happy new year; peace!

We are in a new year under the Gregorian calendar. A new start for those making resolutions to bring about a new change or follow through on self promises they’ve vowed to themselves in the previous year. Let’s suppose then, people resolved to bring about peace. I know every year people make a resolution to lose weight, or do something for the family, check off something off their bucket list (I think I should have stayed away from that all too popular phrase, will probably be the new toast for two aught ten.) But, what if people truly, this time, resolved to have peace, what would be the possibilities?

Often I listen to internet radio, mostly tuning into the English speaking Caribbean, but venturing also over into Ghana, Nigeria and Britain. I love hearing the different accents and the occasional caller from the States, or someone whose parents were expats from one of these countries, and after growing up in the U.S. for the first 25 years of their lives, they have returned with their parents to their home country speaking in the accents of the States, or from somewhere in the English speaking Caribbean. Call me strange but I get a Kick out of hearing this.

But, most clearly, in no matter what flavor of accent I hear, I most often hear recurring themes concerning life, politics, religion/spirituality or labor that are quite like and similar to life, politics, religion/spirituality and labor in the lives of people in the U.S. I’m actually convinced that we are more alike than most will admit.

So, I began to imagine the possibilities of people truly committing to a resolution of peace. Understanding that peace is not merely the absence of violence but, creating conditions within one’s self that breed peace. Truly, there may be no real peace without justice, but the beginning stages can begin in each person, home, community and expanding outward and beyond. I guess in a certain way this would be a revolution of sorts.

But, revolution is not without bloodshed, and peace, real peace, cannot be achieved without her twin brother, violence since power, or those in power will not concede to peace easily and without a fight. We have been brainwashed into believing those that have been voted into or put into positions of authority over our lives are seeking the best for us when they’re primarily seeking to maintain their positions, fatten their pockets and by some political byproduct, we the people receive some semblance of security and protection.

War and violence are profitable. Not necessarily for the everyday person, but for businesses and governments down to local governments. Are we so blinded to believe local municipalities cannot eradicate gangs and the violence associated with them? Do we believe there could have been no solution to Iraq and Afghanistan other than war and violence? Probably, and unfortunately we do believe and we are blind.

Maybe gaining real peace world wide will be a long way off. And, maybe to attain peace will bring violence by those in power fighting to maintain their station. And, maybe, just maybe, through the violence wrought by the powerful, we the people will learn what it takes to have peace and learn what real peace is. As I said before, peace is not just the absence of violence. Peace is really a way of maintaining stasis within ourselves and between ourselves. Just finding and maintaining that balance. All most of us really want and need is real balance in our lives.

Buju, say it ain't so!!!

Last week Thursday, Mr. Mark A. Myrie was arrested in Miami on cocaine charges.  The D.E.A. claims to have Mr. Myrie AKA Buju Banton on audio and video tape for a purchase of at least 5 kilos of cocaine.  All the while people are bemoaning Tiger Woods and his "buddy" issues, we reggae/dancehall afficianados have been stunned to hear Buju was arrested on cocaine charges.  In these United Snakes the paid un-named informant is always the main witness in these cases.  Remember how it worked in the case against Regina Kelly.

Buju was not at the facility where two others were at the time of his arrest.  He was in Miami, however one attorney that has read the affidavit against Buju says its airtight and his absence from the original scene of the arrest will not be enough to mount a sufficient defense.   Now, I'm not so sure that the gay communtiy had anything what so ever to do with his arrest, I'm not so sure arrogance and maybe a feeling of being above the law had anything to do with his arrest.  But, surely being a  Black man in (the) America(s) is enough to be arrested.   What stands out to me  is this quote by University of Miami professor David Rowe s "He could enter a plea and attempt to strike a deal while assuming that the DEA has the evidence that it says it has."  Now this stinks of attempting to force Buju Banton into giving over information for who they really want.  This tactic is quite common in the U.S.   Man, man, man.  Buju, just say it ain't so!!!

"I was living life in the fast lane like a train on the tracks.  Here is a perfect example, look at me and where I'm at..."  -Buju Banton, Fast Lane

Precious; ummmm???

