Superville Review

FORGET THAT JESSE JACKSON SAID IT. DOES HE HAVE A POINT?

2010-07-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

Oh, he's gone and done it. Jesse Jackson has played the "race card." He's likened Dan Gilbert's mentality to a modern day slave owner, turning on a runaway slave that has done what is in his best interest. These days in America people love to get upset; people love to not listen; people LOVE LOVE LOVE to get offended and the quicker the better. Did anyone wonder if Jesse Jackson had a point?

Obviously, LeBron James, multi-millionaire is not a slave nor do I believe Rev. Jackson thinks LeBron is a slave. What he indicated is that he does believe Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, based on the veracity of his comments, was "acting" like a slave owner. Now that is incendiary. In this country when slavery or the holocaust is mentioned in any context outside of a literal, historical one causes many people much consternation. Jesse Jackson's presence is ubiquitous in the civil rights arena. He has been hailed as a hero and at the same time seen as a grand stander out for personal gain and fame. His history clouds any issue he decides to speak on, even if he might have a valid point. Some people thinks his latest comments are too far outside the box or straight dumb. One friend of mine says "Jesse's showing his behind again," but is he on to something? Dan Gilbert turned on LeBron James quicker than a Mike Tyson hook in '86. As soon as James decided to take his abilities elsewhere Gilbert went over the top with a missive attacking James' personal and professional character. The one hour special was self-centered. Gilbert was right about that. But then to call him a quitter, etc. If he was so bad why did he want to keep him there? Could it be the one hundred million dollars his franchise lost in value once "King" James departed? Well known NY Times sports columnist William Rhoden penned a book on this vary subject called "Forty Million Dollar Slaves" that called into question the relationship between athletes and their "owners."

Now did Mr. Jackson need to make this statement to the public? No. Could he have sent a letter or had a phone conversation with Dan Gilbert? Yes. Would that have been better? Probably. Why? Because most people in this country have lost a sense of nuance or the ability to analyze beyond the face of a statement. And say Dr. King had said something like this not having the baggage of Jesse Jackson, most folks wouldn't have said a thing. If one leaves their opinions about Jesse Jackson's history out of it then they can ask themselves if he has an insight that bares a hint of truth.

Dan Gilbert is not a slave owner. His players are not slaves. They are all million or billion dollar men. But the control of the business invariably goes to the owners in professional sports leagues. And even though Gilbert is not a slave owner his vitriolic letter and the irrational fury behind it could lead one to suspect a man who has lost more than a great player. He acts like he and the Cleveland faithful has lost a way of life; a way of making money. And THAT can be likened to slave owners at the start of reconstruction. Don't take Jesse Jackson's word for it. Get your children's history books out and read.

PARIS' DEBUT PUTS HIM IN THE MIX

2010-07-09T00:09:00.001-07:00

Songs About A Girl Vol. 1: Cupid's Last Arrow, the new "mixtape" from twenty year old Inglewood native Paris, sounds right on today's pop music landscape; firmly entrenching himself into the modern day creation of the rapper/balladeer. The album presents Paris as a solid producer and gifted vocalist more than comfortable singing or spinning tales of heartbreak in rhyme.

Vol. 1 delves into the intricacies of the various stages of love ranging from the vulnerable "The Great Depression," "Chasing After You," the swaggerific "Push," "If You Want To," to the reflective "Songs About A Girl" with its Prince-like drum snare. Throughout the album the production is immaculate with each element, from lead and background vocal melodies to the menagerie of synth runs and bold drum patterns, getting their proper place in a mix that allows for Paris' various skills to take center-stage. Listeners who aren't music heads won't know what any of that means, but the album will sound like what they hear on the radio and that is indicative of the professional effort they are hearing.

Being Paris' introduction to 'pop world' one can understand the desire to showcase every song he worked hard to produce, but at twenty songs the album's "soul" gets stretched a bit. Listeners connect or peel away with or walk away from artists within the first three songs; so at twenty songs, even though a quality effort, Vol. 1 runs dangerously close to overstaying its welcome. This album is not the old school, gospel-blues tinged, classic type albums of Marvin, Stevie or Al that mom and pop spun on any occasion. Vol. 1 is slick, bold and produced for dancing; it's for the club, for Top 40 radio, for its time. Instant gratification rules the early new millennium. Leave music heads wanting more not less. But more of what?

Ultimately, Paris has given the music world a solid debut album that makes him an obvious peer of Drake, Kanye's 808's and Heartbreaks w/out the auto tune, Kid Cudi, Usher amongst others. He belongs, but the question is who is he really? Vol. 1 sounded a lot like what is on the radio. That's great for career ambition. That's great for earning a living. Artistically, it causes me wonder what makes Paris not just fit-in with, but stand out from his peers. Based on his debut effort we should get a next time that will let him answer that question.

THE PAIN IS REAL, THE LOVE AIN'T

2010-07-08T22:06:00.000-07:00

People, there's still thousands of gallons of oil gushing into the Gulf Coast, ways-of-life are being destroyed by the day, the war in Afghanistan is still up for a serious debates even amongst those who voted President Obama into the Oval Office. You get the point. There are real issues going on in the real world. But in our reality TV culture, LeBron James "decision" on his hoop game future took on must-see viewing. Where would he go and why? It was obvious having a press conference did not include the possibility of an announcement saying he was staying in Northeastern Ohio. Unless you were a hopeful Cavaliers fan.

Being from Buffalo, NY I understand the pain of fate in the athletic arena. Four straight Super Bowl losses, a skate in the crease in triple OT of the Stanley Cup Finals and other slights will do that to a fan. Especially the talk of "small market." LeBron jersye's were burning within minutes of his decision. Dan Gilbert, the Cavs owner wrote a scathing diatribe reserved in most situations for scorned lovers or disgruntled employees. () Wait, he is the owner right? Although he shouldn't have written the letter in the way that he did the pain within it was real and understandable. LeBron is an Ohioan. He's one of their own. They must feel betrayed and embarrassed in the public fashion in which LeBron chose to inform them of his single-quickly-in-a-new relationship status.

The way he broke the news to the Cleveland faithful was dirty pool; it could have been done in a press release without the indignity of Cleveland fans being whored out on television and laughed at by an American public that largely does not understand the Cleveland's, Buffalo's, Detroit's, Denver's or Milwaukee's. These professional sports franchises are more than a team; they are a real and believed reflection and representation of a town and its people. They are an extension of the locality. When the team is ballin' out of control so are the residents. When the team is down so is the city psyche. That team is their hot club, their grand opening, their VIP room. They bring glory to a place many look down their noses to see. But even in their pain, Ohioans have to remember the truth.

The truth is that LeBron James is one of them, by birth, and his birth certificate will shout that out until the end of records being kept. He is also one of them in circumstance. How many Ohioans have had to seek greener pastures in another city or state because there was a lack of employment or because they could make more money elsewhere? LeBron is of Ohio, he is from Ohio, but he is not owned by Ohio. Scream, curse, burn his jersey; fine. But to act like LeBron owes something to the city and its people is senseless. The same people that booed him and the Cavs of the court in game 5, and rightfully so, now "boo" him for bouncin' out. He stunk against Boston and folks were within their rights to boo. And he believes he has a better chance to win elsewhere and struck out for greener pastures. That is the American way and it's done all over this country on a daily basis regardless of one's class, race, gender or religion.

LeBron hooped hard for seven years in Cleveland. Nothing lasts forever. Fans say they loved LeBron, supported him, raised him even. But what's a selfish love worth? True love would mean wishing the man well. LeBron choosing to ride D. Wade's coattails to a title is another topic altogether, but if that's what makes him happy so be it. If he does win a title he will do it as a native of Ohio that went somewhere and did well.

HARD WORK DOESN'T ALWAYS PAY OFF

2010-07-06T17:35:00.000-07:00

JaMarcus Russell, the big man from dixieland with the bigger arm and the bear-like agility to move quicker than a man his size should be able to. He was the number one pick of the Oaktown Raiders owned by AFL original Al Davis, a man dedicated to speed and putting the ball in the air as far as it can be thrown. He didn't care about the whispers about Russell's work ethic; his bouts of excess weight gain; his nine-to-five mentality about a position on the field that has no off-days, let alone off-hours. Quarterbacks in the NFL are 24-7 maintenance men in a complex where a loss must be fixed immediately and at any cost. JaMarcus never clued in to the responsiblity he held as "the man" in Oaktown.

The NFL is a multi-billion dollar business that has, without question, become America's past time; it's game of choice; the bully of the American professional sports landscape that makes a schedule other leagues work around and television conglomerates cater to. Every team in the league represents a vehicle that is supposed to move toward a bottom line that provides millions for the league coffers and those of the owners. The QB, by virtue of the position, holds the keys to the truck. But JaMarcus Russell was still operating on a learner's permit, failing to see the need to take more instruction. He just didn't "get it." The Raiders released him then embarrassed him with the news that they were considering suing him to regain some of his bonus money.

So now comes the news that Russell has been busted in Alabama for downing too much of the "purple drank" that has roots in the south and gained popularity in certain circles of Hip Hop culture. I don't know if a man should be arrested for drinking what essentially is the cough medicine we all took for the slightest cold as children, mixed with soda and candy, but the fact is he was arrested. Was he downing the "drank" in Oakland? Did it drain his focus? Did it cloud his mind? Work ethic was the downfall of JaMarcus Russell in the NFL yet his physical talent was getting him some consideration from the New York Jets. It seems Russell's work ethic in obtaining the purple drank was better than his on the field ambition and his hard work might have cost him his last chance in the NFL. And that's a sad thing to say about a man with more physical talent than half the QB's in the league.

CYBER GANGSTERISM

2010-07-06T17:03:00.000-07:00

The culture of the new millenium is one moved by technological advances that cater to the fast paced, the ultra-new, the demand for immediate gratification. The immediacy of news and information has led to a communal meeting place that some call a "forum" and still others refer to as the "message board." The ability to congregate with people from anywhere around the globe at any time is an intoxicating notion. Gathering of information, sharing of opinions could only lead to the possibility of changes, movements and simply learning something new that one did not know before the encounter. Those are all positive ends Unfortunately, something that could be labeled a grand ambition is still prone to the imperfection of those that utilize or abuse the opportunity.

The rise of cyber gangsterism has grown to epic proportions in the past several years and today stands at it's all time worst. You have been there; reading an article on political policy or last nights NBA game or a fashion blog turns into a diatribe of racism, sexism, homophobia mixed with bad punctuation, misspelled words, CAPITALIZED FRAGMENTS TO TRULY GET ACROSS THE POSTERS' ANGER!!!!! Sigh. What the message board has turned into is an opportunity for those who sit in some basement in 'anywhereville' to gain power through their keypad. The ability to dehumanize, defame and debase faceless contemporaries, political parties or entire cultures.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said during a critical point in the civil rights struggle (In Texas the civil rights movement, but that's another post altogether) that people must learn to disagree without being violently disagreeable. Violence does not just come in the form of physical confrontation. Mental or spiritual violence can be just as harmful and in today's culture of high technology where interpersonal interaction is disappearing behind a DSL connection, the violence of tone becomes even more pronounced. The discovery of fire, the creation of the automobile were just as important as the advent of the technological age. The uses were many, the convenience revolutionary; yet there are arsonists and drunk drivers. Within every sweet thing hides a bitter taste. The trolls of the message board who use it to advance pure ignorance without needing the courage to face the object of their derision is a necessary price to pay for the access to those of good will who can inform each other and provide well thought out viewpoints in intelligent ways even in the face of disagreement.

But there are millions who wish they could meet the cyber gangsters of their favorite websites in the school yard just one time.

Can Major League Baseball Overcome It's Class Problem?

2009-01-07T21:07:00.000-08:00

Major League Baseball, also known as, The National Past Time is intimately familiar with its place on the vanguard of societal issues. Jackie Robinson breaking a shameful color barrier in 1947 to the advent of free agency in professional sports in the 70's. Baseball once again finds itself at a cultural cross-roads, but this time the narrow path doesn't lead to broad social change in racial and economic areas. No, this time that narrow road points inward at the competitive viability of the game itself.

Full disclosure here: I am a New York Yankee fan; have been since I could walk. I am grateful for ownership that cares enough to reinvest its profits into fielding a team with the sole objective of winning. However, after spending over 300 million dollars on contracts of super pitcher C.C. Sabathia, face of the game, Mark Texeria and the potential of A.J. Burnett the Yankees have drawn the ire of baseball fans in the outer regions of economic equality. Milwaukee G.M. Doug Melvin and numerous "anonymous" sources have been critical of the Yankees spending habits. These habits have been adopted in recent years by the Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Cubs. Big city baseball teams spending big city money.

For fans of teams such as Kansas City, Florida, Tampa Bay, Oakland, Pittsburgh and just about any team not in New York, L.A., Boston or Chicago, all hope for a title is abandoned after early June in most seasons. Yes, Florida has won two world series. Yes, Tampa Bay was a 2008 world series participant. But after each world series victory the Marlins did not wait two months before gutting their team in a fire sale of its high impact performers. And the Devil Rays have been below putrid since they came into the league. Only after years of building and retooling their farm system were they able to offer a viable product. Can they repeat that success this year?

Baseball is the petri-dish for the have and have-nots. Baseball was on its deathbed in 1994 when an unpopular strike canceled the World Series.
Then a steroid fueled home run era brought baseball back to national prominence with broken records and raised attendance.

Today, baseball's World Series showcase draws lower and lower national ratings every year. Now that possibly is a result of Fox Sports moribund and sanctimonious announcing duo of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, but more than likely is the fact that the Tampa Bay's, Florida's and Arizona's of the basball world are not sexy enough to garner attention. Those cities have home grown talent that peeks in a given year, but is widely unknown to those outside of baseball. And this is where baseball suffers. The die-hard fans and purists will complain, but always come back for another hardball fix. But baseball is not gaining new fans in an era of sports where football and basketball have taken over the imagination of the youth.

Without new fans baseball will die. But without a competitive parity in the world of Major League Baseball that allows fans in out of the way places to believe their teams have a chance to be champions or teams, outside of big cities, that capture the imagination of casual observers, baseball won't be able to sustain its television life. Which will further erode the ability of small market teams to compete with their big brothers.

