I Must Admit…It’s True

I haven’t taken the time to sit down to leave a few words in quite a while. It’s unfortunate that I had to be angered to compose this piece. Teddy makes a great point in this quote. Since my early years, I’ve been a student of the politics of the day. I’ll never forget the surprise on the face of Jerry Hickman as I was describing the layers of government in civics class (and correcting the textbook on at least one occasion). I believe that, while it isn’t perfect, we have the greatest governmental machine in the world. We allow, to a certain extent, the people to choose their leaders, their laws and their fate. No other country in the world allows as many freedoms as are allowed in the United States of America. So my next position will bring pause to some of you. I personally believe we have too many freedoms in this country and, to a certain extent, we allow the people to be involved in too much that they’re uninformed about.


This quote says a great deal, especially when you reflect on those you know who either were vehemently opposed to President Barack Obama and couldn’t tell you why, or those who were staunch supporters and couldn’t tell you what his platform was. I mean I literally heard a woman argue that she didn’t like the president because he sat under the pastorate of Jeremiah Wright and had to know he was racist. She then said her issue was that he was a Muslim and didn’t back down from either when exposed to the contrast between the two, adding that he was an atheist because his father was one. So I guess that made him an Islamic Christian atheist. On the other hand I spoke to a woman who was upwards of 45 years old who admitted that it was her first time voting when the president ran in 2008. She went on to admit that she was only voting for him because she wanted to see a black man as president in her lifetime. I went on to tell her she was dishonoring the lives of those who dies for her to have the right to vote. I am of the mindset that neither of these people deserves the right to vote as they aren’t exercising the spirit of the vote in choosing whoever is best for their community and best for the position they are running.

I was one that argued against the statement that folks were opposed to our current president due to the hue of his epithelial coat. I was living with the notion that we are more intelligent, as a country, than that. However, with the compilation of events dating back to 2007, I must admit…it’s true. We’ve had folks oppose a president in the past and manage to still do what needs to be done for the country. We’ve had members of the senate and congress who didn’t agree with the president and put it aside to make sure the country’s best interest was first. We’ve had men and women in uniform not agree with the commander in chief but still carry out the orders presented to them. However, folks calling the president a liar on national television, governors verbally chastising a grown man in public (complete with the wagging finger) and now because he won reelection, utilizing the primary system set forth in this great country of ours (no supreme court intervention required), you have students burning effigies, signs and causing disturbances on college campuses and secession petitions being filed by some residents of the state of Texas (and over a dozen other states). With over 40,000 Texans signing this petition, I must admit…it’s true. This isn’t even scratching the surface on all of the other disgraceful antics displayed by members of the media, celebrities, sons of presidential opponents, etc that went unmentioned. On this day, I’m convinced that a great deal of the tom foolery allowed to go on with regard to the disrespect shown to the man sitting in the office of president of the United States is due to the his ancestral origin, I must admit…it’s true. When has it been allowed for a school to choose to not display the picture of the sitting president? When has it, or should it be, allowed for someone to lynch an effigy of a sitting president? At no time in American history have we seen a president, sitting or otherwise, disrespected at the level this one has. I, for one, am ashamed that we as a country cannot come together and do what needs to be done because some folks don’t want to follow someone that doesn’t look like them. I’m not saying everyone against him is against him because he’s black (that would be foolish and irresponsible), but I will say there is a contingent that’s making a noise that is wearing a brand new pair of these shoes and yes, they fit nicely, I must admit…it’s true. There are some who may be offended by this as there are others who think the same way but won’t say it.

Let’s be clear, I’m sick of folks thumping the racism card on the table every 10 seconds. I’m normally the last to make a claim of this nature (those who know me know this to be true)but in this case, I must admit…it’s true. It pains me to make this assertion in this case, but if you don’t see it the perhaps you need to take off the rose colored glasses. We, as a country, as a society, and as a people (American people) need to reexamine our relationships, our outlooks and reassess our allegiances. Do we really love our country, or are we for or against a particular person (or party)? Let’s all work together to stand firm for America, regardless of who sits as commander in chief. Respect the office, the man is just there for four more years.

