Occupied American Pie

Let me start this off by saying that Wall Street has yet to be occupied by anything besides business as usual. As I approach this topic, I realize caution is necessary due to the fact that the movement is multi-faceted. Which means the audience is multi-faceted, leaving the mental door open for multi-faceted perspectives. One thing that isn’t multi-faceted at all, ever, is the fact that the real victims of the supposedly “hated system” have yet to be identified by those with the microphones. Wait, forget caution.

As long as there has been a rich, there has been a poor. Understanding this, it becomes virtually impossible for there to be any noble attempts at securing the “top”.

For over a month now, as a result of following along with the Occupy Wallstreet protests, I’ve heard plenty of well put together arguments as to why the financial system should be reformed. What I haven’t heard is, or seen rather, is any light being shined on the “how” involved with the accumulation of wealth in this country and/or the world as a whole. Everybody wants a piece of the pie, with no concern for the origin of the ingredients. The American Way. People snicker and snark at those that say to hell with the whole thing, as if there are any other viable options. Each snicker and snark matches a tear shed by those, worldwide, who bear the burden of the weight known as class. A see-saw of sorts. To call it a see-saw is to illustrate the fact that for one to sit high, one must sit low. Only, in this illustration, a plank has been wedged under those that sit high, and a third being has sat themselves comfortably in “the middle”. So comfortable that they’ve yet to notice the plank. Those that snicker (normally seated in “the middle”) will tell you that those on the bottom only stand a chance of survival if they assist the middle in securing what’s being hoarded at the top. We’re all in this together, they say. So as the poor perish, they do so under the guise that a lack of assistance from the middle is actually an attempt to secure the top, so they can then be assisted. Silly geese we are. Geese on a planked see-saw.

Why should the poor care if the whole world is poor?

By age 18, the average American has formed a nice fitting set of blinders on their mind’s eye when it comes to the rest of the world. It’s not even “us and them”, it’s more like “us and whoever the media decides to focus on”. People are organizing and protesting against Wall Street, not because the whole thing should be burned down due to its foundation, but because they don’t feel they have a big enough slice of the proverbial pie. That, and because they don’t want to pay back loans that they themselves asked for. Mainly the pie though. Tired of crumbs, they say. We should be able to dig in equally, is the rallying cry. Occupy Wallstreet, as with the majority of “movements” in this country, has yet to identify the ingredients of the pie. Truly, it’s gross. To even call it a pie, one most confine their mental to an apple pie from McDonald’s, rather than a pie from your local grocery store. Definitely not from the local bakery, or anything “just like mom used to make”, but I digress. To take a glance at those who sit atop the Fortune 500 is to take a glance at those that profit the most from the perpetual pillage in progress. Forget Ben Franklin. It’s all about the natural resources, baby.

For centuries, intellectuals have been allowed to pontificate about the plight of the African in comparison to their western counterparts, as if the prosperity at hand isn’t a direct result of a systemic pillage placed on the land and resources of said Africans. Unchecked. Not that it hasn’t been addressed by countless critics, because it has. But it has yet to be acknowledged by the overall theory makers that shape world thought. Wall Street itself stands as a result of the slave trade in America, a point that never makes it to the class warfare debate forum. History books lead you to believe that tobacco or maybe cotton was the first crop, when it was actually the hands that were picking it. The American Pie will always be constituted of Strange Fruit. Capitalism isn’t “the new slavery”, it’s simply founded on the old slavery. Fact. Therefore, the fight should be for those who have yet to be fed under its clutches, not those that have had to start eating less. Am I suggesting that Blacks should be pushed to the front of the resource line? Not at all. What Jay-Z and Beyoncé eat don’t make me sh*t. I am, however, suggesting that another look be taken at who the fight is and should be for. America’s poor class is merely a microcosm of the world’s poor class, just as the pillaging of Africa is merely a microcosm of the worldwide agenda that is being carried out. Poverty in America won’t be eradicated until poverty is eradicated worldwide. It’s all relative.

Pundits spew rhetoric that revolves around the notion that the Occupy Wallstreet movement is the result of a new thought pattern. One opposed to the one articulating the circa 1989 “global consensus” that: unfettered market economies provide the greatest happiness for the greatest number. I wonder how many impoverished people were polled before that consensus was agreed upon. For the “99ers” to make the claim that “we’re all in this together”, to me, is a slap to the face of those that truly struggle within a capitalist system. Some are mad that they can’t eat lunch on Rodeo Dr, whereas some have yet to eat lunch…or breakfast…or dinner. Telling a man with no boots to pull himself up by his boot straps makes you an idiot. Sadly, the idiot comes in large numbers when dealing with an Idiocracy. On sites such as Twitter, instead of an #AskObama movement, there should be an #AskThePillaged movement. They’ve yet to be consulted. Since the focus of America’s noble is America, we’ll need to tap the main vein of poverty in the US in order to get to the heart of the poverty that people are faced with worldwide. Once there is no top, then there will be no bottom. Occupy the reality of the truly impoverished. Now there’s a movement worth moving for.

(The one good thing about being low man on a planked see-saw is the readily available opportunity for an easy exit. Carpe diem.)

