![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
The New York Post published a cartoon lampooning the recent shooting of a pet chimpanzee and connected the chimpanzee to President Barack Obama with the caption "I guess they're going to have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill," or words to that effect.
http://reactor-core.org/cannibals-all.h
In doing this, the Post has revived a way of thinking that harkens back to the early 1800s. In 1831 George Fitzhugh wrote a pro slavery propaganda document called Cannibals all of Them: Slaves without masters. In that document cartoons depicting African slaves as half human and half beast Some images are combined with apes and others are combined with elephants.
To suggests that the employee of the Post lacks the education which would have taught him this would be an insult the intelligence of those of us who are aware of this historical document. The text of the document mirrors the ideology of modern day conservative ideology. However that would take pages and pages to discuss. What can be discussed from that text is the fact that that type propaganda has been preserved and continues to be taught in universities across the country to this day.
Fitzhugh calls his text the "sociology of the south." It attempts to justify slavery as a necessary evil which must be maintained. He claims that the alternative would be Socialism or Communism. We hear these arguments today with the language slightly transposed. The conservatives use this transposed language the most.
I would suggest that those who don't think that the cartoon meant to portray a link between the chimp and Obama read George Fitzhugh. Those who read him will think that they are reading into the political philosophy of today's politically conservative minded individuals.
There should be a backlash against the Post from those who are justified in being offended by that type of content. The question the Post should have to answer is whether they are advocating the shooting of the President of the United States. Their denial of such intent is as transparent as the words of Alex Rodriguez when he spoke to Katie Curic.
Fortunately the rest of the media is addressing the issue. No surprise that the only support that the Post is receiving is coming from FOX News and other conservative media jocks.
Ruben Navarrette Jr. continues to spread the talking points of the GOP by claiming that the Senate is not doing their jobs when they vote their conscious, and not the ideology of what is left of the Republican Party.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/2
Navarrette starts his verbiage by attacking President Barack Obama's cabinet appointees. In winning the general election, the President does have the prerogative to make his own choices. While it is fair that the likes of Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, and Rush Limbaugh have every right to voice opposition, their language suggests that there is more than politics involved in their dissent.
While the afore mentioned have a base of mostly white viewers and listeners, they need Navarrette to draw Hispanics to their line of "thinking" by having Navarrette regurgitate their talking points fully understanding the Republican party's need to seek much needed Hispanic votes in future elections.
Fortunately Hispanic voters have seen the results of Republican Policies which do not benefit their communities any more than they have failed in not only the African American communities, but also mainstream America, as a whole. Republicans created the immigration policies which are hurting Americans wholesale. Now they want to distance themselves from the wake of their own creation. Republicans figured they could allow Hispanics to enter the US and then rely on their electoral support.
Even those who have entered the country illegally see how they are being used to provide cheap labor today, and become scapegoated tomorrow. Many illegals have already returned to their homelands because of the economic downturn. One of the reasons law officers are reluctant to go after illegals is because they lack the resources to do so. They are also aware of the fact that the immigration problem was dumped on them by politicians who yielded to pressure by GOP campaign contributors from the private sector who have lobbied for soft laws so that they could hire workers who would not be able to seek fair pay, or unionize.
Navarrette also claims that Senators need to do their jobs by voting against Obama's appointees. When ex-President George Bush presented his appointees, including Chief Justice John Roberts, he got his votes. Was the Senate doing their jobs then? Yes! Despite the philosophical differences in the prior administration, the electorate voted for those changes. Now, the electorate has spoken for the changes we are currently witnessing.
Navarrette began his lede by ridiculing the world by stating that the world has"changed." The world has not changed, rather the world is hopeful that it will change under an Obama administration.
The executive branch does have power over the legislative branch in that once bills are passed, the executive branch has to sign those bills into law, or not. The last two years Bush proved that point by vetoing the congress bill after bill.
The one critique of Navarrette that I do agree with is that Tim Geithner should recuse himself from his appointment. Problem is that so many possible appointees have the type of ethical issues that there may not even be a viable alternative, regardless of party alliance.
I still don't understand why Navarrette would use Elian Gonzales to make a case against Eric Holder. To say that not enough is being done to remove illegals, and then criticize this instance is pandering to the Cuban American community, and not remaining consistent on Navarrette's stance on the immigration issue. Talk about flip-flopping.
Not but last least is the most favorite crutch of the GOP, the Clinton card. When all else fails, mention the name Clinton and no matter what the facts are, or aren't, what's left of the Republican base will have it's political raw meat to feast on. Obama has been in office barely 100 hours and the GOP mouth pieces are rooting for his failure unashamedly.
Patriotic or treasonous? Remember the "with us" of "against us" refrain in the Bush years? How a drug addict like Rush Limbaugh can maintain his high profile in the party of family values makes one wonder what those values really are. Those values are becoming strikingly apparent.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/2
Navarrette starts his verbiage by attacking President Barack Obama's cabinet appointees. In winning the general election, the President does have the prerogative to make his own choices. While it is fair that the likes of Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, and Rush Limbaugh have every right to voice opposition, their language suggests that there is more than politics involved in their dissent.
