What Today's Klan Looks Like

I was wondering if we knew this

KKK Photos: What Today's Klan Looks Like

Are we seeing more of this because of the Internet? Is there really a resurgence as some say because of President Obama? Did Blacks get uppity, or step out of their place by electing a Black man?

Maddow v. Buchanan v SCOTUS

I wonder who hasn't seen this video, and why not.
The Political Carnival: VIDEO: Maddow v. Buchanan on Sotomayor hearings, race. 2 words: No contest.

I was going to rant and rave about all the inconsistencies and bold face lies in Pat's racist ramblings, then figured I was better than that. What I will say is that in my research I found that Blacks have fought valiantly in EVERY war this country was involved in, including Normandy. Blacks were slaves when the US constitution was written and not even considered citizens, yet they fought for this country.
It was not that Pat ignored these facts, but that others out there not as intelligent as, not as influential, not as recognized believe his rantings, and for that I say shame on Pat, shame on America. All the work of the civil rights movement is being ignored. All the advances, points made are being buried in hateful rantings of a failed 2x Presidential candidate.
This is not the first time Pat's rantings has uncovered more of his racist views. While huffing for his book "State of Emergency" he said, " I'd like the country I grew up in. It was a good country. I lived in Washington D.C. - 400,000 black folks, 400,000 white folks, in a country 89 or 90 percent whites. I like that country." When asked if that was the way he wanted to keep it, he said no. He went on to say that people should not alter the composition without consulting the American people. While I am not sure how that would work in today's society, I am quite sure it would be a demagoguery mess.
Affirmative has been and will continue t be an issue in this country. What Pat fails to accept, not recognize but accept is Sotomayor may have been a AA baby, but she epitomizes the reason why a hand up is sometimes necessary. If schools, resources, teachers, books, classrooms, are not on equal ground, a student given a little assistance can go a long way. Grants, scholarships, work study programs are available only to so many students. Even then, the challenges facing minority students are not on equal ground with white conterparts. Yes things have improved, but if in 2009, there are still those that feel all is right with our educational system, shame on America. In the time of cutbacks, schools taking a 10% cut in some districts, does not have the same impact as in another district. In this, I do not mean white versus black, but with and without.

Extremism in the Military, but no Gays

I wonder if this comes as a surprise to ANYONE
SPLCenter.org: SPLC Urges Congress to Investigate Extremism in the Military
Back in April Janet Napolitano "accidently" released a report entitled "Rightwing Etremenisim: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," which identified veterans in the report. Right wingnuts went crazy. http://tiny.cc/MQGLE Napolitano later apologized.
Take a look at some of the Facebook pages of some of the soliders on the right side of the article. Wearing a uniform does not make you an angel or a patriot. Best to look at it as soliders protecting "their" country, not "the" country. It's not like these guys had an epiphany once they put on the uniform and crossed the border. They were racist/extremist before they joined. They developed their racial or religious bias way before going to the middle east. What's even more disturbing is many of these soilders will return to the states and enter the law enforcement arena. Whether thier choice is local police, FBI, or CIA, think of the impact to be had, the trail to be forged.
My question, are these guys still in uniform? Why are extremist acceptable when being gay/lesbian is not? Why are prevayors of hate and violence allowed to serve "their" country, but gays are not allowed to fight for "the" country.
Serving in uniform in a volunteer military is admirable, granted, but it should not provide cover nor training for evil. I have much respect for and will honor military personnel serving "the" country in uniform. I realize there is a personnel shortage and the military is spread thin, but, DADT still excist and 13,000 have been discharged because it. How many have been discharged for being racist or extremist? Napolitano should not have appologized, she should have been lauded for foresite.

Why Ask The Question

Does Racism Still Exist?
I wonder, why even ask the question?

This article appeared in the Huffington Post on 7/9/09
Ian Millhiser: Sessions Uses Sotomayor as a Pawn in His Lifelong Crusade Against Civil Rights

Another article was in The Nation and posted on 7/9/09
Racism at the Pool
A group of Black and Latino youngsters in Philadelphia, PA are denied access to the pool at the Valley Swim Club because " There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion...and the atmosphere of the club." It didn't matter to the club that the day camp these kids attended had arranged for the swim day, and had paid $1900 to swim with white people.
It isn't so much that the question is still being asked, but that some seem to think the election of President Obama would change the answer.
We have one (well kinda) Black Supreme Court Justice, we've had two Black Secretary of State (well kinda), we have one Black Senator, (well kinda), we've had four Black Governors. Why is the question still be asked?
Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III of Alabama has the answer, ask him.

Newsvine - Shannyn Moore to Sarah Palin: I Will Not Be Muzzled!

