I AM NOT THE DEVIL

RELIGION. This is something I decided to Blog about. Some things happened not too long ago and with recent events in my social life and private, it seems like the thing to write about this posting. People who know me can respect that I am very Spiritual. I know Religious people don’t like to hear this and often do not respect those that Stand To Be Spiritual, as if being Spiritual was the gateway into worshiping the Devil or something more insidious.

I argue that the essence of Spirit is that Gift that GOD gives the individual Man and Religion is the piety that Man gives back to God for his spirit. In a perfect World this would be a simple exchange of gratitude but with the inherent flaw in Mankind, this simple exchange of sacred homage can never and has never been that easy, especially in a Nation where tolerance is suppose to be what everyone aspires to posses.

Not long go I had an online exchange. It just popped up on my screen while I was working on a Writing Project:

Internet Buddy: Ephesians 5:15 encourages us to “be very careful how you live, making the most of your time.” Each and every one of us is going through tough times right now, but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith. My instructions were to pick four (4) people that I wanted God to bless, and I picked you. Please pass this to at least four (4) people you want to be blessed and a copy back to me. This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another
Internet Buddy: The prayer: Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those that I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Where there is need, I ask you to fulfill their needs. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings. In Jesus' precious name. Amen If the Lord lays upon your heart to send this to more than four (4) people, you are truly blessed
Me: You got something for those that aren't Christians to become inspired from?
Internet Buddy: Don’t worry ..... We all worship a faith, it was not to disrespect you at all ... just fill in what you need to fill in ok
Me: Not really. I have had this conversation with several people before ... I am not offended at all and I do agree, Spirituality is what it is .. I just notice that people whom are Christian tend to "assume" that everyone is of the same faith and when they are corrected ... it’s almost like a blow off that they could possibly make an error in judgment and want the “offended” person to excuse them for it and move on without learning.
Internet Buddy: oh no ... I know differently Man ..... no worries
Me: just opening up conversation. I'm not attacking or debating you; I just wanted to see if you ever thought about it or how you try to save heathen souls?
Internet Buddy: lol


This was where I took stock and though about the idea of challenging my Internet Buddy. You see, when you dance with the subject of Religion, you can come away from the battle beat down, bloody and often empty from the amount of energy behind it. All of this, as well as loosing a friend over something that intrinsically, we are all in agreement with. The hard part in challenging one’s norms with Religion is that when you hit the one spot where you can SHAKE the foundation, the panicle of one’s faith, you inject a fear deep into a mind, body and spirit of the individual, the collapsing of the underpinning of a body’s existence and then leave them abandoned in a wasteland of doubt. This is why people fight so hard to preserve their Religion. Who wants to be alone, abandoned, homeless and not able to find your way to GOD?

Me: I appreciate what you were extending to everyone you know
Internet Buddy: kool'
Me: but I am just saying, if I had sent you a saying from the Torah or Quran what would your initial reaction be?
Me: The initial reaction.
Internet Buddy: I would ask what it means?
Internet Buddy: People take thing too seriously yo
Me: Religion is personal.
Internet Buddy: I have traveled to many places, experienced too many cultures and backgrounds to disrespect anyone's believes
Me: Christians usually respond that way to non-Christians when they assume or cross that line and are challenged for it.
Internet Buddy: Always know this that everyone’s the same
Internet Buddy: and with that not all Christians think alike
Me: visiting other lands and cultures is one thing. Digging deep into the differences and applying it is another.
Me: Which is why some cultures are offended when Christians come into their cultures
Me: because there is always that need for conversion that comes with it.
Me: So like I said, I do understand and appreciate Spiritual lessons in faith BUT when it comes in a blanket assumption here in America ... it comes off offensive.
Me: I think I'll make that a BLOG topic for this week.


From the perspective of the non-Christian, the sense of being an outcast is as personal as a single minority in a room full of a majority. Oh, the person may be assimilated into the crowd and fit in but the reality is, you know you stand out like a neon light in the dark and as long as you keep the light off or at a low ebb, you won’t be noticed. That’s just how the majority would like it to be. If a person can't be Christian in America, one needs to accept it, consider changing that little defect in one's character (or BURN IN HELL) or be out of sight and mind.