MR. PRESIDENT

2008-11-05T11:54:00.000-08:00

Yes We Did. Yes We Can.

SOMETHING IN THE WAY OF THINGS

2008-07-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

(aol/people file photo)

Amiri Baraka's poetically hard line riff on society at large begins with these foreshadowing lines:

Something in the way of things
Something that will quit and won't start
Something you know but can't stand
Can't know get along with
Like death

Well, I don't know if Baraka's lines were a shot over the bow of modern day media and their coverage of the world, but they do fit that demographic, as well as the people who watch it.

The people who watch what is passing these days for media coverage are the something that will quit and won't start. These somethings and somebodies have quit looking for informative journalism and won't start on a path to demanding better from their media coverage by refusing to engage in the rumor mills that news coverage has become. When ESPN dedicates headlines to Alex Rodriguez and his wife's pending divorce request we know things done got too far gone; especially after the man tied all-time great Mickey Mantle's 536 home runs. The something that the somebodies know and can't stand is that they trade in a he-said, she-said brand of retro-gossip that harken back to days of high school soap operas brought to us by alienation, wistfulness, confusion and desires for popularity. The can't know/get along with like death is the idea that rummaging through time on the wings of minding other folks personal business is a waste of time. It is a type of mental death for meaningful knowledge.

Now, if A-Rod were a politician or pastor sworn to uphold certain standards maybe this coverage would be more worthy. Some would say taking vows before the Lord counts as a sworn upholding of God's law. That might be true, but that's before God and the family of that man and wife. Whether A-Rod is cheating on his wife is between God, him, his wife and their families. Not a public looking for a thrill to shock the doldrums out of their own existence. The sad thing is that for whatever A-Rod's faults might have been in his marriage, there is no proof that he was carrying on an affair with the Material Girl. There is no proof she is seeking a divorce from Guy Ritchie, her movie director husband. There is no evidence that Cynthia Rodriguez was doing anything other than taking advantage of a friend's offer of refuge during a crisis which is what Lenny Kravitz has publicly stated that he offered. But because "professional" photographers (see paparazzi)are allowed to tail folks around town and country based on their bank account or celebrity, and they snap pictures, and send stories down the grapevine, some that, at times, are whisperings from the Public Relations reps of the stars themselves, citizens are at risk for innuendo, lies or secrets being revealed. Does anybody in the media care that any of the above mentioned people have children? Probably not. That's not the "story." But is the state of A-Rod's marriage truly news?

I am lifelong Yankee fan. I would rather hear why A-Rod's general manager, Brian Cashman, has not been able to pull together a pitching staff that is consistent or why many of A-Rod's teammates' bats have gone soft. Professional athletes have long been known to carouse. All of them? No. A lot them? Yeah. But during the more archaic times in national media coverage, BI (Before Internet) and B24 (Before 24 hour cable news cycles) this information was kept between the athletes, teammates, beat writers and no one else. It was off the field and, therefore, irrelevant to the story of the game.

Now the media has made everything on the record and much of it seems to be no more than simple junior high mischief; and the viewing public eats it up and gets a glut of fast news that gets imaginations fat, but leaves intellects painfully malnourished. And there is wonderment in some quarters of America in regard to how the red, white and blue is ceding financial power to China after decades of financial dominance on the world stage. Well, Americans don't have time to think about these types of issues. A-Rod is sleeping around and his wife wants a divorce. Cue up the violins and soap detergent ads here. To quote Toni Morrison's classic character Sula Peace, "harrumph!" There's something in the way of things indeed.

RACIAL PARANOIA AND YOUR LOCAL MESSAGE BOARD

2008-07-05T22:36:00.000-07:00

I am currently checking out the newest book from University of Pennsylvania, Associate Professor, Dr. John Jackson, Jr., entitled Racial Paranoia - The Unintended Consequences of Political Correctness. In the work, Dr. Jackson, Jr. breaks down a United States of America whose transcendent gains out of the Civil Rights Era has produced legislative and social gains, relegating bald-faced proponents of racial animus to the fringes of society, but allowing true racial feelings to lie buried beneath a surface of political correctness. Those smiling faces might just be a cover for a racial tempest that reveals itself in more intimate and supportive surroundings. And this is, says Dr. Jackson, the facilitator of racial paranoia; in the case of black American's, the paranoia of seeing racism behind every smile, gesture or perceived slight and for white American's, the paranoia of saying or doing anything that can be misconstrued as "racist" in spite of intentions that might be far removed from that reality.

The book got me thinking about my own bouts of racial paranoia and I had to laugh because yes, I have seen a look on a white face or thought I saw a gesture that I took as an indicator or a negative feeling towards me and by extension, African-Americans. Dr. Jackson is definitely onto an interesting theory of a new paradigm in race relations. I think though that there might be a new found place where racial paranoia has yet to make an appearance. The message board.

Along with the technological advances that created an internet that allowed the global community to become smaller and allow an up-to-the-second access to information for anyone looking has come the "message board," that growing community of facilitators, combatants and commiserators; sometimes to positive end, but often times blatantly racist or ill-informed about any given topic which is a link to xenophobic positions. Being a lifelong fan of the Buffalo Bills and music and videos I can be found on any number of message boards related to the NFL, rock or rap concerts and youtube videos. Racism is alive and well, good people and most people spare no decency trying to hide it. Racial epithets, narrow minded views on politics, economics and social standing are par for the course on most message boards. You don't believe it? Please feel free to peruse a message board related to whatever your topic of choice might be.

It made me wonder if I would prefer the paranoia that Dr. Jackson writes about on our local message boards. There is a saying about people who get drunk and do things they would not ordinarily do; it's called getting "liquid courage." Well, cyber-courage operates under the same tenet. Hiding behind a keyboard from anywhere in the world, untraceable by everyman standards, probably not government standards (there is that paranoia), has allowed the normalcy of hatred and ignorance to rear its mental infantility without consequence of physical confrontation or a clearly public censure. In spite of many racialized message board posts being called for what they are by dissenters strongly condemning said occurrences, this form of "public" censure is still hidden. Without a face or video evidence of these written attacks "public" does not work with the same efficiency.

For those paranoid folks black, white, brown, red and yellow who long for relief from the weariness of seeing bogeymen in every interaction they have friends on the message boards who will be more than happy to tell them exactly how other feel about "their people."

THANK YOU FOR PLAYING GOOD NIGHT

2008-07-03T10:40:00.001-07:00

(Sports Illustrated Photo)

Brett Favre is one of the NFL's all time great Quarterback's that is not up for question. With his swashbuckling style, strong-arm confidence, emotional toughness and improvisational approach to the game Favre generated a nation of fans not just in Green Bay, but across the country. A good ole' boy, with a man-child shrug and grin appealed to football fans tired of the modern era, high maintenance, primadonna persona of NFL player. Who knew Favre was no different?

For the past several seasons Favre has turned his possible retirement into a soap opera that extended well beyond the NFL draft and into OTA's that are used to build team chemistry and chart an organizational strategy for the coming season. Favre traded on his legendary status and general likeability to hold the Packers hostage to his decision on stay or go. This off-season was no different except for the fact that Favre decided early in the process that it was time to call "game." Through tears and wistful deep breaths he thanked everybody and their mama for the good times, the memories, the camaraderie and the support. He went into the sun chin up, chest out and still loved by the media, the league and his fans. His early decision, unlike previous seasons, allowed the Packers to prepare for the future; preparing Aaron Rodgers to take the reigns as the number one and drafting Brian Brohm, the Louisville gunslinger holding more than a passing resemblance to Favre's big arm tactics. But of course it was too good to be true.

The Packers just recently cleaned out Brett Favre's locker. And only after news reports painted the picture of the organization as embarrassingly unable to let go like the guy who had the dime girl, until she moved on, but couldn't let go and let everybody know the power she still had over him. But actually, last season the world could have seen the Favre's selfish nature. After another slow build-up of deciding on play or retirement Favre started getting called out in the media about quickening his decision. His response? Favre said, "what are they gonna do? Cut me?" Favre is that gridiron dime piece who knows his status and used it with abandon. So is it really any surprise that after holding that epic press conference in Green Bay back in March that he would change his mind?

Latest reports have Favre changing his mind after catching an itch on his back that told him he still wants to ball. His family vouches for his good shape and his undiminished ability. Favre calls it all a rumor to newspapers in his native Mississippi. Yet ESPN is reporting that Favre has contacted the Packers front office about a possible return. So what do the Packers do now? Pull Aaron Rodgers, a man who was already under the heaviest pressure to perform well in replacing a legend, and re-insert legend himself? This would delay the Packers, the NFL, fans and Rodgers himself from seeing if he's up to being number one in Titletown. It would also push back the development of Brian Brohm.

Favre, as great a signal caller as he was, is showing himself to be all about Brett. And if he hasn't noticed, it's really not. The Packers should tell him thanks, but no and send him back to his deep south farm life to tip a beer and wheel his tractor.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK VS. SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN ON BEHALF OF BARACK OBAMA DRAWS THE IRE OF THE MEDIA PUNDITRY

2008-06-30T11:09:00.001-07:00

AP PHOTO

Wesley Clark's recent appearance on "Face the Nation" has caused a firestorm. I first heard his opinion of John McCain's inability to lead foreign policy based on his POW record of service on MSNBC's ever popular "Morning Joe" program. But the firestorm strikes me a one based in hysteria.

General Clark makes an assertion that has to be taken with seriousness. Senator McCain is a war hero. He is a courageous man. He endured horrors that would have broken a good number of people. However, that is not, in and of itself creating a strategy for waging war. It is a specific instance of bravery and endurance. There is a difference. I believe that his bravery and courage and the stubborn defiance of simple survival is part of what makes John McCain the leader America would get if they were to cast a vote for him as President. McCain's statement on a hundred year occupation of Iraq, be it misconstrued or not, bespeaks of a stubborn mindset. He is not willing to bend.

It might not feel good for McCain to be attacked in an era of "patriotism" and the surround circus the meaning of that word has become in the media and various communities across America. But is it true? It is true that Senator Obama has never served in the military. Obama, however, was not the one who made this case against McCain; at least in a public way that would call him directly or definitively into question. General Wesley Clark, who has commanded troops, said it and is qualified to say it. Clark is a Clinton supporter who now supports Obama in a general election campaign and as such his comments have been attributed to Obama's ledger. Many news pundits have screamed on how bad this criticism is for Obama to make and makes no political sense. They cede McCain the foreign policy battle out-of-hand, point out Mr. Obama's lack of military service and say it is foolish to even question that of Mr. McCain's. This is the problem with what the modern age media has become. The difference between Obama and McCain on issues of war time is based, not on military service, but on judgment.

In a Presidential election any issue can and should be questioned; including McCain's ability to lead foreign policy. At 72 years old Senator McCain will not be in a fighter plane and at risk of getting shot down. In that case he would be the prohibitive favorite for leadership in Office. A General questioning the qualifications of another military man who he outranks is totally within the realm of possibility when America's future in Iraq and possibly in Iran is on the table. Clark's comments were not an attack on McCain's character, but a disagreement on how the nature of his service qualifies him to lead and strategize military operations going forward. It seems that discussion is one that requires too much nuance for the media and its pundits to engage in. It is easier to cede that point to McCain based on factors that General, not Private, not Corporal, not Sergeant, but GENERAL Clark does not see eye to eye with.

RALPH NADER IS TOO BLACK TOO STRONG

2008-06-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

Incredible. Stunning. Stupefying. Ralph Nader your green party candidate. Upon watching the current political news cycle from poll to poll, pundit to pundit, CNN to MSNBC to Fox a funny thing happened on the merry-go-round. Ralph Nader accused Barack Obama of talking white and not focusing on exploitation of the "ghetto." Wow on whatever level one wants to choose.

A white Presidential candidate, fringe and independent as he wants to be accusing a black Presidential candidate of a major party, who happens to be of African descent of being white is uncharted territory. It seems that Barack Obama cannot win whichever way he turns and this has played out slowly over the course of the past three months. Reverend Wright; he should not distance himself from Reverend Wright, his mentor, his crazy old uncle. But when the good Reverends dog and pony show at the National Press Club made any affiliation with Wright impossible Obama saved his candidacy and rightly distanced himself from a man he would not outright abandon six weeks prior. Some in the media wondered what it meant about Obama and not in a good way. Those same people wondered why Obama did not leave Trinity United years ago. Obama was damned if he did and damned if he didn't.

As the first African-American nominee of a major political party Obama has been credited with running a "post racial" campaign that focused on issues of broad concern and avoiding race based speak. Which isn't entirely true because his speech on race in Philadelphia was necessary and the first of it's kind for a Presidential candidate. But Obama has little choice. He doesn't visit a Mosque he's said by Minnesota's Muslim Congressman, Keith Ellison to have abandoned the Muslim community. However, if Obama goes to a Mosque the aforementioned news outlets would make it 24 hour news and that would feed the fire of internet innuendo claiming Obama to be anything, but a child of God. Some of his staffers have gone overboard, like removing head-scarf wearing Muslim women from behind the podium during one of Mr. Obama's speeches, but he is a candidate that is fighting a unique game perception that no other candidate has had to navigate. Why? Because Obama is a first of his kind for the stage he now sweeps across so charismatically.

Obama has to present himself as a man running for President of the entire United States, not, to borrow an associates line, block captain of Martin Luther King Boulevard. So here comes Mr. Nader, who has not shown himself to effectively enact any policy or tangible action in the past decade regarding issues affecting the "ghetto" he blames Obama for abandoning; and not only abandoning, but doing it in an appeal to white guilt with white ways of speaking at least figuratively if not literally. Obama's past career as a community organizer in the roughness of South Chicago must not give him enough negro points in Ralph Nader's view. But Obama's very presence on the national stage gives him more clout in any ghetto than Ralph Nader will ever be given or can ever earn. Stealing votes from Democratic nominees in the past two Presidential elections that has lead to the Republican rule of the past several years was a bald faced stake in the heart to ghetto's domestic and international. Dig that campaign strategy.

So Ralph Nader posits an old argument that black nationalists have espoused against the black middle class for several decades. A chastisement for not being "black enough." Obama or at least his surrogates have been accused, with some legitimate reasons, of allowing race to be floated in an attempt to knock Hillary Clinton out the box in Dixieland, USA. Obama has no choice but to tell the truth of race while at the same time distancing himself from the same racial hope and resentment that draws itself to him throughout the diverse communities of America. Either way Obama is damned by someone for doing or not doing a racial dance that no other candidate running for President has been made to endure. But that person should not be Ralph Nader.

MY FRIEND TIM

2008-06-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

Alex Wong / Getty

What is there to say? Television journalism, the world of politics and the country has lost a giant in the profession. And outside of that America has lost a man of passion for life, family and his job. Tim Russert. Many after hours Sunday mornings I would stroll through the door at three or four a.m. from whatever party or club I found myself in, go to bed and be up by eight to see Meet The Press. It was must see Television; specifically during the historic Democratic primary season. Yes, I would watch Russert's show and if I was back east I might follow it with a trip to church. Out west, I would throw on my Bills jersey and join the other Bills backers of Southern California to say what Tim would sign his show off with on fall Sundays. "Go Bills!"

I grew up in Washington, D.C. I was born and partially raised in Buffalo, NY. I understand the politics that makes up Washington's federal maze and the sub politics that make up it residential neighborhoods. I also understand the blue collar, hard working, straight talking mentality of the Buffalonian; the tie to community. The need to feel appreciated and worthwhile in spite of economic downturns, four Super Bowl losses and winter time snow totals. Like me, Tim understood why a city by a Lake with hard winters and magnificent summer and fall seasons is hard to let go of. To see Tim Russert was to see someone who understood these things before I did. Although I never had the pleasure to meet him, he was a friend. And politics won't be as much fun without him because he was just too unique.

I often say doing something with greatness is the only thing that will inspire people to reach for greatness themselves in whatever they do. The way Tim Russert performed his job, with zeal, preparation and command no doubt fits the threshold of greatness and it inspired everyone from colleagues to fans as we have had the pleasure to hear over the past weekend. But Tim Russert also taught me another lesson about inspiring people. Not only does greatness inspire, but Joy also inspires. Tim Russert went about his life, his love of family, people and profession with a joy that was worn on his sleeve. And that is greatly inspirational.

HARD WORKERS AND THEIR LAZY MINDED TOWNS

2008-05-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

Image by B.D. Tyre

Kevin Merida of the Washingtonpost.com has written an article that speaks to the dirty little secret that the media and Barack Obama's campaign itself has shied away from discussing in depth. Racism against Obama's candidacy.

The media has talked about race in relation to polls and constituencies, but the hidden details of campaign workers on the ground, the mean spiritedness, racial epithets and threats of violence have not been covered until now. Veteran New York Times columnist Bob Herbert recently blasted Hillary Clinton's casting of "hard working" white Americans and what it was truly a code for: that Obama could not win the Presidency. Maybe Mrs. Clinton is more in tune with her supporters than anyone realized up to now.

Small town white America as depicted in a "It's a Wonderful Life" and Norman Rockwell paintings has always been a myth to those outside of its supposed quaint and familial environs. How does hatred, ignorance and lack of thought amongst some small town and rural Americans related to God or family values? They are not and that is apparent to anyone with clear vision. Unfortunately, for America her constituents with the least clouded of vision appears to be the so called working class. During the Vietnam war protests of the late '60's protesters were told to "Love it or leave it..." Well, it seems the time has come that that statement can be turned around on those so called patriots for whom America means white America above any and all else.

Beset with jobs that have disappeared across borders and continents, rising fuel and food costs and families depleted from the fatality of war in Iraq, small town America is in the throes of pain; both in pocket and spirit. It has been reported that this is Clinton's base and the base of the Democratic party. It has also been reported that many of these people make less than $50,000 a year and have not attended college. No study has been made public as to how many have even completed high school. With so many challenges to their very survival, one would think, that in concern of self-interest, no white voter in these regions could afford to discount any Presidential candidate out-of-hand. Obama, to be sure, has suffered through the circus show that Reverend Wright made himself at the National Press Club. However, his fate was sealed long before Reverend Wright emerged into the media spotlight. His blackness ensured a segment of Americans would not consider a vote for him.

This fact speaks to a lack of self-respect or self-worth on the part of these narrow minded, hard-workers. If one considered themselves valuable they could not discount any candidate who might present them with a plan that would help them transcend their circumstances; help that any American deserves from their government. Flag pins and pledges of allegiance and the willingness to believe internet lies that have been countlessly refuted by Obama and his campaign staffers lead these people to the same sorry state they find themselves in. Nowhere. It is possible that America's eroding public education system is haunting us with a segment of the United States that does not think clearly, does not think logically or with any eye toward their own possible betterment. It seems the only way their lives can be made better is by the same white candidates that have helped put them into the very circumstances that steals away a way of life that they used to count on. A job, a salary that could feed their families and benefits that would serve them into old age.

The fact that Obama could be the President to turn these things around means little to some of small town and rural America. And it feels troubling to think that the people associated with these negative and self-defeating attitudes must still be accounted for during the remainder of the primary season and the coming general election in November. However, here's the shout for those of open mindedness. Obama has managed to commandeer the lead in states won, pledged delegates, popular vote and now super delegates without the support of this blatant and blasphemous minority. To be sure, Obama will need to address and spend face time with those small town and rural Americans who are active and open minded in their own self-interest and willing to hear if Obama is a candidate that can help them. But for the narrow minded populace an Obama victory in November is a very real possibility and an old statement applies for those who will be hard pressed to stomach America's first black President.

Love it or leave it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24588813/

MATT LEINART AS RON MEXICO?

2008-04-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

Matt Leinart. First round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals. A college great who led the Southern Cal Trojans to one title, two if you live in Southern California and nowhere near Louisiana or other SEC territories in Dixieland. Last week photos of Leinart and Hollywood personality, some would say singer, Nick Lachey surfaced on the internet. Young girls, hot tubs and beer bongs; smiles and laughs. So what exactly is the issue his head coach Ken Whisenhunt has with his young Quarterback?

First, Leinart is having fun during what amounts to his yearly vacation. Training for the season has not started in earnest yet. Leinart's not doing anything any other man, of whatever age, wouldn't mind doing. Spending quality time with young hotties in a hot tub. The problem is Ron Mexico? Ron who you ask? Ron Mexico, the man actually known as Michael Vick in sports and courtroom circles. His Myspace photos detailing women, parties and possibly plant-life excursions called into question any young, wealthy, star quarterback. Colin Cowherd of ESPN radio questioned Vick's judgement over the photos and at first, it seemed a stretch. But then the snowball kept rolling on Mike Vick until it rolled all the way down hill, out of the NFL and into prison.

Is Leinart the white Michael Vick? A quarterback making millions, the desired face of a franchise, underachieving in some ways, but still possibly the next NFL great? Maybe. Maybe not. The Herd and others can question his judgement like he questioned Vick's judgement, but so far dating Paris Hilton and having parties has not landed Leinart in the center of a felony. Yet. Head coaches and owners can be embarrassed, although I suspect that embarrassment is more for public show than an actual belief, but that is another story altogether.

Leinart is being paid millions to step up and lead the Arizona Cardinals to the playoffs. That's a fact. It is also a fact that the dude is a young, single man with an off-season from the grind that the NFL is on every player, but particularly a quarterback. At least the Cardinals know by the way he holds the beer bong in that famous photo that he has rehabbed adequately from last year's season ending broken collarbone. The No Fun League won't let you dance, might not let you grow your hair too long, but now partying with some ladies during your vacation is a problem too? If Commissioner Roger Goodell doesn't watch out the NFL will be the new millenium version of "Big Brother." Or maybe it already is.

WRIGHT AND RACE

2008-03-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

I left the Geraldine Ferraro commments and aftermath sitting on the table because I was bone weary from eating the racial discourse being offered in the the Democratic Presidential primary. Then Pastor Jeremaiah Wright's sermons came to light last week and put race squarely in the face of American's of every ethnicity, religion and political affiliation. I still am beaten up on race in this country, but as this blog also deals, seemingly less these days, with sports and culture, I felt the need to say something about Barack Obama's speech on Wright and race.

Senator Obama's speech was not politician giving a speech; it was a man with a unique view of the racial divide offering reasons for that divide and calling for his countrymen to not "retreat into our individual corners..." but to have an honest discussion about racial anger and resentment amongst the electorate of America. I have never heard a politician of any stripe discuss this issue with such forthrightness.

To be sure Pastor Wright's comments were above and beyond reason at some point. But he is a man that did not arrive at those views by happenstance. Whether some people can deal with those truths are another matter, but if this country is to move forward there must be an understanding why a man of Wright's stature would speak so bitterly, with so much mistrust of his own country. And why many people he ministers to might feel similarly. But the genius of Mr. Obama's speech was his acknowledgement of white resentment toward being tagged as racists for their fears of city crime, or feeling as if they are losing out on something as a result of set-aside's and programs for African-Americans due to a racism they do not feel or participate in.

Now already pundits insult these "uneducated" blue collar whites, who they feel will not be affected by Obama's speech because it was geared toward the educated, the intellectual, the wine drinker. And already there are pundits who say the speech did not answer the question of how Obama could sit in the rows of pews in his church home and not walk away after hearing such comments. Already there are people who would not vote for Obama anyway and have a reason to cover the real reason why they would not or could not vote for him. And already are pundits and I am sure citizens who miss the point of Obama's speech entirely. The point of the speech is not whether it was politically expedient; which it was not. The point of the speech was not to castigate America for it's sins against black Americans, which are historically factual. The point was not simply to explain legitimate resentment of white Americans. The point of the speech was to call Americans to be truthful about those feelings; to understand why those feelings exist; to call Americans to come together and be more than we are separately.

To be sure, questioning the Senator about his association with Wright is valid and necessary. It is a sign of respect for the legiticmacy of Obama's candidacy that the media and pundits are digging into the bone gristle of Obama's message and vision. Obama did not throw away his pastor, his spiritual mentor, despite the calls of many to do just that. And that says something about Obama's character. His ability to lead in the face of adversity. His abilitiy to take discussions to a new level. Whether we like it or not America is one country made up of many parts. For this nation to work as effectively as possible Americans must recognize this truth. Obama's speech was a call to arms against a problem that continues to be a scourge on this country's soul. But who will listen?

The point of Obama's political speech was that it made politics and the gain of politics secondary to social concern. Race in America specifically, but in actuality, the world, has been a political tool used for gain or solid evil. Yesterday in Philadelphia, Obama might have fallen on a sword politically, but raised necessary questions socially. At some point Americans will have to leave behind a desire to hide from the past. At some point America, which has become the one-stop-shop for mindless entertainment and other forms of escapism, will have to address, as adults, the nuances present in Obama's speech. Or else. The 'or else' is the reckoning that will take place on the spirit of the country for ignoring problem areas in its character. Black, white, brown, yellow and red have a stake in self-assessment and constant communication. If not, the 'or else' leads us to harder questions.

If Mr. Jackson from Martin Luther King Blvd., and Ms. Nakumura from Seattle and Mr. O'Connor, immigrant from Ireland and Bill Joe from rural Alamaba or Ms. Hernandez from Southern California or any of the varying combinations inherent only in United States, do not feel enriched by their presence in each other's lives what is there to do in America? It seems the alternative is to become a territory of racial nation states; black people take the north; white Americans take the south; white immigrants control the midwest; Hispanics and Native Americans take the Southwest; Asians rule the northwest and so on and so forth. Wouldn't the better alternative be to get to the bottom of our divisions and find a way to come together? Yes, but that supposes that people are ready to be adults and deal with reality instead of running from it. Unfortunately, in today's American culture that is asking a lot.

DELEGATES AND DEMOCRATS

2008-03-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

2025. That is not a science-fiction number from some made up galaxy where the future of man will be at stake. 2025 is the number of delegates needed to win the Democratic Presidential nomination. And some would argue that number is related very intimately with the future of the United States. Barack Obama 1307. Hillary Clinton 1175. Despite her latest resurrection, the New York Senator still trails Mr. Obama in pledged delegates and her lead amongst Superdelegates is narrowing. All this indicates trouble for the DNC in November.

Hillary Clinton, at this point, is well within her rights to stay in the race. Things are tight between her and Senator Obama and too much money has been spent and too much heart has been expended from her to simply walk away now. But there is a problem that Howard Dean, DNC Chairman, has to foresee. In America, race has always played a pivotal position in the national landscape, allowing Americans to be their best and alternately their worst in any given moment in time. To be inspired and bitter. Barack Obama has wisely done his best to preclude the issue of race from his campaign. However, it is sure to make an appearance if the Democratic nomination comes down to a brokered convention in Denver. Should Obama continue to have a lead in delegates, and all mathematical indications point to this probability, then by the rules of the party he should win the nomination. If the Superdelegates for some reason choose to back Hillary Clinton and award her the nomination race jumps center stage, live and on fire. Black America, one of the staunchest supporters of Democratic platforms will be smacked in the face. There would be no way around seeing this occurrence for anything but a qualified black man who played by the rules, being pushed aside to prop up a white American. It is what it is and this is the last thing the DNC or Hillary Clinton should want.

The Republican party does not need nor count on African-American votes to win elections. The Democratic party, at this point in time, does count on that voting block to win office. Hillary Clinton is already losing the black vote by substantial margins in every state with a serious black population; a trend that began in South Carolina after perceived "race talk" from Bill Clinton. How much support could Mrs. Clinton count on from the black electorate if her nomination comes in a back room at the expense of a Mr. Obama who will have more delegates? How much support could Mrs. Clinton procure from Obama supporters of every denomination if she were to receive the Democratic nomination in this way? A vote for Obama is more about wanting a change in political operations than about voting for a black man.

If one truly supports Obama because they believe in his message of changing the ways of doing business in Washington is a vote for Hillary Clinton against John McCain really a vote well spent? Clinton and McCain, lifelong politicians, who based on their current campaigns are well versed in playing the "game" of politics would really be a choice between the lesser of two evils for Obama supporters. In other words, the election in November would be the same election Americans have lived with for decades and would be a bellweather election for black America as well as Obama supporters of all backgrounds.

