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The legacy of military valor and achievement by African Americans is truly a source of pride for African Americans in all walks of life.  But the changes the military has undergone to accept the presence of black men in uniform has very much mirrored the struggles for integration in society at large.

The history of truly heroic achievements by African American soldiers is just as honorable as any in military history.  They include…

*     March 3, 1770 – The first American to die in the Revolutionary war was a black soldier by the name of Crispus Attucks.  He was killed when British soldiers fired on a peaceful gathering in Boston, Massachusetts starting the war that lead to America’s independence.

*     In World War II – Vernon J. Baker took leadership in attacking dug in German machine gun emplacements destroying six and killing twenty six German soldiers.  He received the Congressional Metal of Honor for his bravery.

*     December 7, 1941 – During the horrendous Pearl Harbor attacks, a black galley cook by the name of Dorie Miller on board the USS West Virginia rushed to the deck as his fellow soldiers lay wounded and dying all around him.  He valiantly took control of the machine gun emplacement on the deck and repelled the dive bombers keeping them from further killing and injuring his comrades in arms.  For his courage, Dorie Miller received the first Silver Star of World War II.

These are just a few of the hundreds of stories of courage and outstanding service to country made by black men throughout America’s history.  Within the military, racial prejudice has long gone by the wayside because when men stand side by side in battle, they are brothers first, fellow soldiers second and people of race a distant third if at all.  Battle has a way of equalizing all men and real soldiers know that.  So the military has been an opportunity to cultivate equality and acceptance because it is a culture where being a good solider is always more important than any petty prejudices any man might carry.

But it took longer for the military as an institution to catch up with what soldiers new instinctively on the battlefield – that all men are equal when they are brothers in arms.  Finally on July 26, 1948, President Truman issued Executive Order Number 9981 which stated in no uncertain terms what the U.S. Military’s policy was concerning racial segregations…

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale.

We can be grateful for courageous leadership such as President Truman’s and for the leadership of the military establishment to set the tone for the eventual social condemnation of segregation.  While it is regrettable that American has had to sustain an army to battle her enemies over the centuries, there is no question that the high ethical and moral conduct that is needed for military men to perform in combat follows those men into society when their service to their country is through.

And that is one of the many reasons that the desegregation of the military dictated that not only would racism no longer be tolerated by the American military, it would soon be viewed as ignorant and unacceptable in American society as well.  While there is still work to be done to make that dream a reality, accomplishments such as these we have discussed lay the groundwork for a better world of integration for all American citizens.

Black history has been a progressive climb from without the lowest echelons of society during slavery to the highest.  When you think of black history, we often think of the civil rights movement, of John Brown’s violent protests, of the Underground Railroad.  But black history doesn’t end with any one event.  It is always in the process of being made every day.

Even in the last ten years, huge steps forward have been made at the very top governmental positions by notable and highly qualified black Americans who are making all of us proud in the contributions they are making to America.  Colin Powell was an accomplished general who demonstrated with quiet dignity and authority that he could lead many men into battle.  He was rewarded for his valiant efforts finally reaching the very top levels of the government serving as President Bush’s Secretary of State in his first administration.  Throughout the halls of government and anywhere Secretary Powell served, he was treated with respect and the honor that he deserved for serving his country so well.

Following the honorable service of Colin Powell a just as distinguished public servant, a black woman by the name of Condoleezza Rice.  It was a proud day when she stepped into that office showing how far America had come from the days when blacks could not eat in the same restaurants as whites or drink from the same drinking fountains.  And her service has been just as distinguished, meeting with heads of state from Africa to Europe to the Middle East to South America and making great accomplishments throughout her career.

These two black Americans are true examples of Doctor King’s vision of people who were recognized not for the color of their skin but the content of their character.  Their excellence as leaders and their amazing resume’s they brought to their jobs provide tremendous inspiration to black boys and girls in school that they too can rise up in this society and go as far as they want to go if they let their natural gifts and skills come to the surface.  They do not need a government program or special help to succeed.  America has far to go but Dr. Rice and General Powell are examples that the system can reward black people of excellence and will not over look the contributions they can make to America’s future.

And now we are on that part of black history that is yet to be.  The future is a part of black history yet to be written.  And we witness another black leader of excellence preparing to be considered for the very top position of power in the country, perhaps in the world, the presidency of the United States.  And as with General Powell and Dr. Rice, Barrack Obama will not be judged as a black man or in the context of the racial struggle in this country.  Already he is being admired and praised for his leadership, his eloquence and his ability to bring new vision to this country.  It is a day of pride for all of black America to see Barrack Obama be considered for this position.  He will have to work hard and be judged on his talents, skills, experience and ability to lead.  But it’s a testimony to how far the country has come that he has just as much of a chance to win that election as any other candidate.  And if he wins he will knock down one more barrier to black people and throughout African American society, children will be able to say, there is nothing I cannot do if I try hard.  And that is the vision every civil right leader since the civil war has wanted for blacks in America.