While the afore mentioned have a base of mostly white viewers and listeners, they need Navarrette to draw Hispanics to their line of "thinking" by having Navarrette regurgitate their talking points fully understanding the Republican party's need to seek much needed Hispanic votes in future elections.
Fortunately Hispanic voters have seen the results of Republican Policies which do not benefit their communities any more than they have failed in not only the African American communities, but also mainstream America, as a whole. Republicans created the immigration policies which are hurting Americans wholesale. Now they want to distance themselves from the wake of their own creation. Republicans figured they could allow Hispanics to enter the US and then rely on their electoral support.
Even those who have entered the country illegally see how they are being used to provide cheap labor today, and become scapegoated tomorrow. Many illegals have already returned to their homelands because of the economic downturn. One of the reasons law officers are reluctant to go after illegals is because they lack the resources to do so. They are also aware of the fact that the immigration problem was dumped on them by politicians who yielded to pressure by GOP campaign contributors from the private sector who have lobbied for soft laws so that they could hire workers who would not be able to seek fair pay, or unionize.
Navarrette also claims that Senators need to do their jobs by voting against Obama's appointees. When ex-President George Bush presented his appointees, including Chief Justice John Roberts, he got his votes. Was the Senate doing their jobs then? Yes! Despite the philosophical differences in the prior administration, the electorate voted for those changes. Now, the electorate has spoken for the changes we are currently witnessing.
Navarrette began his lede by ridiculing the world by stating that the world has"changed." The world has not changed, rather the world is hopeful that it will change under an Obama administration.
The executive branch does have power over the legislative branch in that once bills are passed, the executive branch has to sign those bills into law, or not. The last two years Bush proved that point by vetoing the congress bill after bill.
The one critique of Navarrette that I do agree with is that Tim Geithner should recuse himself from his appointment. Problem is that so many possible appointees have the type of ethical issues that there may not even be a viable alternative, regardless of party alliance.
I still don't understand why Navarrette would use Elian Gonzales to make a case against Eric Holder. To say that not enough is being done to remove illegals, and then criticize this instance is pandering to the Cuban American community, and not remaining consistent on Navarrette's stance on the immigration issue. Talk about flip-flopping.
Not but last least is the most favorite crutch of the GOP, the Clinton card. When all else fails, mention the name Clinton and no matter what the facts are, or aren't, what's left of the Republican base will have it's political raw meat to feast on. Obama has been in office barely 100 hours and the GOP mouth pieces are rooting for his failure unashamedly.
Patriotic or treasonous? Remember the "with us" of "against us" refrain in the Bush years? How a drug addict like Rush Limbaugh can maintain his high profile in the party of family values makes one wonder what those values really are. Those values are becoming strikingly apparent.
In winning his stunning and historic presidential election, President Barack H. Obama needs to go back to his grassroots to forge a community based Blue/Red strategy aimed at uniting Bloods (Red) and (Crips), nationwide, with his newly earned political capital.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/l
Obama electrified the nation during his campaign by galvanizing Democrats and Republicans by reaching out to those who are politically registered in opposing parties, as opposed to the typical base versus base elections America has engaged in mostly during the last two centuries.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/in
During the inauguration Obama has indicated his desire to create peaceful relationships with global nations, including the Middle East. Before he embarks on that path perhaps he should apply strategies which could make local communities in America abandon the types of senseless violence which has been plaguing communities for far too long.
The model for this approach such come from the methods used by the Obama campaign to appeal to Republicans and Democrats during the contentious electoral process which successfully put Obama in office. Most of the communities hurt by the Red/Blue violence have been inner city communities such as the South side of Chicago and other cities like Los Angeles, who have tragic histories of urban gang violence.
In order to have a legitimate model to bring abroad Obama must be successful on the home front. No other president will ever have the legitimate influence that Obama can have to appeal to wayward youth. When Obama reference the need for "builders" to emerge, gang members must be approached and driven away from destructive activities which are tearing down communities nationwide.
Obama can enlist returning veterans to engage these individuals so that these veterans don't come back and join forces with gangs who are heavily involved with lucrative drug enterprises. We cannot afford to see the crime surges we saw when troops returned from Viet Nam in the 1970s. Obama should put his community organizing skill to good use by enlisting as well pop culture icons to assist in out reach in toning down domestic violence related to gang activity.
While considerable resources were uses to cripple the Mafia, similar resources have been less successful against these urban crime lords because of the lack organizational structure which existed in Mob circles.
The Bloods and Crips have to be dismantled. After doing so Obama will have enormous political capital abroad in reaching out Palestinian and Israeli combatants. He can then go to Pakistan and raise legitimate concerns against their battles with India. He would even be able to create peaceful circumstances throughout the African continent. Obama will not be able to bring peace through the entire world, but he can have an impact on many hot spots by showing what he can do to such hot spots right here in America by going after the Red and Blue in urban America.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/l
Obama electrified the nation during his campaign by galvanizing Democrats and Republicans by reaching out to those who are politically registered in opposing parties, as opposed to the typical base versus base elections America has engaged in mostly during the last two centuries.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/in
During the inauguration Obama has indicated his desire to create peaceful relationships with global nations, including the Middle East. Before he embarks on that path perhaps he should apply strategies which could make local communities in America abandon the types of senseless violence which has been plaguing communities for far too long.
