It's not the scare tactic du jour for this election cycle but gay marriage is still not resolved. Mildred Loving the black woman who with her white husband brought a suit against the state of Virginia that declared interracial marriage legal in 1967 died last Friday. Our parents and grandparents remember this era. This isn't the late 1800s or pre-war. Only a few years ago was it deemed acceptable by law. After 348 years people of different races could marry. There was actual "scientific" evidence that mongrel children of parents of different races were slower and had defects. As we all know this extremely ridiculous, there probably isn't one black american who has 100% black african blood. The main argument was black men marrying white women. They feared that black men would violate pure white women and steal them from their "natural" mates, the white man. The legalization of this type of marriage did not lead to the end of US civilization. Little mixed kids are just as capable as their counterparts. There isn't a higher rate of divorce or violence for mixed race couples (for every OJ there's a Scott Peterson). Life as we know it still exists and we even have a presidential hopeful to show for it.
For all of the arguments against interracial marriage there are only a few against gay marriage. It's not natural, the bible says it's wrong. That's it, no other arguments. Apparently unbeknownst to me if gay people are allowed to be married all other marriages will be null and void. Rights and services to married couples will have no value because a gay person also has that right. Children throughout the nation will think that it's ok to be gay and eventhough they aren't they'll turn gay, just because. This will be another step in pushing forth the gay agenda to take over the world and make it fierce. I say this of course jokingly but people out there really believe this.
While we wish to be offended by damn near everything on earth we should remember people who don't have the right to get married discover you hate your spouse and get a messy divorce.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Drugs, Guns and Prostitution should be legal in all 50 states
Lately I've been bombarded by news stories, commentary and conversation discussing the evils of people doing what people do. While I am morally against damn near everything I think that American citizens should be able to have certain freedoms. The main rights are the right as adults to engage in adult activity, whether it be smoking crack, being a john, or taking in target practice.
First on drugs. Drugs are dangerous, addictive, hazardous to your health and screw up many peoples lives. And I say so what, they chose to take drugs they need to suffer the consequences. Alcohol, smoking and legal drugs can do the exact same thing. All drugs should be legal and sold like alcohol or cigarettes. Because (prepare to be shocked and appalled) anyone who wants to do drugs now can get them. The only thing this would do would be to lessen the prison population. Taking drugs in and of itself should be legal however when you break laws that harm or inhibit the freedoms of others you should pay steep consequences. Example: If you decide to shoplift because of your drug habit you should get double the time. Because doing drugs is a personal choice you don't need meth to live. Anyone seeking help to end drug addiction should be able to enroll in FREE rehab. No one should be forced to go to rehab (ok Amy). I've watched enough Intervention to know why it does and doesn't work. There should be no second chances for parents on drugs who do not successfully complete rehab. No probation or suspended sentences for people on drugs who commit other crimes.
Now to guns. Gun manufacturers, the government and society does not make inner city black men shoot each other. They take it upon themselves to procure a firearm and use it for the most inane reasons known to man. The thousands if not millions of other gun owners in this country have never had to pop a cap in someone's rear. Every citizen over the age of 18 (with no prior convictions for violence) should be able to buy a gun. When they use that gun for something other than self-defense, hunting or target practice (in a controlled environment) they should face life in prison whether they kill someone or not. This is true even for cops (looking at the Sean Bell Murderers). Crazy and deranged people are able to legally buy guns now (VA Tech). The rest of us should have the same rights.
Prostitution is a victimless crime. I'm not talking about the sex slaves or women forced into prostitution. I'm talking about the one's who know exactly what they are doing and are of age. Men are always going to pay for sex. Whether it's on a run down corner or meeting some hooker dressed chick at the club. Let's remove the stigma. Men and women pay for prostitutes and that's their business and the business of their significant others. Making it illegal doesn't stop it. If a person that is married has sex with someone else does it matter if they paid or not?? No, it's still "immoral" according to most religions. Regulate it like any other profession. Make sure none of the prostitutes are younger than 18, no violence, give free STD/HIV testing and provide medications or a medical plan to those who may be infected, let people know. They should get hazard pay as well.
I personally want the government involved in my personal life as little as possible. Their job shouldn't be to save us from ourselves. That's actually our parent's job. It should be to protect our freedoms. If anyone attempts to interfere with our American liberties then there are plenty of jails for them. If I choose to be a AK-47 owning, coke head with a penchant for chiseled featured male escorts that's my right. If I shoot up the motel room while hyped up on PCP because the escort was taking too long with my doritos then I deserve to be locked away forever.
What is in place now doesn't stop any of the above from occurring. People who want drugs get drugs, they get illegal guns and pay for sex every day. Making it legal with stiff consequences and (gasp) help to overcome the vices makes more sense. It's the government's job to take care of what I as an individual have no control over like these gas prices, the economy, illegal immigration, roads, the wars etc. There are plenty of issues the government needs to address before they get involved in my personal life, regardless of how warped it may be.