For African-American's a Superdelegate nominated Clinton would be a clear indicator that a change in political affiliation from Demcorat to Independent is in order. The Democratic party, whose history has origins on the wrong side of slavery and equal rights, would have once again, taken the vote of African-American's for granted by producing a candidate not based on their vote and expecting black support. It would be an indication that black American's must separate from sentiment and embrace a proving of the question, "what will you do for me" from the Democratic Party. For Obama supporters it would be an even clearer indication that change, even though Clinton will no doubt use the term during a possible acceptance speech at the convention, is not what they will be getting. Do they vote, in good conscience, for a candidate nominated by the will of political insiders, because she is better than McCain who has promised a continuation of George Bush's economic and foreign policies? Or do these Obama supporters cast protesting votes for the only candidate of change in the race, Ralph Nader or worse stay home altogether to prove a point. That point being change or else? After eight years of George Bush and the current crisis' America finds itself in, why not sacrifice four more years to McCain? And what about the youth vote that Obama has successfully mined into political engagement? Do they ever return or recover from a brokered convention?

There are many questions for Howard Dean. He had better have the answers or the yellow brick road Democrats were supposed to enjoy on the way to the White House will become a potholed nightmare.

PUNK'D!

2008-02-20T06:28:00.000-08:00

Back in the day, on the black tops of elementary school, if one team ran up a lead on the other team of ten to nothing we would call it a "skunk" and the game would be started over; the point being one of mercy for the team that didn't have it going on. They needed a "do over." Well, from February 6th now Barack Obama's campaign has skunked that of Hillary Clinton. She's the kid that had her pants pulled down on the playground. And it has to be embarrassing beyond belief.

Hillary Clinton is a tough lady. She's a politician who has no qualms about being a politician with all of the subterfuge that that can entail. She was a prohibitive favorite to be the Democratic nominee for President not even two months ago. She had the experience. She had the solutions. She had the support of the laborers, women, white America. Now Barack Obama has arrived on the scene with more money, more magnetism, a message that is more bulletproof than Superman. Who wants to be the candidate to tell me "no we can't." Barack Obama is Campaign Santa Claus, offering the gift of hope in a time when American's are cynical about our political structures.

Rudy Guiliani, America's Mayor, implemented a head scratching strategy of relying on Florida to launch his victory march to the Republican nomination. It proved too late and by his third place finish, much too little. Now Hillary Clinton's campaign roars into Ohio and Texas, two big states, that the Senator feels confident will bring her candidacy back from the dead. But unless she has Caesar Romero campaigning for her she faces an uphill climb. She has no momentum. She has no verve. Barack Obama's 18,000 people attended arena speech in Houston, Texas last night pulled every network away from Hillary Clinton's high school bleacher speech in Youngstown, Ohio. It was a case of the average Jane who walks into the party and gets some attention until the dime steps into the door and restores order with longer legs, a brighter smile, and more style. Every time Clinton gives a speech she must be waiting for Ashton Kutcher to pop out and say, "You got punk'd!"

Clinton and John McCain, the probable Republican nominee, have to figure out a way to position their qualifications in the media without being seen by the American populace as the grinch who stole their belief in the possibility of a new type of politics in Washington. A politics that calls for bipartisanship in legislation and for the American people to play their part in building up the country as Obama says, "block by block, county by county, state by state." Obama is on a better roll than a Vegas casino regular.

JULIAN BOND IS WRONG ABOUT THE RIGHT ISSUE

2008-02-12T21:14:00.000-08:00

Julian Bond, current NAACP Chairman and veteran Civil Rights activist and politician, is a man certainly worthy of honor and respect. But his stance on the seating of delegates from Florida and Michigan in the Democratic convention is puzzling to say the least. The fact that each state was warned in advance of their decision to go forward with moving up their primaries that the penalty would be harsh does not seem to play a part in Mr. Bond's request. The fact that no candidate in the Democratic race campaigned in either state nor that Mrs. Clinton was the only serious Democratic candidate on the ballot in Michigan.

Mr. Bond rightly says that the citizens of Michigan and Florida, including their populations of color, would be disenfranchised if their voters wishes were not counted and delegates not seated. That begs this question: did Mr. Bond not send a letter detailing these concerns to DNC Chairman Howard Dean at the time he made his decision to penalize Michigan and Florida? It appears late in the day to take up for the populations of Michigan and Florida after the fact. In fairness, how can Mr. Dean seat delegates from Michigan and Florida based upon votes made under the circumstances in which they were cast. One would expect Hillary Clinton to call for those delegates to be seated as she sees her delegate lead wiped out after tonight's Potomac Primary sweep for Barack Obama. But Julian Bond? A man who has fought for justice for over forty years? Where would the justice be for Mr. Obama in this instance?

Chairman Bond's letter correctly spoke of disenfranchised voters. However, what he should have requested,as opposed to delegates being seated from Michigan and Florida based on their January primary votes, is for the DNC to pay for caucuses in Michigan and Florida if not primaries. This way each candidate will have a fair opportunity to compete for Michigan and Florida voters and those states will have delegates seated at the Democratic convention based upon a fairly drawn election.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

2008-02-11T09:53:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama sweeps through Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington, The U.S. Virgin Islands and Maine over the weekend. Then comes word that Patty Solis Doyle, Campaign Manager for Hillary Clinton, is being replaced by long time Clinton adivsor Maggie Williams. The Clinton campaign spun Doyle's "departure" as one based upon the grind of campaign season, but who doesn't know better? For a campaign manager of Doyle's experience to walk away from a campaign in the middle of the race would be like Tom Brady asking to be pulled out of a game because the Patriots were down. It would not happen. Political advisors and activists are as competitive as professional athletes. They are in it to win it and ,unless there were serious health issues going on, would never just walk away. Which leads to the reason Doyle was replaced.

One, Clinton and her campaign advisors are dissatisfied with their current position and needed a change or at least the appearance of change for rankled supporters or two, Now that Clinton is losing momentum all the stops will be pulled out on Obama and Doyle was not in agreement with the coming strategy. Either way this is not a good situation for Senator Clinton, especially with the Chesapeake Primary fast approaching. However, if she is able to pull out the Virginia primary, which most do not expect, she can take some steam out of Obama's current winning streak and have something to hang her hat on as the campaign motors toward junior Tuesday on March 4th. After all, trying to lessen defeats with disclaimers of expectations, cannot be good for a woman who was the clear front runner in the Democratic race not one month ago.

Meanwhile, Mike Huckabee, continues to put a dent into John McCain's coronation as Republican nominee. His chances of winning enough delegates to seriously derail McCain are less than nil, but his contiually defiant presence illustrates to the country what McCain supporters must be shaken by and that is his support amongst the conservative idealogues in the GOP do not like him and at least in Kansas and Lousiana this past weekend, do not support him overwhelmingly. Huckabee refuses to leave the race citing his presence as giving voters in the coming primaries and caucuses a choice. It is a good point on his part and the longer he's able to win states and stay in the race at best inches him closer to an improbable nomination and at worst, for McCain and ultimately the GOP, embarrasses McCain in front of the nation. If Huckabee drops out of the race and accepts a Vice Presidential offering from McCain, which he says he will not do, then the country will know why.

IT'S THE ONE THAT MATTERS

2008-02-03T19:06:00.000-08:00

The New England Patriots were 18 and 0 rolling through the NFL like wild bandits; winning by large margins and winning close games. They had what was considered to be the best regular season in NFL history, no disrespect to the '72 Dolphins. And the way to Super Bowl XLII everybody told the NY Giants that the game was a formality to the coronation of New England as the greatest champions in NFL history. But then that's the great thing about athletics. Every game a teams' greatness has to be proven again. Last night, last week, last month is meaningless during that 60 minutes of right now. The Giants defense led Pro Bowl defensive ends Michael Strahan and Osi Yumenyora were able to get in Tom Brady's face early and often, throwing off his timing and getting the Patriots off the field in many third down situations. But despite the excellent play of New York's defense the Patriots took a 14-10 lead with less than three minutes to play.

Eli Manning of, yes, those Manning's; the young quarterback much maligned in the press of New York as a soon to be "never was" had the chance to live the dream of every young boy across America: two minutes to drive their team to Super Bowl victory. Eli manning passed and scrambled his Giants into winning position, converting third and fourth downs before finally finding Plaxico Burress in the corner of the end zone with thirty-five seconds to play. Yeah, that same Plaxico Burress who predicted a 23-17 Giants win during the hype leading up to Super Sunday. Tom Brady, taking issue with Burress's prediction, thought the Patriots were good for more than seventeen points, but unfortunately for him and the Patriots they were not even good for that many.

Final score, 17-14 New York and the Giants shock the world. The '72 Miami Dolphins, who went through a season undefeated and capped it with a Super Bowl VII victory over the Redskins, now officially return to their post as the most successful team in the annals of modern professional football. And for the Patriots? The Patriots are a good team who missed a dance with greatness. See, 18-0 does not matter when your team loses the one that counts.

MUDDY WATERS BROUGHT TO YOU BY CLINTON AND JOHNSON

2008-01-14T07:41:00.000-08:00

And here we go. Politricks as usual. On Meet the Press with Tim Russert, Hillary Clinton defended her comments about Lyndon Johnson and Martin Luther King by saying that obviously Barack Obama's camp had put out the undue criticism that followed. That this criticism had injected race into a campaign that desperately needed to avoid the issue of race or gender. Politically, this is a good strategy on Clinton's part; if it weren't so transparent. No one from the Obama campaign had commented on Clinton saying that the Civil Rights dream of Dr. King would not have been realized without President Lyndon Johnson. That was Congressman James Clyburn from South Carolina, a man with a long history in the civil rights movement, who came out on the record as saying he and others in the black community were offended.

Now for the record, as a black man, I didn't take offense to her comments. Dr. King's influence and impact on American and world society is unrefuteable. However, for the issues that were pressing the black community at the time the movement needed a strong voice in the executive branch. Dr. King, by himself, could not pass legislation. He had no vote in the congress or the senate. Bill Clinton's comments were also misconstrued. Clinton's Fairytale view of Obama's record on the Iraq war very different from him saying that Obama's candidacy itself is a fairytale. Neither of these comments were "racial." However, Mrs. Clinton has now injected the issue of race, purposely. The waters are muddied and won't get any clearer.

Barack Obama's admission to drug use in his earlier years was a pre-emptive strike against what the country is seeing now. Direct questioning from Clinton campaign workers and sneaky assertions from supporters such as Bob Johnson. The same Bob Johnson who lorded over a BET network that single handedly contributed to the exploitation of half naked black and brown women in ninety percent of the music
videos that ran on his network. The same network that at one time offered the black community an array of programming from world news, talk shows, youth programming and entertainment shows that did not solely rely on various strains of rap music.

Bob Johnson is a smart man. He built an empire despite the fact that he allowed it to crumble from bad programming. He is too smart to tell us his veiled reference about Obama "doing whatever he was doing in the neighborhood..." was not a direct inference to Obama's past drug use. He seemingly was saying Obama's past drug use separates him from Clinton's ability to lead the United States. This from a man who has one of the only film company in Hollywood, Our Voices, where black American's can greenlight a project and its first offering is the stupifying comedy, "Who's Your Caddy." A film that is no better than the least of what "white Hollywood" has given to its black constituents. How irresponsible is that? Socially, very irresponsible. Financially, a smart move. Draw in kids with loud characters, loud clothes, loud music under a supposed theme of being misunderstood. The bigger coup is that these kids are the ones who advertisers covet; which leads us back to Mr. Johnson's true interests. Money.

There's an old expression about like birds flocking together. Johnson is out for money. Hillary Clinton is out for the power. And some muddied water is fine as long as their bottom lines are met. I would advise Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Clinton to watch the company they keep because soon, they could be the ones with mud in their eye.

VOTING WHITE

2008-01-07T21:14:00.000-08:00

The black person's story in America includes kidnapping, forced labor, terrorism, murder, denial of rights and daily indignities from refusal of hand shakes, purses clutched as one walks past a white woman or the quick snap of a locked door as a street is crossed. This story of Afro-America also includes invention, perseverance, survival, the demanding and gaining of rights and a raise in stature from second class citzenship; at least on the surface of things. Fifty years ago the idea of a Barack Obama candidacy would have been impossible. Now turn on your television sets.

Senator Obama sprinting for the Presidency on the winds of governmental change has galvanized Democrats and independents alike. He is charismatic. He is an orator in the grand tradition of civil rights' greats. He is handsome and buttressed by a beautiful wife and children. And the man won the Iowa caucus. Iowa, a state that is whiter than a glass of skim milk. So what has me troubled?

Obama is a black man whose "black" credentials were initially questioned by writer types like Stanley Crouch and others. Black writers. Now, as Obama has appeared to capture a spirit in white voters, black voters threaten to topple the man by a refusal to vote for him. Why? Because there is a prevailing sentiment amongst black America, particularly older black Americans that white people will never vote for a black man in a general election and, therefore, a vote for Obama is a wasted vote that will lead to four more years of GOP leadership. White people in Iowa and by all appearances, New Hampshire, two states with overflowing white populations have been moved by Obama and have and will vote for him. Meanwhile black people are hesitant based on the past, sometimes the present and a mind state that still places way too much importance on the doings of the "white man."

If all of those African-Americans who see Obama as the right candidate actually put their vote where their good sense is Obama might be able to win a general election. But that won't happen without those votes. There are white Americans who will never vote for a black man or a Jewish person, a woman or other. That's the way it is. However, as Iowa proved there are white Americans who will vote for the best candidate even if he's a black man. Any general election will be close as the nation has bared witness too over the past two Presidential elections. Obama could get over the top, but not without a change in thinking; without an end to the fatalistic thinking that would take a vote from Obama and give it to Hillary. Vote for a white person because white people will never vote for a black person.

Of all the things Obama changes, policies, governmental operations, social conventions, hopefully the biggest change is giving a nation of people a new lease on what is possible in politics.

BILL STEWART AND BLACKNESS

2008-01-03T22:45:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago West Virginia University lost its Head Football Coach Rich Rodriguez to the maize and blue tradition of Michigan. When it was determined that he would not coach the team in its Fiesta Bowl match with Oklahoma, Bill Stewart an assistant coach on Rodriguez' staff was tapped to fill the job for one night only. After an emphatic undressing of Oklahoma on the same field that saw them lose to Boise State a year ago, West Virginia hired Bill Stewart to be its new head man. Beloved by star quarterback Pat White and other players as well as the administration, Stewart's hiring brings up some unpleasant memories.

In the mid-90's as head coach of the Virgina Military Institute Stewart, tiring of watching a black player showboating through practice took the young man aside and quietly instructed him to not give people the reason to call him a nigger; likening this to his struggle to not present the image of a redneck from his native West Virginia. The player rightly reported the conversation to campus administrators and after being threatened with the termination of he and his staff, Stewart resigned in exchange for the continued employment of his staff, which included current Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin.

ESPN reports that Tomlin called in his support for Stewart's hiring and West Virginia University President Michael Garrison made a point of alerting the public to this fact as well as the acknowledging that this incident was known by the university when Stewart was hired in 1999. So Stewart has a lot of black friends in high places and amongst the young men he coaches. By all accounts Stewart is an affable, friendly and honorable man. Which is why his advice to that VMI player more than ten years ago is so stupifying. It's shocking that anyone would equate hot dogging or show boating with blackness. Pistol Pete Maravich was one of the biggest showboats in NBA history. Larry Bird was a trash talker of epic dimension and in his very gaze was the arrogance of superiority over his opponents. Even more shocking is that Stewart felt like offering advice to this young black man needed to include his belief that showboating would create racial animosity; one wonders if it filtered in the Coach's mind that, suggesting a young man who must trust him and follow him, not do something to be thought of as a nigger would endear him to that player.

I would wonder, were it me, if my coach thought of me as a nigger based on flamboyance or showboating or whatever. While it might be true that too many players showboat and seek attention for plays that they should make, it is not true that nigger goes through the mind of those watching; they might think of said player as an ass or immature, but nigger? To Coach Stewart's thinking this is what goes through the minds of white fans.

Stewart says he has had no such incident before or after the VMI occurrence, but in his mind how does he truly view those black players who dance or perform after touchdowns or first downs? Are they niggers? Only Coach Stewart can answer that question. And it is a question that should be asked and answered before he's given leadership over a team full of young, impressionable black and white men.

OBAMA, HUCKABEE AND IOWA OH MY!

2008-01-03T22:29:00.000-08:00

Jesse Jackson ran for Presidential office on two occasions. Shirley Chisholm. Alan Keyes. Barack Obama, who some black pundits felt the need to point out wasn't a "real" African-America despite the fact his father is Kenyan, his mother a midwesterner, and he was born in the United States, actually won the Iowa caucus. Obama's platform of hope was able to resonate in Iowa, a state that is whiter than Antartica. I must admit I never though I would see this event. I hoped it was possible. I daydreamed it's happening, but in my mind I thought Senator Obama would be doing well coming in second place to Hillary Clinton. Sometimes America can surprise it's own.

Mike Huckabee? A month ago he was one of the many non-descript candidates on the GOP side attempting to delineate themselves from each other and distance themselves from the debacle of George Bush's presidency. But like Obama, Huckabee has shown himself to be different enough from the status quo and at once likeable and thereby able to garner enough support to topple "Slick" Romney and John McCain in Iowa. (And Guiliani finishes uh-oh last.)

New Hampshire awaits these new front runners, but there victory in the Live Free or Die state is far from guaranteed. But at least for one night one state of Americans truly seem to be telling the rest of the country that change can only come from politicians that seem to be less like politicians.

DEMOCRATIC DEBATE SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2007

2007-06-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

Well, well. Last night's debate for the Democratic Presidential potentials alerted me to a couple things. One, I'm not sure if a debate with eight candidates is the most effective means for all, but the top candidates to get their message out. Obama, Clinton and Edwards seem to dominate the proceedings, from questions to answers. Which leads to point number two. The limited chances for those candidates not seen at the top of news polls have to make their case in a sound bite or else.

Former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel's position that the Democrat were more to blame for the Iraqi war than President Bush. This type of statement, while allowing the candidates to state firmly held beliefs and at the same time get "face time" could serve to undermine whichever Democratic nominee comes out of this process. Senator Clinton's tack of minimizing differences between the Democratic candidates while pointing out the disparity between the GOP and the Democrats is a sound one and one that Mr. Edwards and Senator Obama might employ in as insistant a way as Senator Clinton.

If the candidates at the low end of the media radar need to ravage those at the top, it will only damage the Democratic chances in a general election, strengthening a GOP which, at present time has no clear front runner. The small gang of GOP candidates participating in tomorrow night's debate face similar issues due to the size of the proceedings. No clear front runner has emerged and despite the emergence of Romney and McCain's steady hold on the public consciousness there are too many voices to get a strong sense of individual plans and belief.

So I propose a new paradigm in Presidential debating. Identify, through official polls and popular sentiment the top three candidates from each party, Democrat, Repubican, Green or Independent. All other candidates have debates to see who gets to the main stage. Of course there will be issues with fair access to media time and the like, however, it is far from fair for the American public to be given a smorgasboard of candidates that is high in calories, but low in value.

AND HERE IT COMES

2007-05-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

The New York Times and television news outlets are reporting that Senator Barack Obama is receiving Secret Service protection. He is one of the earliest, if not earliest, recipients of secret service protection in the history of presidential candidacies. No specific reasons were given officially, although CNN reported racial threats divulged in hate correspondences. Allow me to say that I am far from surprised.

What is interesting is that there are still many in America who truly cannot get over the hue of a person's skin or get over their own arrogance in believing that they somehow, by virtue of their "whiteness" deserve more or have more right to accomplishment, power and leadership. In fact the lack of vision or concern of some of these types of Americans denotes, in an of itself, a lack of the quality that produces true leadership, the resulting command of respect and the circumstances that would lead to power or accomplishment in any endeavor.

So in response to those small minds and sadly, even smaller visions, I say, 'run Barack run.'

HOKIE LAND REVISITED

2007-05-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

It's been a couple weeks since the killings at Virgina Tech and there are several thoughts I have continuously had since the tragedy.

One: when is the United States finally going to take mental illness seriously? Too often, people with grave mental illness, which can manifest in a person's inability to cope with reality or produce violence brought on by disconnection with reality or adherence to a life lived by fantastical unreality, fall through the cracks of treatment.

Two: the Virgina Tech event also magnifies the age old debate about gun control. The shooter bought his guns and ammo with ease. The right to bare arms is a right that should be looked at immediately. Because guns exist does not mean everybody in the country should own one.

Three: The media coverage on the shootings was, of course, in today's age, over the top; symphonic soundtracks and movie style graphics included. Many interviews floated out the role of blame in the tragedy. The Va Tech administration. The Blacksburg police and sherrif's office. The truth is a small town law enforcement office did the best they could do under the circumstances. Perhaps the administration of the university could have gotten the word out to students earlier, but the truth of the matter is a killer had a gun, a mad, deluded passion and the element of surprise. There is nobody to be blame ultimately, but Seung-Hui Cho. Life is sudden, for better and for worse and many times there is no way it could have been forseen. Everybody walking the face of the earth have to deal with the truth of the fragility of existence and genuinely appreicate life itself.

Four: Seung-Hui Cho did a horrendous thing, a cowardly thing, but as we pray for his victims and there families, we should say a prayer for his family and yes, even for him. All are worthy in God's eyes; even though they may fall miles short in the eyes of their fellow human beings.

WHERE IS MR. WYATT?

2007-05-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

"It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you..." I have to quote one of the greatest MC's of all time, Rakim, as I start this entry. Since last we talked, I've been reworking a screenplay, performing in acting showcases, watching the Virginia Tech tragedy, Democratic Presidential debate, number one; saw my Wizards swept out of the NBA playoffs and enjoyed my Bills picks of Marshawn Lynch and Paul Posluszny in the NFL draft. I also saw the article I wrote for the National Urban League's "Opportunity Journal" magazine published. In betwixt and between those events I was volunteering with "my kids" as peace 4 kids and meeting with the Los Angles Urban League's Young Professionals Public Policy Committee, of which I am a member, to plan our June event on the 10 year anniversary of Prop 209. So I've been busy indeed with business, angst and pleasure. The truth? I just haven't felt like writing.

The life of the writer is one of a blatant disregard for social connection. Sometimes the writer needs to hang, party, and bs some time away; acquiring new insights, fresh visions, and new fodder for sentences and paragraphs. Other times, the writer needs to write in a different forum and put other writing skills to use. Well, it's all here nor there at this point.

Mr. Wyatt is back. For now anyway...

THE ART IN WAR

2007-04-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

There's something about the arts; something about creating worlds and people, shepherding visions into the atmosphere out of nothing, but God's words to your spirit. Nobody knows the words and you can't even explain them. It's a secret between you and the Lord. In its execution is the understanding.

Have you seen your local artist today? The singer on the nine train or the drummer standing in line for the band audition? How about the dancer stretching her legs while she sits over coffee watching the writer have run on sentences with himself in the out-of-the-way corner? The designer; the painter, a mad scientist of colors and chemicals. you might have missed them because sometimes they lead solitary existences where the hard work done to present their best work to you is done in secret places only they can inhabit.

Have you hugged you local artist today? The one who makes you smile when the show is over and you bask in the spectacle of lights and effects and talent. Talent that can be admired, but never duplicated because it's unique to that artist or that group of souls born to do what they do; to make you think, to make you feel, to relieve you, to push you, to connect with you.

Could you be these artists? The kind that stare rejection in the face and laugh with it like an old friend or cry about it in dark rooms until they can get the strength to climb between the ropes and take the ring for their next shot? The kind that only hear what they lack, what is missing, what might not exist? Do you sit on the fence with their duality that tells them that their truth won't make them the rent money or pay for health insurance or afford them the American dream? Do you hear their arguments with themselves to tell their truth or sell-out for the possibility of a dollar and fifteen minutes of whatever fame offers?

There's something in the soul of the artist, not the star, the artist that cannot let go of the truth. Even if it kills them. The authenticity of words and deeds that propel them to seek connection over popularity, even when that authenticity comes with a price of lonliness, uncertain futures or difficult presents. The artists is a warrior and daily these brave souls die on shields of passion that salute truth and connection and perseverance. Sun Tzu's, Art of War, is just half the story. The other half is the art in war. The artist is in a war against corporate structure, public indifference, lack of tast, and still the artist fights to tell their truth, through their verses, through their dances, in their canvases, within their spotlights to let the world know we are different and the same.

In an America that places less cultural value on the truth in art than on the earning potential of populrity, the truth, which is the birth name of "artist" is poetic, is stylish, is strategic, is magnificent and carries the weapon of art in a pop war that rages in intensity with each passing day.

DIFFERENCE AND UNIFIED

2007-04-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

Black people are not monolithic, homogenous in thought or deed. That being said, we cannot afford a separation between what racial classification denotes as “black” people and wickedness classifies as, “nigger.”

Chris Rock’s infamous observation was a profound one at the time he presented to the masses in one of his many successful and socially relevant cable television comedy specials. But there are certain elements of black professionals who seek to banish lower class, see poor, out of the black community. Issues of teen pregnancy, unwed mothers, sexually transmitted diseases, disbelief in education and false pride about the authority of a “boss” must be addressed, but by no means should be utilized as a tool to wedge a divide between the black lower class and their quickly descending compatriots in the shrinking black middle class.

I was six years old, in first grade, caught in the middle of an unruly line of children awaiting entrance into the classroom the first time I was called a nigger. He was dirty blonde, plump, disheveled white boy named Lee. At thirty-two years of age, two academic degrees and a job at a major Hollywood studio later, in a traffic dispute in a kitschy Los Angeles neighborhood, a white man, whose name I did not know and never found out, felt he could put me in my place with the same word that had slapped my ears more than twenty-five years earlier. This is the foolishness of a black people versus nigger mode of thinking. Accomplishment does not buy a black man or woman an out clause in the contract of ignorance. In the example I shared I was just a nigger with two degrees, one a Master’s degree, and a sexy job in show business. In the mind of a racist there is no delineation or bonus point for a status stamped upright citizen or doer of great deeds. In some backwoods Mississippi farm houses or skyscraper board rooms Oprah Winfrey would be nothing more than a nigger. Some would tell her that to her face while others would no doubt have the great courage to whisper it behind her back.

Volunteering, mentorship, public policy focusing on educational and economic development are some ways to repair some of the issues that have kept poverty-stricken black Americans an item that the black bourgeoisie would like to shove into the back of a dark closet. The means mentioned above must be implemented to stop the slide of that very same bourgeoisie into the nigghetto that many of them have risen from. Black America does not need to think alike, act or re-act alike, but the crucial and basic thing we must be about realizing is that we are all people imbued with a humanity that should be respected for its own value. Poor is a lack of wherewithal; specifically, cash and opportunity. It does not, inherently, mean ignorant or morally inferior, although immorality and ignorance exists in some project developments, apartments, and people in this economic bracket. However, those same immoralities and purposeless ignorance exists in the various tiers of government, the judiciary, the Christian right and the Christian left. None of these agencies would use a cut-off-your-nose-to-spite-your-face mode of operation. Not only would this serve to weaken any nation or agency, but would rob any socio-political agenda of its life’s blood. The civil rights movement, the farm workers, and the unions of northern blue collar industries were all manned and led by people who were not economically dominant. Young, poor people are the foot soldiers in a war for change. When politically engaged and shown a proper path, these soldiers are priceless. Yet, it is this very group, a sub-section within a sub –division of class that is being cast adrift.

Dr. Bill Cosby went on a barnstorming tour of the United States highlighting problems of the black underclass. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson has defended the honor of these black people. I believe that both Dr. Cosby and Dr. Dyson have offered truths that must be acknowledged. The black underclass should be treated with respect and with an eye that takes in the societal barriers that cause the economic drought and opportunistic blight they find themselves in, while at the same time being held accountable for the bad choices or lack of making any choices, that serve to keep them stuck in a place of immobility and helplessness.

