Color doesn't matter is a big crock

It is amazing how some can take completely out of context what is so simply expressed.

For example, I wrote in an earlier blog about three black football players who had been shot and resulted in very little outrage or fanfare. One coward, anonymous idiot misconstrued and twisted my only point.

That point being that because black on black crime is so rampant in America it has become acceptable to most. Obviously the coward has not lived in a major U.S. city. Or in a small quasi-rural community like mine where blacks make up at least 50 percent of the population.

I have lived in Chicago,IL; Denver, CO; Oakland(my favorite city) and San Diego, CA. I have also visited several major cities with significant black populations. I have also studied blacks for almost 52 years. In other words, Ize know what Ize talkin' about when it comes to black on black crime.

But hey, don't take my word for it. Look up the FBI stats on same-race crime.

The turning point occurred about 40 years ago. Although I was not at the civil rights meeting back in the early 1960s, I heard about it.

It went something like this.
Leader: Look here. We must stop the white man from killing us. We must put the KKK and the government out of the killing business.

Attendee: So you mean we gots to take matters into our own hands?

Leader: That is exactly what I mean.

And from that day on, blacks began killing each other more frequently and better than white ever did. Lynchings declined exponentially.

Whereas the white man would kill blacks for wanting to learn to read, earn an honest living, go to college, own a home, or God forbid, to vote, blacks began killing each other for gym shoes, rims, an Escalade, "talking white,"or an errant glance. With the stakes set so low, it's easy to see why the death rate of blacks by blacks surpassed those of white on black deaths.

Now, some idiot dares to say color doesn't matter. It matters a lot. I spend most of my waking hours seven days a week working with black kids who would think nothing of gang jumping an innocent kid from their own hood. And for what? As I am commonly told, " Cuz the nigga was in my face."

In less than two years, almost 60 Chicago Public School students have been killed. Most of them black. In Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama's home town,why have there not been 60 marches? Yet, how many people marched in Jena, Louisiana? Need I say more?

It matters too damn much when blacks sit idly by as innocent deaths happen daily. Yet, when a white person is involved, it becomes a hate crime, a national issue. Then it's time to march and protest. If there was real concern about the proliferation of senseless black deaths, especially young black deaths, Nike, Converse, New Balance, and Adidas combined could not make enough shoes to cover the soles of the necessary marchers.

Don't ever tell me color doesn't matter. When a 13-year old black girl tells me that it was a good thing that her incarcerated favorite uncle killed a black man because if he had killed a white man he would have gotten a longer sentence, color matters.

It is sad that a child can see color matters, but adults can't or won't see it.

Chris Rock said nigger how many times?

How many times in his latest HBO special, "Kill The Messenger" did Chris Rock say the word, nigger?

And how many millions was he paid for this?

And Don Imus lost his show because?

And Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have called for Rock's firing?

The NAACP is outraged?

The black community is aghast?

That's all, folks.

Don Imus, who's shooting NFL players?

In less than two years, three National Football League players have been shot. Two were killed; the third has lost one leg, suffered a spinal injury, and will never walk again.

Sean Taylor was killed in his home during a botched burglary. Darrent Williams was shot and killed while riding in a limousine after a New Year's party. The latest victim, Richard Collier was shot 14 times while sitting in his vehicle.

Three young men cut down in the prime of their careers garners very little attention outside the sports world. And just a smidgen within it. Unlike when a player dies from steroids, the shootings don't appear to spark any national outrage.

If three active players announced that they were gay, it would shut down the league. We would see a congressional committee investigation larger than the one looking into the current financial collapse.

Even to the non or casual sports fan, this should be alarming. But it's not. It ho-hum. There has been no decision made by the National Football League or the NFL Player's Association on what number of shootings of its players will constitute an epidemic or even a real concern. Torn ligaments, bruised throwing shoulders, and minor concussions that lead to loss games played are more newsworthy than off the field deaths.

Why? Well, in the immortal words of Don Imus, "What color are the victims and the suspects? There ya go." Of course the Iman wasn't referring to these incidents when he posed the question, but it is most fitting. Someone should be asking that question. Then again, it would be redundant because we already know the answer.

If the victims had been white, this would have been a bigger story. Or if the suspects had been white, it would have drawn more attention. But because three black guys were shot by blacks, it's no longer a story in America. Black victim shot by black suspect? Duh!

Black on black crime has become an American tradition as apple pie, hot dogs, and steroid-laden baseball. It's here to stay. Let's celebrate it. Have a black on black crime national holiday. Showcase the victims during Black History Month. Absurd? Yes.

Saying nothing? Ridiculous. Doing nothing. Inhumane.

Dumb Republicans still love Sarah Palin

Hey, don't hate me. And don't do as the title of Chris Rock's latest comedy special, Kill the Messenger suggests.

I am just passing on the latest developments.

It seems that since Gov. Palin's Katie Couric interview and the subsequent parody of it on SNL, the republicans are becoming a house divided.

According to a few conservative pundits, Palin is becoming almost unbearable to watch and outright embarrassing. Some have even suggested she "bailout" for personal reason. One political analyst called these dissenters the "intellectual republicans." Meanwhile, her stock among the nonintellectual republicans, code words for "dumb republicans," is rising. To the delight of millions, the lipstick wearing, hockey mom tag is still working.

This isn't all bad news for Palin since there are obviously more dumb republicans than intellectual ones. Hey, who do you think elected George Bush, twice.

There is another great debate coming this Thursday between the VP nominees. Or should we call it the Saturday Night Live fodder buffet? Shucks, watching Palin could make anyone a great comedy writer. Just mock the hell out of her.

