PERCEPTION REALITY AND PENANCE

Roland Martin was suspended by CNN for an assumed Homophobic 'Tweet' comment. The GLAAD association filed a formal complaint over a Superbowl tweet that Roland Martin made to his "followers" which, according to Roland was taken out of context and fueled by the same uncontrolled and chaotic resources of limited human common sense we call social media. The argument used to justify the suspension were past comments defined as racist, homophobic, liberal, socialist and every and any other definition used to describe a CNN host. What gets me most about this is the exploitative nature of the issue. The Boogyman in the closet factor. Normally I wouldn't care about something like this but I did take the time to bone up (I hope saying that don't get GLAAD on my ass for saying) on the facts and my jaw dropped. I mean dropped like a Looneytoon moment for shock and awe. I did not read anything remotely homophobic in Roland Martin's comment. If anything, it was a greater diss on H&M than anything sports, sex or gay related. But then again, I was using common sense and basic comprehension skills.

What Roland stated was the following:

"Ain't no real bruhs going to H&M to buy some damn David Beckham underwear! If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham's H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him! I bet soccer fan Piers Morgan will be in line at H&M in the morning to get his hands on David Bechman's (sic) underwear line."

I mean REALLY .. for this tweet comment?

Believe it our not, I not only thought the same thing at my Superbowl event, I actually said something similar, OUT LOUD which got a roomful of collective laughs. By the way, I am quite sure the Gay people in the room weren't psychologically scared due to the fact that they were more interested in "WHO" David Beckham was and where they could get the granny-panties he was wearing. All-in-All, the ad was successful for attracting both Women and Gay men to buy a pair of over priced H&M booty-chokers. And for those who are not in the know, H&M is Metrosexual central for fashion. Hoping GLAAD isn't hot on my ass for poking at the truth for saying this but H&M has been the primary source of the uppity-urban fashion trend for knock-off Couture and Cat-Walkmania since day one and if it is Gay, Metro-trendy and inexpensive, its at H&M. Its reality living in New York City. I'm not saying that H&M is an exclusively Gay business or that it is a hyper-Gay-friendly corporation but real is real, a large amount of their profits come from Women and the Gay Community. Look at their profits and then get back to me if you want to call me anything outside of speaking truth or being honest. Even David Beckham stated he felt uncomfortable doing the Ad. And this is coming from a guy who kicks balls for a living. Again, GLAAD, no pun intended so keep back your lawyers.

I once posted on a social media network, "It's so humid, even crackers have lost their snap." WOW, was this a lesson in White vs Black humor when the truth of the matter was, I had an opened box of crackers that had absorbed the humidity in the room and literally, each cracker was moist and soft. I say this to say, some realities are just that, REALITY. The ad is homoerotic. The style and look is very Gay in its tone and intent.

What amazes me is that tweets and one's personal life seems to COEXIST as one entity. It seems that there are whole societies that sit, study and police the every word and moments of tweeters. A Big Tweeter Consortium dedicated to "Getchu". So much is this becoming past-time that Twitter has become, at least by my perception, no different than TMZ or some other tabloid rag. Having an account by a recognizable person and hoping to avoid Big Brother, one would need to have a DL account, an Anonymous presence so that they can speak free and clear protected by the the virtual Constitution and the laws governed by free speech and expression. 

I didn't find Roland's comments offensive. Maybe because I don't care about Beckham, the sport of soccer, a tattooed man in granny panties, about the overall Superbowl-mania or the fact that this issue was born out of a mix of some of the worst Superbowl commercials to date, but I am beginning to side with a lot of other Americans, many whom are Racist, Sexist and Homophobic .... "&#$%@ GET OVER YOURSELF".  The Ad was Gay. If you take a Poll of Gay men (which no one has done thus far) you'd find that even they would say .... "That Ad was Gay-esque" or at least Gay-Sexy. Women who were Polled voted over 60% that the Ad was sexy and "Facebookable enough to "Like".

Yes, Martin Roland can be an ASS. I have experienced this first hand but one thing I can say, he is an honest Ass. He doesn't mix words with the truth which is why he, I and many within the industry gives him deference and respect. So if he said he was making fun of David Beckham as a soccer player and the sport .... it is safe to say the man doesn't respect the sport or Beckham. Reading his "tweet" and exercising basic comprehension skills, it was very clear as to his intent. The H&M ad was very different and unexpected for the typical Superbowl barrage of drink more, eat more, buy more, treat women like sex objects more. To throw in a naked man in booty-chokers as if he was auditioning for Victoria Secrets .... I mean REALLY? Who were you really trying to impress with brief (no pun intended) peeks and glimpses of crack and crotch? I guess my comment of, "OMG, another Hooker commercial!" after the tenth scantily dressed woman in a bikini was shown, I would be primed for being insensitive, misogynous and needing firing destined to intense sensitivity training. In America under the Constitution, Free Speech, Expression, blah blah ... its my perception, my reality and I spit in the face of anyone who tries to campaign any degree of penance upon me to make me apologize. And for the record, I DON'T LIKE SOCCER EITHER.

MEET THE PRESS... IN GRIEF

There is something to be said about not liking someone and still respecting him or her for what they do. There are few people in my social circles and associations that make the grade of liking and respecting. Far too many people (which might be a weakness in my character) that I do not like but, to have someone teeter on that thin line of not liking and respecting, that is big news to anyone that knows me. What that means is that no matter what you say and or do, I will defend your right to “exist”.

