Crispus Attucks Must Be Rolling In His Grave

After he sacrificed his very life for the creation of this nation some bozos with latent race issues want to make light of our history. So I've been hearing rhetoric on the so-called Christian networks - and right-wing radio/tv - about how the Obama administration is engaging in socialism by spending "our" money doing "God knows what". Our new President is supposedly also going against the traditions set by his predecessors so they have the right to rebel. 

Now there is some legitimate frustration of how the government spends our tax dollars. I don't like the military budget or the support of certain nations to the extent of the amount of aid they get. I'd like teachers who do their jobs well to earn double their current salaries at least. There is a huge wealth imbalance in this country where those most able to support the country are not paying their fair share of taxes. There are numerous tax codes written specifically to help those high-income/asset owners to actually pay a much smaller percentage than they should. That's assuming we're all on an even plane and life is always fair, but that's not the case.

It is the poor(er) folks in this country that are actually buckling under the weight of burden. The infrastructure needs rebuilding and many basic services that would ease the day to day needs of people are necessary and they come from taxes. So to hear about these Tax Day Tea Party events where a majority of disgruntled white men are coming together to protest paying taxes has me feeling somewhat aggravated. There's something else going on here besides concern about passing debt onto future generations. For me it comes down to timing and why these people didn't seem concerned about the national debt as it ballooned from a "surplus" to redlined to total catastrophe during the Bush administration. They also ignore the corporations that are hiding funds in off-shore accounts and don't pay anything. Since these people are usually war hawks don't they care about the private contractors that aren't paying taxes either?

There is also discussion amongst some LGBTs about protesting paying taxes when they don't have all the legal rights they want. I understand the frustration. I have a sneaking suspicion these Tax Day Party tax dodgers are also opposed to gender equality, trans-rights, immigration, abortion and a host of other things many of us deem as necessities for the betterment of society and the exercise of one's personal freedom. So I wonder if these people realize they are only selling themselves short by being so stingy. One day they may be in a situation where they'd need a "gov't handout" and would want compassion. 

All of this anger should be a legitimate concern for those of us seriously concerned about the direction of this country. It makes critiquing the President so much more difficult when we have to fend off the racists, militants and obstructionists. It's also very tiring having to be so diligent about addressing these potentially serious threats. Finally, I think they're being selective in biblical principle by ignoring what the Gospels showed Jesus taught about paying taxes. There's really no confusion about it. Per Matthew 22:15-22

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

"Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

When Are African-Americans Going to Stop Complaining and Start Kicking A** ?

So the New York Post put out a cartoon that many think was a poor analogy at satire about the stimulus bill for what was likely a depiction of the President as a dead chimp. Due to the lingering racial animus and sheer discomfort to discuss and resolve the history of brutality and exploitation it took to build this country, I suspect many will react negatively and retreat to their corners. So let's say for the sake of argument it was offensive and therefore racist, but to what degree? Have people forgotten that we live in a country where racism thrives or have they bought into this fallacy of a post-racial America? There is no such thing and to deny the evil that manifests itself through systematic entrenchments is just crazy. 

Yes, I know every individual isn't like that, but you had best believe plenty of people who may not be actively engaging in it don't refuse the benefits derived from it! What is an appropriate response? To react solely on emotions or to seek a path of recourse? Also I don't think the President really cares as he's been called worse I'm certain. He's always cool as a cucumber. Besides, he's the freakin' President and the leader of free world. He has certain support systems in place, a family that adores him and lots of security and weapons at his disposal. Not that people shouldn't feel outraged if they think the situation warrants it, but they aren't planning long-term strategies and are too reactionary, not proactive.

Everybody decided to jump on the bandwagon as per their usual misguided efforts at displaying their outrage. By everybody I'm referring to the Civil Rights Industrial Complex motley crew: NAACP releases a statement (yawn); the new kids on the block Color of Change sent out a email initiative and 75K responded; and everybody's favorite Rev., Al Sharpton led a motley band of protesters (rolling my eyes). 

See I used to get riled up about these things too until it dawned on me that NOTHING EVER GETS DONE AND NOTHING EVER CHANGES. Plus there are far more dangers to the image of Black people being put out into the world by other Blacks. One primate versus the derogatory image of men as drooling idiots throwing money in the air/bragging about sex and violence with half-naked women gyrating to a beat - which one is worse? Which one garners the largest audience and has a lingering negative image?