Oddly through this Palin debacle, the dumb democrats have been extremely quiet. I bet they probably recall their own successful Sarah Palin of a few of decades ago. Only Jimmy Carter didn't wear lipstick and Georgia hadn't discovered hockey yet. Nope, it was peanut farming and dog fighting time back then.

And I think you can see Cuba from Atlanta on a clear night.

Beavis and Butthead debate SUCKED

The first McCain-Obama debate is thankfully behind us. It had as much fireworks as the Republican National Convention minus Sarah Palin.

What an over hyped waste of 90 minutes of my life. This debate had about as much excitement and enlightenment as an episode of Oprah Winfrey's Big Giveaway. A three episode marathon of Beavis & Butthead would have been a better use of airtime.

To their credit, both candidates were polished. But so are a pair of spit shined boots sitting on top of a locker. Their responses were too predictable, and Jim Lehrer should not have been left alone to decide the questions.

Equally disturbing were the post debate spins by the candidate's supporters. Fox, full of bull, news declared McCain the clear winner, something they would have done if McCain had not even showed up. CNN, the most trusted bull crap on cable, had a bevy of political analyst pronouncing Obama the winner.

Besides causing me to nod off intermittently and scratch myself periodically, the whole thing had me longing for a Sarah Palin interview.

Let me remind you. There are two more scheduled debates between these two. Can somebody please put together a line dancing class on those nights?

And think, McCain wants to have ten town hall meetings with Obama.

Sarah Palin needs prayer to speak

Ever seen an on the street news report where the reporter seeks out the most ignorant, inarticulate, maybe even intoxicated person on the street for an update?

Reporter: Excuse me sir. Can you tell me what happened?

Street Person: Yeah. See, like I was just standing ova by da dumpster when dis here truck pulls up, see.

Rep: Ok, what did you see?

SP: Well this dude gets out and starts walking dis way. I jumped back out da way like John McCain dodging a debate. Next thang I knows, she standing in the street talking to herself, the man with the gun sittin' in the bed of his truck with a gun to his own head, and you standing here askin' me some damn silly questions.

Rep: Yes, but sir, what happened? How did this end up like this?

SP: See, I'm tryna tell you. I was just standing right next to everything. He asked her a question about foreign policy. She starts talking and the man went nuts.

Rep: Did you know the victim?

SP: Like I said. I knows errybody in this hood. And errybody knows me. Don't nuttin' go on 'round here dat I don't know about. I sees errything that Stevie Wonder can't. Hell, I can see Russia from right here.

Rep: Thank you sir. This is Joe Reporter on the street where the woman talks people insane. Back to you in the studio.


And so it was, the first non scripted, hand held Sarah Palin interview. Is she a bumbling idiot or what? How anyone can watch and listen to her talk without dropping to their knees in prayer is beyond me. This woman trying to speak on anything foreign sounds worse than a crackhead trying to explain the Monroe Doctrine.

Please pray for Sarah Palin. She needs it. Hell, we need it. Pray that she is not ever asked to speak without practice. Pray that we won't have to listen to any more impromptu interviews.

That African preacher needs to do another exorcism. Pray that she discovers a logical thought process. Someone needs to cut the pull string off this mis-talking doll. She left Alaska is such a hurry she forgot to turn on the Northern Lights.

No wonder she is such an adept moose hunter. She can probably talk to them. Or maybe she freezes them in their tracks with her stupidity, then she shoots them. Here moosey, moosey. Bang! Poor thing. Not the moose. I mean Sarah.

Back to you , folks.

Bipartisanship my ass

Remember the last time our honorable representatives joined hands in a bi or nonpartisan show of unity? Well, I recall a few years back a great photo-op of politicians singing Kum Ba Yah or some crap on the steps of some building in Washington, DC.

This was supposed to be the start of something new. They were all in support of finding the perpetrators of September 11. Sometimes I wonder if Osama bin Laden was the photographer that day.

Look where that unified front did for us us. Locked in Iraq, not Afghanistan. Some seven years later they are scratching their genitals trying to find a way to distance themselves from it. Too late. We have photos.

Now they want to do another joint venture to rescue us from financial Armageddon.

Our status as the world's financial leader was symbolically destroyed when the Twin Towers were destroyed. That void has yet to be filled. Now our twin towers of ineptness, Republicans and Democrats have destroyed any actual financial strength we may have had. That's a much bigger void.

There are almost 300 million Americans whose security and way of life rest in the hands of less than 600 men and women. Are the 299,999,400 of us really as stupid as the 600 think we are?

It hurts to admit it, but history says we are.

McCain has Alzheimers or is full of bull

GOP presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain is suffering from the initial stages of Alzheimers or he is completely full of bull. I think it's the latter.

With the first presidential debate scheduled for less than 48 hours, the senator has called for a cancellation.

Why? Only two reasons. He has forgotten about it because of his advanced age or he is totally unprepared because it takes older people longer to mentally challenge themselves.

Of course, he gave his poppycock reason of wanting to deal with the current financial crisis. Hello, Mr. Wannabe. We have a president. It's George Bush's responsibility to find a quick fix to the problem and postpone it until the next administration steps in. And unless McCain has forgotten, we have 98 other senators and 435 representatives to assist in handling this current crisis.

McCain hasn't spent much time in Washington over the last almost two years. His presence is not required.

Own up, John. You know Obama is going to blow your ass out of the water with his intelligence during the debate and add to his current nine point poll lead. That is the only reason you want to delay the debate. Be honest man. We are the American public. We're not your first wife that you could lie to. Stop playing the American people for total idiots.

This charade of duty is a most dishonorable act. He is surrendering. It's highly unbecoming of a veteran.

Diversity training or Reversity training

Has diversity training followed the path of the Hula-Hoop, the Macarena, or the Back Street Boys? As in gone for good?

