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Fuck you and your VD. I was just in the presence of a great American Hero.
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Feb. 14th, 2008 | 05:07 pm
You can count this as an "Did You Know?: A Moment in Black History" type entry, I guess. Though it isn't sponsored by McDonalds or anything.
Texas State Representative Helen Giddings (D- De Soto) spoke to a group I was in about the history behind the unique relationship Texas Formed with the country of South Africa in the immediate post-apartheid era.
Rep. Giddings was the starter and head of the group whom was the first to visit the country after Apartheid, and set in place legislation that directly linked Texas economically and diplomatically with the new forming government. To this day, Rep. Giddings maintains a strong tie to the country and is the only Honorary Consul to be named in the post-apartheid era. It was she who moved to amend the state constitution and lift sanctions placed on S. Africa (there had previously been a state constitutional sanctions placed on the government of S. Africa in 1988, because of their apartheid actions), and she who went directly to (then) Governor Bush to demand that economic ties be established with the new South African government. He granted her wishes by allowing her to lead a group of 36 people to meet with various members of South Africa's government.
And she has met Nelson Mandela!
And has been in the same room (invited on the same exclusive guest list) with Muammar "G-Smoove" al-Gaddafi and Yasir Arafat.
That's like... Oprah juice.
She was also the first African-American AND woman to chair the Committee of Business and Industry. She was appointed by a Republican, and he go flack for it by the head of a business group. She heard about this man not liking her being a female minority head, and called some of the businesses involved with said group and asked if they shared in the chairman of the group's opinions, after their talk... those business pledged to no longer be associated with that group.
Power, influence, and dignity folks.
I wish I had a recording device with me, because she was the most amazing story teller, and I have the memory of a fruit fly. I was going to bring my camera with me to photograph some amusing and poignant Valentines Day graffiti sprayed on the business building, but damned if I forgot it. I missed a great photo op there. But I got her autograph.
It's people like her that help me stay inspiried and on this path that I have chosen. I really want to make some sort of difference in this world. She reminded me that one person, paired with a lot of drive and direction aided by others willing to help, can really do something worthwhile on this earth. I really need to refocus and find what I see as worthwhile, and what I'm willing to truly fight for in this world.
Later,
-Leon
Texas State Representative Helen Giddings (D- De Soto) spoke to a group I was in about the history behind the unique relationship Texas Formed with the country of South Africa in the immediate post-apartheid era.
Rep. Giddings was the starter and head of the group whom was the first to visit the country after Apartheid, and set in place legislation that directly linked Texas economically and diplomatically with the new forming government. To this day, Rep. Giddings maintains a strong tie to the country and is the only Honorary Consul to be named in the post-apartheid era. It was she who moved to amend the state constitution and lift sanctions placed on S. Africa (there had previously been a state constitutional sanctions placed on the government of S. Africa in 1988, because of their apartheid actions), and she who went directly to (then) Governor Bush to demand that economic ties be established with the new South African government. He granted her wishes by allowing her to lead a group of 36 people to meet with various members of South Africa's government.
And she has met Nelson Mandela!
And has been in the same room (invited on the same exclusive guest list) with Muammar "G-Smoove" al-Gaddafi and Yasir Arafat.
That's like... Oprah juice.
She was also the first African-American AND woman to chair the Committee of Business and Industry. She was appointed by a Republican, and he go flack for it by the head of a business group. She heard about this man not liking her being a female minority head, and called some of the businesses involved with said group and asked if they shared in the chairman of the group's opinions, after their talk... those business pledged to no longer be associated with that group.
Power, influence, and dignity folks.
I wish I had a recording device with me, because she was the most amazing story teller, and I have the memory of a fruit fly. I was going to bring my camera with me to photograph some amusing and poignant Valentines Day graffiti sprayed on the business building, but damned if I forgot it. I missed a great photo op there. But I got her autograph.
It's people like her that help me stay inspiried and on this path that I have chosen. I really want to make some sort of difference in this world. She reminded me that one person, paired with a lot of drive and direction aided by others willing to help, can really do something worthwhile on this earth. I really need to refocus and find what I see as worthwhile, and what I'm willing to truly fight for in this world.
Later,
-Leon