Monday, April 23, 2007

Sometimes I Stand Alone

Happy Un-Earth Day


God is
reen





The Madness


I usually write some kind of a researched piece. Today, though, there is no need. Those of you who are convinced, are convinced. On the other hand, those of you who get the truth, get it. I've tried to present the logic and background of my position on this issue, but it doesn't seem to work. The globe is in the grips of a mass hysteria.


The reasons for it are that many liberals have no religion, so this has become their religion. Plus, many religious people are joining the hysteria too, because the arguments for the mythology seem reasonable.

I'm speaking, of course, of the green madness. The Inconvenient Truth illness. Arrogant Hollywood stars fly in their jet planes, ride in their limos, and live in their air-conditioned mansions while advising the rest of us to ride the bus and use one-ply toilet paper. It's disgusting.


Yes, Let's Go Green


Again, I don't mind that we go green. I do care, though, that we be reasonable. I know many of you don't hear this on the media, who are co-conspirators in the myths, but hundreds of scientists do not believe that global warming is caused by mankind's actions—but rather by the natural cycles of the Earth. Tell that to the masses.

To Sheryl Crow: Do Some Reading


To Sheryl Crow, stop ruining the environment with your obsessions. To the people who want to get things right on this issue, it is your responsibility to get educated. Go back to school or do some relevant reading, and learn the scientific method, which requires evidence, not mantras. Do the world the favor, too, of exploring the opposing arguments. Believe me, Al Gore and you, Sheryl, are not experts on what is or is not happening to the world's climate.

Global Warming?


For the last time, yes, there might be global warming. But, Kyoto will not help. Read how little Kyoto will do to offset the warming. You'll be shocked.

The Best Ways to Save the Environment


For the last time, yes, go green, but don't ruin the world doing it.

You want the two best ways to save the environment? Control population growth, and develop technology. The more people—the more cars, the more air-conditioners, the more ... you get it—the more CO2. Plus, technology is not the enemy. Industry is not the enemy. Just the opposite.

Fewer people. Better technology. Simple.


Rock

(*Wikipedia is always my source unless indicated.)


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Monday, April 16, 2007

The African-American Experience and Imus



Alex Haley


Roots






Our American Cultural Reality


The country has been talking non-stop about the Imus event (see last post An Old IgnorImus). It is such a pivotal phenomenon in America at this time that it deserves more contemplation. I just saw Roots, the 1977 American television award-winning miniseries. Juxtaposing the Imus story and Roots gives much food for thought.

The question is, what has happened to Black culture over time—from its African roots, to the horrible time of slavery, and Reconstruction, to the Civil Rights movement, and on up to the Imus story?

I don't propose to write a detailed thesis here. I just want to express a few thoughts on the hopes and dreams of the good Black people in this country, as I understand from being an outsider looking in.


Roots


I'm sure most of you have already seen the record-breaking mini-series, Roots. I was out of the country when the series showed in the U.S. originally, and so for all my life I've never seen it. I finally got to view this great television series on DirectTV the last few nights. I watched the whole thing. I was richly rewarded.

I went into it skeptical, since it had such great hype. I was afraid it would be politically correct and another liberal propaganda piece. It wasn't. It is a beautiful work of art and history that brings wonderful and noble characters to life.



It humanizes slavery, and fleshes out the slave traders, owners, and the slaves.


Some Critiques of Roots


click to show/hide the rest of the post


Roots does idealize the slaves, but you know what—I have entered the homes of African-American foster parents for some years (when I was a social worker), and I can definitely say that I experienced the same kind of quiet dignity that Roots portrays. Nothing in Roots reads untrue for me.

Anti-White?

One thing I disliked about Roots was the total anti-White sentiment that was expressed by most of the slaves. Yet, who am I kidding—what else would a slave feel but hatred and contempt for the slave owners who denied him/her their freedom, slept with their women, physically and emotionally abused them, and robbed them of money, property and their very names? It's totally understandable. Besides, there were plenty of good white characters in the series, like Old George and his wife.

Islam

I wasn't crazy either about Kunta Kinte being a Muslim. Of course I feel this way because of 9/11 and terrorist reasons, which were not a factor at the time of the making of Roots. So, I'll give it a pass on this one.

Afro-Centrism

One main objection I have to the series is the insistence on Afro-centrism. I guess you might say I disagree with Alex Haley's main premise—that in order to be free, you must know your roots. I think you are free in America as an American. You don't need to be hyphenated to be a full human being. If you celebrate your roots, that's fine—but not to the extent that you separate yourself, so that you are not a part of the whole, as a full member of America.

click to hide most of this post


Lessons of Roots

Family

What I think is lost in modern African-American society is the sense of complete family that is present in Roots. Despite the slave traders and owners, the characters in Roots fought hard to keep the whole family together, including the presence of a strong father. Present-day African American families often are missing a father, and/or have parents who are not married.

Respect for Women

Plus, present in Roots is respect for women. This is absent in many hip-hop records and rap music. Imus was supposedly trying to be cool and "in" with his Black brothers by mentioning "hos" in the comments that got him fired. It seems it's not okay for a White guy to say this, but it is okay for a Black guy.

Chicken George

The wonderful character Chicken George, played brilliantly by Ben Vereen, was, like all the central Roots characters, a living human being. He rose from slavery to become a wealthy landowner and form a Tenessee town of former slaves. He used his love of cockfighting to become the expert at it. He earned enough to buy his freedom and escape the misery of servitude, and then rescue his whole family from the evil of racist Whites. He is truly an example of the American Dream, in its richest sense.

Learning from Roots and Imus


This is a good time for Blacks and Whites to contemplate what is and is not acceptable in music and public discourse. I think it is important, as Alex Haley knew, to get back to the best parts of our roots, which for both Whites and Blacks means returning to the importance of intact families, a quiet dignity, and respect for strong, responsible men and persevering, dignified women. God bless Chicken George, his family, and their descendents.

Rock

(*Wikipedia is always my source unless indicated.)


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Monday, April 9, 2007

An Old IgnorImus



Inexcusable.




Foot In Mouth Disease


Metromix. Jackson, protesters blast Imus comments: "On his Wednesday show, 'Imus in the Morning,' the host referred to members of the Rutgers team as 'nappy-headed hos.'"
At the same time radio provocateur Don Imus was appearing on Rev. Al Sharpton's show to discuss his controversial comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team, protesters gathered outside NBC Tower in Chicago calling for his ouster.

Led by the Rev. Jesse Jackson and other members of his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, about 50 protesters held signs reading "no apologies, no forgiveness" and chanted, "Imus must go" while walking on the sidewalk outside the high-rise building on Columbus Drive.

Nasty Fellow


I do listen to Imus sometimes. I've never liked the man, though. Imus is always mean-spirited, and, of course, he is mostly liberal, which makes him doubly unlikable to me.

He is almost as vicious sometimes as Keith Olberman.






Mel, Michael, and Don


Still, most of the time I stick up for people who make the mistake of putting their foot in their mouth—ala Mel Gibson. (Gibson's gaffe.) As you may remember, though, I did not defend "Kramer" (Michael Richards), because of the sniveling, racist way he apologized. And now, I cannot stand up for Don Imus. My reason is that his comment was so over the top that it is unforgivable. Yes, it makes it easier for me to condemn him since I don't like the man anyway. Yet, I believe I'd denounce anyone who would make such an insensitive remark.

Even Senility Would not Justify It


There is no excuse for the remark, period. The man is getting old and so might not be in charge of his faculties so much anymore—he comes off as a crotchety old curmudgeon anyway. Yet, still, and again, this cannot be an excuse. If he can't control his mouth to this gross extent, he doesn't deserve to be on the air.

Me and Jesse


So, for the first time in my recent life, I find myself in agreement with Jesse Jackson. Imus must go. I don't want anyone on the air who can say such hurtful things, even on a bad day.

Rock

(*Wikipedia is always my source unless indicated.)


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Monday, April 2, 2007

Chess Match


The

Hostages are
Pawns in a global game.




No Spin


The world is so complicated now (perhaps it always is) that it makes my head spin. Since this is a bigger no-spin zone than
O'Reilly, I've got to get a hold of myself and stand my ground. If the world situation affects me this way, I suppose it affects a few others similarly. I don't envy George W. Bush, nor members of Congress, nor, for that fact, the American voter.





Nukes and Hostages


Iran, feeling that it has not gotten the respect it deserves, and feeling threatened by sanctions, reached out and grabbed someone—a number of British hostages who we're not supposed to call hostages.

Iran's move, after the kidnapping, was to parade the hostages with their "confessions."





Iran Monday showed no sign of bowing to diplomatic pressure to release 15 British sailors and Marines detained for over a week, saying all the captives have confessed to illegally entering Iranian waters.

Iran's state-run IRIB network reported Monday that all 15 confessed on video, but "due to certain changes in the last two days in the sensational British policies, the detailed interviews will not be aired."

Blair's move was to half-apologize and use quiet diplomacy.
"We are anxious that this matter be resolved as quickly as possible, and that it be resolved by diplomatic means, and we are bending every single effort to that. . . . We are in direct bilateral communication with the Iranians," British Defence Minister Des Browne told reporters yesterday.

Bush's move was to call the kidnapees hostages, and move in the aircraft carriers.
"The British hostages issue is a serious issue because the Iranians took these people out of Iraqi waters, and it's inexcusable behaviour," Mr. Bush said in response to a reporter's question during a press conference at the Camp David retreat.

Who is Winning?


Iran gets to have higher oil prices, which will help their economy. Britain and the United States, so far, though, get a boost in public opinion worldwide, as compared with Iran.

Several commentators are saying, though, that Bush went too far in calling the prisoners hostages. They fear that this will provoke Iran into keeping the prisoners longer.

The bedrock truth is that this whole incident will not delay sanctions against Iran, and the world seems even more united in seeing that Iran not obtain nuclear weapons.


Another 444-day Hostage Crisis?


Can the situation escalate into a repeat of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, which lasted from November 4, 1979, through January 20, 1981?

I don't think so. Though Bush is a weakened president, a lame duck with low approval ratings, he has no shortage of backbone, as was the case with Jimmy Carter.

Iran took the hostages in the Carter era because they thought they could get away with it. They took the hostages this time as a daring act of pique. They are hoping to change the status quo.

There is not a chance in a million, though, that they can keep these hostages for 444 days. As long as Bush and Blair are in charge, this won't happen.


Iran's Boldness


Why did Iran think they could get away with even this stunt, as it is? Well here, I have to concede that they know Bush and Blair can't do anything in the short run—yes, due to their lack of approval, and the public's war fatigue, but also due to the takeover of the United States Congress by leftist pacifists, who always bring more violence to the world than they prevent.

Still, neither Bush nor Blair will let this situation stand for long.


Check and Mate


Is it a chess game? Yes, but eventually, sooner rather than later, the West will checkmate Iran on this one. Ahmadinejad will have made his point, though, that he can stir up trouble and roil our markets anytime he chooses.

Rock

(*Wikipedia is always my source unless indicated.)


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