Remember not too long ago when diversity training was all the rage? Or was it just something implemented to thwart civil lawsuits against businesses? Often lawsuits of discrimination resulted in the implementation of diversity training being mandated by the accused.

Diversity training was touted as a means to inform employees how to be aware of the culture differences of its peers. Differences such as age, race, gender, religion were thrust into corporate mission statements.

Had these sessions been voluntary, it may have worked. But, no. This type training or psychological programming became mandatory as a drug test. Employees took the training and its often narrow minded, paradigmed presentation or faced the threat of losing their job.

Too often these diversity sessions were conducted by a person who fit the disenfranchised demographic. In other words, you didn't find too many white men conducting diversity training. The gist of diversity training became, " Look at me. I am the Black, the female, the Hispanic, the Asian, the worshiper who you have discriminated against. It's me that you hold down. I am here to make you embrace me and my needs to advance."

With that tone, diversity actually turned in "reversity". Diversity sanctioned minority preference as opposed to equal opportunity. It's premise was that those who were, real or imagined, demographically discriminated had to be acknowledged and embraced just because of their differences. If you were not a part of their coalition of victims, you should be ashamed of having personal desires to succeed in the work place. Your personal goal should be set aside in order to facilitate their progress.

Diversity was all about "letting the perceived victims treat others as they have accused others of treating them. Go to the back of the bus white guys and let us take over based solely upon our differences. Our difference is the only qualification necessary. When we walk into the workplace, you must stop and immediately acknowledge that I am here and that I may have concerns. Put your selfish needs aside. It's all about us."

That reverse discrimination didn't work. Yes, it may have prevented a few lawsuits or outrageous fines. But it didn't lead to great leaps and bounds for minorities in the workplace. It raised and reversed the level of resentment.

Only when we stop reversing racism and discrimination will we stop worsening racism and discrimination.

Sarah Palin is qualified

Just one final thought on the highly debated qualifications of the GOP VP nominee, Sarah Palin.

Yes, she is qualified. PERIOD.

What are those qualifications? She is a native born American and she is at least 35 years old.
That's it, folks.

Is she the best choice? That's your individual call to make in November.

You don't need common sense, education, world travels, or to speak foreign languages to be president or vice president of the United States. You can be a complete idiot and be our president. Need I submit evidence?

There is one reason a whole list of seemingly great attributes were left out of the qualification equation. The qualifications to vote a person(man) for president were dumbed down to just age and citizenship because if we set the bar too high, we would be leaderless. Actually, we have been leaderless lately.

The presidency is the highest office in the land, not the smartest.

The greatest thing about America is that idiots can vote and serve.

Three people I would love to talk to

It's one of the most asked rhetorical questions. What three people would you like to have dinner with or just talk to?

Most answers tend to be people far out of our reach. Either they are dead, too famous, rich, just not interested in meeting us, or have no idea of our desire to meet them. If they are alive, it would take Dear Abby or Oprah to arrange such a meeting. If they are dead, well, depending upon your beliefs, you may or may not get your wish granted.

But, hey, we can pretend, huh? My three, all dead by the way, in this particular order are: O.V.,my stepdad, Jesus Christ, John Gotti.

My stepdad is still the most wonderful person I have ever known. He said very little, but what he said, he stood behind. I never knew him to be a coward. Even when he admitted that if what he said or did was not right, he said it was part of him. He was just wrong, not ashamed. He was a genuine, giving person. I never knew him to criticize others behind their back. And if he didn't agree with something or someone, he distanced himself from it or them.

So, if I could have that once last Budweiser with him, I would ask him where I stood in trying to walk in his shoes. Or how much more toilet paper I need to stick in the toes to fill his loafers.

Then, there is my long wanted chat with Jesus. If only I could ask him a few things. Like, Jesus, how in the hell do you think of forgiving anyone at the very moment they are killing you? Or, what did you put in that water to make that wine, and what brand is it today? If you had been wearing a pair of Nike Air Force Ones would the Roman soldiers have been able to catch you? And finally, Jesus, are you really coming back and why? If so, when? I can keep a secret. I promise I won't put it in my blog.

Then there is my man, former mafia boss John Gotti. I wouldn't have a lot of questions, but rather a few observations. Of course I'd address him as Mr. Gotti. Then I would tell him how much I appreciated the true mentoring part of his organization. It's remarkable how they literally stick by each other til death do they part. In a sense, his organization had stronger bonds than most marriages. And, finally when he was forced to spend his last years in confinement, he didn't squeal like a bitch. He didn't rat out his organization.

While I don't agree with everything written, known, guessed, or made up about them, these three men, in my opinion, were the epitome of manhood. They stood behind their words, beliefs, acts. They didn't take anybody down with them. The were the antithesis of COWARD. They were not politicians. In a crowd of weeds, they stood out like a flower.

In my daily search, I am looking for a living person of such stature to have dinner with. Until then, I'll eat alone.

Cops shoot dogs; question owners

Chicago cops shot and killed two pit bulls after the dogs attacked and mauled a sever-year old kid. One dog escaped.

The report said the officers were forced to shoot the dogs after other means of stopping the attack failed.

The child is recovering in a Chicago hospital.

After the attacks, the police questioned the dog's owners.

That leaves me rondering. Shouldn't the cops have shot the owners and questioned the dogs?

We don't close churches that PREY on children

Well, it's not a big surprise, but another American church is under investigation for sexually preying on children.

Which brings the question: why do we close down and destroy child care centers at the slightest possibility of child endangerment, but allow the religious organizations that have been found guilty of committing severe child abuse to continue?

