current events

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Fitted clothes..you gay???

Funny title right? But what I’m finding more often is that soo many women now a days and some men have this ignorant opinion that just because a man chooses to wear his clothes fitted to his body and don’t sag below his ass that must instantly be gay. I think that this has be another of the dumb ass stereotypes being applied to men, mostly Black men, in America because nobody wants to accept that we all have different ideas of style and fashion and that everybody don’t wanna look like a thug, or jail bait..LOL

The latest online banter was about August Alsina and his wardrobe overhaul. He has decided that the fitted look is in for him and the thug look is out. And the hounds were quick to say that he must be gay because he went to the more slim and trim look, that shows off the physique and not how low ya pants can drop. Did any of these idiots stop to realize that in the business world, Black people don’t own a lot of shit? Do we realize that white folks are still in control of a lot of the businesses and they don’t really favor the urban, thug look. They tend to favor the more fitted, business attire.

Let me be clear.. I can show you a hundred gays and of those there may be half who dress alike and the other half each will be drastically different. We are not a group of people that you can group together or paint with a broad brush. We aren’t able to be lumped into one category based upon anything that we do. So I really hope some of these stupid ass females who want to label a straight man gay because he chooses to be more professional because he’s trying to promote himself, which is his brand, will realize a smart man knows what to do.

It truly blows my mind to think that we still operate in a society where clothes are still defining what your sexual preference is and how much sex you have determines if you are gay or not. I’m just not sure when did we get to the place where these are the barometers for gay vs straight. When did having color in your hair automatically make you gay or straight. Make you a top or bottom?

All of these things that I mention tie into the fitted clothes stereotype. I am at that place where I need people to understand that you need to let people be themselves. Let the expressiveness be just that. Why are we such a judgmental group of people? Why are Black folks so anxious to label each other as one thing or the other? Why do women keep saying that there are no real men left because you can’t distinguish gay or straight because we both like to dress similarly to each other?

The problem in our culture is that all we care to do is make people equal to us. We want to say that if we do something a certain way then if someone doesn’t they must be labeled some type of black sheep or odd ball. Once we finally realize that the uniqueness of each of us makes us a very special community, we will be so much better.

Black people, stop tryna to define a nigga by what he wears or how he speaks. Stop tryna define a prep or urban boy because he wears fitted clothes. Truth is I know a lot of preppy boys who are athletes and musicians. I know a few niggas who are politics and educational type things. We are one people, split by different views and outlooks on life. Live free, be real and stop worrying about who wears what clothes.

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The Red Ribbon

I hope that after I speak about this today that there will be further dialog around tables and parks. In homes and just out in the street. There needs to be more talk about HIV/AIDS in this country. While there have been some major breakthroughs and medicines that help to stymie the virus and not destroy your internal organs at the same time, there is still the problem of too many Africans Americans, humans in general, and especially Gay men and women being infected with this virus daily, monthly and yearly.

While there is now PreP medicine that is taken by folks to prevent themselves from getting the virus, there is still the need to tell folks to be aware that there are still other sexually transmitted infections that can take you out, and at the very least make life uncomfortable for you for a while. We need to understand that there are still millions of people dying from this illness and that there are some great discoveries in medicine that have found potential cures for this disease.

As it is known I don’t have a problem with someone saying that they like having sex. Or with anyone who says they like having sex with multiple people. I have always said that’s your personal choice and it’s your right to live your life however you feel. But, what I will also tell you is that there needs to be accountability and a smartness about who you choose to lay down with. That dick or ass or pussy might be everything and you might skeet for the high heavens, but, after that nut is over are you ready for the possible consequences?

Lets be real about the situation too, raw sex has been happening since the world was created and evolved. How the hell do you think we all got here? It ain’t cause our ancestors and parents practiced wrapping it up all the damn time. In fact , it was the opposite. Back in the day there use to be women who had lots of children and proudly so because that meant their legacies were guaranteed to be carried on. Now days there are fewer women having lots of kids. We have become more modest even though our population is booming out of control.

I say all of that to say I’m not about the holier than though talk that says you should always wrap up no matter what unless you’re married. That is the ideal situation and that’s what we all hope would happen. Truth is people today are having sex at younger and younger ages; they’re having babies early and getting STI’s at really rapid rates. HIV is something we can control because we can say yes or no to fucking or getting fucked by someone.

If you keep up with lightly reported stories you will know that there are whispers and indications that there is a cure. That more traditional and holistic doctors are finding treatments that not only destroy or significantly minimize the virus, but also protect the body in the process. I hope this post starts a dialog somewhere and if I feel the need to revisit it again, if you’ve read any of my material you know that I will.