When I was younger, I would be un-easy when I had a Christian approach me with ideas of converting me into a flock or bosom or a grace assigning me a pew all my own. I would sit silently while they recited passages from the Bible with the word of GOD washing over my conscious. And out of my “respect” I would listen knowing I had no intentions of going through the conversion since I knew my Spirit and my Religion was well established. At no time did many of the “converters” asked if I had an established BELIEF or opened up with dialogue about faith and religion just to see if I even had a SOUL needing saving. Years later, I became bold enough to shut it down from the gate. I once had an encounter in a steam room after a long workout at a gym in Chicago where a well to do Black Man and his friend opened up a conversation with me. I am usually the silent type after a workout so initially I wasn’t in the chatting mood, but again, out of respect (and the three of us being the only Black folk in the whole place) I engaged. As we talked for a minute, out came the pitch, “Tell me, is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?”

I responded, “No he’s not”.

With that response I might as well had my head spin on the axis of my shoulders and spit pea soup. The mood in this 100 plus degree steam room suddenly became chilled like the tip of the South Pole because in their eyes, I would not leave that room until my SOUL WAS SAVED.

“And why not? Do you know who Jesus is?” the Older of the two addressed me.

“I do. I am very aware who Jesus Christ is.” I commented back while whiping sweat out of my eyes, "He just isn't my Lord and Savior".

“Oh my Brother, you don’t know who Jesus is or you would not have said what you said.”, the Younger Man said moving closer to me.

Now for the next 15 minute (mind you, I am in a steam room loosing a pound a minute) as the two tagged teamed me into turning away from my "wicked" ways. I was told every story worth mentioning of Jesus, his sacrifice, the soul savings, Black Peoples fundamental allegiance to the Son of God, how Jesus speaks to the Body, Mind and Soul of everyone, how my very salvation and admittance into Heaven was based upon my acceptance of Jesus in my life. By the time I had gotten to my level of tolerance from the heat of the room and my interrogation, I decided to excuse myself from the room, which originally was a metaphore for taking me to Heaven but ended up being my Seat in Purgatory, but before I did that I said the following:

“You know, I do respect the fact that you are dedicated to your faith but did you in your pitch to gain one more member for your church and another notch on the soul saving list “ask” me what my faith was? No. You didn’t. You just assumed that I was a heathen, a zealot, agnostic or didn't believe in GOD, which I am neither.

Just to enlighten you, I have an established faith that I have practiced since I was consciously aware of as a child. Even more so, I have gained great praise, blessings and total awareness of the World around me and I don’t see any need to change it. Especially since in my FAITH its tenets is that of NON-CONVERSION; the example of living by example is its only conversion. This is the respect it has giving me, of myself and of other religions for in my faith, as long as you ACCEPT GOD and put it before all others, you are following the Creators WILL. I know Jesus, I acknowledge Jesus, I respect the words of Jesus and his place in my faith but GOD is the ultimate LORD over me and is my only Savior.

So let me leave and go cool down outside and when I do, I’ll come back and continue our discussion on Faith and Reasoning.”

I exited and while downing a bottle of water, cooled off for a few minutes and arrived back into the steam room. Once back in a cloud of hot steam, there was a thick silence in the room. Thick and uncomfortable, not so much because of me, but by the two Men (and a few others whom were also relaxing there as well). I made my way back to my original place ready to begin where I left off. I could have begun the exchange anew but I sensed that this was not the conversation either one of the Men wanted to continue with and I was obliged by keeping the peace since my purpose was to detox from the outside World and its madness.

As part of this CHANGE that America is desperately looking to become part of, I have to ask, IS IT READY? There is the Economy and the War, Race and Gender, Immigrants and Native Born, Sex and Sexuality, Age and the Elderly, Health and Sickness and then there are the conversations dealing with Religion. Can we really afford to deal with this HOT BUTTON issue rationally, especially when at its root, it has done so much damage to so many people around the World for centuries?

OBAMA'S BLACK FACE MOMENT

I am going to keep this entry short, and you all know I am not short for words about serious ISSUE to concern ME but this one I had just put out there for Blogger Opinion.

I was mid-way with a New Blog posting with my take on Rev. Jeremiah Wrights speech during the past weekend's NAACP affair and his Press Questioning and Answer Session when I saw on television the HOT OFF THE PRESS AND BREAKING NEWS that Barak Obama condemns his Pastor. He is quoted as suggesting that Rev. Wright’s “performance” was an OUTRAGE and his "comments were not only divisive and destructive”.

Was he talking about Rev. Jeremiah Wright or Flava Flav?

"I’m outraged by the comments that were made and saddened over the spectacle that we saw yesterday." I find these comments appalling. It contradicts everything that I’m about and who I am. They offend me, they rightly offend all Americans and they should be denounced. That’s what I am doing very clearly and unequivocally here today." – Barak Obama

I know we are talking about Obama's denouncing of his pastor as all Politics but in rejecting Rev. Wright, not only does he reject his own Spiritual Compass, but the Black Church, Black History and a larger body of Black folk and their connection to America through the Church and him.

“In the past, we were taught to see others who are different as somehow being deficient. Christians saw Jews as being deficient. Catholics saw Protestants as being deficient. Presbyterians saw Pentecostals as being deficient.

Folks who like to holler in worship saw folk who like to be quiet as deficient. And vice versa. Whites saw black as being deficient. It was none other than Rudyard Kipling who saw the "White Man's Burden" as a mandate to lift brown, black, yellow people up to the level of white people as if whites were the norm and black, brown and yellow people were abnormal subspecies on a lower level or deficient.” - Rev Jeremiah Wright

Barak Obama is an American so it's hard for me to accept and or see why he has to continue to prove to be American to everyone else when he only has to just BE. The one issue I have always had with those following Obama and love him as their candidate is that the see him as ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE. The one thing about those that are ALL THINGS is that they often fail ALL THE TIME TO ALL PEOPLE. Obama is a MAN and like Men he is flawed which is why he has FAITH and in his FAITH, he worships DIFFERENTLY. And in the words of Rev. Wright, Different isn't Deficient.

I don't feel sorry for Barak Obama in regards to his rejection to Rev. Jeremiah Wright, I feel "sadden" for for HIM.

When you are diminished by YOUR Nation, pressured, manipulated away from your Spiritual Compass, that one person also being your "father figure", a Nation that has you denounce your Spiritual Leader, a leader that has connected you to your CHURCH and your Spiritual FAMILY and have you reject this before the WORLD, if you are willingly or even reluctantly, IN MY OPINION it shows a weakness in Character for one's FAITH. One should not have sympathy from AMERICA (the very Nation whom invented the concept of Freedom of Speech, Expression, and Religion) or Black Christians on this subject because both did not bother to question and allowed this treatment to fall upon a citizen, let alone Barak Obama. And to chock this up to those that are Christians and proudly speak within their “Faith” say, "He had to say this for "Political Reasons", speaks volumes to their hypocrisy comparing them to those who do not like the Clinton's and express that they "will do anything to win". This Black Face Moment now becomes Obama's “Anything To Win" moment”.

I can't see how a MAN, guided by his Faith can dismiss his beliefs for MAN'S LAW unless his Faith was a means to an Opportunity. For those that do not know, Trinity is a VERY powerful and influential CHURCH in Chicago and in the Midwest just as Ebenezer is in the South and Abyssinian is in the North. When you become a member of these Churches you are a standing member in a LONG STANDING HISTORY of Social, Political and Economic Change in America. To reject that, you do more than distancing, you begin to open eyes, ears and hearts to a HUGE SUPPORT NETWORK.

Rev. Wright stated that he is a Man of Faith and that his service is to that of GOD where as Obama is a Politician who must speak to the people and has to say whatever it takes to be a Politician.

I agree with Rev. Wright on this point, and thus Obama's dilemma for Being All Things To All People is careening into a Brick Wall. The thing about Being All Things to All People is that you eventual FAIL ALL PEOPLE IN ALL THINGS.

Obama should have stayed on message. HE HAD ADDRESS TO AMERICA HIS VIEWS AND HIS PURPOSE. He has published Books, did Interviews, made Speeches, has had 21 Debates, presented his Tax Records, presented his DNA and Family Tree so now he has to GET RID OF HIS MORAL COMPASS in order to walk straight? BULLSHYT!!!