Newsvine - Shannyn Moore to Sarah Palin: I Will Not Be Muzzled!
Sarah Palin just keeps on giving.

Understanding The Noise

8/29/58 - 6/25/09

I wonder what he would say

There's been a lot of noise on the social media circuit regarding the amount of attention given to the death of Michael Jackson. I suppose for those that are aggressively active in the political arena, and starving for a voice in the world, this attitude makes sense. Those that live for news on the Iran election and death of Neda, the debates in DC regarding health insurance and energy, the economy, the unemployment rate, the Afghanistan war, the appointment of Sotomayor, the pull back in Iraq, the death of an entertainer must seem trivial.

I mean after all Farrah Fawcett (6/25), Ed McMahon (6/23), Billy Mays (6/28), David Carradine (6/3), and more recently Karl Maulden (7/1) did not receive such press accolades or attention world wide. I follow several people on twitter that have made catty comments regarding this phenomenon, and to them I say, I can care for more than one thing, allow me the freedom of compassion in more than one venue. I suppose , allow, is the incorrect word because I will deal with his death as I please, as I feel comfortable with, until I understand his death.

I will admit some of the noise from the coverage has been a bit much. I've heard the same "Breaking News" over and over again. There has been a cacophony of noise and supposition regarding his health, the three children, his ex wife, the will, drugs, the day before and the actual day he died. They've covered his child hood, his relationship with father and family. They've discussed his possible suicide, Neverland, where to bury him, how to honor and memorialize him and there have been two autopsies.

Well all that is well and good, but I am still dealing with accepting that he is dead. There are few entertainers that truly have an impact on me. Michael Jackson was an impacting entertainer. I didn't realize what impact he had on me until last Thursday.

When I first heard that he had been taken to the hospital, I just figured he was ill and would still be okay. I was watching news of Farrah Fawcett who had died earlier in the morning on the same day. I watched "Charlies Angels" Farrah's death was expected, and I do not apologize for the fact that she just didn't have that much impact on me. I figured Michael was just ill and would be okay. I even made mention to someone the old saying about deaths coming in three's (McMahon and Farrah being the other two). Approximately 30 minutes later word came out that he had died but it had not been confirmed. I sat and starred at the message in total disbelief, it could not be true, no way, no how. Recently there was a rumor that Patrick Swazye had died. Patrick Swazye is been ill, but he is still alive. All of this was going through my head, another unfounded rumor, so I did not believe Michael had passed. Later when it was confirmed that we had lost Michael, I did not cry but my heart hurt. I was truly affected.

Someone asked me did I love him? Why were so many people were saying they loved MJ? I can't answer for anyone else, but I loved watching him perform, loved his music, I remember his beginnings and my heart hurt as his death was confirmed. His music made me feel good and I wanted to dance and move like him. I loved going out and hearing music by MJ. I was a pretty good dancer, and I had certain moves I used on MJ songs. I never tried to copy MJ in his moves because that was just silly. I hated the whole crotch grabbing thing, but that was his signature and he could have it. Yes, I did sing his songs and It sound pretty good in the bathroom. I thought I sounded just like him when I sang "Ben". I have albums, cassettes, CD's and mp3 recordings of MJ. I even have a VHS tape of Micheal. From vinyl to digital I have my piece and I love it. I love my memories, and here more than a week after his death, a bit of the denial remain. I am am proud of that collection as I am of my vinyl of "Hard Days Night" which I will never sale. Did, or do I love MJ? I love the way he made me feel, I loved the way his music made me move on the dance floor, I loved the showmanship. I never met him but went to two of his concerts. He was not part of my family but his music was a part of my life at a stage that was alive.

My memories include a red jacket like Michael's, mine was silk and soooo cute. I had a white glove lapel pin I would wear when we went out clubbing. I recall my friend Vickie and I were a bit drunk. We were going down the street singing rather loudly, "Beat it, beat it, beat it." Donna, another friend told us she would beat us if we didn't shut up. We were too liquored up to care. Geeks allover the world were ecstatic because he made white socks and black shoes acceptable.

I am a toy collector so I understand his collection of oddities. My collection comes nowhere near his, but I understand his desire for nearness to a childhood,

What difference does it make how people remember as long as they do, and, they do it in a manner that brings them comfort.

There's a deep seeded feeling for me that I have lived through something great, something not to be closely rivaled in a very, very long time. I've often said I can not dance to music I can not feel, perhaps that is the loss I feel. While I realize his music will be around for many years, he will not.

For those out there that do not understand, I am sorry...for them. It will soon be time for the media to get back to wars, the economy, supreme court justices etc...oh, they never went away; they didn't mean less; MJ just took center stage one more time.

RIP MJ sing a little dance a lot, you will be missed.