It’s just my opinion, but I’m not wrong.

Nah, I’m Good, Just Chillin

In recent weeks I’ve been reading about the death of a young man walking down the street in a safe gated community in Florida. I read how his presence was so imposing and his actions so threatening (with Skittles and iced tea) that he lost his life as a result of his heinous actions and intimidating presence. In the wake of the loss of his life, there’s been outrage, uproar, national outcry and finally an FBI probe. It’s been a while since I posted (life happens), but this one really pulled me back into reality. It’s one thing to get pulled over for DWB, as another friend of mine experienced recently in his Porsche, but this kid was walking while black. Too often, as a community, we’ve postured ourselves in a laid back, chilling position and not gotten involved. We look at the news, comment on how horrible something is, then we lean back and chill again. As long as we remain in chill mode nothing will change…then it could happen to you.
What took place here is an indicator of several other issues. You see this man, moved to this ‘gated community’ to put his family in a place for greater opportunities…because he’s made a few dollars and wanted something better for them. He didn’t want his kids growing up in ‘the hood.’ Sadly, as we saw when Tiger won the Master for his first time, when OJ got acquitted and countless other examples that could be mentioned, your race is still your race regardless of status, zip code, friends, or elected office. This kid lost his life, not because he was a hooligan, miscreant or even a ‘wanna be’ thug [from the mean streets of a gated community], but because an overzealous, idiotic bigoted moron decided it was his way to get 15 minutes of fame. It’s ludicrous that Zimmerman is still walking the streets, even laughable that he’s still breathing. What he did was at the worst murder, in the least man slaughter. They may be able to argue that he didn’t premeditate it so it wasn’t murder, but it was definitely the senseless loss of life for foolishness and he ought to be brought to justice for the life he took.
I’ve heard some argue about the law that was enacted in Florida recently about being able to shoot someone if you feel in fear of your life. However, this is not in any way in play here. There’s no way any defense attorney can argue that this idiot was in fear of his life especially since he was following the kid even after he was told by the 911 dispatcher . I’m personally in favor of a law of this sort due to the times I’ve seen, read and heard of folks being sued by someone they shot who had threatened them, harmed them, etc. We can’t throw out the baby with the bathwater in these types of cases. What needs to be established is whether or not there was an imminent, actual threat to this idiot’s life by Trayvon Martin…the child has was following…the child he was told the police would handle…the child that was screaming for help immediately prior to being shot to death…the child whose only weapons were Skittles and iced tea. Zimmerman needs to be arrested; charged and sentenced…Trayvon’s family deserves that justice...as soon as possible.

It’s just my opinion but I’m not wrong!

Apologize for What?!?!?!

A couple of nights ago the Dallas County Commissioner’s court had a train of citizens, mostly from the Tea Party and mostly white, lined up at the microphone to speak out against John Wiley Price. As he had in weeks prior, he listened, made a few faces and allowed them to speak. They are citizens and allowed to speak to their elected officials about their concerns, so they were within their rights. What I respect about this man is the fact that he didn’t stay in an office in the back while he was maligned, accused of malfeasance and corruption for wielding the power he has on the court to force the resignation of a county employee. Yes, he exhibited various facial expressions and body language as an exhibition of his displeasure and disagreement, but he sat there and listened. Then one of the speakers decided to antagonize Mr. Price by calling him a name, repeatedly. Certainly they’re claiming that he misunderstood what they were saying and they didn’t mean it the way he took it. They’re saying that they were using a word that meant some sort of educated Muslim who’s in power, or whatever [Mullah], rather than moolie, the word Price perceived them to say, which is a derogatory racist term. After he used the term several times Price erupted and told him to go to hell. He then lost his cool and said, "Why are all the speakers white?" And then, "All of you are white. Go to hell." What bothers me is the fact that media outlets like the Dallas Morning News, Fox4News and others are saying that Price should apologize. That he, as an elected official should have kept his cool; that he shouldn’t even have called one of the chief antagonists “…fat boy”. Heather Hayes, during an interview with him, really aggravated me when she asked him, “Don’t you think you should apologize for telling all white people to go to hell?” What?!?!?! When did he say all white people go to hell? He was speaking specifically to white people in the room who were antagonizing him.
Sadly, no one is making light of the chicanery carried out by the guy who continually baited Price. While some could have, and would have, kept their cool; I’m glad he didn’t… I’m glad he went off on them…I’m glad he let them know that there are some buttons you just don’t push. Too often punks like this guy and his group of imbecilic morons take someone to task and then act like they didn’t do anything at all. The only thing better for me to see for people like this, is to see them get the occasional broken nose or fractured jaw. The look on their face is classic when they get what they ultimately deserve, a good beat down. Don’t get me wrong, those who know me know that I’m in no way a proponent of John Wiley Price, but I loathe those who antagonize to no end then act like they don’t know why someone goes off on them. Stand firm on your unapologetic ego and don’t offer them anything as an apology. Then again, your apology can say, “I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for my actions during the Dallas County Commissioner’s court this past week. What transpired was not acceptable and should not have taken place. I can assure you that if placed in this same situation again, I will most definitely handle myself in a proper fashion and knock one of them out…hopefully they might wake up with some sense.”