First on drugs. Drugs are dangerous, addictive, hazardous to your health and screw up many peoples lives. And I say so what, they chose to take drugs they need to suffer the consequences. Alcohol, smoking and legal drugs can do the exact same thing. All drugs should be legal and sold like alcohol or cigarettes. Because (prepare to be shocked and appalled) anyone who wants to do drugs now can get them. The only thing this would do would be to lessen the prison population. Taking drugs in and of itself should be legal however when you break laws that harm or inhibit the freedoms of others you should pay steep consequences. Example: If you decide to shoplift because of your drug habit you should get double the time. Because doing drugs is a personal choice you don't need meth to live. Anyone seeking help to end drug addiction should be able to enroll in FREE rehab. No one should be forced to go to rehab (ok Amy). I've watched enough Intervention to know why it does and doesn't work. There should be no second chances for parents on drugs who do not successfully complete rehab. No probation or suspended sentences for people on drugs who commit other crimes.
Now to guns. Gun manufacturers, the government and society does not make inner city black men shoot each other. They take it upon themselves to procure a firearm and use it for the most inane reasons known to man. The thousands if not millions of other gun owners in this country have never had to pop a cap in someone's rear. Every citizen over the age of 18 (with no prior convictions for violence) should be able to buy a gun. When they use that gun for something other than self-defense, hunting or target practice (in a controlled environment) they should face life in prison whether they kill someone or not. This is true even for cops (looking at the Sean Bell Murderers). Crazy and deranged people are able to legally buy guns now (VA Tech). The rest of us should have the same rights.
Prostitution is a victimless crime. I'm not talking about the sex slaves or women forced into prostitution. I'm talking about the one's who know exactly what they are doing and are of age. Men are always going to pay for sex. Whether it's on a run down corner or meeting some hooker dressed chick at the club. Let's remove the stigma. Men and women pay for prostitutes and that's their business and the business of their significant others. Making it illegal doesn't stop it. If a person that is married has sex with someone else does it matter if they paid or not?? No, it's still "immoral" according to most religions. Regulate it like any other profession. Make sure none of the prostitutes are younger than 18, no violence, give free STD/HIV testing and provide medications or a medical plan to those who may be infected, let people know. They should get hazard pay as well.
I personally want the government involved in my personal life as little as possible. Their job shouldn't be to save us from ourselves. That's actually our parent's job. It should be to protect our freedoms. If anyone attempts to interfere with our American liberties then there are plenty of jails for them. If I choose to be a AK-47 owning, coke head with a penchant for chiseled featured male escorts that's my right. If I shoot up the motel room while hyped up on PCP because the escort was taking too long with my doritos then I deserve to be locked away forever.
What is in place now doesn't stop any of the above from occurring. People who want drugs get drugs, they get illegal guns and pay for sex every day. Making it legal with stiff consequences and (gasp) help to overcome the vices makes more sense. It's the government's job to take care of what I as an individual have no control over like these gas prices, the economy, illegal immigration, roads, the wars etc. There are plenty of issues the government needs to address before they get involved in my personal life, regardless of how warped it may be.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Now its Planned Parenthood who’s trying to do us in
Apparently a group of Black church leaders has decided to protest Planned Parenthoods funding due to the "genocide" it is participating in against blacks http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352537,00.html. This pisses me off, not only because there are so many other things the black leaders could be protesting but because the rationale is ridiculous. First and foremost it is a woman's right to get an abortion if she so chooses in this country. I am all for that right. Second planned parenthoods are all across the country including many large urban areas because, wait for it, there are a lot of people in large urban areas. Third Planned Parenthood does not contact and harass all black women that become pregnant these women go here on their own accord to have this private procedure done.
This is just religion butting into the most personal of issues. I'm sure no woman is happy about getting an abortion. It's a painful and hard choice. Only that woman knows what her circumstances are. For a group of pastors to wish that this organization that provides health educational materials, contraceptives, STD and HIV tests to many young men and women that probably don't even have primary physicians is ridiculous. I completely understand the argument against abortion it's killing a baby, stopping the cells from reproducing, terminating the pregnancy whatever you want to call it. Abortion exists for a reason. Before it was legal women got them, if it ever becomes illegal again women will still have abortions.
If you don't know a series of calls were made by people posing as donors to Planned Parenthood suggesting that their dollars be used only to support the abortion of black babies, yeah you read that right. The posers were very overt and obvious with their racist requests and the planned parenthood workers who received the calls were happy to tell them what they wanted to hear to get the donation. This I will agree is wrong and anyone who agrees and encourages philanthropy based on racism should be swiftly relieved of their post. Do I believe that Planned Parenthood is trying to kill off the black race, of course not! Not too long ago there was another group of church folk who are white that complained that Planned Parenthood was apart of some conspiracy to kill off white children. Every group feels that Planned Parenthood is trying to do them in.