Flawed Privilege

It seems that the hot topic within the “Black-blogospere” right now is the concept of Black Male Privilege. In my opinion, the very suggestion that male privilege is in some way tied to a particular agenda amongst Black men is flawed. Unless the discussion points you towards the “western man”, dare I say you’re being pointed in the wrong direction. Black men finding favor in a society that’s based on male privilege has nothing to do with the fact that they’re Black, but everything to do with the fact that they are male.

It’s important, when working with young minds, to illustrate the difference between the cause and the effect. In a society where Blacks have been consistently pushed towards the bottom rung, the last thing we should do is assume responsibility for something we didn’t set into motion and as a result pass the burden to our children. If we teach them of current African ways as far as gender is concerned, we should also teach them of the way things were pre-colonialism. Talk of the rapes in the Congo should be preempted by discussing the days when the woman was celebrated and worshipped. It is under present day patriarchal Africa that the mother religions have been almost completely shunned and forgotten, replaced by Western constructs that trample the original man’s ideologies. Saying that Black men are at fault for the existence of Black male privilege leads one to believe that male privilege would disappear if it did so in the Black community. Black boys shouldn’t be forced to bear the weight of a concept that they have no control over. What they can control is how they play into it.

Words are important, mostly when it comes to transferring an idea. It confuses the issue of male privilege if we teach that it somehow mysteriously surfaced in all the various races and cultures, because it didn’t. Know the difference between natural evolution and the evolution that is being enabled by Western ideologies. With everything, there are roots. Even after colonialism had ravaged many parts of Africa, the overall respect for women transcended into the existence of entities such as the 4,000 black virgins of Dahomey, the African monarch’s bodyguard in Nigeria. According to historical accounts, the women spoke of their lives as such: ‘We are men not women. Whatever town is to be attacked we must overcome it or we bury ourselves in its ruins’. Those don’t sound like the words of women being treated as if they’re inferior. On the contrary. Add to that the fact that these women were originally trained to be elephant hunters. When you look at the history associated with tribal societies altogether, the woman was celebrated. The divine mother of civilization, whereas men were simply their protectors. Any change to this can easily be attributed to colonialism. Case in point, the Dahomey warriors (what was left of them) were disbanded after the last king to use them went into exile. His exile was a result of French invasion.

We can discuss the various nuances that apply to male privilege, as a matter of fact we should. We should do this in order to recognize it on all fronts, in order that we eradicate it on all fronts. What we shouldn’t do is confuse the root of the problem by labeling it based on the race being subjected at that given moment. Clarity is key.

The Tracy Fiasco, Distractions and Uninformed Opinions

What do we have here now? Once again the masses have been pointed in the direction of irrelevance. We can use the recent comments made by Lupe Fiasco, or the heavy media attention placed on the homophobic “comedic” rant of Tracy Morgan, in both cases we seem to end up at the same destination: not where the focus should be. When news broke of Lupe’s opinions on President Obama, the immediate reaction was scorn coupled with dismissal. Very few people actually broke down Lupe’s analysis. Instead, the general consensus was that he was wrong and that he didn’t know what he was talking about. He himself was called a terrorist and was compared to Cornel West in that his critique was off based and not accurate. Though I do agree that West was out of line, even his statements held an air of truth and accuracy, no matter how ulterior his motive was. When he said, “All he has known culturally is white. He is just as human as I am, but that is his cultural formation”, not only was he spot on, he had also identified the main problem with the fact that so many black people feel they can relate to Obama. Unless they were raised in predominantly white surroundings by a White woman, they can’t. I digress. I place Lupe calling Obama “the biggest terrorist” on the same intellectual level of someone calling Ronald McDonald the biggest enemy of our health. That’s silly, he’s just a clown. He’s no Homey though. US foreign policy has never been anything short of a terroristic takeover. In fact, it’s safe to say that most of the “threats” America faces are due to this provocation. I wonder how many of Lupe’s critics have heard his song American Terrorist.

What we have is a situation devoid of clarity. People went from the point that Lupe’s album tanked, all the way to the notion that he shouldn’t speak because he doesn’t vote. Though both of these are arguable opinions, focusing on either simply distracts you from what should be the main point: US terrorism. Home and abroad. Blaming Obama for Imperialist policy is like blaming Tracy Morgan for our society’s blatant homophobia. They are both merely byproducts. When Tracy Morgan can go off about how he would handle a gay son, and receive thunderous applause, we should know that he’s not the problem. President Obama himself doesn’t approve of gay marriage. This causes me to wonder how much stock should be put into a comedian’s words, when the countries religious and political leaders loosely share the same beliefs. Don’t let comedy distract you. Killing (sacrificing) your son based on the dictations of a higher power is just as biblical as the 10 commandments, upon which is based the US law structure. That’s not Tracy’s fault. We can look at the fruit that is Tracy, or we can examine the roots of the tree from which he fell.

