Monday, January 30, 2006

01-30-06 Nigger

There has been some flack, I say undue, about an episode of the "cartoon", The Boondocks. The episode at the center of the controversy, is the Martin Luther King, Jr. episode, shown January 14th and 15th on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. For those of U who did not see it, let me give you the backdrop, or my take, as I see it. I like to know what my child is watching, so I make an effort to watch and discuss it with her and sometimes her friends. The way I interpreted what I saw was: Dr. MLK was shot and instead of dying, he lingered in a coma for 40 years and suddenly awakened to find he was tagged a "terrorist" and that his actual, physical image was being used on everything commercial, in order to sell products; even the fast food variety. What I saw and heard, sounded to me like disappointment and frustration that all his sacrifices were ignored and unchallenged, due to the behaviour of some Black folks. U know the ones: booty shakers, substance abusers (although I believe there are a lot of underlying causes for this behaviour), fighting and killing one another over clothes, cars or nothing, etcetera. Matter-of-fact, I had the chance to see it twice and that is still my perception. The "niggers" Dr. King was addressing in frustration, were preoccupied with fighting one another, dancing and drinking, etc. As McGruder is satire and for mature audiences only, hence the issues and many others that are brought up to rankle your feathers and cause controversy. What the King of the 1960's saw, was a vastly different group of African Americans than he saw when he awakened. It is shameful and frustrating to see those who, for whatever reason, are unable to fulfill the dreams of The Promised Land. The portrayal of some Black people behaving negatively, is what has upset a few. I hope we don't major on the minors; this was a cartoon, shown late nights, and AM is known for political commentary. When I say "majoring on the minors", I specifically mean the very things Dr. King did not address, because their were more pressing issues at hand.
With Black people suffering disproportionately throughout the world, we are still allowing "massuh" to taunt us with the word "nigger". And "massuh" is dead! If U place value on it, then U suffer whenever the word is used.
Recently, I saw an Oprah program on, what else, race in America. On this show, were the players in the movie Crash. It was so obvious to me that the use of the word "nigger" or "nigga" as the younger Blacks (p)refer, is a generational gap. Older Blacks find it offensive and painful, as Oprah reiterated. Younger Blacks didn't/don't feel threatened by the "term", as actors Don Cheadle, Terence Howard and rapper Chris (Ludacris) Bridges tried to explain. To me, it appears this is progress in the Black community because it means young Blacks are no longer tormented by the word and have defined for themselves who they are and how they will be perceived. It's as though they are saying "we've come far enough that it doesn't hurt now". Yet, it is also a regression , because Blacks who use it (and we probably all have, White or Black), create division within our ranks. Many who saw the cartoon, saw no one desecrating King's legacy. Of course, I spoke mainly with youngsters and although they understood the message the way I did, there is still some disconnect. The underlying message seemed to be: there is a way to conduct yourseleves and live your lives and other such behaviours should be discouraged because it is interpreted as a disregard for the sacrifices and struggles our ancestors made, so that "the word" no longer hurts. It says to the generation that fought the hard battles, that negative behaviours "dishonors" Dr King's work, as well as all those of others. Dr. King's disgust and frustration was seen as a sign that all his sacrifice was in vain, because some Blacks failed to progress and actually had regressed.
The teens, who all grew up and are schooled with White children, saw no disgrace in this cartoon. I think the point was to be made to a YOUNGER GENERATION. Things have indeed changed. Who let it get that way? These youngsters don't remember what it was like before the civil rights movement. Some of them have parents who weren't even born when Dr. King was assassinated. Probably the only image most younger people have of the civil rights movement, is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. If U ask, they mention him first and foremost, and may be Malcolm X and a few said Huey Newton (because of the movie). Not one even knew that Rev. Jesse Jackson was an activist who marched with Dr. King! They were surprised to hear this. Maybe the older generation is not doing their job to remember our past and teach our own, so that we are not all condemned to repeat it.
Also, we can thank rappers and comedians for the blase' use of the word "nigger". In Chris Rock's book, Rock This!, he clearly mentions that he "hates niggers, but loves Black folks". Then he breaks it down: Black folks work hard, raise their kids, get an education, take care of their home and community ... and the "others" tear each other down, kill each other and fight and create disharmony" (see the Willie Lynch letter @ African American Images.com). It is a disunity, fo' sho'. Of course, not all people are on the same level of awareness. Some people don't even care.