The model for this approach such come from the methods used by the Obama campaign to appeal to Republicans and Democrats during the contentious electoral process which successfully put Obama in office. Most of the communities hurt by the Red/Blue violence have been inner city communities such as the South side of Chicago and other cities like Los Angeles, who have tragic histories of urban gang violence.
In order to have a legitimate model to bring abroad Obama must be successful on the home front. No other president will ever have the legitimate influence that Obama can have to appeal to wayward youth. When Obama reference the need for "builders" to emerge, gang members must be approached and driven away from destructive activities which are tearing down communities nationwide.
Obama can enlist returning veterans to engage these individuals so that these veterans don't come back and join forces with gangs who are heavily involved with lucrative drug enterprises. We cannot afford to see the crime surges we saw when troops returned from Viet Nam in the 1970s. Obama should put his community organizing skill to good use by enlisting as well pop culture icons to assist in out reach in toning down domestic violence related to gang activity.
While considerable resources were uses to cripple the Mafia, similar resources have been less successful against these urban crime lords because of the lack organizational structure which existed in Mob circles.
The Bloods and Crips have to be dismantled. After doing so Obama will have enormous political capital abroad in reaching out Palestinian and Israeli combatants. He can then go to Pakistan and raise legitimate concerns against their battles with India. He would even be able to create peaceful circumstances throughout the African continent. Obama will not be able to bring peace through the entire world, but he can have an impact on many hot spots by showing what he can do to such hot spots right here in America by going after the Red and Blue in urban America.
- Location:USA
The New Years day shooting of an unarmed man, Oscar Grant III, on a Oakland, California subway platform has sparked outrage which was fueled by the reaction to the images captured on cell phones by passenger eye witnesses.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/ar
The images are graphic and can be seen on Youtube as well as various web sites. They also reveal that what happened on that platform looks increasing like a crime. However, as was the case in the Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell and Patrick Dorismond shootings in New York, there is all the likelihood that there will be no conviction of the officer involved.
Mayor Ron Dellums promised to launch a homicide investigation into the shooting, yet the officer has resigned from the force and is not compelled to cooperate in the internal investigation.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/ar
The images are graphic and can be seen on Youtube as well as various web sites. They also reveal that what happened on that platform looks increasing like a crime. However, as was the case in the Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell and Patrick Dorismond shootings in New York, there is all the likelihood that there will be no conviction of the officer involved.
Mayor Ron Dellums promised to launch a homicide investigation into the shooting, yet the officer has resigned from the force and is not compelled to cooperate in the internal investigation.
The Los Angeles Times has an article written about a war in Italy between the Italian mafia and Nigerian gangsters, and the criminal enterprises the writer claims exists in the Africa community in Europe.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationw
This could be used by some to justify racism in Europe targeted against people of African decent who came to Europe for education and business opportunities.
The way the recent Ghanaian elections were reported, the out going administration was accused of being involved in the international drug trade which is reflected in the LA Times article.
Is gangsterism the path towards upward mobility?
We know about the Kennedy family and how JFK came into power through their bootlegging operation in the US.
Recently a book revealed that former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's father was a mobster, no doubt using his ill-gotten gains to put his son, Rudy, through law school.
One generation of gangsters seems to lead to the next generation of person in influential positions.
Is that the theme which is motivating the gangsterism reflected in the LA Times article?
What are the ways to eliminate these criminal enterprises in Africa and in Europe for the sake of the law abiding Africans?
Or should they be supported for the ends to justify the means?
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationw
This could be used by some to justify racism in Europe targeted against people of African decent who came to Europe for education and business opportunities.
The way the recent Ghanaian elections were reported, the out going administration was accused of being involved in the international drug trade which is reflected in the LA Times article.
Is gangsterism the path towards upward mobility?
We know about the Kennedy family and how JFK came into power through their bootlegging operation in the US.
Recently a book revealed that former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's father was a mobster, no doubt using his ill-gotten gains to put his son, Rudy, through law school.
One generation of gangsters seems to lead to the next generation of person in influential positions.
Is that the theme which is motivating the gangsterism reflected in the LA Times article?
What are the ways to eliminate these criminal enterprises in Africa and in Europe for the sake of the law abiding Africans?
Or should they be supported for the ends to justify the means?
It seems that President Barack Obama's market value bonanza has inspired the comedy circuit as evidenced by such comedians as Jon Stewart's recitation of the Obama products now on the market, from a comedian's satyrical point of view.
The world of sidewalk peddling may return with opportunities for peddlers to once again ply their wares of Obama. We have seen these times before. In the 1970's after the Viet Nam war, returning vets hit the streets en mass to sell everything from sox to panty hoses.
Today, veterans probably will follow in those foot steps, if they ever get to come back home. It seems that most peddlers fare well in that occupation. In the city of New York only veterans get peddling licenses automatically to sell merchandise. They will probably do well if their entire stock has Obama in or on it.