I think author Jill Nelson summed it best in her article, No More Marches, which appeared in the April 2008 issue of Essence magazine:

Forty-three years later, in another millennium, we're still using the same technique, and to far less effect. These days, marches are carefully orchestrated spectacles for the purpose of allowing passionate people to come together and let off steam rather than massive, potentially uncontrollable manifestations of people's demand for justice and equality...But now marches are now so predictable and scripted they've lost the ability to impact politicians and policy, to force transformation.

Bah hooey the head idiot in charge, Editor in Chief gave some lame non-apology. Big whoop. The New York Post has a history of publishing incendiary and racist stories/cartoons/etc. Go down the list of all the "news" media and you will find a lot of dirty hands in that cookie jar. Go through the staff and you will find it to be a sanctuary for old white men with a few white women thrown in the mix and a few crumbs for a chosen non-whites, but make no mistake the people calling the shots are the same old-same old. 

Look at the ones writing the checks. Rupert Murdoch owns: NY Post, Wall Street Journal, Fox, MySpace amongst other holdings and has a net worth of at least $8B. Do you think he cares about a few letters and some people screaming on the corner? He's just going to cut a check and keep it moving. Are you going to stop patronizing his businesses? If you're going to engage in a battle with someone you should get a lay of the land and size up your opponent first to devise the best strategy before taking action. This isn't the '60s and those tactics don't work! 

Now if all of those protesting had decided to pool their time and resources for a long-term counter-attack and initiative that would be different. How about pushing for the FCC to grow a pair and get back to keeping these media outlets in line? How about paying attention to those applying for licenses like Bob Johnson trying to weasel his way into getting another network right under our noses? How about demanding Hollywood start hiring Black actresses again and not buying movie tickets until they do? How about accepting the fact that a man with Murdoch's stature has spent decades building alliances in all sectors of society and government in this country, the UK and his birth country Australia? 

How about working on the systematic racism in the hiring practices that have excluded independent thinkers who are unbiased in their coverage and yes, non-white, in positions of authority? Call on Eric Holder and tell him to put the muscle of the Justice Department behind his words. Call on the President and demand that he does. Well, these aren't glamorous moves and they take a long time. 30-40 years ago a certain pressure was applied and shame did wonders - as well as seeing people being hosed and murdered. 

The failure of Civil Rights was that equality wasn't demanded and the voices and contributions of Black women were shuttered so the men could progress (at our expense). Moving to formerly all-white enclaves, having unfettered access to white women, making some money or gaining notoriety seemed good enough for most of them. Yes, I'm mentioning this because it's time we do a reboot on the abridged version of events and tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Feeling good breeds complacency. We need to take action.

There were no long-terms plans for sustaining these gains which is why things have so quickly deteriorated in the past 10-20 years. I've noticed for example as the Black television anchors in my local news market have retired they are not replaced with another Black anchor or even another non-white of any gender but by white men and women. As I previously discussed in my post here there are no Blacks behind the anchor desks (and little if any in the offices of upper management) covering national evening news. 

When the vacant post for Meet the Press needed to be filled it was the white male running NBC who gave the slot to another white male - and not even someone who was remotely qualified. It's almost incestuous and it's definitely exclusionary and insulting. Where were the protests about that? Where is the strategizing for alternative sources of news? Why are Black people waiting for other people to act right? Start a network! Pool resources. Get busy. 

Stupid People Do Stupid Things

Hey I'm including myself in this! I can look back and think of times I'd love to do-over. Like the time I mixed cream-based alcoholic beverages with sushi with wine all in the same evening. When protests lead to violence and the arrest of more than 100 people that is counterproductive. Those people that thought taking out their frustration for the Oscar Grant shooting on OPP (other people's property) was a good idea had to stand before the judge on Friday. You know I'm all for second chances but the attitudes of some of these people really alarm me. I know some people think you can't tell all of us apart but I'm not claiming them!

From the  Mercury News:

"I know it's a very frustrating time," Johnson said, referring to the police investigation into the shooting. "But Oscar would not want to see the violence and the fires. We believe this situation is going to come to a close and justice will be served. I'm asking you please, please, stop it and let justice prevail. Please stop it."