In my opinion, the 3 greatest threats to Blacks everywhere on the planet are: health, education and homelessness. Blacks suffer from HIV-AIDS at alarming rates worldwide, along with cancers, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. Blacks also suffer disproportionately in America from homelessness with either the vast majority of Black men incarcerated or living on the streets. In education, every major news media outlet appears to love reporting year after year about the ever-widening "gap" between Black/Latino students (at all levels; imagine that) as compared to White/Asian students in the US. (One point: I must mention that when it was found that White students lagged behing Asian students in academics, Whites and Asians were suddenly lumped together on these US educational acheivement studies). As Mark Twain so brilliantly stated, "there are 3 kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.
What is a self-fulfilling prophecy? A "statistic" emblazoned in every publication on a regular basis or a soundbite on every news show. Even though we start out last, we sometimes end up finishing first, so if we don't toot our own horn, we'll have to dance to someone else's music. Let him who has ears hear. (Matthew 13:9)
In general, the US has been systematically "dumbed down" since the 1954 decision of Brown versus the Topeka Board of Education case. That's why Johnny can't read. Outcomes-based education, various assemblies, school psychiatrists, special education and ESOL (where U don't get the hard stuff), psychiatric standardized tests (Stanford-Binet, the Wechsler scale) "new math" and the whole word methods of reading "tripe". Instead of centuries old phonics instruction, arithmetic and classical curricula, students, particularly in poor, "urban" centers, receive a schizophrenic education. Pulbic charter schools and home schooling aren't proliferating for no reason! Don't get me wrong. Multi-cultural and diversity training is a good thing, but it should NOT take the place of HARD learning. I am always amazed that third graders no longer recite the multiplication tables as a class on a daily basis for weeks. Rote learning is now discouraged. Why? Several reasons. One, because it works. Therefore, two, no extra funds are needed for "new methods", "new specialists", "training in new methods by new specialists", on and on. Bureaucaracy in education is a billion $$$ industry. Just as with masters and slaves, social workers and welfare clients, if someone is getting paid to help you, U will never really get help! Because everybody's getting paid off your misfortune, Katrina!
Throughout the years, I check what my daughter and her peers are "learning" and I compare it to what I learned at the same age and grade. US education is being seriously dumbed-down!
Money is one of the biggest problems in educating children. Not too little, too much. A percentage for this program and that program and this teacher and that professional. The focus is taken away from education. Remember Isaiah says "my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge"? What can U do, if U don't know how?
I was blessed to start out my education in wealthy parochial schools in Georgetown and then to Maryland public schools. I also had an insatiable desire to read everything. That's because my mother taught all of us to read before we went to school. Once U know, no one can take it from you.
In a private school, a second grade teacher corrected my daughter's spelling tests as "exallent". Dumbing U.S. down! After four years of grueling 12-month payments of tuition and researching on my own, I took my daughter out of that school. Two years later, she was in another private school, and well, U don't always get what you pay for. The teacher consistently misspelled words that the students had to correct her on. She admitted to me that she had to look in the back of the teacher's guide for the correct answers in math (5th grade math!). She continued to misspell the word 'quarter' as 'quater'. She claimed advanced degrees in Philosophy and in Education. Of course, she turned out to be the director's daughter, so...
Tuition, uniforms, books, meals, aftercare activities and transport are expletively expensive! Then parents of privately schooled children also pay taxes for the local schools. We should expect and work towards a better education.
What does all this have to do with the "word", U might ask? Fast forward to 2005/2006. My child's school program is preparing a pageant for Black History Month. The epicenter of the pageant is song and dance, and steppin'. With only about 30% of the school program, African American, I felt it should actually have something to do with Black history. So I drafted up a plan for the adults to implement. The idea is for each of the 28 days in February, there should be represented a figure who represents the best and brightest. Martin Luther King, Marcus Garvey, WEB DuBois, Nelson and Winnie Mandela, Lena Horne, Kwame Nkrumah, Emperor Haile Selassie, Patrice Lumumba, Harriet Tubman. Each student would do research on the person(s) they would portray so that they could introduce themselves to the audience. Hopefully, the pageant should produce pride in the small group of Black students and knowledge for the non-Blacks. I also hope it will create an atmosphere where Black students reach higher for the sake of themselves, their futures and those ancestors who went through so much hell so that we would have opportunities. So that those ancestors do not turn over in their graves, and wish they had all ran to Canada, instead of be an example and fight for what is right.
*FOOTNOTE: (HU)man cannot define who I am. therefore, they cannot control my thoughts. Therefore, I am free.

Unclaimed Territory - by Glenn Greenwald: Attacks on the blogosphere

A Lie a Day: Get A Freaking warrant

A Lie a Day: The New War On Poverty

A Lie a Day: You Can Keep Saying It

A Lie a Day: The Cover-up Starts

A Lie a Day: Talk About Running On A Single Issue.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

01-24-06/Keeping In Touch

It's January 24, 2006 and I am writing Keeping In Touch for those who may have felt as I did earlier today. Keep hanging in thee, don't give up, it does get better, never stop trying. Love, Peace and Sooooooooul!

January 18, 2006-Paris Hilton

I've been holding off commenting on heiress-socialite Paris Hilton, because she gets a lot of press, for, well... nothing. She's famous because she's rich of course, and young and cute... in an odd way. Yet, I have to comment on how she and Nicole Richie have managed to extend their celebrity by any means necessary. We might think they are airheads (and they might be) but either they or their publicists are able to cash in on their 15 minutes. How? Planting fake gossip, coming out with albums and CDs no one gets to hear and appearing in movies and plays that no one gets to see. Bravo Paris! Bravo Nicole! Losing enough weight to be the thinnest Hollywood gal will do the same. You gotta give them some kudos for keeping their names and faces out there day after day.
Next move should be to date one of the hottest celebs out there.
Take notes other celebreality stars: learn from the simple (life) how to keep your careers on life support. Check out dlisted.com and jossip.com for some fun.

January 19, 2006/Notables

So many show biz notable and legends have left us in quick succession:
Richard Pryor, Rosa Parks, Lou Rawls, Shelley Winters and now Wilson Pickett.
Rest in peace, y'all

Baby Beyonce' 01-23-06

* A while ago, I promised to install Baby Beyonce' video on my site/blog(s), because I thought it was cute and funny. Now I have been informed that some sick bastards find it "exciting" in an unnatural way, so... I don't want to encourage anything like that! Got to www.oprah.com to learn about the cybertiphotlines and efforts to deal with this problem.
Thanks, peace...

Thought to Ponder

Everything in life is a lesson and a choice; good versus evil, spirit versus physical. To overcome the natural, selfish desires and thus be ready to lead an eternal life with God. - Constance Benton

Theory being that lives grow correspondingly tougher as the soul sheds the ties that bind it to earth. - Don't know who said it, but I read it somewhere....

INGSOC ALERT

01-12-06
Has anyone noticed the amount of "losses, accidents, incidents and leaks" of thousands of database info from banks, credit card companies, file storage companies, leasing and finance corporations, etc? Is the national database growing and it's okay because they mention it very quickly as a soundbite that most will overlook? Google in "information mixups, or client information losses" and "database loss", etc. In the last 3 or 4 years, these quick clips have popped up several times in the media with little notice. Also, check out ChoicePoint. Democracy Now of Pacifica has done several pieces on them. Do U really think all of this information is getting "lost" or "misplaced"?

