Sharp Tongue, Reverend Al

Sharp Tongue, Reverend Al  CNN reports that Rev Al Sharpton, fresh off his 'victory over racism' in the Don Imus affair, led a march yesterday to further put an end to lyrics he, and his gang, find racist and demeaning to women. Against whom did they march? The rappers who have made careers out of this shit? [we all know I hate rap, never liked it, never will. Always found it vulgar, and even complained in a game store once when the two clerks were playing some really profane stuff one Saturday morning. They just figured I was a stupid old man who had delicate sensibilities. . We all know I can be vulgar with the best of them, but time and place.] NO, no the source, why go to the source, especially since most of them, like Rev Al are black? His march goes against the record companies that put out the CDs. Gee, I wonder if most record execs are white? Would not be surprised.  He feels that the record companies are to blame because by marketing this shit, they are propagating and perpetuating the stereotype of the black male as a criminal and the black woman as a whore. Yep, those damn record execs who write these lyrics. No, they don't, do they? Who make that incredibly rhythmic beat. Nope, they don't, do they? The record execs who wear da bling and go around shooting each other? Nope, don't do that either. All they do is put out the CDs and make money off them. The same record companies that put out the psychedelic stuff of the San Francisco summer of 1966, the acid rock of the 70's, the disco crap of the disco error, etc. Yep, all their fault, and no fault of the artists who write, produce, record, sing, play, and fucking shoot each other! It is the performers, the artists who have created this image and it is they who live it, perpetuate it, and somehow make it seem enviable. Anyone heard from Tupac lately? How about Bigge Small? Street cred = good and dead. I recall a TV interview, not sure if it was Donohue way back when, with then rapper Ice T, yes, the 'actor' from one of the Law and Order spin offs. He began as a rapper, folks, and it was his lyrics in particular that Tipper Gore went after, after she wisely switched targets from Heavy Metal to rap. I remember one of his songs having to do with a flashlight and a particular orifice of the female anatomy. In defense of his music and its effects and to justify his right to 'sing' such lyrics, he made the point that these critics were only upset because a) they  were white and b) this black music, an expression of black culture, was now coming into their neighborhoods via their own children. He astutely made the point that this was offensive to white middle class America because they did not want blacks living in their neighborhoods, musically or physically.  Now, according to Rev Al, this predominantly black music, not that he has the honesty to label it as such, [seriously, anyone listened to Vanilla Ice lately?] is rebounding into, and having negative effects on, the black community. Rather than being Ice T's expression of the hopeless reality of the black experience still in early 90's America, it has now become a negative role model given by rich black males to their younger brethren. Or is it all that negative? What do young black males really see? Dab ling? Da babes? Can you blame dem? The truth! Rev Al can't handle the truth. Again I recall when Bill Cosby got himself in trouble with leading blacks, maybe even Rev Al, by stating openly that it was time that black men stopped getting their women pregnant and leaving them. He had statistics on his side, but Rev Al had indignation and reverse racism on his. Fifteen years ago white activists complained about rap lyrics and no one listened. Now that what they were saying has come to be more of a reality than anyone could have imagined, and it is still not the fault of those who write this shit? Bullshit, absolute bullshit. And Rev Al is this big bull.  [originally written June 10, 2007]

