Views of the Silent Majority

Déjà vu

2011-03-22T00:31:00.002-05:00

The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.
As Commander-in-Chief, the President does have a duty to protect and defend the United States. In instances of self-defense, the President would be within his constitutional authority to act before advising Congress or seeking its consent. History has shown us time and again, however, that military action is most successful when it is authorized and supported by the Legislative branch. It is always preferable to have the informed consent of Congress prior to any military action.
That is a quote from then Senator Obama on the limit and reach of the President's military power. Again the United States has engaged itself in a military conflict. We are already at war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States does not need to be getting involved in Libya's affairs. I am usually the first one to say how the United States has a responsibility to protect human rights and prevent human right abuses. I still feel that way, but in this case I can't help but feel like in this case the help is ingenuous. Muammar Gaddafi has been in power for 42 years. The United State has paid little attention to him or Libya. Now all of a sudden the western world wants to flock to the aid of the revolting Libyans. The Libyans did this on their own they started this revolution and now it seems that the western world is attempting to co-sign their achievements. True that the Libyans probably need the help, but was the aid that they received wanted? This action is eerily similar to how Iraq started out. Again a President has committed troops to a foreign country. I am a strong legislature type of person. I do not think the excessive power the president has is good for this country. I think that troops should be deployed with congress' approval. True at times troop deployment without congress' approval is necessary, but this isn't one of those times. President Obama should be be careful about this situation. It is too easy to compare this with the actions of President Bush. Seeing that President Obama campaigned on change, he should be careful not to follow on a path followed by previous presidents.

Reality TV is ruining America

2010-12-03T17:15:00.002-06:00

It is no secret that I have a distaste for celebrities. I especially hate reality tv. Reality shows take the most absurd people, and turns them into objects of obsession by ordinary Americans who have nothing better than obsess over these people for no good reason. I remember when these shows first started popping up. It never seemed more than game shows. Survivor and other shows, but then they made shows that focused on people. Reality shows never were truly reality, but at some point these shows became caricatures of people. They were always made for ratings, but now they are incongruous. All these real housewives shows, the cake shows, pawn shop shows, and so many more. The shows are not good or just bad they are harmful. The show sister wives on TLC is just bad. first of all they are engaged in illegal activity. TLC, which stands for The Learning Channel, is almost nothing but reality shows. The channel has little if any education based shows. All that channel is, is cake shows, kate plus 8, tattoo parlor shows. How does any of that help anyone learn? The history channel is also guilty of this. They have shows like IRT deadliest roads, Ice road truckers, Pawn Stars, and American Pickers. These shows have the weakest connection to history I have ever heard in my life. These two channels and many more have sold their integrity for rating and in TV that means money. We are all doing this. reality shows create celebrities who are famous for being famous. Now the average person just wants to be famous because that is how you become someone in our culture rather than achieving something of scientific, political, or cultural significance they would rather be on some show and make a fool of themselves for money. Case in point the Situation. He was on that show dancing with the stars, I heard he has a book deal, and makes more money, doing absolutely nothing, than I will possibly ever see. Celebrity is turning Americans into a people who have no interest in things that actually advance society. The worst part is that celebrity is fusing with politics. Politicians are the people who lead our nation. True they have their character flaws, everyone does. I just expected politicians or at least the office to be above that. Sarah Palin has a show in TLC, and Elliot Spitzer is on CNN I think. Sarah Palin regardless of your feeling toward her, is wanted by a lot of people to run for President. The president should never have a reality show. I see the tabloids featuring articles on both president Bush and Obama. I would hope they would be removed from this cult of celebrity. Hollywood is moving toward politicians, and Politicians are moving toward celebrity. At some point they might clash. I would hate to think that someone could become president one day because they were thrust into the spot light because of some show. While the celebrities have always been politicians from time to time that was more of a move from one sphere to the other. Not with people like Palin, it is more like they inhabit both worlds. They are are becoming one it seems. That is why Reality TV is ruining America.

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Egos

2010-10-18T20:54:00.007-05:00

The title might seem a bit off putting, but it is relevant even if a little around the way. The following is an except from the October 15th episode of Real Time with Bill Maher

"But for some reason men persist. Why? And here's what we're getting to, because men have always been in charge, especially white men. Brett Favre is like a lot of white males. He's owned the world for so long, he's going a little crazy now that he doesn't. Also like many white men across the country, he lost his job to a Mexican.

And if Brett Favre's penis could talk, what would it say? Well, other than no photos please, I think it would say, I'm not a witch. I'm you. Because for hundreds of years, white penises were America. White penises found America. They made the rules and they called the shots, in the workplace, in the home and at the ballot box. But now the unthinkable is happening. White penises are becoming the minority. 2010 was the first year in which more minority babies were born than white babies. This is what conservatives are really upset about. That the president is black, and the Secretary of State is a woman, and every shortstop is Latino, and every daytime talk show host is a lesbian. And suddenly this country is way off track and needs some serious restoring. If penises could cry, and I believe they can, then white penises are crying all over America. And that's where this crew comes in. The lovely MILFs of the new rank. And their little secret is that their popularity comes exclusively from white men. Look at the polling. Minorities hate them. Women hate them. Only white men like them. I'm no psychiatrist but I do own a couch. And my theory is that these women represent something those men miss dearly: the traditional idiot housewife.

If an election between Obama and Sarah Palin were held today and only white men could vote, Sarah Palin would be president. Did you know that in 1788, when there were 4 million people in America, only 39,000 of them, the rich white men, got to vote? That doesn’t sound good to you? Well, what I if threw in a picture of my cock?

Which brings me back to Brett Favre, and I think it is worth noting that in one of the alleged photos of Mr. Favre, he is pleasuring himself on a bed while wearing Crocs. And if you think about it, is there any better metaphor for the sad state of America today than an over the hill white guy lazily masturbating in plastic shoes?"

I expressed a similar Concern in my post "Fear". I refuse to think that in 2010 we are still so divided over issues of race. I am taking a deviance class for my sociology requirement and we talk about what deviance means. One term that I feel is useful here is this "deviants only exist in relation to those they threaten and have enough power to control such threats". White people have had the power for a long time, and that is not a stab at white people and it just is the way it was. Truth be told white people still are in charge, but minorities are coming into their own. I don't think white people will be over thrown, but one day we may become a society where power is just in the hands of people and not a certain race. Black people are no less to blame. Black people were subjugated for so long that now we may be overly sensitive. Every time something happens they instantly take it as a front to them. Black people also use a double standard as if their identity as black people mean that everyone else must walk on eggshells around them. If black people continue to act this way then how can race relations ever truly evolve? People will always think of race when it is thrown in their face. If you push someone so far they will push back. That can be dangerous for everyone. It polarizes us all. Women are a unique position because they are in their own group, but are also in other groups. In other groups they are also used for their unique status. Other groups use women to push their agenda. When it all comes down to it whether black, white, Latino, male or female we can never get passed racial tensions if we can't get passed our own egos.

Art

2010-08-10T13:14:00.001-05:00

So I was involved a conversation with a group of my friends. The conversation was about rappers. they were all say this person was better than that person. I was of the opinion that the genres of rap are too diverse to be comparing the rappers. Isn't this true? I see it that all forms of art are too diverse to always be compared. With rap you can't compare styles, but you can compare lyrics. What would this conversation be like with another form of art? Can you compare Da Vinci with Warhol, Rockwell against Barry McGee? Would you compare H G wells with Shakespeare or Langston Hughes and Emily Dickinson? My point is that all art is unique. I am in the opinion that art should be of quality. I am not saying that you can make any thing put it in a genre and then resist any criticism. all forms of art have a standard Can you compare Hangover and Inception? Maybe, but a more legit question is Date movie against Hangover or Inside Man and Inception. I hope you see what I am getting at. All art needs a standard and comparison, but at the same time art is best compared against it's own form. You can't weigh a power forward against a quarterback or a third baseman. What do you all think? can you compare against the grain? What are some forms of your favorite art ex movies, paintings, music, literature, sports, ect.

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Name

2010-08-08T15:11:00.006-05:00

What is a Name? Is our name ours? The answer to the latter is yes and no. Our name is the legacy that our families give us. We have a responsibility to live up to the reputation or improve on it. When a person gives you their name that is one of the best gift they can give because in doing so they are putting all that they have worked for and everything their parents and grandparents worked in to that person's hands. I don't want to give the wrong idea I am a huge supporter of freedom. A person should be able to do as they wish, but don;t we also have to show respect for all the work that was done to put us in that position. Recently Laurence Fishburne's daughter Montana has decided to fulfill her dream of being a porn star. I am not going to deionized porn cause I really have no problem with it. all parties involved are adults doing as they please from the actors to the people who buy it. Now just because I have no eminent disdain for porn doesn't mean that it is a good thing. Would I want my daughter to be in porn absolutely not, but I also wouldn't want any of my children to be athletes. Her father is an excellent actor who has won Tonys, Emmys, and Nominated for Oscars. He worked had at his craft and put his family in a position to be well off. Now Montana Fishbure aka Chippy D comes along and associates his name, the name he worked hard to establish with porn. Fishburne is can now be located among names like Barbie Cummings, Janet Jacme, Cherry Poppens, and so many more. I don't want to put those ladies down, but an actor like him shouldn't have the name he worked so hard to create listed among them. When a father or mother gives a child their name they are entrusting that person with it. I have not always done what my parents have asked, and no a child should not be required to live up to every expectation of the parents. What I am saying is this the child should have enough respect if not for the parents then family to take precious care of a gift as special as a name. I know I am mostly focusing of Mr. Fishburne because he is a good example, but this applies to everyone famous or not. Think about this ladies would your father or if he is not around mother, grandfather, grandmother, uncle or just the person who gave you the title daughter want you sleeping around with his name attached. Guy same thing would they want you sleeping around or using women with their name. Would they want you doing drugs. A name is sometimes all that someone can give. Be careful what you do with it.

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Originality

2010-06-13T01:17:00.002-05:00

I love movies. I go every chance I get, but as I have gotten more sophisticated in my choice of movies I get let down more and more. I am getting to a point where I dread a sequel. It seems now that all movies in the theaters are sequels remakes or a former TV series. There are also the random books that are popular that become movies. I think this is sad. Where is the originality in America? I liked the first sherk movie and the following ones were decent, but Shrek did not need a sequel at all in was unneccesary. Another movie, The Hangover excellent movie very funny. The Hangover is a one shot thing though. The plot and premise do not lend that movie to a sequel, yet a sequel is in the works. Spider-man, the franchise died the third movie was horrible. That should be the end for at least thirty years, but no there are plans to reboot the spider man francise with a new movie. This movie is a origin story. We just saw that story like 10 years ago. I can go on and on with examples. What is my point? The studio heads are just doing what makes them money. That is the right financial move, but it shows me that they have no respect for the art that they work with. I love movies and when done right they are a form of art. What bothers me is that this is acceptable in America. Our culture is stagnant in the arts. EVERYTHING IS THE SAME! When I think I found a movie I like that is original I find out it is a remake or a book. Where is our creativity? Why do we feel more comfortable with the same. Whenever a movie that is truly new comes out it bombs. No one goes to see it which ensure that the studio heads will not be trying new things anytime soon. Even TV shows are old TV shows from bygone years. I feel I can truly get my feeling out here. What I am trying to say, blunty I guess, is that I am tired of the same thing in the movies I desperatly need new characters and plots and premises. I find that this a bigger problem in the black communitym but that is another post. I just feel that movies are what Americans do good and where are not being original. It reflects our lives. We are overweight, getting dumber, and when asked to fix these problems we get offended. I took a class on Classical and late Antiquity and each time a civilization fell eg. Rome Greece the Arts were the first to go. I am not saying that America is crumbling, but we are supposed to be Americans mediocrity is supposed to be alien to us.

Israel vs Palastine

2010-06-09T22:42:00.002-05:00

I must admit that I do not know much about the conflict there I try understand it, but I must admit I have a hard time understanding. What I understand is this (I may be off on certain thing please feel free to correct me with facts not opinions) after WWII many Jews were displaced and searched for a place to call their own. The Palestinians offered to let them in to their country. Over time the land that was Palestine was given to the Jewish people to form their own nation, and the Palestinians were gradually forced into a minority role. My understanding is that the Jewish people feel that the land is theirs, because God gave it to them. If that is the justification then this is not an acceptable means of claiming ownership. I think it is unfair for one group of people to unseat another and take their home. Now I want to clear up that I DO NOT support any terrorist organization including HAMAS. I don't think that the Palestinians should resort to terrorism, but I just don't get how we can throw 100% of our support behind Israel. Clearly this is a complex issue that requires a little more finesse than usual. Clearly to me a shared state is the answer. What I want to make clear is that Israel and Palestine are in the wrong. Israel cannot take someones home and then use violence to subjugate them, Palestine via HAMAS is in no way justified to use violence to get it's aims across. Again I am a novice at this topic my explanation and opinions are based on my knowledge of the situation in the area. If I am wrong on any of the FACTS please correct them so I can correct myself

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Video Blogging

2010-02-12T02:20:00.002-06:00

This is just a short video to apologize for my absence in the blogosphere

Job

2009-08-29T18:22:00.002-05:00

I have always made friends with people who were older than me, not by much maybe one or two years, but in high school my senior year all my good close friends graduated, and I was left alone my senior year my junior year was what was really fun for me. Here I am in college and the same thing is happening all over again my closest friends have graduated already except for one. I still have friends just not really close ones, but that is not the point of this post. What I want to address is that most of my friends who have graduated can't seem to find any jobs I mean I know people who did get jobs, but I also know a lot who can't. One of my friends who has a studio art degree has no job, another with a Graphic design degree has no job, sure these are artsy degrees so that is not so far fetched, but some with degrees like computer science can't find jobs either. They have all had jobs since they graduated, but they are extremely underemployed. This makes me worry about my own future. Will I be able to find a job when I graduate. I want to work in DC in government foreign policy hopefully but coming out of college I will take what I can get. Still the question persist. I really have no point to make here just expressing a concern. I am getting ready now I am taking the Foreign Service Test in October hopefully I will pass that and I am asking people now to put me in contact with some people I hope if works out. How many College graduates are un/underemployed?

Fear

2009-08-18T13:27:00.001-05:00

One thing I can say about people in this nation of ours is that we are adept in using fear against each other. During the 2008 Presidential election the Right wing or conservatives manipulated the fear of white Americans. I watched the HBO documentary Right America: Feeling wronged, that documentary was interesting it also hurt I could see the passion they were scared of Barack Obama. They said many reasons why some were so ridiculous. They called him a terrorist, Arab, socialist, communist basically any word that has a negative connotation. Some even were just honest with themselves they didn't want a black man to be president, but he was elected and I hoped we could put this ugliness behind us. I was wrong. I was so very wrong. First they say President Obama isn't even an American that he is a Kenyan, it was on the news for so long. I could not go a day without hearing about it. Why can't he just be the President, he won fair and square. Let him serve us to the best of his ability. Then this "Town Hall" thing happened. These people are yelling to to be yelling. I have heard "I want my America back" " I don't like what my country is becoming" "what happened to the America I grew up in" "This isn't my America". Maybe I am being sensitive, but I feel that despite all the problems that they claim it all boils down to one thing a so called black man is president he is really mixed, but either way it doesn't matter he is considered black. I feel that these people feel that they are losing not their country to black people, but that they are losing their superiority over all minorities. A black president, A Latino Supreme Court Justice. They are scared this hurts me. The conservative leaders of this nation are doing nothing to prevent attitudes like this. In fact they are encouraging it. Glen Beck is a fear monger, he says the most ridiculous things. I mean he has said thing to the effect of President Obama is a racist, Health care reform is just a way to get reparations, he alluded to eugenics. Glen Beck is promoting hate and Rush Limbaugh and so many others. I feel that it all boils down to they feel they are losing their superiority over minorities. How am I supposed to feel about this as a Black man? That average Americans, people who I grew up around, who taught me is school, people I went to and do go to school with are so afraid of being true equals with black people and other minorities that they fight with a passion I have never seen them tap into is the thought of being my equal in every way that much of a threat? There is enought racial tension and problems in this country the way that conservative leadership support these attitude is not helping. I feel hurt. Can someone tell me why?

