NAACP Where do we go from here?

In order to provide some perspective on Kweisi Mfume recent resignation from the NAACP I decided to provide some background history.

Combining the white philanthropic support that characterized Booker T. Washington's accommodationist organizations with the call for racial justice delivered by W. E. B. Du Bois's militant Niagara Movement, the NAACP forged a middle road of interracial cooperation.

The Niagara Movement was the pre-cursor to the NAACP

After the Niagara Movement disbanded in 1910.

Ida Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. DuBois, Henry Moscowitz, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villiard, William English Walling led the "Call" to renew the struggle for civil and political liberty

The first president of the NAACP was a white man by the name of Moorfield Storey, a white constitutional lawyer and former president of the American Bar Association. The writer and diplomat James Weldon Johnson became the association's first black secretary in 1920. Louis T. Wright, a surgeon, was named the first black chairman of its board of directors in 1934.

And now we jump to 2004 and Kweisi Mfume stepping down as President of the NAACP. So where does the organization go from here?

Personally I feel the NAACP needs an over haul and a name change. The NAACP needs to make a lot of decisions as far as its direction is concerned. The NAACP must prove it's relevance to today's youth. There must be a bridge built between lower-income minorities and the middle-class. To quote Lester Kenyatta Spence "The NAACP is using mid 20th Century methods to deal with 21st Century problems."

Re: Preaching God, With Profanity

My colleague Nominal Me posted an article about Spirituality in Hip-Hop.

He should have consulted me on this topic before he singled out Kanye West. I would have informed him that spirituality has always been apart of hip hop going back as far artists like DMX, PM Dawn, Me Phi Me, KRS-One, Nas, Tupac, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (remember the Crossroads).

Hip hop has always had a spiritual element to it check out these lyrics. And judge for yourself.



DMX - The Prayer IV

"Father God I am just learning how to pray, so bear with me First I thank you for the life of everyone that's here with me. Then I thank you for the love you give me, why? I don't know; I don't deserve it, and it hurts inside Many a nights I cried, and called your name out loud But didn't call you when I was doin good, I was too proud. And STILL you gave me love, I wasn't used to that, most of the people that gave me love, they ended up takin it back. That's somethin new to me, so I'm askin you for time to adjust. Let me make it there, I will be one you can trust What I stand for, I put my life on, I DO!
I guess what I'm askin is - show me how to stand for you.




Nas - Heaven

If Heaven was a mile away, And you could ride by the gates. Would you try to run inside when it opens would you try to die today? Would you pray louder finally believing His power? Even if you couldn't see, but you could feel would you still doubt him? How would you start acting?



Tupac - Only God can judge me

Oh my lord. Tell me what I'm livin' for
Everybodies droppin' Got me knockin' on heaven's door
And all my memories Of seeing brothas bleed
And everybody grieves. But still nobody sees. Recollect your thoughts. Don't get caught up in tha mix. Cause the media is full of dirty tricks. Only God can Judge me....

Those are just several examples.

Dirty Debi update.

The Tampa temptress "Dirty" Debi Lafave is using the insanity defense and pleading not guilty to the charge that she had sex with a 14 year old boy.

Star Banner's Rick Cundiff breaks it down perfectly in this article.

This was my favorite part:

"The boy, Kayan told investigators, “could be very arrogant and rude to me and to other students. He could be very annoying, but he is very intelligent.”

Just goes to show ya that women fall for that type no matter what age they are.

"Lafave and the boy got caught when the cousin's mother became suspicious about seeing the boy in Ocala with an unknown woman. She called the boy's mother, who complained to Temple Terrace police."

See this is why I don't involve family in my business cause family always tells and it always gets back to your mom.

21 Baltimore cops file lawsuit

21 current and former African-American Baltimore police officers have filed a federal class-action suit alleging discrimination in Baltimore, Maryland. The 21 officers allege the department condoned a hostile workplace, blocking black officers from promotion, providing uneven discipline and retaliating against officers who speak out against discrimination.

It's interesting that African-Americans have to still deal with this type of thing til this day.

If you want to ask this question to the acting police commissioner Leonard Hamm please feel free to call his office the number is:
410-396-2020.

While you are at it please feel free to ask him why they fired the black commissioner Kevin Clark?

Hip-Hop Wednesday 12/8/04

Queensbridge's own Street Disciple Nas has released a double album.


Some say it is not his best work but it is good. I've always felt that Nas as an artist never really reached his full potential. Instead he went mainstream and put out work that reinforced thug life all in the name of keeping it real. What people don't understand is that Escobar was a character and not who Nas really is. He's always had a positive element to his music hopefully this double album will deliever more of a message that takes us back to his debut Illmatic.




Also in other news Kanye West was nominated for 10 grammys. It seems as though Hip Hop music has reached a new height. Although while the genre has gotten a tad bit bloated like rock in the late eighties there are always bright spots. Kanye West is one of those rare MCs (note the use of the term MC and not rapper yes there is a difference) that takes the genre to a new level. Last year Outkast won album of the year with the Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. I wonder if Kanye West can pull it off. He's only up against: Ray Charles, Alicia Keys, Usher and Greenday. Stiff competition indeed.

Interracial couple harassment

Taye Diggs and his Tony award winning wife Idina Menzel have been getting harassed lately.

Diggs, 34, swapped vows with Menzel, 33, in January 2003. The native New Yorkers first met in 1996 when they costarred together in the Broadway smash Rent.

Authorities do not yet have a suspect, but it's believed that more than one person was responsible for the notes. Investigators are trying to trace the letters, which were postmarked from three different locations: New York City, Philadelphia and a town in Ohio.

This is the line that makes me think it's a black woman at the bottom of this:

Diggs, meanwhile, is in Canada shooting a movie.

Or maybe it's the people that were behind this.

Why does do interracial couples offend people? Afterall aren't we in the year 2004? It's not like getting married to person of another race is against the law.

The New Avengers

Marvel comics has decided to revamp the Avengers. Here's the new lineup: Captain America, Wolverine, Spiderman, Spiderwoman, Luke Cage, Sentry, Iron Man. And a mystery character to be announced.

New Avengers #1 is available at newsstands right now.

Congratulations TJ.

Sometimes in this life dreams come true. And if you're lucky you get to see it happen. Yesterday TJ Allard won job on "Good Day Live" to be a New York correspondent for the show.

Nominal Me has posted a more in depth interview with him on his blog.

Congrats TJ. You took this victory in stride with a humilty and dignity. We are all proud of you.

My interview with Kevin Allison

Remember MTV's the State? Well back in the early 90's a bunch of NYU students got together and decided to put on a show. The cast: Kevin Allison, Michael Ian Black, Ben Garant, Michael Patrick Jann, Kerri Kenney, Thomas Lennon, Joe Lo Truglio, Ken Marino, Michael Showalter, David Wain, Todd Holoubek.

The MTV show premiered in January of 1994, at which time it received some extremely bad reviews, which were proudly displayed in the highly talked about "more miserable crap" promo on MTV. Since then, the series was renewed twice, garnering increasingly good ratings, reviews and feedback as the critics and audiences caught on. (including being one of the top 10 shows of the year in the Wall Street Journal and highest rated sketch show in Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone.)