Don Imus in Mourning

Don Imus in Mourning I could be wrong but I believe Imus started out as a regular DJ in New York way back when. Somewhere along the way he moved into TALK radio. I know he was featured, his character anyway, in the Howard Stern movie and that he was portrayed as not liking Stern. To me, that showed good taste. I heard IMUS' show for a few days about 3-5 years ago while camping in Vermont as I could not find the classic rock station that trip so settled for Imus. They talked mostly politics, were very boring and I never listened to them again. He did not seem like a 'shock jock,' a la Howard Stern, although he surely has been termed one lately.  My views on his recent fame and his firing are tempered by the fact that I actually listened to all he said on the fateful morning, not just the three words the media kept repeating. [Anyone who wants can go to my YouTube site 'jjh49'. His broadcast from that day, and his later apology, is in my favorites for reference.] The media has its usual field day taking things out of context, dredging up old quotes and interviews by and with him, and many sources, too many, felt the need to weigh in. But, what did Imus say that was so wrong? Listening to what he actually said, in the context, tone, and time he said it, it seems to me he was making a comparison based on the appearance of two university women's basketball teams, that of Rutgers and that of Tennessee. [For the record, I admit that I saw a bit of the game, yes, a women's basketball game, and I did not notice what he did, but then he probably has HDTV. I saw a Rutgers team that had over achieved to that point, relying on speed and defense to make up for what it lacked in overall talent, gradually lose to a more talented team. It is to Rutgers'  credit that they got s far as they did. Had this been the mens tournament, they would have been termed 'Cinderella,' but my use of that is probably sexist. ] That which got him the most trouble was his 'description' [my word, because that is what I heard him to be doing] of the Rutgers girls and 'nappy headed ho's.' OK, I have to confess I have no idea what 'nappy' means. I sure know ho's as we told a joke about dumb southerners in the army mistaking a 'hoe' for a 'ho,' some 40 years ago. More recently, mid nineties, I realized the term 'ho' had reemerged as one girl in a class of mine used it to refer to another girl. I remember getting confirmation as to what she had said, and if it still meant what I thought it meant. I was told that 'we use it all the time.' Fine with me. Imus commented on the game, and on the Rutgers girls -- their tattoos, their hair, used 'ho's' as part of his description of them -- and got into some comments on the game as something out of a Spike Lee move. The media got its teeth into it, and soon enough, Imus remarks are terms racist, racial slurs, polls are taken to determine if he is a  racist, and he is suspended for two weeks, his video feed is dropped by MSNBC, and sponsors are pulling adds. In the midst of this he did give a public radio/video apology, one that seemed sincere, not the usual carefully prepared statement with the perfunctory promise of counseling, a la Mel Gibson and Hollywood luminaries. He did not use the cop out of 'taken the wrong way.' He was willing to take his lumps. But certain prominent black authorities were still not satisfied, so he was fired by CBS. But what did he say that these young women do not say on their own? I'll bet that each team used these words, or something similar, to refer to their opponents during the season. What did he say that is not commonly used by teenagers of any race in high schools? By music icons of the black community? Rapper Snoop Dog, who has used these terms to his own economic benefit, is said to have said that Imus does not have the street 'cred' to use such words. Oh, so now we need 'cred' to speak? Would good old Snoop, who willingly  shrills for Miller Light BTW, true to his rap roots and full of 'cred,' be happier if Imus had 'done some ho's' the night before thereby establishing 'cred?' Maybe if he had killed a few ho's, that would give him the right to use such words. Political candidates got into the act. Hillary Clinton, still smarting no doubt from what Imus said in Washington back when Bill was president, claimed that she never listened to him, and would not now. Then a) how could she know and comment on what he said? b) how  come she is in the video of that Washington gala looking at him when he is speaking? She already lies like a president should. The stupidest statement came from Condoleezza Rice, current Secretary of State, whom the media praised as the 'highest ranking black women in government.' Which makes her an authority on ho's since the Bush administration has been screwing everyone so very much. She termed Imus words as 'disgusting,' adding that it was, "an attack on very accomplished young black women in a way that was really offensive." Again, I cheated and listened to Imus actually broadcast, as she and too many others did not, because Imus went on to say that the Tennessee girls were 'cute.' And, as I did watch some of the game, no I did not count, but, there sure seemed to be as many black players on the Tennessee team as there were on Rutgers. Funny, the Tennessee team, which won the game and the national title, has been silent on the issue. Imus compared two groups of young black females and described one as 'cute.' Racist bastard! Or was he suggesting that one was a better group of role models than the other? That he found one group visually more appealing? Even after he was fired, Imus still met with the Rutgers team, closed door session, and offered an apology which the team accepted. What would have been nice, and real, and honest, would have been if any one of those players would have just come forward and admitted, "It isn't anything we don't say ourselves."  Imus now has gone back to his proud self, saying that he could get hired elsewhere. Probably. Marv Albert is calling NBA games after his prison stint. And he added that the whole thing got blown up as it was a slow news day. If the events of Virginia Tech had been the day after that game, would anyone have heard the Rutgers women's team? Three pages of coverage in Sports Illustrated [April 23, 2007] suggest that the media made the issue, and that Rutgers got great press out of it. They had no idea who Imus was or that he has said anything about them till two days after wards. Then the media storm, its demand for a response/reaction, caused them to eventually speak. Probably explains why they were so controlled, orchestrated in their uniform response. The article also predicts that while this year's team got no TV coverage, you can bet their opening game in November will be on the airwaves, and we'll get to relive this one all over again. By then Imus will be the devil. Maybe he'll have class enough to attend? It was also reported that the Rutgers coach tried to sell her life story last Fall and got no interest. But, now there is plenty of interest in her. I 'mus' be wrong, but I think Imus did them a favor.  I think Don Imus got HOSED. . . .  as always, just my two sense . . . .  [originally written Friday, April 27, 2007]