Polarized

2009-07-31T06:04:00.002-05:00

This country has always been a place where ideas and morals were always on the opposite ends. The Colonist debated independence or loyalty, the founding fathers states rights vs federalism, then slavery against abolition, industry tackles progressiveness, The civil rights battle. Now there here is where the current polarization of America started to make itself visible. Present day, we have liberals and conservatives. Neither are completely wrong or right, but both do have one thing in common they have their extreme people. Recently in the news this has been extremely obvious. Recently Bill Maher said that America was stupid. He said this probably his anger over how certain ideas and people can become popular in America. Ok misunderstanding, but when asked to clarify he would not or even change what he said apologize or anything. Maher has always been a hardline liberal and has criticized America plenty of times, but so have I. Criticizing this nation means you hold it to a standard and want to uphold it, but saying America is stupid is just wrong and hurtful to the American Cause of Liberals. Liberals have been labeled as anti-america or not American and saying things like this hurt us. Then on the opposite spectrum is Glenn Beck he said that President Obama is a Racist. This is not good with the recent Gates situation race tensions are already too high. Saying unfounded things like this is just wrong and hurtful to the process of healing that this nation needs. He has also furthered the stereotype of conservatives. There was a time when saying things like that would have ened the careers of both of them. What they said was uncalled for. America has become so polarized that people can say thing and press ideas that are simply wrong and it is ok Maher and Beck will fell little to no fallout over the things that they said. What has America come to when one man can say America is stupid and the other can call the president a racist? Well this has been happening for a long time, The Kanye West thing and the many Rush Limbaugh things it is so sad to me that America is so split.

The iRan

2009-06-23T08:04:00.002-05:00

Well it has been a long time since I have blogged my life has gotten hectic work school plus other things, but I am just going to try and jump right back into this.

One of the big stories in the news lately has been the fall out from the Iranian elections. The elections were rigged obviously, but the situation is a very complex one from all sides even from the so called reform candidate. I am glad that the people of Iran are standing up for their rights. The Ayatollah was always gonna be the one who decide who won that election the fact that is was rigged in favor of Ahmedinejad should be no surprise to anyone. Even if Mousavi had won what difference would that have made? Mousavi had been Prime Minister, he was a follower of Ruhollah. The truth is I hope Americans are not thinking that the election of Mousavi would bring about change in the Islamic Repubic of Iran. The biggest things that Americans want changed, Iran's Nuclear program would not stop if Mousavi was elected he was the one who started their nuclear program afterall.The country is a Theocracy and until that fundemental factor is overturned real change will never occur in Iran. The truth is that no matter who is elected the Aytollah is in command of Iran and his will dictates policy in Iran so until Iran is no longer a Theocracy and/or the Ayatollah is out of power Iran will have no real change.

Sacrifice

2008-11-22T10:51:00.014-06:00

I was at work on my break and I was reading the newspaper and I came across an article about a group of children in Haiti that died from malnutrition. A young boy, five years old, weighed 19.5 pounds another little girl couldn't stand so she was hung on to the scale. The children were literally skin and bones. Another article in the same paper talked of a man in Africa that doesn't sleep at night to protect his family's food. At that moment I realized what I have known for a long time my role in this world has to be to help the less fortunate of the world. when I read the article about the children I wanted to cry, I did inside. Americans consume many times more than we produce.I worked at a summer program that fed urban children during the summer, we threw away pounds of food everyday. I work at wal-mart now and they throw away food to make room for new food, or if it is one day bad. This food could feed so many. I have decided that I will not longer eat food on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a holiday of excess. Don't get me wrong I am not putting down and saying don't celebrate cause I will be, but one American will possibly eat more in this one day than many people around the world will eat their entire short lives. This is how I will give thanks for the life I have. I will sacrifice food this day to show my gratitude for being safe at night, a warm place to sleep, at least two meals a day. leisure time and the many luxuries I own or enjoy. I have to help these people cause I truly hurts me that things like this are allowed to happen people should not have to live like that. What makes me so angry is that most people really don't care. They say that they have to look out for their own, but before you are an American, black/white/Asian/Latino,liberal/conservative, catholic/protestant you are a human being. How dare anyone turn their back to the plight of their fellow man. I have to help these people. I can start by making a sacrifice, as a token of goodwill that I will help more one day. A sacrifice for the greater good.

Post Election Racism

2008-11-07T09:18:00.003-06:00

Wow it has been a long road, but we made it Americans, we have taken another leap toward true equality. I was so happy and proud when I saw the words PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA on CNN. I had joy in my heart and was thankful for the direction that our great nation was taking. I must tell everyone to hold President-elect Obama to the same standards that we hold President Bush to. Now to the subject, the day after the election I heard the story of Lindesy Boggs woman who goes to my University who made some very racist comments on her Facebook profile. One thing that this historic event did do that is good or bad depends on how you see it was to open up wounds and expose many people as the racist that they truely are. This hurt me to a certain extent, but I guess this could be healthy. Our nation has been very PC for a long time so it will be hard to see what people really feel. I believe that most racism today is institutionalized racism that is just apart of the culture, but is so tame that once educated would quickly fade, but then you have people like Lindsey Boggs who are just classically racist. Then I found a post someone made on Facebook that had a pic of people and racist statements that they made, I wish that I could link it. I can't do that cause it will tell you to sign in, but this is just sad. I really hope that President-elect Obama can begin to unite this nation cause we need it bad from what I have seen, but this could just and I hope is only a minority. Another thing whether it that a lot of black people are claiming that if you disagree with President-elect you must be racist. That is far from the truth. This is the same argument People make with if you disagreed with President Bush you were anti-American. Stupid! Then I was at work and someone said they were leaving the country cause Obama was elected, and a coworker said he was racist. This is the same thing plenty of people Black people included when Bush was reelected so are they racist. This needs to stop, please stop being so sensitive. Racism is stupid and it need to stop.

Though it seems Heaven sent, America isn't ready for a Black President

2008-09-22T19:47:00.003-05:00

I bought a new iPod and I've been putting a lot of new music it, and I've notices something that I knew already. I realized that Obama has truly inspired and given hope to black america. Black Americans have for a long time felt that they were not actually apart of this country, that they were residents of this country, but not citizens. Pride in ones country was not an aspect of Black culture in America. Now I listen to songs like Black President, and My President, and it shows that people who typically have no interest or concern for the politics of this country and now interested and showing their sensitive side in a sense that they have a stake in the outcome of this election. You may not like this, but Senator Obama's nomination has validated Black Americans showing that they are apart of this country that they matter that they cannot be ignored as a force in this nation. Senator Obama win or lose has made history in this country and will forver be a Hero in the Black community. The sad part of this story is that if he does not win in November he will send Black America into a depression. They will feel that they put their hopes and dreams into this one man only to be let down by the same people who have been letting them down for years, because of the multicultural nature of this country we see things in that lense, and we now cannot see the importance of Senator Obama's campaign.

Dirty

2008-08-29T13:29:00.002-05:00

I was on a break at work and I was listening to the radio and the Comedian D.L. Hughley was talking about the Dems. He said that the Dems need to start playing dirty, because the reps use fear and dirty tactics and they win. I hate Dirty campagins, but I had to think about what he was saying. Sen. McCain has been running an almost if not entirely dirty campaign. So I was watching the Democratic National Convention and they could not stop praising Sen. McCain. I can guarentee that you won't hear the at the Republican convention. The reps use fear to manipulate voters. Hughley said everyone uses fear it is how it is why you pay bills on time go to work on time and so on. The Reps are playing a game, McCain just announced that Palin is his runningmate The Governor of Alaska. This is a ploy to anger the Hilary supporters against Obama. It is basically saying that look I am man enough to choose a woman as my VP why isn't Obama. It is all a game to Reps, but what hurts me the most is the idea that the dems with their idealism are naive. Perhaps I am naive. Is it the only way to win, playing dirty. Are we so far gone as a people that we can't believe in hope and honesty. That an administration can treat America with respect. I don't want to believe that. Do you have to sell your soul to do right by this world? If you want to serve this world and the people of it do you have to give your soul to do so, the ultimate sacrafice. If so is it justified to do that? I am really confused by this.

God

2008-08-19T23:59:00.002-05:00

I was talking to a a coworker about the the Rick Warren interview or whatever it was, and he said how this was like a step back. I agree what kind are we coming to when a Church official gets to question the United States Presidential Candidates. I know that the evangelicals vote so the candidate have to pander to them, but what does this mean for our country? The thing that bothers me the most about evangelicals, extremist, fundamentalist whatever you wanna call them they is that they feel that their way is the only way. Lately something else is bothering me. their view of God, The God they believe in is Cold, Unforgiving, not understanding, and Closeminded. This bothers me the most Living in the south I can't offer a different idea without being told that what I said was Blasphamy. If I met God and he was like this I think I would be disappointed. I just can't believe that God is so Black and White. They make it seem that it is this way and no other way and no way around it. This bothers me I just can't belive this I won't belive this. The God I believe in is Warm, Forgiving, Understanding, Wise and much more complex than anyone on earth can begin to comprehend. I just feel that God is more complex than what people portray God as a Man the first and ultimate being has a gender that is ridiculous. That is just one of the things that bothers me. People say that you have to give ten percent to the church. What does God want with your money! Then there is this whole idea that if you are not christian you are going to hell. well the years before christianity everyone went to Hell? What about native Americans who for years and years were never exposed to any version of Judao-Christian society all went to hell. I'm sure that all religions are a gateway to God. It just makes me upset that people are so Close minded especially about something as huge religion.

Audacity

2008-08-13T02:03:00.002-05:00

I work at night now 10 P.M. till 7 A.M. so leaving for lunch would really not be in my best interest. So I read the newspaper, and there are a variety of papers who lean to the left and right. When I am at home not much is on during the morning so I watch the news and one thing that I keep seeing in the coverage of the Race is that Senator McCain is constantly using negative and demeaning tones when referring to Senator Obama. He handed out tire gauges to mock Senator Obama saying that good tire pressure increases gas mileage, then he talked about the Senator's views on the war by saying "The Audacity of Hopelessness" mocking the title of Senator Obama's book. I'm not saying that Senator Obama doesn't criticise Senator McCain, but he attacks his stance on the issues. Senator McCain does the same, but he seems to me to be demeaning, and putting the senator down as below him almost like a child. Neither Senator McCain or Senator Obama are children and have earned to be where they are. I just feel that there should be mutual respect among the two candidates. Senator McCain seems spoiled or arrogant to me every time he treat's Senator Obama that way. He acts like he deserves to be president like it is his right and that Senator Obama is a nuisance in his way. Any man who feels it is his right to be president obviously is not a man this country needs or deserves. Senator McCain in my opinion only gives off the feel that because of his time as a POW it is his right to be President like this country owes him. I am more that grateful for the Senator's service to our country and hate that he had to spent that time as a POW, but being President is another form of Service to this country, not a gift. I just feel that senator McCain needs a new approach, but maybe he is doing it just right for the votes he is targeting. Maybe it is just stand offish to me as a Liberal. Senator McCain is a conservative. The Ad comparing Senator Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears was out of line and in bad taste. We only two more months till the election It will most likely only get worse. I just hate negative campaigns. The Audacity of Senator McCain.

Expectations

2008-08-01T18:46:00.005-05:00

Lately Sen. Obama has been on a whirlwind tour of the world. The Senator has been telling of all of what he plans to do once and if he is elected President. The media has also been hyping it up as well. What the main problem that I have with this is that Senator Obama and the media are pumping up what he will do if elected. So even if he does and excellent job if elected he might still be seen as a failure. As a people Americans are very biased against "Flip Floppers" they are themselves the most prime example of a Flip flopper. Americans will turn against a politician at the slightest possibility of a problem. So if on a scale of 10 he performs at an 8 his approval rating will plummet. People don't realize that the executive branch is only 1/3 of the govn't. Yes I disagree with president Bush on almost everything that he did during his presidency, I am also aware that it is not 100% his fault. President Bush has become the point of blame for all the ills of this nation. I often hear people say they hate Bush and this is all his fault and if it weren't for him everything would be okay. Some of the things honestly weren't his fault, but he still could have handled the situations a lot better. What I am saying basically is that is President Bush is this bashed where he had a conservative congress for half of his administration to boot most of the country leans conservative. What chance does a Democratic President have whom has set the bar extremely high?

Hero

2008-07-16T21:32:00.003-05:00

The fact that random acts of injustice happens proves that there is no Justice

I was watching a documentary on the history channel called "Batman Unmasked" it was a study in the psychology of Batman and his rouge Gallery. I watched figuring that it would be interesting with the Dark Knight coming out Friday. As I watched my mind was blown, the show asked you to reshape the fundamental aspects of humanity and right and wrong. Batman is a man who needs a way to fight injustice outside of what is acceptable by contemporary society. It showed that his villains are also regular human being pushed to the extremes just in the opposite direction. The line between right and wrong, good and evil is very close, and very hazy. The asked who was the real person Batman or Bruce Wayne. An average person would say that Bruce the playboy billionaire is the real person, but what need would a man as Bruce regardless of the tragedies he has endured in his life need to do the things that Batman does. I learned that the true person ALWAYS is the masked person. The things that we do knowing that we will not be held responsible for are actions is who we really are. Bruce Wayne troubled man hurt by the death of his parents is a man who can and will fight crime and injustice in the world, but he can not do that as himself he has friends, family, and many was to be hurt by the men he fights in the dark. As batman he is free from this burden he can do what he feels as right and necessary. Thus Batman is the true identity. This made me look at myself I can associate with heroes perhaps that is why I am such a fan of Superheros. I lack purpose for my life in my everyday life I am not doing the thing that I truly believe need to be done I am not making the world a better place. I sit around and watch TV and go to the movies and hang out with friend and I am not making the world better. I want and need to make this world better I have to leave it better than what I came into. I watch all of the injustice and pain and suffering in the world and it truly hurts me I honestly want to fight against it some how. I need to help people and I am not. On the other side of that coin I do see the pain and suffering of the world I also don't see anyone who even cares to try and help these people everyone is so focused on themselves and their tiny seemingly unimportant issues that they can't raise a finger to help people so why should I maybe I should look out only for myself. In this I find my self associating with the Villains. So I ask myself if I could hide behind a mask who would I be Batman or Scarecrow. The fact that I have to even ask myself this scares me. Who am I behind a mask? I don't want to jump off buildings like Batman or roam the night, but I do want to fight injustice so in that the quote at the beginning can not be true justice does exist, but it is harder to find than I first thought. What makes a man evil and what makes man good I think that there is no answer the line is way too far in the grey zone for me to actually know except of course in extreme example such as Pol Pot or Hitler. The fact that it is so far in the grey also means that the line between good and evil is extremely thin much too easy to cross.

Black or African-American

2008-06-11T19:50:00.001-05:00

I am just going to jump into this since I have been gone for so long. Barack Obama is now the Democratic nominee. This fits loosely into a conversation that I was having about a month or so ago. I was at a meeting for MSO(Minority Student Organization) and a question came about first it was about should the black community in America help out Africa more. I said that before we help Africa we need to help ourselves here in our own Black community. The Black community in America is in Chaos. Death tolls in some places are as high as war zones. EVERYONE WAS AGAINST ME. That was a short discussion it quickly changed to do you prefer to be called Black or African American. I said that I rather be called Black, seeing that I am not African, I have no close relatives in Africa nor do we share the same culture. This is what made them explode. I was quickly vilified for my beliefs. We went back and forth. I tried to explain that I have so much more in common with black people here in America than I will ever have with Africans. I was continually attacked no one came to my aid. Some people too this WAY TOO persona. I was asked why I joined United African American Men,and why I joined my fraternity.I was offended, but I didn't get too upset. I tried to explain to them that I joined because of what they stand for, and my respect for my heritage. Then I was attacked with "that is the same thing" I then tried to explain to them that it is not the same thing. Heritage is where you come from and culture is the customs and traditions of the society that you live in. We argued for a good five minutes while someone looked up the definition and I was proven correct. I later told one of my closest friends about the situation and he agreed. He also gave me a new insight. These people are SO Pro Black that they are blinding themselves can't see the forest for the trees. You have to take care of home first. If you child is starving and so is the little boy down the street, you only have money to feed one who are you going to choose? So I ask you African-American/Black people what do you prefer to be called. Non-African-American People what do you prefer to call people of that Persuasion?