State of the Union…WOW!

I was elated when I got out of class early this evening so that I could have the opportunity to make it home to watch the State of the Union address. Unlike many folks who just started watching it this year, I make every effort to witness this speech every January…regardless of who's in the White House. I originally intended on addressing specific issues that I found with the address itself, but I perused Facebook prior to starting on this offering. After reading many of the posts on people's status update I must say that I'm not only appalled, but disappointed. We have folks making statements like, '…they don't want to respect OUR president…they already had their turn when THEIR president was in office…they just racist cause they don't want to stand up and clap for Obama.' While these status updates and the sentiments that fueled them may not be a big deal to some, I find them majorly offensive and, might I say, trifling. Here we are in 2010 and we're placing ourselves (black folk) in a self imposed segregationist situation. Let me educate you morons who insist on making these types of statements. If you were born in America George Bush (both of them) was YOUR president and when you see them they still carry the title Mr. President. President Obama is every American's president. What really pains me about this crap is two things (1) if someone white had made the statement that he is y'all president and our president was the last one then the National Action Network, NACP, SCLC, ACLU, and a bunch of other initials would be picketing, boycotting, and protesting. (2) Every time you refer to President Obama as Obama, you're disrespecting the man, the office and the title he earned by virtue of winning the election. Call the man President Obama…it's only proper and fitting. George Washington and his advisors toiled with a fitting title for the president of the United States. They toyed with Your Excellence, Your Majesty, and others, but settled on Mr. President. This is a title that is earned for life by simply serving one term. Give him the respect due his office.

On another note, I would be willing to bet a dollar to a dime that all of these short sighted, rabble rousing hooligans who are running around screaming racism and posting this idiocy in their status updates didn't watch any of the State of the Union addresses that Clinton, Bush or Reagan gave. Let me educate you on something. The republicans never stand for a democrat and the democrats never stand and applaud a republican. Besides, what awe inspiring statements are really made in the State of the Union address (including this one)? It's generally a bunch of rhetoric and either promises of what I want to do, reason I didn't do what I said I'd do or like tonight a tongue lashing of the house of congress and senate for not doing more. If you don't know anything about politics, government or and manner in which things are done, please learn something before you open your mouth and exhibit your ignorance. There was even one person making light of the fact that the Supreme Court justices simply sat there and didn't applaud anything. Again, I say…educate yourself. I've not seen the Supreme Court justices react to, applaud or even appear to be listening to any State of the Union address since I started watching them when I was in middle school. While the political machine that we call our government is one that has many cogs and wheels, it has but two major organs, and they are opposed to one another even to the detriment of the greater good. Sometimes being contrary for the sake of being contrary [I believe]. This transpires on both sides of the aisle.