Whether the topic is terrorism or homophobia, not having any background information should cause you to withhold your opinion until you can inform it. Screaming “that’s crazy!” when you don’t really know what’s crazy about it isn’t the best way to approach a situation. Seek information first. We can fault the hack of a comedian known as Tracy Morgan, or we can shine light on the big picture of how homophobia is cemented into the US. We can laugh at Lupe, or we can examine the obvious truths that he’s stated predating his most recent critique of Obama. No matter what we do, we should inform ourselves first. I know I will.

The Curse Of Transcending What’s Right And Left

“The KKK is the heart and soul of America.” – Marcus Garvey

When I think about American History I posture it in two separate lights, on one hand you have the US government and on the other you have the US people. In my opinion, the America being described in the above quote is that of its government. For the most part. Clearly, a quick skim of even the most revised of revisionist versions of US history will reveal a theory etched deep into the stone of America’s foundation: “white is right”. What is also clear to me is that there are a lot of American’s that will disagree with the picture that my mind’s eye has created. I often wonder what America they’re looking at.

Four score and…wait…no. Twenty score and eleven years ago, some British people’s fathers brought forth on this continent (America) a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal…so the story goes that Lincoln told. It was this speech that first confused me as far as Lincoln’s legacy was concerned. Even at a young age I found it strange that words like liberty and equal were being used to describe what basically amounted to a hostile takeover of occupied land. What men were Lincoln speaking of when it came to this equality? Surely not the slaughtered/oppressed natives or the slaughtered/oppressed slaves. It is this obvious exclusion that set the tone for the song this country continues to sing, loudly, across all genres of thought and policy contained within as well as exported from its shores. “US foreign policy” is a phrase that equates “ways we plan on sipping your soup”. What you may have noticed is that US policy makers don’t seem to have a taste for the soup being served up west. The soup du jour is a dark one, similar to the people who exist as the burden bearers within the country.

People will boldly claim that their agenda is for the lesser among us, but rarely will they engage in any conversation that sheds light on the root of the problem. We blame Capitalism and we blame Wall Street, but what we don’t do is look at the foundation of those entities and how their existences have damaged some at a higher rate than others. If capitalism’s stronghold is Wall Street, and Wall Street is the financial foundation of the US, what should be assumed when the original “stock” was essentially the black life? Dare I say it continues to be. The 13th amendment essentially freed blacks into a life of conditions that made crime a viable option.

The skin is the sin.

To the dismay of the freshly emancipated, the kind folks that had bestowed freedom quickly adopted legislation such as the Black Codes and Jim Crow. This essentially meant that the basic act of living was a punishable offense for people of color. Keep in mind that this was far from being a right-wing agenda back in the late 1800′s. What’s more Democratic than the KKK? In addition to this common misconception regarding rooted racism within the left-wing, many have been led to believe that this was somehow a Southern thing. That doesn’t add up considering the fact that Illinois, Indiana and Michigan adopted the Black Code laws as fast as anyone else. All while claiming to be “free states”. But I digress. Both sides of the partisan aisle will tell you that slavery was long ago, and that Lincoln is the man to thank for that. A perceived hero to the American black. I now wonder what his stock portfolio looked like at the time of this gracious decision. Countless corporations thrive to the point that board executives cash out multi-million dollar bonuses every year, as an indirect result of the slave labor being induced within the US prison system. The 13th amendment has facilitated the greatest “corporate bailout” of all time. It’s perpetual. The fact that incarceration as an industry isn’t a left-wing hot topic tells me that all citizens aren’t being considered. A system setup to create wealth by lessening another mans quality of life, yet, this is the playing field that both Progressives and Conservatives tout as the greatest country on Earth. Interesting.

Enter “globalization”.

Politics as usual, perhaps. Business as usual, without a doubt. From day one, the law of the land has been “make a profit”. In fact, it’s those that have profited the most that make all the laws. The highest court in the country has given corporations free reign over the political scene by leaving the door open for their strategically lobbied contributions. Our entire law making body has been left to the highest bidder. With bills like S-510 being ran largely unnoticed through the legislative process, you can see how entities like Monsanto have used their seeded (pun intended) influence to corner the food production market. Fully enabled by the US government, under the guise of humanitarian relief, Monsanto has flooded the “3rd world” with biologically engineered products. With the help of the Gates Foundation, the hungry are now being fed. Which is somewhat peculiar to me, considering the fact that their hunger exists because their resources have been pillaged…by corporations like Microsoft. From Mexico to Malaysia, “relief” being funded in large part by the very oppression that is causing the despair. The kings of the west have used US Imperialism to pull a virtual kick door on Africa as well as numerous countries where dark people reside. The vision is indeed a global one, and it’s extremely bi-partisan. Conservatives support wars based on “eradicating terrorism”, while Liberals support the same tactics for the purpose of “humanitarian relief”. What’s the difference between the fear mongering used by the KKK that inspired the destruction of Rosewood, and the ideologies used to justify smashing Baghdad? The bottom line is still invasion. Paramount destruction with a side of provocation, which of course can only be fixed by no bid contracts to corporations like Checchi & Company or Blackwater(Xe). Michael Moore hates capitalism, yet he has stock in Haliburton. That’s yell laugh funny to me.

What options are left for the citizen that wishes to stand above the fiasco known as “patriotism”?

