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Evening! It’s Feel Good Friday, but it feels like crappy-ass Monday. I’m lonely without a dog, Wife Swap was a repeat, Kitchen Nightmares is over for this season and tonight was Kevin Eubanks last performance on the Tonight Show. Sighs. Anyway, this will likely be an awfully short and rather moody post.
By the way, Happy Memorial Day!
** SALUTE **
KKK Gown Incident in Georgia
Catherine Ariemma, a teacher in Georgia, was put on blast this week for allowing her students to dress like Klu Klux Klan members. The Telegraph reports that five students at Lumpkin County High School in Georgia donned KKK-like attire in preparation for a film that included a scene depicting a “notorious white supremacist group which [sic] had large chapters nearby in Georgia and Alabama.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constituted added, “The project also looked at the treatment of Native Americans by the colonists; the treatment of the Irish, Italians, Chinese, Japanese and Germans living in the United States during the first and second world wars; and the Hispanic population more recently.”
The question remains: does this constitute racism?
My initial reaction is absolutely no! A wise man or woman is unafraid to fully explore his or her past. If that entails putting on tacky threads and stumbling about like a racist fool in a controlled environment, then so be it. To me it’s no different than dressing up like Nazis to produce a film about the Holocaust. If you’re going to rush to proclaim this as clear evidence of Southern racism, then your argument had better be more substantial than, “There’s no point in reenacting it!” In that case, I expect you to raise hell about every single play and film ever conceived that pertains to discrimination, racism or xenophobia. It’s only fair.
Note also taking part in such a reenactment might provide children with a much-needed, in-the-face glimpse into the cruel and malicious nature of the Klan. During sixth grade, for instance, my teacher forced the entire class to huddle closely together on the floor with our arms and legs tied to one another. The exercise was meant to emulate what it must have felt like being shipped off to America in a slave ship. It was a horrifying ordeal—and one that still lies fresh in my mind. The lesson I learned that day will stay with me for life! And unless the children of Lumpkin County High School are racists, I imagine that their reaction to portraying clan members wouldn’t have been too pleasant either. If anything, it’d likely have served as a great lesson that they’d have never forgotten.
Keep in mind, however, that several students were offended when the robe-clad students trotted through the cafeteria on their way to another location to perform the filming. Ariemma’s decision to allow her students to wander the hallways dressed like KKK members was outright foolish. Can you imagine Martin Wuttke (‘Inglorious Bastards’) sauntering around town looking for lunch while still dressed as Hitler? I THINK NOT. Pshh….just try walking by me in a robe and pointy hat while I’m trying to eat my lunch…I dare you! I’ll be on you like black beans on white race, and YOU KNOW THAT’S RIGHT! ;-)
Seriously though, we as a people must stop crying racism every time that something like this occurs. I say let the film be produced, but if it’s that big a deal, we can just scrap it. However, there’s no need to fire the teacher or label her as a racist. After having met many racists in my life—especially while incarcerated during my youth—I can guarantee with near-full certainty that Miss Catherine Ariemma is anything but one. She just a dumbass cracker who done lost her fragernackle mind, LOL; I’m sorry! J/K J/K J/K!
Random Stupid Comment meant to just take up space and make it look like I wrote more than I actually did…
Just because I’m weird doesn’t mean I want to date a weirdo. I hate when people try to hook me up with a total freakazoid. Freaks and freaks make a freaking circus—and I’m afraid of clowns! By the same token, when ugly people are mixed with other ugly people, it creates a porridge of pure nastiness.
So if you want to hook me up with someone, just remember that I have standards… Damnit!
Discussing Race
I enjoy talking about race. Actually, what I prefer is to write about it. Nevertheless, many people have a problem with any form of race-related discussion. For example, on CNN this week there was a piece about a scientific study concerning the way in which our skin color or race affects our ability to emphasize with pain. The following comments especially caught my attention:
AntiLibtard:
“Oh here comes CNN with their weekly race baiting crap. Get a clue, CNN, no one cares but race baiters like you. At least a week. They try to carry the white guilt banner around, waving it for all to see. No one is buying it anymore except a few black racists.”
Jimbojonezin:
“ah good i was wondering when CNN was going to publish their fourth race-based article of the day... i love how they always involve only whites/blacks since as we all know none of the other races matter...“
frogs:
“this article is pure bullsh!t. people who empathize mostly with those of their own race, as opposed to all living beings and the environment that supports our lives, then i seriously question the depth of their humanity. certainly they haven't enough to begin with to even say it's lacking.”
First of all, these geniuses are incapable of articulating themselves well. Second, the article wasn’t an editorial column; it was a news piece that presented the details associated with a recently conducted, scientific study performed by researchers in Italy. Third, the only racists I see are the fools who feel compelled to make unfounded claims of racism just because CNN used the big, scary R word.
People like this are in a total state of denial. The irony is that they themselves come off as more racist than the ones capable of and willing to calmly talk about race and how it truly does divide us. Look, I’m a very proud American, but I am also an Indian, an Aspie, a Weirdo and a Legs guy (I prefer nice thighs over big boobs!). In regards to race, however, no matter how many blacks friends I acquire, no matter how much black music I add to my playlist and no matter how big my penis is, I will never be black. Suffice it to say, I will ALWAYS prefer curry chicken to soul food, and that’s real.
Mind you, I’m not speaking for every Indian, but I imagine that most share my food preference. The reason is because we were all raised similarly. I imagine that most black children don’t grow up watching Hindu movies; by the same token most Indians don’t grow up dancing to Soul Train. Look, as interracial couples become more popular, racial differences will begin to deteriorate and we may eventually end up with one and only one race. For now, however, most black kids are being raised by black parents, most white kids are being raised by white parents and most asian kids are being raised by asian parents—and I guarantee that’s a fact!