While riding the subway I managed to run into former cast member Kevin Allison. He was extremely nice and open. So I bring to you my interview with Kevin Allison.

What are you up to now?

There's two things I'm really excited about.

First, my brand new sketch comedy group, Big Flux. Normally when you put on any sort of show, you get people saying, "Hey, nice job." But at Big Flux shows recently, people have been coming up to us afterwards and saying, "Whoa. You've really got something here. This is the beginning of something." People are walking away pretty invigorated because the stuff is surprising and daring and pretty insane.

It occurred to me the other day that I'm the only member of The State who is now doing what The State was so devoted to, sketch comedy. Everyone else is doing hybrid forms of comedy now, and a lot of it is great. But I feel like Big Flux is pushing the envelope in the classic sketch form like Python and Mr. Show and The State. We're going from genre to genre, telling miniature stories and taking people completely off guard with most of it. It's a great challenge.

I met all the guys in Big Flux by teaching sketch comedy classes. New classes start in January, so if any of your readers are in the New York area, they should check out www.bigfluxcomedy.com to find out how to apply for the class. The web site is brand new, so there's not a lot of material there yet. But you can check out a few video sketches that Big Flux has done. We're going to keep uploading content--comics, funny stuff to read, merchandise and so on.

Also, Big Flux has two shows coming up at The Pit on December 16 at 7 pm and December 18 at 11 pm. There will be free booze at both shows, so people should definitely come out for a good time. You can make reservations by going to The Pit's site at www.thepit-nyc.com.

The other thing I'm really excited about is film reviewing. I'm getting published by magazines like Premiere and Giant. I love writing about movies and want to keep at it no matter where the rest of my career takes me. There aren't enough people writing really passionate, eloquent, mind-bending analysis out there.

How did you get started in comedy?

Before The State was The State, they were called The New Group. I saw their first show at NYU as a freshman. I was blown away. There was a palpable energy to the group. So in my sophomore year, I started deliberately signing up to take classes that I knew other members of the group were in. After classes, we'd go out drinking and I'd take off all my clothes and hop around singing whaling tunes. Eventually they thought, "Okay, Kevin is some kind of madman. Let's put him in shows."

We put shows together every few months the same way that Big Flux is doing now and eventually got some MTV folks to see us. That's how it all got rolling.

Do you find it harder to do political comedy giving the current climate in this country?

Our material gets extremely offensive, but in ways that are so absurd, you'd be an asshole to be offended.

Just like The State used to do, Big Flux steers clear of direct references to pop culture, because it's so common and so cheap feeling. So I'd never appear onstage as George W. Bush like SNL or Mad TV would do. But I have appeared onstage as a generic Bush-like jackass and people appreciate it as an archetype. Keep in mind, we've never performed outside of New York City yet. But no, I've never paid any attention to the cultural or political climate of the day in creating comedy. I prefer doing stuff that's not so specific to the news and thus more timeless.

I will say I hope the arts just get smarter and more inspired and more revolutionary now. This is the most corrupt, deceptive, heartless and incompetent presidential administration in our history.

What do you like better West coast or East?

What I remember about LA from the last time I was there was that everyone loved Elton John's latest hit, "Bennie and the Jets." Also, I shat on my dad's lap.

Have you ever considered trying out for SNL?

I have considered it. The thing is, I watch that show and have no clue as to what the sensibility is. Every now and then, a sketch is pretty odd and tight and smart. Then the next one lasts seven minutes and hits you over the head with the same joke 30 times. Then the next one seems like a paint-by-numbers deal where they literally just jotted down a few lines from some TV show that no one takes seriously in the first place and they re-deliver the lines but change a word here or there so that it's like parody Mad Libs-style.

I just don't get the impression I'd work well there. I have such a bizarre sensibility. What SNL is good for is that every now and then a dynamic performer like Will Ferrell or Molly Shannon is able to shine. But I much prefer the sort of set up that Python and the Kids in the Hall and The State had, where the writers are also the actors. That way, a group can really develop a voice.

What do you like better, writing comedy or performing comedy?

Writing. I love writing of damn near any kind. I'm just one of those people who finds putting ideas into words really gratifying. But one thing that's also really rewarding about Big Flux is that the group is more into group writing than The State was. It's only natural, because The State was 11 people, so it broke into cliques. Big Flux is just five guys, so it's easier to hash out a sketch idea all as one creative head. My own writing benefits from that collaboration. We revise and revise things until something one guy wrote may very well have changed into a different animal by the time we perform it.

Has there been talk of a State reunion? (I know you've heard that one a thousand times but I just had to ask.)

Yeah, we were all on the phone together about maybe doing a few TV specials for Comedy Central a couple years back. But then Reno 911 kicked into gear and I guess it was just too much to take on. Honestly, I have no idea if we ever will do something. The State was a pretty dysfunctional family--lots of love but lots of tension too. It would surprise me if we could all find time in our lives to get back together and then find ourselves on the same page creatively. But if everyone else was up for it, I'd certainly give it a shot.

What was the title of the book you were reading when we met?

"For Keeps." It's the best of the film criticism by Pauline Kael. She wrote for The New Yorker from 1967 to 1990. One tough cookie but an absolutely brilliant writer.

Vote for TJ Allard

Handsome isn't he? TJ Allard is a good friend of mine. He's in the running for a spot on Good Day Live.

Please click to his website for any updates on this situation

Vote using this number: 1-866-613-0004

More Red State Madness

Ok this woman was just simply psycho.

How could this woman do this to her kids? The reason, she wanted to give her baby to God.

I guess no one told her that God gave her the baby in the first place.

Hip Hop Wednesday 11/24/04

Well DMX has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Our last update. It didn't look good for Mr. Simmons.

But it looks like money won out on this one and DMX will not be serving any time.

You got lucky this time Earl. I think you should take some time out and figure your life out. Seriously you don't want to end up like ODB.

Red State Madness

Six hunters are dead

Why are they dead? Well here's what supposedly happened.

"The shootings occurred after hunters returning to a rural cabin saw a man in a deer stand, a platform built in a tree to give hunters a better view, on private property. The hunter radioed someone to ask about the man's presence there. Meier said the man had apparently been hunting and had gotten lost. He wandered onto 400 acres of private land.

One of the hunters "approached the person and asked him to leave, at which time the landowners and the occupants of the cabin came on the scene. The suspect got down from the deer stand, walked approximately 40 yards, fiddled with his rifle in some way ... turned and opened fire on the group," Meier said. He said it appeared some of the targeted hunters tried to fire back."

Of course the relatives of the alledged killer are shocked

The best NBA fight ever

What did I do?


Ron Artest is suspended for the rest of the season. This was the NBA's response to one of the greatest NBA fights ever.

Of course this is a terrible and awful and terrible but damn was it interesting to watch.

My Interview with Harold Ramis

Only in New York can you run into the director of Caddyshack and Groundhog's Day, the writer of Ghostbusters Mr. Harold Ramis. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you my first celebrity interview.

What do you think of the various improv groups out there today as compared to the "Second City"?

I don't see much live improv or sketch comedy, but most of the groups working today employ techniques developed at Second City and/or one of its many offspring like ImprovOlympic. But beyond technique, the secret of successful improv (besides talent, timing, wit, insight, culture, compassion and intelligence) is the capacity to work collaboratively and supportively with a group. It's not like stand-up comedy. Del Close, one of the great improv mentors always said that if you focussed on making other people on stage look good, as opposed to always selfishly worrying about how you yourself were doing, then everybody looks good, even though the particular scene may be less than perfect. He thought it sent a subliminal message about cooperation to the audience that was an important complement to the entertainment value of the scene.


What are you working on now?

I just finished a film called The Ice Harvest with John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Oliver Platt, Randy Quaid and Connie Neilsen. It's based on a novel by Scott Phillips, screenplay by Richard Russo (Pulitzer Prize winner for his novel Empire Falls) and Robert Benton (Oscar winner for his screenplays Kramer vs. Kramer and Places in the Heart.) It's a darkly funny, lurid, and violent film noir; great performances, a terrific look and I'm very proud of it.


What is your best memory of Caddyshack?

Caddyshack was a lot of fun to make. Almost too much fun. I had great partners who were also great friends, Doug Kenney and Brian Doyle-Murray; we all lived for three months in a hotel with the cast right on the golf course in Florida; we had the funniest people we knew in all the key roles and every day was an adventure in madness.


What made you stay at "Second City" rather than going to "SNL"?

I was asked to join the writing staff of SNL at the start of its second year, but I was already headwriter and a full-time performer on SCTV, and even though the show wasn't nearly as successful, I loved the cast-- Joe Flaherty, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin and Catherine O'Hara. We had total freedom to do whatever we wanted, and the atmosphere was considerably more "wholesome" than at SNL. At SNL writers had to fight to get pieces on the show which created lots of competition and tension. I didn't think it would do me any good to work there and I was already working on the screenplay of what would become Animal House, so TV in general just seemed like a stop along the way to something I'd always wanted to do-- make movies-- and even though I envied the mainstream success and visibility of SNL, I like it just fine where I was.


What do you think about the current state of comedy today?

I think it's hard to generalize about comedy. There's great stuff being done today in films, on TV and in the clubs. Chris Rock is just as funny and edgy as Richard Pryor was, shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office and Ali G are pushing the envelope in form and content, and new talent is developing constantly. Of course there's lots of crap too, but that's true in any creative medium; whether its theater, fiction, movies, TV, music, painting, etc., only about 10% of it is really worthy.


What is the question that most interviewers ask you that gets on your nerves?

It would be too easy to say "This question," so I won't. In fact, no one's ever asked me this before. What generally gets on my nerves in interviews (and I've done hundreds, probably over a thousand) is the short interview for local TV stations with the on-air personality who covers entertainment for them, which usually comes down to "tell me something funny that happened while youwere shooting" or "tell me something about a big star I can use on my five-minute segment on the 11 o'clock." What I like are longer interviews with thoughtful journalists or critics who actually want to talk about process, content, context, culture, history, religion, politics or anything other than, "I bet it's hilarious working with Billy Crystal. Tell me some of the funny things that happened on the set."

It's always the religious ones

Gary Sheffield is a big man.

Is it me or has R.Kelly put out more sex tapes than actual records this year?

I found this to be very interesting; In seven months of dating, Richards never allowed Sheffield to kiss her on the lips.

Feel free to laugh at will on that one.

Monday Night Footall Madness

I missed the opening to Monday Night Football. Apparently the FCC didn't.

Tony Dungy thinks it's racist.

I think he's reasoning is a little too deep for America. IMO if this was Tom Brady and Nicollette Sheridan. It wouldn't be an issue. But Hey that's just me.

Rest in Peace Mr. Jones

RIP


I really didn't see this coming.

So Long Mr. Ashcroft.

Good bye Mr. Ashcroft. One of the most polarizing members of the Bush administration is set to resign and he has named his successor. I really can't say I'll miss the guy.



Alberto Gonzales

Sparks are already flying

"As a member of the court, Gonzales ruled with the majority that some teenage girls should not be required to get parental permission for an abortion."

The Pro-life people will most likely see this as a slap in the face. I see it as a step in the right direction.

Friday Cinema

To cheer myself up I went to the movies this week and I saw two interesting movies, Saw and The Incredibles.



SAW
Saw is a combination of Seven and Silence of the Lambs. The only thing is though it really isn't. Forget what the critics say. The only thing this movie has in common with Seven is that both movies were graphic. This movie is a simple murder mystery. At times it was very suspenseful and you can best bet there are plenty of few plot twists. But if you are really smart you will be able to know who the killer is before he reveals himself. It really wasn't that much of a shock to me. Cary Elwes over acts and Danny Glover talents are under used. I think Mr. Glover just needed to pick up a check for this one. Cary Elwes looks like he's gained a bunch of weight. Yes this is an entertaining movie but don't fall into the hype.



The Incredibles
I first saw the premise for this movie about 2 years ago and I've been looking forward to it ever since. I've never seen any Pixar movie in the theater because I hate screaming kids. But last night I had the chance to go to a midnight showing in the city and I got to see it without any brats running up and down the isle causing havoc. This movie is incredible (I know you SAW that coming a mile away).

My view on 2004 Election

In this entry I will not be posting any links to any articles to back up my POV. The following is just a general opinion (read venting).

I woke up today to find that GW Bush has won the popular vote. 51% to Kerry's 49%. The votes in OHIO need to be counted but it doesn't look good for Kerry. Most of my friends think he should hang it up and call it a day. I was actually surprised to find them distressed at the fact that Bush won the popular vote.

One of them was quoted saying:

"I am apparently so far off the mark from the average American. Republicans control more House, Senate seats, Presidency remains (I hope we are ready for fundamentalism. I am actually afraid.)However, what I will say with confidence is, this too, shall pass. It just may take a long time to do so."

He still remains a little hopeful. Another friend was a little more distressed:

"I am just realizing that I am living in a very conservative
country where the majority of people want the government to tell them how to think on moral issues, where they accept racism, and like the separation of the economic classes. They also like some god with their government. This is scary, but I feel so trapped."

I don't feel trapped or distressed. I feel sad and angry. This election was a reminder that I am in the minority. It was a reminder that Americans want a war mongering conservative president. I have to make peace with that because if I don't I will not be able to survive.

I have to remind myself that I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world (NYC) in one of the most cultural rich neighborhoods (Harlem). I am gainfully employed (for now) and I am not of draft age. I am isolated from the ignorance of other states. There is no need to panic. I have to keep telling myself this. I can only hope that things will not get worse.

This election served as a wake up call to many of my friends. But it only underlined what I knew already. This country is scared and afraid of change. This country is as great as it is blind.

New Star Wars poster

Return of the Sith is scheduled for release on May 19, 2005.


I hope it is better than the other three. Poster courtesy of Star Wars.com

Now that's something you don't get to see everyday. They're just doing their job.

Congrats to the Red Sox

My hat goes off to Pedro Martínez, Curt Schilling and yes even David Ortiz and Co.

But why didn't they sign Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson?

Howard Bryant explains in his book Shut Out.

If they had signed those guys they probably wouldn't have had to wait 86 years for a championship.

Always remember folks if you ever want to kill your wife and blame a black man Boston is the place to go.



Good for you Manny

Prison guard update

A while back I did a post titled "Desperate women do Desperate things". Well I'm glad to report they caught the b*tch and her jail bird lover in TX.

The thing I want to know is why is this woman complaining?

Fields said she realizes she made a mistake by counting the dummy, although she thought the arranged pile of clothes on a cell bed was the sleeping body of inmate Edward R. McDaniel.

''It looked like a person,'' Fields said. ''A blanket covered it.''

No excuses. You work in a prison lady! Remember it's the place we put the bad people! If a prisoner has covers over their head you check to see if there is a person under them.

Tuesday Gripes

It amazes me that this country is caught up in the murder of Laci Peterson, but don't give a damn about 40,000 women raped in the Congo.

Maybe it's cause of the number of women or maybe it could be because everyone knows a Laci Peterson type and these women in the Congo are foreign to us. Whatever the excuses are it don't matter the fact remains that people in this country don't give a damn about what happens outside of America unless it effects us.

Moving right along. Jay-Z and R. Kelly have a new album out. And Lindsay Lohan is sick. I think she might be having implant problems. Any way you cut it she's hot. Just call me Humbert.

Clinton campaigns with Kerry

Kerry pulls out the big guns.

Well at least he's not making the same mistake Gore did in 2000.

I just hope Clinton doesn't get another heart attack.

The Democrats are also going after the African-American vote.

So much has been said about how the democrats are taking the black vote for granted. Personally both parties could give a damn about black people. This letter illustrates my feelings perfectly.

RE: God, Gays, and Getting Votes

My colleague NominalMe is at it again tackling the three G's God,Gays, and Getting votes.

This administration has shown itself to be out of touch time and time again. Homosexuality isn't a choice and GW Bush should have a better answer than "I just don't know Bob". Why would anyone choose to be something that is persecuted in society? It makes no sense. And as far as the issue of it being a sin goes. God wouldn't create something that wasn't worthy of his love.

NominalMe thinks attitudes toward homosexuality in this country are changing. They are slowly changing. But what's the reasoning behind the change? Could it be money?

Who knew...

Is he a revolutionary?

Who knew that a movie could be used so well to change the way people think.

This actually speaks to a greater problem. That I mentioned in an entry called "Why do we care?"

Here's the bottomline. Americans want to be entertained. They want entertainment with no substance because if there was substance we would have to think. And no one wants to do that. Fahrenheit 9/11 while being a solid documentary that scratches the surface but it is still entertainment. Let us not be fooled into thinking that this movie is gospel. The facts are presented in a way to bring about a reaction of anger as if to say "How did we let this happen?" The truth is we never had any control to begin with.

Michael Moore and others are using their cameras because books, teachers and general discourse have failed in this country. The average American doesn't read they watch TV and believe what they hear on the news without looking into the facts.

Hip Hop Critique #2

When KRS-One spoke about 9/11 in the Daily News last week it made me ask myself. Is this man crazy? Then I took a deep breath and read what he had to say in his own words.

After reading his response I realized that everyone in this country has freedom of speech but the volume of your voice is regulated.

Whoever says something first is the one more believed. KRS-One to the best of my knowledge has never been violent nor has he ever advocated violence. Yet the Daily News calls him out to be a terrorist for saying the following "Because when we were down at the trade center we were getting hit over the head by cops, told that we can’t come in this building, hustled down to the train station because of the way we dressed and talked, and so on, we were racially profiled. So, when the planes hit the building we were like; mmmm justice."

Is that comment irresponsible? It probably is to some, but I get it. As a black man living in America in the aftermath of the WTC tragedy I couldn't help but wonder secretly to myself "Why didn't we think of that?". The answer was simple. Black people love America and we don't believe in killing ourselves and others to make a statement. Bob Marley said it best when he sang "Build your penitentiary, we build your schools, Brainwash education to make us the fools. Hate is your reward for our love, Telling us of your God above."

KRS-One doesn't speak for me personally, but his comments are reflective of what a lot of people think but won't say at the water cooler with their friend Bob, but will probably say at the family reunion. There used to be a time when hip hop was political and culturally aware but then people stopped listening to the words and started paying more attention to the beats. A majority of today's rappers are afraid to speak out because they feel they will either go out like 2Pac or their records sales will go the way of KRS-One. Either way ya dead. The money pacifies the artists and at the same time pacifies the art form thereby limiting it to become one big commercial for diamonds, vodka, clothes and cars. No substance just bling bling. Hip Hop is a like a well furnished home with no library. It's like a beautiful woman that has no brain. Looks good but no substance.

Re: I'm undecided

My colleague NominalMe is undecided.

Let's be honest for a moment. Michael Badnarik, Roger Calero and Ralph Nader don't have a chance of winning the election.

If you choose to vote for either one of those candidates it's a wasted vote. It's a feel good/protest vote. Does it really matter in the end? Of course not but you can walk away from the polls with a clear conscious knowing that you did your civic duty.

It basically comes down to the lesser of two evils. Bush or Kerry. Both will continue to send troops to Iraq and both are whores for their respective parties.

Frankly it looks like a waste either way.

A new contributor

I would like to take this time out to acknowledge a new contributor. NominalMe (aka Mike C)

Welcome to my blog.

Jon Stewart and the media.

There is a lot of talk on the web about what Jon Stewart did on Crossfire. You can see it here for yourself. Personally he's right but is he qualified to be the spokesperson?



Let's be honest here for a minute. Jon Stewart makes his money off of delivering the fake news every night. Why now is he biting the hand that feeds him? He should know that when a comic tries to be serious it can backfire. Just look at what happened to Bill Cosby.

In my humble opinion he's not qualified to go off on the media. But now that the die has been cast he should run with it and speak out more. Jon Stewart put into words what most Americans feel. He may not be qualified but he should be heard.

Imagine a Chinese Eminem.

The next Eminem?


The first Asian rapper has arrived. "Jin - The Rest Is History (Ruff Ryders/Virgin)" is in stores.
How did he get his record deal? Here's his answer in his own words.

"I wanted to get a record deal. No one would give it to me. So I went on [BET's] '106th and Park' [where he won the freestyle competition on Freestyle Fridays for seven straight weeks]. And I got a deal through Ruff Ryders. It's the good old-fashioned American way."

He doesn't want to be ghettoized as Asian

This could be a good thing for hip hop.

Bob Dylan is a d*ck. There I said it.

Bob you're a d*ck


Bob Dylan is a d*ck WAAAA being the voice of a generation is a drag WAAAA I hate being so great WAAAA.

If you have the honor of being a voice of a generation. Don't fucking whine about it like a bitch. There's a big difference between being humble and being a drag.

New releases. Hip Hop LIVES!

Yeah I'm pretty much late once again but I have some interesting things to talk about.

Mos Def, De La Soul, and Ali Shaheed Muhamad have new albums out this week.

Mos Def's album is called New Danger some will see it as a companion piece to Talib Kweli's new album Beautiful Struggle. Mos Def is a hip-hop alchemist blending blues, jazz, punk, and R&B to push hip-hop to the next level. This is definitely one of the most anticipated albums this year. Mos does not disappoint.