If a child in the care of a day care business so much as gets a scratch and it's not documented properly, the government can take away that business's license and impose fines. If the childcare industry had a sexual abuse scandal as we have seen in the Catholic child sex scandal, would day care centers still exist?

There are government policies for running a child care center. There is none for churches.

If an employee of a child care facility runs afoul of the law, the entire business is scrutinized. If a leader of a church sexually abuses a child or several children, the church is allowed to continue as if nothing happened, unless the church is a Former Latter Day Saints affiliate.

Why does the American government allow churches to sexually abuse our children and still exist?

The government took the right to PRAY out of school, but it didn't take the opportunity to PREY out of churches.

So much for separation of church and state.

Women, try guns, not Orders of Protection

Sofia Garcia was a mother of three sons and a wife. Now she is a dead woman brutally murdered in her own home. Police suspect her estranged husband. While police are searching for Benito Casanova and Sofia Garcia’s three missing sons, others are searching for answers. Unlike the other recent murder victims in Chicago, she was living with a false sense of security.
Ms. Garcia, like so many other battered women, put her trust and security in an Order of Protection, that legal document issued by the court to help protect individuals from abuse or harassment.
While the intent of an Order of Protection is good, it is very flawed. Its biggest flaw is that it’s free. We all know that we get just what we pay for. It’s comparable to that free first 30-minute legal consultation. The second defect is that it’s too easy to obtain. The third is that it doesn’t really protect anyone.
Should a person, and in most cases those seeking such protection are women and children, want to get an Order of Protection against someone, they merely just have to ask for it. Some cases require the filing of a police report to prove such a threat exists. A temporary Order of Protection may be obtained without a high level of proof. This ease leads to a lot of frivolous Order of Protection filings. A jilted woman can claim threat of abuse and receive an Order of Protection. Only a judge can rescind an order. That doesn’t prevent both parties from violating the order after they have reconciled.
According to domestic abuse experts, women are abused many times before they call the police. Some experts also say on average a woman will file, then drop charges against her abuser up to seven times before finally following through with a complaint. It’s at that point of no return when women are most vulnerable to the greatest harm.
No government, social agency, nor individual can prevent a woman from being abused by a significant other. The sole person responsible for her safety is the woman. Therefore, I propose some changes be made when an Order of Protection is sought.
If we are really in the business of protecting abused women and children, make the Order of Protection more difficult to get. Put a price on it. Say, $100. That would curtail some of the frivolous filings. Some may argue that asking women to pay may be a financial hardship. If it’s done many times, that may be true, but anyone can find a few friends and family in time of real need. It’s not an insurmountable amount. And it’s a lot less than the bail some women come up with to free their abusers who have been arrested.
Include with the order, an application for a Firearm Owners Identification Card, commonly known as a FOID card, and the additional $5 application fee. Then require the filers to take gun-safety training. Rather than have police destroy guns that have been turned in for debit cards, police agencies could rent a firearm to battered women for $10 per month to protect themselves in their home. Of course, if the woman is an Illinois resident, she is on her own in public because she cannot get a Concealed Carry permit unless she is an elected official or “conservator of the peace.”
Should the Order of Protection be requested only to be rescinded, there should be a fee for that, too. If six to seven times is the average Order of Protections are filed and dropped, the court should reap the benefit.
A piece of paper, even one with a government stamp is not going to protect anyone. Protection orders are like red octagons, they only work when the individual has some respect for the law. Give women the real tools to protect themselves. Any male who knows that his potential victim has a FOID card but still gets within that predetermined boundary in a woman’s home will soon learn that FOID stands for found on inside dead.
There is an old saying, “there is nothing like a woman scorned.” We can add to that, “There is nothing like an abused woman with a FOID card.”

Why, Black Women, Why?

The police blotter section of the newspaper reported that two women aged 29 and 32 were arrested for beating a third woman. The age and name of the victim was not released. The mauling took place at a Little League baseball game in front of several children, including children of all three parties involved. One of the attackers was also charged with child endangerment and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
The story also stated that the two women attacked the victim because she was having an affair with the 32 year-old’s husband. Without mention of race, I knew then that at least one of the women was black.
As it turns out, all three women were black, but had that information not been forthcoming, there was a dead giveaway in the story that one of the attackers was a black woman. Black women who find themselves betrayed by their men will always direct their most venomous revenge at the other woman while letting her man off the hook.
Yes, the black woman will scream, cuss, cry, and holla’ at her man. She may merely threaten to have an affair herself. She may even attempt to get him fired or burn a few of his clothes. She may even scratch his car with keys, but she will save all her physical retaliation for the other woman.
Why? The other woman did not make any promises to her. Even if it’s a best friend or relative, women don’t promise not to sleep with each other’s man. Black men make promises to love, cherish, honor, and obey their women. Should he violate those promises, he is readily forgiven.
The other woman will undoubtedly suffer forever. Long after the affair has been replaced with hugs and kisses and roses, the man is forgiven. However, the other woman is not. She is forever the home wrecker. She is accused of breaking something she never put together. She is the one who made the husband betray his wife. She is the one who will be called all the FCC-forbidden words.
Black women who have been cheated on will look upon the other woman as if she raped the man, not as the other victim who was manipulated just as easily as she was. The other woman will be attacked like a farmer would a fox caught in his chicken yard. And every time it happens, the black woman tends to act as if it’s the first time her man has done it.
The black woman who has been cheated on reacts like the parent of a bad child. She will immediately place all blame on the teacher. In most cases, the men in these situations are still like a child.
I have never understood how black women take the story from the Bible and apply it today. The story was about an adulterous woman who was about to be stoned for sleeping with a man, but there was no mention of stoning the male counterpart who was just as much an adulterer. Men have been getting away with stuff for a long, long, time.
Lawd. I am so glad I am not a black woman, or the other woman, or any woman.