Birth control needs to exist, people are going to have sex, it's a fact of life. Abortions serve a purpose. If everyone who engaged in sexual activity was monogamous and married or in a stable relationship with jobs to care for themselves and their children there probably would be no need. As we all know that's <1% of people who have kids. Even if you are in said relationship and don't want to lead a Mormon like existence with 15 kids, you still want to have sex with your mate and you need to prevent the kiddies from popping out. To say that all abortions are done on poor women is completely false. It transcends race and socio-economic class.
As always I have a solution. Instead of these black pastors trying to end the "genocide" they could encourage open speech about health and sexuality in their churches. Provide classes for girls and young women that teach facts, "just don't do it" won't suffice. Go out into the community and provide mentoring and child care services for young women. Seek out young women who are pregnant or who have kids dedicate one of the many offerings to providing some help for them, doesn't have to be a lot but some diapers or formula once a month would be great. Encourage an open message of acceptance even if a woman does decide to have an abortion don't make her feel like she's some evil wicked person. Encourage the members of your congregation to "adopt" a young woman in their lives to help with their self image to be someone to turn to in a crisis. Doesn't have to be all Jesus this and God that but many young black women who wind up pregnant would benefit from positive female role models,b black or not. While abstinence is great its not realistic, be able to give accurate information on birth control and make them believe that their body is a temple that is nothing to be ashamed of. Let's stop blaming everyone else for what we as individuals decide to do. Planned Parenthood doesn't force abortions on anyone, women make that choice. If you want them to avoid that choice it's up to you to reach them first.
This is just religion butting into the most personal of issues. I'm sure no woman is happy about getting an abortion. It's a painful and hard choice. Only that woman knows what her circumstances are. For a group of pastors to wish that this organization that provides health educational materials, contraceptives, STD and HIV tests to many young men and women that probably don't even have primary physicians is ridiculous. I completely understand the argument against abortion it's killing a baby, stopping the cells from reproducing, terminating the pregnancy whatever you want to call it. Abortion exists for a reason. Before it was legal women got them, if it ever becomes illegal again women will still have abortions.
If you don't know a series of calls were made by people posing as donors to Planned Parenthood suggesting that their dollars be used only to support the abortion of black babies, yeah you read that right. The posers were very overt and obvious with their racist requests and the planned parenthood workers who received the calls were happy to tell them what they wanted to hear to get the donation. This I will agree is wrong and anyone who agrees and encourages philanthropy based on racism should be swiftly relieved of their post. Do I believe that Planned Parenthood is trying to kill off the black race, of course not! Not too long ago there was another group of church folk who are white that complained that Planned Parenthood was apart of some conspiracy to kill off white children. Every group feels that Planned Parenthood is trying to do them in.
Birth control needs to exist, people are going to have sex, it's a fact of life. Abortions serve a purpose. If everyone who engaged in sexual activity was monogamous and married or in a stable relationship with jobs to care for themselves and their children there probably would be no need. As we all know that's <1% of people who have kids. Even if you are in said relationship and don't want to lead a Mormon like existence with 15 kids, you still want to have sex with your mate and you need to prevent the kiddies from popping out. To say that all abortions are done on poor women is completely false. It transcends race and socio-economic class.
As always I have a solution. Instead of these black pastors trying to end the "genocide" they could encourage open speech about health and sexuality in their churches. Provide classes for girls and young women that teach facts, "just don't do it" won't suffice. Go out into the community and provide mentoring and child care services for young women. Seek out young women who are pregnant or who have kids dedicate one of the many offerings to providing some help for them, doesn't have to be a lot but some diapers or formula once a month would be great. Encourage an open message of acceptance even if a woman does decide to have an abortion don't make her feel like she's some evil wicked person. Encourage the members of your congregation to "adopt" a young woman in their lives to help with their self image to be someone to turn to in a crisis. Doesn't have to be all Jesus this and God that but many young black women who wind up pregnant would benefit from positive female role models,b black or not. While abstinence is great its not realistic, be able to give accurate information on birth control and make them believe that their body is a temple that is nothing to be ashamed of. Let's stop blaming everyone else for what we as individuals decide to do. Planned Parenthood doesn't force abortions on anyone, women make that choice. If you want them to avoid that choice it's up to you to reach them first.
Monday, April 14, 2008
All Obama All the Time!
Is it just me or did there seem to be a huge influx of Obama related news over the past week or so. I was able to pretty much avoid the Rev. Wright fiasco to a degree, but geez, he's going to subliminally win votes for president. Not that I mind because the more I learn the more I like him (compared to the other two options). Some interesting tidbits that gave him more respect for him included an interview in the Advocate magazine: http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid53285.asp. For those who don't know (and I didn't) the Advocate is an award winning (per their website) national GLBT magazine. Some issues Obama touched on were why he doesn't give more time to the gay media and he doesn't seem to fully address gay issues. After one response I understood why people have hope in him. Obama declared (I'm paraphasing) that he addresses GLBT issues as a part of the American experience and he doesn't believe in separating out different constituencies of people.