"He continues his commentary about Rev. Jeremiah Wright: "As I see it, if a strong, controversial black man in America is not kissing the asses of cynics and aggressively-patriotic white America or submissively acquiescing himself as 'Toby' like Kunta Kinte in Roots, he is ostracized and electronically lynched. It is unfortunate that when sad truths are revealed about America - despite all of the good she has done in the world – people cannot see the truth because they are ridiculously and blindly patriotic. They are in deep denial. In my opinion, Reverend Wright has been vilified and 'caricatured' because he has spoken the truth about America not being utopia. It’s time for Americans to take the blinders off." -- Shay Posted on Booker Raising 4/30/2008

A BENEDICTINE HOUSE CLEANING

For a while, it seemed as though my mind had turned off. I am not use to living my life in an emotional flux. Most people not connected to me personally would most likely think I am insensitive to the world around me but in truth I am very much affected by the events around me.

My brain is constantly stimulated. Often times it is so hyper stimulated that I find myself getting a bit scattered trying to keep pace with my thoughts. It is worst then my body is tired and my brain is running a marathon. That is where reading and sometimes Junk Food Television come into play. Last night was one of those times.

Getting over my emotional setback, I began writing again. It was after midnight with my mind in overdrive as I struggled to focus on a topic to write on, I flipped the channel to the late News. It’s a habit to have the television on for me. I tried to do it in compete silence but it never took. A sociologist told me once that this television thing is a product of my early childhood when television became a member of the American family and as such, it became a part of my though process. Television then as it is now in the background is much like having a person in the room with you; someone having a conversation. Although you may not be paying attention to any one particular show, the voices in the background produces a subconscious “comfort” that helps me focus my over active mind.

WHATEVER. I like TV as oppose to quite and music so that's what I was doing just before I heard in the background about the latest Celeb to hit the streets on New York.

So while thinking about doing something on my conversation with this kid I met who is in the S&M (for which I know you are all looking forward to reading), I got caught up in New York’s preparation for the Pope’s visit next week. Funny how I go from S&M to the Pope in once sentence Right?

Well I am listening to how the Pope’s visit is to make people here loose their minds. I mean you have the Catholic Churches cleaning house. You know how at work when you know the District Manager or the CEO is coming through for a visit and all of a sudden “everyone” has to UP his or her professionalism like cleaning off the desk, no more casual dress, rehearsing possible answers to questions you might be asked, you know all the phony prep work. You have the news promoting youth choirs made up of little Black and Brown children singing Gregorian chants songs in Latin, information on how traffic will change, the Who’s Who list of dignitaries that will have VIP seats to see the Pope, his United Nation’s agenda, then there are the Commercial items like tee-shits, mugs, hats, bobble-heads, sandwiches and then you have all the Catholic representative speculating how much grace and gratitude the Pope will bestow upon the people of the New York City.

Huuuummmmm?


There goes my brain working overtime. I begin to think back about the time Pope John Paul II made his World tour to the New York area back in the day and how he stirred up similar excitement BUT the only difference was, I was working for a Catholic school and TRUST ME, when a Pope visits, it isn’t for the purpose of spreading the Gospel, he’s here CLEANING HOUSE.

It was very resent that there were reports that Christendom in the West is on a major decline. Not just Catholicism, but all Christian faiths in Europe. For the most part, religion in general is and has taken a back seat to Europe’s embrace of real World philosophies and socio-economic practices. I like how the Christian Conservatives in America define the movement as the GODLESSNESS OF EUROPE. From the many ethnic groups that have either migrated to Europe or have lived for generations throughout the Western World, the shared consciousness of those opposed to Christianity and its affects on countries outside of Europe is coined as, “ …. Jesus Christ symbolizes no spiritual power, or moral uprightness. He is no more than an artifice for legitimizing wanton imperialist aggression.” It is in this belief that has turned those non-European countries and cultures away from the Gospel that is the “Word” of Christians and into the interest of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Islam. With Catholics being 22% of America’s religious population (Latinos making up the Majority) 64% state that the Catholics Church is out of touch. That is a problem when you have an organization that forbids criticism. What is especially interesting is that Islam is now the fastest growing religion in the World and has the most actively participating faith on the land. Historically, these two Religions not only encompassed the known Western World but transformed it in their intense religious war killing 100's of thousands possibly millions undocumented. Some would argue that since there is a decline in Christian followers in Europe, this has become fertile ground for new and more Eastern philosophies to enter into the void. Others argue that in the decline of secular and Christian churches in the West, the ability to expand into other countries and cultures to make up the difference are aggressively declined where as in the West, the boarders are traditionally open to non-Christian faiths, constituting an unfair advantage. Regardless of the reasons, the numbers are down and for the Vatican, so are the dollars.