Nothing’s worse than being forced into a situation that you find to be despicable. The American dream, in short, is simply the hope that you’ll be granted access to the benefits of US Imperialism. When you express your dislike for the American System, the bi-partisan retort you’ll more than likely be faced with is: “Well, why don’t you move?”…which of course is much easier said than done. Still, that’s not prosperity that I want any part of. I would gladly toss this computer, as well as the device this is being read on, straight into my fireplace if it meant our world would simultaneously transform into a place where “your resources” were your resources. Alas, it wouldn’t work that way. Cursed we are who have transcended.

The Lame-1 Virus, Swag and The Illuminati

What’s in a lame? The dictionary defines “lame” as: adj, crippled or physically disabled, especially in the foot or leg so as to limp or walk with difficulty; or slang, out of touch with modern fads or trends; unsophisticated. If you accept the slang definition to be true, we agree. Chances are, though others may share your opinion, the definitions of what is trendy and/or sophisticated will vary. In our society, the majority often denotes lameness by what’s accepted within the group they’re a part of. This mentality forms what I like to call a “group think immune system”, with each member playing their part as far as lame repellent. “Lame” of course being what they perceive to be lame.

I view group think in the same light that I view karma, it’s only as good or bad as what’s put into it. When you have minds connected and working together for a worthy cause, group think is a win. Minds connected for the purpose of embracing ignorance? An epic loss in my opinion. Of course this is all based on my perception. It’s the existence of this personal perception that opens the door for the plague that I call the “Lame-1 Virus”.

Similar to cancer, the Lame-1 isn’t confined to one form. It attacks every existing aspect of society with an equally destructive vigor. Once it has infected the concept, it quickly lays waste to it and any surrounding thoughts that have been established.

Let’s look at the life, death, and immediate resurrection of the word “swag” in order to form a better understanding of the Lame-1 virus and how it spreads its subversive particles.

I wouldn’t classify myself as a fan of Jay-Z, but I would be a fool to say he doesn’t have an extremely large radius of influence. If you were to ask the average voyeur of culture, they would probably say that the single “Swagger Like Us” is the term’s pinnacle of hip-hop relevance. Once it jumped that shark named Zenith, it quickly became a scorned term amongst the hip-hop community. This puzzled me so I asked the universe why. What I quickly realized was that a different kind of hip hop icon had embraced the term, ie: Soulja Boy. Many consider him and his seemingly successful mental subsidiaries to be one of the many Lame-1 viruses infecting the natural organism that we call rap, but of course, many disagree. People went from having the “most swag on the corner” to “pretty boy swag’n” in their bathroom mirror calling themselves Miley Cyrus. Whether you hold to the old world definition of swag (promotional items given away at trade fairs and events to encourage attendees to visit the vendors’ booths) or the new world one (an overall aura that attracts people in your direction)…the foundation of the concept is the same. Attraction. Most of us not only want attractive qualities, we need them. Whether it’s an attractive resume in order to obtain employment, or an attractive vegetable dish in order to get our kids to eat right, the majority benefits from attraction. Why would we all of sudden not want to use a word that simply means having attractive qualities? Simple, it was now infected with the Lame-1. People with overall “lame existences” had embraced something to the point that those outside that lameness felt the need to distance themselves from the concept. They didn’t though. The want/need for attraction is still intact, it’s the term swag that’s been deemed unworthy. Unless of course you’re “Based”.

Our culture is one that will quickly align a behavior with the characteristic that is easiest to identify. First race, then religion, on into sexual orientation…maybe not in that order. What stands out first will depend on the viewing individual. It’s no secret that the mainstream media plays into this mentality. Couple this with the rampant rise of overall ignorance, we now have a melting pot of misguided judgements and uninformed opinions. For example: all Blacks are poor, all Jews are rich, and all Asians are smart. That statement as ridiculous as it seems, is the sum total of the average person’s unconscious thoughts on those three groups. The problem lies in the fact that many people act out that thought on a daily basis with no regard for the fact that it’s a flawed logic. This is the norm. Why else do blacks continue to support Obama’s policy even though they stand to lose the most from his “moderate” stances, because he’s black that’s why. When you base a structure on the existence of various demographics (race, religion etc) it’s best for the base if those parameters are kept in place. The mainstream media acts as the number one conduit for the lubricant that keeps the US in its perpetual state of “duh”. It’s business, and business is great. How about a round of applause for conditionally regulated capitalism. I kid. What should be obvious at this point is that whoever controls the major media outlets doesn’t want too much “smart” information out, and yes, I’d call that a conspiracy. The word conspiracy is another term that’s fallen to a similar fate as that of the term swag. When you look at the definition, there isn’t a logical reason to brush it off as a term not necessary of inclusion. Not only has the puzzle to the “media conspiracy” been put together by many people, it was also given a name: The Illuminati.