Everyone should want equal treatment for all citizens regardless of their sexuality, race, gender, etc. I agree, being treated fairly and humanely isn't a gay thing or a black thing it's a human thing. I personally feel that this is a wonderful way to think for everyone. You shouldn't look at people in their little demographic boxes. When you stop viewing people just as their color or sexuality you can see the person. I don't think society should ignore or be blinded to our differences because our differences add to who we are.
Next item about Obama, indirectly. Michelle Obama's white college roommate was on the TJMS this morning. She told the story of her (and her mother's) negative reaction to having a black roommate. In a nutshell they felt it was unacceptable. The woman is orginally from New Orleans and her grandmother lived in Macon, GA. She stated that she'd heard her mom and grandma say very racist things about blacks but at the same time the grandmother spoke in glowing terms of the blacks that worked for her. After one semester this woman stated that she got along very well and respected Michelle but her mother arranged for her to have a single room anyway. She felt that is was horrible that her own and her families small minded predjudices prevented her from possibly having the Obama's in her life in the future because she has become a great individual. This woman and her mother are supporting Obama. Her message was that anyone who refuses to consider Barack because of his color is missing out on something special.
As a black female who's first roommate in college was a rural white girl (she lived on a farm and admitted she really didn't know any black people) I can relate on the other side. Regardless of what you are you can be sensitive to stereotypes concerning your particular sect. For a fleeting moment I thought she might be put off by a black girl from DC (still very much the district of crack), I'm not ghetto in the least but I do have some tendencies, lol. Would I have to explain my hair, my music (yes I gave impromptu lessons in go-go at St. Neumman to everyone not just the white girls), my slang. Yes the inevitable why don't you wash your hair everyday came up but it wasn't in an offensive manner. As far as I know, she didn't seem to have a problem with me being black and very urban, she was even extremely tolerant of the big black men on the basketball team that came to visit at all hours (completely innocent, lol). I didn't have a problem with her admittedly being afraid to venture into the city of Philly and riding the subway. We were very nice and cordial to each other but never really became friends (I don't even know if she graduated in '01 from LaSalle). The point is, it goes both ways and eventhough its natural to have preconceptions about others you shouldn't let it stop you from getting to know someone.
As with most black people I am happy with the Obama campaign simply because it does open the door for more issues to be discussed. Race is a big part of it but, it also allows parallels to be made in certain struggles. Including what people really say among their peers. For all of the shock an appaul being uttered because people have offensive opinions I welcome it. Regardless of how many gay people are out and proud, showing that they are people too, displaying that they have no intentions of forcing their lifestyles on others there will still be people who hate gays, they may have a gay best friend and still think that homosexuality is an abomination. Doesn't matter how many black people live adverse to the stereotypes, and show that we aren't some scary hoodlum, ignorant, whiny, backward group of people would open their mind and realize blacks and gays are really no threat to American (or Christian) society, they are going to exist and still hate. Just because you ban the F-word or the N-word from TV and the media doesn't mean people don't still use them. I don't think the American public or it's elected officials should be forced to be politically correct at all. We are all entitled to our opinions, and really wouldn't you rather have a candidate that you felt said what they believed not what you want to hear, offensive or not. If John McCain issued a statement that black people need to get it together and stop relying on the government to fix their communities, I'd respect that so much. He'd be labeled the biggest racist to run for prez since David Duke but hey it would be the truth and very in line with Republican party ideals. Somewhere we have to draw the line at being so offended all the time. I think that the fact that the (labeled) black man running for president gets so much attention for sometimes diverting from politi-speak is phenomenal. The more I hear the more I enjoy it, more fodder for my blogs.
Everyone should want equal treatment for all citizens regardless of their sexuality, race, gender, etc. I agree, being treated fairly and humanely isn't a gay thing or a black thing it's a human thing. I personally feel that this is a wonderful way to think for everyone. You shouldn't look at people in their little demographic boxes. When you stop viewing people just as their color or sexuality you can see the person. I don't think society should ignore or be blinded to our differences because our differences add to who we are.
Next item about Obama, indirectly. Michelle Obama's white college roommate was on the TJMS this morning. She told the story of her (and her mother's) negative reaction to having a black roommate. In a nutshell they felt it was unacceptable. The woman is orginally from New Orleans and her grandmother lived in Macon, GA. She stated that she'd heard her mom and grandma say very racist things about blacks but at the same time the grandmother spoke in glowing terms of the blacks that worked for her. After one semester this woman stated that she got along very well and respected Michelle but her mother arranged for her to have a single room anyway. She felt that is was horrible that her own and her families small minded predjudices prevented her from possibly having the Obama's in her life in the future because she has become a great individual. This woman and her mother are supporting Obama. Her message was that anyone who refuses to consider Barack because of his color is missing out on something special.