Even during the campaign, items like Obama panties and Obama boxer drawers have been selling like proverbial hotcakes. So a peddler need only tap into the emerging market called Obama, in order to ensure certain sales success. One drawback could be the possibility of having too many sellers.
No doubt hip Hop artists will be busy recording Obama tunes. Reggae artists have already jumped on that genre.
For years people across America can relate to the most visible images of American icons found in scores of homes. Photos and images of President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, and President Ronald Reagan. Now Obama will replace these mounting in homes starting with the upcoming holidays.
People who post this years holiday photos will have those Obama wall mount in the back round of large amounts of those photo transmissions, I predict. In this case, Obama has already jump started the economy. That is an underlining theme in the Jon Stewart routine.
Maybe I should get in on this. Obama doesn't seem to mind. There does not appear to be any attempts being made to stop these merchants.
https://www.officialobamacoin.com/Defau
Let's just hope that in all of the Obama frenzy, those who are peddling fare well. The society cannot afford a spike in crime, which usually occurs in a down economy.
Obama could not have been elected at a better time. It's Christmas time. Manufacturers should be shipping out obama products as well. This phenomena will be seasonal. I have spent my quota on three tee shirts.
No mas para me!
The elections are over and Barack Obama is now the new President-elect, which begs the question of how will the media outlets continue to profit from Obama's gigantic popularity in almost every media catagory.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politic
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/no
Obama has helped make some media networks such as MSNBC and CBS gain their largest market shares in years. In the case of CBS, The Guardian of the UK has revealed that CBS's numbers are the best in nine years, following the broadcast of the Obama's interview on 60 Minutes last Sunday. As returning Senator John McCain would say, "the gift that keeps on giving."
During the course of the campaign, as many as 74 million American viewers tuned in to either watch debates, or coverage of the conventions of both parties, the Republican and Democratic. In fact the candidates were in some cases more watched than the World Series of Baseball.
The fact that the networks were so tuned in that educators are trying to capitalize and use the methodology of the Obama campaign to reach and teach school children. This election is perhaps ushering in a new day of media methods never seen before.
Fueled in large part by the media, Obama's victory was as much a victory for traditional media outlets, as it is for new media outlets. The internet was a magnet for Obama's record campaign earnings. A down economy helped spark the late surge of Obama support.
In the course of these events, sales of campaign items such as tee shirts and buttons have made Obama the marketing bonanza never before seen. Maybe McCain was on to something when he called Obama a "celebrity" in one of his campaign ads.
Bloggers and other entrepreneurs are poised to make a fortune riding Obama's coat tails over the next four years. Books are coming, whose authors will sell by creating websites for direct sales to their readers. Movies are undoubtedly going to be made from this American experience. No doubt that other ancillary sales will emerge from this historic occasion.
http://digg.com/political_opinion/Sean_
Even Sean Hanity found a unique way to increase his ratings as well. This is where radio is also showing a spike in the ratings department. This comes at a time when so many media outlets are downsizing and shifting towards the internet.
The down side to Obama's popularity is that the only place left for him to go could be down. And we haven't even gotten to the inauguration yet. I tried to book a train ride to Washington for the inauguration, only to find the availabilaty nearly scarce. The only seats available are for the late trains departing and arriving in DC to late to even bother. I could see the roads leading to DC backed up for three states and crawling into DC.
That might be his last media magic moment. Still, the networks may be able to stay above the economic down turn and emerge as the healthiest sector of the current economy. In fact, if Obama's policy initiatives are successful, then he may even be able to climb to even greater heights, media-wise.
Certainly social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace have played a major role for Obama. for all we know, we may even see newer media emerge from this phenomena.
As a loyal C-Span watcher, I often hear the refrain, "Thank God for c-span." For those in media, they may be soon saying, "Thank God for Obama."
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politic
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/no
Obama has helped make some media networks such as MSNBC and CBS gain their largest market shares in years. In the case of CBS, The Guardian of the UK has revealed that CBS's numbers are the best in nine years, following the broadcast of the Obama's interview on 60 Minutes last Sunday. As returning Senator John McCain would say, "the gift that keeps on giving."
During the course of the campaign, as many as 74 million American viewers tuned in to either watch debates, or coverage of the conventions of both parties, the Republican and Democratic. In fact the candidates were in some cases more watched than the World Series of Baseball.
The fact that the networks were so tuned in that educators are trying to capitalize and use the methodology of the Obama campaign to reach and teach school children. This election is perhaps ushering in a new day of media methods never seen before.
Fueled in large part by the media, Obama's victory was as much a victory for traditional media outlets, as it is for new media outlets. The internet was a magnet for Obama's record campaign earnings. A down economy helped spark the late surge of Obama support.
In the course of these events, sales of campaign items such as tee shirts and buttons have made Obama the marketing bonanza never before seen. Maybe McCain was on to something when he called Obama a "celebrity" in one of his campaign ads.