My hesitation to run out and see movies these days works like clairvoyance.  Almost two hours of my life gone that I can't reclaim.  I won't say the movie was a complete bust, but an hour and forty nine minutes of what?  This movie offers nothing enlightning.  Sadly, hundreds of thousands or children if not millions are living in horrible incestuous and abusive situations such as the character Precious.  But, the movie doesn't really offer us any real insight into anything, its like the day and the life of an abused child.  Sure, Precious reigns in a sort of victory, since by the time the movie ends she has moved from reading on a second grade level to a seventh grade level.  Oh, and she is able to resist the intrusion of her self loathing mother by the movie's end.  Lee Daniels was praised on one blog as a "master" of weaving in images and music.  I was less than impressed.  Black people have so many many stories to tell that Oprah and Tyler Perry should have put money and backing into.  Isn't Danny Glover attempting to make a movie about Toussaint L'Overture?   But, they continue to choose to show the lowest denominantion of Black society.  Save yourself the two hours and watch Queen Ifrica's short film.  It says the same thing, sounds waaaay better than what Lee Daniels put together and won't make you sit through nearly two hours to come to the same conclusion.  In fact, the child molester in this video is at least arrested for his offenses.

president obama; worshippers,critics & haters

 

"Black unemployment is terrible. The black frame of mind is terrible. They’re depressed. They’re down, Obama not doing anything for them. How’s that hoax and change working for ya? They’re all livid. They thought there was going to be an exact 180 degree economic reversal, and it’s done nothing but get bad for everybody, but they’re especially upset about it because they look at him as one of them, and now they feel abandoned, and I’m sure Tiger Woods’ choice of females not helping them out with their attitudes either." - Rush Limbaugh (12/08/09)

Simply put, President Barack Obama is probably the most worshipped, despised and critiqued president in the annals of United States history. I’m not saying this because, to the majority population here he‘s considered Black, not withstanding his mother is Caucasian, but because he is a Black man in America. First and foremost President Obama is Black in America. To that end he’s worshipped, despised and critiqued.

The worshppers

Understandably, many Blacks in the U.S. feel they’ve seen the culmination of the work by the Civil Rights struggle in President Barack Obama. Years of struggle to reach a point in U.S. history, where, finally a Black man can be judged by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin. The worshippers know, and in fact everyone should know that our president garnered a huge number of white votes. I’m sure for many of the worshipers this marks the beginning of an end of some sorts to the racial disparity in the U.S. or at least of an acknowledgement that a Black face can occupy the white house.

The Critics

Often mistaken as a haters, critics of President Obama have been berated for pointing out the fact that this president may be the culmination of one judged by the content of his character but, is certainly not the standard bearer of the many other concepts espoused by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. President Obama has been very clear in his position that he is not a drum major for the people, but for the corporations and his financial backers. When critics call the president out as such we are mis-nomered haters. Critics such as myself, realize and understand it really matters very little who occupies the white house as president. The color of the skin of the president has little to do with what can be done and has to be done to sustain that position.

The Haters

As I mentioned above this Black president garnered a huge number of white votes, which actually sealed his nomination and election as president. In as much as whites voted for him to the tune of 43% during the election. Today, among whites, President Obama is carrying a 39% (dis) approval rating. Here’s the rub. The haters intend to excoriate this president. Most insidious to me are the Black conservatives that walk hand in hand with the likes of Limbaugh, Hanniy, Beck and others of this ilk, calling the president a Marxist, communist or socialist to disparage his image. The vitriol spewed by these haters are destructive in their intent to harm and disperse fear rather than educating and critiquing the president’s actions

will the next mayor of Atlanta be white?

Not all of the votes are counted, but the race is getting closer for the next mayor of Atlanta. Thirty six years of Black mayors since the ascension of Maynard Jackson to the office may end tonight. As of this post Mary Norwood is leading Kasim Reed in the runoff election to see who the city will elect.

However, the thought arises as to whether the Black citizens of Atlanta really care that tonight may end the 36 year reign of Black faces in the mayor’s office. Since the election of President Barack Obama, and the disappointment expressed by many in the president’s urgency on healthcare and his snails pace towards recovering jobs, leaves many Blacks in Atlanta that I've spoken with caring little about the ethnicity of the mayoral candidates and more interested in who will do the best job.

Polls in the “whiter” areas of Atlanta seem to suggest just the opposite. Like the fervor behind the election of Barack Obama for president, whites seem to be pouring out and voting heavily for Mary Norwood. It could be argued that whites are purely voting for Norwood on race alone since she could be considered part of the problems with the city of Atlanta. Norwood has been on the Atlanta city council for the past 11 years.

On the other hand Kasim Reed may be viewed as just another candidate being pushed by the big Democrat machine that’s running the “style over substance” game and may continue the re-gentrification of Atlanta started by the previous Black mayors. At any rate, with 72% of the votes counted at 10pm, Norwood is leading Reed 52% to 48%, tomorrow morning Atlanta will have a new mayor elect. Though I don’t live in Atlanta proper, all of us that live here know that what happens in the city of Atlanta trickles out north, south, east and west, we shall see.