De La Soul has been around for 15 years now and just like a fine wine they have aged well. This is a mature hip hop album filled with a bunch of cameos guests include from the underground MF Doom (aka Zevlove X of K.M.D.) and Common.

Ali Shaheed Muhamad formerly of A Tribe Called Quest breaks out on his own with an album in where he spotlights unknown talent.

All three albums show another side of hip hop that is anti-thug. It is refreshing to know that this kind of stuff is out there. Too bad it doesn't get airplay.

Friday Gripes

Not much here to report or gripe about really. I started off my day by meeting this guy on the train. He was really cool and down to earth and impressed that I knew who he was.

Oh yeah I forgot I do have a gripe. My damn video card broke down. So now I'm off to buy a GeForce FX 5700 LE. Hopefully it won't cost me an arm and a leg.

So they say that "these are the best years of your life" when you got to college. They lied.

Dick meets John (VP debates)

This debate reminded me of when Luke went up against Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi.



This was my favorite part.


Question 9 -- What should be done to end Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

IFILL: Senator Edwards, as we wrap up the foreign policy part of this, I do want to talk to you about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Today, a senior member of Islamic Jihad was killed in Gaza. There have been suicide bombings, targeted assassinations, mortar attacks, all of this continuing at a time when the United States seems absent in the peace-making process.

What would your administration do?

First of all, do you agree that the United States is absent? Maybe you don't.

But what would your administration do to try to resolve that conflict?

EDWARDS: Well, first of all, I do agree that we've been largely absent, not entirely absent, but largely absent from the peace-making process over the last four years. And let me just say a couple of preliminary things and then talk about where we are now.

First, the Israeli people not only have the right to defend themselves, they should defend themselves. They have an obligation to defend themselves.

I mean, if I can, just for a moment, tell you a personal story. I was in Jerusalem a couple of years ago, actually three years ago, in August of 2001, staying at the King David Hotel.

We left in the morning, headed to the airport to leave, and later in the day I found out that that same day, not far from where we were staying, the Sbarro Pizzeria was hit by a suicide bomber in Jerusalem. Fifteen people were killed. Six children were killed.

What are the Israeli people supposed to do? How can they continue to watch Israeli children killed by suicide bombers, killed by terrorists?

They have not only the right to the obligation to defend themselves.

Now, we know that the prime minister has made a decision, an historic decision, to unilaterally withdraw from Gaza. It's important for America to participate in helping with that process.

Now, if Gaza's being used as a platform for attacking the Israeli people, that has to be stopped. And Israel has a right to defend itself. They don't have a partner for peace right now. They certainly don't have a partner in Arafat, and they need a legitimate partner for peace.

And I might add, it is very important for America to crack down on the Saudis who have not had a public prosecution for financing terrorism since 9/11. And it's important for America to confront the situation in Iran, because Iran is an enormous threat to Israel and to the Israeli people.

IFILL: Mr. Vice President, 90 seconds.

CHENEY: Gwen, I want to go back to the last comment, and then I'll come back to Israel-Palestine.

The reason they keep trying to attack Halliburton is because they want to obscure their own record.

And Senator, frankly, you have a record in the Senate that's not very distinguished. You've missed 33 out of 36 meetings in the Judiciary Committee, almost 70 percent of the meetings of the Intelligence Committee.

You've missed a lot of key votes: on tax policy, on energy, on Medicare reform.

Your hometown newspaper has taken to calling you "Senator Gone." You've got one of the worst attendance records in the United States Senate.

Now, in my capacity as vice president, I am the president of Senate, the presiding officer. I'm up in the Senate most Tuesdays when they're in session.

The first time I ever met you was when you walked on the stage tonight.

In respect to Israel and Palestine, Gwen, the suicide bombers, in part, were generated by Saddam Hussein, who paid $25,000 to the families of suicide bombers.

I personally think one of the reasons that we don't have as many suicide attacks today in Israel as we've had in the past is because Saddam is no longer in business.

We've been strong supporters of Israel. The president stepped forward and put in place a policy basically that said we will support the establishment of two states. First president ever to say we'll establish and support a Palestinian state next door to Israelis.

But first, there has to be an interlocutor you can trust and deal with. And we won't have that, we don't have it now, in a Yasser Arafat. There has to be reform of the Palestinian system.

IFILL: Senator Edwards, it's your turn to use 30 seconds for a complicated response...

EDWARDS: That was a complete distortion of my record. I know that won't come as a shock.

The vice president, I'm surprised to hear him talk about records. When he was one of 435 members of the United States House, he was one of 10 to vote against Head Start, one of four to vote against banning plastic weapons that can pass through metal detectors.

He voted against the Department of Education. He voted against funding for Meals on Wheels for seniors. He voted against a holiday for Martin Luther King. He voted against a resolution calling for the release of Nelson Mandela in South Africa.

It's amazing to hear him criticize either my record or John Kerry's.

IFILL: Thirty seconds.

CHENEY: Oh, I think his record speaks for itself. And frankly, it's not very distinguished.

So basically Cheney didn't vote for MLK day and he didn't support sanctions on South Africa? And this guy is a heart beat away from the president? Sorry but I'm going to ride this one out with Kerry and Edwards.

Hip Hop ain't dead. It's just 30.

Hip-hop is not dead. It just got honored last night. It's been 30 years. Really it's a little bit more older if you include the first album by the Last Poets. But hey some say it started in 1979 with Rapper's Delight therefore making it 25 years old.

Anyway you cut it hip hop is a art form that most people 30 years ago thought was a passing fad. Guess the critics were wrong on that one huh? Rapping is now a part of out daily lives we see it in commerical after commerical selling us everything from cars to hamburgers. But is it still good? Is there another Public Enemy? Is there another Tribe Called Quest? Is there another Run-DMC out there?

Well folks as I said in Hip Hop critique #1 the game hasn't changed for the better except for a few minor exceptions. Here are a few artists out there who are pushing the art form past the OutKasts and 50's. These guys deserve props and more importantly they deserve record sells.

Jedi Mind Tricks, Akon, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Company Flow, Kool G Rap, De La Soul.

Hip Hop isn't dead. It just got tired, It just got relaxed, It just got rich, It just got lazy, It just lost focus, It just turned 30. Hip Hop is now underground. That stuff you hear on the radio isn't hip hop it's just hip pop.

Why teachers fall for students? "Dirty" Debi update

Bride 

Now this is just my kind of topic. "Dirty" Debra Beasley Lafave was just that kind of teacher. 23 and in a rocky marriage she sought comfort in the arms of a 14 year old teenager. Now folks I'm not saying what she did was right. But COME ON. I know what it's like to be a 14 year old horny teenager. This kid messed up big time by letting his cousin know.

Now her husband wants to tell his side. The pain got too hard for him and he recently filed for divorce. Smart move captain fantastic. Now all ya gotta do is write a book. "How I lost my wife to a 14 year old."

They were married for less than a year. Ain't love grand folks.

Desperate women do desperate things

How badly did this woman want a man. I mean to be a prison guard and do such a thing is ridiculous. This is the kind of thing that holds the women's movement back. Here you have a woman in a position of authority over men and what does she do? She helps one escape. What did she think they were going to do go on a romantic trip to Mexico? She probably was in love with this convict.