01-24-06/Catchin' Up

This if from Friday 01-20-06's Basement "Talks" in the House-Senate Office Building. Professor Randi Rhodes is educating the public about the "Basement Talks" in the House-Senate Office Building(s) regarding the recent NSA-Spying-Against-Americans (such as I) scandal. She has stepped up her game. She really knows her business. She's done her research. You can hear RR on AirAmericaRadio.com and decide for yourself. She's not the only one whose phones are tapped! She schooled her audience about the federal government going after AOL and Yahoo to turn over more than 1 million websites and e-mail addresses. AOL and Yahoo caved in. Google is fighting it, y'all. Allegedly, this information is for a so-called probe/study on internet porn.
I've never been involved nor interested in politics until my kid and I noticed people following us wherever we went and even at our home. That was 4 years ago aqnd it hasn't abated. BTW, everyone tried to say I was suffering from self-induced paranoias through drug abuse, blah, blah, which are total falsehoods; a mini smear-campagin, I guess, but "now" I have to read, listen, speak to others because if U think America's freedom and Constitution are not in jeopardy, U are deaf, dumb and blind, as well as scared. Tune in to Air America Radio/Randi Rhodes and LEARN! America get educated! Some of us don't know, what we don't know.
Also, go to www.schoolhistory.co.uk to see how history is repeating itself. The Washington Post's free Daily Express paper hooked me onto another resource for info from journalists, educators and professional bloggers called www.crooksandliars.com if U are brave.
The peaceful Quakers are now spied upon and they have joined with the ACLU (www.ACLU.org) and the CCR (Center for Constitutional Rights/www.ccr-ny.org) in lawsuits against the federal government for spying on them. They claim that computers' hard drives were broken into, address books were stolen and phones were tapped, amongst other things.
When I was a little girl in the '70's, I once read the front of the Yellow Pages, and there was information on the first few pages, about knowing when your phone is being tapped. I remember reading about hearing a 'click' when you pick up the receiver. Funny, I have heard that click many times in the last 3 1/2 to 4 years... Anyways, many are saying (and writing) that anyone who visits liberal websites or calls/e-mails ANY person overseas (an aunt in England, a pen pal in Germany, school/education sites in France-the Sorbonne?, or even calls a Middle Easterner in "this" country, etc.) will get you watched by your Big Brother. INGSOC

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

01-04-06/More Sermons You don't Want to Hear

This is from 12-23-05:
Reflections of the Lessons My Mother Taught Me-My mom, God bless her strong, sweet, intelligent soul, used to take me with her when she visited her many friends. I learned so much through listening to older people's conversations. For instance, I'll never forget at 16 years old sitting in one of "Ma's" friend's living room and we'd just passed a drunk/wino on the street and I was innocently disgusted in my self-righteousness, when Ma's friend said, "He's a drunk, but he's a Christian". My mother agreed with her and I looked at them incredulously. Childlike faith, I'm sure my facial expression said it all: 'if he believes in God so much, why is he drunk?'
In unison they answered, "Because even when he's drunk, he's talking about the Lord".
The lessons I got from this- Don't judge a book by it's cover, and none of us is perfect (and that's probably on purpose so we can grow and develop on the inside). Afterall, if we know everything and got it altogether, why are we here? Isn't there a better place for such perfect people? After Noah obeyed God down to the inch, didn't he get drunk? Wasn't that a huge undertaking that God assigned to Noah? Noah obeyed. Yet afterwards, Noah needed a drink, or 2 or 3... Maybe he suffered post traumatic stress disorder. Think a global flood aint stressful? We didn't even handle Katrina easily. A lot of people don't believe the Flood happened and they use the dinosaur bones as proof. My seriously thinking four-year old daughter at the time, asked me about this. Questions can make you ponder. Yes, there were dinosaurs back then. The Bible actually mentions the leviathan in the Book of Job (Job 30:29 and Job 41:1) The Ethiopian texts and many ancient Egyptian texts tell of the earth being one (as does the Bible) and the Epic of Gilgamesh also, and the earth was moistened by a mist. Upon the Flood, the waters parted. Upon the drying of the earth and with the separation of the now continents, it is said you can take the world map and paste the pieces of the continents and subcontinents together like a puzzle. Whatever your belief(s), that's your path to travel, your life lessons to learn. I am not trying to make anyone believe anything, basically because I want to believe what I want to believe and I don't want anyone to tread on my personal beliefs. I think everyone should respect that, because hatred, misunderstandings, prejudices and other serious problems and "isms" occur, when we cannot mind our own business and allow others to follow the path that life has them on. Maybe it's not in the cards or the stars or part of God's plan for you to believe what others believe. Jesus said "Go ye therefore unto all the nations and preach the gospel, teaching," not forcing nor ridiculing someone else's beliefs. And if you are really progressive, liberal, religious or whatever, you will respect that basic, human right. I guess the basic point is, your path is your path; your life is your life and variety is the spice of life. Everybody can't be the same. Respect that.
Peace