With the Democratic and Republican primary campaigns already able-bodied beneath way, the American accessible is actuality complex in a above assay of our civic priorities and administration for the years avant-garde including the affair of healthcare.

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll in March, afterwards Iraq, healthcare is the distinct best important affair amid American voters today.

And healthcare is an affair that we will abide to face behindhand of what happens on the all-embracing front. It anon affects all of us, our families, our friends, and our country.

Following the Congressional efforts to acquaint government negotiations of decree biologic prices, and as the battles for the nominations progress, the catechism afore us is; “What should be the healthcare calendar for America?”

We as a nation face astronomic challenges on the healthcare front. This country is the home to the best avant-garde medical ability on the planet, yet abounding of our citizens accept little or no admission to affordable bloom care.

And while our healthcare arrangement has helped added and added Americans alive best and convalescent lives, the medical needs of a growing aged citizenry beggarly we charge ascertain fresh and added good agency to advice our arrangement bear the kinds and levels of affliction that are needed.

Americans appetite absolute advance on healthcare. They appetite to see healthcare needs and issues addressed in a spirit of partnership, not partisanship. That’s agency developing bi accessory solutions that reflect the best ascribe and account from Congress, the healthcare community, businesses, activity unions, and of advance the public.

What is bright is that America wants anybody to assignment calm in a able manner. If we do so, above advance is possible.

Medicare Allotment D apparent a huge bipartisan footfall advanced in acclamation the charge for affordable admission to decree drugs for our chief citizens. Medicare Allotment D has succeeded because of its acceptance and because it is alive for people.

According to a Wall Street Journal / Harris Interactive poll:

* 68% of voters beyond the country said this affairs is a footfall in the appropriate direction.

* 70% of enrollees say the plan has adored them money.

* 82% of enrollees say the plan has been accessible to use.

“Medicare Biologic Benefit Helps Best Enrollees Save, Poll Finds”

Wall Street Journal

November 7, 2006

What can we booty abroad from this?

By alive together, the associates of the two parties were able to accompany calm the best account from both abandon of the alley to actualize a broad-based affairs that succeeds in accomplishing abounding analytical goals.

It provides affordable admission for all our nation’s chief citizens, assures that participants will abide to accept the befalling to accept amid all the newest drugs (rather than a select, government-approved list), and supports America’s biologic analysis companies’ mission to advance newer and added able drugs to abode abounding of our best burning medical issues and conditions.

As important as this battleground footfall is, however, we still accept abundant added assignment to do to abutment the healthcare needs of all Americans.

As Americans, polling shows we are all affiliated about basal healthcare principles:

* Americans should accept the befalling to get the best analysis in the world.

* Americans should accept the abandon to accept their own doctor and primary affliction provider.

* All Americans charge fair admission to healthcare and aegis from ascent costs, decidedly costs associated with adverse illness.

The accessible expects absolute action. 64% of respondents in the Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Accessible Bloom analysis acquainted that the admiral and Congress can do a lot about the amount of bloom care.

In agreement of what should be done, the Kaiser poll begin accretion advantage for the uninsured is at the top of the account of aborigine concerns. An cutting 85% appetite the government to do added to advice accommodate bloom allowance for added Americans. Bodies from every allotment of the country appetite advance on authoritative bloom affliction costs, acceptable admission to medical care, and accouterment the accomplished accessible affection of care.

67% appetite the Admiral and Congress to access spending on medical analysis for analysis and cures of diseases such as cancer, affection disease, and diabetes.

Polling has additionally apparent able abutment for:

* Accouterment bloom allowance for all children.

* Supporting accomplish to advance accomplishing of medical technology to ascendancy costs and abate medical errors.

* Training and analysis doctors in rural areas and in economically beggared burghal areas so that no one is shut out from accepting bare affliction because of area they live.

* Increasing allotment for medical analysis to advice accumulate our country as the apple baton in anesthetic and medical treatments.

Healthcare should not become a accessory issue. We all accept too abundant at pale to let absolute advance get bogged bottomward in political gridlock. This attack division is the ideal time to put the accent area it belongs, and appeal real, practical, and cost-effective solutions to the healthcare claiming adverse our nation.