Working within the Catholic organization in the 1990's, and I may sound bias when I say this, BUT the bottom line was Parishioners and Dollars. There was never a moment, behind closed doors, that the books weren't open and people were dropping sweat balls in between the pages of the rolls. When Pope John Paul II was in New York, heads rolled, Mother Superiors and Monsignors were running with ledgers in hand, simple meetings went on for hours and sometimes days. No one without a potion of responsibility was absent and or not held under deep scrutiny and when it was all done, the organization was streamlined, lay-people (those are Non-Catholic employees) were let go, schools and churches closed and a HIGH LEVEL CAMPAIGN for recruiting younger members became the focus. Just sitting back and watching the television, I see this heavy rotation concentrated on YOUTH participation, organizations and education. This same focus was exactly what was pushed more than 10 years ago. Then again, so was the Gulf War. I suspect Pope Benedict XVI will be doing the same even if the US News and the Catholic Media machine are down playing it. The Catholic Church is in trouble and when you get the HEAD to leave the thrown, you know that the kingdom is going to be shaken up.

This statement just might sound a bit stiff and again a little bias but the Pope’s visit is nothing new to New York. I can give you a listing of Important and Famous people where the entire city rolls out the red carpet. It is business as usually to shut down streets, redirect traffic, creating tee-shirts with someone’s face on it or have the entire city’s News agencies forget that there are other events going on at the same time. The Pope’s visit is just one more tourist attraction. Already the losers of the Theater Strike of 2007 are looking forward for making up their loss with the Pope’s visit. Amazingly enough, I don’t hear much about what Message of God that Pope Benedict XVI plans to bring. How is that for keeping the faith alive?

NOTE TO POLITICIANS: STOP HAVING SEX

It was only a matter to time. What? Less than 24 Hours before the digging into the background of NEW Governor David Peterson and already we know that he has had Sex. Not only with his wife, Michelle Peterson (the first Black First Lady of the State of New York) but BE DAMNED with another woman.

There are some events were I can be swept up into the wave of excitement and then there are others that are just too good to be true. David Peterson was one of them and for the most part, the People in Harlem gave off that same energy. Black folk were patiently waiting for that other shoe to drop. Call it a deeply rooted suspicion, call it a tie to Black History, maybe a residual effect of a Conspiracy Theory that the downfall of Eliot Spitzer was an inside job from his Republican rivals but regardless the source of the communities foreboding, there was a time period on calm before the storm and in record time it reared its NASTY HEAD, the next day. After David Peterson received a stand ovation from his acceptance speech, a gracious introduction of both sides of the aisle, his call for working together, his focus in fixing the economy of the State of New York, his inclusion of Black, Latino, Asian, White, Men, Women, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Northern New York, Southern New York, the Wealthy and the Homeless, his message was clear and direct, as a Republic, as a State within the Union, New York’s States challenges can no longer be about ego but solutions because if it is not NOW, it will be NEVER. Peterson’s healing song were the words, "There's trust that needs to be restored." In all relationships, this is the last and binding step for healing and moving forward.

What Peterson forgot to do with let the people know that he is having Sex. Although he alluded to it when he introduced his WIFE and CHILDREN to the State Congress. He let the entire State know this because he had a variety of guests such as three past New York City Mayors (Ed Kotch, David Dinkins and Michael Bloomberg), two State Senators (Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer) and ex-Governor Pataki. His State representative list was a Who’s Who of delegates and Super delegates. A party that Obama’s teams would loose sends over and yet with all the players at the PARTY, they all were witnesses that at some point, their REPLACEMENT Governor was having Sex in some shape or form.

So now that we know he’s having it in his immediate family structure, it up to the media’s to have a purposeful intention to look for any hookers, prostitutes, girlfriends on the side, past affairs, gay, bisexual, sex toys, porn, nude or semi-nude pictures, Internet memberships, rapes, blowjobs, STD’s, illegitimate children, aborted children, previous husbands, previous wives, past groups sex offers, tattoos, medicines to improve Sex and or breast enlargements for that the PEOPLE should know. You figure, if you can get one New York Governor why not try and get TWO for the price of ONE.