Maybe islandmommy’s analysis of the situation will make my point more clear:
“I don't think this is so much about ‘racism’ as it is about identifying and connecting with one's community-- so a white person who is used to living around mostly white people will likely feel more empathy for white people. Same for black people. For the past ten years I lived in a mostly black neighborhood (I am white). I can tell you that now, when I see a news story about a crime committed against a black person, I feel much more empathy that I would have before I lived in a black community. In fact I find myself reacting with more empathy to blacks than to whites. I think humans are designed to connect to their social clan, whatever that social group might be-- it probably dates back millennia, how we are hardwired in our brains.”
And well, it just happens that the largest social clans currently in existence are based chiefly on race or religion. That for CERTAIN is a fact! I unfortunately don’t have any sources immediately available to back me up on that… but I’ll get back to ya’ll!
By the way, I take offense to Jimbojonezin. I’ve met many very cool and intelligent Jimbos, so I don’t appreciate Jimbojonezin making Jimbos look bad!
Another Self-Centered, Pointless Comment
I recently stopped watching the Mo’Nique Show, not to mention Sanford and Son, Good Times and even Martin. My TV playlist has been replaced with the Daily Show, Everybody Loves Raymond and Just Shoot Me.
Have I lost touch with ‘black television’? NOT AT ALL. I just got burned out from watching the same shows over and over again, so I’m taking a break. This typically occurs once every 3 to 6 months. I’ll eventually cycle right back to the originals, though.
The only shows that have remained on my playlist for the long run are the Michael Baisden Show (I’ll only stop listening if Michael ever fires George), Seinfeld and the Tonight Show. Those are my all-time favorites.
Overly Litigious Society?
A woman who fell asleep on a United Airlines flight and later woke up to find herself stranded and locked up in an empty plane filed a lawsuit against the airline this past Tuesday. It took four hours for the janitorial staff to finally discover her and let her loose. Before letting her go, however, they ruthlessly interrogated her and essentially treated her like a potential suspect/terrorist. That’s quite disturbing in my opinion—and certainly more than enough reason to file suit. Not everyone agrees, however.
CNN commentator Montecore said, “This is a prime example of why litigation is killing the US. Greedy lawyers, greedy people. In every other country on the planet this story would have been the same just without the lawsuit mention. This is one of the reasons the US has seen it's greatest days come and go. Pathetic.”
Litigation exists for many reasons, one of which is to uphold consumer rights. If I’m on a plane, it’s my right to take a nap or fall asleep. And in case I do fall asleep, I expect the flight crew to rouse me from slumber upon the plane’s landing. It’s their job to serve my needs (get me a banana Cognac, biotch), which is why and ONLY WHY I’m willing to pay so much for a bloody flight to begin with.
Another purpose of litigation is to force changes on businesses known for engaging in wrongful practices. This particular case concerns an airline that acted irresponsibly via its lack of action, in that the attendants on staff should have performed a thorough check before shutting down the plane. If this Lady isn’t allowed to pursue litigation, then that’s basically like saying, “It’s okay you screwed up.”
Writer Jürgen O. Skoppek of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy explains: "Behavior modification is the most critical and important aspect of litigation. Civil law and access to the courtroom are tools of behavioral manipulation just as much and just as effectively as any criminal or other regulatory edict of government. With one stroke of the pen, a judge can change the common law or reinterpret a statutory cause of action so as to fundamentally reshape the day-to-day behavior of millions of employers and their employees.”
Granted many litigation cases currently on the docket are trivial, not to mention a disgraceful waste of taxpayer money. I however sincerely believe that this lady’s case does not fall that into that category. I mean just look at her picture. Does that look like the face of a cold-hearted, ruthless and conniving bitch? I THINK NOT! Just imagine if this happened to your Mother; how would you react!?
Kendra Wilkinson Sex Tape
Why is everyone being so hard on Kendra? She made a sex tape while she was young and now she regrets it. We all make mistakes. From what I’ve heard about her and from what I’ve seen of her on her show, I find her to be very sweet and kind. She doesn’t deserve this treatment and she’s not a bimbo or a slut, so lay off her. Plus she’s really hot and she has a great sense of humor. Added to that, even CAPTAIN KIRK made a sex tape. I mean come on now…
Forex
I did NOT give up on the forex market; I was just depressed. I’m still trading and making slow headway. I’ll make an official update once I’ve managed to secure a $100.00 net profit. Until then, there’s no point in talking about it.
Doggy Replacement
Finding a suitable replacement for El Gringo (That wasn’t her real name.) has been very difficult. I’m quite choosy and want a particular type of dog. Unfortunately my freelance work, lack of an automobile and quirky nature are steadfastly preventing me from acquiring the kind of dog I desire. Thankfully, I may have a chance to prove myself this weekend. A Lady is supposed to stop by and drop off her dog for me to test-run for a few days. If all goes well, wittle Abigail Adams (not real name) will be me new doggy!
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Well, I’m about to get back to playing this cheesy and rather ol’-school RGB game called Castaway. Peace and GOD BLESS all the soldiers who are currently at war, who in the past were at war or are in heaven patiently waiting for their loved ones to arrive.
** SALUTE **
So hooking you up with the stripper little person (Midget is so politically incorrect) is out of the question? Since when did you get standards?
ReplyDeleteLove it,
Patrice Deebo