Freedom? Really?

I've been reading about Daniele Watts' incident with the LAPD and ... again ... I forget that there are a lot of stupid people in the universe.

"They ask to see her ID, produce the ID."

But she did nothing wrong. That's the problem with the logic of "don't hide anything if you have nothing to hide." For those that believe that it is perfectly okay for law enforcement to go walking up somebody, demand to see their ID, without any reason, any suspicion or any cause is just insane.

We don't live in a police state. The founders would never agree to that even after what transpired on 9/11. Our liberties are worth so much more than the government that wants to suppress it.

When the police circumvent the laws and protections in an egregious manner with no provocation then it is an abuse of power. That isn't to say that we don't have a crime problem in this country, but if you have questionable motives while attempting to enforce those rules and laws - then the system is equally problematic.

For those that believe that there is no problem for law enforcement to stop and ask someone questions and to detain them by handcuffing and throwing them in a police car then I would assume that the same people have no problem with law enforcement breaking into their homes to double check and make sure that the guns that they own actually belong to them.

After all, if you have nothing to hide then cooperate. See how that works?

Wait, what?

I almost couldn't believe when I read another article about the situation in Missouri. Apparently the chief of police is rather upset that the public has become outraged at the conduct of his officers. He openly defends their conduct and doesn't see a problem ... And that's a problem.

"A whole bunch of what you'd call citizen journalists, who were sitting with cameras recording, waiting for something stupid to happen, which they got. They won on this one," Jimenez told the publication.

First off, referring to citizen journalists is a bit hypocritical when your police force is caught in outright lies. Secondly, they are witnesses to the conduct that your officers exhibited during the Ferguson situation. Thirdly, it really goes to the training that the officers got if a video camera is simply the means to "wait for something stupid to happen."

I understand that you stand behind your police force as they have endured a great deal over the last couple of weeks, but what the chief doesn't understand is that if we have to protect ourselves by filming events to ensure that an unbiased witness (i.e. the camera) can correctly recall and otherwise ensure the integrity of the process, then there is no more doubts. Things can be taken out of context and reports can be skewed and twisted to whatever end. But it's not our fault that the police didn't exercise greater restraint.

Not when you have gems like this on your force:

In another incident, Glendale Officer Matthew Pappert was fired Thursday after posting on Facebook that Ferguson protesters should be "put down like rabid dogs" and asked where "is a Muslim with a backpack when you need them?"

 Don't blame us for your own internal hatred. Not my issue, it's yours former officer Pappert ....

No National Divide? Think again ...

I blogged yesterday about the unrest happening in Missouri.

So it's not too surprising to hear of the support for the officer that shot the unarmed Michael Brown.

Is there a racial divide occurring in this country?  Of course there is ... and has been all along.  For whites to "settle" for a black man to become President doesn't mark the end of racism or the racial divide that has occurred for generations. If anything, it's fleshing out the resent on both sides.

Even with the emergence of civil rights, many whites thought: "okay, that's done."  It doesn't work that way.  It has to be maintained, the conversation has to be ongoing and the healing is a continual process.  You're not expected to run when your broken leg comes out of the cast.  Even when it becomes healthy, you have to take steps so that you don't get hurt again.

America needs to have a racial dialogue while pursuing equal justice for all.

It's the equal part that doesn't quite seem to be playing out correctly here.  Our actions, our beliefs, our words are all subject to scrutiny even though we piously stand with our rights affirmed by the hatred we hide behind.

The problem is: a lot of folks are blind to that hatred.  They immediately dismiss it like they don't carry a bias or a prejudice.  Those descriptions are mean and harsh ... and apparently reserved for "other people," not them.  Well, I hate to break it down for those folks, but we all have bias, we all have prejudice and if we aren't bold enough to walk across the street to stop an injustice from occurring, then we are just as guilty to let that injustice happen in the first place.

Ignorance plays us all for the fool we care to be.

Defense of stupidity?

Some folks still don't understand the first amendment.

The whole Donald Sterling matter is pretty sad.  It's another instance where a blatant racist can't really find fault in what he believes.  The NBA did what they had to - because it was the right thing to do. 

Free thinkers say their rights are being repressed.

Well that's fine and dandy, except their thinking is the problem.

If those folks can't see that, then they really need to get their lenses checked.  There's a problem with being racist, homophobic and sexist.  There's a problem having a fearful hatred of Muslims, Koreans and other cultures.

Apologies mean little if folks don't see the problem to begin with.

I didn't think it was possible ...

...but have we digressed as a society?

Today I read where the state of Georgia will now join Mississippi, North Carolina and Alabama to raise the confederate flag on their license plates.

We're stepping backwards folks, not moving forwards.

Texas rejected the plates on account that it could be offensive.  At least this is one of those times when the folks of Texas were actually thinking straight.

It really sucks that people aren't understanding what progress means and how it compares to regression.  When we allow such things like the confederate flag to waive freely, then those same folks should have no concerns when different cultures appear on a soft drink advertisement singing a national song.

It's beyond baffling how these folks can decry the existence race related issues - while projecting their own race-centric beliefs.

The End of Racism...

I caught a couple quick hits from sources that proclaimed after the inauguration of the first African American President that "racism is finally over."

When I first heard that bit -- I contemplated for about 4 seconds and then shock my head in disbelief. While there's a LOT to be said for the first African American President, we are still a very long ways off by officially calling racism over. One definitive clear sign was the whole "Barack, the magic negro" insensitive race-laden fiasco that they tried to pass it off like it was some kind of "joke." Well, I didn't laugh then, nor do I laugh now. Nor do 99% of African Americans that would find that little "parody" to be funny.

That's where the wheels start coming off the whole "racism is finally over" bit. Merely achieving "the first African American President" or being the "first African American (insert job title here)" has absolutely no relevance on the levels of by which we can accurately measure racism in this country.

That said - the election and inauguration of President Obama does remove one more barrier, one more obstacle. It truly is a momentous occasion given our incredibly violent and morally reprehensible racial history over the tenure of our country. From slavery to the White House - we've made progress, wonderful progress. But we still see racial divides when it comes to our neighbors, our court system, our schools, our society.

But in the era of personal responsibility, President Obama is a beacon that social change doesn't come from the outside in -- but from the inside out. Thus he is calling out every American - not just black, white, brown or red - to be better. To do better. To work better. To learn better. To make better decisions. To be responsible. To care. To take pride. To take come together for a common goal of being better.

It's still a color issue in this country when minority children still have a difficult time getting the education they need to make it in society. It's not always the school's fault - because most all of this starts at home, with our families and inside ourselves. Because we are in control of our destinies. We need to embrace what we can do - and continue to remove the obstacles and barriers that have held this country back from greatness.

The inauguration of President Obama was a first and very necessary step on that path - and we've come a long way, but we still have a ways to go.

How far have we really come?

I'm reminding myself of a blog entry by Wil Wheaton where he so desperately wanted to lash out at all of the Republicans like we had dished to the rest of us for the last 8 years. Yes there's a pretty solid feeling that you really want to finally throw your fists up in the air and declare victory after being ROBBED in 2000 and having a radical conservative agenda rammed down our throats that would only reward businesses and leave the 95% of other Americans left out.

But Wil's friend then said something rather profound: "They are home. We share this country, all of us, whether we like it or not.

“We voted against intolerance for people that don’t share ‘the right’ views because we and people we respect and admire have been the victims of intolerance for too long. We voted against hypocrisy and fear and hate. We voted for a chance to change."

Okay ... a very nice "high road" approach to Obama's victory.

But then I read things like this which really causes me a lot of anger and rage. It's an article citing how racial threats have seen a tremendous spike since Obama's win 11 days ago. Why does this anger me so much? Because of the incredible cowardice of Mr. "Country First" by playing the fear-mongering card that has riled up every crazy idiot out there because they "just don't trust Barack Obama," "they're scared for what he's going to do," "we have to buy our guns before Barack Obama takes office."

It's this kind of nonsensical BULLSHIT served to do nothing but invoke the fear of the unknown in a guy that has the greatest promise to America that has been seen for a very long time. This only padded the racial fervor across this country. So for all of those absorbed people that truly thought that there's no more racism left in this country -- take a nice long hard look at racism in the span less than 2 weeks time:

_Four North Carolina State University students admitted writing anti-Obama comments in a tunnel designated for free speech expression, including one that said: "Let's shoot that (N-word) in the head." Obama has received more threats than any other president-elect, authorities say.

_At Standish, Maine, a sign inside the Oak Hill General Store read: "Osama Obama Shotgun Pool." Customers could sign up to bet $1 on a date when Obama would be killed. "Stabbing, shooting, roadside bombs, they all count," the sign said. At the bottom of the marker board was written "Let's hope someone wins."

_Racist graffiti was found in places including New York's Long Island, where two dozen cars were spray-painted; Kilgore, Texas, where the local high school and skate park were defaced; and the Los Angeles area, where swastikas, racial slurs and "Go Back To Africa" were spray painted on sidewalks, houses and cars.

_Second- and third-grade students on a school bus in Rexburg, Idaho, chanted "assassinate Obama," a district official said.

_University of Alabama professor Marsha L. Houston said a poster of the Obama family was ripped off her office door. A replacement poster was defaced with a death threat and a racial slur. "It seems the election brought the racist rats out of the woodwork," Houston said.

_Black figures were hanged by nooses from trees on Mount Desert Island, Maine, the Bangor Daily News reported. The president of Baylor University in Waco, Texas said a rope found hanging from a campus tree was apparently an abandoned swing and not a noose.

_Crosses were burned in yards of Obama supporters in Hardwick, N.J., and Apolacan Township, Pa.

_A black teenager in New York City said he was attacked with a bat on election night by four white men who shouted 'Obama.'

_In the Pittsburgh suburb of Forest Hills, a black man said he found a note with a racial slur on his car windshield, saying "now that you voted for Obama, just watch out for your house."


Is this YOUR America YOU are proud of?

Is this YOUR party of choice that YOU are proud of?

I cannot conceptualize an America that stands behind bigotry, racism and such vile hatred to teach their children to chant "assassinate Obama" like it was some game or something. I cannot conceptualize an America that holds a "raffle" when they think Obama is going to be killed. I cannot conceptualize an America that has so much "red meat" that it wants nothing more than to execute someone before they even make one step in the White House.

So no --- I don't think it's too far out of the realm of rational comprehension to really ask the question: how far have we really come?

To Wil's friend -- I can only say that while you might have the greatest hope of humanity -- it takes the scourge and selfish bastards of the world to ruin that hope you carry. It doesn't matter how much you teach, how well you get them to understand -- the feeding by the McCain / Palin ticket did was only throw gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, jet fuel, and every other racial combustible thing they could find to cause Americans to now live in fear and prepare for Armageddon like it's the end of days.

It's stupid.

It's wrong.

It's entirely un-American and yet -- it's casually accepted and promoted by the conservative side of the aisle because it's THEIR side that continues to accept and promote such a purely idiotic ideology. How these cowards can exist in a country founded in the basic freedom of all men, created equal -- is entirely beyond me.

So while Wil's friend preaches that it's their "home" too -- from where I stand -- they don't deserve the air they're given because of the historical stain this country has bled for the last 200 plus years in the name of equality. By teaching and spreading such maleficence merely illuminates a much darker racial problem that can only be resolve through attrition.

The sooner we can remove the likes of these un-American assholes from our collective gene-pool, the better.

"That One..."

It came from the guy's mouth...

It's hard to refute the tape -- even the crowd winced when it was uttered, even the Brits across the pond went "whoa" .... how come? Because "that one" was sitting less than three feet away from John McCain and yet the best Republican that could be rounded up for the 2008 election came off as some hateful little man who would use the words "it" or "thing" to describe another human being.

Now for those who want to try to play it off like: "oh that's not what he meant" -- then you're not a real good student of history or at the very least when it comes to civil rights history when it was very common to refer to men and women of color in same manner. Look at the audience reaction - watch how they went: "oh my god, did he just say that?" This is Nashville, Tennessee -- rooted in the South -- racial inequality pretty prevalent in the 1960's along with most of the South.

So when you refer to another human being as "that one" -- remove race for a moment -- only impugns your character to the point of obscurity. Because McCain has no problems calling out Obama in his stump speeches over the last several days -- at least have the decency to refer to "that one" as "he" or "Senator Obama" or "him" or even "that dude." Because at point you've at least recovered the fact that you think Obama is actually human and happens to be running against you for public office. Anything less shows that you're at best "uppity" and at worst a racist.

Intended or not - it proves that McCain simply lacks the mental fortitude to conduct himself in a respectable manner without committing such a horrific insensitive gaffe. McCain may have just blasted through the door if this was the race card moment ... the crowed felt it, the Brits felt it -- a lot of people felt it.

Check the tape -- make sure he wasn't misquoted .... (hint: he wasn't.)

The issue no one wants to talk about....

Even though nearly every Obama opponent denies it -- it would appear that race is going to be a determining factor in the 2008 election. Now before anyone gets all huffy puffy about it, let me make something perfectly clear: if you're finding yourself in support of McCain after being misled on the facts about Obama and/or his policies -- then you haven't been truthful about the reasons why you don't support Obama or you're not being truthful with yourself.

I say that because the most idiotic reason people have been saying why they aren't voting for Obama is the obliquitous thought that he's Muslim. It's false. An all out lie. An utter distortion and malfeasance by the right-wing designed to do but one thing: to smear, to capitalize on the fact that his last name happens to be close to our malicious evil foe: Osama..... Bin Laden. So for those that want to believe that Obama is a Muslim -- then you're merely looking for a reason why you don't want to vote for him.

At the very core of your honor -- you should at least pick a rational explanation why you don't support him instead of hiding behind the lie and making that your self-anointed justification for not supporting the man.

The Muslim shtick is just one in a long line of Karl Rovian political tactics that are approved by John Sydney McCain III. Which is exactly what happened most recently when he touted that Obama was advocating for sex education to be taught to kindergartners -- a bold face lie. For anyone with partial brain function can figure out that Obama's plan was set forth to educate school children who might not KNOW they had been sexually assaulted or touched inappropriately. That's why Obama's plan is to set out guidelines for teachers to conduct AGE APPROPRIATE education in the matter of sexual assault.

It's utterly and completely morally reprehensible that we even NEED to teach our very young children the dangers of sexual predators -- but this is the REALITY we live in. But "this message is approved by John McCain" was sent out instead to the fear-laden parents, scaring them into thinking that Obama wants to teach your kindergartner what contraceptives are for. It worked in 2000 and worked again in 2004. You'd hope that America was smarter than that. Oh -- they are smarter than that, but it's clear some need an Oprah moment to clear away their conscience a bit and start healing from whatever racial wrongs they think they've endured.

The Karl Rovian tactics are designed to do one thing: to put rocks in your shoes. In your mind, all you need is a single reason why you don't want to support Obama. That's why when you're asked why you don't support him, your reason settles on the Muslim tactic -- then you were merely looking for a reason, ANY REASON that would satisfy your little universe. It's unfortunate really. Because whatever malformed opinion you have of the Democratic nominee for President - the tragedy here is it's the basis of the color of his skin that matters most of all. The fact he's black supersedes any concern you must have about our standing the world, the economy and the growing problems we face. It's tragic that it's the hue of his skin - not the man, the soul behind the policies and causes of hope sought to inspire Americans to step up and do something about the tragic mess the Republicans have made for us.

I only ask that you at least have the guts to show up and stand up to say THAT is your real reason. Then that way the discussion can end because it would be overly apparent that someone who can't look beyond the color of one's skin -- doesn't deserve anymore dialogue to be had. Because no matter what counter-sources I can find to deflate your little Muslim antics -- it's never going to matter because at the end of the debate ... Obama is still a black man.

If only I could get you to look beyond your inner racism ...

....deep down, I think you want change.

Because deep down I don't think America wants another 4 years of the last 8 years. Deep down, I don't think America is really satisfied with the "progress" failures of this administration. Deep down, I don't think you feel John McCain is the "best" the Republican Party could offer. Deep down, I don't think you support the incessant flip-flopping, throwing every sail in the wind to catch a break - McCain - because this is what you're going to get when you vote for him.

Look at the headlines in just the last week alone....
- He was against regulations before he was for it despite having a rather illustrious history in his 26 years in the government adamantly opposing any regulation measure that crossed his desk (see: The Keating Five for more information)
- He was against bailouts before being for it, then against it again.
- Now he wants to make health care to be as de-regulated as our banking market right now -- despite the fact we're going to have to suck up and pay $1 TRILLION to clean up the mess that his trusted adviser Phil Gramm crafted in the early 1990's.
- But let's trust that the "economy is fundamentally sound" before retracting it under a heavy spray of water that "oh, what he really meant was...."

So while I will continue to hear your every bone-head excuse from "uppity" to questioning his patriotism ... then at least have the guts to come out with your real reasons and stop continuing to spread the lies just to hide your layers inner prejudice.

And if you're willing to find some REAL reasons why you can't support Barack Obama -- let me know. I want to hear what you have to say.