Who and/or what is The Illuminati? What is their mission? The answer to those questions will vary depending on who you ask. Off top, people may scoff at you for even using the term. They do this without looking at the essence of the concept, which once examined, is extremely relevant to them. Just like swag is. People will say it’s a fairy tale, even though the “Bavarian Illuminati” is deeply etched into the history books. How much do any of those details really matter? Should we focus on a title for those that aim to dim your light, or the fact that many say they don’t even exist? Personally, I don’t think that some cats from Bavaria are trying to dumb me down. I think they’re much closer to home than that. I can’t tell you what’s happening behind closed doors, but I do know that pentagrams and hooded weirdos aren’t the ones engulfing our youth in illiteracy and mental incapacity. Nope. The operation is much more realistic than that.

Enter the Lame-1 virus.

If only our society unconsciously embraced a need for truth the same way it does the need for attraction. Since it doesn’t, the various manifestations of the Lame-1 virus within the Illuminati discussion causes most people to turn away from the concept all together. What exactly are they turning away from? In my opinion, most people shun the religious aspects that are added by default, due to the unconscious alignment with “all things religious” in this country. If a truth is adorned with lies, I still consider it the truth. The first thing I do is remove the lies (opinions), then I celebrate it for what it really is. Unfortunately most people don’t do this. They allow the guy holding the sign that says “Kanye’s new video is ILLUMINATI!!!” to be the official spokesman for the subject. For the loss. What does an upside down cross mean to a person that doesn’t worship the upright one? The history surrounding “Baphomet” is just as man-made as the concept of men wearing skinny pants. We have to think deeper, more universal when it comes to world domination. Instead of dusting off the topic, we avoid it all together.

Even further than that, people now compete to see who can clown the theory the best. The problem is, nobody knows anything except how to clown. They don’t look past the opinions on the subject so they can break down the facts. They go the opposite direction, deeper into the wilderness that is half-knowledge. No means of enlightenment. All they know is what’s being reported to them by people who are selling them things. They then attempt to “raise” children, a cycle devoid of light. This lovingly embraced alternation has now evolved into a race to the top of Mt. Ignorance, not knowing that it’s summit is endless with no need for rush.

Many consider the problems facing inner city youth merely the manifestations of a generation raised by crack heads. I feel its way beyond that. Regardless, addiction itself is bigger than drugs and it’s enabled by different factors; related environment for example. The addictive nature resulting from oppression is not only placated with narcotics, it is also fed by any other thing that can hold over that natural hunger for more “light”. The perfect host situation for the Lame-1. It doesn’t have to be smart as long as it’s cool, and if the cool folks say it’s cool…it must be cool. A nice, hip, mental vacation. This epidemic must be stopped. Don’t allow the Lame-1 to reserve your mental destination against your will. Don’t let society dictate what you deem as intellectually worthy. Raise awareness. Shine light and ILLUMINATE. Teach the youth to do the same.

Thoughts On Arrogance

I feel that my greatest character flaw is my arrogance. Anyone that cares about me will cite this as the thing they’d presto change-o as far as I’m concerned. Those that don’t care about me will probably say the same, only, for much different reasons. Regardless, it’s not something that I’m proud of. I’m not necessarily proud of my shoe size either though. Point being, I have no natural control over its existence.

I’m of the mind state that if you don’t disapprove of the place you’re at in life, it makes no sense to feel too much regret for mistakes in your past. Your missteps are simply milestones and what not. I can look at my past and normally find my arrogance posted up firmly in situations where I was misunderstood, my confidence was received as overbearing pride. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I began to dig deeper into the reality of those engagements. At what point did I become arrogant in their eyes? I know that I need to be careful when analyzing how something is perceived, simply because my opinion on the situation is housed within my own personal perception. “Perception Inception” if you will. Very tricky. Regardless, when one doesn’t aim to offend, it’s worth the trouble of finding out how the offense occurred.

Of all the noted scholars throughout history, few of them avoided debate. It’s the heart of the trusted opinion. It makes no sense to argue what has already been argued, unless of course you have a new theory. In order to trust a theory enough to argue it, it’s best to test it through informed debate. The beauty of life; most of what we know is based on theory, meaning that it’s all up for debate. If you say that I offended you, based on the fact that this is simply what you perceived, whether or not something happened worthy of regret is up for debate. What can easily be passed off as a moment necessary of an apology, may actually be a teaching moment for the “offended party”. It was when I held a mirror up to myself during a period of being offended that I received this epiphany. I realized that more often than not, the fact that I thought I was right caused me to posture into a grander stance. Meaning that if/when proven wrong, my grand stance caused an air of shame to permeate. One man’s shame is another man’s glory. I began to see that it was the air, and not the person that had offended me. An air that I invited in. I began to understand that my pride only fell hard because I had placed it so high. High on an uncertainty. What theory is certain? None. The best thing one can do with a theory is fact check the ingredients.

In no way am I attempting to advocate in favor of arrogance. Knowing that every thing is “in the eye of the beholder”, one must wonder how the self-esteem of the viewer plays into what they claim to see. Well, I must wonder that. I think you should too. Most people form opinions and then share them. Basing your opinion on the unchecked opinion of other’s places you into dark waters. Never assume that a person is arrogant, simply based off of the opinion of another.