Musings

 

This Just In: A British company is developing computer chips that store music in women's breast implants.  This is a major breakthrough.  Women are always complaining about how men are often staring at their breasts but never listening to them. .. .  .and while I'm on a subject to which I like to take a 'hand's on approach,' I read on Sports Illustrated that some US college basketball team got into trouble with the breast cancer organization because this team was using pink jerseys for its second string in practice sessions. Seems the BCO objected because they felt that pink was the color of their movement and did not want the significance of the color to be lost. And the team decided to comply and no longer uses pink practice jerseys. Not sure what color they went to but I hope it was not blue because the Depression activists will surely complain. And the  anti- prostitutionists will stake claim to red, malaria sufferers will want yellow, gangereeners – green and so on until  . . . . the only colors left unclaimed and available will probably be black and white. Now I grew up in the Black and White, literal and figurative society of the 1950's and if that is our future, then we as a society are fucked. Free the colors I say, free them! …… . . . as some might remember, as of midnight tonight, May 30, 2006, smoking in all its evil public forms is forbidden in all evil and non-evil public places in Quebec, which to this point had been proudly the ashtray of north America. Now, we all know I enjoy a pipe and cigar at times, and this is not going to bother me from a habit standpoint,  BUT I always object when laws infringe upon basis personal freedoms [no I am not going to debate health risks, second hand smoke, health costs, or any of the other logical, statistical reason behind this measure] because once that door opens there is no closing it.  AND As proof I offer the radio report this very AM that the federal government of Canada will today be debating some form of prohibition on aromas, YES, boys and girls, AROMAS. They are debating BANNING scented deodorant, soaps, perfumes, and the like on users of all public transportation. The signs informing this ban alone will cost 100,000 yearly and I can only wonder how it might be enforced. The radio also claimed that two maritime provinces are contemplating similar measures. Reason? Allergies. As I say, once the door opens, there is no closing. No eating peanuts in public, for example?  The day will come when as a 75 yr old man I will get ticket for farting. Two tickets, actually. One for disturbing the peace, the other for the above mentioned aroma ban. And if I ate peanuts the night before I might just be a three time loser and end up in jail. Love those anal searches.