Take care of yourself America

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The Jordan Effect

Funny thing happened yesterday, Nike decided to give a lifetime  contract, worth more than $500 million dollars to LeBron James. Listen, while the rest of America is trying to figure out they can their wages to increase even 5%, this cat just got a deal that will pay him more money than 85% of Americans will ever make.

Can we not stop and take stock of that for a second? I’m all for Capitalism and spending your dollars to promote your brand, but damn is he really worth that kind of money? Then I have to remember that the other superstars of this era have signed enormous contracts in that general ball park over the past  offseason or two.

LeBron, KD,  Big Game James and others you can thank one man for those kinds of deals on shoes.. Michael Jordan. Yes, the king of the court was really the man who set the explosion of shoe companies trying to grab players and give them these max deals. He was the man who made  brand and has kept that brand popular, relevant and extremely profitable for the past 30 years.

Yes, think about that for a minute. Since 1984 His Royal Airness has been making shoes that have made people go crazy for three decades and there appears to be no slowing down of folks buying his shoes. He even has Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul in their own customized Jordan shoes. How much of a mogul and smart businessman must he and his people be?

He owned an NBA franchise, continues to have a partnership with a company that makes him money hand over fist and in my mind, someday will be the face of the NBA with his moniker being the NBA logo. Michael was the revolutionary for basketball.

Yes, there have been folks who helped to contribute to the popularity of basketball athletes, but there really can be no mistakes that from 1984 until his retirement in the 2000’s Michael Jordan was really the NBA. While others in the league made their namesake and built their legacies, he was cementing his and laying the foundation for his next chapter.

While he has yet to achieve the same success as an Owner and executive right now, I’m reminded back to when Jordan came into the league. Early in his career he could score better than anyone, but without the proper support system he was an early exit from the playoffs or a nonplayoff team all together. Once he got the right coach and cast he became the best in the game and the rest is history. I truly believe that he will figure it out and while he may not win 6 rings, he will win a few during his tenure.

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You Prejudiced Bigot.. I mean Republican Presidential Candidate

You know I’ve had a few conversations over the past few weeks and months about this current crop of Presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle, but most importantly the Republican side; and definitely their policies, the lack thereof and their ungodly disdain for our President and the freedoms they claim to support.

Let me perfectly clear, I dislike everything about Donald Trump and every other Republican Presidential candidate, except John Kasich’s positions on Obamacare. I think that it’s quite annoying that all the media really wants to do is pump air into the Trump campaign. I know some may say that with this blog talking about him and getting others to read it that I’m propping up his candidacy as well. I say that your stupid if you think that.

I do no talk about him just to shine a light on him;  my efforts are to allow others to read and objectively and subjectively, LOL, understand that this man is playing the American public for a fool and if he is serious about running for President with these outlandish proposals and ideals as a candidate, this country is will in a world of hurt if he somehow finds a way to win.

I hope that we understand that the United States of a America is a nation of immigrants from all over the world. There is not a single person here who should be abdicating that we ban Muslims from entering this country because of one incident in America and the incident in Paris. I think anyone who is stupid enough to say you support Trump or agree with his proposal, you must be a bigot yourself, or you must not remember that your family is not “All American.”

What if another President said we will ban the Jewish people or the Asian community or ban Africans or Latinos from entering the United States. Lest we not forget that the individual who went on the killing rampage in Colorado just the week prior to the California massacre, was not a Muslim. He was an American who is Pro Life. Now don’t get me wrong. I love folks who are Pro Life, but lets make sure we understand that Pro Life doesn’t just apply to unborn babies. That applies to all of human life.

That means that when an individual or individuals shoot and kill innocent victims because of their beliefs, that is a violation of the Pro Life movement. That is an act of terrorism too. See we seem to only want to classify terrorism acts as those perpetrated by folks from foreign nations, nationalities or religions. How stupid can we be?

You want to know why we can’t truly defeat ISIL or ISIS? It’s because every time something like what happens in Colorado or Paris happens, ignorant ass Politicians and Candidates want to politicize the issue and make ridiculous, asinine statements like banning Muslims or calling a religion  Radical.

Why the fuck is that every time something happens that “supports” Republican mantras they run to the extreme? And the blowhards in the Republican media that want to support this foolishness are just as culpable for the race bating as the candidates promoting it. I want people to Google the statement Trump has made about other nationalities, religions and ethnicities.

He has called for all illegal immigrants to be returned to their countries. He called Mexicans rapists and criminals. He has called for a ban on Muslims into America. He has called for a rejection of all Syrian refugees trying to flee the daily war and violence in their nation. But, he won’t speak ill of the Americans who do dastardly deeds to other Americans in the name of their cause or more importantly, Trump’s and other candidates causes.