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

01-02-05/Something to Think About

I needed to write this out... It was a rainy day and I was just going through the motions, U know... I heard Randi Rhodes of Air America Radio on. She cracks me up. It was a lot going through my head, U know, the economy, Hurricane Katrina (ay I haven't forgotten), the war (God take care of my nephew and his daughter-both in the military), NSA spying on American citizens (told y'all!), etc. It is really hard to stay positive and happy about the new year but I heard RR and I feel so inspired. She admires Oprah also, and she wanted to do something to help the Katrina surviviors who are still pretty much without home or hearth and she came up with this idea to help them. If every one who listens to Air America Radio can keep their spare change and take it to the local Air America station, they could put it in an escrow account and at least help someone to build a new home, through like, Habitat for Humanity and other direct-action programs. Isn't that great? I am cash poor but I am participating in this. What a great way to start off the New Year! I believe helping others lifts us both up. As Randi Rhodes always says," in the military we were only as strong as the weakest one amongst us". She makes a good point because that person could cost you your life, and vice versa, so it selfishly behooves us to help one another if we can. The first time I ever heard of such a thing was with Jay Winter Nightwolf of 89.3 fm/WPFW in Washington, DC. It was to help out the Native elderly and children in "Indian" country on two reservations so that they wouldn't freeze and go hungry this winter, due to all the social programs that have been drastically cut. And for the Christians out there, I don't have to tell you how Jesus felt about helping out those in need... but I will, anyway! Matthew 25:35-45 summarily is: 'what you do to the least of these amongst you, you do unto Me'. Jesus also cracked down on those "who claim to love God Whom they cannot see, but hate their brother (or sister) whom they can see"; i.e., "Hypocrite"! I know it's hard out here, believe me, I do! But if U can give out of your need, U can give out of your greed, right?
Anyway, even if U don't believe in God or Higher Power/Infinite Intelligence, Whatever, (that's your path, your life, no judgement), you really have to help others because karma exists and you have to believe in your fellow humans when your time of need comes up. Robert Ingersoll said (I'm paraphrasing) that Christians sit back and pray for God to help their brothers and sisters, but an atheist doesn't have that option, so if you want something done, better take it to an atheist.
In a way, I can see what he's saying because that sort of lets the religious off the hook and they can live more selfishly and be lazy. That's why they have the Reminder, Jesus to keep 'em right.
Oh yeah, here's something I heard or read years ago and I never forgot it: a historian-writer and an astronaut were conversing before the astronaut's journey into space to "meet God". The astronaut goes "up there" and comes back and the historian-writer says, "So did you meet God?" "Yeah, I met God", the astronaut replies. Historian-writer asks, "Well tell me what God is like?" The astronaut says, " Well, your'e not gonna believe this, but She's Black".
Bye