I posted in just the past few days Blog entries on the issues of how SEX takes too much of the forefront in our conscious thought on matters that are not important (American Dirty Girl, Spitzer's Shame Blame and a Woman's Fame). How sex and the United States puritan views for pretending the actions does not exist, how in our actions to make it hidden, SEX actually becomes the very nature of American's obsession, especially in Politics. I am not diminishing the bizarre aspects of what some have done, like playing footsy in Public bathrooms, but the private matters of sex in modern families should not be exploited as a weakness in one's political character here or in the World.

The positive fallout about this story is, most New Yorkers don’t even care. If anything, they are frustrated that it is even an ISSUE so soon after the Peterson’s Inauguration. I mean it was less than 24 hours ago. Looking at written reactions to this hit on the public, I read the following responses from The New York Times, March 18, 2008:

“What is the problem in New York that there should be such a shortage of saints available for public office?” – Posted by Nat

“WHO CARES?” – posted by Jennifer

“Do we really need to know this? I sure don’t. What’s next? A "mia culpa" of impure thoughts? Spitzer didn’t have an affair - he broke the law by buying sex and laundering money to cover up his illegal transaction. An old affair in the ancient history of a long marriage is no one’s business but theirs.” – Posted by Amanda, New York

“Well THAT was a short honeymoon . . . .” – Posted by Bettye Underwood

Then again, the "Affair" happened years prior to David and Michelle Peterson being part of State Government, which like many Married Couples, they decided to work in their resources, a way into a solution, which made the Peterson Family stronger.

“This was a marriage that appeared to be going sour at one point, but I went to counseling and we decided we wanted to make it work. Michelle is well aware of what went on.

We have a marriage like many Americans, maybe even many of you. And the fact is that we work through our marriage and want our children to see that we could make a difficult situation work. We’re very much in love with each other when we got married, we’re very much in love with each other now. I was in love with Michelle even when I knew the marriage was in grave danger. The fact is, for my own actions, I was angry, I was jealous and I exercised poor judgment. One day I realized it and I just decided I would go to counseling and have tried to work through these problems with Michelle and …you are seeing the real relationship, the day when we got married, the one we have now, maybe, maybe even a little bit enhanced by much better communication.” -David Peterson

Only those addicted to finding scandal or just have issues with Peterson will enjoy this titillation for Political Dirt. Some would even see this release of information as a positive PR event. Much like an Obama, we get all the dirt out in the open first and then exhaust any possible conflicts for the future. I just might agree with this tactic but HONESTLY, I rather not have known at all. That was and still is a private matter for David Peterson and his family.

What is in our best interest? Well, I guess there should be a check list of things a Politician can and can not do or have done before running for any position, call it an honor code if you like. The interesting thing about it is that to do this, would eliminate practically all the World Leaders all over. American’s need for the perfect Politician has never existed. Including American’s first President, George Washington. Sex isn’t an illegal act. Affairs are moral issues which depending on the circumstances (like a Spitzer/Prostitution felony inquiry case), aren’t areas the PEOPLE need to be involved in or need to regulate a person or a person political. I read in a Blog entry where someone asking if the People in Harlem were dancing in the streets knowing that one of its own, David Peterson, was going to be Governor of New York. Well, I can actually answer that question now. NO we weren’t. We are watching from the sidelines for any illegal plays from the aisles, the referees, the rules committees, the coaches, advertisers, cheerleaders and the media covering the GAME. It would appear, the MEDIA has made it's first move.

AND I ENDORSE THIS AD .... I THINK?

There is a saying that there are three things you never talk about; Race, Religion and Politics (although I’d argue a fourth topic which is Income and Salary but that’s just me). To put what you know or the lack of knowledge to an adult and or legitimate conversation can do more than make a person like an idiot, a racist or extremist, it can make you dead. For instants we have in the GOOD OLD UNITED STATES actions that we normally see in the Japanese Cambers of Government when they disagree. this just happened the other day:

FEBRUARY 25--Meet Jose Antonio Ortiz. The Pennsylvania man allegedly stabbed his brother-in-law in the stomach after the pair quarreled about their respective support of Democratic presidential candidates Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton. According to cops, Ortiz, 28, stabbed Sean Shurelds last Thursday night in the kitchen of an Upper Providence Township home. According to a criminal complaint, a copy of which you'll find here, the 41-year-old Shurelds, an Obama supporter, told Ortiz that the Illinois senator was "trashing" Clinton (apparently in regard to recent primary and caucus results). Ortiz, a Clinton supporter, replied that "Obama was not a realist." While not exactly fighting words, the verbal political tiff led to some mutual choking and punching. And, allegedly, a stabbing in the abdomen. Ortiz, pictured in the mug shot below, was charged with a felony aggravated assault count and two misdemeanors and jailed in lieu of $20,000 bail. Shurelds was flown to Hahnemann University Hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition.

