns claiming that then President Bill Clinton or the then First Lady Hillary Clinton, were responsible for the death of Deputy White House Counsel Vince Foster. In other words, Scaife accused both President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton of being murderers. Scaife paid a freelance journalist to write about the Foster case for the Tribune Review and other right-leaning media.

But, all of a sudden, all animosity was melted and Scaife joined hands in support of Clinton in 2008...and Clinton, instead of laughing in his face and being insulted after all Scaife and his cronies had put her and her husband through over the years, shook hands with the devil and took the hand offered to her by Scaife.

I mean, what's a little thing like leading the cause to have my husband impeached and accusing the both of us of being murderers? Let's just chalk it up to a misunderstanding and let bygones be bygones. Yeah, right! That was the last nail in the coffin on Hillary's campaign.

In my opinion, Hillary Clinton lost the Democratic Primary completely with that act, because that is when the Net Roots aka the Political Left in the Internet Blogesphere lost all respect for Clinton. Hillary even made matters worse by actually sitting down with Scaife and others in an Editorial Board interview while complimenting Scaife and showing him a great deal of respect.

The ones in the Political Left that felt the most betrayed was the political organization, Move On.org, which originated in 1998 solely in response to the Republican efforts to impeach then President Clinton, Hillary's husband.

Yes, Move On were covert Obama supporters before this happened, but they were trying to remain neutral during the primary. Hillary's acceptance of Scaife's support, (in addition to her criticism of Move On in a tape released to the media), was the straw that broke the camel's back for them and their remaining "neutral" basically went out the window.

This galvanized Move On and the entire Net Roots against Hillary and as people now know after this last election, you don't mess with, disappoint or ignore a galvanized Net Roots! Here is a link to an article on Scaife's endorsement of Clinton:

http://tinyurl.com/ccp2z6

But the larger question is WHY did the Right Wing establishment and Republican Operatives all of a sudden become "Hillary Fans" during the 2008 Democratic Primaries? The mainstream media, in typical clueless fashion, wrote it off to Republican or Right Wing fear of Barack Obama aka a "Black President".

The mainstream media obviously was clueless as usual and not reading it's own political commentary in regard to the overall consensus back then when they were writing that Barack Obama was a "rock star" but would never be elected President in 2008. I even listed some of the quotes from them at the beginning of this overall writing.

Of course, Barack Obama is the Republican Party's worse nightmare NOW, but he was not even close to being a concern to them at the beginning stages of the Democratic Primary in 2007 and in the beginning of 2008.

Everytime I turned on the cable news shows during the Democratic Primaries, I saw Republicans, from President Bush on down, not only predicting that Hillary would be the Democratic nominee, but also heaping loads of praise on her.

As a matter of fact their "Hillary is the Inevitable Democratic Nominee" Campaign began long before the primaries, and went all the way back to the mid-term elections in 2006.

When you see fierce adversaries of Former President Bill Clinton like Newt Gingrich and Bob Dole on TV talking Hillary up, without a trace of concern about Republican chances for winning back the White House in 2008, even though President Bush and the war in Iraq were becoming increasingly unpopular among a majority of Americans and the Republicans in Congress had just been handed a huge defeat in the mid term elections, you did not have to be a Rocket Scientist to figure out that something was going on. Unfortunately, it seems that the majority of the mainstream media failed to connect the same dots.

Rush Limbaugh even led something called "Operation Chaos" during the Democratic Primaries, telling Republicans in primary states to briefly switch their party affiliation to vote for Hillary in the Democratic Primary to help Hillary to win their State, and then switch their party affiliation back to Republican during the general election. Yes, the Republicans REALLY wanted Hillary to be the Democratic Nominee. The question, again, is WHY?

Here's the deal as to WHY the Republicans wanted Hillary as the Democratic Nominee: It's because the Republicans and the Right Wing Conservatives have been preparing to run against Hillary since 2001.That was the year that Hillary became the Senator from New York and the writing was on the wall in regard to anyone with half a brain in politics, that Hillary was positioning herself to run for President in 2004 or 2008. As soon as Hillary won her Senate seat in New York, the Right Wing Republicans went into action.

They went to work gathering all types of information to use against Hillary when she would inevitably run for President. They gathered information about Hillary but they mostly focused on gathering dirt on Former President Bill Clinton and the potential "going ons" in his private life aka Monica Lewinski, Gennifer Flowers...you get the picture.

The Republicans had from 2001 to 2008, 7 years to gather their dirt and a lot can happen and be gathered in 7 years, particularly when the last thing in the world you are focusing on is a run for President. You are living in Washington, busy with your job as a new Senator while your husband, who had a very shaky marital track record even when you lived together, is living by himself in New York most of the time busy doing...whatever! The Clintons may have not been focused specifically on their presidential aspirations at that time, but the Republicans most certainly were!

In my opinion, the Republicans DESPARATELY wanted Hillary to be the Democratic nominee. They were salivating at the thought of it! In many ways, it was totally obvious considering their complete turn around from some of them even accusing Hillary of murder, to all of a sudden embracing her and saying that she would make a great President, in addition to claiming that the media was "picking on her". Fox News became Hillary's biggest advocate and cheerleader on that topic and Hillary was on Fox News constantly. Even Bill O'Reilly showed her some love.

The Republican Party even discovered the issue of "discrimination against women" in their support of Hillary, by the way the same Republican Party, who has repeatedly voted against equal pay for women. It was almost laughable! It is my opinion, that all of this was the Republican plan all along, no matter who was the Democratic challenger against Hillary.

I think that the Republicans had the dirt on John Edwards long before the Edwards affair scandal broke and were waiting to unleash it at the height of the primaries. Why? So that Hillary could become the Democratic nominee! But they did not anticipate Barack Obama winning the Iowa primary.

NO ONE anticipated Obama being a threat, not even Hillary Clinton!

I believe that the Republican plan, hatched years before the Democratic Primaries even began, was to make sure that Hillary was the Democratic nominee, because they KNEW, (as I also knew), that if Hillary was the nominee, she would lose the general election in 2008.

How did they know this? Because they had the dirt against her husband, Former President Bill Clinton, gathered since 2001 to ensure her loss. It was all planned. This is why I was not the tad bit surprised that right after Barack Obama secured the Democratic Primary on June 3rd, 2008, the National Enquirer released a world exclusive story, just 8 days later on June 11th, 2008, about Former President Bill Clinton's long history of affairs. Here is a link to the cover for the National Enquirer's "world exclusive" story on June 11th, 2008:

http://tinyurl.com/cvvmrw

So, we are not talking about rehashed Monica Lewinsky, Gennifer Flowers dirt, we are talking NEW dirt, with NEW dalliances! Can you imagine the media circus that would have ensued had Hillary won? The Republicans most definitely could...they were rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of it. Then Obama and his legions pulled the rug out from under them!

The Enquirer story did not get that much media attention because the story was irrelevant by that time. Hillary had lost the Democratic Primary. But had Hillary won the primary, the Enquirer's story would have been a huge political scandal with the Republicans releasing TV ads asking Americans,"Given the recent sordid revelations about his string of affairs, do you really want to put Bill Clinton back anywhere near the White House?", with much of the mainstream media along for the ride.

And the Republican's scheme would have worked!

The Republican's strategy all along was to build Hillary up enough to win the Democratic Primary...and then to tear her and her husband down once she had secured the nomination. They were all set to make the 2008 election the equivalent of the "Clinton Impeachment Trial Part 2".

Not only were they planning on securing the White House for another four years, but they were going to,"kill two birds with one stone", (an old Chicago phrase), and ruin and destroy what remained of Former President Bill Clinton's legacy and reputation also. The Republicans were going to finish the job they started in 1993, the day Clinton walked into the Oval office. Had they succeeded, it would have been masterful. But they didn't.

No one anticipated Barack Obama showing up and spoiling the party!

And by the way, I am willing to bet that Barack Obama came to pretty much the same conclusion that I did about the Republican's scheme. He IS a Chicago Politician and knows the political game better than anyone. This is part of the reason, (though only part of it), why he could not choose Hillary as his Vice President...because you get Hillary and whatever baggage she has, and you also get Bill and his baggage and it was going to be tough enough, (particularly after Sarah Palin's emergence), for Obama to convince a majority of Americans to vote for him as President.

At least, that's my "take" on what the Republican scheme was. That's my Chicago roots again coming into play!

I would like to say that I really like and respect Hillary Clinton and I am very pleased that she is our Secretary Of State. I have always liked and respected Hillary, although her behavior during the Democratic Primary greatly disappointed me. But like I said, I am very happy that she has a very important role in the Obama Administration where her political and diplomatic skills have been put to excellent use.

Having said that, I think I will end this commentary on this topic with an often said quote in Chicago which I believe describes PERFECTLY the surprising and unlikely alliance Hillary formed during the Democratic Primaries with Richard Mellon Scaife, Fox News, and others. I am not sure if this quote originated in Chicago or not, but it is nevertheless, highly appropriate, (and also very karmic):

"You lie down with dogs, you wake up with fleas!"

Author Unknown

Aren't We So Very Lucky To Have A "Chicago Pol" Who Knows Exactly How To "Play The Game" In The White House?

Not if you are the Republican Party!

"The fact that the President Elect was able to claw his way to the top in Illinois without a, (literal), political daddy to pave the way is a testament to his skill. He's proven an astute student of his adopted town's politics, and he will bring that iconic Chicago mix of an above the fray public persona with hard as nails political maneuvering to the White House. You can take the politican out of Chicago, but you can't take Chicago out of the politician."

The Spectator

I would like to mention that The Spectator magazine is NO fan of the President's. They are a conservative magazine which sees President Obama's "Chicago Ways" as being a liability...because they know they are now screwed and that this makes President Obama a force to be reckoned with. Conservatives know that the same highly effective games that they played in the past will not work this time.

That's why I chose to use several quotes from them, to prove that even they know the jig is up! Their reign is now over! They seem to have even come to terms with the reality of having Rahm Emanuel as Chief of Staff or as Rolling Stone Magazine likes to call him,"The Enforcer."

"Emanuel is the most intense, take no prisoners politician of his generation. In 2006, after only four years after becoming a Congressman, Emanuel employed his ruthlessness and savvy to engineer the Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives."

The Spectator

Here is a photo of the President and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel outside the Oval Office:

http://tinyurl.com/cw53kv

"Obama, with his usual combination of professorial coolness and political calculation, has stayed within the judiciary's 40 - yard lines, while also squeezing the opposition in a manner that would make a Chicago Ward Heeler smile."

