White People Need To Stop Being Racists

This logo is as accurate as it is iconic.  PE#1.

Now that I have your attention, let me give some background on myself to explain why that I think that statement is 100% true: I grew up in a predominantly white school system.  I had a lot of white friends in my childhood, so I saw the good in white people.  I was oblivious to a lot of the atrocities in the U.S. because of the type of education that I received and the environment in which I was raised.

Then I went to an HBCU (Google it if you don't know the acronym) and I met other people who looked like me who had totally different experiences growing up.  By the way, this is generally how one learns about the world.  Being exposed to all walks of life is what expands our way of thinking.  But, back to the topic at hand...

I spent a lot of my youth and some of my adult life explaining to minorities how "the conversation" about racism should be approached with white people.  I found myself speaking from a place that protected the good white people that I knew.  It took growing older in society to realize that they didn't need me to defend them.  Their privilege alone gave them the protection that they needed.

The point I'm trying to make is that black people have no responsibility in stopping racism.  White people do.  And it's always been that way despite how others have tried to spin it over and over again.  It's not a woman's responsibility to have "a discussion" with an abusive husband.  He just needs to recognize that he's wrong and stop abusing her.  See how simple that is?  Problem solved.

We don't need a table of "black leaders" to sit down and discuss why we shouldn't be unlawfully shot by police, denied opportunities for leadership positions from being a CEO of a Fortune 500 company to being an NFL head coach, or refused loans and/or housing based solely on the fact that we are enriched with melanin.  Black people have complained for decades on the things that prevent us from truly being equals in this country, so there's nothing new to talk about.  All white people have to do is stop doing it.  It's just that simple.  Nothing else is required.

And for all white people who have done things to help promote the end of racism, I thank and applaud you.  We wouldn't have made it this far without some of you.  But, you're going to have to do more.  Because in order for you not to be unfairly grouped in with racists, you have to convince the racists to cut it out.  So, it looks like you have the responsibility of helping this madness end.  Not black people.

Osama bin Dead?

Osama is dead? Is this just a ploy to sell CD's?

I'm sitting around Sunday night and see a tweet that the President is going to make an announcement. I couldn't possibly figure out what it could be. I knew Momar's youngest son was killed recently, so I thought about that. I got concerned that maybe the President was going to announce he was sick or something and had to temporary step away or step down.

Needless to say, the last thing that crossed my mind was Osama bin Laden. This guy has been a ghost for almost a decade now. He's like a bearded ninja or something. Now, it has been announced that he's dead. Not, Tupac or Elvis type of dead, but "Old Yeller" dead.

Okay, every reader under 35 years old is Googling "Old Yeller" right now. Anyway, Osama bin Laden has "gone on" to meet his 70-something virgins. Something that started a decade ago has now temporarily been brought to a halt. Sure, another leader will surface some where. After all, Osama had more kids than Evander Holyfield.

But, for at least 24 hours, can idiot Republicans and cowardly Democrats get along? There are people flooding the streets across the country waving American flags.  We have unity for the first time since 9/11!  I don't need MSNBC comparing President Obama to Chuck Norris for killing bin Laden any more than I need FOX News running a story of "Barack Kills an Eldery Man."

For 24 hours, just shut up and think of all of the people who died directly or indirectly from what Osama bin Laden did a decade ago.

Royal Pain

There's a wedding happening across the pond? Do you care? Should you care?

I remember when Princess Di and Prince Charles did their thing back in the 80's. As a kid, it seemed cool to see a Disney movie come to life. I didn't know the significance of it nor how it affected me. But, it was still something I felt as if I needed to see.

25+ years later, I still don't know the significance of this "Royal Wedding." What I do know is that there will be specials all over the television and tons of online coverage. I've been told that I should appreciate the history and culture involved in the way the British monarchy works. I get that, but, I can't get with two people who are getting the "royal treatment" (pun intended) just because one of them is related to someone.

Is that why we love Paris Hilton? Is it because her dad was "somebody" then she is, too?  Kim Kardashian is the "Princess of Beverly Hills" because her dad won some high-profile court cases and was friends with O.J.? These ladies aren't royalty, they're royal pains. But, they've gained status as an elite here in the states for what their parents did. England has "princesses," we have "socialites." I think things are a bit backwards in the media.

Parents should be praised for raising a successful child. Children should not be praised for having successful parents.

So, I wish Kate Middleton and Prince William the best in their marriage, but, I don't think I'll be watching. I guess the one thing I can take from this is that it's been a long time since the U.S. has cared about something going on in another country that didn't involve an oil field.

Okay, it's up to you to convince me that this wedding should mean something to me... Go!

Bad Boys, Bad Boys...

Let me give a disclaimer for the idiots who half-read: I'm an American and I love living here.

Let me go even further for those who read well, but can't process it: Just because you complain about something doesn't mean you hate it.

Now, let's get started, shall we?

When will the U.S. realize that it can't be the World Police? When will we mind our own business? Every month, I see a new headline of us trying to intimidate some small country. Libya, Afghanistan, South Korea, Iraq, Iran, iPod, you name it, we have a beef with them.

Long story, short: we love telling other leaders how to treat their people. It doesn't matter that our own affairs are jacked up, you just better get your affairs in order!

So, who polices us because we definitely don't police ourselves. Who keeps the U.S. in line? We're so perfect that we're above being told what to do? What if Russia had called Obama or Bush and told one of them to stop allowing corporate greed or get out of office? They would do just like Khadafi has done and laugh, right?

Our country is delusional. We're that bad child that the parent thinks can do no wrong. Anyone who speaks against that child will be shunned.

Our country is arrogant. Any time we give credit to a man "discovering" America when people were already living here shows our warped sense of entitlement. If that's the case, I just discovered a new mall near my house recently.

Our country is greedy. Everything we do is related to money. If you threaten our oil resources, we're taking action! If Canada has cheaper pharmaceutical drugs, then we're passing laws against them because they're obviously "unsafe."

Our country is a bully. We pick on small countries when they "get out of line," but China or Russia can spray paint gang signs on the White House and we wouldn't do a thing. "Oh, they're just playing. They didn't mean it."

To sum it up, we need to take care of our own. Stop dropping food overseas when people here are starving. Stop worrying about creating jobs in India when there aren't any here. Stop calling it a "defense" budget when we're always on the "offense."


I'm only complaining because I care. Consider it "good parenting." Instead of letting your child run amuck and terrorizing everyone within range, you keep him/her in line. Sure, it takes admitting that your child did something that needed to be corrected, but isn't that how it's supposed to be in order to better the child?

America is not above criticism. Let's stay out of other people's business and take care of self. We need to focus on the real terrorists. It's not someone wearing a turban and a bomb; it's someone wearing a suit and tie and carrying a pen. Corporate terrorists are the ones who scare me right now. They have more to do with the gas prices than any Libyan, that I can assure!

We're spread so thinly right now, how could we even respond to an attack on the U.S.? All of our troops are every where except the here! We still have troops in Germany, Afghanistan, Vietnam, and every where else we've ever invaded. Once we arrive, we stay. That's not defense, that's arrogance. Let's get it together before China or Russia calls us out.

Bad Boys, Bad Boys... whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?