I recently Blogged about the changing psychology of Black and Brown folk over this election and it would appear, the pockets of America are being turned out all over the country. I am not as much up in arms over this event because I have witnessed this type of behavior already. What I now have thrown in my face FRONT PAGE bombardment with is the shear ignorance of a CULTURAL PHOTO. The dreaded Barak Hussein Obama in Kenya, Africa photo. A non-issue of a photo and yet it is something of a conspiracy to OVER THROW AMERICA from within. I mean HOW DARE OBAMA BE IN AFRICA? HOW DARE HE PUT ON THOSE SAVAGE CLOTHES and HOW DARE HE NOT TELL US CIVILIZED AND INCLUSIVE AMERICANS HE WORE CLOTHES THAT WEREN’T PURCHASED FROM BROOKS BROTHERS OR THE GAP?

I am holding off about giving my DEEP opinions on the subject, BECAUSE like all things served to people by the Technology Mafia it is a bunch of BS wrapped in stale toilet paper, but the PHOTO that has America up in arms an allegedly to be LEAKED by “THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN” has been floating around the Internet for quite awhile. To be honest I have not only seen the PHOTO before online but I have a few extra that would be considered even more Controversial (if you have a SMALL MIND) on my HARD DRIVE that I have collected from SPAM E-MAILS questioning Obama's loyalty to both his Christian faith and his Country.

On the train today I listened to two women (Obamaholics) ranting about how Hillary Clinton is so EVIL she should burn in Hell. So in my Passive Aggressive way I asked if they were Christians to which they responded, “Yes”. I then responded, I never knew it was your place to cast people in HELL but my real question to you is, "Should it matter if Obama is Christian or not to run for President? I mean is being Christian pre-requisite to hold the position of president?"

The women looked at me as if I have kicked them in the coochie when I asked that and in their (and I love this in our people) I DON’T GIVE A FUQ MIND YOUR BUSINESS, GHETTO GIRL UPTOWN HARLEM ATTITUDE one of them responded, “NO BUT IT HELPS”.

As usual I fell back into my reading on WALL STREET'S take on the election knowing that the majority of people have a disconnect with what we know and what we should know about manipulation by the MEDIA. From the very beginning it has been a constant churning of distortion on both candidate’s credibility. Since both Clinton and Obama had agreed to a fair and clean election, they are finding out all too well that in doing that, neither one can get a clear advantage and really break away from the other. Since both are now locked in this St. Augustinian type of behavior of sanitary Politics, a mild, but peripherally watching hands-off treatment to their Staff is opening up the Nasty Politics that we all stated we didn’t want to see BUT like patrons of the Coliseum, we DO WANT TO SEE IT WITH BLOOD. This election has given America a COLD TURKEY approach to understanding what can potentially be the best opportunity for research, comparing and contrasting, open dialogue and knowing the players behind the scenes. The Nation’s withdrawal symptoms for sensationalism as oppose to intellectualism has opened a void that media groups can drop gossip, innuendos, false leads and predictions based upon FUZZY MATH with the people being sated with sugary delight.

I tell you people, we are living in the LAST DAYS of Common Sense if we don’t get a grip. I mean I took the time (yes it meant that I turned off the television and ignored that GOD AWFULLY ACTED, A RAISIN IN THE SUN MOVIE) and surfed on FactCheck.org to compare what each candidate faults the other for doing in distorting the other’s Platform. What I found was that each side is doing the distorting (OBAMA ‘s team doing it more than Clinton's) as it pertain to the Economy, Foreign Policy and Race. There are also details pertaining to points on each candidate's web sites and speeches which the Media seem to forget all about, points about the DEEPER concerns that neither candidate or side are discussing. I WONDER WHY? When asked in public, both Obama and Clinton play the wounded party but we know it isn't true. Both candidates are taking short stabs in places unseen so as to look as if their damage made was insignificant. It just depends on who's side you are on to notice the other side as having the larger horns and the longer tails. Then I remembered the Golden Rule established several elections ago, UNLESS the flayers or Ads and or other outreach media have “SAID candidate's endorsement published on it with He/She APPROVES THIS MESSAGE", it isn’t legit and a lie. So spit out that BLUE PILL and take the RED ONE. Don’t forget it.