Ted Cruse is no different than Trump. His ignorant ass makes the same outlandish statements as Trump because they both want to use American fear to their advantage and ride it all the way to the White House. I hope that we realize that while we have had isolated incidents, as far as, terrorism is concerned, we have been protected from any further attacks on this country. Folks lets face it: President Barack Obama has kept this country safe, avoided sending troops into battle in mass and has rebuilt some key American alliances.

Is there more work to do? Yes. But has this man done his job? Damn right. I’m really sick of tall these hawkish Republican people who say that because the President didn’t have a scowl on his face or ignite a new war by saying he’s sending hundreds of thousands of troops back into the Middle East for a ground war and air war, that he doesn’t have a plan.

Lemme ask a question: When President 43 tried that approach what the fuck happened? I’ll wait…?? When Obama used his approach, we caught and killed top militant leaders and killed Bin Laden. Never forget Obama is the reason that happened, not Trump, Cruse or any other Republican.

How do you feel about the hot air given to Trump and not to the real candidates? What are your feelings on all of the stuff said and happening? Talk to me..

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A Country At War

I know you think this post is about our fighting on foreign soil, but if that’s what you think.. Oh boy are you so damn wrong. I’m absolutely about to unload on the war on home soil and this will spare no rod.

Have you taken a look at what’s going on in our own backyard? Have you paid attention to the killing in the streets, by civilians and more importantly by law enforcement? Have you seen the mass murders taking place left and right in this country? Years ago we had the Newtown 26, where 26 children and school officials were killed in a mass murder.

Today, in California, we have the San Bernardino 14. Got damn it, what do we have to do in order to finally get these spineless, gutless, scared Politicians to do the damn job they were sent to Congress to do: Serve the people of the United States of America. My God, how many people have to run through the streets, cities and states of America with automatic weapons killing innocent Americans? How many damn times so we have to hear the bullshit line “Let us pray for the people affected” by Politicians so in bed with the NRA that they get fucked by them more than their spouses?

I’m so sick and damn tired of hearing Republicans speak that dumb shit about the reason these incidents take place is because they are no “no gun” zones. When the fuck will you ignorant ass people wake up and realize the reason this shit keeps happening is because there are too many fucking guns on the street? When will you realize that because we are so quick to vehemently defend gun rights, that we don’t take common sense steps to protect us from people who should not be buying guns?

Who the hell really believes that we need assault weapons in the hands of people who want to do harm to people, for whatever reason they come up with in their sick and twisted minds. We keep talking about how we need to take out ISIS and all this other shit, but we need to enact gun laws and change our ways of thinking in our society that says guns are the answer to the problem.

The freest country in the world is at war with itself because it can’t separate itself from a damn gun lobbyist that thinks if we try to remove unnecessary weapons off the streets and place sensible restrictions on who can get a gun, that somehow we are infringing on the rights of gun owners.

Damn it America get this partisan bullshit out of your head. Please realize this is not about Democrats or Republicans. This is not about Black or White, Gay or Straight. This is about America. A nation that’s suppose to pride itself on being the best but we can’t agree to take care of each other.

This is not about me railing against gun ownership, because truth is, I’m a liberal Democrat that is a supporter of an individuals right to own and carry a gun. But even saying that, I damn sure am in favor of stricter laws on who can get a gun and the background checks being needed before you can purchase a gun. America we need to band together because the time is now for us to say enough is enough.

How many times do we need to see mass shootings on t.v. before we get tired of seeing this shit? Who needs to die before there is action taken by the spineless politicians sitting in Washington D.C.? Will we ever say enough is enough damn it? Please America let’s join together with one voice and say no more. We need to stop saying it’s too soon to talk about this issue. We need to stop saying it’s not right to politicize this issue.

The honest truth is we have been too damn late for years but it’s never to late to make a change. The voice of the many need to be heard. No more silence. Let’s make sure these folks in D.C. know we won’t tolerate this anymore.

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The End of True Dominance

Growing up I was privileged to watch the most dominant players in their sports, in their eras. They were all-time greats, not just specialized greats. They were players who transformed their sports and made things look so simple and easy.

We are seeing the end of the era of dominance and transformation right now. With the retirement of Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter,  Jeff Gordon, Kobe Bryant, the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and the pending retirement of Tiger Woods, we are seeing the end of what was transformational dominance.  If you take each of these men individually in their sport you truly realize how amazing they were.