Rather than me taking the time to assess the things that President Obama put forth. Rather than me dissecting the republican response, I'll issue a challenge. I challenge every American who reads these words to get involved, get educated, and don't miss an opportunity to cast an educated vote. Whether for dog catcher or president of the US your voice needs to be heard. Please stop crying racism when it is apparent to Ray Charles and Ronnie Millsap that it isn't. What will happen is when it really is, no one will pay any attention. Just like the boy who cried wolf. So I say this. Do what you need to do to make sure this country remains the best in the world [I believe this to be true] and that we continue to meet and surpass our goals as individuals, members of various organizations, and this country as a whole. Presently the state of our union, from a social perspective, is on life support. We are no further along than we were in 1967. Not because we haven't been educated, but because we're refusing to let go of things that took place in the past and we work to keep the division between the races going. Let it go people…let it go.

It's Just my Opinion, but I'm Not Wrong!!!

Sit your *#% Down Jesse!!!

As many of you might have heard over the past couple of weeks, Jesse is back in the news again. For years I've referenced him as a camera whore and have been less than impressed with his antics and shenanigans over the past couple of decades. There are several facts that Jesse needs to come to grips with.

1. His run for the white house was less than mediocre and a waste of time and money
2. He failed to gain the nomination of the party because he was running to be president of BLACK folks, not president of the USA
3. Obama’s campaign and presumptive nomination don’t resemble either of these.
   

Jesse has fallen into the delusion that too many of our people have. They seek out injustice and racism wherever they can find it and often times wherever they can create it. His last little statement that was ‘accidentally’ caught on a hot mic was indicative if the REAL, do as I say, not as I do Jesse. It was also a screaming example of his idiocy. He was on FOX for crying out loud. Everyone knows that FOX News is a tool of the extreme right wing Conservatives. He should have known they’d try to do something to get him to make a fool of himself and, to them, black people. I, unfortunately, had to come to grips with the fact that when one black man does something stupid [like this] we are all painted with the same brush. I had to come to grips with the fact that when a black preacher [I still don’t ever recall hearing him preach] does something stupid [like this] all black preachers are put in the category with him. Don’t agree?? Look back over the years and focus on times and events that shaped this country and the lives of black Americans. Who do they ALWAYS go to as the voice of Black America? Hmmm…Jesse and his perm wearing cohort Al!!! I don’t know about you, but neither of them speak for me!!!

He started out by making statements about Obama not acting ‘black enough’ after the Carolina primaries, now this comes to light. I was taken aback by the ludicrosity of this crap. He’s been in TV stations and interviewed across this land for over 30 years and makes a mistake like this? Come on Jesse!!!! I believe it was intentionally done so that this little whore could get some more camera time. So that this little sissy could let everyone know tat he’s sulking in the corner with sour grapes because this ONE campaign eclipsed BOTH of his in one fell swoop. I think it was his way to get back a Barack for the speech he gave on father’s day about black men needing to stand up and be real men. Take care of and nurture the children they made. To Jesse that was like a kick in the stomach…stomping on his toes…kicking him in the shins. Oh yeah, most of America has forgotten about the staff member he knocked up and hid away. That was what 8 or 9 years ago wasn’t it?

When’s the last time Jesse decorated for a birthday party? Went to a parent teacher conference? Went to a piano recital? …soccer game? …read a bedtime story? You see, Obama has the credentials to make the statements he made because he’s doing the things he says others ought to. He lets his constituents and staffers know tat he needs to get home every once in a while to see and spend time with his kids. Not have his organization send a check over every month. Don’t get m wrong…Obama was kicking me in the shins and stomping on my toes as well. However, rather than getting mad at him for telling the truth, I looked internally at myself and what I can do to change the future and my position as a father. I challenge other men out there to do the same. If you’re not a good dad, do your best to be the best one. If you’re a good dad, try to be a great one. It’s your calling, your responsibility, your duty.

Jesse…get a job…do something constructive with the rest of your life!

…oh yeah, take Al with you!

And stop the bitchassness [ I never thought I'd use that word, but it's so fitting here] !!

It’s just my opinion, but I’m not wrong!!!