100

2008-02-29T15:20:00.000-06:00

This is my one hundredth post, I could tell a story about how it's been a long time, how proud I am and all that jazz. I am not going to do that. This post is my "black" history post, but I am going in a whole other direction with this post. I hate BET. This network is so horrible that it should not be allowed to be on during black history month. This network stand for the exact opposite of what we are supposed to be celebrating. All the deaths, beating, dog bites, water hoses, arrest, sit ins , marches. All of that was so BET could show videos that promote a lifestyle that main cause of all the despair and degradation in the black community. BET shows videos, and old stereotypical TV shows. Where are the quality shows? BET only shows negative images of black people, they are images that show black people as loud, ghetto, criminals, and just generally bad depictions of us as a people. On Fridays they show movies, they call the movies "Blackbuster" movies. The movies that are shown, almost always involve prison, drug dealers, and movies that are of bad quality. Why is this the representative of our community to the world. In the end BET is a hip-hop/rap network, these people cater to the populace. What about Jazz, or a news show. BET tried this but wasn't attracting the audience that they want. Black Entertainment Television, more like Black Embarrassment Television. This show is a slap in the face to Dr. King, Malcolm X, Garret Morgan, Frederick Douglass, Dred Scott, and all the others that fought for the rights of black people in America. These people also pushed forward the thinking of America as a whole for the better. BET is not the legacy we should leave for them. This network is shameful attempt at something good. I hate BET

Catch Up

2008-02-23T17:44:00.001-06:00

Wow, a lot has happened since my last post. Fidel Castro resigned, the Writer's Strike was settled, Obama is took a significant lead, my blog had it's 2 YEAR anniversary on the 16th. So where should I start? I want to discuss Senator Obama's heavy lead over Senator Clinton. People have been trying to pump up the contest between Senators Obama & Clinton, while simultaneously Making it seem that the Republican race is basically over. The truth is that Senator Obama is taking Primaries with a huge lead, and Senator McCain and Governor Huckabee are finishing off very close to even and Huckabee is winning Primaries. This is an example of the media placing candidates in certain positions. As I stated before I am done predicting this race, but from an observer's point of view the opposite is true to what the media is saying. Fidel Castro said that he would not seek nor accept a new term as either president or commander-in-chief. What does this mean? I'll tell you the truth. I feel that F. Castro resigning probably won't change much, but I am only about 68% sure about that I don't know much about Cuba, but R. Castro is a different man. On the other side of that coin he was VP for F. Castro’s entire Presidency so he was witness to whatever was going on down there. How his administration will differ from his brothers is Yet to be seen. My Blog is Two years old, I am so proud! I am busy a lot so I don't post as much, but I am still here and do not plan to stop anytime soon. Even know I am handling some business. I am in College Station, Texas, at Texas A & M with La Tech's SGA. I am Fulfilling my Senatorial Duties and representing my University. So I have time to kill till the conference begins. So I am still a blogger, just a busy one. The writer Strike is over, so your favorite TV shows are back. I don't watch much TV anymore, but there are a few shows that I miss and will be glad to see back. A lot has happened, I hope that this post covered everything I would have talked about.

---Untitled---

2008-02-05T23:35:00.000-06:00

I thought about naming this post "Super Tuesday", but that was too generic, I thought about naming it "How in the world do you lose Massachusetts", but he came back and won more. So like I said before I am done trying to predict this thing, but McCain is doing a lot better than what I thought he would, he has a good chance of getting the nomination. Clinton & Obama at the beginning of the night I was flipping out. Obama was falling behind, but he came back and actually won more than Clinton. I gotta tell you that My first Presidential election is not looking good, I will not vote for McCain or Clinton, but I also won't not vote. So what choice do I have. I have heard that doing the third party thing is throwing away your vote, but isn't any vote cast worth something? At the sametime if you vote for someone who really has no support or recognition then your vote will not help decide the outcome. I still want Obama to get the democratic nomination. Even if he got the nom, and lost I would at least feel proud that the first Presidential vote I cast was for someone who I actually believed in rather than a lesser of two evils vote. If Obama doesn't get the nom then you are looking forward to a very confused and stressed C-dell. One last thing I have to nag about, how do you lose a state where both Senators, and the Governor endorses you. I mean Obama is my candidate, but how do you lose that. I mean the top people in the state at least on a national level. They got elected, you would think that sway could get you at the least (which this was, basically) the fan base of the people that voted for them. It baffles me to how you can lose that state. I tried to find an analogy for this, and I couldn't I don't know what this is like, but it is okay he came back and won a lot of States. Obama has the bragging right, he won the majority of the the States, but they were not the ones with a lot of delagates. So Obama is behind on the Delagate game, but he can say that more people are behind him. I knew that this was going to get good. :)

Obama-11/22
Clinton-8/22
As of 11:30 PM 02/05/08
Three States left (New Mexico, Alaska, Missouri)

Idol Democracy

2008-01-18T14:58:00.000-06:00

American Idol's season started not too long ago. The show got less viewers than it did last year, but the show is in no danger of being canceled. Why do people care more about the out come of a TV show than who runs the nation they call home. It hurts me to think that people will give more of an effort to vote for the winner of a reality show than for the President of the United States. People literally pay the cost of the text message in a vote in a election that has no relevance to their lives, but can't pull themselves from watching TV, drinking, or sleeping to take at the most, I can imagine, thirty minutes out of their day to cast a ballot. I assume they care more about the sex appeal of the idols, than anything else. I really don't understand how this is possible for more people to vote for a TV show than the elected officials this country. I still know people who have not registered to vote, it's been going on two years since my high school graduating class turned 18 longer for some, I'm younger than the majority of them. It took me ten minutes to register to vote, not including the time to drive to the registrars office. I know for a fact that people who are not registered have taken more time out of their day to go to the club, the mall, and parties. Would it really kill them to take that time out of their day, but it has got to be more than just that. I hosted a Political forum on the 9th. I went to the court house and got 50 registration cards, and told everyone before they left "I have registration cards, I will help you fill it out, I will return them to the court house". Two people got cards from me. Two people. What else do I have to do? I picked them up, I was basically going to fill the cards out for them, return them to the court house, yet only two people picked up cards. This is a dangerous path that this country is going down, my generation is going to inherit this country and very few even care about the path that it is going down. I also hear all the time about complaints, but they don't even put forth an effort to fix the problem. I have stated many times my disgust over the exaggerated importance of celebrities. The fact that people put forth more of an effort to make more celebrities than to pick a competent leader/Representative is deplorable, and a stain on our culture. So when the voting round of American Idol comes around, take not that the majority of those millions of votes coming in will not even bother to do the same on the seventh come November. That is truly a shame.

66+ million people voted in American Idol, this is more votes than ever recorded in a US Presidential election

A Post When the White lady Wins

2008-01-11T23:32:00.000-06:00

Two points first, I know I am more than late on posting about this, second the title is a joke for Dirk Star.

Hilary Clinton won the New Hampshire primary. Like I said on my last post I have given up trying to forecast this thing. Many people had given up on Senator Clinton, but she proved that she could rebound from her third place finish in Iowa. The results of the primary led Governor Richardson to remove himself from the race. I have noticed that some of the things I am most concerned with has not been discussed, as far as I know. That is the patriot act, I hate the patriot act and little has been said about it. I noticed that a lot of the small things that have happened since the last election, things that were big at the time. Why did the polls have the outcome so wrong? What I am getting at is this "Is the media creating the frontrunners, and making us think that these are the top candidates" I was in support of Senator Obama, but I am not at all too proud to admit that I may have fallen victim to this. I love it when elections come around I watch the news and the programs about it. Maybe this is why the polls were wrong. I recently found out that Alan Keyes is running. Why am I just finding out about this? I don't think that keyes will ever have a chance at winning, but I didn't even know. Who else is running. In an election I think that the media should cover all the candidates. This is the problem the media is starting to act out of want for ratings rather than to inform the public of the goings of the world. I still have the same excitement about the election, but I now know that this is happening. On to the next stage.

Surprise

2008-01-03T21:47:00.000-06:00

Surprise, Surprise. I had to post on this upset, Huckabee, and Obama won the Iowa caucuses. I will admit that I never thought that Huckabee would win. This win is just one more step in getting the nomination, but it is a big step toward that end. I was a firm believer that Mitt Romney was going to get the nomination, and he still might, but this win in Iowa is a huge step up for Huckabee. Obama won also, it was an intense competition between Edwards, Clinton, & Obama, but Obama came out on top. With his past popularity, appeal to young people, & this win, if he maintains it he has a strong chance of gaining the nomination. Clinton VERY surprisingly came in third out of the top three candidates. This push back is very bad for her. It maybe hard for her to regain her position in the race for the democratic nomination. I am sad to admit that I over looked that fact that Huckabee is a minister. Iowa is a big religious state, but New Hampshire is nowhere near as religious as Iowa. Seeing that New Hampshire is the next stone on the trail toward the nomination. The race is heating up, and getting very interesting. I have said before the REAL race starts when the two major parties announce whom they are going to run for the November election. The pre race for the nomination is not as clear cut as I had thought it was going to be. Huckabee as a minister has a good chance of getting the strong conservative christian vote. I know for a fact as a resident of the Dixie if Huckabee is put up against Clinton, Huckabee will win the south. That is as true as it gets. I don't if a Clinton-Huckabee race is likely. At this point I have thrown out all notions of how this whole thing is going to play out. What I do know is this is a very important election there are no incumbent, this will decide the 2nd president of the century/millennium/decade, plus it will put a new face in charge of The Iraq War as well as bring a new administration. The race is heating up, and I cannot stress the importance of this election.

Genes or Environment

2007-12-16T00:34:00.000-06:00

Today I was talking with my dad, about me not posting. I have not forgotten about my blog nor have I given up, but by the end of this quarter I will be back. I was sittin around and I was thinking. I spent yesterday with my aunt, a woman I love very much and love spending time with, and we went to go see my cousin play in a basketball game. We were just talking about my family on the ride there. Today I talked with my father and just got to thinking, what makes people the way that they are? My father has always questioned society and why things are the way they are. If it wasn't for him, among a select others, I wouldn't be who I am today. My aunt has always wanted to experience more, always wanting to move on to the next thing in life to experience. She taught me experience as much of life as possible. My Uncle has been looking for himself as long as I have known him. He knows that the way things are, aren't the way he wants it to be. He is finding himself, and I am proud of him. Although he didn't purposefully instill this in me he taught that in the end you have to be happy, if you conform to others and ignore your true feelings you won't be happy. Finally my other aunt, who has always worked at bettering herself, but what she taught me has nothing to do with that she taught me to have pride in my family. Most of the people in Winnfield don't care about the things that my dad showed me were important, nor care to see the things in the world my aunt told me about, want the changes my uncle wants or the drive of my other aunt. I really have no point just me thinking in this post

Question of the Day

2007-11-10T22:18:00.000-06:00

I often read books or watch TV dramas. One thing that occurs whether in books or TV a person often finds themselves having to find Justice for a wrong done against them or a loved one. This can be applied to real life is the "War on Terror" in any way "Justice". At what point does Justice become Vengeance? Is justice repayment for wrong doings or is it the setting right of wrong doings?

Question: Is justice by any means still justice?

Please post your opinions.

Brief Return

2007-10-26T10:20:00.000-05:00

Wow it has been a long time since I posted. I am really behind on a lot of things. I doubt that anyone will even read this. I hope that eventually you will read this. This quarter I am taking sociology. It is a very interesting class. What amazed me was how it doesn't sugar coat anything it just tells it like it is. One thing that it said was that race was a creation of society to give reason for existing social inequalities. That was real deep to me. Last year in my Political Science class the book said that in American society that the balanced is tipped in the favor of whites and that minorities often get harsher punishments for the same crimes that whites commit. Then my History text book stated how the lingering effects of past racism still exist in American society, for both blacks and whites. I find this to be interesting because I thought that the racial problems that this nation faced were swept under the rug and basically ignored. This shows me that maybe more people are addressing it than I once thought. What I want to know is what do you think about the racial issues in this country. do you think that there is a problem or are some people just reading too much into somethings? I would love to know what you all think.about this issue.

Big Things

2007-09-11T23:31:00.000-05:00

This year i plan on doing big things. I may have my plate a little full. The real problem is this latin class I am taking. I hold three positions on campus. I am Under secretary for UAAM, I am Treasurer for NAACP, I am Liberal Arts Senator for SGA. As an e-Board member of UAAM I can help with the formation of programs one that I plan on starting is to help make people on campus aware of the importance of voting, and politcal awarness. The treasurer wants me to help in a program to help educate people on how to get to college and prepare for the business world. We are also doing a fitness program So I will be given a physical at the beginning of the year and at the end to see how well I progressed. Lastly for UAAM we are doing a can food drive for a domestic abuse shelter in town the women come there with their families and food runs out quickly with upwards of ten families living there. My friends and I actually started the program last year it is called Save-a-Meal. As Senator for SGA I help delagate where money goes for students and help improve the student experience on campus I just started that so I don't know what all I will be doing. The e-Board for NAACP is doing things to help the Jena six situation and overall help the students on campus. All of that on top of work classes and maybe one more things I am not sure about yet.

Politics=Religion?

2007-09-06T22:33:00.000-05:00

Today I started college, I only have one class on Tuesday & Thursday. I don't start work until next week so I was just chilling out in the Student center. My friend and I were talking and we were just discussing things. Some how things drifted toward people don't what they are doing and abortion came up. I live in the south, the dixie, the bible belt so my beliefs tend to be in the minority especially if religion is involved. I voiced my opinion on how even if it is wrong you still don't have the right to deny anyone the right to choose. We were having a political discussion. Some how the discussion smoothly drifted to religion straight up and the debate we were have became a sermon. Now the man who turned it into a sermon is my friend. I met him last year him and a couple of people took me in as a friend when I knew no one. So he will always me my friend. He went through some stuff this summer and God or maybe more likely religion help him through it. I am not against religion, but it seems that when people are put though the fire what ever is there becomes there life. I feel as if I am witnessing the birth of a fundamentalist. It is very interesting to witness. However I feel about his path, the intellectual in me(not to sound over confident) is interested

Pattern

2007-08-30T14:34:00.000-05:00

I have been noticing something else in the Bush administraion. It seems that a lot of people get fired or quit. There is now an opening for U.S. Attorney General I am off on how many this will make, but we are going through this whole thing again senate confirmation and such. With only a year or so left in this presidency makes you wonder why are does the Administration go through so many people? My theory is that a lot of dirty dealing is going on and when the blame needs to be passed someone loses their job. To be honest who didn't see this coming though. The firing of the 8 others without reason just spurs this kind of beahvior. I have more to say, but I can't use my computer and for a while so any post will be short.

Purpose

2007-08-23T22:36:00.000-05:00

Today was the conclusion of CNN's three part, six hour special on Religion and politics. I watched all three parts, and I got angry. These people were flat out rascist or just simple had hatred in their heart. I was just angry and almost fed up I thought that maybe I was wrong about the inherint goodness of human beings. I came across another thing that I stick with. I think that Organized religion has been outgrown by modern society. The Israelies had a strict belief that the land was theirs. They broke international law to create settlements on palastienian land and, they don't care about international law. What they call "God's law" comes first. These people do not care They don't want the palastineans to even have equal rights if they take the west bank. Then the muslims which are chronicled plenty. The same thing was told as usual. They are ready to die to confront and destroy any and all who oppose them. The two religious groups in the middle east have both resorted to terrorism. Finally it was the Christians. These people are organized, and dedicated to complete conversion of american society. The difference is that these people are politcal they use american politics to force their culture on us and use fear to make us accept it. These people are dangerous. I finally came to a conclusion. Religion was the source of most of the problems of the world. Note this special did not say this. The show just chronicled the movements. What did happen is that they let these people say what they had to say. I heard their words from them. The conflict between the two religions is comepletely the fault that both are so arrogent as to not accept any other view, but their own. The violence is a direct cause of extremist views of mostly peaceful religions. It seem to unlikely that relgion can exist in a non-extremist way. The fundamental American Christians are on a campaign to recreate american culture, and I am afraid of these people. I am afraid of what they are doing to us as a society. First I was angry at these people, but I knew that I could get to thinking of doing things their way. Couldn't force my view on them. If I did I was no better than them. I did realise what I had to do. I understand that if I want to do right by the world I had a responsibility. I will not force my ways on others, but I will fight with my voice.

Expletus

2007-08-19T21:11:00.000-05:00

"The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices, to be found only in the minds of men. For the record: prejudices can kill, and suspicion can destroy, and the thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all of its own, for the children and the children yet unborn. And the pity of it is... that these things cannot be confined... to The Twilight Zone."