Now we have LeBron James, Jimmy Johnson, pick your baseball player, find a football player and no real tennis player, in my view, aside from Serena Williams, but she’s not retiring yet. All respect given to these individuals, but I’m sorry LeBron is not an all-time great to me. The era he plays in today is bitch basketball. Jimmy Johnson truly is the closest thing to revolutionizing NASCAR right now and Serena Williams, well is Serena and when she retires she will go into this pantheon of players I am speaking of.

I think it was such a treat to have been able to watch the greatest player in the game, Michael Jordan, his heir apparent, Kobe Bryant play the game of basketball for over twenty years. To have watched Derek Jeter and how he played the game and inspired so many players who were taller than the normal short stop to want to play the position as and excel. To watch how Dale Sr. before his passing was absolutely dominant and made NASCAR what it is today. And watch his heir Jeff Gordon dominate the sport for so long was truly awesome.

What more can be said about Tiger Woods other than during his prime he absolutely was the best player that ever existed. He won at a clip that was insane. He dominated the game like no one has ever done before. He made the prize money in Golf reach these crazy numbers that they are today. He was partly responsible for the inception of the Fed Ex Playoff system. He was the reason that all the Golfers of today have these major endorsement deals. Before Tiger, Golf was an old white man’s sport with very little notoriety beyond the old greats.

The truth is if you are lucky to be around to watch these players who transformed their sports you get to appreciate what athletic greatness is all about. One thing that I don’t do though with these players, is make them a deity. They are great athletes and they have helped to make many, many people very rich and famous and allowed for millions to live comfortable lives, but they are human just like the rest of us and when we forget that, that’s when we glorify them for the wrong reasons.

I’m sure that many may not agree with the group that I put together, but this 31 year old can only go off his own eyes and gauge of athletes he has seen in his lifetime. For me the folks listed above are in the Mount Rushmore of their sports and I’m sure at some point there will be someone else who joins that group as their always is, but I truly think we may have seen the end of that dominance in the sports that these respective players played and retired from.

My hats off to all of these folks for being the absolute best at what you do and the games you’ve played will not be the same without you, but undoubtedly they will go on and new legends will be made.

 

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Political Pussy’s

Yes I know that my title is bit vulgar, but if you know me, then you know that’s just who I am. I write with great imagery and color. Now let’s get to what this title is all about.

Once again after a controversial shooting of a young, unarmed, black man, we see government officials make a decision based on the outcry after the fact and not the facts before the outrage. Someone needs to tell me why the fuck Rahm Emanuel didn’t review this prior to the dash cam being released and the public being outraged? Why, again, do we see politicians hiding behind the “independent investigation” bullshit, instead of having the balls to fire people and make a statement.

I think that Americans all over the country are tired of the corrupt police departments covering for their own people over and over again. Let me again be clear, I have a great respect for all of the men and women who wear the uniform to protect and service the communities in the United States of America. But let me also be clear: Dirty cops fuck it up for those who truly go out here every day to make a difference and protect us from dangerous people.

We are a nation that likes to hold civilians accountable for their actions, but we don’t want to hold officers of the law who are breaking those very laws they took an oath to defend. Also, these sneaky ass folks holding office who are covering their own asses by covering up the wrong doings of some of these dirty cops need to be punished. I think that one of the great problems of our time is that we don’t take our duties to vote and be aware of what our elected leaders are and aren’t doing.

We must accept the fact that we must be responsible to our fellow man and hold everyone accountable for their actions. It is a necessity. And I’m sorry if the police officers and unions are uncomfortable because their “comfort” is being challenged, because we are tired of the endless and pointless killings of unarmed and innocent people, then do the work to clean up your ranks and maybe the public wouldn’t be clamoring for heads to role.

Lets all wake up and do our jobs because when we all do our parts we are a better nation and a better people.

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To Serve and Protect

Ah, we sit here again as we face another round of tragic horror stories of police officers in America, killing young, unarmed, innocent, Black men. From Illinois to Minnesota and other parts of the nation, we are again dealing with this crisis.

America, I am the first man to say that we need the police men and women whose jobs are to protect and service the members of the communities that they are sworn to protect. But the facts are the damn facts. Too many damn unarmed, black men are being shot and killed needlessly. I’m tired of hearing of how the police are ready to say, “Since people want to record and hold us accountable, we won’t do as much protecting and serving.” That is a line that has been said by many leaders within those ranks.

I am really sick and tired of Police departments covering up the injustice and wrongdoing. I really annoyed that leaders of these states aren’t forcing the police officers and precincts to release these videos of the shootings taking place. I’m tired of seeing all the disturbing videos that show police brutality and abuse.

