There are those that have questioned my motive for blogging. Just to be clear, I blog to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable; and for the most part, I have been successful in my attempts. A few weeks ago, I was in dialogue with some friends and we were talking about terms that people use that are racist, but they may not be aware of the racist connotation. In essence, we were having a discussion about "accidental racists". Well, before I could blog about the conversation, there was the release of the Brad Paisley and LL Cool J song, entitled "Accidental Racist." Now this song is wrong in so many ways and both parties are at fault for the errors lamented in this song. First and foremost, I don't think the wearing of a Conferderate flag is a sign of Southern Heritage. If you want to show your Southern heritage, there are many other ways that the waving of the Southern swastika. Let's not try to confuse hertiage with hate. The confederate flag respresent a group of people that wanted be apart from the United States because they wanted to have the right to have slaves. (In other words, they thought people could be kept as property and didn't want to be a part of a nation that felt otherwise and that, my friends, is what is represented by the Confederate flag.) Now, I'm not placing all the blame on Paisley, bc Cool J, who in my opinion is not that cool anymore, is also to culpable in this matter as well. For him to equate the wearing of a conferderate flag t-shirt with a wave cap has not basis for comparison. Just as his line "if you don't judge me for my gold chains, I'll forget the iron chains" is totally baseless. How in the Hattiesburg are you going to equate questionable fashion choices with slavery. The two cannot be compared and one definately cannot be forgotten. We like to go about like race is not an issue when we all know that race is still an issue in the country.
For instance, the recent bombing in Boston has shown how perpetrating a myth is good as long as it serves a purpose. Before the everyday white men were listed at suspects in the bombing, several media outlets referred to the alleged bombers as dark skinned males. Generally, these type of comments come are expected from Fox News, but the reference to the bomb suspects as dark skinned males was made by John King of CNN. So, with an American audience, a segement of certain communities were bro-filed on national television without any similance of proof; other than ass-umptions. We all know that it's much easier to believe that a dark skinned man stole a car and drowned two innocent children instead of believing their mother was actually the killer. It's easier to accept that a black man killed a pregnant mother rather than accept the fact that her husband was the one that issued the fatal blow. Despite the increase in the number of crimes implemented by white males, (remember Sandy Hook), our county is more willing to accuse a rogue brown skinned person before accepting the reality that a powdery completcted individual is capable of such vicious behavor, but I guess that's why so many are eagerly trying to sweep the evil nature of slavery under the rug. It doesn't require a stretch of the imagination to relize that a race that thought it was okay to enslave another race, would be capable of the recent massacers and mayheim.
But let's not stop there, it get worse. Over 80% of the county support background checks before purchasing guns. In an what in the world has happened, there were 50 members of Congress that banned together to filibuster the agenda so a vote on background checks could not take place. But these are the same members of Congress that were put in to office in an attempt to complicate the life of President Obamba, but now that they're in office, they have taken off the sheet of the Tea-Party and are showing their true colors. Now, they were voted in based on a bunch of lies and religious propoganda, but the truth of the matter, they will use whatever agenda needed to get your vote but as soon as they're in office, they will serve the ones that sponsored them. Again, a little bit of hate goes a long way.
There are so many topics that I would like to cover in this post but it will make the post too lenghty. The orinial conversation I had with some friends, was about the way certain groups still refer to the area that is populated by black residents as either quarters or across the tracks. Well, in case you didn't know, the reference to black communities as quarters is a reference to the housing of slaves. Slaves were housed in quarters. Years ago, my uncle provided me with that bit of information and from that point on, I no longer referred to where I lived as Love Quarters, I referred to it as East Lumberton or called it by it's official name, Love's Addition. We so willingly accept what others tell us and then take it as law. In order to move forward, you must know you past. Those that don't know their history are doomed to repeat it. This county, this city has a long way to go before we get beyond the pigment of a person's skin.
Recently, I was torn about some comments that were made by political candidates. I don't understand how a person could get upset when one of their counter parts make the reference "Oh I see it's going to be another 3-2 vote" when commenting about the candidates in the upcoming election, but then this same person made the comment, "I hope we don't split the vote or white people have given up on this city." In my opinion, both comments are equally offensive. This county, this city needs to be healed and I hope people don't allow race dictate their decisions. There are people that are running for election that have never attended a board meeting. They are running because a group of people said "you would be good in that position." On thing is certain, if you run for office, you must keep an open mind, especially those running for post that are to respresent the entire city (Alderman at Large/Mayor). You can't leave out an entire segemnt of the city because of a personal agenda. For those going to the polls, elect the one that will best respresent the entire city and not just those in their circle. Remember, in complete darkeness, we are all the same, it is only our knowlege and wisdom that separates us. Don't let you eyes deceive you.