Drug test before welfare checks

Generally, when I receive stuff by e-mail it goes directly to the recycle bin. But this particular e-mail made me think. The following was forwarded to me by a friend, but the author is unknown.
“Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don’t have to pass a urine test. Shouldn’t one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their BUTT, doing drugs, while I work. … Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check? Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don’t. Hope you all pass it along, though. … Something has to change in this country – and soon!”
As interesting as this is, and although I fully agree with the position, I didn’t forward the e-mail to 15 people because it didn’t say I would have bad luck for 17 years or that my nonexistent pet would die in three hours. But the unknown author, who probably had to remain anonymous to save his job, does make a very convincing argument. If drug testing is necessary to earn a paycheck, it should be necessary to receive one.
The author who could be from any state and work for almost any employer, private or public, speaks for every law-abiding, hard-working, income-earning, taxpaying citizen. Most employers require a pre-employment drug test and many also have random testing clauses as a condition of employment. Just as the e-mail stated, you have to take a drug test to be able to earn a paycheck. So, why not require public aid recipients to take a drug test to receive a free check and health benefits?
The writer made it very clear he or she was not opposed to helping fellow Americans in need, but was annoyed that the individuals who have the initiative and desire to work to contribute to the national economy is put to a greater scrutiny than ones who merely reap benefits. Understandably, it is a little troubling that those receiving public assistance can’t be forced to work, and they aren’t mandated to be drug free.
We could even take the drug testing issue a bit further. To register to vote, you must submit a urine sample. To run for political office you must secure a predetermined number of signatures of registered voters who passed a drug test and you must do a drop, and do a subsequent drop before every primary. How about requiring candidates to submit a urine sample after making stupid comments during debates? If the comment by presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich that he believes in UFOs didn’t warrant a drug test, nothing should.
It’s not like anyone is suggesting welfare recipients must study a 600-page manual before taking a drug test. The drug test is one of the easiest tests to take because no study is involved. There is no pressure to get an “A” since it’s a pass/fail grading system.
The process to earn a paycheck is similar to getting a free check. Both require completion of an application followed by an interview. Upon mutual agreement, more times than not, the potential wage earner must take and pass a drug test before working for his or her check and contributing to the government. Upon approval, the potential public aid recipient merely begins receiving benefits.
Drug testing in the workplace came about as a safety issue. Working around dangerous equipment, flying an airplane, or performing surgery while mentally impaired could lead to personal injury or death. Because we are such a litigious society, drug testing became an even greater necessity in every industry. If someone fell on a business property and the business had not drug tested the custodian, there could be dire consequences. Some slick lawyer would find a way to show the employer’s failure to drug test the employee was the direct cause of his drunken client’s fall resulting in a swollen big toe that turned into a life-threatening injury.
Since most public aid recipients are responsible for children, shouldn’t drug testing be necessary to ensure the safety of those children?
In a nutshell, to earn a check you have to be drug free; to get a free check you can be drug-test free. Something is not right with this system, and not one of the current campaigning “agents of change” will address this issue.

My two freinds, the racist and the homophobe

Momma always said, “Be careful who your friends are.”
I know a couple of people over forty whom I consider friends. One is white, one is black. One is male, one is female. One is racist, one is homophobic. Now before you get yourself all worked up, let me explain.
I meet a lot of people. What they do for a living, if they believe in God, who they sleep with, or how they vote is never a concern of mine. As long as they treat me with respect, we can get along.
Take the white guy I know. He keeps it no secret that if his daughter were ever to date a black man, he would disown her. That’s not a problem for me. I don’t want his daughter, nor do either of my two sons. His rationale is that black guys, especially those his daughter’s age, have no desire to be anything other than thugs, rappers, or drug dealers. But get this. His biggest concern is what his interracial grandbaby would have to endure from other children. The classic ignorant reply.
I’m a product of mixed race intercourse. The only problems I ever had came from ignorant adults, both black and white. Older blacks knew no shame when they would remind me that “somebody in your family was the Mastah’s favorite.” It was always a white adult that would let me know that, “you're still a nigger.” It’s adults like my buddy who produce offspring and teach them to have a problem with other children different than themselves.
Take my black female buddy. She is a staunch supporter of equal rights and reparations. She is educated and has traveled the world extensively. She has seen injustice and discrimination. She is just as adamant an opponent of same-sex marriages. She is so against the “immorality” of homosexuality that she wouldn’t want a gay teacher to teach her son.
How a gay teacher would teach her son anything different than two plus two equals four is beyond me. When offered that she sounded like the pre-civil rights era racists who didn’t want blacks to have the same rights as whites, she was taken aback. She was offended that I would compare her to white people who thought their lifestyle was superior and more blessed by God than that of black people. She believes God made man and woman to marry and that gays will bring negativity into the institution of marriage. As if spousal abuse and divorce in heterosexual marriages ain’t negative! I pointed out that folks used God to sanction slavery, too.
Although she knows my marital status and the number of children I have, she questioned if my support of gay rights was due to “borderline” sexuality. When I said she sounded like whites who accused other whites who worked on the Underground Railroad of being niggers, she disagreed.
I was left pondering how in this century two seemingly intelligent people could sound like Strom Thurmond in 1948 when he said there were “not enough troops in the Army to force the Southern people to break down segregation and admit the Negro race into our theaters, into our swimming pools, into our homes, and into our churches.”
Strom Thurmond died in 2003. Ignorance lives on.

Jesus is not qualified to be president

The presidential campaign has become a big useless fuss being made about the lack of qualifications of both non-white male candidates, Barack Obama and Sarah Palin. No one is questioning the qualifications of John McCain or Joe Biden.