I know reading that last line you are like "DAYUM "that is cold … to “exist”? Though it might be a bit arrogant or dismissive to the very nature of people, in this complexed World of countless personality types, not all people are suppose to mix and work in perfect harmony. Often when two strong personalities or those with conflicting view points with conviction to defend them with fervor and principle, you can often get into heated situations that boarder on the pinnacle of War; on persons, self, spirit and ideology.

In my background of Politics, Economics, Community, Social and Religious beliefs, there isn’t a time when debating or auguring points of view that can leave two people standing ground on opposite sides of the line civilly BUT it is the exceptional person (people) who can still remain cordial, respectful or claim the point of view of, “Agreeing to be Disagreeable”. On Sunday mornings, I wake up and put myself into that state of mind to listen to all the Political Pundits expound on issues and topics they are paid to guess at. A few are good enough to get people thinking outside of the box or almost get it right or are so on point you thing they are the actual idea givers to the Politically Inept.

Navigating through the one-sided opinions, ideological grandstanding, comportment of promptitudes, regurgitations of revisionist history and associations and lots of political jargon, I wake up early to get my mind right for a workout on playing that Political “reality game” called TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES. This is where I try and find the truth in what is said and not said in order to realize the effects and or consequences of just accepting THAT which is broadcasted as the FACTS.

Stepping through the manure that make up George Stephanopoulos, Chris Matthews, The McLaughlin Group there is a time tested political show called Meet The Press hosted by the Pit Bull of political pundits, Tim Russert. Now I will tell you, he was not a very kind person on the show. Going on Meet the Press with Tim Russert meant getting your “BEAT DOWN” moment before the World. There was no tolerance for jargon, half-truths, political innuendos, stray alludes, seeded misdirection, casual passing of accountabilities or even the occasional “rock star” stance. You come on Meet The Press you got the MAFIA TREATMENT; broken down to broken up and if you didn’t come on the show, it was WORST because that statement alone displayed a sense that you were SCARED and HIDING something from the closest thing to a representative Press that for years has overtly suffered from NOT “asking” the questions needed to be asked. In essence, Tim Russert's Meet the Press was mandatory Sunday viewing for the state of Washington DC to the World for over 17 years. You knew this because like a teacher in a classroom, you know the one's that do their homework. Tim Russert, in comparison to his competitor's, was the valedictorian of his craft.

A bit hash in his interviewing tactics, a person can’t help but recall the scene between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson in the film, A Few Good Men where Nicholson’s character; Col. Nathan R. Jessep, cries that famous of all lines, “You can’t handle the truth!” Tim Russert dogmatically drilled each and everyone that sat across from him channeling that same energy that made Tom Cruise’s character; Lt. Daniel Kaffee, all the better when he replied “I want the truth!” And when Tim Russert didn’t get the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, out came the Video Tape and put your “WORDS” out in the street for all to see so that even the PUBLIC can jolt your memory for the truth. Guess what? If you don’t have the commitment to tell the truth to Tim Russert because of your lack of forthcoming, your attempt to dodge the question, your ability to sit and randomly and conveniently call forth Alzheimer’s, it just won’t cut it because Tim Russert’s Meet The Press don’t play. You can either come away from an interview Squeaky Clean or a Shity Mess. The way you enter Meet the Press isn't decided by the Politician but by the interviewer and you know this by the very first question. Can Tim handle the truth? Tim Russert knew people, body language, politics and agendas and as such hungered for the truth. He could and made damn sure the rest of America could as well. Sometimes a bit harsh in his interviews, after two cups of coffee and few doughnuts (or in my case herbal tea and bagels) you soon get over the nature of the person and understand that it's only business and in times like this, the "sugar coating" of the News, and especially with politicians, wasting his time and the public's is OVER. Tim Russert was a Political insider from both sides of the aisle and he knew the art of avoidance and misdirection, so in knowing that, the WAR OF WORDS and word usage was little more than fluff. On Meet the Press with Tim Russert, the lies of Politics and intensions were exposed. Tim Russert was the KING of exposure and not even YouTube could compare. When it was Sunday it was Meet the Press.

Tim, Russert, according to his friends and colleagues was a great man of distinction. I can’t say I moved in his circles but I do know enough from his books, personal interviews and the people I do know and respect whom have met and worked with the man, I am told he has a whole other side that was less lethal than his trademarked tongue lashings. Although there are a few people on my short list I would have loved to had seen him interview, I can honestly say that the one’s he got around to bringing the Journalist Bat to, I am quite satisfied.

While working, my co-worker ran from the employee lounge and yelled, “Tim Russert. He just died”! The whole office turned in shock and a few just sat quietly. Others went to work with their fingers typing “www”s searching to confirm the tragic details. I watched on the flat screen the retrospectives on a Journalist's Life and then asked myself, “Self? What are your Sunday’s going to be like now without the only person who would ask the questions you would ask, questions the way they needed to be asked and hold people to answering?”

Tim Russert may not have been a buddy of mine and he did rub me the wrong way often in his approach to people on the show (people I liked and respected mostly), especially when he allowed certain people to get off only with a few bumps and bruised and not going for the jugular enough BUT I did respect him. MORE when you look at what his competition was and his accomplishments. That, if anything else, is grounds for RESPECT. This is a serious blow for journalism since no other has the on-air backbone to get at the Truth and do it in such a way that it carries throughout the entire fabric of America. I may not have like you Tim Russert but you were a hell of a journalist and I respect you. My condolences are extended to his family and GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL.