What’s New World???

As much as I try to pass it up…this Chris Brown and Rihanna thing is unavoidable! I mean, from the outset it seemed to be the pairing of two of America’s most unassuming, mild-mannered, and harmless R&B stars since…Ike and Tina (Ok, ok – that was probably uncalled for…but I coulda said Bobby and Whitney…or KC & Mary J). Listen, I consider myself a pretty respectable guy…I cherish my Mom and my sister (Hi Mom LOL)  and was raised to never, ever, ever lay hands on a woman. Besides being raised in an environment where hitting my sister would get me flogged, I guess in a larger societal sense…I feel that when a man hits a woman (which is, physically, an unfair fight)  it supports a power structure of male dominance/superiority…and that’s not cool.

BUT!

This CB and Rihanna thing has me thinking…is there ever a time when striking a woman is appropriate??? I mean, I guess when I really sit back and think…it’s definitely a reasonable option given 2 scenarios:

1) Self-Defense. Obviously, if a woman is threatening your life and livelihood then you’re faced with no other option than to retaliate (words of support for CB???)

2) Cheating. I know this one’s got a HUGE blind spot in regards to interpretation…but if your woman is saying the whole “I love you” thing and you guys are married and have kids and you’re faithful and committed and trying your best….well, I guess temporary insanity would probably be a justifiable defense…especially if she’s intentionally scandalous. I mean, we’re all grown let’s just break up in a civil way so as not to surprise each other with hurtful stuff. ..like cheating with a bestfriend! LOL

So what do you think…is there ever an appropriate situation for a man to hit a woman??? Why is there such a social backlash to men hitting women in the first place, I men men fight men all the time and women fight women as well…so what’s the fuss about??? Does CB have a chance if Rihanna presses charges???

// TCS

What’s Cracking World???

Alright, somebody has GOT to explain to me the thought process behind Obama’s economic plan! I’ll spare you the reminder of my earlier posts where I discussed why/how Obama-mania seems to have gone a tad overboard…and being a resident of metro-DC, trust me – this thing is waaay out of control. The main idea is this: Although President Obama does offer fresh outlooks and ideas as to the direction and functionality of US governement, it kinda feels like ANYTHING he does right now is as good as gold. To be clear, I like Obama. BUT! My main concern with his platform and with the Democratic ticket was (and still is) THE ECONOMIC POLICIES SUGGESTED ARE UNREASONABLE! Here’s my brief summary:

Obama’s proposing an $825 billion economic stimulus plan in which American taxpayers would receive another check from the US gov’t in hopes that retail spending would be jumpstarted and actually result in revenue via the government’s investment in American spending.

I have 2 HUGE problems with this idea(ology):

1. Anybody with even a loose grasp of personal finance WILL NOT spend this money! Take me, for instance, I’m DEFINITELY gonna apply this check towards my debts and bills which results in absolutely NO market gain for the retail sector (although I am aware that the banking institutions will benefit from my money regardless). I feel like for every beer drinking, blue collar worker who runs out and buys a flat screen with the money, there will be at least one tax payer sharing my mindset and either holding the money or applying it outside of the retail sector.

2. Bear with me – Consider the mindset that this “economic plan” supports. Here we are as a country waddling around in $10.7 trillion dollars of debt…and our plan is to spend more?!  I would MUCH rather apply the $825 billion to retain those jobs in peril of being lost (at GM, AIG, Caterpillar, Pfizer, etc.) than to hope that American spending habits won’t change (nice play on words, if I do say so myself LOL).  I mean, would you rather lose your job and get a $1000 check from Obama, or keep you job and be able to sustain paychecks over the long haul? It’s so typically American to support this “quickfix” plan without considering the long-term effects and downfalls. Problems in Japan? Just nuke ‘em!  Got a couple of Muslim terrorists??? Suspend Civil Liberties! Tough economy??? Throw the President out! Sound ridiculous yet??? It’s far reaching. It’s stereotype-inducing. It’s American reasoning.  The reason that we are in this mess to begin with is an over-reliance on credit and spending without saving and instead of addressing these issues, we are supposed to go along with relying on the problem to be the solution??? I just don’t get it.

What do you think??? Do you welcome the stimulus check to relieve a little financial stress at home (I can’t blame you) or do you see Obama’s plan as a short term gamble…with $825 billion of American tax money???

// TCS

Happy Holidays World!

Even with an economic recession firmly in place , it seems that the holiday season still goes hand-in-hand with commercials from Kay Jewlers, Jared’s and other retailers looking to lure extravagant gift buyers. The reason behind it? As a society, we’re taught to focus more on material goods than feasible finances so we’ll spend no matter what…which is kinda what has us in this credit mess to begin with LOL.

Well, I don’t know about you but to me it’s almost an implication that if you aren’t buying your significant other a $500 tennis bracelet or a $1000 diamond pendant…somehow you’re heartless and don’t care. Which got me to thinking…

If you were with the man/woman of your dreams what would you be willing to sacrifice to keep your relationship afloat???  Would you be cool with not receiving a gift for Christmas??? Could you deal with the toilet seat being left up EVERY time??? What about childish behavior, like gossip or always running to his/her mother or friends???

Let’s start a list…let me know what things you are wiling to sacrifice and what things you just can’t deal with! I’ll start:

Stay Up World!

Well, it looks like we have another one of those moments where a celebrity states his/her opinion…and gets RAILED for it! Recently, Prince (you know…Purple Rain, Little Red Corvette, Diamonds and Pearls, etc.) is facing some heat from the LGBT community for comments he made about homosexual lifestyles and thier relation to his religion. The quote went like this:

“Here’s how it is: you’ve got the Republicans, and basically they want to live according to this [Bible]. But there’s the problem of interpretation, and you’ve got some churches, some people, basically doing things and saying it comes from here, but it doesn’t. And then on the opposite end of the spectrum you’ve got blue, you’ve got the Democrats, and they’re, like, ‘You can do whatever you want.’ Gay marriage, whatever. But neither of them is right. God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, ‘Enough.’ ”

Hmm…sounds like a pretty standard Christian interpretation of homosexuality to me. However, many in the LGBT community have spoken out against Prince’s comments, many being quoted as saying that they feel betrayed by Prince, whose sexual orientation has long been in question. E! reports that Prince’s comments stain his legacy and reputation of sexual freedom and individuality.

Of course I  take issue with the LGBT community on this one because 1) Prince never signed up to be a spokesperson for your cause 2) It’s HIS opinion 3) Why does a person’s personal opinions impact their legacy? I just don’t understand when it became so morally wrong for someone to have an opinion that differs from the crowd. It seems like homosexuality in this country is really turning into a CIVIL RIGHTS issue…and I’m not sure that it is. Since I believe that homosexuality is a choice (and not genetic), it just seems like gays are going beyond asking individuals to be accepting of their lifestyles and actually persecuting those who disagree with the way that they get down! Now, I’ll be the first to say, I don’t have a problem with someone CHOOSING to be gay…we all make decisions in life and that’s up to you….

BUT!

That doesn’t necessarily mean that I agree. So what do you think…are homosexual rights and civil rights synonymous? Are those who don’t agree with homosexuality (in a peaceful and tolerant way) wrong? I just feel like homosexuals are forcing their ideas and beliefs on all Americans…which is just as religiously offensive and intolerant as what they claim heterosexuals are doing to them!

// TCS

What’s Crackin’ World???

They say that music is the universal language (whoever ‘they’ is LOL) and I couldn’t agree more! I’m always amazed to find out that people in Cambodia are listening to Brittney Spears (although she was so…10 years ago LOL). There are 2 things that I take away from my USA-centered musical persona:

1) For some reason, America and Americans are still kinda ego-centric. I don’t know, it just seems like we’re often under the impression that products (or music) coming from other countries is somehow “less than”. Did you ever notice that AMERICAN sports champions are called “WORLD Champions”??? What about  the idea that EVERY country should be democratic…or else we will bomb you???

2) I guess it just goes to show you that music, regardless of the language or place of origin is a very powerful mechanism for international communication and relationships (…and possibly change??? ).

Keeping that in mind, I’ve kinda been in a musical slump lately because, regardless of what MTV and BET might suggest, I am a young Black man who enjoys Neo Soul R&B and Hip Hop. But ever since D’ Angelo fell of and Badu went too far left, I’ve only been left to listen to the occasional Andre 3000 verse and a little Common here or there ( What up Mixer??? LOL).

UNTIL…

I found this group from the Netherlands named Foreign Exchange. Apparently they’ve been in the Neo Soul game for a minute, but just aren’t as popular here stateside. Well…their album has officially been in the car on repeat for a week!!! And what kind of blogger owuld I be if I didn’t share it to my loyal readers??? LOL. So here it is, check it out and post a comment to let me know what you think. Oh, and does anybody have any other Neo-Soul album picks to pass my way??? If I turn on the radio one more time to a Lil’ Wayne cut, I’m gonna vomit…

Foreign Exchange – Leave It All Behind

// TCS

Good Morning World!

