Y'all remember me saying that we should not be surprised if Obama does not win? I recall saying that the combination of the soft hidden racists in the majority (my friends ack*?) and the hard concentrated racists would prevent it? Well I was wrong --
I learned that my friends aren't as racist as I thought they were...but those hardcore bastards are not playing around are they?Obviously the fervor surrounding the Presidents agenda and his health care bill in particular can not be simplified to just race -- obviously class/big business and is right up there at the top but the nastiness and (mild) violence (i.e the town hall meetings etc) of late really have me believing that the wild west denial in the face of all logical fact (death meetings....really? euthanasia....really?)has got to be that extra seasoning of black in the white house...
anyway...
Paul does it better...with citation and shit...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/opinion/14krugman.html?em
Friday, August 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Sotomayor Hearings...real quick..
God I wish were home to watch this myself, but I'm stuck partially working and reading the live blogging with nytimes.com -- at least I have that...
I restate this with hilarity because you'll see the irony right away...
From the laughable Sen. Sessions:
“Like the American people I have watched this process for a number of years,” he said, “and I fear this empathy standards is another step down the road to a liberal activist, results-oriented and relativistic world where – laws lose their fixed meaning, unelected judges set policy; Americans are seen as members of separate groups rather than simply Americans, and where the constitutional limits on government power are ignored when politicians want to buy out private companies. …."
While that quote is full of jaw dropping irony -- I, simplistically (sorry it's Monday morning), think its laugh out loud funny that he thinks we think that he considers us all Americans and not part of the group.
Really? We are all just god fearing neighborhood loving friendly Americans to you Mr. Sessions?!?
I'm not buying it.
It burns my tithers when folks claim "we're all Americans" in the effort to keep a member of a minority group from power......really it burns them to dust...
[Oh oh before I forget -- don't know whats going on? Sharkfoo has this really cool explanation of the players...]
I restate this with hilarity because you'll see the irony right away...
From the laughable Sen. Sessions:
“Like the American people I have watched this process for a number of years,” he said, “and I fear this empathy standards is another step down the road to a liberal activist, results-oriented and relativistic world where – laws lose their fixed meaning, unelected judges set policy; Americans are seen as members of separate groups rather than simply Americans, and where the constitutional limits on government power are ignored when politicians want to buy out private companies. …."
While that quote is full of jaw dropping irony -- I, simplistically (sorry it's Monday morning), think its laugh out loud funny that he thinks we think that he considers us all Americans and not part of the group.
Really? We are all just god fearing neighborhood loving friendly Americans to you Mr. Sessions?!?
I'm not buying it.
It burns my tithers when folks claim "we're all Americans" in the effort to keep a member of a minority group from power......really it burns them to dust...
[Oh oh before I forget -- don't know whats going on? Sharkfoo has this really cool explanation of the players...]
Monday, June 8, 2009
Siiiiiiigh...
I awoke to my radio alarm this morning. I stretched my hands up over my head and pointed my toes -- happy to awaken another day...well...
Actually, I opened one eye grudgingly, and with misplaced anger at an inanimate object, glared at my clock radio. I tried to pretend that I could go back to sleep with the music blaring and turned my, now closed, eye away from the morning sun. It was then that I realized that it was not the normal "sophisticated and uppity concerned for the world on my way to work through Columbus circle" NPR morning radio that I was used to but the brand new Drake colabo...
Who changed the station on my radio?!?
I was kinda grooving because my brain was still thinking this might be one of the times that NPR reaches out to the rest of the world and interviews a hiphop artist..it does happen...occasionally. But then the song was over and the morning personality's gruff voice began to reminisce about the Hot 97 summer jam concert that was the 'ish last night. He brought Jadakiss on to introduce the interview that they had recorded the previous night by singing the verse to his new jam. I can't remember it all but this line stuck with me...never believe a chick over a dude. Possibly innocuous...uhm innocuous in no sense of the word. Ugh. I am so weary. Can the lack of further explanation convey how tired I am of the sexism??
Had it not been blank thirty in the morning my defenses would have been up and I would have shook my head and ignored it but alas - I was raw, me with no filter, defense, protection and I was pissed. The sexism was so present and quietly violent and more at home than even I was. It seems to me that in the hiphop world I am a 'frickin' visitor and sexism is at home. I was the only one walking around angry, everyone else is cool with it. Dismissing it. Ignoring it. Comfortable with it. It's my angry ass that everyone is looking at wondering what the hell is wrong with me. It's me who should be at home and safe not the whose neck is jerking in anticipation for the next assault on my femininity -- sexism is fine and finds little, if any, threats to itself -- I'm sure it sleeps much more soundly than I do, confident in it's continued existence. I however, suspect that should I get too loud, too convincing, too masculine? I will be asked to leave.
Sigh. So now a woman's, I'm sorry "chick's", word is always to be suspect when it differs from the man's. Sigh. Really people? We really don't see the parallels here? That doesn't sound like it was snatched straight from the racism tome of precepts? No? Or is it just that black masculinity in some quarters is staunchly wedded to sexism? Well, you know how I feel today and thus I am weary and tired and sometimes I just wanna go home and be safe and know that I am welcomed and loved and, most of all, trusted.
I think I better remember to change the station on my radio before I go to sleep. I can't keep waking up angry every morning -- I might hurt someone.
Oh and boy am I pissed that black police officers in NYC are going to have to get specially made guns so that they won't be accidentally shot -- to death -- by their fellow police officers...
WHAT???!!! THE ???!!!??? FUCK?????!!!!! (excuse my language -- it was called for)
Actually, I opened one eye grudgingly, and with misplaced anger at an inanimate object, glared at my clock radio. I tried to pretend that I could go back to sleep with the music blaring and turned my, now closed, eye away from the morning sun. It was then that I realized that it was not the normal "sophisticated and uppity concerned for the world on my way to work through Columbus circle" NPR morning radio that I was used to but the brand new Drake colabo...
Who changed the station on my radio?!?
I was kinda grooving because my brain was still thinking this might be one of the times that NPR reaches out to the rest of the world and interviews a hiphop artist..it does happen...occasionally. But then the song was over and the morning personality's gruff voice began to reminisce about the Hot 97 summer jam concert that was the 'ish last night. He brought Jadakiss on to introduce the interview that they had recorded the previous night by singing the verse to his new jam. I can't remember it all but this line stuck with me...never believe a chick over a dude. Possibly innocuous...uhm innocuous in no sense of the word. Ugh. I am so weary. Can the lack of further explanation convey how tired I am of the sexism??
Had it not been blank thirty in the morning my defenses would have been up and I would have shook my head and ignored it but alas - I was raw, me with no filter, defense, protection and I was pissed. The sexism was so present and quietly violent and more at home than even I was. It seems to me that in the hiphop world I am a 'frickin' visitor and sexism is at home. I was the only one walking around angry, everyone else is cool with it. Dismissing it. Ignoring it. Comfortable with it. It's my angry ass that everyone is looking at wondering what the hell is wrong with me. It's me who should be at home and safe not the whose neck is jerking in anticipation for the next assault on my femininity -- sexism is fine and finds little, if any, threats to itself -- I'm sure it sleeps much more soundly than I do, confident in it's continued existence. I however, suspect that should I get too loud, too convincing, too masculine? I will be asked to leave.
Sigh. So now a woman's, I'm sorry "chick's", word is always to be suspect when it differs from the man's. Sigh. Really people? We really don't see the parallels here? That doesn't sound like it was snatched straight from the racism tome of precepts? No? Or is it just that black masculinity in some quarters is staunchly wedded to sexism? Well, you know how I feel today and thus I am weary and tired and sometimes I just wanna go home and be safe and know that I am welcomed and loved and, most of all, trusted.
I think I better remember to change the station on my radio before I go to sleep. I can't keep waking up angry every morning -- I might hurt someone.
Oh and boy am I pissed that black police officers in NYC are going to have to get specially made guns so that they won't be accidentally shot -- to death -- by their fellow police officers...
WHAT???!!! THE ???!!!??? FUCK?????!!!!! (excuse my language -- it was called for)
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Segregation 2009...that's right, 2009.
Hey folks,
Don't let your privilege let you forget that this is still the status quo....and not just down south.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Post Recession Commercial Hiphop
So has anyone else considered that the very pointed, very damming, very...elitist critiques that folks (yeah yeah me too) have been leveling at hip hop artist for being overly capitalistic, self-aggrandizing, greedy, putting acquiring of assets before community, not being concerned role models focused on education, hard work, etc but hustling pimpin' and the like to increase wealth to the detriment of the community were simply reflections,
a microcosm even,
of a larger communal (read: american) value.
One that was revealed to be on such a large scale that its greed has brought the world to a standstill?!? Well now we know why the largest percentage of hip hop purchasers are white suburban folks - see we thought they were trying to be "hip" but what was really going on was this: the values within the music spoke to something that they felt quite at home with... So one group gets maligned for doing (or rather faking) in public what others are doing in private. I smell a bait and switch, fog machine and spin machine somewhere in here...
Now we know who fifty and puffy were hanging out with in all those club scenes...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/nyregion/thecity/15part.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=recession%20brunch%20party&st=cse
Here's my favorite quote if you are in a rush:
Angry yet?
a microcosm even,
of a larger communal (read: american) value.
One that was revealed to be on such a large scale that its greed has brought the world to a standstill?!? Well now we know why the largest percentage of hip hop purchasers are white suburban folks - see we thought they were trying to be "hip" but what was really going on was this: the values within the music spoke to something that they felt quite at home with... So one group gets maligned for doing (or rather faking) in public what others are doing in private. I smell a bait and switch, fog machine and spin machine somewhere in here...