This is a classic example of why women will never be taken seriously when it comes to position of authority. Their hearts always seem to get in the way.

Monday gripes

So the Bucs are 0-4 and pretty much sux for me. The British are still raping young girls in foriegn lands.

But that's not what's pissing me off today. My main gripe today comes from Ohio. Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell is being accused of denying people the right to vote.

According to State Sen. Robert Hagan, (Democrat from Youngstown), said, “his arbitrary abuse of his office seeks to discourage and disenfranchise new voters.”

Hagan and Sen. Marc Dann, (Democrat from Liberty Township), said Blackwell created confusion with his 80-pound paper weight directive for registration forms, disenfranchised voters with his provisional ballot directive, disenfranchised ex-felons by misinforming them about their voting rights, spent more than $15 million on a voter education initiative starring his name and picture and allowed ongoing uncertainty regarding how many voters were purged from Ohio voter registration rolls and why.

Amazing a black man denying other black people the right to vote. Makes me sick to my stomach.

House defeats gay marriage law

I'm so gald these people came to their senses on this subject. 227-186 was the vote. I really would like to know who the 186 are.


Amending the constitution to exclude a gender is never a good idea.

"Marriage is the basic unit of society, the very DNA of civilization, and if that civilization is to endure, marriage must be protected,"- Tom DeLay, R-Texas

Is this guy serious? He just got critized by the House ethics committee.

Debrief on the Debate

So the first debate is over between president GW Bush and Sen. John Kerry. So who won?

The answer is simple. If you are an educated rational person who sees through the lies of a leader who is inarticulate and dim witted then, for you Kerry won. If you are an American who trusts this administration then, for you Bush won.

Hip Hop critique #1

So I don't have much here...Accept for a few tidbits of info. Talib Kweli just released a new album in addition to that a new West Coast rapper has emerged by the name of Guerilla Black the name of his album is called Guerilla City. The man sound exactly like the late great Notorious B.I.G. (aka Bigge Smalls). Shyne went through something like this when he first came out but this guy just takes it to another level.

There's a lot of talk in the streets about the return of the West Coast. I think cats out there are just getting desperate. If you got to bring back 2Pac, Eazy-E and a guy that sounds exactly like Bigge to get some recognition then your sh*t is desperate. The West Coast can't do what they did in the 90's cause the their sjit ain't hot no more plain and simple.

The game hasn't changed for the better (except for a few minor exceptions that will be talked about at a later date). Hip Hop has become bloated and too popular like heavy metal got in the 80's. In the 80's heavy metal went through a similar phase in where every "hard" band had to have the power ballad. Nowadays every "gangsta" rapper has to have an R&B hook song by the neo-soul flava of the month. The sjit is getting too repetitive.

Why do we care?

Why do we care if Cynthia Nixon is a lesbian or not?

Why do we care if Kevin Costner Kevin Costner marries another young woman?

Why do we care if Ernie Anastos makes 10 million dollars?

I just don't get all this celebrity crap. I think this is a growing problem within our great nation. Here's an interesting article about celebrity culture in America.

And now sports.....

What more can be said about Michael Vick? He is incredible. But he will not live up to the hype for several reasons:

One: His style is too dangerous and he probably won't have a long career if he keeps running and jumping in the air like he did last Sunday.

Two: He really doesn't have a good supporting cast to take him to the next level (read Super Bowl).

Three: I don't think he has heart. Brett Farve has heart, McNabb has heart, McNair has heart. Michael Vick is not on their level yet.

This is not a knock against Vick. Cause I do like him but the problem is the hype that surrounds him the pressure is too much and I just don't think he can deliver in the end.

DMX news

Recently DMX had to appear in court for some sjit he supposedly did back in June. So now he goes to court and he gets hit with a paternity suit. I tell ya when it rains it pours.

DMX needs help seriouisly. Maybe he can find God like Mase. On second thought I wouldn't want DMX in the pulpit.

F*ck Cat Stevens

Seriously f*ck Cat Stevens. No one remembers his comments against Salman Rushdie in 1989.

And I quote: "Yusuf Islam (Stevens) publicly stated that Rushdie was indeed guilty of blasphemy against Islam, and Rushdie deserved to be killed. This led to a public outcry, and a drop in record sales. In response to this criticism, Yusuf Islam has since clarified that he believes that a death sentence can only be carried out by the authority of a court in an Islamic society, and that he is opposed to anyone taking the law into their own hands by murdering Rushdie."

And now Britian is giving him awards? WTF?

Ahhh Fall is here

Yes I took some time off from this blog but now I'm back and man I ain't got much to say. But that hasn't stopped me before. I hope my readers like the new look of my blog. As I said this is a work in progress.

Guess who made the cover of Black Enterprise. I love this guy.

Think she'll go to heaven?

A woman gets hit by a cross do ya think that gives her a pass at the pearly gates? Or do you think her family should sue the church?

New Jersey split over McGreevey

Not that there is anything wrong with Jim McGreevey. But this is just too much. Can't people wait until November?

What I find most funny is that he's still married. That just goes to show ya how fag hags stick up for their gay friends.

Why is there such a controversy?

"If McGreevey were to leave office before September 3, a special election would be held in November to elect a replacement. The Quinnipiac poll findings are consistent with those of two other polls released last week, which found New Jerseyans split over what McGreevey should do. For voters, a candidate's sexual orientation does not appear to matter. Seventy-eight percent said they would have no problem voting for an openly gay candidate."

It is obvious that he's using the November 15th date to avoid a special election. So what? Let the man be I say. As far as the NJ voters having no problem with a gay candidate goes, I think they are full of horsesh*t.

GOP gets more desperate pt. 2

So it looks like Alan Keyes is running for Senate in Illnois. Let him come I say. He's got 3 months of work to do. I wish in all the bad luck in the world.

Is Obama black enough

Barack Obama is running for Senate in the good state of Illnois, Hey wasn't Lincoln from there? Man I hope Obama doesn't go to the theater EVER. Hey Obama if someone invites you to see a show staring the great great great great grandson of John Wilks Booth DON'T GO. It's a TRAP!

Ok nuff of the funny business and on to the big question IS OBAMA black enough? In my humble opinon NO, its a moot issue and people need to stop hating on him. It's a good thing that he is not considered black enough. Why you ask? Well because he has a white momma and he was raised by his white grand parents. Now of course he probably got looked at funny when he went to the mall with his mom and he probably got teased cause his daddy is from Africa so I'm sure he got the jokes about his daddy fighting lions and riding elephants. Ok fine but that's as far as it goes.

Barack Obama did not have your normal “Black community” experience. He was born in Hawaii. His father left the family to go to Harvard to finish his engineering education and from there returned to Africa when Barack was young. His mother stayed in Hawaii, so he never really knew his father except through letters. He grew up in Hawaii, Indonesia (his mother remarried to an Indonesian man when he was six), and back to Hawaii at age ten where he was mostly brought up by his Kansan grandparents. Until college, he never lived in a "Black" community. He now lives in and identifies with the African-American community of Hyde Park, Chicago.