Politcally Correct Homicide

Thursday, January 04, 2007  

Politically Correct Homicide   . . . POLITCALLY CORRECT HOMICIDE: Since the shooting at Dawson College on September 13, there have been at least three other violent incidents at schools in North America, the most recent, as of this writing, of which took place in Amish country where some nut set out for revenge pretty much executed a number of young girls.  First off, some thoughts about revenge. It is supposedly 'a dish best served cold.' Some say it is sweet. And who among us hasn't dreamed of returning to the scene of some crime against one and setting the record straight. Like going back to a long lost hometown, tracking down the son of a bitch who deliberately threw my football on the roof of the elementary school and laughed about it, knowing full well that had I chosen to do anything about it, the school thugs with whom he was friends would have taken his side because I was bigger than he was, and having seen him get away with this with other bigger guys, knew better than to anything then. But now, well, revenge is also something that one can wait for, and wait, and wait, and wait. Oh, was that out loud? But, I digress, because that is not my real topic. But, there is a point to revenge when it is directed against the specific person who did the wrong and is exacted in kind. Not the case in these school invasions.       The question that perplexes the media, the locals, the world is why are these shootings happening, now and so    frequently. And, as always they lead to the obvious need for gun control. Just what we need in this politically correct world more controls, especially over something that cannot be controlled. And maybe, just maybe it is the plethora of controls that is pushing these lunatics over the edge.  Come on, you cannot tell me there were no lunatics when I was a kid. Yet, the first crazed murderer and mass murder I can remember hearing about was Richard Speck who killed 7 (?) nurses in Chicago (?) in 1966. I AM sure of the year cause I heard about it on the one and only radio station in Prince George, BC, where I was working that summer. I remember being totally shocked by it, as it was so foreign to imagine anyone doing such a thing. But nowadays? A biweekly occurrence. [For the record, quick net research reveals it was 8 nurses he killed. One survived by hiding under a bed] Why? Cause the funny thing is when we were kids we played at guns all the damn time. We played cowboys and Indians [yes, we used to shoot the Indians. Now why would anyone want to shoot a Subesh or a Jitesh? I mean the other Indians, dammit! The ones with red skins. Oh boy, just getting myself into more trouble, but that is part of my point . . . ] We played at war and were watched by our fathers who had been in real wars, and they often advised us on tactics. We fought the 'japs' or 'nips' the 'krauts' or 'jerries,' but, oddly, never the commies. Never heard of them till I was much older. We even played a game called 'Knives' invented by Danny in which we crawled through the tall weeds holding imaginary knives in our hands till we came up upon an enemy [one of the other guys] and stabbed him in the back as many times as we could. He would then lay dead till one team sliced and diced the other and we would start all over, maybe picking new sides, because Danny's team [a la finney in A Separate Peace] always won. Now by all accounts today, as exposed as we were to guns, toy guns, and with all the killing we reenacted, we should all be at ease with these weapons and all be killers. I have yet to hear of anyone from my hometown who has taken over a school and killed children or teachers. And our teachers were real bastards, that's one of the reasons I became one, remember?  How come we are not all homicidal maniacs? Because we played at killing and we knew it was a game and we got it out of our systems and the one of us who had a real gun, a hunting rifle, used it for hunting and never brought it out for play. By being exposed to this we learned the difference between play and not play. It was OK to play at just about anything. And TV reinforced these practices and values. I saw a rerun of Family Affair in which Jody and Buffy were playing with their Chinese friend. [ok to have Asian friends, never saw a commie friend], racing through that beautiful apartment of Uncle Bill's shooting each other "dow, dow, dow, dow," multiple times, with the Chinese girl getting drilled by Buffy no less and then falling down dead, as Uncle Bill and French watched. Another thing, the 'parents' were watching, back then,  weren't they? But, then came the 1970's, say mid seventies, and I recall and ep of All in the Family, where Mike and Gloria now had their son, Joey, and Archie buys the little guy a toy rifle, and peace nick Mike has a shit fit, and will not allow the kid to have the toy gun.  Seriously, does anyone play guns anymore? Yes, there are those video games where blood and gore are everywhere, but that's not 'guns,' that's inside, alone, or over a wire, video. Not even 'play real.' As playing with guns became politically incorrect, along with shooting Indians, or calling the murderous bad sides from WWII, the sides who as I recall having once been a history teacher, were trying to take over the world and were responsible for maybe 40 million deaths, any kind of derogatory name. What Political Correctness has done is take parts of the growing up process away from the act of growing up. Maybe as a result, these lunatics doing the shooting have yet to really grow up?  Gertrude Stein wrote that the men who went to and fought in WW I were deprived of the growing up, the socialization process, that those years in their young lives should have provided. In some ways that explained, to her and to me, the wild times of the 1920's in the mechanized world.  By thinking children can be protected from the so called bad things in this world, the politically correct society has prolonged childhood and child like actions, that think it is OK to kill innocent people, especially other kids, not that the killer is, age wise at any rate, a kid anymore.  As always, just my two sense . . .