Jonathan Martin from Politico.com May 2009 - On Obama's "shrewd" pick for Supreme Court Justice

In many ways, the Chicago way of politics is seen as very serious business for both sides but at the same time, it is never taken personally. In reality, a worthy opponent was respected in Chicago, depending on your definition of worthy. To fight passionately for your side or position was the way to ultimately gain your opponent's grudging respect. You did not get any respect by pussy-footing around!

"Life must be understood backward; but it must be lived forward."

Soren Kierkegaard

And what was so cool is that Mayor Harold Washington proved that you could trump or beat your opponent without getting dirty or doing anything unethical to do it, by just elevating his thinking and his thought enough to outwit him. And this is also how he was able to eventually earn his opponent's respect, which he in fact did.

"Harold Washington was one of the most engaging personalities I've ever encountered in my whole life. He was just a charming, interesting guy. I think that as a politician, he was absolutely masterful, and what he did for the city in terms of breaking down some barriers that absolutely had to be broken down was enormously important."

David Axelrod in 1991 Chicago Reader Interview

In regard to President Obama, I found it very interesting that he named as his top two favorite movies, The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. The best way to best or defeat your enemies is to learn everything there is to know about them and what makes them tick, which can only be done by communicating and engaging with them, hence Obama's penchant for reaching out to Republicans and other possible adversaries. Of course, President Obama greatly respects and listens to his Republican (and in some cases, liberal), opponents, but I think he has also taken this piece of timeless wisdom to heart:

"Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer."

The Godfather's Michael Corleone

Regressing a bit, independent and progressive Chicagoans of all races and nationalities stepped up to the plate to fight and openly plot against the notoriously racist Democratic Political Machine. It was a cause and crusade for many. Progressive and Independent people and leaders from all walks of life were galvanized and motivated against the Machine which was the symbol of racist patronage politics in Chicago.

They were called "The Independents", because Chicago was and is a Democratic City and the Machine was a Democratic Machine. Labeling yourself an Independent was the way to show that you were against everything the Machine stood for and represented. And Mayor Harold Washington was the leader of the pack of progressive and independent leaders fighting against it.

"I'm telling black people today that the Democratic Machine in the City of Chicago is racist, and it's going to stay that way, and you're not going to reform it because the ingredients of that party are simply not going to let you do it. I'm going to run against the Machine. I'm going to unfold it. I'm going to pull the cover off of it."

Harold Washington at a 1977 Press Conference

Those were extremely courageous and some may even say very dangerous words from Harold Washington particularily in a city like Chicago at that time, in the 70s. Chicago was not only a racial powder keg back then but it was a well known fact that Organized Crime had a great deal of influence in Machine Politics at that time.

Pulling the cover off of the Machine would mean pulling the cover off of the Crime Bosses who were pulling the strings behind the scene. For this reason, I think it was very fortunate that Harold Washington's short lived bid for Mayor in 1977 never really got off the ground.

"From the time he first ran for the Illinois Senate, Obama was far less combative than Washington - I can't imagine him calling the Democratic Machine racist. But thanks to Washington, he never had to."

Author Ben Joravsky

Chicago is also a town of tremendous Egos. There is an over abundance of colorful and dominant characters and personalities on display in every ethnic group which, while causing lots of controversy and excitement, you could at least look on the bright side and say,"Well, at least you can never say Chicago is boring!"

"In it's brash and boisterous way, Chicago has produced all manner of distinctive leaders, celebrities and rascals, ranging from liberal lawyer Clarence Darrow to gangster Al Capone, political boss Richard Daley, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakan, talk show host Oprah Winfrey, and basketball superstar Michael Jordan."

U.S. News and World Report

Chicago is far from boring! From Louis Farrakan to Jesse Jackson, to Community Organizer Sal Alinsky, to former Weather Underground Leader, William Ayers, to former Black Panther Leader and now U.S. Congressman Bobby Rush, to newly impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich, just to name a few from many unique and complex characters in Chicago, these controversial yet very unique and interesting personalities are the "norm" in Chicago instead of being the exception. For this reason, pretty much nothing surprises Native Chicagoans.

*I would also like to add that South Chicagoan Louis Farrakan's historic Million Man March is a CLASSIC example of the typical Chicagoan's "Make No Little Plans!" "Think Big", "No Limits" style. Minister Farrakan managed to organize the biggest March on Washington in U.S. history at that time!

"He found himself in one of the most fascinating, complicated and challenging urban environments in the country; a place where politics, race and power are inextricably intertwined."

Author David Mendall's take on Obama's Chicago

Mendall is very correct, race, power and politics were intertwined and inseparable in Chicago. I believe that this all goes back to what has been called America's "original sin" aka slavery, and the highly complex history of Chicago represented "ground zero" in regard to the fierce battle fought in regard to redemption and ultimately atonement for that sin.

Of course, there were fierce and painful battles fought all over this country, particularly in the South, but Chicago was the true Epicenter. This is why so many Civil Rights Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King came and even set up a base in Chicago, because they knew it's critical importance in the overall fight. At least, that's my take on it.

Chicago has many different complexities, contradictions, shadows and paradoxes, more than any other city in America. It had so much Darkness throughout it's history, yet it also has always had a great deal of Light, although it was not by any means an equal amount. I personally believe that the Light and Dark is now finally equal in Chicago.

Amazingly, it got it's first taste of victory in Chicago in 1983 with the election of Harold Washington as Mayor. From my perspective, the Light is also winning for the entire country with the election of President Obama. That is why I call Chicago, "Little America", because it's a miniature version of what America is as a Whole.

And I might add, that Chicago represented the unique, elite training ground that Obama needed to first master before attempting to pull off his run for the Presidency. If you can Master Chicago, you can Master anything! That's how Obama was able to make it look so easy while on the presidential campaign trail, (even though it was a tad bit harder than it looked.)

Compared to Chicago, the entire Country WAS easy!

Speaking from personal experience, growing up in a city as culturally rich, diverse, complex, and yet as divisive, tense, violent and segregated as Chicago was, a city which paradoxically has so much to offer artistically, culturally and just in terms of sheer potential is a very sobering but very valuable and interesting learning experience for anyone, particularly a politician like Barack Obama. Fortunately, not all of the city was segregated.

If you happened to be a Progressive or an Independent, "think outside of the tribe" or be in an interracial relationship or family, you lived in the Hyde Park area on the South side, or you lived in certain sections of Chicago's Northside.

If you chose to live in Hyde Park in particular, you were not merely choosing an area of the city to live in but you were also making a statement about where you stood politically and values wise, meaning if you were with the machine status quo me and mine tribe or were independent, reform-minded and progressive thinkers who were intentionally bucking "The System". Hyde Park is ground zero for the progressive reformers and agitators.

Hyde Park is where the Obamas eventually decided to make their home and build Barack's political power base from. As mentioned before, Hyde Park was also the chosen home and political base of Mayor Harold Washington.

To offer a little context, when I was growing up in Chicago in the seventies and eighties, if you went into the "wrong" area of Chicago, you could seriously be in big trouble. This reminds me of "Old Chicago Stories" that I heard recently from two associates. One friend was white, the other African American.

My white friend told me the story of when he and his new wife had first moved to her hometown Chicago in the early 80s, from Los Angeles, (his wife was African American), his wife's father could not drive and would always need my friend to drive him places. Many times those places were in very violent and poor African American sections of the city.

My friend told me that he was scared to death and would have to disguise himself and sit really low in his car seat while waiting for his wife's father to return to the car for fear of what would happen to him if someone discovered "a white guy" sitting outside in a car. It actually was a funny story that me and my friend laughed about.

The other story involved an African American Attorney that I had met a few years ago. He told me that when he had just graduated law school in the early 80s, he went to Chicago with a white law school buddy and as they were driving, his buddy very casually told him to scoot down in his seat because if he was seen in his car, there could be trouble.

The African American Attorney thought he was joking and laughed until his buddy turned to him with no smile on his face and said, "Man, I'm serious!" The African American Attorney did as he was told."

All I could say to both stories, (with a smile) was,"Yep, that sounds like Chicago!"

Now, please do not get me wrong, I love Chicago! Most of my family still lives there and it is and always will be my beloved hometown. But that does not mean that I have to put my head in the sand about the realities of it back then.

Also, that was a LONG time ago and things have changed a great deal. Chicago has come a very, very long way, yet it is it's troubled, chaotic and complex history which is what makes Chicago as it is today so utterly amazing and fabulous now. The rest of the country could most definitely learn a lesson or two from Chicago about evolving, progressing, moving forward and being truly authentic and real.

After living in Los Angeles County, (although never in the city), for almost 20 years and playing the detached yet interested observer, I have definitely gained a much greater appreciation for Chicago's "authenticity" over the years.

It really is a difference as stark as night and day. It's almost like living in the Twilight Zone after growing up in Chicago! Of course, there are glowing exceptions and some truly great and authentic people out here, people whom I have very fortunately hooked up with and love dearly, but that does not blind me to the overall reality of Los Angeles and it's penchant for focusing and obsessing on celebrity, (even within certain Spiritual groups and circles), and fostering illusions which many mistake to be reality.

In another contrast, I also greatly appreciate Chicago's "keep it real" and "just do it!" work ethic versus the ethic which seems to prevail more often than not in Los Angeles, which is "let's present the "illusion" that we are actually doing something." Maybe it has to do with being so close to Hollywood...the Land of Make Believe!

I recounted those two "Chicago Stories" because I just wanted to give you a feel for the past dynamics of the City and WHY it was so incredible that Harold Washington won in a city that was that segregated and racially polarized back in 1983. It really was an astonishing win! As stated earlier, Harold Washington actually beat the Chicago Political Machine, and that had never been done before by ANYONE black or white!

"Going all the way back to Oscar DePriest, the first black representative in the U.S. House, elected in 1929, and in some ways back to Abraham Lincoln, Illinois has led the nation in black political empowerment. It has elected two of the three black senators since Reconstruction - Obama and Carol Moseley Braun. The only other black candidate to win a presidential primary was Jesse Jackson, who came to Chicago from the South as a seminary student to build his own political machine."

Edward McClelland - Salon.com

And whose historic campaign inspired Jesse Jackson to run for the Presidency in 1988? Whose campaign inspired Carol Moseley Braun to run for the Senate in 1992? The campaign and administration of Mayor Harold Washington, of course!

Carol Moseley Braun was even a protege of Mayor Washington's. And why is all of this relevant in regard to Barack Obama? Because Obama, in turn, followed the path forged by Harold Washington in defeating the "Democratic Political Machine" known as Bill and Hillary Clinton and the "Old School" traditional Democratic Party.