Now we know who fifty and puffy were hanging out with in all those club scenes...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/nyregion/thecity/15part.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=recession%20brunch%20party&st=cse
Here's my favorite quote if you are in a rush:
As for how he and his fellow Wall Streeters could still afford such afternoons,
he said: “We all made so much money in the past five years, it doesn’t matter.”
Angry yet?
Monday, April 13, 2009
Placeholder...
Black women and feminism...
I have to say this quickly.
I'm at work and for some reason they don't care about theory here.
Being a feminist doesn't mean that I can't expect my male partner to protect me, provide for me, etc.
Everybody knows my 'formerly' personal philosophy ...
Don't bring your feminism into the bedroom.
There are lots of things 'feminists' would not do that you might like. (smile)
(Wouldn't that suck?!)
Seriously, there are places we haven't teased and searched yet in order to describe the place that feminists/womanist theory and politics have in our bedrooms, living rooms, and such. There is a crazy amount of hidden "femiguilt" (same as white liberal guilt but with woman - don't cha' just love interchangeable labels?!) that we need to let go and live our lives!
It's okay to perm your hair and cook dinner for your man!
There. I. said. it.
I have to say this quickly.
I'm at work and for some reason they don't care about theory here.
Being a feminist doesn't mean that I can't expect my male partner to protect me, provide for me, etc.
Everybody knows my 'formerly' personal philosophy ...
Don't bring your feminism into the bedroom.
There are lots of things 'feminists' would not do that you might like. (smile)
(Wouldn't that suck?!)
Seriously, there are places we haven't teased and searched yet in order to describe the place that feminists/womanist theory and politics have in our bedrooms, living rooms, and such. There is a crazy amount of hidden "femiguilt" (same as white liberal guilt but with woman - don't cha' just love interchangeable labels?!) that we need to let go and live our lives!
It's okay to perm your hair and cook dinner for your man!
There. I. said. it.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Languish
languish -
–verb (used without object)
1. to be or become weak or feeble; droop; fade.
2. to lose vigor and vitality.
3. to undergo neglect or experience prolonged inactivity; suffer hardship and distress: to languish in prison for ten years.
4. to be subjected to delay or disregard; be ignored: a petition that languished on the warden's desk for a year.
5. to pine with desire or longing.
6. to assume an expression of tender, sentimental melancholy.
–noun
7. the act or state of languishing.
8. a tender, melancholy look or expression.
Origin: 1250–1300;
–verb (used without object)
1. to be or become weak or feeble; droop; fade.
2. to lose vigor and vitality.
3. to undergo neglect or experience prolonged inactivity; suffer hardship and distress: to languish in prison for ten years.
4. to be subjected to delay or disregard; be ignored: a petition that languished on the warden's desk for a year.
5. to pine with desire or longing.
6. to assume an expression of tender, sentimental melancholy.
–noun
7. the act or state of languishing.
8. a tender, melancholy look or expression.
Origin: 1250–1300;
Monday, March 30, 2009
I'm a slacker 2
I only said 2 because Adiva beat me to the punch in revealing her 'slackness' in posting. However, I think something else is going on since I happen to have a couple of already written posts (its a long subway ride to work) that I just haven't 'posted'...what, what could it be...a sudden desire to not post?
At this moment I would guess that I have reached a critical mass of having shown too many people my blog and have gotten blogshy. Its kinda like when you know that someone is watching you take your test and then that thought prevents you from doing anything else - - including taking the test.
What if my ideas don't make sense? What if I'm wrong...? as though those things don't happen anyway - - forgive my ego, its omniscient, has its own zip code, and always get underfoot. It is under pressure, my ego, with the thoughts of attending Graduate school, which is the most significant decision I have made in the last year. At least I know why I 'stalled' - clarity is beauty, yes? I will keep you posted buuuuuut I wanted to share this article... sooo now the banks can't take the houses back because they have been split into so many pieces that they can't come back to take the houses they sold? Isn't this crazy?!?! So you keep your house because it's not even worth enough for the bank to foreclose on it - - but you can't have it back until it's destroyed by vandals...What is this world we are living in?? We need Jesus!
BTW - heroes was excellent 2night.
At this moment I would guess that I have reached a critical mass of having shown too many people my blog and have gotten blogshy. Its kinda like when you know that someone is watching you take your test and then that thought prevents you from doing anything else - - including taking the test.
