By Dante J. James
Managing Editor

As we enter this holiday season, and the end of 2006, many things have happened over the year.  Below are some things to ponder as 2007 unfolds. 

O.J.’s book deal (the unfortunately titled IF I Did It) and Fox television special go down in flames. Cynicism loses, optimism wins. Or was it just the possibility of losing a great deal of money that actually won. We’ll never know, but at the very least, a book that would disrespect his children, the judicial system, the victims and their friends, parents and relatives, and whoever decided to pay for such a book, will not become a reality. 

Colorado Politics
If, as the saying goes, “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” does it really make a difference who gets elected?  The Democrats will soon be in power, both in Colorado and nationally. Will a Gov. Ritter or a democratic Congress actually walk the walk or just talk the talk? Will a Ritter administration look like – and represent – the people of the state? There were almost no people of color in decision-making positions on his campaign team. What will his administration look like? 

Republicans vs. Democrats
Nationally, we must give the Republicans their “do” for placing people of color in positions of power. Whether you agree with their politics or not, George W. Bush has appointed:
Black National Security Advisor (and current Secretary of State) Condoleeza Rice
Black Secretary of State Colin Powell
Latino Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
Latina U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin
Latino Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez
Black Domestic Policy Advisor Claude Allen
Black Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson
It would be no surprise if the first Black presidential candidate from a major party came from the Republican Party. Condi vs. Hillary anyone?

Denver Elections
Is there really anything left to say? Actually there is. Election technology chief Anthony Rainey was placed on administrative leave and Denver Clerk and Recorder Wayne Vaden resigned. So why is the one person who had direct authority over the office and its staff still there? Election Commission Executive Director John Gaydeski said he “thought about firing Rainey” but didn’t. You either choose to manage your employees, or if they refuse to be managed, you fire them. He did neither. So much for “the buck stops here.” Vaden should still have his job, at least long enough to fire Gaydeski. 

Middle East and War
Generation after generation in the Middle East, there is hatred, death, destruction, terrorism and war, all based primarily on religion. How then, can there be an effort to address these issues if there is no effort to address the leadership’s interpretation of what God wants. Osama Bin Laden does what he does because it’s what God wants; President Bush does what he does because God has placed him there to carry out his plan. As we move into this holiday season, how do we convince those in power that death in the name of God should be considered the highest blasphemy?   

Michael Richards (Kramer from the TV show Seinfeld) went on a tirade during his recent standup routine at a comedy club in Los Angeles. In his response to two African American hecklers, he responded by calling them niggers, not once, not twice, not three times, but four times. Sadly, this kind of hateful attitude too easily comes to the surface for many people. However, what is more disgusting is the view of rappers and others who use the word and suggest that they are doing so to take its power away. That must be why a recent assault case in Boulder found the defendant not guilty of a hate crime after beating a Black man and calling him a nigger. The jury agreed with the argument that it wasn’t used in a hateful way, just a “hip hop” way with no racist intent. Guess the word had no power. Think again. That the media use “the N word”, or type it as “n----“ or “n****r” when they write about it suggests that the power is still there. The word nigger does still have power; it still causes a visceral reaction: there is no soft, nice, hip-hop, or brotherly way to use it. We demean, and society acknowledges.

In This Edition…
The Denver Urban Spectrum would like to welcome several new writers to the staff, and thank those continuing writers who offer their time, energy and spirit to the paper. They do so out of a desire to tell the stories of the community. This edition includes new writers Andrea Juarez on the Denver Fire Department and its efforts at recruitment and hiring of Black firefighters, and LisaMarie Martinez on keeping the holiday blues away. Learn about the beginnings of Kwanzaa in the words of its creator, and in our cover story, the life and times of baseball legend Buck O’Neil. Many other articles will keep your interest, but finally, don’t miss ColorScope, DUS’s award winning publication. 

Happy Holidays to all, and may the God of your choice bless you