"We have destroyed the Dinosaur!"

Mayor Harold Washington, referring to his "slaying" of the Chicago Political Machine at his 1983 Election Victory Speech

Obama could have made that same identical proclaimation in June of 2008, when he finally defeated the Clinton Political Machine and the Old School Democratic Party which they represented. Obama basically duplicated what Washington managed to accomplish 25 years ago in 1983 in Chicago, or "Little America" in winning the Office of the Presidency in "Big America".

Here is a link to a great article on this very topic titled, "Harold Washington, Barack Obama and the Hostile Takeover of the Democratic Party."

http://tinyurl.com/97w8f9

No clearer message could have been sent in regard to there being "a new sheriff in town" and the total destruction of the Old Democratic Party than Obama's almost immediate and unprecedented move after winning the Democratic Primary in moving the Democratic Party Headquarters from the Washington, DC area to the City of Chicago.

That had never been done before by a Democratic Primary Winner. Much of Obama's inner circle at the White House are political allies from Chicago, some who know how to fight, (Rahm Emanual, again, immediately comes to mind).

In fact, Chicago has taken on such a prominent role in the nation's politics, because of Obama, that the Huffington Post website now has a page devoted exclusively to all things Chicago. This, of course, was not accidental. Chicago/Illinois Politics has long been setting the stage and laying the groundwork for what we are currently seeing, going as far back as to the administration of Abraham Lincoln, and it all began to accelerate exponentially with the election of Harold Washington as Mayor of Chicago.

Also, this quote may be helpful:

"As we approach Election Day, it's hard not to think that the groundwork for the Obama Campaign was put in place well before he announced his candidacy in early 2007 and before his famous address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Rather, much of what we are seeing materialize has it's roots in long standing efforts begun back in Chicago. Many commentators have looked to previous elections for parallels to what we're seeing this year - Is 2008 like 1992? 1980? 1932? Should Obama win next Tuesday, my vote goes not for a Presidential Race in our past, but rather a mayoral one - 1983. The fact that some of this year's participants were either involved in or influenced by that Campaign, (Harold Washington's 1983 Mayoral Campaign), should, perhaps, have gotten a lot more attention by a lot more people."

Quote from Election Dissection.com

I totally agree and it's very true that the mainstream media has totally missed or remained clueless about this critical connection. While doing research for this writing, I was not able to find ONE mainstream source which makes the obvious connection. This is one of the reasons why this is being written by me, to give credit where credit is due, in addition to giving a unique historical perspective.

A few more relevant quotes I found

"The 1980s opened with a huge transformation in American political and social life unseen since the Great Depression. With the election of Reagan, there began a shift in ideology and politics to the right and an economic restructuring unparalled since Franklin Roosevelt. But in the wave of Reagan reaction and corporate greed, there stood an island of hope, a city with a new idea for fighting back. At the helm of that city was a people's mayor named Harold Washington, the first African American Mayor of Chicago. One of the most important elements of the Washington campaign was the drive for interracial, inter-ethnic unity. Washington found in racial diversity a source of strength. In his first inaugural speech, he said: "We are a multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-language city and that is a source of stability and strength."

Joel Wendland

"Washington's victory was viewed by political observers as "a great awakening."Chicago Political Writer Studs Turkel, called Washington's victory an "American Soweto." Other writers conveyed a similar sense of awakening. Jesse Jackson viewed the campaign as "a political riot, an unprecedented act of disciplined rage." Chicago Sun Times columnist, Vernon Jarrett, said the election represented "a zenith in black aspirations." According to State Senator Alice Palmer, Washington was a catalyst that brought all the arms of the movement together. "Because progressive people from all walks of life had been looking for a home for a long time, Harold's campaign became that place." Clavel Wievul describes Washington's period of governance as "one of the high points in the history of American cities". "His reforms marked the end of the notorious machine identified with Richard J. Daley."

Xolela Mangcu

"Another unquantifiable part of Washington's legacy is his enduring influence on national politics. Just about everyone interviewed for this story eventually came around to talking about another emerging Chicagoan - Barack Obama. Perhaps it is no accident that he too talks in broad, hopeful terms about change, reform and empowering the people to reclaim democracy, just like Washington. Indeed, is it mere chance that Obama's main campaign image is a rising sun over a flag and the words "Obama for America?" Those blue buttons that dotted Chicago's landscape in those exciting days of 1982 and 1983 showed rays of the sun like hope rising above the words "Washington for Chicago." Perhaps Washington's very greatest legacy is the insurgent challenge to politics as usual Obama represents on a national stage. Perhaps, "the people's mayor" will inspire the making of "the people's president."

Joel Wendland - author of the book Harold Washington: The People's Mayor

I would like to make one more very interesting observation regarding the previously mentioned "Council Wars" and the "Vdroylak 29", the group of 29 white aldermen who basically held the City of Chicago hostage from 1983 to 1986, during Mayor Washington's first three years as Mayor. Check out this brief description lifted from the Wikipedia page on the legendary Council Wars in Chicago:

"The Vrodolyak 29 voted as a solid bloc. In the first session of the 1983 - 1987 term, the "29" voted themselves complete control of every Council committee. Over the next three years, they voted down ALL the Mayor's proposals and appropriations.They also voted down ALL of his appointments. This last part was purely symbolic, as the appointees could still serve as interim officeholders. Some of the 29 admitted that they blocked the Mayor's proposals, even when there was merit in them, because they did not want Washington getting any credit for anything. Such credit might help re-elect him, which the 29 saw as a disaster for themselves and for the City."

Source: Wikipedia

Okay, that was 25 years ago in Chicago. Now, let's fast forward to 2009. Check out the following one minute video:

http://tinyurl.com/cg246j

I don't know about you guys, but having lived through both periods as a very keen observer, the similarity between the two events, (or wars), are pretty striking. I will just leave it there as a thing that makes you go hmmmm....

Here is something else that I found very interesting:

"The term "Council Wars" came from a satirical comedy sketch of the same name written by comedian and journalist Aaron Freeman in 1983, using the good vs evil plot line of the film Star Wars as a device."

Source: Wikipedia

Comedian Aaron Freeman's comedy show based on the political battle was a HUGE hit in Chicago in 1983. Council Wars featured two antagonists who both represented Mayor Harold Washington and Eddie Vdroylak called , Harold Skytalker and Lord Darth Vdroylak.

The term "Council Wars" became a part of the Chicago political lexicon because of Aaron Freeman's comedy skits. I must admit that I am probably one of the few people on the planet who has seen NONE of the Star Wars movies, (although I plan on correcting that when I get time), but this piece of trivia made me remember that I had seen several people in print during the election comparing Barack Obama to Luke Skywalker from Star Wars.

This remembrance caused me to go and do a quick google search, and here is what I came up with. I found the following video absolutely hilarious:

http://tinyurl.com/cfwtw3

Wasn't that funny? I too felt that Hillary went over to "the dark side" during the Democratic Primaries, but I am very happy to have her back where she belongs, where I am sure she will continue to be a tremendous asset.

Interestingly, it also seems that the man who actually created the Star Wars movie series, Writer and Director George Lucas, also makes the same connection that this funny video does. Check out the following link titled "Lucas: Obama More Powerful Than Skywalker."

http://tinyurl.com/b5n21m

Check out this one too:

http://tinyurl.com/ckuveg

Hmmm...so we have both Mayor Harold Washington & President Barack Obama...BOTH being compared to Star Wars Hero, Luke Skywalker; two comparisons totally separate from each other, and 25 years apart from one another. Interesting isn't it? Yet another thing that makes you go hmmmm...

All in all, I just really wanted to use this web page and occasion to pay homage and give long overdue credit, the utmost respect and undying love and praise and thanks to the late great Mayor Harold Washington. It is Mayor Washington who first set the stage for Obama to follow the road first paved by him which has brought us all to this very momentous time in human history.

"The Left has put together the most powerful political coalition that I've ever witnessed."

Quote From Former Republican House Majority Leader Tom Delay - March 2009

That "most powerful political coalition ever witnessed" which Mr. Delay speaks of is directly because of the vision of Mayor Harold Washington. We witnessed the same thing on a smaller scale in the City of Chicago in 1983.

"Obama won more votes than anyone else in U.S. history, the biggest Democratic victory since Lyndon Johnson crushed another Arizona Senator 44 years ago."

TIME Magazine

Obama just took Washington's plan, perfected and updated it, and then he expanded upon it in 2008. In fact, Presidential Candidate Obama expanded on Mayor Washington's "rainbow coalition" to such a huge degree that Obama went on to masterfully receive more votes than any other President in U.S. history! How cool is that?

"Today has seen the bright daybreak for this city, and for perhaps this entire country. Blacks, whites, hispanics, jews, gentiles, protestants and catholics of all stripes have joined hands to form a new Democratic Coalition."

The Newly Elected Mayor Harold Washington From His Acceptance Speech - 1983

"The bright daybreak for this city, and perhaps this entire country." Yes, Mayor Washington instinctively KNEW that his 1983 election was not just about Chicago. I think deep down inside on a subconscious level, we ALL knew, all of us whose lives were so tremendously changed and inspired by his. We all knew that it was the beginning of something much bigger, something much more profound, something that would have been seen as unfathomable to most back then. Even crazy!

Mayor Harold Washington was the pioneer who forged the unpaved road in Chicago which gave Sen. Barack Obama the inspiration, leverage and guidance to become a pioneer and forge the unpaved road to the highest office in the world. It truly would not have EVER happened if there had not been a Mayor Harold Washington.

The Legendary Poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African American to ever win the Pulitzer Prize and also a fellow Chicagoan, wrote and read a poem for Mayor Washington at his 1983 Inauguration:

Mayor Harold Washington - Poem By Gwendolyn Brooks

Mayor. Worldman. Historyman.

Beyond steps that occur and close,

your steps are echo-makers.

You can never be forgotten.

We begin our health.

We enter the Age of Alliance.

This is our senior adventure.

The Late Mayor Harold Washington had a HUGE impact on my life. He helped to change my thinking and my perceptions, as he has done for many others, including, of course, a then 23 year old Barack Obama. Even at a young 18 years old, I knew what a truly one of a kind, unique, gifted and transformative politician Mayor Washington was. I knew that his presence would eventually impact the whole world in a meaningful way.

Don't ask me HOW I knew, I just did.

When he died suddenly of a heart attack the day before Thanksgiving in 1987 it was like a member of my own family had died. I was heartbroken. He had THAT huge an impact on not only me, but many, many others.