What is high to someone who feels low? If your spirits are down, the one maintaining a mid-level mood is in high spirits when compared to you. How fair is it to place your perceived models of humility and/or arrogance onto another’s walk in life? Maybe it’s fair, but how humble is it? Where is the humility in judging another person’s humility? Our society has been conditioned to embrace the braggadocious natures of celebrities passing it off as confidence, as we turn up our noses to the confidence of the general public, considering them “big-headed”. This mentality opens the door to judgments based on a media manufactured check list on what “success” is. If the person with their head low sees the person with their head high, chances are, based on society’s hold, the checklist comes out. “Why does she have so much confidence? She works at the grocery store!”…or…”Why is he smiling so big, look at the beat up car he’s in!”…familiar? It’s common, and in my opinion an arrogant mentality.

In my opinion, this all relates to the ease people throw the arrogance label around with. It takes arrogance to judge strictly based on your definitions. It takes arrogance to assume that someone should balance their confidence with their social standing. Humility doesn’t dwell where those mentalities do. If you knew that last year this time a person was near suicide, and now they love themselves and praise their own decisions on a regular basis…would you label them arrogant? What does the fence separating confidence from arrogance consist of? What constitutes the perfect mixture of esteem necessary to judge the ego of another with fairness? Does that mixture exist? I say that it doesn’t. What happens is, people react to different personalities based on their own. Simple. When I look at the problems of the world around us, it’s hard for me to see arrogance as a necessary focus.

If anything, the wrong people are arrogant. Similar to the money situation, it’s in the wrong hands.

If arrogance is acceptable based on album sales and salary figures, why can’t it be embraced when displayed by those simply working towards a better world? Either way, is that not a war that should be fought by the arrogant individual? When our loved ones display a flawed character trait, we point it out with hopes that they are made better. What are we doing when we point out the flaws of those we don’t care for? The best time to judge yourself is when you’re judging another. Did love lead you towards the opinion you’ve formed, or is it an opinion founded in animosity? Are you critiquing for the greater good, or simply to conform those around you to your comfort zone? Examine your examination.

My immediate circle is small. All giants within their own galaxy. The universe we form is one based on honesty and self-reflection. Where some see arrogance in me, they see confident zeal. I’m fully aware that life is much bigger than my circle, which is why I try to control that “zeal”. At times I fall short, I’m a work in progress.

The Hope Outside Of Hope

“Change doesn’t come from Washington. Change comes TO Washington.” – Barack Obama, DNC speech, Aug. 28, 2008

Gotcha! What he should have said was “Hope is everything EXCEPT Washington”. What’s clear to me is that Washington itself is hopeless. In fact, it robs this country of any and all potential hope. Literally.

Saying that Barack Obama was an experiment is an understatement. The best thing about a hypothesis is the ability to form extended hypothesis’ based on the results of the corresponding research. The results are in.

Never in my wildest nightmares would I imagine that the first words regarding “black issues” from the first black US president, would be that he wasn’t going to focus on them. That statement is paramount when you look at the policy and procedure that’s followed over the past 2 years.

The first thing you have to do is define “black issues”. One word can be used to sum it up; poverty. This immediately turns “black issues” into a larger situation as far as the lower class in this country is concerned. The class that is being ignored and put on the back burner for the sake of sustaining the “middle class”.

Once you have the definition, the next step is to “plug and play” with it. After flipping through the admin’s accomplishments, the one move that hints of focus towards the poor would be the black farmers settlement. This is quickly over shadowed by the fact that passage of S-510 (heavily supported by the white house) almost literally puts all small farmers out of business. Granted, an early admission that no focus will be put towards something should serve as a buffer against future criticism. What I find hard to believe is the level of support that the black community continues to give his policy.

It’s easy to say that Obama inherited a financial disaster, one that he’s had to deal with while facing Republican opposition. Easy because it’s obviously true. The hand picking of former Monsanto insiders and Fed Reserve banking execs early into his term? Not so easy to understand. The escalation of the war in Afghanistan makes no “peaceful” sense to me either. It doesn’t seem like a “Nobel Prize winner’s” viable play option. To understand what’s happening, you have to understand the differences between the two “hopes” that we hold onto.

Don’t confuse the “hopes of the American people” with the “hopes of the American government”.

The hopes of the American government have nothing to do with the success of the people that make up it’s masses. In their eyes, America’s success is based solely on the profitability of Wall Street. Keep going. Wall Street’s success is based solely on the success of key corporations. A few more mental steps and we come to: What are those corporations? Three banks, three computer companies, two oil companies, a pharmaceutical company… and Walmart. All that’s left to do is look at how these companies profit, as well as what needs to happen around the world in order for them to stay profitable. Never forget, Wall Street’s first “big corp” was the slave trade.

It’s never been about the “benjamin’s” to the big money holders in this country, it’s always been about the natural resources. There is no global super power in existence that hasn’t held onto a substantial stake in Africa. From the oil to the actual lives of it’s people, pillaged. The list is long on what has been used to found entire civilizations nowhere near Africa’s shores.