There are those that have questioned my motive for blogging. Just to be clear, I blog to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable; and for the most part, I have been successful in my attempts. A few weeks ago, I was in dialogue with some friends and we were talking about terms that people use that are racist, but they may not be aware of the racist connotation. In essence, we were having a discussion about "accidental racists". Well, before I could blog about the conversation, there was the release of the Brad Paisley and LL Cool J song, entitled "Accidental Racist." Now this song is wrong in so many ways and both parties are at fault for the errors lamented in this song. First and foremost, I don't think the wearing of a Conferderate flag is a sign of Southern Heritage. If you want to show your Southern heritage, there are many other ways that the waving of the Southern swastika. Let's not try to confuse hertiage with hate. The confederate flag respresent a group of people that wanted be apart from the United States because they wanted to have the right to have slaves. (In other words, they thought people could be kept as property and didn't want to be a part of a nation that felt otherwise and that, my friends, is what is represented by the Confederate flag.) Now, I'm not placing all the blame on Paisley, bc Cool J, who in my opinion is not that cool anymore, is also to culpable in this matter as well. For him to equate the wearing of a conferderate flag t-shirt with a wave cap has not basis for comparison. Just as his line "if you don't judge me for my gold chains, I'll forget the iron chains" is totally baseless. How in the Hattiesburg are you going to equate questionable fashion choices with slavery. The two cannot be compared and one definately cannot be forgotten. We like to go about like race is not an issue when we all know that race is still an issue in the country.
For instance, the recent bombing in Boston has shown how perpetrating a myth is good as long as it serves a purpose. Before the everyday white men were listed at suspects in the bombing, several media outlets referred to the alleged bombers as dark skinned males. Generally, these type of comments come are expected from Fox News, but the reference to the bomb suspects as dark skinned males was made by John King of CNN. So, with an American audience, a segement of certain communities were bro-filed on national television without any similance of proof; other than ass-umptions. We all know that it's much easier to believe that a dark skinned man stole a car and drowned two innocent children instead of believing their mother was actually the killer. It's easier to accept that a black man killed a pregnant mother rather than accept the fact that her husband was the one that issued the fatal blow. Despite the increase in the number of crimes implemented by white males, (remember Sandy Hook), our county is more willing to accuse a rogue brown skinned person before accepting the reality that a powdery completcted individual is capable of such vicious behavor, but I guess that's why so many are eagerly trying to sweep the evil nature of slavery under the rug. It doesn't require a stretch of the imagination to relize that a race that thought it was okay to enslave another race, would be capable of the recent massacers and mayheim.
But let's not stop there, it get worse. Over 80% of the county support background checks before purchasing guns. In an what in the world has happened, there were 50 members of Congress that banned together to filibuster the agenda so a vote on background checks could not take place. But these are the same members of Congress that were put in to office in an attempt to complicate the life of President Obamba, but now that they're in office, they have taken off the sheet of the Tea-Party and are showing their true colors. Now, they were voted in based on a bunch of lies and religious propoganda, but the truth of the matter, they will use whatever agenda needed to get your vote but as soon as they're in office, they will serve the ones that sponsored them. Again, a little bit of hate goes a long way.
There are so many topics that I would like to cover in this post but it will make the post too lenghty. The orinial conversation I had with some friends, was about the way certain groups still refer to the area that is populated by black residents as either quarters or across the tracks. Well, in case you didn't know, the reference to black communities as quarters is a reference to the housing of slaves. Slaves were housed in quarters. Years ago, my uncle provided me with that bit of information and from that point on, I no longer referred to where I lived as Love Quarters, I referred to it as East Lumberton or called it by it's official name, Love's Addition. We so willingly accept what others tell us and then take it as law. In order to move forward, you must know you past. Those that don't know their history are doomed to repeat it. This county, this city has a long way to go before we get beyond the pigment of a person's skin.
Recently, I was torn about some comments that were made by political candidates. I don't understand how a person could get upset when one of their counter parts make the reference "Oh I see it's going to be another 3-2 vote" when commenting about the candidates in the upcoming election, but then this same person made the comment, "I hope we don't split the vote or white people have given up on this city." In my opinion, both comments are equally offensive. This county, this city needs to be healed and I hope people don't allow race dictate their decisions. There are people that are running for election that have never attended a board meeting. They are running because a group of people said "you would be good in that position." On thing is certain, if you run for office, you must keep an open mind, especially those running for post that are to respresent the entire city (Alderman at Large/Mayor). You can't leave out an entire segemnt of the city because of a personal agenda. For those going to the polls, elect the one that will best respresent the entire city and not just those in their circle. Remember, in complete darkeness, we are all the same, it is only our knowlege and wisdom that separates us. Don't let you eyes deceive you.
THAT WAS DEEP!!
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