Let's just say I'm glad they live over the bridge and not in my neighborhood. I'm all for Black solidarity but I can't abide by foolishness and criminal activity. Smashing windows and setting cars on fire is not respectable Negro behavior. Yes, I know lots of people riot and over really dumb stuff like a sporting game (yeah I'm talking about Manchester United or similar). But those are dumbs acts by white people and truth be told, the greater society at large isn't going to hold it against all of them for what some of them do. Like with Black people. 

Besides this is bigger than that. When Oscar Grant's mother - in her time of grief - has to publicly urge people (as posted above) to stop acting like a da** fool because they're making things worse for the family then you are the problem! There are more protests scheduled and not all of the participants are Black but you know who's going to end up in the news should things go south. All that outrage should be channeled into something productive like completing an education, cleaning up the neighborhood (literally and figuratively) and focus on something besides playing ball or rapping about nonsense. That foolishness is not Black culture - that's displaying depravity and callousness. Which breeds apathy. Which breeds violence. We do not need to go there anymore.

Also people need to learn to engage politically. I've been mentioning this in a lot of posts because after last year I got the memo that 'real' change isn't going to happen from complaints, petitions or protests alone. More Black people have to learn to interact in all areas of society and navigate through sometimes unpleasant and unfair circumstances and do it while keeping one's cool with high self-esteem. It can be a tall order but it's necessary. We need to reach out to those who will support our endeavors and we cannot be our own islands. 

Have a vision for yourself beyond what you think is readily available. Be more positive. Trust me on this - it may be challenging but it's not impossible. 

From Immediate Influence Blog

The most powerful opposing force to achieving your goals in 2009 and beyond is YOU! More specifically, it’s the disempowering beliefs that you are harboring about yourself, your capabilities, and resources. For example, let’s suppose that in the past five, ten, or twenty years an associate of yours has repeatedly set a goal to earn six figures but it has never happened. Why didn’t it happen? It’s not that they didn’t want to achieve the goal. It’s that they allowed feelings/emotions to stop them during their journey.

Oscar Grant III Shooting Updates

Last night a few people took civil disobedience into idiot territory by clashing with the police. This was supposed to be a peaceful protest against the shooting of Mr. Grant, not an excuse to riot. I think sometimes we let our emotions get the best of us and do ourselves more harm than good. Lighting a dumpster on fire is not the way to go! 

The BART Transit Board Meeting was packed this morning. The Board offered a formal apology which wasn't necessarily expected but was the right thing to do. Certain religious and civic leaders spoke out against the actions of the police using what I'd call outdated analogies to previous oppression. I don't think the Rev. Amos Brown of the Third Baptist Church bringing up Emmett Till was appropriate. One did not have anything to do with the other. He's served on the SF Board of Supervisors and should know how to negotiate better politically than that! The only words of common sense strategy-wise was the demand to bring in the offices of Attorney General and the Department of Justice to launch their own investigations into the conduct of ALL the officers on the scene. CBS5 has live streaming footage of the meeting.

Typically when there's an officer-involved shooting against citizens the District Attorney and Police Department work together to shut down any serious investigations because they provide cover for each other. I'm certain this will be disputed but we can look at the results over and over and over again and draw the same conclusions: unless you are wealthy or well-connected you are pretty much out of luck at getting an officer prosecuted. 

So I find it very interesting - and telling - that Officer Mehserle quit instead of answering questions. Usually that "Blue Wall" is activated and if the officer has to respond to criminal charges they are almost always found innocent by using the imminent danger excuse. It's why there was allegedly no video footage at the Fruitvale station for the police to review. So the irony is they couldn't apply their usual spin and legal manipulations to the situation. Watching the numerous angles offered from the several citizen activists who captured the shooting on their cell phones, it's nearly impossible to determine when the officers ever had their lives in danger, but we can clearly hear Mr. Grant cooperating with the police and asking not to be harmed because he has a child. 

Hearing that the officer supposedly has received death threats does nothing to address his contemptible actions. Particularly when this information is released to the press at the same time as the previous illegal activity of the victim. "Healing" is not needed but a set of actions that reflect harsh consequences for the police are. Having the one main officer involved bail out of the process to avoid accountability is not an act of courage or remorse but one of cowardice. 

One caveat: Why are people so outraged by police killing Black men but remain largely inactive in stopping Black men from killing each other?