If people in their backward logic want to think that this man isn't black enough then let it be, at the end of the day he is a black man. People need to see past the Harvard education and really understand that.

The bottomline is that in the past "black" candidates are usually portrayed as trouble makers who will whine and complain at the drop of a hat and make big speeches but really not do anything (ex. Al Sharpton). America needs a leader that can bring both races together so we can get over out stupid prejudices and Obama is the man for that job. I'll be watching for him in 8 to 12 years.

Obama speech breakdown

The following is what Barack Obama really said in his speech at the DNC convention last week. I hope you all enjoy.

Thank you, Dick Durbin. You make us all proud.
Thank you for introducing me to America Mr. White Man

On behalf of the great state of Illinois... ... crossroads of a nation, land of Lincoln, let me express my deep gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention. Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let's face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely.
I’m from Illinois you know the guy that freed the slaves was from there and let’s face it some of you didn’t expect to hear from a Negro tonight. Kinda ironic huh?

My father was a foreign student, born and raised in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats, went to school in a tin- roof shack. His father, my grandfather, was a cook, a domestic servant to the British.
My granddad was black and poor, and if you haven’t figured it out yet he was a British slave.

But my grandfather had larger dreams for his son. Through hard work and perseverance my father got a scholarship to study in a magical place, America, that's shown as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before him.
My grandfather wanted my father to get out and do something with his life so he made him study hard and sent him to a magical place called America in where a African can do things you black folks here have trouble doing like go to Harvard.

While studying here my father met my mother. She was born in a town on the other side of the world, in Kansas.
My mom is white.

Her father worked on oilrigs and farms through most of the Depression. The day after Pearl Harbor, my grandfather signed up for duty, joined Patton's army, marched across Europe. Back home my grandmother raised a baby and went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war, they studied on the GI Bill, bought a house through FHA and later moved west, all the way to Hawaii, in search of opportunity.
My granddad on the white side of my family was poor too. And he’s a WWII vet. See America I have family that fought for your freedoms. See America I’m just like you.

And they too had big dreams for their daughter, a common dream born of two continents.
But I don't think they expected this.

My parents shared not only an improbable love; they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or "blessed," believing that in a tolerant America, your name is no barrier to success.
My name was my dad’s idea my mom lost the coin toss.

They imagined me going to the best schools in the land, even though they weren't rich, because in a generous America you don't have to be rich to achieve your potential.
Can you say SCHLORSHIP America? Not to mention my dad did go to HARVARD so I had a little help …it’s nice being a LEGACY.

They're both passed away now. And yet I know that, on this night, they look down on me with great pride.
Try interviewing them ya CNN Bitches. Can you say CLEAN SLATE?

And I stand here today grateful for the diversity of my heritage, aware that my parents' dreams live on in my two precious daughters. I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.
That's a stretch America this could happen in France.

Tonight, we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy; our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...
…as long as you go to Harvard.

... that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
…and white women for African foreign students.

That is the true genius of America, a faith... in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles; that we can tuck in our children at night and know that they are fed and clothed and safe from harm; that we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door; that we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe; that we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution; and that our votes will be counted -- or at least, most of the time.
Don’t let them censor us people. I want my MTV.

This year, in this election, we are called to reaffirm our values and our commitments, to hold them against a hard reality and see how we are measuring up, to the legacy of our forbearers and the promise of future generations. And fellow Americans, Democrats, Republicans, independents, I say to you, tonight, we have more work to do...
We got some decisions to make people…and now some campaign stories….

... more work to do, for the workers I met in Galesburg, Illinois, who are losing their union jobs at the Maytag plant that's moving to Mexico, and now they're having to compete with their own children for jobs that pay 7 bucks an hour; more to do for the father I met who was losing his job and chocking back the tears wondering how he would pay $4,500 a months for the drugs his son needs without the health benefits that he counted on; more to do for the young woman in East St. Louis, and thousands more like her who have the grades, have the drive, have the will, but doesn't have the money to go to college.
See I’m a man of the people.

Now, don't get me wrong, the people I meet in small towns and big cities and diners and office parks, they don't expect government to solves all of their problems. They know they have to work hard to get a head. And they want to. Go into the collar counties around Chicago, and people will tell you: They don't want their tax money wasted by a welfare agency or by the Pentagon.
See America I’ve got the same values you got.

Go into any inner-city neighborhood, and folks will tell you that government alone can't teach kids to learn.
Yep government isn’t gonna help parents be parents.

They know that parents have to teach, that children can't achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white. They know those things.
Being educated doesn’t mean you are acting white black people. Lord knows I got that shit growing up. But now look at me, heh IN YOUR FACE RASHED DICKENS. I'm not so funny now huh?

People don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a slight change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. They know we can do better. And they want that choice.
America we need think about the kids…the fucking kids America!

In this election, we offer that choice. Our party has chosen a man to lead us who embodies the best this country has to offer. And that man is John Kerry.
Excuse me while I plug and peddle this guy Kerry.

John Kerry understands the ideals of community, faith and service because they've defined his life. From his heroic service to Vietnam to his years as prosecutor and lieutenant governor, through two decades in the United States Senate, he has devoted himself to this country. Again and again, we've seen him make tough choices when easier ones were available. His values and his record affirm what is best in us.
I wanna have like ten-thousand of his babies. He’s really a good guy America.

John Kerry believes in an America where hard work is rewarded. So instead of offering tax breaks to companies shipping jobs overseas, he offers them to companies creating jobs here at home.
He’s not GW Bush.

John Kerry believes in an America where all Americans can afford the same health coverage our politicians in Washington have for themselves.
He’s got a better health plan than Hillary Clinton’s

John Kerry believes in energy independence, so we aren't held hostage to the profits of oil companies or the sabotage of foreign oil fields.
Kerry wants America off the oil teat.

John Kerry believes in the constitutional freedoms that have made our country the envy of the world, and he will never sacrifice our basic liberties nor use faith as a wedge to divide us.
Did I mention he’s not GW Bush.

And John Kerry believes that in a dangerous world, war must be an option sometimes, but it should never be the first option.
Kerry will talk to the Arabs before bombing the shit out of them…and now more campaign stories.

You know, a while back, I met a young man named Seamus (ph) in a VFW hall in East Moline, Illinois. He was a good-looking kid, 6'2", 6'3", clear eyed, with an easy smile. He told me he'd joined the Marines and was heading to Iraq the following week.
Poor fucker didn’t know what he was getting into.

And as I listened to him explain why he had enlisted -- the absolute faith he had in our country and its leaders, his devotion to duty and service -- I thought, this young man was all that any of us might ever hope for in a child. But then I asked myself: Are we serving Seamus (ph) as well as he's serving us?
The guy couldn’t find work cause we are outsourcing so much that he figured he would kill for his country. America WE GOT A PROBLEM here.

I thought of the 900 men and women, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and neighbors who won't be returning to their own hometowns. I thought of the families I had met who were struggling to get by without a loved one's full income or whose loved ones had returned with a limb missing or nerves shattered, but still lacked long-term health benefits because they were Reservists.
Can't you see America this war is TEARING US APART.

When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they are going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return and to never, ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace and earn the respect of the world.
Bush lied to us y’all.