The black man’s life in America is simply a byproduct of the colonialism that set off this situation. What was built as a virtual holding pen for the American black, has now grown to include any and all that trip and fall into it’s vacuum. For the US government to actually make amends, the root of the problem would need to be identified. The problem there is that the roots of oppression are not only still intact, but stronger than ever. A strength that has enabled the tree of Imperialism to spread it’s branches to all lands that are home to “conquerable” natural resource holders.

I was actually naïve enough to believe that a black president would change this. I had hope that it would somehow put us in a position to really see the evil at hand, and give us an opportunity to progress our country, and our world, into real days of natural justice.

Welp.

I’m now cemented into the other hope. The hope that I was slow to see the necessity of.
How silly is it for me to expect a man that has stock in corporations thriving off of oppression, to put an end to oppression? Extremely silly. Once I realized how silly I had been, I immediately became frustrated to the point that I recommended voting be left off of future “to do” lists. What good is it? Right? It keeps people like Michelle Bachman out of office, for starters. But I digress.

We can’t expect officials elected to strengthen a system, to fight against what makes that system what it is. No matter what race, creed or jump shot ability they hold. It simply doesn’t work that way. Our only hope regarding involvement within the system (ie voting, shopping, entertaining) should be manifested by enabling things that slow down the fiasco. Support the smallest of the businesses. Eat the healthiest of the foods. Create the most positive possible surroundings for those growing under us. It’s our only hope.

People speak of the need for a revolution, as in a violent one. One thing I know about that, the only people without necessary fire power are the good guys.

Many super hero arch nemesis’ are all after the same thing, a supreme knowledge that controls minds. Back to reality. This knowledge exists, it’s been obtained, and it’s now being used to create fuel for the fire that is Imperialism.

Your mind is that fuel.

I haven’t identified the solution, but I have at least identified the problem. One thing I also know is that things of worth happen in stages. I like to think we’re in the “mass awareness” stage. I’m trying hard to play my part. Play yours. Let me know how I can help. My hope is that I can. Peace.

7 Minutes w/ 7 Dads: Day 6

“War is a poor chisel to carve out tomorrow.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

In my opinion, the only proper chisel for carving a better tomorrow is youth empowerment. The fact that many children are raising themselves these days, leads me to the calculation that adults aren’t carving correctly. Salute those that are.

Day six of 7 Minutes w/ 7 Dads brings us the perspective of @lucorico

Q1: What’s the best thing about fatherhood?

A1: Sometimes as we get older it becomes easy to take some of the beautiful things in life for granted. One of the best things about fatherhood is that I get to experience things through the eyes of my child all over again, as if I’m seeing them for the first time. Watching my little one being dazzled by a snowstorm, or seeing the impressive Chicago skyline for the first time refreshes my own existence and brings renewed enthusiasm.

Q2. What’s the most challenging thing?

A2: I’m an “older father”. My wife and I were married 15 years when we had our boy. Going from a long term “come and go as you please” lifestyle to one in which we seldom get a chance to do things without our child has been difficult. Also, where did the quiet go? My son seems to be his own mouth-powered radio station.

Q3: What makes you a good father?

A3: What makes me a good father is my consistency and follow through. My little one never has to guess. The expectations are clear. Another thing I’m very big on is positive feedback for positive behaviors. And even when he’s getting grief for negative behavior I explain that it’s his behavior we’re not happy with – not him. “We always love you very much even when we’re upset about the way you are behaving”.

Q4. How could you be a better father?

A4: There are a lot of ways I could be a better father. For starters, I could lower my expectations to more “age appropriate” levels. I tend to expect my four year old to have an attention span, decent manners, and self control. That’s just not realistic sometimes. I could raise my voice less. For sure.

Q5: What do you hope to accomplish through fatherhood?

A5: This is where things get tricky for me answering these questions. I’m afraid I don’t have a particularly optimistic view of where our culture is headed. My gut tells me that it would be best to prepare my son for a very different, and rather harsh (to put it mildly) world. I told myself that I would raise a smart, savvy little revolutionary. But since my wife didn’t have the foresight to give birth to a 14 year old, I’m having a hard time with this. You can’t look a 4 year old in the eyes and say, “Listen son, I’m sorry about the f#*%@#d up world that we’re handing you, but you’d better learn how to do sustenance farming, live on the run, and here’s how to pack a field dressing when they wound one of your comrades cause you’ll probably need to know that too. Why? Oh, because people who won’t bow to their corporate masters are eventually going to be hunted for sport.” See – that’s just no way to raise a child. And yet, I do
believe that day is coming – sooner than I want to deal with it. What do I hope to accomplish? I want to provide my little guy with the tools necessary to survive. The trick is to do that without, at the same time, completely emotionally scaring him.

Q6: Are you a better person as a result of being a father? If. so, how?

A6: I’m not sure about better. I’m a different person. I may be more burdened and grim. If it was still just my wife and I, it would be easier not to be so concerned with the future. Now that I’ve fallen completely in love with someone who is likely to be here much longer than we are – it’s tough. I don’t think I’m a better person, I’m just more invested.

Q7: How do you feel about the current state of fatherhood in America?