Bloggers and other entrepreneurs are poised to make a fortune riding Obama's coat tails over the next four years. Books are coming, whose authors will sell by creating websites for direct sales to their readers. Movies are undoubtedly going to be made from this American experience. No doubt that other ancillary sales will emerge from this historic occasion.
http://digg.com/political_opinion/Sean_
Even Sean Hanity found a unique way to increase his ratings as well. This is where radio is also showing a spike in the ratings department. This comes at a time when so many media outlets are downsizing and shifting towards the internet.
The down side to Obama's popularity is that the only place left for him to go could be down. And we haven't even gotten to the inauguration yet. I tried to book a train ride to Washington for the inauguration, only to find the availabilaty nearly scarce. The only seats available are for the late trains departing and arriving in DC to late to even bother. I could see the roads leading to DC backed up for three states and crawling into DC.
That might be his last media magic moment. Still, the networks may be able to stay above the economic down turn and emerge as the healthiest sector of the current economy. In fact, if Obama's policy initiatives are successful, then he may even be able to climb to even greater heights, media-wise.
Certainly social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace have played a major role for Obama. for all we know, we may even see newer media emerge from this phenomena.
As a loyal C-Span watcher, I often hear the refrain, "Thank God for c-span." For those in media, they may be soon saying, "Thank God for Obama."
What an Historic night in which I participated in electing the new President-elect Barack Obama, the first President of the United States of African descent.
The day began with me getting up at 1:30AM prparing both to vote, and to pack my bags for a journey to Charleston South Carolina. I got up so early because of the news reports of long lines at all of the polling sites which were opened in states that opted for early voting.
Knowing I had a train to catch at 3:15PM I decided to vote as arly as possible to avoid missing my train, or my opportunity to cast my historical vote.
I got to the polls at 4:50AM and was alone on line for about a half an hour before folks started trickling on line behind me. After casting my vote at 6:20AM I was finally off to prepare to head down south.
I had reservations about what type of response Southerners would have if Obama won the election. I will soon come back to this. So it was now time to wait to see the results of the election. I initially thought that the reults of the election would not be available until the day, or days after the election.
We finally boarded the train which ended up leaving one hour late. Along the way we kept up to date with the flow of incoming results through all of our collective electronic devices. Some of us had Blackberrys, while others had iPhones, and so forth. This enabled us to receive text and voices messages, and to have actual contact with people at home relaying us televised reports of the election.
Some relayed what they were watching on CNN, others reported what they were watching on MSNBC. Still others were watching ABC, CBS, and NBC. FOX was the least mentioned.
The drama was tense early on until about 7:30PM when the results started coming in from sites which closed early. That began to signal that Obama was going to win big. CNN was the first report that a call came in stating that Obama was expected to receive over 300 electorial votes.
The first number reported to us was 75 Obama 15 McCain. These calls that kept coming in refering to the news reports that the callers were tuned into were our life line on that confined train car. It reminded me of a scene I saw in Spike Lee's Malcolm X in which Malcolm was working as a steward on board a train the night that Joe Louis defeated Max Schmeling. All of the stewards were circled around a potable radio keeping up with the fight.
We have come a long way since then in terms of technolgy, obviously. Yet the difference in today and back in the 1930's and 40's is that individuals have their own personal devices, as opposed to sharing an event, as was done in the past.
Some time after we pulled either in or out of Richmond Virginia the Cell Phone symphony began with the winner being announced, The New President of the United States will be Barack Obama! Not so much a quote, but the words most spoken at those moments following the announcements people were receiving.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1
Everyone on the train was jubilent and a collective cheer did ring through the cars. I was very paranoid though. I was hoping no one would fling gunshots at our moving train. The one traveling through the deep south on a night that a man of African descent was about to become the new Commander in Chief.
We arrived safely and the first thing I wanted was a copy of the local newspaper, the Post and Courier of Charleston South Carolina. Later in the day I found out that print papers were having to reprint copies for all those who wanted the front pages of newspapers across the country as collectors items.
The overall mood in the south was reserved and welcoming of the event. I missed out on participating in the street celebrations which broke out everywhere. I was in Charleston for the Heritage Festival in Beaufort South Carolina which local news reports stated had casted the most votes for Obama in the state.
It was needless to say the talk of the festival which took place at the Penn Center in Beaufort where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. drafted his I Have a Dream speech.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/in
Thankfully I'm able to view clips of all the celebrations which I missed during the ride. Years ago when I wanted to read events in other cities I had to go to Hotalings News stand in Times Square. Now we are a mouse click away from global news and events directly, as opposed to in the past when people had to wait until 6:00PM.
So while I was on the move, History followed me along my journey.
Rev. Al Sharpton was convicted of charges related to his non-violent Sean Bell protests in May 2008, yet while he was given a sentence of no time to be served, the court decision leaves Sharpton on the sideline for the most important political election in recent American history, the Presidential campaign 2008.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2
The fact that during this historical political year, Rev. Sharpton has been forced to avoid the limelight in order not to distract the media with his Sean Bell Movement raising racial tensions at this pivitol juncture, two weeks before the General Election. It was not the media who put Sharpton on the sidelines, it was the perception of what the media could do which is causing Sharpton to sit on the fence, even though Sharpton was a Hilary Clinton supporter.