Now, let me be clear. Let me be clear. We have real enemies in the world. These enemies must be found. They must be pursued. And they must be defeated.
We need to kill Osama Bin Laden. Not now but RIGHT NOW.

John Kerry knows this. And just as Lieutenant Kerry did not hesitate to risk his life to protect the men who served with him in Vietnam, President Kerry will not hesitate one moment to use our military might to keep America safe and secure.
Did I mention Kerry killed for his country? He loves us that us much people.

John Kerry believes in America. And he knows that it's not enough for just some of us to prosper. For alongside our famous individualism, there's another ingredient in the American saga, a belief that we are all connected as one people.
He cares about the poor and he’s gonna throw some money their way.

If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for their prescription and having to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandparent.
Damnit America I CARE. Shouldn’t YOU?

If there's an Arab-American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties.
Arabs are people to America we gotta treat the ones that aren't trying to kill us nice.

It is that fundamental belief I am my brother's keeper, I am my sisters' keeper -- that makes this country work.
Ok now I’m going to break into my religious preacher bit for a minute. Please bear with me I’m new at this.

It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family: "E pluribus unum," out of many, one.
I’m building toward something people bear with me.

Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes.
Can you say FOX News?

Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America.
Look at me I’m living proof. Damn I hope this gets me some votes in November.

The pundits, the pundits like to slice and dice our country into red states and blue States: red states for Republicans, blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the red states.
Liberals like God. Conservatives like their porn.

We coach little league in the blue states and, yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states.
…Some gay friends that are hiding in the closet

There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq, and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq.
I know this cause Colin Powell told me so. You know we all know each other.

We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.
We all need to kick ass for America. Ryde or Die people.

In the end, that's what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism, or do we participate in a politics of hope?
I really hope you people buy this…now back to plugging Kerry...

John Kerry calls on us to hope. John Edwards calls on us to hope. I'm not talking about blind optimism here, the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don't think about it, or health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. That's not what I'm talking. I'm talking about something more substantial. It's the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta; the hope of a millworker's son who dares to defy the odds; the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too.
Have I tugged on those heart strings America?

Hope in the face of difficulty, hope in the face of uncertainty, the audacity of hope: In the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation, a belief in things not seen, a belief that there are better days ahead…Better days are ahead if you vote for this Kerry guy.

I believe that we can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road to opportunity.
Can you say we're going to fuck the rich?

I believe we can provide jobs for the jobless, homes to the homeless, and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence and despair.
I hope you guys buy this cause my career depends on it.

I believe that we have a righteous wind at our backs, and that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the right choices and meet the challenges that face us.
Who wrote that righteous wind line? I want them fired.

America, tonight, if you feel the same energy that I do, if you feel the same urgency that I do, if you feel the same passion that I do, if you feel the same hopefulness that I do, if we do what we must do, then I have no doubt that all across the country, from Florida to Oregon, from Washington to Maine, the people will rise up in November, and John Kerry will be sworn in as president. And John Edwards will be sworn in as vice president. And this country will reclaim its promise. And out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come.
Vote for Kerry America. Please.

Thank you very much, everybody.
I’m Barack Obama bitch good night

God bless you.
Thank you.

GOP gets more desperate

A couple of weeks ago the GOP in Illinois tried tapping Mike Ditka to run against Barack Obama, Ditka being the smart man he is decided that now was not the time for his entry into the world of politics. Well folks buckle up the GOP just asked Alan Keyes to be on the ticket.

For those of you who don't know who this nut is. Here are some links:
http://www.realchange.org/keyes.htm
http://www.mediatransparency.org/people/keyes.htm

He paid himself $100,000 out of campaign funds. Way to go Alan.
One of his biggest jobs was opposing sanctions on South Africa as one of many Assistant Secretaries of State under Reagan. So basically while working in South Africa he defended the apartheid regime. Did I mention he's black. Yeah this guy is what we want.

Here a couple of quotes:

"'Hitler and his supporters were Satanists and homosexuals. That's just a true statement.' He added, 'The notion that is involved in homosexuality, the unbridled sort of satisfaction of human passions' leads to 'totalitarianism,' 'Nazism,' and 'communism.'"

On GOP presidential frontrunner Sen. Bob Dole:
We talk about leadership. Will somebody explain to me how we can expect Bob Dole to stand up to Bill Clinton and the Democrats when hecan't even stand up to his own colleagues in the Senate to get our agenda through?

The GOP in Illnios are really grasping for straws if they are considering this guy.

Ditka not running

Smart move Ditka. Glad to see you have some sense

Hillary bitching about role at Convention

Quit your bitching Hillary. You're not making this easy for the rest of us. Be a team player for godsakes

Ditka for Senate?

This shows you how desperate the Republican party is. Ditka as a Senator?

I guess any ole white man will do huh? Couldn't they have dig up a celebrtiy from Illinois. Harrison Ford (Chicago), Charlton Heston (Evanston), or maybe Ray Bradbury (Chicago) all of them are from Illinois. I'm not sure about their politics but they're just as famous as Mike Ditka.

Point counter Point (A Hip-Hop debate)

The question: Are YOU Hip-Hop

Adisa Banjoko is known as the Bishop of Hip-Hop. Presents his argument.

Here is KRS-One's response.

This is a very interesting topic.

Here's my two cents:

Hip-Hop is a culture and a way of life to many people around the world. Personally I don't feel the world is ready for KRS-One's philosophy. It is idealistic for him to feel that a person can give up their ethnicity for Hip-Hop and create a whole new persona.

"To suggest that we cannot re-create our very ethnicity today for our own human advancement and that of our children is to actually re-enslave ourselves and our children daily to interest foreign to our own. Such a suggestion is actually the cause of political stagnation for any group."

There is too much baggage that comes with one's ethnicity to just give it up and reinvent yourself all in the name of Hip-Hop. I do agree that we must advance humanity but giving up your ethnicity is not feasible or practical.

"By seeing Hiphop beyond entertainment and Rap music product we create a political, intellectual and spiritual blank tablet to which we can write our own futures upon."

I agree Hip-Hop has that kind of potential. But for this idea to come to fruition there would have to be a revolution the likes this world has never seen. The world is not ready for a revolution of this magnitude. But it needs to get ready in my humble opinion.

Stupid mom

This is just plain nasty.

I don't see how this woman couldn't go for a routine check-up.

Good move Kerry!

This is a smart move by Kerry.

Ja Rule and Savion arrested

I went to school with Savion's brother Carl. And Carl smoked a lot of weed. I met Savion once. He was pretty cool and down to earth. The thing is WHY are you hanging with Ja Rule??? don't you he's trouble.

Cosby is at it again people

Bill Cosby's comments are getting out of hand. I agree with Dr. Cosby but the problem is that he is he's letting white people off the hook.

Free Debra!

She's 23 and he's 14. 9 years differnce. Why didn't this kid just shut up. Seriously did he think he could do better than a naughty teacher.

Eminem's Baby Momma in Jail

Damn I wonder if he's going to make a song about her being put in jail.

You gotta admit Marshall Mathers seems to live a life in where he never runs out of material cause something is always happening to him.