As a black female who's first roommate in college was a rural white girl (she lived on a farm and admitted she really didn't know any black people) I can relate on the other side. Regardless of what you are you can be sensitive to stereotypes concerning your particular sect. For a fleeting moment I thought she might be put off by a black girl from DC (still very much the district of crack), I'm not ghetto in the least but I do have some tendencies, lol. Would I have to explain my hair, my music (yes I gave impromptu lessons in go-go at St. Neumman to everyone not just the white girls), my slang. Yes the inevitable why don't you wash your hair everyday came up but it wasn't in an offensive manner. As far as I know, she didn't seem to have a problem with me being black and very urban, she was even extremely tolerant of the big black men on the basketball team that came to visit at all hours (completely innocent, lol). I didn't have a problem with her admittedly being afraid to venture into the city of Philly and riding the subway. We were very nice and cordial to each other but never really became friends (I don't even know if she graduated in '01 from LaSalle). The point is, it goes both ways and eventhough its natural to have preconceptions about others you shouldn't let it stop you from getting to know someone.
As with most black people I am happy with the Obama campaign simply because it does open the door for more issues to be discussed. Race is a big part of it but, it also allows parallels to be made in certain struggles. Including what people really say among their peers. For all of the shock an appaul being uttered because people have offensive opinions I welcome it. Regardless of how many gay people are out and proud, showing that they are people too, displaying that they have no intentions of forcing their lifestyles on others there will still be people who hate gays, they may have a gay best friend and still think that homosexuality is an abomination. Doesn't matter how many black people live adverse to the stereotypes, and show that we aren't some scary hoodlum, ignorant, whiny, backward group of people would open their mind and realize blacks and gays are really no threat to American (or Christian) society, they are going to exist and still hate. Just because you ban the F-word or the N-word from TV and the media doesn't mean people don't still use them. I don't think the American public or it's elected officials should be forced to be politically correct at all. We are all entitled to our opinions, and really wouldn't you rather have a candidate that you felt said what they believed not what you want to hear, offensive or not. If John McCain issued a statement that black people need to get it together and stop relying on the government to fix their communities, I'd respect that so much. He'd be labeled the biggest racist to run for prez since David Duke but hey it would be the truth and very in line with Republican party ideals. Somewhere we have to draw the line at being so offended all the time. I think that the fact that the (labeled) black man running for president gets so much attention for sometimes diverting from politi-speak is phenomenal. The more I hear the more I enjoy it, more fodder for my blogs.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
While Hillary and Barack trade insults a 7 year old girl gets shot at 4pm in DC
A few days a go a little girl was playing outside her home with her older sister when at least five ignorant young black male niggas decided to shoot in the general direction of each other. She’s ok, she was released from the hospital with a broken arm. This is disturbing on so many levels. The first being I could easily be talking about my little 7 year old daughter playing outside with her friend Zoe enjoying her spring break. The second being this happens all the time in DC sometimes its a child but almost always it’s a black person. Third and the most disturbing of all was that it took place at 4pm in the afternoon in front of dozens of witnesses and no one has given the police any information.
Every time a young person gets shot in DC the community demands the police do something. Everyone is so afraid of little black boys. Little black boys hold their neighborhoods hostage and no one in the hood dares do anything about it. Because they are afraid. Fear and indifference destroy black communities. Black people have been poor for as long as we’ve been in this country, black families have had to deal with the lack of black fathers, but this new phenomenon of cowardice is what is truly marking the ruin of blacks in America.
The fear of black men used to be everywhere but the black community. We had real people to fear, racist whites. Young black men are the new lynch mobs. They hate black people because they’re black. They go about their days murdering, raping, robbing other blacks, they are grossly disrespectful to their fellow black person. And who’s fault is it? Blacks. No member of the establishment, government or white supremacy group sits down young black men and forces them to kill each other. No white person forces black men to sell drugs, abuse their women or carjack their fellow black person. But they do it. I don’t care what "society" tells them they should be. Society tells me I should be an uneducated, welfare scamming, section 8 housing living, serial baby momma with HIV.
It’s slowly starting to dawn on me how black people got to this state. Fear. Blacks who fought for Civil Rights weren’t afraid. The Little Rock 9 didn’t say oh I might get hurt it’s not worth integrating Central HS. Can you imagine if black people in the hood decided to talk loudly to the police about all crimes. If they refused to allow their criminal family members to seek refuge. If they said my community and my family is important enough to put my life on the line. Instead it’s an unending cycle. Nothing happens, because if you don’t care enough about your own safety why should anyone else. The old school blacks knew they couldn’t just sit around complaining that their communities and schools were sub-par they had to demand their own change. They felt their people were worth their lives.