Man…what a night! I never could have seen myself glued to the TV all night long for an event other than a University of Michigan Football game, but now…

You know, I took a second this morning just to gather myself and really try to identify and recognize my thoughts in regards to the Presidential election results last night and here’s what I gathered:

* I am proud to be an American (Yes, I said it LOL). I’m not so swayed by the election of a Black President as I am touched by the nationwide effort to be politically active! As a teacher, I am literally in the middle of youth culture and this political campaign has been THE topic kids are discussing. Truly a contemporary moment in time that is historic in ramifications and euphoric in emotion.

-> By the way, Black Americans are running out of excuses…it looks as if in America, race is not as much of a determining factor as it once was….so stop using your race as a crutch!!!!

* What happened to local government??? Was it just me or did every other election on the ballot aside from Obama and McCain look like it was printed in French??? With all of the focus on national leadership, it looks like we (or at least, I) may have lost focus on those candidates who effect your life MOST directly…hmm…isn’t that ironic? Maybe we should slow down a tad on the kool aid, Obama might be ( LOL “might”) a better face for the Presidency, but meanwhile, I found out that my city taxes went up another 2%…I guess sometimes you can’t see the trees for the forest!

* WHAT NOW??? I totally bought into the hype and discussion presented last night (by the way, after all these years, wasn’t CNN’s coverage still the most unbiased and engaging??? Hmm…), but now I feel a little disenfranchised.

So I ask you, now having selected a new President with different ideas and focus, WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO??? I mean, I kinda feel bad for Obama because the bar is set so high and he is a political rookie so what will the nation’s reaction be if (…make that when) he makes his first gaff??? As a matter of fact, I’ll take it one step further…DOES OBAMA’S ELECTION CHANGE ANY ASPECT OF YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE??? IF SO, HOW???

// TCS

What’s Up World???

You guys know how difficult it is for me to get along with BET. First, it was their “Top 25 Events that Mis-Shaped Black America” which was somewhere between comical/ridiculous and thought-provoking (an accurate description for the network itself) and now “American Gangster”. I guess the series is meant to portray and tell the story of Black American crime kingpins and how their demise (eventually, they always fail) came about. My issue isn’t in the retelling of thier story with a Black point-of-view, I think that’s kind of a fresh take actually. My issue is with the glorification and celebrity-type glamor that they associate with these criminals…murderers…you know, the same people who brought and sold drugs to their community and killed thier own for a couple of dollars!!! My beef with the show’s premise is the same one that I had with Chapelle’s Show…while the intention might be one thing, the reception is another. In the case of both shows, I’m not sure if the audience is watching with an eye of concern or that of entertainment or humor. The more I think about it, I can really just make a list of the reasons why the show is counter-productive to any Black progress in this country:

1. It glorifies criminals who, in many cases, murdered their way to the top. The message sent? Killing, selling dope, and having a lack of morality is an ok exchange for money/pseudo-respect. [Imagine if the same type of show was done for Jefferey Dahlmer or child rapists...it seems out of place, right? That's because most people choose NOT to glorify convicted felons for the crimes that they committ!]

2. Code words. In Black culture, the term “gangster” evokes some sort of respect or prowess. To be accurate, the show should be named American Idiots or American Embarrassments.

3. It airs on BET. The idea that Black people would inherently be interested in seeing how their communities were ravaged is kinda a slap in the face. It would be like a Holocaust television show focusing of the profiles of “important” Nazis….AIRING ON A JEWISH CHANNEL!

4. The episodes are centered around the crime boss’ frivilous lifestyles and/or the expensive tastes afforded from living a life full of women, drugs and money as opposed to focusing on the damage and hurt caused by these people. I mean, many of them still have victims or families of the victims walking around trying to live their lives. Again, the message being sent? Kill, kill, kill…they’ll get over it…and you may even get a TV gig on the side.

I don’t know, the title of the show wrapped around the way that it is presented, just seems a bit absurd. Afterall, aren’t the true American Gangsters still running rampant in America??? Like the AIG execs who figured that they’d take a $500,000 vacation while thier company (and all of its shareholders!) drown in a recession. Like the politicians who are able to use thier political influence to further their own wealth. Like the original owner of BET, who found it acceptable to sell BET to Viacom even at the risk of lowering the integrity (Hot Ghetto Mess) and cultural relevance (Top 25 Things that Mis-shaped Black America) of a network that already had lower standards (word to Bob Johnson LOL).