In researching for this article, I came across a writing from the Daily Kos website from a writer whose byline is "Nuisance Industry", who wrote his post titled "Remembering Harold Washington" on the 20th anniversary of Mayor Washington's death in 2007. He was a jewish teenager who grew up in Hyde Park, the same neighborhood that Mayor Washington lived in. Here is his remembered reaction to the Mayor's death:

"I was in the passenger seat of a car driving up 880 in California to meet family members for Thanksgiving when the radio reported the news. I slumped forward against the dashboard in shock. Harold Washington, the man who forced Chicago to come to terms with it's racial attitudes, the man who showed a way forward from the hatred of the distant and recent past, the man who showed a better way forward, was now gone. You know how some people can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when they learned that JFK was dead? How that moment changed things forever? That's what November 25, 1987 means to me. I don't remember much about that Thanksgiving weekend after hearing the news."

Daily Kos Diary Writing from November 27, 2007, the 20th Anniversary of Mayor Washington's death

I don't remember that Thanksgiving weekend either. It's all a blur. All I remember from that weekend is holding my then 11 month old daughter Heather and crying my eyes out while sitting in a chair in front of the TV. I was 22 years old, the same age my daughter Heather is now. That was a very, very dark and painful period for the entire city of Chicago. And it is a lasting pain that is even still felt by many to this very day.

"This month marks 20 years since Mayor Harold Washington died in office. His unexpected death still leaves many people with a sense of deep, irretrievable loss."

Chicago Free Press - November 2007

Mayor Washington was the person who first sparked my own idealism and rabid interest in progressive issues and causes when I was only a mere teenager, which provided a once apathetic 18 year old with a focus and direction and inevitably set me on the course that I am currently on today. He had a powerful effect on my life and the lives of many others. Here is another quote from Nuisance Industry's writing in 2007:

"Harold Washington's experience and example continues to shape my life. My work focuses on urban environmental issues and inequalities that remain glaring 20 years after Washington's death and 40 years after King's. When I teach American History, I do so from the perspective of these enduring inequalities and how they shape our lives in ways we often do not realize. My political identity as a Democrat is in large part defined by the social justice Harold Washington sought and the fair use of power for the benefit of all that he weilded once in office. Washington's campaign mobilization and registration efforts to turn disaffected, powerless individuals into a coalition that reshaped the political order of Chicago despite a strong reluctance to change the status quo, is what I feel the Democratic Party should be. Washington's accomplishments overcoming that opposition fueled my optimism about the promise of what, (as yet unachieved), is possible."

Nuisance Industry - November 2007

Others inspired by Mayor Washington that you may have heard of who are on the scene today?

Obama Senior White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett, (who also has been a best friend to Barack and Michelle Obama for almost 20 years), got her start in Chicago Politics in 1987 working for Mayor Harold Washington as Deputy Corporation Counsel for Finance and Development.

"Like many of the young, liberal idealists who followed Washington into City Hall, Jarrett hailed from Chicago's Independent strand of Democrats, (for which Hyde Park was ground zero), who for years had been shut out of government by Mayor Richard J. Daley's Machine."

The New Republic

Interestingly, Valerie Jarrett's late father in law, was Chicago Sun Times Columnist Vernon Jarrett, one of few highly visible african americans in the Chicago media establishment back then. Vernon Jarrett was a key influence in Washington's decision to run for the Mayor's office.

Mayor Washington did not want to run for Mayor and was happy as a Illinois Legislator, but Jarrett and a group of others in the Independent Movement finally convinced Washington to run. Vernon Jarrett and Mayor Washington were very good friends and he remained a key supporter and confidante of Mayor Washington's until the day he died.

Here is a great 5 minute interview and profile that Katie Couric did with Valerie Jarrett:

http://tinyurl.com/cwf94d

Also, here is a lovely photo of the President and First Lady sharing a moment while Valerie Jarrett briefs them for an event:

http://tinyurl.com/cc6ouf

Also, Obama White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod left a lucrative career as City Hall Bureau Chief and Political Columnist for the Chicago Tribune Newspaper, to form his own Political Consultancy Company in 1985 in large part to help re-elect Mayor Washington as Mayor in 1987. Axelrod began his political career, in part, because he was inspired by Mayor Washington's historic 1983 campaign.

"1983, that was a phenomenal election! Harold Washington - extraordinary guy! I mean, he was the most kinetic campaigner and politician I've ever met. It was inspiring the way the African - American community came alive around the prospect of electing Harold. There were those who mistook that for a negative campaign, but it was one of the most positive campaigns I've ever seen because people felt empowered!"

David Axelrod in The Nation magazine interview in Feb. 2007.

That is classic Mayor Harold Washington! I think that Mayor Washington's most lasting and enduring legacy is that he inspired people to envision a better future for themselves. He inspired people to want to "do something", to be the change, to think without limits, to believe they could actually make a difference.

Here is a photo of the President and David Axelrod in Axelrod's White House office:

http://tinyurl.com/cr458f

As just a small example of Washington's overall influence and legacy, we now have two very prominent members of Obama's Inner Circle in the White House who were each greatly inspired by and worked very closely with Mayor Harold Washington.

And then there is, of course, President Obama himself. We have these immensely important people who were molded and guided by the example of Mayor Harold Washington now in the White House, the place where a difference can most be made.This means that the Spirit of Mayor Harold Washington is alive and well in the White House, the highest office of the land!

"Barack Obama. It is inconceivable to me that Barack Obama as we know him today is possible without Harold Washington."

Another quote from Nuisance Industry's writing

This Is So True! It would never, could never have been possible without Mayor Harold Washington!

"More than anything, I wanted Harold to succeed. The Mayor and his achievements seemed to mark out what was possible. His gifts, his power measured my own hopes."

Barack Obama from his first book "Dreams Of My Father"

I felt the exact same way. Little did I know that at that very same time, Mayor Washington's grand vision and purpose was also very much "setting the course" igniting and inspiring another one of a kind, very gifted and very unique future politician, a young and idealistic 23 year old Barack Obama, in addition to legions of many others.

"Circumstance does not make the man. Circumstance reveals man to himself."

Emerson

Interestingly, while researching this writing, I found out that Obama never met the Mayor. That's very odd because Mayor Washington was extremely accessible and always out among the people. That's how he got the name "The People's Mayor."

I even met Mayor Washington on a few occasions, and I was not in anyway involved with politics. In fact, I was still just a teenager. According to Obama, he did see Mayor Washington speak at a rally and tried to get close enough to at least shake his hand, but for some reason, even that never happened.

That, along with Obama receiving no response in regard to his multiple requests for a job with the Mayor's Office tells me that they were not suppose to meet, much less work together.

"I think that Harold is smiling down on us tonight."

What David Axelrod told Barack Obama the night Axelrod helped Obama win the Illinois Senate Race in 2004.

I personally believe that Mayor Washington's influence and presence in Obama's life was always meant to be that of kind of a distant role model to closely observe and learn from, pretty much the same way I and many others did, except I also had the privilege of meeting the Mayor numerous times; and then the Mayor's presence was as an overseeing Guardian Angel for Obama, ethereal and constant, after the Mayor's death. Obama meeting him in person was just not part of the plan.

"I think he might just lead somebody from the grave!"

Chicago Judge Eugene Pincham in a 1997 interview which could be said predicted the guiding influence Mayor Washington would have on some then unknown future rising political star in Chicago.

The life of Mayor Harold Washington just goes to show the HUGE difference ONE person can have on the lives of many...just by living a well lived life following his passion and purpose...and by "sticking to the plan."

"We are "divine plan" people. We are total mystic idealists. We believe in perfection. We want to define it - and then make it real - in every way we can. That's the message we carry, the message we were born to deliver."

Bruce Schuman

"It's the plan, not the man!"

Candidate Harold Washington's Most Remembered Political Slogan

In this one very significant example, it turns out I was right after all...the Late Mayor Harold Washington's life HAS impacted the entire world, by the hugely transformative and life changing effect that he has had on the life of just one individual, President Barack Obama, a Leader who has inspired not just tens of millions of Americans, but hundreds of millions, if not billions of people from all over the world with hope and optimism during these very challenging times. I would even dare to say that Mayor Washington was the decisive reason why Barack Obama eventually chose a career as a Politician.

According to his former College classmates and Obama himself, he was unsure what exactly he was going to do with his life before he decided to move to Chicago, a city he was totally unfamiliar with and where he knew absolutely no one.

That inspiration came about SOLELY because of Mayor Harold Washington, and based on that life changing move, we now have President Barack Obama. Just more evidence of how connected we all really and truly are!

"In 2007, we live in a time when politics seems to work for everyone except the average citizen. More and more people don't even bother to vote. What difference does it make, they say. Harold Washington would have a quick retort to anyone who took that attitude in his presence. You have ALL the power, he would say. Look around. Look at all your friends and neighbors. Look at all the people who work beside you or work in jobs like yours day in and day out. You are many, he would say - you are Chicago and you can take power anytime you come together and decide to make a difference."

Chicago Free Press - 2007

Yes, Mayor Washington knew that we all had to make a Choice to become empowered in order to make a real difference. And people across this country finally stood up and did just that one year later in 2008. Mayor Washington's vision became Barack Obama's vision. But making that choice was just the first step in a journey that we must all decide whether we want to embark on. And that is what this website is ultimately all about, giving you the opportunity to begin that journey if you should choose to do so.

Mayor Washington's vision was truly grounded in the belief that government began and ended with the People - the people in bungalows and apartment buildings and diverse neighborhoods all across the City of Chicago. Now via President Obama, who expanded on Mayor Washington's coalition building to receive more votes than any other Presidential Candidate in history, Mayor Washington's vision has been extended throughout the cities, towns, hamlets, etc. across this great nation, with the very real potential of extending throughout the rest of the world. The power of people coming together, becoming empowered and making a difference.

And it all began with the vision and immense courage of Mayor Harold Washington.

Many Native Chicagoans, to this very day, remain hurt and angry about the horrible time that Mayor Washington was forced to undergo during his first 3 years as Mayor. Over the years, you would hear a lot of Native Chicagoans of my parent's generation saying, "If only he could have been given a chance to really govern the city in the beginning. Maybe he would still be here." Some even think that it contributed to Mayor Washington's death because of all the fighting Mayor Washington had to do, which could have created much stress and led to his heart attack.