Rod Sterling

This week I watching TV I came across a little preview of a show called God's Warriors it is about how the three major religions ,Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, and politics affect each other in the world. Commercial was about Battle cry lead by Ron Luce, and there campaign to bring back morals into the American culture (http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2007/08/15/gods.warriors.battle.cry.cnn). Ron Luce wants to take back this country from the virtue terrorist of American society. Luce has a strong opposition to Homosexuality and abortion, it seems that he and his followers want to stamp out anything that they don't like. I have talked about this plenty of time here at my blog. I don't understand why they must have it only there way and no other way whats so ever. They want a Christian nation, but this isn't one, yet I doubt that they actually understand what they are attempting to make. I think that Ron Luce and people like him and a stain on American culture, not for their beliefs, but for the way they try to destroy all other aspects of American culture that they don't like. While it is true that I don't like these people I fully respect their right to express themselves, but I doubt they fully understand what they are doing to American youth.On the complete opposite spectrum of Christian americans is Greg Boyd. Greg Boyd says "you can no more have a christian bicylce than you can have a christian nation. It just doesn't work that way(http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/gods.warriors/ look under christianity and Video Diary). Boyd is against the polarization of American culture. He wants people that have different political views to have them, but still be able to come together as people. This is exactly want I want I think that we can have our own personal and political views, and still be friendly to one another. This is what Greg Boyd preaches. He thinks that Religion and government are too fused together in this nation. In 2004 Boyd refused attemps from other various leades to tell their followers how to vote. I wish that there were more relgious leaders like Greg Boyd, because if there were we would be much better off in my view. Boyd's view is the way I view faith. I encourage that you watch this show on CNN called God's warriors it airs Tuesday through Thursday at 9 pm easter time. Each day they will chronicle stories such as this from each of the major religions. Tues-Judaism, Weds-Islam, Thurs-Christianity. This show proves another of my points. I do not want anyone to think I am just focusing in on christians. I oppose any religion that trys to enforce there ways on the entire world or a particuar culture. It is that in this nation it is mostly Christians doing this. I really hope that you all will watch this show I surely will. This show is very informative about the effects of extreme relgion on a modern society.

Death of a Stock Market

2007-08-16T18:08:00.000-05:00

Well I was watching the news and the Stock market is in big trouble, and it is looking like it is going to be a big problem I am not big on the stock market. I can't say that I know much on this topic, but I do know the effects of a crash last time the market crashed it was the beggining of the Depression, which I might add was world wide. The world and the U.S. in particularly is going some stuff right now and with a depression equal in strenght to our current economy is could prove to be quite a problem. I don't know what to say about this really so What I would like is for you all to inform me on this topic if you will.

The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street

2007-08-13T17:42:00.000-05:00

The Ames Straw Poll was held on the 11th of this month. Now we may see the thinning of the weeds. I have stated before that this 08 Presidential election has no stand out candidates. The election will not get good until we have our final two major party candidates. The process of picking the candidates is also very fun, not as much as the election itself, but a close second. As I suspected Mitt Romney came out on top. I really think he has a chance of getting the Rep nomination, but we know that things can change in a New York minute when it comes to politics. We just have to look at Howard Dean. Things in this election are moving along slowly, but I am sure that with 2008 steadily approaching it will pick up speed. I always looked at the primaries as a time when that party members turn on each other one second they defend each other on the news and next they are at each others throat say why their fellow party members are not better for the job than they are. The atmosphere of politics changes when Presidential elections roll around I swear you can almost smell it in the air. We are guaranteed a new face in the office of the President after this election. So I must remind everyone that this is a very important election. With all that is going on in this country and the world who will fill the Presidency is a very important. Remember register to vote, get informed of the candidates and vote.

Revisions

2007-08-08T18:15:00.000-05:00

Well I am back sorry for the long absence, But I have been busy with family stuff. Which brings me to what I want to post about today. I have been visiting family the last couple of weeks, and when families get together they discuss many things one thing they talked about maybe two or three time was that a new law had passed that made it illegal to sag your pants. The older members of my family were all in support of this. I Said nothing just listened to what they had to say, but the second time I had to speak out. I said "I don't like this law it is violating their first amendment rights, they can wear what ever they like. I got quick responses like I don't want to see it, or what if they try to get a job they can't wear that. We debated this for about two-three minutes then I gave up. See I do not sag my pants it looks stupid, and they are right you want get a job dressed that way, but to make it a law where you can't where your cloths the way you want is way more than the first step down that path I fear that this country is going down. What if someone made a law where you had to have your hair cut a certain way. No one would like that. I ask you how is this law any different? I tried to get them to understand my point. It was futile my mother and my aunt came to my side and that was it. I am not asking you to like it just to protect the rights of others. So through this I have a revised view of what some americans thinks of freedom. They think that freedom is the ability to do as they please and for everyone else also, as long as it fit in to their view od right and wrong. This is why we have so much division in this nation we all have different views on freedom. Freedom is the ability to do as you please as long as it does not violate anyone elses freedom. So I also now know that despite what many black people are registered as(dem) they are really conservatives at heart. so they vote dem to help themselves out when in actuality they should be voting rep. It seems what I have stumble on develves deeper than what I first thougth

Forever in a Day

2007-07-31T17:01:00.000-05:00

Hello I have been a little busy, but I will try to post again soon. I hope to get back into my usual routine soon. Just please give me sometime, and please don't forget about me.

Serpent's Song

2007-07-16T22:05:00.000-05:00

Well Louisiana is all over the news lately. Sen. David Vitter has been tied to the DC Madam. Now I do not care if Senator Vitter had sex with a prostitute, I don't care if he had sex with three prostitutes and a orangutan. As long as he does his job well I could care less that is between him, the law and his family, but it quickly becomes my business when he lies to get elected. He didn't lie about this situation, but he lied about what he stands for, he pushed conservative issues in congress. Then it turns out that he doesn't practice what he preaches. That makes him a hypocrite. I think he has refuse to answer any questions about the situation. Soliciting a prostitute is still a crime in this country. As a representative of the people he is answerable to the people, When president Clinton got caught up the right wing could not stop putting him down. Don't get me wrong I like Clinton he was a good pres, but he did lie under oath, I don't care what he and the intern did, but when your perjure yourself then I have a problem. Really when it comes down to it what my real problem is, is that this is a growing problem going on in politics hypocrites. Does anyone stand for what they say they stand for? I already have a problem with the legislature that conservatives push in congress, but I respect them. When you are caught flat out doing the opposite, it just makes it hard for me to still respect you. Can they even be trusted. What happened to honor? Honor you constituents, your office. Conservatives want to act so up right, and morally righteous. How can they justify their action from Foley to Newt Gingrich to David Vitter. The story that Senator Vitter is telling is the same old song I heard a million times before, I am sorry, my family and I are working through it, I've answered to God, This is a personal matter. I guess It is our fault we let them get away with it.

Unnatural Selection

2007-07-13T14:54:00.000-05:00

A while back Mary(Get Your Own) awarded me the Thinking Blogger Award(http://getit4yourself.blogspot.com/2007/06/triple-tagged.html). I am very grateful for this honor. As apart of the rules that come with the Award I must award it to five other people.

The first Thinking Blogger Award goes to Enemy of the Republic at "Cruel Virgin". I am giving this Award to her because she and her blog are not closed minded. Her blog is full of ideas that honestly make you think. She is not dismissive, and willing to discuss the opinions expressed in the comments.
The second goes to Tim from "Finding the Truth". He is an honest blogger who only seeks to fight for what is right and speak out against what is wrong. He doesn't care what side the problem is from wrong is wrong.
Third goes to Remorji from "Sittin on the Big Porch". Here we have a blogger who is not only finding himself, but wants others to learn from his lessons. Knowing this blogger personally. I know how much he has grown an also know the lessons that can be gained from his stories.
The fourth award goes to X.dell over at "The X Spot" This blogger is one who discusses topics most are not familiar with and shines the light on them. He wants to educate people for their own good. The stories he tells will open your eyes.
Finally we have Urban Butterfly from "Urban Butterfly". She is one of the most unique bloggers around a blog full of poetry. Here you will find poem that express in great detail the things everyone goes through.The poems are great and enlightening. UB as she is called has a beautiful blog and soul. Definitely one to check out.

THE RULES:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.

2. Link to the original post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme. (there’s that word…)

3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.

Point of No Return

2007-07-08T14:37:00.000-05:00

I was interviewed by Betmo from Life's Journey. I really enjoyed the experience and would love to do it again if asked. Hope you enjoy as well.

1) As a young blogger, who tackles pretty heavy topics- what are the reactions of your peers to your posts, and do they have much input? Actually many people in my social life don't know about my blog or this side of me, but when people do find out about my blog they are intrigued. In high school all I heard was "that's cool" or "your into that". In college it is a different story they ask questions, read my post. Many times we become better friends because I realise that they think about the same stuff and vice versa. We end up having long discussions about politics and the world. As far as input no my blog is all me, but they do give me inspiration.

2) Your generation is going to have many messes to clean up- if now is any indication- how do you see America and the world being in 20 years? 20 years, well I see American rights being stripped away under an ever increasing power of the Executive Office, a Supreme Court who will not challenge any conservative president, and if attitudes don't change a Congress afraid of the Executive office. America will be even more divided. The rest of the world will follow suit. The big mess my generation will have to clean up is the political structure of the entire world. The economy is going to be horrible, the U.S. is going to be isolated from the rest of the world Europe particularly. After the collapse of the middle east chaos will ensue dragging more European nations into the fight far deeper than they would like. Latin America may be a third world region once the U.S. ignores them in favor of the Middle East issue. This is what I see unless we get some policy makers in office who see this problem and are willing to correct it.

3) Reading your blog over the past months- it seems as if you are looking at issues and learning from them as you go along. what was the inspiration for you to start blogging? The inspiration to start blogging was a two part thing. Starting with the 2000 elections I had been very interested in politics, but I had no one to talk to about it. So I learned and quietly observed on my own, keeping my thoughts to myself. Then my father called me one day telling me to check out his blog, Sitting on the big Porch, I did and when he explained what it was to me. I knew I had found what I needed. An open forum of discussion on issues that meant a lot to me. I feel that a lot happens in the world and as long as I speak out I have made a difference.

4) If you were running a candidate's campaign for president, what would be your advice to him/her for a platform? Glad you asked. I often feel like candidates are selling a product with fine writing saying "results may vary". I would tell them to be honest and tell them what you plan to do, don't sugar coat it. Talk to the average man/woman, the people you intend to serve like they have some intelligence, don't baby them. Absolutely no Smear campaigns. If you are honest about your intentions the people will see what you are really about. If you win then you won fair and square, no tricks. If you lose, at least you ran an honest campaign. I think that liberal, conservative, or moderate we are all tired of fake, dirty, dishonest politicians

5) Many of us out here in blogland take up many causes- but we have one pet cause we champion (mine is the environment)- do you have one? and if so, what is it? My cause is equality. It encompasses many things, equal rights racial harmony, and many more, but I want us all to be equal, because we are. So it may seem my passions vary, but it all boils down to equality. I can't let our rights be violated. I believe humanity has so much potential, but we can only live up to it once we are all free. I am afraid of what will become of us if we allow corruption and the centralization of power to take over our world.

Do YOU want to be interviewed?

Interview rules:
1. Leave me a comment saying “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with a post containing your the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

It's Good to be King

2007-07-05T15:13:00.000-05:00

Well, surprise surprise President Bush commuted Scotter Libby's sentence. It is not a pardon so he is still guilty. I asume that this is Pres. Bush's attempt to satisfy both sides. This logic makes no sense. I could see if he had served some of his jail time. What if we reversed this logic if you pardoned a man before he went to jail, but he still had to serves his time. Don't get me wrong if the position were reveresed I would love a commuted sentence, but I thought we lived in a country were justice was blind but I guess every now and then she peaks under that blind fold just to make sure it isn't one of the President's buddies. Honestly who didn't see this coming. I am not going to pretend that Pres. Bush is the only President to do this, but that doesn't make it anymore right. What is wrong with the president going over the sentences of the average man and finding one where he evidence was sketchy or where they were obviously innocent,and pardoning them or commuting their sentence. I guess you would need a President more in touch with the people. President Bush's administration seems to be out of his hands I doubt that this decison was completely his. Why, of all people should Scooter Libby get a "get out of jail free card"? This is a complete miscarrige of Justice. I am more than a litte bothered by this. Which is strange since I saw it coming maybe a part of me just hoped for more. So a friend of yours leaks the name of a U.S. undercover agent then lie about it and you can get them off. I guess it is good to be king.

Menace

2007-07-02T13:58:00.000-05:00

*First off I would like to make a correction no one died in the Jena incident. I received bad info

North Korea is testing more weapons. N. Korea is going to be a real threat I watch a lot of of Sci-fi and drama shows and one thing that they have in common is that close to the end of the season things begin to build up until the climactic season finale. I am afraid we are reaching the end of our season an old enemy returns and is gaining strength(N. Korea). The main characters are getting a new leader(U.S.'s election is coming). The main enemy's devious plot was foiled leading into their next big attack(London terror attacks). At the end of the season it will all come together. Now that was just a little fun I was having with the current situation, but the truth is that N. Korea is a real threat. It seems to me that no one else seems to care very much unless it is on CNN or Fox News. We as a people need to start prioritizing what we need to do. Iraq is too far gone and we are in too deep to just pull all out now. We do need a gradual pull out of Iraq and start dealing with N. Korea. I am not saying we do what we did in Iraq, because we all know how that went, but North Korea is a real problem that the U.S. and other nations need to address. We need to address them soon before the Season end with us caught by surprise.

The Broca Divide

2007-06-28T14:22:00.000-05:00

I noticed something yesterday. Recently around here the watercooler conversation is the Jena situation, more commonly known as the Jena Six. I learned that it had taken own national coverage. It was in a Chicago newspaper, and a radio show. So Since this happened in my backyard basically. I felt it was right to go with the theme that my blog has been taking the last couple of post, Racial harmony. What happened is there was a tree that some black students wanted to sit under, but it was reserved for white students only. When the black students sat under it the next day nooses were hanging from the tree. Racial tension was increased in the city. Fights broke out and eventually led to the deaths of some students who are now on trail. Why is it so easy to tear apart a community solely on the basis of race. I have been to Jena a couple of times and my high school played them in homecoming a few times. So this extreme case of racism feels too close for comfort. I know racism exist. It exist in my hometown, but this is just so extreme. White only, this is not the 1950's, it is the 21st century. The bond that I spoke of in my last post is there, but acts like this make it hard to see. I grew up in the south race is apart of everyday life, not always negative. Just always there. Now the trial has come along and less than half of the people called to jury duty showed up. Do people not care? I think that if we fight hard enough that racism can be reduced. Can it be destroyed? I don't know, but I wish that it could. Humanity is so divided it really makes me feel sad. I really hope that we can mend this hatred among us. From the middle east to US-Mexican-border to Jena Louisiana human beings seem to be at odds with each other over seemingly superficially things. We are all humans, we breathe the same air, drink the same water, live off the same ground, live on the same earth. Why are we so divided?

The Ties That Bind

2007-06-25T14:19:00.000-05:00

Natalie Halloway, Elizabeth Smart, Jessie Marie Davis these women are a long list of women who have gone missing. I am not saying that these things are not sad, but does anyone remember Phylicia Moore, Alexis Patterson, Rilya Wilson, Judy Cajuste, or Sharonda Parker. When a person is abducted it is always sad I am not saying anything to the contrary, but the media has it's pick and choose of the stories it airs/prints. Why is it that the stories that get the most attention are about white people. All missing people are important regardless of race there is a racial divide in this country. We as a people should care regardless of race. I don't have much too say I just wanted to give you all something to think about. What are the things that bind us race nationality or as I hope Humanity. I believe that as human beings we share a bond that goes beyond race, religion, nationality. Sometimes it maybe hard to see, but I have no doubt that it exist I really hope that in this millenium that all that hold people together is not race.

Unending

2007-06-20T15:39:00.000-05:00

Today I am talking about the middle east situation. Recently Hamas has taken the Gaza strip. This is a Major event. It changes things to say the least. So I am going to talk about Middle east politics instead of our own. Which to be honest is becoming harder to seperate. I read that the number of refugees coming out of Iraq is increasing. Iraq is, like I have said plenty of times before, a mess. Now with Hamas having taken the gaza strip we will probably see an increase on attacks all over the middle east. I hope that a peaceful resolution to these problems could be found, but with stubborness coming from all sides I don't see who would be willing to agree to that. It would seem that aggression is something rooted in the human being so deep no matter how advanced we get or how holy we get it can never be erased. The middle east has been a hotbead of war, terror, and aggression for sometime now. It is not all their fault. European fought over it, religions fought over it. It is not limitied to the Middle east either look at Latin America, superpowers of all generations. Ancient Greece had a city state the was all about military, Sparta. Rome's goal was to conqueor the world and they used military might to get that job done. Great Britian in it's hayday fought many Wars I couldn't name them all. The U.S started out in a War and in the twentith century has had it's hand in major miltary action for every generation of that century. We will continue to try to stabalize the middle east, but sadly there will always be war if not in the Middle East then elsewhere on this blue marble of ours. Yes it war is inevitable infact it is.....

This post and the next nine post, their titles all have something in common as a tribute.

