⟦On the US partisan binary⟧
Reality Check: Partisan politics will not save America. I don't care which party you feel has better ideas, is on higher moral ground, or whose socio-economic history better suits your concept of how a functioning government should operate. We as a Nation have been too caught up in the grandstanding, half-truths, and outright lies that have been purported by both major political factions and filtered down to the lowest common denominator via the horrifically biased mainstream media. Parse w/me if you wish, but it is pretty clear that neither the Democratic nor Republican regimes are properly equipped to bring about the "restoration" of this country, if for nothing else, because both sides have staunchly refused to take responsibility for their actions and replaced culpability with vilification. If all our elected officials care about is vindication for the basis of their beliefs - and it would certainly seem that's all this has become; a popularity contest - then baby, we all should grab some paddles and see how fast we can row before we find ourselves any further up Shit's Creek. Think for yourself, be present, and believe what you learn for yourself; not the hype.
⟦On the importance of historical context⟧
People get confused as to why I bring up so much historical context when I talk politics, especially when it comes to social justice. The reason is because we love to forget certain parts of our past, while glorifying others. You want people to "get over" slavery and its effects still present in society today, but you'll have no problem going on about the oppression of the Western European working poor, both here and across the pond. You have so much to say about how Islam specifically instructs its followers to destroy non-believers & establish a Muslim caliphate, but act as if the Roman Catholic Church and its Imperial Will wasn't responsible (directly & indirectly) for the unjust subjugation and, in cases, obliteration of whole groups of civilizations from the planet. You want the American Government to keep its hands out of American business, suggesting that it can balance itself out using its own financial/moral compass, but when facts dictate that its most prominent leaders & investors have deliberately swindled hard-working citizens out of their living wages, instead of holding the appropriate parties responsible, you point your fingers to the very Government whom your colleagues fought tooth & nail to try and keep out of the process; a Government which has now made this economic disaster twice as contemptible by forcing those same citizens to compensate for the mistakes of greedy men who they would otherwise have nothing to do with. If folks don't appreciate when people like me bring up parts of our past that aren't as pretty, then maybe we should do a better job of looking at the past objectively, and make a real effort to learn from it. Til then, deal.
⟦On a racial police encounter⟧
*NOTE: This this post chronicles an event that occurred in November of 2013 to my close friend, who is a NYPD Captain. I have left his name out for legal reasons and out of respect for his job security, but the incident is no less true. I wanted to highlight it earlier but couldn't find it, and am posting it now to point out that racism in all its ugliness does not stop once a marginalized citizen puts on a police badge. This small story is a microcosm of why I will never disown any Person of Color in the US who holds a position in law enforcement, simply because i.m.o. that attitude serves no purpose outside of Supremacy's dismissive, propagandized agenda. If Black Lives Matter, then my friend's life matters too, whether he is on or off the job.
"Last night I decided to take a cab to the gym instead of waiting in the chill for the bus. The following occurred. As [the] cab approached the intersection of Fordham [Road] and University [Place], there were two NYPD officers on the street. As we passed them, I...happened to be looking out the window at the same time [they were looking in the vehicle], and made eye contact with one of them. Thinking nothing of it, I went back to social networking on my phone. The cab then stopped at the red light at the above mentioned intersection. 5 seconds later, the same two officers start banging on the cab for the driver to turn off the car and unlock the doors. The White officer instructs the driver to speak to the other officer...he starts with the question, "Where did you pick this gentleman up from?" The driver, of course, has no idea what the cop is saying [because] his English is next to none. The White officer now pulls open my door and instructs me to step out if the car...I replied, "Are you serious?" His response...was, "Of course I'm f**king serious." I take one step out the cab with one foot still inside, step up, reach into my pocket, open my wallet, show shield and ID, and simply reply, "well I'm serious too." [I] place [my] wallet back in [my] pocket and sit...back in the cab. Shocked and pissed off now, the officer shouts, "Well you don't have to have a f**king attitude!" And slams the door! His partner - dumbfounded as to his partner slamming the door - says, "Wussup?" The White officer replies, "That @sshole is PD." Tells the driver have a good night and they walk away. WTF!!!!"
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