I don't know it that was true or not, but I do now see the perfection in everything that happened. It took a while, but I finally see it. I truly believe that Mayor Washington's short time as Mayor was meant to be a brilliant case study, so to speak, in the larger political picture which was always intended to go far beyond Chicago. Mayor Washington's historic election and his 3 year long "war" as the Mayor, was a stunning and revolutionary example of how to courageously and defiantly fight the powers that be via the sheer power of your personality, skills and intellect, and WIN, and many people were watching.

The most notable person watching was a young 23 year old Barack Obama.

Mayor Washington showed the way to many and his way or "plan" was very much intended to extend far beyond Chicago Politics. It began with the groundbreaking Presidential Primary Campaign in 1988 of Jesse Jackson, and then led to the groundbreaking Illinois Senatorial Campaign of Carol Mosely Braun in 1992, followed by the Illinois Senatorial Campaign of Barack Obama in 2004, and finally ending with the Presidential Campaign of Barack Obama in 2008.

All were tremendously inspired to just "go for it" by Mayor Harold Washington.

And Mayor Washington showed Barack Obama how to fight back and how to win!

And that is just a small part of the picture. There are legions of other people, inside and outside of politics, (like me), whom viewed Mayor Washington as an extremely important catalyst in their lives. Besides, even through that 3 year period of the "Council Wars", in spite of all the tremendous fighting, I always marveled at the fact that it seemed like Mayor Washington was having the time of his life! He looked like he was actually having fun! He was definitely in his element and seemed to me to be loving it. Mayor Washington was definitely doing what he came here to do, and enjoying it immensely.

This entire writing, which continues onwards, is my own personal and unique telling, (from a observer/layperson's perspective), of my own interpretation of exactly how we got to this point in history with Barack Obama as President and who I believe are the REAL unsung heroes that helped to make it happen.

This includes an "historic group" of dedicated, courageous, pioneering, passionate, action oriented, progressive, forward looking, and idealistic Chicagoans on a mission and a great yet divided, highly complex, volatile, innovative, and authentic city, which has led to this momentous time in human history. Yet, for the most part, this viewpoint has been totally unknown or ignored by the mainstream media. This writing is my own personal way of making up for that!

The Late, Great Mayor Harold Washington was a pivotal Leader, (a leader in the truest sense of the word because he "led by example"), of that immensely historic group of Chicagoans mentioned above that has eventually led us ALL, as a nation, in addition to extending into the rest of the world, to where we are right now at this very historic time in human history, at the Dawning of a New Era!

Thank You Mayor Washington!

His Spirit lives on! Here is a short video that I found of then Senator Obama also paying homage to the late great Mayor Harold Washington:

http://tinyurl.com/9tq6uc

And, this link features a short 5 minute audio recording from a National Public Radio segment of "All Things Considered" titled "The Legacy Of Chicago's Harold Washington." It includes interviews with then Senator Obama, in addition to comments from the Mayor himself. Check it out here:

http://tinyurl.com/27jlyh

Here is a link to a 2008 article titled "Harold & Barack" which I am primarily linking to because of the photo included with the article, which demonstrates the "guiding force" of Mayor Washington that even Obama knew and cultivated throughout his career. Check it out here:

http://tinyurl.com/c7spde

Here is the full 2007 Daily Kos Writing from Nuisance Industry titled Remembering Harold Washington:

http://tinyurl.com/cn9rlp

Here is a truly fascinating 48 minute "parable" of the story of Harold Washington detailed on "This American Life" from 1997. This very interesting story goes into great detail about race and politics in Chicago and exactly what Mayor Washington was up against and it is extremely absorbing and really pulls you in.

http://tinyurl.com/377pnq

As a matter of fact, this truly mesmerizing story from "This American Life" on Mayor Washington's time as Mayor, made me think that it would be great if someone would do an entire mini-series on not only the life of Harold Washington, but the entire political scene in Chicago beginning with the elder Mayor Daley's rule as Mayor and his implementation of Machine Politics, up to Obama because it would make a very interesting and absorbing tale in addition to being a great history lesson for our country.

Even the notorious Gangster/Mobster Al Capone would have a significant role in the mini-series since he and other well known Chicago Gangsters were very much an underground yet significant part of Chicago politics back in the day. HBO are you listening?

Last but definitely not least, here is a rare youtube video that I found of Mayor Washington addressing Chicago's Polish Community.

*FYI, Chicago has the largest Polish Population anywhere outside of Warsaw, Poland:

http://tinyurl.com/8zp7h5

I Would Now Like To Take The Opportunity To Honor Just One More Very Important Influence...

Chicago is a very peculiar but interesting town. It's very complex and a total paradox. On one hand, it was once considered to be the most segregated city in America, but it was because of that very segregation that it was considered by many to be "The Capital of Black America" because it empowered so many African Americans, especially during a time when African Americans as a whole were so collectively disempowered as a group.

In many ways it's label as "The Capital of Black America" is not really surprising considering the fact that a man known as "The Father Of Chicago" is a black man. Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable was a Haitian Colonist in North America of mixed French and African ancestry. Du Sable was silmultaneously the first known nonindigenous settler and the first African American in the area which is now Chicago, IL. He discovered and settled in Chicago in 1779.

In recognition of this fact, Du Sable was declared the Founder of Chicago by the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago on October 26th, 1968. In fact, Du Sable's granddaughter, born in 1796, was the first baby born in Chicago.

In addition to the Du Sable Museum of African American History on Chicago's South Side, and other city landmarks bearing his name, Du Sable High School is one of the most famous high schools in Chicago. Opened in 1934, in addition to my three older brothers, Ricky, Stevie and Edward, a few famous Du Sable attendees/graduates include: Mayor Harold Washington, Nat King Cole, Dinah Washington, Redd Foxx, Maurice Cheeks and Don Cornelius.

Moving forward, one man in particular played a HUGE role in Chicago's African American Self Empowerment Movement in the mid to late 1900s, and I can truthfully say that if it were not for this man, I would have never been born! That man's name was S.B. Fuller.

S.B. Fuller was known as the "Dean Of Black Entrepreneurship" and he was the very first African American male to become a self made multi millionaire. Mr. Fuller is best remembered as the trailblazing Founder of the Fuller Products Company, a leading black cosmetics company in the mid to late 1900s.

S. B. Fuller founded his cosmetics company in 1935 with just $25.00 borrowed on his car. He had only a sixth grade education but became one of the first black millionaires by selling his cosmetics door to door nationwide through a network of more than 3000 salesmen and other employees and one third of them were white...just think about the novelty and rareness of THAT in the 1930s to 1950s!

"At Fuller Products Company, there's only one race - the human race."

S. B. Fuller

Mr. Fuller built a multi million dollar conglomerate of companies that had sales of more than $10 million a year and offices in 38 states in the 1950s and early 1960s. That was pretty incredible for an african american man back then. In addition to Fuller Products Company, he also owned or had part ownership in several other personal care companies and Mr. Fuller owned the popular South Center Department Store on Chicago's South Side.

Mr. Fuller also for a time owned the legendary Regal Theater - Chicago's counterpart to Harlem's Apollo Theater for Black Entertainment. Not only did Native Chicagoan Nat King Cole get his professional start at the Regal Theater, but the Regal hosted such Music Legends as: Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, The Jackson 5, Ella Fitzgerald, Native Chicagoan Dinah Washington...to name just a few!

Mr. Fuller also published several newspapers across the country including The New York Age, the nation's oldest african american newspaper and The Pittsburgh Courier, the largest circulated african american newspaper in the nation. Mr. Fuller also had various Real Estate and Farming holdings and interests all over the country.

Mr. Fuller did not just teach his massive sales force how to sell. He taught his sales force how to become future entrepreneurs and future leaders. A motivational genius, Mr. Fuller held daily meetings for his door to door sales people and published weekly bulletins, distributing them to independent dealers nationwide so that his sales people throughout the country would always know his doctrine on selling and living.

I know this first hand because my own parents were two of Mr. Fuller's students. My mom and dad were "Fullerites" the name coined by the Fuller Products sales people. In regard to me not being born had it not been for Mr. Fuller? That's because my Mom and Dad met at Fuller Products.

Both of my parents were two of Fuller Product's top salespeople and they met there, fell in love and married. They have been married now for more than 46 years. I remember me and my siblings attending Fuller Product meetings with our parents as a very young child.

Mr. Fuller was a very intriguing and interesting man. He was a very prominent Black Republican, but with a very independent streak. I know that being a Black Republican, particularly in the 1930s to 1950s seems rather odd to most people, but it really was not that odd in Chicago.

You see, Illinois was and is still considered the "Land Of Lincoln" and African Americans from Illinois, particularly during the early to mid 1900s had a special affinity to President Abraham Lincoln because it was Lincoln who freed the slaves. Lincoln was Illinois's own native son.

On top of that, before Mayor Washington, the Democratic Political Machine in Chicago, was considered by many to be racist. That made it very easy for some to become Republicans. Many Black Chicagoans had a very special respect for Lincoln's legacy, so they very proudly became Lincoln Republicans. Let's just get the obvious out of the way, the current Republican Party is nowhere even close to being The Party Of Lincoln.

It is my opinion that the reason why President Obama has such broad support from Republicans and Independents across the board right now, is because President Obama shares many of the same virtues and ideals that Abraham Lincoln posessed, and that in large part comes from Obama's affinity to Lincoln via his decades long residency in Illinois, the Land of Lincoln.

For the record, I have personally come to believe that, in regard to Illinois Politics, there is no in between. Either you are on the side of the light with Lincoln's legacy or you are on the side of the dark with the last remaining ghosts of the Corrupt Political Machine. There tends to be no middle in Illinois Politics, it's either one extreme or the other. You're either with the Light or with the Dark...there's no Gray or middle ground!

Oscar De Priest, the first African American to be elected to Congress in 1929, representing the South Side of Chicago, was a Republican. De Priest introduced several anti-discrimination bills, including anti lynching legislation. His 1933 amendment barring discrimination in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), was passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

De Priest was known to be very smart, shrewd and street savvy. He also was a very successful businessman, amassing considerable wealth in real estate and other business dealings. Before joining the Congress, De Priest briefly founded his own Independent Party called "The People's Movement" and he was the first african american elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1904 and the first African American elected to Chicago's City Council in 1915.

"Politics was recreation to me. I always enjoyed a good fight!"

U.S. Congressman Oscar De Priest

A much higher ratio of African Americans than the national norm have been elected to office as Republicans in Illinois. This is directly because of Lincoln. In fact, the reason why we celebrate Abraham Lincoln's birthday as a National Holiday today, is because of legislation FIRST introduced by Oscar De Priest in 1931 to make Abraham Lincoln's Birthday a legal, national holiday.