Granted, the two elder statesmen have been in federal politics longer than most of Obama's enthusiasists have been alive. The most compelling debate has to do with the limited and very different paths Obama and Palin have traveled.

He, the young, educated, energetic inner city organizer, black Christain; She, the small town mayor, small populated state governor, and white female Christain. Obama's church leadership doesn't have a high opinion of America's foreign policy and it's white citizens. Palin's church doesn't think much of homosexuals and wants to convert them straight via prayer.

Obama's experience has been compared to Jesus Christ, the famous community organizer. Palin's experience has been compared to Pontius Pilate the governor who was given the responsibility for carrying out Jesus' execution. Will history repeat itself?

Ironically enough, as wonderful a character that Jesus is portrayed, he would not be qualified to be first of second in-command of the United States of America.

Yes, JC could perform miracles that we so desparately need after eight years of hell. He alone could take care of our universal heath care issue. Think about it, he could just lay hands on the unhealthy. No paperwork, no insurance hassles, no costly prescriptions. He could solve our hunger problem, too. If he fed thousands with a few fish and bread, just imagine what he would do if we gave him a bakery and access to our national fisheries. A biscuit and sardine on every table. Remember that place he went away to in order to prepare a place for us? And that house of many mansions? Well, there goes our housing problem and an end to foreclosures. The economy, you ask. Well, remember he told the inquiring minds to give Ceasar(the goverenment) what is his/theirs. If he became our goverenment, consider that he never had money. So, we would not have to pay taxes. Thus, all our income would be disposable since he would have taken care of our food, shelter, and healthcare.

Still, the great JC could never be elected president. Never.

For starters, he was not 35 years-old. And because he was never officially married, well, can't you just hear the rumors? "He ran away from home at age 12. He doesn't own his own house. He never had a woman. He hung around with 12 guys all the time, moved around a lot, and he never had a job."


And what about those 18 years(ages 12-30) when he disappeared? That is almost 55 percent of his life that we know even less about than we know about Sarah Palin.


But most importantly, he cannot be president because he was not a naturalized born American citizen. Because Hawaii didn't become a state until less than two years before Barack Obama was born there, many ignorant people from the mainland states don't consider him a natural born citizen.


For all the goodness associated with Jesus, he had his shortcomings. Barack Obama, if he really wants to be president, may want to think about being more like Mike.


And Sarah Palin, well, can we say Delilah the strength sapper.

For all you youngsters out there. The last time we put a JC(Jimmy Carter) in the White House, he nearly destroyed this country.

Be careful what you pray for.

Hey Young people, you are at work

Upon entering the establishment, the only customer service representative was on the phone. The young lady may have noticed me as I walked past her to the coffee dispenser. Then again, she may not have as she was so enthralled in her "very personal" phone conversation.

By the time I had my coffee and newspapers, she had made her way back behind the counter continuing her chat about her obvious disappointment that her boyfriend's whereabouts were unknown. "I don't really care. I ain't worried, either," she admonished the person on the other end of the phone. Meanwhile, I am standing there with money in hand. Waiting. And waiting.

Without looking at me, she glanced at my purchases and punched in the keys. Feeling invisible while waiting to hear my total, I glanced at the front page headlines. Suddenly, there was a tap on the counter, then as if I was hearing impaired, a finger directed my eyes to the green digital readout as she continued her conversation. I thought maybe I should have apologized for inconveniencing her. She stuck out her hand and took my $5 bill, made correct change, and placed it on the counter without taking her attention from her phone conversation. I gladly picked up my stuff and walked out, thinking this is why security cameras were invented. I could have committed a crime and she would not have been able to identify me.

What happen to on-the-job-training? Who is writing current customer service manuals? With the economy so bad, why don't we have more mature workers?

Something has to give. I am getting tired of young kids giving me extra attitude to go with my shake.

All I want is my order to go. I don't care about your bad experience last night. Oh, that broken fingernail, please play with it while on break and away from my food. And please tell Ray-Ray and 'nem and all of your non-purchasing posse to step away from the counter so paying customers can give you their business.

Small business owners and managers, I realize you need some time off, but if your best replacements are young, uninterested, I-am-only-here-cuz-I-need-a-new-cellphone-or-Air Force Ones, attitude having punks, I will spend my money elsewhere.

And after dealing with all that, my coffee is still not hot or fresh.

Oh, by the way Mr. Manager, I won't be filling out a customer comment card to let you know what you already know... you need to terminate half of them.

When cowards comment

It is a beautiful thing to be able to disagree with others. It is very respectful when those who disagree will also share their identify just as openly as they do their arguments. But that is not always the case.

To the anonymous cowards that hide behind their computers, without a photo, or a means to receive replies, it is those of your ilk that I dispise.

Sending a rebuttal to a blog/comment without allowing the well identified author to rebut your butt is about as honorable as waving an American flag while wearing a white sheet over your head.

The internet already provides a certain degree of anonymity. Be it right, wrong, controversial, factual, or mere opinion, high praise for the individuals who stand by their correspondence and is not afraid of feedback.

Blogging is not a source to solicit blind faith followers. It is a means to share thoughts with the masses and to receive an array of critique. You are not expected to agree with or enjoy everything you read. Like that perfect book, that blog hasn't been written.

Disagree and respond respectfully. That is the rule of common decency.

The childhood playground rule also applies: Be a man or woman-always. Don't dish it if you can't take.

Some missed white privilege

By now you have probably read and forwarded the This is Your Nation on White Privilege, by Tom Wise. It's a race baiting, Sarah Palin hating manifesto.

While it is an interesting read, Tom's personal slant is obvious.