All over this country police officers are taking things into their own hands a little too much and the people who they are suppose to protect and serve are being killed and buried. Far too often we are hearing the same fucking line of it was self defense. Since when is an unarmed man a deadly threat to you? With the ability to taze a potentially dangerous individual or the ability to shoot them and debilitate them, why are so many officers of the law just choosing death.

And before you think I don’t understand, I do. It can be very difficult to be a cop and determine what level of force is needed at times, but I’ll be damned if the only solution is to always kill someone. Fuck that, take them down and all that shit, but I’m tired of seeing cops get off for murder just because the argument is: “it was in the line of duty.”

An officer of the law is supposed to be a servant, not the judge, jury and executioner as often as we see it. Yes accountability is suppose to be at the top of the list for all people who work in America. You are suppose to be accountable to whatever the customer is that you serve. So as I said once before, damn the self defense argument. There are so many great cops who get overshadowed because the macho cop wants to be “the man.”

My response, put that ass in jail and make them do time for the crimes they commit and we will surely see less of this all powerful cop business we see so much now. Oh and by the way, if you get some responsible officials in office who are ready to be fair to all, then we can get somewhere.

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The Shame of America

Ladies and gentlemen of this great nation, I completely understand and realize that those partisan people who love Republicans will blindly support the demeaning, defamatory, prejudicial comments and beliefs of the candidates for President, but please wake up. I realize that people think that Progressives in this country are invading on your personal rights and making the government too strong, but stop this nonsense.

For the life of me I can’t understand why folks want to continue to argue that this country is worse off now than it was at any point in our history. Yes, we have more threats to our safety and we are struggling to have wage equality and opportunity equality professionally, but we are a nation that is much better off now than we were just seven short years ago.

I want all of you to take stock of where we were as a nation just seven years ago. We were going through the biggest downturn in the economy since the Great Depression. The banking sector, housing sector, financial sector, automotive sector were all in freefall. Jobs were being lost hand over fist; government employees were forced to take days off without pay; pensions of millions of Americans were being eviscerated due to the stock market crashing.

We were caught up in two wars with endless amounts of money being spent and countless American soldiers being asked to go to war over and over again. We were dealing with crisis at every turn. Gas prices were up and down, gouged through the roof and the prospects of recovery seemed bleak at best.

Now, the economy is stronger from a jobs perspective than at any time honestly, we have a stock market that is strong and thriving, the financial, banking, automotive and housing sectors have rebounded with resounding strength and surpluses being generated. The issue we really need to address is wages and opportunities at job growth for ordinary Americans.

See, I’m a realist I know that we will not be able to get anywhere with wage increase unless we get more Democrats into office, both locally and nationally. America must wake up and realize that Republicans do not and have not created job growth when in control of the White House or Congress in the last thirty years. Damn people, are we so beholden to our “ideas” of our party alliance that we can’t see the value in voting truly on issues and not historical “ideology?”

We are always going to be a nation that is always split because we are made up of great people on all sides of the aisle. But one thing that needs to be remembered is that our country doesn’t succeed when we talk down our success, but rather when we coalesce around our great possibilities.

Wake up America, the doom and gloom isn’t necessary

 

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How Thankful Are you

Let me honest, this holiday season has been one of a mixed bag. Where it is tradition that I go home and see my mom and the rest of my family for this Thanksgiving break I get from the office, this year I’m still here spending the time with my other family.

It has been a little bitter sweet because the truth is I am a Mama’s boy, no matter how old I am, and I miss her a lot. But the truth also is that I’m always able to speak to her and this year does seem fitting, for the most pat, that I spend the holiday here.

One thing I can say that all year long I have said that I’m thankful for the job, people and opportunities I’ve been given. It doesn’t take for this time of year to come around for me to give Thanks to God for the great things in my life. And even though there are some things that I’m truly unhappy about, I’m still thankful that I have the ability to be of clear mind and soul to feel and think about these things on my own.

I am so thankful that I have a wonderful partner to share and grow with in my life. I’m thankful that I have close friends who love and care for me. I’m thankful for the extended family that I’ve spent years growing and developing. For all the things I don’t know that have happened to keep me safe and all the things that I do know that God has brought me through.

If you really know that you are a person who has a lot to be thankful for, it shouldn’t take this week or tomorrow for you to tell those around you that you appreciate them, or that you show whatever deity you believe in that you’re grateful. I always say that we are a nation that doesn’t really hold strong to the family aspect of this great nation, because we are too busy working and dealing with the stresses of life.

So yes, while I do think that we need to do a better job of showing our thanks all year long, we most certainly need to take this time out and make sure anyone who means something to you knows that you love them, you appreciate them and that you are thankful to have them apart of your life, because they didn’t have to be there.