"Lincoln's voice trembled when he spoke, in Gettysburg, those ringing words: "Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure." Yes, Lincoln knew the cosmic importance of not allowing this nation "of the people, by the people, for the people" to not perish from the Earth!"

World Renowned Astrologer, the Late Linda Goodman

"Yes, Lincoln knew the cosmic importance". So did many others throughout the history of Illinois long after Lincoln's death. Chicago Based African Americans, in particular, have a very special love and respect for Lincoln's vision and legacy. Mr. Fuller was also a great Abraham Lincoln fan and spoke often of him. Although a Democrat, Mayor Washington quoted Lincoln often and was a great admirer of his.

Admiration for Lincoln is also a HUGE reason why President Barack Obama has such a special bond and close affinity to Abraham Lincoln and it is also partly why he is so respectful of Republicans. It is not an accident or coincidence that Obama chose the birth place of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield Illinois to launch his campaign for the Presidency on February 10th 2007.

It is also not a coincidence that Obama became the first President in US history to take his oath of office on Lincoln's personal bible. If you look closely during photo opps in the Oval Office when President Obama is meeting with various foreign and other important dignitaries, you will always see a bust of Lincoln sitting directly over Obama's shoulder, near the chair reserved for the President. When I first noticed this, I found it to be very poignant.

It has been reported that when he was a Senator, Obama many times would go to the Lincoln Memorial late at night after hours and sit at the feet of Lincoln in order to contemplate or think about a serious problem or issue. Obama has said that this helped to give him great clarity and insight on whatever problem or issue he was dealing with. Of course, none of this is accidental.

Throughout history, many African American, in addition to Progressive Leaders of all nationalities from Illinois, both in and outside of politics, have felt that it was part of their mission and duty to fulfill the promise of Abraham Lincoln's overall legacy, and they have taken the importance of their mission very seriously.

Getting back to S.B. Fuller, Mr. Fuller also promoted civil rights and briefly headed the Chicago South Side NAACP. That did not last long, but that's a whole other story. During the 1960s, when the Civil Rights Movement was in full force, Mr. Fuller got to know Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. well. Dr. King had moved to the South Side of Chicago in the 60s to attack it's segregated housing policies.

Even though Mr. Fuller fully supported and was involved with Dr. King during the Civil Rights Movement, Mr. Fuller felt that the energies of African Americans were misdirected. He felt that African Americans were focusing on their status as second class citizens rather than on defining themselves as first class citizens and moving forward from that belief.

"The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character."

Margaret Chase Smith

Very interestingly, Mr. Fuller even tried to bring his enterprising mindset to the Civil Rights Movement. For example, during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Mr. Fuller tried to organize a cooperative effort to purchase the segregated bus company. He told Dr. King,"The bus company is losing money and are willing to sell. We should buy it."

Mr. Fuller was very irritated about african americans walking miles and miles, which many were doing. His question was why should they have to walk when we can just buy the company? Dr. King was reportedly skeptical of the idea and not enough people came forward to raise the money. Obviously, Mr. Fuller was, as usual, ahead of his time...even for Dr. King!

"Where there is capitalism, there is freedom."

S. B. Fuller

And ultimately, Mr. Fuller's idea of capitalism was Financial Freedom because, to him, Financial Freedom = Power! Although Mr. Fuller believed strongly in civil rights, Mr. Fuller's emphasis was always on the need for African Americans to go into business in their communities.

Mr. Fuller believed that the key to success was owning a business, for, by doing so, the money would stay within the african american community and empower african americans, making african americans less dependent on outside forces for their own livelihood. He truly felt that getting this message across was part of his calling or purpose in life. And it was!

S. B. Fuller gave inspiration, training and guidance to countless aspiring entrepreneurs and future business leaders including, my own Mom and Dad, and former fellow "Fullerites" like...John H. Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company, (Ebony Magazine, Jet Magazine, Fashion Fair Cosmetics), George E. Johnson and Ed Gardner of Johnson Products Company, (Softsheen Products), Fred Luster of Luster Products and Joe Louis Dudley of Dudley Products Company, who is now one of the few African American Billionaires.

"After I graduated from North Carolina A & T State University, I wanted to be a farmer like my father and grandfather. But a summer job at Fuller Products changed my life. The company was run by millionaire S.B. Fuller who was the richest black man of his time. I started working for them in 1957. They talked about being self-reliant and that meant a great deal to me. I purchased a $10.00 Fuller Products distributor kit. I didn't have to borrow money and it just kept growing. That is why I am where I am today."

Billionaire Joe Louis Dudley of Dudley Products Company

Joe L. Dudley was a protege of Mr. Fuller, worked very closely with him and even took over as the President of Fuller Products Company in 1976. I was fortunate enough to very unexpectantly meet Mr. Dudley at my former Spiritual Community in 2007, and as soon as I told him who I was and who my parents were, he immediately took out his business card and then proceeded to write his home and cell number on the card so that I could give all of his contact info to my parents. They had not spoken to each other in decades and I was very happy to facilitate the reunion.

"If there had been no you, there would be no us. We are here to say to a Prophet in his own time, and in his own community, that we have been touched and transformed by your life - and we are profoundly grateful."

John H. Johnson in a champagne toast, along with George E.Johnson, Joe Dudley and 2000 other former "Fullerites" (including my parents), at Mr. Fuller's 70th Birthday Dinner in 1975.

Truer words were never spoken. Mr. Fuller honestly failed to see any credible reason for the absence of motivation and entrepreneurial spirit among those of his own race. And he was very outspoken about it. Mr. Fuller was fearless. Although he had suffered the direct consequences of overt racism and discrimination, Mr. Fuller rarely seemed bitter towards white society.

"I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him."

Booker T. Washington

This did not stop Mr. Fuller from having huge problems with both whites and blacks. Joe Dudley of Dudley Products Company describes Mr. Fuller and his experience this way:

"He was a champion of black self-determination through business, which made him the focus of white racists. Oddly, Mr. Fuller also had enemies among his own people. Some blacks called him an Uncle Tom, because he stated that blacks could achieve success and prosperity if they pursued educations and developed businesses instead of relying on government handouts. While some African Americans misunderstood Fuller's calls for self-determination, which echoed those of Booker T. Washington and many of today's black leaders, I understood my Mentor's belief that once blacks had economic power, they could claim a full share of the American dream."

Joe Louis Dudley

Mr. Fuller was a very interesting and a very absorbing man. He was really deep! I did do a little bit of research for this commentary about him, but not as much as usual. This is because a great deal of what I have written here comes directly from my own personal recollection of S.B. Fuller. You see, I very fortunately got a chance to get to know Mr. Fuller personally in 1983.

As I mentioned earlier in regard to my writing on Mayor Washington, I graduated high school in 1983, which was the same year of Mayor Washington's Historic Election. After graduation, I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. I knew I had no interest in college or any other school, (that will be explained later.)

Reading two books helped to set my course. The first book is detailed on one of the web pages on this website titled "This Book Changed My Life!" The name of the book was "The Power of the Subconscious Mind" and you can download a copy of that book absolutely Free at that web page.

That was my first "self help" book, a book that was like a bible in my childhood home and which my parents read constantly. That was because this particular book was one of the many books highly recommended by Mr. Fuller within his organization. The second book that I read was the book "Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude" by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone.

Napoleon Hill is the legendary author of probably the most well known personal development book in history,"Think and Grow Rich" and W. Clement Stone is also a legendary and widely well known personal development author.

Why this particular book also had such a HUGE impact on me was because profiled in the first chapter of that book was S. B. Fuller. Both Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone had actually interviewed him and chose to make Mr. Fuller their FIRST profile in the book. I was very impressed! As soon as I also read that book, Mr. Fuller's profile in particular, I was sold. I went to work for Fuller Products at 18 years old after graduating high school. My parents had left Fuller Products years ago by then to start their own businesses.

Even though the Company was not in good shape in 1983, a ground breaking Era was basically coming to an end, my brief time at Fuller Products Company was some of the most valuable time I have ever spent in my life. We had to attend sales/motivation meetings every morning and although very old and frail, Mr. Fuller was there every morning.

At that time, Joe L. Dudley had taken over as President of Fuller Products, but I rarely saw him because Mr. Dudley would split his time between Chicago and North Carolina where he also was overseeing his own Company, Dudley Products.

I sat right in the front row every morning on the side of the room where Mr. Fuller sat on the stage and just drank in the wisdom and knowledge. What was even better, Mr. Fuller actually took an interest and liking to me! He actually singled me out.

Many times in meetings he would look and point directly at me as he was making his comments, like he was directing his comments specifically at me. Mr. Fuller had a penchant for singling out people in the meetings to directly ask questions to make his overall point. Of course, he would always call on me, the youngest person in the room.

For a time, I thought he was just picking on me. He would just all of a sudden call, (or yell) out "Jones", which was his name for me, which was the same name he called my Dad. I don't even think he knew my first name.

Most times when he "called me out" I was totally mortified because I was extremely shy. Eventually, I just thought he liked pretty girls. Even in his 80s, Mr. Fuller was a very harmless flirt and I have to admit, I eventually learned to take full advantage of that fact, once I got over my embarassment.

Many times, right after our daily meetings, me and my best friend Janet, who also joined Fuller Products with me, went to Mr. Fuller's office where he would just talk and talk, telling us fascinating stories and giving his wisdom and philosophy.

I have to say that my first remembered experience of actively utilizing my cognitive complexity was with Mr. Fuller, but I mostly utilized it silently, because I would have never challenged him on anything at only 18 years old. I was much too intimidated.

But I learned to just listen and silently separate what I agreed with and what I was not sure of. But I also asked lots and lots of questions, which Mr. Fuller totally loved. Although he was very old, his mind was still very sharp and he loved engaging it by talking about his philosophy on life, and more importantly, his hope for the future long after he was gone. Mr. Fuller was very interested in his philosophy and legacy living on.

"A lack of understanding of the capitalist system and not racial barriers keeps blacks from making progress."

S. B. Fuller

What was also very interesting, and also very controversial, about Mr. Fuller, particularly at that time, is that he did not "blame whites" for the black american experience. It's not that he did not acknowledge racism, particular during a time when racism was extremely prevalent. He was a constant and repeated "target" of racism, (he would never use the word "victim").

He just did not dwell on it nor did he believe it was a valid excuse for not excelling and prospering in life. He preached self reliance, capitalism, and having faith in yourself and, most of all, having faith in God.

"Anything the white man can do, so can you. Don't ever feel the way is closed to you because you are a Negro. All you need is faith in God and faith in yourself."

