(REAL TIMES MEDIA)—One of the most interesting phenomena to watch as a political observer in this country is the vacillating narratives that occur when any tragic and unforeseen event happens. After the initial shocking event, you have the main facts that come out, then the right or the left attempts to define the event in terms that are most beneficial to their causes. This happens with movies, (everyone was trying to explain 300 and Avatar as statements about the War in Iraq), sporting events (New Orleans Saints win Superbowl and thus the Gulf is now fine) and yes tragedies like the shooting of Congresswoman Gifford in Arizona last weekend. As more facts come out, sometimes the politics are put aside and the event is viewed as an isolated occurrence. This should not be one of those times, Jared Loughner is a murderer spurred on by right wing rhetoric over the last three years. Any suggestions otherwise are simply paving the way for the next tragedy.

Last Wednesday evening, I was in attendance at Mosque #22 in Wilkinsburg as a participant in a lesson plan titled “Message To The Black Man” which was authored by the Hon. Elijah Muhammad. As I read, I was reminded of the many similarities between the Christian churches and the Nation of Islam and many other Black leaders such as Marcus Garvey, etc.

A number of present day ministers have accused the Nation of Islam of being racist, separatist, Black Nationalist, Black Supremacy, etc., but if they were more cognizant of the history of the Black church of my youth they would have had great difficulty being able to recognize one from the other.

(TEWire)—During the past two weeks, in response to successful grassroots campaigns, two governors have released Black Americans who had been railroaded by our nation’s criminal justice system.

Together, these cases speak to the urgent need for the work the NAACP and our allies are doing to encourage more governors to use their clemency authority as our nation’s founding fathers intended by freeing more deserving people more frequently.

(REAL TIMES MEDIA)—“I will do all I can to break down the wall of political correctness and drive the public debate on Islamic radicalization.”—Congressman Peter King, R-N.Y., Dec. 20, 2010

The incoming Republican Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee in Congress has thrown down the gauntlet against Islam. The problem is that the “Islam” question in American politics has for too long been muddied by international fears, racism, nationalism and a general lack of education in the American public. So when a prominent American politician declares that he’s taking an entire religion and its followers to task the question is what are Muslim Americans going to do about it?