12-27-05 Kujichagulia-Self-Determination

Okay, this one's from December 27, 2005-
Very depressed. There's been no need to celebrate Christmas, Channukah or Kwanzaa. Just feeling very down. All the lies, followings, stakeouts, harassments, investigations, plans thwarted (or they try to anyway). Just hard to believe things will get any better. I feel very little hope for 2006. I have been followed/harassed/investigated etc. for four full years now and they aren't finished yet? I have had coffee spilled in my house (we don't drink it) and matches left in the place (we don't smoke anything) and I am isolated to a great degree by these lies. And they call this "intelligence"? You know how you place things in your house "just so" and you know it's been moved and your kid was out with you all day? Anyway, they make it obvious, like, "yeah, we've been in your house". And the strangers who either knock on our door (if I don't know U, I just look out the peephole, I don't answer or nuthin'; why should I?) and have even tried our doorknobs to see if it would open, we've been followed to the store, the trash dumpster, the mailbox, etcetera... even knocks on the door from strangers in the middle of the night, 3 am and so on... it's just hard to feel "happy". I am actually surprised my daughter and I have survived these persecutions intact. I know the only reason we are still on an even keel, able to laugh and keep going, is because of the "still, small voice " of God's Holy Spirit (1Kings 19:12). I am no martyr, I am no saint, but I do know that God and His Word, the Christ have kept us going. I have wanted to give up so many times in the last 4 years especially and my own stubbornness gets me up and I go on! I cannot give up! I will not let the devil win over me! (Resist the devil and he will flee-James 4:7)That's where God's Comforter the Holy Spirit steps in to give me strength to carry on. I don't even know why. There have been some times in my life where no human could (or would) help me. So I either had to sink with the devil or swim with the Lord! I am still here, so U know what I did. Besides, I was raised by a beautiful, STRONG , Black woman! I gladly follow in her footsteps, though I can never fill her shoes. She raised four kids all ALONE!I never meant to be a single mom, but when I heard that little heart beating, well, the decision was made. I was mad, though! It didn't fit into what I dreamed my life would be. That's life, ain't it? Since I come from a strong Black woman, I have no choice but to be a strong Black woman. When I feel like I can't go on, I remember the sacrifices of my dear mother and her inspiring words and I remember my Heru, my Saviour Jesus Christ and what He endured at the hands of another kingdom and I keep going somehow. I think also of people like Oprah. Suppose she had given up? Or suppose her mom had given up? Suppose Mary, Mother of Jesus had given up? It would seem easier, right? Suppose Pope John Paul II of Poland had given up under the Nazi control in WWII? If we give up, give out or give in during our trials, not only do we miss the many blessings that come afterwards, but perhaps the chance to touch a life, save a life, help another to keep going and not give up themselves. Now I can't lie, sometimes I flip them the bird, but the stress of it all, U know? Ay, I am human! No excuse, I know...
Something I remember from either PTL or the 700 Club or whatever, and I think it was 1987. They were either reading a letter or something (I rarely sit down and pay attention to the telly)
and they told the story of someone who was depressed and someone said something mean to the person and it was the "last straw" and the man went and committed suicide. And the reader said, I" wouldn't want to be someone's "last straw". Don't miss the message looking at the messenger, Jim Bakker or Pat Robertson or whomever the tele-preacher was. I didn't miss the message, which was what I needed to hear at that particular moment, at that particular time. Some may moan and groan at the names above, but who is perfect? All the time? C'mon. Sometimes, what we see determines how we think, feel and act. Sometimes, the things we can't see can determine life or death. There's a lot of pain and suffering out there, so let's be determined not to be somebody's last straw.
Peace be unto you...

Ujamaa

I wrote this down on 12-29-05 and I was really depressed, but now that I feel a little better, here it is:
This is the second year that we have participated in Kwanzaa along with Christmas (as best as we could) and yes, even Channukah (from my friends of all races at Beth Messiah congregation). The seriousness of the times have forced me into alternative ways of thinking and behaving. I like the culture-consciousness of Kwanzaa and Channukah and I am used to Christmas, even though it's not the same. Yet I love the fact that both C and K are devoid of commercialism. Perhaps I am too sensitive about over excess and buying "things" when people live on the streets and sleep in parks and eat out of trash cans; it depresses me. The "help" given comprises of green koolaid and pb&j sandwiches or bologna along with old clothes. This is because basically, those of us that care and want to help, don't know how. How do you get someone off the streets? What do U do first? See what I mean? On 12-21-05 (I think), I turned to WPFW 89.3fm in Washington, DC (a Pacifica station) on the radio. This is where I heard the Manager Ron Pinchback starting the beginning of a series of programs on air about homelessness in DC, in particular. He had 3 very astute, politically, socially aware homeless people, who gave eloquent accounts of how they became homeless and their experiences since then. Some of the information was shocking to me and I thought I knew all about homelessness personally, but through these 3 people I learned a lot. Sister Arafa (?), Mr. Davis and Mr Gatling. Since they were on the airwaves I hope it's okay to mention their names here, no full names, if only partially to protect some of their privacy. Here's what I learned: how the popular homeless walkathon doesn't allow actual homeless people to participate because in order to register U must have an address..???Isn't that Ironic? DC also closed 4 shelters recently, along with their general hospital (in a predominantly African American community) and St Ease (St. Elizabeth's Mental Institution) has released more mentally ill patients onto the streets without their medications, enlarging DC's homeless population to approximately 17,000.
One thing I already knew about was the horrific conditions of the shelters just a hop-skip and a jump frpm the US Capitol. I, usually verbose, cannot adequatey describe the conditions I have seen with mine own eyes. Even on the outside, it's grim to say the least. Is it better than nothing? Many homeless say "no". I was glad to hear WPFW doing a show on this problem because as the 3 guests spoke, they told how in 18 years of this homeless walkathon, homelessness has actually increased! Well, U know... everyone's gotta get their cut!
Also, the guests spoke on how the police regularly threaten, abuse and harass the homeless. If U don't believe it (Oh gullible one), go to the Union Station Amtrak and see how the homeless people are treated at the crack of dawn, before the "passengers/visitors/customers" arrive. By the way, Stephen Gregory of Night Talk, also on WPFW did an excellent show on police brutality in America. They linked up with WBAI in New York. The callers were outstanding and intelligent as well as outspoken. It was a real eye-opener. It had to do with the latest "seen" and "recorded" abuse of the Black man in New Orleans who was shot several times by surrounding police officers. Not to mention the the 64 year old man (Mr. Davis) who was severely beaten by 3 (at least) police officers in New Orleans. The police were fired. Now Mr. Davis needs to sue them each in civil court. Whenever someone gets paid off of your misfortune, you will stay in that situation. Guaranteed!
Peace, later...