S. B. Fuller

As mentioned earlier, this did not go over too well with the traditional african american community and Mr. Fuller had many problems on both sides, from whites AND blacks. Mr. Fuller's Company was eventually, devastatingly effected by the anger and resentment he garnered from both sides, but he stood true to his beliefs regardless.

"Great Spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."

Albert Einstein

That was a heck of example of courage for a young 18 year old girl at that time and I must admit that it raised my own standards for how to deal courageously with whatever life has in store for me. That gift alone was priceless to me.

I also learned from Mr. Fuller the immense Power of the Subconscious Mind and it's critical importance, which is detailed prominently and extensively within this website. That is a direct influence of Mr. Fuller. Now you guys get to learn about it and experience it's power directly for yourself! Mr. Fuller taught Law of Attraction Principles even before they were called Law of Attraction Principles.

He truly believed that many people were trapped in what he called a self fulfilling prophecy claiming the mantle of victimhood and living from a mindset of helplessness and dependency versus changing and expanding their views about themselves and their vision of what they were truly capable of.

"Even if you are in the minority of One, Truth is still the Truth."

Gandhi

Mr. Fuller's simple definition of capitalism was financial freedom. He felt that people could only live a free life if they freed their minds or as he said it "unlock the shackles from your mind." Remember, a third of Mr. Fuller's salesforce was white, so he taught this to everyone, but his main focus was the african american community because he felt that the traditional african american leadership fostered what he called "a slave mentality" which Mr. Fuller was determined to undermine. Mr. Fuller was fearless, he did not mince words and his words many times caused controversy.

"Don't think of Power as a negative thing. Power is the ONLY thing that changes anything."

Then Senator Barack Obama

What I found so eerie about the above quote from then Senator Barack Obama is that it is the EXACT same thing that Mr. Fuller use to always say. I mean verbatim! In fact, many things that Obama has said over the past fews years, particularly while running for the Presidency, sounds like Obama is channeling both Mayor Washington and Mr. Fuller. It's really been kind of surreal for me, yet it is, of course, with a purpose.

For Mr. Fuller, the entire point of Economic Empowerment was to achieve Power to utilize towards more noble ends. It wasn't to make a lot of money and hold onto it to build a fat bank account. It was to EMPOWER ourselves economically so that we could go out and do more good in the world. In fact, that is the very same purpose of The Secret Wealth Network.

Mr. Fuller was all about negotiating from a position of Power versus negotiating from a position of weakness, which is what he felt that many, (but not all), in the traditional civil rights movement negotiated from.

And Mr. Fuller perfectly understood that...Economic Prosperity Equals Power!

In fact, here is a quote, from a most unlikely source, that sums this point up perfectly and further makes the case that I made earlier in regard to the value in listening to people to whom you usually disagree with because EVERYONE eventually has something valuable to say. Here is the quote from that "unlikely" source:

"Use power to help people. For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power and it is to serve people."

Former President George Bush, Sr.

That's it in a nutshell, ladies and gentlemen! Power is ultimately about serving people, and no one knew this fact better than S. B. Fuller. In looking back at Mr. Fuller's overall legacy, in my opinion, he really was the equivalent of a highly evolved leader and teacher, but he knew the TRUE purpose of his role as a leader and teacher.

That role was to help the individual to discover their own excellence and worth within and then to encourage that student to then FLY and possibly show others the same thing. It's like a Teacher in ANY field, the teacher's role is only temporary, not indefinite. To promote anything else is totally false and self serving.

Mr. Fuller totally understood this and knew that, if he was truly fulfilling his life's mission, his role in the lives of his sales force was only as a launching pad. He encouraged his sales force to think beyond Fuller Products and to not just stay within that "limited box" of Fuller Products, even though it had provided many benefits and prosperity to many, and would have been very "easy" to do.

Mr. Fuller was NOT about promoting the "easy life" with him taking you by the hand and showing you what to do...forever! Mr. Fuller knew that this was not his purpose. Mr. Fuller was about promoting TRUE empowerment to all who sought him out, and TRUE Empowerment did not involve staying "attached" to or dependent on him indefinitely. For the record, just because something is "easy", does not mean it is the best for you, particularly if you prevent yourself from growing and expanding in the process.

This is why great Business Titans like Joe Dudley, George E. Johnson, John H. Johnson, and countless other entrepreneurs, leaders, politicians, etc. were spawned by Fuller Products. That was it's exact mission and purpose!

"Fuller himself consistently supported black businesses. In the 1950s for example, when Johnson Products was burned out of it's small cosmetics operation, Fuller enabled George Johnson and his company to use Fuller's facilities in the interim. That Johnson was a competitor was irrelevant."

From Answers.com

Here is a man who was THE FIRST African American Multi Millionaire Male who helped to "launch" one of the FIRST African American Billionaire Males, if not the first, (Joe Dudley). I mean, how cool is that? And this was Mr. Fuller's EXACT intention! That reminds of that quote by Jesus the Christ, paraphrasing here, "greater things shall you do..."

Mr. Fuller was not about cultivating followers who would hang on to him and depend on him for their guidance indefinitely. Mr. Fuller was all about creating Leaders who would "go forth and multiply" their efforts, empowering others and creating more leaders along the way. Many of todays Leaders, Teachers, "Gurus" etc. could learn a great deal from Mr. Fuller's much higher and much more evolved example.

Also, I credit Mr. Fuller's influence in regard to growing up in a household where both parents were equal partners. Interestingly, my experience as a child was different from most african americans at that time because I not only grew up in a household with both parents, but all I saw was african american couples in equal partnership, working together. At Fuller Products, both the husband and the wife were Fullerites, and their partnership was equal, with the couple working together as a unit.

My only experience growing up was 2 parent african american families who lived in nice houses and drove nice cars. The husband and wife always worked together as equal partners. This was even the case with Joe Dudley and his wife, John H Johnson and his wife and even Mr. Fuller and his wife. This is a great example of the Law of Attraction in regard to "like attracting like."

In the case of my own parents, both my mother and father were incredible role models for me. My mother was such an excellent and savvy business woman that I just thought it was totally natural for an african american woman to easily excel in business and to be really smart and really capable. My parents were true partners, always mentally and intellectually engaged with one another. They, to this day, remain interested in each other.

One of my most enduring memories of growing up with my parents was how much they talked to each other. They talked constantly. On long car trips it was just talk, talk, talk, much to mine and my siblings irritation. We wanted the radio on. They picked each other's brains and played well off each other. Each greatly respected and listened to what the other had to say. And the families at Fuller Products for the most part stayed intact.

My mom just celebrated her 74th birthday this year on Valentine's Day and when I called to speak to her, she told me the most wonderful story. My mom has been very ill for the past several years with different ailments but what has helped to sustain her is the love of her family, particularly the love from my father.

My father is going to be 79 years old this coming April and he only just retired a month ago! My dad, just like Mr. Fuller, also only had a sixth grade education and was working as a dishwasher before he joined Fuller Products Company. He worked up until he was almost 79 years old, doing what he loved and did best, Sales.

Up until a month ago, he got up at 4:30 am every morning to go to work everyday and was mostly always in great health. It's only because he wanted to be home to spend more time looking after my mother that he retired. If it were up to him, he would have worked forever. My dad to this very day is the best man I know.

Anyway, when I spoke to my mother on her birthday this year, I asked her how her birthday was and she told me about all of the lovely gifts she received from all of us kids, (yes, even though me and my siblings are now in our 40s and 50s, my parents still call us "the kids"), the grandkids, and the great grandkids. When I asked "what did daddy get you for your birthday?" she said, "He got me a pair of diamond earrings!" I said "Wow, daddy got you diamond earrings?" "I don't remember him getting you anything that romantic before."

You see, my dad never was known to be "Mr. Romantic" which was something that we all use to joke about growing up. My mother said, "Yeah, he came in a couple of days ago and asked me, what do you want for your birthday and I just said the first thing that came to my mind "diamond earrings" as a joke." My mom then said she almost had a heart attack when he gave her the gift of diamond earrings on her birthday.

My mom said that when she screamed in shock and delight at the gift, she said my dad just looked at her with a puzzled look on his face and said "You SAID you wanted diamond earrings!" My mother and I had a good laugh at the fact that she learned after more than 46 years of marriage, at 74 years old, that all she had to do is say whatever she wanted for her birthday gift and my dad would get it for her, not the usual kitchen appliance or the less than romantic present my dad would usually pick out on his own. I thought it was a lovely example of how the element of "surprise" could be sustained in a marriage even after more than 46 years.

Returning back to Mr. Fuller, what an excellent example he was! Most importantly, Mr. Fuller was just REAL and he was true to his heart, no matter what. He knew his purpose in life and he just lived it. He did not, nor could not have ever lived a life of pretense or lived a life based on anything but his truth. He was just the REAL DEAL, God Bless Him!

"Courage is the power to do something in spite of difficulties and challenges."

Joe Louis Dudley

Please don't get me wrong, Mr. Fuller was no Saint! Not even close! But, most importantly, he did not pretend to be. Mr. Fuller was blunt, to the point, told the truth as he saw it and he did not mince words. I did not always agree with everything he said, (although I never told him that), but I did either agree or come to agree with him on many things that he said, particularly as I matured.

As I do now, I basically kept the parts that clicked for me and disgarded the rest. That's what every cognitively complex person does. You go with what resonates as true for you. But even if I disagreed with some of what Mr. Fuller said, I knew that he was right on target on many points. I greatly respected and loved Mr. Fuller and the time I spent in those daily meetings and the hours and hours of after meeting conversations with him, literally changed my life.

"It is contrary to the laws of nature for man to stand still; he must move forward, or the eternal march of progress will force him backward."

S.B. Fuller

Mr. Fuller said to me, on more than one occasion during our numerous after meeting talks, that he wasn't just speaking to me "aimlessly" or "without purpose." He told me that he saw something special in me. He actually said that he saw the makings of a smart and effective leader in me. He told me that he wanted me to share his message and that he expected his words to live on through me.

"One generation lays the foundation for succeeding generations."

Booker T. Washington

I thought he was joking. I totally did not take him seriously. I did not believe him. I thought that Mr. Fuller was just flattering and flirting with me. You have to remember that I was only 18 years old and no one had ever said anything like that to me before. The most that I had heard up to that point in regard to my potential is that I would be a great Model. Based on this, I briefly went to Modeling School at 17 years old...and promptly hated it.