The people who live in the most dangerous communities are full of shit. They are because income has nothing to do with how dangerous you neighborhood is. You mentality has everything to do with it. Criminals don’t last long when the community refuses to be held hostage. If they really wanted peace they would be the ones patroling the streets and reporting all criminal activity. They would be the ones picking up litter and watching out for the children of others. They would be the ones turning in their sons, nephews and cousins.
In the Washington Post article about this shooting they stated that the video surveillance may have caught a picture of the assailants. I am strongly against video surveillance on public streets. I feel its a complete invasion of privacy. Why the police have to even look at this video is troubling. But as I say, fear is paralyzing black communities across the country. Prince George’s County MD is the richest black county in America and it has the highest rate of crime in the DC area (higher than DC!!).
I’m about to sound like Pat Buchanan, but black people really should be happy with the opportunities that we have. We have access to free education through 12th grade but just this morning I heard Alma Powell (Colin’s wife who I’m a big fan of usually) state that the majority of black students drop out because they’re bored. There was general agreement that teachers and curriculums should be reworked so they can be entertained. Look, no one was more bored than I in my 11th grade AP History class but I sat there, stayed awake, and learned a whole hell of a lot! I hate to hear people accept school is boring as an excuse for anything but it’s just another form of cowardice in the black community. Afraid to learn and be challenged. Instead of possibly getting something wrong and looking stupid we just don’t try so it’s boring. Not the teachers fault or the schools.
The culture of fear that has a strong hold on black america is our own doing and we are the only ones that can undo it. The only way to do this is to force black people to take responsibility for their own communities. First step is to admit we are the cause of our own problem. Its not whitie, its not being poor, because just speaking for DC, libraries, museums, rec centers, school, volunteering are all free. Guns, drugs, cable tv cost money. Lets stop accepting ignorance!
So while Hillary and Barack are fighting over who is more qualified to run the country (while slowly handing the election to McCain) a little girl gets shot in DC. There is nothing that any of them can do about the state of Black America. More money, funding and social programs that encourage blacks to embrace laziness are part of the problem. I know I tend to get a bit passionate and preachy when I discuss black people behaving badly but, these are my people and I for one am not ok with them not taking advantage of all that awaits them when we come together and put our community first.
Every time a young person gets shot in DC the community demands the police do something. Everyone is so afraid of little black boys. Little black boys hold their neighborhoods hostage and no one in the hood dares do anything about it. Because they are afraid. Fear and indifference destroy black communities. Black people have been poor for as long as we’ve been in this country, black families have had to deal with the lack of black fathers, but this new phenomenon of cowardice is what is truly marking the ruin of blacks in America.
The fear of black men used to be everywhere but the black community. We had real people to fear, racist whites. Young black men are the new lynch mobs. They hate black people because they’re black. They go about their days murdering, raping, robbing other blacks, they are grossly disrespectful to their fellow black person. And who’s fault is it? Blacks. No member of the establishment, government or white supremacy group sits down young black men and forces them to kill each other. No white person forces black men to sell drugs, abuse their women or carjack their fellow black person. But they do it. I don’t care what "society" tells them they should be. Society tells me I should be an uneducated, welfare scamming, section 8 housing living, serial baby momma with HIV.
It’s slowly starting to dawn on me how black people got to this state. Fear. Blacks who fought for Civil Rights weren’t afraid. The Little Rock 9 didn’t say oh I might get hurt it’s not worth integrating Central HS. Can you imagine if black people in the hood decided to talk loudly to the police about all crimes. If they refused to allow their criminal family members to seek refuge. If they said my community and my family is important enough to put my life on the line. Instead it’s an unending cycle. Nothing happens, because if you don’t care enough about your own safety why should anyone else. The old school blacks knew they couldn’t just sit around complaining that their communities and schools were sub-par they had to demand their own change. They felt their people were worth their lives.
The people who live in the most dangerous communities are full of shit. They are because income has nothing to do with how dangerous you neighborhood is. You mentality has everything to do with it. Criminals don’t last long when the community refuses to be held hostage. If they really wanted peace they would be the ones patroling the streets and reporting all criminal activity. They would be the ones picking up litter and watching out for the children of others. They would be the ones turning in their sons, nephews and cousins.
In the Washington Post article about this shooting they stated that the video surveillance may have caught a picture of the assailants. I am strongly against video surveillance on public streets. I feel its a complete invasion of privacy. Why the police have to even look at this video is troubling. But as I say, fear is paralyzing black communities across the country. Prince George’s County MD is the richest black county in America and it has the highest rate of crime in the DC area (higher than DC!!).
