Diet Racism

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

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

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

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

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

“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

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

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

"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

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.

1. Queen Elizabeth I
2. Hatshepsut
3. Amelia Earhart
4. Susan B. Anthony
5. Sandra Day O'Connor
6. Joan of Arc
7. Eleanor Roosevelt
8. Barbara Smith
9. Mya Angelou
10. Harriet Tubman
11. Hattie McDaniel
12. Natalie Cole
13. Lyudmila Pavlichenko
14. 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.