Al Sharpton was convicted of various charges stemming from city wide outrage over the acquital of four police officers, and a commanding officer, in the fatal shooting of Sean Bell who was struck with a fatal portion of the 41 shot fired at he and three of his friends while celebrating his batchelor party.
While some of the officers involved in the shooting were working undercover at the same bar Sean Bell and his friends were in celebrating, those same officers were said to have also been consuming alcohol.
Naturally the facts which surfaced stirred up emotions when the verdict came in clearing the cops who were tried by the judge, and not by a jury of 12. This case in years past would have sparked a high level of community unrest. The media coverage was extensive, polititions were outraged at the level of lethal force used.
The call for civil unrest made by Sharpton happened during the heat of the Presidential primary elections in New York. Also one of the protest locations was near Yankee Stadium. The Boston Red Soxs were in town that week.
I was able to attend the protest that took place at the base of the TriBorough Bridge as another was held at One Police Plaza, and yet another was held at Seventh Avenue South near the Holland Tunnel.
What I saw was more than one march combined. Sharpton's National Action Network had the actual permit, yet at least two other organization joined the march and were a bit boisterous. I captured many images including the ones posted here. It seems as though some of the competing groups wanted more action than Sharpton was willing to provide.
This is the sort of spectacle which could have been used against Barack Obama if Sharpton had a wider role in the Obama campaign. The mere mention of Sharpton invokes instant polarization and imagined fears.
What Sharpton tried to do was give a non-violent outlet to those who needed to release their rage at the judge's verdict against Sean Bell. Phil Graham said "we are a nation of whinners." Without whining we would have riots and anarchy. Perhps new media is now giving previously unheard voices a chance to finally be heard. That could upset those who want to keep those voices silenced.
Perhaps we need a figure like Sharpton to be a check against spontaneous outrage. Or perhaps we need an Obama more than that type of being. We have both, and now one must yield so the other can have an unobstructed chance to become the grand scale leader.
Tourists can find themselves in for a fascinating experience in Charleston South Carolina as shopkeepers vie for customers attracted by their campaign posters in window displays through out Old Charleston for both Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain.
The merchants who display McCain/Palin posters seem to have fewer customers than the stores that display Obama/Biden posters. Yet by far the merchants who have neither candidate on display have the most business flowing through their doors. What does this mean? Perhaps both campaigns have successfully turned of voters equally, or apathy rules again.
Even taking the Gullah Tour,(http://www.gullahtours.com/) folks on the tour bus seem to weigh on Obama's side, or just don't want to talk about politics at all. The only thing that makes it impossible to fully escape political discourse is the economy. This city of Charleston though has a duality that makes for an interesting contest between the two campaigns.
There are ardent supporters of the Confederacy who undoubtedly root for McCain. John C. Calhoun,(http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/J
This city of Charleston was nearly completely burned down by Union soldiers who freed slaves and forged the defeat of the south. So the seeds of decent among some are based on that historical backdrop. To see the south at this time, three weeks before the general election which could produce a President who wants to build the south upwards, economically, is remarkable to see. Remarkable that there is civil debate, rather than the seething activities of the southern past where racial hatred was par for the course.
I will return to this city one week after the election to see what effects the outcome of the Presidential race has, one way or the other. Either way, I don't expect to see Dixie burned down, regardless of the result.
The merchants who display McCain/Palin posters seem to have fewer customers than the stores that display Obama/Biden posters. Yet by far the merchants who have neither candidate on display have the most business flowing through their doors. What does this mean? Perhaps both campaigns have successfully turned of voters equally, or apathy rules again.
Even taking the Gullah Tour,(http://www.gullahtours.com/) folks on the tour bus seem to weigh on Obama's side, or just don't want to talk about politics at all. The only thing that makes it impossible to fully escape political discourse is the economy. This city of Charleston though has a duality that makes for an interesting contest between the two campaigns.
There are ardent supporters of the Confederacy who undoubtedly root for McCain. John C. Calhoun,(http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/J
This city of Charleston was nearly completely burned down by Union soldiers who freed slaves and forged the defeat of the south. So the seeds of decent among some are based on that historical backdrop. To see the south at this time, three weeks before the general election which could produce a President who wants to build the south upwards, economically, is remarkable to see. Remarkable that there is civil debate, rather than the seething activities of the southern past where racial hatred was par for the course.
I will return to this city one week after the election to see what effects the outcome of the Presidential race has, one way or the other. Either way, I don't expect to see Dixie burned down, regardless of the result.
Leading up to tonight's second Presidential debate, the residue from the recent attacks from both the Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama camps invoking the names of Bill Ayers, the 60's Weatherman Underground radical, and Charles Keating, the disgraced owner of the failed Lincoln Savings and Loan Bank, may trump the main issue of voter concern, the collapsed economy.
When McCain's Vice Presidential running mate Gov. Sarah Palin spoke this past Sunday took shots at Obama's past association with the former radical Ayers, the Obama camp waisted no time in firing back with a 13 minute video documentary of McCain's role in the S&L scandal involving Keating. The case, infamously known as the Keating 5 case.