I’m about to sound like Pat Buchanan, but black people really should be happy with the opportunities that we have. We have access to free education through 12th grade but just this morning I heard Alma Powell (Colin’s wife who I’m a big fan of usually) state that the majority of black students drop out because they’re bored. There was general agreement that teachers and curriculums should be reworked so they can be entertained. Look, no one was more bored than I in my 11th grade AP History class but I sat there, stayed awake, and learned a whole hell of a lot! I hate to hear people accept school is boring as an excuse for anything but it’s just another form of cowardice in the black community. Afraid to learn and be challenged. Instead of possibly getting something wrong and looking stupid we just don’t try so it’s boring. Not the teachers fault or the schools.
The culture of fear that has a strong hold on black america is our own doing and we are the only ones that can undo it. The only way to do this is to force black people to take responsibility for their own communities. First step is to admit we are the cause of our own problem. Its not whitie, its not being poor, because just speaking for DC, libraries, museums, rec centers, school, volunteering are all free. Guns, drugs, cable tv cost money. Lets stop accepting ignorance!
So while Hillary and Barack are fighting over who is more qualified to run the country (while slowly handing the election to McCain) a little girl gets shot in DC. There is nothing that any of them can do about the state of Black America. More money, funding and social programs that encourage blacks to embrace laziness are part of the problem. I know I tend to get a bit passionate and preachy when I discuss black people behaving badly but, these are my people and I for one am not ok with them not taking advantage of all that awaits them when we come together and put our community first.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Why I am opposed to Affirmative Action
Because it’s wrong, the end. Seriously. Many states are now challenging their affirmative action programs. All of these laws created to help black people "recover" from centuries of oppression are completely missing the mark. Sorry that’s not even correct, it’s supposed to encourage diversity. As it stands the amout of women and people of color you have the more benefits you receive.
Black people especially are seen a incapable of securing an education and a good job at large companies on their own solely due to their skin color. Because as we all know no black person ever obtained a college degree or secured a good job with a "white-owned" company before the advent of affirmative action. Whites in this country are still so racist that not one white controlled major company or university would allow intelligent, hard working, law abiding, honest negroes anywhere near their establishments. Racist ideas are now bannished from the country. So glory be that we have affirmative action to force the racist good ole boys into diversifying by force.
Why I as a black female am I so opposed? Because it has more of a negative than positive impact on me. I’m a super minority. I don’t want to be labeled as such. If my grades and test scores are not high enough to get into college then I should have been DENIED. If universities want to encourage minority enrollment I’m all for it, but don’t force it on them. If white student X has to have a certain GPA and SAT score Black student Y should have the same thing. Race should not be taken into account any more than the ability to pay should be. This should also apply to student athletes if the admission requirements dictate a certain level of scholarship the ballers need to fit into that too. I personally don’t appreciate skilled dumb as a brick athletes taking up precious space in class while biding their few years before going pro.
What the US goverment should do is create explicit and strict rules concerning work place and educational discrimination. The consequences of denying work or education to a person based on race or gender should be extreme, suspension of accreditation, major million dollar fines and possible business license removal. This is a better way to ensure equality. If you’re on the up and up you can have an all white company. There aren’t always minorites qualified in every field that apply for specific jobs. When you have black people getting hired and promoted soley based on their race you get the DC government (I wouldn’t with that on anyone).
If affirmative action doesn’t end they should at least alter it to reflect real historical discrimination. To get it you should have to prove that you are directly affected by some atrocity. No Latino, Asian, Middle Eastern, African, West Indian person in this country deserves to benefit from affirmative action. They came here on their own, any mistreatment you suffered is your own fault. Because if you open it up to them what’s to say decendents of Irish, Jewish, Russian, German, Italian immigrants should be given the same benefits? They all suffered forms of discrimination as well. Damn near anyone in this country can claim discrimination or hardship based on their race, religion, sexuality or ethnicity.
I know the awful history of this country but I can’t sit around and expect to be rewarded because my ancestors were enslaved. I’d much rather my 40 acres and mule (or hybrid). Isn’t that why our ancestors wanted to be free, to be able to live our own lives, to have our own property, housing, jobs, education for our children? Didn’t Martin and Malcolm preach that we want to be treated fairly with no attention being paid to our race, because race is unimportant in these two aspects of life. When race is forced to be acknowledged is divides instead of unites.
Black people especially are seen a incapable of securing an education and a good job at large companies on their own solely due to their skin color. Because as we all know no black person ever obtained a college degree or secured a good job with a "white-owned" company before the advent of affirmative action. Whites in this country are still so racist that not one white controlled major company or university would allow intelligent, hard working, law abiding, honest negroes anywhere near their establishments. Racist ideas are now bannished from the country. So glory be that we have affirmative action to force the racist good ole boys into diversifying by force.