So here are a few white privileges Tom left out:

White privilege is when a white man shoots a black man in self defense, it's called a hate crime. When a black man shoots a black man over a piece of crack, it' called the effects of poverty.

White privilege is when a white man sells a kilo of pure cocaine to a black man and it's called genocide. But when a black man takes a kilo of pure cocaine and dilutes it with chemicals to make 10 kilos of crack to sell in the black neighborhood, including to black kids, it's called entrepreneurship.

White privilege is when a white man shows up late for work, it's called being late. When a black man shows up late for work everyday, it's called CP(color people) time.

White privilege is when a white cop shoots a black man, it's called an investigation. When a black man shoots up a whole neighborhood, it's called the lingering effects of slavery.

White privilege is when a white man speaks correct English, it's called speaking English. When a black man speaks correct English, it's called "talking white."

White privilege is when you throw a party to celebrate your child's college graduation. While a black man throws an entire block party to celebrate his son's third release from prison.

White privilege is when a white man uses the term nigger, he gets fired for being a racist. When a black man uses it, he gets a $40 million contract for being the King of Comedy.

It's time to wise up America and realize that we all have a special privilege, being an American.

We are all created equal, but we're not all born equal. We can observe and embrace our differences while promoting and protecting our commonality.

A McCain Win is Better for America

I will not vote for John McCain; I will not vote for Barack Obama. Yet, I do realize one candidate is more favorable for a more tranquil nation.

There is absolutely no difference between Barack Obama the politician and John McCain the politician. Certainly, there are subtle philosophical differences. However, outside a few issues such as women's reproductive rights, the Iraq War, national economic stimulus, or affordable health care, they are basically the same candidate.

A politician is a politician is a politician. Just as an outhouse is a stinking place regardless if it is painted Democrat blue or has Republican red aluminum siding.

All things being equal, John McCain is the better choice for America. Not the better president, but better for the domestic tranquility of the states. There is an almost certainty that we will have a presidential funeral during the next term. John McCain is old. Should he win, at his advanced age and poor health, he cannot withstand the physical and emotional toll the position will require. You don't have to be a political analyst to notice that he looks like one of the walking dead.

On the other hand, the younger Obama could probably deal with the physical demands of the office. But because of the historical implication his election would provide, it would also make him a historical target. Becoming the first black president would make him the first black president assassinated. Because the phenomena known as black on black crime knows no limit, Obama could become the first president killed by a black man. Two more footnotes for February's Black History Month. America doesn't need another John Kennedy or Malcolm X or Marcus Garvey.

So, the voting issue becomes not which politician's policies you most align, but what type of national mourning would you prefer.

McCain's demise in office under natural causes is far better for this country than an Obama funeral. Not only for the country but for his small children.

Besides, if McCain died in office, Sarah Palin would assume the office. She would be a hell of a lot better to look at than Joe Biden on a daily basis. On second thought, McCain could have picked someone who looked like Janet Reno. He deserves some credit for not doing that.

Vote for a safe America.

Which candidate do you want to see naked

Let's be honest. There is not really much of a difference between the two major party tickets.


The Democrats have one old geezer and one young different whippersnapper. The Republicans have one old geezer and one young different whippersnapper. The winning team will make history by having a team member being the first of its race or gender ever to hold that position.


Neither party is really talking about issues that will affect our lives. It's become a popularity contest.
So, what should be the one question everyone should ask that separates the candidates?

Here comes the honesty part. Since there is not any real significant difference, go for the obvious one.


As you follow the campaign, turn down the volume and rely on your visual. Then ask yourself, for the next four and possibly eight years, which party member would you want to see naked.


OK, throw out McCain, unless you're a really sick pervert who happens to buy Playboy hoping to catch a glimpse of Hugh Hefner in the raw. Might as well toss Joe Biden out, too. He's got nice hair, though.


That leaves Obama and Palin. Obama is young, but he was never a beauty pageant contestant. And after seeing him riding that bicycle looking like Steve Erkel, seeing him naked wearing a helmet doesn't conjure up any pleasant desires. Therefore, Sarah Palin is the obvious choice, which is why she was chosen.


The eyeglasses and hair pulled back into a bun both serve a purpose. By design, she is portraying the "porno" movie librarian or fourth grade teacher type that fuels fantasies.


The glasses come flying off. The hair flows down her back as she sits adorned in only a two-piece American flag patterned bikini atop a moose while holding a shotgun across its back.


Think about it.
Has there ever been a presidential team member you have thought about seeing naked?

Cast your vote secretly and honestly. No intelligence required.

Palin Church Converts Gays

GOP presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to convert independent voters and Hillary Clinton's Pantsuit Brigade to his camp. It's early, but she may be making a dent with the Indie's. It's too early to tell how she will fair with the female group.

It seems converting is old hat for Gov. Palin. Her church,Wasilla Bible Church which is an independent or non-denominational church, is promoting a conference to convert gays and lesbians to heterosexuality through prayer. This may rival the "task from God" explanation she offered for the divine sanction of Iraq that she gave to a group of young church members.

Sarah Palin has every right to belive that God doesn't like homosexuality. She can oppose other adult women's right to reproductive rights. She can even discriminate against civil unions. But to belong to an orginazation that outright condemns personal relationships of consenting adults based on a narrowminded, bigoted, doctrine is very dangerous.

Converting gays is not a big concern for most Americans. The economy is number one. Healthcare is a strong second, even for those who do not believe the way Palin believes. Then comes national security. I don't recall any sane individuals announcing homosexuality as a threat to our domestic tranquility.

Sarah Palin is as dangerous as she is sexy. Should her membership in this church be any less troubling than Barack Obama's connection to the Universal Church of Christ under the leadership of Jeremiah Wright? Hate is hate. There is no difference in Rev. Wright's hate America speech and Palin's denomination's hate gays mantra.