The main difference between the two charges is that the Obama charge has proven to have more resonance. The reason being that the Keating documentary Obama released on Monday came during a day when the Markets further collapsed with a massive plunge of the DOW which fell bellow 10,000 for the first time since 2001. Not to mention that there was a Congressional hearing taking place during the release of the Obama bombshell video.
What the net result of all of this resulted in was an across the board plunge in all the leading polls nationwide for McCain. This is sending the McCain supporters into overdrive, or Palin calls it the "heels on, gloves off" strategy. Obama's supporters are making it clear that they are not allowing that strategy to distract their message of the economy over smear.
While Palin's dive into Obama's character over her description of Obama's connection to Ayers, It's obvious that Obama's camp took plenty of time preparing the documentary that they released. Apparently they were waiting for McCain to open the door for them to release their secret weapon of mass media.
While the video was released, the Congressional Oversight Committee grilled former Lehman Brothers CEO Richard Fuld who is estimated to have walked away from his embattled company with an estimated 484 million dollars, according to the Baltimore Sun. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) said "I don't know how he sleeps at night."
The calamity of the markets has created a strange correlation between this current crisis and the Keating 5 scandal. CNN did a fact check and determined that while Palin's claims against Obama have been discounted, Obama's documentary was credited as being factual. That should make tonight's debate very interesting, especially since it is a town hall formatted affair.
When McCain's Vice Presidential running mate Gov. Sarah Palin spoke this past Sunday took shots at Obama's past association with the former radical Ayers, the Obama camp waisted no time in firing back with a 13 minute video documentary of McCain's role in the S&L scandal involving Keating. The case, infamously known as the Keating 5 case.
The main difference between the two charges is that the Obama charge has proven to have more resonance. The reason being that the Keating documentary Obama released on Monday came during a day when the Markets further collapsed with a massive plunge of the DOW which fell bellow 10,000 for the first time since 2001. Not to mention that there was a Congressional hearing taking place during the release of the Obama bombshell video.
What the net result of all of this resulted in was an across the board plunge in all the leading polls nationwide for McCain. This is sending the McCain supporters into overdrive, or Palin calls it the "heels on, gloves off" strategy. Obama's supporters are making it clear that they are not allowing that strategy to distract their message of the economy over smear.
While Palin's dive into Obama's character over her description of Obama's connection to Ayers, It's obvious that Obama's camp took plenty of time preparing the documentary that they released. Apparently they were waiting for McCain to open the door for them to release their secret weapon of mass media.
While the video was released, the Congressional Oversight Committee grilled former Lehman Brothers CEO Richard Fuld who is estimated to have walked away from his embattled company with an estimated 484 million dollars, according to the Baltimore Sun. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) said "I don't know how he sleeps at night."
The calamity of the markets has created a strange correlation between this current crisis and the Keating 5 scandal. CNN did a fact check and determined that while Palin's claims against Obama have been discounted, Obama's documentary was credited as being factual. That should make tonight's debate very interesting, especially since it is a town hall formatted affair.
I've come to the realization that the new plantation, or the 21^st^ century plantation, in urban centers is crack dealing, among other things. The new slave masters are the drug lords of Central and South America, and the overseers are the police and mealy mouth corrupt politicians, hence, I once thought that the addicts were the new slaves, but I now see them as victims of the trade.
I saw Columbian trade officials speaking on talk shows dodging questions about their roles in the drug trade as they deflected those questions with the familiar refrain of demand and supply as being the root of the problem. These officials seem to be running a never ending PR campaign for the drug barons who own them as slaves as well. Why are we not looking at attacking the drug trade as a neo form of abolishing neo-narco slavery? Because it is the same cash cow that sugar and cotton once was. The justice system feeds off of it. Corrupt politicians run on the anti drug platform and get elected because of it. And the status quo remains the same.
Unfortunately there are winners. In the past, the Kennedy family gained wealth from trafficking in bootleg liquor. The family patriarch flipped his cash by putting his children through law school and paving a path for them to reach political stardom. Mission accomplished. Even Rudy Giuliani's father was mobbed up and used his ill gotten gains to put Rudy through law school. 2 to 3 centuries ago the opium wars helped finance the expansion of the wealth of the royal families during those times. As the opium trade crumbled the ones who profited set them selves up in places like Livingston, and Newark New Jersey. The later had what was then the largest Chinatown in the U. S. where much of the opium continued to be imported into the United States through the early to mid 20^th^ century.
As new cultures arrived in the U.S. they began setting themselves up, taking root and growing. Economic conditions, national and global, created a market system of illicit trade. The plantation system was then controlled throughout the early 20^th^ century by Jewish, German, Dutch, and Italian crime lords. As these groups gained wealth they started to back away from drugs and turned their attention towards construction, security scams, and municipal bid rigging schemes. Thus the trade needed new slaves to tend to its cotton picking, so to speak.
Many vital factors could fill in the gaps of what's already been listed, but that would take this to a book level of at least 4 to 8 hundred pages. However we may be seeing the trade prepare to pass the torch to new slaves. The growth of the Latino, Hispanic, and Chicano communities could be the bastion for the new slave dealers. Why? Perhaps the street corner African American slave dealers could follow the footsteps of the Kennedys and have their offspring enter high society. The figures illustrated in a recent poll indicate that Spanish speaking communities are at the greatest risks of falling prey to following this eternal trend.