If one truly subscribes to W.E.B. DuBois concept of a talented tenth reality then black people have as many issues to answer for as our “niggers” do. The chief questions that have to be asked, in front of bathroom mirrors or car window reflections, is why has that tenth given up the promise and reach of their assumed power to help ninety percent in need? Are the ninety percent to blame for all or some of the problems of the lower class brothers and sisters or has the tenth sold them out of the black race into a nigghetto to banish faces they were not talented enough to help in the first place? The more horrific question looming on the horizon is if the house and field slave mentality been preserved within this very battle of black middle class versus black lower class. Have the tenth turned their backs on the field in an attempt to curry favor with the economic house that keeps them one step beyond the portal back into poverty? This scenario, allowing, in essence, a talented tenth disciple an ability to feel better in their accomplishment and have the basic capitalist need fulfilled that calls for one to feel better than another based on class and economic standing. This scenario must be spoken against and fought at every turn to ensure the black nation, not of homogeny, but of a mutual respect that allows counsel, acceptance and transformation.

RESPECTFULLY, FOR RUSSIAN ANNA

2007-04-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

A humanitarian with an undeniable need to assist those in need; to speak for the many whose voices have been seized by the status quo of fear and slight-of-hand violence. She was writer who dared tread in the lion’s den and the snake pit; through peril and pestilence. From my comfortable seat in a nation where Democracy is, at worst, allowed with the dissent democracy encourages, this journalist-soldier is a person I never heard of before her murder inside a Russian apartment building. I did not meet her nor read her work, and yet, I feel the weight of her attempts at inclusive humanity. Anna Politkovskya is no longer on the earth, in physical form, but her spirit remains. Her deeds cannot be boxed into the irrelevancy of the past tense. Even in death her life and efforts leave us, or specifically, those of us attempting to create lives filled with equality and freedom, with questions that would be better answered voluntarily, in the present, rather than at a forced crossroads in a fast approaching future of despair.

By appearance and report, Anna was cruelly murdered, shot twice, inside the elevator of her apartment building after years of investigative journalism that boldly pronounced alleged corruptions within the ranks of Russian government and military operations. Fellow journalists have spoken of their belief that her murder was nothing short of a political assassination, not an event to be laid at the feet of random violence. Her life had been threatened for many years, at one point, leading to relocation in Vienna. Not long after her murder a Russian spy, poisoned in London, accused Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of the lethal action that led to his eventual death. Reports have indicated that at least thirteen journalists have been killed in contract style killings since Putin took office. Of course, no crimes against Prime Minister Putin or any other governmental officials have been proven, but there has been a clear, chilling and covert war being perpetrated against journalists and others who speak out against the Russian political and military hierarchy. There is simply a tack of suppression misting the air in present day Russia.

At news of Politkovskya’s death, America, Britain and the European Council called for immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing; in other words the world called for justice. Prim Minister Putin agreed and has said all of the right things in terms of looking into the matter, but in a reality where dissent is silenced by murder how can one expect to find justice? These are troubling times for a country that has lived through oppression, poverty and resulting famine. And a raging war against Chechnya has recently raised red flags with Politkovskya being the chief flag waver. Her colleagues describe her as a person who could not suffer the suffering of others. Her journalistic travels; exile, escape in car trunk away from and to far flung villages due to death threats, attempts to negotiate the release of hostages with Chechnyan rebels, reads like the stuff making up one of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels. But she never ceased to writer for freedom. Politkovskya’s crime was the crime of believing in a fair and democratic society; a crime of vision in a world where possibility and vision is a valuable commodity that those in power seek to maneuver and control, playing keeps away, tossing it about while the common citizen reaches, at times futilely, for its hope. The probabilities of Poltikovskya’s killers being found are slight indeed. Ramzan Kadyrov, the Putin supported, Chechen Prime Minister has called her and other human rights activist’s liars who protect the interests of Russia’s enemies. Putin commented on the cruelty of the murder, while minimizing the impact of Politkovskya’s journalism on Russian politics.

There is a long history of discrediting and minimizing the effectiveness of those who organize, investigate, and therein, challenge political and social systems and agencies. In America, this is evidenced by the government sanctioned Cointelpro program that used mail fraud, violence, wire-tapping and other means to quell civil rights and other counter-culture movements in the 60’s and early 70’s. The evidence of Politkovskya’s effectiveness is her very murder, a crime that has yet to be solved. And her murder leaves our world with several uneasy questions: If her killers and those of other journalists killed during Putin’s reign are not found, what does this say for an honest concern about democracy in Russia’s leadership ranks? In this time of a wary peace between America and Russia, what would a continuing line of murdered journalists and other dissenters to Russia’s political operations say about America’s professed belief in protection for democracy around the world? Could a continued appearance of democratic suppression lead to a renewal of a cold war that had been thawed over? Or will America’s active protection of democratic ideals rest in the bosom of her hypocrisy that fed a non-aggressive stance on democratic abuses in places such as apartheid ravaged South Africa?

Whatever way the current situation plays out, we, as members of the international family, have been brutally reminded that the cost of democratic ideals and its fulfillment in progression or dissent, is often death, marginalization, loss of freedom and the forgetful anonymity inherent in a calendar that refuses to stop the world long enough to honor the brave souls consumed with a mission to make our world a more righteous place for every human being. May these people, these men and women; these leaders; these writers; these artists; these rabble-rousers, rest-in-peace. But more than that, let their courage and determination be an example of, not just the bluntly rude truth about the cost of individual courage, but of the hope that lives in the ability for one person to “change” themselves, others and systems. I respectfully remove my hat and smile a quiet celebration for these brave human beings, amongst them Russian Anna.

WE'LL SEE YOU, JOE

2007-03-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

Joseph Martin.

He stood six feet four inches tall, two-hundred and fifty pounds wide during his healthiest years; he grabbed old pickle-jars converted to glasses for drinking lemonade, with hands big enough to eclipse the moon when he raised his arms to stretch. And he smiled a country smile made of one silver tooth, memories of farm living and jokes in the lunch room at the General Motors plant. He was a joker with a wicked-hot temper, loud, slow drawl voice and a rifle in the bedroom closet for those bold enough to dare cross the line's he drew around his wife Hazel and their four daughters and eight grand-kids. And he knew Jesus. Him and his wife went to bed listening to gospel music and woke up to radio-evangelists shouting AMEN! But every now and then, when his wife went down the block he'd throw on some Duke Ellington, wink at you and tell you to take the A Train.

Ole' Joe Martin cooked fried southern cuisines in black skillets that shined satin slick with chicken and fish grease, and spit against thick tree barks on warm summer evenings, while he kicked the willie-bobo with neighbors old enough to remember "back when." Now, Joe Martin didn't suffer no fools, but held many people's worlds in helping hands; he was what the church folks used to call, "good people." Counting collection plate generosities by the Sunday, fixing engines or boilers or broken spirits the other six days of the week. Like a modern day John Henry, none of life's machinery seemed able to outwork him.

Joe Martin had a way about him; a twinkle in his green eyes that invited folks to stick around a while and a scowl in his voice that told those same folks to move away, quick, if they abused the privilege. He wasn't one for apologies. If he was wrong he'd admit it to you with a pat on the leg, a slap on the back or a joke. He was a man to get points across without the necessity of words he stopped learning about when his school days ended after seventh grade. Did anybody tell you that Joe Martin could get rid of colds and cuts with vinegar? He could make your hair grow back with farm birthed remedies that could only be passed down by those smart enough to learn outside the little red school houses of America.

He was a storyteller. Many could tell you about the bird-dog ghost that terrorized a car ride through the back roads of Martinsville, Virginia or the cheating girlfriend he hit in the back with a brick or the dark-skinned fella that spit on him for being too light or "hobo-ing" from train to train with his best friend, 'Weenie Slim' or the massive heart attack that retired him from his shift at the auto plant. There are other stories to be sure, but nobody could tell 'em like Joe, so they don't bother to try. They just remember and smile. Remember and smile...

Surely, you heard of Joe Martin. He went home on March 20, 2007; after seeing the strange fruit Billie Holliday sung about and the perfection of the automobile, regular airplane travel, the invention of the radio, television, computers with its internet, car phones, cell phones, a-bombs, world wars, assassinated presidents, resigning presidents, the first moon landing, the rise and murder of Martin Luther King, Jr. and then the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense; after seeing black people on television that weren't shuffling and mumbling; after seeing daughters marry, grand-children and great-grand-children born and a grandson act on the television 60 years after it's initial, colorless debut. All that seeing and the man still drank out of old pickle jars and sat on his porch with a long cane and a tiny black and white television set, watching the Yankees play double-headers, laughing that laugh and smiling that country smile while lightning bugs dotted the sunset with pins of fast light.

The other day he turned off the game, stood and waved and the neighbors poked their heads out of windowns and screen doors and waved back to him. There was nothing left for Joe to watch with the rest of us. He needed new things to see and from a better view at that. And nobody could blame him. Hazel was waiting on him and rumor had it she might even let him play some of his beloved Duke!

If you ain't heard of Joe Martin wait for sunset, look into the orange part of the light and you might catch a glimpse of him dancing. Yeah. Dancing.

We'll see you, Joe.

AND THE CAMPAIGN GOES ON...

2007-03-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Presidential candidate John Edwards, has experienced a recurrence of the cancer she was first diagnosed with toward the close of the 2004 campaign. According to the New York Times, Mrs. Edwards' cancer is said to be incurable at this point, but manageable with treatment. This is sad news for the family, friends and supporters of the Edwards campaign on personal and political levels, but uncomfortable questions will no doubt be asked and theorized about in the coming days.

Candidate Edwards and his wife participated in a news conference earlier today that witnessed his assurance of a campaign that would not be derailed by the health of his wife. But with her illness returning and being called "incurable" how much focus can Candidate Edwards truly devote to a continued bid for the White House? Mrs. Edwards has been called a confidant of her husband. How much attention can she give to this effort that already sees her husband trailing Senator's Obama and Clinton in numerous opinion polls? The campaign to run the largest democracy in the world is a grind-house filled with pits, betrayals, reversals and competitive debating sessions that can turn mean spirited and outright cruel without warning.

There is much to like about Candidate Edwards, particularly his early strategies for universal health care, environmental corrections, and withdrawal from Iraq. But I don't know how believable it is to think his candidacy will not suffer due to an understandable need to be more concerned with Mrs. Edwards health. Mr. Edwards has already said that he will not suspend campaign activities due to Mrs. Edwards recurring cancer, but that statement comes after the candidate canceled a campaign appearance in Iowa to be at his wife's side.

Of course Mr. Edwards would put his wife first in this instance. Unfortunately, illness does not take into account ambitions or professional responsibilities. The Iowa cancellation might not be the last time Candidate Edwards needs to be by his wife's side and if he is not on the campaign trail battling Obama and Clinton, his candidacy will not succeed. They are too savvy, too charismatic and too popular to be threatened by a part time candidate. And Mrs. Edwards might be too ill to suffer a part time husband.

So the biggest question that needs to be asked and answered is this: should Mr. Edwards spend time on a campaign that might gain him the influence of the white house, but put more pressure on him and ultimately the health of his wife? We pray that Mr. and Mrs. Edwards choose the best answer for all involved.

OH LAWD!

2007-03-08T02:02:00.000-08:00

Oh no she didn't. Oh yes she did. No, she didn't. Yes, she did.

That's right. Hillary Clinton, wife of America's first black President has shown the world she has none of his style, charisma or people skills after a speech down south. Who would have thought the Senator from New York, by way of Illinois would miraculously develop a southern affectation that is less southern and more Huckleberry Finn's Jim or Amos and Andy than any southerner I know in existence.

This cannot be how Ms. Clinton plans on endearing herself to people who think deeper than shallow tactics to endear herself to them. I find it insulting that she would speak at this event as if in a vaudeville act. It wouldn't have been too far off if she had put on black face and sang, in the words of that ole racist spiritual, "MAMMY!"

Senator Clinton in gone with the wind in my book. Until she develops a candidacy that is more telling in terms of strategies and plans and less pandering, insulting and thereby inauthentic; or why don't I just make it plain and spell it out: P-H-O-N-Y. If Miss Clinton does not curb this sentiment that she's been all too capable of manufacturing she can kiss the white house goodbye.

And dat deah is da' troof.

SHE'S SO VAIN

2007-03-04T22:06:00.000-08:00

Anne Coulter is the poster child for why anyone, who is not a white conservative,
cannot trust the Republican party in general and the conservative right "movement" specifically. She is a sarcastic, biting and seemingly intelligent woman who continues to display her lack of people skills and her ridiculously partisan bent everytime she opens her mouth. The latest foolishness you ask? I'll tell you: she being the strong man she aches to be, shouted out Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, making the same mistake one Isaiah Washington made at the Golden Globes, by referring to him as a slur typically directed at homosexual's.

Ms. Coulter says that she was just making a joke to her smitten audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference and even went as far as to say the Republican party is the party for gay people to allign themselves with. How did she conclude this? In a CNN article, Ms. Coulter says "I don't know why all gays aren't Republican. I think we have the pro-gay positions, which is anti-crime and for tax cuts. Gays make a lot of money and they're victims of crime. No, they are! They should be with us." Ms. Coulter is either out of her mind or a disengenous attention whore who is so in league with conservativism that she has lost her perspective about what people in general want, let alone the gay population. This "want" is known as respect. Anne Coulter has shown little for anyone. From the wives of 911 victims who she called out for milking their grief in demands for government accountablity in the terrorist attacks, and now her use of a bigoted euphimism that she should know better than to use.

Could it be that Ms. Coulter and her conservative audience are a bit too comfortable with the homogeny of self-righteousness that turned the house and senate over to the hated liberals during the fall elections and threatens to repossess the white house from the conservative agenda? The woman says she doesn't have anything against gay people. Maybe not. Or maybe she loves gay people like Strom Thurmond loved black Americans. The one thing Anne Coulter provides for her viewing audience is her love of her own voice. There is a pain deep in her loud mouth that lights up her eyes, but fails to warm the coldness that she chooses to use during interaction with those with opinions outside the conservative line. I'm here to tell you that she may be worse than the Mick Jagger that Carly Simon covertly sung onto the Billboard charts. Later for Mick because he has nothing on Anne Coulter; she's so vain.