Anyone and everyone that opposes equal rights to every American citizen is a danger to us all. Homosexuality is like golf. If you don't like it, don't participate. But don't spew that crap that God prefers your personal, sexual, reporductive choices over billions of others.

While Palin is at it, why doesn't she and her church convert young teen girls to safe-sex practice or abstinence? I'm sure there is something in her religious dogma that talks about the "sin" of premarital sex even for the children of goverenment officials. And getting married(especially a shotgun wedding) after the fact doesn't change the status of a bastard child.

The pray 'em straight event is sponsored by the national fundemental religious organization, Focus on the Family.

Obviously, focusing on her own family isn't what Palin has been doing lately.

Furthermore, trying to convert homosexuals to heterosexuals through prayer makes about as much sense as trying to convert Sarah Palin's daughter to virginity.

Obama is man of his word about terrorists

Remember some time back during the Democrat primaries when Sen. Barrack Obama stated that he would use diplomacy and talk with terrorists without pre-conditions? Remember the flack he took for that?

Well, it seems Mr. Obama is a man of his word. No, he has not had any reported secret chats with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez or Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, or North Korean Leader Kim Jung II. However, he did appear on Fox network's The Factor with Bill O'Reilly.

I can hear you rondering, " What's that got to do with Obama's word?" Well, contrary to popular American propaganda, all terrorists are not from the Middle East, they don't practice Islam, they don't all have dark skin, and they don't all hate America. Actually, some terrorists claim to love America. Some terrorists are American. Oh, they won't say they are, but their sexist, racist, bigoted, conservative, judgemental, divisive ideologies are characteristics of terrorism.

You're probably thinking Timothy McVeigh, the troubled young man who was responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing. Can somebody say, Bill O'Reilly and his elitist spiel fits the criteria?

There is no bigger, bigoted, oft-leaning, divisive character with all the inalienable rights of every American citizen, save for maybe Sean Hannity, than Bill O'Reilly. Bill is not the upfront kind of terrorist. He won't come out and say it like Osama bin Laden. He projects his evil in a subtle manner. Cloaked in patriotism, he brands individuals or groups who oppose his elitist, out of touch views as un-American and traitors. He hides behind the 9-11 tradegy.

So, without question, by his mere dignified appearance on the O'Reilly Show, Obama has proved that he is a man of his word when it comes to talking with terrorists.

Politically P-R-E-Y-I-N-G on kids

In a perfect world, we could leave families, especially kids, out of politics. But that feat is about as possible as separating religion and politics. In other words, it won't happen during this presidential campaign.

Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP nominee for second-in-command is in the inexplicable position of trying to keep her new, young, exciting, innocent, and targetable family out of the campaign. We hardly know the candidate, and we may not. After announcing that her 17-year old daughter is five months pregnant, that has become the story.

Being a teen mother to be is not a new American phenomenon. It happens everyday. But it doesn't happen to families running for the highest office of this country. It normally happens to poor minority girls who allow us to learn of their plight on the exploitive televison shows like The Jerry Springer Show, The Montel Williams Show, or The Maury Pouvich Show. We make fun of them. We label the teen moms losers, call the parents of the teens unfit, and the teen fathers to be, we call them"baby-daddies."

However, when this happens to the daughter of a history making, vice-presidential nominee, we call her just what she is, a young person who made a mistake. And we call the young father to be, a fianance or boyfriend. We even invite him to be on the national stage in front of 40 million TV viewers. Yet, we say we want to protect these kids from the public scrutiny. No we don't. And, no we can't.

It doesn't help that the history-making mother has been a staunch opponent of sex education in public school. It is obvious she was also against sex education in the home. The abstinence only policy only works when the parents are in the same room as the hormonally excited teens.

At this point, we don't know which ticket will make it to the White House. Should the Republicans succeed, good luck. We know that there is no sex education taught there. Actually, one former president took it upon himself to teach safe sex to a young, albeit adult woman. Should the Democrats win, the Palin family will definately be offered their own reality show.

Bristol Palin may replace Brittany Spears as the next young person to be publicly destroyed. And we will watch it like we would watch a National Geographic documentary on predators. And her self-proclaimed redneck boyfriend, Levi Johnson could become the second most famous redneck since Jeff Foxworthy.

America is a praying country. However, too often when it comes to our youth, we spell it P-R-E-Y-I-N-G.

P. Diddy is the "N-word"

Comedian Chris Rock once remarked, " There are black people and there are Niggers."

Without question, P. Diddy, P. Daddy, Puffy, or P. Dummy is the latter. What a stupid, divisive, wealthy idiot.

Diddy is proof that you can take the dummy out of the ghetto, but you can't always take the ghetto out of the dummy.

Check out his latest ignorant blog about John McCain and his VP choice from Alaska. Without fully reiterating Diddy's blatant stupidity, he said there were no blacks in Alaska, no crackheads in Alaska, and no crime in Alaska.

He babbled on, making no sense, threatening to mobilize millions of "yoof" to vote for Obama on November "forf." Just what Obama needs, a bunch of rap influenced parrots exercizing their right to vote without studying or thinking.

Blacks across America should be outraged at P. Dummy's remarks. Had this been a white man so stupidly denouncing Obama, hell would break loose.

For the record, there are many blacks in Alaska; Alaska has long had a crackhead population and a "hood" with a criminal element.

Maybe P. Dummy should fly his personal jet to the 49th state and learn something. Or P. Dummy should spend some of his millions to learn to speak English and stop insulting the human race.

Nah, educating oneself is not what stupid people do. They just attract more of their kind and multiply.

Fortunately for Alaska, there is no Diddy there.