List

2007-06-14T14:17:00.000-05:00

Every since 9/11 there has been the no fly list. On Sunday I watched 60 minutes and they were talking about the No fly list. There is nothing wrong with the no fly list in idea. A list on people who are suspected of terrorism(with legitimate reason) being prevented from flying, a but the govn't has allowed the list to become antiquated, and basically useless. Starting of my list of problem with the list is that there are dead people on the list. Nine on the 9/11 hijackers are on the list and Saddam Hussein. People who cause no serious threat are on the list the president of Bolivia is on the list along with a leader of one of our few allies in the Middle East. When the woman in charge on the list was question she simply answer we already knew the list is outdated. Well Duh! She honestly had no idea that some of these people were on the list. It was later revealed that different govn't agencies just gave random list they have to fill out the No fly list. How safe does that make you feel that a list used to protect us is allowed to become so dilapidated. This administration is so concerened with terrorism yet they can't keep up a list like. To make it worse the real bad terrorist that the govn't is after are not put on the list at all. So that they won't know that they are being looked for. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the list My second problem is the fact that it is No "fly list" why not a No Travel list or to accompany the No fly list a No sail list. What it boils down to me is this is a list to appease the public. Let's face facts terrorist are not stupid. If you pulled off the biggest bank heist and got away with 500,000 dollar clean would you do the exact same thing again. Terrorist will do many things to achieve there goal they are not limited to using planes. That is why I believe in a No Travel list to prevent them from getting in and out of the countries they work in.

Immigration

2007-06-08T20:44:00.000-05:00

Today the Immigration bill was dealt a devastating blow, It was all but destroyed. The bill barely mustered any support. So what is the problem? I will tell you right now that coming into another country and using it's resources without being a citizen is somewhat wrong. I say somewhat because I understand why they come here. It is completely understandable. What gets me is the protest to people being put out. If you know that you are here illegally why would you think that you deserve to stay. If you have to sneak in then you aren't supposed to be there. Don't get me wrong I am all for them becomeing citizen that is the soul of this country immigration. I also think that the way that they are treated is wrong. The conservatives in this country what to make the illegals out to be monsters without souls or something. It is wrong the way that they are treated. So why do we in America have this superiority complex? Americans feel that they are the top dogs and no one else matters, at least that is how it appears to me. Americans are caring, but they tend to not see it from the other side if it affects them in any sizeable way. Maybe being the only superpower left has fed to it. In my Political Science class my professor said that at childhood we are endoctored to believe america is perfect, and when you say something opposing that people get angry. This was proven when we discussed the constitution and he told us that the constitiution did not prepare for certain situations, and that it was not perfect.Him and another student got into a heated discussion about america. I don't know what it is, bit I know that being an American does not give you the right to look down on others or treat them less than humanly.

Tagged II: The Reckoning

2007-06-05T22:09:00.000-05:00

Last December C-dell was tagged by Undeniable Liberal to list weird thing about himself, this summer C-dell faces two taggers Enemy of the Republic & Urban Butterfly. Tagged II: The Reckoning opens June 5th

"better than the original"-Sikel and Abbot

"Breakout Post of the summer"-Tumbling Stone

"masterpiece, thrill ride, you have to read this post"- Whitley Times

When I am alone I talk my thoughts
When really being myself I am very goofy
I have a memory box where I keep thing that remind me of important days or events
I think I am addicted to soda
I wonder if human beings will ever really have peace
If a woman can really truly sing I am instantly attracted to her
If a person cares only for themselves or limits themselves to their immediate surroundings I am instantly biased against them
I love being naked(TMI perhaps)

each blogger starts with eight - ten random facts/habits about themselves…* people who are tagged need to write posts in their own blog about the tag and post these rules…* at the end of your post, you need to choose people to get tagged and list their names

Charlie, Imran, Deborah, Dirk Star, Sornie, Betmo, Anne, Simon are Tagged to have their own spin offs.

For Your Protection

2007-06-02T17:33:00.000-05:00

Last sunday I was watching TV it was about 2:00 AM I flipping through the channels and I started watching South Park. I like to watch cartoons, but it was not on Comedy Central I don't know what channel this was so I am watching TV and the screen goes blank. The words The scene where blah, blah, blah has been editted out for your protection. I was taken back a bit I had never actually seen something like this. I had heard words bleeped, or a voice over to replace the word, and of course the blur, but the entire scene was just gone for like five seconds that message appeared on the screen and then when it was gone the next scenes was on the TV. So what does that actually mean? Like I said it was 2:00 AM. What was the point, I think they removed the scene where Kenny eat some fecal matter. First of all it is a cartoon it is not real. I don't feel any more safe, and I have seen that episode before. I think I was okay. This however small it was disturbes me it is like the beggining of some george Orwell nightmare. Starts out small, then gradually grows. I just think if you don't want to watch something don't watch it, if you don't want your kids to watch something don't let them watch it. It really is that simple. I see things like this as very one sided. People have a problem with something and they try to force that down the throats of everyone else. All the parent groups, and religious groups want it only their way. That is wrong, and goes against what this nation is supposed to stand for. It is easy to not watch something, it is very hard to watch something that isn't allowed. You should all know the problem I have with rap and the overall hip-hop culture, but I in no way want it gone or to stop other people from listening to it or being apart of it. This is a free nation, please do as you please. I just think that stopping other people from partaking in something that you don't like then you are veering too close to facism. That is just the way I see it. What you do, watch, listen is none of my business, and vice versa. I just wish that people would stop forcing their morality down others throats, now don't get me wrong I will speak my mind, you can't stop me from doing that, but at the same time I will never try to force you to see it my way.

Diet Racism

2007-05-29T15:35:00.000-05:00

Today, I am in shock. I never thought that racism was dead, but I thought it was at least weakened or dying, but lately I have been completely slapped in the face. I am going to tell you about two incidents that involve people I know. One grew up with me and I am very close to the other is an adult that I respect very much, but let me down with their words. I was at Sonic with my friend we were getting something to eat, and their were a lot of people their. My friend said soon after we got there "I am nervous, there are a lot of white people here" I was in shock I thought I knew this person. There words hit me hard how can a young person in 2007 say something like this. I didn't speak to them the entire time we were in the car together. I shrugged it off, and went on. I knew that racism still existed, chances are that I would encounter it. Days passed and today I was watching TV with someone and there was two men who were hugged up and this person assumed that one of them was gay and was wondering about the other. This person just kept show their frustration with the one that was gay. The gay man did cry a lot. I will admit the excessive crying was a bit much. For me it had nothing to do with the fact that he was gay, he is a grown man. The person I was Watching TV with spewed the word(forvive just quoting) fag and faggot a couple of time. Then the man began to cry again and she said "he is such an fag" I responded not all gay people cry all the time or act that way. She responded "yes they do". Shameful at least in my eyes. This is 2007, that is the same as saying that all black people eat watermelon and chicken. That is not all she had to say either. The show was about a family they were yelling a lot and she said that "they must be Italians". It is shameful to hear this out of an educated person's mouth. So now that you see the situation I am in. I want to address racism and prejudices in America. Like I said I Know that racism is not dead, but I never expected to hear it come from where it did or does. I know these people very well. They would never treat any one different based on anything like that, but they do think that way so that is what I am saying. We have racism, no one is treated different, but are looked down. I was raised that everyone is equal and you don't prejudge people based on outside things. What is inside their personality is what make a person good or bad. Or so I thought I guess that what all the adults around me were really saying was if you approve of who or what they are do you judge them on their personality instead of the outside.Racism is still very much alive. Same great taste, less calories.

Year One

2007-05-26T11:59:00.000-05:00

My first year of college is over, and it went by faster than I thought it would. I Have really grown in college. I joined some organizations, made good friends, meet great professors who I consider friends, but most importantly I learned so much. Not to dump on High school, but I understand now that Highschool is only a basic education. The most simple of classes in High school, in college require just as much work and attention as any other. My roommate took geography, which I take in the Fall, and the things he told me that they studied we never went over in highschool. My first year in college has reinforced my idea of education. When people are educated then I think that the world would be so much better. When I came home and saw people I hadn't seen in months were doing the samething they were doing when Ieft I just wondered what if they were educated or at least wanted to be.

Presidential

2007-05-21T19:47:00.000-05:00

On my return post I want to talk about the upcoming presidential election. A lot of people have thrown their hats into the ring, but among these people who has what it takes to not only get elected, but also be a successful president? This blog endorses Sen. Obama, but I am first to admit the flaws in his campaign. Sen. Obama is a freshman senator, he is black, he is also the flavor of the month. Maybe less so now. The democrats have Clinton, another big name, but also has draw backs. These include being the first lady of President Clinton, A woman, extreme, she seems fake(at least to me), and neither party really trust her. Other than that the dems do not have a strong candidates. Not to say that they are all bad just can they get elected. That is the real concern now. On the other hand the reps do not have any big names. Rudy Giuliani is the biggest name that they have, but he is leaning on his 9/11 history too much. He has proven to be a good leader. Really the republicans have no one. I see purely from a nonpartisan standpoint I see Mit Romney getting the nomination. This coming election is such a critical one yet there is not stand out candidate from either side. When nominations are issued the election is going to get really interesting. Everyone needs to get out and start seeing where everyone stands. This election is very important. Please get informed vote.

Question of the Day

2007-05-12T19:43:00.000-05:00

My last two post brought up a the topic of individuality, and responsibility. Some said that they understood the feeling of being grouped. Others said that each man was and individual. While it is true that each person is an individual, but to what extent? We all love our family, we all want success, happiness, we all have fears, and strengths. So at the core of humanity how different are we really?

Question: Are all people essentially the same?

Please post your opinions

I am so embarrassed

2007-05-07T19:28:00.000-05:00

The last post I did was about "snitchin". I put up a quote by the rapper Camron. I put it up to show the mentality that we are dealing with. Maybe we could understand so we could help the problem. Then I actually saw the interview, and as a black man I was and am Highly embarrassed. The man said if a serial Killer lived next door to him he would move, and not tell the police. What type of person says something like that? I talked to my father and he told me not to worry about people out of my range, and help the ones in my vicinity, but how can I stand by and let these people corrupt the black community or any other with this ignorance? I feel I would be wrong if I didn't at least speak out. I understand what my father said. I don't yet have the power to affect large numbers. So until I do I will help who I can. What really got me was the children. The boy said that the thing to be concerned over are never backing down in a fight, get money, don't snitch, and stay fresh. So this is the way I See it is the "Stop Snitchin" advocates are staying forget the innocent people who die in the streets of America. forget the world problems and screw the genocidal murders in Africa. No the real problem is the people who cooperate with the police and get criminals off the streets, not enough people have rims and chains, but the most serious problem the world has is that not enough people are fresh. Ridiculous. I have lost respect for another man that is Camron. Again I am highly embarrassed.

Snitchin

2007-04-30T17:05:00.000-05:00

“In 2005, I was a victim of a violent crime. I was shot multiple times without provocation by two armed men who attempted to carjack my vehicle. Although I was a crime victim, I didn’t feel like I could cooperate with the police investigation. Where I come from, once word gets out that you’ve cooperated with the police that only makes you a bigger target of criminal violence. That is a dark reality in so many neighborhoods like mine across America. I’m not saying its right, but its reality. And it’s not unfounded. There’s a harsh reality around violence and criminal justice in our inner Cities."

Camron Giles

I was watching the news and saw that the "snitchin" thing is big in the news. I had heard of this before. I saw it on shirts and posters and such, but I am embarrassed about how naive I was. I never would have thought that people would actually take this to heart. Apparently people are following this Idea. People are letting this idea that they must be street credible or street soldiers. I believe in social responsibility. Rappers whether they want to or not are role models in America, but especially in the black community. There is a disturbing number of children growing up without a competent father figure. So the children look up to the rappers who could care less about the children. Many rappers will tell you that it isn't their job to be role models for the fans of their music. Which is true, but one should take that to to be on both sides of the coin. It is one thing to say something in your music and say it is just music, but it is quite a different thing to promote it outside of your music. This "stop snitchin" thing really make me angry. Rappers are putting this idea in people head and it is doing nothing, but creating more problem in the black communities. So here we have a cycle. The dangerous circumstance of the ghettos create gangsta rappers, who in turn promote the life style that they claim is so bad, that sustains the situation of the black community, and probably increases the danger of the black community, and that creates more gangsta rappers. Thus the cycle starts all over again. You would think that people who grew up in the harsh, unforgiving streets would not want it to continue, but alas they enforce it. It is all about money. Big corporations control rap music. These rappers sell out their own people for money. The CEOs of the corporations will only sign people who enforce these ideas. So people rap about the same thing in order to be record deals. One man that I have lost all respect for is Russel Simmons. He is one person that is all about the money. He defends rap to the end. Say things to the effect of it is not the rappers job the be responsible for their music, stop blaming the rappers, basically to me he is saying I don't care, stop bothering me, I just want my money. That is my take on his words not his words. He is a man that is all about the money to me, he defends the diamond trade knowing full well the the deaths attributed to it. When rap came under attack and was threatened he takes the high road. Where was he all the years it was going on before. What I think is that he is in danger of losing money so he call for reform to save rap so he can continue to make money. I have no respect for Russel Simmons. As long as people like Russel Simmons are considered the leaders of the black community rap has no chance for redemption.

Frozen

2007-04-24T18:43:00.000-05:00

I have not been up on the news lately, but what I have noticed is the stand off between Congress and President Bush. Congress wants to pass a bil bringing the troops home, but President Bush has vowed to veto any legistation towards that end. You all know that I am all for bringing the troops home. I know would like to look at this objectively as possible. We have been in Iraq for four years. We seem to be getting nowhere in this war. How much longer will it take to get this in to the mind of this administration we can't stay in Iraq out of pride. Yes this entire situation is embarrassing for our nation, but this is not a game. Innocent lives are being lost daily. I want the troops home because I never believed in this war. President Bush wants more troops as far as I know. I know that a lot of people thought that this war was justified if not noble, but four years should show you other wise. It would be different if we were getting anywhere with this war, we are at a stand still. I think that over all this cannot end well at this point. maybe a year ago we could have saved some of our dignity or reputation. At this point we can forget that. I want the troops home. I have stated in a previous post that we have too many internal problems do try to first stablize a entire region then maintain it in definately. We need to focus on domestic problems. I am not saying we should be isolationist, because we can't. We have a role to in the affairs of the world. All the politics of the world affects the United States. We have a responsibilty to the world. We are not making a difference in the middle east. In fact we are causing more problems.

Hypocrisy

2007-04-14T13:39:00.000-05:00

I have been watching news and the whole Imus situation is prevalent. I do not think his actions are acceptable, but on the same token we live in a society where even vastly different cultures are heavily tied into each other. So the slang and traditions of one culture can bleed into another. In the Hip-Hop culture calling women outside their name is commonplace. Hoes, sluts, tricks, chicken-heads, hoodrats are names you will hear almost everyday if you live in, near, or just hang around a majority black community. I am not trying to give a bad image of black people. Just telling the truth. Again I am not saying what Imus said was okay, but can you cannot get upset if you do it too. Now if you don't say things such as that get mad. Women should be thoroughly upset. Hip-hop culture should have nothing to say about this with any type of anger. Double standards are not acceptable. So before we make him out to be Strom Thurmond. Maybe we should realize that if we ourselves do not degrade ourselves with such names we will have less incidents like this, at least publicly.

Theocracy

2007-04-06T11:24:00.000-05:00

"Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

Today is the "Blog against Theocracy" day. We live in a Nation that was founded on certain principles. One of the First is separation of church and State. I am not against religion. I am a very spiritual person actually, but on my own terms. I am also a the type of person that cannot, and would not stand by and let people's rights be violated. A Theocracy is apart, at least in my view, of the Absolutism family. The absolutism family includes dictatorship, Monarchy, Despotism, Totalitarian, Fascism, Nazism, and Theocracy. I believe this because in a Theocracy the views of one group is set above all others. That will inherently lead to abuses of power. It does not matter how good the religion is absolute power corrupts absolute. A lot of people push religious agendas in American politics. This is wrong. We can't allow creationism to be taught in schools. We cannot allow the Ten commandment in govn't buildings, and we cannot allow prayer in school. We can't be that because if we do we are persecuting people who do not follow these teachings.When we do this we are forcing Christianity on people. This nation of ours is not a christian nation, despite what you may think. My roommate thinks that this is a christian nation. He says that this country was founded by Christians. In fact many if not all of the founding fathers were Deist. They followed Deism, which is a religious philosophy that believes in the existence of God, but believe that God isn't involved in human affairs, and that we must take care of ourselves while we are here on the earth. It also states religious beliefs be based on the natural world, because understanding the world is that only to know God. So basically they were not pro religion, which is not the same as God. I hope we all know that God and Religion are not the same thing. So now that we know the founding fathers could not be Christian because they were not advocates of Religion. We must move on to the majority is Christian claim. What if the shoe was on the other foot? Would you be offended if the Qur'an were displayed at your courthouse? The golden rule "do unto others and you would have them do unto you" This nation is for everyone. If we allow persecute people and force our beliefs on others we are no better than the real bad people. I see that the Right wing evangelical radicals in this country are trying to turn this country in to a christian nation. If that were to let this happen I know we would persecute the people that differ from them. Whether it be Muslims, Scientist, Homosexuals, or atheist. What people don't realize is that if it became that way. the moral values would be enforced harshly and more than just moral views. The principles that we hold dear would be stripped from us. You cannot have it one way, and not the other it everyone is free or no one is. Do not let people manipulate your fears. They will turn it against you. A religious state is not and never will be what you think it is.

