Full Circle

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.

1. Hero or Villain?
2. Disappointment
3. Rhyme Time
4. Symbolism
5. Lies, D Lies, and Statistics
   

Priorities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.