I did learn however that orange was not my best color and how to make my eyes "pop out" at you. I found that when you are a really attractive girl/woman, your brain or what you think does not get all that much attention. Luckily, I eventually learned to use that to my advantage and began to actually like being underestimated.

I did not take Mr. Fuller's surprising comments the least bit seriously, so much, that I actually forgot all about his prophetic words to me in 1983 until very recently as this website was being completed. I shockingly discovered that parts of Mr. Fuller's message was indeed living on through me via this website...but totally on a subconscious level which I had totally been unaware of. I discovered a lot. I remembered a lot.

I discovered Mr. Fuller's subtle yet life long influence on me and my life had all been happening at a subconscious level until very recently. When I went back to re-read my words written many months ago, I even saw a great deal of similarity in the way Mr. Fuller spoke, mainly his blunt and "tell it to you straight" style. I do think I managed to be more "lady-like" in my bluntness. At least I hope I did.

In a nutshell ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Fuller's overall philosophy of Self Determination, Self Responsibility and Self Empowerment Via Financial Freedom applies to absolutely EVERYONE. His message of amassing financial power "to put towards more noble ends", is for Everyone.

I have just changed his words to give them a more up to date vibe to "Create And Be The Change." Basically, it's the same message. This is the overall message that Mr. Fuller ultimately wanted me to share with the world as his messenger, and that is exactly what I am now doing via this revolutionary website. And what an honor it is for me to do that!

It is my hope and prayer that this "downturn" in the economy will be viewed by many as the silver lining in a very dark cloud that it really and truly is. Hopefully, it will force people to get real and stop spending money that they do not have.

NEWS FLASH, Ladies & Gentlemen: Credit Card charges are you spending money that you DO NOT have! It's not yours, it's the banks and you have to eventually pay it back...with interest. Maybe a case could be made for those who pay off their credit card statements by the end of the month or who use their credit cards for itemization and budgeting purposes, but we all know that this is not the way the majority of Americans live, which is why the credit markets are collasping now. That does not sound like financial freedom and empowerment to me.

"The problem is us. The problem is not the banks, greedy though they may be, over paid though they may be. The problem is us. We've been living very high on the hog. Our living standard has been rising dramatically in the last 25 years. And we have been borrowing much of the money to make that prosperity happen."

Columbia Professor David Beim

Ahhh...but there is the rub or the dirty little secret! Borrowed Money is NOT prosperity, my friends! There is the elephant in the room which many people in all of their indignation and anger at Wall Street fail to acknowledge, (at their own peril). I repeat, Borrowed Money is NOT prosperity. It can give the "illusion" of prosperity but hopefully we all know that an illusion is not Real!

We can aim our arrows and guns at the powers that be all we want, and we should, particularly aim our disdain and anger at the former adminstration that was in power for the last eight years which took us from a surplus into this current mess. We should, most definitely aim our fire at the greedy banks, corporations, Wall Street tycoons, etc. who further accelerated this disaster, by letting the good times roll at the expense of the rest of us.

There is definitely enough blame to go around. But let us not stop there. If we are really going to ensure that this never happens again and, more importantly to me, that our children and grandchildren are not left holding the bag for this mess that we as a nation have so irresponsibly created for ourselves, we also have to aim our fire at the person that we see when we look in the mirror. Only in accepting personal responsibility for our part in this mess can we ensure it never happens again.

"Recessions are not uncommon. Markets and economies naturally ebb and flow, as we have seen many times in our history. But this recession is different. This recession was not caused by a normal downturn in the business cycle. It was caused by a perfect storm of irresponsibility and poor decision-making that stretched from Wall Street to Washington to Main Street."

President Obama in April 2009 Economic Speech

And just in case you don't realize this...Main Street = All Of Us! It may be convenient or even cathartic to ONLY blame Wall Street and Washington, DC, but I am so happy that President Obama is courageously and accurately pointing out ALL of the culprits in this recession, because that is the only way to make sure this never happens again! The truth hurts, but it is also invaluable in regard to actually solving things.

All of us who are sitting on thousands of dollars in debt bear personal responsibility for our own individual part in this mess. Case in point, here is something that totally blew my mind. In 2007, American debt was 100 percent of the GDP, (Gross Domestic Product). 100 percent! That is only the second time in U.S. history that this has happened, the previous time was in the 1930s!

Yet, the millions of Americans who ran up that debt, as Professor David Beim stated in the above quote, living very high on the hog, trying to "keep up with the Jones", are many of the same people now outraged at Wall Street and the like.

This justified outrage is all well and good, as long as we can each have the courage to look at our own habits, behavior and lifestyle which may have also contributed to this mess. There is no separation, my friends, whether we like it or not! We are ALL contributing in some way to the Whole. The question is: Is your contribution supporting or taking away from the Whole?

Only you can answer that question!

"There is a parable at the end of the Sermon on the Mount that tells the story of two men. The first built his house on a pile of sand, and it was destroyed as soon as the storm hit. But the second is known as the wise man, for when..."the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house...it fell not; for it was founded upon rock."

President Obama from April 2009 Economic Speech

The Secret Wealth Network's business opportunity is about creating TRUE Prosperity, not make believe prosperity, which is the exact illusion credit cards create. We are not kids playing dress up and pretending that we actually have the money for that big house or that luxury car.

I found it very interesting that one of the first markets within the automobile industry to totally self destruct was the Car Leasing Market. You know, the market where you could lease and pretend like you were wealthy enough to drive that BMW.

The same thing is happening with the Housing Market for those with houses that many pretended they could afford. Or the adjustable rate mortgages that many failed to read the fineprint on. I was just watching a news report where a former School Principal is on the verge of having her home foreclosed on her because she failed to read the mortgage contract in detail. A Former School Principal!

I, of course, have empathy for everyone, even though it may sound like I don't, (ever heard of "tough love?") I also have "failed" numerous times to exercise personal responsibility in my own life, and I have paid dearly as a result of it. I also know that the majority of homeowners were severely taken advantage of by many corrupt business practices and lax regulatory loop holes that were deliberately exploited by some very greedy people in very high positions.

"It is simply not sustainable to have a 21st century financial system that is governed by 20th century rules and regulations that allowed the recklessness of a few to threaten the entire economy. It is not sustainable to have an economy where in one year, 40 percent of our corporate profits came from a financial sector that was based too much on inflated home prices, maxed-out credit cards, over leveraged banks and over-valued assets; or an economy where the incomes of the top one percent have skyrocketed while the typical working household has seen their income decline by nearly $2000.00."

President Obama from April 2009 Economic Speech

But my empathy does not discount the very real need for personal responsibility on everyone's part. We could get away with not taking responsibility for ourselves in the past, but not any longer. The exploding economy is now forcing people to become responsible and rethink, revision, reevaluate their practices and the way they lead their lives...and this is ultimately a good thing.

What is actually self destructing with this overall Economic Collaspe, ladies and gentlemen, is that HUGE illusion or fantasy that most of us were being fooled by. And on behalf of my children and my future grandchildren's stability and future, I, for one, am ecstatic about it!

"We cannot rebuild this economy on the same pile of sand. We must build our house upon rock. We must lay a new foundation for growth and prosperity - a foundation that will move us from an Era of borrow and spend to one where we save and invest; where we consume less at home and send more exports abroad. That is the New Foundation we must build. That is our Future."

President Obama from April 2009 Economic Speech

The Secret Wealth Network is all about enabling you to actually EARN the money that you do not have to spend, so you can spend it in truth and integrity, instead of repeatedly perpetuating the same tired fantasy by continuing to spend the bank's money which you are pretending is yours. I mean, do you have a better definition for debt?

There is much light being shined on the life of pretense and make believe that many people have been living, mainly because it has been falsely promoted by Wall Street and the powers that be as the american way. I don't think that this way of living and doing business was what our Founding Fathers had in mind!

"Think what you do when you run into debt; you give to another power over your liberty."

One Of America's Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin

When the 911 tragedy happened, the first thing that Former President Bush told Americans to do was to "go shopping"...and many actually took this as great advice! Let's just shop our sadness, fears and anxieties away!

Well, we now see where "going shopping" has gotten us, haven't we? Credit Crunch, anyone? The main purpose of The Secret Wealth Network's business opportunity is to help you to live from REALITY financially and not under the totally false sense of financial security which credit cards have given the majority of Americans. Not anymore...and that, believe it or not, is a good thing!

The Secret Wealth Network's business opportunity is about you achieving TRUE financial freedom so that you can spend and give authentically, freely, without any illusions or restrictions. That is the TRUE Self Empowerment that S. B Fuller advocated and what this entire website is all about. It is past time for everyone to Wake Up, come off of Fantasy Island (Remember...it's was cancelled!)...and Get Real!

In regard to Mr. Fuller's prophetic words to me, I knew that I remembered Mr. Fuller's words almost at the completion of this website so that I could honor Mr. Fuller's incredible legacy and pay tribute to him in some way. His incredible influence is very much a major part of this website.

This writing is my way of giving credit where it is due and in acknowledging Mr. Fuller's important and enduring historical legacy. And, again...

What An Amazing & Incredible Honor It Is For Me To Do That!

I had no idea of what Mr. Fuller truly represented in the context of American History until I began researching him very recently. Up until my research, he was just a really great man whom I knew and grew up with and whom I respected and admired and got to know personally a few years before he died. Because of my own father's influence and witnessing the example of many other great men within my parent's circle of influence, I never thought it was such a big deal. It was just normal for me.

On that point, via my research on Mr. Fuller, I stumbled across another person from my parent's circle of friends whom I simply remembered as "Mr. Howard" when I was a little girl. I was researching Mr. Fuller stumbled across a photo, did a double take, and said to myself "Oh My God! Mr. Howard!"

I remembered him from the Fuller Products meetings that I attended as a child and as another acquaintance of my parents. Again, it was no big deal to me. Just who was "Mr. Howard?"

T.R.M. Howard was an American civil rights leader, surgeon and entrepreneur. He was a mentor to Civil Rights Leader Medgar Evers, head of the Regional Council of Negro Leadership and played a prominent role in the investigation of the kidnapping of Emmett Till.

Now, I had no idea about any of this growing up as a child. Mr. Howard was just one of my parents many friends and associates.

How I found out about T.R.M. Howard recently is because there is a book that is coming out on his life in May 2009 titled, "Black Maverick: T.R.M. Howard's Fight For Civil Rights & Economic Power", written by David T. Beito and his wife Linda Royster Beito.

Here are some quotes regarding the book.

"No single individual brought down the South's Jim Crow regime, but there were a few dozen who played essential parts. Black Maverick convincingly elevates Howard