A7: I have seen fathers who really inspire me. I’ve also seen far too many who probably needed to spend more time with their own fathers. I’ve even seen a fair number of woman who have turned out to be pretty good fathers (sorry guys – it’s just true). I feel that this young crop of dads is actually pretty good! I’m seeing a trend that looks promising. Responsibility seems to be back in fashion!

~

“In fashion” of course, like everything else, is in the eye of the beholder. Dare I say, there are still far too many not “fashionable” enough when it comes to designing a better future for mankind to wear. Light must be shined on those preparing a worthy pattern.

I feel that the pure essence of “good deeds” get lost in translation once we focus on giving credit. Regardless, we should give credit where credit is due. I took this past week and created a series that aimed to do just that. I hope it’s serving it’s purpose. Peace to the designers of a better future.

7 Minutes w/ 7 Dads: Day 5

Coming off of yesterday evening’s memorial for the lives lost in Arizona, it’s easy for most to be caught up in a sense of tragedy. As horrible of an event as it was, it’s important for us to stay focused on what we can control: the impact on the lives we’ve been placed in. This series aims to shine light on a few men
making conscious efforts to focus on what they can control. Today we get some perspective on fatherhood from @kiliffe.

Q1. What’s the best thing about fatherhood?

A1: Watching a baby girl growing
up to be a smart, funny, slightly sassy (like her mother), empathetic, well-behaved, beautiful little girl.

Q2. What’s the most challenging thing?

A2: Trying to not spend every waking second of my time with her during our time together. That would be smothering her and I have to understand that she is an individual. Despite seeing her so infrequently, she still needs her alone time to do her *stuff*.

Q3. What makes you a good father?

A3: Letting her be her, with reasonable limits. Example: when she wants to wear her craziest clothing when we go out, or put 12 clips in her hair, I used to try to talk her out of it (because I know better, right?! ). Now I don’t do that. The way for her to grow and learn is by doing things for herself.

Q4: How could you be a better father?

A4: By focusing on the big picture. Working with her mother such that I can be more involved in her weekly after school activities: her tennis lessons, her swimming, etc. I’ve been hands-off on that so far, and I need to change that.

Q5: What do you hope to accomplish through fatherhood?

A5: Providing her with the ability to one day know how to have a loving, respectful relationship with a man. And the ability to recognize a relationship that is *NOT* that.

Q6: Are you a better person as a result of being a father? If so, how?

A6: I wish. I think I must be using up much of my patience and relationship skills with her, because I pretty much suck at relationships with other women (despite my previous answer).

Q7: How do you feel about the current state of fatherhood in America?

A7: Too many men have abandoned their children, *especially* their daughters,
and that sucks.

~

Indeed. That sucks. When I think of young lives lost, my mind immediately drifts to young lives here now needing to be raised. All praises due to those that accept that calling. Salute them! Stay tuned for Day six and seven of 7 Minutes w/ 7 Dads.

7 Minutes w/ 7 Dads: Day 4

The hope is for a better tomorrow. The hope is that we all can play our part to the fullest. If we literally do the most in every way as far as positive interaction with youth is concerned, “better” is guaranteed. In honor of fathers that are doing the most, we push the series forward with the perspective of @Wayno119

Q1: What’s the best thing about fatherhood?

A1: The best thing about fatherhood is learning. It really showed me no matter what, as they (children) grow and learn you learn more about yourself also.

Q2: What’s the most challenging thing?

A2: The most challenging thing for me personally has been learning patience and understanding. If children are difficult, it’s not their own fault. You must learn how to deal with those moments.

Q3: What makes you a good father?

A3: People from my mom to the crossing guard on my corner always tell me I’m a “Good Father”, but i don’t look at it that way. I believe I’m just doing what nature permitted me to do. A lot of men don’t embrace that, which leads to the term “Good Father”. You never hear women praised for what they do because they do what people “expect” them to do. I’m just doing whats expected of me.

Q4: How could you be a better father?

A4: I think there is always room for improvement with anything. People called Michael Jordan “perfect” but he always practiced. I think me taking time and speaking to my kids is what can ultimately make me better. Trying to be there when needed and offering comfort and security.

Q5: What do you hope to accomplish through fatherhood?

A5: I want to raise mine to the best of my ability. Who they become through their relationship with me may change the world. Children are tomorrow’s everything. If I can leave this earth knowing that I raised my kids to be respectful, loving and honorable people, that’s my little contribution to society.

Q6: Are you a better person as a result of being a father. If so, how?

A6: Honestly me becoming a father was the greatest gift I have ever received. It literally saved my life. I was running around doing all types of wrong until I saw life take place right before my eyes.

Q7: How do you feel about the current state of fatherhood in America?

A7: I don’t like the state of fatherhood in America. Men feel like they don’t need women and women feel like they don’t need men. Then you add kids in this equation that suffer because of a lot of parents differences and bitterness. I think all men, all races, need to step up to the plate for the sake of “life”. When a life is created, if we don’t give it love it won’t grow properly. That’s where the root of the problem starts in my opinion.
~
I agree. The human family needs to step up to the plate “for the sake of life”. Another inspiring view point from an engaged father. Salute him! Peace to his efforts.