History

2007-03-31T16:50:00.001-05:00

March is Women's History Month. This does not get as much exposure as Black History month. It is important as well. Women have been important to much of history. The world has been and is pretty much a male dominated society. Women have held very strong and Important positions is history throughout the years. Here are some examples of strong women throughout history.

Queen Elizabeth I
Hatshepsut
Amelia Earhart
Susan B. Anthony
Sandra Day O'Connor
Joan of Arc
Eleanor Roosevelt
Barbara Smith
Mya Angelou
Harriet Tubman
Hattie McDaniel
Natalie Cole
Lyudmila Pavlichenko
Jackie Joyner-Kersee

of course there are more. These are just a few. This time I would like you to look up anyone on this list you don't know.

Death & Importance

2007-03-28T12:20:00.000-05:00

I was reading a couple of blogs that were talking about various things such as the UK soldiers, Iraq war. They seemed to be focused on the lives being lost, and something needing to be done. I noticed that these people care about those lives for various reasons that I don't know. what caught my attention had nothing to do with that. I got to thinking about how tragic the loss of any life is. So I made another observation. We in America, possibly other countries as well, often devote ourselves to the hot button issuses. Iraq war, Scooter libby, Walter Reed, The firing of 8 attorney generals, and so on. What about the things the are not constantly on CNN of Fox News. I am not saying that these things are not important, because they are. So are many other things. AIDS is ravaging the Black community in America others too, but majority of the cases in America are black people. How often do you hear about this. Every now and then 20/20 wil do something or Dateline, even craptastic BET does a special about it once in a while. People are dying are high rates there is no cure, What do we do? I don't know, but this should be an issue that is talked about much more. Politicans should assure us that something will be done. It can't be an ignored issue. Gang warfare, I have heard reports that put the yearly death tolls of gang fighting as hight as some wars. That is happening right here on our soil, to Americans. You should care. It doesn't matter about race your fellow Americans live through this. The innocent die needlessly, and no major news organization covers this. Awareness is key. The govn't is fighting by producing special gang units in police, and harsher punishments. This is not going to work, because prison is a right of passage for gang members. Death is a part of everyday life for them. Coming into the community guns blazing send what message. The police to them might as well be another rival gang. Again I don't know how to alivate this, but it should be and issue. Muslims are persecuted very much in this country for the actions of a few. Muslims are beat to death on Americans streets. Some who are not even muslim or even from the middle east, they are Indians. Some are American citizens. So now we have racist people in this country killing people based on race and who are viewed as inferior out of fear and a feeling of superiority. I guess history does rhyme. So these soldiers go to Iraq because they want to kill Iraqis. A while back a group of soldiers killed a family and raped the female members of that family. It looks like we are fostering hate against them and then letting them have a outlet for it. Innocent people are killed for no reason by American soldiers and citizens, yet this is not an issue. Again I have no answer, but one needs to be formed. It seems to me really important issues are only the ones that the media deems important. I will admit I fall prey to this. I am not excused from this. I want all problems addressed in the media, by the people, and by politicians. We cannot let the media and govn't decide what is news. We control it, and when we let other people do that for us we are giving up our freedom to knowledge of of the world and in that same respect our power to affect policy for the better.

If the past, and the present exist only in the
mind, and the mind is controllable, then what?
Goerge Orwell "1984"

I read this quote on my father's nightstand when I visited him two years ago and it stays with me to this day . Thanks Remorji for the tip on the quote.

Finally

2007-03-25T01:24:00.000-05:00

It seems that the troops are supposed to be home by fall 08. I know this is most likely not going to happen. Simply because President Bush is going to veto it. I do not know if the necessary vote to override it are actually there. Which leads me to think do the Dems know this. If so (and I am fairly certain of this) then this is just a show type of thing. The reason I think this is because when I saw the headline for this I thought out of instinct Finally some results. Then I began to think about it. I came to a real conclusion of what this means. Is it all really just a game, the dems got point for pulling them out, Bush administration gets a point for vetoing it, and so forth. What type of feeling I am getting now is that the interest of the American people are a side deal, like going for it on fourth down. The thought of this makes me sad to tell the truth. What is this country coming to. My roommate & I often discuss politics and the state of this nation even though he is a rep, and I am a dem we agree a lot in one thing and that is what the principals of this country are founded on, and that official are Representatives of the people, and that when screw ups happens some one should take responsibility. So now I think that informed people who may have different opinions can find a common ground. This gives me hope that maybe the true American Democratic system will return and save this country from a path it can't be allowed to go down.

Ode to Communism

2007-03-20T18:00:00.000-05:00

This is not a post about the glory of communism. It is about a moment in my life that is fundamental to who I would become. I was real young, between 6 & 9, I think seven. My dad had come home for some reason I was spending the weekend with him and we were walking around the block and he asked me what we were talking about in school. At the time in school, we were talking about the cold war. I told him communist Russia, and he in turn asked me what I learned. I said that in Russia they don't believe in God. My dad told me that it was not true. He said that just because the govn't doesn't advocate something, doesn't mean that the people follow blindly. He told me that the govn't does not represent the morals or values of the people. That taught me a lot. The most important thing I learned was the concept of the people. Me and my dad have had many debates over the years, over a variety of things. Other things helped shape who I would become, but this moment in my life started the ball rolling.

Patriotism

2007-03-13T17:02:00.000-05:00

It was stated on the Colbert Report that Captain America was assassinated as a direct result of the events of Marvel Universe's Civil War. I already knew about this, seeing that I am a huge Superhero fan. Captain America's death leads into my point very well. He was a rebel against the U.S. government standing up for what he thought was right. I believe that complacence is a form of treason. After 9/11 the masses fears were manipulated to get certain agendas across. I often hear statements that are along the lines of if you don't support the war, you're unpatriotic, or if you challenge the President you'rt unpatirotic. So I get the feeling that if you dislike the choices of the administration you are supposed to remain silent. I cannot do that. If I see this nation going in a direction that contridicts the principals of our foundation. I don't care about religious principals, or majority opposition. It is about what is right. Capt. America felt that the govn't forcing superheroes to register their secret identies was over stepping thier bounds. So Captain America, created by America, WWII veteran, and basically a superpowered mascot for America, stood up against the U.S govn't because they were wrong. So he loved his country so much he was willing to fight it in order to preserve it's integrity. What happened to us? We used to stand against injustice. American Revolution, Abolition movement, ERA movement, Civil right movement. Now look at us silent, and complacent. The defintion of liberty is the freedom to do as you please as long as it does not encroach on the freedom of another. Captain America stood up for what was right, he was a true american even though he was fictional. We need more real people like him.

R.I.P.
Steve Rogers aka Captain America

Bush

2007-03-09T15:00:00.000-06:00

I have a a dislike of President Bush. He is arrogant and self-rightious, but it has morphed into something else. I was watching the news and the topic was President Bush's visit to the town that was ravaged, by a tornado. You may remember Hurricane katrina and the absence of President Bush in it's aftermath. You may think it is because he doesn't care about black people, poor people, or maybe he just doen't care. I tend to think that he just didn't want to be there whatever the reason. President Bush has expressed that he is the President and that whatever Congress wants he doesn't care. Apparently He thinks that he is America. He forced us into a war. He holds people with out rights of any sort, and the patriot act has extend that service unto American citizens. All he has to say is that they are "enemy combatant" and whoops there goes your rights. He also lies to us and he thinks this is okay. I think that he thinks that he has divine right to lead America and is on some kind of Crusade given to him by God. President Bush is dangerous if he truely thinks the way I think he thinks. Then to him the rules and regulation on power in America are just a facede to appease the public. What this actually means for the future is uncertain to me. Read "New World Order in America" by Betmo over at Life's Journey. It tells a story of what the Patriot act allows the Bush administration to do. That is the America our children and Grandchildren wil inherit if this transformation is allowed to happen. They used our fear after 9/11 to manipulate the public to allow them to strip away our rights. President Bush believes that his authority has no limits. He thinks that he can do what ever he pleases and we the public are just supposed to sit back and take it. One man comes to mind when I think of President Bush's view of himself, and the source, and nature of his power.

Disrespect

2007-03-07T12:09:00.000-06:00

I am talking about the horrible conditions that our soldiers are having to live in in Walter Reed. The whole situation is despicable. The soldiers were in their own urine, mold was in the wall, and so much more. I am not a fan of this war never have been. I still want the soldiers, who are putting their lives on the line for what seems to be boiling down to pride, to be taken care of and watched after. I do not understand how that could have happened. Again the the infamous blame game starts. The pointing of fingers starts. Pres. Bush is the head of the executive branch all things that happen, happen under his watch. I will be the first to admit he cannot know everything that happens, but like I said he is the head of the executive branch. Pres. Bush is supposed to take blame for what happened and punish those directly responsible and then appoint people he thinks to be more capable. Instead he passes the blame and has a complete disconnect with the events that transpired their. He is trying to save his own image. His Press Secretary doesn't make it any better. Scott McClellan was annoying he claimed that the administration never knew anything, Tony Snow is frustrating he never says that the administration is at all responsible for anything. He says the President is not responsible and then talks to the press as if they are stupid if they say anything to the contrary/he refuses to answer questions. This administration has done a lot of things wrong, but not taking blame for anything is one of the most insulting. President Bush is supposed to be the "Decider", but apparently in name only. The soldiers trust that they will be taken care of if injured for their service to the govn't. for them to return home to this is a direct insult to them and their families, not to mention disrespectful. One man said in regards to the Walter Reed situation that he did not think it was all that bad. His evidence to this was the number of plasma screen TVs the hospital has. Those soldiers do not need TVs or Playstations they need medical care. For a man who is supposed to care for them to say such things is a slap in the face. It tells me that they are just supposed to take whatever care is given to them, and be happy. I would have thought that the conservatives who push so hard for the Iraq war and always say "support our troops" would be with me now if ever. Instead they make excuses for the people who let this happen to American soldiers. This really makes me mad. This tells me that the soldiers are just a means to an end for this administration. That is so disrespectful to the Soldiers of this war, other wars, the families of the soldiers, and to the American people.

Fate

2007-03-02T23:48:00.000-06:00

I do not believe in fate. I believe in free will, and that the actions that we take push forward our lives and the world as a whole. I do how ever find the concept of fate to be very intriguing. Two television shows that I do like are Smallville and Heroes. Smallville in the past was good and then got crappy and has been so far really good this season. Heroes is one of my favorite shows. What attracts me to these show is the fate concept. In Smallville we have the legend of Superman which is commonly known. I am a huge superhero fan have seen every superhero movie good/bad. What I like about the show is that each of the characters has a destiny that they don't know, but we the audience do know. I enjoy seeing the characters become who they must become, and how they become those people. Heroes is almost the opposite. The main characters are on a journey toward their destiny, and we must go along neither of us knows where it leads. What I like about Fate is that there is an unknown outside force pushing these people in a direction whether they want to go or not. Some my say that it is God. I rather like to believe that it is the over all good of humanity pushing fate on the characters. Creating good and evil. So that good and evil can battle and one can triumph over the other. This is what some people believe. I think that it is the way people want it to be. The truth at least my view of it is good does not always triumph over evil. We would like it to. It is nice to believe that some watching force is making good win. In reality it is up to us to decide who wins in the battle between good an evil. A responsibility we may not want, but we do have.I love the Idea of fate it is so very interesting, but not real in my view. We, you and me, have the power to decide who wins in the battle between good and evil. What will you do to support your side?

Theory

2007-02-20T03:35:00.000-06:00

Thomas Hobbes wrote Leviathan, which showed a negative view of human nature that needs govn't to control their brutish nature and conflicting desires. John Locke's Tabula Rasa states that humans are blank slate at birth and govn'ts and societies make them good or bad. Rene Descartes' Dualism, separation of mind and body. In the tradition of these people I present to you my own philosophical theory. Cardell K. Morgan's Atomic Theory of Democracy. In this I state "It is the Role of the individuals of the world to collectively create and empower the large." I came about this theory when I was writing my last post. I thought that the earth is in the relatively same position that it was in exactly one year ago. Propelled through space by gravity. A force who's power is derived the very basic level of existence. I thought that this must be the natural way for govn't to work. A nation is composed of it's citizens, and without their cooperation the nation as a whole does not work and loses all of it's power. Atoms compose everything, and without them the fundamental forces of nature do not work and are thus powerless. I am not saying I am a philosopher. I just wanted to share my theory with the world.

Full Circle

2007-02-16T13:53:00.000-06:00

One year ago today I started Views of the Silent Majority. I published my first two post that day, Honesty & Incident, and Faith. I started this blog on the counsel of my father. I needed a place where I could discuss meaningful things that have a real impact on the world and humanity. I was not finding that elsewhere, but here was a place that was mine. An open forum of discussion ranging from political commentary to thoughtful insight into the Human condition. I actually got intelligent responses. I want and welcome all opinions. That is why I allow anonymous comment, there is no word verification, nor does any comment need my approval. I want as many comments and I do not want any hindrance on that. I began to branch out and meet other bloggers, I came into contact with many different types of blogs, bloggers and opinions. I also started my "Question of the Day" series, which poses question into the true nature of the human condition. There are four Questions of the Day. I learned things about my blog. which help me make it better everyday. I started the "Rouge Gallery" which consist of blogs that I believes contribute to the not only the blogger community we have, but to the world. The Rouge Gallery now has twenty-two members. I am very proud and fond of every member for their contributions. they contribute in different ways, all unique and all significant.. I have fifty-two post. I hope that I will have many more. This is a special day for me. When I started this blog I was a high-school senior, now I am a College freshman. Many things have happened in my life since 02/16/06. I have grown as a person and hope to continue to. I hope that you all continue to support my blog with comments and links and mentions.

For my own benefit I would much appreciate if you all would tell me your favorite post that I have done. I will tell you my top five, in no specific order, but I ask that you please tell me at least one. Thank you.

Hero or Villain?
Disappointment
Rhyme Time
Symbolism
Lies, D Lies, and Statistics

Priorities

2007-02-12T11:04:00.000-06:00

Astronauts, and Anna Nicole that is about the only news that I can get these last couple of days. The Astronaut story is amusing. Anna Nicole's death is sad, and I hate to hear that, but this is not headline news. All weekend I tried to get a little news in, I have been busy with school work so I have not been as up on the news as I would like to be. Every time I caught a little bit of something different I quickly shifted gears to the Astronaut or Anna Nicole. I did happen to catch an Anderson Cooper bit on the conditions some people in Africa are going through. Apparently these people live off of fishing and the fish are becoming scarce. A plant that is on the river is releasing pollution in to the river killing the fish and causing people who already live in poverty to become even poorer. Some people in the area are fed up with this and are ready to take action. They have formed a militant group whose purpose is to fight the plant or rather the people in charge. Here in America we might call these men terrorist, but their hands have been forced their friends and family are dying because their life's blood is being taken from them. Who ever runs that plant obviously doesn't care for the villagers or environment. It seems that they did not stop and think about what the effects of the plant would have. No, it was all about the money. The truth is that this type of thing happens all the time in third world nations. Good people are forced to do things that they would not normally do just for survival. This is a good point on how sketchy the definition of terrorism is. The people of that village, their lives are literally on the line. The lives of their children. They will do what ever it takes to protect them. They have reached a breaking point. They fight for survival. Can we blame them for that? If they blow that plant up. They can be called terrorist or they can be called heroes. The line is sketchy, terrorist because they used violence to get a point across, Heroes because they stood up and defended their family and way of life. I guess what I want you to get from this is that people all over the world are starving, slavery still exist, despots run amok, genocide is carried out, and in America the personal problems of an astronaut and the death of one person takes precedence over all the other things happening in this world of ours. Where are our priorities?