So how do you feel about BET’s American Gangster or shows like it??? Do they expose without glorifying or celebrate negative stereotypes, actions and role models???

// TCS

God Bless World!

I’m always amazed by contemporary sayings or gestures which literally say one thing, but have a totally different implication. For instance, if you were to describe someone as having an “urban background”, although it doesn’t specifically indicate race or class, it damn sure implies certain qualifiers. Well in the ’08 Presidential Campaign, I kinda get the same feeling when John McCain says that Obama speaks “eloquently” everytime he explains differences between his policies vs. McCain’s…as if Obama shouldn’t be capable of putting a decent sentence together after graduating from the likes of Columbia and Harvard…magna cum laude!!!

I guess I’m just finally coming to the realization that one of the issues that I have with the McCain/Palin ticket is their indirect description of the Americans that they are actually interested in representing if elected to office. Another example of these “code words” used to imply and evoke a certain American figure is when Paling describes herself as a “hockey mom”…I know at first glance the term “hockey mom” sounds harmless and seems to be an identification with average mothers…but what KIND of average mother???

When I think back to my upbringing, not only was my mom NOT a hockey mom, none of my friends mom’s were either. Which got me to thinking, whose moms WERE hockey moms??? Well…the moms who attended hockey games at my school were WHITE, UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS, pseudo-STEPFORD WIVES! Am I saying that Palin’s self-identification is dismissive of many socio-economic and racial minorities? Well…yes. The way in which one identifies himself (or herself LOL) is often an admission of the audience to whom commentary is directed. For instance, if I started a sentence with “As a Black man…”, to whom is the comment directed and with what perspective? THAT OF BLACK MEN!

I say that to say this, I just don’t feel as if the McCain/Palin ticket has myself or anyone who I am close to (economically, racially…heck, even socially!) in mind when invisioning the policies that are to be their platform for this election. I’m at such a crossroads in my Presidential election deciding…on one hand, McCain seems to be out of touch with middle-class America (and minority culture in general); but on the other hand, Obama’s track record is already a small cross-section of national politics and adding on to that, I’m a little shaky on voting for an unproven rookie with no international experience. HOW ARE YOU GOING ABOUT DECIDING WHO TO VOTE FOR???

// TCS

7-7 thus far and looking to break this season wide open this week…

:: TCS PIX | Week 6 ::

Sunday, October 12th, 2008 1:00 pm Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons   1:00 pm Miami Dolphins   at Houston Texans     1:00 pm Baltimore Ravens   at Indianapolis Colts   1:00 pm Detroit Lions   at Minnesota Vikings   1:00 pm Oakland Raiders   at New Orleans Saints   1:00 pm Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets   1:00 pm Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers   1:00 pm St. Louis Rams   at Washington Redskins   4:05 pm Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos   4:15 pm Dallas Cowboys   at Arizona Cardinals   4:15 pm Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49ers   4:15 pm Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks   8:15 pm New England Patriots   at San Diego Chargers   Byes: Bills, Chiefs, Steelers, Titans Monday, October 13th, 2008 8:30 pm New York Giants   at Cleveland Browns   TIE BREAKER: Total Points Scored in MNF Game= 3

Hang Out World!

Lately it seems like American politics can be summed up with one phrase “OBAMA MANIA”. Recently, the Illinois Senator and Presidential hopeful spoke in my city and, as a yet undecided voter, I tried to head out to see him speak only to be gridlocked by about 50,000 people…it was like a Rolling Stones concert or something LOL.

That was the last straw.

Listen, I love the fact that this Presidential election seems to have more Americans talking politics than ever before, but DAMN! Other than McCain being old and Republican, and Obama being new and Democratic, are people really taking the time to discuss their policies or is this a popularity contest??? I get the general feeling in the Black community that Black people feel like Obama is going to step in and alleviate many problems both politically and socially…in other words, Black people will have a voice in the White House. But is that really what you need from a President??? A hook up??? Just as a reminder to the Black community, every White person is not bad and every Black person is not good…

Keeping that in mind, is there a specific group (racially, economically, socially, etc.) that you think benefits if Obama is elected to office and is that any different if McCain is elected??? I worry that people are so focused on the social impacts of having a young, dynamic speaker in the White House that the political implications are kinda swept under the rug. Why should I vote for Obama???

// TCS