What I Learn By Being Silent

THIS IS A RE-POST FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR

NEW YORK, Manhattan On Broadway, after Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's lecture/debate at Columbia University I walked around outside to observe the chaos. Jewish and Christian anti-support on one side, community supporters, Middle-Eastern and students on the other. The line was clearly defined. Mixed in were the curious and the event chasers; those whom wanted to be part of the energy of the moment. They were all there playing out a script written by a Power no one truly understood, considered or even wanted to acknowledge. They were the seeds that will grow the madness that will effect the world around them. An infectious passion that will ripple in waves around the world with voices, radio and microwaves, print and paper, it will be the true Monster unleashed on an empty consciousness.

The amount of police security was typical for an event of this caliber. New York is very good with this type of circus. Not long ago I attended a rally against Police Brutality in Midtown just outside of Madison Square Garden and the riot police stood on the sides as if they represented the "defenders of truth" in war gear and bullet proof jackets. As a protester against Police Brutality, I felt very safe.

Streets were cut off and blocked, Secret Service (not so secret when you can clearly see who they are) were floating through the crowds like linebackers through pre-schoolers. Helicopters beat blades camping sky-side keeping watch as media deities should. Billboards and handwritten signs, fliers and invitations littered the grounds. Words in bold, words in bright, words that proclaimed we all should. "Free Iran", "Christians United for Israel", "Hitler Lives", "Stop War", "Stop Iran From Going Nuclear", "Honk If Bush Is A Terrorist", "Judaism Rejects Zionist" and so many more. My digital camera ate up the captured moments for long term storage and I constantly flipped through the assorted images burning the reality of passion meeting chaos head on and hard in my mind.

I watched the yelling and screaming of Jews vs Non-Jews as the term "Anti-Semite" rang throughout the air. Reporters dancing throughout the crowds hurrying for quotes like bees buzzing through barren fields for pollen near the end of summer. The "Boos" and jeers of people when debates were won and the losers caught with their passions in their throats. Then there were the ones who only wanted knowledge. Eyes like saucers they searched from speaker to speaker for a morsel of truth, a faint piece of "between the line" evidence lost by editors. They hurried from one group to the next, eyes and minds stretching thin to absorb whatever they can to build an opinion in a sea of ignorance, hate and fear.

There were the Jews vs. Jews, or in this case, Jews against Zionist and Christians for Jews, Patriots against Liberals, Yeshiva University against Columbia University and then there were Jews and Muslims side by side against Jew and Christians in mass. People laughed and people cried and some I feared would have heart attacks for hearts were attacked, beaten and broken. By dusk, more helicopter blades cut into air above us as they danced perfect circles in a clear sky. And it was loud.

An American Muslim from Harlem gathered a small group of on watchers as he preached the history of Prussia; politically referred to today as Iran and Iraq. An Orthodox Jew from Brooklyn read from the Torah and people sat on the pavement and listened. I watched several off-side debates between several Columbia Professors and a single pro-Bush Patriot from the Upper Westside; he lost the debate and stomped off into the distance cursing, "Liberals are destroying this Country!"

Fox, CNN, C-Span, BBC, The Associated Press, MTV, MSNBC, NY1, Bloggers and student reporters claimed their spots to tell Americans their perspectives on "The Monster" that came to America and then the police came afterwards to keep us "more" safe, they made sure the onlookers kept it moving. And they did move.

Fathers brought their Sons, Mothers brought their Daughters and I thought what will their experiences bring to their dreams tonight. What images will burn indelibly on the mind. What passions will they inherit and what logic will be lost after all is said and done. I know as a child seeing Black people demonstrating in the streets, police beating back protesters, fires and shattered store windows all painted clear and brightly on my conscious as men in uniform carried off my family who were simple standing on the sidelines for my protection.

I kept my mouth closed and my mind open.

When it was over, I came home, ate dinner, and thanked God that I am a Man of logic and not a man of passion -- at least for that today.