Why I as a black female am I so opposed? Because it has more of a negative than positive impact on me. I’m a super minority. I don’t want to be labeled as such. If my grades and test scores are not high enough to get into college then I should have been DENIED. If universities want to encourage minority enrollment I’m all for it, but don’t force it on them. If white student X has to have a certain GPA and SAT score Black student Y should have the same thing. Race should not be taken into account any more than the ability to pay should be. This should also apply to student athletes if the admission requirements dictate a certain level of scholarship the ballers need to fit into that too. I personally don’t appreciate skilled dumb as a brick athletes taking up precious space in class while biding their few years before going pro.
What the US goverment should do is create explicit and strict rules concerning work place and educational discrimination. The consequences of denying work or education to a person based on race or gender should be extreme, suspension of accreditation, major million dollar fines and possible business license removal. This is a better way to ensure equality. If you’re on the up and up you can have an all white company. There aren’t always minorites qualified in every field that apply for specific jobs. When you have black people getting hired and promoted soley based on their race you get the DC government (I wouldn’t with that on anyone).
If affirmative action doesn’t end they should at least alter it to reflect real historical discrimination. To get it you should have to prove that you are directly affected by some atrocity. No Latino, Asian, Middle Eastern, African, West Indian person in this country deserves to benefit from affirmative action. They came here on their own, any mistreatment you suffered is your own fault. Because if you open it up to them what’s to say decendents of Irish, Jewish, Russian, German, Italian immigrants should be given the same benefits? They all suffered forms of discrimination as well. Damn near anyone in this country can claim discrimination or hardship based on their race, religion, sexuality or ethnicity.
I know the awful history of this country but I can’t sit around and expect to be rewarded because my ancestors were enslaved. I’d much rather my 40 acres and mule (or hybrid). Isn’t that why our ancestors wanted to be free, to be able to live our own lives, to have our own property, housing, jobs, education for our children? Didn’t Martin and Malcolm preach that we want to be treated fairly with no attention being paid to our race, because race is unimportant in these two aspects of life. When race is forced to be acknowledged is divides instead of unites.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Reese Goes To Church (this is not science fiction or fantasy)
Yes I really went to church on Palm Sunday, The National Cathedral, and that’s like super church. I was asked nonchalantly to go and have lunch afterward and I accepted. Because as hard as I am on religion I really respect it. While at church three things did not happen: 1 - I didn’t burst into flames upon entering, 2 - I didn’t receive some epiphany to turn my life over to Jesus and 3-I didn’t get annoyed and walk out.
This was one of the churches I talk about when I refer to the good ones. The first thing that was said was welcome to everyone whether you’re a Christian or not thank your for coming. I loved that. Throughout the entire service there was not one word of condemnation that everyone was a sinner or that if you don’t accept Jesus as your Lord you’re going straight to Hell. It was all about reflecting on the meaning of palm sunday (they even had a skit) and how Jesus’ sacrafice can be seen in our own lives and how we should take his dying for our sins and make it our own.
Love, peace and sacrafice, no hate, no blame, no anger. No loud screaming or shouting, no holy spirity, no multiple collections. My daughter and I were blessed by the priest at the High Alter since we don’t take communion. She though that was so cool. I would have to agree. Because the priest has no idea how I live my life or what I believe in, but the first thing he said was "God Loves you". I believe that. God loves everyone regardless. Nothing in my mind or in my living has ever led me to believe that God hates. I feel like if God loves me, who am I to hate anything or anyone. If I am able to learn, absorb and reflect my own reality and the spiritual world why would I destroy my mind with hate?
There is so much beauty in life to pick it apart and find what’s wrong. I’ll continue to open my mind and be grateful that I am blessed. Because in the immortal word of Jill Scott (who brought down the house this weekend) "He loves me".
This was one of the churches I talk about when I refer to the good ones. The first thing that was said was welcome to everyone whether you’re a Christian or not thank your for coming. I loved that. Throughout the entire service there was not one word of condemnation that everyone was a sinner or that if you don’t accept Jesus as your Lord you’re going straight to Hell. It was all about reflecting on the meaning of palm sunday (they even had a skit) and how Jesus’ sacrafice can be seen in our own lives and how we should take his dying for our sins and make it our own.
Love, peace and sacrafice, no hate, no blame, no anger. No loud screaming or shouting, no holy spirity, no multiple collections. My daughter and I were blessed by the priest at the High Alter since we don’t take communion. She though that was so cool. I would have to agree. Because the priest has no idea how I live my life or what I believe in, but the first thing he said was "God Loves you". I believe that. God loves everyone regardless. Nothing in my mind or in my living has ever led me to believe that God hates. I feel like if God loves me, who am I to hate anything or anyone. If I am able to learn, absorb and reflect my own reality and the spiritual world why would I destroy my mind with hate?
There is so much beauty in life to pick it apart and find what’s wrong. I’ll continue to open my mind and be grateful that I am blessed. Because in the immortal word of Jill Scott (who brought down the house this weekend) "He loves me".
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