esrosedotblog

YAZZUH

It is interesting that, when they are under fire and really need something, the bushers have no shame in asking Colin Powell to make testimonials to their good intentions and high quality performance. This is in contrast to their normal practice of putting him in deep background and low influence.

What is most amazing is that Powell himself has so little personal pride as to let this happen. There used to be a very unpleasant racial epithet for this kind of behavior but as we are in present times and the actual Powell behavior so blatantly servile, I am loathe to use it. Perhaps it is the good soldier idea which is great, when you are a soldier, but downright dysfunctional in serious public discourse.

I saw Powell once, but not for very long. He spoke at our son Dave's doctoral graduation at Harvard. It was at the time of 'don't ask, don't tell'. I was one of many who got up and left the auditorium when he began to speak. Of all things for a black man to go along with. Don't ask, don't tell. Of course a lot of black people fell into this category for a long time in the military. Don't ask and don't tell about in your face discrimination and prejudice. Perhaps that is why he has no embarrassment about being asked to bail out the man when the man has done so little for him. It is an abiding mystery to me.