Happy New Year!

It's been about two or three weeks, I guess, since I have entered anything in my blog, and I have updated with some new info and programs so I am anxious to see how it goes. I have much to catch up on as there is never a shortage of news (real and fiction). I sometimes jot my notes down as soon as it comes to me so I won't forget... This one is from 12-28-05:
*3 1/2 days until a new year. I feel a little better about the whole holiday(s) thing but I still feel stuck. In a way, I sense some seriously scary times coming. About 150 years ago, a woman named Ellen (Harmon) Gould-White began having these visions which were recorded verbatim, supposedly. She had a third grade education, allegedly, so some of the prose is advanced, I guess you could say, but anyway they were prophecies she was envisioning. They were based on Bible prophecies. The SDA church was built on the group that split from other Bible study groups that studied with her and today SDAs (7th Day Adventists) are all over the world, preaching their particular brand of Christianity. They have also built churches, schools and colleges as well as book centers, health food stores, hospitals and clinics worldwide. In her book, The Great Controversy, she breaks down religious history from ancient Israel on down through todays' modern times, filled and running over with scriptures to back up her "visions". This Great Controversy asserts that we must choose either God or Satan. That is the Great Controversy. Since I am a bookworm, I've read many of her books (The Desire of Ages, Ministry of Health, etc.) as well as other spiritual writers. They borrow from each other a lot. It's easy to do when your main source is an ancient book with no copyrights. Books help U to expand not only your vocabulary but also your creativity and imagination. In EG White's books, her prophecies may sound like doom and gloom reading but it fits right about now for me. It just all seems so ... "true". I read all kinds of things, especially about education, which I find sorely lacking in today's US public schools. Oh I am sure there are some good ones, and yes, school, like anything else, is partly what U make it, but sometimes, things are just out of our control, like today's mess in Iraq or the spying, (which I told y'all it was going on-- and it still is, right now!). The best thing I have ever read on education was a speech given in 1995 I believe, by NY Teacher of the Year Award Winner, John Taylor Gatto. It is aptly titled "The Public School Nightmare-Why fix a system designed to destroy individual thought?" Good question. I absolutely recommend that "everyone" read this paper. Go online to Kossor Educational Newsletter/index or go to www.tysknews.com and read this brilliant speech by Mr. Gatto. If all the ignorance plaguing this nation now isn't enough to convince U to take control of your child's education/future then read another brilliant paper: Dumbing Down America by Dr. Samuel Blumenfeld. I believe after reading these two papers you will look at public education in a different way. Hopefully, while reading them, the lightbulb will go off in your head, answering the questions to many of our ills. Other good books on true education are books by Dr. Jawanzaa Kunjufu, Naim Akbar, and online the Grandfather Educational Reports at www.mwhodges.home It gives the same information basically as the "little blue book, Lessons From Abroad, which is a comparative analysis of public education here in the US with several countries who outperform US students, such as Germany, Sweden, Japan, etc. Or, it might just depress you. I know politics and religion are dangerous (Luke 4) but politics in education is lethal, and well, that's what we've got. When someone gets money based on failure, well, U know the rest. Someone(s) has a vested interest in keeping us or dumbing us down!
More later. Later