Are there solutions? Because of the level of corruption associated with this phenomenon, perhaps not. Because even if the Spanish speaking communities could be spared, the next slave dealers could come out of the Middle East where drug abuse is already on the rise. Not to mention returning soldiers who will have a myriad of post traumatic conditions that they undoubtedly will try to remedy through self medications. Did I mention also that the world's population will triple by the year 2050?
At least for now community activists should frame the problems that are plaguing poor communities and high society as well, as the neo-narco slave trade, and make some sort of effort to abolish this slave trade at least in the inner cities, muy rapido. For the record, I do favor only the legalization of Marijuana.
I saw Columbian trade officials speaking on talk shows dodging questions about their roles in the drug trade as they deflected those questions with the familiar refrain of demand and supply as being the root of the problem. These officials seem to be running a never ending PR campaign for the drug barons who own them as slaves as well. Why are we not looking at attacking the drug trade as a neo form of abolishing neo-narco slavery? Because it is the same cash cow that sugar and cotton once was. The justice system feeds off of it. Corrupt politicians run on the anti drug platform and get elected because of it. And the status quo remains the same.
Unfortunately there are winners. In the past, the Kennedy family gained wealth from trafficking in bootleg liquor. The family patriarch flipped his cash by putting his children through law school and paving a path for them to reach political stardom. Mission accomplished. Even Rudy Giuliani's father was mobbed up and used his ill gotten gains to put Rudy through law school. 2 to 3 centuries ago the opium wars helped finance the expansion of the wealth of the royal families during those times. As the opium trade crumbled the ones who profited set them selves up in places like Livingston, and Newark New Jersey. The later had what was then the largest Chinatown in the U. S. where much of the opium continued to be imported into the United States through the early to mid 20^th^ century.
As new cultures arrived in the U.S. they began setting themselves up, taking root and growing. Economic conditions, national and global, created a market system of illicit trade. The plantation system was then controlled throughout the early 20^th^ century by Jewish, German, Dutch, and Italian crime lords. As these groups gained wealth they started to back away from drugs and turned their attention towards construction, security scams, and municipal bid rigging schemes. Thus the trade needed new slaves to tend to its cotton picking, so to speak.
Many vital factors could fill in the gaps of what's already been listed, but that would take this to a book level of at least 4 to 8 hundred pages. However we may be seeing the trade prepare to pass the torch to new slaves. The growth of the Latino, Hispanic, and Chicano communities could be the bastion for the new slave dealers. Why? Perhaps the street corner African American slave dealers could follow the footsteps of the Kennedys and have their offspring enter high society. The figures illustrated in a recent poll indicate that Spanish speaking communities are at the greatest risks of falling prey to following this eternal trend.
Are there solutions? Because of the level of corruption associated with this phenomenon, perhaps not. Because even if the Spanish speaking communities could be spared, the next slave dealers could come out of the Middle East where drug abuse is already on the rise. Not to mention returning soldiers who will have a myriad of post traumatic conditions that they undoubtedly will try to remedy through self medications. Did I mention also that the world's population will triple by the year 2050?
At least for now community activists should frame the problems that are plaguing poor communities and high society as well, as the neo-narco slave trade, and make some sort of effort to abolish this slave trade at least in the inner cities, muy rapido. For the record, I do favor only the legalization of Marijuana.
The title of Poet Heru's latest work is called Barack Obama Septimius Severus, ancient North African ruler of Rome. The premise is that Barack Obama, if elected, would somehow forget where he comes from and not govern those from his element.
For those who have posted that all African Americans are somehow hypnotized by Barack Obama, here is evidence that some do have a critical view of Obama. I am supporting Obama because I can't take another republican administration. Here is a link to Heru's site where you can hear his poem.
http://www.heruspeaks.com/
After hearing this, tell me what you think. Many artists have been singing favoring tunes, non-critical of Obama. This is the first artist who has put out a critical Obama tune. Heru has performed poems highly critical of G.W.Bush. As a disclaimer, I filmed Heru with Filmstress Nikki LaVann in a documentary about the Last poets called 110 Morningside.
So while I probably still will vote for Barack Obama, I found this poem to be very profound.
"What ever you do, be for who - who be for you" -Heru
For those who have posted that all African Americans are somehow hypnotized by Barack Obama, here is evidence that some do have a critical view of Obama. I am supporting Obama because I can't take another republican administration. Here is a link to Heru's site where you can hear his poem.
http://www.heruspeaks.com/
After hearing this, tell me what you think. Many artists have been singing favoring tunes, non-critical of Obama. This is the first artist who has put out a critical Obama tune. Heru has performed poems highly critical of G.W.Bush. As a disclaimer, I filmed Heru with Filmstress Nikki LaVann in a documentary about the Last poets called 110 Morningside.
So while I probably still will vote for Barack Obama, I found this poem to be very profound.
"What ever you do, be for who - who be for you" -Heru
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