NFL VS. HGH

2007-02-28T10:22:00.000-08:00

A recent discovery that the team doctor of the Pittsuburgh Steelers ordered $150,000 worth of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and Testosterone has raised a question to the National Football League that Major League Baseball has been grappling with, in the public eye, for the past several years. And that question is blunt and unflinchingly direct: is the game clean?

Athletics from the mythological times of the first Olympiad, on to Rome where man battled beast and the approval or disapproval of Caesar and into the inventions of baseball, basketball and football as we know them, has taken on a luster of fan appreciation and obsession. Witnessing the men and sometimes women who perform deeds with their bodies that the average citizen can only imagine accomplishing sets athletes on a pedestal that is so sturdy at the base that not even a hint of a storm could topple it. However, this fact might be changing rapidly.

In this era of digital news no information falls on deaf ears or blind eyes. As America and the world becomes more familiar with technology and the way it speeds the flow of information, people will begin to find out more than they ever wanted to know about their athletic heroes and the games the play and fans love. The implications for the NFL, that the Steelers, one year off a Super Bowl trophy, could become embroiled in a shocking scandal for illegal, performance enhancing drugs, are numerous. The implication for fans, though, has more of a depth; are fans ready to acknowledge that the most popular sport in America is rife with "cheaters" and "cheating"? Are Americans ready to appreciate the game for what it is, but dismantle the idols they placed on top of pedestals of their own making?

Football is a great game, graceful, brutal and strategic. Now, with millions on the line, coroprate sponsorships, million dollar salaries paid and received, is it farfetched to expect the players to do everything they can to be bionic men; bigger, stronger, faster and for coaches and owners to turn the other cheek so they can say they had no knowledge?

In the weeks to come the NFL might have a gigantic problem on its hands as will sporting society in general. Question: is the game clean? And if not, how many players, coaches and owners have their hands dirty? Once these questions are answered the bigger question is how many fans will continue to patronize an establishment that prepares its product without washing their hands of cheating?

HILLATRICKS

2007-02-22T09:49:00.000-08:00

Now let me get this straight. David Geffen, in essence, calls Bill Clinton shady and Hillary Clinton unable to galvanize people, therefore throwing his name and financial clout behind Barack Obama and the Clinton campaign team is calling out the Senator from Illinois, demanding he apologize... For statements made by Geffen? Politics are in full effect and we haven't even passed mile one on the marathon to the White House.

Hillary Clinton maintains that she will focus on the issues and not get caught up in the Geffen controversey. But her team, yes the one that she commands is shifting Geffen's comments onto Obama. As Mr. Obama stated, why exactly is he supposed to be apologizing for another man's comments about the Clinton's? They should be after an apology from Geffen himself. But Hillatricks has begun and that program's unstated agenda is to cast Obama as a candidate short on experience, a man who will be a death knell to the DNC's objective of White House attainment based on his black status (Stanley Crouch and Debra Dickerson not withstanding). So shift Geffen's comments off on Obama and put him on the defensive.

Mrs. Clinton was my Senator when I lived in New York. She has long history of controversy on the National and Regional political scenes. After this latest move by her "strategists" that aura of polarization that surrounds her appears to be alive and well. Demanding an apology from Obama for Geffen's comments are clear politics and a harbinger of the brewing fight for America's leadership.

LOVERS AND HATERS

2007-02-15T22:22:00.000-08:00

Tim Hardaway, in his time in the NBA, was one of the most fierce competitors and clutch perfomers in the modern era. He willed Miami to victories and ended many a game with a last second jumper or dribble drive to the hole. Some of these I witnessed personally. After his anti-gay comments folks are saying they cannot believe an NBA representative, who is a role model, would say such things. Why not? Basketball players, auto mechanics, politicians, lawyers, homeless; all of these various professions with one underlying truth. That truth is that each position is manned or womanned, if you will, by people with their own personal foibles, beliefs and objectives.

Tim Hardaway was a great player, but not a person with a record of saying anything worthwile, outside of basketball analysis, to the general public. His comments are hateful, hurtful to a large number of people, but no, he should not have to apologize for them. The reasons that he feels the way he does about homosexuals can be contested, dismantled and studied, but it is the way he feels. It is his right. He is entitled. The apology should come, if the pain his comments caused, was not his intention. Tim Hardaway is not the only person to feel the way he does and it is a good thing he said what he said in that it brings the discussion of discrimination against a group of people to the forefront and reminds America and the world that hatred, it's speech and the possible actions that speech can cause, still exists. Many people have correlated the remarks of Hardaway to the discrimination faced by black people through the years. This is where I check out on this issue.

Although a life in the "closet" has its pain, no one must know the sexuality of a person if they so choose. A black man or woman have no choice, anywhere in the world. Permanent tans give us away, even in the winter time when the cold tries its best to chip away at the robustness of melanin. John Amaechi is not Jackie Robinson. He is a man who chose to reveal a facet of who he is to the public. He chose to do this. I never entertained any thought of John Amaechi's sexuality until he presented it for media consumption. Jackie Robinson had no such option. He was a negro by law and a nigger by hatred and there was no other choice than to live with it. There was no way to hide skin that told on your heritage in whatever space he breathed in at any given time.

Now, I agree that black American's should be the last group of people to willingly discriminate or abide by discrimination of any other group. Discrimination is nasty, ugly and bares reprucussions that damage the spirit and the mind. However, this is not to say one cannot have a disconnected feeling from another person's sexual orientation, religion or any of the various other things that can come between people. What it does say is that people need to abide by a respect for every living person's humanity and accept them for who they are without attempting to disparage and discriminate against their right to live fully in the world. Love is the message.

GRAMMY NIGHT AND THE CHICKS

2007-02-12T09:49:00.000-08:00

The Police triumphantly reunited, Mary J. Blige displayed why she is destined to be a legend, The Red Hot Chili Peppers are legends, Chris Brown can song and dance, James Brown will be sorely missed and after receiving public censure for anti-war and anti-George Bush remarks, the Dixie Chicks made a triumphant return to the spotlight winning several awards. This was the most important results in the 2007 Grammy Award show.

In a period where any criticism of American foreign or domestic policy was seen as anti-patriotic amidst the fear of terrorist threats at home and abroad The Dixie Chicks, one of the more popular groups in the country at the time used their right to free speech as American citizens living in a democracy, to criticize their President. Corporate fall-out, public fall-out led the Chicks down an isolated path of hate mail, decreased airplay and the resulting stress.

Once again, a country that is supposed to be framed on the tenet of public discourse and disagreement showed that we are not able to handle a truth we would rather not accept and those willing to issue their truth will be punished. It was good to see the Dixie Chicks receive several awards based on the excellence of their artistry and the truth within it. The good thing about living in a democracy is that even though one might here opinions that they furiously disagree with, they have a right to respond to it. Last night, in Los Angeles, California, the Dixie Chicks responded to the public beatdown they received by displaying the end result of perserverance.

DISINGENUOUS JOHN HOWARD

2007-02-12T09:33:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister John Howard of Australia recently criticized United States Presidential hopeful Barack Obama's call for American troops to withdraw from Iraq by March 2008. Prime Minister Howard is under the impression that this will bolster the resolve of Terrorists. Well, whether that is a true statement is debatable. What is not debatable is that the Prime Minister of a country that currently has 1,4oo troops in Iraq compared with the upwards of 100,000 America has deployed and the 21,500 more who George Bush plans to deploy, has little room to criticize the big dog in the fight against terrorism.

America has put more troops in harms way and continues to do so, in spite of the seeming fruitlessness of it. Howard's comments denote a critical chasm in thinking. That thinking being that the war on terrorism can be one as a result of a continued conflict in Iraq. The truth is that that eventuality is uncertain at best.

Until the Iraqi governement can stomp out corruption within its ranks, grow a competent military and find a way to accomplish an end to the secterian violence that is sweeping that nation, no amount of American troops will be enough to bring a natural democracy to Iraq. But if Prime Minister Howard feels America should continue to feed the beast of chaos in Iraq he can put at least fifty thousand more of his own military citizens on the table. Senator Obama said fifteen thousand, but a man of resolve like John Howard should be more than willing to display the great strength of his Australia with a major deployment, right?

JAMES BROWN

2007-02-10T17:04:00.000-08:00

Are ya'll ready for star time? Well, here he is, The Godfather of Soul, Mr. Dynamite, Soul Brother number 1, Mr. Please Please Please, the hardest working man in show business...
He came like a phoenix on stages across the world, dancing, gyrating, jumping, screaming and sang-n! Keeping his band tight and the soul tighter, putting out double albums and two albums in one year like it wasn't no thang. When a reporter asked JB why he had so many versions of sex machine on different albums the Godfather simply said "because the song wasn't finished yet."

He is the Godfather of soul, hip hop and funk. Without JB ain't no funk for Dr. Funkenstein to take to the mothership; Hip Hop's golden era is more like copper; And soul music, as we know it, is a nice, tasteful salad, as opposed to the chicken, biscuits and buttermilk the Godfather heated up under that cape.

Are ya'll ready for star time? Well, here he is, The Godfather of Soul, Mr. Dynamite, Soul Brother number 1, Mr. Please Please Please, the hardest working man in show business... JAAAAAAAAAAAMES BROWN!

God wanted the funk and only one man could give it to him. R.I.P. Mr. Brown and thank you.

FREE BLOG LIFE

2007-02-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

Presidential Candidate John Edwards recently discovered the trial by fire nature of the blogosphere. Melissa McEwan and Amanda Marcotte, hired by Edwards' staff came under scrutiny from Catholics and conservatives who asserted McEwan and Marcotte's opinions on the Church's stand on abortion and homosexuality as being anti-catholic. The ladies have since apologized for any misconceptions as to their beliefs, holding that they are not anti-Catholic.

The bottom line truth in this equation is that in America people have opinions and technology has allowed a quick and accessible expression of a multitude of views that will almost always be offensive to one or more of the diverse groupings that make up American society. Free speech is the life's blood of a healthy democracy seeking to be functional in regard to resident participation. For democracy to be more than theory people must be involved in its dissemination. Period. While the Catholic church and other conservative groups have every right to take offense to the statements of bloggers, traditional journalist's or "others" in general, I don't know how much effectiveness their is in berating McEwan and Marcotte into an apology. It seems the more effective action to take is to utilize their free speech and educate people on the nature of the church's stance on the hot button issues that are always ready to polarize a free society.

I like what I've heard from Edwards up until now, but this blog-debacle has me looking at him sideways. One, any candidate has to know who his campaign staff is hiring to represent them; particularly when those hires are coming from a cyberspace that has a blog outpost on every domain way station. Two, an apology from his bloggers is fine, but the truth is their opinions are their opinions and they are entitled to them. Disagreement is also part of the life's blood of democracy. Perhaps an apology about the way McEwen and Marcotte stated their opinions could have been in order, but politics as usual, in other words, a forced apology from these bloggers should mean very little. America has never been in total agreement about anything and never will be. To get to the greatest good we need to be aware of the ways, means and evils that provide obstacles on the path to it. For that to happen we need people to speak freely. Even if we disagree.

BACK TO WHAT FUTURE?

2007-02-08T19:25:00.000-08:00

Jerry Falwell is a man of accomplishment, a man of passion and faith. These things are evident. His civic mindedness is admirable. However, a vote for a Republican is not a vote for Jesus. Ted Haggard, Mark Foley, and on and on, prove that Republican's are not exception to the rule that man falls short of the glory. Falwell says he would like to take America back to a time such as his youth in the 30's and 40's, an era, he believes, when America was guided by a moral value system. Of course, the good Reverend was quick to point out that he wouldn't want the segregation of his native south to be a part of that flashback. I wonder... See that thinking is flawed from the first thought. The moral compass of America was never all that moral. One cannot return to a past Reverend Falwell calls moral, then have the audacity to want to leave out the demonic nature of discrimination. For the very foundation and system of the country to be in cahoots with racists, the original terror organization known as the Ku Klux Klan and other such organizations, politicians and law enforcement that legislated 2nd class status and a failure to protect and serve all citizens of the country, reveals, blatantly, a lack of moral authority. There was no justice in blacks only and white's only, the "strange fruit" swinging from southern trees in Billie Holiday's song or Japanese internment camps in the early 40's. There's enough injustice to go around that makes Falwell's rationalization of a moral America, hypocritical or outright blind.

The truth is that God, in the bible, gave every man free will to believe in the miracle of Jesus. No one was forced and while it is every Christian's job to conform themselves to the example set by Jesus, it is not our job to sit in judgement of others, nor force our will upon others, the same way a Christian would not want the belief system of another forced upon us. Leaders of nations are appointed by God. This is scriptural fact. Whether we like the leadership we eventually receive or not, Christians, as believers in the word of God, must understand and accept this sometimes bitter pill. I would not mind seeing prayer in public schools, while at the same time I agree to a woman's right to choose. If abortion is truly a hot button topic for conservatives then sex education better become a serious lecture topic in junior high and high schools. Abstinence for children unable to deal with unwanted pregnancies is ideal, but is not realistic in this era of civilization; a world that biblicially, is spinning toward an end full of pestilence, wars and rumors of wars amongst other chilling visions issued from the book of Revelation.

If Jerry Falwell does not advocate certain behaviors or people in his home, I am all for his right to run his house as he sees fit. What the Reverend need understand, however, is that the White House belongs to every American, even those he finds disagreement with in terms of spiritual outlook or specific lifestyles, and the occupant of that White House must build consensus and provide a place of comfort, compassion and vibrancy to all Americans.

THE BALLOT, SO WHY THE BULLET?

2007-02-08T09:54:00.000-08:00

The Democratic party at some point in the nation's history overtook the Republican party for control as the party of the "common man," the doer of good deeds, the free thinker, the social justice manufacturer. Black American's more than many others became the trusted confidante of any Democratic candidate at the local, state or national level. Today, the Democratic party has taken that confidence for granted and African-America has fallen into a trap of familiarity that damages progress.

The Republican party, with it's economic and social paradigms of do-it-yourself, seems to have not taken into account or dealt in a real way with the foundation America was built on. A foundation one of their own, Abraham Lincoln, found to be wanting when he, despite his political reasons, put an end to slavery and backed that sentiment with the civil war. Today's version of the Republican party has itself to blame for the distrustful and cyncical gaze cast upon it by the black community. However, this reality should not be a free card to Democrats. Black voters will never get the best of any politician or political system until Democratic candidates are made to acknowledge, through action, issues of import across large sections of black America. Should a Republican candidate be the one to address these issues, in a way that makes sense, black voters owe it to ourselves to listen, and yes, vote for this candidate, in spite of what the traditional thought lines are regarding the GOP amongst many in African-America.

Some politicos might say issues are addressed during every election as it relates to labor, gender, and racial issues. However, the type of acknowledgement Americans of all stripes needs from their politicians is not the standard political talk; slogans, catch phrases, and buzz words that taste good, but leave their patrons malnourished. Black America needs some meat on the bones of candidate offerings. Education, health care, a living wage and equality always seem to be issues revolving in the orbit of black America. We need plans; a direct way for community objectives to be accomplished. If presidential candidates are not offering this then black people need to pass on their candidacy and move on to the next option.

As shredded as the relationship between a throng of black America and Republicans has become, the black voter needs to, at least, take in what the Republican potentials are saying, as well as the Independent candidates. Black America must become a well rounded voter in 2008 or be faced with a knowledge of problems that are not going to be solved in a manner timely enough for children, parents or neighborhoods.

Like the stunning girl hovering in the shadows of a red-light house party, black voters will have to play hard to get to see the agenda of politicians change. In making black votes a fluid entity instead of money in the bank the black agenda will become more important than it has been in some time. If one disputes the importance of black America all they need to do is look at the state of public education in inner-city America, unemployment in inner-city America and working poverty in inner-city America. If the black agenda, which calls for an address and quick change of these circumstances, was important, there would be qualified teachers leading class rooms, school buildings that are in repair instead of dis-repair, meaningful tax relief for the shrinking middle class and a living wage for those who work one job, two job, three job, four, to make ends meet, yet have no official health coverage outside of substandard care at county facilities.

The ballot has overtaken the bullet, but today, black voters, who will not present themselves as a people to be courted and catered to, by politicians across party lines, have taken the bullet and shot ourselves in the foot.

THE PROBLEM OF BASEBALL

2007-02-08T09:52:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time existed a game where men hit a stitched leather ball with polished lumber and ran across dirt and grass like children free to play in the sunshine. This game was played across America and became the pastime of a nation; Baseball. With the World Baseball Classic quickly approaching it seems appropriate for a thought on the state of the game and why it has fallen out of favor in many parts of America.

When I was child growing up in Upstate New York and the mid-Atlantic, I had a Louisville Slugger, several gloves and a New York Yankees jersey that I wore proudly as an Easter Sunday suit and tie. I heard stories of Baseball greats, including my Uncle Ted, who would eventually be voted into the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame. And I was far from unique. My friends in the neighborhood, black, white and Hispanic all owned the necessities to get a game on. Between quadruple-headers we’d trade baseball cards, “I’ll give you a Bill Matlock, Dave Parker and ‘Pops’ Stargell for “Yaz.” It wasn’t long before a fresh stick of gum thrown in would close the deal. It was kids’ business and in the summer months, a daily occurrence. On any empty field one could find boys and the odd young lady out pitching and catching nine innings. So how did a game that had once operated on the status quo of institutionalized racism, then transformed into a catalyst of social change through Branch Rickey and Mr. Jackie Robinson, fall into a state of irrelevance in the American social conscience? Arrogance.

Baseball’s highest officials ceased working to attract new fans in an era of infinite sporting options and a fast food pop culture that holds history in slight regard. Many corporations have learned that lesson and have taken to marketing and positioning themselves into the social fabric of America. This is why the MTV’s and PlayStation’s of the world have usurped baseball for entertainment value cache with young America. This is why the National Football League has taken over the television ratings as the most popular sport amongst sports viewers and the Super Bowl has bumped the World Series down to third world status. Baseball has a puritanical fan base and die hard lighthouse keepers in George Will, Thomas Boswell, Peter Gammons’ and others who maintain the history of the game. But history doesn’t exist in the future and for baseball to flourish it must find new fans, new first love’s. Basketball and Football jerseys have been commandeered by Hip Hop nation a wardrobe choice saluting the historical past and respected present of those athletes. Rarely does one see a baseball jersey in the inner city or suburbs, and ever more rare is the sight of children filling sandlots with baseball games. Those lots have become empty shrines to what was and a nod that PlayStation, X-Box and other video game systems have taken “outside” from our youth. This is another burgeoning problem for America, but one symptomatic of a problem baseball seems to hide from. If a child is playing a video game, specifically a sports based video game, it seven out of ten times in Madden NFL or NBA Live.

Ratings for Major League Baseball’s fall showcase, The World Series, are half of what they were twenty years ago and have been on the decline for the past five years. Nascar’s claim of being the second most watched sport of American sports viewers goes to show how far baseball has fallen. Major League Executive Vice President of Business, Tim Brosnan argued that baseball, indeed, was the second most watched sport after football. This argument would have been preposterous as little as fifteen years ago. It’s a sad indicator of baseball’s current circumstance that its highest ranking officials can be challenged by a sport such as NASCAR, that is clearly popular, but hardly athletically dynamic or cosmopolitan. Even more telling is that baseball is willing to engage in an argument as to what sport is number two. The national pastime in a debate over which sport is most popular behind football? That would have been unheard of at the time of my birth. There would have been no question as to baseball’s dominance. And only fans in New England seem to be able to maintain the singular passion for baseball that once belonged to the entire nation.

So what to do? Baseball must implement marketing campaigns that allow potential new customers to get to know its players. It can be argued that the always valuable 18-25 year old set would be hard pressed to name the ten best players on baseball diamonds today. Baseball’s only effective marketing campaign was not chosen, but put upon them by a media’s attempts to “out” players and toss them into the firestorm that the steroid scandal became. Baseball writers, fans and purists must exist less in the minutiae of statistics, averages, percentages and history and recognize that seasonal accounting and a rich past does not buy the sport a future. This seems lost on Commissioner Bud Selig who has been criticized over a myriad of public relations gaffes over the years.

Providing a vision of what baseball is and can still be will be Selig’s legacy or undoing if he fails to lead the sport back to it’s rightful prominence in the canon of athletics. As for now, the state of the game is rich in contracts, but poor in interest from those fans it needs most; new fans who are watching MTV and playing video games and cannot even name baseball’s top all-stars, let alone tell anyone what a perfect game is.

ANGRY IS A BRAND THAT'S UNAFFORDABLE

2007-02-08T09:48:00.000-08:00

The late and legendary soul singer Marvin Gaye sang about it. Its specter infests the Middle East and it breathes on America’s current political landscape, dividing citizens by party affiliations, ethnicities, genders, religions and sexual orientation. Anger. But what exactly is anger? And can it be ghettoized in the pantheon of emotions to an unwanted, third world status?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines anger as a strong feeling of displeasure and usually of antagonism. This word, this feeling, anger was politicized last week when GOP Chairman Ken Mehlman tagged New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as being too angry to win Presidential office. Anger, a natural emotion that allows us to express a profound displeasure has now stepped outside of being an indigenous part humanity, such as joy, sadness and the like, to being used as a label that thwarts difference of opinion and verbal discourse on issues of import. As with anger, the internal right to one’s own opinion spans from the beginnings of creation.

As America has traversed the era of political correctness we have become a different strain of humanity. Not a nation of critical thinkers that American history likes to portray us as being; the descendents of the Benjamin Franklins, Thomas Jeffersons, Albert Einsteins and Martin Luther Kings, but a body of citizens who have become thin-skinned to dissent and disingenuous in our efforts to avoid those who would boldly disagree with our ways of thinking. Anger has become a label attached to differing viewpoints much like the letter given Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel, The Scarlett Letter; “A”, not for adultery, but for angry.

The anger label has become an effective way for those in authority to conquer challenges to methods of operation, difference in opinion or alternative viewpoints. Corporate CEO’s speak of ex-employees being disgruntled, once those employees expose inequities in business operations. Women who seek the right to the self-determination of their own bodies are referred to as “angry” amongst other things by right to life proponents.

The stereotype of the angry black man has long been used to lessen the effectiveness of African-American leadership in their denouncing of racism by those who seek to keep the status quo or possibly even worse, those who have no agenda and are afraid to deal with confrontation on any level. This inability or unwillingness to deal with a discourse of difference is becoming America’s unheralded, yet growing weakness.

Labels pertaining to race, sexuality, gender and economic class have been used for centuries. Now this fact has crossed over to the world of emotions, as the label of “angry” has taken its place in the gallery of social construct and robs America of critical thought at grassroots levels on up. One is free to express their opinion, but in today’s climate face the danger of being dismissed with the tag of angry. This label doesn’t allow for progress. It hangs on with a death grip to the status quo without grappling with the possibility of newer, more appropriate ways of proceeding with political policy, social interactions or personal affiliations. This label has become a crutch that Americans need to quickly dispatch with if we are, as a nation, to walk into our future with clarity. Americans are not served by a culture that seeks to turn tables on the issues at hand by labeling dissenters and thereby lessening the impact of the opinion in this era of put-on political correctness. What this strategy truly does is absolves the labeler from their own opinions; a sort of short-hand denial of self-reflection where people refuse to take stock of their beliefs in relation to the challenge being presented or what their opinions say about them in a broader social context.

Casting opponents as angry has become a symbolic hiding place for those wishing to escape the possible effectiveness of true political-social discourses and it is up to American citizens to avoid this game of hide and seek. Holding public officials as well as individuals to a standard of discourse that will lead to self-reflection and an ear that is willing to listen to voices that do not agree with institutional or individual positions. If not, America faces the danger of becoming a nation unable to deal effectively with verbal dissent, which is the greatest right America offers to her citizenship. This lack of critical thought is a dam blocking the current of possibility in what is billed as a free society. But please don’t close the paper. I assure you, I am not angry.

STAR SPANGLED CANDIDATES

2007-02-08T09:45:00.000-08:00

As the 2008 Presidential campaign trail gets more crowded, the Superville Review will be researching the main players and bit performers who want to be our fearless leader. Democrats to Republicans to Independents will be perused and critiqued. Stay tuned.

THE POLICY AND THE PLAN

2007-02-07T21:17:00.000-08:00

2007 is here, countdown to presidential election 2008 and I dare say
what is shaping up to be one of the most interesting presidential elections
in my young, but growing old, life. Citizens, there are no stand-ins for the parts we will play in this election. We must show up, on cue and off book. Everybody in, everybody in. This play will be legendary for its socio-political hidden meanings, intellectual spawings and political ideas as presented by an all-star cast.

Introducing the main players...

Hillary Clinton, the female candidate as villain, loved and hated equally by the elite and the regular jane's and Moe's from sea to shining sea; former first lady mired in health care,
real estate and infidelity scandals with a wildly popular husband known as Slick Will.

Barack Obama, the Hendrix-esque rock star who is charismatic, seen as "clean" in the regrettable words of Joe Biden. He's the innovator of political speak; in an age of politicking for points with style and little substance, Obama is the forthright candidate who no one has been able to pin down on the substance of his potential platform. If this were a 1970's comic he would be, The Black Candidate.

John Edwards, country boy politician with a core of steel, burnished in the shadows of Vice Presidential nomination in '04. Running as the candidate for the common man, he has already shocked the competition, putting forth a plan for universal health care for all Americans. He's the can-do man, but can he make it do what it do when it's time for votes to be counted and nominations won?

Joe Biden, as foot-in-mouth or the gaffe-man; undressing his chances before they even have an opportunity to catch the carriage that would have turned back into pumpkin further on the election trail. But every story needs a bumbler for comic relief.

John McCain, the tough talking centrist, running as a republican in this era of Republican as "right" and all the way to the "right." Will his support of more troops in Iraq rally the GOP throng to his cause or turn off a sizable segment of Americans Republican and Democrat who have come to see this war as the quicksand it has become?

Rudy Guiliani, former Mayor of New York, socially liberal, but so hard line in terms of policing and urban renewal during his reign over New York that the "Apple's" black and brown citizen's will tell you the man has no people skills. He has not officially declared, but it seems a matter of time. If he does win I won't leave my house in 50 states without I.D. and my hands in plain view.

Mitt Romney, flip-flopper. As Governor of Massachussetts, when it came to abortion, he was for a woman's right to choose, but since he's running for the GOP nomination, he's realized that he had a change of heart. Who is his campaign advisor, John Kerry?

Truthfully, I'm looking forward to seeing if an independent candidate can present enough votes to be blamed for losing another election for the Democratic or Republican candidates. This country needs an infusion outside the main stream. Obama, could be that, to a degree, but is America ready for a black president or what about a woman president? A Republican president who is occupying the same center Democrats tried to occupy in the 2000 and 2004? Will the Democrats willingly return to their roots on the left and be unapologetic in doing so? How many of her issues will America confront in regards to race, gender and class? There is no room on the fence in '08. Stakes are high, war is stuck in netural in Iraq, a conflict with Iran is being courted by "W", global warming is starting to get the world hot under the collar and terrorism and it's various ways and means are as much a threat today as it was after 9/11.

This country of ours is about to change course in ways that will prove historic and possibly transcendent or tragic. Which outcome Americans see will be determined by the effort everyone of her citizens is willing to contribute in this electoral process. Everyone has a part to play in this production. No American can, in good conscience, sit this election out. With so much on the line and a variety of candidates that have not been seen before (a black man and a female with a legitimate chance for success and Republicans who could be called moderates.) it's imperative that each candidate is researched, given audience, and challenged, not followed down party lines, racial lines, gender lines, or other. This election is about the policy and the plan. Fellow citizens, let's go to work.