History

2007-02-06T12:31:00.000-06:00

February is Black history month. This is when we are supposed to honor and recognize the achievements and contributions of Black Americans. It is important for black people to know our history, but it is not just Black history it is American History, it is history in general. Often we concentrate our focus on the few year in and year out. We always center our attention on Dr. King, Harriet Tubman, and George Washington Carver. I am not trivializing their contributions, but by focusing only on them we are trivializing the contributions of the many other people. Here are some important, but less well known aspects of Black/American History

Gwendolyn Brooks first African-American to win Pulitzer Prize

Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church first African-American church

Thomas L. Jennings first African-American to hold a patent

Alexander Twilight first African-American to receive a degree from an American college

Freedom's Journal first African-American owned-and-operated newspaper

James McCune Smith first professionally trained African-American doctor

Macon B. Allen first African-American licensed to practice law in the United States

John Mercer Langston first African-American elected to public office

Oscar Dunn first elected African-American lieutenant governor (Louisiana)

P.B.S. Pinchback of Louisiana first African-American governor (non-elected)

Edward Alexander Bouchet (Yale College)Ph.D in physics first African-American to earn a doctorate degree, also first African-American to graduate from Yale, 1874

Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. first African-American U.S. Army general:

First Lieutenant Vernice Armour First female African-American combat pilot in the U.S. Armed Services:

Manning Marable is a prominent African-American political scholar

John Hope Franklin is a United States historian and past president of the American Historical Association

Abram Lincoln Harris, Jr. was an African American economist, academic, anthropologist and a social critic of blacks in the United States

Toni Morrison is one of the most prominent authors in world literature, having won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993 for her collected works

Otelia Cromwell is the first African-American graduate of Smith College. The college later began the tradition of canceling afternoon and evening classes in her honor every November as a venue to talk about race and diversity

Beverly Daniel Tatum is the current president of Spelman College Tatum received her B.A. in psychology from Wesleyan University and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan.Tatum received her B.A. in psychology from Wesleyan University and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan

Dr. Jacqueline Bontemps continues to be recognized in numerous publications, resource books, and textbooks for her scholarship in the field of art by African American women

Morgan State University is a historically black college and Maryland's designated public urban university

Southern University and A&M College is one of the most well-known historically black colleges and universities

The Negro Leagues were American professional baseball leagues comprising predominantly African-American teams

The one-drop theory (or one-drop rule) is a historical colloquial term for the standard, found throughout the United States of America, that holds that a person with any trace of sub-Saharan ancestry (however small or invisible) can not be considered white and so unless said person has an alternative non-white ancestry they can claim, such as Native American, Oriental, Arab, Australian aboriginal, they must be considered black

Incompetence

2007-02-01T19:06:00.000-06:00

I was watching the news and I saw the most shameful thing. Boston Police Department's Bomb Squad mistook an ad for an upcoming movie as an explosive device. They shut down a large portion of the city. The two men hire to put the ads up were arrested for "perpetuating a hoax" The ad had lights on it that were run by two batteries. the "device" looks nothing like a bomb up close. From far maybe, but I doubt it very much. The arrest of the two men seems to me to be nothing more that the City of Boston trying to shift the blame. The city wasted money, time, and disrupted the daily lives of it citizens over an ad. Boston is embarrassed as it should be. I just think it is shameful that the city would pass the guilt to save face. How these two men could possibly be convicted is beyond me. The two men were not intending for the ads to be mistaken for bombs. The ads were in nine other cities and no other police departments mistook the ads for explosive devices. This to me seems to show a growing trend in America to not own up to our mistakes. If you screw up then say so. No one wants to take responsibility. It is one thing when you see this in celebrities. It sad that individuals in the public eye who are looked up to won't take responsibility, but when the govn't of an entire city won't what does that say about our culture. I could maybe see the police department doing this. Cops tend to have a "look out for your own" mentality, but the DA's office is in on it to. Those two men do not deserve to be convicted on felony charges. I honestly hope these two men get off. They did nothing wrong. The Boston Department screwed up. What it all comes down to is that the buck has to stop somewhere.

This is the "Bomb"

Cheney

2007-01-29T17:54:00.000-06:00

I have a dislike of President Bush politically, I don't know him personally. He may be a little self-rightious and arrogant, but again I don't know him personally. On the Other hand Vice President Cheney I don't like personally. I don't know him personally either, but an interview he did with Wolf Blitzer showed me what type of person he really is. He was asked legitimate questions by Blitzer, Yet he felt it was okay to avoid almost every question that was thrown at him. Vice President Cheney has a history of putting himself above the people. My post "Honesty & Incident" talks about when he shot the man in the face. The Vice President claims that he doesn't have to answer to anyone for any reason. That is a dangerous opinion for a public official to have, especially the Vice President of the United States. This man is a major influence on President Bush. I don't think President Bush would have the become the arrogant self-rightous man that he is now if it were not for the influence and support of Vice President Cheney. I don't have much to say just a warning public officials who will not submit to the will of the people and feel superior to the public are the people who start to transform the govn't into one where rights are only what the people in charge think that we the people are worthy of. One man comes to mind when I think of Vice President Cheney's opinion of himself and how govn't should work.

Turning Point

2007-01-26T11:08:00.000-06:00

Fall of the Roman Empire, Discovery of the Americas, Scientific Revolution, World War II all of these things were turning points for the world. After each of those events the world changed radically. The changes were not sudden, but gradual. The world ceased work the way same way. I believe that the world has entered a new turning point. After 9/11 event were put into motion that were and are changing the world. War is not the same the dangerous people are not the same. President Bush has increased the powers of the executive branch. The middle east is now the center of the political world. The United States' Reputation is that of an arrogant nation. When the world was ravaged by war during WWII change started. after politics were not the same and they never can be. The political world is an evolving one. As I said I think that we are going through a similar change. When all is said and done the world will be different the world our children or grandchildren will inherit can not be anything like ours. When history looks back at this time it will not be a section, it will be a Chapter, an entire unit, or possibly a class unto itself. I am living this change as you are, because of this I do not know what the world will be like. It is the lot of any civilized society to change. I feel honored to know that I lived through such an important time in human history. Do you have an idea about the upcoming world. What I am trying to say is that we are living in an important time, full of change. The least that we can do is fight to make it a better one. In any way you can, whether it is speaking out in your blog, being a good journalist, a good politician, teacher, scientist, or just raising the next generation to be good honest people who believe in equality. Any way you contribute you will at least know that however small you helped shape the new world for the better.

Choice

2007-01-22T15:33:00.000-06:00

Today is the 34th anniversary of Roe vs. wade. Roe vs Wade is the landmark judicial ruling regarding privacy and abortion. I am a proud liberal. I believe that the govn't has no right to intrude in the lives of it's citizens, and decide what is right when it comes to things cause no harm to others. I personally believe that abortion is a sad thing. a young being, whether alive or not, that never gets the chance to experience life. There is always adoption. I also feel that I have no right to tell someone what to do on matters that are none of my business. I may not like abortion, but I do support a person's right to choose. This is America supposedly the land of freedom. How can this be true when we constantly try to force people to conform to the thinking ways of others? I see this movement to outlaw abortion as a religious movement. The religious wing of America feels self righteous, but no one has the right to force religious doctrine on others. In my opinion they hide behind various reasons to cover up this fact. Abortion really hurts no one. The spiritual side that some people claim I cannot comment on, because I don't know. I do know that religion has no place in govn't. I wonder why what another person does concerns the people who oppose abortion. I know that abortions happen quite frequently and I can sleep an night with this fact. The abortions don't affect me. The only time an abortion matters to me is if it is my child, but that is a personal matter between the mother and I and if we want an abortion who is the govn't to tell us that we can't. The govn't is peace keeping force not a moral force. The govn't is a servant of the people not the other way around. They have no say in my affairs or yours.

Announcement

2007-01-19T15:21:00.000-06:00

A couple of days ago Sen. Obama announced he was starting an exploratory committee for a 2008 Presidential campaign. He will announce his decision on February 10th. I know that a lot of people have criticisms. They say that he is to inexperienced to run for the office of President in 08. They also say that he is the flavor of the month and this is all just hype. That maybe true, but he has a radically new perspective to offer this nation of ours. He is open minded and open with the people. He admitted to trying drugs. He learned that it wasn't for him. He was honest. Isn't that commendable? I myself think that it is commendable. This nation needs someone who will lead it in a new direction. The 110th congress is a start. many people are already criticising it. I want to give it more time. Till at least June 07. If the new congress is successful in making some changes, and add that to an new type of President. We may be able to make good changes, and Redeem ourselves not only to our self, but to the international community. I don't know if Sen. Obama is the man to do this. I personally think he has a good chance of being that man. I look up to Sen. Obama. I not afraid to admit that. So if on February 10th Sen. Obama states his intent to run for the office of President of the United States of America, Views of the Silent Majority will give it's support and endorsement to his campaign. As of now no one is officially endorsed by Views of the Silent Majority. I look forward to hearing who other blogs are endorsing.

Lessons

2007-01-15T13:31:00.000-06:00

Today is Dr. King's birthday and his holiday. He contributed a lot to this world. I had only seen one side of Dr. King, but lately I have seen a new side of him. A more out spoken man than we ususally see. A lot of post have been made today about Dr. King and his dream. Comparing his struggle to our current times. As I think about the struggle of then and the struggle of now. Obvously the two do not ccompare, but are we living up to Dr. King's dream. It seems to me we learned to be more PC than actually more equal. Maybe we approached it like a test in high school learn it just for the test then forget about it. Dr. King did not support war. Just as he fought for equality for black people. He also opposed war. I don't really have much to say Just that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for what was right, and I ask you have we learned the lessons that he tried to teach us. Now in this war in Iraq innocent people are killed and it seems to bother no one. The average person seems to not care about the innocent lies of the people of the middle east. A group of people I went to high school with would watch the death of Iraqis on the internet and find it funny. They see themselves as better than the Iraqis. All men are created equal not just Americans. I hope that we can start to really apply to the lessons that we were taught.

Kamikaze

2007-01-12T13:29:00.000-06:00

President Bush seems to have gone off the deep end. First of all he is sending more troops to Iraq. His new direction seems awfully familiar to me. More Troops will not solve anything. If anything it will add to the turmoil and cost more soldiers their lives. I do not understand this it is as if he just said screw it. He isn't even listening to the generals that he usually listens to. The situation in Iraq is a military problem and a political one. If Bush doesn't want to talk to other nations; he could at least talk with the Iraqi govn't and form a plan that is benificial to both our respective nations. I have a feeling that the addition of more troops is going to be a colossal mistake. I hope I am wrong and it turns out not to be as bad as I picture it to be. To add on top of that I have even heard that the President basically theatened Iran and Syria. Telling them to stay out of our affairs. We are the unwelcome foreigners. It seems to me that Pres. Bush wants to push Iran and Syria till they throw the first punch. Pres. Bush has it out for those two nations. What exactly is the President's mind frame right now I do not know, but he is endangering us all. The last thing that the United States needs right now is a four front war( Afganistan, Iraq, Iran, and Syria). Maybe a five front one depending on N. Korea. Pres. Bush is provoking nations. I see bad things if Pres. Bush continues to provoke nations. It seems to me that the President is unable to accept defeat so he goes full force just to save the last bit of his dignity. What he fails to realize is that he is bringing us with him on this nose dive of his. I once thought that Pres. Bush was just a man not suited for the role of a war President. That he just did not know how to run a war, and was too arrogant to admit it. Now I think that Pres. Bush just doesn't care. He doesn't care about those soldiers on the front lines, or the three thousand or so soldiers who gave thier life for his cause.

Question of the Day

2007-01-08T16:46:00.000-06:00

We live in a world that is full of a variety of people. Cultures, and customs differ over a wide area. So if cultures and customs are different, then so must definitions. If definitions are different, then the measure of a man is inherintly unique to all the people of the world. This causes much strife and confusion amongs the people of the world about what makes a good person and a bad person. Often these two defintions get lost in translation. Our own definitions can not solely define these term.

Question: Can a person be completely evil or completely good?

Please post your opinions.

Meus Feriae

2007-01-04T18:10:00.000-06:00

Here is my first 2007 post. It tooke me two days to complete. These are pictures of my Christmas holiday. My Christmas was very family oriented. I had a good time. I also hope that you all had a good holiday.

Lies, D Lies, and Statistics

2006-12-31T17:01:00.000-06:00

The Title of this post is a phrase that my Statistics professor often uses. I am a History Major, and I see how history is important to the present and the future through the lessons it can teach us beyond mere facts of past events. I however never saw how most of the other subjects could claim such a thing. Professor McCaa has tought me otherwise. He taught me that often times the truth is not always the truth. People can distort statistics to make the out come appear to be what they want it to be. People can also do this with spoken facts. Rewording and synonyms and many other things can cause the truth to appear as something else. Saddam Hussain was executed for crimes against humanity. People in Iraq seem to be happy about this fact. Professor McCaa says to always question what to are told, because it could be meant to mislead you. So Iraq is in turmoil, things in that nation are very bad. Are the people of Iraq happy about the execution of Hussain? Now the innocent hide where? Not in false loyal obedience to their aggressor, because now their enemy exsist on the fringe of society, and are more than one group. Everyone is a possible victim. Bombs explode in everyday places. they are safe nowhere. On the otherhand, before the smallest thing could be seen as trechery, and could be punished by death. They had to be careful with their actions living nervously on the edge. So when were the Iraqis better off? I am not giving my opinion on which situation was best. Just saying that before we make our opinions on any subject we should look at the situation beyond the manner in which the facts are given, and looks at the facts only. So that our opinions are truely our own and not the regurgitated opinions of other people.

Culture

2006-12-27T12:18:00.000-06:00

At my job their are a lot of people from places other than the United States. There are two girls from India, Two girls from Jamaica, and a girl from Poland. That is just where a work. My college as a whole has people from just about anywhere. It is often said that Americans are oblivious to the culture and customs of other places. I thought that, that was just a sterotype of Americans, but I soon came to realize that it may not be that far from the truth. I thought that I was on the up and up on cultures, but right before Thanksgiving I wished Sharon from India a happy Thanksgiving and asked what she was going to do for the holiday. She replied nothing. Then I thought about it "is Thanksgiving even celebrated in India?" Sure enough it isn't. I felt like and idiot. The Dumb American assuming that everyone does what we do. From then on I asked a lot more questions than I usually did. the girls and I would have back and forths about our two respectable cultures. I would ask a question about Indian, Jamaican or Polish culture they in turn ask a question about american culture. I found out many things. In India you pay for school from Kindergarten through 12th grade, and america and her citizens are seen as all being rich. They have a saying in India if you are looking for something and can't find it "If you were in america, you would have found it." Christianity is a major religion there. They assume that all americans are black or white. Sharon has told me she now know these things to be untrue. Those are just some of the things about her culture that she taught me. I taught her things about american culture also. Jamaican Culture is not so strikingly different. They have similar things there. The place just isn't as commercialized as america. the way they cook their food is very different. Nadia told me that she did not know that such a wide variety of food is fried. She says that they rarely fry food. They steam or boil their food. Meeting new people from these various cultures is a wonderful experience that hope to not soon forget.

Happy Holidays

2006-12-22T22:22:00.000-06:00

December is a month filled with holidays. This time of the year is supposed to bring out the best in everyone. The world is a varied place, overflowing with different cultures, races, and ideas. So in the spirit of that I would like to wish Remorji, Tim, KB, Celtic Sister, Xtralicious, Alexhb, Jhenene, Deborah, Mrs. Jones, Saralulu, Ms. Liberty, KariinAfrica, Dirk Star, Yuri, Betmo, Rajeev, Matthias, Annie, Tanie, The Family, Nikki Jilton, Meander, Lizard Princess, Amazll yeo, Mypurpleink, Steve Novak, Sneha, P.O. Patricia, X. Dell, FRIDAY'S CHILD, Enemy of the Republic, Undeniable Liberal, The Future was Yesterday, Imran MD, Starlet, and anyone else who visits my blog a Happy Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, and general well wishes.