What if my ideas don't make sense? What if I'm wrong...? as though those things don't happen anyway - - forgive my ego, its omniscient, has its own zip code, and always get underfoot. It is under pressure, my ego, with the thoughts of attending Graduate school, which is the most significant decision I have made in the last year. At least I know why I 'stalled' - clarity is beauty, yes? I will keep you posted buuuuuut I wanted to share this article... sooo now the banks can't take the houses back because they have been split into so many pieces that they can't come back to take the houses they sold? Isn't this crazy?!?! So you keep your house because it's not even worth enough for the bank to foreclose on it - - but you can't have it back until it's destroyed by vandals...What is this world we are living in?? We need Jesus!
BTW - heroes was excellent 2night.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Voting Matters...
I awoke this morning...
yes, almost recovered...
opened my NYT (that liberal rag)...
and saw that the dems have repealed the Rockefeller Drug laws...
and I wonder if the universe just knows to convince you to hang on just a little bit longer...
just knows what to give you to get you to pop that faith pill and get back to work.
Recovery.Priceless.
yes, almost recovered...
opened my NYT (that liberal rag)...
and saw that the dems have repealed the Rockefeller Drug laws...
and I wonder if the universe just knows to convince you to hang on just a little bit longer...
just knows what to give you to get you to pop that faith pill and get back to work.
Recovery.Priceless.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
recovery...a dream deferred
*Snif
I'm at home, not quite sick, but aware that there are tiny microscopic organisms staging an all out war on my cells...I always win though, this year more than others. My awesome doc tells me that the measure of your health is your ability to get over a cold...when you stop "recovering" then we have a problem....
*clear throat
Well now, recovery....
May I make a stretch of a connection, can you bear with me?
I am not recovering.
Last week I had cornel west standing next to me with his arms around my shoulders telling me to hold on and keep planting seeds - thats the work we do. Not changing people, but planting seeds...
Intellectually I get it, I know you know that, I've said it before...
But I end up trying to convince people to have compassion, to not call her a whore, to care about the poor... I don't mean some abstract 'what would jesus do' moment... but don't shut down Ms. X case for no reason (she won't receive her food stamps).... Don't kick Mr. X out of the program because you think he is dangerous (he will violate his parole)... Dont lie to Ms. Y, there are other things she can do besides maintenance work...
Oh and then to watch C-span and see Mr. Limbaugh say, upon reflection no less, that he hopes the president fails... We knew this was coming, that their very ideology demands that Obama fail in his efforts of equality...should he even remotely succeed it would mean the utter destruction of his base...
You know what? 52% of the voting public voted for Obama, I take that to mean that about 52% of people are standing up for right, are sane, don't believe that our president is a Marxist, a socialist, and isn't a citizen...
But that means that 48% of people are not standing up for right. They look at the choices and choose to follow Rush Limbaugh?!? That is a whole lot of seeds to plant...
and at this point I'm tired of trying to convince people to embrace compassion on a micro and a macro level. Do you know what it feels like to discover how many of those seeds need to be planted in your backyard...your own..house? I preferr to sit here in the dark on the couch watching Family court...well, right now its Ellen - watching her show is like being in the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory without all the didactic violence against the children...
Maybe I will recover tomorrow - uhm will someone check on me?!
I'm at home, not quite sick, but aware that there are tiny microscopic organisms staging an all out war on my cells...I always win though, this year more than others. My awesome doc tells me that the measure of your health is your ability to get over a cold...when you stop "recovering" then we have a problem....
*clear throat
Well now, recovery....
May I make a stretch of a connection, can you bear with me?
I am not recovering.
Last week I had cornel west standing next to me with his arms around my shoulders telling me to hold on and keep planting seeds - thats the work we do. Not changing people, but planting seeds...
Intellectually I get it, I know you know that, I've said it before...
But I end up trying to convince people to have compassion, to not call her a whore, to care about the poor... I don't mean some abstract 'what would jesus do' moment... but don't shut down Ms. X case for no reason (she won't receive her food stamps).... Don't kick Mr. X out of the program because you think he is dangerous (he will violate his parole)... Dont lie to Ms. Y, there are other things she can do besides maintenance work...
Oh and then to watch C-span and see Mr. Limbaugh say, upon reflection no less, that he hopes the president fails... We knew this was coming, that their very ideology demands that Obama fail in his efforts of equality...should he even remotely succeed it would mean the utter destruction of his base...
You know what? 52% of the voting public voted for Obama, I take that to mean that about 52% of people are standing up for right, are sane, don't believe that our president is a Marxist, a socialist, and isn't a citizen...
But that means that 48% of people are not standing up for right. They look at the choices and choose to follow Rush Limbaugh?!? That is a whole lot of seeds to plant...
and at this point I'm tired of trying to convince people to embrace compassion on a micro and a macro level. Do you know what it feels like to discover how many of those seeds need to be planted in your backyard...your own..house? I preferr to sit here in the dark on the couch watching Family court...well, right now its Ellen - watching her show is like being in the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory without all the didactic violence against the children...
Maybe I will recover tomorrow - uhm will someone check on me?!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)