You

2006-12-16T20:28:00.000-06:00

Time magazine announced it's "Person of the Year" and they chose you. Not you really, but the average, everyday person. The title "Person of the Year" is supposed to highlight the man, woman, idea, or movement that most influenced the year. The choice of "you" is supposed to highlight the movement of the average person coming up and making their voice be known through the many user friendly services. Services such as Blogger, Wikipedia, Facebook, My Space, Black Planet, Flickr, and You Tube. I agree that user friendly services have had a major impact on this year. I do not agree with their choice. Had I had an input I would have cast my vote for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. I am not claiming that he is a good person. The truth is that he has influenced this year in more ways than anyone else. I say this because since the begining of the year he has been in the news. He of course is pursueing Nuclear power, he says to help power his nation, not weapons. Whether he is telling the truth about this is uncertain to me I can't just dismiss what he says. Nuclear power is a good, but dangerous source of power. Then his ardent speech at the United Nation. Ahmadinejad gave a speech which he shows clearly that he believes in what he says is not just some power hungry terroist despot. Then His fervent hatred of Israel. Ahmadinejad's misguidence about Israel is not in question. You can not deny that this hatred of Israel is a major factor in International politics. It drives all politics in the Middle East. The United States is heavily tied in with that region so it affects our life here, and from us to the rest of the world, seeing that the U.S. is the only superpower left. I am not saying that Ahmadinejad is a good person, but just because someone isn't good does not mean you can't respect him and his influence on the world. Ahmadinejad's stirring speech at the UN showed me that whether imprudent or not are sincere. He to me seems that his belief come from actual thought out means. Unlike other bad men he sat down and formed his own opinion. Right or wrong you have got to respect that, in a world filled with people who rarely make their own opinion he did. That is my selection and why I chose him for "Person of the Year" So who do you think should be "Person of the Year"?

Limits

2006-12-13T18:05:00.000-06:00

I think that people and nation should be able to understand their limits. The U.S. has reached it limit in Iraq. We can no longer hold to the fanciful thought that we can make Iraq a better place. We are foreigners, not only to the nation, but to the region and the culture. We have to enlist the aid of nations that can take some of the weight off our load. I am being repetitive, but we need a time table. Pulling out of Iraq is going to be a slow process, but we need to start now. To help ease this process we need to recruit the nations in the region who are familiar with the culture. Senator Bill Nelson visited Syria and plans on visiting other nations in the region to enlist support. I know that Syria is not the best nation, but the truth is we can't help Iraq and neither can any other nation in the "coalition". Syria can. If we only ask them to help secure their border not much trouble can come from that. I think that Senator Nelson did a good thing the executive branch won't do what needs to be done because of their pride. I know if we leave, but get other nations from the region to aid the legitimate govn't I think that is the best course to take right now. There are no really good options to consider. If we take a step back and do what is really in the best interest of Iraq, the situation will be a lot better than if we stay there. Many Americans feel that we need to stay, because thing we get horrible. In fact the situation is already too far gone. Iraq, really the entire Middle east needs to be stablized and we are not doing that. If we can teach those nations to work together without our help the entire region will be in much better condition.

Bad Situation

2006-12-09T16:49:00.000-06:00

Not to long ago, a couple days at the most. The Iraq study group relesed it's findings which stated that the situation in Iraq is beyond repair. No good options are left. What does that mean for the U.S.? I have long thought that to be true. I am glad that it has officially been stated. I know it is going to be a long and hard road to us getting out of Iraq, but we need a time table so that we can begin to systematically pull out. This will prepare the Iraq govn't to handle it's own affairs. I just hope that the American people will see that the situation in Iraq is extremely bad. We need to get out to save some of our image. We have already tarnished it. Hopefully not beyond repair. People are dying everyday young men and women, American and Iraqi. Horrible things are happening over there All I have to say is that Iraq is out of hand.

I can only imagine what horrible things he has seen

Education

2006-12-06T11:31:00.000-06:00

I feel that Education is the way that humanity can better itself, and in doing so save itself. I also think that America has the potential to be the leader in this movement. Yet, lately I have read that America is behind a lot of countries in the academics. Fifty percent of students on average graduate high school. At first that seemed unrealistic to me, then I thought. My graduating class consisted of eighty-three people. I know that a lot more people went to school with me than that. Some failed, some moved, but an overwhelming number did dropout. I say this after thinking how many people I saw on the streets of Winnfield, who should have been in school. What is it? America was once the leader of the world in the sciences. The newest, and best developments came from here, but not now. I personally think that it is the culture we live in. We glorify the people who contribute least to society. Athletes, they serve a purpose, they entertain us which is needed in a society. To me the thought of professional athlete is the most ludicris idea I have ever heard. Teachers and scientist the people who contribute the most are paid the least. That does not make sense to me. The millions of dollars that athletes are paid to play a game. What really gets me is that not only are they idolized, but also remembered. Think about it. Who has the most rushing yards? Who created the polio vaccine? Who scored the most points in their first professional NBA Game? Who invented the printing press? If you think about it you know which questions that most people can answer. It is not only athletes, singers, rappers, and actors also get too much recongnition. Most people who drop out aspire to be like the people or rather persona's that they see on TV. Thugs is what they want to be. People feel that school is not necessary to be a singer or actor. Both are very respectable arts, but I feel that they don't want to be artist they want to be famous. That is a huge difference. So now we have an epidemic of actors who can not act, singers who can not sing, rappers who can not rap. People aspire to be famous, they want the recognition, money, andd the easy life for the littlest amount of work. What I just spoke of disturbes me very much. This is causing people to shift their focus from education. Which in turn is causing America to fall behind in the math and sciences. All of that means that people no longer want to do good for others. To better humanity. They only want to betters themselves. What happened to making a difference that will better the world for future generations?

Tagged!

2006-12-01T11:33:00.000-06:00

My blog is mostly serious and rarely light-hearted. So today is a light-hearted post. on Tuesday Undeniable liberal "Tagged" me so this means that I have to list six weird things about myself. I also have to tag six other people. So if I tag you play along, it's all for fun. Well here I go six weird things about myself.

I am afraid of heights, but love to fly
I was afraid of chucky the doll until I was Sixteen ( he still creeps me out)
I like the show Smallville
I don't like anything on my burgers
I think gasoline smells good
I like to eat fritos and spaghetti together

There it is, let the laugh fly. I hope you enjoyed that, and look out I am about to start tagging.

Memories

2006-11-28T14:23:00.000-06:00

Sunday night I saw a show about a pill that can weaken memories. The application of this is to help people out who have just had a traumatic encounter. The Pill makes the memory weaker. You don't lose the memory. It just isn't as strong and therefore harder to remember. This at first glance is a good thing accident and rape victims, and soldiers don't have to have the horrible memories. How many steps is this from memory manipulation. We have to think long and hard before we take a pill that causes our memories to be warped. I understand that it is for people that have been through a horrible experience, but our memories make us who we are if warp our memories into something that they are not then do we become someone else. As I said our memories make us who we are. They link us to our past and we learn from that. That is is a hop and a skip from memory manipulation I promise you that. If a man can change the memories of another person , what kind of power is that. What ever type it is a human being has no right to have that power. If a person is in the way of a strong political orgnization and that person's memories are changed to remove the threat. Then you killed someone you took their life from them. I have said it before we must be weary of things like this. Technology must be regulated. I just don't want to see a world where people who stand up for what is right can be changed in to something that they are not. Our Memories make us who we are. Be careful before you mess with that. Who you are is a fragile grouping of events in your life. Think about it, different memories make you a different person.

Changes

2006-11-25T13:37:00.000-06:00

I supported the dems in the mid-term elections. I think that they can actually make some changes. I would also like to see some of thoses changes. I am a proud liberal, but that does not mean I always support the dems. They can be scutinized just as the reps can. I know the 110th congress doesn't meet until January 3, 2007. I just thought maybe some plans would be announced. One of the things I am waitingg on is a time table for Iraq. That has been on the table for sometime, the Reps didn't give us one hopefully the dems will. I also want to see other plans. I know that no actual legislation will happen now. I just want to see some plans. I may be being a tad bit impatient. I only hope that the dems don't let me down I have high hopes for the new congress. One thing that I really want to see is for that patriot act to die. I hate that thing, everything about it. The invasion of privacy angers me in ways you can't understand. The patriot act gets under my skin. I want that thing gone, hopefully the dems will get rid of it, or tone it down a lot. I would like to see some indepth reviews of some Govn't agencies. I may have too high hopes, but at the very least I would like to see some positive changes.

Happy Thanksgiving

2006-11-22T20:26:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is a time to share with family and loved ones. Family is one of the most important things in this world. Thanksgiving is the time we show that to them. Despite what families go through the bonding love is always there. So put aside differences, and disputes so that you can enjoy your family. Be glad that you have them. Never take them for granted. Enjoy the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving to Remorji, Tim, KB, Celtic Sister, Xtralicious, Alexhb, Jhenene, Deborah, Mrs. Jones, Saralulu, KariinAfrica, Yuri, and anyone else who visits my blog.

Symbolism

2006-11-17T15:35:00.000-06:00

Malcom X, Ghandi, Martin Luther, Susan B. Anthony, Muhammad, Dr. Martin L. King Jr. all of these people stood for something. They will live forever. Can a person achieve immortality? The above named people attached themselves themselves to an ideal, they are now symbols. Dr. Martin L. King Jr., and Susan B. Anthony stood for equality. Malcom X and and Ghandi stood for Freedom. Martin Luther stood for religious integrity, and Muhammad stood for Spiritalism. I want to attach myself to an ideal and become a symbol. As a man I can be corrupted or Ruined. No matter how strong you are you will always have loved ones, and you will also always be human. Which means that you can be harmed, killed or silenced. As a symbol of an ideal you are always strong, indestructible, and immortal. That is what I want to be. This world is full of dishonesty and injustice. The poor are held down and the rich keep getting richer. I want to fight this. So that possibly I can help make this world a better place. I still have hope for humanity. I would like to be strong for all of humanity, but I don't know how yet. I am still young, but one day hopefully I can stand for equality, democracy, and Justice. Can a man who wants to be a symbol for and Ideal actually become one or must it be inheritly rooted in a man. Am I only wishfully thinking? Maybe I am naive and in realty the world doesn't need a hero, but Maybe it does.

Lady of the Mist

2006-11-14T13:12:00.000-06:00

This statue is in the centet of my College. To me she is almost like a mother figure welcoming people to tech. I think she is a good choice for my first pictue post. I would like it if you would just look at her. She is a beautiful statue to me. What do you think?

Politics

2006-11-10T10:39:00.000-06:00

The Mid-term elections ushered in sweeping changes for America, not all of it a direct result of the Mid-term elections. First of all the Democrates took not only the house, but the Senate as well. That itself is a major change for six year this nation was run by conservatives. This political coup by the Democrates makes me happy, because of the change it will bring. Even though I oppose Republicans I was willing to give them a chance. I am registered as a Democrate, but I do not like labels Democrate or Republican. My view on politics is what ever is best for this nation, so if it be Republicans or democrates that doesn't matter to me. A label that does better suit me is a liberal. I am absolutely not a conservative, and as longs as Republicans keep up this super-conservative attitude of theirs I feel I will continue to oppose them for the most part. The second thing that happened was Sec. Donald Rumsfeld (Rummy) stepped down. This is a huge thing, Rumsfeld manages the Iraq War. We will have new blood in charge. Rumsfeld, in my opinion, is a person who refuses to acknowledge wrong doing and that frustrates me. Now that Rumsfeld is out we may veer in a little bit of a new direction. Last is that Sen. Lieberman was reelected. I would like to admit that I was wrong the people did want him back and perhaps he knows more about his constituents than I do. I still think its was childish for him to run as an Independent after he lost the primary, but my ideas about what they wanted were misguided. So the U.S. is entering a new political environment, hopefully it will be a better one.

Execution

2006-11-06T23:35:00.000-06:00

We had all forgotten about the former Iraqi leader. The other day it was announced that Saddam will be executed by means of hanging. I am an opponent of capital punishment. In any form. I do not think that Saddam should be spared punishment, he is a horrible man. and deserves everything he gets. We as a nation had no legitimet reason to invade his country. Iraq in theory would have been better off without Saddam in power. I admit I felt that way, but now I understand that was fanciful thinking. We as human beings have to be better than the monsters of this world by killing him will not heal any wounds. I know that by killing him we are not being more moral than he in fact we stoop to his level. Saddam is a madman. What he did while in power was horrible. He committed attrocities at the drop of a hat. I promise you that I will not lose any sleep over his death, I don't feel any compassion for Saddam. I think that capital punishment is a punishment carried out by primitive society. I think all cultures have move beyond a point where legalized killing is necessary. We may not have realized it yet. It has been said that absolute power corrupts absolutely. If you have the right to take a mans life you get one more step to that absolute corruption. This by no means excuses Saddam. I will not challenge the ruling, but that doesn't make it justifiable.

Question of the Day

2006-10-24T15:53:00.000-05:00

When my grandmother was sick it was a hard time for me, But eventually she got better. So I thought. When she got really sick I found out that she had put on a strong face for me. This was during my graduation. When I thought she was better I was extremly happy it seemed thing were fine. After her I found out the truth, I was hurt. So When was I better off, ignorant, or knowledgable.

Question: Is false hope better than no hope?

Please post your opinions

Rhyme Time

2006-10-16T16:31:00.000-05:00

North Korea successfully tested a nuke awhile back. This has sent the world into an uproar. Japan is furious, China is midway, U.S. is in shock, Asia as a whole is about to wet itself, and the UN is threatening sanctions. I personally think that N. Korea is a huge threat to world security. I know that many nations have nuclear weapons. I feel no one should have at all, period, but they have had them for sometime now and nuclear weapons have been used only twice. That itself was two too many. N. Korea has a tyranical leader who I feel would readily use them if he feels threatened. I felt back in 2003 when they announced that they were researching Nuclear power, in hopes of making a bomb, that something should have been done. Pres. Bush was trigger happy when it came to Iraq, a possible hazard at best, but when a nation comes forward and admits it wants WMDs we talk to them. Three years passed, and here we are N. Korea has WMDs, and Iraq never did. Ironic I think. So Japan isn't allowing N. Korean ships into its ports and is ready with warships if N. Korean ships pose any threat to Japan. China is worried about rerfugees flooding in across it border, which they say will happen if too harsh sanctions are placed on the nation, but they have placed some sanctions on N. Korea. China and N. Korea are road dogs. they have a very close relationship with N. Korea, so they may not be an ally in this case. The U.S. is proposing sanctions, and wants N. Korea to return to six-party talks. Pres. Bush has also stated that the U.S. will not use military force against the nation, but will help its allies in the area with ballistic missle defense. The UN gives idle threats again. The UN needs a backbone to enforce their own rules. It has been said that history repeats itself, But a better statement is that History ryhmes. Think for a moment Rogue nation N. Korea( Nazi Germany), One nation who sees the real threat Japan(Great Britain) and the nation that agrees, but won't get involved U.S.(U.S.), the circumstantial ally China(Russia). Sounds familiar to me. Hickory dickory dock?

Spin

2006-10-07T21:17:00.000-05:00

By now everyone knows about the Foley scandal. The Story with Foley is bad enough, but how both political parties are turning it against one another is bad too. Foley was caught conversing with teenage boys, via e-mails, in a very inappropriate manner. Apparently this was a well known fact among some people in Washington. Yet none of them said anything to authorities. I do not know why they didn't but they didn't. Then the e-mails were released, and immediately the spin begins. Dems trying to turn it against Reps, Reps turn it against Dems. In reality it shouldn't matter what political party you're with Foley needs to be punished. The way the two political parties are playing the whole situation makes me sick. They are too worried with promoting their own agendas that they can't just do their jobs. Which means do what is best for America. I understand that the two parties have differing views on what is best for America. In the end those should be secondary to what is obviously best for this country. The main problem with a two party system is that what is best for the nation becomes secondary, the nation becomes divided more and more. All of that creates a country that will die from internal problems unless it's citizens and officials start working together for what is best first and promote their ways second. Bipartisan should be a more common thing especially in this age. Partisans should be occurring less.

Diversity in Bedrock

2006-10-03T09:28:00.000-05:00

I may be wrong about this. I have thought long and hard, but to my recollection their are no minorities of any sort on the Flintstones. I know that may sound silly now, but I do have a point to prove. In Bedrock everyone you saw was white. They never showed the projects of Bedrock. Or the China town of Bedrock. Why is this? In our reality, by our I mean the people in the western world. We have predetermined views or ideas that are either wrong or that are misconception. If you think of God, God is always a he, that really makes no sense to give the supreme being a limitation such as gender. When you read a book often times the race of the characters is not mentioned, but are assumed to be white. In the movie World Trade Center, the unknown heroic marine who risked his life to help in the recovery of victims is portrayed as an older white man. The truth is that he is a young black man. Since no one knew who he was he was automatically portrayed as white. Diversity need to grow in America. Even on black show all of the main characters are black, why are there no Asians or Hispanics, whites, or even native Americans as characters in black television shows. We all have preconceived notions about the different peoples of this world. What we need to do is try to overcome those notions. In every sense. The ideas we have about the standard conceptions of human beings of all races is a deep rooted pyscological problem we have as a culture in America. Maybe when we get over that problem we will see some diversity in Bedrock.